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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 433 records · Page 24

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1977

Moving V/STOL from technology to system

The design of future V/STOL aircraft is seen to revolve around tradeoffs of V/STOL capability with classical figures of merit. The Navy may soon drive V/STOL technology to the threshold of a major advancement. It has decided to proceed with a significant V/STOL effort and, based on results, decide whether or not to procure significant numbers and types of V/STOL aircraft. The author envisages a line of development beginning with Navy Type A multipurpose subsonic V/STOL aircraft, followed by derivatives for civil utility applications, followed ultimately by V/STOL commercial transports.

Deckert, W. H.↗

NASA NTRS1978

A study on the utilization of advanced composites in commercial aircraft wing structure: Executive summary

The overall wing study objectives are to study and plan the effort by commercial transport aircraft manufacturers to accomplish the transition from current conventional materials and practices to extensive use of advanced composites in wings of aircraft that will enter service in the 1985-1990 time period. Specific wing study objectives are to define the technology and data needed to support an aircraft manufacturer's commitment to utilize composites primary wing structure in future production aircraft and to develop plans for a composite wing technology program which will provide the needed technology and data.

Watts, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1978

A study on the utilization of advanced composites in commercial aircraft wing structure

A study was conducted to define the technology and data needed to support the introduction of advanced composite materials in the wing structure of future production aircraft. The study accomplished the following: (1) definition of acceptance factors, (2) identification of technology issues, (3) evaluation of six candidate wing structures, (4) evaluation of five program options, (5) definition of a composite wing technology development plan, (6) identification of full-scale tests, (7) estimation of program costs for the total development plan, (8) forecast of future utilization of composites in commercial transport aircraft and (9) identification of critical technologies for timely program planning.

Watts, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Development of Integrated Programs for Aerospace-vehicle design (IPAD): Reference design process

The airplane design process and its interfaces with manufacturing and customer operations are documented to be used as criteria for the development of integrated programs for the analysis, design, and testing of aerospace vehicles. Topics cover: design process management, general purpose support requirements, design networks, and technical program elements. Design activity sequences are given for both supersonic and subsonic commercial transports, naval hydrofoils, and military aircraft.

Meyer, D. D.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Capturing and tracking performance of the horizontal guidance and control systems of the terminal configured vehicle

A twin-jet commercial transport equipped with digital navigation, guidance, and control systems and advanced electronic display system was used for airborne operational research. The results of flight tests which evaluated a second-order horizontal-path guidance control law and the autopilot and airplane response are presented. This evaluation was accomplished through analysis of recorded flight data and through pilot opinion of the airplane maneuvers during automatic path-capture scenarios and path tracking. Four different path captures were flown at a ground speed of approximately 160 knots and repeated at approximately 300 knots. Path tracking tracking error was measured in terms of cross track error along two paths: one pat at cruise speeds and one at airport-terminal-area speeds. The path tracking accuracy and the smoothness of the airplane maneuvers were judged satisfactory for high speeds; however, at lower speeds the control law design should be improved so that tracking will be more accurate for operations in the airport terminal area.

Knox, C. E.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Environmental exposure effects on composite materials for commercial aircraft

Activities reported include completion of the program design tasks, resolution of a high fiber volume problem and resumption of specimen fabrication, fixture fabrication, and progress on the analysis methodology and definition of the typical aircraft environment. Program design activities including test specimens, specimen holding fixtures, flap-track fairing tailcones, and ground exposure racks were completed. The problem experienced in obtaining acceptable fiber volume fraction results on two of the selected graphite epoxy material systems was resolved with an alteration to the bagging procedure called out in BAC 5562. The revised bagging procedure, involving lower numbers of bleeder plies, produces acceptable results. All required laminates for the contract have now been laid up and cured. Progress in the area of analysis methodology has been centered about definition of the environment that a commercial transport aircraft undergoes. The selected methodology is analagous to fatigue life assessment.

Hoffman, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Design development of an advanced composite aileron

This paper summarizes the design development of an advanced composite inboard aileron for the L-1011 commercial transport aircraft. Design details of the composite aileron are reported. Results of tests which substantiate the structural integrity of the design are also presented. The composite aileron is a multi-rib assembly with graphite/epoxy tape-syntactic core sandwich covers, a graphite/epoxy tape front spar, and graphite/epoxy fabric ribs. This structure is a direct replacement for the current metal aileron with a weight savings of 28.7 percent (40.3 lb.). Engineering cost estimates indicate that the composite structure will be cost competitive with the metal structure it is replacing.

Griffin, C. F.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Advanced Technologies for Commercial Airplanes

263-page report addresses what advanced electrical and electronic spacecraft technologies can be applied in commercial airplanes. Report discusses a study in which technologies used in the Space Shuttle were evaluated for their potential in commercial transports. Describes new technologies, airplanes, tradeoffs and methods of evaluation. Concludes that major beneficiary would be an advanced wide-body transport (500 passenger).

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NASA NTRS1981

Advanced aerodynamics and active controls. Selected NASA research

Aerodynamic and active control concepts for application to commercial transport aircraft are discussed. Selected topics include in flight direct strike lightning research, triply redundant digital fly by wire control systems, tail configurations, winglets, and the drones for aerodynamic and structural testing (DAST) program.

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NASA NTRS1981

The future of aeronautical propulsion

This keynote address discusses some of the future challenges and opportunities confronting aeronautics where propulsion is a key factor. The discussion covers various aircraft types including commercial transports, general aviation and military aircraft and identifies propulsion technology required to accommodate further advancements in these types of aircraft. This is then followed by a discussion of some of the emerging technologies that, if properly exploited, will have significant effect on the engines of the '90's. Some comments on further advancements in the traditional technologies are also included.

Stewart, W. L.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Recommendations for the NASA Avionics program for the 1980's

NASA is examining the merits of a significant expansion of its avionics, controls, and human factors technology program for the 1980's. The rationale for an expanded program is related to two factors. One factor is related to a utilization of recent and anticipated significant advances in microelectronics. The second factor is the need to develop new concepts in avionics and control systems for more efficient aircraft operation and better utilization of extremely limited airport capacity. Substantial benefits could be realized in three major categories, including improved aircraft efficiency, improved flight operations, and improved/extended operational capability. The NASA Avionics, Controls, and Human Factors Technology Plan is the report of a task force of agency personnel working in close cooperation with industry, DOD, and FAA. Attention is given to the NASA role, aircraft controls, crew station technology, flight management, integration and interfacing, commercial transports, general aviation, rotorcraft, V/STOL, and high performance aircraft.

Spitzer, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Natural laminar flow airfoil analysis and trade studies

An analysis of an airfoil for a large commercial transport cruising at Mach 0.8 and the use of advanced computer techniques to perform the analysis are described. Incorporation of the airfoil into a natural laminar flow transport configuration is addressed and a comparison of fuel requirements and operating costs between the natural laminar flow transport and an equivalent turbulent flow transport is addressed.

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NASA NTRS1982

Aircraft icing research at NASA

Research activity is described for: ice protection systems, icing instrumentation, experimental methods, analytical modeling for the above, and in flight research. The renewed interest in aircraft icing has come about because of the new need for All-Weather Helicopters and General Aviation aircraft. Because of increased fuel costs, tomorrow's Commercial Transport aircraft will also require new types of ice protection systems and better estimates of the aeropenalties caused by ice on unprotected surfaces. The physics of aircraft icing is very similar to the icing that occurs on ground structures and structures at sea; all involve droplets that freeze on the surfaces because of the cold air. Therefore all icing research groups will benefit greatly by sharing their research information.

Reinmann, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Composite aircraft structures

In late 1975, the Aircraft Energy Efficiency (ACEE) program was initiated by NASA in order to accelerate the development of selected technologies which showed promise for substantial improvements in the fuel efficiency of commercial transport aircraft. A description is presented of the status of the composite structure development programs which form one of the six sections of the ACEE program. Six aircraft components are currently being developed under NASA contract by three major transport manufacturers. The components include the upper aft rudder of the Douglas DC-10, the inboard ailerons of the Lockheed L-1011, the elevators of the Boeing 727, the vertical stabilizers for the Lockheed L-1011 and Douglas DC-10, and the horizontal stabilizers of the Boeing 737. It is found that the composite components show a high potential for achieving cost comparability with the metal parts they are designed to replace.

Vosteen, L. F.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Transonic aerodynamics; Transonic Perspective Symposium, Moffett Field, CA, February 18-20, 1981, Technical Papers

After an historical account of the development of transonic aerodynamics before 1940 and in the period 1945-1975, attention is given to the design for cruise performance efficiency of commercial transport aircraft, with emphasis on transonic wing design, the practical aerodynamic problems of military aircraft, with emphasis on store carriage and separation, experimental testing in transonic wind tunnels capable of Reynolds number simulation and aerodynamic flow visualization, and such mathematical techniques as potential equation methods for flow prediction and Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes computations of transonic flows. Also considered are transonic design using computational aerodynamics, the application of computation methods to transonic wing design, computational experience with advanced tactical aircraft, the evaluation of full potential flow methods, and the application of a shock-turbulent boundary layer interaction theory to transonic flowfield analysis.

Nixon, D.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Kevlar/PMR-15 polyimide matrix composite for a complex shaped DC-9 drag reduction fairing

The Aircraft Energy Efficiency (ACEE) Program was established by NASA to improve the fuel efficiency of commercial transport aircraft and thereby to reduce the amount of fuel consumed by the air transportation industry. One of the final items developed by the program is an improved fairing which is the aft closure for the thrust reverser actuators on the JT8D nacelles on DC-9 aircraft. The reduced-drag fairing uses, in the interest of weight savings, an advanced composite construction. The composite material contains Kevlar 49 fibers in a PMR-15 matrix. Attention is given to the aerodynamic configuration, the material system, and aspects of fabrication development.

Kawai, R. T.↗

NASA NTRS1972

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.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Technology and benefits of aircraft counter rotation propellers

Results are reported of a NASA sponsored analytical investigation into the merits of advanced counter rotation propellers for Mach 0.80 commercial transport application. Propeller and gearbox performance, acoustics, vibration characteristics, weight, cost and maintenance requirements for a variety of design parameters and special features were considered. Fuel savings in the neighborhood of 8 percent relative to single rotation configurations are feasible through swirl recovery and lighter gearboxes. This is the net gain which includes a 5 percent acoustic treatment weight penalty to offset the broader frequency spectrum noise produced by counter rotation blading.

Strack, W. C.↗