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Edwards, Thomas A.

Publications and source records attributed to Edwards, Thomas A..

At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1995

Hypersonic Combustor Model Inlet CFD Simulations and Experimental Comparisons

Numerous two-and three-dimensional computational simulations were performed for the inlet associated with the combustor model for the hypersonic propulsion experiment in the NASA Ames 16-Inch Shock Tunnel. The inlet was designed to produce a combustor-inlet flow that is nearly two-dimensional and of sufficient mass flow rate for large scale combustor testing. The three-dimensional simulations demonstrated that the inlet design met all the design objectives and that the inlet produced a very nearly two-dimensional combustor inflow profile. Numerous two-dimensional simulations were performed with various levels of approximations such as in the choice of chemical and physical models, as well as numerical approximations. Parametric studies were conducted to better understand and to characterize the inlet flow. Results from the two-and three-dimensional simulations were used to predict the mass flux entering the combustor and a mass flux correlation as a function of facility stagnation pressure was developed. Surface heat flux and pressure measurements were compared with the computed results and good agreement was found. The computational simulations helped determine the inlet low characteristics in the high enthalpy environment, the important parameters that affect the combustor-inlet flow, and the sensitivity of the inlet flow to various modeling assumptions.

Venkatapathy, E.↗
NASA NTRS1995

The NASA Ames 16-Inch Shock Tunnel Nozzle Simulations and Experimental Comparison

The 16-Inch Shock Tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center is a unique test facility used for hypersonic propulsion testing. To provide information necessary to understand the hypersonic testing of the combustor model, computational simulations of the facility nozzle were performed and results are compared with available experimental data, namely static pressure along the nozzle walls and pitot pressure at the exit of the nozzle section. Both quasi-one-dimensional and axisymmetric approaches were used to study the numerous modeling issues involved. The facility nozzle flow was examined for three hypersonic test conditions, and the computational results are presented in detail. The effects of variations in reservoir conditions, boundary layer growth, and parameters of numerical modeling are explored.

TokarcikPolsky, S.↗
NASA NTRS1994

High-Speed Research: Sonic Boom, Volume 1

The second High-Speed Research Program Sonic Boom Workshop was held at NASA Ames Research Center May 12-14, 1993. The workshop was organized into three sessions dealing with atmospheric propagation, acceptability, and configuration design. Volume 1 includes papers on atmospheric propagation and acceptability studies. Significant progress is noted in these areas in the time since the previous workshop a year earlier. In particular, several papers demonstrate an improved capability to model the effect of atmospheric turbulence on sonic booms. This is a key issue in determining the stability and acceptability of shaped sonic booms. In the area of acceptability, the PLdB metric has withstood considerable scrutiny and is validated as a loudness metric for a wide variety of sonic boom shapes. The differential loudness of asymmetric sonic booms is better understood, too.

Edwards, Thomas A.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Collisional-Radiative Nonequilibrium and Precursor Effects in a Nitrogen Shock Wave

Improvements to a plasma code with a Collisional-Radiative (CR) non-equilibrium model are made, allowing for a more accurate description of the physical processes. The code allows for non-Boltzmann distributions of the electronic excited states by convecting separately each excited state, as a pseudo-specie. Each molecular state has also its own vibrational temperature, while a global rotational temperature is assumed. The free electron temperature is different from those of the excited states, and the electron heat conduction is also included. The CR model also uses a unique coupling between chemistry and vibrational energy (C-V coupling), which is fully coherent, and has the property of establishing thermal equilibrium as well as chemical equilibrium, on its own. We have also included a coupling between electronic excitations and vibrational energy (X-V coupling), which can have a strong influence on the vibrational temperature of some states. The recent improvements include the multi- temperature dependence of the chemical rates for associative ionization, as well as the estimation of the internal energies transferred during this process. Additionally, the distribution of energy into different translational modes (electron and heavy particles) is now correctly modeled. This provides a very rapid heating mechanism for the free electrons, since it is found that the electrons are generated with an average thermal energy of the same order as the heavy particle translational energy. This effect was observed by Gorelov et al in a recent paper, and lead to pronounced peaks in electron temperature immediately behind the shock. We will attempt ro reproduce this phenomenon. The last modification concerns the inclusion of the radiative terms into the calculations, thus enabling us to observe the effect of radiative losses and radiation transport. Preliminary tests have shown that the radiative losses are not negligible, i.e. the shock velocity drops when the radiative emission is included. In addition, we have observed some precursor excitation and ionization phenomena. These may be important at high shock velocities, and this will be investigated in detail. Precursor phenomena were also observed (in air) by Gorelov et al, and our results (for pure nitrogen) will be qualitatively compared with theirs.

Cambier, Jean-Luc↗
NASA NTRS1994

Heating Analysis of the Lockheed Lifting Body

Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis is performed on the Lockheed Lifting Body Single-Stage-to-Orbit vehicle to determine the heat transfer to the vehicle during its descent trajectory. Seven species, chemical nonequilibriurn computations using the GASP code will be completed at several trajectory points to assess the thermal protection requirements of the vehicle. Sophisticated surface boundary conditions including in-depth conduction, catalycity, and a variable temperature wall have been incorporated into the flow solver.

Palmer, Grant↗
NASA NTRS1994

A Study of High Altitude Hypersonic Flow-Field Radiation

This paper presents the results of the works carried out jointly at Stanford University and Ames Research Center under a grant from the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) (formerly the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization) to explain and understand the results of the two flight experiments, Bow Shock Ultra-Violet 1 and Bow Shock Ultra-Violet 2, carried out by the Organization. A portion of the material contained in this paper has been reported elsewhere in open literature. However, this paper provides (1) the details of scientific contents not available in those literature, (2) the links among those and the logical order of the efforts involved, and (3) some materials not contained in any open literature. The first author is responsible for execution of the work; the second author directed the work of the first author. In the two flight experiments mentioned above, the spectra of radiation in the ultraviolet wavelength range incident on the stagnation point of a blunt body were measured at the flight speeds of 3.8 and 5.2 km/sec over a wide range of altitudes. The results were compared first with the calculations made using the original version of the NEQAIR/STRAP codes written earlier by the second author. At low altitudes, the calculations agreed with the measurement. However, at high altitudes, the calculations underestimated the intensity of the radiation by several orders of magnitudes. A shock tube experiment was carried out at CALSPAN and a plasma-torch experiment was carried out at Stanford University to produce experimental data to help explain the discrepancy. In addition, the shock tube experiment at Ames Research Center carried out independently of the BMDO was also found to be relevant to this question. In this paper, several theoretical models are developed and calculations using the models were carried out to explain the results not only of the flight experiments but also of the CALSPAN, Stanford, and Ames experiments. The are: (1) the diffusion model for the rotational mode to explain the slowness of rotational excitation, (2) assignment of different vibrational temperatures and different relaxation rates for different molecules, and (3) the modification of the NEQAIR code to accommodate the new experimental data. This paper shows that the discrepancy between the flight data and calculation is smaller with the present model, but is still substantial.

Moreau, Stephane↗
NASA NTRS1994

Calibration of Axisymmetric and Quasi-1D Solvers for High Enthalpy Nozzles

The proposed paper will present a numerical investigation of the flow characteristics and boundary layer development in the nozzles of high enthalpy shock tunnel facilities used for hypersonic propulsion testing. The computed flow will be validated against existing experimental data. Pitot pressure data obtained at the entrance of the test cabin will be used to validate the numerical simulations. It is necessary to accurately model the facility nozzles in order to characterize the test article flow conditions. Initially the axisymmetric nozzle flow will be computed using a Navier Stokes solver for a range of reservoir conditions. The calculated solutions will be compared and calibrated against available experimental data from the DLR HEG piston-driven shock tunnel and the 16-inch shock tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center. The Reynolds number is assumed to be high enough at the throat that the boundary layer flow is assumed turbulent at this point downstream. The real gas affects will be examined. In high Mach number facilities the boundary layer is thick. Attempts will be made to correlate the boundary layer displacement thickness. The displacement thickness correlation will be used to calibrate the quasi-1D codes NENZF and LSENS in order to provide fast and efficient tools of characterizing the facility nozzles. The calibrated quasi-1D codes will be implemented to study the effects of chemistry and the flow condition variations at the test section due to small variations in the driver gas conditions.

Papadopoulos, P. E.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Mars Aerocapture Analysis For MESUR/Mars-Pathfinder Aeroshells Using Un-modulated Control in Low L/D Configurations

Aerocapture scenarios are examined to determine the feasibility of using MESUR/Mars Pathfinder aeroshell designs to capture spacecraft aerodynamically into Mars orbit. Using lift over drag (L/D) ratios up to 0.3, entry trajectories were simulated over a range of entry vehicle masses and entry velocities. Entry corridor widths were calculated for undershoot and overshoot trajectories yielding Mars parking orbits having periods from 2 to 20 hours. For entries with L/D = 0.3, entry corridor widths of about 1.2 degrees are possible over entry velocities from 5.5 to 9.0 km/sec. The design constraints for an aeroshell used for orbital aerocapture are less severe than a ballistic entry for a surface lander mission such as Mars Pathfinder, because the aerothermodynamic heating and deceleration loads are smaller. The mass savings from aerocapture orbit insertion versus propulsive insertion into Mars orbit could result in significantly reducing program costs and increasing mission capabilities.

Wercinski, Paul F.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Sonic and Supersonic Jet Plumes

Study of sonic and supersonic jet plumes are relevant to understanding such phenomenon as jet-noise, plume signatures, and rocket base-heating and radiation. Jet plumes are simple to simulate and yet, have complex flow structures such as Mach disks, triple points, shear-layers, barrel shocks, shock- shear- layer interaction, etc. Experimental and computational simulation of sonic and supersonic jet plumes have been performed for under- and over-expanded, axisymmetric plume conditions. The computational simulation compare very well with the experimental observations of schlieren pictures. Experimental data such as temperature measurements with hot-wire probes are yet to be measured and will be compared with computed values. Extensive analysis of the computational simulations presents a clear picture of how the complex flow structure develops and the conditions under which self-similar flow structures evolve. From the computations, the plume structure can be further classified into many sub-groups. In the proposed paper, detail results from the experimental and computational simulations for single, axisymmetric, under- and over-expanded, sonic and supersonic plumes will be compared and the fluid dynamic aspects of flow structures will be discussed.

Venkatapathy, E.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Experimental and Computational Study of Sonic and Supersonic Jet Plumes

Study of sonic and supersonic jet plumes are relevant to understanding such phenomenon as jet-noise, plume signatures, and rocket base-heating and radiation. Jet plumes are simple to simulate and yet, have complex flow structures such as Mach disks, triple points, shear-layers, barrel shocks, shock-shear-layer interaction, etc. Experimental and computational simulation of sonic and supersonic jet plumes have been performed for under- and over-expanded, axisymmetric plume conditions. The computational simulation compare very well with the experimental observations of schlieren pictures. Experimental data such as temperature measurements with hot-wire probes are yet to be measured and will be compared with computed values. Extensive analysis of the computational simulations presents a clear picture of how the complex flow structure develops and the conditions under which self-similar flow structures evolve. From the computations, the plume structure can be further classified into many sub-groups. In the proposed paper, detail results from the experimental and computational simulations for single, axisymmetric, under- and over-expanded, sonic and supersonic plumes will be compared and the fluid dynamic aspects of flow structures will be discussed.

Venkatapathy, E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Supersonic airplane design optimization method for aerodynamic performance and low sonic boom

This paper presents a new methodology for the optimization of supersonic airplane designs to meet the dual design objectives of low sonic boom and high aerodynamic performance. Two sets of design parameters are used on an existing High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) configuration to maximize the aerodynamic performance and minimize the sonic boom under the flight track. One set of the parameters perturbs the camber line of the wing sections to maximize the lift-over-drag ratio (L/D). A preliminary optimization run yielded a 3.75 percent improvement in L/D over a baseline low-boom configuration. The other set of parameters modifies the fuselage area to achieve a target F-function. Starting from an initial configuration with strong bow, wing, and tail shocks, a modified design with a flat-top signature is obtained. The methods presented can easily incorporate other design variables and objective functions. Extensions to the present capability in progress are described.

Cheung, Samson H.↗
NASA NTRS1992

CFD Simulations Of Sonic Booms In Near And Mid Fields

Report discusses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to simulate generation and propagation of sonic booms in near- and mid-field regions of supersonic flows about simplified bodies representative of advanced airplanes. Parabolized Navier-Stokes equations integrated by implicit, approximate-factorization, finite-volume algorithm in which crossflow inviscid fluxes evaluated by Roe's flux-difference-splitting scheme. Near-field solutions obtained by applying algorithm to flows immediately surrounding bodies. Solutions transferred to computer codes based on Whitham"s F-function theory for extrapolation to far-field.

Cheung, Samson H.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Sonic boom prediction and minimization using computational fluid dynamics

This paper describes the NASA ARC program in sonic boom prediction methodologies. This activity supports NASA's High Speed Research Program (HSRP). An overview of the program, recent results, conclusions, and current effort will be given. This effort complements research in sonic boom acceptability and validation being conducted at LaRC and ARC. The goals of the sonic boom element are as follows: to establish a predictive capability for sonic booms generated by High-Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) concepts; to establish guidelines of acceptability for supersonic overland flight; and to validate these findings with wind tunnel and flight tests. The cumulative result of these efforts will be an assessment of economic viability for supersonic transportation. This determination will ultimately be made by the aerospace industry.

Edwards, Thomas A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Fluid/chemistry modeling for hypersonic flight analysis

Design studies are underway for a variety of hypersonic flight vehicles. The National Aero-Space Plane will provide a reusable, single-stage-to-orbit capability for routine access to low earth orbit. Flight-capable satellites will dip into the atmosphere to maneuver to new orbits, while planetary probes will decelerate at their destination by atmospheric aerobraking. To supplement limited experimental capabilities in the hypersonic regime, computational fluid dynamics is being used to analyze the flow about these configurations. The governing equations include fluid dynamic as well as chemical species equations, which are being solved with new, robust numerical algorithms. Examples of CFD applications to hypersonic vehicles suggest an important role this technology will play in the development of future aerospace systems. The computational resources needed to obtain solutions are large, but solution-adaptive grids, convergence acceleration, and parallel processing may make run times manageable.

Edwards, Thomas A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Application of CFD to sonic boom near and mid flow-field prediction

A three-dimensional parabolized Navier-Stokes (PNS) code has been used to calculate the supersonic overpressures from three different geometries at near- and mid-flow fields. Wind-tunnel data is used for code validation. Comparison of the computed results with different grid refinements is shown in this paper. It is observed that a large number of grid points is needed to resolve the tail shock/expansion fan interaction. Therefore, an adaptive grid approach is employed to calculate the flow field. The agreement between the numerical results and the wind-tunnel data confirms that computational fluid dynamics can be applied to the problem of sonic boom prediction.

Cheung, Samson H.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Application of CFD to sonic boom near and mid flow-field prediction

A 3-D parabolized Navier-Stokes (PNS) code was used to calculate the supersonic overpressures from three different geometries at near- and mid-flow fields. Wind tunnel data is used for code validation. Comparison of the computed results with different grid refinements is shown. It is observed that a large number of grid points is needed to resolve the tail shock/expansion fan interaction. Therefore, an adaptive grid approach is employed to calculate the flow field. The agreement between the numerical results and the wind tunnel data confirms that computational fluid dynamics can be applied to the problem of sonic boom prediction.

Cheung, Samson H.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Calculation of hypersonic forebody/inlet flow fields

The National Aero-Space Plane (NASP) is unique in its integration of the airframe and propulsion system. The performance of the NASP propulsion system (scramjet) is dependent upon the quality of the flow into the scramjet inlet. Hence, the calculation of the inlet flow field must be coupled to the forebody flow field for accurate performance predictions. The Compressible Navier-Stokes code has been extended to perform both external and internal hypersonic flow fields. Computations are presented that validate these changes and demonstrate the capability to perform coupled forebody/inlet computations for hypersonic flows.

Bennett, Bradford C.↗