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At least 397 records · Page 22

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NASA NTRS1975

The effects of body geometry on the structure in the near wake zone of bodies in a flowing plasma

Plasma wind tunnel experiments were performed to investigate the effects of body geometry and size on the structure of the ion flux in the near wake zone behind the body in a streaming plasma. The results are applicable to the development of wake and sheath experiments for Spacelab. The experiments indicate that the body's dimension in the flow direction does not alter the gross features of the near wake structure, but primarily determines the relative amplitude of the peak structure and the downstream distance at which it occurs for a given body potential relative to the plasma.

Oran, W. A.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Electron temperatures in the wake of an ionospheric satellite

We present measurements of electron temperature (Te) made by a retarding potential analyzer and a Langmuir probe (both flush-mounted on the spin-stabilized satellite Explorer 31) to investigate the variation of Te around the satellite. Most of the time there is a Te variation, which repeats for given ionospheric conditions. The variation is strongly controlled by the angle between the velocity vector and the probe normal, Te usually being enhanced in the near wake of the satellite. Magnetic field control of Te, if it is present, is hidden by the stronger velocity vector control. Our results indicate that the magnitude of the Te enhancement in the wake does not depend on the average ion mass (M), although the electron density depletion in the wake is strongly correlated with M.

Troy, B. E., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Experimental study of the effect of span loading on aircraft wakes

Measurements were made in the NASA-Ames 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel of the rolling moment induced on a following model in the wake 13.6 spans behind a subsonic transport model for a variety of trailing edge flap settings of the generator. It was found that the rolling moment on the following model was reduced substantially, compared to the conventional landing configuration, by reshaping the span loading on the generating model to approximate a span loading, found in earlier studies, which resulted in reduced wake velocities. This was accomplished by retracting the outboard trailing edge flaps. It was concluded, based on flow visualization conducted in the wind tunnel as well as in a water tow facility, that this flap arrangement redistributes the vorticity shed by the wing along the span to form three vortex pairs that interact to disperse the wake.

Corsiglia, V. R.↗

NASA NTRS1976

A nonlinear finite-element analysis of wings in steady incompressible flows with wake roll-up

The problem of lifting surfaces and complex aircraft configurations in steady incompressible flow is considered. For lifting surfaces the problem is formulated in terms of an integral equation relating the potential discontinuity on wing and wake to the normal derivative of the potential on the lifting surface. For complex configurations the problem is formulated in terms of an integral equation relating the potential to its normal derivative on the surface of the aircraft. The integral equation is approximated by a system of linear algebraic equations obtained by dividing the surfaces into small quadrilateral elements and by assuming the potential (or the potential discontinuity) and its normal derivative to be constant within each element. The wake geometry is obtained by iteration by satisfying the condition that the velocity be tangent to the surface of the wake and that the potential discontinuity be constant along the streamlines.

Suciu, E. O.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Wake-related sound generation from isolated airfoils

A model for the prediction of wake-related sound generation by a single airfoil is presented which assumes that the net force fluctuation on an airfoil can be expressed in terms of the net momentum fluctuation in the near wake of the airfoil. The model predicts a forcing function for sound generation which is related to the spectra of the two-point velocity correlations in the turbulent region near the airfoil trailing edge. Cross spectra were obtained from correlations of the longitudinal and transverse components of turbulence in the wake of a 36-in. chord airfoil in a wind tunnel using x-probe hot-wire sensors. Additional data were obtained from a 10-in. chord airfoil in a free-jet facility. Based on results from these tests, a scaling model was developed using the turbulent boundary-layer thickness as the primary length measure. The model was used to predict the sound radiated from a 2-in. chord airfoil for which acoustical data was available; good agreement was obtained both in level and spectral shape. The single-airfoil result is extended to a rotor geometry, and comparisons are studied for various aerodynamic parameters.

Clark, L. T.↗

NASA NTRS1975

The slow recirculating flow near the rear stagnation point of a wake

A model is suggested in which some of the important features of the circulating flow inside the two-dimensional near wake are derived by assuming a slow viscous flow. The theory considers the flow away from the body base. It is found that there is a region of constant speed merging, as we go downstream, into a region of stagnation-apex flow. The velocity returning from the rear stagnation point along the center streamline is shown to be a slowly varying function of the 'wedge-angle,' of the wake and to be roughly one half the velocity at the edge of the shear layers driving the wake-cavity flow. These results seem to be in agreement with experimental data.

Abarbanel, S.↗

NASA NTRS1977

A flight investigation of the wake turbulence alleviation resulting from a flap configuration change on a B-747 aircraft

A flight test investigation was conducted to evaluate the effects of a flap configuration change on the vortex wake characteristics of a Boeing 747 (B-747) aircraft as measured by differences in upset response resulting from deliberate vortex encounters by a following Learjet aircraft and by direct measurement of the velocities in the wake. The flaps of the B-747 have a predominant effect on the wake. The normal landing flap configuration produces a strong vortex that is attenuated when the outboard flap segments are raised; however, extension of the landing gear at that point increases the vortex induced upsets. These effects are in general agreement with existing wind tunnel and flight data for the modified flap configuration.

Jacobsen, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Nonlinear steady incompressible lifting-surface analysis with wake roll-up

The problem of lifting surfaces in steady incompressible flow is considered in terms of an integral equation relating the potential discontinuity on wing and wake to the normal derivative of the potential (normal wash) on the lifting surface. The integral equation is approximated by a system of linear algebraic equations obtained by dividing the surfaces into small quadrilateral elements and by assuming the potential discontinuity and the normal wash to be constant within each element. The wake geometry is obtained through iteration by satisfying the condition that the velocity be tangent to the surface of the wake and that the potential discontinuity be constant along the streamlines. Numerical results are in good agreement with existing ones

Suciu, E. O.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Effect of wing fins on lift-generated wakes

A theoretical and experimental study has been made of the effect of wing-mounted fins on the vortex wakes of subsonic aircraft. The theory is used (a) to gain an understanding of wake alleviation by vortex injection and (b) to guide the experimental investigation. Wind-tunnel tests were used to evaluate the alleviation achievable and to find the optimum values for the various fin parameters. It was found that vertical fins mounted on the upper surface of a wing could lower the wake-induced rolling moments on an encountering wing by a factor of 3 or more. The most promising fin configuration found for the Boeing 747 model is a fin positioned 48% outboard from the centerline to the wingtip with a height of 0.014 span, a chord of 0.085 span, and an 18 deg angle of attack. This fin configuration caused a 10% increase in drag but no lift penalty.

Rossow, V. J.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Mariner 10 magnetic field observations of the Venus wake

Magnetic field measurements made over a 21-hour interval during the Mariner 10 encounter with Venus were used to study the down-stream region of the solar wind-Venus interaction over a distance of approximately 100 R sub v. For most of the day before closest approach the spacecraft was located in a sheath-like region which was apparently bounded by planetary bow shock on the outer side and either a planetary wake boundary or transient boundary-like feature on the inner side. The spacecraft made multiple encounters with the wake-like boundary during the 21-hour interval with an increasing frequency as it approached the planet. Each pass into the wake boundary from the sheath region was consistently characterized by a slight decrease in magnetic field magnitude, a marked increase in the frequency and amplitude of field fluctuations, and a systematic clockwise rotation of the field direction when viewed from above the plane of the planet orbit.

Lepping, R. P.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Wake Vortex Minimization

A status report is presented on research directed at reducing the vortex disturbances of aircraft wakes. The objective of such a reduction is to minimize the hazard to smaller aircraft that might encounter these wakes. Inviscid modeling was used to study trailing vortices and viscous effects were investigated. Laser velocimeters were utilized in the measurement of aircraft wakes. Flight and wind tunnel tests were performed on scale and full model scale aircraft of various design. Parameters investigated included the effect of wing span, wing flaps, spoilers, splines and engine thrust on vortex attenuation. Results indicate that vortives may be alleviated through aerodynamic means.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1976

Some measurements of an EBF powered-lift wake

Results from a wind tunnel investigation in which velocity vector measurements were obtained in the near wake of an externally blown flap powered lift configuration were analyzed. These measurements were used to develop spanwise distributions for the momentum strength and location of the engine exhaust stream tube with the results used as input parameters to one jet flap analytical method. It is shown that a comparison of the momentum coefficients obtained from forward speed wake surveys with the predicted values from static force data results in a good correlation, which verifies the use of the flap thrust recovery factor as a means of predicting the momentum strength at the flap trailing edge. Also, when wake survey distributions of momentum strength and direction are used as input parameters to one analytical jet flap method, the results show reasonable agreement between the experimental data and analytical results.

Johnson, W. G., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Utilization of the vacuum developed in the wake zone of space vehicles in the LDEF class

Contaminating fluxes from upper atmospheric molecules found in the wake of a typical spacecraft of the Long Duration Exposure Facility class are studied with the aim of determining vacuum levels which may be employed by experiments mounted on the vehicle. A simplified representation for the spacecraft, the velocity-shifted Maxwellian distribution (to evaluate ambient flux which has a velocity sufficient to overtake the spacecraft), and a calculation for the backscattered contribution to the flux density of the wake figure in the study are presented. Results indicate that direct and backscattered fluxes of about 10 to the seventh power molecules per sq cm can be expected in the wake of a spacecraft at 550 km altitude.

Oran, W. A.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Preliminary comparison of model and prototype wakes

Velocity and turbulence profiles previously measured in the wake of a long building 3.2 m high, located in the field, transverse to the wind and in an atmospheric boundary layer several hundred meters thick are compared with wake profiles at corresponding longitudinal stations for a scale model of the building located in a large meteorological wind tunnel having a boundary layer thickness of 0.61 m to assess the accuracy of full scale wake profile predictions based on model tests. Results are presented which show that disparities in nondimensional profiles result from differences in relative depth of logarithmic layers and in surface conditions.

Logan, E., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Experimental investigation of wing fin configurations for alleviation of vortex wakes of aircraft

A variety of fin configurations were tested on a model of the Boeing B747 in 40 by 80 foot wind tunnels. The test results confirmed that a reduction in wake rolling moment was brought about by the vortex shed by the fins so that a wide range of designs can be used to achieve wake alleviation. It was also found that the reduction in wake-induced rolling moments was especially sensitive to the location of the smaller fins on the wing and that the penalties in lift and drag can probably be made negligible by proper fin design.

Rossow, V. J.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Turbulence characteristics in the near wake of a compressor rotor blade

This paper is concerned with the turbulence properties in the near wake of a rotating compressor blade. The variation of the axial, tangential and radial intensities as well as stresses across the wake and its decay characteristics were measured with a triaxial hot wire probe rotating with the rotor downstream of an axial flow compressor. The turbulence intensities decay very rapidly in the near wake region. The radial component of intensity is found to be higher than the tangential and axial components. This is a consequence of the effect of rotation on the turbulence structure. A qualitative analysis is carried out to predict the effect of rotation on the turbulence structure. These are in general agreement with the measured data.

Lakshminarayana, B.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Plasma diffusion into the wake of Venus

A model of the diffusion of ionosheath plasma into the wake region of Venus is presented. It is shown that particle diffusion, which is assumed to be a consequence of the fluctuating magnetic field observed in the wake of Venus by Pioneer Venus and Veneras 9 and 10, can explain the plasma observations made in the wake by Veneras 9 and 10. The pressure due to these diffusing particles when balanced against the ionospheric pressure yield ionopause heights less than 1000 km for zenith angles less than about 135 deg. The model also predicts significant fluxes of low energy electrons and ions for zenith angles less than 135 deg, which are capable of producing the observed nightside ionosphere.

Gombosi, T.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Numerical analysis of turbulent wakes of axial flow turbomachinery rotor blades

The wakes of rotor blades are turbulent, three-dimensional, and are subjected to curvature and rotation effects. The objective of this study is to predict the development of such wakes and compare the predictions with the existing data. A finite difference procedure is employed in the numerical analysis of the wake utilizing the continuity, momentum, and turbulence closure equations in the rotating curvilinear and non-orthogonal coordinate system. The turbulence closure is affected by the two equations model and the simplified Reynolds stress model. The predictions from both the models agree well with the mean velocity and the turbulence data.

Hah, C.↗