Search NASASearch

Engineering topics

Russell, J. W.

Publications and source records attributed to Russell, J. W..

Methods for extracting aerodynamic accelerations from Orbiter High Resolution Accelerometer Package flight data

This report presents a process for extracting the aerodynamic accelerations of the Shuttle Orbiter Vehicle from the High Resolution Accelerometer Package (HiRAP) flight data during reentry. The methods for obtaining low-level aerodynamic accelerations, principally in the rarefied flow regime, are applied to 10 Orbiter flights. The extraction process is presented using data obtained from Space Transportation System Flight 32 (Mission 61-C) as a typical example. This process involves correcting the HiRAP measurements for the effects of temperature bias and instrument offset from the Orbiter center of gravity, and removing acceleration data during times they are affected by thruster firings. The corrected data are then made continuous and smooth and are further enhanced by refining the temperature bias correction and removing effects of the auxiliary power unit actuation. The resulting data are the current best estimate of the Orbiter aerodynamic accelerations during reentry and will be used for further analyses of the Orbiter aerodynamics and the upper atmosphere characteristics.

Thompson, J. M.

An empirical method for predicting the mixing noise levels of subsonic circular and coaxial jets

An empirical method for predicting the static free field source noise levels of subsonic circular and coaxial jet flow streams is presented. The method was developed from an extensive data base of 817 jet tests obtained from five different government and industry sources in three nations. The prediction method defines the jet noise in terms of four components which are overall power level, power spectrum level, directivity index, and relative spectrum level. The values of these noise level components are defined on a grid consisting of seven frequency parameter values (Strouhal numbers) and seven directivity angles. The value of the noise level at each of these grid points is called a noise level coordinate and was defined as a function of five jet exhaust flow state parameters which are equivalent jet velocity, equivalent jet total temperature, the velocity ratio (outer stream to inner stream), temperature ratio, and area ratio. The functions were obtained by curve fitting in a least squares sense the noise level coordinates from the data base in a five dimensional flow state space using a third order Taylor series. The noise level coordinates define the component noise levels for all frequencies and directivities through a bicubic spline function.

Russell, J. W.

A method for predicting the noise levels of coannular jets with inverted velocity profiles

A coannular jet was equated with a single stream equivalent jet with the same mass flow, energy, and thrust. The acoustic characteristics of the coannular jet were then related to the acoustic characteristics of the single jet. Forward flight effects were included by incorporating a forward exponent, a Doppler amplification factor, and a Strouhal frequency shift. Model test data, including 48 static cases and 22 wind tunnel cases, were used to evaluate the prediction method. For the static cases and the low forward velocity wind tunnel cases, the spectral mean square pressure correlation coefficients were generally greater than 90 percent, and the spectral sound pressure level standard deviation were generally less than 3 decibels. The correlation coefficient and the standard deviation were not affected by changes in equivalent jet velocity. Limitations of the prediction method are also presented.

Russell, J. W.

Assessment of Variable-cycle Engines for Mach 2.7 Supersonic Transports

Three proposed SCAR propulsion systems in terms of aircraft range for a fixed payload and take-off gross weight with a design cruise Mach number 2.7 are evaluated. The effects of various noise and operational restraints are determined and sensitivities to some of the more important performance variables are presented for the most probable design noise and operational restraint case. Critical areas requiring new or improved technology for each cycle are delineated.

Morris, S. J.

An inlet analysis for the NASA hypersonic research engine aerothermodynamic integration model

A theoretical analysis for the inlet of the NASA Hypersonic Research Engine (HRE) Aerothermodynamic Integration Model (AIM) has been undertaken by use of a method-of-characteristics computer program. The purpose of the analysis was to obtain pretest information on the full-scale HRE inlet in support of the experimental AIM program (completed May 1974). Mass-flow-ratio and additive-drag-coefficient schedules were obtained that well defined the range effected in the AIM tests. Mass-weighted average inlet total-pressure recovery, kinetic energy efficiency, and throat Mach numbers were obtained.

Andrews, E. H., Jr.