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At least 1,171 records · Page 65

Wind-tunnel tests of wide-chord teetering rotors with and without outboard flapping hinges

Wind tunnel tests of aeroelastically designed helicopter rotor models were conducted to obtain rotor aerodynamic performance and dynamic response data pertaining to two-bladed teetering rotors with a wider chord and lower hover tip speed than currently employed on production helicopters. The effects of a flapping hinge at 62 percent radius were also studied. Finally, the effects of changing tip mass on operating characteristics of the rotor with the outboard flapping hinge were examined. The models were tested at several shaft angles of attack for five advance ratios, 0.15, 0.25, 0.35, 0.40, and 0.45. For each combination of shaft angle and advance ratio, the rotor lift was varied over a wide range to include simulated maneuver conditions. At each test condition, rotor aerodynamic performance and dynamic response data were obtained. From these tests, it was found that wide-chord rotors may be subject to large control forces. An outboard flapping hinge may be used to reduce beamwise bending moments over a significant part of the blade radius without significantly affecting the chordwise bending moments.

Weller, W. H.↗

Noise of the SR-3 propeller model at 2 deg and 4 deg angle of attack

The noise effect of operating supersonic tip speed propellers at angle of attack with respect to the incoming flow was determined. Increases in the maximum blade passage noise were observed for the propeller operating at angle of attack. The noise increase was not symmetrical with one wall of the wind tunnel having significantly more noise increase than the other wall. This was apparently the result of the rotational direction of the propeller. The lack of symmetry of the noise at angle of attack to the use of oppositely rotating propellers on opposite sides of an airplane fuselage as a way of minimizing the noise due to operation at angle of attack.

Dittmar, J. H.↗

Application of Runge Kutta time marching scheme for the computation of transonic flows in turbomachines

Numerical solutions of the unsteady Euler equations are obtained using the classical fourth order Runge Kutta time marching scheme. This method is fully explicit and is applied to the governing equations in the finite volume, conservation law form. In order to determine the efficiency of this scheme for solving turbomachinery flows, steady blade-to-blade solutions are obtained for compressor and turbine cascades under subsonic and transonic flow conditions. Computed results are compared with other numerical methods and wind tunnel measurements. The present study also focuses on other important numerical aspects influencing the performance of the algorithm and the solution accuracy such as grid types, boundary conditions, and artificial viscosity. For this purpose, H, O, and C type computational grids as well as characteristic and extrapolation type boundary conditions are included in the solution procedure.

Subramanian, S. V.↗

Evaluation of propeller/nacelle interactions in the PTA program

Advanced highly-loaded propellers are proposed to power transport aircraft that cruise at high subsonic speeds giving significant fuel savings over the equivalent turbofan engine. In order to realize these savings, the propeller must be installed so that the aerodynamics of the propeller/nacelle combination do not lead to excessive cyclic blade stresses or installation losses. The on-going, NASA sponsored, Propfan Test Assessment Program (PTA) has provided the first high-speed wind-tunnel data on an installed propfan complete with an inlet. This paper presents computational techniques that allow: (1) optimization of inlet plane location, (2) contouring of lip and cowl, and (3) estimation of propeller cyclic loads due to a nonuniform flowfield. These computational methods, in spite of the complexity of the configuration and the slipstream effects, provide predictions of aerodynamic performance which are in excellent agreement with wind-tunnel data.

Aljabri, A. S.↗

Application of Runge Kutta time marching scheme for the computation of transonic flows in turbomachines

Numerical solutions of the unsteady Euler equations are obtained using the classical fourth order Runge Kutta time marching scheme. This method is fully explicit and is applied to the governing equations in the finite volume, conservation law form. In order to determine the efficiency of this scheme for solving turbomachinery flows, steady blade-to-blade solutions are obtained for compressor and turbine cascades under subsonic and transonic flow conditions. Computed results are compared with other numerical methods and wind tunnel measurements. The study also focuses on other important numerical aspects influencing the performance of the algorithm and the solution accuracy such as grid types, boundary conditions and artificial viscosity. For this purpose, H, O, and C type computational grids as well as characteristic and extrapolation type boundary conditions are included in solution procedures.

Subramanian, S. V.↗

Comparison of Rotor Structural Loads Calculated using Comprehensive Analysis

Blade flap and chord bending and torsion moments are investigated for six rotors operating at transition and high speed: H-34 in flight and wind tunnel, SA 330 (research Puma), SA 349/2, UH-60A full-scale, and BO- 105 model (HART-I). The measured data from flight and wind tunnel tests are compared with calculations obtained using the comprehensive analysis CAMRAD II. The calculations were made using two free wake models: rolled-up and multiple-trailer with consolidation models. At transition speed, there is fair to good agreement for the flap and chord bending moments between the test data and analysis for the H-34, research Puma, and SA 349/2. Torsion moment correlation, in general, is fair to good for all the rotors investigated. Better flap bending and torsion moment correlation is obtained for the UH-60A and BO-105 rotors by using the multiple-trailer with consolidation wake model. In the high speed condition, the analysis shows generally better correlation in magnitude than in phase for the flap bending and torsion moments. However, a significant underprediction of chord bending moment is observed for the research Puma and UH-60A. The poor chord bending moment correlation appears to be caused by the airloads model, not the structural dynamics.

Johnson, Wayne↗

Overview of the Novel Intelligent JAXA Active Rotor Program

The Novel Intelligent JAXA Active Rotor (NINJA Rotor) program is a cooperative effort between JAXA and NASA, involving a test of a JAXA pressure-instrumented, active-flap rotor in the 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel at Ames Research Center. The objectives of the program are to obtain an experimental database of a rotor with active flaps and blade pressure instrumentation, and to use that data to develop analyses to predict the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic performance of rotors with active flaps. An overview of the program is presented, including a description of the rotor and preliminary pretest calculations.

Saito, Shigeru↗

Preliminary Aeroacoustic Measurements from the AART in the NFAC 40-by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel

The primary objective: determine the aerodynamics and acoustics related to an auxiliary propulsor mounted behind an isolated wing in the National Full Scale Aerodynamic Complex 40-by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel. The primary data points match test conditions for in-flow stereo PIV measurements completed in the Ames 7x10 in 2018. The propeller consists of a Sensenich L26H commercial off the shelf blade set and hub, with a 26 inch diameter; propeller performance is measured with an internal balance integrated in the test stand. The wing is a NACA 0015 with a 12 inch chord; 58.5 inches in height for full wing configuration; 40.5 inches in height for the half wing configuration.

Aeroacoustics↗

Aeroelastic Stability of a Four-Bladed Semi-Articulated Soft-Inplane Tiltrotor Model

A new four-bladed, semi-articulated, soft-inplane rotor system, designed as a candidate for future heavy-lift rotorcraft, was tested at model scale on the Wing and Rotor Aeroelastic Testing System (WRATS), a 1/5-size aeroelastic wind-tunnel model based on the V-22. The experimental investigation included a hover test with the model in helicopter mode subject to ground resonance conditions, and a forward flight test with the model in airplane mode subject to whirl-flutter conditions. An active control system designed to augment system damping was also tested as part of this investigation. Results of this study indicate that the new four-bladed, soft-inplane rotor system in hover has adequate damping characteristics and is stable throughout its rotor-speed envelope. However, in airplane mode it produces very low damping in the key wing beam-bending mode, and has a low whirl-flutter stability boundary with respect to airspeed. The active control system was successful in augmenting the damping of the fundamental system modes, and was found to be robust with respect to changes in rotor-speed and airspeed. Finally, conversion-mode dynamic loads were measured on the rotor and these were found to be significantly lower for the new soft-inplane hub than for the previous baseline stiff-inplane hub.

Nixon, Mark W.↗

Aeroelastic Stability of a Four-Bladed Semi-Articulated Soft-Inplane Tiltrotor Model

A new four-bladed, semi-articulated, soft-inplane rotor system, designed as a candidate for future heavy-lift rotorcraft, was tested at model scale on the Wing and Rotor Aeroelastic Testing System (WRATS), a 1/5-size aeroelastic wind-tunnel model based on the V-22. The experimental investigation included a hover test with the model in helicopter mode subject to ground resonance conditions, and a forward flight test with the model in airplane mode subject to whirl-flutter conditions. An active control system designed to augment system damping was also tested as part of this investigation. Results of this study indicate that the new four-bladed, soft-inplane rotor system in hover has adequate damping characteristics and is stable throughout its rotor-speed envelope. However, in airplane mode it produces very low damping in the key wing beam-bending mode, and has a low whirl-flutter stability boundary with respect to airspeed. The active control system was successful in augmenting the damping of the fundamental system modes, and was found to be robust with respect to changes in rotor speed and airspeed. Finally, conversion-mode dynamic loads were measured on the rotor and these were found to be signi.cantly lower for the new soft-inplane hub than for the previous baseline stiff - inplane hub.

Nixon, Mark W.↗

A semi-coupled aero-servo-hydro numerical model for floating vertical axis wind turbines operating on TLPs

Floating vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) have many advantages over floating horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) at large scales in deep water; however, there are several key challenges to overcome as well. One of the challenges is accurate prediction of the dynamic motion and loads performance of a floating VAWT. Here, a new semi-coupled aero-servo-hydro method is developed to assess dynamic responses of a floating VAWT by modeling the system as a 7-degree-of-freedom (7-DOF) model: the supporting platform is considered as a 6-DOF rigid body; the rotation of the rotor is considered as the 7th DOF. Aerodynamic, hydrodynamic, and mooring loads and control of the rotor speed are fully considered. This model can predict performance of floating VAWTs with reasonable fidelity according to validation with OrcaFlex through static and dynamic responses of a floating VAWT with Darrieus rotor operating on a new tension-leg platform (TLP). Being a reduced complexity model, the 7-DOF model can be efficiently applied to assess performance of the newly designed floating VAWT. This model is used to examine the relative contributions of aerodynamic and wave loads imparted to the floating system and the benefits of a three-bladed VAWT over a two-bladed VAWT through dynamic and fatigue analysis.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Low pressure ratio fan noise experiment and theory.

Evaluation of data obtained from noise measurements on a wind-tunnel model of a Q-FAN, a new low-pressure-ratio, low-noise propulsion system. It is found that both rotor blades and stator vanes contributed to the noise signature of the test fan. Tone noise at blade passage frequency and at the high harmonics of blade passage frequency was the result of unsteady inflow to the fan. Tone noise at twice blade passage frequency and several high harmonics resulted from interception of rotor blade wakes by the stators. The midfrequency broadband noise also resulted from interception of wakes by the stators. Rotor vortex noise contributed only at high frequencies where the level of stator broadband decayed.

Metzger, F. B.↗

Free vibrations of the ERDA-NASA 100 kW wind turbine

The ERDA-NASA wind turbine (windmill), which consists of a 93-foot truss tower, a bed plate that supports mechanical and electrical equipment, and two 62.5-foot long blades, was analyzed to determine its free vibrations using NASTRAN. The finite element representation of the system consisted of beam and plate elements. The free vibrations of the tower alone, the blades alone, and the complete system were determined experimentally in the field. These results were obtained by instrumenting the tower or blades with an accelerometer and impacting the components with an instrumented mass. The predicted results for natural frequencies and mode shapes were in excellent agreement with measured data.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Free vibrations of the ERDA-NASA 100 kW wind turbine

The ERDA-NASA wind turbine (windmill), which consists of a 93-foot truss tower, a bed plate that supports mechanical and electrical equipment, and two 62.5-foot long blades, was analyzed to determine its free vibrations using NASTRAN. The finite element representation of the system consisted of beam and plate elements. The free vibrations of the tower alone, the blades alone, and the complete system were determined experimentally in the field. These results were obtained by instrumenting the tower or blades with an accelerometer and impacting the components with an instrumented mass. The predicted results for natural frequencies and mode shapes were in excellent agreement with measured data.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Progress in Wind-Wheel Turbines

New wind turbine offers important advantages over conventional propeller wind turbines according to theoretical studies and tests of small working models. Project results are described in final report now available. Windwheel turbines consists of bladed wheel, main housing, two forward ducts (front concentrators), two side ducts (side concentrators) and base to support and elevate housing.

Frost, W.↗

Aerodynamic interactions between a 1/6-scale helicopter rotor and a body of revolution

A wind-tunnel investigation was conducted in which independent, steady-state aerodynamic forces and moments were measured on a 2.24-m-diam, two-bladed helicopter rotor and a body of revolution. The objective was to determine the interaction of the body on the rotor performance and the effect of the rotor on the body aerodynamics for variations in velocity, thrust, tip-path-plane angle of attack, rotor/body position, and body nose geometry. Results show that a body of revolution near the rotor can produce significant favorable or unfavorable effects on rotor performance, depending on the operating condition. Body longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics are significantly modified by the presence of an operating rotor and hub.

Betzina, M. D.↗

Role of empirical methods

There are different levels of helicopter noise prediction which may be appropriate at various stages in the design process. In the early preliminary design stages, when available information is usually limited to parameters such as gross weight, tip speed, forward speed, rotor radius, and possibly number of blades, one is limited to purely empirically based methodology. As the design progresses, and airfoil blade planforms and twists are defined, predictions of airloads, vortex paths, and compressibility effects may permit application of more analytically based sound pressure level prediction methods. At the present stage of development of first principle prediction methodology, however, the designer may still find it necessary to supplement such analyses with modifications based on empirical experience. Various causes and parameters of helicopter noise were identified and discussed from the standpoint of prediction. Rotational noise, blade-vortex interaction noise, thickness noise, broadband noise, and flyover noise were considered. A modular computer program for helicopter noise prediction (HELNOP) was described briefly. Wind tunnel models as useful tools in predicting full scale helicopter noise were also discussed.

Sternfeld, H.↗