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Journal Article

Computational Study of Coanda Adhesion Over Curved Surface

2013-09-17
2013-01-2302
This paper presents a set of numerical computations with different turbulence model on an air jet flowing tangentially over the curved surface. It has been realized that jet deflection angle and the corresponding thrust are important parameter to determine with great care. Through the grid independence analysis, it has been found that without resolution of the viscous sub-layer, it is not possible to determine the computationally independent angle of jet deflection and boundary layer thickness. The boundary layer analysis has been performed at different radius of curvature and at jet Reynolds number ranging from approximately about 2400-10,000. The boundary layer thickness has been determined at the verge of separation and found a relation with the radius of curvature and jet Reynolds number. The skin-friction coefficient has been also studied at the verge of separation in relation to the surface radius and jet Reynolds number.
Journal Article

Head Up and Eyes Out Enabling Equivalent Visual Operations with the Head Up Display

2013-09-17
2013-01-2300
Following the introduction of Head-Up Displays (HUD) into commercial airplanes over 30 years ago, many aircraft manufacturers are now installing HUDs as baseline or as a selectable option on their latest designs. Most pilots that have used the HUD in difficult flying conditions prefer it to classic flight deck configurations with head-down displays only. This paper describes the features and benefits of the HUD that allow the pilot to remain head-up and eyes-out throughout the flight, especially in the crowded skies around an airport. This is achievable because the HUD provides all the primary flight information needed to fly the airplane. Some of the information is conformal to the outside world and the whole image is focused at optical infinity, eliminating the need for the pilot to refocus between the HUD symbology and real world features viewed through the HUD.
Journal Article

Modeling Weather Impact on Airport Arrival Miles-in-Trail Restrictions

2013-09-17
2013-01-2301
When the demand for either a region of airspace or an airport approaches or exceeds the available capacity, miles-in-trail (MIT) restrictions are the most frequently issued traffic management initiatives (TMIs) that are used to mitigate these imbalances. Miles-in-trail operations require aircraft in a traffic stream to meet a specific inter-aircraft separation in exchange for maintaining a safe and orderly flow within the stream. This stream of aircraft can be departing an airport, over a common fix, through a sector, on a specific route or arriving at an airport. This study begins by providing a high-level overview of the distribution and causes of arrival MIT restrictions for the top ten airports in the United States. This is followed by an in-depth analysis of the frequency, duration and cause of MIT restrictions impacting the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) from 2009 through 2011.
Journal Article

Increasing Machine Service Life of Large Envelope, High Acceleration AFP Machines

2013-09-17
2013-01-2297
Since Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) is used to manufacture twin-aisled commercial aircraft parts, extremely large envelope machines are often required and appropriate. Additionally, for very large parts, the average AFP course length may be on the order of one to two meters, and the part may have numerous contours. With courses of this length, a high acceleration machine is necessary to achieve fast laydown rates because the machine is frequently starting and stopping. Part contour also requires high acceleration machine axes to accurately maintain the AFP tow path at high feedrates. Large machines with high accelerations result in very large loads on bearings. Large loads and the long, high speed axis travels associated with large envelope machines make achieving a long service life difficult. Designing efficient, lightweight machine structures becomes critical to provide long machine service life.
Journal Article

CATIA V5-Based Parametric Aircraft Geometry Modeler

2013-09-17
2013-01-2321
Current transport aircraft are mature systems, thus require increased fidelity at the beginning of the design process to allow further optimization. Furthermore, a desire exists to explore unconventional aircraft configurations at the conceptual level. This has motivated the development of a tool which effectively manages the trade-off between high-fidelity levels, flexibility and short turn-around times. This paper presents a CATIA V5-based parametric aircraft geometry modeler developed by Bombardier Aerospace. The aim of the tool is to provide consistent high-fidelity geometric data early in the conceptual aircraft design process. The intended near-term use of the modeler is two-fold: during the early design phase, the modeler computes geometric data such as areas, volumes, ESDU aircraft parameters, etc. In the competitive analysis domain, the tool provides a high-quality three-dimensional model with manageable effort.
Journal Article

The Advent of Battery Tools in Aerospace Assembly Processes

2013-09-17
2013-01-2327
Until recently most aircrafts, aircraft engines and landing gear as well as other aerospace equipment has been manufactured using essentially traditional mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic power hand tools maintaining at the same time very strict processes to ensure quality and traceability to a certain level. An increased use of composites, intensified focus on quality and demand for extended traceability, as well as more accuracy, more flexibility, more productivity and more ergonomics in the tooling used during the assembly process has led to many manufacturing shops to invest into wireless battery tools as the best alternative to manufacture aircrafts now and in the future. We will detail in this paper what reasons led some pioneers to choose wireless battery technology to assemble aircrafts. We will describe from our perspective what the next steps are in solutions dedicated to the aerospace industry.
Journal Article

Assembly Study of Refill FSSW

2013-09-17
2013-01-2310
New Refill Friction Stir Spot Welding (Refill FSSW) was performed for the aluminum alloys used for aircrafts. Joints were examined to evaluate its performances, such as tensile shear strength and strength of heat affected zone, with using various surface conditions. As a result of examination, significant lap shear strength by using shoulder plunging method was achieved with shorter process time. Even with the alodine coated aluminum alloys, strong and good quality joints can be made. And finally, actual prototype components were experimentally produced with Refill FSSW robot. Fine preproduction parts with no distortion and sufficient quality were obtained. Refill FSSW will be able to be regarded as suitable for fabrication of aircraft components.
Journal Article

Application of a New One-Equation Turbulence Model to Computation of Separated Flows

2013-09-17
2013-01-2313
Accurate turbulence modeling remains a critical problem in the prediction capability of computational fluid dynamics. One particular area lacking accurate simulations is separated turbulent flows. In this paper, the recently developed one - equation Rahman-Agarwal-Siikonen (RAS) turbulence model is used to simulate the flow of several canonical turbulent flow cases. The commercially available software ANSYS Fluent and the open source software OpenFOAM are used for the flow field calculations. It is shown that the RAS model improves the accuracy of flow simulations compared to the commonly used one - equation Spalart-Allmaras (SA) and two-equation SST k-ω turbulence models.
Journal Article

Review of Canadian Flight Deck and Cabin Smoke and Fire Incidents: 2001-2010

2013-09-17
2013-01-2307
This paper presents a review of the flight deck and cabin fire and smoke incidents reported to the Canadian airworthiness authorities over a ten year span. The fire and smoke related diversions are categorized to identify areas where efforts could be increased to improve safety. The costs of diversions are estimated to identify areas where operators could reduce costs by seeking technologies to reduce the number of diversions without any impact on safety. Only twenty-eight investigation reports into fire and smoke incidents onboard aircraft have been published over the past three decades. These reports are not sufficient to identify areas where operators can reduce their operating costs. The Canadian airworthiness authorities received over 1,000 smoke and fire incidents from the years 2001 to 2010, of which, over 680 reported fire and smoke in the flight deck and cabin compartments for various makes and models of aircraft.
Journal Article

Investigation of Small Scale Pulsed Detonation Engines and Feasibility Study for Implementation with Disposable Unmanned Aerial Systems

2013-09-17
2013-01-2304
Significant efforts have been made in the research of Pulsed Detonation Engines (PDEs) to increase the reliability and longevity of detonation based propulsion systems for use in manned aircraft. However, the efficiency, durability, and low mechanical complexity of PDEs opens up potential for use in disposable unmanned-vehicles. This paper details the steps taken for producing a miniaturized pulse detonation engine at West Virginia University (WVU) to investigate the numerically generated constraining dimensions for Deflagration to Detonation Transition (DDT) cited in this paper. Initial dimensions for the WVU PDE Demonstrator were calculated using fuel specific DDT spatial properties featured in the work of Dr. Phillip Koshy Panicker, of The University of Texas at Arlington. The WVU demonstrator was powered using oxygen and acetylene mixed in stoichiometric proportions.
Journal Article

Propulsion of Photovoltaic Cruiser-Feeder Airships Dimensioning by Constructal Design for Efficiency Method

2013-09-17
2013-01-2303
The European project MAAT (Multi-body Advanced Airship for Transport) is producing the design of a transportation system for transport of people and goods, based on the cruiser feeder concept. This project defined novel airship concepts capable of handling safer than in the past hydrogen as a buoyant gas. In particular, it has explored novel variable shape airship concepts, which presents also intrinsic energetic advantages. It has recently conduced to the definition of an innovative design method based on the constructal principle, which applies to large transport vehicles and allows performing an effective energetic optimization and an effective optimization for the specific mission.
Journal Article

Power Consumption Analysis of a Flexible-Wheel Suspension Planetary Rover Operating upon Deformable Terrain

2013-09-24
2013-01-2384
This study analyzes the power consumption of a specific Planetary Exploration Vehicle (PEV) subsystem known as Flexible-Wheel (FW) suspension, more specifically the interaction between a FW and the deformable terrain upon which it traverses. To achieve this a systematic and analytical calculation procedure has been developed, which culminates in the definition of three dimensionless properties to capture the FW-soil interaction. Aimed towards the design engineer participating in concept evaluation, and the control engineer conducting initial analyses, this study has found that the resistance coefficient for the interaction between a FW and the deformable terrain can, in general, be several orders of magnitude higher than the rolling resistance of a pneumatic tire operating upon rigid terrain.
Journal Article

Handling of Large Components for Aircraft Assembly Using an Adaptable Network of Different Kinematic Units

2013-09-17
2013-01-2334
Today's assembly devices used for large-volume components in the aerospace industry are characterized by their inflexibility. This inflexibility is evident by the common use of custom designed rigid structures and specially adapted solutions for a single task. This paper describes an approach for a flexible assembly device, using the example of an aircraft section assembly, capable of integrating and exchanging different kinematic units making it highly adaptable to a variety of assembly tasks and product types. This reconfigurable assembly device uses an integrated measuring system enabling it to handle and assemble different large components with high tolerance requirements.
Journal Article

Development of an Aerodynamic Analysis Methodology for Tractor-Trailer Class Heavy Commercial Vehicles

2013-09-24
2013-01-2413
An aerodynamic analysis methodology which makes efficient use of ANSA and FLUENT software's in the aerodynamic design of tractor-trailer class heavy commercial road vehicles is presented. The aerodynamic drag coefficient of the truck is used as the main control parameter to evaluate the performance of the methodology. Analysis methodology development activities include determining optimal FLUENT software analysis parameters for the defined problem (RANS based turbulence models, wall boundary layer models, solution schemes) and the necessary ANSA mesh generation parameters (boundary layer number and growth rate, wall surface mesh resolution, total mesh resolution). Proposed methodology is first constructed based on CFD simulations for the zero-degree yaw angle case of the 1/8 sized GCM geometry. The present results are within 1% of the experimental data.
Journal Article

Optimum Guide Position Design of a Cockpit Module for Decreasing the Permanent Deformation

2010-04-12
2010-01-0393
The noise of interior plastic parts has been one of the major driving factors in the design of automotive interior assemblies. This phenomenon is one of the major contributors to the perceived quality in a vehicle. The noise is caused by interior plastic parts and other parts as a result of permanent deformation. Traditionally, noise issues have been identified and rectified through extensive hardware testing. However, to reduce the product development cycle and minimize the number of costly hardware builds, hardware testing must rely on engineering analysis and upfront simulation in the design cycle. In this paper, an analytical study to reduce permanent deformation in a cockpit module is presented. The analytical investigation utilizes a novel and practical methodology, which is implemented through the software tools, ABAQUS and iSight, for the identification and minimization of permanent deformation.
Journal Article

Engineered Structured Sorbents for the Adsorption of Carbon Dioxide and Water Vapor from Manned Spacecraft Atmospheres: Applications and Testing 2008/2009

2009-07-12
2009-01-2444
Developmental efforts are seeking to improve upon the efficiency and reliability of typical packed beds of sorbent pellets by using structured sorbents and alternative bed configurations. The benefits include increased structural stability gained by eliminating clay bound zeolite pellets that tend to fluidize and erode, and better thermal control during sorption leading to increased process efficiency. Test results that demonstrate such improvements are described and presented.
Journal Article

Orion Emergency Mask Approach

2009-07-12
2009-01-2460
Human rated space vehicles must provide safe breathing air to the crew, in the event of fire or other upset that affects air quality. In very short missions, like those in Mercury, the crew could remain in their flight suit. As mission duration increased, some sort of emergency breathing apparatus was used to provide safe breathing air in emergency situations. The Orion vehicle has a unique set of emergency breathing apparatus design challenges: the vehicle is small compared to shuttle and station, the vehicle does not have a pressurized supply of breathing air, the vehicle has a 30% oxygen design limit, no airlocks or alternate habitable volumes, and during lunar missions the crew members need to remain in the vehicle for many hours after an emergency. A filtering respirator shows special promise to address the needs of Orion, but a filtering respirator for combustion products has never been built and qualified for space.
Journal Article

Experimental Investigation of Factors Affecting Odors Generating from Mobile AC Systems Equipped with Idling-Time Reduction Systems

2015-04-14
2015-01-0359
In last 10 years or so, a number of OEMs are designing vehicles with start-stop function to save energy and to reduce pollution. For these systems, the situations in which air-conditioning systems are used have been changing with a significant increase in adoption of idle-time reduction systems (no idling-system). Blower fan remains operating at idle condition while compressor stops in most cases for these systems. In this case, the air temperature at the vent outlets increases. The increase in the air temperature under range of thermal boundary conditions around the evaporator causes a concern of odor to occur. This paper describes and explains experimental studies on changes in heat and humidity at the air outlets according to the switching operation of compressor and root cause analyses of odor coming from air-conditioning system for vehicles with start-stop function.
Journal Article

Design Description and Initial Characterization Testing of an Active Heat Rejection Radiator with Digital Turn-Down Capability

2009-07-12
2009-01-2419
NASA's proposed lunar lander, Altair, will be exposed to vastly different external temperatures following launch till its final destination on the moon. In addition, the heat rejection is lowest at the lowest environmental temperatures (0.5 kW @ 4K) and highest at the highest environmental temperature (4.5 kW @ 215K). This places a severe demand on the radiator design to handle these extreme turn-down requirements. A radiator with digital turn-down capability is currently under study at JPL as a robust means to meet the heat rejection demands and provide freeze protection while minimizing mass and power consumption. Turndown is achieved by independent control of flow branches with isolating latch valves and a gear pump to evacuate the isolated branches. A bench-top test was conducted to characterize the digital radiator concept. Testing focused on the demonstration of proper valve sequencing to achieve turn-down and recharge of flow legs.
Journal Article

ECOA - A New Architecture Concept for Complex Military Software Systems

2014-09-16
2014-01-2227
ECOA is an active software architecture research programme conducted by the French Republic and United Kingdom. It is one product of the recent Defence and Security Co-operation Treaty signed between the two nations. This paper provides an overview of the programme goals and progress as well as an introduction to the technology being developed and comparison to related initiatives. The goal of the ECOA programme is to define an open software architecture that enables collaborative development of mission system software. The ECOA programme is needed to reduce development and lifecycle costs of future military air programmes. For this reason the programme has a specific focus on combat-air mission systems but the underlying technology is general purpose, applying to multiple military and civil domains. At present, the programme has defined a concept, delivered a set of initial technical standards and produced a joint demonstrator to validate the technology developed.
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