Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “edge effects”

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 1,261 records · Page 70

A Hierarchical Approach to Buckling Load Calculations

The advantages of using a hierarchical analysis approach to calculate the buckling load of an axially compressed composite cylindrical shell is demonstrated using an example taken from a recent experimental program. The Delft Interactive Shell DEsign COde (DISDECO) shell design code is used for this hierarchical analysis approach to provide an accurate prediction of the critical buckling load of the actual shell structure. DISDECO includes the influence of the boundary conditions, initial geometric imperfections, the effects of stiffener and load eccentricities, and the effects of prebuckling deformations caused by edge constraints in the analysis. It is shown that the use of DISDECO makes it relatively simple to proceed step by step from simple to more complex models and solution procedures. As a final step in the hierarchical analysis approach, the critical buckling load and the estimated imperfection sensitivity of the shell are verified by conducting an analysis of a large finite element model with one of the current generation two-dimensional shell analysis codes with advanced capabilities needed to represent both geometric and material nonlinearities.

Arbocz, Johann↗

Investigation of the Relationship of Vortex-Generated Sound and Airframe Noise

Airframe noise contributes the most to the environmental contamination from airports during take-off and landing. Two sources of noise are from the vortex-system associated with the slat and flap of multi-element wing designs. The flap-side edge vortex experiences bursting, known as vortex breakdown, at a critical deflection angle and experimental results show that this event may be one source of increased noise levels. Understanding of the edge roll-up phenomenon has increased but further focused studies on the role of the growth and bursting of the vortex structure are needed. The goal of the research is to plan a research program that will contribute to the understanding of the fluid physics of vortex breakdown and its relationship to noise production. The success of this program will lead to a priori predictions of when vortex breakdown will occur on the flap side-edge and accurate calculations of its effect on the noise level experienced by an observer near the aircraft during take-off and landing.

Smith, Sonya T.↗

Supersonic Jet Mixing Enhancement due to Natural and Induced Screech

Outline of presentation are: (1) Review of experimental apparatus. (2) Effect of natural screech of jet mixing; converging nozzle, underexpanded jet and converging-diverging nozzle, design pressure.(3) Effect of induced screech on jet mixing: produced by paddles in shear layers, similar to edge tones, and converging-diverging nozzle, design pressure. (4) Effect of paddles on near-field jet noise. and (5) Concluding remarks.

Rice, E. J.↗

Time-Accurate Computations of Isolated Circular Synthetic Jets in Crossflow

Results from unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes computations are described for two different synthetic jet flows issuing into a turbulent boundary layer crossflow through a circular orifice. In one case the jet effect is mostly contained within the boundary layer, while in the other case the jet effect extends beyond the boundary layer edge. Both cases have momentum flux ratios less than 2. Several numerical parameters are investigated, and some lessons learned regarding the CFD methods for computing these types of flow fields are outlined. Results in both cases are compared to experiment.

Rumsey, Christoper L.↗

Receptivity of Hypersonic Boundary Layers Due to Acoustic Disturbances over Blunt Cone

The transition process induced by the interaction of acoustic disturbances in the free-stream with boundary layers over a 5-degree straight cone and a wedge with blunt tips is numerically investigated at a free-stream Mach number of 6.0. To compute the shock and the interaction of shock with the instability waves the Navier-Stokes equations are solved in axisymmetric coordinates. The governing equations are solved using the 5th -order accurate weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) scheme for space discretization and using third-order total-variation-diminishing (TVD) Runge-Kutta scheme for time integration. After the mean flow field is computed, acoustic disturbances are introduced at the outer boundary of the computational domain and unsteady simulations are performed. Generation and evolution of instability waves and the receptivity of boundary layer to slow and fast acoustic waves are investigated. The mean flow data are compared with the experimental results. The results show that the instability waves are generated near the leading edge and the non-parallel effects are stronger near the nose region for the flow over the cone than that over a wedge. It is also found that the boundary layer is much more receptive to slow acoustic wave (by almost a factor of 67) as compared to the fast wave.

Kara, K.↗

Time-Accurate Computations of Isolated Circular Synthetic Jets in Crossflow

Results from unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes computations are described for two different synthetic jet flows issuing into a turbulent boundary layer crossflow through a circular orifice. In one case the jet effect is mostly contained within the boundary layer, while in the other case the jet effect extends beyond the boundary layer edge. Both cases have momentum flux ratios less than 2. Several numerical parameters are investigated, and some lessons learned regarding the CFD methods for computing these types of flow fields are summarized. Results in both cases are compared to experiment.

Rumsey, C. L.↗

Trajectory Calculator for Finite-Radius Cutter on a Lathe

A computer program calculates the two-dimensional trajectory (radial vs. axial position) of a finite-radius-of-curvature cutting tool on a lathe so as to cut a workpiece to a piecewise-continuous, analytically defined surface of revolution. (In the original intended application, the tool is a diamond cutter, and the workpiece is made of a crystalline material and is to be formed into an optical resonator disk.) The program also calculates an optimum cutting speed as F/L, where F is a material-dependent empirical factor and L is the effective instantaneous length of the cutting edge.

Savchenkov, Anatoliy↗

Active Control of Open Cavities

Open loop edge blowing was demonstrated as an effective method for reducing the broad band and tonal components of the fluctuating surface pressure in open cavities. Closed loop has been successfully applied to low Mach number open cavities. Need to push actuators that are viable for closed loop control in bandwidth and output. Need a better understanding of the effects of control on the flow through detailed measurements so better actuation strategies can be developed.

UKeiley, Lawrence↗

Effect of Sweep on Cavity Flow Fields at Subsonic and Transonic Speeds

An experimental investigation was conducted in the NASA Langley 7 x 10-Foot High Speed Tunnel (HST) to study the effect of leading- and trailing-edge sweep on cavity flow fields for a range of cavity length-to-height (l/h) ratios. The free-stream Mach number was varied from 0.2 to 0.8. The cavity had a depth of 0.5 inches, a width of 2.5 inches, and a maximum length of 12.0 inches. The leading- and trailing-edge sweep was adjusted using block inserts to achieve leading edge sweep angles of 65 deg, 55 deg, 45 deg, 35 deg, and 0 deg. The fore and aft cavity walls were always parallel. The aft wall of the cavity was remotely positioned to achieve a range of length-to-depth ratios. Fluctuating- and static-pressure data were obtained on the floor of the cavity. The fluctuating pressure data were used to determine whether or not resonance occurred in the cavity rather than to provide a characterization of the fluctuating pressure field. Qualitative surface flow visualization was obtained using a technique in which colored water was introduced into the model through static-pressure orifices. A complete tabulation of the mean static-pressure data for the swept leading edge cavities is included.

Tracy, Maureen B.↗

Development of Advanced High Lift Leading Edge Technology for Laminar Flow Wings

This paper describes the Advanced High Lift Leading Edge (AHLLE) task performed by Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Aerospace Systems (NGAS) for the NASA Subsonic Fixed Wing project in an effort to develop enabling high-lift technology for laminar flow wings. Based on a known laminar cruise airfoil that incorporated an NGAS-developed integrated slot design, this effort involved using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis and quality function deployment (QFD) analysis on several leading edge concepts, and subsequently down-selected to two blown leading-edge concepts for testing. A 7-foot-span AHLLE airfoil model was designed and fabricated at NGAS and then tested at the NGAS 7 x 10 Low Speed Wind Tunnel in Hawthorne, CA. The model configurations tested included: baseline, deflected trailing edge, blown deflected trailing edge, blown leading edge, morphed leading edge, and blown/morphed leading edge. A successful demonstration of high lift leading edge technology was achieved, and the target goals for improved lift were exceeded by 30% with a maximum section lift coefficient (Cl) of 5.2. Maximum incremental section lift coefficients ( Cl) of 3.5 and 3.1 were achieved for a blown drooped (morphed) leading edge concept and a non-drooped leading edge blowing concept, respectively. The most effective AHLLE design yielded an estimated 94% lift improvement over the conventional high lift Krueger flap configurations while providing laminar flow capability on the cruise configuration.

Bright, Michelle M.↗

Research and Development of External Occultor Technology for the Direct Observation of Extrasolar Planetary Systems : JPL Starshades Project

Our group conducted work during the Summer of 2012 assembling and developing JPL's Starshades Project under the Technology Development for Exoplanet Missions(TDEM) initiative created by NASA, specifically TDEM stage 2. The goal of the work conducted at JPL by our group was to construct four occultor petals, the main optical components of the Starshade, for the analysis of joint deployment characteristics and of mechanical strain. A Starshade is an optical structure measuring approximately 30 meters in diameter that uses the effects of light diffraction off sheer edges, light scattering, and negative interference between waves to negate all on-axis light in a telescope's image, providing very high contrast that allows planets orbiting a target star to be observed. We completed our engineering goals in the time span of 10 weeks, during which the assembly processes of manufacture, alignment, and structural bonding took place. The Starshade technology and construction process is further discussed in the body of this paper.

exoplanet missions↗

A Comparative Study of Simulated and Measured Gear-Flap Flow Interaction

The ability of two CFD solvers to accurately characterize the transient, complex, interacting flowfield asso-ciated with a realistic gear-flap configuration is assessed via comparison of simulated flow with experimental measurements. The simulated results, obtained with NASA's FUN3D and Exa's PowerFLOW® for a high-fidelity, 18% scale semi-span model of a Gulfstream aircraft in landing configuration (39 deg flap deflection, main landing gear on and off) are compared to two-dimensional and stereo particle image velocimetry measurements taken within the gear-flap flow interaction region during wind tunnel tests of the model. As part of the bench-marking process, direct comparisons of the mean and fluctuating velocity fields are presented in the form of planar contour plots and extracted line profiles at measurement planes in various orientations stationed in the main gear wake. The measurement planes in the vicinity of the flap side edge and downstream of the flap trailing edge are used to highlight the effects of gear presence on tip vortex development and the ability of the computational tools to accurately capture such effects. The present study indicates that both computed datasets contain enough detail to construct a relatively accurate depiction of gear-flap flow interaction. Such a finding increases confidence in using the simulated volumetric flow solutions to examine the behavior of pertinent aer-odynamic mechanisms within the gear-flap interaction zone.

Khorrami, Mehdi R.↗

AEGIS: Autonomous Entity Global Intelligence System for Urban Air Mobility

This paper presents a global intelligence system that synthesizes aerial vehicles’ real-time physical data, planned actions, and historical behavior into engineered data frames representing the collective state of the airspace and suitable for efficient machine learning consumption. These data frames are then learnt by a deep neural net to build a prediction model that estimates the expected evolution path of the current state, thereby identifying potential future conflicts. This approach lends itself to an automated early warning system that the aerial vehicles can implement onboard with a suitable edge computing module more efficiently and effectively than non-AI methods, and eventually take preventive or corrective measures towards self/collaborative resolution of the issues. Contrary to a centralized early warning system where all vehicles’ task-space eventually converges to a global optimum state, the presented distributed global intelligence system brings in a balance between local utility functions of each vehicle and the global operating framework. This contributes to effectively handle the potential massive scaling in urban air mobility in the near future.

Artificial Intelligence↗

Research and development of external occultor technology for the direct observation of extrasolar planetary systems : JPL Starshades Project

Our group conducted work during the Summer of 2012 assembling and developing JPL's Starshades Project under the Technology Development for Exoplanet Missions(TDEM) initiative created by NASA, specically TDEM stage 2. The goal of the work conducted at JPL by our group was to construct four occultor petals, the main optical components of the Starshade, for the analysis of joint deployment characteristics and of mechanical strain. A Starshade is an optical structure measuring approximately 30 meters in diameter that uses the effects of light difraction of sheer edges, light scattering, and negative interference between waves to negate all on-axis light in a telescope's image, providing very high contrast that allows planets orbiting a target star to be observed. We completed our engineering goals in the time span of 10 weeks, during which the assembly processes of manufacture, alignment, and structural bonding took place. The Starshade technology and construction process is further discussed in the body of this paper.

Stadeler, Herbert Franz Mehnert↗

Self-consistent core-pedestal ITER scenario modeling

The purpose of these integrated ITER simulations is to identify dependencies that can impact the performance of ITER. The dependence of fusion power production, temperature and density pedestals, and core profiles on varying magnetic-q, edge density fueling strength, neoclassical transport, magnetic field strength, and alpha heating, are examined. It is noted that ion modes usually dominate the interior, while electron modes dominate the barrier. The electron mode without flow shear is substantially stronger. The q increase tends to cause more kinetic ballooning modes at the edge and the q decrease means that the peeling is getting worse, but the ballooning is getting better. The large edge q tends to provide hollow density while small edge q gives normal density profile. This is consistent with the observation that the density of particles is inversely proportional to the density of the plasma current. The rise in the source of the edge particle increases the density of the edge and the reaction rate close to the edge increases temperature fluxes, resulting in weak pedestal barriers. When neoclassical transport is turned off or the strength of B-field is increased, the pronounced edge barriers are identified. In addition, a distinct effect on the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) modes is observed due to the increased B-field. The interesting aspect is that the barrier collapses about q = 2 as the stability of MHD has decreased to replace the barrier with a continuous slope but with roughly the same fusion power. This would actually be good for a reactor. The slope of the H-mode pedestal is found to be reduced due to the alpha heating. It is expected that the problem of edge-localized modes causing damage to the first wall will be eased. The effects of circular, elongated, and general geometry on plasma profiles are also compared and contrasted. The circular geometry has a hollow density profile and no edge or internal thermal transport barrier (ETB or ITB). However, both ETBs and ITBs can be found in the elongated geometry. In general geometry, there is a weaker ETB, comparable ITBs, but a higher edge particle transport barrier than in elongated geometry. Higher density near the edge, on the other hand, causes more wall erosion, so elongated geometry might be the best option.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Numerical simulation of the effects of variation of angle of attack and sweep angle on vortex breakdown over delta wings

In the present investigation of the vortical flowfield structure over delta wings at high angles of attack, three-dimensional Navier-Stokes numerical simulations were conducted to predict the complex leeward flowfield characteristics; these encompass leading-edge separation, secondary separation, and vortex breakdown. Attention is given to the effect on solution accuracy of circumferential grid-resolution variations in the vicinity of the wing leading edge, and well as to the effect of turbulence modeling on the solutions. When a critical angle-of-attack was reached, bubble-type vortex breakdown was found. With further angle-of-attack increase, a change from bubble-type to spiral-type vortex breakdown was predicted by the numerical solution.

Ekaterinaris, J. A.↗

Longitudinal splitting in epoxy and K-polymer composites - Shear lag analysis including the effect of fiber bridging

The shear-lag model used previously by Nairn (1988) to derive a fracture mechanics analysis of longitudinal splitting in double-edge notched unidirectional composites was used to investigate the effect of fibers bridging across the longitudinal split in these composites. Using the new analysis, the longitudinal splitting fracture toughness, G(Lc), was determined for Hercules AS4/3501-6 graphite/epoxy laminates and for K-polymer based laminates containing Magnamite IM-6 as the graphite reinforcing fiber. Results show that the inclusion of the fiber bridging in the fracture analysis significantly affects the reported fracture toughness.

Nairn, John A.↗

Water-tunnel and analytical investigation of the effect of strake design variables on strake vortex breakdown characteristics

A systematic water-tunnel study was made to determine the vortex breakdown characteristics of 43 strakes. The strakes were mounted on a 1/2-scale model of a Langley Research Center general research fighter fuselage model with a 44deg leading-edge-sweep trapezoidal wing. The analytically designed strake shapes provided examples of the effects of the primary design parameters (size, span, and slenderness) on vortex breakdown characteristics. These effects were analyzed in relation to the respective strake leading-edge suction distributions. Included were examples of the effects of detailed strake planform shaping. It was concluded that, consistent with the design criterion, those strakes with leading-edge suction distributions which increase more rapidly near, and have a higher value at, the spanwise tip of the strake produce a more stable vortex.

Frink, N. T.↗