INDUCED INTERFERENCE EFFECTS ON A FOUR-JET VTOL CONFIGURATION WITH VARIOUS WING PLANFORMS IN THE TRANSITION SPEED RANGE
Induced interference effects on a four-jet vtol configuration
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Induced interference effects on a four-jet vtol configuration
Aerodynamic probe is a small cylinder tube holding a network of tiny tubes leading to various ports. Six parameters are recorded simultaneously with little interference with aerodynamic flow. Two tubes connected by a hot-wire tungsten probe sense steady and fluctuating components of total and static pressures; the feedbacks from these tubes are input into differential-pressure sensors to measure fluctuating components of the pressures. Data are recorded by instruments at the back end of the probe.
Human exploration of the surface of Mars will require an extended powered descent phase of flight, during which aerodynamic-propulsive interference effects can be significant. Characterization of these environments to enable implementation of this technology into a flight vehicle will rely heavily on computational simulation. This work advances the understanding of retropropulsion aerodynamics through application of a massively parallel detached eddy simulation approach on a GPU-accelerated computational framework, yielding data that are largely unachievable with conventional high-performance computing resources. This work includes time-dependent and time-averaged forces and moments on a conceptual, full-scale vehicle in environments and operating conditions relevant to human Mars exploration. Conditions are examined where the engine exhaust flow transitions between over-expanded and under-expanded flow structures, and flight operation will require the ability to maintain control of the vehicle during such a transition. These transitions occur as the vehicle decelerates, and as such, this investigation includes supersonic, transonic, and subsonic flight conditions. Options for vehicle control during powered flight include differential throttling of the engines. This paper provides an overview of the computational campaign, approach, and discussion of results in characterizing the resulting aerodynamics for differential throttling with retropropulsion in atmospheric environments.
An experimental aerodynamic investigation was conducted to determine the interference effects of a wind tunnel support system. The test article was a 0.015 scale model of the space shuttle orbiter. The primary objective of the test was to determine the extent that aerodynamic simulation of the space shuttle orbiter is affected by base mounting the model, without nozzles, on a straight sting. Two support systems were tested. The characteristics of the support systems are described. Data from the tests are presented in the form of graphs and tables.
Development of a powered descent capability for atmospheric environments is heavily reliant on computational simulation. The prohibitive computational cost of such simulations motivates an improvement in the understanding of the minimum computational fidelity re-quired to accurately characterize aerodynamic-propulsive interference for such applications. This work examines the applicability of detached eddy simulation methods for retropropulsion in atmospheric environments through utilization of a GPU-accelerated computational framework, yielding data that are largely unachievable with conventional high-performance computing resources. This effort was specifically designed to quantitatively assess the effects of spatial resolution on vehicle aerodynamics for nominal operation of a low lift-to-drag ratio, human-scale Mars lander concept. The test matrix and scaling approach span relevant nozzle expansion conditions as well as mid-supersonic to high-subsonic operating conditions. Solutions were generated using computational grids ranging from 143 million to 1.14 billion grid points (degrees of freedom). This paper will provide an overview of the computational campaign, approach, and discussion of preliminary results focused on a range of operating conditions for a conceptual low lift-to-drag, human-scale Mars lander.
Interference effects of canard controls on longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of winged body in hypersonic flow
A practical method has been developed for calculation of laminar and rarefied aerodynamic heating to the external tank of the Space Shuttle during the ascent phase of flight. A modification of laminar boundary theory is used as the basis for the heating relation. This relation is used in conjunction with a correlation for surface pressures to obtain undisturbed aerodynamic heating. Interference effects on the external tank due to the orbiter are correlated using the rarefaction parameter which was developed as part of the heating relation. The effects of rarefaction on the undisturbed and interference heating are illustrated with test data.
A flight test survey of pressures measured on wing, pylon, and nacelle surfaces and of the operating loads on Boeing 747/Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7A nacelles was made to provide information on airflow patterns surrounding the propulsion system installations and to clarify processes responsible for inservice deterioration of fuel economy. Airloads at takeoff rotation were found to be larger than at any other normal service condition because of the combined effects of high angle of attack and high engine airflow. Inertial loads were smaller than previous estimates indicated. A procedure is given for estimating inlet airloads at low speeds and high angles of attack for any underwing high bypass ratio turbofan installation approximately resembling the one tested. Flight procedure modifications are suggested that may result in better fuel economy retention in service. Pressures were recorded on the core cowls and pylons of both engine installations and on adjacent wing surfaces for use in development of computer codes for analysis of installed propulsion system aerodynamic drag interference effects.
Inlet airloads were measured by integration of pressures recorded at 252 locations on the right hand inboard (JT9D-7A) nacelle of the Boeing 747 aircraft. Pressures were recorded at 45 locations on the right hand outboard nacelle for comparison. Inertial loads were measured on both nacelles using accelerometers and rate gyros. Flight conditions included takeoffs at several gross weights, high g turns, and a simulated acceptance flight. Airloads at takeoff rotation were found to be larger than at any other normal service condition because of the combined effects of high angle of attack and high engine airflow. Inertial loads were smaller than previous estimates had indicated. A procedure is given for estimating inlet airloads at low speeds and high angles of attack for any underwing high bypass ratio turbofan installation approximately resembling the one tested. Flight procedure modifications are suggested that may result in better fuel economy retention in service. Pressures were recorded on the core cowls and pylons of both engine installations and on adjacent wing surfaces for use in development of computer codes for analysis of installed propulsion system aerodynamic drag interference effects.
Ground- and space-based containerless processing levitation devices are described. Experiments performed in the MSFC drop tube, the JPL drag-free drop facilities, a single-axis tuned cavity acoustic levitator furnace on TEXUS-I, and a three-axis acoustic levitator and furnace on the STS-11 mission are discussed. Neither acoustic interference nor aerodynamic levitation trials have yielded promising results in sounding rocket and STS based experiments. An electrostatic levitator has furnished a high degree of positioning control with multiple objects in a terrestrial laboratory.
At the suggestion of Professor Von Karman, I have made a few theoretical investigations of the mutual reaction of the wings and body of an airplane. There was assumed as the basis of my calculations, a strongly idealized body shape, namely, a cylinder extended to infinity at both ends and having its axis parallel to the direction of motion of the airplane. The results are to be regarded as rough approximations for a long airplane body and also for an airship with fins. In my calculations, I have considered only a monoplane in which the axis of the wing is rectilinear.
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Drag, lift, pitching moment, and base-pressure measurements have been made, free of support interference, on a range of slanted-base ogive cylinders, using the NASA Langley Research Center 13-in magnetic suspension and balance system. Test Mach numbers were in the range 0.04-0.2. Two types of wake flow were observed, a quasi-symmetric turbulent closure or a longitudinal vortex flow. Aerodynamic characteristics differ dramatically between the two wake types. Drag measurements are shown to be in agreement with previous tests. A hysteretic behavior of the wake with varying Reynold's number has been discovered for the 45-deg base. An interaction between forebody boundary-layer state and wake flow and base pressures has been detected for higher slant angles.
Contains experimental results of an investigation of the aerodynamic characteristics of a family of flying boat hulls of length beam ratios 6, 9, 12, and 15 without wing interference. The results are compared with those taken on the same family of hulls in the presence of a wing.
An investigation of the interference flow field on the space-shuttle boost configuration has been made. The results show that the interference effects can dominate the shuttle aerodynamics. Vortices shed from shock-induced flow separations on the forward portion of the vehicle affect the aerodynamic loads on the aft portion of the booster. Thus, the forebody and aft-body flow fields are coupled. This coupling and the associated time lag due to the finite convection speed of the vortices furnish a mechanism whereby the unsteady aerodynamics can cause undamping of certain low frequency elastic modes of the booster. A preliminary order-of-magnitude analysis of the aeroelastic stability of the shuttle booster indicates that negative aerodynamic damping could occur for at least one bending mode and be of sufficient magnitude to dominate the structural damping. The implication of these results, (with the possibility of undamped oscillations leading to structural failure), is serious enough to warrant further, more detailed analysis.
The effect of wind tunnel wall interference on transonic aerodynamic data obtained in a ventilated test section is difficult to predict. The magnitude of the interference can be reduced and the prediction of the level of interference can be simplified by testing in a test section with solid, adaptive walls. An adaptive wall test section configured for two dimensional testing has been installed in the circuit of the Langley 0.3-m Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel. The unique features of the tunnel and the new test section are described. An overview of computer software to configure the walls along streamsurfaces is presented along with a description of the of the experiments planned to assess the capabilities of the new test section.
The NASA Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) Project explored enabling technologies to reduce impact of aviation on the environment. One project research challenge area was the study of advanced airframe and engine integration concepts to reduce community noise and fuel burn. To address this challenge, complex wind tunnel experiments at both the NASA Langley Research Center's (LaRC) 14'x22' and the Ames Research Center's 40'x80' low-speed wind tunnel facilities were conducted on a BOEING Hybrid Wing Body (HWB) configuration. These wind tunnel tests entailed various entries to evaluate the propulsion-airframe interference effects, including aerodynamic performance and aeroacoustics. In order to assist these tests in producing high quality data with minimal hardware interference, extensive Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations were performed for everything from sting design and placement for both the wing body and powered ejector nacelle systems to the placement of aeroacoustic arrays to minimize its impact on vehicle aerodynamics. This paper presents a high-level summary of the CFD simulations that NASA performed in support of the model integration hardware design as well as the development of some CFD simulation guidelines based on post-test aerodynamic data. In addition, the paper includes details on how multiple CFD codes (OVERFLOW, STAR-CCM+, USM3D, and FUN3D) were efficiently used to provide timely insight into the wind tunnel experimental setup and execution.