Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Transonic”

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 145 records · Page 8

Calculation of steady and unsteady pressures on wings at supersonic speeds with a transonic small disturbance code

A transonic unsteady aerodynamic and aeroelasticity code has been developed for application to realistic aircraft configurations. The new code is called CAP-TSD which is an acronym for Computational Aeroelasticity Program - Transonic Small Disturbance. The CAP-TSD code uses a time-accurate approximate factorization algorithm for solution of the unsteady transonic small-disturbance equation that is efficient for solution of steady and unsteady transonic flow problems including supersonic freestream flows. The new code can treat complete aircraft geometries with multiple lifting surfaces and bodies. Applications to wings in supersonic freestream flow are presented. Comparisons with selected exact solutions from linear theory are presented showing generally favorable results. Calculations for both steady and oscillatory cases for the F-5 and RAE tailplane models are compared with experimental data and also show good overall agreement. Selected steady calculations are further compared with a steady flow Euler code.

Bennett, Robert M.↗

Unsteady transonic algorithm improvements for realistic aircraft applications

Improvements to a time-accurate approximate factorization (AF) algorithm were implemented for steady and unsteady transonic analysis of realistic aircraft configurations. These algorithm improvements were made to the CAP-TSD (Computational Aeroelasticity Program - Transonic Small Disturbance) code developed at the Langley Research Center. The code permits the aeroelastic analysis of complete aircraft in the flutter critical transonic speed range. The AF algorithm of the CAP-TSD code solves the unsteady transonic small-disturbance equation. The algorithm improvements include: an Engquist-Osher (E-O) type-dependent switch to more accurately and efficiently treat regions of supersonic flow; extension of the E-O switch for second-order spatial accuracy in these regions; nonreflecting far field boundary conditions for more accurate unsteady applications; and several modifications which accelerate convergence to steady-state. Calculations are presented for several configurations including the General Dynamics one-ninth scale F-16C aircraft model to evaluate the algorithm modifications. The modifications have significantly improved the stability of the AF algorithm and hence the reliability of the CAP-TSD code in general.

Batina, John T.↗

Unsteady transonic small-disturbance theory including entropy and vorticity effects

Modifications to unsteady transonic small disturbance theory to include entropy and vorticity effects are presented. The modifications were implemented in the CAP-TSD (Computational Aeroelasticity Program - Transonic Small Disturbance) code. The code permits the aeroelastic analysis of complete aircraft configurations in the flutter critical transonic speed range. Entropy and vorticity effects were incorporated within the solution procedure to more accurately analyze flows with strong shock waves. The modified code includes these effects while retaining the relative simplicity and cost efficiency of the TSD formulation. Detailed descriptions are presented of the entropy and vorticity modifications along with calculated results and comparisons which assess the modified theory. These results are in good agreement with parallel Euler calculations and with experimental data. Therefore, the present method now provides the aeroelastician with an affordable capability to analyze relatively difficult transonic flows without having to solve the computationally more expensive Euler equations.

Batina, John T.↗

Recent advances in transonic computational aeroelasticity

A transonic unsteady aerodynamic and aeroelasticity code called CAP-TSD was developed for application to realistic aircraft configurations. The code permits the calculation of steady and unsteady flows about complete aircraft configurations for aeroelastic analysis in the flutter critical transonic speed range. The CAP-TSD code uses a time accurate approximate factorization algorithm for solution of the unsteady transonic small disturbance potential equation. An overview is given of the CAP-TSD code development effort and results are presented which demonstrate various capabilities of the code. Calculations are presented for several configurations including the General Dynamics 1/9 scale F-16 aircraft model and the ONERA M6 wing. Calculations are also presented from a flutter analysis of a 45 deg sweptback wing which agrees well with the experimental data. Descriptions are presented of the CAP-TSD code and algorithm details along with results and comparisons which demonstrate these recent developments in transonic computational aeroelasticity.

Batina, John T.↗

Unsteady transonic small-disturbance theory including entropy and vorticity effects

Modifications to unsteady transonic small-disturbance theory to include entropy and vorticity effects are presented. The modifications have been implemented in the CAP-TSD (Computational Aeroelasticity Program - Transonic Small Disturbance) code developed recently at the NASA Langley Research Center. The code permits the aeroelastic analysis of complete aircraft configurations in the flutter critical transonic speed range. Entropy and vorticity effects have been incorporated within the solution procedure to more accurately analyze flows with strong shock waves. The modified code includes these effects while retaining the relative simplicity and cost efficiency of the TSD formulation. The paper presents detailed descriptions of the entropy and vorticity modifications along with calculated results and comparisons which assess the modified theory. These results are in good agreement with parallel Euler calculations and with experimental data. Therefore, the present method now provides the aeroelastician with an affordable capability to analyze relatively difficult transonic flows without having to solve the computationally more expensive Euler equations.

Batina, John T.↗

Effects of symmetric and asymmetric modes on transonic aeroelastic characteristics of full-span wing-body configurations

To accurately study the transonic aeroelastic characteristics, it is important to model the full aircraft configuration, including asymmetry. Recently, an accurate method of computing unsteady transonic flows on full-span wing-body configurations was developed using the transonic potential flow theory. In this work, the method is further developed to account for the aeroelasticity of full-span wing-body configurations. This is accomplished by simultaneously integrating the unsteady aerodynamic forces and modal structural equations of the wing-body configurations. To validate the method, aeroelastic computations are made for a wing-body configuration with a rectangular wing. The aeroelastic responses of this configuration are correlated with the responses of a similar isolated wing. The comparisons are favorable. Aeroelastic computations associated with symmetric and asymmetric modes are also made to study the influence of modal asymmetry on responses. This new development is further illustrated by computing aeroelastic characteristics of a typical fighter aircraft. The results from this study will be useful in accurately computing the transonic flutter boundaries of aircraft, including those associated with asymmetric modes.

Guruswamy, Guru P.↗

Wind tunnel-sidewall-boundary-layer effects in transonic airfoil testing-some correctable, but some not

The need to correct transonic airfoil wind tunnel test data for the influence of the tunnel sidewall boundary layers, in addition to the wall accepted corrections for the analytical investigation was carried out in order to evaluate sidewall boundary layer effects on transonic airfoil characteristics, and to validate proposed correction and the limit to their applications. This investigation involved testing of modern airfoil configurations in two different transonic airfoil test facilities, the 15 x 60 inch two-dimensional insert of the National Aeronautical Establishment (NAE) 5 foot tunnel in Ottawa, Canada, and the two-dimensional test section of the NASA Langley 0.3 m Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel (TCT). Results presented included effects of variations in sidewall-boundary layer bleed in both facilities, different sidewall boundary layer correction procedures, tunnel-to tunnel comparisons of correcte results, and flow conditions with and without separation.

Lynch, F. T.↗

Steady and unsteady transonic small disturbance analysis of realistic aircraft configurations

A transonic unsteady aerodynamic and aeroelastic code called CAP-TSD (Computational Aeroelasticity Program - Transonic Small Disturbance) was developed for application to realistic aircraft configurations. It permits the calculation of steady and unsteady flows about complete aircraft configurations for aeroelastic analysis of the flutter critical transonic speed range. The CAP-TSD code uses a time accurate approximate factorization algorithm for solution of the unsteady transonic small disturbance potential equation. An overview is given of the CAP-TSD code development effort along with recent algorithm modifications which are listed and discussed. Calculations are presented for several configurations including the General Dynamics 1/9th scale F-16C aircraft model to evaluate the algorithm and hence the reliability of the CAP-TSD code in general. Calculations are also presented for a flutter analysis of a 45 deg sweptback wing which agree well with the experimental data. Descriptions are presented of the CAP-TSD code and algorithm details along with results and comparisons which demonstrate the stability, accuracy, efficiency, and utility of CAP-TSD.

Batina, John T.↗

Design optimization of axisymmetric bodies in nonuniform transonic flow

An inviscid transonic code capable of designing an axisymmetric body in a uniform or nonuniform flow was developed. The design was achieved by direct optimiation by coupling an analysis code with an optimizer. Design examples were provided for axisymmetric bodies with fineness ratios of 8.33 and 5 at different Mach numbers. It was shown that by reducing the nose radius and increasing the afterbody thickness of initial shapes obtained from symmetric NACA four-digit airfoil contours, wave drag could be reduced by 29 percent for a body of fineness ratio 8.33 in a nonuniform transonic flow of M = 0.98 to 0.995. The reduction was 41 percent for a body of fineness ratio 5 in a uniform transonic flow of M = 0.925 and 65 percent for the same body but in a nonuniform transonic flow of M = 0.90 to 0.95.

Lan, C. Edward↗

Recent advances in transonic computational aeroelasticity

A transonic unsteady aerodynamic and aeroelasticity code called CAP-TSD was developed for application to realistic aircraft configurations. The code permits the calculation of steady and unsteady flows about complete aircraft configurations for aeroelastic analysis in the flutter critical transonic speed range. The CAP-TSD code uses a time accurate approximate factorization algorithm for solution of the unsteady transonic small disturbance potential equation. An overview is given of the CAP-TSD code development effort and results are presented which demonstrate various capabilities of the code. Calculations are presented for several configurations including the General Dynamics 1/9 scale F-16 aircraft model and the ONERA M6 wing. Calculations are also presented from a flutter analysis of a 45 deg sweptback wing which agrees well with the experimental data. Descriptions are presented of the CAP-TSD code and algorithm details along with results and comparisons which demonstrate these recent developments in transonic computational aeroelasticity.

Batina, John T.↗

Emerging technology for transonic wind-tunnel-wall interference assessment and corrections

Several nonlinear transonic codes and a panel method code for wind tunnel/wall interference assessment and correction (WIAC) studies are reviewed. Contrasts between two- and three-dimensional transonic testing factors which affect WIAC procedures are illustrated with airfoil data from the NASA/Langley 0.3-meter transonic cyrogenic tunnel and Pathfinder I data. Also, three-dimensional transonic WIAC results for Mach number and angle-of-attack corrections to data from a relatively large 20 deg swept semispan wing in the solid wall NASA/Ames high Reynolds number Channel I are verified by three-dimensional thin-layer Navier-Stokes free-air solutions.

Newman, P. A.↗

On the structure, interaction, and breakdown characteristics of slender wing vortices at subsonic, transonic, and supersonic speeds

Slender wing vortex flows at subsonic, transonic, and supersonic speeds were investigated in a 6 x 6 ft wind tunnel. Test data obtained include off-body and surface flow visualizations, wing upper surface static pressure distributions, and six-component forces and moments. The results reveal the transition from the low-speed classical vortex regime to the transonic regime, beginning at a freestream Mach number of 0.60, where vortices coexist with shock waves. It is shown that the onset of core breakdown and the progression of core breakdown with the angle of attack were sensitive to the Mach number, and that the shock effects at transonic speeds were reduced by the interaction of the wing and the lead-edge extension (LEX) vortices. The vortex strengths and direct interaction of the wing and LEX cores (cores wrapping around each other) were found to diminish at transonic and supersonic speeds.

Erickson, Gary E.↗

Evaluation of transonic wall interference assessment and correction for semi-span wing data

A newly developed transonic wall interference assessment and correction (WIAC) code is applied to transonic semispan wing data taken in the Lockheed-Georgia Compressible Flow Wind Tunnel (CFWT), in order to evaluate previous WIAC results and corrections. A current state-of-the-art Navier-Stokes free-air code is used as an independent check. Results are presented for Wing C at the transonic edge of its test data matrix in the CFWT. The results demonstrate the effects of wall porosity, Mach number, and angle-of-attack on the transonic wall interference correction.

Garriz, Javier A.↗

A user's guide to the Langley 16-foot transonic tunnel complex. Revision 1

The operational characteristics and equipment associated with the Langley 16-foot transonic tunnel complex which is located in buildings 1146 and 1234 at the Langley Research Center are described in detail. This complex consists of the 16-foot transonic wind tunnel, the static test facility, and the 16- by 24-inch water tunnel research facilities. The 16-foot transonic tunnel is a single-return atmospheric wind tunnel with a 15.5 foot diameter test section and a Mach number capability from 0.20 to 1.30. The emphasis for research conducted in this research complex is on the integration of the propulsion system into advanced aircraft concepts. In the past, the primary focus has been on the integration of nozzles and empennage into the afterbody of fighter aircraft. During the last several years this experimental research has been expanded to include developing the fundamental data base necessary to verify new theoretical concepts, inlet integration into fighter aircraft, nozzle integration for supersonic and hypersonic transports, nacelle/pylon/wing integration for subsonic transport configurations, and the study of vortical flows (in the 16- by 24-inch water tunnel). The purpose here is to provide a comprehensive description of the operational characteristics of the research facilities of the 16-foot transonic tunnel complex and their associated systems and equipments.

Source record↗

Nonequilibrium turbulence modeling effects on transonic vortical flows about delta wings

The Johnson-King turbulence model that is a viable method for calculating two dimensional transonic separated flows was extended into three dimensions. The implementation was done for Navier Stokes flow solvers written in general curvilinear coordinates. The present approach used in turbulence modeling is based on streamwise integration of an ordinary differential equation (o.d.e.) that governs the maximum Reynolds shear stress behavior. Streamwise integration of the o.d.e. approach was found to offer great mathematical simplicity and economy for three dimensional Navier Stokes methods. Thus, the new method is quick, simple, and very cheap. The new method was first checked against the data of a well known transonic axisymmetric bump experiment, and a good agreement was obtained. Later, the new method was used to compute the flow around a low aspect ratio wing in a transonic wind tunnel. Finally it was employed to study the nonequilibrium turbulence effects on the transonic vortical flows about a 65 deg sweep round leading edge delta wing.

Unver Kaynak↗

A Correlation by Means of the Transonic Similarity Rules of the Experimentally Determined Characteristics of 22 Rectangular Wings of Symmetrical Profile

The transonic similarity rules have been applied to the correlation of experimental data for a series of 22 rectangular wings having symmetrical NACA 63A-series sections, aspect ratios from 1/2 to 6, and thicknesses from 2 to 10 percent. The data were obtained by use of the transonic bump technique over a Mach number range from 0.40 to 1.10, corresponding to a Reynolds number range from 1.25 to 2.05 million. The results show that it is possible to correlate experimental data throughout the subsonic, transonic, and moderate supersonic regimes by using the transonic similarity parameters in forms which are consistent with the Prandtl-Glauert rule of linearized theory. The multiple families of basic data curves for the various aspect ratios and thickness ratios have been summarized in single presentations involving only one geometric variable - the product of the aspect ratio and the l/3 power of the thickness ratio.

Mcdevitt, John B↗

Airfoil modification effects on subsonic and transonic pressure distributions and performance for the EA-6B airplane

Longitudinal characteristics and wing-section pressure distributions are compared for the EA-6B airplane with and without airfoil modifications. The airfoil modifications were designed to increase low-speed maximum lift for maneuvering, while having a minimal effect on transonic performance. Section contour changes were confined to the leading-edge slat and trailing-edge flap regions of the wing. Experimental data are analyzed from tests in the Langley 16-Foot Transonic Tunnel on the baseline and two modified wing-fuselage configurations with the slats and flaps in their retracted positions. Wing modification effects on subsonic and transonic performance are seen in wing-section pressure distributions of the various configurations at similar lift coefficients. The modified-wing configurations produced maximum lift coefficients which exceeded those of the baseline configuration at low-speed Mach numbers (0.300 and 0.400). This benefit was related to the behavior of the wing upper surface leading-edge suction peak and the behavior of the trailing-edge pressure. At transonic Mach numbers (0.725 to 0.900), the wing modifications produced a somewhat stronger nose-down pitching moment, a slightly higher drag at low-lift levels, and a lower drag at higher lift levels.

Allison, Dennis O.↗

Use of the PARC code to estimate the off-design transonic performance of an over/under turboramjet nozzle

The transonic performance of a dual-throat, single-expansion-ramp nozzle (SERN) was investigated with a PARC computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, an external flow Navier-Stokes solver. The nozzle configuration was from a conceptual Mach 5 cruise aircraft powered by four air-breathing turboramjets. Initial test cases used the two-dimensional version of PARC in Euler mode to investigate the effect of geometric variation on transonic performance. Additional cases used the two-dimensional version in viscous mode and the three-dimensional version in both Euler and viscous modes. Results of the analysis indicate low nozzle performance and a highly three-dimensional nozzle flow at transonic conditions. In another comparative study using the PARC code, a single-throat SERN configuration for which experimental data were available at transonic conditions was used to validate the results of the over/under turboramjet nozzle.

Lam, David W.↗