Engineering topics

Johnson, W.

Publications and source records attributed to Johnson, W..

At least 91 records · Page 5

NASA NTRS1976

Stability analysis of combined continuous and discrete systems

A discrete, time-invariant system is represented by an equivalent continuous, periodic system. A combined continuous plant and discrete controller may then be formulated as a single continuous, periodic coefficient system. The exact stability solution for the combined system is obtained, as a matrix eigenvalue problem. Periodic system theory also gives some information about the type of instabilities which may be encountered in the combined plant and controller.

Johnson, W.↗

NASA NTRS1976

ERDA-NASA wind energy project ready to involve users

The NASA contribution to the Wind Energy Project is discussed. NASA is responsible for the following: (1) identification of cost-effective configurations and sizes of wind-conversion systems, (2) the development of technology needed to produce these systems, (3) the design of wind-conversion systems that are compatible with user requirements, particularly utility networks, and (4) technology transfer obtained from the program to stimulate rapid commercial application of wind systems. Various elements of the NASA program are outlined, including industry-built user operation, the evaluation phase, the proposed plan and schedule for site selection and user involvement, supporting research and technology (e.g., energy storage), and component and subsystem technology development.

Thomas, R.↗

NASA NTRS1975

A discussion of dynamic stability measurement techniques

Techniques for the measurement of the dynamic stability of linear systems are discussed. Particular attention is given to an analysis of the errors in the procedures, and to methods for calculating the system damping from the data. The techniques discussed include: transient decay, moving block analysis, spectral analysis, random decrement signatures, transfer function analysis, and parameter identification methods. The special problems of rotorcraft dynamic stability testing are discussed.

Johnson, W.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Shake Test of a Propeller Test Rig in the 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel

A shake test was conducted to determine the dynamic characteristics of a propeller test rig in the Ames 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel. The rotor off hub transfer function (acceleration per unit force as a function of frequency) was measured in the longitudinal, lateral, and vertical directions for shaft angles of 0 and 90 deg corresponding to propeller and helicopter operation, respectively. The dynamic data are summarized for the configurations tested, giving the following properties for each mode identified: the natural frequency, the hub response at resonance, the damping coefficient, the damping ratio, and the modal mass. The complete transfer functions are presented, and the detailed test results are included.

Johnson, W.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Plans and status of the NASA-Lewis Research Center wind energy project

This report describes that portion of the national five-year wind energy program that is being managed by the NASA-Lewis Research Center for the ERDA. The Lewis Research Center's Wind Power Office, its organization and plans and status are briefly described. The three major elements of the wind energy project at Lewis are the experimental 100 kW wind-turbine generator; the first generation industry-built and user-operated wind turbine generators; and the supporting research and technology tasks which are each briefly described.

Thomas, R.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Optimal control alleviation of tilting proprotor gust response

Optimal control theory is applied to the design of a control system for alleviation of the gust response of tilting proprotor aircraft. Using a proprotor and cantilever wing analytical model, the uncontrolled and controlled gust response is examined over the entire operating range of the aircraft except for hover: helicopter mode, conversion, and airplane mode flight. Substantial improvements in the loads, ride quality, and aeroelastic stability are possible with a properly designed controller. A single controller, nominally optimal only at the design point speed (160 knots here), operated efficiently over the entire speed range, with the possible exception of very low speed in helicopter mode. Kalman-Bucy filters were used as compensation networks to provide state estimates from various measurements in the wing motion, rotor speed perturbation, and tip-path-plane tilt.

Johnson, W.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Analytical modeling requirements for tilting proprotor aircraft dynamics

Proprotor and cantilever wing aeroelastic behavior is applied to a gimballed rotor and a hingeless rotor to develop an analytical model for prediction of tilting proprotor aircraft dynamics. Particular attention is given to: the influence of coupled flap/lag bending modes; the influence of rotor blade torsion degrees of freedom on proprotor dynamics; and, to a constant coefficient approximation representing the dynamics in nonaxial flow through the rotor. The following are also examined: the number of blade bending and torsion modes required; the influence of the rotor aerodynamic model; the influence of the blade trim bending deflection; the importance of the rotor rotational speed degree of freedom; and the effect of the wing aerodynamic forces. The origin of the significant influence of the blade pitch motion on the proprotor dynamics is discussed.

Johnson, W.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Shake test of rotor test apparatus with balance dampers in the 40 by 80 foot wind tunnel

A shake test was conducted to determine the dynamic characteristics of a rotor test apparatus on two strut systems with balance dampers in the Ames 40- by 80-ft wind tunnel. The rotor-off hub transfer function (acceleration per unit force as a function of frequency) was measured in the longitudinal and lateral directions, using a combination of broadband and discrete frequency excitation techniques. The dynamic data are summarized for the configurations tested, giving the following properties for each mode identified: the natural frequency, the hub response at resonance, the fixed system damping, the damping ratio, and the modal mass. The complete transfer functions are presented, and the detailed test results are included as an appendix.

Johnson, W.↗

NASA NTRS1975

The influence of engine/transmission/governor on tilting proprotor aircraft dynamics

An analytical model is developed for the dynamics of a tilting proprotor aircraft engine and drive train, including a rotor speed governor and interconnect shaft. The dynamic stability of a proprotor and cantilever wing is calculated, including the engine-transmission-governor model. It is concluded that the rotor behaves much as if windmilling as far as its dynamic behavior is concerned, with some influence of the turboshaft engine inertia and damping. The interconnect shaft has a significant influence on the antisymmetric dynamics of proprotor aircraft. The proprotor aerodynamics model is extended to include reverse flow, and a refinement on the method used to calculate the kinematic pitch-bending coupling of the blade is developed.

Johnson, W.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Shake test of rotor test apparatus in the 40- by 80-foot wind tunnel

A shake test was conducted to determine the dynamic characteristics of a rotor test apparatus on strut systems. The rotor-off hub transfer function (acceleration per unit force as a function of frequency) was measured in the longitudinal and lateral directions, using a combination of broadband and discrete frequency excitation techniques. The dynamic data is summarized for the configurations tested, giving the following properties for each mode identified: the natural frequency, the hub response at resonance, and the fixed system damping. The complete transfer functions are presented, and the detailed test results are included as an appendix. Data analysis techniques developed to obtain on-line measurements of the system modal properties, including the damping coefficient and the damping ratio are discussed.

Johnson, W.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Plans and status of the NASA-Lewis Research Center wind energy project

Wind energy is investigated as a source of energy. The wind energy program that is managed by the NASA-Lewis Research Center is described. The Lewis Research Center's Wind Power Office, its organization, plans, and status are discussed. Major elements of the wind power project included are: an experimental 100 kW wind-turbine generator; first generation industry-built and user-operated wind turbine generators; and supporting research and technology tasks.

Thomas, R.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Lake eutrophication as indicated by ERTS satellite imagery

Light reflectance from water in the laboratory always correlates to the water quality parameter of turbidity. This turbidity is caused by suspended solids in the water and for a particular type of material there is a good correlation between the weight of these suspended solids and turbidity. However, this correlation is different for different types of material. When this suspended material is living green matter as in an eutrophic lake, the changes in reflectance can be detected as changes in brightness on a particular aerial image. Two test sites have shown that there is indeed a good correlation between the brightness on an ERTS image and lake eutrophication.

Scherz, J. P.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Comparison of three methods for calculation of helicopter rotor blade loading and stresses due to stall

A comparison is made of the results of three methods for calculating the effects of dynamic stall on the performance, airloads, and blade stresses of a helicopter rotor at high loading. The three dynamic-stall methods considered predict essentially the same performance and trim for the rotor. They give roughly the same mean bending moments, but the peak-to-peak torsion and bending moments differ by 25 to 40 percent, and there are differences in the details of the predicted blade motion and stresses. The latter are due to significant differences in the dynamic stall aerodynamic loads, particularly the aerodynamic pitch moment, predicted by the three methods.

Johnson, W.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Optimal control theory investigation of proprotor/wing response to vertical gust

Optimal control theory is used to design linear state variable feedback to improve the dynamic characteristics of a rotor and cantilever wing representing the tilting proprotor aircraft in cruise flight. The response to a vertical gust and system damping are used as criteria for the open and closed loop performance. The improvement in the dynamic characteristics achievable is examined for a gimballed rotor and for a hingeless rotor design. Several features of the design process are examined, including: (1) using only the wing or only the rotor dynamics in the control system design; (2) the use of a wing flap as well as the rotor controls for inputs; (3) and the performance of the system designed for one velocity at other forward speeds.

Frick, J. K. D.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Analytical model for tilting proprotor aircraft dynamics, including blade torsion and coupled bending modes, and conversion mode operation

An analytical model is developed for proprotor aircraft dynamics. The rotor model includes coupled flap-lag bending modes, and blade torsion degrees of freedom. The rotor aerodynamic model is generally valid for high and low inflow, and for axial and nonaxial flight. For the rotor support, a cantilever wing is considered; incorporation of a more general support with this rotor model will be a straight-forward matter.

Johnson, W.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Perturbation solutions for the influence of forward flight on helicopter rotor flapping stability

The stability of the flapping motion of a helicopter rotor blade in forward flight is investigated, using a perturbation technique which gives analytic expressions for the eigenvalues, including the influence of the periodic aerodynamic forces in forward flight. The perturbation solutions are based on small advance ratio (the ratio of the helicopter forward speed to the rotor tip speed). The rotor configurations considered are a single, independent blade; a teetering rotor; a gimballed rotor with three, four, and five or more blades; and a rotor with N independent blades. The constant coefficient approximation with the equations and degrees of freedom in the nonrotating frame represents the flap dynamic reasonably well for the lower frequency modes, although it cannot, of course, be completely correct. The transfer function of the rotor flap response to sinusoidal pitch input is examined, as an alternative to the eigenvalues as a representation of the dynamic characteristics of the flap motion.

Johnson, W.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Dynamics of tilting proprotor aircraft in cruise flight

A nine degree-of-freedom theoretical model is developed for investigations of the dynamics of a proprotor operating in high inflow axial flight on a cantilever wing. The basic characteristics of the rotor high inflow aerodynamics and the resulting rotor aeroelastic behavior are discussed. The problems of classical whirl flutter, the two-bladed rotor, and the influence of the proprotor on the stability derivatives of the aircraft are treated briefly. The influence of various elements of the theoretical model is discussed, including the modeling used for the blade and wing aerodynamics, and the influence of the rotor lag degree of freedom. The results from tests of two full-scale proprotors - a gimballed, stiff-inplane rotor and a hingeless, soft-inplane rotor - are presented; comparisons with the theoretical results show good correlation.

Johnson, W.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Theory and comparison with tests of two full-scale proprotors

A nine degrees-of-freedom theoretical model was developed for investigations of the dynamics of a proprotor operating in high inflow axial flight on a cantilever wing. The theory is described, and the results of the analysis are presented for two proprotor configurations: a gimballed, stiff-inplane rotor, and a hingeless, soft-inplane rotor. The influence of various elements of the theory are discussed, including the modeling used for the blade and wing aerodynamics, and the influence of the rotor lag degree of freedom. The results from full-scale tests of the two proprotors are presented and compared with the theoretical results.

Johnson, W.↗