Investigation of the Variation of Lift Coefficient with Reynolds Number at a Moderate Angle of Attack on a Low-Drag Airfoil
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AIRFOILS - ANGLE OF ATTACK↗
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Transition measurements of upper and lower rotor blade surfaces in forward flight with thermography
Thermography allows for imaging the location of laminar-to-turbulent boundary layer transition on surfaces in air flows. The determination of BL transition of rotor blades was done in 2017 on the lower surface of a rotor blade in forward flight in the NASA Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel Subsonic Wind Tunnel. This article reports on the follow-on experiment in the same facility and the same blades where thermography was performed on both upper and lower surface synchronously, with the upper surface mapped throughout the full azimuthal range. Blade-tracking rotating mirrors were used for each thermal camera and were synchronized for simultaneous image acquisition. Furthermore, the Differential Infrared Thermography (DIT) technique depicts the unsteady nature of the BL transition in forward flight. Results are presented and discussed. These data are the first ever recorded of both surfaces of a rotor in forward flight.
Boundary layer transition↗
Shockwave-boundary layer interference heating analysis.
Interference heating correlations have been developed based on existing wind tunnel test data taken with simple configurations such as wedge/flat plate and compression corner models. For turbulent flow, peak interference heating was first correlated with shock strength (pressure ratio across shock wave) and then as a function of Reynolds number. The peak interference Stanton number was found to exhibit the same Reynolds number and Prandtl number characteristics as the Stanton number variation for undisturbed flow over a flat plate. Similar correlations were developed for laminar flow. Results indicated that for laminar flow at higher Reynolds number, the impinging shockwave may act as a boundary layer trip and cause boundary layer transition resulting in high interference heating. The correlations derived in this study can be used to scale wind tunnel model test data to a full-scale space vehicle at supersonic or hypersonic flight conditions.
Hung, F. T.↗
Boundary layer control for airships
An investigation is summarized of the aerodynamic principle of boundary layer control for nonrigid LTA craft. The project included a wind tunnel test on a BLC body of revolution at zero angle of attack. Theoretical analysis is shown to be in excellent agreement with the test data. Methods are evolved for predicting the boundary layer development on a body of revolution and the suction pumping and propulsive power requirements. These methods are used to predict the performance characteristics of a full-scale airship. The analysis indicates that propulsive power reductions of 15 to 25 percent and endurance improvements of 20 to 40 percent may be realized in employing boundary-layer control to nonrigid airships.
Pake, F. A.↗
Characteristics of Low-aspect Ratio Wings at Supercritical Mach Numbers
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WIND TUNNEL TESTS - NACA-HIGH-SPEED (2')↗
Preliminary Investigation on Boundary Layer Control by Means of Suction and Pressure with the U.S.A. 27 Airfoil
The tests described in this report constitute a preliminary investigation of airfoil boundary layer control, as carried out in the atmospheric wind tunnel of the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory, from February to August, 1927. Tests were made on a U.S.A. 27 airfoil section with various slot shapes and combinations, and at various amounts of pressure or suction on the slots. The lift of airfoils can be increased by removing or by accelerating the boundary layer. Removing the boundary layer by suction is more economical than to accelerate it by jet action. Gauze-covered suction slots apparently give the best results. When not in operation, all suction slots tested had a detrimental effect upon the aerodynamic characteristics of the airfoil which was not apparent with the backward-opening pressure slots. Thick, blunt-nose airfoils would seem to give best results with boundary layer control.
Reid, E G↗
A Determination of the Laminar-, Transitional-, and Turbulent-boundary-layer Temperature-recovery Factors on a Flat Plate in Supersonic Flow
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BOUNDARY LAYER - TEMPERATURE↗
Adaptive-wall wind-tunnel research at Ames Research Center: A retrospective
This paper reviews adaptive-wall wind-tunnel research conducted at Ames Research Center between 1978 and 1988. This research focused on developing ways to apply the concept of adaptive walls in transonic test sections with ventilated walls. In the approach pursued at Ames, local mass flow through slotted test-section walls was controlled by adjusting the pressure in compartments of a segmented plenum; the flow measurements required to test compatibility of the wind-tunnel flow with free-air boundary conditions were made using a laser velocimeter; empirical influence coefficients were used to predict how pressure changes in the plenum would effect the flow. Both two- and three-dimensional proof-of-concept experiments were conducted in a small indraft wind tunnel. Subsequently, a two-dimensional test section was demonstrated in the Ames 2x2 ft. Transonic Wind Tunnel-a wind tunnel representative of a production facility. The 2x2 ft.tests showed large reductions of wall interference; however, the time required to make the necessary flow measurements and plenum pressure adjustments far exceeded what would be acceptable for production testing. This was primarily because the imaginary surface where free-air compatibility was tested had to be separated from the test section walls to avoid the complex, viscous flow adjacent to the walls. It is unlikely that the Ames approach to adaptive walls will be applied in production wind tunnels. The two biggest unresolved problems are how to quickly and accurately make the necessary flow measurements and how to predict the effects of wall adjustments. In contrast, flexible-wall technology for two-dimensional testing is ready for application in production wind tunnels. However, neither the ventilated- nor flexible-wall approach has been shown to be a technically viable and cost-effective solution to the three-dimensional adaptive wall problem.
Schairer, Edward T.↗
Experimental determination of the thickness of the boundary layer along a wing section
The thickness and course of the boundary layer were measured in flight, in order to determine whether the relations on an airplane and on a shop-made wing can be brought into agreement with the results of wind-tunnel tests and Horst Muller's calculations of the thickness of the boundary layer, as developed from Karman's integral equation for the boundary layer.
Cuno, Otto↗
Blade Mistuning Analysis for Boundary Layer Inlet Flow Distortion-Tolerant Fan Blades
NASA Glenn Research Center has tested the BLI2DTF propulsor including the fan rotor. BLI2DTF stands for Boundary Layer Ingesting Inlet/Distortion-Tolerant Fan. A comparison of the vibratory response between analysis results and experimental wind tunnel test results yielded reasonable agreement, yet some differences were noted. Blade mistuning effects have been identified as a potential cause for these differences. A tuned forced response analysis in a turbomachinery engine rotor system assumes that all of the blades are identical, so that the natural frequencies of individual blades are the same. In contrast to this assumption, the wind tunnel tests of the BLI2DTF rotor system revealed that the individual blade response frequencies varied. These variations in individual blade frequencies may be attributed to blade mistuning due to potential differences in the structural and material properties of individual blades. For an understanding of these variations, it is necessary to analyze the influence of blade mistuning on the BLI2DTF rotor system, which will provide a more precise assessment of its vibratory stresses and high cycle fatigue life. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of blade mistuning on the dynamic characteristics of this rotor system. At the same fan operation condition, a comparative forced response analysis was performed for both tuned and mistuned BLI2DTF rotor systems. A comparison of the results from these analyses found that the mistuning effects on the present BLI2DTF rotor system are notable. As a result, fan blade mistuning is to be considered a contributor to the levels of vibratory dynamic stresses observed during the wind tunnel experiment.
Blade mistuning↗
The role of freestream turbulence scale in subsonic flow separation
The clarification of the role of freestream turbulence scale in determining the location of boundary layer separation is discussed. Modifications to the test facility were completed. Wind tunnel flow characteristics, including turbulence parameters, were determined with two turbulence generating grids, as well as no grid. These results are summarized. Initial results on the role of scale on turbulent boundary layer separation on the upper surface of an airfoil model are also discussed.
Potter, J. L.↗
Pressure and heating-rate distributions on a corrugated surface in a supersonic turbulent boundary layer
Drag and heating rates on wavy surfaces typical of current corrugated plate designs for thermal protection systems were determined experimentally. Pressure-distribution, heating-rate, and oil-flow tests were conducted in the Langley Unitary Plan wind tunnel at Mach numbers of 2.4 and 4.5 with the corrugated surface exposed to both thick and thin turbulent boundary layers. Tests were conducted with the corrugations at cross-flow angles from 0 deg to 90 deg to the flow. Results show that for cross-flow angles of 30 deg or less, the pressure drag coefficients are less than the local flat-plate skin-friction coefficients and are not significantly affected by Mach number, Reynolds number, or boundary-layer thickness over the ranges investigated. For cross-flow angles greater than 30 deg, the drag coefficients increase significantly with cross-flow angle and moderately with Reynolds number. Increasing the Mach number causes a significant reduction in the pressure drag. The average and peak heating penalties due to the corrugated surface are small for cross-flow angles of 10 deg or less but are significantly higher for the larger cross-flow angles.
Sawyer, J. W.↗
Boundary layer removal by suction
Flight-test data and wind-tunnel data on suction profiles are substantially in agreement. The lift values found in the model test can be actually flown and used as a basis for the design. To visualize the action of the suction, the flow conditions with and without suction on the upper surface were photographed; figures 12 to 15 are sections of the film.
Schrenk, O↗
Determination of solid/porous wall boundary conditions from wind tunnel data for computational fluid dynamics codes
A computational and experimental study has been undertaken to investigate methods of modelling solid and porous wall boundary conditions in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes. The procedure utilizes experimental measurements at the walls to develop a flow field solution based on the method of singularities. This flow field solution is then imposed as a pressure boundary condition in a CFD simulation of the internal flow field. The effectiveness of this method in describing the boundary conditions at the wind tunnel walls using only sparse experimental measurements has been investigated. Verification of the approach using computational studies has been carried out using an incompressible flow solver. The current work demonstrates this technique for low speed flows and compares the result with experimental data obtained from a heavily instrumented variable porosity test section. Position and refinement of experimental measurements required to describe porous wall boundary conditions have also been considered for application to other porous wall wind tunnels. The approach developed is simple, computationally inexpensive, and does not require extensive or intrusive measurements. It may be applied to both solid and porous wall wind tunnel tests. Some consideration is given to the extension of this method to three dimensions.
Beutner, Thomas J.↗
Blowing-Type Boundary-Layer Control as Applied to the Trailing-Edge Flaps of a 35 Degree Swept-Wing Airplane
A wind-tunnel investigation was made to determine the effects on the aerodynamic characteristics of a 35 degree swept-wing airplane of applying blowing-type boundary-layer control to the trailing-edge flaps. Flight tests of a similar airplane were then conducted to determine the effects of boundary-layer control on the handling qualities and operation of the airplane, particularly during landing and take-off. The wind-tunnel and flight tests indicated that blowing over the flaps produced large increases in flap lift increment, and significant increases in maximum lift. The use of blowing permitted reductions in the landing approach speeds of as much as 12 knots.
Kelly, Mark W↗
Artificial Thickening of a Transonic Boundary Layer in the Presence of a Pressure Gradient Associated with a Boundary Layer Ingestion Concept
Boundary layer ingestion is an aeropropulsive concept associated with a propulsion airframe integration technique that integrates viscous aerodynamics into a propulsion system to achieve more efficient flight. The effectiveness of this concept is heavily dependent on how much of the boundary layer is being ingested into the propulsor. Scaling this concept for transonic wind tunnel testing is often plagued with blockage issues and requires a modification to the model dimensions such as fuselage length and diameter and wingspan. To simulate the boundary layer for these modified models requires a manipulation of the boundary layer height to achieve the appropriate ratio of boundary layer to propulsor inlet diameter or height. This paper will focus on 15 different transonic boundary layer manipulators to achieve varying turbulent boundary layer heights for a representative single-aisle transport utilizing Boundary Layer Ingestion.
Gregory S Jones↗
Transition Modeling Based on the Dual N-factor Method for the CRM-NLF Wind Tunnel Configuration
The dual N-factor method is used to model the boundary-layer transition over the common research model with natural laminar flow (CRM-NLF) aircraft configuration. The flow conditions match selected test conditions from a wind tunnel experiment in the National Transonic Facility at the NASA Langley Research Center. The paper presents a systematic methodology for transition prediction in the presence of a dual shock system and extends the prior capability for iteratively coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD) predictions to incorporate three-dimensional, transonic wings. The method employs stability computations based on the linear parabolized stability equations (PSE), along with a dual N-factor criterion. The iterative process begins with the fully turbulent Reynolds-averaged-Navier-Stokes (RANS) mean flow solution. For the first iteration, a mean flow solution is calculated with an imposed transition front that aligns with the shock front from the fully turbulent solution. Subsequently, stability computations are performed along a set of streamlines across the wing to calculate the amplification of planar Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) and stationary crossflow (CF) modes. The transition criterion based on the dual N-factor method is used to infer the updated transition front and the process is successively repeated until convergence of the solution. Within three iterations, the predicted fronts for angles of attack of 1.45, 1.98, 2.46 and 2.94 degrees and a mean-aerodynamic-chord Reynolds number equal to 15 million, approach visual convergence in most regions of the studied cases, and the resulting predictions are in good agreement with the transition fronts deduced from measurements of temperature-sensitive paint. Even though surface pressure measurements based on fully-turbulent flow agree well with the measured pressure coefficient distributions, strong viscous-inviscid interaction effects cause significant shifts in the shock locations based on the imposed transition front, underscoring the intrusive nature of static pressure measurements using surface mounted ports on the CRM-NLF configuration.
Boundary Layer Transition↗
Results of a flow field survey conducted using the 0.0175 scale orbiter model 29-0 in AEDC VKF tunnel B during test OH52
Static pressure data and flow field surveys of the boundary layer and shock layer on the lower surface of a 0.0175 scale model of the space shuttle orbiter were obtained in a hypersonic wind tunnel. The tests were conducted at Mach number 7.9 and Reynolds number based on the model length of 1.3 x 1 million to simulate atmospheric entry. Twenty-six stations were surveyed at 30 and 35 degree angles of attack.
Herrera, B. J.↗