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Results for “MISSILE CONTROL”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 181 records · Page 10

Vortical flow control on a slender body at high angles of attack

Attention is given to the possibility of using tangential blowing to control vortical flow on a missile-like slender body at high angles of attack. Emphasis is placed on smoke- and surface oil-flow visualization, force measurements, and velocity and pressure measurements using a 5-hole probe. It is shown that the tangential blowing significantly alters the flow field downstream of the slot and creates large side forces and yawing moments to very high angles of attack. Effectiveness of the tangential blowing is discussed in terms of jet momentum, blowing location, slot area, and Reynolds number. The concept proved to be efficient at small blowing rates and at high angles of attack.

Celik, Zeki Z.↗

An analysis of aerodynamic requirements for coordinated bank-to-turn autopilots

Two planar missile airframes were compared having the potential for improved bank-to-turn control but having different aerodynamic properties. The comparison was made with advanced level autopilots using both linear and nonlinear 3-D aerodynamic models to obtain realistic missile body angular rates and control surface incidence. Cortical cross-coupling effects are identified and desirable aerodynamics are recommended for improved coordinated (BTT) (CBTT) performance. In addition, recommendations are made for autopilot control law analyses and design techniques for improving CBTT performance.

Arrow, A.↗

Computation of a controlled store separation from a cavity

Coupling of the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations, rigid-body dynamics, and a pitch attitude control law is demonstrated in two- and three-dimensions. The application problem was the separation of a canard-controlled store from an open-flow rectangular cavity bay at a freestream Mach number of 1.2. The transient flowfield was computed using a diagonal scheme in an overset mesh framework, with the resultant aerodynamic loads used as the forcing functions in the nonlinear dynamics equations. The proportional and rate gyro sensitivities were computed a priori using pole placement techniques for the linearized dynamical equations. These fixed gain values were used in the controller for the nonlinear simulation. Reasonable comparison between the full and linearized equations for a perturbed two-dimensional missile was found. Also in two-dimensions, a controlled store was found to possess improved separation characteristics over a canard-fixed store. In three-dimensions, trajectory comparisons with wind-tunnel data for the canard-fixed case will be made. In addition, it will be determined if a canard-controlled store is an effective means of improving cavity store separation characteristics.

Atwood, Christopher A.↗

Unfolding the air vanes on a supersonic air-launched missile

ASALM (Advanced Strategic Air-Launched Missile) is a supersonic air vehicle designed to be air-launched from a carrier aircraft. The four aft aerodynamic control vanes are folded to maximize the number of missiles carried on-board. The unfolding (erection) system must be small, energetic, fast, and strong. The materials selected and problems that arose during development of the unfolding system are described.

Wohltmann, M.↗

Experimental and Analytical Investigation of the Transonic and Supersonic Divergence Characteristics of a Delta-Plan-Form All- Movable Control

The static aeroelastic divergence characteristics of a delta-planform model of the canard control surface of a proposed air-to-ground missile have been studied both analytically and experimentally in the Mach number range from 0.6 to 3.0. The experiments indicated that divergence occurred at a nearly constant value of dynamic pressure at Mach numbers up to 1.2. At higher Mach numbers somewhat higher values of dynamic pressure were required to produce divergence. The analysis and the experiment indicate that the camber stiffness of the control surface and the stiffness of the control actuator are both important in divergence of surfaces of this type.

PLANFORM↗

A method for predicting the stability in roll of automatically controlled aircraft based on the experimental determination of the characteristics of an automatic pilot

A method is suggested for predicting the stability of automatically controlled aircraft by a comparison of calculated frequency-response curves for the aircraft and experimentally determined frequency-response curves for the automatic pilot. The method is applied only to stabilization in roll. The method is expected to be useful as a means of establishing the specifications of the performance required of the automatic control device for pilotless aircraft designed as missiles.

Jones, R. T.↗

Thermal-Diode Sandwich Panel

Thermal diode sandwich panel transfers heat in one direction, but when heat load reversed, switches off and acts as thermal insulator. Proposed to control temperature in spacecraft and in supersonic missiles to protect internal electronics. In combination with conventional heat pipes, used in solar panels and other heat-sensitive systems.

Basiulis, A.↗

Recent Events in Guidance, Navigation and Control

This article summarizes recent events in Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) in space, weapons and missiles, and aircraft. The section on space includes recent developments with the following NASA spacecraft and space vehicles: Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous, Deep Space 1, Microwave Anisotropy Probe, Earth Observer-1, Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, the International Space Station, X-38, and X-40A. The section on weapons and missiles includes recent developments with the following missiles: Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, Storm Shadow/Scalp EG precision standoff missile, Hellfire missile, AIM-120C Advanced medium-range air-to-air missile, Derby missile, Arrow 2, and the Standard Missile SM-3. The section on aircraft includes recent developments with the following aircraft: Joint Strike Fighter, X-31, V-22, Couger/SUDer Puma Mk. 2, Predator B 001, and the Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle.

Polites, Michael E.↗

Application of Describing-Function Analysis to the Study of an On-Off Reaction-Control System

An analytical study was made of an automatic reaction-control system for the upper stages of a missile to determine limit cycle characteristics, corresponding duty cycles, and the effects of the various system parameters on these quantities. A nonlinear servo analysis (describing function) technique was used to obtain a mathematical representation of the nonlinear components of the system. The results obtained by this analysis are compared with the results obtained from an analog simulation including the jet reaction-control hardware. The good agreement between the results of the two studies tends to indicate the feasibility of using such an analysis technique in the early design phase of a reaction-control system, since by so doing, the parameters for good system performance can be determined quite readily.

Lineberry, Edgar C., Jr.↗

Conceptual study of hypersonic airbreathing missiles

The purpose of this paper is to report recent results of an in-house conceptual study to evaluate the performance potential and research needs of airbreathing hypersonic missiles. An alkylated-borane (noncryogenic) fueled, dual-mode, ramjet/scramjet propulsion system structured with a Rene 41 inlet and a carbon-carbon combustor was assumed along with a Lockalloy heat sink fuselage structure and beryllium wings and control surfaces. Performance for an air-launched baseline missile with a 961 pound staging weight containing a 100 pound payload indicated excellent long range cruise, moderate acceleration and high maneuverability potential. A sizing study indicates that Mach 6 cruise ranges of the order of 2500 nautical miles for payloads of 300 pounds can be achieved with moderate size missile carry weights (9000 lbs.). Aerodynamic heating analyses indicate that unprotected heat-sink structures with internal insulation are feasible for ranges of several hundred miles. For ranges of several thousands of miles a multiwall radiation shield (Inconel/titanium) was selected for protection of the internally insulated heat sink structure.

Hunt, J. L.↗

Autonomous Martian flying rover

A remotely programmable, autonomous flying rover is proposed to extensively survey the Martian surface environment. A Mach .3, solar powered, modified flying wing could cover roughly a 2000 mile range during Martian daylight hours. Multiple craft launched from an orbiting mother ship could provide near-global coverage. Each craft is envisioned to fly at about 1 km above the surface and measure atmospheric composition, pressure and temperature, map surface topography, and remotely penetrate the near subsurface looking for water (ice) and perhaps evidence of life. Data collected are relayed to Earth via the orbiting mother ship. Near surface guidance and control capability is an adaptation of current cruise missile technology. A solar powered aircraft designed to fly in the low temperature, low density, carbon dioxide Martian atmosphere near the surface appears feasible.

Source record↗

Evaluation of reformulated thermal control coatings in a simulated space environment. Part 1: YB-71

The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center and Wright Laboratory Materials Directorate (WL/ML) have sponsored and effort to effort to reformulate and qualify Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institute (IITRI) spacecraft thermal control coatings. S13G/LO-1, Z93, and YB-71 coatings were reformulated because the potassium silicate binder, Sylvania PS-7, used in the coatings is no longer manufactured. Coatings utilizing the binder's replacement candidate, Kasil 2130, manufactured by The Philadelphia Quartz (PQ) Corporation, Baltimore, Maryland, and undergoing testing at the Materials Directorate's Space Combined Effects Primary Test and Research Equipment (SCEPTRE) Facility operated by the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI). The simulated space environment consists of combined ultraviolet (UV) and electron exposure with in site specimen reflectance measurements. A brief description of the effort at IITRI, results and discussion from testing the reformulated YB-71 coating in SCEPTRE, and plans for further testing of reformulated Z93 and S13G/LO-1 are presented.

Cerbus, Clifford A.↗

Experimental study at low supersonic speeds of a missile concept having opposing wraparound tails

A wind-tunnel investigation has been performed at low supersonic speeds (at Mach numbers of 1.60, and 2.16) to evaluate the aerodynamic characteristics of a missile concept capable of being tube launched and controlled with a simple one-axis canard controller. This concept, which features an axisymmetric body with two planar canards and four wraparound tail fins arranged in opposing pairs, must be in rolling motion to be controllable in any radial plane with the planar canards. Thus, producing a constant rolling moment that is invariant with speed and attitude to provide the motion is desirable. Two tail-fin shaping designs, one shaved and one beveled, were evaluated for their efficiency in producing the needed rolling moments, and the results showed that the shaved fins were much more desirable for this task than the beveled fins.

Allen, Jerry M.↗

Flight control actuation system

A flight control actuation system comprises a controller, electromechanical actuator and a pneumatic actuator. During normal operation, only the electromechanical actuator is needed to operate a flight control surface. When the electromechanical actuator load level exceeds 40 amps positive, the controller activates the pneumatic actuator to offset electromechanical actuator loads to assist the manipulation of flight control surfaces. The assistance from the pneumatic load assist actuator enables the use of an electromechanical actuator that is smaller in size and mass, requires less power, needs less cooling processes, achieves high output forces and adapts to electrical current variations. The flight control actuation system is adapted for aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and other flight vehicles, especially flight vehicles that are large in size and travel at high velocities.

Wingett, Paul T.↗

Flight control actuation system

A flight control actuation system comprises a controller, electromechanical actuator and a pneumatic actuator. During normal operation, only the electromechanical actuator is needed to operate a flight control surface. When the electromechanical actuator load level exceeds 40 amps positive, the controller activates the pneumatic actuator to offset electromechanical actuator loads to assist the manipulation of flight control surfaces. The assistance from the pneumatic load assist actuator enables the use of an electromechanical actuator that is smaller in size and mass, requires less power, needs less cooling processes, achieves high output forces and adapts to electrical current variations. The flight control actuation system is adapted for aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and other flight vehicles, especially flight vehicles that are large in size and travel at high velocities.

Wingett, Paul T.↗