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Lin, J. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Lin, J. C..

Overview of CFD Validation Experiments for Circulation Control Applications at NASA

Circulation control is a viable active flow control approach that can be used to meet the NASA Subsonic Fixed Wing project s Cruise Efficient Short Take Off and Landing goals. Currently, circulation control systems are primarily designed using empirical methods. However, large uncertainty in our ability to predict circulation control performance has led to the development of advanced CFD methods. This paper provides an overview of a systematic approach to developing CFD tools for basic and advanced circulation control applications. This four-step approach includes "Unit", "Benchmar", "Subsystem", and "Complete System" experiments. The paper emphasizes the ongoing and planned 2-D and 3-D physics orientated experiments with corresponding CFD efforts. Sample data are used to highlight the challenges involved in conducting circulation control computations and experiments.

Jones, G. S.

Effect of Sub-Boundary Layer Vortex Generations on Incident Turbulence

Sub-boundary layer vortex generators were tested in a wind tunnel to assess their effect on the velocity field within the wake region of a turbulent boundary layer. Both mean flow quantities and turbulence statistics were measured. Although very small relative to the boundary layer thickness, these so-called micro vortex generators were found to have a measurable effect on the power spectra and integral length scales of the turbulence at a distance many times the height of the devices themselves. In addition, the potential acoustic impact of these devices is also discussed. Measured turbulence spectra are used as input to an acoustic formulation in a manner that compares predicted sound pressure levels that result from the incident boundary-layer turbulence, with and without the vortex generators in the flow.

Casper, J.

Control of low-speed turbulent separated flow using jet vortex generators

A parametric study has been performed with jet vortex generators to determine their effectiveness in controlling flow separation associated with low-speed turbulent flow over a two-dimensional rearward-facing ramp. Results indicate that flow-separation control can be accomplished, with the level of control achieved being a function of jet speed, jet orientation (with respect to the free-stream direction, and jet location (distance from the separation region in the free-stream direction). Compared to slot blowing, jet vortex generators can provide an equivalent level of flow control over a larger spanwise region (for constant jet flow area and speed).

Selby, G. V.

Exploratory study of vortex-generating devices for turbulent flow separation control

Flow phenomena and the relative performance associated with several devices for controlling turbulent separated flow were investigated at low speeds. Vortex-generating devices examined included: submerged vortex generators (Wheeler doublet and wishbone types), spanwise cylinders, large-eddy breakup devices (LEBU) at small angle of attack (alpha), and vortex-generator jets (VGJ). Dye flow visualization tests in a water tunnel indicated that wishbone vortex generators in the forward orientation shed horseshoe vortices; wishbone vortex generators oriented in the reverse direction and doublet vortex generators shed streamwise counterrotating vortices; a spanwise cylinder located near the wall and LEBUs at alpha = -10 deg produced eddies which rotated with the same sign as the mean vorticity in a turbulent boundary layer; and the most effective VGJs produced streamwise corotating vortices. Comparative wind tunnel tests conducted on a curved backward-facing ramp indicated that transferring momentum from the outer region of a turbulent boundary layer by embedded streamwise vortices is more effective than by transverse vortices for separation control applications.

Lin, J. C.

Investigation of several passive and active methods for turbulent flow separation control

Relative performance of several passive and active methods for controlling two-dimensional turbulent separated flow associated with a curved backward-facing ramp were investigated at low speeds. Surface static pressure measurement and oil flow visualization results indicate that submerged vortex generators, vortex generator jets, elongated arches at +-alpha, and large-eddy breakup devices at +-alpha placed near the baseline separation location reduce flow separation and increase pressure recovery. Spanwise cylinders reduce flow separation but decrease pressure recovery downstream. Arches with alpha = 0 deg, Helmholtz resonators, and Viets' fluidic flappers examined so far have no significant effect in reducing separation. Wall cooling computation indicates that separation delay on a partially cooled ramp is nearly the same as on a fully-cooled ramp while minimizing the frictional drag increase associated with the wall cooling process.

Lin, J. C.

Turbulent flow separation control over a backward-facing ramp via transverse and swept grooves

Separation control experiments were conducted in a 51-71-cm shear-flow control tunnel using a backward-facing ramp to investigate the performance of transverse and swept grooves for controlling a two-dimensional turbulent separated flow at low speeds and moderate Reynolds numbers. In the experiments, transverse grooves, located in the maximum +dP/dx region, with a height-to-width ratio greater than 2.5, reduced the reattachment distance by 20 percent over the baseline configuration. Unlike transverse and longitudinal grooves of equivalent size, the 45-degree swept-groove configurations tested enhanced separation.

Selby, G. V.

Turbulent flow separation control through passive techniques

Several passive separation control techniques for controlling moderate two-dimensional turbulent flow separation over a backward-facing ramp are studied. Small transverse and swept grooves, passive porous surfaces, large longitudinal grooves, and vortex generators were among the techniques used. It was found that, unlike the transverse and longitudinal grooves of an equivalent size, the 45-deg swept-groove configurations tested tended to enhance separation.

Lin, J. C.

Wall temperature control of low-speed body drag

The use of thermal means to control drag under turbulent boundary layer conditions is examined. Numerical calculations are presented for both skin friction and (unseparated) pressure drag for turbulent boundary-layer flows over a fuselage-like body with wall heat transfer. In addition, thermal control of separation on a bluff body is investigated. It is shown that a total drag reduction of up to 20 percent can be achieved for wall heating with a wall-to-total-freestream temperature ratio of 2. For streamlined slender bodies, partial wall heating of the forebody can produce almost the same order of total drag reduction as the full body heating case. For bluff bodies, the separation delay from partial wall cooling of the afterbody is approximately the same as for the fully cooled body.

Lin, J. C.

Turbulent roughness drag due to surface waviness at low roughness Reynolds numbers

The current investigation has the objective to provide data which will make it possible to obtain a better estimate regarding the roughness drag for surface waviness. The data employed for this investigation were acquired in connection with a wavy wall study which was conducted as part of an overall program to reduce the skin friction of turbulent boundary layers in external flows. The results of the present investigation show that the low-speed roughness drag of small-amplitude sinusoidal wave trains having wavelengths of the order of the boundary-layer thickness is not only a function of h/lambda (h = total wave height, lambda = wavelength), but, in addition, is also a function of the roughness Reynolds number.

Lin, J. C.

Drag of two-dimensional small-amplitude symmetric and asymmetric wavy walls in turbulent boundary layers

Included are results of an experimental investigation of low-speed turbulent flow over multiple two-dimensional transverse rigid wavy surfaces having a wavelength on the order of the boundary-layer thickness. Data include surface pressure and total drag measurements on symmetric and asymmetric wall waves under a low-speed turbulent boundary-layer flow. Several asymmetric wave configurations exhibited drag levels below the equivalent symmetric (sine) wave. The experimental results compare favorably with numerical predictions from a Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes spectral code. The reported results are of particular interest for the estimation of drag, the minimization of fabrication waviness effects, and the study of wind-wave interactions.

Lin, J. C.

Turbulent drag characteristic of small amplitude rigid surface waves

The paper discusses an experimental and theoretical investigation of low speed turbulent flow over transverse rigid wavy surfaces having a wavelength on the order of the boundary layer thickness. In addition the results of theoretical investigations of laminar flow over short wavelength waves and turbulent flow over long wavelength (wavelength much greater than the boundary layer thickness) wavy walls are presented. Surface pressure and net drag measurements obtained for the short wavelength symmetric and asymmetric waves in a turbulent flow agreed with the results obtained with a Navier-Stokes spectral code and indicated no significant drag reduction. Several asymmetric wave configurations did significantly reduce the pressure drag compared to sine wave geometries, but these waves still did not produce a net drag reduction. The Navier-Stokes calculations for laminar flow indicated a drag reduction of up to 17 percent for certain short wavelength waves. Boundary layer calculations for turbulent flow over long wavelength surface waves indicated that net drag reductions on the order of 10 percent may be possible for large-radius waisted bodies.

Lin, J. C.