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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 NTRS1990

Spurious frequencies as a result of numerical boundary treatments

The stability theory for finite difference Initial Boundary-Value approximations to systems of hyperbolic partial differential equations states that the exclusion of eigenvalues and generalized eigenvalues is a sufficient condition for stability. The theory, however, does not discuss the nature of numerical approximations in the presence of such eigenvalues. In fact, as was shown previously, for the problem of vortex shedding by a 2-D cylinder in subsonic flow, stating boundary conditions in terms of the primitive (non-characteristic) variables may lead to such eigenvalues, causing perturbations that decay slowly in space and remain periodic time. Characteristic formulation of the boundary conditions avoided this problem. A more systematic study of the behavior of the (linearized) one-dimensional gas dynamic equations under various sets of oscillation-inducing legal boundary conditions is reported.

Abarbanel, Saul↗
NASA NTRS1990

Asymmetric supersonic flow around cones with noncircular sections

The unsteady, compressible, single and double thin-layer, Navier-Stokes equations are used to solve for steady and unsteady, asymmetric, supersonic flow around pointed bodies with noncircular sections at high incidence and zero side slip. The equations are solved by using an implicit, upwind, flux-difference splitting finite-volume scheme. Since the flow is locally conical, the solutions are presented on a cross-flow plane at the axial station of unit. The grid is generated by using a modified Joukowski transformation. The computational applications cover noncircular sections with elliptic and diamond shapes. Unsteady asymmetric vortex shedding has been captured at large angles of attack. It is shown that for the same flow conditions and same cross-section fineness ratio, the diamond-section cones develop less flow asymmetry than the elliptic-section cones. Passive control of flow asymmetry was also demonstrated computationally.

Kandil, Osama A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Research reports: 1990 NASA/ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program

A collection of technical reports on research conducted by the participants in this program is presented. The topics covered include: human-computer interface software, multimode fiber optic communication links, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, rocket-triggered lightning, robotics, a flammability study of thin polymeric film materials, a vortex shedding flowmeter, modeling of flow systems, monomethyl hydrazine vapor detection, a rocket noise filter system using digital filters, computer programs, lower body negative pressure, closed ecological systems, and others. Several reports with respect to space shuttle orbiters are presented.

Anderson, Loren A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Velocity measurements in a turbulent trailing vortex and their application to BWI noise prediction

The objectives were to observe the turbulence structure and spectral characteristics of the trailing vortex shed by a rectangular NACA 0012 wing over a range of conditions and to incorporate these observations into the blade-wake interaction (BWI) noise-prediction method of Glegg (1989). The following sections are presented: (1) measurements performed during the first year of this two year investigation; (2) presentation and discussion of a representative sample of the results; (3) implications for the BWI noise prediction method; and (4) re-evaluation of work planned for the second year.

Devenport, William J.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A study of rotor broadband noise mechanisms and helicopter tail rotor noise

The rotor broadband noise mechanisms considered are the following: (1) lift fluctuation due to turbulence ingestion; (2) boundary layer/trailing edge interaction; (3) tip vortex formation; and (4) turbulent vortex shedding from blunt trailing edge. Predictions show good agreement with available experimental data. The study shows that inflow turbulence is the most important broadband noise source for typical helicopters' main rotors at low- and mid-frequencies. Due to the size difference, isolated helicopter tail rotor broadband noise is not important compared to the much louder main rotor broadband noise. However, the inflow turbulence noise from a tail rotor can be very significant because it is operating in a highly turbulent environment, ingesting wakes from upstream components of the helicopter. The study indicates that the main rotor turbulent wake is the most important source of tail rotor broadband noise. The harmonic noise due to ingestion of main rotor tip vortices is studied.

Chou, Shau-Tak Rudy↗
NASA NTRS1990

On the far-field stream function condition for two-dimensional incompressible flows

The present demonstration of the usefulness of the integral series expansion of the stream function as a far-field computational boundary condition shows the method to require only a 10-percent/time-step increase in computational effort over alternative boundary conditions, in the case of implementation of unsteady problems using a direct elliptic solver. So long as the vorticity was encompassed within the computational domain, the method proved sufficiently accurate to yield virtually identical results for two widely different domains. While the integral-series condition yielded the best results for periodic flow, the Neumann condition gave comparable accuracy with less computation time for the steady-flow case despite its inability to treat periodic flow with vortex shedding.

Sa, Jong-Youb↗
NASA NTRS1990

Computation and control of asymmetric vortex flow around circular cones using Navier-Stokes equations

The unsteady, compressible, thin-layer and full Navier-Stokes equations are used to numerically simulate steady and unsteady asymmetric, supersonic, locally conical flows around a 5-deg semiapex angle circular cone. The main computational scheme is the implicit, upwind, flux-difference splitting, finite-volume scheme. Comparison of asymmetric flow solutions using the thin-layer and full Navier-Stokes equations is presented and discussed. The implicit, upwind, flux-vector splitting, finite-volume scheme has also been used to solve for the unsteady asymmetric flow with vortex shedding. The unsteady-flow solution using the flux-vector splitting scheme perfectly agrees with the previously obtained solution using the flux-difference splitting scheme. Passive control of asymmetric flows has been demonstrated and studied using sharp- and round-edged, thick and thin strakes.

Kandil, Osama A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Numerical investigation of the origin of vortex asymmetry of flows over bodies at large angle of attack

The occurrence of the flow about a slender body of revolution placed at incidence to an incoming stream is numerically examined for angles of attack ranging from 20 to 80 degrees and a Reynolds number of 200,000 based on maximum body diameter. Over a certain range of Reynolds numbers, the trend of flowfields around slender bodies at incidence can be roughly divided into three main categories: (1) at alpha = 0-30 deg, the flow is steady and symmetric; (2) at alpha = 30-60 deg, the flow under normal conditions is usually asymmetric, but the level of the asymmetry depends on the amount of disturbances present on the tip of the body; and (3) at alpha 60-90 deg, the flow in the wake of the body acts in a fashion similar to that of the Karman vortex shedding behind a two-dimensional circular cylinder. For each of these categories the range of incidence may change by + or - 10 degrees, depending on the quality of flow, or body finish.

Degani, David↗
NASA NTRS1990

Numerical simulation of steady and unsteady asymmetric vortical flow

The unsteady, compressible, thin-layer, Navier-Stokes equations are solved to simulate steady and unsteady, asymmetric, vortical laminar flow around cones at high incidences and supersonic Mach numbers. The equations are solved by using an implicit, upwind, flux-difference splitting, finite-volume scheme. Locally conical flows are assumed and the solutions are obtained by forcing the conserved components of the flowfield vector to be equal at two axial stations located at 0.95 and 1.0. Computational examples cover steady and unsteady asymmetric flows around a circular cone and its control using side strakes. Unsteady asymmetric flows are also presented for elliptic- and diamond-section cones, which model asymmetric vortex shedding around round and sharp-edged delta wing flows.

Kandil, O. A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Numerical simulation of vortex unsteadiness on a slender body at high incidence

Numerical results obtained with the present3D thin-layer Navier-Stokes solver are shown to qualitatively follow experimental results. They also indicate the existence of at least two main frequencies on an ogive cylinder at 40 and 60 deg angles-of-attack: (1) a low frequency associated with fluctuations of the primary vortices, and leads to vortex shedding, and (2) a high frequency associated with shear-layer fluctuations that are concentrated in several small areas above the leeward side of the body's cylindrical portion.

Degani, David↗
NASA NTRS1991

Aerodynamic performance of a drag reduction device on a full-scale tractor/trailer

The effectiveness of an aerodynamic boattail on a tractor/trailer road vehicle was measured in the NASA Ames Research Center 80- by 120-Foot Wind Tunnel. Results are examined for the tractor/trailer with and without the drag reduction device. Pressure measurements and flow visualization show that the aerodynamic boattail traps a vortex or eddy in the corner formed between the device and the rear corner of the trailer. This recirculating flow turns the flow inward as it separates from the edges of the base of the trailer. This modified flow behavior increases the pressure acting over the base area of the truck, thereby reducing the net aerodynamic drag of the vehicle. Drag measurements and pressure distributions in the region of the boattail device are presented for selected configurations. The optimum configuration reduces the overall drag of the tractor/trailer combination by about 10 percent at a zero yaw angle. Unsteady pressure measurements do not indicate strong vortex shedding, although the addition of the boattail plates increases high frequency content of the fluctuating pressure.

Lanser, Wendy R.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Numerical simulation of steady and unsteady asymmetric vortical flow

The unsteady, compressible, thin-layer, Navier-Stokes (NS) equations are solved to simulate steady and unsteady, asymmetric, vortical laminar flow around cones at high incidences and supersonic Mach numbers. The equations are solved by using an implicit, upwind, flux-difference splitting (FDS), finite-volume scheme. The locally conical flow assumption is used and the solutions are obtained by forcing the conserved components of the flowfield vector to be equal at two axial stations located at 0.95 and 1.0. Computational examples cover steady and unsteady asymmetric flows around a circular cone and its control using side strakes. The unsteady asymmetric flow solution around the circular cone has also been validated using the upwind, flux-vector splitting (FVS) scheme with the thin-layer NS equations and the upwind FDS with the full NS equations. The results are in excellent agreement with each other. Unsteady asymmetric flows are also presented for elliptic- and diamond-section cones, which model asymmetric vortex shedding around round- and sharp-edged delta winds.

Kandil, Osama A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Effect of rotation rate on the forces of a rotating cylinder: Simulation and control

In this paper we present numerical solutions to several optimal control problems for an unsteady viscous flow. The main thrust of this work is devoted to simulation and control of an unsteady flow generated by a circular cylinder undergoing rotary motion. By treating the rotation rate as a control variable, we can formulate two optimal control problems and use a central difference/pseudospectral transform method to numerically compute the optimal control rates. Several types of rotations are considered as potential controls, and we show that a proper synchronization of forcing frequency with the natural vortex shedding frequency can greatly influence the flow. The results here indicate that using moving boundary controls for such systems may provide a feasible mechanism for flow control.

Burns, John A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Hybrid rocket instability

The paper provides a brief review of theoretical and experimental studies concerned with hybrid rocket instability. The instabilities discussed include atomization and mixing instabilities, chuffing instabilities, pressure coupled combustion instabilities, and vortex shedding. It is emphasized that the future use of hybrid motor systems as viable design alternatives will depend on a better understanding of hybrid instability.

Greiner, B.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Numerical simulation of a powered-lift landing, tracking flow features using overset grids, and simulation of high lift devices on a fighter-lift-and-control wing

Attached as appendices to this report are documents describing work performed on the simulation of a landing powered-lift delta wing, the tracking of flow features using overset grids, and the simulation of flaps on the Wright Patterson Lab's fighter-lift-and-control (FLAC) wing. Numerical simulation of a powered-lift landing includes the computation of flow about a delta wing at four fixed heights as well as a simulated landing, in which the delta wing descends toward the ground. Comparison of computed and experimental lift coefficients indicates that the simulations capture the qualitative trends in lift-loss encountered by thrust-vectoring aircraft operating in ground effect. Power spectra of temporal variations of pressure indicate computed vortex shedding frequencies close to the jet exit are in the experimentally observed frequency range; the power spectra of pressure also provide insights into the mechanisms of lift oscillations. Also, a method for using overset grids to track dynamic flow features is described and the method is validated by tracking a moving shock and vortices shed behind a circular cylinder. Finally, Chimera gridding strategies were used to develop pressure coefficient contours for the FLAC wing for a Mach no. of 0.18 and Reynolds no. of 2.5 million.

Chawla, Kalpana↗
NASA NTRS1993

Simulation of unsteady flows through stator and rotor blades of a gas turbine using the Chimera method

A two-dimensional model to solve compressible Navier-Stokes equations for the flow through stator and rotor blades of a turbine is developed. The flow domains for the stator and rotor blades are coupled by the Chimera method that makes grid generation easy and enhances accuracy because the area of the grid that have high turning of grid lines or high skewness can be eliminated from the computational domain after the grids are generated. The results of flow computations show various important features of unsteady flows including the acoustic waves interacting with boundary layers, Karman vortex shedding from the trailing edge of the stator blades, pulsating incoming flow to a rotor blade from passing stator blades, and flow separation from both suction and pressure sides of the rotor blades.

Nakamura, S.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Computational aeroelasticity

Recent large-scale studies of computational unsteady aerodynamics for aeroelastic applications are reviewed. The variety of fluid dynamic flow models available to address such computations are illustrated in two cases: (1) 2D Navier-Stokes (NS) equations illustrating the highest level of modeling usually employed and (2) the transonic small-disturbance potential equation representing the entry level for nonlinear flow modeling. Estimates of computer resources necessary to produce accurate converged results are given. Application of potential and NS equation codes for flows which are generally at lower angles and high speeds are addressed, including (1) the treatment of wings and configuration details using potential equation codes and (2) recent NS code calculations of complete vehicle configurations. Attention is given to high-angle conditions involving separated vortex-dominated flows. Accuracy requirements for vortex shedding over airfoils is discussed and the calculation of vorticity convected over significant distances is addressed. Steady CFD computations about delta wings at high angles are given, including a discussion of the required level of fluid dynamic flow modeling. Recent results on unsteady 'buffetlike flow' about complete vehicle models are reviewed.

Edwards, John W.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Numerical design of advanced multi-element airfoils

The current study extends the application of computational fluid dynamics to three-dimensional high-lift systems. Structured, overset grids are used in conjunction with an incompressible Navier-Stokes flow solver to investigate flow over a two-element high-lift configuration. The computations were run in a fully turbulent mode using the one-equation Baldwin-Barth turbulence model. The geometry consisted of an unswept wing which spanned a wind tunnel test section. Flows over full and half-span Fowler flap configurations were computed. Grid resolution issues were investigated in two dimensional studies of the flapped airfoil. Results of the full-span flap wing agreed well with experimental data and verified the method. Flow over the wing with the half-span was computed to investigate the details of the flow at the free edge of the flap. The results illustrated changes in flow streamlines, separation locations, and surface pressures due to the vortex shed from the flap edge.

Mathias, Donovan L.↗