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At least 91 records · Page 5

Advanced recovery systems wind tunnel test report

Pioneer Aerospace Corporation (PAC) conducted parafoil wind tunnel testing in the NASA-Ames 80 by 120 test sections of the National Full-Scale Aerodynamic Complex, Moffett Field, CA. The investigation was conducted to determine the aerodynamic characteristics of two scale ram air wings in support of air drop testing and full scale development of Advanced Recovery Systems for the Next Generation Space Transportation System. Two models were tested during this investigation. Both the primary test article, a 1/9 geometric scale model with wing area of 1200 square feet and secondary test article, a 1/36 geometric scale model with wing area of 300 square feet, had an aspect ratio of 3. The test results show that both models were statically stable about a model reference point at angles of attack from 2 to 10 degrees. The maximum lift-drag ratio varied between 2.9 and 2.4 for increasing wing loading.

Geiger, R. H.↗

Static Wind Tunnel Testing of a Legged Venus Lander

A static wind tunnel test was conducted to determine the static aerodynamic coe cients of the surface lander design proposed by the Venus In-Situ Atmospheric and Geochemical Explorer (VISAGE). The baseline design of the lander consists of a spherical pressure vessel with a top-mounted circular drag plate for aerodynamic deceleration, and three xed landing legs. A modular subscale lander model, which allowed testing of several drag plate and landing leg con gurations, was fabricated using rapid-prototyping techniques. The model was tested with four di erent drag plates and three di erent leg con gurations, at a dynamic pressure of 1610 Pa and Mach number of 0.15. Testing was conducted using legs of varying diameter in order to determine the appropriate scaling of the results to Reynolds numbers representative of terminal descent at Venus. The static aerodynamic force (axial, normal, and side), and moment (rolling, pitching, yawing) coe cients for each lander con guration were determined as a function of model orientation. All model con gurations were found to be statically stable in the range of total angles of attack considered (0 to 30 deg). However, the drag performance and degree of static stability of the model were dependent on the dihedral angle of the circular drag plate. The results will enable the creation of a preliminary aerodatabase for the VISAGE lander concept, and allow the e ect of design changes on aerodynamic performance to be evaluated.

Rabinovitch, Jason↗

Validation of AV-8B V/STOL characteristics by full scale static and wind tunnel tests

The background which led to the requirement for the full scale powered wind tunnel tests of an AV-8B model, and the formulation of specific objectives for the test, are outlined. The detailed planning, analysis, and coordination with NASA, NAVAIR, and other industry participants is described. The modification of an AV-8A Harrier into an AV-8B configuration suitable for full scale testing at Ames is described. In addition, instrumentation and data systems are explained. Operations during the 40 ft x 80 ft wind tunnel testing and the resulting propulsion, aerodynamic, performance, stability and control data are presented and suggestions offered for future V/STOL testing.

Hollingsworth, E. G.↗

Plans and Status of Wind-Tunnel Testing Employing an Aeroservoelastic Semispan Model

This paper presents the research objectives, summarizes the pre-wind-tunnel-test experimental results to date, summarizes the analytical predictions to date, and outlines the wind-tunnel-test plans for an aeroservoelastic semispan wind-tunnel model. The model is referred to as the Supersonic Semispan Transport (S4T) Active Controls Testbed (ACT) and is based on a supersonic cruise configuration. The model has three hydraulically-actuated surfaces (all-movable horizontal tail, all-movable ride control vane, and aileron) for active controls. The model is instrumented with accelerometers, unsteady pressure transducers, and strain gages and will be mounted on a 5-component sidewall balance. The model will be tested twice in the Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT). The first entry will be an "open-loop" model-characterization test; the second entry will be a "closed-loop" test during which active flutter suppression, gust load alleviation and ride quality control experiments will be conducted.

Perry, Boyd, III↗

Space Shuttle wind tunnel testing program

A major phase of the Space Shuttle Vehicle (SSV) Development Program was the acquisition of data through the space shuttle wind tunnel testing program. It became obvious that the large number of configuration/environment combinations would necessitate an extremely large wind tunnel testing program. To make the most efficient use of available test facilities and to assist the prime contractor for orbiter design and space shuttle vehicle integration, a unique management plan was devised for the design and development phase. The space shuttle program is reviewed together with the evolutional development of the shuttle configuration. The wind tunnel testing rationale and the associated test program management plan and its overall results is reviewed. Information is given for the various facilities and models used within this program. A unique posttest documentation procedure and a summary of the types of test per disciplines, per facility, and per model are presented with detailed listing of the posttest documentation.

Whitnah, A. M.↗

Case Studies for the Statistical Design of Experiments Applied to Powered Rotor Wind Tunnel Tests

The application of statistical Design of Experiments (DOE) to helicopter wind tunnel testing was explored during two powered rotor wind tunnel entries during the summers of 2012 and 2013. These tests were performed jointly by the U.S. Army Aviation Development Directorate Joint Research Program Office and NASA Rotary Wing Project Office, currently the Revolutionary Vertical Lift Project, at NASA Langley Research Center located in Hampton, Virginia. Both entries were conducted in the 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel with a small portion of the overall tests devoted to developing case studies of the DOE approach as it applies to powered rotor testing. A 16-47 times reduction in the number of data points required was estimated by comparing the DOE approach to conventional testing methods. The average error for the DOE surface response model for the OH-58F test was 0.95 percent and 4.06 percent for drag and download, respectively. The DOE surface response model of the Active Flow Control test captured the drag within 4.1 percent of measured data. The operational differences between the two testing approaches are identified, but did not prevent the safe operation of the powered rotor model throughout the DOE test matrices.

Overmeyer, Austin D.↗

Computational wing optimization and wind tunnel test of semi-span model

A computational transonic wing design procedure has been developed and verified by a wind tunnel test of a variable camber semi-span wing model. The Bailey-Ballhaus transonic potential flow analysis code linked to Vanderplaat's constrained minimization routine was used to optimize test configurations at 0.9 Mach number. Based on wind tunnel test results, computationally optimized designs were as efficient as the best configurations determined by previous parametric testing and performed better at off-design points. Wind tunnel wing pressures agreed well with predictions from the improved Bailey-Ballhaus code at moderate CL's. Computational optimization was shown to be an effective transonic wing design tool.

Haney, H. P.↗

A flight investigation of the spinning of the NY-1 airplane with varied mass distribution and other modifications, and an analysis based on wind-tunnel tests

This report presents the results of an investigation of the spinning characteristics of NY-1 naval training biplane. The results of flight tests and an analysis based on wind-tunnel test data are given and compared. The primary purpose of the investigation was the determination in flight of the effect of changes in mass distribution along the longitudinal axis, without change of mass quantity or centroid. Other effects were also investigated, such as those due to wing loading, center-of-gravity position, dihedral of wings, control setting, and the removal of a large portion of the fabric from the fin and rudder. The wind tunnel test results used in the numerical analysis were obtained in the 7 by 10 foot wind tunnel through an angle-of-attack.

Scudder, Nathan F↗

Performance evaluation of Space Shuttle SRB parachutes from air drop and scaled model wind tunnel tests

The aerodynamic performance characteristics have been determined for the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster drogue, main, and pilot parachutes. The performance evaluation on the 20-degree conical ribbon parachutes is based primarily on air drop tests of full scale prototype parachutes. In addition, parametric wind tunnel tests were performed and used in parachute configuration development and preliminary performance assessments. The wind tunnel test data are compared to the drop test results and both sets of data are used to determine the predicted performance of the Solid Rocket Booster flight parachutes. Data from other drop tests of large ribbon parachutes are also compared with the Solid Rocket Booster parachute performance characteristics. Parameters assessed include full open terminal drag coefficients, reefed drag area, opening characteristics, clustering effects, and forebody interference.

Moog, R. D.↗

Mars Aeolian Wind Tunnel Test Stand Group #20

The exploration of Mars has long been a theme in science fiction entertainment. However, with successful NASA Mars rover missions such as Curiosity and Opportunity, this fiction has become a reality. As NASA prepares additional rovers to explore the Red Planet, the agency is looking for ways to make exploration more efficient. One solution is to use a small, lightweight, co-axial rotor helicopter to scout geographical conditions on the Martian surface. This type of flight is unprecedented, as no vehicle has flown in the Martian atmosphere. With that said, extensive experimentation is needed to develop such a vehicle. Initial testing has been completed on what has been dubbed the Mars Scout Helicopter (MSH), and the next phase of testing will include wind tunnel testing of the rotor in forward flight in a reduced pressure environment, simulating the atmosphere of Mars.

Mars Aeolian↗

Wind Tunnel Testing Techniques for a Tandem Tilt-Wing, Distributed Electric Propulsion VTOL Aircraft

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraftdesigns frequently include multiple distributed propulsors, complex wing-propulsor aerodynamics, significant airframe configuration changes during normal flight operations, and no historical database regarding the best ways to transition between vertical and horizontal flight. This paper describes the methodology used for wind tunnel testing of the Langley Aerodrome No. 8 (LA-8) in the NASA Langley 12-Foot Low-SpeedTunnel during multiple test entries in 2019 and2020. The LA-8 is a tandem tilt-wing aircraft with 4 motor-propellerunits and 4 control surfaces distributed across each wing, plus an inverted V-tail with 2 ruddervators on the fuselage. An initial tunnel entryused one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) testing to (1) define candidate trimmed transition corridors between vertical and horizontal flight, (2) assess whether there was adequate control authority, and (3) define appropriatetest factor ranges for subsequent design of experiment (DOE) wind tunnel testing. The total number of independent variables for these wind tunnel tests (23) made DOE testing an efficient option for assessing the large number of potential interactions associated with the LA-8. The general advantages and disadvantages of OFAT and DOE wind tunnel testing techniques are also discussed –along with the benefits of a combined approach

wind tunnel research techniques↗

Test data report: Low speed wind tunnel tests of a full scale, fixed geometry inlet, with engine, at high angles of attack

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.

Shain, W. M.↗

Transonic Wind-Tunnel Test Of An Oblique Wing

Report describes transonic wind-tunnel tests of oblique, pivotable wing fitted to 0.087-scale model of F-8 airplane. Purpose of tests to study performance and stability characteristics. Conducted to determine whether placement of pivot at higher position above fuselage than previously results in less side force and yawing moment than observed in previous tests at low speeds.

Kennelly, R. A.↗

Wind-tunnel Tests of a Hall High-life Wing

Wind-tunnel tests have been made to find the lift, drag, and center-of-pressure characteristics of a Hall high-lift wing model. The Hall wing is essentially a split-flap airfoil with an internal air passage. Air enters the passage through an opening in the lower surface somewhat back of and parallel to the leading edge, and flows out through an opening made by deflecting the rear portion of the under surface downward as a flap. For ordinary flight conditions the front opening and the rear flap can be closed, providing in effect a conventional airfoil (the Clark Y in this case). The tests were made with various flap settings and with the entrance to the passage both open and closed. The highest lift coefficient found, C(sub L) = 2.08, was obtained with the passage closed.

Weick, Fred E↗

Wind Tunnel Tests of an Inflatable Airplane

In this video a wind tunnel investigation of aerodynamic and structural deflection characteristics of an inflatable airplane is shown. The film includes scenarios during wind tunnel tests of an inflatable airplane in the Langley Full Scale Tunnel with the main objective of obtaining load factors prior to wing buckle of 4.5 to 5.0 g. The inflation pressure during the test was indicated to be 7.0 psi.

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