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At least 19 records

The Real-Time Wall Interference Correction System of the NASA Ames 12-Foot Pressure Wind Tunnel

An improved version of the Wall Signature Method was developed to compute wall interference effects in three-dimensional subsonic wind tunnel testing of aircraft models in real-time. The method may be applied to a full-span or a semispan model. A simplified singularity representation of the aircraft model is used. Fuselage, support system, propulsion simulator, and separation wake volume blockage effects are represented by point sources and sinks. Lifting effects are represented by semi-infinite line doublets. The singularity representation of the test article is combined with the measurement of wind tunnel test reference conditions, wall pressure, lift force, thrust force, pitching moment, rolling moment, and pre-computed solutions of the subsonic potential equation to determine first order wall interference corrections. Second order wall interference corrections for pitching and rolling moment coefficient are also determined. A new procedure is presented that estimates a rolling moment coefficient correction for wings with non-symmetric lift distribution. Experimental data obtained during the calibration of the Ames Bipod model support system and during tests of two semispan models mounted on an image plane in the NASA Ames 12 ft. Pressure Wind Tunnel are used to demonstrate the application of the wall interference correction method.

Ulbrich, Norbert↗

The development of a 3-D laser velocimeter for the NASA Langley low turbulence pressure wind tunnel

The design of an orthogonal, three-dimensional laser velocimeter with in situ sizing (LVIS) system for a high-Reynolds-number facility, the NASA Langley low turbulence pressure wind tunnel (LTPT), is discussed. Special attention is paid to the laser velocimeter seeding subsystems, while all other subsystems are approached from the users standpoint. The evaluation of the LVIS system leads to the conclusion that seeding of large scale pressure wind tunnels remains a problem, while using the polydispersed seeding requires further investigation. A Cassegrain mirror receiver optics may be successfully implemented in lieu of similar lens systems. General agreement is observed between the mean velocity LVIS measurements as compared to conventional pitot and hot-wire data.

Jones, Gregory S.↗

The 12-foot pressure wind tunnel restoration project model support systems

The 12 Foot Pressure Wind Tunnel is a variable density, low turbulence wind tunnel that operates at subsonic speeds, and up to six atmospheres total pressure. The restoration of this facility is of critical importance to the future of the U.S. aerospace industry. As part of this project, several state of the art model support systems are furnished to provide an optimal balance between aerodynamic and operational efficiency parameters. Two model support systems, the Rear Strut Model Support, and the High Angle of Attack Model Support are discussed. This paper covers design parameters, constraints, development, description, and component selection.

Sasaki, Glen E.↗

Results of tests using a 0.030-scale model (45-0) of space shuttle vehicle orbiter in the NASA/ARC 12-foot pressure wind tunnel (OA159)

An experimental investigation (test OA159) was conducted in the NASA/ARC 12-foot Pressure Wind Tunnel from June 23 through July 8, 1975. The objective was to obtain detailed strut tare and interference effects of the support system used in the NASA/ARC 40 x 80-foot wind tunnel during 0.36-scale orbiter testing (OA100). Six-component force and moment data were obtained through an angle-of-attack range from -9 through +18 degrees with 0 deg angle of sideslip and a sideslip angle range from -9 through +18 degrees at 9 deg angle of attack results are presented.

Marroquin, J.↗

A procedure for verifying the structural integrity of an existing pressurized wind tunnel

The present work describes the approach employed in verifying the structural integrity at maximum operating pressure of a low turbulence pressurized wind tunnel built in 1939-1940. The approach utilized existing ASME Code guidelines and fracture mechanics techniques in combination with the latest nondestructive examination methods to validate the desired life of the facility while minimizing reconstruction or major modifications. Detailed stress analyses using a finite element computer program and a numerical integration program were performed on critical areas of the tunnel. Critical vessel areas were evaluated for remaining fatigue life. Fracture mechanics analyses of the shell were performed at various regions, and critical flaw sizes at each location were determined. Analysis of the test data permitted the remaining useful life of the tunnel to be estimated at 8 to 10 years.

Taylor, J. T.↗

Global Dynamics of Dayside Auroral Precipitation in Conjunction with Solar Wind Pressure Pulses

Global observation of the dayside auroral region by the Ultraviolet Imager (UVI) during transient solar wind pressure pulse events on October 1, 1997 has revealed unusual features in the auroral precipitation. The auroral arc structure on the dayside, possibly connected with the LLBL, split into 2 arc structures; one moving poleward and fading over a 5 min period, and the other stationary or slightly shifted equatorward (by changes in the x component). The y component was large and positive, and the z component was small and negative. The splitting of the arc structure extended from 9 to 15 MLT and was concurrent with an enhancement of the convection in the cusp region identified by SuperDARN observations. The convection reversal on the morningside was adjacent to and poleward of the weak lower latitude band of precipitation. The sensitivity of the UVI instrument enabled observation of arc structures down to about 0.2 erg electron energy flux, as confirmed by comparison with particle measurements from the FAST satellite for other dayside events. Removal of the spacecraft wobble by PIXON image reconstruction restored the original resolution of the UVI of about 40 km from apogee. This event is being analyzed in connection with a larger study of global dynamics of dayside energy and momentum transfer related to changes in IMF conditions using UVI images in conjunction with observations from FAST and SuperDARN.

Brittnacher, M.↗

Tests of Round and Flat Spoilers on a Tapered Wing in the NACA 19-Foot Pressure Wind Tunnel

Several arrangements of round and flat spanwise spoilers attached to the upper surface of a tapered wing were tested in the NACA 19-foot pressure wind tunnel to determine the most effective type, location, and size of spoiler necessary to reduce greatly the lift on the wings of large flying boats when moored. The effect of the various spoilers on the lift, the drag, and the pitching-moment characteristics of the tapered wing was measured over a range of angles of attack from zero to maximum lift. The most effective type of spoiler was found to be the flat type with no space between it and the wing surface. The chordwise location of such a spoiler was not critical within the range investigated, from 5 to 20 percent of the wing chord from the leading edge.

Wenzinger, Carl J↗

A Unique RCM Application at the NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) 12-Foot Pressure Wind Tunnel

NASA Ames Research Center is known internationally as a center of excellence for its capabilities and achievements in the field of developmental aerodynamics. The Center has a variety of aerodynamic test facilities including the largest wind tunnel in the world (with 40 x 80 deg and 80 x 120 deg atmospheric test sections) and the 12-Foot Pressure Wind Tunnel which is the subject of this paper. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Bonagofski, James M.↗

Electron densities and temperatures in the Venus ionosphere Effects of solar EUV, solar wind pressure and magnetic field

The Venus ionosphere is influenced by variations in both solar EUV flux and solar wind conditions. On the dayside the location of the topside of the ionosphere, the ionopause, is controlled by solar wind dynamic pressure. Within the dayside ionosphere, however, electron density is affected mainly by solar EUV variations, and is relatively unaffected by solar wind variations and associated magnetic fields induced within the ionosphere. The existence of a substantial nightside ionosphere of Venus is thought to be due to the rapid nightward transport of dayside ionospheric plasma across the terminator. Typical solar wind conditions do not strongly affect this transport and consequently have little direct influence on nightside ionospheric conditions, except on occasions of extremely high solar wind dynamic pressure. However, both nightside electron density and temperature are affected by the presence of magnetic field, as in the case of ionospheric holes.

Elphic, R. C.↗

Experiences with a high-blockage model tested in the NASA Ames 12-foot pressure wind tunnel

Representation of the flow around full-scale ships was sought in the subsonic wind tunnels in order to a Hain Reynolds numbers as high as possible. As part of the quest to attain the largest possible Reynolds number, large models with high blockage are used which result in significant wall interference effects. Some experiences with such a high blockage model tested in the NASA Ames 12-foot pressure wind tunnel are summarized. The main results of the experiment relating to wind tunnel wall interference effects are also presented.

Coder, D. W.↗

Progress Report on Cowlings for Air-Cooled Engines Investigated in the NACA 19-Foot Pressure Wind Tunnel

At the present time there is considerable demand for improvement in the aerodynamic characteristics of cowlings for radial air-cooled aircraft engines. During the past year, numerous cowling arrangements have been investigated in various departments of the NACA laboratory. Although a few full-scale investigation have been carried out, most of the studies have been preliminary in nature and have been confined to the investigation of model arrangement in wind tunnels. Because of the existing national emergency it appears advisable to release immediately to the aircraft industry the information available on the more promising of the arrangements that have been studied. An investigation having as its aim the improvement in performance and flying qualities of single-engine air-cooled military pursuit airplanes is being conducted in the NACA 10-foot pressure wind tunnel. As a part of that investigation, studies have been made of the relative merits of a conventional NACA open-nose cowling arrangement and of a less conventional but better streamline NACA high-speed cowling arrangement in which the cooling air enters the cowling through an opening ahead of the propeller, passes internally through an element of the cowling which rotates with the propeller, and thence past the engine cylinders to the exit at the rear of the engine. These investigations indicate that at airplane speeds of around 400 miles per hour there is not a great deal to be gained in high-speed performance through the application of the latter cowling arrangement, but at speeds in excess of about 450 miles per hour a very appreciable gain is indicated. Present indications are that improved engine cooling can be obtained throughout the speed range as well as ground cooling through the use of the high-speed cowling. This paper summarizes the results obtained from wind-tunnel tests of models of the two cowling arrangements.

McHugh, James G.↗

Global Auroral Response to a Solar Wind Pressure Pulse

A global intensification of the aurora was observed by the Ultraviolet Imager on the NASA Polar spacecraft in conjunction with the arrival of the sheath from a solar coronal mass ejection. The aurora was first observed to brighten on the dayside and then the intensification progressed rapidly toward the nightside. During this time the IMP-8 spacecraft in the solar wind recorded a 35-minute period of increased solar wind dynamic pressure. A small substorm (or, possibly pseudobreakup) occurred within a minute of the arrival of the auroral intensification on the nightside in conjunction with a second peak in the dynamic pressure. We propose that the intensification of the aurora can be explained on the basis of the compression of the magnetopause and the generation of hydrodynamic waves by the rapid increase in the solar wind dynamic pressure. It is also evident that the substorm was triggered by waves, generated by a second rise in the dynamic pressure, that propagated to flux tubes connected to the premidnight aurora region.

Brittnacher, M.↗

Ionospheric projections of magnetospheric regions under low and high solar wind pressure conditions

The projection of magnetospheric regions into the dayside ionosphere as determined by particle precipitation characteristics was studied for dependence on solar wind parameters. It was found that the solar wind kinetic pressure p dramatically affected the map of magnetospheric projections. Under the constraint that p greater than or equal 4 nPa(yielding (p) = 5.9 nPa), the area of the cusp (magnetic latitude times magnetic local time extent) was 4.83 degree-hours; whereas under the constraint that p greater than or equal 2 nPa (yielding (p) = 1.5 nPa), the cusp area was only 1.01 degree-hours. The ionospheric footprint of the low-latitude boundary layer was similarly affected. Various possible correlations of p with other solar wind variables, including n, v, and absolute value of B(sub z), proved unable to account for the pressure effect. Because one criterion for identifying the cusp is high fluxes, the effect of nv was investigated with particular care, both in examples and statistically. Again, p itself had by far the most striking effect. Thus we concluded that some physical mechanism is needed to account for the pressure effect. One possibility is that increased direct solar wind plasma penetration of the magnetopause occurs under high-p conditions in the manner suggested by various proponents of impulsive penetration models. An alternative, which we find promising, is that, regardless of the original interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) strength, a high-p solar wind leads to a large compression factor for the magnetosheath field, which is the field actually in contact with the magnetosphere. From this latter viewpoint, the chief effect of high particle pressure is simply to enhance the effectiveness of the interaction of the IMF with the magnetosphere.

Newell, Patrick T.↗

Observational features of field line resonances excited by solar wind pressure variations on 4 September 1984

The purpose of the study is to establish the most probable excitation mechanism of the magnetic storm occurred after an inverse sudden impulse on September 4, 1984. Geomagnetic pulsations in the Pc5-frequency range observed at magnetometer stations are evaluated. Attention is focused on two events of the enhanced activity: for the first one, conjugate observations on the ground are assessed and then compared with satellite-based observations on adjacent field lines; for the second event two hours later, data from an extended azimuthal range is employed. It is pointed out that the observations are consistent with the theory of filed-line resonance, and may be interpreted as excitations caused by pressure variations in the solar wind. Both magnetopause-surface waves and cavity resonances are excited; the cavity mode drives toroidal field-line oscillations at locations where its frequency matches the resonance frequency of the field lines.

Warnecke, J.↗

Atmospheric Structure Investigation Instrument: in-Situ Measurement of Vertical Profiles of Temperature, Pressure, Wind, Aerosol Density, Hydrogen Ortho/Para Fraction and Helium Abundance on Saturn or Uranus.

The Atmospheric Structure Investigation (ASI) is designed as a threshold sensor suite for descent probes into any planetary atmosphere, principally for the Giant planets (e.g., Saturn for New Frontiers, or Uranus for an upcoming Flagship identified in the decadal survey), but also could be relevant for Venus, Titan or even specific applications on Earth. Its aim is to supply the key measurements establishing the atmospheric structure upon which all the other probe measurements would be placed in context. To that end, it measures vertical profiles of probe acceleration and rotation[1,2], pressure, temperature, vertical winds, aerosol number density and size and scattering properties, as well as Hydrogen ortho/para fraction and Helium abundance.

V Jha↗