Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Engineering Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Air Force Institute of Technology

Aerodynamics

2007

Articles 1 - 6 of 6

Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Comparative Study Of Aerodynamic Interference During Aft Dispense Of Munitions, Matthew G. Burkinshaw Sep 2007

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 Sep 2007

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 …


Performing Particle Image Velocimetry In A Supersonic Wind Tunnel Using Carbon Dioxide As The Seed Material, Donald W. Peltier Iii Jun 2007

Performing Particle Image Velocimetry In A Supersonic Wind Tunnel Using Carbon Dioxide As The Seed Material, Donald W. Peltier Iii

Theses and Dissertations

Particle image velocimetry (PIV) was performed utilizing clean seed particles generated by injecting liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) directly into an open-circuit blowdown Mach 2.9 supersonic wind tunnel. Rapid atomization and cooling of the liquid CO2 created a preponderance of nearly uniform and well dispersed microscopic dry ice particles which were illuminated using a frequency double Nd:YAG laser. Ample light was scattered from the flow tracers, which provided a strong signal to noise ratio. The particles completely sublimed into an innocuous gas downstream of the test section causing no side effects or problems with wind tunnel operation. A …


Experimental Characterization Of Turbulent Flow Around Cylinder Arrays, Adam D. Harder Mar 2007

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 Mar 2007

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 Mar 2007

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 …