Measurement of Static Pressure on Aircraft (open access)

Measurement of Static Pressure on Aircraft

"Existing data on the errors involved in the measurement of static pressure by means of static-pressure tubes and fuselage vents are presented. The errors associated with the various design features of static-pressure tubes are discussed for the condition of zero angle of attack and for the case where the tube is inclined to flow. Errors which result from variations in the configuration of static-pressure vents are also presented" (p. 645).
Date: December 17, 1956
Creator: Gracey, William
System: The UNT Digital Library
Methods for obtaining desired helicopter stability characteristics and procedures for stability predictions (open access)

Methods for obtaining desired helicopter stability characteristics and procedures for stability predictions

Part I of this report presents a brief review of methods available to the helicopter designer for obtaining desired stability characteristics by modifications to the airframe design. The discussion is based on modifications made during the establishment of flying-qualities criteria and includes sample results of theoretical studies of additional methods. The conclusion is reached that it is now feasible to utilize combinations of methods whereby stability-parameter values are realized which in turn provide the desired stability characteristics. Part II reviews some of the methods of predicting rotor stability derivatives. The procedures by which these rotor derivatives are employed to estimate helicopter stability characteristics have been summarized.
Date: November 30, 1956
Creator: Gustafson, F. B. & Tapscott, Robert J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Investigation of separated flows in supersonic and subsonic streams with emphasis on the effect of transition (open access)

Investigation of separated flows in supersonic and subsonic streams with emphasis on the effect of transition

Report presents the results of experimental and theoretical research conducted on flow separation associated with steps, bases, compression corners, curved surfaces, shock-wave boundary-layer reflections, and configurations producing leading-edge separation. Results were obtained from pressure-distribution measurements, shadowgraph observations, high-speed motion pictures, and oil-film studies. The maximum scope of measurement encompassed Mach numbers between 0.4 and 3.6, and length Reynolds numbers between 4,000 and 5,000,000.
Date: November 29, 1956
Creator: Chapman, Dean R.; Kuehn, Donald M. & Larson, Howard K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
A theoretical and experimental study of planing surfaces including effects of cross section and plan form (open access)

A theoretical and experimental study of planing surfaces including effects of cross section and plan form

A summary is given of the background and present status of the pure-planing theory for rectangular flat plates and v-bottom surfaces. The equations reviewed are compared with experiment. In order to extend the range of available planing data, the principal planing characteristics for models having sharp bottom surfaces having constant angles of dead rise of 20 degrees and 40 degrees. Planing data were also obtained for flat-plate surfaces with very slightly rounded chines for which decreased lift and drag coefficients are obtained.
Date: November 23, 1956
Creator: Shuford, Charles L., Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ditching investigations of dynamic models and effects of design parameters on ditching characteristics (open access)

Ditching investigations of dynamic models and effects of design parameters on ditching characteristics

From Summary: "Data from ditching investigations conducted at the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory with dynamic scale models of various airplanes are presented in the form of tables. The effects of design parameters on the ditching characteristics of airplanes, based on scale-model investigations and on reports of full-scale ditchings, are discussed. Various ditching aids are also discussed as a means of improving ditching behavior."
Date: November 16, 1956
Creator: Fisher, Lloyd J. & Hoffman, Edward L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Effect of chord size on weight and cooling characteristics of air-cooled turbine blades (open access)

Effect of chord size on weight and cooling characteristics of air-cooled turbine blades

An analysis has been made to determine the effect of chord size on the weight and cooling characteristics of shell-supported, air-cooled gas-turbine blades. In uncooled turbines with solid blades, the general practice has been to design turbines with high aspect ratio (small blade chord) to achieve substantial turbine weight reduction. With air-cooled blades, this study shows that turbine blade weight is affected to a much smaller degree by the size of the blade chord.
Date: November 13, 1956
Creator: Esgar, Jack B.; Schum, Eugene F. & Curren, Arthur N.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The response of an airplane to random atmospheric disturbances (open access)

The response of an airplane to random atmospheric disturbances

The statistical approach to the gust-load problem, which consists in considering flight through turbulent air to be a stationary random process, is extended by including the effect of lateral variation of the instantaneous gust intensity on the aerodynamic forces. The forces obtained in this manner are used in dynamic analyses of rigid and flexible airplanes free to move vertically, in pitch, and in roll. The effect of the interaction of longitudinal, normal, and lateral gusts on the wind stresses is also considered.
Date: November 5, 1956
Creator: Diederich, Franklin W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Similarity Rules for Second-Order Subsonic and Supersonic Flow (open access)

The Similarity Rules for Second-Order Subsonic and Supersonic Flow

"The similarity rules for linearized compressible flow theory (Gothert's rule and its supersonic counterpart) are extended to second order. It is shown that any second-order subsonic flow can be related to "nearly incompressible" flow past the same body, which can be calculated by the Janzen-Rayleigh method" (p. 925).
Date: October 18, 1956
Creator: Van Dyke, Milton D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Theoretical analysis of total-pressure loss and airflow distribution for tubular turbojet combustors with constant annulus and liner cross-sectional areas (open access)

Theoretical analysis of total-pressure loss and airflow distribution for tubular turbojet combustors with constant annulus and liner cross-sectional areas

"Compressible and incompressible flow calculations were made of the combustor total-pressure-loss coefficient and liner airflow distribution for tubular turbojet combustors having constant annulus and liner cross-sectional areas along the combustor axis. Information on static and total pressure distribution and liner air-jet entrance angles along the length of the combustor was obtained as an intermediate step in the calculations. The calculations include the effects of heat release, annulus wall friction, and variation in discharge coefficients of the liner wall openings along the combustor" (p. 899).
Date: September 17, 1956
Creator: Graves, Charles C. & Grobman, Jack S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Theoretical calculation of the power spectra of the rolling and yawing moments on a wing in random turbulence (open access)

Theoretical calculation of the power spectra of the rolling and yawing moments on a wing in random turbulence

The correlation functions and power spectra of the rolling and yawing moments on an airplane wing due to the three components of continuous random turbulence are calculated. The rolling moments to the longitudinal (horizontal) and normal (vertical) components depend on the spanwise distributions of instantaneous gust intensity, which are taken into account by using the inherent properties of symmetry of isotropic turbulence. The results consist of expressions for correlation functions or spectra of the rolling moment in terms of the point correlation functions of the two components of turbulence.
Date: September 6, 1956
Creator: Eggleston, John M. & Diederich, Franklin W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Average Properties of Compressible Laminar Boundary Layer on Flat Plate With Unsteady Flight Velocity (open access)

Average Properties of Compressible Laminar Boundary Layer on Flat Plate With Unsteady Flight Velocity

The time-average characteristics of boundary layers over a flat plate in nearly quasi-steady flow are determined. The plate may be either insulated or isothermal. The time averages are found without specifying the plate velocity explicitly except that it is positive and has an average value.
Date: September 5, 1956
Creator: Moore, Franklin K. & Ostrach, Simon
System: The UNT Digital Library
Theory of self-excited mechanical oscillations of helicopter rotors with hinged blades (open access)

Theory of self-excited mechanical oscillations of helicopter rotors with hinged blades

Vibrations of rotary-wing aircraft may derive their energy from the rotation of the rotor rather than from the air forces. A theoretical analysis of these vibrations is described and methods for its application are explained in Chapter one. Chapter two reports the results of an investigation of the mechanical stability of a rotor having two vertically hinged blades mounted upon symmetrical supports, that is, of equal stiffness and mass in all horizontal directions. Chapter three presents the theory of ground vibrations of a two-blade helicopter rotor on anisotropic flexible supports.
Date: August 24, 1956
Creator: Coleman, Robert P. & Feingold, Arnold M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
A low-speed experimental investigation of the effect of a sandpaper type of roughness on boundary-layer transition (open access)

A low-speed experimental investigation of the effect of a sandpaper type of roughness on boundary-layer transition

From Summary: "An investigation was made in the Langley low-turbulence pressure tunnel to determine the effect of size and location of a sandpaper type of roughness on the Reynolds number for transition. Transition was observed by means of a hot-wire anemometer located at various chordwise stations for each position of the roughness. These observations indicated that when the roughness is sufficiently submerged in the boundary layer to provide a substantially linear variation of boundary-layer velocity with distance from the surface up to the top of the roughness, turbulent "spots" begin to appear immediately behind the roughness when the Reynolds number based on the velocity at the top of the roughness height exceeds a value of approximately 600. At Reynolds numbers even slightly below the critical value (value for transition), the sandpaper type of roughness introduced no measurable disturbances into the laminar layer downstream of the roughness. The extent of the roughness area does not appear to have an important effect on the critical value of the roughness Reynolds number."
Date: August 15, 1956
Creator: von Doenhoff, Albert E. & Horton, Elmer A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Spark ignition of flowing gases (open access)

Spark ignition of flowing gases

Research conducted at the NACA Lewis Laboratory on ignition of flowing gases by means of long-duration discharges is summarized and analyzed. Data showing the effect of a flowing combustible mixture on the physical and electrical characteristics of spark discharges and data showing the effects of variables on the spark energy required for ignition that has been developed to predict the effect of many of the gas-stream and spark variables is described and applied to a limited amount of experimental data.
Date: June 20, 1956
Creator: Swett, Clyde C., Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Torsional Stiffness of Thin-Walled Shells Having Reinforcing Cores and Rectangular, Triangular, or Diamond Cross Section (open access)

Torsional Stiffness of Thin-Walled Shells Having Reinforcing Cores and Rectangular, Triangular, or Diamond Cross Section

"A theoretical investigation has been made of the Saint-Venant torsion of certain composite bars. These bars are composed of two materials -- one material in the form of a thin-walled cylindrical shell and the other material in the form of a core which fills the interior of the shell and is bonded to it. An approximate boundary-value problem is formulated on assumptions similar to those of the theory of torsion of hollow thin-walled shells (Bredt theory)" (p. 771).
Date: June 7, 1956
Creator: McComb, Harvey G., Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
An experimental investigation of sting-support effects on drag and a comparison with jet effects at transonic speeds (open access)

An experimental investigation of sting-support effects on drag and a comparison with jet effects at transonic speeds

Various dummy stings were tested on the rear of a related series of afterbody shapes for Mach numbers from 0.80 to 1.10 and Reynolds numbers based on body length from 15.0 x 16 to the 6th power to 17.4 x 10 to the 6th power. A method is presented whereby approximate sting interference corrections can be made to models having afterbody shapes and sting supports similar to those of these tests if the Reynolds numbers are of the same order of magnitude and a turbulent boundary layer exists at the model base. Also presented is an analysis of jet duplication by use of a sting.
Date: June 4, 1956
Creator: Cahn, Maurice S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Simplified Method for Approximating the Transient Motion in Angles of Attack and Sideslip During a Constant Rolling Maneuver (open access)

A Simplified Method for Approximating the Transient Motion in Angles of Attack and Sideslip During a Constant Rolling Maneuver

"The transient motion in angles of attack and sideslip during a constant rolling maneuver has been analyzed. Simplified expressions are presented for the determination of the pertinent modes of motion as well as the modal coefficient corresponding to each mode. Calculations made with and without the derivatives for side force due to sideslip and lift-curve slope indicate that although these derivatives increase the total damping of the system they do not markedly affect the transient motion" (p. 131).
Date: May 22, 1956
Creator: Sternfield, Leonard
System: The UNT Digital Library
A special method for finding body distortions that reduce the wave drag of wing and body combinations at supersonic speeds (open access)

A special method for finding body distortions that reduce the wave drag of wing and body combinations at supersonic speeds

For a given wing and supersonic Mach number, the problem of shaping an adjoining fuselage so that the combination will have a low wave drag is considered. Only fuselages that can be simulated by singularities (multipoles) distributed along the body axis are studied. However, the optimum variations of such singularities are completely specified in terms of the given wing geometry. An application is made to an elliptic wing having a biconvex section, a thickness-chord ratio equal to 0.05 at the root, and an aspect ratio equal to 3. A comparison of the theoretical results with a wind-tunnel experiment is also presented.
Date: May 16, 1956
Creator: Lomax, Harvard & Heaslet, Max A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Propagation of a free flame in a turbulent gas stream (open access)

Propagation of a free flame in a turbulent gas stream

Effective flame speeds of free turbulent flames were measured by photographic, ionization-gap, and photomultiplier-tube methods, and were found to have a statistical distribution attributed to the nature of the turbulent field. The effective turbulent flame speeds for the free flame were less than those previously measured for flames stabilized on nozzle burners, Bunsen burners, and bluff bodies. The statistical spread of the effective turbulent flame speeds was markedly wider in the lean and rich fuel-air-ratio regions, which might be attributed to the greater sensitivity of laminar flame speed to flame temperature in those regions. Values calculated from the turbulent free-flame-speed analysis proposed by Tucker apparently form upper limits for the statistical spread of free-flame-speed data. Hot-wire anemometer measurements of the longitudinal velocity fluctuation intensity and longitudinal correlation coefficient were made and were employed in the comparison of data and in the theoretical calculation of turbulent flame speed.
Date: May 7, 1956
Creator: Mickelsen, William R. & Ernstein, Norman E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Intensity, scale, and spectra of turbulence in mixing region of free subsonic jet (open access)

Intensity, scale, and spectra of turbulence in mixing region of free subsonic jet

Report presents the results of the measurements of intensity of turbulence, the longitudinal and lateral correlation coefficients, and the spectra of turbulence in a 3.5-inch-diameter free jet measured with hot-wire anemometers at exit Mach numbers from 0.2 to 0.7 and Reynolds numbers from 192,000 to 725,000.
Date: April 24, 1956
Creator: Laurence, James C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
An evaluation of four experimental methods for measuring mean properties of a supersonic turbulent boundary layer (open access)

An evaluation of four experimental methods for measuring mean properties of a supersonic turbulent boundary layer

From Summary: "Surveys were made through a turbulent boundary layer on a flat plate by means of a pitot probe, an x-ray densitometer, and hot-wire and cold-wire probes. Results from these surveys were analyzed to determine (a) the reliability of the basic data and hence the methods by which they were obtained, and (b) how well the actual distributions of properties in the boundary layer compare with those commonly assumed in semiempirical and theoretical analyses. All surveys were made at the same longitudinal station on the flat plate. The tests were conducted in a an 8- by 8-inch supersonic nozzle. The free-stream Mach number was 3.03 and the Reynolds number was approximately 210,000 based on boundary-layer thickness."
Date: April 19, 1956
Creator: Nothwang, George J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Three-dimensional transonic flow theory applied to slender wings and bodies (open access)

Three-dimensional transonic flow theory applied to slender wings and bodies

The present paper re-examines the derivation of the integral equations for transonic flow around slender wings and bodies of revolution, giving special attention to conditions resulting from the presence of shock waves and to the reduction of the relations to the special forms necessary for the discussion of sonic flow, that is, flow at free-stream Mach number 1.
Date: April 2, 1956
Creator: Heaslet, Max A. & Spreiter, John R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Induced Velocities Near a Lifting Rotor With Nonuniform Disk Loading (open access)

Induced Velocities Near a Lifting Rotor With Nonuniform Disk Loading

A method is given for converting known uniformly loaded rotor induced velocities to correspond with arbitrary axisymmetric nonuniform disk load distributions. Numerical results for two specific distributions are given in chart form. Symmetry relations and relations between radial disk loading and wake velocities are developed. Experimental flow measurements are presented and compared with theory. Reasonable agreement is shown in the forward part of the flow when nonuniform loading is assumed, but far behind the rotor the flow is more like that of a wing.
Date: April 1956
Creator: Heyson, Harry H. & Katzoff, S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Investigation of the Laminar Aerodynamic Heat-Transfer Characteristics of a Hemisphere-Cylinder in the Langley 11-inch Hypersonic Tunnel at a Mach Number of 6.8 (open access)

Investigation of the Laminar Aerodynamic Heat-Transfer Characteristics of a Hemisphere-Cylinder in the Langley 11-inch Hypersonic Tunnel at a Mach Number of 6.8

"A program to investigate the aerodynamic heat transfer of a nonisothermal hemisphere-cylinder has been conducted in the Langley 11-inch hypersonic tunnel at a Mach number of 6.8 and a Reynolds number from approximately 0.14 x 10(6) to 1.06 x 10(6) based on diameter and free-stream conditions. The experimental heat-transfer coefficients were slightly less over the whole body than those predicted by the theory of Stine and Wanlass (NACA technical note 3344) for an isothermal surface. For stations within 45 degrees of the stagnation point the heat-transfer coefficients could be correlated by a single relation between local Stanton number and local Reynolds number" (p. 1001).
Date: March 21, 1956
Creator: Crawford, Davis H. & McCauley, William D.
System: The UNT Digital Library