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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 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

Vortical flow computations on a flexible blended wing-body configuration

Flows over blended wing-body configurations are often dominated by vortices. The unsteady aerodynamic forces due to such flows can couple with the elastic forces of the wing and lead to aeroelastic oscillations. Such aeroelastic oscillations can impair the performance of an aircraft; it is necessary to account for structural properties of the configuration and solve the aerodynamic and aeroelastic equations of motion simultaneously. The flow is modeled using the Navier-Stokes equations coupled with the aeroelastic equations of motion. Computations are made for a blended wing-body configuration at flow conditions dominated by vortices and separation. The computed results are validated with the available experimental data. Sustained aeroelastic oscillations observed in the wind tunnel are successfully simulated for freestream Mach = 0.975, alpha of 8.0 deg, and a frequency of about 2 Hz.

Guruswamy, Guru P.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Methods for In-Flight Wing Shape Predictions of Highly Flexible Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Formulation of Ko Displacement Theory

The Ko displacement theory is formulated for a cantilever tubular wing spar under bending, torsion, and combined bending and torsion loading. The Ko displacement equations are expressed in terms of strains measured at multiple sensing stations equally spaced on the surface of the wing spar. The bending and distortion strain data can then be input to the displacement equations to calculate slopes, deflections, and cross-sectional twist angles of the wing spar at the strain-sensing stations for generating the deformed shapes of flexible aircraft wing spars. The displacement equations have been successfully validated for accuracy by finite-element analysis. The Ko displacement theory that has been formulated could also be applied to calculate the deformed shape of simple and tapered beams, plates, and tapered cantilever wing boxes. The Ko displacement theory and associated strain-sensing system (such as fiber optic sensors) form a powerful tool for in-flight deformation monitoring of flexible wings and tails, such as those often employed on unmanned aerial vehicles. Ultimately, the calculated displacement data can be visually displayed in real time to the ground-based pilot for monitoring the deformed shape of unmanned aerial vehicles during flight.

Ko, William L.↗
NASA NTRS1957

Experimental and Predicted Longitudinal and Lateral-Directional Response Characteristics of a Large Flexible 35 Degree Swept-Wing Airplane at an Altitude of 35,000 Feet

Measured and predicted dynamic response characteristics of a large flexible swept-wing airplane to control surface inputs are presented for flight conditions of 0.6 to 0.85 Mach number at an altitude of 35,000 feet. The report is divided into two parts. The first part deals with the response of the airplane to elevator control inputs with principal responses contained in a band of frequencies including the longitudinal short-period mode and several symmetrical structural modes. The second part deals with the response of the airplane to aileron and rudder control inputs with principal responses contained in a band of frequencies including the dutch roll mode, the rolling mode, and three antisymmetrical structural modes.

Cole, Henry A , Jr↗
NASA NTRS2009

Flight Dynamics of Flexible Aircraft with Aeroelastic and Inertial Force Interactions

This paper presents an integrated flight dynamic modeling method for flexible aircraft that captures coupled physics effects due to inertial forces, aeroelasticity, and propulsive forces that are normally present in flight. The present approach formulates the coupled flight dynamics using a structural dynamic modeling method that describes the elasticity of a flexible, twisted, swept wing using an equivalent beam-rod model. The structural dynamic model allows for three types of wing elastic motion: flapwise bending, chordwise bending, and torsion. Inertial force coupling with the wing elasticity is formulated to account for aircraft acceleration. The structural deflections create an effective aeroelastic angle of attack that affects the rigid-body motion of flexible aircraft. The aeroelastic effect contributes to aerodynamic damping forces that can influence aerodynamic stability. For wing-mounted engines, wing flexibility can cause the propulsive forces and moments to couple with the wing elastic motion. The integrated flight dynamics for a flexible aircraft are formulated by including generalized coordinate variables associated with the aeroelastic-propulsive forces and moments in the standard state-space form for six degree-of-freedom flight dynamics. A computational structural model for a generic transport aircraft has been created. The eigenvalue analysis is performed to compute aeroelastic frequencies and aerodynamic damping. The results will be used to construct an integrated flight dynamic model of a flexible generic transport aircraft.

Nguyen, Nhan T.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Static Aeroelastic Effects of Formation Flight for Slender Unswept Wings

The static aeroelastic equilibrium equations for slender, straight wings are modified to incorporate the effects of aerodynamically-coupled formation flight. A system of equations is developed by applying trim constraints and is solved for component lift distribution, trim angle-of-attack, and trim aileron deflection. The trim values are then used to calculate the elastic twist distribution of the wing box. This system of equations is applied to a formation of two gliders in trimmed flight. Structural and aerodynamic properties are assumed for the gliders, and solutions are calculated for flexible and rigid wings in solo and formation flight. It is shown for a sample application of two gliders in formation flight, that formation disturbances produce greater twist in the wingtip immersed in the vortex than for either the opposing wingtip or the wings of a similar airplane in solo flight. Changes in the lift distribution, resulting from wing twist, increase the performance benefits of formation flight. A flexible wing in formation flight will require greater aileron deflection to achieve roll trim than a rigid wing.

Hanson, Curtis E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Navier-Stokes dynamics and aeroelastic computations for vortical flows, buffet and aeroelastic applications

The accomplishments achieved during the period include conference and proceedings publications, journal papers, and abstracts which are either published, accepted for publication or under review. Conference presentations and NASA highlight publications are also included. Two of the conference proceedings publications are attached along with a Ph.D. dissertation abstract and table of contents. In the first publication, computational simulation of three-dimensional flows around a delta wing undergoing rock and roll-divergence motions is presented. In the second publication, the unsteady Euler equations and the Euler equations of rigid body motion, both written in the moving frame of reference, are sequetially solved to simulate the limit-cycle rock motion of slender delta wings. In the dissertation abstract, unsteady flows around rigid or flexible delta wings with and without oscillating leading-edge flaps are considered.

Kandil, Osama A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

A comparison of the experimental aerodynamic characteristics of an oblique wing with those of a swept wing

Force and moment characteristics were measured for two trapezoidal oblique wings and a conventional swept wing mounted on a body of revolution at Mach numbers from 0.25 to 2.0. Both oblique wings had the same planform, but differed in profile and flexibility. One of the oblique wings was made of solid steel and had a maximum thickness-to-chord ratio of 4 percent. The other wing was built up by taking an aluminum wing and adding epoxy material to the upper surface to increase the maximum thickness-to-chord ratio to 8.2 percent. The aspect ratio for both oblique wings when swept 45 deg, and for the swept wing with 45 deg of sweep, was 4.1. Data were obtained at unit Reynolds numbers ranging from 3.3 to 8.2 million per meter and were compared with previously obtained data on the aluminum wing before it was built up with epoxy. Wing flexibility designed into the aluminum and built-up aluminum oblique wings increased the range of lift coefficients from 0.30 to 0.70 over which the pitching-moment curves were linear. However, flexibility did not improve the linearity of the rolling-moment curves and produced sizable side forces. At a Mach number of 0.95, the trapezoidal oblique wing had little or no improvement in the lift/drag ratios over those for a conventional swept wing of the same aspect ratio, sweep, and profile.

Hopkins, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Performance Enhancement of the Flexible Transonic Truss-Braced Wing Aircraft Using Variable-Camber Continuous Trailing-Edge Flaps

Aircraft designers are to a growing extent using vehicle flexibility to optimize performance with objectives such as gust load alleviation and drag minimization. More complex aerodynamically optimized configurations may also require dynamic loads and perhaps eventually flutter suppression. This paper considers an aerodynamically optimized truss-braced wing aircraft designed for a Mach 0.745 cruise. The variable camber continuous trailing edge flap concept with a feedback control system is used to enhance aeroelastic stability. A linearized reduced order aerodynamic model is developed from unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes simulations. A static output feedback controller is developed from that model. Closed-loop simulations using the reduced order aerodynamic model show that the controller is effective in stabilizing the vehicle dynamics.

Bartels, Robert E.↗