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At least 343 records · Page 19

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NASA NTRS1990

A three-dimensional, compressible, laminar boundary-layer method for general fuselages. Volume 1: Numerical method

A procedure for calculating 3-D, compressible laminar boundary layer flow on general fuselage shapes is described. The boundary layer solutions can be obtained in either nonorthogonal 'body oriented' coordinates or orthogonal streamline coordinates. The numerical procedure is 'second order' accurate, efficient and independent of the cross flow velocity direction. Numerical results are presented for several test cases, including a sharp cone, an ellipsoid of revolution, and a general aircraft fuselage at angle of attack. Comparisons are made between numerical results obtained using nonorthogonal curvilinear 'body oriented' coordinates and streamline coordinates.

Wie, Yong-Sun↗

NASA NTRS1992

Numerical simulation of conservation laws

A new numerical framework for solving conservation laws is being developed. This new approach differs substantially from the well established methods, i.e., finite difference, finite volume, finite element and spectral methods, in both concept and methodology. The key features of the current scheme include: (1) direct discretization of the integral forms of conservation laws, (2) treating space and time on the same footing, (3) flux conservation in space and time, and (4) unified treatment of the convection and diffusion fluxes. The model equation considered in the initial study is the standard one dimensional unsteady constant-coefficient convection-diffusion equation. In a stability study, it is shown that the principal and spurious amplification factors of the current scheme, respectively, are structurally similar to those of the leapfrog/DuFort-Frankel scheme. As a result, the current scheme has no numerical diffusion in the special case of pure convection and is unconditionally stable in the special case of pure diffusion. Assuming smooth initial data, it will be shown theoretically and numerically that, by using an easily determined optimal time step, the accuracy of the current scheme may reach a level which is several orders of magnitude higher than that of the MacCormack scheme, with virtually identical operation count.

Chang, Sin-Chung↗

NASA NTRS1992

Numerical methods for the simulation of complex multi-body flows with applications for the integrated Space Shuttle vehicle

This project forms part of the long term computational effort to simulate the time dependent flow over the integrated Space Shuttle vehicle (orbiter, solid rocket boosters (SRB's), external tank (ET), and attach hardware) during its ascent mode for various nominal and abort flight conditions. Due to the limitations of experimental data such as wind tunnel wall effects and the difficulty of safely obtaining valid flight data, numerical simulations are undertaken to supplement the existing data base. This data can then be used to predict the aerodynamic behavior over a wide range of flight conditions. Existing computational results show relatively good overall comparison with experiments but further refinement is required to reduce numerical errors and to obtain finer agreements over a larger parameter space. One of the important goals of this project is to obtain better comparisons between numerical simulations and experiments. In the simulations performed so far, the geometry has been simplified in various ways to reduce the complexity so that useful results can be obtained in a reasonable time frame due to limitations in computer resources. In this project, the finer details of the major components of the Space Shuttle are modeled better by including more complexity in the geometry definition. Smaller components not included in early Space Shuttle simulations will now be modeled and gridded.

Chan, William M.↗

NASA NTRS1992

A general numerical model for wave rotor analysis

Wave rotors represent one of the promising technologies for achieving very high core temperatures and pressures in future gas turbine engines. Their operation depends upon unsteady gas dynamics and as such, their analysis is quite difficult. This report describes a numerical model which has been developed to perform such an analysis. Following a brief introduction, a summary of the wave rotor concept is given. The governing equations are then presented, along with a summary of the assumptions used to obtain them. Next, the numerical integration technique is described. This is an explicit finite volume technique based on the method of Roe. The discussion then focuses on the implementation of appropriate boundary conditions. Following this, some results are presented which first compare the numerical approximation to the governing differential equations and then compare the overall model to an actual wave rotor experiment. Finally, some concluding remarks are presented concerning the limitations of the simplifying assumptions and areas where the model may be improved.

Paxson, Daniel W.↗

NASA NTRS1992

On the numerical treatment of nonlinear source terms in reaction-convection equations

The objectives of this paper are to investigate how various numerical treatments of the nonlinear source term in a model reaction-convection equation can affect the stability of steady-state numerical solutions and to show under what conditions the conventional linearized analysis breaks down. The underlying goal is to provide part of the basic building blocks toward the ultimate goal of constructing suitable numerical schemes for hypersonic reacting flows, combustions and certain turbulence models in compressible Navier-Stokes computations. It can be shown that nonlinear analysis uncovers much of the nonlinear phenomena which linearized analysis is not capable of predicting in a model reaction-convection equation.

Lafon, A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

A numerical and experimental study of three-dimensional liquid sloshing in a rotating spherical container

A numerical and experimental study of three dimensional liquid sloshing inside a partially-filled spherical container undergoing an orbital rotating motion is described. Solutions of the unsteady, three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations for the case of a gradual spin-up from rest are compared with experimental data obtained using a rotating test rig fitted with two liquid-filled spherical tanks. Data gathered from several experiments are reduced in terms of a dimensionless free surface height for comparison with transient results from the numerical simulations. The numerical solutions are found to compare favorably with the experimental data.

Chen, Kuo-Huey↗

NASA NTRS1992

Bleed-boundary conditions for numerically simulated mixed-compression supersonic inlet flow

A numerical study was performed to investigate boundary conditions for bleed openings that are needed in the numerical simulation of critical flow through turbojet inlets with bleed. Nine different boundary conditions (BCs) were devised and examined. Of the BCs examined, three were able to stabilize the terminal shock near the inlet's throat. This numerical study was based on the ensemble-averaged, unsteady, three-dimensional, compressible Navier-Stokes equations closed by the Baldwin-Lomax algebraic turbulence model. Solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations were obtained by using a hybrid implicit-explicit method (Beam and Warming/MacCormack). The multiblock grid system used in the solution procedure was generated by solving a set of elliptic partial differential equations. Solutions obtained were compared with available experimental data.

Chyu, W. J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Direct numerical simulation of instabilities in parallel flow with spherical roughness elements

Results from a direct numerical simulation of laminar flow over a flat surface with spherical roughness elements using a spectral-element method are given. The numerical simulation approximates roughness as a cellular pattern of identical spheres protruding from a smooth wall. Periodic boundary conditions on the domain's horizontal faces simulate an infinite array of roughness elements extending in the streamwise and spanwise directions, which implies the parallel-flow assumption, and results in a closed domain. A body force, designed to yield the horizontal Blasius velocity in the absence of roughness, sustains the flow. Instabilities above a critical Reynolds number reveal negligible oscillations in the recirculation regions behind each sphere and in the free stream, high-amplitude oscillations in the layer directly above the spheres, and a mean profile with an inflection point near the sphere's crest. The inflection point yields an unstable layer above the roughness (where U''(y) is less than 0) and a stable region within the roughness (where U''(y) is greater than 0). Evidently, the instability begins when the low-momentum or wake region behind an element, being the region most affected by disturbances (purely numerical in this case), goes unstable and moves. In compressible flow with periodic boundaries, this motion sends disturbances to all regions of the domain. In the unstable layer just above the inflection point, the disturbances grow while being carried downstream with a propagation speed equal to the local mean velocity; they do not grow amid the low energy region near the roughness patch. The most amplified disturbance eventually arrives at the next roughness element downstream, perturbing its wake and inducing a global response at a frequency governed by the streamwise spacing between spheres and the mean velocity of the most amplified layer.

Deanna, R. G.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Numerical study on mixing of sprayed liquid in an LNG storage tank

This paper presents a numerical method to simulate the mixing of heavier LNG sprayed on lighter layer. Numerical results for evolutions of flow field and density field are obtained in a rectangular computational domain which includes the vicinity of the liquid surface. At the surface boundary, uniform distributions of the fluid velocity and the density are assumed. Detail structure of flow caused by impingements of liquid drops are neglected. But, to trigger a realistic motion, a series of random numbers is employed. It is used as an initial distribution of the density near the surface. This method successfully gives a realistic simulation of the mixing process. Numerical results for mixing velocity shows good agreement with experimental data.

Uchida, Hiroyuki↗

NASA NTRS1992

Recent advances in numerical simulation and control of asymmetric flows around slender bodies

The problems of asymmetric flow around slender bodies and its control are formulated using the unsteady, compressible, thin-layer or full Navier-Stokes equations which are solved using an implicit, flux-difference splitting, finite-volume scheme. The problem is numerically simulated for both locally-conical and three-dimensional flows. The numerical applications include studies of the effects of relative incidence, Mach number and Reynolds number on the flow asymmetry. For the control of flow asymmetry, the numerical simulation cover passive and active control methods. For the passive control, the effectiveness of vertical fins placed in the leeward plane of geometric symmetry and side strakes with different orientations is studied. For the active control, the effectiveness of normal and tangential flow injection and surface heating and a combination of these methods is studied.

Kandil, Osama A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Numerical Modeling of a Vortex Stabilized Arcjet

Arcjet thrusters are being actively considered for use in Earth orbit maneuvering applications. Experimental studies are currently the chief means of determining an optimal thruster configuration. Earlier numerical studies have failed to include all of the effects found in typical arcjets including complex geometries, viscosity, and swirling flow. Arcjet geometries are large area ratio converging nozzles with centerbodies in the subsonic portion of the nozzle. The nozzle walls serve as the anode while the centerbody functions as the cathode. Viscous effects are important because the Reynolds number, based on the throat radius, is typically less than 1,000. Experimental studies have shown that a swirl or circumferential velocity component stabilizes a constricted arc. This dissertation describes the equations governing flow through a constricted arcjet thruster. An assumption that the flowfield is in local thermodynamic equilibrium leads to a single fluid plasma temperature model. An order of magnitude analysis reveals the governing fluid mechanics equations are uncoupled from the electromagnetic field equations. A numerical method is developed to solve the governing fluid mechanics equations, the Thin Layer Navier-Stokes equations. A coordinate transformation is employed in deriving the governing equations to simplify the application of boundary conditions in complex geometries. An axisymmetric formulation is employed to include the swirl velocity component as well as the axial and radial velocity components. The numerical method is an implicit finite-volume technique and allows for large time steps to reach a converged steady-state solution. The inviscid fluxes are flux-split, and Gauss-Seidel line relaxation is used to accelerate convergence. Converging-diverging nozzles with exit-to-throat area ratios up to 100:1 and annular nozzles were examined. Quantities examined included Mach number and static wall pressure distributions, and oblique shock structures. As the level of swirl and viscosity in the flowfield increased the mass flow rate and thrust decreased. The technique was used to predict the flow through a typical arcjet thruster geometry. Results indicate swirl and viscosity play an important role in the complex geometry of an arcjet.

Pawlas, Gary E.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Stress analysis and damage evaluation of flawed composite laminates by hybrid-numerical methods

Structural components in flight vehicles is often inherited flaws, such as microcracks, voids, holes, and delamination. These defects will degrade structures the same as that due to damages in service, such as impact, corrosion, and erosion. It is very important to know how a structural component can be useful and survive after these flaws and damages. To understand the behavior and limitation of these structural components researchers usually do experimental tests or theoretical analyses on structures with simulated flaws. However, neither approach has been completely successful. As Durelli states that 'Seldom does one method give a complete solution, with the most efficiency'. Examples of this principle is seen in photomechanics which additional strain-gage testing can only average stresses at locations of high concentration. On the other hand, theoretical analyses including numerical analyses are implemented with simplified assumptions which may not reflect actual boundary conditions. Hybrid-Numerical methods which combine photomechanics and numerical analysis have been used to correct this inefficiency since 1950's. But its application is limited until 1970's when modern computer codes became available. In recent years, researchers have enhanced the data obtained from photoelasticity, laser speckle, holography and moire' interferometry for input of finite element analysis on metals. Nevertheless, there is only few of literature being done on composite laminates. Therefore, this research is dedicated to this highly anisotropic material.

Yang, Yii-Ching↗

NASA NTRS1993

Structure of confined laminar spray diffusion flames: Numerical investigation

The structure of confined laminar spray diffusion flames is investigated numerically by solving the gas-phase conservation equations for mass species, continuity, momentum, and energy and the liquid-phase equations for droplet position, velocity, size, and temperature. A one-step global reaction scheme along with six equilibrium reactions are employed to model the flame chemistry. Monodisperse as well as polydisperse sprays are considered. The numerical results demonstrate that liquid spray flames substantially differ from gaseous flames in their structure, i.e., temperature, concentration, and velocity fields, shape, and dimensions under the same conditions. Spray flames are predicted to be taller and narrower than their counterpart gaseous ones and their shapes are almost cylindrical. This is in agreement with experimental observations. The numerical computations also show that the use of the equilibrium reactions with the one-step reaction scheme decreases the flame temperature compared to the one-step reaction scheme without the equilibrium reactions and more importantly increases the surface area of the flame zone due to a phenomenon termed 'equilibrium broadening.' The spray flames also possess a finite thickness with minimal overlap of the fuel and oxygen species. A case for which a fuel-mixture consisting of 20 to 80 percent gas-liquid by mass is introduced into the combustor is also investigated and compared with predictions using only gaseous or liquid fuel.

Mawid, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1993

A numerical study of confined turbulent jets

A numerical investigation is reported of turbulent incompressible jets confined in two ducts, one cylindrical and the other conical with a 5 degree divergence. In each case, three Craya-Curtet numbers are considered which correspond, respectively, to flow situations with no moderate and strong recirculation. Turbulence closure is achieved by using the k-epsilon model and a recently proposed realizable Reynolds stress algebraic equation model that relates the Reynolds stresses explicitly to the quadratic terms of the mean velocity gradients and ensures the positiveness of each component of the turbulent kinetic energy. Calculations are carried out with a finite-volume procedure using boundary-fitted curvilinear coordinates. A second-order accurate, bounded convection scheme and sufficiently fine grids are used to prevent the solutions from being contaminated by numerical diffusion. The calculated results are compared extensively with the available experimental data. It is shown that the numerical methods presented are capable of capturing the essential flow features observed in the experiments and that the realizable Reynolds stress algebraic equation model performs much better than the k-epsilon model for this class of flows of great practical importance.

Zhu, J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Numerical simulations of high-speed flows about waveriders with sharp leading edges

A procedure is developed for the numerical simulation of stagnation-free inviscid supersonic and hypersonic flows about waveriders with sharp leading edges. The numerical approach involves the development of a specialized grid generator (named HYGRID), an algebraic solution-adaptive grid scheme, and a modified flow solving method. A comparison of the results obtained for several waverider geometries with exact solutions, other numerical solutions, and experimental results demonstrated the ability of the new procedure to produce stagnation-free Euler solutions about sharp-edged configurations and to describe the physics of the flow in these regions.

Jones, Kevin D.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Direct numerical simulations of a spatially developing plane wake

In the present paper, direct numerical methods by which to simulate the spatially developing free shear flows in the transitional region are described and the numerical results of a spatially developing plane wake are presented. The incompressible time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations were solved using Pade finite difference approximations in the streamwise direction, a mapped pseudospectral Fourier method in the cross-stream direction, and a third-order compact Runge-Kutta scheme for time advancement. The unstable modes of the Orr-Sommerfeld equations were used to perturb the inlet of the wake. Statistical analyses were performed and some numerical results were compared with experimental measurements. When only the fundamental mode is forced, the energy spectra show amplification of the fundamental and its higher harmonics. In this case, unperturbed alternate vortices develop in the saturation region of the wake. The phase jitter around the fundamental frequency plays a critical role in generating vortices of random shape and spacing. Large- and small-scale distortions of the fundamental structure are observed. Pairing of vortices of the same sign is observed, as well as vortex coupling of vortices of the opposite sign.

Maekawa, Hiroshi↗

NASA NTRS1993

Numerical model for the Programmable Multirole Furnace (PMZF)

The present account of the Programmable Multizone Furnace numerical model uses various examples to illustrate the ways in which the model serves as an optimization, test, prediction, and visualization tool; a numerical PID-control algorithm obtains the desired sample temperature distributions and allows the model to solve an inverse heat transfer problem where the desired sample temperature profile is the input and the required heater power distribution is the output of numerical simulations. Parametric studies show how the total power consumption of the furnace is affected by such design variables as the conductivity.

Kassemi, M.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Numerical modeling of wall-injected scramjet experiments

A wall-injected, hydrogen-fueled scramjet is modeled numerically using a parabolic Navier-Stokes computer code with a k-epsilon turbulence model and finite-rate chemistry. The numerical results are compared to experimental scramjet data taken in a shock tunnel and are found to be in reasonable agreement. Under the conditions studied, the numerical results show that combustion in the scramjet is mainly mixing limited.

Brescianini, C. P.↗