Michael Kegerise | Search NASA

NASA NTRS2023

A Simple Boundary-Layer Transition Detection Method Using Mean Static Pressure Measurements

A simple method for detecting boundary-layer transition using only mean static pressure port data is presented. The method can be applied to most existing models with pressure taps, and only requires that a fine angle-of-attack sweep be performed. A small but abrupt change in the static pressure is visible when the transition front passes over the pressure tap. Results from a recent Juncture Flow test entry are used to illustrate the technique. Infrared thermography measurements of the transition front compare very well to the transition locations obtained from the static pressure ports. Some differences in behavior occur depending on the dominant transition mechanism. While the technique is somewhat qualitative, it can be an excellent tool for estimating the transition location when other tools are not readily available. Given the simplicity of the technique, and the fact that most wind-tunnel models are already designed with numerous static pressure taps, this method can be applied with very little overhead.

boundary-layer transition↗

NASA NTRS2023

Measurements and Computations of Natural Transition on the NASA Juncture-Flow Model with a Symmetric Wing

Experiments were performed in the 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel to assess natural transition on the symmetric-airfoil wings of the NASA Juncture-Flow Model. Infrared thermography was used to visualize the heating on the upper surface of both wings of the full-span model, and on the fuselage, for angles of incidence ranging from -10° to 10° at a fixed Reynolds number of 2.4E6 based on the chord length at the wing planform break. The fuselage boundary layer transitioned well upstream of the wing-root leading edge for all conditions. Transition fronts were identified by a steep rise in the surface temperature, and the transition coordinates were transformed from an image-based to a body-fixed system. Additionally, the state of the boundary layer was estimated at pressure ports distributed on the wings through observation of the pressure coefficient as a function of the angle of incidence. For increasing angles of incidence, the transition front was observed to advance upstream, in a mostly spanwise-uniform fashion, from near midchord at α = 0°; however, for increasingly negative angles of incidence, the transition front first receded and then advanced in a nonuniform jagged manner that is typically observed with stationary crossflow. The transition wedges first appeared inboard of the wing break and then spread outboard to near the tip by α = -6°. The upstream shift in transition at positive angles of incidence and the outboard progression of crossflow-dominated transition at increasingly negative angles of incidence are consistent with trends identified in a computational assessment of the boundary-layer transition based on both linear stability analysis and Reynolds-averaged-Navier-Stokes-based transition models. The stability results obtained from the Langley Stability and Transition Analysis Code were used to recalibrate a dual N-factor criterion, which allowed for the prediction of transition fronts that showed excellent agreement with the experiment. The Reynolds-averaged-Navier-Stokes-based models, from the NASA OVERFLOW 2.3 solver, that accounted for the crossflow instability showed mixed results in comparison with the experiment, with the helicity-based Langtry-Menter model performing the best. The experimental data, particularly the cases involving strong influence from both Tollmien-Schlichting and crossflow instabilities, will be valuable for the continued validation and improvement of transition models.

boundary layer transition↗

NASA NTRS2023

Measurements and Computations of the Turbulent Corner Flow on the NASA Juncture-Flow Model with a Symmetric Wing

The NASA Juncture Flow experiment is designed to acquire high-quality flowfield data deep in the corner of a wing-fuselage junction specifically for the purpose of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) validation and turbulence model improvement. This paper will present and discuss the results of a recent experiment with the juncture-flow model in the NASA Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel. The main objective of that test was to expand the existing juncture-flow dataset with a symmetric wing case that displays fully attached, incipient separation, and separated flow in the corner of the wing-fuselage junction, depending on the model pitch angle. Laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) measurements were made at three model pitch angles (0 deg: fully attached, 1 deg: incipient separation, and 5 deg: separated flow) and for each one, mean-flow and Reynolds-stress data was obtained on the fuselage and at several streamwise locations along the corner of the wing-fuselage junction. Supporting measurements were made during the test campaign and included model and tunnel wall static pressures, tunnel wall and ceiling boundary-layer rake data, oil-flow visualizations, and laser-based measurements of the as-built model geometry and model position in the test section. Comparisons between the experimental data and Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes CFD results will also be presented and discussed.

Juncture Flow↗

NASA NTRS2023

Measurements and Computations of Natural Transition on the NASA Juncture-Flow Model with a Symmetric Wing

Experiments were performed in the 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel to assess natural transition on the symmetric-airfoil wings of the NASA Juncture-Flow Model. Infrared thermography was used to visualize the heating on the upper surface of both wings of the full-span model, and on the fuselage, for angles of incidence ranging from -10° to 10° at a fixed Reynolds number of 2.4E6 based on the chord length at the wing planform break. The fuselage boundary layer transitioned well upstream of the wing-root leading edge for all conditions. Transition fronts were identified by a steep rise in the surface temperature, and the transition coordinates were transformed from an image-based to a body-fixed system. Additionally, the state of the boundary layer was estimated at pressure ports distributed on the wings through observation of the pressure coefficient as a function of the angle of incidence. For increasing angles of incidence, the transition front was observed to advance upstream, in a mostly spanwise-uniform fashion, from near midchord at α = 0°; however, for increasingly negative angles of incidence, the transition front first receded and then advanced in a nonuniform jagged manner that is typically observed with stationary crossflow. The transition wedges first appeared inboard of the wing break and then spread outboard to near the tip by α = -6°. The upstream shift in transition at positive angles of incidence and the outboard progression of crossflow-dominated transition at increasingly negative angles of incidence are consistent with trends identified in a computational assessment of the boundary-layer transition based on both linear stability analysis and Reynolds-averaged-Navier-Stokes-based transition models. The stability results obtained from the Langley Stability and Transition Analysis Code were used to recalibrate a dual N-factor criterion, which allowed for the prediction of transition fronts that showed excellent agreement with the experiment. The Reynolds-averaged-Navier-Stokes-based models, from the NASA OVERFLOW 2.3 solver, that accounted for the crossflow instability showed mixed results in comparison with the experiment, with the helicity-based Langtry-Menter model performing the best. The experimental data, particularly the cases involving strong influence from both Tollmien-Schlichting and crossflow instabilities, will be valuable for the continued validation and improvement of transition models.

Boundary layer transition↗

NASA NTRS2023

Measurements and Computations of Natural Transition on the NASA Juncture-Flow Model with a Symmetric Wing

Experiments were performed in the 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel to assess natural transition on the symmetric-airfoil wings of the NASA Juncture-Flow Model. Infrared thermography was used to visualize the heating on the upper surface of both wings of the full-span model, and on the fuselage, for angles of incidence ranging from -10° to 10° at a fixed Reynolds number of 2.4E6 based on the chord length at the wing planform break. The fuselage boundary layer transitioned well upstream of the wing-root leading edge for all conditions. Transition fronts were identified by a steep rise in the surface temperature, and the transition coordinates were transformed from an image-based to a body-fixed system. Additionally, the state of the boundary layer was estimated at pressure ports distributed on the wings through observation of the pressure coefficient as a function of the angle of incidence. For increasing angles of incidence, the transition front was observed to advance upstream, in a mostly spanwise-uniform fashion, from near midchord at α = 0°; however, for increasingly negative angles of incidence, the transition front first receded and then advanced in a nonuniform jagged manner that is typically observed with stationary crossflow. The transition wedges first appeared inboard of the wing break and then spread outboard to near the tip by α = -6°. The upstream shift in transition at positive angles of incidence and the outboard progression of crossflow-dominated transition at increasingly negative angles of incidence are consistent with trends identified in a computational assessment of the boundary-layer transition based on both linear stability analysis and Reynolds-averaged-Navier-Stokes-based transition models. The stability results obtained from the Langley Stability and Transition Analysis Code were used to recalibrate a dual N-factor criterion, which allowed for the prediction of transition fronts that showed excellent agreement with the experiment. The Reynolds-averaged-Navier-Stokes-based models, from the NASA OVERFLOW 2.3 solver, that accounted for the crossflow instability showed mixed results in comparison with the experiment, with the helicity-based Langtry-Menter model performing the best. The experimental data, particularly the cases involving strong influence from both Tollmien-Schlichting and crossflow instabilities, will be valuable for the continued validation and improvement of transition models.

boundary layer transition↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Measurements and Computations of the Turbulent Corner Flow on the NASA Juncture-Flow Model with a Symmetric Wing

The NASA Juncture Flow experiment is designed to acquire high-quality flowfield data deep in the corner of a wing-fuselage junction specifically for the purpose of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) validation and turbulence model improvement. This paper will present and discuss the results of a recent experiment with the juncture-flow model in the NASA Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel. The main objective of that test was to expand the existing juncture-flow dataset with a symmetric wing case that displays fully attached, incipient separation, and separated flow in the corner of the wing-fuselage junction, depending on the model pitch angle. Laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) measurements were made at three model pitch angles (0 deg: fully attached, 1 deg: incipient separation, and 5 deg: separated flow) and for each one, mean-flow and Reynolds-stress data was obtained on the fuselage and at several streamwise locations along the corner of the wing-fuselage junction. Supporting measurements were made during the test campaign and included model and tunnel wall static pressures, tunnel wall and ceiling boundary-layer rake data, oil-flow visualizations, and laser-based measurements of the as-built model geometry and model position in the test section. Comparisons between the experimental data and Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes CFD results will also be presented and discussed.

Juncture Flow↗