Compressible Flow Analysis for High-Speed Vehicles
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Computer program MCAP provides for steady state thermal and flow analysis of multiple parallel channels in heat generating solid
Computer program /MCAP/ calculates the temperature distribution in a heat generating solid complicated by nonuniform power and flow distributions between multiple channels. It determines the channel diameters coefficients, the effects of tolerences, the pressure drop at a given flowrate, or the flowrate for a specific pressure drop.
Pierce, B. L.↗
Transonic flow analysis for rotors. Part 2: Three-dimensional, unsteady, full-potential calculation
A numerical method is presented for calculating the three-dimensional unsteady, transonic flow past a helicopter rotor blade of arbitrary geometry. The method solves the full-potential equations in a blade-fixed frame of reference by a time-marching implicit scheme. At the far-field, a set of first-order radiation conditions is imposed, thus minimizing the reflection of outgoing wavelets from computational boundaries. Computed results are presented to highlight radial flow effects in three dimensions, to compare surface pressure distributions to quasi-steady predictions, and to predict the flow field on a swept-tip blade. The results agree well with experimental data for both straight- and swept-tip blade geometries.
Chang, I. C.↗
SSME LOX post flow analysis/fluid structure interaction. Volume 1: Flow analysis
The realization of measures to improve the performance of the Space Shuttle is, to a large extent, dependent on an improved understanding of the fluid flow phenomena occurring in the main engine. The overall arrangement of the primary components of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) are presented. The impingement of the hot gases from the transfer ducts onto the LOX posts causes them to be subjected to severe thermal and gas dynamic loads, which in the past have resulted in the occasional breakage of some elements of the outer row of posts during test firings of the engine, particularly at higher power levels. Large velocities in the gap between the LOX posts may also be a contributing factor in causing dynamic stability problems. The deforming structural response of the posts to the pressure loading may likely affect the gas flowfield by producing a moving flowfield boundary, thereby creating a dynamically coupled unsteady fluid-structure system. The objective was to investigate the three-dimensional, turbulent flow around a simplified SSME LOX post array using an existing Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes flow solver and a suitable turbulence model to parameterize the turbulent shear stresses. Numerical computations were performed to analyze the effect on the flowfield of varying the spacing between the LOX posts, which were modeled as rigid, three-dimensional circular cylinders. The methodology used in the computations is described. Results are presented.
Burke, Roger W.↗
A zonal flow analysis method for two-dimensional airfoils
A closed-loop, overlapped, velocity-coupling procedure has been utilized to combine a two-dimensional potential flow panel code and a Navier-Stokes code. The fully coupled, two-zone code has been used to compute the flow past a NACA 0012 airfoil. For this case, the zonal method has shown that the grid domain size can be reduced to 0.14 chord lengths with less than 1 percent loss in accuracy. Further, the required computation time is reduced by a factor of approximately four.
Summa, J. Michael↗
Flow analysis and design optimization methods for nozzle afterbody of a hypersonic vehicle
This report summarizes the methods developed for the aerodynamic analysis and the shape optimization of the nozzle-afterbody section of a hypersonic vehicle. Initially, exhaust gases were assumed to be air. Internal-external flows around a single scramjet module were analyzed by solving the three dimensional Navier-Stokes equations. Then, exhaust gases were simulated by a cold mixture of Freon and Argon. Two different models were used to compute these multispecies flows as they mixed with the hypersonic airflow. Surface and off-surface properties were successfully compared with the experimental data. In the second phase of this project, the Aerodynamic Design Optimization with Sensitivity analysis (ADOS) was developed. Pre and post optimization sensitivity coefficients were derived and used in this quasi-analytical method. These coefficients were also used to predict inexpensively the flow field around a changed shape when the flow field of an unchanged shape was given. Starting with totally arbitrary initial afterbody shapes, independent computations were converged to the same optimum shape, which rendered the maximum axial thrust.
Baysal, Oktay↗
Computational Flow Analysis of a Left Ventricular Assist Device
Computational fluid dynamics has been developed to a level where it has become an Indispensable part of aerospace research and design. Technology developed foe aerospace applications am also be utilized for the benefit of human health. For example, a flange-to-flange rocket engine fuel-pump simulation includes the rotating and non-rotating components: the flow straighteners, the impeller, and diffusers A Ventricular Assist Device developed by NASA Johnson Space Center and Baylor College of Medicine has a design similar to a rocket engine fuel pump in that it also consists of a flow straightener, an impeller, and a diffuser. Accurate and detailed knowledge of the flowfield obtained by incompressible flow calculations can be greatly beneficial to designers in their effort to reduce the cost and improve the reliability of these devices. In addition to the geometric complexities, a variety of flow phenomena are encountered in biofluids Then include turbulent boundary layer separation, wakes, transition, tip vortex resolution, three-dimensional effects, and Reynolds number effects. In order to increase the role of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in the design process the CFD analysis tools must be evaluated and validated so that designers gain Confidence in their use. The incompressible flow solver, INS3D, has been applied to flow inside of a liquid rocket engine turbopump components and extensively validated. This paper details how the computational flow simulation capability developed for liquid rocket engine pump component analysis has bean applied to the Left Ventricular Assist Device being developed jointly by NASA JSC and Baylor College of Medicine.
Kiris, Cetin↗
Transonic flow analysis for rotors. Part 1: Three-dimensional quasi-steady, full-potential calculation
A new computer program is presented for calculating the quasi-steady transonic flow past a helicopter rotor blade in hover as well as in forward flight. The program is based on the full potential equations in a blade attached frame of reference and is capable of treating a very general class of rotor blade geometries. Computed results show good agreement with available experimental data for both straight and swept tip blade geometries.
Chang, I. C.↗
Second-order explicit finite-difference methods for transient-flow analysis
Three second-order accurate numerical methods - MacCormack's method, Lambda scheme and Gabutti scheme - are introduced to solve the quasi-linear, hyperbolic partial differential equations describing transient flows in closed conduits. The details of these methods and the treatment of boundary conditions are presented and the results computed by using these methods for a typical piping system are compared. It is shown that for the same accuracy, second-order methods require considerably lesser number of computational nodes and computer time as compared to those required by the first-order methods.
Chaudhry, M. H.↗
A three-dimensional turbulent compressible subsonic duct flow analysis for use with constructed coordinate systems
An approximate analysis, applicable to nonorthogonal coordinate systems having a curved centerline and planar transverse coordinate surfaces normal to the centerline, is presented for computation of three-dimensional subsonic flow in straight and curved diffusers. The formulation is intended to facilitate the use of constructed coordinates in circumstances where it is difficult to maintain smooth behavior in higher derivatives; the use of local Cartesian variables and fluxes leads to governing equations which require only first derivatives of the coordinate transformation. The analysis is applied to a particular family of duct and diffuser geometries having curved centerlines and superelliptic cross sections. Qualitative agreement with experimental measurements is observed with regard to streamwise vortices and distortion of the primary flow.
Levy, R.↗
Fluid flow analysis of the SSME high pressure fuel and oxidizer turbine coolant systems
The objective is to provide improved analysis capability for the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) high pressure fuel and oxidizer turbine coolant systems. Each of the systems was analyzed to determine fluid flow rate and thermodynamic and transport properties at all key points in the systems. Existing computer codes were used as a baseline for these analyses. These codes were modified to provide improved analysis capability. The major areas of improvement are listed. A review of the drawings was performed, and pertinent geometry changes were included in the models. Improvements were made in the calculation of thermodynamic and transport properties for a mixture of hydrogen and steam. A one-dimensional turbine model for each system is included as a subroutine to each code. This provides a closed loop analysis with a minimum of required boundary conditions as input. An improved labyrinth seal model is included in the high pressure fuel turbine coolant model. The modifications and the analysis results are presented in detail.
Teal, G. A.↗
Hypersonic flow analysis
While the zonal grid system of Transonic Navier-Stokes (TNS) provides excellent modeling of complex geometries, improved shock capturing, and a higher Mach number range will be required if flows about hypersonic aircraft are to be modeled accurately. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, the Compressible Navier-Stokes (CNS), is under development to combine the required high Mach number capability with the existing TNS geometry capability. One of several candidate flow solvers for inclusion in the CNS is that of F3D. This upwinding flow solver promises improved shock capturing, and more accurate hypersonic solutions overall, compared to the solver currently used in TNS.
Chow, Chuen-Yen↗
Extension of a three-dimensional viscous wing flow analysis user's manual: VISTA 3-D code
Three-dimensional unsteady viscous effects can significantly influence the performance of fixed and rotary wing aircraft. These effects are important in both flows about helicopter rotors in forward flight and flows about three-dimensional (swept and tapered) supercritical wings. A computational procedure for calculating such flow field was developed. The procedure is based upon an alternating direction technique employing the Linearized Block Implicit method for solving three-dimensional viscous flow problems. In order to demonstrate the viability of this method, two- and three-dimensional problems are computed. These include the flow over a two-dimensional NACA 0012 airfoil under steady and oscillating conditions, and the steady, skewed, three-dimensional flow on a flat plate. Although actual three-dimensional flows over wings were not obtained, the ground work was laid for considering such flows. In this report a description of the computer code is given.
Weinberg, Bernard C.↗
Three-dimensional flow analysis inside turbomachinery stages with steady and unsteady Navier-Stokes method
This study presents a numerical method for solving the three-dimensional, Navier-Stokes equations for unsteady, viscous flow through multiple turbomachinery blade rows. The method solves the fully three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations with an implicit scheme which is based on a control volume approach. A two-equation turbulence model with a low Reynolds number modification is employed in the present study. A third-order accurate upwinding scheme is used to approximate convection terms while a second order accurate central difference scheme is used for the discretization of viscous terms. A second-order accurate scheme is employed for the temporal discretization. The numerical method is applied to study the unsteady flow field of a subsonic turbine stage and the unsteady flow field inside a transonic, high-through-flow, axial compressor stage. The stage calculation is performed by coupling the stator and the rotor flow fields at each time step through an over-laid grid.
Copenhaver, W. W.↗
LV software support for supersonic flow analysis
The software for configuring a Laser Velocimeter (LV) counter processor system was developed using structured design. The LV system includes up to three counter processors and a rotary encoder. The software for configuring and testing the LV system was developed, tested, and included in an overall software package for data acquisition, analysis, and reduction. Error handling routines respond to both operator and instrument errors which often arise in the course of measuring complex, high-speed flows. The use of networking capabilities greatly facilitates the software development process by allowing software development and testing from a remote site. In addition, high-speed transfers allow graphics files or commands to provide viewing of the data from a remote site. Further advances in data analysis require corresponding advances in procedures for statistical and time series analysis of nonuniformly sampled data.
Bell, William A.↗
LV software support for supersonic flow analysis
The software for configuring an LV counter processor system has been developed using structured design. The LV system includes up to three counter processors and a rotary encoder. The software for configuring and testing the LV system has been developed, tested, and included in an overall software package for data acquisition, analysis, and reduction. Error handling routines respond to both operator and instrument errors which often arise in the course of measuring complex, high-speed flows. The use of networking capabilities greatly facilitates the software development process by allowing software development and testing from a remote site. In addition, high-speed transfers allow graphics files or commands to provide viewing of the data from a remote site. Further advances in data analysis require corresponding advances in procedures for statistical and time series analysis of nonuniformly sampled data.
Bell, W. A.↗
LV software for supersonic flow analysis
The NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) maintains a leadership position in research into advanced aerospace propulsion systems. For the next generation of aircraft, engine designs continue to involve complex, high-speed flows. Performing the detailed flow diagnostics to properly evaluate these designs requires advanced instrumentation to probe these highly turbulent flows. The hostile flow environment often requires nonintrusive measurement techniques such as the laser velocimeter (LV). Since the LV is a proven instrument for nonintrusive flow measurement, it can provide quantitative velocity data with minimal interference to the flow. Based on anticipated flow conditions, laser velocimeter systems were procured from TSI, Inc. The initial system utilized counter processor technology, but later procurements this past year include a more advanced, correlator-based processor, which significantly improves the overall LV performance. To meet the needs of advanced research into propulsion, this instrument must be integrated into an existing VAX/VMS computer system for data acquisition, processing, and presentation. The work done under this grant before this period concentrated on developing the software required to setup and acquire data from the TSI MI-990 multichannel interface, and the RMR 1989 rotating machinery resolver. With the basis established for controlling the operation of the LV system, software development this past year shifted in emphasis from instrumentation control and data acquisition to data analysis and presentation. The progress of the program is reported.
Bell, William A.↗
Directional molecular flow analysis and leak detection with a rotatable gas analyzer in a large space simulation chamber
A system was developed and applied at the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center for measuring and analyzing directional molecular flows in a large thermal vacuum chamber in order to verify molecular environment and identify characteristic and abnormal test article and chamber conditions. The system is described, and some results obtained in over 1200 hours of operation are given.
Ehlers, H. K. F.↗