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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.

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At least 415 records · Page 23
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1976

Application of the nonlinear vortex-lattice concept to aircraft-interference problems

A discrete-vortex model was developed to account for the hazardous effects of the vortex trail issued from the edges of separation of a large leading wing on a small trailing wing. The model is divided into three main parts: the leading wing and its near wake, the near and far wakes of the leading wing, and the trailing wing and the portion of the far wake in its vicinity. The normal force, pitching moment, and rolling moment coefficients for the trailing wing are calculated. The circulation distribution in the vortex trail is calculated in the first part of the model where the leading wing is far upstream and hence is considered isolated. A numerical example is solved to demonstrate the feasibility of using this method to study interference between aircraft. The numerical results show the correct trends: The following wing experiences a loss in lift between the wing-tip vortex systems of the leading wing, a gain outside this region, and strong rolling moments which can change sign as the lateral relative position changes. All the results are strongly dependent on the vertical relative position.

Kandil, O. A.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Scanning laser-velocimeter surveys and analysis of multiple vortex wakes of an aircraft

A laser velocimeter capable of rapidly scanning a flow field while simultaneously sensing two components of the velocity was used to measure the vertical and streamwise velocity structure 1.5 spans downstream in the wake of a model typical of a large subsonic transport (Boeing 747). This flow field was modeled by a superposition of axisymmetric vortices with finite cores. This theoretical model was found to agree with the measured velocities everywhere except where two vortices were in close proximity. Vortex strengths derived from the span loading on the wing as predicted by vortex-lattice theory also agree with the present measurements. The axisymmetric vortex model used herein is a useful tool for analytically investigating the vortex wakes of aircraft.

Corsiglia, V. R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Demonstration of rapid-scan two-dimensional laser velocimetry in the Langley Vortex Research Facility for research in aerial applications

Tests were conducted to demonstrate a rapid scan two dimensional laser velocimeter (LV) measurement technique for aerial applications research. The LV system is capable of simultaneously measuring both vertical and axial flow velocity components in a near or far field vortex system. Velocity profiles were successfully measured in the wake vortex of a representative agricultural aircraft model, with the vortex system rapidly transporting in ground effect. Results indicate that the laser velocimetry technique can provide quantitative information of wake vortex characteristics in ground effect.

Gartrell, L. R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Flight-test experience of a helicopter encountering an airplane trailing vortex

This paper presents results of a flight-test experiment of a UH-1H helicopter encountering the vortex wake of a C-54 airplane. The helicopter was instrumented to record the pilot control inputs, determine the upset experience, and measure critical loads within the rotor system. During the flight-test program 132 penetrations of the vortex wake were made by the helicopter at separation distances from 3/8 to 6-1/2 nautical miles. Test results indicated that the helicopter upsets and the vortex induced blade loads experienced were minimal and well within safe limits. The upsets were very mild when compared to a typical response of a small airplane to the vortex wake of the C-54 airplane.

Dunham, R. E., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Unsuccessful Concepts for Aircraft Wake Vortex Minimization

Exploratory concepts are described which were investigated to achieve a reduction in the vortex induced rolling upsets produced by heavy aircraft trailing vortexes. The initial tests included the use of mass injection, oscillating devices, wingtip shape design, interacting multiple vortexes, and end plates. Although later refinements of some of these concepts were successful, initial test results did not indicate a capability of these concepts to significantly alter the vortex induced rolling upset on a following aircraft.

Dunham, R. E., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The development and use of spoilers as vortex attenuators

Results are presented of groundbased and flight investigations performed to develop spoilers as trailing vortex alleviation devices. Based on the results obtained in these investigations, it was found that the induced rolling moment on a trailing model can be reduced by spoilers located near the midsemispan of a vortex generating wing. Substantial reductions in induced rolling moment occur when the spoiler vortex attenuator is located well forward on both unswept and swept wing models. In addition, it was found that existing flight spoilers on the jumbo-jet transport aircraft can be effective as trailing vortex attenuators.

Croom, D. R.↗
NASA NTRS1978

The effect of tip vortex structure on helicopter noise due to blade/vortex interaction

A potential cause of helicopter impulsive noise, commonly called blade slap, is the unsteady lift fluctuation on a rotor blade due to interaction with the vortex trailed from another blade. The relationship between vortex structure and the intensity of the acoustic signal is investigated. The analysis is based on a theoretical model for blade/vortex interaction. Unsteady lift on the blades due to blade/vortex interaction is calculated using linear unsteady aerodynamic theory, and expressions are derived for the directivity, frequency spectrum, and transient signal of the radiated noise. An inviscid rollup model is used to calculate the velocity profile in the trailing vortex from the spanwise distribution of blade tip loading. A few cases of tip loading are investigated, and numerical results are presented for the unsteady lift and acoustic signal due to blade/vortex interaction. The intensity of the acoustic signal is shown to be quite sensitive to changes in tip vortex structure.

Wolf, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Boundary-value problem of configurations with compressible free vortex flow

A self-consistent version of the compressible boundary-value problem for configurations with leading-edge vortex separation is formulated, based on the assumption that the compressible flow field is controlled by the linearized potential equation. The stream surface boundary condition and the zero pressure jump condition of the compressible free vortex flows are analyzed; application of the Goethert rule permits the compressible nonlinear boundary-value problem for the subsonic flow domain to be transformed into an equivalent nonlinear incompressible problem. The compressibility corrections developed are used in numerical calculations of subsonic leading-edge vortex flows about planar wing geometries. The sample calculations, employing an inviscid flow model in which the wing and vortex sheets are represented by piecewise continuous quadratic doublet sheet distributions, are applicable to high subsonic Mach numbers.

Brune, G. W.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The instability of the thin vortex ring of constant vorticity

A theoretical study indicating that vortex rings at moderate Reynolds numbers are unstable to azimuthal bending waves is presented. Only the case of a thin vortex ring with a core of constant vorticity in an inviscid flow is examined. The disturbance flow and the mean flow of the vortex ring are derived as asymptotic solutions near the core; the stability analysis is developed completely for a certain class of bending waves that are unstable on a line filament in the presence of strain. The vortex ring is found to be always unstable for at least two wavenumbers for which waves on a line filament of the same vorticity distribution would not rotate. Published experimental results are cited to support these conclusions.

Widnall, S. E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Subsonic vortex-flow design study for slender wings

A theoretical study describing the effects of spanwise camber on the lift dependent drag of slender delta wings having leading-edge-vortex-flow is presented. The earlier work by Barsby, using conical flow, indicated that drag levels similar to those in attached flow could be obtained. This is reexamined and then extended to the more practical case of nonconical flow by application of the vortex-lattice method coupled with the suction-analogy and the recently developed Boeing free-vortex-sheet method. Lastly, a design code is introduced which employs the suction analogy in an attempt to define 'optimum' camber surfaces for minimum lift dependent drag for vortex flow conditions

Lamar, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Round jet in a cross flow - Influence of injection angle on vortex properties

A model is developed to infer the properties of a pair of diffuse contrarotating vortices for perpendicular jet injection into the cross flow. Attention is given to pressure distribution on the surface where the jet exhausts, especially in terms of V/STOL applications. A V/STOL wind tunnel experiment is described, whereby a round jet of air (10.16 cm dia) was discharged through a horizontal flat plate into the cross flow of the wind tunnel test section at angles of 45, 60, 75, and 90 deg. Results indicate that the effective vortex strength for both velocity ratios is highest near the jet orifice, and decreases as the vortices are swept downstream, at which point the effective vortex spacing increases. In addition, the core radius of the vortex exhibits properties similar to those of the effective vortex spacing

Krausche, D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Recent theoretical developments and experimental studies pertinent to vortex flow aerodynamics, with a view towards design

Recent progress in a research program directed toward an improved vortex flow technology base was reviewed. Analysis methods for conical flow and analysis and design methods for nonconical flows are presented. Applications are made for a variety of planar, nonplanar, and interferring lifting surfaces. Several methods are shown to provide reasonable estimates of over-all forces and moments for simple wing planforms with the suction analogy method currently offering the most versatility for arbitrary configuration applications. For the prediction of surface loadings the free vortex sheet method being developed by Boeing is shown to have considerable promise and further development of this type of method is encouraged. A data base for ogee strake-wing configurations is summarized with an emphasis on the requirements for maximizing the interference lift. A strake planform design procedure is discussed and a first solution (gothic in planview) is integrated with a wing body. The data show the strake to exhibit expected stable vortex characteristics. It was found that, apart from increasing sweep, conically cambered delta wings developed drag levels approaching that of attached flow with increasing either the lift or the wing camber height, lastly, an approximate vortex flow design method, based on the suction analogy, is outlined and an example is given.

Lamar, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Aerodynamic sound generation due to vortex-aerofoil interaction. Part 2: Analysis of the acoustic field

The Lighthill method was the basic procedure used to analyze the sound field associated with a vortex of modified strength interacting with an airfoil. A free vortex interacting with an airfoil in uniform motion was modeled in order to determine the sound field due to all the acoustic sources, not only on the airfoil surfaces (dipoles), but also the ones distributed on the perturbed flow field (quadrupoles) due to the vortex-airfoil interaction. Because inviscid flow is assumed in the study of the interaction, the quadrupoles considered in the perturbed flow field are entirely due to an unsteady flow field. The effects of airfoil thickness on the second radiation are examined by using a symmetric Joukowski airfoil for the vortex-airfoil interaction. Sound radiation in a plane, far field simplification, and computation of the sound field are discussed.

Parasarathy, R.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Recent theoretical developments and experimental studies pertinent to vortex flow aerodynamics - With a view towards design

A review is presented of recent progress in a research program directed towards the development of an improved vortex-flow technology base. It is pointed out that separation induced vortex-flows from the leading and side edges play an important role in the high angle-of-attack aerodynamic characteristics of a wide range of modern aircraft. In the analysis and design of high-speed aircraft, a detailed knowledge of this type of separation is required, particularly with regard to critical wind loads and the stability and performance at various off-design conditions. A description of analytical methods is presented. The theoretical methods employed are divided into two classes which are dependent upon the underlying aerodynamic assumptions. One conical flow method is considered along with three different nonconical flow methods. Comparisons are conducted between the described methods and available aerodynamic data. Attention is also given to a vortex flow drag study and a vortex flow wing design using suction analogy.

Lamar, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Vortex development on slender missiles at supersonic speeds

A theoretical and experimental effort has been made to develop a vortex-prediction capability on circular and noncircular missiles at supersonic speeds. Predicted vortex patterns are computed by two linear-theory computer codes. One calculates the strengths and initial locations of the vortices, and the other calculates their trajectories. A short color motion picture has been produced from the calculations to illustrate the predicted vortex patterns on a typical missile. Experimental vapor-screen photographs are presented to show the longitudinal development of the vortices on a fin-control missile. Comparisons are made between these data and the predicted vortices to assess the accuracy of the theory. The theory appears to be fairly accurate in predicting the number, locations, and relative strengths of individual vortices which develop over the missile, but cannot predict vortex sheets or diffuse vorticity whenever they occur.

Allen, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1980

An improved panel method for the solution of three-dimensional leading-edge vortex flows. Volume 1: Theory document

An improved panel method for the solution of three dimensional flow and wing and wing-body combinations with leading edge vortex separation is presented. The method employs a three dimensional inviscid flow model in which the configuration, the rolled-up vortex sheets, and the wake are represented by quadratic doublet distributions. The strength of the singularity distribution as well as shape and position of the vortex spirals are computed in an iterative fashion starting with an assumed initial sheet geometry. The method calculates forces and moments as well as detail surface pressure distributions. Improvements include the implementation of improved panel numerics for the purpose of elimination the highly nonlinear effects of ring vortices around double panel edges, and the development of a least squares procedure for damping vortex sheet geometry update instabilities. A complete description of the method is included. A variety of cases generated by the computer program implementing the method are presented which verify the mathematical assumptions of the method and which compare computed results with experimental data to verify the underlying physical assumptions made by the method.

Johnson, F. T.↗
NASA NTRS1980

An analysis of strake vortex breakdown characteristics in relation to design features

This paper describes a water tunnel study of the vortex breakdown characteristics of a large number of analytically designed vortex strakes tested in combination with a moderate aspect ratio trapezoidal wing. A wide range of strake sizes and slenderness ratios are covered, and examples of the effects of the primary design parameters of size, span, and slenderness on the vortex breakdown characteristics are presented and analyzed in relation to the leading-edge suction distributions. Several examples of detailed planform shaping on strakes of the same general size and slenderness are shown from which it can be concluded that, consistent with the design criterion, those with leading-edge suction distributions which increase more rapidly near, and have a higher value at, the spanwise tip of the strake produce a more stable vortex.

Frink, N. T.↗
NASA NTRS1979

A study of production and stimulated emission of sound by vortex flows

The noise radiated by an elementary corotating vortex pair in a shear flow is calculated. It is shown that a small shear can substantially increase the noise while small reverse shears can annihilate vortex pairs and thus reduce the pair noise mechanism. The resonant excitation of an ensonified vortex pair and the broadband noise amplification of a six vortex cluster is calculated. The results are in qualitative agreement with recent experimental findings on jet broadband noise amplification.

Yates, J. E.↗