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Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Initial Stage Of Fluid-Structure Interaction Of A Celestial Icosahedron Shaped Vacuum Lighter Than Air Vehicle, Dustin P. Graves
Initial Stage Of Fluid-Structure Interaction Of A Celestial Icosahedron Shaped Vacuum Lighter Than Air Vehicle, Dustin P. Graves
Theses and Dissertations
The analysis of a celestial icosahedron geometry is considered as a potential design for a Vacuum Lighter than Air Vehicle (VLTAV). The goal of the analysis is ultimately to understand the initial fluid-structure interaction of the VLTAV and the surrounding airflow. Up to this point, previous research analyzed the celestial icosahedron VLTAV in relation to withstanding a symmetric sea-level pressure applied to the membrane of the structure. This scenario simulates an internal vacuum being applied in the worst-case atmospheric environmental condition. The next step in analysis is to determine the aerodynamic effects of the geometry. The experimental setup for obtaining …
Development Of Morphing Aircraft Structure Using Smp, Soo-Chan Jee
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. …
Comparative Study Of Aerodynamic Interference During Aft Dispense Of Munitions, Matthew G. Burkinshaw
Comparative Study Of Aerodynamic Interference During Aft Dispense Of Munitions, Matthew G. Burkinshaw
Theses and Dissertations
Based on forthcoming USAF needs, an investigation was launched to further the understanding of aft dispense of munitions in a high-speed environment. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study was performed followed by a wind tunnel experiment. The study consisted of a strut-mounted cone simulating a parent vehicle and a sting mounted cone-cylinder store situated directly behind the cone. The CFD modeled the test objects inside a supersonic wind tunnel in which the experiments took place. The CFD study consisted of evaluating a new strut designed to reduce asymmetry in the airflow aft of the cone. The CFD study also included …
Flight Dynamic Response Of Hale Aircraft To Kc-135 Flowfield, Amanda J. Devuono
Flight Dynamic Response Of Hale Aircraft To Kc-135 Flowfield, Amanda J. Devuono
Theses and Dissertations
This research effort examines the static effects of a KC-135 flowfield on a flexible winged Sensorcraft model. The KC-135 flowfield data is generated by a vortex lattice code and integrated into Sensorcraft model for analysis. Building on previous research, a refueling situation was modeled to note the effects of the Sensorcraft at varying locations within the flowfield. The Sensorcraft model was analyzed for both rigid and flexible wings as a means of comparision. Flowfield locations of interest were determined and trimmed conditions were computed for each flowfield location. Utilizing the trimmed condition and flowfield locations, the nonlinear set of EOM's …
Experimental Characterization Of Turbulent Flow Around Cylinder Arrays, Adam D. Harder
Experimental Characterization Of Turbulent Flow Around Cylinder Arrays, Adam D. Harder
Theses and Dissertations
This research was done as part of an effort to develop alternative fire suppressant technologies for aircraft engine nacelles. A circular cylinder array was designed, built, and placed in the AFIT roll-around low speed wind tunnel to model generic clutter inside an engine nacelle. A turbulence grid was fabricated to enable measurements of the effects of turbulence level, independent of airspeed, on the flow over different model configurations. The wind tunnel test section was 12 inches wide x 12 inches high x 24 inches long. Pressure differential measurements were taken on various cylinder configurations. The configurations included one cylinder as …
Quantifying Non-Equilibrium In Hypersonic Flows Using Entropy Generation, Ryan W. Carr
Quantifying Non-Equilibrium In Hypersonic Flows Using Entropy Generation, Ryan W. Carr
Theses and Dissertations
The constitutive relations traditionally used for finding shear stress and heat flux in a fluid become invalid in non-equilibrium flow. Their derivation from kinetic theory only demonstrates they are valid only for small deviations from equilibrium. Because it is fundamentally linked to non-equilibrium, entropy generation is used to investigate the limits of the continuum constitutive relations. However, the continuum equations are inherently limited to near equilibrium conditions due to the constitutive relations; thus kinetic theory must be used as a basis for comparison. Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC), a particle method alternative to continuum methods, is based on kinetic theory …
Experimental Investigation Of Oblique Wing Aerodynamics At Low Speed, Matthew J. Dillsaver
Experimental Investigation Of Oblique Wing Aerodynamics At Low Speed, Matthew J. Dillsaver
Theses and Dissertations
In an effort to increase the range of missiles and guided bombs, the USAF is looking at options for new wing configurations. One such configuration being considered is oblique wings. An oblique wing is a wing that pivots about a point on the aircraft fuselage thereby having one side swept forward and the other swept aft. Additional interest is looking at a wing only configuration that also rotates with one wing tip forward of the other. Studies have shown that this configuration can provide less drag for a given lift at both supersonic cruise and subsonic loiter conditions. This experiment …
Three Component Velocity Measurements In The Tip Vortex Of A Micro-Air-Vehicle, Hong-Joon Park
Three Component Velocity Measurements In The Tip Vortex Of A Micro-Air-Vehicle, Hong-Joon Park
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this research was to improve the MAV that will be used for battle damage assessment and reconnaissance or local surveillance through the experiments in AFIT wind tunnel. The experiments were performed to investigate the wing displacement and wing tip vortex interaction. To conduct the experiments, telescopic survey tool and tri-axial hot-wire anemometer was utilized. The results indicate that wing tip displacement of the flexible wing was approximately 8 times that of the rigid wing in an unstalled condition and data suggests that flexible wing has a denser core-distribution of velocity within the wing tip vortex and delays …
Macroscopic Computational Model Of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Actuators, Timothy R. Klein
Macroscopic Computational Model Of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Actuators, Timothy R. Klein
Theses and Dissertations
Recent progress in the generation and sustainment of gas discharges at atmospheric pressure has energized research in the field of plasma-aerodynamics. Plasma actuators are promising devices that achieve flow control with no moving parts, do not alter the airfoil shape and place no parts in the flow. The operation of a plasma actuator is examined using a macroscopic (force and power addition) computational fluid dynamic model of a dielectric barrier discharge, DBD, in Fluent. A parametric approach is adopted to survey the range of requisite magnitudes of momentum and energy delivered to the flow field and to identify the effects …
The Effect Of Aerodynamic Surfaces Versus Thrust Maneuvers On Reentry Vehicles, Meredith M. Albrecht
The Effect Of Aerodynamic Surfaces Versus Thrust Maneuvers On Reentry Vehicles, Meredith M. Albrecht
Theses and Dissertations
This research effort analyzes the effect of aerodynamic surfaces versus thrust maneuvers on a reentry vehicle. At high altitudes the effect of aerodynamic surfaces on the reentry vehicle is small due to low atmospheric density; however as the vehicle reaches lower altitudes a lift maneuver is very successful in deflecting the vehicle and creating a large impact footprint. When a continuous thrust maneuver is input in the place of a lift maneuver the results are very similar at the highest maneuver altitudes, although the impact footprint shrinks rapidly as the maneuver altitude decreases. Additionally, when the thrust maneuver is along …
Characterization Of Upstream Mixing Cavities And A Downstream Combustion Cavity In Supersonic Flow, Adam P. Quick
Characterization Of Upstream Mixing Cavities And A Downstream Combustion Cavity In Supersonic Flow, Adam P. Quick
Theses and Dissertations
A key area of study in air-breathing hydrocarbon-fueled scramjet combustors is the characterization of cavity-based fuel injection and flame holding. One issue concerns oscillatory disturbances caused by trapped vortices in the main flame holder cavity as a fuel-air mixing enhancement technique. Previous research demonstrates that oscillatory disturbances can be carried downstream via the shear layer and alter the oscillatory characteristics of a downstream cavity. This study investigates the mixing effectiveness of three upstream direct-fueled mixing cavities as well as the effect on the oscillatory behavior of the downstream combustion cavity by the upstream mixing cavity. The three upstream mixing cavities …
Aerodynamic Analysis Of Lattice Grid Fins In Transonic Flow, Karl S. Orthner
Aerodynamic Analysis Of Lattice Grid Fins In Transonic Flow, Karl S. Orthner
Theses and Dissertations
Lattice grid fins have been studied for missile tail control for several years. A lattice grid fin can be described as an unconventional missile control surface comprised of an outer frame supported by an inner lattice grid of lifting surfaces. This unconventional fin design offers favorable lift characteristics at high angle of attack as well as almost zero hinge moments allowing the use of small and light actuators. In addition, they promise good storability for potential tube-launched and internal carriage dispenser-launched applications. The drawback for the lattice grid fins is the high drag and potentially poor radar cross section performance …
Experimental Investigation Into The Aerodynamic Performance Of Both Rigid And Flexible Wing Structured Micro-Air-Vehicles, Anthony M. Deluca
Experimental Investigation Into The Aerodynamic Performance Of Both Rigid And Flexible Wing Structured Micro-Air-Vehicles, Anthony M. Deluca
Theses and Dissertations
The Air Force Research Lab, Munitions Directorate, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida has designed a man-portable carbon-fiber Micro-Air-Vehicle (MA V) used for on-the-spot surveillance by Special Operations Forces (SOF) for enemy reconnaissance as well as post-strike Battle Damage Assessment (BDA).The main goals of this experiment are: 1) characterize the flow quality of the new AFIT 3' x 3' wind tunnel and 2) determine the aerodynamic performance characteristics of the 24" span, 6" chord flexible and rigid wing MA V s. The turbulent intensity of the wind tunnel was approximately 2%. Both MA Vs had an average lift slope within 3.5% …
Measurements Of The Effects Of Tunnel Wall Proximity On The Velocity Field Upstream Of A Rod With Vortex Shedding In Low-Speed Flow, David R. Hopper
Measurements Of The Effects Of Tunnel Wall Proximity On The Velocity Field Upstream Of A Rod With Vortex Shedding In Low-Speed Flow, David R. Hopper
Theses and Dissertations
High cycle fatigue is an important consideration in blade design for turbomachinery. Blades in an engine undergo countless loading cycles in a lifetime, the result of pressure waves that propagate upstream and downstream from disturbances in the flow. Better understanding of these effects would allow blade designers to reduce the effects of high cycle fatigue, such as costly recurring maintenance or catastrophic engine failure. An experimental study was undertaken to determine the unsteady flow field upstream of a single cylinder in a subsonic flow. Von Karman vortex shedding from the cylinder produced a forcing function much like periodic blade passage …
Numerical And Experimental Investigation Of The Flowfield Near A Wrap-Around Fin, Carl P. Tilmann
Numerical And Experimental Investigation Of The Flowfield Near A Wrap-Around Fin, Carl P. Tilmann
Theses and Dissertations
A wall-mounted semi-cylindrical model fitted with a single wrap-around fin (WAF) has been investigated both numerically and experimentally, with the objective of characterizing the mean and turbulent flowfield in the vicinity of the fin. Numerical and experimental results are used to determine the nature of the flowfield and quantify the effects of fin curvature on the character of the flow near WAFs. This research has been motivated by the need to identify possible sources of a rolling moment reversal observed at high speeds in sub-scale flight tests. Detailed mean flow and turbulence measurements were obtained in the AFIT Mach 3 …