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At least 127 records · Page 7

Hypersonic Transition Analysis for HIFiRE Experiments

The HIFiRE-1 flight experiment provided a valuable database pertaining to boundary layer transition over a 7-degree half-angle, circular cone model from supersonic to hypersonic Mach numbers, and a range of Reynolds numbers and angles of attack. This paper reports selected findings from the ongoing computational analysis of the measured in-flight transition behavior. Transition during the ascent phase at nearly zero degree angle of attack is dominated by second mode instabilities except in the vicinity of the cone meridian where a roughness element was placed midway along the length of the cone. The growth of first mode instabilities is found to be weak at all trajectory points analyzed from the ascent phase. For times less than approximately 18.5 seconds into the flight, the peak amplification ratio for second mode disturbances is sufficiently small because of the lower Mach numbers at earlier times, so that the transition behavior inferred from the measurements is attributed to an unknown physical mechanism, potentially related to step discontinuities in surface height near the locations of a change in the surface material. Based on the time histories of temperature and/or heat flux at transducer locations within the aft portion of the cone, the onset of transition correlated with a linear N-factor, based on parabolized stability equations, of approximately 13. Due to the large angles of attack during the re-entry phase, crossflow instability may play a significant role in transition. Computations also indicate the presence of pronounced crossflow separation over a significant portion of the trajectory segment that is relevant to transition analysis.

Li, Fei↗

Stability Analysis for HIFiRE Experiments

The HIFiRE-1 flight experiment provided a valuable database pertaining to boundary layer transition over a 7-degree half-angle, circular cone model from supersonic to hypersonic Mach numbers, and a range of Reynolds numbers and angles of attack. This paper reports selected findings from the ongoing computational analysis of the measured in-flight transition behavior. Transition during the ascent phase at nearly zero degree angle of attack is dominated by second mode instabilities except in the vicinity of the cone meridian where a roughness element was placed midway along the length of the cone. The growth of first mode instabilities is found to be weak at all trajectory points analyzed from the ascent phase. For times less than approximately 18.5 seconds into the flight, the peak amplification ratio for second mode disturbances is sufficiently small because of the lower Mach numbers at earlier times, so that the transition behavior inferred from the measurements is attributed to an unknown physical mechanism, potentially related to step discontinuities in surface height near the locations of a change in the surface material. Based on the time histories of temperature and/or heat flux at transducer locations within the aft portion of the cone, the onset of transition correlated with a linear N-factor, based on parabolized stability equations, of approximately 13.5. Due to the large angles of attack during the re-entry phase, crossflow instability may play a significant role in transition. Computations also indicate the presence of pronounced crossflow separation over a significant portion of the trajectory segment that is relevant to transition analysis. The transition behavior during this re-entry segment of HIFiRE-1 flight shares some common features with the predicted transition front along the elliptic cone shaped HIFiRE-5 flight article, which was designed to provide hypersonic transition data for a fully 3D geometric configuration. To compare and contrast the crossflow dominated transition over the HIFiRE-1 and HIFiRE-5 configurations, this paper also analyzes boundary layer instabilities over a subscale model of the HIFiRE-5 flight configuration that was tested in the Mach 6 quiet tunnel facility at Purdue University.

Li, Fei↗

Approximate heating analysis for the windward-symmetry plane of Shuttle-like bodies at large angle of attack

An engineering method has been developed for computing the windward-symmetry plane convective heat-transfer rates on Shuttle-like vehicles at large angles of attack. The engineering code includes an approximate inviscid flowfield technique, laminar and turbulent heating-rate expressions, an approximation to account for the variable-entropy effects on the surface heating and the concept of an equivalent axisymmetric body to model the windward-ray flowfields of Shuttle-like vehicles at angles of attack from 25 to 45 degrees. The engineering method is validated by comparing computed heating results with corresponding experimental data measured on Shuttle and advanced transportation models over a wide range of flow conditions and angles of attack from 25 to 40 degrees and also with results of existing prediction techniques. The comparisons are in good agreement.

Zoby, E. V.↗

Results of flow-visualization investigations on a 0.015-scale modified configuration 140A/B space shuttle vehicle orbiter (model 36-0) in the Langley Research Center 8-foot transonic pressure tunnel (OA102)

The results are presented of a flow-visualization wind tunnel test of a 0.015-scale model of the Modified Configuration 140A/B Space Shuttle Vehicle Orbiter. Separation zones, flow-recirculation regions, and potential venting and contaminant-ingestion problem areas were studied by means of photographic (video tape) analysis of model-mounted tufts. The model was tested at Mach numbers of 0.60, 0.90, 1.05, and 1.20, at Reynolds numbers of 3.17, 3.98, 4.16, and 4.23, respectively. Model angle-of-attack was varied from 0 deg to 20 deg at 0 deg sideslip-angle. Three control-surface deflection combinations were tested.

Nichols, M. E.↗

Computation of wind tunnel wall effects for complex models using a low-order panel method

A technique for determining wind tunnel wall effects for complex models using the low-order, three dimensional panel method PMARC (Panel Method Ames Research Center) has been developed. Initial validation of the technique was performed using lift-coefficient data in the linear lift range from tests of a large-scale STOVL fighter model in the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC) facility. The data from these tests served as an ideal database for validating the technique because the same model was tested in two wind tunnel test sections with widely different dimensions. The lift-coefficient data obtained for the same model configuration in the two test sections were different, indicating a significant influence of the presence of the tunnel walls and mounting hardware on the lift coefficient in at least one of the two test sections. The wind tunnel wall effects were computed using PMARC and then subtracted from the measured data to yield corrected lift-coefficient versus angle-of-attack curves. The corrected lift-coefficient curves from the two wind tunnel test sections matched very well. Detailed pressure distributions computed by PMARC on the wing lower surface helped identify the source of large strut interference effects in one of the wind tunnel test sections. Extension of the technique to analysis of wind tunnel wall effects on the lift coefficient in the nonlinear lift range and on drag coefficient will require the addition of boundary-layer and separated-flow models to PMARC.

Ashby, Dale L.↗

Analysis of F/A-18 Tail Buffet Data Acquired in the 80- by 120-Foot Wind Tunnel

Tail buffet studies were conducted on a full-scale, production, F/A-18 fighter aircraft in the 80- by 120-Foot Wind Tunnel of the National Full-Scale Aerodynamic Complex at NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California. Tail buffet data were acquired over an angle-of-attack range of +20 deg to +40 deg, a side-slip range of -16 deg to + 16 deg, and at wind speeds up to 100 knots. The maximum speed corresponds to a Reynolds number of l2.3 x l0(exp 6) based on mean aerodynamic chord and a Mach number of 0. 15. The port, vertical tail fin was instrumented with ninety-six surface-pressure transducers, arranged in six by eight arrays, on each side of the fin. ne aircraft was also equipped with a removable Leading-Edge Extension (LEX) fence whose purpose is to reduce tail-buffet loads. Current analysis methods for the unsteady aerodynamic pressures and loads are described. Only results for the zero side-slip condition are to be presented, both with and without the LEX fence. Results of the time-averaged, power-spectral analysis are presented for the tail fin bending moments which are derived from the integrated pressure field. Local wave velocities on the tail surfaces are calculated from pressure correlations. It was found that the LEX fence significantly reduces the magnitude of the root-mean-square pressures and bending moments. Scaling and repeatability issues are addressed by comparing the present full scale results for pressures at the 60%-span and 45%-chord location with previous full-scale F/A-18 tail-buffet test in the 80- by 120- Foot Wind Tunnel, and with several small-scale tests. The comparisons show that the tail buffet frequency scales very well with tail chord and free-stream velocity, and that there is good agreement with the previous full-scale test. Root-mean-square pressures and power spectra do not scale as well as the frequency results. Addition of a LEX fence caused tail-buffet loads to be reduced at all model scales.

James, Kevin D.↗

Heating analysis of bent-nose biconics at high angles of attack using the parabolized Navier-Stokes equations

A method based on the Parabolized Navier-Stokes equations is used to calculate the flow field and heat transfer of lifting entry vehicles. The method is based on the Bean and Warming implicit algorithm and uses a new procedure for preventing departure solutions. Calculations are carried out for blunt on-axis and bent biconics, assuming a perfect gas and laminar flow, and compared with available heat transfer, surface pressure and shock shape measurements for a range of Mach numbers and angles of attack. In all calculations presented here, the starting solution is obtained from available inviscid and boundary layer codes. Good agreement with experiment is indicated. Thus, the method provides an accurate and rather inexpensive procedure for calculating three-dimensional flows at supersonic Mach numbers.

Stephenson, B. L.↗

Spatial Characteristics of the Unsteady Differential Pressures on 16 percent F/A-18 Vertical Tails

Buffeting is an aeroelastic phenomenon which plagues high performance aircraft at high angles of attack. For the F/A-18 at high angles of attack, vortices emanating from wing/fuselage leading edge extensions burst, immersing the vertical tails in their turbulent wake. The resulting buffeting of the vertical tails is a concern from fatigue and inspection points of view. Previous flight and wind-tunnel investigations to determine the buffet loads on the tail did not provide a complete description of the spatial characteristics of the unsteady differential pressures. Consequently, the unsteady differential pressures were considered to be fully correlated in the analyses of buffet and buffeting. The use of fully correlated pressures in estimating the generalized aerodynamic forces for the analysis of buffeting yielded responses that exceeded those measured in flight and in the wind tunnel. To learn more about the spatial characteristics of the unsteady differential pressures, an available 16%, sting-mounted, F-18 wind-tunnel model was modified and tested in the Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT) at the NASA Langley Research Center as part of the ACROBAT (Actively Controlled Response Of Buffet-Affected Tails) program. Surface pressures were measured at high angles of attack on flexible and rigid tails. Cross-correlation and cross-spectral analyses of the pressure time histories indicate that the unsteady differential pressures are not fully correlated. In fact, the unsteady differential pressure resemble a wave that travels along the tail. At constant angle of attack, the pressure correlation varies with flight speed.

Moses, Robert W.↗

An Euler analysis of leading-edge vortex flows on a forebody-strake at supersonic speeds

The flowfield, surface pressure, and integrated forces and moments for a fighter-type forebody with sharp leading-edge strakes have been obtained by numerical solution of the Euler equations. The method is found to correctly predict the leading-edge vortices and embedded shocks which arise at higher angles of attack. Results are presented for the effects of crossflow grid density, artificial viscosity, angle of attack, streamwise station, and camber on the flow characteristics.

Rose, O. J.↗

Inlet flow field investigation. Part 1: Transonic flow field survey

A wind tunnel investigation was conducted to determine the local inlet flow field characteristics of an advanced tactical supersonic cruise airplane. A data base for the development and validation of analytical codes directed at the analysis of inlet flow fields for advanced supersonic airplanes was established. Testing was conducted at the NASA-Langley 16-foot Transonic Tunnel at freestream Mach numbers of 0.6 to 1.20 and angles of attack from 0.0 to 10.0 degrees. Inlet flow field surveys were made at locations representative of wing (upper and lower surface) and forebody mounted inlet concepts. Results are presented in the form of local inlet flow field angle of attack, sideflow angle, and Mach number contours. Wing surface pressure distributions supplement the flow field data.

Yetter, J. A.↗

Performance of an aerodynamic yaw controller mounted on the space shuttle orbiter body flap at Mach 10

A wind-tunnel investigation of the effectiveness of an aerodynamic yaw controller mounted on the lower surface of a shuttle orbiter model body flap was conducted in the Langley 31-Inch Mach 10 Tunnel. The controller consisted of a 60 deg delta fin mounted perpendicular to the body flap lower surface and yawed 30 deg to the free stream direction. The control was tested at angles of attack from 20 deg to 40 deg at zero sideslip for a Reynolds number based on wing mean aerodynamic chord of 0.66 x 10(exp 6). The aerodynamic and control effectiveness characteristics are presented along with an analysis of the effectiveness of the controller in making a bank maneuver for Mach 18 flight conditions. The controller was effective in yaw and produced a favorable rolling moment. The analysis showed that the controller was as effective as the reaction control system in making the bank maneuver. These results warrant further studies of the aerodynamic/aerothermodynamic characteristics of the control concept for application to future transportation vehicles.

Scallion, W. I.↗

Nacelle Aerodynamic and Inertial Loads (NAIL) project

A flight test survey of pressures measured on wing, pylon, and nacelle surfaces and of the operating loads on Boeing 747/Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7A nacelles was made to provide information on airflow patterns surrounding the propulsion system installations and to clarify processes responsible for inservice deterioration of fuel economy. Airloads at takeoff rotation were found to be larger than at any other normal service condition because of the combined effects of high angle of attack and high engine airflow. Inertial loads were smaller than previous estimates indicated. A procedure is given for estimating inlet airloads at low speeds and high angles of attack for any underwing high bypass ratio turbofan installation approximately resembling the one tested. Flight procedure modifications are suggested that may result in better fuel economy retention in service. Pressures were recorded on the core cowls and pylons of both engine installations and on adjacent wing surfaces for use in development of computer codes for analysis of installed propulsion system aerodynamic drag interference effects.

Source record↗

Nacelle Aerodynamic and Inertial Loads (NAIL) project

Inlet airloads were measured by integration of pressures recorded at 252 locations on the right hand inboard (JT9D-7A) nacelle of the Boeing 747 aircraft. Pressures were recorded at 45 locations on the right hand outboard nacelle for comparison. Inertial loads were measured on both nacelles using accelerometers and rate gyros. Flight conditions included takeoffs at several gross weights, high g turns, and a simulated acceptance flight. Airloads at takeoff rotation were found to be larger than at any other normal service condition because of the combined effects of high angle of attack and high engine airflow. Inertial loads were smaller than previous estimates had indicated. A procedure is given for estimating inlet airloads at low speeds and high angles of attack for any underwing high bypass ratio turbofan installation approximately resembling the one tested. Flight procedure modifications are suggested that may result in better fuel economy retention in service. Pressures were recorded on the core cowls and pylons of both engine installations and on adjacent wing surfaces for use in development of computer codes for analysis of installed propulsion system aerodynamic drag interference effects.

Source record↗

Aeroheating Measurements of BOLT Aerodynamic Fairings and Transition Module

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) has sponsored the Boundary Layer Transition (BOLT) Experiments to investigate hypersonic boundary layer transition on a low-curvature, concave surface with swept leading edges. This paper presents aeroheating measurements on a subscale model of the BOLT Flight Geometry, aerodynamic fairings, and Transition Module (TSM) in the NASA Langley 20-Inch Mach 6 Air Tunnel. The purpose of the test was to investigate and identify any areas of localized heating on the TSM for inclusion in the BOLT Critical Design Review (CDR). Surface heating distributions were measured using global phosphor thermography, and data were obtained for a range of model attitudes and free stream Reynolds numbers. Measurements showed low heating on the fairings and TSM. Additional analysis was completed after the CDR to compare heating on the TSM for the nominal BOLT vehicle reentry angle-of-attack with heating on the TSM for possible reentry angle-of-attack excursions. The results of this analysis were used in conjunction with thermal analyses from Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab (JHU/APL) and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to assess the need for thermal protection on the flight vehicle TSM.

Rieken, Elizabeth F.↗

A High Angle of Attack Inviscid Shuttle Orbiter Computation

An accurate description of the aerothermal environment is required to minimize the weight of the Thermal Protection System required on the leeside of winged reentry vehicles. The inability of ground-test facilities to reproduce the high enthalpy, separated flow present during reentry flight conditions, coupled with the prohibitive expense of flight tests, leads to the use of an analytical method - namely Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) - to describe the flow. While the ultimate goal of this work is to accurately predict the leeside flow and its associated thermal environment, an essential and reasonable first step towards that goal is a comparison of pressure predictions by a code with wind-tunnel data. Until such CFD pressure predictions agree with wind-tunnel test cases, there is little hope of accurately predicting the thermal environment at flight conditions. Thus, the objective of this study is to compare the pressure distributions predicted by inviscid, perfect gas CFD to Shuttle Orbiter wind-tunnel data and to address any significant issues encountered during the computation. While flight data is available for the Shuttle Orbiter, a wind-tunnel case is chosen for this study to allow a tractable problem for preliminary investigation. A wind-tunnel case allows the perfect gas assumption for the flow chemistry. This provides a significant computational savings over a several species finite-rate chemistry model which would be necessary if high-temperature effects present at flight conditions were to be included. In addition, by concentrating on the surface pressures, the analysis need only consider inviscid flow for general evaluation of the code capability. This further reduces the computational expense due to the absence of viscous terms and the associated decrease in the number of points required for the computational grid. Previous computational efforts (such as STEIN and HALIS) have been directed toward the windward surface quantities, primarily due to restrictions in treating either the winged geometry or its associated subsonic regions at high angle of attack. The code used for this study, the LAURA (Langley Aerothermodynamic Upwind Relaxation Algorithm) code of Gnoffo, represents a state-of-the-art code for computing the flow over complex configurations at hypersonic speeds. In the study, the LAURA code is applied to a wind-tunnel condition to initiate the assessment of the code's ability to predict the flow over a relatively complex hypersonic vehicle at high angles of attack. This presentation is used to highlight the pertinent results of a more detailed investigation of the inviscid calculation over the Shuttle Orbiter with the LAURA code.

William L. Kleb↗

A mathematical model of a single main rotor helicopter for piloted simulation

A mathematical model, suitable for piloted simulation of the flying qualities of helicopters, is a nonlinear, total force and moment model of a single main rotor helicopter. The model has ten degrees of freedom: six rigid body, three rotor flapping, and the rotor rotational degrees of freedom. The rotor model assumes rigid blades with rotor forces and moments radially integrated and summed about the azimuth. The fuselage aerodynamic model uses a detailed representation over a nominal angle of attack and sideslip range of + or - 15 deg., as well as a simplified curve fit at large angles of attack or sideslip. Stabilizing surface aerodynamics are modeled with a lift curve slope between stall limits and a general curve fit for large angles of attack. A generalized stability and control augmentation system is described. Additional computer subroutines provide options for a simplified engine/governor model, atmospheric turbulence, and a linearized six degree of freedom dynamic model for stability and control analysis.

Talbot, P. D.↗

Theoretical Analysis of the Longitudinal Behavior of an Automatically Controlled Supersonic Interceptor During the Attack Phase

Theoretical analysis of the longitudinal behavior of an automatically controlled supersonic interceptor during the attack phase against a nonmaneuvering target is presented. Control of the interceptor's flight path is obtained by use of a pitch rate command system. Topics lift, and pitching moment, effects of initial tracking errors, discussion of normal acceleration limited, limitations of control surface rate and deflection, and effects of neglecting forward velocity changes of interceptor during attack phase.

Gates, Ordway B., Jr.↗