Analysis of performance characteristics in ground effect of a large scale V/STOL multi-fan-in-wing transport model
Performance characteristics from static tests in ground effect of V/STOL transport model
SEARCH · Search NASA
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.
Performance characteristics from static tests in ground effect of V/STOL transport model
A nonlinear, nonplanar three dimensional jet flap analysis, applicable to the ground effect problem, is presented. Lifting surface methodology is developed for a wing with arbitrary planform operating in an inviscid and incompressible fluid. The classical, infintely thin jet flap model is employed to simulate power induced effects. An iterative solution procedure is applied within the analysis to successively approximate the jet shape until a converged solution is obtained which closely satisfies jet and wing boundary conditions. Solution characteristics of the method are discussed and example results are presented for unpowered, basic powered and complex powered configurations. Comparisons between predictions of the present method and experimental measurements indicate that the improvement of the jet with the ground plane is important in the analyses of powered lift systems operating in ground proximity. Further development of the method is suggested in the areas of improved solution convergence, more realistic modeling of jet impingement and calculation efficiency enhancements.
Longitudinal aerodynamic coefficients are estimated from data recorded during flight tests of a powered-lift STOL aircraft. A comparison is made between the coefficient values determined by the regression and quasilinearization identification techniques from records taken during elevator pulse maneuvers. The results show that for these tests the regression method provides less scatter in coefficient estimates and provides better correlation with the predicted values. Special techniques are developed which allow identification of the coefficients from records taken during landing maneuvers in which the aircraft encounters turbulence while flying in ground effect. Flight test results are presented to illustrate the effects of air turbulence and ground proximity on the estimated coefficient values.
The estimation of longitudinal aerodynamic coefficients from data recorded during flight tests of a powered-lift STOL aircraft is considered. First, a comparison is made between the coefficient values determined by the regression and quasilinearization identification techniques from records taken during elevator pulse maneuvers. The results show that for these tests the regression method provides less scatter in coefficient estimates and provides better correlation with the predicted values. Special techniques are then developed which allow identification of the coefficients from records taken during landing maneuvers in which the aircraft encounters turbulence while flying in ground effect. Flight test results are presented to illustrate the effects of air turbulence and ground proximity on the estimated coefficient values.
This paper is a summary of an analysis of the ground-effect characteristics of a large-scale twin-engine, tilt-nacelle V/STOL model. The analysis considers data from the flow field beneath the full-scale model, as well as small-scale model test data, and makes comparisons with jet-ground interactions predicted by a computer code. The data from the large-scale test comprise ground-plane surface temperatures, static pressure distribution and wall-jet total-pressure profiles, fuselage undersurface static pressures, and model forces and moments. The results indicate that the near-field flow is more complex than is indicated by either the small-scale uniform jet studies or the computer predictions. The far-field flow characteristics do show some similarity for these three cases.
Wind tunnel tests of propellor driven, deflected slipstream, short takeoff aircraft model to determine longitudinal and lateral-directional stability when in ground effect
A flow visualization study of several configurations of a jet-powered vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft model during hover in ground effect was conducted. A surface oil flow technique was used to observe the flow patterns on the lower surfaces of the model. There were significant configuration effects. Wing height with respect to fuselage, the presence of an engine inlet duct beside the fuselage, and nozzle pressure ratio are seen to have strong effects on the surface flow angles on the lower surface of the wing. This test was part of a program to improve the methods for predicting the hot gas ingestion (HGI) for jet-powered vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aircraft. The tests were performed at the Jet Calibration and Hover Test (JCAHT) Facility at Ames Research Center.
Early studies of powered-lift STOL concepts indicated that a basic problem of aircraft incorporating such concepts would be a serious adverse ground effect on lift. Experience to date with actual powered-lift STOL aircraft, however, has not borne out this concern. This apparent disagreement is examined and recent research data are used to help explain some of the differences observed. Analysis indicates that most of the disagreement can be attributed to the use of wind tunnel data that were not directly applicable to the airplane because the model did not properly represent some of the design features and operating conditions of the airplane.
A method of automating the generation of a time-dependent, Navier-Stokes static stability and control database for the Harrier aircraft in ground effect is outlined. Reusable, lightweight components arc described which allow different facets of the computational fluid dynamic simulation process to utilize a consistent interface to a remote database. These components also allow changes and customizations to easily be facilitated into the solution process to enhance performance, without relying upon third-party support. An analysis of the multi-level parallel solver OVERFLOW-MLP is presented, and the results indicate that it is feasible to utilize large numbers of processors (= 100) even with a grid system with relatively small number of cells (= 10(exp 6)). A more detailed discussion of the simulation process, as well as refined data for the scaling of the OVERFLOW-MLP flow solver will be included in the full paper.
A process is described which enables the generation of 35 time-dependent viscous solutions for a YAV-8B Harrier in ground effect in one week. Overset grids are used to model the complex geometry of the Harrier aircraft and the interaction of its jets with the ground plane and low-speed ambient flow. The time required to complete this parametric study is drastically reduced through the use of process automation, modern computational platforms, and parallel computing. Moreover, a dual-time-stepping algorithm is described which improves solution robustness. Unsteady flow visualization and a frequency domain analysis are also used to identify and correlated key flow structures with the time variation of lift.
Wind tunnel test data are analysed to determine ground effects and the effectiveness of the aerodynamic control surfaces to provide a technology base for a Navy type A V/STOL airplane. Three 14CM (5.5 inch) turbopowered simulators were used to power the model which was tested primarily in the following configurations: (1) VTOL with flaps deployed, gear down, and engines tilted to 80 deg, 90 deg, and 95 deg, (2) STOL with flap and gear down and engines tilted to 50 deg; and (3) Loiter with flaps and gear up and L/C nacelles off. Data acquired during the tests are included as an appendix.
Wind-tunnel tests were conducted to determine the ground effects on a tailless model with a wing of aspect ratio 2 and infinite taper, and on a tailed model with a triangular wing of aspect ratio 3, with flaps. Control-surface hinge moments were measured on the tailless model. The results are compared with the predictions of the theory of Tani, et al.
Wind tunnel test of ground effect of 35-deg swept- back wing jet transport equipped with boundary layer control, trailing & leading edge flaps
The flow field measured around a hovering 70 percent scale vertical takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aircraft model is described. The velocity measurements were conducted with a ground based laser Doppler velocimeter. The remote sensing instrumentation and experimental tests of the velocity surveys are discussed. The distribution of vertical velocity in the fan jet and fountain; the radial velocity in the wall jet and the horizontal velocity along the aircraft underside are presented for different engine rpms and aircraft height above ground. Results show that it is feasible to use a mobile laser Doppler velocimeter to measure the flow field generated by a large scale V/STOL aircraft operating in ground effect.
NASA Ames is conducting a program to develop improved methods for predicting suckdown and hot-gas ingestion on jet V/STOL aircraft when they are in ground effect. As part of that program a data base is being created that provides a systematic variation of parameters so that current empirical prediction procedures can be modified. The first series of tests in this program is complete. This report is one of three that presents the data obtained from tests conducted at Lockheed Aeronautical Systems - Rye Canyon Facility and the High Bay area of the 40 by 80 foot Wind Tunnel at Ames Research Center. Suckdown on two circular plates is examined.
This paper examines a case observed during the 1990 Idaho Falls Test program, in which a wake vortex having an unusually long lifetime was observed while in ground effect. A numerical simulation is performed with a Large Eddy Simulation model to understand the response of the environment in affecting this event. In the simulation, it was found that one of the vortices decayed quickly, with the remaining vortex persisting beyond the time-bound of typical vortex lifetimes. This unusual behavior was found to be related to the first and second vertical derivatives of the ambient crosswind.
The model and the computer program developed provides the velocity, location, and circulation of the tip vortices of a two-blade helicopter in and out of the ground effect. Comparison of the theoretical results with some experimental measurements for the location of the wake indicate that there is excellent accuracy in the vicinity of the rotor and fair amount of accuracy far from it. Having the location of the wake at all times enables us to compute the history of the velocity and the location of any point in the flow. The main goal of out study, induced velocity at the rotor, can also be calculated in addition to stream lines and streak lines. Since the wake location close to the rotor is known more accurately than at other places, the calculated induced velocity over the disc should be a good estimate of the real induced velocity, with the exception of the blade location, because each blade was replaced only by a vortex line. Because no experimental measurements of the wake close to the ground were available to us, quantitative evaluation of the theoretical wake was not possible. But qualitatively we have been able to show excellent agreement. Comparison of flow visualization with out results has indicated the location of the ground vortex is estimated excellently. Also the flow field in hover is well represented.
Jet wake degradation and thrust characteristics of exhaust nozzles designed for VTOL downwash suppression and fuselage and ground effects