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At least 55 records · Page 3

Force, Surface Pressure, and Flowfield Measurements on a Slender Missile Configuration with Square Cross-Section at Supersonic Speeds

A wind-tunnel investigation of a square cross-section missile configuration has been conducted to obtain force and moment measurements, surface pressure measurements, and vapor screen flow visualization photographs for comparison with computational fluid dynamics studies conducted under the auspices of The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP). Tests were conducted on three configurations which included: (1) body alone, (2) body plus tail fins mounted on the missile corners, and (3) body plus tail fins mounted on the missile side. This test was conducted in test section #2 of the NASA Langley Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel at Mach numbers of 2.50 and 4.50 and at a Reynolds number of 4 million per ft. The data were obtained over an angle of attack range from -4 deg. to 24 deg. and roll angles from 0 deg. to 45 deg., i.e., from a diamond shape (as viewed from the rear) at a roll angle of 0 deg. to a square shape at 45 deg.

Wilcox, Floyd J., Jr.↗

Aerodynamic Loads at Mach Numbers from 0.70 to 2.22 on a Airplane Model Having a Wing and Canard of Triangular Plan Form and Either Single or Twin Vertical Tails

Results of an investigation of the aerodynamic loads on a canard airplane model are presented without detailed analysis for the Mach number range of 0.70 t o 2.22. The model consisted of a triangular wing and canard of aspect ratio 2 mounted on a Sears-Haack body of fineness ratio 12.5 and either a single body-mounted vertical tail or twin wing mounted vertical tails of low aspect ratio and sweptback plan form. The body, right wing panel, single vertical tail, and left twin vertical tail were instrumented for measuring pressures. Data were obtained for angles of attack ranging from -4 degrees to +16 degrees, nominal canard deflection angles of 0 degrees and 10 degrees, and angles of sideslip of 0 degrees and 5.3 degrees. The Reynolds number was 2.9 x 10(exp 6) based on the wing mean aerodynamic chord. Selected portions of the data are presented in graphical form and attention is directed to some of the results of the investigation. All of the experimental results have been tabulated in the form of pressure coefficients and integrations of the pressure coefficients and are available as supplements to this paper. A brief summary of the contents of the tabular material is given.

Peterson, Victor L.↗

An investigation of airflow over the aft portions of a variable sweep fighter configuration

An investigation of air flow over the aft portions of a variable sweep fighter aircraft configuration was made. Tests conducted in the unitary plan wind tunnel at Mach number 2.16 included measurements of forces, moments, and local static pressures as well as visual recordings of the air flow. An aerodynamic analytical prediction method was evaluated when used in data comparison at angles of attack of 0, 5, and 15 degrees. The results indicate that in supersonic flow the typical outboard located twin vertical tail arrangement tends to provide a more positive increment in normal-force on the afterbody fuselage and the horizontal tail than a single center-mounted vertical tail of similar planform shape. In addition, the results indicate that a method for aerodynamic analysis of wing-body-tail configurations currently available can provide reasonable estimates of pressure coefficient distributions on configurations in regions of complex supersonic flow. At this time, however, the available analytical method cannot adequately replace experimental wind tunnel tests for determining the supersonic flow environment of a given configuration.

Graves, E. B.↗

Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Canard and an Outboard-Tail Airplane Model at High Subsonic Speeds

An investigation has been made in the Langley high-speed 7- by 10-foot tunnel through a range of Mach numbers from 0.60 to 0.95 of the static longitudinal and lateral stability and control characteristics of a canard airplane configuration and an outboard-tail configuration. The canard model had a twisted wing with approximately 67 deg of sweepback and an aspect ratio of 2.91 and was tested with three trapezoidal canard surfaces having ratios of exposed area to wing area of 0.032, 0.076, and 0.121. The canard model had a single body-mounted vertical tail. The outboard-tail model had its horizontal- and vertical-tail surfaces mounted on slender bodies attached to the wing tips and located to the rear and outboard of the 67 deg sweptback wing of aspect ratio 1.00. The data, which are presented with limited analysis, provide information at high subsonic speeds on these two types of high-speed airplanes which have previously been tested at supersonic speeds and reported in NACA RM L58BO7 and NACA RM L58E20.

Fournier, Paul G.↗

Experimental trim drag values for conventional and supercritical wings

Supercritical wings were studied to determine whether they incur higher trim drag values at cruise conditions than wide body technology wings. Relative trim drag increments were measured in an experimental wind tunnel investigation. The tests utilized high aspect ratio supercritical wing and a wide body wing in conjunction with five different horizontal tail configurations, mounted on a representative wide body fuselage. The three low tail configurations and two T tail configurations were chosen to measure the effects on horizontal tail size, location, and camber on the trim drag increments for the two wings. The increase in performance (lift to drag ratio) for supercritical wing over the wide body wing was 11 percent for both the optimum low tail and T tail configurations.

Jacobs, P. F.↗

Experimental trim drag values and flow-field measurements for a wide-body transport model with conventional and supercritical wings

The purpose of this study was to determine if advanced supercritical wings incur higher trim drag values at cruise conditions than current wide body technology wings. Relative trim drag increments were measured in an experimental wind tunnel investigation conducted in the Langley 8 Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel. The tests utilized a high aspect ratio supercritical wing and a wide body aircraft wing, in conjunction with five different horizontal tail configurations, mounted on a representative wide body fuselage. The three low tail and two T-tail configurations were designed to measure the effects of horizontal tail size, location, and camber on the trim drag increments for the two wings. Longitudinal force and moment data were taken at a Mach number of 0.82 and design cruise lift coefficients for the wide body and supercritical wings of 0.45 and 0.55, respectively. The data indicate that the supercritical wing does not have significantly higher trim drag than the wide body wing. A reduction in tail size, combined with relaxed static stability, produced trim drag reductions for both wings. The cambered tails had higher trim drag increments than the symmetrical tails for both wings, and the T-tail configurations had lower trim drag increments than the low tail configurations.

Jacobs, P. F.↗

Wind Tunnel Investigation of the Effects of Surface Porosity and Vertical Tail Placement on Slender Wing Vortex Flow Aerodynamics at Supersonic Speeds

A wind tunnel experiment was conducted in the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel (UPWT) to determine the effects of passive surface porosity and vertical tail placement on vortex flow development and interactions about a general research fighter configuration at supersonic speeds. Optical flow measurement and flow visualization techniques were used that featured pressure sensitive paint (PSP), laser vapor screen (LVS), and schlieren, These techniques were combined with conventional electronically-scanned pressure (ESP) and six-component force and moment measurements to quantify and to visualize the effects of flow-through porosity applied to a wing leading edge extension (LEX) and the placement of centerline and twin vertical tails on the vortex-dominated flow field of a 65 cropped delta wing model. Test results were obtained at free-stream Mach numbers of 1.6, 1.8, and 2.1 and a Reynolds number per foot of 2.0 million. LEX porosity promoted a wing vortex-dominated flow field as a result of a diffusion and weakening of the LEX vortex. The redistribution of the vortex-induced suction pressures contributed to large nose-down pitching moment increments but did not significantly affect the vortex-induced lift. The trends associated with LEX porosity were unaffected by vertical tail placement. The centerline tail configuration generally provided more stable rolling moments and yawing moments compared to the twin wing-mounted vertical tails. The strength of a complex system of shock waves between the twin tails was reduced by LEX porosity.

Erickson, Gary E.↗

A Transonic Wind-Tunnel Investigation of the Trim and Dynamic Response Characteristics of the Horizontal Tail of a 1/7-Scale Model of the Complete Tail of the Grumman XF10F-1 Airplane

An investigation was made of the trim and dynamic response characteristics of the free-floating horizontal tail of a 1/7-scale model of the complete tail of the Grumman XF10F-1 airplane in the Langley 8-foot transonic tunnel at Mach numbers up to 1.13. The complete tail was mounted in the tunnel on a 3deg conical support body. Various configurations were investigated. A loss in damping of the horizontal tail at transonic speeds was shown by both tunnel and flight tests. The loss in damping extended over a greater Mach number range and the maximum loss occurred at a higher Mach number in the tunnel tests. Large-amplitude oscillations of the horizontal tail of the basic configuration which occurred at low supersonic Mach numbers appeared to be primarily due to the vertical tail of the basic configuration and the interference effects associated with this tail. Secondary factors contributing to the development of the large-amplitude oscillations of the horizontal tail of the basic configuration were probably the loss in damping of the horizontal tail at transonic speeds and the turbulence of the airstream itself.

Luoma, Arvo A.↗

Static Stability and Control of Canard Configurations at Mach Numbers from 0.70 to 2.22 - Triangular Wing and Canard with Twin Vertical Tails

The static aerodynamic characteristics of a canard airplane configuration having twin vertical stabilizing surfaces are presented. The model consisted of a wing and canard both of triangular plan form and aspect ratio 2 mounted on a Sears-Haack body of fineness ratio 12.5 and two swept and tapered wing-mounted vertical tails of aspect ratio 1.35. Data are presented for Mach numbers from 0.70 to 2.22 and for angles of attack from -6 to +18 deg. at 0 and 5 deg. sideslip. Tests were made with the canard off and with the canard on. Nominal canard deflection angles ranged from 0 to 10 deg. The Reynolds number was 3.68 x 10(exp 6) based on the wing mean aerodynamic chord. Selected portions of the data obtained in this investigation are compared with previously published results for the same model having a single vertical tail instead of twin vertical tails. Without the canard, the directional stability at supersonic Mach numbers and high angles of attack was improved slightly by replacing the single tail with twin tails. However, at a Mach number of 0.70, the directional stability of the twin-tail model deteriorated rapidly with increasing angle of attack above 10 deg. and fell considerably below the level for the single-tail model. At subsonic speeds the directional stability of the twin-tail model with the canard was comparable to that for the single-tail model and at supersonic speed it was considerably greater at high angles of attack. Unlike the single-tail model, the twin-tail model at 50 sideslip exhibited an unstable break in the variation of pitching-moment coefficient with lift coefficient near 10 deg. angle of attack for 0.70 Mach number.

Peterson, Victor L.↗

Longitudinal and lateral-directional aerodynamic characteristics of a wing-cone configuration at Mach numbers from 2.5 to 4.5

A study was conducted to determine the longitudinal and lateral-directional aerodynamic characteristics of a generic wing-cone configuration at supersonic speeds. The fuselage has a 5 deg half-angle cone forebody, cylindrical midbody, and a 9 deg truncated cone afterbody. The delta wing (aspect ratio 1.0) had a 4 pct. thick diamond airfoil section. The tests were made in the Langley Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel at Mach numbers from 2.50 and 4.50. Angle of attack was varied from -4 to 28 degs, and angle of sideslip varied from -8 to 8 degs. Several configurations were studied to determine the effects of variations in wing longitudinal position, wing incidence, vertical tail configuration, canard shape, and nose bluntness. Typical effects of Reynolds number and Mach number on the longitudinal characteristics were observed. The incremental effects of the configuration variables were generally unaffected by Mach number. The directional stability characteristics of the large and small centerline mounted vertical tail configurations were significantly degraded with increasing angle of attack and Mach number.

Covell, Peter F.↗

Effect of vertical-tail location on the aerodynamic characteristics at subsonic speeds of a close-coupled canard configuration

The effects were studied of various vertical-tail configurations on the longitudinal and lateral directional-stability characteristics of a general research fighter model utilizing wing-body-canard. The study indicates that the addition of the high canard resulted in an increase in total lift at angles of attack above 4 deg with a maximum lift coefficient about twice as large as that for the wing-body configuration. For the wing-body (canard off) configuration, the center-line vertical tail indicates positive vertical-tail effectiveness throughout the test angle-of-attack range; however, for this configuration none of the wing-mounted vertical-tail locations tested resulted in a positive directional-stability increment at the higher angles of attack. For the wing-body-canard configuration several outboard locations of the wing-mounted vertical tails were found.

Huffman, J. K.↗

Large capacity oblique all-wing transport aircraft

Dr. R. T. Jones first developed the theory for oblique wing aircraft in 1952, and in subsequent years numerous analytical and experimental projects conducted at NASA Ames and elsewhere have established that the Jones' oblique wing theory is correct. Until the late 1980's all proposed oblique wing configurations were wing/body aircraft with the wing mounted on a pivot. With the emerging requirement for commercial transports with very large payloads, 450-800 passengers, Jones proposed a supersonic oblique flying wing in 1988. For such an aircraft all payload, fuel, and systems are carried within the wing, and the wing is designed with a variable sweep to maintain a fixed subsonic normal Mach number. Engines and vertical tails are mounted on pivots supported from the primary structure of the wing. The oblique flying wing transport has come to be known as the Oblique All-Wing (OAW) transport. This presentation gives the highlights of the OAW project that was to study the total concept of the OAW as a commercial transport.

Galloway, Thomas L.↗

Low-subsonic aerodynamic characteristics of a shuttle-orbiter configuration designed for reduced length

An investigation has been made in a low-turbulence pressure tunnel to determine the low-subsonic aerodynamic characteristics of a 0.01875-scale model of a potential shuttle orbiter. The design has the rocket engines mounted in fairings on either side of the body on top of the wing. The wing had a leading-edge sweep of 50 and a trailing-edge sweep of minus 4. configurations investigated included engine-mounted twin dorsal tails at various rollout angles, a body-mounted center-line vertical tail, cylindrical and boattailed afterbody, and elevon and rudder at several deflections.

Ware, G. M.↗

Supersonic aerodynamic characteristics of the North American Rockwell ATP shuttle orbiter

A wind tunnel study to determine the supersonic aerodynamic characteristics of a 0.01925-scale model of the space shuttle orbiter configuration is reported. The model consisted of a low-finess-ratio body with a blended 50 swept delta wing forming an ogee planform and a center-line-mounted vertical tail. Tests were made at Mach numbers from 1.90 to 4.63, at angles of attack from -6 to 30, at angles of sideslip of 0 and 3, and at a Reynolds number, based on body length, of 5.3x 1 million.

Ware, G. M.↗

Low speed aerodynamic characteristics of a transport model having 42.33 deg swept low wing with supercritical airfoil, double-slotted flaps, and T-tail or low tail

A low-speed investigation was conducted in the Langley V/STOL tunnel over an angle-of-attack range of approximately 4 deg to 24 deg to determine the static longitudinal stability characteristics and high lift performance of a general research model which represented an advanced subsonic transport configuration. The model had a 42.33 deg swept, aspect ratio 7.05 wing with a supercritical airfoil and high lift system consisting of a leading edge device (slat or Kruger flap) and a double-slotted flap. The flaps were deflected for take off and landing configurations and were not deflected for tests of the clean configuration. The model was tested with the horizontal tail in either a T tail or low tail position. The effects of various arrangements of flowthrough nacelles which represent a three engine configuration (two large wing-mounted nacelles and a vertical tail mounted nacelle) and a four engine configuration (four smaller wing-mounted nacelles) were determined.

Fournier, P. G.↗

Preliminary study of a large span-distributed-load flying-wing cargo airplane concept

An aircraft capable of transporting containerized cargo over intercontinental distances is analyzed. The specifications for payload weight, density, and dimensions in essence configure the wing and establish unusually low values of wing loading and aspect ratio. The structural weight comprises only about 18 percent of the design maximum gross weight. Although the geometric aspect ratio is 4.53, the winglet effect of the wing-tip-mounted vertical tails, increase the effective aspect ratio to approximately 7.9. Sufficient control power to handle the large rolling moment of inertia dictates a relatively high minimum approach velocity of 315 km/hr (170 knots). The airplane has acceptable spiral, Dutch roll, and roll-damping modes. A hardened stability augmentation system is required. The most significant noise source is that of the airframe. However, for both take-off and approach, the levels are below the FAR-36 limit of 108 db. The design mission fuel efficiency is approximately 50 percent greater than that of the most advanced, currently operational, large freighter aircraft. The direct operating cost is significantly lower than that of current freighters, the advantage increasing as fuel price increases.

Jernell, L. S.↗

On the nonlinear aerodynamic and stability characteristics of a generic chine-forebody slender-wing fighter configuration

An exploratory investigation was conducted of the nonlinear aerodynamic and stability characteristics of a tailless generic fighter configuration featuring a chine-shaped forebody coupled to a slender cropped delta wing in the NASA Langley Research Center's 12-Foot Low-Speed Wind Tunnel. Forebody and wing vortex flow mechanisms were identified through off-body flow visualizations to explain the trends in the longitudinal and lateral-directional characteristics at extreme attitudes (angles of attack and sideslip). The interactions of the vortical motions with centerline and wing-mounted vertical tail surfaces were studied and the flow phenomena were correlated with the configuration forces and moments. Single degree of freedom, free-to-roll tests were used to study the wing rock susceptibility of the generic fighter model. Modifications to the nose region of the chine forebody were examined and fluid mechanisms were established to account for their ineffectiveness in modulating the highly interactive forebody and wing vortex systems.

Erickson, Gary E.↗

On the nonlinear aerodynamic and stability characteristics of a generic chine-forebody slender-wing fighter configuration

An exploratory investigation was conducted of the nonlinear aerodynamic and stability characteristics of a tailless generic fighter configuration featuring a chine-shaped forebody coupled to a slender cropped delta wing in the NASA Langley Research Center's 12-Foot Low-Speed Wind Tunnel. Forebody and wing vortex flow mechanisms were identified through off-body flow visualizations to explain the trends in the longitudinal and lateral-directional characteristics at extreme attitudes (angles of attack and sideslip). The interactins of the vortical motions with centerline and wing-mounted vertical tail surfaces were studied and the flow phenomena were correlated with the configuration forces and moments. Single degree-of-freedom, free-to-roll tests were used to study the wing rock susceptibility of the generic fighter model. Modifications to the nose region of the chine forebody were examined and fluid mechanisms were established to account for their ineffectiveness in modulating the highly interactive forebody and wing vortex systems.

Erickson, Gary E.↗