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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 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

Full scale experiments into the use of large eddy breakup devices for drag reduction on aircraft

An experimental investigation in flight was performed to explore the feasibility of using LEBU (Large-Eddy-Breakup) devices to reduce the drag of aircraft. Two geometrical shapes of ribbons were used, and the development of local skin friction was monitored downstream. The aircraft was a swept-wing attack aircraft, and the flights covered the entire subsonic regime from M=0.92 down to stall conditions; flight altitudes were 1, 4.5, 7 and 10 km to explore various combinations of angle of attack, Mach - and Reynolds numbers. Some information was obtained concerning the turbulence characteristics downstream, and a discussion of the downstream amplification due to the drag at the device is also presented.

Bertelrud, A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Drag reduction of the Space Shuttle

Wind-tunnel and water-tunnel experiments are conducted to determine which factors contribute to the base-pressure drag experienced by the Space Shuttle Orbiter. Testing is conducted on a 4.05-percent scale model in the TAMU Water Tunnel and Low Speed Wind Tunnel with passive near-wake flow-modification devices attached in some of the tests. The devices are evaluated on the basis of effectiveness in terms of increasing the base pressure. Base pressures increase when a base cavity is introduced; a smooth cavity increases pressure by 13 percent, and when v-grooves are introduced into the cavity the pressure increases by 19 percent. When the v-groove base cavity is combined with a fairing plate, the total base pressure reaches 25 percent. The experimental results suggest that the base drag of the Space Shuttle Orbiter can be effectively reduced by the use of a base-cavity mechanism.

Ahmed, Anwar↗
NASA NTRS1981

An investigation of drag reduction for tractor trailer vehicles with air deflector and boattail

A wind tunnel investigation was conducted to determine the influence of several physical variables on the aerodynamic drag of a trailer model. The physical variables included: a cab mounted wind deflector, boattail on trailer, flow vanes on trailer front, forced transition on trailer, and decreased gap between tractor and trailer. Tests were conducted at yaw angles (relative wind angles) of 0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 degrees and Reynolds numbers of 3.58 x 10 to the 5th power 6.12 x 10 to the 5th power based upon the equivalent diameter of the vehicles. The wind deflector on top of the cab produced a calculated reduction in fuel consumption of about 5 percent of the aerodynamic portion of the fuel budget for a wind speed of 15.3 km/hr (9.5 mph) over a wind angle range of 0 deg to 180 deg and for a vehicle speed of 88.5 km/hr (55 mph). The boattail produced a calculated 7 percent to 8 percent reduction in fuel consumption under the same conditions. The decrease in gap reduced the calculated fuel consumption by about 5 percent of the aerodynamic portion of the fuel budget.

Muirhead, V. U.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Computation of H2/air reacting flowfields in drag-reduction external combustion

Numerical simulation and analysis of the solution are presented for a laminar reacting flowfield of air and hydrogen in the case of external combustion employed to reduce base drag in hypersonic vehicles operating at transonic speeds. The flowfield consists of a transonic air stream at a Mach number of 1.26 and a sonic transverse hydrogen injection along a row of 26 orifices. Self-sustained combustion is computed over an expansion ramp downstream of the injection and a flameholder, using the recently developed RPLUS code. Measured data is available only for surface pressure distributions and is used for validation of the code in practical 3D reacting flowfields. Pressure comparison shows generally good agreements, and the main effects of combustion are also qualitatively consistent with experiment.

Lai, H. T.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Computation of H2/air reacting flowfields in drag-reduction external combustion

Numerical simulation and analysis of the solution are presented for a laminar reacting flowfield of air and hydrogen in the case of an external combustion employed to reduce base drag in hypersonic vehicles operating at transonic speeds. The flowfield consists of a transonic air stream at a Mach number of 1.26, and a sonic transverse hydrogen injection along a row of 26 orifices. Self-sustained combustion is computed over an expansion ramp downstream of the injection and a flameholder, using the recently developed RPLUS code. Measured data is available only for surface pressure distributions, and is used for validation of the code in practical 3D reacting flowfields. Pressure comparison shows generally good agreements and the main effects of combustion are also qualitatively consistent with experiment.

Lai, H. T.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Numerical studies of laminar and turbulent drag reduction, part 2

The flow over wave shaped surfaces is studied using a Navier Stokes solver. Detailed comparisons with theoretical results are presented, including the stability of a laminar flow over wavy surfaces. Drag characteristics of nonplanar surfaces are predicted using the Navier-Stokes solver. The secondary instabilities of wall bounded and free shear flows are also discussed.

Balasubramanian, R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Boundary-layer control for drag reduction

Although the number of possible applications of boundary-layer control is large, a discussion is given only of those that have received the most attention recently at NASA Langley Research Center to improve airfoil drag characteristics. This research concerns stabilizing the laminar boundary layer through geometric shaping (natural laminar flow, NLF) and active control involving the removal of a portion of the laminar boundary layer (laminar flow control, LFC) either through discrete slots or a perforated surface. At low Reynolds numbers, a combination of shaping and forced transition has been used to achieve the desired run of laminar flow and control of laminar separation. In the design of both natural laminar flow and laminar flow control airfoils and wings, boundary layer stability codes play an important role. A discussion of some recent stability calculations using both incompressible and compressible codes is given.

Harvey, William D.↗
NASA NTRS1947

Drag Reduction by Suction of the Boundary Layer Separated Behind Shock Wave Formation at High Mach Numbers

With an approach of the velocity of flight of a ship to the velocity of sound, there occurs a considerable increase of the drag. The reason for this must be found in the boundary layer separation caused by formation of shock waves. It will be endeavored to reduce the drag increase by suction of the boundary layer. Experimental results showed that drag increase may be considerably reduced by this method. It was, also, observed that, by suction, the position of shock waves can be altered to a considerable extent.

Regenscheit, B.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Kevlar/PMR-15 polyimide matrix composite for a complex shaped DC-9 drag reduction fairing

The Aircraft Energy Efficiency (ACEE) Program was established by NASA to improve the fuel efficiency of commercial transport aircraft and thereby to reduce the amount of fuel consumed by the air transportation industry. One of the final items developed by the program is an improved fairing which is the aft closure for the thrust reverser actuators on the JT8D nacelles on DC-9 aircraft. The reduced-drag fairing uses, in the interest of weight savings, an advanced composite construction. The composite material contains Kevlar 49 fibers in a PMR-15 matrix. Attention is given to the aerodynamic configuration, the material system, and aspects of fabrication development.

Kawai, R. T.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Drag Reduction Through Distributed Electric Propulsion

One promising application of recent advances in electric aircraft propulsion technologies is a blown wing realized through the placement of a number of electric motors driving individual tractor propellers spaced along each wing. This configuration increases the maximum lift coefficient by providing substantially increased dynamic pressure across the wing at low speeds. This allows for a wing sized near the ideal area for maximum range at cruise conditions, imparting the cruise drag and ride quality benefits of this smaller wing size without decreasing takeoff and landing performance. A reference four-seat general aviation aircraft was chosen as an exemplary application case. Idealized momentum theory relations were derived to investigate tradeoffs in various design variables. Navier-Stokes aeropropulsive simulations were performed with various wing and propeller configurations at takeoff and landing conditions to provide insight into the effect of different wing and propeller designs on the realizable effective maximum lift coefficient. Similar analyses were performed at the cruise condition to ensure that drag targets are attainable. Results indicate that this configuration shows great promise to drastically improve the efficiency of small aircraft.

Stoll, Alex M.↗
NASA NTRS1977

An investigation of induced drag reduction through over-the-wing blowing

An investigation has been conducted in the Langley 16-foot transonic tunnel to verify analytically predicted benefits in climb and cruise performance due to blowing the jet exhaust over the wing for a transport configuration. A wing-body model - powered-nacelle rig combination was tested at Mach numbers of 0.5 and 0.8 at angles of attack from -2 to 4 deg and jet total pressure ratios from jet off to 3 or 4 (depending on Mach number) for a variety of nacelle locations relative to the wing. Results from this investigation show that the induced drag for the wing-body (nacelles were nonmetric) was reduced for virtually all configurations. In addition to the experimental results, comparisons of the data with available prediction methods are included to show their validity and capabilities.

Reubush, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Drag-reduction characteristics of aft-swept wing tips

Results are presented of a study conducted to analyze the potential aerodynamic improvements which can be obtained with aft-swept wing tips at subsonic speeds. A review and summary of previous swept-tip applications and studies are given. Additionally, the through evolution optimized tail-fin shapes of fast-cruising aquatic animals are examined as well as the wing planform shapes of sea birds. These superior long-distance travellers both display lifting-surface planform shapes with increased leading-edge sweep towards the tip. These observations and analytical results obtained with a nonlinear surface-panel method demonstrate that substantial induced-drag improvements can be obtained through the adoption of planform shapes with highly-tapered aft-swept tips.

Van Dam, C. P.↗
NASA NTRS1977

An electrostatically driven surface for flexible wall drag reduction studies

This paper describes the theoretical analysis, experimental development and surface motion data from an electrostatically driven flexible wall capable of producing high frequency, large amplitude, short wavelength standing wave motions. The driven wall was developed for use in studying flexible wall-turbulent boundary layer interactions. The theoretical analysis considers the coupled electrochemical system using a continuum model. For the system under consideration the electrical field is uncoupled from the mechanical system leading to a simplified analysis. The structural problem is a non-linear (moderately) large amplitude problem and details of the analysis are presented. Surface motion measurements, made using a modified schlieren type optical system, are discussed and details of the surface motion under different excitations are presented. Fair agreement is obtained between experimental measurements and theoretical calculations.

Weinstein, L. M.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Prediction of compliant wall drag reduction, part 2

A numerical model of turbulent boundary layer flows over compliant walls was investigated. The model is based on Burton's observation that outer flow structures in turbulent boundary layers produce large scale pressure fluctuations near the wall. The results of calculations indicate that certain small wavelength wall motions can have a significant effect upon the stability of turbulent boundary layers.

Orszag, S. A.↗