Nomenclature for Aeronautics (open access)

Nomenclature for Aeronautics

The nomenclature for aeronautics presented in this Report No. 474 is a revision of the last previous report on this subject (i.e., Report no. 240.) This report is published for the purpose of encouraging greater uniformity and precision in the use of terms relating to aeronautics, both in official documents of the Government and in commercial publications. Terms in general use in other branches of engineering have been included only where they have some special significance in aeronautics, or form an integral part of its terminology.
Date: 1939
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Determination of the Profile Drag of an Airplane Wing in Flight at High Reynolds Numbers (open access)

Determination of the Profile Drag of an Airplane Wing in Flight at High Reynolds Numbers

Report presenting flight tests to determine the profile-drag coefficients of a portion of the original wing surface of an all-metal airplane and a portion of the wing made aerodynamically smooth and more nearly fair than the original section. Tests were also carried out to determine the point of transition from laminar to turbulent boundary layer and to determine the velocity distribution along the upper surface of the wing.
Date: 1939
Creator: Bicknell, Joseph
System: The UNT Digital Library
The design of fins for air-cooled cylinders (open access)

The design of fins for air-cooled cylinders

From Summary: "An analysis was made to determine the proportions of fins made of aluminum, copper, magnesium, and steel necessary to dissipate maximum quantities of heat for different fin widths, fin weights, and air-flow conditions. The analysis also concerns the determination of the optimum fin proportions when specified limits are placed on the fin dimensions. The calculation of the heat flow in the fins is based on experimentally verified, theoretical equations. The surface heat-transfer coefficients used with this equation were taken from previously reported experiments. In addition to the presentation of fin-design information, this investigation shows that optimum fin dimensions are inappreciably affected by the differences in air flow that are obtained with different air-flow arrangements or by small changes in the length of the air-flow path."
Date: June 28, 1939
Creator: Biermann, Arnold E. & Ellerbrock, Herman H., Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
An investigation of the drag of windshields in the 8-foot high-speed wind tunnel (open access)

An investigation of the drag of windshields in the 8-foot high-speed wind tunnel

Report presents the results of tests made to determine the drag of closed-cockpit and transport-type windshields. The tests were made at speeds corresponding to a Mach number range of approximately 0.25 to 0.58 in the NACA 8-foot high-speed wind tunnel. This speed range corresponds to a test Reynolds number range of 2,510,000 to 4,830,000 based on the mean aerodynamic chord of the full-span model (17.29 in.). The shapes of the windshield proper, the hood, and the tail fairing were systematically varied to include common types and refined design.
Date: May 22, 1939
Creator: Robinson, Russell G. & Delano, James B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
High-Speed Tests of Conventional Radial-Engine Cowlings (open access)

High-Speed Tests of Conventional Radial-Engine Cowlings

The drag characteristics of eight radial-engine cowlings have been determined over a wide speed range in the NACA 8-foot high-speed wind tunnel. The pressure distribution over all cowlings was measured, to and above the speed of the compressibility burble, as an aid in interpreting the force tests. One-fifth-scale models of radial-engine cowlings on a wing-nacelle combination were used in the tests.
Date: March 30, 1939
Creator: Robinson, Russell G. & Becker, John V.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Aircraft rate-of-climb indicators (open access)

Aircraft rate-of-climb indicators

From Summary: "The theory of the rate-of-climb indicator is developed in a form adapted for application to the instrument in its present-day form. Certain dynamic effects, including instrument lag, and the use of the rate-of-climb indicator as a statoscope are also considered. Modern instruments are described. A laboratory test procedure is outlined and test results are given."
Date: 1939
Creator: Johnson, Daniel P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Determination of the Profile Drag of an Airplane Wing in Flight at High Reynolds Numbers (open access)

Determination of the Profile Drag of an Airplane Wing in Flight at High Reynolds Numbers

"Flight tests were made to determine the profile-drag coefficients of a portion of the original wing surface of an all-metal airplane and of a portion of the wing made aerodynamically smooth and more nearly fair than the original section. The wing section was approximately the NACA 2414.5. The tests were carried out over a range of airplane speeds giving a maximum Reynolds number of 15,000,000. Tests were also carried out to locate the point of transition from laminar to turbulent boundary layer and to determine the velocity distribution along the upper surface of the wing" (p. 483).
Date: January 6, 1939
Creator: Bicknell, Joseph
System: The UNT Digital Library
Calculation of the Aerodynamic Characteristics of Tapered Wings With Partial-Span Flaps (open access)

Calculation of the Aerodynamic Characteristics of Tapered Wings With Partial-Span Flaps

"Factors derived from wing theory are presented. By means of these factors, the angle of zero lift, the lift-curve slope, the pitching moment, the aerodynamic-center position, and the induced drag of tapered wings with partial-span flaps may be calculated. The factors are given for wings of aspect ratios 6 and 10 , of taper ratios from 0.25 to 1.00, and with flaps of various length. An example is presented of the method of application of the factors. Fair agreement with experimental results is shown for two wings of different taper ratio having plain flaps of various spacing" (p. 1).
Date: January 23, 1939
Creator: Pearson, Henry A. & Anderson, Raymond F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Effective Gust Structure at Low Altitudes as Determined From the Reactions of an Airplane (open access)

Effective Gust Structure at Low Altitudes as Determined From the Reactions of an Airplane

"Measurements of gust structure and gust intensity were made in the lower levels of the atmosphere (0 to 3,500 ft.). An Aeronca C-2 airplane was used as the measuring instrument, the gust structure being derived from the recorded motions of the airplane. Data were also obtained on wind velocities and temperatures as functions of altitude for use in attempting to correlate the gust-structure data with various meteorological quantities" (p. 263).
Date: October 19, 1939
Creator: Donely, Philip
System: The UNT Digital Library
Mechanical Properties of Flush-Riveted Joints (open access)

Mechanical Properties of Flush-Riveted Joints

"The strength of representative types of flush-riveted joints has been determined by testing 865 single-shearing, double-shearing, and tensile specimens representing 7 types of rivet and 18 types of joint. The results, presented in graphic form, show the stress at failure, type of failure, and d/t ratio. In general, dimpled joints were appreciably stronger than countersunk or protruding-head joints, but their strength was greatly influenced by constructional details" (p. 467).
Date: November 1939
Creator: Brueggeman, W. C. & Roop, Frederick C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The unsteady lift of a wing of finite aspect ratio (open access)

The unsteady lift of a wing of finite aspect ratio

"Unsteady-lift functions for wings of finite aspect ratio have been calculated by correcting the aerodynamic inertia and the angle of attack of the infinite wing. The calculations are based on the operational method. The starting lift of the finite wing is found to be only slightly less than that of the infinite wing; whereas the final lift may be considerably less" (p. 1).
Date: June 15, 1939
Creator: Jones, Robert T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The application of basic data on planing surfaces to the design of flying-boat hulls (open access)

The application of basic data on planing surfaces to the design of flying-boat hulls

From Introduction: "This report is concerned with the presentation of planning data in a form that facilities direct application to the initial stage of design."
Date: December 16, 1939
Creator: Diehl, Walter S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Preliminary wind-tunnel investigation of an NACA 23012 airfoil with various arrangements of venetian-blind flaps (open access)

Preliminary wind-tunnel investigation of an NACA 23012 airfoil with various arrangements of venetian-blind flaps

Report presents the results of an investigation made in the NACA 7 by 10-foot wind tunnel of a large-chord NACA 23012 airfoil with several arrangements of venetian-blind flaps to determine the aerodynamic section characteristics as affected by the over-all flap chord, the chords of the slats used to form the flap, the slat spacing, the number of slats and the position of the flap with respect to the wing. Complete section data are given in the form of graphs for all the combinations tested.
Date: January 10, 1939
Creator: Wenzinger, Carl J. & Harris, Thomas A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Longitudinal Stability and Control With Special Reference to Slipstream Effects (open access)

Longitudinal Stability and Control With Special Reference to Slipstream Effects

Report presents the results of a study of data obtained in the NACA full-scale wind tunnel concerning the effects of interference and of propeller operation on longitudinal stability and control. The data include pitching moments for various power conditions for airplanes with tails removed and with tails set at various stabilizer and elevator angles. A number of surveys of the dynamic pressure and the flow direction in the region of the horizontal tail surface are also included.
Date: August 24, 1939
Creator: Katzoff, S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cooling on the front of an air-cooled engine cylinder in a conventional engine cowling (open access)

Cooling on the front of an air-cooled engine cylinder in a conventional engine cowling

Measurements were made of the cooling on the fronts of model cylinders in a conventional cowling for cooling in both the ground and the cruising conditions. The mechanisms of front and rear cooling are essentially different. Cooling on the rear baffled part of the cylinders continually increases with increasing fin width. For the front of the cylinder, an optimum fin width was found to exist beyond which an increase in width reduced the heat transfer. The heat transfer coefficient on the front of the cylinders was larger on the side of the cylinder facing the propeller swirl than on the opposite side. This effect became more pronounced as the fin width was increased. These results are introductory to the study of front cooling and show the general effect of several test parameters.
Date: April 5, 1939
Creator: Brevoort, M. J. & Joyner, U. T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Effects of elevator nose shape, gap, balance, and tabs on the aerodynamic characteristics of a horizontal tail surface (open access)

Effects of elevator nose shape, gap, balance, and tabs on the aerodynamic characteristics of a horizontal tail surface

Results are presented showing the effects of gap, elevator, nose shape, balance, cut-out, and tabs on the aerodynamic characteristics of a horizontal tail surface tested in the NACA full-scale tunnel.
Date: April 27, 1939
Creator: Goett, Harry J. & Reeder, J. P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Flame Speeds and Energy Considerations for Explosions in a Spherical Bomb (open access)

Flame Speeds and Energy Considerations for Explosions in a Spherical Bomb

"Simultaneous measurements were made of the speed of flame and the rise in pressure during explosions of mixtures of carbon monoxide, normal heptane, iso-octane, and benzene in a 10-inch spherical bomb with central ignition. From these records, fundamental properties of the explosive mixtures, which are independent of the apparatus, were computed. The transformation velocity, or speed at which flame advances into and transforms the explosive mixture, increases with both the temperature and the pressure of the unburned gas" (p. 39).
Date: September 28, 1939
Creator: Fiock, Ernest F.; Marvin, Charles F., Jr.; Caldwell, Frank R. & Roeder, Carl H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Correlation of Cooling Data From an Air-Cooled Cylinder and Several Multicylinder Engines (open access)

Correlation of Cooling Data From an Air-Cooled Cylinder and Several Multicylinder Engines

"The theory of engine-cylinder cooling developed in a previous report was further substantiated by data obtained on a cylinder from a Wright R-1820-G engine. Equations are presented for the average head and barrel temperatures of this cylinder as functions of the engine and the cooling conditions. These equations are utilized to calculate the variation in cylinder temperature with altitude for level flight and climb" (p. 59).
Date: August 15, 1939
Creator: Pinkel, Benjamin & Ellerbrock, Herman H., Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Static Thrust and Power Characteristics of Six Full-Scale Propellers (open access)

Static Thrust and Power Characteristics of Six Full-Scale Propellers

"Static thrust and power measurements were made of six full-scale propellers. The propellers were mounted in front of a liquid-cooled-engine nacelle and were tested at 15 different blade angles in the range from -7 1/2 degrees to 35 degrees at 0.75r. The test rig was located outdoors and the tests were made under conditions of approximately zero wind velocity" (p. 85).
Date: January 25, 1939
Creator: Hartman, Edwin P. & Biermann, David
System: The UNT Digital Library
The effect of nacelle-propeller diameter ratio on body interference and on propeller and cooling characteristics (open access)

The effect of nacelle-propeller diameter ratio on body interference and on propeller and cooling characteristics

Report presents the results of an investigation conducted in the NACA 20-foot tunnel to determine the slipstream drag, the body interference, and the cooling characteristics of nacelle-propeller diameter. Four combinations of geometrically similar propellers and nacelles, mounted on standard wing supports, were tested with values of the ratio of nacelle diameter to propeller diameter of 0.25, 0.33, and 0.44.
Date: April 17, 1939
Creator: McHugh, James G. & Derring, Eldridge H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Effect of fuel-air ratio, inlet temperature, and exhaust pressure on detonation (open access)

Effect of fuel-air ratio, inlet temperature, and exhaust pressure on detonation

From Summary: "An accurate determination of the end-gas condition was attempted by applying a refined method of analysis to experimental results. The results are compared with those obtained in Technical Report no. 655. The experimental technique employed afforded excellent control over the engine variables and unusual cyclic reproducibility. This, in conjunction with the new analysis, made possible the determination of the state of the end-gas at any instant to a fair degree of precision. Results showed that for any given maximum pressure the maximum permissible end-gas temperature increased as the fuel-air ratio was increased. The tendency to detonate was slightly reduced by an increase in residual gas content resulting from an increase in exhaust backpressure with inlet pressure constant."
Date: November 15, 1939
Creator: Taylor, E. S.; Leary, W. A. & Diver, J. R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Effect of exit-slot position and opening on the available cooling pressure for NACA nose-slot cowlings (open access)

Effect of exit-slot position and opening on the available cooling pressure for NACA nose-slot cowlings

Report presents the results of an investigation of full-scale nose-slot cowlings conducted in the NACA 20-foot wind tunnel to furnish information on the pressure drop available for cooling. Engine conductances from 0 to 0.12 and exit-slot conductances from 0 to 0.30 were covered. Two basic nose shapes were tested to determine the effect of the radius of curvature of the nose contour; the nose shape with the smaller radius of curvature gave the higher pressure drop across the engine. The best axial location of the slot for low-speed operation was found to be in the region of maximum negative pressure for the basic shape for the particular operating condition. The effect of the pressure operating condition on the available cooling pressure is shown.
Date: January 18, 1939
Creator: Stickle, George W.; Naiman, Irven & Crigler, John L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Wind-tunnel investigation of NACA 23012, 23021, and 23030 airfoils with various sizes of split flap (open access)

Wind-tunnel investigation of NACA 23012, 23021, and 23030 airfoils with various sizes of split flap

Report presents the results of an investigation made in the NACA 7 by 10-foot wind tunnel of large-chord NACA and 23021, and 23030 airfoils with split flaps 10, 20, 30, and 40 percent of the wing chord to determine the section aerodynamic characteristics of the airfoils as affected by airfoil thickness, flap chord, and flap deflection. The complete section aerodynamic characteristics of all the combinations tested are given in the form of graphs of lift, drag, and pitching-moment coefficients, and certain applications to aerodynamic design are discussed.
Date: March 10, 1939
Creator: Wenzinger, Carl J. & Harris, Thomas A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Airfoil section data obtained in the NACA variable-density tunnel as affected by support interference and other corrections (open access)

Airfoil section data obtained in the NACA variable-density tunnel as affected by support interference and other corrections

From Introduction: "The purpose of this report is to present the corrections for application to published results from the variable-density tunnel to give more reliable values of section profile-drag coefficient for airfoils of various thickness."
Date: 1939
Creator: Jacobs, Eastman N. & Abbott, Ira H.
System: The UNT Digital Library