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At least 199 records · Page 11

Noise and performance characteristics of a model scale X-wing rotor system in hover

Noise data for the hover condition were measured for a 8 m diameter X-wing model rotor mounted on an outdoor whirl tower. The noise was found to be a function of operating condition, in general increasing with performance. The X-wing spectra obtained from narrowband and 1/3-octave band analyses were dominated by the blade passage frequency harmonics. The circulation control slot blowing produced 1 to 10 kHz broadband noise which exhibited a jet velocity to the 5.4 dependency. Under the rotor plane loading noise was dominant, except at low values of blade pressure ratio where a sharp decrease in the blade passage frequency harmonic levels was observed. In the rotor plane, the contribution of the broadband noise sources was greater than under the rotor plane. The X-wing rotor system in hover exhibited flexibility in operating conditions to achieve a specific level of performance. The high collective, low blade passage ratio combinations which meet a given level of performance were associated with low overall sound pressure levels.

Willshire, W. L., Jr.↗

Performance characteristics of axisymmetric convergent-divergent exhaust nozzles with longitudinal slots in the divergent

An investigation was conducted in the Langley 16 foot Transonic Tunnel and in the static test facility of that tunnel to determine the effects of divergent flap ventilation of an axisymmetric nozzle on nozzle internal (static) and wind on performance. Tests were conducted at 0 deg angle of attack at static conditions and at Mach numbers from 0.6 to 1.2. Ratios of jet total pressure to free stream static pressure were varied from 1.0 (jet off) to approximately 14.0 depending on Mach number. The results of this study indicate that divergent flap ventilation generally provided large performance benefits at overexpanded nozzle conditions and performance reductions at underexpanded nozzle conditions when compared to the baseline (unventilated) nozzles. Ventilation also reduced the peak static and wind on performance levels.

Leavitt, L. D.↗

A flight investigation of basic performance characteristics of a teetering-rotor attack helicopter

Flight data were obtained with an instrumented AH-16 helicopter having uninstrumented, standard main-rotor blades. The data are presented to facilitate the analysis of data taken when the same vehicle was flown with instrumented main-rotor blades built with new airfoils. Test results include data on performance, flight-state parameters, pitch-link loads and blade angles for level flight, descending turns and pull-ups. Flight test procedures and the effects of both trim variations and transient phenomena on the data are discussed.

Morris, C. E. K., Jr.↗

Rocket-Model Investigation of the Longitudinal Stability, Drag, and Duct Performance Characteristics of the North American MX-770 (X-10) Missile at Mach Numbers from 0.80 to 1.70

A free-flight 0.12-scale rocket-boosted model of the North American MX-770 (X-10) missile has been tested in flight by the Pilotless Aircraft Research Division of the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory. Drag, longitudinal stability, and duct performance data were obtained at Mach numbers from 0.8 to 1.7 covering a Reynolds number range of about 9 x 10(exp 6) to 24 x 10(exp 6) based on wing mean aerodynamic chord. The lift-curve slope, static stability, and damping-in-pitch derivatives showed similar variations with Mach number, the parameters increasing from subsonic values in the transonic region and decreasing in the supersonic region. The variations were for the most part fairly smooth. The aerodynamic center of the configuration shifted rearward in the transonic region and moved forward gradually in the supersonic region. The pitching effectiveness of the canard control surfaces was maintained throughout the flight speed range, the supersonic values being somewhat greater than the subsonic. Trim values of angle of attack and lift coefficient changed abruptly in the transonic region, the change being associated with variations in the out-of-trim pitching moment, control effectiveness, and aerodynamic-center travel in this speed range. Duct total-pressure recovery decreased with increase in free-stream Mach number and the values were somewhat less than normal-shock recovery. Minimum drag data indicated a supersonic drag coefficient about twice the subsonic drag coefficient and a drag-rise Mach number of approximately 0.90. Base drag was small subsonically but was about 25 percent of the minimum drag of the configuration supersonically.

Bond, Aleck C.↗

Solar thermal electric power plants - Their performance characteristics and total social costs

The central receiver (power tower) concept as a thermal conversion approach to the conversion of solar energy into electricity is compared to other solar power plant designs which feature distributed solar collection and use other types of solar collector configurations. A variety of solar thermal storage concepts are discussed and their impacts on system performance are assessed. Although a good deal of quantification is possible in a comparative study, the subjective judgments carry enormous weight in a socio-economic decision, the ultimate choice of central power plant being more a social than an economic or technical decision. Major elements of the total social cost of each type of central plant are identified as utility economic costs, R&D funds, health costs, and other relevant social impacts.

Caputo, R. S.↗

Performance Characteristics of a Boundary Layer Ingesting Inlet - Distortion Tolerant Fan Through CFD Code Coupling

A method of constructing a high-fidelity simulation using two NASA CFD codes, Launch Ascent and Vehicle Aerodynamics (LAVA), which is the general-purpose solver, and a turbomachinery specific code NASA-TURBO (TURBO), will be presented. Validation of the code coupling is performed through comparison to experimental data obtained in the 2017 wind tunnel test of NASA’s Boundary Layer Ingesting Inlet - Distortion Tolerant Fan (BLI2DTF). For the simulation, the external flow field is computed by LAVA utilizing a steady-state Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) methodology. Data from LAVA is exchanged with TURBO, which simulated the propulsor utilizing an unsteady-RANS methodology. A sensitivity analysis is performed using averaged and instantaneous data transfer between the two codes, as well as varying the amount of simulation time TURBO computes between updates. The results of the coupled simulations appear to replicate the BLI2DTF experiment correctly. Static pressure taps leading into and around the nacelle, total pressure ratio and efficiency of the propulsor, and profiles of total temperature, pressure, and Mach number at the rear measurement plane, aft of the propulsor, are in good agreement with experimental data. These results provide confidence that the coupled simulation is behaving in a physically realizable manner.

CFD↗

Performance characteristics of two annular dump diffusers using suction-stabilized vortex flow control

Test results are described for two abrupt area change annular diffusers with provisions for maintaining suction stabilized toroidal vortices at the area discontinuity. Both diffusers had an overall area ratio of 4.0 with the prediffuser area ratio being 1.18 for diffuser A and 1.4 for diffuser B. Performance was evaluated at near atmospheric pressure and temperature for a range of inlet Mach numbers from 0.18 to 0.41 and suction rates from 0 to 18%. Static pressure recovery improved significantly as the suction rate was increased to approximately 11%. Results obtained with diffuser A were superior to that obtained with diffuser B. Flat radial profiles of exit velocity were not obtained since the flow showed preferential hub or tip attachment at moderate suction rates. At high suction rates the diffuser exit flow became circumferentially nonuniform and unstable.

Juhasz, A. J.↗

Performance characteristics from wind-tunnel tests of a low-Reynolds-number airfoil

Wind tunnel lift and pitching-moment data have been obtained from pressure measurements, and drag data from wake surveys, for an Eppler 387 low Reynolds number airfoil over the Re range of 60,000 to 460,000; oil flow visualizations were also used to determine laminar separation and turbulent reattachment locations. Airfoil performance is found to be dominated by laminar separation bubbles below Re 200,000, and two flow regimes, namely laminar separations with and without turbulent reattachment, were observed at the same angle-of-attack for an Re of 60,000.

Mcghee, Robert J.↗

Performance characteristics of active cavity radiometers in unshuttered applications

It has been demonstrated that the offset of active cavity radiometer detectors is sensitive to postfabrication curing techniques and that the resulting changes in offset can have a significant effect on measurements in the unshuttered mode of operation. Here, the origin and physics of this phenomenon are described, and an approach is examined which successfully achieves superior radiometric measurement performance. Ground and flight data from the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment program are presented, and alternative solutions are discussed.

Luther, Michael R.↗

Performance characteristics of InGaAs/GaAs and GaAs/InGaAlAs coherently strained superlattice photodiodes

The properties of In(0.24)Ga(0.76)As/GaAs and GaAs/In(0.05)Ga(0.58)Al(0.37)As superlattice photodiodes grown by molecular beam epitaxy have been investigated. From the temporal response characteristics, deconvolved rise times about 60-100 ps are obtained. The measured responsivities of the photodiodes with dark currents of 5-10 nA at 10 V are about 0.4 A/W, which correspond to peak external quantum efficiencies of about 60 percent. These results indicate that very high performance photodiodes can be realized with strained layers.

Das, Utpal↗

Performance characteristics of a laser initiated microdetonator

The test results of 320 units of a laser initiated microdetonator are summarized. The commercially fabricated units used a lead styphnate/lead azide/HMX (1 mg/13.5 mg) explosive train design contained in a miniature aluminum can that was capped with a glass-metal seal window. The test parameters were the laser energy, temperature, laser pulse duration, laser wavelength and nuclear radiation (5,000,000 rad of 1 MeV gamma rays). The performance parameters were the laser energy for ignition and the actuation response time.

Yang, L. C.↗

A parametric analysis of performance characteristics of satellite-borne multiple-beam antennas

An analytical and empirical model is presented for parametric study of multiple beam antenna frequency reuse capacity and interbeam isolation. Two types of reflector antennas, the axisymmetric parabolic and the offset-parabolic reflectors, are utilized to demonstrate the model. The parameters of the model are introduced and their limitations are discussed in the context of parabolic reflector antennas. The model, however, is not restricted to analysis of reflector antenna performance. Results of the analyses are covered in two tables. The model parameters, objectives, and descriptions are given, multiple-beam antenna frequency reuse capacity and interbeam isolation analysis of the two types of reflectors are discussed as well as future developments of the program model.

Salmasi, A. B.↗

Performance characteristics of a one-third-scale, vectorable ventral nozzle for SSTOVL aircraft

Several proposed configurations for supersonic short takeoff, vertical landing aircraft will require one or more ventral nozzles for lift and pitch control. The swivel nozzle is one possible ventral nozzle configuration. A swivel nozzle (approximately one-third scale) was built and tested on a generic model tailpipe. This nozzle was capable of vectoring the flow up to + or - 23 deg from the vertical position. Steady-state performance data were obtained at pressure ratios to 4.5, and pitot-pressure surveys of the nozzle exit plane were made. Two configurations were tested: the swivel nozzle with a square contour of the leading edge of the ventral duct inlet, and the same nozzle with a round leading edge contour. The swivel nozzle showed good performance overall, and the round-leading edge configuration showed an improvement in performance over the square-leading edge configuration.

Esker, Barbara S.↗

Performance characteristics of a one-third-scale, vectorable ventral nozzle for SSTOVL aircraft

Several proposed configurations for supersonic short takeoff, vertical landing aircraft will require one or more ventral nozzles for lift and pitch control. The swivel nozzle is one possible ventral nozzle configuration. A swivel nozzle (approximately one-third scale) was built and tested on a generic model tailpipe. This nozzle was capable of vectoring the flow up to + or - 23 deg from the vertical position. Steady-state performance data were obtained at pressure ratios to 4.5, and pitot-pressure surveys of the nozzle exit plane were made. Two configurations were tested: the swivel nozzle with a square contour of the leading edge of the ventral duct inlet, and the same nozzle with a round leading edge contour. The swivel nozzle showed good performance overall, and the round-leading-edge configuration showed an improvement in performance over the square-leading-edge configuration.

Esker, Barbara S.↗

Performance characteristics and statistics of a laser initiated microdetonator

The test results of 320 units of the laser initiated microdetonator are summarized. The commercially fabricated units used a lead styphnate/lead azide/HMX (1 mg/17.5 mg/13.5 mg) explosive train design contained in a miniature aluminum can and completed with a glass-metal seal window. The test parameters were the high and low laser energy, high and low temperature, laser pulse duration, laser wavelength and nuclear radiation (5 x 10 to the 6th rads of 1 MeV gamma ray). The performance parameters were the laser energy for ignition and the actuation response time. Included also is a description of the development of a flexible, continuously advanced train of explosive devices by using the units, miniature optics and fiber optics.

Yang, L. C.↗

Performance characteristics of a model VTOL lift fan in crossflow.

This paper presents a summary of principal results obtained from crossflow tests of a model 15-in.-diam lift fan installed in a wing in the NASA Lewis Research Center, 9 by 15 ft V/STOL Propulsion Wind Tunnel. Tests were run with and without exit louvers over a range of tunnel air speeds, fan speeds, and wing angle of attack. Fan thrust in crossflow was influenced by two principal factors: the effects of inflow distortion on blade-row performance, and changes in fan stage operating point brought about by changes in back pressure ratio. In this particular fan, flow separation on the inlet bellmouth did not appear to be a serious problem for crossflow operation.

Lieblein, S.↗