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Avery, D. E.

Publications and source records attributed to Avery, D. E..

15 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1985

Experimental aerodynamic heating to simulated space shuttle tiles in laminar and turbulent boundary layers with variable flow angles at a nominal Mach number of 7

The heat transfer to simulated shuttle thermal protection system tiles was investigated experimentally by using a highly instrumented metallic thin wall tile arranged with other metal tiles in a staggered tile array. Cold wall heating rate data for laminar and turbulent flow were obtained in the Langley 8 foot high Temperature Tunnel at a nominal Mach number of 7, a nominal total temperature of 3300R, a free stream unit Reynolds number from 3.4 x 10 sup 5 to 2.2 10 sup 6 per foot, and a free stream dynamic pressure from 2.1 to 9.0 psia. Experimental data are presented to illustrate the effects of flow angularity and gap width on both local peak heating and overall heating loads. For the conditions of the present study, the results show that localized and total heating are sensitive to changes in flow angle only for the test conditions of turbulent boundary layer flow with high kinetic energy and that a flow angle from 30 deg to 50 deg will minimize the local heating.

Avery, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Fabricating Thin-Shell Heat-Transfer Models

Freestanding shells produced for experimental aerodynamic-heating tests. Heat transfer shells require several steps and several precise molds. First, interlocking aluminum male and female molds fabricated. Holes for thermocouples drilled through male mold at desired locations. Wires having same diameter as thermocouple wire placed through holes in male mold flush to female mold. Epoxy exposed to vacuum to remove air bubbles poured between male and female molds to form thin female mold. Once mold cured, wires removed and aluminum molds separated.

Avery, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Electroless-plating technique for fabricating thin-wall convective heat-transfer models

A technique for fabricating uniform thin-wall metallic heat-transfer models and which simulates a Shuttle thermal protection system tile is described. Two 6- by 6- by 2.5-in. tiles were fabricated to obtain local heat transfer rates. The fabrication process is not limited to any particular geometry and results in a seamless thin-wall heat-transfer model which uses a one-wire thermocouple to obtain local cold-wall heat-transfer rates. The tile is relatively fragile because of the brittle nature of the material and the structural weakness of the flat-sided configuration; however, a method was developed and used for repairing a cracked tile.

Avery, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Aerothermal performance and damage tolerance of a Rene 41 metallic standoff thermal protection system at Mach 6.7

A flight-weight, metallic thermal protection system (TPS) model applicable to Earth-entry and hypersonic-cruise vehicles was subjected to multiple cycles of both radiant and aerothermal heating in order to evaluate its aerothermal performance, structural integrity, and damage tolerance. The TPS was designed for a maximum operating temperature of 2060 R and featured a shingled, corrugation-stiffened corrugated-skin heat shield of Rene 41, a nickel-base alloy. The model was subjected to 10 radiant heating tests and to 3 radiant preheat/aerothermal tests. Under radiant-heating conditions with a maximum surface temperature of 2050 R, the TPS performed as designed and limited the primary structure away from the support ribs to temperatures below 780 R. During the first attempt at aerothermal exposure, a failure in the panel-holder test fixture severely damaged the model. However, two radiant preheat/aerothermal tests were made with the damaged model to test its damage tolerance. During these tests, the damaged area did not enlarge; however, the rapidly increasing structural temperature measuring during these tests indicates that had the damaged area been exposed to aerodynamic heating for the entire trajectory, an aluminum burn-through would have occurred.

Avery, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Experimental aerodynamic heating to simulated Shuttle tiles

The heat transfer to simulated Shuttle thermal protection system tiles was investigated experimentally using a highly instrumented metallic thin wall tile arranged with other metal tiles in a staggered tile array. Cold-wall heating rate data for laminar and turbulent flow were obtained in the Langley 8-Foot High-Temperature Tunnel at a nominal Mach number of 7, a nominal total temperature of 3300 deg R, free-stream unit Reynolds number from 340,000 to 2,200,000 per foot, and free-stream dynamic pressure of 1.8 to 9.1 psia. Experimental data are presented to illustrate the effects of flow angularity and gap width on both local peak heating and overall heating loads.

Avery, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Experimental aerodynamic heating to simulated shuttle tiles

The heat transfer to simulated shuttle thermal protection system tiles was investigated experimentally using a highly instrumented metallic thin wall tile arranged with other metal tiles in a staggered tile array. Cold-wall heating rate data for laminar and turbulent flow were obtained in the Langley 8-foot high temperature tunnel at a nominal Mach number of 7, a nominal total temperature of 3300 R, free-stream unit Reynolds number from 3.4 x 10 to the 5th power to 2.2 x 10 to the 6th power per foot, and free-stream dynamic pressure of 1.8 psia to 9.1 psia. Experimental data are presented to illustrate the effects of flow angularity and gap width on both local peak heating and overall heating loads.

Avery, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Aerodynamic heating on the corrugated surface of a 10.2 deg half-angle blunted cone at Mach 6.7

A 10.2 deg half-angle blunted cone with corrugated surfaces was tested in the Langley 8-foot high-temperature structures tunnel to measure the aerodynamic heating of its surfaces. The tests were made in a turbulent boundary layer at angles of attack of 0 deg, 5 deg, and 10 deg. Heating of the windward side was in reasonable agreement with theoretical turbulent predictions for a smooth cone, while heating on the leeward side was between laminar and turbulent predictions as a result of local transitional flow or flow separation produced by high lee-side pressures. Localized heating measurements indicated a significant increase in heating at large cross-flow angles, with the maximum heating rates occurring where the flow reattaches on the upstream side of the corrugation crest and the minimum occurring on the downstream side where the flow is separated.

Weinstein, I.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Thermal and aerothermal performance of a titanium multiwall thermal protection system

A metallic thermal protection system (TPS) concept the multiwall designed for temperature and pressure at Shuttle body point 3140 where the maximum surface temperature is approximately 811 K was tested to evaluate thermal performance and structural integrity. A two tile model of titanium multiwall and a model consisting of a low temperature reusable surface insulation (LRSI) tiles were exposed to 25 simulated thermal and pressure Shuttle entry missions. The two systems performed the same, and neither system deteriorated during the tests. It is indicated that redesign of the multiwall tiles reduces tile thickness and/or weight. A nine tile model of titanium multiwal was tested for radiant heating and aerothermodynamics. Minor design changes that improve structural integrity without having a significant impact on the thermal protection ability of the titanium multiwall TPS are identified. The capability of a titanium multiwall thermal protection system to protect an aluminum surface during a Shuttle type entry trajectory at locations on the vehicle where the maximum surface temperature is below 811 K is demonstrated.

Avery, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Multiwall TPS: An emerging concept

The transformation of a titanium multiwall thermal protection system from a conceptual design to a working reality is described. The thermal and structural performance of the basic multiwall concept is analyzed. Radiant heat, wind tunnel, vibration, acoustic, and lightning strike tests are used to verify the performance of multiwall tiles under representative operating conditions. Flat, all titanium multiwall configurations limited to temperature below 810 K are discussed. Curved surface, higher temperature versions of the multiwall are considered. Preliminary mass estimates for advanced multiwall concepts are presented.

Shideler, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Performance of a Haynes 188 metallic standoff thermal protection system at Mach 7

A flight weight, metallic thermal protection system (TPS) model applicable to reentry and hypersonic vehicles was subjected to multiple cycles of both radiant and aerothermal heating to evaluate its aerothermal performance and structural integrity. The TPS was designed for a maximum operating temperature of 1255 K and featured a shingled, corrugation stiffened corrugated skin heat shield of Haynes 188, a cobalt base alloy. The model was subjected to 3 radiant preheat/aerothermal tests for a total of 67 seconds and to 15 radiant heating tests for a total of 85.9 minutes at 1255 K. The TPS limited the primary structure to temperatures below 430 K in all tests. No catastrophic failures occurred in the heat shields, supports, or insulation system. The TPS continued to function even after exposure to a differential temperature 4 times the design value produced thermal buckles in the outer skin. The shingled thermal expansion joint effectively allowed for thermal expansion of the heat shield without allowing any appreciable hot gas flow into the model cavity, even though the overlap gap between shields increased after several thermal cycles.

Avery, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Multiwall TPS - An emerging concept

Research on titanium multiwall used for thermal protection is reviewed. Continuing analytical and experimental studies yielding a fundamental understanding of the thermal and structural performance of the basic multiwall concept are presented noting that central to this understanding is a knowledge of the extensional behavior of the dimpled sheets since the thinner flat sheets will buckle and be relatively ineffective in supporting compressive loads. Results from radiant heating, aerothermal, vibration, acoustic and lightning strike tests are described as part of an effort to verify the performance of multiwall tiles under representative operating conditions. Flight tests of a large array of tiles are also planned as part of an orbiter experiments program. The research effort is being extended from flat all-titanium multiwall configurations limited to temperatures below 810 K to curved surfaces and higher temperature versions. Multi-wall concepts are found to offer the durability of metallic systems and to be mass competitive with the insulation system currently used on the Space Shuttle Orbiter.

Shideler, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Aerodynamic heating in gaps of thermal protection system tile arrays in laminar and turbulent boundary layers

An experimental heat-transfer investigation was conducted on two staggered arrays of metallic tiles in laminar and turbulent boundary layers. This investigation was conducted for two purposes. The impingement heating distribution where flow in a longitudinal gap intersects a transverse gap and impinges on a downstream blocking tile was defined. The influence of tile and gap geometries was analyzed to develop empirical relationships for impingement heating in laminar and turbulent boundary layers. Tests were conducted in a high temperature structures tunnel at a nominal Mach number of 7, a nominal total temperature of 1800 K, and free-stream unit Reynolds numbers from 1.0 x 10 million to 4.8 x 10 million per meter. The test results were used to assess the impingement heating effects produced by parameters that include gap width, longitudinal gap length, slope of the tile forward-facing wall, boundary-layer displacement thickness, Reynolds number, and local surface pressure.

Avery, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Aerodynamic heating to the gaps and surfaces of simulated reusable-surface-insulation tile arrays in turbulent flow at Mach 6.6

An experimental investigation was made on a simulated reusable-surface-insulation tile array in a turbulent boundary layer to determine aerodynamic-heating distributions representative of those expected on the surface of the shuttle orbiter during earth entry due to the presence of longitudinal and transverse surface gaps. The tests were conducted in an 8-foot high-temperature structures tunnel in a test medium of methane-air combustion products at a nominal Mach number of 6.6 and over a free-stream Reynolds number range from 2,000,000 to 4,900,000 per meter (600,000 to 1,500,000 per foot). The results were used to assess the aerodynamic heating effects produced by parameters that include gap width, boundary-layer displacement thickness, in-line and staggered tile arrangement, and tile protrusion.

Weinstein, I.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Operating experiences of retardant bombers during firefighting operations

Data are presented on operational practices and maneuver accelerations experienced by two Douglas DC-6B airplanes converted to retardant bombers and used in firefighting operations. The data cover two fire seasons in the mountainous regions of the northwestern United States.

Jewel, J. W., Jr.↗