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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.

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At least 145 records · Page 8

Experimental evaluation of an advanced Space Shuttle Main Engine hot-gas manifold design concept

The Space Shuttle Main Engine's hot gas manifold (HGM) has been the subject of an experimental study aimed at the establishment of an aerodynamic data base to support the development of an advanced, three-dimensional, fluid dynamic analysis computer model. The advanced HGM design used in the study demonstrated improved flow uniformity in the fuel-side turbine exit and transfer duct exit regions. Major modifications were incorporated in the HGM flow test article model, using two large transfer ducts on the fuel turbine side in place of the three small transfer ducts of the present design. The HGM flow field data were found to be essentially independent of Reynolds number over the range examined.

Pelaccio, D. G.↗

Experiments on supersonic turbulent flow development in a square duct

The nature of supersonic, turbulent, adiabatic-wall flow in a square duct is investigated experimentally over a development length of x/D between 0 and 20 for a uniform flow, Mach 3.9 condition at the duct inlet. Initial discussion centers on the duct configuration itself, which was designed specifically to minimize wave effects and nozzle-induced distortion in the flow. Total pressure contours and local skin friction coefficient distributions are presented which show that the flow develops in a manner similar to that observed for the incompressible case. In particular, undulations exist in total pressure contours within the cross plane and in transverse skin friction coefficient distributions, which are indicative of the presence of a well-defined secondary flow superimposed upon the primary flow. The results are analyzed to show that local law-of-the-wall behavior extends well into the corner region, which implies that wall functions conventionally applied in two-equation type turbulence models, when suitably defined for compressible flow, may also be applied to supersonic streamwise corner flows.

Gessner, F. B.↗

On the mixing of a row of jets with a confined crossflow

Mean temperature profiles calculated with an interactive microcomputer code which evaluates dilution-zone design alternatives are presented to show the effects of flow and geometric variables on the mixing of a single row of jets injected through sharp-edged orifices into a uniform flow of a different temperature in a constant area duct. In addition, this program is used to calculate profiles for opposed rows of jets with their centerlines in-line, by assuming that the confining effect of an opposite wall is equivalent to that of a plane of symmetry between opposed jets.

Holdeman, J. D.↗

Comparative Study of Impedance Eduction Methods, Part 2: NASA Tests and Methodology

A number of methods have been developed at NASA Langley Research Center for eduction of the acoustic impedance of sound-absorbing liners mounted in the wall of a flow duct. This investigation uses methods based on the Pridmore-Brown and convected Helmholtz equations to study the acoustic behavior of a single-layer, conventional liner fabricated by the German Aerospace Center and tested in the NASA Langley Grazing Flow Impedance Tube. Two key assumptions are explored in this portion of the investigation. First, a comparison of results achieved with uniform-flow and shear-flow impedance eduction methods is considered. Also, an approach based on the Prony method is used to extend these methods from single-mode to multi-mode implementations. Finally, a detailed investigation into the effects of harmonic distortion on the educed impedance is performed, and the results are used to develop guidelines regarding acceptable levels of harmonic distortion

Jones, Michael G.↗

A steady and oscillatory kernel function method for interfering surfaces in subsonic, transonic and supersonic flow

The theory, results and user instructions for an aerodynamic computer program are presented. The theory is based on linear lifting surface theory, and the method is the kernel function. The program is applicable to multiple interfering surfaces which may be coplanar or noncoplanar. Local linearization was used to treat nonuniform flow problems without shocks. For cases with imbedded shocks, the appropriate boundary conditions were added to account for the flow discontinuities. The data describing nonuniform flow fields must be input from some other source such as an experiment or a finite difference solution. The results are in the form of small linear perturbations about nonlinear flow fields. The method was applied to a wide variety of problems for which it is demonstrated to be significantly superior to the uniform flow method. Program user instructions are given for easy access.

Cunningham, A. M., Jr.↗

On the azimuthal variation of the equatorial plasmapause

Previous results of plasmapause position surveys have been synthesized into a comprehensive description of the plasmapause, taken to represent the boundary between diurnal near-corotation and large-scale circulation streamlines that traverse the entire magnetosphere. The result indicates a plasmapause that has a pronounced bulge in the dusk sector, that rotates sunward and shrinks markedly as geomagnetic activity (and presumably magnetospheric convection) increase. The shape of the plasmapause so determined is significantly different from that associated with the simple superposition of sunward flow and corotation, both in its detailed shape and in its varying orientation. The results imply that the magnetospheric circulation departs from a uniform flow field, having a radial dependence with respect to the Earth that is qualitatively consistent with electrostatic shielding of the convection electric field. Also, the results imply the the inner magnetospheric flow field rotates from duskward to dawnward as its intensity increases.

Gallagher, D. L.↗

Aerodynamic characteristics at low Reynolds numbers of several heat-exchanger configurations for wind-tunnel use

In response to design requirements of the National Transonic Facility, aerodynamic tests were conducted to determine the pressure-drop, flow-uniformity, and turbulence characteristics of various heat-exchanger configurations as a function of Reynolds number. Data were obtained in air with an indraft flow apparatus operated at ambient temperature and pressure. The unit Reynolds number of the tests varied from about 0.06 x 10 to 6th power to about 1.3 x 10 to 6th power per meter. The test models were designed to represent segments of full-scale tube bundles and included bundles of round tubes with plate fins in both staggered and inline tube arrays, round tubes with spiral fins, elliptical tubes with plate fins, and an inline grouping of tubes with segmented fins.

Johnson, W. G., Jr.↗

Bleed Hole Flow Phenomena Studied

Boundary-layer bleed is an invaluable tool for controlling the airflow in supersonic aircraft engine inlets. Incoming air is decelerated to subsonic speeds prior to entering the compressor via a series of oblique shocks. The low momentum flow in the boundary layer interacts with these shocks, growing in thickness and, under some conditions, leading to flow separation. To remedy this, bleed holes are strategically located to remove mass from the boundary layer, reducing its thickness and helping to maintain uniform flow to the compressor. The bleed requirements for any inlet design are unique and must be validated by extensive wind tunnel testing to optimize performance and efficiency. To accelerate this process and reduce cost, researchers at the NASA Lewis Research Center initiated an experimental program to study the flow phenomena associated with bleed holes. Knowledge of these flow properties will be incorporated into computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models that will aid engine inlet designers in optimizing bleed configurations before any hardware is fabricated. This ongoing investigation is currently examining two hole geometries, 90 and 20 (both with 5-mm diameters), and various flow features.

Source record↗

Langley facility for tests at Mach 7 of subscale, hydrogen-burning, airframe-integratable, scramjet models

Modifications to a 20-megawatt arc-heated facility for testing a hydrogen-burning, airframe-integratable, subscale, scramjet model are described. Arc-heated flow is mixed with unheated air to furnish a test flow duplicating Mach 7 flight. (Stagnation temperature is 2220 K.) Modifications to the commercially available heater to improve survivability and smoothness are described. Pitot profiles show uniform flow and a slightly thinner nozzle boundary layer than predicted. Comparison of the tunnel boundary layer, which will be ingested by the engine model, with the boundary layer that a flight engine might ingest from its vehicle forebody shows a difference in the density distribution through the boundary layer. Calculations of wall heating and transient wall temperatures of the engine model show that for a 30-sec burn, the heat sink model requires cooling at selected locations to avoid thermal-stress, cycle-life problems. Model performance predictions show that fuel equivalence ratio and nozzle exit area both have large effects on thrust. Average inlet entrance Mach number (as affected by boundary-layer ingestion) has little effect on thrust.

Boatright, W. B.↗

Computation of imaginary-side pressure distributions over the flexible walls of the test section insert for the 0.3-M transonic cryogenic tunnel

Two dimensional airfoil testing in an adaptive wall test-section wind tunnel requires the computation of the imaginary flow fields extending outward from the top and bottom test section walls. A computer program was developed to compute the flow field which would be associated with an arbitrary test section wall shape. The program is based on incompressible flow theory with a Prandtl-Glauert compressibility correction. The program was validated by comparing the streamline and the pressure field generated by a source in uniform flow with the results from the computer program. A listing of the program, the validation test results, and a sample program are included.

Goodyer, M. J.↗

On Flowfield Periodicity in the NASA Transonic Flutter Cascade: Experimental Study - Part 1

An extensive study to improve flow uniformity and periodicity in the NASA Transonic Flutter Cascade is presented here. The results are reported in two independent parts dealing with the experimental approach and the analytical approach. The first part, the Experimental Study, focuses first on the data sets acquired in this facility in the past and explains several discrepancies, particularly the questions of actual flow incidence and cascade back pressure levels. Next, available means for control and modifications of the cascade flowfield, boundary layer bleed and tailboard settings are presented in detail. This is followed by experimental data sets acquired in modified test facility configurations that were based on analytical predictions of the cascade flowfield. Finally, several important conclusions about improving the cascade flowfield uniformity and blade load periodicity are summarized. The important conclusions are: (1) boundary layer bleed does not improve the cascade flow periodicity; (2) tunnel wall contours must be carefully matched to the expected shape of cascade streamlines; (3) actual flow incidence for each cascade configuration rather must be measured instead of relying on the tunnel geometry; and (4) the current cascade configuration exhibits a very high blade load uniformity over six blades from blade #2 to blade #7, and the facility is now ready for unsteady pressure data acquisition.

Lepicovsky, J.↗

Nonuniform flow field generation for supersonic compressor stator development: Design and preliminary results

Design and preliminary results are given for a technique which can generate a nonuniform flow similar to the discharge of an impulse supersonic compressor rotor. The technique utilizes a carefully contoured, two-dimensional blunt body in a conventional hypersonic wind tunnel to generate the required flow field. To show the effects of the flow vorticity, a cascade of impulse-type blades was tested in this test stream. Some preliminary performance data are given along with comparison with previously determined uniform flow results.

Lipfert, F. W.↗

Sensor for measuring instantaneous angle of attack of helicopter blades

Systematic investigations were performed on a variety of probes to determine their potential for possible application as sensors attached to helicopter blades to measure both the instantaneous angle of attack as well as the dynamic head during actual flight operations. After some preliminary considerations a sensor of essentially spherical shape, about 30 mm in diameter, was designed. The sensor was provided with three pressure ports, and it housed two pressure transducers required for sensing the prevailing pressures acting outside on the surface. The sensors were subsequently tested in the laboratory under a variety of flow conditions to determine their aerodynamic characteristics. Two series of tests were performed: in the first series the sensor was fixed in space while exposed to steady uniform flow, while in the second series the sensor was made to oscillate, thus simulating the cyclic pitch change of the helicopter blades. While the cyclic pitch frequencies were of about the same magnitude as encountered in flight, the flow velocities during tests fell well below those experienced in a rotating blade. The tests showed that the sensors performed satisfactorily under low subsonic flow conditions with frequencies not exceeding five Hz.

Barna, P. S.↗

On the Azimuthal Variation of Core Plasma in the Equatorial Magnetosphere

Previous results of plasmapause position surveys have been synthesized into a description of the underlying global distribution of plasmasphere-like or core plasma densities unique to a steady state magnetosphere. Under these steady conditions, the boundary between high- and low-density regions is taken to represent the boundary between diurnal near-corotation and large-scale circulation streamlines that traverse the entire magnetosphere. Results indicate a boundary that has a pronounced bulge in the dusk sector that is rotated westward and markedly reduced in size at increased levels of geomagnetic activity (and presumably magnetospheric convection). The derived profile is empirical confirmation of an underlying 'tear drop' distribution of core plasma, which is valid only for prolonged steady conditions and is somewhat different from that associated with the simple superposition of sunward flow and corotation, both in its detailed shape and in its varying orientation. Variation away from the tear drop profile suggests that magnetospheric circulation departs from a uniform flow field, having a radial dependence with respect to the Earth that is qualitatively consistent with electrostatic shielding of the convection electric field and which is rotated westward at increased levels of geophysical activity.

Gallagher, D. L.↗

Unsteady transonic flow in cascades

There is a need for methods to predict the unsteady air loads associated with flutter of turbomachinery blading at transonic speeds. The results of such an analysis in which the steady relative flow approaching a cascade of thin airfoils is assumed to be transonic, irrotational, and isentropic is presented. The blades in the cascade are allowed to undergo a small amplitude harmonic oscillation which generates a small unsteady flow superimposed on the existing steady flow. The blades are assumed to oscillate with a prescribed motion of constant amplitude and interblade phase angle. The equations of motion are obtained by linearizing about a uniform flow the inviscid nonheat conducting continuity and momentum equations. The resulting equations are solved by employing the Weiner Hopf technique. The solution yields the unsteady aerodynamic forces acting on the cascade at Mach number equal to 1. Making use of an unsteady transonic similarity law, these results are compared with the results obtained from linear unsteady subsonic and supersonic cascade theories. A parametric study is conducted to find the effects of reduced frequency, solidity, stagger angle, and position of pitching axis on the flutter.

Surampudi, S. P.↗

Unsteady transonic flow in cascades

There is a need for methods to predict the unsteady air loads associated with flutter of turbomachinery blading at transonic speeds. The results of such an analysis in which the steady relative flow approaching a cascade of thin airfoils is assumed to be transonic, irrotational, and isentropic is presented. The blades in the cascade are allowed to undergo a small amplitude harmonic oscillation which generates a small unsteady flow superimposed on the existing steady flow. The blades are assumed to oscillate with a prescribed motion of constant amplitude and interblade phase angle. The equations of motion are obtained by linearizing about a uniform flow the inviscid nonheat conducting continuity and momentum equations. The resulting equations are solved by employing the Weiner Hopf technique. The solution yields the unsteady aerodynamic forces acting on the cascade at Mach number equal to 1. Making use of an unsteady transonic similarity law, these results are compared with the results obtained from linear unsteady subsonic and supersonic cascade theories. A parametric study is conducted to find the effects of reduced frequency, solidity, stagger angle, and position of pitching axis on the flutter.

Surampudi, S. P.↗

Turbofan aft duct suppressor study

Suppressions due to acoustic treatment in the annular exhaust duct of a model fan were theoretically predicted and compared with measured suppressions. The predictions are based on the modal analysis of sound propagation in a straight annular flow duct with segmented treatment. Modal distributions of the fan noise source (fan-stator interaction only) were measured using in-duct modal probes. The flow profiles were also measured in the vicinity of the modal probes. The acoustic impedance of the single degree of freedom treatment was measured in the presence of grazing flow. The measured values of mode distribution of the fan noise source, the flow velocity profile and the acoustic impedance of the treatment in the duct were used as input to the prediction program. The predicted suppressions, under the assumption of uniform flow in the duct, compared well with the suppressions measured in the duct for all test conditions. The interaction modes generated by the rotor-stator interaction spanned a cut-off ratio range from nearly 1 to 7.

Syed, A. A.↗