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Michelle N. Lynde

Publications and source records attributed to Michelle N. Lynde.

Design Exploration of a Slotted-Wing Common Research Model

A knowledge-based aerodynamic design method, Constrained Direct Iterative Surface Cur-vature (CDISC), has been leveraged for the computational design exploration of a Common Research Model with Reduced-Sweep and Slotted Wings (CRMRS-SW). Cruise-slotted-wing airfoils include a slot near the trailing edge of a main airfoil component to introduce stream air to the low-momentum, upper-surface boundary layer on a flap airfoil component with the goal of allowing for a more aft loading, relative to supercritical airfoils, without shock-induced separation. Ultimately, the cruise slotted wing is a passive technology that allows for an in-crease in the drag divergence Mach number and/or an increase in aerodynamic efficiency at agiven cruise condition. These aerodynamic benefits may be realized at the vehicle level through a trade space that includes the following design options: increasing cruise Mach number, in-creasing wing thickness, decreasing wing sweep, increasing lift coefficient and/or decreasing drag coefficient. The present study aimed to evaluate the slotted-wing concept’s potential as adrag-saving technology in application to a single-aisle transonic transport aircraft at a given cruise condition. The CDISC design method was used to develop a better understanding of the slotted-wing design variables that have a significant impact on the variability in aircraft drag and leverage this newly-developed knowledge to quantify the aerodynamic performance benefits enabled by the cruise slotted wing.

Brett R. Hiller↗

Design of a Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow Flight Test Article

This abstract includes preliminary information on the computational design and analysis of a flight test article. The flight test aims to experimentally validate the new Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) design method in a flight environment. The CATNLF design method uses geometry shaping to produce specific pressure distributions that enable laminar flow on vehicle components with high sweep and high Reynolds numbers by attenuating the crossflow growth that typically leads to premature transition on such components. The flight test article design is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2019, with model fabrication beginning in early 2020.Design results presented in this abstract are representative of the final test article. The final paper will be updated to include the finalized test article geometry and analysis.

Michelle N. Lynde↗

Design of a Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow Flight Test Article

A natural laminar flow test article has been designed and analyzed for a flight test at the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center using the F-15 aircraft with Centerline Instrument Pylon (CLIP) testbed. The flight test aims to experimentally validate the new Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) design method in a flight environment. The CATNLF design method uses geometry shaping to produce specific pressure distributions that enable laminar flow on vehicle components with high sweep and high Reynolds numbers by attenuating the crossflow growth that typically leads to premature transition on such components. The CATNLF test article, which will be mounted vertically below the F-15 for flight testing, is designed to be representative of a transonic transport wing and accounts for transition mechanisms due to crossflow, Tollmien-Schlichting, and attachment line transition instabilities. The test article is predicted to support 53% surface area of laminar flow on the suction-side at the design point and maintains significant laminar flow extents at near-cruise, off-design conditions. The design was performed, flight matrix selected, and instrumentation chosen with two primary test goals in mind: to confirm the effectiveness of the CATNLF method in attenuating crossflow growth on a representative transonic transport wing, and to investigate surface requirements needed for laminar flow applications.

Michelle N. Lynde↗

Update on Subsonic Single Aft Engine (SUSAN) Electrofan Trade Space Exploration

NASA is conducting an ongoing trade study analysis of the SUSAN Electrofan aircraft concept, which utilizes 20-MW-class electrified aircraft propulsion to enable propulsive, aerodynamic, and control benefits while retaining the range, speed, and size of typical narrow-body regional aircraft. The study is constrained by the ground rules of operating within the current airport and airspace infrastructure. This ongoing study seeks to find a configuration and combination of technologies that yield significant fuel burn and emissions benefits. Another key goal is to reduce cost per passenger mile. Currently, the study is focused on a configuration that utilizes jet A or sustainable aviation fuels, however, we plan to consider other fuel alternatives in the future. This presentation describes the progress in defining the architecture of the aircraft, engine, power system, control system, and initial understandings of the sensitivity of the potential configurations to technology assumptions based on key performance parameters. Additionally, progress towards definition and refinement of driving operational, economic, infrastructure, certification, and technical requirements is discussed.

Ralph H. Jansen↗

Application of the CATNLF Design Method to a Transonic Transport Empennage Using CDISC

A novel Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) design method has been developed to achieve laminar flow on aircraft empennage at transonic flight conditions. This approach has been applied to the design of a nonlifting vertical tail using CDISC, a knowledgebased aerodynamic design tool developed at the NASA Langley Research Center. A horizontal tail was also designed using an enhanced CATNLF design approach for low-lift components. CDISC was coupled with USM3D-ME, a Navier-Stokes computational fluid dynamics solver. Stability and transition software was used to determine the laminar extent on the surfaces. Results indicate laminar flow can be sustained at midcruise conditions to about x/c=0.40 on the vertical tail and as much as x/c=0.65 on the horizontal tail lower surface. Transonic longitudinal off-design analysis indicates minimal change in the laminar extent. However, nonzero sideslip angles at transonic conditions can cause premature transition relative to the midcruise condition.

Brent W. Pomeroy↗