The Aerodynamic Characteristics of Airfoils as Affected by Surface Roughness (open access)

The Aerodynamic Characteristics of Airfoils as Affected by Surface Roughness

"The effect on airfoil characteristics of surface roughness of varying degrees and types at different locations on an airfoil was investigated at high values of the Reynolds number in a variable density wind tunnel. Tests were made on a number of National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) 0012 airfoil models on which the nature of the surface was varied from a rough to a very smooth finish. The effect on the airfoil characteristics of varying the location of a rough area in the region of the leading edge was also investigated" (p. 1).
Date: April 1933
Creator: Hooker, Ray W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Strength Tests of Thin-Walled Duralumin Cylinders in Combined Transverse Shear and Bending (open access)

Strength Tests of Thin-Walled Duralumin Cylinders in Combined Transverse Shear and Bending

"This report is the fourth of a series presenting the results of strength tests on thin-walled cylinders and truncated cones of circular and elliptic section; it includes the results on 100 thin-walled Duralumin cylinders of circular section with ends clamped to rigid bulkheads. The tests show that as the ratio of moment to shear varies from small to large values the failure changes from a shear to a bending type. In the report a chart is presented that shows the corresponding changes in strength" (p. 1).
Date: April 1935
Creator: Lundquist, Eugene E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Aerodynamic Drag of Flying-Boat Hull Model as Measured in the NACA 20-Foot Wind Tunnel - 1 (open access)

The Aerodynamic Drag of Flying-Boat Hull Model as Measured in the NACA 20-Foot Wind Tunnel - 1

"The main purpose of this investigation is to make available to the designer useful information with regard to the aerodynamic drag of various types of flying-boat hull models. The present report is the first in a series covering investigation in this field. Through close cooperation between hydrodynamics and aerodynamics divisions it is hoped that results leading to improvements in hull design obtained" (p. 1).
Date: April 1935
Creator: Hartman, Edwin P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Spinning Characteristics of Wings 2: Rectangular Clark Y Biplane Cellule: 25 Percent Stagger; 0 Degree Decalage; Gap/Chord 1.0 (open access)

Spinning Characteristics of Wings 2: Rectangular Clark Y Biplane Cellule: 25 Percent Stagger; 0 Degree Decalage; Gap/Chord 1.0

General methods of theoretical analysis of airplane spinning characteristics have been available for some time. Some of these methods of analysis might be used by designers to predict the spinning characteristics of proposed airplane designs if the necessary aerodynamic data were known. The present investigation, to determine the spinning characteristics of wings, is planned to include variations in airfoil sections, plan forms, and tip shapes of monoplane wings and variations in stagger, gap, and decalage for biplane cellules.
Date: April 1935
Creator: Bamber, M. J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Remarks on the Elastic Axis of Shell Wings (open access)

Remarks on the Elastic Axis of Shell Wings

The definitions of flexural center, torsional center, elastic center, and elastic axis are discussed. The calculation of elastic centers is dealt with in principle and a suggestion is made for the design of shear webs.
Date: April 1936
Creator: Kuhn, Paul
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tank tests of models of floats for single-float seaplanes - First series (open access)

Tank tests of models of floats for single-float seaplanes - First series

"Large models of the Mark V and Mark VI floats used for single float seaplanes (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) models 41-A and 41-B, respectively) were tested in the NACA tank to provide general test data for typical single floats and a basis for possible improvements of their form. The resistance of model 41-B was greater than that of model 41-A, either when free to trim or at the best trim angle for each. The resistance of model 35-B (a pointed step hull tested free to trim) was less than either of the models at the hump speed, greater at intermediate planing speeds, and less at the speeds and loads near get-away, although the spray was generally worse owing to the absence of transverse flare" (p. 1).
Date: April 1936
Creator: Parkinson, J. B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Procedure for determining speed and climbing performance of airships (open access)

Procedure for determining speed and climbing performance of airships

From Summary: "The procedure for obtaining air-speed and rate-of-climb measurements in performance tests of airships is described. Two methods of obtaining speed measurements, one by means of instruments in the airship and the other by flight over a measured ground course, are explained. Instruments, their calibrations, necessary correction factors, observations, and calculations are detailed for each method, and also for the rate-of-climb tests. A method of correction for the effect on density of moist air and a description of other methods of speed course testing are appended."
Date: April 1936
Creator: Thompson, F. L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Investigation of the Discharge Rate of a Fuel-Injection System (open access)

Investigation of the Discharge Rate of a Fuel-Injection System

In connection with the development of a method for analyzing indicator cards taken from high-speed compression-ignition engines, this investigation was undertaken to determine the average quantity of fuel discharged during each crank degree of injection period.
Date: April 1931
Creator: Gerrish, Harold C. & Voss, Fred
System: The UNT Digital Library
Preliminary study of applied load factors in bumpy air (open access)

Preliminary study of applied load factors in bumpy air

Theoretical relations involved in the study are reviewed to furnish a basis upon which experimental data can be properly analyzed. The structure of the atmosphere in relation to the load-factor problem is briefly discussed, and the acceleration data obtained on a number of flights with various airplanes are presented and analyzed to the extent that the results are applicable to n=any airplane.
Date: April 1931
Creator: Rhode, Richard V. & Lundquist, Eugene E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Considerations of air flow in combustion chambers of high-speed compression-ignition engines (open access)

Considerations of air flow in combustion chambers of high-speed compression-ignition engines

The air flow in combustion chambers is divided into three fundamental classes - induced, forced, and residual. A generalized resume is given of the present status of air flow investigations and of the work done at this and other laboratories to determine the direction and velocity of air movement in auxiliary and integral combustion chambers. The effects of air flow on engine performance are mentioned to show that although air flow improves the combustion efficiency, considerable induction, friction, and thermal losses must be guarded against.
Date: April 1932
Creator: Spanogle, J. A. & Moore, C. S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Preliminary Investigation of Rolling Moments Obtained With Spoilers on Both Slotted and Plain Wings (open access)

Preliminary Investigation of Rolling Moments Obtained With Spoilers on Both Slotted and Plain Wings

"A wind-tunnel study has been made to determine the possibility of developing spoilers suitable for providing the lateral control for airplanes in place of the usual ailerons. The first tests were made on a model wing with a fixed tip slot, but when it was found that the effectiveness of the spoilers did not depend to any great extent on the slot, tests were made on a plain wing also. In both cases certain spoiler positions were found which were free from the usual adverse rolling moments with small deflections" (p. 1).
Date: April 1932
Creator: Weick, Fred E. & Wenzinger, Carl J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Characteristics of Two Sharp-Nosed Airfoils Having Reduced Spinning Tendencies (open access)

Characteristics of Two Sharp-Nosed Airfoils Having Reduced Spinning Tendencies

"According to Mr. L.D. Bell, of the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation, certain undesirable spinning characteristics of a commercial airplane were eliminated by the addition of a filler to the forward part of the wing to give it a sharp leading edge. To ascertain what aerodynamic effects result from such a change of section, two airfoils having sharp leading edges were tested in the variable-density wind tunnel. Both sections were derived by modifying the Gott. 398. The tests, which were made at a large value of the Reynolds Number, were carried to very large angles of attack to provide data for application to flight at angles of attack well beyond the stall" (p. 1).
Date: April 1932
Creator: Jacobs, Eastman N.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Strength Tests on Paper Cylinder in Compression, Bending and Shear (open access)

Strength Tests on Paper Cylinder in Compression, Bending and Shear

"Static tests on paper cylinders were conducted at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory at Langley Field, Virginia, to obtain qualitative information in connection with a study of the strength of stressed-skin fuselages. The effects of radius-thickness ratio and bulkhead spacing were investigated with the cylinders in compression, bending, combined bending and shear, and torsion" (p. 1).
Date: April 1931
Creator: Rhode, Richard V. & Lundquist, Eugene E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Experiments With an Airfoil Model on Which the Boundary Layers Are Controlled Without the Use of Supplementary Equipment (open access)

Experiments With an Airfoil Model on Which the Boundary Layers Are Controlled Without the Use of Supplementary Equipment

This report describes test made in the Variable Density Wind Tunnel of the NACA to determine the possibility of controlling the boundary layer on the upper surface of an airfoil by use of the low pressure existing near the leading edge. The low pressure was used to induce flow through slots in the upper surface of the wing. The tests showed that the angle of attack for maximum lift was increased at the expense of a reduction in the maximum lift coefficient and an increase in the drag coefficient.
Date: April 1931
Creator: Abbott, Ira H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Development of an Impinging-Jet Fuel-Injection Valve Nozzle (open access)

Development of an Impinging-Jet Fuel-Injection Valve Nozzle

"During an investigation to determine the possibilities and limitations of a two-stroke-cycle engine and ignition, it was necessary to develop a fuel injection valve nozzle to produce a disk-shaped, well dispersed spray. Preliminary tests showed that two smooth jets impinging upon each other at an angle of 74 degrees gave a spray with the desired characteristics. Nozzles were built on this basis and, when used in fuel-injection valves, produced a spray that fulfilled the original requirements" (p. 1).
Date: April 1931
Creator: Spanogle, J. A. & Hemmeter, G. T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Notes on the calculation of the minimum horizontal tail surface for airplanes equipped with wing flaps (open access)

Notes on the calculation of the minimum horizontal tail surface for airplanes equipped with wing flaps

A method of calculating the horizontal tail area for an airplane equipped with flaps is presented. The general problem of tail design, the effects of flaps on the factors involved, and the manner in which the flaps change the requirements upon which the minimum horizontal tail area is based are discussed.
Date: April 1937
Creator: Soulé, Hartley A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Pressure distribution on the tail surfaces of a PW-9 pursuit airplane in flight (open access)

Pressure distribution on the tail surfaces of a PW-9 pursuit airplane in flight

Presented here are pressure distribution data obtained from the tail surfaces of a PW-9 in a number of flight maneuvers. The results given are part of those obtained in an extensive investigation of the pressure distribution over all of the lifting and control surfaces of this airplane. The results are given in tabular and curve form and are discussed briefly with respect to their comparison with existing tail surface design specifications. It is recommended that tail load design loadings should be revised upwards. This is particularly true of leading edge loads, which should be at least doubled for thick sections.
Date: April 1930
Creator: Rhode, Richard V.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The use of large valve overlap in scavenging a supercharged spark-ignition engine using fuel injection (open access)

The use of large valve overlap in scavenging a supercharged spark-ignition engine using fuel injection

From Summary: "This investigation was conducted to determine the effect of more complete scavenging on the full throttle power and the fuel consumption of a four-stroke-cycle engine. The NACA single-cylinder universal test engine equipped with both a fuel-injection system and a carburetor was used. The engine was scavenged by using a large valve overlap and maintaining a pressure in the inlet manifold of 2 inches of mercury above atmospheric. The maximum valve overlap used was 112 degrees. Tests were conducted for a range of compression ratios from 5.5 to 8.5."
Date: April 1932
Creator: Schey, Oscar W. & Young, Alfred W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Theory of Automatic Control of Airplanes (open access)

Theory of Automatic Control of Airplanes

"Methods of automatically controlling the airplane are reviewed. Equations for the controlled motion including inertia effects of the control are developed and methods of investigating the stability of the resulting fifth and higher order equations are presented. The equations for longitudinal and lateral motion with both ideal and non-ideal controls are developed in dimensionless form in terms of control parameters based on simple dynamic tests of the isolated control unit" (p. 1).
Date: April 1939
Creator: Weiss, Herbert K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Intermittent-flow coefficients of a poppet valve (open access)

Intermittent-flow coefficients of a poppet valve

"Flow coefficients were determined for the inlet valve of a modern air-cooled cylinder during operation of the valve. The cylinder head with valves was mounted on a large tank that could be evacuated. Operating the valve with a rotating cam allowed air to flow through the valve into the evacuated tank. The change of pressure in the tank was a measure of the amount of air flowing though the valve in a given number of cycles. The flow coefficients were determined from the pressure across the valve, the quantity of air flowing, and the valve-lift curve" (p. 1).
Date: April 1939
Creator: Waldron, C. D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Wind-Tunnel Tests of Several Forms of Fixed Wing Slot in Combination With a Slotted Flap on an N.A.C.A. 23012 Airfoil (open access)

Wind-Tunnel Tests of Several Forms of Fixed Wing Slot in Combination With a Slotted Flap on an N.A.C.A. 23012 Airfoil

Note presenting tests of several forms of fixed wing slot in a large-chord NACA 23012 airfoil in the closed-throat 7- by 10-foot wind tunnel. The airfoil extended completely across the test section so that two-dimensional flow was approximated. The data are presented in the form of tables of important aerodynamic characteristics for each slot tested and as curves of section lift, profile-drag, and pitching-moment coefficients.
Date: April 1939
Creator: Bamber, M. J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Propeller Tests to Determine the Effect of Number of Blades at Two Typical Solidities (open access)

Propeller Tests to Determine the Effect of Number of Blades at Two Typical Solidities

"Propellers with equal total blade area, but with different numbers, were tested at Stanford University. The tests show generally that, for equal total blade area, propellers with the larger number of blades absorb the greater power and, provided hubs have equal drag, develop the higher efficiency. It is shown that the differences found are in agreement, qualitatively, with what might be predicted from simple blade-element theory" (p. 1).
Date: April 1939
Creator: Lesley, E. P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tests of an N.A.C.A. 23012 Airfoil with a slotted deflector flap (open access)

Tests of an N.A.C.A. 23012 Airfoil with a slotted deflector flap

Section aerodynamic characteristics of a large-chord N.A.C.A. 23012 airfoil with a slotted deflector flap were obtained in the N.A.C.A. 7- by 10-foot wind tunnel. The characteristics of an N.A.C.A. slotted flap and of a simple split flap are included for comparison. The slotted deflector flap was found to have a somewhat lower maximum lift coefficient and somewhat higher drag at high lift coefficients than the N.A.C.A. slotted flap. The high drag of the open slot with the deflector flap neutral indicates that the slot should be closed for this condition.
Date: April 1939
Creator: House, R. O.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Effect of the Surface Condition of a Wing on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of an Airplane (open access)

Effect of the Surface Condition of a Wing on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of an Airplane

"In order to determine the effect of the surface conditions of a wing on the aerodynamic characteristics of an airplane, tests were conducted in the N.A.C.A. full-scale wind tunnel on the Fairchild F-22 airplane first with normal commercial finish of wing surface and later with the same wing polished. Comparison of the characteristics of the airplane with the two surface conditions shows that the polish caused a negligible change in the lift curve, but reduced the minimum drag coefficient by 0.001. This reduction in drag if applied to an airplane with a given speed of 200 miles per hour and a minimum drag coefficient of 0.025 would increase the speed only 2.9 miles per hour, but if the speed remained the same, the power would be reduced 4 percent" (p. 1).
Date: April 1934
Creator: DeFrance, S. J.
System: The UNT Digital Library