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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 19 records

A panel method study of vortex sheets with special emphasis on sheets of axisymmetric geometry

The self induced evolution of a vortex sheet was simulated by modeling the sheet using an integration of discrete elements of vorticity. Replacing small sections of a vortex sheet by flat panels of constant vorticity is found to reproduce more accurately the initial conditions for the Lagrangian simulation technique than replacement by point vortices. The flat panel method for the vortex sheet was then extended to model axisymmetric vortex sheets. The local and far field velocities induced by the axisymmetric panels were obtained using matched asymptotic analysis, and some of the uncertainties involved in other models of the axisymmetric vortex sheet have been eliminated. One important result of this analysis is the determination of the proper choice of core size for a circular vortex filament which may replace a section of an axisymmetric vortex sheet. Roll-up of both two dimensional and axisymmetric vortex sheets was computed using the panel methods developed in the report.

Sugioka, I.↗

Recent advances in applying Free Vortex Sheet theory to the estimation of vortex flow aerodynamics

Free Vortex Sheet theory has been applied to a variety of configurations for the estimation of three-dimensional pressure distributions for wings developing separation-induced leading-edge vortex flows. Correlations with experiment show reasonable estimates for the effects of compressibility, side-slip, side edges, swept-wing blast-induced loads, and leading-edge vortex flaps. Theoretical studies expand upon these correlations to show general aerodynamic trends. Consideration is also given to simple, yet effective techniques which expedite convergence and therefore reduce computational expense.

Luckring, J. M.↗

Resonance in flows with vortex sheets and edges

It is shown that the vortex sheet in a slot between two semi-infinite plates does not admit incompressible resonant perturbations. The semi-infinite vortex sheet entering a duct does admit incompressible resonance. These results indicate that the vortex-sheet approximation is less useful for impinging shear flows than for non-impinging flows. They also suggest an important role of downstream vortical disturbances in resonant flows. The general solution for perturbations to flow with a vortex sheet and edges is written in terms of a Cauchy integral. Requirements on the behavior of this solution at edges and at downstream infinity fix the criteria for resonance.

Durbin, P. A.↗

Calculation of asymmetric vortex separation on slender delta wings with a vortex-sheet model

An inviscid vortex-sheet model based on the slender wing theory is developed to examine asymmetric vortex separation at zero sideslip on delta wings. It is found that multiple asymmetric vortex configurations exist at a given angle of attack. Available data on rolling moment measurements and flow visualization are used for correlation to prove the concept.

Lan, C. E.↗

Calculations of axisymmetric vortex sheet roll-up using a panel and a filament model

A method for calculating the self-induced motion of a vortex sheet using discrete vortex elements is presented. Vortex panels and vortex filaments are used to simulate two-dimensional and axisymmetric vortex sheet roll-up. A straight forward application using vortex elements to simulate the motion of a disk of vorticity with an elliptic circulation distribution yields unsatisfactroy results where the vortex elements move in a chaotic manner. The difficulty is assumed to be due to the inability of a finite number of discrete vortex elements to model the singularity at the sheet edge and due to large velocity calculation errors which result from uneven sheet stretching. A model of the inner portion of the spiral is introduced to eliminate the difficulty with the sheet edge singularity. The model replaces the outermost portion of the sheet with a single vortex of equivalent circulation and a number of higher order terms which account for the asymmetry of the spiral. The resulting discrete vortex model is applied to both two-dimensional and axisymmetric sheets. The two-dimensional roll-up is compared to the solution for a semi-infinite sheet with good results.

Kantelis, J. P.↗

Desingularization of periodic vortex sheet roll-up

An analytical approach is used in an attempt to model the evolution of a vortex sheet past the critical time by means of a desingularization method. Evolution of the sheet, which is embedded in a two-dimensional flow, is described by approximating the total circulation between a fixed material point and an imaginary point on the curve of the flow. A linear dispersion relation is defined which shows that the short wavelength modes of the sheet are not unstable and therefore do adversely effect the computations as artifacts of round-off errors. The desingularization approach is demonstrated to converge beyond the critical time for the vortex sheet. Application of the technique for the study of the vortex sheet shed from an elliptically loaded wing is indicated.

Krasny, R.↗

Passage of a weak vortex sheet through an oblique shock

The two-dimensional problem of the passage of a free vortex sheet of weak strength through an oblique shock wave of finite strength is investigated. Conditions are established which define the changes of the strength and shape of the vortex sheet after its passage through the shock wave in terms of the shock strength and the angle between the shock wave and the vortex sheet.

Ting, L.↗

Vortex sheet modeling with higher order curved panels

A numerical technique is presented for modeling the vortex sheet with a deformable surface definition, along which a continuous vortex strength distribution in the spanwise direction is applied, so that by repeatedly modifying its shape, its true configuration is approached, in the proximity of its generating wing. Design problems requiring the inclusion of a realistic configuration of the vortex sheet are numerous. Examples discussed include: control effectiveness and stability derivatives, longitudinal stability, lateral stability, canards, propellers and helicopter rotors, and trailing vortex hazards.

Nagati, M. G.↗

On the 'delta-equations' for vortex sheet evolution

We use a set of equations, sometimes referred to as the 'delta-equations', to approximate the two-dimensional inviscid motion of an initially circular vortex sheet released from rest in a cross-flow. We present numerical solutions of these equations for the case with delta-square = 0 (for which the equations are exact) and for delta-square greater than 0. For small values of the smoothing parameter delta, a spectral filter must be used to eliminate spurious instabilities due to round-off error. Two singularities appear simultaneously in the vortex sheet when delta-square = 0 at a critical time t(c). After t(c), the solutions do not converge as the computational mesh is refined. With delta-square greater than 0, converged solutions were found for all values of delta-square when t is less than t(c), and for all but the two smallest values of delta-square used when t is greater than t(c). Our results show that, when delta-square is greater than 0, the vortex sheet deforms into two doubly branched spirals some time after t(c). The limiting solution as delta approaching 0 clearly exists and equals the delta = 0 solution when t is less than t(c).

Rottman, James W.↗

A semi-analytic approach to the self induced motion of vortex sheets

The rolling up of the trailing vortex sheet produced by a wing of finite span was calculated as a series expansion in time. For a vorticity distribution corresponding to a wing with cusped tips, the shape of the sheet was found by summing the series using Pade approximants. The sheet remains analytic for some time but ultimately develops an exponential spiral at the tips. The centroid of vorticity was conserved to high accuracy.

Schwartz, L. W.↗

A numerical method for vortex sheet roll-up

The problem of computing vortex sheet roll-up from periodic analytic initial data is studied. Previous theoretical and numerical work is reviewed. Computational difficulties arising from ill posedness and singularity formation are discussed. A desingularization method is proposed to diminish these difficulties. Computations indicate that this approach converges past the time at which previous numerical investigations have failed to converge.

Krasny, R.↗

Transmitted sound field due to an impulsive line acoustic source bounded by a plate followed by a vortex sheet

The propagation of sound due to a line acoustic source in the moving stream across a semiinfinite vortex sheet which trails from a rigid plate is examined in a linear theory for the subsonic case. A solution for the transmitted sound field is obtained with the aid of multiple integral transforms and the Wiener-Hopf technique for both the steady state (time harmonic) and initial value (impulsive source) situations. The contour of inverse transform and hence the decomposition of the functions are determined through causality and radiation conditions. The solution obtained satisfies causality and the full Kutta conditions. The transmitted sound field is composed of two waves in both the stady state and initial value problems. One is the wave scattered from the edge of the plate which is associated with the bow wave and the instability wave. These waves exist in the downstream sectors. The other is the wave transmitted through the vortex sheet which is also associated with the instability wave. Regional divisions of the transmitted sound field are identified.

Miura, T.↗

A semi-analytic approach to the self-induced motion of vortex sheets

The rolling-up of the trailing vortex sheet produced by a wing of finite span is calculated as a series expansion in time. For a vorticity distribution corresponding to a wing with cusped tips, the shape of the sheet is found by summing the series using Pade approximants. The sheet remains analytic for some time but ultimately develops an exponential spiral at the tips. The centroid of vorticity is conserved to high accuracy.

Schwartz, L. W.↗

On Betz' Method for Rollup of Vortex Sheets

A method introduced by Betz in 1932 relates the vortex sheet shed by one side of a lifting wing to the rolled-up vortex far downstream. The Betz rollup theory came into active use during the 1970's when the hazard posed by vortex wakes of subsonic transport aircraft became of concern at airports. Even though the method involves several simplifying assumptions, it provides insight into the rollup process and has proven to be a useful and reliable tool for the analysis and diagnosis of lift-generated wakes. As part of an ongoing effort to develop improved guidelines for the rollup process of complex vortex wakes, the research described is directed at the study of the two vortex invariants not used in the Betz formulation, and to find out if they can be used to determine the sequence of rollup or the center of vortices where rollup begins. It is found that the two unused vortex invariants are both conserved during rollup, but that they do not yield any information or guidance on rollup sequence or on the location of vortex centers. It is also found that the invariant for energy can be used to determine the rolled-up structure of vortices but the structure differs negligibly from that predicted by use of the invariant for the second moment of circulation.

Rossow, Vernon J.↗

Computation of vortex sheet roll-up in the Trefftz plane

Two vortex-sheet evolution problems arising in aerodynamics are studied numerically. The approach is based on desingularizing the Cauchy principal value integral which defines the sheet's velocity. Numerical evidence is presented which indicates that the approach converges with respect to refinement in the mesh-size and the smoothing parameter. For elliptic loading, the computed roll-up is in good agreement with Kaden's asymptoic spiral at early times. Some aspects of the solution's instability to short-wavelength perturbations, for a small value of the smoothing parameter, are inferred by comparing calculations performed with different levels of computer round-off error. The tip vortices' deformation, due to their mutual interaction, is shown in a long-time calculation. Computations for a simulated fuselage-flap configuration show a complicated process of roll-up, deformation and interaction involving the tip vortex and the inboard neighboring vortices.

Krasny, Robert↗