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At least 289 records · Page 16

Best-range flight conditions for cruise-climb flight of a jet aircraft

The Breguet range equation was developed for cruise climb flight of a jet aircraft to include the climb angle and is then maximized with respect to the no wind true airspeed. The expression for the best range airspeed is a function of the specific fuel consumption and minimum drag airspeed and indicates that an operational airspeed equal to the fourth root of three times the minimum-drag airspeed introduces range penalties of the order of one percent.

Hale, F. J.↗

The role of finite-difference methods in design and analysis for supersonic cruise

Finite-difference methods for analysis of steady, inviscid supersonic flows are described, and their present state of development is assessed with particular attention to their applicability to vehicles designed for efficient cruise flight. Current work is described which will allow greater geometric latitude, improve treatment of embedded shock waves, and relax the requirement that the axial velocity must be supersonic.

Townsend, J. C.↗

Simulator study of the low-speed handling qualities of a supersonic cruise arrow-wing transport configuration during approach and landing

A fixed-based simulator study was conducted to determine the low-speed flight characteristics of an advanced supersonic cruise transport having an arrow wing, a horizontal tail, and four dry turbojets with variable geometry turbines. The primary piloting task was the approach and landing. The statically unstable (longitudinally) subject configuration has unacceptable low-speed handling qualities with no augmentation. Therefore, a hardened stability augmentation system is required to achieve acceptable handling qualities, should the normal operational stability and control augmentation system fail. In order to achieve satisfactory handling qualities, considerable augmentation was required.

Grantham, W. D.↗

Supersonic cruise inlets for variable-cycle engines

The performance of candidate supersonic cruise inlets is reviewed and the aerodynamic installation penalties for each type are defined. The main characteristics that affect the airflow schedules of variable cycle engines are defined. These schedules are compared with the airflow schedules of the candidate inlets, and appropriate inlets are matched to the variable-cycle engine characteristics. Auxiliary inlets are also considered.

Bowditch, D. N.↗

Aeroacoustic studies of coannular nozzles suitable for supersonic cruise aircraft applications

Research programs were conducted to investigate experimentally the aeroacoustic characteristics of scale model, inverted-velocity profile coannular nozzles. These programs include studies of unsuppressed configurations with and without center plugs over a variety of radius ratios and area ratios. Also included are suppressed configurations, the effect of ejectors, and some simulated flight effects. Unsuppressed inverted-velocity profile coannular nozzles seem to allow jet mixing noise compliance with present FAR-36 regulations when applied to supersonic cruise aircraft engine cycles. Simulated flight tests suggest that the aeroacoustic benefits of the inverted-velocity profile coannular nozzles would be maintained in flight.

Gutierrez, O.↗

Technology for controlling emissions of oxides of nitrogen from supersonic cruise aircraft

Various experiments are sponsored and conducted by NASA to explore the potential of advanced combustion techniques for controlling aircraft engine emissions into the upper atmosphere. Of particular concern are the oxide of nitrogen (NOx) emissions into the stratosphere. The experiments utilize a wide variety of approaches varying from advanced combustor concepts to fundamental flame tube experiments. Results are presented which indicate that substantial reductions in cruise NOx emissions should be achievable in future aircraft engines. A major NASA program is described which focuses the many fundamental experiments into a planned evolution and demonstration of the prevaporized-premixed combustion technique in a full-scale engine.

Reck, G. M.↗

Titanium and advanced composite structures for a supersonic cruise arrow wing configuration

Structural design studies were made, based on current technology and on an estimate of technology to be available in the mid 1980's, to assess the relative merits of structural concepts and materials for an advanced arrow wing configuration cruising at Mach 2.7. Preliminary studies were made to insure compliance of the configuration with general design criteria, integrate the propulsion system with the airframe, and define an efficient structural arrangement. Material and concept selection, detailed structural analysis, structural design and airplane mass analysis were completed based on current technology. Based on estimated future technology, structural sizing for strength and a preliminary assessment of the flutter of a strength designed composite structure were completed. An advanced computerized structural design system was used, in conjunction with a relatively complex finite element model, for detailed analysis and sizing of structural members.

Turner, M. J.↗

Computer-aided methods for analysis and synthesis of supersonic cruise aircraft structures

Computer-aided methods are reviewed which are being developed by Langley Research Center in-house work and by related grants and contracts. Synthesis methods to size structural members to meet strength and stiffness (flutter) requirements are emphasized and described. Because of the strong interaction among the aerodynamic loads, structural stiffness, and member sizes of supersonic cruise aircraft structures, these methods are combined into systems of computer programs to perform design studies. The approaches used in organizing these systems to provide efficiency, flexibility of use in an iterative process, and ease of system modification are discussed.

Giles, G. L.↗

Structural design studies of a supersonic cruise arrow wing configuration

Structural member cross sections were sized with a system of integrated computer programs to satisfy strength and flutter design requirements for several variants of the arrow wing supersonic cruise vehicle. The resulting structural weights provide a measure of the structural efficiency of the planform geometry, structural layout, type of construction, and type of material including composites. The material distribution was determined for a baseline metallic structure and the results indicate that an approximate fatigue constraint has an important effect on the structural weight required for strength but, in all cases, additional material had to be added to satisfy flutter requirements with lighter mass engines with minimum fuel onboard. The use of composite materials on the baseline configuration was explored and indicated increased structural efficiency. In the strength sizing, the all-composite construction provided a lower weight design than the hybrid construction which contained composites only in the wing cover skins. Subsequent flutter analyses indicated a corresponding lower flutter speed.

Sobieszczanski, J.↗

Fatigue of titanium alloys in a supersonic-cruise airplane environment

The test programs conducted by several aerospace companies and NASA, summarized in this paper, studied several titanium materials previously identified as having high potential for application to supersonic cruise airplane structures. These studies demonstrate that the temperature (560 K) by itself produced no significant degradation of the materials. However, the fatigue resistance of titanium-alloy structures, in which thermal and loading effects are combined, has been studied insufficiently. The predominant topic for future study of fatigue problems in Mach 3 structures should be the influences of thermal stress particularly, the effects of thermal stress on failure location.

Imig, L. A.↗

Design feasibility of an advanced technology supersonic cruise aircraft

Research and development programs provide confidence that technology is in-hand to design an economically attractive, environmentally sound supersonic cruise aircraft for commercial operations. The principal results of studies and tests are described including those which define the selection of significant design features. These typically include the results of: (1) wind-tunnel tests, both subsonic and supersonic, (2) propulsion performance and acoustic tests on noise suppressors, including forward-flight effects, (3) studies of engine/airframe integration, which lead to the selection of engine cycles/sizes to meet future market, economic, and social requirements; and (4) structural testing.

Rowe, W. T.↗

Structural design of supersonic cruise aircraft

The major efforts leading to an efficient structural design include: (1) the analysis methods used to improve the structural model optimization and compare the structural concepts, (2) the analysis and description of the fail-safe, crack growth, and residual strength studies and tests, (3) baseline structural trade studies to determine optimum structural weights including effects of geometry changes, strength, fail-safety, aeroelastics and flutter, 6AL-4V annealed titanium in structural efficiency after 70,000 hours at temperature, (5) the study of three structural models for aircraft at 2.0 Mach, 2.2 Mach, and 2.4 Mach cruise speeds, (6) the study of many structural concepts to determine their weight efficiencies; and (7) the determination of the requirements for large-scale structural development testing.

Fischler, J. E.↗

Design and performance of energy efficient propellers for Mach 0.8 cruise

The increased emphasis on fuel conservation in the world has stimulated a series of studies of both conventional and unconventional propulsion systems for commercial aircraft. Preliminary results from these studies indicate that a fuel saving of 14 to 40 percent may be realized by the use of an advanced high-speed turboprop. This turboprop must be capable of high efficiency at Mach 0.8 cruise above 9.144 km altitude if it is to compete with turbofan powered commercial aircraft. Several advanced aerodynamic concepts were investigated in recent wind tunnel tests under NASA sponsorship on two propeller models. These concepts included aerodynamically integrated propeller/nacelles, area ruling, blade sweep, reduced blade thickness and power (disk) loadings several times higher than conventional designs. The aerodynamic design methodology for these models is discussed. In addition, some of the preliminary test results are presented which indicate that propeller net efficiencies near 80 percent were obtained for high disk loading propellers operating at Mach 0.8.

Mikkelson, D. C.↗

Low speed wind tunnel tests of 1/10-scale model of a blended-arrow supersonic cruise aircraft

Low speed static force tests have been conducted in a full scale tunnel to determine the low speed aerodynamic characteristics of a 1/10-scale model of a blended-arrow supersonic cruise aircraft. A clean configuration and a high lift configuration with several combinations of leading- and trailing-edge flaps to provide improved lift and longitudinal stability in the landing and takeoff modes were used. The tests were made at angles of attack from about -6 deg to 30 deg, sideslip angles from -5 deg to 10 deg, and Reynolds numbers from 6.78 x 1 million to 13.85 x 1 million corresponding to test velocities of 41 to 85 knots.

Mclemore, H. C.↗

Low-speed wind tunnel tests of 1/9-scale model of a variable-sweep supersonic cruise aircraft

Tests were conducted in the Langley full-scale tunnel to determine the aerodynamic characteristics at low subsonic speeds of a 1/9-scale model of a variable-sweep supersonic cruise aircraft. The model configurations investigated were the basic unflapped arrangement, a take-off flap arrangement, and a landing flap arrangement with several strake leading-edge flow control devices. The tests were conducted at angles of attack from about -5 to 36 deg, sideslip angles from -5 to 10 deg.

Mclemore, H. C.↗

Experimental and analytical investigations to improve low-speed performance and stability and control characteristics of supersonic cruise fighter vehicles

Small- and large-scale models of supersonic cruise fighter vehicles were used to determine the effectiveness of airframe/propulsion integration concepts for improved low-speed performance and stability and control characteristics. Computer programs were used for engine/airframe sizing studies to yield optimum vehicle performance.

Graham, A. B.↗

Low-speed wind tunnel investigation of an advanced supersonic cruise arrow-wing configuration

A preliminary assessment of possible means for improving the low speed aerodynamic characteristics of advanced supersonic cruise arrow wing configurations and to extend the existing data base of such configurations has been made. Principle configuration variables included wing-leading and trailing-edge flap deflection, fuselage nose strakes, and engine exhaust nozzle deflection. Results showed that deflecting the wing leading edge apex flaps downward provided improved longitudinal stability but resulted in reduced directional stability. The model exhibited relatively low values of directional stability over the operational angle of attack range and experienced large asymmetric yawing moments at high angles of attack. The use of nose strakes was found to be effective in increasing the directional stability and eliminating the asymmetric yawing moment.

Coe, P. L., Jr.↗

Subsonic and supersonic aerodynamic characteristics of a supersonic cruise fighter model with a twisted and cambered wing with 74 deg sweep

A wind tunnel investigation has been conducted to determine the longitudinal and lateral aerodynamic characteristics of a model of a supersonic cruise fighter configuration with a design Mach number of 2.60. The configuration is characterized by a highly swept arrow wing twisted and cambered to minimize supersonic drag due to lift, twin wing mounted vertical tails, and an aft mounted integral underslung duel-engine pod. The investigation also included tests of the configuration with larger outboard vertical tails and with small nose strakes.

Morris, O. A.↗