SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “tunneling”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 361 records · Page 20

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1992

Computational and numerical analysis of hypersonic nozzle flows with comparisons to wind tunnel calibration data

Navier-Stokes (NS), parabolized NS codes, and classical method of characteristics prediction techniques are employed to compute hypersonic nozzle flowfields for the 15 in Mach 6 High Temperature Tunnel and the 16 in Mach 17 Nitrogen Tunnel, which are part of the Langley Research Center. The study focuses on defining the accuracy of these techniques by comparing the computational results to wind tunnel pitot pressure measurements conducted in the newly designed nozzle of the Mach 6 tunnel and in the original nozzle of the Mach 17 tunnel. The comparisons between predicted results and test section pitot surveys for the Mach 6 nozzle are in good agreement and show highly uniform flow over a range of reservoir pressures and temperatures.

Hackett, Charles M.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Wind Tunnel Modeling Seminar

The NASA Altitude Wind Tunnel (AWT) program was examined and reviewed. AWT project status and modeling program are presented as well as the modeling programs for a number of other wind tunnels such as the National Transonic Facility, Boeing tunnel, and NASA's 40 by 80 by 120 foot tunnel. Finally, AWT aerodynamic design status, aerothermodynamic design, drive system, icing equipment, acoustics, and dynamics and controls are discussed. The need for this tunnel is examined in the wake of new aerospace research programs. All documents are presented in viewgraph format.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1992

Modeling and control study of the NASA 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel for use with sulfur hexafluoride medium

The NASA Langley 0.3-m Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel is to be modified to operate with sulfur hexafluoride gas while retaining its present capability to operate with nitrogen. The modified tunnel will provide high Reynolds number flow on aerodynamic models with two different test gases. The document details a study of the SF6 tunnel performance boundaries, thermodynamic modeling of the tunnel process, nonlinear dynamical simulation of math model to yield tunnel responses, the closed loop control requirements, control laws, and mechanization of the control laws on the microprocessor based controller.

Balakrishna, S.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Study of optical techniques for the Ames unitary wind tunnel, part 7

A summary of optical techniques for the Ames Unitary Plan wind tunnels are discussed. Six optical techniques were studied: Schlieren, light sheet and laser vapor screen, angle of attack, model deformation, infrared imagery, and digital image processing. The study includes surveys and reviews of wind tunnel optical techniques, some conceptual designs, and recommendations for use of optical methods in the Ames Unitary Plan wind tunnels. Particular emphasis was placed on searching for systems developed for wind tunnel use and on commercial systems which could be readily adapted for wind tunnels. This final report is to summarize the major results and recommendations.

Lee, George↗

NASA NTRS1993

Flight and wind-tunnel calibrations of a flush airdata sensor at high angles of attack and sideslip and at supersonic Mach numbers

A nonintrusive airdata-sensing system was calibrated in flight and wind-tunnel experiments to an angle of attack of 70 deg and to angles of sideslip of +/- 15 deg. Flight-calibration data have also been obtained to Mach 1.2. The sensor, known as the flush airdata sensor, was installed on the nosecap of an F-18 aircraft for flight tests and on a full-scale F-18 forebody for wind-tunnel tests. Flight tests occurred at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, California, using the F-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle. Wind-tunnel tests were conducted in the 30- by 60-ft wind tunnel at the NASA LaRC, Hampton, Virginia. The sensor consisted of 23 flush-mounted pressure ports arranged in concentric circles and located within 1.75 in. of the tip of the nosecap. An overdetermined mathematical model was used to relate the pressure measurements to the local airdata quantities. The mathematical model was based on potential flow over a sphere and was empirically adjusted based on flight and wind-tunnel data. For quasi-steady maneuvering, the mathematical model worked well throughout the subsonic, transonic, and low supersonic flight regimes. The model also worked well throughout the angles-of-attack and -sideslip regions studied.

Moes, Timothy R.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Development of the NASA-Ames low disturbance supersonic wind tunnel for transition research up to Mach 2.5

A unique, low-disturbance supersonic wind tunnel is being developed at NASA-Ames to support supersonic laminar flow control research at cruise Mach numbers of the High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT). The distinctive aerodynamic features of this new quiet tunnel will be a low-disturbance settling chamber, laminar boundary layers on the nozzle walls and steady supersonic diffuser flow. Furthermore, this new wind tunnel will operate continuously at uniquely low compression ratios (less than unity). This feature allows an existing non-specialist compressor to be used as a major part of the drive system. In this paper, we highlight activities associated with drive system development, the establishment of natural laminar flow on the test section walls, and instrumentation development for transition detection. Experimental results from an 1/8th-scale model of the supersonic wind tunnel are presented and discussed in association with theoretical predictions. Plans are progressing to build the full-scale wind tunnel by the end of 1993.

Wolf, Stephen W. D.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Flight and wind-tunnel calibrations of a flush airdata sensor at high angles of attack and sideslip and at supersonic Mach numbers

Moes, Timothy R.↗

NASA NTRS1992

A miniature high-resolution accelerometer utilizing electron tunneling

New methods have been developed to implement high-resolution position sensors based on electron tunneling. These methods allow miniaturization while utilizing the position sensitivity of electron tunneling to give high resolution. A single-element tunneling accelerometer giving a displacement resolution of 0.002 A/sq rt Hz at 10 Hz, corresponding to an acceleration resolution of 5 x 10 exp -8 g/sq rt Hz, is described. A new dual-element tunneling structure which overcomes the narrow bandwidth limitations of a single-element structure is described. A sensor with an operating range of 5 Hz to 10 kHz, which can have applications as an acoustic sensor, is discussed. Noise is analyzed for fundamental thermal vibration of the suspended masses and is compared to electronic noise. It is shown that miniature tunnel accelerometers can achieve resolution such that thermal noise in the suspended masses is the dominant cause of the resolution limit. With a proof mass of order 100 mg, noise analysis predicts limiting resolutions approaching 10 exp -9 g/sq rt Hz in a 300 Hz band and 10 exp -8 g/sq rt Hz at 1 kHz.

Rockstad, Howard K.↗

NASA NTRS1928

The Effect of the Walls in Closed Type Wind Tunnels

A series of tests has been conducted during the period 1925-1927 by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in the variable-density wind tunnel on several airfoil models of different sizes and sections to determine the effect of tunnel-wall interference and to determine a correction which can be applied to reduce the error caused thereby. The use of several empirical corrections was attempted with little success. The Prandtl theoretical corrections give the best results, and their use is recommended for correcting closed wind tunnel results to the conditions of free air. An appendix is attached wherein the experimentally determined effect of the walls on the tunnel velocity very close to their surface is given. This is of special interest because a "scale effect" was found in the boundary layer with a change in the density of the tunnel air.

Higgins, George J↗

NASA NTRS1930

Investigation of air flow in open-throat wind tunnels

Tests were conducted on the 6-inch wind tunnel of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics to form a part of a research on open-throat wind tunnels. The primary object of this part of the research was to study a type of air pulsation which has been encountered in open-throat tunnels, and to find the most satisfactory means of eliminating such pulsations. In order to do this it was necessary to study the effects of different variable on all of the important characteristics of the tunnel. This paper gives not only the results of the study of air pulsations and methods of eliminating them, but also the effects of changing the exit-cone diameter and flare and the effects of air leakage from the return passage. It was found that the air pulsations in the 6-inch wind tunnel could be practically eliminated by using a moderately large flare on the exit cone in conjunction with leakage introduced by cutting holes in the exit cone somewhat aft of its minimum diameter.

Jacobs, Eastman N↗

NASA NTRS1933

The theory of wind-tunnel wall interference

This report outlines the development of a general theory for the calculation of the effect of the boundaries of the air stream on the flow past an airfoil. Analytical treatments are given for tunnels with horizontal boundaries only, with vertical boundaries only, and with a bottom boundary only. Formulas are developed for the tunnel wall interference in each case for an airfoil located at the center of the tunnel. The correction is given as a function of the width to height ratio of the tunnel. The formulas are exact for infinitely small airfoils only, but give good approximation for spans up to about three-quarters of the tunnel width.

Theodorsen, Theodore↗

NASA NTRS1937

Wind-tunnel interference with particular reference to off-center positions of the wing and to the downwash at the tail

The theory of wind tunnel boundary influence on the downwash from a wing has been extended to provide more complete corrections for application to airplane test data. The first section of the report gives the corrections of the lifting line for wing positions above or below the tunnel center line; the second section shows the manner in which the induced boundary influence changes with distance aft of the lifting line. Values of the boundary corrections are given for off-center positions of the wing in circular, square, 2:1 rectangular, and 2:1 elliptical tunnels. Aft of the wing the corrections are presented for only the square and the 2:1 rectangular tunnels, but it is believed that these may be applied to jets of circular and 2:1 elliptical cross sections. In all cases results are included for both open and closed tunnels.

Silverstein, Abe↗

NASA NTRS1937

Spinning Characteristics of the XN2Y-1 Airplane Obtained from the Spinning Balance and Compared with Results from the Spinning Tunnel and from Flight Tests

Report presents the results of tests of a 1/10-scale model of the XN2Y-1 airplane tested in the NACA 5-foot vertical wind tunnel in which the six components of forces and moments were measured. The model was tested in 17 attitudes in which the full-scale airplane had been observed to spin, in order to determine the effects of scale, tunnel, and interference. In addition, a series of tests was made to cover the range of angles of attack, angles of sideslip, rates of rotation, and control setting likely to be encountered by a spinning airplane. The data were used to estimate the probable attitudes in steady spins of an airplane in flight and of a model in the free-spinning tunnel. The estimated attitudes of steady spin were compared with attitudes measured in flight and in the spinning tunnel. The results indicate that corrections for certain scale and tunnel effects are necessary to estimate full-scale spinning attitudes from model results.

Bamber, M J↗

NASA NTRS1939

Wind-Tunnel Investigation of an NACA 23012 Airfoil with Various Arrangements of Slotted Flaps

An investigation was made in the 7 by 10-foot wind tunnel and in the variable-density wind tunnel of the NACA 23012 airfoil with various slotted-flap arrangements. The purpose of the investigation in the 7 by 10-foot wind tunnel was to determine the airfoil section aerodynamic characteristics as affected by flap shape, slot shape, and flap location. The flap position for maximum lift; polars for arrangements favorable for take-off and climb; and complete lift, drag, and pitching-moment characteristics for selected optimum arrangements were determined. The best arrangements were tested in the variable-density tunnel at an effective Reynolds number of 8,000,000. In addition, data from both wind tunnels are included for plain, split, external-airfoil, and Fowler flaps for purposes of comparison.

Wenzinger, Carl J↗

NASA NTRS1950

Linear theory of boundary effects in open wind tunnels with finite jet lengths

In the first part, the boundary conditions for an open wind tunnel (incompressible flow) are examined with special reference to the effects of the closed entrance and exit sections. Basic conditions are that the velocity must be continuous at the entrance lip and that the velocities in the upstream and downstream closed portions must be equal. In the second part, solutions are derived for four types of two-dimensional open tunnels, including one in which the pressures on the two free surfaces are not equal. Numerical results are given for every case. In general, if the lifting element is more than half the tunnel height from the inlet, the boundary effect at the lifting element is the same as for an infinitely long open tunnel. In the third part, a general method is given for calculating the boundary effect in an open circular wind tunnel of finite jet length. Numerical results are given for a lifting element concentrate at a point on the axis.

Katzoff, S↗

NASA NTRS1954

The zero-lift drag of a slender body of revolution (NACA RM-10 research model) as determined from tests in several wind tunnels and in flight at supersonic speeds

The results of tests of a slender body of revolution designated the NACA rm-10 have been compiled from various NACA test facilities. Zero-lift drag data are presented for a Reynolds number range from about 1 x 10(6) to 40 x 10(6) from several wind tunnels and from about 12 x 10(6) to 140 x 10(6) from free-flight tests. The Mach numbers covered include 1.5 to 2.4 for the wind-tunnel data and 0.85 to 2.5 for the flight results. The wind tunnel models were tested with and without 60 degree sweptback stabilizing fins and the flight models were tested with stabilizing fins. Comparison of the data obtained in the several wind tunnels for the body alone (without fins) shows good agreement between the different facilities. There are unexplained differences however between the wind-tunnel results with fins attached and flight results, as well as differences between full-scale and half-scale flight models, which cannot be explained as an effect of Reynolds number.

Evans, Albert J↗

NASA NTRS1993

A method for the modelling of porous and solid wind tunnel walls in computational fluid dynamics codes

Porous wall wind tunnels have been used for several decades and have proven effective in reducing wall interference effects in both low speed and transonic testing. They allow for testing through Mach 1, reduce blockage effects and reduce shock wave reflections in the test section. Their usefulness in developing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes has been limited, however, by the difficulties associated with modelling the effect of a porous wall in CFD codes. Previous approaches to modelling porous wall effects have depended either upon a simplified linear boundary condition, which has proven inadequate, or upon detailed measurements of the normal velocity near the wall, which require extensive wind tunnel time. The current work was initiated in an effort to find a simple, accurate method of modelling a porous wall boundary condition in CFD codes. The development of such a method would allow data from porous wall wind tunnels to be used more readily in validating CFD codes. This would be beneficial when transonic validations are desired, or when large models are used to achieve high Reynolds numbers in testing. A computational and experimental study was undertaken to investigate a new method of modelling solid and porous wall boundary conditions in CFD codes. The method utilized experimental measurements at the walls to develop a flow field solution based on the method of singularities. This flow field solution was then imposed as a pressure boundary condition in a CFD simulation of the internal flow field. The effectiveness of this method in describing the effect of porosity changes on the wall was investigated. Also, the effectiveness of this method when only sparse experimental measurements were available has been investigated. The current work demonstrated this approach for low speed flows and compared the results with experimental data obtained from a heavily instrumented variable porosity test section. The approach developed was simple, computationally inexpensive, and did not require extensive or intrusive measurements of the boundary conditions during the wind tunnel test. It may be applied to both solid and porous wall wind tunnel tests.

Beutner, Thomas John↗

NASA NTRS1992

Design features of a low-disturbance supersonic wind tunnel for transition research at low supersonic Mach numbers

A unique, low-disturbance supersonic wind tunnel is being developed at NASA-Ames to support supersonic laminar flow control research at cruise Mach numbers of the High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT). The distinctive design features of this new quiet tunnel are a low-disturbance settling chamber, laminar boundary layers along the nozzle/test section walls, and steady supersonic diffuser flow. This paper discusses these important aspects of our quiet tunnel design and the studies necessary to support this design. Experimental results from an 1/8th-scale pilot supersonic wind tunnel are presented and discussed in association with theoretical predictions. Natural laminar flow on the test section walls is demonstrated and both settling chamber and supersonic diffuser performance is examined. The full-scale wind tunnel should be commissioned by the end of 1993.

Wolf, Stephen W. D.↗