Airship Model Tests in the Variable Density Wind Tunnel (open access)

Airship Model Tests in the Variable Density Wind Tunnel

This report presents the results of wind tunnel tests conducted to determine the aerodynamic characteristics of airship models. Eight Goodyear-Zeppelin airship models were tested in the original closed-throat tunnel. After the tunnel was rebuilt with an open throat a new model was tested, and one of the Goodyear-Zeppelin models was retested. The results indicate that much may be done to determine the drag of airships from evaluations of the pressure and skin-frictional drags on models tested at large Reynolds number.
Date: January 27, 1931
Creator: Abbott, Ira H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tests in the variable-density wind tunnel of the NACA 23012 airfoil with plain and split flaps (open access)

Tests in the variable-density wind tunnel of the NACA 23012 airfoil with plain and split flaps

From Summary: "Section characteristics for use in wing design are presented for the NACA 23012 airfoil with plain and split flaps of 20 percent wing chord at a value of the effective Reynolds number of about 8,000,000. The flap deflections covered a range from 60 degrees upward to 75 degrees downward for the plain flap and from neutral to 90 degrees downward for the split flap. The split flap was aerodynamically superior to the plain flap in producing high maximum lift coefficients and in having lower profile-drag coefficients at high lift coefficients."
Date: January 21, 1938
Creator: Abbott, Ira H. & Greenberg, Harry
System: The UNT Digital Library
A study of the torque equilibrium of an autogiro rotor (open access)

A study of the torque equilibrium of an autogiro rotor

From Summary: "Two improvements have been made in the method developed in NACA Reports nos. 487 and 591 for the estimation of the inflow velocity required to overcome a given decelerating torque in an autogiro rotor. At low tip-speed ratios, where the assumptions necessary for the analytical integrations of the earlier papers are valid, the expressions therein derived are greatly simplified by combining and eliminating terms with a view of minimizing the numerical computations required. At high tip-speed ratios, by means of charts based on graphical integrations, errors inherent in the assumptions associated with the analytical method are largely eliminated."
Date: January 10, 1938
Creator: Bailey, F. J., Jr.
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
Flight tests on U.S.S. Los Angeles. Part 2: stress and strength determination (open access)

Flight tests on U.S.S. Los Angeles. Part 2: stress and strength determination

From Summary: "The tests described in this report furnished data on the actual aerodynamic forces, and the resulting stresses and bending moments in the hull of the U. S. S. "Los Angeles" during as severe still-air maneuvers as the airship would normally be subjected to, and in straight flight during as rough air as is likely to occur in service, short of squall or storm conditions. The maximum stresses were found to be within the limits provided for in accepted practice in airship design. Normal flight in rough air was shown to produce forces and stresses about twice as great as the most severe still-air maneuvers."
Date: January 1930
Creator: Burgess, C. P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Mechanism of Atomization Accompanying Solid Injection (open access)

The Mechanism of Atomization Accompanying Solid Injection

"A brief historical and descriptive account of solid injection is followed by a detailed review of the available theoretical and experimental data that seem to throw light on the mechanism of this form of atomization. It is concluded that this evidence indicates that (1) the atomization accompanying solid injection occurs at the surface of the liquid after it issues as a solid stream from the orifice; and (2) that such atomization has a mechanism physically identical with the atomization which takes place in an air stream, both being due merely to the formation, at the gas-liquid interface, of fine ligaments under the influence of the relative motion of gas and liquid, and to their collapse, under the influence of surface tension, to form the drops in the spray" (p. 735).
Date: January 6, 1932
Creator: Castleman, R. A., Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Aircraft Accidents: Method of Analysis (open access)

Aircraft Accidents: Method of Analysis

The revised report includes the chart for the analysis of aircraft accidents, combining consideration of the immediate causes, underlying causes, and results of accidents, as prepared by the special committee, with a number of the definitions clarified. A brief statement of the organization and work of the special committee and of the Committee on Aircraft Accidents; and statistical tables giving a comparison of the types of accidents and causes of accidents in the military services on the one hand and in civil aviation on the other, together with explanations of some of the important differences noted in these tables.
Date: January 28, 1930
Creator: Committee on Aircraft Accidents
System: The UNT Digital Library
The calculation of take-off run (open access)

The calculation of take-off run

From Summary: "A comparatively simple method of calculating length of take-off run is developed from the assumption of a linear variation in net accelerating force with air speed and it is shown that the error involved is negligible. Detailed instructions are given for application of the formula and for the calculation of all factors involved."
Date: January 1934
Creator: Diehl, Walter S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The estimation of maximum load capacity of seaplanes and flying boats (open access)

The estimation of maximum load capacity of seaplanes and flying boats

This reports presents a method of calculating time and gross load for take-off of seaplanes and flying boats.
Date: January 1934
Creator: Diehl, Walter S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Effect of Water Vapor on Flame Velocity in Equivalent Carbon Monoxide and Oxygen Mixtures (open access)

The Effect of Water Vapor on Flame Velocity in Equivalent Carbon Monoxide and Oxygen Mixtures

This report presents the results of an investigation to study the effect of water vapor upon the spatial speed of flame in equivalent mixtures of carbon monoxide and oxygen at various total pressures from 100 to 780 mm.hg. These results show that, within this pressure range, an increase in flame speed is produced by increasing the mole fraction of water vapor at least as far as saturation at 25 degrees c., and that the rate of this increase is greater the higher the pressure. It is evident that water vapor plays an important part in the explosive oxidation of carbon monoxide; the need for further experimental evidence as to the nature of its action is indicated.
Date: January 10, 1935
Creator: Fiock, Ernest F. & King, H. Kendall
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Soap-Bubble Method of Studying the Combustion of Mixtures of Carbon Monoxide and Oxygen (open access)

The Soap-Bubble Method of Studying the Combustion of Mixtures of Carbon Monoxide and Oxygen

This investigation is a detailed description of the soap-bubble, or constant-pressure, method as applied to the explosive oxidation of carbon monoxide. A series of values of the speed of flame in space in various mixtures of CO and O2 containing a constant percentage of water vapor was obtained by the constant-volume method. These results served as a guide in the perfection of the soap-bubble method.
Date: January 10, 1935
Creator: Fiock, Ernest F. & Roeder, Carl H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The effect of small angles of yaw and pitch on the characteristics of airplane propellers (open access)

The effect of small angles of yaw and pitch on the characteristics of airplane propellers

This report presents the results of wind tunnel tests to determine the effect on the characteristics of a propeller of inclining the propeller axis at small angles to the relative wind. Tests were made of a full-scale propeller and fuselage combination at four angles of yaw (0 degree, +5 degrees, +10 degrees, +15 degrees), and of a model propeller, nacelle, and wing combination of five angles of pitch (-5 degrees, 0 degree, +5 degrees, +10 degrees and +15 degrees). The results of the full-scale tests of a propeller and fuselage, without a wing, show that the effect on the propeller performance is small. Similar results are shown by the model test data except that where the propeller is directly in front of the wing there is an appreciable decrease in effective thrust and propulsive efficiency with increase of angle of pitch.
Date: January 20, 1931
Creator: Freeman, Hugh B.
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
Airfoil Pressure Distribution Investigation in the Variable Density Wind Tunnel (open access)

Airfoil Pressure Distribution Investigation in the Variable Density Wind Tunnel

Report presents the results of wind tunnel tests of pressure distribution measurements over one section each of six airfoils. Pressure distribution diagrams, as well as the integrated characteristics of the airfoils, are given for both a high and a low dynamic scale or, Reynolds number VL/V, for comparison with flight and other wind-tunnel tests, respectively. It is concluded that the scale effect is very important only at angles of attack near the burble.
Date: January 14, 1930
Creator: Jacobs, Eastman N.; Stack, John & Pinkerton, Robert M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Collection of wind-tunnel data on commonly used wing sections (open access)

Collection of wind-tunnel data on commonly used wing sections

This report groups in a uniform manner the aerodynamic properties of commonly used wing sections as determined from tests in various wind tunnels. The data have been collected from reports of a number of laboratories. Where necessary, transformation has been made to the absolute system of coefficients and tunnel wall interference corrections have been applied. Tables and graphs present the data in the various forms useful to the engineer in the selection of a wing section.
Date: January 1930
Creator: Louden, F. A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Aircraft Woods: Their Properties, Selection, and Characteristics (open access)

Aircraft Woods: Their Properties, Selection, and Characteristics

From Summary: "This report presents, further, information on the properties of various other native species of wood compared with spruce, and discusses the characteristics of a considerable number of them from the standpoint of their possible application in aircraft manufacture to supplement the woods that are now most commonly used."
Date: January 1, 1930
Creator: Markwardt, L. J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tests of nacelle-propeller combinations in various positions with reference to wings 4: thick wing - various radial-engine cowlings - tandem propellers (open access)

Tests of nacelle-propeller combinations in various positions with reference to wings 4: thick wing - various radial-engine cowlings - tandem propellers

This report is the fourth of a series giving the results obtained from wind tunnel tests to determine the interference lift and drag and propulsive efficiency of wing-nacelle-propeller combinations. Previous reports give the results of tests with tractor propellers with various forms of nacelles and engine cowlings. This report gives the results of tests of tandem arrangements of engines and propellers in 11 positions with reference to a thick wing.
Date: January 17, 1934
Creator: McHugh, James G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Design of Airplane Wing Ribs (open access)

The Design of Airplane Wing Ribs

"The purpose of this investigation was to obtain information for use in the design of truss and plywood forms, particularly with reference to wing ribs. Tests were made on many designs of wing ribs, comparing different types in various sizes. Many tests were also made on parallel-chord specimens of truss and plywood forms in place of the actual ribs and on parts of wing ribs, such as truss diagonals and sections of cap strips" (p. 223).
Date: January 8, 1930
Creator: Newlin, J. A. & Trayer, George W.
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
A method for computing leading-edge loads (open access)

A method for computing leading-edge loads

From Summary: "In this report a formula is developed that enables the determination of the proper design load for the portion of the wing forward of the front spar. The formula is inherently rational in concept, as it takes into account the most important variables that affect the leading-edge load, although theoretical rigor has been sacrificed for simplicity and ease of application. Some empirical corrections, based on pressure distribution measurements on the PW-9 and M-3 airplanes have been introduced to provide properly for biplanes. Results from the formula check experimental values in a variety of cases with good accuracy in the critical loading conditions. The use of the method for design purposes is therefore felt to be justified and is recommended."
Date: January 16, 1931
Creator: Rhode, Richard V. & Pearson, Henry A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Some effects of injection advance angle, engine-jacket temperature, and speed on combustion in a compression-ignition engine (open access)

Some effects of injection advance angle, engine-jacket temperature, and speed on combustion in a compression-ignition engine

"An optical indicator and a high-speed motion-picture camera capable of operating at the rate of 2,000 frames per second were used to record simultaneously the pressure development and the flame formation in the combustion chamber of the NACA combustion apparatus. Tests were made at engine speeds of 570 and 1,500 r.p.m. The engine-jacket temperature was varied from 100 degrees to 300 degrees F. And the injection advance angle from 13 degrees after top center to 120 degrees before top center. The results show that the course of the combustion is largely controlled by the temperature and pressure of the air in the chamber from the time the fuel is injected until the time at which combustion starts and by the ignition lag" (p. 343).
Date: January 15, 1935
Creator: Rothrock, A. M. & Waldron, C. D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Comparative Performance of Superchargers (open access)

The Comparative Performance of Superchargers

"This report presents a comparison of superchargers on the basis of the power required to compress the air at a definite rate, and on the basis of the net engine power developed at altitudes from 0 to 40,000 feet. The investigation included geared centrifugal, turbine-driven centrifugal, roots, and vane-type superchargers. It also includes a brief discussion of the mechanical limitations of each supercharger and explains how the method of control affects the power requirements" (p. 425).
Date: January 13, 1931
Creator: Schey, Oscar W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Flight Investigation of the Effect of Mass Distribution and Control Setting on the Spinning of the XN2Y-1 Airplane (open access)

A Flight Investigation of the Effect of Mass Distribution and Control Setting on the Spinning of the XN2Y-1 Airplane

"The investigation of the effect of mass distribution on the spinning of airplanes initiated with tests on the NY-1 airplane has been continued by tests on another airplane in order to increase the scope of the information and to observe particularly the behavior of an airplane that shows considerable change in sideslip angle for its various conditions of spinning. The XN2Y-1 naval training biplane was used for the present tests in which changes of ballast along the longitudinal and lateral axes and changes of aileron, stabilizer, and elevator settings were made. The effects of these changes on the steady spin were measured in flight' (p. 185).
Date: January 10, 1934
Creator: Scudder, N. F.
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