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Langley aerothermodynamic facilities complex: enhancements and testing capabilities
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Micol, J. R. |
| Copyright Year | 1998 |
| Description | Description, capabilities, recent upgrades, and utilization of the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Aerothermodynamic Facilities Complex (AFC) are presented. The AFC consists of five hypersonic, blow-down-to-vacuum wind tunnels that collectively provide a range of Mach number from 6 to 20, unit Reynolds number from 0.04 to 22 million per foot and, most importantly for blunt configurations, normal shock density ratio from 4 to 12. These wide ranges of hypersonic simulation parameters are due, in part, to the use of three different test gases (air, helium, and tetrafluoromethane), thereby making several of the facilities unique. The Complex represents nearly three-fourths of the conventional (as opposed to impulse)-type hypersonic wind tunnels operational in this country. AFC facilities are used to assess and optimize the hypersonic aerodynamic performance and aeroheating characteristics of aerospace vehicle concepts and to provide benchmark aerodynamic/aeroheating data fr generating the flight aerodynamic databook and final design of the thermal protection system (TPS) (e.g., establishment of flight limitations not to exceed TPS design limits). Modifications and enhancements of AFC hardware components and instrumentation have been pursued to increase capability, reliability, and productivity in support of programmatic goals. Examples illustrating facility utilization in recent years to generate essentially all of the experimental hypersonic aerodynamic and aeroheating information for high-priority, fast-paced Agency programs are presented. These programs include Phase I of the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Advanced Technology Demonstrator, X-33 program, PHase II of the X-33 program, X-34 program, the Hyper-X program ( a Mach 5,7, and 10 airbreathing propulsion flight experiment), and the X-38 program (Experimental Crew Return Vehicle, X-CRV). Current upgrades/enchancements and future plans for the AFC are discussed. |
| File Size | 2464580 |
| Page Count | 28 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_20040088542 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t4zh1k79n |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 1998-01-01 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Fluid Mechanics And Thermodynamics Methane Nasa Programs Computational Fluid Dynamics Data Acquisition X-34 Reusable Launch Vehicle Reynolds Number Hypersonic Wind Tunnels Reusable Launch Vehicles Pressure Dependence Hypersonic Speed Phosphors X-33 Reusable Launch Vehicle Flow Distribution Wind Tunnel Tests X-38 Crew Return Vehicle Reliability Aerodynamic Characteristics Aerothermodynamics Technology Utilization Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
