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At least 325 records · Page 18

Flowfield measurements about a multi-element airfoil at high Reynolds numbers

This paper describes experimental data obtained with a multi-element airfoil at flight Reynolds numbers and lift coefficients including Clmax. The wind tunnel test was conducted in the NASA Langley Low Turbulence Pressure Tunnel as part of a cooperative effort between McDonnell Douglas Aerospace and NASA Langley. The airfoil model is a supercritical design configured with a leading-edge slat and a single-segment trailing-edge flap. Data include surface static-pressure distributions (integrated to obtain lift), drag data obtained with wake-rake surveys, and fbwfield surveys obtained with a flat-tube and five-hole probe at nine stations on the configuration's upper surface. Effects of variations in Reynolds number and flap gap on airfoil performance and flowfield survey data are presented.

Chin, Vincent D.↗

Reynolds number effects in combustion noise

Acoustic emission spectra have been obtained for non-premixed turbulent combustion from two small diameter laboratory gas burners, two commercial gas burners and a large gas burner in the firebox of a Babcock-Wilcox Boiler (50,000 lb steam/hr). The changes in burner size and firing rate represent changes in Reynolds number and changes in air/fuel ratio represent departure from stoichiometric proportions. The combustion efficiency was measured independently through gas analysis. The acoustic spectra obtained from the various burners exhibit a persistent shape over the Reynolds number range of 8200-82,000. The spectra were analyzed for identification of a predictable frequency domain that is most responsive to, and readily correlated with, combustion efficiency. A simple parameter (consisting of the ratio of the average acoustic power output in the most responsive frequency bandwidth to the acoustic power level of the loudest frequency) is proposed whose value increases significantly and unmistakably as combustion efficiency approaches 100%. The dependence of the most responsive frequency domain on the various Reynolds numbers associated with turbulent jets is discussed.

Seshan, P. K.↗

Reynolds Number, Compressibility, and Leading-Edge Bluntness Effects on Delta-Wing Aerodynamics

An overview of Reynolds number, compressibility, and leading edge bluntness effects is presented for a 65 degree delta wing. The results of this study address both attached and vortex-flow aerodynamics and are based upon a unique data set obtained in the NASA-Langley National Transonic Facility (NTF) for i) Reynolds numbers ranging from conventional wind-tunnel to flight values, ii) Mach numbers ranging from subsonic to transonic speeds, and iii) leading-edge bluntness values that span practical slender wing applications. The data were obtained so as to isolate the subject effects and they present many challenges for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) studies.

Luckring, James M.↗

High Reynolds Number Thermal Stability Experiments

This work represents preliminary thermal stability results for liquid hydrocarbon fuels. High Reynolds Number Thermal Stability experiments with Jet A and RP-1 resulted in a quantitative measurement of the thermal stability. Each fuel flowed through a heated capillary tube that held the outlet temperature at 290 C. An optical pyrometer measured the surface temperature of the tube at 12 locations as a function of time. The High Reynolds Number Thermal Stability number was then determined using standards published by the American Society for Testing and Materials. The results for Jet A showed lower thermal stability than similar tests conducted at another facility. The RP-1 results are the first reported using this technique. Because the temperature rise on the capillary tube during testing for the RP-1 fuels was not significant, a new standard for the testing conditions should be developed for these types of fuels.

Emens, Jessica M.↗

The George C. Marshall Space Flight Center High Reynolds Number Wind Tunnel Technical Handbook

The High Reynolds Number Wind Tunnel at the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center is described. The following items are presented to illustrate the operation and capabilities of the facility: facility descriptions and specifications, operational and performance characteristics, model design criteria, instrumentation and data recording equipment, data processing and presentation, and preliminary test information required.

Gwin, H. S.↗

The Use of Heavy Gas for Increased Reynolds Numbers in Transonic Wind Tunnels

The use of a high molecular weight test gas to increase the Reynolds number range of transonic wind tunnels is explored. Modifications to a small transonic wind tunnel are described and the real gas properties of the example heavy gas (sulfur hexafluoride) are discussed. Sulfur hexafluoride is shown to increase the test Reynolds number by a factor of more than 2 over air at the same Mach number. Experimental and computational pressure distributions on an advanced supercritical airfoil configuration at Mach 0.7 in both sulfur hexafluoride and nitrogen are presented. Transonic similarity theory is shown to be partially successful in transforming the heavy gas results to equivalent nitrogen (air) results, provided the correct definition of gamma is used.

Anders, J. B.↗

The numerical solution of viscous flows at high Reynolds number

A review is presented of implicit and hybrid methods applicable to solving viscous flows at high Reynolds numbers. Flows within axisymmetric channels containing stationary shock waves, past blunt-nosed lifting airfoils, past sharp-nosed symmetric airfoils with buffet, past three-dimensional compression ramps with side walls, and past ogive- and hemisphere-cylinders at angle of attack have been examined. Reynolds numbers as high as 10 to the 9th power have been used.

Maccormack, R. W.↗

Effect of Reynolds number and engine nacelles on the stalling characteristics of a model of a twin-engine light airplane

The investigation was made on a 1/18-scale model of a twin-engine light airplane. Static longitudinal, lateral, and directional characteristics were obtained at 0 deg and plus or minus 5 deg sideslip at a Mach number of about 0.2. The angle of attack varied from about 20 deg at a Reynolds number of 0.39 times one million to 13 deg at a Reynolds number of 3.7 times one million, based on the reference chord. The effect of fixed transition, vertical and horizontal tails, and nacelle fillets was studied.

Lockwood, V. E.↗

Application of shock tubes to transonic airfoil testing at high Reynolds numbers

Performance analysis of a gas-driven shock tube shows that transonic airfoil flows with chord Reynolds numbers of the order of 100 million can be produced, with limitations being imposed by the structural integrity of the facility or the model. A study of flow development over a simple circular arc airfoil at zero angle of attack was carried out in a shock tube at low and intermediate Reynolds numbers to assess the testing technique. Results obtained from schlieren photography and airfoil pressure measurements show that steady transonic flows similar to those produced for the same airfoil in a wind tunnel can be generated within the available testing time in a shock tube with properly contoured test section walls.

Cook, W. J.↗

Boundary-value problem for plasma centrifuge at arbitrary magnetic Reynolds numbers

We solve in closed form the boundary-value problem for the partial differential equations which describe the (azimuthal) rotation velocity and induced magnetic fields in a cylindrical plasma centrifuge with ring electrodes of different radii and an external, axial magnetic field. The electric field, current density, and velocity distributions are discussed in terms of the Hartmann number H and the magnetic Reynolds number R. For small Hall coefficients, the induced magnetic field does not affect the plasma rotation. As a result of the Lorentz forces, the plasma rotates with speeds as high as 100,000 cm/sec around its axis of symmetry at typical conditions, so that the lighter (heavier) ion and atom components are enriched at (off) the center of the discharge cylinder.

Wilhelm, H. E.↗

A detailed study of attached and separated compression corner flowfields in high Reynolds number supersonic flow

An experimental study has been carried out to detail the interaction of a compressible turbulent boundary layer with shock waves of varying strengths. The interaction was produced by two-dimensional compression corners of 8, 16, 20, and 24 deg angles. The incoming boundary layer had an edge Mach number of 2.85 and a Reynolds number of 1.7 million based on overall thickness. Detailed mean-flow and surface measurements are presented for the four corner angles. The 8 deg corner flow was found to be fully attached, while the 16 deg case was near incipient separation. Both the 20 deg and 24 deg corners produced significant flow separation regions. In the discussion of these results, emphasis is placed on the development of flowfield properties from attached to separated conditions. Comparisons made with a computational solution of the Navier-Stokes equations show good agreement when the corner flow is not separated.

Settles, G. S.↗

Enhancements to the FAST-MAC Circulation Control Model and Recent High-Reynolds Number Testing in the National Transonic Facility

A second wind tunnel test of the FAST-MAC circulation control model was recently completed in the National Transonic Facility at the NASA Langley Research Center. The model was equipped with four onboard flow control valves allowing independent control of the circulation control plenums, which were directed over a 15% chord simple-hinged flap. The model was configured for low-speed high-lift testing with flap deflections of 30 and 60 degrees, along with the transonic cruise configuration with zero degree flap deflection. Testing was again conducted over a wide range of Mach numbers up to 0.88, and Reynolds numbers up to 30 million based on the mean chord. The first wind tunnel test had poor transonic force and moment data repeatability at mild cryogenic conditions due to inadequate thermal conditioning of the balance. The second test demonstrated that an improvement to the balance heating system significantly improved the transonic data repeatability, but also indicated further improvements are still needed. The low-speed highlift performance of the model was improved by testing various blowing slot heights, and the circulation control was again demonstrated to be effective in re-attaching the flow over the wing at off-design transonic conditions. A new tailored spanwise blowing technique was also demonstrated to be effective at transonic conditions with the benefit of reduced mass flow requirements.

Milholen, William E., II↗

Numerical Simulations of Unsteady Low-Reynolds-Number Flows Over the APEX Airfoil

Laminar and transitional separation bubbles are an important feature of low-Reynolds-number flows over airfoils. The separation bubbles are unsteady and have a significant impact on the aerodynamic properties of the airfoils. In this paper unsteady low-Reynolds-number separated flows over the APEX airfoil are calculated using a Navier-Stokes solver. The numerical results show the presence of unsteady separation bubbles in the flowfield. An analysis of the numerical results shows that flowfield disturbances are amplified significantly in the separation bubble, leading to periodic vortex shedding. A linear stability analysis of the separated boundary layer is performed and the results show that the dominant wavenumber and frequency in the numerical simulations agree with the most unstable wavenumber and frequency from the linear stability analysis. The numerical results also show the growth and interaction of disturbance waves in the separation bubble. For transonic flows over the APEX airfoil, the calculations show that the presence of shocks causes significant changes in the separation location and consequently, the overall flowfield.

Tatineni, Mahidhar↗