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At least 235 records · Page 13

A Buffet Investigation at High Subsonic Speeds of Wing-Fuselage-Tail Combinations having Sweptback Wings with NACA Four-Digit Thickness Distributions, Fences, and Body Contouring

An investigation has been made to determine the effect of wing fences, fuselage contouring, varying wing sweepback angle from 40 deg. to 45 deg., mounting the horizontal tail on an outboard boom) and wing thickness distribution upon the buffeting response of typical airplane configurations employing sweptback wings of high aspect ratio. The tests were conducted through an angle-of-attack range at Mach numbers varying from 0.60 to 0.92 at a Reynolds number of 2 million. For the combinations with 40 deg. of sweepback, the addition of multiple wing fences usually decreased the buffeting at moderate and high lift coefficients and reduced the erratic variation of buffet intensities with increasing lift coefficient and Mach number. Fuselage contouring also reduced buffeting but was not as effective as the wing fences. At most Mach numbers, buffeting occurred at higher lift coefficients for the combination with the NACA 64A thickness distributions than for the combination with the NACA four-digit thickness distributions. At high subsonic speeds, heavy buffeting was usually indicated at lift coefficients which were lower than the lift coefficients for static-longitudinal instability. The addition of wing fences improved the pitching-moment characteristics but had little effect on the onset of buffeting. For most test conditions and model configurations, the root-mean- square and the maximum values measured for relative buffeting indicated similar effects and trends; however, the maximum buffeting loads were usually two to three times the root-mean-square intensities.

Sutton, Fred B.↗

Aerodynamic Design of the Hybrid Wing Body Propulsion-Airframe Integration

A hybrid wingbody (HWB) concept is being considered by NASA as a potential subsonic transport aircraft that meets aerodynamic, fuel, emission, and noise goals in the time frame of the 2030s. While the concept promises advantages over conventional wing-and-tube aircraft, it poses unknowns and risks, thus requiring in-depth and broad assessments. Specifically, the configuration entails a tight integration of the airframe and propulsion geometries; the aerodynamic impact has to be carefully evaluated. With the propulsion nacelle installed on the (upper) body, the lift and drag are affected by the mutual interference effects between the airframe and nacelle. The static margin for longitudinal stability is also adversely changed. We develop a design approach in which the integrated geometry of airframe (HWB) and propulsion is accounted for simultaneously in a simple algebraic manner, via parameterization of the planform and airfoils at control sections of the wingbody. In this paper, we present the design of a 300-passenger transport that employs distributed electric fans for propulsion. The trim for stability is achieved through the use of the wingtip twist angle. The geometric shape variables are determined through the adjoint optimization method by minimizing the drag while subject to lift, pitch moment, and geometry constraints. The design results clearly show the influence on the aerodynamic characteristics of the installed nacelle and trimming for stability. A drag minimization with the trim constraint yields a reduction of 10 counts in the drag coefficient.

hybrid wing↗

Stability and control characteristics of an airplane model having a 45.1 degree swept-back wing with aspect ratio 2.50 and taper ratio 0.42 and a 42.8 degree swept-back horizontal tail with aspect ratio 3.87 and taper ratio 0.49

Tests were made of an airplane model having a 45.1 degree swept-back wing with aspect ratio 2.50 and taper ratio 0.42 and a 42.8 degree swept-back horizontal tail with aspect ratio 3.87 and taper ratio 0.49 to determine its low-speed stability and control characteristics. The test Reynolds number was 2.87 x 10(6) based on a mean aerodynamic chord of 2.47 feet except for some of the aileron tests which were made at a Reynolds number of 2.05 x 10(6). With the horizontal tail located near the fuselage juncture on the vertical tail, model results indicated static longitudinal instability above a lift coefficient that was 0.15 below the lift coefficient at which stall occurred. Static longitudinal stability, however, was manifested throughout the life range with the horizontal tail located near the top of the vertical tail. The use of 10 degrees negative dihedral on the wing had little effect on the static longitudinal stability characteristics. Preliminary tests of the complete model revealed an undesirable flat spot in the yawing-moment curves at low angles of attack, the directional stability being neutral for yaw angles of plus-or-minus 2 degrees. This undesirable characteristic was improved by replacing the thick original vertical tail with a thin vertical tail and by flattening the top of the dorsal fairing.

Schuldenfrei, Marvin↗

Analytical Investigation of a Flicker-Type Roll Control for a Mach Number 6 Missile with Aerodynamic Controls Over An Altitude Range of 82,000 to 282,000 feet

An analytical investigation has been carried out to determine the responses of a flicker-type roll control incorporated in a missile which traverses a range of Mach number of 6.3 at an altitude of 82,000 feet to 5.26 at an altitude of 282,000 feet. The missile has 80 deg delta wings in a cruciform arrangement with aerodynamic controls attached to the fuselage near the wing trailing edge and indexed 450 to the wings. Most of the investigation was carried out on an analog computer. Results showed that roll stabilization that may be adequate for many cases can be obtained over the altitude range considered, providing that the rate factor can be changed with altitude. The response would be improved if the control deflection were made larger at the higher altitudes. lag times less than 0.04 second improve the response appreciably. Asymmetries that produce steady rolling moments can be very detrimental to the response in some cases. The wing damping made a negligible contribution to the response.

Lundstrom, Reginald R.↗

Aerodynamic Load Measurements and Opening Characteristics of Automatic Leading Edge Slats on a 45 deg Sweptback Wing at Transonic Speeds

Measurements of the normal force and chord force were made on the slats of a sting-mounted wing-fuselage model through a Mach number range of 0.60 to 1.03 and at angles of attack from 0 to 20 deg at subsonic speeds and from 0 to 8 deg at Mach number 1.03. The 20-percent-chord tapered leading-edge slats extended from 25 to 95 percent of the semispan and consisted of five segments. The model wing had 45 deg sweep, an aspect ratio of 3.56, a taper ratio of 0.3, and NACA 64(06)AO07 airfoil sections. Slat forces and moments were determined for the slats in the almost-closed and open positions for spanwise extents of 35 to 95 percent and 46 to 95 percent of the semispan. The results of the investigation showed little change in the slat maximum force and moment coefficients with Mach number. The coefficients for the open and almost-closed slat positions had similar variations with angle of attack. The loads on the individual slat segments were found to increase toward the tip for moderate angles of attack and decrease toward the tip for high angles of attack. An analysis of the opening and closing characteristics of aerodynamically operated slats opening on a circular-arc path is included.

Arabian, Donald D.↗

Development of Semi-Span Model Test Techniques

A computational investigation was performed to support the development of a semispan model test capability in the NASA Langley Research Center's National Transonic Facility. This capability is desirable for the testing of advanced subsonic transport aircraft at full-scale Reynolds numbers. A state-of-the-art three-dimensional Navier-Stokes solver was used to examine methods to improve the flow over a semi-span configuration. First, a parametric study is conducted to examine the influence of the stand-off height on the flow over the semispan model. It is found that decreasing the stand-off height, below the maximum fuselage radius, improves the aerodynamic characteristics of the semi-span model. Next, active sidewall boundary layer control techniques are examined. Juncture region blowing jets, upstream tangential blowing, and sidewall suction are found to improve the flow over the aft portion of the semispan model. Both upstream blowing and suction are found to reduce the sidewall boundary layer separation. The resulting near surface streamline patterns are improved, and found to be quite similar to the full-span results. Both techniques however adversely affect the pitching moment coefficient.

Milholen, William E., II↗

Subsonic aerodynamic characteristics of a circular body earth-to-orbit transport

To reduce the weight and improve the performance of future earth-to-orbit transports, the use of circular cross sections in the fuselage bodies of these vehicles is being considered at the Langley Research Center. Structurally, circular cross sections are stronger and lighter than other shapes. A study has been made applying the circular body concept to a vertical-takeoff, delta-winged, single-stage-to-orbit transport. A 52 in., 0.022-scale model of the circular body vehicle was tested at a Mach number of 0.3 in the 7 x 10 ft High Speed Wind Tunnel at the Langley Research Center to obtain aerodynamic forces and moments. Oil-flow photographs were taken at several angles of attack to aid in the aerodynamic analysis. Model control surfaces included elevons and ailerons for the evaluation of pitch and roll characteristics and either wing-tip fins, a nose mounted dorsal fin, or a conventional vertical tail for the evaluation of yaw characteristics. Other deflecting surfaces included speedbrakes and body flaps. Basic data on longitudinal flight characteristics are shown, including lift, drag, and pitching moments. Comparisons of the directional stability and control effectiveness of the three directional control devices are also shown.

Lepsch, R. A., Jr.↗

Low-Subsonic Static Stability and Damping Derivatives at Angles of Attack From 0 deg to 90 deg for a Model with a Low-Aspect-Ratio Unswept Wing and Two Different Fuselage Forebodies

An investigation has been made in the Langley free-flight tunnel at low-subsonic speed to determine the static stability, control effectiveness, and damping in roll and yaw of a model with a low-aspect-ratio unswept wing and two different fuselage forebodies at angles of attack from 0 deg to 90 deg. Results were obtained with a fuselage configuration having a long pointed nose and a shorter rounded nose. Although the wing stalled at an angle of attack of about 12 deg, maximum lift did not occur until an angle of attack of about 40 deg or 50 deg was obtained. The static longitudinal stability of the model having a short rounded nose was greater than that of the model having a longer pointed nose over the entire angle-of-attack range. The pointed-nose model had large out-of-trim yawing moments above an angle of attack of about 40 deg. Shortening and rounding the nose of the model delayed these out-of-trim yawing moments to slightly higher angles of attack. Both models were directionally unstable above an angle of attack of about 20 deg, but both had positive effective dihedral over virtually the entire angle-of-attack range. At the higher angles of attack the pointed-nose model had generally better damping in roll than that of the rounded-nose model. Both models had very high damping in yaw at an angle of attack of about 50 deg or 60 deg.

Boisseau, Peter C.↗

Development of Semi-Span Model Test Techniques

A computational investigation was performed to support the development of a semi-span model test capability in the NASA Langley Research Center's National Transonic Facility. This capability is desirable for the testing of advanced subsonic transport aircraft at full-scale Reynolds numbers. A state-of-the-art three-dimensional Navier-Stokes solver was used to examine methods to improve the flow over a semi-span configuration. First, a parametric study is conducted to examine the influence of the stand-off height on the flow over the semi-span model. It is found that decreasing the stand-off height, below the maximum fuselage radius, improves the aerodynamic characteristics of the semi-span model. Next, active sidewall boundary layer control techniques are examined. Juncture region blowing jets, upstream tangential blowing, and sidewall suction are found to improve the flow over the aft portion of the semi-span model. Both upstream blowing and suction are found to reduce the sidewall boundary layer separation. The resulting near surface streamline patterns are improved, and found to be quite similar to the full-span results. Both techniques however adversely affect the pitching moment coefficient.

Pulnam, L. Elwood↗

Aerodynamic Characteristics at Low Speed of a Reentry Configuration Having Rigid Retractable Conical Lifting Surfaces

An exploratory investigation has been made in the Langley 300 MPH 7 by 10 foot tunnel to study the low-speed static longitudinal and lateral stability characteristics of a reentry configuration having rigid retractable conical lifting surfaces that unfolded from the surface of a conical fuselage. The model also had curved tail surfaces that unfolded from a cylindrical aft section attached to the cone. Longitudinal tests were made through an angle-of-attack range from -4 deg to 90 deg and limited lateral tests were made through an angle-of-sideslip range from -12 deg to 32 deg at an angle of attack of 0 deg. The tail surface provided longitudinal trim to maximum lift and beyond and up to an angle of attack of 51 deg for a center-of-moment location of 42.9 percent mean aerodynamic chord. For this center-of-moment position the model had a static margin of 12 percent mean aerodynamic chord at the lower lift coefficients and was longitudinally stable up to a lift coefficient between 1.0 and 1.2. Neutral stability occurred from lift coefficient of 1.0 up to near maximum lift coefficient. The maximum value of trimmed lift-drag ratio was 4.85 at a lift coefficient of approximately 0.3 and a trimmed angle of attack of approximately 10 deg. The configuration was directionally stable throughout the test angle of sideslip range for an angle of attack of 0 deg.

Fournier, Paul G.↗

Effect of leading- and trailing-edge flaps on clipped delta wings with and without wing camber at supersonic speeds

An experimental investigation of the aerodynamic characteristics of thin, moderately swept fighter wings has been conducted to evaluate the effect of camber and twist on the effectiveness of leading- and trailing-edge flaps at supersonic speeds in the Langley Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel. The study geometry consisted of a generic fuselage with camber typical of advanced fighter designs without inlets, canopy, or vertical tail. The model was tested with two wing configurations an uncambered (flat) wing and a cambered and twisted wing. Each wing had an identical clipped delta planform with an inboard leading edge swept back 65 deg and an outboard leading edge swept back 50 deg. The trailing edge was swept forward 25 deg. The leading-edge flaps were deflected 4 deg to 15 deg, and the trailing-edge flaps were deflected from -30 deg to 10 deg. Longitudinal force and moment data were obtained at Mach numbers of 1.60, 1.80, 2.00, and 2.16 for an angle-of-attack range 4 deg to 20 deg at a Reynolds number of 2.16 x 10(exp 6) per foot and for an angle-of-attack range 4 deg to 20 deg at a Reynolds number of 2.0 x 10(exp 6) per foot. Vapor screen, tuft, and oil flow visualization data are also included.

Hernandez, Gloria↗

Subsonic panel method for the efficient analysis of multiple geometry perturbations

An accurate and efficient method was developed for the aerodynamic analysis of a series of arbitrary small geometry perturbations to a given baseline configuration. The method is appropriate for wing-fuselage configurations in incompressible potential flow. Mathematical formulations are presented for three computer programs that are employed. The first program is a conventional surface panel method for calculating the baseline singularity distribution. The second program calculates a partial derivative matrix. Each element of the matrix is the rate of change of singularity strength at one point with respect to a surface coordinate of a different point. For each baseline configuration, the calculated quantities from the first two programs establish an input file for the third. The third program calculates the surface pressure distribution and forces and moments for a series of geometry perturbations.

Bristow, D. R.↗

Ground simulation and tunnel blockage for a jet-flapped, basic STOL model tested to very high lift coefficients

Ground effects experiments and large/small-tunnel interference studies were carried out on a model with a 20-inch (50.8 cm) span wing. The wing, which includes a highly deflected knee-blown flap can be fitted with unflapped tips and slats. A low-mounted tailplane can be fitted to the aft fuselage. Three-component balance meaurements, made with a fixed ground equipped with a single boundary-layer blowing slot, were compared with datum, moving-ground results. Good comparisons were obtained up to model blowing momentum coefficients of approximately two, after which the particular floor blowing settings used proved insufficient to prevent floor separation in the vicinity of the model. Skin friction measurements, taken routinely along the floor centerline, proved invaluable during the analysis of results, and their use is recommended as input to determination of floor BLC setting. A careful investigation was made of pitching moments, including tail-on, close-to-ground cases, with favorable results. Drag proved the most sensitive to the change from a moving to the boundary-layer controlled ground.

Hackett, J. E.↗

Load and stability measurements on a soft-inplane rotor system incorporating elastomeric lead-lag dampers

An experimental investigation was conducted of the dynamic response and inplane stability associated with a new soft-inplane helicopter rotor. The unique feature of this rotor was the use of an internal elastomeric damper to restrain the blade inplane motion about the lead-lag hinge. The properties of the elastomer were selected to provide both a nominal first inplane frequency ratio of 0.65 and sufficient damping to eliminate the need for additional external damping sources to prevent ground resonance on a typical fuselage structure. For this investigation a 1/5-scale aeroelastic model was used to represent the rotor. The four-blade model had a diameter of 3.05 m (10 ft) and a solidity of 0.103. The first out-of-plane frequency ratio was 1.06. The model was tested in hover and in forward flight up to an advance ratio of 0.45. At each forward speed the rotor lift was varied up to simulated maneuver conditions. The measured rotor loads and response were within acceptable limits, and no adverse response qualities were observed. Moderate out-of-plane hub moments were measured, even for zero lift, to indicate the beneficial control power available for this design. Blade inplane stability testing indicated that the rotor system damping remained at moderate levels throughout the operating envelope.

Weller, W. H.↗

Performance of the Rotor Systems Research Aircraft calibrated rotor loads measurement system

The compound Rotor Systems Research Aircraft (RSRA) is designed to make high accuracy, simultaneous measurements of all rotor forces and moments in flight. Physical calibration of the rotor force- and moment-measurement system when installed in the aircraft is required to account for any errors and to ensure that measurement system accuracy is traceable to the National Bureau of Standards. The first static calibration and associated analysis has been completed with good results. Hysteresis was a potential cause of static calibration errors, but was found to be negligible in flight, and analytical methods have been devised to eliminate its effects on calibration data. Flight tests confirmed that the calibrated rotor loads measurement system performs as expected in flight, and that it can dependably make direct measurements of fuselage vertical drag in hover.

Acree, C. W., Jr.↗

Investigation of Interference of a Deflected Jet with Free Stream and Ground on Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Semispan Delta-Wing VTOL Model

An investigation of the mutual interference effects of the ground, wing, deflected jet stream, and free stream of a semispan delta-wing VTOL model at zero and low forward speeds has been conducted in the 17-foot test section of the Langley 300-MPH 7-by 10-foot tunnel. The model consisted of two interchangeable semispan clipped delta wings, a simplified fuselage, and a high-pressure jet for simulation of a jet exhaust. Attached to the wing behind the jet were various sets of vanes for deflecting the jet stream to different turning angles. The effect of ground proximity gave the normally expected losses in lift at zero and very low forward speeds (up to about 60 or 80 knots for the assumed wing loading of 100 lb/sq ft); at higher forward speeds ground effects were favorable. At low forward speeds, out of ground effect, the model encountered large losses in lift and large nose-up pitching moments with the model at low angles of attack and the jet deflected 90 deg or 75 deg (the angles required for VTOL performance and very low forward speeds). Rotating the model to higher angles of attack and deflecting the jet back to lower angles eliminated these losses in lift. Moving the jet rearward with respect to the wing reduced the losses in lift and the nose-up moments at all speeds within the range of this investigation.

Spreemann, Kenneth P.↗

Lateral Stability Characteristics of a 1/8.33-Scale Powered Model of the Republic XF-12 Airplane

The XF-12 airplane is a high-performance photo-reconnaissance aircraft designed for the Army Air Forces by the Republic Aviation Corporation. An investigation of a 1/8.33 - scale powered model was made in the Langley l9-foot pressure tunnel to obtain information relative to the aerodynamic design of the airplane. The model was tested with and without the original vertical tail. and with two revised tails. For the revised tail no. 1, the span of the original vertical .tail was increased about 15 percent and the portion of the vertical tail between the stabilizer and fuselage behind the rudder hinge line was allowed to deflect simultaneously with the main rudder. Revision no. 2 incorporated the increased span, but the lower rudder was locked in the neutral position. For all the tail arrangements investigated it was indicated that the airplane will possess positive effective dihedral and will be directionally stable regardless of flap or power condition. The rudder effectiveness is greater for the revised tails than for the original tail, but this is offset by the increase in directional stability caused by the revised tail. All the rudder arrangements appear inadequate in trimming out the resultant yawing moments at zero yaw in a take - off condition with the left-hand outboard propeller windmilling and the remaining engines developing take-off power.

Pepper, Edward↗

Wind tunnel test of the 0.015-scale Rockwell International space shuttle vehicle orbiter in the Ames 6 by 6 foot supersonic wind tunnel

Experimental investigations were performed in a 6- by 6-Foot Supersonic wind tunnel on a 0.015-scale model of the Rockwell International space shuttle vehicle (SSV) 2A orbiter. The purpose of the test was to investigate the longitudinal and lateral-directional characteristics of the vehicle. In addition, hinge moments were measured on the rudder and elevons. Buffet onset was investigated using wing trailing edge pressures and a strain gauge instrumented panel mounted in the wing. The model was tested through a Mach range from 0.6 to 2.0 at a constant unit Reynolds number of 2.5 million. Pitch runs were made at angles of attack from minus 2 deg to +26 deg with beta = 0 deg and 5 deg; yaw runs were made in the range from minus 5 deg to 10 deg of sideslip at angles of attack of 0 deg and 10 deg. Static pressures were measured at the fuselage base and the trailing edges of the wing and rudder. Boundary layer transition was fixed for some runs using distributed roughness strips.

Milam, M. D.↗