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At least 19 records

A review of technologies applicable to low-speed flight of high-performance aircraft investigated in the Langley 14- x 22-foot subsonic tunnel

An extensive research program has been underway at the NASA Langley Research Center to define and develop the technologies required for low-speed flight of high-performance aircraft. This 10-year program has placed emphasis on both short takeoff and landing (STOL) and short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) operations rather than on regular up and away flight. A series of NASA in-house as well as joint projects have studied various technologies including high lift, vectored thrust, thrust-induced lift, reversed thrust, an alternate method of providing trim and control, and ground effects. These technologies have been investigated on a number of configurations ranging from industry designs for advanced fighter aircraft to generic wing-canard research models. Test conditions have ranged from hover (or static) through transition to wing-borne flight at angles of attack from -5 to 40 deg at representative thrust coefficients.

Paulson, John W., Jr.↗

Wind tunnel test results of heavy rain effects on airfoil performance

The effects of simulated heavy rain on the aerodynamic characteristics of a NACA 64-210 airfoil section equipped with high-lift devices were investigated in the NASA Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel. The experiment was part of an on-going NASA program to determine the effect of heavy rain on airplane performance, and was directed at providing insight into scaling laws for subscale model testing of rain effects. The model used in the investigation had a chord of 2.5 feet, a span of 8.0 feet, and was mounted on the tunnel centerline between two large endplates. A water spray distribution system was located 10 chord lengths upstream of the model. The sensitivity of test results to partial-span coverage of the model in the simulated rain environment as compared to full-span coverage was also investigated. The lift and drag data obtained for the high-lift configuration show excellent repeatability of results compared to the previous data. Results obtained for various spray concentrations and tunnel speeds showed significant losses in maximum lift capability, a decrease in the angle of attack for maximum lift, and an increase in drag as the stimulated rain rate was increased. The test results also indicated that the data were not strongly affected by surface tension effects for the high-lift configuration.

Bezos, G. M.↗

Helicopter blade dynamic loads measured during performance testing of two scaled rotors

A test to determine the performance differences between the 27-percent-scale models of two rotors for the U.S. Army AH-64 helicopter was conducted in the Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel. One rotor, referred to as the baseline rotor, simulated the geometry and dynamic characteristics of the production baseline rotor, and the other rotor, referred to as the advanced rotor, was designed to have improved hover performance. During the performance test, the dynamic pitch-link forces and blade bending and torsion moments were also measured. Dynamic data from the forward flight investigation are reduced and presented. The advanced blade set was designed to have dynamic characteristics similar to those of the baseline rotor so that test conditions would not be limited by potential rotor instability and blade resonances, and so that the measured performance increments could be considered to be due purely to aerodynamic causes. Data show consistent trends with advance ratio for both blade sets with generally higher oscillatory loads occurring for the advanced blade set when compared with the baseline blade set.

Berry, John D.↗

Inflow velocity measurements made on a helicopter rotor using a two-component Laser Velocimeter

An experimental investigation was conducted in the 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel at NASA Langley Research Center to measure the inflow into a scale model helicopter rotor in forward flight. The measurements were made with a two component Laser Velocimeter (LV) one chord above the plane formed by the path of the rotor tips (tips path plane). A conditional sampling technique was employed to determine the position of the rotor at the time that each velocity measurement was made so that the azimuthal fluctuations in velocity could be determined. The results of these tests were compared with inflow velocities predicted by a current technology rotor wake analysis program.

Elliott, Joe W.↗

Inflow measurement made with a laser velocimeter on a helicopter model in forward flight. Volume 2: Rectangular planform blades at an advance ratio of 0.23

An experimental investigation was conducted in the 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel at NASA Langley Research Center to measure the inflow into a scale model helicopter rotor in forward flight (mu sub infinity = 0.23). The measurements were made with a two-component Laser Velocimeter (LV) one chord above the plane formed by the path of the rotor tips (tip path plane). A conditional sampling technique was employed to determine the azimuthal position of the rotor at the time that each velocity measurement was made so that the azimuthal fluctuations in velocity could be determined. Measurements were made at a total of 180 separate locations in order to clearly define the inflow character. This data is presented without analysis.

Elliott, Joe W.↗

Inflow measurement made with a laser velocimeter on a helicopter model in forward flight. Volume 3: Rectangular planform blades at an advance ratio of 0.30

An experimental investigation was conducted in the 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel at NASA Langley Research Center to measure the inflow into a scale model helicopter rotor in forward flight (micron sub infinity = 0.30). The measurements were made with a two component Laser Velocimeter (LV) one chord above the plane formed by the path of the rotor tips (tip path plane). A conditional sampling technique was employed to determine the azimuthal position of the rotor at the time that each velocity measurement was made so that the azimuthal fluctuations in velocity could be determined. Measurements were made at a total of 180 separate locations in order to clearly define the inflow character. These data are presented without analysis.

Elliott, Joe W.↗

Inflow measurements made with a laser velocimeter on a helicopter model in forward flight. Volume 4: Tapered planform blades at an advance ratio of 0.15

An experimental investigation was conducted in the 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel at NASA Langley Research Center to measure the inflow into the scale model helicopter rotor in forward flight (mu sub infinity = 0.15). The measurements were made with a two-component Laser Velocimeter (LV) one chord above the plane formed by the path of the rotor tips (tip path plane). A conditional sampling technique was employed to determine the position of the rotor at the time that each velocity measurement was made so that the azimuthal fluctuations in velocity could be determined. Measurements were made at a total of 146 separate locations in order to clearly define the inflow character. This data is presented herein without analysis. In order to increase the availability of the resulting data, both the mean and azimuthally dependent values are included as part of this report on two 5.25 inch floppy disks in MS-DOS format.

Althoff, Susan L.↗

Inflow measurement made with a laser velocimeter on a helicopter model in forward flight. Volume 5: Tapered planform blades at an advance ratio of 0.23

An experimental investigation was conducted in the 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic tunnel at NASA Langley Research Center to measure the inflow into a scale model helicopter rotor in forward flight (mu sub inf = 0.23). The measurements were made with a two component Laser Velocimeter (LV) one chord above the plane formed by the path of the blade tips. A conditional sampling technique was employed to determine the position of the rotor at the time that each velocity measurement was made so that the azimuthal fluctuations in velocity could be determined. Measurements were made at a total of 168 separate locations in order to clearly define the inflow character. This data is presented without analysis. In order to increase the availability of the resulting data, both the mean and azimuthally dependenet values are included as part of this report on two 5.25 inch floppy disks in Microsoft Corporation MS-DOS format.

Althoff, Susan L.↗

Pressure distributions from subsonic tests of an advanced laminar-flow-control wing with leading- and trailing-edge flaps

An unswept, semispan wing model equipped with full-span leading- and trailing-edge flaps was tested in the Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel to determine the effect of high-lift components on the aerodynamics of an advanced laminar-flow-control (LFC) airfoil section. Chordwise pressure distributions near the midsemispan were measured for four configurations: cruise, trailing-edge flap only, and trailing-edge flap with a leading edge Kreuger flap of either 0.10 or 0.12 chord. Part 1 of this report presents a representative sample of the plotted pressure distribution data for each configuration tested. Part 2 (under separate cover) presents the entire set of plotted and tabulated pressure distribution data. The data are presented without analysis.

Applin, Zachary T.↗

Inflow Measurements Made with a Laser Velocimeter on a Helicopter Model in Forward Flight. Volume 1: Rectangular Planform Blades at an Advance Ration of 0.15

An experimental investigation was conducted in the 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel at NASA Langley to measure the inflow into a scale model helicopter rotor in forward flight (microinf = 0.15). The measurements were made with a two component Laser Velocimeter (LV) one chord above the plane formed by the path of the rotor tips (tip path plane). A conditional sampling technique was employed to determine the azimuthal position of the rotor at the time each velocity measurement was made so that the azimuthal fluctuations in velocity could be determined. Measurements were made at a total of 147 separate locations in order to clearly define the inflow character. This data is presented without analysis. In order to increase the availability of the resulting data, both the mean and azimuthally dependent values are included as part of this report on two 5.25 inch floppy disks in Microsoft Corporation MS-DOS format.

Elliott, Joe W.↗

Pressure distributions from subsonic tests of an advanced laminar-flow-control wing with leading- and trailing-edge flaps

An unswept, semispan wing model equipped with full-span leading- and trailing-edge flaps was tested in the Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel to determine the effect of high-lift components on the aerodynamics of an advanced laminar-flow-control (LFC) airfoil section. Chordwise pressure distributions near the midsemispan were measured for four configurations: cruise, trailing-edge flap only, and trailing-edge flap with a leading-edge Krueger flap of either 0.10 or 0.12 chord. Part 1 of this report (under separate cover) presents a representative sample of the plotted pressure distribution data for each configuration tested. Part 2 presents the entire set of plotted and tabulated pressure distribution data. The data are presented without analysis.

Applin, Zachary T.↗

Thrust-reverser flow investigation on a twin-engine transport

An investigation was conducted in the NASA Langley 14 x 22 foot Subsonic Tunnel to study the effects of engine thrust reversing on an aft-mounted twin-engine transport and to develop effective testing techniques. Testing was done over a fixed and a moving-belt ground plane and over a pressure instrumented ground board. Free-stream dynamic pressure was set at values up to 12.2 psf, which corresponded to a maximum Reynolds number based on the mean aerodynamic chord of 765,000. The thrust reversers examined included cascade, target and four-door configurations. The investigation focused on the range of free-stream velocities and engine thrust-reverser flow rates that would be typical for landing ground-roll conditions. Flow visualization techniques were investigated, and the use of water or smoke injected into the reverser flow proved effective to determine the forward progression of the reversed flow and reingestion limits. When testing over a moving-belt ground plane, as opposed to a fixed ground plane, forward penetration of the reversed flow was reduced. The use of a pressure-instrumented ground board enabled reversed flow ground velocities to be obtained, and it provided a means by which to identify the reversed flow impingement point on the ground.

Gatlin, Gregory M.↗

Investigation of a moving-model technique for measuring ground effect

A ground-based testing technique is under development for the measurement of dynamic or time-dependent ground effects which may be present during aircraft approach and landing. The technique utilizes a model moving horizontally over an upwardly-inclined ground plane to simulate rate of descent. Results were obtained in the Langley Research Center (LaRC) Vortex Research Facility (VRF) for a generic 60 delta wing and for an F-18 configuration, both with and without thrust reversing, at forward speeds up to 100 ft/sec. These same models and support hardware were also tested in the LaRC 14 by 22 Foot Subsonic Tunnel at identical conditions (but without rate of descent) with and without a moving-belt ground plane to obtain data for comparison.

Kemmerly, Guy T.↗

Acoustic test of a model rotor and tail rotor: Results for the isolated rotors and combined configuration

Acoustic data from a model scale main rotor and tail rotor experiment in the NASA Langley 14 by 22 Foot Subsonic Tunnel are presented for the main rotor and trail rotor in isolation and for the two rotors operating together. Results for the isolated main rotor show the importance of the rotor flapping conditions on mid-frequency noise content. High levels of main rotor retreating side blade-vortex interaction noise are shown to radiate downstream of the model. The isolated tail rotor noise results show the dominance of harmonic noise in the thrusting direction. The occurrence of tail rotor broadband noise is seen by the broadening of the tail rotor harmonics and is attributed to fuselage wake turbulence. The combined main and tail rotor data are presented to show the dominance of each rotor's different noise sources at different directivity locations.

Martin, R. M.↗

Steady-state and transitional aerodynamic characteristics of a wing in simulated heavy rain

The steady-state and transient effects of simulated heavy rain on the subsonic aerodynamic characteristics of a wing model were determined in the Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel. The 1.29 foot chord wing was comprised of a NACA 23015 airfoil and had an aspect ratio of 6.10. Data were obtained while test variables of liquid water content, angle of attack, and trailing edge flap angle were parametrically varied at dynamic pressures of 10, 30, and 50 psf (i.e., Reynolds numbers of .76x10(6), 1.31x10(6), and 1.69x10(6)). The experimental results showed reductions in lift and increases in drag when in the simulated rain environment. Accompanying this was a reduction of the stall angle of attack by approximately 4 deg. The transient aerodynamic performance during transition from dry to wet steady-state conditions varied between a linear and a nonlinear transition.

Campbell, Bryan A.↗

Low-speed, high-lift aerodynamic characteristics of slender, hypersonic accelerator-type configurations

Two investigations were conducted in the Langley 14 by 22 Foot Subsonic Tunnel to determine the low-speed aerodynamic characteristics of a generic hypersonic accelerator-type configuration. The model was a delta wing configuration incorporating a conical forebody, a simulated wrap-around engine package, and a truncated conical aftbody. Six-component force and moment data were obtained over a range of attack from -4 to 30 degrees and for a sideslip range of + or - 20 degrees. In addition to tests of the basic configuration, component build-up tests were conducted; and the effects of power, forebody nose geometry, canard surfaces, fuselage strakes, and engines on the lower surface alone were also determined. Control power available from deflections of wing flaps and aftbody flaps was also investigated and found to be significantly increased during power-on conditions. Large yawing moments resulted from asymmetric flow fields exhibited by the forebody as revealed by both surface pressure data and flow visualization. Increasing nose bluntness reduced the yawing-moment asymmetry, and the addition of a canard eliminated the yawing-moment asymmetry.

Gatlin, Gregory M.↗

Dynamic ground effects

A research program is underway at the NASA Langley Research Center to study the effect of rate of descent on ground effects. A series of powered models were tested in the Vortex Research Facility under conditions with rate of descent and in the 14 x 22 Foot Subsonic Tunnel under identical conditions but without rate of descent. These results indicate that the rate of descent can have a significant impact on ground effects particularly if vectored or reversed thrust is used.

Paulson, John W., Jr.↗

The effect of solidity on propeller normal force

Propeller normal force is a major contributor to pitch and yaw stability on propeller driven aircraft. While it is well known that propeller normal force is a function of the number of blades, there are no published data for the high numbers of blades that are used in the new designs such as the UDF. This paper presents the results of a test conducted in the NASA Langley 14- x 22-foot Subsonic Tunnel using a sting-mounted counter-rotation propeller and nacelle. The configurations tested were combinations of 0, 4, and 8 blades per hub. Tests were conducted for blade angle settings of 31.34, 36.34, and 41.34 deg over an angle-of-attack range from -10 to 90 deg and over a range of advance ratios from 0.8 to 1.4. The results show that propeller normal force varies with both solidity and angle of attack.

Dunham, Dana Morris↗