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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 523 records · Page 29
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1974

Sonic inlet technology development and application to STOL propulsion

Recent developments in sonic inlet technology are presented with particular emphasis on STOL propulsion systems. Inlet noise reduction requirements are considered for an augmentor wing and an upper surface blowing type of propulsion system. The current state of the art is discussed with respect to performance and noise potential of different sonic inlet concepts. An acoustic and aerodynamic performance comparison is presented for several inlet configurations based on experimental results.

Klujber, F.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Atmospheric effects on the inlet system of the YF-12 aircraft

Flights of a YF-12 airplane were performed over a wide range of operating conditions so that detailed comparisons could be made with data from tests on scale models in NASA ground facilities. Extensive flight instrumentation for inlet performance comparisons provided flight data that also lend insight into supersonic inlet operation during atmospheric turbulence. Pressure and flow direction measurements near the inlet gave results different from conventional accelerometer data normally used for flight determination of turbulence severity. A nonturbulent atmospheric temperature excursion during an XB-70 flight caused inlet duct pressure variations as extreme as those experienced during heavy turbulence on the YF-12 airplane.

Smith, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Distortion in a full-scale bicone inlet with internal focused compression and 45 percent internal contraction

The distortion characteristics were investigated at the subsonic diffuser exit of a full-scale, Mach 2.5, axisymmetric, mixed compression inlet. Performance and steady-state distortion characteristics were obtained at zero and maximum angle of attack and during an inlet unstart-restart sequence. For the configuration with no cowl bleed, steady-state distortion P(max)P(min)P(bar) ranged from 0.10 for critical inlet operation at 0 deg angle-of-attack to 0.306 for supercritical inlet operation at 6.84 deg angle-of-attack. Vortex generators provided a 50 percent reduction in steady-state distortion for critical operation. Bleed has a smaller effect on steady-stated distortion.

Wasserbauer, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Use of potential flow theory to evaluate subsonic inlet data from a simulator-powered nacelle at cruise conditions

Incompressible potential flow theory corrected for compressibility effects, using the Lieblein-Stockman compressibility correction, was used to predict surface and flow field static pressures for a subsonic inlet at cruise conditions. The calculated internal and external surface static pressures were in good agreement with data at most conditions. The analysis was used to determine the capture stream-tube location and static-pressure distribution. Additive drag coefficients obtained from these results were consistently higher than those obtained using one-dimensional compressible flow theory. Increasing the distance between the inlet and boattail increased the cowl drag force. The effect of the boundary layer on internal and external surface static-pressure distributions was small at the design cruise condition. The analytical results may be used as an aid to data reduction and for predicting inlet mass flow, stagnation point location, and inlet additive drag.

Bober, L. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Aerodynamic analysis of several high throat Mach number inlets for the quiet clean short-haul experimental engine

The results of an analytical study to investigate internal and external surface Mach numbers on several inlet geometries for possible application to the nacelle of the Quiet Clean Short-Haul Experimental Engine (QCSEE) are presented. The effects of external forebody geometry and internal lip geometry were illustrated at both low-speed and cruise conditions. Boundary-layer analyses were performed on several geometries to determine if lip flow separation might exist. The results indicated that inner-surface Mach number level and gradient could be reduced with inlets at a 50 deg incidence angle by blunting the external forebody geometry. The external Mach numbers at cruise conditions indicated that a compromise in the external forebody bluntness might be required to satisfy both low-speed and cruise conditions. For a fixed value of bluntness parameter, no lip flow separation was indicated for the 1.46- and 1.57-area-contraction-ratio inlets at low-speed conditions. However, a lip separation condition was obtained with the 1.37-contraction-ratio inlet. The QCSEE nacelle design takeoff operating condition (incidence angle of 50 deg and free-stream Mach number of 0.12) resulted in higher peak surface Mach numbers than the design crosswind (incidence angle of 90 deg and free-stream Mach number of 0.05) or static condition.

Albers, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Aeroacoustic performance of scale model sonic inlets

A low speed wind tunnel was used to evaluate the inflight aeroacoustic performance of several single- and multiple-passage sonic inlets. Takeoff and approach geometries were tested, and the effects of inlet lip and diffuser design were determined. Results indicate that the single passage geometries, in particular a cylindrical centerbody takeoff geometry and a bulb shaped centerbody approach geometry, provide the highest level of aeroacoustic performance. Increasing inlet lip contraction ratio extends the maximum incidence angle for attached lip flow, while increasing inlet diffuser length results in higher total pressure recovery for a given amount of noise suppression.

Abbott, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Design and performance at a local Mach number of 6 of an inlet for an integrated Scramjet concept

The development of a concept for a modular supersonic combustion ramjet which is designed to integrate with the airframe of a hypersonic vehicle is presented. The design philosophy and results of experiments at Mach 6 to evaluate the performance of the scramjet inlet are given. The inlet was designed with modest contraction ratio, fixed geometry, and three fuel injection struts which contributed to the inlet flow compression and provided a short combustor design that resulted in low internal cooling requirements. Results indicate that the inlet performance is well within the acceptable range for high engine performance.

Trexler, C. A.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Experimental evaluation of a Mach 3.5 axisymmetric inlet

Wind tunnel test results for a large scale inlet model designed for Mach 3.5 are presented and compared with analytical predictions. The inlet is an axisymmetric mixed-compression type with a lip diameter of 49.723 cm. The inlet design was developed using analytical procedures. Data are shown for freestream Mach numbers from 0.6 to 3.5. The test results indicate that boundary layer bleed requirements can be accurately predicted. Good agreement was obtained with analytical predictions of the flowfield structure and boundary layer development in the supersonic diffuser yielding high performance at the design Mach number. The highest engine face total pressure recovery at Mach 3.5 was 85.8%; this was obtained at 0.05 Mach tolerance with only 2.8% total pressure distortion and 13.4% bleed. In the started Mach number range from 1.6 to 3.5, the total pressure recovery in the throat, downstream of the terminal normal shock, ranged between 91% and 95%. Total pressure losses in the subsonic diffuser varied from 3% to 13%. The higher losses occuring between Mach 2.5 and 3.2 were believed to be caused by the rapid rate of increase in the area of the diffuser just downstream of the throat, possibly coupled with inadequate centerbody throat bleed. In the unstarted mode at transonic speeds, the maximum inlet flow was over 99% of the theoretical maximum capture mass-flow.

Syberg, J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Potential and viscous flow in VTOL, STOL or CTOL propulsion system inlets

A method was developed for analyzing the flow in subsonic axisymmetric inlets at arbitrary conditions of freestream velocity, incidence angle, and inlet mass flow. An improved version of the method is discussed and comparisons of results obtained with the original and improved methods are given. Comparisons with experiments are also presented for several inlet configurations and for various conditions of the boundary layer from insignificant to separated. Applications of the method are discussed, with several examples given for specific cases involving inlets for VTOL lift fans and for STOL engine nacelles.

Stockman, N. O.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Effect of a 180 deg-extent inlet pressure distortion on the internal flow conditions of a TF30-P-3

The measured effects of inlet pressure distortion on the internal flow temperatures and pressures of a TF30-P-3 afterburning turbofan engine are reported. Extensive inner-stage instrumentation combined with stepwise rotation of pressure distortion provided a high degree of circumferential resolution in the data. The steady-state spatial variation in pressures, temperature, and calculated flow velocity and the amplitude and extent of the distorted sectors are given. Data are presented for runs of 77 and 90 percent of low-speed-rotor design speed at pressure distortion levels two-thirds of that required to stall the engine. These data are compared with data taken at clean-inlet conditions. Results indicate that the inlet pressure distortion was quickly attenuated within the compressor, except at the hub of the low-pressure compressor. The distorted sectors also swirled and varied in extent as they passed through the engine. Average velocities within the compressor were about equal to the clean-inlet values.

Debogdan, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Effect of wall suction on performance of a short annular diffuser at inlet Mach numbers up to 0.5

A short annular diffuser equipped with wall bleed (suction)capability was evaluated at inlet Mach numbers of 0.186 to 0.5. The diffuser had an area ratio of 4.0 and a length-to-inlet height ratio of 1.6. Test results show that the exit velocity profiles, typical of annular jet flow without suction, could be considerably flattened by application of wall suction. This improved performance was also reflected in diffuser effectiveness (static-pressure recovery) and total-pressure loss results. At the inlet Mach number of 0.5 diffuser static-pressure recovery is equal to or better than at lower inlet Mach numbers for comparable suction rates.

Juhasz, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Potential and viscous flow in VTOL, STOL or CTOL propulsion system inlets

A method has been developed for analyzing the flow in subsonic axisymmetric inlets at arbitrary conditions of freestream velocity, incidence angle, and inlet mass flow. An improved version of the method is discussed and comparisons of results obtained with the original and improved methods are given. Comparisons with experiments are also presented for several inlet configurations and for various conditions of the boundary layer from insignificant to separated. The paper discusses applications of the method, with several examples given for specific cases involving inlets for VTOL lift fans and for STOL engine nacelles.

Stockman, N. O.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Noise suppression by an acoustically treated three-ring inlet on a TF-34 engine

Acoustic performance tests were conducted with a three-ring inlet noise suppressor designed for a TF-34 engine. For all tests the aft noise sources were highly suppressed. The measured inlet suppression was large, reaching levels greater than 30 db at the peak. Comparisons of the data and the performance predictions were in reasonably good agreement. The frequency of peak attenuation was well predicted; the magnitude and spectral shape were reasonably well predicted. Agreement was best when the distribution of sound energy across the inlet was taken into account in the performance predictions. Tests in which the length of treatment was varied showed an orderly progression of attenuation with length; performance predictions for the different lengths also showed an orderly progression with length. At the highest speed of the engine, multiple pure tones were present throughout the spectrum in the source noise signature. These tones were effectively suppressed by the inlet liner, even at low frequencies, although the liner was designed to work best at the blade-passing frequency.

Minner, G. L.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Survey of inlet noise reduction concepts for gas turbine engines

An overview is given of advanced concepts for the suppression of noise in the inlets of gas turbine engines. Inlet geometric and operating parameters are presented and design criteria for suppression methods are discussed. Noise suppression concepts are described, the directions of current research are reviewed. Problem areas requiring further work are indicated. Well established approaches to inlet noise reduction - namely, acoustic liners and high subsonic Mach number inlets which are the focus of considerable current research activity are considered along with the acoustic absorption and watet vapor injection.

Lansing, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Application of rotor mounted pressure transducers to analysis of inlet turbulence

Miniature pressure transducers installed near the leading edge of a fan blade were used to diagnose the non-uniform flow entering a subsonic tip speed turbofan on a static test stand. The pressure response of the blade to the inlet flow variations was plotted in a form which shows the space-time history of disturbances ingested by the rotor. Also, periodically sampled data values were auto- and cross-correlated as if they had been acquired from fixed hot wire anemometers at 150 equally spaced angles around the inlet. With a clean inlet and low wind, evidence of long, narrow turbulence eddies was easily found both in the boundary layer of the fan duct and outside the boundary layer. The role of the boundary layer was to follow and amplify disturbances in the outer flow. These eddies frequently moved around the inlet with a corkscrew motion as they passed through.

Hanson, D. B.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Noise suppression with high Mach number inlets

Experimental results were obtained for two types of high Mach number inlets, one with a translating centerbody and a fixed geometry inlet (collapsing cowl) with no centerbody. The aerodynamic and acoustic performance of these inlets was examined. The effects of area ratio, length/diameter ratio, and lip geometry were among several parameters investigated. The translating centerbody type inlet was found to be superior to the collapsing cowl both acoustically and aerodynamically, particularly for area ratios greater than 1.5. Comparison of length/diameter ratio and area ratio effects on performance near choked flow showed the latter to be more significant. Also, greater high frequency noise attenuation was achieved by increasing Mach number from low to high subsonic values.

Lumsdaine, E.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Effects of multi-element acoustic treatment on compressor inlet noise

An analytic and experimental study was conducted with the objective of developing both a basic understanding of axially segmented inlet acoustic treatment liners, and design procedures for enhancing the suppression of compressor inlet radiated noise. Anechoic chamber measurements demonstrated that the multielement treatment produced significantly more low frequency suppression than uniform treatment. Further, in-duct spinning mode patterns generated by the rotating vehicle were successfully measured and used as input to an analytical prediction procedure, providing significant improvement in inlet suppression predictions. The study indicated that phased inlet liners can be designed to provide increased noise suppression compared to uniform treatment.

Kraft, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Aerodynamic and acoustic performance of a contracting cowl high throat Mach number inlet installed on NASA Quiet Engine 'C'

The purpose of this experimental program was to evaluate the approach and takeoff performance of a contracting cowl variable geometry design inlet installed on a high-bypass-ratio turbofan engine. The design was finalized after consideration of aerodynamic, acoustic, and mechanical factors which would lead to a viable flight-worthy inlet concept. The aerodynamic results are presented in terms of inlet recovery and distortion parameter as functions of throat Mach number, and acoustic results in terms of Perceived Noise Level. The contracting cowl high throat Mach number inlet is shown to be an attractive means to reduce forward radiated noise from a high bypass ratio turbofan engine.

Bloomer, H. E.↗