Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “AFTS”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,207 records · Page 67

Liquid Rocket Booster (LRB) for the Space Transportation System (STS) systems study. Appendix A: Stress analysis report for the pump-fed and pressure-fed liquid rocket booster

Pressure effects on the pump-fed Liquid Rocket Booster (LRB) of the Space Transportation System are examined. Results from the buckling tests; bending moments tests; barrel, propellant tanks, frame XB1513, nose cone, and intertank tests; and finite element examination of forward and aft skirts are presented.

Source record↗

Flight telerobotic servicer control from the Orbiter

The research and work conducted on the development of a testbed for a display and control panel for the Flight Telerobotic Servicer (FTS) are presented. Research was conducted on both software and hardware needed to control the FTS. A breadboard was constructed and placed into a mockup of the aft station of the Orbiter spacecraft. This breadboard concept was then evaluated using a computer graphics representation of the Tinman FTS. Extensive research was conducted on the software requirements and implementation. The hardware selected for the breadboard was 'flight like' and in some cases fit and function evaluated. The breadboard team studied some of the concepts without pursuing in depth their impact on the Orbiter or other missions. Assumptions are made concerning payload integration.

Ward, Texas M.↗

Turbulent separated flow over and downstream of a two-element airfoil

Flow characteristics in the vicinity of the flap of a single-slotted airfoil are presented and analyzed. The flow remained attached over the model surfaces, except in the vicinity of the flap trailing edge where a small region of boundary-layer separation extended over the aft 7 percent of flap chord. The airfoil configuration was tested at a Mach number of 0.09 and a chord Reynolds number of 1.8 x 10 to the 6th in the NASA Ames Research Center 7- by 10-Foot Wind Tunnel. The flow was complicated by the presence of a strong, initially inviscid, jet, emanating from the slot between airfoil and flap, and a gradual merging of the main airfoil wake and flap suction-side boundary layer.

Adair, D.↗

Navier-Stokes analysis of solid propellant rocket motor internal flows

A multidimensional implicit Navier-Stokes analysis that uses numerical solution of the ensemble-averaged Navier-Stokes equations in a nonorthogonal, body-fitted, cylindrical coordinate system has been applied to the simulation of the steady mean flow in solid propellant rocket motor chambers. The calculation procedure incorporates a two-equation (k-epsilon) turbulence model and utilizes a consistently split, linearized block-implicit algorithm for numerical solution of the governing equations. The code was validated by comparing computed results with the experimental data obtained in cylindrical-port cold-flow tests. The agreement between the computed and experimentally measured mean axial velocities is excellent. The axial location of transition to turbulent flow predicted by the two-equation (k-epsilon) turbulence model used in the computations also agrees well with the experimental data. Computations performed to simulate the axisymmetric flowfield in the vicinity of the aft field joint in the Space Shuttle solid rocket motor using 14,725 grid points show the presence of a region of reversed axial flow near the downstream edge of the slot.

Sabnis, J. S.↗

Experimental determination of convective heat transfer coefficients in the separated flow region of the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Motor

A series of cold flow heat transfer tests was conducted with a 7.5-percent scale model of the Space Shuttle Rocket Motor (SRM) to measure the heat transfer coefficients in the separated flow region around the nose of the submerged nozzle. Modifications were made to an existing 7.5 percent scale model of the internal geometry of the aft end of the SRM, including the gimballed nozzle in order to accomplish the measurements. The model nozzle nose was fitted with a stainless steel shell with numerous thermocouples welded to the backside of the thin wall. A transient 'thin skin' experimental technique was used to measure the local heat transfer coefficients. The effects of Reynolds number, nozzle gimbal angle, and model location were correlated with a Stanton number versus Reynolds number correlation which may be used to determine the convective heating rates for the full scale Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Motor nozzle.

Whitesides, R. Harold↗

A preliminary TPS design for MRSR - Aerobraking at Mars and at earth

An investigation was made to determine the feasibility of using an aerobrake system for an unmanned mission to Mars and for a return vehicle to earth. A preliminary thermal protection system (TPS) is examined for two small nose radius, straight biconic vehicles aerocapturing at Mars. The TPS for these vehicles, entering at 6 km/s and 8 km/s, are shown to have an advantage over a propulsive burn velocity reduction for orbit insertion. The TPS for each vehicle consisted of an ablator in the region of high heating, and reusable insulation over the rest of the structure. It was determined that a reusable TPS could be used over 98 percent of the aeroshell structure. Also presented is the preliminary TPS design for an Apollo-shaped vehicle aerocapturing at earth. As with the biconics, this vehicle had an ablator in the region of high heating, and reusable insulation on the aft conic section. In contrast to the vehicles aerocapturing at Mars, the ablator is used on 63 percent of the vehicle's aeroshell structure.

Williams, S. D.↗

Transonic Navier-Stokes solutions about a complex high-speed accelerator configuration

Three-dimensional transonic viscous flow computations are presented for a generic high-speed accelerator model which includes wing, body, fillets, and a no-flow through engine nacelle. Solutions are obtained from an algorithm for the compressible Navier-Stokes equations which incorporates an upwind-biased, flux-vector-splitting approach along with longitudinally-patched grids. Results are presented for fully turbulent flow assumptions and include correlations with wind tunnel data. A good quantitative agreement for the forebody surface pressure distribution is achieved between computations and the available wind-tunnel measurements at freestream Mach number equal to 0.9. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the flow is stagnating around the boattail region due to separation from the aft-engine cowl lip.

Ghaffari, Farhad↗

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS)

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) observing facility on the Earth Observing System (EOS) is composed of two instruments, MODIS-Nadir (N) and MODIS-Tilt (T). MODIS-N has 36 spectral bands between 0.4 and 14.2 micrometers with spatial resolution between 214 and 856 meters. MODIS-T has 32 bands with 10-15 nanometer bandwidths between 0.4 and 0.9 micrometers. MODIS-T scans fore and aft + or - 50 degrees. Both instruments scan cross-track so as to provide daily (MODIS-N) or once every 2 days (MODIS-T) coverage at 705 kilometers altitude. Both instruments are entering into the execution phases of their development in 1990.

Salomonson, Vincent V.↗

Noise of a simulated installed model counterrotation propeller at angle-of-attack and takeoff/approach conditions

Acoustic results for two model counterrotation propellers are presented. The propellers were tested over a range of rotational speeds and propeller axis angles of attack in both the baseline configuration and the installed configuration consisting of a simulated upstream nacelle support pylon and fuselage section. Acoustic data were taken with a polar microphone probe attached to the downstream propeller housing, capable of surveying directivities at several azimuthal locations. The forward and aft rotor power coefficients and fundamental rotor-alone tone levels are found to be directly controlled by propeller axis angle of attack. The second-order rotor-alone tones are strongly influenced by the upstream pylon wake at 80 percent speed; however, rotor-alone mechanisms control the tone level at 90 percent speed, while rotor-rotor interaction tones are essentially unaffected by the presence of the simulated installation.

Woodward, Richard P.↗

Thermochemical nonequilibrium issues for earth reentry of Mars mission vehicles

The thermochemical environment about an axisymmetric 60-deg sphere-cone with a circular aft skirt is computed using the Langley Aerothermodynamic Upwind Relaxation Algorithm. Earth entry at 12 km/sec is examined at 70-km and 80-km altitude for two vehicle base radii of 2 m and 6 m. These four test cases bracket some proposed scenarios for earth reentry of a manned Mars mission aerobrake at this velocity. Thermochemical nonequilibrium results are examined for each case and compared with thermal equilibrium results produced by artificially accelerating vibrational relaxation rates and with equilibrium results produced by a viscous shock layer method.

Mitcheltree, R. A.↗

Earth atmospheric entry studies for manned Mars missions

Decelerations, heating rates, and total heat loads encountered when returning from Mars to earth at entry speeds of 12 km/sec to 16 km/sec are studied. For entry at 14 km/sec, it is found that a lift/drag ratio (L/D) of 0.5 is required to provide a guidance corridor margin near 1 deg for the specified deceleration limit of 5 g. For a blunted, raked cone with an L/D = 0.5, the peak heating rate near the aft end of the forebody varies from 0.14 to 0.23 kW/sq cm for laminar flow. If ablation triggers boundary layer transition, the peak heating can rise to 0.5 or up to 0.72 kW/sq cm. All heating rates are sufficiently high to make ablative heat shields necessary.

Tauber, M. E.↗

Exploratory wind tunnel investigation of the stability and control characteristics of a three-surface, forward-swept wing advanced turboprop model

The purpose of the present investigation was to parametrically study the stability and control characteristics of a forward-swept wing three-surface turboprop model through an extended angle of attack range, including the deep-stall region. As part of a joint research program between North Carolina State University and NASA Langley Research Center, a low-speed wind tunnel investigation was conducted with a three-surface, forward-swept wing, aft-mounted, twin-pusher propeller, model, representative of an advanced turboprop configuration. The tests were conducted in the NASA Langley 12-Foot Low-Speed Wind Tunnel. The model parameters varied in the test were horizontal tail location, canard size, sweep and location, and wing position. The model was equipped with air turbines, housed within the nacelles and driven by compressed air, to model turboprop power effects. A three-surface, forward-swept wing configuration that provided satisfactory static longitudinal and lateral/directional stability was identified. The three-surface configuration was found to have greater longitudinal control and increased center of gravity range relative to a conventional (two-surface) design. The test showed that power had a large favorable effect on stability and control about all three axis in the post-stall regime.

Coe, Paul L., Jr.↗

Experimental investigation of wingtip aerodynamic loading

An experimental investigation was performed to obtain the aerodynamic loading of a series of wingtips. The wingtips varied in taper ratio (1.0, 0.6, and 0.3) and in sweep angle (0, 20, 30, 35, and 45 deg). The wingtips were tested separately (wingtip only configuration) and while mounted on a semi-span wing. The quarter-chord sweep angle of the wing was varied from 30 deg forward sweep, to unswept, to 30 deg. aft sweep. Wingtip loading was obtained from a six component strainguage balance mounted in the wingtip. The effect of wing sweep and wingtip taper and wingtip sweep on the wingtip lift curve slope, drag polar, and pitching moment behavior is discussed. The obtained wingtip data was used to define blade tip platforms, suitable for use in the Free-Tip Rotor configuration. The Free-Tip Rotor has blade tips, which are allowed to weathervane into the blade tip's relative wind. A passive control moment is applied to the blade tip's pitch axis so as to cause blade tip motion around a prescribed null point providing a finite blade tip lift.

Van Aken, Johannes M.↗

Three-dimensional compressible jet-in-crossflow calculations using improved viscosity models and adapted grid

Previous calculations of jet-in-crossflow problems have been sensitive to the turbulence and artificial viscosity models and to the grid. Consequently, the eddy viscosity model in the PARC3D code was modified to consider the turbulent jet by switching from the Baldwin-Lomax (1978) model to an axisymmetric jet model. A modified artificial viscosity model has been utilized and evaluated in this study as well. The new model includes cell size scaling and a directional dependence in the coefficients. Computational results from PARC3D demonstrate the effects of the viscosity models on the pressure distribution fore and aft of the jet and the ability of the adaptive grid scheme to adjust to the three-dimensional gradients around the jet.

Lytle, John K.↗

Euler analysis comparison with LDV data for an advanced counter-rotation propfan at cruise

A fine mesh Euler solution of the F4/A4 unducted fan (UDF) model flowfield is compared with laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) data taken in the NASA Lewis 8- by 6-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel. The comparison is made primarily at one axial plane downstream of the front rotor where the LDV particle lag errors are reduced. The agreement between measured and predicted velocities in this axial plane is good. The results show that a dense mesh is needed in the centerbody stagnation region to minimize entropy generation that weakens the aft row passage shock. The predicted radial location of the tip vortex downstream of the front rotor agrees well with the experimental results but the strength is overpredicted. With 40 points per chord line, the integrated performance quantities are nearly converged, but more points are needed to resolve passage shocks and flow field details.

Miller, Christopher J.↗

More accurate predictions with transonic Navier-Stokes methods through improved turbulence modeling

Significant improvements in predictive accuracies for off-design conditions are achievable through better turbulence modeling; and, without necessarily adding any significant complication to the numerics. One well established fact about turbulence is it is slow to respond to changes in the mean strain field. With the 'equilibrium' algebraic turbulence models no attempt is made to model this characteristic and as a consequence these turbulence models exaggerate the turbulent boundary layer's ability to produce turbulent Reynolds shear stresses in regions of adverse pressure gradient. As a consequence, too little momentum loss within the boundary layer is predicted in the region of the shock wave and along the aft part of the airfoil where the surface pressure undergoes further increases. Recently, a 'nonequilibrium' algebraic turbulence model was formulated which attempts to capture this important characteristic of turbulence. This 'nonequilibrium' algebraic model employs an ordinary differential equation to model the slow response of the turbulence to changes in local flow conditions. In its original form, there was some question as to whether this 'nonequilibrium' model performed as well as the 'equilibrium' models for weak interaction cases. However, this turbulence model has since been further improved wherein it now appears that this turbulence model performs at least as well as the 'equilibrium' models for weak interaction cases and for strong interaction cases represents a very significant improvement. The performance of this turbulence model relative to popular 'equilibrium' models is illustrated for three airfoil test cases of the 1987 AIAA Viscous Transonic Airfoil Workshop, Reno, Nevada. A form of this 'nonequilibrium' turbulence model is currently being applied to wing flows for which similar improvements in predictive accuracy are being realized.

Johnson, Dennis A.↗

Applications of a transonic wing design method

A method for designing wings and airfoils at transonic speeds using a predictor/corrector approach was developed. The procedure iterates between an aerodynamic code, which predicts the flow about a given geometry, and the design module, which compares the calculated and target pressure distributions and modifies the geometry using an algorithm that relates differences in pressure to a change in surface curvature. The modular nature of the design method makes it relatively simple to couple it to any analysis method. The iterative approach allows the design process and aerodynamic analysis to converge in parallel, significantly reducing the time required to reach a final design. Viscous and static aeroelastic effects can also be accounted for during the design or as a post-design correction. Results from several pilot design codes indicated that the method accurately reproduced pressure distributions as well as the coordinates of a given airfoil or wing by modifying an initial contour. The codes were applied to supercritical as well as conventional airfoils, forward- and aft-swept transport wings, and moderate-to-highly swept fighter wings. The design method was found to be robust and efficient, even for cases having fairly strong shocks.

Campbell, Richard L.↗

Prediction of the noise from a propeller at angle of attack

An analysis is presented to predict the noise of a propeller at angle of attack. The analysis is an extension of that reported by Mani which predicted the change in noise due to angle of attack to both unsteady loading and to azimuthal variation of the radiation efficiency of steady noise sources. Mani's analysis, however, was limited to small angles of attack. The analysis reported herein removes this small angle limitation. Results from the analysis are compared with the data of Woodward for a single rotation propeller and a counter rotating propeller. The comparison shows that including the effect of angle of attack on the steady noise sources significantly improves the agreement with data. Including higher order effects of angle of attack, while changing the predicted noise at far forward and aft angles, has little effect near the propeller plane.

Krejsa, Eugene A.↗