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At least 199 records · Page 11

Second-order small-disturbance solutions for hypersonic flow over power-law bodies

Similarity solutions were found which give the adiabatic flow of an ideal gas about two-dimensional and axisymmetric power-law bodies at infinite Mach number to second order in the body slenderness parameter. The flow variables were expressed as a sum of zero-order and perturbation similarity functions for which the axial variations in the flow equations separated out. The resulting similarity equations were integrated numerically. The solutions, which are universal functions, are presented in graphic and tabular form. To avoid a singularity in the calculations, the results are limited to body power-law exponents greater than about 0.85 for the two-dimensional case and 0.75 for the axisymmetric case. Because of the entropy layer induced by the nose bluntness (for power-law bodies other than cones and wedges), only the pressure function is valid at the body surface. The similarity results give excellent agreement with the exact solutions for inviscid flow over wedges and cones having half-angles up to about 20 deg. They give good agreement with experimental shock-wave shapes and surface-pressure distributions for 3/4-power axisymmetric bodies, considering that Mach number and boundary-layer displacement effects are not included in the theory.

Townsend, J. C.↗

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Air Radiation in Superorbital Expanding Flow

To investigate air radiation in expanding flows and provide experimental data for validating associated computational models, experiments were conducted in the X2 expansion tunnel facility at the Centre for Hypersonics of the University of Queensland. A 54 turning angle wedge model was employed to generate steady expanding flows with in flow total enthalpies of 50.7, 63.4 and 75.4 MJkg. VUV spectra from 118 to 180 nm were acquired across the wedge at three equispaced distances away from the top of the model, as well as through its top surface. High speed filtered images were also obtained by coupling a Shimadzu 1 MHz high speed camera to a bandpass filter to obtain calibrated images of the 777 nm oxygen triplet. Both the across-wedge VUV spectra and filtered images of the 777 nm atomic oxygen were compared with NEQAIR simulations, which were performed using flow field data from two-dimensional CFD simulations with two-temperature 11-species air chemistry utilizing the in-house Navier-Stokes flow solver Eilmer3. Data extracted from consecutive frames of the filtered high speed images confirmed up to 8 s of available test time for the flow conditions tested. For the strongly radiating 149 and 174 nm atomic nitrogen lines, large disagreement between experimental data and NEQAIR predictions can be observed from the start of the expansion fan where the electron-ion recombination process commences. The spatial extent, or spans of the radiance profiles of the 149 and 174 nm N lines are significantly under predicted by NEQAIR, and are very close to those of N, N+ and electron number density profiles, which follow that of flow density. The electron-ion recombination process is proposed as the main reason for these discrepancies. The comparisons between NEQAIR simulations and filtered images of the 777 nm oxygen triplet show good agreement in the post-shock compression region and the start of the expansion fan for the 63.4 MJkg condition, but with up to a factor of three over prediction by NEQAIR further downstream, which is attributed to electron-impact excitation. Similar trends are found with the 75.4 MJkg condition, with reduced level of agreement in the compression region, which can be due to uncertainties in inflow condition.

Earth entry↗

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Air Radiation in Superorbital Expanding Flow

To investigate air radiation in expanding flows and provide experimental data for validating associated computational models, experiments were conducted in the X2 expansion tunnel facility at the Centre for Hypersonics of the University of Queensland. A 54deg turning angle wedge model was employed to generate steady expanding flows with in flow total enthalpies of 50.7, 63.4 and 75.4 MJ/kg. VUV spectra from 118 to 180 nm were acquired across the wedge at three equispaced distances away from the top of the model, as well as through its top surface. High speed filtered images were also obtained by coupling a Shimadzu 1 MHz high speed camera to a bandpass filter to obtain calibrated images of the 777 nm oxygen triplet. Both the across-wedge VUV spectra and filtered images of the 777 nm atomic oxygen were compared with NEQAIR simulations, which were performed using flow field data from two-dimensional CFD simulations with two-temperature 11-species air chemistry utilising the in-house Navier-Stokes flow solver Eilmer3. Data extracted from consecutive frames of the filtered high speed images confirmed up to 8 s of available test time for the flow conditions tested. For the strongly radiating 149 and 174 nm atomic nitrogen lines, large disagreement between experimental data and NEQAIR predictions can be observed from the start of the expansion fan where the electron-ion recombination process commences. The spatial extent, or spans of the radiance profiles of the 149 and 174 nm N lines are significantly underpredicted by NEQAIR, and are very close to those of N, N+ and electron number density profiles, which follow that of flow density. The electron-ion recombination process is proposed as the main reason for these discrepancies. The comparisons between NEQAIR simulations and filtered images of the 777 nm oxygen triplet show good agreement in the post-shock compression region and the start of the expansion fan for the 63.4 MJ/kg condition, but with up to a factor of three overprediction by NEQAIR further downstream, which is attributed to electron-impact excitation. Similar trends are found with the 75.4 MJ/kg condition, with reduced level of agreement in the compression region, which can be due to uncertainties in inflow condition.

expansion tube↗

Evaluation of a wedge gas-sampling probe

The performances of a wedge-type gas-sampling probe and pitot probes are compared in applications to flowfield profile studies. The flow structure data obtained by these techniques are found to agree well in flow regions with and without significant gradients. The wedge-type probe showed a good service life and allowed a substantial reduction of the sampling time. The wedge probe design is discussed.

Beach, H. L., Jr.↗

A new PNS code for chemical nonequilibrium flows

A new parabolized Navier-Stokes (PNS) code has been developed to compute the hypersonic laminar flow of a multicomponent, chemically reacting mixture of thermally perfect gases over two-dimensional and axisymmetric bodies. The new PNS code solves the gas dynamic and species conservation equations in a coupled manner using a noniterative, implicit, space-marching finite-difference method. The conditions for well-posedness of the space-marching method have been derived from an eigenvalue analysis of the governing equations. The code has been used to compute hypersonic laminar flow of chemically reacting air over wedges and cones. The results of these computations are in good agreement with the results of reacting boundary-layer calculations.

Prabhu, D. K.↗

Distribution of wave drag and lift in the vicinity of wing tips at supersonic speeds

The point-source-distribution method of calculating the aerodynamic coefficients of thin wings at supersonic speeds was extended to include the effect of the region between the wing boundary and the foremost Mach wave from the wing leading edge. The effect of this region on the surface velocity potential has been determined by an equivalent function, which is evaluated over a portion of the wing surface. In this manner, the effect of angles of attack and yaw as well as the asymmetry of top and bottom wing surfaces may be calculated. As examples of the method, the pressure distribution on a thin plate wing of rectangular plan form as well as the lift and the drag coefficients as a function of Mach number, angle of attack, and aspect ratio are calculated. The equations for the surface velocity potential of several other plan forms are also included. (author)

AIRFOILS, FLAT-PLATE↗

Two-Dimensional Inlet Simulation Using a Diagonal Implicit Algorithm

A modification of an implicit approximate-factorization finite-difference algorithm applied to the two-dimensional Euler and Navier-Stokes equations in general curvilinear coordinates is presented for supersonic freestream flow about and through inlets. The modification transforms the coupled system of equations Into an uncoupled diagonal form which requires less computation work. For steady-state applications the resulting diagonal algorithm retains the stability and accuracy characteristics of the original algorithm. Solutions are given for inviscid and laminar flow about a two-dimensional wedge inlet configuration. Comparisons are made between computed results and exact theory.

Chaussee, D.S.↗

Equations for Adiabatic but Rotational Steady Gas Flows without Friction

This paper makes the following assumptions: 1) The flowing gases are assumed to have uniform energy distribution. ("Isoenergetic gas flows," that is valid with the same constants for the the energy equation entire flow.) This is correct, for example, for gas flows issuing from a region of constant pressure, density, temperature, end velocity. This property is not destroyed by compression shocks because of the universal validity of the energy law. 2) The gas behaves adiabatically, not during the compression shock itself but both before and after the shock. However, the adiabatic equation (p/rho(sup kappa) = C) is not valid for the entire gas flow with the same constant C but rather with an appropriate individual constant for each portion of the gas. For steady flows, this means that the constant C of the adiabatic equation is a function of the stream function. Consequently, a gas that has been flowing "isentropically",that is, with the same constant C of the adiabatic equation throughout (for example, in origination from a region of constant density, temperature, and velocity) no longer remains isentropic after a compression shock if the compression shock is not extremely simple (wedge shaped in a two-dimensional flow or cone shaped in a rotationally symmetrical flow). The solution of nonisentropic flows is therefore an urgent necessity.

Schaefer, Manfred↗

Scaling in a scramjet combustor

Studies of scramjet combustor scaling have been extended to include testing of a 'small' combustor, thereby allowing comparison with results obtained in a 'large' combustor of nearly identical configuration. The scale of the two combustors varied by a factor of 5. It was anticipated that the combustion process would scale as the product of pressure with length if the temperature, the Mach number, the velocity, the free stream composition and the equivalence ratio were the same. To achieve this while allowing for the necessary difference in pressure the two models were tested with different shock tunnel nozzles. The large was tested in a M = 8 nozzle, with an intake consisting of a pair of opposing wedges preceding the model, which produced shocks to reduce the Mach number to approximately 3.4 before the flow entered the model inlet. It was then expanded to raise the Mach number again. The small model was tested in a M = 4 nozzle, with the nozzle flow passing directly to the inlet of the model. The wedge intake for the large model was adjusted to yield similar combustion chamber Mach number for both models. Then, by matching the stagnation enthalpy, it was possible also to match the temperature and the velocity. The free stream composition was matched by operating at the same nozzle supply pressure. Wall pressure distributions were measured along each of the ducts. The pressure is normalized with respect to the pressure measured at the point opposite to the injector exit, and the distance downstream of the exit is normalized with respect to the height of the duct. It can be seen that, when normalized in this manner, both ducts produce quantitatively similar pressure distributions, confirming the initial hypothesis that the combustion process would scale as the product of pressure with length.

Pulsonetti, M. V.↗

Deployable Aeroshell Flexible Thermal Protection System Testing

Deployable aeroshells offer the promise of achieving larger aeroshell surface areas for entry vehicles than otherwise attainable without deployment. With the larger surface area comes the ability to decelerate high-mass entry vehicles at relatively low ballistic coefficients. However, for an aeroshell to perform even at the low ballistic coefficients attainable with deployable aeroshells, a flexible thermal protection system (TPS) is required that is capable of surviving reasonably high heat flux and durable enough to survive the rigors of construction handling, high density packing, deployment, aerodynamic loading and aerothermal heating. The Program for the Advancement of Inflatable Decelerators for Atmospheric Entry (PAIDAE) is tasked with developing the technologies required to increase the technology readiness level (TRL) of inflatable deployable aeroshells, and one of several of the technologies PAIDAE is developing for use on inflatable aeroshells is flexible TPS. Several flexible TPS layups were designed, based on commercially available materials, and tested in NASA Langley Research Center's 8 Foot High Temperature Tunnel (8ft HTT). The TPS layups were designed for, and tested at three different conditions that are representative of conditions seen in entry simulation analyses of inflatable aeroshell concepts. Two conditions were produced in a single run with a sting-mounted dual wedge test fixture. The dual wedge test fixture had one row of sample mounting locations (forward) at about half the running length of the top surface of the wedge. At about two thirds of the running length of the wedge, a second test surface drafted up at five degrees relative to the first test surface established the remaining running length of the wedge test fixture. A second row of sample mounting locations (aft) was positioned in the middle of the running length of the second test surface. Once the desired flow conditions were established in the test section the dual wedge test fixture, oriented at 5 degrees angle of attack down, was injected into the flow. In this configuration the aft sample mounting location was subjected to roughly twice the heat flux and surface pressure of the forward mounting location. The tunnel was run at two different conditions for the test series: 1) 'Low Pressure', and 2) 'High Pressure'. At 'Low Pressure' conditions the TPS layups were tested at 6W/cm2 and 11W/cm2 while at 'High Pressure' conditions the TPS layups were tested at 11W/cm2 and 20W/cm2. This paper details the test configuration of the TPS samples in the 8Ft HTT, the sample holder assembly, TPS sample layup construction, sample instrumentation, results from this testing, as well as lessons learned.

Hughes, Stephen J.↗

Numerical analysis of a scramjet inlet flow field using the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations

A computer program has been developed to analyze supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) inlet flow fields. The program solves the three-dimensional Euler or Navier-Stokes equations in full conservation form by a well-known explicit, predictor-corrector technique. Turbulence is modeled by an algebraic eddy-viscosity model. Detailed laminar and turbulent flow results are presented for a symmetric wedge corner and a comparison is made with the available experimental results to allow assessment of the program. Results are then presented for an actual scramjet inlet configuration.

Kumar, A.↗

Vectorization of a Monte Carlo simulation scheme for nonequilibrium gas dynamics

Significant improvement has been obtained in the numerical performance of a Monte Carlo scheme for the analysis of nonequilibrium gas dynamics through an implementation of the algorithm which takes advantage of vector hardware, as presently demonstrated through application to three different problems. These are (1) a 1D standing-shock wave; (2) the flow of an expanding gas through an axisymmetric nozzle; and (3) the hypersonic flow of Ar gas over a 3D wedge. Problem (3) is illustrative of the greatly increased number of molecules which the simulation may involve, thanks to improved algorithm performance.

Boyd, Iain D.↗

Distribution of resistive body-force in curved free-surface flow

The customary procedure for including resistive effects in turbulent hydraulic and stratified atmospheric flows is to integrate the empirically-known boundary shears over the entire wetted boundary of a thin fluid slab. A resistive body-force is then assumed to exist everywhere in each slab to replace the boundary shearing force. For the classical Saint-Venant (1871) model, this body-force can be shown to have a constant distribution in the vertical direction, and therefore can be evaluated for use in the momentum differential equation. In the newer Dressler theory (1978), however, for unsteady flow over curved beds, it is proved here that a constant body-force distribution is not possible. Its variable distribution is determined as well as its magnitude for use in the curved-flow equations. This variable distribution acts to produce an equal resultant in every thin layer of fluid parallel to the bed in an angular wedge over the curved channel bed. The new curved-flow equations are therefore extended to include resistive effects.

Sivakumaran, N. S.↗

An assessment of preliminary aerodynamic analysis methods for supersonic speeds including high angle-of-attack flow

The problems associated with predicting the aerodynamic loads for moderate supersonic Mach number, high angle-of-attack flows and for high supersonic Mach number flows are addressed. For these large disturbance-type flows, commonly used prediction methods based on linearized theory or on the tangent-wedge method are shown to be generally inadequate. For the preliminary analysis of aerodynamic shapes subjected to these type flows, two methods have recently been developed by combining features of the linearized theory and tangent-wedge method. These two new methods are discussed, and through extensive comparisons with experimental data, are shown to offer an improved prediction capability.

Pittman, J. L.↗