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At least 127 records · Page 7

Active Sonic Boom Control

A theory and simulation code are developed to study nonsteady sources as means to control sonic booms of supersonic aircraft. A key result is that the source of sonic boom pressure is not confined to the length of the aircraft but occupies an extensive segment of flight path. An aircraft in nonsteady flight functions as a synthetic aperture antenna, generating complex acoustic waves with no simple relation to instantaneous volume or lift distributions. The theory applies linear acoustics to slender nonsteady sources but requires no far field approximation. The solution for pressure contains a term not seen in Whitham's theory for sonic booms of distant supersonic aircraft. The term describes a pressure field that decays algebraically behind the Mach cone and, in the case of steady flight, integrates to a ground load equal to the weight of the aircraft. The algebraic term is separate from those that describe the sonic boom. Two nonsteady source phenomena are evaluated: periodic velocity changes (surge), and periodic longitudinal lift redistribution (slosh). Surge can attenuate a sonic boom and convert it into prolonged weak reverberation, but accelerations needed to produce the phenomenon seem too large for practical use. Slosh may be practical and can alter sonic booms but does not, on the average, result in boom attenuation. The conclusion is that active sonic boom abatement is possible in theory but maybe not practical

Crow, Steven C.↗

Three Dimensional Solution of Pneumatic Active Control of Forebody Vortex Asymmetry

Pneumatic active control of asymmetric vortical flows around a slender pointed forebody is investigated using the three dimensional solution for the compressible thin-layer Navier-Stokes equation. The computational applications cover the normal and tangential injection control of asymmetric flows around a 5 degree semi-apex angle cone at a 40 degree angle of attack, 1.4 freestream Mach number and 6 x 10(exp 6) freestream Reynolds number (based on the cone length). The effective tangential angle range of 67.5 approaches minus 67.5 degrees is used for both normal and tangential ports of injection. The effective axial length of injection is varied from 0.03 to 0.05. The computational solver uses the implicit, upwind, flux difference splitting finite volume scheme, and the grid consists of 161 x 55 x 65 points in the wrap around, normal and axial directions, respectively. The results show that tangential injection is more effective than normal injection.

Kandil, Osama A.↗

Enhancements to Linear Stability-Based, CFD-integrated Transition Prediction for High-Speed Flows

Combining linear stability calculations with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations has great potential for the automated modeling of high-speed flows, especially when adequate information about the configuration and the disturbance environment is available. However, a significant impediment to the applicability of this technique is the lack of an efficient method to calculate the crucial amplification ratio corresponding to the onset of transition in hypersonic flows. This ratio, also known as the "transition N-factor," is dependent upon the freestream disturbance environment as well as the surface properties of the test article. In response to the need for an engineering solution to predict the transition N-factor within conventional hypersonic wind tunnels, this paper presents a data-driven correlation that expands the existing correlations from straight circular cones with a narrow range of half angles to a broader array of axisymmetric configurations. Furthermore, when tested against a chosen dataset that was not used in its calibration, the suggested correlation shows good predictive accuracy with an RMS error of only 6.9%. Although similar accuracy may also be achieved via existing correlations based on similar datasets, predictions based on the proposed correlation have the advantage of not requiring an extensive amount of configuration-specific data. Practical applications often have access to the input parameters needed for this correlation, such as the freestream disturbance intensity, Mach number, and body-based slenderness Reynolds number. Additionally, this correlation outperforms the traditional assumption of a constant N-factor, particularly for configurations with blunted nose geometries. The development of this correlation is grounded in an extensive dataset encompassing conical models with body half-angles varying between 5 degrees and 16 degrees, Mach numbers ranging from 5 to 14, and nosetip-based Reynolds numbers approaching the transition reversal limit for blunt-nosed cones.

CFD↗

Enhancements to Linear Stability-Based, CFD-integrated Transition Prediction for High-Speed Flows

Combining linear stability calculations with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations has great potential for the automated modeling of high-speed flows, especially when adequate information about the configuration and the disturbance environment is available. However, a significant impediment to the applicability of this technique is the lack of an efficient method to calculate the crucial amplification ratio corresponding to the onset of transition in hypersonic flows. This ratio, also known as the "transition N-factor," is dependent upon the freestream disturbance environment as well as the surface properties of the test article. In response to the need for an engineering solution to predict the transition N-factor within conventional hypersonic wind tunnels, this paper presents a data-driven correlation that expands the existing correlations from straight circular cones with a narrow range of half angles to a broader array of axisymmetric configurations. Furthermore, when tested against a chosen dataset that was not used in its calibration, the suggested correlation shows good predictive accuracy with an RMS error of only 6.9%. Although similar accuracy may also be achieved via existing correlations based on similar datasets, predictions based on the proposed correlation have the advantage of not requiring an extensive amount of configuration-specific data. Practical applications often have access to the input parameters needed for this correlation, such as the freestream disturbance intensity, Mach number, and body-based slenderness Reynolds number. Additionally, this correlation outperforms the traditional assumption of a constant N-factor, particularly for configurations with blunted nose geometries. The development of this correlation is grounded in an extensive dataset encompassing conical models with body half-angles varying between 5 degrees and 16 degrees, Mach numbers ranging from 5 to 14, and nosetip-based Reynolds numbers approaching the transition reversal limit for blunt-nosed cones.

CFD↗

Viscous shock-layer solutions with nonequilibrium chemistry for hypersonic flows past slender bodies

Laminar nonequilibrium heat transfer to slender vehicles is discussed, with heating-rate results presented as a ratio of the noncatalytic to the corresponding fully catalytic value to illustrate the maximum potential for a heating reduction in dissociated nonequilibrium flow at a given flight condition. Larger blunted cone half-angles are shown to produce the most significant nonequilibrium effects at distances beyond 100 nose radii, except in the fore-cone region. Increasing nose bluntness is found to produce large reductions in the ratio for the smaller cone angles at relatively large downstream surface lengths. It is noted that the nose radius and freestream density are not independent scaling parameters in nonequilibrium flow.

Zoby, E. V.↗

Prediction of asymmetric vortical flows around slender bodies using Navier-Stokes equations

Steady and unsteady asymmetric vortical flows around slender bodies at high angles of attack are solved using the unsteady, compressible, thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations. An implicit, upwind-biased, flux-difference splitting, finite-volume scheme is used for the numerical computations. For supersonic flows past point cones, the locally conical flow assumption have been used for efficient computational studies of this phenomenon. Asymmetric flows past a 5-deg semiapex-angle circular cone at different angles of attack, free-stream Mach numbers, and Reynolds numbers have been studied in responses to different sources of disturbances. The effects of grid fineness and computational domain size have also been investigated. Next, the responses of three-dimensional supersonic asymmetric flow around a 5-deg circular cone at different angles of attack and Reynolds numbers to short-duration sideslip disturbances are presented. The results show that flow asymmetry becomes stronger as the Reynolds number and angles of attack are increased. One of the cases of flow over a cone-cylinder configuration is validated fairly well by experimental data.

Liu, C. H.↗

Effect of nose bluntness on flow field over slender bodies in hypersonic flows

A parametric study has been conducted to determine the effects of nose bluntness on the enire flowfield over slender bodies under different hypersonic freestream conditions. The analysis is carried out for air under perfect- and equilibrium-gas assumptions. The analyses range from a few simplified approaches to the solution of the complete Navier-Stokes equations. Specific results obtained for spherically blunted cones and ogives demonstrate that there are significant differences in flowfield and surface quantities between sharp and blunted bodies. Depending upon the flow conditions and geometry, the differences are found to persist as far as 260 nose radii downstream.

Singh, D. J.↗

The Aerodynamic Forces on Slender Plane- and Cruciform-Wing and Body Combinations

The load distribution, forces, and moments are calculated theoretically for inclined slender wing-body combinations consisting of a slender body of revolution and either a plane or cruciform arrangement of low-aspect-ratio pointed wings. The results are applicable at subsonic and transonic speeds, and at supersonic speeds, provided the entire wing-body combination lies near the center of the Mach cone.

Spreiter, John R↗

Computation of transonic flow past projectiles at angle of attack

Aerodynamic properties of artillery shell such as normal force and pitching moment reach peak values in a narrow transonic Mach number range. In order to compute these quantities, numerical techniques have been developed to obtain solutions to the three-dimensional transonic small disturbance equation about slender bodies at angle of attack. The computation is based on a plane relaxation technique involving Fourier transforms to partially decouple the three-dimensional difference equations. Particular care is taken to assure accurate solutions near corners found in shell designs. Computed surface pressures are compared to experimental measurements for circular arc and cone cylinder bodies which have been selected as test cases. Computed pitching moments are compared to range measurements for a typical projectile shape.

Reklis, R. P.↗

The similarity law for hypersonic flow and requirements for dynamic similarity of related bodies in free flight

The similarity law for nonsteady, inviscid, hypersonic flow about slender three-dimensional shapes is derived. Conclusions drawn are shown to be valid for rotational flow. Requirements for dynamic similarity of related shapes in free flight are obtained. The law is examined for steady flow about related three-dimensional shapes. Results of an experimental investigation of the pressures acting on two inclined cones are found to check the law as it applies to bodies of revolution.

Hamaker, Frank M↗

Symmetrical and Asymmetrical separations about a yawed cone

Three-dimensional flow separations about a 5 degree (semiapex angle, theta sub C), 1.4 m long, circular cone up to moderately high relative incidence, alpha/theta sub C approximately 5, were studied in the Mach number range 0.3 M sub infinity 1.8. The cone was tested in the Ames 1.8 by 1.8 m wind tunnel at Reynolds numbers, R sub L infinity, based on the cone length, L, from 4.5 times 10 to the 6th power to 13.5 times 10 to the 6th power, under nominally zero heat transfer conditions. Overall forces and mean surface pressures were compared with earlier measurements. Supportive three-dimensional laser velocimeter measurements of mean and fluctuating velocity in a slightly asymmetric vortex wake about a slender tangent ogive cylinder at incidence having respective nose and overall body fineness ratios of 3.5 and 12, are included.

Peake, D. J.↗

Lateral aerodynamics of delta wings with leading edge separation

An unsteady vortex lattice method is presented for the calculation of the aerodynamic forces acting on lifting surfaces undergoing complex three dimensional motion. For the present case the nonsymmetric motion of a slender delta wing was considered and the resulting lateral characteristics were calculated. The flow separation line was specified along the wing leading edge and the emanating vortex sheet shape and rollup was then calculated. Numerical results are presented for the combined high angle of attack and side slip condition and for the wing constant roll and coning motions.

Katz, J.↗

Estimation of aerodynamics for slender bodies alone and with lifting surfaces at alpha's from 0 deg to 90 deg.

Expressions are derived, according to a method developed by the author (1972), for bodies in which the cross-sectional shape (but not necessarily the area) is constant along the longitudinal axis. For the more general case of a body alone or with lifting surfaces where the cross-sectional shape varies along the length, a similar procedure is suggested. The specific case for an elliptic cone with a triangular wing is considered, and formulas for winged elliptic cross sections are developed. For the limited test conditions shown, the agreement between computed and experimental results is very good.

Jorgensen, L. H.↗

Slender-Body Theory Based On Approximate Solution of the Transonic Flow Equation

Approximate solution of the nonlinear equations of the small disturbance theory of transonic flow are found for the pressure distribution on pointed slender bodies of revolution for flows with free-stream, Mach number 1, and for flows that are either purely subsonic or purely supersonic. These results are obtained by application of a method based on local linearization that was introduced recently in the analysis of similar problems in two-dimensional flows. The theory is developed for bodies of arbitrary shape, and specific results are given for cone-cylinders and for parabolic-arc bodies at zero angle of attack. All results are compared either with existing theoretical results or with experimental data.

Spreiter, John R.↗

Approximate Solutions for the Flow About Flat-Top Wing-Body Configurations at High Supersonic Airspeeds

The flow about slender flat-top wing-body configurations traveling at high supersonic speeds and small angles of attack is investigated analytically. In the case of conical configurations, approximate algebraic solutions to the flow field are obtained. In the case of configurations which are conical at the vertex but curved in the stream direction, these solutions are combined with a slender-body approximation to the generalized shock-expansion method to obtain the flow downstream of the vertex. Surface pressures were obtained experimentally at Mach numbers from 3.0 to 6.0 and angles of attack up to 6 deg for several flat-top wing-body configurations. These configurations consisted of half-bodies of revolution mounted beneath thin highly swept wings. Three different bodies were employed. The two conical bodies consisted of one-half of a fineness-ratio-5 cone and one-half of a fineness-ratio-2-1/2 cone. The body of the third configuration consisted of one-half of a fineness-ratio-5 ogive. For the ogive configuration, the leading edges of the wing were curved and designed to just maintain the theoretically determined bow shock along the leading edge at a Mach number of 5.0 and an angle of attack of 3 deg. The predictions of the conical flow theory of this paper for the surface pressures are found to be in good agreement with experiment at Mach numbers of 5.0 and 6.0 up to angles of attack of approximately 3 deg. Estimated lift, drag, and pitching-moment coefficients, as well as maximum lift-drag ratio, are also in good agreement with existing experimental data at a Mach number of 5.0 for a conical configuration having an arrow plan-form wing. It is also found that the generalized shock-expansion method yields reasonable good agreement with experiment for the surface pressures on the half-ogive configuration at a Mach number of 5.0 and an angle of attack of 3 deg.

Savin, Raymond C.↗

Navier-Stokes computations of symmetric and asymmetric vortex shedding around slender bodies

The unsteady, compressible Reynolds-averaged thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations are used to solve for symmetric and asymmetric vortical flows around slender pointed bodies of revolution. The modified Baldwin and Lomax algebraic two-layer turbulent model is used for the eddy viscosity calculation in prescribed turbulent regions. The implicit, upwind flux-difference splitting finite-volume scheme is used to obtain the solutions. Computational results are presented for a low-speed symmetrical vortical flow around a 3.5-caliber tangent-ogive cylinder for fully laminar flow. Computed results are presented for a high-speed asymmetric vortex-shedding flow around a cone at 3.286 relative incidence, using a fine computational grid. The asymmetric vortex-shedding flow has been produced through a small asymmetric transitional perturbation in the cross-flow plane.

Kandil, Osama A.↗

Second-order small-disturbance solutions for hypersonic flow over power-law bodies

Similarity solutions were found which give the adiabatic flow of an ideal gas about two-dimensional and axisymmetric power-law bodies at infinite Mach number to second order in the body slenderness parameter. The flow variables were expressed as a sum of zero-order and perturbation similarity functions for which the axial variations in the flow equations separated out. The resulting similarity equations were integrated numerically. The solutions, which are universal functions, are presented in graphic and tabular form. To avoid a singularity in the calculations, the results are limited to body power-law exponents greater than about 0.85 for the two-dimensional case and 0.75 for the axisymmetric case. Because of the entropy layer induced by the nose bluntness (for power-law bodies other than cones and wedges), only the pressure function is valid at the body surface. The similarity results give excellent agreement with the exact solutions for inviscid flow over wedges and cones having half-angles up to about 20 deg. They give good agreement with experimental shock-wave shapes and surface-pressure distributions for 3/4-power axisymmetric bodies, considering that Mach number and boundary-layer displacement effects are not included in the theory.

Townsend, J. C.↗

Silent and Efficient Supersonic Bi-Directional Flying Wing

The supersonic bi-directional (SBiDir) flying wing (FW) concept has a great potential to achieve low sonic boom with high supersonic aerodynamic performance due to removal of performance conflict between high speed and low speed by rotating goo in flight. This NIAC Phase 1 research has achieved three objectives: 2) prove the concept based on simulation that it can achieve very low boom with smooth Sine wave ground over-pressure signature and excellent aerodynamic efficiency; 3) conduct trade study to correlate the geometric parameters with sonic boom and aerodynamic performance for further automated design optimization in Phase II. The design methodology developed in Phase I includes three parts: 1) an advanced geometry model, which can vary airfoil meanline angle distribution to control the expansion and shock waves on the airplane surface to mitigate sonic boom and improve aerodynamic efficiency. 2) a validated CFD procedure to resolve near field flow with accurate shock strength. The sonic boom propagation from near field to far field ground is simulated by NASA NF Boom code. The surface friction drag prediction is based on fiat plate correlation adopted by Seebass and supported by the experimental study of Winter and Smith, which is on the conservative side and is more reliable than CFD RANS simulation. 3) a mission analysis tool based on Corke's model that provides design requirements and constraints of supersonic airplanes for range, payload, volume, size, weight, etc. The design mission target is a supersonic transport with cruise Mach number 1.6, 100 passengers, and 4000nm range. The trade study has several very important findings: 1) The far field ground sonic boom signature is directly related to the smoothness of the flow on the airplane surface. The meanline angle distribution is a very effective control methodology to mitigate surface shock and expansion wave strength, and mitigating compression wave coalescing by achieving smooth loading distribution chord-wise. Compared with a linear meanline angle distribution, a design using nonlinear and non-monotonic meanline angle distribution is able to reduce the sonic boom ground loudness by over 20dBP1. The design achieves sonic boom ground loudness less than 70dBP1 and aerodynamic dynamic efficiency 1/D of 8.4. 2) Decreasing sweep angle within the Mach cone will increase 1/D as well as sonic boom. A design with variable sweep from 84° at the very leading edge to 68° at the tip achieves an extraordinarily high 1/D of 10.4 at Mach number 1.6 due to the low wave drag. If no sonic boom constraint is attached, SBiDir-FW concept still has a lot of room to increase the 1/D. 3) The round leading edge and trailing edge under high sweep angle are beneficial to improve aerodynamic performance, sonic boom, and to increase volume of the airplane. 4) Subsonic performance is benefited greatly from the high slenderness of supersonic configuration after rotating goo. A design with excellent supersonic aspect ratio of 0.44, 1/D of 8.g, gives an extraordinary subsonic aspect ration of 10 and 1/D of 1g.7. Two configurations are designed in details to install internal seats, landing gears, and engine installation to demonstrate the feasibility of SBiDir-FW configuration to accommodate all the required volume for realistic airplane. Here we emphasize that the qualitative findings in Phase I are very encouraging, more important than the quantitative results. Qualitative findings give the understanding of physics and provide the path to achieve the ultimate high performance design. The promising quantitative results achieved in Phase I need to be confirmed by wind tunnel testing in Phase II and ultimately proved by flight test. The other important step forward will be made to study the rotation transition from both CFD unsteady simulation and wind tunnel testing.

Zha, Gecheng↗