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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 487 records · Page 27

Crashworthiness of light aircraft fuselage structures: A numerical and experimental investigation

The dynamic behavior of aircraft fuselage structures subject to various impact conditions was investigated. An analytical model was developed based on a self-consistent finite element (CFE) formulation utilizing shell, curved beam, and stringer type elements. Equations of motion were formulated and linearized (i.e., for small displacements), although material nonlinearity was retained to treat local plastic deformation. The equations were solved using the implicit Newmark-Beta method with a frontal solver routine. Stiffened aluminum fuselage models were also tested in free flight using the UTIAS pendulum crash test facility. Data were obtained on dynamic strains, g-loads, and transient deformations (using high speed photography in the latter case) during the impact process. Correlations between tests and predicted results are presented, together with computer graphics, based on the CFE model. These results include level and oblique angle impacts as well as the free-flight crash test. Comparisons with a hybrid, lumped mass finite element computer model demonstrate that the CFE formulation provides the test overall agreement with impact test data for comparable computing costs.

Nanyaro, A. P.↗

Numerical solution of Euler's equation by perturbed functionals

A perturbed functional iteration has been developed to solve nonlinear systems. It adds at each iteration level, unique perturbation parameters to nonlinear Gauss-Seidel iterates which enhances its convergence properties. As convergence is approached these parameters are damped out. Local linearization along the diagonal has been used to compute these parameters. The method requires no computation of Jacobian or factorization of matrices. Analysis of convergence depends on properties of certain contraction-type mappings, known as D-mappings. In this article, application of this method to solve an implicit finite difference approximation of Euler's equation is studied. Some representative results for the well known shock tube problem and compressible flows in a nozzle are given.

Dey, S. K.↗

Modeling of transient heat pipe operation

Mathematical models and associated solution procedures which can be used to design heat pipe cooled structures for use on hypersonic vehicles are being developed. The models should also have the capability to predict off-design performance for a variety of operating conditions. It is expected that the resulting models can be used to predict startup behavior of liquid metal heat pipes to be used in reentry vehicles, hypersonic aircraft, and space nuclear reactors. Work to date related to numerical solutions of governing differential equations for the outer shell and the combination capillary structure and working fluid is summarized. Finite element numerical equations using both implicit, explicit, and combination methods were examined.

Colwell, G. T.↗

Implicit flux-corrected transport scheme for low-speed flow

A new high-order nonlinear Eulerian convection algorithm, the barely implicit correction (BIC)-FCT method, is presented. The BIC-FCT makes it possible to perform accurate, multidimensional, slow-flow calculations in which the fluid expansion is important. Owing to its low cost even in two dimensions, fairly detailed chemistry models and other physical processes can be included. Areas of BIC-FCT applicability include premixed flames, diffusion flames, and turbulent jet flames.

Patnaik, G.↗

Modeling and calculation of turbulent transport in free-shear flows

In this work the applicability of the combined bulk convection and gradient transport hypotheses for modeling turbulent diffusion is investigated. The resulting model equation, namely the one-equation model, is solved for free-shear flows by an implicit finite-difference method. Results indicate that significant improvements over previous models can be achieved with this new formulation of turbulent diffusion for both heat and momentum transport.

Biringen, S.↗

Numerical simulation of scramjet inlet flow fields

A computer program was developed to analyze supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) inlet flow fields. The program solves the three-dimensional Euler or Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations in full conservation form by either the fully explicit or explicit-implicit, predictor-corrector method of MacCormack. Turbulence is modeled by an algebraic eddy-viscosity model. The analysis allows inclusion of end effects which can significantly affect the inlet flow field. Detailed laminar and turbulent flow results are presented for a symmetric-wedge corner, and comparisons are made with the available experimental results to allow assessment of the program. Results are then presented for two inlet configurations for which experimental results exist at the NASA Langley Research Center.

Kumar, Ajay↗

Navier-Stokes predictions of multifunction nozzle flows

A two-dimensional, Navier-Stokes code developed by Imlay based on the implicit, finite-volume method of MacCormack has been applied to the prediction of the flow fields and performance of several nonaxisymmetric, convergent-divergent nozzles with and without thrust vectoring. Comparisons of predictions with experiment show that the Navier-Stokes code can accurately predict both the flow fields and performance for nonaxisymmetric nozzles where the flow is predominantly two-dimensional and at nozzle pressure ratios at or above the design values. Discrepancies between predictions and experiment are noted at lower nozzle pressure ratios where separation typically occurs in portions of the nozzle. The overall trends versus parameters such as nozzle pressure ratio, flap angle, and vector angle were generally predicted correctly.

Wilmoth, Richard G.↗

The art of spacecraft design: A multidisciplinary challenge

Actual design turn-around time has become shorter due to the use of optimization techniques which have been introduced into the design process. It seems that what, how and when to use these optimization techniques may be the key factor for future aircraft engineering operations. Another important aspect of this technique is that complex physical phenomena can be modeled by a simple mathematical equation. The new powerful multilevel methodology reduces time-consuming analysis significantly while maintaining the coupling effects. This simultaneous analysis method stems from the implicit function theorem and system sensitivity derivatives of input variables. Use of the Taylor's series expansion and finite differencing technique for sensitivity derivatives in each discipline makes this approach unique for screening dominant variables from nondominant variables. In this study, the current Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) aerodynamic and sensitivity derivative/optimization techniques are applied for a simple cone-type forebody of a high-speed vehicle configuration to understand basic aerodynamic/structure interaction in a hypersonic flight condition.

Abdi, F.↗

Unsteady stagnation-point heat transfer during passage of a concentrated vortex

The unsteady boundary layer due to a single rectilinear vortex filament approaching a 2-D stagnation point is investigated. Assuming the vortex remains far from the surface, incompressible potential flow theory is used to determine the time dependent inviscid flow field. The unsteady boundary layer equations are solved by an alternating-direction-implicit finite-difference method. Two mechanisms which cause fluctuations in heat transfer are the unsteady velocity field in the boundary layer and secondly, the unsteady total temperature at the edge of the boundary layer. The relative importance of these mechanisms is dependent upon the total temperature fluctuations relative to the imposed temperature difference. As a vortex approaches a stagnation point it may be forced to one side of the stagnation line or the other, depending on its initial position. Results are presented for both of these cases.

Rigby, David L.↗

Unsteady stagnation-point heat transfer during passage of a concentrated vortex

The unsteady boundary layer due to a single rectilinear vortex filament approaching a two-dimensional stagnation point is investigated. The unsteady boundary-layer equations are solved by an alternating-direction-implicit finite-difference method. Two mechanisms which cause fluctuations in heat transfer are the unsteady velocity field in the boundary layer and secondly, the unsteady total temperature at the edge of the boundary layer. The relative importance of these mechanisms is dependent upon the total temperature fluctuations relative to the imposed temperature difference.

Rigby, David L.↗

Computation of the unsteady facilitated transport of oxygen in hemoglobin

The transport of a reacting permeant diffusing through a thin membrane is extended to more realistic dissociation models. A new nonlinear analysis of the reaction-diffusion equations, using implicit finite-difference methods and direct block solvers, is used to study the limits of linearized and equilibrium theories. Computed curves of molecular oxygen permeating through hemoglobin solution are used to illustrate higher-order reaction models, the effect of concentration boundary layers at the membrane interfaces, and the transient buildup of oxygen flux.

Davis, Sanford↗

Oscillatory flow with heat transfer in a square cavity

A computational study is presented for the flow inside an oscillatory cavity. The numerical scheme employs a semi-implicit, time-splitting method to integrate the two-dimensional full Navier-Stokes equations satisfying continuity to machine accuracy. The efficient use of direct solvers for the uncoupled momentum and pressure equations is demonstrated. The oscillatory cavity flow is studied considering the effects of heat transfer, Reynolds number, and oscillatory Stokes number.

Biringen, S.↗

Transonic swirling nozzle flow

A numerical model of viscous transonic swirling flow in axisymmetric nozzles is developed. MacCormack's implicit Gauss-Seidel method is applied to the thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations in transformed coordinates. Numerical results are compared with experimental data to validate the method. The effect of swirl and viscosity on nozzle performance are demonstrated by examining wall pressures, Mach contours, and integral parameters.

Keith, Theo G., Jr.↗

Three-dimensional shock-wave/boundary-layer interactions with bleed through a circular hole

Computations were performed to study three-dimensional (3-D), shock-wave/boundary-layer interactions on a flat plate in which fluid in the boundary layer was bled through a circular hole into a plenum to control shock-wave induced separation. Results are presented which show the details of the 3-D flowfield about the bleed hole and how bleed-hole placement relative to shock-wave impingement affect upstream, spanwise, and downstream influence lengths. This study revealed an underlying mechanisms by which bleed holes can affect shock-wave/boundary-layer interactions. This investigation is based on the ensemble-averaged, "full-compressible" Navier-Stokes equations closed by the Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model. Solutions to these equations were obtained by an implicit finite-volume method based on the partially-split, two-factored algorithm of Steger.

Rimlinger, M. J.↗

Adaptation of multidimensional group particle tracking and particle wall-boundary condition model to the FDNS code

A particulate two-phase flow CFD model was developed based on the FDNS code which is a pressure based predictor plus multi-corrector Navier-Stokes flow solver. Turbulence models with compressibility correction and the wall function models were employed as submodels. A finite-rate chemistry model was used for reacting flow simulation. For particulate two-phase flow simulations, a Eulerian-Lagrangian solution method using an efficient implicit particle trajectory integration scheme was developed in this study. Effects of particle-gas reaction and particle size change to agglomeration or fragmentation were not considered in this investigation. At the onset of the present study, a two-dimensional version of FDNS which had been modified to treat Lagrangian tracking of particles (FDNS-2DEL) had already been written and was operational. The FDNS-2DEL code was too slow for practical use, mainly because it had not been written in a form amenable to vectorization on the Cray, nor was the full three-dimensional form of FDNS utilized. The specific objective of this study was to reorder to calculations into long single arrays for automatic vectorization on the Cray and to implement the full three-dimensional version of FDNS to produce the FDNS-3DEL code. Since the FDNS-2DEL code was slow, a very limited number of test cases had been run with it. This study was also intended to increase the number of cases simulated to verify and improve, as necessary, the particle tracking methodology coded in FDNS.

Chen, Y. S.↗

Effects of bleed-hole geometry and plenum pressure on three-dimensional shock-wave/boundary-layer/bleed interactions

A numerical study was performed to investigate 3D shock-wave/boundary-layer interactions on a flat plate with bleed through one or more circular holes that vent into a plenum. This study was focused on how bleed-hole geometry and pressure ratio across bleed holes affect the bleed rate and the physics of the flow in the vicinity of the holes. The aspects of the bleed-hole geometry investigated include angle of bleed hole and the number of bleed holes. The plenum/freestream pressure ratios investigated range from 0.3 to 1.7. This study is based on the ensemble-averaged, 'full compressible' Navier-Stokes (N-S) equations closed by the Baldwin-Lomax algebraic turbulence model. Solutions to the ensemble-averaged N-S equations were obtained by an implicit finite-volume method using the partially-split, two-factored algorithm of Steger on an overlapping Chimera grid.

Chyu, Wei J.↗

Computations of spray, fuel-air mixing, and combustion in a lean-premixed-prevaporized combustor

A code was developed for computing the multidimensional flow, spray, combustion, and pollutant formation inside gas turbine combustors. The code developed is based on a Lagrangian-Eulerian formulation and utilizes an implicit finite-volume method. The focus of this paper is on the spray part of the code (both formulation and algorithm), and a number of issues related to the computation of sprays and fuel-air mixing in a lean-premixed-prevaporized combustor. The issues addressed include: (1) how grid spacings affect the diffusion of evaporated fuel, and (2) how spurious modes can arise through modelling of the spray in the Lagrangian computations. An upwind interpolation scheme is proposed to account for some effects of grid spacing on the artificial diffusion of the evaporated fuel. Also, some guidelines are presented to minimize errors associated with the spurious modes.

Dasgupta, A.↗

Implicit Approaches for Moving Boundaries in a 3-D Cartesian Method

This work considers numerical simulation of three-dimensional flows with time-evolving boundaries. Such problems pose a variety of challenges for numerical schemes, and have received a substantial amount of attention in the recent literature. Since such simulations are unsteady, time-accurate solution of the governing equations is required. In special cases, the body motion can be treated by a uniform rigid motion of the computational domain. For the more general situation of relative-body motion, however, this simplification is unavailable and the simulations require a mechanism for ensuring that the mesh evolves with the moving boundaries. This involves a "remeshing" of the computational domain (either localized or global) at each physical timestep, and places a premium on both the speed and robustness of the remeshing algorithms. This work presents a method which includes unsteady flow simulation, rigid domain motion, and relative body motion using a time-evolving Cartesian grid system in three dimensions.

Murman, Scott M.↗