Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “SPAN”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 199 records · Page 11

Computational wing optimization and comparisons with experiment for a semi-span wing model

A computational wing optimization procedure was developed and verified by an experimental investigation of a semi-span variable camber wing model in the NASA Ames Research Center 14 foot transonic wind tunnel. The Bailey-Ballhaus transonic potential flow analysis and Woodward-Carmichael linear theory codes were linked to Vanderplaats constrained minimization routine to optimize model configurations at several subsonic and transonic design points. The 35 deg swept wing is characterized by multi-segmented leading and trailing edge flaps whose hinge lines are swept relative to the leading and trailing edges of the wing. By varying deflection angles of the flap segments, camber and twist distribution can be optimized for different design conditions. Results indicate that numerical optimization can be both an effective and efficient design tool. The optimized configurations had as good or better lift to drag ratios at the design points as the best designs previously tested during an extensive parametric study.

Waggoner, E. G.↗

Design of a large span-distributed load flying-wing cargo airplane with laminar flow control

A design study was conducted to add laminar flow control to a previously design span-distributed load airplane while maintaining constant range and payload. With laminar flow control applied to 100 percent of the wing and vertical tail chords, the empty weight increased by 4.2 percent, the drag decreased by 27.4 percent, the required engine thrust decreased by 14.8 percent, and the fuel consumption decreased by 21.8 percent. When laminar flow control was applied to a lesser extent of the chord (approximately 80 percent), the empty weight increased by 3.4 percent, the drag decreased by 20.0 percent, the required engine thrust decreased by 13.0 percent, and the fuel consumption decreased by 16.2 percent. In both cases the required take-off gross weight of the aircraft was less than the original turbulent aircraft.

Lovell, W. A.↗

Computational wing optimization and wind tunnel test of semi-span model

A computational transonic wing design procedure has been developed and verified by a wind tunnel test of a variable camber semi-span wing model. The Bailey-Ballhaus transonic potential flow analysis code linked to Vanderplaat's constrained minimization routine was used to optimize test configurations at 0.9 Mach number. Based on wind tunnel test results, computationally optimized designs were as efficient as the best configurations determined by previous parametric testing and performed better at off-design points. Wind tunnel wing pressures agreed well with predictions from the improved Bailey-Ballhaus code at moderate CL's. Computational optimization was shown to be an effective transonic wing design tool.

Haney, H. P.↗

Effects of laminar flow control on the performance of a large span-distributed-load flying-wing cargo airplane concept

The effects of laminar flow control (LFC) on the performance of a large span-distributed-load flying-wing cargo airplane concept having a design payload of 2.669 MN and range of 5.93 Mm were determined. Two configurations were considered. One employed laminarized flow over the entire surfaces of the wing and vertical tails, with the exception of the estimated areas of interference due to the fuselage and engines. The other case differed only in that laminar flow was not applied to the flaps, elevons, spoilers, or rudders. The two cases are referred to as the 100 percent and 80 percent laminar configurations, respectively. The utilization of laminar flow control results in reductions in the standard day, sea level installed maximum static thrust per engine from 240 kN for the non-LFC configuration to 205 kN for the 100 percent laminar configuration and 209 kN for the 80 percent case. Weight increases due to the LFC systems cause increases in the operating empty weights of approximately 3 to 4 percent. The design takeoff gross weights decrease approximately 3 to 5 percent. The FAR-25 takeoff field distances for the LFC configurations are greater by about 6 to 7 percent. Fuel efficiencies for the respective configurations are increased 33 percent and 23 percent.

Jernell, L. S.↗

Performance of two-stage fan with a first-stage rotor redesigned to account for the presence of a part-span damper

The NASA two-stage fan was tested with a redesigned first-stage rotor. The redesign included a new design approach to account for the presence of a part-span damper. At design speed the fan achieved a peak efficiency of 0.803, which is 1.9 percentage points higher than the original design. The peak efficiencies of the first stage and first rotor were 0.789 and 0.821, respectively. An improvement in efficiency of up to 5 percentage points in the damper region was achieved over the original large damper version. The stall margin, based on flow conditions at peak efficiency, was 10 percent at design speed.

Gorrell, W. T.↗

A design point correlation for losses due to part-span dampers on transonic rotors

The design-point losses caused by part-span dampers were correlated for 21 transonic axial-flow fan rotors that had tip speeds varying from 350 to 488 meters per second and design pressure ratios of 1.5 to 2.0. The additional loss attributable to the damper and the total region along the blade height influenced were correlated with selected aerodynamic and geometric parameters. The maximum damper loss correlated well with the mean inlet Mach number at the damper location, the geometric parameters of leading- and trailing-edge damper radius normalized by mean passage height and damper aerodynamic chord, respectively, and the aerodynamic loading parameter of the blade camber divided by the solidity at the damper location. The region of damper influence extended over a mean passage height of the order of 10 to 15 times the maximum damper thickness.

Roberts, W. B.↗

An off-design correlation of part span damper losses through transonic axial fan rotors

The experimental performance of 10 transonic fan rotors was used to correlate losses caused by midchord part-span dampers (PSD) during off-design operation between 50 and 100 percent of design speed. The design tip speed for the rotors used varied from 419 to 425 m/s and the design pressure ratios from 1.6 to 2.0. The loss attributable to the damper and the region influenced along the blade height was correlated with relevant aerodynamic and geometric parameters. The losses at the design point were estimated by a previously reported correlation (Roberts, 1978). Using this as a base, the off-design losses were correlated with variation in blade suction surface incidence. A check with independent data showed that the prediction of damper losses and region of influence was fair to good for most of the off-design data examined.

Roberts, W. B.↗

Off-design correlation for losses due to part-span dampers on transonic rotors

Experimental data from 10 transonic fan rotors were used to correlate losses created by part-span dampers located near the midchord position on the rotor blades. The design tip speed of these rotors varied from 419 to 425 m/sec, and the design pressure ratio varied from 1.6 to 2.0. Additional loss caused by the dampers for operating conditions between 50 and 100 percent of design speed were correlated with relevant aerodynamic and geometric parameters. The resulting correlation predicts the variation of total-pressure-loss coefficient in the damper region to a good approximation.

Roberts, W. B.↗

Effect of a part-span variable inlet guide vane on the performance of a high-bypass turbofan engine

The ability of a part span variable inlet guide vane (VIGV) to modulate the thrust of a high bypass turbofan engine was evaluated at altitude/Mach number conditions of 4572 m/0.6 and 9144 m/0.93. Fan tip, gas generator and supercharger performance were also determined, both on operating lines and during fan duct throttling. The evaluation was repeated with the bypass splitter extended forward to near the fan blade trailing edge. Gross thrust attentuation of over 50 percent was achieved with 50 degree VIGV closure at 100 percent corrected fan speed. Gas generator supercharger performance fell off with VIGV closure, but this loss was reduced when a splitter extension was added. The effect of VIVG closure on gas generator performance was minimal.

Bobula, G. A.↗

Effect of a part-span variable inlet guide vane on the performance of a high-bypass turbofan engine

The ability of a part-span variable inlet guide vane to modulate the thrust of a high bypass turbofan engine was evaluated at altitude/Mach number conditions of 4572 m/0.6 and 9144 m/0.93. Fan-tip, gas generator and supercharger performance were also determined, both on operating lines and during fan duct throttling. The evaluation was repeated with the bypass splitter extended forward to near the fan blade trailing edge. Gross thrust attenuation of over 50% was achieved with 50 deg variable inlet guide vane closure at 100% corrected fan speed. Gas generator supercharger performance fell off with variable inlet guide vane closure but this loss was reduced when a splitter extension was added. The effect of variable inlet guide vane closure on gas generator performance was minimal.

Bobula, G. A.↗

Effect of Ice Formations on Section Drag of Swept NACA 63A-009 Airfoil with Partial-Span Leading-Edge Slat for Various Modes of Thermal Ice Protection

The effects of primary and runback ice formations on the section drag of a 36 deg swept NACA 63A-009 airfoil section with a partial-span leading-edge slat were studied over a range of angles of attack from 2 to 8 deg and airspeeds up to 260 miles per hour for icing conditions with liquid-water contents ranging from 0.39 to 1.23 grams per cubic meter and datum air temperatures from 10 to 25 F. The results with slat retracted showed that glaze-ice formations caused large and rapid increases in section drag coefficient and that the rate of change in section drag coefficient for the swept 63A-009 airfoil was about 2-1 times that for an unswept 651-212 airfoil. Removal of the primary ice formations by cyclic de-icing caused the drag to return almost to the bare-airfoil drag value. A comprehensive study of the slat icing and de-icing characteristics was prevented by limitations of the heating system and wake interference caused by the slat tracks and hot-gas supply duct to the slat. In general, the studies showed that icing on a thin swept airfoil will result in more detrimental aerodynamic characteristics than on a thick unswept airfoil.

VonGlahn, Uwe H.↗

Effect of a part span variable inlet guide vane on TF34 fan performance

Experimental aerodynamic and performance data were obtained from a TF34 engine. Part span variable inlet guide vanes mounted in front of the fan on the TF34 engine were tested to demonstrate the feasibility of modulating air flow and thrust for vertical takeoff aircraft systems. The fan was mapped to stall for a range of speeds and variable inlet guide were settings. Modulated fan tip performance and unmodulated hub performance were evaluated with a without an extended fan bypass splitter. The effect of a crosswind distortion screen on performance was also evaluated.

Alvarez, J.↗

Spanwise loading distribution and wake velocity surveys of a semi-span wing

The spanwise distribution of bound circulation on a semi-span wing and the flow velocities in its wake were measured in a wind tunnel. Particular attention was given to documenting the flow velocities in and around the development tip vortex. A two-component laser velocimeter was used to make the velocity measurements. The spanwise distribution of bound circulation, three components of the time-averaged velocities throughout the near wake their standard deviations, and the integrated forces and moments on a metric tip as measured by an internal strain gage balance are presented without discussion.

Felker, F. F., III↗

An implicit solution of the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations for an airfoil spanning a wind tunnel

An implicit finite-difference algorithm is developed for the numerical solution of the incompressible three dimensional Navier-Stokes equations in the non-conservative primitive-variable formulation. The flow field about an airfoil spanning a wind-tunnel is computed. The coordinate system is generated by an extension of the two dimensional body-fitted coordinate generation techniques of Thompson, as well as that of Sorenson, into three dimensions. Two dimensional grids are stacked along a spanwise coordinate defined by a simple analytical function. A Poisson pressure equation for advancing the pressure in time is arrived at by performing a divergence operation on the momentum equations. The pressure at each time-step is calculated on the assumption that continuity be unconditionally satisfied. An eddy viscosity coefficient, computed according to the algebraic turbulence formulation of Baldwin and Lomax, simulates the effects of turbulence.

Moitra, A.↗

An experimental study of the flow in a wing with a partial span drooped leading edge

The flow field produced by a low aspect ratio wing (AR = 3.0) with a partial span leading edge droop was investigated in a series of low speed wind tunnel tests (Reynolds number based on 17.8 cm chord = 560,000). Photographs were obtained of surface oil flow patterns over an angle of attack range of alpha = 0 to 29 deg. Flow field surveys of the partially stalled wing at alpha = 25 deg were completed using a hot-wire probe, a split-film probe and a Conrad probe. The flow field survey data was presented using a color video display. The data indicated regions of apparent reversed flow in the separation region behind the wing and indicated the general cross-sectional shape of the separated wake flow.

Winkelmann, A. E.↗

Noise generation by a finite span swept airfoil

An analysis is developed for the noise generated by a convected gust interacting with a single swept airfoil. The airfoil spans a channel with infinite parallel walls which contains a uniform subsonic mean flow. High frequency gusts, for which the noise generation is concentrated at the airfoil leading edge, are considered. The solution utilizes the Wiener-Hopf technique applied to the equations in nonorthogonal coordinates. Closed form expressions for the farfield acoustic pressure are obtained. The convected gust is assumed to be a plane wave, i.e., the lowest order spanwise mode. Because of the swept leading edge, this convected gust generates acoustic modes of all orders. At high frequencies and low Mach numbers, moderate sweep angles produce substantial noise reductions. The residual acoustic energy is carried mainly by the higher modes. The airfoil sweep also modulates the basic high frequency farfield directivity, producing lobed patterns. The angular modulation of the directivity patterns is most pronounced for the lower order modes.

Kerschen, E. J.↗

Energetics and optimum motion of oscillating lifting surfaces of finite span

In certain modes of animal propulsion in nature, such as bird flight and fish swimming, the efficiency compared to man-made vehicles is very high. In such cases, wing and tail motions are typically associated with relatively high Reynolds numbers, where viscous effects are confined to a thin boundary layer at the surface and a thin trailing wake. The propulsive forces, which are generated primarily by the inertial forces, can be calculated from potential-flow theory using linearized unsteady-wing theory (for small-amplitude oscillations). In the present study, a recently developed linearized, low-frequency, unsteady lifting-line theory is employed to calculate the (sectional and total) energetic quantities and optimum motion of an oscillating wing of finite span.

Ahmadi, A. R.↗

Unsteady transonic flow simulation on a full-span-wing-body configuration

The presence of a body influences both the aerodynamic and aeroelastic performance of wings. Such effects are more pronounced in the transonic regime. To accurately account for the effect of the body, particularly when the wings are experiencing asymmetric modal motions, it is necessary to model the full configuration in the nonlinear transonic regime. In this study, full-span-wing-body configurations are simulated for the first time by a theoretical method that uses the unsteady potential equations based on the small-disturbance theory. The body geometry is modeled exactly as the physical shape, instead of as a rectangular box, which has been done in the past. Steady pressure computations for wing-body configurations compare well with the available experimental data. Unsteady pressure computations when the wings are oscillating in asymmetric modes show significant influence of the body.

Guruswamy, Guru P.↗