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Annual Report of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (16th). Administrative Report Including Technical Reports Nos. 337 to 364
Report includes the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics letter of submittal to the President, Congressional report, summaries of the committee's activities and research accomplished, bibliographies, and financial report.
Clerget 100 Hp Heavy-Oil Engine
A complete technical description of the Clerget heavy-oil engine is presented along with the general characteristics. The general characteristics are: 9 cylinders, bore 120 mm, stroke 130 mm, four-stroke cycle engine, rated power limited to 100 hp at 1800 rpm; weight 228 kg; propeller with direct drive and air cooling. Moving parts, engine block, and lubrication are all presented.
The Design and Development of an Automatic Injection Valve With an Annular Orifice of Varying Area
The purpose of this investigation was to provide an automatic injection valve of simple construction which would produce a finely atomized oil spray of broad cone angle and would fulfill the requirements of fuel injection in aircraft oil engines. The injection valve designed has only six parts - i. e., two concentric nozzle tubes flared at one end, two body parts, and two nuts. Analysis and engine tests indicate that the fuel spray from this type of injection valve has characteristics which reduce the time lag of autoignition and promote efficient combustion in high-speed oil engines.
The effect of small variations in profile of airfoils
This report deals with the effect of small variations in ordinates specified by different laboratories for the airfoil section. This study was made in connection with a more general investigation of the effect of small irregularities of the airfoil surface on the aerodynamic characteristics of an airfoil. These tests show that small changes in airfoil contours, resulting from variations in the specified ordinates, have a sufficiently large effect upon the airfoil characteristics to justify the taking of great care in the specification of ordinates for the construction of models.
Focke-Wulf F 19a "Ente" Commercial Airplane (German): A Tail-First High-Wing Monoplane
Circular presenting a description of the Focke-Wulf F 19a "Ente" aircraft, which includes the unique design feature of the horizontal control surfaces being placed at the forward end of the fuselage while the wing is farther aft. Details of the design, aerodynamic characteristics, wings, controls, landing gear, power plant, fuel tanks, characteristics, drawings, and photographs are provided.
The Hanriot H 431 Military Airplane (French): A General Purpose Biplane
Circular presenting a description of the Hanriot H 431, which was designed to meet the requirements of the French War Ministry for general purpose airplanes. Details are provided for the design, flying qualities, and improvements over other aircraft designs.
Lift and drag characteristics of a cabin monoplane determined in flight
From Summary: "The results of flight tests conducted by the NACA to determine the lift and drag characteristics of a full-scale airplane are given herein. A Fairchild FC-2W2 cabin monoplane having a Gottingen 387 wing section was used for the tests. The maximum lift coefficient for the airplane is compared with that obtained for the Gottingen 387 airfoil in recent tests in the Variable Density Tunnel. The maximum lift coefficient for the airplane was found to be 1.50 and that for the airfoil 1.56. Although the flight tests were confined chiefly to glides with the propeller locked horizontally, data obtained with the propeller operating at zero thrust for a few angles of attack are also included."
On the Theory of Wing Sections With Particular Reference to the Lift Distribution
This report gives a simple and exact method of calculating the lift distribution on thin wing sections. The most essential feature of the new theory is the introduction of an "ideal angle of attack," this angle being defined as that at which the flow enters the leading edge smoothly or, more precisely, as the angle of attack at which the lift at the leading edge equals zero. The lift distribution at this particular angle is shown to be a characteristic property of the section and has been termed the "basic distribution."
The pressure distribution over a square wing tip on a biplane in flight
This note presents the results obtained in pressure distribution tests on the right upper panel of a Douglas M-3 airplane in flight. These tests are a part of an extensive investigation on the effect of changes in tip shape on the load distribution.
A proof of the theorem regarding the distribution of lift over the span for minimum induced drag
The proof of the theorem that the elliptical distribution of lift over the span is that which will give rise to the minimum induced drag has been given in a variety of ways, generally speaking too difficult to be readily followed by the graduate of the average good technical school of the present day. In the form of proof this report makes an effort to bring the matter more readily within the grasp of this class of readers.
Reduction of turbulence in wind tunnels
From Summary: "A brief nonmathematical outline is given of modern views as to the nature of the effect of turbulence, and their bearing on the desirability of designing wind tunnels for small or large turbulence. Experiments made on a particular wind tunnel for the purpose of reducing the turbulence are described, to illustrate the influence of certain factors on the magnitude of the turbulence. Moderate changes in the size, shape, and wall thickness of cells of the honeycomb were found to have little effect. The addition of a room honeycomb at the entrance was also of little value in reducing the turbulence."
Resistance of Plates and Pipes at High Reynolds Numbers
It was learned that the law of resistance for high R values does not follow the simple powers, and that the powers, which can be obtained approximately for the velocity distribution, gradually change. Since, moreover, very important investigations have recently been made on the resistance of plates at very high R values, it seemed of interest to apply the above line of reasoning to the new general law of resistance. For this purpose, the resistance and velocity distribution along the plate must always be equal to the values of the pipe flow at the corresponding Reynolds number.
Strength of Rectangular Flat Plates Under Edge Compression
"Flat rectangular plates of duralumin, stainless iron, monel metal, and nickel were tested under loads applied at two opposite edges and acting in the plane of the plate. The edges parallel to the direction of loading were supported in V grooves. The plates were all 24 inches long and varied in width from 4 to 24 inches by steps of 4 inches, and in thickness from 0.015 to 0.095 inch by steps of approximately 0.015 inch. There were also a few 1, 2, 3, and 6 inch wide specimens" (p. 519).
Theory of Wing Sections of Arbitrary Shape
"This paper presents a solution of the problem of the theoretical flow of a frictionless incompressible fluid past airfoils of arbitrary forms. The velocity of the 2-dimensional flow is explicitly expressed for any point of the surface, and for any orientation, by an exact expression containing a number of parameters which are functions of the form only and which may be evaluated by convenient graphical methods. The method is particularly simple and convenient for bodies of streamline forms. The results have been applied to typical airfoils and compared with experimental data" (p. 229).
Wind-Tunnel Tests on Airfoil Boundary Layer Control Using a Backward-Opening Slot (1931)
"This report presents the results of an investigation to determine the effect of boundary layer control on the lift and drag of an airfoil. Boundary layer control was accomplished by means of a backward-opening slot in the upper surface of the hollow airfoil. Air was caused to flow through this slot by a pressure which was maintained inside the airfoil by a blower. Various slot locations, slot openings, and wing pressures were used" (p. 3).
Wrinkling of Reinforced Plates Subjected to Shear Stresses
An analysis is made here of the problem of long plates with transverse stiffeners subject to shear. A typical example would be a long Wagner beam. The shear stress is calculated at which the web wrinkles and shear stress becomes a maximum. The equation is solved for both a condition of free support and rigidity of support on the edges.
Wrinkling Phenomena of Thin Flat Plates Subjected to Shear Stresses
This report covers a series of tests on thin flat elastic strips restrained at two parallel edges and subjected to shear by conversely directed stresses. Theoretical treatments, particularly those of Lilly, Southwell and Skan, and Timoshenko are briefly outlined. The problem to be solved by these tests was to find out whether, and to what extent the conditions and assumptions upon which the calculations are based are complied with in the tests.
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).
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."
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.
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.
The aerodynamic characteristics of three tapered airfoils tested in the variable density wind tunnel
From Summary: "This report contains the lift, drag, and moment characteristics of tapered Clark Y, Gottingen 393, and USA 45 airfoils as obtained from tests made in the Variable Density Wind Tunnel of the NACA. The results are given at both low and high Reynolds Numbers to show scale effect and to provide data for use in airplane design."
The Aerodynamic Wind Vane and the Inherent Stability of Airplanes
Report discussing the design of the wind vane described rests on the following line of reasoning: An airplane, originally in equilibrium about its C.G. is assumed to be deflected from this position through an angle (delta)i, the variation (delta)i being so sudden that the path of the C.G. and the airplane speed do not change while it is taking place. The aerodynamic forces acting on the wings, tail surfaces, fuselage, etc., which, as a whole, exerted a zero moment (M(sub G) = 0) about the center of gravity at the instant of equilibrium, now exert a moment M(sub G) not equal to 0.
The Amiot 140 M Military Airplane (French): An All-Metal Multiplace High-Wing Monoplane
Circular presenting the Amiot 140 M, which is the first of a series of airplanes that have been developed by a French aircraft manufacturer. A description of the design, dimensions, flight characteristics, blueprints, and photographs are provided.
The Behavior of Conventional Airplanes in Situations Thought to Lead to Most Crashes
Simple flight tests were made on ten conventional airplanes for the purpose of determining their action in two situations, which are generally thought to precede and lead to a large proportion of airplane crashes. These situations are when in an attempt to stretch the glide in a forced landing, the airplane is stalled, and when while taking off, particularly if taking off steeply, the engine fails at a low altitude.
The Dewoitine D.30 Commercial Airplane (French): A High-Wing Cantilever Monoplane
Circular describing the Dewoitine D.30, which is a commercial high-wing cantilever monoplane. Details of the wing, fuselage, tail surfaces, landing gear, flight controls, electrical equipment, sending-receiving wireless installation, power plant, characteristics, performance, drawings, and photographs are provided.
Flat Sheet Metal Girders With Very Thin Metal Web. Part 1: General Theories and Assumptions
The object of this report was to develop the structural method of sheet metal girders and should for that reason be considered solely from this standpoint. The ensuing methods were based on the assumption of the infinitely low stiffness in bending of the metal web. This simplifies the basis of calculations to such an extent that many questions of great practical importance can be examined which otherwise cannot be included in any analysis of the bending stiffness of the buckled plate. This report refers to such points as the safety in buckling of uprights to the effect of bending flexibility of spars, to spars not set parallel, etc.
Flat Sheet Metal Girders With Very Thin Metal Web. Part 2: Sheet Metal Girders With Spars Resistant to Bending - Oblique Uprights - Stiffness
"Noting that the stiffness of the girder increases very rapidly as Beta increases, the result can be summed up as follows: When the cross stress preponderates in one direction and when the web plate is to be given the dimensions commensurate to its stresses, it is advisable (regardless of any ensuing structural difficulties) to set the uprights at about Beta = 120 degrees, thereby lowering the weight of the plate wall 15 percent (in contrast to Beta = 90 degrees), and raising the stiffness 55 percent. But, when the cross stresses alternate and are approximately of the same intensity in both directions, or, if the web plate thickness is determined by other structural reasons, then Beta = 90 degrees should be chosen" (p. 1).
Flat Sheet Metal Girders With Very Thin Metal Web. Part 3: Sheet Metal Girders With Spars Resistant to Bending - the Stress in Uprights - Diagonal Tension Fields
This report continues the work presented in NACA-TM 605 and expands the scope to include the change in specific number of wrinkles from direction x to z, so that b and f become variable in direction z. Moreover, it seems likely that b and f increase from the edge toward the center if the sheet is infinitely thin.
Interference effects and drag of struts on a monoplane wing
"Tests were conducted in the Variable Density Wind Tunnel of the NACA to determine the importance of the interference effects and drag of struts on a monoplane. Inclined struts were placed upon a Gottingen 387 airfoil in the lower surface positions and in two upper surface positions. Tests were made at values of Reynolds Number comparable with those obtained in flight. It was found that the interference drag of struts may be as great as the drag of the struts alone" (p. 1).
Latécoère 38-0 Flying Boat (French): A Long-Range Sesquiplane for Carrying Mail
Report describing the Latécoère 38-0, which is a transatlantic mail seaplane. A description of the design, flight characteristics, and some of its special features is provided.
Tests in the Variable Density Wind Tunnel to Investigate the Effects of Scale and Turbulence on Airfoil Characteristics
"The effect of scale and turbulence on the lift and drag of five airfoils the NACA 0006, the NACA 0021, the Clark Y and the USA 35-A, and the USN PS6, have been investigated in the Variable Density Wind Tunnel of the NACA. Tests were made over a wide scale range for only two different conditions of turbulence. Because of the limited scope of the tests, no general conclusions have been drawn, but it is indicated that increasing either turbulence or scale eliminates the discontinuities in the lift curves for thick airfoils, and that the effects of increased turbulence on the profile drag of airfoils tend to become of small importance at very high Reynolds Numbers" (p. 1).
Torsion in box wings
From Summary: "Logical analysis of a box wing necessitates the allowance for the contribution of the drag spars to the torsional strength of the structure. A rigorous analysis is available in the use of the Method of Least Work. The best logical method of analysis is that applying Prandtl's Membrane Analogy. The results so obtained vary by a negligible amount from those obtained by the rigorous method."
The Use of Elektron Metal in Airplane Construction
Memorandum presenting an evaluation of elektron, which is the lightest of the light metals and is of particular interest for aircraft construction. Some of its chemical properties, particular alloys and wrought materials that can be made using elektron, and some of the potential ways in which the material might be used are provided.
Investigation of the Diaphragm-Type Pressure Cell
"This report relates to various improvements in the process of manufacture of the NACA standard pressure cell. Like most pressure recording devices employing thin diaphragms, they would in general show considerable change in calibration with temperature and also some change of calibration with time or aging effect. The required diaphragm thickness and the desirable rate of mechanical magnification have been determined on the basis of several hundred tests" (p. 507).
The effect of valve timing upon the performance of a supercharged engine at altitude and an unsupercharged engine at sea level
This investigation was conducted to determine the comparative effects of valve timing on the performance of an unsupercharged engine at sea level and a supercharged engine at altitude. The tests were conducted on the NACA universal test engine. The timing of the four valve events was varied over a wide range; the engine speeds were varied between 1,050 and 1,500 r.p.m.; the compression ratios were varied between 4.35:1 and 7.35:1. The conditions of exhaust pressure and carburetor pressure of a supercharged engine were simulated for altitudes between 0 and 18,000 feet. The results show that optimum valve timing for a supercharged engine at an altitude of 18,000 feet differs slightly from that for an unsupercharged engine at sea level. A small increase in power is obtained by using the optimum timing for 18,000 feet for altitudes above 5,000 feet. The timing of the intake opening and exhaust closing becomes more critical as the compression ratio is increased.
The vertical wind tunnel of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
"The vertical open-throat wind tunnel of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics is described in this report. The tunnel was built mainly for studying the spinning characteristics of airplane models, but may be used as well for the usual types of wind-tunnel tests. A special spinning balance is being developed to measure the desired forces and moments with the model simulating the spin of an airplane. Satisfactory air flow has been attained with a velocity that is uniform over the jet to within plus or minus 0.5 per cent" (p. 499).
The Bernard 120 Seaplane (French): A 1400 hp Single-Seat Monoplane Racer
Circular presenting a description of the Bernard 120, which is a seaplane. Descriptions of the structural elements, engine, and fuel distribution system are provided.
The Bleriot 110 Airplane (French): A Long-Distance High-Wing Monoplane
Circular presenting a description of the Bleriot 110 which is a long-distance airplane mainly distinguished by its fineness and lightness. Details of the fuselage, shape, wing, and power plant are provided.
Effect of Orifice Length-Diameter Ratio on the Coefficient of Discharge of Fuel-Injection Nozzles
The variation of the coefficient of discharge with the length-diameter ratio of the orifice was determined for nozzles having single orifice 0.008 and 0.020 inch in diameter. Ratios from 0.5 to 10 were investigated at injection pressures from 500 to 5,000 pounds per square inch. The tests showed that, within the error of the observation, the coefficients were the same whether the nozzles were assembled at the end of a constant tube or in an automatic injection valve having a plain stem.
Elmira Soaring Contest, 1930
This report details the Elmira, New York soaring contest of 1930 and provides up-current maps, experiences in piloting, distance flights, and a few details on glider design.
Mechanical Similitude and Turbulence
This report deals with the theory of the vortex street which enables the reproduction of the mechanism of the form resistance with suitable approximation under stated conditions, although such a resistance is precluded in a fluid which is perfectly inviscid. Disregarding for the present the origination of the vortex, the stream attitude in the wake of the body may be described approximately correct by the representation of individual vortices, without transgressing the law governing the motion of such vortices in an ideal fluid. Another striking example is the theory of the induced drag of wings, which likewise shows the extent of applying the vortex equations without overstepping the bounds of the dynamics of ideal fluids.
The Oehmichen Peugeot Helicopter
The first flights of the Oehmichen helicopter are detailed as well as various aspects of the construction.
Optico-Photographic Measurements of Airplane Deformations
"The deformation of aircraft wings is measured by photographically recording a series of bright shots on a moving paper band sensitive to light. Alternating deformations, especially vibrations, can thus be measured in operation, unaffected by inertia. A handy recording camera, the optograph, was developed by the static division of the D.V.L. (German Experimental Institute for Aeronautics) for the employment of this method of measurement on airplanes in flight" (p. 1).
Polish P Type Single-Seat Fighters: All-Metal Gull-Type Wing Monoplanes
Circular describing the Polish P.I and P.VIII airplanes, which are both all-metal gull-type wing monoplanes that differ in the type of engine used, their wing area, and their landing gears. Details of the components, design, differences, characteristics, load distribution, performance, drawings, and photographs are provided.
The Production of Turbulence
This report presents an introduction to the extensive literature on turbulence, with especial consideration of L. Prandtl's theories.
Static Longitudinal Stability Of "Ente" Airplanes
The stability conditions of Ente (duck) airplanes are investigated in this report. In developing the formulas, which afford an approximate solution, the unimportant effect of the height of the C.G. and the moment of the residual resistance are neglected. The effect of downwash from the forward horizontal empennage on the wing are also disregarded.
The Variation in Pressure in the Cabin of an Airplane in Flight
From Summary: "The pressure in the cabin of a Fairchild cabin monoplane was surveyed in flight, and was found to decrease with increased air speed over the fuselage and to vary with the number and location of openings in the cabin. The maximum depression of 2.2 inches of water (equivalent pressure altitude at sea level of 152 feet) occurred at the high speed of the airplane in level flight with the cabin closed."
The Wibault 280 T.10 Commercial Airplane (French): An All-Metal, Cantilever, Low-Wing Monoplane
Circular presenting a description of the Wibault 280 T.10, which is an all-metal cantilever low-wing monoplane. The flight characteristics, design, blueprints, and photographs are provided.
The drag characteristics of several airships determined by deceleration tests
This report presents the results of deceleration tests conducted for the purpose of determining the drag characteristics of six airships. The tests were made with airships of various shapes and sizes belonging to the Army, the Navy, and the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation. Drag coefficients for the following airships are shown: Army TC-6, TC-10, and TE-2; Navy Los Angeles and ZMC-2; Goodyear Puritan. The coefficients vary from about 0.045 for the small blunt airships to 0.023 for the relatively large slender Los Angeles. This variation may be due to a combination of effects, but the most important of these is probably the effect of length-diameter ratio.
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