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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 307 records · Page 17
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1989

In-flight boundary-layer transition measurements on a swept wing

Flight tests were conducted at three different altitudes to detect transition on a smoothed test region of a swept-wing business jet wing using surface hot-film sensors and sublimating chemicals. Strong influence of sweep angle on transition location was observed when the aircraft was flown at some sideslip conditions to simulate changes in effective wing sweep angle. No effects of engine noise on transition were measured when different engine power settings were used. Flight instrumentation and ground data analysis techniques are described. Correlation was obtained between the hot-film sensor signals and sublimating chemicals for transition detection. Crossflow vortices were observed for one flight condition. Results of analyzed data for various flight-test conditions are presented.

Ahmed, Anwar↗
NASA NTRS1990

Application of mixing-controlled combustion models to gas turbine combustors

Gas emissions were studied from a staged Rich Burn/Quick-Quench Mix/Lean Burn combustor were studied under test conditions encountered in High Speed Research engines. The combustor was modeled at conditions corresponding to different engine power settings, and the effect of primary dilution airflow split on emissions, flow field, flame size and shape, and combustion intensity, as well as mixing, was investigated. A mathematical model was developed from a two-equation model of turbulence, a quasi-global kinetics mechanism for the oxidation of propane, and the Zeldovich mechanism for nitric oxide formation. A mixing-controlled combustion model was used to account for turbulent mixing effects on the chemical reaction rate. This model assumes that the chemical reaction rate is much faster than the turbulent mixing rate.

Nguyen, Hung Lee↗
NASA NTRS1990

Global convergence of inexact Newton methods for transonic flow

In computational fluid dynamics, nonlinear differential equations are essential to represent important effects such as shock waves in transonic flow. Discretized versions of these nonlinear equations are solved using iterative methods. In this paper an inexact Newton method using the GMRES algorithm of Saad and Schultz is examined in the context of the full potential equation of aerodynamics. In this setting, reliable and efficient convergence of Newton methods is difficult to achieve. A poor initial solution guess often leads to divergence or very slow convergence. This paper examines several possible solutions to these problems, including a standard local damping strategy for Newton's method and two continuation methods, one of which utilizes interpolation from a coarse grid solution to obtain the initial guess on a finer grid. It is shown that the continuation methods can be used to augment the local damping strategy to achieve convergence for difficult transonic flow problems. These include simple wings with shock waves as well as problems involving engine power effects. These latter cases are modeled using the assumption that each exhaust plume is isentropic but has a different total pressure and/or temperature than the freestream.

Young, David P.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Reliability analysis techniques for engine-out failures in main propulsion systems

Reliability formulas are derived for a liquid main propulsion system consisting of n engines, which allows for mission success in the event a single-engine controlled shutdown occurs afer some given time. The formulas include terms to reflect different reliabilities at different engine power levels, startup and throttling reliabilities, benign and catastrophic failures, and failure-distribution scale and shape parameters. These formulas can be used for reliability analyses and sensitivity studies. A parametric launch-vehicle reliability-comparison technique for conceptual preliminary design studies is also described.

Lee, Robert A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Chemical Vapor Deposition Of Silicon Carbide

Large single-crystal SiC boules from which wafers of large area cut now being produced commerically. Availability of wafers opens door for development of SiC semiconductor devices. Recently developed chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process produces thin single-crystal SiC films on SiC wafers. Essential step in sequence of steps used to fabricate semiconductor devices. Further development required for specific devices. Some potential high-temperature applications include sensors and control electronics for advanced turbine engines and automobile engines, power electronics for electromechanical actuators for advanced aircraft and for space power systems, and equipment used in drilling of deep wells. High-frequency applications include communication systems, high-speed computers, and microwave power transistors. High-radiation applications include sensors and controls for nuclear reactors.

Powell, J. Anthony↗
NASA NTRS1993

Icing effects on aircraft stability and control determined from flight data: Preliminary results

The effects of airframe icing on the stability and control characteristics of the NASA DH-6 Twin Otter icing research aircraft were investigated by flight test. The flight program was developed to obtain the stability and control parameters of the DH-6 in a baseline ('uniced') configuration and an 'artificially iced' configuration for specified thrust conditions. Stability and control parameter identification maneuvers were performed over a wide range of angles of attack for wing flaps retracted (0 deg) and wing flaps partially deflected (10 deg). Engine power was adjusted to hold thrust constant at one of three thrust coefficients (C(sub T) = 0.14, C(sub T) = 0.07, C(subT) = 0.00). This paper presents only the pitching- and yawing-moment results from the flight test program. Stability and control parameters were estimated for the uniced and artificially iced configurations using a modified stepwise regression algorithm. Comparisons of the uniced and iced stability and control parameters are presented for the majority of the flight envelope. The artificial ice reduced the elevator and rudder control effectiveness by 12 percent and 8 percent respectively for the 0 deg flap setting. The longitudinal static stability was also decreased substantially (approximately 10 percent) because of the tail ice. Further discussion is provided to explain some of the effects of ice on the stability and control parameters.

Ratvasky, T. P.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Icing effects on aircraft stability and control determined from flight data - Preliminary results

The effects of airframe icing on the stability and control characteristics of the NASA DH-6 Twin Otter icing research aircraft were investigated by flight test. The flight program was developed to obtain stability and control parameters of the DH-6 in a baseline ('uniced') configuration and an 'artificially iced' configuration for specified thrust conditions. Stability and control parameter identification maneuvers were performed over a wide range of angles of attack for wing flaps retraced (0 deg) and wing flaps partially deflected (10 deg). Engine power was adjusted to hold thrust constant at one of three thrust coefficients (C(sub T) = 0.14, C(sub T) = 0.07, C(sub T) = 0.00). This paper presents only the pitching- and yawing-moment results from the flight test program. Stability and control parameters were estimated for the uniced and artificially iced configurations using a modified stepwise regression algorithm. Comparisons of the uniced and iced stability and control parameters are presented for the majority of the flight envelope. The artificial ice reduced the elevator and rudder control effectiveness by 12 percent and 8 percent respectively for the 0 deg flap setting. The longitudinal static stability was also decreased substantially (approximately 10 percent) because of the tail ice. Further discussion is provided to explain some of the effects of ice on the stability and control parameters.

Ratvasky, T. P.↗
NASA NTRS1921

Airplane Superchargers

Discussed here are the principles and operation of aircraft engine superchargers used to maintain and increase engine power as aircraft encounter decreases in the density of air as altitude rises. Details are given on the design and operation of the centrifugal compressors. A method is given for calculating the amount of power needed to drive a compressor. The effects of the use of a compressor on fuel system operation and design are discussed. Several specific superchargers that were in operation are described.

Noack, W G↗
NASA NTRS1923

Determination of climbing ability

The vertical distribution of the pressure, temperature, and density of the atmosphere varies from day to day. Thus, rates of climb on different days cannot be compared directly, but must be corrected with reference to a standard rate of diminution of air density with increasing altitude. The following problem, therefore, has to be solved. An airplane has climbed on a certain day under prevailing atmospheric conditions as shown by the barograph. How would the same airplane climb in a standard atmosphere? This problem has already been dealt with by Everling, using the monthly and yearly mean of the vertical temperature distribution. Von Mises solved the problem by arithmetical methods. Here, conditions are examined which shorten or lengthen the climbing time. In establishing the corrected barogram, computation seems more practical than graphical treatment. The basis of the answer to the question answered here is summed up in the remark that lift, drag, propeller thrust, and torque and engine power depend only on the density of the air and do not change with the pressure and temperature, provided that the density remains constant.

Blasius, H↗
NASA NTRS1937

Compression-ignition Engine Performance at Altitudes and at Various Air Pressures and Temperatures

Engine test results are presented for simulated altitude conditions. A displaced-piston combustion chamber on a 5- by 7-inch single cylinder compression-ignition engine operating at 2,000 r.p.m. was used. Inlet air temperature equivalent to standard altitudes up to 14,000 feet were obtained. Comparison between performance at altitude of the unsupercharged compression-ignition engine compared favorably with the carburetor engine. Analysis of the results for which the inlet air temperature, inlet air pressure, and inlet and exhaust pressure were varied indicates that engine performance cannot be reliably corrected on the basis of inlet air density or weight of air charge. Engine power increases with inlet air pressure and decreases with inlet air temperatures very nearly as straight line relations over a wide range of air-fuel ratios. Correction factors are given.

Moore, Charles S↗
NASA NTRS1946

Effect of the NACA Injection Impeller on the Mixture Distribution of a Double-row Radial Aircraft Engine

For the normal range of engine power the impeller provided marked improvement over the standard spray-bar injection system. Mixture distribution at cruising was excellent, maximum cylinder temperatures were reduced about 30 degrees F, and general temperature distribution was improved. The uniform mixture distribution restored the normal response of cylinder temperature to mixture enrichment and it reduced the possibility of carburetor icing, while no serious loss in supercharger pressure rise resulted from injection of fuel near the impeller outlet. The injection impeller also furnished a convenient means of adding water to the charge mixture for internal cooling.

Marble, Frank E.↗
NASA NTRS1953

Propeller-performance charts for transport airplanes

The preliminary selection of a propeller on the basis of cruising and take-off performance for application to transport airplanes at flight Mach numbers up to 0.8 can be accomplished by the use of charts and methods presented. The charts are of sufficient scope to permit a fairly rapid evaluation of the propeller performance for engine power ratings of 1,000 to 10,000 horsepower. The method is presented primarily in the interest of propeller-noise abatement.

Gilman, Jean, Jr↗
NASA NTRS1928

On the take-off of heavily loaded airplanes

This report examines the take-off conditions of airplanes equipped with tractive propellers, and particularly the more difficult take-off of airplanes heavily loaded per unit of wing area (wing loading) or per unit of engine power (power loading).

LOADS, TAKE-OFF↗
NASA NTRS1929

Airplane drag

It has been less well understood that the induced drag (or, better said, the undesired increase in the induced drag as compared with the theoretical minimum calculated by Prandtl) plays a decisive role in the process of taking off and therefore in the requisite engine power. This paper seeks to clarify the induced drag.

DRAG↗
NASA NTRS1924

Engine performance and the determination of absolute ceiling

This report contains a brief study of the variation of engine power with temperature and pressure. The variation of propeller efficiency in standard atmosphere is obtained from the general efficiency curve which is developed in NACA report no. 168. The variation of both power available and power required are then determined and curves plotted, so that the absolute ceiling may be read directly from any known sea-level value of the ratio of power available to power required.

Diehl, Walter S↗
NASA NTRS1937

Tests of a Wing-nacelle-Propeller Combination at Several Pitch Settings up to 42 Degrees

This report presents the results of tests of a 4-foot model of Navy propeller No. 4412 in conjunction with an NACA cowled nacelle mounted ahead of a thick wing in the 20-foot propeller-research tunnel. A range of propeller pitches from 17 degrees to 42 degrees at 0.75r was covered, and for this propeller the efficiency reached a maximum at a pitch setting of 27 degrees; at high pitches the efficiencies were slightly lower. The corrected propulsive efficiency is shown to be independent of the angle of attack for the high-speed and the climbing ranges of flight. A working chart is presented for the selection of similar propellers over a wide range of airplane speed, engine power, and propeller revolution.

Windler, Ray↗
NASA NTRS1943

Operating Temperatures of a Sodium-Cooled Exhaust Valve as Measured by a Thermocouple

Report presents the results of a thermocouple installed in the crown of a sodium-cooled exhaust valve. The valve was tested in an air-cooled engine cylinder and valve temperatures under various engine operating conditions were determined. A temperature of 1337 degrees F. was observed at a fuel-air ratio of 0.064, a brake mean effective pressure of 179 pounds per square inch, and an engine speed of 2000 r.p.m. Fuel-air ratio was found to have a large influence on valve temperature, but cooling-air pressure and variation in spark advance had little effect. An increase in engine power by change of speed or mean effective pressure increased the valve temperature. It was found that the temperature of the rear-spark-plug bushing was not a satisfactory indication of the temperature of the exhaust valve.

Sanders, J C↗
NASA NTRS1947

Effect of Modifications to Induction System on Altitude Performance of V-1710-93 Engine III : Use of Parabolic Rotating Guide Vanes and NACA Designed Auxiliary-stage Inlet Elbow and Interstage Duct

Bench runs of a modified V-1710-93 engine equipped with a two-stage supercharger, interstage carburetor, aftercooler assembly, and backfire screens have been made at a simulated altitude of 29,000 feet to determine the effect of several induction-system modifications on the engine and supercharger performance. The standard guide vanes on the auxiliary- and engine-stage superchargers were replaced by rotating guide vanes with a parabolic blade profile. The auxiliary-stage inlet elbow and interstage duct were replaced with new units of NACA design. These modifications were made one at a time and data were obtained after each change to determine the effect of each modification. All runs were made at a constant engine speed of 3000 rpm at a simulated altitude of 29,000 feet and all changes in engine power were made by varying the speed of the auxiliary-stage supercharger.

Standahar, Ray M↗