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Zilliac, G. G.

Publications and source records attributed to Zilliac, G. G..

Mars Ascent Vehicle Hybrid Propulsion Development

Hybrid propulsion is being investigated as a propulsion method for a possible Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) application. MAV is part of a proposed larger Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign plan to bring samples from Mars to earth for examination. The Mars Ascent Vehicle would launch Mars surface samples found and packaged by the Mars 2020 mission to orbit around Mars. This version of hybrid propulsion is based on a wax based solid fuel, called SP7A, and a Mixed Oxides of Nitrogen oxidizer, MON-25. SP7 is a new fuel formulation developed by Space Propulsion Group and was modified for this application to be resistant to Mars temperature extremes and modified again to lower the regression rate to become SP7A. MON-25 was chosen for its low freezing temperature. Due to cost constraints, MON-3 was the oxidizer used during testing through 2018. In 2019, full scale hybrid testing with MON-25 commenced in Mojave, CA by Whittinghill Aerospace. One flight motor will be subjected to thermal cycling in a vacuum and later fired in a vacuum to demonstrate the proposed Liquid Injection Thrust Vector Control system performance at White Sands Test Facility (WSTF). In addition, there will be MON-25 characterization work done at Purdue University and WSTF. Additional testing of subscale and full scale motors will be conducted with MON-3 with fuel grain stress, fuel grain support and case design test objectives by Space Propulsion Group Inc. of Butte, MT. This paper documents some of the testing, issues and accomplishments with the MAV hybrid propulsion option that is being considered (along with a two-stage solid propulsion option).

Story, G. T.↗

Surface flow patterns on an ogive-cylinder at incidence

A set of photographs has been obtained which documents the oil-imaged surface flow patterns of an ogive-cylinder at angles-of-attack between 30 and 85 deg, and Reynolds number of 26,000. Attention is given to the possibility that the bistable nature of the flow within the 50-65 deg angle-of-attack range is linked to the coincident appearance of foci in the surface flow patterns, in view of the suggestion that these foci act as the anchor points allowing the forebody vortical structures to roll up and form the forebody's trailing vortex system.

Degani, David↗

Asymmetric vortices on a slender body of revolution

The symmetric and asymmetric leeward-side flow fields on an inclined ogive-cylinder have been investigated using a number of experimental techniques. Naturally occurring and perturbed flow fields were studied at a moderate Reynolds number and at many incidence angles. By close examination of the steady side force behavior at different roll orientations of the tip, it has been established that micro-variations in the tip geometry of the model have a large influence on the downstream development of the flow field. Under certain conditions, a bistable flow field was observed.

Zilliac, G. G.↗

Computational/experimental study of the flowfield on a body of revolution at incidence

A joint computational-experimental study of the vortical flowfield on a pointed body of revolution is undertaken. The incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are solved numerically for steady flow around an ogive-cylinder at angle of attack. The three-dimensional vortical flow is investigated, with emphasis on the tip and the near-wake region. Comparisons of computational results with results of a companion towing-tank experiment are presented at Re(L) = 1000. Results of a wind tunnel experiment at Re(L) = 820,000, featuring use of a seven-hole pressure probe, also are presented. It was observed that at the low Reynolds number of the towing tank study, the leeside flow was symmetric at the angles of attack considered. For the same configuration at the higher Reynolds number of the wind tunnel study, the flow was asymmetric under equivalenat conditions for some of the angles of attack studied. The topology of the flow is discussed and conclusions are drawn concerning the growth and stability of the primary vortices.

Zilliac, G. G.↗

Flow visualization study of a two-dimensional representation of the Space Shuttle launch pad configuration

The loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger was caused by the failure of the aft joint O-ring seals in its right solid rocket booster. It has been suggested by several sources that wind conditions through a reduction in temperature of the right solid rocket booster caused by the wind blowing across the cold external tank, played a role in the O-ring failure. To check the plausibility of the wind theory, an experiment was carried out in a water towing tank to visualize the flow past a two-dimensional model representing a cross section of the Space Shuttle launch configuration. The periodic formation of vortices was found to characterize the wake generated by the model. It is suggested that this organized motion in the flow is the dominant mechanism that accomplishes heat transfer from the external tank to the right solid rocket booster. Flow visualization results consisting of photographs that show instantaneous streamline patterns of the flow are presented.

Mclachland, B. G.↗

Wind tunneling testing and analysis relating to the spinning of light aircraft

Included is a summary of two studies related to the spinning of light aircraft. The first study was conducted to demonstrate that the aerodynamic forces and moments acting on a tail of a spinning aircraft can be obtained from static wind-tunnel tests. The second study analytically investigated spinning using a high angle-of-attack aerodynamic model derived from a static wind-tunnel data base. The validity of the aerodynamic model is shown by comparisons with rotary-balance data and forced-oscillation tests. The results of a six-degree-of-freedom analysis show that the dynamics and aerodynamics of the steep- and flat-spin modes of a modified Yankee have been properly modeled.

Mccormick, B. W.↗