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At least 271 records · Page 15

Supersonic CO electric-discharge lasers

Laser modeling activity is described which involved addition of an option allowing N2 as a second diatomic gas. This option is now operational and a few test cases involving N2/CO mixtures were run. Results from these initial test cases are summarized. In the laboratory, a CW double-discharge test facility was constructed and tested. Features include: water-cooled removable electrodes, O-ring construction to facilitate cleaning and design modifications, increased discharge length, and addition of a post-discharge observation section. Preliminary tests with this facility using N2 yielded higher power loadings than obtained in the first-generation facility. Another test-section modification, recently made and as yet untested, will permit injection of secondary gases into the cathode boundary layer. The objective will be to vary and enhance the UV emission spectrum from the auxiliary discharge, thereby influencing the level of photoionization in the main discharge region.

Hason, R. K.↗

Computational study of inlet injection for a Pre-Mixed, Shock-Induced Combustion (PM/SIC) engine

A computational simulation of reacting 2-D and 3-D flowfields in a model inlet section of a Pre-Mixed, Shock-Induced Combustion (PM/SIC) engine concept was performed. LARCK, a multi-dimensional Navier-Stokes code with finite-rate kinetics chemistry developed at NASA LaRC by J.A. White, was adapted for this simulation. The flow conditions in the simulation match those envisioned for the PM/SIC engine experiments currently planned at LaRC. The reacting flowfields were Mach 6.3 freestream air and Mach 2 hydrogen at various pressure and temperature conditions injected through a slot injector at the base of the inlet section. In the PM/SIC engine, fuel is injected at the inlet section upstream of the combustor, and reaction is initiated by the shock wave at the inlet which increases the gas temperature and pressure beyond the kinetic limits for reaction. Many challenges exist prior to establishing shock-controlled combustion as a practical engine concept. These challenges include fuel injection schemes that can provide proper fuel-air mixing without creating large losses in the inlet section, and control of the combustion process so that early ignition or combustion propagation through the inlet boundary layer does not occur. For this project, a parametrics study was carried out to model the fuel injection of hydrogen at different flow conditions. It was found that, as the fuel temperature and pressure were increased, the potential for pre-ignition was high at a short distance downstream of the slot injector. The next stage of this work will investigate injection techniques for enhancing mixing of fuel and air in a manner that prevents or reduces the potential for premature ignition observed numerically.

Gonzalez, D. E.↗

Sidewall Mach Number Distributions for the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel

The Transonic Dynamics Tunnel(TDT) was recalibrated due to the conversion of the heavy gas test medium from R-12 to R-134a. The objectives of the tests were to determine the relationship between the free-stream Mach number and the measured test section Mach number, and to quantify any necessary corrections. Other tests included the measurement of pressure distributions along the test-section walls, test-section centerline, at certain tunnel stations via a rake apparatus, and in the tunnel settling chamber. Wall boundary layer, turbulence, and flow angularity measurements were also performed. This paper discusses the determination of sidewall Mach number distributions.

Florance, James R.↗

Physical Processes Governing Atmospheric Trace Constituents Measured from an Aircraft on PEM-Tropics

Before the mission, the PI (principal investigator) was instrumental in securing real-time use of the new 51-level ECMWF (European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts) meteorological data. During the mission, he provided flight planning and execution guidance as meteorologist for the P-3B. Mr. Yong Zhu computed and plotted meteorological forecast maps using the ECMWF data and transmitted them to the field from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Dr. John Cho was in the field for the Christmas Island portion to extract data from the on-site NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) radars for local wind profiles that were used at the flight planning meetings. When the power supply for the VHF radar failed, he assisted the NOAA engineer in its repair. After the mission, Mr. Zhu produced meteorological data memos, which were made available to the PEM (Pacific Exploratory Mission)-Tropics B science team on request. An undergraduate student, Ms. Danielle Morse, wrote memos annotating the cloud conditions seen on the aircraft external monitor video tapes. Dr. Cho and the PI circulated a memo regarding the status (and associated problems) of the meteorological measurement systems on the DC-8 and P-3B to the relevant people on the science team. Several papers by members of our project were completed and accepted by JGR (Journal of Geophysical Research) for the first special section on PEM-Tropics B. These papers included coverage of the following topics: 1) examination of boundary layer data; 2) water vapor transport; 3) tropospheric trace constituent layers; 4) summarizations of the meteorological background and events during PEM-Tropics B; 5) concomitant lidar measurements of ozone, water vapor, and aerosol.

Newell, Reginald E.↗

Turbulence Model Validation Through Joint Experimental /Computational Studies of Separated Flow Over A Three-Dimensional Tapered Bump: Part I - Experimental Investigation

The results of a three-year experimental campaign aimed at comprehensively documenting the separated flow over a three-dimensional bump are presented with the purpose of generating a benchmark experimental database useful in validating computational fluid dynamics (CFD) flow simulations. The bump model geometry was designed to provide well-defined and repeatable smooth-body flow separation conditions that were suitable for both experiments and simulations. The bump had a Gaussian streamwise profile with a constant height equal to 8.5% of its width over the central 60% of the test section width. The remaining 40% were outboard spanwise portions that gradually taper to zero using an error function profile to minimize side-wall boundary layer effects. The model was immersed in a turbulent boundary layer that was developed on a suspended flat plate in the Notre Dame Mach 0.6 Wind Tunnel. In order to document the effect of the incoming boundary layer thickness on the flow separation, the bump model could be located at two streamwise positions. The mean velocity and turbulence intensity of the wind tunnel freestream flow field and approaching turbulent boundary layer were fully documented. The measurements of the flow separation region included surface visualization, wall shear stress using oil-film interferometry, mean and dynamic surface pressure, and planar and stereoscopic particle image velocimetry. The experiments were conducted over a range of Mach numbers from 0.05 to 0.2 corresponding to a range of Reynolds numbers based on the test section spanwise dimension (0.914m) of 1.0 × 10 6 ≤ Re L = U ∞ L/ν ≤ 4.0 × 10 6 . The bulk of the results are presented for the higher Mach number conditions of 0.1 and 0.2 with Re L = 2.0 × 10 6 and 4.0 × 10 6 , respectively. Extensive uncertainty analysis of the data was performed. The data is archived in the NASA Langley Turbulence Modeling Resource website at https://turbmodels.larc.nasa.gov/Other_exp_Data/speedbump_sep_exp.html. In addition to the experiments, a computational effort was made in parallel by the CFD group at Boeing Research & Technology highlighting the usefulness of the data set, which is outlined in the accompanying CFD report.

Flow separation↗

Correlations of velocity and temperature fluctuations in the stagnation-point flow of circular cylinder in turbulent flow

The present analyses of boundary layer flow and turbulence transport attempt to characterize the influence of freestream turbulence on the surface heat-transfer rate and stagnation point region skin friction of a circular cross-section cylinder in turbulent flow. The Reynolds stress-transport equations and k-epsilon two-equation turbulence modeling are used, yielding time-averaged turbulence double-correlations, mean-flow properties, surface heat-transfer rate, and skin-friction with freestream isotropic turbulence. A comparison of analytical results with experimental data indicates that large Reynolds normal stresses are induced at the boundary layer edge by the kinetic energy of the turbulence.

Wang, C. R.↗

Analysis and testing of two-dimensional vented Coanda ejectors with asymmetric variable area mixing sections

The analysis of asymmetric, curved (Coanda) ejector flow has been completed using a finite difference technique and a quasi-orthogonal streamline coordinate system. The boundary layer type jet mixing analysis accounts for the effect of streamline curvature in pressure gradients normal to the streamlines and on eddy viscosities. The analysis assured perfect gases, free of pressure discontinuities and flow separation and treated three compound flows of supersonic and subsonic streams. Flow parameters and ejector performance were measured in a vented Coanda flow geometry for the verification of the computer analysis. A primary converging nozzle with a discharge geometry of 0.003175 m x 0.2032 m was supplied with 0.283 cu m/sec of air at about 241.3 KPa absolute stagnation pressure and 82 C stagnation temperature. One mixing section geometry was used with a 0.127 m constant radius Coanda surface. Eight tests were run at spacing between the Coanda surface and primary nozzle 0.01915 m and 0.318 m and at three angles of Coanda turning: 22.5 deg, 45.0 deg, and 75.0 deg. The wall static pressures, the loci of maximum stagnation pressures, and the stagnation pressure profiles agree well between analytical and experimental results.

Maroti, L. A.↗

Effect of Tail Surfaces on the Base Drag of a Body of Revolution at Mach Numbers of 1.5 and 2.0

Wind-tunnel tests were performed at Mach numbers of 1.5 and 2.0 to investigate the influence of tail surfaces on the base drag of a body of revolution without boattailing and having a turbulent boundary layer. The tail surfaces were of rectangular plan form of aspect ratio 2.33 and has symmetrical, circular-arc airfoil section. The results of the investigation showed that the addition of these tail surfaces with the trailing edges at or near the body base incurred a large increase in the base-drag coefficient. For a cruciform tail having a 10-percent-thick airfoil section, this increase was about 70 percent at a Mach number of 1.5 and 35 percent at a Mach number of 2.0. As the trailing edge of the tail was moved forward or rearward of the base by about one tail-chord length, the base-drag increment was reduced to nearly zero. The increments in base-drag coefficient due to the presence of 10-percent-thick tail surfaces were generally twice those for 5-percent-thick surfaces. The base-drag increments due to the presence of a cruciform tail were less than twice those for a plane tail. An estimate of the change in base pressure due to the tail surfaces was made, based on a simple superposition of the airfoil-pressure field onto the base-pressure field behind the body. A comparison of the results with the experimental values indicated that in most cases the trend in the variation of the base-drag increment with changes in tail position could be predicted by this approximate method but that the quantitative agreement at most tail locations was poor.

BOUNDARY LAYER - BODIES OF REVOLUTION↗

Nozzle optimization study for quiet supersonic wind tunnels

In the present study of the effects of operational factors and nozzle design parameters on the size of the quiet test section in several Mach 3.5 wind tunnel nozzles, the test results from a rapid expansion pilot nozzle with boundary layer removal slots upstream of the throat have shown that the low stream noise levels required for transition research are only obtainable with laminar nozzle wall boundary layers. Six different nozzles were evaluated, including a flat wall radial flow nozzle and a novel rod-wall nozzle. Attention is given to rms surface finish effects on quiet test region length.

Beckwith, I. E.↗

Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Area Suction for the Control of the Laminar Boundary Layer on an NACA 64a010 Airfoil

A low-turbulence wind-tunnel investigation was made of an NACA 64a010 airfoil having a porous surface to determine the reduction in section total-drag coefficient that might be obtained at large Reynolds numbers by the use of suction to produce continuous inflow through the surface of the airfoil (area suction). In addition to the experimental investigation, a related theoretical analysis was made to provide a basis of comparison for the test results.

Braslow, Albert L↗

The Effect of the Inlet Mach Number and Inlet-boundary-layer Thickness on the Performance of a 23 Degree Conical-diffuser-tail-pipe Combination

An investigation was conducted to determine the effect of the inlet Mach number and entrance-boundary-layer thickness on the performance of a 23 degree 21-inch conical-diffuser - tail-pipe combination with a 2:1 area ratio. The air flows used in this investigation covered an inlet Mach number range from 0.17 to 0.89 and corresponding Reynolds numbers of 1,700,000 to 7,070,000. Results are reported for two inlet-boundary-layer thicknesses. Over the entire range of flows, the mean value of the inlet displacement thickness is about 0.034 inch for the thinner inlet boundary layer and about 0.170 inch for the case of the thicker inlet boundary layer. The performance of the diffuser - tail-pipe combination is presented together with examples of longitudinal static-pressure distribution and the results of boundary-layer pressure surveys made at six points along the diffuser wall. The results indicated a progressive diminution of the static-pressure recovery and a steady increase in the total-pressure losses as the inlet Mach number was increased for both inlet-boundary-layer thicknesses. The ratio of actual static-pressure rise to that theoretically possible was much less and the total-pressure losses were greater for the case of the thicker inlet boundary layer throughout the speed range investigated. With the thinner inlet boundary layer, flow separation occurred at the diffuser exit at all inlet Mach numbers.Unseparated flow alternating with separated flow was observed near the inlet at the higher velocities. For the case of the thicker inlet boundary layer, the origin of the separated region occurred in the vicinity of the inlet-duct-diffuser junction section at all Mach numbers.

Persh, Jerome↗

Numerical Investigation of Roughness Effects on Transition on Spherical Capsules

To address the hitherto unknown mechanism of boundary-layer transition on blunt reentry capsules, the role of roughness-induced disturbance growth on a spherical-section forebody is assessed via optimal transient growth theory and direct numerical simulations (DNS). Optimal transient-growth studies have been performed for the blunt capsule experiments at Mach 5.9 in the Hypersonic Ludwieg tube at the Technische Universität Braunschweig (HLB), which included measurements behind a patch of controlled, distributed micron-sized surface roughness. Transient-growth results for the HLB capsule indicate similar trends as the corresponding numerical data for a Mach 6 experiment in the Actively Controlled Expansion (ACE) facility of the Texas A&M University (TAMU) at a lower Reynolds number. Both configurations indicate a similar dependence on surface temperature ratio and, more important, rather low values of maximum energy gain. DNS are performed for the conditions of the HLB experiment to understand the generation of stationary disturbances by the roughness patch and the accompanying evolution of unsteady perturbations. However, no evidence of either modal or nonmodal disturbance growth in the wake of the roughness patch is found in the DNS data; thus, the physical mechanism underlying the observed onset of transition still remains unknown.

Stefan Hein↗

Mineralogy and phase-chemistry of the Cretaceous/Tertiary section in the Lattengebirge, Bavarian Alps

The Lattengebirge K/T section reveals three distinct Ir spikes. Two of them are contained in the K/T transition zone sensu-strictu termed clayey interval, with 4.4 ppb Ir at the actual K/T boundary, and 2.8 ppb Ir 10 cm above the boundary. The highest Ir enrichment of 9 ppb, however, was detected in semi-cleaned organic material from a thin sandstone layer of Upper Maastrichtian age at 16 cm below the boundary. In this layer various discernible phases are preserved, contrasting with the worldwide observed K/T transition zones which are generally entirely composed of diagenetically altered materials. Given that, important clues to understanding the Cretaceous terminal events may be provided. The phases of the Cretaceous Ir bearing layer at Lattengebirge consist of: sandstone fragmental minerals in a carbonate matrix, coal which is partly burnt, melt glasses presumably of combustion-metamorphic origin, and sulfides, mainly chalcopyrite, contained in the coal. Like many known K/T sections and the Lattengebirge boundary sensu-strictu, the Cretaceous horizon is enriched in Ir and chalcophile elements as well. Although the Lattengebirge section offers the freshest materials, including melt glasses, of all K/T localities investigated, no unequivocal evidence of formation by impact has been found there.

Graup, G.↗

An Isolated Circular Synthetic Jet in Cross-Flow at Low Momentum-Flux Ratio

A joint experimental and computational investigation was carried out for a round synthetic jet issuing normal to a turbulent boundary layer at a momentum-flux ratio of one. Distributions of velocity and turbulence intensity were measured by hot-wire anemometry. Numerical results were obtained using unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) computations. Time and phase-averaged flow properties were compared on the cross sectional plane at x/D = 0.53, 5 and 10 as well as on the axial plane of symmetry. Overall, the numerical results agreed well with the experimental data. CFD predicted a somewhat larger velocity deficit in regions of low-momentum fluid pulled up from the boundary layer. Phase- averaged velocity contours at the plane of symmetry indicated good match between experiments and CFD regarding the size and the position of the periodic flow structure. However, some differences occurred in details such as the shape and inclination of the low-speed flow structure.

Milanovic, Ivana M.↗

Transverse liquid fuel jet breakup, burning, and ignition

An analytical study of the breakup, burning, and ignition of liquid fuels injected transversely into a hot air stream is conducted. The non-reacting liquid jet breakup location is determined by the local sonic point criterion. Two models, one employing analysis of an elliptical jet cross-section and the other employing a two-dimensional blunt body to represent the transverse jet, were used for sonic point calculations. An auxiliary criterion based on surface tension stability is used as a separate means of determining the breakup location. For the reacting liquid jet problem, a diffusion flame supported by a one-step chemical reaction within the gaseous boundary layer is solved along the ellipse surface in subsonic cross flow. Typical flame structures and concentration profiles were calculated for various locations along the jet cross-section as a function of upstream Mach numbers. The integration reaction rate along the jet cross-section is used to predict ignition position, which is found to be situated near the stagnation point. While a multi-step reaction is needed to represent the ignition process more accurately, the present calculation does yield reasonable predictions concerning ignition along a curved surface.

Li, Hsi-Shang↗

Interaction of two glancing, crossing shock waves with a turbulent boundary-layer at various Mach numbers

A preliminary experimental investigation was conducted to study two crossing, glancing shock waves of equal strengths, interacting with the boundary-layer developed on a supersonic wind tunnel wall. This study was performed at several Mach numbers between 2.5 and 4.0. The shock waves were created by fins (shock generators), spanning the tunnel test section, that were set at angles varying from 4 to 12 degrees. The data acquired are wall static pressure measurements, and qualitative information in the form of oil flow and schlieren visualizations. The principle aim is two-fold. First, a fundamental understanding of the physics underlying this flow phenomena is desired. Also, a comprehensive data set is needed for computational fluid dynamic code validation. Results indicate that for small shock generator angles, the boundary-layer remains attached throughout the flow field. However, with increasing shock strengths (increasing generator angles), boundary layer separation does occur and becomes progressively more severe as the generator angles are increased further. The location of the separation, which starts well downstream of the shock crossing point, moves upstream as shock strengths are increased. At the highest generator angles, the separation appears to begin coincident with the generator leading edges and engulfs most of the area between the generators. This phenomena occurs very near the 'unstart' limit for the generators. The wall pressures at the lower generator angles are nominally consistent with the flow geometries (i.e. shock patterns) although significantly affected by the boundary-layer upstream influence. As separation occurs, the wall pressures exhibit a gradient that is mainly axial in direction in the vicinity of the separation. At the limiting conditions the wall pressure gradients are primarily in the axial direction throughout.

Hingst, Warren R.↗

Scaling of airfoil self-noise using measured flow parameters

Data from an airfoil broadband self-noise study are reported. Attention here is restricted to two-dimensional models at zero angle of attack to the flow. The models include seven NACA 0012 airfoil sections and five flat plate sections with chordlengths ranging from 2.54 to 60.96 cm. Testing parameters include flow velocity to 71.3 m/s and boundary-layer turbulence through natural transition and by tripping. Detailed aerodynamic measurements are conducted in the near-wake of the sharp trailing edges. The noise spectra of the self-noise sources are determined by the use of a cross-spectral technique. The acoustic data are normalized using the measured aerodynamic parameters in order to evaluate a commonly used scaling law. An examination of the Reynolds number dependence of the normalized overall levels has revealed a useful scaling result. This result appears to quantify the transition between turbulent boundary-layer trailing-edge noise and laminar boundary-layer vortex shedding noise.

Brooks, T. F.↗

Radiative transfer in multilayered random medium with laminar structure - Green's function approach

For a multilayered random medium with a laminar structure a Green's function approach is introduced to obtain the emitted intensity due to an arbitrary point source. It is then shown that the approach is applicable to both active and passive remote sensing. In active remote sensing, the computed radar backscattering cross section for the multilayered medium includes the effects of both volume multiple scattering and surface multiple scattering at the layer boundaries. In passive remote sensing, the brightness temperature is obtained for arbitrary temperature profiles in the layers. As an illustration the brightness temperature and reflectivity are calculated for a bounded layer and compared with results in the literature.

Karam, M. A.↗