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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 289 records · Page 16

Noncompact source effect on the prediction of tone noise from a fan rotor

A comparison is made between the conventional compact source prediction for airfoil sound radiation and the rigorous prediction based on distributed sources along the airfoil chord. The theoretical analysis performed is for a single airfoil and cascaded airfoils immersed in a sinusoidally varying convected gust field. The pressure field around a single airfoil in supersonic gust flows is also studied. In subsonic flows the phase change of unsteady lift along the chord of a single airfoil reduces the sound radiation significantly in the upstream direction and increases the downstream radiation compared to the compact source prediction. In supersonic flows the compact source prediction gives substantial error in the region just behind the Mach wedge originating from the leading edge, while it approaches the noncompact source results far downstream from the airfoil. In the case of cascaded airfoils the compact source prediction overestimates the upstream radiation by as much as 20 dB depending on frequency and interblade phase.

Kaji, S.↗

Aeroelastic analysis of prop fan blades with a semiempirical dynamic stall model

The time-history response of a propfan wind-tunnel model with dynamic stall was studied analytically. The response obtained from the analysis was compared with available experimental data. The governing equations of motion were formulated in terms of blade normal modes calculated using the COSMIC-NASTRAN computer code. The response analysis considered the blade plunging and pitching motions. The lift, drag, and moment coefficients for angles of attack below the static stall angle were obtained from a quasi-steady theory. For angles above static stall angles, a semiempirical dynamic stall model based on a correction to the angle of attack was used to obtain lift, drag, and moment coefficients. Using these coefficients, the aerodynamic forces were calculated at a selected number of strips, and integrated to obtain the total generalized forces. The combined momentum-blade element theory was used to calculate the induced velocity. The semiempirical stall model predicted a limit cycle oscillation near the setting angle at which large vibratory stresses were observed in an experiment. The predicted mode and frequency of oscillation also agreed with those measured in the experiment near this setting angle. The results also correlated well with the other published data that used a semiempirical dynamic stall model based on a synthesized procedure.

Reddy, T. S. R.↗

Preliminary QCSEE program - Test results

Preliminary results are reported for the Quiet Clean Short-haul Experimental Engine (QCSEE) program initiated by NASA in 1974 to develop propulsion system technology suitable for powered-lift short-range commercial aircraft. The QCSEE technology also has applications to the proposed U.S. Navy V/STOL aircraft. Emphasis in the QCSEE program is placed on developing engines with low noise characteristics; in addition, the power plants are required to conform to EPA 1979 pollutant emissions standards. Thrust performance, fan design, and thrust/weight ratio are discussed for both the over-the-wing and under-the-wing engine configurations under study.

Ciepluch, C. C.↗

Propulsion system sizing for powered lift and mechanical flap quiet aircraft

A method of propulsion system sizing for mechanical flap and externally blown flap aircraft is demonstrated. Included in this study is the effect of various levels of noise suppression on the aircraft final design characteristics. Both aircraft are sized to operate from a 3000-ft runway and perform the same mission. For each aircraft concept, propulsion system sizing is demonstrated for two different engine cycles - one having a fan pressure ratio of 1.5 and a bypass ratio of 9 and the other having a fan pressure ratio of 1.25 and a bypass ratio of 17.8. The results presented include the required thrust to weight ratio and wing loading and the resulting gross weight and direct operating costs as functions of the engine noise level for each of the four combinations of engine cycles and aircraft concepts.

Bowles, J. V.↗

A Review of Distributed Electric Propulsion Concepts for Air Vehicle Technology

The emergence of distributed electric propulsion (DEP) concepts for aircraft systems has enabled new capabilities in the overall efficiency, capabilities, and robustness of future air vehicles. Distributed electric propulsion systems feature the novel approach of utilizing electrically-driven propulsors which are only connected electrically to energy sources or power-generating devices. As a result, propulsors can be placed, sized, and operated with greater flexibility to leverage the synergistic benefits of aero-propulsive coupling and provide improved performance over more traditional designs. A number of conventional aircraft concepts that utilize distributed electric propulsion have been developed, along with various short and vertical takeoff and landing platforms. Careful integration of electrically-driven propulsors for boundary-layer ingestion can allow for improved propulsive efficiency and wake-filling benefits. The placement and configuration of propulsors can also be used to mitigate the trailing vortex system of a lifting surface or leverage increases in dynamic pressure across blown surfaces for increased lift performance. Additionally, the thrust stream of distributed electric propulsors can be utilized to enable new capabilities in vehicle control, including reducing requirements for traditional control surfaces and increasing tolerance of the vehicle control system to engine-out or propulsor-out scenarios. If one or more turboelectric generators and multiple electric fans are used, the increased effective bypass ratio of the whole propulsion system can also enable lower community noise during takeoff and landing segments of flight and higher propulsive efficiency at all conditions. Furthermore, the small propulsors of a DEP system can be installed to leverage an acoustic shielding effect by the airframe, which can further reduce noise signatures. The rapid growth in flight-weight electrical systems and power architectures has provided new enabling technologies for future DEP concepts, which provide flexible operational capabilities far beyond those of current systems. While a number of integration challenges exist, DEP is a disruptive concept that can lead to unprecedented improvements in future aircraft designs.

electric propulsion↗

Powered low-aspect-ratio Wing In Ground effect (WIG) aerodynamic characteristics

A wing-in-ground effect configuration was investigated. The configuration used large diameter, low pressure ratio fans mounted about 0.76 wing chord ahead of the wing leading edge to achieve a power augmented ram wing during operation in ground effect. Tests of both in and out of ground effect aerodynamic transition characteristics from very low speeds to cruise speeds are described. The investigation provided a number of conclusions concerning the aerodynamic/propulsive performance interaction. While power augmented lift is required for low speed flight, there is a thrust loss when the efflux is trapped under the wing which reduced the effective thrust to weight available for acceleration by about a third of the installed thrust to weight ratio.

Thomas, J. L.↗

NASA's Space Launch System: Positioning Assets for Tele-Robotic Operations

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is designing and developing America's most capable launch vehicle to support high-priority human and scientific exploration beyond Earth's orbit. The Space Launch System (SLS) will initially lift 70 metric tons (t) on its first flights, slated to begin in 2017, and will be evolved after 2021 to a full 130-t capability-larger than the Saturn V Moon rocket. This superior lift and associated volume capacity will support game-changing exploration in regions that were previously unattainable, being too costly and risky to reach. On the International Space Station, astronauts are training for long-duration missions to asteroids and cis-martian regions, but have not had transportation out of Earth's orbit - until now. Simultaneously, productive rovers are sending scientists - and space fans - unprecedented information about the composition and history of Mars, the planet thought to be most like Earth. This combination of experience and information is laying the foundation for future missions, such as those outlined in NASA's "Mars Next Decade" report, that will rely on te1e-robotic operations to take exploration to the next level. Within this paradigm, NASA's Space Launch System stands ready to manifest the unique payloads that will be required for mission success. Ultimately, the ability to position assets - ranging from orbiters, to landers, to communication satellites and surface systems - is a critical step in broadening the reach of technological innovation that will benefit all Earth's people as the Space Age unfolds. This briefing will provide an overview of how the Space Launch System will support delivery of elements for tele-robotic operations at destinations such as the Moon and Mars, which will synchronize the human-machine interface to deliver hybrid on-orbit capabilities. Ultimately, telerobotic operations will open entirely new vistas and the doors of discovery. NASA's Space Launch System will be a safe, affordable, and sustainable platform for these purposes and more.

May, Todd A.↗

An Experiment to Study Sporadic Atom Layers in the Earth's Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere (SAL)

The Sudden Atom Layer (SAL) Rocket was successfully launched in February 1998. All instruments worked well except those supplied by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. (A dummy weight was launched for the neutral mass spectrometer and the ion version died shortly after lift-off.) A paper has already been published in GRL concerning the dust layer detected by an on board instrument and compared to ground-based observations made at the Arecibo Observatory by Cornell graduate student S. Collins (lidar) and Q. Zhou (radar). Collins presented a comparison of the sodium lidar data and onboard observations with a theoretical model by Plane and Cox at the Fan AGU Meeting. In addition Gelinas and Kelley presented a review paper dealing with the entire SAL instrument complement at the same meeting. An unexpected new explanation for the outer scale of E region plasma irregularities has come out of the data set. We anticipate at least a total of four papers will be published within a year of launch.

Kelley, Michael C.↗

Thrust Characteristics of Multiple Lifting Jets in Ground Proximity

An investigation has been made to determine the thrust characteristics within ground proximity of a series of models which might represent vertical take-off-and-landing (VTOL) aircraft with multiple exit jet engines exhausting vertically downward beneath a lifting surface. Variations in simulated engine configurations were provided by a series of nozzle insert plugs in which the number of jet exits, located symmetrically on a fixed circle, was varied, or the diameter of the circle was varied for a given number of jet exits. represent lifting surfaces, and high-pressure air was used to simulate jet-engine exhaust. Plywood plates were used to The results of the investigation showed that increasing the number of exits, such that an annular jet configuration was approached, provided more favorable thrust characteristics within ground proximity than any other variation in the geometry of these multiple jets. Tests of a configuration with two nozzles approximating a fan-in-wing VTOL aircraft with fans located at different spanwise locations indicated that the augmentation in thrust within ground proximity was greater for the arrangement with the more inboard location of the nozzles.

Davenport, Edwin E.↗

Recent Progress in V/STOL Aircraft Technology

Results from wind tunnel and flight tests investigations for V/STOL aircraft are reviewed. Primary emphasis is given to technical results relating to three types of subsonic aircraft: a quiet STOL aircraft; a tilt rotor aircraft; and a turbofan V/STOL aircraft. Comparison and correlation between theoretical and experimental results and between wind tunnel and flight test results, is made. The quiet STOL aircraft technology results are primarily those derived from the NASA/Boeing Quiet Short Haul Technology (QSRA) program. The QSRA aircraft uses an upper surface blown flap and develops a usable engine-out landing approach lift coefficient of 5.5 and landing distances less than 1,000 ft. The tilt rotor aircraft technology results are those obtained from the NASA/Army/Navy/Bell (XV-15-TRRA) aircraft flight investigations. The TRRA is a twin rotor research aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing and cruise speeds of 300 knots. The turbofan V/STOL aircraft technology results are from static ground facility and wind tunnel investigations of a NASA/NAVY/Grumman full scale lift/cruise fan aircraft model, which features two tilting nacelles with TF-34 engines.

Roberts, L.↗

NASA Icing Update – Oct 2024

This presentation provides a status update on select NASA icing research activities for the SAE AC-9C Icing Technical Committee Meeting on Oct 21, 2024. The updates include the following topics: (1) Transonic Truss-Braced Wing Icing, (2) High-Lift Common Research Model Icing (3) Adaptive Icing Tunnel (AIT), (4) Advanced Air Mobility Icing, (5) GlennICE, (6) List of NASA Icing papers/presentations from 2024 AIAA Aviation Conference.

Icing↗

AV-95 Sun Devil: High-Speed Military Rotorcraft

The AV-95 Sun Devil must combine helicopter capabilities, such as vertical takeoff and landings (VTOL) and rotor-powered flight, along with long-duration cruise and high-speed dash capabilities unobtainable by conventional helicopters. To be able to perform both tasks, and perform them well, the AV-95 Sun Devil design incorporates several unconventional devices; the AV-95 uses two convertible turbofan engines, able to provide both shaft power for the main rotor and tall fan as well as jet thrust either separately or simultaneously. Other devices used for the AV-95 include a variable diameter main rotor and a blown flap. In helicopter mode, the AV-95 Sun Devil performs like a winged helicopter. The addition of wings to an attack helicopter results in two significant advantages. First, the addition of wings makes a helicopter more maneuverable than a wingless, but otherwise similar helicopter. Second, since the wings produce lift, rotor stall and compressibility effects can be significantly delayed at high tip velocities. In fixed-wing mode, the main rotor is completely off-loaded but slightly powered, and the rotor diameter has been minimized. The AV-95 Sun Devil has many advantages over other VTOL aircraft. The conversion process is simple and fast; conversion does not make the AV-95 vulnerable to enemy attack during conversion such as a tilt-wing or a tilt-rotor. Stop-rotor aircraft and a stowed rotor aircraft require heavy breaking of the rotor for conversion; this adds time for conversion and weight to the aircraft. Because the AV-95 never stops the rotor in flight, much weight is spared, and conversion is much simpler and faster.

Source record↗

Results of static tests of a 1/4 scale model of the Boeing YC-14 powered-lift system

One quarter scale static ground tests of the Boeing YC-14 powered lift system were conducted for correlation with full scale test results. The 1/4 scale model utilized a JT-15D turbofan engine to represent the CF6-50D engine employed on the YC-14 advanced medium STOL transport prototype aircraft. The tests included evaluation of static turning performance, static surface pressure and temperature distributions, fluctuating loads, and accelerations of portions of the wing, flaps, and fuselage. Results are presented for the landing flap configuration over an appropriate range of fan pressure ratio as affected by several variables including ground height and vortex generator modifications. Static turning angles of the order of 60 deg were obtained. The highest surface pressures and temperatures were concentrated over the upper surface of the flaps in the region immediately aft of the upper surface blown nozzle.

Hassell, J. L., Jr.↗

Numerical Simulation of an Enclosed Laminar Jet Diffusion Flame in Microgravity Environment: Comparison with ELF Data

Enclosed diffusion flames are commonly found in practical combustion systems, such as the power-plant combustor, gas turbine combustor, and jet engine after-burner. In these systems, fuel is injected into a duct with a co-flowing or cross-flowing air stream. The diffusion flame is found at the surface where the fuel jet and oxygen meet, react, and consume each other. In combustors, this flame is anchored at the burner (i.e., fuel jet inlet) unless adverse conditions cause the flame to lift off or blow out. Investigations of burner stability study the lift off, reattachment, and blow out of the flame. Flame stability is strongly dependent on the fuel jet velocity. When the fuel jet velocity is sufficiently low, the diffusion flame anchors at the burner rim. When the fuel jet velocity is increased, the flame base gradually moves downstream. However, when the fuel jet velocity increases beyond a critical value, the flame base abruptly jumps downstream. When this "jump" occurs, the flame is said to have reached its lift-off condition and the critical fuel jet velocity is called the lift-off velocity. While lifted, the flame is not attached to the burner and it appears to float in mid-air. Flow conditions are such that the flame cannot be maintained at the burner rim despite the presence of both fuel and oxygen. When the fuel jet velocity is further increased, the flame will eventually extinguish at its blowout condition. In contrast, if the fuel jet velocity of a lifted flame is reduced, the flame base moves upstream and abruptly returns to anchor at the burner rim. The fuel jet velocity at reattachment can be much lower than that at lift off, illustrating the hysteresis effect present in flame stability. Although there have been numerous studies of flame stability, the controlling mechanisms are not well understood. This uncertainty is described by Pitts in his review of various competing theories of lift off and blow out in turbulent jet diffusion flames. There has been some research on the stability of laminar flames, but most studies have focused on turbulent flames. It is also well known that the airflow around the fuel jet can significantly alter the lift off, reattachment and blow out of the jet diffusion flame. Buoyant convection is sufficiently strong in 1-g flames that it can dominate the flow-field, even at the burner rim. In normal-gravity testing, it is very difficult to delineate the effects of the forced airflow from those of the buoyancy-induced flow. Comparison of normal-gravity and microgravity flames provides clear indication of the influence of forced and buoyant flows on the flame stability. The overall goal of the Enclosed Laminar Flames (ELF) investigation (STS-87/USMP-4 Space Shuttle mission, November to December 1997) is to improve our understanding of the effects of buoyant convection on the structure and stability of co-flow diffusion flame, e.g., see http://zeta.lerc.nasa.gov/expr/elf.htm. The ELF hardware meets the experiment hardware limit of the 35-liter interior volume of the glovebox working area, and the 180x220-mm dimensions of the main door. The ELF experiment module is a miniature, fan-driven wind tunnel, equipped with a gas supply system. A 1.5-mm diameter nozzle is located on the duct's flow axis. The cross section of the duct is nominally a 76-mm square with rounded corners. The forced air velocity can be varied from about 0.2 to 0.9 m/s. The fuel flow can be set as high as 3 std. cubic centimeter (cc) per second, which corresponds to a nozzle exit velocity of up to 1.70 m/s. The ELF hardware and experimental procedure are discussed in detail in Brooker et al. The 1-g test results are repeated in several experiments following the STS-87 Mission. The ELF study is also relevant to practical systems because the momentum-dominated behavior of turbulent flames can be achieved in laminar flames in microgravity. The specific objectives of this paper are to evaluate the use reduced model for simulation of flame lift-off and blowout.

Jia, Kezhong↗

Dynamic response of two composite prop-fan models on a nacelle/wing/fuselage half model

Results are presented for blade response wind tunnel tests of two 62.2 cm diameter Prop-Fan (advanced turboprop) models with swept and unswept graphite/epoxy composite blades. Measurements of dynamic response were made with the rotors mounted on a simulated nacelle/wing/fuselage model, with varying tilt, at flow speeds up to 0.85 Mach number. The presence of the wing, downstream of the rotor, induced 1-P responses that were about twice those previously measured for an isolated nacelle installation. The swept blade had less 1-P response than the unswept (straight) blade. The 2-P response was significant for both blades, and was closely correlated to wing lift. Higher order response was not important for the straight blade, but possibly important for the swept blade near critical speeds, due to the proximity of the blade tips to the wing leading edge. Measurements are compared with theoretically based prediction. Correlations between calculated and measured 1-P response were good for the straight blade, and fair for the swept blade. Improvements to the calculation method were identified and implemented.

Smith, Arthur F.↗

Weight estimates for Quiet/STOL aircraft

Attention is drawn to the dependence of Q/STOL weight estimation relationships on design acoustic level, engine selection, high-lift concept, design criteria such as field lengths, range, speed and payload, aircraft geometry, and design constraints such as vehicle cost and fuel prices. Weight estimate considerations with associated configuration and design details are presented. Typical weight estimating relationships being used in a NASA study contract are also included. Some representative future applications of Q/STOL concepts are visualized as (1) fuel conservative configurations utilizing STOL high-life concepts for obtaining relatively higher wing loadings during cruise, and (2) low-wing loading aircraft configurations with short-range, low-passenger capacity, and low fan-passenger-ratio turbo-fan engines for a future interurban air transportation market.

Patterson, R. W.↗

Design and construction of a remote piloted flying wing

Currently, there is a need for a high-speed, high-lift civilian transport. Although unconventional, a flying wing could fly at speeds in excess of Mach 2 and still retain the capacity of a 747. The design of the flying wing is inherently unstable since it lacks a fuselage and a horizontal tail. The project goal was to design, construct, fly, and test a remote-piloted scale model flying wing. The project was completed as part of the NASA/USRA Advanced Aeronautics Design Program. These unique restrictions required us to implement several fundamental design changes from last year's Elang configuration including wing sweepback and wingtip endplates. Unique features such as a single ducted fan engine, composite structural materials, and an electrostatic stability system were incorporated. The result is the Banshee '94. Our efforts will aid future projects in design and construction techniques so that a viable flying wing can become an integral part of the aviation industry.

Costa, Alfred J.↗

Matching Experimental And Analytical Aerodynamic Data

Three methods of calculating correction factors developed to match steady lifting distributions of pressure, forces and moments on airfoil sections, and total forces and moments. Data for rectangular supercritical wing tested in NASA Langley Research Center Transonic Dynamics Tunnel used to determine correction factors to match distributions of surface pressure for mach numbers ranging from 0.266 to 0.8. These correction factors also applied to calculations of unsteady aerodynamic flow, and comparisons made with oscillatory experimental data for range of reduced frequencies at several mach numbers. Methods of combining analytical and experimental data should lead to more-accurate predictions of performance of airfoils. Also applied to such airfoils as those in gas-turbine engines, fans, and wind turbines.

Wieseman, Carol D.↗