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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 343 records · Page 19

Overview of the High Reynolds Number Ascent Wind Tunnel Test of the Space Launch System at the National Transonic Facility

Transonic, high Reynolds number wind tunnel testing for the Space Launch System (SLS) ascent flight environment was conducted in the National Transonic Facility (NTF) at the NASA Langley Research Center from December 2019 to April 2021. The test was sponsored by the SLS Program and the NASA Engineering & Safety Center with the ob- jective of assessing and characterizing Reynolds number effects on the ascent aerodynamics of the SLS launch vehicle. The cryogenic test article was a 1.75%-scale representation of the SLS Block 1 Cargo configuration that was fabricated mostly out of stainless steel, but with several additive-manufactured components including the Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) attach brackets and the SRB nozzles. This was the first use of additive manufacturing on structural components of a cryogenic model in the NTF, therefore post-fabrication material testing and inspections were performed to satisfy safety requirements. Force & moment and surface pressure data were acquired for Mach numbers between 0.50 and 0.95 over a range of Reynolds numbers based on core stage diameter between 2x10^6 and a maximum of 40x10^6 corresponding to 45% of flight Reynolds number. Additionally, flow visualization data using Pressure Sensitive Paint were acquired with a focus on the SRB forward attach area, which is susceptible to Reynolds number sensitivity at transonic speeds. This paper provides an overview of the test campaign including details on the unique test article and the experimental setup and test execution. General test findings and observations are also presented, but the majority of the test results and data analyses are provided in a companion paper.

Space Launch System↗

Tuning the Chern number in quantum anomalous Hall insulators

A quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) state is a two-dimensional topological insulating state that has a quantized Hall resistance of h/(Ce 2 ) and vanishing longitudinal resistance under zero magnetic field (where h is the Planck constant, e is the elementary charge, and the Chern number C is an integer). The QAH effect has been realized in magnetic topological insulators and magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene. However, the QAH effect at zero magnetic field has so far been realized only for C = 1. Here we realize a well quantized QAH effect with tunable Chern number (up to C = 5) in multilayer structures consisting of alternating magnetic and undoped topological insulator layers, fabricated using molecular beam epitaxy. The Chern number of these QAH insulators is determined by the number of undoped topological insulator layers in the multilayer structure. Moreover, we demonstrate that the Chern number of a given multilayer structure can be tuned by varying either the magnetic doping concentration in the magnetic topological insulator layers or the thickness of the interior magnetic topological insulator layer. We develop a theoretical model to explain our experimental observations and establish phase diagrams for QAH insulators with high, tunable Chern number. Furthermore, the realization of such insulators facilitates the application of dissipationless chiral edge currents in energy-efficient electronic devices, and opens up opportunities for developing multi-channel quantum computing and higher-capacity chiral circuit interconnects.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Understanding SYCL Portability for Pseudorandom Number Generation: a Case Study with Gene-Expression Connectivity Mapping

Towards the goal of improving functional and performance portability of SYCL, we study a bioinformatics application that has been accelerated with CUDA and fast pseudorandom number generation on a GPU. We describe the experience of migrating pseudorandom number generation from CUDA to SYCL, evaluate the performance of pseudorandom number generators using the CUDA random number generation library, suggest the support of the XORWOW pseudorandom number generator in the oneAPI math kernel library (oneMKL) interface for performance portability, and identify the performance gap using the MKL interface in SYCL that supports pseudorandom number generation with third-party libraries. We hope that the results are valuable for the development of the SYCL ecosystem.

Jin, Zheming↗

Heterogeneity in MacMullin Number of Li-Ion Battery Electrodes Studied by Means of an Aperture Probe

Heterogeneity of MacMullin number within battery electrodes is a key metric affecting cell performance. To characterize this heterogeneity, an aperture probe was developed. This probe, coupled with a newly developed transmission-line model, allows for measurements of tortuosity, represented by the MacMullin number, on millimeter length scales. Local MacMullin number values of seven electrodes were measured, and the ionic resistance profiles of these electrodes are given through contour maps of the MacMullin number. The method is validated by comparing the average MacMullin number to the value obtained through other measurement methods. The results show significant local MacMullin number variation in such electrodes on a millimeter length scale. Furthermore, this method will allow battery manufacturers and researchers to better quantify sources of heterogeneity and improve electrode quality.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

A Comparison of Void-finding Algorithms Using Crossing Numbers

We study how well void-finding algorithms identify cosmic void regions and whether we can quantitatively and qualitatively compare the voids they find with dynamical information from the underlying matter distribution. Using the ORIGAMI algorithm to determine the number of dimensions along which dark matter particles have undergone shell crossing (crossing number) in N-body simulations from the AbacusSummit simulation suite, we identify dark matter particles that have undergone no shell crossing as belonging to voids. We then find voids in the corresponding halo distribution using two different void-finding algorithms: VoidFinder and V 2 , a ZOBOV-based algorithm. The resulting void catalogs are compared to the distribution of dark matter particles to examine how their crossing numbers depend on void proximity. While both algorithms' voids have a similar distribution of crossing numbers near their centers, we find that beyond 0.25 times the effective void radius, voids found by VoidFinder exhibit a stronger preference for particles with low crossing numbers than those found by V 2 . We examine two possible methods of mitigating this difference in efficacy between the algorithms. While we are able to partially mitigate the ineffectiveness of V 2 by using the distance from the void edge as a measure of centrality, we conclude that VoidFinder more reliably identifies dynamically distinct regions of low crossing number.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Optimal Design Approaches for Cost-Effective Manufacturing and Deployment of Chemical Process Families with Economies of Numbers

Developing methods for rapid, large-scale deployment of carbon capture systems is critical for meeting climate change goals. Optimization-based decisions can be employed at the design and manufacturing phases to minimize costs of deployment and operation. Manufacturing standardization results in significant cost savings due to economies of numbers. Building off previous work, we present a process family design approach to design a set of carbon capture systems while explicitly including economies of numbers savings within the formulation. Our formulation optimizes both the number and characteristics of the common components in the platform and simultaneously designs the resulting set of carbon capture systems. Savings from economies of numbers are explicitly included in the formulation to determine the number of components in the platform. We show and discuss the savings we gain from economies of numbers.

Stinchfield, Georgia↗

Free-Flight Tests of Fifth-Stage Scout Entry Vehicle at Mach Numbers of 5 and 17

Measurements have been made in air at two Mach numbers of the static stability, normal force, and drag of a version of the fifth-stage Scout entry vehicle. The most significant result was that the design center of gravity led to a condition of static instability at small angles of attack at Mach number 17. At this Mach number, the static stability was a highly nonlinear function of the angle of attack. A useful method for analyzing free-flight data having this nonlinear behavior is included in this report. Comparisons were made between the measured aerodynamic coefficients and those estimated by Newtonian impact theory and by a method developed by Seiff and Whiting. The latter method gave good estimates of the normal-force-curve slope at both Mach numbers and of the moment-curve slope at the lower Mach number. It resulted in an overestimation of the static stability at Mach number 17, although it gave results decidedly closer to the experimental value than did Newtonian impact theory.

FREE FLIGHT↗

Flight Investigation at Low Angles of Attack to Determine the Longitudinal Stability and Control Characteristics of a Cruciform Canard Missile Configuration with a Low-Aspect-Ratio Wing and Blunt Nose at Mach Numbers from 1.2 to 2.1

A full-scale rocket-powered model of a cruciform canard missile configuration with a low-aspect-ratio wing and blunt nose has been flight tested by the Langley Pilotless Aircraft Research Division. Static and dynamic longitudinal stability and control derivatives of this interdigitated canard-wing missile configuration were determined by using the pulsed-control technique at low angles of attack and for a Mach number range of 1.2 to 2.1. The lift-curve slope showed only small nonlinearities with changes in control deflection or angle of attack but indicated a difference in lift-curve slope of approximately 7 percent for the two control deflections of delta = 3.0 deg and delta = -0.3 deg. The large tail length of the missile tested was effective in producing damping in pitch throughout the Mach number range tested. The aerodynamic-center location was nearly constant with Mach number for the two control deflections but was shown to be less stable with the larger control deflection. The increment of lift produced by the controls was small and positive throughout the Mach number range tested, whereas the pitching moment produced by the controls exhibited a normal trend of reduced effectiveness with increasing Mach number. The effectiveness of the controls in producing angle of attack, lift, and pitching moment was good at all Mach numbers tested.

Brown, C. A., Jr.↗

Reynolds number effects on boattail drag of exhaust nozzles from wind tunnel and flight tests

A family of nacelle mounted high angle boattail nozzles was tested to investigate Reynolds number effects on drag. The nozzles were flown on a modified F-106B and mounted on scale models of a F-106 in a wind tunnel. A 19- to 1-range of Reynolds number was covered as a result of the large size differences between models and by flying over a range of altitude. In flight, the nozzles were mounted behind J-85 turbojet engines. Jet boundary simulators and a powered turbojet engine simulator were used on the wind tunnel models. Data were taken at Mach numbers of 0.6 and 0.9. Boattail drag was found to be affected by boattail number. The effect is a complex relationship dependent upon boundary layer thickness and nozzle boattail shape. As Reynolds number was increased from the lowest values obtained with scale models, boattail drag first increased to a maximum at the lowest flight Reynolds number and then decreased.

Wilcox, F. A.↗

Reynolds number effects on boattail drag of exhaust nozzles from wind tunnel and flight tests

A family of nacelle-mounted high-angle boattail nozzles was tested to investigate Reynolds number effects on drag. The nozzles were flown on a modified F-106B and mounted on scale models of an F-106 in a wind tunnel. A 19-to-1 range of Reynolds number was covered as a result of the large size differences between models and by flying over a range of altitude. In flight the nozzles were mounted behind J-85 turbojet engines. Jet boundary simulators and a powered turbojet engine simulator were used on the wind tunnel models. Data were taken at Mach numbers of 0.6 and 0.9. Boattail drag was found to be affected by Reynolds number. The effect is a complex relationship dependent upon boundary layer thickness and nozzle boattail shape. As Reynolds number was increased from the lowest values obtained with scale models, boattail drag first increased to a maximum at the lowest flight Reynolds number and then decreased.

Wilcox, F. A.↗

Aerodynamic analysis of several high throat Mach number inlets for the quiet clean short-haul experimental engine

The results of an analytical study to investigate internal and external surface Mach numbers on several inlet geometries for possible application to the nacelle of the Quiet Clean Short-Haul Experimental Engine (QCSEE) are presented. The effects of external forebody geometry and internal lip geometry were illustrated at both low-speed and cruise conditions. Boundary-layer analyses were performed on several geometries to determine if lip flow separation might exist. The results indicated that inner-surface Mach number level and gradient could be reduced with inlets at a 50 deg incidence angle by blunting the external forebody geometry. The external Mach numbers at cruise conditions indicated that a compromise in the external forebody bluntness might be required to satisfy both low-speed and cruise conditions. For a fixed value of bluntness parameter, no lip flow separation was indicated for the 1.46- and 1.57-area-contraction-ratio inlets at low-speed conditions. However, a lip separation condition was obtained with the 1.37-contraction-ratio inlet. The QCSEE nacelle design takeoff operating condition (incidence angle of 50 deg and free-stream Mach number of 0.12) resulted in higher peak surface Mach numbers than the design crosswind (incidence angle of 90 deg and free-stream Mach number of 0.05) or static condition.

Albers, J. A.↗

Reynolds number effects on boattail drag of exhaust nozzles from wind tunnel and flight tests

A family of nacelle mounted high angle boattail nozzles was tested to investigate Reynolds number effects on drag. The nozzles were flown on a modified F-106B and mounted on scale models of an F-106 in a wind tunnel. A 19- to 1-range of Reynolds number was covered as a result of the large size differences between models and by flying over a range of altitude. In flight the nozzles were mounted behind J-85 turbojet engines. Jet boundary simulators and a powered turbojet engine simulator were used on the wind tunnel models. Data were taken at Mach numbers of 0.6 and 0.9. Boattail drag was found to be affected by Reynolds number. The effect is a complex relationship dependent upon boundary layer thickness and nozzle boattail shape. As Reynolds number was increased from the lowest values obtained with scale models, boattail drag first increased to a maximum at the lowest flight Reynolds number and then decreased.

Wilcox, F. A.↗

An investigation of several NACA 1-series inlets at Mach numbers from 0.4 to 1.29 for mass flow ratios near 1.0

An investigation to determine the performance of eight NACA 1-series inlets at massflow ratios near 1.0 was conducted in the Langley 16-foot transonic tunnel. The inlet diameter ratios (ratio of inlet diameter to maximum diameter) were 0.85 and 0.89 for an inlet length ratio (ratio of inlet length to maximum diameter) of 1.0. Inlet lip radius varied from 0.061 cm to 0.251 cm, and internal contraction area ratio (ratio of inlet area to throat area) varied from 1.006 to 1.201. Reynolds number based on model maximum diameter ranged from 3,600,000 at a Mach number of 400,000 to 5,900,000 at a Mach number of 1.29. The results indicate that nearly uniform pressure distributions on a given inlet were obtained over a limited range of mass-flow ratios and Mach numbers. When inlet lip thickness was increased by means of lip radius or contraction ratio, the inlet critical Mach number decreased. Drag-divergence Mach number inferred from forebody pressure integrations was above 0.94 for most of the inlets tested.

Re, R. J.↗

Investigation of jet exhaust and local Mach number effects on the Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) base pressures (fa19)

Two single nozzles with flare angles of 10 and 20 degrees were tested at Mach numbers of 0.5, 0.9, 1.2, 1.46, 1.96 and 3.48 in the presence of gaseous plumes. An attempt was made to determine the local Mach number above the flare by utilizing a pitot probe. This objective was only partially satisfied because the 20 degree flare separated the flow ahead of the flare for Mach numbers of 0.5 to 1.96. An accurate local Mach number could not be determined because of the separated flow. To meet the objective of a data base as a function of freestream Mach number, model surface and base pressures were obtained in the presence of gaseous plumes for a matrix of chamber pressures and temperatures at Mach numbers of 0.5, 0.9, 1.2, 1.46, 1.96 and 3.48.

Love, D. A.↗

A study of viscous cross-flow effects on circular cylinders at high Reynolds numbers

Results of experimental studies on viscous cross-flow over circular cylinders for Reynolds numbers from 0.15 x 10 to the 6th to 10.9 x 10 to the 6th at Mach numbers of less than 0.3 are presented and compared with previous work where possible. Results presented include the variation of static cross-flow drag coefficients with both Reynolds number and ratio of surface roughness to model diameter, the variation of Strouhal number with Reynolds number and the dynamic variation of surface static pressure coefficients with both angular position around the cylinder and Reynolds number. The effects of end-plates on flow around two-dimensional bluff-bodies and of tunnel blockage on drag measurements are also discussed.

James, W. D.↗

Flight-measured afterbody pressure coefficients from an airplane having twin side-by-side jet engines for Mach numbers from 0.6 to 1.6

Afterbody pressure distribution data were obtained in flight from an airplane having twin side-by-side jet exhausts. The data were obtained in level flight at Mach numbers from 0.60 to 1.60 and at elevated load factors for Mach numbers of 0.60, 0.90, and 1.20. The test altitude varied from 2300 meters (7500 feet) to 15,200 meters (50,000 feet) over a speed range that provided a matrix of constant Mach number and constant unit Reynolds number test conditions. The results of the full-scale flight afterbody pressure distribution program are presented in the form of plotted pressure distributions and tabulated pressure coefficients with Mach number, angle of attack, engine nozzle pressure ratio, and unit Reynolds number as controlled parameters.

Steers, L. L.↗

Supercritical maneuvering fighter configuration. Wind-tunnel investigation at Mach numbers of 0.60 to 0.95

A wind tunnel investigation was conducted to study the application of supercritical technology to highly maneuverable combat aircraft. The configuration studied has a leading-edge sweep of 45 deg and an aspect ratio of 3.28. Two supercritical-wing shapes were tested at Mach numbers from 0.60 to 0.95 with angles of attack from -2 deg to 17 deg. On supercritical wing was designed to achieve a high level of transonic maneuver performance at a Mach number of 0.90; however, excessive flow separation developed on this wing at a Mach number of 0.85. A second supercritical wing was tested which had significantly reduced flow separation and improved drag characteristics at a Mach number of 0.85 and maintained the performance of the original wing at the higher Mach numbers. Leading-edge vortex generators did not improve the performance of the second wing; however, a sharp leading-edge flap produced sizable drag reductions at Mach numbers from 0.60 to 0.90.

Mann, M. J.↗

The cryogenic wind tunnel for high Reynolds number testing

An improved way to increase the Reynolds numbers capability of wind tunnels has been developed at the Langley Research Center. Cooling the test gas to cryogenic temperatures by spraying liquid nitrogen into the tunnel circuit increases Reynolds number with no increase in dynamic pressure and a reduction in drive power. In addition, the ability to vary the temperature of the test gas independently of pressure and Mach number allows for the first time the independent determination of Reynolds number, Mach number, and aeroelastic effects. A new fan-driven transonic cryogenic tunnel being built at the Langley Research Center will provide an order of magnitude increase in Reynolds number capability over existing transonic tunnels in the United States when it is completed later this year.

Kilgore, R. A.↗