Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “STALLING - PREVENTION”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 109 records · Page 6

Control of unsteady separated flow associated with the dynamic stall of airfoils

An effort to understand and control the unsteady separated flow associated with the dynamic stall of airfoils was funded for three years through the NASA cooperative agreement program. As part of this effort a substantial data base was compiled detailing the effects various parameters have on the development of the dynamic stall flow field. Parameters studied include Mach number, pitch rate, and pitch history, as well as Reynolds number (through two different model chord lengths) and the condition of the boundary layer at the leading edge of the airfoil (through application of surface roughness). It was found for free stream Mach numbers as low as 0.4 that a region of supersonic flow forms on the leading edge of the suction surface of the airfoil at moderate angles of attack. The shocks which form in this supersonic region induce boundary-layer separation and advance the dynamic stall process. Under such conditions a supercritical airfoil profile is called for to produce a flow field having a weaker leading-edge pressure gradient and no leading-edge shocks. An airfoil having an adaptive-geometry, or dynamically deformable leading edge (DDLE), is under development as a unique active flow-control device. The DDLE, formed of carbon-fiber composite and fiberglass, can be flexed between a NACA 0012 profile and a supercritical profile in a controllable fashion while the airfoil is executing an angle-of-attack pitch-up maneuver. The dynamic stall data were recorded using point diffraction interferometry (PDI), a noninvasive measurement technique. A new high-speed cinematography system was developed for recording interferometric images. The system is capable of phase-locking with the pitching airfoil motion for real-time documentation of the development of the dynamic stall flow field. Computer-aided image analysis algorithms were developed for fast and accurate reduction of the images, improving interpretation of the results.

Wilder, M. C.↗

Airfoil Dynamic Stall and Rotorcraft Maneuverability

The loading of an airfoil during dynamic stall is examined in terms of the augmented lift and the associated penalties in pitching moment and drag. It is shown that once stall occurs and a leading-edge vortex is shed from the airfoil there is a unique relationship between the augmented lift, the negative pitching moment, and the increase in drag. This relationship, referred to here as the dynamic stall function, shows limited sensitivity to effects such as the airfoil section profile and Mach number, and appears to be independent of such parameters as Reynolds number, reduced frequency, and blade sweep. For single-element airfoils there is little that can be done to improve rotorcraft maneuverability except to provide good static C(l(max)) characteristics and the chord or blade number that is required to provide the necessary rotor thrust. However, multi-element airfoils or airfoils with variable geometry features can provide augmented lift in some cases that exceeds that available from a single-element airfoil. The dynamic stall function is shown to be a useful tool for the evaluation of both measured and calculated dynamic stall characteristics of single element, multi-element, and variable geometry airfoils.

Bousman, William G.↗

A Comparative Study of Three Methodologies for Modeling Dynamic Stall

During the past two decades, there has been an increased reliance on the use of computational fluid dynamics methods for modeling rotors in high speed forward flight. Computational methods are being developed for modeling the shock induced loads on the advancing side, first-principles based modeling of the trailing wake evolution, and for retreating blade stall. The retreating blade dynamic stall problem has received particular attention, because the large variations in lift and pitching moments encountered in dynamic stall can lead to blade vibrations and pitch link fatigue. Restricting to aerodynamics, the numerical prediction of dynamic stall is still a complex and challenging CFD problem, that, even in two dimensions at low speed, gathers the major difficulties of aerodynamics, such as the grid resolution requirements for the viscous phenomena at leading-edge bubbles or in mixing-layers, the bias of the numerical viscosity, and the major difficulties of the physical modeling, such as the turbulence models, the transition models, whose both determinant influences, already present in static maximal-lift or stall computations, are emphasized by the dynamic aspect of the phenomena.

Sankar, L.↗

Effects of Wing Flaps and Wing Duct Inlet on the Lift and Stalling Characteristics of a 1/4-Scale Partial-Span Model of the Republic XF-12 Airplane in the Langley 19-Foot Pressure Tunnel

An investigation was conducted in the Langley 19-foot pressure tunnel to determine the lift, drag, pitching-moment and stalling characteristics fo a 1/4 -scale partial-span model of the left wing of the Republic XF-12 airplane. The effects of a duct inlet, located between the nacelles at the leading edge of the wing, on those characteristics were also investigated. The Reynolds numbers for the investigation covered a range from 4,500,000 to 8,600,000. The results of the investigation indicated that maximum lift coefficients of 1.36, 1.71, and 2.11 were measured on the model with flaps neutral and deflected 20 deg and 55 deg, respectively at a Reynolds number of 8,600,000. When the duct inlet was replaced by a basic airfoil nose the flap-neutral maximum-lift coefficient was increased from 1.36 to 1.41. The results also showed that at maximum lift with flaps neutral or deflected 55 deg. most of the area between the nacelles were stalled while only small areas on other portions of the model were stalled; when the duct inlet was replaced by the basic airfoil nose the stall was delayed to a slightly higher angle of attack but the nature of the stall was relatively unaffected.

Graham, Robert R.↗

Dynamic Stall Suppression Using Combustion-Powered Actuation (COMPACT)

Retreating blade stall is a well-known phenomenon that limits rotorcraft speed, maneuverability, and efficiency. Airfoil dynamic stall is a simpler problem, which demonstrates many of the same flow phenomena. Combustion Powered Actuation (COMPACT) is an active flow control technology, which at the outset of this work, had been shown to mitigate static and dynamic stall at low Mach numbers. The attributes of this technology suggested strong potential for success at higher Mach numbers, but such experiments had never been conducted. The work detailed in this report documents a 3-year effort focused on assessing the effectiveness of COMPACT for dynamic stall suppression at freestream conditions up to Mach 0.5. The work done has focused on implementing COMPACT on a high-lift rotorcraft airfoil: the VR-12. This selection was made in order to ensure that any measured benefits are over and above the capabilities of state-of-the-art high-lift rotorcraft airfoils. The detailed Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, wind-tunnel experiments, and system-level modeling conducted have shown the following: (1) COMPACT, in its current state of development, is capable of reducing the adverse effects of deep dynamic stall at Mach numbers up to 0.4; (2) The two-dimensional (2D) CFD results trend well compared to the experiments; and (3) Implementation of the CFD results into a system-level model suggest that significant rotor-level benefits are possible.

Matalanis, Claude G.↗

Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of the Stall Characteristics of a Wing Design Based on Prandtl's Minimum Induced Drag

Stall characteristics of a wing whose design was based on Prandtl’s minimum induced drag analysis is presented. Flow field is resolved using RANS CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) solver OVERFLOW-2. Both in freestream and in ground effect are analyzed. In addition, effect of low-Mach preconditioner on the stall characteristic is presented. Results show that simulations that lack preconditioner predicts higher stall angle as well as much more benign behavior near the stall angle. Stall analysis in freestream show that flow begins to separate at the inboard region. The flow at the tip remains attached until approximately 19.0 degrees angle of attack.

PRANDTL↗

Mesh and model requirements for capturing deep-stall aerodynamics in low-Mach-number flows

Here, this work presents a comprehensive computational fluid dynamics investigation of the effects of grid resolution and turbulence-model choice for capturing the unsteady three-dimensional aerodynamic performance of NACA 0012 and 0021 airfoils, with specific focus on the deep-stall regime. At high angles of attack (α), wind turbine blades routinely experience vortex-induced vibrations, which can cause significant structural damages. Accurate predictions of post-stall aerodynamics can identify the frequencies at which such vibrations maybe triggered. In this context, the NACA 0012 airfoil simulations are conducted at a chord-based Reynolds number, Re c =2×10 6 , with the k-ω Shear-Stress Transport Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and Improved Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (IDDES) hybrid RANS-Large Eddy Simulation turbulence models. The effect of mesh resolution both in the wall-normal and spanwise directions is investigated. Only the IDDES model with a minimum spanwise resolution of 24 cells per chord length correctly predicts the aerodynamic forces. Spectral analysis shows the peak primary shedding frequency at α=30°, which signifies the end of the stall region. In the post-stall regime, both lift and drag frequencies drop asymptotically with increasing α. The Strouhal number, based on normalised chord length, remains nearly constant in this region. Based on this study, NACA 0021 airfoil runs are performed with IDDES for Re c =2.7×10 5 and 2.0×10 6 on the finest wall-normal mesh and three spanwise grids. Simulations conducted on the finer spanwise grids demonstrate grid independence and show good agreement with experiments. The effect of varying Rec on the airfoil frequency statistics is investigated. Additionally, comparison studies are presented to investigate the impact of airfoil thickness on the frequency content at Re c =2.0×10 6 . The results from the study provide guidance on the choice of mesh resolution with the IDDES model to accurately capture aerodynamic quantities for complex industrial applications.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Analysis of Low-Speed Stall Aerodynamics of a Swept Wing with Seamless Flaps

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was conducted to study the low-speed stall aerodynamics of a Gulfstream G-III airplane (Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Savannah, Georgia) swept wing modified with an experimental seamless, compliant flap called the Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge (ACTE) flap. The stall characteristics of the modified ACTE wing were analyzed and compared with the unmodified, clean wing at the flight speed of 120 knots and altitude of 2300 feet above mean sea level, in free air as well as in ground effect. A polyhedral finite-volume unstructured full Navier-Stokes CFD code, STAR-CCM (registered trademark) plus (CD-adapco [Computational Dynamics Limited, United Kingdom, and Analysis & Design Application Co., United States]), was used. Steady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes CFD simulations were conducted for a clean wing and the ACTE wings at various ACTE deflection angles in free air (-2 degrees, 15 degrees, and 30 degrees) as well as in ground effect (15 degrees and 30 degrees). Solution sensitivities to grid densities were examined. In free air, the ACTE wings are predicted to stall at lower angles of attack than the clean wing. In ground effect, all wings are predicted to stall at lower angles of attack than the corresponding wings in free air. Even though the lift curves are higher in ground effect than in free air, the maximum lift coefficients for all wings are lower in ground effect. Finally, the lift increase due to ground effect for the ACTE wing is predicted to be less than the clean wing.

CFD↗

An experimental investigation of the helicopter rotor blade element airloads on a model rotor in the blade stall regime

A wind tunnel test program was conducted on an eight foot diameter model rotor system to determine blade element airloads characteristics in the unstalled and stalled flight regimes. The fully articulated model rotor system utilized three blades with a Vertol 23010-1.58 airfoil section, the blades being 1/7.5 scale models of the Ch-47C rotor blades. Instrumentation was incorporated at the blade 75% radial station to measure pressure and skin friction distributions, surface streamline directions and local angle of attack. The test program was conducted in three phases; non-rotating, hover and forward flight at advance ratios of 0.15, 0.35 and 0.60. Test data were analyzed with respect to providing insight to the mechanisms affecting blade stall, particularly retreating blade stall during forward flight conditions. From such data, an assessment was made as to the applicability of current theoretical analyses used for the prediction of blade element airloads in the stall regime.

Fisher, R. K., Jr.↗

Evaluation of a stall-flutter spring-damper pushrod in the rotating control system of a CH-54B helicopter

Results of a design and flight test program conducted to define the effect of rotating pushrod damping on stall-flutter induced control loads are presented. The CH-54B helicopter was chosen as the test aircraft because it exhibited stall induced control loads. Damping was introduced into the CH-54B control system by replacing the standard pushrod with spring-damper assemblies. Design features of the spring-damper are described and the results of a dynamic analysis are shown which define the pushrod stiffness and damping requirements. Flight test measurements taken at 47,000 lb gross weight with and without the damper are presented. The results indicate that the spring-damper pushrods reduced high frequency, stall-induced rotating control loads by almost 50%. Fixed system control loads were reduced by 40%. Handling qualities in stall were unchanged, as expected.

Nettles, W. E.↗

An experimental investigation of compressor stall using an on-line distortion indicator and signal conditioner

The relation of the steady-state and dynamic distortions and the stall margin of a J85-13 turbojet engine was investigated. A distortion indicator capable of computing two distortion indices was used. A special purpose signal conditioner was also used as an interface between transducer signals and distortion indicator. A good correlation of steady-state distortion and stall margin was established. The prediction of stall by using the indices as instantaneous distortion indicators was not successful. A sensitivity factor that related the loss of stall margin to the turbulence level was found.

Costakis, W. G.↗

Analysis of helicopter rotor blade torsional oscillations due to stall

An analysis of stall-induced helicopter rotor blade torsional oscillations was carried out, the primary objectives being to predict the onset and severity of the oscillations and their relationship to aircraft and blade parameters. Blade flapping, flapwise bending, and torsional degrees of freedom were taken into account, with radial variation in aerodynamic loading determined from a previously developed dynamic stall model. Results of analyses were compared with data from flight tests of helicopters. Analyses were carried out while parametrically varying blade vibrational characteristics. It was found that the amplitudes of the higher harmonics of torsional oscillations can be significantly reduced by either reducing the torsional natural frequency or introducing viscous damping in the torsional degree of freedom. A preliminary investigation was conducted to determine the feasibility and practicality of alleviating the stall problem by means of boundary layer control. The results indicate that boundary layer control would be effective in reducing the higher harmonics of torsional oscillations due to stall and that its implementation would not require excessive power or suction rates.

Crimi, P.↗

Prediction of compressor stall for distorted and undistorted flow by use of a multistage compressor simulation on the digital computer

A simulation technique is presented for the prediction of compressor stall for axial-flow compressors for clean and distorted inlet flow. The simulation is implemented on the digital computer and uses stage stacking and lumped-volume gas dynamics. The resulting nonlinear differential equations are linearized about a steady-state operating point, and a Routh-Hurwitz stability test is performed on the linear system matrix. Parallel compressor theory is utilized to extend the technique to the distorted inlet flow problem. The method is applied to the eight-stage J85-13 compressor. Analytical stall prediction for the undistorted stall line shows good agreement with experimental results. The predicted stall line for distorted inlet flow is in agreement with experimental results only for large distortion extents and/or low distortion levels. Results for low distortion extents and high distortion level do not agree with experimental results.

Daniele, C. J.↗

Dynamic stall experiments on oscillating airfoils

Dynamic stall and unsteady boundary layer separation have been studied in incompressible flow at moderately large Reynolds numbers. By varying the leading-edge geometry of an NACA 0012 airfoil, three different types of stall were produced. For most of the configurations studied, including the basic NACA 0012 profile, dynamic stall was found not to originate with the bursting of a leading-edge laminar separation bubble, as is commonly believed. Instead, the vortex shedding phenomenon, which is the predominant feature of dynamic stall, appears to be fed its vorticity by the breakdown of the turbulent boundary layer.

Mccroskey, W. J.↗

A study of casing treatment stall margin improvement phenomena

The results of a program of experimental and analytical research in casing treatments over axial compressor rotor blade tips are presented. Circumferential groove, axial-skewed slot and blade angle slot treatments were tested at low speeds. With the circumferential groove treatment the stalling flow was reduced 5.8% at negligible efficiency sacrifice. The axial-skewed slot treatment improved the stalling flow by 15.3%; 1.8 points in peak efficiency were sacrificed. The blade angle slot treatment improved the stalling flow by 15.0%; 1.4 points in peak efficiency were sacrificed. The favorable stalling flow situations correlated well with observations of higher-than-normal surface pressures on the rotor blade pressure surfaces in the tip region, and with increased maximum diffusions on the suction surfaces. Annulus wall pressure gradients, especially in the 50 to 75% chord region, are also increased and blade surface pressure loadings are shifted toward the trailing edge for treated configurations.

Prince, D. C., Jr.↗

The phenomenon of dynamic stall

The general features of dynamic stall on oscillating airfoils are explained in terms of the vortex shedding phenomenon, and the important differences between static stall, light dynamic stall, and deep stall are described. An overview of experimentation and prediction techniques is given.

Mccroskey, W. J.↗

Summary of theoretical considerations and wind tunnel tests of an aerodynamic spoiler for stall proofing a general aviation airplane

An airplane stall proofing system utilizing a spoiler was investigated for application on a low wing airplane representative of typical general aviation aircraft. Tests of the full scale airplane were conducted in the NASA Langley 30 x 60 foot full scale wind tunnel. The test velocity was 86 feet per second, corresponding to a Reynolds number of 2.20 million. The stall proofing capability of the spoiler is shown and a theoretical approach to the design of the spoiler and analysis of the spoiler's contribution to the airplane's trim and longitudinal stability is verified. Controlled spoiler deployment in a narrow angle of attack range, 4 degrees, immediately preceding the stall angle will stall proof the airplane. The results also show some of the limitations of flight tests to determine spoiler deployment rate for good handling qualities.

Chevalier, H. L.↗

The phenomenon of dynamic stall

Dynamic stall and its consequences which are important to aircraft design and operation are discussed. A certain degree of unsteadyness always accompanies the flow over streamlined bodies at high angle of attack, however, the stall of lifting surface undergoing unsteady motion is more complex than static stall. Dynamic stall remains a major unsolved problem with a variety of applications in aeronautics, hydrodynamics and wind engineering.

Mccroskey, W. J.↗