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At least 91 records · Page 5

Computational Investigation of Supersonic Boundary Layer Transition Over Canonical Fuselage Nose Configurations

Boundary layer transition over axisymmetric bodies at non-zero angle of attack in supersonic flow is numerically investigated as part of joint research between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Transition over four axisymmetric bodies (namely, Sears-Haack body, semi-Sears-Haack body, 5-degree straight cone and flared cone) with different axial pressure gradients has been studied at Mach 2 in order to understand the effect of axial pressure gradient on instability amplification along the leeward symmetry plane and in the region of nonzero crossflow away from it. Comparisons are made with measured transition data in Mach 2 facilities as well as with predicted and measured transition characteristics for a 5-degree straight cone in a Mach 3.5 low disturbance tunnel. Limitations of using linear stability correlations for predicting transition over axisymmetric bodies at angle of attack are pointed out.

Choudhari, Meelan M.↗

Computational/Experimental Aeroheating Predictions for X-33: Vehicle - Phase 2

Laminar and turbulent heating-rate calculations from an "engineering" code and laminar calculations from a "benchmark" Navier-Stokes code are compared with experimental wind-tunnel data obtained on several candidate configurations for the X-33 Phase 2 flight vehicle. The experimental data were obtained at a Mach number of 6 and a freestream Reynolds number ranging from 1 to 8 x 10(exp 6)/ft. Comparisons are presented along the windward symmetry plane and in a circumferential direction around the body at several axial stations at angles of attack from 20 to 40 deg. The experimental results include both laminar and turbulent flow. For the highest angle of attack some of the measured heating data exhibited a "non-laminar" behavior which caused the heating to increase above the laminar level long before "classical" transition to turbulent flow was observed. This trend was not observed at the lower angles of attack. When the flow was laminar, both codes predicted the heating along the windward symmetry plane reasonably well but under-predicted the heating in the chine region. When the flow was turbulent the LATCH code accurately predicted the measured heating rates. Both codes were used to calculate heating rates over the X-33 vehicle at the peak heating point on the design trajectory and they were found to be in very good agreement over most of the vehicle windward surface.

Hamilton, H. Harris, II↗

Thermocapillary motion of bubbles inside drops

A quasi-static analysis is performed for the thermocapillary motion of a bubble located inside a drop in free fall, with arbitrary axisymmetric temperature fields prescribed on the drop surface. It is shown that in the case of an axially symmetric temperature field, the bubble moves along the axis of symmetry toward the nearest warm pole. The bubble velocity as well as the velocity and temperature fields in the drop can be predicted on the basis of the quasi-static assumptions. An approximation is presented which adequately describes bubble migration velocities in the case where the ratio of the bubble radius to the drop radius is relatively small.

Shankar, N.↗

Thrust measurement in a 2-D scramjet nozzle

The two-dimensional thrust nozzle presents a challenging problem. The loading is not axisymmetric as in the case of a cone and the internal flow presents some design difficulties. A two-sting system has been chosen to accomodate the internal flow and achieve some symmetry. The situation is complicated by the fact that with the small ramp angle and the internal pressure on the nozzle walls, loading is predominantly transverse. Yet it is the axial thrust which is to be measured (i.e., the tensile waves propagating in the stings). Although bending stress waves travel at most at only 60% of the speed of the axial stress waves, the system needs to be stiffened against bending. The second sting was originally only used to preserve symmetry. However, the pressures on each thrust surface may be quite different at some conditions, so at this stage the signals from both stings are being averaged as a first order approximation of the net thrust. The expected axial thrust from this nozzle is not large so thin stings are required. In addition, the contact area between nozzle and sting needs to be maximized. The result was that it was decided to twist the stings through 90 deg, without distorting their cross-sectional shape, just aft of the nozzle. Finite element analysis showed that this would not significantly alter the propagation of the axial stress wave in the sting, while the rigidity of the system is greatly increased. A Mach 4 contoured nozzle is used in the experiments. The thrust calculated by integrating the static pressure measurements on the thrust surfaces is compared with the deconvolved strain measurement of the net thrust for the cases of air only and hydrogen fuel injected into air at approximately 9 MJ/kg nozzle supply enthalpy. The gain in thrust due to combustion is visible in this result.

Tuttle, Sean↗

Two pad axially grooved hydrostatic bearing

A hydrostatic bearing having two axial grooves on opposite sides of the bearing for breaking the rotational symmetry in the dynamic force coefficients thus reducing the whirl frequency ratio and increasing the damping and stiffness of the hydrostatic bearing.

San Andres, Luis A.↗

A Flat-Panel 8x8 Sequentially Rotated Wideband Microstrip Patch Phased Array Antenna for K/Ka-band 6U CubeSat Communications Applications

Flat-panel electronically-scanned phased arrays have recently become a mainstream technology in the areas of radar and satellite applications, particularly due to their low profile and not having to steer the beams mechanically, both of which helps in realizing a lightweight phased array solution that also occupies a smaller volume. Typically for satellite applications, circularly polarized element radiators are often employed in order to deal with the signal fading problem. In this project, the main objective was to design a flat-panel phased array solution for 6U CubeSat communication applications. As for the required specifications, the array should have two operating bands: 22.55–23.55 GHz and 25.5–27.5 GHz, which span part of the K and Ka bands. For both these bands, the panel should be able to radiate dual circular polarization, in both transmit and receive modes, and with a stable gain performance. Since the individual bands are very closely spaced, it was realized that a single wideband design would be a better solution than a closely spaced dual-band design. Thus, a stacked microstrip patch configuration was selected for the element radiator design, which is known to be wideband. Now, it is rather difficult to realize both wide impedance and axial ratio bandwidths simultaneously, and at high frequencies, without complicating the element stacked patch design.. As a result, a sequential rotation technique wasemployed to significantly improves the axial ratio bandwidth and circular polarization purity of an array, all the while improving the pattern symmetry (P. S. Hall, “Application of Sequential Feeding to Wide Bandwidth, Circularly Polarised Microstrip Patch Arrays,” IEE Proc. H (Microw., Antennas Propag.), vol. 136, no. 5, pp. 390–398, Oct. 1989). The designed element radiator is a circularly-polarized probe-fed stacked patch antenna, which has a 10-dB matching bandwidth of 22.3– 30 GHz, with only a 5.14% axial ratio bandwidth around the center frequency of the required band, i.e., ~25 GHz. However, the resulting array demonstrates a very low axial ratio (≪ 3 dB) over the entire bandwidth, due to the application of the sequential rotation technique. The 8×8 array was able to scan up to ±51° and ±40° at frequencies 23.05 GHz and 26.5 GHz (center frequencies of the lower and upper bands), respectively, while maintaining a ≤ 3 dB axial ratio and a ≤ 3 dB gain drop from the corresponding peak broadside value at both the principle and the diagonal radiation planes. The designed layout for the 8×8 phased array prototype is shown in Fig. 1, which is currently undergoing fabrication and RF assembly. The antenna will be tested in the far-field anechoic chambers of the Antenna and Microwave Laboratory (AML) at San Diego State University and at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC).

5G↗

A finite element: Boundary integral method for electromagnetic scattering

A method that combines the finite element and boundary integral techniques for the numerical solution of electromagnetic scattering problems is presented. The finite element method is well known for requiring a low order storage and for its capability to model inhomogeneous structures. Of particular emphasis in this work is the reduction of the storage requirement by terminating the finite element mesh on a boundary in a fashion which renders the boundary integrals in convolutional form. The fast Fourier transform is then used to evaluate these integrals in a conjugate gradient solver, without a need to generate the actual matrix. This method has a marked advantage over traditional integral equation approaches with respect to the storage requirement of highly inhomogeneous structures. Rectangular, circular, and ogival mesh termination boundaries are examined for two-dimensional scattering. In the case of axially symmetric structures, the boundary integral matrix storage is reduced by exploiting matrix symmetries and solving the resulting system via the conjugate gradient method. In each case several results are presented for various scatterers aimed at validating the method and providing an assessment of its capabilities. Important in methods incorporating boundary integral equations is the issue of internal resonance. A method is implemented for their removal, and is shown to be effective in the two-dimensional and three-dimensional applications.

Collins, J. D.↗

Using NASTRAN to solve symmetric structures with nonsymmetric loads

A method for computation of reflective dihedral symmetry in symmetrical structures under nonsymmetric loads is described. The method makes it possible to confine the analysis to a half, a quarter, or an octagonal segment. The symmetry of elastic deformation is discussed, and antisymmetrical deformation is distinguished from nonsymmetrical deformation. Modes of deformation considered are axial, bending, membrane, and torsional deformation. Examples of one and two dimensional elements are presented and extended to three dimensional elements. The method of setting up a problem within NASTRAN is discussed. The technique is applied to a thick structure having quarter symmetry which was modeled with polyhedra and subjected to five distinct loads having varying degrees of symmetry.

Butler, T. G.↗

Whirl Flutter Stability of Two-Bladed Proprotor/Pylon Systems In High Speed Flight

The lack of polar symmetry in two-bladed rotors leads to equations of motion with periodic coefficients in axial flight, which is contrary to three or more bladed rotors that result in constant coefficient equations. With periodic coefficients, the analysis becomes involved, as a result very few studies have been directed towards the analysis of two-bladed rotors. In this paper, the aeroelastic stability of two-bladed proprotor/pylon/wing combinations is examined in high speed axial flight. Several parametric studies are carried out to illustrate the special nature of two-bladed proprotors and to better understand the mechanism of whirl-flutter in such rotors. The wing beam bending mode for two-bladed rotors is found to be stable over the range of parameters examined, a behaviour very different from three-bladed rotors. Also, the wing torsion mode exhibits a new type of instability similar to a wing torsional divergence scouring at I/rev frequency. This type of behaviour is not seen in three and more bladed rotors. The interaction between wing chordwise bending and torsion modes is found to be much greater in the case of two-bladed rotors and, over the range of parameters considered, these two modes govern the stability of the system.

Singh, Beerinder↗

Transition Within Leeward Plane of Axisymmetric Bodies at Incidence in Supersonic Flow

Boundary layer transition along the leeward symmetry plane of axisymmetric bodies at nonzero angle of attack in supersonic flow was investigated experimentally and numerically as part of joint research between the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Transition over four axisymmetric bodies (namely, Sears-Haack body, semi-Sears-Haack body, straight cone and flared cone) with different axial pressure gradients was measured in two different facilities with different unit Reynolds numbers. The semi-Sears-Haack body and flared cone were designed at JAXA to broaden the range of axial pressure distributions. For a body shape with an adverse pressure gradient (i.e., flared cone), the experimentally measured transition patterns show an earlier transition location along the leeward symmetry plane in comparison with the neighboring azimuthal locations. For nearly zero pressure gradient (i.e.,straight cone), this feature is only observed at the larger unit Reynolds number. Later transition along the leeward plane was observed for the remaining two body shapes with a favorable pressure gradient. The observed transition patterns are only partially consistent with the numerical predictions based on linear stability analysis. Additional measurements are used in conjunction with the stability computations to explore the phenomenon of leeward line transition and the underlying transition mechanism in further detail.

Tokugawa, Naoko↗

Evolution of magnetic flux ropes associated with flux transfer events and interplanetary magnetic clouds

Spacecraft observations suggest that flux transfer events and interplanetary magnetic clouds may be associated with magnetic flux ropes which are magnetic flux tubes containing helical magnetic field lines. In the magnetic flux ropes, the azimuthal magnetic field is superposed on the axial field. The time evolution of a localized magnetic flux rope is studied. A two-dimensional compressible MHD simulation code with a cylindrical symmetry is developed to study the wave modes associated with the evolution of flux ropes. It is found that in the initial phase both the fast magnetosonic wave and the Alfven wave are developed in the flux rope. After this initial phase, the Alfven wave becomes the dominant wave mode for the evolution of the magnetic flux rope and the radial expansion velocity of the flux rope is found to be negligible. Numerical results further show that even for a large initial azimuthal component of the magnetic field, the propagation velocity along the axial direction of the flux rope remains the Alfven velocity. It is also found that the localized magnetic flux rope tends to evolve into two separate magnetic ropes propagating in opposite directions. The simulation results are used to study the evolution of magnetic flux ropes associated with flux transfer events observed at the earth's dayside magnetopause and magnetic clouds in the interplanetary space.

Wei, C. Q.↗

Coaxial injector spray characterization using water/air as simulants

Quantitative information about the atomization of injector sprays is required to improve the accuracy of computational models that predict the performance and stability of liquid propellant rocket engines. An experimental program is being conducted at NASA-Lewis to measure the drop size and velocity distributions in shear coaxial injector sprays. A phase/Doppler interferometer is used to obtain drop size data in water air shear coaxial injector sprays. Droplet sizes and axial component of droplet velocities are measured at different radii for various combinations of water flow rate, air flow rate, injector liquid jet diameter, injector annular gap, and liquid post recess. Sauter mean diameters measured in the spray center 51 mm downstream of the liquid post tip range from 28 to 68 microns, and mean axial drop velocities at the same location range from 37 to 120 m/s. The shear coaxial injector sprays show a high degree of symmetry; the mean drop size and velocity profiles vary with liquid flow rate, post recess, and distance from the injector face. The drop size data can be used to estimate liquid oxygen/hydrogen spray drop sizes by correcting property differences between water-air and liquid oxygen/hydrogen.

Zaller, Michelle M.↗

Turbulent viscous shock layer solutions for Jovian entry at small angles of attack

The equations governing the laminar and turbulent flows of reacting gas mixtures in chemical equilibrium over axially symmetric blunt bodies at small angles of attack are developed and presented in the unsteady conservative form. Solutions are obtained in the planes of symmetry of the flow field for the typical conditions encountered by a probe entering the Jovian atmosphere at small angles of attack. The eddy-viscosity is approximated by a two-layer model. The shock wave is treated as a discontinuity across which the shock relations are used to compute the flow conditions behind the shock. A time-asymptotic finite-difference method is used to solve the equations. The zero angle of attack results for a hyperboloid are compared with the existing results but neither experimental nor computational results are available for comparison with the present results at angle of attack.

Jumar, A.↗

The linearized characteristics method and its application to practical nonlinear supersonic problems

The methods of characteristics has been linearized by assuming that the flow field can be represented as a basic flow field determined by nonlinearized methods and a linearized superposed flow field that accounts for small changes of boundary conditions. The method has been applied to two-dimensional rotational flow where the basic flow is potential flow and to axially symmetric problems where conical flows have been used as the basic flows. In both cases the method allows the determination of the flow field to be simplified and the numerical work to be reduced to a few calculations. The calculations of axially symmetric flow can be simplified if tabulated values of some coefficients of the conical flow are obtained. The method has also been applied to slender bodies without symmetry and to some three-dimensional wing problems where two-dimensional flow can be used as the basic flow. Both problems were unsolved before in the approximation of nonlinear flow.

Ferri, Antonio↗

A New Approach to Fibrous Composite Laminate Strength Prediction

A method of predicting the strength of cross-plied fibrous composite laminates is based on expressing the classical maximum-shear-stress failure criterion for ductile metals in terms of strains. Starting with such a formulation for classical isotropic materials, the derivation is extended to orthotropic materials having a longitudinal axis of symmetry, to represent the fibers in a unidirectional composite lamina. The only modification needed to represent those same fibers with properties normalized to the lamina rather than fiber is a change in axial modulus. A mirror image is added to the strain-based lamina failure criterion for fiber-dominated failures to reflect the cutoffs due to the presence of orthogonal fibers. It is found that the combined failure envelope is now identical with the well-known maximum-strain failure model in the tension-tension and compression-compression quadrants but is truncated in the shear quadrants. The successive application of this simple failure model for fibers in the 0/90 degree and +/- 45 degree orientations, in turn, is shown to be the necessary and sufficient characterization of the fiber-dominated failures of laminates made from fibers having the same tensile and compressive strengths. When one such strength is greater than the other, the failure envelope is appropriately truncated for the lesser direct strain. The shear-failure cutoffs are now based on the higher axial strain to failure since they occur at lower strains than and are usually not affected by such mechanisms as microbuckling. Premature matrix failures can also be covered by appropriately truncating the fiber failure envelope. Matrix failures are excluded from consideration for conventional fiber/polymer composites but the additional features needed for a more rigorous analysis of exotic materials are covered. The new failure envelope is compared with published biaxial test data. The theory is developed for unnotched laminates but is easily shrunk to incorporate reductions to allow for bolt holes, cutouts, reduced compressive strength after impact, and the like.

Hart-Smith, L. J.↗

Linear Electromagnetic Acutator With Manual Override

Conceptual permanent-magnet-assisted electromagnetic linear actuator used to set axial position of metering component in valve. One notable feature of actuator is external pole-piece subassembly that swivels manually about axis of linear motion (which is also axis of cylindrical symmetry) to vary distribution of magnetic flux in such way as to override electrical position control. Armature and magnets hermetically sealed.

Abel, Stephen G.↗

Stiffness and strength tailoring in uniform space-filling truss structures

A deterministic procedure for tailoring the continuum stiffness and strength of uniform space-filling truss structures, through the appropriate selection of truss geometry and member sizes (flexural stiffness, axial stiffness, and length), is presented. The trusses considered herein are generated by uniform replication of a characteristic truss cell. The repeating cells are categorized by one of a set of possible geometric symmetry groups derived using crystallographic techniques. The elastic symmetry associated with each geometric symmetry group is identified to help select an appropriate truss geometry for a given application. Stiffness and strength tailoring of a given truss geometry is enabled through explicit expressions relating the continuum stiffnesses and failure stresses of the truss to the stiffnesses and failure loads of its members. These expressions are derived using an existing equivalent continuum analysis technique and a newly developed analytical failure theory for trusses. Several examples are presented to illustrate the application of these techniques and to demonstrate the usefulness of the information gained from this analysis.

Lake, Mark S.↗

Stiffness and strength tailoring in uniform space-filling truss structures

This paper presents a deterministic procedure for tailoring the continuum stiffness and strength of uniform space-filling truss structures through the appropriate selection of truss geometry and member sizes (i.e., flexural and axial stiffnesses and length). The trusses considered herein are generated by replication of a characteristic truss cell uniformly through space. The repeating cells are categorized by one of a set of possible geometric symmetry groups derived using the techniques of crystallography. The elastic symmetry associated with each geometric symmetry group is identified to aid in the selection of an appropriate truss geometry for a given application. Stiffness and strength tailoring of a given truss geometry is enabled through explicit expressions relating the continuum stiffnesses and failure stresses of the truss to the stiffnesses and failure loads of its members. These expressions are derived using an existing equivalent continuum analysis technique and a newly developed analytical failure theory for trusses. Several examples are presented to illustrate the application of these techniques, and to demonstrate the usefulness of the information gained from this analysis.

Lake, Mark S.↗