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At least 1,153 records · Page 64

Experimental study of transient liquid motion in orbiting spacecraft

A test program was conducted involving forty-five drops of liquid propellant in instrumented tanks. Biaxial, low-g accelerations were applied to the model propellant tanks during free-fall testing, and forces exerted during liquid reorientation were measured and recorded. High speed photographic records of the liquid reorientation were also made. The test data was used to verify a mechanical analog which portrays the liquid as a point mass moving on an ellipsoidal constraint surface. The mechanical analog was coded into two FORTRAN 4 digital computer programs. Results showed excellent correlation between test data and analytical predictions of reorientation forces and liquid center of mass motion, verifying the basic analytical approach.

Berry, R. L.↗

Aeroservoelastic Modeling and Validation of a Thrust-Vectoring F/A-18 Aircraft

An F/A-18 aircraft was modified to perform flight research at high angles of attack (AOA) using thrust vectoring and advanced control law concepts for agility and performance enhancement and to provide a testbed for the computational fluid dynamics community. Aeroservoelastic (ASE) characteristics had changed considerably from the baseline F/A-18 aircraft because of structural and flight control system amendments, so analyses and flight tests were performed to verify structural stability at high AOA. Detailed actuator models that consider the physical, electrical, and mechanical elements of actuation and its installation on the airframe were employed in the analysis to accurately model the coupled dynamics of the airframe, actuators, and control surfaces. This report describes the ASE modeling procedure, ground test validation, flight test clearance, and test data analysis for the reconfigured F/A-18 aircraft. Multivariable ASE stability margins are calculated from flight data and compared to analytical margins. Because this thrust-vectoring configuration uses exhaust vanes to vector the thrust, the modeling issues are nearly identical for modem multi-axis nozzle configurations. This report correlates analysis results with flight test data and makes observations concerning the application of the linear predictions to thrust-vectoring and high-AOA flight.

Brenner, Martin J.↗

Summary of Results from the Third Aeroelastic Prediction Workshop Flight Test Working Group

This paper summarizes results of the Flight Test Working Group presented at the third Aeroelastic Prediction Workshop held in January 2023. The Flight Test Working Group was looking at the application of flutter prediction tools of a complete aircraft and comparing those predictions to flight-test data. The teams generated a total of six different predictions of the body freedom flutter exhibited by the X-56A experimental aircraft with flexible wings. The computational predictions of frequency and damping are compared with the flight-test data. All of the methods gave similar predictions of the flutter speed, but were all about 10 to 20 knots higher than the measured flutter speed. Additionally, the different generalized aerodynamic forces and the aerodynamic work from the computational tools are compared to illustrate the differences in the methods. Looking at the aerodynamic work done by the flutter mode, suggests that the pitch motion is dissipating less energy and the plunge motion is adding more in the methods which better predict the flutter. However, with only six different predictions it was not possible to develop more definitive conclusions.

Jeffrey Ouellette↗

Summary of Results from the Third Aeroelastic Prediction Workshop Flight Test Working Group

This paper summarizes results of the Flight Test Working Group presented at the third Aeroelastic Prediction Workshop held in January 2023. The Flight Test Working Group was looking at the application of flutter prediction tools of a complete aircraft and comparing those predictions to flight-test data. The teams generated a total of six different predictions of the body freedom flutter exhibited by the X-56A experimental aircraft with flexible wings. The computational predictions of frequency and damping are compared with the flight-test data. All of the methods gave similar predictions of the flutter speed, but were all about 10 to 20 knots higher than the measured flutter speed. Additionally, the different generalized aerodynamic forces and the aerodynamic work from the computational tools are compared to illustrate the differences in the methods. Looking at the aerodynamic work done by the flutter mode, suggests that the pitch motion is dissipating less energy and the plunge motion is adding more in the methods which better predict the flutter. However, with only six different predictions it was not possible to develop more definitive conclusions.

Jeffrey Ouellette↗

Updating High-Order Aeroservoelastic Models from Low-Order System Identification Results

Estimating aircraft models from test data requires several simplifying assumptions that introduce biases into the parameter estimates. In this paper, these biases are defined and a method for estimating the biases is discussed. Having an estimate of the bias allows the parameters estimated from test to be integrated into a high-order model. The Integrated Adaptive Wing Technology Maturation (IAWTM) wind tunnel model is discussed and the bias is demonstrated for one of the testing configurations. The methodology was able to estimate these biases and apply corrections to high-order aeroelastic models to improve the fit to test data. The consideration of the biases allows more meaningful comparisons and avoids the erroneous differences between pretest predictions and the fitted model.

Jeffrey Ouellette↗

Updating High-Order Aeroservoelastic Models from Low-Order System Identification Results

Estimating aircraft models from test data requires several simplifying assumptions that introduce biases into the parameter estimates. In this paper, these biases are defined and a method for estimating the biases is discussed. Having an estimate of the bias allows the parameters estimated from test to be integrated into a high-order model. The Integrated Adaptive Wing Technology Maturation (IAWTM) wind tunnel model is discussed and the bias is demonstrated for one of the testing configurations. The methodology was able to estimate these biases and apply corrections to high-order aeroelastic models to improve the fit to test data. The consideration of the biases allows more meaningful comparisons and avoids the erroneous differences between pretest predictions and the fitted model.

Jeffrey Ouellette↗

Oxidizer heat exchanger component test

The RL10-IIB engine, is capable of multimode thrust operation. The engine operates at two low-thrust levels: tank head idle (THI), approximately 1 to 2 percent of full thrust; and pumped idle, 10 percent of full thrust. Operation at THI provides vehicle propellant settling thrust and efficient thermal conditioning; PI operation provides vehicle tank prepressurization and maneuver thrust for low-g deployment. Stable combustion of the RL10-IIB engine during the low-thrust operating modes can be accomplished by using a heat exchanger to supply gaseous oxygen to the propellant injector. The oxidized heat exchanger (OHE) vaporizes the liquid oxygen using hydrogen as the energy source. This report summarizes the test activity and post-test data analysis for two possible heat exchangers, each of which employs a completely different design philosophy. One design makes use of a low-heat transfer (PHT) approach in combination with a volume to attenuate pressure and flow oscillations. The test data showed that the LHT unit satisfied the oxygen exit quality of 0.95 or greater in both the THI and PI modes while maintaining stability. The HHT unit fulfilled all PI requirements; data for THI satisfactory operation is implied from experimental data that straddle the exact THI operating point.

Kanic, P. G.↗

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Adsorption/Desorption in Packed Sorption Beds Under Ideal and Non-Ideal Flows

The importance of the wall effect on packed beds in the adsorption and desorption of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water on molecular sieve 5A of 0.127 cm in radius is examined experimentally and with one-dimensional computer simulations. Experimental results are presented for a 22.5-cm long by 4.5-cm diameter cylindrical column with concentration measurements taken at various radial locations. The set of partial differential equations are solved using finite differences and Newman's method. Comparison of test data with the axial-dispersed, non-isothermal, linear driving force model suggests that a two-dimensional model (submitted to Separation Science and Technology) is required for accurate simulation of the average column breakthrough concentration. Additional comparisons of test data with the model provided information on the interactive effects of carrier gas coadsorption with CO2, as well as CO2-H2O interactions.

Mohamadinejad, H.↗

Aircraft System Identification from Multisine Inputs and Frequency Responses

A frequency-domain approach is described for estimating parameters, such as stability and control derivatives, in aircraft flight dynamic models from measured input and output data. The approach uses orthogonal phase-optimized multisines for moving the aircraft control effectors, Fourier analysis for computing multiple-input multiple-output frequency responses, and a maximum likelihood estimator called frequency response error (FRE) for determining values and uncertainties for the model parameters. The approach is demonstrated using flight test data for two subscale airplanes: the T-2 generic transport model and the X-56A aeroelastic demonstrator. Results and comparisons with the output-error method indicated that the approach produced accurate estimates of stability and control derivatives and their uncertainties from flight test data.

Grauer, Jared A.↗

Comparison of computer codes for calculating dynamic loads in wind turbines

Seven computer codes for analyzing performance and loads in large, horizontal-axis wind turbines were used to calculate blade bending moment loads for two operational conditions of the 100 kW Mod-O wind turbine. Results are compared with test data on the basis of cyclic loads, peak loads, and harmonic contents. Four of the seven codes include rotor-tower interaction and three are limited to rotor analysis. With a few exceptions, all calculated loads were within 25% of nominal test data.

Spera, D. A.↗

An estimation of aerodynamic forces and moments on an airplane model under steady state spin conditions

The problem of estimating the aerodynamic characteristics of a wing body configuration of a spinning airplane at extreme angles of attack and spin rates is approached by the application of strip theory. Semiempirical methods are used to estimate the aerodynamic force distributions over each component using static, nonrotational wind-tunnel test data. To these predictions, corrections are applied to account for the primary rotational flow effects which are significant at large spin rates. The results of this modified strip theory are shown to be in good agreement with spin tunnel rotary balance test data.

Pamadi, B. N.↗

Numerical Modeling of Propellant Boil-Off in a Cryogenic Storage Tank

A numerical model to predict boil-off of stored propellant in large spherical cryogenic tanks has been developed. Accurate prediction of tank boil-off rates for different thermal insulation systems was the goal of this collaboration effort. The Generalized Fluid System Simulation Program, integrating flow analysis and conjugate heat transfer for solving complex fluid system problems, was used to create the model. Calculation of tank boil-off rate requires simultaneous simulation of heat transfer processes among liquid propellant, vapor ullage space, and tank structure. The reference tank for the boil-off model was the 850,000 gallon liquid hydrogen tank at Launch Complex 39B (LC- 39B) at Kennedy Space Center, which is under study for future infrastructure improvements to support the Constellation program. The methodology employed in the numerical model was validated using a sub-scale model and tank. Experimental test data from a 1/15th scale version of the LC-39B tank using both liquid hydrogen and liquid nitrogen were used to anchor the analytical predictions of the sub-scale model. Favorable correlations between sub-scale model and experimental test data have provided confidence in full-scale tank boil-off predictions. These methods are now being used in the preliminary design for other cases including future launch vehicles

Majumdar, A. K.↗

Manufacturing and Mechanical Testing of TC1225/LM-PAEK and TC1200/PEEK Thermoplastic Composite Panels

Development of thermoplastic composites (TPCs) for aerospace structures is experiencing renewed enthusiasm attributed to the availability of rapid manufacturing technology, ease of joining through fusion welding processes, and the successful utilization of the material in flight critical structures. Semicrystalline thermoplastics such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyether ketone ketone (PEKK), and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) have been successfully demonstrated as thermoplastic skins, keel beams, and angle brackets for commercial aircraft. Composite specimens were fabricated from the Toray TC1225 and TC1200 unidirectional prepreg systems and tested to gain confidence with NASA in-house TPC processing as part of the Thermoplastics Development for Exploration Application (TDEA) project. TC1225 is a relatively new material system that uses T700GC fibers and low-melt polyaryl ether ketone (LM-PAEK) resin. TC1200 is the latest version of a material system that has been available for several decades with AS4 fibers and PEEK resin. Results for ultrasonic inspection, optical microscopy, acid digestion, and differential scanning calorimetry establish the quality of the panels. Mechanical test data for unnotched and notched laminate tension and compression as well as compression after impact provide data for equivalency assessment and support material selection in TDEA. Satisfactory equivalence of the TC1225 results and the National Center for Advanced Materials Performance (NCAMP) database was found. The results indicate high-quality manufacturing was achieved, and the resulting mechanical test data are in agreement with that in the literature.

Thermoplastic Composites↗

Horizontal Split Table Conceptual Design for Validation of Nuclear Data used in Advanced Reactors [Slides]

This presentation discusses a methodology that was developed to create conceptual designs of benchmark critical experiments for advanced reactors and nuclear data testing. A first concept that was explored was a pebble-bed high-temperature gas cooled reactor, based on the HTR-10 reactor. The very high correlation is a proof of concept that the design is similar to the application, and performing such critical experiments would help nuclear data testing and validation. Other concepts could be explored if needed, such as a molten-salt reactor, a sodium-cooled fast reactor, or heat pipe reactors/microreactor.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Motorette Thermal Performance Testing and Modeling for an Electric Motor with Additively Manufactured Hollow Conductors with Integrated Heat Pipes

This paper discusses the design, build and test of a motorette to characterize the thermal performance of an additively manufactured coil integrated with heat pipes. The motorette is powered using a variable frequency AC power supply and cooled through two independent cooling systems. The first cooling system cools the stator core using forced convection of air flowing over a finned heat sink mounted on the stator outer diameter. The second cooling system cools the heat pipes using forced convection of 50-50 water ethylene glycol (WEG) mixture flowing through condenser chambers. A 3D thermal FEA model of the setup is built and heat transfer coefficients (HTC) of convective boundaries are computed using coolant flow rates from test data and empirical equations. Temperature at locations on the coil and heat sink are recorded and compared to thermal model predicted values. A maximum temperature error of 22.7% occurs at 180ARMS and 800 Hz operating point for the AM dual coil. The thermal model provides higher temperatures compared to test results and hence it is on the conservative side but in general, there is good correlation between test and model results. Lastly, opportunities for improvement to both test data measurement and 3D thermal FEA modeling are discussed.

additive manufacturing↗

Comparison of computer codes for calculating dynamic loads in wind turbines

Seven computer codes for analyzing performance and loads in large, horizontal axis wind turbines were used to calculate blade bending moment loads for two operational conditions of the 100 kW Mod-0 wind turbine. Results were compared with test data on the basis of cyclic loads, peak loads, and harmonic contents. Four of the seven codes include rotor-tower interaction and three were limited to rotor analysis. With a few exceptions, all calculated loads were within 25 percent of nominal test data.

Spera, D. A.↗

Effects of constraint on crack growth under aircraft spectrum loading

The objective is to study the effects of constraint on fatigue crack growth under aircraft spectrum loading. A plasticity-induced crack-closure model that accounts for constraint variations during the transition from flat-to-slant crack growth was used to correlate crack-growth rate data under constant-amplitude loading and to calculate crack growth under simulated aircraft spectrum loading. The model was applied to several thin-sheet aluminum alloy materials. Under laboratory air conditions, the transition was shown to be related to the size of the cyclic plastic zone based on the effective stress-intensity factor range for several sheet materials and thicknesses. Results from three-dimensional, elastic-plastic, finite-element analyses of a flat, straight-through crack in a thin-sheet aluminum alloy specimen showed a constraint loss similar to that assumed in the model. Using test data and the closure model, the location of the constraint-loss regime in terms of growth rate and the value of the constraint factor at these rates were determined by trial and error. The model was then used to calculate crack growth under the TWIST spectrum. The calculated results agreed reasonably well with test data. In general, the model predicted shorter crack-growth lives than tests under the TWIST spectrum by about 40 percent. For the TWIST spectrum clipped at Level 3, the calculated lives were within about 20 percent. The results demonstrated that constraint variations, especially for thin-sheet alloys, should be accounted for to predict crack growth under typical aircraft spectra.

Newman, J. C., Jr.↗

TEAMER: Water Tunnel Data from Testing the Pterofin Skimmer Concept

Pterofin's Skimmer concept relies on a flapping and pitching hydrofoil to extract hydrokinetic energy from water flows. The concept aims to utilize unsteady fluid dynamics phenomena (added mass, shed vorticity, and unsteady boundary layer development) to achieve higher lift coefficients, enabling increased power density of the hydrokinetic device and a fundamental shift in the rpm/torque scaling of the power take off compared with turbines. The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State, in collaboration with Pterofin, designed and built a proof-of-concept flapping/pitching mechanism which was subsequently tested in ARL's 12-inch water tunnel facility. The mechanical power supplied to or extracted from the mechanism was measured for a range of hydrofoils provided by Pterofin over operating conditions including reduced frequency, Reynolds number, and the ratio between pitching and flapping amplitudes. The power lost to friction in the mechanism was removed from the net power measurement by means of a bare hub tare, with the resultant hydrodynamic power being used to calculate a mechanism-independent and non-dimensional power coefficient. The product of this effort is a dataset describing the power coefficient of a hydrofoil having simultaneous pitching and flapping motions, both of which are approximately sinusoidal. Power coefficients were collected for a range of primary design variables including: - Reduced frequency: 0.01 to 0.95 - Pitching/flapping peak angle ratio: 1.5 to 3.0 - Chord-based Reynolds number: 60,000 to 560,000 Secondary design variables relating to the hydrofoil geometry were explored including: - Aspect ratio - Planform shape - Section thickness distribution - Hydrofoil position relative to the pitching axis - Hydrofoil sweep angle relative to the pitching axis Measured data are provided in mean and time series formats. MATLAB scripts are provided which can be used to generate figures of time-averaged and phase-averaged hydrodynamic power coefficients calculated from the measured data. A complete description of the experiment and data reduction can be found in the Post Access Report for the Pterofin Skimmer test effort which will be available on the TEAMER website. This work was supported by the Pacific Energy Ocean Trust via a TEAMER award.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗