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At least 19 records

Numerical method to calculate the induced drag or optimum loading for arbitrary non-planar aircraft

A simple unified numerical method applicable to non-planar subsonic aircraft has been developed for calculating either the induced drag for an arbitrary loading or the optimum aircraft loading which results in minimum induced drag. The method utilizes a vortex lattice representation of the aircraft lifting surfaces coupled with the classic equations and theorems for computing and minimizing induced drag. Correlation of results from the numerical method with non-planar solutions obtained from other more complex theories indicates very good agreement. Comparison of the induced-drag computations using the numerical method with experimental data for planar and non-planar configurations was also very good.

Blackwell, J. A., Jr.↗

Finite element analysis of the effect of a non-planar solid-liquid interface on the lateral solute segregation during unidirectional solidification

The effect of solid-liquid interface shape on lateral solute segregation during steady-state unidirectional solidification of a binary mixture is calculated under the assumption of no convection in the liquid. A finite element technique is employed to compute the concentration field in the liquid and the lateral segregation in the solid with a curved boundary between the liquid and solid phases. The computational model is constructed assuming knowledge of the solid-liquid interface shape; no attempt is made to relate this shape to the thermal field. The influence of interface curvature on the lateral compositional variation is investigated over a range of system parameters including diffusivity, growth speed, distribution coefficient, and geometric factors of the system. In the limiting case of a slightly nonplanar interface, numerical results from the finite element technique are in good agreement with the analytical solutions of Coriell and Sekerka obtained by using linear theory. For the general case of highly non-planar interface shapes, the linear theory fails and the concentration field in the liquid as well as the lateral solute segregation in the solid can be calculated by using the finite element method.

Carlson, F. M.↗

Solid-state non-planar internally reflecting ring laser

A solid-state non-planar internally-reflecting ring laser is described including a single piece of solid state laser material which incorporates at least two mirrored surfaces oriented to change the plane of incidence of the propagating ray path to define a ray path having at least four segments defining at least two planes, when the prism is located in a magnetic field of sufficient strength, the laser will lase in a single longitudinal and transverse mode, the magnetic field decoupling the counter propagating waves.

Kane, Thomas J.↗

Non-planar tests using the wind tunnel free-flight technique.

Results from the first bi-planar wind tunnel free-flight test program designed to investigate the difference between planar and nonplanar dynamic stability are presented. The test provides perhaps the best free-flight angular documentation of arbitrary nonplanar motion yet obtained. Two widely different configurations, a blunt 60-deg cone and a sharp 10-deg half-angle cone, were tested. Comparisons between the angular motion from raw data and the analytical fits indicate a phasing difference. An examination of possible causes discounts experimental errors as an explanation and points strongly toward an inadequacy of the theoretical force model.

Jaffe, P.↗

Research on non-planar wall geometries for turbulence control and skin-friction reduction

Eight turbulence-control/drag-reduction concepts under study at NASA Langley Research Center are discussed. These concepts include: slot injection, ion wind, large-eddy breakup devices, riblets, relaminarization, convex curvature, passive porous walls, and rigid wavy walls. Of these concepts, passive porous walls and small wavelength wavy walls are found to increase drag. Riblets, slot injection, and large-eddy breakup devices reduce net turbulent drag, at least for some conditions. The ion wind, relaminarization, and convex curvature studies are still in the early stages and require further work to evaluate their applicability for drag reduction.

Hefner, J. N.↗

Non-planar MHD model for solar flare-generated disturbances in the heliospheric equatorial plane

An analysis, with a representative (canonical) example of solar-flare-generated equatorial disturbances, is made for the temporal and spatial changes in the solar wind plasma and magnetic field environment between the sun and 1 AU. The goal is to search for first-order global consequences rather than to make a parametric study. The analysis treats all three plasma velocity and magnetic field components in any convenient heliospheric plane of symmetry. The representative disturbance is examined for the canonical case in which the temporal and spatial changes in a homogeneous solar wind caused by a solar-flare-generated shock wave are described. All plasma and field parameters at three radial locations are examined. These are the central meridian and 33 deg W and 90 deg W of the flare's central meridian. It is found that the incorporation of a small meridional magnetic field in the ambient magnetic spiral field has negligible effect on the results. The magnetic field exhibits strong kinking within the interplanetary shocked flow, even reversed polarity that, coupled with low temperature and low density, suggests a plausible explanation for magnetic clouds' with accompanying double-streaming of electrons observed at directions approximately 90 deg to the heliocentric radius.

Wu, S. T.↗

An experimental study of the aerodynamic characteristics of planar and non-planar outboard wing planforms

A series of wind tunnel experiments have been conducted to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of several planar and nonplanar wingtip planforms. Seven different configurations: base-line rectangular, elliptical, swept and tapered, swept and tapered with dihedral, swept and tapered with anhedral, rising arc, and drooping arc, were investigated for two different spans. The data are available in terms of coefficient plots of force data, flow visualization photographs, and velocity and pressure flowfield surveys. All planforms, particularly the nonplanar, have some advantages over the baseline rectangular planform. Span efficiencies up to 20-percent greater than baseline are a possibility. However, it is suggested that the span efficiency concept might need refinement for nonplanar wings. Flow survey data show the change in effective span with vortex roll-up. The flow visualization shows the occurrence of mushroom-cell-separation flow patterns at angles of attack corresponding to stall. These grow with an increase in post-stall angle of attack. For the larger aspect ratios, the cells are observed to split into sub-cells at the higher angles of attack. For all angles of attack, some amount of secondary vortex flow is observed for the planar and nonplanar out-board planforms with sweep and taper.

Naik, D. A.↗

Vibrational spectra and structure of dimethyl oxalate and dimethyl oxalate-d6

The vibrational spectra of dimethyl oxalate-d6 have been examined in connection with a re-examination of the spectra and structure of dimethyl oxalate. The vibrational spectra of the compound had previously been interpreted as being consistent with a trans C2h structure in the solid phase and a non-planar C2 form in the liquid and gas phases. This behavior is not consistent with that observed in similar compounds and a re-evaluation of the facts suggests that the major spectral changes which are observed may be caused by destroying an intermolecular association in going from the solid to the liquid phase, which allows the methyl groups to assume positions out of the plane. Some modifications and additions have been made in the vibrational assignment and assignments are presented for the deuterated compound.

Durig, J. R.↗

Mathematical modeling and simulation of the space shuttle imaging radar antennas

Simulations of space shuttle synthetic aperture radar antennas under the influence of space environmental conditions were carried out at L, C, and X-band. Mathematical difficulties in modeling large, non-planar array antennas are discussed, and an approximate modeling technique is presented. Results for several antenna error conditions are illustrated in far-field profile patterns, earth surface footprint contours, and summary graphs.

Campbell, R. W.↗

Aerodynamic preliminary analysis system. Part 1: Theory

A comprehensive aerodynamic analysis program based on linearized potential theory is described. The solution treats thickness and attitude problems at subsonic and supersonic speeds. Three dimensional configurations with or without jet flaps having multiple non-planar surfaces of arbitrary planform and open or closed slender bodies of non-circular contour may be analyzed. Longitudinal and lateral-directional static and rotary derivative solutions may be generated. The analysis was implemented on a time sharing system in conjunction with an input tablet digitizer and an interactive graphics input/output display and editing terminal to maximize its responsiveness to the preliminary analysis problem. Nominal case computation time of 45 CPU seconds on the CDC 175 for a 200 panel simulation indicates the program provides an efficient analysis for systematically performing various aerodynamic configuration tradeoff and evaluation studies.

Bonner, E.↗

Simulated transonic flows for aircraft with nacelles, pylons, and winglets

A computational method which simulates transonic flow about wing-fuselage configurations has been extended to include the treatment of multiple body and non-planar wing surfaces. The finite difference relaxation scheme is characterized by a modified small disturbance flow equation and multiple embedded grid system. Wing-body combinations with as many as four nacelles/pods, four pylons, and wing-tip-mounted winglets can be analyzed. A scheme for modeling inlet spillage and engine exhaust interference effects has been included. Computed results are correlated with experimental data for three transport configurations.

Boppe, C. W.↗

A higher order panel method for linearized supersonic flow

The basic integral equations of linearized supersonic theory for an advanced supersonic panel method are derived. Methods using only linear varying source strength over each panel or only quadratic doublet strength over each panel gave good agreement with analytic solutions over cones and zero thickness cambered wings. For three dimensional bodies and wings of general shape, combined source and doublet panels with interior boundary conditions to eliminate the internal perturbations lead to a stable method providing good agreement experiment. A panel system with all edges contiguous resulted from dividing the basic four point non-planar panel into eight triangular subpanels, and the doublet strength was made continuous at all edges by a quadratic distribution over each subpanel. Superinclined panels were developed and tested on s simple nacelle and on an airplane model having engine inlets, with excellent results.

Ehlers, F. E.↗

A vortex wake capturing method for potential flow calculations

A method is presented for modifying finite difference solutions of the potential equation to include the calculation of non-planar vortex wake features. The approach is an adaptation of Baker's 'cloud in cell' algorithm developed for the stream function-vorticity equations. The vortex wake is tracked in a Lagrangian frame of reference as a group of discrete vortex filaments. These are distributed to the Eulerian mesh system on which the velocity is calculated by a finite difference solution of the potential equation. An artificial viscosity introduced by the finite difference equations removes the singular nature of the vortex filaments. Computed examples are given for the two-dimensional time dependent roll-up of vortex wakes generated by wings with different spanwise loading distributions.

Murman, E. M.↗

Numerical simulation of magnetohydrodynamic shock propagation in the corona

Recent developments in the field of numerical simulation models for the study of shock wave propagation in the corona are presented. These models are based on gasdynamic (GD) and ideal (that is, dissipationless, except at shocks) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) theories. The characteristics and physical interpretations of the results derived from these models are discussed in some detail. The most significant physical results obtained to date are provided by the two-dimensional non-planar, time-dependent, MHD numerical simulation model. In this model, the non-linear interaction among the three essential MHD waves, i.e., fast-, slow-, and Alfven waves are demonstrated. Finally, the physical relevance of these numerical simulation models in relation to observed solar activity is presented.

Wu, S. T.↗

Longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of a wing-winglet model designed at M = 0.8, C sub L = 0.4 using linear aerodynamic theory

Wind tunnel test results have been presented herein for a subsonic transport type wing fitted with winglets. Wind planform was chosen to be representative of wings used on current jet transport aircraft, while wing and winglet camber surfaces were designed using two different linear aerodynamic design methods. The purpose of the wind tunnel investigation was to determine the effectiveness of these linear aerodynamic design computer codes in designing a non-planar transport configuration which would cruise efficiently. The design lift coefficient was chosen to be 0.4, at a design Mach number of 0.8. Force and limited pressure data were obtained for the basic wing, and for the wing fitted with the two different winglet designs, at Mach numbers of 0.60, 0.70, 0.75 and 0.80 over an angle of attack range of -2 to +6 degrees, at zero sideslip. The data have been presented without analysis to expedite publication.

Kuhlman, J. M.↗

Turbulent drag reduction research

Research in the area of turbulent drag reduction for attached flows is summarized. The most promising passive techniques utilize non-planar geometry. Of particular interest is the suitability of these devices for retrofit of existing vehicles. Five methods for reducing turbulent skin friction drag on bodies/fuselages are discussed. They are: (1) large-eddy breakup devices; (2) riblets; (3) slot injection optimization; (4) control of Emmons spot generation; and (5) relaminarization through massive suction. Except for the Emmons spot work these methods all indicate the possibility of sizable net reductions in skin friction for laboratory conditions.

Bushnell, D. M.↗

Drag characteristics of unsteady, perturbed boundary layer flows

A series of time-dependent numerical computations have been performed for the flow of an unsteady boundary layer over an embedded cavity, which is aligned normal to the flow direction. The unsteady flow is the result of the imposition of a Stuart vortex, at the inflow boundary of the computational domain, onto an otherwise unperturbed two-dimensional laminar boundary layer flow. This produces a strongly vortical, but spatially monochromatic, motion at inflow which is allowed to evolve downstream through the time-dependent numerical solution of appropriate conservation equations. As the imposed vortex evolves over the solid boundary, a weaker induced vortical motion is produced and together these perturbing motions interact with the fluid motion in the embedded cavity. An analysis of the pertinent dynamic variables as well as the time-dependent drag characteristics for this type of non-planar geometry is performed; with particular emphasis on the relative contribution of both pressure drag and frictional drag at various times in the evolution process.

Gatski, T. B.↗