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At least 73 records · Page 4

Flow visualization of shock-boundary layer interaction

Two and three-dimensional shock-boundary layer interaction data were obtained from supersonic wind tunnel tests. These interactions are studied both with and without boundary layer bleed. The data verify computational fluid dynamic codes. Surface static pressure, pitot pressure, flow angularity, and bleed rates, are studied by flow visualization techniques. Surface oil flow using fluorescent dye and laser sheet using water droplets as the scattering material are used for flow visualization.

Hingst, W. R.↗

Spatiotemporal Analysis of High-Resolution Pressure-Sensitive Paint Measurements on a Launch Vehicle Wind Tunnel Model

An accurate understanding of unsteady aerodynamic loads is critical for launch vehicle structural design and for development of the vibro-acoustic environment for payload components. Analysts commonly use point-wise surface pressure measurements from wind tunnel testing to build statistical models of the in-flight turbulent boundary layer flow structures, often extrapolating over large swaths of the surface due to measurement sparsity. We present novel results from a transonic wind tunnel test using fast-response pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) and show how it can be used to visualize and quantify localized turbulent boundary layer wall pressure statistics with unprecedented spatial resolution. The wind tunnel model is a scaled model of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket Block 1B Crew configuration and analysis focused on the compression corner between the Service Module fairing and the Universal Stage Adapter.

Corcos Model↗

STOL Characteristics of a Propeller-Driven, Aspect-Ratio-10, Straight-Wing Airplane with Boundary-Layer Control Flaps, as Estimated from Large-Scale Wind-Tunnel Tests

A study is presented of the improvements in take-off and landing distances possible with a conventional propeller-driven transport-type airplane when the available lift is increased by propeller slipstream effects and by very effective trailing-edge flaps and ailerons. This study is based on wind-tunnel tests of a 45-foot span, powered model, with BLC on the trailing-edge flaps and controls. The data were applied to an assumed airplane with four propellers and a wing loading of 50 pounds per square foot. Also included is an examination of the stability and control problems that may result in the landing and take-off speed range of such a vehicle. The results indicated that the landing and take-off distances could be more than halved by the use of highly effective flaps in combination with large amounts of engine power to augment lift (STOL). At the lowest speeds considered (about 50 knots), adequate longitudinal stability was obtained but the lateral and directional stability were unsatisfactory. At these low speeds, the conventional aerodynamic control surfaces may not be able to cope with the forces and moments produced by symmetric, as well as asymmetric, engine operation. This problem was alleviated by BLC applied to the control surfaces.

Weiberg, James A↗

An experimental and analytical study of a lifting-body wind-tunnel model exhibiting body-freedom flutter

Flutter analysis of the proposed National Aerospace Plane indicates that in the subsonic to transonic flight regime, the vehicle may be susceptible to an instability known as body-freedom flutter. Body-freedom flutter is a dynamic instability involving a vehicle rigid-body mode coupling with one or more of the vehicle's elastic modes. In the case of the NASP, the body-freedom flutter predicted by analysis involves the short-period mode of the vehicle coupling with the pivot mode of the all-movable wings. A wind-tunnel test was designed to investigate this phenomenon. Parameter studies included variations in wing-actuator stiffness, wing-pivot shaft location along the root chord, and thickness of the fuselage. The wind-tunnel test was conducted in the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. Flutter boundaries were measured in the wind tunnel for three configurations and a model divergence point was measured on a fourth configuration. At the last flutter point obtained during the test, body-freedom flutter proved to be rather violent. The analysis used in this study incorporated thin-wing theory aerodynamics and did a fairly good job of predicting the flutter boundaries.

Soistmann, David L.↗

Transition in a disturbed environment

The title of this presentation is the title of our research grant. While transition study is the objective of the work, the results to date are principally on the properties of turbulent boundary layers at low Reynolds numbers are discussed. Testing was done in a small return wind tunnel. Mean boundary layer development is given. The skin friction behavior of the turbulent points are considered. No standard laminar flow was observed. Furthermore, the turbulent mean flow data seem reasonable for the elevated disturbance levels of the tests in the sense that there is no discernible wake component to any of the profiles and that the variation of skin friction with R sub theta is consistent with zero wake strength. The no-grid data are in all likelihood transitional.

Reshotko, E.↗

Large-Scale Wind-Tunnel Tests and Evaluation of the Low-Speed Performance of a 35 deg Sweptback Wing Jet Transport Model Equipped with a Blowing Boundary-Layer-Control Flap and Leading-Edge Slat

A wind-tunnel investigation was conducted to determine the effect of trailing-edge flaps with blowing-type boundary-layer control and leading-edge slats on the low-speed performance of a large-scale jet transport model with four engines and a 35 deg. sweptback wing of aspect ratio 7. Two spanwise extents and several deflections of the trailing-edge flap were tested. Results were obtained with a normal leading-edge and with full-span leading-edge slats. Three-component longitudinal force and moment data and boundary-layer-control flow requirements are presented. The test results are analyzed in terms of possible improvements in low-speed performance. The effect on performance of the source of boundary-layer-control air flow is considered in the analysis.

Hickey, David H.↗

A comparison of the ground effects measured with and without rate-of-descent modeling on the F-15 S/MTD configuration

The effect of descent rate (DR) on the approach aerodynamics of the F-15 S/MTD aircraft is investigated experimentally using a moving model in the NASA Langley Vortex Research Facility. A 0.083-scale low-speed rotary-balance model equipped with a thrust-reverser simulator and with grit strips to assure turbulent flow was tested in an approach configuration at forward speed 60 ft/sec, corresponding to DR = 4.19 ft/sec. The results are presented in extensive graphs and compared with wind-tunnel data on the same configuration at DR = 0. Significant differences are attributed to the DR in the present experiments and the presence of a ground boundary layer in the wind-tunnel tests. It is predicted that safe approaches could be made with the lower thrust reverser vectored up to 80 deg, or even 110 deg if the DR were not arrested near the ground.

Kemmerly, Guy T.↗

Aerothermodynamic Testing and Boundary Layer Trip Sizing of the HIFiRE Flight 1 Vehicle

An experimental wind tunnel test was conducted in the NASA Langley Research Center s 20-Inch Mach 6 Air Tunnel in support of the Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation Program. The information in this report is focused on the Flight 1 configuration, the first in a series of flight experiments. This report documents experimental measurements made over a range of Reynolds numbers and angles of attack on several scaled ceramic heat transfer models of the Flight 1 payload. Global heat transfer was measured using phosphor thermography and the resulting images and heat transfer distributions were used to infer the state of the boundary layer on the vehicle windside and leeside surfaces. Boundary layer trips were used to force the boundary layer turbulent, and a brief study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the trips with various heights. The experimental data highlighted in this test report were used to size and place the boundary layer trip for the flight test vehicle.

Berger, Karen T.↗

Aerothermodynamic Testing and Boundary Layer Trip Sizing of the HIFiRE Flight 1 Vehicle

An experimental wind tunnel test was conducted in the NASA Langley Research Center s 20-Inch Mach 6 Air Tunnel in support of the Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation Program. The information in this article is focused on the Flight 1 configuration, the first in a series of flight experiments. The article documents experimental measurements made over a Reynolds numbers range of 2.1x10(exp 6)/ft to 5.6x10(exp 6)/ft and angles of attack of -5 to +5 deg on several scaled ceramic heat transfer models of the Flight 1 configuration. Global heat transfer was measured using phosphor thermography and the resulting images and heat transfer distributions were used to infer the state of the boundary layer on the vehicle windside and leeside surfaces. Boundary layer trips were used to force the boundary layer turbulent and the experimental data highlighted in this article were used to size and place the boundary layer trip for the flight vehicle. The required height of the flight boundary layer trip was determined to be 0.079 in and the trip was moved from the design location of 7.87 in to 20.47 in to ensure that augmented heating would not impact the laminar side of the vehicle. Allowable roughness was selected to be 3.2x10(exp -3) in.

Berger, Karen T.↗

Large-Scale Boundary Layer Ingesting Propulsor Research

NASA’s Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT) project is investigating boundary layer ingesting (BLI) propulsors for advanced subsonic commercial vehicle concepts to enable the reduction of fuel burn. A multidisciplinary team of researchers from NASA, United Technologies Research Center (UTRC), Virginia Polytechnic University, and the Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Complex developed and tested an embedded BLI inlet and distortion-tolerant fan (BLI2DTF) system in the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) 8- foot by 6-foot (8x6) transonic wind tunnel. The test demonstrated the component performance goals necessary for an overall fuel burn reduction of 3 to 5 percent on a large hybrid wing body (HWB) aircraft. Special test equipment, including a raised floor with flow effectors and a bleed system, was developed for use in the 8x6 to produce the appropriate incoming boundary layer representative of an HWB application. Detailed measurements were made to determine the inlet total pressure loss and distortion, fan stage efficiency, and aeromechanic performance including blade vibration stress and displacement response. Results from this test were used as input to a vehicle-level system study performed by the AATT project to assess the impact of BLI on an alternative advanced concept aircraft referred to as the NASA D8 (ND8), which is somewhat similar to the HWB in its integration of the propulsor. This paper will provide an overview of the project timeline, special test equipment needed in the wind tunnel to develop the appropriate incoming boundary layer, and the difficulties in designing a propulsor for the test. The paper will conclude with some representative aerodynamic and aeromechanic data from the test itself and conclude with how this data was used in the ND8 system study.

Aerodynamic performance↗

Large-Scale Boundary Layer Ingesting Propulsor Research

_NASA's Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT) project is investigating boundary layer ingesting (BLI) propulsors for advanced subsonic commercial vehicle concepts to enable the reduction of fuel burn. A multidisciplinary team of researchers from NASA, United Technologies Research Center (UTRC), Virginia Polytechnic University, and the Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Complex developed and tested an embedded BLI inlet and distortion-tolerant fan (BLI2DTF) system in the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) 8-foot by 6-foot (8x6) transonic wind tunnel. The test demonstrated the component performance goals necessary for an overall fuel burn reduction of 3 to 5 percent on a large hybrid wing body (HWB) aircraft. Special test equipment, including a raised floor with flow effectors and a bleed system, was developed for use in the 8x6 to produce the appropriate incoming boundary layer representative of an HWB application. Detailed measurements were made to determine the inlet total pressure loss and distortion, fan stage efficiency, and aeromechanic performance including blade vibration stress and displacement response. Results from this test were used as input to a vehicle-level system study performed by the AATT project to assess the impact of BLI on an alternative advanced concept aircraft referred to as the NASA D8 (ND8), which is somewhat similar to the HWB in its integration of the propulsor. This paper will provide an overview of the project timeline, special test equipment needed in the wind tunnel to develop the appropriate incoming boundary layer, and the difficulties in designing a propulsor for the test. The paper will conclude with some representative aerodynamic and aeromechanic data from the test itself and conclude with how this data was used in the ND8 system study.

Celestina, Mark L.↗

An experimental investigation of a two and a three-dimensional low speed turbulent boundary layer

Experimental studies of a two and a three-dimensional low speed turbulent boundary layer were conducted on the side wall of a boundary layer wind tunnel. The 20 ft. long test section, with a rectangular cross section measuring 17.5 in. x 46 in., produced a 3.5 in. thick turbulent boundary layer at a free stream Reynolds number. The three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer was produced by a 30 deg swept wing-like model faired into the side wall of the test section. Preliminary studies in the two-dimensional boundary layer indicated that the flow was nonuniform on the 46 in. wide test wall. The nonuniform boundary layer is characterized by transverse variations in the wall shear stress and is primarily caused by nonuniformities in the inlet damping screens.

Winkelmann, A. E.↗

Heat-flux gage measurements on a flat plate at a Mach number of 4.6 in the VSD high speed wind tunnel, a feasibility test (LA28)

The feasibility of employing thin-film heat-flux gages was studied as a method of defining boundary layer characteristics at supersonic speeds in a high speed blowdown wind tunnel. Flow visualization techniques (using oil) were employed. Tabulated data (computer printouts), a test facility description, and photographs of test equipment are given.

Source record↗

Effect of slot width on transition and noise attenuation of a flat sound shield in a Mach 6 wind tunnel

An experimental and theoretical study of a sound shield concept to attenuate the noise radiated into the test section from the turbulent boundary layer on the walls of wind tunnels was conducted. The model investigated was planar with a sharp flat plate leading edge faired into an array of rods aligned nearly parallel to the local flow. For a ratio of gap diameter to rod diameter of 0.16, the flow was laminar over the entire model at a maximum local length Reynolds number of 14 million. A 45% reduction in the tunnel free stream root mean square pressure level was measured within the shielded region for this gap width when the boundary layers on the rods were laminar. Smaller ratios of gap diameter to rod diameter resulted in substantial reductions in the transition Reynolds number, and in a 40% pressure reduction.

Stainback, P. C.↗

Heat Transfer Measurements on Surfaces with Natural Ice Castings and Modeled Roughness

An experimental method is described to measure and compare the convective heat transfer coefficient of natural and simulated ice accretion roughness and to provide a rational means for determining accretion-related enhanced heat transfer coefficients. The natural ice accretion roughness was a sample casting made from accretions at the NASA Lewis Icing Research Tunnel (IRT). One of these castings was modeled using a Spectral Estimation Technique (SET) to produce three roughness elements patterns that simulate the actual accretion. All four samples were tested in a flat-plate boundary layer at angle of attack in a "dry" wind tunnel test. The convective heat transfer coefficient was measured using infrared thermography. It is shown that, dispite some problems in the current data set, the method does show considerable promise in determining roughness-induced heat transfer coefficients, and that, in addition to the roughness height and spacing in the flow direction, the concentration and spacing of elements in the spanwise direction are important parameters.

Breuer, Kenneth S.↗

Isolated Roughness Induced Boundary-Layer Transition: Shuttle Orbiter Ground Tests and Flight Experience

Recent Orbiter wind tunnel data and flight data have been used to evaluate boundary-layer transition induced by discrete-roughness elements on the Orbiter windward surface. Orbiter flow field calculations have been used to compute transition parameters and disturbance parameters for correlating the results and comparing the trends. Existing transition correlations have been modified and applied to the Orbiter. These correlations provide a means to predict transition on the Orbiter given a known isolated roughness element. Furthermore, these data and data reduction methods provide information and guidance for the prediction of transition due to &screte-roughness elements on future winged reentry vehicles.

Bouslog, Stanley A.↗

Investigation of Boundary Layers on an Airplane Wing in Free Flight

This report describes the equipment and method developed for recording the boundary layers on the surface of an airfoil in free flight. The results are in close agreement with the wind-tunnel tests of other experimenters. The intensity of the turbulent boundary layer, even at the much higher Reynolds Numbers reached, is determinable with Gruschwitz's formulas, although it was impossible to definitely establish a direct relationship between the turbulent boundary layer and the Reynolds Number within the limits of the obtained accuracy. The observations on the transition from laminar to turbulent flow check with previous wind-tunnel tests and calculations.

Stuper, J↗

Aerothermodynamic entry environment of the Space Shuttle Orbiter

The entry aerothermodynamic environment for the Space Shuttle vehicle was an important factor in the design of the Orbiter. A design goal established during the initial study phase of the Shuttle program was to minimize the thermal protection system's weight. A description is presented of the design approach and preliminary flight test results relative to the entry heating environment for the complex flowfield regions of the Space Shuttle Orbiter. Attention is given to Orbiter aerothermodynamic design features, aspects of trajectory development, the wind tunnel test program, heating environments, boundary-layer transition problems, and the flight test program.

Lee, D. B.↗