NASA at SC22 Conference Abstracts
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Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Cetin C. Kiris.
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Two distinct simulation methodologies: Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (DDES) and stress based Wall-modelled Large Eddy Simulation (WMLES) are evaluated using structured overset curvilinear grids for the NASA juncture flow model. While both methodologies are shown to mitigate the primary shortcomings of steady state Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes(RANS) simulations, several unresolved aspects are identified. Strong sensitivity to RANS-typegrid refinement is observed in the DDES with a substantial deterioration of the solution quality with increasing spatial resolution associated with deficiencies in the shielding function. Mean profiles for attached boundary layers on the fuselage show spurious inflections suggesting modelled stress depletion on finer grids. Lower numerical dissipation in terms of spatial discretization and time step size is seen to improve the solution quality, and the advantage of using RC and QCR2000 corrections in the underlying RANS closure is demonstrated for DDES on RANS-type meshes. Equilibrium Wall-Modelled LES used grids that resolved the tripping dots over the fuselage nose and the wing leading edge, consistent with the experiment setup. These simulations resulted in a cost-competitive approach compared to DDES on RANS-type grids. Although the agreement between WMLES predictions of first and second order single point statistics with experimental measurements is promising, a fundamental shortcoming is noted in terms of an overshoot in streamwise momentum in corner regions of the wing-fuselage juncture. This excess momentum subsequently delays the onset of separation,thereby resulting in an underprediction in length of the separation bubble. Some quantitative sensitivity to numerical discretization is observed; lowering of numerical dissipation shows better agreement with the experiment.
This paper presents results from ongoing research on jet noise prediction with wall-modeled large eddy simulations (WMLES) performed with the LAVA computational framework. In particular the focus of this study is on mixing enhancements from a single stream chevron nozzle at Reynolds number of 1×10(exp 6). Although the concept of chevron nozzles to reduce jet noise is not new, our understanding of its impact on the overall noise is still not well understood. As a first step towards predicting noise reduction due to mixing enhancement concepts from first principles with WMLES, we simulate the noise generated by a single stream chevron nozzle SMC001 as well as its equivalent axisymmetric round jet nozzle SMC000. Detailed comparisons are made with a dedicated experiment conducted at NASA’s Glenn Research Center and good agreement was achieved. Two different approaches to introduce a turbulent boundary layer were compared but show no major impact on the results. This is especially important given future work were multi-stream nozzles are considered and extended costs of resolving the internal BL would have a bigger cost impact. A permeable Ffowcs Williams Hawkings (FWH) surface enclosing the jet is used to predict far-field noise from the simulated flow-field and excellent comparison to microphone array measurements is achieved within the resolved frequency band. Sensitivity of far-field noise predictions to grid resolution is systematically documented. Near-field comparisons to PIV data shows great agreement for both velocity and normal stresses, however a systematic TKE overshoot at the nozzle exit is seen in the shear-layer. The paper shows a cost reduction of an order of magnitude compared to an earlier study of this configuration due to algorithmic and software improvements and demonstrates that WMLES can be used as a cost-competitive approach for jet noise predictions.
Teams from the NASA Ames Research Centers (ARC) and Langley Research Center (LaRC) have been working on validating their computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results for the Boeing Mach 0.80 Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) configuration. Experimental data used for the validation were gathered from a test conducted of a 4.5% scale Mach 0.80 TTBW model in the NASA Ames Research Center 11-by 11-Foot Transonic Wind Tunnel. The CFD simulations were initially run with both LAVA and USM3D Mixed Element solvers utilizing the Spalart-Allmaras (SA) turbulence model. A discrepancy was observed between CFD and experimental loads and moments ranging on average from 0.047 to 0.063 for lift coefficient, 16.5 to 27 in drag counts, and -0.02 to -0.032 for pitching moment, varying with the solver used. With introducing the refactored version of LAVA these values dropped to 0.034 to 0.047 for lift coefficient, 7.74 to 16.5 in drag counts, and lastly -0.012 to -0.02 for pitching moment. Based on findings from Boeing, who observed an improved comparison to experimental data when using the k-ω Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence model, the NASA teams conducted simulations with SST to investigate turbulence modeling sensitivities. OVERFLOW and USM3D V6 solvers were used for the comparison of SST and SA simulations. CFD results using the SST turbulence model demonstrate an improvement in matching with experimental CL values, reducing the discrepancies seen by 0.021-0.055 (62-93% reduction in discrepancy respective to the OVERFLOW and USM3D V6). The SST model has varying effects on CD, based on the solver / grid paradigm; for USM3D this prediction is only improved at higher angles of attack (above the cruise design point) resulting in a reduced discrepancy of 8.8–25 drag counts However, at the mid-to-low angles of attack, SST increases the CD discrepancy by 4-55 counts, increasing at lower angles of attack. For OVERFLOW this discrepancy only exists at the low angles of attack and maxes out at 10 counts of drag. Above α = 1.5° OVERFLOW SST reduces discrepancy by 9.3 drag counts on average.
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A trade space exploration of a new NASA regional transport aircraft concept called the SUbsonic Single Aft eNgine (SUSAN) Electrofan is presented. The SUSAN concept uses a 20MW Electrified Aircraft Propulsion (EAP) system to enable advance Propulsion Airframe Integration (PAI) in transport category aircraft. Alternative fuels will be used to reduce the amount of emissions per energy used. By combining these features there is the potential to reduce aircraft emissions by 50% per passenger/mile while retaining the size, speed, and range of large regional jets. SUSAN is has a 750 mile economic mission, a 2500 mile design range and a maximum capacity of 180 passengers. The SUSAN configuration utilizes a single aft mounted engine and distributed electric wing-mounted thrusters on a tube and wing arrangement with a T-tail empennage. The SUSAN Electrofan employs a hybrid powertrain to enable: single turbofan operation on a large transport category aircraft; increased aerodynamic and propulsive efficiency through placement of electric engines; optimized turbofan sizing and efficiency through control and electric boosting, reduced control surface sizing through thrust augmentation. A single use battery is employed as the power source in case of turbofan failure. The design study also considers the constraints of operating within the current airport, airspace and economic constraints. This paper presents the status of the trade space exploration; however the concept definition is not finished. Forward work includes optimizing the overall aircraft configuration and including certain hard to model features like boundary layer ingestion or natural laminar flow across all appliable subsystems. Additional work forward work is a more extensive analysis of the configuration using alternative fuels.
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A campaign of wall-modeled large-eddy simulations (WMLES) using structured curvilinear overlapping grids has been performed with the Launch Ascent and Vehicle Aerodynamics (LAVA) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software to predict jet noise for single-stream axisymmetric round jets. The simulations address the new Prediction Uncertainty Reduction (PUR) technical challenge within the context of NASA’s Commercial Supersonic Technology (CST) project. The focus of this effort is to generate a simulation database for single-stream axisymmetric round nozzles at several operating points both for static (no ambient co-flow), and in-flight (M ͚ =0.3 co-flow) conditions. The operating conditions range in jet exit Mach number from 0.38 to 1.1 with nozzle temperature ratios (NTR) from 0.84 to 2.7. The effect of the flight-stream on far-field noise sound spectra is assessed. Comparison of LES predictions to microphone array measurements demonstrate good agreement within the resolved frequency range. A dip in the predicted low frequency noise spectra for observers between 120° and 145° is observed. This dip is smaller for lower Mach numbers and seems to be correlated to the Mach wave radiation angle. The Mach 1.1 jet shows broadband-shock associated noise. While the onset of BBSN appears to be captured correctly in WMLES, some differences in its magnitude and the prominent frequency at which it occurs persist between the experiment and the simulations. The effect of the outer nozzle boundary layer state created by the co-flow is assessed and shows to be important for accurate comparisons with experiments. A change of 2.5dB between a slip-wall condition and a artificially thickened turbulent boundary layer was observed. In addition, simulations were performed with an alternative nozzle geometry that includes a internal plug and has twice the nozzle exit diameter. These two configurations resulted in very comparable spectra which is consistent with experimental observations. A generally stronger deviation from experimental results is observed for in-flight cases compared to static conditions. The applicability and correct usage of acoustic analogies used for far-field propagation with strong turbulent co-flows needs to be investigated more systematically using canonical problems to improve comparisons between experiments and WMLES. This is especially true for coherent noise sources seen in BBSN.
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NASA is conducting an ongoing trade study analysis of the SUSAN Electrofan aircraft concept, which utilizes 20-MW-class electrified aircraft propulsion to enable propulsive, aerodynamic, and control benefits while retaining the range, speed, and size of typical narrow-body regional aircraft. The study is constrained by the ground rules of operating within the current airport and airspace infrastructure. This ongoing study seeks to find a configuration and combination of technologies that yield significant fuel burn and emissions benefits. Another key goal is to reduce cost per passenger mile. Currently, the study is focused on a configuration that utilizes jet A or sustainable aviation fuels, however, we plan to consider other fuel alternatives in the future. This presentation describes the progress in defining the architecture of the aircraft, engine, power system, control system, and initial understandings of the sensitivity of the potential configurations to technology assumptions based on key performance parameters. Additionally, progress towards definition and refinement of driving operational, economic, infrastructure, certification, and technical requirements is discussed.
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Research into parachute performance continues to be a source of significant investment from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to mitigate risks and to enable a variety of exploration missions, including landing on Mars as well as returning to Earth. The cost of flight tests to certify any changes to the current state-of-the-art parachute designs limits the development of next generation parachute systems. Fluid-structure interaction simulations could help accelerate this process once validated. The Launch, Ascent, and Vehicle Aerodynamics team is developing the capability to perform such fluid-structure interaction simulations by coupling a higher-order Cartesian immersed boundary computational fluid dynamics solver with adaptive mesh refinement to a finite element structural dynamics solver in space and time. We continue the effort to validate this tool with the Advanced Supersonic Parachute Inflation Research Experiments SR03 flight test featuring a strengthened parachute akin to the Mars 2020 mission that landed the Perseverance rover on Mars, and a higher freestream dynamic pressure prior to inflation. The effect of the flow conditions’ angle of attack and of the initial parachute shape are quantified. The impact of relaxing modeling assumptions with regards to radial stiffeners on the parachute canopy is also investigated. Results demonstrate improvements in agreement with the pull force recorded during the SR03 flight test as the initial conditions of the flow and parachute are brought closer to those experienced in flight, and further improved when the radial stiffener modeling assumptions are relaxed.
The SUSAN Electrofan is a new hybrid electric large regional jet aircraft concept being studied by NASA that leverages advanced propulsion system technologies such as distributed electric propulsion (DEP) and boundary-layer ingestion (BLI) to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. In order to evaluate the individual benefits of these technologies toward the SUSAN Electrofan’s wing-mounted propulsion systems, three configurations are proposed. The first consists of two underwing pylon-mounted podded propulsors and serves as a baseline, while the second features an underwing pylon-mounted DEP concept with 16 ducted fans in a mail-slot nacelle. The third and final configuration mounts the mail-slot nacelle directly onto the pressure side of the wing to also take advantage of BLI. This paper presents preliminary investigations into the design and performance of the first two propulsion system configurations. This begins with an initial propulsor and mail-slot design where the aeropropulsive design space is explored, and adverse effects are addressed through iterative geometry modifications. The propulsion system configurations are then installed onto a wing–body model to account for integration effects and assess the relative aerodynamic and shaft power performance of each concept. Results indicate the potential benefits of DEP, which come from significant reductions in total drag, provided by operation at much lower propulsor fan pressure ratios.
Powerful acoustic waves generated during ignition of launch vehicles may be dangerous to the vehicle, its payload, or the surrounding structures. The water-based Ignition Overpressure and Sound Suppression (IOP/SS) system at Kennedy Space Center’s (KSC) Launch Complex 39B (LC-39B) will be used to protect the Space Launch System (SLS) from the acoustic vibrations generated during launch. The IOP/SS system uses enormous amounts of water to dampen and attenuate these sound waves. To better understand the launch environment risks and to study the effectiveness of the IOP/SS system it is desirable to have time-accurate unsteady simulations of the vehicle ignition with water-based sound suppression. This paper presents results obtained with a novel, high-order accurate, and robust numerical method designed for simulating compressible multiphase flows. A positivity-preserving finite difference scheme is utilized which is formally high-order accurate and also provably robust. Robustness is critical due to the extreme nature of the flow which exhibits highly nonlinear shock and rarefaction waves interacting with liquid-gas interfaces with density ratios of the order of 1000:1. Furthermore, the high-order accuracy (and the high resolution property) is desirable for predicting wave phenomena like IOP waves since the signal can be resolved accurately and propagated long distances with fewer grid points. This finite-difference method was developed using NASA’s Launch, Ascent, and Vehicle Aerodynamics (LAVA) Cartesian immersed boundary framework. We present a validation case by applying our solver to the SLS Scale Model Acoustic Test (SMAT). The SLS SMAT is a well-instrumented 5% scale model test meant to represent the SLS at NASA KSC’s LC-39B pad. Scale IOP tests were performed with and without the sound suppression water and included many sensors which recorded the pressure waves produced during ignition. For this validation case we conduct two simulations, likewise with and without sound suppression water, and compare the SLS SMAT pressure sensor signals with our numerical signals at identical locations. Following this validation case we present a study of the SLS launch environment to examine engineering safety concerns about the mobile launch pad. Engineers at KSC redesigned the main flame deflector at LC-39B anticipating the increased loads from the SLS and to repair damage from prior Shuttle missions. This deflector redesign made use of surface pressure and temperature data from LAVA full-scale SLS simulations without the sound suppression system. The engineers were questioning the possibility of increased pressure loads on the underside of the mobile launcher due to the water in the flame trench. Based on the results established in our simulations of the SLS SMAT, we performed updated calculations for SLS at LC-39B with and without water systems active to assess the readiness of the launch pad for Artemis I launch. Our results show that the IOP/SS system is effective at reducing the overpressure signal and overall sound pressure levels felt by the vehicle and additionally that the pressure loads experienced by the mobile launcher (ML) during engine startup is not increased by the presence of water.