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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 451 records · Page 25

Low speed aerodynamic characteristics of an 0.075-scale F-15 airplane model at high angles of attack and sideslip

An 0.075 scale model representative of the F-15 airplane was tested in the Ames 12 foot pressure wind tunnel at a Mach number of 0.16 to determine static longitudinal and lateral directional characteristics at spin attitudes for Reynolds numbers from 1.48 to 16.4 million per meter (0.45 to 5.0 million per foot). Angles of attack ranged from 0 to +90 deg and from -40 deg to -80 deg while angles of sideslip were varied from -20 deg to +30 deg. Data were obtained for nacelle inlet ramp angles of 0 to 11 deg with the left and right stabilators deflected 0, -25 deg, and differentially 5 deg and -5 deg. The normal pointed nose and two alternate nose shapes were also tested along with several configurations of external stores. Analysis of the results indicate that at higher Reynolds numbers there is a slightly greater tendency to spin inverted than at lower Reynolds numbers. Use of a hemispherical nose in place of the normal pointed nose provided an over correction in simulating yawing moment effects at high Reynolds numbers.

Petroff, D. N.↗

Static performance of five twin-engine nonaxisymmetric nozzles with vectoring and reversing capability

Transonic tunnel test was performed to determine the static performance of five twin-engine nonaxisymmetric nozzles and a base-line axisymmetric nozzle at three nozzle power settings. Static thrust-vectoring and thrust-reversing performance were also determined. Nonaxisymmetric-nozzle concepts included two-dimensional convergent-divergent nozzles, wedge nozzles, and a nozzle with a single external-expansion ramp. All nonaxisymmetric nozzles had essentially the same statis performance as the axisymmetric nozzle. Effective thrust vectoring and reversing was also achieved.

Capone, F. J.↗

Heat transfer distributions induced by elevon deflections on swept wings and adjacent surfaces at Mach 6

Surface heat transfer distributions are presented for swept wing semispan models having trailing edge elevon ramp angles of 0, 10, 20, and 30 degrees. The wing sweepback angles are 0, 50, and 70 degrees. The models have attachable cylindrical and flat plate center bodies and various attachable wing-tip fins. The data, obtained for a 0 degree angle of attack, a free stream Mach number of 6, and a wing root chord Reynolds number of about 17,000,000, reveal considerably larger regions of elevon induced thermal loads on adjacent surfaces than would be suggested by fully attached flow analyses.

Johnson, C. B.↗

The production of ultrathin polyimide films for the solar sail program and Large Space Structures Technology (LSST): A feasibility study

Polyimide membranes of a thickness range from under 0.01 micron m to greater than 1 micron m can be produced at an estimated cost of 50 cents per sq m (plus the cost of the polymer). The polymer of interest is dissolved in a solvent which is solube in water. The polymer or casting solution is allowed to flow down an inclined ramp onto a water surface where a pool of floating polymer develops. The solvent dissolves into the water lowering the surface tension of the water on equently, the contact angle of the polymer pool is very low and the edge of the pool is very thin. The solvent dissolves from this thin region too rapidly to be replenished from the bulk of the pool and a solid polymer film forms. Firm formation is rapid and spontaneous and the film spreads out unaided, many feet from the leading edge of the pool. The driving force for this process is the exothermic solution of the organic solvent from the polymer solution into the water.

Forester, R. H.↗

Ion acoustic stability analysis of the earth's bow shock

A marginal stability criterion for ion acoustic waves is applied to the analysis of five thin bow shock crossings observed by OGO-5; the observations began with the satellite in the magnetosheath. The assumption of marginally stable ion acoustic wave generation in the shock ramp provides the basis for determining the thickness of the magnetic gradients for subcritical, quasi-perpendicular shock features.

Greenstadt, E. W.↗

Air terminals and liquid hydrogen commercial air transports

An initial appraisal is made of results of two studies of the ground requirements of liquid hydrogen (LH2) air transports. Each hypothesized the use of a 400-passenger 5500 nautical mile range subsonic commercial LH2 transport. Two of the world's busiest commercial airports, Chicago O'Hare International and San Francisco International, were selected for study. The current and predicted wide-body traffic at these airports was assumed to simulate the LH2 transport traffic at these airports in the 1990-1995 time period. Both studies produced conceptual designs for facilities to generate the required quantities of fuel from pipeline gaseous hydrogen and to deliver liquid hydrogen to the airplanes. Although the LH2 and jet fuel facilities were kept apart, both study teams found it practical to converge the fuel supply lines so that with proper safety and operational procedures and specialized LH2 equipment both LH2 and jet fuel transports can use common ramp and gate facilities.

Korycinski, P. F.↗

A review of thrust-vectoring schemes for fighter applications

This paper presents a review of thrust vectoring schemes for advanced fighter applications. Results are presented from wind tunnel and system integration studies on thrust vectoring nozzle concepts. Vectoring data are presented from wind tunnel tests of axisymmetric C-D (convergent-divergent) and nonaxisymmetric wedge, C-D, single ramp and USB (upper-surface blowing) nozzle concepts. Results from recent airframe/nozzle integration studies on the impact of thrust vectoring on weight, cooling and performance characteristics are discussed. This review indicates that the aircraft designer has, at his disposal, a wide range of thrust vectoring schemes which offer potential for added or improved aircraft capability.

Berrier, B. L.↗

The numerical solution of viscous flows at high Reynolds number

A review is presented of implicit and hybrid methods applicable to solving viscous flows at high Reynolds numbers. Flows within axisymmetric channels containing stationary shock waves, past blunt-nosed lifting airfoils, past sharp-nosed symmetric airfoils with buffet, past three-dimensional compression ramps with side walls, and past ogive- and hemisphere-cylinders at angle of attack have been examined. Reynolds numbers as high as 10 to the 9th power have been used.

Maccormack, R. W.↗

Status of a nozzle-airframe study of a highly maneuverable fighter

NASA is sponsoring a research program that uses coordinated wind tunnel and flight tests to investigate nozzle-airframe flow interactions. The program objective is to compare transonic flight and wind tunnel measurements over a wide Reynolds number range. The paper discusses the progress of the program and the coordination of the wind tunnel and flight tests with regard to program elements, model-airplane differences, instrument locations, and test conditions. The real-time feedback techniques used to obtain steady flight conditions are presented. Available wind tunnel results are presented for the jet effects model showing the influence of the rear-end geometry and test variables on nozzle drag. Available flight results show the effect of the variable inlet ramp angle and angle of attack on fuselage pressures and upper surface boundary layers.

Nugent, J.↗

Study of aerodynamic technology for VSTOL fighter/attack aircraft, phase 1

A conceptual design study was performed of a vertical attitude takeoff and landing (VATOL) fighter/attack aircraft. The configuration has a close-coupled canard-delta wing, side two-dimensional ramp inlets, and two augmented turbofan engines with thrust vectoring capability. Performance and sensitivities to objective requirements were calculated. Aerodynamic characteristics were estimated based on contractor and NASA wind tunnel data. Computer simulations of VATOL transitions were performed. Successful transitions can be made, even with series post-stall instabilities, if reaction controls are properly phased. Principal aerodynamic uncertainties identified were post-stall aerodynamics, transonic aerodynamics with thrust vectoring and inlet performance in VATOL transition. A wind tunnel research program was recommended to resolve the aerodynamic uncertainties.

Driggers, H. H.↗

The development and application of strainrange partitioning as a tool in the treatment of high temperature metal fatigue

The effects of frequency, stress and strain hold periods, stress and strain ramping, creep-fatigue interspersion, and thermomechanical cycling were studied. Of special interest was the establishment of a set of universalized life relations which were normalized by the ductility of the material. These relations together with a set of rules that were devised for treating multiaxiality by the method, were, for example, useful in predicting torsion behavior, and in particular in establishing a new relationship between torsion and tension that had previously not been considered. They also were useful in the development of a framework for treatment of environmental effects.

Manson, S. S.↗

Ablative performance of carbon-carbon nosetips in simulated re-entry environments

A summary is presented of ablation performance data for carbon-carbon nosetip models obtained over a range of pressures from 10 to 168 atm. Two classes of tests are reviewed: (1) steady state, in which a constant environment is imposed on the model, and (2) ramp, in which the pressure is increased from 10 to 80 atmospheres to simulate re-entry pressure history. Comparison of arc test parameters with typical reentry vehicle parameters is included, to assess the adequacy of the test simulation. Based on this comparison, recommendations are made for facility developments which would yield improved simulation capability for reentry vehicle nosetip ablative performance.

Nestler, D. E.↗

Closed Loop solar array-ion thruster system with power control circuitry

A power control circuit connected between a solar array and an ion thruster receives voltage and current signals from the solar array. The control circuit multiplies the voltage and current signals together to produce a power signal which is differentiated with respect to time. The differentiator output is detected by a zero crossing detector and, after suitable shaping, the detector output is phase compared with a clock in a phase demodulator. An integrator receives no output from the phase demodulator when the operating point is at the maximum power but is driven toward the maximum power point for non-optimum operation. A ramp generator provides minor variations in the beam current reference signal produced by the integrator in order to obtain the first derivative of power.

Gruber, R. P.↗

Pressure and thermal distributions on wings and adjacent surfaces induced by elevon deflections at Mach 6

Surface pressure distributions and heat transfer distributions were obtained on wing half-models in regions where three dimensional separated flow effects are prominent. Unswept and 50 deg and 70 deg swept semispan wings were tested, for trailing-edge-elevon ramp angles of 0 deg, 10 deg, 20 deg, and 30 deg, with and without cylindrical and flat plate center bodies and with and without various wing-tip plates and fins. The data, obtained for a free stream Mach number of 6 and a wing-root-chord Reynolds number of 18.5 million, reveal considerably larger regions of increased pressure and thermal loads than would be anticipated using non-separated flow analyses.

Kaufman, L. G., II↗

Effect of several geometric parameters on the static internal performance of three nonaxisymmetric nozzle concepts

Effects of several geometric parameters on the internal performance of nonaxisymmetric convergent-divergent, single-ramp expansion, and wedge nozzles were investigated at nozzle pressure ratios up to approximately 10. In addition, two different thrust-vectoring schemes were investigated with the wedge nozzle. The results indicated that as with conventional round nozzles, peak nonaxisymmetric nozzle, internal performance occurred near the nozzle pressure ratio required for fully expanded exhaust flow. Nozzle sidewall length or area generally had little effect on the internal performance of the nozzles investigated.

Berrier, B. L.↗

Preliminary flight and wind tunnel comparisons of the inlet/airframe interaction of the F-15 airplane

Preliminary flight and wind tunnel comparison data are presented for the F-15 inlet/airframe interactions program. Test conditions and instrumentation for both the model and the aircraft are described. Flight and wind tunnel inlet drag data (for a 0-deg angle of attack and Mach numbers of 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2), derived by using nearly identical pressure integration equations, are compared. The effects of a movable cowl, movable ramps, and other system components on pressure flow fields along the airframe are discussed. Excellent agreement between wind tunnel and flight pressure-integrated drags is found at all three Mach numbers. The wind tunnel data show good agreement for pressure-integrated and force-balance-measured inlet drag, except at Mach 0.6. Flight-measured pressure-integrated inlet lift is lower than that measured in the wind tunnel.

Webb, L. D.↗

Performance characteristics of nonaxisymmetric nozzles installed on the F-18 aircraft

The Langley Research Center has conducted an experimental program on a model of the F-18 airplane to determine the performance of nonaxisymmetric nozzles relative to the aircraft's baseline axisymmetric nozzle. The performance of a single expansion ramp (ADEN) and two-dimensional convergent-divergent (2-D C-D) nozzle were compared to the baseline axisymmetric nozzles. The effects of vectoring and reversing were also studied. Performance of a modified YF-17 airplane with the ADEN nozzle was also estimated. The results of this investigation indicate that nonaxisymmetric nozzles can be installed on a twin engine fighter airplane with equal or better performance than axisymmetric nozzles. The nonaxisymmetric nozzles also offer potential for innovative and improved aircraft maneuver through thrust vectoring and reversing. The YF-17/ADEN flown as a technology demonstrator would have reduced performance compared to an unmodified YF-17. However, on an equal aircraft weight basis, performance would essentially be equivalent. This study also showed that the YF-17 can serve as a testbed to validate nonaxisymmetric nozzle technology.

Capone, F. J.↗

Driver for solar cell I-V characteristic plots

A bipolar voltage ramp generator which applies a linear voltage through a resistor to a solar cell for plotting its current versus voltage (I-V) characteristic between short circuit and open circuit conditions is disclosed. The generator has automatic stops at the end points. The resistor serves the multiple purpose of providing a current sensing resistor, setting the full-scale current value, and providing a load line with a slope approximately equal to one, such that it will pass through the origin and the approximate center of the I-V curve with about equal distance from that center to each of the end points.

Turner, G. B.↗