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At least 307 records · Page 17

Integrated System Health Management (ISHM): Systematic Capability Implementation

This paper provides a credible approach for implementation of ISHM capability in any system. The requirements and processes to implement ISHM capability are unique in that a credible capability is initially implemented at a low level, and it evolves to achieve higher levels by incremental augmentation. In contrast, typical capabilities, such as thrust of an engine, are implemented once at full Functional Capability Level (FCL), which is not designed to change during the life of the product. The approach will describe core ingredients (e.g. technologies, architectures, etc.) and when and how ISHM capabilities may be implemented. A specific architecture/taxonomy/ontology will be described, as well as a prototype software environment that supports development of ISHM capability. This paper will address implementation of system-wide ISHM as a core capability, and ISHM for specific subsystems as expansions and evolution, but always focusing on achieving an integrated capability.

Figueroa, Fernando↗

An in-flight simulation of approach and landing of a STOL transport with adverse ground effect

The results of an in-flight simulation program undertaken to study the problems of landing a representative STOL transport in the presence of adverse ground effects are presented. Landings were performed with variations in ground effect magnitude, ground effect lag, and thrust response. Other variations covered the effects of augmented lift response, SAS-failures, turbulence, segmented approach, and flare warning. The basic STOL airplane required coordinated use of both stick and throttle for consistently acceptable landings, and the presence of adverse ground effects made the task significantly more difficult. Ground effect lag and good engine response gave noticeable improvement, as did augmented lift response.

Ellis, D. R.↗

A parametric approach to hover balance analysis of two STOVL fighter concepts

Successful development of an aircraft with vertical landing capability must address the critical problem of balancing the aircraft for hover. In this paper a parametric method for balancing short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft in hover is described and applied to the analysis of two conceptual STOVL fighters. One uses a remote augmented lift system and the other a thrust-vectoring hybrid tandem-fan engine.

Samuels, Jeffrey J.↗

Takeoff predictions for powered-lift aircraft

Takeoff predictions for powered-lift short takeoff (STO) and conventional takeoff (CTO) aircraft have been added to NASA Ames Research Center's Aircraft Synthesis (ACSYNT) code. The new computer code predicts the aircraft engine and nozzle settings required to achieve the minimum takeoff roll. As a test case, the code predicted takeoff ground rolls and nozzle settings for the YAV-8B Harrier that compared well with measured values. Brief analysis of takeoff performance for an Ejector, Remote Augmented Lift, Hybrid-Tandem Fan, and Vectored Thrust STO aircraft using the new routine will be presented.

Wardwell, Douglas A.↗

Stability testing of a modified Space Shuttle Main Engine

The testing of the combustion stability characteristics of Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) 0208 is described in terms of augmenting the technology base for large O/H thrust-chamber assemblies. The throat area is increased by 12 percent over that of the flight SSMEs, and the thrust chamber assembly does not include stability aids. Acoustic modes in the chamber are excited by means of rapid pressure generators employed in the start-transient through mainstage operations. Stability characteristics are determined by damp times which are facilitated by high-frequency instrumentation measuring oscillations and locating stable operating regions. All vibration modes are damped to within the requirements for a chamber mode set forth by the Chemical Propulsion Information Agency. No sustained chamber acoustic oscillations are exhibited in engine 0208's combustion chamber configuration in spite of the absence of baffles and acoustic cavities.

Dennis, H.↗

Numerical Simulation of the RTA Combustion Rig

The Revolutionary Turbine Accelerator (RTA)/Turbine Based Combined Cycle (TBCC) project is investigating turbine-based propulsion systems for access to space. NASA Glenn Research Center and GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) planned to develop a ground demonstrator engine for validation testing. The demonstrator (RTA-1) is a variable cycle, turbofan ramjet designed to transition from an augmented turbofan to a ramjet that produces the thrust required to accelerate the vehicle from Sea Level Static (SLS) to Mach 4. The RTA-1 is designed to accommodate a large variation in bypass ratios from sea level static to Mach 4 conditions. Key components of this engine are new, such as a nickel alloy fan, advanced trapped vortex combustor, a Variable Area Bypass Injector (VABI), radial flameholders, and multiple fueling zones. A means to mitigate risks to the RTA development program was the use of extensive component rig tests and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis.

Davoudzadeh, Farhad↗

Near Stall Flow Analysis in the Transonic Fan of the RTA Propulsion System

Turbine-based propulsion systems for access to space have been investigated at NASA Glenn Research center. A ground demonstrator engine for validation testing has been developed as a part of the program. The demonstrator, the Revolutionary Turbine Accelerator (RTA-1), is a variable cycle turbofan ramjet designed to transition from an augmented turbofan to a ramjet that produces the thrust required to accelerate the vehicle to Mach 4. The RTA-1 is designed to accommodate a large variation in bypass ratio from sea level static to Mach 4 flight condition. A key component of this engine is a new fan stage that accommodates these large variations in bypass ratio and flow ranges. In the present study, unsteady flow behavior in the fan of the RTA-1 is studied in detail with large eddy simulation (LES) and the numerical results are compared with measured data. During the experimental study of the fan stage, humming sound was detected at 100 % speed near stall operation. The main purpose of the study is to investigate details of the unsteady flow behavior at near stall operation and to identify a possible cause of the hum. The large eddy simulation of the current flow field reproduces main features of the measured flow very well. The LES simulation indicates that non-synchronous flow instability develops as the fan operates toward the stall limit. The FFT analysis of the calculated wall pressure shows that the rotating flow instability has the characteristic frequency that is about 50% of the blade passing frequency.

Hah, Chunill↗

Rapid Preliminary Design of Interplanetary Trajectories Using the Evolutionary Mission Trajectory Generator

Preliminary design of interplanetary missions is a highly complex process. The mission designer must choose discrete parameters such as the number of flybys, the bodies at which those flybys are performed, and in some cases the final destination. In addition, a time-history of control variables must be chosen that defines the trajectory. There are often many thousands, if not millions, of possible trajectories to be evaluated. This can be a very expensive process in terms of the number of human analyst hours required. An automated approach is therefore very desirable. This work presents such an approach by posing the mission design problem as a hybrid optimal control problem. The method is demonstrated on notional high-thrust chemical and low-thrust electric propulsion missions. In the low-thrust case, the hybrid optimal control problem is augmented to include systems design optimization.

Design↗

Static calibration of a two-dimensional wedge nozzle with thrust vectoring and spanwise blowing

The results of a static calibration of the two dimensional wedge nozzles on a STOL configuration of a large-scale fighter model are reported. These nozzles internally turn the efflux produced by two turbojets down 25 degrees and exhaust it over the deflected trailing edge of the wing. This arrangement provides direct thrust lift, enhances wing lift by producting supercirculation, and provides thrust vectoring by varying the deflection of the wing's trailing edge. The thrust is vectored from 10 deg to 38 deg. This system was calibrated with spanwise blowing for augmentation of the leading-edge vortex. When 16% of the turbojet efflux is blown spanwise, the thrust recovered is 92% of the thrust produced when the total efflux is exhausted longitudinally.

Harris, M. J.↗

Predicted flight characteristics of the augmentor wing jet STOL research aircraft

An existing deHavilland C-8A airplane has been modified into an augmentor wing flight test vehicle. Research objectives are to verify the augmentor flap concept and to produce data for STOL airworthiness criteria. The Modified C-8A provides the means for jet-STOL flight research down to a 60 knot approach speed. The airplane has a high thrust-to-weight ratio, high-lift flap system, vectored thrust, powerful flight controls, and lateral-directional stability augmentation system. Normal performance and handling qualities are expected to be satisfactory. Analysis and piloted simulator results indicate that stability and control characteristics in conventional flight are rated satisfactory. Handling qualities in the STOL regime are also generally satisfactory, although pilot workload is high about the longitudinal axis.

Spitzer, R. E.↗

Investigation of the Vortex Tab

An investigation was made into the drag reduction capability of vortex tabs on delta wing vortex flaps. The vortex tab is an up-deflected leading edge portion of the vortex flap. Tab deflection augments vortex suction on the flap, thus improving its thrust, but the tab itself is drag producing. Whether a net improvement in the drag reduction can be obtained with vortex tabs, in comparison with plane vortex flaps of the same total area, was the objective of this investigation. Wind tunnel tests were conducted on two models, and analytical studies were performed on one of them using a free vortex sheet theory.

Hoffler, K. D.↗

VTOL controls for shipboard operations

Piloted, moving-base simulations have been performed in the evaluation of several VTOL control system concepts during landings on a destroyer in adverse weather conditions. All the systems incorporated attitude control augmentation; most systems incorporated various types of translational control augmentation implemented either through aircraft attitude or, more directly, through the propulsion system (thrust magnitude and deflection). Only one of the control systems failed to provide satisfactory handling qualities in calm seas. Acceptable handling qualities in sea state 6 seem to require a system with control augmentation in all translational degrees of freedom.

Merrick, V. K.↗

Longitudinal handling qualities during approach and landing of a powered lift STOL aircraft

Longitudinal handling qualities evaluations were conducted on the Ames Research Center Flight Simulator for Advanced Aircraft (FSAA) for the approach and landing tasks of a powered lift STOL research aircraft. The test vehicle was a C-8A aircraft modified with a new wing incorporating internal blowing over an augmentor flap. The investigation included: (1) use of various flight path and airspeed control techniques for the basic vehicle; (2) assessment of stability and command augmentation schemes for pitch attitude and airspeed control; (3) determination of the influence of longitudinal and vertical force coupling for the power control; (4) determination of the influence of pitch axis coupling with the thrust vector control; and (5) evaluations of the contribution of stability and command augmentation to recovery from a single engine failure. Results are presented in the form of pilot ratings and commentary substantiated by landing approach time histories.

Franklin, J. A.↗

Analysis of data from a wind tunnel investigation of a large-scale model of a highly maneuverable supersonic V/STOL fighter - STOL configuration

The surface pressure and thermal characteristics of a large-scale model of a highly maneuverable supersonic fighter with STOL capability are described. The 7.28 m span model is powered by two J-97 turbojets, operated at 9340 N thrust. It combines upper-surface and spanwise blowing to augment the lift characteristics over a wide angle-of-attack range. The most significant feature of the fighter's flow field is the leading edge vortex that forms at low alphas, grows stronger, and moves inboard as alpha is increased. Upper surface blowing enhanced the lift on the wing in both stalled and unstalled areas significantly, while generating only a modest aft shift in the center of pressure. Lift gains were greatest at high alphas and with the flap deflected. Spanwise blowing was most significant at angles-of-attack greater than 8 deg, when the jet strengthened the vortex. The 1100 F spanwise blowing jet mixed very rapidly with the wing flow field, creating a maximum temperature rise of only 300-350 F. A comparison of small-scale and large-scale model wing pressure characteristics showed similar trends created by upper surface blowing, while spanwise blowing characteristics differed considerably. Force data correlated well with semi-empirical predictions for gross thrust coefficients less than 1.0.

Falarski, M. D.↗

Development of CFD model for augmented core tripropellant rocket engine

The Space Shuttle era has made major advances in technology and vehicle design to the point that the concept of a single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) vehicle appears more feasible. NASA presently is conducting studies into the feasibility of certain advanced concept rocket engines that could be utilized in a SSTO vehicle. One such concept is a tripropellant system which burns kerosene and hydrogen initially and at altitude switches to hydrogen. This system will attain a larger mass fraction because LOX-kerosene engines have a greater average propellant density and greater thrust-to-weight ratio. This report describes the investigation to model the tripropellant augmented core engine. The physical aspects of the engine, the CFD code employed, and results of the numerical model for a single modular thruster are discussed.

Jones, Kenneth M.↗

Turbulence flight director analysis and preliminary simulation

A control column and trottle flight director display system is synthesized for use during flight through severe turbulence. The column system is designed to minimize airspeed excursions without overdriving attitude. The throttle system is designed to augment the airspeed regulation and provide an indication of the trim thrust required for any desired flight path angle. Together they form an energy management system to provide harmonious display indications of current aircraft motions and required corrective action, minimize gust upset tendencies, minimize unsafe aircraft excursions, and maintain satisfactory ride qualities. A preliminary fixed-base piloted simulation verified the analysis and provided a shakedown for a more sophisticated moving-base simulation to be accomplished next. This preliminary simulation utilized a flight scenario concept combining piloting tasks, random turbulence, and discrete gusts to create a high but realistic pilot workload conducive to pilot error and potential upset. The turbulence director (energy management) system significantly reduced pilot workload and minimized unsafe aircraft excursions.

Johnson, D. E.↗

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.↗