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Highlights of the method of analysis of inlet flow are given. To indicate the accuracy of the method, several comparisons with experiment for different V/STOL inlet configurations and various operating conditions are given. Two applications to inlet design and analysis are then discussed. A summary of current efforts is given, and finally areas of possible future work are indicated.
Results of a wind tunnel investigation are presented. The inlet was modified so that airflow can be removed through a porous cowl-bleed region in the vicinity of the throat. Bleed plenum exit flow area is controlled by relief type mechanical valves. Unlike valves in previous systems, these are made for use in a high Mach flight environment and include refinements so that the system could be tested on a NASA YF-12 aircraft. The valves were designed to provide their own reference pressure; hence, do not respond to slowly varying disturbances. However, the results show that the system can absorb internal-airflow-transients that are too fast for a conventional bypass door control system and that the two systems complement each other quite well. Increased tolerance to angle of attack and Mach number changes is indicated. The valves should provide sufficient time for the inlet control system to make geometry changes required to keep the inlet started.
An investigation was conducted in the Langley V/STOL tunnel to determine the upwash flow angles in the region of the nacelle inlets of a representative powered-lift transport configuration operating at high lift coefficients. The upwash angles were indicated by tufts and measured from photographs. A potential-flow program was used to estimate these flow angles. Large upflow angles exist near the inlets of the nacelles; the highest value (67.3 deg) occurred with flaps at 15, 35, 55 deg, an angle of attack of 25.7 deg, and a thrust coefficient of 4. The upflow angle was found to be strongly dependent on the circulation lift, regardless of the flap deflection, angle of attack, or thrust coefficient used to generate this circulation lift. The potential-flow calculations away from the nacelle inlets agreed fairly well with the experimental data.
The results presented are of a series of experimental tests in which a J85-13 turbojet engine was subjected to both distorted and undistorted inlet total pressure conditions. A distinctive feature of the data base obtained is that it includes compressor interstage information not previously recorded for a J85-13 engine. Each of the eight compressor stages was instrumented to obtain the characteristics of the individual stages for undistorted inlet conditions, and these data are documented in the report along with the undistorted compressor overall performance. Also included in the report is the overall performance of the compressor exposed to 14 different distorted-inlet conditions - 10 circumferential patterns and 4 radial patterns. The distortion patterns were introduced using screens that spoiled from 8 to 50 percent of the compressor face area; the distortion screen density, or the area blocked by the screen wire per unit area of screen, varied from 26 to 69 percent.
The results of an experimental bleed development study for a full-scale, Mach 2.5, axisymmetric, mixed-compression inlet were presented. The inlet was designed to satisfy the airflow requirements of the TF30-P-3 turbofan engine. Capabilities for porous bleed on the cowl surface and ram-scoop/flush-slot bleed on the centerbody were provided. A configuration with no bleed on the cowl achieved a minimum stable, diffuser exit, total pressure recovery of 0.894 with a centerbody-bleed mass flow ratio of 0.02. Configurations with cowl bleed had minimum stable recoveries as high as 0.900 but suffered range decrement penalties from the increased bleed mass flow removal. Limited inlet stability and unstart angle-of-attack data are presented.
The results are presented of a one-dimensional dynamic digital blade row compressor model study of a J85-13 engine operating with uniform and with circumferentially distorted inlet flow. Details of the geometry and the derived blade row characteristics used to simulate the clean inlet performance are given. A stability criterion based upon the self developing unsteady internal flows near surge provided an accurate determination of the clean inlet surge line. The basic model was modified to include an arbitrary extent multi-sector parallel compressor configuration for investigating 180 deg 1/rev total pressure, total temperature, and combined total pressure and total temperature distortions. The combined distortions included opposed, coincident, and 90 deg overlapped patterns. The predicted losses in surge pressure ratio matched the measured data trends at all speeds and gave accurate predictions at high corrected speeds where the slope of the speed lines approached the vertical.
The approach and takeoff performance was evaluated of a contracting cowl variable geometry design inlet installed on a high-bypass-ratio turbofan engine. The design was finalized after consideration of aerodynamic, acoustic, and mechanical factors which would lead to a viable flight worthy concept. The aerodynamic results are presented in terms of inlet recovery and distortion parameter as functions of throat Mach number, and acoustic results in terms of Perceived Noise Level. The contracting cowl high throat Mach number inlet is shown to be an attractive means to reduce forward radiated noise from a high bypass ratio turbofan engine.
The feasibility of self actuating bleed valves as a shock stabilization system in the inlet of the YF-12 is considered for vortex valves, slide valves, and poppet valves. Analytical estimation of valve performance indicates that only the slide and poppet valves located in the inlet cowl can meet the desired steady state stabilizing flows, and of the two the poppet valve is substantially faster in response to dynamic disturbances. The poppet valve is, therefore, selected as the best shock stability system for the YF-12 inlet.
An inexpensive method is developed to determine the extreme values of instantaneous inlet distortion. This method also provides insight into the basic mechanics of unsteady inlet flow and the associated engine reaction. The analysis is based on fundamental fluid dynamics and statistical methods to provide an understanding of the turbulent inlet flow and quantitatively relate the rms level and power spectral density (PSD) function of the measured time variant total pressure fluctuations to the strength and size of the low pressure regions. The most probable extreme value of the instantaneous distortion is then synthesized from this information in conjunction with the steady state distortion. Results of the analysis show the extreme values to be dependent upon the steady state distortion, the measured turbulence rms level and PSD function, the time on point, and the engine response characteristics. Analytical projections of instantaneous distortion are presented and compared with data obtained by a conventional, highly time correlated, 40 probe instantaneous pressure measurement system.
Different inlet designs for high angle of attack STOL and VTOL applications were tested in a subsonic wind tunnel. Three removable entry lips having contraction ratios of 1.30, 1.34 and 1.38 were tested with a single diffuser. The internal contour of each entry lip was an ellipse with a major to minor axis of 2.0. Each lip and diffuser assembly was tested to determine its tolerance to angle of attack, first with a conventional centerbody and then with an extended centerbody. Results indicate that a large improvement in separation angle (determined as a function of lip contraction ratio and inlet flow) was obtained for the extended centerbody for all contraction ratios. Improved inlet tolerance to angle of attack was obtained by reducing the adverse pressure gradient downstream of the throat.
Instantaneous distortion analyses compare a time-varying value of an index (or 'surge margin used up') with a critical level (or 'available surge margin' of the compressor) to determine inlet-engine compatibility. Unless freestream conditions or propulsion system controls are changing, it is generally assumed that the available surge margin of the compressor is accurately determined from the steady-state operating point. Results are presented which show that variations of average compressor inlet pressure may occur without changes in freestream conditions or propulsion system controls. The volume dynamics of the compressor will cause these pressure variations to be attenuated and delayed by the time they reach the exit. This will cause the compressor pressure ratio (and available surge margin) to vary with time. A method is presented to calculate the available surge margin as a function of time and incorporate it into an instantaneous distortion analysis. Results show that inlet pressure variations which cause only a small change at the compressor exit can cause a significant variation in the available surge margin.
Tests were conducted to determine the boundary layer characteristics and aerodynamic performance of a radial vane sonic inlet with a length/diameter ratio of 1 for several vane configurations. The sonic inlet was designed with a slight wavy wall type of diffuser geometry, which permits operation at high inlet Mach numbers (sufficiently high for good noise suppression) without boundary layer flow separation and with good total pressure recovery. A new method for evaluating the turbulent boundary layer was developed to separate the boundary layer from the inviscid core flow, which is characterized by a total pressure variation from hub to tip, and to determine the experimental boundary layer parameters.
A full scale inlet test was to be done in the NASA-ARC 40' X 80' WT to demonstrate satisfactory inlet performance at high angles of attack. The inlet was designed to match a Hamilton-Standard 55 inch, variable pitch fan, driven by a Lycoming T55-L-11A gas generator. The test was installed in the wind tunnel on two separate occasions, but mechanical failures in the fan drive gear box early in each period terminated testing. A detailed description is included of the Model, installation, instrumentation and data reduction procedures.
A low speed wind tunnel test demonstrated the aerodynamic and acoustic performance of a scoop inlet. Engine noise is directed upward by the extended lower lip of the scoop inlet. In addition, more of the scoop airflow comes in from above the inlet than below, leading to relatively higher surface velocities on the upper lip and lower surface velocities on the lower lip. These lower velocities on the lower lip result in a higher attainable angle of attack before internal flow separation occurs.
A self-bleeding method for boundary layer control is described and tested for a subsonic inlet designed to operate in the flowfield generated by high angles of attack. Naturally occurring surface static pressure gradients are used to remove the boundary layer from a separation-prone region of the inlet and to reinject it at a less critical location with a net performance gain. The results suggest that this self-bleeding method for boundary-layer control might be successfully applied to other inlets operating at extreme aerodynamic conditions.
Results of a low speed wind tunnel test program are presented which demonstrate the aerodynamic and acoustic performance of a scoop inlet. Engine noise that would normally propagate toward the ground is directed upward by the extended lower lip of the scoop inlet. In addition, more of the scoop airflow comes in from above the inlet than below, leading to relatively higher surface velocities on the upper lip and lower surface velocities on the lower lip. These lower velocities on the lower lip result in a higher attainable angle of attack before internal flow separation occurs.
Collection of computer programs used to calculate compressible potential flow in arbitrary axisymmetric inlet at any combination of operating conditions of inlet mass-flow rate, free stream velocity, and incident angle proves useful in development of wide variety of propulsion system inlet designs.
A hemispherical inlet flow control device was tested on a 50.8 cm. (20-inch) diameter fan stage in the NASA-Lewis anechoic chamber. The control device used honeycomb and wire mesh to reduce turbulence intensities entering the fan. Far field acoustic power level results show about a 5 db reduction in blade passing tone and about 10 dB reduction in multiple pure tone sound power at 90% design fan speed with the inlet device in place. Hot film cross probes were inserted in the inlet to obtain data for two components of the turbulence at 65 and 90% design fan speed. Without the flow control device, the axial intensities were below 1.0%, while the circumferential intensities were almost twice this value. The inflow control device significantly reduced the circumferential turbulence intensities and also reduced the axial length scale.