Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “FLOW, MIXED”

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 163 records · Page 9

Evaluation of Full Reynolds Stress Turbulence Models in FUN3D for Axisymmetric Jet Flow

Two full seven-equation turbulence models available in the FUN3D code are evaluated for their ability to improve the computation of challenging mixing flows encountered in aerospace propulsion. These models are the SSG/LRR and Wilcox full second-moment Reynolds stress models. They solve equations for the six components of the Reynolds stress and a seventh equation for the turbulent length scale. Two standard eddy viscosity models are also evaluated for comparison, the Spalart-Allmaras (SA) one-equation model and the Menter Shear Stress Transport (SST-V) two-equation turbulence model. Flow through an axisymmetric reference nozzle is examined at three flow conditions: subsonic unheated, subsonic heated, and near sonic unheated. Centerline profiles of velocity and turbulent kinetic energy and radial profiles of velocity, turbulent kinetic energy and turbulent stresses are examined. Results showed that the SA model did well at predicting the jet potential core length, but over-mixed the downstream flow, whereas the SST-V model over-predicted the potential core length. The Wilcox-model significantly over-predicted the potential core length and under-predicted the mixing and was not well-suited for the jet flows evaluated, however the SSG/LRR Reynolds stress model did well at predicting the mixing rate and mean velocity for all cases examined.

mixing layers↗

Lifting-line theory of oblique wings in transonic flows

Three-dimensional corrections to the nonlinear mixed flow admitted by a high-aspect-ratio swept wing of practical interest are analyzed by solving a perturbation problem and matching its solution to that of an outer flow. The latter is identified with a linear solution involving a lifting line, but the centerline of the planform is not required to be straight and unyawed. The existence of a similarity in the three-dimensional flow structure for a certain oblique-wing geometry is demonstrated, along with a solution to the reduced problem in a high-subcritical case.

Cheng, H. K.↗

Low-speed investigation of the maneuver capability of supersonic fighter wings

A low-speed investigation of wings suitable for supersonic fighter application was undertaken to understand the flow regions developed by these wings through flow visualization and to evaluate areas in which low-speed testing could provide information for extrapolation to higher Mach numbers and Reynolds numbers. This study involved cranked wings of highly-swept inboard panels and outboard panel of various sweeps with leading- and trailing-edge devices. Both theoretical and experimental results with flow visualization are presented. Flow visualization results show that a mixed flow condition (vortex flow on the highly-swept inboard section and attached flow on the cranked outboard section) is possible for wings with low sweep (20 deg) outboard cranked sections. Lift and drag measurements on the planar (no flap deflection) wings show good agreement with theoretical results for leading-edge vortex flow. There is little or no change in planar wing performance at maneuver conditions due to outboard sweep effects. Results also show that for cambered wings (flap deflected) only small improvements in performance over flat wings were obtained at high-lift maneuver conditions.

Hom, K. W.↗

Cosmic ray variations and turbulent flow systems - 0.3-1.0 AU; 1977-1980

Possible relationships among the cosmic ray intensity and magnetic fields and flows inside 1 AU are investigated using data gathered by instrumentation on the Helios 1 spacecraft during 1977-80. The data included nearly continuous simultaneous plasma and magnetic field measurements for periods of two months or more at heliocentric radii from 0.3-1 AU. Account was taken of fluctuations of the relative particle counting rates due to spacecraft motion. The passage of transient streams following solar wind shock waves was accompanied by Forbush decreases but not long term modulation. The extent and consistency of the data support a model of shell-like disturbances of diverse shapes and internal structures proceeding outward from the sun. Magnetic field fluctuation spectra (turbulence) calculated for the various types of flow observed permitted establishing power laws relationships between the variations observed and the frequency of the magnetic field. Transient flows were more turbulent than corotating flows. Turbulence was also present in mixed flows, possibly arising from shocks, and was usually confined to the spiral shaped structures of corotation.

Burlaga, L. F.↗

Planar measurement of flow field parameters in a nonreacting supersonic combustor using laser-induced iodine fluorescence

A nonintrusive optical technique, laser-induced iodine fluorescence, has been used to obtain planar measurements of flow field parameters in the supersonic mixing flow field of a nonreacting supersonic combustor. The combustor design used in this work was configured with staged transverse sonic injection behind a rearward-facing step into a Mach 2.07 free stream. A set of spatially resolved measurements of temperature and injectant mole fraction has been generated. These measurements provide an extensive and accurate experimental data set required for the validation of computational fluid dynamic codes developed for the calculation of highly three-dimensional combustor flow fields.

Hartfield, Roy J., Jr.↗

Computation of three-dimensional mixed convective boundary layer flow

The paper presents the numerical solution of heat and mass transfer during cross-flow (orthogonal) mixed convection. In this class of flow, a buoyancy-driven transport in the vertical direction and a forced convective flow in the horizontal direction results in a three-dimensional boundary layer structure adjacent to the plate. The rates of heat and mass transfer are determined by a combined influence of the two transport processes. The equations for the conservation of mass, momentum, energy, and species concentration were solved along with appropriate boundary conditions to determine the distributions of velocity components, temperature, and concentration across the thickness of the boundary layer at different locations on the plate. Results were expressed in dimensionless form using Reynolds number, Richardson number for heat transfer, Richardson number for mass transfer, Prandtl number, and Schmidt number as parameters. It was found that the transport is dominated by buoyancy at smaller vertical locations and at larger distances away from the forced convection leading edge. Effects of forced convection appeared to be very strong at smaller horizontal distances from the leading edge. The cross stream forced convection enhanced the rate of heat and mass transfer by a very significant amount.

Gadepalli, Prashandt↗

A bioreactor system for the nitrogen loop in a Controlled Ecological Life Support System

As space missions become longer in duration, the need to recycle waste into useful compounds rises dramatically. This problem can be addressed by the development of Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS) (i.e., Engineered Closed/Controlled Eco-Systems (ECCES)), consisting of human and plant modules. One of the waste streams leaving the human module is urine. In addition to the reclamation of water from urine, recovery of the nitrogen is important because it is an essential nutrient for the plant module. A 3-step biological process for the recycling of nitrogenous waste (urea) is proposed. A packed-bed bioreactor system for this purpose was modeled, and the issues of reaction step segregation, reactor type and volume, support particle size, and pressure drop were addressed. Based on minimization of volume, a bioreactor system consisting of a plug flow immobilized urease reactor, a completely mixed flow immobilized cell reactor to convert ammonia to nitrite, and a plug flow immobilized cell reactor to produce nitrate from nitrite is recommended. It is apparent that this 3-step bioprocess meets the requirements for space applications.

NASA Discipline Number 61-10↗

Parametric Studies of the Ejector Process within a Turbine-Based Combined-Cycle Propulsion System

Performance characteristics of the ejector process within a turbine-based combined-cycle (TBCC) propulsion system are investigated using the NPARC Navier-Stokes code. The TBCC concept integrates a turbine engine with a ramjet into a single propulsion system that may efficiently operate from takeoff to high Mach number cruise. At the operating point considered, corresponding to a flight Mach number of 2.0, an ejector serves to mix flow from the ramjet duct with flow from the turbine engine. The combined flow then passes through a diffuser where it is mixed with hydrogen fuel and burned. Three sets of fully turbulent Navier-Stokes calculations are compared with predictions from a cycle code developed specifically for the TBCC propulsion system. A baseline ejector system is investigated first. The Navier-Stokes calculations indicate that the flow leaving the ejector is not completely mixed, which may adversely affect the overall system performance. Two additional sets of calculations are presented; one set that investigated a longer ejector region (to enhance mixing) and a second set which also utilized the longer ejector but replaced the no-slip surfaces of the ejector with slip (inviscid) walls in order to resolve discrepancies with the cycle code. The three sets of Navier-Stokes calculations and the TBCC cycle code predictions are compared to determine the validity of each of the modeling approaches.

Georgiadis, Nicholas J.↗

Control of flow separation and mixing by aerodynamic excitation

The recent research in the control of shear flows using unsteady aerodynamic excitation conducted at the NASA Lewis Research Center is reviewed. The program is of a fundamental nature, concentrating on the physics of the unsteady aerodynamic processes. This field of research is a fairly new development with great promise in the areas of enhanced mixing and flow separation control. Enhanced mixing research includes influence of core turbulence, forced pairing of coherent structures, and saturation of mixing enhancement. Separation flow control studies included are for a two-dimensional diffuser, conical diffusers, and single airfoils. Ultimate applications include aircraft engine inlet flow control at high angle of attack, wide angle diffusers, highly loaded airfoils as in turbomachinery, and ejector/suppressor nozzles for the supersonic transport. An argument involving the Coanda Effect is made that all of the above mentioned application areas really only involve forms of shear layer mixing enhancement. The program also includes the development of practical excitation devices which might be used in aircraft applications.

Rice, Edward J.↗

The Effects of Rotation on Boundary Layers in Turbomachine Rotors

The boundary layers in turbomachine rotors are subject to Coriolis forces which can (1) contribute directly to the development of secondary flows and (2) indirectly influence the behavior of boundary layers by augmentation and/or suppression of turbulence production in the boundary layers on blades. Both these rotation-induced phenomena are particularly important in the development of understanding of flow and loss mechanisms in centrifugal and mixed flow machines. The primary objective of this paper is to review the information available on these effects.

Johnston, J. P.↗

Calculating Flow-Angle Deviation in Rotary Pumps

New mathematical formula calculates difference between angle of impeller blade and angle of flow. Formula used for inducers of mixed-flow pumps. With formula, calculations made more quickly and accurately than previously available formulas.

Meng, S. Y.↗

Theoretical study of the transonic lift of a double-wedge profile with detached bow wave

A theoretical study is described of the aerodynamic characteristics at small angle of attack of a thin, double-wedge profile in the range of supersonic flight speed in which the bow wave is detached. The analysis is carried out within the framework of the transonic (nonlinear) small-disturbance theory, and the effects of angle of attack are regarded as a small perturbation on the flow previously calculated at zero angle. The mixed flow about the front half of the profile is calculated by relaxation solution of a suitably defined boundary-value problem for transonic small-disturbance equation in the hodograph plane (i.e., the Tricomi equation). The purely supersonic flow about the rear half is found by an extension of the usual numerical method of characteristics. Analytical results are also obtained, within the framework of the same theory, for the range of speed in which the bow wave is attached and the flow is completely supersonic.

Vincenti, Walter G↗

A 3-D Coupled CFD-DSMC Solution Method With Application to the Mars Sample Return Orbiter

A method to obtain coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics-Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (CFD-DSMC), 3-D flow field solutions for highly blunt bodies at low incidence is presented and applied to one concept of the Mars Sample Return Orbiter vehicle as a demonstration of the technique. CFD is used to solve the high-density blunt forebody flow defining an inflow boundary condition for a DSMC solution of the afterbody wake flow. By combining the two techniques in flow regions where most applicable, the entire mixed flow field is modeled in an appropriate manner.

Glass, Christopher E.↗

Investigation of Turbulent Mixing Processes

With water as driving medium and delivered medium in a device similar to a simple jet apparatus, the pressure and velocity fields of the mixing zone were explored with a pitot bar; the ratio of delivered to driving volume ranged between the values 0, 1, 2, and 4. An attempt was also made to analyze the mixing flow mathematically by integration of the equation of motion, with the aid of conventional formulas for the turbulent shearing stress, but this succeeded only approximately for the very simplified case that a driving jet is introduced in an unlimited parallel flow, while the pressure over the whole mixing field is assumed to be constant. In spite of these dissimilar assumptions for the theory and the experiment, the form of the measured and the computed velocity profiles indicates a very high degree of approximation. The pressure rise, which was approximated by Flugel's formulas, disclosed good agreement with the measured values.

Viktorin, K.↗

Control of flow separation and mixing by aerodynamic excitation

The recent research progress in the control of shear flows using unsteady aerodynamic excitation conducted at the NASA Lewis Research Center is reviewed. The program is of fundamental nature concentrating on the physics of the unsteady aerodynamic processes. This field of research is a fairly new development with great promise in the areas of enhanced mixing and flow separation control. Enhanced mixing research reported in this paper include influence of core turbulence, forced pairing of coherent structures, and saturation of mixing enhancement. Separation flow control studies included are for a two-dimensional diffuser, conical diffusers, and single airfoils. Ultimate applications of this research include aircraft engine inlet flow control at high angle of attack, wide angle diffusers, highly loaded airfoils as in turbomachinery, and ejector/suppressor nozzles for the supersonic transport. An argument involving the Coanda Effect is made here that all of the above mentioned application areas really only involve forms of shear layer mixing enhancement. The program also includes the development of practical excitation devices which might be used in aircraft applications.

Rice, Edward J.↗