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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 955 records · Page 53

Recent technical advances in general purpose mobile Satcom aviation terminals

A second general aviation amplitude companded single sideband (ACSSB) aeronautical terminal was developed for use with the Ontario Air Ambulance Service (OAAS). This terminal is designed to have automatic call set up and take down and to interface with the Public Service Telephone Network (PSTN) through a ground earth station hub controller. The terminal has integrated RF and microprocessor hardware which allows such functions as beam steering and automatic frequency control to be software controlled. The terminal uses a conformal patch array system to provide almost full azimuthal coverage. Antenna beam steering is executed without relying on aircraft supplied orientation information.

Sydor, John T.↗

Studies in general aviation aerodynamics

The Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Maryland has completed a research study for NASA Langley on the application of drooped leading edges to high aspect wings. The experimental study conducted for this grant was a natural extension of work previously conducted at NASA Ames, the University of Michigan, NASA Langley and the University of Maryland. Previous research had shown that wing planform modifications (commonly referred to as drooped leading edge mods) could have a significant effect on reducing or eliminating the stall/spin characteristics of General Aviation (GA) aircraft. All aircraft studied in the earlier work had relatively low aspect ratio wings (AR = 6). Since future GA aircraft will feature higher aspect ratio wings, the obvious question was: how well will the dropped leading edge work on higher aspect ratio wings? The focus of the current study was to examine the effectiveness of the drooped leading edge modifications to higher aspect ratio wings with AR = 9 to 12.

Winkelmann, Allen E.↗

Preliminary design studies of an advanced general aviation aircraft

Preliminary design studies are presented for an advanced general aviation aircraft. Advanced guidance and display concepts, laminar flow, smart structures, fuselage and wing structural design and manufacturing, and preliminary configuration design are discussed. This project was conducted as a graduate level design class under the auspices of the KU/NASA/USRA Advanced Design Program in Aeronautics. The results obtained during the fall semester of 1990 (Phase 1) and the spring semester of 1991 (Phase 2) are presented.

Source record↗

The FAA/NASA flight loads monitoring program - The prototype system and its benefits for the aviation community

The FAA established the flight load monitoring program to collect a data base of typical flight operational loads experienced by commercial transports. This system will provide a comprehensive monitoring of aircraft loading conditions with over 20 flight parameters being recorded simultaneously. NASA is designing and testing a prototype data collection and analysis system which will be implemented into an FAA operational program. This paper presents the program's objectives and the proposed development testing on a commercial Boeing 737-400. The prototype system, its data processing schemes, and reports are described. The searching criteria or flight attributes generated for each flight are listed. The data processing system will provide the aviation community with a powerful tool for the study of transport flight loading conditions and the system's flexibility will accommodate individual studies and specialized concerns.

Whitehead, Julia H.↗

Stability theory and transition prediction applied to a general aviation fuselage

The linear stability of a fully three-dimensional boundary layer formed over a general aviation fuselage was investigated. The location of the onset of transition was estimated using the N-factor method. The results were compared with existing experimental data and indicate N-factors of approximately 8.5 on the side of the fuselage and 3.0 near the top. Considerable crossflow existed along the side of the body, which significantly affected the unstable modes present in the boundary layer. Fair agreement was found between the predicted frequency range of linear instability modes and available experimental data concerning the spectral content of the boundary layer.

Spall, R. E.↗

Experience with Geared Propeller Drives for Aviation Engines

I. The development of the gear wheels: (a) bending stresses; (b) compressive stresses; (c) heating; (d) precision of manufacture. II. General arrangement of the gearing. III. Vibration in the shaft transmission. An overview is given of experience with geared propeller drives for aviation engines. The development of gear wheels is discussed with emphasis upon bending stresses, compressive stresses, heating, and precision in manufacturing. With respect to the general arrangement of gear drives for airplanes, some principal rules of mechanical engineering that apply with special force are noted. The primary vibrations in the shaft transmission are discussed. With respect to vibration, various methods for computing vibration frequency and the influence of elastic couplings are discussed.

Kutzbach, K↗

Politics of aviation fields

In short, the "politics of aviation" lies in a few propositions: the need of having as large a number of fields as possible and of sufficient area; the utilization of the larger part of the existing military fields; the selection of uncultivated or unproductive fields, whenever technical conditions permit; ability to disregard (save in exceptional cases) objections of an agricultural nature.

Vivent, Jacques↗

Commercial aviation in France

In the present state of things, there are three great problems to be solved, relating respectively to the financial, technical, and commercial aspects of the question of commercial aviation.

Source record↗

Net Heat of Combustion of AN-F-28 Aviation Gasolines

Experimental data on the heats of combustion and hydrogen contents of a number of aviation gasolines have been used in deriving a formula for computing net heat of combustion from (measured) gross heat of combustion. This formula appears to be sufficiently reliable for the purpose and has the advantage of making hydrogen determinations unnecessary. The data on heats of combustion are presented in tabular form, and in graphs showing the relation between net heat of combustion and (1) hydrogen content, (2) aniline point, (3) APO gravity, and (4) the product of aniline point and APO gravity. Data are given on the change in aniline point with time, and also the change resulting from the addition of xylidine.

FUELS - COMBUSTION TEMPERATURES↗

Free fall and evaporation of N-Octane droplets in the atmosphere as applied to the jettisoning of aviation gasoline at altitude

In connection with proposed rapid jettisoning of aviation gasoline at altitude, a theoretical study was made of the free fall and evaporation of N-octane droplets in the atmosphere ; N-octane was selected for study because of the expected similarity of over-all evaporation behavior of N-octane and gasoline. It was concluded that gasoline (or N-octane) droplets larger than 2000 microns in diameter would be unstable ; terminal speeds and Reynolds numbers were obtained for droplets not larger than 2000 microns at altitudes to 11,000 feet. The motion data were used in the calculation of N-octane evaporation rates under various conditions. It was found that a droplet having an original diameter of 2000 microns would fall about 4000 feet from 6000 feet under NACA standard atmosphere conditions before coming virtually to rest. Finally, it was concluded that temperature effects are of paramount importance; at highest air temperatures a 1000-foot ground clearance would probably be adequate to prevent ground contamination, whereas at lowest air temperatures only an atomizing spray arrangement would prevent ground contamination, irrespective of ground clearance.

FIRE HAZARDS↗

Aviation fuels : with especial reference to "white spirit."

Gasoline, the fuel now used, is an extremely volatile and inflammable liquid capable of forming explosive mixtures, the cause of many catastrophes in aviation. It is therefore of special interest to investigate the possibility of using fuels which, while being less volatile than gasoline, would nevertheless enable this engine to function satisfactorily.

FUELS↗

Comparison of hecter fuel with export aviation gasoline

Among the fuels which will operate at compression ratios up to at least 8.0 without preignition or "pinking" is hecter fuel, whence a careful determination of its performance is of importance. For the test data presented in this report the hecter fuel used was a mixture of 30 per cent benzol and 70 per cent cyclohexane, having a low freezing point, and distilling from first drop to 90 per cent at nearly a constant temperature, about 20 degrees c. below the average distillation temperature ("mean volatility") of the x gasoline (export grade). The results of these experiments show that the power developed by hecter fuel is the same as that developed by export aviation gasoline at about 1,800 r.p.m. at all altitudes. At lower speeds differences in the power developed by the fuels become evident. Comparisons at ground level were omitted to avoid any possibility of damaging the engine by operating with open throttle on gasoline at so high a compression. The fuel consumption per unit power based on weight, not volume, averaged more than 10 per cent greater with hecter than with x gasoline. The thermal efficiency of the engine when using hecter is less than when using gasoline, particularly at higher speeds. A generalization of the difference for all altitudes and speeds being 8 per cent. A general deduction from these facts is that more hecter is exhausted unburnt. Hecter can withstand high compression pressures and temperature without preignition. (author)

Dickinson, H C↗

Friction of Aviation Engines

The first portion of this report discusses measurements of friction made in the altitude laboratory of the Bureau of Standards between 1920 and 1926 under research authorization of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. These are discussed with reference to the influence of speed, barometric pressure, jacket-water temperature, and throttle opening upon the friction of aviation engines. The second section of the report deals with measurements of the friction of a group of pistons differing from each other in a single respect, such as length, clearance, area of thrust face, location of thrust face, etc. Results obtained with each type of piston are discussed and attention is directed particularly to the fact that the friction chargeable to piston rings depends upon piston design as well as upon ring design. This is attributed to the effect of the rings upon the thickness and distribution of the oil film which in turn affects the friction of the piston to an extent which depends upon its design.

Sparrow, S W↗