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At least 739 records · Page 41

UH-60A Airloads Flight Test Program: Data Counter 8513

The data collection portion of the UH-60A Airloads Flight Test Program was conducted between July 1993 and February 1994. At the time, the UH-60A Airloads Program was the most comprehensive and data-rich rotorcraft flight test program that NASA and the U.S. Army had ever attempted. It was part of the Modern Technology Rotors Program, where several different rotors were tested in small- and full-scale wind tunnels combined with flight testing. The UH-60A portion of this program allowed for comparison between other tests performed and served as a scientific quality database for validating current and new computational and simulation models. The UH-60A flight test data was stored in a comprehensive, easily accessed database known as the Tilt Rotor Engineering Database System, or TRENDS. With over 30 years of rotor testing experience, NASA and the Army’s goal of the Airloads Flight Test Program was to collect data for a wide range of operating conditions and provide an extensive amount of data to improve the understanding of rotors and validate and improve prediction codes. This report presents the entire archived data set from Counter 8513 (Run 85, point 13) from the UH-60A Airloads Flight Test Program. There were 1,078 total data set counters acquired and archived during 57 accumulated flight hours and 31 research flights. Over 900 counters were research flight data acquisition data points. Counter 8513 is a low-speed, level-flight test condition.

Kufeld, Robert M.↗

Comparative Study of Active Flow Control Strategies for Lift Enhancement of a Simplified High-Lift Configuration

Numerical simulations have been performed for a simplified high-lift (SHL) version of the Common Research Model (CRM) configuration, where the Fowler flaps of the conventional high-lift (CRM-HL) configuration are replaced by a set of simple hinged flaps. These hinged flaps are equipped with integrated modular active flow control (AFC) cartridges on the suction surface, and the resulting geometry is known as the CRM-SHL-AFC configuration. The main objective is to make use of AFC devices on the CRM-SHL-AFC configuration to recover the aerodynamic performance (lift) of the CRM-HL configuration. In the current paper, a Lattice Boltzmann method-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, known as PowerFLOWQ® is used to simulate the entire flow field associated with the CRM-SHL-AFC configuration equipped with several different types of AFC devices. The transonic version of the PowerFLOWQ® code that has been validated for high speed flows is used to accurately simulate the flow field generated by the high-momentum actuators required to mitigate reversed flow regions on the suction surfaces of the main wing and the flap. The numerical solutions predict the expected trends in aerodynamic forces as the actuation levels are increased. More efficient AFC systems and actuator arrangements emerged based on the parametric studies performed prior to a Fall 2018 wind tunnel test. Preliminary comparisons of the numerical solutions for lift and surface pressures are presented here with the experimental data, demonstrating the usefulness of CFD for predicting the flow field and lift characteristics of AFC-enabled high-lift configurations.

Vatsa, Veer N.↗

UH-60A Airloads Flight Test Program: Data Counter 9505

The data collection portion of the UH-60A Airloads Flight Test Program (ref. 1) was conducted between July 1993 and February 1994. At the time, the UH-60A Airloads Program was the most comprehensive and data-rich rotorcraft flight test program that NASA and the U.S. Army had ever attempted. It was part of the Modern Technology Rotors Program (ref. 2), where several different rotors were tested in small- and full-scale wind tunnels combined with flight testing. The UH-60A portion of this program allowed for comparison between other tests performed and served as a scientific quality database for validating current and new computational and simulation models. The UH-60A flight test data was stored in a comprehensive, easily accessed database known as the Tilt Rotor Engineering Database System, or TRENDS (ref. 3). With over 30 years of rotor testing experience (ref. 4), NASA and the Army’s goal of the Airloads Flight Test Program was to collect data for a wide range of operating conditions, and to provide an extensive amount of data to improve the understanding of rotors and validate and improve prediction codes. This report presents the entire archived data set from Counter 9505 (Run 95, point 5) from the UH-60A Airloads Flight Test Program. There were 1,078 total data set counters acquired and archived during 57 accumulated flight hours and 31 research flights. Over 900 counters were research flight data acquisition data points. Counter 9505 is a low altitude, moderate airspeed, level-flight test condition. Ground acoustic microphone data was acquired for this counter but the acoustic data is not included in this report.

Kufeld, Robert M.↗

TPSAS-NF1676L-14428-DND

Test executed from June 6 through July 3, 2011. Objectives - Understand maneuver acoustics - Validate ground footprint acoustic codes - Incorporate maneuvers into acoustic ground footprint prediction codes Acoustic measurement of - Source noise - Steady and transient maneuvers - Approach profiles Large test crew: 23 people from 7 organizations. Acquired 410 individual data points over 10 testing days and 30.6 flight hours. All “Priority One” and “Priority Two” test conditions measured.

Michael Watts↗

CFD and Experimental Data Comparisons for Conventional and AFC-Enabled CRM High-Lift Configurations

Numerical simulations have been performed for a simplified high-lift (SHL) version of the Common Research Model (CRM) configuration, where the Fowler flaps of a representative conventional high-lift (CRM-HL) configuration are replaced by a set of simple hinged flaps. These hinged flaps are equipped with integrated modular active flow control (AFC) cartridges on the suction surface of the flap shoulder, and the resulting geometry is known as the CRM-SHL-AFC configuration. The main objective is to make use of AFC devices on the CRM-SHL-Configuration to produce the aerodynamic performance (lift) comparable to that of the CRM-HL configuration over a large angle of attack range encompassing maximum lift conditions. For comparison purposes, computations are also per-formed for the CRM-HL configuration. In the current paper, PowerFLOWR©, a CFD code based on the Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), is used to simulate the entire flow field associated with the CRM-SHL-AFC configuration equipped with a combination of two different types of AFC actuators. The transonic version of the PowerFLOWR© code that has been validated for high-speed flows is used to simulate the flow field generated by the high-momentum actuators required to mitigate reversed flow regions on the suction surfaces of the main wing and the flap. This study is focused on the AFC systems and actuator arrangements that had emerged based on the parametric studies conducted previously at the nominal landing condition. Comparisons of the numerical solutions for lift and surface pressures are presented here with the experimental data, demonstrating the usefulness of CFD for predicting the flow field and lift characteristics of AFC-enabled high-lift configurations over a broad angle of attack range. The numerical solutions predict the expected trends in aerodynamic forces with angle of attack variation.

Veer N Vatsa↗

Optical and Laser-based Measurements for NASA’s Artemis Program

NASA and their partners are on the cusp of embarking on a series of space missions to the moon and beyond, collectively known as the Artemis Program. The Artemis I mission is scheduled for launch in late November 2022. This talk briefly summarizes the upcoming Artemis missions and describes laser and optical measurement technique development and application to ground and flight tests related to, or inspired by, the Artemis program. In particular, development and application of three different measurement techniques (planar laser-induced fluorescence [PLIF], femtosecond laser electronic excitation and tagging [FLEET] and photogrammetry) are described. These techniques have been applied to study vehicle launch, lunar landing, and earth entry. Such optical and laser-based instrumentation can provide unique qualitative and quantitative information to inform the underlying physics of space flight while also providing benchmark data for validating ever advancing predictive codes.

Artemis Program↗

Optical and Laser-based Measurements for NASA’s Artemis Program

NASA and their partners have embarked on a series of space missions to the moon and beyond, collectively known as the Artemis Program. The Artemis I mission occurred in November 2022. This talk briefly summarizes the upcoming Artemis missions and describes laser and optical measurement technique development and application to ground and flight tests related to, or inspired by, the Artemis program. In particular, development and application of three different measurement techniques (planar laser-induced fluorescence [PLIF], femtosecond laser electronic excitation and tagging [FLEET] and photogrammetry) are described. These techniques have been applied to study vehicle launch, lunar landing, and earth entry. Such optical and laser-based instrumentation can provide unique qualitative and quantitative information to inform the underlying physics of space flight while also providing benchmark data for validating ever advancing predictive codes.

Artemis Program↗

First VLTI/GRAVITY Observations of HIP 65426 b: Evidence for a Low or Moderate Orbital Eccentricity

Giant exoplanets have been directly imaged over orders of magnitude of orbital separations, prompting theoretical and observational investigations of their formation pathways. In this paper, we present new VLTI/GRAVITY astrometric data of HIP 65426 b, a cold, giant exoplanet which is a particular challenge for most formation theories at a projected separation of 92 au from its primary. Leveraging GRAVITY's astrometric precision, we present an updated eccentricity posterior that disfavors large eccentricities. The eccentricity posterior is still prior dependent, and we extensively interpret and discuss the limits of the posterior constraints presented here. We also perform updated spectral comparisons with self-consistent forward-modeled spectra, finding a best-fit ExoREM model with solar metallicity and C/O = 0.6. An important caveat is that it is difficult to estimate robust errors on these values, which are subject to interpolation errors as well as potentially missing model physics. Taken together, the orbital and atmospheric constraints paint a preliminary picture of formation inconsistent with scattering after disk dispersal. Further work is needed to validate this interpretation. Analysis code used to perform this work is available on GitHub: https://github.com/sblunt/hip65426.

Sarah Blunt↗

Wing design for a civil tiltrotor transport aircraft

The goal of this research is the proper tailoring of the civil tiltrotor's composite wing-box structure leading to a minimum-weight wing design. With focus on the structural design, the wing's aerodynamic shape and the rotor-pylon system are held fixed. The initial design requirement on drag reduction set the airfoil maximum thickness-to-chord ratio to 18 percent. The airfoil section is the scaled down version of the 23 percent-thick airfoil used in V-22's wing. With the project goal in mind, the research activities began with an investigation of the structural dynamic and aeroelastic characteristics of the tiltrotor configuration, and the identification of proper procedures to analyze and account for these characteristics in the wing design. This investigation led to a collection of more than thirty technical papers on the subject, some of which have been referenced here. The review of literature on the tiltrotor revealed the complexity of the system in terms of wing-rotor-pylon interactions. The aeroelastic instability or whirl flutter stemming from wing-rotor-pylon interactions is found to be the most critical mode of instability demanding careful consideration in the preliminary wing design. The placement of wing fundamental natural frequencies in bending and torsion relative to each other and relative to the rotor 1/rev frequencies is found to have a strong influence on the whirl flutter. The frequency placement guide based on a Bell Helicopter Textron study is used in the formulation of frequency constraints. The analysis and design studies are based on two different finite-element computer codes: (1) MSC/NASATRAN and (2) WIDOWAC. These programs are used in parallel with the motivation to eventually, upon necessary modifications and validation, use the simpler WIDOWAC code in the structural tailoring of the tiltrotor wing. Several test cases were studied for the preliminary comparison of the two codes. The results obtained so far indicate a good overall agreement between the two codes.

Rais-Rohani, Masoud↗

Tone Noise Predictions for a Spacecraft Cabin Ventilation Fan Ingesting Distorted Inflow and the Challenges of Validation

A fan tone noise prediction code has been developed at NASA Glenn Research Center that is capable of estimating duct mode sound power levels for a fan ingesting distorted inflow. This code was used to predict the circumferential and radial mode sound power levels in the inlet and exhaust duct of an axial spacecraft cabin ventilation fan. Noise predictions at fan design rotational speed were generated. Three fan inflow conditions were studied: an undistorted inflow, a circumferentially symmetric inflow distortion pattern (cylindrical rods inserted radially into the flowpath at 15deg, 135deg, and 255deg), and a circumferentially asymmetric inflow distortion pattern (rods located at 15deg, 52deg and 173deg). Noise predictions indicate that tones are produced for the distorted inflow cases that are not present when the fan operates with an undistorted inflow. Experimental data are needed to validate these acoustic predictions, as well as the aerodynamic performance predictions. Given the aerodynamic design of the spacecraft cabin ventilation fan, a mechanical and electrical conceptual design study was conducted. Design features of a fan suitable for obtaining detailed acoustic and aerodynamic measurements needed to validate predictions are discussed.

Koch, L. Danielle↗

Tone Noise Predictions for a Spacecraft Cabin Ventilation Fan Ingesting Distorted Inflow and the Challenges of Validation

A fan tone noise prediction code has been developed at NASA Glenn Research Center that is capable of estimating duct mode sound power levels for a fan ingesting distorted inflow. This code was used to predict the circumferential and radial mode sound power levels in the inlet and exhaust duct of an axial spacecraft cabin ventilation fan. Noise predictions at fan design rotational speed were generated. Three fan inflow conditions were studied: an undistorted inflow, a circumferentially symmetric inflow distortion pattern (cylindrical rods inserted radially into the flowpath at 15deg, 135deg, and 255deg), and a circumferentially asymmetric inflow distortion pattern (rods located at 15deg, 52deg and 173deg). Noise predictions indicate that tones are produced for the distorted inflow cases that are not present when the fan operates with an undistorted inflow. Experimental data are needed to validate these acoustic predictions, as well as the aerodynamic performance predictions. Given the aerodynamic design of the spacecraft cabin ventilation fan, a mechanical and electrical conceptual design study was conducted. Design features of a fan suitable for obtaining detailed acoustic and aerodynamic measurements needed to validate predictions are discussed.

Koch, L. Danielle↗

A spectrally accurate boundary-layer code for infinite swept wings

This report documents the development, validation, and application of a spectrally accurate boundary-layer code, WINGBL2, which has been designed specifically for use in stability analyses of swept-wing configurations. Currently, we consider only the quasi-three-dimensional case of an infinitely long wing of constant cross section. The effects of streamwise curvature, streamwise pressure gradient, and wall suction and/or blowing are taken into account in the governing equations and boundary conditions. The boundary-layer equations are formulated both for the attachment-line flow and for the evolving boundary layer. The boundary-layer equations are solved by marching in the direction perpendicular to the leading edge, for which high-order (up to fifth) backward differencing techniques are used. In the wall-normal direction, a spectral collocation method, based upon Chebyshev polynomial approximations, is exploited. The accuracy, efficiency, and user-friendliness of WINGBL2 make it well suited for applications to linear stability theory, parabolized stability equation methodology, direct numerical simulation, and large-eddy simulation. The method is validated against existing schemes for three test cases, including incompressible swept Hiemenz flow and Mach 2.4 flow over an airfoil swept at 70 deg to the free stream.

Pruett, C. David↗

NASA GRC Stirling Technology Development Overview

The Department of Energy, Lockheed Martin (LM), Stirling Technology Company, and NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) are developing a high-efficiency Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG) for potential NASA Space Science missions. The SRG is being developed for multimission use, including providing spacecraft onboard electric power for NASA deep space missions and power for unmanned Mars rovers. NASA GRC is conducting an in- house supporting technology project to assist in developing the Stirling convertor for space qualification and mission implementation. Preparations are underway for a thermalhacuum system demonstration and unattended operation during endurance testing of the 55-We Technology Demonstration Convertors. Heater head life assessment efforts continue, including verification of the heater head brazing and heat treatment schedules and evaluation of any potential regenerator oxidation. Long-term magnet aging tests are continuing to characterize any possible aging in the strength or demagnetization resistance of the permanent magnets used in the linear alternator. Testing of the magnet/lamination epoxy bond for performance and lifetime characteristics is now underway. These efforts are expected to provide key inputs as the system integrator, LM, begins system development of the SRG. GRC is also developing advanced technology for Stirling convertors. Cleveland State University (CSU) is progressing toward a multi-dimensional Stirling computational fluid dynamics code, capable of modeling complete convertors. Validation efforts at both CSU and the University of Minnesota are complementing the code development. New efforts have been started this year on a lightweight convertor, advanced controllers, high-temperature materials, and an end-to-end system dynamics model. Performance and mass improvement goals have been established for second- and third-generation Stirling radioisotope power systems.

Thieme, Lanny G.↗

Steady and Unsteady Nozzle Simulations Using the Conservation Element and Solution Element Method

This paper presents results from computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations of a three-stream plug nozzle. Time-accurate, Euler, quasi-1D and 2D-axisymmetric simulations were performed as part of an effort to provide a CFD-based approach to modeling nozzle dynamics. The CFD code used for the simulations is based on the space-time Conservation Element and Solution Element (CESE) method. Steady-state results were validated using the Wind-US code and a code utilizing the MacCormack method while the unsteady results were partially validated via an aeroacoustic benchmark problem. The CESE steady-state flow field solutions showed excellent agreement with solutions derived from the other methods and codes while preliminary unsteady results for the three-stream plug nozzle are also shown. Additionally, a study was performed to explore the sensitivity of gross thrust computations to the control surface definition. The results showed that most of the sensitivity while computing the gross thrust is attributed to the control surface stencil resolution and choice of stencil end points and not to the control surface definition itself.Finally, comparisons between the quasi-1D and 2D-axisymetric solutions were performed in order to gain insight on whether a quasi-1D solution can capture the steady and unsteady nozzle phenomena without the cost of a 2D-axisymmetric simulation. Initial results show that while the quasi-1D solutions are similar to the 2D-axisymmetric solutions, the inability of the quasi-1D simulations to predict two dimensional phenomena limits its accuracy.

Nozzle gross thrust calculations↗

Supersonics Project - Airport Noise Tech Challenge

The Airport Noise Tech Challenge research effort under the Supersonics Project is reviewed. While the goal of "Improved supersonic jet noise models validated on innovative nozzle concepts" remains the same, the success of the research effort has caused the thrust of the research to be modified going forward in time. The main activities from FY06-10 focused on development and validation of jet noise prediction codes. This required innovative diagnostic techniques to be developed and deployed, extensive jet noise and flow databases to be created, and computational tools to be developed and validated. Furthermore, in FY09-10 systems studies commissioned by the Supersonics Project showed that viable supersonic aircraft were within reach using variable cycle engine architectures if exhaust nozzle technology could provide 3-5dB of suppression. The Project then began to focus on integrating the technologies being developed in its Tech Challenge areas to bring about successful system designs. Consequently, the Airport Noise Tech Challenge area has shifted efforts from developing jet noise prediction codes to using them to develop low-noise nozzle concepts for integration into supersonic aircraft. The new plan of research is briefly presented by technology and timelines.

Bridges, James↗

Mars Pathfinder Airbag Impact Attenuation System

The Mars Pathfinder spacecraft, scheduled for launch in December 1996, is designed to validate a low cost Entry, Descent, and Landing system and to perform scientific surface operations. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories teamed to design, fabricate, test and validate a prototype 0.38 scale model of an airbag impact attenuation system. A computer code was developed to predict the performance of the airbag system. A test program in Sandia's High Altitude Chamber was performed to validate the code and demonstrate the feasibility of the airbag concept and design. In addition, freefall tests were performed at representative velocities to demonstrate the structural integrity of the airbag system design. The feasibility program demonstrated that the airbag impact attenuation design will protect the lander upon impact with the Martian surface.

Mars Pathfinder↗

Validation of CFD/Heat Transfer Software for Turbine Blade Analysis

I am an intern in the Turbine Branch of the Turbomachinery and Propulsion Systems Division. The division is primarily concerned with experimental and computational methods of calculating heat transfer effects of turbine blades during operation in jet engines and land-based power systems. These include modeling flow in internal cooling passages and film cooling, as well as calculating heat flux and peak temperatures to ensure safe and efficient operation. The branch is research-oriented, emphasizing the development of tools that may be used by gas turbine designers in industry. The branch has been developing a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and heat transfer code called GlennHT to achieve the computational end of this analysis. The code was originally written in FORTRAN 77 and run on Silicon Graphics machines. However the code has been rewritten and compiled in FORTRAN 90 to take advantage of more modem computer memory systems. In addition the branch has made a switch in system architectures from SGI's to Linux PC's. The newly modified code therefore needs to be tested and validated. This is the primary goal of my internship. To validate the GlennHT code, it must be run using benchmark fluid mechanics and heat transfer test cases, for which there are either analytical solutions or widely accepted experimental data. From the solutions generated by the code, comparisons can be made to the correct solutions to establish the accuracy of the code. To design and create these test cases, there are many steps and programs that must be used. Before a test case can be run, pre-processing steps must be accomplished. These include generating a grid to describe the geometry, using a software package called GridPro. Also various files required by the GlennHT code must be created including a boundary condition file, a file for multi-processor computing, and a file to describe problem and algorithm parameters. A good deal of this internship will be to become familiar with these programs and the structure of the GlennHT code. Additional information is included in the original extended abstract.

Kiefer, Walter D.↗