SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “BLADE TESTING”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

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

At least 1,315 records · Page 73

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS2004

Analysis of SSEM Sensor Data Using BEAM

A report describes analysis of space shuttle main engine (SSME) sensor data using Beacon-based Exception Analysis for Multimissions (BEAM) [NASA Tech Briefs articles, the two most relevant being Beacon-Based Exception Analysis for Multimissions (NPO- 20827), Vol. 26, No.9 (September 2002), page 32 and Integrated Formulation of Beacon-Based Exception Analysis for Multimissions (NPO- 21126), Vol. 27, No. 3 (March 2003), page 74] for automated detection of anomalies. A specific implementation of BEAM, using the Dynamical Invariant Anomaly Detector (DIAD), is used to find anomalies commonly encountered during SSME ground test firings. The DIAD detects anomalies by computing coefficients of an autoregressive model and comparing them to expected values extracted from previous training data. The DIAD was trained using nominal SSME test-firing data. DIAD detected all the major anomalies including blade failures, frozen sense lines, and deactivated sensors. The DIAD was particularly sensitive to anomalies caused by faulty sensors and unexpected transients. The system offers a way to reduce SSME analysis time and cost by automatically indicating specific time periods, signals, and features contributing to each anomaly. The software described here executes on a standard workstation and delivers analyses in seconds, a computing time comparable to or faster than the test duration itself, offering potential for real-time analysis.

Zak, Michail↗

NASA NTRS1985

Wind tunnel results of advanced high speed propellers in the takeoff, climb and landing operating regimes

Low speed wind tunnel performance tests of two advanced propellers were completed. The 62.2 cm diameter adjustable pitch models were tested at Mach numbers typical of takeoff, initial climbout, and landing speeds in the 10 by 10 ft Supersonic Wind Tunnel. Both models had eight blades and a cruise design point operating condition of 0.80 Mach number, 10.668 km S.A. altitude, 243.8 m/s tip speed and a high power loading of 301 kW sq m. No adverse or unusual low speed operating conditions were found during the test with either the straight blade SR-2 or the 45 deg swept SR-3 propellers. The 45 deg swept propeller efficiency exceeded the straight blade efficiency by 4 to 5%. Typical net efficiencies of the straight and 45 deg swept propeller at a Mach 0.20 takeoff condition were 50.2 and 54.9% respectively. At a Mach 0.34 climb condition, the efficiencies were 53.7 and 59.1%. Reverse thrust data indicates that these propellers are capable of producing more reverse thrust at Mach 0.20 than a high bypass turbofan engine at Mach 0.20.

Stefko, G. L.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Wind tunnel results of advanced high speed propellers in the takeoff, climb, and landing operating regimes

Low speed wind tunnel performance tests of two advanced propellers were completed. The 62.2 cm diameter adjustable pitch models were tested at Mach numbers typical of takeoff, initial climbout, and landing speeds in the 10 by 10 ft Supersonic Wind Tunnel. Both models had eight blades and a cruise design point operating condition of 0.80 Mach number, 10.668 km S.A. altitude, 243.8 m/s tip speed and a high power loading of 301 kW sq m. No adverse or unusual low speed operating conditions were found during the test with either the straight blade SR-2 or the 45 deg swept SR-3 propellers. The 45 deg swept propeller efficiency exceeded the straight blade efficiency by 4 to 5 percent. Typical net efficiencies of the straight and 45 deg swept propeller at a Mach 0.20 takeoff condition were 50.2 and 54.9 percent respectively. At a Mach 0.34 climb condition, the efficiencies were 53.7 and 59.1 percent. Reverse thrust data indicates that these propellers are capable of producing more reverse thrust at Mach 0.20 than a high bypass turbofan engine at Mach 0.20.

Stefko, G. L.↗

DOE OSTI2021

Novel Temperature Sensors and Wireless Telemetry for Active Condition Monitoring of Advanced Gas Turbines

The objective of the program is to develop and engine test hardware and software technologies that will enable active condition monitoring to be implemented on hot gas path turbine blades in large industrial gas turbines. The specific objectives are (1) to fabricate and install Smart Turbine Blades with thermally sprayed sensors and high temperature wireless telemetry systems in a gas turbine engine, (2) to integrate the component engine test data with remaining useful life (RUL) models and develop an approach for networking the component RUL data with Siemens' Power Diagnostics® engine monitoring system. These significant advances carried out in Phase 1 in temperature wide bandgap telemetry, along with new induced power driver and receiver geometry combined with an innovative approach to transmit digital data wirelessly will enable the opportunity to proceed with more technical innovation. The Phase 2 program focused on validation testing of sensor-wireless telemetry package in spin rig and advanced operation-based assessment (OBA) model utilizing artificial intelligence. Significant efforts were dedicated on the download of the technology onto components to be tested an actual gas turbine engine for full realization of active condition monitoring for Smart Turbine Blades.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

NASA NTRS1991

Cooled High-temperature Radial Turbine Program 2

The objective of this program was the design and fabrication of a air-cooled high-temperature radial turbine (HTRT) intended for experimental evaluation in a warm turbine test facility at the LeRC. The rotor and vane were designed to be tested as a scaled version (rotor diameter of 14.4 inches diameter) of a 8.021 inch diameter rotor designed to be capable of operating with a rotor inlet temperature (RIT) of 2300 F, a nominal mass flow of 4.56 lbm/sec, a work level of equal or greater than 187 Btu/lbm, and efficiency of 86 percent or greater. The rotor was also evaluated to determine it's feasibility to operate at 2500 F RIT. The rotor design conformed to the rotor blade flow path specified by NASA for compatibility with their test equipment. Fabrication was accomplished on three rotors, a bladeless rotor, a solid rotor, and an air-cooled rotor.

Snyder, Philip H.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Influence of third-degree geometric nonlinearities on the vibration and stability of pretwisted, preconed, rotating blades

The governing coupled flapwise bending, edgewise bending, and torsional equations are derived including third-degree geometric nonlinear elastic terms by making use of the geometric nonlinear theory of elasticity in which the elongations and shears are negligible compared to unity. These equations are specialized for blades of doubly symmetric cross section with linear variation of pretwist over the blade length. The nonlinear steady state equations and the linearized perturbation equations are solved by using the Galerkin method, and by utilizing the nonrotating normal modes for the shape functions. Parametric results obtained for various cases of rotating blades from the present theoretical formulation are compared to those produced from the finite element code MSC/NASTRAN, and also to those produced from an in-house experimental test rig. It is shown that the spurious instabilities, observed for thin, rotating blades when second degree geometric nonlinearities are used, can be eliminated by including the third-degree elastic nonlinear terms. Furthermore, inclusion of third degree terms improves the correlation between the theory and experiment.

Subrahmanyam, K. B.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Influence of third-degree geometric nonlinearities on the vibration and stability of pretwisted, preconed, rotating blades

The governing coupled flapwise bending, edgewise bending, and torsional equations are derived including third-degree goemetric nonlinear elastic terms by making use of the geometric nonlinear theory of elasticity in which the elongations and shears are negligible compared to unity. These equations are specialized for blades of doubly symmetric cross section with linear variation of Pretwist over the blade length. The nonlinear steady state equations and the linearized perturbation equations are solved by using the Galerkin method, and by utilizing the nonrotating normal modes for the shape functions. Parametric results obtained for various cases of rotating blades from the present theoretical formulation are compared to those produced from the finite element code MSC/NASTRAN, and also to those produced from an in-house experimental test rig. It is shown that the spurious instabilities, observed for thin, rotating blades when second degree geometric nonlinearities are used, can be eliminated by including the third-degree elastic nonlinear terms. Furthermore, inclusion of third degree terms improves the correlation between the theory and experiment.

Subrahmanyam, K. B.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Helicopter noise: Blade slap. Part 2: Experimental results

Blade slap encountered in rotary wings and its effect on helicopter performance are reported. The results of various individual flight tests are presented and, where possible, correlated with one another. Observations from the subjective evaluation of blade slap are included, together with a modified form of the blade slap factor (BSF) which can be used as a design criteria.

Leverton, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Aeroelastic Stability of a Four-Bladed Semi-Articulated Soft-Inplane Tiltrotor Model

A new four-bladed, semi-articulated, soft-inplane rotor system, designed as a candidate for future heavy-lift rotorcraft, was tested at model scale on the Wing and Rotor Aeroelastic Testing System (WRATS), a 1/5-size aeroelastic wind-tunnel model based on the V-22. The experimental investigation included a hover test with the model in helicopter mode subject to ground resonance conditions, and a forward flight test with the model in airplane mode subject to whirl-flutter conditions. An active control system designed to augment system damping was also tested as part of this investigation. Results of this study indicate that the new four-bladed, soft-inplane rotor system in hover has adequate damping characteristics and is stable throughout its rotor-speed envelope. However, in airplane mode it produces very low damping in the key wing beam-bending mode, and has a low whirl-flutter stability boundary with respect to airspeed. The active control system was successful in augmenting the damping of the fundamental system modes, and was found to be robust with respect to changes in rotor-speed and airspeed. Finally, conversion-mode dynamic loads were measured on the rotor and these were found to be significantly lower for the new soft-inplane hub than for the previous baseline stiff-inplane hub.

Nixon, Mark W.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Aeroelastic Stability of a Four-Bladed Semi-Articulated Soft-Inplane Tiltrotor Model

A new four-bladed, semi-articulated, soft-inplane rotor system, designed as a candidate for future heavy-lift rotorcraft, was tested at model scale on the Wing and Rotor Aeroelastic Testing System (WRATS), a 1/5-size aeroelastic wind-tunnel model based on the V-22. The experimental investigation included a hover test with the model in helicopter mode subject to ground resonance conditions, and a forward flight test with the model in airplane mode subject to whirl-flutter conditions. An active control system designed to augment system damping was also tested as part of this investigation. Results of this study indicate that the new four-bladed, soft-inplane rotor system in hover has adequate damping characteristics and is stable throughout its rotor-speed envelope. However, in airplane mode it produces very low damping in the key wing beam-bending mode, and has a low whirl-flutter stability boundary with respect to airspeed. The active control system was successful in augmenting the damping of the fundamental system modes, and was found to be robust with respect to changes in rotor speed and airspeed. Finally, conversion-mode dynamic loads were measured on the rotor and these were found to be signi.cantly lower for the new soft-inplane hub than for the previous baseline stiff - inplane hub.

Nixon, Mark W.↗

NASA NTRS1983

A comparison with theory of peak to peak sound level for a model helicopter rotor generating blade slap at low tip speeds

Mini-tuft and smoke flow visualization techniques have been developed for the investigation of model helicopter rotor blade vortex interaction noise at low tip speeds. These techniques allow the parameters required for calculation of the blade vortex interaction noise using the Widnall/Wolf model to be determined. The measured acoustics are compared with the predicted acoustics for each test condition. Under the conditions tested it is determined that the dominating acoustic pulse results from the interaction of the blade with a vortex 1-1/4 revolutions old at an interaction angle of less than 8 deg. The Widnall/Wolf model predicts the peak sound pressure level within 3 dB for blade vortex separation distances greater than 1 semichord, but it generally over predicts the peak S.P.L. by over 10 dB for blade vortex separation distances of less than 1/4 semichord.

Fontana, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Aeroacoustic effects of reduced aft tip speed at constant thrust for a model counterrotation turboprop at takeoff conditions

A model high-speed, advanced counterrotation propeller, F7/A7, was tested in the NASA Lewis Research Center's 9- by 15-foot anechoic wind tunnel at simulated takeoff and approach conditions of Mach 0.2. The propeller was operated in a baseline configuration with the forward and aft rotor blade setting angles (36.2deg and 35.4 deg) and forward and aft rotational speeds essentially equal. Two additional configurations were tested with the aft rotor at increased blade setting angles and the rotational speed reduced to achieve overall performance similar to that of the baseline configuration. The aft rotor blade angles were adjusted such that the thrust and power absorption for each rotor remained the same as for the baseline configuration. Acoustic data were taken with an axially translating microphone probe that was attached to the tunnel floor. Concurrent aerodynamic data were taken to define propeller operating conditions. The aft rotor fundamental tone was about 6 dB lower with the 36.2 deg and 38.4 deg blade setting angles, and about 9 dB lower with the 36.2 and 41.4 deg blade setting angles. Predicted noise reductions based on tip speed considerations were 5 and 9.5 dB, respectively, for the two altered blade setting angles.

Woodward, Richard P.↗

NASA NTRS1980

A flight investigation of blade section aerodynamics for a helicopter main rotor having NLR-1T airfoil sections

A flight investigation was conducted using a teetering-rotor AH-1G helicopter to obtain data on the aerodynamic behavior of main-rotor blades with the NLR-1T blade section. The data system recorded blade-section aerodynamic pressures at 90 percent rotor radius as well as vehicle flight state, performance, and loads. The test envelope included hover, forward flight, and collective-fixed maneuvers. Data were obtained on apparent blade-vortex interactions, negative lift on the advancing blade in high-speed flight and wake interactions in hover. In many cases, good agreement was achieved between chordwise pressure distributions predicted by airfoil theory and flight data with no apparent indications of blade-vortex interactions.

Morris, C. E. K., Jr.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

An Examination of Causes of Multi-Wire Bias During SLD Instrumentation Testing in the IRT

The Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) at NASA Glenn Research Center has been using the SEA Multi-Element Sensor (aka, the multi-wire) as its primary liquid water content instrument since 2011. Recent tests in the IRT with four different multi-wire probes (i.e., different serial numbers) have indicated situations that can result in biasing of the probe data. The reference data used in this report are multi-wire data that have been proven to agree well with the icing blade in low-impingement rate conditions. Data from these recent tests suggest that the presence of a canister probe located 4.45 ft axially downstream and 2.5 ft to the side may have caused multi-wire data to read around 5% low at an airspeed of 150 kts. Additionally, two probes of different serial numbers were observed to measure 5-15% lower than the reference probes, and the causes have been linked to excessive solder on the sensing element and to an out of date element calibration. For these reasons, the authors suggest the community be aware of the possible aerodynamic influences on the probe inlet and outlet, as well as the importance of regular calibration and maintenance of the probes.

aircraft icing↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

An Examination of Causes of Multi-Wire Bias during SLD Instrumentation Testing in the IRT

aircraft icing↗

DOE OSTI2013

Differential Power Processing for DC Systems

This paper introduces an approach to dc power delivery that reduces power loss by minimizing redundant energy conversion. Existing power distribution techniques tend to increase the number of cascaded conversion stages, which limits overall efficiency. Differential power processing enables independent load regulation, while processing only a small portion of the total load power. Bulk power conversion occurs once. Load voltage domains are connected in series, and differential converters act as controllable current sources to regulate intermediate nodes. This enables independent, low supply voltages, which can reduce system energy consumption, especially in digital circuits and solid-state lighting. Since differential voltage regulators process a fraction of the load power, decreased size, cost, and conversion losses are attainable. Under balanced load conditions, secondary differential converters do not process any power. This paper analyzes several differential power delivery architectures that can be applied to homogenous and heterogeneous loads at various levels: chip, board, blade, etc. A variety of operating conditions for a test system with four series voltage domains are examined in simulation and verified with experimental hardware. Results in a reference application show a 7-8% decrease in input power and 6-7 percentage points increase in overall conversion efficiency as compared to a conventional cascaded approach.

Shenoy, PS↗

NASA NTRS1974

High-tip-speed, low-loading transonic fan stage. Part 3: Final report

Tests were conducted on a high-tip-speed, low-loading transonic fan stage to determine the performance and inlet flow distortion tolerance of the design. The fan was designed for high efficiency at a moderate pressure ratio by designing the hub section to operate at minimum loss when the tip operates with an oblique shock. The design objective was an efficiency of 86 percent at a pressure ratio of 1.5, a specific flow (flow per unit annulus area) of 42 lb/sec-sq. ft (205.1 kgm/sec-m sq), and a tip speed of 1600 ft/sec (488.6 m/sec). During testing, a peak efficiency of 84 percent was achieved at design speed and design specific flow. At the design speed and pressure ratio, the flow was 4 percent greater than design, efficiency was 81 percent, and a stall margin of 24 percent was obtained. The stall line was improved with hub radial distortion but was reduced when the stage was tested with tip radial and circumferential flow distortions. Blade-to-blade values of static pressures were measured over the rotor blade tips.

Ware, T. C.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Three dimensional flow field in rocket pump inducers. Part 2: Mean flow and turbulence characteristics inside the rotor passage, and theoretical analysis

The measurement and prediction is reported of three dimensional flow fields in an axial flow inducer operating at a flow coefficient of 0.065 with air as the test medium. The experimental investigations included measurements of the blade static pressure and blade limiting streamline angle, and measurement of the three components of mean velocity, turbulence intensities and turbulence stresses at locations inside the inducer blade passage utilizing a rotating three-sensor hotwire probe. Analytical investigations were conducted to predict the three-dimensional inviscid flow. Total relative velocity distributions indicate a substantial velocity deficiency near the tip at mid-passage. High turbulence intensities and turbulence stresses are concentrated within this core region. Evidence of boundary layer interactions, blade blockage effects, radially inward flows, annulus wall effects and backflows are found to exist within the long, narrow passages of the inducer, emphasizing the complex nature of inducer flow which makes accurate prediction of the flow behavior extremely difficult.

Lakshminarayana, B.↗