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Thompson, R. A.

Publications and source records attributed to Thompson, R. A..

14 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1993

The addition of algebraic turbulence modeling to program LAURA

The Langley Aerothermodynamic Upwind Relaxation Algorithm (LAURA) is modified to allow the calculation of turbulent flows. This is accomplished using the Cebeci-Smith and Baldwin-Lomax eddy-viscosity models in conjunction with the thin-layer Navier-Stokes options of the program. Turbulent calculations can be performed for both perfect-gas and equilibrium flows. However, a requirement of the models is that the flow be attached. It is seen that for slender bodies, adequate resolution of the boundary-layer gradients may require more cells in the normal direction than a laminar solution, even when grid stretching is employed. Results for axisymmetric and three-dimensional flows are presented. Comparison with experimental data and other numerical results reveal generally good agreement, except in the regions of detached flow.

Cheatwood, F. Mcneil↗
NASA NTRS1993

Air/helium ground-test simulation pertinent to the definition of slender body hypersonic aerodynamics

The capability of air/helium simulations pertinent to the definition of slender body hypersonic aerodynamics is tested, using exact inviscid analytical comparisons to characterize the Mach number and bluntness effects. Comparisons are made with experiments conducted from the 1960s through the 1980s. The results indicate no general rule for air/helium simulation. A feasibility for obtaining sufficient simulation for many types of aero/fluid dynamic studies is demonstrated.

Woods, W. C.↗
NASA NTRS1989

An approximate viscous shock layer method for calculating the hypersonic flow over blunt-nosed bodies

The approximate axisymmetric method presented for accurately calculating the surface and flowfield properties of fully viscous hypersonic flow over blunt-nosed bodies incorporates the turbulence model of Cebeci-Smith (1970) and the equilibrium air tables of Hansen (1959). The method is faster than the parabolized Navier-Stokes or viscous shock layer solvers that it could replace for preliminary design determinations. Surface heat transfer and pressure predictions for the present method are comparable with the more accurate viscous shock layer method as well as flight test and wind tunnel data. A starting solution is not required.

Grantz, A. C.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Viscous shock-layer solutions with nonequilibrium chemistry for hypersonic flows past slender bodies

Laminar nonequilibrium heat transfer to slender vehicles is discussed, with heating-rate results presented as a ratio of the noncatalytic to the corresponding fully catalytic value to illustrate the maximum potential for a heating reduction in dissociated nonequilibrium flow at a given flight condition. Larger blunted cone half-angles are shown to produce the most significant nonequilibrium effects at distances beyond 100 nose radii, except in the fore-cone region. Increasing nose bluntness is found to produce large reductions in the ratio for the smaller cone angles at relatively large downstream surface lengths. It is noted that the nose radius and freestream density are not independent scaling parameters in nonequilibrium flow.

Zoby, E. V.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Comparison of nonequilibrium viscous-shock-layer solutions with windward surface Shuttle heating data

A three-dimensional viscous-shock-layer code has been modified and used to compute the nonequilibrium flowfield over the windward surface of the Space Shuttle Orbiter for reentry conditions between 75 and 60 km. Effects of the modifications are demonstrated by comparison of present heat-transfer predictions with earlier results. The present predictions show a roughly 30 percent decrease in heat transfer along the windward centerline in comparison with previous results and are in agreement with two-dimensional viscous-shock-layer results. The latter agreement indicates that three-dimensional effects are not as significant as previously reported. Windward symmetry plane and off-centerline heating predictions with the modified code are compared with flight data from STS-2 and STS-3. Windward-centerline heating predictions obtained with a recent expression for oxygen recombination at the Shuttle surface were found to be in generally good agreement with the flight data. Comparisons of heating predictions on the off-centerline windward surface were also in good agreement with the data, and the calculated results followed trends in the crossflow heating distributions.

Thompson, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

An aerothermodynamic study of slender conical vehicles

A numerical study was performed to assess the applicability of some current techniques which can be used for aerothermal predictions over slender spherically blunted cones. Predictions using a viscous-shock-layer method and several engineering approaches were compared with experimental results from flight and ground-based tests, with each other, and with other detailed results. Good agreement was obtained in comparisons with laminar and turbulent heating data from the Reentry F flight vehicle and with the wind-tunnel data. In particular, the viscous-shock-layer method was shown to yield excellent comparisons and should be useful in providing detailed flowfield and surface values for slender blunted cones. Additional predictions were obtained with these methods for two 5-deg half-angle cones with different nose radii to illustrate the effects of nose bluntness and angle of attack on drag and heat transfer. These results demonstrate the benefit of nose blunting with respect to heating and drag for laminar and transitional flow at zero-lift conditions and the benefit of heating reduction at angle of attack. Detailed comparison of the engineering code predictions with the viscous-shock-layer results for these additional cases generally showed good agreement except for the laminar prodictions at angle of attack on the forward cone surface. Nonequilibrium calculations at 0-deg angle of attack showed that substantial benefits of low surface catalysis existed only in the nose-dominated region.

Thompson, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Computational analysis and preliminary redesign of the nozzle contour of the Langley hypersonic CF4 tunnel

A computational analysis, modification, and preliminary redesign study was performed on the nozzle contour of the Langley Hypersonic CF4 Tunnel. This study showed that the existing nozzle was contoured incorrectly for the design operating condition, and this error was shown to produce the measured disturbances in the exit flow field. A modified contour was designed for the current nozzle downstream of the maximum turning point that would provide a uniform exit flow. New nozzle contours were also designed for an exit Mach number and Reynolds number combination which matches that attainable in the Langley 20-Inch Mach 6 Tunnel. Two nozzle contours were designed: one having the same exit radius but a larger mass flow rate than that of the existing CF4 Tunnel, and the other having the same mass flow rate but a smaller exit radius than that of the existing CF4 Tunnel.

Thompson, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Three-dimensional viscous-shock-layer applications for the Space Shuttle orbiter

A nonorthogonal three-dimensional viscous-shock-layer code was modified and used to compute the windward surface flowfield over a Shuttle-like configuration. Code modifications were made in the methods used to evaluate shock boundary conditions and in the implementation of the equilibrium air models. Additional viscous terms were also retained in the governing equations. Effects of these modifications are demonstrated. Three-dimensional flowfield solutions obtained with the modified code showed good comparison of surface heating and pressure with actual flight data. An apparently three-dimensional effect, characterized by a drop in surface heating on the Shuttle windward centerline in the wing root area, was predicted by the present method. A preliminary review of Shuttle ground-based experimental and flight data confirmed this trend. The present three-dimensional solutions were also compared with the predictions of several approximate methods. Those comparisons showed the approximate methods to be valid for predicting heating along the Shuttle windward centerline uner both perfect gas and equilibrium air conditions.

Thompson, R. A.↗