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Walsh, Michael J.

Publications and source records attributed to Walsh, Michael J..

8 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2000

The Syracuse University Center for Training and Research in Hypersonics

In Fall 1993, NASA Headquarters established Centers for Hypersonics at the University of Maryland, the University of Texas-Arlington, and Syracuse University. These centers are dedicated to research and education in hypersonic technologies and have the objective of educating the next generation of engineers in this critical field. At the Syracuse University Center for Hypersonics this goal is being realized by focusing resources to: Provide an environment in which promising undergraduate students can learn the fundamental engineering principles of hypersonics so that they may make a seamless transition to graduate study and research in this field; Provide graduate students with advanced training in hypersonics and an opportunity to interact with leading authorities in the field in both research and instructional capacities; and Perform fundamental research in areas that will impact hypersonic vehicle design and development.

LaGraff, John↗
NASA NTRS1990

Effect of detailed surface geometry on riblet drag reduction performance

A comparison is made of the effect of small changes in v-groove geometry, for several riblet films applicable for drag reduction to commercial transport aircraft, whose nominal v-groove dimension is of the order of 0.002 inch. The films were tested in a water towing-tank facility. The results obtained indicate that small riblet peak geometry variations can result in a deterioration of riblet drag-reduction efficacy of as much as 40 percent, while interriblet valley curvature was found not to be critical to riblet performance.

Walsh, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Riblets

In addition to characterizing the various concepts reported in the literature on longitudinally-ribbed surface for aerodynamic surface drag reduction, the present development status evaluation of this technology correlates all available experimental data. An analysis of these data is then conducted to ascertain the parameters most directly involved in drag reduction, and to evaluate the effects which have thus far been exerted on turbulent boundary layer structures. Such advanced riblet techniques as compound and three-dimensional riblets, riblets in combination with large-eddy breakup devices, and riblets with suction/blowing, are also discussed.

Walsh, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The fix for tough spots

Modern turbulence-control techniques are discussed. Particular atention is given to retrofit techniques such as riblets and large-eddy breakup (LEBU) devices which use passive elements suitable for a variety of existing vehicles with minimum added complexity. Riblets are small flow-aligned grooves in the aircraft skin that damp turbulence and reduce skin friction; the mechanism of riblet drag reduction derives from the enhancement of turbulence-altering, transverse viscous forces by strong spanwise surface geometry gradients. LEBUs are thin plates or ribbons suspended in a turbulent boundary layer to sever or break up the large vortices that form the convoluted outer edge of the layer. Other turbulence-control techniques are discussed, including one that involves the injection of control vortices into the turbulent boundary layer to modify or substitute for large-eddy structures.

Anders, John B.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Riblet drag reduction at flight conditions

Paper describes perforated and nonperforated riblet tests on the fuselage of a modified Learjet Model 28/29 twin-engine business jet at Reynolds numbers 1.0-2.75 x 10 to the 6th/ft and Mach numbers 0.3-0.7. Drag reductions of the order of 6 percent at nondimensional wall spacings of 12 were obtained using boundary-layer rakes and direct drag balances. At the measurement locations the Reynolds number based on distance was 1.0-46 x 10 to the 6th. The nondimensional wall spacing for maximum drag reduction was well-predicted by low-speed wind-tunnel data, but the maximum drag reduction was lower. The low drag is tentatively ascribed to various instrumentation difficulties and the flow field on the aircraft. Riblets with 0.010-in. perforations at center spacings of 0.25 in. were found to give the same drag reduction as nonperforated riblets.

Walsh, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Combined riblet and lebu drag reduction system

The invention is a system of flow control devices which result in reduced skin friction on aerodynamic and hydrodynamic surfaces. The devices cause a breakup of large-scale disturbances in the boundary layer of the flow field. The riblet device acts to reduce disturbances near the boundary layer wall by the use of longitudinal striations forming V-shaped grooves. These grooves are dimensional on the order of the wall vortices and turbulent burst dimensions. The large eddy breakup device is a small strip or airfoil which is suspended in the upper region of the boundary layer. Various physical mechanisms cause a disruption of the large-scale vortices. The combination of the devices of this invention result in a substantial reduction in skin friction drag.

Walsh, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Riblets for aircraft skin-friction reduction

Energy conservation and aerodynamic efficiency are the driving forces behind research into methods to reduce turbulent skin friction drag on aircraft fuselages. Fuselage skin friction reductions as small as 10 percent provide the potential for a 250 million dollar per year fuel savings for the commercial airline fleet. One passive drag reduction concept which is relatively simple to implement and retrofit is that of longitudinally grooved surfaces aligned with the stream velocity. These grooves (riblets) have heights and spacings on the order of the turbulent wall streak and burst dimensions. The riblet performance (8 percent net drag reduction thus far), sensitivity to operational/application considerations such as yaw and Reynolds number variation, an alternative fabrication technique, results of extensive parametric experiments for geometrical optimization, and flight test applications are summarized.

Walsh, Michael J.↗