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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 613 records · Page 34
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Numerical analysis of the scramjet-inlet flow field by using two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations

A computer code was developed to solve the full two dimensional Navier-Stokes equations in a supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) inlet. In order to be able to consider a general inlet geometry with embedded bodies, a numerical coordinate transformation is used which generates a set of boundary-fitted curvilinear coordinates. The explicit finite difference algorithm of MacCormack is used to solve the governing equations. An algebraic, two-layer eddy-viscosity model is used for the turbulent flow. The code can analyze both inviscid and viscous flows with no strut, one strut, or multiple struts in the flow field. The application of the two dimensional analysis in the preliminary parametric design studies of a scramjet inlet is discussed. Detailed results are presented for one model problem and for several actual scramjet-inlet configurations.

Kumar, A.↗
NASA NTRS2003

The Evolution of Oblique Impact Flow Fields Using Maxwell's Z Model

Oblique impacts are the norm rather than the exception for impact craters on planetary surfaces. This work focuses on the excavation of experimental oblique impact craters using the NASA Ames Vertical Gun Range (AVGR). Three-dimensional particle image velocimetry (3D PIV) is used to obtain quantitative data on ejection positions, three-dimensional velocities and angles. These data are then used to test the applicability and limitations of Maxwell's Z Model in representing the subsurface evolution of the excavation-stage flow-field center during vertical and oblique impacts.

Anderson, J. L. B.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Mean-flow measurements of the flow field diffusing bend

Time-average measurements of the low-speed turbulent flow in a diffusing bend are presented. The experimental geometry consists of parallel top and bottom walls and curved diverging side walls. The turning of the center line of this channel is 40 deg, the area ratio is 1.5 and the ratios of height and center-line length to throat width are 1.5 and 3, respectively. The diffusing bend is preceded and followed by straight constant area sections. The inlet boundary layers on the parallel walls are artificially thickened and occupy about 30% of the channel height; those on the side walls develop naturally and are about half as thick. The free-stream speed at the inlet was approximately 30 m/sec for all the measurements. Inlet boundary layer mean velocity and turbulence intensity profiles are presented, as are data for wall static pressures, and at six cross sections, surveys of the velocity-vector and static-pressure fields. The dominant feature of the flow field is a pair of counter-rotating streamwise vortices formed by the cross-stream pressure gradient in the bend on which an overall deceleration is superimposed.

Mcmillan, O. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Computation of three-dimensional nozzle-exhaust flow fields with the GIM code

A methodology is introduced for constructing numerical analogs of the partial differential equations of continuum mechanics. A general formulation is provided which permits classical finite element and many of the finite difference methods to be derived directly. The approach, termed the General Interpolants Method (GIM), can combined the best features of finite element and finite difference methods. A quasi-variational procedure is used to formulate the element equations, to introduce boundary conditions into the method and to provide a natural assembly sequence. A derivation is given in terms of general interpolation functions from this procedure. Example computations for transonic and supersonic flows in two and three dimensions are given to illustrate the utility of GIM. A three-dimensional nozzle-exhaust flow field is solved including interaction with the freestream and a coupled treatment of the shear layer. Potential applications of the GIM code to a variety of computational fluid dynamics problems is then discussed in terms of existing capability or by extension of the methodology.

Spradley, L. W.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Rotorcraft Downwash Flow Field Study to Understand the Aerodynamics of Helicopter Brownout

Rotorcraft brownout is caused by the entrainment of dust and sand particles in helicopter downwash, resulting in reduced pilot visibility during low, slow flight and landing. Recently, brownout has become a high-priority problem for military operations because of the risk to both pilot and equipment. Mitigation of this problem has focused on flight controls and landing maneuvers, but current knowledge and experimental data describing the aerodynamic contribution to brownout are limited. This paper focuses on downwash characteristics of a UH-60 Blackhawk as they pertain to particle entrainment and brownout. Results of a full-scale tuft test are presented and used to validate a high-fidelity Navier-Stokes computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculation. CFD analysis for an EH-101 Merlin helicopter is also presented, and its flow field characteristics are compared with those of the UH-60.

Wadcock, Alan J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

The spanwise lift distribution on a wing from flow-field velocity surveys

The application of the incompressible three-dimensional momentum integral equation to a finite wing is reviewed. The objective is to interpret the resulting equations in a way that suggests an alternate experimental method for determining the span-wise distribution of lift. Consideration is given to constraints that must be placed on the character of the vortex wake of the wing to provide the familiar relationship between lift and bound vorticity. A novel technique is then presented for obtaining, from behind the wing, the spanwise lift distribution from velocity surveys that are made over only a short distance above and below the wing trailing edge. The necessary formalism is developed to use these measured values to obtain the actual span loading by using an equivalent single horseshoe vortex model to account for the unmeasured portion of the downward (or upward) momentum. The results of a numerical simulation are presented for a typical loading distribution. The technique is then verified experimentally using laser velocimeter data for the flow field around a model wing.

Orloff, K. L.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Verification and Validation of Simulation Models for High-Speed Flow Fields

This paper is largely based on the paper titled "Guide to Credible Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations (Invited)" (AIAA Paper 95-2225). The significance of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations depends solely on their credibility. A customer of CFD products -- simulations and software -- expects that these products are credible for the intended use. Simulation model verification and validation are critical in establishing the credibility of simulations and in certifying simulation software. The only thing that matters in establishing the credibility is uncertainty, not veracity or validity. The sensitivity-uncertainty analysis is the key to the establishment of this credibility. Assessing the credibility of complex simulation results poses a significant challenge. Terminology, concepts, framework, and guidelines are presented for addressing this challenge. Verification assesses whether the problem is solved correctly and estimates the level of computational accuracy of simulations; validation determines whether the right problem is solved and assesses the level of validity of the simulation model by estimating the degree to which simulations accurately represent reality. These concepts and the related guidelines are discussed with examples from high-speed flow fields.

Mehta, Unmeel B.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Surface and flow field measurements in a symmetric crossing shock wave/turbulent boundary layer flow

Results of an experimental investigation of a symmetric crossing shock/turbulent boundary layer interaction are presented for a Mach number of 3.44 and deflections angles of 2, 6, 8 and 9 deg. The interaction strengths vary from weak to strong enough to cause a large region of separated flow. Measured quantities include surface static pressure and flowfield Pitot pressures. Pitot profiles in the plane of symmetry through the interaction region are shown for various deflection angles. Oil flow visualization and the results of a trace gas streamline tracking technique are also presented.

Davis, D. O.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Effect of Gravity on the Near Field Flow Structure of Helium Jet in Air

Experiments have shown that a low-density jet injected into a high-density surrounding medium undergoes periodic oscillations in the near field. Although the flow oscillations in these jets at Richardson numbers about unity are attributed to the buoyancy, the direct physical evidence has not been acquired in the experiments. If the instability were indeed caused by buoyancy, the near-field flow structure would undergo drastic changes upon removal of gravity in the microgravity environment. The present study was conducted to investigate this effect by simulating microgravity environment in the 2.2-second drop tower at the NASA Glenn Research Center. The non-intrusive, rainbow schlieren deflectometry technique was used for quantitative measurements of helium concentrations in buoyant and non-buoyant jets. Results in a steady jet show that the radial growth of the jet shear layer in Earth gravity is hindered by the buoyant acceleration. The jet in microgravity was 30 to 70 percent wider than that in Earth gravity. The microgravity jet showed typical growth of a constant density jet shear layer. In case of a self-excited helium jet in Earth gravity, the flow oscillations continued as the jet flow adjusted to microgravity conditions in the drop tower. The flow oscillations were however not present at the end of the drop when steady microgravity conditions were reached.

Agrawal, Ajay K.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Application of shock capturing and characteristics methods to shuttle flow fields

The calculation of real gas flows around the space shuttle vehicle can be accomplished by the method of characteristics (MOC) or shock capture technique (SCT). Results obtained with these methods for an early orbiter shape proposed by the North American Rockwell Corporation and also for the more recent 040A configuration suggested by NASA-MSC are presented. Results obtained with the SCT code demonstrate its three-dimensional, multiple shock capturing capability while results obtained with the MOC code demonstrate the calculation of equilibrium real gas flows and the determination of flow variables required for a heating analysis.

Kutler, P.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Numerical solution of axisymmetric boattail flow fields with plume simulators

Turbulent separating flows over axisymmetric afterbody-boattail configurations with solid sting plume simulators are computed with a time-dependent finite-difference method to solve the compressible Navier-Stokes equations. The Reynolds stress terms are replaced with a two-layer eddy viscosity model including a relaxation formula to model the nonequilibrium effects of the separated flow. The mesh is alined with the boattail body through an analytic transformation which accommodates a wide variety of boattail geometries. Numerical results for a series of boattail geometries over a wide range of Reynolds number (140,000 to 140 million) are presented and, when possible, compared with experimental data or independent numerical results.

Holst, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Development and validation of a combined rotor fuselage induced flow field computational method

A potential-flow panel method was modified to calculate the effects of a rotor wake on the time-averaged surface pressure and velocity distributions on a helicopter fuselage. The rotor-induced velocities are calculated by using a vortex-tube wake model. The calculated pressure distributions are found to compare well with experimental data obtained from tests of a wind-tunnel model.

Freeman, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Theoretical and experimental analysis of the slotted-wall flow field in a transonic wind tunnel

The flow in the vicinity of a longitudinally slotted wind-tunnel wall is theoretically analyzed, and equations describing the pressure drop across the wall are derived. The ideal form of the slotted-wall boundary condition is shown to effectively model the wall pressure drop upstream of the point of maximum model thickness providing that a zero-shift correction to the reference pressure is included in the analysis. The wall-pressure drop equations can be linearized by subtracting the tunnel-empty boundary condition. Good correlation is obtained between experimental and theoretical values for variations in Mach number and angle of attack.

Everhart, Joel L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Low thrust viscous nozzle flow field predictions

The low thrust viscous nozzle flows have been studied numerically by using the steady-state Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations in conservative form. A new Lower-Upper factorization scheme in the axisymmetric coordinate system has been developed and is analyzed in this paper. This new Navier-Stokes solver has shown that the numerical analog is accurate and stable for the convergent and divergent nozzle flowfield calculation. The range of the chamber pressure is (1.85-29.4)psi with the chamber temperature equal to 600 F. The results are compared with the data collected in the NASA/MSFC vacuum chamber, and they are in very reasonable agreement.

Chou, L. C.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Aerodynamic properties of turbulent combustion fields

Flow fields involving turbulent flames in premixed gases under a variety of conditions are modeled by the use of a numerical technique based on the random vortex method to solve the Navier-Stokes equations and a flame propagation algorithm to trace the motion of the front and implement the Huygens principle, both due to Chorin. A successive over-relaxation hybrid method is applied to solve the Euler equation for flows in an arbitrarily shaped domain. The method of images, conformal transformation, and the integral-equation technique are also used to treat flows in special cases, according to their particular requirements. Salient features of turbulent flame propagation in premixed gases are interpreted by relating them to the aerodynamic properties of the flow field. Included among them is the well-known cellular structure of flames stabilized by bluff bodies, as well as the formation of the characteristic tulip shape of flames propagating in ducts. In its rudimentary form, the mechanism of propagation of a turbulent flame is shown to consist of: (1) rotary motion of eddies at the flame front, (2) self-advancement of the front at an appropriate normal burning speed, and (3) dynamic effects of expansion due to exothermicity of the combustion reaction. An idealized model is used to illustrate these fundamental mechanisms and to investigate basic aerodynamic features of flames in premixed gases. The case of a confined flame stabilized behind a rearward-facing step is given particular care and attention. Solutions are shown to be in satisfactory agreement with experimental results, especially with respect to global properties such as the average velocity profiles and reattachment length.

Hsiao, C. C.↗