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At least 379 records · Page 21

Prediction of forces and moments for flight vehicle control effectors. Part 1: Validation of methods for predicting hypersonic vehicle controls forces and moments

Many types of hypersonic aircraft configurations are currently being studied for feasibility of future development. Since the control of the hypersonic configurations throughout the speed range has a major impact on acceptable designs, it must be considered in the conceptual design stage. The ability of the aerodynamic analysis methods contained in an industry standard conceptual design system, APAS II, to estimate the forces and moments generated through control surface deflections from low subsonic to high hypersonic speeds is considered. Predicted control forces and moments generated by various control effectors are compared with previously published wind tunnel and flight test data for three configurations: the North American X-15, the Space Shuttle Orbiter, and a hypersonic research airplane concept. Qualitative summaries of the results are given for each longitudinal force and moment and each control derivative in the various speed ranges. Results show that all predictions of longitudinal stability and control derivatives are acceptable for use at the conceptual design stage. Results for most lateral/directional control derivatives are acceptable for conceptual design purposes; however, predictions at supersonic Mach numbers for the change in yawing moment due to aileron deflection and the change in rolling moment due to rudder deflection are found to be unacceptable. Including shielding effects in the analysis is shown to have little effect on lift and pitching moment predictions while improving drag predictions.

Maughmer, Mark D.↗

Accumulated span loadings of an arrow wing having vortex flow

The vortex flow over an arrow wing is theoretically investigated using the free-vortex-sheet method. The sectional lift coefficient and accumulated span loadings, which are important in determining the root bending moment, are calculated. The longitudinal stability variation is also estimated.

Reddy, C. Subba↗

The vortex flap F-106B, overcoming safety and data problems in flight testing

A NASA, F-106B airplane equipped with a vortex flap is establishing a data base for calibration of design and analysis tools for this vortical flow control concept. Some of the problems in safely and precisely flying to research data points were caused by the modified airplane's low longitudinal stability and low margin of structural strength. These characteristics are, in part, a consequence of the program's low cost approach which utilizes a bolt-on, ground-adjustable flap attached to a minimally modified airplane. Presently, the 40-degree flap deflection flight research is being concluded with a flow visualization phase. A similar pattern of flight envelope expansion, pressure distribution, performance, and flow visualization phases remain to be accomplished for the 30-degree flap setting. To date, good research flight data has followed resolution of the safety and data problems described.

Brown, Philip W.↗

Carrier aircraft

The Ohio State University planned to conduct a conceptual design of a single research vehicle that could be used to explore the flight regime from Mach 6 to Mach 12. Since this aircraft will be a special purpose vehicle, it need not take off and land in a conventional manner. Indeed, if this aircraft were launched from a larger aircraft that carried it to altitude, then conventional landing gear would not be needed and the extra weight of the fuel needed to take off and climb into the stratosphere would be eliminated. The focus of the students' project was on the design of a carrier aircraft answering to the specifications. Its mission is to take off with the research aircraft from runways of less than 15,000 feet, climb to 40,000 feet, and release the hypersonic aircraft at the speed of Mach 8, and return to base. The range of this mission is 2000 n.m. This study includes the conception of an optimized aircraft (geometry, weights, propulsion, aerodynamics, interactions between the two aircraft, etc.), the longitudinal stability of the composite, and the separation critical phase.

Source record↗

Validation of engineering methods for predicting hypersonic vehicle controls forces and moments

This work examines the ability of the aerodynamic analysis methods contained in an industry standard conceptual design code, the Aerodynamic Preliminary Analysis System (APAS II), to estimate the forces and moments generated through control surface deflections from low subsonic to high hypersonic speeds. Predicted control forces and moments generated by various control effectors are compared with previously published wind-tunnel and flight-test data for three vehicles: the North American X-15, a hypersonic research airplane concept, and the Space Shuttle Orbiter. Qualitative summaries of the results are given for each force and moment coefficient and each control derivative in the various speed ranges. Results show that all predictions of longitudinal stability and control derivatives are acceptable for use at the conceptual design stage.

Maughmer, M.↗

Propulsion/airframe integration issues for waverider aircraft

While many propulsion concepts and technologies developed for nonwaverider-type hypersonic vehicles may apply to waveriders, some aspects of these configurations require unique technological approaches. An evaluation is made of such distinctive opportunities in the cases of engine cycle selection, inlets, nozzle designs and integration, longitudinal stability, and thermal management. Also discussed are waverider requirements for control surface effectiveness, inlet boundary layer ingestion effects, and structural/configurational optimization, giving attention to trades in volumetric/structural efficiency and vehicle L/D.

Blankson, Isaiah M.↗

Low-speed wind tunnel test results of the Canard Rotor/Wing concept

The Canard Rotor/Wing (CRW), a high-speed rotorcraft concept, was tested at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center's 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel in Mountain View, California. The 1/5-scale model was tested to identify certain low-speed, fixed-wing, aerodynamic characteristics of the configuration and investigate the effectiveness of two empennages, an H-Tail and a T-Tail. The paper addresses the principal test objectives and the results achieved in the wind tunnel test. These are summarized as: i) drag build-up and differences between the H-Tail and T-Tail configuration, ii) longitudinal stability of the H-Tail and T-Tail configurations in the conversion and cruise modes, iii) control derivatives for the canard and elevator in the conversion and cruise modes, iv) aerodynamic characteristics of varying the rotor/wing azimuth position, and v) canard and tail lift/trim capability for conversion conditions.

Bass, Steven M.↗

Tests of a Gust-Alleviating Wing in the Gust Tunnel

Tests were made in the NACA gust tunnel to determine the effectiveness of a torsionally flexible wing with the torsion axis ahead of the locus of the section aerodynamic centers in reducing airplane accelerations due to atmospheric gusts. For three gust shapes, a series of flights was made with the airplane model equipped with either a torsionally flexible or a rigid wing. The results indicated that the torsionally flexible wing reduced the maximum acceleration increment 5 percent for the sharp-edge gust and about 17 percent for gust shapes with gradient distances of 6.8 and 15 chord lengths. The analysis indicated that the effectiveness of this method of gust alleviation was independent of the gust velocity and that, for the same total load increment, the torsionally flexible wing would have 10 percent less bending-moment increment at the root section of the wing than a rigid wing in all but the sharpest gusts. The results also indicated that the torsionally flexible wing slightly increased the longitudinal stability of the airplane model in a gust.

Shufflebarger, C C↗

The Caproni Seaplane

The Caproni Company recently built a seaplane of unusual design. The main supporting surfaces consisted of three triplanes in tandem, the lower wings being attached to the hull, which was described as providing accommodation for a hundred passengers. On one of the first flights, the seaplane fell into a lake, nose down, and was destroyed. The authors wish to show that this failure could have been predicted. The failure could have been predicted by applying some fundamental principles of aeronautics, especially those relating to longitudinal stability, the lack of which caused the loss of the seaplane.

Munk, Max↗

Tests of a Gust-alleviating Flap in the Gust Tunnel

Tests were made to determine the effectiveness of a long-period dynamically overbalanced flap in reducing airplane accelerations due to atmospheric gusts. For two gust shapes, one gust velocity, one forward velocity, and one wing loading, a series of flights was made with the flap locked and was then repeated with the flap free to operate. The records were evaluated by routine methods. The results indicate that the flap reduced the maximum acceleration increment 39 percent for a severe gust but with a representative gust shape (a sharp-edge gust), the reduction was only 3 percent. The results also indicate that the flap tended to reduce the longitudinal stability of the airplane. Computations made of the effectiveness and the action of the flap were in good agreement with the experimental results.

Donely, Philip↗

Effect of Ground Interference on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of a 42 Degrees Sweptback Wing

The effects of ground interference on the aerodynamic characteristics of a 42 degrees sweptback wing have been determined at distances above the ground 0.68 and 0.92 of the mean aerodynamic chord (measured from the 0.25 mean aerodynamic chord). The wing was tested without flaps and with inboard trailing-edge split and outboard leading-edge flaps deflected. The wing had an aspect ratio of 4, a taper ratio of 0.625, and NACA 641-112 airfoil sections perpendicular to the 0.273 chord line. The results are, in general, comparable to those reported for unswept wings. The longitudinal stability at the stall was not materially affected at the ground heights of the present tests.

RESEARCH TECHNIQUE, AERODYNAMICS↗

Qualitative Simulator Study of Longitudinal Stick Forces and Displacements Desirable During Tracking

In this study in which an airplane simulator with one degree of freedom (pitch) was used, results were determined for three conditions of airplane dynamics. For an undamped natural frequency of 1/2 cps with a damping ratio of 0.18 and for an undamped natural frequency of 1 cps with a damping ratio of 0.11, moderate longitudinal stick forces and displacements were desired.

CONTROL, LONGITUDINAL↗

Aerodynamic Characteristics of Various Configurations of a Model of a 45 Degree Swept-wing Airplane at a Mach Number of 2.01

An investigation has been conducted at the Langley 4- by 4-foot supersonic pressure tunnel at a Mach nmber of 2.01 to determine the aerodynamic characteristics of several configurations of a model of a 45 deg swept-wing airplane. The basic configuratin had a wing with 45 deg sweepback at the quarter-chord line, aspect ration 3.2, taper ration 0.468, NACA 65A005.5 sections just outboard of the inlet and NACA 65A003.7 sections at the tip. The wing was mounted slightly above the body center line and an all-movable horizantal tail was located slightly below the extended chord line of the wing. Tre design incorporated twin wing-root supersonic inlets ducted to a single exit at the base of the fuselage. The configurations investigated included an extended nose length, a bumped-fuselage afterbody, an inlet droop, an lncreased wing aspect ratio, and a revised canopy shape. Configurations employing the wing of increased aspect ratio of 3.7, which constituted the bulk of the tests, produced about a 10-percent increase in lift and in longitudinal stability as compared with the basic wing of aspect ratio 3.2. There was a slight but masurable increase in minimum drag and maximum lift-drag ratio.

Spearman, Leroy M↗

Report on Behavior of Aeroplanes in Gusts

Part 1 presents the results of a wind tunnel test of a biplane model with an 18 inch span. The lift, drift, and pitching moment were measured for a series of angles of incidence corresponding to the maximum possible changes of flight attitude. Only the discussion of symmetrical or longitudinal changes is given. From the observed rate of variation of the forces and pitching moment, it was possible to calculate the derivatives needed in the complete theory of longitudinal stability in still air. The damping of the pitching oscillation was also determined experimentally. Part 2 presents a theoretical method for determining the effects of gusts on aeroplanes in the following cases: (1) head-on gusts rising from 0 to j feet per second with various degrees of sharpness, (2) up gusts of the same type, (3) rotary gusts of the same type, (4) rear gusts and down gusts are included by merely changing the sign of j.

Hunsaker, J C↗

The Pressure Distribution Over the Horizontal Tail Surfaces of an Airplane I

This work was undertaken to determine as completely as possible the distribution of pressure over the horizontal tail surfaces of an airplane, and to analyze the relation of this pressure to the structural loads and the longitudinal stability. The investigation is divided into three parts, of which this the first. The first part of the investigation is for the purpose of determining the pressure distribution over two horizontal tail surfaces in uniform free flight; the second part to conduct tests of similar tail planes in the wind tunnel; and the third part to determine the pressure distribution on the horizontal tail surfaces during accelerated flight on the full-size airplane.

Norton, F H↗

Effect of hinge-moment parameters on elevator stick forces in rapid maneuvers

The importance of the stick force per unit normal acceleration as a criterion of longitudinal stability and the critical dependence of this gradient on elevator hinge-moment parameters have been shown in previous reports. The present report continues the investigation with special reference to transient effects for maneuvers of short duration.

Jones, Robert T↗

Flight Investigation of a Mechanical Feel Device in an Irreversible Elevator Control System of a Large Airplane

Report presents the results of measurements of the longitudinal stability and control characteristics of a large airplane using a mechanical feel device in combination with a booster incorporated in the elevator-control system. Tests were made to investigate the feasibility of eliminating the aerodynamic control forces through use of a booster and of providing control-feel forces mechanically. The feel device consisted of a centering spring which restrained the control stick through a linkage which was changed as a function of the dynamic pressure. Provisions were made for trimming and for manual adjustment of the force gradient. The system was designed to approximate the control-force characteristics that would result with a conventional elevator control with linear hinge-moment characteristics.

Brown, B Porter↗

Effects of Wing and Nacelle Modifications on Drag and Wake Characteristics of a Bomber-Type Airplane Model

An investigation of a model of a large four-engine bomber was conducted in the Langley 19-f'oot pressure tunnel to determine the effects of several wing and nacelle modifications on drag characteristics and air­ flow characteristics at the tail. Leading-edge gloves, trailing-edge extensions, and modified nacelle afterbodies were tested individual ly and in combination. The effects of the various modifications were determined by force tests, tuft observations, and turbulence s1ITveys in the region of the tail. Tests were made with fixed and natural transition on the wing and with propellers operating and propellers off. Most of the tests were con- ducted at a Reynolds number of approximately 2.6 x 106. The results indicated that application of certain of the modifications provided worth-while improvements in the characteristics or the model. The flow over the wing and flaps was improved, the drag was reduced, and the turbulence in the region of the tail was reduced. Trailing-edge extensions were the most effective individual modification in improving the flow over the wing with wing flaps neutral, cowl and intercooler flaps clos ed. Modified nacelle afterbodies were the most effectiv8 individual edification in reducing drag with either fixed or natural transition on the wing; however, trailin6-edge extensions were slightly more effective with fixed transition. Combinations of either leading­ or trailing-edge extensions and modified afterbodies were more effective than either modification alone. With cowl and intercooler flaps open, trailing-edge extensions with modified afterbodies provided substantial improvement in flow and drag characteristics. With wing flaps deflected, enclosing the flap behind the inboard nacelle within an extended afterbody or cutting the flaps at the nacelle appeared. to be the most promising methods of improving the f low over the flaps and the tail. Although the results of hot-wire-anenometer surveys were not conclusive in regard to buffeting characteristics, the modifications did educe the turbulence at the tail with wing flaps both neutral and deflected. The modifications, as a rule, were favorable to maximum lift. Appreciable reductions in longitudinal stability of the model were caused by addition of leading -edge gloves and tr ailing -edge extensions.

Neely, Robert H.↗