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NASA NTRS2012

Piezoelectric Vibration Damping Study for Rotating Composite Fan Blades

Resonant vibrations of aircraft engine blades cause blade fatigue problems in engines, which can lead to thicker and aerodynamically lower performing blade designs, increasing engine weight, fuel burn, and maintenance costs. In order to mitigate undesirable blade vibration levels, active piezoelectric vibration control has been investigated, potentially enabling thinner blade designs for higher performing blades and minimizing blade fatigue problems. While the piezoelectric damping idea has been investigated by other researchers over the years, very little study has been done including rotational effects. The present study attempts to fill this void. The particular objectives of this study were: (a) to develop and analyze a multiphysics piezoelectric finite element composite blade model for harmonic forced vibration response analysis coupled with a tuned RLC circuit for rotating engine blade conditions, (b) to validate a numerical model with experimental test data, and (c) to achieve a cost-effective numerical modeling capability which enables simulation of rotating blades within the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) Dynamic Spin Rig Facility. A numerical and experimental study for rotating piezoelectric composite subscale fan blades was performed. It was also proved that the proposed numerical method is feasible and effective when applied to the rotating blade base excitation model. The experimental test and multiphysics finite element modeling technique described in this paper show that piezoelectric vibration damping can significantly reduce vibrations of aircraft engine composite fan blades.

Min, James B.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Effect of a trade between boattail angle and wedge size on the performance of a nonaxisymmetric wedge nozzle

An investigation was conducted in the Langley 16-Foot Transonic Tunnel to determine the effect of a boattail angle and wedge-size trade on the performance of nonaxisymmetric wedge nozzles installed on a generic twin-engine fighter aircraft model. Test data were obtained at static conditions and at Mach numbers from 0.60 to 1.25. Angle of attack was held constant at 0 deg. High-pressure air was used to simulate jet exhaust, and the nozzle pressure ratio was varied from 1.0 (jet off) to slightly over 15.0. For the configurations studied, the results indicate that wedge size can be reduced without affecting aeropropulsive performance.

Carson, George T., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Capabilities Enhanced for Researching the Reduction of Emissions in Future Aircraft

Aircraft future aircraft jet engines will run at higher pressures to obtain greater fuel efficiency and performance. This will require new combustor designs to keep the nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions at environmentally acceptable levels. The actual pressures and temperatures found in gas turbine combustors must be duplicated in a laboratory to verify the emissions characteristics of gas turbine engines. Recognizing this, the U.S. aircraft gas turbine industry identified a need for a national facility that could duplicate the severe inlet conditions of future combustors. Because of our expertise in combustion emissions reduction research and in the design and operation of high-pressure test facilities, the NASA Lewis Research Center was seen as the natural location for such a facility. As a national laboratory, Lewis could provide these facilities to all U.S. gas turbine engine manufacturers while protecting their proprietary interests. Called the Advanced Subsonic Combustion Rig, the facility will provide up to 60-atm pressures at inlet temperatures up to 1300 F and air flow rates up to 38 lb/sec. Furthermore, it will offer state-of-the-art diagnostic methods for characterizing advanced combustor concepts. Aeronautical combustion research at Lewis provided several significant accomplishments recently in support of both the High Speed Research (HSR) and Advanced Subsonic Technology (AST) programs. For example, in the High Speed Research Program, NO_x reductions of up to 90 percent were achieved in prototype combustor hardware. Advanced computational analysis, gas sampling, and laser diagnostic techniques were critical to this success. Working closely with the gas turbine industry, we have successfully transferred this low-emissions combustor technology into engine prototype hardware. This hardware is now being tested at the engine manufacturers facilities. Complementary tests in Lewis currently available 30-atm test facilities are also underway, taking advantage of Lewis unique diagnostic capabilities. By utilizing test facilities belonging to both NASA and its industry partners, we have tested multiple combustor concepts in a shorter period of time.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1978

Long-term CF6 engine performance deterioration: Evaluation of engine S/N 451-479

The performance testing and analytical teardown of CF6-6D engine is summarized. This engine had completed its initial installation on DC-10 aircraft. The investigative test program was conducted inbound prior to normal overhaul/refurbishment. The performance testing included an inbound test, a test following cleaning of the low pressure turbine airfoils, and a final test after leading edge rework and cleaning the stage one fan blades. The analytical teardown consisted of detailed disassembly inspection measurements and airfoil surface finish checks of the as received deteriorated hardware. Included in this report is a detailed analysis of the test cell performance data, a complete analytical teardown report with a detailed description of all observed hardware distress, and an analytical assessment of the performance loss (deterioration) relating measured hardware conditions to losses in both SFC (specific fuel consumption) and EGT (exhaust gas temperature).

Kramer, W. H.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Thermal Management Key Performance Parameter Development and System Analysis for the SUSAN Electrofan Aircraft

A set of key performance parameters (KPPs) for thermal management system (TMS) components was developed for use in system sizing and analysis. These KPPs were defined at three different levels of performance corresponding to different ranges of Technology Readiness Levels. KPP values were determined based on a large dataset that includes analysis and testing data from literature, NASA-funded research, and commercial product datasheets. These KPPs were then used to perform a TMS sizing and analysis of the SUbsonic Single Aft eNgine (SUSAN) aircraft. Total TMS mass, power consumption, and drag is quantified at each KPP level, showing decreasing trends as the level of technology improves.

thermal management↗

NASA NTRS2004

Evaluation of an Enhanced Bank of Kalman Filters for In-Flight Aircraft Engine Sensor Fault Diagnostics

In this paper, an approach for in-flight fault detection and isolation (FDI) of aircraft engine sensors based on a bank of Kalman filters is developed. This approach utilizes multiple Kalman filters, each of which is designed based on a specific fault hypothesis. When the propulsion system experiences a fault, only one Kalman filter with the correct hypothesis is able to maintain the nominal estimation performance. Based on this knowledge, the isolation of faults is achieved. Since the propulsion system may experience component and actuator faults as well, a sensor FDI system must be robust in terms of avoiding misclassifications of any anomalies. The proposed approach utilizes a bank of (m+1) Kalman filters where m is the number of sensors being monitored. One Kalman filter is used for the detection of component and actuator faults while each of the other m filters detects a fault in a specific sensor. With this setup, the overall robustness of the sensor FDI system to anomalies is enhanced. Moreover, numerous component fault events can be accounted for by the FDI system. The sensor FDI system is applied to a commercial aircraft engine simulation, and its performance is evaluated at multiple power settings at a cruise operating point using various fault scenarios.

Kobayashi, Takahisa↗

NASA NTRS1983

Circulation control propellers for general aviation, including a BASIC computer program

The feasibility of replacing variable pitch propeller mechanisms with circulation control (Coanada effect) propellers on general aviation airplanes was examined. The study used a specially developed computer program written in BASIC which could compare the aerodynamic performance of circulation control propellers with conventional propellers. The comparison of aerodynamic performance for circulation control, fixed pitch and variable pitch propellers is based upon the requirements for a 1600 kg (3600 lb) single engine general aviation aircraft. A circulation control propeller using a supercritical airfoil was shown feasible over a representative range of design conditions. At a design condition for high speed cruise, all three types of propellers showed approximately the same performance. At low speed, the performance of the circulation control propeller exceeded the performance for a fixed pitch propeller, but did not match the performance available from a variable pitch propeller. It appears feasible to consider circulation control propellers for single engine aircraft or multiengine aircraft which have their propellers on a common axis (tractor pusher). The economics of the replacement requires a study for each specific airplane application.

Taback, I.↗

NASA NTRS1929

An investigation of the use of discharge valves and an intake control for improving the performance of N.A.C.A. Roots type supercharger

This report presents the results of an analytical investigation on the practicability of using mechanically operated discharge valves in conjunction with a manually operated intake control for improving the performance of N. A. C. A. Roots type superchargers. These valves, which may be either of the oscillating or rotating type, are placed in the discharge opening of the supercharger and are so shaped and synchronized with the supercharger impellers that they do not open until the air has been compressed to the delivery pressure. The intake control limits the quantity of air compressed to engine requirements by permitting the excess air to escape from the compression chamber before compression begins. The percentage power saving and the actual horsepower saved were computed for altitudes from 0 to 20,000 feet. These computations are based on the pressure-volume cards for the conventional and the modified roots type superchargers and on the results of laboratory tests of the conventional type. The use of discharge valves shows a power saving of approximately 26 per cent at a critical altitude of 20,000 feet. In addition, these valves reduce the amplitude of the discharge pulsations and increase the volumetric efficiency. With slow-speed roots blowers operating at high-pressure differences even better results would be expected. For aircraft engine superchargers operating at high speeds these discharge valves increase the performance as above, but have the disadvantages of increasing the weight and of adding a high-speed mechanism to a simple machine. (author)

Schey, Oscar W↗

NASA NTRS1956

Ram-jet Performance

The ram jet is basically one of the most dimple types of aircraft engine. It consists only of an inlet diffuser, a combustion system, and an exit nozzle. A typical ram-jet configuration is shown in figure 128. The engine operates on the Brayton cycle, and ideal cycle efficiency depends only on the ratio of engine to ambient pressure. The increased, engine pressures are obtained by ram action alone, and for this reason the ram jet has zero thrust at zero speed. Therefore, ram-jet-powered aircraft must be boosted to flight speeds close to a Mach number of 1.0 before appreciable thrust is generated by the engine. Since pressure increases are obtained by ram action alone, combustor-inlet pressures and temperatures are controlled by the flight speed, the ambient atmospheric condition, and by the efficiency of the inlet diffuser. These pressures and temperatures, as functions of flight speed and altitude, are shown in figure 129 for the NACA standard atmosphere and for practical values of diffuser efficiency. It can be seen that very wide ranges of combustor-inlet temperatures and pressures may be encountered over the ranges of flight velocity and altitude at which ram jets may be operated. Combustor-inlet temperatures from 500 degrees to 1500 degrees R and inlet pressures from 5 to 100 pounds per square inch absolute represent the approximate ranges of interest in current combustor development work. Since the ram jet has no moving parts in the combustor outlet, higher exhaust-gas temperatures than those used in current turbojets are permissible. Therefore, fuel-air ratios equivalent to maximum rates of air specific impulse or heat release can be used, and, for hydrocarbon fuels, this weight ratio is about 0.070. Lower fuel-air ratios down to about 0.015 may also be required to permit efficient cruise operation. This fuel-air-ratio range of 0.015 to 0.070 used in ram jets can be compared with the fuel-air ratios up to 0.025 encountered in current turbojets. Ram-jet combustor-inlet velocities range from 150 to 400 feet per second. These high linear velocities combined with the relatively low pressure ratios obtainable in ram jets require that the pressure drop through the combustor be kept low to avoid excessive losses in cycle efficiency. It has been estimated that, for a long-range ram-jet engine, an increase in pressure loss of one dynamic head would require a compensating 1-percent increase in combustion efficiency. Therefore, combustor pressure-loss coefficients (pressure drop/impact pressure) of the order of 1 to 4 are found in most current engines. The operating conditions described impose major problems in the design of stable and efficient ram-jet combustion systems. This chapter presents a survey of ram-jet combustor research and, where possible, points out criteria that may be useful in the design of ram-jet combustion systems.

Cervenko, A. J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Inlet distortion effects in aircraft propulsion system integration

A tutorial survey of inlet flow distortion effects on engine performance and stability is presented. Inlet distortions in aero engines arise through a variety of causes. They can be essentially steady, due to non-axisymmetric intake duct geometry, or time varying, for example from flow separation off the lip of the inlet during maneuvers or shock-induced separation during supersonic flight. Whatever the cause, the result is generally a decrease in performance and, more importantly, a lessening of the stable flow range of the compressor. The distortions are generally three-dimensional. It is an extremely useful simplification to break them, at least conceptually, into radial and circumferential non-uniformities and approach each separately. Purely radial distortions can be treated by the methods that were developed for designing compressors in nominally axisymmetric inlet flow, and this type of distortion will be only briefly discussed. Circumferential non-uniformities, however, introduce additional fluid dynamic features into the analysis of compressor behavior and often have the larger impact on performance and stability. Thus we concentrate mainly on the effects of steady circumferential inlet flow distortion.

J. P. Longley↗

NASA NTRS1977

A preliminary study of the performance and characteristics of a supersonic executive aircraft

The impact of advanced supersonic technologies on the performance and characteristics of a supersonic executive aircraft was studied in four configurations with different engine locations and wing/body blending and an advanced nonafterburning turbojet or variable cycle engine. An M 2.2 design Douglas scaled arrow-wing was used with Learjet 35 accommodations. All four configurations with turbojet engines meet the performance goals of 5926 km (3200 n.mi.) range, 1981 meters (6500 feet) takeoff field length, and 77 meters per second (150 knots) approach speed. The noise levels of of turbojet configurations studied are excessive. However, a turbojet with mechanical suppressor was not studied. The variable cycle engine configuration is deficient in range by 555 km (300 n.mi) but nearly meets subsonic noise rules (FAR 36 1977 edition), if coannular noise relief is assumed. All configurations are in the 33566 to 36287 kg (74,000 to 80,000 lbm) takeoff gross weight class when incorporating current titanium manufacturing technology.

Mascitti, V. R.↗

NASA NTRS1952

Loiter performance of turbojet-powered aircraft performance determined by off-design cycle analysis

Loitering performance of airplanes equipped with various turbojet engines was analytically investigated. The engines used in this analysis were selected to show the effects of various engine design variables. Engine performance was determined by means of an off-design cycle analysismaking use of experimentally determined component characteristics. The method of off-design cycle analysis is presented herein and is verified by a check with experimental data.

Koutz, Stanley L↗

NASA NTRS1980

CF6 jet engine performance improvement: New fan

As part of the NASA sponsored engine component improvement program, and fan package was developed to reduce fuel consumption in current CF6 turbofan aircraft engine. The new fan package consist of an improved fan blade, reduced fan tip clearance due to a fan case stiffener, and a smooth fan casing tip shroud. CF6 engine performance and acoustic tests demonstrated the predicted 1.8% improvement in cruise sfc without an increase in engine noise. Power management thrust/fan speed characteristics were defined. Mechanical and structural integrity was demonstrated in model fan rotor photoelastic stress tests, full-size fan blade bench fatigue tests, and CF6 engine bird ingestion, crosswind, and cyclic endurance tests. The fan was certified in the CF6-500c2/E2 engines and is in commerical service on the Boeing 747-200, Douglas DC-10-30, and Atrbus industrie A300B aircraft.

Fasching, W. A.↗

NASA NTRS1956

Effect of Operating Conditions and Design on Afterburner Performance

Afterburners for turbojet engines have, within the past decade, found increasing application in service aircraft. Practically all engines manufactured today are equipped with some form of afterburner, and its use has increased from what was originally a short-period thrust-augmentation application to an essential feature of the turbojet propulsion system for flight at supersonic speeds. The design of these afterburners has been based on extensive research and development effort in expanded laboratory facilities by both the NACA and the American engine industry. Most of the work of the engine industry, however, has either not been published or is not generally available owing to its proprietary nature. Consequently, the main bulk of research information available for summary and discussion is of NACA origin. However, because industrial afterburner development has closely followed NACA research, the omission is more one of technical detail than method or concept. One principal difficulty encountered in summarizing the work in this field is that sufficient knowledge does not yet exist to rationally or directly integrate the available background of basic combustion principles into combustor design. A further difficulty is that most of the experimental investigations that have been conducted were directed chiefly toward the development of specific afterburners for various engines rather than to the accumulation of systematic data. This work has, nonetheless, provided not only substantial improvements in the performance of afterburners but also a large fund of experimental data and an extensive background of experience in the field. Consequently, it is the purpose of the present chapter to summarize the many, and frequently unrelated, experimental investigations that have been conducted rather than to formulate a set of design rules. In the treatment of this material an effort has been made, however, to convey to the reader the "know how" acquired by research engineers in the course of afterburner studies.

Fleming, W. A.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Atomization and combustion performance of antimisting kerosene and jet fuel

Combustion performance of antimisting kerosene (AMK) containing FM-9 polymer was investigated at various levels of degradation (restoration of AMK for normal use in a gas turbine engine). To establish the relationship of degradation and atomization to performance in an aircraft gas turbine combustor, sprays formed by the nozzle of a JT8-D combustor with Jet A and AMK at 1 atmosphere (atm) (14.1 lb/square in absolute) pressure and 22 C at several degradation levels were analyzed. A new spray characterization technique based on digital image analysis of high resolution, wide field spray images formed under pulsed ruby laser sheet illumination was developed. Combustion tests were performed for these fuels in a JT8-D single can combustor facility to measure combustion efficiency and the lean extinction limit. Correlation of combustion performance under simulated engine operating conditions with nozzle spray Sauter mean diameter (SMD) measured at 1 atm and 22 C were observed. Fuel spray SMD and hence the combustion efficiency are strongly influenced by fuel degradation level. Use of even the most highly degraded AMK tested (filter ratio = 1.2) resulted in an increase in fuel consumption of 0.08% to 0.20% at engine cruise conditions.

Fleeter, R.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Effects of inlet airframe integration on the inlet of an upper surface blowing four-engine STOL aircraft

Inlet and nacelle static pressures were measured on a 0.55-scale model of the Quiet Short-Haul Research Airplane (QSRA) in the Ames Research Center's 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel. This model is powered by four JT-15D engines located above the wing with closely spaced adjacent inlets. A fifth JT-15D engine in the fuselage provides boundary-layer control air. Each inlet was instrumented with four to eight rows of axial pressure taps located between X/R approximately plus or minus 1. The tests simulated a broad range of aircraft operating conditions, including engine-out, with lift coefficients from 0.8 to 10.0. Results indicate that the inlets perform well under most operating conditions with little interaction between inlets when the aircraft is moving. Potential problem areas identified are high sideslip angle during approach and an interaction effect between adjacent inlets with high mass flows in static conditions.

Shovlin, M. D.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Installed F/A-18 inlet flow calculations at 30 degrees angle-of-attack: A comparative study

NASA Lewis is currently engaged in a research effort as a team member of the High Alpha Technology Program (HATP) within NASA. This program utilizes a specially equipped F/A-18, the High Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV), in an ambitious effort to improve the maneuverability of high-performance military aircraft at low subsonic speed, high angle of attack conditions. The overall objective of the Lewis effort is to develop inlet technology that will ensure efficient airflow delivery to the engine during these maneuvers. One part of the Lewis approach utilizes computational fluid dynamics codes to predict the installed performance of inlets for these highly maneuverable aircraft. Full Navier-Stokes (FNS) calculations on the installed F/A-18 inlet at 30 degrees angle of attack, 0 degrees yaw, and a freestream Mach number of 0.2 have been obtained in this study using an algebraic turbulence model with two grids (original and revised). Results obtained with the original grid were used to determine where further grid refinements and additional geometry were needed. In order to account properly for the external effects, the forebody, leading edge extension (LEX), ramp, and wing were included with inlet geometry. In the original grid, the diverter, LEX slot, and leading edge flap were not included due to insufficient geometry definition, but were included in a revised grid. In addition, a thin-layer Navier-Stokes (TLNS) code is used with the revised grid and the numerical results are compared to those obtained with the FNS code. The TLNS code was used to evaluate the effects on the solution using a code with more recent CFD developments such as upwinding with TVD schemes versus central differencing with artificial dissipation. The calculations are compared to a limited amount of available experimental data. The predicted forebody/fuselage surface static pressures compared well with data of all solutions. The predicted trajectory of the vortex generated under the LEX was different for each solution. These discrepancies are attributed to differences in the grid resolution and turbulence modeling. All solutions predict that this vortex is ingested by the inlet. The predicted inlet total pressure recoveries are lower than data and the distortions are higher than data. The results obtained with the revised grid were significantly improved from the original grid results. The original grid results indicated the ingested vortex migrated to the engine face and caused additional distortions to those already present due to secondary flow development. The revised grid results indicate that the ingested vortex is dissipated along the inlet duct inboard wall. The TLNS results indicate the flow at the engine face was much more distorted than the FNS results and is attributed to the pole boundary condition introducing numerical distortions into the flow field.

Smith, C. Frederic↗

NASA NTRS1985

Current and future engine applications of Gr/PI composites

The application of organic matrix composites to gas turbine engine components has been the subject of numerous government and company funded programs since the 1960's. The possibility of significant weight reductions, performance improvements and lower component costs have made the organic matrix composites extremely attractive to aircraft engine designers. Very little of this potential was incorporated into production engines over the years even though a significant number of components were designed, fabricated and tested. Some of the reasons behind the slow rate of incorporation include the following: (1) criticality; (2) engine operating temperature; (3) small component size; (4) small production volume; (5) high production cost; and (6) interfacing with metal parts.

Cavano, P. J.↗