Engineering topics

Rogers, R. Clayton

Publications and source records attributed to Rogers, R. Clayton.

11 records

NASA NTRS2002

Hypersonic Airbreathing Propulsion: An Aerodynamics, Aerothermodynamics, and Acoustics Competency White Paper

This White Paper examines the current state of Hypersonic Airbreathing Propulsion at the NASA Langley Research Center and the factors influencing this area of work and its personnel. Using this knowledge, the paper explores beyond the present day and suggests future directions and strategies for the field. Broad views are first taken regarding potential missions and applications of hypersonic propulsion. Then, candidate propulsion systems that may be applicable to these missions are suggested and discussed. Design tools and experimental techniques for developing these propulsion systems are then described, and approaches for applying them in the design process are considered. In each case, current strategies are reviewed and future approaches that may improve the techniques are considered. Finally, the paper concentrates on the needs to be addressed in each of these areas to take advantage of the opportunities that lay ahead for both the NASA Langley Research Center and the Aerodynamic Aerothermodynamic, and Aeroacoustics Competency. Recommendations are then provided so that the goals set forth in the paper may be achieved.

Drummond, J. Philip↗

NASA NTRS2001

Hypervelocity Capability of the HYPULSE Shock-Expansion Tunnel for Scramjet Testing

New hypervelocity capabilities for scramjet testing have recently been demonstrated in the HYPULSE Shock-Expansion Tunnel (SET). With NASA's continuing interests in scramjet testing at hypervelocity conditions (Mach 12 and above), a SET nozzle was designed and added to the HYPULSE facility. Results of tests conducted to establish SET operational conditions and facility nozzle calibration are presented and discussed for a Mach 15 (M15) flight enthalpy. The measurements and detailed computational fluid dynamics calculations (CFD) show the nozzle delivers a test gas with sufficiently wide core size to be suitable for free-jet testing of scramjet engine models of similar scale as, those tested in conventional low Mach number blow-down test facilities.

Foelsche, Robert O.↗

NASA NTRS1998

Experimental Supersonic Combustion Research at NASA Langley

Experimental supersonic combustion research related to hypersonic airbreathing propulsion has been actively underway at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) since the mid-1960's. This research involved experimental investigations of fuel injection, mixing, and combustion in supersonic flows and numerous tests of scramjet engine flowpaths in LaRC test facilities simulating flight from Mach 4 to 8. Out of this research effort has come scramjet combustor design methodologies, ground test techniques, and data analysis procedures. These technologies have progressed steadily in support of the National Aero-Space Plane (NASP) program and the current Hyper-X flight demonstration program. During NASP nearly 2500 tests of 15 scramjet engine models were conducted in LaRC facilities. In addition, research supporting the engine flowpath design investigated ways to enhance mixing, improve and apply nonintrusive diagnostics, and address facility operation. Tests of scramjet combustor operation at conditions simulating hypersonic flight at Mach numbers up to 17 also have been performed in an expansion tube pulse facility. This paper presents a review of the LaRC experimental supersonic combustion research efforts since the late 1980's, during the NASP program, and into the Hyper-X Program.

Rogers, R. Clayton↗

NASA NTRS1998

Dual Mode Shock-Expansion/Reflected-Shock Tunnel

NASA s HYPULSE facility at GASL has been reconfigured to permit free jet testing of the Hyper-X flowpath at flight Mach numbers of 7 and 10. Among the required changes are addition of a converging-diverging nozzle to permit operation in a reflected shock tunnel mode, a 7 ft. diameter test cabin and a 30 in. diameter contoured nozzle. However, none of these changes were allowed to interfere with rapid recovery of the prior shock-expansion tunnel mode of operation, and indeed certain changes should enhance facility usefulness and productivity in either mode. A previously-developed shock-induced detonation mode of driving the facility has been successfully applied to both reflected shock tunnel operation at Mach 10 flight conditions, with tailored interface operation, and shock-expansion tunnel operation at flight conditions corresponding to Mach numbers from 12 to 25. Tailored interface operation at Mach 7 has been achieved with an unheated helium driver. In the present paper, the rationale for a dual mode shock expansion/reflected shock tunnel is discussed, and the capabilities and limitations for each mode are outlined. The physical changes in the HYPULSE facility to achieve dual mode capability are also described. Limited calibration data obtained to date in the new reflected shock tunnel mode are presented and the anticipated flight simulation map with dual mode operation is also outlined.

Erdos, John I.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Scramjet mixing establishment times for a pulse facility

A numerical simulation of the temporally developing flow through a generic scramjet combustor duct is presented for stagnation conditions typical of flight at Mach 13 as produced by a shock tunnel pulse facility. The particular focus is to examine the start up transients and to determine the time required for certain flow parameters to become established. The calculations were made with a Navier-Stokes solver SPARK with temporally relaxing inflow conditions derived from operation of the T4 shock tunnel at the University of Queensland in Australia. Calculations at nominal steady inflow conditions were made for comparison. The generic combustor geometry includes the injection of hydrogen fuel from the base of a centrally located strut. In both cases, the flow was assumed laminar and fuel combustion was not included. The establishment process is presented for viscous parameters in the boundary layer and for parameters related to the fuel mixing.

Rogers, R. Clayton↗

NASA NTRS1988

Numerical analysis of pulse facility transient flow through a supersonic combustion model

The supersonic high enthalpy flow from a shock tunnel facility flowing through a two-dimensional duct simulating a combustor has been computed for two test conditions for both steady and transient inflow. The nominal test conditions had stagnation enthalpies of 4.3 and 12.1 MJ/kg, with corresponding flight Mach numbers of 9 and 16, respectively. A full Navier-Stokes code (SPARK) was used to compute the flow development and the mixing of a hydrogen jet injected from the base of a central strut. Results of the calculations are presented and compared with wall pressure data. Additional comparisons of the transient and steady inflow results are presented to assess the effect of transient flow on the data. This paper presents a status of the progress in applying CFD codes to analyze the transient flow from a pulse facility.

Rogers, R. Clayton↗

NASA NTRS1987

A numerical model for supersonic reacting mixing layers

A current research effort is underway at the NASA Langley Research Center to achieve a detailed understanding of important phenomena present when a supersonic flow undergoes a chemical reaction. A computer program has been developed to study the details of such flows. The program has been constructed to consider the multicomponent diffusion and convection of important species, the finite-rate reaction of these species, and the resulting interaction between the fluid mechanics and chemistry. Code results from the analysis of a spatially developing and reacting mixing layer are presented, and conclusions are drawn regarding the structure of the evolving layer and its associated flame.

Drummond, J. Philip↗

NASA NTRS1987

High-speed code validation

The topics are presented in viewgraph form and include the following: NFL body experiment; high-speed validation problems; 3-D Euler/Navier-Stokes inlet code; two-strut inlet configuration; pressure contours in two longitudinal planes; sidewall pressure distribution; pressure distribution on strut inner surface; inlet/forebody tests in 60 inch helium tunnel; pressure distributions on elliptical missile; code validations; small scale test apparatus; CARS nonintrusive measurements; optimized cone-derived waverider study; etc.

Barnwell, Richard W.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Effects of test facility contaminants on supersonic hydrogen-air diffusion flames

Results are presented from an analytical assessment of the effects of NO and H2O in air on the ignition and reaction of hydrogen. Three flow models of the burning process were used, each including a 32 reaction chemistry mechanism. These models were a plug flow reactor to determine ignition and reaction times; a well-stirred reactor to assess flame stability or blow-off; and a parabolic Navier-Stokes code to examine the diffusion flame combustion. The diffusion flame was computed for a cold supersonic H2 jet coaxial with a supersonic air stream at a static temperature of 1100 K and a pressure of 1 atmosphere.

Rogers, R. Clayton↗

NASA NTRS1986

Multispecies CARS measurements in turbulent combustion

A coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) instrument was upgraded to more accurately measure the number density of oxygen molecules. This instrument is designed to simultaneously measure nitrogen number density, oxygen number density, and the ro-vibrational temperature of nitrogen. The CARS is a nonintrusive diagnostic technique which utilizes a pulsed Nd:YAG laser, broadband dye lasers, a complex optical system, and an intensified photodiode array detector to sample hostile combustion environments. Measurements were made in a flame produced by a coaxial subsonic diffusion hydrogen-air burner. These data were used as a data base for comparison with the results of two separate computational fluid dynamics calculations. Complications which had arisen in previous studies with regard to interpretation of the oxygen data were eliminated.

Antcliff, Richard R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Effects of test facility contaminants on supersonic hydrogen-air diffusion flames

Results are presented from an analytical assessment of the effects of NO and H2O in air on the ignition and reaction of hydrogen. Three flow models of the burning process were used, each including a 32 reaction chemistry mechanism. These models were a plug flow reactor to determine ignition and reaction times; a well-stirred reactor to assess flame stability or blow-off, and a parabolic Navier Stokes code to examine the diffusion flame combustion. The diffusion flame was computed for a cold supersonic H2 jet coaxial with a supersonic air stream at a static temperature of 1100 K and a pressure of 1 atmosphere.

Rogers, R. Clayton↗