Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “YF-12 airplane”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1973

Results of ground vibration tests on a YF-12 airplane

Ground vibration tests were conducted on a YF-12 airplane. To approximate a structural free-free boundary condition during the tests, each of the landing gears was supported on a support system designed to have a low natural frequency. The test equipment and the procedures used for the ground vibration tests are described. The results are presented in the form of frequency response data, measured mode lines, and elastic mode shapes for the wing/body, rudder, and fuselage ventral fin. In the frequency range between 3.4 cps and 28.8 cps, nine symmetrical wing/body modes, six antisymmetrical wing/body modes, two rudder modes, and one ventral fin mode were measured.

Wilson, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Status of a digital integrated propulsion/flight control system for the YF-12 airplane

The NASA Flight Research Center is engaged in a program with the YF-12 airplane to study the control of interactions between the airplane and the propulsion system. The existing analog air data computer, autothrottle, autopilot, and inlet control system are to be converted to digital systems by using a general purpose airborne computer and interface unit. First, the existing control laws will be programmed in the digital computer and flight tested. Then new control laws are to be derived from a dynamic propulsion model and a total force and moment aerodynamic model to integrate the systems. These control laws are to be verified in a real time simulation and flight tested.

Reukauf, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Preliminary results of flight tests of the propulsion system of the YF-12 airplane at Mach numbers to 3.0

Flight tests of the propulsion system of a YF-12 airplane were made which included off-schedule inlet operation and deliberately induced unstarts and compressor stalls. The tests showed inlet/engine compatibility to be good through most of the flight envelope. The position of the terminal shock wave could be determined from throat static pressure profiles or from root-mean-square levels of throat static pressure fluctuations. A digital simulation of the control system showed an oscillation of the forward bypass doors to be caused by hysteresis in the bypass door actuator linkages.

Burcham, F. W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Boundary layer, skin friction, and boattail pressure measurements from the YF-12 airplane at Mach numbers up to 3

In-flight measurements of boundary layer and skin friction data were made on YF-12 airplanes for Mach numbers between 2.0 and 3.0. Boattail pressures were also obtained for Mach numbers between 0.7 and 3.0 with Reynolds numbers up to four hundred million. Boundary layer data measured along the lower fuselage centerline indicate local displacement and momentum thicknesses can be much larger than predicted. Skin friction coefficients measured at two of five lower fuselage stations were significantly less than predicted by flat plate theory. The presence of large differences between measured boattail pressure drag and values calculated by a potential flow solution indicates the presence of vortex effects on the upper boattail surface. At both subsonic and supersonic speeds, pressure drag on the longer of two boattail configurations was equal to or less than the pressure drag on the shorter configuration. At subsonic and transonic speeds, the difference in the drag coefficient was on the order of 0.0008 to 0.0010. In the supersonic cruise range, the difference in the drag coefficient was on the order of 0.002. Boattail drag coefficients are based on wing reference area.

Fisher, D. F.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Phugoid characteristics of a YF-12 airplane with variable-geometry inlets obtained in flight tests at a Mach number of 2.9

Flight tests were conducted with the YF-12 airplane to examine the airplane's longitudinal characteristics at a Mach number of approximately 2.9. Phugoid oscillations as well as short period pulses were analyzed with the variable geometry engine inlets in the fixed and the automatic configurations. Stability and control derivatives for the velocity and altitude degrees of freedom and the standard short period derivatives were obtained. Inlet bypass door position was successfully used to represent the total inlet system, and the effect of the inlets on the velocity and altitude derivatives was determined. The phugoid mode of the basic airplane (fixed inlet configuration) had neutral damping, and the height mode was stable. With the addition of the inlets in the automatic configuration, the phugoid mode was slightly divergent and the height mode was divergent with a time to double amplitude of about 114 seconds. The results of the derivative estimation indicated that the change in the height mode characteristics was primarily the result of the change in the longitudinal force derivative with respect to velocity.

Powers, B. G.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Some stability and control aspects of airframe/propulsion system interactions on the YF-12 airplane

Airframe/propulsion system interactions can strongly affect the stability and control of supersonic cruise aircraft. These interactions generate forces and moments similar in magnitude to those produced by the aerodynamic controls, and can cause significant changes in vehicle damping and static stability. This in turn can lead to large aircraft excursions or high pilot workload, or both. For optimum integration of an airframe and its jet propulsion system, these phenomena may have to be taken into account.

Berry, D. T.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Recent Load Calibrations Experience with the YF-12 Airplane

The use of calibrated strain gages to measure wing loads on the YF-12A airplane is discussed as well as structural configurations relative to the thermal environment and resulting thermal stresses. A thermal calibration of the YF-12A is described to illustrate how contaminating thermal effects can be removed from loads equations. The relationship between ground load calibrations and flight measurements is examined for possible errors, and an analytical approach to accommodate such errors is presented.

Jenkins, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Atmospheric effects on the inlet system of the YF-12 aircraft

Flights of a YF-12 airplane were performed over a wide range of operating conditions so that detailed comparisons could be made with data from tests on scale models in NASA ground facilities. Extensive flight instrumentation for inlet performance comparisons provided flight data that also lend insight into supersonic inlet operation during atmospheric turbulence. Pressure and flow direction measurements near the inlet gave results different from conventional accelerometer data normally used for flight determination of turbulence severity. A nonturbulent atmospheric temperature excursion during an XB-70 flight caused inlet duct pressure variations as extreme as those experienced during heavy turbulence on the YF-12 airplane.

Smith, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A dynamic pressure generator for checking complete pressure sensing systems installed on an airplane

A portable dynamic pressure generator, how it operates, and a test setup on an airplane are described. The generator is capable of providing a sinusoidal pressure having a peak-to-peak amplitude of 3.5 N/sq cm (5 psi) at frequencies ranging from 100 hertz to 200 hertz. A typical power spectral density plot of data from actual dynamic pressure fluctuation tests within the air inlet of the YF-12 airplane is presented.

Demarco, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Handling qualities aspects of NASA YF-12 flight experience

The handling qualities of the YF-12 airplane as observed during NASA research flights over the past five years were reviewed. Aircraft behavior during takeoff, acceleration, climb, cruise, descent, and landing are discussed. Pilot comments on the various flight phases and tasks are presented. Handling qualities parameters such as period, damping, amplitude ratios, roll-yaw coupling, and flight path response sensitivity are compared to existing and proposed handling qualities criteria. The influence of the propulsion systems, stability augmentation, autopilot systems, atmospheric gusts, and temperature changes are also discussed. YF-12 experience correlates well with flying qualities criteria, except for longitudinal short period damping, where existing and proposed criteria appear to be more stringent than necessary.

Berry, D. T.↗
NASA NTRS1978

The YF-12 Gust Velocity Measuring System

A true gust velocity measuring system designed to alleviate complications resulting from airframe flexibility and from the high-speed, high-temperature environment of supersonic cruise aircraft was evaluated on a YF-12 airplane. The system uses fixed vanes on which airflow direction changes produce differential pressure variations that are measured. Airframe motions, obtained by postflight integration of recorded angular rate and linear acceleration data, are removed from the flow angle data. An example of turbulence data obtained at high-altitude, supersonic flight conditions is presented and compared with previous high-altitude turbulence measurements obtained with subsonic aircraft and with turbulence criteria contained in both military and civil design specifications for supersonic cruise vehicles. Results of these comparisons indicate that the YF-12 turbulence sample is representative of turbulence present in the supersonic cruise environment.

Ehernberger, J.↗
NASA NTRS1964

Flight study of a vehicle operational status and monitoring system

An analog onboard monitoring system was installed on a YF-12 airplane as the first phase of a program to monitor the engine inlet and portions of the airplane's electrical and fuel management subsystems in flight. The system provided data which were considered to form a suitable base for diagnostic test logic and decision criteria for the rest of the program. The data were also adequate for the purpose of maintaining the engine inlet and identifying malfunctions within it. The investigation showed that the requirements of an onboard monitoring system should be considered during the original design of the system to be monitored.

Love, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Determination of propulsion-system-induced forces and moments of a Mach 3 cruise aircraft

During the joint NASA/USAF flight research program with the YF-12 airplane, the Dutch roll damping was found to be much less during automatic inlet operation than during fixed inlet operation at Mach numbers greater than 2.5 and with the yaw stability augmentation system off. It was concluded that the significant reduction in Dutch roll damping was due to the forces and moments induced by the variable-geometry features of the inlet. Two stability-derivative extraction techniques were applied to the flight data; the recently developed Newton-Raphson technique and the time vector method. These techniques made it possible to determine the forces and moments generated by spike and bypass door movement.

Gilyard, G. B.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Flight-measured pressure characteristics of aft-facing steps in high Reynolds number flow at Mach numbers of 2.20, 2.50, and 2.80 and comparison with other data

The YF-12 airplane was studied to determine the pressure characteristics associated with an aft-facing step in high Reynolds number flow for nominal Mach numbers of 2.20, 2.50, and 2.80. Base pressure coefficients were obtained for three step heights. The surface static pressures ahead of and behind the step were measured for the no-step condition and for each of the step heights. A boundary layer rake was used to determine the local boundary layer conditions. The Reynolds number based on the length of flow ahead of the step was approximately 10 to the 8th power and the ratios of momentum thickness to step height ranged from 0.2 to 1.0. Base pressure coefficients were compared with other available data at similar Mach numbers and at ratios of momentum thickness to step height near 1.0. In addition, the data were compared with base pressure coefficients calculated by a semiempirical prediction method. The base pressure ratios are shown to be a function of Reynolds number based on momentum thickness. Profiles of the surface pressures ahead of and behind the step and the local boundary layer conditions are also presented.

Powers, S. G.↗
NASA NTRS1978

YF-12 Experiments Symposium, Volume 1

This document is a compilation of papers presented at the YF-12 Experiments Symposium held at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, September 13-15, 1978. Papers were presented by personnel from the Dryden Flight Research Center, the Lewis Research Center, and the Ames Research Center. Topics covered propulsion system performance, inlet time varying distortion, structures, aircraft controls, propulsion controls, and aerodynamics. The reports were based on analytical studies, laboratory experiments, wind tunnel tests, and extensive flight research with two YF - 12 airplanes.

YF-12 airplane↗
NASA NTRS1976

YF-12 Lockalloy ventral fin program, volume 1

Results are presented of the YF-12 Lockalloy Ventral Fin Program which was carried out by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation - Advanced Development Projects for the joint NASA/USAF YF-12 Project. The primary purpose of the program was to redesign and fabricate the ventral fin of the YF-12 research airplane (to reduce flutter) using Lockalloy, and alloy of beryllium and aluminum, as a major structural material. A secondary purpose, was to make a material characterization study (thermodynamic properties, corrosion; fatigue tests, mechanical properties) of Lockalloy to validate the design of the ventral fin and expand the existing data base on this material. All significant information pertinent to the design and fabrication of the ventral fin is covered. Emphasis throughout is given to Lockalloy fabrication and machining techniques and attendant personnel safety precautions. Costs are also examined. Photographs of tested alloy specimens are shown along with the test equipment used.

Duba, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Potential benefits of propulsion and flight control integration for supersonic cruise vehicles

Typical airframe/propulsion interactions such as Mach/altitude excursions and inlet unstarts are reviewed. The improvements in airplane performance and flight control that can be achieved by improving the interfaces between propulsion and flight control are estimated. A research program to determine the feasibility of integrating propulsion and flight control is described. This program includes analytical studies and YF-12 flight tests.

Berry, D. T.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Propulsion system/flight control integration for supersonic aircraft

Digital integrated control systems are studied. Such systems allow minimization of undesirable interactions while maximizing performance at all flight conditions. One such program is the YF-12 cooperative control program. The existing analog air data computer, autothrottle, autopilot, and inlet control systems are converted to digital systems by using a general purpose airborne computer and interface unit. Existing control laws are programed and tested in flight. Integrated control laws, derived using accurate mathematical models of the airplane and propulsion system in conjunction with modern control techniques, are tested in flight. Analysis indicates that an integrated autothrottle autopilot gives good flight path control and that observers are used to replace failed sensors.

Reukauf, P. J.↗