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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1944

Effect of Mach and Reynolds Numbers on the Power-Off Maximum Lift Coefficient Obtainable on a P-39N-1 Airplane as Determined in Flight

Flight tests were conducted on a Bell P-39N-1 airplane to determine the variation with Mach and Reynolds numbers of the maximum lift coefficient obtainable. The tests were made with the propeller in the constant-speed high-pitch setting and with the power off in order to minimize the effect of power and the propeller. The investigation covered a Mach number range of 0.146 to 0.655 and a Reynolds-number range of 4,900,000 to 17,100,000.The results of the investigation indicated that the maximum lift coefficient obtainable decreased markedly with an increase in Mach number for a given Reynolds number and exhibited a tendency to increase with an increase in Reynolds number for a given Mach number up to a Mach number of 0.55.

James M Nissen↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Reynolds Number Effects on a 5.2%-Scale High Lift Common Research Model

A 5.2%-scale High Lift Common Research Model (CRM-HL) semispan wind tunnel model was tested at the National Transonic Facility (NTF) wind tunnel in Hampton, VA. One of the primary objectives of the NTF test was to determine the effect of varying Reynolds number on the configuration. The test used a combination of air and cryogenic nitrogen testing to obtain up to flight-like Reynolds numbers. The landing and takeoff configurations of the model were tested at speeds ranging from Mach 0.2 to 0.35. The Reynolds numbers based on the mean aerodynamic chord of the model ranged from 1.6 to 30 million. Overall, the lift increased and drag decreased with increasing Reynolds number for chord Reynolds numbers less than 16 million, following well-established trends. However, some anomalies in the force and moment data were observed in the linear region of the angle of attack range that did not follow expected trends. The force and moment results for both the landing and takeoff configurations are presented, along with surface pressure data for the landing configuration. Incremental effects from the landing gear, nacelle, and horizontal tail on the landing configuration are also presented.

CRM-HL↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Reynolds Number Effects on a 5.2%-Scale High Lift Common Research Model

A 5.2%-scale High Lift Common Research Model (CRM-HL) semispan wind tunnel model was tested at the National Transonic Facility (NTF) wind tunnel in Hampton, VA. One of the primary objectives of the NTF test was to determine the effect of varying Reynolds number on the configuration. The test used a combination of air and cryogenic nitrogen testing to obtain up to flight-like Reynolds numbers. The landing and takeoff configurations of the model were tested at speeds ranging from Mach 0.2 to 0.35. The Reynolds numbers based on the mean aerodynamic chord of the model ranged from 1.6 to 30 million. Overall, the lift increased and drag decreased with increasing Reynolds number for chord Reynolds numbers less than 16 million, following well-established trends. However, some anomalies in the force and moment data were observed in the linear region of the angle of attack range that did not follow expected trends. The force and moment results for both the landing and takeoff configurations are presented, along with surface pressure data for the landing configuration. Incremental effects from the landing gear, nacelle, and horizontal tail on the landing configuration are also presented.

CRM-HL↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Advances in PSP Testing in LaRC High Reynolds Number Facilities

The use of luminescent coatings for the global measurement of surface aerodynamic properties at full-flight Reynolds numbers has been ongoing at the NASA Langley Research Center since the late 1990s, beginning with Temperature Sensitive Paint (TSP) for boundary layer analysis at the 0.3-m Transonic Cryogenics Tunnel. Since then, significant work has been made to extend these measurements to pressure using Pressure Sensitive Paint (PSP) as well as develop systems for application in larger scale, full-flight Reynolds number facilities, such as the National Transonic Facility (NTF). Recently, a system for the measurement of time-resolved pressure using recently developed unsteady PSP (uPSP) formulations has been designed and implemented in the Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT). The use of PSP (or uPSP) in either of these large scale, full-fight Reynolds number wind tunnels is complicated by the fact that both facilities operate best in oxygen deficient environments; however, the PSP technique relies on the presence of oxygen to work. The NTF is typically operated in cryogenic conditions, which is achieved using liquid nitrogen. In this facility, temperatures can reach as low as 116 K (-250 °F) with nominal oxygen concentrations of less than 50 ppm. This has resulted in the development of specialized PSP formulations that can operate in the cryogenic environment with the introduction of low amounts of oxygen (typically less than 2000 ppm) for PSP response. Likewise, to achieve full-flight Reynolds number conditions in the TDT, the atmosphere in the tunnel is replaced with a “heavy gas” of R-134A (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane), which also has minimal oxygen native in the flow. The use of uPSP in this case will also depend on the introduction of trace amounts of oxygen, with the precise concentrations to be determined in an upcoming test. This presentation will describe some recent advancements that have been made for PSP measurements in both facilities. For the NTF system, there has been significant development of enhanced lighting for use at cryogenic conditions, as well as improvements in the application efficiency of the PSP. Furthermore, there are efforts underway to incorporate advanced data analysis techniques to acquire additional surface aerodynamic properties using the PSP technique that can yield not only improved experimental efficiency, but also provide data needed for next generation vehicle design and development. For the uPSP system in TDT, significant efforts to improve the data transfer rates to a high-performance computing environment for analysis are underway and performance and initial results from the system in the heavy-gas environment will be presented.

Pressure Sensitive Paint↗
NASA NTRS1989

Analysis of low Reynolds number separation bubbles using semiempirical methods

The formation and growth of transitional separation bubbles can significantly affect boundary-layer development on airfoils operating at low chord Reynolds numbers. Of primary concern is the change in boundary-layer thickness between laminar separation and turbulent reattachment. This can be estimated using semiempirical methods, such as the one devised by Horton (1968), which are based on solutions to the integral forms of the boundary-layer equations. The applicability of these methods at low Reynolds numbers was investigated using hot-wire measurements of bubbles formed on an NACA 66(3)-018 airfoil at chord Reynolds numbers of 50,000-200,000. The momentum thickness growth between separation and transition was found to be similar to that predicted for a laminar half-jet and appears to be influenced by the momentum thickness Reynolds number at separation. This parameter also was found to have a noticeable effect on the Reynolds number based on the length of a bubble's laminar portion.

Schmidt, Gordon S.↗
NASA NTRS1975

High Reynolds number tests of a C-141A aircraft semispan model to investigate shock-induced separation

Results from a high Reynolds number transonic wind tunnel investigation are presented. Wing chordwise pressure distributions were measured over a matrix of Mach numbers and angles-of-attack for which shock-induced separations are known to exist. The range of Reynolds number covered by these data nearly spanned the gap between previously available wind tunnel and flight test data. The results are compared with both flight and low Reynolds number data, and show that use of the semispan test technique produced good correlation with the prior data at both ends of the Reynolds number range, but indicated strong sensitivity to details of the test setup.

Blackerby, W. T.↗
NASA NTRS1989

High Reynolds number tests of the CAST-10-2/DOA 2 transonic airfoil at ambient and cryogenic temper ature conditions

The transonic airfoil CAST 10-2/DOA 2 was investigated in several major transonic wind tunnels at Reynolds numbers ranging from Re=1.3 x 10(exp 6) to 45 x 10(exp 6) at ambient and cryogenic temperature conditions. The main objective was to study the degree and extent of the effects of Reynolds number on both the airfoil aerodynamic characteristics and the interference effects of various model-wind-tunnel systems. The initial analysis of the CAST 10-2 airfoil results revealed appreciable real Reynolds number effects on this airfoil and showed that wall interference can be significantly affected by changes in Reynolds number thus appearing as true Reynolds number effects.

Stanewsky, E.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Mixing length in low Reynolds number compressible turbulent boundary layers

The paper studies the effect of low Reynolds number in high-speed turbulent boundary layers on variations of mixing length. Boundary layers downstream of natural transition on plates, cones and cylinders, and boundary layers on nozzle walls without laminarization-retransition are considered. The problem of whether low Reynolds number amplification of shear stress is a result of transitional flow structure is considered. It is concluded that a knowledge of low Reynolds number boundary layer transition may be relevant to the design of high-speed vehicles.

Bushnell, D. M.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Effect of the Reynolds Number on the Freestream Disturbance Environment in a Mach 6 Nozzle

To understand the impact of unit Reynolds number on the acoustic disturbance field inside a high-speed wind tunnel, we use Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) to model the turbulent boundary layers along the walls of a quasi-two-dimensional nozzle configuration. Intended as a stepping stone to fully three-dimensional simulations of freestream noise inside the NASA 20-Inch Mach 6 Wind Tunnel, the present simulations are based on periodic boundary conditions across the spanwise width of the computational domain that corresponds to about one third of the actual tunnel width. These simulations are performed at four different unit Reynolds numbers, ranging from 3.56e6 to 14.0e6 per meter. The predominantly hydrodynamic fluctuations inside the boundary layer are shown to be nearly unaffected by the presence of freestream forcing associated with the impinging acoustic radiation from the opposite wall. Thus, the Reynolds number trends associated with boundary-layer quantities are consistent with previously published DNS of flat-plate boundary layers at similar Mach numbers and wall temperature ratios. The unsteady disturbance environment within the nozzle core region is found to be approximately spatially homogeneous and purely acoustic in nature. The numerical results are used to make comparisons with tunnel noise measurements by Chou et al. [1,2]. Unlike previous comparisons involving static-pressure fluctuations based on the DNS and pitot-pressure fluctuations measured in the wind tunnel, direct comparisons involving the fluctuations in the same physical quantity, namely, the streamwise mass flux, have been reported for the first time. The predicted decrease in the root-mean-square fluctuations in pressure and mass flux with an increasing unit Reynolds number is in agreement with the measurements in the NASA 20-Inch Mach 6 Wind Tunnel. Additional details of the acoustic radiation field are quantified and should be useful toward a digital synthesis of the tunnel disturbance environment that would enable realistic simulations of the natural transition process.

Turbulence↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Effect of the Reynolds Number on the Freestream Disturbance Environment in a Mach 6 Nozzle

To understand the impact of unit Reynolds number on the acoustic disturbance field inside a high-speed wind tunnel, we use Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) to model the turbulent boundary layers along the walls of a quasi-two-dimensional nozzle configuration. Intended as a stepping stone to fully three-dimensional simulations of freestream noise inside the NASA 20-Inch Mach 6 Wind Tunnel, the present simulations are based on periodic boundary conditions across the spanwise width of the computational domain that corresponds to about one third of the actual tunnel width. These simulations are performed at four different unit Reynolds numbers, ranging from 3.56e6 to 14.0e6 per meter. The predominantly hydrodynamic fluctuations inside the boundary layer are shown to be nearly unaffected by the presence of freestream forcing associated with the impinging acoustic radiation from the opposite wall. Thus, the Reynolds number trends associated with boundary-layer quantities are consistent with previously published DNS of flat-plate boundary layers at similar Mach numbers and wall temperature ratios. The unsteady disturbance environment within the nozzle core region is found to be approximately spatially homogeneous and purely acoustic in nature. The numerical results are used to make comparisons with tunnel noise measurements by Chou et al. [1,2]. Unlike previous comparisons involving static-pressure fluctuations based on the DNS and pitot-pressure fluctuations measured in the wind tunnel, direct comparisons involving the fluctuations in the same physical quantity, namely, the streamwise mass flux, have been reported for the first time. The predicted decrease in the root-mean-square fluctuations in pressure and mass flux with an increasing unit Reynolds number is in agreement with the measurements in the NASA 20-Inch Mach 6 Wind Tunnel. Additional details of the acoustic radiation field are quantified and should be useful toward a digital synthesis of the tunnel disturbance environment that would enable realistic simulations of the natural transition process.

Acoustics↗
NASA NTRS1975

Use of shock tubes in high Reynolds number transonic testing

The shock tube as a device to fulfill current needs for testing of transonic airfoils at high Reynolds numbers is considered. Performance analysis of a gas-driven shock tube shows that transonic airfoil flows with chord Reynolds numbers in the range of 100 million can be produced. A study of flow development over a simple airfoil has been carried out in a shock tube at low and intermediate Reynolds numbers to assess the testing technique. Results obtained from schlieren photography and airfoil pressure measurements show that steady transonic flows similar to those produced for the same airfoil in a wind tunnel can be generated within the available testing time in a shock tube with properly contoured test section walls. The study indicates that the shock tube is a viable alternative as a facility for studying high Reynolds number transonic airfoil flows.

Cook, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Low-Reynolds-number turbulent boundary layers

A test facility operating at substantially reduced pressures is described and shown to be suitable when used with an open-circuit turbulent boundary layer wind tunnel. The facility is capable of producing flows with momentum Reynolds number in the range 200-10,000 by varying the ambient pressure. At low-Reynolds-number flows the pressure is low enough to allow the tunnel to operate with large values of freestream speed. The tunnel's reliability is verified by examining flows where momentum Reynolds number is greater than 1200. The results skin friction coefficients, wake parameters, and basic velocity profiles - consistently agreed with well-established data. For momentum Reynolds number from 600 through 1200 the resulting data indicate that the 'universal velocity profile' is accurate and correctly describes the mean flow properties. For Reynolds number from 425 through 600, the viscous sublayer in this range can no longer maintain its characteristic size.

White, B. R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The U.S. 2.5-Meter Cryogenic High Reynolds Number Tunnel

The U.S. 2.5-Meter Cryogenic High Reynolds Number Tunnel is a fan-driven transonic wind tunnel scheduled for operation in 1981. It will operate at Mach numbers from 0.1 to 1.2, stagnation pressures from 1 to 9 bars, and stagnation temperatures from 352 to 80 Kelvin. The maximum Reynolds number capability will be 120 million at a Mach number of 1.0 based on a reference length of 0.25 meter. This paper describes the basis for the conceptual approach, the engineering design including unique features, and the performance operating envelopes for the tunnel.

Howell, R. R.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Turbulence effect on crossflow around a circular cylinder at subcritical Reynolds numbers

An investigation of the effect of freestream turbulence on the flow around a smooth circular cylinder at subcritical Reynolds numbers from 5.2 x 10 to the 4th power to 2.09 x 10 to the 5th power was conducted. Measurements show that the interaction of incident turbulence with the initial laminar boundary layer: (1) modifies the characteristics of the mean surface pressure distribution; (2) induces an aft shift in the separation point ranging from 5 to 50 beyond the laminar separation angle of 80 degrees; and, (3) reduces the mean drag coefficient to values between 97 and 46% of its nearly constant laminar counterpart. The extent of these changes depends on the particular Reynolds number background turbulence combination. These results demonstrate that a boundary-layer flow similar to that found in critical, supercritical and/or transcritical flow regimes is induced by turbulence at subcritical Reynolds numbers and, hence, the effect of turbulence is equivalent to an effective increase in the Reynolds number. The change in the nature and properties of the boundary layer in the subcritical regime, consequent upon the penetration of turbulence into it, is in agreement with the model proposed by the vorticity-amplification theory.

Sadeh, W. Z.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Measurements of fluctuating pressure in a rectangular cavity in transonic flow at high Reynolds numbers

An experiment was performed in the Langley 0.3 meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel to study the internal acoustic field generated by rectangular cavities in transonic and subsonic flows and to determine the effect of Reynolds number and angle of yaw on the field. The cavity was 11.25 in. long and 2.50 in. wide. The cavity depth was varied to obtain length-to-height (l/h) ratios of 4.40, 6.70, 12.67, and 20.00. Data were obtained for a free stream Mach number range from 0.20 to 0.90, a Reynolds number range from 2 x 10(exp 6) to 100 x 10(exp 6) per foot with a nearly constant boundary layer thickness, and for two angles of yaw of 0 and 15 degs. Results show that Reynolds number has little effect on the acoustic field in rectangular cavities at angle of yaw of 0 deg. Cavities with l/h = 4.40 and 6.70 generated tones at transonic speeds, whereas those with l/h = 20.00 did not. This trend agrees with data obtained previously at supersonic speeds. As Mach number decreased, the amplitude, and bandwidth of the tones changed. No tones appeared for Mach number = 0.20. For a cavity with l/h = 12.67, tones appeared at Mach number = 0.60, indicating a possible change in flow field type. Changes in acoustic spectra with angle of yaw varied with Reynolds number, Mach number, l/h ratios, and acoustic mode number.

Tracy, M. B.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Instability process in low Reynolds number supersonic jets

The objective of the present research was to characterize the instability of supersonic jets of Mach numbers 1.4, 2.1, and 2.5 in the Reynolds number range around 8000. In this Reynolds number range the jet instability has its maximum coherence so that its properties as well as the acoustic properties can be most clearly identified. Growth rate, wavelength, and wave orientation of dominant spectral components of the instability for the three Mach number jets were measured in order to characterize the instability. The saturation and subsequent decay on the instability are coincident with a drastic decrease in the coherence of the instability. Associated research shows that the phenomenon of rapid growth and decay is of fundamental importance in the noise generation process.

Morrison, G. L.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Dynamic Analysis of Reynolds Number Effects on Trailing Edge Transonic Vortex Shedding and Its Impact on Turbine Blade Aerodynamic Performance

In this work, we will discuss observations from images acquired from a time-resolved, high-speed self-aligned focusing Schlieren campaign that was performed at the CW-22 facility at NASA Glenn Research Center to understand the dynamic behavior of thick trailing-edge high-pressure turbine blades simulating a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) construction at high inlet turbulence conditions. For the CMC-9 blade, which has a trailing edge thickness of 9% of the axial chord, we identified a regime where an excessive total pressure loss (loss anomaly) is observed only for a narrow range of Reynolds numbers at a fixed exit Mach number of 0.74. The loss anomaly is qualitatively explained by our images, which were taken at 10 distinct blade Reynolds numbers spanning a factor of 6. The images show a significant increase in energy related to the oscillations due to transonic vortex shedding at the Reynolds numbers related to the high loss conditions. This increased energy leads to the formation of strong acoustic waves that turn into shock waves at the highest loss conditions. From our observations stemming from Spectral POD analysis of the high-speed images, we see the acoustic waves produced by the trailing edge vortex shedding exist in all conditions tested; but the shedding frequency has a very slight trend upwards as the Reynolds number is increased, varying about 6% in the range tested. Considering this variation of shedding frequency as a function of Reynolds number, which is well-established for other bluff-body flows, we stipulate there may be a potential feedback mechanism involving an acoustic information transfer path across neighboring blades that may explain why only a narrow range of Reynolds numbers displays strong, shock-forming vortex shedding. We consider a few feedback paths and examine the timing based on the mean flow field from a high-resolution LES simulation. It appears that all feedback mechanisms are viable, presenting an integer number of delay cycles with respect to disturbances generated at the trailing edge. Most noteworthy, however, is the acoustic/shock-boundary layer interaction mechanism at the blade geometric throat. Based on our analysis, this mechanism likely plays an important role in realistic, curved turbine blade passages.

Aerodynamics↗