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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 55 records · Page 3

Simulation Studies for an Urban Air Mobility Aircraft using Hardware-In-Loop Experiments

Urban Air Mobility seeks to transport passengers, deliver cargo, and provide emergency transportation in major metropolitan areas. This will be accomplished with distributed electric-powered vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The low specific energy of the current generation lithium-ion battery packs limit the operational range of electric aircraft. Limited range impacts safety by reducing the time available for analyzing and responding to errors and failures, and limiting the ability to fly to an alternative landing area or return to base. It is therefore critical to understand flight operational and environmental conditions that impact the onboard lithium-ion polymer battery pack’s health. With this as the motivation, experimental procedure in a laboratory setting, and results of the experiments performed on battery packs subject to power draw corresponding to power required during the different phases of flight of a NASA conceptual quadrotor aircraft in simulation are described. The fully charged battery is allowed to discharge at specific C-rates based on the power draw profile and the current and voltages are recorded. Observed results under different operating conditions and mission profiles are discussed.

UAM↗

Simulation Studies for an Urban Air Mobility Aircraft using Hardware-In-Loop Experiments

Urban Air Mobility seeks to transport passengers, deliver cargo, and provide emergency medical transportation in major metropolitan areas. This will be accomplished with distributed electric powered vertical takeoff and landing aircraft vehicles. The low specific energy of the current generation lithium-ion battery packs limit the operational range of the electric aircraft. Limited range impacts safety by reducing the amount of time available for analyzing the potential impact of errors and failures and responding to them, and for flying to an alternative landing area or returning to the base. It is therefore critical to understand the impact of flight and environmental conditions on the onboard lithium-ion battery pack’s health. With this as the motivation, the procedure for evaluating the performance of battery packs in a laboratory setting and the results obtained using this procedure on battery packs subject to power draw characteristics of a simulated flight of a NASA conceptual quadrotor aircraft model are described. The fully charged battery is allowed to discharge at specific C-rates based on the power draw profile during the experiment, and the current and voltages are recorded as a function of time. Observed results under different operating conditions and mission profiles are discussed.

UAM↗

Space Shuttle: Emphasis for the 1970's

The space shuttle is described as a vehicle which combines the advantages of airplanes and spacecraft, capable of repeatedly flying to space and back to earth. It will takeoff vertically, powered by two solid propellant boosters, which will be parachuted to earth at an altitude of about 40 km, for retrieval. New uses of space flight are anticipated as costs decrease, turn-around times shorten, and operations simplified. Color illustrations of the concepts are included.

Source record↗

Exhaust pollutant emissions from swirl-can combustor module arrays at parametric test conditions

Improved designs of swirl-can combustor modules were tested using seven-module arrays in a combustor. The combustor was operated over a pressure range of 69 to 207 N/sq cm, a fuel-air ratio range of 0.015 to 0.046, at a constant inlet air temperature of 733 K, and at reference velocities of 23.9 and 30.6 m/sec. The three designs tested performed with high combustion efficiency at all conditions tested and exhibited oxides of nitrogen emissions substantially lower than that of conventional gas turbine combustors. A correlating parameter used to extrapolate oxides of nitrogen emissions to full power or takeoff conditions for large commercial turbofan engines predicts oxides of nitrogen emissions somewhat higher than those specified in the 1979 government emissions standards.

Mularz, E. J.↗

Ground effects on V/STOL and STOL aircraft: A survey

The flow fields encountered by jet- and fan-powered Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing (V/STOL) aircraft operating in ground effect are reviewed and their general effects on the aerodynamic characteristics are discussed. The ground effects considered include: (1) the suckdown experienced by a single jet configuration in hover; (2) the fountain flow and additional suckdown experienced by multiple jet configurations in hover; (3) the ground vortex generated by jet and jet flap configurations in short takeoff and landing (STOL) operation and the associated aerodynamic and hot-gas-ingestion effects; and (4) the change in the downwash at the tail due to ground proximity. After over 30 years of research on V/STOL aircraft, the general flow phenomena are well-known and, in most areas, the effects of ground proximity can be established or can be determined experimentally. However, there are some anomalies in the current data base which are discussed.

Kuhn, R. E.↗

Ground effects on V/STOL and STOL aircraft - A survey

The flow fields encountered by jet- and fan-powered Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing (V/STOL) aircraft operating in ground effect are reviewed and their general effects on the aerodynamic characteristics are discussed. The ground effects considered include (1) the suckdown experienced by a single jet configuration in hover, (2) the fountain flow and additional suckdown experienced by multiple jet configurations in hover, (3) the ground vortex generated by jet and jet flap configurations in Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) operation and the associated aerodynamic and hot-gas-ingestion effects, and (4) the change in the downwash at the tail due to ground proximity. After over 30 years of research on V/STOL aircraft, the general flow phenomena are well known and, in most areas, the effects of ground proximity can be estimated or can be determined experimentally. However, there are some anomalies in the current data base which are discussed.

Eshlemen, J.↗

Synthetic Vortex Generator Jets Used to Control Separation on Low-Pressure Turbine Airfoils

Low-pressure turbine (LPT) airfoils are subject to increasingly stronger pressure gradients as designers impose higher loading in an effort to improve efficiency and lower cost by reducing the number of airfoils in an engine. When the adverse pressure gradient on the suction side of these airfoils becomes strong enough, the boundary layer will separate. Separation bubbles, particularly those that fail to reattach, can result in a significant loss of lift and a subsequent degradation of engine efficiency. The problem is particularly relevant in aircraft engines. Airfoils optimized to produce maximum power under takeoff conditions may still experience boundary layer separation at cruise conditions because of the thinner air and lower Reynolds numbers at altitude. Component efficiency can drop significantly between takeoff and cruise conditions. The decrease is about 2 percent in large commercial transport engines, and it could be as large as 7 percent in smaller engines operating at higher altitudes. Therefore, it is very beneficial to eliminate, or at least reduce, the separation bubble.

Ashpis, David E.↗

Computational Evaluation of Inlet Distortion on an Ejector Powered Hybrid Wing Body at Takeoff and Landing Conditions

Due to the aft, upper surface engine location on the Hybrid Wing Body (HWB) planform, there is potential to shed vorticity and separated wakes into the engine when the vehicle is operated at off-design conditions and corners of the envelope required for engine and airplane certification. CFD simulations were performed of the full-scale reference propulsion system, operating at a range of inlet flow rates, flight speeds, altitudes, angles of attack, and angles of sideslip to identify the conditions which produce the largest distortion and lowest pressure recovery. Pretest CFD was performed by NASA and Boeing, using multiple CFD codes, with various turbulence models. These data were used to make decisions regarding model integration, characterize inlet flow distortion patterns, and help define the wind tunnel test matrix. CFD was also performed post-test; when compared with test data, it was possible to make comparisons between measured model-scale and predicted full-scale distortion levels. This paper summarizes these CFD analyses.

Wind Tunnel Testing↗

An analysis of the takeoff and landing performance of a jet-powered STOL augmentor wing design

A preliminary study of the takeoff and landing performance characteristics of a swept wing airplane with augmented jet flap, designed for STOL operation and low noise is presented. The study is based on aerodynamic data from wind tunnel tests of a large-scale swept augmentor wing model, scaled up to a 48,000 pound airplane. Engine characteristics are based on a turbo fan with a fan pressure ratio of 2.5 delivering the major portion of the thrust to the augmentor flap. A description of the overall airplane configuration, the propulsion system, and the use of the aerodynamics is presented. To assess the STOL performance of the airplane, takeoff and landing distances and flight path capabilities were computed at various flap deflections and thrust levels. After evaluating these results in terms of desired STOL performance with required margins, basic takeoff and landing configurations were chosen.

Post, S. E.↗

A comparison of flight and simulation data for three automatic landing system control laws for the Augmentor wing jet STOL research airplane

Automatic flare and decrab control laws for conventional takeoff and landing aircraft were adapted to the unique requirements of the powered lift short takeoff and landing airplane. Three longitudinal autoland control laws were developed. Direct lift and direct drag control were used in the longitudinal axis. A fast time simulation was used for the control law synthesis, with emphasis on stochastic performance prediction and evaluation. Good correlation with flight test results was obtained.

Feinreich, B.↗

Application of thrust vectoring for STOL

Studies of generic aircraft configurations to determine the payoff of thrust vectoring for direct lift during STOL landings and takeoff and for control power augmentation during weapons-delivery maneuvers are described. Results show that for a nominal 1000-foot landing distance, direct-lift benefits are small, but significant improvements in control power augmentation contribute to payoffs in takeoff distance and recovery from roll-pitch-coupling-induced departures at high angles of attack.

Whitten, P. D.↗

Flight control design considerations for STOVL powered-lift flight

Short Takeoff Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft rely on the propulsion system for the lift and control functions during slow speed flight. The propulsion system provides the entire lifting force and all of the control power for hovering flight at zero airspeed. STOVL designs such as the General Dynamics E-7D ejector configuration incorporate an integrated flight/propulsion control system to manage the aerodynamic and propulsive-lift control effectors and to reduce the pilot's workload for powered-lift flight. Desired flying qualities characteristics are implemented through the utilization of an explicit model following flight control system. With the model following control system, the pilot commands the desired response (e.g., throttle commands vertical velocity in hover, instead of power lever angle). Design considerations for developing a multivariable model-following flight control system are presented in this paper. When the regulator gains are defined in terms of generalized controls, the design problem becomes how to best transform the generalized controls to aerodynamic control surface, thrust and thrust vectoring commands.

Vincent, James H.↗

Propulsion assisted by microwave power.

Microwave power applications to propulsion, noting spacecraft launching, aircraft takeoff thrust assistance and power transmission in space

Bonneville, J. M.↗

Comparison of predicted engine core noise with current and proposed aircraft noise certification requirements

Predicted engine core noise levels for subsonic CTOL aircraft engines are compared with measured total aircraft noise levels and to current and proposed federal noise certification requirements. Comparisons are made at FAR-36 measuring stations and take into consideration both full and cutback power operations at takeoff. The spectral shape used for the prediction of core noise is identified as the spectral envelope, with a peak at 400 Hz which is assumed to be shifted in flight by a Doppler shift in frequency. Preceived noise levels are computed for appropriate engine power settings at desired flight conditions, and reductions in sideline noise levels are made to account for jet and airframe shielding effects. Results indicate that core noise can provide a barrier to the proposed EPA stage 4 and 5 federal noise rules for wide-body aircraft, with the most severe core noise problem occurring at takeoff and sideline measuring stations.

Von Glahn, U. H.↗

Transition aerodynamics for close-coupled wing-canard configuration

A series of wind-tunnel tests have been conducted in the Langley V/STOL tunnel to investigate the low-speed longitudinal aerodynamics of two powered close-coupled wing-canard fighter configurations. A brief review is provided of the high angle-of-attack data for the two wing-canard configurations tested showing the benefits and problem areas of powered lift. A takeoff and landing analysis is presented which defines the area in which a fighter-type aircraft must operate in order to achieve 305-m field lengths. The wing-canard configuration data are analyzed in detail showing the problems of obtaining high lift, high drag, and trimmed moments. Assuming that power will be used to trim the aircraft, data are presented comparing the transition aerodynamics of the wing-canard configuration using a nose jet with several V/STOL configurations.

Paulson, J. W., Jr.↗

Preliminary design of a supersonic Short-Takeoff and Vertical-Landing (STOVL) fighter aircraft

A preliminary study of a supersonic short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) fighter is presented. Three configurations (a lift plus lift/cruise concept, a hybrid fan vectored thrust concept, and a mixed flow vectored thrust concept) were initially investigated with one configuration selected for further design analysis. The selected configuration, the lift plus lift/cruise concept, was successfully integrated to accommodate the powered lift short takeoff and vertical landing requirements as well as the demanding supersonic cruise and point performance requirements. A supersonic fighter aircraft with a short takeoff and vertical landing capability using the lift plus lift/cruise engine concept seems a viable option for the next generation fighter.

Source record↗

Far-Field Acoustic Power Level and Performance Analyses of F31/A31 Open Rotor Model at Simulated Scaled Takeoff, Nominal Takeoff, and Approach Conditions: Technical Report I

Far-field acoustic power level and performance analyses of open rotor model F31/A31 have been performed to determine its noise characteristics at simulated scaled takeoff, nominal takeoff, and approach flight conditions. The nonproprietary parts of the data obtained from experiments in 9- by 15-Foot Low-Speed Wind Tunnel (915 LSWT) tests were provided by NASA Glenn Research Center to perform the analyses. The tone and broadband noise components have been separated from raw test data by using a new data analysis tool. Results in terms of sound pressure levels, acoustic power levels, and their variations with rotor speed, angle of attack, thrust, and input shaft power have been presented and discussed. The effect of an upstream pylon on the noise levels of the model has been addressed. Empirical equations relating model's acoustic power level, thrust, and input shaft power have been developed. The far-field acoustic efficiency of the model is also determined for various simulated flight conditions. It is intended that the results presented in this work will serve as a database for comparison and improvement of other open rotor blade designs and also for validating open rotor noise prediction codes.

Prop-Fan Technology↗

Rocket-based combined-cycle (RBCC) powered spaceliner class vehicle can advantageously employ vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL)

The subject is next generation orbital space transporation, taken to be fully reusable non-staged 'aircraft like' systems targeted for routine, affordable access to space. Specifically, the takeoff and landing approach to be selected for such systems is considered, mainly from a propulsion viewpoint. Conventional wisdom has it that any transatmospheric-class vehicle which uses high-speed airbreathing propulsion modes (e.g., scramjet) intrinsically must utilize horizontal takeoff and landing, HTOHL. Although this may be true for all-airbreathing propulsion (i.e., no rocket content as in turboramjet propulsion), that emerging class of powerplant which integrally combines airbreathing and rocket propulsion, referred to as rocket-based combined-cycle (RBCC) propulsion, is considerably more flexible with respect to selecting takeoff/landing modes. In fact, it is proposed that any of the modes of interest may potentially be selected: HTOHL, VTOHL, VTOVL. To illustrate this surmise, the case of a previously documented RBCC-powered 'Spaceliner' class space transport concept, which is designed for vertical takeoff and landing, is examined. The 'RBCC' and 'Spaceliner' categories are first described for background. Departing form an often presumed HTOHL baseline, the leading design and operational advantages of moving to VTOVL are then elucidated. Technical substantiation that the RBCC approach, in fact, enables this capability (but also that of HTOHL and VTOVL) is provided, with extensive reference to case-in-point supporting studies. The paper closes with a set of conditional surmises bearing on its set of conclusions, which point up the operational cost advantages associated with selecting the vertical takeoff and landing mode combination (VTOL), uniquely offered by RBCC propulsion.

Escher, William J. D.↗