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At least 1,063 records · Page 59

Development and Validation of a Fast, Accurate and Cost-Effective Aeroservoelastic Method on Advanced Parallel Computing Systems

Progress to date towards the development and validation of a fast, accurate and cost-effective aeroelastic method for advanced parallel computing platforms such as the IBM SP2 and the SGI Origin 2000 is presented in this paper. The ENSAERO code, developed at the NASA-Ames Research Center has been selected for this effort. The code allows for the computation of aeroelastic responses by simultaneously integrating the Euler or Navier-Stokes equations and the modal structural equations of motion. To assess the computational performance and accuracy of the ENSAERO code, this paper reports the results of the Navier-Stokes simulations of the transonic flow over a flexible aeroelastic wing body configuration. In addition, a forced harmonic oscillation analysis in the frequency domain and an analysis in the time domain are done on a wing undergoing a rigid pitch and plunge motion. Finally, to demonstrate the ENSAERO flutter-analysis capability, aeroelastic Euler and Navier-Stokes computations on an L-1011 wind tunnel model including pylon, nacelle and empennage are underway. All computational solutions are compared with experimental data to assess the level of accuracy of ENSAERO. As the computations described above are performed, a meticulous log of computational performance in terms of wall clock time, execution speed, memory and disk storage is kept. Code scalability is also demonstrated by studying the impact of varying the number of processors on computational performance on the IBM SP2 and the Origin 2000 systems.

Goodwin, Sabine A.↗

Computation of Feedback Aeroacoustic System by the CE/SE Method

It is well known that due to vortex shedding in high speed flow over cutouts, cavities, and gaps, intense noise may be generated. Strong tonal oscillations occur in a feedback cycle in which the vortices shed from the upstream edge of the cavity convect downstream and impinge on the cavity lip, generating acoustic waves that propagate upstream to excite new vortices. Numerical simulation of such a complicated process requires a scheme that can: (1) resolve acoustic waves with low dispersion and numerical dissipation, (2) handle nonlinear and discontinuous waves (e.g. shocks), and (3) have an effective (near field) nonreflecting boundary condition (NRBC). The new space time conservation element and solution element method, or CE/SE for short, is a numerical method that meets the above requirements.

Loh, Ching Y.↗

186 K Operation of Terahertz Quantum-Cascade Lasers Based on a Diagonal Design

Resonant-phonon terahertz quantum-cascade lasers operating up to a heat-sink temperature of 186 K are demonstrated. This record temperature performance is achieved based on a diagonal design, with the objective to increase the upper-state lifetime and therefore the gain at elevated temperatures. The increased diagonality also lowers the operating current densities by limiting the flow of parasitic leakage current. Quantitatively, the diagonality is characterized by a radiative oscillator strength that is smaller by a factor of two from the least of any previously published designs. At the lasing frequency of 3.9 THz, 63 mW of peak optical power was measured at 5 K, and approximately 5 mW could still be detected at 180 K.

Kumar, Sushil↗

Oscillation phase relations in a Bridgman system

The thermal conditions under which convection in a tin melt undergoes the transition from steady flow to time-dependent flow are investigated. Previously, it has been shown that crystals that are directionally solidified from a time-dependent melt will have a larger defect density and increased chance of compositional striations. Thus, it is important for this transition to be well characterized. The experimental results to be presented were obtained from a two-zone Bridgman furnace with a middle insulation zone. Thermocouples were placed on the axis and on the outer wall of a cylindrical vitreous silica tube which contained molten tin. The phase relations between temperature oscillations measured at different positions in the cell are discussed. Fourier transforms are used to investigate the increasing complexity of convection as the temperature gradient is increased.

Knuteson, David J.↗

Investigation of oscillating cascade aerodynamics by an experimental influence coefficient technique

Fundamental experiments are performed in the NASA Lewis Transonic Oscillating Cascade Facility to investigate the torsion mode unsteady aerodynamics of a biconvex airfoil cascade at realistic values of the reduced frequency for all interblade phase angles at a specified mean flow condition. In particular, an unsteady aerodynamic influence coefficient technique is developed and utilized in which only one airfoil in the cascade is oscillated at a time and the resulting airfoil surface unsteady pressure distribution measured on one dynamically instrumented airfoil. The unsteady aerodynamics of an equivalent cascade with all airfoils oscillating at a specified interblade phase angle are then determined through a vector summation of these data. These influence coefficient determined oscillation cascade data are correlated with data obtained in this cascade with all airfoils oscillating at several interblade phase angle values. The influence coefficients are then utilized to determine the unsteady aerodynamics of the cascade for all interblade phase angles, with these unique data subsequently correlated with predictions from a linearized unsteady cascade model.

Buffum, Daniel H.↗

Investigation of oscillating cascade aerodynamics by an experimental influence coefficient technique

Fundamental experiments are performed in the NASA Lewis Transonic Oscillating Cascade Facility to investigate the torsion mode unsteady aerodynamics of a biconvex airfoil cascade at realistic values of the reduced frequency for all interblade phase angles at a specified mean flow condition. In particular, an unsteady aerodynamic influence coefficient technique is developed and utilized in which only one airfoil in the cascade is oscillated at a time and the resulting airfoil surface unsteady pressure distribution measured on one dynamically instrumented airfoil. The unsteady aerodynamics of an equivalent cascade with all airfoils oscillating at a specified interblade phase angle are then determined through a vector summation of these data. These influence coefficient determined oscillating cascade data are correlated with data obtained in this cascade with all airfoils oscillating at several interblade phase angle values. The influence coefficients are then utilized to determine the unsteady aerodynamics of the cascade for all interblade phase angles, with these unique data subsequently correlated with predictions from a linearized unsteady cascade model.

Buffum, Daniel H.↗

Concepts for radically increasing the numerical convergence rate of the Euler equations

Integral equation and finite difference methods have been developed for solving transonic flow problems using linearized forms of the transonic small disturbance and Euler equations. A key element is the use of a strained coordinate system in which the shock remains fixed. Additional criteria are developed to determine the free parameters in the coordinate straining; these free parameters are functions of the shock location. An integral equation analysis showed that the shock is located by ensuring that no expansion shocks exist in the solution. The expansion shock appears as oscillations in the solution near the sonic line, and the correct shock location is determined by removing these oscillations. A second objective was to study the ability of the Euler equation to model separated flow.

Nixon, David↗

Combustion Instability Analysis and the Effects of Drop Size on Acoustic Driving Rocket Flow

High frequency combustion instability, the most destructive kind, is generally solved on a per engine basis. The instability often is the result of compounding acoustic oscillations, usually from the propellant combustion itself. To counteract the instability the chamber geometry can be changed and/or the method of propellant injection can be altered. This experiment will alter the chamber dimensions slightly; using a cylindrical shape of constant diameter and the length will be varied from six to twelve inches in three-inch increments. The main flowfield will be the products of a high OF hydrogen/oxygen flow. The liquid fuel will be injected into this flowfield using a modulated injector. It will allow for varied droplet size, feed rate, spray pattern, and location for the mixture within the chamber. The response will be deduced from the chamber pressure oscillations.

Harper, Brent↗

A new look at equatorial quasi-biennial oscillation models

Simplified quasi-biennial oscillation models are studied, taking bifurcation theory into account. It is found that the model has a trivial steady solution of no mean zonal flow when the two components of the wave forcing are symmetric. The steady solution becomes unstable with respect to an oscillatory eigenmode when the amplitude of the wave forcing exceeds a critical value. Periodic solutions branch off from the steady solution at this point because of Hopf bifurcation. If the two components are not symmetric, the model has a nontrivial steady solution with nonzero mean zonal flow. Hopf bifurcation takes place and periodic solutions which are not symmetric with respect to time appear. A two-level model is developed to analyze the quasi-biennial oscillation mechanism. It is shown that both vertical diffusion and the shielding effect are needed to obtain periodic solutions.

Yoden, Shigeo↗

Determination of Interfacial Rheological Properties through Microgravity Oscillations of Bubbles and Drops

This report summarizes our derivations of analytical expressions for the frequencies and damping constants for small-amplitude axisymmetric shape oscillations of a liquid drop suspended in an immiscible fluid host in microgravity. In particular, this work addresses large Reynolds number shape oscillations and focuses on the surface rheological effects that arise from the presence of insoluble surfactants at the interface. Parameters characterizing viscous effects from the bulk phases, surface viscous effects, Marangoni effects from the surface advection and diffusion of surfactants, and the Gibbs elasticity are all considered and analyzed to determine the relative importance of each contribution. Supplementing the analytical treatment for small-amplitude oscillations, a numerical boundary integral equation formulation is developed for the study of large-amplittide axisymmetric oscillations of a drop in vacuum. The boundary integral formulation is an extension of classical potential flow theory and approximately accounts for viscous effects in the bulk fluid as well as the surface viscous and Marangoni effects resulting from an insoluble surfactant contaminating the interface. Theoretical and numerical results are presented for four distinct cases. These, range from the case when the effects of the surfactants are 'negligible' to 'large' when compared to the viscous effects in the bulk phases. The feasibility of the non-contact measurement of the surface parameters, using experimental observations for the oscillation frequencies and damping constants of drops and bubbles, is discussed.

Nadim, Ali↗

LDV measurements in dynamically separated flows

Two component, phase averaged mean velocity data have been obtained with an Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV) system, on the upper surface, near the leading edge of an oscillating airfoil undergoing compressible dynamic stall. In particular, the effect of oscillation amplitude has been studied. The results show that at an oscillation amplitude of 10 degrees, a separation bubble forms, that eventually bursts on the upstroke, well beyond the static stall angle. At 2 degrees amplitude, the bubble forms on the upstroke, but dynamic stall occurs on the downstroke. The results reveal new flow physics and the data sets serve as valuable quantitative information for validation of unsteady flow codes at transitional Reynolds numbers. The maximum velocity seen in the flow is about 1.6 times the free stream value and it occurs slightly downstream of the suction peak location. Some of the measurement difficulties are also discussed.

Chandrasekhara, M. S.↗

An investigation of the open-loop amplification of a Reynolds number dependent process by wave distortion

The response of a constant-temperature hot-wire anemometer to sinusoidal and distorted sinusoidal acoustic oscillations is examined. The output of the anemometer is dependent upon the Reynolds number of the flow over the wire. The response is a measure of the interaction between the anemometer output and the acoustic pressure in the neighborhood of the wire. It is an open-loop prediction of the characteristics of actual closed-loop operation of a system. If the open-loop response is large enough, unstable closed-loop operation is predicted. The study was motivated by a need to investigate the stability limits of liquid-propellant rockets when perturbed by pressure oscillations. The sinusoidal and distorted sinusoidal acoustic oscillations used for this study are the same as those characteristic of unstable rocket combustion. Qualitatively, the results are similar--the response of the system to pure sinusoidal acoustic vibration of the fluid surrounding the wire is small, even when the magnitude of the acoustic pressure is quite large; but the response can be increased by as much as an order of magnitude with respect to the sinusoidal case by the addition of distortion. The amplitude and phase of the distortion component, relative to the fundamental component, are the dominant factors in the increase in the response.

Ventrice, M. B.↗

A Systematic Kernel Function Procedure for Determining Aerodynamic Forces on Oscillating or Steady Finite Wings at Subsonic Speeds

Details are given of a numerical solution of the integral equation which relates oscillatory or steady lift and downwash distributions in subsonic flow. The procedure has been programmed for the IBM 704 electronic data processing machine and yields the pressure distribution and some of its integrated properties for a given Mach number and frequency and for several modes of oscillation in from 3 to 4 minutes, results of several applications are presented.

Watkins, Charles E.↗

The mixing mechanism by organised turbulence structures in a plane jet excited by a novel method

The effect on a plane subsonic turbulent jet of controlled high-amplitude periodic oscillations applied to the nozzle is investigated experimentally. A variable-speed motor and a gear-cam mechanism are used to make the lips of the nozzle reciprocate in opposite directions at the desired frequency. Velocity profiles, flow visualizations, and pressure-signal traces are presented and analyzed in detail. The complex vortex processes involved in the oscillation-induced spreading and entrainment of the jet are explored, and a critical Strouhal number for vortex formation and amplification is determined. The oscillation technique is found to augment the thrust of a jet/duct-diffuser configuration by a factor of 1.20; the thrust increases with oscillation frequency up to 20 Hz and remains constant if the frequency is further increased.

Badri Narayanan, M. A.↗

Stability of swirling gas flows

The stability of inviscid swirling gas flows to small nonaxisymmetric perturbations is considered. For small Brunt-Vaisala frequencies, the problem reduces to the classical Sturm-Liouville form and the oscillation theorem can be applied. The resulting necessary and sufficient stability condition is compared to various criteria in the literature and a limited numerical study of isothermal rigidly rotating Poiseuille flow. For given azimuthal and axial wavenumbers, it is found numerically that the higher inertial modes become unstable for successively lower Rossby numbers and that this sequence of critical values approaches the theoretical value from above.

Hultgren, Lennart S.↗

On some numerical schemes for transonic flow problems

New second-order-accurate finite-difference approximations for a class of nonlinear PDEs of mixed type, which includes the two-dimensional low-frequency transonic small-disturbance equation (TSD) and full-potential equation (FP), are presented. For the TSD equation, the scheme is implemented via a time-splitting algorithm; the inclusion of flux limiters keeps the total variation nonincreasing and eliminates spurious oscillations near shocks. Global-linear-stability, TVD, and entropy-stability results are proved. Numerical results for the flow over a thin airfoil are presented. Current techniques used to solve the TSD equation may easily be extended to second-order accuracy by this method. For the FP equation, the new scheme requires no subsonic/supersonic switching and no numerical flux biasing. Global linear stability for all values of the Mach number is proved.

Mostrel, Marco Mosche↗

Forebody vortex control for suppressing wing rock on a highly-swept wing configuration

Free-to-roll tests were conducted in a wind tunnel with a configuration that consisted of a highly-slender forebody and a 78 deg swept delta wing. A limit cycle oscillation was observed for angles of attack between 22 and 30 deg. In general, the main flow phenomena responsible for the wing-body-tail wing rock are the interactions between the forebody and the wing vortices. Various blowing techniques were evaluated as means of wing rock suppression. Blowing tangentially aft from leeward side nozzles near the forebody tip can damp the roll motion at low blowing rates and stop it completely at higher blowing rates. At the high rates, significant vortex asymmetries are created, causing the model to stop at a non-zero roll angle. Forward blowing and alternating right/left pulsed blowing appear to be more efficient techniques for suppressing wing rock. The oscillations can be damped almost completely at lower blowing coefficients, and, apparently, no major vortex asymmetries are induced. Good agreement is observed between this study and previous water tunnel tests on the same configuration.

Suarez, Carlos J.↗

Nonlinear stability of oscillatory core-annular flow: A generalized Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation with time periodic coefficients

In this paper the nonlinear stability of two-phase core-annular flow in a pipe is examined when the acting pressure gradient is modulated by time harmonic oscillations and viscosity stratification and interfacial tension is present. An exact solution of the Navier-Stokes equations is used as the background state to develop an asymptotic theory valid for thin annular layers, which leads to a novel nonlinear evolution describing the spatio-temporal evolution of the interface. The evolution equation is an extension of the equation found for constant pressure gradients and generalizes the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation with dispersive effects found by Papageorgiou, Maldarelli & Rumschitzki, Phys. Fluids A 2(3), 1990, pp. 340-352, to a similar system with time periodic coefficients. The distinct regimes of slow and moderate flow are considered and the corresponding evolution is derived. Certain solutions are described analytically in the neighborhood of the first bifurcation point by use of multiple scales asymptotics. Extensive numerical experiments, using dynamical systems ideas, are carried out in order to evaluate the effect of the oscillatory pressure gradient on the solutions in the presence of a constant pressure gradient.

Coward, Adrian V.↗