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Results for “TAIL SURFACES, HORIZONTAL - CHAR”

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 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1959

Subsonic Aerodynamic Characteristics of an Airplane Configuration with a 63 deg Sweptback Wing and Twin-Boom Tails

A wind-tunnel investigation has been conducted to determine the effects of an unconventional tail arrangement on the subsonic static longitudinal and lateral stability characteristics of a model having a 63 deg sweptback wing of aspect ratio 3.5 and a fuselage. Tail booms, extending rearward from approximately the midsemispan of each wing panel, supported independent tail assemblies well outboard of the usual position at the rear of the fuselage. The horizontal-tail surfaces had the leading edge swept back 45 deg and an aspect ratio of 2.4. The vertical tail surfaces were geometrically similar to one panel of the horizontal tail. For comparative purposes, the wing-body combination was also tested with conventional fuselage-mounted tail surfaces. The wind-tunnel tests were conducted at Mach numbers from 0.25 to 0.95 with a Reynolds number of 2,000,000, at a Mach number of 0.46 with a Reynolds number of 3,500,000, and at a Mach number of 0.20 with a Reynolds number of 7,000,000. The results of the investigation indicate that longitudinal stability existed to considerably higher lift coefficients for the outboard tail configuration than for the configuration with conventional tail. Wing fences were necessary with both configurations for the elimination of sudden changes in longitudinal stability at lift coefficients between 0.3 and 0.5. Sideslip angles up to 15 deg had only small effects upon the pitching-moment characteristics of the outboard tail configuration. There was an increase in the directional stability for the outboard tail configuration at the higher angles of attack as opposed to a decrease for the conventional tail configuration at most of the Mach numbers and Reynolds numbers of this investigation. The dihedral effect increased rapidly with increasing angle of attack for both the outboard and the conventional tail configurations but the increase was greater for the outboard tail configuration. The data indicate that the outboard tail is an effective roll control.

Savage, Howard F.↗
NASA NTRS1933

Tests for the Elimination of Tail Flutter

On various low-wing monoplanes the horizontal tail surfaces flutter in flight at large angles of attack and occasionally in curvilinear flight. This flutter leads to torsional vibrations of the rear end of the fuselage, as manifested by vibrations of the control stick. According to the earlier DVL investigations tail flutter is due to the influence, on horizontal tail surfaces, of eddies or vortices shed at large angles of attack by the upper surface of the wing root. The cause of tail flutter on a low-wing monoplane and the means of preventing it are investigated in the present report.

Biechteler, Curt↗
NASA NTRS1992

A feasibility study regarding the addition of a fifth control to a rotorcraft in-flight simulator

The addition of a large movable horizontal tail surface to the control system of a rotorcraft in-flight simulator being developed from a Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk Helicopter is evaluated. The capabilities of the control surface as a trim control and as an active control are explored. The helicopter dynamics are modeled using the Generic Helicopter simulation program developed by Sikorsky Aircraft. The effect of the horizontal tail on the helicopter trim envelope is examined by plotting trim maps of the aircraft attitude and controls as a function of the flight speed and horizontal tail incidence. The control power of the tail surface relative to that of the other controls is examined by comparing control derivatives extracted from the simulation program over the flight speed envelope. The horizontal tail's contribution as an active control is evaluated using an explicit model following control synthesis involving a linear model of the helicopter in steady, level flight at a flight speed of eighty knots. The horizontal tail is found to provide additional control flexibility in the longitudinal axis. As a trim control, it provides effective control of the trim pitch attitude at mid to high forward speeds. As an active control, the horizontal tail provides useful pitching moment generating capabilities at mid to high forward speeds.

Turner, Simon↗
NASA NTRS1961

Investigation at High Subsonic Speeds of the Use of Low Auxiliary Tail Surfaces having Dihedral to Improve the Longitudinal and Directional Stability of a T-Tail Model at High Lift

An investigation of the use of low auxiliary horizontal-tail surfaces to alleviate the pitch-up tendency at high lift of an airplane configuration having a T - tail has been conducted in the Langley high-speed 7- by 10-foot tunnel. The basic model had a wing with an aspect ratio of 3, a taper ratio of 0.143, and an unswept 80-percent chord line. The Mach number for most of the tests extended from 0.60 to 0.94 and the angle-of-attack range was from -2 deg. to approximately 24 deg. at the lowest test Mach number. A preliminary study of a systematic series of auxiliary tails indicated that the pitch-up tendency at high lift encountered on the basic model could be greatly alleviated by use of a relatively small, very low-aspect-ratio auxiliary horizontal tail. This tail was located radially with respect to the fuselage center line with 30 deg. negative dihedral and therefore provided a significant favorable increment to directional stability of the model throughout most of the test angle-of-attack range.

Sleeman, William C., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1937

Some experiments on the slipstream effect

The models designated "Torino 30, 31, 32" are horizontal tail surfaces of rectangular, triangular, and elliptical plan form and all of the same profile section. Tests were carried out with the object being to determine the effect of the propeller slipstream on the aerodynamical characteristics of the horizontal stabilizer. The results presented correspond to a first series of tests made without an interposed wing and in which the distance between the plane of the propeller disk and the tail was maintained constant.

Ferrari, C↗
NASA NTRS1923

Pressure Distribution over the Rudder and Fin of an Airplane in Flight

This investigation was carried out by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory for the purpose of determining the loads which occur on the vertical tail surfaces in flight. The method consisted in measuring the pressures simultaneously at 28 points on the rudder and fin by means of a recording multiple manometer. The results show that the maximum load encountered in stunting was 7 pounds per square foot on the rudder and fin, and it is probable that this might rise to 10 pounds per square foot in a violent barrel roll; but in steady flight the average loads do not exceed 0.6 pound per square foot. The maximum load on the rudder and fin may occur at the same instant as the maximum load on the horizontal tail surfaces and the maximum normal acceleration. The torsional moment about the axis of the fuselage due to the rudder and fin may rise as high as 250 foot-pound. The results obtained from this investigation have a direct application to the design of the rudder, fin, and fuselage.

Norton, F H↗
NASA NTRS1973

Effect of wing aspect ratio and flap span on aerodynamic characteristics of an externally blown jet-flap STOL model

An investigation has been conducted to determine the effects of flap span and wing aspect ratio on the static longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics and chordwise and spanwise pressure distributions on the wing and trailing-edge flap of a straight-wing STOL model having an externally blown jet flap without vertical and horizontal tail surfaces. The force tests were made over an angle-of-attack range for several thrust coefficients and two flap deflections. The pressure data are presented as tabulated and plotted chordwise pressure-distribution coefficients for angles of attack of 1 and 16. Pressure-distribution measurements were made at several spanwise stations.

Smith, C. C., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Transient effects of the wing wake on the horizontal tail

The effect of wing wake on the lift of the horizontal tail surfaces was studied. In the development of expressions for this effect, the growth of wing circulation and wing wake, the time interval represented by the tail length, and the development of lift by the tail were considered. The theory has been applied to a specific case to show the magnitude of the effect to be expected. It is shown that, for motions below a certain frequency, the development of lift by the tail may be represented by a simple lag function. The lag is, however, somewhat greater than that indicated by the tail length.

Jones, R. T.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Wind tunnel investigation of the aerodynamic characteristics of symmetrically deflected ailerons of the F-8C airplane

A .042-scale model of the F-8C airplane was investigated in a transonic wind tunnel at high subsonic Mach numbers and a range of angles of attack between-3 and 20 degrees. The effect of symmetrically deflected ailerons on the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics was measured. Some data were also obtained on the lateral control effectiveness of asymmetrically deflected horizontal tail surfaces.

Gera, J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Performance characteristics of a wedge nozzle installed on an F-18 propulsion wind tunnel model

The results of two-dimensional wedge non-axisymmetric nozzle (2D-AIN) tests to determine its performance relative to the baseline axisymmetric nozzle using an F-18 jet effects wind tunnel model are presented. Configurations and test conditions simulated forward thrust-minus drag, thrust vectoring/induced lift, and thrust reversing flight conditions from Mach .6 to 1.20 and attack angles up to 10 degrees. Results of the model test program indicate that non-axisymmetric nozzles can be installed on a twin engine fighter aircraft model with equivalent thrust minus drag performance as the baseline axisymmetric nozzles. Thrust vectoring capability of the non-axisymmetric nozzles provided significant jet-induced lift on the nozzle/aftbody and horizontal tail surfaces. Thrust reversing panels deployed from the 2D-AIN centerbody wedge were very effective for static and inflight operation

Petit, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

A description of the general aviation fixed wing accident

The Emergency Local Transmitter (ELT) is a radio transmitter with a self-contained power source designed to provide notification of and homing to aircraft accident sites. The Crash Research Institute has monitored general aviation fixed-wing accidents in the United States and in Canada and has found that: (1) the ELT was destroyed in approximately 25% of all fatal accidents; (2) the ELT activated in about 62% of the fatal accidents, 69% of the fatal with survivors accidents, almost 80% of the serious accidents and about 57% of the minor accidents; (3) in fatal accidents the aircraft sections least likely to be destroyed are the vertical and horizontal tail surfaces; (4) antenna cable disconnection and antenna breakage caused failure to transmit usable signals; and (5) initial alerting control occurred in nearly half of the situations where the ELT aided in search.

Hall, D. S.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Demonstration of relaxed static stability on a commercial transport

Increasing jet aircraft fuel costs from 25 percent to nearly 60 percent of the aircraft direct operating costs have led to a heavy emphasis on the development of transport aircraft with significantly improved aerodynamic performance. The application of the concept of relaxed static stability (RSS) and the utilization of an active control stability augmentation system make it possible to design an aircraft with reduced aerodynamic trim drag due to a farther-aft cg balance. Reduced aerodynamic parasite drag and lower structural weight due to a smaller horizontal tail surface can also be obtained. The application of RSS has been studied under a NASA-sponsored program to determine ways of improving the energy efficiency in current and future transport aircraft. Attention is given to a near-term pitch active control system, an advanced pitch active control system, and an operational overview.

Rising, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Preliminary design study of a lateral-directional control system using thrust vectoring

A preliminary design of a lateral-directional control system for a fighter airplane capable of controlled operation at extreme angles of attack is developed. The subject airplane is representative of a modern twin-engine high-performance jet fighter, is equipped with ailerons, rudder, and independent horizontal-tail surfaces. Idealized bidirectional thrust-vectoring engine nozzles are appended to the mathematic model of the airplane to provide additional control moments. Optimal schedules for lateral and directional pseudo control variables are calculated. Use of pseudo controls results in coordinated operation of the aerodynamic and thrust-vectoring controls with minimum coupling between the lateral and directional airplane dynamics. Linear quadratic regulator designs are used to specify a preliminary flight control system to improve the stability and response characteristics of the airplane. Simulated responses to step pilot control inputs are stable and well behaved. For lateral stick deflections, peak stability axis roll rates are between 1.25 and 1.60 rad/sec over an angle-of-attack range of 10 deg to 70 deg. For rudder pedal deflections, the roll rates accompanying the sideslip responses can be arrested by small lateral stick motions.

Lallman, F. J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Grid generation and inviscid flow computation about aircraft geometries

Grid generation and Euler flow about fighter aircraft are described. A fighter aircraft geometry is specified by an area ruled fuselage with an internal duct, cranked delta wing or strake/wing combinations, canard and/or horizontal tail surfaces, and vertical tail surfaces. The initial step before grid generation and flow computation is the determination of a suitable grid topology. The external grid topology that has been applied is called a dual-block topology which is a patched C (exp 1) continuous multiple-block system where inner blocks cover the highly-swept part of a cranked wing or strake, rearward inner-part of the wing, and tail components. Outer-blocks cover the remainder of the fuselage, outer-part of the wing, canards and extend to the far field boundaries. The grid generation is based on transfinite interpolation with Lagrangian blending functions. This procedure has been applied to the Langley experimental fighter configuration and a modified F-18 configuration. Supersonic flow between Mach 1.3 and 2.5 and angles of attack between 0 degrees and 10 degrees have been computed with associated Euler solvers based on the finite-volume approach. When coupling geometric details such as boundary layer diverter regions, duct regions with inlets and outlets, or slots with the general external grid, imposing C (exp 1) continuity can be extremely tedious. The approach taken here is to patch blocks together at common interfaces where there is no grid continuity, but enforce conservation in the finite-volume solution. The key to this technique is how to obtain the information required for a conservative interface. The Ramshaw technique which automates the computation of proportional areas of two overlapping grids on a planar surface and is suitable for coding was used. Researchers generated internal duct grids for the Langley experimental fighter configuration independent of the external grid topology, with a conservative interface at the inlet and outlet.

Smith, Robert E.↗
NASA NTRS1937

Full-scale Wind-tunnel and Flight Test of a Fairchild 22 Airplane Equipped with a Zap Flap and Zap Ailerons

A wing equipped with a Zap flap and Zap ailerons was tested on a Fairchild 22 airplane in the full-scale wind tunnel and in flight to determine the effect of the flaps and ailerons on the performance and the control characteristics of the airplane. The flaps were 0.30 of the wing chord and 0.83 of the wing span. Two sets of ailerons having equal areas but different proportions were tested, one set being 0.56 of the semispan and 0.18 of the chord and the other set being 0.46 of the semispan and 0.22 of the chord. The wind-tunnel tests showed that, when the ailerons and horizontal tail surfaces were removed, the flaps increased the maximum lift coefficient from 1.48 to 2.39. In flight, the fully deflected flaps decreased the minimum speed from 48.2 to 38.8 miles per hour. The take-off and landing distances were both reduced by the flaps. The wind-tunnel tests showed the ailerons to increase the drag coefficient, at a lift coefficient and Reynolds Number corresponding to the high speed of the airplane, from 0.0432 to 0.0498 and 0.0514, the 0.46 semispan ailerons giving the highest drag. In the flight tests both sets of ailerons were found to give satisfactory rolling action in the normal-flight range. They required relatively large stick forces for their operation, however, and the variation of the forces with aileron deflection was not linear.

Dearborn, C H↗
NASA NTRS1936

Full-scale Wind-tunnel and Flight Tests of a Fairchild 22 Airplane Equipped with a Fowler Flap

Full-scale wind-tunnel and flight tests were made of a Fairchild 22 airplane equipped with a Fowler flap to determine the effect of the flap on the performance and control characteristics of the airplane. In the wind-tunnel tests of the airplane with the horizontal tail surfaces removed, the flap was found to increase the maximum lift coefficient from 1.27 to 2.41. In the flight test, the flap was found to decrease the minimum speed from 58.8 to 44.4 miles per hour. The required take-off run to attain an altitude of 50 feet was reduced from 935 feet to 700 feet by the use of the flap, the minimum distance being obtained with five-sixths full deflection. The landing run from a height of 50 feet was reduced one-third. The longitudinal and directional control was adversely affected by the flap, indicating that the design of the tail surfaces is more critical with a flapped than a plain wing.

Dearborn, C H↗