Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics Commons^™

Assessing The V2-F Turbulence Models For Circulation Control Applications, Travis M. Storm

Master's Theses

In recent years, airports have experienced increasing airport congestion, partially due to the hub-and-spoke model on which airline operations are based. Current airline operations utilize large airports, focusing traffic to a small number of airports. One way to relieve such congestion is to transition to a more accessible and efficient point-to-point operation, which utilizes a large web of smaller airports. This expansion to regional airports propagates the need for next-generation low-noise aircraft with short take-off and landing capabilities. NASA has attacked this problem with a high-lift, low-noise concept dubbed the Cruise Efficient Short Take-Off and Landing (CESTOL) aircraft. The goal …

High Order Finite Elements For Lagrangian Computational Fluid Dynamics, Truman Everett Ellis

Master's Theses

A general finite element method is presented to solve the Euler equations in a Lagrangian reference frame. This FEM framework allows for separate arbitrarily high order representation of kinematic and thermodynamic variables. An accompanying hydrodynamics code written in Matlab is presented as a test-bed to experiment with various basis function choices. A wide range of basis function pairs are postulated and a few choices are developed further, including the bi-quadratic Q2-Q1d and Q2-Q2d elements. These are compared with a corresponding pair of low order bi-linear elements, traditional Q1-Q0 and sub-zonal pressure Q1-Q1d. Several test problems are considered including static convergence …

Stability Of Fully Nonlinear Stokes Waves On Deep Water: Part 1. Perturbation Theory, Shahrdad Sajjadi, David L. Ross

Publications

We consider a full set of harmonics for the Stokes wave in deep water in the absence of viscosity, and examine the role that higher harmonics play in modifying the classical Benjamin-Feir instability. Using a representation of the wave coefficients due to Wilton, a perturbation analysis shows that the Stokes wave may become unbounded due to interactions between the N^th harmonic of the primary wave train and a set of harmonics of a disturbance. If the frequency of the n^th harmonic is denoted Ꙍ_n = Ꙍ(1 ± ꭉ) then instability will occur if

√2 k n^{n …}

Multi-Element Airfoil Optimization Using Computational Fluid Dynamics, Mustafa Kubilay Ictuzer

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

High-lift systems are frequently used on commercial transport aircrafts to obtain low speed performance, in terms of take-off and landing field lengths and approach speed. To maximize the take-off and landing performance within the critical restrictions required by the new generation transport wing designs, enhanced high-lift technologies are needed. Moreover, the economic realities faced by the airlines require a design that is mechanically simple and effective. These facts lead us to the optimization of the high lift systems.

Optimizing a high-lift system improves an aircraft's take-off and landing performance. The weight of the system, the advantages and the disadvantages all …

Particle Size Control For Piv Seeding Using Dry Ice, Brian T. Love

Theses and Dissertations

Particle image velocimetry (PIV) has been carried out using solid carbon dioxide (CO₂) particles as the seed material to continue the development of clean seeding for use in large-scale, closed-circuit tunnels. Testing occurred in two wind tunnels at subsonic and supersonic speeds using dry ice particles generated by allowing liquefied CO₂ to expand from a small diameter injector tube through a larger diameter shroud tube. The particles were injected into the plenum and discrete solid particles, suitable for PIV measurements, were present in the test section. Data on particle size were first collected using a Malvern particle …

Dive Angle Sensitivity Analysis For Flight Test Safety And Efficiency, Matthew T. Schneider

Theses and Dissertations

Flutter envelope expansion is one of the most critical types of developmental flight tests. The regions that present the most dangerous flight profiles are those test points in the negative PS realm of the flight envelope. These points develop into high-speed dives and require an accurate predictive model to prevent possible testing accidents. As a flight test is conducted, several conditions such as aircraft weight and ambient air temperature can change, causing a drastic shift in the excess power profiles resulting in significant alteration in the test conditions. Using a dive planning model, a number of parameters were analyzed to …

Investigation Of A Novel Compact Vibration Isolation System For Space Applications, Steven D. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

A novel compact vibration isolation system was designed, built, and tested for the Space Chromotomography Experiment (CTEx) being built by Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) researchers. CTEx is a multifunctional experimental imaging chromotomographic spectrometer designed for flight on the International Space Station (ISS) and is sensitive to jitter caused by vibrations both through the support structure as well as those produced on the optical platform by rotating optical components. CTEx demands a compact and lightweight means of vibration isolation and suppression from the ISS structure. Vibration tests conducted on an initial isolator design resulted in changes in the chosen …

Back-Pressure Effect On Shock-Train Location In A Scramjet Engine Isolator, Richard I. Paek

Theses and Dissertations

The isolator of the scramjet decelerates the incoming high Mach flow to a lower Mach number and stabilizes the flow before it enters the combustor. Because of the unsteady combustion phenomenon and inconsistent completeness of the combustion, pressures within the combustor can vary drastically. These pressure variations can propagate forward and affect the flow field in the isolator - worst case unstarting the inlet. In this research, the shock train location versus the back-pressure is examined experimentally. The back-pressure is artificially created by symmetric (top & bottom) ramps that can close the flow area. Raising/lowering ramps result in higher/lower back-pressure. …

A Structural Dynamic Analysis Of A Manduca Sexta Forewing, Travis W. Sims

Theses and Dissertations

Micro air vehicles (MAVs) are intended for future intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance use. To adequately fulfill a clandestine capacity, MAVs must operate in close proximity to their intended target without eliciting counter-observation. This objective, along with DARPA’s constraint of a sub-15 centimeter span, requires future MAVs to mimic insect appearance and flight characteristics. This thesis describes an experimental method for conducting a structural analysis of a Manduca Sexta (hawkmoth) forewing. Geometry is captured via computed tomography (CT), and frequency data is collected using laser vibrometry in air and vacuum. A finite element (FE) model is constructed using quadratic beams and …

Cfd Analysis Of Experimental Wing And Winglet For Falconlaunch 8 And The Exfit Program, Benjamin P. Switzer

Theses and Dissertations

Reusable launch vehicles have many benefits over their expendable counterparts. These benefits range from cost reductions to increased functionality of the vehicles. Further research is required in the development of the technology necessary for reusable launch vehicles to come to fruition. The Air Force Institute of Technology’s future involvement in the ExFIT program will entail designing and testing of a new wing tip mounted vertical stabilizer in the hypersonic regime. One proposed venue for experimentation is to utilize the United States Air Force Academy’s FalconLAUNCH Program which annually designs, builds, and launches a sounding rocket capable of reaching hypersonic speeds. …

Development Of Morphing Aircraft Structure Using Smp, Soo-Chan Jee

Theses and Dissertations

The U.S Air Force needs new aircraft which provide longer flight time, less fuel consumption, better aerodynamics in order to perform Air Force missions successfully as the mission environment changes rapidly. A morphing wing aircraft is considered as a potential new aircraft for those missions. This thesis explores Shape Memory Polymer (SMP) properties test results and its application for morphing wing skin. Several SMP composite laminates were considered for investigating shape changing characteristics required for morphing skin. The braided composite preforms used in making SMP composites were explored in morphing wing operating system based on the results of property tests. …

Parametric Viscous Analysis Of Gust Interaction With Stationary And Elastically Mounted Airfoil, Timothy M. Hollenshade Jr.

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

This thesis details the development and implementation of a module within a high-accuracy numerical viscous analysis code to simulate the nonlinear interaction of SD7003 airfoil with non-uniform, unsteady incoming flow. The study is focused on the low-Re number unsteady flows typical of MAV applications in which a gust encounter can induce a particularly significant aerodynamic and aeroelastic response. Efficient source models are developed to introduce sharp-edge and time-harmonic gust perturbations with specified amplitude, frequency and duration inside the computational domain through the source terms in the governing momentum equations. Parametric analysis of gust-airfoil interactions for different steady airfoil loads is …

Analysis Of Wake Vortices Of A Medium Range Twin-Propeller Military Cargo Aircraft Using Statistically Designed Experiments, Burhan Sahin

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

An experimental study was initiated to analyze the trajectories of the streamwise vortices behind the wing tip and flap of a medium range and propeller driven twin-engine military cargo aircraft. The model used for the experimental study was a generic, high wing and half model of a propeller driven aircraft and mounted within Old Dominion University's Low Speed Wind Tunnel where the wind tunnel flow speed was set to constant value of 9 m/sec. The main purpose of the study was to reach regression models for the motion and vorticity strength of both vortices under varying factors such as angle …