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At least 271 records · Page 15

Some effects of aerodynamic spoilers on wing flutter

The effects of deployment angle and size of symmetrically mounted upper-surface and lower-surface spoilers on the flutter characteristics of a simple, paddle-like, low-aspect-ratio, rectangular wing model that was tested at Mach number 0.80 in the Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel are presented. The results show that the flutter dynamic pressure is increased by increasing either spoiler deployment angle or spoiler size. For the configurations studied spoiler size was more effective than deployment angle in increasing the flutter dynamic pressure.

Doggett, Robert V., Jr.↗

Unsteady Transonics of a Wing With Tip Store

The presence of tip stores influences both the aerodynamic and aeroelastic performances of wings. Such effects are more pronounced in the transonic regime. In this study, a theoretical method is developed, for the first time, to compute unsteady transonics of oscillating wings with tip stores. The method is based on the small-disturbance aerodynamic equations or motion from the potential-flow theory. To validate the method, subsonic and transonic aerodynamic computations are made for a wing of low aspect ratio, and they are compared with the available experimental data. The comparisons are favorable. The strong effects of the tip store on the transonic aerodynamics on the wing are also illustrated. The method developed in this study can be used for transonic aeroelastic computations of wings with tip stores.

Guruswamy, Guru P.↗

Downwash in the plane of symmetry of an elliptically loaded wing

A closed-form solution for the downwash in the plane of symmetry of an elliptically loaded line is given. This theoretical result is derived from Prandtl's lifting-line theory and assumes that: (1) a three-dimensional wing can be replaced by a straight lifting line, (2) this line is elliptically loaded, and (3) the trailing wake is a flat-sheet which does not roll up. The first assumption is reasonable for distances greater than about 1 chord from the wing aerodynamic center. The second assumption is satisfied by any combination of wing twist, spanwise camber variation, or planform that approximates elliptic loading. The third assumption is justified only for high-aspect-ratio wings at low lift coefficients and downstream distances less than about 1 span from the aerodynamic center. It is shown, however, that assuming the wake to be fully rolled up gives downwash values reasonably close to those of the flat-sheet solution derived in this paper. The wing can therefore be modeled as a single horseshoe vortex with the same lift and total circulation as the equivalent ellipticity loaded line, and the predicted downwash will be a close approximation independent of aspect ratio and lift coefficient. The flat-sheet equation and the fully rolled up wake equation are both one-line formulas that predict the upwash field in front of the wing, as well as the downwash field behind it. These formulas are useful for preliminary estimates of the complex aerodynamic interaction between two wings (i.e., canard, tandem wing, and conventional aircraft) including the effects of gap and stagger.

Phillips, J. D.↗

Leading-edge force features of the aerodynamic finite element method.

Description of a practical procedure for computing the wing leading-edge thrust distribution by the finite element method. When incorporated into a wing-body aerodynamic computer program, the technique is capable of predicting (at subsonic and supersonic speeds) the leading-edge thrust distribution (and therefore, the lateral-directional stability derivatives due to roll) and the nonlinear aerodynamic characteristics of low aspect-ratio wings with leading edge separation due to the application of suction technology.

Lan, C.-T.↗

Aerodynamic characteristics of a jet sheet vortex generator

A configuration concept for augmenting the lift capability of low aspect ratio, thin wings, typically used on fighter aircraft was investigated. The fluid strake concept uses a jet sheet formed by blowing from a series of small orifices located in the side of the fuselage ahead of the wing to generate a stable vortex flow over the wing at high angle of attack. The effect of the location of the fluid strake relative to the wing was investigated for three different designs of the in-line orifices using a half-span model tested in a 7 by 10 foot low speed tunnel. Based on the results of the low speed test, a jet sheet producing module was incorporated into a NASA general research fighter model and tested in the Langley 7 by 10 foot high speed tunnel to determine the effectiveness of the fluid strake as a lift-enhancement device in the high-speed maneuver regime. Tests were conducted over a Mach number range from 0.3 to 0.8, with a jet momentum coefficient range from 0 to 0.24. Significant lift increments resulted at the higher angles of attack and drag polars were improved.

Ziegler, H.↗

The SnoDog: Preliminary design of a close air support aircraft

U.S. military forces are presently searching for the next generation Close Air Support aircraft. The following report presents the SnoDog, a low-cost ($14.8 million) aircraft capable of operating from remote battlefields and unimproved airstrips. The configuration consists of a conventional, low aspect-ratio wing, twin booms, twin canted vertical stabilizers along with a high-mounted joined horizontal tail. A supercritical airfoil for the wing enhances aerodynamic performance, while the SnoDog's instability increases maneuverability over current close air support aircraft. Survivability was incorporated into the design by the use of a titanium tub to protect the cockpit from anti-aircraft artillery, as well as, the twin booms and retracted gear disposition. The booms aid survivability by supplying separated, redundant controls, and the landing gear are slightly exposed when retracted to enable a belly landing in emergencies. Designed to fly at Mach .76, the SnoDog is powered by two low-bypass turbofan engines. Engine accessibility and interchangeable parts make the SnoDog highly maintainable. The SnoDog is adaptable to many different missions, as it is capable of carrying advanced avionics pods, carrying external fuel tanks or refueling in-air, and carrying various types of munitions. This makes the SnoDog a multirole aircraft capable of air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. This combination of features make the SnoDog unique as a close air support aircraft, capable of meeting the U.S. military's future needs.

Ashbaugh, Scott↗

An experimental study of separated flow on a finite wing

The flow field associated with the formation of a mushroom shaped trailing edge stall cell on a low-aspect-ratio (AR = 4.0) wing was investigated in a series of low speed wind tunnel tests (Reynolds number based on 15.2 cm chord = 480,000). Flow field surveys of the separation bubble and wake of a partially stalled and fully stalled wing were completed using a hot-wire probe, a split-film probe, and a directional sensitive pressure probe. A new color video display technique was developed to display the flow field survey data. Photographs were obtained of surface oil flow patterns and smoke flow visualization

Winkelmann, A. E.↗

A survey of active controls benefits to supersonic transports

Results are drawn from studies of the impact of advanced technologies on the design of an arrow-wing configuration. Information presented includes estimated benefits, effects of combinations of active control concepts, and constraints. Emphasis is placed on characteristics that are uniquely related to a large airframe featuring a slender body with a fixed wing of low aspect ratio, high sweep, and small thickness ratio.

Pratt, K. G.↗

Application of fully stressed design procedures to redundant and non-isotropic structures

An evaluation is presented of fully stressed design procedures for sizing highly redundant structures including structures made of composite materials. The evaluation is carried out by sizing three structures: a simple box beam of either composite or metal construction; a low aspect ratio titanium wing; and a titanium arrow wing for a conceptual supersonic cruise aircraft. All three structures are sized by ordinary fully-stressed design (FSD) and thermal fully stressed design (TFSD) for combined mechanical and thermal loads. Where possible, designs are checked by applying rigorous mathematical programming techniques to the structures. It is found that FSD and TFSD produce optimum designs for the metal box beam, but produce highly non-optimum designs for the composite box beam. Results from the delta wing and arrow wing indicate that FSD and TFSD exhibits slow convergence for highly redundant metal structures. Further, TFSD exhibits slow oscillatory convergence behavior for the arrow wing for very high temperatures. In all cases where FSD and TFSD perform poorly either in obtaining nonoptimum designs or in converging slowly, the assumptions on which the algorithms are based are grossly violated. The use of scaling, however, is found to be very effective in obtaining fast convergence and efficiently produces safe designs even for those cases when FSD and TFSD alone are ineffective.

Adelman, H. M.↗

Transonic wing design using potential-flow codes - Successes and failures

The state-of-the-art of transonic wing design by use of computer codes based on the potential flow-theory is presented. The capabilities and limitations of these codes are exemplified by several experiment-theory correlations, including an assessment of pressure distribution from isolated wing and wing-body codes. Computer codes using both conservative and nonconservative differencing schemes were used, and the effects of boundary-layer corrections were considered. Results showed that calculations from a full potential, isolated code correlate well with data from an isolated wing test, but may give poor predictions of the aerodynamic characteristics of some wing-body configurations. Boundary-layer correlations were found to have only moderate effects on experiment-theory correlation. Aeroelastic effects were considered important for high aspect ratio wings of low to moderate thickness, and viscous effects were minimal for typical cruise conditions, even for Reynold's numbers as low as two million. The effect of wind-tunnel walls on experiment-theory correlations remained inconclusive. A wing-body code was used to calculate the flow field about a wing-body configuration with body-mounted engines, typical of the transonic Biz-Jet aircraft.

Hicks, R. M.↗

Investigation of control law for active flutter suppression

Discussed is the technology of active flutter suppression research by the use of the wind-tunnel model of a delta wing with low aspect ratio. The research includes the establishment of a mathematical model for the servo-aeroelastic system, and the synthesis and analysis of sub-optimal output feedback control laws for active flutter suppression.

Wang, Weipeng↗

Impact of flow unsteadiness on maneuvers and loads of agile aircraft

A program of airload measurements on a family of low-aspect-ratio delta wings with sharp leading edges, subjected to large amplitude pitch transients with angles of attack up to 90 deg, is reviewed. Even for small values of the pitch-rate parameter, representative of maneuvers anticipated for agile aircraft, the force and moment overshoots can exceed by 50 percent their steady-state values. This is explained in terms of the hysteretic behavior of the breakdown locations of leading-edge vortices. An approximate theoretical model is proposed which includes the breakdown hysteresis as part of a three-term representation of the unsteady chordwise load distribution.

Jarrah, M. Ameen↗

Sonic boom predictions for three generic models using a solution-adaptive full-potential code

The TranAir full-potential code, which utilizes a solution-adaptive, unstructured Cartesian grid, was used to compute near-field pressure signatures of three generic supersonic configurations: a cone-cylinder, a low aspect ratio rectangular wing, and a delta-wing/body. TranAir pressure signatures are extrapolated to near- and mid-field distances using a quasi-linear extrapolation technique. Results are compared with existing wind tunnel data and, where possible, with extrapolated experimental data and quasi-linear Whitham-method results. In general, the extrapolated TranAir data is in good agreement with experimental and Whitham-method pressure signatures, but peak pressures are slightly under-predicted. It is thought that computed data obtained too near to the model was the main reason for the discrepancies. Flow-field grid structure was also found to be important in obtaining accurate offbody data.

Madson, Michael D.↗

Technical activities of the configuration aeroelasticity branch

A number of recent technical activities of the Configuration Aeroelasticity Branch of the NASA Langley Research Center are discussed in detail. The information on the research branch is compiled in twelve separate papers. The first of these topics is a summary of the purpose of the branch, including a full description of the branch and its associated projects and program efforts. The next ten papers cover specific projects and are as follows: Experimental transonic flutter characteristics of supersonic cruise configurations; Aeroelastic effects of spoiler surfaces mounted on a low aspect ratio rectangular wing; Planform curvature effects on flutter of 56 degree swept wing determined in Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT); An introduction to rotorcraft testing in TDT; Rotorcraft vibration reduction research at the TDT; A preliminary study to determine the effects of tip geometry on the flutter of aft swept wings; Aeroelastic models program; NACA 0012 pressure model and test plan; Investigation of the use of extension twist coupling in composite rotor blades; and Improved finite element methods for rotorcraft structures. The final paper describes the primary facility operation by the branch, the Langley TDT.

Cole, Stanley R.↗