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At least 1,225 records · Page 68

Calculation of the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of wing-flap configurations with externally blown flaps

An analytical method for predicting the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of externally blown flap configurations is described. Two potential flow models make up the prediction method: a wing and flap lifting-surface model and a turbofan engine wake model. A vortex-lattice lifting-surface method is used to represent the wing and multiple-slotted trailing-edge flaps. The jet wake is represented by a series of closely spaced vortex rings normal to a centerline which is free to move to conform to the local flow field. The two potential models are combined in an iterative fashion to predict the jet wake interference effects on a typical EBF configuration. Comparisons of measured and predicted span-load distributions, individual surface forces, forces and moments on the complete configuration, and flow fields are included.

Mendenhall, M. R.↗

Experimental and theoretical investigation of fatigue life in reusable rocket thrust chambers

During a test program to investigate low-cycle thermal fatigue, 13 rocket combustion chambers were fabricated and cyclically test fired to failure. Six oxygen-free, high-conductivity (OFHC) copper and seven Amzirc chambers were tested. The chamber liners were fabricated of copper or copper alloy and contained milled coolant channels. The chambers were completed by means of an electroformed nickel closeout. The oxidant/fuel ratio for the liquid oxygen and gaseous hydrogen propellants was 6.0. The failures in the OFHC copper chambers were not typical fatigue failures but are described as creep rupture enhanced by ratcheting. The coolant channels bulged toward the chamber centerline, resulting in progressive thinning of the wall during each cycle. The failures in the Amzirc alloy chambers were caused by low-cycle thermal fatigue. The lives were much shorter than were predicted by an analytical structural analysis computer program used in conjunction with fatigue life data from isothermal test specimens, due to the uneven distribution of Zr in the chamber material.

Hannum, N. P.↗

Effect of Vibration on Retention Characteristics of Screen Acquisition Systems

An analytical and experimental investigation of the effect of vibration on the retention characteristics of screen acquisition systems was performed. The functioning of surface tension devices using fine-mesh screens requires that the pressure differential acting on the screen be less than its pressure retention capability. When exceeded, screen breakdown will occur and gas-free expulsion of propellant will no longer be possible. An analytical approach to predicting the effect of vibration was developed. This approach considers the transmission of the vibration to the screens of the device and the coupling of the liquid and the screen in establishing the screen response. A method of evaluating the transient response of the gas/liquid interface within the screen was also developed.

Tegart, J. R.↗

Interaction of large, high power systems with operational orbit charged particle environments

A potentially hazardous spacecraft environment interaction is discussed. The interaction of large high voltage systems with low energy (less than 50 eV) plasmas which can result in loss of power and/or arching was examined. The impact of this class of interactions where the ambient operation is most severe at low orbits where the ambient plasmas are densest. Results of experimental work and predictions of simple analytical models were presented and their implications for design of space systems were reviewed.

Purvis, C. K.↗

Discrete time domain modelling and analysis of dc-dc converters with continuous and discontinuous inductor current

Using discrete time state variable representation, a generalized computer-aided modeling and analysis of dc-dc converters is presented. The methodology provides exact modeling and is applicable to all types of power stages and duty-cycle control, including continuous and discontinuous inductor current operation. Converter stability, transient behavior and audio susceptibility can be analytically evaluated and predicted. The generalized theory of the proposed approach to converter modeling and analysis is presented first, followed by a demonstrative example applying the theory to a constant frequency buck converter operating in continuous and discontinuous inductor current mode. Excellent agreement with laboratory test data has been observed.

Iwens, R. P.↗

Interaction of large, high power systems with operational orbit charged particle environments

Concepts are presently being advanced for space systems to be used for such activities as manufacturing, earth observations, scientific exploration, power generation and human habitation, in locations ranging from low earth orbit (300-500 km) to geosynchronous orbit and beyond. Many of these systems concepts envision large structures and high power levels, and consequently higher operating voltages than have been used in space to date. The potential impact of interactions of space systems with their operational orbit charged particle environments on the systems' performance must be accounted for in the design process. A potentially hazardous spacecraft-environment interaction is discussed, namely the interaction of large high voltage systems with low energy (less than 50 eV) plasmas which can result in loss of power, and/or arcing. The impact of this class of interactions on system operation is most severe at low orbits where the ambient plasmas are densest. Results of experimental work and predictions of simple analytical models are presented and their implications for design of space systems are discussed.

Purvis, C. K.↗

Characterization of the effects of metallic impurities on silicon solar cell performance

The effects of controlled concentrations of secondary impurities (Al, C, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ta, Ti, V, Zn, and Zr), incorporated alone or in combinations into Czochralski and float zone crystals, on the performance of silicon solar cells were investigated. Impurity concentrations ranged from 10 to the 11th to 10 to the 17th/cu cm. Solar cells were fabricated by a conventional diffusion process and characterized by computer reduction of current-voltage data. The data suggest that performance loss primarily results from reduction of the base diffusion length. On the basis of this assumption, a first order analytic model which predicts cell performance as a function of impurity concentrations is developed. Calculated performance parameters are in good agreement with observation, except for some impurities, such as Fe, Cu and Ni, which degrade cells via recombination and defects in the junction space-charge region. N-base devices are less affected by impurities, although degradation mechanisms appear to be the same as in p-devices. There seems to be very limited interaction between impurities in multiply-doped cells.

Davis, J. R.↗

Frequency response fo multiple-sampling rate systems

Analytical procedure simplifies prediction of frequency response of multirate digital control systems. Although developed for Space Shuttle flightcontrol system, procedure is applicable to any multirate system describable by linear, constant-coefficient differential equations of difference equations.

Scharmack, D. K.↗

AiResearch QCGAT engine: Acoustic test results

The noise levels of the quiet, general aviation turbofan (QCGAT) engine were measured in ground static noise tests. The static noise levels were found to be markedly lower than the demonstrably quiet AiResearch model TFE731 engine. The measured QCGAT noise levels were correlated with analytical noise source predictions to derive free-field component noise predictions. These component noise sources were used to predict the QCGAT flyover noise levels at FAR Part 36 conditions. The predicted flyover noise levels are about 10 decibels lower than the current quietest business jets.

Kisner, L. S.↗

Handling Qualities of Large Flexible Aircraft

The effects on handling qualities of elastic modes interaction with the rigid body dynamics of a large flexible aircraft are studied by a mathematical computer simulation. An analytical method to predict the pilot ratings when there is a severe modes interactions is developed. This is done by extending the optimal control model of the human pilot response to include the mode decomposition mechanism into the model. The handling qualities are determined for a longitudinal tracking task using a large flexible aircraft with parametric variations in the undamped natural frequencies of the two lowest frequency, symmetric elastic modes made to induce varying amounts of mode interaction.

Poopaka, S.↗

Analytical investigation of aerodynamic characteristics of highly swept wings with separated flow

Many modern aircraft designed for supersonic speeds employ highly swept-back and low-aspect-ratio wings with sharp or thin edges. Flow separation occurs near the leading and tip edges of such wings at moderate to high angles of attack. Attempts have been made over the years to develop analytical methods for predicting the aerodynamic characteristics of such aircraft. Before any method can really be useful, it must be tested against a standard set of data to determine its capabilities and limitations. The present work undertakes such an investigation. Three methods are considered: the free-vortex-sheet method (Weber et al., 1975), the vortex-lattice method with suction analogy (Lamar and Gloss, 1975), and the quasi-vortex lattice method of Mehrotra (1977). Both flat and cambered wings of different configurations, for which experimental data are available, are studied and comparisons made.

Reddy, C. S.↗

Design of slotted transonic wind tunnels for supersonic flow development

A simple analytical method to predict the supersonic flow development in a two-dimensional slotted transonic wind tunnel has been developed and validated. While doing that, an insight has been gained into the flow mechanism which causes overexpansion with some slot shapes. As a consequence of the success of the analysis method, a design method has been developed on similar lines, to obtain slot shapes for prescribed smooth supersonic flow development at a design Mach number. The performance of these slot shapes at off-design conditions have been studied to enable choice of slot shapes to be made, based on acceptable performance over the whole supersonic range of interest.

Ramaswamy, M. A.↗

STS-1 mission contamination evaluation approach

The space transportation system 1 mission will be the first opportunity to assess the induced environment of the orbiter payload bay region. Two tools were developed to aid in this assessment. The shuttle payload contamination evaluation computer program was developed to provide an analytical tool for prediction of the induced molecular contamination environment of the space shuttle orbiter during its onorbit operations. An induced environment contamination monitor was constructed and tested to measure the space shuttle orbiter contamination environment inside the payload bay during ascent and descent and inside and outside the payload bay during the onorbit phase. Measurements are to be performed during the four orbital flight test series. Measurements planned for the first flight are described and predicted environmental data are discussed. The results indicate that the expected data are within the measurement range of the induced environment contamination monitor instruments evaluated, and therefore it is expected that useful contamination environmental data will be available after the first flight.

Jacobs, S.↗

Thermal expansion properties of composite materials

Thermal expansion data for several composite materials, including generic epoxy resins, various graphite, boron, and glass fibers, and unidirectional and woven fabric composites in an epoxy matrix, were compiled. A discussion of the design, material, environmental, and fabrication properties affecting thermal expansion behavior is presented. Test methods and their accuracy are discussed. Analytical approaches to predict laminate coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) based on lamination theory and micromechanics are also included. A discussion is included of methods of tuning a laminate to obtain a near-zero CTE for space applications.

Johnson, R. R.↗

Turbomachinery noise studies of the AiResearch QCGAT engine with inflow control

The AiResearch Quiet Clean General Aviation Turbofan engine was tested on an outdoor test stand to compare the acoustic performance of two inflow control devices (ICD's) of similar design, and three inlet lips of different external shape. Only small performance differences were found. Far-field directivity patterns calculated by applicable existing analyses were compared with the measured tone and broadband patterns. For some of these comparisons, tests were made with an ICD to reduce rotor/inflow disturbance interaction noise, or with the acoustic suppression panels in the inlet or bypass duct covered with aluminum tape to determine hard wall acoustic performance. The comparisons showed that the analytical expressions used predict many directivity pattern features and trends, but can deviate in shape from the measured patterns under certain engine operating conditions. Some patterns showed lobes from modes attributable to rotor/engine strut interaction sources.

Mcardle, J. G.↗

An artificial energy method for calculating flows with shocks

The artificial-viscosity method, first proposed by von Neumann and Richtmyer, introduces an artificial viscous pressure term in regions of compression such that an increase in entropy occurs in shock transition zones. The paper describes how dissipative flows can be induced by reducing the total energy available for adiabatic processes in shock zones. A class of inviscid fluid flows, called semiflows, is described in which the flows exhibit thermodynamic differences. Induced dissipative flows modify the pressure in regions of compression in a manner analogous to the artificial-viscosity method and for a gas, the effect is equivalent to suitably modifying the gas constant in the equation of state. By employing MacCormack's method and the usual non-adiabatic equations, numerical solutions of a Riemann problem are compared with the modified artificial energy method, showing that the dissipation effect predicted by the analytical formulation is reflected in the numerical method as well.

Rose, M. E.↗