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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

A radiative bow shock wave (?) driven by nuclear ejecta in a Seyfert galaxy

New VLA maps at 2 cm of the 13-arcsec-scale linear radio source in the center of NGC 1068 are described. The northeast lobe shows a limb-brightened conical morphology, very sharp 'leading' edges, and a magnetic field running parallel to these edges. The spectral index between 2 and 6 cm in these line-brightened regions is near 1.0. The northeast subpeak has a very steep radio spectrum between 18 and 2 cm which is attributed to inverse Compton losses of the relativistic electrons on the infrared photons. The spectral indices in the southwest lobe lie in the range 0.9-1.5 except in its northern parts, where a much larger index is found. The northeast lobe radio emission could arise in either the cocoon of old jet material which has passed through the internal shock in the ejecta and blown out to either side, or in interstellar material compressed by a bow shock wave driven into the galactic ISM.

Wilson, Andrew S.↗

Skin-Friction Measurements in a 3-D, Supersonic Shock-Wave/Boundary-Layer Interaction

The experimental documentation of a three-dimensional shock-wave/boundary-layer interaction in a nominal Mach 3 cylinder, aligned with the free-stream flow, and 20 deg. half-angle conical flare offset 1.27 cm from the cylinder centerline. Surface oil flow, laser light sheet illumination, and schlieren were used to document the flow topology. The data includes surface-pressure and skin-friction measurements. A laser interferometric skin friction data. Included in the skin-friction data are measurements within separated regions and three-dimensional measurements in highly-swept regions. The skin-friction data will be particularly valuable in turbulence modeling and computational fluid dynamics validation.

Wideman, J. K.↗

SC3 - A wing concept for supersonic maneuvering

A supersonic wing design concept that overcomes the problems associated with nonlinear inviscid pressure distribution is presented together with a summary of the supporting theoretical and experimental development program. The key design feature is a conical panel supporting a controlled supercritical conical camber (SC3) crossflow expansion and recompression which permits lift on the upper surface to be obtained without producing an adverse pressure gradient or crossflow shock wave strong enough to separate the boundary layer. The role of aerodynamics in the design implementation is discussed, as are the concept development, the initial design validation on a fabricated and tested SC3 design, and the body and canard interaction effect. The design and testing of an isolated wing with a planform and thickness distribution representative of a practical application are described. Wind-tunnel results show that significant performance gains can be obtained for fighter aircraft using this concept.

Mason, W. H.↗

A computational study of complex three-dimensional compressible turbulent flow fields

Solutions of the time dependent, Reynolds-averaged, Navier-Stokes equations are presented and are compared with a family of experimental results for the three-dimensional interaction of a shock wave with a turbulent boundary layer. The solutions correctly predict the major features of the flow field independent of the shock strength and the extent of separation when using a two-equation turbulence model with wall functions. The experimentally observed boundary between cylindrical and conical flow regimes is also predicted. However, for the flow fields with large separated zones, the details of the measured pressure distributions are not accurately computed, which indicates a need for improved turbulence modeling and/or grid resolution.

Horstman, C. C.↗

Free-jet investigation of mechanically suppressed, high radius ratio coannular plug model nozzles

The experimental and analytical acoustic results of a scale-model investigation or unsuppressed and mechanically suppressed high-radius ratio coannular plug nozzles with inverted velocity and temperature profiles are summarized. Nine coannular nozzle configurations along with a reference conical nozzle were evaluated in the Anechoic Free-Jet Facility for a total of 212 acoustic test points. Most of the tests were conducted at variable cycle engine conditions applicable to advanced high speed aircraft. The tested nozzles included coannular plug nozzles with both convergent and convergent-divergent (C-D) terminations in order to evaluate C-D effectiveness in the reduction of shock-cell noise and 20 and 40 shallow-chute mechanical suppressors in the outer stream in order to evaluate their effectiveness in the reduction of jet noise. In addition to the acoustic tests, mean and turbulent velocity measurements were made on selected plumes of the 20 shallow-chute configuration using a laser velocimeter. At a mixed jet velocity of 700 m/sec, the 20 shallow-chute suppressor configuration yielded peak aft quadrant suppression of 11.5 and 9 PNdB and forward quadrant suppression of 7 and 6 PNdB relative to a baseline conical nozzles during static and simulated flight, respectively. The C-D terminations were observed to reduce shock-cell noise. An engineering spectral prediction method was formulated for mechanically suppressed coannular plug nozzles.

Janardan, B. A.↗

Landing-Impact Characteristics of Load-Alleviating Struts on a Model of a Winged Space Vehicle

A brief experimental investigation was made of the landing-impact characteristics of a 1/9-scale dynamic model of a winged space vehicle. The landing tests were made by catapulting a free model onto a hard; surface runway and onto water. The model had a conical fuselage and a flat - plate wing with a basic delta planform and 75 deg sweepback of the leading edge. The use of yielding-metal shock absorbers and various landing-gear arrangements was investigated during landing impact. The basic landing gear consisted of a dual rubber-tired nose wheel and twin main skids aft of the center of gravity near the wing tips. landing motion and acceleration data were obtained over a range of landing attitudes, gross weights, and initial sinking speeds. Brief tests were made with an alternate nose-wheel location. An all-skid configuration also was briefly evaluated for hard-surface and water landings. The landing gear employing yielding struts for impact-energy absorption during hard-surface landings resulted in accelerations of approximately 5 1/2 g near the nose gear over a range of landing parameters. Replacing the nose wheel and tire with a skid did not significantly change the accelerations. Landings in smooth water with rigid struts and adequate planing area at the nose skid resulted in a maximum landing acceleration of approximately 4g.

Blanchard, Ulysse J.↗

Passive Rocket Diffuser Theory: A Re-Examination of Minimum Second Throat Size

Second-throat diffusers serve to isolate rocket engines from the effects of ambient back pressure during testing without using active control systems. Among the most critical design parameters is the relative area of the diffuser throat to that of the nozzle throat. A smaller second throat is generally desirable because it decreases the stagnation-to-ambient pressure ratio the diffuser requires for nominal operation. There is a limit, however. Below a certain size, the second throat can cause pressure buildup within the diffuser and prevent it from reaching the start condition that protects the nozzle from side-load damage. This paper presents a method for improved estimation of the minimum second throat area which enables diffuser start. The new 3-zone model uses traditional quasi-one-dimensional compressible flow theory to approximate the structure of two distinct diffuser flow fields observed in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and combines them to provide a less-conservative estimate of the second throat size limit. It is unique among second throat sizing methods in that it accounts for all major conical nozzle and second throat diffuser design parameters within its limits of application. The performance of the 3-zone method is compared to the historical normal shock and force balance methods, and verified against a large number of CFD simulations at specific heat ratios of 1.4 and 1.25. Validation is left as future work, and the model is currently intended to function only as a first-order design tool.

Jones, Daniel R.↗

Conical detonation waves - A comparison of theoretical and numerical results

A predictive capability for conical oblique detonation waves (ODWs) is discussed with particular attention given to the special case of an axisymmetric conical projectile, which yields necessary conditions for attached waves. A multidimensional numerical model was used to study the influence of a finite Damkoehler number (Da) and viscosity on the formation of a conical ODW. The ODW is predicted for Da on the order of 10, and is found to be important in the ODW formation. For a Da of 1, shock induced combustion is predicted. Simulations of the experimental geometry showed general agreement with experimental flow features, but underpredicted the shock angle. It is suggested that this difference may be caused by inadequate boundary layer resolution, lack of grid orthogonality at the cone surface, and an inappropriate chemical mechanism.

Fort, James A.↗

Fluctuating wall pressures near separation in highly swept turbulent interactions

Fluctuating wall pressures have been measured in Mach 5 interactions generated by sharp, upswept fins at angles of attack of 16 to 28 deg. The results show that rms pressure distributions, like the mean, can be collapsed in conical coordinates. The wall pressure signal near separation is intermittent and is qualitatively similar to that measured in unswept interactions and other swept flows. However, the dominant separation shock frequencies in the swept flows are up to an order of magnitude higher than those in unswept interactions under identical incoming flow conditions. In light of the present observations, it appears that an earlier remark, by Gilson and Dolling, that separation is characterized by a shuddering compression system, in contrast to a translating separation shock is erroneous due to a combination of weak shock strength and inadequate spatial resolution. Furthermore, although the maximum rms pressure near separation increases with increasing interaction strength, as in swept compression ramp flows, comparison of data from the two flow types indicates that the appropriate correlating parameter is the interaction sweepback angle.

Schmisseur, J. D.↗

Pressure and force data for a flat wing and a warped conical wing having a shockless recompression at Mach 1.62

A conical nonlinear flow computer code was used to design a warped (cambered) wing which would produce a supercritical expansion and shockless recompression of the crossflow at a lift coefficient of 0.457, an angle of attack of 10 deg, and a Mach number of 1.62. This cambered wing and a flat wing the same thickness distribution were tested over a range of Mach numbers from 1.6 to 2.0. For both models the forward 60 percent is purely conical geometry. Results obtained with the cambered wing demonstrated the design features of a supercritical expansion and a shockless recompression, whereas results obtained with the flat wing indicated the presence of crossflow shocks. Tables of experimental pressure, force, and moment data are included, as well as selected oil flow photographs.

Miller, D. S.↗

Jet Noise Suppression

The objectives of this chapter are to review and summarize the jet noise suppression technology, to provide a physical and theoretical model to explain the measured jet noise suppression characteristics of different concepts, and to provide a set of guidelines for evolving jet noise suppression designs. The underlying principle for all jet noise suppression devices is to enhance rapid mixing (i.e., diffusion) of the jet plume by geometric and aerothermodynamic means. In the case of supersonic jets, the shock-cell broadband noise reduction is effectively accomplished by the elimination or mitigation of the shock-cell structure. So far, the diffusion concepts have predominantly concentrated on jet momentum and energy (kinetic and thermal) diffusion, in that order, and have yielded better noise reduction than the simple conical nozzles. A critical technology issue that needs resolution is the effect of flight on the noise suppression potential of mechanical suppressor nozzles. A more thorough investigation of this mechanism is necessary for the successful development and design of an acceptable noise suppression device for future high-speed civil transports.

Gliebe, P. R.↗

Laminar Heat-Transfer and Pressure Measurements at a Mach Number of 6 on Sharp and Blunt 15 deg Half-Angle Cones at Angles of Attack Up to 90 deg

Two circular conical configurations having 15 deg half-angles were tested in laminar boundary layer at a Mach number of 6 and angles of attack up to 90 deg. One cone had a sharp nose and a fineness ratio of 1.87 and the other had a spherically blunted nose with a bluntness ratio of 0.1428 and a fineness ratio of 1.66. Pressure measurements and schlieren pictures of the flow showed that near-conical flow existed up to an angle of attack of approximately 60 deg. At angles of attack above 70 deg high-pressure areas were present near the base and the bow shock wave was considerably curved. Comparison of the results with simply applied theories showed that on the stagnation line pressures may be predicted by Newtonian theory, and heat transfer by local yawed-cylinder theory based on the yaw angle of the windward generator and the local radius of the cone. Base effects increased the heat transfer in a region extending forward approximately 15 to 30 percent of the windward generator. Circumferential pressure distributions were higher than the corresponding Newtonian distribution and a better prediction was obtained by modifying the theory to match the pressure at 90 deg from the windward generator to that on the surface of the cone at an angle of attack of 0 deg. Circumferential heat-transfer distributions were predicted satisfactorily up to about 60 deg from the stagnation line by using Lees' heat-flux distribution based on the Newtonian pressure. The effects of nose bluntness at large angles of attack were very small in the region beyond two nose radii from the point of tangency.

Conti, Raul J.↗

Deployment and performance characteristics of 1.5-meter supersonic attached inflatable decelerators

Attached-inflatable-decelerator (AID) canopies fabricated from lightweight Nomex cloth and tapes were deployed in a supersonic stream from the base of a 140 deg conical aeroshell. Characteristics of the deceleration system were obtained over a wide range of Mach number, dynamic pressure, and pitch angle. All models deployed rapidly by ram air and experienced only mild deployment shock loads. Steady-state drag coefficients as high as 1.3 were obtained in the supersonic stream and were relatively insensitive to Mach number, dynamic pressure, and pitch angle. All models were free of fluttering motion. Results also showed that the AID is aerodynamically more efficient without a burble fence in a supersonic stream. Though measured meridian-tape loads were higher than those predicted by theory, the ram-air deployment rates and steady-state drag coefficients were in good agreement with theory. These results indicate that the AID is a stable, efficient decelerator in a supersonic stream and its performance is readily predictable.

Bohon, H. L.↗

Nearly spherical constant-power detonation waves as driven by focused radiation

An analysis is made of the flow within a three-dimensional explosion, or spark, created in a gas absorbing energy from a steady conical beam of radiation with nearly spherical symmetry. The radiation, typically from an array of lasers with a common focus, is assumed to be very intense and absorbed immediately behind an outwardly advancing strong shock. Departures of the laser power from spherical uniformity, which would result from practical problems of arrangement, are conveniently represented by an ascending series of Legendre polynomials in the polar angle. For nonuniformities of small amplitude, first-order perturbations of the flow field are analyzed in detail. Self-similarity is shown to be retained for zero counter-pressure and power constant with time. For the first five harmonics in power distortion, the resulting fourth-order system of equations is solved numerically for profiles of velocity components, density, pressure, and shock shape. Results are presented graphically.

George, Y. H.↗

The Mach disc in truncated plug nozzle flows

The first shock reflection within truncated plug nozzle propulsive jets is investigated experimentally using a free jet blow-down facility. The locations and sizes of these reflections in axisymmetric plug nozzles, with cylindrical shrouds and conical truncated plugs, are presented. Data are presented for a range of ambient to nozzle total pressure ratios. The effects of Mach disk location and size resulting from changing plug length and from varying amounts of base bleed are documented.

Giel, T. V., Jr.↗

Flow-field surveys on the windward side of the NASA 040A space shuttle orbiter at 31 deg angle of attack and Mach 20 in helium

Pitot pressure and flow angle distributions in the windward flow field of the NASA 040A space shuttle orbiter configuration and surface pressures were measured, at a Mach number of 20 and an angle of attack of 31 deg. The free stream Reynolds number, based on model length, was 5.39 x 10 to the 6th power. Results show that cores of high pitot pressure, which are related to the body-shock-wing-shock intersections, occur on the windward plane of symmetry in the vicinity of the wing-body junction and near midspan on the wing. Theoretical estimates of the flow field pitot pressures show that conical flow values for the windward plane of symmetry surface are representative of the average level over the entire lower surface.

Ashby, G. C., Jr.↗

Holographic interferometry at the NASA-Ames Hypervelocity Free-Flight Aerodynamic Facility

A laser holographic interferometer has been designed and developed to improve flow visualization for models in free-flight at high velocities and low freestream static pressures. Of special interest is the flow structure due to high-temperature effects in the post-shock region of models traveling at hypervelocity. A dual-plate technique with a double-pass, Michelson-type configuration has been incorporated in an existing hypervelocity ballistic range. Holograms of 5-deg blunt conical models traveling at 5 km/sec in air at a freestream static pressure of 0.08 atm have been made. Finite- and infinite-fringe interferograms were reconstructed from the holograms and provided qualitative flowfield results. In addition, a digital scanning technique was also used to produce a 'synthetic' infinite-fringe interferogram from the analysis of an experimental finite-fringe interferogram. A 'synthetic' infinite-fringe interferogram shows detail in the wake region not found in the experimental interferograms.

Tam, Tim C.↗