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At least 361 records · Page 20

Experimental surface flow patterns and flow-field phenomena of a delta-wing space-shuttle orbiter

Composite photographs of the surface flow and shadowgraphs of the shock wave pattern are presented that depict the hypersonic flow field of a typical delta wing space shuttle orbiter. Results from a wind tunnel test in air are given in side, oblique, and projected plan views for angles of attack from 0 to 60 deg. The tests were conducted at a Mach number of 7.4 and for Reynolds numbers based on body length of 6,000,000 and 9,000,000. The interrelationship is shown for the intersecting bow and wing leading edge waves with the surface flow for angles of attack for which: (1) the leading edge wave is attached, and (2) the leading edge wave is detached.

Cleary, J. W.↗

Performance improvement of delta wings at subsonic speeds due to vortex flaps

Subsonic wind tunnel tests were conducted to determine performance improvements possible from the use of leading edge vortex flaps (LEVF) on delta wings. Various flap sizes and deflection angles were examined and lift-to-drag ratio improvements of up to 40% were found at moderate angles of attack on 60 deg and 75 deg swept wings. The LEVF is concluded to be effective in moving the wing's leading edge vortex onto the flaps, tilting the vortex-induced force vector forward to produce a thrust or reduce the wing's drag while maintaining attached flow and lift on the wing's upper surface.

Marchman, J. F., III↗

A streamwise upwind algorithm applied to vortical flow over a delta wing

Improvements have been made to a streamwise upwind algorithm so that it can be used for calculating flows with vortices. A calculation is shown of flow over a delta wing at an angle of attack. The laminar, thin-layer, Navier-Stokes equations are used for the calculation. The results are compared with another upwind method, a central-differencing method, and experimental data. The present method shows improvements in accuracy and convergence properties.

Goorjian, Peter M.↗

The effects of blowing on delta wing vortices during dynamic pitching at high angles of attack

An experimental investigation was conducted in a water tunnel to identify the effects of apex blowing on two delta-wing models undergoing constant pitch-rate motion. One wing was of 60-degree sweep and the other was of 76-degree sweep. Flow visualization methods were utilized to determine vortex burst locations for a wide range of pitch-up (nose up) and plunge (nose down) rates, apex jet strengths, and blowing directions. Results indicate that blowing along the 60-degree wing vortex core or along the 76-degree wing centerline results in a notable improvement in vortex behavior under both static and dynamic conditions. The results are most dramatic during dynamic plunging (nose down) conditions, where blowing resulted in the reformation of vortices with significant length.

Miller, L. S.↗

Turbulent Vortex-Flow Simulation Over a 65 deg Sharp and Blunt Leading-Edge Delta Wing at Subsonic Speeds

Turbulent thin-layer, Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes solutions, based on a multi-block structured grid, are presented for a 65 deg delta wing having either a sharp leading edge (SLE) or blunt leading edge (BLE) geometry. The primary objective of the study is to assess the prediction capability of the method for simulating the leading-edge flow separation and the ensuing vortex flow characteristics. Computational results are obtained for two angles of attack of approximately 13 and 20 deg, at free-stream Mach number of 0.40 and Reynolds number of 6 million based on the wing mean aerodynamic chord. The effects of two turbulence models of Baldwin-Lomax with Degani-Schiff (BL/DS) and the Spalart-Allmaras (SA) on the numerical results are also discussed. The computations also explore the effects of two numerical flux-splitting schemes, i.e., flux difference splitting (fds) and flux vector splitting (fvs), on the solution development and convergence characteristics. The resulting trends in solution sensitivity to grid resolution for the selected leading-edge geometries, angles of attack, turbulence models and flux splitting schemes are also presented. The validity of the numerical results is evaluated against a unique set of experimental wind-tunnel data that was obtained in the National Transonic Facility at the NASA Langley Research Center.

Ghaffari, Farhad↗

Configuration heating for a hypersonic research airplane concept having a 70 deg swept double-delta wing

The heating on a candidate hypersonic research airplane configuration has been examined experimentally at Mach 6 by the phase-change-paint technique. The configuration has a double-delta wing with tip fins. Phase-change-paint diagrams give heating data for the model top, side, and bottom, with and without deflected elevons for an angle-of-attack range of 0 deg to 24 deg. Nominal Reynolds numbers are on the order of 15,000,000 with supplementary data at length Reynolds number of 4,000,000, which moves the model from the predominantly turbulent into the predominantly laminar regime. Also, intermediate Reynolds numbers were investigated on the lee side for one angle of attack.

Lawing, P. L.↗

Calculation of supersonic viscous flow over delta wings with sharp subsonic leading edges

Two complementary procedures were developed to calculate the viscous supersonic flow over conical shapes at large angles of attack, with application to cones and delta wings. In the first approach the flow is assumed to be conical and the governing equations are solved at a given Reynolds number with a time-marching explicit finite-difference algorithm. In the second method the parabolized Navier-Stokes equations are solved with a space-marching implicit noniterative finite-difference algorithm. This latter approach is not restricted to conical shapes and provides a large improvement in computational efficiency over published methods. Results from the two procedures agree very well with each other and with available experimental data.

Vigneron, Y. C.↗

Effect of external stores on the stability and control characteristics of a delta wing fighter model at Mach numbers from 0.60 to 2.01

An investigation has been made to determine the effects of external stores on the stability and control characteristics of a delta wing fighter airplane model at Mach numbers from 0.60 to 2.01 for a Reynolds number of 3.0 X 1 million per foot. The angle-of-attack range was from about -4 degrees to 20 degrees at a sideslip angle of 0 degrees for the transonic tests, and from about -4 degrees to 10 degrees at sideslip angles of 0 degrees and 3 degrees for the supersonic tests. In general, the results of the tests indicated no seriously detrimental effects of the stores on the stability and control characteristics of the model but did show an increase in the minimum drag level throughout the Mach number range. However, the drag-due-to-lift was such that for subsonic/transonic speeds, the drag at higher lifts was essentially unaffected and the indications are that the maneuvering capability may not be impaired by the stores.

Spearman, M. L.↗

Vortex flap flow reattachment line and subsonic longitudinal aerodynamic data on 50 deg to 74 deg Delta wings on common fuselage

Positions of the primary vortex flow reattachment line and longitudinal aerodynamic data were obtained at Mach number 0.3 for a systematic series of vortex flaps on delta wing body configurations with leading edge sweeps of 50, 58, 66, and 74 deg. The investigation was performed to study the parametric effects of wing sweep, vortex flap geometry and deflection, canards, and trailing edge flaps on the location of the primary vortex reattachment line relative to the flap hinge line. The vortex reattachment line was located via surface oil flow photographs taken at selected angles of attack. Force and moment measurements were taken over an angle of attack range of -1 deg to 22 deg at zero sideslip angle for many configurations to further establish the data base and to assess the aforementioned parametric effects on longitudinal aerodynamics. Both the flow reattachment and aerodynamic data are presented.

Frink, N. T.↗

Calculation of supersonic viscous flow over delta wings with sharp subsonic leading edges

Two complementary procedures have been developed to calculate the viscous supersonic flow over conical shapes at large angles of attack, with application to cones and delta wings. In the first approach the flow is assumed to be conical and the governing equations are solved at a given Reynolds number with a time-marching explicit finite-difference algorithm. In the second method the parabolized Navier-Stokes equations are solved with a space-marching implicit noniterative finite-difference algorithm. This latter approach is not restricted to conical shapes and provides a large improvement in computational efficiency over published methods. Results from the two procedures agree very well with each other and with available experimental data.

Vigneron, Y. C.↗

Heat-Transfer Measurements at a Mach Number of 4.95 on Two 60 deg Swept Delta Wings with Blunt Leading Edges and Dihedral Angles of 0 deg and 45 deg

An experimental investigation was conducted to evaluate the heat-transfer characteristics of two 60 deg swept delta wings with cylindrical leading edges of 0.25-inch radii and dihedral angles of 0 deg and 45 deg. The tests were conducted at a Mach number of 4.95 and a stagnation temperature of 400 F. The The test-section unit Reynolds number was varied from 1.95 x 10(exp 6) to 12.24 x 10(exp 6) per foot. The results of the investigation indicated that, in a plane normal to the leading edge, the laminar-flow heat-transfer distribution was in good agreement with two-dimensional blunt-body theory. The stagnation-line heat-transfer level could be predicted from two-dimensional blunt-body theory provided the stagnation-line heat-transfer coefficient was assumed to vary as the cosine of the effective sweep. A comparison of the heating rates to the 0 deg dihedral wing (planform sweep of 60 deg) and the 45 deg dihedral wing (planform sweep of 69.3 deg) with equal panel sweep and panel area indicated that the stagnation-line heat-transfer coefficient for the 45 deg dihedral wing could be as much as 40 percent less than the stagnation-line heat-transfer coefficient for the 0 deg dihedral wing at both equal angles of attack and equal lifts. The laminar-flow heat-transfer rate to both wings outside the vicinity of the stagnation line was essentially equal.

Stainback, P. Calvin↗

Pressure-Sensitive Paint Investigation of Double-Delta Wing Vortex Flow Manipulation

A pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) technique was applied in a wind tunnel experiment in the NASA Langley Research Center 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel to quantify the effect of wing fillets on the global vortex-induced surface static pressure field about a sharp leading-edge 76 deg/40 deg double delta wing, or strake-wing, model at subsonic and transonic speeds. Global calibrations of the PSP were obtained at M = 0.50, 0.70, 0.85, 0.95, and 1.20, a Reynolds number per unit length of 2.0 million, and angles of attack from 10 degrees to 30 degrees using an in-situ method featuring the simultaneous acquisition of electronically-scanned pressures (ESP) at discrete locations on the model. The mean error in the PSP measurements relative to the ESP data was approximately 2 percent or less at M = 0.50 to 0.85 but increased to several percent at M = 0.95 and 1.20. The PSP pressure distributions and pseudo-colored planform view pressure maps clearly revealed the vortex-induced pressure signatures at all Mach numbers and angles of attack. Small fillets having a parabolic or diamond planform situated at the strake-wing intersection were designed to manipulate the vortical flows by, respectively, removing the leading-edge discontinuity or introducing additional discontinuities. The fillets caused global changes in the vortex-dominated surface pressure field that were effectively captured in the PSP measurements. The vortex surface pressure signatures were compared to available off-surface vortex cross-flow structures obtained using a laser vapor screen (LVS) flow visualization technique. The fillet effects on the PSP pressure distributions and the observed leading-edge vortex flow characteristics were consistent with the trends in the measured lift, drag, and pitching moment coefficients.

Erickson, Gary E.↗

Wind Tunnel Application of a Pressure-Sensitive Paint Technique to a Double Delta Wing Model at Subsonic and Transonic Speeds

A pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) technique was applied in a wind tunnel experiment in the NASA Langley Research Center 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel to study the effect of wing fillets on the global vortex induced surface static pressure field about a sharp leading-edge 76 deg./40 deg. double delta wing, or strake-wing, model at subsonic and transonic speeds. Global calibrations of the PSP were obtained at M(sub infinity) = 0.50, 0.70, 0.85, 0.95, and 1.20, a Reynolds number per unit length of 2.0 million, and angles of attack from 10 degrees to 20 degrees using an insitu method featuring the simultaneous acquisition of electronically scanned pressures (ESP) at discrete locations on the model. The mean error in the PSP measurements relative to the ESP data was approximately 2 percent or less at M(sub infinity) = 0.50 to 0.85 but increased to several percent at M(sub infinity) =0.95 and 1.20. The PSP pressure distributions and pseudo-colored, planform-view pressure maps clearly revealed the vortex-induced pressure signatures at all Mach numbers and angles of attack. Small fillets having parabolic or diamond planforms situated at the strake-wing intersection were respectively designed to manipulate the vortical flows by removing the leading-edge discontinuity or introducing additional discontinuities. The fillets caused global changes in the vortex-dominated surface pressure field that were effectively captured in the PSP measurements. The vortex surface pressure signatures were compared to available off-surface vortex cross-flow structures obtained using a laser vapor screen (LVS) flow visualization technique. The fillet effects on the PSP pressure distributions and the observed leading-edge vortex flow characteristics were consistent with the trends in the measured lift, drag, and pitching moment coefficients.

Erickson, Gary E.↗

An experimental study of the hypersonic aerodynamics of delta wings.

Results of aerodynamic balance and pressure measurements carried out in a hypersonic gun tunnel (at a free-stream Mach number of 8.2 and a Reynolds number of 800,000) on delta wings having sharp leading edges swept at 70 and 76 deg. The experimental force and pressure coefficients and shock angles are discussed in relation to simple prediction methods. Some transition data are also included.

Rao, D. M.↗

Experimental low-speed and calculated high-speed aerodynamic characteristics of a hypersonic research airplane concept having a 65 deg swept delta wing

An experimental wind-tunnel investigation has been carried out to determine the static longitudinal, lateral, and directional stability and control characteristics of a model of a large-body, delta-wing hypersonic research airplane concept at low speed. This investigation was conducted at a dynamic pressure of 239.4 Pa (5 psf) and a Reynolds number, based on fuselage length, of 2 million. The configuration variables included vertical fins, engine modules, canards, and a canopy. The aerodynamic results of a computer study at Mach numbers of 3 to 12 are presented.

Penland, J. A.↗

A flow visualization and aerodynamic force data evaluation of spanwise blowing on full and half span delta wings

A wind-tunnel investigation has been performed to quantify the effects of a jet on the leading-edge vortices generated by a 70-deg-sweep sharp-edged delta wing at low Reynolds numbers. Efforts were made ot optimize the jet nozzle position with respect to maximum lift increments. Both half-span force-balance testing and half- and full-span flow visualization tests were conducted. Two angles of attack were investigated, 30 and 35 deg, at Reynolds numbers of 150,000 and 200,000. Aerodynamic enhancement, including lift and drag gains of about 20 and 17 percent respectively, were measured. Results indicate an optimum jet nozzle location to be close to the leading edge, tangent to the upper wing surface, and in a direction aligned parallel to the leading edge. Nozzle interference effects, especially near the apex, were not negligible.

Visser, K. D.↗

A Preliminary Analysis of the Flying Qualities of the Consolidated Vultee MX-813 Delta-Wing Airplane Configuration at Transonic and Low Supersonic Speeds as Determined from Flights of Rocket-Powered Models

A preliminary analysis of the flying qualities of the Consolidated Vultee MX-813 delta-wing airplane configuration has been made based on the results obtained from the first two 1/8 scale models flown at the NACA Pilotless Aircraft Research Station, Wallop's Island, VA. The Mach number range covered in the tests was from 0.9 to 1.2. The analysis indicates adequate elevator control for trim in level flight over the speed range investigated. Through the transonic range there is a mild trim change with a slight tucking-under tendency. The elevator control effectiveness in the supersonic range is reduced to about one-half the subsonic value although sufficient control for maneuvering is available as indicated by the fact that 10 deg elevator deflection produced 5g acceleration at Mach number of 1.2 at 40,000 feet.The elevator control forces are high and indicate the power required of the boost system. The damping. of the short-period oscillation is adequate at sea-level but is reduced at 40,000 feet. The directional stability appears adequate for the speed range and angles of attack covered.

Mitcham, Grady L.↗