Wing Download Results from a Test of a 0.658-Scale V-22 Rotor and Wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Felker, Fort F.

1992-01-01

A test of a 0.658-scale V-22 rotor and wing was conducted in the 40 x 80 Foot Wind Tunnel at Ames Research Center. One of the principal objectives of the test was to measure the wing download in hover for a variety of test configurations. The wing download and surface pressures were measured for a wide range of thrust coefficients, with five different flap angles, two nacelle angles, and both directions or rotor rotation. This paper presents these results, and describes a new method for interpreting wing surface pressure data in hover. This method shows that the wing flap can produce substantial lift loads in hover.

Flight Wing Surface Pressure and Boundary-Layer Data Report from the F-111 Smooth Variable-Camber Supercritical Mission Adaptive Wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Powers, Sheryll Goecke; Webb, Lannie D.

1997-01-01

Flight tests were conducted using the advanced fighter technology integration F-111 (AFTI/F-111) aircraft modified with a variable-sweep supercritical mission adaptive wing (MAW). The MAW leading- and trailing-edge variable-camber surfaces were deflected in flight to provide a near-ideal wing camber shape for the flight condition. The MAW features smooth, flexible upper surfaces and fully enclosed lower surfaces, which distinguishes it from conventional flaps that have discontinuous surfaces and exposed or semi-exposed mechanisms. Upper and lower surface wing pressure distributions were measured along four streamwise rows on the right wing for cruise, maneuvering, and landing configurations. Boundary-layer measurements were obtained near the trailing edge for one of the rows. Cruise and maneuvering wing leading-edge sweeps were 26 deg for Mach numbers less than 1 and 45 deg or 58 deg for Mach numbers greater than 1. The landing wing sweep was 9 deg or 16 deg. Mach numbers ranged from 0.27 to 1.41, angles of attack from 2 deg to 13 deg, and Reynolds number per unit foot from 1.4 x 10(exp 6) to 6.5 x 10(exp 6). Leading-edge cambers ranged from O deg to 20 deg down, and trailing-edge cambers ranged from 1 deg up to 19 deg down. Wing deflection data for a Mach number of 0.85 are shown for three cambers. Wing pressure and boundary-layer data are given. Selected data comparisons are shown. Measured wing coordinates are given for three streamwise semispan locations for cruise camber and one spanwise location for maneuver camber.

Fundamental aerodynamic characteristics of delta wings with leading-edge vortex flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wood, R. M.; Miller, D. S.

1985-01-01

An investigation of the aerodynamics of sharp leading-edge delta wings at supersonic speeds has been conducted. The supporting experimental data for this investigation were taken from published force, pressure, and flow-visualization data in which the Mach number normal to the wing leading edge is always less than 1.0. The individual upper- and lower-surface nonlinear characteristics for uncambered delta wings are determined and presented in three charts. The upper-surface data show that both the normal-force coefficient and minimum pressure coefficient increase nonlinearly with a decreasing slope with increasing angle of attack. The lower-surface normal-force coefficient was shown to be independent of Mach number and to increase nonlinearly, with an increasing slope, with increasing angle of attack. These charts are then used to define a wing-design space for sharp leading-edge delta wings.

Lifting-surface theory for calculating the loading induced on a wing by a flap

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, W. A.

1972-01-01

A method is described for using lifting-surface theory to obtain the pressure distribution on a wing with a trailing-edge flap or control surface. The loading has a logarithmic singularity at the flap edges, which may be determined directly by the method of matched asymptotic expansions. Expressions are given for the singular flap loading for various flap hinge line and side edge geometries, both for steady and unsteady flap deflection. The regular part of the flap loading must be obtained by inverting the lifting-surface-theory integral equation relating the pressure and the downwash on the wing: procedures are described to accomplish this for a general wing and flap geometry. The method is applied to several example wings, and the results are compared with experimental data. Theory and test correlate well.

In-flight investigation of shuttle tile pressure orifice installations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moes, Timothy R.; Meyer, Robert R., Jr.

1990-01-01

To determine shuttle orbiter wing loads during ascent, wing load instrumentation was added to Columbia (OV-102). This instrumentation included strain gages and pressure orifices on the wing. The loads derived from wing pressure measurements taken during STS 61-C did not agree with those derived from strain gage measurements or with the loads predicted from the aerodynamic database. Anomalies in the surface immediately surrounding the pressure orifices in the thermal protection system (TPS) tiles were one possible cause of errors in the loads derived from wing pressure measurements. These surface anomalies were caused by a ceramic filler material which was installed around the pressure tubing. The filler material allowed slight movement of the TPS tile and pressure tube as the airframe flexed and bent under aerodynamic loads during ascent and descent. Postflight inspection revealed that this filler material had protruded from or receeded beneath the surface, causing the orifice to lose its flushness. Flight tests were conducted at NASA Ames Research Center Dryden Flight Research Facility to determine the effects of any anomaly in surface flushness of the orifice installation on the measured pressures at Mach numbers between 0.6 and 1.4. An F-104 aircraft with a flight test fixture mounted beneath the fuselage was used for these flights. Surface flushness anomalies typical of those on the orbiter after flight (STA 61-C) were tested. Also, cases with excessive protrusion and recession of the filler material were tested. This report shows that the anomalies in STS 61-C orifice installations adversely affected the pressure measurements. But the magnitude of the affect was not great enough to account for the discrepancies with the strain gage measurements and the aerodynamic predictions.

Fluctuating surface pressure measurements on USB wing using two types of transducers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reed, J. B.

1975-01-01

Measurements of the fluctuating pressures on the wing surface of an upper-surface-blown powered-lift model and a JT15 engine were obtained using two types of pressure transducers. The pressures were measured using overall-fluctuating pressures and power spectral density analyses for various thrust settings and two jet impingement angles. Comparison of the data from the two transducers indicate that similar results are obtained in the lower frequency ranges for both transducers. The data also indicate that for this configuration, the highest pressure levels occur at frequencies below 2000 Hz.

Supersonic pressure measurements and comparison of theory to experiment for an arrow-wing configuration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Manro, M. E.

1976-01-01

A wind tunnel test of an arrow-wing-body configuration consisting of flat and twisted wings, as well as leading- and trailing-edge control surface deflections, was conducted at Mach numbers from 1.54 to 2.50 to provide an experimental pressure data base for comparison with theoretical methods. Theory-to-experiment comparisons of detailed pressure distributions were made using a state-of-the-art inviscid flow, constant-pressure-panel method. Emphasis was on conditions under which this theory is valid for both flat and twisted wings.

Flight measurements of surface pressures on a flexible supercritical research wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eckstrom, C. V.

1985-01-01

A flexible supercritical research wing, designated as ARW-1, was flight-tested as part of the NASA Drones for Aerodynamic and Structural Testing Program. Aerodynamic loads, in the form of wing surface pressure measurements, were obtained during flights at altitudes of 15,000, 20,000, and 25,000 feet at Mach numbers from 0.70 to 0.91. Surface pressure coefficients determined from pressure measurements at 80 orifice locations are presented individually as nearly continuous functions of angle of attack for constant values of Mach number. The surface pressure coefficients are also presented individually as a function of Mach number for an angle of attack of 2.0 deg. The nearly continuous values of the pressure coefficient clearly show details of the pressure gradient, which occurred in a rather narrow Mach number range. The effects of changes in angle of attack, Mach number, and dynamic pressure are also shown by chordwise pressure distributions for the range of test conditions experienced. Reynolds numbers for the tests ranged from 5.7 to 8.4 x 1,000,000.

Pressure-Sensitive Paint Investigation of Double-Delta Wing Vortex Flow Manipulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erickson, Gary E.; Gonzalez, Hugo A.

2004-01-01

A pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) technique was applied in a wind tunnel experiment in the NASA Langley Research Center 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel to quantify the effect of wing fillets on the global vortex-induced surface static pressure field about a sharp leading-edge 76o/40o double delta wing, or strake-wing, model at subsonic and transonic speeds. Global calibrations of the PSP were obtained at M = 0.50, 0.70, 0.85, 0.95, and 1.20, a Reynolds number per unit length of 2.0 million, and angles of attack from 10 degrees to 20 degrees using an in-situ method featuring the simultaneous acquisition of electronically-scanned pressures (ESP) at discrete locations on the model. The mean error in the PSP measurements relative to the ESP data was approximately 2 percent or less at M = 0.50 to 0.85 but increased to several percent at M =0.95 and 1.20. The PSP pressure distributions and pseudo-colored planform view pressure maps clearly revealed the vortex-induced pressure signatures at all Mach numbers and angles of attack. Small fillets having a parabolic or diamond planform situated at the strake-wing intersection were designed to manipulate the vortical flows by, respectively, removing the leading-edge discontinuity or introducing additional discontinuities. The fillets caused global changes in the vortex-dominated surface pressure field that were effectively captured in the PSP measurements. The vortex surface pressure signatures were compared to available off-surface vortex cross-flow structures obtained using a laser vapor screen (LVS) flow visualization technique. The fillet effects on the PSP pressure distributions and the observed leading-edge vortex flow characteristics were consistent with the trends in the measured lift, drag, and pitching moment coefficients.

Pressure-Sensitive Paint Investigation of Double-Delta Wing Vortex Flow Manipulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erickson, Gary E.; Gonzalez, Hugo A.

2005-01-01

A pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) technique was applied in a wind tunnel experiment in the NASA Langley Research Center 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel to quantify the effect of wing fillets on the global vortex-induced surface static pressure field about a sharp leading-edge 76 deg/40 deg double delta wing, or strake-wing, model at subsonic and transonic speeds. Global calibrations of the PSP were obtained at M = 0.50, 0.70, 0.85, 0.95, and 1.20, a Reynolds number per unit length of 2.0 million, and angles of attack from 10 degrees to 30 degrees using an in-situ method featuring the simultaneous acquisition of electronically-scanned pressures (ESP) at discrete locations on the model. The mean error in the PSP measurements relative to the ESP data was approximately 2 percent or less at M = 0.50 to 0.85 but increased to several percent at M = 0.95 and 1.20. The PSP pressure distributions and pseudo-colored planform view pressure maps clearly revealed the vortex-induced pressure signatures at all Mach numbers and angles of attack. Small fillets having a parabolic or diamond planform situated at the strake-wing intersection were designed to manipulate the vortical flows by, respectively, removing the leading-edge discontinuity or introducing additional discontinuities. The fillets caused global changes in the vortex-dominated surface pressure field that were effectively captured in the PSP measurements. The vortex surface pressure signatures were compared to available off-surface vortex cross-flow structures obtained using a laser vapor screen (LVS) flow visualization technique. The fillet effects on the PSP pressure distributions and the observed leading-edge vortex flow characteristics were consistent with the trends in the measured lift, drag, and pitching moment coefficients.

Pressure-Distribution Measurements on O-2H Airplane in Flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pearson, H A

1937-01-01

Results are given of pressure-distribution measurements made over two different horizontal tail surfaces and the right wing cellule, including the slipstream area, of an observation-type biplane. Measurements were also taken of air speed, control-surface positions, control-stick forces, angular velocities, and accelerations during various abrupt maneuvers. These maneuvers consisted of push-downs and pull-ups from level flight, dive pull-outs, and aileron rolls with various thrust conditions. The results from the pressure-distribution measurements over the wing cellule are given on charts showing the variation of individual rib coefficients with wing coefficients; the data from the tail-surface pressure-distribution measurements are given mainly as total loads and moments. These data are supplemented by time histories of the measured quantities and isometric views of the rib pressure distributions occurring in abrupt maneuvers.

Wind tunnel investigation of the interaction and breakdown characteristics of slender wing vortices at subsonic, transonic, and supersonic speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erickson, Gary E.

1991-01-01

The vortex dominated aerodynamic characteristics of a generic 65 degree cropped delta wing model were studied in a wind tunnel at subsonic through supersonic speeds. The lee-side flow fields over the wing-alone configuration and the wing with leading edge extension (LEX) added were observed at M (infinity) equals 0.40 to 1.60 using a laser vapor screen technique. These results were correlated with surface streamline patterns, upper surface static pressure distributions, and six-component forces and moments. The wing-alone exhibited vortex breakdown and asymmetry of the breakdown location at the subsonic and transonic speeds. An earlier onset of vortex breakdown over the wing occurred at transonic speeds due to the interaction of the leading edge vortex with the normal shock wave. The development of a shock wave between the vortex and wing surface caused an early separation of the secondary boundary layer. With the LEX installed, wing vortex breakdown asymmetry did not occur up to the maximum angle of attack in the present test of 24 degrees. The favorable interaction of the LEX vortex with the wing flow field reduced the effects of shock waves on the wing primary and secondary vortical flows. The direct interaction of the wing and LEX vortex cores diminished with increasing Mach number. The maximum attainable vortex-induced pressure signatures were constrained by the vacuum pressure limit at the transonic and supersonic speeds.

Pressure measurements on a rectangular wing with a NACA0012 airfoil during conventional flutter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rivera, Jose A., Jr.; Dansberry, Bryan E.; Durham, Michael H.; Bennett, Robert M.; Silva, Walter A.

1992-01-01

The Structural Dynamics Division at NASA LaRC has started a wind tunnel activity referred to as the Benchmark Models Program. The primary objective of the program is to acquire measured dynamic instability and corresponding pressure data that will be useful for developing and evaluating aeroelastic type CFD codes currently in use or under development. The program is a multi-year activity that will involve testing of several different models to investigate various aeroelastic phenomena. The first model consisted of a rigid semispan wing having a rectangular planform and a NACA 0012 airfoil shape which was mounted on a flexible two degree-of-freedom mount system. Two wind-tunnel tests were conducted with the first model. Several dynamic instability boundaries were investigated such as a conventional flutter boundary, a transonic plunge instability region near Mach = 0.90, and stall flutter. In addition, wing surface unsteady pressure data were acquired along two model chords located at the 60 to 95-percent span stations during these instabilities. At this time, only the pressure data for the conventional flutter boundary is presented. The conventional flutter boundary and the wing surface unsteady pressure measurements obtained at the conventional flutter boundary test conditions in pressure coefficient form are presented. Wing surface steady pressure measurements obtained with the model mount system rigidized are also presented. These steady pressure data were acquired at essentially the same dynamic pressure at which conventional flutter had been encountered with the mount system flexible.

Aerodynamic characteristics of wings designed with a combined-theory method to cruise at a Mach number of 4.5

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mack, Robert J.

1988-01-01

A wind-tunnel study was conducted to determine the capability of a method combining linear theory and shock-expansion theory to design optimum camber surfaces for wings that will fly at high-supersonic/low-hypersonic speeds. Three force models (a flat-plate reference wing and two cambered and twisted wings) were used to obtain aerodynamic lift, drag, and pitching-moment data. A fourth pressure-orifice model was used to obtain surface-pressure data. All four wing models had the same planform, airfoil section, and centerbody area distribution. The design Mach number was 4.5, but data were also obtained at Mach numbers of 3.5 and 4.0. Results of these tests indicated that the use of airfoil thickness as a theoretical optimum, camber-surface design constraint did not improve the aerodynamic efficiency or performance of a wing as compared with a wing that was designed with a zero-thickness airfoil (linear-theory) constraint.

An experimental investigation of the subcritical and supercritical flow about a swept semispan wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lockman, W. K.; Seegmiller, H. L.

1983-01-01

An experimental investigation of the turbulent, subcritical and supercritical flow over a swept, semispan wing in a solid wall wind tunnel is described. The program was conducted over a range of Mach numbers, Reynolds numbers, and angles of attack to provide a variety of test cases for assessment of wing computer codes and tunnel wall interference effects. Wing flows both without and with three dimensional flow separation are included. Data include mean surface pressures for both the wing and tunnel walls; surface oil flow patterns on the wing; and mean velocity, flow field surveys. The results are given in tabular form and presented graphically to illustrate some of the effects of the test parameters. Comparisons of the wing pressure data with the results from two inviscid wing codes are also shown to assess the importance of viscous flow and tunnel wall effects.

Preliminary study of effects of winglets on wing flutter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Doggett, R. V., Jr.; Farmer, M. G.

1976-01-01

Some experimental flutter results are presented over a Mach number range from about 0.70 to 0.95 for a simple, swept, tapered, flat-plate wing model having a planform representative of subsonic transport airplanes and for the same wing model equipped with two different upper surface winglets. Both winglets had the same planform and area (about 2 percent of the basic-wing area); however, one weighed about 0.3 percent of the basic-wing weight, and the other weighed about 1.8 percent of the wing weight. The addition of the lighter winglet reduced the wing-flutter dynamic pressure by about 3 percent; the heavier winglet reduced the wing-flutter dynamic pressure by about 12 percent. The experimental flutter results are compared at a Mach number of 0.80 with analytical flutter results obtained by using doublet-lattice and lifting-surface (kernel-function) unsteady aerodynamic theories.

Pressure distribution on a vectored-thrust V/STOL fighter in the transition-speed range. [wind tunnel tests to measure pressure distribution on body and wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mineck, R. E.; Margason, R. J.

1974-01-01

A wind-tunnel investigation has been conducted in the Langley V/STOL tunnel with a vectored-thrust V/STOL fighter configuration to obtain detailed pressure measurements on the body and on the wing in the transition-speed range. The vectored-thrust jet exhaust induced a region of negative pressure coefficients on the lower surface of the wing and on the bottom of the fuselage. The location of the jet exhaust relative to the wing was a major factor in determining the extent of the region of negative pressure coefficients.

Measurements of pressures on the wing of an aircraft model during steady rotation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Martin, Colin A.; Gage, Peter J.; Hultberg, Randy S.; Bowman, James S., Jr.

1990-01-01

An investigation has been conducted in the Spin Tunnel Facility at the NASA Langley Research Center to measure the pressures on the wing surfaces of a model of a Basic Training Aircraft during steady rotation. The tests were made to determine the nature of the wing pressure distribution during rotations typical of spin entry and steady spin. Comparisons are made between the forces and moments obtained from integrating the pressure field with those measured directly during rotary balance force tests. The results are also compared with estimates determined from a simple numerical model of the wing aerodynamic forces.

Pressure measurements on a thick cambered and twisted 58 deg delta wing at high subsonic speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chu, Julio; Lamar, John E.

1987-01-01

A pressure experiment at high subsonic speeds was conducted by a cambered and twisted thick delta wing at the design condition (Mach number 0.80), as well as at nearby Mach numbers (0.75 and 0.83) and over an angle-of-attack range. Effects of twin vertical tails on the wing pressure measurements were also assessed. Comparisons of detailed theoretical and experimental surface pressures and sectional characteristics for the wing alone are presented. The theoretical codes employed are FLO-57, FLO-28, PAN AIR, and the Vortex Lattice Method-Suction Analogy.

Evaluation of pressure and thermal data from a wind tunnel test of a large-scale, powered, STOL fighter model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Howell, G. A.; Crosthwait, E. L.; Witte, M. C.

1981-01-01

A STOL fighter model employing the vectored-engine-over wing concept was tested at low speeds in the NASA/Ames 40 by 80-foot wind tunnel. The model, approximately 0.75 scale of an operational fighter, was powered by two General Electric J-97 turbojet engines. Limited pressure and thermal instrumentation were provided to measure power effects (chordwise and spanwise blowing) and control-surface-deflection effects. An indepth study of the pressure and temperature data revealed many flow field features - the foremost being wing and canard leading-edge vortices. These vortices delineated regions of attached and separated flow, and their movements were often keys to an understanding of flow field changes caused by power and control-surface variations. Chordwise blowing increased wing lift and caused a modest aft shift in the center of pressure. The induced effects of chordwise blowing extended forward to the canard and significantly increased the canard lift when the surface was stalled. Spanwise blowing effectively enhanced the wing leading-edge vortex, thereby increasing lift and causing a forward shift in the center of pressure.

Wind-Tunnel Investigation of the Horizontal Motion of a Wing Near the Ground

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Serebrisky, Y. M.; Biachuev, S. A.

1946-01-01

By the method of images the horizontal steady motion of a wing at small heights above the ground was investigated in the wind tunnel, A rectangular wing with Clark Y-H profile was tested with and without flaps. The distance from the trailing edge of the wing to the ground was varied within the limits 0.75 less than or = s/c less than or = 0.25. Measurements were made of the lift, the drag, the pitching moment, and the pressure distribution at one section. For a wing without flaps and one with flaps a considereble decrease in the lift force and a,drop in the drag was obtained at angles of attack below stalling. The flow separation near the ground occurs at smaller angles of attack than is the case for a great height above the ground. At horizontal steady flight for practical values of the height above the ground the maximum lift coefficient for the wing without flaps changes little, but markedly decreases for the wing with flaps. Analysis of these phenomena involves the investigation of the pressure distribution. The pressure distribution curves showed that the changes occurring near the ground are not equivalent to a change in the angle of attack. At the lower surface of the section a very strong increase in the pressures is observed. The pressure changes on the upper surface at angles of attack below stalling are insignificant and lead mainly to an increase in the unfavorable pressure gradient, resulting in the earlier occurrence of separation. For a wing with flaps at large angles of attack for distances from the trailing edge of the flap to the ground less than 0.5 chord, the flow between the wing end the ground is retarded so greatly that the pressure coefficient at the lower surface of the section is very near its limiting value (P = 1), and any further possibility of increase in the pressure is very small. In the application an approximate computation procedure is given of the change of certain aerodynamic characteristics for horizontal steady flight near the ground.

Transonic pressure measurements and comparison of theory to experiment for three arrow-wing configurations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Manro, M. E.

1982-01-01

Wind tunnel tests of arrow-wing body configurations consisting of flat, twisted, and cambered twisted wings, as well as a variety of leading and trailing edge control surface deflections, were conducted at Mach numbers from 0.4 to 1.05 to provide an experimental pressure data base for comparison with theoretical methods. Theory to experiment comparisons of detailed pressure distributions were made using state of the art attached flow methods. Conditions under which these theories are valid for these wings are presented.

The prediction of pressure distributions on an arrow-wing configuration including the effect of camber, twist, and a wing fin

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bobbitt, P. J.; Manro, M. E.; Kulfan, R. M.

1980-01-01

Wind tunnel tests of an arrow wing body configuration consisting of flat, twisted, and cambered twisted wings were conducted at Mach numbers from 0.40 to 2.50 to provide an experimental data base for comparison with theoretical methods. A variety of leading and trailing edge control surface deflections were included in these tests, and in addition, the cambered twisted wing was tested with an outboard vertical fin to determine its effect on wing and control surface loads. Theory experiment comparisons show that current state of the art linear and nonlinear attached flow methods were adequate at small angles of attack typical of cruise conditions. The incremental effects of outboard fin, wing twist, and wing camber are most accurately predicted by the advanced panel method PANAIR. Results of the advanced panel separated flow method, obtained with an early version of the program, show promise that accurate detailed pressure predictions may soon be possible for an aeroelasticity deformed wing at high angles of attack.

An experimental study of pressures on 60 deg Delta wings with leading edge vortex flaps

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marchman, J. F., III; Terry, J. E.; Donatelli, D. A.

1983-01-01

An experimental study was conducted in the Virginia Tech Stability Wind Tunnel to determine surface pressures over a 60 deg sweep delta wing with three vortex flap designs. Extensive pressure data was collected to provide a base data set for comparison with computational design codes and to allow a better understanding of the flow over vortex flaps. The results indicated that vortex flaps can be designed which will contain the leading edge vortex with no spillage onto the wing upper surface. However, the tests also showed that flaps designed without accounting for flap thickness will not be optimum and the result can be oversized flaps, early flap vortex reattachment and a second separation and vortex at the wing/flap hinge line.

Nonplanar Method for Predicting Incompressible Aerodynamic Coefficients of Rectangular Wings with Circular-Arc Camber. Ph.D. Thesis - Virginia Polytechnic Institute

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lamar, J. E.

1971-01-01

The development of a nonplanar lifting surface method having a continuous distribution of singularities and satisfying the tangent flow boundary condition on the mean camber surface is given. The method predicts some incompressible longitudinal aerodynamic coefficients of rectangular wings which have circular-arc camber. The solution method is of the integral-equation type and the resulting surface integrals are evaluated by either using numerical or analytical techniques, as are appropriate. Applications are made and the results compared with those from an exact two-dimensional circular-arc camber solution, a three-dimensional flat-wing solution which represents the camber by a projected slope onto the flat surface, and a flat-wing experiment. From these comparisons, the present method is found to predict well the flat-wing experiment and limiting values, in addition to the center of pressure variation at an angle of attack of zero for any camber. For wings having camber ratios larger than about 1.25% and moderate to high aspect ratios, the results deterioriate due to the inadequacy of lifting pressure modes employed.

Fan and wing force data from wind tunnel investigation of a 0.38 meter (15 inch) diameter VTOL model lift fan installed in a two dimensional wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yuska, J. A.; Diedrich, J. H.

1972-01-01

Test data are presented for a 38-cm (15-in.) diameter, 1.28 pressure ratio model VTOL lift fan installed in a two-dimensional wing and tested in a 2.74-by 4.58-meter (9-by 15-ft)V/STOL wind tunnel. Tests were run with and without exit louvers over a wide range of crossflow velocities and wing angle of attack. Tests were also performed with annular-inlet vanes, inlet bell-mouth surface disconuities, and fences to induce fan windmilling. Data are presented on the axial force of the fan assembly and overall wing forces and moments as measured on force balances for various static and crossflow test conditions. Midspan wing surface pressure coefficient data are also given.

Close-Range Photogrammetric Measurement of Static Deflections for an Aeroelastic Supercritical Wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Byrdsong, Thomas A.; Adams, Richard R.; Sandford, Maynard C.

1990-01-01

Close range photogrammetric measurements were made for the lower wing surface of a full span aspect ratio 10.3 aeroelastic supercritical research wing. The measurements were made during wind tunnel tests for quasi-steady pressure distributions on the wing. The tests were conducted in the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel at Mach numbers up to 0.90 and dynamic pressures up to 300 pounds per square foot. Deflection data were obtained for 57 locations on the wing lower surface using dual non-metric cameras. Representative data are presented as graphical overview to show variations and trends of spar deflection with test variables. Comparative data are presented for photogrammetric and cathetometric results of measurements for the wing tip deflections. A tabulation of the basic measurements is presented in a supplement to this report.

Wind Tunnel Application of a Pressure-Sensitive Paint Technique to a Double Delta Wing Model at Subsonic and Transonic Speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erickson, Gary E.; Gonzalez, Hugo A.

2006-01-01

A pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) technique was applied in a wind tunnel experiment in the NASA Langley Research Center 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel to study the effect of wing fillets on the global vortex induced surface static pressure field about a sharp leading-edge 76 deg./40 deg. double delta wing, or strake-wing, model at subsonic and transonic speeds. Global calibrations of the PSP were obtained at M(sub infinity) = 0.50, 0.70, 0.85, 0.95, and 1.20, a Reynolds number per unit length of 2.0 million, and angles of attack from 10 degrees to 20 degrees using an insitu method featuring the simultaneous acquisition of electronically scanned pressures (ESP) at discrete locations on the model. The mean error in the PSP measurements relative to the ESP data was approximately 2 percent or less at M(sub infinity) = 0.50 to 0.85 but increased to several percent at M(sub infinity) =0.95 and 1.20. The PSP pressure distributions and pseudo-colored, planform-view pressure maps clearly revealed the vortex-induced pressure signatures at all Mach numbers and angles of attack. Small fillets having parabolic or diamond planforms situated at the strake-wing intersection were respectively designed to manipulate the vortical flows by removing the leading-edge discontinuity or introducing additional discontinuities. The fillets caused global changes in the vortex-dominated surface pressure field that were effectively captured in the PSP measurements. The vortex surface pressure signatures were compared to available off-surface vortex cross-flow structures obtained using a laser vapor screen (LVS) flow visualization technique. The fillet effects on the PSP pressure distributions and the observed leading-edge vortex flow characteristics were consistent with the trends in the measured lift, drag, and pitching moment coefficients.

In-Flight Wing Pressure Distributions for the NASA F/A-18A High Alpha Research Vehicle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, Mark C.; Saltzman, John A.

2000-01-01

Pressure distributions on the wings of the F/A-18A High Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV) were obtained using both flush-mounted pressure orifices and surface-mounted pressure tubing. During quasi-stabilized 1-g flight, data were gathered at ranges for angle of attack from 5 deg to 70 deg, for angle of sideslip from -12 deg to +12 deg, and for Mach from 0.23 to 0.64, at various engine settings, and with and without the leading edge extension fence installed. Angle of attack strongly influenced the wing pressure distribution, as demonstrated by a distinct flow separation pattern that occurred between the range from 15 deg to 30 deg. Influence by the leading edge extension fence was evident on the inboard wing pressure distribution, but little influence was seen on the outboard portion of the wing. Angle-of-sideslip influence on wing pressure distribution was strongest at low angle of attack. Influence of Mach number was observed in the regions of local supersonic flow, diminishing as angle of attack was increased. Engine throttle setting had little influence on the wing pressure distribution.

Wind-tunnel investigation of aerodynamic loading on a 0.237-scale model of a remotely piloted research vehicle with a thick, high-aspect-ratio supercritical wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Byrdsong, T. A.; Brooks, C. W., Jr.

1983-01-01

Wind-tunnel measurements were made of the wing-surface static-pressure distributions on a 0.237 scale model of a remotely piloted research vehicle equipped with a thick, high-aspect-ratio supercritical wing. Data are presented for two model configurations (with and without a ventral pod) at Mach numbers from 0.70 to 0.92 at angles of attack from -4 deg to 8 deg. Large variations of wing-surface local pressure distributions were developed; however, the characteristic supercritical-wing pressure distribution occurred near the design condition of 0.80 Mach number and 2 deg angle of attack. The significant variations of the local pressure distributions indicated pronounced shock-wave movements that were highly sensitive to angle of attack and Mach number. The effect of the vertical pod varied with test conditions; however at the higher Mach numbers, the effects on wing flow characteristics were significant at semispan stations as far outboard as 0.815. There were large variations of the wing loading in the range of test conditions, both model configurations exhibited a well-defined peak value of normal-force coefficient at the cruise angle of attack (2 deg) and Mach number (0.80).

F-16XL ship #1 - CAWAP boundary layer hot film, left wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

This photo shows the boundary layer hot film on the left wing of NASA's single-seat F-16XL (ship #1) used for the Cranked-Arrow Wing Aerodynamic Project (CAWAP) at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. Hot film is used to measure temperature changes on a surface. The modified airplane features a delta 'cranked-arrow' wing with strips of tubing along the leading edge to the trailing edge to sense static on the wing and obtain pressure distribution data. The right wing receives data on pressure distribution and the left wing has three types of instrumentation - preston tubes to measure local skin friction, boundary layer rakes to measure boundary layer profiles (the layer where the air interacts with the surfaces of a moving aircraft), and hot films to determine boundary layer transition locations. The program also gathered aero data on two wing planforms for NASA's High Speed Research Program. The first flight of CAWAP occurred on November 21, 1995, and the test program ended in April 1996.

Flow-field surveys on the windward side of the NASA 040A space shuttle orbiter at 31 deg angle of attack and Mach 20 in helium

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ashby, G. C., Jr.; Helms, V. T., III

1977-01-01

Pitot pressure and flow angle distributions in the windward flow field of the NASA 040A space shuttle orbiter configuration and surface pressures were measured, at a Mach number of 20 and an angle of attack of 31 deg. The free stream Reynolds number, based on model length, was 5.39 x 10 to the 6th power. Results show that cores of high pitot pressure, which are related to the body-shock-wing-shock intersections, occur on the windward plane of symmetry in the vicinity of the wing-body junction and near midspan on the wing. Theoretical estimates of the flow field pitot pressures show that conical flow values for the windward plane of symmetry surface are representative of the average level over the entire lower surface.

Pressure distribution for the wing of the YAV-8B airplane; with and without pylons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Saltzman, Edwin J.; Delfrate, John H.; Sabsay, Catherine M.; Yarger, Jill M.

1992-01-01

Pressure distribution data have been obtained in flight at four span stations on the wing panel of the YAV-8B airplane. Data obtained for the supercritical profiled wing, with and without pylons installed, ranged from Mach 0.46 to 0.88. The altitude ranged from approximately 20,000 to 40,000 ft and the resultant Reynolds numbers varied from approximately 7.2 million to 28.7 million based on the mean aerodynamic chord. Pressure distribution data and flow visualization results show that the full-scale flight wing performance is compromised because the lower surface cusp region experiences flow separation for some important transonic flight conditions. This condition is aggravated when local shocks occur on the lower surface of the wing (mostly between 20 and 35 percent chord) when the pylons are installed for Mach 0.8 and above. There is evidence that convex fairings, which cover the pylon attachment flanges, cause these local shocks. Pressure coefficients significantly more negative than those for sonic flow also occur farther aft on the lower surface (near 60 percent chord) whether or not the pylons are installed for Mach numbers greater than or equal to 0.8. These negative pressure coefficient peaks and associated local shocks would be expected to cause increasing wave and separation drag at transonic Mach number increases.

A Three-Dimensional Solution of Flows over Wings with Leading-Edge Vortex Separation. Part 1: Engineering Document

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brune, G. W.; Weber, J. A.; Johnson, F. T.; Lu, P.; Rubbert, P. E.

1975-01-01

A method of predicting forces, moments, and detailed surface pressures on thin, sharp-edged wings with leading-edge vortex separation in incompressible flow is presented. The method employs an inviscid flow model in which the wing and the rolled-up vortex sheets are represented by piecewise, continuous quadratic doublet sheet distributions. The Kutta condition is imposed on all wing edges. Computed results are compared with experimental data and with the predictions of the leading-edge suction analogy for a selected number of wing planforms over a wide range of angle of attack. These comparisons show the method to be very promising, capable of producing not only force predictions, but also accurate predictions of detailed surface pressure distributions, loads, and moments.

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.

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

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wenzinger, Carl J; Bowen, John D

1941-01-01

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

Pressure-distribution measurements on a transonic low-aspect ratio wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Keener, E. R.

1985-01-01

Experimental surface pressure distributions and oil flow photographs are presented for a 0.90 m semispan model of NASA/Lockheed Wing C, a generic transonic, supercritical, low aspect ratio, highly 3-dimensional configuration. This wing was tested at the design angle of attack of 5 deg over a Mach number range from 0.25 to 0.96, and a Reynolds number range from 3.4 x 1,000,000 to 10 x 1,000,000. Pressures were measured with both the tunnel floor and ceiling suction slots open for most of the tests but taped closed for some tests to simulate solid walls. A comparison is made with the measured pressures from a small model in high Reynolds number facility and with predicted pressures using two three dimesional, transonic full potential flow wing codes: design code FLO22 (nonconservative) and TWING code (conservative). At the given design condition, a small region of flow separation occurred. At a Mach number of 0.82 the flow was unseparated and the surface flow angles were less than 10 deg, indicating that the boundary layer flow was not 3-D. Evidence indicate that wings that are optimized for mild shock waves and mild pressure recovery gradients generally have small 3-D boundary layer flow at design conditions for unseparated flow.

F-16XL Hybrid Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes/Large Eddy Simulation on Unstructured Grids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Park, Michael A.; Abdol-Hamid, Khaled S.; Elmiligui, Alaa

2015-01-01

This study continues the Cranked Arrow Wing Aerodynamics Program, International (CAWAPI) investigation with the FUN3D and USM3D flow solvers. CAWAPI was established to study the F-16XL, because it provides a unique opportunity to fuse fight test, wind tunnel test, and simulation to understand the aerodynamic features of swept wings. The high-lift performance of the cranked-arrow wing planform is critical for recent and past supersonic transport design concepts. Simulations of the low speed high angle of attack Flight Condition 25 are compared: Detached Eddy Simulation (DES), Modi ed Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (MDDES), and the Spalart-Allmaras (SA) RANS model. Iso- surfaces of Q criterion show the development of coherent primary and secondary vortices on the upper surface of the wing that spiral, burst, and commingle. SA produces higher pressure peaks nearer to the leading-edge of the wing than flight test measurements. Mean DES and MDDES pressures better predict the flight test measurements, especially on the outer wing section. Vorticies and vortex-vortex interaction impact unsteady surface pressures. USM3D showed many sharp tones in volume points spectra near the wing apex with low broadband noise and FUN3D showed more broadband noise with weaker tones. Spectra of the volume points near the outer wing leading-edge was primarily broadband for both codes. Without unsteady flight measurements, the flight pressure environment can not be used to validate the simulations containing tonal or broadband spectra. Mean forces and moment are very similar between FUN3D models and between USM3D models. Spectra of the unsteady forces and moment are broadband with a few sharp peaks for USM3D.

CFD validation experiments at McDonnell Aircraft Company

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Verhoff, August

1987-01-01

Information is given in viewgraph form on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) validation experiments at McDonnell Aircraft Company. Topics covered include a high speed research model, a supersonic persistence fighter model, a generic fighter wing model, surface grids, force and moment predictions, surface pressure predictions, forebody models with 65 degree clipped delta wings, and the low aspect ratio wing/body experiment.

Steady and unsteady transonic pressure measurements on a clipped delta wing for pitching and control-surface oscillations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hess, Robert W.; Cazier, F. W., Jr.; Wynne, Eleanor C.

1986-01-01

Steady and unsteady pressures were measured on a clipped delta wing with a 6-percent circular-arc airfoil section and a leading-edge sweep angle of 50.40 deg. The model was oscillated in pitch and had an oscillating trailing-edge control surface. Measurements were concentrated over a Mach number range from 0.88 to 0.94; less extensive measurements were made at Mach numbers of 0.40, 0.96, and 1.12. The Reynolds number based on mean chord was approximately 10 x 10 to the 6th power. The interaction of wing or control-surface deflection with the formation of shock waves and with a leading-edge vortex generated complex pressure distributions that were sensitive to frequency and to small changes in Mach number at transonic speeds.

Surface pressure data for a supersonic-cruise airplane configuration at Mach numbers of 2.30, 2.96, 3.30

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shrout, B. L.; Corlett, W. A.; Collins, I. K.

1979-01-01

The tabulated results of surface pressure tests conducted on the wing and fuselage of an airplane model in the Langley Unitary Plan wind tunnel are presented without analysis. The model tested was that of a supersonic-cruise airplane with a highly swept arrow-wing planform, two engine nacelles mounted beneath the wing, and outboard vertical tails. Data were obtained at Mach numbers of 2.30, 2.96, and 3.30 for angles of attack from -4 deg to 12 deg. The Reynolds number for these tests was 6,560,000 per meter.

Comparison of analytical and experimental steadyand unsteady-pressure distributions at Mach number 0.78 for a high-aspect-ratio supercritical wing model with oscillating control surfaces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mccain, W. E.

1984-01-01

The unsteady aerodynamic lifting surface theory, the Doublet Lattice method, with experimental steady and unsteady pressure measurements of a high aspect ratio supercritical wing model at a Mach number of 0.78 were compared. The steady pressure data comparisons were made for incremental changes in angle of attack and control surface deflection. The unsteady pressure data comparisons were made at set angle of attack positions with oscillating control surface deflections. Significant viscous and transonic effects in the experimental aerodynamics which cannot be predicted by the Doublet Lattice method are shown. This study should assist development of empirical correction methods that may be applied to improve Doublet Lattice calculations of lifting surface aerodynamics.

Subsonic panel method for designing wing surfaces from pressure distribution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bristow, D. R.; Hawk, J. D.

1983-01-01

An iterative method has been developed for designing wing section contours corresponding to a prescribed subcritical distribution of pressure. The calculations are initialized by using a surface panel method to analyze a baseline wing or wing-fuselage configuration. A first-order expansion to the baseline panel method equations is then used to calculate a matrix containing the partial derivative of potential at each control point with respect to each unknown geometry parameter. In every iteration cycle, the matrix is used both to calculate the geometry perturbation and to analyze the perturbed geometry. The distribution of potential on the perturbed geometry is established by simple linear extrapolation from the baseline solution. The extrapolated potential is converted to pressure by Bernoulli's equation. Not only is the accuracy of the approach good for very large perturbations, but the computing cost of each complete iteration cycle is substantially less than one analysis solution by a conventional panel method.

Aerodynamic load distributions at transonic speeds for a close-coupled wing-canard configuration: Tabulated pressure data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Washburn, K. E.; Gloss, B. B.

1978-01-01

Wind tunnel studies are reported on both the canard and wing surfaces of a model that is geometrically identical to one used in several force and moment tests to provide insight into the various aerodynamic interference effects. In addition to detailed pressures measurements, the pressures were integrated to illustrate the effects of Mach number, canard location, and canard-wing interference on various aerodynamic parameters. Transonic pressure tunnel Mach numbers ranged from 0.70 to 1.20 for data taken from 0 deg to approximately 16 deg angle-of-attack at 0 deg sideslip.

Transonic buffet behavior of Northrop F-5A aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hwang, C.; Pi, W. S.

1974-01-01

Flight tests were performed on an F-5A aircraft to investigate the dynamic buffet pressure distribution on the wing surfaces and the responses during a series of transonic maneuvers called wind-up turns. The conditions under which the tests were conducted are defined. The fluctuating buffet pressure data on the right wing of the aircraft were acquired by miniaturized semiconductor-type pressure transducers flush mounted on the wing. Processing of the fluctuating pressures and responses included the generation of the auto- and cross-power spectra, and of the spatial correlation functions. An analytical correlation procedure was introduced to compute the aircraft response spectra based on the measured buffet pressures.

2-D and 3-D oscillating wing aerodynamics for a range of angles of attack including stall

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Piziali, R. A.

1994-01-01

A comprehensive experimental investigation of the pressure distribution over a semispan wing undergoing pitching motions representative of a helicopter rotor blade was conducted. Testing the wing in the nonrotating condition isolates the three-dimensional (3-D) blade aerodynamic and dynamic stall characteristics from the complications of the rotor blade environment. The test has generated a very complete, detailed, and accurate body of data. These data include static and dynamic pressure distributions, surface flow visualizations, two-dimensional (2-D) airfoil data from the same model and installation, and important supporting blockage and wall pressure distributions. This body of data is sufficiently comprehensive and accurate that it can be used for the validation of rotor blade aerodynamic models over a broad range of the important parameters including 3-D dynamic stall. This data report presents all the cycle-averaged lift, drag, and pitching moment coefficient data versus angle of attack obtained from the instantaneous pressure data for the 3-D wing and the 2-D airfoil. Also presented are examples of the following: cycle-to-cycle variations occurring for incipient or lightly stalled conditions; 3-D surface flow visualizations; supporting blockage and wall pressure distributions; and underlying detailed pressure results.

Some observations on the mechanism of aircraft wing rock

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hwang, C.; Pi, W. S.

1978-01-01

A pressure scale model of Northrop F-5A was tested in NASA Ames Research Center Eleven-Foot Transonic Tunnel to simulate the wing rock oscillations in a transonic maneuver. For this purpose, a flexible model support device was designed and fabricated which allowed the model to oscillate in roll at the scaled wing rock frequency. Two tunnel entries were performed to acquire the pressure (steady state and fluctuating) and response data when the model was held fixed and when it was excited by flow to oscillate in roll. Based on these data, a limit cycle mechanism was identified which supplied energy to the aircraft model and caused the Dutch roll type oscillations, commonly called wing rock. The major origin of the fluctuating pressures which contributed to the limit cycle was traced to the wing surface leading edge stall and the subsequent lift recovery. For typical wing rock oscillations, the energy balance between the pressure work input and the energy consumed by the model aerodynamic and mechanical damping was formulated and numerical data presented.

Properties of oscillating refractive optical wings with one reflective surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Artusio-Glimpse, Alexandra B.; Swartzlander, Grover A.

2013-09-01

A new modality for optical micromanipulation is under investigation. Optical wings are shaped refractive objects that experience a force and torque owing to the reflection and transmission of uniform light at the object surface. We present wing designs that provide a restoring torque that returns the wing to a source facing orientation while preserving efficient thrust from radiation pressure. The torsional stiffness and orbital period of a set of optical wing cross-sectional shapes are determined from numerical ray-tracing analyses. These results demonstrate the potential to develop an efficient optomechanical device for applications in microbiology and space flight systems.

Tabulated pressure measurements on a large subsonic transport model airplane with high bypass ratio, powered, fan jet engines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Flechner, S. G.; Patterson, J. C., Jr.

1972-01-01

An experimental wind-tunnel investigation to determine the aerodynamic interference and the jet-wake interference associated with the wing, pylon, and high-bypass-ratio, powered, fan-jet model engines has been conducted on a typical high-wing logistics transport airplane configuration. Pressures were measured on the wing and pylons and on the surfaces of the engine fan cowl, turbine cowl, and plug. Combinations of wing, pylons, engines, and flow-through nacelles were tested, and the pressure coefficients are presented in tabular form. Tests were conducted at Mach numbers from 0.700 to 0.825 and angles of attack from -2 to 4 deg.

NACA 0015 wing pressure and trailing vortex measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcalister, K. W.; Takahashi, R. K.

1991-01-01

A NACA 0015 semispan wing was placed in a low-speed wind tunnel, and measurements were made of the pressure on the upper and lower surface of the wing and of velocity across the vortex trailing downstream from the tip of the wing. Pressure data were obtained for both 2-D and 3-D configurations. These data feature a detailed comparison between wing tips with square and round lateral edges. A two-component laser velocimeter was used to measure velocity profiles across the vortex at numerous stations behind the wing and for various combinations of conditions. These conditions include three aspect ratios, three chord lengths, a square- and a round lateral-tip, presence or absence of a boundary-layer trip, and three image plane positions located opposite the wing tip. Both pressure and velocity measurements were made for the angles of attack 4 deg less than or equal to alpha less than or equal to 12 deg and for Reynolds numbers 1 x 10(exp 6) less than or equal to Re less than or equal to 3 x 10(exp 6).

Design philosophy of long range LFC transports with advanced supercritical LFC airfoils. [laminar flow control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pfenninger, Werner; Vemuru, Chandra S.

1988-01-01

The achievement of 70 percent laminar flow using modest boundary layer suction on the wings, empennage, nacelles, and struts of long-range LFC transports, combined with larger wing spans and lower span loadings, could make possible an unrefuelled range halfway around the world up to near sonic cruise speeds with large payloads. It is shown that supercritical LFC airfoils with undercut front and rear lower surfaces, an upper surface static pressure coefficient distribution with an extensive low supersonic flat rooftop, a far upstream supersonic pressure minimum, and a steep subsonic rear pressure rise with suction or a slotted cruise flap could alleviate sweep-induced crossflow and attachment-line boundary-layer instability. Wing-mounted superfans can reduce fuel consumption and engine tone noise.

Prey from the eyes of predators: Color discriminability of aposematic and mimetic butterflies from an avian visual perspective.

PubMed

Su, Shiyu; Lim, Matthew; Kunte, Krushnamegh

2015-11-01

Predation exerts strong selection on mimetic butterfly wing color patterns, which also serve other functions such as sexual selection. Therefore, specific selection pressures may affect the sexes and signal components differentially. We tested three predictions about the evolution of mimetic resemblance by comparing wing coloration of aposematic butterflies and their Batesian mimics: (a) females gain greater mimetic advantage than males and therefore are better mimics, (b) due to intersexual genetic correlations, sexually monomorphic mimics are better mimics than female-limited mimics, and (c) mimetic resemblance is better on the dorsal wing surface that is visible to predators in flight. Using a physiological model of avian color vision, we quantified mimetic resemblance from predators' perspective, which showed that female butterflies were better mimics than males. Mimetic resemblance in female-limited mimics was comparable to that in sexually monomorphic mimics, suggesting that intersexual genetic correlations did not constrain adaptive response to selection for female-limited mimicry. Mimetic resemblance on the ventral wing surface was better than that on the dorsal wing surface, implying stronger natural and sexual selection on ventral and dorsal surfaces, respectively. These results suggest that mimetic resemblance in butterfly mimicry rings has evolved under various selective pressures acting in a sex- and wing surface-specific manner. © 2015 The Author(s). Evolution © 2015 The Society for the Study of Evolution.

Airfoil modification effects on subsonic and transonic pressure distributions and performance for the EA-6B airplane

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allison, Dennis O.; Sewall, William G.

1995-01-01

Longitudinal characteristics and wing-section pressure distributions are compared for the EA-6B airplane with and without airfoil modifications. The airfoil modifications were designed to increase low-speed maximum lift for maneuvering, while having a minimal effect on transonic performance. Section contour changes were confined to the leading-edge slat and trailing-edge flap regions of the wing. Experimental data are analyzed from tests in the Langley 16-Foot Transonic Tunnel on the baseline and two modified wing-fuselage configurations with the slats and flaps in their retracted positions. Wing modification effects on subsonic and transonic performance are seen in wing-section pressure distributions of the various configurations at similar lift coefficients. The modified-wing configurations produced maximum lift coefficients which exceeded those of the baseline configuration at low-speed Mach numbers (0.300 and 0.400). This benefit was related to the behavior of the wing upper surface leading-edge suction peak and the behavior of the trailing-edge pressure. At transonic Mach numbers (0.725 to 0.900), the wing modifications produced a somewhat stronger nose-down pitching moment, a slightly higher drag at low-lift levels, and a lower drag at higher lift levels.

A linearized theory method of constrained optimization for supersonic cruise wing design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, D. S.; Carlson, H. W.; Middleton, W. D.

1976-01-01

A linearized theory wing design and optimization procedure which allows physical realism and practical considerations to be imposed as constraints on the optimum (least drag due to lift) solution is discussed and examples of application are presented. In addition to the usual constraints on lift and pitching moment, constraints are imposed on wing surface ordinates and wing upper surface pressure levels and gradients. The design procedure also provides the capability of including directly in the optimization process the effects of other aircraft components such as a fuselage, canards, and nacelles.

Investigation of transonic region of high dynamic response encountered on an elastic supercritical wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seidel, David A.; Eckstrom, Clinton V.; Sandford, Maynard C.

1987-01-01

Unsteady aerodynamic data were measured on an aspect ratio 10.3 elastic supercritical wing while undergoing high dynamic response above Mach number of 0.90. These tests were conducted in the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. A previous test of this wing predicted an unusual instability boundary based upon subcritical response data. During the present test no instability was found, but an angle of attack dependent narrow Mach number region of high dynamic wing response was observed over a wide range of dynamic pressures. The effect on dynamic wing response of wing angle of attack, static outboard control surface deflection and a lower surface spanwise fence located near the 60 percent local chordline was investigated. The driving mechanism of the dynamic wing response appears to be related to chordwise shock movement in conjunction with flow separation and reattachment on both the upper and lower surfaces.

Investigation of transonic region of high dynamic response encountered on an elastic supercritical wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seidel, David A.; Eckstrom, Clinton V.; Sandford, Maynard C.

1987-01-01

Unsteady aerodynamic data were measured on an aspect ratio 10.3 elastic supercritical wing while undergoing high dynamic response above a Mach number of 0.90. These tests were conducted in the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. A previous test of this wing predicted an unusual instability boundary based on subcritical response data. During the present test no instability was found, but an angle of attack dependent narrow Mach number region of high dynamic wing response was observed over a wide range of dynamic pressures. The effect on dynamic wing response of wing angle of attack, static outbound control surface deflection and a lower surface spanwise fence located near the 60 percent local chordline was investigated. The driving mechanism of the dynamic wing response appears to be related to chordwise shock movement in conjunction with flow separation and reattachment on both the upper and lower surfaces.

Transonic pressure measurements and comparison of theory to experiment for an arrow-wing configuration. Volume 1: Experimental data report, base configuration and effects of wing twist and leading-edge configuration. [wind tunnel tests, aircraft models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Manro, M. E.; Manning, K. J. R.; Hallstaff, T. H.; Rogers, J. T.

1975-01-01

A wind tunnel test of an arrow-wing-body configuration consisting of flat and twisted wings, as well as a variety of leading- and trailing-edge control surface deflections, was conducted at Mach numbers from 0.4 to 1.1 to provide an experimental pressure data base for comparison with theoretical methods. Theory-to-experiment comparisons of detailed pressure distributions were made using current state-of-the-art attached and separated flow methods. The purpose of these comparisons was to delineate conditions under which these theories are valid for both flat and twisted wings and to explore the use of empirical methods to correct the theoretical methods where theory is deficient.

Investigation of steady and fluctuating pressures associated with the transonic buffeting and wing rock of a one-seventh scale model of the F-5A aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hwang, C.; Pi, W. S.

1978-01-01

A wind tunnel test of a 1/7 scale F-5A model is described. The pressure, force, and dynamic response measurements during buffet and wing rock are evaluated. Effects of Mach number, angle of attack, sideslip angle, and control surface settings were investigated. The mean and fluctuating static pressure data are presented and correlated with some corresponding flight test data of a F-5A aircraft. Details of the instrumentation and the specially designed support system which allowed the model to oscillate in roll to simulate wing rock are also described. A limit cycle mechanism causing wing rock was identified from this study, and this mechanism is presented.

Effect of planform and body on supersonic aerodynamics of multibody configurations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcmillin, S. Naomi; Bauer, Steven X. S.; Howell, Dorothy T.

1992-01-01

An experimental and theoretical investigation of the effect of the wing planform and bodies on the supersonic aerodynamics of a low-fineness-ratio, multibody configuration has been conducted in the Langley Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel at Mach numbers of 1.60, 1.80, 2.00, and 2.16. Force and moment data, flow-visualization data, and surface-pressure data were obtained on eight low-fineness-ratio, twin-body configurations. These configurations varied in inboard wing planform shape, outboard wing planform shape, outboard wing planform size, and presence of the bodies. The force and moment data showed that increasing the ratio of outboard wing area to total wing area or increasing the leading-edge sweep of the inboard wing influenced the aerodynamic characteristics. The flow-visualization data showed a complex flow-field system of shocks, shock-induced separation, and body vortex systems occurring between the side bodies. This flow field was substantially affected by the inboard wing planform shape but minimally affected by the outboard wing planform shape. The flow-visualization and surface-pressure data showed that flow over the outboard wing developed as expected with changes in angle of attack and Mach number and was affected by the leading-edge sweep of the inboard wing and the presence of the bodies. Evaluation of the linear-theory prediction methods revealed their general inability to consistently predict the characteristics of these multibody configurations.

Aerodynamic Analysis of a Hale Aircraft Joined-Wing Configuration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sivaji, Rangarajan; Ghia, Urmila; Ghia, Karman; Thornburg, Hugh

2003-11-01

Aerodynamic analysis of a high-aspect ratio, joined wing of a High-Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) aircraft is performed. The requirement of high lift over extended flight periods for the HALE aircraft leads to high-aspect ratio wings experiencing significant deflections necessitating consideration of aeroelastic effects. The finite-volume solver COBALT, with Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and Detached Eddy Simulation (DES) capabilities, is used for the flow simulations. Calculations are performed at á = 0° and 12° for M = 0.6, at an altitude of 30,000 feet, at a Re per unit length of 5.6x106. The wing cross sections are NACA 4421 airfoils. Because of the high lift-to-drag ratio wings, an inviscid flow analysis is also performed. The inviscid surface pressure coefficient (Cp) is compared with the corresponding viscous Cp to examine the feasibility of the use of the inviscid pressure loads as an estimate of the total fluid loads on the structure. The viscous and inviscid Cp results compare reasonably only at á = 0°. The viscous flow is examined in detail via surface and field velocity vectors, vorticity, density and pressure contours. For á = 12°, the unsteady DES solutions show a weak shock at the aft-wing trailing edge. Also, the flow near the joint exhibits a region of mild separation.

NASA Trapezoidal Wing Computations Including Transition and Advanced Turbulence Modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rumsey, C. L.; Lee-Rausch, E. M.

2012-01-01

Flow about the NASA Trapezoidal Wing is computed with several turbulence models by using grids from the first High Lift Prediction Workshop in an effort to advance understanding of computational fluid dynamics modeling for this type of flowfield. Transition is accounted for in many of the computations. In particular, a recently-developed 4-equation transition model is utilized and works well overall. Accounting for transition tends to increase lift and decrease moment, which improves the agreement with experiment. Upper surface flap separation is reduced, and agreement with experimental surface pressures and velocity profiles is improved. The predicted shape of wakes from upstream elements is strongly influenced by grid resolution in regions above the main and flap elements. Turbulence model enhancements to account for rotation and curvature have the general effect of increasing lift and improving the resolution of the wing tip vortex as it convects downstream. However, none of the models improve the prediction of surface pressures near the wing tip, where more grid resolution is needed.

Body-surface pressure data on two monoplane-wing missile configurations with elliptical cross sections at Mach 2.50

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allen, J. M.; Hernandez, G.; Lamb, M.

1983-01-01

Tabulated body surface pressure data for two monoplane-wing missile configurations are presented and analyzed. Body pressure data are presented for body-alone, body-tail, and body-wing-tail combinations. For the lost combination, data are presented for tail-fin deflection angles of 0 deg and 30 deg to simulate pitch, yaw, and roll control for both configurations. The data cover angles of attack from -5 deg to 25 deg and angles of roll from 0 deg to 90 deg at a Mach number of 2.50 and a Reynolds number of 6.56 x 1,000,000 per meter. Very consistent, systematic trends with angle of attack and angle of roll were observed in the data, and very good symmetry was found at a roll angle of 0 deg. Body pressures depended strongly on the local body cross-section shape, with very little dependence on the upstream shape. Undeflected fins had only a small influence on the pressures on the aft end of the body; however, tail-fin deflections caused large changes in the pressures.

Theoretical prediction of thick wing and pylon-fuselage-fanpod-nacelle aerodynamic characteristics at subcritical speeds. Part 1: Theory and results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tulinius, J. R.

1974-01-01

The theoretical development and the comparison of results with data of a thick wing and pylon-fuselage-fanpod-nacelle analysis are presented. The analysis utilizes potential flow theory to compute the surface velocities and pressures, section lift and center of pressure, and the total configuration lift, moment, and vortex drag. The skin friction drag is also estimated in the analysis. The perturbation velocities induced by the wing and pylon, fuselage and fanpod, and nacelle are represented by source and vortex lattices, quadrilateral vortices, and source frustums, respectively. The strengths of these singularities are solved for simultaneously including all interference effects. The wing and pylon planforms, twists, cambers, and thickness distributions, and the fuselage and fanpod geometries can be arbitrary in shape, provided the surface gradients are smooth. The flow through nacelle is assumed to be axisymmetric. An axisymmetric center engine hub can also be included. The pylon and nacelle can be attached to the wing, fuselage, or fanpod.

Investigation of Phenomena of Discrete Wingtip Jets

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-08-01

larger than that in no-blowing case, this implied that the aerodynamic loading of the wing model increased in latter case. 3.3. SURFACE PRESSURE...results show that the improvement in the pressure distribution was different from that of the winglet . The winglet utilizes the principle of pressure...Ayers, R. F. and Wilde, M. R., " An experimental investigation of the aerodynamic characteristics of a low aspect ratio swept wing with blowing in a

Comparison of the NASA Common Research Model European Transonic Wind Tunnel Test Data to NASA Test Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rivers, Melissa B.; Quest, Jurgen; Rudnik, Ralf

2015-01-01

Experimental aerodynamic investigations of the NASA Common Research Model have been conducted in the NASA Langley National Transonic Facility, the NASA Ames 11-ft wind tunnel, and the European Transonic Wind Tunnel. In the NASA Ames 11-ft wind tunnel, data have been obtained at only a chord Reynolds number of 5 million for a wing/body/tail = 0 degree incidence configuration. Data have been obtained at chord Reynolds numbers of 5, 19.8 and 30 million for the same configuration in the National Transonic Facility and in the European Transonic Facility. Force and moment, surface pressure, wing bending and twist, and surface flow visualization data were obtained in all three facilities but only the force and moment, surface pressure and wing bending and twist data are presented herein.

Some observations on the mechanism of aircraft wing rock

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hwang, C.; Pi, W. S.

1979-01-01

A scale model of the Northrop F-5A was tested in NASA Ames Research Center Eleven-Foot Transonic Tunnel to simulate the wing rock oscillations in a transonic maneuver. For this purpose, a flexible model support device was designed and fabricated, which allowed the model to oscillate in roll at the scaled wing rock frequency. Two tunnel entries were performed to acquire the pressure (steady state and fluctuating) and response data when the model was held fixed and when it was excited by flow to oscillate in roll. Based on these data, a limit cycle mechanism was identified, which supplied energy to the aircraft model and caused the Dutch roll type oscillations, commonly called wing rock. The major origin of the fluctuating pressures that contributed to the limit cycle was traced to the wing surface leading edge stall and the subsequent lift recovery. For typical wing rock oscillations, the energy balance between the pressure work input and the energy consumed by the model's aerodynamic and mechanical damping was formulated and numerical data presented.

Natural laminar flow flight experiments on a swept wing business jet-boundary layer stability analyses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rozendaal, R. A.

1986-01-01

The linear boundary layer stability analyses and their correlation with data of 18 cases from a natural laminar flow (NLF) flight test program using a Cessna Citation 3 business jet are described. The transition point varied from 5% to 35% chord for these conditions, and both upper and lower wing surfaces were included. Altitude varied from 10,000 to 43,000 ft and Mach number from 0.3 to 0.8. Four cases were at nonzero sideslip. Although there was much scatter in the results, the analyses of boundary layer stability at the 18 conditions led to the conclusion that crossflow instability was the primary cause of transition. However, the sideslip cases did show some interaction of crossflow and Tollmien-Schlichting disturbances. The lower surface showed much lower Tollmien-Schlichting amplification at transition than the upper surface, but similar crossflow amplifications. No relationship between Mach number and disturbance amplification at transition could be found. The quality of these results is open to question from questionable wing surface quality, inadequate density of transition sensors on the wing upper surface, and an unresolved pressure shift in the wing pressure data. The results of this study show the need for careful preparation for transition experiments. Preparation should include flow analyses of the test surface, boundary layer disturbance amplification analyses, and assurance of adequate surface quality in the test area. The placement of necessary instruments and usefulness of the resulting data could largely be determined during the pretest phase.

Effects of Sweep Angle on the Boundary-Layer Stability Characteristics of an Untapered Wing at Low Speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boltz, Frederick W.; Kenyon, George C.; Allen, Clyde Q.

1960-01-01

An investigation was conducted in the Ames 12-Foot Low-Turbulence Pressure Tunnel to determine the effects of sweep on the boundary-layer stability characteristics of an untapered variable-sweep wing having an NACA 64(2)A015 section normal to the leading edge. Pressure distribution and transition were measured on the wing at low speeds at sweep angles of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 deg. and at angles of attack from -3 to 3 deg. The investigation also included flow-visualization studies on the surface at sweep angles from 0 to 50 deg. and total pressure surveys in the boundary layer at a sweep angle of 30 deg. for angles of attack from -12 to 0 deg. It was found that sweep caused premature transition on the wing under certain conditions. This effect resulted from the formation of vortices in the boundary layer when a critical combination of sweep angle, pressure gradient, and stream Reynolds number was attained. A useful parameter in indicating the combined effect of these flow variables on vortex formation and on beginning transition is the crossflow Reynolds number. The critical values of crossflow Reynolds number for vortex formation found in this investigation range from about 135 to 190 and are in good agreement with those reported in previous investigations. The values of crossflow Reynolds number for beginning transitions were found to be between 190 and 260. For each condition (i.e., development of vortices and initiation of transition at a given location) the lower values in the specified ranges were obtained with a light coating of flow-visualization material on the surface. A method is presented for the rapid computation of crossflow Reynolds number on any swept surface for which the pressure distribution is known. From calculations based on this method, it was found that the maximum values of crossflow Reynolds number are attained under conditions of a strong pressure gradient and at a sweep angle of about 50 deg. Due to the primary dependence on pressure gradient, effects of sweep in causing premature transition are generally first encountered on the lower surfaces of wings operating at positive angles of attack.

F-16XL ship #1 - CAWAP boundary layer rakes and hot film on left wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

This photo shows the boundary layer hot film and the boundary layer rakes on the left wing of NASA's single-seat F-16XL (ship #1) used for the Cranked-Arrow Wing Aerodynamic Project (CAWAP) at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The modified airplane features a delta 'cranked-arrow' wing with strips of tubing along the leading edge to the trailing edge to sense static on the wing and obtain pressure distribution data. The right wing receives data on pressure distribution and the left wing has three types of instrumentation - preston tubes to measure local skin friction, boundary layer rakes to measure boundary layer profiles (the layer where the air interacts with the surfaces of a moving aircraft), and hot films to determine boundary layer transition locations. The first flight of CAWAP occurred on November 21, 1995, and the test program ended in April 1996.

Wing Weight Optimization Under Aeroelastic Loads Subject to Stress Constraints

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kapania, Rakesh K.; Issac, J.; Macmurdy, D.; Guruswamy, Guru P.

1997-01-01

A minimum weight optimization of the wing under aeroelastic loads subject to stress constraints is carried out. The loads for the optimization are based on aeroelastic trim. The design variables are the thickness of the wing skins and planform variables. The composite plate structural model incorporates first-order shear deformation theory, the wing deflections are expressed using Chebyshev polynomials and a Rayleigh-Ritz procedure is adopted for the structural formulation. The aerodynamic pressures provided by the aerodynamic code at a discrete number of grid points is represented as a bilinear distribution on the composite plate code to solve for the deflections and stresses in the wing. The lifting-surface aerodynamic code FAST is presently being used to generate the pressure distribution over the wing. The envisioned ENSAERO/Plate is an aeroelastic analysis code which combines ENSAERO version 3.0 (for analysis of wing-body configurations) with the composite plate code.

F-16XL ship #1 - CAWAP outboard rake #7

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

This photo shows the #7 outboard rake on the left wing of NASA's single-seat F-16XL (ship #1) used for the Cranked-Arrow Wing Aerodynamic Project (CAWAP) at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The modified airplane features a delta 'cranked-arrow' wing with strips of tubing along the leading edge to the trailing edge to sense static on the wing and obtain pressure distribution data. The right wing receives data on pressure distribution and the left wing has three types of instrumentation - preston tubes to measure local skin friction, boundary layer rakes to measure boundary layer profiles (the layer where the air interacts with the surfaces of a moving aircraft), and hot films to determine boundary layer transition locations. The program also gathered aero data on two wing planforms for NASA's High Speed Research Program. The first flight of CAWAP occurred on November 21, 1995, and the test program ended in April 1996.

F-16XL ship #1 wing close-up showing boundary layer detection Preston tubes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1995-01-01

This photo shows the boundary layer Preston tubes mounted on the left wing of NASA's single-seat F-16XL (ship #1) used for the Cranked-Arrow Wing Aerodynamic Project (CAWAP) at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The modified airplane features a delta 'cranked-arrow' wing with strips of tubing along the leading edge to the trailing edge to sense static on the wing and obtain pressure distribution data. The right wing receives data on pressure distribution and the left wing has three types of instrumentation - preston tubes to measure local skin friction, boundary layer rakes to measure boundary layer profiles (the layer where the air interacts with the surfaces of a moving aircraft), and hot films to determine boundary layer transition locations. The first flight of CAWAP occurred on November 21, 1995, and the test program ended in April 1996.

Buffet characteristics of the F-8 supercritical wing airplane

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deangelis, V. M.; Monaghan, R. C.

1977-01-01

The buffet characteristics of the F-8 supercritical wing airplane were investigated. Wing structural response was used to determine the buffet characteristics of the wing and these characteristics are compared with wind tunnel model data and the wing flow characteristics at transonic speeds. The wingtip accelerometer was used to determine the buffet onset boundary and to measure the buffet intensity characteristics of the airplane. The effects of moderate trailing edge flap deflections on the buffet onset boundary are presented. The supercritical wing flow characteristics were determined from wind tunnel and flight static pressure measurements and from a dynamic pressure sensor mounted on the flight test airplane in the vicinity of the shock wave that formed on the upper surface of the wing at transonic speeds. The comparison of the airplane's structural response data to the supercritical flow characteristics includes the effects of a leading edge vortex generator.

Numerical and Experimental Validation of the Optimization Methodologies for a Wing-Tip Structure Equipped with Conventional and Morphing Ailerons =

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koreanschi, Andreea

In order to answer the problem of 'how to reduce the aerospace industry's environment footprint?' new morphing technologies were developed. These technologies were aimed at reducing the aircraft's fuel consumption through reduction of the wing drag. The morphing concept used in the present research consists of replacing the conventional aluminium upper surface of the wing with a flexible composite skin for morphing abilities. For the ATR-42 'Morphing wing' project, the wing models were manufactured entirely from composite materials and the morphing region was optimized for flexibility. In this project two rigid wing models and an active morphing wing model were designed, manufactured and wind tunnel tested. For the CRIAQ MDO 505 project, a full scale wing-tip equipped with two types of ailerons, conventional and morphing, was designed, optimized, manufactured, bench and wind tunnel tested. The morphing concept was applied on a real wing internal structure and incorporated aerodynamic, structural and control constraints specific to a multidisciplinary approach. Numerical optimization, aerodynamic analysis and experimental validation were performed for both the CRIAQ MDO 505 full scale wing-tip demonstrator and the ATR-42 reduced scale wing models. In order to improve the aerodynamic performances of the ATR-42 and CRIAQ MDO 505 wing airfoils, three global optimization algorithms were developed, tested and compared. The three algorithms were: the genetic algorithm, the artificial bee colony and the gradient descent. The algorithms were coupled with the two-dimensional aerodynamic solver XFoil. XFoil is known for its rapid convergence, robustness and use of the semi-empirical e n method for determining the position of the flow transition from laminar to turbulent. Based on the performance comparison between the algorithms, the genetic algorithm was chosen for the optimization of the ATR-42 and CRIAQ MDO 505 wing airfoils. The optimization algorithm was improved during the CRIAQ MDO 505 project for convergence speed by introducing a two-step cross-over function. Structural constraints were introduced in the algorithm at each aero-structural optimization interaction, allowing a better manipulation of the algorithm and giving it more capabilities of morphing combinations. The CRIAQ MDO 505 project envisioned a morphing aileron concept for the morphing upper surface wing. For this morphing aileron concept, two optimization methods were developed. The methods used the already developed genetic algorithm and each method had a different design concept. The first method was based on the morphing upper surface concept, using actuation points to achieve the desired shape. The second method was based on the hinge rotation concept of the conventional aileron but applied at multiple nodes along the aileron camber to achieve the desired shape. Both methods were constrained by manufacturing and aerodynamic requirements. The purpose of the morphing aileron methods was to obtain an aileron shape with a smoother pressure distribution gradient during deflection than the conventional aileron. The aerodynamic optimization results were used for the structural optimization and design of the wing, particularly the flexible composite skin. Due to the structural changes performed on the initial wing-tip structure, an aeroelastic behaviour analysis, more specific on flutter phenomenon, was performed. The analyses were done to ensure the structural integrity of the wing-tip demonstrator during wind tunnel tests. Three wind tunnel tests were performed for the CRIAQ MDO 505 wing-tip demonstrator at the IAR-NRC subsonic wind tunnel facility in Ottawa. The first two tests were performed for the wing-tip equipped with conventional aileron. The purpose of these tests was to validate the control system designed for the morphing upper surface, the numerical optimization and aerodynamic analysis and to evaluate the optimization efficiency on the boundary layer behaviour and the wing drag. The third set of wind tunnel tests was performed on the wing-tip equipped with a morphing aileron. The purpose of this test was to evaluate the performances of the morphing aileron, in conjunction with the active morphing upper surface, and their effect on the lift, drag and boundary layer behaviour. Transition data, obtained from Infrared Thermography, and pressure data, extracted from Kulite and pressure taps recordings, were used to validate the numerical optimization and aerodynamic performances of the wing-tip demonstrator. A set of wind tunnel tests was performed on the ATR-42 rigid wing models at the Price-Paidoussis subsonic wind tunnel at Ecole de technologie Superieure. The results from the pressure taps recordings were used to validate the numerical optimization. A second derivative of the pressure distribution method was applied to evaluate the transition region on the upper surface of the wing models for comparison with the numerical transition values. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.).

F-16XL ship #1 outboard rake #7

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

This photo shows the #7 outboard rake on the left wing of NASA's single-seat F-16XL (ship #1) used for the Cranked-Arrow Wing Aerodynamic Project (CAWAP) at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The modified airplane features a delta 'cranked-arrow' wing with strips of tubing along the leading edge to the trailing edge to sense static on the wing and obtain pressure distribution data. The right wing receives data on pressure distribution and the left wing has three types of instrumentation - preston tubes to measure local skin friction, boundary layer rakes to measure boundary layer profiles (the layer where the air interacts with the surfaces of a moving aircraft), and hot films to determine boundary layer transition locations. The first flight of CAWAP occurred on November 21, 1995, and the test program ended in April 1996.

Performance study of winglets on tapered wing with curved trailing edge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ara, Ismat; Ali, Mohammad; Islam, Md. Quamrul; Haque, M. Nazmul

2017-06-01

Induced drag is the result of wingtip vortex produced from generating lift by finite wing. It is one of the main drags that an aircraft wing encounters during flight. It hampers aircraft performance by increasing fuel consumption and reducing endurance, range and speed. Winglets are used to reduce the induced drag. They weakens wingtip vortex and thus reduces induced drag. This paper represents the experimental investigation to reduce induced drag using winglet at the wingtip. A model of tapered wing with curved trailing edge (without winglet) as well as two similar wings with blended winglet and double blended winglet are prepared using NACA 4412 aerofoil in equal span and surface area. All the models are tested in a closed circuit subsonic wind tunnel at air speed of 108 km/h (0.09 Mach). Reynolds number of the flow is 2.28 × 105 on the basis of average chord length of the wings. The point surface static pressures at different angles of attack from -4° to 24° are measured for each of the wing and winglet combinations through different pressure tapings by using a multi-tube water manometer. From the static pressure distribution, lift coefficient, drag coefficient and lift to drag ratio of all models are calculated. From the analysis of calculated values, it is found that both winglets are able to minimize induced drag; however, the tapered curved trailing edge span with blended winglet provides better aerodynamic performance.

Measurements of unsteady pressure and structural response for an elastic supercritical wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eckstrom, Clinton V.; Seidel, David A.; Sandford, Maynard C.

1994-01-01

Results are presented which define unsteady flow conditions associated with the high-dynamic structural response of a high-aspect-ratio, elastic, supercritical wing at transonic speeds. The wing was tested in the Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel with a heavy gas test medium. The supercritical wing, designed for a cruise lift coefficient of 0.53 at a Mach number of 0.80, experienced the high-dynamic structural response from Mach 0.90 to 0.94 with the maximum response occurring at about Mach 0.92. At the maximum response conditions of the wing, the forcing function appears to be the oscillatory chordwise movement of strong shocks located on the upper and lower surfaces of the wing in conjunction with the flow separation on the lower surface of the wing in the trailing-edge cove region.

Surface-Pressure and Flow-Visualization Data at Mach Number of 1.60 for Three 65 deg Delta Wings Varying in Leading-Edge Radius and Camber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McMillin, S. Naomi; Bryd, James E.; Parmar, Devendra S.; Bezos-OConnor, Gaudy M.; Forrest, Dana K.; Bowen, Susan

1996-01-01

An experimental investigation of the effect of leading-edge radius, camber, Reynolds number, and boundary-layer state on the incipient separation of a delta wing at supersonic speeds was conducted at the Langley Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel at Mach number of 1.60 over a free-stream Reynolds number range of 1 x 106 to 5 x 106 ft-1. The three delta wing models examined had a 65 deg swept leading edge and varied in cross-sectional shape: a sharp wedge, a 20:1 ellipse, and a 20:1 ellipse with a -9.750 circular camber imposed across the span. The wings were tested with and without transition grit applied. Surface-pressure coefficient data and flow-visualization data indicated that by rounding the wing leading edge or cambering the wing in the spanwise direction, the onset of leading-edge separation on a delta wing can be raised to a higher angle of attack than that observed on a sharp-edged delta wing. The data also showed that the onset of leading-edge separation can be raised to a higher angle of attack by forcing boundary-layer transition to occur closer to the wing leading edge by the application of grit or the increase in free-stream Reynolds number.

Definition of the unsteady vortex flow over a wing/body configuration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liou, S. G.; Debry, B.; Lenakos, J.; Caplin, J.; Komerath, N. M.

1991-01-01

A problem of current interest in computational aerodynamics is the prediction of unsteady vortex flows over aircraft at high angles of attack. A six-month experimental effort was conducted at the John H. Harper Wind Tunnel to acquire qualitative and quantitative information on the unsteady vortex flow over a generic wing-body configuration at high angles of attack. A double-delta flat-plate wing with beveled edges was combined with a slender sharp-nosed body-of-revolution fuselage to form the generic configuration. This configuration produces a strong attached leading edge vortex on the wing, as well as sharply-peaked flow velocity spectra above the wing. While it thus produces flows with several well-defined features of current interest, the model was designed for efficiency of representation in computational codes. A moderate number of surface pressure ports and two unsteady pressure sensors were used to study the pressure distribution over the wing and body surface at high angles of attack; the unsteady pressure sensing did not succeed because of inadequate signal-to-noise ratio. A pulsed copper vapor laser sheet was used to visualize the vortex flow over the model, and vortex trajectories, burst locations, mutual induction of vortex systems from the forebody, strake, and wing, were quantified. Laser Doppler velocimetry was used to quantify all 3 components of the time-average velocity in 3 data planes perpendicular to the freestream direction. Statistics of the instantaneous velocity were used to study intermittency and fluctuation intensity. Hot-film anemometry was used to study the fluctuation energy content in the velocity field, and the spectra of these fluctuations. In addition, a successful attempt was made to measure velocity spectra, component by component, using laser velocimetry, and these were compared with spectra measured by hot-film anemometry at several locations.

F-16XL ship #1 - CAWAP boundary layer rakes and hot film on left wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

This photo shows the boundary layer hot film and the boundary layer rakes on the left wing of NASA's single-seat F-16XL (ship #1) used for the Cranked-Arrow Wing Aerodynamic Project (CAWAP) at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The modified airplane features a delta 'cranked-arrow' wing with strips of tubing along the leading edge to the trailing edge to sense static on the wing and obtain pressure distribution data. The right wing receives data on pressure distribution and the left wing has three types of instrumentation - preston tubes to measure local skin friction, boundary layer rakes to measure boundary layer profiles (the layer where the air interacts with the surfaces of a moving aircraft), and hot films to determine boundary layer transition locations. The program also gathered aero data on two wing planforms for NASA's High Speed Research Program. The first flight of CAWAP occurred on November 21, 1995, and the test program ended in April 1996.

Surface pressure distributions on a delta wing undergoing large amplitude pitching oscillations. M.S. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thompson, Scott A.

1989-01-01

Wind tunnel experiments were performed on a 70 deg sweep delta wing to determine the effect of a sinusoidal pitching motion on the pressure field on the suction side of the wing. Twelve pressure taps were placed from 35 to 90 percent of the chord, at 60 percent of the local semi-span. Pressure coefficients were measured as a function of Reynolds number and pitch rate. The pressure coefficient was seen to vary at approximately the same frequency as the pitching frequency. The relative pressure variation at each chord location was comparable for each case. The average pressure distribution through each periodic motion was near the static distribution for the average angle of attack. Upon comparing the upstroke and downstroke pressures for a specific angle of attack, the downstroke pressures were slightly larger. Vortex breakdown was seen to have the most significant effect at the 40 to 45 percent chord location, where a decrease in pressure was apparent.

F-16XL ship #1 CAWAP flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

The single-seat F-16XL (ship #1) makes another run during the Cranked-Arrow Wing Aerodynamic Project (CAWAP) at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The modified airplane features a delta 'cranked-arrow' wing with strips of tubing along the leading edge to the trailing edge to sense static on the wing and obtain pressure distribution data. The right wing receives data on pressure distribution and the left wing has three types of instrumentation - preston tubes to measure local skin friction, boundary layer rakes to measure boundary layer profiles (the layer where the air interacts with the surfaces of a moving aircraft), and hot films to determine boundary layer transition locations. The first flight of CAWAP occurred on November 21, 1995, and the test program ended in April 1996.

Noise of deflectors used for flow attachment with STOL-OTW configurations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vonglahn, U. H.; Groesbeck, D.

1977-01-01

Future STOL aircraft may utilize engine-over-the-wing installations in which the exhaust nozzles are located above and separated from the upper surface of the wing. An external jet flow deflector can be used with such installations to provide flow attachment to the wing/flap surfaces for lift augmentation. Deflector noise in the flyover plane measured with several model-scale nozzle/deflector/wing configurations is examined. The deflector-associated noise is correlated in terms of velocity and geometry parameters. The data also indicate that the effective overall sound pressure level of the deflector-associated noise peaks in the forward quadrant near 40 deg from the inlet axis.

Smart wing wind tunnel test results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scherer, Lewis B.; Martin, Christopher A.; Appa, Kari; Kudva, Jayanth N.; West, Mark N.

1997-05-01

The use of smart materials technologies can provide unique capabilities in improving aircraft aerodynamic performance. Northrop Grumman built and tested a 16% scale semi-span wind tunnel model of the F/A-18 E/F for the on-going DARPA/WL Smart Materials and Structures-Smart Wing Program. Aerodynamic performance gains to be validated included increase in the lift to drag ratio, increased pitching moment (Cm), increased rolling moment (Cl) and improved pressure distribution. These performance gains were obtained using hingeless, contoured trailing edge control surfaces with embedded shape memory alloy (SMA) wires and spanwise wing twist via a SMA torque tube and are compared to a conventional wind tunnel model with hinged control surfaces. This paper presents an overview of the results from the first wind tunnel test performed at the NASA Langley's 16 ft Transonic Dynamic Tunnel. Among the benefits demonstrated are 8 - 12% increase in rolling moment due to wing twist, a 10 - 15% increase in rolling moment due to contoured aileron, and approximately 8% increase in lift due to contoured flap, and improved pressure distribution due to trailing edge control surface contouring.

Simulation Analysis of Fluid-Structure Interaction of High Velocity Environment Influence on Aircraft Wing Materials under Different Mach Numbers.

PubMed

Zhang, Lijun; Sun, Changyan

2018-04-18

Aircraft service process is in a state of the composite load of pressure and temperature for a long period of time, which inevitably affects the inherent characteristics of some components in aircraft accordingly. The flow field of aircraft wing materials under different Mach numbers is simulated by Fluent in order to extract pressure and temperature on the wing in this paper. To determine the effect of coupling stress on the wing’s material and structural properties, the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) method is used in ANSYS-Workbench to calculate the stress that is caused by pressure and temperature. Simulation analysis results show that with the increase of Mach number, the pressure and temperature on the wing’s surface both increase exponentially and thermal stress that is caused by temperature will be the main factor in the coupled stress. When compared with three kinds of materials, titanium alloy, aluminum alloy, and Haynes alloy, carbon fiber composite material has better performance in service at high speed, and natural frequency under coupling pre-stressing will get smaller.

ARC-1964-AC-33500-2

NASA Image and Video Library

1964-10-01

DURING APPROACH. OGEE Wing Planform on modified F5D-1 SkylancerAirplane Flight Tests. 'Flow Visualization Photographs'. In landing approach trials at Moffett Field, vapor trails are generated by low pressure in votex flow near wing leading edge on upper wing surface. Studies were undertaken in efforts to determine if there were adverse effects of vortex flow on the dynamic stability of the aircraft.

Optical fiber pressure sensors for adaptive wings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duncan, Paul G.; Jones, Mark E.; Shinpaugh, Kevin A.; Poland, Stephen H.; Murphy, Kent A.; Claus, Richard O.

1997-06-01

Optical fiber pressure sensors have been developed for use on a structurally-adaptive `smart wing'; further details of the design, fabrication and testing of the smart wing concept are presented in companion papers. This paper describes the design, construction, and performance of the pressure sensor and a combined optical and electronic signal processing system implemented to permit the measurement of a large number of sensors distributed over the control surfaces of a wing. Optical fiber pressure sensors were implemented due to anticipated large electromagnetic interference signals within the operational environment. The sensors utilized the principle of the extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) already developed for the measurement of strain and temperature. Here, the cavity is created inside a micromachined hollow-core tube with a silicon diaphragm at one end. The operation of the sensor is similar to that of the EFPI strain gage also discussed in several papers at this conference. The limitations placed upon the performance of the digital signal processing system were determined by the required pressure range of the sensors and the cycle time of the control system used to adaptively modify the shape of the wing. Sensor calibration and the results of testing performed are detailed.

F-16XL ship #1 - CAWAP outboard rakes #7 and inboard rack #3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

This photo shows the #7 outboard rake and the #3 inboard rake on the left wing of NASA's single-seat F-16XL (ship #1) used for the Cranked-Arrow Wing Aerodynamic Project (CAWAP) at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The modified airplane features a delta 'cranked-arrow' wing with strips of tubing along the leading edge to the trailing edge to sense static on the wing and obtain pressure distribution data. The right wing receives data on pressure distribution and the left wing has three types of instrumentation - preston tubes to measure local skin friction, boundary layer rakes to measure boundary layer profiles (the layer where the air interacts with the surfaces of a moving aircraft), and hot films to determine boundary layer transition locations. The first flight of CAWAP occurred on November 21, 1995, and the test program ended in April 1996.

F-16XL ship #1 CAWAP flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

The single-seat F-16XL (ship #1) makes another run during the Cranked-Arrow Wing Aerodynamic Project (CAWAP) at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The modified airplane features a delta 'cranked-arrow' wing with strips of tubing along the leading edge to the trailing edge to sense static on the wing and obtain pressure distribution data. The right wing receives data on pressure distribution and the left wing has three types of instrumentation - preston tubes to measure local skin friction, boundary layer rakes to measure boundary layer profiles (the layer where the air interacts with the surfaces of a moving aircraft), and hot films to determine boundary layer transition locations. The program also gathered aero data on two wing planforms for NASA's High Speed Research Program. The first flight of CAWAP occurred on November 21, 1995, and the test program ended in April 1996.

Biological plasticity in penguin heat-retention structures.

PubMed

Thomas, Daniel B; Fordyce, R Ewan

2012-02-01

Insulation and vascular heat-retention mechanisms allow penguins to forage for a prolonged time in water that is much cooler than core body temperature. Wing-based heat retention involves a plexus of humeral arteries and veins, which redirect heat to the body core rather than to the wing periphery. The humeral arterial plexus is described here for Eudyptes and Megadyptes, the only extant penguin genera for which wing vascular anatomy had not previously been reported. The erect-crested (Eudyptes sclateri) and yellow-eyed (Megadyptes antipodes) penguins both have a plexus of three humeral arteries on the ventral surface of the humerus. The wing vascular system shows little variation between erect-crested and yellow-eyed penguins, and is generally conserved across the six extant genera of penguins, with the exception of the humeral arterial plexus. The number of humeral arteries within the plexus demonstrates substantial variation and correlates well with wing surface area. Little penguins (Eudyptula minor) have two humeral arteries and a wing surface area of ∼ 75 cm(2) , whereas emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) have up to 15 humeral arteries and a wing surface area of ∼ 203 cm(2) . Further, the number of humeral arteries has a stronger correlation with wing surface area than with sea water temperature. We propose that thermoregulation has placed the humeral arterial plexus under a strong selection pressure, driving penguins with larger wing surface areas to compensate for heat loss by developing additional humeral arteries. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Receptivity of the Boundary Layer to Vibrations of the Wing Surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bernots, Tomass; Ruban, Anatoly; Pryce, David; Laminar Flow Control UK Group Team

2014-11-01

In this work we study generation of Tollmien-Schlichting (T-S) waves in the boundary layer due to elastic vibrations of the wing surface. The flow is investigated based on the asymptotic analysis of the Navier-Stokes equations at large values of the Reynolds number. It is assumed that in the spectrum of the wing vibrations there is a harmonic which comes in resonance with the T-S wave on the lower branch of the stability curve. It was found that the vibrations of the wing surface produce pressure perturbations in the flow outside the boundary layer which can be calculated with the help of the piston theory. As the pressure perturbations penetrate into the boundary layer, a Stokes layer forms on the wing surface which appears to be influenced significantly by the compressibility of the flow, and is incapable of producing the T-S waves. The situation changes when the Stokes layer encounters an roughness; near which the flow is described using the triple-deck theory. The solution of the triple-deck problem can be found in an analytic form. Our main concern is with the flow behaviour downstream of the roughness and, in particular, with the amplitude of the generated Tollmien-Schlichting waves. This research was performed in the Laminar Flow Control Centre (LFC-UK) at Imperial College London. The centre is supported by EPSRC, Airbus UK and EADS Innovation Works.

Investigations at Supersonic Speeds of 22 Triangular Wings Representing Two Airfoil Sections for Each of 11 Apex Angles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Love, Eugene S

1955-01-01

The results of tests of 22 triangular wings, representing two leading-edge shapes for each of 11 apex angles, at Mach numbers 1.62, 1.92, and 1.40 are presented and compared with theory. All wings have a common thickness ratio of 8 percent and a common maximum-thickness point at 18 percent chord. Lift, drag, and pitching moment are given for all wings at each Mach number. The relation of transition in the boundary layer, shocks on the wing surfaces, and characteristics of the pressure distributions is discussed for several wings.

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.

Unified Application of Vapor Screen Flow Visualization and Pressure Sensitive Paint Measurement Techniques to Vortex- and Shock Wave-Dominated Flow Fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erickson, Gary E.

2010-01-01

Laser vapor screen (LVS) flow visualization and pressure sensitive paint (PSP) techniques were applied in a unified approach to wind tunnel testing of slender wing and missile configurations dominated by vortex flows and shock waves at subsonic, transonic, and supersonic speeds. The off-surface cross-flow patterns using the LVS technique were combined with global PSP surface static pressure mappings to characterize the leading-edge vortices and shock waves that coexist and interact at high angles of attack. The synthesis of LVS and PSP techniques was also effective in identifying the significant effects of passive surface porosity and the presence of vertical tail surfaces on the flow topologies. An overview is given of LVS and PSP applications in selected experiments on small-scale models of generic slender wing and missile configurations in the NASA Langley Research Center (NASA LaRC) Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel (UPWT) and 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel (8-Foot TPT).

Unified Application Vapor Screen Flow Visualization and Pressure Sensitive Paint Measurement Techniques to Vortex- and Shock Wave-Dominated Flow Fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erickson, Gary E.

2008-01-01

Laser vapor screen (LVS) flow visualization and pressure sensitive paint (PSP) techniques were applied in a unified approach to wind tunnel testing of slender wing and missile configurations dominated by vortex flows and shock waves at subsonic, transonic, and supersonic speeds. The off-surface cross-flow patterns using the LVS technique were combined with global PSP surface static pressure mappings to characterize the leading-edge vortices and shock waves that coexist and interact at high angles of attack (alpha). The synthesis of LVS and PSP techniques was also effective in identifying the significant effects of passive surface porosity and the presence of vertical tail surfaces on the flow topologies. An overview is given of LVS and PSP applications in selected experiments on small-scale models of generic slender wing and missile configurations in the NASA Langley Research Center (NASA LaRC) Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel (UPWT) and 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel (8-Foot TPT).

Experimental and numerical analysis of the wing rock characteristics of a 'wing-body-tail' configuration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Suarez, Carlos J.; Smith, Brooke C.; Malcolm, Gerald N.

1993-01-01

Free-to-roll wind tunnel tests were conducted and a computer simulation exercise was performed in an effort to investigate in detail the mechanism of wing rock on a configuration that consisted of a highly-slender forebody and a 78 deg swept delta wing. In the wind tunnel test, the roll angle and wing surface pressures were measured during the wing rock motion. A limit cycle oscillation was observed for angles of attack between 22 deg and 30 deg. In general, the wind tunnel test confirmed that the main flow phenomena responsible for the wing-body-tail wing rock are the interactions between the forebody and the wing vortices. The variation of roll acceleration (determined from the second derivative of the roll angle time history) with roll angle clearly showed the energy balance necessary to sustain the limit cycle oscillation. Pressure measurements on the wing revealed the hysteresis of the wing rock process. First, second and nth order models for the aerodynamic damping were developed and examined with a one degree of freedom computer simulation. Very good agreement with the observed behavior from the wind tunnel was obtained.

Design, Development and Tests in Real Time of Control Methodologies for a Morphing Wing in Wind Tunnel =

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tchatchueng Kammegne, Michel Joel

In order to leave a cleaner environmental space to future generations, the international community has been mobilized to find green solutions that are effective and feasible in all sectors. The CRIAQ MDO505 project was initiated to test the morphing wingtip (wing and aileron) technology as one of these possible solutions. The main objectives of this project are: the design and manufacturing of a morphing wing prototype, the extension and control of the laminar region over the extrados, and to compare the effects of morphing and rigid aileron in terms of lift, drag and pressure distributions. The advantage of the extension of the laminar region over a wing is the drag reduction that results by delaying the transition towards its trailing edge. The location of the transition region depends on the flight case and it is controlled, for a morphing wing, via the actuators positions and displacements. Therefore, this thesis work focuses on the control of the actuators positions and displacements. This thesis presents essentially the modeling, instrumentation and wind tunnel testing results. Three series of wind tunnel tests with different values of aileron deflection angle, angle of attack and Mach number have been performed in the subsonic wind tunnel of the IAR-NRC. The used wing airfoil consisted of stringers, ribs, spars and a flexible upper surface mad of composite materials (glass fiber carbon), a rigid aileron and flexible aileron. The aileron was able to move between +/-6 degrees. The demonstrator's span measures 1.5 m and its chord measures 1.5 m. Structural analyses have been performed to determine the plies orientation, and the number of fiberglass layers for the flexible skin. These analyses allowed also to determine the actuator's forces to push and pull the wing upper surface. The 2D XFoil and 3D solvers Fluent were used to find the optimized airfoil and the optimal location of the transition for each flight case. Based on the analyses done by the aerodynamic and structural teams in the MDO5050 project, the most efficient actuators and pressure sensors to integrate inside the wing were selected. The actuators (4 in total) are attached to the ribs and placed inside of the wing to deform the upper surface thereof. The actuators are controlled by a controller whose gains were obtained with different methodologies. Pressure sensors (32 in total) were fixed in the wing upper surface in order to estimate the transition zone from the measured and analyzed data. The evaluation code for raw pressure sensors data was designed at the LARCASE using the Matlab / Simulink software.

A computer program to calculate the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of upper-surface-blown wing-flap configurations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mendenhall, M. R.

1978-01-01

A user's manual is presented for a computer program in which a vortex-lattice lifting-surface method is used to model the wing and multiple flaps. The engine wake model consists of a series of closely spaced vortex rings with rectangular cross sections. The jet wake is positioned such that the lower boundary of the jet is tangent to the wing and flap upper surfaces. The two potential flow models are used to calculate the wing-flap loading distribution including the influence of the wakes from up to two engines on the semispan. The method is limited to the condition where the flow and geometry of the configurations are symmetric about the vertical plane containing the wing root chord. The results include total configuration forces and moments, individual lifting-surface load distributions, pressure distributions, flap hinge moments, and flow field calculation at arbitrary field points. The use of the program, preparation of input, the output, program listing, and sample cases are described.

Application of the vortex-lattice technique to the analysis of thin wings with vortex separation and thick multi-element wings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, C. W.; Bhateley, I. C.

1976-01-01

Two techniques for extending the range of applicability of the basic vortex-lattice method are discussed. The first improves the computation of aerodynamic forces on thin, low-aspect-ratio wings of arbitrary planforms at subsonic Mach numbers by including the effects of leading-edge and tip vortex separation, characteristic of this type wing, through use of the well-known suction-analogy method of E. C. Polhamus. Comparisons with experimental data for a variety of planforms are presented. The second consists of the use of the vortex-lattice method to predict pressure distributions over thick multi-element wings (wings with leading- and trailing-edge devices). A method of laying out the lattice is described which gives accurate pressures on the top and part of the bottom surface of the wing. Limited comparisons between the result predicted by this method, the conventional lattice arrangement method, experimental data, and 2-D potential flow analysis techniques are presented.

The compressible aerodynamics of rotating blades based on an acoustic formulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Long, L. N.

1983-01-01

An acoustic formula derived for the calculation of the noise of moving bodies is applied to aerodynamic problems. The acoustic formulation is a time domain result suitable for slender wings and bodies moving at subsonic speeds. A singular integral equation is derived in terms of the surface pressure which must then be solved numerically for aerodynamic purposes. However, as the 'observer' is moved onto the body surface, the divergent integrals in the acoustic formulation are semiconvergent. The procedure for regularization (or taking principal values of divergent integrals) is explained, and some numerical examples for ellipsoids, wings, and lifting rotors are presented. The numerical results show good agreement with available measured surface pressure data.

Study of the Unsteady Flow Features on a Stalled Wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yon, Steven A.; Katz, Joseph

1997-01-01

The occurrence of large scale structures in the post stall flow over a rectangular wing at high angles of attack was investigated in a small-scale subsonic wind tunnel. Mean and time dependent measurements within the separated flow field suggest the existence of two distinct angle of attack regimes beyond wing stall. The shallow stall regime occurs over a narrow range of incidence angles (2-3 deg.) immediately following the inception of leading edge separation. In this regime, the principal mean flow structures, termed stall cells, are manifested as a distinct spanwise periodicity in the chordwise extent of the separated region on the model surface with possible lateral mobility not previously reported. Within the stall cells and on the wing surface, large amplitude pressure fluctuations occur with a frequency much lower than anticipated for bluff body shedding, and with minimum effect in the far wake. In the deep stall regime, stall cells are not observed and the separated region near the model is relatively free of large amplitude pressure disturbances.

An Efficient Radial Basis Function Mesh Deformation Scheme within an Adjoint-Based Aerodynamic Optimization Framework

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poirier, Vincent

Mesh deformation schemes play an important role in numerical aerodynamic optimization. As the aerodynamic shape changes, the computational mesh must adapt to conform to the deformed geometry. In this work, an extension to an existing fast and robust Radial Basis Function (RBF) mesh movement scheme is presented. Using a reduced set of surface points to define the mesh deformation increases the efficiency of the RBF method; however, at the cost of introducing errors into the parameterization by not recovering the exact displacement of all surface points. A secondary mesh movement is implemented, within an adjoint-based optimization framework, to eliminate these errors. The proposed scheme is tested within a 3D Euler flow by reducing the pressure drag while maintaining lift of a wing-body configured Boeing-747 and an Onera-M6 wing. As well, an inverse pressure design is executed on the Onera-M6 wing and an inverse span loading case is presented for a wing-body configured DLR-F6 aircraft.

F-14 VSTFE

NASA Image and Video Library

1986-04-11

NASA 834, an F-14 Navy Tomcat, seen here in flight, was used at Dryden in 1986 and 1987 in a program known as the Variable-Sweep Transition Flight Experiment (VSTFE). This program explored laminar flow on variable sweep aircraft at high subsonic speeds. An F-14 aircraft was chosen as the carrier vehicle for the VSTFE program primarily because of its variable-sweep capability, Mach and Reynolds number capability, availability, and favorable wing pressure distribution. The variable sweep outer-panels of the F-14 aircraft were modified with natural laminar flow gloves to provide not only smooth surfaces but also airfoils that can produce a wide range of pressure distributions for which transition location can be determined at various flight conditions and sweep angles. Glove I, seen here installed on the upper surface of the left wing, was a "cleanup" or smoothing of the basic F-14 wing, while Glove II was designed to provide specific pressure distributions at Mach 0.7. Laminar flow research continued at Dryden with a research program on the NASA 848 F-16XL, a laminar flow experiment involving a wing-mounted panel with millions of tiny laser cut holes drawing off turbulent boundary layer air with a suction pump.

F-14 VSTFE - gloves #1 and #2

NASA Image and Video Library

1987-04-22

NASA 834, an F-14 Navy Tomcat, seen here in flight, was used at Dryden in 1986 and 1987 in a program known as the Variable-Sweep Transition Flight Experiment (VSTFE). This program explored laminar flow on variable sweep aircraft at high subsonic speeds. An F-14 aircraft was chosen as the carrier vehicle for the VSTFE program primarily because of its variable-sweep capability, Mach and Reynolds number capability, availability, and favorable wing pressure distribution. The variable sweep outer-panels of the F-14 aircraft were modified with natural laminar flow gloves to provide not only smooth surfaces but also airfoils that can produce a wide range of pressure distributions for which transition location can be determined at various flight conditions and sweep angles. Glove I, seen here installed on the upper surface of the left wing, was a "cleanup" or smoothing of the basic F-14 wing, while Glove II was designed to provide specific pressure distributions at Mach 0.7. Laminar flow research continued at Dryden with a research program on the NASA 848 F-16XL, a laminar flow experiment involving a wing-mounted panel with millions of tiny laser cut holes drawing off turbulent boundary layer air with a suction pump.

Control of vortex on a non-slender delta wing by a nanosecond pulse surface dielectric barrier discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Guang-yin; Li, Ying-hong; Liang, Hua; Han, Meng-hu; Hua, Wei-zhuo

2015-01-01

Wind tunnel experiments are conducted for improving the aerodynamic performance of delta wing using a leading-edge pulsed nanosecond dielectric barrier discharge (NS-DBD). The whole effects of pulsed NS-DBD on the aerodynamic performance of the delta wing are studied by balanced force measurements. Pressure measurements and particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements are conducted to investigate the formation of leading-edge vortices affected by the pulsed NS-DBD, compared to completely stalled flow without actuation. Various pulsed actuation frequencies of the plasma actuator are examined with the freestream velocity up to 50 m/s. Stall has been delayed substantially and significant shifts in the aerodynamic forces can be achieved at the post-stall regions when the actuator works at the optimum reduced frequency of F + = 2. The upper surface pressure measurements show that the largest change of static pressure occurs at the forward part of the wing at the stall region. The time-averaged flow pattern obtained from the PIV measurement shows that flow reattachment is promoted with excitation, and a vortex flow pattern develops. The time-averaged locations of the secondary separation line and the center of the vortical region both move outboard with excitation.

Analysis of NASA Common Research Model Dynamic Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Balakrishna, S.; Acheson, Michael J.

2011-01-01

Recent NASA Common Research Model (CRM) tests at the Langley National Transonic Facility (NTF) and Ames 11-foot Transonic Wind Tunnel (11-foot TWT) have generated an experimental database for CFD code validation. The database consists of force and moment, surface pressures and wideband wing-root dynamic strain/wing Kulite data from continuous sweep pitch polars. The dynamic data sets, acquired at 12,800 Hz sampling rate, are analyzed in this study to evaluate CRM wing buffet onset and potential CRM wing flow separation.

Predicting aerodynamic characteristics of vortical flows on three-dimensional configurations using a surface-singularity panel method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maskew, B.

1983-01-01

A general low-order surface-singularity panel method is used to predict the aerodynamic characteristics of a problem where a wing-tip vortex from one wing closely interacts with an aft mounted wing in a low Reynolds Number flow; i.e., 125,000. Nonlinear effects due to wake roll-up and the influence of the wings on the vortex path are included in the calculation by using a coupled iterative wake relaxation scheme. The interaction also affects the wing pressures and boundary layer characteristics: these effects are also considered using coupled integral boundary layer codes and preliminary calculations using free vortex sheet separation modelling are included. Calculated results are compared with water tunnel experimental data with generally remarkably good agreement.

WINGDES2 - WING DESIGN AND ANALYSIS CODE

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carlson, H. W.

1994-01-01

This program provides a wing design algorithm based on modified linear theory which takes into account the effects of attainable leading-edge thrust. A primary objective of the WINGDES2 approach is the generation of a camber surface as mild as possible to produce drag levels comparable to those attainable with full theoretical leading-edge thrust. WINGDES2 provides both an analysis and a design capability and is applicable to both subsonic and supersonic flow. The optimization can be carried out for designated wing portions such as leading and trailing edge areas for the design of mission-adaptive surfaces, or for an entire planform such as a supersonic transport wing. This program replaces an earlier wing design code, LAR-13315, designated WINGDES. WINGDES2 incorporates modifications to improve numerical accuracy and provides additional capabilities. A means of accounting for the presence of interference pressure fields from airplane components other than the wing and a direct process for selection of flap surfaces to approach the performance levels of the optimized wing surfaces are included. An increased storage capacity allows better numerical representation of those configurations that have small chord leading-edge or trailing-edge design areas. WINGDES2 determines an optimum combination of a series of candidate surfaces rather than the more commonly used candidate loadings. The objective of the design is the recovery of unrealized theoretical leading-edge thrust of the input flat surface by shaping of the design surface to create a distributed thrust and thus minimize drag. The input consists of airfoil section thickness data, leading and trailing edge planform geometry, and operational parameters such as Mach number, Reynolds number, and design lift coefficient. Output includes optimized camber surface ordinates, pressure coefficient distributions, and theoretical aerodynamic characteristics. WINGDES2 is written in FORTRAN V for batch execution and has been implemented on a CDC CYBER computer operating under NOS 2.7.1 with a central memory requirement of approximately 344K (octal) of 60 bit words. This program was developed in 1984, and last updated in 1990. CDC and CYBER are trademarks of Control Data Corporation.

Subsonic wind-tunnel measurements of a slender wing-body configuration employing a vortex flap

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frink, Neal T.

1987-01-01

A wind tunnel study at Mach 0.4 was conducted for a slender wing-body configuration with a leading edge vortex flap of curved planform that is deflectable about a 74 degree swept hinge line. The basic data consist of a unique combination of longitudinal aerodynamic, surface pressure, and vortex flap hinge-moment measurements on a common model. The longitudinal aerodynamic, pressure and hinge-moment data are presented without analysis in tabular format. Plots of the tabulated pressure data are also given.

An asymptotic unsteady lifting-line theory with energetics and optimum motion of thrust-producing lifting surfaces. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ahmadi, A. R.

1981-01-01

A low frequency unsteady lifting-line theory is developed for a harmonically oscillating wing of large aspect ratio. The wing is assumed to be chordwise rigid but completely flexible in the span direction. The theory is developed by use of the method of matched asymptotic expansions which reduces the problem from a singular integral equation to quadrature. The wing displacements are prescribed and the pressure field, airloads, and unsteady induced downwash are obtained in closed form. The influence of reduced frequency, aspect ratio, planform shape, and mode of oscillation on wing aerodynamics is demonstrated through numerical examples. Compared with lifting-surface theory, computation time is reduced significantly. Using the present theory, the energetic quantities associated with the propulsive performance of a finite wing oscillating in combined pitch and heave are obtained in closed form. Numerical examples are presented for an elliptic wing.

Computer program for calculating aerodynamic characteristics of upper-surface-blowing and over-wing-blowing configurations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lan, C. E.; Fillman, G. L.; Fox, C. H., Jr.

1977-01-01

The program is based on the inviscid wing-jet interaction theory of Lan and Campbell, and the jet entrainment theory of Lan. In the interaction theory, the flow perturbations are computed both inside and outside the jet, separately, and then matched on the jet surface to satisfy the jet boundary conditions. The jet Mach number is allowed to be different from the free stream value (Mach number nonuniformity). These jet boundary conditions require that the static pressure be continuous across the jet surface which must always remain as a stream surface. These conditions, as well as the wing-surface tangency condition, are satisified only in the linearized sense. The detailed formulation of these boundary conditions is based on the quasi-vortex-lattice method of Lan.

AMELIA CESTOL Test: Acoustic Characteristics of Circulation Control Wing with Leading- and Trailing-Edge Slot Blowing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Horne, William C.; Burnside, Nathan J.

2013-01-01

The AMELIA Cruise-Efficient Short Take-off and Landing (CESTOL) configuration concept was developed to meet future requirements of reduced field length, noise, and fuel burn by researchers at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and Georgia Tech Research Institute under sponsorship by the NASA Fundamental Aeronautics Program (FAP), Subsonic Fixed Wing Project. The novel configuration includes leading- and trailing-edge circulation control wing (CCW), over-wing podded turbine propulsion simulation (TPS). Extensive aerodynamic measurements of forces, surfaces pressures, and wing surface skin friction measurements were recently measured over a wide range of test conditions in the Arnold Engineering Development Center(AEDC) National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC) 40- by 80-Ft Wind Tunnel. Acoustic measurements of the model were also acquired for each configuration with 7 fixed microphones on a line under the left wing, and with a 48-element, 40-inch diameter phased microphone array under the right wing. This presentation will discuss acoustic characteristics of the CCW system for a variety of tunnel speeds (0 to 120 kts), model configurations (leading edge(LE) and/or trailing-edge(TE) slot blowing, and orientations (incidence and yaw) based on acoustic measurements acquired concurrently with the aerodynamic measurements. The flow coefficient, Cmu= mVSLOT/qSW varied from 0 to 0.88 at 40 kts, and from 0 to 0.15 at 120 kts. Here m is the slot mass flow rate, VSLOT is the slot exit velocity, q is dynamic pressure, and SW is wing surface area. Directivities at selected 1/3 octave bands will be compared with comparable measurements of a 2-D wing at GTRI, as will as microphone array near-field measurements of the right wing at maximum flow rate. The presentation will include discussion of acoustic sensor calibrations as well as characterization of the wind tunnel background noise environment.

Probabilistic Design of a Plate-Like Wing to Meet Flutter and Strength Requirements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stroud, W. Jefferson; Krishnamurthy, T.; Mason, Brian H.; Smith, Steven A.; Naser, Ahmad S.

2002-01-01

An approach is presented for carrying out reliability-based design of a metallic, plate-like wing to meet strength and flutter requirements that are given in terms of risk/reliability. The design problem is to determine the thickness distribution such that wing weight is a minimum and the probability of failure is less than a specified value. Failure is assumed to occur if either the flutter speed is less than a specified allowable or the stress caused by a pressure loading is greater than a specified allowable. Four uncertain quantities are considered: wing thickness, calculated flutter speed, allowable stress, and magnitude of a uniform pressure load. The reliability-based design optimization approach described herein starts with a design obtained using conventional deterministic design optimization with margins on the allowables. Reliability is calculated using Monte Carlo simulation with response surfaces that provide values of stresses and flutter speed. During the reliability-based design optimization, the response surfaces and move limits are coordinated to ensure accuracy of the response surfaces. Studies carried out in the paper show the relationship between reliability and weight and indicate that, for the design problem considered, increases in reliability can be obtained with modest increases in weight.

Constructing Gloved wings for aerodynamic studies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bohn-Meyer, Marta R.

1988-01-01

Recently, two aircraft from the Dryden Flight Research Facility were used in the general study of natural laminar flow (NLF). The first, an F-14A aircraft on short-term loan from the Navy, was used to investigate transonic natural laminar flow. The second, an F-15A aircraft on long-term loan from the Air Force, was used to examine supersonic NLF. These tests were follow-on experiments to the NASA F-111 NLF experiment conducted in 1979. Both wings of the F-14A were gloved, in a two-phased experiment, with full-span(upper surface only) airfoil shapes constructed primarily of fiberglass, foam, and resin. A small section of the F-15A right wing was gloved in a similar manner. Each glove incorporated provisions for instrumentation to measure surface pressure distributions. The F-14A gloves also had provisions for instrumentation to measure boundary layer profiles, acoustic environments, and surface pitot pressures. Discussions of the techniques used to construct the gloves and to incorporate the required instrumentation are presented.

The NYU inverse swept wing code

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bauer, F.; Garabedian, P.; Mcfadden, G.

1983-01-01

An inverse swept wing code is described that is based on the widely used transonic flow program FLO22. The new code incorporates a free boundary algorithm permitting the pressure distribution to be prescribed over a portion of the wing surface. A special routine is included to calculate the wave drag, which can be minimized in its dependence on the pressure distribution. An alternate formulation of the boundary condition at infinity was introduced to enhance the speed and accuracy of the code. A FORTRAN listing of the code and a listing of a sample run are presented. There is also a user's manual as well as glossaries of input and output parameters.

An exploratory study of apex fence flaps on a 74 deg delta wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wahls, R. A.; Vess, R. J.

1985-01-01

An exploratory wind tunnel investigation was performed to observe the flow field effects produced by vertically deployed apex fences on a planar 74 degree delta wing. The delta shaped fences, each comprising approximately 3.375 percent of the wing area, were affixed along the first 25 percent of the wing leading edge in symmetric as well as asymmetric (i.e., fence on one side only) arrangements. The vortex flow field was visualized at angles of attack from 0 to 20 degrees using helium bubble and oil flow techniques; upper surface pressures were also measured along spanwise rows. The results were used to construct a preliminary description of the vortex patterns and induced pressures associated with vertical apex fence deployment. The objective was to obtain an initial evaluation of the potential of apex fences as vortex devices for subsonic lift modulation as well as lateral directional control of delta wing aircraft.

Research on unsteady transonic flow theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Revell, J. D.

1973-01-01

A two-dimensional theory is considered for the unsteady flow disturbances caused by aeroelastic deformations of a thick wing at high subsonic freestream Mach numbers, having a single, internally embedded supercritical (locally supersonic) steady flow region adjacent to the low pressure side of the wing. The theory develops a matrix of unsteady aerodynamic influence coefficients (AICs) suitable as a strip theory for aeroelastic analysis of large aspect ratio thick wings of moderate sweep, typical of a wide class of current and future aircraft. The theory derives the linearized unsteady flow solutions separately for both the subcritical and supercritical regions. These solutions are coupled together to give the requisite (wing pressure-downwash) AICs by the intermediate step of defining flow disturbances on the sonic line, and at the shock wave; these intermediate quantities are then algebraically eliminated by expressing them in terms of the wing surface downwash.

F-16XL ship #1 CAWAP flight - alpha 5 degrees, altitude 10,000 feet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

The single-seat F-16XL (ship #1) makes another run during the Cranked-Arrow Wing Aerodynamic Project (CAWAP) at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The modified airplane features a delta 'cranked-arrow' wing with strips of tubing along the leading edge to the trailing edge to sense static on the wing and obtain pressure distribution data. The right wing receives data on pressure distribution and the left wing has three types of instrumentation - preston tubes to measure local skin friction, boundary layer rakes to measure boundary layer profiles (the layer where the air interacts with the surfaces of a moving aircraft), and hot films to determine boundary layer transition locations. This photo shows the aircraft gathering data at an altitude of 10,000 feet, with an angle of attack of 5 degrees. The first flight of CAWAP occurred on November 21, 1995, and the test program ended in April 1996.

EC85-33205-07

NASA Image and Video Library

1985-10-18

This photograph shows a modified General Dynamics AFTI/F-111A Aardvark with supercritical mission adaptive wings (MAW) installed. The four dark bands on the right wing are the locations of pressure orifices used to measure surface pressures and shock locations on the MAW. The El Paso Mountains and Red Rock Canyon State Park Califonia, about 30 miles northwest of Edwards Air Force Base, are seen directly in the background. With the phasing out of the TACT program came a renewed effort by the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory to extend supercritical wing technology to a higher level of performance. In the early 1980s the supercritical wing on the F-111A aircraft was replaced with a wing built by Boeing Aircraft Company System called a “mission adaptive wing” (MAW), and a joint NASA and Air Force program called Advanced Fighter Technology Integration (AFTI) was born.

Wind Tunnel Results of the Aerodynamic Performance of a 1/8-Scale Model of a Twin-Engine Transport with Multi-Element Wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Laflin, Brenda E. Gile; Applin, Zachary T.; Jones, Kenneth M.

1997-01-01

A wind tunnel investigation was performed in the 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel on a pressure instrumented 1/8-scale twin-engine subsonic transport to better understand the flow physics on a multi-element wing section. The wing consisted of a part-span, triple-slotted trailing edge flap, inboard leading-edge Krueger flap and an outboard leading-edge slat. The model was instrumented with flush pressure ports at the fuselage centerline and seven spanwise wing locations. The model was tested in cruise, take-off and landing configurations at dynamic pressures and Mach numbers from 10 lbf/ft(exp 2) to 50 lbf/ft(exp 2) and 0.08 to 0.17, respectively. This resulted in corresponding Reynolds numbers of 0.8 x 10(exp 5) to 1.8 x 10(exp 6). Pressure data were collected using electronically scanned pressure devices and force and moment data were collected with a six component strain gauge balance. Results are presented for various control surface deflections over an angle-of-attack range from -4 degrees to 16 degrees and sideslip angle range from -10 degrees to 10 degrees. Longitudinal and lateral directional aerodynamic data are presented as well as chordwise pressure distributions at the seven spanwise wing locations and the fuselage centerline.

Pressure-sensitive paint measurements on a supersonic high-sweep oblique wing model. [conducted in the NASA Ames 9- by 7-ft Supersonic Wind Tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McLachlan, B. G.; Bell, J. H.; Park, H.; Kennelly, R. A.; Schreiner, J. A.; Smith, S. C.; Strong, J. M.; Gallery, J.; Gouterman, M.

1995-01-01

The pressure-sensitive paint method was used in the test of a high-sweep oblique wing model, conducted in the NASA Ames 9- by 7-ft Supersonic Wind Tunnel. Surface pressure data was acquired from both the luminescent paint and conventional pressure taps at Mach numbers between M = 1.6 and 2.0. In addition, schlieren photographs of the outer flow were used to determine the location of shock waves impinging on the model. The results show that the luminescent pressure-sensitive paint can capture both global and fine features of the static surface pressure field. Comparison with conventional pressure tap data shows good agreement between the two techniques, and that the luminescent paint data can be used to make quantitative measurements of the pressure changes over the model surface. The experiment also demonstrates the practical considerations and limitations that arise in the application of this technique under supersonic flow conditions in large-scale facilities, as well as the directions in which future research is necessary in order to make this technique a more practical wind-tunnel testing tool.

Waterproof and translucent wings at the same time: problems and solutions in butterflies.

PubMed

Goodwyn, Pablo Perez; Maezono, Yasunori; Hosoda, Naoe; Fujisaki, Kenji

2009-07-01

Although the colour of butterflies attracts the most attention, the waterproofing properties of their wings are also extremely interesting. Most butterfly wings are considered "super-hydrophobic" because the contact angle (CA) with a water drop exceeds 150 degrees. Usually, butterfly wings are covered with strongly overlapping scales; however, in the case of transparent or translucent wings, scale cover is reduced; thus, the hydrophobicity could be affected. Here, we present a comparative analysis of wing hydrophobicity and its dependence on morphology for two species with translucent wings Parantica sita (Nymphalidae) and Parnassius glacialis (Papilionidae). These species have very different life histories: P. sita lives for up to 6 months as an adult and migrates over long distance, whereas P. glacialis lives for less than 1 month and does not migrate. We measured the water CA and analysed wing morphology with scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. P. sita has super-hydrophobic wing surfaces, with CA > 160 degrees, whereas P. glacialis did not (CA = 100-135 degrees). Specialised scales were found on the translucent portions of P. sita wings. These scales were ovoid and much thinner than common scales, erect at about 30 degrees, and leaving up to 80% of the wing surface uncovered. The underlying bare wing surface had a remarkable pattern of ridges and knobs. P. glacialis also had over 80% of the wing surface uncovered, but the scales were either setae-like or spade-like. The bare surface of the wing had an irregular wavy smooth pattern. We suggest a mode of action that allows this super-hydrophobic effect with an incompletely covered wing surface. The scales bend, but do not collapse, under the pressure of a water droplet, and the elastic recovery of the structure at the borders of the droplet allows a high apparent CA. Thus, P. sita can be translucent without losing its waterproof properties. This characteristic is likely necessary for the long life and migration of this species. This is the first study of some of the effects on the hydrophobicity of translucency through scales' cover reduction in butterfly wings and on the morphology associated with improved waterproofing.

Summary Report of the Orbital X-34 Wing Static Aeroelastic Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prabhn, Ramadas K.; Weilmuenster, K. J. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

This report documents the results of a computational study conducted on the Orbital Sciences X-34 vehicle to compute its inviscid aerodynamic characteristics taking into account the wing structural flexibility. This was a joint exercise between LaRC and SDRC of California. SDRC modeled the structural details of the wing, and provided the structural deformation for a given pressure distribution on its surfaces. This study was done for a Mach number of 1.35 and an angle of attack of 9 deg.; the freestream dynamic pressure was assumed to be 607 lb/sq ft. Only the wing and the body were simulated in the CFD computations. Two wing configurations were examined. The first had the elevons in the undeflected position and the second had the elevons deflected 20 deg. up. The results indicated that with elevon undeflected, the wing twists by about 1.5 deg. resulting in a reduction in the angle of attack at the wing tip to by 1.5 deg. The maximum vertical deflection of the wing is about 3.71 inches at the wing tip. For the wing with the undeflected elevons, the effect of this wing deformation is to reduce the normal force coefficient (C(sub N)) by 0.012 and introduce a noise up pitching moment coefficient (C(sub m)) of 0.042.

F-16XL ship #1 CAWAP flight - alpha 15 degrees, altitude 5,000 feet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

The single-seat F-16XL (ship #1) makes another run during the Cranked-Arrow Wing Aerodynamic Project (CAWAP) at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The modified airplane features a delta 'cranked-arrow' wing with strips of tubing along the leading edge to the trailing edge to sense static on the wing and obtain pressure distribution data. The right wing receives data on pressure distribution and the left wing has three types of instrumentation - preston tubes to measure local skin friction, boundary layer rakes to measure boundary layer profiles (the layer where the air interacts with the surfaces of a moving aircraft), and hot films to determine boundary layer transition locations. This photo shows the aircraft gathering data at an altitude of 5000 feet, with an angle of attack of 15 degrees. The program also gathered aero data on two wing planforms for NASA's High Speed Research Program. The first flight of CAWAP occurred on November 21, 1995, and the test program ended in April 1996.

Control of Interacting Vortex Flows at Subsonic and Transonic Speeds Using Passive Porosity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erickson, Gary E.

2003-01-01

A wind tunnel experiment was conducted in the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel (TPT) to determine the effects of passive surface porosity on vortex flow interactions about a general research fighter configuration at subsonic and transonic speeds. Flow-through porosity was applied to a wing leading-edge extension (LEX) mounted to a 65 deg cropped delta wing model to promote large nose-down pitching moment increments at high angles of attack. Porosity decreased the vorticity shed from the LEX, which weakened the LEX vortex and altered the global interactions of the LEX and wing vortices at high angles of attack. Six-component forces and moments and wing upper surface static pressure distributions were obtained at free-stream Mach numbers of 0.50, 0.85, and 1.20, Reynolds number of 2.5(10(exp 6)) per foot, angles of attack up to 30 deg, and angles of sideslip to +/- 8 deg. The off-surface flow field was visualized in selected cross-planes using a laser vapor screen flow visualization technique. Test data were obtained with a centerline vertical tail and with alternate twin, wing-mounted vertical fins having 0 deg and 30 deg cant angles. In addition, the porosity of the LEX was compartmentalized to determine the sensitivity of the vortex-dominated aerodynamics to the location and level of porosity applied to the LEX.

Flight test results from a supercritical mission adaptive wing with smooth variable camber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Powers, Sheryll Goecke; Webb, Lannie D.; Friend, Edward L.; Lokos, William A.

1992-01-01

The mission adaptive wing (MAW) consisted of leading- and trailing-edge variable-camber surfaces that could be deflected in flight to provide a near-ideal wing camber shape for any flight condition. These surfaces featured smooth, flexible upper surfaces and fully enclosed lower surfaces, distinguishing them from conventional flaps that have discontinuous surfaces and exposed or semiexposed mechanisms. Camber shape was controlled by either a manual or automatic flight control system. The wing and aircraft were extensively instrumented to evaluate the local flow characteristics and the total aircraft performance. This paper discusses the interrelationships between the wing pressure, buffet, boundary-layer and flight deflection measurement system analyses and describes the flight maneuvers used to obtain the data. The results are for a wing sweep of 26 deg, a Mach number of 0.85, leading and trailing-edge cambers (delta(sub LE/TE)) of 0/2 and 5/10, and angles of attack from 3.0 deg to 14.0 deg. For the well-behaved flow of the delta(sub LE/TE) = 0/2 camber, a typical cruise camber shape, the local and global data are in good agreement with respect to the flow properties of the wing. For the delta(sub LE/TE) = 5/10 camber, a maneuvering camber shape, the local and global data have similar trends and conclusions, but not the clear-cut agreement observed for cruise camber.

An efficient method for computing unsteady transonic aerodynamics of swept wings with control surfaces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liu, D. D.; Kao, Y. F.; Fung, K. Y.

1989-01-01

A transonic equivalent strip (TES) method was further developed for unsteady flow computations of arbitrary wing planforms. The TES method consists of two consecutive correction steps to a given nonlinear code such as LTRAN2; namely, the chordwise mean flow correction and the spanwise phase correction. The computation procedure requires direct pressure input from other computed or measured data. Otherwise, it does not require airfoil shape or grid generation for given planforms. To validate the computed results, four swept wings of various aspect ratios, including those with control surfaces, are selected as computational examples. Overall trends in unsteady pressures are established with those obtained by XTRAN3S codes, Isogai's full potential code and measured data by NLR and RAE. In comparison with these methods, the TES has achieved considerable saving in computer time and reasonable accuracy which suggests immediate industrial applications.

The Pressure Distribution over the Wings and Tail Surfaces of a PW-9 Pursuit Airplane in Flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rhode, Richard

1931-01-01

This report presents the results of an investigation to determine (1) the magnitude and distribution of aerodynamic loads over the wings and tail surfaces of a pursuit-type airplane in the maneuvers likely to impose critical loads on the various subassemblies of the airplane structure. (2) To study the phenomenon of center of pressure movement and normal force coefficient variation in accelerated flight, and (3) to measure the normal accelerations at the center of gravity, wing-tip, and tail, in order to determine the nature of the inertia forces acting simultaneously with the critical aerodynamic loads. The results obtained throw light on a number of important questions involving structural design. Some of the more interesting results are discussed in some detail, but in general the report is for the purpose of making this collection of airplane-load data obtained in flight available to those interested in airplane structures.

VORCOR: A computer program for calculating characteristics of wings with edge vortex separation by using a vortex-filament and-core model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pao, J. L.; Mehrotra, S. C.; Lan, C. E.

1982-01-01

A computer code base on an improved vortex filament/vortex core method for predicting aerodynamic characteristics of slender wings with edge vortex separations is developed. The code is applicable to camber wings, straked wings or wings with leading edge vortex flaps at subsonic speeds. The prediction of lifting pressure distribution and the computer time are improved by using a pair of concentrated vortex cores above the wing surface. The main features of this computer program are: (1) arbitrary camber shape may be defined and an option for exactly defining leading edge flap geometry is also provided; (2) the side edge vortex system is incorporated.

Wind Tunnel Results from a Nozzle Afterbody Test of A 0.1-Scale Fighter Aircraft in the Mach Number Regime of 0.6 to 1.6

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-06-01

25 4. Nose Strake and Pitot Boom Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 5. Exhaust Nozzle Closure...actual wing through the use of simulated wing gloves (Fig. 3c) which duplicated the modification required on the wingtip supported model. The pitot ...pressure rakes located in the model plenum upstream of the nozzle throat were used to monitor the simulated jet flow. 2.2.5 Surface Pressures

Modifying the anti-wetting property of butterfly wings and water strider legs by atomic layer deposition coating: surface materials versus geometry.

PubMed

Ding, Yong; Xu, Sheng; Zhang, Yue; Wang, Aurelia C; Wang, Melissa H; Xiu, Yonghao; Wong, Ching Ping; Wang, Zhong Lin

2008-09-03

Although butterfly wings and water strider legs have an anti-wetting property, their working conditions are quite different. Water striders, for example, live in a wet environment and their legs need to support their weight and bear the high pressure during motion. In this work, we have focused on the importance of the surface geometrical structures in determining their performance. We have applied an atomic layer deposition technique to coat the surfaces of both butterfly wings and water strider legs with a uniform 30 nm thick hydrophilic Al(2)O(3) film. By keeping the surface material the same, we have studied the effect of different surface roughness/structure on their hydrophobic property. After the surface coating, the butterfly wings changed to become hydrophilic, while the water strider legs still remained super-hydrophobic. We suggest that the super-hydrophobic property of the water strider is due to the special shape of the long inclining spindly cone-shaped setae at the surface. The roughness in the surface can enhance the natural tendency to be hydrophobic or hydrophilic, while the roughness in the normal direction of the surface is favorable for forming a composite interface.

Investigation and suppression of high dynamic response encountered on an elastic supercritical wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seidel, David A.; Adams, William M., Jr.; Eckstrom, Clinton V.; Sandford, Maynard C.

1989-01-01

The DAST Aeroelastic Research Wing had been previously in the NASA Langley TDT and an unusual instability boundary was predicted based upon supercritical response data. Contrary to the predictions, no instability was found during the present test. Instead a region of high dynamic wing response was observed which reached a maximum value between Mach numbers 0.92 and 0.93. The amplitude of the dynamic response increased directly with dynamic pressure. The reponse appears to be related to chordwise shock movement in conjunction with flow separation and reattachment on the upper and lower wing surfaces. The onset of flow separation coincided with the occurrence of strong shocks on a surface. A controller was designed to suppress the wing response. The control law attenuated the response as compared with the uncontrolled case and added a small but significant amount of damping for the lower density condition.

Comparison of the NASA Common Research Model European Transonic Wind Tunnel Test Data to NASA Test Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rivers, Melissa; Quest, Juergen; Rudnik, Ralf

2015-01-01

Experimental aerodynamic investigations of the NASA Common Research Model have been conducted in the NASA Langley National Transonic Facility, the NASA Ames 11-ft wind tunnel, and the European Transonic Wind Tunnel. In the NASA Ames 11-ft wind tunnel, data have been obtained at only a chord Reynolds number of 5 million for a wing/body/tail = 0 degree incidence configuration. Data have been obtained at chord Reynolds numbers of 5, 19.8 and 30 million for the same configuration in the National Transonic Facility and in the European Transonic Facility. Force and moment, surface pressure, wing bending and twist, and surface flow visualization data were obtained in all three facilities but only the force and moment and surface pressure data are presented herein.

Exploring the Role of Habitat on the Wettability of Cicada Wings.

PubMed

Oh, Junho; Dana, Catherine E; Hong, Sungmin; Román, Jessica K; Jo, Kyoo Dong; Hong, Je Won; Nguyen, Jonah; Cropek, Donald M; Alleyne, Marianne; Miljkovic, Nenad

2017-08-16

Evolutionary pressure has pushed many extant species to develop micro/nanostructures that can significantly affect wettability and enable functionalities such as droplet jumping, self-cleaning, antifogging, antimicrobial, and antireflectivity. In particular, significant effort is underway to understand the insect wing surface structure to establish rational design tools for the development of novel engineered materials. Most studies, however, have focused on superhydrophobic wings obtained from a single insect species, in particular, the Psaltoda claripennis cicada. Here, we investigate the relationship between the spatially dependent wing wettability, topology, and droplet jumping behavior of multiple cicada species and their habitat, lifecycle, and interspecies relatedness. We focus on cicada wings of four different species: Neotibicen pruinosus, N. tibicen, Megatibicen dorsatus, and Magicicada septendecim and take a comparative approach. Using spatially resolved microgoniometry, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and high speed optical microscopy, we show that within cicada species, the wettability of wings is spatially homogeneous across wing cells. All four species were shown to have truncated conical pillars with widely varying length scales ranging from 50 to 400 nm in height. Comparison of the wettability revealed three cicada species with wings that are superhydrophobic (>150°) with low contact angle hysteresis (<5°), resulting in stable droplet jumping behavior. The fourth, more distantly related species (Ma. septendecim) showed only moderate hydrophobic behavior, eliminating some of the beneficial surface functional aspects for this cicada. Correlation between cicada habitat and wing wettability yielded little connection as wetter, swampy environments do not necessarily equate to higher measured wing hydrophobicity. The results, however, do point to species relatedness and reproductive strategy as a closer proxy for predicting wettability and surface structure and resultant enhanced wing surface functionality. This work not only elucidates the differences between inter- and intraspecies cicada wing topology, wettability, and water shedding behavior but also enables the development of rational design tools for the manufacture of artificial surfaces for energy and water applications.

Evaluation of the constant pressure panel method (CPM) for unsteady air loads prediction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Appa, Kari; Smith, Michael J. C.

1988-01-01

This paper evaluates the capability of the constant pressure panel method (CPM) code to predict unsteady aerodynamic pressures, lift and moment distributions, and generalized forces for general wing-body configurations in supersonic flow. Stability derivatives are computed and correlated for the X-29 and an Oblique Wing Research Aircraft, and a flutter analysis is carried out for a wing wind tunnel test example. Most results are shown to correlate well with test or published data. Although the emphasis of this paper is on evaluation, an improvement in the CPM code's handling of intersecting lifting surfaces is briefly discussed. An attractive feature of the CPM code is that it shares the basic data requirements and computational arrangements of the doublet lattice method. A unified code to predict unsteady subsonic or supersonic airloads is therefore possible.

An Airplane Design having a Wing with Fuselage Attached to Each Tip

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spearman, Leroy M.

2001-01-01

This paper describes the conceptual design of an airplane having a low aspect ratio wing with fuselages that are attached to each wing tip. The concept is proposed for a high-capacity transport as an alternate to progressively increasing the size of a conventional transport design having a single fuselage with cantilevered wing panels attached to the sides and tail surfaces attached at the rear. Progressively increasing the size of conventional single body designs may lead to problems in some area's such as manufacturing, ground-handling and aerodynamic behavior. A limited review will be presented of some past work related to means of relieving some size constraints through the use of multiple bodies. Recent low-speed wind-tunnel tests have been made of models representative of the inboard-wing concept. These models have a low aspect ratio wing with a fuselage attached to each tip. Results from these tests, which included force measurements, surface pressure measurements, and wake surveys, will be presented herein.

Wind Tunnel Test of a Risk-Reduction Wing/Fuselage Model to Examine Juncture-Flow Phenomena

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kegerise, Michael A.; Neuhart, Dan H.

2016-01-01

A wing/fuselage wind-tunnel model was tested in the Langley 14- by 22-foot Subsonic Wind Tunnel in preparation for a highly-instrumented Juncture Flow Experiment to be conducted in the same facility. This test, which was sponsored by the NASA Transformational Tool and Technologies Project, is part of a comprehensive set of experimental and computational research activities to develop revolutionary, physics-based aeronautics analysis and design capability. The objectives of this particular test were to examine the surface and off-body flow on a generic wing/body combination to: 1) choose a final wing for a future, highly instrumented model, 2) use the results to facilitate unsteady pressure sensor placement on the model, 3) determine the area to be surveyed with an embedded laser-doppler velocimetry (LDV) system, 4) investigate the primary juncture corner- flow separation region using particle image velocimetry (PIV) to see if the particle seeding is adequately entrained and to examine the structure in the separated region, and 5) to determine the similarity of observed flow features with those predicted by computational fluid dynamics (CFD). This report documents the results of the above experiment that specifically address the first three goals. Multiple wing configurations were tested at a chord Reynolds number of 2.4 million. Flow patterns on the surface of the wings and in the region of the wing/fuselage juncture were examined using oil- flow visualization and infrared thermography. A limited number of unsteady pressure sensors on the fuselage around the wing leading and trailing edges were used to identify any dynamic effects of the horseshoe vortex on the flow field. The area of separated flow in the wing/fuselage juncture near the wing trailing edge was observed for all wing configurations at various angles of attack. All of the test objectives were met. The staff of the 14- by 22-foot Subsonic Wind Tunnel provided outstanding support and delivered exceptional value to the experiment, which exceeded expectations. The results of this test will directly inform the planning for the first of a series of instrumented-model tests at the same Reynolds number. These tests will be performed on a slightly larger-scale model with the selected wing, and will include off-body measurements with LDV and PIV, steady and unsteady pressure measurements, and the flow-visualization techniques that are discussed in this report.

Reconfiguration control system for an aircraft wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wakayama, Sean R. (Inventor)

2008-01-01

Independently deflectable control surfaces are located on the trailing edge of the wing of a blended wing-body aircraft. The reconfiguration control system of the present invention controls the deflection of each control surface to optimize the spanwise lift distribution across the wing for each of several flight conditions, e.g., cruise, pitch maneuver, and high lift at low speed. The control surfaces are deflected and reconfigured to their predetermined optimal positions when the aircraft is in each of the aforementioned flight conditions. With respect to cruise, the reconfiguration control system will maximize the lift to drag ratio and keep the aircraft trimmed at a stable angle of attack. In a pitch maneuver, the control surfaces are deflected to pitch the aircraft and increase lift. Moreover, this increased lift has its spanwise center of pressure shifted inboard relative to its location for cruise. This inboard shifting reduces the increased bending moment about the aircraft's x-axis occasioned by the increased pitch force acting normal to the wing. To optimize high lift at low speed, during take-off and landing for example, the control surfaces are reconfigured to increase the local maximum coefficient of lift at stall-critical spanwise locations while providing pitch trim with control surfaces that are not stall critical.

Wind Tunnel Investigation of Passive Vortex Control and Vortex-Tail Interactions on a Slender Wing at Subsonic and Transonic Speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erickson, Gary E.

2013-01-01

A wind tunnel experiment was conducted in the NASA Langley 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel to determine the effects of passive porosity on vortex flow interactions about a slender wing configuration at subsonic and transonic speeds. Flow-through porosity was applied in several arrangements to a leading-edge extension, or LEX, mounted to a 65-degree cropped delta wing as a longitudinal instability mitigation technique. Test data were obtained with LEX on and off in the presence of a centerline vertical tail and twin, wing-mounted vertical fins to quantify the sensitivity of the aerodynamics to tail placement and orientation. A close-coupled canard was tested as an alternative to the LEX as a passive flow control device. Wing upper surface static pressure distributions and six-component forces and moments were obtained at Mach numbers of 0.50, 0.85, and 1.20, unit Reynolds number of 2.5 million, angles of attack up to approximately 30 degrees, and angles of sideslip to +/-8 degrees. The off-surface flow field was visualized in cross planes on selected configurations using a laser vapor screen flow visualization technique. Tunnel-to-tunnel data comparisons and a Reynolds number sensitivity assessment were also performed. 15.

An experimental study of the turbulent boundary layer on a transport wing in subsonic and transonic flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spaid, Frank W.; Roos, Frederick W.; Hicks, Raymond M.

1990-01-01

The upper surface boundary layer on a transport wing model was extensively surveyed with miniature yaw probes at a subsonic and a transonic cruise condition. Additional data were obtained at a second transonic test condition, for which a separated region was present at mid-semispan, aft of mid-chord. Significant variation in flow direction with distance from the surface was observed near the trailing edge except at the wing root and tip. The data collected at the transonic cruise condition show boundary layer growth associated with shock wave/boundary layer interaction, followed by recovery of the boundary layer downstream of the shock. Measurements of fluctuating surface pressure and wingtip acceleration were also obtained. The influence of flow field unsteadiness on the boundary layer data is discussed. Comparisons among the data and predictions from a variety of computational methods are presented. The computed predictions are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data in the outboard regions where 3-D effects are moderate and adverse pressure gradients are mild. In the more highly loaded mid-span region near the trailing edge, displacement thickness growth was significantly underpredicted, except when unrealistically severe adverse pressure gradients associated with inviscid calculations were used to perform boundary layer calculations.

Longitudinal Aerodynamic Characteristics to Large Angles of Attack of a Cruciform Missile Configuration at a Mach Number of 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spahr, J. R.

1954-01-01

The lift, pitching-moment, and drag characteristics of a missile configuration having a body of fineness ratio 9.33 and a cruciform triangular wing and tail of aspect ratio 4 were measured at a Mach number of 1.99 and a Reynolds number of 6.0 million, based on the body length. The tests were performed through an angle-of-attack range of -5 deg to 28 deg to investigate the effects on the aerodynamic characteristics of roll angle, wing-tail interdigitation, wing deflection, and interference among the components (body, wing, and tail). Theoretical lift and moment characteristics of the configuration and its components were calculated by the use of existing theoretical methods which have been modified for application to high angles of attack, and these characteristics are compared with experiment. The lift and drag characteristics of all combinations of the body, wing, and tail were independent of roll angle throughout the angle-of-attack range. The pitching-moment characteristics of the body-wing and body-wing-tail combinations, however, were influenced significantly by the roll angle at large angles of attack (greater than 10 deg). A roll from 0 deg (one pair of wing panels horizontal) to 45 deg caused a forward shift in the center of pressure which was of the same magnitude for both of these combinations, indicating that this shift originated from body-wing interference effects. A favorable lift-interference effect (lift of the combination greater than the sum of the lifts of the components) and a rearward shift in the center of pressure from a position corresponding to that for the components occurred at small angles of attack when the body was combined with either the exposed wing or tail surfaces. These lift and center-of-pressure interference effects were gradually reduced to zero as the angle of attack was increased to large values. The effect of wing-tail interference, which influenced primarily the pitching-moment characteristics, is dependent on the distance between the wing trailing vortex wake and the tail surfaces and thus was a function of angle of attack, angle of roll, and wing-tail interdigitation. Although the configuration at zero roll with the wing and tail in line exhibited the least center-of-pressure travel, the configuration with the wing and tail interdigitated had the least change in wing-tail interference over the angle-of-attack range. The lift effectiveness of the variable-incidence wing was reduced by more than 70 percent as a result of an increase in the combined angle of attack and wing incidence from 0 deg to 40 deg. The wing-tail interference (effective downwash at the tail) due to wing deflection was nearly zero as a result of a region of negative vorticity shed from the inboard portion of the wing. The lift characteristics of the configuration and its components were satisfactorily predicted by the calculated results, but the pitching moments at large angles of attack were not because of the influence of factors for which no adequate theory is available, such as the variation of the crossflow drag coefficient along the body and the effect of the wing downwash field on the afterbody loading.

F-16XL ship #1 CAWAP flight - alpha 10 degrees, beta -5 degrees, altitude 10,000 feet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

The single-seat F-16XL (ship #1) makes another run during the Cranked-Arrow Wing Aerodynamic Project (CAWAP) at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The modified airplane features a delta 'cranked-arrow' wing with strips of tubing along the leading edge to the trailing edge to sense static on the wing and obtain pressure distribution data. The right wing receives data on pressure distribution and the left wing has three types of instrumentation - preston tubes to measure local skin friction, boundary layer rakes to measure boundary layer profiles (the layer where the air interacts with the surfaces of a moving aircraft), and hot films to determine boundary layer transition locations. This photo shows the aircraft gathering data at an altitude of 10,000 feet, with an angle of attack of 10 degrees and a sideslip angle of -5 degrees. The program also gathered aero data on two wing planforms for NASA's High Speed Research Program. The first flight of CAWAP occurred on November 21, 1995, and the test program ended in April 1996.

F-16XL ship #1 CAWAP flight - alpha 21 degrees, altitude 17,500 feet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

The single-seat F-16XL (ship #1) makes another run during the Cranked-Arrow Wing Aerodynamic Project (CAWAP) at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The modified airplane features a delta 'cranked-arrow' wing with strips of tubing along the leading edge to the trailing edge to sense static on the wing and obtain pressure distribution data. The right wing receives data on pressure distribution and the left wing (visible here) has three types of instrumentation - preston tubes to measure local skin friction, boundary layer rakes to measure boundary layer profiles (the layer where the air interacts with the surfaces of a moving aircraft), and hot films to determine boundary layer transition locations. This photo shows the aircraft gathering data at an altitude of 17,500 feet, with an angle of attack of 21 degrees The program also gathered aero data on two wing planforms for NASA's High Speed Research Program. The first flight of CAWAP occurred on November 21, 1995, and the test program ended in April 1996.

Subsonic and transonic hinge moment and wing bending/torsion characteristics of .015 scale space shuttle models 49-0 and 67-TS in the Rockwell International trisonic wind tunnel (IA70), volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hughes, M. T.; Mennell, R. C.

1974-01-01

Experimental aerodynamic investigations were conducted on an 0.015-scale representation of the integrated space shuttle launch vehicle in the trisonic wind tunnel. The primary test objective was to obtain subsonic and transonic elevon and bodyflap hinge moments and wing bending-torsion moments in the presence of the launch vehicle. Wing pressures were also recorded for the upper and lower right wing surfaces at two spanwise stations. The hinge moment, wing bending/torsion moments and wing pressure data were recorded over an angle-of-attack (alpha) range from -8 deg to +8 deg, and angle-of-sideslip (beta) range from -8 deg to +8 deg and at Mach numbers of 0.90, 1.12, 1.24 and 1.50. Tests were also conducted to determine the effects of the orbiter rear attach cross beam and the forward attach wedge and strut diameter. The orbiter alone was tested at 0.90 and 1.24 Mach number only.

Developing an Accurate CFD Based Gust Model for the Truss Braced Wing Aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bartels, Robert E.

2013-01-01

The increased flexibility of long endurance aircraft having high aspect ratio wings necessitates attention to gust response and perhaps the incorporation of gust load alleviation. The design of civil transport aircraft with a strut or truss-braced high aspect ratio wing furthermore requires gust response analysis in the transonic cruise range. This requirement motivates the use of high fidelity nonlinear computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for gust response analysis. This paper presents the development of a CFD based gust model for the truss braced wing aircraft. A sharp-edged gust provides the gust system identification. The result of the system identification is several thousand time steps of instantaneous pressure coefficients over the entire vehicle. This data is filtered and downsampled to provide the snapshot data set from which a reduced order model is developed. A stochastic singular value decomposition algorithm is used to obtain a proper orthogonal decomposition (POD). The POD model is combined with a convolution integral to predict the time varying pressure coefficient distribution due to a novel gust profile. Finally the unsteady surface pressure response of the truss braced wing vehicle to a one-minus-cosine gust, simulated using the reduced order model, is compared with the full CFD.

Experimental investigation of localized disturbances in the straight wing boundary layer, generated by finite surface vibrations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozlov, V. V.; Katasonov, M. M.; Pavlenko, A. M.

2017-10-01

Downstream development of artificial disturbances were investigated experimentally using hot-wire constant temperature anemometry. It is shown that vibrations with high-amplitude of a three-dimensional surface lead to formation of two types of perturbations in the straight wing boundary layer: streamwise oriented localized structures and wave packets. The amplitude of streamwise structure is decay downstream. The wave packets amplitude grows in adverse pressure gradient area. The flow separation is exponentially intensified of the wave packet amplitude.

Exploratory studies of the cruise performance of upper surface blown configuration: Experimental program, high-speed force tests

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Braden, J. A.; Hancock, J. P.; Burdges, K. P.; Hackett, J. E.

1979-01-01

The work to develop a wing-nacelle arrangement to accommodate a wide range of upper surface blown configuration is reported. Pertinent model and installation details are described. Data of the effects of a wide range of nozzle geometric variations are presented. Nozzle aspect ratio, boattail angle, and chordwise position are among the parameters investigated. Straight and swept wing configurations were tested across a range of nozzle pressure ratios, lift coefficients, and Mach numbers.

A study of canard-wing interference using experimental pressure data at transonic speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gloss, B. B.; Washburn, K. E.

1979-01-01

The canard had an exposed area of 28.0 percent of the wing reference area and was located in the chord plane of the wing or in a position 18.5 percent of the wing mean geometric chord above or below the wing chord plane. The canard leading edge sweep was 51.7 deg and the wing leading-edge sweep was 60 deg. The results indicated that the direct canard downwash effects on the wing loading are limited to the forward half of the wing directly behind the canard. The wing leading-edge vortex is located farther forward for the wing in the presence of the canard than for the wing-alone configuration. The wake, from the canard located below the wing chord plane, physically interacts with the wing inboard surface and produces a substantial loss of wing lift. For the Mach number 0.70 case, the presence of the wing increased the loading on the canard for the higher angles of attack. However, at Mach numbers of 0.95 and 1.20, the presence of the wing had the unexpected result of unloading the canard.

An analytical design procedure for the determination of effective leading edge extensions on thick delta wings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ghaffari, F.; Chaturvedi, S. K.

1984-01-01

An analytical design procedure for leading edge extensions (LEE) was developed for thick delta wings. This LEE device is designed to be mounted to a wing along the pseudo-stagnation stream surface associated with the attached flow design lift coefficient of greater than zero. The intended purpose of this device is to improve the aerodynamic performance of high subsonic and low supersonic aircraft at incidences above that of attached flow design lift coefficient, by using a vortex system emanating along the leading edges of the device. The low pressure associated with these vortices would act on the LEE upper surface and the forward facing area at the wing leading edges, providing an additional lift and effective leading edge thrust recovery. The first application of this technique was to a thick, round edged, twisted and cambered wing of approximately triangular planform having a sweep of 58 deg and aspect ratio of 2.30. The panel aerodynamics and vortex lattice method with suction analogy computer codes were employed to determine the pseudo-stagnation stream surface and an optimized LEE planform shape.

Experimental Surface Pressure Data Obtained on 65 deg Delta Wing Across Reynolds Number and Mach Number Ranges. Volume 2; Small-Radius Leading Edge

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chu, Julio; Luckring, James M.

1996-01-01

An experimental wind tunnel test of a 65 deg. delta wing model with interchangeable leading edges was conducted in the Langley National Transonic Facility (NTF). The objective was to investigate the effects of Reynolds and Mach numbers on slender-wing leading-edge vortex flows with four values of wing leading-edge bluntness. Experimentally obtained pressure data are presented without analysis in tabulated and graphical formats across a Reynolds number range of 6 x 10(exp 6) to 84 x 10(exp 6) at a Mach number of 0.85 and across a Mach number range of 0.4 to 0.9 at Reynolds numbers of 6 x 10(exp 6) and 60 x 10(exp 6). Normal-force and pitching-moment coefficient plots for these Reynolds number and Mach number ranges are also presented.

Experimental Surface Pressure Data Obtained on 65 deg Delta Wing Across Reynolds Number and Mach Number Ranges. Vol. 4: Large-radius leading edge

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chu, Julio; Luckring, James M.

1996-01-01

An experimental wind tunnel test of a 65 deg delta wing model with interchangeable leading edges was conducted in the Langley National Transonic Facility (NTF). The objective was to investigate the effects of Reynolds and Mach numbers on slender-wing leading-edge vortex flows with four values of wing leading-edge bluntness. Experimentally obtained pressure data are presented without analysis in tabulated and graphical formats across a Reynolds number range of 6 x 10(exp 6) to 120 x 10(exp 6) at a Mach number of 0.85 and across a Mach number range of 0.4 to 0.9 at Reynolds numbers of 6 x 10(exp 6) and 60 x 10(exp 6). Normal-force and pitching-moment coefficient plots for these Reynolds number and Mach number ranges are also presented.

Experimental Surface Pressure Data Obtained on 65 deg Delta Wing Across Reynolds Number and Mach Number Ranges. Vol. 3: Medium-radius leading edge

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chu, Julio; Luckring, James M.

1996-01-01

An experimental wind tunnel test of a 65 deg delta wing model with interchangeable leading edges was conducted in the Langley National Transonic Facility (NTF). The objective was to investigate the effects of Reynolds and Mach numbers on slender-wing leading-edge vortex flows with four values of wing leading-edge bluntness. Experimentally obtained pressure data are presented without analysis in tabulated and graphical formats across a Reynolds number range of 6 x 10(exp 6) to 120 x 10(exp 6) at a Mach number of 0.85 and across a Mach number range of 0.4 to 0.9 at Reynolds numbers of 6 x 10(exp 6), 60 x 10(exp 6), and 120 x 10(exp 6). Normal-force and pitching-moment coefficient plots for these Reynolds number and Mach number ranges are also presented.

Experimental Surface Pressure Data Obtained on 65 deg Delta Wing Across Reynolds Number and Mach Number Ranges. Volume 1; Sharp Leading Edge; [conducted in the Langley National Transonic Facility (NTF)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chu, Julio; Luckring, James M.

1996-01-01

An experimental wind tunnel test of a 65 deg delta wing model with interchangeable leading edges was conducted in the Langley National Transonic Facility (NTF). The objective was to investigate the effects of Reynolds and Mach numbers on slender-wing leading-edge vortex flows with four values of wing leading-edge bluntness. Experimentally obtained pressure data are presented without analysis in tabulated and graphical formats across a Reynolds number range of 6 x 10(exp 6) to 36 x 10(exp 6) at a Mach number of 0.85 and across a Mach number range of 0.4 to 0.9 at a Reynolds number of 6 x 10(exp 6). Normal-force and pitching-moment coefficient plots for these Reynolds number and Mach number ranges are also presented.

FUN3D Analyses in Support of the First Aeroelastic Prediction Workshop

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chwalowski, Pawel; Heeg, Jennifer; Wieseman, Carol D.; Florance, Jennifer P.

2013-01-01

This paper presents the computational aeroelastic results generated in support of the first Aeroelastic Prediction Workshop for the Benchmark Supercritical Wing (BSCW) and the HIgh REynolds Number AeroStructural Dynamics (HIRENASD) configurations and compares them to the experimental data. The computational results are obtained using FUN3D, an unstructured grid Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes solver developed at NASA Langley Research Center. The analysis results for both configurations include aerodynamic coefficients and surface pressures obtained for steady-state or static aeroelastic equilibrium (BSCW and HIRENASD, respectively) and for unsteady flow due to a pitching wing (BSCW) or modally-excited wing (HIRENASD). Frequency response functions of the pressure coefficients with respect to displacement are computed and compared with the experimental data. For the BSCW, the shock location is computed aft of the experimentally-located shock position. The pressure distribution upstream of this shock is in excellent agreement with the experimental data, but the pressure downstream of the shock in the separated flow region does not match as well. For HIRENASD, very good agreement between the numerical results and the experimental data is observed at the mid-span wing locations.

Effect of wing flexibility in dragonfly hovering flight

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naidu, Vishal; Young, John; Lai, Joseph

2011-11-01

Dragonflies have two pairs of tandem wings, which can be operated independently. Most studies on tandem wings are based on rigid wings, which is in strong contradiction to the natural, flexible dragonfly wings. The effect of wing flexibility in tandem wings is little known. We carry out a comparative, computational study between rigid and flexible, dragonfly shaped wings for hovering flight. In rigid wings during downstroke, a leading edge vortex (LEV) is formed on the upper surface, which forms a low pressure zone. This conical LEV joins the tip vortex and shortly after the mid downstroke when the wing starts to rotate, these vortices are gradually shed resulting in a drop in lift. The vortex system creates a net downwards momentum in the form of a jet. The flexible wings while in motion deform due to aerodynamic and inertial forces. Since there is a strong interaction between wing deformation and air flow around the deformed wings, flexible wing simulations are carried out using a two way fluid structure interaction. The effect of wing flexibility on the flow structure and the subsequent effect on the aerodynamic forces will be studied and presented.

The inviscid pressure field on the tip of a semi-infinite wing and its application to the formation of a tip vortex

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hall, G. F.; Shamroth, S. J.; Mcdonald, H.; Briley, W. R.

1976-01-01

A method was developed for determining the aerodynamic loads on the tip of an infinitely thin, swept, cambered semi-infinite wing at an angle of attack which is operating subsonically in an inviscid medium and is subjected to a sinusoidal gust. Under the assumption of linearized aerodynamics, the loads on the tip are obtained by superposition of the steady aerodynamic results for angle of attack and camber, and the unsteady results for the response to the sinusoidal gust. The near field disturbance pressures in the fluid surrounding the tip are obtained by assuming a dipole representation for the loading on the tip and calculating the pressures accordingly. The near field pressures are used to drive a reduced form of the Navier-Stokes equations which yield the tip vortex formation. The combined viscid-inviscid analysis is applied to determining the pressures and examining the vortex rollup in the vicinity of an unswept, uncambered wing moving steadily at a Mach number of 0.2 at an angle of attack of 0.1 rad. The viscous tip flow calculation shows features expected in the tip flow such as the qualitatively proper development of boundary layers on both the upper and lower airfoil surfaces. In addition, application of the viscous solution leads to the generation of a circular type flow pattern above the airfoil suction surface.

Wind Tunnel Investigation of the Effects of Surface Porosity and Vertical Tail Placement on Slender Wing Vortex Flow Aerodynamics at Supersonic Speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erickson, Gary E.

2007-01-01

A wind tunnel experiment was conducted in the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel (UPWT) to determine the effects of passive surface porosity and vertical tail placement on vortex flow development and interactions about a general research fighter configuration at supersonic speeds. Optical flow measurement and flow visualization techniques were used that featured pressure sensitive paint (PSP), laser vapor screen (LVS), and schlieren, These techniques were combined with conventional electronically-scanned pressure (ESP) and six-component force and moment measurements to quantify and to visualize the effects of flow-through porosity applied to a wing leading edge extension (LEX) and the placement of centerline and twin vertical tails on the vortex-dominated flow field of a 65 cropped delta wing model. Test results were obtained at free-stream Mach numbers of 1.6, 1.8, and 2.1 and a Reynolds number per foot of 2.0 million. LEX porosity promoted a wing vortex-dominated flow field as a result of a diffusion and weakening of the LEX vortex. The redistribution of the vortex-induced suction pressures contributed to large nose-down pitching moment increments but did not significantly affect the vortex-induced lift. The trends associated with LEX porosity were unaffected by vertical tail placement. The centerline tail configuration generally provided more stable rolling moments and yawing moments compared to the twin wing-mounted vertical tails. The strength of a complex system of shock waves between the twin tails was reduced by LEX porosity.

Construction, wind tunnel testing and data analysis for a 1/5 scale ultra-light wing model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

James, Michael D.; Smith, Howard W.

1993-01-01

This report documents the construction, wind tunnel testing, and data analysis of a 1/5 scale ultra-light wing section. Wind tunnel testing provided accurate and meaningful lift, drag, and pitching moment data. This data was processed and graphically presented as follows: C(sub L) vs. gamma; C(sub D) vs. gamma; C(sub M) vs. gamma; and C(sub L) vs. C(sub D). The wing fabric flexure was found to be significant and its possible effects on aerodynamic data was discussed. The fabric flexure is directly related to wing angle of attack and airspeed. Different wing section shapes created by fabric flexure are presented with explanations of the types of pressures that act upon the wing surface. This report provides conclusive aerodynamic data for ultra-light wings.

Flap survey test of a combined surface blowing model: Flow measurements at static flow conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fukushima, T.

1978-01-01

The Combined Surface Blowing (CSB) V/STOL lift/propulsion system consists of a blown flap system which deflects the exhaust from a turbojet engine over a system of flaps deployed at the trailing edge of the wing. Flow measurements consisting of velocity measurements using split film probes and total measure surveys using a miniature Kiel probe were made at control stations along the flap systems at two spanwise stations, the centerline of the nozzle and 60 percent of the nozzle span outboard of the centerline. Surface pressure measurements were made in the wing cove and the upper surface of the first flap element. The test showed a significant flow separation in the wing cove. The extent of the separation is so large that the flow into the first flap takes place only at the leading edge of the flap. The velocity profile measurements indicate that large spanwise (3 dimensional) flow may exist.

Overview of the ARPA/WL Smart Structures and Materials Development-Smart Wing contract

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kudva, Jayanth N.; Jardine, A. Peter; Martin, Christopher A.; Appa, Kari

1996-05-01

While the concept of an adaptive aircraft wing, i.e., a wing whose shape parameters such as camber, wing twist, and thickness can be varied to optimize the wing shape for various flight conditions, has been extensively studied, the complexity and weight penalty of the actuation mechanisms have precluded their practical implementation. Recent development of sensors and actuators using smart materials could potentially alleviate the shortcomings of prior designs, paving the way for a practical, `smart' adaptive wing which responds to changes in flight and environmental conditions by modifying its shape to provide optimal performance. This paper presents a summary of recent work done on adaptive wing designs under an on-going ARPA/WL contract entitled `Smart Structures and Materials Development--Smart Wing.' Specifically, the design, development and planned wind tunnel testing of a 16% model representative of a fighter aircraft wing and incorporating the following features, are discussed: (1) a composite wing torque box whose span-wise twist can be varied by activating built-in shape memory alloy (SMA) torque tubes to provide increased lift and enhanced maneuverability at multiple flight conditions, (2) trailing edge control surfaces deployed using composite SMA actuators to provide smooth, hingeless aerodynamic surfaces, and (3) a suite of fiber optic sensors integrated into the wing skin which provide real-time strain and pressure data to a feedback control system.

INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF SURFACE PRESSURE CHARACTERISTICS OF TWO ROTARY WING UAV DESIGNS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, Henry E.; Wong, Oliver D.; Watkins, A. Neal; Noonan, Kevin W.; Reis, Deane G.; Malovrh, Brendon D.; Ingram, Joanne L.

2006-01-01

This paper presents results of an experimental investigation of two rotary-wing UAV designs. The primary goal of the investigation was to provide a set of interactional aerodynamic data for an emerging class of rotorcraft. The present paper provides an overview of the test and an introduction to the test articles, and instrumentation. Sample data in the form of fixed system pressure coefficient response to changes in configuration attitude and flight condition for both rotor off and on conditions are presented. The presence of the rotor is seen to greatly affect the magnitude of the response. Pressure coefficients were measured using both conventional pressure taps and via pressure sensitive paint. Comparisons between the two methods are presented and demonstrate that the pressure sensitive paint is a promising method; however, further work on the technique is required.

Transonic Dynamics Tunnel Force and Pressure Data Acquired on the HSR Rigid Semispan Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schuster, David M.; Rausch, Russ D.

1999-01-01

This report describes the aerodynamic data acquired on the High Speed Research Rigid Semispan Model (HSR-RSM) during NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT) Test 520 conducted from 18 March to 4 April, 1996. The purpose of this test was to assess the aerodynamic character of a rigid high speed civil transport wing. The wing was fitted with a single trailing edge control surface which was both steadily deflected and oscillated during the test to investigate the response of the aerodynamic data to steady and unsteady control motion. Angle-of-attack and control surface deflection polars at subsonic, transonic and low-supersonic Mach numbers were obtained in the tunnel?s heavy gas configuration. Unsteady pressure and steady loads data were acquired on the wing, while steady pressures were measured on the fuselage. These data were reduced using a variety of methods, programs and computer systems. The reduced data was ultimately compiled onto a CD-ROM volume which was distributed to HSR industry team members in July, 1996. This report documents the methods used to acquire and reduce the data, and provides an assessment of the quality, repeatability, and overall character of the aerodynamic data measured during this test.

Aeroelasticity of morphing wings using neural networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Natarajan, Anand

In this dissertation, neural networks are designed to effectively model static non-linear aeroelastic problems in adaptive structures and linear dynamic aeroelastic systems with time varying stiffness. The use of adaptive materials in aircraft wings allows for the change of the contour or the configuration of a wing (morphing) in flight. The use of smart materials, to accomplish these deformations, can imply that the stiffness of the wing with a morphing contour changes as the contour changes. For a rapidly oscillating body in a fluid field, continuously adapting structural parameters may render the wing to behave as a time variant system. Even the internal spars/ribs of the aircraft wing which define the wing stiffness can be made adaptive, that is, their stiffness can be made to vary with time. The immediate effect on the structural dynamics of the wing, is that, the wing motion is governed by a differential equation with time varying coefficients. The study of this concept of a time varying torsional stiffness, made possible by the use of active materials and adaptive spars, in the dynamic aeroelastic behavior of an adaptable airfoil is performed here. Another type of aeroelastic problem of an adaptive structure that is investigated here, is the shape control of an adaptive bump situated on the leading edge of an airfoil. Such a bump is useful in achieving flow separation control for lateral directional maneuverability of the aircraft. Since actuators are being used to create this bump on the wing surface, the energy required to do so needs to be minimized. The adverse pressure drag as a result of this bump needs to be controlled so that the loss in lift over the wing is made minimal. The design of such a "spoiler bump" on the surface of the airfoil is an optimization problem of maximizing pressure drag due to flow separation while minimizing the loss in lift and energy required to deform the bump. One neural network is trained using the CFD code FLUENT to represent the aerodynamic loading over the bump. A second neural network is trained for calculating the actuator loads, bump displacement and lift, drag forces over the airfoil using the finite element solver, ANSYS and the previously trained neural network. This non-linear aeroelastic model of the deforming bump on an airfoil surface using neural networks can serve as a fore-runner for other non-linear aeroelastic problems.

Active load control during rolling maneuvers. [performed in the Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woods-Vedeler, Jessica A.; Pototzky, Anthony S.; Hoadley, Sherwood T.

1994-01-01

A rolling maneuver load alleviation (RMLA) system has been demonstrated on the active flexible wing (AFW) wind tunnel model in the Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT). The objective was to develop a systematic approach for designing active control laws to alleviate wing loads during rolling maneuvers. Two RMLA control laws were developed that utilized outboard control-surface pairs (leading and trailing edge) to counteract the loads and that used inboard trailing-edge control-surface pairs to maintain roll performance. Rolling maneuver load tests were performed in the TDT at several dynamic pressures that included two below and one 11 percent above open-loop flutter dynamic pressure. The RMLA system was operated simultaneously with an active flutter suppression system above open-loop flutter dynamic pressure. At all dynamic pressures for which baseline results were obtained, torsion-moment loads were reduced for both RMLA control laws. Results for bending-moment load reductions were mixed; however, design equations developed in this study provided conservative estimates of load reduction in all cases.

Navier-Stokes flowfield computation of wing/rotor interaction for a tilt rotor aircraft in hover

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fejtek, Ian G.

1993-01-01

The download on the wing produced by the rotor-induced downwash of a tilt rotor aircraft in hover is of major concern because of its severe impact on payload-carrying capability. A method has been developed to help gain a better understanding of the fundamental fluid dynamics that causes this download, and to help find ways to reduce it. In particular, the method is employed in this work to analyze the effect of a tangential leading edge circulation-control jet on download reduction. Because of the complexities associated with modeling the complete configuration, this work focuses specifically on the wing/rotor interaction of a tilt rotor aircraft in hover. The three-dimensional, unsteady, thin-layer compressible Navier-Stokes equations are solved using a time-accurate, implicit, finite difference scheme that employs LU-ADI factorization. The rotor is modeled as an actuator disk which imparts both a radical and an azimuthal distribution of pressure rise and swirl to the flowfield. A momentum theory blade element analysis of the rotor is incorporated into the Navier-Stokes solution method. Solution blanking at interior points of the mesh has been shown here to be an effective technique in introducing the effects of the rotor and tangential leading edge jet. Results are presented both for a rotor alone and for wing/rotor interaction. The overall mean characteristics of the rotor flowfield are computed including the flow acceleration through the rotor disk, the axial and swirl velocities in the rotor downwash, and the slipstream contraction. Many of the complex tilt rotor flow features are captured including the highly three-dimensional flow over the wing, the recirculation fountain at the plane of symmetry, wing leading and trailing edge separation, and the large region of separated flow beneath the wing. Mean wing surface pressures compare fairly well with available experimental data, but the time-averaged download/thrust ratio is 20-30 percent higher than the measured value. The discrepancy is due to a combination of factors that are discussed. Leading edge tangential blowing, of constant strength along the wing span, is shown to be effective in reducing download. The jet serves primarily to reduce the pressure on the wing upper surface. The computation clearly shows that, because of the three-dimensionality of the flowfield, optimum blowing would involve a spanwise variation in blowing strength.

The calculation of steady non-linear transonic flow over finite wings with linear theory aerodynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cunningham, A. M., Jr.

1976-01-01

The feasibility of calculating steady mean flow solutions for nonlinear transonic flow over finite wings with a linear theory aerodynamic computer program is studied. The methodology is based on independent solutions for upper and lower surface pressures that are coupled through the external flow fields. Two approaches for coupling the solutions are investigated which include the diaphragm and the edge singularity method. The final method is a combination of both where a line source along the wing leading edge is used to account for blunt nose airfoil effects; and the upper and lower surface flow fields are coupled through a diaphragm in the plane of the wing. An iterative solution is used to arrive at the nonuniform flow solution for both nonlifting and lifting cases. Final results for a swept tapered wing in subcritical flow show that the method converges in three iterations and gives excellent agreement with experiment at alpha = 0 deg and 2 deg. Recommendations are made for development of a procedure for routine application.

Unsteady pressure and structural response measurements of an elastic supercritical wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eckstrom, Clinton V.; Seidel, David A.; Sandford, Maynard C.

1988-01-01

Results are presented which define unsteady flow conditions associated with high dynamic response experienced on a high aspect ratio elastic supercritical wing at transonic test conditions while being tested in the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. The supercritical wing, designed for a cruise Mach number of 0.80, experienced the high dynamic response in the Mach number range from 0.90 to 0.94 with the maximum response occurring at a Mach number of approximately 0.92. At the maximum wing response condition the forcing function appears to be the oscillatory chordwise movement of strong shocks located on both the wing upper and lower surfaces in conjunction with the flow separating and reattaching in the trailing edge region.

Unsteady pressure and structural response measurements on an elastic supercritical wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eckstrom, Clinton V.; Seidel, David A.; Sandford, Maynard C.

1988-01-01

Results are presented which define unsteady flow conditions associated with high dynamic response experienced on a high aspect ratio elastic supercritical wing at transonic test conditions while being tested in the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. The supercritical wing, designed for a cruise Mach number of 0.80, experienced the high dynamic response in the Mach number range from 0.90 to 0.94 with the maximum response occurring at a Mach number of approximately 0.92. At the maximum wing response condition the forcing function appears to be the oscillatory chordwise movement of strong shocks located on both the wing upper and lower surfaces in conjuction with the flow separating and reattaching in the trailing edge region.

Pressure and heat-transfer distributions in a simulated wing-elevon cove with variable leakage at a free-stream Mach number of 6.9

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deveikis, W. D.; Bartlett, W.

1978-01-01

An experimental aerodynamic heating investigation was conducted to determine effects of hot boundary-layer ingestion into the cove on the windward surface between a wing and elevon for cove seal leak areas nominally between 0 and 100 percent of cove entrance area. Pressure and heating-rate distributions were obtained on the wing and elevon surfaces and on the cove walls of a full-scale model that represented a section of the cove region on the space shuttle orbiter. Data were obtained for both attached and separated turbulent boundary layers upstream of the unswept cove entrance. Average free-stream Mach number was 6.9, average free-stream unit Reynolds numbers were 1.31 x 10 to the 6th power and 4.40 x 10 to the 6th power per meter (0.40 x 10 to the 6th power and 1.34 x 10 to the 6th power per foot), and average total temperature was 1888 K (3400 R). Cove pressures and heating rates varied as a function of seal leak area independent of leak aspect ratio. Although cove heating rates for attached flow did not appear intolerable, it was postulated that convective heating in the cove may increase with time. For separated flow, the cove environment was considered too severe for unprotected interior structures of control surfaces.

Effect of Thickness-to-Chord Ratio on Flow Structure of Low Swept Delta Wing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gulsacan, Burak; Sencan, Gizem; Yavuz, Mehmet Metin

2017-11-01

The effect of thickness-to-chord (t/C) ratio on flow structure of a delta wing with sweep angle of 35 degree is characterized in a low speed wind tunnel using laser illuminated smoke visualization, particle image velocimetry, and surface pressure measurements. Four different t/C ratio varying from 4.75% to 19% are tested at angles of attack 4, 6, 8, and 10 degrees for Reynolds numbers Re =10,000 and 35,000. The results indicate that the effect of thickness-to-chord ratio on flow structure is quite substantial, such that, as the wing thickness increases, the flow structure transforms from leading edge vortex to three-dimensional separated flow regime. The wing with low t/C ratio of 4.75% experiences pronounced surface separation at significantly higher angle of attack compared to the wing with high t/C ratio. The results might explain some of the discrepancies reported in previously conducted studies related to delta wings. In addition, it is observed that the thickness of the shear layer separated from windward side of the wing is directly correlated with the thickness of the wing. To conclude, the flow structure on low swept delta wing is highly affected by t/C ratio, which in turn might indicate the potential usage of wing thickness as an effective flow control parameter.

Controlling Structure and Properties of High Surface Area Nonwoven Materials via Hydroentangling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luzius, Dennis

Hydroentangling describes a technique using a series of high-velocity water jets to mechanically interlock and entangle fibers. Over the last decades researchers worked on a fundamental understanding of the process and the factors influencing the properties of the final nonwoven material. Recent studies discovered hydroentangling to be capable to create unique, knot-like structures characterized by high- and low density regions, which are believed to have interesting properties for filtration applications. However, just little is known about the impact of hydroentangling parameters on the properties of filtration media to this day. In this study we report on the effect of various hydroentangling parameters, such as jet spacing, manifold pressure, number of manifolds but also specific energy on the structure and properties of high surface area nonwoven materials. Latter was achieved by different bicomponent fiber technologies and subsequent treatments removing the sacrificial compound from the structure. The highest BET surface area was measured to be 3.5 m2 g-1 and the smallest mean fiber size about 0.5 mum. Hydroentangling with large jet spacing was found to be a parameter significantly enhancing the filtration properties of caustic-treated island-in-the-sea nonwoven materials. Moreover, improved capture efficiencies and reduced pressure drops were achieved by reducing the manifold pressure and therefore specific energy during hydroentangling. Jet spacing but not island count was found to be the dominant factor influencing the structure and properties of island-in-the-sea nonwovens. Contrary to our initial expectations increasing the island count and thus decreasing the fiber size did not result in better filtration properties. Mixed media nonwoven structures made from homocomponent and island-in-the-sea fibers were found to have lower densities, higher air permeabilities and better quality factors compared to island-in-the-sea structures hydroentangled under the exact same conditions. Study showed the specific energy to not be an adequate measure for describing the process-structure relationship in hydroentangling. Hydroentangling with same specific energy but different manifold pressures revealed the structure and properties to be different and the peak manifold pressure to be the dominant parameter. It was further shown that hydroentangling with multiple manifolds but same water pressure influences the structure and properties of mono- and bicomponent nonwoven materials. Hydroentangling with three manifolds having the same water pressure resulted in stronger, less permeable fabrics compared to two manifolds or one manifold with the same water pressure. Necessary hydroentangling intensity for winged and island-in-the-sea nonwoven materials was found to be different. Winged fiber nonwovens required higher manifold pressures and a different energy ratio than island-in-in-the-sea nonwovens. Hydroentangling winged fiber webs with jet spacing larger than 600 mum resulted in materials too weak to withstand the caustic-treatment. Study indicated the charging potential of winged fiber nonwovens to be superior compared to island-in-the-sea-structures. In contrast to winged fiber nonwovens, island-in-the-sea structures showed higher pressure drops after corona discharge. Loading winged fiber nonwovens with potassium chloride revealed caustic-treated, IPA discharged materials to show the highest loading capacity.

Vortex Flap Technology: a Stability and Control Assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carey, K. M.; Erickson, G. E.

1984-01-01

A comprehensive low-speed wind tunnel investigation was performed of leading edge vortex flaps applied to representative aircraft configurations. A determination was made of the effects of analytically- and empirically-designed vortex flaps on the static longitudinal and lateral-directional aerodynamics, stability, and control characteristics of fighter wings having leading-edge sweep angles of 45 to 76.5 degrees. The sensitivity to several configuration modifications was assessed, which included the effects of flap planform, leading- and trailing-edge flap deflection angles, wing location on the fuselage, forebody strakes, canards, and centerline and outboard vertical tails. Six-component forces and moments, wing surface static pressure distributions, and surface flow patterns were obtained using the Northrop 21- by 30-inch low-speed wind tunnel.

Space shuttle: Longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of low aspect ratio wing configurations in ground effect for a moving and stationary ground surface

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Romere, P. O.; Chambliss, E. B.

1972-01-01

A 0.05-scale model of the NASA-MSC Orbiter 040A Configuration was tested. Test duration was approximately 80 hours during which the model was tested in and out of ground effect with a stationary and moving ground belt. Model height from ground plane surface was varied from one and one-half wing span to landing touchdown while angle of attack varied from -4 to 20 degrees. Eleven effectiveness and alternate configuration geometries were tested to insure complete analysis of low aspect ratio wing aircraft in the presence of ground effect. Test Mach number was approximately 0.067 with a corresponding dynamic pressure value of 6.5 psf.

Overview of the Cranked-Arrow Wing Aerodynamics Project International

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Obara, Clifford J.; Lamar, John E.

2008-01-01

This paper provides a brief history of the F-16XL-1 aircraft, its role in the High Speed Research program and how it was morphed into the Cranked Arrow Wing Aerodynamics Project. Various flight, wind-tunnel and Computational Fluid Dynamics data sets were generated as part of the project. These unique and open flight datasets for surface pressures, boundary-layer profiles and skin-friction distributions, along with surface flow data, are described and sample data comparisons given. This is followed by a description of how the project became internationalized to be known as Cranked Arrow Wing Aerodynamics Project International and is concluded by an introduction to the results of a four year computational predictive study of data collected at flight conditions by participating researchers.

Control of Flow Structure on Non-Slender Delta Wing: Bio-inspired Edge Modifications, Passive Bleeding, and Pulsed Blowing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yavuz, Mehmet Metin; Celik, Alper; Cetin, Cenk

2016-11-01

In the present study, different flow control approaches including bio-inspired edge modifications, passive bleeding, and pulsed blowing are introduced and applied for the flow over non-slender delta wing. Experiments are conducted in a low speed wind tunnel for a 45 degree swept delta wing using qualitative and quantitative measurement techniques including laser illuminated smoke visualization, particle image velocimety (PIV), and surface pressure measurements. For the bio-inspired edge modifications, the edges of the wing are modified to dolphin fluke geometry. In addition, the concept of flexion ratio, a ratio depending on the flexible length of animal propulsors such as wings, is introduced. For passive bleeding, directing the free stream air from the pressure side of the planform to the suction side of the wing is applied. For pulsed blowing, periodic air injection through the leading edge of the wing is performed in a square waveform with 25% duty cycle at different excitation frequencies and compared with the steady and no blowing cases. The results indicate that each control approach is quite effective in terms of altering the overall flow structure on the planform. However, the success level, considering the elimination of stall or delaying the vortex breakdown, depends on the parameters in each method.

F-16XL ship #1 crew

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1995-01-01

November 27, 1995 Photograph of the F-16XL Ship #1 Cranked-Arrow Wing Aerodynamic Project (CAWAP) Test Team; from left to right, Ron Wilcox; Operations Engineer, Art Cope; Aircraft Mechanic, Dave Fisher; Chief Project Engineer, Dick Denman; Aircraft Mechanic, Bob Garcia; A/C Crew Chief, Susan Ligon; Aircraft Mechanic, Rodger Tarango; Mobile Operations Facility (MOF) Staff, Jerry Cousins; Aircraft Mechanic, Bruce Gallmeyer; MOF Staff, and Mike Reardon; Aircraft Mechanic/Helper. The modified airplane features a delta 'cranked-arrow' wing with strips of tubing along the leading edge to the trailing edge to sense static on the wing and obtain pressure distribution data. The right wing receives data on pressure distribution and the left wing has three types of instrumentation - preston tubes to measure local skin friction, boundary layer rakes to measure boundary layer profiles (the layer where the air interacts with the surfaces of a moving aircraft), and hot films to determine boundary layer transition locations. The first flight of CAWAP occurred at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, on November 21, 1995, and the test program ended in April 1996.

Pressure distributions on a cambered wing body configuration at subsonic Mach numbers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Henderson, W. P.

1975-01-01

An investigation was conducted in the Langley high-speed 7- by 10-foot tunnel at Mach numbers of 0.20 and 0.40 and angles of attack up to about 22 deg to measure the pressure distributions on two cambered-wing configurations. The wings had the same planform (aspect ratio of 2.5 and a leading-edge-sweep angle of 44 deg) but differed in amounts of camber and twist (wing design lift coefficient of 0.35 and 0.70). The effects of wing strake on the wing pressure distributions were also studied. The results indicate that the experimental chordwise pressure distribution agrees reasonably well with the design distribution over the forward 60 percent of nearly all the airfoil sections for the lower cambered wing. The measured lifting pressures are slightly less than the design pressures over the aft part of the airfoil. For the highly cambered wing, there is a significant difference between the experimental and the design pressure level. The experimental distribution, however, is still very similar to the prescribed distribution. At angles of attack above 12 deg, the addition of a wing-fuselage strake results in a significant increase in lifting pressure coefficient at all wing stations outboard of the strake-wing intersection.

Experimental and analytical study on the flutter and gust response characteristics of a torsion-free-wing airplane model. [in the Langley transonic dynamics tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Murphy, A. C.

1981-01-01

Experimental data and correlative analytical results on the flutter and gust response characteristics of a torsion-free-wing (TFW) fighter airplane model are presented. TFW consists of a combined wing/boom/canard surface and was tested with the TFW free to pivot in pitch and with the TFW locked to the fuselage. Flutter and gust response characteristics were measured in the Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel with the complete airplane model mounted on a cable mount system that provided a near free flying condition. Although the lowest flutter dynamic pressure was measured for the wing free configuration, it was only about 20 deg less than that for the wing locked configuration. However, no appreciable alleviation of the gust response was measured by freeing the wing.

Subsonic flow investigations on a cranked wing designed for high maneuverability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rao, D. M.

1986-01-01

The characteristic pitching moment nonlinearity of cranked wings limits their usable lift coefficient well below C sub L max. The potential of several aerodynamic devices, viz., fences, pylon vortex generators (PVG), mid-span strakes and cavity flaps, in delaying the pitch up onset on a 70/50 deg cranked wing was explored in low speed tunnel tests. Upper surface pressure measurements and low visualizations were conducted on a semi-span wing model to observe the vortex flow development with increasing angle of attack, and then to assess the effectiveness of the devices in controlling the collapse of vortex lift over the wing panel outboard of the crank. Force tests on a full span wing and body model were also conducted to assess the fence and PVG in improving the usable C sub L.

Leading-Edge Votex-System Details Obtained on F-106B Aircraft Using a Rotating Vapor Screen and Surface Techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lamar, John E.; Brandon, Jay; Stacy, Kathryn; Johnson, Thomas D., Jr.; Severance, Kurt; Childers, Brooks A.

1993-01-01

A flight research program to study the flow structure and separated-flow origins over an F-106B aircraft wing is described. The flight parameters presented include Mach numbers from 0.26 to 0.81, angles of attack from 8.5 deg to 22.5 deg, Reynolds numbers from 22.6 x 10(exp 6) to 57.3 x 10(exp 6) and load factors from 0.9 to 3.9 times the acceleration due to gravity. Techniques for vapor screens, image enhancement, photogrammetry, and computer graphics are integrated to analyze vortex-flow systems. Emphasis is placed on the development and application of the techniques. The spatial location of vortex cores and their tracks over the wing are derived from the analysis. Multiple vortices are observed and are likely attributed to small surface distortions in the wing leading-edge region. A major thrust is to correlate locations of reattachment lines obtained from the off-surface (vapor-screen) observations with those obtained from on-surface oil-flow patterns and pressure-port data. Applying vapor-screen image data to approximate reattachment lines is experimental, but depending on the angle of attack, the agreement with oil-flow results is generally good. Although surface pressure-port data are limited, the vapor-screen data indicate reattachment point occurrences consistent with the available data.

A full potential inverse method based on a density linearization scheme for wing design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shankar, V.

1982-01-01

A mixed analysis inverse procedure based on the full potential equation in conservation form was developed to recontour a given base wing to produce density linearization scheme in applying the pressure boundary condition in terms of the velocity potential. The FL030 finite volume analysis code was modified to include the inverse option. The new surface shape information, associated with the modified pressure boundary condition, is calculated at a constant span station based on a mass flux integration. The inverse method is shown to recover the original shape when the analysis pressure is not altered. Inverse calculations for weakening of a strong shock system and for a laminar flow control (LFC) pressure distribution are presented. Two methods for a trailing edge closure model are proposed for further study.

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.

CFD code calibration and inlet-fairing effects on a 3D hypersonic powered-simulation model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huebner, Lawrence D.; Tatum, Kenneth E.

1993-01-01

A three-dimensional (3D) computational study has been performed addressing issues related to the wind tunnel testing of a hypersonic powered-simulation model. The study consisted of three objectives. The first objective was to calibrate a state-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code in its ability to predict hypersonic powered-simulation flows by comparing CFD solutions with experimental surface pressure dam. Aftbody lower surface pressures were well predicted, but lower surface wing pressures were less accurately predicted. The second objective was to determine the 3D effects on the aftbody created by fairing over the inlet; this was accomplished by comparing the CFD solutions of two closed-inlet powered configurations with a flowing-inlet powered configuration. Although results at four freestream Mach numbers indicate that the exhaust plume tends to isolate the aftbody surface from most forebody flowfield differences, a smooth inlet fairing provides the least aftbody force and moment variation compared to a flowing inlet. The final objective was to predict and understand the 3D characteristics of exhaust plume development at selected points on a representative flight path. Results showed a dramatic effect of plume expansion onto the wings as the freestream Mach number and corresponding nozzle pressure ratio are increased.

CFD Code Calibration and Inlet-Fairing Effects On a 3D Hypersonic Powered-Simulation Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huebner, Lawrence D.; Tatum, Kenneth E.

1993-01-01

A three-dimensional (3D) computational study has been performed addressing issues related to the wind tunnel testing of a hypersonic powered-simulation model. The study consisted of three objectives. The first objective was to calibrate a state-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code in its ability to predict hypersonic powered-simulation flows by comparing CFD solutions with experimental surface pressure data. Aftbody lower surface pressures were well predicted, but lower surface wing pressures were less accurately predicted. The second objective was to determine the 3D effects on the aftbody created by fairing over the inlet; this was accomplished by comparing the CFD solutions of two closed-inlet powered configurations with a flowing- inlet powered configuration. Although results at four freestream Mach numbers indicate that the exhaust plume tends to isolate the aftbody surface from most forebody flow- field differences, a smooth inlet fairing provides the least aftbody force and moment variation compared to a flowing inlet. The final objective was to predict and understand the 3D characteristics of exhaust plume development at selected points on a representative flight path. Results showed a dramatic effect of plume expansion onto the wings as the freestream Mach number and corresponding nozzle pressure ratio are increased.

Simulation Analysis of Fluid-Structure Interaction of High Velocity Environment Influence on Aircraft Wing Materials under Different Mach Numbers

PubMed Central

Sun, Changyan

2018-01-01

Aircraft service process is in a state of the composite load of pressure and temperature for a long period of time, which inevitably affects the inherent characteristics of some components in aircraft accordingly. The flow field of aircraft wing materials under different Mach numbers is simulated by Fluent in order to extract pressure and temperature on the wing in this paper. To determine the effect of coupling stress on the wing’s material and structural properties, the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) method is used in ANSYS-Workbench to calculate the stress that is caused by pressure and temperature. Simulation analysis results show that with the increase of Mach number, the pressure and temperature on the wing’s surface both increase exponentially and thermal stress that is caused by temperature will be the main factor in the coupled stress. When compared with three kinds of materials, titanium alloy, aluminum alloy, and Haynes alloy, carbon fiber composite material has better performance in service at high speed, and natural frequency under coupling pre-stressing will get smaller. PMID:29670023

F-16XL Wing Pressure Distributions and Shock Fence Results from Mach 1.4 to Mach 2.0

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Landers, Stephen F.; Saltzman, John A.; Bjarke, Lisa J.

1997-01-01

Chordwise pressure distributions were obtained in-flight on the upper and lower surfaces of the F-16XL ship 2 aircraft wing between Mach 1.4 and Mach 2.0. This experiment was conducted to determine the location of shock waves which could compromise or invalidate a follow-on test of a large chord laminar flow control suction panel. On the upper surface, the canopy closure shock crossed an area which would be covered by a proposed laminar flow suction panel. At the laminar flow experiment design Mach number of 1.9, 91 percent of the suction panel area would be forward of the shock. At Mach 1.4, that value reduces to 65 percent. On the lower surface, a shock from the inlet diverter would impinge on the proposed suction panel leading edge. A chordwise plate mounted vertically to deflect shock waves, called a shock fence, was installed between the inlet diverter and the leading edge. This plate was effective in reducing the pressure gradients caused by the inlet shock system.

Vorticity Transport on a Flexible Wing in Stall Flutter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akkala, James; Buchholz, James; Farnsworth, John; McLaughlin, Thomas

2014-11-01

The circulation budget within dynamic stall vortices was investigated on a flexible NACA 0018 wing model of aspect ratio 6 undergoing stall flutter. The wing had an initial angle of attack of 6 degrees, Reynolds number of 1 . 5 ×105 and large-amplitude, primarily torsional, limit cycle oscillations were observed at a reduced frequency of k = πfc / U = 0 . 1 . Phase-locked stereo PIV measurements were obtained at multiple chordwise planes around the 62.5% and 75% spanwise locations to characterize the flow field within thin volumetric regions over the suction surface. Transient surface pressure measurements were used to estimate boundary vorticity flux. Recent analyses on plunging and rotating wings indicates that the magnitude of the pressure-gradient-driven boundary flux of secondary vorticity is a significant fraction of the magnitude of the convective flux from the separated leading-edge shear layer, suggesting that the secondary vorticity plays a significant role in regulating the strength of the primary vortex. This phenomenon is examined in the present case, and the physical mechanisms governing the growth and evolution of the dynamic stall vortices are explored. This work was supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research through the Flow Interactions and Control Program monitored by Dr. Douglas Smith, and through the 2014 AFOSR/ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program (JA and JB).

Distributed Actuation and Sensing on an Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barnwell, William Garrard

2003-01-01

An array of effectors and sensors has been designed, tested and implemented on a Blended Wing Body Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The UAV is modified to serve as a flying, controls research, testbed. This effector/sensor array provides for the dynamic vehicle testing of controller designs and the study of decentralized control techniques. Each wing of the UAV is equipped with 12 distributed effectors that comprise a segmented array of independently actuated, contoured control surfaces. A single pressure sensor is installed near the base of each effector to provide a measure of deflections of the effectors. The UAV wings were tested in the North Carolina State University Subsonic Wind Tunnel and the pressure distribution that result from the deflections of the effectors are characterized. The results of the experiments are used to develop a simple, but accurate, prediction method, such that for any arrangement of the effector array the corresponding pressure distribution can be determined. Numerical analysis using the panel code CMARC verifies this prediction method.

UAV Flight Control Using Distributed Actuation and Sensing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barnwell, William G.; Heinzen, Stearns N.; Hall, Charles E., Jr.; Chokani, Ndaona; Raney, David L. (Technical Monitor)

2003-01-01

An array of effectors and sensors has been designed, tested and implemented on a Blended Wing Body Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle (UAV). This UAV is modified to serve as a flying, controls research, testbed. This effectorhensor array provides for the dynamic vehicle testing of controller designs and the study of decentralized control techniques. Each wing of the UAV is equipped with 12 distributed effectors that comprise a segmented array of independently actuated, contoured control surfaces. A single pressure sensor is installed near the base of each effector to provide a measure of deflections of the effectors. The UAV wings were tested in the North Carolina State University Subsonic Wind Tunnel and the pressure distribution that result from the deflections of the effectors are characterized. The results of the experiments are used to develop a simple, but accurate, prediction method, such that for any arrangement of the effector array the corresponding pressure distribution can be determined. Numerical analysis using the panel code CMARC verifies this prediction method.

Large-Amplitude, High-Rate Roll Oscillations of a 65 deg Delta Wing at High Incidence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chaderjian, Neal M.; Schiff, Lewis B.

2000-01-01

The IAR/WL 65 deg delta wing experimental results provide both detail pressure measurements and a wide range of flow conditions covering from simple attached flow, through fully developed vortex and vortex burst flow, up to fully-stalled flow at very high incidence. Thus, the Computational Unsteady Aerodynamics researchers can use it at different level of validating the corresponding code. In this section a range of CFD results are provided for the 65 deg delta wing at selected flow conditions. The time-dependent, three-dimensional, Reynolds-averaged, Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations are used to numerically simulate the unsteady vertical flow. Two sting angles and two large- amplitude, high-rate, forced-roll motions and a damped free-to-roll motion are presented. The free-to-roll motion is computed by coupling the time-dependent RANS equations to the flight dynamic equation of motion. The computed results are compared with experimental pressures, forces, moments and roll angle time history. In addition, surface and off-surface flow particle streaks are also presented.

Flight and Wind-tunnel Tests of an XBM-1 Dive Bomber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Donely, Philip; Pearson, Henry A

1938-01-01

Results are given of pressure-distribution measurements made in flight over the right wing cellule and the right half of the horizontal tail surfaces of a dive-bombing biplane. Simultaneous measurements were also taken of the air speed, control-surface positions, control forces, and normal accelerations during various abrupt maneuvers in vertical plane. These maneuvers consisted of push-downs and pull-ups from level flight, dives and dive pull-ups from inverted flight. Besides the pressure measurements, flight tests were made to obtain (1) wing-fabric deflections during dives and (2) variation of the minimum drag coefficient with Reynolds Number. Supplementary tests were also done in the full-scale wind tunnel to obtain the characteristics of the airplane under various propeller conditions and with various tail settings. The results indicate that: (1) by increasing the fabric deflection between pressure ribs, the span load distribution was considerably modified near the center and the wing moment relations were changed; and (2) the minimum drag was less for the idling propeller than for the propeller locked in a vertical position. The value of C(sub D sub min) was equal to K(Reynolds Number)(exp -0.03) for a range from 2,800,000 to 13,100,000.

Review of Cranked-Arrow Wing Aerodynamics Project: Its International Aeronautical Community Role

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lamar, John E.; Obara, Clifford J.

2007-01-01

This paper provides a brief history of the F-16XL-1 aircraft, its role in the High Speed Research (HSR) program and how it was morphed into the Cranked Arrow Wing Aerodynamics Project (CAWAP). Various flight, wind-tunnel and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) data sets were generated during the CAWAP. These unique and open flight datasets for surface pressures, boundary-layer profiles and skinfriction distributions, along with surface flow data, are described and sample data comparisons given. This is followed by a description of how the project became internationalized to be known as Cranked Arrow Wing Aerodynamics Project International (CAWAPI) and is concluded by an introduction to the results of a 4 year CFD predictive study of data collected at flight conditions by participating researchers.

Calculative techniques for transonic flows about certain classes of wing-body combinations, phase 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stahara, S. S.; Spreiter, J. R.

1972-01-01

Theoretical analysis and associated computer programs were developed for predicting properties of transonic flows about certain classes of wing-body combinations. The procedures used are based on the transonic equivalence rule and employ either an arbitrarily-specified solution or the local linerization method for determining the nonlifting transonic flow about the equivalent body. The class of wind planform shapes include wings having sweptback trailing edges and finite tip chord. Theoretical results are presented for surface and flow-field pressure distributions for both nonlifting and lifting situations at Mach number one.

Physical properties of the benchmark models program supercritical wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dansberry, Bryan E.; Durham, Michael H.; Bennett, Robert M.; Turnock, David L.; Silva, Walter A.; Rivera, Jose A., Jr.

1993-01-01

The goal of the Benchmark Models Program is to provide data useful in the development and evaluation of aeroelastic computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes. To that end, a series of three similar wing models are being flutter tested in the Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. These models are designed to simultaneously acquire model response data and unsteady surface pressure data during wing flutter conditions. The supercritical wing is the second model of this series. It is a rigid semispan model with a rectangular planform and a NASA SC(2)-0414 supercritical airfoil shape. The supercritical wing model was flutter tested on a flexible mount, called the Pitch and Plunge Apparatus, that provides a well-defined, two-degree-of-freedom dynamic system. The supercritical wing model and associated flutter test apparatus is described and experimentally determined wind-off structural dynamic characteristics of the combined rigid model and flexible mount system are included.

A Method of Determining Aerodynamic-Influence Coefficients from Wind-Tunnel Data for Wings at Supersonic Speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gainer, Patrick A.

1961-01-01

A method is described for determining aerodynamic-influence coefficients from wind-tunnel data for calculating the steady-state load distribution on a wing with arbitrary angle-of-attack distribution at supersonic speeds. The method combines linearized theory with empirical adjustments in order to give accurate results over a wide range of angles of attack. The experimented data required are pressure distributions measured on a flat wing of the desired planform at the desired Mach number and over the desired range of angles of attack. The method has been tested by applying it to wind-tunnel data measured at Mach numbers of 1.61 and 2.01 on wings of the same planform but of different surface shapes. Influence coefficients adjusted to fit the flat wing gave good predictions of the spanwise and chord-wise distributions of loadings measured on twisted and cambered wings.

The effects of leading edge modifications on the post-stall characteristics of wings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Winkelmann, A. E.; Barlow, J. B.; Saini, J. K.; Anderson, J. D., Jr.; Jones, E.

1980-01-01

An investigation of the effects of leading edge modifications on the post-stall characteristics of two rectangular planform wings in a series of low speed wind tunnel tests is presented. Abrupt discontinuities in the leading edge shape of the wings were produced by placing a nose glove over a portion of the span or by deflecting sections of a segmented leading edge flap. Six component balance data, oil flow visualization photographs, and pressure distribution measurements were obtained, and tests made to study the development of flow separation at stall on small scale planform wing models. Results of oil flow visualization tests at and beyond stall showed the formation of counter-rotating swirl patterns on the upper surface of the '2-D' and '3-D' wings, and results of a numerical lifting line technique applied to wings with leading edge modifications are included.

Effects of Passive Porosity on Interacting Vortex Flows At Supersonic Speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erickson, Gary E.

2000-01-01

A wind tunnel experiment was conducted in the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel (UPWT) to determine the effects of passive surface porosity on vortex flow interaction about a general research fighter configuration at supersonic speeds. Optical flow measurement and flow visualization techniques were used and included pressure-sensitive paint (PSP), schlieren, and laser vapor screen (LVS) These techniques were combined with force and moment and conventional electronically-scanned pressure (ESP) measurements to quantify and to visualize the effects of flow-through porosity applied to a wing leading-edge extension (LEX) mounted to a 65 deg cropped delta wing model.

Subsonic balance and pressure investigation of a 60-deg delta wing with leading-edge devices (data report)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rao, D. M.; Tingas, S. A.

1981-01-01

The drag reduction potential of leading edge devices on a 60 degree delta wing at high lift was examined. Geometric variations of fences, chordwise slots, pylon type vortex generators, leading edge vortex flaps, and sharp leading edge extensions were tested individually and in specific combinations to improve high-alpha drag performance with a minimum of low-alpha drag penalty. The force, moment, and surface static pressure data for angles of attack up to 23 degrees, at Mach and Reynolds numbers of 0.16 and 3.85 x 10 to the 6th power per meter are documented.

Estimation of wing nonlinear aerodynamic characteristics at supersonic speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

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

1980-01-01

A computational system for estimation of nonlinear aerodynamic characteristics of wings at supersonic speeds was developed and was incorporated in a computer program. This corrected linearized theory method accounts for nonlinearities in the variation of basic pressure loadings with local surface slopes, predicts the degree of attainment of theoretical leading edge thrust, and provides an estimate of detached leading edge vortex loadings that result when the theoretical thrust forces are not fully realized.

Calculative techniques for transonic flows about certain classes of wing body combinations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stahara, S. S.; Spreiter, J. R.

1972-01-01

Procedures based on the method of local linearization and transonic equivalence rule were developed for predicting properties of transonic flows about certain classes of wing-body combinations. The procedures are applicable to transonic flows with free stream Mach number in the ranges near one, below the lower critical and above the upper critical. Theoretical results are presented for surface and flow field pressure distributions for both lifting and nonlifting situations.

Aircraft

DOEpatents

Hibbs, B.D.; Lissaman, P.B.S.; Morgan, W.R.; Radkey, R.L.

1998-09-22

This disclosure provides a solar rechargeable aircraft that is inexpensive to produce, is steerable, and can remain airborne almost indefinitely. The preferred aircraft is a span-loaded flying wing, having no fuselage or rudder. Travelling at relatively slow speeds, and having a two-hundred foot wingspan that mounts photovoltaic cells on most all of the wing`s top surface, the aircraft uses only differential thrust of its eight propellers to turn. Each of five sections of the wing has one or more engines and photovoltaic arrays, and produces its own lift independent of the other sections, to avoid loading them. Five two-sided photovoltaic arrays, in all, are mounted on the wing, and receive photovoltaic energy both incident on top of the wing, and which is incident also from below, through a bottom, transparent surface. The aircraft is capable of a top speed of about ninety miles per hour, which enables the aircraft to attain and can continuously maintain altitudes of up to sixty-five thousand feet. Regenerative fuel cells in the wing store excess electricity for use at night, such that the aircraft can sustain its elevation indefinitely. A main spar of the wing doubles as a pressure vessel that houses hydrogen and oxygen gases for use in the regenerative fuel cell. The aircraft has a wide variety of applications, which include weather monitoring and atmospheric testing, communications, surveillance, and other applications as well. 31 figs.

Effects of Wing Sweep on In-flight Boundary-layer Transition for a Laminar Flow Wing at Mach Numbers from 0.60 to 0.79

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, Bianca Trujillo; Meyer, Robert R., Jr.

1990-01-01

The variable sweep transition flight experiment (VSTFE) was conducted on an F-14A variable sweep wing fighter to examine the effect of wing sweep on natural boundary layer transition. Nearly full span upper surface gloves, extending to 60 percent chord, were attached to the F-14 aircraft's wings. The results are presented of the glove 2 flight tests. Glove 2 had an airfoil shape designed for natural laminar flow at a wing sweep of 20 deg. Sample pressure distributions and transition locations are presented with the complete results tabulated in a database. Data were obtained at wing sweeps of 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 deg, at Mach numbers ranging from 0.60 to 0.79, and at altitudes ranging from 10,000 to 35,000 ft. Results show that a substantial amount of laminar flow was maintained at all the wing sweeps evaluated. The maximum transition Reynolds number obtained was 18.6 x 10(exp 6) at 15 deg of wing sweep, Mach 0.75, and at an altitude of 10,000 ft.

Measurements in Flight of the Pressure Distribution on the Right Wing of a Pursuit-Type Airplane at Several Values of Mach Number

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clousing, Lawrence A; Turner, William N; Rolls, L Stewart

1946-01-01

Pressure-distribution measurements were made on the right wing of a pursuit-type airplane at values of Mach number up to 0.80. The results showed that a considerable portion of the lift was carried by components of the airplane other than the wings, and that the proportion of lift carried by the wings may vary considerably with Mach number, thus changing the bending moment at the wing root whether or not there is a shift in the lateral position of the center of pressure. It was also shown that the center of pressure does not necessarily move outward at high Mach numbers, even though the wing-thickness ratio decreases toward the wing tip. The wing pitching-moment coefficient increased sharply in a negative direction at a Mach lift-curve slope increased with Mach number up to values of above the critical value. Pressures inside the wing were small and negative.

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

The gust-mitigating potential of flapping wings.

PubMed

Fisher, Alex; Ravi, Sridhar; Watkins, Simon; Watmuff, Jon; Wang, Chun; Liu, Hao; Petersen, Phred

2016-08-02

Nature's flapping-wing flyers are adept at negotiating highly turbulent flows across a wide range of scales. This is in part due to their ability to quickly detect and counterract disturbances to their flight path, but may also be assisted by an inherent aerodynamic property of flapping wings. In this study, we subject a mechanical flapping wing to replicated atmospheric turbulence across a range of flapping frequencies and turbulence intensities. By means of flow visualization and surface pressure measurements, we determine the salient effects of large-scale freestream turbulence on the flow field, and on the phase-average and fluctuating components of pressure and lift. It is shown that at lower flapping frequencies, turbulence dominates the instantaneous flow field, and the random fluctuating component of lift contributes significantly to the total lift. At higher flapping frequencies, kinematic forcing begins to dominate and the flow field becomes more consistent from cycle to cycle. Turbulence still modulates the flapping-induced flow field, as evidenced in particular by a variation in the timing and extent of leading edge vortex formation during the early downstroke. The random fluctuating component of lift contributes less to the total lift at these frequencies, providing evidence that flapping wings do indeed provide some inherent gust mitigation.

Study of lee-side flows over conically cambered Delta wings at supersonic speeds, part 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wood, Richard M.; Watson, Carolyn B.

1987-01-01

An experimental investigation was performed in which surface pressure data, flow visualization data, and force and moment data were obtained on four conical delta wing models which differed in leading edge camber only. Wing leading edge camber was achieved through a deflection of the outboard 30% of the local wing semispan of a reference 75 deg swept flat delta wing. The four wing models have leading edge deflection angles delta sub F of 0, 5, 10, and 15 deg measured streamwise. Data for the wings with delta sub F = 10 and 15 deg showed that hinge line separation dominated the lee-side wing loading and prohibited the development of leading edge separation on the deflected portion of wing leading edge. However, data for the wing with delta sub F = 5 deg showed that at an angle of attack of 5 deg, a vortex was positioned on the deflected leading edge with reattachment at the hinge line. Flow visualization results were presented which detail the influence of Mach number, angle of attack, and camber on the lee-side flow characteristics of conically cambered delta wings. Analysis of photographic data identified the existence of 12 distinctive lee-side flow types.

A computer program to calculate the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of wing-flap configurations with externally blown flaps

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mendenhall, M. R.; Goodwin, F. K.; Spangler, S. B.

1976-01-01

A vortex lattice lifting-surface method is used to model the wing and multiple flaps. Each lifting surface may be of arbitrary planform having camber and twist, and the multiple-slotted trailing-edge flap system may consist of up to ten flaps with different spans and deflection angles. The engine wakes model consists of a series of closely spaced vortex rings with circular or elliptic cross sections. The rings are normal to a wake centerline which is free to move vertically and laterally to accommodate the local flow field beneath the wing and flaps. The two potential flow models are used in an iterative fashion to calculate the wing-flap loading distribution including the influence of the waves from up to two turbofan engines on the semispan. The method is limited to the condition where the flow and geometry of the configurations are symmetric about the vertical plane containing the wing root chord. The calculation procedure starts with arbitrarily positioned wake centerlines and the iterative calculation continues until the total configuration loading converges within a prescribed tolerance. Program results include total configuration forces and moments, individual lifting-surface load distributions, including pressure distributions, individual flap hinge moments, and flow field calculation at arbitrary field points.

Experiments with a wing from which the boundary layer is removed by pressure or suction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wieland, K

1928-01-01

With an unsymmetrical wing and a rotating Magnus cylinder, the lift is produced by the superposition of parallel and circulatory flows. An explanation of the circulatory flow is furnished by the boundary-layer theory of Prandtl and the consequent vortex formation. According to this explanation, it must evidently be possible to increase the circulation either by increasing the size of the stronger (lower) vortex or by decreasing the size of the weaker (upper) vortex. In this sense, according to Professor H. Zickendraht, we have a new type of wing from which the boundary layer is removed by forcing air out or sucking it in through openings in the upper surface of the wing near its trailing edge.

Aeroacoustic Measurements of a Wing-Flap Configuration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meadows, Kristine R.; Brooks, Thomas F.; Humphreys, William M.; Hunter, William H.; Gerhold, Carl H.

1997-01-01

Aeroacoustic measurements are being conducted to investigate the mechanisms of sound generation in high-lift wing configurations, and initial results are presented. The model is approximately 6 percent of a full scale configuration, and consists of a main element NACA 63(sub 2) - 215 wing section and a 30 percent chord half-span flap. Flow speeds up to Mach 0.17 are tested at Reynolds number up to approximately 1.7 million. Results are presented for a main element at a 16 degree angle of attack, and flap deflection angles of 29 and 39 degrees. The measurement systems developed for this test include two directional arrays used to localize and characterize the noise sources, and an array of unsteady surface pressure transducers used to characterize wave number spectra and correlate with acoustic measurements. Sound source localization maps show that locally dominant noise sources exist on the flap-side edge. The spectral distribution of the noise sources along the flap-side edge shows a decrease in frequency of the locally dominant noise source with increasing distance downstream of the flap leading edge. Spectra are presented which show general spectral characteristics of Strouhal dependent flow-surface interaction noise. However, the appearance of multiple broadband tonal features at high frequency indicates the presence of aeroacoustic phenomenon following different scaling characteristics. The scaling of the high frequency aeroacoustic phenomenon is found to be different for the two flap deflection angles tested. Unsteady surface pressure measurements in the vicinity of the flap edge show high coherence levels between adjacent sensors on the flap-side edge and on the flap edge upper surface in a region which corresponds closely to where the flap-side edge vortex begins to spill over to the flap upper surface. The frequency ranges where these high levels of coherence occur on the flap surface are consistent with the frequency ranges in which dominant features appear in far field acoustic spectra. The consistency of strongly correlated unsteady surface pressures and far field pressure fluctuations suggests the importance of regions on the flap edge in generating sound.

Flow field predictions for a slab delta wing at incidence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Conti, R. J.; Thomas, P. D.; Chou, Y. S.

1972-01-01

Theoretical results are presented for the structure of the hypersonic flow field of a blunt slab delta wing at moderately high angle of attack. Special attention is devoted to the interaction between the boundary layer and the inviscid entropy layer. The results are compared with experimental data. The three-dimensional inviscid flow is computed numerically by a marching finite difference method. Attention is concentrated on the windward side of the delta wing, where detailed comparisons are made with the data for shock shape and surface pressure distributions. Surface streamlines are generated, and used in the boundary layer analysis. The three-dimensional laminar boundary layer is computed numerically using a specially-developed technique based on small cross-flow in streamline coordinates. In the rear sections of the wing the boundary layer decreases drastically in the spanwise direction, so that it is still submerged in the entropy layer at the centerline, but surpasses it near the leading edge. Predicted heat transfer distributions are compared with experimental data.

Surface pressure and inviscid flow field properties of the McDonnell-Douglas delta-wing orbiter for nominal Mach number of 8, Volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Warmbrod, J. D.; Martindale, M. R.; Matthews, R. K.

1972-01-01

The results of a wind tunnel test program to determine the surface pressures and flow distribution on the McDonnell Douglas Orbiter configuration are presented. Tests were conducted in hypersonic wind tunnel at Mach 8. The freestream unit Reynolds number was 3.7 time one million per foot. Angle of attack was varied from 10 degrees to 60 degrees in 10 degree increments.

A study of flow past an airfoil with a jet issuing from its lower surface

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krothapalli, A.; Leopold, D.

1984-01-01

The aerodynamics of a NACA 0018 airfoil with a rectangular jet of finite aspect ratio exiting from its lower surface at 90 deg to the chord were investigated. The jet was located at 50% of the wing chord. Measurements include static pressures on the airfoil surface, total pressures in the near wake, and local velocity vectors in different planes of the wake. The effects of jet cross flow interaction on the aerodynamics of the airfoil are studied. It is indicated that at all values of momentum coefficients, the jet cross flow interaction produces a strong contra-rotating vortex structure in the near wake. The flow behind the jet forms a closed recirculation region which extends up to a chord length down stream of the trailing edge which results in the flow field to become highly three dimensional. The various aerodynamic force coefficients vary significantly along the span of the wing. The results are compared with a jet flap configuration.

Wing pressure distributions from subsonic tests of a high-wing transport model. [in the Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Wind Tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Applin, Zachary T.; Gentry, Garl L., Jr.; Takallu, M. A.

1995-01-01

A wind tunnel investigation was conducted on a generic, high-wing transport model in the Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel. This report contains pressure data that document effects of various model configurations and free-stream conditions on wing pressure distributions. The untwisted wing incorporated a full-span, leading-edge Krueger flap and a part-span, double-slotted trailing-edge flap system. The trailing-edge flap was tested at four different deflection angles (20 deg, 30 deg, 40 deg, and 60 deg). Four wing configurations were tested: cruise, flaps only, Krueger flap only, and high lift (Krueger flap and flaps deployed). Tests were conducted at free-stream dynamic pressures of 20 psf to 60 psf with corresponding chord Reynolds numbers of 1.22 x 10(exp 6) to 2.11 x 10(exp 6) and Mach numbers of 0.12 to 0.20. The angles of attack presented range from 0 deg to 20 deg and were determined by wing configuration. The angle of sideslip ranged from minus 20 deg to 20 deg. In general, pressure distributions were relatively insensitive to free-stream speed with exceptions primarily at high angles of attack or high flap deflections. Increasing trailing-edge Krueger flap significantly reduced peak suction pressures and steep gradients on the wing at high angles of attack. Installation of the empennage had no effect on wing pressure distributions. Unpowered engine nacelles reduced suction pressures on the wing and the flaps.

Mechanics of pressure-adaptive honeycomb and its application to wing morphing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vos, Roelof; Barrett, Ron

2011-09-01

Current, highly active classes of adaptive materials have been considered for use in many different aerospace applications. From adaptive flight control surfaces to wing surfaces, shape-memory alloy (SMA), piezoelectric and electrorheological fluids are making their way into wings, stabilizers and rotor blades. Despite the benefits which can be seen in many classes of aircraft, some profound challenges are ever present, including low power and energy density, high power consumption, high development and installation costs and outright programmatic blockages due to a lack of a materials certification database on FAR 23/25 and 27/29 certified aircraft. Three years ago, a class of adaptive structure was developed to skirt these daunting challenges. This pressure-adaptive honeycomb (PAH) is capable of extremely high performance and is FAA/EASA certifiable because it employs well characterized materials arranged in ways that lend a high level of adaptivity to the structure. This study is centered on laying out the mechanics, analytical models and experimental test data describing this new form of adaptive material. A directionally biased PAH system using an external (spring) force acting on the PAH bending structure was examined. The paper discusses the mechanics of pressure adaptive honeycomb and describes a simple reduced order model that can be used to simplify the geometric model in a finite element environment. The model assumes that a variable stiffness honeycomb results in an overall deformation of the honeycomb. Strains in excess of 50% can be generated through this mechanism without encountering local material (yield) limits. It was also shown that the energy density of pressure-adaptive honeycomb is akin to that of shape-memory alloy, while exhibiting strains that are an order of magnitude greater with an energy efficiency close to 100%. Excellent correlation between theory and experiment is demonstrated in a number of tests. A proof-of-concept wing section test was conducted on a 12% thick wing section representative of a modern commercial aircraft winglet or flight control surface with a 35% PAH trailing edge. It was shown that camber variations in excess of 5% can be generated by a pressure differential of 40 kPa. Results of subsequent wind tunnel test show an increase in lift coefficient of 0.3 at 23 m s - 1 through an angle of attack from - 6° to + 20°. This paper was originally presented at the 2010 ASME SMASIS conference, as paper 'SMASIS 2010-3634'. Despite the substantial changes that have been made to the paper, there are still various figures and text stemming from the original.

Comparison of wind tunnel test results at free stream Mach 0.7 with results from the Boeing TEA-230 subsonic flow method. [wing flow method tests

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mohn, L. W.

1975-01-01

The use of the Boeing TEA-230 Subsonic Flow Analysis method as a primary design tool in the development of cruise overwing nacelle configurations is presented. Surface pressure characteristics at 0.7 Mach number were determined by the TEA-230 method for a selected overwing flow-through nacelle configuration. Results of this analysis show excellent overall agreement with corresponding wind tunnel data. Effects of the presence of the nacelle on the wing pressure field were predicted accurately by the theoretical method. Evidence is provided that differences between theoretical and experimental pressure distributions in the present study would not result in significant discrepancies in the nacelle lines or nacelle drag estimates.

Wind-tunnel Tests of a Hall High-life Wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weick, Fred E; Sanders, Robert

1932-01-01

Wind-tunnel tests have been made to find the lift, drag, and center-of-pressure characteristics of a Hall high-lift wing model. The Hall wing is essentially a split-flap airfoil with an internal air passage. Air enters the passage through an opening in the lower surface somewhat back of and parallel to the leading edge, and flows out through an opening made by deflecting the rear portion of the under surface downward as a flap. For ordinary flight conditions the front opening and the rear flap can be closed, providing in effect a conventional airfoil (the Clark Y in this case). The tests were made with various flap settings and with the entrance to the passage both open and closed. The highest lift coefficient found, C(sub L) = 2.08, was obtained with the passage closed.

Application of Parallel Adjoint-Based Error Estimation and Anisotropic Grid Adaptation for Three-Dimensional Aerospace Configurations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee-Rausch, E. M.; Park, M. A.; Jones, W. T.; Hammond, D. P.; Nielsen, E. J.

2005-01-01

This paper demonstrates the extension of error estimation and adaptation methods to parallel computations enabling larger, more realistic aerospace applications and the quantification of discretization errors for complex 3-D solutions. Results were shown for an inviscid sonic-boom prediction about a double-cone configuration and a wing/body segmented leading edge (SLE) configuration where the output function of the adjoint was pressure integrated over a part of the cylinder in the near field. After multiple cycles of error estimation and surface/field adaptation, a significant improvement in the inviscid solution for the sonic boom signature of the double cone was observed. Although the double-cone adaptation was initiated from a very coarse mesh, the near-field pressure signature from the final adapted mesh compared very well with the wind-tunnel data which illustrates that the adjoint-based error estimation and adaptation process requires no a priori refinement of the mesh. Similarly, the near-field pressure signature for the SLE wing/body sonic boom configuration showed a significant improvement from the initial coarse mesh to the final adapted mesh in comparison with the wind tunnel results. Error estimation and field adaptation results were also presented for the viscous transonic drag prediction of the DLR-F6 wing/body configuration, and results were compared to a series of globally refined meshes. Two of these globally refined meshes were used as a starting point for the error estimation and field-adaptation process where the output function for the adjoint was the total drag. The field-adapted results showed an improvement in the prediction of the drag in comparison with the finest globally refined mesh and a reduction in the estimate of the remaining drag error. The adjoint-based adaptation parameter showed a need for increased resolution in the surface of the wing/body as well as a need for wake resolution downstream of the fuselage and wing trailing edge in order to achieve the requested drag tolerance. Although further adaptation was required to meet the requested tolerance, no further cycles were computed in order to avoid large discrepancies between the surface mesh spacing and the refined field spacing.

Pressure distribution on a 1- by 3-meter semispan wing at sweep angles from 0 deg to 40 deg in subsonic flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yip, L. P.; Shubert, G. L.

1976-01-01

A 1- by 3-meter semispan wing of taper ratio 1.0 with NACA 0012 airfoil section contours was tested in the Langley V/STOL tunnel to measure the pressure distribution at five sweep angles, 0 deg, 10 deg, 20 deg, 30 deg, and 40 deg, through an angle-of-attack range from -6 deg to 20 deg. The pressure data are presented as plots of pressure coefficients at each static-pressure tap location on the wing. Flow visualization wing-tuft photographs are also presented for a wing of 40 deg sweep. A comparison between theory and experiment using two inviscid theories and a viscous theory shows good agreement for pressure distributions, normal forces, and pitching moments for the wing at 0 deg sweep.

Experimental Investigation of the DLR-F6 Transport Configuration in the National Transonic Facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gatlin, Gregory M.; Rivers, Melissa B.; Goodliff, Scott L.; Rudnik, Ralf; Sitzmann, Martin

2008-01-01

An experimental aerodynamic investigation of the DLR (German Aerospace Center) F6 generic transport configuration has been conducted in the NASA NTF (National Transonic Facility) for CFD validation within the framework of the AIAA Drag Prediction Workshop. Force and moment, surface pressure, model deformation, and surface flow visualization data have been obtained at Reynolds numbers of both 3 million and 5 million. Flow-through nacelles and a side-of-body fairing were also investigated on this wing-body configuration. Reynolds number effects on trailing edge separation have been assessed, and the effectiveness of the side-of-body fairing in eliminating a known region of separated flow has been determined. Data obtained at a Reynolds number of 3 million are presented together for comparison with data from a previous wind tunnel investigation in the ONERA S2MA facility. New surface flow visualization capabilities have also been successfully explored and demonstrated in the NTF for the high pressure and moderately low temperature conditions required in this investigation. Images detailing wing surface flow characteristics are presented.

Design integration and noise studies for jet STOL aircraft. Task 7C: Augmentor wing cruise blowing valveless system. Volume 2: Small-scale development testing of augmentor wing critical ducting components

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Runnels, J. N.; Gupfa, A.

1973-01-01

Augmentor wing ducting system studies conducted on a valveless system configuration that provides cruise thrust from the augmentor nozzles have shown that most of the duct system pressure loss would occur in the strut-wing duct y-junction and the wing duct-augmentor lobe nozzles. These components were selected for development testing over a range of duct Mach numbers and pressure ratios to provide a technical basis for predicting installed wing thrust loading and for evaluating design wing loading of a particular wing aspect ratios. The flow characteristics of ducting components with relatively high pressure loss coefficients were investigated. The turbulent pressure fluctuations associated with flows at high Mach numbers were analyzed to evaluate potential duct fatigue problems.

An experimental study of separated flow on a finite wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Winkelmann, A. E.

1981-01-01

The flow field associated with the formation of a mushroom shaped trailing edge stall cell on a low-aspect-ratio (AR = 4.0) wing was investigated in a series of low speed wind tunnel tests (Reynolds number based on 15.2 cm chord = 480,000). Flow field surveys of the separation bubble and wake of a partially stalled and fully stalled wing were completed using a hot-wire probe, a split-film probe, and a directional sensitive pressure probe. A new color video display technique was developed to display the flow field survey data. Photographs were obtained of surface oil flow patterns and smoke flow visualization

Relative efficiency and accuracy of two Navier-Stokes codes for simulating attached transonic flow over wings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bonhaus, Daryl L.; Wornom, Stephen F.

1991-01-01

Two codes which solve the 3-D Thin Layer Navier-Stokes (TLNS) equations are used to compute the steady state flow for two test cases representing typical finite wings at transonic conditions. Several grids of C-O topology and varying point densities are used to determine the effects of grid refinement. After a description of each code and test case, standards for determining code efficiency and accuracy are defined and applied to determine the relative performance of the two codes in predicting turbulent transonic wing flows. Comparisons of computed surface pressure distributions with experimental data are made.

Low Reynolds Number Aerodynamic Characteristics of Several Airplane Configurations Designed to Fly in the Mars Atmosphere at Subsonic Speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Re, Richard J.; Pendergraft, Odis C., Jr.; Campbell, Richard L.

2006-01-01

A 1/4-scale wind tunnel model of an airplane configuration developed for short duration flight at subsonic speeds in the Martian atmosphere has been tested in the Langley Research Center Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. The tunnel was pumped down to extremely low pressures to represent Martian Mach/Reynolds number conditions. Aerodynamic data were obtained and upper and lower surface wind pressures were measured at one spanwise station on some configurations. Three unswept wings of the same planform but different airfoil sections were tested. Horizontal tail incidence was varied as was the deflection of plain and split trailing-edge flaps. One unswept wing configuration was tested with the lower part of the fuselage removed and the vertical/horizontal tail assembly inverted and mounted from beneath the fuselage. A sweptback wing was also tested. Tests were conducted at Mach numbers from 0.50 to 0.90. Wing chord Reynolds number was varied from 40,000 to 100,000 and angles of attack and sideslip were varied from -10deg to 20deg and -10deg to 10deg, respectively.

Computational Test Cases for a Clipped Delta Wing with Pitching and Trailing-Edge Control Surface Oscillations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bennett, Robert M.; Walker, Charlotte E.

1999-01-01

Computational test cases have been selected from the data set for a clipped delta wing with a six-percent-thick circular-arc airfoil section that was tested in the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. The test cases include parametric variation of static angle of attack, pitching oscillation frequency, trailing-edge control surface oscillation frequency, and Mach numbers from subsonic to low supersonic values. Tables and plots of the measured pressures are presented for each case. This report provides an early release of test cases that have been proposed for a document that supplements the cases presented in AGARD Report 702.

Boundary-layer and wake measurements on a swept, circulation-control wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spaid, Frank W.; Keener, Earl R.

1987-01-01

Wind-tunnel measurements of boundary-layer and wake velocity profiles and surface static pressure distributions are presented for a swept, circulation-control wing. The model is an aspect-ratio-four semispan wing mounted on the tunnel side wall at a sweep angle of 45 deg. A full-span, tangential, rearward blowing, circulation-control slot is located ahead of the trailing edge on the upper surface. Flow surveys were obtained at mid-semispan at freestream Mach numbers of 0.425 and 0.70. Boundary-layer profiles measured on the forward portions of the wing are approximately streamwise and two dimensional. The flow in the vicinity of the jet exit and in the near wake is highly three dimensional. The jet flow near the slot on the Coanda surface is directed normal to the slot. Near-wake surveys show large outboard flows at the center of the wake. At Mach 0.425 and a 5-deg angle of attack, a range of jet-blowing rates was found for which an abrupt transition from incipient separation to attached flow occurs in the boundary layer upstream of the slot. The variation in the lower-surface separation location with blowing rate was determined from boundary-layer measurements at Mach 0.425.

Static, noise, and transition tests of a combined-surface-blowing V/STOL lift/propulsion system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schoen, A. H.; Kolesar, C. E.; Schaeffer, E. G.

1977-01-01

Efficient thrust vectoring and high levels of circulatory lift were obtained in tests of a half model V/STOL airplane by using a type of externally blown jet flap in which the jet exhaust from wing-mounted cruise fans is directed over both upper and lower surfaces of a flapped wing. Approximately 90% thrust recovery with 87 deg of thrust vectoring was achieved under static conditions using 89 deg of trailing edge flap deflection. The approximately 10% loss appears to be associated primarily with pressure losses due to the flap brackets or slot entries. The jet induced lift was shown to be 55% of the theoretical value for a fullspan jet-flapped wing, even though only 27.5% of the wingspan was immersed in the jet. Steady rate of descent capability in excess of 1,000 feet per minute is predicted. The possibility of significant aerodynamic-noise cancelling when blowing over both surfaces at high velocities is indicated.

Aircraft

DOEpatents

Hibbs, Bart D.; Lissaman, Peter B. S.; Morgan, Walter R.; Radkey, Robert L.

1998-01-01

This disclosure provides a solar rechargeable aircraft that is inexpensive to produce, is steerable, and can remain airborne almost indefinitely. The preferred aircraft is a span-loaded flying wing, having no fuselage or rudder. Travelling at relatively slow speeds, and having a two-hundred foot wingspan that mounts photovoltaic cells on most all of the wing's top surface, the aircraft uses only differential thrust of its eight propellers to turn. Each of five sections of the wing has one or more engines and photovoltaic arrays, and produces its own lift independent of the other sections, to avoid loading them. Five two-sided photovoltaic arrays, in all, are mounted on the wing, and receive photovoltaic energy both incident on top of the wing, and which is incident also from below, through a bottom, transparent surface. The aircraft is capable of a top speed of about ninety miles per hour, which enables the aircraft to attain and can continuously maintain altitudes of up to sixty-five thousand feet. Regenerative fuel cells in the wing store excess electricity for use at night, such that the aircraft can sustain its elevation indefinitely. A main spar of the wing doubles as a pressure vessel that houses hydrogen and oxygen gasses for use in the regenerative fuel cell. The aircraft has a wide variety of applications, which include weather monitoring and atmospheric testing, communications, surveillance, and other applications as well.

Ames Optimized TCA Configuration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cliff, Susan E.; Reuther, James J.; Hicks, Raymond M.

1999-01-01

Configuration design at Ames was carried out with the SYN87-SB (single block) Euler code using a 193 x 49 x 65 C-H grid. The Euler solver is coupled to the constrained (NPSOL) and the unconstrained (QNMDIF) optimization packages. Since the single block grid is able to model only wing-body configurations, the nacelle/diverter effects were included in the optimization process by SYN87's option to superimpose the nacelle/diverter interference pressures on the wing. These interference pressures were calculated using the AIRPLANE code. AIRPLANE is an Euler solver that uses a unstructured tetrahedral mesh and is capable of computations about arbitrary complete configurations. In addition, the buoyancy effects of the nacelle/diverters were also included in the design process by imposing the pressure field obtained during the design process onto the triangulated surfaces of the nacelle/diverter mesh generated by AIRPLANE. The interference pressures and nacelle buoyancy effects are added to the final forces after each flow field calculation. Full details of the (recently enhanced) ghost nacelle capability are given in a related talk. The pseudo nacelle corrections were greatly improved during this design cycle. During the Ref H and Cycle 1 design activities, the nacelles were only translated and pitched. In the cycle 2 design effort the nacelles can translate vertically, and pitch to accommodate the changes in the lower surface geometry. The diverter heights (between their leading and trailing edges) were modified during design as the shape of the lower wing changed, with the drag of the diverter changing accordingly. Both adjoint and finite difference gradients were used during optimization. The adjoint-based gradients were found to give good direction in the design space for configurations near the starting point, but as the design approached a minimum, the finite difference gradients were found to be more accurate. Use of finite difference gradients was limited by the CPU time limit available on the Cray machines. A typical optimization run using finite difference gradients can use only 30 to 40 design variables and one optimization iteration within the 8 hour queue limit for the chosen grid size and convergence level. The efficiency afforded by the adjoint method allowed for 50-120 design variables and 5-10 optimization iterations in the 8 hour queue. Geometric perturbations to the wing and fuselage were made using the Hicks/Henne (HH) shape functions. The HH functions were distributed uniformly along the chords of the wing defining sections and lofted linearly. During single-surface design, constraints on thickness and volume at selected wing stations were imposed. Both fuselage camber and cross-sectional area distributions were permitted to change during design. The major disadvantage to the use of these functions is the inherent surface waviness produced by repeated use of such functions. Many smoothing operations were required following optimization runs to produce a configuration with reasonable smoothness. Wagner functions were also used on the wing sections but were never used on the fuselage. The Wagner functions are a family of increasingly oscillatory functions that have also been used extensively in airfoil design. The leading and trailing edge regions of the wing were designed by use of polynomial and monomial functions respectively. Twist was attempted but was abandoned because of little performance improvement available from changing the baseline twist.

Pegasus(Registered trademark) Wing-Glove Experiment to Document Hypersonic Crossflow Transition: Measurement System and Selected Flight Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bertelrud, Arild; delaTova, Geva; Hamory, Philip J.; Young, Ronald; Noffz, Gregory K.; Dodson, Michael; Graves, Sharon S.; Diamond, John K.; Bartlett, James E.; Noack, Robert;

Experimental unsteady pressures at flutter on the Supercritical Wing Benchmark Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dansberry, Bryan E.; Durham, Michael H.; Bennett, Robert M.; Rivera, Jose A.; Silva, Walter A.; Wieseman, Carol D.; Turnock, David L.

1993-01-01

This paper describes selected results from the flutter testing of the Supercritical Wing (SW) model. This model is a rigid semispan wing having a rectangular planform and a supercritical airfoil shape. The model was flutter tested in the Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT) as part of the Benchmark Models Program, a multi-year wind tunnel activity currently being conducted by the Structural Dynamics Division of NASA Langley Research Center. The primary objective of this program is to assist in the development and evaluation of aeroelastic computational fluid dynamics codes. The SW is the second of a series of three similar models which are designed to be flutter tested in the TDT on a flexible mount known as the Pitch and Plunge Apparatus. Data sets acquired with these models, including simultaneous unsteady surface pressures and model response data, are meant to be used for correlation with analytical codes. Presented in this report are experimental flutter boundaries and corresponding steady and unsteady pressure distribution data acquired over two model chords located at the 60 and 95 percent span stations.

Cooling Air Inlet and Exit Geometries on Aircraft Engine Installations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Katz, Joseph; Corsiglia, Victor R.; Barlow, Philip R.

1982-01-01

A semispan wing and nacelle of a typical general aviation twin-engine aircraft was tested to evaluate the cooling capability and drag or several nacelle shapes; the nacelle shapes included cooling air inlet and exit variations. The tests were conducted in the Ames Research Center 40 x 80-ft Wind Tunnel. It was found that the cooling air inlet geometry of opposed piston engine installations has a major effect on inlet pressure recovery, but only a minor effect on drag. Exit location showed large effect on drag, especially for those locations on the sides of the nacelle where the suction characteristics were based on interaction with the wing surface pressures.

FUN3D Analyses in Support of the Second Aeroelastic Prediction Workshop

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chwalowski, Pawel; Heeg, Jennifer

2016-01-01

This paper presents the computational aeroelastic results generated in support of the second Aeroelastic Prediction Workshop for the Benchmark Supercritical Wing (BSCW) configurations and compares them to the experimental data. The computational results are obtained using FUN3D, an unstructured grid Reynolds- Averaged Navier-Stokes solver developed at NASA Langley Research Center. The analysis results include aerodynamic coefficients and surface pressures obtained for steady-state, static aeroelastic equilibrium, and unsteady flow due to a pitching wing or flutter prediction. Frequency response functions of the pressure coefficients with respect to the angular displacement are computed and compared with the experimental data. The effects of spatial and temporal convergence on the computational results are examined.

Surface pressure and inviscid flow field properties of the North American Rockwell delta-wing orbiter for nominal Mach number of 8, volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Matthews, R. K.; Martindale, W. R.; Warmbrod, J. D.

1972-01-01

The results are presented of a wind tunnel test program to determine surface pressures and flow field properties on the space shuttle orbiter configuration. The tests were conducted in September 1971. Data were obtained at a nominal Mach number of 8 and a free stream unit Reynolds number of 3.7 million per foot. Angle of attack was varied from 10 to 50 deg in 10-deg increments.

Differential pressure distribution measurement for the development of insect-sized wings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takahashi, Hidetoshi; Matsumoto, Kiyoshi; Shimoyama, Isao

2013-05-01

This paper reports on the measurement of the differential pressure distribution over a flat, thin wing using a micro-electro-mechanical systems sensor. Sensors featuring a piezoresistive cantilever were attached to a polyimide/Cu wing. Because the weight of the cantilever element was less than 10 ng, the sensor can measure the differential pressure without interference from inertial forces, such as wing flapping motions. The dimensions of the sensor chips and the wing were 1.0 mm × 1.0 mm × 0.3 mm and 100 mm × 30 mm × 1 mm, respectively. The differential pressure distribution along the wing's chord direction was measured in a wind tunnel at an air velocity of 4.0 m s­-1 by changing the angle of attack. It was confirmed that the pressure coefficient calculated by the measured differential pressure distribution was similar to the value measured by a load cell.

Tabulated pressure measurements on an executive-type jet transport model with a supercritical wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bartlett, D. W.

1975-01-01

A 1/9 scale model of an existing executive type jet transport refitted with a supercritical wing was tested on in the 8 foot transonic pressure tunnel. The supercritical wing had the same sweep as the original airplane wing but had maximum thickness chord ratios 33 percent larger at the mean geometric chord and almost 50 percent larger at the wing-fuselage juncture. Wing pressure distributions and fuselage pressure distributions in the vicinity of the left nacelle were measured at Mach numbers from 0.25 to 0.90 at angles of attack that generally varied from -2 deg to 10 deg. Results are presented in tabular form without analysis.

KC-135 wing and winglet flight pressure distributions, loads, and wing deflection results with some wind tunnel comparisons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Montoya, L. C.; Jacobs, P.; Flechner, S.; Sims, R.

1982-01-01

A full-scale winglet flight test on a KC-135 airplane with an upper winglet was conducted. Data were taken at Mach numbers from 0.70 to 0.82 at altitudes from 34,000 feet to 39,000 feet at stabilized flight conditions for wing/winglet configurations of basic wing tip, 15/-4 deg, 15/-2 deg, and 0/-4 deg winglet cant/incidence. An analysis of selected pressure distribution and data showed that with the basic wing tip, the flight and wind tunnel wing pressure distribution data showed good agreement. With winglets installed, the effects on the wing pressure distribution were mainly near the tip. Also, the flight and wind tunnel winglet pressure distributions had some significant differences primarily due to the oilcanning in flight. However, in general, the agreement was good. For the winglet cant and incidence configuration presented, the incidence had the largest effect on the winglet pressure distributions. The incremental flight wing deflection data showed that the semispan wind tunnel model did a reasonable job of simulating the aeroelastic effects at the wing tip. The flight loads data showed good agreement with predictions at the design point and also substantiated the predicted structural penalty (load increase) of the 15 deg cant/-2 deg incidence winglet configuration.

Computational Design and Analysis of a Transonic Natural Laminar Flow Wing for a Wind Tunnel Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lynde, Michelle N.; Campbell, Richard L.

2017-01-01

A natural laminar flow (NLF) wind tunnel model has been designed and analyzed for a wind tunnel test in the National Transonic Facility (NTF) at the NASA Langley Research Center. The NLF design method is built into the CDISC design module and uses a Navier-Stokes flow solver, a boundary layer profile solver, and stability analysis and transition prediction software. The NLF design method alters the pressure distribution to support laminar flow on the upper surface of wings with high sweep and flight Reynolds numbers. The method addresses transition due to attachment line contamination/transition, Gortler vortices, and crossflow and Tollmien-Schlichting modal instabilities. The design method is applied to the wing of the Common Research Model (CRM) at transonic flight conditions. Computational analysis predicts significant extents of laminar flow on the wing upper surface, which results in drag savings. A 5.2 percent scale semispan model of the CRM NLF wing will be built and tested in the NTF. This test will aim to validate the NLF design method, as well as characterize the laminar flow testing capabilities in the wind tunnel facility.

Blockage and flow studies of a generalized test apparatus including various wing configurations in the Langley 7-inch Mach 7 Pilot Tunnel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Albertson, C. W.

1982-03-01

A 1/12th scale model of the Curved Surface Test Apparatus (CSTA), which will be used to study aerothermal loads and evaluate Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) on a fuselage-type configuration in the Langley 8-Foot High Temperature Structures Tunnel (8 ft HTST), was tested in the Langley 7-Inch Mach 7 Pilot Tunnel. The purpose of the tests was to study the overall flow characteristics and define an envelope for testing the CSTA in the 8 ft HTST. Wings were tested on the scaled CSTA model to select a wing configuration with the most favorable characteristics for conducting TPS evaluations for curved and intersecting surfaces. The results indicate that the CSTA and selected wing configuration can be tested at angles of attack up to 15.5 and 10.5 degrees, respectively. The base pressure for both models was at the expected low level for most test conditions. Results generally indicate that the CSTA and wing configuration will provide a useful test bed for aerothermal pads and thermal structural concept evaluation over a broad range of flow conditions in the 8 ft HTST.

Blockage and flow studies of a generalized test apparatus including various wing configurations in the Langley 7-inch Mach 7 Pilot Tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Albertson, C. W.

1982-01-01

A 1/12th scale model of the Curved Surface Test Apparatus (CSTA), which will be used to study aerothermal loads and evaluate Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) on a fuselage-type configuration in the Langley 8-Foot High Temperature Structures Tunnel (8 ft HTST), was tested in the Langley 7-Inch Mach 7 Pilot Tunnel. The purpose of the tests was to study the overall flow characteristics and define an envelope for testing the CSTA in the 8 ft HTST. Wings were tested on the scaled CSTA model to select a wing configuration with the most favorable characteristics for conducting TPS evaluations for curved and intersecting surfaces. The results indicate that the CSTA and selected wing configuration can be tested at angles of attack up to 15.5 and 10.5 degrees, respectively. The base pressure for both models was at the expected low level for most test conditions. Results generally indicate that the CSTA and wing configuration will provide a useful test bed for aerothermal pads and thermal structural concept evaluation over a broad range of flow conditions in the 8 ft HTST.

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

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kuhlman, J. M.

1983-01-01

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

Development of the triplet singularity for the analysis of wings and bodies in supersonic flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woodward, F. A.

1981-01-01

A supersonic triplet singularity was developed which eliminates internal waves generated by panels having supersonic edges. The triplet is a linear combination of source and vortex distributions which gives directional properties to the perturbation flow field surrounding the panel. The theoretical development of the triplet singularity is described together with its application to the calculation of surface pressures on wings and bodies. Examples are presented comparing the results of the new method with other supersonic methods and with experimental data.

CFD validation experiments at the Lockheed-Georgia Company

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Malone, John B.; Thomas, Andrew S. W.

1987-01-01

Information is given in viewgraph form on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) validation experiments at the Lockheed-Georgia Company. Topics covered include validation experiments on a generic fighter configuration, a transport configuration, and a generic hypersonic vehicle configuration; computational procedures; surface and pressure measurements on wings; laser velocimeter measurements of a multi-element airfoil system; the flowfield around a stiffened airfoil; laser velocimeter surveys of a circulation control wing; circulation control for high lift; and high angle of attack aerodynamic evaluations.

Flight loads measurements obtained from calibrated strain-gage bridges mounted externally on the skin of a low-aspect-ratio wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eckstrom, C. V.

1976-01-01

Flight-test measurements of wingloads (shear, bending moment, and torque) were obtained by means of strain-gage bridges mounted on the exterior surface of a low-aspect-ratio, thin, swept wing which had a structural skin, full-depth honeycomb core, sandwich construction. Details concerning the strain-gage bridges, the calibration procedures used, and the flight-test results are presented along with some pressure measurements and theoretical calculations for comparison purposes.

Experimental Investigation of the Low-Speed Aerodynamic Characteristics of a 5.8-Percent Scale Hybrid Wing Body Configuration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gatlin, Gregory M.; Vicroy, Dan D.; Carter, Melissa B.

2012-01-01

A low-speed experimental investigation has been conducted on a 5.8-percent scale Hybrid Wing Body configuration in the NASA Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel. This Hybrid Wing Body (HWB) configuration was designed with specific intention to support the NASA Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) Project goals of reduced noise, emissions, and fuel burn. This HWB configuration incorporates twin, podded nacelles mounted on the vehicle upper surface between twin vertical tails. Low-speed aerodynamic characteristics were assessed through the acquisition of force and moment, surface pressure, and flow visualization data. Longitudinal and lateral-directional characteristics were investigated on this multi-component model. The effects of a drooped leading edge, longitudinal flow-through nacelle location, vertical tail shape and position, elevon deflection, and rudder deflection have been studied. The basic configuration aerodynamics, as well as the effects of these configuration variations, are presented in this paper.

Control of Interacting Vortex Flows at Subsonic and Transonic Speeds Using Passive Porosity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erickson, Gary E.

2003-01-01

A wind tunnel experiment was conducted in the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) 8-foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel (TPT) to determine the effects of passive surface porosity on vortex flow interactions about a general research fighter configuration at subsonic and transonic speeds. Flow- through porosity was applied to a wind leading-edge extension (LEX) mounted to a 65 deg cropped delta wind model to promote large nose-down pitching moment increments at high angles of attack. Porosity decreased the vorticity shed from the LEX, which weakened the LEX vortex and altered the global interactions of the LEX and wing vortices at high angles of attack. Six-component forces and moments and wing upper surface static pressure distributions were obtained at free- stream Mach numbers of 0.50, 0.85, and 1.20, Reynolds number of 2.5(10(exp-6) per foot, angles of attack up to 30 deg and angles of sideslip to plus or minus 8 deg. The off-surface flow field was visualized in selected cross-planes using a laser vapor screen flow visualization technique. Test data were obtained with a centerline vertical tail and with alternate twin, wing-mounted vertical fins having 0 deg and 30 deg cant angles. In addition, the porosity of the LEX was compartmentalized to determine the sensitivity of the vortex- dominated aerodynamics to the location and level of porosity applied to the LEX.

Flow Visualization Techniques in Wind Tunnel Tests of a Full-Scale F/A-18 Aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lanser, Wendy R.; Botha, Gavin J.; James, Kevin D.; Bennett, Mark; Crowder, James P.; Cooper, Don; Olson, Lawrence (Technical Monitor)

1994-01-01

The proposed paper presents flow visualization performed during experiments conducted on a full-scale F/A-18 aircraft in the 80- by 120-Foot Wind-Tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center. The purpose of the flow-visualization experiments was to document the forebody and leading edge extension (LEX) vortex interaction along with the wing flow patterns at high angles of attack and low speed high Reynolds number conditions. This investigation used surface pressures in addition to both surface and off-surface flow visualization techniques to examine the flow field on the forebody, canopy, LEXS, and wings. The various techniques used to visualize the flow field were fluorescent tufts, flow cones treated with reflective material, smoke in combination with a laser light sheet, and a video imaging system for three-dimension vortex tracking. The flow visualization experiments were conducted over an angle of attack range from 20 deg to 45 deg and over a sideslip range from -10 deg to 10 deg. The various visualization techniques as well as the pressure distributions were used to understand the flow field structure. The results show regions of attached and separated flow on the forebody, canopy, and wings as well as the vortical flow over the leading-edge extensions. This paper will also present flow visualization comparisons with the F-18 HARV flight vehicle and small-scale oil flows on the F-18.

Static investigation of the circulation control wing/upper surface blowing concept applied to the quiet short haul research aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eppel, J. C.; Shovlin, M. D.; Jaynes, D. N.; Englar, R. J.; Nichols, J. H., Jr.

1982-01-01

Full scale static investigations were conducted on the Quiet Short Haul Research Aircraft (QSRA) to determine the thrust deflecting capabilities of the circulation control wing/upper surface blowing (CCW/USB) concept. This scheme, which combines favorable characteristics of both the A-6/CCW and QSRA, employs the flow entrainment properties of CCW to pneumatically deflect engine thrust in lieu of the mechanical USB flap system. Results show that the no moving parts blown system produced static thrust deflections in the range of 40 deg to 97 deg (depending on thrust level) with a CCW pressure of 208,900 Pa (30.3 psig). In addition, the ability to vary horizontal forces from thrust to drag while maintaining a constant vertical (or lift) value was demonstrated by varying the blowing pressure. The versatility of the CCW/USB system, if applied to a STOL aircraft, was confirmed, where rapid conversion from a high drag approach mode to a thrust recovering waveoff or takeoff configuration could be achieved by nearly instantaneous blowing pressure variation.

Fluctuating pressures in flow fields of jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schroeder, J. C.; Haviland, J. K.

1976-01-01

The powered lift configurations under present development for STOL aircraft are the externally blown flap (EBF), involving direct jet impingement on the aircraft flaps, and the upper surface blown (USB), where the jet flow is attached on the upper surface of the wing and directed downwards. Towards the goal of developing scaling laws to predict unsteady loads imposed on the structural components of these STOL aircraft from small model tests, the near field fluctuating pressure behavior for the simplified cases of a round free cold jet and the same jet impinging on a flat plate was investigated. Examples are given of coherences, phase lags (giving convection velocities), and overall fluctuating pressure levels measured. The fluctuating pressure levels measured on the flat plate are compared to surface fluctuating pressure levels measured on full-scale powered-lift configuration models.

Flow visualization studies of VTOL aircraft models during Hover in ground effect

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mourtos, Nikos J.; Couillaud, Stephane; Carter, Dale; Hange, Craig; Wardwell, Doug; Margason, Richard J.

1995-01-01

A flow visualization study of several configurations of a jet-powered vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft model during hover in ground effect was conducted. A surface oil flow technique was used to observe the flow patterns on the lower surfaces of the model. There were significant configuration effects. Wing height with respect to fuselage, the presence of an engine inlet duct beside the fuselage, and nozzle pressure ratio are seen to have strong effects on the surface flow angles on the lower surface of the wing. This test was part of a program to improve the methods for predicting the hot gas ingestion (HGI) for jet-powered vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aircraft. The tests were performed at the Jet Calibration and Hover Test (JCAHT) Facility at Ames Research Center.

Supersonic full-potential methods for missile body analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pittman, James L.

1992-01-01

Accounts are presented of representative applications to missile bodies of arbitrary shape of methods based on the steady form of the full potential equation. The NCOREL and SIMP full-potential codes are compared, and their results are evaluated for the cases of an arrow wing and a wing-body configuration. Attention is given to the effect of cross-sectional and longitudinal geometries. Comparisons of surface pressure and longitudinal force and moment data for circular and elliptic bodies have shown that the full-potential methods yielded excellent results in attached-flow conditions. Results are presented for a conical star body, waveriders, the Shuttle Orbiter, and a highly swept wing-body cruising at Mach 4.

DARPA/AFRL/NASA Smart Wing Second Wind Tunnel Test Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scherer, L. B.; Martin, C. A.; West, M.; Florance, J. P.; Wieseman, C. D.; Burner, A. W.; Fleming, G. A.

2001-01-01

To quantify the benefits of smart materials and structures adaptive wing technology, Northrop Grumman Corp. (NGC) built and tested two 16% scale wind tunnel models (a conventional and a "smart" model) of a fighter/attack aircraft under the DARPA/AFRL/NASA Smart Materials and Structures Development - Smart Wing Phase 1. Performance gains quantified included increased pitching moment (C(sub M)), increased rolling moment (C(subl)) and improved pressure distribution. The benefits were obtained for hingeless, contoured trailing edge control surfaces with embedded shape memory alloy (SMA) wires and spanwise wing twist effected by SMA torque tube mechanisms, compared to conventional hinged control surfaces. This paper presents an overview of the results from the second wind tunnel test performed at the NASA Langley Research Center s (LaRC) 16ft Transonic Dynamic Tunnel (TDT) in June 1998. Successful results obtained were: 1) 5 degrees of spanwise twist and 8-12% increase in rolling moment utilizing a single SMA torque tube, 2) 12 degrees of deflection, and 10% increase in rolling moment due to hingeless, contoured aileron, and 3) demonstration of optical techniques for measuring spanwise twist and deflected shape.

Wind tunnel and analytical investigation of over-the-wing propulsion/air frame interferences for a short-haul aircraft at Mach numbers from 0.6 to 0.78. [conducted in the Lewis 8 by 6 foot tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wells, O. D.; Lopez, M. L.; Welge, H. R.; Henne, P. A.; Sewell, A. E.

1977-01-01

Results of analytical calculations and wind tunnel tests at cruise speeds of a representative four engine short haul aircraft employing upper surface blowing (USB) with a supercritical wing are discussed. Wind tunnel tests covered a range of Mach number M from 0.6 to 0.78. Tests explored the use of three USB nozzle configurations. Results are shown for the isolated wing body and for each of the three nozzle types installed. Experimental results indicate that a low angle nacelle and streamline contoured nacelle yielded the same interference drag at the design Mach number. A high angle powered lift nacelle had higher interference drag primarily because of nacelle boattail low pressures and flow separation. Results of varying the spacing between the nacelles and the use of trailing edge flap deflections, wing upper surface contouring, and a convergent-divergent nozzle to reduce potential adverse jet effects were also discussed. Analytical comparisons with experimental data, made for selected cases, indicate favorable agreement.

DARPA/ARFL/NASA Smart Wing second wind tunnel test results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scherer, Lewis B.; Martin, Christopher A.; West, Mark N.; Florance, Jennifer P.; Wieseman, Carol D.; Burner, Alpheus W.; Fleming, Gary A.

1999-07-01

To quantify the benefits of smart materials and structures adaptive wing technology. Northrop Grumman Corp. built and tested two 16 percent scale wind tunnel models of a fighter/attach aircraft under the DARPA/AFRL/NASA Smart Materials and Structures Development - Smart Wing Phase 1. Performance gains quantified included increased pitching moment, increased rolling moment and improved pressure distribution. The benefits were obtained for hingeless, contoured trailing edge control surfaces with embedded shape memory alloy wires and spanwise wing twist effected by SMA torque tube mechanism, compared to convention hinged control surfaces. This paper presents an overview of the results from the second wind tunnel test performed at the NASA Langley Research Center's 16 ft Transonic Dynamic Tunnel in June 1998. Successful results obtained were: 1) 5 degrees of spanwise twist and 8-12 percent increase in rolling moment utilizing a single SMA torque tube, 2) 12 degrees of deflection, and 10 percent increase in rolling moment due to hingeless, contoured aileron, and 3) demonstration of optical techniques for measuring spanwise twist and deflected shape.

Small scale wind tunnel model investigation of hybrid high lift systems combining upper surface blowing with the internally blown flap

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Waites, W. L.; Chin, Y. T.

1974-01-01

A small-scale wind tunnel test of a two engine hybrid model with upper surface blowing on a simulated expandable duct internally blown flap was accomplished in a two phase program. The low wing Phase I model utilized 0.126c radius Jacobs/Hurkamp flaps and 0.337c radius Coanda flaps. The high wing Phase II model was utilized for continued studies on the Jacobs/Hurkamp flap. Principal study areas included: basic data both engines operative and with an engine out, control flap utilization, horizontal tail effectiveness, spoiler effectiveness, USB nacelle deflector study and USB/IBF pressure ratio effects.

Installation and airspeed effects on jet shock-associated noise

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vonglahn, U.; Goodykoontz, J.

1975-01-01

Experimental acoustic data are presented to illustrate, at model scale, the effect of varying the nozzle-wing installation on shock-associated noise, statically and with airspeed. The variation in installations included nozzle only, nozzle under-the-wing (with and without flaps deflected), and nozzle over-the-wing (unattached flow). The nozzles used were a conical and a 6-tube mixer nozzle with a cold-flow nozzle pressure ratio of 2.1. A 33-cm diameter free jet was used to simulate airspeed. With the nozzle only, shock wave noise dominated the spectra in the forward quadrant, while jet mixing noise dominated in the rearward quadrant. Similar trends were observed when a wing (flaps retracted) was included. Shock noise was attenuated with an over-the-wing configuration and increased with an under-the-wing configuration (due to reflection from the wing surface). With increasing flap deflection (under-the-wing configuration), the jet-flap interaction noise exceeded the shock noise and became dominant in both quadrants. The free jet results showed that airspeed had no effect on shock noise. The free jet noise data were corrected for convective amplification to approximate flight and comparisons between the various configurations are made.

Aerodynamic pressures and heating rates on surfaces between split elevons at Mach 6.6

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hunt, L. Roane

1988-01-01

An aerothermal study was performed in the Langley 8-Foot High Temperature Tunnel at Mach number 6.6 to define the pressures and heating rates on the surfaces between split elevons similar to those used on the Space Shuttle. Tests were performed with both laminar and turbulent boundary layers on the wing surface upstream of the elevons. The flow in the chordwise gap between the elevons was characterized by flow separation at the gap entrance and flow reattachment at a depth into the gap inversely proportional to the gap width. The gap pressure and heating rate increased significantly with decrease of elevon gap width, and the maximum gap heating rate was proportional to the maximum gap pressure. Correlation of the present results indicate that the gap heating was directly proportional to the elevon windward surface pressure and was not dependent upon whether the boundary layer on the windward elevon surface was laminar or turbulent.

Lift and center of pressure of wing-body-tail combinations at subsonic, transonic, and supersonic speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pitts, William C; Nielsen, Jack N; Kaattari, George E

1957-01-01

A method is presented for calculating the lift and centers of pressure of wing-body and wing-body-tail combinations at subsonic, transonic, and supersonic speeds. A set of design charts and a computing table are presented which reduce the computations to routine operations. Comparison between the estimated and experimental characteristics for a number of wing-body and wing-body-tail combinations shows correlation to within + or - 10 percent on lift and to within about + or - 0.02 of the body length on center of pressure.

A wind tunnel investigation of the effects of micro-vortex generators and Gurney flaps on the high-lift characteristics of a business jet wing. M.S. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Martuccio, Michelle Therese

1994-01-01

A study of a full-scale, semi-span business jet wing has been conducted to investigate the potential of two types of high-lift devices for improving aircraft high-lift performance. The research effort involved low-speed wind-tunnel tests of micro-vortex generators and Gurney flaps applied to the flap system of the business jet wing and included force and moment measurements, surface pressure surveys and flow visualization on the wing and flap. Results showed that the micro-vortex generators tested had no beneficial effects on the longitudinal force characteristics in this particular application, while the Gurney flaps were an effective means of increasing lift. However, the Gurney flaps also caused an increase in drag in most circumstances.

Computer program analyzes and designs supersonic wing-body combinations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woodward, F. A.

1968-01-01

Computer program formulates geometric description of the wing body configuration, optimizes wing camber shape, determines wing shape for a given pressure distribution, and calculates pressures, forces, and moments on a given configuration. The program consists of geometry definition, transformation, and paneling, and aerodynamics, and flow visualization.

A study of juncture flow in the NASA Langley 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chokani, Ndaona

1992-01-01

A numerical investigation of the interaction between a wind tunnel sidewall boundary layer and a thin low-aspect-ratio wing has been performed for transonic speeds and flight Reynolds numbers. A three-dimensional Navier-Stokes code was applied to calculate the flow field. The first portion of the investigation examined the capability of the code to calculate the flow around the wing, with no sidewall boundary layer present. The second part of the research examined the effect of modeling the sidewall boundary layer. The results indicated that the sidewall boundary layer had a strong influence on the flow field around the wing. The viscous sidewall computations accurately predicted the leading edge suction peaks, and the strong adverse pressure gradients immediately downstream of the leading edge. This was in contrast to the consistent underpredictions of the free-air computations. The low momentum of the sidewall boundary layer resulted in higher pressures in the juncture region, which decreased the favorable spanwise pressure gradient. This significantly decreased the spanwise migration of the wing boundary layer. The computations indicated that the sidewall boundary layer remained attached for all cases examined. Weak vortices were predicted in both the upper and lower surface juncture regions. These vortices are believed to have been generated by lateral skewing of the streamlines in the approaching boundary layer.

Circulation Control Model Experimental Database for CFD Validation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Paschal, Keith B.; Neuhart, Danny H.; Beeler, George B.; Allan, Brian G.

2012-01-01

A 2D circulation control wing was tested in the Basic Aerodynamic Research Tunnel at the NASA Langley Research Center. A traditional circulation control wing employs tangential blowing along the span over a trailing-edge Coanda surface for the purpose of lift augmentation. This model has been tested extensively at the Georgia Tech Research Institute for the purpose of performance documentation at various blowing rates. The current study seeks to expand on the previous work by documenting additional flow-field data needed for validation of computational fluid dynamics. Two jet momentum coefficients were tested during this entry: 0.047 and 0.114. Boundary-layer transition was investigated and turbulent boundary layers were established on both the upper and lower surfaces of the model. Chordwise and spanwise pressure measurements were made, and tunnel sidewall pressure footprints were documented. Laser Doppler Velocimetry measurements were made on both the upper and lower surface of the model at two chordwise locations (x/c = 0.8 and 0.9) to document the state of the boundary layers near the spanwise blowing slot.

Prediction of drag at subsonic and transonic speeds using Euler methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nikfetrat, K.; Van Dam, C. P.; Vijgen, P. M. H. W.; Chang, I. C.

1992-01-01

A technique for the evaluation of aerodynamic drag from flowfield solutions based on the Euler equations is discussed. The technique is limited to steady attached flows around three-dimensional configurations in the absence of active systems such as surface blowing/suction and propulsion. It allows the decomposition of the total drag into induced drag and wave drag and, consequently, it provides more information on the drag sources than the conventional surface-pressure integration technique. The induced drag is obtained from the integration of the kinetic energy (per unit distance) of the trailing vortex system on a wake plane and the wave drag is obtained from the integration of the entropy production on a plane just downstream of the shocks. The drag-evaluation technique is applied to three-dimensional flowfield solutions for the ONERA M6 wing as well as an aspect-ratio-7 wing with an elliptic spanwise chord distribution and an NACA-0012 section shape. Comparisons between the drag obtained with the present technique and the drag based on the integration of surface pressures are presented for two Euler codes.

Detailed flow-field measurements over a 75 deg swept delta wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kjelgaard, Scott O.; Sellers, William L., III

1990-01-01

Results from an experimental investigation documenting the flowfield over a 75 deg swept delta wing at an angle-of-attack of 20.5 deg are presented. Results obtained include surface flow visualization, off-body flow visualization, and detailed flowfield surveys for various Reynolds numbers. Flowfield surveys at Reynolds numbers of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 million based on the root chord were conducted with both a Pitot pressure probe and a 5-hole pressure probe; and 3-component laser velocimeter surveys were conducted at a Reynolds number of 1.0 million. The Pitot pressure surveys were obtained at 5 chordwise stations, the 5-hole probe surveys were obtained at 3 chordwise stations and the laser velocimeter surveys were obtained at one station. The results confirm the classical roll up of the flow into a pair of primary vortices over the delta wing. The velocity measurements indicate that Reynolds number has little effect on the global structure of the flowfield for the Reynolds number range investigated. Measurements of the non-dimensional axial velocity in the core of the vortex indicate a jet like flow with values greater than twice freestream. Comparisons between velocity measurements from the 5-hole pressure probe and the laser velocimeter indicate that the pressure probe does a reasonable job of measuring the flowfield quantities where the velocity gradients in the flowfield are low.

78 FR 64417 - Airworthiness Directives; Twin Commander Aircraft LLC Airplanes; Initial Regulatory Flexibility...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-29

... window channels, aft cabin pressure web, external wing to fuselage fillets, and fasteners; repair or..., the vertical channels, the upper picture window channels, aft cabin pressure web, external wing to... lower wing main spar, the vertical channels, the upper picture window channels, aft cabin pressure web...

Potential flow analysis of glaze ice accretions on an airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zaguli, R. J.

1984-01-01

The results of an analytical/experimental study of the flow fields about an airfoil with leading edge glaze ice accretion shapes are presented. Tests were conducted in the Icing Research Tunnel to measure surface pressure distributions and boundary layer separation reattachment characteristics on a general aviation wing section to which was affixed wooden ice shapes which approximated typical glaze ice accretions. Comparisons were made with predicted pressure distributions using current airfoil analysis codes as well as the Bristow mixed analysis/design airfoil panel code. The Bristow code was also used to predict the separation reattachment dividing streamline by inputting the appropriate experimental surface pressure distribution.

Conference Proceedings on Validation of Computational Fluid Dynamics. Volume 1. Symposium Papers and Round Table Discussion Held in Lisbon, Portugal on 2-5 May 1988

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-05-01

the representation of the shock, the non -conservative difference scheme in the original method being replaced by a ’ quasi - conservative’ operator 3...domain. In order to simulate the experimentally observed pressure distribution at the exit a formulation of the non -reflecting pressure condition Is used...and Experimental Aero- dynamics: Wing Surface Generator Code, Control Surface and Boundary Conditions". DFVLR IB 221-87 A 01, 1987. [11] Kordulla, W.(ed

Pilot Emergency Tutoring System for F-4 Aircraft Fuel System Malfunction Using Means-Ends Analysis

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-06-01

pulled , and wing transfer pressure is normal. What operator do you choose? For example: type look_at INDICATOR for looked_at(INDICATOR) type set...cb internal wing transfer is pulled , and wing transfer pressure is normal. What operator do you choose? For example: type look_at INDICATOR for...at, external transfer is off, internal wing transfer is stop trans, refuel probe is extended, cb internal wing transfer is pulled ,and wing

Assessment of Potential Aerodynamic Benefits from Spanwise Blowing at the Wing Tip. Ph.D. Thesis - George Washington Univ.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mineck, Raymond Edward

1992-01-01

A comprehensive set of experimental and analytical investigations have been conducted to assess the potential aerodynamic benefits from spanwise blowing at the tip of a moderate aspect ratio, swept wing. An analytical model has been developed to simulate a jet exhausting from the wing tip. An experimental study of a subsonic jet exhausting from the wing tip was conducted to investigate the effect of spanwise blowing from the tip on the aerodynamic characteristics of a moderate aspect ratio, swept wing. Wing force and moment data and surface pressure data were measured at Mach numbers up to 0.72. Results indicate that small amounts of blowing from small jets increase the lift curve slope a small amount, but have no effect on drag. Larger amounts of blowing from longer jets blowing increases lift near the tip and reduce drag at low Mach numbers. These benefits decrease with increasing Mach number, and vanish at Mach 0.5. A Navier-Stokes solver with modified boundary conditions at the tip was used to extrapolate the results to a Mach number of 0.72. With current technology and conventional wing shapes, spanwise blowing at the wing tip does not appear to be a practical means of reducing drag of moderate aspect ratio wings at high subsonic Mach numbers.

Flap Edge Aeroacoustic Measurements and Predictions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brooks, Thomas F.; Humphreys, William M., Jr.

2000-01-01

An aeroacoustic model test has been conducted to investigate the mechanisms of sound generation on high-lift wing configurations. This paper presents an analysis of flap side-edge noise, which is often the most dominant source. A model of a main element wing section with a half-span flap was tested at low speeds of up to a Mach number of 0.17, corresponding to a wing chord Reynolds number of approximately 1.7 million. Results are presented for flat (or blunt), flanged, and round flap-edge geometries, with and without boundary-layer tripping, deployed at both moderate and high flap angles. The acoustic database is obtained from a Small Aperture Directional Array (SADA) of microphones, which was constructed to electronically steer to different regions of the model and to obtain farfield noise spectra and directivity from these regions. The basic flap-edge aerodynamics is established by static surface pressure data, as well as by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) calculations and simplified edge flow analyses. Distributions of unsteady pressure sensors over the flap allow the noise source regions to be defined and quantified via cross-spectral diagnostics using the SADA output. It is found that shear layer instability and related pressure scatter is the primary noise mechanism. For the flat edge flap, two noise prediction methods based on unsteady surface pressure measurements are evaluated and compared to measured noise. One is a new causality spectral approach developed here. The other is a new application of an edge-noise scatter prediction method. The good comparisons for both approaches suggest that much of the physics is captured by the prediction models. Areas of disagreement appear to reveal when the assumed edge noise mechanism does not fully define the noise production. For the different edge conditions, extensive spectra and directivity are presented. Significantly, for each edge configuration, the spectra for different flow speeds, flap angles, and surface roughness were successfully scaled by utilizing aerodynamic performance and boundary layer scaling methods developed herein.

Flap Edge Aeroacoustic Measurements and Predictions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brooks, Thomas F.; Humphreys, William M., Jr.

2000-01-01

An aeroacoustic model test has been conducted to investigate the mechanisms of sound generation on high-lift wing configurations. This paper presents an analysis of flap side-edge noise, which is often the most dominant source. A model of a main element wing section with a half-span flap was tested at low speeds of up to a Mach number of 0.17, corresponding to a wing chord Reynolds number of approximately 1.7 million. Results are presented for flat (or blunt), flanged, and round flap-edge geometries, with and without boundary-layer tripping, deployed at both moderate and high flap angles. The acoustic database is obtained from a Small Aperture Directional Array (SADA) of microphones, which was constructed to electronically steer to different regions of the model and to obtain farfield noise spectra and directivity from these regions. The basic flap-edge aerodynamics is established by static surface pressure data, as well as by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) calculations and simplified edge flow analyses. Distributions of unsteady pressure sensors over the flap allow the noise source regions to be defined and quantified via cross-spectral diagnostics using the SADA output. It is found that shear layer instability and related pressure scatter is the primary noise mechanism. For the flat edge flap, two noise prediction methods based on unsteady-surface-pressure measurements are evaluated and compared to measured noise. One is a new causality spectral approach developed here. The other is a new application of an edge-noise scatter prediction method. The good comparisons for both approaches suggest that much of the physics is captured by the prediction models. Areas of disagreement appear to reveal when the assumed edge noise mechanism does not fully define, the noise production. For the different edge conditions, extensive spectra and directivity are presented. Significantly, for each edge configuration, the spectra for different flow speeds, flap angles, and surface roughness were successfully scaled by utilizing aerodynamic performance and boundary layer scaling method developed herein.

CFD Computations for a Generic High-Lift Configuration Using TetrUSS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pandya, Mohagna J.; Abdol-Hamid, Khaled S.; Parlette, Edward B.

2011-01-01

Assessment of the accuracy of computational results for a generic high-lift trapezoidal wing with a single slotted flap and slat is presented. The paper is closely aligned with the focus of the 1st AIAA CFD High Lift Prediction Workshop (HiLiftPW-1) which was to assess the accuracy of CFD methods for multi-element high-lift configurations. The unstructured grid Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes solver TetrUSS/USM3D is used for the computational results. USM3D results are obtained assuming fully turbulent flow using the Spalart-Allmaras (SA) and Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence models. Computed solutions have been obtained at seven different angles-of-attack ranging from 6 -37 . Three grids providing progressively higher grid resolution are used to quantify the effect of grid resolution on the lift, drag, pitching moment, surface pressure and stall angle. SA results, as compared to SST results, exhibit better agreement with the measured data. However, both turbulence models under-predict upper surface pressures near the wing tip region.

Nacelle Aerodynamic and Inertial Loads (NAIL) project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1982-01-01

A flight test survey of pressures measured on wing, pylon, and nacelle surfaces and of the operating loads on Boeing 747/Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7A nacelles was made to provide information on airflow patterns surrounding the propulsion system installations and to clarify processes responsible for inservice deterioration of fuel economy. Airloads at takeoff rotation were found to be larger than at any other normal service condition because of the combined effects of high angle of attack and high engine airflow. Inertial loads were smaller than previous estimates indicated. A procedure is given for estimating inlet airloads at low speeds and high angles of attack for any underwing high bypass ratio turbofan installation approximately resembling the one tested. Flight procedure modifications are suggested that may result in better fuel economy retention in service. Pressures were recorded on the core cowls and pylons of both engine installations and on adjacent wing surfaces for use in development of computer codes for analysis of installed propulsion system aerodynamic drag interference effects.

A bio-inspired device for drag reduction on a three-dimensional model vehicle.

PubMed

Kim, Dongri; Lee, Hoon; Yi, Wook; Choi, Haecheon

2016-03-10

In this paper, we introduce a bio-mimetic device for the reduction of the drag force on a three-dimensional model vehicle, the Ahmed body (Ahmed et al 1984 SAE Technical Paper 840300). The device, called automatic moving deflector (AMD), is designed inspired by the movement of secondary feathers on bird's wing suction surface: i.e., secondary feathers pop up when massive separation occurs on bird's wing suction surface at high angles of attack, which increases the lift force at landing. The AMD is applied to the rear slanted surface of the Ahmed body to control the flow separation there. The angle of the slanted surface considered is 25° at which the drag coefficient on the Ahmed body is highest. The wind tunnel experiment is conducted at Re H  = 1.0 × 10(5)-3.8 × 10(5), based on the height of the Ahmed body (H) and the free-stream velocity (U ∞). Several AMDs of different sizes and materials are tested by measuring the drag force on the Ahmed body, and showed drag reductions up to 19%. The velocity and surface-pressure measurements show that AMD starts to pop up when the pressure in the thin gap between the slanted surface and AMD is much larger than that on the upper surface of AMD. We also derive an empirical formula that predicts the critical free-stream velocity at which AMD starts to operate. Finally, it is shown that the drag reduction by AMD is mainly attributed to a pressure recovery on the slanted surface by delaying the flow separation and suppressing the strength of the longitudinal vortices emanating from the lateral edges of the slanted surface.

Investigation of scrubbing and impingement noise

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fink, M. R.

1975-01-01

Tests were conducted in an acoustic wind tunnel to determine surface pressure spectra and far field noise caused by turbulence impinging on an airfoil and turbulence convected past a sharp trailing edge. Measured effects of flow velocity and turbulence intensity were compared with predictions from several theories. Also, tests were conducted in an anechoic chamber to determine surface pressure spectra and far field noise caused by a deflected airfoil scrubbed by a subsonic jet. This installation simulated both an under-the-wing and an upper-surface-blowing externally blown flap, depending on the deflection angle. Surface and far field spectra, and cross correlation coherence and delay time, were utilized to infer the major noise-producing mechanisms.

Development of multidisciplinary design optimization procedures for smart composite wings and turbomachinery blades

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jha, Ratneshwar

Multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) procedures have been developed for smart composite wings and turbomachinery blades. The analysis and optimization methods used are computationally efficient and sufficiently rigorous. Therefore, the developed MDO procedures are well suited for actual design applications. The optimization procedure for the conceptual design of composite aircraft wings with surface bonded piezoelectric actuators involves the coupling of structural mechanics, aeroelasticity, aerodynamics and controls. The load carrying member of the wing is represented as a single-celled composite box beam. Each wall of the box beam is analyzed as a composite laminate using a refined higher-order displacement field to account for the variations in transverse shear stresses through the thickness. Therefore, the model is applicable for the analysis of composite wings of arbitrary thickness. Detailed structural modeling issues associated with piezoelectric actuation of composite structures are considered. The governing equations of motion are solved using the finite element method to analyze practical wing geometries. Three-dimensional aerodynamic computations are performed using a panel code based on the constant-pressure lifting surface method to obtain steady and unsteady forces. The Laplace domain method of aeroelastic analysis produces root-loci of the system which gives an insight into the physical phenomena leading to flutter/divergence and can be efficiently integrated within an optimization procedure. The significance of the refined higher-order displacement field on the aeroelastic stability of composite wings has been established. The effect of composite ply orientations on flutter and divergence speeds has been studied. The Kreisselmeier-Steinhauser (K-S) function approach is used to efficiently integrate the objective functions and constraints into a single envelope function. The resulting unconstrained optimization problem is solved using the Broyden-Fletcher-Goldberg-Shanno algorithm. The optimization problem is formulated with the objective of simultaneously minimizing wing weight and maximizing its aerodynamic efficiency. Design variables include composite ply orientations, ply thicknesses, wing sweep, piezoelectric actuator thickness and actuator voltage. Constraints are placed on the flutter/divergence dynamic pressure, wing root stresses and the maximum electric field applied to the actuators. Numerical results are presented showing significant improvements, after optimization, compared to reference designs. The multidisciplinary optimization procedure for the design of turbomachinery blades integrates aerodynamic and heat transfer design objective criteria along with various mechanical and geometric constraints on the blade geometry. The airfoil shape is represented by Bezier-Bernstein polynomials, which results in a relatively small number of design variables for the optimization. Thin shear layer approximation of the Navier-Stokes equation is used for the viscous flow calculations. Grid generation is accomplished by solving Poisson equations. The maximum and average blade temperatures are obtained through a finite element analysis. Total pressure and exit kinetic energy losses are minimized, with constraints on blade temperatures and geometry. The constrained multiobjective optimization problem is solved using the K-S function approach. The results for the numerical example show significant improvements after optimization.

Numerical Study of Steady and Unsteady Canard-Wing-Body Aerodynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eugene, L. Tu

1996-01-01

The use of canards in advanced aircraft for control and improved aerodynamic performance is a topic of continued interest and research. In addition to providing maneuver control and trim, the influence of canards on wing aerodynamics can often result in increased maximum lift and decreased trim drag. In many canard-configured aircraft, the main benefits of canards are realized during maneuver or other dynamic conditions. Therefore, the detailed study and understanding of canards requires the accurate prediction of the non-linear unsteady aerodynamics of such configurations. For close-coupled canards, the unsteady aerodynamic performance associated with the canard-wing interaction is of particular interest. The presence of a canard in close proximity to the wing results in a highly coupled canard-wing aerodynamic flowfield which can include downwash/upwash effects, vortex-vortex interactions and vortex-surface interactions. For unsteady conditions, these complexities of the canard-wing flowfield are further increased. The development and integration of advanced computational technologies provide for the time-accurate Navier-Stokes simulations of the steady and unsteady canard-wing-body flox,fields. Simulation, are performed for non-linear flight regimes at transonic Mach numbers and for a wide range of angles of attack. For the static configurations, the effects of canard positioning and fixed deflection angles on aerodynamic performance and canard-wing vortex interaction are considered. For non-static configurations, the analyses of the canard-wing body flowfield includes the unsteady aerodynamics associated with pitch-up ramp and pitch oscillatory motions of the entire geometry. The unsteady flowfield associated with moving canards which are typically used as primary control surfaces are considered as well. The steady and unsteady effects of the canard on surface pressure integrated forces and moments, and canard-wing vortex interaction are presented in detail including the effects of the canard on the static and dynamic stability characteristics. The current study provides an understanding of the steady and unsteady canard-wing-body flowfield. Emphasis is placed on the effects of the canard on aerodynamic performance as well as the detailed flow physics of the canard-wing flowfield interactions. The computational tools developed to accurately predict the time-accurate flowfield of moving canards provides for the capability of coupled fluids-controls simulations desired in the detailed design and analysis of advanced aircraft.

Results of investigations on a 0.0405 scale model ATP version of the NR-SSV orbiter in the North American Aeronautical Laboratory low speed wind tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mennell, R.; Vaughn, J. E.; Singellton, R.

1973-01-01

Experimental aerodynamic investigations were conducted on a scale model space shuttle vehicle (SSV) orbiter. The purpose of the test was to investigate the longitudinal and lateral-directional aerodynamic characteristics. Emphasis was placed on model component, wing-glove, and wing-body fairing effects, as well as elevon, aileron, and rudder control effectiveness. Angles of attack from - 5 deg to + 30 deg and angles of sideslip from - 5 deg to + 10 deg were tested. Static pressures were recorded on base, fuselage, and wing surfaces. Tufts and talc-kerosene flow visualization techniques were also utilized. The aerodynamic force balance results are presented in plotted and tabular form.

Finite Element Based HWB Centerbody Structural Optimization and Weight Prediction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gern, Frank H.

2012-01-01

This paper describes a scalable structural model suitable for Hybrid Wing Body (HWB) centerbody analysis and optimization. The geometry of the centerbody and primary wing structure is based on a Vehicle Sketch Pad (VSP) surface model of the aircraft and a FLOPS compatible parameterization of the centerbody. Structural analysis, optimization, and weight calculation are based on a Nastran finite element model of the primary HWB structural components, featuring centerbody, mid section, and outboard wing. Different centerbody designs like single bay or multi-bay options are analyzed and weight calculations are compared to current FLOPS results. For proper structural sizing and weight estimation, internal pressure and maneuver flight loads are applied. Results are presented for aerodynamic loads, deformations, and centerbody weight.

Rolling Maneuver Load Alleviation using active controls

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woods-Vedeler, Jessica A.; Pototzky, Anthony S.

1992-01-01

Rolling Maneuver Load Alleviation (RMLA) has been demonstrated on the Active Flexible Wing (AFW) wind tunnel model in the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. The design objective was to develop a systematic approach for developing active control laws to alleviate wing incremental loads during roll maneuvers. Using linear load models for the AFW wind-tunnel model which were based on experimental measurements, two RMLA control laws were developed based on a single-degree-of-freedom roll model. The RMLA control laws utilized actuation of outboard control surface pairs to counteract incremental loads generated during rolling maneuvers and actuation of the trailing edge inboard control surface pairs to maintain roll performance. To evaluate the RMLA control laws, roll maneuvers were performed in the wind tunnel at dynamic pressures of 150, 200, and 250 psf and Mach numbers of 0.33, .38 and .44, respectively. Loads obtained during these maneuvers were compared to baseline maneuver loads. For both RMLA controllers, the incremental torsion moments were reduced by up to 60 percent at all dynamic pressures and performance times. Results for bending moment load reductions during roll maneuvers varied. In addition, in a multiple function test, RMLA and flutter suppression system control laws were operated simultaneously during roll maneuvers at dynamic pressures 11 percent above the open-loop flutter dynamic pressure.

Twist Model Development and Results from the Active Aeroelastic Wing F/A-18 Aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lizotte, Andrew M.; Allen, Michael J.

2007-01-01

Understanding the wing twist of the active aeroelastic wing (AAW) F/A-18 aircraft is a fundamental research objective for the program and offers numerous benefits. In order to clearly understand the wing flexibility characteristics, a model was created to predict real-time wing twist. A reliable twist model allows the prediction of twist for flight simulation, provides insight into aircraft performance uncertainties, and assists with computational fluid dynamic and aeroelastic issues. The left wing of the aircraft was heavily instrumented during the first phase of the active aeroelastic wing program allowing deflection data collection. Traditional data processing steps were taken to reduce flight data, and twist predictions were made using linear regression techniques. The model predictions determined a consistent linear relationship between the measured twist and aircraft parameters, such as surface positions and aircraft state variables. Error in the original model was reduced in some cases by using a dynamic pressure-based assumption. This technique produced excellent predictions for flight between the standard test points and accounted for nonlinearities in the data. This report discusses data processing techniques and twist prediction validation, and provides illustrative and quantitative results.

Twist Model Development and Results From the Active Aeroelastic Wing F/A-18 Aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lizotte, Andrew; Allen, Michael J.

2005-01-01

Understanding the wing twist of the active aeroelastic wing F/A-18 aircraft is a fundamental research objective for the program and offers numerous benefits. In order to clearly understand the wing flexibility characteristics, a model was created to predict real-time wing twist. A reliable twist model allows the prediction of twist for flight simulation, provides insight into aircraft performance uncertainties, and assists with computational fluid dynamic and aeroelastic issues. The left wing of the aircraft was heavily instrumented during the first phase of the active aeroelastic wing program allowing deflection data collection. Traditional data processing steps were taken to reduce flight data, and twist predictions were made using linear regression techniques. The model predictions determined a consistent linear relationship between the measured twist and aircraft parameters, such as surface positions and aircraft state variables. Error in the original model was reduced in some cases by using a dynamic pressure-based assumption and by using neural networks. These techniques produced excellent predictions for flight between the standard test points and accounted for nonlinearities in the data. This report discusses data processing techniques and twist prediction validation, and provides illustrative and quantitative results.

Improved computational treatment of transonic flow about swept wings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ballhaus, W. F.; Bailey, F. R.; Frick, J.

1976-01-01

Relaxation solutions to classical three-dimensional small-disturbance (CSD) theory for transonic flow about lifting swept wings are reported. For such wings, the CSD theory was found to be a poor approximation to the full potential equation in regions of the flow field that are essentially two-dimensional in a plane normal to the sweep direction. The effect of this deficiency on the capture of embedded shock waves in terms of (1) the conditions under which shock waves can exist and (2) the relations they must satisfy when they do exist is emphasized. A modified small-disturbance (MSD) equation, derived by retaining two previously neglected terms, was proposed and shown to be a consistent approximation to the full potential equation over a wider range of sweep angles. The effect of these extra terms is demonstrated by comparing CSD, MSD, and experimental wing surface pressures.

Wind Tunnel Investigation of Passive Porosity Applied to the Leading-Edge Extension and Leading-Edge Flaps on a Slender Wing at Subsonic Speed

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erickson, Gary E.

2017-01-01

A wind tunnel experiment was conducted in the NASA Langley Research Center 7- by 10-Foot High Speed Tunnel to determine the effects of passive surface porosity on the subsonic vortex flow interactions about a general research fighter configuration. Flow-through porosity was applied to the leading-edge extension, or LEX, and leading-edge flaps mounted to a 65deg cropped delta wing model as a potential vortex flow control technique at high angles of attack. All combinations of porous and nonporous LEX and flaps were investigated. Wing upper surface static pressure distributions and six-component forces and moments were obtained at a free-stream Mach number of 0.20 corresponding to a Reynolds number of 1.35(106) per foot, angles of attack up to 45deg, angles of sideslip of 0deg and +/-5deg, and leading-edge flap deflections of 0deg and 30deg.

Optimal Shape Design of Mail-Slot Nacelle on N3-X Hybrid Wing-Body Configuration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, Hyoungjin; Liou, Meng-Sing

2013-01-01

System studies show that a N3-X hybrid wing-body aircraft with a turboelectric distributed propulsion system using a mail-slot inlet/nozzle nacelle can meet the environmental and performance goals for N+3 generation transports (three generations beyond the current air transport technology level) set by NASA's Subsonic Fixed Wing Project. In this study, a Navier-Stokes flow simulation of N3-X on hybrid unstructured meshes was conducted, including the mail-slot propulsor. The geometry of the mail-slot propulsor was generated by a CAD (Computer-Aided Design)-free shape parameterization. A novel body force model generation approach was suggested for a more realistic and efficient simulation of the flow turning, pressure rise and loss effects of the fan blades and the inlet-fan interactions. Flow simulation results of the N3-X demonstrates the validity of the present approach. An optimal Shape design of the mail-slot nacelle surface was conducted to reduce strength of shock waves and flow separations on the cowl surface.

Tabulated Data From a Pressure-Distribution Investigation at Mach Number 2.01 of a 45 Deg Sweptback-Wing Airplane Model at Combined Angles of Attack and Sideslip

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gapcynski, John P.; Landrum, Emma Jean

1958-01-01

A pressure-distribution investigation of a wing-body combination has been conducted in the Langley 4- by 4-foot supersonic pressure tunnel at a Mach number of 2.01. The model configuration consisted of an ogive-circular-cylinder body (fineness ratio of approximately ii) and a wing with 45 deg of sweepback at the quarter-chord line, an aspect ratio of 4, and a taper ratio of 0.2. Data were obtained on high-, mid-, and low-wing configurations and for the body and wing alone for a range of angles of attack and yaw from 0 deg to 15 deg. The tabulated pressure coefficients are presented in this report.

The FM-007: An advanced jet commuter for HUB to spoke transportation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blouke, Peter Scott; Engel, George Bryan; Fordham, Kari Suzanne; Layne, Steven James; Moore, Joel David; Shaver, Frederick Martin; Thornton, Douglas Hershal, Jr.

1991-01-01

Due to the increasing need for new commuter aircraft, the FM-007 is proposed, a technologically advanced jet propelled short takeoff and landing (STOL) airplane. The proposed commuter is designed for hub to spoke air travel. In order to reduce drag, natural laminar flow technology is integrated into the design using the natural laminar flow airfoil section for the wing. A three lifting surface configuration provides for more efficient cruise flight. This unique design includes a small forward wing (canard), a rear mounted high aspect ratio main wing, and a small horizontal stabilizer high atop the vertical tail. These three surfaces act together to reduce drag by minimizing the downward force the horizontal stabilizer has to account for due to the nose down pitching moment. Commuter aircraft must also incorporate passenger comfort. This is achieved by providing a spacious pressurized cabin with a large galley and reduced cabin noise due to incorporation of noise reduction gear. A basic oval design is adopted, as opposed to a circular design in order to allow for the seating of five passengers abreast. To get STOL capability, an over the wing blown flap is used using a Rolls Royce Tay series engine.

Atmospheric pressure and temperature profiling using near IR differential absorption lidar

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Korb, C. L.; Schwemmer, G. K.; Dombrowski, M.; Weng, C. Y.

1983-01-01

The present investigation is concerned with differential absorption lidar techniques for remotely measuring the atmospheric temperature and pressure profile, surface pressure, and cloud top pressure-height. The procedure used in determining the pressure is based on the conduction of high-resolution measurements of absorption in the wings of lines in the oxygen A band. Absorption with respect to these areas is highly pressure sensitive in connection with the mechanism of collisional line broadening. The method of temperature measurement utilizes a determination of the absorption at the center of a selected line in the oxygen A band which originates from a quantum state with high ground state energy.

Effect of an alternate winglet on the pressure and spanwise load distributions of a first generation jet transport wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Montoya, L. C.; Flechner, S. G.; Jacobs, P. F.

1978-01-01

Pressure and spanwise load distributions on a first-generation jet transport semispan model at subsonic speeds are presented. The wind tunnel data were measured for the wing with and without an alternate winglet. The results show that the winglet affected outboard wing pressure distributions and increased the spanwise loads near the tip.

Aerodynamic control of NASP-type vehicles through vortex manipulation. Volume 3: Wing rock experiments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Suarez, Carlos J.; Smith, Brooke C.; Kramer, Brian R.; Ng, T. Terry; Ong, Lih-Yenn; Malcolm, Gerald N.

1993-01-01

Free-to-roll tests were conducted in water and wind tunnels in an effort to investigate the mechanisms of wing rock on a NASP-type vehicle. The configuration tested consisted of a highly-slender forebody and a 78 deg swept delta wing. In the water tunnel test, extensive flow visualization was performed and roll angle histories were obtained. In the wind tunnel test, the roll angle, forces and moments, and limited forebody and wing surface pressures were measured during the wing rock motion. A limit cycle oscillation was observed for angles of attack between 22 deg and 30 deg. In general, the experiments confirmed that the main flow phenomena responsible for the wing-body-tail wing rock are the interactions between the forebody and the wing vortices. The variation of roll acceleration (determined from the second derivative of the roll angle time history) with roll angle clearly slowed the energy balance necessary to sustain the limit cycle oscillation. Different means of suppressing wing rock by controlling the forebody vortices using small blowing jets were also explored. Steady blowing was found to be capable of suppressing wing rock, but significant vortex asymmetrices are created, causing the model to stop at a non-zero roll angle. On the other hand, alternating pulsed blowing on the left and right sides of the fore body was demonstrated to be a potentially effective means of suppressing wing rock and eliminating large asymmetric moments at high angles of attack.

The Influence of Sweep on the Aerodynamic Loading of an Oscillating NACA0012 Airfoil. Volume 2: Data Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

St.hilaire, A. O.; Carta, F. O.

1979-01-01

The effect of sweep on the dynamic response of the NACA 0012 airfoil was investigated. Unsteady chordwise distributed pressure data were obtained from a tunnel spanning wing equipped with 21 single surface transducers (13 on the suction side and 8 on the pressure side of the airfoil). The pressure data were obtained at pitching amplitudes of 8 and 10 degrees over a tunnel Mach number range of 0.10 to 0.46 and a pitching frequency range of 2.5 to 10.6 cycles per second. The wing was oscillated in the unswept and swept positions about the quarter-chord pivot axis relative to mean incidence angle settings of 0, 9, 12, and 15 degrees. A compilation of all the response data obtained during the test program is presented. These data are in the form of normal force, chord force, lift force, pressure drag, and moment hysteresis loops derived from chordwise integrations of the unsteady pressure distributions. The hysteresis loops are organized in two main sections. In the first section, the loop data are arranged to show the effect of sweep (lambda = 0 and 30 deg) for all available combinations of mean incidence angle, pitching amplitude, reduced frequency, and chordwise Mach number. The second section shows the effect of chordwise Mach number (MC = 0.30 and MC = 0.40) on the swept wing response for all available combinations of mean incidence angle, pitching amplitude, and reduced frequency.

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.

Effects of winglets on a first-generation jet transport wing. 7: Sideslip effects on winglet loads and selected wing loads at subsonic speeds for a full-span model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meyer, Robert R., Jr.; Covell, Peter F.

1986-01-01

The effect of sideslip on winglet loads and selected wing loads was investigated at high and low subsonic Mach numbers. The investigation was conducted in two separate wind tunnel facilities, using two slightly different 0.035-scale full-span models. Results are presented which indicate that, in general, winglet loads as a result of sideslip are analogous to wing loads caused by angle of attack. The center-of-pressure locations on the winglets are somewhat different than might be expected for an analogous wing. The spanwise center of pressure for a winglet tends to be more inboard than for a wing. The most notable chordwise location is a forward center-of-pressure location on the winglet at high sideslip angles. The noted differences between a winglet and an analogous wing are the result of the influence of the wing on the winglet.

Travel of the center of pressure of airfoils transversely to the air stream

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Katzmayr, Richard

1929-01-01

The experiments here described were performed for the purpose of obtaining the essential facts concerning the distribution of the air force along the span. We did not follow, however, the time-consuming method of point-to-point measurements of the pressure distribution on the wing surfaces, but determined directly the moment of mean force about an axis passing through the middle of the span parallel to the direction of flight.

Expanding the Natural Laminar Flow Boundary for Supersonic Transports

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lynde, Michelle N.; Campbell, Richard L.

2016-01-01

A computational design and analysis methodology is being developed to design a vehicle that can support significant regions of natural laminar flow (NLF) at supersonic flight conditions. The methodology is built in the CDISC design module to be used in this paper with the flow solvers Cart3D and USM3D, and the transition prediction modules BLSTA3D and LASTRAC. The NLF design technique prescribes a target pressure distribution for an existing geometry based on relationships between modal instability wave growth and pressure gradients. The modal instability wave growths (both on- and off-axes crossflow and Tollmien-Schlichting) are balanced to produce a pressure distribution that will have a theoretical maximum NLF region for a given streamwise wing station. An example application is presented showing the methodology on a generic supersonic transport wingbody configuration. The configuration has been successfully redesigned to support significant regions of NLF (approximately 40% of the wing upper surface by surface area). Computational analysis predicts NLF with transition Reynolds numbers (ReT) as high as 36 million with 72 degrees of leading-edge sweep (?LE), significantly expanding the current boundary of ReT - ?LE combinations for NLF. This NLF geometry provides a total drag savings of 4.3 counts compared to the baseline wing-body configuration (approximately 5% of total drag). Off-design evaluations at near-cruise and low-speed, high-lift conditions are discussed, as well as attachment line contamination/transition concerns. This computational NLF design effort is a part of an ongoing cooperative agreement between NASA and JAXA researchers.

A Microwave Pressure Sounder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Flower, D. A.; Peckham, G. E.

1978-01-01

An instrument to measure atmospheric pressure at the earth's surface from an orbiting satellite would be a valuable addition to the expanding inventory of remote sensors. The subject of this report is such an instrument - the Microwave Pressure Sounder (MPS). It is shown that global-ocean coverage is attainable with sufficient accuracy, resolution and observational frequency for meteorological, oceanographic and climate research applications. Surface pressure can be deduced from a measurement of the absorption by an atmospheric column at a frequency in the wing of the oxygen band centered on 60 GHz. An active multifrequency instrument is needed to make this measurement with sufficient accuracy. The selection of optimum operating frequencies is based upon accepted models of surface reflection, oxygen, water vapor and cloud absorption. Numerical simulation using a range of real atmospheres defined by radiosonde observations were used to validate the frequency selection procedure. Analyses are presented of alternative system configurations that define the balance between accuracy and achievable resolution.

Solution of the surface Euler equations for accurate three-dimensional boundary-layer analysis of aerodynamic configurations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Iyer, V.; Harris, J. E.

1987-01-01

The three-dimensional boundary-layer equations in the limit as the normal coordinate tends to infinity are called the surface Euler equations. The present paper describes an accurate method for generating edge conditions for three-dimensional boundary-layer codes using these equations. The inviscid pressure distribution is first interpolated to the boundary-layer grid. The surface Euler equations are then solved with this pressure field and a prescribed set of initial and boundary conditions to yield the velocities along the two surface coordinate directions. Results for typical wing and fuselage geometries are presented. The smoothness and accuracy of the edge conditions obtained are found to be superior to the conventional interpolation procedures.

Design and Testing of a Blended Wing Body With Boundary Layer Ingestion Nacelles at High Reynolds Numbers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Campbell, Richard L.; Carter, Melissa B.; Pendergraft, Odis C., Jr.; Friedman, Douglas M.; Serrano, Leonel

2005-01-01

A knowledge-based aerodynamic design method coupled with an unstructured grid Navier-Stokes flow solver was used to improve the propulsion/airframe integration for a Blended Wing Body with boundary-layer ingestion nacelles. A new zonal design capability was used that significantly reduced the time required to achieve a successful design for each nacelle and the elevon between them. A wind tunnel model was built with interchangeable parts reflecting the baseline and redesigned configurations and tested in the National Transonic Facility (NTF). Most of the testing was done at the cruise design conditions (Mach number = 0.85, Reynolds number = 75 million). In general, the predicted improvements in forces and moments as well as the changes in wing pressures between the baseline and redesign were confirmed by the wind tunnel results. The effectiveness of elevons between the nacelles was also predicted surprisingly well considering the crudeness in the modeling of the control surfaces in the flow code. A novel flow visualization technique involving pressure sensitive paint in the cryogenic nitrogen environment used in high-Reynolds number testing in the NTF was also investigated.

Some new tests at the Gottingen laboratory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1921-01-01

The tests at the Gottingen laboratory included: friction tests on a surface treated with omelette, verification tests on the M.V.A. 356 wing, and comparative tests of wing no. 36 at the Eiffel laboratory. The examination of all these experiments leads to the belief that, at large incidences, the speeds registered by the suction manometer of the testing chamber of the Eiffel laboratory wind tunnel are, owing to pressure drop, greater than the actual speeds. Therefore, the values of k(sub x) and k(sub y) measured at the Eiffel laboratory at large incidences are too low.

Wind Tunnel Measured Effects on a Twin-Engine Short-Haul Transport Caused by Simulated Ice Accretions: Data Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reehorst, Andrew; Potapczuk, Mark; Ratvasky, Thomas; Laflin, Brenda Gile

1997-01-01

The purpose of this report is to release the data from the NASA Langley/Lewis 14 by 22 foot wind tunnel test that examined icing effects on a 1/8 scale twin-engine short-haul jet transport model. Presented in this document are summary data from the major configurations tested. The entire test database in addition to ice shape and model measurements is available as a data supplement in CD-ROM form. Data measured and presented are: wing pressure distributions, model force and moment, and wing surface flow visualization.

Supersonic second order analysis and optimization program user's manual

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clever, W. C.

1984-01-01

Approximate nonlinear inviscid theoretical techniques for predicting aerodynamic characteristics and surface pressures for relatively slender vehicles at supersonic and moderate hypersonic speeds were developed. Emphasis was placed on approaches that would be responsive to conceptual configuration design level of effort. Second order small disturbance theory was utilized to meet this objective. Numerical codes were developed for analysis and design of relatively general three dimensional geometries. Results from the computations indicate good agreement with experimental results for a variety of wing, body, and wing-body shapes. Case computational time of one minute on a CDC 176 are typical for practical aircraft arrangement.

Space shuttle: Heat transfer investigation of the McDonnell-Douglas delta wing orbiter at a nominal Mach number of 10.5

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eaves, R. H.; Buchanan, T. D.

1972-01-01

Heat transfer tests for the delta wing orbiter were conducted in a hypervelocity wind tunnel. A 1.1 percent scale model was tested at a Mach number of approximately 10.5 over an angle of attack range from 10 to 60 degrees over a length Reynolds number range from 5 times 10 to the 6th power to 24 times 10 to the 6th power. Heat transfer results were obtained from model surface heat gage measurements and thermographic phosphor paint. Limited pressure measurements were obtained.

Low-speed Aerodynamic Investigations of a Hybrid Wing Body Configuration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vicroy, Dan D.; Gatlin, Gregory M.; Jenkins, Luther N.; Murphy, Patrick C.; Carter, Melissa B.

2014-01-01

Two low-speed static wind tunnel tests and a water tunnel static and dynamic forced-motion test have been conducted on a hybrid wing-body (HWB) twinjet configuration. These tests, in addition to computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, have provided a comprehensive dataset of the low-speed aerodynamic characteristics of this nonproprietary configuration. In addition to force and moment measurements, the tests included surface pressures, flow visualization, and off-body particle image velocimetry measurements. This paper will summarize the results of these tests and highlight the data that is available for code comparison or additional analysis.

Flight Investigation of the Effects of Pressure-Belt Tubing Size on Measured Pressure Distributions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rivers, Natale A.; vanDam, Cornielious P.; Brown, Phillip W.; Rivers, Robert A.

2001-01-01

The pressure-belt technique is commonly used to measure pressure distributions on lifting and nonlifting surfaces where flush, through-the-surface measurements are not possible. The belts, made from strips of small-bore, flexible plastic tubing, are surface-mounted by a simple, nondestructive method. Additionally, the belts require minimal installation time, thus making them much less costly to install than flush-mounted pressure ports. Although pressure belts have been used in flight research since the early 1950s, only recently have manufacturers begun to produce thinner, more flexible tubing, and thin, strong adhesive tapes that minimize the installation-induced errors on the measurement of surface pressures. The objective of this investigation was to determine the effects of pressure-belt tubing size on the measurement of pressure distributions. For that purpose, two pressure belts were mounted on the right wing of a single-engine, propeller-driven research airplane. The outboard pressure belt served as a baseline for the measurement and the comparison of effects. Each tube had an outer diameter (OD) of 0.0625 in. The inboard belt was used to evaluate three different tube sizes: 0.0625-, 0.1250-, and 0.1875-in. OD. A computational investigation of tube size on pressure distribution also was conducted using the two-dimensional Multielement Streamtube Euler Solver (MSES) code.

Results of investigations on a 0.0405 scale model PRR version of the NR-SSV orbiter in the North American Aeronautical Laboratory low speed wind tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kingsland, R. B.; Vaughn, J. E.; Singellton, R.

1973-01-01

Experimental aerodynamic investigations were conducted in a low speed wind tunnel on a scale model space shuttle vehicle (SSV) orbiter. The purpose of the test was to investigate the longitudinal and lateral-directional aerodynamic characteristics of the space shuttle orbiter. Emphasis was placed on model component, wing-glove, and wing-body fairing effects, as well as elevon, aileron, and rudder control effectiveness. Angles of attack from - 5 deg to + 30 deg and angles of sideslip of - 5 deg, 0 deg, and + 5 deg were tested. Static pressures were recorded on base, fuselage, and wing surfaces. Tufts and talc-kerosene flow visualization techniques were also utilized. The aerodynamic force balance results are presented in plotted and tabular form.

Full scale visualization of the wing tip vortices generated by a typical agricultural aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cross, E. J., Jr.; Bridges, P.; Brownlee, J. A.; Liningston, W. W.

1980-01-01

The trajectories of the wing tip vortices of a typical agricultural aircraft were experimentally determined by flight test. A flow visualization method, similar to the vapor screen method used in wind tunnels, was used to obtain trajectory data for a range of flight speeds, airplane configurations, and wing loadings. Detailed measurements of the spanwise surface pressure distribution were made for all test points. Further, a powered 1/8 scale model of the aircraft was designed, built, and used to obtain tip vortex trajectory data under conditions similar to that of the full-scale test. The effects of light wind on the vortices were demonstrated, and the interaction of the flap vortex and the tip vortex was clearly shown in photographs and plotted trajectory data.

Application of a Third Order Upwind Scheme to Viscous Flow over Clean and Iced Wings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bangalore, A.; Phaengsook, N.; Sankar, L. N.

1994-01-01

A 3-D compressible Navier-Stokes solver has been developed and applied to 3-D viscous flow over clean and iced wings. This method uses a third order accurate finite volume scheme with flux difference splitting to model the inviscid fluxes, and second order accurate symmetric differences to model the viscous terms. The effects of turbulence are modeled using a Kappa-epsilon model. In the vicinity of the sold walls the kappa and epsilon values are modeled using Gorski's algebraic model. Sampling results are presented for surface pressure distributions, for untapered swept clean and iced wings made of NACA 0012 airfoil sections. The leading edge of these sections is modified using a simulated ice shape. Comparisons with experimental data are given.

A two-dimensional iterative panel method and boundary layer model for bio-inspired multi-body wings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blower, Christopher J.; Dhruv, Akash; Wickenheiser, Adam M.

2014-03-01

The increased use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has created a continuous demand for improved flight capabilities and range of use. During the last decade, engineers have turned to bio-inspiration for new and innovative flow control methods for gust alleviation, maneuverability, and stability improvement using morphing aircraft wings. The bio-inspired wing design considered in this study mimics the flow manipulation techniques performed by birds to extend the operating envelope of UAVs through the installation of an array of feather-like panels across the airfoil's upper and lower surfaces while replacing the trailing edge flap. Each flap has the ability to deflect into both the airfoil and the inbound airflow using hinge points with a single degree-of-freedom, situated at 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% of the chord. The installation of the surface flaps offers configurations that enable advantageous maneuvers while alleviating gust disturbances. Due to the number of possible permutations available for the flap configurations, an iterative constant-strength doublet/source panel method has been developed with an integrated boundary layer model to calculate the pressure distribution and viscous drag over the wing's surface. As a result, the lift, drag and moment coefficients for each airfoil configuration can be calculated. The flight coefficients of this numerical method are validated using experimental data from a low speed suction wind tunnel operating at a Reynolds Number 300,000. This method enables the aerodynamic assessment of a morphing wing profile to be performed accurately and efficiently in comparison to Computational Fluid Dynamics methods and experiments as discussed herein.

Control of Flow Structure on Low Swept Delta Wing with Steady Leading Edge Blowing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ozturk, Ilhan; Zharfa, Mohammadreza; Yavuz, Mehmet Metin

2014-11-01

Interest in unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs) and micro air vehicles (MAVs) has stimulated investigation of the flow structure, as well as its control, on delta wings having low and moderate values of sweep angle. In the present study, the flow structure is characterized on a delta wing of low sweep 35-degree angle, which is subjected to steady leading edge blowing. The techniques of laser illuminated smoke visualization, laser Doppler anemometry (LDA), and surface pressure measurements are employed to investigate the steady and unsteady nature of the flow structure on delta wing, in relation to the dimensionless magnitude of the blowing coefficient. Using statistics and spectral analysis, unsteadiness of the flow structure is studied in detail. Different injection locations are utilized to apply different blowing patterns in order to identify the most efficient control, which provides the upmost change in the flow structure with the minimum energy input. The study aims to find the optimum flow control strategy to delay or to prevent the stall and possibly to reduce the buffeting on the wing surface. Since the blowing set-up is computer controlled, the unsteady blowing patterns compared to the present steady blowing patterns will be studied next. This project was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Project Number: 3501 111M732).

Modification of the Douglas Neumann program to improve the efficiency of predicting component interference and high lift characteristics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bristow, D. R.; Grose, G. G.

1978-01-01

The Douglas Neumann method for low-speed potential flow on arbitrary three-dimensional lifting bodies was modified by substituting the combined source and doublet surface paneling based on Green's identity for the original source panels. Numerical studies show improved accuracy and stability for thin lifting surfaces, permitting reduced panel number for high-lift devices and supercritical airfoil sections. The accuracy of flow in concave corners is improved. A method of airfoil section design for a given pressure distribution, based on Green's identity, was demonstrated. The program uses panels on the body surface with constant source strength and parabolic distribution of doublet strength, and a doublet sheet on the wake. The program is written for the CDC CYBER 175 computer. Results of calculations are presented for isolated bodies, wings, wing-body combinations, and internal flow.

Investigation of surface fluctuating pressures on a 1/4 scale YC-14 upper surface blown flap model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pappa, R. S.

1979-01-01

Fluctuating pressures were measured at 30 positions on the surface of a 1/4-scale YC-14 wing and fuselage model during an outdoor static testing program. These data were obtained as part of a NASA program to study the fluctuating loads imposed on STOL aircraft configurations and to further the understanding of the scaling laws of unsteady surface pressure fields. Fluctuating pressure data were recorded at several discrete engine thrust settings for each of 16 configurations of the model. These data were reduced using the technique of random data analysis to obtain auto-and cross-spectral density functions and coherence functions for frequencies from 0 to 10 kHz, and cross-correlation functions for time delays from 0 to 10.24 ms. Results of this program provide the following items of particular interest: (1) Good collapse of normalized PSD functions on the USB flap was found using a technique applied by Lilley and Hodgson to data from a laboratory wall-jet apparatus. (2) Results indicate that the fluctuating pressure loading on surfaces washed by the jet exhaust flow was dominated by hydrodynamic pressure variations, loading on surface well outside the flow region dominated by acoustic pressure variations, and loading near the flow boundaries from a mixture of the two.

Experimental study of a generic high-speed civil transport: Tabulated data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Belton, Pamela S.; Campbell, Richard L.

1992-01-01

An experimental study of a generic high-speed civil transport was conducted in LaRC's 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel. The data base was obtained for the purpose of assessing the accuracy of various levels of computational analysis. Two models differing only in wing tip geometry were tested with and without flow-through nacelles. The baseline model has a curved or crescent wing tip shape while the second model has a more conventional straight wing tip shape. The study was conducted at Mach numbers from 0.30-1.19. Force data were obtained on both the straight and curved wing tip models. Only the curved wing tip model was instrumented for measuring pressures. Longitudinal and lateral-directional aerodynamic data are presented without analysis in tabulated form. Pressure coefficients for the curved wing tip model are also presented in tabulated form.

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.

Pressure Distribution Tests on PW-9 Wing Models from -18 Degree Through 90 Degree Angle of Attack

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Loeser, Oscar E , Jr

1929-01-01

At the request of the Army Air Corps, an investigation of the pressure distribution over PW-9 wing models was conducted in the atmospheric wind tunnel of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. The primary purpose of these tests was to obtain wind-tunnel data on the load distribution on the cellule to be correlated with similar information obtained in flight tests, both to be used for design purposes. Because of the importance of the conditions beyond the stall as affecting the control and stability, this investigation was extended through 90 degree angle of attack. The results for the range of normal flight have been given in NACA Technical Report No. 271. The present paper presents the same results in a different form and includes, in addition, those over the greater range of angle of attack, -18 degrees through 90 degrees. The results show that: (1) at angles of attack above maximum lift, the biplane upper wing pressures are decreased by the shielding action of the lower wing. (2) the burble of the biplane lower wing, with respect to the angle of attack, is delayed, due to the shielding action of the lower wing. (3) the center of pressure of the biplane upper wing (semispan) is, in general, displaced forward and outward with reference to that of the wing as a monoplane, while for the lower wing there is but slight difference for both conditions. (4) the overhanging portion of the upper wing is little affected by the presence of the lower wing.

DFS Dive-control Brakes for Gliders and Airplanes ; And, Analytical Study of the Drag of the DFS Dive-control Brake

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jacobs, Hans; Wanner, Adolf

1940-01-01

These two reports are surveys on the progress and present state of development of dive-control flaps for gliders and airplanes. The second article describes how on the basis of wind tunnel and free-flight tests, the drag increase on brake flaps of the type DFS, can be predicted. Pressure records confirm a two-dimensional load distribution along the brake-flap surface Aerodynamically, the location of the brake flaps along the span is of importance for reasons of avoidance of vibration and oscillation phenomena on control and tail surfaces; statically, because of the magnitude of the frontal drag in diving with respect to the bending moments, which may become decisive for the dimensions of the wing attachment and for the wing covering.

Inlet flow field investigation. Part 1: Transonic flow field survey

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yetter, J. A.; Salemann, V.; Sussman, M. B.

1984-01-01

A wind tunnel investigation was conducted to determine the local inlet flow field characteristics of an advanced tactical supersonic cruise airplane. A data base for the development and validation of analytical codes directed at the analysis of inlet flow fields for advanced supersonic airplanes was established. Testing was conducted at the NASA-Langley 16-foot Transonic Tunnel at freestream Mach numbers of 0.6 to 1.20 and angles of attack from 0.0 to 10.0 degrees. Inlet flow field surveys were made at locations representative of wing (upper and lower surface) and forebody mounted inlet concepts. Results are presented in the form of local inlet flow field angle of attack, sideflow angle, and Mach number contours. Wing surface pressure distributions supplement the flow field data.

Wind-tunnel measurements of the chordwise pressure distribution and profile drag of a research airplane model incorporating a 17-percent-thick supercritical wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ferris, J. C.

1973-01-01

The Langley 8-foot transonic pressure tunnel to determine the wing chordwise pressure distribution for a 0.09-scale model of a research airplane incorporating a 17-percent-thick supercritical wing. Airfoil profile drag was determined from wake pressure measurements at the 42-percent-semispan wing station. The investigation was conducted at Mach numbers from 0.30 to 0.80 over an angle-of-attack range sufficient to include buffet onset. The Reynolds number based on the mean geometric chord varied from 2 x 10 to the 6th power at Mach number 0.30 to 3.33 x 10 to the 6th power at Mach number 0.65 and was maintained at a constant value of 3.86 x 10 to the 6th power at Mach numbers from 0.70 to 0.80. Pressure coefficients for four wing semispan stations and wing-section normal-force and pitching-moment coefficients for two semispan stations are presented in tabular form over the Mach number range from 0.30 to 0.80. Plotted chordwise pressure distributions and wake profiles are given for a selected range of section normal-force coefficients over the same Mach number range.

Flight Tests of a Supersonic Natural Laminar Flow Airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frederick, Mike; Banks, Dan; Garzon, Andres; Matisheck, Jason

2014-01-01

IR thermography was used to characterize the transition front on a S-NLF test article at chord Reynolds numbers in excess of 30 million Changes in transition due to Mach number, Reynolds number, and surface roughness were investigated - Regions of laminar flow in excess of 80% chord at chord Reynolds numbers greater than 14 million IR thermography clearly showed the transition front and other flow features such as shock waves impinging upon the surface A series of parallel oblique shocks, of yet unknown origin, were found to cause premature transition at higher Reynolds numbers. NASA has a current goal to eliminate barriers to the development of practical supersonic transport aircraft Drag reduction through the use of supersonic natural laminar flow (S-NLF) is currently being explored as a means of increasing aerodynamic efficiency - Tradeoffs work best for business jet class at M<2 Conventional high-speed designs minimize inviscid drag at the expense of viscous drag - Existence of strong spanwise pressure gradient leads to crossflow (CF) while adverse chordwise pressure gradients amplifies and Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) instabilities Aerion Corporation has patented a S-NLF wing design (US Patent No. 5322242) - Low sweep to control CF - dp/dx < 0 on both wing surfaces to stabilize TS - Thin wing with sharp leading edge to minimize wave drag increase due to reduction in sweep NASA and Aerion have partnered to study S-NLF since 1999 Series of S-NLF experiments flown on the NASA F-15B research test bed airplane Infrared (IR) thermography used to characterize transition - Non-intrusive, global, good spatial resolution - Captures significant flow features well

Test Cases for a Rectangular Supercritical Wing Undergoing Pitching Oscillations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bennett, Robert M.

2000-01-01

Steady and unsteady measured pressures for a Rectangular Supercritical Wing (RSW) undergoing pitching oscillations have been presented. From the several hundred compiled data points, 27 static and 36 pitching oscillation cases have been proposed for computational Test Cases to illustrate the trends with Mach number, reduced frequency, and angle of attack. The wing was designed to be a simple configuration for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) comparisons. The wing had an unswept rectangular planform plus a tip of revolution, a panel aspect ratio of 2.0, a twelve per cent thick supercritical airfoil section, and no twist. The model was tested over a wide range of Mach numbers, from 0.27 to 0.90, corresponding to low subsonic flows up to strong transonic flows. The higher Mach numbers are well beyond the design Mach number such as might be required for flutter verification beyond cruise conditions. The pitching oscillations covered a broad range of reduced frequencies. Some early calculations for this wing are given for lifting pressure as calculated from a linear lifting surface program and from a transonic small perturbation program. The unsteady results were given primarily for a mild transonic condition at M = 0.70. For these cases the agreement with the data was only fair, possibly resulting from the omission of viscous effects. Supercritical airfoil sections are known to be sensitive to viscous effects (for example, one case cited). Calculations using a higher level code with the full potential equations have been presented for one of the same cases, and with the Euler equations. The agreement around the leading edge was improved, but overall the agreement was not completely satisfactory. Typically for low-aspect-ratio rectangular wings, transonic shock waves on the wing tend to sweep forward from root to tip such that there are strong three-dimensional effects. It might also be noted that for most of the test, the model was tested with free transition, but a few points were taken with an added transition strip for comparison. Some unpublished results of a rigid wing of the same airfoil and planform that was tested on the pitch and plunge apparatus mount system (PAPA) showed effects of the lower surface transition Strip on flutter at the lower subsonic Mach numbers. Significant effects of a transition strip were also obtained on a wing with a thicker supercritical section on the PAPA mount system. Both of these flutter tests on the PAPA resulted in very low reduced frequencies that may be a factor in this influence of the transition strip. However, these results indicate that correlation studies for RSW may require some attention to the estimation of transition location to accurately treat viscous effects. In this report several Test Cases are selected to illustrate trends for a variety of different conditions with emphasis on transonic flow effects. An overview of the model and tests is given and the standard formulary for these data is listed. Sample data points are presented in both tabular and graphical form. A complete tabulation and plotting of all the Test Cases is given. Only the static pressures and the real and imaginary parts of the first harmonic of the unsteady pressures are available. All the data for the test are available in electronic file form. The Test Cases are also available as separate electronic files.

Exploratory Wind-Tunnel Investigation to Determine the Lift Effects of Blowing over Flaps from Nacelles Mounted Above the Wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Riebe, John M; Davenport, Edwin E

1958-01-01

An exploratory wind-tunnel investigation has been made to determine the lift effects of blowing from nacelles over the upper surface of flaps on a model having a delta wing of aspect ratio 3. Several flap conditions were examined. High-pressure air was blown from an external-pipe arrangement supported above the wing to simulate jet-engine exhaust. The jet momentum- coefficient range was from 0 to 3.0 and the model angle of attack was 0 deg. The results of this limited investigation show that values of jet circulation lift coefficient larger than the Jet reaction were produced with blowing over flaps from nacelles mounted above the wing. 'I!heuse of double slotted flaps with the gap unsealed between the flaps and wing had a large detrimental effect on the lift capabilities. With these gaps sealed, larger lift coefficients were obtained when fantails were added to the nacelles. The longitudinal trim problems created by large diving moments were similar to those encountered with other jet-augmented-flap systems

Aeroacoustic theory for noncompact wing-gust interaction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Martinez, R.; Widnall, S. E.

1981-01-01

Three aeroacoustic models for noncompact wing-gust interaction were developed for subsonic flow. The first is that for a two dimensional (infinite span) wing passing through an oblique gust. The unsteady pressure field was obtained by the Wiener-Hopf technique; the airfoil loading and the associated acoustic field were calculated, respectively, by allowing the field point down on the airfoil surface, or by letting it go to infinity. The second model is a simple spanwise superposition of two dimensional solutions to account for three dimensional acoustic effects of wing rotation (for a helicopter blade, or some other rotating planform) and of finiteness of wing span. A three dimensional theory for a single gust was applied to calculate the acoustic signature in closed form due to blade vortex interaction in helicopters. The third model is that of a quarter infinite plate with side edge through a gust at high subsonic speed. An approximate solution for the three dimensional loading and the associated three dimensional acoustic field in closed form was obtained. The results reflected the acoustic effect of satisfying the correct loading condition at the side edge.

Measurement of vortex velocities over a wide range of vortex age, downstream distance and free stream velocity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rorke, J. B.; Moffett, R. C.

1977-01-01

A wind tunnel test was conducted to obtain vortex velocity signatures over a wide parameter range encompassing the data conditions of several previous researchers while maintaining a common instrumentation and test facility. The generating wing panel was configured with both a revolved airfoil tip shape and a square tip shape and had a semispan aspect of 4.05/1.0 with a 121.9 cm span. Free stream velocity was varied from 6.1 m/sec to 76.2 m/sec and the vortex core velocities were measured at locations 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 chordlengths downstream of the wing trailing edge, yielding vortex ages up to 2.0 seconds. Wing pitch angles of 6, 8, 9 and 12 deg were investigated. Detailed surface pressure distributions and wing force measurements were obtained for each wing tip configuration. Correlation with vortex velocity data taken in previous experiments is good. During the rollup process, vortex core parameters appear to be dependent primarily on vortex age. Trending in the plateau and decay regions is more complex and the machanisms appear to be more unstable.

Effects of multiple vein microjoints on the mechanical behaviour of dragonfly wings: numerical modelling

PubMed Central

Rajabi, H.; Ghoroubi, N.; Darvizeh, A.; Appel, E.; Gorb, S. N.

2016-01-01

Dragonfly wings are known as biological composites with high morphological complexity. They mainly consist of a network of rigid veins and flexible membranes, and enable insects to perform various flight manoeuvres. Although several studies have been done on the aerodynamic performance of Odonata wings and the mechanisms involved in their deformations, little is known about the influence of vein joints on the passive deformability of the wings in flight. In this article, we present the first three-dimensional finite-element models of five different vein joint combinations observed in Odonata wings. The results from the analysis of the models subjected to uniform pressures on their dorsal and ventral surfaces indicate the influence of spike-associated vein joints on the dorsoventral asymmetry of wing deformation. Our study also supports the idea that a single vein joint may result in different angular deformations when it is surrounded by different joint types. The developed numerical models also enabled us to simulate the camber formation and stress distribution in the models. The computational data further provide deeper insights into the functional role of resilin patches and spikes in vein joint structures. This study might help to more realistically model the complex structure of insect wings in order to design more efficient bioinspired micro-air vehicles in future. PMID:27069649

Morphing Wing: Experimental Boundary Layer Transition Determination and Wing Vibrations Measurements and Analysis =

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tondji Chendjou, Yvan Wilfried

This Master's thesis is written within the framework of the multidisciplinary international research project CRIAQ MDO-505. This global project consists of the design, manufacture and testing of a morphing wing box capable of changing the shape of the flexible upper skin of a wing using an actuator system installed inside the wing. This changing of the shape generates a delay in the occurrence of the laminar to turbulent transition area, which results in an improvement of the aerodynamic performances of the morphed wing. This thesis is focused on the technologies used to gather the pressure data during the wind tunnel tests, as well as on the post processing methodologies used to characterize the wing airflow. The vibration measurements of the wing and their real-time graphical representation are also presented. The vibration data acquisition system is detailed, and the vibration data analysis confirms the predictions of the flutter analysis performed on the wing prior to wind tunnel testing at the IAR-NRC. The pressure data was collected using 32 highly-sensitive piezoelectric sensors for sensing the pressure fluctuations up to 10 KHz. These sensors were installed along two wing chords, and were further connected to a National Instrument PXI real-time acquisition system. The acquired pressure data was high-pass filtered, analyzed and visualized using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and Standard Deviation (SD) approaches to quantify the pressure fluctuations in the wing airflow, as these allow the detection of the laminar to turbulent transition area. Around 30% of the cases tested in the IAR-NRC wind tunnel were optimized for drag reduction by the morphing wing procedure. The obtained pressure measurements results were compared with results obtained by infrared thermography visualization, and were used to validate the numerical simulations. Two analog accelerometers able to sense dynamic accelerations up to +/-16g were installed in both the wing and the aileron boxes to obtain the vibration sensing measurements. The measured accelerations were acquired by an NI real-time acquisition system using LABVIEW software for a real-time graphical visualization. The recorded data were then analyzed and the analysis indicated that no aeroelastic phenomenon occurred on the model during the wind tunnel tests, at speeds of 50 m/s and 80m/s.

Wind tunnel investigation of nacelle-airframe interference at Mach numbers of 0.9 to 1.4 - pressure data, volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bencze, D. P.

1976-01-01

Detailed interference force and pressure data were obtained on a representative wing-body nacelle combination at Mach numbers of 0.9 to 1.4. The model consisted of a delta wing-body aerodynamic force model with four independently supported nacelles located beneath the wing-body combination. The model was mounted on a six component force balance, and the left hand wing was pressure instrumented. Each of the two right hand nacelles was mounted on a six component force balance housed in the thickness of the nacelle, while each of the left hand nacelles was pressure instrumented. The primary variables examined included Mach number, angle of attack, nacelle position, and nacelle mass flow ratio. Nacelle axial location, relative to both the wing-body combination and to each other, was the most important variable in determining the net interference among the components.

Ascent Aerodynamic Pressure Distributions on WB001

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vu, B.; Ruf, J.; Canabal, F.; Brunty, J.

1996-01-01

To support the reusable launch vehicle concept study, the aerodynamic data and surface pressure for WB001 were predicted using three computational fluid dynamic (CFD) codes at several flow conditions between code to code and code to aerodynamic database as well as available experimental data. A set of particular solutions have been selected and recommended for use in preliminary conceptual designs. These computational fluid dynamic (CFD) results have also been provided to the structure group for wing loading analysis.

Wind tunnel tests of an 0.019-scale space shuttle integrated vehicle -2A configuration (model 14-OTS) in the NASA Ames 8 X 7 foot unitary wind tunnel, volume 2. [cold jet gas plumes and pressure distribution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hardin, R. B.; Burrows, R. R.

1975-01-01

The purpose of the test was to determine the effects of cold jet gas plumes on (1) the integrated vehicle longitudinal and lateral-directional force data, (2) exposed wing hinge moment, (3) wing pressure distributions, (4) orbiter MPS external pressure distributions, and (5) model base pressures. An investigation was undertaken to determine the similarity between solid and gaseous plumes; fluorescent oil flow visualization studies were also conducted. Plotted wing pressure data is tabulated.

Unsteady loads due to propulsive lift configurations. Part D: The development of an experimental facility for the investigation of scaling effects on propulsive lift configurations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haviland, J. K.; Herling, W. W.

1978-01-01

The design and construction of an experimental facility for the investigation of scaling effects in propulsive lift configurations are described. The facility was modeled after an existing full size NASA facility which consisted of a coaxial turbofan jet engine with a rectangular nozzle in a blown surface configuration. The flow field of the model facility was examined with and without a simulated wing surface in place at several locations downstream of the nozzle exit plane. Emphasis was placed on obtaining pressure measurements which were made with static probes and surface pressure ports connected via plastic tubing to condenser microphones for fluctuating measurements. Several pressure spectra were compared with those obtained from the NASA facility, and were used in a preliminary evaluation of scaling laws.

Glassy-winged sharpshooter feeding does not cause air embolisms in xylem of well-watered plants.

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Plant xylem vessels are under negative hydrostatic pressure (tension) as evapotranspiration of water from the leaf surface pulls the column of water in xylem upwards. When xylem fluid flux is under extreme tension, any puncture or breakage of the xylem vessel wall can cause formation of air embolis...

14 CFR Appendix A to Part 43 - Major Alterations, Major Repairs, and Preventive Maintenance

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... alterations: (i) Changes in blade design. (ii) Changes in hub design. (iii) Changes in the governor or control... alterations: (i) Wings. (ii) Tail surfaces. (iii) Fuselage. (iv) Engine mounts. (v) Control system. (vi... the basic design of the fuel, oil, cooling, heating, cabin pressurization, electrical, hydraulic, de...

14 CFR Appendix A to Part 43 - Major Alterations, Major Repairs, and Preventive Maintenance

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... alterations: (i) Changes in blade design. (ii) Changes in hub design. (iii) Changes in the governor or control... alterations: (i) Wings. (ii) Tail surfaces. (iii) Fuselage. (iv) Engine mounts. (v) Control system. (vi... the basic design of the fuel, oil, cooling, heating, cabin pressurization, electrical, hydraulic, de...

14 CFR Appendix A to Part 43 - Major Alterations, Major Repairs, and Preventive Maintenance

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... alterations: (i) Changes in blade design. (ii) Changes in hub design. (iii) Changes in the governor or control... alterations: (i) Wings. (ii) Tail surfaces. (iii) Fuselage. (iv) Engine mounts. (v) Control system. (vi... the basic design of the fuel, oil, cooling, heating, cabin pressurization, electrical, hydraulic, de...

14 CFR Appendix A to Part 43 - Major Alterations, Major Repairs, and Preventive Maintenance

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... alterations: (i) Changes in blade design. (ii) Changes in hub design. (iii) Changes in the governor or control... alterations: (i) Wings. (ii) Tail surfaces. (iii) Fuselage. (iv) Engine mounts. (v) Control system. (vi... the basic design of the fuel, oil, cooling, heating, cabin pressurization, electrical, hydraulic, de...

Shielding Characteristics Using an Ultrasonic Configurable Fan Artificial Noise Source to Generate Modes - Experimental Measurements and Analytical Predictions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sutliff, Daniel L.; Walker, Bruce E.

2014-01-01

An Ultrasonic Configurable Fan Artificial Noise Source (UCFANS) was designed, built, and tested in support of the NASA Langley Research Center's 14x22 wind tunnel test of the Hybrid Wing Body (HWB) full 3-D 5.8% scale model. The UCFANS is a 5.8% rapid prototype scale model of a high-bypass turbofan engine that can generate the tonal signature of proposed engines using artificial sources (no flow). The purpose of the program was to provide an estimate of the acoustic shielding benefits possible from mounting an engine on the upper surface of a wing; a flat plate model was used as the shielding surface. Simple analytical simulations were used to preview the radiation patterns - Fresnel knife-edge diffraction was coupled with a dense phased array of point sources to compute shielded and unshielded sound pressure distributions for potential test geometries and excitation modes. Contour plots of sound pressure levels, and integrated power levels, from nacelle alone and shielded configurations for both the experimental measurements and the analytical predictions are presented in this paper.

Morphing Wings: A Study Using High-Fidelity Aerodynamic Shape Optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Curiale, Nathanael J.

With the aviation industry under pressure to reduce fuel consumption, morphing wings have the capacity to improve aircraft performance, thereby making a significant contribution to reversing climate change. Through high-fidelity aerodynamic shape optimization, various forms of morphing wings are assessed for a hypothetical regional-class aircraft. The framework used solves the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations and utilizes a gradient-based optimization algorithm. Baseline geometries are developed through multipoint optimization, where the average drag coefficient is minimized over a range of flight conditions with additional dive constraints. Morphing optimizations are then performed, beginning with these baseline shapes. Five distinct types of morphing are investigated and compared. Overall, a theoretical fully adaptable wing produces roughly a 2% improvement in average performance, whereas trailing-edge morphing with a 27-point multipoint baseline results in just over a 1% improvement in average performance. Trailing-edge morphing proves to be more beneficial than leading-edge morphing, upper-surface morphing, and a conventional flap.

Flap-edge aeroacoustic measurements and predictions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brooks, Thomas F.; Humphreys, William M.

2003-03-01

An aeroacoustic model test has been conducted to investigate the mechanisms of sound generation on high-lift wing configurations. This paper presents an analysis of flap side-edge noise, which is often the most dominant source. A model of a main element wing section with a half-span flap was tested at low speeds of up to a Mach number of 0.17, corresponding to a wing chord Reynolds number of approximately 1.7 million. Results are presented for flat (or blunt), flanged, and round flap-edge geometries, with and without boundary-layer tripping, deployed at both moderate and high flap angles. The acoustic database is obtained from a small aperture directional array (SADA) of microphones, which was constructed to electronically steer to different regions of the model and to obtain farfield noise spectra and directivity from these regions. The basic flap-edge aerodynamics is established by static surface pressure data, as well as by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations and simplified edge flow analyses. Distributions of unsteady pressure sensors over the flap allow the noise source regions to be defined and quantified via cross-spectral diagnostics using the SADA output. It is found that shear layer instability and related pressure scatter is the primary noise mechanism. For the flat edge flap, two noise prediction methods based on unsteady-surface-pressure measurements are evaluated and compared to measured noise. One is a new causality spectral approach developed here. The other is a new application of an edge-noise scatter prediction method. The good comparisons for both approaches suggest that the prediction models capture much of the physics. Areas of disagreement appear to reveal when the assumed edge noise mechanism does not fully define the noise production. For the different edge conditions, extensive spectra and directivity are presented. The complexity of the directivity results demonstrate the strong role of edge source geometry and frequency in the noise radiation. Significantly, for each edge configuration, the spectra for different flow speeds, flap angles, and surface roughness were successfully scaled by utilizing aerodynamic performance and boundary-layer scaling methods developed herein.

Cicada Wing Surface Topography: An Investigation into the Bactericidal Properties of Nanostructural Features.

PubMed

Kelleher, S M; Habimana, O; Lawler, J; O' Reilly, B; Daniels, S; Casey, E; Cowley, A

2016-06-22

Recently, the surface of the wings of the Psaltoda claripennis cicada species has been shown to possess bactericidal properties and it has been suggested that the nanostructure present on the wings was responsible for the bacterial death. We have studied the surface-based nanostructure and bactericidal activity of the wings of three different cicadas (Megapomponia intermedia, Ayuthia spectabile and Cryptotympana aguila) in order to correlate the relationship between the observed surface topographical features and their bactericidal properties. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy performed in this study revealed that the tested wing species contained a highly uniform, nanopillar structure on the surface. The bactericidal properties of the cicada wings were investigated by assessing the viability of autofluorescent Pseudomonas fluorescens cells following static adhesion assays and targeted dead/live fluorescence staining through direct microscopic counting methods. These experiments revealed a 20-25% bacterial surface coverage on all tested wing species; however, significant bactericidal properties were observed in the M. intermedia and C. aguila species as revealed by the high dead:live cell ratio on their surfaces. The combined results suggest a strong correlation between the bactericidal properties of the wings and the scale of the nanotopography present on the different wing surfaces.

F-8 supercritical wing flight pressure, Boundary layer, and wake measurements and comparisons with wind tunnel data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Montoya, L. C.; Banner, R. D.

1977-01-01

Data for speeds from Mach 0.50 to Mach 0.99 are presented for configurations with and without fuselage area-rule additions, with and without leading-edge vortex generators, and with and without boundary-layer trips on the wing. The wing pressure coefficients are tabulated. Comparisons between the airplane and model data show that higher second velocity peaks occurred on the airplane wing than on the model wing. The differences were attributed to wind tunnel wall interference effects that caused too much rear camber to be designed into the wing. Optimum flow conditions on the outboard wing section occurred at Mach 0.98 at an angle of attack near 4 deg. The measured differences in section drag with and without boundary-layer trips on the wing suggested that a region of laminar flow existed on the outboard wing without trips.

Subsonic investigations of vortex interaction control for enhanced high-alpha aerodynamics of a chine forebody/Delta wing configuration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rao, Dhanvada M.; Bhat, M. K.

1992-01-01

A proposed concept to alleviate high alpha asymmetry and lateral/directional instability by decoupling of forebody and wing vortices was studied on a generic chine forebody/ 60 deg. delta configuration in the NASA Langley 7 by 10 foot High Speed Tunnel. The decoupling technique involved inboard leading edge flaps of varying span and deflection angle. Six component force/moment characteristics, surface pressure distributions and vapor-screen flow visualizations were acquired, on the basic wing-body configuration and with both single and twin vertical tails at M sub infinity = 0.1 and 0.4, and in the range alpha = 0 to 50 deg and beta = -10 to +10 degs. Results are presented which highlight the potential of vortex decoupling via leading edge flaps for enhanced high alpha lateral/directional characteristics.

Boundary layer and separation control on wings at low Reynolds numbers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Shanling

Results on boundary layer and separation control through acoustic excitation at low Re numbers are reported. The Eppler 387 profile is specifically chosen because of its pre-stall hysteresis and bi-stable state behavior in the transitional Re regime, which is a result of flow separation and reattachment. External acoustic forcing on the wing yields large improvements (more than 70%) in lift-to-drag ratio and flow reattachment at forcing frequencies that correlate with the measured anti-resonances in the wind tunnel. The optimum St/Re1/2 range for Re = 60,000 matches the proposed optimum range in the literature, but there is less agreement for Re = 40,000, which suggests that correct St scaling has not been determined. The correlation of aerodynamic improvements to wind tunnel resonances implies that external acoustic forcing is facility-dependent, which inhibits practical application. Therefore, internal acoustic excitation for the same wing profile is also pursued. Internal acoustic forcing is designed to be accomplished by embedding small speakers inside a custom-designed wing that contains many internal cavities and small holes in the suction surface. However, initial testing of this semi-porous wing model shows that the presence of the small holes in the suction surface completely transforms the aerodynamic performance by changing the mean chordwise separation location and causing an originally separated, low-lift state flow to reattach into a high-lift state. The aerodynamic improvements are not caused by the geometry of the small holes themselves, but rather by Helmholtz resonance that occurs in the cavities, which generate tones that closely match the intrinsic flow instabilities. Essentially, opening and closing holes in the suction surface of a wing, perhaps by digital control, can be used as a means of passive separation control. Given the similarity of wing-embedded pressure tap systems to Helmholtz resonators, particular attention must be given to the setup of pressure taps in wings in order to avoid acoustic resonance effects. Local acoustic forcing is achieved through the activation of internally embedded speakers in combination with thin diaphragms placed across the holes in the suction surface to eliminate Helmholtz resonance effects. Activating various speakers in different spanwise and chordwise distributions successfully controls local flow separation on the wing at Re = 40,000 and 60,000. The changes in aerodynamic performance differ from those observed through external acoustic forcing, indicating that internal acoustic forcing is facility-independent. Combining the effect of Helmholtz resonance and the effect of pure internal acoustic forcing yields a completely different set of performance improvements. Since the internal acoustic forcing studies in the literature did not separate these two effects, there is reason to question the validity of the true nominal performance of the wings in previously reported internal acoustic studies. Stability analysis is performed on experimental velocity profiles by means of a numerical Orr-Sommerfeld solver, which extracts the initially least stable frequencies in the boundary layer using parallel and 2-d flow assumptions. Velocity profiles of the E387 wing are chosen at a condition where acoustic excitation at various chordwise locations and frequencies promotes the originally separated, low-lift state flow into a reattached, high-lift state. Preliminary stability analysis of the flow at different chordwise stations for the wing in its nominal state (without acoustic excitation) indicates that the flow is initially stable. The least stable frequencies are found to be equal to, and sub harmonics of, the preferential acoustic forcing frequencies determined in experiments. However, potentially improper and oversimplified flow assumptions are most likely sources of inaccuracy since the Orr-Sommerfeld equation is not generally used for separated flows or for boundary layers that grow significantly over the chord length. The reported numerical results serve as a basis for further validation. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Biophysical model of bacterial cell interactions with nanopatterned cicada wing surfaces.

PubMed

Pogodin, Sergey; Hasan, Jafar; Baulin, Vladimir A; Webb, Hayden K; Truong, Vi Khanh; Phong Nguyen, The Hong; Boshkovikj, Veselin; Fluke, Christopher J; Watson, Gregory S; Watson, Jolanta A; Crawford, Russell J; Ivanova, Elena P

2013-02-19

The nanopattern on the surface of Clanger cicada (Psaltoda claripennis) wings represents the first example of a new class of biomaterials that can kill bacteria on contact based solely on their physical surface structure. The wings provide a model for the development of novel functional surfaces that possess an increased resistance to bacterial contamination and infection. We propose a biophysical model of the interactions between bacterial cells and cicada wing surface structures, and show that mechanical properties, in particular cell rigidity, are key factors in determining bacterial resistance/sensitivity to the bactericidal nature of the wing surface. We confirmed this experimentally by decreasing the rigidity of surface-resistant strains through microwave irradiation of the cells, which renders them susceptible to the wing effects. Our findings demonstrate the potential benefits of incorporating cicada wing nanopatterns into the design of antibacterial nanomaterials. Copyright © 2013 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Aerodynamic Influence of Added Surfaces on the Performance Characteristics of a Sports Car

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thangadurai, Murugan; Kumar, Rajesh; Rana, Subhas Chandra; Chatterjee, Dipankar

2018-05-01

External aerodynamics plays a vital role in designing high-speed vehicles since a reduction in drag and positive lift generation are principal concerns in vehicle aerodynamics to ensure superior performance, comfort, and vehicle stability. In the present study, the effect of added surfaces such as NACA 2412 wings and wedge type spoiler at the rear end of a sports car are examined in detail using three-dimensional numerical simulations substantiated with lab scale experiments. The simulations are performed by solving Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations with a realizable k-ɛ turbulence model using ANSYS Fluent software for Reynolds numbers 9.1 × 106, 1.37 × 107 and 1.82 × 107. The results obtained from simulations are validated with the experiments performed on a scale down model at the low-speed wind tunnel using a six component external pyramidal balance. The variation in the wake flow field of the vehicles with different added surfaces are demonstrated using pressure and velocity contours, velocity vectors at the rear end, and the turbulent kinetic energy distribution plots. It is observed that the positive lift coefficient of the base model is reduced drastically by incorporating a single wing at the rear end of the vehicle. The aerodynamics coefficients obtained from different configurations suggest that the two wing configuration has lesser drag than the wedge type spoiler though, the negative lift is higher with a wedge than the two wing configuration.

Aerothermodynamic measurements for space shuttle configuration in hypersonic wind tunnels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bertin, J. J.; Williams, F. E.; Baker, R. C.; Goodrich, W. D.; Kessler, W. C.

1972-01-01

The effect of shuttle configuration geometry, angle of attack, and free stream flow conditions on the heat-transfer distribution as influenced by three-dimensional effects, the wing-fuselage shock-interaction, and resultant wing-impingement phenomena are examined. In addition, the data provided information regarding the flow field in the vicinity of the nose and boundary layer transition in the plane of symmetry of the fuselage. The data included measurements of the surface pressure, the heat transfer rate distributions, (using models instrumented with thermocouples and models painted with thermographic phosphor) and schlieren and shadowgraph photographs. Posttest photographs of the painted models supplemented the heat transfer data.

Aerodynamic prediction techniques for hypersonic configuration design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1981-01-01

An investigation of approximate theoretical techniques for predicting aerodynamic characteristics and surface pressures for relatively slender vehicles at moderate hypersonic speeds was performed. Emphasis was placed on approaches that would be responsive to preliminary configuration design level of effort. Potential theory was examined in detail to meet this objective. Numerical pilot codes were developed for relatively simple three dimensional geometries to evaluate the capability of the approximate equations of motion considered. Results from the computations indicate good agreement with higher order solutions and experimental results for a variety of wing, body, and wing-body shapes for values of the hypersonic similarity parameter M delta approaching one.

FoilSim: Basic Aerodynamics Software Created

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Peterson, Ruth A.

1999-01-01

FoilSim is interactive software that simulates the airflow around various shapes of airfoils. The graphical user interface, which looks more like a video game than a learning tool, captures and holds the students interest. The software is a product of NASA Lewis Research Center s Learning Technologies Project, an educational outreach initiative within the High Performance Computing and Communications Program (HPCCP).This airfoil view panel is a simulated view of a wing being tested in a wind tunnel. As students create new wing shapes by moving slider controls that change parameters, the software calculates their lift. FoilSim also displays plots of pressure or airspeed above and below the airfoil surface.

Characteristics of Pressure Sensitive Paint Intrusiveness Effects on Aerodynamic Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Amer, Tahani R.; Liu, Tianshu; Oglesby, Donald M.

2001-01-01

One effect of using pressure sensitive paint (PSP) is the potential intrusiveness to the aerodynamic characteristics of the model. The paint thickness and roughness may affect the pressure distribution, and therefore, the forces and moments on the wind tunnel model. A study of these potential intrusive effects was carried out at NASA Langley Research Center where a series of wind tunnel tests were conducted using the Modem Design of Experiments (MDOE) test approach. The PSP effects on the integrated forces were measured on two different models at different test conditions in both the Low Turbulence Pressure Tunnel (LTPT) and the Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel (UPWT) at Langley. The paint effect was found to be very small over a range of Reynolds numbers, Mach numbers and angles of attack. This is due to the very low surface roughness of the painted surface. The surface roughness, after applying the NASA Langley developed PSP, was lower than that of the clean wing. However, the PSP coating had a localized effects on the pressure taps, which leads to an appreciable decrease in the pressure tap reading.

Analysis, Design and Optimization of Non-Cylindrical Fuselage for Blended-Wing-Body (BWB) Vehicle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mukhopadhyay, V.; Sobieszczanski-Sobieski, J.; Kosaka, I.; Quinn, G.; Charpentier, C.

2002-01-01

Initial results of an investigation towards finding an efficient non-cylindrical fuselage configuration for a conceptual blended-wing-body flight vehicle were presented. A simplified 2-D beam column analysis and optimization was performed first. Then a set of detailed finite element models of deep sandwich panel and ribbed shell construction concepts were analyzed and optimized. Generally these concepts with flat surfaces were found to be structurally inefficient to withstand internal pressure and resultant compressive loads simultaneously. Alternatively, a set of multi-bubble fuselage configuration concepts were developed for balancing internal cabin pressure load efficiently, through membrane stress in inner-stiffened shell and inter-cabin walls. An outer-ribbed shell was designed to prevent buckling due to external resultant compressive loads. Initial results from finite element analysis appear to be promising. These concepts should be developed further to exploit their inherent structurally efficiency.

Flight-measured base pressure coefficients for thick boundary-layer flow over an aft-facing step for Mach numbers from 0.4 to 2.5

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goecke, S. A.

1973-01-01

A 0.56-inch thick aft-facing step was located 52.1 feet from the leading edge of the left wing of an XB-70 airplane. A boundary-layer rake at a mirror location on the right wing was used to obtain local flow properties. Reynolds numbers were near 10 to the 8th power, resulting in a relatively thick boundary-layer. The momentum thickness ranged from slightly thinner to slightly thicker than the step height. Surface static pressures forward of the step were obtained for Mach numbers near 0.9, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.4. The data were compared with thin boundary-layer results from flight and wind-tunnel experiments and semiempirical relationships. Significant differences were found between the thick and the thin boundary-layer data.

Recent transonic unsteady pressure measurements at the NASA Langley Research Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sandford, M. C.; Ricketts, R. H.; Hess, R. W.

1985-01-01

Four semispan wing model configurations were studied in the Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT). The first model had a clipped delta planform with a circular arc airfoil, the second model had a high aspect ratio planform with a supercritical airfoil, the third model has a rectangular planform with a supercritical airfoil and the fourth model had a high aspect ratio planform with a supercritical airfoil. To generate unsteady flow, the first and third models were equipped with pitch oscillation mechanisms and the first, second and fourth models were equipped with control surface oscillation mechanisms. The fourth model was similar in planform and airfoil shape to the second model, but it is the only one of the four models that has an elastic wing structure. The unsteady pressure studies of the four models are described and some typical results for each model are presented. Comparison of selected experimental data with analytical results also are included.

Lift Augmentation on a Delta Wing via Leading Edge Fences and the Gurney Flap

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buchholz, Mark D.; Tso, Jin

1993-01-01

Wind tunnel tests have been conducted on two devices for the purpose of lift augmentation on a 60 deg delta wing at low speed. Lift, drag, pitching moment, and surface pressures were measured. Detailed flow visualization was also obtained. Both the leading edge fence and the Gurney flap are shown to increase lift. The fences and flap shift the lift curve by as much as 5 deg and 10 deg, respectively. The fences aid in trapping vortices on the upper surface, thereby increasing suction. The Gurney flap improves circulation at the trailing edge. The individual influences of both devices are roughly additive, creating high lift gain. However, the lower lift to drag ratio and the precipitation of vortex burst caused by the fences, and the nose down pitching moment created by the flap are also significant factors.

A new method for designing shock-free transonic configurations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sobieczky, H.; Fung, K. Y.; Seebass, A. R.; Yu, N. J.

1978-01-01

A method for the design of shock free supercritical airfoils, wings, and three dimensional configurations is described. Results illustrating the procedure in two and three dimensions are given. They include modifications to part of the upper surface of an NACA 64A410 airfoil that will maintain shock free flow over a range of Mach numbers for a fixed lift coefficient, and the modifications required on part of the upper surface of a swept wing with an NACA 64A410 root section to achieve shock free flow. While the results are given for inviscid flow, the same procedures can be employed iteratively with a boundary layer calculation in order to achieve shock free viscous designs. With a shock free pressure field the boundary layer calculation will be reliable and not complicated by the difficulties of shock wave boundary layer interaction.

Development and demonstration of a flutter-suppression system using active controls. [wind tunnel tests

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sandford, M. C.; Abel, I.; Gray, D. L.

1975-01-01

The application of active control technology to suppress flutter was demonstrated successfully in the transonic dynamics tunnel with a delta-wing model. The model was a simplified version of a proposed supersonic transport wing design. An active flutter suppression method based on an aerodynamic energy criterion was verified by using three different control laws. The first two control laws utilized both leading-edge and trailing-edge active control surfaces, whereas the third control law required only a single trailing-edge active control surface. At a Mach number of 0.9 the experimental results demonstrated increases in the flutter dynamic pressure from 12.5 percent to 30 percent with active controls. Analytical methods were developed to predict both open-loop and closed-loop stability, and the results agreed reasonably well with the experimental results.

Modeling methods for merging computational and experimental aerodynamic pressure data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haderlie, Jacob C.

This research describes a process to model surface pressure data sets as a function of wing geometry from computational and wind tunnel sources and then merge them into a single predicted value. The described merging process will enable engineers to integrate these data sets with the goal of utilizing the advantages of each data source while overcoming the limitations of both; this provides a single, combined data set to support analysis and design. The main challenge with this process is accurately representing each data source everywhere on the wing. Additionally, this effort demonstrates methods to model wind tunnel pressure data as a function of angle of attack as an initial step towards a merging process that uses both location on the wing and flow conditions (e.g., angle of attack, flow velocity or Reynold's number) as independent variables. This surrogate model of pressure as a function of angle of attack can be useful for engineers that need to predict the location of zero-order discontinuities, e.g., flow separation or normal shocks. Because, to the author's best knowledge, there is no published, well-established merging method for aerodynamic pressure data (here, the coefficient of pressure Cp), this work identifies promising modeling and merging methods, and then makes a critical comparison of these methods. Surrogate models represent the pressure data for both data sets. Cubic B-spline surrogate models represent the computational simulation results. Machine learning and multi-fidelity surrogate models represent the experimental data. This research compares three surrogates for the experimental data (sequential--a.k.a. online--Gaussian processes, batch Gaussian processes, and multi-fidelity additive corrector) on the merits of accuracy and computational cost. The Gaussian process (GP) methods employ cubic B-spline CFD surrogates as a model basis function to build a surrogate model of the WT data, and this usage of the CFD surrogate in building the WT data could serve as a "merging" because the resulting WT pressure prediction uses information from both sources. In the GP approach, this model basis function concept seems to place more "weight" on the Cp values from the wind tunnel (WT) because the GP surrogate uses the CFD to approximate the WT data values. Conversely, the computationally inexpensive additive corrector method uses the CFD B-spline surrogate to define the shape of the spanwise distribution of the Cp while minimizing prediction error at all spanwise locations for a given arc length position; this, too, combines information from both sources to make a prediction of the 2-D WT-based Cp distribution, but the additive corrector approach gives more weight to the CFD prediction than to the WT data. Three surrogate models of the experimental data as a function of angle of attack are also compared for accuracy and computational cost. These surrogates are a single Gaussian process model (a single "expert"), product of experts, and generalized product of experts. The merging approach provides a single pressure distribution that combines experimental and computational data. The batch Gaussian process method provides a relatively accurate surrogate that is computationally acceptable, and can receive wind tunnel data from port locations that are not necessarily parallel to a variable direction. On the other hand, the sequential Gaussian process and additive corrector methods must receive a sufficient number of data points aligned with one direction, e.g., from pressure port bands (tap rows) aligned with the freestream. The generalized product of experts best represents wind tunnel pressure as a function of angle of attack, but at higher computational cost than the single expert approach. The format of the application data from computational and experimental sources in this work precluded the merging process from including flow condition variables (e.g., angle of attack) in the independent variables, so the merging process is only conducted in the wing geometry variables of arc length and span. The merging process of Cp data allows a more "hands-off" approach to aircraft design and analysis, (i.e., not as many engineers needed to debate the Cp distribution shape) and generates Cp predictions at any location on the wing. However, the cost with these benefits are engineer time (learning how to build surrogates), computational time in constructing the surrogates, and surrogate accuracy (surrogates introduce error into data predictions). This dissertation effort used the Trap Wing / First AIAA CFD High-Lift Prediction Workshop as a relevant transonic wing with a multi-element high-lift system, and this work identified that the batch GP model for the WT data and the B-spline surrogate for the CFD might best be combined using expert belief weights to describe Cp as a function of location on the wing element surface. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.).

Wings as impellers: honey bees co-opt flight system to induce nest ventilation and disperse pheromones.

PubMed

Peters, Jacob M; Gravish, Nick; Combes, Stacey A

2017-06-15

Honey bees ( Apis mellifera ) are remarkable fliers that regularly carry heavy loads of nectar and pollen, supported by a flight system - the wings, thorax and flight muscles - that one might assume is optimized for aerial locomotion. However, honey bees also use this system to perform other crucial tasks that are unrelated to flight. When ventilating the nest, bees grip the surface of the comb or nest entrance and fan their wings to drive airflow through the nest, and a similar wing-fanning behavior is used to disperse volatile pheromones from the Nasonov gland. In order to understand how the physical demands of these impeller-like behaviors differ from those of flight, we quantified the flapping kinematics and compared the frequency, amplitude and stroke plane angle during these non-flight behaviors with values reported for hovering honey bees. We also used a particle-based flow visualization technique to determine the direction and speed of airflow generated by a bee performing Nasonov scenting behavior. We found that ventilatory fanning behavior is kinematically distinct from both flight and scenting behavior. Both impeller-like behaviors drive flow parallel to the surface to which the bees are clinging, at typical speeds of just under 1 m s -1 We observed that the wings of fanning and scenting bees frequently contact the ground during the ventral stroke reversal, which may lead to wing wear. Finally, we observed that bees performing Nasonov scenting behavior sometimes display 'clap-and-fling' motions, in which the wings contact each other during the dorsal stroke reversal and fling apart at the start of the downstroke. We conclude that the wings and flight motor of honey bees comprise a multifunctional system, which may be subject to competing selective pressures because of its frequent use as both a propeller and an impeller. © 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Unsteady transonic flow analysis for low aspect ratio, pointed wings.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kimble, K. R.; Ruo, S. Y.; Wu, J. M.; Liu, D. Y.

1973-01-01

Oswatitsch and Keune's parabolic method for steady transonic flow is applied and extended to thin slender wings oscillating in the sonic flow field. The parabolic constant for the wing was determined from the equivalent body of revolution. Laplace transform methods were used to derive the asymptotic equations for pressure coefficient, and the Adams-Sears iterative procedure was employed to solve the equations. A computer program was developed to find the pressure distributions, generalized force coefficients, and stability derivatives for delta, convex, and concave wing planforms.

Transonic low aspect ratio wing-winglet designs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kuhlman, John M.; Cerney, Michael J.; Liaw, Paul

1988-01-01

A numerical design study has been conducted to ascertain the potential of winglets as a drag-reducing measure at high subsonic Mach numbers for low aspect ratio wings. The four variants of the winglet concept studied are a 'detuned' winglet with decreased incidence at the wing-winglet juncture; a steerable winglet; more gradual pressure recovery at the wing and winglet trailing edges; and the application of supercritical airfoil technology. A further study is conducted to assess the accuracy of the numerical code's predicted pressure drag values.

Gurney flap—Lift enhancement, mechanisms and applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, J. J.; Li, Y. C.; Choi, K.-S.

2008-01-01

Since its invention by a race car driver Dan Gurney in 1960s, the Gurney flap has been used to enhance the aerodynamics performance of subsonic and supercritical airfoils, high-lift devices and delta wings. In order to take stock of recent research and development of Gurney flap, we have carried out a review of the characteristics and mechanisms of lift enhancement by the Gurney flap and its applications. Optimum design of the Gurney flap is also summarized in this paper. For the Gurney flap to be effective, it should be mounted at the trailing edge perpendicular to the chord line of airfoil or wing. The flap height must be of the order of local boundary layer thickness. For subsonic airfoils, an additional Gurney flap increases the pressure on the upstream surface of the Gurney flap, which increases the total pressure of the lower surface. At the same time, a long wake downstream of the flap containing a pair of counter-rotating vortices can delay or eliminate the flow separation near the trailing edge on the upper surface. Correspondingly, the total suction on the airfoil is increased. For supercritical airfoils, the lift enhancement of the Gurney flap mainly comes from its ability to shift the shock on the upper surface in the downstream. Applications of the Gurney flap to modern aircraft design are also discussed in this review.

Experimental evaluation of nacelle-airframe interference forces and pressures at Mach numbers of 0.9 to 1.4

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bencze, D. P.

1977-01-01

Detailed interference force-and-pressure data were obtained on a representative supersonic transport wing-body-nacelle combination at Mach numbers of 0.9 to 1.4. The basic model consisted of a delta wing-body aerodynamic model with a length of 158.0 cm (62.2 in.) and a wingspan of 103.6 cm (40.8 in.) and four independently supported nacelles positioned beneath the model. The experimental program was conducted in the Ames 11- by 11-Foot Wind Tunnel at a constant unit Reynolds number. The primary variables examined included Mach number, angle of attack, nacelle position, and nacelle mass-flow ratio. Under the most favorable conditions, the net interference drag was equal to 50 percent the drag of four isolated nacelles at M = 1.4, 75 percent at M = 1.15, and 144 percent at M = 0.90. The overall interference effects were found to be rather constant over the operating angle-of-attack range of the configuration. The effects of mass-flow ratio on the interference pressure distributions were limited to the lip region of the nacelle and the local wing surface in the immediate vicinity of the nacelle lip. The net change in the measured interference forces resulting from variations in the nacelle mass-flow ratio were found to be quite small.

Wind-tunnel investigation of aerodynamic efficiency of three planar elliptical wings with curvature of quarter-chord line

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mineck, Raymond E.; Vijgen, Paul M. H. W.

1993-01-01

Three planar, untwisted wings with the same elliptical chord distribution but with different curvatures of the quarter-chord line were tested in the Langley 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel (8-ft TPT) and the Langley 7- by 10-Foot High-Speed Tunnel (7 x 10 HST). A fourth wing with a rectangular planform and the same projected area and span was also tested. Force and moment measurements from the 8-ft TPT tests are presented for Mach numbers from 0.3 to 0.5 and angles of attack from -4 degrees to 7 degrees. Sketches of the oil-flow patterns on the upper surfaces of the wings and some force and moment measurements from the 7 x 10 HST tests are presented at a Mach number of 0.5. Increasing the curvature of the quarter-chord line makes the angle of zero lift more negative but has little effect on the drag coefficient at zero lift. The changes in lift-curve slope and in the Oswald efficiency factor with the change in curvature of the quarter-chord line (wingtip location) indicate that the elliptical wing with the unswept quarter-chord line has the lowest lifting efficiency and the elliptical wing with the unswept trailing edge has the highest lifting efficiency; the crescent-shaped planform wing has an efficiency in between.

Wind tunnel investigation of Nacelle-Airframe interference at Mach numbers of 0.9 to 1.4-pressure data, volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bencze, D. P.

1976-01-01

Detailed interference force and pressure data were obtained on a representative wing-body nacelle combination at Mach numbers of 0.9 to 1.4. The model consisted of a delta wing-body aerodynamic force model with four independently supported nacelles located beneath the wing-body combination. The primary variables examined included Mach number, angle of attack, nacelle position, and nacelle mass flow ratio. Four different configurations were tested to identify various interference forces and pressures on each component; these included tests of the isolated nacelle, the isolated wing-body combination, the four nacelles as a unit, and the total wing-body-nacelle combination. Nacelle axial location, relative to both the wing-body combination and to each other, was the most important variable in determining the net interference among the components. The overall interference effects were found to be essentially constant over the operating angle-of-attack range of the configuration, and nearly independent of nacelle mass flow ratio.

Pressure-Sensitive Paint Measurements on the NASA Common Research Model in the NASA 11-ft Transonic Wind Tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bell, James H.

2011-01-01

The luminescence lifetime technique was used to make pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) measurements on a 2.7% Common Research Model in the NASA Ames 11ft Transonic Wind Tunnel. PSP data were obtained on the upper and lower surfaces of the wing and horizontal tail, as well as one side of the fuselage. Data were taken for several model attitudes of interest at Mach numbers between 0.70 and 0.87. Image data were mapped onto a three-dimensional surface grid suitable both for comparison with CFD and for integration of pressures to determine loads. Luminescence lifetime measurements were made using strobed LED (light-emitting diode) lamps to illuminate the PSP and fast-framing interline transfer cameras to acquire the PSP emission.

High Reynolds Number Hybrid Laminar Flow Control (HLFC) Flight Experiment. Report 4; Suction System Design and Manufacture

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1999-01-01

This document describes the design of the leading edge suction system for flight demonstration of hybrid laminar flow control on the Boeing 757 airplane. The exterior pressures on the wing surface and the required suction quantity and distribution were determined in previous work. A system consisting of porous skin, sub-surface spanwise passages ("flutes"), pressure regulating screens and valves, collection fittings, ducts and a turbocompressor was defined to provide the required suction flow. Provisions were also made for flexible control of suction distribution and quantity for HLFC research purposes. Analysis methods for determining pressure drops and flow for transpiration heating for thermal anti-icing are defined. The control scheme used to observe and modulate suction distribution in flight is described.

Conceptual design for a laminar-flying-wing aircraft

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saeed, T. I.

The laminar-flying-wing aircraft appears to be an attractive long-term prospect for reducing the environmental impact of commercial aviation. In assessing its potential, a relatively straightforward initial step is the conceptual design of a version with restricted sweep angle. Such a design is the topic of this thesis. Subject to constraints, this research aims to; provide insight into the parameters affecting practical laminar-flow-control suction power requirements; identify a viable basic design specification; and, on the basis of this, an assessment of the fuel efficiency through a detailed conceptual design study. It is shown that there is a minimum power requirement independent of the suction system design, associated with the stagnation pressure loss in the boundary layer. This requirement increases with aerofoil section thickness, but depends only weakly on Mach number and (for a thick, lightly-loaded laminar flying wing) lift coefficient. Deviation from the optimal suction distribution, due to a practical chamber-based architecture, is found to have very little effect on the overall suction coefficient. In the spanwise direction, through suitable choice of chamber depth, the pressure drop due to frictional and inertial effects may be rendered negligible. Finally, it is found that the pressure drop from the aerofoil surface to the pump collector ducts determines the power penalty. To identify the viable basic design specification, a high-level exploration of the laminar flying wing design space is performed. The characteristics of the design are assessed as a function of three parameters: thickness-to-chord ratio, wingspan, and unit Reynolds number. A feasible specification, with 20% thickness-to-chord, 80 m span and a unit Reynolds number of 8 x 106 m-1, is identified; it corresponds to a 187 tonne aircraft which cruises at Mach 0.67 and altitude 22,500 ft, with lift coefficient 0.14. On the basis of this specification, a detailed conceptual design is undertaken. A 220-passenger laminar-flying-wing concept, propelled by three turboprop engines, with a cruise range of 9000 km is developed. The laminar flying wing proposed in this thesis falls short of the performance improvements expected of the concept, and is not worth the development effort.

Surface integral analogy approaches for predicting noise from 3D high-lift low-noise wings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Hua-Dong; Davidson, Lars; Eriksson, Lars-Erik; Peng, Shia-Hui; Grundestam, Olof; Eliasson, Peter E.

2014-06-01

Three surface integral approaches of the acoustic analogies are studied to predict the noise from three conceptual configurations of three-dimensional high-lift low-noise wings. The approaches refer to the Kirchhoff method, the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings (FW-H) method of the permeable integral surface and the Curle method that is known as a special case of the FW-H method. The first two approaches are used to compute the noise generated by the core flow region where the energetic structures exist. The last approach is adopted to predict the noise specially from the pressure perturbation on the wall. A new way to construct the integral surface that encloses the core region is proposed for the first two methods. Considering the local properties of the flow around the complex object-the actual wing with high-lift devices-the integral surface based on the vorticity is constructed to follow the flow structures. The surface location is discussed for the Kirchhoff method and the FW-H method because a common surface is used for them. The noise from the core flow region is studied on the basis of the dependent integral quantities, which are indicated by the Kirchhoff formulation and by the FW-H formulation. The role of each wall component on noise contribution is analyzed using the Curle formulation. Effects of the volume integral terms of Lighthill's stress tensors on the noise prediction are then evaluated by comparing the results of the Curle method with the other two methods.

An experimental study of an airfoil with a bio-inspired leading edge device at high angles of attack

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mandadzhiev, Boris A.; Lynch, Michael K.; Chamorro, Leonardo P.; Wissa, Aimy A.

2017-09-01

Robust and predictable aerodynamic performance of unmanned aerial vehicles at the limits of their design envelope is critical for safety and mission adaptability. Deployable aerodynamic surfaces from the wing leading or trailing edges are often used to extend the aerodynamic envelope (e.g. slats and flaps). Birds have also evolved feathers at the leading edge (LE) of their wings, known as the alula, which enables them to perform high angles of attack maneuvers. In this study, a series of wind tunnel experiments are performed to quantify the effect of various deployment parameters of an alula-like LE device on the aerodynamic performance of a cambered airfoil (S1223) at stall and post stall conditions. The alula relative angle of attack, measured from the mean chord of the airfoil, is varied to modulate tip-vortex strength, while the alula deflection angle is varied to modulate the distance between the tip vortex and the wing surface. Integrated lift force measurements were collected at various alula-inspired device configurations. The effect of the alula-inspired device on the boundary layer velocity profile and turbulence intensity were investigated through hot-wire anemometer measurements. Results show that as alula deflection angle increases, the lift coefficient also increase especially at lower alula relative angles of attack. Moreover, at post stall wing angles of attack, the wake velocity deficit is reduced in the presence of alula device, confirming the mitigation of the wing adverse pressure gradient. The results are in strong agreement with measurements taken on bird wings showing delayed flow reversal and extended range of operational angles of attack. An engineered alula-inspired device has the potential to improve mission adaptability in small unmanned air vehicles during low Reynolds number flight.

A general method for calculating three-dimensional compressible laminar and turbulent boundary layers on arbitrary wings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cebeci, T.; Kaups, K.; Ramsey, J. A.

1977-01-01

The method described utilizes a nonorthogonal coordinate system for boundary-layer calculations. It includes a geometry program that represents the wing analytically, and a velocity program that computes the external velocity components from a given experimental pressure distribution when the external velocity distribution is not computed theoretically. The boundary layer method is general, however, and can also be used for an external velocity distribution computed theoretically. Several test cases were computed by this method and the results were checked with other numerical calculations and with experiments when available. A typical computation time (CPU) on an IBM 370/165 computer for one surface of a wing which roughly consist of 30 spanwise stations and 25 streamwise stations, with 30 points across the boundary layer is less than 30 seconds for an incompressible flow and a little more for a compressible flow.

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.

Measurements of Supersonic Wing Tip Vortices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smart, Michael K.; Kalkhoran, Iraj M.; Benston, James

1994-01-01

An experimental survey of supersonic wing tip vortices has been conducted at Mach 2.5 using small performed 2.25 chords down-stream of a semi-span rectangular wing at angle of attack of 5 and 10 degrees. The main objective of the experiments was to determine the Mach number, flow angularity and total pressure distribution in the core region of supersonic wing tip vortices. A secondary aim was to demonstrate the feasibility of using cone probes calibrated with a numerical flow solver to measure flow characteristics at supersonic speeds. Results showed that the numerically generated calibration curves can be used for 4-hole cone probes, but were not sufficiently accurate for conventional 5-hole probes due to nose bluntness effects. Combination of 4-hole cone probe measurements with independent pitot pressure measurements indicated a significant Mach number and total pressure deficit in the core regions of supersonic wing tip vortices, combined with an asymmetric 'Burger like' swirl distribution.

The Development and Implementation of a Cryogenic Pressure Sensitive Paint System in the National Transonic Facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Watkins, A. Neal; Leighty, Bradley D.; Lipford, William E.; Oglesby, Donald M.; Goodman, Kyle Z.; Goad, William K.; Goad, Linda R.; Massey, Edward A.

2009-01-01

The Pressure Sensitive Paint (PSP) method was used to measure global surface pressures on a model at full-scale flight Reynolds numbers. In order to achieve these conditions, the test was carried out at the National Transonic Facility (NTF) operating under cryogenic conditions in a nitrogen environment. The upper surface of a wing on a full-span 0.027 scale commercial transport was painted with a porous PSP formulation and tested at 120K. Data was acquired at Mach 0.8 with a total pressure of 200 kPa, resulting in a Reynolds number of 65 x 106/m. Oxygen, which is required for PSP operation, was injected using dry air so that the oxygen concentration in the flow was approximately 1535 ppm. Results show qualitative agreement with expected results. This preliminary test is the first time that PSP has been successfully deployed to measure global surface pressures at cryogenic condition in the NTF. This paper will describe the system as installed, the results obtained from the test, as well as proposed upgrades and future tests.

Basic Pressure Measurements at Transonic Speeds on a Thin 45 deg Sweptback Highly Tapered Wing With Systematic Spanwise Twist Variations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mugler, John P., Jr.

1959-01-01

Pressure distributions obtained in the Langley 8-foot transonic pressure tunnel on a thin, highly tapered, twisted, 45 deg sweptback wing in combination with a body are presented. The wing has a linear span-wise twist variation from 0 deg at 10 percent of the semispan to 6 deg at the tip. The tip is at a lower angle of attack than the root. Tests were made at stagnation pressures of 1.0 and 0.5 atmosphere, at Mach numbers from 0.800 to 1.200, and at angles of attack from -4 to 12 deg.

A comparison of theoretical and experimental pressure distributions for two advanced fighter wings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haney, H. P.; Hicks, R. M.

1981-01-01

A comparison was made between experimental pressure distributions measured during testing of the Vought A-7 fighter and the theoretical predictions of four transonic potential flow codes. Isolated wind and three wing-body codes were used for comparison. All comparisons are for transonic Mach numbers and include both attached and separate flows. In general, the wing-body codes gave better agreement with the experiment than did the isolated wing code but, because of the greater complexity of the geometry, were found to be considerably more expensive and less reliable.

Analysis of unswept and swept wing chordwise pressure data from an oscillating NACA 0012 airfoil experiment. Volume 1: Technical Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

St.hilaire, A. O.; Carta, F. O.

1983-01-01

The unsteady chordwise force response on the airfoil surface was investigated and its sensitivity to the various system parameters was examined. A further examination of unsteady aerodynamic data on a tunnel spanning wing (both swept and unswept), obtained in a wind tunnel, was performed. The main body of this data analysis was carried out by analyzing the propagation speed of pressure disturbances along the chord and by studying the behavior of the unsteady part of the chordwise pressure distribution at various points of the airfoil pitching cycle. It was found that Mach number effects dominate the approach to and the inception of both static and dynamic stall. The stall angle decreases as the Mach number increases. However, sweep dominates the load behavior within the stall regime. Large phase differences between unswept and swept responses, that do not exist at low lift coefficient, appear once the stall boundary is penetrated. It was also found that reduced frequency is not a reliable indicator of the unsteady aerodynamic response in the high angle of attack regime.

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

Lee, Ching-Pang; Tham, Kok-Mun; Schroeder, Eric

An outer rim seal arrangement (10), including: an annular rim (70) centered about a longitudinal axis (30) of a rotor disc (31), extending fore and having a fore-end (72), an outward-facing surface (74), and an inward-facing surface (76); a lower angel wing (62) extending aft from a base of a turbine blade (22) and having an aft end (64) disposed radially inward of the rim inward-facing surface to define a lower angel wing seal gap (80); an upper angel wing (66) extending aft from the turbine blade base and having an aft end (68) disposed radially outward of the rimmore » outward-facing surface to define a upper angel wing seal gap (80, 82); and guide vanes (100) disposed on the rim inward-facing surface in the lower angel wing seal gap. Pumping fins (102) may be disposed on the upper angel wing seal aft end in the upper angel wing seal gap.« less

Static Aeroelastic Predictions for a Transonic Transport Model Using an Unstructured-Grid Flow Solver Coupled With a Structural Plate Technique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allison, Dennis O.; Cavallo, Peter A.

2003-01-01

An equivalent-plate structural deformation technique was coupled with a steady-state unstructured-grid three-dimensional Euler flow solver and a two-dimensional strip interactive boundary-layer technique. The objective of the research was to assess the extent to which a simple accounting for static model deformations could improve correlations with measured wing pressure distributions and lift coefficients at transonic speeds. Results were computed and compared to test data for a wing-fuselage model of a generic low-wing transonic transport at a transonic cruise condition over a range of Reynolds numbers and dynamic pressures. The deformations significantly improved correlations with measured wing pressure distributions and lift coefficients. This method provided a means of quantifying the role of dynamic pressure in wind-tunnel studies of Reynolds number effects for transonic transport models.

Exhaust Plume Effects on Sonic Boom for a Delta Wing and a Swept Wing-Body Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Castner, Raymond; Lake, Troy

2012-01-01

Supersonic travel is not allowed over populated areas due to the disturbance caused by the sonic boom. Research has been performed on sonic boom reduction and has included the contribution of the exhaust nozzle plume. Plume effect on sonic boom has progressed from the study of isolated nozzles to a study with four exhaust plumes integrated with a wing-body vehicle. This report provides a baseline analysis of the generic wing-body vehicle to demonstrate the effect of the nozzle exhaust on the near-field pressure profile. Reductions occurred in the peak-to-peak magnitude of the pressure profile for a swept wing-body vehicle. The exhaust plumes also had a favorable effect as the nozzles were moved outward along the wing-span.

Computation of three-dimensional compressible boundary layers to fourth-order accuracy on wings and fuselages

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Iyer, Venkit

1990-01-01

A solution method, fourth-order accurate in the body-normal direction and second-order accurate in the stream surface directions, to solve the compressible 3-D boundary layer equations is presented. The transformation used, the discretization details, and the solution procedure are described. Ten validation cases of varying complexity are presented and results of calculation given. The results range from subsonic flow to supersonic flow and involve 2-D or 3-D geometries. Applications to laminar flow past wing and fuselage-type bodies are discussed. An interface procedure is used to solve the surface Euler equations with the inviscid flow pressure field as the input to assure accurate boundary conditions at the boundary layer edge. Complete details of the computer program used and information necessary to run each of the test cases are given in the Appendix.

Lift augmentation on a delta wing via leading edge fences and the Gurney flap. M.S. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buchholz, Mark D.

1992-01-01

Wind tunnel tests were conducted on two devices for the purpose of lift augmentation on a 60 deg delta wing at low speed. Lift, drag, pitching moment, and surface pressures were measured. Detailed flow visualization was also obtained. Both the leading edge fence and the Gurney flap are shown to increase lift. The fences and flap shift the lift curve as much as 5 deg and 10 deg, respectively. The fences aid in trapping vortices on the upper surface, thereby increasing suction. The Gurney flap improves circulation at the trailing edge. The individual influences of both devices are roughly additive, creating high lift gain. However, the lower lift to drag ratio and the precipitation of vortex burst caused by the fences, and the nose down pitching moment created by the flap are also significant factors.

Experimental Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Joined-wing Research Aircraft Configuration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Stephen C.; Stonum, Ronald K.

1989-01-01

A wind-tunnel test was conducted at Ames Research Center to measure the aerodynamic characteristics of a joined-wing research aircraft (JWRA). This aircraft was designed to utilize the fuselage and engines of the existing NASA AD-1 aircraft. The JWRA was designed to have removable outer wing panels to represent three different configurations with the interwing joint at different fractions of the wing span. A one-sixth-scale wind-tunnel model of all three configurations of the JWRA was tested in the Ames 12-Foot Pressure Wind Tunnel to measure aerodynamic performance, stability, and control characteristics. The results of these tests are presented. Longitudinal and lateral-directional characteristics were measured over an angle of attack range of -7 to 14 deg and over an angle of sideslip range of -5 to +2.5 deg at a Mach number of 0.35 and a Reynolds number of 2.2x10(6)/ft. Various combinations of deflected control surfaces were tested to measure the effectiveness and impact on stability of several control surface arrangements. In addition, the effects on stall and post-stall aerodynamic characteristics from small leading-edge devices called vortilons were measured. The results of these tests indicate that the JWRA had very good aerodynamic performance and acceptable stability and control throughout its flight envelope. The vortilons produced a profound improvement in the stall and post-stall characteristics with no measurable effects on cruise performance.

A design approach and selected wind tunnel results at high subsonic speeds for wing-tip mounted winglets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Whitcomb, R. T.

1976-01-01

Winglets, which are small, nearly vertical, winglike surfaces, substantially reduce drag coefficients at lifting conditions. The primary winglet surfaces are rearward above the wing tips; secondary surfaces are forward below the wing tips. This report presents a discussion of the considerations involved in the design of the winglets; measured effects of these surfaces on the aerodynamic forces, moments, and loads for a representative first generation, narrow body jet transport wing; and a comparison of these effects with those for a wing tip extension which results in approximately the same increase in bending moment at the wing-fuselage juncture as did the addition of the winglets.

Pressure and force data for a flat wing and a warped conical wing having a shockless recompression at Mach 1.62

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, D. S.; Landrum, E. J.; Townsend, J. C.; Mason, W. H.

1981-01-01

A conical nonlinear flow computer code was used to design a warped (cambered) wing which would produce a supercritical expansion and shockless recompression of the crossflow at a lift coefficient of 0.457, an angle of attack of 10 deg, and a Mach number of 1.62. This cambered wing and a flat wing the same thickness distribution were tested over a range of Mach numbers from 1.6 to 2.0. For both models the forward 60 percent is purely conical geometry. Results obtained with the cambered wing demonstrated the design features of a supercritical expansion and a shockless recompression, whereas results obtained with the flat wing indicated the presence of crossflow shocks. Tables of experimental pressure, force, and moment data are included, as well as selected oil flow photographs.

The design of supercritical wings by the use of three-dimensional transonic theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mann, M. J.

1979-01-01

A procedure was developed for the design of transonic wings by the iterative use of three dimensional, inviscid, transonic analysis methods. The procedure was based on simple principles of supersonic flow and provided the designer with a set of guidelines for the systematic alteration of wing profile shapes to achieve some desired pressure distribution. The method was generally applicable to wing design at conditions involving a large region of supercriterical flow. To illustrate the method, it was applied to the design of a wing for a supercritical maneuvering fighter that operates at high lift and transonic Mach number. The wing profiles were altered to produce a large region of supercritical flow which was terminated by a weak shock wave. The spanwise variation of drag of this wing and some principles for selecting the streamwise pressure distribution are also discussed.

Development and application of an optimization procedure for flutter suppression using the aerodynamic energy concept

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nissim, E.; Abel, I.

1978-01-01

An optimization procedure is developed based on the responses of a system to continuous gust inputs. The procedure uses control law transfer functions which have been partially determined by using the relaxed aerodynamic energy approach. The optimization procedure yields a flutter suppression system which minimizes control surface activity in a gust environment. The procedure is applied to wing flutter of a drone aircraft to demonstrate a 44 percent increase in the basic wing flutter dynamic pressure. It is shown that a trailing edge control system suppresses the flutter instability over a wide range of subsonic mach numbers and flight altitudes. Results of this study confirm the effectiveness of the relaxed energy approach.

Imaging and Laser Spectroscopy Investigation of Insect Wings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shiver, Tegan; Lawhead, Carlos; Anderson, Josiah; Cooper, Nathan; Ujj, Laszlo; Pall Life Sciences Collaboration

2014-03-01

Measuring the surface morphology and chemical composition of insect wings is important to understand the extreme mechanical properties and the biophysical functionalities of the wings. We have measured the image of the membrane of the cicada (genus Tibicen) wing with the help of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results confirm the existing periodic structure of the wing measured previously. The SEM imaging can be used to measure the surface morphology of any insect species wings. The physical surface structure of the cicada wing is an example of a new class of biomaterials that can kill bacteria on contact. In order to identify the chemical composition of the wing, we have measured the vibrational spectra of the wing's membrane (Raman and CARS). The measured spectra are consistent with the original assumption that the wing membrane is composed of protein, wax, and chitin. The results of these studies can be used to make artificial materials in the future.

Application of pneumatic lift and control surface technology to advanced transport aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Englar, Robert J.

1996-01-01

The application of pneumatic (blown) aerodynamic technology to both the lifting and the control surfaces of advanced transport aircraft can provide revolutionary changes in the performance and operation of these vehicles, ranging in speed regime from Advanced Subsonic Transports to the High Speed Civil Transport, and beyond. This technology, much of it based on the Circulation Control Wing blown concepts, can provide aerodynamic force augmentations of 80 to 100 (i.e., return of 80-100 pounds of force per pound of input momentum from the blowing jet). This can be achieved without use of external mechanical surfaces. Clever application of this technology can provide no-moving-part lifting surfaces (wings/tails) integrated into the control system to greatly simplify aircraft designs while improving their aerodynamic performance. Lift/drag ratio may be pneumatically tailored to fit the current phase of the flight, and takeoff/landing performance can be greatly improved by reducing ground roll distances and liftoff/touchdown speeds. Alternatively, great increases in liftoff weights and payloads are possible, as are great reductions in wing and tail planform size, resulting in optimized cruise wing designs. Furthermore, lift generation independent of angle of attack provides much promise for increased safety of flight in the severe updrafts/downdrafts of microbursts and windshears, which is further augmented by the ability to sustain flight at greatly reduced airspeeds. Load-tailored blown wings can also reduce tip vorticity during highlift operations and the resulting vortex wake hazards near terminal areas. Reduced noise may also be possible as these jets can be made to operate at low pressures. The planned presentation will support the above statements through discussions of recent experimental and numerical (CFD) research and development of these advanced blown aerodynamic surfaces, portions of which have been conducted for NASA. Also to be presented will be predicted performance of advanced transports resulting from these devices. Suggestions will be presented for additional innovative high-payoff research leading to further confirmation of these concepts and their application to advanced efficient commercial transport aircraft.

Overview of the DARPA/AFRL/NASA Smart Wing Phase II program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kudva, Jayanth N.; Sanders, Brian P.; Pinkerton-Florance, Jennifer L.; Garcia, Ephrahim

2001-06-01

The DARPA/AFRL/NASA Smart Wing program, conducted by a team led by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) under the DARPA Smart Materials and Structures initiative, addresses the development of smart technologies and demonstration of relevant concepts to improve the aerodynamic performance of military aircraft. This paper presents an overview of the smart wing program. The program is divided into two phases. Under Phase 1, (1995 - 1999) the NGC team developed adaptive wing structures with integrated actuation mechanisms to replace standard hinged control surfaces and provide variable, optimal aerodynamic shapes for a variety of flight regimes. Two half-span 16% scale wind tunnel models, representative of an advanced military aircraft wing, one with conventional control surfaces and the other with shape memory alloy (SMA) actuated smart control surfaces, were fabricated and tested in the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT) wind tunnel during two series of tests, conducted in May 1996 and June 1998, respectively. Details of the Phase 1 effort are documented in several papers. The on-going Phase 2 effort discussed here was started in January 1997 and includes several significant improvements over Phase 1: 1) a much larger, full-span model; 2) both leading edge (LE) and trailing edge (TE) smart control surfaces; 3) high-band width actuation systems; and 4) wind tunnel tests at transonic Mach numbers and high dynamic pressures (up to 300 psf.) representative of operational flight regimes. Phase 2 includes two wind tunnel tests, both at the NASA LaRC TDT - the first one was completed in March 2000 and the second (and final) test is scheduled for April 2001. The first test-demonstrated roll-effectiveness over a wide range of Mach numbers achieved using a combination of hingeless, smoothly contoured, SMA actuated, LE and TE control surfaces. The second test addresses the development and demonstration of high bandwidth actuation. An overview of the Phase 2 effort is presented here; detailed discussions of the wind tunnel testing, model design and fabrication, and actuation system development are given in companion papers.

Sea surface cooling in the Northern South China Sea observed using Chinese sea-wing underwater glider measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiu, Chunhua; Mao, Huabin; Yu, Jiancheng; Xie, Qiang; Wu, Jiaxue; Lian, Shumin; Liu, Qinyan

2015-11-01

Based on 26 days of Chinese Sea-wing underwater glider measurements and satellite microwave data, we documented cooling of the upper mixed layer of the ocean in response to changes in the wind in the Northern South China Sea (NSCS) from September 19, 2014, to October 15, 2014. The Sea-wing underwater glider measured 177 profiles of temperature, salinity, and pressure within a 55 km×55 km area, and reached a depth of 1000 m at a temporal resolution of ∼4 h. The study area experienced two cooling events, Cooling I and Cooling II, according to their timing. During Cooling I, water temperature at 1-m depth (T1) decreased by ∼1.0 °C, and the corresponding satellite-derived surface winds increased locally by 4.2 m/s. During Cooling II, T1 decreased sharply by 1.7 °C within a period of 4 days; sea surface winds increased by 7 m/s and covered the entire NSCS. The corresponding mixed layer depth (MLD) deepened sharply from 30 m to 60 m during Cooling II, and remained steady during Cooling I. We estimated temperature tendencies using a ML model. High resolution Sea-wing underwater glider measurements provided an estimation of MLD migration, allowing us to obtain the temporal entrainment rate of cool sub-thermocline water. Quantitative analysis confirmed that the entrainment rate and latent heat flux were the two major components that regulated cooling of the ML, and that the Ekman advection and sensible heat flux were small.

Owl-inspired leading-edge serrations play a crucial role in aerodynamic force production and sound suppression.

PubMed

Rao, Chen; Ikeda, Teruaki; Nakata, Toshiyuki; Liu, Hao

2017-07-04

Owls are widely known for silent flight, achieving remarkably low noise gliding and flapping flights owing to their unique wing morphologies, which are normally characterized by leading-edge serrations, trailing-edge fringes and velvet-like surfaces. How these morphological features affect aerodynamic force production and sound suppression or noise reduction, however, is still not well known. Here we address an integrated study of owl-inspired single feather wing models with and without leading-edge serrations by combining large-eddy simulations (LES) with particle-image velocimetry (PIV) and force measurements in a low-speed wind tunnel. With velocity and pressure spectra analysis, we demonstrate that leading-edge serrations can passively control the laminar-turbulent transition over the upper wing surface, i.e. the suction surface at all angles of attack (0°  <  AoA  <  20°), and hence play a crucial role in aerodynamic force and sound production. We find that there exists a tradeoff between force production and sound suppression: serrated leading-edges reduce aerodynamic performance at lower AoAs  <  15° compared to clean leading-edges but are capable of achieving both noise reduction and aerodynamic performance at higher AoAs  >  15° where owl wings often reach in flight. Our results indicate that the owl-inspired leading-edge serrations may be a useful device for aero-acoustic control in biomimetic rotor designs for wind turbines, aircrafts, multi-rotor drones as well as other fluid machinery.

Design of a hydraulically-driven bionic folding wing.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhijun; Sun, Xuwei; Du, Pengyu; Sun, Jiyu; Wu, Yongfeng

2018-06-01

Membranous hind wings of the beetles can be folded under the elytra when they are at rest, and rotate and lift the elytra up only when they need to fly. This characteristic provides excellent flying capability and good environment adaptability. Inspired by the beetles, the new type of the bionic folding wing for the flapping wing Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) was designed. This flapping wing can be unfolded to get a sufficient lift in flight, and can be folded off flight to reduce the wing area and risk of the wing damage. The relationship between the internal pressures of the hydraulic system for the bionic wing folding varies and temperature was analyzed, the results show that the pressure within the system tends to increase with temperature, which proves the feasibility of the schematic design in theory. Stress analysis of the bionic wing was conducted, it was shown that stress distributions and deformation of the bionic wing under the positive and negative side loading are basically the same, which demonstrates that the strength of the bionic folding wing meets the requirements and further proves the feasibility of the schematic design. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

The effects of winglets on low aspect ratio wings at supersonic Mach numbers. M.S. Thesis Report Feb. 1989 - Apr. 1991

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Keenan, James A.; Kuhlman, John M.

1991-01-01

A computational study was conducted on two wings, of aspect ratios 1.244 and 1.865, each having 65 degree leading edge sweep angles, to determine the effects of nonplanar winglets at supersonic Mach numbers. A Mach number of 1.62 was selected as the design value. The winglets studied were parametrically varied in alignment, length, sweep, camber, thickness, and dihedral angle to determine which geometry had the best predicted performance. For the computational analysis, an available Euler marching technique was used. The results indicated that the possibility existed for wing-winglet geometries to equal the performance of wing-alone bodies in supersonic flows with both bodies having the same semispan. The first wing with winglet used NACA 1402 airfoils for the base wing and was shown to have lift-to-pressure drag ratios within 0.136 percent to 0.360 percent of the NACA 1402 wing-alone. The other base wing was a natural flow wing which was previously designed specifically for a Mach number of 1.62. The results obtained showed that the natural wing-alone had a slightly higher lift-to-pressure drag than the natural wing with winglets.

LANN wing design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Firth, G. C.

1983-01-01

The LANN wing is the result of a joint effort between Lockheed, the Air Force, NASA, and the Netherlands to measure unsteady pressures at transonic speeds. It is a moderate-aspect-ratio transport wing configuration. The wing was machined from NITRONIC 40 and has 12 percent thick supercritical airfoil sections.

An Experimental Study of a Sting-Mounted Circulation Control Wing

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-12-01

atmospheric pressure was read from a Henry J. Green ML-330/FM mercury barometer and the desired tunnel q was determined from: q.)= 1/2 RTatms (21) F atmos C2...attachment to the Coanda surface. With the model mounted on a bench outside the tunnel, a fixture was attached to the model so that a pitot tube could be...mounted immediately aft of the blowing slot to measure jet total pressure at any point along the trailing edge. The pitot tube was connected to a 50 inch

Natural bactericidal surfaces: mechanical rupture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells by cicada wings.

PubMed

Ivanova, Elena P; Hasan, Jafar; Webb, Hayden K; Truong, Vi Khanh; Watson, Gregory S; Watson, Jolanta A; Baulin, Vladimir A; Pogodin, Sergey; Wang, James Y; Tobin, Mark J; Löbbe, Christian; Crawford, Russell J

2012-08-20

Natural superhydrophobic surfaces are often thought to have antibiofouling potential due to their self-cleaning properties. However, when incubated on cicada wings, Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells are not repelled; instead they are penetrated by the nanopillar arrays present on the wing surface, resulting in bacterial cell death. Cicada wings are effective antibacterial, as opposed to antibiofouling, surfaces. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Insect Wing Membrane Topography Is Determined by the Dorsal Wing Epithelium

PubMed Central

Belalcazar, Andrea D.; Doyle, Kristy; Hogan, Justin; Neff, David; Collier, Simon

2013-01-01

The Drosophila wing consists of a transparent wing membrane supported by a network of wing veins. Previously, we have shown that the wing membrane cuticle is not flat but is organized into ridges that are the equivalent of one wing epithelial cell in width and multiple cells in length. These cuticle ridges have an anteroposterior orientation in the anterior wing and a proximodistal orientation in the posterior wing. The precise topography of the wing membrane is remarkable because it is a fusion of two independent cuticle contributions from the dorsal and ventral wing epithelia. Here, through morphological and genetic studies, we show that it is the dorsal wing epithelium that determines wing membrane topography. Specifically, we find that wing hair location and membrane topography are coordinated on the dorsal, but not ventral, surface of the wing. In addition, we find that altering Frizzled Planar Cell Polarity (i.e., Fz PCP) signaling in the dorsal wing epithelium alone changes the membrane topography of both dorsal and ventral wing surfaces. We also examined the wing morphology of two model Hymenopterans, the honeybee Apis mellifera and the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis. In both cases, wing hair location and wing membrane topography are coordinated on the dorsal, but not ventral, wing surface, suggesting that the dorsal wing epithelium also controls wing topography in these species. Because phylogenomic studies have identified the Hymenotera as basal within the Endopterygota family tree, these findings suggest that this is a primitive insect character. PMID:23316434

Measuring Global Surface Pressures on a Circulation Control Concept Using Pressure Sensitive Paint

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Watkins, Anthony N.; Lipford, William E.; Leighty, Bradley D.; Goodman, Kyle Z.; Goad, William K.

2012-01-01

This report will present the results obtained from the Pressure Sensitive Paint (PSP) technique on a circulation control concept model. This test was conducted at the National Transonic Facility (NTF) at the NASA Langley Research Center. PSP was collected on the upper wing surface while the facility was operating in cryogenic mode at 227 K (-50 oF). The test envelope for the PSP portion included Mach numbers from 0.7 to 0.8 with angle of attack varying between 0 and 8 degrees and a total pressure of approximately 168 kPa (24.4 psi), resulting in a chord Reynolds number of approximately 15 million. While the PSP results did exhibit high levels of noise in certain conditions (where the oxygen content of the flow was very small), some conditions provided good correlation between the PSP and pressure taps, showing the ability of the PSP technique. This work also served as a risk reduction opportunity for future testing in cryogenic conditions at the NTF.

An experimental investigation of an advanced turboprop installation on a swept wing at subsonic and transonic speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carlson, John R.; Pendergraft, Odis C., Jr.

1987-01-01

An investigation was conducted in the Langley 16-Foot Transonic Tunnel to determine the effects of a turboprop-nacelle installation on the pressure distributions over a swept, supercritical wing. The tests were conducted at Mach numbers from 0.20 to 0.80, at angles of attack from 0 to 5 degrees, nacelle nozzle pressure ratios from 1.0 to 1.6, and at propeller tip speeds from 700 to 800 ft/sec. The results of this study indicate that the turboprop nacelle interference, with and without power, on a swept wing is greater on the inboard wing panel than on the outboard wing panel. The over-the-wing nacelle installation with the propeller upwash on the inboard panel had flow separation problems at a Mach number of 0.80. No severe flow separation problems appear to exist for either propeller rotation direction for the under-the-wing nacelle installation. The local flow disturbances caused by the under-the-wing nacelle installation were in general less severe than for the over-the-wing nacelle installation.

Investigation in the Langley 19-foot Pressure Tunnel of Two Wings of NACA 65-210 and 64-210 Airfoil Sections with Various Type Flaps

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sivells, James C; Spooner, Stanley H

1949-01-01

Report presents the results of an investigation conducted in the Langley 19-foot pressure tunnel to determine the maximum lift and stalling characteristics of two thin wings equipped with several types of flaps. Split, single slotted, and double slotted flaps were tested on one wing which had NACA 65-210 airfoil sections and split and double slotted flaps were tested on the other, which had NACA 64-210 airfoil sections. Both wings were zero sweep, an aspect ratio of 9, and a taper ratio of 0.4.

Rolling moments in a trailing vortex flow field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcmillan, O. J.; Schwind, R. G.; Nielsen, J. N.; Dillenius, M. F. E.

1977-01-01

Pressure distributions are presented which were measured on a wing in close proximity to a tip vortex of known structure generated by a larger, upstream semispan wing. Overall loads calculated by integration of these pressures are checked by independent measurements made with an identical model mounted on a force balance. Several conventional methods of wing analysis are used to predict the loads on the following wing. Strip theory is shown to give uniformly poor results for loading distribution, although predictions of overall lift and rolling moment are sometimes acceptable. Good results are obtained for overall coefficients and loading distribution by using linearized pressures in vortex-lattice theory in conjunction with a rectilinear vortex. The equivalent relation from reverse-flow theory that can be used to give economic predictions for overall loads is presented.

Experimental and Theoretical Study of a Rectangular Wing in a Vortical Wake at Low Speed

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Willard G.; Lazzeroni, Frank A.

1960-01-01

A systematic study has been made, experimentally and theoretically, of the effects of a vortical wake on the aerodynamic characteristics of a rectangular wing at subsonic speed. The vortex generator and wing were mounted on a reflection plane to avoid body-wing interference. Vortex position, relative to the wing, was varied both in the spanwise direction and normal to the wing. Angle of attack of the wing was varied from -40 to +60. Both chordwise and spanwise pressure distributions were obtained with the wing in uniform and vortical flow fields. Stream surveys were made to determine the flow characteristics in the vortical wake. The vortex-induced lift was calculated by several theoretical methods including strip theory, reverse-flow theory, and reverse-flow theory including a finite vortex core. In addition, the Prandtl lifting-line theory and the Weissinger theory were used to calculate the spanwise distribution of vortex-induced loads. With reverse-flow theory, predictions of the interference lift were generally good, and with Weissinger's theory the agreement between the theoretical spanwise variation of induced load and the experimental variation was good. Results of the stream survey show that the vortex generated by a lifting surface of rectangular plan form tends to trail back streamwise from the tip and does not approach the theoretical location, or centroid of circulation, given by theory. This discrepancy introduced errors in the prediction of vortex interference, especially when the vortex core passed immediately outboard of the wing tip. The wake produced by the vortex generator in these tests was not fully rolled up into a circular vortex, and so lacked symmetry in the vertical direction of the transverse plane. It was found that the direction of circulation affected the induced loads on the wing either when the wing was at angle of attack or when the vortex was some distance away from the plane of the wing.

Normalized lift: an energy interpretation of the lift coefficient simplifies comparisons of the lifting ability of rotating and flapping surfaces.

PubMed

Burgers, Phillip; Alexander, David E

2012-01-01

For a century, researchers have used the standard lift coefficient C(L) to evaluate the lift, L, generated by fixed wings over an area S against dynamic pressure, ½ρv(2), where v is the effective velocity of the wing. Because the lift coefficient was developed initially for fixed wings in steady flow, its application to other lifting systems requires either simplifying assumptions or complex adjustments as is the case for flapping wings and rotating cylinders.This paper interprets the standard lift coefficient of a fixed wing slightly differently, as the work exerted by the wing on the surrounding flow field (L/ρ·S), compared against the total kinetic energy required for generating said lift, ½v(2). This reinterpreted coefficient, the normalized lift, is derived from the work-energy theorem and compares the lifting capabilities of dissimilar lift systems on a similar energy footing. The normalized lift is the same as the standard lift coefficient for fixed wings, but differs for wings with more complex motions; it also accounts for such complex motions explicitly and without complex modifications or adjustments. We compare the normalized lift with the previously-reported values of lift coefficient for a rotating cylinder in Magnus effect, a bat during hovering and forward flight, and a hovering dipteran.The maximum standard lift coefficient for a fixed wing without flaps in steady flow is around 1.5, yet for a rotating cylinder it may exceed 9.0, a value that implies that a rotating cylinder generates nearly 6 times the maximum lift of a wing. The maximum normalized lift for a rotating cylinder is 1.5. We suggest that the normalized lift can be used to evaluate propellers, rotors, flapping wings of animals and micro air vehicles, and underwater thrust-generating fins in the same way the lift coefficient is currently used to evaluate fixed wings.

Normalized Lift: An Energy Interpretation of the Lift Coefficient Simplifies Comparisons of the Lifting Ability of Rotating and Flapping Surfaces

PubMed Central

Burgers, Phillip; Alexander, David E.

2012-01-01

For a century, researchers have used the standard lift coefficient CL to evaluate the lift, L, generated by fixed wings over an area S against dynamic pressure, ½ρv 2, where v is the effective velocity of the wing. Because the lift coefficient was developed initially for fixed wings in steady flow, its application to other lifting systems requires either simplifying assumptions or complex adjustments as is the case for flapping wings and rotating cylinders. This paper interprets the standard lift coefficient of a fixed wing slightly differently, as the work exerted by the wing on the surrounding flow field (L/ρ·S), compared against the total kinetic energy required for generating said lift, ½v2. This reinterpreted coefficient, the normalized lift, is derived from the work-energy theorem and compares the lifting capabilities of dissimilar lift systems on a similar energy footing. The normalized lift is the same as the standard lift coefficient for fixed wings, but differs for wings with more complex motions; it also accounts for such complex motions explicitly and without complex modifications or adjustments. We compare the normalized lift with the previously-reported values of lift coefficient for a rotating cylinder in Magnus effect, a bat during hovering and forward flight, and a hovering dipteran. The maximum standard lift coefficient for a fixed wing without flaps in steady flow is around 1.5, yet for a rotating cylinder it may exceed 9.0, a value that implies that a rotating cylinder generates nearly 6 times the maximum lift of a wing. The maximum normalized lift for a rotating cylinder is 1.5. We suggest that the normalized lift can be used to evaluate propellers, rotors, flapping wings of animals and micro air vehicles, and underwater thrust-generating fins in the same way the lift coefficient is currently used to evaluate fixed wings. PMID:22629326

Flight Investigation at High Mach Numbers of Several Methods of Measuring Static Pressure on an Airplane Wing

DTIC Science & Technology

1944-11-01

SS SUBJECT HEADIN6S: Pressure distribution - Flow research - Methods (40950) Wings (74500); DMiion, Intolilfjonco Air Kkrtcricl Command AIQ TECHNICAL INDGK Wrl0ht- Patto *son Air Forco ( Dayton, Ohio ///¥

Multidisciplinary design optimization for sonic boom mitigation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ozcer, Isik A.

Automated, parallelized, time-efficient surface definition and grid generation and flow simulation methods are developed for sharp and accurate sonic boom signal computation in three dimensions in the near and mid-field of an aircraft using Euler/Full-Potential unstructured/structured computational fluid dynamics. The full-potential mid-field sonic boom prediction code is an accurate and efficient solver featuring automated grid generation, grid adaptation and shock fitting, and parallel processing. This program quickly marches the solution using a single nonlinear equation for large distances that cannot be covered with Euler solvers due to large memory and long computational time requirements. The solver takes into account variations in temperature and pressure with altitude. The far-field signal prediction is handled using the classical linear Thomas Waveform Parameter Method where the switching altitude from the nonlinear to linear prediction is determined by convergence of the ground signal pressure impulse value. This altitude is determined as r/L ≈ 10 from the source for a simple lifting wing, and r/L ≈ 40 for a real complex aircraft. Unstructured grid adaptation and shock fitting methodology developed for the near-field analysis employs an Hessian based anisotropic grid adaptation based on error equidistribution. A special field scalar is formulated to be used in the computation of the Hessian based error metric which enhances significantly the adaptation scheme for shocks. The entire cross-flow of a complex aircraft is resolved with high fidelity using only 500,000 grid nodes after only about 10 solution/adaptation cycles. Shock fitting is accomplished using Roe's Flux-Difference Splitting scheme which is an approximate Riemann type solver and by proper alignment of the cell faces with respect to shock surfaces. Simple to complex real aircraft geometries are handled with no user-interference required making the simulation methods suitable tools for product design. The simulation tools are used to optimize three geometries for sonic boom mitigation. The first is a simple axisymmetric shape to be used as a generic nose component, the second is a delta wing with lift, and the third is a real aircraft with nose and wing optimization. The objectives are to minimize the pressure impulse or the peak pressure in the sonic boom signal, while keeping the drag penalty under feasible limits. The design parameters for the meridian profile of the nose shape are the lengths and the half-cone angles of the linear segments that make up the profile. The design parameters for the lifting wing are the dihedral angle, angle of attack, non-linear span-wise twist and camber distribution. The test-bed aircraft is the modified F-5E aircraft built by Northrop Grumman, designated the Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstrator. This aircraft is fitted with an optimized axisymmetric nose, and the wings are optimized to demonstrate optimization for sonic boom mitigation for a real aircraft. The final results predict 42% reduction in bow shock strength, 17% reduction in peak Deltap, 22% reduction in pressure impulse, 10% reduction in foot print size, 24% reduction in inviscid drag, and no loss in lift for the optimized aircraft. Optimization is carried out using response surface methodology, and the design matrices are determined using standard DoE techniques for quadratic response modeling.

Investigation of Surface Enhanced Coherent Raman Scattering on Nano-patterned Insect Wings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ujj, Laszlo; Lawhead, Carlos

2015-03-01

Many insect wings (cicadas, butterflies, mosquitos) poses nano-patterned surface structure. Characterization of surface morphology and chemical composition of insect wings is important to understand the extreme mechanical properties and the biophysical functionalities of the wings. We have measured the image of the membrane of a cicada's wing with the help of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results confirm the existing periodic structure of the wing measured previously. In order to identify the chemical composition of the wing, we have deposited silver nanoparticles on it and applied Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy to measure the vibrational spectra of the molecules comprising the wing for the first time. The measured spectra are consistent with the original assumption that the wing membrane is composed of protein, wax, and chitin. The results of these studies can be used to measure other nano-patterned surfaces and to make artificial materials in the future. Authors grateful for financial support from the Department of Physics of the College of Sciences Engineering and Health of UWF and the Pall Corporation for SEM imaging.

Aerodynamic characteristics of a distinct wing-body configuration at Mach 6: Experiment, theory, and the hypersonic isolation principle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Penland, J. A.; Pittman, J. L.

1985-01-01

An experimental investigation has been conducted to determine the effect of wing leading edge sweep and wing translation on the aerodynamic characteristics of a wing body configuration at a free stream Mach number of about 6 and Reynolds number (based on body length) of 17.9 x 10 to the 6th power. Seven wings with leading edge sweep angles from -20 deg to 60 deg were tested on a common body over an angle of attack range from -12 deg to 10 deg. All wings had a common span, aspect ratio, taper ratio, planform area, and thickness ratio. Wings were translated longitudinally on the body to make tests possible with the total and exposed mean aerodynamic chords located at a fixed body station. Aerodynamic forces were found to be independent of wing sweep and translation, and pitching moments were constant when the exposed wing mean aerodynamic chord was located at a fixed body station. Thus, the Hypersonic Isolation Principle was verified. Theory applied with tangent wedge pressures on the wing and tangent cone pressures on the body provided excellent predictions of aerodynamic force coefficients but poor estimates of moment coefficients.

Estimating on-orbit optical properties for GNSS satellites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodriguez Solano, M. Sc. Carlos Javier; Hugentobler, Urs; Steigenberger, Peter

One of the major uncertainty sources affecting GNSS satellite orbits is the direct solar radiation pressure. Other important though smaller effects are caused by deviations of the satellite from nominal attitude, Earth radiation pressure and thermal re-radiation forces. To compensate such effects, the IGS Analysis Centers usually estimate empirical parameters which fit best the tracking data obtained from a global network of GNSS ground stations to compute orbits at an accuracy level of 2.5 cm for GPS and of 5 cm for GLONASS. On the other hand, there are also accurate physical models for the above mentioned non-conservative forces affecting the GNSS satellites such as the ROCK models for GPS satellites. However, current models fail to predict the real orbit behaviour with sufficient accuracy, mainly due to deviations from nominal attitude, from inaccurately known optical properties, or from aging of the satellite surfaces. In this context an analytical box-wing model has been derived based on the physical interaction between the direct solar radiation and a satellite consisting of a bus (box shape) and solar panels. Furthermore some of the parameters of the box-wing model can be adjusted to fit the GNSS tracking data, namely the fraction of reflected photons of the corresponding satellite surfaces. For this study GNSS orbits are generated based on one year of tracking data from the global IGS network and involving the box-wing model implemented into the Bernese GPS Software. The processing scheme was derived from the one used at the Center for Orbit Determination in Europe (CODE). The resulting satellite orbits are compared with CODE Final Orbits and validated using SLR (Satellite Laser Ranging) tracking data. Additionally, in the case of GPS satellites, the box-wing model and the obtained optical properties are compared directly with a priori models (e.g. ROCK), which deal with the direct solar radiation impacting the satellites.

A preliminary design study of a laminar flow control wing of composite materials for long range transport aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swinford, G. R.

1976-01-01

The results of an aircraft wing design study are reported. The selected study airplane configuration is defined. The suction surface, ducting, and compressor systems are described. Techniques of manufacturing suction surfaces are identified and discussed. A wing box of graphite/epoxy composite is defined. Leading and trailing edge structures of composite construction are described. Control surfaces, engine installation, and landing gear are illustrated and discussed. The preliminary wing design is appraised from the standpoint of manufacturing, weight, operations, and durability. It is concluded that a practical laminar flow control (LFC) wing of composite material can be built, and that such a wing will be lighter than an equivalent metal wing. As a result, a program of suction surface evaluation and other studies of configuration, aerodynamics, structural design and manufacturing, and suction systems are recommended.

Active Dihedral Control System for a Torsionally Flexible Wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morgan, Walter R. (Inventor); Kendall, Greg T. (Inventor); Lisoski, Derek L. (Inventor); Griecci, John A. (Inventor)

2017-01-01

A span-loaded, highly flexible flying wing, having horizontal control surfaces mounted aft of the wing on extended beams to form local pitch-control devices. Each of five spanwise wing segments of the wing has one or more motors and photovoltaic arrays, and produces its own lift independent of the other wing segments, to minimize inter-segment loads. Wing dihedral is controlled by separately controlling the local pitch-control devices consisting of a control surface on a boom, such that inboard and outboard wing segment pitch changes relative to each other, and thus relative inboard and outboard lift is varied.

Active Dihedral Control System for a Torisionally Flexible Wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kendall, Greg T. (Inventor); Lisoski, Derek L. (Inventor); Morgan, Walter R. (Inventor); Griecci, John A. (Inventor)

2015-01-01

A span-loaded, highly flexible flying wing, having horizontal control surfaces mounted aft of the wing on extended beams to form local pitch-control devices. Each of five spanwise wing segments of the wing has one or more motors and photovoltaic arrays, and produces its own lift independent of the other wing segments, to minimize inter-segment loads. Wing dihedral is controlled by separately controlling the local pitch-control devices consisting of a control surface on a boom, such that inboard and outboard wing segment pitch changes relative to each other, and thus relative inboard and outboard lift is varied.

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.

Theoretical-Numerical Study of Feasibility of Use of Winglets on Low Aspect Ration Wings at Subsonic and Transonic Mach Numbers to Reduce Drag

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kuhlman, John M.; Liaw, Paul; Cerney, Michael J.

1988-01-01

A numerical design study was conducted to assess the drag reduction potential of winglets installed on a series of low aspect ratio wings at a design point of M=0.8, C sub L=0.3. Wing-winglet and wing-alone design geometries were obtained for wings of aspect ratios between 1.75 and 2.67, having leading edge sweep angles between 45 and 60 deg. Winglet length was fixed at 15% of wing semispan. To assess the relative performance between wing-winglet and wing-alone configurations, the PPW nonlinear extended small disturbance potential flow code was utilized. This model has proven to yield plausible transonic flow field simulations for the series of low aspect ratio configurations selected. Predicted decreases in pressure drag coefficient for the wing-winglet configurations relative to the corresponding wing-alone planform are about 15% at the design point. Predicted decreases in wing-winglet total drag coefficient are about 12%, relative to the corresponding wing-alone design. Longer winglets (25% of the wing semispan) yielded decreases in the pressure drag of up to 22% and total drag of up to 16.4%. These predicted drag coefficient reductions are comparable to reductions already demonstrated by actual winglet designs installed on higher aspect ratio transport type aircraft.

Flowfield survey over a 75 deg swept delta wing at an angle of attack of 20.5 deg

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kjelgaard, S. O.; Sellers, W. L., III; Weston, R. P.

1986-01-01

An experimental investigation of the flowfield over a 75 deg swept delta wing at an angle of attack of 20.5 deg has been conducted. The data include pitot pressure surveys and two types of flow visualization. Surface and flowfield visualization data were obtained at Reynolds number, Rn, ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 million in increments of 0.25 million. Detailed pitot pressure surveys were made at five longitudinal stations at Rn = 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 million in both the primary and secondary vortices. The results indicate that Reynolds number has only a minor effect on the global structure of the flowfield in the Reynolds number range that was investigated. The boundary layer transitions from laminar to turbulent at the trailing edge of the wing at Rn = 1.0 x 10 to the 6th, and the transition moves forward to x/L = 0.4 at Rn = 2.0 x 10 to the 6th. The positions of the primary vortex cores are insensitive to Reynolds number in this range; however, the lateral position of the secondary vortex core moves outboard aft of the region where the boundary layer transitions from laminar to turbulent.

Analytical study of a free-wing/free-trimmer concept. [for gust alleviation and high lift

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Porter, R. F.; Hall, D. W.; Brown, J. H., Jr.; Gregorek, G. M.

1978-01-01

The free-wing/free-trimmer is a NASA-Conceived extension of the free-wing concept intended to permit the use of high-lift flaps. Wing pitching moments are balanced by a smaller, external surface attached by a boom or equivalent structure. The external trimmer is, itself, a miniature free wing, and pitch control of the wing-trimmer assembly is effected through a trailing-edge control tab on the trimmer surface. The longitudinal behavior of representative small free-wing/free-trimmer aircraft was analyzed. Aft-mounted trimmer surfaces are found to be superior to forward trimmers, although the permissible trimmer moment arm is limited, in both cases, by adverse dynamic effects. Aft-trimmer configurations provide excellent gust alleviation and meet fundamental stick-fixed stability criteria while exceeding the lift capabilities of pure free-wing configurations.

Wind Tunnel Measured Effects on a Twin-Engine Short-Haul Transport Caused by Simulated Ice Accretions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reehorst, Andrew; Potapczuk, Mark; Ratvasky, Thomas; Laflin, Brenda Gile

1996-01-01

A series of wind tunnel tests were conducted to assess the effects of leading edge ice contamination upon the performance of a short-haul transport. The wind tunnel test was conducted in the NASA Langley 14 by 22 foot facility. The test article was a 1/8 scale twin-engine short-haul jet transport model. Two separate leading edge ice contamination configurations were tested in addition to the uncontaminated baseline configuration. Several aircraft configurations were examined including various flap and slat deflections, with and without landing gear. Data gathered included force measurements via an internal six-component force balance, pressure measurements through 700 electronically scanned wing pressure ports, and wing surface flow visualization measurements. The artificial ice contamination caused significant performance degradation and caused visible changes demonstrated by the flow visualization. The data presented here is just a portion of the data gathered. A more complete data report is planned for publication as a NASA Technical Memorandum and data supplement.

Aircraft control system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kendall, Greg T. (Inventor); Morgan, Walter R. (Inventor)

2010-01-01

A span-loaded, highly flexible flying wing, having horizontal control surfaces mounted aft of the wing on extended beams to form local pitch-control devices. Each of five spanwise wing segments of the wing has one or more motors and photovoltaic arrays, and produces its own lift independent of the other wing segments, to minimize inter-segment loads. Wing dihedral is controlled by separately controlling the local pitch-control devices consisting of a control surface on a boom, such that inboard and outboard wing segment pitch changes relative to each other, and thus relative inboard and outboard lift is varied.

High-Reynolds-Number Test of a 5-Percent-Thick Low-Aspect-Ratio Semispan Wing in the Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel: Wing Pressure Distributions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chu, Julio; Lawing, Pierce L.

1990-01-01

A high Reynolds number test of a 5 percent thick low aspect ratio semispan wing was conducted in the adaptive wall test section of the Langley 0.3 m Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel. The model tested had a planform and a NACA 64A-105 airfoil section that is similar to that of the pressure instrumented canard on the X-29 experimental aircraft. Chordwise pressure data for Mach numbers of 0.3, 0.7, and 0.9 were measured for an angle-of-attack range of -4 to 15 deg. The associated Reynolds numbers, based on the geometric mean chord, encompass most of the flight regime of the canard. This test was a free transition investigation. A summary of the wing pressures are presented without analysis as well as adapted test section top and bottom wall pressure signatures. However, the presented graphical data indicate Reynolds number dependent complex leading edge separation phenomena. This data set supplements the existing high Reynolds number database and are useful for computational codes comparison.

Basic Pressure Measurements at Transonic Speeds on a Thin 45 deg Sweptback Highly Tapered Wing with Systematic Spanwise Twist Variations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mugler, John P., Jr.

1958-01-01

Pressure distributions are presented for a thin highly tapered untwisted 45 deg sweptback wing in combination with a body. These tests were made in the Langley 8-foot transonic pressure tunnel at both 1.0 and 0.5 atmosphere stagnation pressures at Mach numbers from 0.800 to 1.200 through an angle-of-attack range of -4 deg to 12 deg.

Trimmed noncoplanar planforms with minimum vortex drag

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lamar, J. E.

1977-01-01

Vortex-lattice subsonic method determines mean camber surface for trimmed noncoplanar planforms with minimum vortex drag. Multiple surfaces can be designed together to yield trimmed configuration with minimum induced drag at some specified lift coefficient. Program is applicable to isolated wings, wing-canard configuration, tandem wing, and wing-winglet configuration.

Effect of Winglets on a First-Generation Jet Transport Wing. 2: Pressure and Spanwise Load Distributions for a Semispan Model at High Subsonic Speeds. [in the Langley 8 ft transonic tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Montoya, L. C.; Flechner, S. G.; Jacobs, P. F.

1977-01-01

Pressure and spanwise load distributions on a first-generation jet transport semispan model at high subsonic speeds are presented for the basic wing and for configurations with an upper winglet only, upper and lower winglets, and a simple wing-tip extension. Selected data are discussed to show the general trends and effects of the various configurations.

Adaptive wing static aeroelastic roll control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ehlers, Steven M.; Weisshaar, Terrence A.

1993-09-01

Control of the static aeroelastic characteristics of a swept uniform wing in roll using an adaptive structure is examined. The wing structure is modeled as a uniform beam with bending and torsional deformation freedom. Aerodynamic loads are obtained from strip theory. The structure model includes coefficients representing torsional and bending actuation provided by embedded piezoelectric material layers. The wing is made adaptive by requiring the electric field applied to the piezoelectric material layers to be proportional to the wing root loads. The proportionality factor, or feedback gain, is used to control static aeroelastic rolling properties. Example wing configurations are used to illustrate the capabilities of the adaptive structure. The results show that rolling power, damping-in-roll and aileron effectiveness can be controlled by adjusting the feedback gain. And that dynamic pressure affects the gain required. Gain scheduling can be used to set and maintain rolling properties over a range of dynamic pressures. An adaptive wing provides a method for active aeroelastic tailoring of structural response to meet changing structural performance requirements during a roll maneuver.

Shock tube investigation of dynamic response of pressure transducers for validation of rotor performance measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bershader, Daniel

1988-01-01

For some time now, NASA has had a program under way to aid in the validation of rotor performance and acoustics codes associated with the UH-60 rotary-wing aircraft; and to correlate results of such studies with those obtained from investigations of other selected aircraft rotor performance. A central feature of these studies concerns the dynamic measurement of surface pressure at various locations up to frequencies of 25 KHz. For this purpose, fast-response gauges of the Kulite type are employed. The latter need to be buried in the rotor; they record surface pressures which are transmitted by a pipette connected to the gauge. The other end of the pipette is cut flush with the surface. In certain locations, the pipette configuration includes a rather sharp right-angle bend. The natural question has arisen in this connection: In what way are the pipettes modifying the signals received at the rotor surface and subsequently transmitted to the sensitive Kulite transducer element. The basic details and results of the program performed and recently completed in the High Pressure Shock Tube Laboratory of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University are given.

Slender wing theory including regions of embedded total pressure loss

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mccune, James E.; Tavares, T. Sean; Lee, Norman K. W.; Weissbein, David

1988-01-01

An aerodynamic theory of the flow about slender delta wings is described. The theory includes a treatment of the self-consistent development of the vortex wake patterns above the wing necessary to maintain smooth flow at the wing edges. The paper focuses especially on the formation within the wake of vortex 'cores' as embedded regions of total pressure loss, fed and maintained by umbilical vortex sheets emanating from the wing edges. Criteria are developed for determining the growing size and location of these cores, as well as the distribution and strength of the vorticity within them. In this paper, however, the possibility of vortex breakup is omitted. The aerodynamic consequences of the presence and evolution of the cores and the associated wake structure are illustrated and discussed. It is noted that wake history effects can have substantial influence on the distribution of normal force on the wing as well as on its magnitude.

Pressure Distribution Over a Thick, Tapered and Twisted Monoplane Wing Model-NACA 81-J

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wenzinger, Carl J

1932-01-01

This reports presents the results of pressure distribution tests on a thick, tapered and twisted monoplane wing model. The investigation was conducted for the purpose of obtaining data on the aerodynamic characteristics of the new wing and to provide additional information suitable for use in the design of tapered cantilever wings. The tests included angles of attack up to 90 degrees. The span loading over the wing was approximately of elliptical shape, which gave rise to relatively small bending moments about the root. The angle of zero lift for all sections along the span varied only within plus or minus 0.4 degree of the angle of zero lift for the whole wing, resulting in small leading edge loads for the high-speed condition of flight. The results also add to the available information for the study of large angles of attack.

A Wind-Tunnel Investigation of a Transonic-Transport Configuration Utilizing Drag-Reducing Devices at Mach Numbers from 0.20 to 1.03

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Loving, Donald L.

1961-01-01

The static longitudinal stability and control and lateral characteristics of a transonic-transport model, incorporating recent drag-reducing devices, has been investigated in the Langley 8-foot transonic pressure tunnel. The wing was cambered, had a thickened root and a taper ratio of 0.3. Wing sweepback angles of 45 degrees and 40 degrees were investigated with corresponding aspect ratios of 7 and 8, respectively. Modifications to the model for reducing the drag were: a forward fuselage addition and special bodies (four big enough to house jet engines) added to the upper surface of the wing. Other components and changes investigated included an empennage, a wing-tip body, wing fences, wing trailing-edge flaps, horizontal-tail settings, and wing dihedral angle. The investigation covered the Mach number range from 0.20 to 1.03 for the angle-of-attack range from -5 degrees to 15.4 degrees, and a sideslip angle of -5 degrees, in the Reynolds number range from 0.52 times 10(exp 6) to 1.94 times 10(exp 6) based on the wing mean aerodynamic chord. The various fuselage and wing additions delayed the drag-rise Mach number and greatly reduced the drag beyond the drag rise. The wing bodies markedly alleviated unstable pitch tendencies throughout the test Mach number range. At low landing speeds, the wing bodies exhibited little interference with the ability of trailing-edge flaps to increase the lift near maximum lift coefficient; and the use of fences greatly reduced the severe longitudinal instability trend at landing attitudes. The model with a 6 degree dihedral angle exhibited positive lateral and directional stability characteristics in the presence of the fuselage and wing additions. An increase in drag-rise Mach number associated with the fuselage and wing additions on the 40 degree sweptback wing combination was similar to that for the comparable 45 degree combination. These additions did, however, reduce the drag of the 40 degree sweptback configurations more than the 45 degree configurations in the transonic speed range.

Geometry program for aerodynamic lifting surface theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Medan, R. T.

1973-01-01

A computer program that provides the geometry and boundary conditions appropriate for an analysis of a lifting, thin wing with control surfaces in linearized, subsonic, steady flow is presented. The kernel function method lifting surface theory is applied. The data which is generated by the program is stored on disk files or tapes for later use by programs which calculate an influence matrix, plot the wing planform, and evaluate the loads on the wing. In addition to processing data for subsequent use in a lifting surface analysis, the program is useful for computing area and mean geometric chords of the wing and control surfaces.

Effect of Ice Shape Fidelity on Swept-Wing Aerodynamic Performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Camello, Stephanie C.; Bragg, Michael B.; Broeren, Andy P.; Lum, Christopher W.; Woodard, Brian S.; Lee, Sam

2017-01-01

Low-Reynolds number testing was conducted at the 7 ft. x 10 ft. Walter H. Beech Memorial Wind Tunnel at Wichita State University to study the aerodynamic effects of ice shapes on a swept wing. A total of 17 ice shape configurations of varying geometric detail were tested. Simplified versions of an ice shape may help improve current ice accretion simulation methods and therefore aircraft design, certification, and testing. For each configuration, surface pressure, force balance, and fluorescent mini-tuft data were collected and for a selected subset of configurations oil-flow visualization and wake survey data were collected. A comparison of two ice shape geometries and two configurations with simplified geometric detail for each ice shape geometry is presented in this paper.

Investigation at near-sonic speed of some effects of humidity on the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of an NASA supercritical wing research airplane model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jordan, F. L., Jr.

1972-01-01

The Langley 8-foot transonic pressure tunnel was used in an effort to determine the effects of humidity at near-sonic speed on the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics and wing pressure distributions of an area-rule research airplane model with an NASA supercritical wing. Effects of dewpoint at the normal tunnel operating stagnation temperature of 48.9 C (120 F) and effects of stagnation temperature at a relatively high dewpoint of 15.6 C (60 F) were investigated. The test tunnel stagnation pressure was 101 325 N/sq m (1 atmosphere).

Experimental aeroelastic control using adaptive wing model concepts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Costa, Antonio P.; Moniz, Paulo A.; Suleman, Afzal

2001-06-01

The focus of this study is to evaluate the aeroelastic performance and control of adaptive wings. Ailerons and flaps have been designed and implemented into 3D wings for comparison with adaptive structures and active aerodynamic surface control methods. The adaptive structures concept, the experimental setup and the control design are presented. The wind-tunnel tests of the wing models are presented for the open- and closed-loop systems. The wind tunnel testing has allowed for quantifying the effectiveness of the piezoelectric vibration control of the wings, and also provided performance data for comparison with conventional aerodynamic control surfaces. The results indicate that a wing utilizing skins as active structural elements with embedded piezoelectric actuators can be effectively used to improve the aeroelastic response of aeronautical components. It was also observed that the control authority of adaptive wings is much greater than wings using conventional aerodynamic control surfaces.

Investigation of the Effect of Tip Tanks on the Wing Loading of a Republic F-84 Airplane in the Ames 40- by 80-foot Wind Tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hunton, Lynn W.; Dew, Joseph K.; Salisbury, Ralph D.

1949-01-01

Wind-tunnel tests at low Mach number of a Republic F-84C airplane were conducted to determine by pressure-distribution measurements the air loads on wing-tip tanks and the change in wing load distribution due to the presence of tip tanks. Measurements of the aeroelastic twist of the wing were also obtained. Results are presented in the form of loading coefficient, center-of- pressure location, pitching-moment coefficient, aerodynamic-center location, and aeroelastic twist. The investigation revealed that the redistributions in loading brought about by either the tip tanks or elastic deformation of the wing were relatively small when compared with the chnnges in loading normally associated with the deflection of an aileron.

Low Dimensional Analysis of Wing Surface Morphology in Hummingbird Free Flight

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shallcross, Gregory; Ren, Yan; Liu, Geng; Dong, Haibo; Tobalske, Bret

2015-11-01

Surface morphing in flapping wings is a hallmark of bird flight. In current work, the role of dynamic wing morphing of a free flying hummingbird is studied in detail. A 3D image-based surface reconstruction method is used to obtain the kinematics and deformation of hummingbird wings from high-quality high-speed videos. The observed wing surface morphing is highly complex and a number of modeling methods including singular value decomposition (SVD) are used to obtain the fundamental kinematical modes with distinct motion features. Their aerodynamic roles are investigated by conducting immersed-boundary-method based flow simulations. The results show that the chord-wise deformation modes play key roles in the attachment of leading-edge vortex, thus improve the performance of the flapping wings. This work is supported by NSF CBET-1313217 and AFOSR FA9550-12-1-0071.

Quantifying the Effect of Pressure Sensitive Paint On Aerodynamic Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Amer, T. R.; Obara, C. J.; Liu, T.

2003-01-01

A thin pressure sensitive paint (PSP) coating can slightly modify the overall shape of a wind-tunnel model and produce surface roughness or smoothness that does not exist on the unpainted model. These undesirable changes in model geometry may alter flow over the model, and affect the pressure distribution and aerodynamic forces and moments on the model. This study quantifies the effects of PSP on three models in low-speed, transonic and supersonic flow regimes. At a 95% confidence level, the PSP effects on the integrated forces are insignificant for a slender arrow-wing-fuselage model and delta wing model with two different paints at Mach 0.2, 1.8, and 2.16 relative to the total balance accuracy limit. The data displayed a repeatability of 2.5 drag counts, while the balance accuracy limit was about 5.5 drag counts. At transonic speeds, the paint has a localized effect at high angles of attack and has a resolvable effect on the normal force, which is significant relative to the balance accuracy limit. For low speeds, the PSP coating has a localized effect on the pressure tap measurements, which leads to an appreciable decrease in the pressure tap reading. Moreover, the force and moment measurements had a poor precision, which precluded the ability to measure the PSP effect for this particular test.

Cart3D Analysis of Plume and Shock Interaction Effects on Sonic Boom

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Castner, Raymond

2015-01-01

A plume and shock interaction study was developed to collect data and perform CFD on a configuration where a nozzle plume passed through the shock generated from the wing or tail of a supersonic vehicle. The wing or tail was simulated with a wedge-shaped shock generator. Three configurations were analyzed consisting of two strut mounted wedges and one propulsion pod with an aft deck from a low boom vehicle concept. Research efforts at NASA were intended to enable future supersonic flight over land in the United States. Two of these efforts provided data for regulatory change and enabled design of low boom aircraft. Research has determined that sonic boom is a function of aircraft lift and volume distribution. Through careful tailoring of these variables, the sonic boom of concept vehicles has been reduced. One aspect of vehicle tailoring involved how the aircraft engine exhaust interacted with aft surfaces on a supersonic aircraft, such as the tail and wing trailing edges. In this work, results from Euler CFD simulations are compared to experimental data collected on sub-scale components in a wind tunnel. Three configurations are studied to simulate the nozzle plume interaction with representative wing and tail surfaces. Results demonstrate how the plume and tail shock structure moves with increasing nozzle pressure ratio. The CFD captures the main features of the plume and shock interaction. Differences are observed in the plume and deck shock structure that warrant further research and investigation.

Enhancement of roll maneuverability using post-reversal design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Wei-En

This dissertation consists of three main parts. The first part is to discuss aileron reversal problem for a typical section with linear aerodynamic and structural analysis. The result gives some insight and ideas for this aeroelastic problem. Although the aileron in its post-reversal state will work the opposite of its design, this type of phenomenon as a design root should not be ruled out on these grounds alone, as current active flight-control systems can compensate for this. Moreover, one can get considerably more (negative) lift for positive flap angle in this unusual regime than positive lift for positive flap angle in the more conventional setting. This may have important implications for development of highly maneuverable aircraft. The second part is to involve the nonlinear aerodynamic and structural analyses into the aileron reversal problem. Two models, a uniform cantilevered lifting surface and a rolling aircraft with rectangular wings, are investigated here. Both models have trailing-edge control surfaces attached to the main wings. A configuration that reverses at a relatively low dynamic pressure and flies with the enhanced controls at a higher level of effectiveness is demonstrated. To evaluate how reliable for the data from XFOIL, the data for the wing-aileron system from advanced CFD codes and experiment are used to compare with that from XFOIL. To enhance rolling maneuverability for an aircraft, the third part is to search for the optimal configuration during the post-reversal regime from a design point of view. Aspect ratio, hinge location, airfoil dimension, inner structure of wing section, composite skin, aeroelastic tailoring, and airfoil selection are investigated for cantilevered wing and rolling aircraft models, respectively. Based on these parametric structural designs as well as the aerodynamic characteristics of different airfoils, recommendations are given to expand AAW flight program.

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.

Effect of winglets on a first-generation jet transport wing. 3: Pressure and spanwise load distributions for a semispan model at Mach 0.30. [in the Langley 8 ft transonic tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Montoya, L. C.; Jacobs, P. F.; Flechner, S. G.

1977-01-01

Pressure and spanwise load distributions on a first-generation jet transport semispan model at a Mach number of 0.30 are given for the basic wing and for configurations with an upper winglet only, upper and lower winglets, and a simple wing-tip extension. To simulate second-segment-climb lift conditions, leading- and/or trailing-edge flaps were added to some configurations.

Shuttle ascent and shock impingement aerodynamic heating studies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lanning, W. D.; Hung, F. T.

1971-01-01

The collection and analysis of aerodynamic heating data obtained from shock impingement experimental investigation were completed. The data were categorized into four interference areas; fin leading edge, wing/fuselage fin/plate corners, and space shuttle configurations. The effects of shock impingement were found to increase the heating rates 10 to 40 times the undisturbed values. A test program was completed at NASA/Langley Research Center to investigate the magnitudes and surface patterns of the mated shock interference flowfield. A 0.0065 scale thin-skin model of the MDAC 256-20 space shuttle booster mated with a Stycast model of the MDAC Internal tank orbiter was tested in the 20-inch M=6 tunnel, the 31-inch M=10 tunnel, and the 48-inch Unitary Plan Tunnel. The gap region of the ascent configuration was the principal area of interest where both thermocouple and phase-change paint data were obtained. Pressure and heat transfer distributions data on the leeward surface of a 75-degree sweep slab delta wing are presented. The effects of surface roughness on boundary layer transition and aerodynamic heating were investigated.

Designing and Testing a Blended Wing Body with Boundary Layer Ingestion Nacelles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carter, Melissa B.; Campbell, Richard L.; Pendergraft, Odis C.; Underwood, Pamela J.; Friedman, Douglas M.; Serrano, Leonel

2006-01-01

A knowledge-based aerodynamic design method coupled with an unstructured grid Navier-Stokes flow solver was used to improve the propulsion/airframe integration for a Blended Wing Body with boundary-layer ingestion nacelles. A new zonal design capability was used that significantly reduced the time required to achieve a successful design for each nacelle and the elevon between them. A wind tunnel model was built with interchangeable parts reflecting the baseline and redesigned configurations and tested in the National Transonic Facility (NTF). Most of the testing was done at the cruise design conditions (Mach number = 0.85, Reynolds number = 75 million). In general, the predicted improvements in forces and moments as well as the changes in wing pressures between the baseline and redesign were confirmed by the wind tunnel results. The effectiveness of elevons between the nacelles was also predicted surprisingly well considering the crudeness in the modeling of the control surfaces in the flow code.

Control of buffet onset by plasma-based actuators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vishnyakov, O. I.; Polivanov, P. A.; Budovskiy, A. D.; Sidorenko, A. A.; Maslov, A. A.

2016-10-01

The paper is devoted to the experimental investigations of the influence of electrical discharges which produces local area of unsteady energy deposition and density variations on transonic flow, namely, buffet onset. Experiments are carried out in T-112 wind tunnel in TsAGI using model of rectangular wing with chord of 200 mm and span 599 mm. The profile of the wing is supercritical airfoil P184-15SR with max thickness 15% of chord length. Experiments were carried out in the range of Mach number 0.73÷0.78 for several angles of attack of the model. The flow around the model was studied by schlieren visualization, surface pressure distribution measurements and Pitot measurements in the wake of the wing using wake rake located downstream of the model. The experimentally data obtained show that excitation of plasma actuator based on spark discharge effectively influence on mean flow and characteristics of shock wave oscillations. It was found that control efficiency depends on frequency of discharge.

Viscous wing theory development. Volume 1: Analysis, method and results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chow, R. R.; Melnik, R. E.; Marconi, F.; Steinhoff, J.

1986-01-01

Viscous transonic flows at large Reynolds numbers over 3-D wings were analyzed using a zonal viscid-inviscid interaction approach. A new numerical AFZ scheme was developed in conjunction with the finite volume formulation for the solution of the inviscid full-potential equation. A special far-field asymptotic boundary condition was developed and a second-order artificial viscosity included for an improved inviscid solution methodology. The integral method was used for the laminar/turbulent boundary layer and 3-D viscous wake calculation. The interaction calculation included the coupling conditions of the source flux due to the wing surface boundary layer, the flux jump due to the viscous wake, and the wake curvature effect. A method was also devised incorporating the 2-D trailing edge strong interaction solution for the normal pressure correction near the trailing edge region. A fully automated computer program was developed to perform the proposed method with one scalar version to be used on an IBM-3081 and two vectorized versions on Cray-1 and Cyber-205 computers.

Analysis and documentation of QCSEE (Quiet Clean Short-haul Experimental Engine) over-the-wing exhaust system development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ammer, R. C.; Kutney, J. T.

1977-01-01

A static scale model test program was conducted in the static test area of the NASA-Langley 9.14- by 18.29 m(30- by 60-ft) Full-Scale Wind Tunnel Facility to develop an over-the-wing (OTW) nozzle and reverser configuration for the Quiet Clean Short-Haul Experimental Engine (QCSEE). Three nozzles and one basic reverser configuration were tested over the QCSEE takeoff and approach power nozzle pressure ratio range between 1.1 and 1.3. The models were scaled to 8.53% of QCSEE engine size and tested behind two 13.97-cm (5.5-in.) diameter tip-turbine-driven fan simulators coupled in tandem. An OTW nozzle and reverser configuration was identified which satisfies the QCSEE experimental engine requirements in terms of nozzle cycle area variation capability and reverse thrust level, and provides good jet flow spreading over a wing upper surface for achievement of high propulsive lift performance.

The reduction of takeoff ground roll by the application of a nose gear jump strut

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eppel, Joseph C.; Maisel, Martin D.; Mcclain, J. Greer; Luce, W.

1994-01-01

A series of flight tests were conducted to evaluate the reduction of takeoff ground roll distance obtainable from a rapid extension of the nose gear strut. The NASA Quiet Short-haul Research Aircraft (QSRA) used for this investigation is a transport-size short take off and landing (STOL) research vehicle with a slightly swept wing that employs the upper surface blowing (USB) concept to attain the high lift levels required for its low-speed, short-field performance. Minor modifications to the conventional nose gear assembly and the addition of a high-pressure pneumatic system and a control system provided the extendable nose gear, or jump strut, capability. The limited flight test program explored the effects of thrust-to-weight ratio, wing loading, storage tank initial pressure, and control valve open time duration on the ground roll distance. The data show that a reduction of takeoff ground roll on the order of 10 percent was achieved with the use of the jump strut, as predicted. Takeoff performance with the jump strut was also found to be essentially independent of the pneumatic supply pressure and was only slightly affected by control valve open time within the range of the parameters examined.

Hybrid Wing-Body (HWB) Pressurized Fuselage Modeling, Analysis, and Design for Weight Reduction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mukhopadhyay, Vivek

2012-01-01

This paper describes the interim progress for an in-house study that is directed toward innovative structural analysis and design of next-generation advanced aircraft concepts, such as the Hybrid Wing-Body (HWB) and the Advanced Mobility Concept-X flight vehicles, for structural weight reduction and associated performance enhancement. Unlike the conventional, skin-stringer-frame construction for a cylindrical fuselage, the box-type pressurized fuselage panels in the HWB undergo significant deformation of the outer aerodynamic surfaces, which must be minimized without significant structural weight penalty. Simple beam and orthotropic plate theory is first considered for sizing, analytical verification, and possible equivalent-plate analysis with appropriate simplification. By designing advanced composite stiffened-shell configurations, significant weight reduction may be possible compared with the sandwich and ribbed-shell structural concepts that have been studied previously. The study involves independent analysis of the advanced composite structural concepts that are presently being developed by The Boeing Company for pressurized HWB flight vehicles. High-fidelity parametric finite-element models of test coupons, panels, and multibay fuselage sections, were developed for conducting design studies and identifying critical areas of potential failure. Interim results are discussed to assess the overall weight/strength advantages.

Determination of mean camber surfaces for wings having uniform chordwise loading and arbitrary spanwise loading in subsonic flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Katzoff, S; Faison, M Frances; Dubose, Hugh C

1954-01-01

The field of a uniformly loaded wing in subsonic flow is discussed in terms of the acceleration potential. It is shown that, for the design of such wings, the slope of the mean camber surface at any point can be determined by a line integration around the wing boundary. By an additional line integration around the wing boundary, this method is extended to include the case where the local section lift coefficient varies with spanwise location (the chordwise loading at every section still remaining uniform). For the uniformly loaded wing of polygonal plan form, the integrations necessary to determine the local slope of the surface and the further integration of the slopes to determine the ordinate can be done analytically. An outline of these integrations and the resulting formulas are included. Calculated results are given for a sweptback wing with uniform chordwise loading and a highly tapered spanwise loading, a uniformly loaded delta wing, a uniformly loaded sweptback wing, and the same sweptback wing with uniform chordwise loading but elliptical span load distribution.

Transonic Semispan Aerodynamic Testing of the Hybrid Wing Body with Over Wing Nacelles in the National Transonic Facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chan, David T.; Hooker, John R.; Wick, Andrew; Plumley, Ryan W.; Zeune, Cale H.; Ol, Michael V.; DeMoss, Joshua A.

2017-01-01

A wind tunnel investigation of a 0.04-scale model of the Lockheed Martin Hybrid Wing Body (HWB) with Over Wing Nacelles (OWN) air mobility transport configuration was conducted in the National Transonic Facility at the NASA Langley Research Center under a collaborative partnership between NASA, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. The wind tunnel test sought to validate the transonic aerodynamic performance of the HWB and to validate the efficiency benefits of the OWN installation as compared to the traditional under-wing installation. The semispan HWB model was tested in a clean wing configuration and also tested with two different nacelles representative of a modern turbofan engine and a future advanced high bypass ratio engine. The nacelles were installed in three different locations with two over-wing positions and one under-wing position. Five-component force and moment data, surface static pressure data, and aeroelastic deformation data were acquired. For the cruise configuration, the model was tested in an angle-of-attack range between -2 and 10 degrees at free-stream Mach numbers from 0.3 to 0.9 and at unit Reynolds numbers between 8 and 39 million per foot, achieving a maximum of 80% of flight Reynolds numbers across the Mach number range. The test results validated pretest computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations of the HWB performance including the OWN benefit and the results also exhibited excellent transonic drag data repeatability to within +/-1 drag count. This paper details the experimental setup and model overview, presents some sample data results, and describes the facility improvements that led to the success of the test.

European Science Notes Information Bulletin Reports on Current European/ Middle Eastern Science

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-06-01

particularly those that involve shock wave/boundary layer cell-centered, finite-volume, explicit, Runge-Kutta interactions , still prov;de considerble...aircraft configuration attributed to using an interactive vcual grid generation was provided by A. Bocci and A. Baxendale, the Aircraft system developed...the surface pressure the complex problem of wing/body/pylon/store distributions with and without the mass flow through the interaction . Reasonable

An integrated CFD/experimental analysis of aerodynamic forces and moments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Melton, John E.; Robertson, David D.; Moyer, Seth A.

1989-01-01

Aerodynamic analysis using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is most fruitful when it is combined with a thorough program of wind tunnel testing. The understanding of aerodynamic phenomena is enhanced by the synergistic use of both analysis methods. A technique is described for an integrated approach to determining the forces and moments acting on a wind tunnel model by using a combination of experimentally measured pressures and CFD predictions. The CFD code used was FLO57 (an Euler solver) and the wind tunnel model was a heavily instrumented delta wing with 62.5 deg of leading-edge sweep. A thorough comparison of the CFD results and the experimental data is presented for surface pressure distributions and longitudinal forces and moments. The experimental pressures were also integrated over the surface of the model and the resulting forces and moments are compared to the CFD and wind tunnel results. The accurate determination of various drag increments via the combined use of the CFD and experimental pressures is presented in detail.

EC03-0058-6

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-03-04

Technicians for AeroVironment, Inc., jack up a pressure tank to the wing of the Helios Prototype solar-electric flying wing. The tank carries pressurized hydrogen to fuel an experimental fuel cell system that powered the aircraft at night during an almost two-day long-endurance flight demonstration in the summer of 2003.

Influence of Superhydrophobic Properties on Deicing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nazhipkyzy, M.; Mansurov, Z. A.; Amirfazli, A.; Esbosin, A.; Temirgaliyeva, T. S.; Lesbayev, B. T.; Aliyev, E. T.; Prikhodko, N. G.

2016-11-01

Nowadays the creation of anti-icing, or deicing, surfaces is one of the most important problems, as such surfaces are widely used in aeronautics, wind turbines, and telecommunication antennas. In this paper, we focus mainly on reducing the ice adhesion forces and easy ice removal, once ice has formed. Removal of a liquid from a surface can be provided by modification of the surface wettability by means of applying superhydrophobic coatings. Such coatings are water-resistant, i.e., are characterized by low water adhesion forces. To study the impact of superhydrophobic coatings, tests were performed on the surface of a wing in a wind tunnel. By spraying Teflon and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) on the wing, we obtained a superhydrophobic film. This film has a structure that provides superhydrophobic properties, so that the wetting angle is above 140°. A comparison of the resulting surface with a clean Teflon one shows that adhesion of the Teflon + PPS mixture to an aluminum surface is five times higher. We also investigate the degree of ice formation on the surfaces of simple and superhydrophobic aircraft wings at a temperature of -18°C. It was shown that ice was formed on a simple wing within 40 s and on a superhydrophobic wing within 25 s. When the simple wing with a mass of 23 g was inserted into the wind tunnel, its mass reached 50 g, and for a superhydrophobic wing with a mass of 26 g the latter reached 42 g. The sample of the airfoil wing we prepared has a low adhesion, which helps in easy ice removal.

Pressure distributions on a rectangular aspect-ratio-6, slotted supercritical airfoil wing with externally blown flaps

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, W. G., Jr.

1976-01-01

An investigation was made in the 5.18 m (17 ft) test section of the Langley 300 MPH 7 by 10 foot tunnel on a rectangular, aspect ratio 6 wing which had a slotted supercritical airfoil section and externally blown flaps. The 13 percent thick wing was fitted with two high lift flap systems: single slotted and double slotted. The designations single slotted and double slotted do not include the slot which exists near the trailing edge of the basic slotted supercritical airfoil. Tests were made over an angle of attack range of -6 deg to 20 deg and a thrust-coefficient range up to 1.94 for a free-stream dynamic pressure of 526.7 Pa (11.0 lb/sq ft). The results of the investigation are presented as curves and tabulations of the chordwise pressure distributions at the midsemispan station for the wing and each flap element.

Numerical Calculations of 3-D High-Lift Flows and Comparison with Experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Compton, William B, III

2015-01-01

Solutions were obtained with the Navier-Stokes CFD code TLNS3D to predict the flow about the NASA Trapezoidal Wing, a high-lift wing composed of three elements: the main-wing element, a deployed leading-edge slat, and a deployed trailing-edge flap. Turbulence was modeled by the Spalart-Allmaras one-equation turbulence model. One case with massive separation was repeated using Menter's two-equation SST (Menter's Shear Stress Transport) k-omega turbulence model in an attempt to improve the agreement with experiment. The investigation was conducted at a free stream Mach number of 0.2, and at angles of attack ranging from 10.004 degrees to 34.858 degrees. The Reynolds number based on the mean aerodynamic chord of the wing was 4.3 x 10 (sup 6). Compared to experiment, the numerical procedure predicted the surface pressures very well at angles of attack in the linear range of the lift. However, computed maximum lift was 5% low. Drag was mainly under predicted. The procedure correctly predicted several well-known trends and features of high-lift flows, such as off-body separation. The two turbulence models yielded significantly different solutions for the repeated case.

Development of a cyber physical apparatus for investigating fluid structure interaction on leading edge vortex evolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raghu Gowda, Belagumba Venkatachalaiah

This dissertation examines how simple structural compliance impacts a specific transient vortex phenomenon that occurs on high angle of attack lifting surfaces termed dynamic stall. In many Fluid structure interaction (FSI) research efforts, a purely physical or purely computational approach is taken. In this work a low cost cyber-physical (CPFD) system is designed and developed for representing the FSI in the leading edge vortex (LEV) development problem. The leading edge compliance appears to be favorable in a specific spring constant range for a given wing. When the leading edge compliance prescribed via CPFD system is too low compared with the moment due to dynamic pressure or fluid unsteady effect, the LEV behavior is similar to that of a rigid wing system. When the leading edge compliance is too high, excessive compliance is introduced into the wing system and the leading edge vortex evolution is affected by the large change in wing angle. At moderate leading edge compliance, a balance appears to be achieved in which the leading edge vorticity shedding rate supports the long term evolution of the leading edge vortex. Further investigation is required to determine specific parameters governing these leading edge compliance ranges.

Experimental Evaluation of Inlet Distortion on an Ejector Powered Hybrid Wing Body at Take-off and Landing Conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carter, Melissa B.; Shea, Patrick R.; Flamm, Jeffrey D.; Schuh, Michael; James, Kevin D.; Sexton, Matthew R.; Tompkins, Daniel M.; Beyar, Michael D.

2016-01-01

As part of the NASA Environmentally Responsible Aircraft project, an ultra high bypass ratio engine integration on a hybrid wing body demonstration was planned. The goal was to include engine and airframe integration concepts that reduced fuel consumption by at least 50% while still reducing noise 42 db cumulative on the ground. Since the engines would be mounted on the upper surface of the aft body of the aircraft, the inlets may be susceptible to vortex ingestion from the wing leading edge at high angles of attack and sideslip, and separated wing/body flow. Consequently, experimental and computational studies were conducted to collect flow surveys useful for characterizing engine operability. The wind tunnel tests were conducted at two NASA facilities, the 14- by 22-foot at NASA Langley and the 40- by 80-foot at NASA Ames Research Center. The test results included in this paper show that the distortion and pressure recovery levels were acceptable for engine operability. The CFD studies conducted to compare to experimental data showed excellent agreement for the angle of attacks examined, although failed to match the low speed experimental data at high sideslip angles.

Pressure investigation of NASA leading edge vortex flaps on a 60 deg Delta wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marchman, J. F., III; Donatelli, D. A.; Terry, J. E.

1983-01-01

Pressure distributions on a 60 deg Delta Wing with NASA designed leading edge vortex flaps (LEVF) were found in order to provide more pressure data for LEVF and to help verify NASA computer codes used in designing these flaps. These flaps were intended to be optimized designs based on these computer codes. However, the pressure distributions show that the flaps wre not optimum for the size and deflection specified. A second drag-producing vortex forming over the wing indicated that the flap was too large for the specified deflection. Also, it became apparent that flap thickness has a possible effect on the reattachment location of the vortex. Research is continuing to determine proper flap size and deflection relationships that provide well-behaved flowfields and acceptable hinge-moment characteristics.

Pressure data for four analytically defined arrow wings in supersonic flow. [Langley Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel tests

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Townsend, J. C.

1980-01-01

In order to provide experimental data for comparison with newly developed finite difference methods for computing supersonic flows over aircraft configurations, wind tunnel tests were conducted on four arrow wing models. The models were machined under numeric control to precisely duplicate analytically defined shapes. They were heavily instrumented with pressure orifices at several cross sections ahead of and in the region where there is a gap between the body and the wing trailing edge. The test Mach numbers were 2.36, 2.96, and 4.63. Tabulated pressure data for the complete test series are presented along with selected oil flow photographs. Comparisons of some preliminary numerical results at zero angle of attack show good to excellent agreement with the experimental pressure distributions.

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.

Aerodynamic Impact of an Aft-Facing Slat-Step on High Re Airfoils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kibble, Geoffrey; Petrin, Chris; Jacob, Jamey; Elbing, Brian; Ireland, Peter; Black, Buddy

2016-11-01

Typically, the initial aerodynamic design and subsequent testing and simulation of an aircraft wing assumes an ideal wing surface without imperfections. In reality, however the surface of an in-service aircraft wing rarely matches the surface characteristics of the test wings used during the conceptual design phase and certification process. This disconnect is usually deemed negligible or overlooked entirely. Specifically, many aircraft incorporate a leading edge slat; however, the mating between the slat and the top surface of the wing is not perfectly flush and creates a small aft-facing step behind the slat. In some cases, the slat can create a step as large as one millimeter tall, which is entirely submerged within the boundary layer. This abrupt change in geometry creates a span-wise vortex behind the step and in transonic flow causes a shock to form near the leading edge. This study investigates both experimentally and computationally the implications of an aft-facing slat-step on an aircraft wing and is compared to the ideal wing surface for subsonic and transonic flow conditions. The results of this study are useful for design of flow control modifications for aircraft currently in service and important for improving the next generation of aircraft wings.

Tricritical wings and modulated magnetic phases in LaCrGe 3 under pressure

DOE PAGES

Kaluarachchi, Udhara S.; Bud’ko, Sergey L.; Canfield, Paul C.; ...

2017-09-15

Experimental and theoretical investigations on itinerant ferromagnetic systems under pressure have shown that ferromagnetic quantum criticality is avoided either by a change of the transition order, becoming of the first order at a tricritical point, or by the appearance of modulated magnetic phases. In the first case, the application of a magnetic field reveals a wing-structure phase diagram as seen in itinerant ferromagnets such as ZrZn 2 and UGe 2. Secondly, no tricritical wings have been observed so far. Here, we report on the discovery of wing-structure as well as the appearance of modulated magnetic phases in the temperature-pressure-magnetic fieldmore » phase diagram of LaCrGe 3. Our investigation of LaCrGe 3 reveals a double-wing structure indicating strong similarities with ZrZn 2 and UGe 2. Unlike these simpler systems, LaCrGe 3 also shows modulated magnetic phases similar to CeRuPO. Our finding provides an example of an additional possibility for the phase diagram of metallic quantum ferromagnets.« less

Flutter of a Low-Aspect-Ratio Rectangular Wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cole, Stanley R.

1989-01-01

A flutter test of a low-aspect-ratio rectangular wing was conducted in the Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT). The model used in this flutter test consisted of a rigid wing mounted to the wind-tunnel wall by a flexible, rectangular beam. The flexible support shaft was connected to the wing root and was cantilever mounted to the wind-tunnel wall. The wing had an aspect ratio of 1.5 based on the wing semispan and an NACA 64A010 airfoil shape. The flutter boundary of the model was determined for a Mach number range of 0.5 to 0.97. The shape of the transonic flutter boundary was determined. Actual flutter points were obtained on both the subsonic and supersonic sides of the flutter bucket. The model exhibited a deep transonic flutter bucket over a narrow range of Mach number. At some Mach numbers, the flutter conditions were extrapolated using a subcritical response technique. In addition to the basic configuration, modifications were made to the model structure such that the first bending frequency was changed without significantly affecting the first torsion frequency. The experiment showed that increasing the bending stiffness of the model support shaft through these modifications lowered the flutter dynamic pressure. Flutter analysis was conducted for the basic model as a comparison with the experimental results. This flutter analysis was conducted with subsonic lifting-surface (kernel function) aerodynamics using the k method for the flutter solution.

Use of a pitot probe for determining wing section drag in flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Saltzman, E. J.

1975-01-01

A wake traversing probe was used to obtain section drag and wake profile data from the wing of a sailplane. The transducer sensed total pressure defect in the wake as well as freestream total pressure on both sides of the sensing element when the probe moved beyond the wake. Profiles of wake total pressure defects plotted as a function of distance above and below the trailing edge plane were averaged for calculating section drag coefficients for flights at low dynamic pressures.

Large-Scale Boundary-Layer Control Tests on Two Wings in the NACA 20-Foot Wind Tunnel, Special Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Freeman, Hugh B.

1935-01-01

Tests were made in the N.A.C.A. 20-foot wind tunnel on: (1) a wing, of 6.5-foot span, 5.5-foot chord, and 30 percent maximum thickness, fitted with large end plates and (2) a 16-foot span 2.67-foot chord wing of 15 percent maximum thickness to determine the increase in lift obtainable by removing the boundary layer and the power required for the blower. The results of the tests on the stub wing appeared more favorable than previous small-scale tests and indicated that: (1) the suction method was considerably superior to the pressure method, (2) single slots were more effective than multiple slots (where the same pressure was applied to all slots), the slot efficiency increased rapidly for increasing slot widths up to 2 percent of the wing chord and remained practically constant for all larger widths tested, (3) suction pressure and power requirements were quite low (a computation for a light airplane showed that a lift coefficient of 3.0 could be obtained with a suction as low as 2.3 times the dynamic pressure and a power expenditure less than 3 percent of the rated engine power), and (4) the volume of air required to be drawn off was quite high (approximately 0.5 cubic feet per second per unit wing area for an airplane landing at 40 miles per hour with a lift coefficient of 3,0), indicating that considerable duct area must be provided in order to prevent flow losses inside the wing and insure uniform distribution of suction along the span. The results from the tests of the large-span wing were less favorable than those on the stub wing. The reasons for this were, probably: (1) the uneven distribution of suction along the span, (2) the flow losses inside the wing, (3) the small radius of curvature of the leading edge of the wing section, and (4) the low Reynolds Number of these tests, which was about one half that of the stub wing. The results showed a large increase in the maximum lift coefficient with an increase in Reynolds Number in the range of the tests. The results of drag tests showed that the profile drag of the wing was reduced and the L/D ratio was increased throughout the range of lift coefficients corresponding to take-off and climb but that the minimum drag was increased. The slot arrangement that is best for low drag is not the same, however, as that for maximum lift.

Pressure-Distribution Measurements of a Model of a Davis Wing Section with Fowler Flap Submitted by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abbott, Ira H

1942-01-01

Wing pressure distribution diagrams for several angles of attack and flap deflections of 0 degrees, 20 degrees, and 40 degrees are presented. The normal force coefficients agree with lift coefficients obtained in previous test of the same model, except for the maximum lifts with flap deflection. Pressure distribution measurements were made at Reynolds Number of about 6,000,000.

Calibration of averaging total pressure flight wake rake and natural-laminar-flow airfoil drag certification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Irani, E.; Snyder, M. H.

1988-01-01

An averaging total pressure wake rake used by the Cessna Aircraft Company in flight tests of a modified 210 airplane with a laminar flow wing was calibrated in wind tunnel tests against a five-tube pressure probe. The model generating the wake was a full-scale model of the Cessna airplane wing. Indications of drag trends were the same for both instruments.

Contributions of the NASA Langley Research Center to the DARPA/AFRL/NASA/ Northrop Grumman Smart Wing Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Florance, Jennifer P.; Burner, Alpheus W.; Fleming, Gary A.; Martin, Christopher A.

2003-01-01

An overview of the contributions of the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) to the DARPA/AFRL/NASA/ Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) Smart Wing program is presented. The overall objective of the Smart Wing program was to develop smart** technologies and demonstrate near-flight-scale actuation systems to improve the aerodynamic performance of military aircraft. NASA LaRC s roles were to provide technical guidance, wind-tunnel testing time and support, and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analyses. The program was divided into two phases, with each phase having two wind-tunnel entries in the Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT). This paper focuses on the fourth and final wind-tunnel test: Phase 2, Test 2. During this test, a model based on the NGC Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) concept was tested at Mach numbers up to 0.8 and dynamic pressures up to 150 psf to determine the aerodynamic performance benefits that could be achieved using hingeless, smoothly-contoured control surfaces actuated with smart materials technologies. The UCAV-based model was a 30% geometric scale, full-span, sting-mounted model with the smart control surfaces on the starboard wing and conventional, hinged control surfaces on the port wing. Two LaRC-developed instrumentation systems were used during the test to externally measure the shapes of the smart control surface and quantify the effects of aerodynamic loading on the deflections: Videogrammetric Model Deformation (VMD) and Projection Moire Interferometry (PMI). VMD is an optical technique that uses single-camera photogrammetric tracking of discrete targets to determine deflections at specific points. PMI provides spatially continuous measurements of model deformation by computationally analyzing images of a grid projected onto the model surface. Both the VMD and PMI measurements served well to validate the use of on-board (internal) rotary potentiometers to measure the smart control surface deflection angles. Prior to the final entry, NASA LaRC also performed three-dimensional unstructured Navier Stokes CFD analyses in an attempt to predict the potential aerodynamic impact of the smart control surface on overall model forces and moments. Eight different control surface shapes were selected for study at Mach = 0.6, Reynolds number = 3.25 x 10(exp 6), and + 2 deg., 3 deg., 8 deg., and 10 deg.model angles-of-attack. For the baseline, undeflected control surface geometry, the CFD predictions and wind-tunnel results matched well. The agreement was not as good for the more complex aero-loaded control surface shapes, though, because of the inability to accurately predict those shapes. Despite these results, the NASA CFD study served as an important step in studying advanced control effectors.

Compilation of reinforced carbon-carbon transatlantic abort landing arc jet test results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Milhoan, James D.; Pham, Vuong T.; Yuen, Eric H.

1993-01-01

This document consists of the entire test database generated to support the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon Transatlantic Abort Landing Study. RCC components used for orbiter nose cap and wing leading edge thermal protection were originally designed to have a multi-mission entry capability of 2800 F. Increased orbiter range capability required a predicted increase in excess of 3300 F. Three test series were conducted. Test series #1 used ENKA-based RCC specimens coated with silicon carbide, treated with tetraethyl orthosilicate, sealed with Type A surface enhancement, and tested at 3000-3400 F with surface pressure of 60-101 psf. Series #2 used ENKA- or AVTEX-based RCC, with and without silicon carbide, Type A or double Type AA surface enhancement, all impregnated with TEOS, and at temperatures from 1440-3350 F with pressures from 100-350 psf. Series #3 tested ENKA-based RCC, with and without silicon carbide coating. No specimens were treated with TEOS or sealed with Type A. Surface temperatures ranged from 2690-3440 F and pressures ranged from 313-400 psf. These combined test results provided the database for establishing RCC material single-mission-limit temperature and developing surface recession correlations used to predict mass loss for abort conditions.

Heat transfer distributions induced by elevon deflections on swept wings and adjacent surfaces at Mach 6

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, C. B.; Kaufman, L. G., II

1978-01-01

Surface heat transfer distributions are presented for swept wing semispan models having trailing edge elevon ramp angles of 0, 10, 20, and 30 degrees. The wing sweepback angles are 0, 50, and 70 degrees. The models have attachable cylindrical and flat plate center bodies and various attachable wing-tip fins. The data, obtained for a 0 degree angle of attack, a free stream Mach number of 6, and a wing root chord Reynolds number of about 17,000,000, reveal considerably larger regions of elevon induced thermal loads on adjacent surfaces than would be suggested by fully attached flow analyses.

Filler bar heating due to stepped tiles in the shuttle orbiter thermal protection system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Petley, D. H.; Smith, D. M.; Edwards, C. L. W.; Patten, A. B.; Hamilton, H. H., II

1983-01-01

An analytical study was performed to investigate the excessive heating in the tile to tile gaps of the Shuttle Orbiter Thermal Protection System due to stepped tiles. The excessive heating was evidence by visible discoloration and charring of the filler bar and strain isolation pad that is used in the attachment of tiles to the aluminum substrate. Two tile locations on the Shuttle orbiter were considered, one on the lower surface of the fuselage and one on the lower surface of the wing. The gap heating analysis involved the calculation of external and internal gas pressures and temperatures, internal mass flow rates, and the transient thermal response of the thermal protection system. The results of the analysis are presented for the fuselage and wing location for several step heights. The results of a study to determine the effectiveness of a half height ceramic fiber gap filler in preventing hot gas flow in the tile gaps are also presented.

Atmospheric Probe Model: Construction and Wind Tunnel Tests

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vogel, Jerald M.

1998-01-01

The material contained in this document represents a summary of the results of a low speed wind tunnel test program to determine the performance of an atmospheric probe at low speed. The probe configuration tested consists of a 2/3 scale model constructed from a combination of hard maple wood and aluminum stock. The model design includes approximately 130 surface static pressure taps. Additional hardware incorporated in the baseline model provides a mechanism for simulating external and internal trailing edge split flaps for probe flow control. Test matrix parameters include probe side slip angle, external/internal split flap deflection angle, and trip strip applications. Test output database includes surface pressure distributions on both inner and outer annular wings and probe center line velocity distributions from forward probe to aft probe locations.

3-D High-Lift Flow-Physics Experiment - Transition Measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McGinley, Catherine B.; Jenkins, Luther N.; Watson, Ralph D.; Bertelrud, Arild

2005-01-01

An analysis of the flow state on a trapezoidal wing model from the NASA 3-D High Lift Flow Physics Experiment is presented. The objective of the experiment was to characterize the flow over a non-proprietary semi-span three-element high-lift configuration to aid in assessing the state of the art in the computation of three-dimensional high-lift flows. Surface pressures and hot-film sensors are used to determine the flow conditions on the slat, main, and flap. The locations of the attachments lines and the values of the attachment line Reynolds number are estimated based on the model surface pressures. Data from the hot-films are used to determine if the flow is laminar, transitional, or turbulent by examining the hot-film time histories, statistics, and frequency spectra.

Preliminary Weight Savings Estimate for a Commercial Transport Wing Using Rod-Stiffened Stitched Composite Technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lovejoy, Andrew E.

2015-01-01

A structural concept called pultruded rod stitched efficient unitized structure (PRSEUS) was developed by the Boeing Company to address the complex structural design aspects associated with a pressurized hybrid wing body (HWB) aircraft configuration. While PRSEUS was an enabling technology for the pressurized HWB structure, limited investigation of PRSEUS for other aircraft structures, such as circular fuselages and wings, has been done. Therefore, a study was undertaken to investigate the potential weight savings afforded by using the PRSEUS concept for a commercial transport wing. The study applied PRSEUS to the Advanced Subsonic Technology (AST) Program composite semi-span test article, which was sized using three load cases. The initial PRSEUS design was developed by matching cross-sectional stiffnesses for each stringer/skin combination within the wing covers, then the design was modified to ensure that the PRSEUS design satisfied the design criteria. It was found that the PRSEUS wing design exhibited weight savings over the blade-stiffened composite AST Program wing of nearly 9%, and a weight savings of 49% and 29% for the lower and upper covers, respectively, compared to an equivalent metallic wing.

Naturally inspired SERS substrates fabricated by photocatalytically depositing silver nanoparticles on cicada wings

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Densely stacked Ag nanoparticles with an average diameter of 199 nm were effectively deposited on TiO2-coated cicada wings (Ag/TiO2-coated wings) from a water-ethanol solution of AgNO3 using ultraviolet light irradiation at room temperature. It was seen that the surfaces of bare cicada wings contained nanopillar array structures. In the optical absorption spectra of the Ag/TiO2-coated wings, the absorption peak due to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Ag nanoparticles was observed at 440 nm. Strong Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals of Rhodamine 6G adsorbed on the Ag/TiO2-coated wings were clearly observed using the 514.5-nm line of an Ar+ laser. The Ag/TiO2-coated wings can be a promising candidate for naturally inspired SERS substrates. PMID:24959110

Naturally inspired SERS substrates fabricated by photocatalytically depositing silver nanoparticles on cicada wings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanahashi, Ichiro; Harada, Yoshiyuki

2014-06-01

Densely stacked Ag nanoparticles with an average diameter of 199 nm were effectively deposited on TiO2-coated cicada wings (Ag/TiO2-coated wings) from a water-ethanol solution of AgNO3 using ultraviolet light irradiation at room temperature. It was seen that the surfaces of bare cicada wings contained nanopillar array structures. In the optical absorption spectra of the Ag/TiO2-coated wings, the absorption peak due to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Ag nanoparticles was observed at 440 nm. Strong Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals of Rhodamine 6G adsorbed on the Ag/TiO2-coated wings were clearly observed using the 514.5-nm line of an Ar+ laser. The Ag/TiO2-coated wings can be a promising candidate for naturally inspired SERS substrates.

Endplate effect on aerodynamic characteristics of threedimensional wings in close free surface proximity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jung, Jae Hwan; Kim, Mi Jeong; Yoon, Hyun Sik; Hung, Pham Anh; Chun, Ho Hwan; Park, Dong Woo

2012-12-01

We investigated the aerodynamic characteristics of a three-dimensional (3D) wing with an endplate in the vicinity of the free surface by solving incompressible Navier-Stokes equations with the turbulence closure model. The endplate causes a blockage effect on the flow, and an additional viscous effect especially near the endplate. These combined effects of the endplate significantly reduce the magnitudes of the velocities under the lower surface of the wing, thereby enhancing aerodynamic performance in terms of the force coefficients. The maximum lift-to-drag ratio of a wing with an endplate is increased 46% compared to that of wing without an endplate at the lowest clearance. The tip vortex of a wing-with-endplate (WWE) moved laterally to a greater extent than that of a wing-without-endplate (WOE). This causes a decrease in the induced drag, resulting in a reduction in the total drag.

Numerical simulation of a powered-lift landing, tracking flow features using overset grids, and simulation of high lift devices on a fighter-lift-and-control wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chawla, Kalpana

1993-01-01

Attached as appendices to this report are documents describing work performed on the simulation of a landing powered-lift delta wing, the tracking of flow features using overset grids, and the simulation of flaps on the Wright Patterson Lab's fighter-lift-and-control (FLAC) wing. Numerical simulation of a powered-lift landing includes the computation of flow about a delta wing at four fixed heights as well as a simulated landing, in which the delta wing descends toward the ground. Comparison of computed and experimental lift coefficients indicates that the simulations capture the qualitative trends in lift-loss encountered by thrust-vectoring aircraft operating in ground effect. Power spectra of temporal variations of pressure indicate computed vortex shedding frequencies close to the jet exit are in the experimentally observed frequency range; the power spectra of pressure also provide insights into the mechanisms of lift oscillations. Also, a method for using overset grids to track dynamic flow features is described and the method is validated by tracking a moving shock and vortices shed behind a circular cylinder. Finally, Chimera gridding strategies were used to develop pressure coefficient contours for the FLAC wing for a Mach no. of 0.18 and Reynolds no. of 2.5 million.

Numerical simulation of the tip vortex off a low-aspect-ratio wing at transonic speed

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mansour, N. N.

1984-01-01

The viscous transonic flow around a low aspect ratio wing was computed by an implicit, three dimensional, thin-layer Navier-Stokes solver. The grid around the geometry of interest is obtained numerically as a solution to a Dirichlet problem for the cube. A low aspect ratio wing with large sweep, twist, taper, and camber is the chosen geometry. The topology chosen to wrap the mesh around the wing with good tip resolution is a C-O type mesh. The flow around the wing was computed for a free stream Mach number of 0.82 at an angle of attack of 5 deg. At this Mach number, an oblique shock forms on the upper surface of the wing, and a tip vortex and three dimensional flow separation off the wind surface are observed. Particle path lines indicate that the three dimensional flow separation on the wing surface is part of the roots of the tip vortex formation. The lifting of the tip vortex before the wing trailing edge is observed by following the trajectory of particles release around the wing tip.

Producibility Analysis of the Alternative Antitank Airframe Configuration (AATAC) Flex-Wing

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-06-01

3 II. PRODUCTIONIPRODUCIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS ...................... 4 A. High Rage Manufacturing Issues...41 7. Hydroform process showing (1) blank in place, no pressure in cavity, (2) press closed and cavity pressurized, (3) ram... hydroforming and Guerin processes ..... 42 viI LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Comparison of Candidate Alloys ................................. 6 2. AATAC Wing

Development and applications of algorithms for calculating the transonic flow about harmonically oscillating wings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

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

1984-01-01

A finite difference method to solve the unsteady transonic flow about harmonically oscillating wings was 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. An alternating direction implicit procedure was investigated, and a pilot program was developed for both two and three dimensional wings. This program provides a relatively efficient relaxation solution without previously encountered solution instability problems. Pressure distributions for two rectangular wings are calculated. Conjugate gradient techniques were developed for the asymmetric, indefinite problem. The conjugate gradient procedure is evaluated for applications to the unsteady transonic problem. Different equations for the alternating direction procedure are derived using a coordinate transformation for swept and tapered wing planforms. Pressure distributions for swept, untaped wings of vanishing thickness are correlated with linear results for sweep angles up to 45 degrees.

Dynamics of F-actin prefigure the structure of butterfly wing scales.

PubMed

Dinwiddie, April; Null, Ryan; Pizzano, Maria; Chuong, Lisa; Leigh Krup, Alexis; Ee Tan, Hwei; Patel, Nipam H

2014-08-15

The wings of butterflies and moths consist of dorsal and ventral epidermal surfaces that give rise to overlapping layers of scales and hairs (Lepidoptera, "scale wing"). Wing scales (average length ~200 µm) are homologous to insect bristles (macrochaetes), and their colors create the patterns that characterize lepidopteran wings. The topology and surface sculpture of wing scales vary widely, and this architectural complexity arises from variations in the developmental program of the individual scale cells of the wing epithelium. One of the more striking features of lepidopteran wing scales are the longitudinal ridges that run the length of the mature (dead) cell, gathering the cuticularized scale cell surface into pleats on the sides of each scale. While also present around the periphery of other insect bristles and hairs, longitudinal ridges in lepidopteran wing scales gain new significance for their creation of iridescent color through microribs and lamellae. Here we show the dynamics of the highly organized F-actin filaments during scale cell development, and present experimental manipulations of actin polymerization that reveal the essential role of this cytoskeletal component in wing scale elongation and the positioning of longitudinal ribs. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Optical surface pressure measurements: Accuracy and application field evaluation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bukov, A.; Mosharov, V.; Orlov, A.; Pesetsky, V.; Radchenko, V.; Phonov, S.; Matyash, S.; Kuzmin, M.; Sadovskii, N.

1994-07-01

Optical pressure measurement (OPM) is a new pressure measurement method rapidly developed in several aerodynamic research centers: TsAGI (Russia), Boeing, NASA, McDonnell Douglas (all USA), and DLR (Germany). Present level of OPM-method provides its practice as standard experimental method of aerodynamic investigations in definite application fields. Applications of OPM-method are determined mainly by its accuracy. The accuracy of OPM-method is determined by the errors of three following groups: (1) errors of the luminescent pressure sensor (LPS) itself, such as uncompensated temperature influence, photo degradation, temperature and pressure hysteresis, variation of the LPS parameters from point to point on the model surface, etc.; (2) errors of the measurement system, such as noise of the photodetector, nonlinearity and nonuniformity of the photodetector, time and temperature offsets, etc.; and (3) methodological errors, owing to displacement and deformation of the model in an airflow, a contamination of the model surface, scattering of the excitation and luminescent light from the model surface and test section walls, etc. OPM-method allows getting total error of measured pressure not less than 1 percent. This accuracy is enough to visualize the pressure field and allows determining total and distributed aerodynamic loads and solving some problems of local aerodynamic investigations at transonic and supersonic velocities. OPM is less effective at low subsonic velocities (M less than 0.4), and for precise measurements, for example, an airfoil optimization. Current limitations of the OPM-method are discussed on an example of the surface pressure measurements and calculations of the integral loads on the wings of canard-aircraft model. The pressure measurement system and data reduction methods used on these tests are also described.

Wind-tunnel measurements of aerodynamic load distribution on an NASA supercritical-wing research airplane configuration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harris, C. D.

1972-01-01

Wind tunnel tests have been conducted on a research airplane model with an NASA supercritical wing to define the general character of the flow over the wing and to aid in structural design of the full scale airplane. Pressure measurements were made at Mach numbers from 0.25 to 1.30 for sideslip angles from -2.50 deg to 2.50 deg over a moderate range of angles of attack and dynamic pressures. Except for representative figures, the results are presented in tabular form without detailed analysis.

The extreme wings of atomic emission and absorption lines. [in low pressure gases

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dalgarno, A.; Sando, K. M.

1973-01-01

Consideration of the extreme wings of atomic and molecular emission and absorption lines in low pressure gases. Classical and semiclassical results are compared with accurate quantal calculations of the self-broadening of Lyman-alpha in the hydrogen absorption spectrum that arises from quasimolecular transition. The results of classical, quantal, and semiclassical calculations of the absorption coefficient in the red wing are shown for temperatures of 500, 200, and 100 K. The semiclassical and quantal spectra agree well in shape at 500 K. Various other findings are discused.

Surface morphology of chitin highly related with the isolated body part of butterfly (Argynnis pandora).

PubMed

Kaya, Murat; Bitim, Betül; Mujtaba, Muhammad; Koyuncu, Turgay

2015-11-01

This study was conducted to understand the differences in the physicochemical properties of chitin samples isolated from the wings and the other body parts except the wings (OBP) of a butterfly species (Argynnis pandora). The same isolation method was used for obtaining chitin specimens from both types of body parts. The chitin content of the wings (22%) was recorded as being much higher than the OBP (8%). The extracted chitin samples were characterized via FT-IR, TGA, XRD, SEM, and elemental analysis techniques. Results of these characterizations revealed that the chitins from both structures (wings and OBP) were very similar, except for their surface morphologies. SEM results demonstrated one type of surface morphology for the wings and four different surface morphologies for the OBP. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that the surface morphology of the chitin is highly related with the body part. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Asymmetric ratchet effect for directional transport of fog drops on static and dynamic butterfly wings.

PubMed

Liu, Chengcheng; Ju, Jie; Zheng, Yongmei; Jiang, Lei

2014-02-25

Inspired by novel creatures, researchers have developed varieties of fog drop transport systems and made significant contributions to the fields of heat transferring, water collecting, antifogging, and so on. Up to now, most of the efforts in directional fog drop transport have been focused on static surfaces. Considering it is not practical to keep surfaces still all the time in reality, conducting investigations on surfaces that can transport fog drops in both static and dynamic states has become more and more important. Here we report the wings of Morpho deidamia butterflies can directionally transport fog drops in both static and dynamic states. This directional drop transport ability results from the micro/nano ratchet-like structure of butterfly wings: the surface of butterfly wings is composed of overlapped scales, and the scales are covered with porous asymmetric ridges. Influenced by this special structure, fog drops on static wings are transported directionally as a result of the fog drops' asymmetric growth and coalescence. Fog drops on vibrating wings are propelled directionally due to the fog drops' asymmetric dewetting from the wings.