The aerodynamic characteristics of seven frequently used wing sections at full Reynolds number (open access)

The aerodynamic characteristics of seven frequently used wing sections at full Reynolds number

This report contains the aerodynamic properties of the wing sections U.S.A. 5, U.S.A. 27, U.S.A. 35 A, U.S.A. 35 B, Clark Y, R.A.F. 15, and Gottingen 387, as determined at various Reynolds numbers up to an approximately full scale value in the variable density wind tunnel of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. It is shown that the characteristics of the wings investigated are affected greatly and in a somewhat erratic manner by variation of the Reynolds number. In general there is a small increase in maximum lift and an appreciable decrease in drag at all lifts.
Date: 1927~
Creator: Munk, Max M. & Miller, Elton W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Air Force Tests of Sperry Messenger Model With Six Sets of Wings (open access)

Air Force Tests of Sperry Messenger Model With Six Sets of Wings

From Summary: "The purpose of this test was to compare six well-known airfoils, the R.A.F 15, U.S.A. 5, U.S.A. 27, U.S.A. 35-B, Clark Y, and Gottingen 387, fitted to the Sperry Messenger model, at full scale Reynolds number as obtained in the variable density wind tunnel of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics; and to determine the scale effect on the model equipped with all the details of the actual airplane. The results show a large decrease in minimum drag coefficient upon increasing the Reynolds number from about one-twentieth scale to full scale. A comparison is made between the results of these tests and those obtained from tests made in this tunnel on airfoils alone."
Date: January 20, 1927
Creator: Shoemaker, James M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The air forces on a systematic series of biplane and triplane cellule models (open access)

The air forces on a systematic series of biplane and triplane cellule models

Report discussing the air forces on a systematic series of biplane and triplane cellule models which are measured in the atmospheric density tunnel.
Date: 1927
Creator: Munk, Max M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Approximations for Column Effect in Airplane Wing Spars (open access)

Approximations for Column Effect in Airplane Wing Spars

"The significance attaching to "column effect" in airplane wing spars has been increasingly realized with the passage of time, but exact computations of the corrections to bending moment curves resulting from the existence of end loads are frequently omitted because of the additional labor involved in an analysis by rigorously correct methods. The present report represents an attempt to provide for approximate column effect corrections that can be graphically or otherwise expressed so as to be applied with a minimum of labor. Curves are plotted giving approximate values of the correction factors for single and two bay trusses of varying proportions and with various relationships between axial and lateral loads" (p. 485).
Date: 1927
Creator: Warner, Edward P. & Short, Mac
System: The UNT Digital Library
Characteristics of a twin-float seaplane during take-off (open access)

Characteristics of a twin-float seaplane during take-off

This report presents the results of an investigation of the planing and get-away characteristics of three representative types of seaplanes, namely, single float, boat, and twin float. The experiments carried out on the single float and boat types have been reported on previously. This report covers the investigation conducted on the twin-float seaplane, the DT-2, and includes as an appendix, a brief summary of the results obtained on all three tests. At low-water speeds, 20 to 30 miles per hour, the seaplane trims by the stern and has a high resistance. Above these speeds the longitudinal control becomes increasingly effective until, with corresponding speeds of 56 to 46 miles per hour. It was further determined that an increase in the load caused little if any change in the water speed at which the maximum angle and resistance occurred, but that it did produce an increase in the maximum angle.
Date: January 1927
Creator: Crowley, John W., Jr. & Ronan, K. M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Characteristics of Five Propellers in Flight (open access)

Characteristics of Five Propellers in Flight

"This investigation was made for the purpose of determining the characteristics of five full-scale propellers in flight. The equipment consisted of five propellers in conjunction with a VE-7 airplane and a Wright E-2 engine. The propellers were of the same diameter and aspect ratio. Four of them differed uniformly in thickness and pitch and the fifth propeller was identical with one of the other four with exception of a change of the airfoil section" (p. 267).
Date: November 8, 1927
Creator: Crowley, J. W., Jr. & Mixson, R. E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Combustion Time in the Engine Cylinder and Its Effect on Engine Performance (open access)

Combustion Time in the Engine Cylinder and Its Effect on Engine Performance

"As part of a general program to study combustion in the engine cylinder and to correlate the phenomena of combustion with the observed performance of actual engines, this paper presents a sketchy outline of what may happen in the engine cylinder during the burning of a charge. It also suggests the type of information needed to supply the details of the picture and points out how combustion time and rate affect the performance of the engine. A theoretical concept of a flame front which is assumed to advance radially from the point of ignition is presented, and calculations based on the area and velocity of this flame and the density of the unburned gases are made to determine the mass rate of combustion" (p. 393).
Date: April 2, 1927
Creator: Marvin, Charles F., Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The comparative performance of an aviation engine at normal and high inlet air temperatures (open access)

The comparative performance of an aviation engine at normal and high inlet air temperatures

"This report presents some results obtained during an investigation to determine the effect of high inlet air temperature on the performance of a Liberty 12 aviation engine. The purpose of this investigation was to ascertain, for normal service carburetor adjustments and a fixed ignition advance, the relation between power and temperature for the range of carburetor air temperatures that may be encountered when supercharging to sea level pressure at altitudes of over 20,000 feet and without intercooling when using plain aviation gasoline and mixtures of benzol and gasoline" (p. 409).
Date: February 11, 1927
Creator: Gardiner, Arthur W. & Schey, Oscar W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Comparative Performance of Roots Type Aircraft Engine Superchargers as Affected by Change in Impeller Speed and Displacement (open access)

The Comparative Performance of Roots Type Aircraft Engine Superchargers as Affected by Change in Impeller Speed and Displacement

"This report presents the results of tests made on three sizes of roots type aircraft engine superchargers. The impeller contours and diameters of these machines were the same, but the length were 11, 8 1/4, and 4 inches, giving displacements of 0.509, 0.382, and 0.185 cubic foot per impeller revolution. The information obtained serves as a basis for the examination of the individual effects of impeller speed and displacement on performance and of the comparative performance when speed and displacement are altered simultaneously to meet definite service requirements" (p. 3).
Date: December 23, 1927
Creator: Ware, Marsden & Wilson, Ernest E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Comparison of the Take-Off and Landing Characteristics of a Number of Service Airplane (open access)

A Comparison of the Take-Off and Landing Characteristics of a Number of Service Airplane

"This investigation, which is a continuation of Technical Report 154, follows very closely the earlier methods and covers a number of service airplanes, whereas the previous report covered but one, the JN-4H. In addition to the air speed, acceleration, and control positions as given in report no. 154, information is here given regarding the distance run and the ground speed for the various airplanes during the two maneuvers" (p. 457).
Date: 1927
Creator: Carroll, Thomas
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Corrosion of Magnesium and of the Magnesium Aluminum Alloys Containing Manganese (open access)

The Corrosion of Magnesium and of the Magnesium Aluminum Alloys Containing Manganese

"The extensive use of magnesium and its alloys in aircraft has been seriously handicapped by the uncertainties surrounding their resistance to corrosion. This problem has been given intense study by the American Magnesium Corporation and at the request of the Subcommittee on Materials for Aircraft of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics this report was prepared on the corrosion of magnesium" (p. 419).
Date: 1927
Creator: Boyer, J. A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Description of the NACA Universal Test Engine and Some Test Results (open access)

Description of the NACA Universal Test Engine and Some Test Results

"This report describes the 5-inch bore by 7-inch stroke single cylinder test engine used at the Langley Field Laboratory of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in laboratory research on internal-combustion engine problems and presents some results of tests made therewith. The engine is arranged for variation over wide ranges, of the compression ratio and lift and timing of both inlet and exhaust valves while the engine is in operation. Provision is also made for the connection of a number of auxiliaries" (p. 469).
Date: 1927
Creator: Ware, Marsden
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Direct Measurement of Engine Power on an Airplane in Flight With a Hub Type Dynamometer (open access)

The Direct Measurement of Engine Power on an Airplane in Flight With a Hub Type Dynamometer

"This report describes tests made to obtain direct measurements of engine power in flight. Tests were made with a Bendemann hub dynamometer installed on a modified DH-4 Airplane, Liberty 12 Engine, to determine the suitability of this apparatus. This dynamometer unit, which was designed specially for use with a liberty 12 engine, is a special propeller hub in which is incorporated a system of pistons and cylinders interposed between the propeller and the engine crankshaft. The torque and thrust forces are balanced by fluid pressures, which are recorded by instruments in the cockpit" (p. 505).
Date: 1927
Creator: Gove, W. D. & Green, M. W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Distribution of Pressure Over Model of the Upper Wing and Aileron of a Fokker D-VII Airplane (open access)

Distribution of Pressure Over Model of the Upper Wing and Aileron of a Fokker D-VII Airplane

"This report describes tests made for the purpose of determining the distribution of pressure over a model of the tapered portion of the upper wing and the aileron of a Fokker D-VII Airplane. Normal pressures were measured simultaneously at 74 points distributed over the wing and aileron. Tests were made throughout the useful range of angles of attack with aileron setting ranging from -20 degrees to +20 degrees. The results are presented graphically" (p. 541).
Date: 1927
Creator: Fairbanks, A. J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Drag of Wings With End Plates (open access)

Drag of Wings With End Plates

"In this report a formula for calculating the induced drag of multiplanes with end plates is derived. The frictional drag of the end plates are used, is sufficiently large to increase the efficiency of the wing. Curves showing the reduction of drag for monoplanes and biplanes are constructed; the influence of gap-chord ratio, aspect ratio, and height of end plate are determined for typical cases. The method of obtaining the reduction of drag for a multiplane is described" (p. 253).
Date: January 20, 1927
Creator: Hemke, Paul E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The effect of flight path inclination on airplane velocity (open access)

The effect of flight path inclination on airplane velocity

This report was prepared at the request of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in order to supply a systematic study of the relations between the flight velocity V and its horizontal component V subscript H, in power glides. Curves of V and V subscript H plotted against the inclination of the flight path 0 are given, together with curves which show the maximum values of V subscript H and the corresponding values of 0. Curves are also given showing the effect of small departures from the horizontal in high speed performance testing.
Date: January 1927
Creator: Diehl, Walter S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The effects of fuel and cylinder gas densities on the characteristics of fuel sprays for oil engines (open access)

The effects of fuel and cylinder gas densities on the characteristics of fuel sprays for oil engines

"This investigation was conducted as a part of a general research on fuel-injection engines for aircraft. The purpose of the investigation was to determine the effects of fuel and cylinder gas densities with several characteristics of fuel sprays for oil engines. The start, growth, and cut-off of single fuel sprays produced by automatic injection valves were recorded on photographic film by means of special high-speed motion-picture apparatus" (p. 491).
Date: June 14, 1927
Creator: Joachim, W. F. & Beardsley, Edward G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Electrical characteristics of spark generators for automotive ignition (open access)

Electrical characteristics of spark generators for automotive ignition

From Summary: "This paper reports the results of an extensive program of measurements on 11 ignition systems differing widely in type. The results serve primarily to give representative data on the electric and magnetic constants of such systems, and on the secondary voltage produced by them under various conditions of speed, timing, shunting resistance, etc. They also serve to confirm certain of the theoretical formulas which have been proposed to connect the performance of such systems with their electrical constants, and to indicate the extent to which certain simplified model circuits duplicate the performance of the actual apparatus."
Date: 1927
Creator: Brode, R. B.; Randolph, D. W. & Silsbee, F. B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Factors in the design of centrifugal type injection valves for oil engines (open access)

Factors in the design of centrifugal type injection valves for oil engines

This research was undertaken in connection with a general study of the application of the fuel injection engine to aircraft. The purpose of the investigation was to determine the effect of four important factors in the design of a centrifugal type automatic injection valve on the penetration, general shape, and distribution of oil sprays. The general method employed was to record the development of single sprays by means of special high-speed photographic apparatus capable of taking 25 consecutive pictures of the moving spray at a rate of 4,000 per second. Investigations were made concerning the effects on spray characteristics, of the helix angle of helical grooves, the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the orifice to that of the grooves, the ratio of orifice length to diameter, and the position of the seat. Maximum spray penetration was obtained with a ratio of orifice length to diameter of about 1.5. Slightly greater penetration was obtained with the seat directly before the orifice.
Date: January 27, 1927
Creator: Joachim, W. F. & Beardsley, E. G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Flow and Drag Formulas for Simple Quadrics (open access)

Flow and Drag Formulas for Simple Quadrics

This report gives the pressure distribution and resistance found by theory and experiment for simple quadrics fixed in an infinite uniform stream of practically incompressible fluid. The experimental values pertain to air and some liquids, especially water; the theoretical refer sometimes to perfect, again to viscid fluids. For the cases treated the concordance of theory and measurement is so close as to make a resume of results desirable. Incidentally formulas for the velocity at all points of the flow field are given, some being new forms for ready use derived in a previous paper. (author).
Date: 1927
Creator: Zahm, A. F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Gaseous Explosive Reaction: The Effect of Inert Gases (open access)

The Gaseous Explosive Reaction: The Effect of Inert Gases

"Attention is called in this report to previous investigations of gaseous explosive reactions carried out under constant volume conditions, where the effect of inert gases on the thermodynamic equilibrium was determined. The advantage of constant pressure methods over those of constant volume as applied to studies of the gaseous explosive reaction is pointed out and the possibility of realizing for this purpose a constant pressure bomb mentioned" (p. 479).
Date: June 24, 1927
Creator: Stevens, F. W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Interaction between air propellers and airplane structures (open access)

Interaction between air propellers and airplane structures

From Summary: "The purpose of this investigation was the determination of the character and amount of interaction between air propellers as usually mounted on airplanes and the adjacent parts of the airplane structure - or, more specifically, those parts of the airplane structure within the wash of the propeller, and capable of producing any significant effect on propeller performance. In report no. 177 such interaction between air propellers and certain simple geometrical forms was made the subject of investigation and report. The present investigation aims to carry this general study one stage further by substituting actual airplane structures for the simple geometrical forms."
Date: 1927
Creator: Durand, W. F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Lift, drag, and elevator hinge moments of Handley Page control surfaces (open access)

Lift, drag, and elevator hinge moments of Handley Page control surfaces

"This report combines the wind tunnel results of tests on four control surface models made in the two wind tunnels of the Navy Aerodynamic Laboratory, Washington Navy Yard, during the years of 1922 and 1924, and submitted for publication to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics May 7, 1927. The purpose of the tests was to compare, first, the lifts and the aerodynamic efficiencies of the control surfaces from which their relative effectiveness as tail planes could be determined; then the elevator hinge moments upon which their relative ease of operation depended. The lift and drag forces on the control surface models were obtained for various stabilizer angles and elevator settings in the 8 by 8 foot tunnel by the writer in 1922; the corresponding hinge moments were found in the 4 by 4 foot tunnel by Mr. R. M. Bear in 1924" (p. 429).
Date: May 7, 1927
Creator: Smith, R. H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Measurement of Pressure Through Tubes in Pressure Distribution Tests (open access)

The Measurement of Pressure Through Tubes in Pressure Distribution Tests

"The tests described in this report were made to determine the error caused by using small tubes to connect orifices on the surface of aircraft to central pressure capsules in making pressure distribution tests. Aluminum tubes of 3/16-inch inside diameter were used to determine this error. Lengths from 20 feet to 226 feet and pressures whose maxima varied from 2 inches to 140 inches of water were used. Single-pressure impulses for which the time of rise of pressure from zero to a maximum varied from 0.25 second to 3 seconds were investigated" (p. 303).
Date: February 23, 1927
Creator: Hemke, Paul E.
System: The UNT Digital Library