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At least 1,045 records · Page 58

A thin-walled composite beam model for light-weighted structures interacting with fluids

A thin-walled beam model is proposed for structures of variable cross-section, which can be either open or closed and includes multicellular cross-sections with either isotropic or orthotropic materials. The proposed model does not require any priori definition of cross-sectional warping which instead results from the solution of the problem. To achieve that a special deformation pattern is superimposed on the bending deformation described by Euler–Bernoulli beam theory. All sectional properties are automatically incorporated in the analysis as a result of the usual variational formulation of the system of equations. The proposed model is specifically designed to simulate the dynamics of wind/hydrokinetic turbine blade with low computational cost, especially in fluid–structure interaction (FSI) simulation. A number of test cases have been carried out to validate the proposed structural model which show good agreement between the results obtained her e and the solutions available in literature. Finally, FSI simulation of a hydrokinetic blade under field condition is carried out to illustrate the capability of the current thin-walled beam model in practice.

42 ENGINEERING↗

A study to determine the flight characteristics and handling qualities of variable geometry spacecraft. Volume 2: Medium L/D concept with switch-blade wings

Flight characteristics and wing deployment transients for a variable geometry logistics spacecraft concept having a hypersonic lift-drag ratio near 2.0, and employing switch-blade wings for deployment at high subsonic speeds have been determined. These characteristics are based on detailed static wind tunnel results and estimated weight and inertial characteristics of a 9-man logistics lifting entry vehicle. In all instances, unpowered flight is assumed. The present volume is the second of a four volume series encompassing hypersonic lift-drag ratio vehicles from 1 to 3, and including several forms of deployable lifting surfaces. For Volumes 1 and 3, see N70-25699 and N72-15779 respectively.

Kuchta, B. J.↗

Effect of steady state coning angle and damping on whirl flutter stability

The main object of this investigation is to find the effect of the steady state coning angle and the damping at the flapping hinge of the blades on the whirl flutter stability boundary and thus to determine the role they can play in narrowing down the gap between theory and experiment. The governing equations of motion, with these two parameters included are derived by the classical Lagrangian approach using quasi-steady blade element theory for aerodynamic forces. A linearized analysis of these equations is applied to two of the wind tunnel models of the previous investigations. The results indicate that these parameters have a marked effect on stability boundary and they may even change the mode of flutter from backward whirl to forward whirl.

Kaza, K. R. V.↗

Design and performance of energy efficient propellers for Mach 0.8 cruise

The increased emphasis on fuel conservation in the world has stimulated a series of studies of both conventional and unconventional propulsion systems for commercial aircraft. Preliminary results from these studies indicate that a fuel saving of 14 to 40 percent may be realized by the use of an advanced high-speed turboprop. This turboprop must be capable of high efficiency at Mach 0.8 cruise above 9.144 km altitude if it is to compete with turbofan powered commercial aircraft. Several advanced aerodynamic concepts were investigated in recent wind tunnel tests under NASA sponsorship on two propeller models. These concepts included aerodynamically integrated propeller/nacelles, area ruling, blade sweep, reduced blade thickness and power (disk) loadings several times higher than conventional designs. The aerodynamic design methodology for these models is discussed. In addition, some of the preliminary test results are presented which indicate that propeller net efficiencies near 80 percent were obtained for high disk loading propellers operating at Mach 0.8.

Mikkelson, D. C.↗

An experimental investigation of helicopter rotor high frequency broadband noise

The paper describes experiments involving a 4.17 foot diameter model rotor operating in a 5 times 7.5 ft open jet wind tunnel enclosed in an anechoic chamber. The effects of rotor thrust, advance ratio, and the number of blades on the intensity and spectrum of high frequency broadband noise (HFBN) have been investigated. The effects of each parameter were determined by keeping the other two constant. The directivities of the two- and three-bladed rotors were measured in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the rotor disk. The effects of heading edge, pressure side, and suction side serrations on HFBN were measured under several operating conditions, and the effects of the serrations on the mean thrust generated by the rotor were studied. A scaling law is proposed to determine the location of the peak frequency and intensity of HFBN.

Lee, A.↗

Composite hub/metal blade compressor rotor

A low cost compressor rotor was designed and fabricated for a small jet engine. The rotor hub and blade keepers were compression molded with graphite epoxy. Each pair of metallic blades was held in the hub by a keeper. All keepers were locked in the hub with circumferential windings. Feasibility of fabrication was demonstrated in this program.

Yao, S.↗

Experimental Investigation of Counter-Rotating Propfan Flutter at Cruise Conditions

The paper presents wind tunnel experimental flutter results, at transonic relative flows, for a 0.62-m diameter composite propfan model. A blade row that fluttered was tested alone, and with a stable aft counter-rotating blade row. The major objectives of the experiment were to study the effect of the second blade row on the row in flutter, and to investigate the flutter. Results show that the second row had a stabilizing effect. Two distinct flutter modes were found. For both flutter modes: flutter boundary, frequency, nodal diameter, and blade displacement data are given. The blade displacement data, obtained with an optical method, gives an indication of the flutter mode shape at a span near the blade tip.

Mehmed, Oral↗

Limitations of Phased Array Beamforming in Open Rotor Noise Source Imaging

Phased array beamforming results of the F31/A31 historical baseline counter-rotating open rotor blade set were investigated for measurement data taken on the NASA Counter-Rotating Open Rotor Propulsion Rig in the 9- by 15-Foot Low-Speed Wind Tunnel of NASA Glenn Research Center as well as data produced using the LINPROP open rotor tone noise code. The planar microphone array was positioned broadside and parallel to the axis of the open rotor, roughly 2.3 rotor diameters away. The results provide insight as to why the apparent noise sources of the blade passing frequency tones and interaction tones appear at their nominal Mach radii instead of at the actual noise sources, even if those locations are not on the blades. Contour maps corresponding to the sound fields produced by the radiating sound waves, taken from the simulations, are used to illustrate how the interaction patterns of circumferential spinning modes of rotating coherent noise sources interact with the phased array, often giving misleading results, as the apparent sources do not always show where the actual noise sources are located. This suggests that a more sophisticated source model would be required to accurately locate the sources of each tone. The results of this study also have implications with regard to the shielding of open rotor sources by airframe empennages.

Horvath, Csaba↗

Vortex Wake Geometry of a Model Tilt Rotor in Forward Flight

A full-span 0.25-scale V-22 tiltrotor was tested in the NASA Ames 40-by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel in November 2000. The main objective of the test was to acquire a comprehensive database to validate tiltrotor analyses. Figure 1 shows the model installed in the Ames 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel. Rotor and vehicle performance measurements were taken in addition to wing pressures, acoustics, and flow visualization. A dual acoustic traverse system was installed to measure blade-vortex interaction (BVI) noise levels and directivity. Test conditions included hover and forward flight in helicopter mode. Angle-of-attack and thrust sweeps for three tunnel speeds were acquired before model problems caused the premature conclusion of the test. The test will resume in the Ames 80- by 120-Foot Wind Tunnel in late 2001. This paper will focus on the wake geometry measurements that were acquired during the test. The wake geometry measurements were a small subset of a larger matrix of planned measurements designed to study the development and structure of the dual vortex system generated during BVI conditions. The present paper will provide wake geometry data for four test conditions. In addition, the data will be compared with previously acquired wake measurements from an isolated tiltrotor

Wadcock, Alan J.↗

Preliminary Introduction of a Free Vortex Wake Method Into OpenFAST

Increasing wind turbine size can have substantial economic benefits. However, increasing wind turbine turbine size requires the use of models that accurately capture the aerodynamic response to large deflections and nonstraight blade geometries. Additionally, the installation of offshore floating turbines requires turbine models that can handle large rotor motion. Free vortex wake (FVW) methods are capable of modeling this type of complex physics while remaining computationally tractable to perform the many simulations necessary for turbine design. In this work, a FVW model is added to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory engineering tool OpenFAST to allow for the aerodynamic modeling of highly flexible turbines along with the aero-hydro-servo-elastic response capabilities of OpenFAST. Code implementation is not complete and thus no results are presented. However, areas of potential modeling improvement are discussed, such as modifications to the circulation calculation and the need for different FVW input model specifications when high-thrust cases are being modeled.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Flexing the Limits of Land-Based Wind Turbine Rotor Growth

The Big Adaptive Rotor (BAR) project aims to design and enable the next generation of land-based wind turbines with 206-meter (m) rotors, which will increase capacity factors by 10% or more over a typical land-based turbine. High-energy-capture turbines have many advantages, but the length and width of larger turbine blades to enable these machines creates transportation challenges that must be overcome to make true on the adage, bigger is better.

49 EE - Wind and Water Power Program - Wind (EE-4W↗

Estimation of blade airloads from rotor blade bending moments

This paper presents a method for the estimation of blade airloads, based on the measurements of flap bending moments. In this procedure, the blade rotation in vacuum modes is calculated, and the airloads are expressed as an algebraic sum of the mode shapes, modal amplitudes, mass distribution, and frequency properties. The method was validated by comparing the calculated airload distribution with the original wind tunnel measurements which were made using ten modes and twenty measurement stations. Good agreement between the predicted and the measured airloads was found up to 0.90 R, but the agreement degraded towards the blade tip. The method is shown to be quite robust to the type of experimental problems that could be expected to occur in the testing of full-scale and model-scale rotors.

Bousman, William G.↗

On methods for application of harmonic control

The paper presents data which confirm the effectiveness of higher harmonic blade pitch control in substantially reducing helicopter rotor vibratory hub loads. The data are the result of recent tests on a 2.7-m model conducted in the Langley Research Center's transonic dynamics wind tunnel. Several predictive analyses developed in support of the NASA program are shown capable of accurately predicting both amplitude and phase of the higher harmonic control input required to nullify a single 4/rev force or moment input. The use of multiple blade feathering inputs in the design of a flightworthy higher harmonic control system is discussed.

Wood, E. R.↗

Free yaw performance of the Mod-0 large horizontal axis 100 kW wind turbine

The NASA Mod-0 Large Horizontal Axis 100 kW Wind Turbine was operated in free yaw with an unconed teetered, downwind rotor mounted on a nacelle having 8-1/2 deg tilt. Two series of tests were run, the first series with 19 meter twisted aluminum blades and the second series with 19 meter untwisted steel spar blades with tip control. Rotor speed were nominally 20, 26 and 31 rpm. It was found the nacelle stabilized in free yaw at a yaw angle of between -55 deg to -45 deg was relatively independent of wind speed and was well damped to short term variations in wind direction. Power output of the wind turbine in free yaw, aligned at a large yaw angle, was considerably less than that if the wind turbine were aligned with the wind. For the Mod-0 wind turbine at 26 rpm, the MOSTAB computer code calculations of the free yaw alignment angle and power output compare reasonably well with experimental data. MOSTAB calculations indicate that elimination of tilt and adding coning will improve wind turbine alignment with the wind and that wind shear has a slight detrimental effect on the free yaw alignment angle.

Corrigan, R. D.↗

State Estimation of Main Rotor Flap and Lead-Lag Using Accelerometers and Laser Transducers on the RASCAL UH-60 Helicopter

Modern rotorcraft flight control system designs which promise to yield high vehicle response bandwidth and good gust rejection can benefit from the use of rotor-state feedbacks. The measurement of main rotor blade motions is also desirable to validate and improve rotorcraft simulation models, to identify high-order linear flight dynamics models, to provide rotor system health monitoring; during flight test, and to provide for correlation with acoustic measurements from wind tunnel and flight tests. However, few attempts have been made to instrument a flight vehicle in this manner, and no previous system has had the robustness and accuracy required for these diverse applications. A rotor blade motion measurement and estimation system has been developed by NASA and the U.S. Army for use on the Rotorcraft Aircrew Systems Concepts Airborne Laboratory (RASCAL) helicopter. RASCAL is a UH-60 Blackhawk which is being modified at Ames Research Center in a phased development program for use in flight dynamics and controls, navigation, airspace management, and rotorcraft human factors research. The aircraft will feature a full-authority, digital, fly-by-wire research flight control system; a coupled ring laser gyro, differential GPS based navigation system; a stereoscopic color wide field of view helmet, mounted display; programmable panel mounted displays; and advanced navigation sensors. The rotor blade motion system is currently installed for data acquisition only, but will be integrated with the research flight control system when it is installed later this year.

Fletcher, Jay W.↗

Loads assessment of a fixed-bottom offshore wind farm with wake steering

Wake steering via deliberate yaw offset is an emerging wind farm control technique that has the potential to mitigate wake losses and further increase wind farm energy yield. The loads impact of this technique has been studied, but there is limited insight into wind-farm-wide impacts of wake steering. Understanding such impacts is crucial to determining the feasibility of using wake steering in commercial wind farms. To that end, this work investigates the impacts of wake steering on the loads of all turbine components across all turbines in a wind farm operating under a broad set of inflow conditions, including inflow velocity, shear exponent, turbulence class, and inflow angle. This was done by performing FAST.Farm simulations of a 12-turbine wind farm array, excerpted from a larger hypothetical wind farm. The International Energy Agency Wind 15-MW reference wind turbine was modeled atop a monopile substructure, an open-source model that closely approximates the properties of similar commercial options. Wake steering was included via yaw offsets that were computed using an offline optimization with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory tool FLORIS. For each inflow case, the 12-turbine array was simulated with and without wake steering. Results were compared in terms of time-averaged means, standard deviations, ultimate loads, and damage-equivalent loads. The findings show that because wake steering is generally applied at rated wind speeds and below, it is unlikely to drive ultimate loads. For fatigue loads, wake steering does increase the overall fatigue accumulation for some load channels, such as blade-root and shaft bending. This is to be expected when overall power yield increases but may cause the damage accumulation to be more uniform throughout the array. The significance of the added fatigue loading is dependent on how frequent wake steering is utilized in the overall set of inflow conditions across the wind rose.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Rotor Broadband Noise Prediction with Comparison to Model Data

This paper reports an analysis and prediction development of rotor broadband noise. The two primary components of this noise are Blade-Wake Interaction (BWI) noise, due to the blades' interaction with the turbulent wakes of the preceding blades, and "Self" noise, due to the development and shedding of turbulence within the blades' boundary layers. Emphasized in this report is the new code development for Self noise. The analysis and validation employs data from the HART program, a model BO-105 rotor wind tunnel test conducted in the German-Dutch Wind Tunnel (DNW). The BWI noise predictions are based on measured pressure response coherence functions using cross-spectral methods. The Self noise predictions are based on previously reported semiempirical modeling of Self noise obtained from isolated airfoil sections and the use of CAMRAD.Modl to define rotor performance and local blade segment flow conditions. Both BWI and Self noise from individual blade segments are Doppler shifted and summed at the observer positions. Prediction comparisons with measurements show good agreement for a range of rotor operating conditions from climb to steep descent. The broadband noise predictions, along with those of harmonic and impulsive Blade-Vortex Interaction (BVI) noise predictions, demonstrate a significant advance in predictive capability for main rotor noise.

Brooks, Thomas F.↗