Hypersonic aerodynamic characteristics of a variable-dihedral delta-wing spacecraft configuration
Wind tunnel stability tests of variable dihedral delta wing spacecraft configuration at hypersonic speed
SEARCH · Search NASA
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.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Wind tunnel stability tests of variable dihedral delta wing spacecraft configuration at hypersonic speed
Wind tunnel investigation of laminar, transitional, and turbulent boundary layer profiles on wedge at hypersonic speed to confirm theoretical analysis
Wind tunnel stability tests of space shuttle model at subsonic to hypersonic speeds
Measurement of base heating characteristics of high angle, blunt cones at hypersonic speed
Unique features of wind tunnel facilities at Jet Propulsion Laboratory permit variety of conventional and novel tests to be performed at supersonic and hypersonic speeds. Facilities and operations are described.
Aerodynamic characteristics of a model designed to represent an all body, hypersonic cruise aircraft are presented for Mach numbers from 0.65 to 10.6. The configuration had a delta planform with an elliptic cone forebody and an afterbody of elliptic cross section. Detailed effects of varying angle of attack (-2 to +15 deg), angle of sideslip (-2 to +8 deg), Mach number, and configuration buildup were considered. In addition, the effectiveness of horizontal tail, vertical tail, and canard stabilizing and control surfaces was investigated. The results indicate that all configurations were longitudinally stable near maximum lift drag ratio. The configurations with vertical tails were directionally stable at all angles of attack. Trim penalties were small at hypersonic speeds for a center of gravity location representative of the airplane, but because of the large rearward travel of the aerodynamic center, trim penalties were severe at transonic Mach numbers.
Surface heat-transfer rates and pressures were measured at hypersonic speeds on sharp cones at zero angle of attack with and without gas injection. Using the non-injection results for reference data the effects on heating and transition location of surface roughness and injectant rate, distribution and composition were determined. The transition location was sensitive to the injectant distribution. The transition Reynolds numbers were significantly greater when the injectant distribution was constant than with a variable distribution. The measured heat-transfer distribution were also strongly dependent upon the injectant distribution. Transition Reynolds number results obtained during this program with a variable injectant distribution were correlated with a limited amount of data available for a degrading model tested in a different facility. Transitional data with constant injectant distribution were correlated with earlier results. An empirical correlation of heat-transfer reduction due to gas injection in turbulent flow was developed for both distributions tested. Several effects of mass addition on heating and transition, which have been earlier reported, were observed.
Experimental aerodynamic investigations were made in the Grumman 36-inch hypersonic wind tunnel on a .00435 scale model of the H-32 reusable space shuttle booster. The objectives of the test were to determine the static stability characteristics and control surface effectiveness at hypersonic speeds. Data were taken at M = 8.12 over a range of angles of attack between -5 and 85 deg at beta = 0 deg and over a range of side slip angles between -10 and 10 deg at alpha = 0 and 70 deg. Six component balance data and base-cavity pressure data were recorded.
An experimental temperature probe package containing a fluidic oscillator temperature probe and a shielded thermocouple temperature probe was tested during several X-15 flights. The X-15 flights provided greatly varying test conditions, including a wide range of rapidly changing total temperatures and Mach numbers which extended from subsonic to hypersonic speeds. Within restricted ranges of free-stream Mach number, free-stream unit weight flow, and local stagnation pressure, both probes yielded ramp outputs of temperature parallel to ramp inputs of free-stream total temperature. Within these ranges both probes were used to determine total temperature in the Mach 6 temperature environment. Because ambient temperature was known, both probes were used to estimate velocity and Mach number.
An early version of an external hydrogen-oxygen tank orbiter was used as a baseline vehicle to experimentally evaluate: (1) nose shape and canopy effects on longitudinal, lateral, and directional stability and trim, and (2) yaw due to aerodynamic roll control at hypersonic speeds. Nose alterations were examined since that part of the vehicle may be subject to modifications because of internal packaging requirements, alleviation of potential high heating areas, and/or possible improvements in aerodynamic stability and control. There was also some concern about the effect of the rather high profile canopy on the aerodynamics; therefore its removal was examined. In addition, roll-yaw coupling was investigated because of its impact on the RCS fuel requirements for entry maneuvers.
A study of a representative delta-wing orbiter, the Grumman H-33, that utilized external-hydrogen tanks has been completed. The study encompassed a detailed wind-tunnel program from subsonic to hypersonic speeds, analyses of the data, and the calculation and assessment of the orbiter handling qualities using the most aft center-of-gravity locations anticipated during entry and approach.
Analytical study of the longitudinal dynamic stability of a nonrolling, lifting vehicle gliding at hypersonic speeds. The analysis applies to shuttle vehicles designed for operating up to the rim of a planetary atmosphere. A general nondimensional time transformation is introduced to derive a unified second-order linear differential equation for the angle of attack, valid for all types of reentry of a general type of vehicle. The stability of motion is discussed for two fundamental regimes of flight that are based on widely different assumptions. For near ballistic entry along a straight line trajectory, the equation reduces to a confluent hypergeometric equation, the solution of which can be expressed in terms of Whittaker's function. Using a theorem in the theory of stability of differential equations, criteria for damped oscillations are derived. It is shown that the aerodynamic criteria for stability are the same as for the case of ballistic entry. In addition, for each vehicle configuration, and specified planetary atmosphere, there exists an altitude range where the angle of attack frequency is nearly equal to the orbital frequency causing instability in pitch. This resonance instability is due to the ellipticity of the orbit. Criteria for eccentricity instability are derived.
A series of tests was performed to determine the protection provided by the L-band truss cable meteoroid shielding installed on Skylab space station at space environment temperatures of minus 180 F. The damage sustained when three test specimens were impacted by spherical projectiles at hypersonic speed was investigated. It is concluded that the L-band truss cable meteoroid shielding provides adequate protection at the indicated temperature.
The performance of hydrogen-fueled commercial aircraft is examined in the subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic speed regime and compared with JP-fueled systems. Hydrogen aircraft are shown to provide substantial improvements in range and payload fraction as well as to minimize or eliminate many environmental problems. The major elements of a development program required to make hydrogen-fueled aircraft a commercial reality are also outlined and the rationale for and characteristics of both a subsonic demonstrator and a high speed research airplane are described.
The authors have studied the entry and impact behavior of an isotope heat source for space nuclear power that disassembles into a number of modules which would enter the earth's atmosphere separately if a flight aborted. These modules are disk-shaped units, each with its own reentry heat shield and protective impact container. In normal operation, the disk modules are stacked inside the generator, but during a reentry abort they separate and fly as individual units of low ballistic coefficient. Flight tests at hypersonic speeds have confirmed that a stack of disks will separate and assume a flat-forward mode of flight. Free-fall tests of single disks have demonstrated a nominal impact velocity of 30 m/sec at sea level for a practical range of ballistic coefficients.
The results of an experimental study of off-center-line shock-interference heating on basic shapes at hypersonic speeds are presented. The study covered three types of shock-interference patterns over a range of nominal Mach numbers (6 to 20), specific heat ratios (1.40 and 1.67), free-stream Reynolds numbers(8 million to 26 million per meter), and impinging shock strengths. Heat-transfer rates higher than stagnation levels were measured over much of the off-center-line model surface. Peak heating up to 17 times the stagnation heating was measured.
Experimental data have been obtained for two series of bodies at Mach 6 and Reynolds numbers, based on model length, from 1.4 million to 9.5 million. One series consisted of axisymmetric power-law bodies geometrically constrained for constant length and base diameter with values of the exponent n of 0.25, 0.5, 0.6, 0.667, 0.75, and 1.0. The other series consisted of positively and negatively cambered bodies of polygonal cross section, each having a constant longitudinal area distribution conforming to that required for minimizing zero-lift wave drag at hypersonic speeds under the geometric constraints of given length and volume. At the highest Reynolds number, the power-law body for minimum drag is blunter (exponent n lower) than predicted by inviscid theory (n approximately 0.6 instead of n = 0.667); however, the peak value of lift-drag ratio occurs at n = 0.667. Viscous effects were present on the bodies of polygonal cross section but were less pronounced than those on the power-law bodies. The trapezoidal bodies with maximum width at the bottom were found to have the highest maximum lift-drag ratio and the lowest mimimum drag.
For the interaction of shock waves with turbulent boundary layers, obtained experimental three-dimensional separation results and correlations with earlier two-dimensional and three-dimensional data are presented. It is shown that separation occurs much earlier for turbulent three-dimensional than for two-dimensional flow at hypersonic speeds.