Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics Commons^™

Flow Diagnostics, Chemically Reacting Turbulent Flow Modeling And Turbulent Mixing : A Summary Of Project Studies In Combustion, Bahman Ghorashi

Scholarship Collection

No abstract provided.

Compressible Turbulence Measurements In A Supersonic Flow With Adverse Pressure Gradient, Jon W. Dotter

Theses and Dissertations

Mean flow and compressible turbulence measurements have been obtained upstream and within a shock boundary interaction and a compression ramp in Mach 3 flow. Compressible turbulence models have met with little success in the accurate prediction of high-speed flows involving complicated shock boundary interactions and adverse pressure gradients because of a crucial lack of experimental data. Data were collected using conventional Pitot and cone static probes, single overheat cross-wire anemometry, multiple overheat cross-wire anemometry, and flow visualization techniques. Direct measurements of the total Reynolds shear stress were obtained using a turbulence transformation. Results indicate that compressibility effects, as evidenced by …

Investigation Of Boundary Layer And Performance Effects Of Transpiration Cooling Through A Porous Plate In A Rocket Nozzle, David N. Keener

Theses and Dissertations

This study used a range of low blowing ratios with air through an area of porous material in a Mach 2.0 nozzle to quantity the change in boundary layer thickness as a function of blowing ratio. Also, exit and wall Mach number profiles at each blowing ratio were collected to characterize performance losses as a result of blowing. Performance in terms of specific impulse was also studied. As expected, the boundary layer thickness increased and nozzle performance in terms of exit Mach number decreased with increasing blowing ratio.

The Design And Development Of A Low-Speed, Low-Force Wind Tunnel Data Acquisition System With An Application To Bicycle Front Fork Spacing, Alan W. Elledge

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis encompassed the design, development, and application of a low-speed, low-force data acquisition system for the AFIT 5-ft Wind Tunnel. The new data acquisition system was designed and developed to measure approximately 0.045 N (about 0.01 lb_f) at nearly 64.4 km/h (40 mph). Verification of the capability was obtained through testing of a cylindrical model. As part of a technology transition program with Wright Laboratory, this new system was used to investigate bicycle front fork blade spacing in order to determine the optimal spacing for minimum drag. As for the minimum drag of a bicycle with an …

An Experimental Study Of Planar Heterogeneous Supersonic Confined Jets, Frederick J. Tanis Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The effects of varying the exit pressure of a supersonic helium jet exhausting coaxially with two parallel supersonic air streams into a constant area duct were investigated. The method used to evaluate the mass entrainment rate was to measure helium molar concentration profiles and mass flux across the duct using a binary gas probe then calculate the mass entrainment into the helium jet. In order to conduct this study a novel binary gas probe was developed which allowed helium concentration and mass flux data to be obtained during continuous traverses across the supersonic flowfield. High exit pressure ratio (EPR) led …

Flow Visualization Of A Turbulent Shear Flow Using An Optical Wavefront Sensor, Daniel W. Jewell

Theses and Dissertations

The research reported here investigated the use of a shearing interferometer (SI) wavefront sensor to determine the effects of shear-layer turbulence on an optical wavefront. A collimated helium-neon laser beam was propagated through a plane shear-layer produced by mixing helium and nitrogen at different velocities. Since the gases have different indices of refraction, the optical wavefront was distorted by different amounts by each gas. The SI measured the wavefront slope across the sampled area of the wavefront. The shear-layer was viewed from two orthogonal directions. This document contains shadow graphs, interference patterns imaged by each of the SI's six cameras, …

Analysis Of Hypersonic Boundary Layer Second Mode Instability Over A 7° Cone, Richard A. Dennery

Theses and Dissertations

This paper presents the results of the analysis of Mach 8.0 flow over a seven degree half-angle cone. The purpose of this analysis was to develop techniques to examine boundary layer transition at hypersonic velocities. The specific objectives were to look for second mode instability waves characteristic of the transition process and to quantify the percentage of turbulent flow. Two sets of data were used in this analysis. The first set of data was taken at several axial positions at a freestream Reynolds number 4.265 million per meter. This data was used to develop the analysis techniques. The second set …

An Investigation Of The Afit 2-Inch Shock Tube As A Flow Source For Supersonic Testing, Kevin M. Vlcek

Theses and Dissertations

An investigation of the AFIT high pressure shock tube was conducted to determine how closely it followed ideal shock tube theory and to determine the available test times for an attached Mach 3 nozzle. The driver section was five feet (1.52 m) long and the driven section was 25 feet (7.62 m) long. The driver gas used for this study was helium while the driven gas was atmospheric air. The pressure rise measured behind the incident shock wave was, on average, 30% lower than predicted by the ideal shock tube relations. Behind the reflected shock, the pressure rise was 65% …

Compressible Turbulence Measurements In A Supersonic Boundary Layer Including Favorable Pressure Gradient Effects, Raymond S. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

The effect of a favorable pressure gradient on the turbulent flow structure in a Mach 2.9 boundary layer (R_e/m approx. 1.5 x 10⁷) is investigated experimentally. Conventional flow and hot film measurements of turbulent fluctuation properties have been made upstream of and along an expansion ramp. Upstream measurements were taken in a zero pressure gradient boundary layer 44 cm from the nozzle throat in a 6.35 cm square test section. Measurements are obtained in the boundary layer, above the expansion ramp, 71.5 cm from the nozzle throat. Mean flow and turbulent flow characteristics are measured in …

A New Drag Measurement System For Wind Tunnel Testing Of The Racing Bicycle And Rider To Determine A Low Drag Configuration, Brian A. Parker

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the application of splitter plate effects to reduce the aerodynamic drag of the racing bicycle and rider system. A sensitive, low-force, beam-type, single-component balance was developed to provide drag measurements accurate to within 0.053 N (0.012 lb_f). The performance of the new system was verified by comparing the measured drag on a three-dimensioaal, right-circular cylinder model, 0.127 m (5.0 in) in diameter and 0.610 m (24 in) long, with the results from a commercial balance and a other similar data. The bicycle and rider model consisted of a full-scale mannequin comprising only the hips, legs …

Performance Characterization Of A Highly-Offset Diffuser With And Without Blowing Vortex Generator Jets, Michael B. Senseney

Theses and Dissertations

The effect of blowing vortex generator jets (VGJs) on the performance of a highly-offset (s-duct) diffuser was investigated experimentally. VGJs are pitched, skewed jets which generate streamwise vortices as well as injecting high-momentum fluid into the boundary layer. Diffuser performance with and without VGJs was measured for an inlet Mach number of 0.6 (Re/x = 1.27x10⁷ per cm). Pitot static and hot-film instrumentation was used to measure flow properties at the diffuser inlet and exit planes. Without blowing, the flow on the lower surface of the diffuser was massively separated. Blowing at 0.48% mass flow ratio through three lower-surface …

An Experimental Investigation Of The Time-Dependent Separation Of Tangent Bodies In Supersonic Flow, Neal A. Mosbarger

Theses and Dissertations

An experimental, time-dependent separation of tangent bodies was performed in a supersonic wind tunnel (Mach 1.5 and 1.9) to investigate the significance of transient effects and the suitability of using steady-state assumptions to predict a dynamic even. The model configurations consisted of two bodies placed in a near tangent position. A stationary body, plate or ogive, was instrumented to obtain dynamic surface pressures, while a second body, a wedge attached to an air cylinder, was plunged in a constrained motion away from and towards the stationary model. Three-dimensional flow expansion around the edge of the wedge reduced the strength of …

A Numerical Analysis Of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics, David A. Fulk

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation studies the numerical method of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics SPH as a technique for solving systems of conservation equations. The research starts with a detailed consistency analysis of the method. Higher dimensions and non-smooth functions are considered in addition to the smooth one dimensional case. A stability analysis is then performed. Using a linear technique, an instability is found. Solutions are proposed to resolve the instability. Also a total variation stability analysis is performed leading to a monotone form of SPH. The concepts of consistency and stability are then used in a convergence proof. This proof uses lemmas derived …

Numerical Simulation Of Dynamic-Stall Suppression By Tangential Blowing, Matthew C. Towne

Theses and Dissertations

The use of tangential blowing to suppress the dynamic stall of a pitching airfoil is investigated numerically. The laminar two-dimensional, compressible Navier-Stokes equations are solved time-accurately using a Beam- Warming algorithm. A slot is located at four different positions along the surface of a NACA 0015 airfoil and air is injected in a nearly tangential sense along the upper surface. Suction control is also employed at one of these slot locations to directly compare with tangential-blowing control. Solution sensitivity to grid refinement, time-step size, numerical smoothing, and initial conditions is investigated at a Reynolds number of 2.4 x 10exp 4. …

Calibration And Initial Testing Of A New Hydraulic Simulator, Cristian A. Puebla

Theses and Dissertations

In the present research, the flow field associated with the ejection of a crew capsule from the fuselage of a high speed generic aircraft was experimentally investigated by means of the modified gas hydraulic analogy. For this, an existing hydraulic simulator was calibrated and modified to adapt it to the needs of the experiment. The analogy was evaluated for a five-sided capsule alone, and good quantitative agreement with the 2-D shock-expansion theory was obtained. It was found that the size of the model played a key role in the determination of good quantitative data. The analysis of the capsule interacting …

Computational Investigation Of An Improved Cowl Concept For Hypersonic Propulsive Nozzles, Mark C. Butler

Theses and Dissertations

The effects of placing a gas generator into the cowl of a hypersonic nozzle/afterbody were investigated computationally. Gas generator mass flow and deflection angle effects were analyzed for two nozzle/cowl geometries; an experimentally validated nozzle/cowl configuration evaluated at off-design conditions and a generic hypersonic propulsive nozzle evaluated at more realistic on design conditions. A combination of Van Leer flux-vector splitting and Roe flux-difference splitting finite volume computational algorithms were used to solve the unsteady two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations based on planar, laminar flow, perfect gas equation of state assumptions. For the low speed off-design cases analyzed, gas generator effects on nozzle …

An Aerodynamic And Static-Stability Analysis Of The Hypersonic Applied Research Technology (Hart) Missile, Kenneth J. Moran

Theses and Dissertations

The flow about the complete Hypersonic Applied Research Technology (HART) missile is simulated for inviscid, laminar, and turbulent conditions and Mach numbers from 2 to 6. An explicit, second-order-accurate, flux-difference-splitting, algorithm is implemented and employed to solve the Navier-Stokes equations. The formulation models turbulence with the zero-equation, Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model, accounting for pressure-gradient and compressibility effects. The equations are solved using a finite-volume methodology. In the first part of the study, numerical experiments are performed using an infinitely thin-fin approximation. The aerodynamic and static-stability characteristics are investigated to determine if conventional supersonic missile configurations can be flown at Mach numbers …

Implementation Of A Multiblock Sensitivity Analysis Method In Numerical Aerodynamic Shape Optimization, James Matthew Lacasse

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A multiblock sensitivity analysis method is applied in a numerical aerodynamic shape optimization technique. The Sensitivity Analysis Domain Decomposition (SADD) scheme which is implemented in this study was developed to reduce the computer memory requirements resulting from the aerodynamic sensitivity analysis equations, Discrete sensitivity analysis offers the ability to compute quasi-analytical derivatives in a more efficient manner than traditional finite-difference methods, which tend to be computationally expensive and prone to inaccuracies.

The direct optimization procedure couples CFD analysis based on the two-dimensional thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations with a gradient-based numerical optimization technique. The linking mechanism is the sensitivity equation derived from …

A Shock Tube Study Of Aerodynamic Heating Of Gaps In A Cylinder Subjected To Supersonic Cross Flow, Douglas D. High

Theses and Dissertations

The effects of localized aerodynamic heating in cylinder expansion gaps positioned in cross flow were investigated in a shock tube. For this study, Mach number and Reynolds number were varied from 1.04 to 1.38 and 5 x 105 to 9 x 105, respectively. The cylinder was instrumented with quick response time thermocouples positioned on the surface of the cylinder, the wall of the gap, and the gap floor. Gap aspect ratios varied from 1.23 to 3.69. Pressure gauges were used to measure wave shock speeds, pressure ratios, and transient pressure conditions. Surface temperatures were measured and converted to heat fluxes …

Evaluation Of A Concentration Probe For Application In A Supersonic Flow Field, John S. Alsup

Theses and Dissertations

Aspirating, concentration probes are used to measure binary gas concentrations in a supersonic flow. In the past, a tank discharge method has been used to calibrate concentration probes. An alternate calibration method has been developed and tested on a probe in a steady, subsonic/sonic flow. This study evaluated the calibration and performance of a concentration probe in a steady, supersonic flow over a range of mixture ratios of air and helium. The results of this study and a comparison of the two calibration methods are presented.

Off-Design Performance Of Crenulated Blades In A Linear Compressor Cascade, Michael J. Costello

Theses and Dissertations

The effects of using compressor blades with a crenulated (notched) trailing edge in a low aspect ratio (AR= 1) linear compressor cascade at four incidence angles (-1.08°, +4.49°, +9.32° and +12.44°) were investigated. Blade performance and wake mixing characteristics for crenulated blades were compared with similar data for blades with a straight trailing edge. A seven-bladed cascade was operated with a flow Mach number of 0.4 and a blade chord Reynolds number of 4.1 (10)⁵. The diffusion factor ranged from 0.22 to 0. 42 and strong three-dimensional flow effects were present. Total pressure losses were measured with a …

Effects Of Crenulations On Three Dimensional Losses In A Linear Compressor Cascade, William L. Spacy Ii

Theses and Dissertations

An experimental investigation into the effect of compressor blade trailing edge geometry on three-dimensional flows in a linear cascade was conducted at the AFIT linear cascade test facility. Hot-wire/hot-film anemometry along with total pressure instrumentation was used to analyze crenulation generated vortices and their interaction with the three-dimensional flows in the cascade. The effects of this interaction on the performance parameters associated with the cascade were quantified. The results-indicate that wake mixing is better for crenulated trailing edges and that the precise geometry of the crenulations is critical to performance. One crenulation geometry was found to increase wake mixing while …

Analysis Of The Effects Of Wake Passage On Heat Transfer In A Linear Turbine Cascade, Kevin S. Allen

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effect of wake passage on the heat transfer in a linear turbine cascade. The apparatus used was the Air-Force Institute of Technology linear Turbine Cascade Test Facility (TCTF). The TCTF was fitted with a be Pulley system to facilitate a series of translating bars. The bars, when passed d upstream of the cascade, created a series of wakes. The parameters varied were freestream model Reynolds number and bar conditions, i.e. , bars in, bars out, and bar passing frequency. One blade in the TCTF was instrumented to allow pressure and temperature measurements at discrete points on …

A Numerical Study Of High-Speed Missile Configurations Using A Block- Structured Parallel Algorithm, Douglas C. Blake

Theses and Dissertations

A numerical analysis of the aerodynamic phenomena associated with the high-speed flight of a sharp-nosed, four-finned, high-fineness ratio missile using a block-structured, parallel computer algorithm is presented. The algorithm, PANS-3EM, utilizes a second-order-accurate, shock-capturing, Total Variation Diminishing scheme and incorporates a Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model. PANS-3EM allows for extreme flexibility in the choice of computational domain decomposition and computing machine of implementation. Developmental work consists of conceptualization and verification of the algorithm as well as parallel performance and scalability studies conducted on a variety of computing platforms. Using PANS-3EM, the aerodynamic characteristics of the missile are investigated. Drag and pitching moment …

Wake Passage Effects On The Losses In A Linear Turbine Cascade, James A. Braunschneider

Theses and Dissertations

A linear turbine cascade was used to investigate the effects of wake passage due to stator-rotor interaction. The wakes were modeled by passing 1.98 mm (0.078 in) diameter bars upstream of a linear cascade blade row. Total pressure loss coefficients, mass averaged total pressure loss coefficients and velocities were used to characterize the effects of wake passage. Bar passing frequencies of 80, 160, 320 bars/sec were tested. These frequencies were tested, with the bars at 6.35 mm (0.25 in) intervals and at two Reynolds numbers, 341, 000 and 45,5000 Bar spacings of 12.7 mm (0.5 in), and 89 mm (3.5 …

Rendering Of Three-Dimensional Data Sets Derived From Finite-Difference And Spectral Methods, Paul A. Schubert

Theses and Dissertations

The timely visualization of three-dimensional data sets and the advantages of using a spectral method solution versus a finite-difference method solution in rendering isosurfaces is described. The Beam-Warming numerical algorithm, which uses implicit-approximate-factorization, is used to generate the steady-state solutions for a model diffusion-convection problem. The Chebyshev collocation operator is used to evaluate the right-hand side of the Beam-Warming algorithm for the spectral solution. Comparing the model problem results with the exact solution, the spectral series solution is truncated to the same degree of accuracy as the finite-difference for comparison of rendering times. The rendering algorithm employs octrees to efficiently …

A Numerical Determination Of Bifurcation Points For Low Reynolds Number Conical Flows, Larry K. Waters

Theses and Dissertations

It has long been established that supersonic flow over axisymmetric conical bodies at high angles of attack tend to develop a side force due to vortical asymmetry. One of the proposed reasons for the asymmetry is a bifurcation point in the solution of the Navier-Stokes equations. This study investigated the possible existence of a bifurcation point in the Navier-Stokes equations for subsonic flow. Newton's method, with gauss elimination, was used- to solve the steady-state, viscous, compressible Navier-Stokes equations in spherical coordinates assuming conical similarity.

Simulation Of Vertical Tail Buffet In Internal Vortex Breakdown Flows, Mark William Flanagan

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Computational simulation of vertical tail buffet in an internal vortex breakdown flow is considered. The fiuid-flow problem is formulated using the full, compressible, unsteady Navier-Stokes equations which are solved using an implicit, flux-difference splitting, finite volume scheme. The fluid-flow problem is solved in a configured circular duct using quasi-axisymmetric assumptions to simplify the flow equations. A plate is placed transverse to the incoming flow. Solution of the flow in the duct is performed with and without a rigid plate, and with and without an elastic plate. The elastic response of the plate is calculated assuming that it is a cantilever …

Computation Of The Aerodynamic Characteristics Of A Subsonic Transport Aircraft Using A Panel Method, Lillianne Plaster Whitelock Troeger

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

An advanced low-order panel method, VSAERO, is applied to a full-configuration transport aircraft. Wing pressure distributions as well as lift, drag, and pitching moment coefficients calculated for the full computational configuration are compared with experimental data. In addition, partial configurations are evaluated computationally to determine the relevance of certain complex aircraft components to the computations. It is shown that the wing-surface pressure distributions and pitching moment coefficient are well predicted by VSAERO. The lift coefficient is consistently overpredicted by the code.

Simultaneous Aerodynamic Analysis And Design Optimization, Satish Venkatasubra Mani

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

An efficient approach for simultaneous aerodynamic analysis and design optimization is presented. Using this approach, the expensive procedure of performing complete steady— state flow analyses at every design-optimization step is avoided, thus addressing the challenge of incorporating computational fluid dynamics software into efficient gradient—based optimization techniques for aerodynamic design. An adjoint—variable method is introduced to nullify the effect of an increased number of design variables in this problem formulation. This approach is successfully tested on two quasi—one—dimensional nozzle—flow problems: a fully supersonic flow, and also a transonic flow with a normal shock. The algorithm is implemented using the direct Newton—iteration …