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Witte, David W.

Publications and source records attributed to Witte, David W..

11 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2004

1998 Calibration of the Mach 4.7 and Mach 6 Arc-Heated Scramjet Test Facility Nozzles

A calibration of the Arc-Heated Scramjet Test Facility (AHSTF) Mach 4.7 and Mach 6 nozzles was performed in 1998. For each nozzle, three different typical facility operating test points were selected for calibration. Each survey consisted of measurements, at 340 separate locations across the 11 inch square nozzle exit plane, of pitot pressure, static pressure, and total temperature. Measurement density was higher (4/inch) in the boundary layer near the nozzle wall than in the core nozzle flow (1/inch). The results generated for each of these calibration surveys were contour plots at the nozzle exit plane of the measured and calculated flow properties which completely defined the thermodynamic state of the nozzle exit flow. An area integration of the mass flux at the nozzle exit for each survey was compared to the AHSTF mass flow meter results to provide an indication of the overall quality of the calibration performed. The percent difference between the integrated nozzle exit mass flow and the flow meter ranged from 0.0 to 1.3 percent for the six surveys. Finally, a comparison of this 1998 calibration was made with the 1986 calibration. Differences of less than 10 percent were found within the nozzle core flow while in the boundary layer differences on the order of 20 percent were quite common.

Witte, David W.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Exhaust Simulation Testing of a Hypersonic Airbreathing Model at Transonic Speeds

An experimental study was performed to examine jet-effects for an airframe-integrated, scramjet-rocket combined-cycle vehicle configuration at transonic test conditions. This investigation was performed by testing an existing exhaust simulation wind tunnel model, known as Model 5B, in the NASA Langley 16-Ft. Transonic Tunnel. Tests were conducted at freestream Mach numbers from 0.7 to 1.2, at angles of attack from 2 to +14 degrees, and at up to seven nozzle static pressure ratio values for a set of horizontal-tail and body-flap deflections. The model aftbody, horizontal tails, and body flaps were extensively pressure instrumented to provide an understanding of jet-effects and control-surface/plume interactions, as well as for the development of analytical methodologies and calibration of computational fluid dynamic codes to predict this type of flow phenomenon. At all transonic test conditions examined, the exhaust flow at the exit of the internal nozzle was over-expanded, generating an exhaust plume that turned toward the aftbody. Pressure contour plots for the aftbody of Model 5B are presented for freestream transonic Mach numbers of 0.70, 0.95, and 1.20. These pressure data, along with shadowgraph images, indicated the impingement of an internal plume shock and at least one reflected shock onto the aftbody for all transonic conditions tested. These results also provided evidence of the highly three-dimensional nature of the aftbody exhaust flowfield. Parametric testing showed that angle-of-attack, static nozzle pressure ratio, and freestream Mach number all affected the exhaust-plume size, exhaust-flowfield shock structure, and the aftbody-pressure distribution, with Mach number having the largest effect. Integration of the aftbody pressure data showed large variations in the pitching moment throughout the transonic regime.

Huebner, Lawrence D.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Propulsion Airframe Integration Test Techniques for Hypersonic Airbreathing Configurations at NASA Langley Research Center

The scope and significance of propulsion airframe integration (PAI) for hypersonic airbreathing vehicles is presented through a discussion of the PAI test techniques utilized at NASA Langley Research Center. Four primary types of PAI model tests utilized at NASA Langley for hypersonic airbreathing vehicles are discussed. The four types of PAI test models examined are the forebody/inlet test model, the partial-width/truncated propulsion flowpath test model, the powered exhaust simulation test model, and the full-length/width propulsion flowpath test model. The test technique for each of these four types of PAI test models is described, and the relevant PAI issues addressed by each test technique are illustrated through the presentation of recent PAI test data.

Witte, David W.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Hyper-X Flight Engine Ground Testing for X-43 Flight Risk Reduction

Airframe-integrated scramjet engine testing has been completed at Mach 7 flight conditions in the NASA Langley 8-Foot High Temperature Tunnel as part of the NASA Hyper-X program. This test provided engine performance and operability data, as well as design and database verification, for the Mach 7 flight tests of the Hyper-X research vehicle (X-43), which will provide the first-ever airframe-integrated scramjet data in flight. The Hyper-X Flight Engine, a duplicate Mach 7 X-43 scramjet engine, was mounted on an airframe structure that duplicated the entire three-dimensional propulsion flowpath from the vehicle leading edge to the vehicle trailing edge. This model was also tested to verify and validate the complete flight-like engine system. This paper describes the subsystems that were subjected to flight-like conditions and presents supporting data. The results from this test help to reduce risk for the Mach 7 flights of the X-43.

Huebner, Lawrence D.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Hyper-X Engine Testing in the NASA Langley 8-Foot High Temperature Tunnel

Airframe-integrated scramjet engine tests have 8 completed at Mach 7 in the NASA Langley 8-Foot High Temperature Tunnel under the Hyper-X program. These tests provided critical engine data as well as design and database verification for the Mach 7 flight tests of the Hyper-X research vehicle (X-43), which will provide the first-ever airframe- integrated scramjet flight data. The first model tested was the Hyper-X Engine Model (HXEM), and the second was the Hyper-X Flight Engine (HXFE). The HXEM, a partial-width, full-height engine that is mounted on an airframe structure to simulate the forebody features of the X-43, was tested to provide data linking flowpath development databases to the complete airframe-integrated three-dimensional flight configuration and to isolate effects of ground testing conditions and techniques. The HXFE, an exact geometric representation of the X-43 scramjet engine mounted on an airframe structure that duplicates the entire three-dimensional propulsion flowpath from the vehicle leading edge to the vehicle base, was tested to verify the complete design as it will be flight tested. This paper presents an overview of these two tests, their importance to the Hyper-X program, and the significance of their contribution to scramjet database development.

Huebner, Lawrence D.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Hyper-X Engine Testing in the NASA Langley 8-Foot High Temperature Tunnel

Airframe-integrated scramjet engine tests have been completed at Mach 7 in the NASA Langley 8-Foot High Temperature Tunnel under the Hyper-X program. These tests provided critical engine data as well as design and database verification for the Mach 7 flight tests of the Hyper-X research vehicle (X-43), which will provide the first-ever airframe-integrated scramjet flight data. The first model tested was the Hyper-X Engine Model (HXEM), and the second was the Hyper-X Flight Engine (HXFE). The HXEM, a partial-width, full-height engine that is mounted on an airframe structure to simulate the forebody features of the X-43, was tested to provide data linking flowpath development databases to the complete airframe-integrated three-dimensional flight configuration, and to isolate effects of ground testing conditions and techniques. The HXFE, an exact geometric representation of the X-43 scramjet engine mounted on an airframe structure that duplicates the entire three-dimensional propulsion flowpath from the vehicle leading edge to the vehicle base, was tested to verify the complete design as it will be flight tested. This paper presents an overview of these two tests, their importance to the Hyper-X program, and the significance of their contribution to scramjet database development.

Huebner, Lawrence D.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Computation of Thermally Perfect Compressible Flow Properties

A set of compressible flow relations for a thermally perfect, calorically imperfect gas are derived for a value of c(sub p) (specific heat at constant pressure) expressed as a polynomial function of temperature and developed into a computer program, referred to as the Thermally Perfect Gas (TPG) code. The code is available free from the NASA Langley Software Server at URL http://www.larc.nasa.gov/LSS. The code produces tables of compressible flow properties similar to those found in NACA Report 1135. Unlike the NACA Report 1135 tables which are valid only in the calorically perfect temperature regime the TPG code results are also valid in the thermally perfect, calorically imperfect temperature regime, giving the TPG code a considerably larger range of temperature application. Accuracy of the TPG code in the calorically perfect and in the thermally perfect, calorically imperfect temperature regimes are verified by comparisons with the methods of NACA Report 1135. The advantages of the TPG code compared to the thermally perfect, calorically imperfect method of NACA Report 1135 are its applicability to any type of gas (monatomic, diatomic, triatomic, or polyatomic) or any specified mixture of gases, ease-of-use, and tabulated results.

Witte, David W.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Computer code for determination of thermally perfect gas properties

A set of one-dimensional compressible flow relations for a thermally perfect, calorically imperfect gas is derived for the specific heat c(sub p), expressed as a polynomial function of temperature, and developed into the thermally perfect gas (TPG) computer code. The code produces tables of compressible flow properties similar to those of NACA Rep. 1135. Unlike the tables of NACA Rep. 1135 which are valid only in the calorically perfect temperature regime, the TPG code results are also valid in the thermally perfect calorically imperfect temperature regime which considerably extends the range of temperature application. Accuracy of the TPG code in the calorically perfect temperature regime is verified by comparisons with the tables of NACA Rep. 1135. In the thermally perfect, calorically imperfect temperature regime, the TPG code is validated by comparisons with results obtained from the method of NACA Rep. 1135 for calculating the thermally perfect calorically imperfect compressible flow properties. The temperature limits for application of the TPG code are also examined. The advantage of the TPG code is its applicability to any type of gas (monatomic, diatomic, triatomic, or polyatomic) or any specified mixture thereof, whereas the method of NACA Rep. 1135 is restricted to only diatomic gases.

Witte, David W.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Aerothermal study in an axial compression corner with shock impingement at Mach 6

An experimental study of an axial-compression interior-corner region with shock impingement was conducted in the NASA Langley 20-inch Mach 6 Tunnel to obtain aerodynamic heating rate distributions. The model, a generic hypersonic engine inlet, had a sharp leading edge forebody, cowl, and interchangeable struts with sharp and blunt leading edges. Experiments were conducted at free-stream unit Reynolds numbers of 1.68 x 10 to the 6th and 3.35 x 10 to the 6th per foot for the blunt and sharp-strut configurations, respectively. For the sharp-strut configuration, with and without trips, the peak heating occurred on the cowl, near the compression corner, downstream of the forebody oblique shock impingement region. The peak heating levels, for both the tripped and untripped boundary-layer flows were about 45 and 50 times the reference laminar heating levels, respectively. The peak heating for the blunt leading edge strut model, which was 30 times the reference value, occurred on the cowl, away from the corner, where the bow shock from the strut leading edge intersected the cowl surface.

Venkateswaran, S.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Analysis of generic scramjet external nozzle flowfields employing simulant gases

Experimental and computational results are presented for a generic scramjet nozzle/afterbody model. Mixtures of argon and Freon were employed as simulant scramjet exhaust gases because they correctly model the inviscid simulation parameters of actual scramjet combustion products, allowing test and analysis at significantly reduced temperatures. Air was also employed as an exhaust gas to provide experimental and computational comparisons with simulant gas effects. Several computational aerodynamic analysis codes, employing different levels of theoretical modeling, were applied to compute solutions about the scramjet geometry. The solutions are compared with measured surface static and flowfield pitot pressure data taken in a Mach 6 freestream.

Tatum, Kenneth E.↗