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At least 307 records · Page 17

A powered lift experiment for CFD validation

The transitional flight characteristics of a geometrically simplified STOVL aircraft configuration were measured in the NASA Ames 7- by 10-Foot Wind Tunnel. The experiment is the first in a sequence of tests designed to provide detailed data for evaluating the capability of computational fluid dynamics methods to predict the important flow parameters for powered lift. The model consists of a 60-deg delta wing planform with two circular high-pressure air jets located in a blended fuselage. The measured flows have a maximum freestream Mach number of 0.2. The flow is sonic and at ambient temperature in both jets. The data presented include forces and moments measured using an internal balance, pressures measured at the 281 surface pressure ports, and jet pressures and temperatures. Measurements of the flow are also made in the tunnel test section upstream and downstream of the model and at the jet exists to provide boundary conditions for the planned computations.

Roth, Karlin R.↗

The Effect of Solid Admixtures on the Velocity of Motion of a Free Dusty Air Jet

In dusty air flows occurring in industrial practice in transport by air pressure of friable materials, in the drying, annealing, and so forth, of a pulverized solid mass in suspension, and in other processes, the concentration of solid particles usually has a magnitude of the order of 1 kg per 1 kg of air. At such a concentration, the ratio of the volume of the particles to the volume of the air is small (less than one-thousandth part). However, regardless of this, the presence of a solid admixture manifests itself in the rules for the velocity distribution of the air in a dusty air flow. As a result, the rules of velocity change are different for clean and for dusty air flows. The estimation of the influence of the admixture on the velocity of the motion of the flow presents a definitive interest. One of the attempts to estimate that influence on the axial velocity of a free axially symmetrical jet with admixtures was made by Abramovich. Abramovich assumed beforehand that the fine particles of the admixture in the jet are subject to the motion of the air (that is, that the velocity of the admixture is approximately equal to the local velocity of the air); he then took as the basis of his considerations, in solving the problem, the condition that the amount of motion of the two-phase jet must be constant.

Chernov, A. P.↗

Pressure-Sensitive Paint Applied to Ice Accretions

Aircraft icing occurs when a plane flies through a cloud of supercooled water droplets. When the droplets impinge on aircraft components, ice starts to form and accumulate. This accumulation of ice severely increases the drag and lift of the aircraft, and can ultimately lead to catastrophic failures and even loss of life. Knowledge of the air pressures on the surfaces of ice and models in wind tunnels allows researchers to better predict the effects that different icing conditions will have on the performance of real aircraft. The use of pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) has provided valuable information on similar problems in conventional wind tunnel testing. In NASA Lewis Research Center Icing Research Tunnel, Lewis researchers recently demonstrated the world s first application of PSP on actual ice formed on a wind tunnel model. This proof-of-concept test showed that a new paint formulation developed under a grant by the University of Washington adheres to both the ice shapes and cold aluminum models, provides a uniform coating that preserves the detailed ice shape structure, and responds to simulated pressure changes.

Bencic, Timothy J.↗

Additive manufacturing of complexly shaped SiC with high density via extrusion-based technique – Effects of slurry thixotropic behavior and 3D printing parameters

Here, additive manufacturing of dense SiC parts was achieved via an extrusion-based process followed by electrical-field assisted pressure-less sintering. The aim of this research was to study the effect of the rheological behavior of SiC slurry on the printing process and quality, as well as the influence of 3D printing parameters on the dimensions of the extruded filament, which are directly related to the printing precision and quality. Different solid contents and dispersant- Darvan 821A concentrations were studied to optimize the viscosity, thixotropy and sedimentation rate of the slurry. The optimal slurry was composed of 77.5 wt% SiC, Y 2 O 3 and Al 2 O 3 powders, 0.25 wt% dispersant and 0.01 wt% defoamer. The printing parameters studied included extrusion pressure, nozzle size, layer height and printing speed; the one that had the most prominent effect on filament width and height was indicated as layer height. The nozzle inner diameter of 1.04 mm, speed of 350 mm/min, layer height of 0.7 mm and extrusion air pressure of 0.31 MPa were the optimal printing parameters. Furthermore, the relationship between the printing parameters and the filament dimensions was successfully predicted by using machine learning and grey system theory. Finally, the relative density of the printed SiC parts sintered at 1900 oC reached 94.7±1.5%.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Boundary-layer separation on isolated boattail nozzles

An angle of attack of 0 deg was investigated in the Langley 16 foot transonic tunnel at free-stream Mach numbers from 0.40 to 0.95 to study the phenomenon of separated flow on a series of circular-arc afterbodies. Both high-pressure air and solid circular cylinders with the cylinder diameter equal to the nozzle-exit diameter were used to simulate jet exhausts. The results indicate that boundary-layer separation is most extensive on steep boattails at high Mach numbers. The jet total-pressure ratio changes (jet total pressure to free-stream static pressure) affected the extent of separation very little; however, comparison of the separation data obtained by using the two jet-simulation techniques indicate that entrainment associated with the presence of a jet had a significant effect on the extent of separation. The solid-simulator separation data were also used to evaluate the predictions of eight separation criteria.

Abeyounis, W. K.↗

Conformable, Composite Tank for Liquid Hydrogen Storage in Heavy-duty Ground Transportation

Raytheon Technologies Research Center (RTRC), with its partners, Argonne National Labs and University of Dayton Research Institute proposed to design and manufacture a conformable composite tank prototype to store liquid Hydrogen (LH2) for heavy-duty truck applications. A dual-wall tank concept was proposed where an outer shell covers and protects an inner pressure vessel that stores liquid hydrogen. The inner pressure vessel is liner-less and designed with a conformable concept, derived from prior RTRC ARPA-E program where multiple vessels are coalesced into one, maximizing space utilization and reducing surface area for heat leak. The gap between the dual wall is evacuated of air pressure, and filled with multi-layer insulation to minimize radiative heat transfer. Fiber reinforced composites were proposed for light-weighting and conformable shape manufacture. To minimize LH2 leakage, carbon nanotubes-infused composites were proposed, in addition to use of thin plies. The project was divided into two 18-month budget periods (BP), BP1 and BP2, separated by a Go/No-Go gate review. The high-level goal for BP1 was to demonstrate the feasibility of the overall approach, the tank design, material selection, and manufacturing methodology, build and test a prototype tank; and the goal for BP2 was to design and manufacture a conformal tank per DOE requirements (minimum 20 kg of LH2) and perform a successful test of the tank. The program was terminated about two-thirds of the way through BP1. The outcome of this program would have permitted long-haul trucks and construction vehicles to use liquid Hydrogen, reducing the emission of green-house gases. This technology is applicable to other transportation sectors as well.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Method development for compensating temperature effects in pressure sensitive paint measurements

Pressure sensitive luminescent paints (PSP) have recently emerged as a viable technique for aerodynamic pressure measurements. The technique uses a surface coating which contains probe molecules that luminesce when excited by light of an appropriate wavelength. The photoluminescence of these materials is known to be quenched by the presence of molecular oxygen. Since oxygen is a fixed mole fraction of the air, the coating's luminescence intensity varies inversely with air pressure. Digital imaging of the luminescence varying across a coated surface produces a pressure distribution map over that surface. One difficulty encountered with this technique is the temperature effect on the luminescence intensity. Present PSP formulations have significant sensitivity to temperature. At the moment, the most practical way of correcting for temperature effects is to calibrate the paint in place at the operating temperatures by using a few well-placed pressure taps. This study is looking at development of temperature indicating coatings that can be applied and measured concurrently with PSP, and use the temperature measurement to compute the correct pressure. Two methods for this dual paint formulation are proposed. One method will use a coating that consists of temperature sensitive phosphors in a polymer matrix. This is similar in construction to PSP, except that the probe molecules used are selected primarily for their temperature sensitivity. Both organic phosphors (e.g., europium thenoyltrifluoroacetonate, bioprobes) and inorganic phosphors (e.g., Mg4(F)GeO6:Mn, La2O2S:Eu, Radelin Type phosphors, Sylvania Type phosphors) will be evaluated for their temperature sensing potential. The next method will involve a novel coating composing of five membered heterocyclic conducting polymers which are known to show temperature dependent luminescence (e.g., poly(3-alkylthiopene), poly(3-alkylselenophene), poly(3-alkylfuran)). Both methods will involve applying a bottom layer of temperature sensitive coating followed by a top coating of PSP. An oxygen-impermeable polymer can be used as the temperature sensitive coating matrix, or it can be layered in between the coatings to prevent oxygen quenching of the bottom coating's luminescence. The probe molecules of the coatings will be excited by a broad band of light, with the different emissions detected and measured at their distinct wavelengths. Developmental research of these coatings is still in progress; however, preliminary results look very promising.

Demandante, Carlo Greg N.↗

Performance of an Experimental Annular Turbojet Combustor with Methane and Propane

Combustion efficiencies obtained with gaseous methane were compared with reported data obtained with gaseous propane for the same experimental combustor configuration. The combustion efficiencies obtained with methane were 98, 91, and 77 percent at simulated flight altitudes of 56,000, 70,000 and 80,000 feet, corresponding to combustor inlet-air pressures from 15 to 5 inches of mercury absolute. Combustion efficiencies with propane were equivalent to those with methane up to a simulated altitude of 70,000 feet. At the most severe conditions investigated propane operated with a higher efficiency and over a wider range of fuel-air ratio than methane.

Norgren, Carl T↗

Performance and Operational Characteristics of a Python Turbine-propeller Engine at Simulated Altitude Conditions / Carl L. Meyer and Lavern A. Johnson

The performance and operational characteristics of a Python turbine propeller engine have been investigated over a range of engine operating conditions at simulated altitudes from 5000 to 40,000 feet in the NACA Lewis altitude wind tunnel . For the performance phase of the investigation, a single cowl-inlet ram pressure ratio was maintained and independent control of engine speed and fuel flow was used to obtain a range of power at each engine speed. Engine performance data obtained at a given altitude could not be used to predict performance accurately at other altitudes by use of the standard air pressure and temperature generalizing factors. Specific fuel consumption based on shaft horsepower decreased as the shaft horsepower increased at a given engine speed. At a given altitude condition and turbine -inlet total temperature, there was an optimum engine speed at which maximum shaft horsepower was obtained. At a given engine speed and turbine-inlet total temperature, a greater portion of the total available energy was converted to propulsive power as the altitude increased. Windmilling starts were made at altitudes up to 40,000 feet; the minimum true airspeed required for successful windmilling starts increased as the altitude was raised. In general, the engine control prevented large overshoots or undershoots of engine speed during starts, accelerations, and decelerations.

Engines - Armstrong-Siddely Python Turbo-Propeller↗

Dynamic behavior of liquid sheets

An experiment was conducted to study the aerodynamic instability of liquid sheets issuing from a two-dimensional air-assisted nozzle. Detailed measurements of the frequency of oscillation of the liquid sheet have been made. The measured vibrational frequencies were then correlated with the resulting spray angle. It was shown that the liquid sheet oscillations are dynamically similar to that of hard spring systems. For each air pressure, three distinct modes of breakup are distinguished. At low liquid flow rates, both the sinusoidal and the dilational modes are superimposed on the liquid sheet. With a further increase in liquid flow rate, the liquid sheet oscillations mainly become of the dilational type. It was also shown that the effect of introducing air in the nozzle is similar to the effect of inducing forced vibrations on the nozzle jaws. Thus, for each air flow rate, there is a specific vibration frequency for the nozzle. The frequency of these vibrations is proportional to the air velocity. As the liquid sheet natural frequency approaches that of the nozzle, resonance is established. At resonance, the maximum spray angle is achieved.

Mansour, Adel↗

BOREAS AFM-2 Wyoming King Air 1994 Aircraft Sounding Data

The BOREAS AFM-2 team used the University of Wyoming King Air aircraft during IFCs 1, 2, and 3 in 1994 to collected pass-by-pass fluxes (and many other statistics) for the large number of level (constant altitude), straight-line passes used in a variety of flight patterns over the SSA and NSA and areas along the transect between these study areas. The data described here form a second set, namely soundings that were incorporated into nearly every research flight by the King Air in 1994. These soundings generally went from near the surface to above the inversion layer. Most were flown immediately after takeoff or immediately after finishing the last flux pattern of that particular day's flights. The parameters that were measured include wind direction, wind speed, west wind component (u), south wind component (v), static pressure, air dry bulb temperature, potential temperature, dewpoint, temperature, water vapor mixing ratio, and CO2 concentration. Data on the aircraft's location, attitude, and altitude during data collection are also provided. These data are stored in tabular ASCH files. The data files are available on a CD-ROM (see document number 20010000884) or from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC).

Kelly, Robert D.↗

An alternative method of changing the pulse duration in a stretcher-compressor pair by changing the gas pressure in the compressor

The relatively narrow bandwidth of neodymium glass requires a much larger stretch ratio of chirped-pulse amplification (CPA) systems. This factor, together with a large incident angle on the gratings, makes glass CPA systems extremely sensitive to the refractive index of the medium in the stretcher-compressor. High sensitivity of the stretcher-compressor pair for hybrid optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification and an Nd:glass laser to the refractive index was demonstrated in air, vacuum, and carbon dioxide, and a pulse duration close to the transform limit was reached. An alternative way to change the pulse duration was proposed. The pulse duration from the best compression of 500 fs to 30 ps was smoothly varied by changing the air pressure from 10 -6 Torr to 1 atm in the compressor and up to 52 ps in carbon dioxide, while the stretcher and compressor remained untouched. Finally, excellent agreement of the measured pulse duration with theoretical calculations was demonstrated.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Evaluation of an innovative high temperature ceramic wafer seal for hypersonic engine applications

A critical mechanical system in advanced hypersonic engines is the panel-edge seal system that seals gaps between the articulating engine panels and the adjacent engine splitter walls. Significant advancements in seal technology are required to meet the extreme demands placed on the seals, including the simultaneous requirements of low leakage, conformable, high temperature, high pressure, sliding operation. In this investigation, the design, development, analytical and experimental evaluation of a new ceramic wafer seal that shows promise of meeting these demands will be addressed. A high temperature seal test fixture was designed and fabricated to measure static seal leakage performance under engine simulated conditions. Ceramic wafer seal leakage rates are presented for engine-simulated air pressure differentials (up to 100 psi), and temperature (up to 1350 F), sealing both flat and distorted wall conditions, where distortions can be as large as 0.15 inches in only an 18 inch span. Seal leakage rates are low, meeting an industry-established tentative leakage limit for all combinations of temperature, pressure and wall conditions considered. A seal leakage model developed from externally-pressurized gas film bearing theory is also presented. Predicted leakage rates agree favorably with the measured data for nearly all conditions of temperature and pressure. Discrepancies noted at high engine pressure and temperature are attributed to thermally-induced, non-uniform changes in the size and shape of the leakage gap condition. The challenging thermal environment the seal must operate in places considerable demands on the seal concept and material selection. Of the many high temperature materials considered in the design, ceramics were the only materials that met the many challenging seal material design requirements. Of the aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride ceramics considered in the material ranking scheme developed herein, the silicon nitride class of ceramics ranked the highest because of their high temperature strength; resistance to the intense heating rates; resistance to hydrogen damage; and good structural properties. Baseline seal feasibility has been established through the research conducted in this investigation. Recommendations for future work are also discussed.

Steinetz, Bruce M.↗

Hydrogen disposal investigation for the Space Shuttle launch complex at Vandenberg Air Force Base

The concern of an overpressure condition on the aft end of the Space Shuttle caused by ignition of unburned hydrogen being trapped in the Space Shuttle Main Engine exhaust duct at the Vandenberg AFB launch complex has been investigated for fifteen months. Approximately twenty-five concepts have been reviewed, with four concepts being thoroughly investigated. The four concepts investigated were hydrogen burnoff ignitors (ignitors located throughout the exhaust duct to continuously ignite any unburned hydrogen), jet mixing (utilizing large volumes of high pressure air to ensure complete combustion of the hydrogen), steam inert (utilizing flashing hot water to inert the duct with steam) and open duct concept (design an open duct or above grade J-deflector to avoid trapping hydrogen gas). Extensive studies, analyses and testing were performed at six test sites with technical support from twenty-two major organizations. In December 1986, the Air Force selected the steam inert concept to be utilized at the Vandenberg launch complex and authorized the design effort.

Breit, Terry J.↗

An initial comparison of CFD with experiment for a geometrically simplified STOVL model

The transition flight performance of a representative Short Take-Off or Vertical Landing (STOVL) model is investigated using side-by-side experimental and numerical simulations. The model consists of a 60 deg cropped delta wing planform; a simple fuselage shape blended to the wing; and tandem, circular, high-pressure-air lift jets that exit perpendicular to the flat lower surface. The configuration was chosen to minimize the geometric modeling complexity while retaining the important flow physics of the lift-jet/aerodynamic surface interaction. Three-dimensional, turbulent Navier-Stokes computations are made using a multiple, overset grid scheme. Results are presented and compared with the measured forces and pressures for the model at a freestream Mach number of 0.14 and a 10 deg angle-of-attack without lift jets operating. Computed surface flow patterns and particle traces show that the simulation predicts primary and secondary wing leading edge vortices for these conditions.

Roth, Karlin R.↗

Study of Electro-Cyclonic Filtration and Pneumatic Transfer of Lunar Regolith Simulants under 1/6-g and 1-g Gravity Conditions

NASA has built a prototype oxygen production plant to process the lunar regolith using the hydrogen reduction chemical process. This plant is known as "ROxygen - making oxygen from moon rocks". The ROxygen regolith transfer team has identified the flow and transfer characteristics of lunar regolith simulant to be a concern for lunar oxygen production efforts. It is important to ISRU lunar exploration efforts to develop hardware designs that can demonstrate the ability to flow and transfer a given mass of regolith simulant to a desired vertical height under lunar gravity conditions in order to introduce it into a reactor. We will present results obtained under both 1/6-g and 1-g gravity conditions for a system that can pneumatically convey 16.5 kg of lunar regolith simulant (NU-LHT-2M, Mauna Kea Tephra, and JSC-1A) from a flat-bottom supply hopper to a simulated ISRU reactor (dual-chambered receiving hopper) where the granular material is separated from the convey gas (air) using a series of cyclone separators, one of which is an electrically enhanced cyclone separator (electrocyclone). The results of our study include (1) the mass flow rate as a function of input air pressure for lunar regolith simulants that are conveyed pneumatically as a dusty gas in a vertical direction against gravity under lunar gravity conditions (for NU-LHT-2M and Mauna Kea Tephra), and under earth gravity conditions (for NU-LHT-2M, Mauna Kea Tephra and JSC-1A), and (2) the efficiency of the cyclone/electrocyclone filtration system in separating the convey gas (air) from the granular particulates as a function of particle size.

Mantovani, James G.↗

The impact of circulation control on rotary aircraft controls systems

Application of circulation to rotary wing systems is a new development. Efforts to determine the near and far field flow patterns and to analytically predict those flow patterns have been underway for some years. Rotary wing applications present a new set of challenges in circulation control technology. Rotary wing sections must accommodate substantial Mach number, free stream dynamic pressure and section angle of attack variation at each flight condition within the design envelope. They must also be capable of short term circulation blowing modulation to produce control moments and vibration alleviation in addition to a lift augmentation function. Control system design must provide this primary control moment, vibration alleviation and lift augmentation function. To accomplish this, one must simultaneously control the compressed air source and its distribution. The control law algorithm must therefore address the compressor as the air source, the plenum as the air pressure storage and the pneumatic flow gates or valves that distribute and meter the stored pressure to the rotating blades. Also, mechanical collective blade pitch, rotor shaft angle of attack and engine power control must be maintained.

Kingloff, R. F.↗

Engine inlet distortion in a 9.2 percent scaled vectored thrust STOVL model in ground effect

Advanced Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft which can operate from remote locations, damaged runways, and small air capable ships are being pursued for deployment around the turn of the century. To achieve this goal, a cooperative program has been defined for testing in the NASA Lewis 9- by 15-foot Low Speed Wind Tunnel (LSWT) to establish a database for hot gas ingestion, one of the technologies critical to STOVL. This paper presents results showing the engine inlet distortions (both temperature and pressure) in a 9.2 percent scale Vectored Thrust STOVL model in ground effects. Results are shown for the forward nozzle splay angles of 0, -6, and 18 deg. The model support system had 4 deg of freedom, heated high pressure air for nozzle flow, and a suction system exhaust for inlet flow. The headwind (freestream) velocity was varied from 8 to 23 kn.

Johns, Albert L.↗