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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 361 records · Page 20

Conical Seat Shut-Off Valve

A moveable valve for controlling flow of a pressurized working fluid was designed. This valve consists of a hollow, moveable floating piston pressed against a stationary solid seat, and can use the working fluid to seal the valve. This open/closed, novel valve is able to use metal-to-metal seats, without requiring seat sliding action; therefore there are no associated damaging effects. During use, existing standard high-pressure ball valve seats tend to become damaged during rotation of the ball. Additionally, forces acting on the ball and stem create large amounts of friction. The combination of these effects can lead to system failure. In an attempt to reduce damaging effects and seat failures, soft seats in the ball valve have been eliminated; however, the sliding action of the ball across the highly loaded seat still tends to scratch the seat, causing failure. Also, in order to operate, ball valves require the use of large actuators. Positioning the metal-to-metal seats requires more loading, which tends to increase the size of the required actuator, and can also lead to other failures in other areas such as the stem and bearing mechanisms, thus increasing cost and maintenance. This novel non-sliding seat surface valve allows metal-to-metal seats without the damaging effects that can lead to failure, and enables large seating forces without damaging the valve. Additionally, this valve design, even when used with large, high-pressure applications, does not require large conventional valve actuators and the valve stem itself is eliminated. Actuation is achieved with the use of a small, simple solenoid valve. This design also eliminates the need for many seals used with existing ball valve and globe valve designs, which commonly cause failure, too. This, coupled with the elimination of the valve stem and conventional valve actuator, improves valve reliability and seat life. Other mechanical liftoff seats have been designed; however, they have only resulted in increased cost, and incurred other reliability issues. With this novel design, the seat is lifted by simply removing the working fluid pressure that presses it against the seat and no external force is required. By eliminating variables associated with existing ball and globe configurations that can have damaging effects upon a valve, this novel design reduces downtime in rocket engine test schedules and maintenance costs.

Farner, Bruce↗

Analytical observations on the aerodynamics of a delta wing with leading edge flaps

The effect of a leading edge flap on the aerodynamics of a low aspect ratio delta wing is studied analytically. The separated flow field about the wing is represented by a simple vortex model composed of a conical straight vortex sheet and a concentrated vortex. The analysis is carried out in the cross flow plane by mapping the wing trace, by means of the Schwarz-Christoffel transformation into the real axis of the transformed plane. Particular attention is given to the influence of the angle of attack and flap deflection angle on lift and drag forces. Both lift and drag decrease with flap deflection, while the lift-to-drag ratioe increases. A simple coordinate transformation is used to obtain a closed form expression for the lift-to-drag ratio as a function of flap deflection. The main effect of leading edge flap deflection is a partial suppression of the separated flow on the leeside of the wing. Qualitative comparison with experiments is presented, showing agreement in the general trends.

Oh, S.↗

Flow control valve

A flow control valve for high temperature fluids is disclosed. The valve is characterized by an all-metal flow control unit including a tubular conduit, terminating in a valve seat, a throttling cone having an internal, truncated conical surface coaxially related to the valve seat and supported for axial motion relative to the seat, and an axially reciprocable, flow-control plug supported in coaxial relation with the cone. The plug is provided with a truncated conical surface configured to be mated with the surface of the throttling cone for regulating a flow of fluid established through the unit and a curved shut-off surface.

Hays, L. G.↗

Polar plasmas as observed by Dynamics Explorers 1 and 2

Plasma measurements from the Dynamics Explorer 1 and 2 satellites were used to characterize the polar cap environment. Analysis of numerous polar-cap passes indicate that, in general, three major regimes of plasma exist: (1) polar rain--electrons with magnetosheath-like energy spectra but much lower densities, most intense near the cusp and weakening toward the central polar cap; (2) polar wind--low energy upward flowing ions with both field-aligned and conical distributions; and (3) acceleration events--sporadic events consistent with the acceleration of electrons and positive ions by parallel electric fields. (1) to (3) were observed at high altitudes by Dynamics Explorer 1, while (1) and (3) were also observed at low altitudes by Dynamics Explorer 2. The plasma parameters associated with these plasma regimes are presented and discussed in terms of source and acceleration mechanisms.

Barfield, J. N.↗

Theoretical studies on flapped delta wings

The effects of leading edge flaps on the aerodynamic characteristics of a low aspect-ratio delta wing are studied theoretically. As an extension of the classical crossflow plane analysis and in order to include separated shear layers, an analogy between three dimensional steady conical and two dimensional unsteady self-similar flows is explored. This analogy provides a simple steady-unsteady relationship. The criteria for the validity of the steady-unsteady analogy are also examined. Two different theoretical techniques are used to represent the separated shear layers based on the steady-unsteady analogy, neglecting the trailing edge effect. In the first approach, each vortex system is represented by a pair of concentrated vortices connected to the separation points by straight feeding sheets. In the second approach, the vortex cloud method is adopted for simulating the flow field in the crossflow plane. The separated shear layers are replaced with a cloud of discrete vortices and the boundary element method is employed to represent the wing trace by a vorticity distribution. A simple merging scheme is used to model the core region of the vortical flow as a single vortex by imposing a restriction on the shear layer rotation angle. The results are compared with experiments and with results from 3-D panel calculations.

Oh, S.↗

Altitude Performance Characteristics of Tail-pipe Burner with Convergingconical Burner Section on J47 Turbojet Engine

An investigation of turbojet-engine thrust augmentation by means of tail-pipe burning was conducted in the NACA Lewis altitude wind tunnel. Performance data were obtained with a tail-pipe burner having a converging conical burner section installed on an axial-flow-compressor type turbojet engine over a range of simulated flight conditions and tail-pipe fuel-air ratios with a fixed-area exhaust nozzle. A maximum tail-pipe combustion efficiency of 0.86 was obtained at an altitude of 15,000 feet and a flight Mach number of 0.23. Tail-pipe burner operation was possible up to an altitude of 45,000 feet at a flight Mach number of 0.23.

Prince, William R↗

The natural flow wing-design concept

A wing-design study was conducted on a 65 degree swept leading-edge delta wing in which the wing geometry was modified to take advantage of the naturally occurring flow that forms over a slender wing in a supersonic flow field. Three-dimensional nonlinear analysis methods were used in the study which was divided into three parts: preliminary design, initial design, and final design. In the preliminary design, the wing planform, the design conditions, and the near-conical wing-design concept were derived, and a baseline standard wing (conventional airfoil distribution) and a baseline near-conical wing were chosen. During the initial analysis, a full-potential flow solver was employed to determine the aerodynamic characteristics of the baseline standard delta wing and to investigate modifications to the airfoil thickness, leading-edge radius, airfoil maximum-thickness position, and wing upper to lower surface asymmetry on the baseline near-conical wing. The final design employed an Euler solver to analyze the best wing configurations found in the initial design and to extend the study of wing asymmetry to develop a more refined wing. Benefits resulting from each modification are discussed, and a final 'natural flow' wing geometry was designed that provides an improvement in aerodynamic performance compared with that of a baseline conventional uncambered wing, linear-theory cambered wing, and near-conical wing.

Wood, Richard M.↗

Noise suppression due to annulus shaping of an inverted-velocity-profile coaxial nozzle

An inverted velocity profile coaxial nozzle for use with supersonic cruise aircraft produces less jet noise than an equivalent conical nozzle. Furthermore, decreasing the annulus height (increasing radius ratio with constant flow) results in further noise reduction benefits. The annulus shape (height) was varied by an eccentric mounting of the annular nozzle with respect to a conical core nozzle. Acoustic measurements were made in the flyover plane below the narrowest portion of the annulus and at 90 deg and 180 deg from this point. The model-scale spectra are scaled up to engine size (1.07 m diameter) and the perceived noise levels for the eccentric and baseline concentric inverted velocity profile coaxial nozzles are compared over a range of operating conditions. The implications of the acoustic benefits derived with the eccentric nozzle to practical applications are discussed.

Goodykoontz, J.↗

An improved version of NCOREL: A computer program for 3-D nonlinear supersonic potential flow computations

A computer code called NCOREL (for Nonconical Relaxation) has been developed to solve for supersonic full potential flows over complex geometries. The method first solves for the conical at the apex and then marches downstream in a spherical coordinate system. Implicit relaxation techniques are used to numerically solve the full potential equation at each subsequent crossflow plane. Many improvements have been made to the original code including more reliable numerics for computing wing-body flows with multiple embedded shocks, inlet flow through simulation, wake model and entropy corrections. Line relaxation or approximate factorization schemes are optionally available. Improved internal grid generation using analytic conformal mappings, supported by a simple geometric Harris wave drag input that was originally developed for panel methods and internal geometry package are some of the new features.

Siclari, Michael J.↗

Analysis of a Transonic Alternating Flow Phenomenon Observed During Ares Crew Launch Vehicle Wind Tunnel Tests

A transonic wind tunnel test of the Ares I-X Rigid Buffet Model (RBM) identified a Mach number regime where unusually large buffet loads are present. A subsequent investigation identified the cause of these loads to be an alternating flow phenomenon at the Crew Module-Service Module junction. The conical design of the Ares I-X Crew Module and the cylindrical design of the Service Module exposes the vehicle to unsteady pressure loads due to the sudden transition from separated to attached flow about the cone-cylinder junction with increasing Mach number. For locally transonic conditions at this junction, the flow randomly fluctuates back and forth between a subsonic separated flow and a supersonic attached flow. These fluctuations produce a square-wave like pattern in the pressure time histories which, upon integration result in large amplitude, impulsive buffet loads. Subsequent testing of the Ares I RBM found much lower buffet loads since the evolved Ares I design includes an ogive fairing that covers the Crew Module-Service Module junction, thereby making the vehicle less susceptible to the onset of alternating flow. An analysis of the alternating flow separation and attachment phenomenon indicates that the phenomenon is most severe at low angles of attack and exacerbated by the presence of vehicle protuberances. A launch vehicle may experience either a single or, at most, a few impulsive loads since it is constantly accelerating during ascent rather than dwelling at constant flow conditions in a wind tunnel. A comparison of a wind-tunnel-test-data-derived impulsive load to flight-test-data-derived load indicates a significant over-prediction in the magnitude and duration of the buffet load

Sekula, Martin K.↗

Analysis of Ares Crew Launch Vehicle Transonic Alternating Flow Phenomenon

A transonic wind tunnel test of the Ares I-X Rigid Buffet Model (RBM) identified a Mach number regime where unusually large buffet loads are present. A subsequent investigation identified the cause of these loads to be an alternating flow phenomenon at the Crew Module-Service Module junction. The conical design of the Ares I-X Crew Module and the cylindrical design of the Service Module exposes the vehicle to unsteady pressure loads due to the sudden transition between a subsonic separated and a supersonic attached flow about the cone-cylinder junction as the local flow randomly fluctuates back and forth between the two flow states. These fluctuations produce a square-wave like pattern in the pressure time histories resulting in large amplitude, impulsive buffet loads. Subsequent testing of the Ares I RBM found much lower buffet loads since the evolved Ares I design includes an ogive fairing that covers the Crew Module-Service Module junction, thereby making the vehicle less susceptible to the onset of alternating flow. An analysis of the alternating flow separation and attachment phenomenon indicates that the phenomenon is most severe at low angles of attack and exacerbated by the presence of vehicle protuberances. A launch vehicle may experience either a single or, at most, a few impulsive loads since it is constantly accelerating during ascent rather than dwelling at constant flow conditions in a wind tunnel. A comparison of a windtunnel- test-data-derived impulsive load to flight-test-data-derived load indicates a significant over-prediction in the magnitude and duration of the buffet load. I. Introduction One

Sekula, Martin K.↗

Conical similarity of shock/boundary layer interactions generated by swept fins

A parametric experimental study has been made of the class of 3D shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interactions generated by swept-leading-edge fins. The fin sweepback angles ranged from 0 to 65 deg at angles of attack of 5, 9, and 15 deg. Two equilibrium 2D turbulent boundary layers with a free-stream 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 the resulting interactions were found to possess conical symmetry of surface pressures and skin friction lines beyond an initial inception zone. Further, these interactions revealed a simple similarity based on inviscid shock strength irrespective of fin sweepback or angle of attack.

Lu, F. K.↗

The behavior of a compressible turbulent boundary layer in a shock-wave-induced adverse pressure gradient

The results of an experimental investigation of the mean- and fluctuating-flow properties of a compressible turbulent boundary layer in a shock-wave-induced adverse pressure gradient are presented. The turbulent boundary layer developed on the wall of an axially symmetric nozzle and test section whose nominal free-stream Mach number and boundary-layer thickness Reynolds number were 4 and 100,000, respectively. The adverse pressure gradient was induced by an externally generated conical shock wave. Mean and time-averaged fluctuating-flow data, including the complete experimental Reynolds stress tensor and experimental turbulent mass- and heat-transfer rates are presented for the boundary layer and external flow, upstream, within and downstream of the pressure gradient. The mean-flow data include distributions of total temperature throughout the region of interest. The turbulent mixing properties of the flow were determined experimentally with a hot-wire anemometer. The calibration of the wires and the interpretation of the data are discussed. From the results of the investigation, it is concluded that the shock-wave - boundary-layer interaction significantly alters the turbulent mixing characteristics of the boundary layer.

Rose, W. C.↗

Numerical Simulations of an Axisymmetric Shock-Wave/Boundary-Layer Interaction

A series of Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations were performed of two Mach 2.5 axisymmetric shock-wave/boundary-layer interactions (SWBLIs) based off of the NASA Turbulent Computational Fluid Dynamics Validation Experiment (TCFDVE). The goals of the simulations were to (1) determine how well RANS can predict the flow physics of an axisymmetric SWBLI and (2) generate a new validation case for the NASA Turbulence Modeling Resource (TMR). The simulations were run with two different turbulence models and three different computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes while looking at two different conical shock generator angles, one of which was shown to cause flow separation in the experiment. The results in this paper show that, as expected, the CFD simulations agreed well with each other and the experiment when SWBLI-induced separation was not present. When separation was present, differences in the predicted separation characteristics were noted. These included a stronger interaction and subsequently longer separation extent for the Menter Shear-Stress Transport k-ω (SST) turbulence model simulations compared to both the Spalart-Allmaras (SA) turbulence model simulations and the experiment.

Computational Fluid Dynamics↗

Noise suppression due to annulus shaping of an inverted-velocity-profile coaxial nozzle

Previous studies have shown that an inverted-velocity-profile coaxial nozzle for use with supersonic cruise aircraft produces less jet noise than an equivalent conical nozzle. Furthermore, decreasing the annulus height (increasing radius ratio with constant flow) results in further noise reduction benefits. In the present model-scale study, the annulus shape, that is, height, was varied by an eccentric mounting of the annular nozzle with respect to a conical core nozzle. Acoustic measurements were made in the flyover plane below the narrowest portion of the annulus and at 90 deg and 180 deg from this point. The model-scale spectra are scaled up to engine size (1.07 m diameter) and the perceived noise levels for the eccentric and baseline concentric inverted-velocity-profile coaxial nozzles are compared over a range of operating conditions. The implications of the acoustic benefits derived with the eccentric nozzle to practical applications are discussed.

Goodykoontz, J.↗