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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.

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116 records · Page 7

The Harmonic Linearized Navier-Stokes Equations for Transition Prediction in Three-Dimensional Flows

The conventional method to predict the onset of laminar-turbulent transition in convectively unstable boundary-layer flows is based on the logarithmic amplification ratio, the so-called N-factor, of the linear instability waves. To calculate the N-factor, the flow variables are decomposed into a laminar basic state solution and the linear disturbances, which are assumed to be harmonic in time. The most commonly used linear stability analysis approaches include the locally parallel linear stability theory (LST) and the non-local, weakly nonparallel parabolized stability equations (PSE). However, these methods do not account for strong streamwise gradients that are encountered in several configurations of interest, as roughness elements, steps, gaps, or corners. To solve the linear evolution of disturbances along such strongly nonparallel regions, the harmonic linearized Navier-Stokes equations (HLNSE) need to be solved. The discretization of the HLNSE for spanwise/azimuthally inhomogeneous laminar basic states yields a linear system of complex arithmetic with a leading dimension of the order of 107 to 108. A combined multithread and multiprocessor algorithm is implemented for the direct solution of such linear system. Results for a supersonic boundary layer over a three-dimensional roughness patch show good agreement with experimental measurements when the evolution of the instability waves over the roughness patch is included via the HLNSE.

Boundary Layer Stability↗

MUSTANG: A Workhorse for NASA Spaceflight Avionics

The Modular Unified Space Technology Avionics for Next Generation (MUSTANG) is a small integrated Avionics system including Command and Data Handling (C&DH), Power System Electronics (PSE), Attitude Control System Interfaces (ACS), and Propulsion Electronics. The MUSTANG Avionics Architecture is built upon many years of knowledge capture and lessons learned at the Goddard Space Flight Center. With a motivation towards modularity and keeping board redesign costs to a minimum, MUSTANG offers flexibility in features with a backplane-less design and allows the user to choose the options (cards) needed for their system. It incorporates a distributed power system that provides secondary power to all its subcomponents reducing the number of primary services needed for an Avionics. MUSTANG can be integrated into one system or divided into several smaller components. MUSTANG supports redundancy and cross-strap ability for a more robust and reliable Avionics system. A variation of MUSTANG exists for Instrument Electronics called iMUSTANG and allows the user to select functionality applicable to the instrument electronics. MUSTANG is not meant to replace Avionics for all spacecraft. There are limitations due to its relatively compact size, but the MUSTANG design has proven broadly applicable on many spacecraft and instrument bus avionics architectures.

MUSTANG↗

Transition Modeling Based on the Dual N-factor Method for the CRM-NLF Wind Tunnel Configuration

The dual N-factor method is used to model the boundary-layer transition over the common research model with natural laminar flow (CRM-NLF) aircraft configuration. The flow conditions match selected test conditions from a wind tunnel experiment in the National Transonic Facility at the NASA Langley Research Center. The paper presents a systematic methodology for transition prediction in the presence of a dual shock system and extends the prior capability for iteratively coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD) predictions to incorporate three-dimensional, transonic wings. The method employs stability computations based on the linear parabolized stability equations (PSE), along with a dual N-factor criterion. The iterative process begins with the fully turbulent Reynolds-averaged-Navier-Stokes (RANS) mean flow solution. For the first iteration, a mean flow solution is calculated with an imposed transition front that aligns with the shock front from the fully turbulent solution. Subsequently, stability computations are performed along a set of streamlines across the wing to calculate the amplification of planar Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) and stationary crossflow (CF) modes. The transition criterion based on the dual N-factor method is used to infer the updated transition front and the process is successively repeated until convergence of the solution. Within three iterations, the predicted fronts for angles of attack of 1.45, 1.98, 2.46 and 2.94 degrees and a mean-aerodynamic-chord Reynolds number equal to 15 million, approach visual convergence in most regions of the studied cases, and the resulting predictions are in good agreement with the transition fronts deduced from measurements of temperature-sensitive paint. Even though surface pressure measurements based on fully-turbulent flow agree well with the measured pressure coefficient distributions, strong viscous-inviscid interaction effects cause significant shifts in the shock locations based on the imposed transition front, underscoring the intrusive nature of static pressure measurements using surface mounted ports on the CRM-NLF configuration.

Boundary Layer Transition↗

Effects of Random Micron-Sized Roughness on Swept-Wing Transition

This study examines the effect of random micron-sized distributed roughness on stationary crossflow instabilities. The roughness parameters are varied by creating nanoparticle coatings of various formulations and applying them to inserts that cover approximately the first 14% of the model. In addition to the baseline configuration (no added roughness, root-mean-square (RMS) ≈ 0.42 𝜇m), panels with RMS roughness values of 4.8 and 8.6 𝜇m were tested, with correlation lengths of 1029 and 385 𝜇m, respectively. Despite the significant roughness levels tested, the transition location was found to be only mildly impacted by the additional roughness, and the roughness panel with lower RMS amplitude caused a larger upstream movement of transition, on average. However, the stationary crossflow amplitudes and wavelength content were found to vary substantially depending on the roughness input. In particular, the panel with higher RMS roughness amplitude resulted in significantly larger amplitudes in the 7.5-9 mm wavelength range at the farthest upstream measurement station, while the lower roughness panel resulted in mildly larger amplitudes at 10 mm and wavelengths larger than 15 mm. Nonlinear Parabolized Stability Equations (PSE) computations were performed to attempt to estimate the initial amplitudes of the stationary crossflow instabilities. Wavelength spectra were matched at the most upstream measurement location, but large discrepancies exist between the predicted and measured growth behavior farther downstream, thus, more work is required to improve confidence in initial amplitude estimates.

boundary-layer transition↗

Effects of Random Micron-Sized Roughness on Swept-Wing Transition

This study examines the effect of random micron-sized distributed roughness on stationary crossflow instabilities. The roughness parameters are varied by creating nanoparticle coatings of various formulations and applying them to inserts that cover approximately the first 14% of the model. In addition to the baseline configuration (no added roughness, root-mean-square (RMS) ≈ 0.42 𝜇m), panels with RMS roughness values of 4.8 and 8.6 𝜇m were tested, with correlation lengths of 1029 and 385 𝜇m, respectively. Despite the significant roughness levels tested, the transition location was found to be only mildly impacted by the additional roughness, and the roughness panel with lower RMS amplitude caused a larger upstream movement of transition, on average. However, the stationary crossflow amplitudes and wavelength content were found to vary substantially depending on the roughness input. In particular, the panel with higher RMS roughness amplitude resulted in significantly larger amplitudes in the 7.5-9 mm wavelength range at the farthest upstream measurement station, while the lower roughness panel resulted in mildly larger amplitudes at 10 mm and wavelengths larger than 15 mm. Nonlinear Parabolized Stability Equations (PSE) computations were performed to attempt to estimate the initial amplitudes of the stationary crossflow instabilities. Wavelength spectra were matched at the most upstream measurement location, but large discrepancies exist between the predicted and measured growth behavior farther downstream, thus, more work is required to improve confidence in initial amplitude estimates.

boundary-layer transition↗

Effects of Random Micron-Sized Roughness on Swept-Wing Transition

This study examines the effect of random micron-sized distributed roughness on stationary crossflow instabilities. The roughness parameters are varied by creating nanoparticle coatings of various formulations and applying them to inserts that cover approximately the first 14% of the model. In addition to the baseline configuration (no added roughness, root-mean-square (RMS) ≈ 0.42 𝜇m), panels with RMS roughness values of 4.8 and 8.6 𝜇m were tested, with correlation lengths of 1029 and 385 𝜇m, respectively. Despite the significant roughness levels tested, the transition location was found to be only mildly impacted by the additional roughness, and the roughness panel with lower RMS amplitude caused a larger upstream movement of transition, on average. However, the stationary crossflow amplitudes and wavelength content were found to vary substantially depending on the roughness input. In particular, the panel with higher RMS roughness amplitude resulted in significantly larger amplitudes in the 7.5-9 mm wavelength range at the farthest upstream measurement station, while the lower roughness panel resulted in mildly larger amplitudes at 10 mm and wavelengths larger than 15 mm. Nonlinear Parabolized Stability Equations (PSE) computations were performed to attempt to estimate the initial amplitudes of the stationary crossflow instabilities. Wavelength spectra were matched at the most upstream measurement location, but large discrepancies exist between the predicted and measured growth behavior farther downstream, thus, more work is required to improve confidence in initial amplitude estimates.

boundary-layer transition↗

X2000 power system electronics development

The Europa Orbiter mission, currently baselined for launch in March 2008, is intended to follow up on tantalizing results from the Gulileo spacecraft, data from which suggests that there may be a global Ocean underneath the jovian satellite Europa's water ice crust. Scientific objectives for the mission are to ascertain whether or not Europa has a liquid water ocean, to characterize ice layers beneath the surface, and to find the most scientifically enticing landing sites for future missions.

X2000 PSE power system↗