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At least 1,081 records · Page 60

Building complex simulations rapidly using MATRIX(x): The Space Station redesign

MSFC's quick response to the Space Station redesign effort last year required the development of a computer simulation to model the attitude and station-keeping dynamics of a complex body with rotating solar arrays in orbit around the Earth. The simulation was written using a rapid-prototyping graphical simulation and design tool called MATRIX(x) and provided the capability to quickly remodel complex configuration changes by icon manipulation using a mouse. The simulation determines time-dependent inertia properties, and models forces and torques from gravity-gradient, solar radiation, and aerodynamic disturbances. Surface models are easily built from a selection of beams, plates, tetrahedrons, and cylinders. An optimization scheme was written to determine the torque equilibrium attitudes that balance gravity-gradient and aerodynamic torques over an orbit, and propellant-usage estimates were determined. The simulation has been adapted to model the attitude dynamics for small spacecraft.

Carrington, C. K.↗

Results of aerodynamic heat transfer tests of a 0.0175-scale model of the Rockwell International Space Shuttle Orbiter 139 (model number 22-0) in the NASA/Ames 3.5-foot hypersonic wind tunnel (test OH6)

The results of a hypersonic wind tunnel test program conducted using a 0.0175 scale thin-skin thermocouple model of the Space Shuttle Orbiter to obtain aerodynamic heat transfer data on the Orbiter under simulated reentry conditions were presented. The test program was conducted at a Mach number of 7.3 and a freestream Reynolds number ranging between 1.0 and 6.0 million/foot. The model was tested for angles of attack ranging between 10 deg and 30 deg and a sideslip angle of 0 deg. The model was constructed of 15-5 PH stainless steel with the instrumented areas machined to a nominal skin thickness of 0.030 in. The model instrumentation consisted of 288 iron-constantan thermocouples spot welded to the skin inner surface, but only 75 of these were used in this test program. A high-speed, analog-to-digital data acquisition system was used to record data on magnetic tape.

Dye, W. H.↗

Turbulence modeling

Recent developments at several levels of statistical turbulence modeling applicable to aerodynamics are briefly surveyed. Emphasis is on examples of model improvements for transonic, two-dimensional flows. Experience with the development of these improved models is cited to suggest methods of accelerating the modeling process necessary to keep abreast of the rapid movement of computational fluid dynamics into the computation of complex three-dimensional flows.

Rubesin, Morris W.↗

Prediction of Unsteady Aerodynamic Coefficients at High Angles of Attack

The nonlinear indicial response method is used to model the unsteady aerodynamic coefficients in the low speed longitudinal oscillatory wind tunnel test data of the 0.1 scale model of the F-16XL aircraft. Exponential functions are used to approximate the deficiency function in the indicial response. Using one set of oscillatory wind tunnel data and parameter identification method, the unknown parameters in the exponential functions are estimated. The genetic algorithm is used as a least square minimizing algorithm. The assumed model structures and parameter estimates are validated by comparing the predictions with other sets of available oscillatory wind tunnel test data.

Pamadi, Bandu N.↗

Aerodynamic characteristics of a large-scale model with a swept wing and a jet flap having an expandable duct

The data from an investigation of the aerodynamic characteristics of the expandable duct-jet flap concept are presented. The investigation was made using a large-scale model in the Ames 40- by 80-foot Wind Tunnel. The expandable duct-jet flap concept uses a lower surface, split flap and an upper surface, Fowler flap to form an internal, variable area cavity for the blowing air. Small amounts of blowing are used on the knee of the upper surface flap and the knee of a short-chord, trailing edge control flap. The bulk of the blowing is at the trailing edge. The flap could extend the full span of the model wing or over the inboard part only, with blown ailerons outboard. Primary configurations tested were two flap angles, typical of takeoff and landing; symmetric control flap deflections, primarily for improved landing performance; and asymmetric aileron and control flap deflections, for lateral control.

Aiken, T. N.↗

Geometry Modeling and Grid Generation for Computational Aerodynamic Simulations Around Iced Airfoils and Wings

Issues associated with analysis of 'icing effects' on airfoil and wing performances are discussed, along with accomplishments and efforts to overcome difficulties with ice. Because of infinite variations of ice shapes and their high degree of complexity, computational 'icing effects' studies using available software tools must address many difficulties in geometry acquisition and modeling, grid generation, and flow simulation. The value of each technology component needs to be weighed from the perspective of the entire analysis process, from geometry to flow simulation. Even though CFD codes are yet to be validated for flows over iced airfoils and wings, numerical simulation, when considered together with wind tunnel tests, can provide valuable insights into 'icing effects' and advance our understanding of the relationship between ice characteristics and their effects on performance degradation.

Choo, Yung K.↗

Using a commercial CAD system for simultaneous input to theoretical aerodynamic programs and wind-tunnel model construction

The Computer Aided Design (CAD) system's common geometry database was used to generate input for theoretical programs and numerically controlled (NC) tool paths for wind tunnel part fabrication. This eliminates the duplication of work in generating separate geometry databases for each type of analysis. Another advantage is that it reduces the uncertainty due to geometric differences when comparing theoretical aerodynamic data with wind tunnel data. The system was adapted to aerodynamic research by developing programs written in Design Analysis Language (DAL). These programs reduced the amount of time required to construct complex geometries and to generate input for theoretical programs. Certain shortcomings of the Design, Drafting, and Manufacturing (DDM) software limited the effectiveness of these programs and some of the Calma NC software. The complexity of aircraft configurations suggests that more types of surface and curve geometry should be added to the system. Some of these shortcomings may be eliminated as improved versions of DDM are made available.

Enomoto, F.↗

Mated aerodynamic characteristics investigation for the 0.04 scale model TE 1065 (Boeing 747-100) of the 747 CAM and the 0.0405 scale model (43-0) of the space shuttle orbiter in the NASA Langley V/STOL transition research wind tunnel (CA8), volume 1

Aerodynamic force data are presented in tables and graphs for the NASA Langley V/STOL Transition Research Wind Tunnel tests on a 0.04 scale model of the 747 with a 0.0405 scale Orbiter space shuttle. The investigation included the effects of flap setting, stabilizer angle, elevator angle, ground proximity, and Orbiter tailcone fairing. Data were obtained in the pitch plane only. The test was run at M = 0.15, with a dynamic pressure of 35 psf. Six static pressures were measured on each side of the 747 CAM nose to determine the effects of the Orbiter on the 747 airspeed and altitude indicators.

Source record↗

Wind-tunnel investigation of the aerodynamic characteristics of the Standard Dynamics Model in coning motion at Mach 0.6

A series of wind-tunnel tests have been conducted on the Standard Dynamics Model (a simplified generic fighter-aircraft shape) undergoing coning motion at Mach 0.6. Six-component force and moment data are presented for a range of angles of attack, sideslip and coning rates. At the relatively low nondimensional coning rates employed, the lateral aerodynamic charactersitics generally show a linear variation with coning rate.

Jermey, C.↗

Close to real life

NASA's Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation (NAS) facility for CFD modeling of highly complex aerodynamic flows employs as its basic hardware two Cray-2s, an ETA-10 Model Q, an Amdahl 5880 mainframe computer that furnishes both support processing and access to 300 Gbytes of disk storage, several minicomputers and superminicomputers, and a Thinking Machines 16,000-device 'connection machine' processor. NAS, which was the first supercomputer facility to standardize operating-system and communication software on all processors, has done important Space Shuttle aerodynamics simulations and will be critical to the configurational refinement of the National Aerospace Plane and its intergrated powerplant, which will involve complex, high temperature reactive gasdynamic computations.

Peterson, Victor L.↗

The Effect of Systematic Error in Forced Oscillation Testing

One of the fundamental problems in flight dynamics is the formulation of aerodynamic forces and moments acting on an aircraft in arbitrary motion. Classically, conventional stability derivatives are used for the representation of aerodynamic loads in the aircraft equations of motion. However, for modern aircraft with highly nonlinear and unsteady aerodynamic characteristics undergoing maneuvers at high angle of attack and/or angular rates the conventional stability derivative model is no longer valid. Attempts to formulate aerodynamic model equations with unsteady terms are based on several different wind tunnel techniques: for example, captive, wind tunnel single degree-of-freedom, and wind tunnel free-flying techniques. One of the most common techniques is forced oscillation testing. However, the forced oscillation testing method does not address the systematic and systematic correlation errors from the test apparatus that cause inconsistencies in the measured oscillatory stability derivatives. The primary objective of this study is to identify the possible sources and magnitude of systematic error in representative dynamic test apparatuses. Sensitivities of the longitudinal stability derivatives to systematic errors are computed, using a high fidelity simulation of a forced oscillation test rig, and assessed using both Design of Experiments and Monte Carlo methods.

Williams, Brianne Y.↗

Structural Verification and Modeling of a Tension Cone Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator

Verification analyses were conducted on membrane structures pertaining to a tension cone inflatable aerodynamic decelerator using the analysis code LS-DYNA. The responses of three structures - a cylinder, torus, and tension shell - were compared against linear theory for various loading cases. Stress distribution, buckling behavior, and wrinkling behavior were investigated. In general, agreement between theory and LS-DYNA was very good for all cases investigated. These verification cases exposed the important effects of using a linear elastic liner in membrane structures under compression. Finally, a tension cone wind tunnel test article is modeled in LS-DYNA for which preliminary results are presented. Unlike data from supersonic wind tunnel testing, the segmented tension shell and torus experienced oscillatory behavior when subjected to a steady aerodynamic pressure distribution. This work is presented as a work in progress towards development of a fluid-structures interaction mechanism to investigate aeroelastic behavior of inflatable aerodynamic decelerators.

Tanner, Christopher L.↗

Aerodynamic characteristics of the standard dynamics model in coning motion at Mach 0.6

A wind tunnel test was conducted on the Standard Dynamics Model (a simplified generic fighter aircraft shape) undergoing coning motion at Mach 0.6. Six component force and moment data are presented for a range of angle of attack, sideslip, and coning rates. At the relatively low non-dimensional coning rate employed (omega b/2V less than or equal to 0.04), the lateral aerodynamic characteristics generally show a linear variation with coning rate.

Jermey, C.↗

Economical Unsteady High-Fidelity Aerodynamics for Structural Optimization with a Flutter Constraint

Structural optimization with a flutter constraint for a vehicle designed to fly in the transonic regime is a particularly difficult task. In this speed range, the flutter boundary is very sensitive to aerodynamic nonlinearities, typically requiring high-fidelity Navier-Stokes simulations. However, the repeated application of unsteady computational fluid dynamics to guide an aeroelastic optimization process is very computationally expensive. This expense has motivated the development of methods that incorporate aspects of the aerodynamic nonlinearity, classical tools of flutter analysis, and more recent methods of optimization. While it is possible to use doublet lattice method aerodynamics, this paper focuses on the use of an unsteady high-fidelity aerodynamic reduced order model combined with successive transformations that allows for an economical way of utilizing high-fidelity aerodynamics in the optimization process. This approach is applied to the common research model wing structural design. As might be expected, the high-fidelity aerodynamics produces a heavier wing than that optimized with doublet lattice aerodynamics. It is found that the optimized lower skin of the wing using high-fidelity aerodynamics differs significantly from that using doublet lattice aerodynamics.

Bartels, Robert E.↗