Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Mateer, G. G.

Publications and source records attributed to Mateer, G. G..

At least 19 records

A supercritical airfoil experiment

The purpose of this investigation is to provide a comprehensive data base for the validation of numerical simulations. The objective of the present paper is to provide a tabulation of the experimental data. The data were obtained in the two-dimensional, transonic flowfield surrounding a supercritical airfoil. A variety of flows were studied in which the boundary layer at the trailing edge of the model was either attached or separated. Unsteady flows were avoided by controlling the Mach number and angle of attack. Surface pressures were measured on both the model and wind tunnel walls, and the flowfield surrounding the model was documented using a laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV). Although wall interference could not be completely eliminated, its effect was minimized by employing the following techniques. Sidewall boundary layers were reduced by aspiration, and upper and lower walls were contoured to accommodate the flow around the model and the boundary-layer growth on the tunnel walls. A data base with minimal interference from a tunnel with solid walls provides an ideal basis for evaluating the development of codes for the transonic speed range because the codes can include the wall boundary conditions more precisely than interference connections can be made to the data sets.

Mateer, G. G.↗

Contouring tunnel walls to achieve free-air flow over a transonic swept wing

The effects of wind-tunnel walls on the flow over a swept wing were greatly reduced by wall contouring. Significant reductions in spanwise pressure gradients were achieved by shaping all of the walls to conform to the streamlines over the model in free air. Surface pressure and oil-flow data were used to evaluate the effects of Mach and Reynolds numbers on the design. Comparisons of these data with inviscid calculations indicate that free-air flow is established at a Mach number of 0.74 and at Reynolds numbers above 4.7 million.

Mateer, G. G.↗

Mach and Reynolds Number Effects on a Shock-Wave/Boundary-Layer Interaction

The present investigation was undertaken as part of a continuing experimental/numerical program to evaluate and improve turbulence models for use in Navier-Stokes (N-S) codes. The normal shock-wave/turbulent boundary-layer interaction is a good test for such computations because it contains strong adverse pressure gradients and the possibility of local flow separation. Since constraints must be included in any computational scheme, methods employing the N-S equations are attractive because simultaneous treatment of both the viscous and inviscid flowfields is possible. The evolution of N-S codes is based primarily upon the development of models for the turbulence terms in these equations.

Mateer, G. G.↗

Effect of Mach number and Reynolds number on a normal shock-wave/turbulent boundary-layer interaction

Experimental values of wall pressure and skin friction have been obtained for Mach numbers from 1.32 to 1.48 and for Reynolds numbers from 8.5 x 10 to the 6th to 225 x 10 to the 6th. Increasing the Mach number reduces the wall shear and promotes incipient separation. Reynolds number variations have little effect except at the lowest value where the flow abruptly approaches separation. Comparisons are made with solutions to the time-dependent, Reynolds-averaged, Navier-Stokes equations incorporating a two-equation, Wilcox-Rubesin turbulence model. The computations are in agreement with the experimental results. Additional numerical results indicated that the wind-tunnel walls constrained the flow and suppressed the formation of a separation bubble at the shock wave.

Mateer, G. G.↗

A normal shock-wave turbulent boundary-layer interaction at transonic speeds

Experimental results, including surveys of the mean and fluctuating flow, and measurements of surface pressure, skin friction, and separation length, are compared with solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations utilizing various algebraic eddy viscosity models to describe the Reynolds shear stresses. The experimental data, obtained at a free-stream Mach number of 1.5 and Reynolds numbers between 10 million and 80 million, show that a separated zone forms near the foot of the shock and that its length is proportional to the initial boundary-layer thickness; that a supersonic region forms downstream of the shock; and that the shear stress increases significantly through the interaction and subsequently decays downstream. The computations adequately represent the qualitative features of the flow field throughout the interaction but quantitatively underpredict the extent of separation and the downstream level of skin friction.

Mateer, G. G.↗

A hot-wire surface gage for skin friction and separation detection measurements

A heated-element, skin-friction gage employing a very low thermal conductivity support is described. It is shown that the effective dimension of the gage in the stream direction in only 0.06 mm, including the effects of heat conduction in the supporting material. Because of its small size, the calibration of the gage is independent of the kind of boundary-layer flow (whether laminar or turbulent) and is insensitive to pressure gradients. Construction tolerances can be maintained so that a single universal calibration can be applied. Multiple gages, sufficiently closely spaced so as to interfere with each other, are shown to provide accurate determinations of the locations of the points of boundary-layer separation and reattachment.

Rubesin, M. W.↗

Flush-mounted hot-wire gage for skin friction and separation detection measurements

A heated-element skin-friction gage employing a very low thermal-conductivity support is described. It is shown that the effective dimension of the gage in the stream direction is only 0.06 mm, including the effects of heat conduction in the supporting material. Because of its small size, the calibration of the gage is independent of the kind of boundary-layer flow (whether laminar or turbulent) and is insensitive to pressure gradients. Construction tolerances can be maintained so that a single universal calibration can be applied. Multiple gages, sufficiently closely spaced so as to interfere with each other, are shown to provide accurate determinations of the location of the points of boundary-layer separation and reattachment.

Rubesin, M. W.↗

Calculation of metric coefficients for streamline coordinates.

A procedure is given for deriving the equations describing the surface streamline metric in a general form and in a form suitable for incorporation into computer codes to calculate an inviscid flow about three-dimensional bodies. Sample results are included to show the application of the metric in conjunction with an axisymmetric analog to predict heat transfer to a typical space shuttle orbiter.

Rakich, J. V.↗

Effects of wall cooling and angle of attack on boundary layer transition on sharp cones at free stream Mach 7.4

Tests were conducted on 5 deg and 15 deg half-angle sharp cones at wall-to-total-temperature ratios of 0.08 to 0.4, and angles of attack from 0 deg to 20 deg. The results indicate that (1) transition Reynolds numbers decrease with decreasing temperature ratio, (2) local transition Reynolds numbers decrease from the windward to the leeward side of the model, and (3) transition data on the windward ray of cones can be correlated in terms of the crossflow velocity gradient, momentum thickness Reynolds number, local Mach number, and cone half-angle.

Mateer, G. G.↗

The effect of angle of attack on boundary-layer transition on cones.

Boundary-layer transition on 5- and 15-deg half-angle cones was studied as a function of angle of attack (ranging from 0 to 20 deg) in a 3.5 ft hypersonic wind tunnel at a freestream Mach number of 7.4. It is shown that the influence of the angle of attack on the transition Reynolds number is a function of the meridian angle. On the windward ray of the 15-deg cone, transition Reynolds numbers show an initial slight increase and then a decrease with increasing angle of attack; leeward-ray Reynolds numbers for this cone decrease rapidly with angle of attack. Windward-ray transition Reynolds numbers increase monotonically with angle of attack on the 5-deg cone, but the effect of the angle of attack on the leeward ray is the same as for the 15-deg cone.

Mateer, G. G.↗

Application of shock capturing and characteristics methods to shuttle flow fields

The calculation of real gas flows around the space shuttle vehicle can be accomplished by the method of characteristics (MOC) or shock capture technique (SCT). Results obtained with these methods for an early orbiter shape proposed by the North American Rockwell Corporation and also for the more recent 040A configuration suggested by NASA-MSC are presented. Results obtained with the SCT code demonstrate its three-dimensional, multiple shock capturing capability while results obtained with the MOC code demonstrate the calculation of equilibrium real gas flows and the determination of flow variables required for a heating analysis.

Kutler, P.↗

Effects of roughness on heating and boundary-layer transition. Part 2: effects of discrete roughness on heating

A preliminary investigation on the effects of roughness on heating in delta wing orbiters was conducted on the windward surface of the vehicle. The purpose of the experiment was to determine the feasibility of using parametric relationships obtained from discrete roughness effects on heating in flat plates and cones, to complex shuttle configurations. An attempt was also made to characterize what parameters were needed to influence roughness. Experimental results show that effective roughness Reynolds numbers are less than or equal to those of flat plates at the same edge Mach number, but, the roughness correlations for plates and cones cannot be applied to the shuttle configuration.

Mateer, G. G.↗