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At least 1,531 records · Page 85

A smoke-wire study of low Reynolds number flow over a NASA LRN(1) - 1007 airfoil section

Smoke-filament visualization photographs are presented for two-dimensional flow over a NASA LRN(1) - 1007 airfoil section designed specifically for high-efficiency operation at low chord Reynolds numbers. Results are included for chord Reynolds numbers of 60,000, 100,000, and 220,000 and for angles of attack ranging from 0 to 16 degrees. Two kinds of laminar separation bubble are found to develop in the flow over the airfoil. The sites and characteristics of formation of these bubbles are described, and their dimensional properties are estimated. The transition-to-turbulence Reynolds numbers, surface pressure coefficient distributions, and lift coefficients deduced from the measured coefficients are compared with those obtained by other authors.

Fisher, S. S.↗

Vortical flows over delta wings and numerical prediction of vortex breakdown

Navier-Stokes solutions of subsonic vortical flow over a 75 deg sweep delta wing with a sharp leading edge are presented. The sensitivity of the solution to the numerical scheme is examined using both a partially upwind scheme and a scheme with central differencing in all directions. At moderate angles of attack, no vortex breakdown is observed, whereas the higher angle-of-attack cases exhibit breakdown. The effect of numerical grid density is investigated, and solutions that are obtained with various grid densities are compared with experimental data. An embedded grid approach is implemented to enable higher resolution in selected isolated flow regions, such as the leeward-side surface, the leading-edge vortical flow, and the vortex breakdown region.

Ekaterinaris, J. A.↗

Grid generation and flow computation about a Martian entry vehicle

A number of vehicles are currently being proposed for a manned mission to Mars. One of these vehicles has a modified blunt-nosed cone configuration. Experimental results were obtained for this vehicle in 1968. They show lift-over-drag ratios comparable to those needed for Mars entry. Computations are performed to verify the earlier results and to further describe the flight characteristics of this vehicle. An analytical method is used to define the surface of this vehicle. A single-block volume grid is generated around the vehicle using the algebraic Two-Boundary Grid Generation algorithm (TBGG) and transfinite interpolation. Euler solutions are then obtained from a Langley Aerodynamic Upward Relaxation Algorithm (LAURA) at Mach 6.0 and angles of attack of 0, 6, and 12 deg. The lift coefficient determined from the LAURA code agree very well with the experimental results. The drag and pitching moment coefficients, however, are underestimated by the code since viscous effects are not considered. Contour plots of the flowfield show no evidence of separation for angles of attack up to 12 deg.

Stewart, J. E.↗

Low-speed wind-tunnel investigation of the stability and control characteristics of a series of flying wings with sweep angles of 70 deg

A wind-tunnel investigation was conducted in the Langley 12-Foot Low-Speed Tunnel to study the low-speed stability and control characteristics of a series of four flying wings over an extended range of angle of attack (-8 deg to 48 deg). Because of the current emphasis on reducing the radar cross section (RCS) of new military aircraft, the planform of each wing was composed of lines swept at a relatively high angle of 70 deg, and all the trailing edges and control surface hinge lines were aligned with one of the two leading edges. Three arrow planforms with different aspect ratios and one diamond planform were tested. The models incorporated leading-edge flaps for improved longitudinal characteristics and lateral stability and had three sets of trailing-edge flaps that were deflected differentially for roll control, symmetrically for pitch control, and in a split fashion for yaw control. Three top body widths and two sizes of twin vertical tails were also tested on each model. A large aerodynamic database was compiled that could be used to evaluate some of the trade-offs involved in the design of a configuration with a reduced RCS and good flight dynamic characteristics.

Ross, Holly M.↗

An Entry Flight Controls Analysis for a Reusable Launch Vehicle

The NASA Langley Research Center has been performing studies to address the feasibility of various single-stage to orbit concepts for use by NASA and the commercial launch industry to provide a lower cost access to space. Some work on the conceptual design of a typical lifting body concept vehicle, designated VentureStar(sup TM) has been conducted in cooperation with the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. This paper will address the results of a preliminary flight controls assessment of this vehicle concept during the atmospheric entry phase of flight. The work includes control analysis from hypersonic flight at the atmospheric entry through supersonic speeds to final approach and landing at subsonic conditions. The requirements of the flight control effectors are determined over the full range of entry vehicle Mach number conditions. The analysis was performed for a typical maximum crossrange entry trajectory utilizing angle of attack to limit entry heating and providing for energy management, and bank angle to modulation of the lift vector to provide downrange and crossrange capability to fly the vehicle to a specified landing site. Sensitivity of the vehicle open and closed loop characteristics to CG location, control surface mixing strategy and wind gusts are included in the results. An alternative control surface mixing strategy utilizing a reverse aileron technique demonstrated a significant reduction in RCS torque and fuel required to perform bank maneuvers during entry. The results of the control analysis revealed challenges for an early vehicle configuration in the areas of hypersonic pitch trim and subsonic longitudinal controllability.

Calhoun, Philip↗

A Comparison of Active and Passive Methods for Control of Hypersonic Boundary Layers on Airbreathing Configurations

Active and passive methods for control of hypersonic boundary layers have been experimentally examined in NASA Langley Research Center wind tunnels on a Hyper-X model. Several configurations for forcing transition using passive discrete roughness elements and active mass addition, or blowing, methods were compared in two hypersonic facilities, the 20-Inch Mach 6 Air and the 31-Inch Mach 10 Air tunnels. Heat transfer distributions, obtained via phosphor thermography, shock system details, and surface streamline patterns were measured on a 0.333-scale model of the Hyper-X forebody. The comparisons between the active and passive methods for boundary layer control were conducted at test conditions that nearly match the nominal Mach 7 flight trajectory of an angle-of-attack of 2-deg and length Reynolds number of 5.6 million. For the passive roughness examination, the primary parametric variation was a range of trip heights within the calculated boundary layer thickness for several trip concepts. The prior passive roughness study resulted in a swept ramp configuration being selected for the Mach 7 flight vehicle that was scaled to be roughly 0.6 of the calculated boundary layer thickness. For the active jet blowing study, the blowing manifold pressure was systematically varied for each configuration, while monitoring the mass flow, to determine the jet penetration height with schlieren and transition movement with the phosphor system for comparison to the passive results. All the blowing concepts tested were adequate for providing transition onset near the trip location with manifold stagnation pressures on the order of 40 times the model static pressure or higher.

Berry, Scott A.↗

Applications of Low Density Flow Techniques and Catalytic Recombination at the Johnson Space Center

The talk presents a brief background on defInitions of catalysis and effects associated with chemically nonequilibrium and low-density flows of aerospace interest. Applications of catalytic recombination on surfaces in dissociated flow are given, including aero heating on reentry spacecraft thermal protection surfaces and reflection of plume flow on pressure distributions associated with the space station. Examples include aero heating predictions for the X-38 test vehicle, the inlet of a proposed gas-sampling probe used in high enthalpy test facilities, and a parabolic body at angle of attack. The effect of accommodation coefficients on thruster induced pressure distributions is also included. Examples of tools used include simple aero heating formulas based on boundary layer solutions, an engineering approximation that uses axisymmetric viscous shock layer flow to simulate full three dimensional flow, full computational fluid dynamics, and direct simulation Monte-Carlo calculations. Methods of determining catalytic recombination rates in arc jet flow are discus ed. An area of catalysis not fully understood is the formation of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) with gas phase or nano-size metal particles. The Johnson Space Center is making SWNTs using both a laser ablation technique and an electric arc vaporization technique.

Scott, Carl D.↗

Experimental Investigation of a Large-Scale Low-Boom Inlet Concept

A large-scale low-boom inlet concept was tested in the NASA Glenn Research Center 8- x 6- foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel. The purpose of this test was to assess inlet performance, stability and operability at various Mach numbers and angles of attack. During this effort, two models were tested: a dual stream inlet designed to mimic potential aircraft flight hardware integrating a high-flow bypass stream; and a single stream inlet designed to study a configuration with a zero-degree external cowl angle and to permit surface visualization of the vortex generator flow on the internal centerbody surface. During the course of the test, the low-boom inlet concept was demonstrated to have high recovery, excellent buzz margin, and high operability. This paper will provide an overview of the setup, show a brief comparison of the dual stream and single stream inlet results, and examine the dual stream inlet characteristics.

Hirt, Stefanie M.↗

Frostwing Co-Operation in Aircraft Icing Research

e aerodynamic effects of Cold Soaked Fuel Frost have become increasingly significant as airworthiness authorities have been asked to allow it during aircraft take-off. The Federal Aviation Administration and the Finnish Transport Safety Agency signed a Research Agreement in aircraft icing research in 2015 and started a research co-operation in frost formation studies, computational fluid dynamics for ground de/anti-icing fluids, and de/anti-icing fluids aerodynamic characteristics. The main effort has been so far on the formation and aerodynamic effects of CSFF. To investigate the effects, a generic high-lift common research wind tunnel model and DLR-F15 airfoil, representing the wing of a modern jet aircraft, was built including a wing tank cooling system. Real frost was generated on the wing in a wind tunnel test section and the frost thickness was measured with an Elcometer gauge. Frost surface geometry was measured with laser scanning and photogrammetry. The aerodynamic effect of the frost was studied in a simulated aircraft take-off sequence, in which the speed was accelerated to a typical rotation speed and the wing model was then rotated to an angle of attack used at initial climb. Time histories of the lift coefficient were measured with a force balance. The experiments showed that depending on the ambient temperature the frost may evaporate/melt during the take-off sequence. Lift losses after rotation with CSFF contamination at ambient temperatures of 4˚ to 7˚C above freezing point were measured to be 4 to 5 % for roughness values, k/c, below 10(exp -3). For comparison, lift loss tests with typical anti-icing fluids were to roughly equal lift losses. This paper gives an overview of the performed activities.

Koivisto, Pekka↗

Transonic Cruise Slotted Wing Design for Commercial Transport Aircraft using CDISC

A knowledge-based aerodynamic design method, CDISC, has been extended to enable the computational design of transonic cruise slotted wings for commercial transport aircraft. The cruise slotted wing is a multielement wing concept with a forward main element and an aft flap element, separated to form an intermediate slot. This slot favorably redirects airflow from the main element lower surface toward the low-momentum, upper-surface boundary layer of the flap. Relative to the supercritical wing, the cruise slotted wing enables greater aft loading that helps to reduce shock strength and transonic pressure drag. The cruise slotted wing may be considered a passive drag reduction technology with potential fuel-burn savings and increased vehicle range for next-generation aircraft. The current paper seeks to quantify the drag-saving benefits of cruise slotted wing technology in application to single-aisle commercial transport aircraft. A series of multielement design constraints were developed within CDISC for the design of a partial-span, cruise slotted wing for a Mach-0.8 variant of the Common Research Model. To mitigate the skin-friction drag penalty associated with cruise slotted wings, the design features a flap with natural laminar flow over approximately 75% of the flap surface area. Cruise drag estimates from the NASA USM3D-ME flow solver between a supercritical wing and the partial-span, cruise slotted wing design were within one drag count. Near-cruise, off-design analyses showed limited laminar-flow sensitivity to angle of attack and a more gradual drag rise compared to a supercritical wing. Based on this observed benefit, future work is motivated to design a cruise slotted wing with laminar flow on both wing elements to achieve a significant reduction in cruise drag while delaying drag divergence.

CDISC↗

Effects of surface chemistry on hot corrosion life: Overview

This program concentrates on analyzing a limited number of hot corroded components from the field and the carrying out of a series of controlled laboratory experiments to establish the effects of oxide scale and coating chemistry on hot corrosion life. This is to be determined principally from the length of the incubation period, the investigation of the mechanisms of hot corrosion attack, and the fitting of the data generated from the test exposure experiments to an empirical life prediction model.

Merutka, J.↗

Elucidating the role of Cr migration in Ni-Cr exposed to molten FLiNaK via multiscale characterization

Structural materials used in nuclear reactor environments are subjected to coupled extremes such as high temperature, irradiation, and corrosion which act in concert to degrade their functional performance. Connecting alloy microstructure such as grain boundaries, and accumulating point defects with corrosion attack and pore morphology is critical to understanding underlying mechanisms. We uncover the compositional variations and morphology at multiple length scales in corrosion-damaged Ni-Cr alloy after exposure to oxidants in molten fluoride salts. A complex network of dense corrosion pores is detected by surface-level SEM observations. The corrosion pores take on a 1-dimensional morphology and are enriched with Ni and depleted of Cr 1–5 µm from the pore surface. STEM-EDS and 4D-STEM strain maps acquired simultaneously highlight the local variations in composition and structure of a ≤ 200 nm Cr-rich layer identified from a cross-section taken at the bottom of an isolated corrosion pore between the Ni-Cr alloy matrix and the embedded salt. However, the absence of an observed interface between the Ni-Cr alloy matrix and the FCC-structured Cr-rich layer suggests that Cr plating from the salt did not transpire. These findings support a proposed Cr lattice diffusion mechanism rather than Cr-precipitation from the salt to accommodate temperature transient conditions during sample cooling. Through the development of a 1D phase field model, these results are rationalized by formation energies for the Ni- and Cr-oxidation into the molten salt. This study reveals the locally altered microstructure caused by high temperature corrosion in non-steady-state molten salt nuclear reactor environments.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Space shuttle: Pressure investigation of a space shuttle launch configuration consisting of a delta-wing orbiter and a swept-wing booster with canard and tip fans (M equals 0.6 to 1.3). Volume 1, part A: Booster data

Wind tunnel tests to determine the pressure distribution on a space shuttle launch configuration consisting of a delta wing orbiter and a swept wing booster with canard and tip fins were conducted. Pressure data were obtained for the combined orbiter and booster and for the booster alone at Mach numbers from 0.6 to 1.3, angles of attack from minus 8 degrees to plus 10 degrees, and sideslip angles from minus 6 degrees to plus 6 degrees. Pressure data were also obtained for the booster alone without canard at Mach numbers of 0.9 and 1.1. The pressure taps were distributed primarily over the booster upper surface and the orbiter lower surface.

Rampy, J. M.↗

High supersonic stability and control characteristics of a 0.015-scale (remotely controlled elevon) model 44-0 space shuttle orbiter tested in the NASA/LaRC 4-foot UPWT (LEG 2) (LA75), volume 1

Wind tunnel tests are reported on a 0.015-scale SSV orbiter model with remote independently operated left and right elevon surfaces. Special attention was directed to definition of nonlinear aerodynamic characteristics by taking data at small increments. Six component aerodynamic force and moment and elevon position data were recorded for the space shuttle orbiter with various elevon, aileron rudder and speed brake deflection combinations over an angle of attack range from -4 deg to 32 deg at angles of sideslip of 0 deg and 3 deg. Additional tests were made over an angle of sideslip range from -6 deg to 8 deg at selected angles of attack. Test Mach numbers were 2.86, 2.90, 3.90 and 4.60 with Reynolds numbers held at a constant 2.0 x 1 million per foot.

Ball, J. W.↗

High-Lift Separated Flow About Airfoils

TRANSEP Calculates flow field about low-speed single-element airfoil at high-angle-of-attack and high-lift conditions with massive boundary-layer separation. TRANSEP includes effects of weak viscous interactions and can be used for subsonic/transonic airfoil design and analysis. The approach used in TRANSEP is based on direct-inverse method and its ability to use either displacement surface or pressure as airfoil boundary condition.

Carlson, L. A.↗

Computational results for the effects of external disturbances on transition location of bodies of revolution from subsonic to supersonic speeds and comparisons with experimental data

Computational experiments have been performed for a few configurations in order to investigate the effects of external flow disturbances on the extent of laminar flow and wake drag. Theoretical results have been compared with experimental data for the AEDC cone, for Mach numbers from subsonic to supersonic, and for both free flight and wind tunnel environments. The comparisons have been found to be very satisfactory, thus establishing the utility of the present method for the design and development of laminar flow configurations and for the assessment of wind tunnel data. In addition, results of calculations concerning the effects of unit Reynolds numbers on transition are presented. In addition to the AEDC cone, computations have been performed for an ogive body of revolution at zero angle of attack and supersonic Mach numbers. Results are presented for transition Reynolds number and wake drag for external disturbances corresponding to free air and the test section of the AEDC-VKF tunnel. These results have been found to compare quite well with wind tunnel data for cases when surface suction is applied as well as when suction is absent.

Goradia, S. H.↗

Grid generation for a complex aircraft configuration

The procedure used to create a grid around the F/A-18 fighter aircraft is presented. This work was done for the NASA High Alpha Technology Program. As part of this program, LeRC is numerically and experimentally investigating the flow in the F/A-18 inlet duct at high angles of attack. A grid was needed which could be used to calculate both the external and internal flow around the F/A-18. The grid had to be compatible with the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes PARC3D and CFL3D. The programs used to create this grid were I3GVIRGO and GRIDGEN. A surface definition used to create the grid was obtained from McDonnell Aircraft Company (MCAIR) and was composed of numerous files each containing a point definition of a portion of the aircraft. These files were read into the geometry manipulation program I3GVIRGO, where they were modified and grouped into smaller GRIDGEN database files. Next, the block outlines and boundary conditions were specified in the GRIDBLOCK program. The GRIDGEN2D program was used to create the surface grid on the block faces, and GRIDGEN3D was used to create the full 3-D grid.

Bruns, Jim↗

A Wind-Tunnel Investigation of a Transonic-Transport Configuration Utilizing Drag-Reducing Devices at Mach Numbers from 0.20 to 1.03

The static longitudinal stability and control and lateral characteristics of a transonic-transport model, incorporating recent drag-reducing devices, has been investigated in the Langley 8-foot transonic pressure tunnel. The wing was cambered, had a thickened root and a taper ratio of 0.3. Wing sweepback angles of 45 degrees and 40 degrees were investigated with corresponding aspect ratios of 7 and 8, respectively. Modifications to the model for reducing the drag were: a forward fuselage addition and special bodies (four big enough to house jet engines) added to the upper surface of the wing. Other components and changes investigated included an empennage, a wing-tip body, wing fences, wing trailing-edge flaps, horizontal-tail settings, and wing dihedral angle. The investigation covered the Mach number range from 0.20 to 1.03 for the angle-of-attack range from -5 degrees to 15.4 degrees, and a sideslip angle of -5 degrees, in the Reynolds number range from 0.52 times 10(exp 6) to 1.94 times 10(exp 6) based on the wing mean aerodynamic chord. The various fuselage and wing additions delayed the drag-rise Mach number and greatly reduced the drag beyond the drag rise. The wing bodies markedly alleviated unstable pitch tendencies throughout the test Mach number range. At low landing speeds, the wing bodies exhibited little interference with the ability of trailing-edge flaps to increase the lift near maximum lift coefficient; and the use of fences greatly reduced the severe longitudinal instability trend at landing attitudes. The model with a 6 degree dihedral angle exhibited positive lateral and directional stability characteristics in the presence of the fuselage and wing additions. An increase in drag-rise Mach number associated with the fuselage and wing additions on the 40 degree sweptback wing combination was similar to that for the comparable 45 degree combination. These additions did, however, reduce the drag of the 40 degree sweptback configurations more than the 45 degree configurations in the transonic speed range.

Loving, Donald L.↗