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At least 379 records · Page 21

Upper Vortex Flap - A versatile surface for highly swept wings

The Upper Vortex Flap (UVF) is a multipurpose surface concept to improve the subsonic aerodynamics of highly swept delta wings. Hinged along the leading edges and deployed from the wing upper surface, the UVF generates a vortex inboard on the wing in addition to the leading-edge vortex acting on the flap. The relative suction levels on the wing and on the flap surface, governed by the flap angle and angle of attack, lead to a variety of functional applications viz. lift increment, drag modulation, lift/drag improvement and roll augmentation. This paper presents wind tunnel force and pressure measurements on a 74-deg flat plate delta to define the UVF-related vortex effects and to assess its potential as a versatile control surface in different angle-of-attack regimes.

Rao, D. M.↗

Analytical study of vortex flaps on highly swept delta wings

This paper highlights some current results from ongoing analytical studies of vortex flaps on highly swept delta wings. A brief discussion of the vortex flow analysis tools is given along with comparisons of the theories to vortex flap force and pressure data. Theoretical trends in surface pressure distribution for both angle-of-attack variation and flap deflection are correctly predicted by Free Vortex Sheet theory. Also shown are some interesting calculations for attached-flow and vortex-flow flap hinge moments that indicate flaps utilizing vortex flow may generate less hinge moment than attached flow flaps. Finally, trailing-edge flap effects on leading-edge flap thrust potential are investigated and theory-experiment comparisons made.

Frink, N. T.↗

Low-speed aerodynamic characteristics of a 42 deg swept high-wing model having a double-slotted flap system and a supercritical airfoil

A low-speed investigation was conducted over an angle-of-attack range from about -4 deg to 20 deg in the Langley V/STOL tunnel to determine the effects of a double-slotted flap, high-lift system on the aerodynamic characteristics of a 42 deg swept high-wing model having a supercritical airfoil. The wing had an aspect ratio of 6.78 and a taper ratio of 0.36; the double-slotted flap consisted of a 35-percent-chord flap with a 15-percent-chord vane. The model was tested with a 15-percent-chord leading-edge slat.

Fournier, P. G.↗

Low-speed aerodynamic characteristics of a model having a 42 deg swept low wing with a supercritical airfoil, double-slotted flaps, and a T-tail

A low speed wind tunnel test was conducted in the Langley V/STOL tunnel to determine the static longitudinal and lateral stability characteristics of a general research model which simulated an advance configuration for a commercial transport airplane with a T tail. The model had a 42 deg swept, aspect ratio 6.78 wing with a supercritical airfoil and a high lift system which consisted of a leading edge slat and a double slotted flap. Various slat and flap deflection combinations represented clean, take off, and landing configurations. Effects on the longitudinal and lateral aerodynamic characteristics were determined for two flow through, simulated engine nacelles located on the sides of the fuselage near the rear of the model.

Fournier, P. G.↗

Effects of wing height on low-speed aerodynamic characteristics of a model having a 42 deg swept wing, a supercritical airfoil, double-slotted flaps, and a low tail

A low speed investigation was conducted in the Langley V/STOL tunnel to determine the static longitudinal lateral stability characteristics of a general research model with the wing in a high position and a low position on the fuselage. The model had a wing with a quarter chord sweep of 42 deg, an aspect ratio of 6.78, a supercritical airfoil, and a high lift system which consisted of a leading edge slat and a double slotted flap. Various slat and flap deflections represented clean, take off, and landing configurations. A 45 deg swept horizontal tail located slightly below the fuselage center line was investigated with both the low and high wing configurations.

Fournier, P. G.↗

Measuremants in the wake of an infinite swept airfoil

This is a report of the measurements in the trailing edge region as well as in the report of the developing wake behind a swept NACA 0012 airfoil at zero incidence and a sweep angle of 30 degrees. The measurements include both the mean and turbulent flow properties. The mean flow velocities, flow inclination and static pressure are measured using a calibrated three-hole yaw probe. The measurements of all the relevant Reynolds stress components in the wake are made using a tri-axial hot-wire probe and a digital data processing technique developed by the authors. The development of the three dimensional near-wake into a nearly two dimensional far-wake is discussed in the light of the experimental data. A complete set of wake data along with the data on the initial boundary layer in the trailing edge region of the airfoil are tabulated in an appendix to the report.

Novak, C. J.↗

Aeropropulsive characteristics of twin single-expansion-ramp vectoring nozzles installed with forward-swept wings and canards

The Langley 16 foot transonic tunnel was used to determine the aeropropulsive characteristics of twin single-expansion-ramp vectoring nozzles installed in a wing-body configuration with forward-swept wings. The configuration was tested with and without fixed canards. The test conditions included free-stream Mach numbers of 0.60, 0.90, and 1.20. The model angle of attack ranged from -2 deg to 14 deg; the nozzle pressure ratio ranged from 1.0 (jet off) to 9.0. The Reynolds number based on the wing mean aerodynamic chord varied from 3.0 x 10 to the 6th power to 4.8 x 10 to the 6th power, depending on Mach number. Aerodynamic characteristics were analyzed to determine the effects of thrust vectoring and the canard effects on the wing-afterbody-nozzle and the wing-afterbody portions of the model. Thrust vectoring had no effect on the angle of attack for the onset of flow separation on the wing but resulted in reduced drag at angle-of-attack values above that required for wing flow separation. The canard was found to have little effect on the thrust-induced lift resulting from vectoring, since canard effects occurred primarily on the wing.

Mason, M. L.↗

An experimental investigation of the subcritical and supercritical flow about a swept semispan wing

An experimental investigation of the turbulent, subcritical and supercritical flow over a swept, semispan wing in a solid wall wind tunnel is described. The program was conducted over a range of Mach numbers, Reynolds numbers, and angles of attack to provide a variety of test cases for assessment of wing computer codes and tunnel wall interference effects. Wing flows both without and with three dimensional flow separation are included. Data include mean surface pressures for both the wing and tunnel walls; surface oil flow patterns on the wing; and mean velocity, flow field surveys. The results are given in tabular form and presented graphically to illustrate some of the effects of the test parameters. Comparisons of the wing pressure data with the results from two inviscid wing codes are also shown to assess the importance of viscous flow and tunnel wall effects.

Lockman, W. K.↗

Low-speed aerodynamic characteristics of a highly swept, untwisted uncambered arrow wing

An investigation was conducted in the Langley 4- by 7-Meter Tunnel to provide a detailed study of wing pressure distributions and forces and moments acting on a highly swept arrow-wing model at low Mach numbers (0.25). A limited investigation of the effect of spoilers at several locations was also conducted. Analysis of the pressure data shows that for the configuration with undeflected leading edges, vortex separation occurs on the outboard wing panel for angles of attack on the order of only 3 deg, whereas conventional leading-edge separation occurs at a nondimensional semispan station of 0.654 for the same incidence angle. The pressure data further show that vortex separation exists at wing stations more inboard for angles of attack on the order of 7 deg and that these vortices move inboard and forward with increasing angle of attack. The force and moment data show the expected nonlinear increments in lift and pitching moment and the increased drag associated with the vortex separation. The pressure data and corresponding force and moment data confirm that deflecting the entire wing leading edge uniformly to 30 deg is effective in forestalling the onset of flow separation to angles of attack greater than 8.6 deg; however, the inboard portion of the leading edge is overdeflected. The investigation further identifies the contribution of the trailing-edge flap deflection to the leading-edge upwash fields.

Coe, P. L., Jr.↗

Quadratic synthesis of integrated active controls for an aeroelastic forward-swept-wing-aircraft

State variable representations of flexible aircraft are obtained using a modeling approach which first defines a mean-reference axis coordinate system. The active system design approach for forward-swept-wing aircraft also expresses structural deformations of the wing in terms of free normal vibration modes relative to this mean reference axis. Calculations which assume quasi-steady incompressible aerodynamics are performed to obtain generalized force expressions for flight conditions. The use of this quadratic synthesis technique shows that increased performance and redundancy over decentralized approaches can be achieved using integrated active longitudinal stability augmentation and aeroelastic stabilization.

Gilbert, M. G.↗

Contouring tunnel walls to achieve free-air flow over a transonic swept wing

The effects of wind-tunnel walls on the flow over a swept wing were greatly reduced by wall contouring. Significant reductions in spanwise pressure gradients were achieved by shaping all of the walls to conform to the streamlines over the model in free air. Surface pressure and oil-flow data were used to evaluate the effects of Mach and Reynolds numbers on the design. Comparisons of these data with inviscid calculations indicate that free-air flow is established at a Mach number of 0.74 and at Reynolds numbers above 4.7 million.

Mateer, G. G.↗

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.↗

Comparison of calculated and measured pressures on straight and swept-tip model rotor blades

Using the quasi-steady, full potential code, ROT22, pressures were calculated on straight and swept tip model helicopter rotor blades at advance ratios of 0.40 and 0.45, and into the transonic tip speed range. The calculated pressures were compared with values measured in the tip regions of the model blades. Good agreement was found over a wide range of azimuth angles when the shocks on the blade were not too strong. However, strong shocks persisted longer than predicted by ROT22 when the blade was in the second quadrant. Since the unsteady flow effects present at high advance ratios primarily affect shock waves, the underprediction of shock strengths is attributed to the simplifying, quasi-steady, assumption made in ROT22.

Tauber, M. E.↗

Flutter of swept fan blades

The effect of sweep on fan blade flutter is studied by applying the analytical methods developed for aeroelastic analysis of advance turboprops. Two methods are used. The first method utilizes an approximate structural model in which the blade is represented by a swept, nonuniform beam. The second method utilizes a finite element technique to conduct modal flutter analysis. For both methods the unsteady aerodynamic loads are calculated using two dimensional cascade theories which are modified to account for sweep. An advanced fan stage is analyzed with 0, 15 and 30 degrees of sweep. It is shown that sweep has a beneficial effect on predominantly torsional flutter and a detrimental effect on predominantly bending flutter. This detrimental effect is shown to be significantly destabilizing for 30 degrees of sweep.

Kielb, R. E.↗

Wind-tunnel free-flight investigation of a model of a forward-swept-wing fighter configuration

A wind-tunnel free-flight investigation was conducted to study the dynamic stability characteristics of a model of a forward-swept-wing fighter-airplane configuration at high angles of attack. Various other wind-tunnel techniques employed in the study included static- and dynamic- (forced-oscillation) force tests, free-to-roll tests, and flow-visualization tests. A unique facet of the study was the extreme level of static pitch instability (in excess of negative 32-percent static margin) inherent in the airframe design which precluded free-flight testing without stability augmentation in pitch. Results are presented which emphasize the high-angle-of-attack aerodynamics and the vehicle-component contributions to these characteristics. The effects of these aerodynamic characteristics on the high-angle-of-attack flying qualities of the configuration are discussed in terms of results of the wind-tunnel free-flight tests.

Murri, D. G.↗

Inversion algorithms for the microwave remote sensing of soil moisture. Experiments with swept frequency microwaves

Two experiments were performed employing swept frequency microwaves for the purpose of investigating the reflectivity from soil volumes containing both discontinuous and continuous changes in subsurface soil moisture content. Discontinuous moisture profiles were artificially created in the laboratory while continuous moisture profiles were induced into the soil of test plots by the environment of an agricultural field. The reflectivity for both the laboratory and field experiments was measured using bi-static reflectometers operated over the frequency ranges of 1.0 to 2.0 GHz and 4.0 to 8.0 GHz. Reflectivity models that considered the discontinuous and continuous moisture profiles within the soil volume were developed and compared with the results of the experiments. This comparison shows good agreement between the smooth surface models and the measurements. In particular the comparison of the smooth surface multi-layer model for continuous moisture profiles and the yield experiment measurements points out the sensitivity of the specular component of the scattered electromagnetic energy to the movement of moisture in the soil.

Hancock, G. D.↗

Body-freedom flutter of a 1/2-scale forward-swept-wing model, an experimental and analytical study

The aeroelastic phenomenon known as body-freedom flutter (BFF), a dynamic instability involving aircraft-pitch and wing-bending motions which, though rarely experienced on conventional vehicles, is characteristic of forward swept wing (FSW) aircraft was investigated. Testing was conducted in the Langley transonic dynamics tunnel on a flying, cable-mounted, 1/2-scale model of a FSW configuration with and without relaxed static stability (RSS). The BFF instability boundaries were found to occur at significantly lower airspeeds than those associated with aeroelastic wing divergence on the same model. For those cases with RSS, a canard-based stability augmentation system (SAS) was incorporated in the model. This SAS was designed using aerodynamic data measured during a preliminary tunnel test in which the model was attached to a force balance. Data from the subsequent flutter test indicated that BFF speed was not dependent on open-loop static margin but, rather, on the equivalent closed-loop dynamics provided by the SAS. Servo-aeroelastic stability analyses of the flying model were performed using a computer code known as SEAL and predicted the onset of BFF reasonably well.

Chipman, R.↗

Low-speed investigation of effects of wing leading- and trailing-edge flap deflections and canard incidence on a fighter configuration equipped with a forward-swept wing

An advanced fighter configuration with a forward-swept wing of aspect ratio 3.28 is tested in the Langley 7 by 10 Foot High Speed Tunnel at a Mach number of 0.3. The wing has 29.5 degrees of forward sweep of the quarter chord line and is equipped with 15 percent chord leading edge and 30 percent chord trailing edge flaps. The canard is sweptback 45 degrees. Tests were made through a range of angle of attack from about -2 degrees to 22 degrees. Deflecting the flaps significantly improves the lift drag characteristics at the higher angles of attack. The canard is able to trim the configurations with different flap deflections over most of the range of angle of attack. The penalty in maximum lift coefficient due to trimming is about 0.10.

Gainer, T. G.↗