Wind tunnels
Hypersonic wind tunnel stagnation conditions, wedge flow measurements, transonic entry capsule configuration, and internal pressure in conical pintle nozzle
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Hypersonic wind tunnel stagnation conditions, wedge flow measurements, transonic entry capsule configuration, and internal pressure in conical pintle nozzle
Experimental noise data are shown for a conical nozzle with a semi-annular secondary flow passage having secondary to primary velocity ratios ranging from 1.0 to 1.4. Spectral data are presented at different directivity angles in the flyover plane with the semi-annular flow passage located either on the same side or opposite side relative to an observer. A 10.0 cm diameter primary conical nozzle was used with a 2.59 cm and 5.07 cm wide annular gap secondary nozzle. Similar trends were observed for both nozzle configurations. In general, near the peak noise location and at velocity ratios greater than 1.0, noise levels were larger on the side where the secondary passage was closest to an observer. At velocity ratios near 1.0 the opposite was true. When compared to predicted noise levels for a conical nozzle alone operating at the same ideal thrust, the semi-annular configuration showed no benefit in terms of noise attenuation.
The invention is a natural flow wing and a method for constructing the same. The method comprises contouring a three-dimensional upper surface and a three-dimensional lower surface of the natural flow wing independently of one another into a prescribed shape. Experimental data and theoretical analysis show that flow and pressure-loading over an upper surface of a wing tend to be conical about an apex of the wing, producing favorable and unfavorable regions of performance based on drag. The method reduces these unfavorable regions by shaping the upper surface such that the maximum thickness near a tip of the natural flow wing moves aft, thereby, contouring the wing to coincide more closely with the conical nature of the flow on the upper surface. Nearly constant compressive loading characterizes the flow field over a lower surface of the conventional wing. Magnitude of these compressive pressures on the lower surface depends on angle of attack and on a streamwise curvature of the lower surface of the wing and not on a cross-sectional spanwise curvature. The method, thereby, shapes the lower surface to create an area as large as possible with negative slopes. Any type of swept wing may be used to obtain the final, shaped geometry of the upper and lower surfaces of the natural flow wing.
A parametric experimental investigation has been made of the class of three-dimensional shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interactions generated by swept and unswept leading-edge fins. The fin sweepback angles were 0-65 deg at 5, 9, and 15 deg angles of attack. Two equilibrium two-dimensional turbulent boundary layers with a freestream Mach number of 2.95 and a Reynolds number of 6.3 x 10 to the 7th/m were used as incoming flow conditions. All of the resulting interactions were found to possess conical symmetry of the surface flow patterns and pressures outside of an initial inception zone. Further, these interactions were found to obey a simple conical similarity rule based on inviscid shock wave strength, irrespective of fin sweepback or angle of attack. This is one of the first demonstrations of similarity among three-dimensional interactions produced by geometrically dissimilar shock generators.
This paper reports computational simulations and analysis of flow characterization tests in high enthalpy arc-jet facilities at NASA Ames Research Center. Flow disturbances and their characterization are presented through case studies, and their implications for testing are discussed. The case studies include free-jet test configurations from three different arc heaters and nozzles: the 60-MW IHF 30-inch conical nozzle, the 10-MW TP3 15-inch conical nozzle, and the 20-MW AHF 12-inch conical nozzle. For all cases, test articles are placed in the jet exiting the conical nozzle, and the existence of a flow disturbance is confirmed through flow survey data using pitot pressure and heat flux probes and accompanying analysis. The paper focuses on cases where the effects of the disturbances on test article surface quantities are important. The present analysis comprises computational fluid dynamics simulations of the nonequilibrium flowfield in the facility nozzles and test box, including the models tested. Comparisons of computations with the experimental measurements are presented. The computations that reproduce the probe sweep data approximately are essential to interpret the arc-jet test data accurately, while providing insights into several observed calorimeter anomalies caused by flow disturbances.
This paper reports computational simulations and analysis of flow characterization tests in high enthalpy arc-jet facilities at NASA Ames Research Center. Flow disturbances and their characterization are presented through case studies, and their implications for testing are discussed. The case studies include free-jet test configurations from three different arc heaters and nozzles: the 60-MW IHF 30-inch conical nozzle, the 10-MW TP3 15-inch conical nozzle, and the 20-MW AHF 12-inch conical nozzle. For all cases, test articles are placed in the jet exiting the conical nozzle, and the existence of a flow disturbance is confirmed through flow survey data using pitot pressure and heat flux probes and accompanying analysis. The paper focuses on cases where the effects of the disturbances on test article surface quantities are important. The present analysis comprises computational fluid dynamics simulations of the nonequilibrium flowfield in the facility nozzles and test box, including the models tested. Comparisons of computations with the experimental measurements are presented. The computations that reproduce the probe sweep data approximately are essential to interpret the arc-jet test data accurately, while providing insights into several observed calorimeter anomalies caused by flow disturbances.
Oblique shock detection in conical nozzle with circular arc throat, noting measurement techniques
Analysis of supersonic and hypersonic flow of inviscid ideal gas over conical wings with sharp leading edges and attached shock waves by three dimensional method of characteristics
The flow of carbon dioxide through a small conical nozzle is computed using two different numerical approaches. The first of these is the direct simulation Monte Carlo method in which the physical phenomena are modeled at the molecular level. The second technique solves the Navier-Stokes equations of fluid flow. The purpose of the paper is to compare the solutions generated by these two methods for the conditions prevailing in a small, low density nozzle. The comparison between the two sets of solutions reveals only small differences. However, the flow properties in the thick viscous layer close to the nozzle at the exit plane show important deviations which have implications for the subsequent determination of the plume backflow.
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The paper sets forth in detail a method for the finite-difference computation of three-dimensional supersonic fields in an Eulerian mesh. First-, second-, and third-order finite difference schemes are examined. Attention is given to proper treatment of the impermeable and permeable boundaries encompassing the computational plane. Numerical results are presented for certain specific configurations: a conical wing-body combination, internal corner flow, a two-dimensional blunt body, an interfering shock problem, and three-dimensional inviscid supersonic flow past a shuttle-orbiter type vehicle.
The steady flow of an ideal gas past a conical body is studied by the method of matched asymptotic expansions and by Whitham's method in order to assess the accuracy of the latter. It is found that while Whitham's method does not yield a correct asymptotic representation of the perturbation field to second order in regions where the flow ahead of the Mach cone of the apex is disturbed, it does correctly predict the changes of the second-order perturbation quantities across a shock (the first-order shock strength). The results of the analysis are illustrated by a special case of a flat, rectangular plate at incidence.
The recent research progress in the control of shear flows using unsteady aerodynamic excitation conducted at the NASA Lewis Research Center is reviewed. The program is of fundamental nature concentrating on the physics of the unsteady aerodynamic processes. This field of research is a fairly new development with great promise in the areas of enhanced mixing and flow separation control. Enhanced mixing research reported in this paper include influence of core turbulence, forced pairing of coherent structures, and saturation of mixing enhancement. Separation flow control studies included are for a two-dimensional diffuser, conical diffusers, and single airfoils. Ultimate applications of this research include aircraft engine inlet flow control at high angle of attack, wide angle diffusers, highly loaded airfoils as in turbomachinery, and ejector/suppressor nozzles for the supersonic transport. An argument involving the Coanda Effect is made here that all of the above mentioned application areas really only involve forms of shear layer mixing enhancement. The program also includes the development of practical excitation devices which might be used in aircraft applications.
The heat transfer due to catalytic recombination of a partially dissociated diatomic gas along the surfaces of two-dimensional and axisymmetric bodies with finite catalytic efficiencies is studied analytically. An integral method is employed resulting in simple yet relatively complete solutions for the particular configurations considered. A closed form solution is derived which enables one to calculate atom mass-fraction distribution, therefore catalytic heat transfer distribution, along the surface of a flat plate in frozen compressible flow with and without transpiration. Numerical calculations are made to determine the atom mass-fraction distribution along an axisymmetric conical body with spherical nose in frozen hypersonic compressible flow. A simple solution based on a local similarity concept is found to be in good agreement with these numerical calculations. The conditions are given for which the local similarity solution is expected to be satisfactory. The limitations on the practical application of the analysis to the flight of the blunt bodies in the atmosphere are discussed. The use of boundary-layer theory and the assumption of frozen flow restrict application of the analysis to altitudes between about 150,000 and 250,000 feet.
External-drag data are presented for normal-shock nose inlets with NACA 1-series, parabolic, and conic cowling profiles. The tests were made at an angle of attack of 0 degrees by using rocket-propelled models in free flight at Mach numbers from 0.9 to 1.5. The Reynolds number based on body maximum diameter varied from 2.5 x 10 sup 6 to 5.5 x 10 sup 6. At maximum flow rate, the inlet models had about the same external drag at a Mach number of approximately 1.1, but at higher Mach numbers the sharp-lip conic cowling had the least drag. Blunting or beveling the lip of the conic cowling while keeping the fineness ratio constant resulted in drag coefficients slightly higher than for the sharp-lip conic cowling at maximum flow rate. At a mass-flow ratio of about 0.8, the conic cowlings with sharp, blunt, or beveled lips and the parabolic cowling all gave about the same drag. The higher drag of the NACA 1-49-300 cowling, compared with the blunt-lip conic cowling, is associated with the greater fullness back of the inlet.
Cost reduced, and safety enhanced. Pipe exit partially obstructed by conical throat plug. When pressure in pipe falls below (or rises above) desired back pressure, plug automatically moved in (or out). Applications of system lie in environmental testing or production facilities requiring large gas flows at low pressures.
Performance characteristics of truncated, conical plug nozzle with cylindrical outer shroud
A study was made to determine if existing data for straight-channel single-plane divergence diffusers together with boundary-layer methods could be practically employed to predict conical diffuser performance in the high-speed flow regime. A semiempirical correlation technique, which uses the experimental performance of a straight-channel single-plane divergence diffuser, and a momentum integral boundary-layer method were employed to predict conical diffuser performance. Neither of these methods is applicable when the boundary layer separates. The momentum integral method was used to study the relative importance of various boundary layer parameters in correlating unstalled diffuser performance. Other investigators have found that the best diffuser performance occurs when the diffuser is operating in the transitory stall regime. Since the analytical methods presented in this report are not applicable after the point of boundary-layer separation, a criterion was established from examination of experimental tests which allows the designer to ascertain approximate diffuser performance in the transitory stall regime.