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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 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1973

Analysis of stall flutter of a helicopter rotor blade.

A study of rotor blade aeroelastic stability was carried out, using an analytic model of a two-dimensional airfoil undergoing dynamic stall and on elastomechanical representation including flapping, flapwise bending and torsional degrees of freedom. Results for a hovering rotor demonstrated that the models used are capable of reproducing both classical and stall flutter. The minimum rotor speed for the occurrence of stall flutter in hover was found to be determined from coupling between torsion and flapping. Instabilities analogous to both classical and stall flutter were found to occur in forward flight. However, the large stall-related torsional oscillations which commonly limit aircraft forward speed appear to be the response to rapid changes in aerodynamic moment which accompany stall and unstall, rather than the result of an aeroelastic instability.

Crimi, P.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Analysis of stall flutter of a helicopter radar blade

A study of rotor blade aeroelastic stability was carried out, using an analytic model of a two-dimensional airfoil undergoing dynamic stall and an elastomechanical representation including flapping, flapwise bending and torsional degrees of freedom. Results for a hovering rotor demonstrated that the models used are capable of reproducing both classical and stall flutter. The minimum rotor speed for the occurrence of stall flutter in hover, was found to be determined from coupling between torsion and flapping. Instabilities analogous to both classical and stall flutter were found to occur in forward flight. However, the large stall-related torsional oscillations which commonly limit aircraft forward speed appear to be the response to rapid changes in aerodynamic moment which accompany stall and unstall, rather than the result of an aeroelastic instability. The severity of stall-related instabilities and response was found to depend to some extent on linear stability. Increasing linear stability lessens the susceptibility to stall flutter and reduced the magnitude of the torsional response to stall and unstall.

Crimi, P.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Greased Lightning (GL-10) Performance Flight Research: Flight Data Report

Modern aircraft design methods have produced acceptable designs for large conventional aircraft performance. With revolutionary electronic propulsion technologies fueled by the growth in the small UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) industry, these same prediction models are being applied to new smaller, and experimental design concepts requiring a VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) capability for ODM (On Demand Mobility). A 50% sub-scale GL-10 flight model was built and tested to demonstrate the transition from hover to forward flight utilizing DEP (Distributed Electric Propulsion)[1][2]. In 2016 plans were put in place to conduct performance flight testing on the 50% sub-scale GL-10 flight model to support a NASA project called DELIVER (Design Environment for Novel Vertical Lift Vehicles). DELIVER was investigating the feasibility of including smaller and more experimental aircraft configurations into a NASA design tool called NDARC (NASA Design and Analysis of Rotorcraft)[3]. This report covers the performance flight data collected during flight testing of the GL-10 50% sub-scale flight model conducted at Beaver Dam Airpark, VA. Overall the flight test data provides great insight into how well our existing conceptual design tools predict the performance of small scale experimental DEP concepts. Low fidelity conceptual design tools estimated the (L/D)( sub max)of the GL-10 50% sub-scale flight model to be 16. Experimentally measured (L/D)( sub max) for the GL-10 50% scale flight model was 7.2. The aerodynamic performance predicted versus measured highlights the complexity of wing and nacelle interactions which is not currently accounted for in existing low fidelity tools.

McSwain, Robert G.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Novel Tilting Ducted-Fan Aerial Vehicle Configurations

There has been recent renewed interested in ducted-fan, powered-lift vertical takeoff and landing aircraft vehicles for uninhabited aerial vehicle and urban aerial mobility aerial applications. Early work was conducted in the 1950’s to the late 1980’s into ducted-fan vehicles, especially at the time for military missions. The focus of ducted-fan research began to shift to UAV’s and personal air transportation in the 2000’s. Work in the early 2000’s fostered interest into ducted-fan aerial vehicles for vertical lift planetary aerial vehicle missions, especially for missions to Titan, a moon of Saturn. For example, early work at NASA Ames conducted the first known investigation into oval ducts (with internal tandem fans) to be used for these aerial vehicles. The use of twin oval ducts (with internal tandem fans) allowed the use of quadrotor-style rotor rpm control for vehicle trim (in hover, for transition to high-speed forward flight the addition of a tilt-actuator to pitch the twin oval ducts forward to be aligned with the freestream needed to be added to the control approach. This current study explores open-rotor, single isolated ducted-fan, and full vehicle configuration aerodynamic performance for hover, transition, and cruise regimes for novel tilting ducted-fan aerial vehicle configurations. The objective of this study is to better understand the design aerodynamics trade space for noncircular tilting ducted-fans. The primary analysis tool used in this paper is the mid-fidelity computational fluid dynamics RotCFD tool. Several interesting and largely unexplored rotor-on-rotor (or fan-on-fan), duct-on-rotor, rotor- on-duct, and duct-on-airframe are examined in this paper. Many of these aerodynamic interactions are the key to overall aerial vehicle performance. Limited parametric sweeps of rotor-to-rotor spacing (and, therefore, sizing and shape of the enveloping ducts) for the various duct configurations will also be performed. The trade-offs between duct thrust augmentation in hover versus improved transition controllability versus improved cruise L/D will be discussed for various novel duct configurations. These ducted-fan configurations include oval ducts, ‘figure-eight’ ducts, and ‘B-shaped’ ducts, among others.

Ducted-Fan↗
NASA NTRS1980

A flight investigation of performance and loads for a helicopter with RC-SC2 main-rotor blade sections

The test envelope included hover, forward-flight speed sweeps from 33 to 74 m/sec (65 to 144 knots), and collective-fixed maneuvers at about 0.25 tip-speed ratio. The data set for each test point describes vehicle flight states, control positions, rotor loads, power requirements and blade motions. Rotor loads were reviewed primarily in terms of peak-to-peak and harmonic content. Lower frequency components predominated for most loads and generally increased with increased airspeed, but not necessarily with increased maneuver load factor.

Morris, C. E. K., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Theoretical study of the effect of ground proximity on the induced efficiency of helicopter rotors

A study of rotors in forward flight within ground effect showed that the ground-induced interference is an upwash and a decrease in forward velocity. The interference velocities are large, oppose the normal flow through the rotor, and have large effects on the induced efficiency. Hovering with small ground clearances may result in significant blade stall. As speed is increased from hover in ground effect, power initially increases rather than decreases. At very low heights above the ground, the power requirements become nonlinear with speed as a result of the streamwise interference. The streamwise interference becomes greater as the wake approaches the ground and eventually distorts the wake to form the ground vortex which contributes to certain observed directional stability problems.

Heyson, H. H.↗
NASA NTRS2000

A Comparison of Active Sidestick and Conventional Inceptors for Helicopter Flight Envelope Tactile Cueing

This paper will compare the results of two ground-based piloted simulation studies of helicopter flight envelope tactile cueing. The objective of these trials was to develop methods of assisting the pilot in respecting flight envelope limits in a high workload environment. Both trials looked at the same aggressive hover and forward-flight tasks, the difference being that in the first trial, large-displacement programmable force-feel inceptors were used while in the second programmable short active sidesticks were used.

Whalley, Matthew S.↗
NASA NTRS1959

Flight Investigation of the Stability and Control Characteristics of a 1/4-Scale Model of a Tilt-Wing Vertical-Take-Off-and-Landing Aircraft

An experimental investigation has been conducted to determine the dynamic stability and control characteristics of a tilt-wing vertical-take-off-and-landing aircraft with the use of a remotely controlled 1/4-scale free-flight model. The model had two propellers with hinged (flapping) blades mounted on the wing which could be tilted up to an incidence angle of nearly 90 deg for vertical take-off and landing. The investigation consisted of hovering flights in still air, vertical take-offs and landings, and slow constant-altitude transitions from hovering to forward flight. The stability and control characteristics of the model were generally satisfactory except for the following characteristics. In hovering flight, the model had an unstable pitching oscillation of relatively long period which the pilots were able to control without artificial stabilization but which could not be considered entirely satisfactory. At very low speeds and angles of wing incidence on the order of 70 deg, the model experienced large nose-up pitching moments which severely limited the allowable center-of-gravity range.

Tosti, Louis P.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Aerodynamic performance of a full-scale lifting ejector system in a STOVL fighter aircraft

The aerodynamic characteristics of an advanced lifting ejector system incorporated into a full-scale, powered, fighter aircraft model were measured at statically and at transition airspeeds in the 40- by 80- and 80- by 120-Foot Wind Tunnels at NASA-Ames. The ejector system was installed in an ejector-lift/vectored thrust STOVL (Short Take-Off Vertical Landing) fighter aircraft configuration. Ejector thrust augmentation ratios approaching 1.6 were demonstrated during static testing. Changes in the internal aerodynamics and exit flow conditions of the ejector ducts are presented for a variety of wind-off and forward-flight test conditions. Wind-on test results indicate a small decrease in ejector performance and increase in exit flow nonuniformity with forward speed. Simulated ejector start-up at high speed, nose-up attitudes caused only small effects on overall vehicle forces and moments despite the fact that the ejector inlet flow was found to induce large regions of negative pressure on the upper surface of the wing apex adjacent to the inlets.

Smith, Brian E.↗
NASA NTRS1976

RSRA flight control and stabilization

Handling qualities of the RSRA (rotor systems research aircraft), a special test vehicle with optional configurations (forewings, removable horizontal tailplanes, main rotor, tail rotor, and twin engines for forward flight all removable), are described. The aircraft can be fitted to fly as a conventional rotary-wing aircraft, fixed-wing aircraft, or compound helicopter, and is designed for testing existing and future rotor systems in flight. Controls include full-authority fly-by-wire controls and mechanical controls for rotary wing and for fixed wing. Stability augmentation, rotor test measurement systems, variable center of gravity capability, and rotor loading potential of the RSRA are also described.

Linden, A. W.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Some results of the testing of a full-scale Ogee tip helicopter rotor; acoustics, loads, and performance

Full-scale tests were utilized to investigate the effect of the Ogee tip on helicopter rotor acoustics, performance, and loads. Two facilities were used for this study: the Langley whirl tower and a UH-1H helicopter. The test matrix for hover on the whirl tower involved thrust values from 0 to 44,480 N (10,000 lbs) at several tip Mach numbers for both standard and Ogee rotors. The full-scale testing on the UH-1H encompassed the major portion of the flight envelope for that aircraft. Both near-field acoustic measurements as well as far-field flyover data were obtained for both the Ogee and standard rotors. Data analysis of the whirl-tower test shows that the Ogee tip does significantly diffuse the tip vortex while providing some improvement in hover performance. Flight testing of both rotors indicates that the strong impulsive noise signature of the standard rotor can be reduced with the Ogee rotor. Forward flight performance was significantly improved with the Ogee configuration for a large number of flight conditions. Further, rotor control loads and vibrations were reduced through use of this advanced tip rotor.

Mantay, W. R.↗
NASA NTRS1953

Flight Investigation of the Stability and Control Characteristics of a 0.13-Scale Model of the Convair XFY-1 Vertically Rising Airplane During Constant-Altitude Transitions, TED No. NACA DE 368

An investigation is being conducted to determine the dynamic stability and control characteristics of a 0.13-scale flying model of the Convair XFY-1 vertically rising airplane. This paper presents the results of flight tests to determine the stability and control characteristics of the model during constant-altitude slow transitions from hovering to normal unstalled forward flight. The tests indicated that the airplane can be flown through the transition range fairly easily although some difficulty will probably encountered in controlling the yawing motions at angles of attack between about 60 and 40. An increase in the size of the vertical tail will not materially improve the controllability of the yawing motions in this range of angle of attack but the use of a yaw damper will make the yawing motions easy to control throughout the entire transitional flight range. The tests also indicated that the airplane can probably be flown sideways satisfactorily at speeds up to approximately 33 knots (full scale) with the normal control system and up to approximately 37 knots (full scale) with both elevons and rudders rigged to move differentially for roll control. At sideways speeds above these values, the airplane will have a strong tendency to diverge uncontrollably in roll.

Lovell, Powell M., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Flight testing and frequency domain analysis for rotorcraft handling qualities characteristics

A demonstration of frequency domain flight testing techniques and analyses was performed on a U.S. Army OH-58D helicopter in support of the OH-58D Airworthiness and Flight Characteristics Evaluation and the Army's development and ongoing review of Aeronautical Design Standard 33C, Handling Qualities Requirements for Military Rotorcraft. Hover and forward flight (60 knots) tests were conducted in 1 flight hour by Army experimental test pilots. Further processing of the hover data generated a complete database of velocity, angular rate, and acceleration frequency responses to control inputs. A joint effort was then undertaken by the Airworthiness Qualification Test Directorate (AQTD) and the U.S. Army Aeroflightdynamics Directorate (AFDD) to derive handling qualities information from the frequency response database. A significant amount of information could be extracted from the frequency domain database using a variety of approaches. This report documents numerous results that have been obtained from the simple frequency domain tests; in many areas, these results provide more insight into the aircraft dynamics that affect handling qualities than to traditional flight tests. The handling qualities results include ADS-33C bandwidth and phase delay calculations, vibration spectral determinations, transfer function models to examine single axis results, and a six degree of freedom fully coupled state space model. The ability of this model to accurately predict aircraft responses was verified using data from pulse inputs. This report also documents the frequency-sweep flight test technique and data analysis used to support the tests.

Ham, Johnnie A.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Flight-testing and frequency-domain analysis for rotorcraft handling qualities

A demonstration of frequency-domain flight-testing techniques and analysis was performed on a U.S. Army OH-58D helicopter in support of the OH-58D Airworthiness and Flight Characteristics Evaluation and of the Army's development and ongoing review of Aeronautical Design Standard 33C, Handling Qualities Requirements for Military Rotorcraft. Hover and forward flight (60 kn) tests were conducted in 1 flight hour by Army experimental test pilots. Further processing of the hover data generated a complete database of velocity, angular-rate, and acceleration-frequency responses to control inputs. A joint effort was then undertaken by the Airworthiness Qualification Test Dirtectorate and the U.S. Army Aeroflightdynamics Directorate to derive handling-quality information from the frequency-domain database using a variety of approaches. This report documents numerous results that have been obtained from the simple frequency-domain tests; in many areas, these results provide more insight into the aircraft dynmamics that affect handling qualities than do traditional flight tests. The handling-quality results include ADS-33C bandwidth and phase-delay calculations, vibration spectral determinations, transfer-function models to examine single-axis results, and a six-degree-of-freedom fully coupled state-space model. The ability of this model to accurately predict responses was verified using data from pulse inputs. This report also documents the frequency-sweep flight-test technique and data analysis used to support the tests.

Ham, Johnnie A.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

In-flight System Identification of the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter

The 68th and 69th flights of NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter marked the first dedicated system identification flights of an aerial vehicle on another planet. Chirp signals were injected into the swashplate cyclic controls for both legs of the two out-and-back flights. Frequency responses were computed from the flight data, using both the Direct Method (DM) and the Joint-Input-Output (JIO) approach, for the identification of stability and control derivatives in forward flight conditions. The resulting identified state-space models were compared against existing flight dynamics simulation models, showing excellent correlation in the higher frequency range. External disturbances were seen to introduce a bias in the identified lower frequency responses, which was partially mitigated using the JIO method. These findings will inform future modeling and flight testing efforts of Mars rotorcraft.

Ingenuity↗
NASA NTRS1987

A free-wake rotor analysis including ground effect

The objective of this work is to develop a computer program which analytically estimates the wake geometry, vorticity, and velocity distribution over a rotor and in the neighboring airflow for a variety of conditions in and out of ground effect. The resulting wake is used to provide an assessment of the blade loading distribution for various hover and low speed flight conditions. The computer program is based on a lifting line free wake model and provides stable solutions for a variety of steady state conditions, including ground effect and forward flight. The wake program was validated by comparing the computed wake geometry and experimental test data for two different rotors.

Saberi, H. A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Helicopter far-field acoustic levels as a function of reduced rotor speeds

This paper will present far-field measured noise levels relative to tests conducted with a model S-76A helicopter. The project was designed to provide supplemental experimental flight data which may be used to further study reduced helicopter rotor speeds (and thus, advancing blade-tip Mach number) effects on far-field acoustic levels. The aircraft was flown in straight and level flight while operating with both the rotor speed and flight speed as test variables. The rotor speed was varied over the range of 107 percent of the main-rotor speed (NR) to 90 percent NR and with the forward flight speed varied over the range of 155 to 35 knots indicated air speed. These conditions produced a wide range of advancing blade-tip Mach numbers to which the noise data are related.

Mueller, Arnold W.↗