The Effect of Compressibility on Eight Full-Scale Propellers Operating in the Take-Off and Climbing Range (open access)

The Effect of Compressibility on Eight Full-Scale Propellers Operating in the Take-Off and Climbing Range

"Tests were made of eight full-scale propellers of different shape at various tip speeds up to about 1,000 feet per second. The range of blade-angle settings investigated was from 10 degrees to 30 degrees at the 0.75 radius. The results indicate that a loss in propulsive efficiency occurred at tip speeds from 0.5 to 0.7 the velocity of sound for the take-off and climbing conditions" (p. 517).
Date: May 18, 1938
Creator: Biermann, David & Hartman, Edwin P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Propulsion of a flapping and oscillating airfoil (open access)

Propulsion of a flapping and oscillating airfoil

Formulas are given for the propelling or drag force experience in a uniform air stream by an airfoil or an airfoil-aileron combination, oscillating in any of three degrees of freedom; vertical flapping, torsional oscillations about a fixed axis parallel to the span, and angular oscillations of the aileron about a hinge.
Date: May 4, 1936
Creator: Garrick, I. E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Vibration response of airplane structures (open access)

Vibration response of airplane structures

This report presents test results of experiments on the vibration-response characteristics of airplane structures on the ground and in flight. It also gives details regarding the construction and operation of vibration instruments developed by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.
Date: May 10, 1934
Creator: Theodorsen, Theodore & Gelalles, A. G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Flight Investigation of the Lateral Control Characteristics of Short Wide Ailerons and Various Spoilers With Different Amounts of Wing Dihedral (open access)

A Flight Investigation of the Lateral Control Characteristics of Short Wide Ailerons and Various Spoilers With Different Amounts of Wing Dihedral

This report presents the results of flight tests made to determine the lateral control characteristics of short wide ailerons and spoilers, as a consequence of the promise shown in wind-tunnel tests by these devices as means of obtaining lateral control, particularly at angles of attack above the stall. Several forms of spoilers, front-hinge, rear-hinge, plain retractable, and saw-tooth retractable were tested alone and in combination with the ailerons. The tests were made with several different amounts of wing dihedral so that the effect of the yawing moments of the different lateral control combinations, which varied from large negative to large positive values, could be evaluated. In conjunction with the tests, observations were made to throw some light on the feasibility of operating the airplane with two controls instead of the present three.
Date: May 19, 1934
Creator: Weick, Fred E.; Soulé, Hartley A. & Gough, Melvin N.
System: The UNT Digital Library
A description and test results of a spark-ignition and a compression-ignition 2-stroke-cycle engine (open access)

A description and test results of a spark-ignition and a compression-ignition 2-stroke-cycle engine

This report presents performance results of air cooled and water-cooled engines. The results obtained were sufficiently promising to warrant further investigation with fuel injection and spark ignition, with the same arrangement of inlet ports and exhaust valves at the bottom of the cylinder and the exhaust gases discharged through two poppet valves in the cylinder head. The displacement of the engine was 118 cubic inches. Optimum performance was obtained with the inlet air directed into the cylinder at an angle of 20 degrees to the radial.
Date: May 14, 1934
Creator: Spanogle, J. A. & Whitney, E. G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Computation of the two-dimensional flow in a laminar boundary layer (open access)

Computation of the two-dimensional flow in a laminar boundary layer

A comparison is made of the boundary-layer flow computed by the approximate method developed by K. Pohlhausen with the exact solutions which have been published for several special cases. A modification of Pohlhausen's method has been developed which extends the range of application at the expense of some decrease in the accuracy of the approximations.
Date: May 1934
Creator: Dryden, Hugh L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Improved airplane windshields to provide vision in stormy weather (open access)

Improved airplane windshields to provide vision in stormy weather

This report presents the results of wind tunnel tests to determine possible improvements in the design of airplane windshields, particularly with respect to the pilot's vision from the cabin in stormy weather.
Date: May 23, 1934
Creator: Clay, William C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Relative loading on biplane wings of unequal chords (open access)

Relative loading on biplane wings of unequal chords

It is shown that the lift distribution for a biplane with unequal chords may be calculated by the method developed in NACA Technical report no. 458 if corrections are made for the inequality in chord lengths. The method is applied to four cases in which the upper chord was greater than the lower and good agreement is obtained between observed and calculated lift coefficients.
Date: May 18, 1934
Creator: Diehl, Walter S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tests in the variable-density wind tunnel of related airfoils having the maximum camber unusually far forward (open access)

Tests in the variable-density wind tunnel of related airfoils having the maximum camber unusually far forward

A family of related airfoils having the position of maximum camber unusually far forward was investigated in the variable-density tunnel as an extension of the study recently completed of a large number of related airfoils. The new airfoils gave improved characteristics over those previously investigated, especially in regard to the pitching moment. Some of the new sections are markedly superior to well-known and commonly used sections and should replace them in applications requiring a slightly cambered section of moderate thickness having a small pitching-moment coefficient.
Date: May 7, 1935
Creator: Jacobs, Eastman N. & Pinkerton, Robert M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Investigation of Full-Scale Split Trailing-Edge Wing Flaps With Various Chords and Hinge Locations (open access)

Investigation of Full-Scale Split Trailing-Edge Wing Flaps With Various Chords and Hinge Locations

This report gives the results of an investigation conducted in the NACA full-scale wind tunnel on a small parasol monoplane equipped with three different split trailing-edge wing flaps. The object of the investigation was to determine and correlate data on the characteristics of the airplane and flaps as affected by variation in flap chord, flap deflection, and flap location along the wing chord. The results give the lift, the drag, and the pitching moment characteristics of the airplane, and the flap forces and moments, the pressure distribution over the flaps and wing at one section, and the downwash characteristics of the flap and wing combinations.
Date: May 10, 1935
Creator: Wallace, Rudolf
System: The UNT Digital Library
Characteristics of Clark Y airfoils of small aspect ratios (open access)

Characteristics of Clark Y airfoils of small aspect ratios

This report presents the results of a series of wind tunnel tests showing the force, moment, and autorotational characteristics of Clark Y airfoils having aspect ratios varying from 0.5 to 3. An airfoil of rectangular plan form was tested with rectangular tips, flared tips, and semicircular tips. Tests were also made on one airfoil of circular plan form and two airfoils of elliptical plan form. The tests revealed a marked delay of the stall and a decided increase in values of maximum lift coefficient and maximum resultant force coefficient for aspect ratios of the order of 1 as compared with values for aspect ratios of 2 and 3.
Date: May 5, 1932
Creator: Zimmerman, C. H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Force measurements on a 1/40-scale model of the U. S. Airship "Akron" (open access)

Force measurements on a 1/40-scale model of the U. S. Airship "Akron"

This report describes a series of tests made on a 1/40-scale model of the U. S. Airship "Akron" (ZRS-4) for the purpose of determining the drag, lift, and pitching moments of the bare hull and of the hull equipped with two different sets of fins. Measurements were also made of the elevator forces and hinge moments.
Date: May 6, 1932
Creator: Freeman, Hugh B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Rates of fuel discharge as affected by the design of fuel-injection systems for internal-combustion engines (open access)

Rates of fuel discharge as affected by the design of fuel-injection systems for internal-combustion engines

Using the method of weighing fuel collected in a receiver during a definite interval of the injection period, rates of discharge were determined, and the effects noted, when various changes were made in a fuel-injection system. The injection system consisted primarily of a by-pass controlled fuel pump and an automatic injection valve. The variables of the system studied were the pump speed, pump-throttle setting, discharge-orifice diameter, injection-valve opening and closing pressures, and injection-tube length and diameter.
Date: May 15, 1932
Creator: Gelalles, A. G. & Marsh, E. T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Lift and drag characteristics and gliding performance of an autogiro as determined in flight (open access)

Lift and drag characteristics and gliding performance of an autogiro as determined in flight

From Summary: "This report presents the results of flight test of the Pitcairn "PCA-2" autogiro. Lift and drag coefficients with the propeller stopped have been determined over approximately a 90 degree range of angles of attack. Based on the sum of fixed-wing and swept-disk areas, the maximum lift coefficient is 0.895, the minimum drag coefficient with propeller stopped is 0.015, and the maximum l/d with propeller stopped is 4.8. Lift coefficients were found also with the propeller delivering positive thrust and did not differ consistently from those found with propeller stopped. Curves of gliding performance included in this report show a minimum vertical velocity of 15 feet per second at an air speed of 36 miles per hour and a flight-path angle of -17 degrees. In vertical descent the vertical velocity is 35 feet per second."
Date: May 2, 1932
Creator: Wheatley, John B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fuel vaporization and its effect on combustion in a high-speed compression-ignition engine (open access)

Fuel vaporization and its effect on combustion in a high-speed compression-ignition engine

"The tests discussed in this report were conducted to determine whether or not there is appreciable vaporization of the fuel injected into a high-speed compression-ignition engine during the time available for injection and combustion. The effects of injection advance angle and fuel boiling temperature were investigated. The results show that an appreciable amount of the fuel is vaporized during injection even though the temperature and pressure conditions in the engine are not sufficient to cause ignition either during or after injection, and that when the conditions are such as to cause ignition the vaporization process affects the combustion. The results are compared with those of several other investigators in the same field" (p. 629).
Date: May 4, 1932
Creator: Rothrock, A. M. & Waldron, C. D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The effect of area aspect ratio on the yawing moments of rudders at large angles of pitch on three fuselages (open access)

The effect of area aspect ratio on the yawing moments of rudders at large angles of pitch on three fuselages

This reports presents the results of measurements made of yawing moments produced by rudder displacement for seven rudders mounted on each of three fuselages at angles of pitch of 0 degree, 8 degrees, 12 degrees, 20 degrees, 30 degrees and 40 degrees. The dimensions of the rudders were selected to cover the range of areas and aspect ratios commonly used, while the ratios of rudder area to fin area and of rudder chord to fin chord were kept approximately constant. An important result of the measurements is to show that increased aspect ratio gives increased yawing moments for a given area, provided the maximum rudder displacement does not exceed 25 degrees. If large rudder displacements are used, the effect of aspect ratio is not so great.
Date: May 16, 1932
Creator: Dryden, Hugh L. & Monish, B. H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Negative Thrust and Torque Characteristics of an Adjustable-Pitch Metal Propeller (open access)

Negative Thrust and Torque Characteristics of an Adjustable-Pitch Metal Propeller

This report presents the results of a series of negative thrust and torque measurements made with a 4 foot diameter model of a conventional aluminum-alloy propeller. The tests were made in the 20-foot propeller-research tunnel of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. The results show that the negative thrust is considerably affected by the shape and size of the body behind the propeller, that the maximum negative thrust increases with decrease in blade-angle setting, and that the drag of a locked propeller may be greatly reduced by feathering it into the wind.
Date: May 23, 1933
Creator: Hartman, Edwin P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Experimental Verification of the Theory of Wind-Tunnel Boundary Interference (open access)

Experimental Verification of the Theory of Wind-Tunnel Boundary Interference

"The results of an experimental investigation on the boundary-correction factor are presented in this report. The values of the boundary-correction factor from the theory, which at the present time is virtually completed, are given in the report for all conventional types of tunnels. With the isolation of certain disturbing effects, the experimental boundary-correction factor was found to be in satisfactory agreement with the theoretically predicted values, thus verifying the soundness and sufficiency of the theoretical analysis" (p. 79).
Date: May 18, 1933
Creator: Theodorsen, Theodore & Silverstein, Abe
System: The UNT Digital Library
Stability of Thin-Walled Tubes Under Torsion (open access)

Stability of Thin-Walled Tubes Under Torsion

"In this report a theoretical solution is developed for the torsion on a round thin-walled tube for which the walls become unstable. The results of this theory are given by a few simple formulas and curves which cover all cases. The differential equations of equilibrium are derived in a simpler form than previously found, it being shown that many items can be neglected" (p. 3).
Date: May 5, 1933
Creator: Donnell, L. H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
A General Integral Form of the Boundary-Layer Equation for Incompressible Flow With an Application to the Calculation of the Separation Point of Turbulent Boundary Layers (open access)

A General Integral Form of the Boundary-Layer Equation for Incompressible Flow With an Application to the Calculation of the Separation Point of Turbulent Boundary Layers

"A general integral form of the boundary-layer equation, valid for either laminar or turbulent incompressible boundary-layer flow, is derived. By using the experimental finding that all velocity profiles of the turbulent boundary layer form essentially a single-parameter family, the general equation is changed to an equation for the space rate of change of the velocity-profile shape parameter. The lack of precise knowledge concerning the surface shear and the distribution of the shearing stress across turbulent boundary layers prevented the attainment of a reliable method for calculating the behavior of turbulent boundary layers" (p. 1067).
Date: May 22, 1950
Creator: Tetervin, Neal & Lin, Chia Chiao
System: The UNT Digital Library
An analysis of base pressure at supersonic velocities and comparison with experiment (open access)

An analysis of base pressure at supersonic velocities and comparison with experiment

From Introduction: "The primary purpose of the investigation described in the present described in the present report is to formulate a method which is of value for qualitative calculations of base pressure both on airfoils and bodies."
Date: May 11, 1951
Creator: Chapman, Dean R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Flutter and oscillating air-force calculations for an airfoil in two-dimensional supersonic flow (open access)

Flutter and oscillating air-force calculations for an airfoil in two-dimensional supersonic flow

A connected account is given of the Possio theory of non-stationary flow for small disturbances in a two-dimensional supersonic flow and of its application to the determination of the aerodynamic forces on an oscillating airfoil. Further application is made to the problem of wing flutter in the degrees of freedom - torsion, bending, and aileron rotations. Numerical tables for flutter calculations are provided for various values of the Mach number greater than unity. Results for bending-torsion wing flutter are shown in figures and are discussed. The static instabilities of divergence and aileron reversal are examined as is a one-degree-of-freedom case of torsional oscillatory instability.
Date: May 29, 1946
Creator: Garrick, I. E. & Rubinow, S. I.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Approximate analysis of effects of large deflections and initial twist on torsional stiffness of a cantilever plate subjected to thermal stresses (open access)

Approximate analysis of effects of large deflections and initial twist on torsional stiffness of a cantilever plate subjected to thermal stresses

From Summary: "An approximate analysis of the nonlinear effects of initial twist and large deflections on the torsional stiffness of a cantilever plate subjected to a nonuniform temperature distribution is presented. The Von Karman large-deflection equations are satisfied through the use of a variational principle. The results show that initial twist and applied moments can have significant effects on the changes in stiffness produced by nonuniform heating, particularly in the region of the buckling temperature difference. Results calculated by this approximate analysis are in satisfactory agreement with measured torsional deformations and changes in natural frequency."
Date: May 15, 1957
Creator: Heldenfels, Richard R. & Vosteen, Louis F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Aerodynamic theory and tests of strut forms 2 (open access)

Aerodynamic theory and tests of strut forms 2

This report presents the second of two studies under the same title. In this part five theoretical struts are developed from distributed sources and sinks and constructed for pressure and resistance tests in a wind tunnel. The surface pressures for symmetrical inviscid flow are computed for each strut from theory and compared with those found by experiment. The theoretical and experimental pressures are found to agree quantitatively near the bow, only qualitatively over the suction range, the experimental suctions being uniformly a little low, and not at all near the stern.
Date: May 1929
Creator: Smith, R. H.
System: The UNT Digital Library