Development and Evaluation of Processes for Deposition of Ni/Co-Cr-Aly (MCrAly) Coatings for Gas Turbine Components.

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-09-01

turbine engines demand increasingly higher operating tem- peratures in blades and vanes for greater thrust and efficiency. The turbine components...limitations; namely, expense and the inability to uniformly coat complex geometries and clustered turbine blade and vane airfoils . Thus, another means of...cost and the ability to uniformly coat turbine components of complex geometries and clustered turbine blade and vane airfoils .

An Evaluation of Four Methods of Numerical Analysis for Two-Dimensional Airfoil Flows. Revision.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-07-06

distribution as determined by the Eppler and Chang potential codes for the four airfoil geometries is shown in Figures 3-6. Here, 2 n-- Cp (P-Po)/.5pUo where...SPD- 1037-01. 2) Eppler , R., and D.M. Somers. A Computer Program for the Design and Analysis of Low Speed Airfoils . NASA Technical Memorandum 80210. 3...OF NUMERICAL n ANALYSIS FORI TWO-DIMENSIONAL AIRFOIL FLOWS Roger Burke APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE: DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED DAVID TAYLOR NAVAL SHIP R

Preliminary Airworthiness Evaluation of the Rutan Aircraft Factory (RAF) , Inc. LONG-EZ Airplane

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-06-01

pounds. Unique features include composite construction, a nose mounted canard for pitch control, and a aid-wing high aspect ratio Eppler swept airfoil with...Rear 35 in. Height Front 36 in. Rear 35 in. 51 Table 2. Airfoil Geometry Ave rage Airfoil Measured Tolerance WING ( Eppler 1230) L 0.51: Incidence R 0.48...tests of the wings and control systems and determination of frequencies and modal damping of all airfoil surfaces. These tests were conducted by AVRADCOM

Prospects for computing airfoil aerodynamics with Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes codes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deiwert, G. S.; Bailey, H. E.

1979-01-01

The Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations are solved numerically for a variety of transonic airfoil configurations where viscous phenomena are important. Illustrative examples include flows past sensitive geometries, Reynolds number effects, and buffet phenomena.

Investigation of advancing front method for generating unstructured grid

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomas, A. M.; Tiwari, S. N.

1992-01-01

The advancing front technique is used to generate an unstructured grid about simple aerodynamic geometries. Unstructured grids are generated using VGRID2D and VGRID3D software. Specific problems considered are a NACA 0012 airfoil, a bi-plane consisting of two NACA 0012 airfoil, a four element airfoil in its landing configuration, and an ONERA M6 wing. Inviscid time dependent solutions are computed on these geometries using USM3D and the results are compared with standard test results obtained by other investigators. A grid convergence study is conducted for the NACA 0012 airfoil and compared with a structured grid. A structured grid is generated using GRIDGEN software and inviscid solutions computed using CFL3D flow solver. The results obtained by unstructured grid for NACA 0012 airfoil showed an asymmetric distribution of flow quantities, and a fine distribution of grid was required to remove this asymmetry. On the other hand, the structured grid predicted a very symmetric distribution, but when the total number of points were compared to obtain the same results it was seen that structured grid required more grid points.

The role of airfoil geometry in minimizing the effect of insect contamination of laminar flow sections

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maresh, J. L.; Bragg, M. B.

1984-01-01

A method has been developed to predict the contamination of an airfoil by insects and the resultant performance penalty. Insect aerodynamics have been modeled and the impingement of insects on an airfoil are solved by calculating their trajectories. Upon impact, insect rupture and the resulting height of the debris is determined based on experimental data. A boundary layer analysis is performed to determine which insects cause boundary layer transition and the resultant drag penalty. A contaminated airfoil figure of merit is presented to be used to compare airfoil susceptibility. Results show that the insect contamination effects depend on accretion conditions, airfoil angle of attack and Reynolds number. The importance of the stagnation region to designing airfoils for minimum drag penalties is discussed.

Comparison of NACA 6-series and 4-digit airfoils for Darrieus wind turbines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Migliore, P. G.

1983-08-01

The aerodynamic efficiency of Darrieus wind turbines as effected by blade airfoil geometry was investigated. Analysis was limited to curved-bladed machines having rotor solidities of 7-21 percent and operating at a Reynolds number of 3 x 10 to the 6th. Ten different airfoils, having thickness-to-chord ratios of 12, 15, and 18 percent, were studied. Performance estimates were made using a blade element/momentum theory approach. Results indicated that NACA 6-series airfoils yield peak power coefficients as great as NACA 4-digit airfoils and have broader and flatter power coefficient-tip speed ratio curves. Sample calculations for an NACA 63(2)-015 airfoil showed an annual energy output increase of 17-27 percent, depending on rotor solidity, compared to an NACA 0015 airfoil.

Spline-Based Smoothing of Airfoil Curvatures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, W.; Krist, S.

2008-01-01

Constrained fitting for airfoil curvature smoothing (CFACS) is a splinebased method of interpolating airfoil surface coordinates (and, concomitantly, airfoil thicknesses) between specified discrete design points so as to obtain smoothing of surface-curvature profiles in addition to basic smoothing of surfaces. CFACS was developed in recognition of the fact that the performance of a transonic airfoil is directly related to both the curvature profile and the smoothness of the airfoil surface. Older methods of interpolation of airfoil surfaces involve various compromises between smoothing of surfaces and exact fitting of surfaces to specified discrete design points. While some of the older methods take curvature profiles into account, they nevertheless sometimes yield unfavorable results, including curvature oscillations near end points and substantial deviations from desired leading-edge shapes. In CFACS as in most of the older methods, one seeks a compromise between smoothing and exact fitting. Unlike in the older methods, the airfoil surface is modified as little as possible from its original specified form and, instead, is smoothed in such a way that the curvature profile becomes a smooth fit of the curvature profile of the original airfoil specification. CFACS involves a combination of rigorous mathematical modeling and knowledge-based heuristics. Rigorous mathematical formulation provides assurance of removal of undesirable curvature oscillations with minimum modification of the airfoil geometry. Knowledge-based heuristics bridge the gap between theory and designers best practices. In CFACS, one of the measures of the deviation of an airfoil surface from smoothness is the sum of squares of the jumps in the third derivatives of a cubicspline interpolation of the airfoil data. This measure is incorporated into a formulation for minimizing an overall deviation- from-smoothness measure of the airfoil data within a specified fitting error tolerance. CFACS has been extensively tested on a number of supercritical airfoil data sets generated by inverse design and optimization computer programs. All of the smoothing results show that CFACS is able to generate unbiased smooth fits of curvature profiles, trading small modifications of geometry for increasing curvature smoothness by eliminating curvature oscillations and bumps (see figure).

Trailing edge flow conditions as a factor in airfoil design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ormsbee, A. I.; Maughmer, M. D.

1984-01-01

Some new developments relevant to the design of single-element airfoils using potential flow methods are presented. In particular, the role played by the non-dimensional trailing edge velocity in design is considered and the relationship between the specified value and the resulting airfoil geometry is explored. In addition, the ramifications of the unbounded trailing edge pressure gradients generally present in the potential flow solution of the flow over an airfoil are examined, and the conditions necessary to obtain a class of airfoils having finite trailing edge pressure gradients developed. The incorporation of these conditions into the inverse method of Eppler is presented and the modified scheme employed to generate a number of airfoils for consideration. The detailed viscous analysis of airfoils having finite trailing edge pressure gradients demonstrates a reduction in the strong inviscid-viscid interactions generally present near the trailing edge of an airfoil.

SmaggIce User Guide. 1.0

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baez, Marivell; Vickerman, Mary; Choo, Yung

2000-01-01

SmaggIce (Surface Modeling And Grid Generation for Iced Airfoils) is one of NASNs aircraft icing research codes developed at the Glenn Research Center. It is a software toolkit used in the process of aerodynamic performance prediction of iced airfoils. It includes tools which complement the 2D grid-based Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) process: geometry probing; surface preparation for gridding: smoothing and re-discretization of geometry. Future releases will also include support for all aspects of gridding: domain decomposition; perimeter discretization; grid generation and modification.

Numerical simulation of rough-surface aerodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chi, Xingkai

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of flow over surfaces with roughness in which the details of the surface geometry must be resolved pose major challenges. The objective of this study is to address these challenges through two important engineering problems, where roughness play a critical role---flow over airfoils with accrued ice and flow and heat transfer over turbine blade surfaces roughened by erosion and/or deposition. CFD simulations of iced airfoils face two major challenges. The first is how to generate high-quality single- and multi-block structured grids for highly convoluted convex and concave surface geometries with multiple scales. In this study, two methods were developed for the generation of high-quality grids for such geometries. The method developed for single-block grids involves generating a grid about the clean airfoil, carving out a portion of that grid about the airfoil, replacing that portion with a grid that accounts for the accrued ice geometry, and performing elliptic smoothing. The method developed for multi-block grids involves a transition-layer grid to ensure jaggedness in the ice geometry does not propagate into the domain. It also involves a "thick" wrap-around grid about the ice to ensure grid lines clustered next to solid surfaces do not propagate as streaks of tightly packed grid lines into the domain along block boundaries. For multi-block grids, this study also developed blocking topologies that ensure solutions to multi-block grids converge to steady state as quickly as single-block grids. The second major challenge in CFD simulations of iced airfoils is not knowing when it will predict reliably because of uncertainties in the turbulence modeling. In this study, the effects of turbulence models in predicting lift, drag, and moment coefficients were examined for airfoils with rime ice (i.e., ice with jaggedness only) and with glaze ice (i.e., ice with multiple protruding horns and surface jaggedness) as a function of angle of attack. In this examination, three different CFD codes---WIND, FLUENT, and PowerFLOW were used to examine a variety of turbulence models, including Spalart-Allmaras, RNG k-epsilon, shear-stress transport, v2-f, and differential Reynolds stress with and without non-equilibrium wall functions. The accuracy of the CFD predictions was evaluated by comparing grid-independent solutions with measured experimental data. Results obtained show CFD with WIND and FLUENT to predict the aerodynamics of airfoils with rime ice reliably up to near stall for all turbulence models investigated. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Airfoil family design for large offshore wind turbine blades

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Méndez, B.; Munduate, X.; San Miguel, U.

2014-06-01

Wind turbine blades size has scaled-up during last years due to wind turbine platform increase especially for offshore applications. The EOLIA project 2007-2010 (Spanish Goverment funded project) was focused on the design of large offshore wind turbines for deep waters. The project was managed by ACCIONA Energia and the wind turbine technology was designed by ACCIONA Windpower. The project included the design of a wind turbine airfoil family especially conceived for large offshore wind turbine blades, in the order of 5MW machine. Large offshore wind turbines suffer high extreme loads due to their size, in addition the lack of noise restrictions allow higher tip speeds. Consequently, the airfoils presented in this work are designed for high Reynolds numbers with the main goal of reducing blade loads and mantainig power production. The new airfoil family was designed in collaboration with CENER (Spanish National Renewable Energy Centre). The airfoil family was designed using a evolutionary algorithm based optimization tool with different objectives, both aerodynamic and structural, coupled with an airfoil geometry generation tool. Force coefficients of the designed airfoil were obtained using the panel code XFOIL in which the boundary layer/inviscid flow coupling is ineracted via surface transpiration model. The desing methodology includes a novel technique to define the objective functions based on normalizing the functions using weight parameters created from data of airfoils used as reference. Four airfoils have been designed, here three of them will be presented, with relative thickness of 18%, 21%, 25%, which have been verified with the in-house CFD code, Wind Multi Block WMB, and later validated with wind tunnel experiments. Some of the objectives for the designed airfoils concern the aerodynamic behavior (high efficiency and lift, high tangential coefficient, insensitivity to rough conditions, etc.), others concern the geometry (good for structural design, compatibility for the different airfoil family members, etc.) and with the ultimate objective that the airfoils will reduce the blade loads. In this paper the whole airfoil design process and the main characteristics of the airfoil family are described. Some force coefficients for the design Reynolds number are also presented. The new designed airfoils have been studied with computational calculations (panel method code and CFD) and also in a wind tunnel experimental campaign. Some of these results will be also presented in this paper.

A study of sound generation in subsonic rotors, volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chalupnik, J. D.; Clark, L. T.

1975-01-01

A model for the prediction of wake related sound generation by a single airfoil is presented. It is assumed that the net force fluctuation on an airfoil may be expressed in terms of the net momentum fluctuation in the near wake of the airfoil. The forcing function for sound generation depends on the spectra of the two point velocity correlations in the turbulent region near the airfoil trailing edge. The spectra of the two point velocity correlations were measured for the longitudinal and transverse components of turbulence in the wake of a 91.4 cm chord airfoil. A scaling procedure was developed using the turbulent boundary layer thickness. The model was then used to predict the radiated sound from a 5.1 cm chord airfoil. Agreement between the predicted and measured sound radiation spectra was good. The single airfoil results were extended to a rotor geometry, and various aerodynamic parameters were studied.

An analysis of the crossover between local and massive separation on airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barnett, M.; Carter, J. E.

1987-01-01

Massive separation on airfoils operating at high Reynolds number is an important problem to the aerodynamicist, since its onset generally determines the limiting performance of an airfoil, and it can lead to serious problems related to aircraft control as well as turbomachinery operation. The phenomenon of crossover between local separation and massive separation on realistic airfoil geometries induced by airfoil thickness is investigated for low speed (incompressible) flow. The problem is studied both for the asymptotic limit of infinite Reynolds number using triple-deck theory, and for finite Reynolds number using interacting boundary-layer theory. Numerical results are presented which follow the evolution of the flow as it develops from a mildly separated state to one dominated by the massively separated flow structure as the thickness of the airfoil geometry is systematically increased. The effect of turbulence upon the evolution of the flow is considered, and the impact is significant, with the principal effect being the suppression of the onset of separation. Finally, the effect of surface suction and injection for boundary-layer control is considered. The approach which was developed provides a valuable tool for the analysis of boundary-layer separation up to and beyond stall. Another important conclusion is that interacting boundary-layer theory provides an efficient tool for the analysis of the effect of turbulence and boundary-layer control upon separated vicsous flow.

Thin airfoil theory based on approximate solution of the transonic flow equation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spreiter, John R; Alksne, Alberta Y

1957-01-01

A method is presented for the approximate solution of the nonlinear equations transonic flow theory. Solutions are found for two-dimensional flows at a Mach number of 1 and for purely subsonic and purely supersonic flows. Results are obtained in closed analytic form for a large and significant class of nonlifting airfoils. At a Mach number of 1 general expressions are given for the pressure distribution on an airfoil of specified geometry and for the shape of an airfoil having a prescribed pressure distribution. Extensive comparisons are made with available data, particularly for a Mach number of 1, and with existing solutions.

Numerical study of Wavy Blade Section for Wind Turbines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobæk, C. M.; Hansen, M. O. L.

2016-09-01

The Wavy Blade concept is inspired by the unique flipper of a humpback whale, characterized by the tubercles located at the leading edge. It has been suggested that this shape may have been a result of a natural selection process, since this flipper under some circumstances can produce higher lift than a flipper having a smooth trailing edge and thus could be potentially beneficial when catching food. A thorough literature study of the Wavy Blade concept is made and followed by CFD computations of two wavy blade geometries and a comparison with their baseline S809 airfoil at conditions more relevant for modern wind turbines. The findings in the literature from geometries similar to the hump back whale flipper indicate that the aerodynamic performance can be improved at high angles of attack, but sometimes at the expense of a lower lift slope and increased drag before stall. The numerical results for a blade section based on the S809 airfoil are, however, not as promising as some of the findings reported in the literature for the whale flipper at high angles of attack. These first CFD computations using a thicker airfoil and a higher Reynolds number than the whale flipper indicate that the results may very well depend on the actual airfoil geometry and perhaps also the Reynolds number, and future studies are necessary in order to illuminate this further.

S825 and S826 Airfoils: 1994--1995

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Somers, D. M.

2005-01-01

A family of airfoils, the S825 and S826, for 20- to 40-meter, variable-speed and variable-pitch (toward feather), horizontal-axis wind turbines has been designed and analyzed theoretically. The two primary objectives of high maximum lift, insensitive to roughness, and low profile drag have been achieved. The constraints on the pitching moments and the airfoil thicknesses have been satisfied. The airfoils should exhibit docile stalls.

Aerodynamic shape optimization of Airfoils in 2-D incompressible flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rangasamy, Srinivethan; Upadhyay, Harshal; Somasekaran, Sandeep; Raghunath, Sreekanth

2010-11-01

An optimization framework was developed for maximizing the region of 2-D airfoil immersed in laminar flow with enhanced aerodynamic performance. It uses genetic algorithm over a population of 125, across 1000 generations, to optimize the airfoil. On a stand-alone computer, a run takes about an hour to obtain a converged solution. The airfoil geometry was generated using two Bezier curves; one to represent the thickness and the other the camber of the airfoil. The airfoil profile was generated by adding and subtracting the thickness curve from the camber curve. The coefficient of lift and drag was computed using potential velocity distribution obtained from panel code, and boundary layer transition prediction code was used to predict the location of onset of transition. The objective function of a particular design is evaluated as the weighted-average of aerodynamic characteristics at various angles of attacks. Optimization was carried out for several objective functions and the airfoil designs obtained were analyzed.

SmaggIce 2.0: Additional Capabilities for Interactive Grid Generation of Iced Airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kreeger, Richard E.; Baez, Marivell; Braun, Donald C.; Schilling, Herbert W.; Vickerman, Mary B.

2008-01-01

The Surface Modeling and Grid Generation for Iced Airfoils (SmaggIce) software toolkit has been extended to allow interactive grid generation for multi-element iced airfoils. The essential phases of an icing effects study include geometry preparation, block creation and grid generation. SmaggIce Version 2.0 now includes these main capabilities for both single and multi-element airfoils, plus an improved flow solver interface and a variety of additional tools to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of icing effects studies. An overview of these features is given, especially the new multi-element blocking strategy using the multiple wakes method. Examples are given which illustrate the capabilities of SmaggIce for conducting an icing effects study for both single and multi-element airfoils.

Computation of viscous transonic flow about a lifting airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Walitt, L.; Liu, C. Y.

1976-01-01

The viscous transonic flow about a stationary body in free air was numerically investigated. The geometry chosen was a symmetric NACA 64A010 airfoil at a freestream Mach number of 0.8, a Reynolds number of 4 million based on chord, and angles of attack of 0 and 2 degrees. These conditions were such that, at 2 degrees incidence unsteady periodic motion was calculated along the aft portion of the airfoil and in its wake. Although no unsteady measurements were made for the NACA 64A010 airfoil at these flow conditions, interpolated steady measurements of lift, drag, and surface static pressures compared favorably with corresponding computed time-averaged lift, drag, and surface static pressures.

Computational methods for aerodynamic design using numerical optimization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Peeters, M. F.

1983-01-01

Five methods to increase the computational efficiency of aerodynamic design using numerical optimization, by reducing the computer time required to perform gradient calculations, are examined. The most promising method consists of drastically reducing the size of the computational domain on which aerodynamic calculations are made during gradient calculations. Since a gradient calculation requires the solution of the flow about an airfoil whose geometry was slightly perturbed from a base airfoil, the flow about the base airfoil is used to determine boundary conditions on the reduced computational domain. This method worked well in subcritical flow.

An experimental low Reynolds number comparison of a Wortmann FX67-K170 airfoil, a NACA 0012 airfoil and a NACA 64-210 airfoil in simulated heavy rain

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Craig, Anthony P.; Hansman, R. John

1987-01-01

Wind tunnel experiments were conducted on Wortmann FX67-K170, NACA 0012, and NACA 64-210 airfoils at rain rates of 1000 mm/hr and Reynolds numbers of 310,000 to compare the aerodynamic performance degradation of the airfoils and to attempt to identify the various mechanisms which affect performance in heavy rain conditions. Lift and drag were measured in dry and wet conditions, a variety of flow visualization techniques were employed, and a computational code which predicted airfoil boundary layer behavior was used. At low angles of attack, the lift degradation in wet conditions varied significantly between the airfoils. The Wortmann section had the greatest overall lift degradation and the NACA 64-210 airfoil had the smallest. At high angles of attack, the NACA 64-210 and 0012 airfoils had improved aerodynamic performance in rain conditions due to an apparent reduction of the boundry layer separation. Performance degradation in heavy rain for all three airfoils at low angles of attack could be emulated by forced boundary layer transition near the leading edge. The secondary effect occurs at time scales consistent with top surface water runback times. The runback layer is thought to effectively alter the airfoil geometry. The severity of the performance degradation for the airfoils varied. The relative differences appeared to be related to the susceptibility of each airfoil to premature boundary layer transition.

Application of a Navier-Stokes Solver to the Analysis of Multielement Airfoils and Wings Using Multizonal Grid Techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, Kenneth M.; Biedron, Robert T.; Whitlock, Mark

1995-01-01

A computational study was performed to determine the predictive capability of a Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes code (CFL3D) for two-dimensional and three-dimensional multielement high-lift systems. Three configurations were analyzed: a three-element airfoil, a wing with a full span flap and a wing with a partial span flap. In order to accurately model these complex geometries, two different multizonal structured grid techniques were employed. For the airfoil and full span wing configurations, a chimera or overset grid technique was used. The results of the airfoil analysis illustrated that although the absolute values of lift were somewhat in error, the code was able to predict reasonably well the variation with Reynolds number and flap position. The full span flap analysis demonstrated good agreement with experimental surface pressure data over the wing and flap. Multiblock patched grids were used to model the partial span flap wing. A modification to an existing patched- grid algorithm was required to analyze the configuration as modeled. Comparisons with experimental data were very good, indicating the applicability of the patched-grid technique to analyses of these complex geometries.

Analysis of crossover between local and massive separation on airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barnett, Mark

1987-01-01

The occurrence of massive separation on airfoils operating at high Reynolds number poses an important problem to the aerodynamicist. In the present study, the phenomenon of crossover, induced by airfoil thickness, between local separation and massive separation is investigated for low speed (incompressible), symmetric flow past realistic airfoil geometries. This problem is studied both for the infinite Reynolds number asymptotic limit using triple-deck theory and for finite Reynolds number using interacting boundary-layer theory. Numerical results are presented which illustrate how the flow evolves from local to massive separation as the airfoil thickness is increased. The results of the triple-deck and the interacting boundary-layer analyses are found to be in qualitative agreement for the NACA four digit series and an uncambered supercritical airfoil. The effect of turbulence on the evolution of the flow is also considered. Solutions are presented for turbulent flows past a NACA 0014 airfoil and a circular cylinder. For the latter case, the calculated surface pressure distribution is found to agree well with experimental data if the proper eddy pressure level is specified.

Four-wall turbine airfoil with thermal strain control for reduced cycle fatigue

DOEpatents

Cambell, Christian X

2013-09-17

A turbine airfoil (20B) with a thermal expansion control mechanism that increases the airfoil camber (60, 61) under operational heating. The airfoil has four-wall geometry, including pressure side outer and inner walls (26, 28B), and suction side outer and inner walls (32, 34B). It has near-wall cooling channels (31F, 31A, 33F, 33A) between the outer and inner walls. A cooling fluid flow pattern (50C, 50W, 50H) in the airfoil causes the pressure side inner wall (28B) to increase in curvature under operational heating. The pressure side inner wall (28B) is thicker than walls (26, 34B) that oppose it in camber deformation, so it dominates them in collaboration with the suction side outer wall (32), and the airfoil camber increases. This reduces and relocates a maximum stress area (47) from the suction side outer wall (32) to the suction side inner wall (34B, 72) and the pressure side outer wall (26).

Stiffness characteristics of airfoils under pulse loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turner, Kevin Eugene

The turbomachinery industry continually struggles with the adverse effects of contact rubs between airfoils and casings. The key parameter controlling the severity of a given rub event is the contact load produced when the airfoil tips incur into the casing. These highly non-linear and transient forces are difficult to calculate and their effects on the static and rotating components are not well understood. To help provide this insight, experimental and analytical capabilities have been established and exercised through an alliance between GE Aviation and The Ohio State University Gas Turbine Laboratory. One of the early findings of the program is the influence of blade flexibility on the physics of rub events. The core focus of the work presented in this dissertation is to quantify the influence of airfoil flexibility through a novel modeling approach that is based on the relationship between applied force duration and maximum tip deflection. This relationship is initially established using a series of forward, non-linear and transient analyses in which simulated impulse rub loads are applied. This procedure, although effective, is highly inefficient and costly to conduct by requiring numerous explicit simulations. To alleviate this issue, a simplified model, named the pulse magnification model, is developed that only requires a modal analysis and a static analyses to fully describe how the airfoil stiffness changes with respect to load duration. Results from the pulse magnification model are compared to results from the full transient simulation method and to experimental results, providing sound verification for the use of the modeling approach. Furthermore, a unique and highly efficient method to model airfoil geometries was developed and is outlined in this dissertation. This method produces quality Finite Element airfoil definitions directly from a fully parameterized mathematical model. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated by comparing modal properties of the simulated geometries to modal properties of various current airfoil designs. Finally, this modeling approach was used in conjunction with the pulse magnification model to study the effects of various airfoil geometric features on the stiffness of the blade under impulsive loading.

TAIR- TRANSONIC AIRFOIL ANALYSIS COMPUTER CODE

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dougherty, F. C.

1994-01-01

The Transonic Airfoil analysis computer code, TAIR, was developed to employ a fast, fully implicit algorithm to solve the conservative full-potential equation for the steady transonic flow field about an arbitrary airfoil immersed in a subsonic free stream. The full-potential formulation is considered exact under the assumptions of irrotational, isentropic, and inviscid flow. These assumptions are valid for a wide range of practical transonic flows typical of modern aircraft cruise conditions. The primary features of TAIR include: a new fully implicit iteration scheme which is typically many times faster than classical successive line overrelaxation algorithms; a new, reliable artifical density spatial differencing scheme treating the conservative form of the full-potential equation; and a numerical mapping procedure capable of generating curvilinear, body-fitted finite-difference grids about arbitrary airfoil geometries. Three aspects emphasized during the development of the TAIR code were reliability, simplicity, and speed. The reliability of TAIR comes from two sources: the new algorithm employed and the implementation of effective convergence monitoring logic. TAIR achieves ease of use by employing a "default mode" that greatly simplifies code operation, especially by inexperienced users, and many useful options including: several airfoil-geometry input options, flexible user controls over program output, and a multiple solution capability. The speed of the TAIR code is attributed to the new algorithm and the manner in which it has been implemented. Input to the TAIR program consists of airfoil coordinates, aerodynamic and flow-field convergence parameters, and geometric and grid convergence parameters. The airfoil coordinates for many airfoil shapes can be generated in TAIR from just a few input parameters. Most of the other input parameters have default values which allow the user to run an analysis in the default mode by specifing only a few input parameters. Output from TAIR may include aerodynamic coefficients, the airfoil surface solution, convergence histories, and printer plots of Mach number and density contour maps. The TAIR program is written in FORTRAN IV for batch execution and has been implemented on a CDC 7600 computer with a central memory requirement of approximately 155K (octal) of 60 bit words. The TAIR program was developed in 1981.

Control of unsteady separated flow associated with the dynamic stall of airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilder, M. C.

1994-01-01

A unique active flow-control device is proposed for the control of unsteady separated flow associated with the dynamic stall of airfoils. The device is an adaptive-geometry leading-edge which will allow controlled, dynamic modification of the leading-edge profile of an airfoil while the airfoil is executing an angle-of-attack pitch-up maneuver. A carbon-fiber composite skin has been bench tested, and a wind tunnel model is under construction. A baseline parameter study of compressible dynamic stall was performed for flow over an NACA 0012 airfoil. Parameters included Mach number, pitch rate, pitch history, and boundary layer tripping. Dynamic stall data were recorded via point-diffraction interferometry and the interferograms were analyzed with in-house developed image processing software. A new high-speed phase-locked photographic image recording system was developed for real-time documentation of dynamic stall.

Evaluation of a research circulation control airfoil using Navier-Stokes methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shrewsbury, George D.

1987-01-01

The compressible Reynolds time averaged Navier-Stokes equations were used to obtain solutions for flows about a two dimensional circulation control airfoil. The governing equations were written in conservation form for a body-fitted coordinate system and solved using an Alternating Direction Implicit (ADI) procedure. A modified algebraic eddy viscosity model was used to define the turbulent characteristics of the flow, including the wall jet flow over the Coanda surface at the trailing edge. Numerical results are compared to experimental data obtained for a research circulation control airfoil geometry. Excellent agreement with the experimental results was obtained.

Optimization of Adaptive Intraply Hybrid Fiber Composites with Reliability Considerations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shiao, Michael C.; Chamis, Christos C.

1994-01-01

The reliability with bounded distribution parameters (mean, standard deviation) was maximized and the reliability-based cost was minimized for adaptive intra-ply hybrid fiber composites by using a probabilistic method. The probabilistic method accounts for all naturally occurring uncertainties including those in constituent material properties, fabrication variables, structure geometry, and control-related parameters. Probabilistic sensitivity factors were computed and used in the optimization procedures. For actuated change in the angle of attack of an airfoil-like composite shell structure with an adaptive torque plate, the reliability was maximized to 0.9999 probability, with constraints on the mean and standard deviation of the actuation material volume ratio (percentage of actuation composite material in a ply) and the actuation strain coefficient. The reliability-based cost was minimized for an airfoil-like composite shell structure with an adaptive skin and a mean actuation material volume ratio as the design parameter. At a O.9-mean actuation material volume ratio, the minimum cost was obtained.

Parametric Evaluation of Thin, Transonic Circulation-Control Airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schlecht, Robin; Anders, Scott

2007-01-01

Wind-tunnel tests were conducted in the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel on a 6 percent-thick, elliptical circulation-control airfoil with upper-surface and lower-surface blowing capability. Results for elliptical Coanda trailing-edge geometries, biconvex Coanda trailing-edge geometries, and leading-edge geometries are reported. Results are presented at subsonic and transonic Mach numbers of 0.3 and 0.8, respectively. When considering one fixed trailing-edge geometry, for both the subsonic and transonic conditions it was found that the [3.0:1] ratio elliptical Coanda surface with the most rounded leading-edge [03] performed favorably and was determined to be the best compromise between comparable configurations that took advantage of the Coanda effect. This configuration generated a maximum. (Delta)C(sub 1) = 0.625 at a C(sub mu) = 0.06 at M = 0.3, alpha = 6deg. This same configuration generated a maximum (Delta)C(sub 1) = 0.275 at a C(sub mu) = 0.0085 at M = 0.8, alpha = 3deg.

Roughness Sensitivity Comparisons of Wind Turbine Blade Sections

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wilcox, Benjamin J.; White, Edward B.; Maniaci, David Charles

One explanation for wind turbine power degradation is insect roughness. Historical studies on insect-induced power degradation have used simulation methods which are either un- representative of actual insect roughness or too costly or time-consuming to be applied to wide-scale testing. Furthermore, the role of airfoil geometry in determining the relations between insect impingement locations and roughness sensitivity has not been studied. To link the effects of airfoil geometry, insect impingement locations, and roughness sensitivity, a simulation code was written to determine representative insect collection patterns for different airfoil shapes. Insect collection pattern data was then used to simulate roughness onmore » an NREL S814 airfoil that was tested in a wind tunnel at Reynolds numbers between 1.6 x 10 6 and 4.0 x 10 6. Results are compared to previous tests of a NACA 63 3 -418 airfoil. Increasing roughness height and density results in decreased maximum lift, lift curve slope, and lift-to-drag ratio. Increasing roughness height, density, or Reynolds number results in earlier bypass transition, with critical roughness Reynolds numbers lying within the historical range. Increased roughness sensitivity on the 25% thick NREL S814 is observed compared to the 18% thick NACA 63 3 -418. Blade-element-momentum analysis was used to calculate annual energy production losses of 4.9% and 6.8% for a NACA 63 3 -418 turbine and an NREL S814 turbine, respectively, operating with 200 μm roughness. These compare well to historical field measurements.« less

Roughness sensitivity comparisons of wind turbine blade sections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilcox, Benjamin Jacob

One explanation for wind turbine power degradation is insect roughness. Historical studies on insect-induced power degradation have used simulation methods which are either unrepresentative of actual insect roughness or too costly or time-consuming to be applied to wide-scale testing. Furthermore, the role of airfoil geometry in determining the relations between insect impingement locations and roughness sensitivity has not been studied. To link the effects of airfoil geometry, insect impingement locations, and roughness sensitivity, a simulation code was written to determine representative insect collection patterns for different airfoil shapes. Insect collection pattern data was then used to simulate roughness on an NREL S814 airfoil that was tested in a wind tunnel at Reynolds numbers between 1:6 x 106 and 4:0 x 106. Results are compared to previous tests of a NACA 633-418 airfoil. Increasing roughness height and density results in decreased maximum lift, lift curve slope, and lift-to-drag ratio. Increasing roughness height, density, or Reynolds number results in earlier bypass transition, with critical roughness Reynolds numbers lying within the historical range. Increased roughness sensitivity on the 25% thick NREL S814 is observed compared to the 18% thick NACA 633-418. Blade-element-momentum analysis was used to calculate annual energy production losses of 4.9% and 6.8% for a NACA 633-418 turbine and an NREL S814 turbine, respectively, operating with 200 microm roughness. These compare well to historical field measurements.

A Non-Cut Cell Immersed Boundary Method for Use in Icing Simulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sarofeen, Christian M.; Noack, Ralph W.; Kreeger, Richard E.

2013-01-01

This paper describes a computational fluid dynamic method used for modelling changes in aircraft geometry due to icing. While an aircraft undergoes icing, the accumulated ice results in a geometric alteration of the aerodynamic surfaces. In computational simulations for icing, it is necessary that the corresponding geometric change is taken into consideration. The method used, herein, for the representation of the geometric change due to icing is a non-cut cell Immersed Boundary Method (IBM). Computational cells that are in a body fitted grid of a clean aerodynamic geometry that are inside a predicted ice formation are identified. An IBM is then used to change these cells from being active computational cells to having properties of viscous solid bodies. This method has been implemented in the NASA developed node centered, finite volume computational fluid dynamics code, FUN3D. The presented capability is tested for two-dimensional airfoils including a clean airfoil, an iced airfoil, and an airfoil in harmonic pitching motion about its quarter chord. For these simulations velocity contours, pressure distributions, coefficients of lift, coefficients of drag, and coefficients of pitching moment about the airfoil's quarter chord are computed and used for comparison against experimental results, a higher order panel method code with viscous effects, XFOIL, and the results from FUN3D's original solution process. The results of the IBM simulations show that the accuracy of the IBM compares satisfactorily with the experimental results, XFOIL results, and the results from FUN3D's original solution process.

Avian Wings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liu, Tianshu; Kuykendoll, K.; Rhew, R.; Jones, S.

2004-01-01

This paper describes the avian wing geometry (Seagull, Merganser, Teal and Owl) extracted from non-contact surface measurements using a three-dimensional laser scanner. The geometric quantities, including the camber line and thickness distribution of airfoil, wing planform, chord distribution, and twist distribution, are given in convenient analytical expressions. Thus, the avian wing surfaces can be generated and the wing kinematics can be simulated. The aerodynamic characteristics of avian airfoils in steady inviscid flows are briefly discussed. The avian wing kinematics is recovered from videos of three level-flying birds (Crane, Seagull and Goose) based on a two-jointed arm model. A flapping seagull wing in the 3D physical space is re-constructed from the extracted wing geometry and kinematics.

Adjoint Airfoil Optimization of Darrieus-Type Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuchs, Roman; Nordborg, Henrik

2012-11-01

We present the feasibility of using an adjoint solver to optimize the torque of a Darrieus-type vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). We start with a 2D cross section of a symmetrical airfoil and restrict us to low solidity ratios to minimize blade vortex interactions. The adjoint solver of the ANSYS FLUENT software package computes the sensitivities of airfoil surface forces based on a steady flow field. Hence, we find the torque of a full revolution using a weighted average of the sensitivities at different wind speeds and angles of attack. The weights are computed analytically, and the range of angles of attack is given by the tip speed ratio. Then the airfoil geometry is evolved, and the proposed methodology is evaluated by transient simulations.

Energy efficient engine: Low-pressure turbine subsonic cascade component development and integration program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sharma, O. P.; Kopper, F. C.; Knudsen, L. K.; Yustinich, J. B.

1982-01-01

A subsonic cascade test program was conducted to provide technical data for optimizing the blade and vane airfoil designs for the Energy Efficient Engine Low-Pressure Turbine component. The program consisted of three parts. The first involved an evaluation of the low-chamber inlet guide vane. The second, was an evaluation of two candidate aerodynamic loading philosophies for the fourth blade root section. The third part consisted of an evaluation of three candidate airfoil geometries for the fourth blade mean section. The performance of each candidate airfoil was evaluated in a linear cascade configuration. The overall results of this study indicate that the aft-loaded airfoil designs resulted in lower losses which substantiated Pratt & Whitney Aircraft's design philosophy for the Energy Efficient Engine low-pressure turbine component.

Robust Airfoil Optimization in High Resolution Design Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, Wu; Padula, Sharon L.

2003-01-01

The robust airfoil shape optimization is a direct method for drag reduction over a given range of operating conditions and has three advantages: (1) it prevents severe degradation in the off-design performance by using a smart descent direction in each optimization iteration, (2) it uses a large number of B-spline control points as design variables yet the resulting airfoil shape is fairly smooth, and (3) it allows the user to make a trade-off between the level of optimization and the amount of computing time consumed. The robust optimization method is demonstrated by solving a lift-constrained drag minimization problem for a two-dimensional airfoil in viscous flow with a large number of geometric design variables. Our experience with robust optimization indicates that our strategy produces reasonable airfoil shapes that are similar to the original airfoils, but these new shapes provide drag reduction over the specified range of Mach numbers. We have tested this strategy on a number of advanced airfoil models produced by knowledgeable aerodynamic design team members and found that our strategy produces airfoils better or equal to any designs produced by traditional design methods.

Robust Airfoil Optimization to Achieve Consistent Drag Reduction Over a Mach Range

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, Wu; Huyse, Luc; Padula, Sharon; Bushnell, Dennis M. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

We prove mathematically that in order to avoid point-optimization at the sampled design points for multipoint airfoil optimization, the number of design points must be greater than the number of free-design variables. To overcome point-optimization at the sampled design points, a robust airfoil optimization method (called the profile optimization method) is developed and analyzed. This optimization method aims at a consistent drag reduction over a given Mach range and has three advantages: (a) it prevents severe degradation in the off-design performance by using a smart descent direction in each optimization iteration, (b) there is no random airfoil shape distortion for any iterate it generates, and (c) it allows a designer to make a trade-off between a truly optimized airfoil and the amount of computing time consumed. For illustration purposes, we use the profile optimization method to solve a lift-constrained drag minimization problem for 2-D airfoil in Euler flow with 20 free-design variables. A comparison with other airfoil optimization methods is also included.

Conception d'un controleur actif pour le retard de la transition de l'ecoulement laminaire au turbulent sur une aile a geometrie du profil variable dans le tunnel a vent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Popov, Andrei Vladimir

The aerospace industry is motivated to reduce fuel consumption in large transport aircraft, mainly through drag reduction. The main objective of the global project is the development of an active control system of wing airfoil geometry during flight in order to allow drag reduction. Drag reduction on a wing can be achieved through modifications in the laminar-to-turbulent flow transition point position, which should be situated as close as possible to the trailing edge of the airfoil wing. As the transition point plays a crucial part in this project, this work focuses on the control of its position on the airfoil, as an effect of controlling the deflection of a morphing wing airfoil equipped with a flexible skin. The paper presents the modeling and the experimental testing of the aerodynamic performance of a morphing wing, starting from the design concept phase all the way to the bench and wind tunnel tests phases. Several wind tunnel test runs for various Mach numbers and angles of attack were performed in the 6 x 9 ft2 wind tunnel at the Institute for Aerospace Research at the National Research Council Canada. A rectangular finite aspect ratio wing, having a morphing airfoil cross-section due to a flexible skin installed on the upper surface of the wing, was instrumented with Kulite transducers. The Mach number varied from 0.2 to 0.3 and the angle of attack between -1° and 2°. Unsteady pressure signals were recorded and analyzed and a thorough comparison, in terms of mean pressure coefficients and their standard deviations, was performed against theoretical predictions, using the XFoil computational fluid dynamics code. The acquired pressure data was analyzed through custom-made software created with Matlab/Simulink in order to detect the noise magnitude in the surface airflow and to localize the transition point position on the wing upper surface. This signal processing was necessary in order to detect the Tollmien-Schlichting waves responsible for triggering the transition from laminar to turbulent flow. The flexible skin needed to morph its shape through two actuation points in order to obtain an optimized airfoil shape for several flow conditions in the wind tunnel. The two shape memory alloy actuators, having a non-linear behavior, drove the displacement of the two control points of the flexible skin towards the optimized airfoil shape. This thesis presents the methodology used and the results obtained from designing the controller of the two shape memory actuators as well as the methods used for morphing wing control in the wind tunnel tests designed to prove the concept and validity of the system in real time. Keywords: wing, morphing, laminar, turbulent, transition, control, wind tunnel

Advanced turbine study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Castro, J. H.

1985-01-01

The feasibility of an advanced convective cooling concept applied to rocket turbine airfoils which operate in a high pressure hydrogen and methane environment was investigated. The concept consists of a central structural member in which grooves are machined. The grooves are temporarily filled with a removable filler and the entire airfoil is covered with a layer of electroformed nickel, or nickel base alloy. After removal of the filler, the low thermal resistance of the nickel closure causes the wall temperature to be reduced by heat transfer to the coolant. The program is divided in the following tasks: (1) turbine performance appraisal; (2) coolant geometry evaluation; (3) test hardware design and analysis; and (4) test airfoil fabrication.

Aerodynamics of Cascaded Airfoils Oscillating or Subject to Three-Dimensional Periodic Gusts.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-01-01

and guide vanes and induce fluctuating aerodynamic forces on their blades . The aeroelastic stability of the engine , therefore, depends on the...71, we carried out a comparative study for a compressor, a I turbine , a flat plate cascade, and a single airfoil having the same blade geometry. Table...amplification of acoustic response, and inducing blade vibrations. In particular, during take-off and landing of jet powered aircraft the presence

The characteristics of 78 related airfoil sections from tests in the variable-density wind tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jacobs, Eastman N; Ward, Kenneth E; Pinkerton, Robert M

1933-01-01

An investigation of a large group of related airfoils was made in the NACA variable-density wind tunnel at a large value of the Reynolds number. The tests were made to provide data that may be directly employed for a rational choice of the most suitable airfoil section for a given application. The variation of the aerodynamic characteristics with variations in thickness and mean-line form were systematically studied. (author)

Sealing apparatus for airfoils of gas turbine engines

DOEpatents

Jones, Russell B.

1998-01-01

An improved airfoil tip sealing apparatus is disclosed wherein brush seals are attached to airfoil tips with the distal ends of the brush seal fibers sealingly contacting opposing wall surfaces. Embodiments for variable vanes, stators and both cooled and uncooled turbine blade applications are disclosed.

Micro Autonomous Systems Research: Systems Engineering Processes for Micro-Autonomous Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-30

detailed geometry that can be sent directly to an automated manufacturing process like a 3D printer . Like traditional design, 3D CAD files were...force REF is stationed. The REF operates mobile manufacturing labs equipped with 3D printers , laser cutters, and CNC mills. The REF takes the...to verify that the 3d printer was cable of printing airfoil sections with sufficient accuracy and consistency while also providing an airfoil that

Viscous-flow analysis of a subsonic transport aircraft high-lift system and correlation with flight data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Potter, R. C.; Vandam, C. P.

1995-01-01

High-lift system aerodynamics has been gaining attention in recent years. In an effort to improve aircraft performance, comprehensive studies of multi-element airfoil systems are being undertaken in wind-tunnel and flight experiments. Recent developments in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) offer a relatively inexpensive alternative for studying complex viscous flows by numerically solving the Navier-Stokes (N-S) equations. Current limitations in computer resources restrict practical high-lift N-S computations to two dimensions, but CFD predictions can yield tremendous insight into flow structure, interactions between airfoil elements, and effects of changes in airfoil geometry or free-stream conditions. These codes are very accurate when compared to strictly 2D data provided by wind-tunnel testing, as will be shown here. Yet, additional challenges must be faced in the analysis of a production aircraft wing section, such as that of the NASA Langley Transport Systems Research Vehicle (TSRV). A primary issue is the sweep theory used to correlate 2D predictions with 3D flight results, accounting for sweep, taper, and finite wing effects. Other computational issues addressed here include the effects of surface roughness of the geometry, cove shape modeling, grid topology, and transition specification. The sensitivity of the flow to changing free-stream conditions is investigated. In addition, the effects of Gurney flaps on the aerodynamic characteristics of the airfoil system are predicted.

Design and Experimental Results for the S825 Airfoil; Period of Performance: 1998-1999

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Somers, D. M.

2005-01-01

A 17%-thick, natural-laminar-flow airfoil, the S825, for the 75% blade radial station of 20- to 40-meter, variable-speed and variable-pitch (toward feather), horizontal-axis wind turbines has been designed and analyzed theoretically and verified experimentally in the NASA Langley Low-Turbulence Pressure Tunnel. The two primary objectives of high maximum lift, relatively insensitive to roughness and low-profile drag have been achieved. The airfoil exhibits a rapid, trailing-edge stall, which does not meet the design goal of a docile stall. The constraints on the pitching moment and the airfoil thickness have been satisfied. Comparisons of the theoretical and experimental results generally show good agreement.

Sealing apparatus for airfoils of gas turbine engines

DOEpatents

Jones, R.B.

1998-05-19

An improved airfoil tip sealing apparatus is disclosed wherein brush seals are attached to airfoil tips with the distal ends of the brush seal fibers sealingly contacting opposing wall surfaces. Embodiments for variable vanes, stators and both cooled and uncooled turbine blade applications are disclosed. 17 figs.

Turbocharger with variable nozzle having vane sealing surfaces

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Arnold, Philippe; Petitjean, Dominique; Ruquart, Anthony

2011-11-15

A variable nozzle for a turbocharger includes a plurality of vanes rotatably mounted on a nozzle ring and disposed in a nozzle flow path defined between the nozzle ring and an opposite nozzle wall. Either or both of the faces of the nozzle ring and nozzle wall include(s) at least one step that defines sealing surfaces positioned to be substantially abutted by airfoil surfaces of the vanes in the closed position of the vanes and to be spaced from the airfoil surfaces in positions other than the closed position. This substantial abutment between the airfoil surfaces and the sealing surfacesmore » serves to substantially prevent exhaust gas from leaking past the ends of the airfoil portions. At the same time, clearances between the nozzle ring face and the end faces of the airfoil portions can be sufficiently large to prevent binding of the vanes under all operating conditions.« less

Characterization of Ice Roughness Variations in Scaled Glaze Icing Conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McClain, Stephen T.; Vargas, Mario; Tsao, Jen-Ching

2016-01-01

Because of the significant influence of surface tension in governing the stability and breakdown of the liquid film in flooded stagnation regions of airfoils exposed to glaze icing conditions, the Weber number is expected to be a significant parameter governing the formation and evolution of ice roughness. To investigate the influence of the Weber number on roughness formation, 53.3-cm (21-in.) and 182.9-cm (72-in.) NACA 0012 airfoils were exposed to flow conditions with essentially the same Weber number and varying stagnation collection efficiency to illuminate similarities of the ice roughness created on the different airfoils. The airfoils were exposed to icing conditions in the Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) at the NASA Glenn Research Center. Following exposure to the icing event, the airfoils were then scanned using a ROMER Absolute Arm scanning system. The resulting point clouds were then analyzed using the self-organizing map approach of McClain and Kreeger (2013) to determine the spatial roughness variations along the surfaces of the iced airfoils. The roughness characteristics on each airfoil were then compared using the relative geometries of the airfoil. The results indicate that features of the ice shape and roughness such as glaze-ice plateau limits and maximum airfoil roughness were captured well by Weber number and collection efficiency scaling of glaze icing conditions. However, secondary ice roughness features relating the instability and waviness of the liquid film on the glaze-ice plateau surface are scaled based on physics that were not captured by the local collection efficiency variations.

A method to estimate wind turbine blade damage and to design damage-resilient blades

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fiore, Giovanni

Wind turbine blades are affected by continuous impacts with airborne particles that deteriorate the blade surface and yield to a drop in output power. Based on the climatic conditions and geographic locations of a given wind farm, multiple types of particles are observed in air. The present study focuses on simulating the impact of four types of particles, namely insects, sand grains, hailstones, and rain drops with the blade surface. A numerical inviscid flowfield code, coupled with a particle position predictor code was used. Upon impact, the damaging effect to the blade surface was evaluated. Each type of particle was associated with a damage mode, which depends on the mass, size, and hardness of the particle. It was found that insects strike and adhere to the blade in a region close to the leading edge. On the other hand, it was seen that sand grains promote erosion just downstream of the leading edge, where local velocity reaches a maximum and the impact angle is shallow. Moreover, particles such as rain drops are associated with fatigue and erosion at the very leading edge and on the upper side of the blade section. Finally, hailstones promote delamination and fatigue in the composite panels of the blade surface. Photographic evidence of damaged blade surfaces was used in the present research as a comparison with the simulations performed for various types of particle and different initial conditions. Based on such observations, a theorization of the damage pattern and evolution was proposed. Finally, given a set of well-established blade section geometries, such as the Delft University and NREL S airfoil families, a comparison of airfoil damage fitness was proposed and possible means of shape optimization were discussed. The investigation of blade geometry features to mitigate damage was performed. Based on previous results, it was argued that a viable blade section optimization may be performed for the lightest and smallest particles considered in the study, the sand grains. A pool of airfoils was analyzed regarding the sand erosion rate. It was shown that a bulbous leading edge coupled with airfoil aft camber is beneficial toward the erosion rate due to sand grains. An optimization algorithm was written to improve the damage resilience toward sand erosion of wind turbine airfoils. A direct and inverse approach were integrated in a genetic algorithm code, and it was confirmed that bulbous leading edges, coupled with aft cambers allowed for a reduction in blade erosion rates. Lastly, a time-stepping code was developed to predict the blade section geometry when sand erosion is present. It was found that three main phases occur during the erosive life of a blade. A parametric study allowed to find the most relevant drivers to the blade lifespan with respect to erosion. Beneficial effects come from an increase in turbine hub height, turbine rated power, increase in lift coefficient, and a reduction in average particle diameter. A parametric study was also performed by investigating different airfoil geometries. Again, it was found that bulbous leading edges coupled with aft cambered geometries allow for longer blade lifespan.

Tests of N.A.C.A. airfoils in the variable-density wind tunnel Series 24

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jacobs, Eastman N; WARD KENNETH E

1932-01-01

This note is the fifth of a series covering an investigation of a number of related airfoils. It presents the results obtained from tests of a group of six low-cambered airfoils in the variable-density wind tunnel. The mean camber lines are identical for the six airfoils and are of such a form that the maximum mean camber is 2 per cent of the chord and is at a position 0.4 of the chord behind the loading edge. The airfoils differ in thickness only, the maximum-thickness/chord ratios being 0.06, 0.09, 0.12, 0.15, 0.18, and 0.21. The results have been presented in the form of both infinite and finite aspect-ratio characteristics. The values of C(sub L) max/C(sub d) degrees min for this group of airfoils are among the highest thus far obtained, the minimum profile drags being approximately equal to those for the symmetrical series of corresponding thickness, while the maximum lift coefficients are considerably higher.

The aerodynamic characteristics of eight very thick airfoils from tests in the variable density wind tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jacobs, Eastman N

1932-01-01

Report presents the results of wind tunnel tests on a group of eight very thick airfoils having sections of the same thickness as those used near the roots of tapered airfoils. The tests were made to study certain discontinuities in the characteristic curves that have been obtained from previous tests of these airfoils, and to compare the characteristics of the different sections at values of the Reynolds number comparable with those attained in flight. The discontinuities were found to disappear as the Reynolds number was increased. The results obtained from the large-scale airfoil, a symmetrical airfoil having a thickness ratio of 21 per cent, has the best general characteristics.

Smagglce: Surface Modeling and Grid Generation for Iced Airfoils: Phase 1 Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vickerman, Mary B.; Choo, Yung K.; Braun, Donald C.; Baez, Marivell; Gnepp, Steven

1999-01-01

SmaggIce (Surface Modeling and Grid Generation for Iced Airfoils) is a software toolkit used in the process of aerodynamic performance prediction of iced airfoils with grid-based Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). It includes tools for data probing, boundary smoothing, domain decomposition, and structured grid generation and refinement. SmaggIce provides the underlying computations to perform these functions, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) to control and interact with those functions, and graphical displays of results, it is being developed at NASA Glenn Research Center. This paper discusses the overall design of SmaggIce as well as what has been implemented in Phase 1. Phase 1 results provide two types of software tools: interactive ice shape probing and interactive ice shape control. The ice shape probing tools will provide aircraft icing engineers and scientists with an interactive means to measure the physical characteristics of ice shapes. On the other hand, the ice shape control features of SmaggIce will allow engineers to examine input geometry data, correct or modify any deficiencies in the geometry, and perform controlled systematic smoothing to a level that will make the CFD process manageable.

The modelling of symmetric airfoil vortex generators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reichert, B. A.; Wendt, B. J.

1996-01-01

An experimental study is conducted to determine the dependence of vortex generator geometry and impinging flow conditions on shed vortex circulation and crossplane peak vorticity for one type of vortex generator. The vortex generator is a symmetric airfoil having a NACA 0012 cross-sectional profile. The geometry and flow parameters varied include angle-of-attack alfa, chordlength c, span h, and Mach number M. The vortex generators are mounted either in isolation or in a symmetric counter-rotating array configuration on the inside surface of a straight pipe. The turbulent boundary layer thickness to pipe radius ratio is delta/R = 0. 17. Circulation and peak vorticity data are derived from crossplane velocity measurements conducted at or about 1 chord downstream of the vortex generator trailing edge. Shed vortex circulation is observed to be proportional to M, alfa, and h/delta. With these parameters held constant, circulation is observed to fall off in monotonic fashion with increasing airfoil aspect ratio AR. Shed vortex peak vorticity is also observed to be proportional to M, alfa, and h/delta. Unlike circulation, however, peak vorticity is observed to increase with increasing aspect ratio, reaching a peak value at AR approx. 2.0 before falling off.

TRANDESNF: A computer program for transonic airfoil design and analysis in nonuniform flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chang, J. F.; Lan, C. Edward

1987-01-01

The use of a transonic airfoil code for analysis, inverse design, and direct optimization of an airfoil immersed in propfan slipstream is described. A summary of the theoretical method, program capabilities, input format, output variables, and program execution are described. Input data of sample test cases and the corresponding output are given.

Quiet airfoils for small and large wind turbines

DOEpatents

Tangler, James L [Boulder, CO; Somers, Dan L [Port Matilda, PA

2012-06-12

Thick airfoil families with desirable aerodynamic performance with minimal airfoil induced noise. The airfoil families are suitable for a variety of wind turbine designs and are particularly well-suited for use with horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) with constant or variable speed using pitch and/or stall control. In exemplary embodiments, a first family of three thick airfoils is provided for use with small wind turbines and second family of three thick airfoils is provided for use with very large machines, e.g., an airfoil defined for each of three blade radial stations or blade portions defined along the length of a blade. Each of the families is designed to provide a high maximum lift coefficient or high lift, to exhibit docile stalls, to be relatively insensitive to roughness, and to achieve a low profile drag.

SmaggIce 2D Version 1.8: Software Toolkit Developed for Aerodynamic Simulation Over Iced Airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choo, Yung K.; Vickerman, Mary B.

2005-01-01

SmaggIce 2D version 1.8 is a software toolkit developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center that consists of tools for modeling the geometry of and generating the grids for clean and iced airfoils. Plans call for the completed SmaggIce 2D version 2.0 to streamline the entire aerodynamic simulation process--the characterization and modeling of ice shapes, grid generation, and flow simulation--and to be closely coupled with the public-domain application flow solver, WIND. Grid generated using version 1.8, however, can be used by other flow solvers. SmaggIce 2D will help researchers and engineers study the effects of ice accretion on airfoil performance, which is difficult to do with existing software tools because of complex ice shapes. Using SmaggIce 2D, when fully developed, to simulate flow over an iced airfoil will help to reduce the cost of performing flight and wind-tunnel tests for certifying aircraft in natural and simulated icing conditions.

Numerical and experimental study of blowing jet on a high lift airfoil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bobonea, A.; Pricop, M. V.

2013-10-01

Active manipulation of separated flows over airfoils at moderate and high angles of attack in order to improve efficiency or performance has been the focus of a number of numerical and experimental investigations for many years. One of the main methods used in active flow control is the usage of blowing devices with constant and pulsed blowing. Through CFD simulation over a 2D high-lift airfoil, this study is trying to highlight the impact of pulsed blowing over its aerodynamic characteristics. The available wind tunnel data from INCAS low speed facility are also beneficial for the validation of the numerical analysis. This study intends to analyze the impact of the blowing jet velocity and slot geometry on the efficiency of an active flow control.

Analysis of a High-Lift Multi-Element Airfoil using a Navier-Stokes Code

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Whitlock, Mark E.

1995-01-01

A thin-layer Navier-Stokes code, CFL3D, was utilized to compute the flow over a high-lift multi-element airfoil. This study was conducted to improve the prediction of high-lift flowfields using various turbulence models and improved glidding techniques. An overset Chimera grid system is used to model the three element airfoil geometry. The effects of wind tunnel wall modeling, changes to the grid density and distribution, and embedded grids are discussed. Computed pressure and lift coefficients using Spalart-Allmaras, Baldwin-Barth, and Menter's kappa-omega - Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence models are compared with experimental data. The ability of CFL3D to predict the effects on lift coefficient due to changes in Reynolds number changes is also discussed.

Cascade aeroacoustics including steady loading effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiang, Hsiao-Wei D.; Fleeter, Sanford

A mathematical model is developed to analyze the effects of airfoil and cascade geometry, steady aerodynamic loading, and the characteristics of the unsteady flow field on the discrete frequency noise generation of a blade row in an incompressible flow. The unsteady lift which generates the noise is predicted with a complex first-order cascade convected gust analysis. This model was then applied to the Gostelow airfoil cascade and variations, demonstrating that steady loading, cascade solidity, and the gust direction are significant. Also, even at zero incidence, the classical flat plate cascade predictions are unacceptable.

Preliminary Airworthiness Evaluation of the Rutan Aircraft Factory (RAF), Inc. LONG-EZ Airplane with External Sight.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-05-01

nose mounted canard for pitch- control, and a mid-mounted, high aspect ratio, swept wing featur- ing an Eppler airfoil and tip mounted winglets. The...34 r (q 4;e n e La- (V~~ ~ cc) C) C C of 1325 lb was obtained during approaches made at 70 KIAS with a touchdown airspeed of 61 KIAS. At this condition...air brake. Principal dimensions and airfoil geometry of the CSATB configured LONG-EZ are identical to those of the unmodified aircraft and can be found

Studies on transonic Double Circular Arc (DCA) profiles of axial flow compressor calculations of profile design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rugun, Y.; Zhaoyan, Q.

1986-05-01

In this paper, the concepts and methods for design of high-Mach-number airfoils of axial flow compressor are described. The correlation-equations of main parameters such as geometries of airfoil and cascade, stream parameters and wake characteristic parameters of compressor are provided. For obtaining the total pressure loss coefficients of cascade and adopting the simplified calculating method, several curves and charts are provided by authors. The testing results and calculating values are compared, and both the results are in better agreement.

Flow Observations with Tufts and Lampblack of the Stalling of Four Typical Airfoil Sections in the NACA Variable-density Tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abbott, Ira H; Sherman, Albert

1938-01-01

A preliminary investigation of the stalling processes of four typical airfoil sections was made over the critical range of the Reynolds Number. Motion pictures were taken of the movements of small silk tufts on the airfoil surface as the angle of attack increased through a range of angles including the stall. The boundary-layer flow also at certain angles of attack was indicated by the patterns formed by a suspension of lampblack in oil brushed onto the airfoil surface. These observations were analyzed together with corresponding force-test measurements to derive a picture of the stalling processes of airfoils.

Preparing and Analyzing Iced Airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vickerman, Mary B.; Baez, Marivell; Braun, Donald C.; Cotton, Barbara J.; Choo, Yung K.; Coroneos, Rula M.; Pennline, James A.; Hackenberg, Anthony W.; Schilling, Herbert W.; Slater, John W.;

Numerical techniques for the solution of the compressible Navier-Stokes equations and implementation of turbulence models. [separated turbulent boundary layer flow problems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baldwin, B. S.; Maccormack, R. W.; Deiwert, G. S.

1975-01-01

The time-splitting explicit numerical method of MacCormack is applied to separated turbulent boundary layer flow problems. Modifications of this basic method are developed to counter difficulties associated with complicated geometry and severe numerical resolution requirements of turbulence model equations. The accuracy of solutions is investigated by comparison with exact solutions for several simple cases. Procedures are developed for modifying the basic method to improve the accuracy. Numerical solutions of high-Reynolds-number separated flows over an airfoil and shock-separated flows over a flat plate are obtained. A simple mixing length model of turbulence is used for the transonic flow past an airfoil. A nonorthogonal mesh of arbitrary configuration facilitates the description of the flow field. For the simpler geometry associated with the flat plate, a rectangular mesh is used, and solutions are obtained based on a two-equation differential model of turbulence.

Calculation of steady and unsteady transonic flow using a Cartesian mesh and gridless boundary conditions with application to aeroelasticity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirshman, David

A numerical method for the solution of inviscid compressible flow using an array of embedded Cartesian meshes in conjunction with gridless surface boundary conditions is developed. The gridless boundary treatment is implemented by means of a least squares fitting of the conserved flux variables using a cloud of nodes in the vicinity of the surface geometry. The method allows for accurate treatment of the surface boundary conditions using a grid resolution an order of magnitude coarser than required of typical Cartesian approaches. Additionally, the method does not suffer from issues associated with thin body geometry or extremely fine cut cells near the body. Unlike some methods that consider a gridless (or "meshless") treatment throughout the entire domain, multi-grid acceleration can be effectively incorporated and issues associated with global conservation are alleviated. The "gridless" surface boundary condition provides for efficient and simple problem set up since definition of the body geometry is generated independently from the field mesh, and automatically incorporated into the field discretization of the domain. The applicability of the method is first demonstrated for steady flow of single and multi-element airfoil configurations. Using this method, comparisons with traditional body-fitted grid simulations reveal that steady flow solutions can be obtained accurately with minimal effort associated with grid generation. The method is then extended to unsteady flow predictions. In this application, flow field simulations for the prescribed oscillation of an airfoil indicate excellent agreement with experimental data. Furthermore, it is shown that the phase lag associated with shock oscillation is accurately predicted without the need for a deformable mesh. Lastly, the method is applied to the prediction of transonic flutter using a two-dimensional wing model, in which comparisons with moving mesh simulations yield nearly identical results. As a result, applicability of the method to transient and vibrating fluid-structure interaction problems is established in which the requirement for a deformable mesh is eliminated.

Options for Robust Airfoil Optimization under Uncertainty

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Padula, Sharon L.; Li, Wu

2002-01-01

A robust optimization method is developed to overcome point-optimization at the sampled design points. This method combines the best features from several preliminary methods proposed by the authors and their colleagues. The robust airfoil shape optimization is a direct method for drag reduction over a given range of operating conditions and has three advantages: (1) it prevents severe degradation in the off-design performance by using a smart descent direction in each optimization iteration, (2) it uses a large number of spline control points as design variables yet the resulting airfoil shape does not need to be smoothed, and (3) it allows the user to make a tradeoff between the level of optimization and the amount of computing time consumed. For illustration purposes, the robust optimization method is used to solve a lift-constrained drag minimization problem for a two-dimensional (2-D) airfoil in Euler flow with 20 geometric design variables.

Calculated Low-Speed Steady and Time-Dependent Aerodynamic Derivatives for Some Airfoils Using a Discrete Vortex Method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Riley, Donald R.

2015-01-01

This paper contains a collection of some results of four individual studies presenting calculated numerical values for airfoil aerodynamic stability derivatives in unseparated inviscid incompressible flow due separately to angle-of-attack, pitch rate, flap deflection, and airfoil camber using a discrete vortex method. Both steady conditions and oscillatory motion were considered. Variables include the number of vortices representing the airfoil, the pitch axis / moment center chordwise location, flap chord to airfoil chord ratio, and circular or parabolic arc camber. Comparisons with some experimental and other theoretical information are included. The calculated aerodynamic numerical results obtained using a limited number of vortices provided in each study compared favorably with thin airfoil theory predictions. Of particular interest are those aerodynamic results calculated herein (such as induced drag) that are not readily available elsewhere.

A new stream function formulation for the Euler equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Atkins, H. L.; Hassan, H. A.

1983-01-01

A new stream function formulation is developed for the solution of Euler's equations in the transonic flow region. The stream function and the density are the dependent variables in this method, while the governing equations for adiabatic flow are the momentum equations which are solved in the strong conservation law form. The application of this method does not require a knowledge of the vorticity. The algorithm is combined with the automatic grid solver (GRAPE) of Steger and Sorenson (1979) in order to study arbitrary geometries. Results of the application of this method are presented for the NACA 0012 airfoil at various Mach numbers and angles of attack, and cylinders. In addition, detailed comparisons are made with other solutions of the Euler equations.

Predesign study for a modern 4-bladed rotor for RSRA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, S. J.

1981-01-01

The feasibility of providing a modern four-bladed rotor for flight research testing on a rotor system aircraft was evaluated. The capabilities of a state of the art rotor system and the contributions of key design parameters to these capabilities were investigated. Three candidate rotors were examined: the UH-60A BLACK HAWK rotor with and without root extenders and the H-3 composite blade rotor. It was concluded that the technical/cost objectives could best be accomplished using the basic BLACK HAWK rotor (i.e. without root extenders). Further, the availability of three existing sets of blade tip of varying design, together with a demonstrated capability for altering airfoil geometry should provide early research information on important design variables at reduced cost.

Semi-actuator disk theory for compressor choke flutter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Micklow, J.; Jeffers, J.

1981-01-01

A mathematical anaysis predict the unsteady aerodynamic utilizing semi actuator theory environment for a cascade of airfoils harmonically oscillating in choked flow was developed. A normal shock is located in the blade passage, its position depending on the time dependent geometry, and pressure perturbations of the system. In addition to shock dynamics, the model includes the effect of compressibility, interblade phase lag, and an unsteady flow field upstream and downstream of the cascade. Calculated unsteady aerodynamics were compared with isolated airfoil wind tunnel data, and choke flutter onset boundaries were compared with data from testing of an F100 high pressure compressor stage.

Geometries for roughness shapes in laminar flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Holmes, Bruce J. (Inventor); Martin, Glenn L. (Inventor); Domack, Christopher S. (Inventor); Obara, Clifford J. (Inventor); Hassan, Ahmed A. (Inventor)

1986-01-01

A passive interface mechanism between upper and lower skin structures, and a leading edge structure of a laminar flow airfoil is described. The interface mechanism takes many shapes. All are designed to be different than the sharp orthogonal arrangement prevalent in the prior art. The shapes of the interface structures are generally of two types: steps away from the centerline of the airfoil with a sloping surface directed toward the trailing edge and, the other design has a gap before the sloping surface. By properly shaping the step, the critical step height is increased by more than 50% over the orthogonal edged step.

A transonic-small-disturbance wing design methodology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Phillips, Pamela S.; Waggoner, Edgar G.; Campbell, Richard L.

1988-01-01

An automated transonic design code has been developed which modifies an initial airfoil or wing in order to generate a specified pressure distribution. The design method uses an iterative approach that alternates between a potential-flow analysis and a design algorithm that relates changes in surface pressure to changes in geometry. The analysis code solves an extended small-disturbance potential-flow equation and can model a fuselage, pylons, nacelles, and a winglet in addition to the wing. A two-dimensional option is available for airfoil analysis and design. Several two- and three-dimensional test cases illustrate the capabilities of the design code.

An Experimental Investigation of the Acoustic and Fluid Dynamic Characteristics of a Circulation-Controlled Airfoil

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-05-13

1, and the complex velocity for the image ellipse is given by Wafoi) UXR 2 4 iT \\ 1 27T22 )l~4’ (24) 3 Substituting zfc = 21 - 2ihc and...evolution of the How and its various length and velocity scales. Such a finding would have direct application to Howe’s model and also the design of...of less than 2% . ^= 0.0085 (C^er) 0184 (55) It should be noted that Equation 55 appears to be only applicable to the airfoil geometry of the

Characteristics of an Airfoil as Affected by Fabric Sag

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ward, Kenneth E

1932-01-01

This report presents the results of tests made at a high value of the Reynolds Number in the N.A.C.A. variable-density wind tunnel to determine the aerodynamic characteristics of an airfoil as affected by fabric sag. Tests were made of two Gottingen 387 airfoils, one having the usual smooth surface and the other having a surface modified to simulate two types of fabric sag. The results of these tests indicate that the usual sagging of the wind covering between ribs has a very small effect on the aerodynamic characteristics of an airfoil.

The Calculation of the Heat Required for Wing Thermal Ice Prevention in Specified Icing Conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bergrun, Norman R.; Jukoff, David; Schlaff, Bernard A.; Neel, Carr B., Jr.

1947-01-01

Flight tests were made in natural icing conditions with two 8-ft-chord heated airfoils of different sections. Measurements of meteorological variables conducive to ice formation were made simultaneously with the procurement of airfoil thermal data. The extent of knowledge on the meteorology of icing, the impingement of water drops on airfoil surfaces, and the processes of heat transfer and evaporation from a wetted airfoil surface have been increased to a point where the design of heated wings on a fundamental, wet-air basis now can be undertaken with reasonable certainty.

DEVELOPMENT OF A SUPERSONIC TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT ENGINE - PHASE II-A.

DTIC Science & Technology

JET TRANSPORT PLANES, *SUPERSONIC AIRCRAFT ) (U) TURBOJET ENGINES , PERFORMANCE( ENGINEERING ), TURBOFAN ENGINES , AFTERBURNING, SPECIFICATIONS...COMPRESSORS, GEOMETRY, TURBOJET INLETS, COMBUSTION, TEST EQUIPMENT, TURBINE BLADES , HEAT TRANSFER, AIRFOILS , CASCADE STRUCTURES, EVAPOTRANSPIRATION, PLUG NOZZLES, ANECHOIC CHAMBERS, BEARINGS, SEALS, DESIGN, FATIGUE(MECHANICS)

A study of the effects of Reynolds number and Mach number on constant pressure coefficient jump for shock-induced trailing-edge separation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cunningham, Atlee M., Jr.; Spragle, Gregory S.

1987-01-01

The influence of Mach and Reynolds numbers as well as airfoil and planform geometry on the phenomenon of constant shock jump pressure coefficient for conditions of shock induced trailing edge separation (SITES) was studied. It was demonstrated that the phenomenon does exist for a wide variety of two and three dimensional flow cases and that the influence of free stream Mach number was not significant. The influence of Reynolds number was found to be important but was not strong. Airfoil and planform geometric characteristics were found to be very important where the pressure coefficient jump was shown to vary with the sum of: (1) airfoil curvature at the upper surface crest, and (2) camber surface slope at the trailing edge. It was also determined that the onset of SITES could be defined as a function of airfoil geometric parameters and Mach number normal to the leading edge. This onset prediction was shown to predict the angle of onset to within + or - 1 deg accuracy or better for about 90% of the cases studied.

Influence of thickness and camber on the aeroelastic stability of supersonic throughflow fans: An engineering approach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramsey, John K.

1989-01-01

An engineering approach was used to include the nonlinear effects of thickness and camber in an analytical aeroelastic analysis of cascades in supersonic acial flow (supersonic leading-edge locus). A hybrid code using Lighthill's nonlinear piston theory and Lanes's linear potential theory was developed to include these nonlinear effects. Lighthill's theory was used to calculate the unsteady pressures on the noninterference surface regions of the airfoils in cascade. Lane's theory was used to calculate the unsteady pressures on the remaining interference surface regions. Two airfoil profiles was investigated (a supersonic throughflow fan design and a NACA 66-206 airfoil with a sharp leading edge). Results show that compared with predictions of Lane's potential theory for flat plates, the inclusion of thickness (with or without camber) may increase or decrease the aeroelastic stability, depending on the airfoil geometry and operating conditions. When thickness effects are included in the aeroelastic analysis, inclusion of camber will influence the predicted stability in proportion to the magnitude of the added camber. The critical interblade phase angle, depending on the airfoil profile and operating conditions, may also be influenced by thickness and camber. Compared with predictions of Lane's linear potential theory, the inclusion of thickness and camber decreased the aerodynamic stifness and increased the aerodynamic damping at Mach 2 and 2.95 for a cascade of supersonic throughflow fan airfoils oscillating 180 degrees out of phase at a reduced frequency of 0.1.

Shape Changing Airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ott, Eric A.

2005-01-01

Scoping of shape changing airfoil concepts including both aerodynamic analysis and materials-related technology assessment effort was performed. Three general categories of potential components were considered-fan blades, booster and compressor blades, and stator airfoils. Based on perceived contributions to improving engine efficiency, the fan blade was chosen as the primary application for a more detailed assessment. A high-level aerodynamic assessment using a GE90-90B Block 4 engine cycle and fan blade geometry indicates that blade camber changes of approximately +/-4deg would be sufficient to result in fan efficiency improvements nearing 1 percent. Constraints related to flight safety and failed mode operation suggest that use of the baseline blade shape with actuation to the optimum cruise condition during a portion of the cycle would be likely required. Application of these conditions to the QAT fan blade and engine cycle was estimated to result in an overall fan efficiency gain of 0.4 percent.

An Experimental Investigation of the Confluent Boundary Layer on a High-Lift System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomas, F. O.; Nelson, R. C.

1997-01-01

This paper describes a fundamental experimental investigation of the confluent boundary layer generated by the interaction of a leading-edge slat wake with the boundary layer on the main element of a multi-element airfoil model. The slat and airfoil model geometry are both fully two-dimensional. The research reported in this paper is performed in an attempt to investigate the flow physics of confluent boundary layers and to build an archival data base on the interaction of the slat wake and the main element wall layer. In addition, an attempt is made to clearly identify the role that slat wake / airfoil boundary layer confluence has on lift production and how this occurs. Although complete LDV flow surveys were performed for a variety of slat gap and overhang settings, in this report the focus is on two cases representing both strong and weak wake boundary layer confluence.

Aerodynamics of the flying snake Chrysopelea paradisi: how a bluff body cross-sectional shape contributes to gliding performance.

PubMed

Holden, Daniel; Socha, John J; Cardwell, Nicholas D; Vlachos, Pavlos P

2014-02-01

A prominent feature of gliding flight in snakes of the genus Chrysopelea is the unique cross-sectional shape of the body, which acts as the lifting surface in the absence of wings. When gliding, the flying snake Chrysopelea paradisi morphs its circular cross-section into a triangular shape by splaying its ribs and flattening its body in the dorsoventral axis, forming a geometry with fore-aft symmetry and a thick profile. Here, we aimed to understand the aerodynamic properties of the snake's cross-sectional shape to determine its contribution to gliding at low Reynolds numbers. We used a straight physical model in a water tunnel to isolate the effects of 2D shape, analogously to studying the profile of an airfoil of a more typical flyer. Force measurements and time-resolved (TR) digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) were used to determine lift and drag coefficients, wake dynamics and vortex-shedding characteristics of the shape across a behaviorally relevant range of Reynolds numbers and angles of attack. The snake's cross-sectional shape produced a maximum lift coefficient of 1.9 and maximum lift-to-drag ratio of 2.7, maintained increases in lift up to 35 deg, and exhibited two distinctly different vortex-shedding modes. Within the measured Reynolds number regime (Re=3000-15,000), this geometry generated significantly larger maximum lift coefficients than many other shapes including bluff bodies, thick airfoils, symmetric airfoils and circular arc airfoils. In addition, the snake's shape exhibited a gentle stall region that maintained relatively high lift production even up to the highest angle of attack tested (60 deg). Overall, the cross-sectional geometry of the flying snake demonstrated robust aerodynamic behavior by maintaining significant lift production and near-maximum lift-to-drag ratios over a wide range of parameters. These aerodynamic characteristics help to explain how the snake can glide at steep angles and over a wide range of angles of attack, but more complex models that account for 3D effects and the dynamic movements of aerial undulation are required to fully understand the gliding performance of flying snakes.

Airfoil section characteristics as affected by protuberances

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jacobs, Eastman N

1934-01-01

The drag and interference caused by protuberance from the surface of an airfoil have been determined in the NACA variable-density wind tunnel at a Reynolds number approximately 3,100,000. The effects of variations of the fore-and-aft position, height, and shape of the protuberance were measured by determining how the airfoil section characteristics were affected by the addition of the various protuberances extending along the entire span of the airfoil. The results provide fundamental data on which to base the prediction of the effects of actual short-span protuberances. The data may also be applied to the design of air brakes and spoilers.

Effect of High-Fidelity Ice Accretion Simulations on the Performance of a Full-Scale Airfoil Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Broeren, Andy P.; Bragg, Michael B.; Addy, Harold E., Jr.; Lee, Sam; Moens, Frederic; Guffond, Didier

2010-01-01

The simulation of ice accretion on a wing or other surface is often required for aerodynamic evaluation, particularly at small scale or low-Reynolds number. While there are commonly accepted practices for ice simulation, there are no established and validated guidelines. The purpose of this article is to report the results of an experimental study establishing a high-fidelity, full-scale, iced-airfoil aerodynamic performance database. This research was conducted as a part of a larger program with the goal of developing subscale aerodynamic simulation methods for iced airfoils. Airfoil performance testing was carried out at the ONERA F1 pressurized wind tunnel using a 72-in. (1828.8-mm) chord NACA 23012 airfoil over a Reynolds number range of 4.5x10(exp 6) to 16.0 10(exp 6) and a Mach number range of 0.10 to 0.28. The high-fidelity, ice-casting simulations had a significant impact on the aerodynamic performance. A spanwise-ridge ice shape resulted in a maximum lift coefficient of 0.56 compared to the clean value of 1.85 at Re = 15.9x10(exp 6) and M = 0.20. Two roughness and streamwise shapes yielded maximum lift values in the range of 1.09 to 1.28, which was a relatively small variation compared to the differences in the ice geometry. The stalling characteristics of the two roughness and one streamwise ice simulation maintained the abrupt leading-edge stall type of the clean NACA 23012 airfoil, despite the significant decrease in maximum lift. Changes in Reynolds and Mach number over the large range tested had little effect on the iced-airfoil performance.

A comparison of design variables for control theory based airfoil optimization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reuther, James; Jameson, Antony

1995-01-01

This paper describes the implementation of optimization techniques based on control theory for airfoil design. In our previous work in the area it was shown that control theory could be employed to devise effective optimization procedures for two-dimensional profiles by using either the potential flow or the Euler equations with either a conformal mapping or a general coordinate system. We have also explored three-dimensional extensions of these formulations recently. The goal of our present work is to demonstrate the versatility of the control theory approach by designing airfoils using both Hicks-Henne functions and B-spline control points as design variables. The research also demonstrates that the parameterization of the design space is an open question in aerodynamic design.

High Reynolds number tests of a Boeing BAC I airfoil in the Langley 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, W. G., Jr.; Hill, A. S.; Ray, E. J.; Rozendaal, R. A.; Butler, T. W.

1982-01-01

A wind tunnel investigation of an advanced-technology airfoil was conducted in the Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel (TCT). This investigation represents the first in a series of NASA/U.X. industry two dimensional airfoil studies to be completed in the Advanced Technology Airfoil Test program. Test temperature was varied from ambient to about 100 K at pressures ranging from about 1.2 to 6.0 atm. Mach number was varied from about 0.40 to 0.80. These variables provided a Reynolds number (based on airfoil chord) range from about .0000044 to .00005. This investigation was specifically designed to: (1) test a Boeing advanced airfoil from low to flight-equivalent Reynolds numbers; (2) provide the industry participant (Boeing) with experience in cryogenic wind-tunnel model design and testing techniques; and (3) demonstrate the suitability of the 0.3-m TCT as an airfoil test facility. All the objectives of the cooperative test were met. Data are included which demonstrate the effects of fixed transition, Mach number, and Reynolds number on the aerodynamic characteristics of the airfoil. Also included are remarks on the model design, the model structural integrity, and the overall test experience.

Design of a 3 kW wind turbine generator with thin airfoil blades

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ameku, Kazumasa; Nagai, Baku M.; Roy, Jitendro Nath

2008-09-15

Three blades of a 3 kW prototype wind turbine generator were designed with thin airfoil and a tip speed ratio of 3. The wind turbine has been controlled via two control methods: the variable pitch angle and by regulation of the field current of the generator and examined under real wind conditions. The characteristics of the thin airfoil, called ''Seven arcs thin airfoil'' named so because the airfoil is composed of seven circular arcs, are analyzed with the airfoil design and analysis program XFOIL. The thin airfoil blade is designed and calculated by blade element and momentum theory. The performancemore » characteristics of the machine such as rotational speed, generator output as well as stability for wind speed changes are described. In the case of average wind speeds of 10 m/s and a maximum of 19 m/s, the automatically controlled wind turbine ran safely through rough wind conditions and showed an average generator output of 1105 W and a power coefficient 0.14. (author)« less

The aerodynamic characteristics of airfoils at negative angles of attack

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, Raymond F

1932-01-01

A number of airfoils, including 14 commonly used airfoils and 10 NACA airfoils, were tested through the negative angle-of-attack range in the NACA variable-density wind tunnel at a Reynolds Number of approximately 3,000,000. The tests were made to supply data to serve as a basis for the structural design of airplanes in the inverted flight condition. In order to make the results immediately available for this purpose they are presented herein in preliminary form, together with results of previous tests of the airfoils at positive angles of attack. An analysis of the results made to find the variation of the ratio of the maximum negative lift coefficient to the maximum positive lift coefficient led to the following conclusions: 1) For airfoils of a given thickness, the ratio -C(sub L max) / +C(sub L max) tends to decrease as the mean camber is increased. 2) For airfoils of a given mean camber, the ratio -C(sub L max) / +C(sub L max) tends to increase as the thickness increases.

Control of unsteady separated flow associated with the dynamic stall of airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilder, M. C.

1995-01-01

An effort to understand and control the unsteady separated flow associated with the dynamic stall of airfoils was funded for three years through the NASA cooperative agreement program. As part of this effort a substantial data base was compiled detailing the effects various parameters have on the development of the dynamic stall flow field. Parameters studied include Mach number, pitch rate, and pitch history, as well as Reynolds number (through two different model chord lengths) and the condition of the boundary layer at the leading edge of the airfoil (through application of surface roughness). It was found for free stream Mach numbers as low as 0.4 that a region of supersonic flow forms on the leading edge of the suction surface of the airfoil at moderate angles of attack. The shocks which form in this supersonic region induce boundary-layer separation and advance the dynamic stall process. Under such conditions a supercritical airfoil profile is called for to produce a flow field having a weaker leading-edge pressure gradient and no leading-edge shocks. An airfoil having an adaptive-geometry, or dynamically deformable leading edge (DDLE), is under development as a unique active flow-control device. The DDLE, formed of carbon-fiber composite and fiberglass, can be flexed between a NACA 0012 profile and a supercritical profile in a controllable fashion while the airfoil is executing an angle-of-attack pitch-up maneuver. The dynamic stall data were recorded using point diffraction interferometry (PDI), a noninvasive measurement technique. A new high-speed cinematography system was developed for recording interferometric images. The system is capable of phase-locking with the pitching airfoil motion for real-time documentation of the development of the dynamic stall flow field. Computer-aided image analysis algorithms were developed for fast and accurate reduction of the images, improving interpretation of the results.

An Analytical Study of Icing Similitude for Aircraft Engine Testing. Revision

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-02-01

MODELING GEOMETRIES Component Cowl Spinner Fan Blade Fan Stator Exit Vane Probe Approximating Geometry NACA 0012 Airfoil Sphere NACA 0012...DOT/FAA/CT·86/35 AEDC·TR·86·26 An Analytical Study of Icing Similitude for Aircraft Engine Testing c. Scott Bartlett Sverdrup Technology, Inc...8217~,feCa.ORI A n AnalYtical Study )f Icin~ Similitude for Aircraft Engine Tes t tu~ 12. PERSONAL AUTHOR/S) B a r t l e t t , C. Scot t , Sverdrup

Experimental evaluation of shockless supercritical airfoils in cascade

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boldman, D. R.; Buggele, A. E.; Shaw, L. M.

1983-01-01

Surface Mach number distributions, total pressure loss coefficients, and schlieren images of the flow are presented over a range of inlet Mach numbers and air angles. Several different trailing edge geometries were tested. At design conditions a leading edge separation bubble was observed resulting in higher losses than anticipated. The minimum losses were obtained at a negative incidence condition in which the flow was accelerating over most of the supercritical region. Relatively minor differences in losses were measured with the different trailing edge geometries studied.

Experimental Investigation of Water Droplet Impingement on Airfoils, Finite Wings, and an S-duct Engine Inlet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Papadakis, Michael; Hung, Kuohsing E.; Vu, Giao T.; Yeong, Hsiung Wei; Bidwell, Colin S.; Breer, Martin D.; Bencic, Timothy J.

2002-01-01

Validation of trajectory computer codes, for icing analysis, requires experimental water droplet impingement data for a wide range of aircraft geometries as well as flow and icing conditions. This report presents improved experimental and data reduction methods for obtaining water droplet impingement data and provides a comprehensive water droplet impingement database for a range of test geometries including an MS(1)-0317 airfoil, a GLC-305 airfoil, an NACA 65(sub 2)-415 airfoil, a commercial transport tail section, a 36-inch chord natural laminar flow NLF(1)-0414 airfoil, a 48-inch NLF(1)-0414 section with a 25 percent chord simple flap, a state-of-the-art three-element high lift system, a NACA 64A008 finite span swept business jet tail, a full-scale business jet horizontal tail section, a 25 percent-scale business jet empennage, and an S-duct turboprop engine inlet. The experimental results were obtained at the NASA Glenn Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) for spray clouds with median volumetric diameter (MVD) of 11, 11.5, 21, 92, and 94 microns and for a range of angles of attack. The majority of the impingement experiments were conducted at an air speed of 175 mph corresponding to a Reynolds number of approximately 1.6 million per foot. The maximum difference of repeated tests from the average ranged from 0.24 to 12 percent for most of the experimental results presented. This represents a significant improvement in test repeatability compared to previous experimental studies. The increase in test repeatability was attributed to improvements made to the experimental and data reduction methods. Computations performed with the LEWICE-2D and LEWICE-3D computer codes for all test configurations are presented in this report. For the test cases involving median volumetric diameters of 11 and 21 microns, the correlation between the analytical and experimental impingement efficiency distributions was good. For the median volumetric diameters of 92 and 94-micron cases, however, the analysis produced higher impingement efficiencies and larger impingement limits than the experiment. It is speculated that this discrepancy is due to droplet splashing and breakup experienced by large droplets during impingement.

An experimental study of airfoil instability tonal noise with trailing edge serrations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chong, Tze Pei; Joseph, Phillip F.

2013-11-01

This paper presents an experimental study of the effect of trailing edge serrations on airfoil instability noise. Detailed aeroacoustic measurements are presented of the noise radiated by an NACA-0012 airfoil with trailing edge serrations in a low to moderate speed flow under acoustical free field conditions. The existence of a separated boundary layer near the trailing edge of the airfoil at an angle of attack of 4.2 degree has been experimentally identified by a surface mounted hot-film arrays technique. Hot-wire results have shown that the saw-tooth surface can trigger a bypass transition and prevent the boundary layer from becoming separated. Without the separated boundary layer to act as an amplifier for the incoming Tollmien-Schlichting waves, the intensity and spectral characteristic of the radiated tonal noise can be affected depending upon the serration geometry. Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV) measurements of the airfoil wakes for a straight and serrated trailing edge are also reported in this paper. These measurements show that localized normal-component velocity fluctuations that are present in a small region of the wake from the laminar airfoil become weakened once serrations are introduced. Owing to the above unique characteristics of the serrated trailing edges, we are able to further investigate the mechanisms of airfoil instability tonal noise with special emphasis on the assessment of the wake and non-wake based aeroacoustic feedback models. It has been shown that the instability tonal noise generated at an angle of attack below approximately one degree could involve several complex mechanisms. On the other hand, the non-wake based aeroacoustic feedback mechanism alone is sufficient to predict all discrete tone frequencies accurately when the airfoil is at a moderate angle of attack. Larger Δf, which is defined as (fn+1-fn). In other words, a larger margin of velocity increase is required in order to "shift" the fn and fn+1 across fs sequentially, which is the condition for a ladder jump to occur. Lower amplification factor A for the T-S waves, which can result in a radiation of lower noise levels for the broadband hump peak at fs. This phenomenon will proportionally reduce the noise level difference for fn and fn+1, thus making an identification of a ladder jump event more difficult. Finally, we believe that the tone noise generated in this experimental study is of genuine tones of an isolated airfoil. This can be supported by the fact that, when considering either a straight trailing edge or a serrated trailing edge, the overall airfoil geometry at the same angle of attack is still retained and the wind tunnel setup and locations of the laboratory equipment, which could potentially become an anchor point for the acoustic feedback loop, are exactly the same. However, the straight S0 and serrated S2" trailing edges have been shown to produce systematically different spectral characteristics, especially in the forms of tonal rungs, which can be predicted accurately by the original and slightly modified acoustic feedback Model A respectively. In summary, the trailing edge serration is a useful device for the suppression of airfoil instability self-noise. For greater control effectiveness, however, the laminar separation bubble must be situated within the serration region of the trailing edge. This connection imposes restrictions on the angle of attack and velocity over which trailing edge serrations are effective. The feedback loop structure about the wake noise source and the suction surface of the airfoil in Model B is ignored in the present case. This assumption should be reasonably valid given that, in our previous study [3], we cannot identify any significant role of the boundary layer flow at the suction surface in contributing the instability tonal noise radiation across a wide range of Reynolds numbers.

Historical background and design evolution of the transonic aircraft technology supercritical wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ayers, T. G.; Hallissy, J. B.

1981-01-01

Two dimensional wind tunnel test results obtained for supercritical airfoils indicated that substantial improvements in aircraft performance at high subsonic speeds could be achieved by shaping the airfoil to improve the supercritical flow above the upper surface. Significant increases in the drag divergence Mach number, the maximum lift coefficient for buffer onset, and the Mach number for buffet onset at a given lift coefficient were demonstrated for the supercritical airfoil, as compared with a NACA 6 series airfoil of comparable thickness. These trends were corroborated by results from three dimensional wind tunnel and flight tests. Because these indicated extensions of the buffet boundaries could provide significant improvements in the maneuverability of a fighter airplane, an exploratory wind tunnel investigation was initiated which demonstrated that significant aerodynamic improvements could be achieved from the direct substitution of a supercritical airfoil on a variable wing sweep multimission airplane model.

An evaluation of four single element airfoil analytic methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Freuler, R. J.; Gregorek, G. M.

1979-01-01

A comparison of four computer codes for the analysis of two-dimensional single element airfoil sections is presented for three classes of section geometries. Two of the computer codes utilize vortex singularities methods to obtain the potential flow solution. The other two codes solve the full inviscid potential flow equation using finite differencing techniques, allowing results to be obtained for transonic flow about an airfoil including weak shocks. Each program incorporates boundary layer routines for computing the boundary layer displacement thickness and boundary layer effects on aerodynamic coefficients. Computational results are given for a symmetrical section represented by an NACA 0012 profile, a conventional section illustrated by an NACA 65A413 profile, and a supercritical type section for general aviation applications typified by a NASA LS(1)-0413 section. The four codes are compared and contrasted in the areas of method of approach, range of applicability, agreement among each other and with experiment, individual advantages and disadvantages, computer run times and memory requirements, and operational idiosyncrasies.

PROFILE: Airfoil Geometry Manipulation and Display. User's Guide

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Collins, Leslie; Saunders, David

1997-01-01

This report provides user information for program PROFILE, an aerodynamics design utility for plotting, tabulating, and manipulating airfoil profiles. A dozen main functions are available. The theory and implementation details for two of the more complex options are also presented. These are the REFINE option, for smoothing curvature in selected regions while retaining or seeking some specified thickness ratio, and the OPTIMIZE option, which seeks a specified curvature distribution. Use of programs QPLOT and BPLOT is also described, since all of the plots provided by PROFILE (airfoil coordinates, curvature distributions, pressure distributions)) are achieved via the general-purpose QPLOT utility. BPLOT illustrates (again, via QPLOT) the shape functions used by two of PROFILE's options. These three utilities should be distributed as one package. They were designed and implemented for the Applied Aerodynamics Branch at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California. They are all written in FORTRAN 77 and run on DEC and SGI systems under OpenVMS and IRIX.

Aerodynamic Design of a Four-Stage Low-Speed Axial Compressor for Cantilevered Stator Research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wallace, James N.

This research is focused on the baseline aerodynamic design of a four-stage low-speed axial compressor with the intent to achieve similarity of cantilevered stator hub leakage flows with those in the rear stages of Siemens large gas turbine compressors. The baseline airfoil design is to act as a comparison for all future research completed in the low speed compressor and, therefore, will not include possible future research topics such as 3-D airfoil geometry or end-wall contouring. Following the design of the airfoils is the aerodynamic design of the facility including the inlet and exhaust. These components were designed to eliminate interactions of the compressor with the facility and to accommodate instrumentation. A baseline set of aerodynamic instrumentation is then suggested to characterize compressor performance. Fully 3-D steady CFD was used extensively during the design of both the facility and the compressor, as well as determining the locations and types of instrumentation.

Computational Optimization of a Natural Laminar Flow Experimental Wing Glove

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hartshom, Fletcher

2012-01-01

Computational optimization of a natural laminar flow experimental wing glove that is mounted on a business jet is presented and discussed. The process of designing a laminar flow wing glove starts with creating a two-dimensional optimized airfoil and then lofting it into a three-dimensional wing glove section. The airfoil design process does not consider the three dimensional flow effects such as cross flow due wing sweep as well as engine and body interference. Therefore, once an initial glove geometry is created from the airfoil, the three dimensional wing glove has to be optimized to ensure that the desired extent of laminar flow is maintained over the entire glove. TRANAIR, a non-linear full potential solver with a coupled boundary layer code was used as the main tool in the design and optimization process of the three-dimensional glove shape. The optimization process uses the Class-Shape-Transformation method to perturb the geometry with geometric constraints that allow for a 2-in clearance from the main wing. The three-dimensional glove shape was optimized with the objective of having a spanwise uniform pressure distribution that matches the optimized two-dimensional pressure distribution as closely as possible. Results show that with the appropriate inputs, the optimizer is able to match the two dimensional pressure distributions practically across the entire span of the wing glove. This allows for the experiment to have a much higher probability of having a large extent of natural laminar flow in flight.

High Reynolds number tests of a Douglas DLBA 032 airfoil in the Langley 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, Charles B.; Dress, David A.; Hill, Acquilla S.; Wilcox, Peter A.; Bui, Minh H.

1986-01-01

A wind-tunnel investigation of a Douglas advanced-technology airfoil was conducted in the Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel (0.3-m TCT). The temperature was varied from 227 K (409 R) to 100 K (180 R) at pressures ranging from about 159 kPa (1.57 atm) to about 514 kPa (5.07 atm). Mach number was varied from 0.50 to 0.78. These variables provided a Reynolds number range (based on airfoil chord) from 6.0 to 30.0 x 10 to the 6th power. This investigation was specifically designed to: (1) test a Douglas airfoil from moderately low to flight-equivalent Reynolds numbers, and (2) evaluate sidewall-boundary-layer effects on transonic airfoil performance characteristics by a systematic variation of Mach number, Reynolds number, and sidewall-boundary-layer removal. Data are included which demonstrate the effects of fixing transition, Mach number, Reynolds number, and sidewall-boundary-layer removal on the aerodynamic characteristics of the airfoil. Also included are remarks on model design and model structural integrity.

Three-dimensional unsteady Euler equations solutions on dynamic grids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Belk, D. M.; Janus, J. M.; Whitfield, D. L.

1985-01-01

A method is presented for solving the three-dimensional unsteady Euler equations on dynamic grids based on flux vector splitting. The equations are cast in curvilinear coordinates and a finite volume discretization is used for handling arbitrary geometries. The discretized equations are solved using an explicit upwind second-order predictor corrector scheme that is stable for a CFL of 2. Characteristic variable boundary conditions are developed and used for unsteady impermeable surfaces and for the far-field boundary. Dynamic-grid results are presented for an oscillating air-foil and for a store separating from a reflection plate. For the cases considered of stores separating from a reflection plate, the unsteady aerodynamic forces on the store are significantly different from forces obtained by steady-state aerodynamics with the body inclination angle changed to account for plunge velocity.

The semi-discrete Galerkin finite element modelling of compressible viscous flow past an airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meade, Andrew J., Jr.

1992-01-01

A method is developed to solve the two-dimensional, steady, compressible, turbulent boundary-layer equations and is coupled to an existing Euler solver for attached transonic airfoil analysis problems. The boundary-layer formulation utilizes the semi-discrete Galerkin (SDG) method to model the spatial variable normal to the surface with linear finite elements and the time-like variable with finite differences. A Dorodnitsyn transformed system of equations is used to bound the infinite spatial domain thereby permitting the use of a uniform finite element grid which provides high resolution near the wall and automatically follows boundary-layer growth. The second-order accurate Crank-Nicholson scheme is applied along with a linearization method to take advantage of the parabolic nature of the boundary-layer equations and generate a non-iterative marching routine. The SDG code can be applied to any smoothly-connected airfoil shape without modification and can be coupled to any inviscid flow solver. In this analysis, a direct viscous-inviscid interaction is accomplished between the Euler and boundary-layer codes, through the application of a transpiration velocity boundary condition. Results are presented for compressible turbulent flow past NACA 0012 and RAE 2822 airfoils at various freestream Mach numbers, Reynolds numbers, and angles of attack. All results show good agreement with experiment, and the coupled code proved to be a computationally-efficient and accurate airfoil analysis tool.

Analysis of the cycle-to-cycle pressure distribution variations in dynamic stall

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harms, Tanner; Nikoueeyan, Pourya; Naughton, Jonathan

2017-11-01

Dynamic stall is an unsteady flow phenomenon observed on blades and wings that, despite decades of focused study, remains a challenging problem for rotorcraft and wind turbine applications. Traditionally, dynamic stall has been studied on pitch-oscillating airfoils by measuring the unsteady pressure distribution that is phase-averaged, by which the typical flow pattern may be observed and quantified. In cases where light to deep dynamic stall are observed, pressure distributions with high levels of variance are present in regions of separation. It was recently observed that, under certain conditions, this scatter may be the result of a two-state flow solution - as if there were a bifurcation in the unsteady pressure distribution behavior on the suction side of the airfoil. This is significant since phase-averaged dynamic stall data are often used to tune dynamic stall models and for validation of simulations of dynamic stall. In order to better understand this phenomenon, statistical analysis of the pressure data using probability density functions (PDFs) and other statistical approaches has been carried out for the SC 1094R8, DU97-W-300, and NACA 0015 airfoil geometries. This work uses airfoil data acquired under Army contract W911W60160C-0021, DOE Grant DE-SC0001261, and a gift from BP Alternative Energy North America, Inc.

ICEG2D (v2.0) - An Integrated Software Package for Automated Prediction of Flow Fields for Single-Element Airfoils With Ice Accretion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thompson David S.; Soni, Bharat K.

2001-01-01

An integrated geometry/grid/simulation software package, ICEG2D, is being developed to automate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations for single- and multi-element airfoils with ice accretions. The current version, ICEG213 (v2.0), was designed to automatically perform four primary functions: (1) generate a grid-ready surface definition based on the geometrical characteristics of the iced airfoil surface, (2) generate high-quality structured and generalized grids starting from a defined surface definition, (3) generate the input and restart files needed to run the structured grid CFD solver NPARC or the generalized grid CFD solver HYBFL2D, and (4) using the flow solutions, generate solution-adaptive grids. ICEG2D (v2.0) can be operated in either a batch mode using a script file or in an interactive mode by entering directives from a command line within a Unix shell. This report summarizes activities completed in the first two years of a three-year research and development program to address automation issues related to CFD simulations for airfoils with ice accretions. As well as describing the technology employed in the software, this document serves as a users manual providing installation and operating instructions. An evaluation of the software is also presented.

Theoretical Prediction of Pressure Distributions on Nonlifting Airfoils at High Subsonic Speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spreiter, John R; Alksne, Alberta

1955-01-01

Theoretical pressure distributions on nonlifting circular-arc airfoils in two-dimensional flows with high subsonic free-stream velocity are found by determining approximate solutions, through an iteration process, of an integral equation for transonic flow proposed by Oswatitsch. The integral equation stems directly from the small-disturbance theory for transonic flow. This method of analysis possesses the advantage of remaining in the physical, rather than the hodograph, variable and can be applied in airfoils having curved surfaces. After discussion of the derivation of the integral equation and qualitative aspects of the solution, results of calculations carried out for circular-arc airfoils in flows with free-stream Mach numbers up to unity are described. These results indicate most of the principal phenomena observed in experimental studies.

High Reynolds number tests of a NASA SC(3)-0712(B) airfoil in the Langley 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, W. G., Jr.; Hill, A. S.; Eichmann, O.

1985-01-01

A wind tunnel investigation of a NASA 12-percent-thick, advanced-technology supercritical airfoil was conducted in the Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel (TCT). This investigation represents another in the series of NASA/U.S. industry two-dimensional airfoil studies to be completed in the Advanced Technology Airfoil Tests program. Test temperature was varied from 220 K to 96 K at pressures ranging from 1.2 to 4.3 atm. Mach number was varied from 0.60 to 0.80. These variables provided a Reynolds number range from 4,400,000 to 40,000,000 based on a 15.24-cm (6.0-in.) airfoil chord. This investigation was designed to test a NASA advanced-technology airfoil from low to flight-equivalent Reynolds numbers, provide experience in cryogenic wind tunnel model design and testing techniques, and demonstrate the suitability of the 0.3-m TCT as an airfoil test facility. The aerodynamic results are presented as integrated force and moment coefficients and pressure distributions. Data are included which demonstrate the effects of fixed transition, Mach number, and Reynolds number on the aerodynamic characteristics. Also included are remarks on the model design, the model structural integrity, and the overall test experience.

A Wind-Tunnel Investigation of the Application of the NASA Supercritical Airfoil to a Variable-Wing-Sweep Fighter Airplane

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ayers, T. G.

1973-01-01

An investigation was conducted in the Langley 8 foot transonic pressure tunnel and the Langley Unitary Plan wind tunnel to evaluate the effectiveness of three variations of the NASA supercritical airfoil as applied to a model of a variable wing sweep fighter airplane. Wing panels incorporating conventional NACA 64A series airfoil with 0.20 and 0.40 camber were used as bases of reference for this evaluation. Static force and moment measurements were obtained for wing leading edge sweep angles of 26, 33, 39, and 72.5 degrees. Fluctuating wing root bending moment data were obtained at subsonic speeds to determine buffet characteristics. Subsonic data were also obtained for determining the effects of wing transition location and spoiler deflection. Limited lateral directional data are included for the conventional 0.20 cambered wing and the supercritical wing.

System and method for manufacture of airfoil components

DOEpatents

Moors, Thomas Michael

2016-11-29

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to systems and methods for manufacturing an airfoil component. The system can include: a geometrical mold; an elongated flexible sleeve having a closed-off interior and positioned within the geometrical mold, wherein the elongated flexible sleeve is further positioned to have a desired geometry; an infusing channel in fluid communication with the closed-off interior of the elongated flexible sleeve and configured to communicate a resinous material thereto; a vacuum channel in fluid communication with the closed-off interior of the elongated flexible sleeve and configured to vacuum seal the closed-off interior of the elongated flexible sleeve; and a glass fiber layer positioned within the closed-off interior of the elongated flexible sleeve.

Improvements in surface singularity analysis and design methods. [applicable to airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bristow, D. R.

1979-01-01

The coupling of the combined source vortex distribution of Green's potential flow function with contemporary numerical techniques is shown to provide accurate, efficient, and stable solutions to subsonic inviscid analysis and design problems for multi-element airfoils. The analysis problem is solved by direct calculation of the surface singularity distribution required to satisfy the flow tangency boundary condition. The design or inverse problem is solved by an iteration process. In this process, the geometry and the associated pressure distribution are iterated until the pressure distribution most nearly corresponding to the prescribed design distribution is obtained. Typically, five iteration cycles are required for convergence. A description of the analysis and design method is presented, along with supporting examples.

Supersonic unstalled flutter. [aerodynamic loading of thin airfoils induced by cascade motion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adamczyk, J. J.; Goldstein, M. E.; Hartmann, M. J.

1978-01-01

Flutter analyses were developed to predict the onset of supersonic unstalled flutter of a cascade of two-dimensional airfoils. The first of these analyzes the onset of supersonic flutter at low levels of aerodynamic loading (i.e., backpressure), while the second examines the occurrence of supersonic flutter at moderate levels of aerodynamic loading. Both of these analyses are based on the linearized unsteady inviscid equations of gas dynamics to model the flow field surrounding the cascade. These analyses are utilized in a parametric study to show the effects of cascade geometry, inlet Mach number, and backpressure on the onset of single and multi degree of freedom unstalled supersonic flutter. Several of the results are correlated against experimental qualitative observation to validate the models.

Leading edge embedded fan airfoil concept -- A new powered high lift technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Phan, Nhan Huu

A new powered-lift airfoil concept called Leading Edge Embedded Fan (LEEF) is proposed for Extremely Short Take-Off and Landing (ESTOL) and Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) applications. The LEEF airfoil concept is a powered-lift airfoil concept capable of generating thrust and very high lift-coefficient at extreme angles-of attack (AoA). It is designed to activate only at the take-off and landing phases, similar to conventional flaps or slats, allowing the aircraft to operate efficiently at cruise in its conventional configuration. The LEEF concept consists of placing a crossflow fan (CFF) along the leading-edge (LE) of the wing, and the housing is designed to alter the airfoil shape between take-off/landing and cruise configurations with ease. The unique rectangular cross section of the crossflow fan allows for its ease of integration into a conventional subsonic wing. This technology is developed for ESTOL aircraft applications and is most effectively applied to General Aviation (GA) aircraft. Another potential area of application for LEEF is tiltrotor aircraft. Unlike existing powered high-lift systems, the LEEF airfoil uses a local high-pressure air source from cross-flow fans, does not require ducting, and is able to be deployed using distributed electric power systems throughout the wing. In addition to distributed lift augmentation, the LEEF system can provide additional thrust during takeoff and landing operation to supplement the primary cruise propulsion system. Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations of a conventional airfoil/wing using the NACA 63-3-418 section, commonly used in GA, and a LEEF airfoil/wing embedded into the same airfoil section were carried out to evaluate the advantages of and the costs associated with implementing the LEEF concept. Computational results show that significant lift and augmented thrust are available during LEEF operation while requiring only moderate fan power input. The CFD results show that airfoil circulation control is achieved by the varying the CFF intake flow rate and the momentum of the CFF exhaust jet (e.g. through airfoil AoA or fan rotational speed). The presence of the CFF has the effect of moving the stagnation point on the airfoil pressure surface from the CFF airfoil LE region near the CFF to as far back as the airfoil trailing edge. At high AoA operation, LE flow separation on the airfoil suction surface is delayed by flow entrainment of the high-energy jet leaving the CFF. Detailed analysis of the flow field through the crossflow fan and its housing were carried out to understand its fluid-dynamics behavior, and it is found that the airfoil geometry acts as inlet guide vanes to the crossflow fan as the angle-of-attack is varied, thus introducing pre-swirl or co-swirl into the first stage of the crossflow fan. An experimental study of the LEEF concept confirmed that the concept works and it is robust. Finally, as application examples, the LEEF technology is applied to a Remote Control model and to a generic tiltrotor aircraft similar in characteristics to DARPA's Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System. These aircraft configurations were analyzed using 2D and 3D CFD.

Airfoil sampling of a pulsed Laval beam with tunable vacuum ultraviolet synchrotron ionization quadrupole mass spectrometry: application to low-temperature kinetics and product detection.

PubMed

Soorkia, Satchin; Liu, Chen-Lin; Savee, John D; Ferrell, Sarah J; Leone, Stephen R; Wilson, Kevin R

2011-12-01

A new pulsed Laval nozzle apparatus with vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron photoionization quadrupole mass spectrometry is constructed to study low-temperature radical-neutral chemical reactions of importance for modeling the atmosphere of Titan and the outer planets. A design for the sampling geometry of a pulsed Laval nozzle expansion has been developed that operates successfully for the determination of rate coefficients by time-resolved mass spectrometry. The new concept employs airfoil sampling of the collimated expansion with excellent sampling throughput. Time-resolved profiles of the high Mach number gas flow obtained by photoionization signals show that perturbation of the collimated expansion by the airfoil is negligible. The reaction of C(2)H with C(2)H(2) is studied at 70 K as a proof-of-principle result for both low-temperature rate coefficient measurements and product identification based on the photoionization spectrum of the reaction product versus VUV photon energy. This approach can be used to provide new insights into reaction mechanisms occurring at kinetic rates close to the collision-determined limit.

ICEG2D: An Integrated Software Package for Automated Prediction of Flow Fields for Single-Element Airfoils with Ice Accretion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thompson, David S.; Soni, Bharat K.

2000-01-01

An integrated software package, ICEG2D, was developed to automate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations for single-element airfoils with ice accretion. ICEG2D is designed to automatically perform three primary functions: (1) generating a grid-ready, surface definition based on the geometrical characteristics of the iced airfoil surface, (2) generating a high-quality grid using the generated surface point distribution, and (3) generating the input and restart files needed to run the general purpose CFD solver NPARC. ICEG2D can be executed in batch mode using a script file or in an interactive mode by entering directives from a command line. This report summarizes activities completed in the first year of a three-year research and development program to address issues related to CFD simulations for aircraft components with ice accretion. Specifically, this document describes the technology employed in the software, the installation procedure, and a description of the operation of the software package. Validation of the geometry and grid generation modules of ICEG2D is also discussed.

Fast Euler solver for transonic airfoils. I - Theory. II - Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dadone, Andrea; Moretti, Gino

1988-01-01

Equations written in terms of generalized Riemann variables are presently integrated by inverting six bidiagonal matrices and two tridiagonal matrices, using an implicit Euler solver that is based on the lambda-formulation. The solution is found on a C-grid whose boundaries are very close to the airfoil. The fast solver is then applied to the computation of several flowfields on a NACA 0012 airfoil at various Mach number and alpha values, yielding results that are primarily concerned with transonic flows. The effects of grid fineness and boundary distances are analyzed; the code is found to be robust and accurate, as well as fast.

Ordered roughness effects on NACA 0026 airfoil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harun, Z.; Abbas, A. A.; Dheyaa, R. Mohammed; Ghazali, M. I.

2016-10-01

The effects of highly-ordered rough surface - riblets, applied onto the surface of a NACA 0026 airfoil, are investigated experimentally using wind tunnel. The riblets are arranged in directionally converging - diverging pattern with dimensions of height, h = 1 mm, pitch or spacing, s = 1 mm, yaw angle α = 0o and 10o The airfoil with external geometry of 500 mm span, 600 mm chord and 156 mm thickness has been built using mostly woods and aluminium. Turbulence quantities are collected using hotwire anemometry. Hotwire measurements show that flows past converging and diverging pattern inherit similar patterns in the near-wall region for both mean velocity and turbulence intensities profiles. The mean velocity profiles in logarithmic regions for both flows past converging and diverging riblet pattern are lower than that with yaw angle α = 0o. Converging riblets cause the boundary layer to thicken and the flow with yaw angle α = 0o produces the thinnest boundary layer. Both the converging and diverging riblets cause pronounced outer peaks in the turbulence intensities profiles. Most importantly, flows past converging and diverging pattern experience 30% skin friction reductions. Higher order statistics show that riblet surfaces produce similar effects due to adverse pressure gradient. It is concluded that a small strip of different ordered roughness features applied at a leading edge of an airfoil can change the turbulence characteristics dramatically.

Euler flow predictions for an oscillating cascade using a high resolution wave-split scheme

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huff, Dennis L.; Swafford, Timothy W.; Reddy, T. S. R.

1991-01-01

A compressible flow code that can predict the nonlinear unsteady aerodynamics associated with transonic flows over oscillating cascades is developed and validated. The code solves the two dimensional, unsteady Euler equations using a time-marching, flux-difference splitting scheme. The unsteady pressures and forces can be determined for arbitrary input motions, although only harmonic pitching and plunging motions are addressed. The code solves the flow equations on a H-grid which is allowed to deform with the airfoil motion. Predictions are presented for both flat plate cascades and loaded airfoil cascades. Results are compared to flat plate theory and experimental data. Predictions are also presented for several oscillating cascades with strong normal shocks where the pitching amplitudes, cascade geometry and interblade phase angles are varied to investigate nonlinear behavior.

Adaptive unstructured triangular mesh generation and flow solvers for the Navier-Stokes equations at high Reynolds number

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ashford, Gregory A.; Powell, Kenneth G.

1995-01-01

A method for generating high quality unstructured triangular grids for high Reynolds number Navier-Stokes calculations about complex geometries is described. Careful attention is paid in the mesh generation process to resolving efficiently the disparate length scales which arise in these flows. First the surface mesh is constructed in a way which ensures that the geometry is faithfully represented. The volume mesh generation then proceeds in two phases thus allowing the viscous and inviscid regions of the flow to be meshed optimally. A solution-adaptive remeshing procedure which allows the mesh to adapt itself to flow features is also described. The procedure for tracking wakes and refinement criteria appropriate for shock detection are described. Although at present it has only been implemented in two dimensions, the grid generation process has been designed with the extension to three dimensions in mind. An implicit, higher-order, upwind method is also presented for computing compressible turbulent flows on these meshes. Two recently developed one-equation turbulence models have been implemented to simulate the effects of the fluid turbulence. Results for flow about a RAE 2822 airfoil and a Douglas three-element airfoil are presented which clearly show the improved resolution obtainable.

Mass production of monodisperse microbubbles for real applications avoiding microfluidics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanchez Quintero, Enrique Jesus; Evangelio, Alvaro; Gordillo, Jose Manuel

2017-11-01

In this presentation we report experiments showing the effect on the controlled generation of microbubbles of the pressure gradient imposed by the relative flow of a liquid stream around an airfoil-shaped solid. Taking advantage of the conclusions in, where the local pressure gradient was identified as the mechanism responsible of the generation of microbubbles in microfluidic devices and, with the purpose of overcoming the low production rates associated with these kind of microdevices, we have used the same physical principle but have applied it to a totally different geometry: a rectangular planar wing composed by symmetrical airfoils. The relative velocity field is imposed either submerging the static wing within a flowing hydraulic channel or by rotating the wings within a reservoir containing the otherwise quiescent liquid mass. We provide physical insight on the bubbling process and deduce a scaling law which expresses the diameters of the bubbles formed as a function of the gas flow rate, relative liquid velocity and the angle of attack of the incident flow. In spite of the geometry is totally different, we recover the same results obtained using microfluidic devices but with much higher production rates.

Evaluation of the Intel Xeon Phi 7120 and NVIDIA K80 as accelerators for two-dimensional panel codes

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

To optimize the geometry of airfoils for a specific application is an important engineering problem. In this context genetic algorithms have enjoyed some success as they are able to explore the search space without getting stuck in local optima. However, these algorithms require the computation of aerodynamic properties for a significant number of airfoil geometries. Consequently, for low-speed aerodynamics, panel methods are most often used as the inner solver. In this paper we evaluate the performance of such an optimization algorithm on modern accelerators (more specifically, the Intel Xeon Phi 7120 and the NVIDIA K80). For that purpose, we have implemented an optimized version of the algorithm on the CPU and Xeon Phi (based on OpenMP, vectorization, and the Intel MKL library) and on the GPU (based on CUDA and the MAGMA library). We present timing results for all codes and discuss the similarities and differences between the three implementations. Overall, we observe a speedup of approximately 2.5 for adding an Intel Xeon Phi 7120 to a dual socket workstation and a speedup between 3.4 and 3.8 for adding a NVIDIA K80 to a dual socket workstation. PMID:28582389

Evaluation of the Intel Xeon Phi 7120 and NVIDIA K80 as accelerators for two-dimensional panel codes.

PubMed

Einkemmer, Lukas

2017-01-01

To optimize the geometry of airfoils for a specific application is an important engineering problem. In this context genetic algorithms have enjoyed some success as they are able to explore the search space without getting stuck in local optima. However, these algorithms require the computation of aerodynamic properties for a significant number of airfoil geometries. Consequently, for low-speed aerodynamics, panel methods are most often used as the inner solver. In this paper we evaluate the performance of such an optimization algorithm on modern accelerators (more specifically, the Intel Xeon Phi 7120 and the NVIDIA K80). For that purpose, we have implemented an optimized version of the algorithm on the CPU and Xeon Phi (based on OpenMP, vectorization, and the Intel MKL library) and on the GPU (based on CUDA and the MAGMA library). We present timing results for all codes and discuss the similarities and differences between the three implementations. Overall, we observe a speedup of approximately 2.5 for adding an Intel Xeon Phi 7120 to a dual socket workstation and a speedup between 3.4 and 3.8 for adding a NVIDIA K80 to a dual socket workstation.

A Hybrid Vortex Sheet / Point Vortex Model for Unsteady Separated Flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Darakananda, Darwin; Eldredge, Jeff D.; Colonius, Tim; Williams, David R.

2015-11-01

The control of separated flow over an airfoil is essential for obtaining lift enhancement, drag reduction, and the overall ability to perform high agility maneuvers. In order to develop reliable flight control systems capable of realizing agile maneuvers, we need a low-order aerodynamics model that can accurately predict the force response of an airfoil to arbitrary disturbances and/or actuation. In the present work, we integrate vortex sheets and variable strength point vortices into a method that is able to capture the formation of coherent vortex structures while remaining computationally tractable for control purposes. The role of the vortex sheet is limited to tracking the dynamics of the shear layer immediately behind the airfoil. When parts of the sheet develop into large scale structures, those sections are replaced by variable strength point vortices. We prevent the vortex sheets from growing indefinitely by truncating the tips of the sheets and transfering their circulation into nearby point vortices whenever the length of sheet exceeds a threshold. We demonstrate the model on a variety of canonical problems, including pitch-up and impulse translation of an airfoil at various angles of attack. Support by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-14-1-0328) with program manager Dr. Douglas Smith is gratefully acknowledged.

Single Airfoil Gust Response Problem: Category 3, Problem 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scott, James R.

2004-01-01

An unsteady aerodynamic code, called GUST3D (ref. 3), has been developed to solve equation (8) for flows with periodic vortical disturbances. The code uses a frequency-domain approach with second-order central differences and a pressure radiation condition in the far field. GUST3D requires as input certain mean flow quantities which are calculated separately by a potential flow solver. The solver calculates the mean ow using a Gothert's Rule approximation (ref. 3). On the airfoil surface, it uses the solution calculated by the potential code FLO36 (ref. 4). Figures 1-2 show the mean pressure along the airfoil surface for the two airfoil geometries. In Figures 3 - 8, we present the RMS pressure on the airfoil surface. Each figure shows three GUST3D solutions (calculated on grids with different far-field boundary locations). Three solutions are shown to provide some indication of the numerical uncertainty in the results. Figures 9 - 13 present the acoustic intensity. We again show three solutions per case. Note that no results are presented for the k1 = k2 = 2.0 loaded airfoil case, as an acceptable solution could not be obtained. A few comments need to be made about the results shown. First, since the last Workshop, the GUST3D code has been substantially upgraded. This includes implementing a more accurate far-field boundary condition (ref. 5) and developing improved gridding capabilities. This is the reason for any differences that may exist between the present results and results from the last Workshop. Second, the intensity results on the circle R = 4C were obtained using a Kirchoff method (ref. 6). The Kirchoff surface was the circle R = 2C. Finally, the GUST3D code is most accurate for low reduced frequencies. A new domain decomposition approach (ref. 7) has been developed to improve accuracy. Both the single domain and domain decomposition approaches were used in generating the present results.

Dynamic Stall Measurements and Computations for a VR-12 Airfoil with a Variable Droop Leading Edge

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Martin, P. B.; McAlister, K. W.; Chandrasekhara, M. S.; Geissler, W.

2003-01-01

High density-altitude operations of helicopters with advanced performance and maneuver capabilities have lead to fundamental research on active high-lift system concepts for rotor blades. The requirement for this type of system was to improve the sectional lift-to-drag ratio by alleviating dynamic stall on the retreating blade while simultaneously reducing the transonic drag rise of the advancing blade. Both measured and computational results showed that a Variable Droop Leading Edge (VDLE) airfoil is a viable concept for application to a rotor high-lift system. Results are presented for a series of 2D compressible dynamic stall wind tunnel tests with supporting CFD results for selected test cases. These measurements and computations show a dramatic decrease in the drag and pitching moment associated with severe dynamic stall when the VDLE concept is applied to the Boeing VR-12 airfoil. Test results also show an elimination of the negative pitch damping observed in the baseline moment hysteresis curves.

Application of unsteady airfoil theory to rotary wings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kaza, K. R. V.; Kvaternik, R. G.

1981-01-01

A clarification is presented on recent work concerning the application of unsteady airfoil theory to rotary wings. The application of this theory may be seen as consisting of four steps: (1) the selection of an appropriate unsteady airfoil theory; (2) the resolution of that velocity which is the resultant of aerodynamic and dynamic velocities at a point on the elastic axis into radial, tangential and perpendicular components, and the angular velocity of a blade section about the deformed axis; (3) the expression of lift and pitching moments in terms of the three components; and (4) the derivation of explicit expressions for the components in terms of flight velocity, induced flow, rotor rotational speed, blade motion variables, etc.

Computing Aerodynamic Performance of a 2D Iced Airfoil: Blocking Topology and Grid Generation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chi, X.; Zhu, B.; Shih, T. I.-P.; Slater, J. W.; Addy, H. E.; Choo, Yung K.; Lee, Chi-Ming (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

The ice accrued on airfoils can have enormously complicated shapes with multiple protruded horns and feathers. In this paper, several blocking topologies are proposed and evaluated on their ability to produce high-quality structured multi-block grid systems. A transition layer grid is introduced to ensure that jaggedness on the ice-surface geometry do not to propagate into the domain. This is important for grid-generation methods based on hyperbolic PDEs (Partial Differential Equations) and algebraic transfinite interpolation. A 'thick' wrap-around grid is introduced to ensure that grid lines clustered next to solid walls do not propagate as streaks of tightly packed grid lines into the interior of the domain along block boundaries. For ice shapes that are not too complicated, a method is presented for generating high-quality single-block grids. To demonstrate the usefulness of the methods developed, grids and CFD solutions were generated for two iced airfoils: the NLF0414 airfoil with and without the 623-ice shape and the B575/767 airfoil with and without the 145m-ice shape. To validate the computations, the computed lift coefficients as a function of angle of attack were compared with available experimental data. The ice shapes and the blocking topologies were prepared by NASA Glenn's SmaggIce software. The grid systems were generated by using a four-boundary method based on Hermite interpolation with controls on clustering, orthogonality next to walls, and C continuity across block boundaries. The flow was modeled by the ensemble-averaged compressible Navier-Stokes equations, closed by the shear-stress transport turbulence model in which the integration is to the wall. All solutions were generated by using the NPARC WIND code.

WT - WIND TUNNEL PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Viterna, L. A.

1994-01-01

WT was developed to calculate fan rotor power requirements and output thrust for a closed loop wind tunnel. The program uses blade element theory to calculate aerodynamic forces along the blade using airfoil lift and drag characteristics at an appropriate blade aspect ratio. A tip loss model is also used which reduces the lift coefficient to zero for the outer three percent of the blade radius. The application of momentum theory is not used to determine the axial velocity at the rotor plane. Unlike a propeller, the wind tunnel rotor is prevented from producing an increase in velocity in the slipstream. Instead, velocities at the rotor plane are used as input. Other input for WT includes rotational speed, rotor geometry, and airfoil characteristics. Inputs for rotor blade geometry include blade radius, hub radius, number of blades, and pitch angle. Airfoil aerodynamic inputs include angle at zero lift coefficient, positive stall angle, drag coefficient at zero lift coefficient, and drag coefficient at stall. WT is written in APL2 using IBM's APL2 interpreter for IBM PC series and compatible computers running MS-DOS. WT requires a CGA or better color monitor for display. It also requires 640K of RAM and MS-DOS v3.1 or later for execution. Both an MS-DOS executable and the source code are provided on the distribution medium. The standard distribution medium for WT is a 5.25 inch 360K MS-DOS format diskette in PKZIP format. The utility to unarchive the files, PKUNZIP, is also included. WT was developed in 1991. APL2 and IBM PC are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. MS-DOS is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. PKUNZIP is a registered trademark of PKWare, Inc.

A Computational Study for the Utilization of Jet Pulsations in Gas Turbine Film Cooling and Flow Control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kartuzova, Olga V.

2012-01-01

This report is the second part of a three-part final report of research performed under an NRA cooperative Agreement contract. The first part is NASA/CR-2012-217415. The third part is NASA/CR-2012-217417. Jets have been utilized in various turbomachinery applications in order to improve gas turbines performance. Jet pulsation is a promising technique because of the reduction in the amount of air removed from compressor. In this work two areas of pulsed jets applications were computationally investigated using the commercial code Fluent (ANSYS, Inc.); the first one is film cooling of High Pressure Turbine (HPT) blades and second one is flow separation control over Low Pressure Turbine (LPT) airfoil using Vortex Generator Jets (VGJ). Using pulsed jets for film cooling purposes can help to improve the effectiveness and thus allow higher turbine inlet temperature. Effects of the film hole geometry, blowing ratio and density ratio of the jet, pulsation frequency and duty cycle of blowing on the film cooling effectiveness were investigated. As for the low-pressure turbine (LPT) stages, the boundary layer separation on the suction side of airfoils can occur due to strong adverse pressure gradients. The problem is exacerbated as airfoil loading is increased. Active flow control could provide a means for minimizing separation under conditions where it is most severe (low Reynolds number), without causing additional losses under other conditions (high Reynolds number). The effects of the jet geometry, blowing ratio, density ratio, pulsation frequency and duty cycle on the size of the separated region were examined in this work. The results from Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes and Large Eddy Simulation computational approaches were compared with the experimental data.

Wake Geometry Measurements and Analytical Calculations on a Small-Scale Rotor Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ghee, Terence A.; Berry, John D.; Zori, Laith A. J.; Elliott, Joe W.

1996-01-01

An experimental investigation was conducted in the Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel to quantify the rotor wake behind a scale model helicopter rotor in forward level flight at one thrust level. The rotor system in this test consisted of a four-bladed fully articulated hub with blades of rectangular planform and an NACA 0012 airfoil section. A laser light sheet, seeded with propylene glycol smoke, was used to visualize the vortex geometry in the flow in planes parallel and perpendicular to the free-stream flow. Quantitative measurements of wake geometric proper- ties, such as vortex location, vertical skew angle, and vortex particle void radius, were obtained as well as convective velocities for blade tip vortices. Comparisons were made between experimental data and four computational method predictions of experimental tip vortex locations, vortex vertical skew angles, and wake geometries. The results of these comparisons highlight difficulties of accurate wake geometry predictions.

Generalized Helicopter Rotor Performance Predictions

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-09-01

34- V : ~ ~ t V ~ ’ . - - - - - - -- behavior . In order to use this routine, the user must input a negative number for the variable XITLIM, item 73...the values provided in Section E. It is realized that available data on airfoil behavior at large angles of attack are very limited, but so is the...where dynamic pressure is low, little precision is lost in performance calculation by using one common representation for most airfoil behavior . As a

Optimization of Wind Turbine Airfoils/Blades and Wind Farm Layouts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xiaomin

Shape optimization is widely used in the design of wind turbine blades. In this dissertation, a numerical optimization method called Genetic Algorithm (GA) is applied to address the shape optimization of wind turbine airfoils and blades. In recent years, the airfoil sections with blunt trailing edge (called flatback airfoils) have been proposed for the inboard regions of large wind-turbine blades because they provide several structural and aerodynamic performance advantages. The FX, DU and NACA 64 series airfoils are thick airfoils widely used for wind turbine blade application. They have several advantages in meeting the intrinsic requirements for wind turbines in terms of design point, off-design capabilities and structural properties. This research employ both single- and multi-objective genetic algorithms (SOGA and MOGA) for shape optimization of Flatback, FX, DU and NACA 64 series airfoils to achieve maximum lift and/or maximum lift to drag ratio. The commercially available software FLUENT is employed for calculation of the flow field using the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations in conjunction with a two-equation Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence model and a three equation k-kl-o turbulence model. The optimization methodology is validated by an optimization study of subsonic and transonic airfoils (NACA0012 and RAE 2822 airfoils). In this dissertation, we employ DU 91-W2-250, FX 66-S196-V1, NACA 64421, and Flat-back series of airfoils (FB-3500-0050, FB-3500-0875, and FB-3500-1750) and compare their performance with S809 airfoil used in NREL Phase II and III wind turbines; the lift and drag coefficient data for these airfoils sections are available. The output power of the turbine is calculated using these airfoil section blades for a given B and lambda and is compared with the original NREL Phase II and Phase III turbines using S809 airfoil section. It is shown that by a suitable choice of airfoil section of HAWT blade, the power generated by the turbine can be significantly increased. Parametric studies are also conducted by varying the turbine diameter. In addition, a simplified dynamic inflow model is integrated into the BEM theory. It is shown that the improved BEM theory has superior performance in capturing the instantaneous behavior of wind turbines due to the existence of wind turbine wake or temporal variations in wind velocity. The dissertation also considers the Wind Farm layout optimization problem using a genetic algorithm. Both the Horizontal --Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT) and Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT) are considered. The goal of the optimization problem is to optimally position the turbines within the wind farm such that the wake effects are minimized and the power production is maximized. The reasonably accurate modeling of the turbine wake is critical in determination of the optimal layout of the turbines and the power generated. For HAWT, two wake models are considered; both are found to give similar answers. For VAWT, a very simple wake model is employed. Finally, some preliminary investigation of shape optimization of 3D wind turbine blades at low Reynolds numbers is conducted. The optimization employs a 3D straight untapered wind turbine blade with cross section of NACA 0012 airfoils as the geometry of baseline blade. The optimization objective is to achieve maximum Cl/Cd as well as maximum Cl. The multi-objective genetic algorithm is employed together with the commercially available software FLUENT for calculation of the flow field using the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations in conjunction with a one-equation Sparlart-Allmaras turbulence model. The results show excellent performance of the optimized wind turbine blade and indicate the feasibility of optimization on real wind turbine blades with more complex shapes in the future. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Aerodynamic Design of the Hybrid Wing Body Propulsion-Airframe Integration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liou, May-Fun; Kim, Hyoungjin; Lee, ByungJoon; Liou, Meng-Sing

2017-01-01

A hybrid wingbody (HWB) concept is being considered by NASA as a potential subsonic transport aircraft that meets aerodynamic, fuel, emission, and noise goals in the time frame of the 2030s. While the concept promises advantages over conventional wing-and-tube aircraft, it poses unknowns and risks, thus requiring in-depth and broad assessments. Specifically, the configuration entails a tight integration of the airframe and propulsion geometries; the aerodynamic impact has to be carefully evaluated. With the propulsion nacelle installed on the (upper) body, the lift and drag are affected by the mutual interference effects between the airframe and nacelle. The static margin for longitudinal stability is also adversely changed. We develop a design approach in which the integrated geometry of airframe (HWB) and propulsion is accounted for simultaneously in a simple algebraic manner, via parameterization of the planform and airfoils at control sections of the wingbody. In this paper, we present the design of a 300-passenger transport that employs distributed electric fans for propulsion. The trim for stability is achieved through the use of the wingtip twist angle. The geometric shape variables are determined through the adjoint optimization method by minimizing the drag while subject to lift, pitch moment, and geometry constraints. The design results clearly show the influence on the aerodynamic characteristics of the installed nacelle and trimming for stability. A drag minimization with the trim constraint yields a reduction of 10 counts in the drag coefficient.

Development of a Fowler flap system for a high performance general aviation airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wentz, W. H., Jr.; Seetharam, H. C.

1974-01-01

A two-dimensional wind-tunnel evaluation of two Fowler flap configurations on the new GA(W)-1 airfoil was conducted. One configuration used a computer-designed 29-percent chord Fowler flap. The second configuration was modified to have increased Fowler action with a 30-percent chord flap. Force, pressure, and flow-visualization data were obtained at Reynolds numbers of 2.2 million to 2.9 million. Optimum slot geometry and performance were found to be close to computer predictions. A C sub L max of 3.8 was achieved. Optimum flap deflection, slot gap, and flap overlap are presented as functions of C sub L. Tests were made with the lower surface cusp filled in to show the performance penalties that result. Some data on the effects of adding vortex generators and hinged-plate spoilers were obtained.

Simulation of 2-dimensional viscous flow through cascades using a semi-elliptic analysis and hybrid C-H grids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramamurti, R.; Ghia, U.; Ghia, K. N.

1988-01-01

A semi-elliptic formulation, termed the interacting parabolized Navier-Stokes (IPNS) formulation, is developed for the analysis of a class of subsonic viscous flows for which streamwise diffusion is neglible but which are significantly influenced by upstream interactions. The IPNS equations are obtained from the Navier-Stokes equations by dropping the streamwise viscous-diffusion terms but retaining upstream influence via the streamwise pressure-gradient. A two-step alternating-direction-explicit numerical scheme is developed to solve these equations. The quasi-linearization and discretization of the equations are carefully examined so that no artificial viscosity is added externally to the scheme. Also, solutions to compressible as well as nearly compressible flows are obtained without any modification either in the analysis or in the solution process. The procedure is applied to constricted channels and cascade passages formed by airfoils of various shapes. These geometries are represented using numerically generated curilinear boundary-oriented coordinates forming an H-grid. A hybrid C-H grid, more appropriate for cascade of airfoils with rounded leading edges, was also developed. Satisfactory results are obtained for flows through cascades of Joukowski airfoils.

The Effects of Blowing Over Various Trailing-edge Flaps on an NACA 0006 Airfoil Section, Comparisons with Various Types of Flaps on other Airfoil Sections, and an Analysis of Flow and Power Relationships for Blowing Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dods, J. B., Jr.; Watson, E. C.

1976-01-01

The results are presented of a two-dimensional investigation conducted to determine the effect of blowing over various types of trailing-edge flaps on a wing having the NACA 0006 airfoil section and a drooped-nose flap. The position and profile of the trailing-edge flap, the nozzle height, and the location of the flap with respect to the nozzle were found to be important variables. Data from many investigations were used to make an evaluation of the effects of blowing on lift. An analysis was made of flow and power relationships for blowing systems.

Finite state modeling of aeroelastic systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vepa, R.

1977-01-01

A general theory of finite state modeling of aerodynamic loads on thin airfoils and lifting surfaces performing completely arbitrary, small, time-dependent motions in an airstream is developed and presented. The nature of the behavior of the unsteady airloads in the frequency domain is explained, using as raw materials any of the unsteady linearized theories that have been mechanized for simple harmonic oscillations. Each desired aerodynamic transfer function is approximated by means of an appropriate Pade approximant, that is, a rational function of finite degree polynomials in the Laplace transform variable. The modeling technique is applied to several two dimensional and three dimensional airfoils. Circular, elliptic, rectangular and tapered planforms are considered as examples. Identical functions are also obtained for control surfaces for two and three dimensional airfoils.

Application of multivariable search techniques to the optimization of airfoils in a low speed nonlinear inviscid flow field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hague, D. S.; Merz, A. W.

1975-01-01

Multivariable search techniques are applied to a particular class of airfoil optimization problems. These are the maximization of lift and the minimization of disturbance pressure magnitude in an inviscid nonlinear flow field. A variety of multivariable search techniques contained in an existing nonlinear optimization code, AESOP, are applied to this design problem. These techniques include elementary single parameter perturbation methods, organized search such as steepest-descent, quadratic, and Davidon methods, randomized procedures, and a generalized search acceleration technique. Airfoil design variables are seven in number and define perturbations to the profile of an existing NACA airfoil. The relative efficiency of the techniques are compared. It is shown that elementary one parameter at a time and random techniques compare favorably with organized searches in the class of problems considered. It is also shown that significant reductions in disturbance pressure magnitude can be made while retaining reasonable lift coefficient values at low free stream Mach numbers.

Supersonic wings with significant leading-edge thrust at cruise

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Robins, A. W.; Carlson, H. W.; Mack, R. J.

1980-01-01

Experimental/theoretical correlations are presented which show that significant levels of leading edge thrust are possible at supersonic speeds for certain planforms which match the theoretical thrust distribution potential with the supporting airfoil geometry. The analytical process employed spanwise distribution of both it and/or that component of full theoretical thrust which acts as vortex lift. Significantly improved aerodynamic performance in the moderate supersonic speed regime is indicated.

Numerical and Physical Aspects of Aerodynamic Flows

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-01-15

accretion was also measured. detailed description of the IRT can be found in This test program also provided a new database for reference 4. code...Deflection lift flows and to develop a validation database 8 Slat Deflection with practical geometries/conditions for emerging computational methods. This...be substantially improved by their developers in the absence of a quality database at realistic conditions for a practical airfoil. The work reported

Computational Aerodynamic Analysis of Three-Dimensional Ice Shapes on a NACA 23012 Airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jun, GaRam; Oliden, Daniel; Potapczuk, Mark G.; Tsao, Jen-Ching

2014-01-01

The present study identifies a process for performing computational fluid dynamic calculations of the flow over full three-dimensional (3D) representations of complex ice shapes deposited on aircraft surfaces. Rime and glaze icing geometries formed on a NACA23012 airfoil were obtained during testing in the NASA Glenn Research Centers Icing Research Tunnel (IRT). The ice shape geometries were scanned as a cloud of data points using a 3D laser scanner. The data point clouds were meshed using Geomagic software to create highly accurate models of the ice surface. The surface data was imported into Pointwise grid generation software to create the CFD surface and volume grids. It was determined that generating grids in Pointwise for complex 3D icing geometries was possible using various techniques that depended on the ice shape. Computations of the flow fields over these ice shapes were performed using the NASA National Combustion Code (NCC). Results for a rime ice shape for angle of attack conditions ranging from 0 to 10 degrees and for freestream Mach numbers of 0.10 and 0.18 are presented. For validation of the computational results, comparisons were made to test results from rapid-prototype models of the selected ice accretion shapes, obtained from a separate study in a subsonic wind tunnel at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The computational and experimental results were compared for values of pressure coefficient and lift. Initial results show fairly good agreement for rime ice accretion simulations across the range of conditions examined. The glaze ice results are promising but require some further examination.

Computational Aerodynamic Analysis of Three-Dimensional Ice Shapes on a NACA 23012 Airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jun, Garam; Oliden, Daniel; Potapczuk, Mark G.; Tsao, Jen-Ching

2014-01-01

The present study identifies a process for performing computational fluid dynamic calculations of the flow over full three-dimensional (3D) representations of complex ice shapes deposited on aircraft surfaces. Rime and glaze icing geometries formed on a NACA23012 airfoil were obtained during testing in the NASA Glenn Research Center's Icing Research Tunnel (IRT). The ice shape geometries were scanned as a cloud of data points using a 3D laser scanner. The data point clouds were meshed using Geomagic software to create highly accurate models of the ice surface. The surface data was imported into Pointwise grid generation software to create the CFD surface and volume grids. It was determined that generating grids in Pointwise for complex 3D icing geometries was possible using various techniques that depended on the ice shape. Computations of the flow fields over these ice shapes were performed using the NASA National Combustion Code (NCC). Results for a rime ice shape for angle of attack conditions ranging from 0 to 10 degrees and for freestream Mach numbers of 0.10 and 0.18 are presented. For validation of the computational results, comparisons were made to test results from rapid-prototype models of the selected ice accretion shapes, obtained from a separate study in a subsonic wind tunnel at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The computational and experimental results were compared for values of pressure coefficient and lift. Initial results show fairly good agreement for rime ice accretion simulations across the range of conditions examined. The glaze ice results are promising but require some further examination.

Legato: Personal Computer Software for Analyzing Pressure-Sensitive Paint Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schairer, Edward T.

2001-01-01

'Legato' is personal computer software for analyzing radiometric pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) data. The software is written in the C programming language and executes under Windows 95/98/NT operating systems. It includes all operations normally required to convert pressure-paint image intensities to normalized pressure distributions mapped to physical coordinates of the test article. The program can analyze data from both single- and bi-luminophore paints and provides for both in situ and a priori paint calibration. In addition, there are functions for determining paint calibration coefficients from calibration-chamber data. The software is designed as a self-contained, interactive research tool that requires as input only the bare minimum of information needed to accomplish each function, e.g., images, model geometry, and paint calibration coefficients (for a priori calibration) or pressure-tap data (for in situ calibration). The program includes functions that can be used to generate needed model geometry files for simple model geometries (e.g., airfoils, trapezoidal wings, rotor blades) based on the model planform and airfoil section. All data files except images are in ASCII format and thus are easily created, read, and edited. The program does not use database files. This simplifies setup but makes the program inappropriate for analyzing massive amounts of data from production wind tunnels. Program output consists of Cartesian plots, false-colored real and virtual images, pressure distributions mapped to the surface of the model, assorted ASCII data files, and a text file of tabulated results. Graphical output is displayed on the computer screen and can be saved as publication-quality (PostScript) files.

Unstructured and adaptive mesh generation for high Reynolds number viscous flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mavriplis, Dimitri J.

1991-01-01

A method for generating and adaptively refining a highly stretched unstructured mesh suitable for the computation of high-Reynolds-number viscous flows about arbitrary two-dimensional geometries was developed. The method is based on the Delaunay triangulation of a predetermined set of points and employs a local mapping in order to achieve the high stretching rates required in the boundary-layer and wake regions. The initial mesh-point distribution is determined in a geometry-adaptive manner which clusters points in regions of high curvature and sharp corners. Adaptive mesh refinement is achieved by adding new points in regions of large flow gradients, and locally retriangulating; thus, obviating the need for global mesh regeneration. Initial and adapted meshes about complex multi-element airfoil geometries are shown and compressible flow solutions are computed on these meshes.

Darrieus rotor aerodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klimas, P. C.

1982-05-01

A summary of the progress of modeling the aerodynamic effects on the blades of a Darrieus wind turbine is presented. Interference is discussed in terms of blade/blade wake interaction and improvements in single and multiple stream tube models, of vortex simulations of blades and their wakes, and a hybrid momentum/vortex code to combine fast computation time with interference-describing capabilities. An empirical model has been developed for treating the properties of dynamic stall such as airfoil geometry, Reynolds number, reduced frequency, angle-of-attack, and Mach number. Pitching circulation has been subjected to simulation as potential flow about a two-dimensional flat plate, along with applications of the concepts of virtual camber and virtual incidence, with a cambered airfoil operating in a rectilinear flowfield. Finally, a need to develop a loading model suitable for nonsymmetrical blade sections is indicated, as well as blade behavior in a dynamic, curvilinear regime.

Numerical design of advanced multi-element airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mathias, Donovan L.; Cummings, Russell M.

1994-01-01

The current study extends the application of computational fluid dynamics to three-dimensional high-lift systems. Structured, overset grids are used in conjunction with an incompressible Navier-Stokes flow solver to investigate flow over a two-element high-lift configuration. The computations were run in a fully turbulent mode using the one-equation Baldwin-Barth turbulence model. The geometry consisted of an unswept wing which spanned a wind tunnel test section. Flows over full and half-span Fowler flap configurations were computed. Grid resolution issues were investigated in two dimensional studies of the flapped airfoil. Results of the full-span flap wing agreed well with experimental data and verified the method. Flow over the wing with the half-span was computed to investigate the details of the flow at the free edge of the flap. The results illustrated changes in flow streamlines, separation locations, and surface pressures due to the vortex shed from the flap edge.

Progress in high-lift aerodynamic calculations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rogers, Stuart E.

1993-01-01

The current work presents progress in the effort to numerically simulate the flow over high-lift aerodynamic components, namely, multi-element airfoils and wings in either a take-off or a landing configuration. The computational approach utilizes an incompressible flow solver and an overlaid chimera grid approach. A detailed grid resolution study is presented for flow over a three-element airfoil. Two turbulence models, a one-equation Baldwin-Barth model and a two equation k-omega model are compared. Excellent agreement with experiment is obtained for the lift coefficient at all angles of attack, including the prediction of maximum lift when using the two-equation model. Results for two other flap riggings are shown. Three-dimensional results are presented for a wing with a square wing-tip as a validation case. Grid generation and topology is discussed for computing the flow over a T-39 Sabreliner wing with flap deployed and the initial calculations for this geometry are presented.

Internally Cooled Monolithic Silicon Nitride Aerospace Components

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Best, Jonathan E.; Cawley, James D.; Bhatt, Ramakrishna T.; Fox, Dennis S.; Lang, Jerry (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

A set of rapid prototyping (RP) processes have been combined with gelcasting to make ceramic aerospace components that contain internal cooling geometry. A mold and core combination is made using a MM6Pro (Sanders Prototyping, Inc.) and SLA-250/40 (3Dsystems, Inc.). The MM6Pro produces cores from ProtoBuild (trademarked) wax that are dissolved in room temperature ethanol following gelcasting. The SLA-250/40 yields epoxy/acrylate reusable molds. Parts produced by this method include two types of specimens containing a high density of thin long cooling channels, thin-walled cylinders and plates, as well as a model hollow airfoil shape that can be used for burner rig evaluation of coatings. Both uncoated and mullite-coated hollow airfoils has been tested in a Mach 0.3 burner rig with cooling air demonstrating internal cooling and confirming the effectiveness of mullite coatings.

Wind-tunnel Tests of the Fowler Variable-area Wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weick, Fred E; Platt, Robert C

1932-01-01

The lift, drag, and center of pressure characteristics of a model of the Fowler variable-area wing were measured in the NACA 7 by 10 foot wind tunnel. The Fowler wing consists of a combination of a main wing and an extension surface, also of airfoil section. The extension surface can be entirely retracted within the lower rear portion of the main wing or it can be moved to the rear and downward. The tests were made with the nose of the extension airfoil in various positions near the trailing edge of the main wing and with the surface at various angular deflections. The highest lift coefficient obtained was C(sub L) = 3.17 as compared with 1.27 for the main wing alone.

Pressure distributions from high Reynolds number tests of a Boeing BAC 1 airfoil in the Langley 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, W. G., Jr.; Hill, A. S.

1985-01-01

A wind-tunnel investigation designed to test a Boeing advanced-technology airfoil from low to flight-equivalent Reynolds numbers has been completed in the Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel. This investigation represents the first in a series of NASA/U.S. industry two-dimensional airfoil studies to be completed in the Advanced Technology Airfoil Test program. Test temperature was varied from ambient to about 100 K at pressures ranging from about 1.2 to 6.0 atm. Mach number was varied from about 0.40 to 0.80. These variables provided a Reynolds number (based on airfoil chord) range from 4.4 X 10 to the 6th power to 50.0 X 10 to the 6th power. All the test objectives were met. The pressure data are presented without analysis in plotted and tabulated formats for use in conjunction with the aerodynamic coefficient data published as NASA TM-81922. At the time of the test, these pressure data were considered proprietary and have only recently been made available by Boeing for general release. Data are included which demonstrate the effects of fixed transition. Also included are remarks on the model design, the model structural integrity, and the overall test experience.

Loads Correlation of a Full-Scale UH-60A Airloads Rotor in a Wind Tunnel

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-05-01

modeling in lifting line theory is unsteady, compressible, viscous flow about an infinite wing in a uniform flow consisting of a yawed freestream and...wake-induced velocity. This problem is modeled within CAMRAD II as two-dimensional, steady, compressible, viscous flow (airfoil tables), plus...and 21 aerodynamic panels. Detailed rotor control system geometry, stiffness, and lag damper were also incorporated. When not coupling to OVERFLOW, a

A Feasibility Study to Control Airfoil Shape Using THUNDER

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pinkerton, Jennifer L.; Moses, Robert W.

1997-01-01

The objective of this study was to assess the capabilities of a new out-of-plane displacement piezoelectric actuator called thin-layer composite-unimorph ferroelectric driver and sensor (THUNDER) to alter the upper surface geometry of a subscale airfoil to enhance performance under aerodynamic loading. Sixty test conditions, consisting of combinations of five angles of attack, four dc applied voltages, and three tunnel velocities, were studied in a tabletop wind tunnel. Results indicated that larger magnitudes of applied voltage produced larger wafer displacements. Wind-off displacements were also consistently larger than wind-on. Higher velocities produced larger displacements than lower velocities because of increased upper surface suction. Increased suction also resulted in larger displacements at higher angles of attack. Creep and hysteresis of the wafer, which were identified at each test condition, contributed to larger negative displacements for all negative applied voltages and larger positive displacements for the smaller positive applied voltage (+102 V). An elastic membrane used to hold the wafer to the upper surface hindered displacements at the larger positive applied voltage (+170 V). Both creep and hysteresis appeared bounded based on the analysis of several displacement cycles. These results show that THUNDER can be used to alter the camber of a small airfoil under aerodynamic loads.

Performance Trades Study for Robust Airfoil Shape Optimization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, Wu; Padula, Sharon

2003-01-01

From time to time, existing aircraft need to be redesigned for new missions with modified operating conditions such as required lift or cruise speed. This research is motivated by the needs of conceptual and preliminary design teams for smooth airfoil shapes that are similar to the baseline design but have improved drag performance over a range of flight conditions. The proposed modified profile optimization method (MPOM) modifies a large number of design variables to search for nonintuitive performance improvements, while avoiding off-design performance degradation. Given a good initial design, the MPOM generates fairly smooth airfoils that are better than the baseline without making drastic shape changes. Moreover, the MPOM allows users to gain valuable information by exploring performance trades over various design conditions. Four simulation cases of airfoil optimization in transonic viscous ow are included to demonstrate the usefulness of the MPOM as a performance trades study tool. Simulation results are obtained by solving fully turbulent Navier-Stokes equations and the corresponding discrete adjoint equations using an unstructured grid computational fluid dynamics code FUN2D.

Prediction of Film Cooling on Gas Turbine Airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Garg, Vijay K.; Gaugler, Raymond E.

1994-01-01

A three-dimensional Navier-Stokes analysis tool has been developed in order to study the effect of film cooling on the flow and heat transfer characteristics of actual turbine airfoils. An existing code (Arnone et al., 1991) has been modified for the purpose. The code is an explicit, multigrid, cell-centered, finite volume code with an algebraic turbulence model. Eigenvalue scaled artificial dissipation and variable-coefficient implicit residual smoothing are used with a full-multigrid technique. Moreover, Mayle's transition criterion (Mayle, 1991) is used. The effects of film cooling have been incorporated into the code in the form of appropriate boundary conditions at the hole locations on the airfoil surface. Each hole exit is represented by several control volumes, thus providing an ability to study the effect of hole shape on the film-cooling characteristics. Comparison is fair with near mid-span experimental data for four and nine rows of cooling holes, five on the shower head, and two rows each on the pressure and suction surfaces. The computations, however, show a strong spanwise variation of the heat transfer coefficient on the airfoil surface, specially with shower-head cooling.

A harmonic analysis method for unsteady transonic flow and its application to the flutter of airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ehlers, F. E.; Weatherill, W. H.

1982-01-01

A finite difference method for solving the unsteady transonic flow about harmonically oscillating wings is investigated. The procedure is based on separating the velocity potential into steady and unsteady parts and linearizing the resulting unsteady differential equation for small disturbances. The differential equation for the unsteady velocity potential is linear with spatially varying coefficients and with the time variable eliminated by assuming harmonic motion. A study is presented of the shock motion associated with an oscillating airfoil and its representation by the harmonic procedure. The effects of the shock motion and the resulting pressure pulse are shown to be included in the harmonic pressure distributions and the corresponding generalized forces. Analytical and experimental pressure distributions for the NACA 64A010 airfoil are compared for Mach numbers of 0.75, 0.80 and 0.842. A typical section, two-degree-of-freedom flutter analysis of a NACA 64A010 airfoil is performed. The results show a sharp transonic bucket in one case and abrupt changes in instability modes.

First-Order Model Management With Variable-Fidelity Physics Applied to Multi-Element Airfoil Optimization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alexandrov, N. M.; Nielsen, E. J.; Lewis, R. M.; Anderson, W. K.

2000-01-01

First-order approximation and model management is a methodology for a systematic use of variable-fidelity models or approximations in optimization. The intent of model management is to attain convergence to high-fidelity solutions with minimal expense in high-fidelity computations. The savings in terms of computationally intensive evaluations depends on the ability of the available lower-fidelity model or a suite of models to predict the improvement trends for the high-fidelity problem, Variable-fidelity models can be represented by data-fitting approximations, variable-resolution models. variable-convergence models. or variable physical fidelity models. The present work considers the use of variable-fidelity physics models. We demonstrate the performance of model management on an aerodynamic optimization of a multi-element airfoil designed to operate in the transonic regime. Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations represent the high-fidelity model, while the Euler equations represent the low-fidelity model. An unstructured mesh-based analysis code FUN2D evaluates functions and sensitivity derivatives for both models. Model management for the present demonstration problem yields fivefold savings in terms of high-fidelity evaluations compared to optimization done with high-fidelity computations alone.

Residual interference assessment in adaptive wall wind tunnels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Murthy, A. V.

1989-01-01

A two-variable method is presented which is suitable for on-line calculation of residual interference in airfoil testing in the Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel (0.3-M TCT). The method applies the Cauchy's integral formula to the closed contour formed by the contoured top and bottom walls, and the upstream and downstream ends. The measured top and bottom wall pressures and position are used to calculate the correction to the test Mach number and the airfoil angle of attack. Application to specific data obtained in the 0.3-M TCT adaptive wall test section demonstrates the need to assess residual interference to ensure that the desired level of wall streamlining is achieved. A FORTRAN computer program was developed for on-line calculation of the residual corrections during airfoil tests in the 0.3-M TCT.

The Characteristics of Two Model Six-blade Counterrotating Pusher Propellers of Conventional and Improved Aerodynamic Design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pepper, Edward; McHugh, James G.

1942-01-01

Two airfoil plans were used for propeller blades. One is modified Clark Y section designed for structural reliability and the second an NACA 16 airfoil section designed to produce minimum aerodynamic losses. At low air speeds, the propeller designed for aerodynamic effects showed a gain of from 1.5 to 4.0 percent in propulsive efficiency over the conventional type depending on the pitch. Because of the numerous variables involved, the effect of each one on the aerodynamic characteristics of the propellers could not be isolated.

Semi-discrete Galerkin solution of the compressible boundary-layer equations with viscous-inviscid interaction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Day, Brad A.; Meade, Andrew J., Jr.

1993-01-01

A semi-discrete Galerkin (SDG) method is under development to model attached, turbulent, and compressible boundary layers for transonic airfoil analysis problems. For the boundary-layer formulation the method models the spatial variable normal to the surface with linear finite elements and the time-like variable with finite differences. A Dorodnitsyn transformed system of equations is used to bound the infinite spatial domain thereby providing high resolution near the wall and permitting the use of a uniform finite element grid which automatically follows boundary-layer growth. The second-order accurate Crank-Nicholson scheme is applied along with a linearization method to take advantage of the parabolic nature of the boundary-layer equations and generate a non-iterative marching routine. The SDG code can be applied to any smoothly-connected airfoil shape without modification and can be coupled to any inviscid flow solver. In this analysis, a direct viscous-inviscid interaction is accomplished between the Euler and boundary-layer codes through the application of a transpiration velocity boundary condition. Results are presented for compressible turbulent flow past RAE 2822 and NACA 0012 airfoils at various freestream Mach numbers, Reynolds numbers, and angles of attack.

Parametric weight evaluation of joined wings by structural optimization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miura, Hirokazu; Shyu, Albert T.; Wolkovitch, Julian

1988-01-01

Joined-wing aircraft employ tandem wings having positive and negative sweep and dihedral, arranged to form diamond shapes in both plan and front views. An optimization method was applied to study the effects of joined-wing geometry parameters on structural weight. The lightest wings were obtained by increasing dihedral and taper ratio, decreasing sweep and span, increasing fraction of airfoil chord occupied by structural box, and locating the joint inboard of the front wing tip.

Wall Interference in Wind Tunnels

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-09-01

concept is fairly succesful in these cases, although some variation of the interference flow field still remains over the airfoil chord. One should...geometry and about as large as we think the tunnel ’ j? can accommodate. These pressures have brought to the fore the need to improve our methods of...methods cease to be reliable? I would like -to return to that point again in a moment. Another point that I think is worth drawing your attention to

Analysis and design of planar and non-planar wings for induced drag minimization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Straussfogel, Dennis M.; Maughmer, Mark D.

1991-01-01

Improvements in the aerodynamic efficiency of commercial transport aircraft will reduce fuel usage with subsequent reduced cost, both monetary and environmental. To this end, the current research is aimed at reducing the overall drag of these aircraft with specific emphasis on reducing the drag generated by the lifting surfaces. The ultimate goal of this program is to create a wing design methodology which optimizes the geometry of the wing for lowest total drag within the constraints of a particular design specification. The components of drag which must be considered include profile drag, and wave drag. Profile drag is dependent upon, among other things, the airfoil section and the total wetted area. Induced drag, which is manifested as energy left in the wake by the trailing vortex system is mostly a function of wing span, but also depends on other geometric wing parameters. Wave drag of the wing, important in the transonic flight regime, is largely affected by the airfoil section, wing sweep, and so forth. The optimization problem is that of assessing the various parameters which contribute to the different components of wing drag, and determining the wing geometry which generates the best overall performance for a given aircraft mission. The primary thrust of the research effort to date was in the study of induced drag. Results from the study are presented.

Validation of 3-D Ice Accretion Measurement Methodology for Experimental Aerodynamic Simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Broeren, Andy P.; Addy, Harold E., Jr.; Lee, Sam; Monastero, Marianne C.

2015-01-01

Determining the adverse aerodynamic effects due to ice accretion often relies on dry-air wind-tunnel testing of artificial, or simulated, ice shapes. Recent developments in ice-accretion documentation methods have yielded a laser-scanning capability that can measure highly three-dimensional (3-D) features of ice accreted in icing wind tunnels. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the aerodynamic accuracy of ice-accretion simulations generated from laser-scan data. Ice-accretion tests were conducted in the NASA Icing Research Tunnel using an 18-in. chord, two-dimensional (2-D) straight wing with NACA 23012 airfoil section. For six ice-accretion cases, a 3-D laser scan was performed to document the ice geometry prior to the molding process. Aerodynamic performance testing was conducted at the University of Illinois low-speed wind tunnel at a Reynolds number of 1.8 × 10(exp 6) and a Mach number of 0.18 with an 18-in. chord NACA 23012 airfoil model that was designed to accommodate the artificial ice shapes. The ice-accretion molds were used to fabricate one set of artificial ice shapes from polyurethane castings. The laser-scan data were used to fabricate another set of artificial ice shapes using rapid prototype manufacturing such as stereolithography. The iced-airfoil results with both sets of artificial ice shapes were compared to evaluate the aerodynamic simulation accuracy of the laser-scan data. For five of the six ice-accretion cases, there was excellent agreement in the iced-airfoil aerodynamic performance between the casting and laser-scan based simulations. For example, typical differences in iced-airfoil maximum lift coefficient were less than 3 percent with corresponding differences in stall angle of approximately 1 deg or less. The aerodynamic simulation accuracy reported in this paper has demonstrated the combined accuracy of the laser-scan and rapid-prototype manufacturing approach to simulating ice accretion for a NACA 23012 airfoil. For several of the ice-accretion cases tested, the aerodynamics is known to depend upon the small, three-dimensional features of the ice. These data show that the laser-scan and rapid-prototype manufacturing approach is capable of replicating these ice features within the reported accuracies of the laser-scan measurement and rapid-prototyping method; thus providing a new capability for high-fidelity ice-accretion documentation and artificial ice-shape fabrication for icing research.

Validation of 3-D Ice Accretion Measurement Methodology for Experimental Aerodynamic Simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Broeren, Andy P.; Addy, Harold E., Jr.; Lee, Sam; Monastero, Marianne C.

2014-01-01

Determining the adverse aerodynamic effects due to ice accretion often relies on dry-air wind-tunnel testing of artificial, or simulated, ice shapes. Recent developments in ice accretion documentation methods have yielded a laser-scanning capability that can measure highly three-dimensional features of ice accreted in icing wind tunnels. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the aerodynamic accuracy of ice-accretion simulations generated from laser-scan data. Ice-accretion tests were conducted in the NASA Icing Research Tunnel using an 18-inch chord, 2-D straight wing with NACA 23012 airfoil section. For six ice accretion cases, a 3-D laser scan was performed to document the ice geometry prior to the molding process. Aerodynamic performance testing was conducted at the University of Illinois low-speed wind tunnel at a Reynolds number of 1.8 x 10(exp 6) and a Mach number of 0.18 with an 18-inch chord NACA 23012 airfoil model that was designed to accommodate the artificial ice shapes. The ice-accretion molds were used to fabricate one set of artificial ice shapes from polyurethane castings. The laser-scan data were used to fabricate another set of artificial ice shapes using rapid prototype manufacturing such as stereolithography. The iced-airfoil results with both sets of artificial ice shapes were compared to evaluate the aerodynamic simulation accuracy of the laser-scan data. For four of the six ice-accretion cases, there was excellent agreement in the iced-airfoil aerodynamic performance between the casting and laser-scan based simulations. For example, typical differences in iced-airfoil maximum lift coefficient were less than 3% with corresponding differences in stall angle of approximately one degree or less. The aerodynamic simulation accuracy reported in this paper has demonstrated the combined accuracy of the laser-scan and rapid-prototype manufacturing approach to simulating ice accretion for a NACA 23012 airfoil. For several of the ice-accretion cases tested, the aerodynamics is known to depend upon the small, three dimensional features of the ice. These data show that the laser-scan and rapid-prototype manufacturing approach is capable of replicating these ice features within the reported accuracies of the laser-scan measurement and rapid-prototyping method; thus providing a new capability for high-fidelity ice-accretion documentation and artificial ice-shape fabrication for icing research.

The Interference Effects on an Airfoil of a Flat Plate at Mid-span Position

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ward, Kenneth E

1931-01-01

This report gives the results of an investigation of the mutual interference of an airfoil and a flat plate inserted at mid-span position. The tests were conducted in the Variable-Density Wind Tunnel of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics at a high value of the Reynolds Number. The interference effects of this combination were found to be small. Supplementary tests indicated that the use of fillets decreases both the lift and drag slightly. A bibliography of publication dealing with interference between wings and bodies, and with the effects of cut-outs and fillets is included.

Experiments with an Airfoil Model on which the Boundary Layers are Controlled Without the Use of Supplementary Equipment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abbott, I H

1931-01-01

This report describes test made in the Variable Density Wind Tunnel of the NACA to determine the possibility of controlling the boundary layer on the upper surface of an airfoil by use of the low pressure existing near the leading edge. The low pressure was used to induce flow through slots in the upper surface of the wing. The tests showed that the angle of attack for maximum lift was increased at the expense of a reduction in the maximum lift coefficient and an increase in the drag coefficient.

Solution of 3-dimensional time-dependent viscous flows. Part 3: Application to turbulent and unsteady flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weinberg, B. C.; Mcdonald, H.

1982-01-01

A numerical scheme is developed for solving the time dependent, three dimensional compressible viscous flow equations to be used as an aid in the design of helicopter rotors. In order to further investigate the numerical procedure, the computer code developed to solve an approximate form of the three dimensional unsteady Navier-Stokes equations employing a linearized block implicit technique in conjunction with a QR operator scheme is tested. Results of calculations are presented for several two dimensional boundary layer flows including steady turbulent and unsteady laminar cases. A comparison of fourth order and second order solutions indicate that increased accuracy can be obtained without any significant increases in cost (run time). The results of the computations also indicate that the computer code can be applied to more complex flows such as those encountered on rotating airfoils. The geometry of a symmetric NACA four digit airfoil is considered and the appropriate geometrical properties are computed.

Validation of a High-Order Prefactored Compact Scheme on Nonlinear Flows with Complex Geometries

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hixon, Ray; Mankbadi, Reda R.; Povinelli, L. A. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

Three benchmark problems are solved using a sixth-order prefactored compact scheme employing an explicit 10th-order filter with optimized fourth-order Runge-Kutta time stepping. The problems solved are the following: (1) propagation of sound waves through a transonic nozzle; (2) shock-sound interaction; and (3) single airfoil gust response. In the first two problems, the spatial accuracy of the scheme is tested on a stretched grid, and the effectiveness of boundary conditions is shown. The solution stability and accuracy near a shock discontinuity is shown as well. Also, 1-D nonlinear characteristic boundary conditions will be evaluated. In the third problem, a nonlinear Euler solver will be used that solves the equations in generalized curvilinear coordinates using the chain rule transformation. This work, continuing earlier work on flat-plate cascades and Joukowski airfoils, will focus mainly on the effect of the grid and boundary conditions on the accuracy of the solution. The grids were generated using a commercially available grid generator, GridPro/az3000.

Airfoil deposition model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kohl, F. J.

1982-01-01

The methodology to predict deposit evolution (deposition rate and subsequent flow of liquid deposits) as a function of fuel and air impurity content and relevant aerodynamic parameters for turbine airfoils is developed in this research. The spectrum of deposition conditions encountered in gas turbine operations includes the mechanisms of vapor deposition, small particle deposition with thermophoresis, and larger particle deposition with inertial effects. The focus is on using a simplified version of the comprehensive multicomponent vapor diffusion formalism to make deposition predictions for: (1) simple geometry collectors; and (2) gas turbine blade shapes, including both developing laminar and turbulent boundary layers. For the gas turbine blade the insights developed in previous programs are being combined with heat and mass transfer coefficient calculations using the STAN 5 boundary layer code to predict vapor deposition rates and corresponding liquid layer thicknesses on turbine blades. A computer program is being written which utilizes the local values of the calculated deposition rate and skin friction to calculate the increment in liquid condensate layer growth along a collector surface.

Experimental and Analytical Investigation of the Coolant Flow Characteristics in Cooled Turbine Airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Damerow, W. P.; Murtaugh, J. P.; Burggraf, F.

1972-01-01

The flow characteristics of turbine airfoil cooling system components were experimentally investigated. Flow models representative of leading edge impingement, impingement with crossflow (midchord cooling), pin fins, feeder supply tube, and a composite model of a complete airfoil flow system were tested. Test conditions were set by varying pressure level to cover the Mach number and Reynolds number range of interest in advanced turbine applications. Selected geometrical variations were studied on each component model to determine these effects. Results of these tests were correlated and compared with data available in the literature. Orifice flow was correlated in terms of discharge coefficients. For the leading edge model this was found to be a weak function of hole Mach number and orifice-to-impinged wall spacing. In the impingement with crossflow tests, the discharge coefficient was found to be constant and thus independent of orifice Mach number, Reynolds number, crossflow rate, and impingement geometry. Crossflow channel pressure drop showed reasonable agreement with a simple one-dimensional momentum balance. Feeder tube orifice discharge coefficients correlated as a function of orifice Mach number and the ratio of the orifice-to-approach velocity heads. Pin fin data was correlated in terms of equivalent friction factor, which was found to be a function of Reynolds number and pin spacing but independent of pin height in the range tested.

Variable camber rotor study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dadone, L.; Cowan, J.; Mchugh, F. J.

1982-01-01

Deployment of variable camber concepts on helicopter rotors was analytically assessed. It was determined that variable camber extended the operating range of helicopters provided that the correct compromise can be obtained between performance/loads gains and mechanical complexity. A number of variable camber concepts were reviewed on a two dimensional basis to determine the usefulness of leading edge, trailing edge and overall camber variation schemes. The most powerful method to vary camber was through the trailing edge flaps undergoing relatively small motions (-5 deg to +15 deg). The aerodynamic characteristics of the NASA/Ames A-1 airfoil with 35% and 50% plain trailing edge flaps were determined by means of current subcritical and transonic airfoil design methods and used by rotor performance and loads analysis codes. The most promising variable camber schedule reviewed was a configuration with a 35% plain flap deployment in an on/off mode near the tip of a blade. Preliminary results show approximately 11% reduction in power is possible at 192 knots and a rotor thrust coefficient of 0.09. The potential demonstrated indicates a significant potential for expanding the operating envelope of the helicopter. Further investigation into improving the power saving and defining the improvement in the operational envelope of the helicopter is recommended.

Water droplet impingement on airfoils and aircraft engine inlets for icing analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Papadakis, Michael; Elangovan, R.; Freund, George A., Jr.; Breer, Marlin D.

1991-01-01

This paper includes the results of a significant research program for verification of computer trajectory codes used in aircraft icing analysis. Experimental water droplet impingement data have been obtained in the NASA Lewis Research Center Icing Research Tunnel for a wide range of aircraft geometries and test conditions. The body whose impingement characteristics are required is covered at strategic locations by thin strips of moisture absorbing (blotter) paper and then exposed to an airstream containing a dyed-water spray cloud. Water droplet impingement data are extracted from the dyed blotter strips by measuring the optical reflectance of the dye deposit on the strips with an automated reflectometer. Impingement characteristics for all test geometries have also been calculated using two recently developed trajectory computer codes. Good agreement is obtained with experimental data. The experimental and analytical data show that maximum impingement efficiency and impingement limits increase with mean volumetric diameter for all geometries tested. For all inlet geometries tested, as the inlet mass flow is reduced, the maximum impingement efficiency is reduced and the location of the maximum impingement shifts toward the inlet inner cowl.

SpaRibs Geometry Parameterization for Wings with Multiple Sections using Single Design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

De, Shuvodeep; Jrad, Mohamed; Locatelli, Davide; Kapania, Rakesh K.; Baker, Myles; Pak, Chan-Gi

2017-01-01

The SpaRibs topology of an aircraft wing has a significant effect on its structural behavior and stability as well as the flutter performance. The development of additive manufacturing techniques like Electron Beam Free Form Fabrication (EBF3) has made it feasible to manufacture aircraft wings with curvilinear spars, ribs (SpaRibs) and stiffeners. In this article a new global-local optimization framework for wing with multiple sections using curvilinear SpaRibs is described. A single design space is used to parameterize the SpaRibs geometry. This method has been implemented using MSC-PATRAN to create a broad range of SpaRibs topologies using limited number of parameters. It ensures C0 and C1 continuities in SpaRibs geometry at the junction of two wing sections with airfoil thickness gradient discontinuity as well as mesh continuity between all structural components. This method is advantageous in complex multi-disciplinary optimization due to its potential to reduce the number of design variables. For the global-local optimization the local panels are generated by an algorithm which is totally based on a set algebra on the connectivity matrix data. The great advantage of this method is that it is completely independent of the coordinates of the nodes of the finite element model. It is also independent of the order in which the elements are distributed in the FEM. The code is verified by optimizing of the CRM Baseline model at trim condition at Mach number equal to 0.85 for five different angle of attack (-2deg, 0deg,2deg,4deg and 6deg). The final weight of the wing is 19,090.61 lb. This value is comparable to that obtained by Qiang et al. 6 (19,269 lb).

Development of an aeroelastic methodology for surface morphing rotors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cook, James R.

Helicopter performance capabilities are limited by maximum lift characteristics and vibratory loading. In high speed forward flight, dynamic stall and transonic flow greatly increase the amplitude of vibratory loads. Experiments and computational simulations alike have indicated that a variety of active rotor control devices are capable of reducing vibratory loads. For example, periodic blade twist and flap excitation have been optimized to reduce vibratory loads in various rotors. Airfoil geometry can also be modified in order to increase lift coefficient, delay stall, or weaken transonic effects. To explore the potential benefits of active controls, computational methods are being developed for aeroelastic rotor evaluation, including coupling between computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and computational structural dynamics (CSD) solvers. In many contemporary CFD/CSD coupling methods it is assumed that the airfoil is rigid to reduce the interface by single dimension. Some methods retain the conventional one-dimensional beam model while prescribing an airfoil shape to simulate active chord deformation. However, to simulate the actual response of a compliant airfoil it is necessary to include deformations that originate not only from control devices (such as piezoelectric actuators), but also inertial forces, elastic stresses, and aerodynamic pressures. An accurate representation of the physics requires an interaction with a more complete representation of loads and geometry. A CFD/CSD coupling methodology capable of communicating three-dimensional structural deformations and a distribution of aerodynamic forces over the wetted blade surface has not yet been developed. In this research an interface is created within the Fully Unstructured Navier-Stokes (FUN3D) solver that communicates aerodynamic forces on the blade surface to University of Michigan's Nonlinear Active Beam Solver (UM/NLABS -- referred to as NLABS in this thesis). Interface routines are developed for transmission of force and deflection information to achieve an aeroelastic coupling updated at each time step. The method is validated first by comparing the integrated aerodynamic work at CFD and CSD nodes to verify work conservation across the interface. Second, the method is verified by comparing the sectional blade loads and deflections of a rotor in hover and in forward flight with experimental data. Finally, stability analyses for pitch/plunge flutter and camber flutter are performed with comprehensive CSD/low-order-aerodynamics and tightly coupled CFD/CSD simulations and compared to analytical solutions of Peters' thin airfoil theory to verify proper aeroelastic behavior. The effects of simple harmonic camber actuation are examined and compared to the response predicted by Peters' finite-state (F-S) theory. In anticipation of active rotor experiments inside enclosed facilities, computational simulations are performed to evaluate the capability of CFD for accurately simulating flow inside enclosed volumes. A computational methodology for accurately simulating a rotor inside a test chamber is developed to determine the influence of test facility components and turbulence modeling and performance predictions. A number of factors that influence the physical accuracy of the simulation, such as temporal resolution, grid resolution, and aeroelasticity are also evaluated.

Airfoil, platform, and cooling passage measurements on a rotating transonic high-pressure turbine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nickol, Jeremy B.

An experiment was performed at The Ohio State University Gas Turbine Laboratory for a film-cooled high-pressure turbine stage operating at design-corrected conditions, with variable rotor and aft purge cooling flow rates. Several distinct experimental programs are combined into one experiment and their results are presented. Pressure and temperature measurements in the internal cooling passages that feed the airfoil film cooling are used as boundary conditions in a model that calculates cooling flow rates and blowing ratio out of each individual film cooling hole. The cooling holes on the suction side choke at even the lowest levels of film cooling, ejecting more than twice the coolant as the holes on the pressure side. However, the blowing ratios are very close due to the freestream massflux on the suction side also being almost twice as great. The highest local blowing ratios actually occur close to the airfoil stagnation point as a result of the low freestream massflux conditions. The choking of suction side cooling holes also results in the majority of any additional coolant added to the blade flowing out through the leading edge and pressure side rows. A second focus of this dissertation is the heat transfer on the rotor airfoil, which features uncooled blades and blades with three different shapes of film cooling hole: cylindrical, diffusing fan shape, and a new advanced shape. Shaped cooling holes have previously shown immense promise on simpler geometries, but experimental results for a rotating turbine have not previously been published in the open literature. Significant improvement from the uncooled case is observed for all shapes of cooling holes, but the improvement from the round to more advanced shapes is seen to be relatively minor. The reduction in relative effectiveness is likely due to the engine-representative secondary flow field interfering with the cooling flow mechanics in the freestream, and may also be caused by shocks and other compressibility effects within the cooling holes which are not present in low speed experiments. Another major focus of this work is on the forward purge cavity and rotor and stator inner endwalls. Pressure and heat transfer measurements are taken at several locations, and compared as both forward and aft purge flow rates are varied. It is seen that increases in forward purge rates result in a flow blockage and greater pressure on the endwalls both up and downstream of the cavity. Thus, even in locations where the coolant does not directly cover the metal surface, it can have a significant impact on the local pressure loading and heat transfer rate. The heat transfer on the platform further downstream, however, is unchanged by variations in purge flow rates.

Robust, optimal subsonic airfoil shapes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rai, Man Mohan (Inventor)

2008-01-01

Method system, and product from application of the method, for design of a subsonic airfoil shape, beginning with an arbitrary initial airfoil shape and incorporating one or more constraints on the airfoil geometric parameters and flow characteristics. The resulting design is robust against variations in airfoil dimensions and local airfoil shape introduced in the airfoil manufacturing process. A perturbation procedure provides a class of airfoil shapes, beginning with an initial airfoil shape.

Reduction of Wake-Stator Interaction Noise Using Passive Porosity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tinetti, Ana F.; Kelly, Jeffrey J.; Thomas, Russell H.; Bauer, Steven X. S.

2002-01-01

The present study was conducted to assess the potential of Passive Porosity Technology as a mechanism to reduce interaction noise in turbomachinery by reducing the fluctuating forces acting on the vane surfaces. To do so, a typical fan stator airfoil was subjected to the effects of a transversely moving wake; time histories of the primitive aerodynamic variables, obtained from Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solutions, were then input into an acoustic prediction code. This procedure was performed on the solid airfoil to obtain a baseline, and on a series of porous configurations in order to isolate those that yield maximum noise reductions without compromising the aerodynamic performance of the stator. It was found that communication between regions of high pressure differential - made possible by the use of passive porosity - is necessary to significantly alter the noise radiation pattern of the stator airfoil. In general, noise reductions were obtained for those configurations incorporating passive porosity in the region between x/c is approximately 0.15 on the suction side of the airfoil and x/c is approximately 0.20 on the pressure side. Reductions in overall radiated noise of approximately 1.0 dB were obtained. The noise benefit increased to about 2.5 dB when the effects of loading noise alone were considered.

On the acoustic signature of tandem airfoils: The sound of an elastic airfoil in the wake of a vortex generator

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Manela, A.

The acoustic signature of an acoustically compact tandem airfoil setup in uniform high-Reynolds number flow is investigated. The upstream airfoil is considered rigid and is actuated at its leading edge with small-amplitude harmonic pitching motion. The downstream airfoil is taken passive and elastic, with its motion forced by the vortex-street excitation of the upstream airfoil. The non-linear near-field description is obtained via potential thin-airfoil theory. It is then applied as a source term into the Powell-Howe acoustic analogy to yield the far-field dipole radiation of the system. To assess the effect of downstream-airfoil elasticity, results are compared with counterpart calculationsmore » for a non-elastic setup, where the downstream airfoil is rigid and stationary. Depending on the separation distance between airfoils, airfoil-motion and airfoil-wake dynamics shift between in-phase (synchronized) and counter-phase behaviors. Consequently, downstream airfoil elasticity may act to amplify or suppress sound through the direct contribution of elastic-airfoil motion to the total signal. Resonance-type motion of the elastic airfoil is found when the upstream airfoil is actuated at the least stable eigenfrequency of the downstream structure. This, again, results in system sound amplification or suppression, depending on the separation distance between airfoils. With increasing actuation frequency, the acoustic signal becomes dominated by the direct contribution of the upstream airfoil motion, whereas the relative contribution of the elastic airfoil to the total signature turns negligible.« less

A multistage time-stepping scheme for the Navier-Stokes equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swanson, R. C.; Turkel, E.

1985-01-01

A class of explicit multistage time-stepping schemes is used to construct an algorithm for solving the compressible Navier-Stokes equations. Flexibility in treating arbitrary geometries is obtained with a finite-volume formulation. Numerical efficiency is achieved by employing techniques for accelerating convergence to steady state. Computer processing is enhanced through vectorization of the algorithm. The scheme is evaluated by solving laminar and turbulent flows over a flat plate and an NACA 0012 airfoil. Numerical results are compared with theoretical solutions or other numerical solutions and/or experimental data.

Development of Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Platform: Modeling, Simulating, and Flight Testing

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-03-01

Eppler 193 Airfoil .............................................................. 58 Figure 18. Rascal Airfoil vs. Eppler 205 Airfoil ...53 Table 14. E193 Airfoil Data at Re = 204,200 ................................................................... 61 ...two hours. According to the manufacturer, the Rascal uses an airfoil married from two Eppler airfoils . The top airfoil is an Eppler 193, while the

Design of the Hybrid Wing Body with Nacelle: N3-X Propulsion-Airframe Configuration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, Hyoungjin; Harding, David; Gronstal, David T.; Liou, May-Fun; Liou, Meng-Sing

2016-01-01

The Hybrid Wing Body (HWB) aircraft is of great interest for future transport concepts due to itspromises of reduced aircraft noise, nitrous-oxide emissions, and fuel consumption. A design parameterizationmethod for HWB configurations with mail slot nacelle has been developed for a fast exploration of designspace in conceptual and preliminary design phases of a HWB configuration. A HWB planform model byLaughlin [11] was implemented, and the Class Shape Transformation (CST) airfoil generation method byKulfan [10] was utilized to construct the needed geometry for computational high fidelity aerodynamicsimulations. Geometric constraints for the parameterization such as internal cabin and cargo hold layoutswere imposed on the geometry generation. A CFD simulation was performed for a HWB configurationgenerated by the current geometric modeler, clearly showing a significant effect of the installed nacelle on theflowfield.

Assessment of Geometry and In-Flow Effects on Contra-Rotating Open Rotor Broadband Noise Predictions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zawodny, Nikolas S.; Nark, Douglas M.; Boyd, D. Douglas, Jr.

2015-01-01

Application of previously formulated semi-analytical models for the prediction of broadband noise due to turbulent rotor wake interactions and rotor blade trailing edges is performed on the historical baseline F31/A31 contra-rotating open rotor configuration. Simplified two-dimensional blade element analysis is performed on cambered NACA 4-digit airfoil profiles, which are meant to serve as substitutes for the actual rotor blade sectional geometries. Rotor in-flow effects such as induced axial and tangential velocities are incorporated into the noise prediction models based on supporting computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results and simplified in-flow velocity models. Emphasis is placed on the development of simplified rotor in-flow models for the purpose of performing accurate noise predictions independent of CFD information. The broadband predictions are found to compare favorably with experimental acoustic results.

Structural and aerodynamic loads and performance measurements of an SA349/2 helicopter with an advanced geometry rotor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heffernan, Ruth M.; Gaubert, Michel

1986-01-01

A flight test program was conducted to obtain data from an upgraded Gazelle helicopter with an advanced geometry, three bladed rotor. Data were acquired on upper and lower surface chordwise blade pressure, blade bending and torsion moments, and fuselage structural loads. Results are presented from 16 individual flight conditions, including level flights ranging from 10 to 77 m/sec at 50 to 3000 m altitude, turning flights up to 2.0 g, and autorotation. Rotor aerodynamic data include information from 51 pressure transducers distributed chordwise at 75, 88, and 97% radial stations. Individual tranducer pressure coefficients and airfoil section lift and pitching moment coefficients are presented, as are steady state flight condition parameters and time dependence rotor loads. All dynamic data are presented as harmonic analysis coefficients.

Loss reduction in axial-flow compressors through low-speed model testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wisler, D. C.

1984-01-01

A systematic procedure for reducing losses in axial-flow compressors is presented. In this procedure, a large, low-speed, aerodynamic model of a high-speed core compressor is designed and fabricated based on aerodynamic similarity principles. This model is then tested at low speed where high-loss regions associated with three-dimensional endwall boundary layers flow separation, leakage, and secondary flows can be located, detailed measurements made, and loss mechanisms determined with much greater accuracy and much lower cost and risk than is possible in small, high-speed compressors. Design modifications are made by using custom-tailored airfoils and vector diagrams, airfoil endbends, and modified wall geometries in the high-loss regions. The design improvements resulting in reduced loss or increased stall margin are then scaled to high speed. This paper describes the procedure and presents experimental results to show that in some cases endwall loss has been reduced by as much as 10 percent, flow separation has been reduced or eliminated, and stall margin has been substantially improved by using these techniques.

Closed loop steam cooled airfoil

DOEpatents

Widrig, Scott M.; Rudolph, Ronald J.; Wagner, Gregg P.

2006-04-18

An airfoil, a method of manufacturing an airfoil, and a system for cooling an airfoil is provided. The cooling system can be used with an airfoil located in the first stages of a combustion turbine within a combined cycle power generation plant and involves flowing closed loop steam through a pin array set within an airfoil. The airfoil can comprise a cavity having a cooling chamber bounded by an interior wall and an exterior wall so that steam can enter the cavity, pass through the pin array, and then return to the cavity to thereby cool the airfoil. The method of manufacturing an airfoil can include a type of lost wax investment casting process in which a pin array is cast into an airfoil to form a cooling chamber.

Parameter assessment for virtual Stackelberg game in aerodynamic shape optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jing; Xie, Fangfang; Zheng, Yao; Zhang, Jifa

2018-05-01

In this paper, parametric studies of virtual Stackelberg game (VSG) are conducted to assess the impact of critical parameters on aerodynamic shape optimization, including design cycle, split of design variables and role assignment. Typical numerical cases, including the inverse design and drag reduction design of airfoil, have been carried out. The numerical results confirm the effectiveness and efficiency of VSG. Furthermore, the most significant parameters are identified, e.g. the increase of design cycle can improve the optimization results but it will also add computational burden. These studies will maximize the productivity of the effort in aerodynamic optimization for more complicated engineering problems, such as the multi-element airfoil and wing-body configurations.

A users guide for A344: A program using a finite difference method to analyze transonic flow over oscillating airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weatherill, W. H.; Ehlers, F. E.

1979-01-01

The design and usage of a pilot program for calculating the pressure distributions over harmonically oscillating airfoils in transonic flow are described. The procedure used is based on separating the velocity potential into steady and unsteady parts and linearizing the resulting unsteady differential equations for small disturbances. The steady velocity potential which must be obtained from some other program, was required for input. The unsteady equation, as solved, is linear with spatially varying coefficients. Since sinusoidal motion was assumed, time was not a variable. The numerical solution was obtained through a finite difference formulation and either a line relaxation or an out of core direct solution method.

Tests of three tapered airfoils based on the N.A.C.A. 2200, the N.A.C.A.-M6, and the Clark Y sections

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, Raymond F

1934-01-01

Three tapered airfoils based on the N.A.C.A. 2200, the N.A.C.A.-M6, and the Clark Y sections were tested in the variable-density wind tunnel at a Reynolds Number of approximately 3,100,000. The models, which were of aspect ratio 6, had constant core center sections and rounded tips, and tapered in thickness from 18 percent at the roots to 9 percent at the tips. The aerodynamic characteristics are given by the usual dimensionless coefficients plotted for both positive and negative angles of attack and by effective profile-drag coefficients plotted against lift coefficients.

Modeling of a pitching and plunging airfoil using experimental flow field and load measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Troshin, Victor; Seifert, Avraham

2018-01-01

The main goal of the current paper is to outline a low-order modeling procedure of a heaving airfoil in a still fluid using experimental measurements. Due to its relative simplicity, the proposed procedure is applicable for the analysis of flow fields within complex and unsteady geometries and it is suitable for analyzing the data obtained by experimentation. Currently, this procedure is used to model and predict the flow field evolution using a small number of low profile load sensors and flow field measurements. A time delay neural network is used to estimate the flow field. The neural network estimates the amplitudes of the most energetic modes using four sensory inputs. The modes are calculated using proper orthogonal decomposition of the flow field data obtained experimentally by time-resolved, phase-locked particle imaging velocimetry. To permit the use of proper orthogonal decomposition, the measured flow field is mapped onto a stationary domain using volume preserving transformation. The analysis performed by the model showed good estimation quality within the parameter range used in the training procedure. However, the performance deteriorates for cases out of this range. This situation indicates that, to improve the robustness of the model, both the decomposition and the training data sets must be diverse in terms of input parameter space. In addition, the results suggest that the property of volume preservation of the mapping does not affect the model quality as long as the model is not based on the Galerkin approximation. Thus, it may be relaxed for cases with more complex geometry and kinematics.

Composite airfoil assembly

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Garcia-Crespo, Andres Jose

A composite blade assembly for mounting on a turbine wheel includes a ceramic airfoil and an airfoil platform. The ceramic airfoil is formed with an airfoil portion, a blade shank portion and a blade dovetail tang. The metal platform includes a platform shank and a radially inner platform dovetail. The ceramic airfoil is captured within the metal platform, such that in use, the ceramic airfoil is held within the turbine wheel independent of the metal platform.

Airfoil System for Cruising Flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shams, Qamar A. (Inventor); Liu, Tianshu (Inventor)

2014-01-01

An airfoil system includes an airfoil body and at least one flexible strip. The airfoil body has a top surface and a bottom surface, a chord length, a span, and a maximum thickness. Each flexible strip is attached along at least one edge thereof to either the top or bottom surface of the airfoil body. The flexible strip has a spanwise length that is a function of the airfoil body's span, a chordwise width that is a function of the airfoil body's chord length, and a thickness that is a function of the airfoil body's maximum thickness.

Nozzle airfoil having movable nozzle ribs

DOEpatents

Yu, Yufeng Phillip; Itzel, Gary Michael

2002-01-01

A nozzle vane or airfoil structure is provided in which the nozzle ribs are connected to the side walls of the vane or airfoil in such a way that the ribs provide the requisite mechanical support between the concave side and convex side of the airfoil but are not locked in the radial direction of the assembly, longitudinally of the airfoil. The ribs may be bi-cast onto a preformed airfoil side wall structure or fastened to the airfoil by an interlocking slide connection and/or welding. By attaching the nozzle ribs to the nozzle airfoil metal in such a way that allows play longitudinally of the airfoil, the temperature difference induced radial thermal stresses at the nozzle airfoil/rib joint area are reduced while maintaining proper mechanical support of the nozzle side walls.

Advancements in adaptive aerodynamic technologies for airfoils and wings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jepson, Jeffrey Keith

Although aircraft operate over a wide range of flight conditions, current fixed-geometry aircraft are optimized for only a few of these conditions. By altering the shape of the aircraft, adaptive aerodynamics can be used to increase the safety and performance of an aircraft by tailoring the aircraft for multiple flight conditions. Of the various shape adaptation concepts currently being studied, the use of multiple trailing-edge flaps along the span of a wing offers a relatively high possibility of being incorporated on aircraft in the near future. Multiple trailing-edge flaps allow for effective spanwise camber adaptation with resulting drag benefits over a large speed range and load alleviation at high-g conditions. The research presented in this dissertation focuses on the development of this concept of using trailing-edge flaps to tailor an aircraft for multiple flight conditions. One of the major tasks involved in implementing trailing-edge flaps is in designing the airfoil to incorporate the flap. The first part of this dissertation presents a design formulation that incorporates aircraft performance considerations in the inverse design of low-speed laminar-flow adaptive airfoils with trailing-edge cruise flaps. The benefit of using adaptive airfoils is that the size of the low-drag region of the drag polar can be effectively increased without increasing the maximum thickness of the airfoil. Two aircraft performance parameters are considered: level-flight maximum speed and maximum range. It is shown that the lift coefficients for the lower and upper corners of the airfoil low-drag range can be appropriately adjusted to tailor the airfoil for these two aircraft performance parameters. The design problem is posed as a part of a multidimensional Newton iteration in an existing conformal-mapping based inverse design code, PROFOIL. This formulation automatically adjusts the lift coefficients for the corners of the low-drag range for a given flap deflection as required for the airfoil-aircraft matching. Examples are presented to illustrate the flapped-airfoil design approach for a general aviation aircraft and the results are validated by comparison with results from post-design aircraft performance computations. Once the airfoil is designed to incorporate a TE flap, it is important to determine the most suitable flap angles along the wing for different flight conditions. The second part of this dissertation presents a method for determining the optimum flap angles to minimize drag based on pressures measured at select locations on the wing. Computational flow simulations using a panel method are used "in the loop" for demonstrating closed-loop control of the flaps. Examples in the paper show that the control algorithm is successful in correctly adapting the wing to achieve the target lift distributions for minimizing induced drag while adjusting the wing angle of attack for operation of the wing in the drag bucket. It is shown that the "sense-and-adapt" approach developed is capable of handling varying and unpredictable inflow conditions. Such a capability could be useful in adapting long-span flexible wings that may experience significant and unknown atmospheric inflow variations along the span. To further develop the "sense-and-adapt" approach, the method was tested experimentally in the third part of the research. The goal of the testing was to see if the same results found computationally can be obtained experimentally. The North Carolina State University subsonic wind tunnel was used for the wind tunnel tests. Results from the testing showed that the "sense-and-adapt" approach has the same performance experimentally as it did computationally. The research presented in this dissertation is a stepping stone towards further development of the concept, which includes modeling the system in the Simulink environment and flight experiments using uninhabited aerial vehicles.

Airfoils for wind turbine

DOEpatents

Tangler, James L.; Somers, Dan M.

1996-01-01

Airfoils for the blade of a wind turbine wherein each airfoil is characterized by a thickness in a range from 16%-24% and a maximum lift coefficient designed to be largely insensitive to roughness effects. The airfoils include a family of airfoils for a blade 15 to 25 meters in length, a family of airfoils for a blade 1 to 5 meters in length, and a family of airfoils for a blade 5 to 10 meters in length.

The S407, S409, and S410 Airfoils

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-08-01

problem of transforming the pressure distributions into airfoil shapes. The Eppler Airfoil Design and Analysis Code (refs. 8 and 9) was used because of...Summary of Airfoil Data. NACA Rep. 824, 1945. (Supersedes NACA WR L-560.) 4. Eppler , Richard; and Somers, Dan M.: Airfoil Design for Reynolds...8. Eppler , Richard: Airfoil Design and Data. Springer-Verlag (Berlin), 1990. 9. Eppler , Richard: Airfoil Program System “PROFIL07.” User’s Guide

The effects of leading edge and downstream film cooling on turbine vane heat transfer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hylton, L. D.; Nirmalan, V.; Sultanian, B. K.; Kaufman, R. M.

1988-11-01

The progress under contract NAS3-24619 toward the goal of establishing a relevant data base for use in improving the predictive design capabilities for external heat transfer to turbine vanes, including the effect of downstream film cooling with and without leading edge showerhead film cooling. Experimental measurements were made in a two-dimensional cascade previously used to obtain vane surface heat transfer distributions on nonfilm cooled airfoils under contract NAS3-22761 and leading edge showerhead film cooled airfoils under contract NAS3-23695. The principal independent parameters (Mach number, Reynolds number, turbulence, wall-to-gas temperature ratio, coolant-to-gas temperature ratio, and coolant-to-gas pressure ratio) were maintained over ranges consistent with actual engine conditions and the test matrix was structured to provide an assessment of the independent influence of parameters of interest, namely, exit Mach number, exit Reynolds number, coolant-to-gas temperature ratio, and coolant-to-gas pressure ratio. Data provide a data base for downstream film cooled turbine vanes and extends the data bases generated in the two previous studies. The vane external heat transfer obtained indicate that considerable cooling benefits can be achieved by utilizing downstream film cooling. The data obtained and presented illustrate the interaction of the variables and should provide the airfoil designer and computational analyst the information required to improve heat transfer design capabilities for film cooled turbine airfoils.

The effects of leading edge and downstream film cooling on turbine vane heat transfer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hylton, L. D.; Nirmalan, V.; Sultanian, B. K.; Kaufman, R. M.

1988-01-01

The progress under contract NAS3-24619 toward the goal of establishing a relevant data base for use in improving the predictive design capabilities for external heat transfer to turbine vanes, including the effect of downstream film cooling with and without leading edge showerhead film cooling. Experimental measurements were made in a two-dimensional cascade previously used to obtain vane surface heat transfer distributions on nonfilm cooled airfoils under contract NAS3-22761 and leading edge showerhead film cooled airfoils under contract NAS3-23695. The principal independent parameters (Mach number, Reynolds number, turbulence, wall-to-gas temperature ratio, coolant-to-gas temperature ratio, and coolant-to-gas pressure ratio) were maintained over ranges consistent with actual engine conditions and the test matrix was structured to provide an assessment of the independent influence of parameters of interest, namely, exit Mach number, exit Reynolds number, coolant-to-gas temperature ratio, and coolant-to-gas pressure ratio. Data provide a data base for downstream film cooled turbine vanes and extends the data bases generated in the two previous studies. The vane external heat transfer obtained indicate that considerable cooling benefits can be achieved by utilizing downstream film cooling. The data obtained and presented illustrate the interaction of the variables and should provide the airfoil designer and computational analyst the information required to improve heat transfer design capabilities for film cooled turbine airfoils.

Airfoils for wind turbine

DOEpatents

Tangler, J.L.; Somers, D.M.

1996-10-08

Airfoils are disclosed for the blade of a wind turbine wherein each airfoil is characterized by a thickness in a range from 16%-24% and a maximum lift coefficient designed to be largely insensitive to roughness effects. The airfoils include a family of airfoils for a blade 15 to 25 meters in length, a family of airfoils for a blade 1 to 5 meters in length, and a family of airfoils for a blade 5 to 10 meters in length. 10 figs.

Developpement et implementation d'une methode pour resoudre les equations de la couche limite laminaire et turbulente

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leuca, Maxim

CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) is a computational tool for studying flow in science and technology. The Aerospace Industry uses increasingly the CFD modeling and design phase of the aircraft, so the precision with which phenomena are simulated boundary layer is very important. The research efforts are focused on optimizing the aerodynamic performance of airfoils to predict the drag and delay the laminar-turbulent transition. CFD codes must be fast and efficient to model complex geometries for aerodynamic flows. The resolution of the boundary layer equations requires a large amount of computing resources for viscous flows. CFD codes are commonly used to simulate aerodynamic flows, require normal meshes to the wall, extremely fine, and, by consequence, the calculations are very expensive. . This thesis proposes a new approach to solve the equations of boundary layer for laminar and turbulent flows using an approach based on the finite difference method. Integrated into a code of panels, this concept allows to solve airfoils avoiding the use of iterative algorithms, usually computing time and often involving convergence problems. The main advantages of panels methods are their simplicity and ability to obtain, with minimal computational effort, solutions in complex flow conditions for relatively complicated configurations. To verify and validate the developed program, experimental data are used as references when available. Xfoil code is used to obtain data as a pseudo references. Pseudo-reference, as in the absence of experimental data, we cannot really compare two software together. Xfoil is a program that has proven to be accurate and inexpensive computing resources. Developed by Drela (1985), this program uses the method with two integral to design and analyze profiles of wings at low speed (Drela et Youngren, 2014), (Drela, 2003). NACA 0012, NACA 4412, and ATR-42 airfoils have been used for this study. For the airfoils NACA 0012 and NACA 4412 the calculations are made using the Mach number M =0.17 and Reynolds number Re = 6x10 6 conditions for which we have experimental results. For the airfoil ATR-42 the calculations are made using the Mach number M =0.1 and Reynolds number Re=536450 as it was analysed in LARCASE's Price-Paidoussis wind tunnel. Keywords: boundary layer, direct method, displacement thickness, finite differences, Xfoil code.

An experimental study of mushroom shaped stall cells. [on finite wings with separated flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Winkelmann, A. E.

1982-01-01

Surface patterns characterized by a pair of counter-rotating swirls have been observed in connection with the conduction of surface flow visualization experiments involving test geometries with separated flows. An example of this phenomenon occurring on a finite wing with trailing edge stall has been referred to by Winkelmann and Barlow (1980) as 'mushroom shaped'. A description is presented of a collection of experimental results which show or suggest the occurrence of mushroom shaped stall cells on a variety of test geometries. Investigations conducted with finite wings, airfoil models, and flat plates are considered, and attention is given to studies involving the use of bluff models, investigations of shock induced boundary layer separation, and mushroom shaped patterns observed in a number of miscellaneous cases. It is concluded that the mushroom shaped stall cell appears commonly in separated flow regions.

Detailed heat/mass transfer distributions in a rotating two pass coolant channel with engine-near cross section and smooth walls.

PubMed

Rathjen, L; Hennecke, D K; Bock, S; Kleinstück, R

2001-05-01

This paper shows results obtained by experimental and numerical investigations concerning flow structure and heat/mass transfer in a rotating two-pass coolant channel with engine-near geometry. The smooth two passes are connected by a 180 degrees U-bend in which a 90 degrees turning vane is mounted. The influence of rotation number, Reynolds number and geometry is investigated. The results show a detailed picture of the flow field and distributions of Sherwood number ratios determined experimentally by the use of the naphthalene sublimation technique as well as Nusselt number ratios obtained from the numerical work. Especially the heat/mass transfer distributions in the bend and in the region after the bend show strong gradients, where several separation zones exist and the flow is forced to follow the turbine airfoil shape. Comparisons of numerical and experimental results show only partly good agreement.

A comparative study of turbulence models for overset grids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Renze, Kevin J.; Buning, Pieter G.; Rajagopalan, R. G.

1992-01-01

The implementation of two different types of turbulence models for a flow solver using the Chimera overset grid method is examined. Various turbulence model characteristics, such as length scale determination and transition modeling, are found to have a significant impact on the computed pressure distribution for a multielement airfoil case. No inherent problem is found with using either algebraic or one-equation turbulence models with an overset grid scheme, but simulation of turbulence for multiple-body or complex geometry flows is very difficult regardless of the gridding method. For complex geometry flowfields, modification of the Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model is necessary to select the appropriate length scale in wall-bounded regions. The overset grid approach presents no obstacle to use of a one- or two-equation turbulence model. Both Baldwin-Lomax and Baldwin-Barth models have problems providing accurate eddy viscosity levels for complex multiple-body flowfields such as those involving the Space Shuttle.

Flow visualization over a thick blunt trailing-edge airfoil with base cavity at low Reynolds numbers using PIV technique.

PubMed

Taherian, Gholamhossein; Nili-Ahmadabadi, Mahdi; Karimi, Mohammad Hassan; Tavakoli, Mohammad Reza

2017-01-01

In this study, the effect of cutting the end of a thick airfoil and adding a cavity on its flow pattern is studied experimentally using PIV technique. First, by cutting 30% chord length of the Riso airfoil, a thick blunt trialing-edge airfoil is generated. The velocity field around the original airfoil and the new airfoil is measured by PIV technique and compared with each other. Then, adding two parallel plates to the end of the new airfoil forms the desired cavity. Continuous measurement of unsteady flow velocity over the Riso airfoil with thick blunt trailing edge and base cavity is the most important innovation of this research. The results show that cutting off the end of the airfoil decreases the wake region behind the airfoil, when separation occurs. Moreover, adding a cavity to the end of the thickened airfoil causes an increase in momentum and a further decrease in the wake behind the trailing edge that leads to a drag reduction in comparison with the thickened airfoil without cavity. Furthermore, using cavity decreases the Strouhal number and vortex shedding frequency.

Experimental Investigation of Turbine Vane Heat Transfer for Alternative Fuels

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nix, Andrew Carl

The focus of this program was to experimentally investigate advanced gas turbine cooling schemes and the effects of and factors that contribute to surface deposition from particulate matter found in coal syngas exhaust flows on turbine airfoil heat transfer and film cooling, as well as to characterize surface roughness and determine the effects of surface deposition on turbine components. The program was a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary collaborative effort between aero-thermal and materials faculty researchers and the Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). The primary technical objectives of the program were to evaluate the effects of combustion of syngas fuelsmore » on heat transfer to turbine vanes and blades in land-based power generation gas turbine engines. The primary questions to be answered by this investigation were; What are the factors that contribute to particulate deposition on film cooled gas turbine components? An experimental program was performed in a high-temperature and pressure combustion rig at the DOE NETL; What is the effect of coal syngas combustion and surface deposition on turbine airfoil film cooling? Deposition of particulate matter from the combustion gases can block film cooling holes, decreasing the flow of the film coolant and the film cooling effectiveness; How does surface deposition from coal syngas combustion affect turbine surface roughness? Increased surface roughness can increase aerodynamic losses and result in decreased turbine hot section efficiency, increasing engine fuel consumption to maintain desired power output. Convective heat transfer is also greatly affected by the surface roughness of the airfoil surface; Is there any significant effect of surface deposition or erosion on integrity of turbine airfoil thermal barrier coatings (TBC) and do surface deposits react with the TBC in any way to decrease its thermal insulating capability? Spallation and erosion of TBC is a persistent problem in modern turbine engines; and What advancements in film cooling hole geometry and design can increase effectiveness of film cooling in turbines burning high-hydrogen coal syngas due to the higher heat loads and mass flow rates of the core flow? Experimental and numerical investigations of advanced cooling geometries that can improve resistance to surface deposition were performed. The answers to these questions were investigated through experimental measurements of turbine blade surface temperature and coolant coverage (via infrared camera images and thermocouples) and time-varying surface roughness in the NETL high-pressure combustion rig with accelerated, simulated surface deposition and advanced cooling hole concepts, coupled with detailed materials analysis and characterization using conventional methods of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), 3-D Surface Topography (using a 3-D stylus profilometer). Detailed surface temperatures and cooling effectiveness could not be measured due to issues with the NETL infrared camera system. In collaboration with faculty startup funding from the principal investigator, experimental and numerical investigations were performed of an advanced film cooling hole geometry, the anti-vortex hole (AVH), focusing on improving cooling effectiveness and decreasing the counter-rotating vortex of conventional cooling holes which can entrain mainstream particulate matter to the surface. The potential benefit of this program is in gaining a fundamental understanding of how the use of alternative fuels will effect the operation of modern gas turbine engines, providing valuable data for more effective cooling designs for future turbine systems utilizing alternative fuels.« less

An initial investigation into methods of computing transonic aerodynamic sensitivity coefficients

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carlson, Leland A.

1994-01-01

The primary accomplishments of the project are as follows: (1) Using the transonic small perturbation equation as a flowfield model, the project demonstrated that the quasi-analytical method could be used to obtain aerodynamic sensitivity coefficients for airfoils at subsonic, transonic, and supersonic conditions for design variables such as Mach number, airfoil thickness, maximum camber, angle of attack, and location of maximum camber. It was established that the quasi-analytical approach was an accurate method for obtaining aerodynamic sensitivity derivatives for airfoils at transonic conditions and usually more efficient than the finite difference approach. (2) The usage of symbolic manipulation software to determine the appropriate expressions and computer coding associated with the quasi-analytical method for sensitivity derivatives was investigated. Using the three dimensional fully conservative full potential flowfield model, it was determined that symbolic manipulation along with a chain rule approach was extremely useful in developing a combined flowfield and quasi-analytical sensitivity derivative code capable of considering a large number of realistic design variables. (3) Using the three dimensional fully conservative full potential flowfield model, the quasi-analytical method was applied to swept wings (i.e. three dimensional) at transonic flow conditions. (4) The incremental iterative technique has been applied to the three dimensional transonic nonlinear small perturbation flowfield formulation, an equivalent plate deflection model, and the associated aerodynamic and structural discipline sensitivity equations; and coupled aeroelastic results for an aspect ratio three wing in transonic flow have been obtained.

Theoretical performance of cross-wind axis turbines with results for a catenary vertical axis configuration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Muraca, R. J.; Stephens, M. V.; Dagenhart, J. R.

1975-01-01

A general analysis capable of predicting performance characteristics of cross-wind axis turbines was developed, including the effects of airfoil geometry, support struts, blade aspect ratio, windmill solidity, blade interference and curved flow. The results were compared with available wind tunnel results for a catenary blade shape. A theoretical performance curve for an aerodynamically efficient straight blade configuration was also presented. In addition, a linearized analytical solution applicable for straight configurations was developed. A listing of the computer program developed for numerical solutions of the general performance equations is included in the appendix.

Unstructured grid research and use at NASA Lewis Research Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Potapczuk, Mark G.

1993-01-01

Computational fluid dynamics applications of grid research at LRC include inlets, nozzles, and ducts; turbomachinery; propellers - ducted and unducted; and aircraft icing. Some issues related to internal flow grid generation are resolution requirements on several boundaries, shock resolution vs. grid periodicity, grid spacing at blade/shroud gap, grid generation in turbine blade passages, and grid generation for inlet/nozzle geometries. Aircraft icing grid generation issues include (1) small structures relative to airfoil chord must be resolved; (2) excessive number of grid points in far-field using structured grid; and (3) grid must be recreated as ice shape grows.

Simplified dragonfly airfoil aerodynamics at Reynolds numbers below 8000

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Levy, David-Elie; Seifert, Avraham

2009-07-01

Effective aerodynamics at Reynolds numbers lower than 10 000 is of great technological interest and a fundamental scientific challenge. The current study covers a Reynolds number range of 2000-8000. At these Reynolds numbers, natural insect flight could provide inspiration for technology development. Insect wings are commonly characterized by corrugated airfoils. In particular, the airfoil of the dragonfly, which is able to glide, can be used for two-dimensional aerodynamic study of fixed rigid wings. In this study, a simplified dragonfly airfoil is numerically analyzed in a steady free-stream flow. The aerodynamic performance (such as mean and fluctuating lift and drag), are first compared to a "traditional" low Reynolds number airfoil: the Eppler-E61. The numerical results demonstrate superior performances of the corrugated airfoil. A series of low-speed wind and water tunnel experiments were performed on the corrugated airfoil, to validate the numerical results. The findings indicate quantitative agreement with the mean wake velocity profiles and shedding frequencies while validating the two dimensionality of the flow. A flow physics numerical study was performed in order to understand the underlying mechanism of corrugated airfoils at these Reynolds numbers. Airfoil shapes based on the flow field characteristics of the corrugated airfoil were built and analyzed. Their performances were compared to those of the corrugated airfoil, stressing the advantages of the latter. It was found that the flow which separates from the corrugations and forms spanwise vortices intermittently reattaches to the aft-upper arc region of the airfoil. This mechanism is responsible for the relatively low intensity of the vortices in the airfoil wake, reducing the drag and increasing the flight performances of this kind of corrugated airfoil as compared to traditional low Reynolds number airfoils such as the Eppler E-61.

Application of two procedures for dual-point design of transonic airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mineck, Raymond E.; Campbell, Richard L.; Allison, Dennis O.

1994-01-01

Two dual-point design procedures were developed to reduce the objective function of a baseline airfoil at two design points. The first procedure to develop a redesigned airfoil used a weighted average of the shapes of two intermediate airfoils redesigned at each of the two design points. The second procedure used a weighted average of two pressure distributions obtained from an intermediate airfoil redesigned at each of the two design points. Each procedure was used to design a new airfoil with reduced wave drag at the cruise condition without increasing the wave drag or pitching moment at the climb condition. Two cycles of the airfoil shape-averaging procedure successfully designed a new airfoil that reduced the objective function and satisfied the constraints. One cycle of the target (desired) pressure-averaging procedure was used to design two new airfoils that reduced the objective function and came close to satisfying the constraints.

The aerodynamic design of an advanced rotor airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blackwell, J. A., Jr.; Hinson, B. L.

1978-01-01

An advanced rotor airfoil, designed utilizing supercritical airfoil technology and advanced design and analysis methodology is described. The airfoil was designed subject to stringent aerodynamic design criteria for improving the performance over the entire rotor operating regime. The design criteria are discussed. The design was accomplished using a physical plane, viscous, transonic inverse design procedure, and a constrained function minimization technique for optimizing the airfoil leading edge shape. The aerodynamic performance objectives of the airfoil are discussed.

NASA supercritical airfoils: A matrix of family-related airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harris, Charles D.

1990-01-01

The NASA supercritical airfoil development program is summarized in a chronological fashion. Some of the airfoil design guidelines are discussed, and coordinates of a matrix of family related supercritical airfoils ranging from thicknesses of 2 to 18 percent and over a design lift coefficient range from 0 to 1.0 are presented.

Impingement of Water Droplets on NACA 65A004 Airfoil and Effect of Change in Airfoil Thickness from 12 to 4 Percent at 4 deg Angle of Attack

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brun, Rinaldo J.; Gallagher, Helen M.; Vogt, Dorothea E.

1953-01-01

The trajectories of droplets in the air flowing past an NACA 65A004 a irfoil at an angle of attack of 4 deg were determined. The amount of water in droplet form impinging on the airfoil, the area of droplet impingement, and the rate of droplet impingement per unit area on the airfoil surface were calculated from the trajectories and presented to cover a large range of flight and atmospheric conditions. The effect of a change in airfoil thickness from 12 to 4 percent at 4 deg angle of attack is presented by comparing the impingement calculations for the NACA 65A004 airfoil with those for the NACA 65(sub 1)-208 and 65(sub 1)-212 airfoils. The rearward limit of impingement on the upper surface decreases as the airfoil thickness decreases. The rearward limit of impingement on the lower surface increases with a decrease in airfoil t hickness. The total water intercepted decreases as the airfoil thickness is decreased.

Wind-tunnel test results of airfoil modifications for the EA-6B

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sewall, W. G.; Mcghee, R. J.; Ferris, J. C.

1987-01-01

Wind-tunnel tests have been conducted (to determine the effects on airfoil performance for several airfoil modifications) for the EA-6B Wing Improvement Program. The modifications consist of contour changes to the leading-edge slat and trailing-edge flap to provide a higher low-speed maximum lift with no high-speed cruise-drag penalty. Airfoil sections from the 28- and 76-percent span stations were selected as baseline shapes with the major testing devoted to the inboard airfoil section (28-percent span station). The airfoil modifications increased the low-speed maximum lift coefficient between 20 and 35 percent over test conditions of 3 to 14 million chord Reynolds number and 0.14 to 0.34 Mach number. At the high-speed test conditions of 0.4 to 0.80 Mach number and 10 million chord Reynolds number, the modified airfoils had either matched or had lower drag coefficients for all normal-force coefficients above 0.2 as compared to the baseline airfoil. At normal-force coefficients less than 0.2, the baseline (original) airfoil had lower drag coefficients than any of the modified airfoils.

The conformal transformation of an airfoil into a straight line and its application to the inverse problem of airfoil theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mutterperl, William

1944-01-01

A method of conformal transformation is developed that maps an airfoil into a straight line, the line being chosen as the extended chord line of the airfoil. The mapping is accomplished by operating directly with the airfoil ordinates. The absence of any preliminary transformation is found to shorten the work substantially over that of previous methods. Use is made of the superposition of solutions to obtain a rigorous counterpart of the approximate methods of thin-airfoils theory. The method is applied to the solution of the direct and inverse problems for arbitrary airfoils and pressure distributions. Numerical examples are given. Applications to more general types of regions, in particular to biplanes and to cascades of airfoils, are indicated. (author)

Darrieus wind-turbine airfoil configurations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Migliore, P. G.; Fritschen, J. R.

1982-06-01

The purpose was to determine what aerodynamic performance improvement, if any, could be achieved by judiciously choosing the airfoil sections for Darrieus wind turbine blades. Ten different airfoils, having thickness to chord ratios of twelve, fifteen and eighteen percent, were investigated. Performance calculations indicated that the NACA 6-series airfoils yield peak power coefficients at least as great as the NACA. Furthermore, the power coefficient-tip speed ratio curves were broader and flatter for the 6-series airfoils. Sample calculations for an NACA 63 sub 2-015 airfoil showed an annual energy output increase of 17 to 27% depending upon rotor solidity, compared to an NACA 0015 airfoil. An attempt was made to account for the flow curvature effects associated with Darrieus turbines by transforming the NACA 63 sub 2-015 airfoil to an appropriate shape.

Leading-edge singularities in thin-airfoil theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, R. T.

1976-01-01

If the thin airfoil theory is applied to an airfoil having a rounded leading edge, a certain error will arise in the determination of the pressure distribution around the nose. It is shown that the evaluation of the drag of such a blunt nosed airfoil by the thin airfoil theory requires the addition of a leading edge force, analogous to the leading edge thrust of the lifting airfoil. The method of calculation is illustrated by application to: (1) The Joukowski airfoil in subsonic flow; and (2) the thin elliptic cone in supersonic flow. A general formula for the edge force is provided which is applicable to a variety of wing forms.

Vertical axis wind turbine airfoil

DOEpatents

Krivcov, Vladimir; Krivospitski, Vladimir; Maksimov, Vasili; Halstead, Richard; Grahov, Jurij Vasiljevich

2012-12-18

A vertical axis wind turbine airfoil is described. The wind turbine airfoil can include a leading edge, a trailing edge, an upper curved surface, a lower curved surface, and a centerline running between the upper surface and the lower surface and from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The airfoil can be configured so that the distance between the centerline and the upper surface is the same as the distance between the centerline and the lower surface at all points along the length of the airfoil. A plurality of such airfoils can be included in a vertical axis wind turbine. These airfoils can be vertically disposed and can rotate about a vertical axis.

Airfoil structure

DOEpatents

Frey, Gary A.; Twardochleb, Christopher Z.

1998-01-01

Past airfoil configurations have been used to improve aerodynamic performance and engine efficiencies. The present airfoil configuration further increases component life and reduces maintenance by reducing internal stress within the airfoil itself. The airfoil includes a chord and a span. Each of the chord and the span has a bow being summed to form a generally "C" configuration of the airfoil. The generally "C" configuration includes a compound bow in which internal stresses resulting from a thermal temperature gradient are reduced. The structural configuration reduces internal stresses resulting from thermal expansion.

Airfoil structure

DOEpatents

Frey, G.A.; Twardochleb, C.Z.

1998-01-13

Past airfoil configurations have been used to improve aerodynamic performance and engine efficiencies. The present airfoil configuration further increases component life and reduces maintenance by reducing internal stress within the airfoil itself. The airfoil includes a chord and a span. Each of the chord and the span has a bow being summed to form a generally ``C`` configuration of the airfoil. The generally ``C`` configuration includes a compound bow in which internal stresses resulting from a thermal temperature gradient are reduced. The structural configuration reduces internal stresses resulting from thermal expansion. 6 figs.

Hydrodynamics of a Digitized Adult Humpback Whale Flipper

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fassmann, Wesley N.; McDonald, Samuel J.; Thomson, Scott L.; Fish, Frank E.

2013-11-01

During feeding, humpback whales turn with a turn radius of up to 1 /6th of their length towards schools of fish enclosed by bubble nets. This high maneuverability requirement is facilitated by high aspect ratio flippers with leading edge tubercles that delay stall. Previous experimental and computational studies have used idealized models, such as airfoils with scalloped leading edges, to explore the influence of leading edge tubercles on boundary layer separation, vortex generation, and airfoil lift and drag characteristics. Owing to the substantial size of the flipper, no studies have been performed on a digitized adult humpback flipper with real geometry. In this study the hydrodynamics of a realistic humpback flipper model were explored. The model was developed by digitizing a sequence of 18 images circumscribing the suspended flipper of a beached humpback whale. A physical prototype was constructed based on the resulting 3D model, along with a complementary model with the tubercles removed. Experimentally-obtained measurements of lift and drag were used to study the influence of the tubercles. In the presentation, digitization and flow measurement methods are described, and the flow data and results are presented and discussed.

Shape design and CFD analysis on a 1MW-class horizontal axis tidal current turbine blade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, P. M.; Choi, Y. D.

2013-12-01

This study aims to develop a 1MW-class horizontal axis tidal current turbine rotor blade which can be applied near the southwest island regions of South Korea. On the basis of actual tidal current conditions of southern region of Korea, configuration design of 1MW class turbine rotor blade is carried out by BEMT (Blade element momentum theory). The hydrodynamic performance including the lift and drag forces, is conducted with the variation of the angle of attack using an open source code of X-Foil. The purpose of the study is to study the shape of the hydrofoil used and how it affects the performance of the turbine. After a thorough study of many airfoils, a new hydrofoil is developed using the S814 and DU-91-W2- 250 airfoils, which show good performance for rough conditions. A combination of the upper and lower surface of the two hydrofoils is tested. Three dimensional models were developed and the optimized blade geometry is used for CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis with hexahedral numerical grids. Power coefficient, pressure coefficient and velocity distributions are investigated according to Tip Speed Ratio by CFD analysis.

Towards Robust Designs Via Multiple-Objective Optimization Methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Man Mohan, Rai

2006-01-01

Fabricating and operating complex systems involves dealing with uncertainty in the relevant variables. In the case of aircraft, flow conditions are subject to change during operation. Efficiency and engine noise may be different from the expected values because of manufacturing tolerances and normal wear and tear. Engine components may have a shorter life than expected because of manufacturing tolerances. In spite of the important effect of operating- and manufacturing-uncertainty on the performance and expected life of the component or system, traditional aerodynamic shape optimization has focused on obtaining the best design given a set of deterministic flow conditions. Clearly it is important to both maintain near-optimal performance levels at off-design operating conditions, and, ensure that performance does not degrade appreciably when the component shape differs from the optimal shape due to manufacturing tolerances and normal wear and tear. These requirements naturally lead to the idea of robust optimal design wherein the concept of robustness to various perturbations is built into the design optimization procedure. The basic ideas involved in robust optimal design will be included in this lecture. The imposition of the additional requirement of robustness results in a multiple-objective optimization problem requiring appropriate solution procedures. Typically the costs associated with multiple-objective optimization are substantial. Therefore efficient multiple-objective optimization procedures are crucial to the rapid deployment of the principles of robust design in industry. Hence the companion set of lecture notes (Single- and Multiple-Objective Optimization with Differential Evolution and Neural Networks ) deals with methodology for solving multiple-objective Optimization problems efficiently, reliably and with little user intervention. Applications of the methodologies presented in the companion lecture to robust design will be included here. The evolutionary method (DE) is first used to solve a relatively difficult problem in extended surface heat transfer wherein optimal fin geometries are obtained for different safe operating base temperatures. The objective of maximizing the safe operating base temperature range is in direct conflict with the objective of maximizing fin heat transfer. This problem is a good example of achieving robustness in the context of changing operating conditions. The evolutionary method is then used to design a turbine airfoil; the two objectives being reduced sensitivity of the pressure distribution to small changes in the airfoil shape and the maximization of the trailing edge wedge angle with the consequent increase in airfoil thickness and strength. This is a relevant example of achieving robustness to manufacturing tolerances and wear and tear in the presence of other objectives.

The effects of NACA 0012 airfoil modification on aerodynamic performance improvement and obtaining high lift coefficient and post-stall airfoil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sogukpinar, Haci

2018-02-01

In this study, aerodynamic performances of NACA 0012 airfoils with distinct modification are numerically investigated to obtain high lift coefficient and post-stall airfoils. NACA 0012 airfoil is divided into two part thought chord line then suction sides kept fixed and by changing the thickness of the pressure side new types of airfoil are created. Numerical experiments are then conducted by varying thickness of NACA 0012 from lower surface and different relative thicknesses asymmetrical airfoils are modified and NACA 0012-10, 0012-08, 0012-07, 0012-06, 0012-04, 0012-03, 0012-02, 0012-01 are created and simulated by using COMSOL software.

Prediction of circulation control performance characteristics for Super STOL and STOL applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naqvi, Messam Abbas

The rapid air travel growth during the last three decades, has resulted in runway congestion at major airports. The current airports infrastructure will not be able to support the rapid growth trends expected in the next decade. Changes or upgrades in infrastructure alone would not be able to satisfy the growth requirements, and new airplane concepts such as the NASA proposed Super Short Takeoff and Landing and Extremely Short Takeoff & Landing (ESTOL) are being vigorously pursued. Aircraft noise pollution during Takeoff & Landing is another serious concern and efforts are aimed to reduce the airframe noise produced by Conventional High Lift Devices during Takeoff & Landing. Circulation control technology has the prospect of being a good alternative to resolve both the aforesaid issues. Circulation control airfoils are not only capable of producing very high values of lift (Cl values in excess of 8.0) at zero degree angle of attack, but also eliminate the noise generated by the conventional high lift devices and their associated weight penalty as well as their complex operation and storage. This will ensure not only satisfying the small takeoff and landing distances, but minimal acoustic signature in accordance with FAA requirements. The Circulation Control relies on the tendency of an emanating wall jet to independently control the circulation and lift on an airfoil. Unlike, conventional airfoil where rear stagnation point is located at the sharp trailing edge, circulation control airfoils possess a round trailing edge, therefore the rear stagnation point is free to move. The location of rear stagnation point is controlled by the blown jet momentum. This provides a secondary control in the form of jet momentum with which the lift generated can be controlled rather the only available control of incidence (angle of attack) in case of conventional airfoils. The use of Circulation control despite its promising potential has been limited only to research applications due to the lack of a simple prediction capability. This research effort was focused on the creation of a rapid prediction capability of Circulation Control Aerodynamic Characteristics which could help designers with rapid performance estimates for design space exploration. A morphological matrix was created with the available set of options which could be chosen to create this prediction capability starting with purely analytical physics based modeling to high fidelity CFD codes. Based on the available constraints, and desired accuracy meta-models have been created around the two dimensional circulation control performance results computed using Navier Stokes Equations (Computational Fluid Dynamics). DSS2, a two dimensional RANS code written by Professor Lakshmi Sankar was utilized for circulation control airfoil characteristics. The CFD code was first applied to the NCCR 1510-7607N airfoil to validate the model with available experimental results. It was then applied to compute the results of a fractional factorial design of experiments array. Metamodels were formulated using the neural networks to the results obtained from the Design of Experiments. Additional validation runs were performed to validate the model predictions. Metamodels are not only capable of rapid performance prediction, but also help generate the relation trends of response matrices with control variables and capture the complex interactions between control variables. Quantitative as well as qualitative assessments of results were performed by computation of aerodynamic forces & moments and flow field visualizations. Wing characteristics in three dimensions were obtained by integration over the whole wing using Prandtl's Wing Theory. The baseline Super STOL configuration [3] was then analyzed with the application of circulation control technology. The desired values of lift and drag to achieve the target values of Takeoff & Landing performance were compared with the optimal configurations obtained by the model. The same optimal configurations were then subjected to Super STOL cruise conditions to perform a trade off analysis between Takeoff and Cruise Performance. Supercritical airfoils modified for circulation control were also thoroughly analyzed for Takeoff and Cruise performance and may constitute a viable option for Super STOL & STOL Designs. The prediction capability produced by this research effort can be integrated with the current conceptual aircraft modeling & simulation framework. The prediction tool is applicable within the selected ranges of each variable, but methodology and formulation scheme adopted can be applied to any other design space exploration.

The effect of small variations in profile of airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ward, Kenneth E

1931-01-01

This report deals with the effect of small variations in ordinates specified by different laboratories for the airfoil section. This study was made in connection with a more general investigation of the effect of small irregularities of the airfoil surface on the aerodynamic characteristics of an airfoil. These tests show that small changes in airfoil contours, resulting from variations in the specified ordinates, have a sufficiently large effect upon the airfoil characteristics to justify the taking of great care in the specification of ordinates for the construction of models.

Airfoil shape for a turbine nozzle

DOEpatents

Burdgick, Steven Sebastian; Patik, Joseph Francis; Itzel, Gary Michael

2002-01-01

A first-stage nozzle vane includes an airfoil having a profile according to Table I. The annulus profile of the hot gas path is defined in conjunction with the airfoil profile and the profile of the inner and outer walls by the Cartesian coordinate values given in Tables I and II, respectively. The airfoil is a three-dimensional bowed design, both in the airfoil body and in the trailing edge. The airfoil is steam and air-cooled by flowing cooling mediums through cavities extending in the vane between inner and outer walls.

Advanced technology airfoil research, volume 1, part 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1978-01-01

This compilation contains papers presented at the NASA Conference on Advanced Technology Airfoil Research held at Langley Research Center on March 7-9, 1978, which have unlimited distribution. This conference provided a comprehensive review of all NASA airfoil research, conducted in-house and under grant and contract. A broad spectrum of airfoil research outside of NASA was also reviewed. The major thrust of the technical sessions were in three areas: development of computational aerodynamic codes for airfoil analysis and design, development of experimental facilities and test techniques, and all types of airfoil applications.

Transonic airfoil design for helicopter rotor applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hassan, Ahmed A.; Jackson, B.

1989-01-01

Despite the fact that the flow over a rotor blade is strongly influenced by locally three-dimensional and unsteady effects, practical experience has always demonstrated that substantial improvements in the aerodynamic performance can be gained by improving the steady two-dimensional charateristics of the airfoil(s) employed. The two phenomena known to have great impact on the overall rotor performance are: (1) retreating blade stall with the associated large pressure drag, and (2) compressibility effects on the advancing blade leading to shock formation and the associated wave drag and boundary-layer separation losses. It was concluded that: optimization routines are a powerful tool for finding solutions to multiple design point problems; the optimization process must be guided by the judicious choice of geometric and aerodynamic constraints; optimization routines should be appropriately coupled to viscous, not inviscid, transonic flow solvers; hybrid design procedures in conjunction with optimization routines represent the most efficient approach for rotor airfroil design; unsteady effects resulting in the delay of lift and moment stall should be modeled using simple empirical relations; and inflight optimization of aerodynamic loads (e.g., use of variable rate blowing, flaps, etc.) can satisfy any number of requirements at design and off-design conditions.

Implementation of a Trailing-Edge Flap Analysis Model in the NASA Langley CAMRAD.MOD1/Hires Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Charles, Bruce

1999-01-01

Continual advances in rotorcraft performance, vibration and acoustic characteristics are being sought by rotary-wing vehicle manufacturers to improve efficiency, handling qualities and community noise acceptance of their products. The rotor system aerodynamic and dynamic behavior are among the key factors which must be addressed to meet the desired goals. Rotor aerodynamicists study how airload redistribution impacts performance and noise, and seek ways to achieve better airload distribution through changes in local aerodynamic response characteristics. One method currently receiving attention is the use of trailing-edge flaps mounted on the rotor blades to provide direct control of a portion of the spanwise lift characteristics. The following work describes the incorporation of a trailing-edge flap model in the CAMRAD.Mod1/FHUS comprehensive rotorcraft analysis code. The CAM-RAD.Mod1/HIRES analysis consists of three separate executable codes. These include the comprehensive trim analysis, CAMRAD.Mod1, the Indicial Post-Processor, IPP, for high resolution airloads, and AIRFOIL, which produces the rotor airfoil tables from input airfoil section characteristics. The modifications made to these components permitting analysis of flapped rotor configurations are documented herein along with user instructions detailing the new input variables and operational notes.

Lift hysteresis at stall as an unsteady boundary-layer phenomenon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moore, Franklin K

1956-01-01

Analysis of rotating stall of compressor blade rows requires specification of a dynamic lift curve for the airfoil section at or near stall, presumably including the effect of lift hysteresis. Consideration of the magnus lift of a rotating cylinder suggests performing an unsteady boundary-layer calculation to find the movement of the separation points of an airfoil fixed in a stream of variable incidence. The consideration of the shedding of vorticity into the wake should yield an estimate of lift increment proportional to time rate of change of angle of attack. This increment is the amplitude of the hysteresis loop. An approximate analysis is carried out according to the foregoing ideas for a 6:1 elliptic airfoil at the angle of attack for maximum lift. The assumptions of small perturbations from maximum lift are made, permitting neglect of distributed vorticity in the wake. The calculated hysteresis loop is counterclockwise. Finally, a discussion of the forms of hysteresis loops is presented; and, for small reduced frequency of oscillation, it is concluded that the concept of a viscous "time lag" is appropriate only for harmonic variations of angle of attack with time at mean conditions other than maximum lift.

Sensitivity analysis for aeroacoustic and aeroelastic design of turbomachinery blades

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lorence, Christopher B.; Hall, Kenneth C.

1995-01-01

A new method for computing the effect that small changes in the airfoil shape and cascade geometry have on the aeroacoustic and aeroelastic behavior of turbomachinery cascades is presented. The nonlinear unsteady flow is assumed to be composed of a nonlinear steady flow plus a small perturbation unsteady flow that is harmonic in time. First, the full potential equation is used to describe the behavior of the nonlinear mean (steady) flow through a two-dimensional cascade. The small disturbance unsteady flow through the cascade is described by the linearized Euler equations. Using rapid distortion theory, the unsteady velocity is split into a rotational part that contains the vorticity and an irrotational part described by a scalar potential. The unsteady vorticity transport is described analytically in terms of the drift and stream functions computed from the steady flow. Hence, the solution of the linearized Euler equations may be reduced to a single inhomogeneous equation for the unsteady potential. The steady flow and small disturbance unsteady flow equations are discretized using bilinear quadrilateral isoparametric finite elements. The nonlinear mean flow solution and streamline computational grid are computed simultaneously using Newton iteration. At each step of the Newton iteration, LU decomposition is used to solve the resulting set of linear equations. The unsteady flow problem is linear, and is also solved using LU decomposition. Next, a sensitivity analysis is performed to determine the effect small changes in cascade and airfoil geometry have on the mean and unsteady flow fields. The sensitivity analysis makes use of the nominal steady and unsteady flow LU decompositions so that no additional matrices need to be factored. Hence, the present method is computationally very efficient. To demonstrate how the sensitivity analysis may be used to redesign cascades, a compressor is redesigned for improved aeroelastic stability and two different fan exit guide vanes are redesigned for reduced downstream radiated noise. In addition, a framework detailing how the two-dimensional version of the method may be used to redesign three-dimensional geometries is presented.

Numerical study on the aerodynamic characteristics of both static and flapping wing with attachments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Lingwang; Zhang, Xingwei; Luo, Pan; Huang, Panpan

2017-10-01

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the aerodynamic mechanism of airfoils under different icing situations which are different icing type, different icing time, and different icing position. Numerical simulation is carried out by using the finite volume method for both static and flapping airfoils, when Reynolds number is kept at 135000. The difference of aerodynamic performance between the airfoil with attachments and without attachments are be investigated by comparing the force coefficients, lift-to-drag ratios and flow field contour. The present simulations reveal that some influences of attachment are similar in the static airfoil and the flapping airfoil. Specifically, the airfoil with the attachment derived from glaze ice type causes the worse aerodynamic performance than that derived from rime ice type. The longer the icing time, the greater influence of aerodynamic performance the attachment causes. The attachments on the leading-edge have the greater influence of aerodynamic performance than other positions. Moreover, there are little differences between the static airfoil and the flapping airfoil. Compared with the static airfoil, the flapping airfoil which attachment located on the trailing edge causes a worse aerodynamic performance. Both attachments derived from rime ice type and glaze ice type all will deteriorate the aerodynamic performance of the asymmetrical airfoils. Present work provides the systematic and comprehensive study about icing blade which is conducive to the development of the wind power generation technology.

The Effect of Aerodynamic Evaluators on the Multi-Objective Optimization of Flatback Airfoils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miller, M.; Slew, K. Lee; Matida, E.

2016-09-01

With the long lengths of today's wind turbine rotor blades, there is a need to reduce the mass, thereby requiring stiffer airfoils, while maintaining the aerodynamic efficiency of the airfoils, particularly in the inboard region of the blade where structural demands are highest. Using a genetic algorithm, the multi-objective aero-structural optimization of 30% thick flatback airfoils was systematically performed for a variety of aerodynamic evaluators such as lift-to-drag ratio (Cl/Cd), torque (Ct), and torque-to-thrust ratio (Ct/Cn) to determine their influence on airfoil shape and performance. The airfoil optimized for Ct possessed a 4.8% thick trailing-edge, and a rather blunt leading-edge region which creates high levels of lift and correspondingly, drag. It's ability to maintain similar levels of lift and drag under forced transition conditions proved it's insensitivity to roughness. The airfoil optimized for Cl/Cd displayed relatively poor insensitivity to roughness due to the rather aft-located free transition points. The Ct/Cn optimized airfoil was found to have a very similar shape to that of the Cl/Cd airfoil, with a slightly more blunt leading-edge which aided in providing higher levels of lift and moderate insensitivity to roughness. The influence of the chosen aerodynamic evaluator under the specified conditions and constraints in the optimization of wind turbine airfoils is shown to have a direct impact on the airfoil shape and performance.

An Approach to the Constrained Design of Natural Laminar Flow Airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Green, Bradford E.

1997-01-01

A design method has been developed by which an airfoil with a substantial amount of natural laminar flow can be designed, while maintaining other aerodynamic and geometric constraints. After obtaining the initial airfoil's pressure distribution at the design lift coefficient using an Euler solver coupled with an integral turbulent boundary layer method, the calculations from a laminar boundary layer solver are used by a stability analysis code to obtain estimates of the transition location (using N-Factors) for the starting airfoil. A new design method then calculates a target pressure distribution that will increase the laminar flow toward the desired amount. An airfoil design method is then iteratively used to design an airfoil that possesses that target pressure distribution. The new airfoil's boundary layer stability characteristics are determined, and this iterative process continues until an airfoil is designed that meets the laminar flow requirement and as many of the other constraints as possible.

An approach to the constrained design of natural laminar flow airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Green, Bradford Earl

1995-01-01

A design method has been developed by which an airfoil with a substantial amount of natural laminar flow can be designed, while maintaining other aerodynamic and geometric constraints. After obtaining the initial airfoil's pressure distribution at the design lift coefficient using an Euler solver coupled with an integml turbulent boundary layer method, the calculations from a laminar boundary layer solver are used by a stability analysis code to obtain estimates of the transition location (using N-Factors) for the starting airfoil. A new design method then calculates a target pressure distribution that will increase the larninar flow toward the desired amounl An airfoil design method is then iteratively used to design an airfoil that possesses that target pressure distribution. The new airfoil's boundary layer stability characteristics are determined, and this iterative process continues until an airfoil is designed that meets the laminar flow requirement and as many of the other constraints as possible.

Multi-Element Airfoil System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Turner, Travis L. (Inventor); Khorrami, Mehdi R. (Inventor); Lockard, David P. (Inventor); McKenney, Martin J. (Inventor); Atherley, Raymond D. (Inventor); Kidd, Reggie T. (Inventor)

2014-01-01

A multi-element airfoil system includes an airfoil element having a leading edge region and a skin element coupled to the airfoil element. A slat deployment system is coupled to the slat and the skin element, and is capable of deploying and retracting the slat and the skin element. The skin element substantially fills the lateral gap formed between the slat and the airfoil element when the slat is deployed. The system further includes an uncoupling device and a sensor to remove the skin element from the gap based on a critical angle-of-attack of the airfoil element. The system can alternatively comprise a trailing edge flap, where a skin element substantially fills the lateral gap between the flap and the trailing edge region of the airfoil element. In each case, the skin element fills a gap between the airfoil element and the deployed flap or slat to reduce airframe noise.

Summary of Airfoil Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stivers, Louis S.; Abbott, Ira H.; von Doenhoff, Albert E.

1945-01-01

Recent airfoil data for both flight and wind-tunnel tests have been collected and correlated insofar as possible. The flight data consist largely of drag measurements made by the wake-survey method. Most of the data on airfoil section characteristics were obtained in the Langley two-dimensional low-turbulence pressure tunnel. Detail data necessary for the application of NACA 6-serles airfoils to wing design are presented in supplementary figures, together with recent data for the NACA 24-, 44-, and 230-series airfoils. The general methods used to derive the basic thickness forms for NACA 6- and 7-series airfoils and their corresponding pressure distributions are presented. Data and methods are given for rapidly obtaining the approximate pressure distributions for NACA four-digit, five-digit, 6-, and 7-series airfoils. The report includes an analysis of the lift, drag, pitching-moment, and critical-speed characteristics of the airfoils, together with a discussion of the effects of surface conditions. Available data on high-lift devices are presented. Problems associated with lateral-control devices, leading-edge air intakes, and interference are briefly discussed. The data indicate that the effects of surface condition on the lift and drag characteristics are at least as large as the effects of the airfoil shape and must be considered in airfoil selection and the prediction of wing characteristics. Airfoils permitting extensive laminar flow, such as the NACA 6-series airfoils, have much lower drag coefficients at high speed and cruising lift coefficients than earlier types-of airfoils if, and only if, the wing surfaces are sufficiently smooth and fair. The NACA 6-series airfoils also have favorable critical-speed characteristics and do not appear to present unusual problems associated with the application of high-lift and lateral-control devices. Much of the data given in the NACA Advance Confidential Report entitled "Preliminary Low-Drag-Airfoil and Flap Data from Tests at Large Reynolds Number and Low Turbulence," by Eastman N. Jacobs, Ira R. Abbott, and Milton Davidson, March 1942 has been corrected and included in the present paper, which supersedes the previously published paper.

Theory for broadband Noise of Rotor and Stator Cascades with Inhomogeneous Inflow Turbulence Including Effects of Lean and Sweep

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hanson, Donald B.

2001-01-01

The problem of broadband noise generated by turbulence impinging on a downstream blade row is examined from a theoretical viewpoint. Equations are derived for sound power spectra in terms of 3 dimensional wavenumber spectra of the turbulence. Particular attention is given to issues of turbulence inhomogeneity associated with the near field of the rotor and variations through boundary layers. Lean and sweep of the rotor or stator cascade are also handled rigorously with a full derivation of the relevant geometry and definitions of lean and sweep angles. Use of the general theory is illustrated by 2 simple theoretical spectra for homogeneous turbulence. Limited comparisons are made with data from model fans designed by Pratt & Whitney, Allison, and Boeing. Parametric studies for stator noise are presented showing trends with Mach number, vane count, turbulence scale and intensity, lean, and sweep. Two conventions are presented to define lean and sweep. In the "cascade system" lean is a rotation out of its plane and sweep is a rotation of the airfoil in its plane. In the "duct system" lean is the leading edge angle viewing the fan from the front (along the fan axis) and sweep is the angle viewing the fan from the side (,perpendicular to the axis). It is shown that the governing parameter is sweep in the plane of the airfoil (which reduces the chordwise component of Mach number). Lean (out of the plane of the airfoil) has little effect. Rotor noise predictions are compared with duct turbulence/rotor interaction noise data from Boeing and variations, including blade tip sweep and turbulence axial and transverse scales are explored.

Thick airfoil designs for the root of the 10MW INNWIND.EU wind turbine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mu≁oz, A.; Méndez, B.; Munduate, X.

2016-09-01

The main objective of the “INNWIND.EU” project is to investigate and demonstrate innovative designs for 10-20MW offshore wind turbines and their key components, such as lightweight rotors. In this context, the present paper describes the development of two new airfoils for the blade root region. From the structural point of view, the root is the region in charge of transmitting all the loads of the blade to the hub. Thus, it is very important to include airfoils with adequate structural properties in this region. The present article makes use of high-thickness and blunt trailing edge airfoils to improve the structural characteristics of the airfoils used to build this blade region. CENER's (National Renewable Energy Center of Spain) airfoil design tool uses the airfoil software XFOIL to compute the aerodynamic characteristics of the designed airfoils. That software is based on panel methods which show some problems with the calculation of airfoils with thickness bigger than 35% and with blunt trailing edge. This drawback has been overcome with the development of an empirical correction for XFOIL lift and drag prediction based on airfoil experiments. From the aerodynamic point of view, thick airfoils are known to be very sensitive to surface contamination or turbulent inflow conditions. Consequently, the design optimization takes into account the aerodynamic torque in both clean and contaminated conditions. Two airfoils have been designed aiming to improve the structural and the aerodynamic behaviour of the blade in clean and contaminated conditions. This improvement has been corroborated with Blade Element Momentum (BEM) computations.

Numerical Simulation Of Cutting Of Gear Teeth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oswald, Fred B.; Huston, Ronald L.; Mavriplis, Dimitrios

1994-01-01

Shapes of gear teeth produced by gear cutters of specified shape simulated computationally, according to approach based on principles of differential geometry. Results of computer simulation displayed as computer graphics and/or used in analyses of design, manufacturing, and performance of gears. Applicable to both standard and non-standard gear-tooth forms. Accelerates and facilitates analysis of alternative designs of gears and cutters. Simulation extended to study generation of surfaces other than gears. Applied to cams, bearings, and surfaces of arbitrary rolling elements as well as to gears. Possible to develop analogous procedures for simulating manufacture of skin surfaces like automobile fenders, airfoils, and ship hulls.

Pressure distribution over an NACA 23012 airfoil with an NACA 23012 external-airfoil flap

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wenzinger, Carl J

1938-01-01

Report presents the results of pressure-distribution tests of an NACA 23012 airfoil with an NACA 23012 external airfoil flap made in the 7 by 10-foot wind tunnel. The pressures were measured on the upper and lower surfaces at one chord section on both the main airfoil and on the flap for several different flap deflections and at several angles of attack. A test installation was used in which the airfoil was mounted horizontally in the wind tunnel between vertical end planes so that two-dimensional flow was approximated. The data are presented in the form of pressure-distribution diagrams and as graphs of calculated coefficients for the airfoil-and-flap combination and for the flap alone.

Turbine heat transfer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rohde, J. E.

1982-01-01

Objectives and approaches to research in turbine heat transfer are discussed. Generally, improvements in the method of determining the hot gas flow through the turbine passage is one area of concern, as is the cooling air flow inside the airfoil, and the methods of predicting the heat transfer rates on the hot gas side and on the coolant side of the airfoil. More specific areas of research are: (1) local hot gas recovery temperatures along the airfoil surfaces; (2) local airfoil wall temperature; (3) local hot gas side heat transfer coefficients on the airfoil surfaces; (4) local coolant side heat transfer coefficients inside the airfoils; (5) local hot gas flow velocities and secondary flows at real engine conditions; and (6) local delta strain range of the airfoil walls.

Transonic airfoil analysis and design in nonuniform flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chang, J. F.; Lan, C. E.

1986-01-01

A nonuniform transonic airfoil code is developed for applications in analysis, inverse design and direct optimization involving an airfoil immersed in propfan slipstream. Problems concerning the numerical stability, convergence, divergence and solution oscillations are discussed. The code is validated by comparing with some known results in incompressible flow. A parametric investigation indicates that the airfoil lift-drag ratio can be increased by decreasing the thickness ratio. A better performance can be achieved if the airfoil is located below the slipstream center. Airfoil characteristics designed by the inverse method and a direct optimization are compared. The airfoil designed with the method of direct optimization exhibits better characteristics and achieves a gain of 22 percent in lift-drag ratio with a reduction of 4 percent in thickness.

OUT Success Stories: Advanced Airfoils for Wind Turbines

DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

Jones, J.; Green, B.

2000-08-01

New airfoils have substantially increased the aerodynamic efficiency of wind turbines. It is clear that these new airfoils substantially increased energy output from wind turbines. Virtually all new blades built in this country today use these advanced airfoil designs.

Aerodynamic characteristics of two rotorcraft airfoils designed for application to the inboard region of a main rotor blade

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Noonan, Kevin W.

1990-01-01

A wind tunnel investigation was conducted to determine the 2-D aerodynamic characteristics of two new rotorcraft airfoils designed especially for application to the inboard region of a helicopter main rotor blade. The two new airfoils, the RC(4)-10 and RC(5)-10, and a baseline airfoil, the VR-7, were all studied in the Langley Transonic Tunnel at Mach nos. from about 0.34 to 0.84 and at Reynolds nos. from about 4.7 to 9.3 x 10 (exp 6). The VR-7 airfoil had a trailing edge tab which is deflected upwards 4.6 degs. In addition, the RC(4)-10 airfoil was studied in the Langley Low Turbulence Pressure Tunnel at Mach nos. from 0.10 to 0.44 and at Reynolds nos. from 1.4 to 5.4 x 10 (exp 6) respectively. Some comparisons were made of the experimental data for the new airfoils and the predictions of two different theories. The results of this study indicates that both of the new airfoils offer advantages over the baseline airfoil. These advantages are discussed.

A comparative analysis between NACA 4412 airfoil and it's modified form with tubercles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasan, Md. Jonayed; Islam, Md. Tazul; Hassan, Md. Mehedi

2017-06-01

The effect of tubercles on the leading edge of an airfoil become more vivid at high angle of attacks. The effect of tubercles with large wavelength and small amplitude on the leading edge of a NACA 4412 airfoil section was investigated numerically and experimentally. The phenomena of improving the airfoil performance by modifying the contours drove our interest to do this analysis. The models were developed & numerical simulations were carried out with both NACA 4412 airfoil and modified airfoil model at Re=1.03×106 and angles of attack ranging from 0° to 20°. Flow separation was analyzed with vector profiles. CL, CD at different angle of attacks was developed and it gave down noticeable pre-stall & post-stall behavior. The airfoils were studied experimentally in a low speed wind tunnel. Pressure distribution over the two airfoils was obtained. It was evident from the pressure distributions that the modified airfoil exhibits significant aerodynamic performance at high angles of attack. We can infer that these effects will be advantageous for maneuverability and post-stall behavior.

Aerodynamics Characteristics of Multi-Element Airfoils at -90 Degrees Incidence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stremel, Paul M.; Schmitz, Fredric H. (Technical Monitor)

1994-01-01

A developed method has been applied to calculate accurately the viscous flow about airfoils normal to the free-stream flow. This method has special application to the analysis of tilt rotor aircraft in the evaluation of download. In particular, the flow about an XV-15 airfoil with and without deflected leading and trailing edge flaps at -90 degrees incidence is evaluated. The multi-element aspect of the method provides for the evaluation of slotted flap configurations which may lead to decreased drag. The method solves for turbulent flow at flight Reynolds numbers. The flow about the XV-15 airfoil with and without flap deflections has been calculated and compared with experimental data at a Reynolds number of one million. The comparison between the calculated and measured pressure distributions are very good, thereby, verifying the method. The aerodynamic evaluation of multielement airfoils will be conducted to determine airfoil/flap configurations for reduced airfoil drag. Comparisons between the calculated lift, drag and pitching moment on the airfoil and the airfoil surface pressure will also be presented.

Theoretical and experimental study of a new method for prediction of profile drag of airfoil sections

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goradia, S. H.; Lilley, D. E.

1975-01-01

Theoretical and experimental studies are described which were conducted for the purpose of developing a new generalized method for the prediction of profile drag of single component airfoil sections with sharp trailing edges. This method aims at solution for the flow in the wake from the airfoil trailing edge to the large distance in the downstream direction; the profile drag of the given airfoil section can then easily be obtained from the momentum balance once the shape of velocity profile at a large distance from the airfoil trailing edge has been computed. Computer program subroutines have been developed for the computation of the profile drag and flow in the airfoil wake on CDC6600 computer. The required inputs to the computer program consist of free stream conditions and the characteristics of the boundary layers at the airfoil trailing edge or at the point of incipient separation in the neighborhood of airfoil trailing edge. The method described is quite generalized and hence can be extended to the solution of the profile drag for multi-component airfoil sections.

Airframe Noise Prediction by Acoustic Analogy: Revisited

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Farassat, F.; Casper, Jay H.; Tinetti, A.; Dunn, M. H.

2006-01-01

The present work follows a recent survey of airframe noise prediction methodologies. In that survey, Lighthill s acoustic analogy was identified as the most prominent analytical basis for current approaches to airframe noise research. Within this approach, a problem is typically modeled with the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings (FW-H) equation, for which a geometry-independent solution is obtained by means of the use of the free-space Green function (FSGF). Nonetheless, the aeroacoustic literature would suggest some interest in the use of tailored or exact Green s function (EGF) for aerodynamic noise problems involving solid boundaries, in particular, for trailing edge (TE) noise. A study of possible applications of EGF for prediction of broadband noise from turbulent flow over an airfoil surface and the TE is, therefore, the primary topic of the present work. Typically, the applications of EGF in the literature have been limited to TE noise prediction at low Mach numbers assuming that the normal derivative of the pressure vanishes on the airfoil surface. To extend the application of EGF to higher Mach numbers, the uniqueness of the solution of the wave equation when either the Dirichlet or the Neumann boundary condition (BC) is specified on a deformable surface in motion. The solution of Lighthill s equation with either the Dirichlet or the Neumann BC is given for such a surface using EGFs. These solutions involve both surface and volume integrals just like the solution of FW-H equation using FSGF. Insight drawn from this analysis is evoked to discuss the potential application of EGF to broadband noise prediction. It appears that the use of a EGF offers distinct advantages for predicting TE noise of an airfoil when the normal pressure gradient vanishes on the airfoil surface. It is argued that such an approach may also apply to an airfoil in motion. However, for the prediction of broadband noise not directly associated with a trailing edge, the use of EGF does not appear to offer any advantages over the use of FSGF at the present stage of development. It is suggested here that the applications of EGF for airframe noise analysis be continued. As an example pertinent to airframe noise prediction, the Fast Scattering Code of NASA Langley is utilized to obtain the EGF numerically on the surface of a three dimensional wing with a flap and leading edge slat in uniform rectilinear motion. The interpretation and use of these numerical Green functions are then discussed.

Benefits of curved serrations on broadband trailing-edge noise reduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avallone, F.; van der Velden, W. C. P.; Ragni, D.

2017-07-01

Far-field noise and flow field over a novel curved trailing-edge serration (named as iron-shaped serration) are investigated. Spectra of the far-field broadband noise, directivity plots and the flow-field over the iron-shaped serration are obtained from numerical computations performed using a compressible Lattice-Boltzmann solver. The new design is compared to a conventional trailing-edge serration with a triangular geometry. Both serration geometries were retrofitted to a NACA 0018 airfoil at zero degree angle of attack. The iron-shaped geometry is found to reduce far-field broadband noise of approximately 2 dB more than the conventional sawtooth serration for chord-based Strouhal numbers Stc<15. At higher frequencies, the far-field broadband noise for the two serration geometries has comparable intensity. Near-wall velocity distribution and surface pressure fluctuations show that their intensity and spectra are independent on the serration geometry, but a function of the streamwise location. It is found that the larger noise reduction achieved by the iron-shaped trailing-edge serration is due to the mitigation of the scattered noise at the root. This effect is obtained by mitigating the interaction between the two sides of the serration, by delaying toward the tip both the outward (i.e., the tendency of the flow to deviate from the centerline to the edge of the serration) and the downward (i.e., the tendency of the flow to merge between the upper and bottom side of the serration) flow motions present at the root of the sawtooth.

Advanced technology airfoil research, volume 2. [conferences

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1979-01-01

A comprehensive review of airfoil research is presented. The major thrust of the research is in three areas: development of computational aerodynamic codes for airfoil analysis and design, development of experimental facilities and test techniques, and all types of airfoil applications.

Computational Investigations of a NACA 0012 Airfoil in Low Reynolds Number Flows

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-09-01

11 D . RESULTS .................................... 13 1. Eppler E585 Airfoil ............................. 13 2. NACA 0012 Airfoil ...function in FORTRAN should also be used to calculate/3. D. RESULTS 1. Eppler E585 Airfoil The first investigation was conducted for an Eppler E585...The velocities match the given distribution well except for slight deviations at the trailing edge. This Figure 2.3 Eppler E585 Airfoil difference can

Aerodynamic Investigation of Smart Flying Wing MAV

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-11-03

Eppler airfoils have been chosen for investigation. They include Eppler 61 (E61), Eppler 330 (E330), Eppler 334 (E334) and Eppler 340 (E340...Nov., 2008. [8] Savaliya, S.B., Praveen Kumar, S. and Mittal, S., Laminar separation bubble on an Eppler 61 airfoil , International Journal for...used to perform flow simulations on a large number of reflexed airfoils , mainly Eppler series airfoils , which are candidate airfoils for flying

Strain Compatible Oxidation and Corrosion Protection Coatings for Enhanced Thermo-Mechanical Durability of Turbine Airfoils

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-12-05

Report: Grant N00014-08-0331 Technical Objectives As critical components of advanced aircraft engines , turbine airfoils require coatings for...advanced aircrafi engines , turbine airfoils require coatings for enhancement of oxidation, corrosion and thermal capabilities . Airfoil coatings ofien...Oxidation and Corrosion Protection Coatings for Enhanced Thermo-Mechanical Durability of Turbine Airfoils 5b. GRANT NUMBER N00014-08-l-0331 5c

Advanced Technology Airfoil Research, volume 1, part 1. [conference on development of computational codes and test facilities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1979-01-01

A comprehensive review of all NASA airfoil research, conducted both in-house and under grant and contract, as well as a broad spectrum of airfoil research outside of NASA is presented. Emphasis is placed on the development of computational aerodynamic codes for airfoil analysis and design, the development of experimental facilities and test techniques, and all types of airfoil applications.

Hook nozzle arrangement for supporting airfoil vanes

DOEpatents

Shaffer, James E.; Norton, Paul F.

1996-01-01

A gas turbine engine's nozzle structure includes a nozzle support ring, a plurality of shroud segments, and a plurality of airfoil vanes. The plurality of shroud segments are distributed around the nozzle support ring. Each airfoil vane is connected to a corresponding shroud segment so that the airfoil vanes are also distributed around the nozzle support ring. Each shroud segment has a hook engaging the nozzle support ring so that the shroud segments and corresponding airfoil vanes are supported by the nozzle support ring. The nozzle support ring, the shroud segments, and the airfoil vanes may be ceramic.

Hook nozzle arrangement for supporting airfoil vanes

DOEpatents

Shaffer, J.E.; Norton, P.F.

1996-02-20

A gas turbine engine`s nozzle structure includes a nozzle support ring, a plurality of shroud segments, and a plurality of airfoil vanes. The plurality of shroud segments are distributed around the nozzle support ring. Each airfoil vane is connected to a corresponding shroud segment so that the airfoil vanes are also distributed around the nozzle support ring. Each shroud segment has a hook engaging the nozzle support ring so that the shroud segments and corresponding airfoil vanes are supported by the nozzle support ring. The nozzle support ring, the shroud segments, and the airfoil vanes may be ceramic. 8 figs.

The development of cambered airfoil sections having favorable lift characteristics at supercritical Mach numbers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Graham, Donald J

1949-01-01

Several groups of new airfoil sections, designated as the NACA 8-series, are derived analytically to have lift characteristics at supercritical Mach numbers which are favorable in the sense that the abrupt loss of lift, characteristic of the usual airfoil section at Mach numbers above the critical, is avoided. Aerodynamic characteristics determined from two-dimensional wind-tunnel tests at Mach numbers up to approximately 0.9 are presented for each of the derived airfoils. Comparisons are made between the characteristics of these airfoils and the corresponding characteristics of representative NACA 6-series airfoils.

Parallel Vortex Body Interaction Enabled by Active Flow Control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weingaertner, Andre; Tewes, Philipp; Little, Jesse

2017-11-01

An experimental study was conducted to explore the flow physics of parallel vortex body interaction between two NACA 0012 airfoils. Experiments were carried out at chord Reynolds numbers of 740,000. Initially, the leading airfoil was characterized without the target one being installed. Results are in good agreement with thin airfoil theory and data provided in the literature. Afterward, the leading airfoil was fixed at 18° incidence and the target airfoil was installed 6 chord lengths downstream. Plasma actuation (ns-DBD), originating close to the leading edge, was used to control vortex shedding from the leading airfoil at various frequencies (0.04

Investigation of low-speed turbulent separated flow around airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wadcock, Alan J.

1987-01-01

Described is a low-speed wind tunnel experiment to measure the flowfield around a two-dimensional airfoil operating close to maximum lift. Boundary layer separation occurs on the upper surface at x/c=0.85. A three-component laser velocimeter, coupled with a computer-controlled data acquisition system, was used to obtain three orthogonal mean velocity components and three components of the Reynolds stress tensor in both the boundary layer and wake of the airfoil. Pressure distributions on the airfoil, skin friction distribution on the upper surface of the airfoil, and integral properties of the airfoil boudary layer are also documented. In addition to these near-field flow properties, static pressure distributions, both upstream and downstream from the airfoil and on the walls of the wind tunnel, are also presented.

An experimental study of transonic flow about a supercritical airfoil. Static pressure and drag data obtained from tests of a supercritical airfoil and an NACA 0012 airfoil at transonic speeds, supplement

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spaid, F. W.; Dahlin, J. A.; Roos, F. W.; Stivers, L. S., Jr.

1983-01-01

Surface static-pressure and drag data obtained from tests of two slightly modified versions of the original NASA Whitcomb airfoil and a model of the NACA 0012 airfoil section are presented. Data for the supercritical airfoil were obtained for a free-stream Mach number range of 0.5 to 0.9, and a chord Reynolds number range of 2 x 10 to the 6th power to 4 x 10 to the 6th power. The NACA 0012 airfoil was tested at a constant chord Reynolds number of 2 x 10 to the 6th power and a free-stream Mach number range of 0.6 to 0.8.

Low-speed wind-tunnel results for symmetrical NASA LS(1)-0013 airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ferris, James C.; Mcghee, Robert J.; Barnwell, Richard W.

1987-01-01

A wind-tunnel test has been conducted in the Langley Low-Turbulence Pressure Tunnel to evaluate the performance of a symmetrical NASA LS(1)-0013 airfoil which is a 13-percent-thick, low-speed airfoil. The airfoil contour was obtained from the thickness distribution of a 13-percent-thick, high-performance airfoil developed for general aviation airplanes. The tests were conducted at Mach numbers from 0.10 tp 0.37 over a Reynolds number range from about 0.6 to 12.0 X 10 to the 6th power. The angle of attack varied from about -8 to 20 degrees. The results indicate that the aerodynamic characteristics of the present airfoil are similar to, but slightly better than, those of the NACA 0012 airfoil.

Self-sustained Flow-acoustic Interactions in Airfoil Transitional Boundary Layers

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-07-09

AFRL-AFOSR-VA-TR-2015-0235 Self-sustained flow-acoustic interactions in airfoil transitional boundary layers Vladimir Golubev EMBRY-RIDDLE...From - To)      01-04-2012 to 31-03-2015 4.  TITLE AND SUBTITLE Self-sustained flow-acoustic interactions in airfoil transitional boundary layers 5a...complementary experimental and numerical studies of flow-acoustic resonant interactions in transitional airfoils and their impact on airfoil surface

Design and Experimental Results for the S414 Airfoil

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-08-01

EXECUTION The Eppler Airfoil Design and Analysis Code (refs. 15 and 16), a subcritical, single- element code, was used to design the initial fore- and...1965. 14. Maughmer, Mark D.: Trailing Edge Conditions as a Factor in Airfoil Design. Ph.D. Dis- sertation, Univ. of Illinois, 1983.14 15. Eppler ...Richard: Airfoil Design and Data. Springer-Verlag (Berlin), 1990. 16. Eppler , Richard: Airfoil Program System “PROFIL07.” User’s Guide. Richard

Design and Experimental Results for the S407 Airfoil

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-08-01

reduced to the inverse problem of transforming the pressure distributions into an airfoil shape. The Eppler Airfoil Design and Analysis Code (refs. 3 and...Circuit Wind Tunnel. M. S. Thesis, Pennsylvania State Univ., 1993. 3. Eppler , Richard: Airfoil Design and Data. Springer-Verlag (Berlin), 1990. 4. Eppler ...Richard: Airfoil Program System “PROFIL07.” User’s Guide. Richard Eppler , c.2007. 5. Drela, M.: Design and Optimization Method for Multi-Element

Validation of the CQU-DTU-LN1 series of airfoils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, W. Z.; Zhu, W. J.; Fischer, A.; Garcia, N. R.; Cheng, J. T.; Chen, J.; Madsen, J.

2014-12-01

The CQU-DTU-LN1 series of airfoils were designed with an objective of high lift and low noise emission. In the design process, the aerodynamic performance is obtained using XFOIL while noise emission is obtained with the BPM model. In this paper we present some validations of the designed CQU-DTU-LN118 airfoil by using wind tunnel measurements in the acoustic wind tunnel located at Virginia Tech and numerical computations with the inhouse Q3uic and EllipSys 2D/3D codes. To show the superiority of the new airfoils, comparisons with a NACA64618 airfoil are made. For the aerodynamic features, the designed Cl and Cl/Cd agrees well with the experiment and are in general higher than those of the NACA airfoil. For the acoustic features, the noise emission of the LN118 airfoil is compared with the acoustic measurements and that of the NACA airfoil. Comparisons show that the BPM model can predict correctly the noise changes.

Airfoil-Shaped Fluid Flow Tool for Use in Making Differential Measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

England, John Dwight (Inventor); Kelley, Anthony R. (Inventor); Cronise, Raymond J. (Inventor)

2014-01-01

A fluid flow tool includes an airfoil structure and a support arm. The airfoil structure's high-pressure side and low-pressure side are positioned in a conduit by the support arm coupled to the conduit. The high-pressure and low-pressure sides substantially face opposing walls of the conduit. At least one measurement port is formed in the airfoil structure at each of its high-pressure side and low-pressure side. A first manifold, formed in the airfoil structure and in fluid communication with each measurement port so-formed at the high-pressure side, extends through the airfoil structure and support arm to terminate and be accessible at the exterior wall of the conduit. A second manifold, formed in the airfoil structure and in fluid communication with each measurement port so-formed at the low-pressure side, extends through the airfoil structure and support arm to terminate and be accessible at the exterior wall of the conduit.

Estimation of supersonic fighter jet airfoil data and low speed aerodynamic analysis of airfoil section at the Mach number 0.15

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sogukpinar, Haci

2018-02-01

In this paper, some of the NACA 64A series airfoils data are estimated and aerodynamic properties are calculated to facilitate great understandings effect of relative thickness on the aerodynamic performance of the airfoil by using COMSOL software. 64A201-64A204 airfoils data are not available in literature therefore 64A210 data are used as reference data to estimate 64A201, 64A202, 64A203, 64A204 airfoil configurations. Numerical calculations are then conducted with the angle of attack from -12° to +16° by using k-w turbulence model based on the finite-volume approach. The lift and drag coefficient are one of the most important parameters in studying the airplane performance. Therefore lift, drag and pressure coefficient around selected airfoil are calculated and compared at the Reynolds numbers of 6 × 106 and also stalling characteristics of airfoil section are investigated and presented numerically.

Design of the low-speed NLF(1)-0414F and the high-speed HSNLF(1)-0213 airfoils with high-lift systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Viken, Jeffrey K.; Watson-Viken, Sally A.; Pfenninger, Werner; Morgan, Harry L., Jr.; Campbell, Richard L.

1987-01-01

The design and testing of Natural Laminar Flow (NLF) airfoils is examined. The NLF airfoil was designed for low speed, having a low profile drag at high chord Reynolds numbers. The success of the low speed NLF airfoil sparked interest in a high speed NLF airfoil applied to a single engine business jet with an unswept wing. Work was also conducted on the two dimensional flap design. The airfoil was decambered by removing the aft loading, however, high design Mach numbers are possible by increasing the aft loading and reducing the camber overall on the airfoil. This approach would also allow for flatter acceleration regions which are more stabilizing for cross flow disturbances. Sweep could then be used to increase the design Mach number to a higher value also. There would be some degradation of high lift by decambering the airfoil overall, and this aspect would have to be considered in a final design.

Experimental investigation of trailing edge noise from stationary and rotating airfoils

PubMed Central

Zajamsek, Branko; Doolan, Con J.; Moreau, Danielle J.; Fischer, Jeoffrey; Prime, Zebb

2017-01-01

Trailing edge noise from stationary and rotating NACA 0012 airfoils is characterised and compared with a noise prediction based on the semi-empirical Brooks, Pope, and Marcolini (BPM) model. The NACA 0012 is symmetrical airfoil with no camber and 12% thickness to chord length ratio. Acoustic measurements were conducted in an anechoic wind tunnel using a stationary NACA 0012 airfoil at 0° pitch angle. Airfoil self-noise emissions from rotating NACA 0012 airfoils mounted at 0° and 10° pitch angles on a rotor-rig are studied in an anechoic room. The measurements were carried out using microphone arrays for noise localisation and magnitude estimation using beamforming post-processing. Results show good agreement between peak radiating trailing edge noise emissions of stationary and rotating NACA 0012 airfoils in terms of the Strouhal number. Furthermore, it is shown that noise predictions based on the BPM model considering only two dimensional flow effects, are in good agreement with measurements for rotating airfoils, at these particular conditions. PMID:28599535

Experimental investigation of trailing edge noise from stationary and rotating airfoils.

PubMed

Zajamsek, Branko; Doolan, Con J; Moreau, Danielle J; Fischer, Jeoffrey; Prime, Zebb

2017-05-01

Trailing edge noise from stationary and rotating NACA 0012 airfoils is characterised and compared with a noise prediction based on the semi-empirical Brooks, Pope, and Marcolini (BPM) model. The NACA 0012 is symmetrical airfoil with no camber and 12% thickness to chord length ratio. Acoustic measurements were conducted in an anechoic wind tunnel using a stationary NACA 0012 airfoil at 0° pitch angle. Airfoil self-noise emissions from rotating NACA 0012 airfoils mounted at 0° and 10° pitch angles on a rotor-rig are studied in an anechoic room. The measurements were carried out using microphone arrays for noise localisation and magnitude estimation using beamforming post-processing. Results show good agreement between peak radiating trailing edge noise emissions of stationary and rotating NACA 0012 airfoils in terms of the Strouhal number. Furthermore, it is shown that noise predictions based on the BPM model considering only two dimensional flow effects, are in good agreement with measurements for rotating airfoils, at these particular conditions.

Airfoil shape for a turbine bucket

DOEpatents

Hyde, Susan Marie; By, Robert Romany; Tressler, Judd Dodge; Schaeffer, Jon Conrad; Sims, Calvin Levy

2005-06-28

Third stage turbine buckets have airfoil profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth Table I wherein X and Y values are in inches and the Z values are non-dimensional values from 0 to 0.938 convertible to Z distances in inches by multiplying the Z values by the height of the airfoil in inches. The X and Y values are distances which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at each distance Z are joined smoothly to one another to form a complete airfoil shape. The X and Y distances may be scalable as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled up or scaled down airfoil section for the bucket. The nominal airfoil given by the X, Y and Z distances lies within an envelop of .+-.0.150 inches in directions normal to the surface of the airfoil.

Design of a shape adaptive airfoil actuated by a Shape Memory Alloy strip for airplane tail

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shirzadeh, R.; Raissi Charmacani, K.; Tabesh, M.

2011-04-01

Of the factors that mainly affect the efficiency of the wing during a special flow regime, the shape of its airfoil cross section is the most significant. Airfoils are generally designed for a specific flight condition and, therefore, are not fully optimized in all flight conditions. It is very desirable to have an airfoil with the ability to change its shape based on the current regime. Shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators activate in response to changes in the temperature and can recover their original configuration after being deformed. This study presents the development of a method to control the shape of an airfoil using SMA actuators. To predict the thermomechanical behaviors of an SMA thin strip, 3D incremental formulation of the SMA constitutive model is implemented in FEA software package ABAQUS. The interactions between the airfoil structure and SMA thin strip actuator are investigated. Also, the aerodynamic performance of a standard airfoil with a plain flap is compared with an adaptive airfoil.

Structural tailoring of engine blades (STAEBL) user's manual

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, K. W.

1985-01-01

This User's Manual contains instructions and demonstration case to prepare input data, run, and modify the Structural Tailoring of Engine Blades (STAEBL) computer code. STAEBL was developed to perform engine fan and compressor blade numerical optimizations. This blade optimization seeks a minimum weight or cost design that satisfies realistic blade design constraints, by tuning one to twenty design variables. The STAEBL constraint analyses include blade stresses, vibratory response, flutter, and foreign object damage. Blade design variables include airfoil thickness at several locations, blade chord, and construction variables: hole size for hollow blades, and composite material layup for composite blades.

Large Eddy Simulation of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine wakes; Part I: from the airfoil performance to the very far wake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chatelain, Philippe; Duponcheel, Matthieu; Caprace, Denis-Gabriel; Marichal, Yves; Winckelmans, Gregoire

2017-11-01

A vortex particle-mesh (VPM) method with immersed lifting lines has been developed and validated. Based on the vorticity-velocity formulation of the Navier-Stokes equations, it combines the advantages of a particle method and of a mesh-based approach. The immersed lifting lines handle the creation of vorticity from the blade elements and its early development. Large-eddy simulation (LES) of vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) flows is performed. The complex wake development is captured in detail and over up to 15 diameters downstream: from the blades to the near-wake coherent vortices and then through the transitional ones to the fully developed turbulent far wake (beyond 10 rotor diameters). The statistics and topology of the mean flow are studied with respect to the VAWT geometry and its operating point. The computational sizes also allow insights into the detailed unsteady vortex dynamics and topological flow features, such as a recirculation region influenced by the tip speed ratio and the rotor geometry.

An Aerodynamic Simulation Process for Iced Lifting Surfaces and Associated Issues

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choo, Yung K.; Vickerman, Mary B.; Hackenberg, Anthony W.; Rigby, David L.

2003-01-01

This paper discusses technologies and software tools that are being implemented in a software toolkit currently under development at NASA Glenn Research Center. Its purpose is to help study the effects of icing on airfoil performance and assist with the aerodynamic simulation process which consists of characterization and modeling of ice geometry, application of block topology and grid generation, and flow simulation. Tools and technologies for each task have been carefully chosen based on their contribution to the overall process. For the geometry characterization and modeling, we have chosen an interactive rather than automatic process in order to handle numerous ice shapes. An Appendix presents features of a software toolkit developed to support the interactive process. Approaches taken for the generation of block topology and grids, and flow simulation, though not yet implemented in the software, are discussed with reasons for why particular methods are chosen. Some of the issues that need to be addressed and discussed by the icing community are also included.

Multiple piece turbine engine airfoil with a structural spar

DOEpatents

Vance, Steven J [Orlando, FL

2011-10-11

A multiple piece turbine airfoil having an outer shell with an airfoil tip that is attached to a root with an internal structural spar is disclosed. The root may be formed from first and second sections that include an internal cavity configured to receive and secure the one or more components forming the generally elongated airfoil. The internal structural spar may be attached to an airfoil tip and place the generally elongated airfoil in compression. The configuration enables each component to be formed from different materials to reduce the cost of the materials and to optimize the choice of material for each component.

An Experimental Investigation of an Airfoil Traversing Across a Shear Flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamedani, Borhan A.; Naguib, Ahmed; Koochesfahani, Manoochehr

2017-11-01

While the aerodynamics of an airfoil in a uniform approach flow is well understood, less attention has been paid to airfoils in non-uniform flows. An aircraft encounters such flow, for example, during landing through the air wake of an aircraft carrier. The present work is focused on investigating the fundamental aerodynamics of airfoils in such an environment using canonical flow experiments. To generate a shear approach flow, a shaped honeycomb block is employed in a wind tunnel setup. Direct force measurements are performed on a NACA 0012 airfoil, with an aspect ratio of 1.8, as the airfoil traverses steadily across the shear region. Measurements are conducted at a chord Reynolds number Rec 75k, based on the mean approach stream velocity at the center of the shear zone, for a range of airfoil traverse velocities and angles of attack (0 - 12 degree). The results are compared to those obtained for the same airfoil when placed statically at different points along the traverse path inside the shear zone. The comparison enables examination of the applicability of quasi-steady analysis in computing the forces on the moving airfoil. This work is supported by ONR Grant Number N00014-16-1-2760.

Time-Varying Loads of Co-Axial Rotor Blade Crossings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schatzman, Natasha L.; Komerath, Narayanan; Romander, Ethan A.

2017-01-01

The blade crossing event of a coaxial counter-rotating rotor is a potential source of noise and impulsive blade loads. Blade crossings occur many times during each rotor revolution. In previous research by the authors, this phenomenon was analyzed by simulating two airfoils passing each other at specified speeds and vertical separation distances, using the compressible Navier-Stokes solver OVERFLOW. The simulations explored mutual aerodynamic interactions associated with thickness, circulation, and compressibility effects. Results revealed the complex nature of the aerodynamic impulses generated by upperlower airfoil interactions. In this paper, the coaxial rotor system is simulated using two trains of airfoils, vertically offset, and traveling in opposite directions. The simulation represents multiple blade crossings in a rotor revolution by specifying horizontal distances between each airfoil in the train based on the circumferential distance between blade tips. The shed vorticity from prior crossing events will affect each pair of upperlower airfoils. The aerodynamic loads on the airfoil and flow field characteristics are computed before, at, and after each airfoil crossing. Results from the multiple-airfoil simulation show noticeable changes in the airfoil aerodynamics by introducing additional fluctuation in the aerodynamic time history.

Aerodynamic performance of transonic and subsonic airfoils: Effects of surface roughness, turbulence intensity, Mach number, and streamline curvature-airfoil shape

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Qiang

The effects of surface roughness, turbulence intensity, Mach number, and streamline curvature-airfoil shape on the aerodynamic performance of turbine airfoils are investigated in compressible, high speed flows. The University of Utah Transonic Wind Tunnel is employed for the experimental part of the study. Two different test sections are designed to produce Mach numbers, Reynolds numbers, passage mass flow rates, and physical dimensions, which match values along turbine blades in operating engines: (i) a nonturning test section with a symmetric airfoil, and (ii) a cascade test section with a cambered turbine vane. The nonuniform, irregular, three-dimensional surface roughness is characterized using the equivalent sand grain roughness size. Changing the airfoil surface roughness condition has a substantial effect on wake profiles of total pressure loss coefficients, normalized Mach number, normalized kinetic energy, and on the normalized and dimensional magnitudes of Integrated Aerodynamic Losses produced by the airfoils. Comparisons with results for a symmetric airfoil and a cambered vane show that roughness has more substantial effects on losses produced by the symmetric airfoil than the cambered vane. Data are also provided that illustrate the larger loss magnitudes are generally present with flow turning and cambered airfoils, than with symmetric airfoils. Wake turbulence structure of symmetric airfoils and cambered vanes are also studied experimentally. The effects of surface roughness and freestream turbulence levels on wake distributions of mean velocity, turbulence intensity, and power spectral density profiles and vortex shedding frequencies are quantified one axial chord length downstream of the test airfoils. As the level of surface roughness increases, all wake profile quantities broaden significantly and nondimensional vortex shedding frequencies decrease. Wake profiles produced by the symmetric airfoil are more sensitive to variations of surface roughness and freestream turbulence, compared with data from the cambered vane airfoil. Stanton numbers, skin friction coefficients, aerodynamic losses, and Reynolds analogy behavior are numerically predicted for a turbine vane using the FLUENT with a k-epsilon RNG model to show the effects of Mach number, mainstream turbulence level, and surface roughness. Comparisons with wake aerodynamic loss experimental data are made. Numerically predicted skin friction coefficients and Stanton numbers are also used to deduce Reynolds analogy behavior on the vane suction and pressure sides.

Airfoil shape for flight at subsonic speeds. [design analysis and aerodynamic characteristics of the GAW-1 airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Whitcomb, R. T. (Inventor)

1976-01-01

An airfoil is examined that has an upper surface shaped to control flow accelerations and pressure distribution over the upper surface and to prevent separation of the boundary layer due to shock wave formulation at high subsonic speeds well above the critical Mach number. A highly cambered trailing edge section improves overall airfoil lifting efficiency. Diagrams illustrating supersonic flow and shock waves over the airfoil are shown.

The S411, S412, and S413 Airfoils

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-08-01

Distribution on Wings in the Lower Critical Speed Range. Transonic Aerodynamics. AGARD CP No. 35, Sept. 1968, pp. 17-1–17-10.13 TABLE I.- AIRFOIL DESIGN...experimentally several airfoils for rotorcraft applications. SYMBOLS Cp pressure coefficient c airfoil chord, mm cd section profile-drag coefficient cl...Proceedings of the Conference on Low Reynolds Number Airfoil Aerodynamics, UNDAS- CP -77B123, Univ. of Notre Dame, June 1985, pp. 1–14. 5. Wortmann, F. X

Application of the Program Profile for the Design of Low-Speed, Low- Observable Configuration Airfoils

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-12-01

112 61 . Airfoil T503 - t/c = 3.79% .... ........... .. 113 62. Airfoil T503 Leading-Edge - t/c = 3.79% ..... ... 114 63. Pressure...points on C unit circle, 6 slope of airfoil surface near trailing edge 61 boundary-layer displacement thickness 62 boundary-layer momentum thickness 63...equivalent thickness NACA 4-digit airfoils . 4 II. Theory Potential-Flow Design Method This section will overview the basic theory used in PROFILE. Eppler

Comparisons of Theoretical Methods for Predicting Airfoil Aerodynamic Characteristics

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-08-01

Airfoil ,” Airfoils , U.S. Army Aviation Research, Development and Engineering Command, RDECOM TR 10-D-107, August 2010. [2] Somers, D.M. and...Maughmer, M.D., “Design and Experimental Results for the S407 Airfoil ,” U.S. Army Aviation Research, Development and Engineering Command, RDECOM TR 10-D...S414 Airfoil ,” U.S. Army Aviation Research, Development and Engineering Command, RDECOM TR 10-D-112, August 2010. [5] Somers, D.M. and Maughmer

Thin oblique airfoils at supersonic speed

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jone, Robert T

1946-01-01

The well-known methods of thin-airfoil theory have been extended to oblique or sweptback airfoils of finite aspect ratio moving at supersonic speeds. The cases considered thus far are symmetrical airfoils at zero lift having plan forms bounded by straight lines. Because of the conical form of the elementary flow fields, the results are comparable in simplicity to the results of the two-dimensional thin-airfoil theory for subsonic speeds. In the case of untapered airfoils swept back behind the Mach cone the pressure distribution at the center section is similar to that given by the Ackeret theory for a straight airfoil. With increasing distance from the center section the distribution approaches the form given by the subsonic-flow theory. The pressure drag is concentrated chiefly at the center section and for long wings a slight negative drag may appear on outboard sections. (author)

Method for forming a liquid cooled airfoil for a gas turbine

DOEpatents

Grondahl, Clayton M.; Willmott, Leo C.; Muth, Myron C.

1981-01-01

A method for forming a liquid cooled airfoil for a gas turbine is disclosed. A plurality of holes are formed at spaced locations in an oversized airfoil blank. A pre-formed composite liquid coolant tube is bonded into each of the holes. The composite tube includes an inner member formed of an anti-corrosive material and an outer member formed of a material exhibiting a high degree of thermal conductivity. After the coolant tubes have been bonded to the airfoil blank, the airfoil blank is machined to a desired shape, such that a portion of the outer member of each of the composite tubes is contiguous with the outer surface of the machined airfoil blank. Finally, an external skin is bonded to the exposed outer surface of both the machined airfoil blank and the composite tubes.

Interactive grid adaption

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abolhassani, Jamshid S.; Everton, Eric L.

1990-01-01

An interactive grid adaption method is developed, discussed and applied to the unsteady flow about an oscillating airfoil. The user is allowed to have direct interaction with the adaption of the grid as well as the solution procedure. Grid points are allowed to adapt simultaneously to several variables. In addition to the theory and results, the hardware and software requirements are discussed.

On the attenuating effect of permeability on the low frequency sound of an airfoil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weidenfeld, M.; Manela, A.

2016-08-01

The effect of structure permeability on the far-field radiation of a thin airfoil is studied. Assuming low-Mach and high-Reynolds number flow, the near- and far-field descriptions are investigated at flapping-flight and unsteady flow conditions. Analysis is carried out using thin-airfoil theory and compact-body-based calculations for the hydrodynamic and acoustic fields, respectively. Airfoil porosity is modeled via Darcy's law, governed by prescribed distribution of surface intrinsic permeability. Discrete vortex model is applied to describe airfoil wake evolution. To assess the impact of penetrability, results are compared to counterpart predictions for the sound of an impermeable airfoil. Considering the finite-chord airfoil as "acoustically transparent", the leading-order contribution of surface porosity is obtained in terms of an acoustic dipole. It is shown that, at all flow conditions considered, porosity causes attenuation in outcome sound level. This is accompanied by a time-delay in the pressure signal, reflecting the mediating effect of permeability on the interaction of fluid flow with airfoil edge points. To the extent that thin-airfoil theory holds (requiring small normal-to-airfoil flow velocities), the results indicate on a decrease of ~ 10 percent and more in the total energy radiated by a permeable versus an impermeable airfoil. This amounts to a reduction in system sound pressure level of 3 dB and above at pitching flight conditions, where the sound-reducing effect of the seepage dipole pressure becomes dominant. The applicability of Darcy's law to model the effect of material porosity is discussed in light of existing literature.

The Development of Cambered Airfoil Sections Having Favorable Lift Characteristics at Supercritical Mach Numbers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Graham, Donald J

1948-01-01

Several groups of new airfoil sections, designated as the NACA 8-series, are derived analytically to have lift characteristics at supercritical Mach numbers which are favorable in the sense that the abrupt loss of lift, characteristic of the usual airfoil section at Mach numbers above the critical, is avoided. Aerodynamic characteristics determined, from two-dimensional windtunnel tests at Mach numbers up to approximately 0.9 are presented for each of the derived airfoils. Comparisons are made between the characteristics of these airfoils and the corresponding characteristics of representative NPiCA 6-series airfoils. The experimental results confirm the design expectations in demonstrating for the NACA S-series airfoils either no variation, or an Increase from the low-speed design value, In the lift coefficient at a constant angle of attack with increasing Mach number above the critical. It was not found possible to improve the variation with Mach number of the slope of the lift curve for these airfoils above that for the NACA 6-series airfoils. The drag characteristics of the new airfoils are somewhat inferior to those of the NACA 6- series with respect to divergence with Mach number, but the pitching-moment characteristics are more favorable for the thinner new sections In demonstrating somewhat smaller variations of moment coefficient with both angle of attack and Mach number. The effect on the aero&ynamic characteristics at high Mach numbers of removing the cusp from the trailing-edge regions of two 10-percent-chord-thick NACA 6-series airfoils is determined to be negligible.

The problem of dimensional instability in airfoil models for cryogenic wind tunnels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wigley, D. A.

1982-01-01

The problem of dimensional instability in airfoil models for cryogenic wind tunnels is discussed in terms of the various mechanisms that can be responsible. The interrelationship between metallurgical structure and possible dimensional instability in cryogenic usage is discussed for those steel alloys of most interest for wind tunnel model construction at this time. Other basic mechanisms responsible for setting up residual stress systems are discussed, together with ways in which their magnitude may be reduced by various elevated or low temperature thermal cycles. A standard specimen configuration is proposed for use in experimental investigations into the effects of machining, heat treatment, and other variables that influence the dimensional stability of the materials of interest. A brief classification of various materials in terms of their metallurgical structure and susceptability to dimensional instability is presented.

RANS Based Methodology for Predicting the Influence of Leading Edge Erosion on Airfoil Performance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Langel, Christopher M.; Chow, Raymond C.; van Dam, C. P.

The impact of surface roughness on flows over aerodynamically designed surfaces is of interested in a number of different fields. It has long been known the surface roughness will likely accelerate the laminar- turbulent transition process by creating additional disturbances in the boundary layer. However, there are very few tools available to predict the effects surface roughness will have on boundary layer flow. There are numerous implications of the premature appearance of a turbulent boundary layer. Increases in local skin friction, boundary layer thickness, and turbulent mixing can impact global flow properties compounding the effects of surface roughness. With thismore » motivation, an investigation into the effects of surface roughness on boundary layer transition has been conducted. The effort involved both an extensive experimental campaign, and the development of a high fidelity roughness model implemented in a R ANS solver. Vast a mounts of experimental data was generated at the Texas A&M Oran W. Nicks Low Speed Wind Tunnel for the calibration and validation of the roughness model described in this work, as well as future efforts. The present work focuses on the development of the computational model including a description of the calibration process. The primary methodology presented introduces a scalar field variable and associated transport equation that interacts with a correlation based transition model. The additional equation allows for non-local effects of surface roughness to be accounted for downstream of rough wall sections while maintaining a "local" formulation. The scalar field is determined through a boundary condition function that has been calibrated to flat plate cases with sand grain roughness. The model was initially tested on a NACA 0012 airfoil with roughness strips applied to the leading edge. Further calibration of the roughness model was performed using results from the companion experimental study on a NACA 63 3 -418 airfoil. The refined model demonstrates favorable agreement predicting changes to the transition location, as well as drag, for a number of different leading edge roughness configurations on the NACA 63 3-418 airfoil. Additional tests were conducted on a thicker S814 airfoil, with similar roughness configurations to the NACA 63 3-418. Simulations run with the roughness model compare favorably with the results obtained in the experimental study for both airfoils.« less

Development of a computer program to obtain ordinates for NACA 4-digit, 4-digit modified, 5-digit, and 16 series airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ladson, C. L.; Brooks, Cuyler W., Jr.

1975-01-01

A computer program developed to calculate the ordinates and surface slopes of any thickness, symmetrical or cambered NACA airfoil of the 4-digit, 4-digit modified, 5-digit, and 16-series airfoil families is presented. The program produces plots of the airfoil nondimensional ordinates and a punch card output of ordinates in the input format of a readily available program for determining the pressure distributions of arbitrary airfoils in subsonic potential viscous flow.

Investigation of the Boundary Layer Behavior on Turbine Airfoils.

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-08-01

turbine airfoil cascade . The airfoil profile was based on a turbine blade design used by Lander ’’4 and employed in previous wake studies by Cox and...simulate the wake from upstream turning vanes or blades , a circular cylinder was placed upstream of the centra l or test airfoil . The displacement of this...of turbine airfoil cascade model s by Cox and Han 15 are very much evident in the graph . It might be noted that the blade stag- nation points are at

A computer program for the design and analysis of low-speed airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eppler, R.; Somers, D. M.

1980-01-01

A conformal mapping method for the design of airfoils with prescribed velocity distribution characteristics, a panel method for the analysis of the potential flow about given airfoils, and a boundary layer method have been combined. With this combined method, airfoils with prescribed boundary layer characteristics can be designed and airfoils with prescribed shapes can be analyzed. All three methods are described briefly. The program and its input options are described. A complete listing is given as an appendix.

Vane array with one or more non-integral platforms

DOEpatents

Lohaus, Andrew S.; Campbell, Christian Xavier; Miller, Jr, Samuel R.; Marra, John J.

2016-07-12

A vane array adapted to be coupled to a vane carrier within a gas turbine engine is provided comprising: a plurality of elongated airfoils comprising at least a first airfoil and a second airfoil located adjacent to one another; a U-ring; first connector structure for coupling a radially inner end section of each of the first and second airfoils to the U-ring; second connector structure for coupling a radially outer end section of each of the first and second airfoils to the vane carrier; a platform extending between the first and second airfoils; and platform connector structure for coupling the platform to one of the U-ring and the vane carrier.

Synthesized airfoil data method for prediction of dynamic stall and unsteady airloads

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gangwani, S. T.

1983-01-01

A detailed analysis of dynamic stall experiments has led to a set of relatively compact analytical expressions, called synthesized unsteady airfoil data, which accurately describe in the time-domain the unsteady aerodynamic characteristics of stalled airfoils. An analytical research program was conducted to expand and improve this synthesized unsteady airfoil data method using additional available sets of unsteady airfoil data. The primary objectives were to reduce these data to synthesized form for use in rotor airload prediction analyses and to generalize the results. Unsteady drag data were synthesized which provided the basis for successful expansion of the formulation to include computation of the unsteady pressure drag of airfoils and rotor blades. Also, an improved prediction model for airfoil flow reattachment was incorporated in the method. Application of this improved unsteady aerodynamics model has resulted in an improved correlation between analytic predictions and measured full scale helicopter blade loads and stress data.

Turbine airfoil with laterally extending snubber having internal cooling system

DOEpatents

Scribner, Carmen Andrew; Messmann, Stephen John; Marsh, Jan H.

2016-09-06

A turbine airfoil usable in a turbine engine and having at least one snubber with a snubber cooling system positioned therein and in communication with an airfoil cooling system is disclosed. The snubber may extend from the outer housing of the airfoil toward an adjacent turbine airfoil positioned within a row of airfoils. The snubber cooling system may include an inner cooling channel separated from an outer cooling channel by an inner wall. The inner wall may include a plurality of impingement cooling orifices that direct impingement fluid against an outer wall defining the outer cooling channel. In one embodiment, the cooling fluids may be exhausted from the snubber, and in another embodiment, the cooling fluids may be returned to the airfoil cooling system. Flow guides may be positioned in the outer cooling channel, which may reduce cross-flow by the impingement orifices, thereby increasing effectiveness.

The Effects of the Critical Ice Accretion on Airfoil and Wing Performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Selig, Michael S.; Bragg, Michael B.; Saeed, Farooq

1998-01-01

In support of the NASA Lewis Modern Airfoils Ice Accretion Test Program, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign provided expertise in airfoil design and aerodynamic analysis to determine the aerodynamic effect of ice accretion on modern airfoil sections. The effort has concentrated on establishing a design/testing methodology for "hybrid airfoils" or "sub-scale airfoils," that is, airfoils having a full-scale leading edge together with a specially designed and foreshortened aft section. The basic approach of using a full-scale leading edge with a foreshortened aft section was considered to a limited extent over 40 years ago. However, it was believed that the range of application of the method had not been fully exploited. Thus a systematic study was being undertaken to investigate and explore the range of application of the method so as to determine its overall potential.

An Experimental Evaluation of Advanced Rotorcraft Airfoils in the NASA Ames Eleven-foot Transonic Wind Tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Flemming, Robert J.

1984-01-01

Five full scale rotorcraft airfoils were tested in the NASA Ames Eleven-Foot Transonic Wind Tunnel for full scale Reynolds numbers at Mach numbers from 0.3 to 1.07. The models, which spanned the tunnel from floor to ceiling, included two modern baseline airfoils, the SC1095 and SC1094 R8, which have been previously tested in other facilities. Three advanced transonic airfoils, designated the SSC-A09, SSC-A07, and SSC-B08, were tested to confirm predicted performance and provide confirmation of advanced airfoil design methods. The test showed that the eleven-foot tunnel is suited to two-dimensional airfoil testing. Maximum lift coefficients, drag coefficients, pitching moments, and pressure coefficient distributions are presented. The airfoil analysis codes agreed well with the data, with the Grumman GRUMFOIL code giving the best overall performance correlation.

Turbine airfoil having near-wall cooling insert

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Martin, Jr., Nicholas F.; Wiebe, David J.

A turbine airfoil is provided with at least one insert positioned in a cavity in an airfoil interior. The insert extends along a span-wise extent of the turbine airfoil and includes first and second opposite faces. A first near-wall cooling channel is defined between the first face and a pressure sidewall of an airfoil outer wall. A second near-wall cooling channel is defined between the second face and a suction sidewall of the airfoil outer wall. The insert is configured to occupy an inactive volume in the airfoil interior so as to displace a coolant flow in the cavity towardmore » the first and second near-wall cooling channels. A locating feature engages the insert with the outer wall for supporting the insert in position. The locating feature is configured to control flow of the coolant through the first or second near-wall cooling channel.« less

Effect of Ice Formations on Section Drag of Swept NACA 63A-009 Airfoil with Partical-span Leading-edge Slat for Various Modes of Thermal Ice Protection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Von Glahn, Uwe H; Gray, Vernon H

1954-01-01

Studies were made to determine the effect of ice formations on the section drag of a 6.9-foot-chord 36 degree swept NACA 63A-009 airfoil with partial-span leading-edge slat. In general, the icing of a thin swept airfoil will result in greater aerodynamic penalties than for a thick unswept airfoil. Glaze-ice formations at the leading edge of the airfoil caused large increases in section drag even at liquid-water content of 0.39 gram per cubic meter. The use of an ice-free parting strip in the stagnation region caused a negligible change in drag compared with a completely unheated airfoil. Cyclic de-icing when properly applied caused the drag to decrease almost to the bare-airfoil drag value.

Aerodynamic features of a two-airfoil arrangement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faure, Thierry M.; Hétru, Laurent; Montagnier, Olivier

2017-10-01

The interaction between two foils occurs in many aerodynamic or hydrodynamic applications. Although the characteristics of many airfoils are well documented, there is a limited amount of data for multiple airfoils in interaction and for large values of the angle of attack. This paper presents measurements of the turbulent flow around a two-airfoil T-tail type arrangement and the aerodynamic coefficients, for an incompressible flow at moderate Reynolds number. The study focuses mainly on large angles of attack, corresponding to detached flows on the airfoils, large wakes and involving vortex shedding. Phase averages of velocity fields are made building the flow time development relative to the vortex shedding. The understanding of the change in the tail lift coefficient versus angle of attack, between a two-airfoil arrangement and a single airfoil, is discussed in relation with the position and width of the wing wake and the pathlines of the shedding vortices.

Summary of Airfoil Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abbott, Ira H; Von Doenhoff, Albert E; Stivers, Louis, Jr

1945-01-01

The historical development of NACA airfoils is briefly reviewed. New data are presented that permit the rapid calculation of the approximate pressure distributions for the older NACA four-digit and five-digit airfoils by the same methods used for the NACA 6-series airfoils. The general methods used to derive the basic thickness forms for NACA 6 and 7-series airfoils together with their corresponding pressure distributions are presented. Detail data necessary for the application of the airfoils to wing design are presented in supplementary figures placed at the end of the paper. The report includes an analysis of the lift, drag, pitching-moment, and critical-speed characteristics of the airfoils, together with a discussion of the effects of surface conditions. Available data on high-lift devices are presented. Problems associated with lateral-control devices, leading-edge air intakes, and interference are briefly discussed, together with aerodynamic problems of application. (author)

An Experimental Comparison Between Flexible and Rigid Airfoils at Low Reynolds Numbers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uzodinma, Jaylon; Macphee, David

2017-11-01

This study uses experimental and computational research methods to compare the aerodynamic performance of rigid and flexible airfoils at a low Reynolds number throughout varying angles of attack. This research can be used to improve the design of small wind turbines, micro-aerial vehicles, and any other devices that operate at low Reynolds numbers. Experimental testing was conducted in the University of Alabama's low-speed wind tunnel, and computational testing was conducted using the open-source CFD code OpenFOAM. For experimental testing, polyurethane-based (rigid) airfoils and silicone-based (flexible) airfoils were constructed using acrylic molds for NACA 0012 and NACA 2412 airfoil profiles. Computer models of the previously-specified airfoils were also created for a computational analysis. Both experimental and computational data were analyzed to examine the critical angles of attack, the lift and drag coefficients, and the occurrence of laminar boundary separation for each airfoil. Moreover, the computational simulations were used to examine the resulting flow fields, in order to provide possible explanations for the aerodynamic performances of each airfoil type. EEC 1659710.

Experimental Investigation of Dynamic Stall on an Airfoil with Leading Edge Tubercles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hrynuk, John; Bohl, Douglas

2013-11-01

Humpback whales are unique in that their flippers have leading edge ``bumps'' or tubercles. Past work on airfoils modeled after whale flippers has centered on the static aerodynamic characteristics of these airfoils. In the current work, NACA 0012 airfoils modified with leading edge tubercles are investigated to determine the effect of the tubercles on the dynamic characteristics, specifically on dynamic stall vortex formation, of the airfoils. Molecular Tagging Velocimetry (MTV) is used to measure the flow field around the modified airfoils at nondimensional pitch rates of Ω = 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4. The results show that the characteristics of the dynamics stall vortex are dependent on the location relative to the peak or valley of the leading edge bumps. These characteristics are also found to be different than those observed in dynamic stall on a smooth leading edge airfoil. In specific, the location of the dynamic stall vortex appears to form further aft on the airfoil for the tubercle case versus the smooth case. This work supported by NSF Grant # 0845882.

Predicted Aerodynamic Characteristics of a NACA 0015 Airfoil Having a 25% Integral-Type Trailing Edge Flap

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hassan, Ahmed

1999-01-01

Using the two-dimensional ARC2D Navier-Stokes flow solver analyses were conducted to predict the sectional aerodynamic characteristics of the flapped NACA-0015 airfoil section. To facilitate the analyses and the generation of the computational grids, the airfoil with the deflected trailing edge flap was treated as a single element airfoil with no allowance for a gap between the flap's leading edge and the base of the forward portion of the airfoil. Generation of the O-type computational grids was accomplished using the HYGRID hyperbolic grid generation program. Results were obtained for a wide range of Mach numbers, angles of attack and flap deflections. The predicted sectional lift, drag and pitching moment values for the airfoil were then cast in tabular format (C81) to be used in lifting-line helicopter rotor aerodynamic performance calculations. Similar were also generated for the flap. Mathematical expressions providing the variation of the sectional lift and pitching moment coefficients for the airfoil and for the flap as a function of flap chord length and flap deflection angle were derived within the context of thin airfoil theory. The airfoil's sectional drag coefficient were derived using the ARC2D drag predictions for equivalent two dimensional flow conditions.

Airfoil gust response and the sound produced by airifoil-vortex interaction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Amiet, R. K.

1986-01-01

This paper contributes to the understanding of the noise generation process of an airfoil encountering an unsteady upwash. By using a fast Fourier transform together with accurate airfoil response functions, the lift-time waveform for an airfoil encountering a delta function gust (the indicial function) is calculated for a flat plate airfoil in a compressible flow. This shows the interesting property that the lift is constant until the generated acoustic wave reaches the trailing edge. Expressions are given for the magnitude of this constant and for the pressure distribution on the airfoil during this time interval. The case of an airfoil cutting through a line vortex is also analyzed. The pressure-time waveform in the far field is closely related to the left-time waveform for the above problem of an airfoil entering a delta function gust. The effects of varying the relevant parameters in the problem are studied, including the observed position, the core diameter of the vortex, the vortex orientation and the airfoil span. The far field sound varies significantly with observer position, illustrating the importance of non-compactness effects. Increasing the viscous core diameter tends to smooth the pressure-time waveform. For small viscous core radius and infinite span, changing the vortex orientation changes only the amplitude of the pressure-time waveform, and not the shape.

Rime ice accretion and its effect on airfoil performance. Ph.D. Thesis. Final Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bragg, M. B.

1982-01-01

A methodology was developed to predict the growth of rime ice, and the resulting aerodynamic penalty on unprotected, subcritical, airfoil surfaces. The system of equations governing the trajectory of a water droplet in the airfoil flowfield is developed and a numerical solution is obtained to predict the mass flux of super cooled water droplets freezing on impact. A rime ice shape is predicted. The effect of time on the ice growth is modeled by a time-stepping procedure where the flowfield and droplet mass flux are updated periodically through the ice accretion process. Two similarity parameters, the trajectory similarity parameter and accumulation parameter, are found to govern the accretion of rime ice. In addition, an analytical solution is presented for Langmuir's classical modified inertia parameter. The aerodynamic evaluation of the effect of the ice accretion on airfoil performance is determined using an existing airfoil analysis code with empirical corrections. The change in maximum lift coefficient is found from an analysis of the new iced airfoil shape. The drag correction needed due to the severe surface roughness is formulated from existing iced airfoil and rough airfoil data. A small scale wind tunnel test was conducted to determine the change in airfoil performance due to a simulated rime ice shape.

Development and testing of airfoils for high-altitude aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drela, Mark (Principal Investigator)

1996-01-01

Specific tasks included airfoil design; study of airfoil constraints on pullout maneuver; selection of tail airfoils; examination of wing twist; test section instrumentation and layout; and integrated airfoil/heat-exchanger tests. In the course of designing the airfoil, specifically for the APEX test vehicle, extensive studies were made over the Mach and Reynolds number ranges of interest. It is intended to be representative of airfoils required for lightweight aircraft operating at extreme altitudes, which is the primary research objective of the APEX program. Also considered were thickness, pitching moment, and off-design behavior. The maximum ceiling parameter M(exp 2)C(sub L) value achievable by the Apex-16 airfoil was found to be a strong constraint on the pullout maneuver. The NACA 1410 and 2410 airfoils (inverted) were identified as good candidates for the tail, with predictable behavior at low Reynolds numbers and good tolerance to flap deflections. With regards to wing twist, it was decided that a simple flat wing was a reasonable compromise. The test section instrumentation consisted of surface pressure taps, wake rakes, surface-mounted microphones, and skin-friction gauges. Also, a modest wind tunnel test was performed for an integrated airfoil/heat-exchanger configuration, which is currently on Aurora's 'Theseus' aircraft. Although not directly related to the APEX tests, the aerodynamics or heat exchangers has been identified as a crucial aspect of designing high-altitude aircraft and hence is relevant to the ERAST program.

A Design of Experiments Investigation of Offset Streams for Supersonic Jet Noise Reduction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Henderson, Brenda; Papamoschou, Dimitri

2014-01-01

An experimental investigation into the noise characteristics of a dual-stream jet with four airfoils inserted in the fan nozzle was conducted. The intent of the airfoils was to deflect the fan stream relative to the core stream and, therefore, impact the development of the secondary potential core and noise radiated in the peak jet-noise direction. The experiments used a full-factorial Design of Experiments (DoE) approach to identify parameters and parameter interactions impacting noise radiation at two azimuthal microphone array locations, one of which represented a sideline viewing angle. The parameters studied included airfoil angle-of-attack, airfoil azimuthal location within the fan nozzle, and airfoil axial location relative to the fan-nozzle trailing edge. Jet conditions included subsonic and supersonic fan-stream Mach numbers. Heated jets conditions were simulated with a mixture of helium and air to replicate the exhaust velocity and density of the hot jets. The introduction of the airfoils was shown to impact noise radiated at polar angles in peak-jet noise direction and to have no impact on noise radiated at small and broadside polar angles and to have no impact on broadband-shock-associated noise. The DoE analysis showed the main effects impacting noise radiation at sideline-azimuthal-viewing angles included airfoil azimuthal angle for the airfoils on the lower side of the jet near the sideline array and airfoil trailing edge distance (with airfoils located at the nozzle trailing edge produced the lowest sound pressure levels). For an array located directly beneath the jet (and on the side of the jet from which the fan stream was deflected), the main effects impacting noise radiation included airfoil angle-of-attack and airfoil azimuthal angle for the airfoils located on the observation side of the jet as well and trailing edge distance. Interaction terms between multiple configuration parameters were shown to have significant impact on the radiated noise. The models were shown to adequately describe the sound-pressure levels obtained for a configuration in the center of the design space indicating the models can be used to navigate the design space.

2-D Circulation Control Airfoil Benchmark Experiments Intended for CFD Code Validation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Englar, Robert J.; Jones, Gregory S.; Allan, Brian G.; Lin, Johb C.

2009-01-01

A current NASA Research Announcement (NRA) project being conducted by Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) personnel and NASA collaborators includes the development of Circulation Control (CC) blown airfoils to improve subsonic aircraft high-lift and cruise performance. The emphasis of this program is the development of CC active flow control concepts for both high-lift augmentation, drag control, and cruise efficiency. A collaboration in this project includes work by NASA research engineers, whereas CFD validation and flow physics experimental research are part of NASA s systematic approach to developing design and optimization tools for CC applications to fixed-wing aircraft. The design space for CESTOL type aircraft is focusing on geometries that depend on advanced flow control technologies that include Circulation Control aerodynamics. The ability to consistently predict advanced aircraft performance requires improvements in design tools to include these advanced concepts. Validation of these tools will be based on experimental methods applied to complex flows that go beyond conventional aircraft modeling techniques. This paper focuses on recent/ongoing benchmark high-lift experiments and CFD efforts intended to provide 2-D CFD validation data sets related to NASA s Cruise Efficient Short Take Off and Landing (CESTOL) study. Both the experimental data and related CFD predictions are discussed.

Analysis of transitional separation bubbles on infinite swept wings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, R. L.; Carter, J. E.

1986-01-01

A previously developed two-dimensional local inviscid-viscous interaction technique for the analysis of airfoil transitional separation bubbles, ALESEP (Airfoil Leading Edge Separation), has been extended for the calculation of transitional separation bubbles over infinite swept wings. As part of this effort, Roberts' empirical correlation, which is interpreted as a separated flow empirical extension of Mack's stability theory for attached flows, has been incorporated into the ALESEP procedure for the prediction of the transition location within the separation bubble. In addition, the viscous procedure used in the ALESEP techniques has been modified to allow for wall suction. A series of two-dimensional calculations is presented as a verification of the prediction capability of the interaction techniques with the Roberts' transition model. Numerical tests have shown that this two-dimensional natural transition correlation may also be applied to transitional separation bubbles over infinite swept wings. Results of the interaction procedure are compared with Horton's detailed experimental data for separated flow over a swept plate which demonstrates the accuracy of the present technique. Wall suction has been applied to a similar interaction calculation to demonstrate its effect on the separation bubble. The principal conclusion of this paper is that the prediction of transitional separation bubbles over two-dimensional or infinite swept geometries is now possible using the present interacting boundary layer approach.

Root region airfoil for wind turbine

DOEpatents

Tangler, James L.; Somers, Dan M.

1995-01-01

A thick airfoil for the root region of the blade of a wind turbine. The airfoil has a thickness in a range from 24%-26% and a Reynolds number in a range from 1,000,000 to 1,800,000. The airfoil has a maximum lift coefficient of 1.4-1.6 that has minimum sensitivity to roughness effects.

Design of high lift airfoils with a Stratford distribution by the Eppler method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomson, W. G.

1975-01-01

Airfoils having a Stratford pressure distribution, which has zero skin friction in the pressure recovery area, were investigated in an effort to develop high lift airfoils. The Eppler program, an inverse conformal mapping technique where the x and y coordinates of the airfoil are developed from a given velocity distribution, was used.

Robust, Optimal Subsonic Airfoil Shapes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rai, Man Mohan

2014-01-01

A method has been developed to create an airfoil robust enough to operate satisfactorily in different environments. This method determines a robust, optimal, subsonic airfoil shape, beginning with an arbitrary initial airfoil shape, and imposes the necessary constraints on the design. Also, this method is flexible and extendible to a larger class of requirements and changes in constraints imposed.

An analytical study for the design of advanced rotor airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kemp, L. D.

1973-01-01

A theoretical study has been conducted to design and evaluate two airfoils for helicopter rotors. The best basic shape, designed with a transonic hodograph design method, was modified to meet subsonic criteria. One airfoil had an additional constraint for low pitching-moment at the transonic design point. Airfoil characteristics were predicted. Results of a comparative analysis of helicopter performance indicate that the new airfoils will produce reduced rotor power requirements compared to the NACA 0012. The hodograph design method, written in CDC Algol, is listed and described.

Damping element for reducing the vibration of an airfoil

DOEpatents

Campbell, Christian X; Marra, John J

2013-11-12

An airfoil (10) is provided with a tip (12) having an opening (14) to a center channel (24). A damping element (16) is inserted within the opening of the center channel, to reduce an induced vibration of the airfoil. The mass of the damping element, a spring constant of the damping element within the center channel, and/or a mounting location (58) of the damping element within the center channel may be adjustably varied, to shift a resonance frequency of the airfoil outside a natural operating frequency of the airfoil.

Experimental studies of the Eppler 61 airfoil at low Reynolds numbers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burns, T. F.; Mueller, T. J.

1982-01-01

The results of an experimental study to document the effects of separation and transition on the performance of an airfoil designed for low Reynolds number operation are presented. Lift, drag and flow visualization data were obtained for the Eppler 61 airfoil section for chord Reynolds numbers from about 30,000 to over 200,000. Smoke flow visualization was employed to document the boundary layer behavior and was correlated with the Eppler airfoil design and analysis computer program. Laminar separation, transition and turbulent reattachment had significant effects on the performance of this airfoil.

Compilation of Information on the Transonic Attachment of Flows at the Leading Edges of Airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lindsey, Walter F; Landrum, Emma Jean

1958-01-01

Schlieren photographs have been compiled of the two-dimensional flow at transonic speeds past 37 airfoils. These airfoils have variously shaped profiles, and some are related in thickness and camber. The data for these airfoils were analyzed to provide basic information on the flow changes involved and to determine factors affecting transonic-flow attachment, which is a transition from separated to unseparated flow at the leading edges of two-dimensional airfoils at fixed angles as the subsonic Mach number is increased.

An empirically-based model for the lift coefficients of twisted airfoils with leading-edge tubercles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ni, Zao; Su, Tsung-chow; Dhanak, Manhar

2018-04-01

Experimental data for untwisted airfoils are utilized to propose a model for predicting the lift coefficients of twisted airfoils with leading-edge tubercles. The effectiveness of the empirical model is verified through comparison with results of a corresponding computational fluid-dynamic (CFD) study. The CFD study is carried out for both twisted and untwisted airfoils with tubercles, the latter shown to compare well with available experimental data. Lift coefficients of twisted airfoils predicted from the proposed empirically-based model match well with the corresponding coefficients determined using the verified CFD study. Flow details obtained from the latter provide better insight into the underlying mechanism and behavior at stall of twisted airfoils with leading edge tubercles.

Solving Navier-Stokes Equations with Advanced Turbulence Models on Three-Dimensional Unstructured Grids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Qun-Zhen; Massey, Steven J.; Abdol-Hamid, Khaled S.; Frink, Neal T.

1999-01-01

USM3D is a widely-used unstructured flow solver for simulating inviscid and viscous flows over complex geometries. The current version (version 5.0) of USM3D, however, does not have advanced turbulence models to accurately simulate complicated flows. We have implemented two modified versions of the original Jones and Launder k-epsilon two-equation turbulence model and the Girimaji algebraic Reynolds stress model in USM3D. Tests have been conducted for two flat plate boundary layer cases, a RAE2822 airfoil and an ONERA M6 wing. The results are compared with those of empirical formulae, theoretical results and the existing Spalart-Allmaras one-equation model.

Fuel conservation possibilities for terminal area compatible aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1975-01-01

Design features and operational procedures are identified, which would reduce fuel consumption of future transport aircraft. The fuel-saving potential can be realized during the last decade of this century only if the necessary research and technology programs are implemented in the areas of composite primary structure, airfoil/wing design, and stability augmentation systems. The necessary individual R and T programs are defined. The sensitivity to fuel usage of several design parameters (wing geometry, cruise speed, propulsion) is investigated, and the results applied to a candidate 18, 140-kg (40,000-lb) payload, 5556-km (3000-nmi) transport design. Technical and economic comparisons are made with current commercial aircraft and other advanced designs.

Transonic analysis of canted winglets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rosen, B. S.

1984-01-01

A computational method developed to provide a transonic analysis for upper/lower surface wing-tip mounted winglets is described. Winglets with arbitrary planform, cant and toe angle, and airfoil section can be modeled. The embedded grid approach provides high flow field resolution and the required geometric flexibility. In particular, coupled Cartesian/cylindrical grid systems are used to model the complex geometry presented by canted upper/lower surface winglets. A new rotated difference scheme is introduced in order to maintain the stability of the small-disturbance formulation in the presence of large spanwise velocities. Wing and winglet viscous effects are modeled using a two-dimensional 'strip' boundary layer analysis. Correlations with wind tunnel and flight test data for three transport configurations are included.

Nonlinear Fluid Computations in a Distributed Environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Atwood, Christopher A.; Smith, Merritt H.

1995-01-01

The performance of a loosely and tightly-coupled workstation cluster is compared against a conventional vector supercomputer for the solution the Reynolds- averaged Navier-Stokes equations. The application geometries include a transonic airfoil, a tiltrotor wing/fuselage, and a wing/body/empennage/nacelle transport. Decomposition is of the manager-worker type, with solution of one grid zone per worker process coupled using the PVM message passing library. Task allocation is determined by grid size and processor speed, subject to available memory penalties. Each fluid zone is computed using an implicit diagonal scheme in an overset mesh framework, while relative body motion is accomplished using an additional worker process to re-establish grid communication.

Buffeting of NACA 0012 airfoil at high angle of attack

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Tong; Dowell, Earl

2014-11-01

Buffeting is a fluid instability caused by flow separation or shock wave oscillations in the flow around a bluff body. Typically there is a dominant frequency of these flow oscillations called Strouhal or buffeting frequency. In prior work several researchers at Duke University have noted the analogy between the classic Von Karman Vortex Street behind a bluff body and the flow oscillations that occur for flow around a NACA 0012 airfoil at sufficiently large angle of attack. Lock-in is found for certain combinations of airfoil oscillation (pitching motion) frequencies and amplitudes when the frequency of the airfoil motion is sufficiently close to the buffeting frequency. The goal of this paper is to explore the flow around a static and an oscillating airfoil at high angle of attack by developing a method for computing buffet response. Simulation results are compared with experimental data. Conditions for the onset of buffeting and lock-in of a NACA 0012 airfoil at high angle of attack are determined. Effects of several parameters on lift coefficient and flow response frequency are studied including Reynolds number, angle of attack and blockage ratio of the airfoil size to the wind tunnel dimensions. Also more detailed flow field characteristics are determined. For a static airfoil, a universal Strouhal number scaling has been found for angles of attack from 30° to 90°, where the flow around airfoil is fully separated. For an oscillating airfoil, conditions for lock-in are discussed. Differences between the lock-in case and the unlocked case are also studied. The second affiliation: Duke University.

Root region airfoil for wind turbine

DOEpatents

Tangler, J.L.; Somers, D.M.

1995-05-23

A thick airfoil is described for the root region of the blade of a wind turbine. The airfoil has a thickness in a range from 24%--26% and a Reynolds number in a range from 1,000,000 to 1,800,000. The airfoil has a maximum lift coefficient of 1.4--1.6 that has minimum sensitivity to roughness effects. 3 Figs.

Reducing the wave drag of wing airfoils in transonic flow regimes by the force action of airfoil surface elements on the flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aul'chenko, S. M.; Zamuraev, V. P.

2012-11-01

Mathematical modeling of the influence of forced oscillations of surface elements of a wing airfoil on the shock-wave structure of transonic flow past it has been carried out. The qualitative and quantitative influence of the oscillation parameters on the wave drag of the airfoil has been investigated.

On the influence of airfoil deviations on the aerodynamic performance of wind turbine rotors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winstroth, J.; Seume, J. R.

2016-09-01

The manufacture of large wind turbine rotor blades is a difficult task that still involves a certain degree of manual labor. Due to the complexity, airfoil deviations between the design airfoils and the manufactured blade are certain to arise. Presently, the understanding of the impact of manufacturing uncertainties on the aerodynamic performance is still incomplete. The present work analyzes the influence of a series of airfoil deviations likely to occur during manufacturing by means of Computational Fluid Dynamics and the aeroelastic code FAST. The average power production of the NREL 5MW wind turbine is used to evaluate the different airfoil deviations. Analyzed deviations include: Mold tilt towards the leading and trailing edge, thick bond lines, thick bond lines with cantilever correction, backward facing steps and airfoil waviness. The most severe influences are observed for mold tilt towards the leading and thick bond lines. By applying the cantilever correction, the influence of thick bond lines is almost compensated. Airfoil waviness is very dependent on amplitude height and the location along the surface of the airfoil. Increased influence is observed for backward facing steps, once they are high enough to trigger boundary layer transition close to the leading edge.

Modern Airfoil Ice Accretions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Addy, Harold E., Jr.; Potapczuk, Mark G.; Sheldon, David W.

1997-01-01

This report presents results from the first icing tests performed in the Modem Airfoils program. Two airfoils have been subjected to icing tests in the NASA Lewis Icing Research Tunnel (IRT). Both airfoils were two dimensional airfoils; one was representative of a commercial transport airfoil while the other was representative of a business jet airfoil. The icing test conditions were selected from the FAR Appendix C envelopes. Effects on aerodynamic performance are presented including the effects of varying amounts of glaze ice as well as the effects of approximately the same amounts of glaze, mixed, and rime ice. Actual ice shapes obtained in these tests are also presented for these cases. In addition, comparisons are shown between ice shapes from the tests and ice shapes predicted by the computer code, LEWICE for similar conditions. Significant results from the tests are that relatively small amounts of ice can have nearly as much effect on airfoil lift coefficient as much greater amounts of ice and that glaze ice usually has a more detrimental effect than either rime or mixed ice. LEWICE predictions of ice shapes, in general, compared reasonably well with ice shapes obtained in the IRT, although differences in details of the ice shapes were observed.

Parametric Investigation of a High-Lift Airfoil at High Reynolds Numbers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, John C.; Dominik, Chet J.

1997-01-01

A new two-dimensional, three-element, advanced high-lift research airfoil has been tested in the NASA Langley Research Center s Low-Turbulence Pressure Tunnel at a chord Reynolds number up to 1.6 x 107. The components of this high-lift airfoil have been designed using a incompressible computational code (INS2D). The design was to provide high maximum-lift values while maintaining attached flow on the single-segment flap at landing conditions. The performance of the new NASA research airfoil is compared to a similar reference high-lift airfoil. On the new high-lift airfoil the effects of Reynolds number on slat and flap rigging have been studied experimentally, as well as the Mach number effects. The performance trend of the high-lift design is comparable to that predicted by INS2D over much of the angle-of-attack range. However, the code did not accurately predict the airfoil performance or the configuration-based trends near maximum lift where the compressibility effect could play a major role.

A two dimensional study of rotor/airfoil interaction in hover

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Chyang S.

1988-01-01

A two dimensional model for the chordwise flow near the wing tip of the tilt rotor in hover is presented. The airfoil is represented by vortex panels and the rotor is modeled by doublet panels. The rotor slipstream and the airfoil wake are simulated by free point vortices. Calculations on a 20 percent thick elliptical airfoil under a uniform rotor inflow are performed. Variations on rotor size, spacing between the rotor and the airfoil, ground effect, and the influence upper surface blowing in download reduction are analyzed. Rotor size has only a minor influence on download when it is small. Increase of the rotor/airfoil spacing causes a gradual decrease on download. Proximity to the ground effectively reduces the download and makes the wake unsteady. The surface blowing changes the whole flow structure and significantly reduces the download within the assumption of a potential solution. Improvement on the present model is recommended to estimate the wall jets induced suction on the airfoil lower surface.

Computer programs for smoothing and scaling airfoil coordinates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morgan, H. L., Jr.

1983-01-01

Detailed descriptions are given of the theoretical methods and associated computer codes of a program to smooth and a program to scale arbitrary airfoil coordinates. The smoothing program utilizes both least-squares polynomial and least-squares cubic spline techniques to smooth interatively the second derivatives of the y-axis airfoil coordinates with respect to a transformed x-axis system which unwraps the airfoil and stretches the nose and trailing-edge regions. The corresponding smooth airfoil coordinates are then determined by solving a tridiagonal matrix of simultaneous cubic-spline equations relating the y-axis coordinates and their corresponding second derivatives. A technique for computing the camber and thickness distribution of the smoothed airfoil is also discussed. The scaling program can then be used to scale the thickness distribution generated by the smoothing program to a specific maximum thickness which is then combined with the camber distribution to obtain the final scaled airfoil contour. Computer listings of the smoothing and scaling programs are included.

Preliminary biplane tests in the variable density wind tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shoemaker, James M

1928-01-01

Biplane cellules using the N.A.C.A.-M6 airfoil section have been tested in the variable density wind tunnel of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Three cellules, differing only in the amount of stagger, were tested at two air densities, corresponding to pressures of one atmosphere and of twenty atmospheres. The range of angle of attack was from -2 degrees to +48 degrees. The effect of stagger on the lift and drag, and on the shielding effect of the upper wing by the lower at high angles of attack was determined.

Dynamic stall study of a multi-element airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tung, Chee; Mcalister, Kenneth W.; Wang, Clin M.

1992-01-01

Unsteady flow behavior and load characteristics of a VR-7 airfoil with and without a slat were studied in the water tunnel of the Aeroflightdynamics Directorate, NASA Ames Research Center. Both airfoils were oscillated sinusoidally between 5 and 25 degrees at a Reynolds number of 200,000 to obtain the unsteady lift, drag and pitching moment data. A fluorescing dye was released from an orifice located at the leading edge of the airfoil for the purpose of visualizing the boundary layer and wake flow. The flow field and load predictions of an incompressible Navier-Stokes code based on a velocity-vorticity formulation were compared with the test data. The test and predictions both confirm that the slatted VR-7 airfoil delays both static and dynamic stall as compared to the VR-7 airfoil alone.

Separation control of NACA0015 airfoil using plasma actuators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harada, Daisuke; Sakakibara, Jun

2017-11-01

Separation control of NACA0015 airfoil by means of plasma actuators was investigated. Plasma actuators in spanwise intermittent layout on the suction surface of the airfoil were activated with spanwise phase difference φ = 0 or φ = π in the case of dimensionless burst frequencyF+ = 6 and F+ = 0.5 at Re = 6.3 ×104 . The lift and drag of the airfoil were measured using a two component force balance. The flow around the airfoil was measured by PIV analysis. In the condition of F+ = 6 and φ = π at around stall angle, which is 10 degrees, the lift-to-drag ratio was higher than that ofF+ = 6 and φ = 0 . Therefore, it was confirmed that aerodynamic characteristics of the airfoil improved by disturbances with temporal and spatial phase difference.

Scaling laws for testing of high lift airfoils under heavy rainfall

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bilanin, A. J.

1985-01-01

The results of studies regarding the effect of rainfall about aircraft are briefly reviewed. It is found that performance penalties on airfoils have been identified in subscale tests. For this reason, it is of great importance that scaling laws be dveloped to aid in the extrapolation of these data to fullscale. The present investigation represents an attempt to develop scaling laws for testing subscale airfoils under heavy rain conditions. Attention is given to rain statistics, airfoil operation in heavy rain, scaling laws, thermodynamics of condensation and/or evaporation, rainfall and airfoil scaling, aspects of splash back, film thickness, rivulets, and flap slot blockage. It is concluded that the extrapolation of airfoil performance data taken at subscale under simulated heavy rain conditions to fullscale must be undertaken with caution.

Experimental and simulated control of lift using trailing edge devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cooperman, A.; Blaylock, M.; van Dam, C. P.

2014-12-01

Two active aerodynamic load control (AALC) devices coupled with a control algorithm are shown to decrease the change in lift force experienced by an airfoil during a change in freestream velocity. Microtabs are small (1% chord) surfaces deployed perpendicular to an airfoil, while microjets are pneumatic jets with flow perpendicular to the surface of the airfoil near the trailing edge. Both devices are capable of producing a rapid change in an airfoil's lift coefficient. A control algorithm for microtabs has been tested in a wind tunnel using a modified S819 airfoil, and a microjet control algorithm has been simulated for a NACA 0012 airfoil using OVERFLOW. In both cases, the AALC devices have shown the ability to mitigate the changes in lift during a gust.

Suction and Blowing Flow Control on Airfoil for Drag Reduction in Subsonic Flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baljit, S. S.; Saad, M. R.; Nasib, A. Z.; Sani, A.; Rahman, M. R. A.; Idris, A. C.

2017-10-01

Lift force is produced from a pressure difference between the pressures acting in upper and lower surfaces. Therefore, flow becomes detached from the surface of the airfoil at separation point and form vortices. These vortices affect the aerodynamic performance of the airfoil in term of lift and drag coefficient. Therefore, this study is investigating the effect of suction and jet blowing in boundary layer separation control on NACA 0012 airfoil in a subsonic wind tunnel. The experiment examined both methods at the position of 25% of the chord-length of the airfoil at Reynolds number 1.2 × 105. The findings show that suction and jet blowing affect the aerodynamic performance of NACA 0012 airfoil and can be an effective means for boundary layer separation control in subsonic flow.

Supercritical tests of a self-optimizing, variable-Camber wind tunnel model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Levinsky, E. S.; Palko, R. L.

1979-01-01

A testing procedure was used in a 16-foot Transonic Propulsion Wind Tunnel which leads to optimum wing airfoil sections without stopping the tunnel for model changes. Being experimental, the optimum shapes obtained incorporate various three-dimensional and nonlinear viscous and transonic effects not included in analytical optimization methods. The method is a closed-loop, computer-controlled, interactive procedure and employs a Self-Optimizing Flexible Technology wing semispan model that conformally adapts the airfoil section at two spanwise control stations to maximize or minimize various prescribed merit functions subject to both equality and inequality constraints. The model, which employed twelve independent hydraulic actuator systems and flexible skins, was also used for conventional testing. Although six of seven optimizations attempted were at least partially convergent, further improvements in model skin smoothness and hydraulic reliability are required to make the technique fully operational.

An implicit solution of the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations for an airfoil spanning a wind tunnel. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moitra, A.

1982-01-01

An implicit finite-difference algorithm is developed for the numerical solution of the incompressible three dimensional Navier-Stokes equations in the non-conservative primitive-variable formulation. The flow field about an airfoil spanning a wind-tunnel is computed. The coordinate system is generated by an extension of the two dimensional body-fitted coordinate generation techniques of Thompson, as well as that of Sorenson, into three dimensions. Two dimensional grids are stacked along a spanwise coordinate defined by a simple analytical function. A Poisson pressure equation for advancing the pressure in time is arrived at by performing a divergence operation on the momentum equations. The pressure at each time-step is calculated on the assumption that continuity be unconditionally satisfied. An eddy viscosity coefficient, computed according to the algebraic turbulence formulation of Baldwin and Lomax, simulates the effects of turbulence.

Preliminary aerodynamic design considerations for advanced laminar flow aircraft configurations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, Joseph L., Jr.; Yip, Long P.; Jordan, Frank L., Jr.

1986-01-01

Modern composite manufacturing methods have provided the opportunity for smooth surfaces that can sustain large regions of natural laminar flow (NLF) boundary layer behavior and have stimulated interest in developing advanced NLF airfoils and improved aircraft designs. Some of the preliminary results obtained in exploratory research investigations on advanced aircraft configurations at the NASA Langley Research Center are discussed. Results of the initial studies have shown that the aerodynamic effects of configuration variables such as canard/wing arrangements, airfoils, and pusher-type and tractor-type propeller installations can be particularly significant at high angles of attack. Flow field interactions between aircraft components were shown to produce undesirable aerodynamic effects on a wing behind a heavily loaded canard, and the use of properly designed wing leading-edge modifications, such as a leading-edge droop, offset the undesirable aerodynamic effects by delaying wing stall and providing increased stall/spin resistance with minimum degradation of laminar flow behavior.

Flow Control on Low-Pressure Turbine Airfoils Using Vortex Generator Jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Volino, Ralph J.; Ibrahim, Mounir B.; Kartuzova, Olga

2010-01-01

Motivation - Higher loading on Low-Pressure Turbine (LPT) airfoils: Reduce airfoil count, weight, cost. Increase efficiency, and Limited by suction side separation. Growing understanding of transition, separation, wake effects: Improved models. Take advantage of wakes. Higher lift airfoils in use. Further loading increases may require flow control: Passive: trips, dimples, etc. Active: plasma actuators, vortex generator jets (VGJs). Can increased loading offset higher losses on high lift airfoils. Objectives: Advance knowledge of boundary layer separation and transition under LPT conditions. Demonstrate, improve understanding of separation control with pulsed VGJs. Produce detailed experimental data base. Test and develop computational models.

Impingement of Water Droplets on NACA 65A004 Airfoil at 8 deg Angle of Attack

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brun, R. J.; Gallagher, H. M.; Vogt, D. E.

1954-01-01

The trajectories of droplets in the air flowing past an NACA 65AO04 airfoil at an angle of attack of 8 deg were determined.. The amount of water in droplet form impinging on the airfoil, the area of droplet impingement, and the rate of droplet impingement per unit area on the airfoil surface were calculated from the trajectories and presented to cover a large range of flight and atmospheric conditions. These impingement characteristics are compared briefly with those previously reported for the same airfoil at an angle of attack of 4 deg.

An Exploratory Investigation of a Slotted, Natural-Laminar-Flow Airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Somers, Dan M.

2012-01-01

A 15-percent-thick, slotted, natural-laminar-flow (SNLF) airfoil, the S103, for general aviation applications has been designed and analyzed theoretically and verified experimentally in the Langley Low-Turbulence Pressure Tunnel. The two primary objectives of high maximum lift and low profile drag have been achieved. The constraints on the pitching moment and the airfoil thickness have been satisfied. The airfoil exhibits a rapid stall, which does not meet the design goal. Comparisons of the theoretical and experimental results show good agreement. Comparison with the baseline, NASA NLF(1)-0215F airfoil confirms the achievement of the objectives.

Airfoil seal system for gas turbine engine

DOEpatents

None, None

2013-06-25

A turbine airfoil seal system of a turbine engine having a seal base with a plurality of seal strips extending therefrom for sealing gaps between rotational airfoils and adjacent stationary components. The seal strips may overlap each other and may be generally aligned with each other. The seal strips may flex during operation to further reduce the gap between the rotational airfoils and adjacent stationary components.

Numerical investigation of an internal layer in turbulent flow over a curved hill

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, S-W.

1989-01-01

The development of an internal layer in a turbulent boundary layer flow over a curved hill is investigated numerically. The turbulence field of the boundary layer flow over the curved hill is compared with that of a turbulent flow over a symmetric airfoil (which has the same geometry as the curved hill except that the leading and trailing edge plates were removed) to study the influence of the strongly curved surface on the turbulence field. The turbulent flow equations are solved by a control-volume based finite difference method. The turbulence is described by a multiple-time-scale turbulence model supplemented with a near-wall turbulence model. Computational results for the mean flow field (pressure distributions on the walls, wall shearing stresses and mean velocity profiles), the turbulence structure (Reynolds stress and turbulent kinetic energy profiles), and the integral parameters (displacement and momentum thicknesses) compared favorably with the measured data. Computational results show that the internal layer is a strong turbulence field which is developed beneath the external boundary layer and is located very close to the wall. Development of the internal layer was more obviously observed in the Reynolds stress profiles and in the turbulent kinetic energy profiles than in the mean velocity profiles. In this regard, the internal layers is significantly different from wall-bounded simple shear layers in which the mean velocity profile characterizes the boundary layer most distinguishably. Development of such an internal layer, characterized by an intense turbulence field, is attributed to the enormous mean flow strain rate caused by the streamline curvature and the strong pressure gradient. In the turbulent flow over the curved hill, the internal layer begin to form near the forward corner of the hill, merges with the external boundary layer, and develops into a new fully turbulent boundary layer as the fluid flows in the downstream direction. For the flow over the symmetric airfoil, the boundary layer began to form from almost the same location as that of the curved hill, grew in its strength, and formed a fully turbulent boundary layer from mid-part of the airfoil and in the downstream region. Computational results also show that the detailed turbulence structure in the region very close to the wall of the curved hill is almost the same as that of the airfoil in most of the curved regions except near the leading edge. Thus the internal layer of the curved hill and the boundary layer of the airfoil were also almost the same. Development of the wall shearing stress and separation of the boundary layer at the rear end of the curved hill mostly depends on the internal layer and is only slightly influenced by the external boundary layer flow.

Experimental investigation of a 10-percent-thick helicopter rotor airfoil section designed with a viscous transonic analysis code

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Noonan, K. W.

1981-01-01

An investigation was conducted in the Langley 6- by 28-Inch Transonic Tunnel to determine the two dimensional aerodynamic characteristics of a 10-percent-thick helicopter rotor airfoil at Mach numbers from 0.33 to 0.87 and respective Reynolds numbers from 4.9 x 10 to the 6th to 9.8 x 10 to the 6th. This airfoil, designated the RC-10(N)-1, was also investigated at Reynolds numbers from 3.0 x 10 to the 6th to 7.3 x 10 to the 6th at respective Mach numbers of 0.33 to 0.83 for comparison wit the SC 1095 (with tab) airfoil. The RC-10(N)-1 airfoil was designed by the use of a viscous transonic analysis code. The results of the investigation indicate that the RC-10(N)-1 airfoil met all the design goals. At a Reynolds number of about 9.4 x 10 to the 6th the drag divergence Mach number at zero normal-force coefficient was 0.815 with a corresponding pitching-moment coefficient of zero. The drag divergence Mach number at a normal-force coefficient of 0.9 and a Reynolds number of about 8.0 x 10 to the 6th was 0.61. The drag divergence Mach number of this new airfoil was higher than that of the SC 1095 airfoil at normal-force coefficients above 0.3. Measurements in the same wind tunnel at comparable Reynolds numbers indicated that the maximum normal-force coefficient of the RC-10(N)-1 airfoil was higher than that of the NACA 0012 airfoil for Mach numbers above about 0.35 and was about the same as that of the SC 1095 airfoil for Mach numbers up to 0.5.

Rotor cascade shape optimization with unsteady passing wakes using implicit dual time stepping method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Eun Seok

2000-10-01

An improved aerodynamics performance of a turbine cascade shape can be achieved by an understanding of the flow-field associated with the stator-rotor interaction. In this research, an axial gas turbine airfoil cascade shape is optimized for improved aerodynamic performance by using an unsteady Navier-Stokes solver and a parallel genetic algorithm. The objective of the research is twofold: (1) to develop a computational fluid dynamics code having faster convergence rate and unsteady flow simulation capabilities, and (2) to optimize a turbine airfoil cascade shape with unsteady passing wakes for improved aerodynamic performance. The computer code solves the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations. It is based on the explicit, finite difference, Runge-Kutta time marching scheme and the Diagonalized Alternating Direction Implicit (DADI) scheme, with the Baldwin-Lomax algebraic and k-epsilon turbulence modeling. Improvements in the code focused on the cascade shape design capability, convergence acceleration and unsteady formulation. First, the inverse shape design method was implemented in the code to provide the design capability, where a surface transpiration concept was employed as an inverse technique to modify the geometry satisfying the user specified pressure distribution on the airfoil surface. Second, an approximation storage multigrid method was implemented as an acceleration technique. Third, the preconditioning method was adopted to speed up the convergence rate in solving the low Mach number flows. Finally, the implicit dual time stepping method was incorporated in order to simulate the unsteady flow-fields. For the unsteady code validation, the Stokes's 2nd problem and the Poiseuille flow were chosen and compared with the computed results and analytic solutions. To test the code's ability to capture the natural unsteady flow phenomena, vortex shedding past a cylinder and the shock oscillation over a bicircular airfoil were simulated and compared with experiments and other research results. The rotor cascade shape optimization with unsteady passing wakes was performed to obtain an improved aerodynamic performance using the unsteady Navier-Stokes solver. Two objective functions were defined as minimization of total pressure loss and maximization of lift, while the mass flow rate was fixed. A parallel genetic algorithm was used as an optimizer and the penalty method was introduced. Each individual's objective function was computed simultaneously by using a 32 processor distributed memory computer. One optimization took about four days.

Enhancement of aerodynamic performance of a heaving airfoil using synthetic-jet based active flow control.

PubMed

Wang, Chenglei; Tang, Hui

2018-05-25

In this study, we explore the use of synthetic jet (SJ) in manipulating the vortices around a rigid heaving airfoil, so as to enhance its aerodynamic performance. The airfoil heaves at two fixed pitching angles, with the Strouhal number, reduced frequency and Reynolds number chosen as St  =  0.3, k  =  0.25 and Re  =  100, respectively, all falling in the ranges for natural flyers. As such, the vortex force plays a dominant role in determining the airfoil's aerodynamic performance. A pair of in-phase SJs is implemented on the airfoil's upper and lower surfaces, operating with the same strength but in opposite directions. Such a fluid-structure interaction problem is numerically solved using a lattice Boltzmann method based numerical framework. It is found that, as the airfoil heaves with zero pitching angle, its lift and drag can be improved concurrently when the SJ phase angle [Formula: see text] relative to the heave motion varies between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. But this concurrent improvement does not occur as the airfoil heaves with [Formula: see text] pitching angle. Detailed inspection of the vortex evolution and fluid stress over the airfoil surface reveals that, if at good timing, the suction and blowing strokes of the SJ pair can effectively delay or promote the shedding of leading edge vortices, and mitigate or even eliminate the generation of trailing edge vortices, so as to enhance the airfoil's aerodynamic performance. Based on these understandings, an intermittent operation of the SJ pair is then proposed to realize concurrent lift and drag improvement for the heaving airfoil with [Formula: see text] pitching angle.

An efficient finite differences method for the computation of compressible, subsonic, unsteady flows past airfoils and panels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colera, Manuel; Pérez-Saborid, Miguel

2017-09-01

A finite differences scheme is proposed in this work to compute in the time domain the compressible, subsonic, unsteady flow past an aerodynamic airfoil using the linearized potential theory. It improves and extends the original method proposed in this journal by Hariharan, Ping and Scott [1] by considering: (i) a non-uniform mesh, (ii) an implicit time integration algorithm, (iii) a vectorized implementation and (iv) the coupled airfoil dynamics and fluid dynamic loads. First, we have formulated the method for cases in which the airfoil motion is given. The scheme has been tested on well known problems in unsteady aerodynamics -such as the response to a sudden change of the angle of attack and to a harmonic motion of the airfoil- and has been proved to be more accurate and efficient than other finite differences and vortex-lattice methods found in the literature. Secondly, we have coupled our method to the equations governing the airfoil dynamics in order to numerically solve problems where the airfoil motion is unknown a priori as happens, for example, in the cases of the flutter and the divergence of a typical section of a wing or of a flexible panel. Apparently, this is the first self-consistent and easy-to-implement numerical analysis in the time domain of the compressible, linearized coupled dynamics of the (generally flexible) airfoil-fluid system carried out in the literature. The results for the particular case of a rigid airfoil show excellent agreement with those reported by other authors, whereas those obtained for the case of a cantilevered flexible airfoil in compressible flow seem to be original or, at least, not well-known.

Unsteady aerodynamic behavior of an airfoil with and without a slat

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tung, Chee; Mcalister, Kenneth W.; Wang, Clin M.

1993-01-01

Unsteady flow behavior and load characteristics of a 2D VR-7 airfoil with and without a leading-edge slat were studied in the water tunnel of the Aeroflightdynamics Directorate, NASA Ames Research Center. Both airfoils were oscillated sinusoidally between 5 and 25 deg at Re = 200,000 to obtain the unsteady lift, drag, and pitching moment data. A fluorescent dye was released from an orifice located at the leading edge of the airfoil for the purpose of visualizing the boundary layer and wake flow. The flowfield and load predictions of an incompressible Navier-Stokes code based on a velocity-vorticity formulation were compared with the test data. The test and predictions both confirm that the slatted VR-7 airfoil delays both static and dynamic stall as compared to the VR-7 airfoil alone.

Turbine blade squealer tip rail with fence members

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Little, David A

2012-11-20

A turbine blade includes an airfoil, a blade tip section, a squealer tip rail, and a plurality of chordally spaced fence members. The blade tip section includes a blade tip floor located at an end of the airfoil distal from the root. The blade tip floor includes a pressure side and a suction side joined together at chordally spaced apart leading and trailing edges of the airfoil. The squealer tip rail extends radially outwardly from the blade tip floor adjacent to the suction side and extends from a first location adjacent to the airfoil trailing edge to a second locationmore » adjacent to the airfoil leading edge. The fence members are located between the airfoil leading and trailing edges and extend radially outwardly from the blade tip floor and axially from the squealer tip rail toward the pressure side.« less

Transonic aerodynamic characteristics of the 10-percent-thick NASA supercritical airfoil 31

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harris, C. D.

1975-01-01

Refinements in a 10 percent thick supercritical airfoil (airfoil 31) have produced significant improvements in the drag characteristics compared with those for an earlier supercritical airfoil (airfoil 12) designed for the same normal force coefficient of 0.7. Drag creep was practically eliminated at normal force coefficients between about 0.4 and 0.7 and was greatly reduced at other normal force coefficients. Substantial reductions in the drag levels preceding drag divergence were also achieved at all normal force coefficients. The Mach numbers at which drag diverges were delayed for airfoil 31 at normal force coefficients up to about 0.6 (by approximately 0.01 and 0.02 at normal force coefficients of 0.4 and 0.6, respectively) but drag divergence occurred at slightly lower Mach numbers at higher normal force coefficients.

Turbine airfoil to shround attachment

DOEpatents

Campbell, Christian X; Morrison, Jay A; James, Allister W; Snider, Raymond G; Eshak, Daniel M; Marra, John J; Wessell, Brian J

2014-05-06

A turbine airfoil (31) with an end portion (42) that tapers (44) toward the end (43) of the airfoil. A ridge (46) extends around the end portion. It has proximal (66) and distal (67) sides. A shroud platform (50) is bi-cast onto the end portion around the ridge without bonding. Cooling shrinks the platform into compression (62) on the end portion (42) of the airfoil. Gaps between the airfoil and platform are formed using a fugitive material (56) in the bi-casting stage. These gaps are designed in combination with the taper angle (44) to accommodate differential thermal expansion while maintaining a gas seal along the contact surfaces. The taper angle (44) may vary from lesser on the pressure side (36) to greater on the suction side (38) of the airfoil. A collar portion (52) of the platform provides sufficient contact area for connection stability.

An analytic study of nonsteady two-phase laminar boundary layer around an airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hsu, Yu-Kao

1989-01-01

Recently, NASA, FAA, and other organizations have focused their attention upon the possible effects of rain on airfoil performance. Rhode carried out early experiments and concluded that the rain impacting the aircraft increased the drag. Bergrum made numerical calculation for the rain effects on airfoils. Luers and Haines did an analytic investigation and found that heavy rain induces severe aerodynamic penalties including both a momentum penalty due to the impact of the rain and a drag and lift penalty due to rain roughening of the airfoil and fuselage. More recently, Hansman and Barsotti performed experiments and declared that performance degradation of an airfoil in heavy rain is due to the effective roughening of the surface by the water layer. Hansman and Craig did further experimental research at low Reynolds number. E. Dunham made a critical review for the potential influence of rain on airfoil performance. Dunham et al. carried out experiments for the transport type airfoil and concluded that there is a reduction of maximum lift capability with increase in drag. There is a scarcity of published literature in analytic research of two-phase boundary layer around an airfoil. Analytic research is being improved. The following assumptions are made: the fluid flow is non-steady, viscous, and incompressible; the airfoil is represented by a two-dimensional flat plate; and there is only a laminar boundary layer throughout the flow region. The boundary layer approximation is solved and discussed.

An investigation of the effects of the high maximum-thickness-to-chord ratio on the performance of nozzle guide vanes in a transonic planar cascade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Radmard, Rama

1993-03-01

The performance of turbine airfoils is usually predicted by empirical correlations, which however are inadequate for the case of airfoils with maximum thickness to chord ratio (MTCR) higher than 25 percent. Studies were conducted to create a data base from which the performance of turbine airfoils with a MTCR higher than 25 percent could be predicted. A planar cascade consisting of four airfoils was constructed to allow the investigation of the effect of the MTCR on the airfoil performance. Three airfoil sets with MTCR of 15.2 percent (baseline), 26.6 percent, and 48.2 percent were used. Measurements included surface Mach number distributions for the baseline airfoil, total pressure loss coefficients, and deviation angles for isentropic exit Mach numbers of 0.7 (design), 0.9, and 1.1. The effect of varying the inlet boundary layer thickness and free-stream turbulence level was also examined. The results showed that the 26.6 percent airfoil produced lower losses as predicted by the Kacker and Okapuu (1982) correlation. The introduction of turbulence produced a significant redistribution of losses in the exit plane. The secondary loss decreased as the leading edge diameter was increased. Except for the baseline blade where high under-turning in exit flow angle was observed, the airfoils showed a decrease in over-turning with increasing exit Mach number, as predicted by Ainley and Mathieson (1951).

Propeller performance analysis and multidisciplinary optimization using a genetic algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burger, Christoph

A propeller performance analysis program has been developed and integrated into a Genetic Algorithm for design optimization. The design tool will produce optimal propeller geometries for a given goal, which includes performance and/or acoustic signature. A vortex lattice model is used for the propeller performance analysis and a subsonic compact source model is used for the acoustic signature determination. Compressibility effects are taken into account with the implementation of Prandtl-Glauert domain stretching. Viscous effects are considered with a simple Reynolds number based model to account for the effects of viscosity in the spanwise direction. An empirical flow separation model developed from experimental lift and drag coefficient data of a NACA 0012 airfoil is included. The propeller geometry is generated using a recently introduced Class/Shape function methodology to allow for efficient use of a wide design space. Optimizing the angle of attack, the chord, the sweep and the local airfoil sections, produced blades with favorable tradeoffs between single and multiple point optimizations of propeller performance and acoustic noise signatures. Optimizations using a binary encoded IMPROVE(c) Genetic Algorithm (GA) and a real encoded GA were obtained after optimization runs with some premature convergence. The newly developed real encoded GA was used to obtain the majority of the results which produced generally better convergence characteristics when compared to the binary encoded GA. The optimization trade-offs show that single point optimized propellers have favorable performance, but circulation distributions were less smooth when compared to dual point or multiobjective optimizations. Some of the single point optimizations generated propellers with proplets which show a loading shift to the blade tip region. When noise is included into the objective functions some propellers indicate a circulation shift to the inboard sections of the propeller as well as a reduction in propeller diameter. In addition the propeller number was increased in some optimizations to reduce the acoustic blade signature.

Study on Trailing Edge Ramp of Supercritical Airfoil

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-30

7 th Asia-Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology, 25 – 27 November 2015, Cairns Study on Trailing Edge Ramp of Supercritical...China Abstract Trailing edge flow control method could improve the performance of supercritical airfoil with a small modification on the original...airfoil. In this paper, a ramp of 2%~7% chord length is sliced near the trailing edge to improve airfoil performance. The trailing edge ramp is

Performance of NACA Eight-Stage Axial-Flow Compressor Designed on the Basis of Airfoil Theory

DTIC Science & Technology

1944-08-01

TEE BASIS OF AIRFOIL THEORY By John T. Slnnette, Jr., Oscar W. Schey, and J. Austin King Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory Cleveland, Ohio FILE...efficiency can he designed by the proper application of airfoil theory. Aircraft Engine Research laboratory, Hational Advisory Committee for Aeronautlos...Basis of Airfoil Theory AUTHORS): Sinnette, John T.; Schey, Oscar W.; and others ORIGINATING AGENCY: Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory, Cleveland

Turbine blade with tuned damping structure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Campbell, Christian X.; Messmann, Stephen J.

2015-09-01

A turbine blade is provided comprising: a root; an airfoil comprising an external wall extending radially from the root and having a radially outermost portion; and a damping structure. The external wall may comprise first and second side walls joined together to define an inner cavity of the airfoil. The damping structure may be positioned within the airfoil inner cavity and coupled to the airfoil so as to define a tuned mass damper.

Unsteady Newton-Busemann flow theory. I - Airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hui, W. H.; Tobak, M.

1981-01-01

Newtonian flow theory for unsteady flow at very high Mach numbers is completed by the addition of a centrifugal force correction to the impact pressures. The correction term is the unsteady counterpart of Busemann's centrifugal force correction to impact pressures in steady flow. For airfoils of arbitary shape, exact formulas for the unsteady pressure and stiffness and damping-in-pitch derivatives are obtained in closed form, which require only numerical quadratures of terms involving the airfoil shape. They are applicable to airfoils of arbitrary thickness having sharp or blunt leading edges. For wedges and thin airfoils these formulas are greatly simplified, and it is proved that the pitching motions of thin airfoils of convex shape and of wedges of arbitrary thickness are always dynamically stable according to Newton-Busemann theory. Leading-edge bluntness is shown to have a favorable effect on the dynamic stability; on the other hand, airfoils of concave shape tend toward dynamic instability over a range of axis positions if the surface curvature exceeds a certain limit. As a byproduct, it is also shown that a pressure formula recently given by Barron and Mandl for unsteady Newtonian flow over a pitching power-law shaped airfoil is erroneous and that their conclusion regarding the effect of pivot position on the dynamic stability is misleading.

Effect of an extendable slat on the stall behavior of a VR-12 airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dehugues, P. Plantin; Mcalister, K. W.; Tung, C.

1993-01-01

Experimental and computational tests were performed on a VR-12 airfoil to determine if the dynamic-stall behavior that normally accompanies high-angle pitch oscillations could be modified by segmenting the forward portion of the airfoil and extending it ahead of the main element. In the extended position the configuration would appear as an airfoil with a leading-edge slat, and in the retracted position it would appear as a conventional VR-12 airfoil. The calculations were obtained from a numerical code that models the vorticity transport equation for an incompressible fluid. These results were compared with test data from the water tunnel facility of the Aeroflightdynamics Directorate at Ames Research Center. Steady and unsteady flows around both airfoils were examined at angles of attack between 0 and 30 deg. The Reynolds number was fixed at 200,000 and the unsteady pitch oscillations followed a sinusoidal motion described by alpha = alpha(sub m) + 10 deg sin(omega t). The mean angle (alpha(sub m)) was varied from 10 to 20 deg and the reduced frequency from 0.05 to 0.20. The results from the experiment and the calculations show that the extended-slat VR-12 airfoil experiences a delay in both static and dynamic stall not experienced by the basic VR-12 airfoil.

Experimental Observations on the Deformation and Breakup of Water Droplets Near the Leading Edge of an Airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vargas, Mario; Feo, Alex

2011-01-01

This work presents the results of an experimental study on droplet deformation and breakup near the leading edge of an airfoil. The experiment was conducted in the rotating rig test cell at the Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial (INTA) in Madrid, Spain. An airfoil model placed at the end of the rotating arm was moved at speeds of 50 to 90 m/sec. A monosize droplet generator was employed to produce droplets that were allowed to fall from above, perpendicular to the path of the airfoil at a given location. High speed imaging was employed to observe the interaction between the droplets and the airfoil. The high speed imaging allowed observation of droplet deformation and breakup as the droplet approached the airfoil near the stagnation line. A tracking software program was used to measure from the high speed movies the horizontal and vertical displacement of the droplet against time. The velocity, acceleration, Weber number, Bond number, Reynolds number, and the drag coefficients were calculated along the path of a given droplet from beginning of deformation to breakup and/or hitting the airfoil. Results are presented for droplets with a diameter of 490 micrometers at airfoil speeds of 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 m/sec

Entropic multirelaxation-time lattice Boltzmann method for moving and deforming geometries in three dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dorschner, B.; Chikatamarla, S. S.; Karlin, I. V.

2017-06-01

Entropic lattice Boltzmann methods have been developed to alleviate intrinsic stability issues of lattice Boltzmann models for under-resolved simulations. Its reliability in combination with moving objects was established for various laminar benchmark flows in two dimensions in our previous work [B. Dorschner, S. Chikatamarla, F. Bösch, and I. Karlin, J. Comput. Phys. 295, 340 (2015), 10.1016/j.jcp.2015.04.017] as well as for three-dimensional one-way coupled simulations of engine-type geometries in B . Dorschner, F. Bösch, S. Chikatamarla, K. Boulouchos, and I. Karlin [J. Fluid Mech. 801, 623 (2016), 10.1017/jfm.2016.448] for flat moving walls. The present contribution aims to fully exploit the advantages of entropic lattice Boltzmann models in terms of stability and accuracy and extends the methodology to three-dimensional cases, including two-way coupling between fluid and structure and then turbulence and deforming geometries. To cover this wide range of applications, the classical benchmark of a sedimenting sphere is chosen first to validate the general two-way coupling algorithm. Increasing the complexity, we subsequently consider the simulation of a plunging SD7003 airfoil in the transitional regime at a Reynolds number of Re =40 000 and, finally, to access the model's performance for deforming geometries, we conduct a two-way coupled simulation of a self-propelled anguilliform swimmer. These simulations confirm the viability of the new fluid-structure interaction lattice Boltzmann algorithm to simulate flows of engineering relevance.

Steady inviscid transonic flows over planar airfoils: A search for a simplified procedure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Magnus, R.; Yoshihara, H.

1973-01-01

A finite difference procedure based upon a system of unsteady equations in proper conservation form with either exact or small disturbance steady terms is used to calculate the steady flows over several classes of airfoils. The airfoil condition is fulfilled on a slab whose upstream extremity is a semi-circle overlaying the airfoil leading edge circle. The limitations of the small disturbance equations are demonstrated in an extreme example of a blunt-nosed, aft-cambered airfoil. The necessity of using the equations in proper conservation form to capture the shock properly is stressed. Ability of the steady relaxation procedures to capture the shock is briefly examined.

Wavy flow cooling concept for turbine airfoils

DOEpatents

Liang, George

2010-08-31

An airfoil including an outer wall and a cooling cavity formed therein. The cooling cavity includes a leading edge flow channel located adjacent a leading edge of the airfoil and a trailing edge flow channel located adjacent a trailing edge of the airfoil. Each of the leading edge and trailing edge flow channels define respective first and second flow axes located between pressure and suction sides of the airfoil. A plurality of rib members are located within each of the flow channels, spaced along the flow axes, and alternately extending from opposing sides of the flow channels to define undulating flow paths through the flow channels.

Design and Experimental Results for a Natural-Laminar-Flow Airfoil for General Aviation Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Somers, D. M.

1981-01-01

A natural-laminar-flow airfoil for general aviation applications, the NLF(1)-0416, was designed and analyzed theoretically and verified experimentally in the Langley Low-Turbulence Pressure Tunnel. The basic objective of combining the high maximum lift of the NASA low-speed airfoils with the low cruise drag of the NACA 6-series airfoils was achieved. The safety requirement that the maximum lift coefficient not be significantly affected with transition fixed near the leading edge was also met. Comparisons of the theoretical and experimental results show excellent agreement. Comparisons with other airfoils, both laminar flow and turbulent flow, confirm the achievement of the basic objective.

Airfoil lance apparatus for homogeneous humidification and sorbent dispersion in a gas stream

DOEpatents

Myers, R.B.; Yagiela, A.S.

1990-12-25

An apparatus for spraying an atomized mixture into a gas stream comprises a stream line airfoil member having a large radius leading edge and a small radius trailing edge. A nozzle assembly pierces the trailing edge of the airfoil member and is concentrically surrounded by a nacelle which directs shielding gas from the interior of the airfoil member around the nozzle assembly. Flowable medium to be atomized and atomizing gas for atomizing the medium are supplied in concentric conduits to the nozzle. A plurality of nozzles each surrounded by a nacelle are spaced along the trailing edge of the airfoil member. 3 figs.

Experimental results for the Eppler 387 airfoil at low Reynolds numbers in the Langley low-turbulence pressure tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcghee, Robert J.; Walker, Betty S.; Millard, Betty F.

1988-01-01

Experimental results were obtained for an Eppler 387 airfoil in the Langley Low Turbulence Pressure Tunnel. The tests were conducted over a Mach number range from 0.03 to 0.13 and a chord Reynolds number range for 60,000 to 460,000. Lift and pitching moment data were obtained from airfoil surface pressure measurements and drag data for wake surveys. Oil flow visualization was used to determine laminar separation and turbulent reattachment locations. Comparisons of these results with data on the Eppler 387 airfoil from two other facilities as well as the Eppler airfoil code are included.

Characterization of Lift and Drag on Two Dimensional Airfoils with and without Sinusoidal Leading Edges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Acosta, Gregorio I.

An experimental investigation was taken on a 63-021 NACA airfoil, to characterize lift and drag and how the effects of sinusoidal leading edges affect the aerodynamic properties. A theoretical model is also purposed by implementing a perturbation on thin-airfoil theory. Two sets of airfoils were machined and tested inside a low-speed open circuit wind tunnel. Data from a pressure scanner and particle image velocity will give an insight of how the modified leading edges affect the aerodynamic properties. A Fourier series expansion was used to solve for the lifting-line model, by use of thin-airfoil theory and complex number theory.

Airfoil lance apparatus for homogeneous humidification and sorbent dispersion in a gas stream

DOEpatents

Myers, Robert B.; Yagiela, Anthony S.

1990-12-25

An apparatus for spraying an atomized mixture into a gas stream comprises a stream line airfoil member having a large radius leading edge and a small radius trailing edge. A nozzle assembly pierces the trailing edge of the airfoil member and is concentrically surrounded by a nacelle which directs shielding gas from the interior of the airfoil member around the nozzle assembly. Flowable medium to be atomized and atomizing gas for atomizing the medium are supplied in concentric conduits to the nozzle. A plurality of nozzles each surrounded by a nacelle are spaced along the trailing edge of the airfoil member.

A new flow model for highly separated airfoil flows at low speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zumwalt, G. W.; Naik, S. N.

1979-01-01

An analytical model for separated airfoil flows is presented which is based on experimentally observed physical phenomena. These include a free stagnation point aft of the airfoil and a standing vortex in the separated region. A computer program is described which iteratively matches the outer potential flow, the airfoil turbulent boundary layer, the separated jet entrainment, mass conservation in the separated bubble, and the rear stagnation pressure. Separation location and pressure are not specified a priori. Results are presented for surface pressure coefficient and compared with experiment for three angles of attack for a GA(W)-1, 17% thick airfoil.

Aerodynamic characteristics of an improved 10-percent-thick NASA supercritical airfoil. [Langley 8 foot transonic tunnel tests

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harris, C. D.

1974-01-01

Refinements in a 10 percent thick supercritical airfoil produced improvements in the overall drag characteristics at normal force coefficients from about 0.30 to 0.65 compared with earlier supercritical airfoils which were developed for a normal force coefficient of 0.7. The drag divergence Mach number of the improved supercritical airfoil (airfoil 26a) varied from approximately 0.82 at a normal force coefficient to of 0.30, to 0.78 at a normal force coefficient of 0.80 with no drag creep evident. Integrated section force and moment data, surface pressure distributions, and typical wake survey profiles are presented.

A streamline curvature method for design of supercritical and subcritical airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barger, R. L.; Brooks, C. W., Jr.

1974-01-01

An airfoil design procedure, applicable to both subcritical and supercritical airfoils, is described. The method is based on the streamline curvature velocity equation. Several examples illustrating this method are presented and discussed.

Lift Optimization Study of a Multi-Element Three-Segment Variable Camber Airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kaul, Upender K.; Nguyen, Nhan T.

2016-01-01

This paper reports a detailed computational high-lift study of the Variable Camber Continuous Trailing Edge Flap (VCCTEF) system carried out to explore the best VCCTEF designs, in conjunction with a leading edge flap called the Variable Camber Krueger (VCK), for take-off and landing. For this purpose, a three-segment variable camber airfoil employed as a performance adaptive aeroelastic wing shaping control effector for a NASA Generic Transport Model (GTM) in landing and take-off configurations is considered. The objective of the study is to define optimal high-lift VCCTEF settings and VCK settings/configurations. A total of 224 combinations of VCK settings/configurations and VCCTEF settings are considered for the inboard GTM wing, where the VCCTEFs are configured as a Fowler flap that forms a slot between the VCCTEF and the main wing. For the VCK settings of deflection angles of 55deg, 60deg and 65deg, 18, 19 and 19 vck configurations, respectively, were considered for each of the 4 different VCCTEF deflection settings. Different vck configurations were defined by varying the horizontal and vertical distance of the vck from the main wing. A computational investigation using a Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solver was carried out to complement a wind-tunnel experimental study covering three of these configurations with the goal of identifying the most optimal high-lift configurations. Four most optimal high-lift configurations, corresponding to each of the VCK deflection settings, have been identified out of all the different configurations considered in this study yielding the highest lift performance.

Program manual for the Eppler airfoil inversion program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomson, W. G.

1975-01-01

A computer program is described for calculating the profile of an airfoil as well as the boundary layer momentum thickness and energy form parameter. The theory underlying the airfoil inversion technique developed by Eppler is discussed.

Design and Analysis of a Subcritical Airfoil for High Altitude, Long Endurance Missions.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-12-01

Airfoil Design and Analysis Method ......... .... 61 Appendix D: Boundary Layer Analysis Method ............. ... 81 Appendix E: Detailed Results ofr...attack. Computer codes designed by Richard Eppler were used for this study. The airfoil was anlayzed by using a viscous effects analysis program...inverse program designed by Eppler (Ref 5) was used in this study to accomplish this part. The second step involved the analysis of the airfoil under

Slotted Aircraft Wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McLean, James D. (Inventor); Witkowski, David P. (Inventor); Campbell, Richard L. (Inventor)

2006-01-01

A swept aircraft wing includes a leading airfoil element and a trailing airfoil element. At least one full-span slot is defined by the wing during at least one transonic condition of the wing. The full-span slot allows a portion of the air flowing along the lower surface of the leading airfoil element to split and flow over the upper surface of the trailing airfoil element so as to achieve a performance improvement in the transonic condition.

Impingement of Cloud Droplets on 36.5-Percent-Thick Joukowski Airfoil at Zero Angle of Attack and Discussion of Use as Cloud Measuring Instrument in Dye-Tracer Technique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brun, R. J.; Vogt, Dorothea E.

1957-01-01

The trajectories of droplets i n the air flowing past a 36.5-percent-thick Joukowski airfoil at zero angle of attack were determined. The amount of water i n droplet form impinging on the airfoil, the area of droplet impingement, and the rate of droplet impingement per unit area on the airfoil surface were calculated from the trajectories and cover a large range of flight and atmospheric conditions. With the detailed impingement information available, the 36.5-percent-thick Joukowski airfoil can serve the dual purpose of use as the principal element in instruments for making measurements in clouds and of a basic shape for estimating impingement on a thick streamlined body. Methods and examples are presented for illustrating some limitations when the airfoil is used as the principal element in the dye-tracer technique.

Some experience with Barnwell-Sewall type correction to two-dimensional airfoil data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jenkins, R. V.

1984-01-01

A series of airfoils were tested in the Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel (TCT) at Reynolds numbers from 2 to 50 million. The 0.3-m TCT is equipped with Barnwell slots designed to minimize blockage due to the tunnel flow and ceiling. This design suggests that sidewall corrections for blockage is needed, and that a lifting airfoil produces a change in angle of attack. Sidewall correction methods were developed for subsonic and subsonic-transonic flow. Comparisons of theory with experimental data obtained in the 0.3-m TCT for two airfoils, the British NPL 9510 and the German R-4 are presented. The NPL 9510 was tested as part of the NASA/United Kingdom Joint Aeronautical Program and R-4 was tested as part f the DFVLR/NASA Advanced Airfoil Research Program. For the NPL 9510 airfoil, only those test points that one would anticipate being difficult to predict theoretically are presented.

The construction of airfoil pressure models by the plate method: Achievements, current research, technology development and potential applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lawing, P. L.

1985-01-01

A method of constructing airfoils by inscribing pressure channels on the face of opposing plates, bonding them together to form one plate with integral channels, and contour machining this plate to form an airfoil model is described. The research and development program to develop the bonding technology is described as well as the construction and testing of an airfoil model. Sample aerodynamic data sets are presented and discussed. Also, work currently under way to produce thin airfoils with camber is presented. Samples of the aft section of a 6 percent airfoil with complete pressure instrumentation including the trailing edge are pictured and described. This technique is particularly useful in fabricating models for transonic cryogenic testing, but it should find application in a wide ange of model construction projects, as well as the fabrication of fuel injectors, space hardware, and other applications requiring advanced bonding technology and intricate fluid passages.

The NASA Langley Laminar-Flow-Control (LFC) experiment on a swept, supercritical airfoil: Design overview

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harris, Charles D.; Harvey, William D.; Brooks, Cuyler W., Jr.

1988-01-01

A large-chord, swept, supercritical, laminar-flow-control (LFC) airfoil was designed and constructed and is currently undergoing tests in the Langley 8 ft Transonic Pressure Tunnel. The experiment was directed toward evaluating the compatibility of LFC and supercritical airfoils, validating prediction techniques, and generating a data base for future transport airfoil design as part of NASA's ongoing research program to significantly reduce drag and increase aircraft efficiency. Unique features of the airfoil included a high design Mach number with shock free flow and boundary layer control by suction. Special requirements for the experiment included modifications to the wind tunnel to achieve the necessary flow quality and contouring of the test section walls to simulate free air flow about a swept model at transonic speeds. Design of the airfoil with a slotted suction surface, the suction system, and modifications to the tunnel to meet test requirements are discussed.

Separated Flow over Wind Turbines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, David; Lewalle, Jacques

2015-11-01

The motion of the separation point on an airfoil under unsteady flow can affect its performance and longevity. Of interest is to understand and control the performance decrease in wind turbines subject to turbulent flow. We examine flow separation on an airfoil at a 19 degree angle of attack under unsteady flow conditions. We are using a DU-96-W180 airfoil of chord length 242 mm. The unsteadiness is generated by a cylinder with diameter 203 mm located 7 diameters upstream of the airfoil's leading edge. The data comes from twenty surface pressure sensors located on the top and bottom of the airfoil as well as on the upstream cylinder. Methods of analysis include Mexican hat transforms, Morlet wavelet transforms, power spectra, and various cross correlations. With this study I will explore how the differences of signals on the pressure and suction sides of an airfoil are related to the motion of the separation point.

Materials for Advanced Turbine Engines (MATE). Project 4: Erosion resistant compressor airfoil coating

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rashid, J. M.; Freling, M.; Friedrich, L. A.

1987-01-01

The ability of coatings to provide at least a 2X improvement in particulate erosion resistance for steel, nickel and titanium compressor airfoils was identified and demonstrated. Coating materials evaluated included plasma sprayed cobalt tungsten carbide, nickel carbide and diffusion applied chromium plus boron. Several processing parameters for plasma spray processing and diffusion coating were evaluated to identify coating systems having the most potential for providing airfoil erosion resistance. Based on laboratory results and analytical evaluations, selected coating systems were applied to gas turbine blades and evaluated for surface finish, burner rig erosion resistance and effect on high cycle fatigue strength. Based on these tests, the following coatings were recommended for engine testing: Gator-Gard plasma spray 88WC-12Co on titanium alloy airfoils, plasma spray 83WC-17Co on steel and nickel alloy airfoils, and Cr+B on nickel alloy airfoils.

Unsteady flow past an airfoil pitched at constant rate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lourenco, L.; Vandommelen, L.; Shib, C.; Krothapalli, A.

1992-01-01

The unsteady flow past a NACA 0012 airfoil that is undertaking a constant-rate pitching up motion is investigated experimentally by the PIDV technique in a water towing tank. The Reynolds number is 5000, based upon the airfoil's chord and the free-stream velocity. The airfoil is pitching impulsively from 0 to 30 deg. with a dimensionless pitch rate alpha of 0.131. Instantaneous velocity and associated vorticity data have been acquired over the entire flow field. The primary vortex dominates the flow behavior after it separates from the leading edge of the airfoil. Complete stall emerges after this vortex detaches from the airfoil and triggers the shedding of a counter-rotating vortex near the trailing edge. A parallel computational study using the discrete vortex, random walk approximation has also been conducted. In general, the computational results agree very well with the experiment.

Investigation to optimize the passive shock wave-boundary layer control for supercritical airfoil drag reduction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nagamatsu, H. T.; Ficarra, R.; Orozco, R.

1983-01-01

The optimization of passive shock wave/boundary layer control for supercritical airfoil drag reduction was investigated in a 3 in. x 15.4 in. Transonic Blowdown Wind Tunnel. A 14% thick supercritical airfoil was tested with 0%, 1.42% and 2.8% porosities at Mach numbers of .70 to .83. The 1.42% case incorporated a linear increase in porosity with the flow direction while the 2.8% case was uniform porosity. The static pressure distributions over the airfoil, the wake impact pressure data for determining the profile drag, and the Schlieren photographs for porous surface airfoils are presented and compared with the results for solid-surface airfoils. While the results show that linear 1.42% porosity actually led to a slight increase in drag it was found that the uniform 2.8% porosity can lead to a drag reduction of 46% at M = .81.

Monitoring pressure profiles across an airfoil with a fiber Bragg grating sensor array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papageorgiou, Anthony W.; Parkinson, Luke A.; Karas, Andrew R.; Hansen, Kristy L.; Arkwright, John W.

2018-02-01

Fluid flow over an airfoil section creates a pressure difference across the upper and lower surfaces, thus generating lift. Successful wing design is a combination of engineering design and experience in the field, with subtleties in design and manufacture having significant impact on the amount of lift produced. Current methods of airfoil optimization and validation typically involve computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and extensive wind tunnel testing with pressure sensors embedded into the airfoil to measure the pressure over the wing. Monitoring pressure along an airfoil in a wind tunnel is typically achieved using surface pressure taps that consist of hollow tubes running from the surface of the airfoil to individual pressure sensors external to the tunnel. These pressure taps are complex to configure and not ideal for in-flight testing. Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) pressure sensing arrays provide a highly viable option for both wind tunnel and inflight pressure measurement. We present a fiber optic sensor array that can detect positive and negative pressure suitable for validating CFD models of airfoil profile sections. The sensing array presented here consists of 6 independent sensing elements, each capable of a pressure resolution of less than 10 Pa over the range of 70 kPa to 120 kPa. The device has been tested with the sensor array attached to a 90mm chord length airfoil section subjected to low velocity flow. Results show that the arrays are capable of accurately detecting variations of the pressure profile along the airfoil as the angle of attack is varied from zero to the point at which stall occurs.

Impact of Turbine Modulation on Variable-Cycle Engine Performance. Phase 4. Additional Hardware Design and Fabrication, Engine Modification, and Altitude Test. Part 3 B

DTIC Science & Technology

1974-12-01

urbofan engine performance. An AiKesearch Model TFE731 -2 Turbofan Engine was modified to incorporate production-type variable-geometry hardware...reliability was shown for the variable- geometry components. The TFE731 , modified to include variable geometry, proved to be an inexpensive...Atm at a Met Thrust of 3300 LBF 929 85 Variable-Cycle Engine TFE731 Exhaust-Nozzle Performance 948 86 Analytical Model Comparisons, Aerodynamic

Multidisciplinary Shape Optimization of a Composite Blended Wing Body Aircraft

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boozer, Charles Maxwell

A multidisciplinary shape optimization tool coupling aerodynamics, structure, and performance was developed for battery powered aircraft. Utilizing high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics analysis tools and a structural wing weight tool, coupled based on the multidisciplinary feasible optimization architecture; aircraft geometry is modified in the optimization of the aircraft's range or endurance. The developed tool is applied to three geometries: a hybrid blended wing body, delta wing UAS, the ONERA M6 wing, and a modified ONERA M6 wing. First, the optimization problem is presented with the objective function, constraints, and design vector. Next, the tool's architecture and the analysis tools that are utilized are described. Finally, various optimizations are described and their results analyzed for all test subjects. Results show that less computationally expensive inviscid optimizations yield positive performance improvements using planform, airfoil, and three-dimensional degrees of freedom. From the results obtained through a series of optimizations, it is concluded that the newly developed tool is both effective at improving performance and serves as a platform ready to receive additional performance modules, further improving its computational design support potential.

Large Eddy Simulation of a Film Cooling Technique with a Plenum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dharmarathne, Suranga; Sridhar, Narendran; Araya, Guillermo; Castillo, Luciano; Parameswaran, Sivapathasund

2012-11-01

Factors that affect the film cooling performance have been categorized into three main groups: (i) coolant & mainstream conditions, (ii) hole geometry & configuration, and (iii) airfoil geometry Bogard et al. (2006). The present study focuses on the second group of factors, namely, the modeling of coolant hole and the plenum. It is required to simulate correct physics of the problem to achieve more realistic numerical results. In this regard, modeling of cooling jet hole and the plenum chamber is highly important Iourokina et al. (2006). Substitution of artificial boundary conditions instead of correct plenum design would yield unrealistic results Iourokina et al. (2006). This study attempts to model film cooling technique with a plenum using a Large Eddy Simulation.Incompressible coolant jet ejects to the surface of the plate at an angle of 30° where it meets compressible turbulent boundary layer which simulates the turbine inflow conditions. Dynamic multi-scale approach Araya (2011) is introduced to prescribe turbulent inflow conditions. Simulations are carried out for two different blowing ratios and film cooling effectiveness is calculated for both cases. Results obtained from LES will be compared with experimental results.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ranjan, Devesh

Diffusion bonded heat exchangers are the leading candidates for the sCO 2 Brayton cycles in next generation nuclear power plants. Commercially available diffusion bonded heat exchangers utilize set of continuous semi-circular zigzag micro channels to increase the heat transfer area and enhance heat transfer through increased turbulence production. Such heat exchangers can lead to excessive pressure drop as well as flow maldistribution in the case of poorly designed flow distribution headers. The goal of the current project is to fabricate and test potential discontinuous fin patterns for diffusion bonded heat exchangers; which can achieve desired thermal performance at lower pressuremore » drops. Prototypic discontinuous offset rectangular and Airfoil fin surface geometries were chemically etched on to 316 stainless steel plate and sealed against an un-etched flat pate using O-ring seal emulating diffusion bonded heat exchangers. Thermal-hydraulic performance of these prototypic discontinuous fin geometries was experimentally evaluated and compared to the existing data for the continuous zigzag channels. The data generated from this project will serve as the database for future testing and validation of numerical models.« less

A study of the rotor wake of a small-scale rotor model in forward flight using laser light sheet flow visualization with comparisons to analytical models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ghee, Terence A.; Elliott, Joe W.

1992-01-01

An experimental investigation was conducted in the 14 by 22 ft subsonic tunnel at NASA Langley Research Center to quantify the rotor wake behind a scale model helicopter rotor in forward flight (mu = 0.15 and 0.23) at one thrust level (C sub T = 0.0064). The rotor system used in the present test consisted of a four-bladed, fully articulated hub and utilized blades of rectangular planform with a NACA-0012 airfoil section. A laser light sheet, seeded with propylene glycol smoke, was used to visualize the flow in planes parallel and perpendicular to the freestream flow. Quantitative measurements of vortex location, vertical skew angle, and vortex particle void radius were obtained for vortices in the flow; convective velocities were obtained for blade tip vortices. Comparisons were made between the experimental results and the wake geometry generated by computational predictions. The results of these comparisons show that the interaction between wake vortex structures is an important consideration for correctly predicting the wake geometry.

Second Stage Turbine Bucket Airfoil.

DOEpatents

Xu, Liming; Ahmadi, Majid; Humanchuk, David John; Moretto, Nicholas; Delehanty, Richard Edward

2003-05-06

The second-stage buckets have airfoil profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in inches in Table I wherein Z is a perpendicular distance from a plane normal to a radius of the turbine centerline and containing the X and Y values with the Z value commencing at zero in the X, Y plane at the radially innermost aerodynamic section of the airfoil and X and Y are coordinate values defining the airfoil profile at each distance Z. The X, Y and Z values may be scaled as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled-up or scaled-down airfoil section for the bucket.

Third-stage turbine bucket airfoil

DOEpatents

Pirolla, Peter Paul; Siden, Gunnar Leif; Humanchuk, David John; Brassfield, Steven Robert; Wilson, Paul Stuart

2002-01-01

The third-stage buckets have airfoil profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in inches in Table I wherein Z is a perpendicular distance from a plane normal to a radius of the turbine centerline and containing the X and Y values with the Z value commencing at zero in the X, Y plane at the radially innermost aerodynamic section of the airfoil and X and Y are coordinates defining the airfoil profile at each distance Z. The X, Y and Z values may be scaled as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled-up or scaled-down airfoil section for the bucket.

First-stage high pressure turbine bucket airfoil

DOEpatents

Brown, Theresa A.; Ahmadi, Majid; Clemens, Eugene; Perry, II, Jacob C.; Holiday, Allyn K.; Delehanty, Richard A.; Jacala, Ariel Caesar

2004-05-25

The first-stage buckets have airfoil profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table I wherein Z is a perpendicular distance from a plane normal to a radius of the turbine centerline and containing the X and Y values with the Z value commencing at zero in the X, Y plane at the radially innermost aerodynamic section of the airfoil and X and Y are coordinates defining the airfoil profile at each distance Z. The X, Y and Z values may be scaled as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled-up or scaled-down airfoil section for the bucket.

Users manual for coordinate generation code CRDSRA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shamroth, S. J.

1985-01-01

Generation of a viable coordinate system represents an important component of an isolated airfoil Navier-Stokes calculation. The manual describes a computer code for generation of such a coordinate system. The coordinate system is a general nonorthogonal one in which high resolution normal to the airfoil is obtained in the vicinity of the airfoil surface, and high resolution along the airfoil surface is obtained in the vicinity of the airfoil leading edge. The method of generation is a constructive technique which leads to a C type coordinate grid. The method of construction as well as input and output definitions are contained herein. The computer code itself as well as a sample output is being submitted to COSMIC.

Separated transonic airfoil flow calculations with a nonequilibrium turbulence model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

King, L. S.; Johnson, D. A.

1985-01-01

Navier-Stokes transonic airfoil calculations based on a recently developed nonequilibrium, turbulence closure model are presented for a supercritical airfoil section at transonic cruise conditions and for a conventional airfoil section at shock-induced stall conditions. Comparisons with experimental data are presented which show that this nonequilibrium closure model performs significantly better than the popular Baldwin-Lomax and Cebeci-Smith equilibrium algebraic models when there is boundary-layer separation that results from the inviscid-viscous interactions.

On the use of thick-airfoil theory to design airfoil families in which thickness and lift are varied independently

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barger, R. L.

1974-01-01

A method has been developed for designing families of airfoils in which the members of a family have the same basic type of pressure distribution but vary in thickness ratio or lift, or both. Thickness ratio and lift may be prescribed independently. The method which is based on the Theodorsen thick-airfoil theory permits moderate variations from the basic shape on which the family is based.

The Influence of Heat Transfer on the Drag of Airfoils.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-04-01

OF STANDARDS-1963-A LL b AFWAL-TR-81- 3030 THE INFLUENCE OF HEAT TRANSFER ON THE DRAG OF AIRFOILS DR. JOHN D. LEE The Aeronautical and Astronautical...if necReary mid identify by block number) Airfoils , Subsonic, Transonic, Supercritical, Laminar Flow, Transition, Drag Reduction, Heat Transfer...determine the effects of surface temperature on the drag of airfoils . Models of an aft- loaded profile and of a NACA 65A413 were tested with separate models

Neural Network Control of a Parallel Hybrid-Electric Propulsion System for a Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-01-01

Eppler , or Selig airfoil [147, 148] to be used. Other high lift wings could be used such as the low Reynolds number NASA LRN-I-1010 airfoil used in...Fraser, Airfoils at Low Speeds. Virginia Beach, VA: H.A. Stokely, 1989. [148] R. Eppler , Airfoil Design and Data. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag... 61 Figure 3-4: RMS Error for CMAC Approximation (L=3) .......................................... 61 Figure 3-5: CMAC

Boundary-layer stability and airfoil design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Viken, Jeffrey K.

1986-01-01

Several different natural laminar flow (NLF) airfoils have been analyzed for stability of the laminar boundary layer using linear stability codes. The NLF airfoils analyzed come from three different design conditions: incompressible; compressible with no sweep; and compressible with sweep. Some of the design problems are discussed, concentrating on those problems associated with keeping the boundary layer laminar. Also, there is a discussion on how a linear stability analysis was effectively used to improve the design for some of the airfoils.

Implementation of Advanced Two Equation Turbulence Models in the USM3D Unstructured Flow Solver

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Qun-Zhen; Massey, Steven J.; Abdol-Hamid, Khaled S.

2000-01-01

USM3D is a widely-used unstructured flow solver for simulating inviscid and viscous flows over complex geometries. The current version (version 5.0) of USM3D, however, does not have advanced turbulence models to accurately simulate complicated flow. We have implemented two modified versions of the original Jones and Launder k-epsilon "two-equation" turbulence model and the Girimaji algebraic Reynolds stress model in USM3D. Tests have been conducted for three flat plate boundary layer cases, a RAE2822 airfoil and an ONERA M6 wing. The results are compared with those from direct numerical simulation, empirical formulae, theoretical results, and the existing Spalart-Allmaras one-equation model.

Toward an Efficient Icing CFD Process Using an Interactive Software Toolkit: Smagglce 2D

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vickerman, Mary B.; Choo, Yung K.; Schilling, Herbert W.; Baez, Marivell; Braun, Donald C.; Cotton, Barbara J.

2001-01-01

Two-dimensional CID analysis for iced airfoils can be a labor-intensive task. The software toolkit SmaggIce 2D is being developed to help streamline the CID process and provide the unique features needed for icing. When complete, it will include a combination of partially automated and fully interactive tools for all aspects of the tasks leading up to the flow analysis: geometry preparation, domain decomposition. block boundary demoralization. gridding, and linking with a flow solver. It also includes tools to perform ice shape characterization, an important aid in determining the relationship between ice characteristics and their effects on aerodynamic performance. Completed tools, work-in-progress, and planned features of the software toolkit are presented here.

Design and aerodynamic performance evaluation of a high-work mixed flow turbine stage

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neri, Remo N.; Elliott, Thomas J.; Marsh, David N.; Civinskas, Kestutis C.

1994-01-01

As axial and radial turbine designs have been pushed to their aerothermodynamic and mechanical limits, the mixed-flow turbine (MFT) concept has been projected to offer performance and durability improvements, especially when ceramic materials are considered. The objective of this NASA/U.S. Army sponsored mixed-flow turbine (AMFT) program was to determine the level of performance attainable with MFT technology within the mechanical constraints of 1997 projected ceramic material properties. The MFT geometry is similar to a radial turbine, exhibiting a large radius change from inlet to exit, but differing in that the inlet flowpath is not purely radial, nor axial, but mixed; it is the inlet geometry that gives rise to the name 'mixed-flow'. The 'mixed' orientation of the turbine inlet offers several advantages over radial designs by allowing a nonzero inlet blade angle yet maintaining radial-element blades. The oblique inlet not only improves the particle-impact survivability of the design, but improves the aerodynamic performance by reducing the incidence at the blade inlet. The difficulty, however, of using mixed-flow geometry lies in the scarcity of detailed data and documented design experience. This paper reports the design of a MFT stage designed with the intent to maximize aerodynamic performance by optimizing design parameters such as stage reaction, rotor incidence, flowpath shape, blade shape, vane geometry, and airfoil counts using 2-D, 3-D inviscid, and 3-D viscous computational fluid dynamics code. The aerodynamic optimization was accomplished while maintaining mechanical integrity with respect to vibration and stress levels in the rotor. A full-scale cold-flow rig test was performed with metallic hardware fabricated to the specifications of the hot ceramic geometry to evaluate the stage performance.

Aerodynamic data banks for Clark-Y, NACA 4-digit and NACA 16-series airfoil families

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Korkan, K. D.; Camba, J., III; Morris, P. M.

1986-01-01

With the renewed interest in propellers as means of obtaining thrust and fuel efficiency in addition to the increased utilization of the computer, a significant amount of progress was made in the development of theoretical models to predict the performance of propeller systems. Inherent in the majority of the theoretical performance models to date is the need for airfoil data banks which provide lift, drag, and moment coefficient values as a function of Mach number, angle-of-attack, maximum thickness to chord ratio, and Reynolds number. Realizing the need for such data, a study was initiated to provide airfoil data banks for three commonly used airfoil families in propeller design and analysis. The families chosen consisted of the Clark-Y, NACA 16 series, and NACA 4 digit series airfoils. The various component of each computer code, the source of the data used to create the airfoil data bank, the limitations of each data bank, program listing, and a sample case with its associated input-output are described. Each airfoil data bank computer code was written to be used on the Amdahl Computer system, which is IBM compatible and uses Fortran.

Numerical investigation of multi-element airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cummings, Russell M.

1993-01-01

The flow over multi-element airfoils with flat-plate lift-enhancing tabs was numerically investigated. Tabs ranging in height from 0.25 percent to 1.25 percent of the reference airfoil chord were studied near the trailing edge of the main-element. This two-dimensional numerical simulation employed an incompressible Navier-Stokes solver on a structured, embedded grid topology. New grid refinements were used to improve the accuracy of the solution near the overlapping grid boundaries. The effects of various tabs were studied at a constant Reynolds number on a two-element airfoil with a slotted flap. Both computed and measured results indicated that a tab in the main-element cove improved the maximum lift and lift-to-drag ratio relative to the baseline airfoil without a tab. Computed streamlines revealed that the additional turning caused by the tab may reduce the amount of separated flow on the flap. A three-element airfoil was also studied over a range of Reynolds numbers. For the optimized flap rigging, the computed and measured Reynolds number effects were similar. When the flap was moved from the optimum position, numerical results indicated that a tab may help to reoptimize the airfoil to within 1 percent of the optimum flap case.

Design and test of a natural laminar flow/large Reynolds number airfoil with a high design cruise lift coefficient

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kolesar, C. E.

1987-01-01

Research activity on an airfoil designed for a large airplane capable of very long endurance times at a low Mach number of 0.22 is examined. Airplane mission objectives and design optimization resulted in requirements for a very high design lift coefficient and a large amount of laminar flow at high Reynolds number to increase the lift/drag ratio and reduce the loiter lift coefficient. Natural laminar flow was selected instead of distributed mechanical suction for the measurement technique. A design lift coefficient of 1.5 was identified as the highest which could be achieved with a large extent of laminar flow. A single element airfoil was designed using an inverse boundary layer solution and inverse airfoil design computer codes to create an airfoil section that would achieve performance goals. The design process and results, including airfoil shape, pressure distributions, and aerodynamic characteristics are presented. A two dimensional wind tunnel model was constructed and tested in a NASA Low Turbulence Pressure Tunnel which enabled testing at full scale design Reynolds number. A comparison is made between theoretical and measured results to establish accuracy and quality of the airfoil design technique.

Optimization of the poro-serrated trailing edges for airfoil broadband noise reduction.

PubMed

Chong, Tze Pei; Dubois, Elisa

2016-08-01

This paper reports an aeroacoustic investigation of a NACA0012 airfoil with a number of poro-serrated trailing edge devices that contain porous materials of various air flow resistances at the gaps between adjacent members of the serrated-sawtooth trailing edge. The main objective of this work is to determine whether multiple-mechanisms on the broadband noise reduction can co-exist on a poro-serrated trailing edge. When the sawtooth gaps are filled with porous material of low-flow resistivity, the vortex shedding tone at low-frequency could not be completely suppressed at high-velocity, but a reasonably good broadband noise reduction can be achieved at high-frequency. When the sawtooth gaps are filled with porous material of very high-flow resistivity, no vortex shedding tone is present, but the serration effect on the broadband noise reduction becomes less effective. An optimal choice of the flow resistivity for a poro-serrated configuration has been identified, where it can surpass the conventional serrated trailing edge of the same geometry by achieving a further 1.5 dB reduction in the broadband noise while completely suppressing the vortex shedding tone. A weakened turbulent boundary layer noise scattering at the poro-serrated trailing edge is reflected by the lower-turbulence intensity at the near wake centreline across the whole spanwise wavelength of the sawtooth.

Category 3: Sound Generation by Interacting With a Gust

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Envia, Edmane

2004-01-01

Solve the time-dependent inviscid flow equations for this geometry subject to the specified inflow/outflow mean conditions and the fluctuating inflow velocity distortion. (1) Compute the unsteady solution until periodicity in pressure is achieved by showing that at least two successive periods are identical. Periodicity must be achieved on both the airfoil surface and the inflow/outflow boundaries. (2) Once periodicity is achieved, compute the pressure frequency spectra on the reference airfoil on both the upper and lower surfaces at x=(-0.25c,0.00, +0.25c), on the inflow boundary at (x,y)={1.5c,-0.3c), (-1.5c,0.0),(-1.5c,0.3c)} and on the outflow boundary at (x,y)= {(1.5c,-0.3c),(1.5c,0.0), (1.5c,0.3c)}. Express the spectral results in dB using the standard definition 20 log(P(sub(r.m.s)/P(sub ref), where p(sub ref) == 20 microPa. (3) Extract the harmonic pressure distributions on the inflow and outflow boundaries (i.e., on x= -/+ 1.5c lines) at the fundamental frequency omega and apply a Fourier transform in y direction to identify the spatial (i.e., mode order) structure of the pressure perturbations. Express the result in dB for each mode order. Repeat the process for the frequencies 2omega and 3omega.

Profile Optimization Method for Robust Airfoil Shape Optimization in Viscous Flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, Wu

2003-01-01

Simulation results obtained by using FUN2D for robust airfoil shape optimization in transonic viscous flow are included to show the potential of the profile optimization method for generating fairly smooth optimal airfoils with no off-design performance degradation.

Multiple piece turbine airfoil

DOEpatents

Kimmel, Keith D; Wilson, Jr., Jack W.

2010-11-02

A turbine airfoil, such as a rotor blade or a stator vane, for a gas turbine engine, the airfoil formed as a shell and spar construction with a plurality of dog bone struts each mounted within openings formed within the shell and spar to allow for relative motion between the spar and shell in the airfoil chordwise direction while also forming a seal between adjacent cooling channels. The struts provide the seal as well as prevent bulging of the shell from the spar due to the cooling air pressure.

Low-speed aerodynamic characteristics of a 13.1-percent-thick, high-lift airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sivier, K. R.; Ormsbee, A. I.; Awker, R. W.

1974-01-01

Experimental study of the low-speed, sectional characteristics of a high-lift airfoil, and comparison of these characteristics with the predictions of the theoretical methods used in the airfoil's design. The 13.1% thick UI-1720 airfoil was found to achieve the predicted maximum lift coefficient of nearly 2.0. No upper-surface flow separation was found below the stall angle of attack of 16 deg; it appeared that stall was due to an abrupt leading-edge flow separation.

Aircraft Configuration Study for Experimental 2-Place Aircraft and RPVs

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-03-01

area (sq. ft.) 84.24 82.86 Wing airfoil section Eppler Wing aspect ratio 8.09 Wing loading (GW) (lb./sq. ft.: 7.30 7.24 Canard span (ft.) 11.70 11.60...ESTIMATION FOR THE CANARD DRAG POLAR BUILDUP Aircraft Canard FG Input italicized data Wing for Eppler airfoil Cdmin = .0080 S = 82.9 Canard from Eppler ...DRAG POLAR BUILDUP Aircraft Canard FG Input italicized data Wing for Eppler airfoil Cdmin = .0080 S = 82.9 Canard from Eppler for GA(A)-1 airfoil Cdmin

Aerodynamic Measurements at Low Raynolds Numbers for Fixed Wing Micro-Air Vehicles

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-04-01

effect on the drag and lift characteristics of a 3D three-dimensional (wing) cambered Eppler 61 airfoil /wing. A/D analog-to-digital TE trailing edge...interest in the studies before 1996. Bums also studied the flowfield over the Eppler 61 Also, most of the studies were for relatively thick airfoils ...relatively thin airfoils studied were the tographs. Figure 7 shows the effect of changing the angle Eppler 61 and Pfenninger 048 airfoils . The Eppler 61 , of

Numerical and Analytical Study of Nonlinear Effects of Transonic Flow Past a Wing Airfoil in Oscillation of its Surface Element

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aul'chenko, S. M.; Zamuraev, V. P.; Kalinina, A. P.

2014-05-01

The present work is devoted to a criterial analysis and mathematical modeling of the influence of forced oscillations of surface elements of a wing airfoil on the shock-wave structure of transonic flow past it. Parameters that govern the regimes of interaction of the oscillatory motion of airfoil sections with the breakdown compression shock have been established. The qualitative and quantitative influence of these parameters on the wave resistance of the airfoil has been investigated.

Modeling and Grid Generation of Iced Airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vickerman, Mary B.; Baez, Marivell; Braun, Donald C.; Hackenberg, Anthony W.; Pennline, James A.; Schilling, Herbert W.

2007-01-01

SmaggIce Version 2.0 is a software toolkit for geometric modeling and grid generation for two-dimensional, singleand multi-element, clean and iced airfoils. A previous version of SmaggIce was described in Preparing and Analyzing Iced Airfoils, NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 28, No. 8 (August 2004), page 32. To recapitulate: Ice shapes make it difficult to generate quality grids around airfoils, yet these grids are essential for predicting ice-induced complex flow. This software efficiently creates high-quality structured grids with tools that are uniquely tailored for various ice shapes. SmaggIce Version 2.0 significantly enhances the previous version primarily by adding the capability to generate grids for multi-element airfoils. This version of the software is an important step in streamlining the aeronautical analysis of ice airfoils using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools. The user may prepare the ice shape, define the flow domain, decompose it into blocks, generate grids, modify/divide/merge blocks, and control grid density and smoothness. All these steps may be performed efficiently even for the difficult glaze and rime ice shapes. Providing the means to generate highly controlled grids near rough ice, the software includes the creation of a wrap-around block (called the "viscous sublayer block"), which is a thin, C-type block around the wake line and iced airfoil. For multi-element airfoils, the software makes use of grids that wrap around and fill in the areas between the viscous sub-layer blocks for all elements that make up the airfoil. A scripting feature records the history of interactive steps, which can be edited and replayed later to produce other grids. Using this version of SmaggIce, ice shape handling and grid generation can become a practical engineering process, rather than a laborious research effort.

Experimental and Computational Investigation of Lift-Enhancing Tabs on a Multi-Element Airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ashby, Dale L.

1996-01-01

An experimental and computational investigation of the effect of lift-enhancing tabs on a two-element airfoil has been conducted. The objective of the study was to develop an understanding of the flow physics associated with lift-enhancing tabs on a multi-element airfoil. An NACA 63(2)-215 ModB airfoil with a 30% chord fowler flap was tested in the NASA Ames 7- by 10-Foot Wind Tunnel. Lift-enhancing tabs of various heights were tested on both the main element and the flap for a variety of flap riggings. A combination of tabs located at the main element and flap trailing edges increased the airfoil lift coefficient by 11% relative to the highest lift coefficient achieved by any baseline configuration at an angle of attack of 0 deg, and C(sub 1max) was increased by 3%. Computations of the flow over the two-element airfoil were performed using the two-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes code INS2D-UP. The computed results predicted all of the trends observed in the experimental data quite well. In addition, a simple analytic model based on potential flow was developed to provide a more detailed understanding of how lift-enhancing tabs work. The tabs were modeled by a point vortex at the air-foil or flap trailing edge. Sensitivity relationships were derived which provide a mathematical basis for explaining the effects of lift-enhancing tabs on a multi-element airfoil. Results of the modeling effort indicate that the dominant effects of the tabs on the pressure distribution of each element of the airfoil can be captured with a potential flow model for cases with no flow separation.

Grid generation by elliptic partial differential equations for a tri-element Augmentor-Wing airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sorenson, R. L.

1982-01-01

Two efforts to numerically simulate the flow about the Augmentor-Wing airfoil in the cruise configuration using the GRAPE elliptic partial differential equation grid generator algorithm are discussed. The Augmentor-Wing consists of a main airfoil with a slotted trailing edge for blowing and two smaller airfoils shrouding the blowing jet. The airfoil and the algorithm are described, and the application of GRAPE to an unsteady viscous flow simulation and a transonic full-potential approach is considered. The procedure involves dividing a complicated flow region into an arbitrary number of zones and ensuring continuity of grid lines, their slopes, and their point distributions across the zonal boundaries. The method for distributing the body-surface grid points is discussed.

High Reynolds Number tests of the NASA SC(2)-0012 airfoil in the Langley 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mineck, Raymond E.; Lawing, Pierce L.

1987-01-01

A wind-tunnel investigation of the NASA SC(2)-0012 airfoil has been conducted in the Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel. This investigation supplements the two-dimensional airfoil studies of the Advanced Technology Airfoil Test Program. The Mach number was varied from 0.60 to 0.84. The stagnation temperature and pressure were varied to provide a Reynolds number range from 6 to 40 x 10 to the 6th power based on a 6.0-in. (15.24-cm) airfoil chord. No corrections for wind-tunnel wall interference have been made to the data. The aerodynamic results are presented as integrated force and moment coefficients and pressure distributions without any analysis.

Prediction of unsteady airfoil flows at large angles of incidence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cebeci, Tuncer; Jang, H. M.; Chen, H. H.

1992-01-01

The effect of the unsteady motion of an airfoil on its stall behavior is of considerable interest to many practical applications including the blades of helicopter rotors and of axial compressors and turbines. Experiments with oscillating airfoils, for example, have shown that the flow can remain attached for angles of attack greater than those which would cause stall to occur in a stationary system. This result appears to stem from the formation of a vortex close to the surface of the airfoil which continues to provide lift. It is also evident that the onset of dynamic stall depends strongly on the airfoil section, and as a result, great care is required in the development of a calculation method which will accurately predict this behavior.

Second-stage turbine bucket airfoil

DOEpatents

Wang, John Zhiqiang; By, Robert Romany; Sims, Calvin L.; Hyde, Susan Marie

2002-01-01

The second-stage buckets have airfoil profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in inches in Table I wherein Z is a perpendicular distance from a plane normal to a radius of the turbine centerline and containing the X and Y values with the Z value commencing at zero in the X, Y plane at the radially innermost aerodynamic section of the airfoil and X and Y are coordinate values defining the airfoil profile at each distance Z. The X and Y values may be scaled as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled-up or scaled-down airfoil section for the bucket. The second-stage wheel has sixty buckets.

Study of the TRAC Airfoil Table Computational System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hu, Hong

1999-01-01

The report documents the study of the application of the TRAC airfoil table computational package (TRACFOIL) to the prediction of 2D airfoil force and moment data over a wide range of angle of attack and Mach number. The TRACFOIL generates the standard C-81 airfoil table for input into rotorcraft comprehensive codes such as CAM- RAD. The existing TRACFOIL computer package is successfully modified to run on Digital alpha workstations and on Cray-C90 supercomputers. A step-by-step instruction for using the package on both computer platforms is provided. Application of the newer version of TRACFOIL is made for two airfoil sections. The C-81 data obtained using the TRACFOIL method are compared with those of wind-tunnel data and results are presented.

Aerodynamic characteristics of the 10-percent-thick NASA supercritical airfoil 33 designed for a normal-force coefficient of 0.7

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harris, C. D.

1975-01-01

A 10-percent-thick supercritical airfoil based on an off-design sonic-pressure plateau criterion was developed and experimental aerodynamic characteristics measured. The airfoil had a design normal-force coefficient of 0.7 and was identified as supercritical airfoil 33. Results show the airfoil to have good drag rise characteristics over a wide range of normal-force coefficients with no measurable shock losses up to the Mach numbers at which drag divergence occurred for normal-force coefficients up to 0.7. Comparisons of experimental and theoretical characteristics were made and composite drag rise characteristics were derived for normal-force coefficients of 0.5 and 0.7 and a Reynolds number of 40 million.

Numerical solutions of the linearized Euler equations for unsteady vortical flows around lifting airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scott, James R.; Atassi, Hafiz M.

1990-01-01

A linearized unsteady aerodynamic analysis is presented for unsteady, subsonic vortical flows around lifting airfoils. The analysis fully accounts for the distortion effects of the nonuniform mean flow on the imposed vortical disturbances. A frequency domain numerical scheme which implements this linearized approach is described, and numerical results are presented for a large variety of flow configurations. The results demonstrate the effects of airfoil thickness, angle of attack, camber, and Mach number on the unsteady lift and moment of airfoils subjected to periodic vortical gusts. The results show that mean flow distortion can have a very strong effect on the airfoil unsteady response, and that the effect depends strongly upon the reduced frequency, Mach number, and gust wave numbers.

Cooling circuit for a gas turbine bucket and tip shroud

DOEpatents

Willett, Fred Thomas

2004-07-13

An open cooling circuit for a gas turbine airfoil and associated tip shroud includes a first group of cooling holes internal to the airfoil and extending in a radially outward direction generally along a leading edge of the airfoil; a second group of cooling holes internal to the airfoil and extending in a radially outward direction generally along a trailing edge of the airfoil. A common plenum is formed in the tip shroud in direct communication with the first and second group of cooling holes, but a second plenum may be provided for the second group of radial holes. A plurality of exhaust holes extends from the plenum(s), through the tip shroud and opening along a peripheral edge of the tip shroud.

Experimental measurements of the laminar separation bubble on an Eppler 387 airfoil at low Reynolds numbers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cole, Gregory M.; Mueller, Thomas J.

1990-01-01

An experimental investigation was conducted to measure the flow velocity in the boundary layer of an Eppler 387 airfoil. In particular, the laminar separation bubble that this airfoil exhibits at low Reynolds numbers was the focus. Single component laser Doppler velocimetry data were obtained at a Reynolds number of 100,000 at an angle of attack of 2.0 degree. Static Pressure and flow visualization data for the Eppler 387 airfoil were also obtained. The difficulty in obtaining accurate experimental measurements at low Reynolds numbers is addressed. Laser Doppler velocimetry boundary layer data for the NACA 663-018 airfoil at a Reynolds number of 160,000 and angle of attack of 12 degree is also presented.

A compressible solution of the Navier-Stokes equations for turbulent flow about an airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shamroth, S. J.; Gibeling, H. J.

1979-01-01

A compressible time dependent solution of the Navier-Stokes equations including a transition turbulence model is obtained for the isolated airfoil flow field problem. The equations are solved by a consistently split linearized block implicit scheme. A nonorthogonal body-fitted coordinate system is used which has maximum resolution near the airfoil surface and in the region of the airfoil leading edge. The transition turbulence model is based upon the turbulence kinetic energy equation and predicts regions of laminar, transitional, and turbulent flow. Mean flow field and turbulence field results are presented for an NACA 0012 airfoil at zero and nonzero incidence angles of Reynolds number up to one million and low subsonic Mach numbers.

Numerical calculation of aerodynamics wind turbine blade S809 airfoil and comparison of theoretical calculations with experimental measurements and confirming with NREL data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sogukpinar, Haci; Bozkurt, Ismail

2018-02-01

Aerodynamic performance of the airfoil plays the most important role to obtain economically maximum efficiency from a wind turbine. Therefore airfoil should have an ideal aerodynamic shape. In this study, aerodynamic simulation of S809 airfoil is conducted and obtained result compared with previously made NASA experimental result and NREL theoretical data. At first, Lift coefficient, lift to drag ratio and pressure coefficient around S809 airfoil are calculated with SST turbulence model, and are compared with experimental and other theoretical data to correlate simulation correctness of the computational approaches. And result indicates good correlation with both experimental and theoretical data. This calculation point out that as the increasing relative velocity, lift to drag ratio increases. Lift to drag ratio attain maximum at the angle around 6 degree and after that starts to decrease again. Comparison shows that CFD code used in this calculation can predict aerodynamic properties of airfoil.

Analytical and Experimental Evaluation of the Heat Transfer Distribution over the Surfaces of Turbine Vanes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hylton, L. D.; Mihelc, M. S.; Turner, E. R.; Nealy, D. A.; York, R. E.

1983-01-01

Three airfoil data sets were selected for use in evaluating currently available analytical models for predicting airfoil surface heat transfer distributions in a 2-D flow field. Two additional airfoils, representative of highly loaded, low solidity airfoils currently being designed, were selected for cascade testing at simulated engine conditions. Some 2-D analytical methods were examined and a version of the STAN5 boundary layer code was chosen for modification. The final form of the method utilized a time dependent, transonic inviscid cascade code coupled to a modified version of the STAN5 boundary layer code featuring zero order turbulence modeling. The boundary layer code is structured to accommodate a full spectrum of empirical correlations addressing the coupled influences of pressure gradient, airfoil curvature, and free-stream turbulence on airfoil surface heat transfer distribution and boundary layer transitional behavior. Comparison of pedictions made with the model to the data base indicates a significant improvement in predictive capability.

Numerical solution of periodic vortical flows about a thin airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scott, James R.; Atassi, Hafiz M.

1989-01-01

A numerical method is developed for computing periodic, three-dimensional, vortical flows around isolated airfoils. The unsteady velocity is split into a vortical component which is a known function of the upstream flow conditions and the Lagrangian coordinates of the mean flow, and an irrotational field whose potential satisfies a nonconstant-coefficient, inhomogeneous, convective wave equation. Solutions for thin airfoils at zero degrees incidence to the mean flow are presented in this paper. Using an elliptic coordinate transformation, the computational domain is transformed into a rectangle. The Sommerfeld radiation condition is applied to the unsteady pressure on the grid line corresponding to the far field boundary. The results are compared with a Possio solver, and it is shown that for maximum accuracy the grid should depend on both the Mach number and reduced frequency. Finally, in order to assess the range of validity of the classical thin airfoil approximation, results for airfoils with zero thickness are compared with results for airfoils with small thickness.

An improved viscid/inviscid interaction procedure for transonic flow over airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Melnik, R. E.; Chow, R. R.; Mead, H. R.; Jameson, A.

1985-01-01

A new interacting boundary layer approach for computing the viscous transonic flow over airfoils is described. The theory includes a complete treatment of viscous interaction effects induced by the wake and accounts for normal pressure gradient effects across the boundary layer near trailing edges. The method is based on systematic expansions of the full Reynolds equation of turbulent flow in the limit of Reynolds numbers, Reynolds infinity. Procedures are developed for incorporating the local trailing edge solution into the numerical solution of the coupled full potential and integral boundary layer equations. Although the theory is strictly applicable to airfoils with cusped or nearly cusped trailing edges and to turbulent boundary layers that remain fully attached to the airfoil surface, the method was successfully applied to more general airfoils and to flows with small separation zones. Comparisons of theoretical solutions with wind tunnel data indicate the present method can accurately predict the section characteristics of airfoils including the absolute levels of drag.

Analytical and experimental evaluation of the heat transfer distribution over the surfaces of turbine vanes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hylton, L. D.; Mihelc, M. S.; Turner, E. R.; Nealy, D. A.; York, R. E.

1983-05-01

Three airfoil data sets were selected for use in evaluating currently available analytical models for predicting airfoil surface heat transfer distributions in a 2-D flow field. Two additional airfoils, representative of highly loaded, low solidity airfoils currently being designed, were selected for cascade testing at simulated engine conditions. Some 2-D analytical methods were examined and a version of the STAN5 boundary layer code was chosen for modification. The final form of the method utilized a time dependent, transonic inviscid cascade code coupled to a modified version of the STAN5 boundary layer code featuring zero order turbulence modeling. The boundary layer code is structured to accommodate a full spectrum of empirical correlations addressing the coupled influences of pressure gradient, airfoil curvature, and free-stream turbulence on airfoil surface heat transfer distribution and boundary layer transitional behavior. Comparison of pedictions made with the model to the data base indicates a significant improvement in predictive capability.

The effects of variations in Reynolds number between 3.0 x 10sub6 and 25.0 x 10sub6 upon the aerodynamic characteristics of a number of NACA 6-series airfoil sections

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Loftin, Laurence K, Jr; Bursnall, William J

1950-01-01

Results are presented of an investigation made to determine the two-dimensional lift and drag characteristics of nine NACA 6-series airfoil section at Reynolds numbers of 15.0 x 10sub6, 20.0 x 10sub6, and 25.0 x 10sub6. Also presented are data from NACA Technical Report 824 for the same airfoils at Reynolds numbers of 3.0 x 10sub6, 6.0 x 10sub6, and 9.0 x 10sub6. The airfoils selected represent sections having variations in the airfoil thickness, thickness form, and camber. The characteristics of an airfoil with a split flap were determined in one instance, as was the effect of surface roughness. Qualitative explanations in terms of flow behavior are advanced for the observed types of scale effect.

High Reynolds number tests of the CAST 10-2/DOA 2 airfoil in the Langley 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel, phase 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dress, D. A.; Mcguire, P. D.; Stanewsky, E.; Ray, E. J.

1983-01-01

A wind tunnel investigation of an advanced technology airfoil, the CAST 10-2/DOA 2, was conducted in the Langley 0.3 meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel (0.3 m TCT). This was the first of a series of tests conducted in a cooperative National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Deutsche Forschungs- und Versuchsanstalt fur Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DFVLR) airfoil research program. Test temperature was varied from 280 K to 100 K to pressures from slightly above 1 to 5.8 atmospheres. Mach number was varied from 0.60 to 0.80, and the Reynolds number (based on airfoil chord) was varied from 4 x 10 to the 8th power to 45 x 10 to the 6th power. This report presents the experimental aerodynamic data obtained for the airfoil and includes descriptions of the airfoil model, the 0.3 m TCT, the test instrumentation, and the testing procedures.

Investigation of oscillating cascade aerodynamics by an experimental influence coefficient technique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buffum, Daniel H.; Fleeter, Sanford

1988-01-01

Fundamental experiments are performed in the NASA Lewis Transonic Oscillating Cascade Facility to investigate the torsion mode unsteady aerodynamics of a biconvex airfoil cascade at realistic values of the reduced frequency for all interblade phase angles at a specified mean flow condition. In particular, an unsteady aerodynamic influence coefficient technique is developed and utilized in which only one airfoil in the cascade is oscillated at a time and the resulting airfoil surface unsteady pressure distribution measured on one dynamically instrumented airfoil. The unsteady aerodynamics of an equivalent cascade with all airfoils oscillating at a specified interblade phase angle are then determined through a vector summation of these data. These influence coefficient determined oscillation cascade data are correlated with data obtained in this cascade with all airfoils oscillating at several interblade phase angle values. The influence coefficients are then utilized to determine the unsteady aerodynamics of the cascade for all interblade phase angles, with these unique data subsequently correlated with predictions from a linearized unsteady cascade model.

SiC/SiC Leading Edge Turbine Airfoil Tested Under Simulated Gas Turbine Conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Robinson, R. Craig; Hatton, Kenneth S.

1999-01-01

Silicon-based ceramics have been proposed as component materials for use in gas turbine engine hot-sections. A high pressure burner rig was used to expose both a baseline metal airfoil and ceramic matrix composite leading edge airfoil to typical gas turbine conditions to comparatively evaluate the material response at high temperatures. To eliminate many of the concerns related to an entirely ceramic, rotating airfoil, this study has focused on equipping a stationary metal airfoil with a ceramic leading edge insert to demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of such a configuration. Here, the idea was to allow the SiC/SiC composite to be integrated as the airfoil's leading edge, operating in a "free-floating" or unrestrained manner. and provide temperature relief to the metal blade underneath. The test included cycling the airfoils between simulated idle, lift, and cruise flight conditions. In addition, the airfoils were air-cooled, uniquely instrumented, and exposed to the same internal and external conditions, which included gas temperatures in excess of 1370 C (2500 F). Results show the leading edge insert remained structurally intact after 200 simulated flight cycles with only a slightly oxidized surface. The instrumentation clearly suggested a significant reduction (approximately 600 F) in internal metal temperatures as a result of the ceramic leading edge. The object of this testing was to validate the design and analysis done by Materials Research and Design of Rosemont, PA and to determine the feasibility of this design for the intended application.

A neural network construction method for surrogate modeling of physics-based analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sung, Woong Je

In this thesis existing methodologies related to the developmental methods of neural networks have been surveyed and their approaches to network sizing and structuring are carefully observed. This literature review covers the constructive methods, the pruning methods, and the evolutionary methods and questions about the basic assumption intrinsic to the conventional neural network learning paradigm, which is primarily devoted to optimization of connection weights (or synaptic strengths) for the pre-determined connection structure of the network. The main research hypothesis governing this thesis is that, without breaking a prevailing dichotomy between weights and connectivity of the network during learning phase, the efficient design of a task-specific neural network is hard to achieve because, as long as connectivity and weights are searched by separate means, a structural optimization of the neural network requires either repetitive re-training procedures or computationally expensive topological meta-search cycles. The main contribution of this thesis is designing and testing a novel learning mechanism which efficiently learns not only weight parameters but also connection structure from a given training data set, and positioning this learning mechanism within the surrogate modeling practice. In this work, a simple and straightforward extension to the conventional error Back-Propagation (BP) algorithm has been formulated to enable a simultaneous learning for both connectivity and weights of the Generalized Multilayer Perceptron (GMLP) in supervised learning tasks. A particular objective is to achieve a task-specific network having reasonable generalization performance with a minimal training time. The dichotomy between architectural design and weight optimization is reconciled by a mechanism establishing a new connection for a neuron pair which has potentially higher error-gradient than one of the existing connections. Interpreting an instance of the absence of connection as a zero-weight connection, the potential contribution to training error reduction of any present or absent connection can readily be evaluated using the BP algorithm. Instead of being broken, the connections that contribute less remain frozen with constant weight values optimized to that point but they are excluded from further weight optimization until reselected. In this way, a selective weight optimization is executed only for the dynamically maintained pool of high gradient connections. By searching the rapidly changing weights and concentrating optimization resources on them, the learning process is accelerated without either a significant increase in computational cost or a need for re-training. This results in a more task-adapted network connection structure. Combined with another important criterion for the division of a neuron which adds a new computational unit to a network, a highly fitted network can be grown out of the minimal random structure. This particular learning strategy can belong to a more broad class of the variable connectivity learning scheme and the devised algorithm has been named Optimal Brain Growth (OBG). The OBG algorithm has been tested on two canonical problems; a regression analysis using the Complicated Interaction Regression Function and a classification of the Two-Spiral Problem. A comparative study with conventional Multilayer Perceptrons (MLPs) consisting of single- and double-hidden layers shows that OBG is less sensitive to random initial conditions and generalizes better with only a minimal increase in computational time. This partially proves that a variable connectivity learning scheme has great potential to enhance computational efficiency and reduce efforts to select proper network architecture. To investigate the applicability of the OBG to more practical surrogate modeling tasks, the geometry-to-pressure mapping of a particular class of airfoils in the transonic flow regime has been sought using both the conventional MLP networks with pre-defined architecture and the OBG-developed networks started from the same initial MLP networks. Considering wide variety in airfoil geometry and diversity of flow conditions distributed over a range of flow Mach numbers and angles of attack, the new method shows a great potential to capture fundamentally nonlinear flow phenomena especially related to the occurrence of shock waves on airfoil surfaces in transonic flow regime. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

A General Multidisciplinary Turbomachinery Design Optimization system Applied to a Transonic Fan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nemnem, Ahmed Mohamed Farid

The blade geometry design process is integral to the development and advancement of compressors and turbines in gas generators or aeroengines. A new airfoil section design capability has been added to an open source parametric 3D blade design tool. Curvature of the meanline is controlled using B-splines to create the airfoils. The curvature is analytically integrated to derive the angles and the meanline is obtained by integrating the angles. A smooth thickness distribution is then added to the airfoil to guarantee a smooth shape while maintaining a prescribed thickness distribution. A leading edge B-spline definition has also been implemented to achieve customized airfoil leading edges which guarantees smoothness with parametric eccentricity and droop. An automated turbomachinery design and optimization system has been created. An existing splittered transonic fan is used as a test and reference case. This design was more general than a conventional design to have access to the other design methodology. The whole mechanical and aerodynamic design loops are automated for the optimization process. The flow path and the geometrical properties of the rotor are initially created using the axi-symmetric design and analysis code (T-AXI). The main and splitter blades are parametrically designed with the created geometry builder (3DBGB) using the new added features (curvature technique). The solid model creation of the rotor sector with a periodic boundaries combining the main blade and splitter is done using MATLAB code directly connected to SolidWorks including the hub, fillets and tip clearance. A mechanical optimization is performed with DAKOTA (developed by DOE) to reduce the mass of the blades while keeping maximum stress as a constraint with a safety factor. A Genetic algorithm followed by Numerical Gradient optimization strategies are used in the mechanical optimization. The splittered transonic fan blades mass is reduced by 2.6% while constraining the maximum stress below 50% material yield strength using 2D sections thickness and chord multipliers. Once the initial design was mechanically optimized, a CFD optimization was performed to maximize efficiency and/or stall margin. The CFD grid generator (AUTOGRID) reads 3DBGB output and accounts for hub fillets and tip gaps. Single and Multi-objective Genetic Algorithm (SOGA, MOGA) optimization have been used with the CFD analysis system. In SOGA optimization, efficiency was increased by 3.525% from 78.364% to 81.889% while only changing 4 design parameters. For MOGA optimization with higher weighting efficiency than stall margin, the efficiency was increased by 2.651% from 78.364% to 81.015% while the static pressure recovery factor was increased from 0.37407 to 0.4812286 that consequently increases the stall margin. The design process starts with a hot shape design, and then a hot to cold transformation process is explained once the optimization process ends which smoothly subtracts the mechanical deflections from the hot shape. This transformation ensures an accurate tip clearance. The optimization modules can be customized by the user as one full optimization or multiple small ones. This allows the designer not to be eliminated from the design loop which helps in taking the right choice of parameters for the optimization and the final feasible design.

Propulsion of a flapping and oscillating airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Garrick, I E

1937-01-01

Formulas are given for the propelling or drag force experience in a uniform air stream by an airfoil or an airfoil-aileron combination, oscillating in any of three degrees of freedom; vertical flapping, torsional oscillations about a fixed axis parallel to the span, and angular oscillations of the aileron about a hinge.

Airfoil shape for flight at subsonic speeds

DOEpatents

Whitcomb, Richard T.

1976-01-01

An airfoil having an upper surface shaped to control flow accelerations and pressure distribution over the upper surface and to prevent separation of the boundary layer due to shock wave formulation at high subsonic speeds well above the critical Mach number. A highly cambered trailing edge section improves overall airfoil lifting efficiency.

Development of drive mechanism for an oscillating airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sticht, Clifford D.

1988-01-01

The design and development of an in-draft wind tunnel test section which will be used to study the dynamic stall of airfoils oscillating in pitch is described. The hardware developed comprises a spanned airfoil between schleiren windows, a four bar linkage, flywheels, a drive system and a test section structure.

The effect of acoustic forcing on an airfoil tonal noise mechanism.

PubMed

Schumacher, Karn L; Doolan, Con J; Kelso, Richard M

2014-08-01

The response of the boundary layer over an airfoil with cavity to external acoustic forcing, across a sweep of frequencies, was measured. The boundary layer downstream of the cavity trailing edge was found to respond strongly and selectively at the natural airfoil tonal frequencies. This is considered to be due to enhanced feedback. However, the shear layer upstream of the cavity trailing edge did not respond at these frequencies. These findings confirm that an aeroacoustic feedback loop exists between the airfoil trailing edge and a location near the cavity trailing edge.

An experimental study of dynamic stall on advanced airfoil section. Volume 2: Pressure and force data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcalister, K. W.; Pucci, S. L.; Mccroskey, W. J.; Carr, L. W.

1982-01-01

Experimentally derived force and moment data are presented for eight airfoil sections that were tested at fixed and varying incidence in a subsonic two dimensional stream. Airfoil incidence was varied through sinusoidal oscillations in pitch over a wide range of amplitude and frequency. The surface pressure distribution, as well as the lift, drag, and pitching moment derived therefrom, are displayed in a uniform fashion to delineate the static and dynamic characteristics of each airfoil both in and out of stall.

Vertical axis wind turbines

DOEpatents

Krivcov, Vladimir [Miass, RU; Krivospitski, Vladimir [Miass, RU; Maksimov, Vasili [Miass, RU; Halstead, Richard [Rohnert Park, CA; Grahov, Jurij [Miass, RU

2011-03-08

A vertical axis wind turbine is described. The wind turbine can include a top ring, a middle ring and a lower ring, wherein a plurality of vertical airfoils are disposed between the rings. For example, three vertical airfoils can be attached between the upper ring and the middle ring. In addition, three more vertical airfoils can be attached between the lower ring and the middle ring. When wind contacts the vertically arranged airfoils the rings begin to spin. By connecting the rings to a center pole which spins an alternator, electricity can be generated from wind.

Ductile alloys for sealing modular component interfaces

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Marra, John J.; Wessell, Brian J.; James, Allister W.

2017-08-08

A vane assembly (10) having: an airfoil (12) and a shroud (14) held together without metallurgical bonding there between; a channel (22) disposed circumferentially about the airfoil (12), between the airfoil (12) and the shroud (14); and a seal (20) disposed in the channel (22), wherein during operation of a turbine engine having the vane assembly (10) the seal (20) has a sufficient ductility such that a force generated on the seal (20) resulting from relative movement of the airfoil (12) and the shroud (14) is sufficient to plastically deform the seal (20).

System for damping vibrations in a turbine

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Roberts, III, Herbert Chidsey; Johnson, Curtis Alan; Taxacher, Glenn Curtis

2015-11-24

A system for damping vibrations in a turbine includes a first rotating blade having a first ceramic airfoil, a first ceramic platform connected to the first ceramic airfoil, and a first root connected to the first ceramic platform. A second rotating blade adjacent to the first rotating blade includes a second ceramic airfoil, a second ceramic platform connected to the second ceramic airfoil, and a second root connected to the second ceramic platform. A non-metallic platform damper has a first position in simultaneous contact with the first and second ceramic platforms.

Wake curvature and trailing edge interaction effects in viscous flow over airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Melnik, R. E.

1979-01-01

A theory developed for analyzing viscous flows over airfoils at high Reynolds numbers is described. The theory includes a complete treatment of viscous interaction effects induced by the curved wake behind the airfoil and accounts for normal pressure gradients across the boundary layer in the trailing edge region. A brief description of a computer code that was developed to solve the extended viscous interaction equations is given. Comparisons of the theoretical results with wind tunnel data for two rear loaded airfoils at supercritical conditions are presented.

Slotted Aircraft Wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vassberg, John C. (Inventor); Gea, Lie-Mine (Inventor); McLean, James D. (Inventor); Witowski, David P. (Inventor); Krist, Steven E. (Inventor); Campbell, Richard L. (Inventor)

2006-01-01

An aircraft wing includes a leading airfoil element and a trailing airfoil element. At least one slot is defined by the wing during at least one transonic condition of the wing. The slot may either extend spanwise along only a portion of the wingspan, or it may extend spanwise along the entire wingspan. In either case, the slot allows a portion of the air flowing along the lower surface of the leading airfoil element to split and flow over the upper surface of the trailing airfoil element so as to achieve a performance improvement in the transonic condition.

Gas turbine bucket cooling circuit and related process

DOEpatents

Lewis, Doyle C.; Barb, Kevin Joseph

2002-01-01

A turbine bucket includes an airfoil portion having leading and trailing edges; at least one radially extending cooling passage within the airfoil portion, the airfoil portion joined to a platform at a radially inner end of the airfoil portion; a dovetail mounting portion enclosing a cooling medium supply passage; and, a crossover passage in fluid communication with the cooling medium supply passage and with at least one radially extending cooling passage, the crossover passage having a portion extending along and substantially parallel to an underside surface of the platform.

Experimental Study of Tip Vortex Flow from a Periodically Pitched Airfoil Section

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zaman, Khairul; Fagan, Amy; Mankbadi, Mina

2016-01-01

An experimental investigation of tip vortex flow from a NACA0012 airfoil, pitched periodically at various frequencies, is conducted in a low-speed wind tunnel. Initially, data for stationary airfoil held fixed at various angles-of-attack are gathered. Flow visualization pictures as well as detailed cross-sectional properties areobtained at various streamwise locations using hot-wire anemometry. Data include mean velocity, streamwise vorticity as well as various turbulent stresses. Preliminary data are also acquired for periodically pitched airfoil. These results are briefly presented in this extended abstract.

Experimental verification of a new laminar airfoil: A project for the graduate program in aeronautics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nicks, Oran W.; Korkan, Kenneth D.

1991-01-01

Two reports on student activities to determine the properties of a new laminar airfoil which were delivered at a conference on soaring technology are presented. The papers discuss a wind tunnel investigation and analysis of the SM701 airfoil and verification of the SM701 airfoil aerodynamic charcteristics utilizing theoretical techniques. The papers are based on a combination of analytical design, hands-on model fabrication, wind tunnel calibration and testing, data acquisition and analysis, and comparison of test results and theory.

Unsteady lift forces on highly cambered airfoils moving through a gust

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Atassi, H.; Goldstein, M.

1974-01-01

An unsteady airfoil theory in which the flow is linearized about the steady potential flow of the airfoil is presented. The theory is applied to an airfoil entering a gust. After transformation to the W-plane, the problem is formulated in terms of a Poisson's equation. The solutions are expanded in a Fourier-Bessel series. The theory is applied to a circular arc with arbitrary camber. Closed form expressions for the velocity and pressure on the surface of the airfoil are obtained. The unsteady aerodynamic forces are then calculated and shown to contain two terms. One in an explicit closed analytical form represents the contribution of the oncoming vortical disturbance, the other depends on a single quadrature and accounts for the effect of the wake.

Turbine airfoil to shroud attachment method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Campbell, Christian X; Kulkarni, Anand A; James, Allister W

2014-12-23

Bi-casting a platform (50) onto an end portion (42) of a turbine airfoil (31) after forming a coating of a fugitive material (56) on the end portion. After bi-casting the platform, the coating is dissolved and removed to relieve differential thermal shrinkage stress between the airfoil and platform. The thickness of the coating is varied around the end portion in proportion to varying amounts of local differential process shrinkage. The coating may be sprayed (76A, 76B) onto the end portion in opposite directions parallel to a chord line (41) of the airfoil or parallel to a mid-platform length (80) ofmore » the platform to form respective layers tapering in thickness from the leading (32) and trailing (34) edges along the suction side (36) of the airfoil.« less

Analysis of high-incidence separated flow past airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chia, K. N.; Osswald, G. A.; Chia, U.

1989-01-01

An unsteady Navier-Stokes (NS) analysis is developed and used to carefully examine high-incidence aerodynamic separated flows past airfoils. Clustered conformal C-grids are employed for the 12 percent thick symmetric Joukowski airfoil as well as for the NACA 0012 airfoil with a sharp trailing edge. The clustering is controlled by appropriate one-dimensional stretching transformations. An attempt is made to resolve many of the dominant scales of an unsteady flow with massive separation, while maintaining the transformation metrics to be smooth and continuous in the entire flow field. A fully implicit time-marching alternating-direction implicit-block Gaussian elimination (ADI-BGE) method is employed, in which no use is made of any explicit artificial dissipation. Detailed results are obtained for massively separated, unsteady flow past symmetric Joukowski and NACA 0012 airfoils.

Wind Tunnel Evaluation of a Model Helicopter Main-Rotor Blade With Slotted Airfoils at the Tip

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Noonan, Kevin W.; Yeager, William T., Jr.; Singleton, Jeffrey D.; Wilbur, Matthew L.; Mirick, Paul H.

2001-01-01

Data for rotors using unconventional airfoils are of interest to permit an evaluation of this technology's capability to meet the U.S. Army's need for increased helicopter mission effectiveness and improved safety and survivability. Thus, an experimental investigation was conducted in the Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT) to evaluate the effect of using slotted airfoils in the rotor blade tip region (85 to 100 percent radius) on rotor aerodynamic performance and loads. Four rotor configurations were tested in forward flight at advance ratios from 0.15 to 0.45 and in hover in-ground effect. The hover tip Mach number was 0.627, which is representative of a design point of 4000-ft geometric altitude and a temperature of 95 F. The baseline rotor configuration had a conventional single-element airfoil in the tip region. A second rotor configuration had a forward-slotted airfoil with a -6 deg slat, a third configuration had a forward-slotted airfoil with a -10 slat, and a fourth configuration had an aft-slotted airfoil with a 3 deg flap (trailing edge down). The results of this investigation indicate that the -6 deg slat configuration offers some performance and loads benefits over the other three configurations.

Preliminary Investigation in the NACA Low-Turbulence Tunnel of Low-drag Airfoil Sections Suitable for Admitting Air at the Leading Edge

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

von Doenhoff, Albert E.; Horton, Elmer A.

1942-01-01

An investigation was carried out in the NACA low-turbulence tunnel to develop low-drag airfoil sections suitable for admitting air at the leading edge. A thickness distribution having the desired type of pressure distribution was found from tests of a flexible model. Other airfoil shapes were derived from this original shape by varying the thickness, the camper, the leading-edge radius, and the size of the leading-edge opening. Data are presented giving the characteristics of the airfoil shapes in the range of lift coefficients for high-speed and cruising flight. Shapes have been developed which show no substantial increases in drag over that of the same position along the chord. Many of these shapes appear to have higher critical compressibility speeds than plain airfoils of the same thickness. Low-drag airfoil sections have been developed with openings in the leading edge as large as 41.5 percent of the maximum thickness. The range of lift coefficients for low drag in several cases is nearly as large as that of the corresponding plain airfoil sections. Preliminary measurements of maximum lift characteristics indicate that nose-opening sections of the type herein considered may not produce any marked effects on the maximum lift coefficient.

Drag Coefficient of Water Droplets Approaching the Leading Edge of an Airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vargas, Mario; Sor, Suthyvann; Magarino, Adelaida Garcia

2013-01-01

This work presents results of an experimental study on droplet deformation and breakup near the leading edge of an airfoil. The experiment was conducted in the rotating rig test cell at the Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial (INTA) in Madrid, Spain. An airfoil model was placed at the end of the rotating arm and a monosize droplet generator produced droplets that fell from above, perpendicular to the path of the airfoil. The interaction between the droplets and the airfoil was captured with high speed imaging and allowed observation of droplet deformation and breakup as the droplet approached the airfoil near the stagnation line. Image processing software was used to measure the position of the droplet centroid, equivalent diameter, perimeter, area, and the major and minor axes of an ellipse superimposed over the deforming droplet. The horizontal and vertical displacement of each droplet against time was also measured, and the velocity, acceleration, Weber number, Bond number, Reynolds number, and the drag coefficients were calculated along the path of the droplet to the beginning of breakup. Results are presented and discussed for drag coefficients of droplets with diameters in the range of 300 to 1800 micrometers, and airfoil velocities of 50, 70 and 90 meters/second. The effect of droplet oscillation on the drag coefficient is discussed.

Pressure distribution from high Reynolds number tests of a NASA SC(3)-0712(B) airfoil in the Langley 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, W. G., Jr.; Hill, A. S.; Eichmann, O.

1985-01-01

A wind tunnel investigation of a NASA 12-percent-thick, advanced-technology supercritical airfoil was conducted in the Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel (TCT). This investigation represents another in the series of NASA/U.S. industry two-dimensional airfoil studies to be completed in the Advanced Technology Airfoil Tests program. Test temperature was varied from 220 K to 96 K at pressures ranging from 1.2 to 4.3 atm. Mach number was varied from 0.50 to 0.80. This investigation was designed to: (1) test a NASA advanced-technology airfoil from low to flight equivalent Reynolds numbers, (2) provide experience in cryogenic wind-tunnel model design and testing techniques, and (3) demonstrate the suitability of the 0.3-m TCT as an airfoil test facility. All the test objectives were met. The pressure data are presented without analysis in tabulated format and as plots of pressure coefficient versus position on the airfoil. This report was prepared for use in conjunction with the aerodynamic coefficient data published in NASA-TM-86371. Data are included which demonstrate the effects of fixed transition. Also included are remarks on the model design and fabrication.

Effect of Ground Proximity on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of Aspect-Ratio-1 Airfoils With and Without End Plates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carter, Arthur W.

1961-01-01

An investigation has been made to determine the effect of ground proximity on the aerodynamic characteristics of aspect-ratio-1 airfoils. The investigation was made with the model moving over the water in a towing tank in order to eliminate the effects of wind-tunnel walls and of boundary layer on ground boards at small ground clearances. The results indicated that, as the ground was approached, the airfoils experienced an increase in lift-curve slope and a reduction in induced drag; thus, lift-drag ratio was increased. As the ground was approached, the profile drag remained essentially constant for each airfoil. Near the ground, the addition of end plates to the airfoil resulted in a large increase in lift-drag ratio. The lift characteristics of the airfoils indicated stability of height at positive angles of attack and instability of height at negative angles; therefore, the operating range of angles of attack would be limited to positive values. At positive angles of attack, the static longitudinal stability was increased as the height above the ground was reduced. Comparison of the experimental data with Wieselsberger's ground-effect theory (NACA Technical Memorandum 77) indicated generally good agreement between experiment and theory for the airfoils without end plates.

3D CFD Quantification of the Performance of a Multi-Megawatt Wind Turbine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laursen, J.; Enevoldsen, P.; Hjort, S.

2007-07-01

This paper presents the results of 3D CFD rotor computations of a Siemens SWT-2.3-93 variable speed wind turbine with 45m blades. In the paper CFD is applied to a rotor at stationary wind conditions without wind shear, using the commercial multi-purpose CFD-solvers ANSYS CFX 10.0 and 11.0. When comparing modelled mechanical effects with findings from other models and measurements, good agreement is obtained. Similarly the computed force distributions compare very well, whereas some discrepancies are found when comparing with an in-house BEM model. By applying the reduced axial velocity method the local angle of attack has been derived from the CFD solutions, and from this knowledge and the computed force distributions, local airfoil profile coefficients have been computed and compared to BEM airfoil coefficients. Finally, the transition model of Langtry and Menter is tested on the rotor, and the results are compared with the results from the fully turbulent setup.

A review of parametric approaches specific to aerodynamic design process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Tian-tian; Wang, Zhen-guo; Huang, Wei; Yan, Li

2018-04-01

Parametric modeling of aircrafts plays a crucial role in the aerodynamic design process. Effective parametric approaches have large design space with a few variables. Parametric methods that commonly used nowadays are summarized in this paper, and their principles have been introduced briefly. Two-dimensional parametric methods include B-Spline method, Class/Shape function transformation method, Parametric Section method, Hicks-Henne method and Singular Value Decomposition method, and all of them have wide application in the design of the airfoil. This survey made a comparison among them to find out their abilities in the design of the airfoil, and the results show that the Singular Value Decomposition method has the best parametric accuracy. The development of three-dimensional parametric methods is limited, and the most popular one is the Free-form deformation method. Those methods extended from two-dimensional parametric methods have promising prospect in aircraft modeling. Since different parametric methods differ in their characteristics, real design process needs flexible choice among them to adapt to subsequent optimization procedure.

An Integrated Method for Airfoil Optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okrent, Joshua B.

Design exploration and optimization is a large part of the initial engineering and design process. To evaluate the aerodynamic performance of a design, viscous Navier-Stokes solvers can be used. However this method can prove to be overwhelmingly time consuming when performing an initial design sweep. Therefore, another evaluation method is needed to provide accurate results at a faster pace. To accomplish this goal, a coupled viscous-inviscid method is used. This thesis proposes an integrated method for analyzing, evaluating, and optimizing an airfoil using a coupled viscous-inviscid solver along with a genetic algorithm to find the optimal candidate. The method proposed is different from prior optimization efforts in that it greatly broadens the design space, while allowing the optimization to search for the best candidate that will meet multiple objectives over a characteristic mission profile rather than over a single condition and single optimization parameter. The increased design space is due to the use of multiple parametric airfoil families, namely the NACA 4 series, CST family, and the PARSEC family. Almost all possible airfoil shapes can be created with these three families allowing for all possible configurations to be included. This inclusion of multiple airfoil families addresses a possible criticism of prior optimization attempts since by only focusing on one airfoil family, they were inherently limiting the number of possible airfoil configurations. By using multiple parametric airfoils, it can be assumed that all reasonable airfoil configurations are included in the analysis and optimization and that a global and not local maximum is found. Additionally, the method used is amenable to customization to suit any specific needs as well as including the effects of other physical phenomena or design criteria and/or constraints. This thesis found that an airfoil configuration that met multiple objectives could be found for a given set of nominal operational conditions from a broad design space with the use of minimal computational resources on both an absolute and relative scale to traditional analysis techniques. Aerodynamicists, program managers, aircraft configuration specialist, and anyone else in charge of aircraft configuration, design studies, and program level decisions might find the evaluation and optimization method proposed of interest.

Characteristics of merging shear layers and turbulent wakes of a multi-element airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adair, Desmond; Horne, W. Clifton

1988-01-01

Flow characteristics in the vicinity of the trailing edge of a single-slotted airfoil flap are presented and analyzed. The experimental arrangement consisted of a NACA 4412 airfoil equipped with a NACA 4415 flap whose angle of deflection was 21.8 deg. The flow remained attached over the model surfaces except in the vicinity of the flap trailing edge where a small region of boundary-layer separation extended over the aft 7 percent of flap chord. The flow was complicated by the presence of a strong, initially inviscid jet emanating from the slot between airfoil and flap, and a gradual merging of the main airfoil wake and flap suction-side boundary layer. Downstream of the flap, the airfoil and flap wakes fully merged to form an asymmetrical curved wake. The airfoil configuration was tested at an angle of attack of 8.2 deg, at a Mach number of 0.09, and a chord based Reynolds number of 1.8 x 10 to the 6th power in the Ames Research Center 7- by 10-Foot Wind Tunnel. Surface pressure measurements were made on the airfoil and flap and on the wind tunnel roof and floor. It was estimated that the wall interference increased the C sub L by 7 percent and decreased the C sub M by 4.5 percent. Velocity characteristics were quantified using hot-wire anemometry in regions of flow with preferred direction and low turbulence intensity. A 3-D laser velocimeter was used in regions of flow recirculation and relatively high turbulence intensity.

Approximate and exact numerical integration of the gas dynamic equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lewis, T. S.; Sirovich, L.

1979-01-01

A highly accurate approximation and a rapidly convergent numerical procedure are developed for two dimensional steady supersonic flow over an airfoil. Examples are given for a symmetric airfoil over a range of Mach numbers. Several interesting features are found in the calculation of the tail shock and the flow behind the airfoil.

The effect of wall interference upon the aerodynamic characteristics of an airfoil spanning a closed-throat circular wind tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vincenti, Walter G; Graham, Donald J

1946-01-01

The results of a theoretical and experimental investigation of wall interference for an airfoil spanning a closed-throat circular wind tunnel are presented. Analytical equations are derived which relate the characteristics of an airfoil in the tunnel at subsonic speeds with the characteristics in free air. The analysis takes into consideration the effect of fluid compressibility and is based upon the assumption that the chord of the airfoil is small as compared with the diameter of the tunnel. The development is restricted to an untwisted, constant-chord airfoil spanning the middle of the tunnel. Brief theoretical consideration is also given to the problem of choking at high speeds. Results are then presented of tests to determine the low-speed characteristics of an NACA 4412 airfoil for two chord-diameter ratios. While, on the basis of these experiments, no appraisal is possible of the accuracy of the corrections at high speeds, the data indicate that at low Mach numbers the analytical results are valid, even for relatively large values of the chord-diameter ratio.

Numerical Issues for Circulation Control Calculations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swanson, Roy C., Jr.; Rumsey, Christopher L.

2006-01-01

Steady-state and time-accurate two-dimensional solutions of the compressible Reynolds-averaged Navier- Stokes equations are obtained for flow over the Lockheed circulation control (CC) airfoil and the General Aviation CC (GACC) airfoil. Numerical issues in computing circulation control flows such as the effects of grid resolution, boundary and initial conditions, and unsteadiness are addressed. For the Lockheed CC airfoil computed solutions are compared with detailed experimental data, which include velocity and Reynolds stress profiles. Three turbulence models, having either one or two transport equations, are considered. Solutions are obtained on a sequence of meshes, with mesh refinement primarily concentrated on the airfoil circular trailing edge. Several effects related to mesh refinement are identified. For example, sometimes sufficient mesh resolution can exclude nonphysical solutions, which can occur in CC airfoil calculations. Also, sensitivities of the turbulence models with mesh refinement are discussed. In the case of the GACC airfoil the focus is on the difference between steady-state and time-accurate solutions. A specific objective is to determine if there is self-excited vortex shedding from the jet slot lip.

Airfoils for wind turbine

DOEpatents

Tangler, James L.; Somers, Dan M.

2000-01-01

Airfoils for the tip and mid-span regions of a wind turbine blade have upper surface and lower surface shapes and contours between a leading edge and a trailing edge that minimize roughness effects of the airfoil and provide maximum lift coefficients that are largely insensitive to roughness effects. The airfoil in one embodiment is shaped and contoured to have a thickness in a range of about fourteen to seventeen percent, a Reynolds number in a range of about 1,500,000 to 2,000,000, and a maximum lift coefficient in a range of about 1.4 to 1.5. In another embodiment, the airfoil is shaped and contoured to have a thickness in a range of about fourteen percent to sixteen percent, a Reynolds number in a range of about 1,500,000 to 3,000,000, and a maximum lift coefficient in a range of about 0.7 to 1.5. Another embodiment of the airfoil is shaped and contoured to have a Reynolds in a range of about 1,500,000 to 4,000,000, and a maximum lift coefficient in a range of about 1.0 to 1.5.

An investigation on the effect of second-order additional thickness distributions to the upper surface of an NACA 64 sub 1-212 airfoil. [using flow equations and a CDC 7600 digital computer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hague, D. S.; Merz, A. W.

1975-01-01

An investigation was conducted on a CDC 7600 digital computer to determine the effects of additional thickness distributions to the upper surface of an NACA 64 sub 1 - 212 airfoil. Additional thickness distributions employed were in the form of two second-order polynomial arcs which have a specified thickness at a given chordwise location. The forward arc disappears at the airfoil leading edge, the aft arc disappears at the airfoil trailing edge. At the juncture of the two arcs, x = x, continuity of slope is maintained. The effect of varying the maximum additional thickness and its chordwise location on airfoil lift coefficient, pitching moment, and pressure distribution was investigated. Results were obtained at a Mach number of 0.2 with an angle-of-attack of 6 degrees on the basic NACA 64 sub 1 - 212 airfoil, and all calculations employ the full potential flow equations for two dimensional flow. The relaxation method of Jameson was employed for solution of the potential flow equations.

Numerical computation of viscous flow about unconventional airfoil shapes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ahmed, S.; Tannehill, J. C.

1990-01-01

A new two-dimensional computer code was developed to analyze the viscous flow around unconventional airfoils at various Mach numbers and angles of attack. The Navier-Stokes equations are solved using an implicit, upwind, finite-volume scheme. Both laminar and turbulent flows can be computed. A new nonequilibrium turbulence closure model was developed for computing turbulent flows. This two-layer eddy viscosity model was motivated by the success of the Johnson-King model in separated flow regions. The influence of history effects are described by an ordinary differential equation developed from the turbulent kinetic energy equation. The performance of the present code was evaluated by solving the flow around three airfoils using the Reynolds time-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. Excellent results were obtained for both attached and separated flows about the NACA 0012 airfoil, the RAE 2822 airfoil, and the Integrated Technology A 153W airfoil. Based on the comparison of the numerical solutions with the available experimental data, it is concluded that the present code in conjunction with the new nonequilibrium turbulence model gives excellent results.

Shape optimization for aerodynamic efficiency and low observability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vinh, Hoang; Van Dam, C. P.; Dwyer, Harry A.

1993-01-01

Field methods based on the finite-difference approximations of the time-domain Maxwell's equations and the potential-flow equation have been developed to solve the multidisciplinary problem of airfoil shaping for aerodynamic efficiency and low radar cross section (RCS). A parametric study and an optimization study employing the two analysis methods are presented to illustrate their combined capabilities. The parametric study shows that for frontal radar illumination, the RCS of an airfoil is independent of the chordwise location of maximum thickness but depends strongly on the maximum thickness, leading-edge radius, and leadingedge shape. In addition, this study shows that the RCS of an airfoil can be reduced without significant effects on its transonic aerodynamic efficiency by reducing the leading-edge radius and/or modifying the shape of the leading edge. The optimization study involves the minimization of wave drag for a non-lifting, symmetrical airfoil with constraints on the airfoil maximum thickness and monostatic RCS. This optimization study shows that the two analysis methods can be used effectively to design aerodynamically efficient airfoils with certain desired RCS characteristics.

Aerodynamic Characteristics of Airfoils at High Speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Briggs, L J; Hull, G F; Dryden, H L

1925-01-01

This report deals with an experimental investigation of the aerodynamical characteristics of airfoils at high speeds. Lift, drag, and center of pressure measurements were made on six airfoils of the type used by the air service in propeller design, at speeds ranging from 550 to 1,000 feet per second. The results show a definite limit to the speed at which airfoils may efficiently be used to produce lift, the lift coefficient decreasing and the drag coefficient increasing as the speed approaches the speed of sound. The change in lift coefficient is large for thick airfoil sections (camber ratio 0.14 to 0.20) and for high angles of attack. The change is not marked for thin sections (camber ratio 0.10) at low angles of attack, for the speed range employed. At high speeds the center of pressure moves back toward the trailing edge of the airfoil as the speed increases. The results indicate that the use of tip speeds approaching the speed of sound for propellers of customary design involves a serious loss in efficiency.

An investigation on the effect of second-order additional thickness distributions to the upper surface of an NACA 64-206 airfoil. [using flow equations and a CDC 7600 digital computer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Merz, A. W.; Hague, D. S.

1975-01-01

An investigation was conducted on a CDC 7600 digital computer to determine the effects of additional thickness distributions to the upper surface of an NACA 64-206 airfoil. Additional thickness distributions employed were in the form of two second-order polynomial arcs which have a specified thickness at a given chordwise location. The forward arc disappears at the airfoil leading edge, the aft arc disappears at the airfoil trailing edge. At the juncture of the two arcs, x = x, continuity of slope is maintained. The effect of varying the maximum additional thickness and its chordwise location on airfoil lift coefficient, pitching moment, and pressure distribution was investigated. Results were obtained at a Mach number of 0.2 with an angle-of-attack of 6 degrees on the basic NACA 64-206 airfoil, and all calculations employ the full potential flow equations for two dimensional flow. The relaxation method of Jameson was employed for solution of the potential flow equations.

Recent progress in the analysis of iced airfoils and wings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cebeci, Tuncer; Chen, Hsun H.; Kaups, Kalle; Schimke, Sue

1992-01-01

Recent work on the analysis of iced airfoils and wings is described. Ice shapes for multielement airfoils and wings are computed using an extension of the LEWICE code that was developed for single airfoils. The aerodynamic properties of the iced wing are determined with an interactive scheme in which the solutions of the inviscid flow equations are obtained from a panel method and the solutions of the viscous flow equations are obtained from an inverse three-dimensional finite-difference boundary-layer method. A new interaction law is used to couple the inviscid and viscous flow solutions. The newly developed LEWICE multielement code is amplified to a high-lift configuration to calculate the ice shapes on the slat and on the main airfoil and on a four-element airfoil. The application of the LEWICE wing code to the calculation of ice shapes on a MS-317 swept wing shows good agreement with measurements. The interactive boundary-layer method is applied to a tapered iced wing in order to study the effect of icing on the aerodynamic properties of the wing at several angles of attack.

Supercritical flow past a symmetrical bicircular arc airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Holt, Maurice; Yew, Khoy Chuah

1989-01-01

A numerical scheme is developed for computing steady supercritical flow about symmetrical airfoils, applying it to an ellipse for zero angle of attack. An algorithmic description of this new scheme is presented. Application to a symmetrical bicircular arc airfoil is also proposed. The flow field before the shock is region 1. For transonic flow, singularity can be avoided by integrating the resulting ordinary differential equations away from the body. Region 2 contains the shock which will be located by shock fitting techniques. The shock divides region 2 into supersonic and subsonic regions and there is no singularity problem in this case. The Method of Lines is used in this region and it is advantageous to integrate the resulting ordinary differential equation along the body for shock fitting. Coaxial coordinates have to be used for the bicircular arc airfoil so that boundary values on the airfoil body can be taken with one direction of the coaxial coordinates fixed. To avoid taking boundary values at + or - infinity in the coaxial co-ordinary system, approximate analytical representation of the flow field near the tips of the airfoil is proposed.

Formation and Development of the Dynamic Stall Vortex on a Wing with Leading Edge Tubercles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hrynuk, John; Bohl, Douglas

2015-11-01

Humpback whales are unique in that their flippers have leading edge ``bumps'' or tubercles. Past work on airfoils inspired by whale flippers has centered on the static aerodynamic characteristics of these airfoils. The current study uses Molecular Tagging Velocimetry (MTV) to investigate the effects of tubercles on dynamically pitching NACA 0012 airfoils. A baseline (i.e. straight leading edge) wing and one modified with leading edge tubercles are investigated. Tracking of the Dynamic Stall Vortex (DSV) is performed to quantitatively compare the DSV formation location, path, and convective velocity for tubercled and baseline wings. The results show that there is a spanwise variation in the initial formation location and motion of the DSV on the modified wing. Once formed, the DSV aligns into a more uniform spanwise structure. As the pitching motion progresses, the DSV on the modified wing convects away from the airfoil surface later and slower than is observed for the baseline airfoil. The results indicate that the tubercles may delay stall when compared to the baseline airfoil. This work was supported by NSF Grant # 0845882.

Schlieren visualization of flow-field modification over an airfoil by near-surface gas-density perturbations generated by a nanosecond-pulse-driven plasma actuator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Komuro, Atsushi; Takashima, Keisuke; Konno, Kaiki; Tanaka, Naoki; Nonomura, Taku; Kaneko, Toshiro; Ando, Akira; Asai, Keisuke

2017-06-01

Gas-density perturbations near an airfoil surface generated by a nanosecond dielectric-barrier-discharge plasma actuator (ns-DBDPA) are visualized using a high-speed Schlieren imaging method. Wind-tunnel experiments are conducted for a wind speed of 20 m s-1 with an NACA0015 airfoil whose chord length is 100 mm. The results show that the ns-DBDPA first generates a pressure wave and then stochastic perturbations of the gas density near the leading edge of the airfoil. Two structures with different characteristics are observed in the stochastic perturbations. One structure propagates along the boundary between the shear layer and the main flow at a speed close to that of the main flow. The other propagates more slowly on the surface of the airfoil and causes mixing between the main and shear flows. It is observed that these two heated structures interact with each other, resulting in a recovery in the negative pressure coefficient at the leading edge of the airfoil.

Flow and Turbulence Modeling and Computation of Shock Buffet Onset for Conventional and Supercritical Airfoils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bartels, Robert E.

1998-01-01

Flow and turbulence models applied to the problem of shock buffet onset are studied. The accuracy of the interactive boundary layer and the thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations solved with recent upwind techniques using similar transport field equation turbulence models is assessed for standard steady test cases, including conditions having significant shock separation. The two methods are found to compare well in the shock buffet onset region of a supercritical airfoil that involves strong trailing-edge separation. A computational analysis using the interactive-boundary layer has revealed a Reynolds scaling effect in the shock buffet onset of the supercritical airfoil, which compares well with experiment. The methods are next applied to a conventional airfoil. Steady shock-separated computations of the conventional airfoil with the two methods compare well with experiment. Although the interactive boundary layer computations in the shock buffet region compare well with experiment for the conventional airfoil, the thin-layer Navier-Stokes computations do not. These findings are discussed in connection with possible mechanisms important in the onset of shock buffet and the constraints imposed by current numerical modeling techniques.

Effects of cavity size on the control of transonic internal flow around a biconvex circular arc airfoil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahman, M. Mostaqur; Hasan, A. B. M. Toufique; Rabbi, M. S.

2017-06-01

In transonic flow conditions, self-sustained shock wave oscillation on biconvex airfoils is initiated by the complex shock wave boundary layer interaction which is frequently observed in several modern internal aeronautical applications such as inturbine cascades, compressor blades, butterfly valves, fans, nozzles, diffusers and so on. Shock wave boundary layer interaction often generates serious problems such as unsteady boundary layer separation, self-excited shock waveoscillation with large pressure fluctuations, buffeting excitations, aeroacoustic noise, nonsynchronous vibration, high cycle fatigue failure and intense drag rise. Recently, the control of the self-excited shock oscillation around an airfoil using passive control techniques is getting intense interest. Among the passive means, control using open cavity has found promising. In this study, the effect of cavity size on the control of self-sustained shock oscillation was investigated numerically. The present computations are validated with available experimental results. The results showed that the average root mean square (RMS) of pressure oscillation around the airfoil with open cavity has reduced significantly when compared to airfoil without cavity (clean airfoil).

Self streamlining wind tunnel: Further low speed testing and final design studies for the transonic facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wolf, S. W. D.

1977-01-01

Work has continued with the low speed self streamlining wind tunnel (SSWT) using the NACA 0012-64 airfoil in an effort to explain the discrepancies between the NASA Langley low turbulence pressure tunnel (LTPT) and SSWT results obtained with the airfoil stalled. Conventional wind tunnel corrections were applied to straight wall SSWT airfoil data, to illustrate the inadequacy of standard correction techniques in circumstances of high blockage. Also one SSWT test was re-run at different air speeds to investigate the effects of such changes on airfoil data and wall contours. Mechanical design analyses for the transonic self streamlining wind tunnel (TSWT) were completed by the application of theoretical airfoil flow field data to the elastic beam and streamline analysis. The control system for the transonic facility is outlined.

Wind Tunnel Tests of Ailerons at Various Speeds I : Ailerons of 0.20 Airfoil Chord and True Contour with 0.35 Aileron-chord Extreme Blunt Nose Balance on the NACA 66,2-216 Airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Letko, W; Denaci, H. G.; Freed, C

1943-01-01

Hinge-moment, lift, and pressure-distribution measurements were made in the two-dimensional test section of the NACA stability tunnel on a blunt-nose balance-type aileron on an NACA 66,2-216 airfoil at speeds up to 360 miles per hour corresponding to a Mach number of 0.475. The tests were made primarily to determine the effect of speed on the action of this type of aileron. The balance-nose radii of the aileron were varied from 0 to 0.02 of the airfoil chord and the gap width was varied from 0.0005 to 0.0107 of the airfoil chord. Tests were also made with the gap sealed.

Design modification of airfoil by integrating sinusoidal leading edge and dimpled surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masud, M. H.; Naim-Ul-Hasan, Arefin, Amit Md. Estiaque; Joardder, Mohammad U. H.

2017-06-01

Airfoil is widely used for aircraft wings and blades of helicopters, turbines, propellers, fans and compressors. Many researches have been conducted on focusing the leading edge, surface and trailing edge of airfoil in order to maximize airfoil lift and to reduce drag. Literature shows that using protuberances along the leading edge of NACA 2412, it is possible to attain better performance from the baseline. Besides, the inward dimpled surface of NACA 0018 produces lesser drag at a positive angle of attacks. However, there is no literature that integrates sinusoidal leading edge and dimpled to attain the benefits of the both. In this study, simulation has been done for design improvement of airfoil by integrating sinusoidal leading edge and dimpled surface. Simulations have been run using finite element method environment. Significant improvement has been observed from the simulation results.

The effects of inlet turbulence and rotor/stator interactions on the aerodynamics and heat transfer of a large-scale rotating turbine model, volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dring, R. P.; Blair, M. F.; Joslyn, H. D.; Power, G. D.; Verdon, J. M.

1987-01-01

A combined experimental and analytical program was conducted to examine the effects of inlet turbulence on airfoil heat transfer. Heat transfer measurements were obtained using low conductivity airfoils with miniature thermocouples welded to a thin, electrically heated surface skin. Heat transfer data were acquired for various combinations of low or high inlet turbulence intensity, flow coefficient (incidence), first-stator/rotor axial spacing, Reynolds number, and relative circumferential position of the first and second stators. Aerodynamic measurements include distributions of the mean and fluctuating velocities at the turbine inlet and, for each airfoil row, midspan airfoil surface pressures and circumferential distributions of the downstream steady state pressures and fluctuating velocities. Analytical results include airfoil heat transfer predictions and a examination of solutions of the unstead boundary layer equipment.