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Paulson, John W., Jr.

Publications and source records attributed to Paulson, John W., Jr..

15 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2011

Liftoff and Transition Aerodynamics of the Ares I (A106) Launch Vehicle

An investigation has been conducted in the NASA Langley Research Center 14- by 22- Foot Subsonic Wind Tunnel to obtain the liftoff and transition aerodynamics of the Ares I (A106) Crew Launch Vehicle. Data were obtained in free-air at angles of attack from 10 to 90 at various roll angles and at roll angles of 0 to 360 at various angles of attack. In addition, tower effects were assessed by testing with and without a mobile launcher/tower at all wind azimuth angles and at various model heights to simulate the rise of the vehicle as it clears the tower on launch. The free-air data will be used for low speed high angle of attack flight simulation and as a bridge to the low angle of attack ascent database (0.5 < Mach < 5.0) being developed with data from the Langley Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel and Boeing Polysonic Wind Tunnel. The Ares I Database Development Team will add incremental tower effects data to the free-air data to develop the database for tower clearance.

Capone, Francis J.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Systems Analysis for a Venus Aerocapture Mission

Previous high level analysis has indicated that significant mass savings may be possible for planetary science missions if aerocapture is employed to place a spacecraft in orbit. In 2001 the In-Space Propulsion program identified aerocapture as one of the top three propulsion technologies for planetary exploration but that higher fidelity analysis was required to verify the favorable results and to determine if any supporting technology gaps exist that would enable or enhance aerocapture missions. A series of three studies has been conducted to assess, from an overall system point of view, the merit of using aerocapture at Titan, Neptune and Venus. These were chosen as representative of a moon with an atmosphere, an outer giant gas planet and an inner planet. The Venus mission, based on desirable science from plans for Solar System Exploration and Principal Investigator proposals, to place a spacecraft in a 300km polar orbit was examined and the details of the study are presented in this paper.

Lockwood, Mary Kae↗
NASA NTRS1998

The Langley Wind Tunnel Enterprise

After 4 years of existence, the Langley WTE is alive and growing. Significant improvements in the operation of wind tunnels have been demonstrated and substantial further improvements are expected when we are able to truly address and integrate all the processes affecting the wind tunnel testing cycle.

Paulson, John W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Experimental and Computational Analysis of Shuttle Orbiter Hypersonic Trim Anomaly

During the high-Mach-number, high-altitude portion of the first entry of the Shuttle Orbiter, the vehicle exhibited a nose-up pitching moment relative to preflight prediction of approximately Delta Cm = 0.03. This trim anomaly has been postulated to be due to compressibility, viscous, and/or real-gas (lowered specific heat ratio gamma) effects on basic body pitching moment, body-flap effectiveness, or both. In order to assess the relative contribution of each of these effects, an experimental study was undertaken to examine the effects of Mach number, Reynolds number, and ratio of specific heats. Complementary computational solutions were obtained for wind-tunnel and flight conditions. The primary cause of the anomaly was determined to be lower pressures on the aft windward surface of the Orbiter than deduced from hypersonic wind-tunnel tests with ideal- or near-ideal-gas test flow. The lower pressure levels are a result of the lowering of the flowfield gamma due to high-temperature effects. This phenomenon was accurately simulated in a hypersonic wind tunnel using a heavy gas, which provided a lower, gamma, and was correctly predicted by Navier-Stokes computations using nonequilibrium chemistry.

Brauckmann, Gregory J.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Aerothermodynamic testing requirements for future space transportation systems

Aerothermodynamics, encompassing aerodynamics, aeroheating, and fluid dynamic and physical processes, is the genesis for the design and development of advanced space transportation vehicles. It provides crucial information to other disciplines involved in the development process such as structures, materials, propulsion, and avionics. Sources of aerothermodynamic information include ground-based facilities, computational fluid dynamic (CFD) and engineering computer codes, and flight experiments. Utilization of this triad is required to provide the optimum requirements while reducing undue design conservatism, risk, and cost. This paper discusses the role of ground-based facilities in the design of future space transportation system concepts. Testing methodology is addressed, including the iterative approach often required for the assessment and optimization of configurations from an aerothermodynamic perspective. The influence of vehicle shape and the transition from parametric studies for optimization to benchmark studies for final design and establishment of the flight data book is discussed. Future aerothermodynamic testing requirements including the need for new facilities are also presented.

Paulson, John W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Evaluation of Four Advanced Nozzle Concepts for Short Takeoff and Landing Performance

Four advanced nozzle concepts were tested on a canard-wing fighter in the Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel. The four vectoring-nozzle concepts were as follows: (1) an axisymmetric nozzle (AXI); (2) an asymmetric, load balanced exhaust nozzle (ALBEN); (3) a low aspect ratio, single expansion ramp nozzle (LASERN); and (4) a high aspect ratio, single expansion ramp nozzle (HASERN). The investigation was conducted to determine the most suitable nozzle concept for short takeoff and landing (STOL) performance. The criterion for the best STOL performance was a takeoff ground roll of less than 1000 ft. At approach, the criteria were high lift and sufficient drag to maintain a glide slope of -3 to -6 deg with enough pitching-moment control from the canards. The test was performed at a dynamic pressure of 45 lb/sq ft and an angle-of-attack range of 0 to 20 deg. The nozzle pressure ratio was varied from 1.0 to 4.3 at both dry power and after burning nozzle configurations with nozzle vectoring to 60 deg. In addition, the model was tested in and out of ground effects. The ALBEN concept was the best of the four nozzle concepts tested for STOL performance.

Quinto, P. Frank↗
NASA NTRS1993

Transition aerodynamics for 20-percent-scale VTOL unmanned aerial vehicle

An investigation was conducted in the Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel to establish a transition data base for an unmanned aerial vehicle utilizing a powered-lift ejector system and to evaluate alterations to the ejector system for improved vehicle performance. The model used in this investigation was a 20-percent-scale, blended-body, arrow-wing configuration with integrated twin rectangular ejectors. The test was conducted from hover through transition conditions with variations in angle of attack, angle of sideslip, free-stream dynamic pressure, nozzle pressure ratio, and model ground height. Force and moment data along with extensive surface pressure data were obtained. A laser velocimeter technique for measuring inlet flow velocities was demonstrated at a single flow condition, and also a low order panel method was successfully used to numerically simulate the ejector inlet flow.

Kjerstad, Kevin J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Low-speed longitudinal and lateral-directional aerodynamic characteristics of the X-31 configuration

An experimental investigation of a 19 pct. scale model of the X-31 configuration was completed in the Langley 14 x 22 Foot Subsonic Tunnel. This study was performed to determine the static low speed aerodynamic characteristics of the basic configuration over a large range of angle of attack and sideslip and to study the effects of strakes, leading-edge extensions (wing-body strakes), nose booms, speed-brake deployment, and inlet configurations. The ultimate purpose was to optimize the configuration for high angle of attack and maneuvering-flight conditions. The model was tested at angles of attack from -5 to 67 deg and at sideslip angles from -16 to 16 deg for speeds up to 190 knots (dynamic pressure of 120 psf).

Banks, Daniel W.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Dynamic ground effects

A research program is underway at the NASA Langley Research Center to study the effect of rate of descent on ground effects. A series of powered models were tested in the Vortex Research Facility under conditions with rate of descent and in the 14 x 22 Foot Subsonic Tunnel under identical conditions but without rate of descent. These results indicate that the rate of descent can have a significant impact on ground effects particularly if vectored or reversed thrust is used.

Paulson, John W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Investigation of a moving-model technique for measuring ground effect

A ground-based testing technique is under development for the measurement of dynamic or time-dependent ground effects which may be present during aircraft approach and landing. The technique utilizes a model moving horizontally over an upwardly-inclined ground plane to simulate rate of descent. Results were obtained in the Langley Research Center (LaRC) Vortex Research Facility (VRF) for a generic 60 delta wing and for an F-18 configuration, both with and without thrust reversing, at forward speeds up to 100 ft/sec. These same models and support hardware were also tested in the LaRC 14 by 22 Foot Subsonic Tunnel at identical conditions (but without rate of descent) with and without a moving-belt ground plane to obtain data for comparison.

Kemmerly, Guy T.↗
NASA NTRS1988

A review of technologies applicable to low-speed flight of high-performance aircraft investigated in the Langley 14- x 22-foot subsonic tunnel

An extensive research program has been underway at the NASA Langley Research Center to define and develop the technologies required for low-speed flight of high-performance aircraft. This 10-year program has placed emphasis on both short takeoff and landing (STOL) and short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) operations rather than on regular up and away flight. A series of NASA in-house as well as joint projects have studied various technologies including high lift, vectored thrust, thrust-induced lift, reversed thrust, an alternate method of providing trim and control, and ground effects. These technologies have been investigated on a number of configurations ranging from industry designs for advanced fighter aircraft to generic wing-canard research models. Test conditions have ranged from hover (or static) through transition to wing-borne flight at angles of attack from -5 to 40 deg at representative thrust coefficients.

Paulson, John W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1988

An assessment of ground effects determined by static and dynamic testing techniques

A new testing technique was developed wherein the rate of descent can be included as a parameter in ground effects investigations. This technique simulates the rate of descent by horizontal motion of a model over an inclined ground board in the Langley Vortex Research Facility (VRF) During initial evaluations of the technique, dynamic ground effects data were obtained over the inclined ground board, steady state ground effects data were obtained over a flat portion of the ground board, and the results were compared to conventional static wind tunnel ground effect data both with and without a moving belt ground plane simulation. Initial testing and analysis led to the following conclusions: the moving belt ground plane had little effect on static ground effects for the configurations tested unless thrust reversers were employed; in general, rate-of-descent reduced ground effects to the point that for reversed thrust cases an expected loss of lift due to ground effects was eliminated at approach conditions; and, in general, the steady state results from the VRF matched static results obtained from the wind tunnel once the flow field stabilized over the flat portion of the ground board.

Paulson, John W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Exploratory evaluation of a moving-model technique for measurement of dynamic ground effects

An attempt is presently made to measure the dynamic or time-dependent ground effects that may be encountered by aircraft during approach and landing by means of a ground-based testing technique that employs a model moving horizontally over an upwardly inclined ground plane to simulate the rate of descent. Results have been thus obtained for a 60-deg delta wing and for an F-18 full configuration, with and without thrust reversal, at forward speeds of up to 100 ft/sec. An analysis of the results gathered indicates that ground effects were reduced when the rate of descent was included in the test conditions.

Kemmerly, Guy T.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Low-speed aerodynamic characteristics of a wing-canard configuration with underwing spanwise blowing on the trailing-edge flap system

An investigation of the effects of spanwise blowing applied to the lower surface of a trailing-edge flap system on a wing-canard configuration has been conducted in the Langley 4- by 7-Meter Tunnel. The investigation studied spanwise-blowing angles of 30 deg., 45 deg., and 60 deg. measured from a perpendicular to the body center-line. The test conditions covered a range of free-stream dynamic pressures up to 50 psf for thrust coefficients up to 2.1 over a range of angles of attack from -2 deg. to 26 deg. Model height above the wind tunnel floor was varied from a height-to-span ratio of 1.70 down to 0.20 (a representative wheel touchdown height). The results indicate that blowing angles of 30 deg. and 45 deg. increase the induced-lift increment produced by spanwise blowing on the lower surface of a trailing-edge flap system. Increasing the blowing angle to 60 deg., in general, produces little further improvement.

Banks, Daniel W.↗