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open access

Airship Model Tests in the Variable Density Wind Tunnel

Description: 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… more
Date: January 27, 1931
Creator: Abbott, Ira H.
open access

Analysis of temperature distribution in liquid-cooled turbine blades

Description: From Summary: "This report presents analytical methods for computing temperature distributions in liquid-cooled turbine blades, or in simplified shapes used to approximate sections of the blade. The individual analyses are first presented in terms of their mathematical development. Nondimensional charts to simplify some temperature-distribution calculations are also given."
Date: October 27, 1950
Creator: Livingood, John N. B. & Brown, W. Byron
open access

Bending and shear stresses developed by the instantaneous arrest of the root of a moving cantilever beam

Description: A theoretical and experimental investigation has been made of the behavior of a cantilever beam in transverse motion when its root is suddenly brought to rest. Equations are given for determining the stresses, the deflections, and the accelerations that arise in the beam as a result of the impact. The theoretical equations, which have been confirmed experimentally, reveal that, at a given percentage of the distance from root to tip, the bending stresses for a particular mode are independent of … more
Date: September 27, 1944
Creator: Stowell, Elbridge Z.; Schwartz, Edward B. & Houbolt, John C.
open access

Bending of Rectangular Plates With Large Deflections

Description: "The solution of Von Karman's fundamental equations for large deflections of plates is presented for the case of a simply supported rectangular plate under combined edge compression and lateral loading. Numerical solutions are given for square plates and for rectangular plates with a width-span ratio of 3:1. The effective widths under edge compression are compared with effective widths according to Von Karman, Bengston, Marguerre, and Cox and with experimental results by Ramberg, Mcpherson, and… more
Date: May 27, 1941
Creator: Levy, Samuel
open access

Charts for estimating tail-rotor contribution to helicopter directional stability and control in low-speed flight

Description: "Theoretically derived charts and equations are presented by which tail-rotor design studies of directional trim and control response at low forward speed can be conveniently made. The charts can also be used to obtain the main-rotor stability derivatives of thrust with respect to collective pitch and angle of attack at low forward speeds. The use of the charts and equations for tail-rotor design studies is illustrated. Comparisons between theoretical and experimental results are presented. The… more
Date: October 27, 1953
Creator: Amer, Kenneth B. & Gessow, Alfred
open access

The Design of Plywood Webs for Airplane Wing Beams

Description: This report deals with the design of plywood webs for wooden box beams to obtain maximum strength per unit weight. A method of arriving at the most efficient and economical web thickness, and hence the most suitable unit shear stress, is presented and working stresses in shear for various types of webs and species of plywood are given. The questions of diaphragm spacing and required glue area between the webs and flange are also discussed.
Date: November 27, 1929
Creator: Trayer, George W.
open access

Drag of Cylinders of Simple Shapes

Description: "In order to determine the effect of shape, compressibility, and Reynolds number on the drag and critical speed for simple forms, the drag forces on models of various simple geometric cross sections were measured in the NACA 11-inch high-speed wind tunnel. The models were circular, semitubular, elliptical, square, and triangular (isosceles) cylinders. They were tested over a speed range from 5 percent of the speed of sound to a value in excess of the critical speed, corresponding, for each mode… more
Date: October 27, 1937
Creator: Lindsey, W. F.
open access

Dynamics of a turbojet engine considered as a quasi-static system

Description: From Summary: "A determination of the dynamic characteristics of a typical turbojet engine with a centrifugal compressor, a sonic-flow turbine-nozzle diaphragm, and fixed area exhaust nozzle is presented. A generalized equation for transient behavior of the engine was developed; this equation was then verified by calculations using compressor and turbine performance charts extrapolated from equilibrium operating data and by experimental data obtained from an engine operated under transients in … more
Date: July 27, 1949
Creator: Otto, Edward W. & Taylor, Burt L., III
open access

Effect of orifice length-diameter ratio on fuel sprays for compression-ignition engines

Description: "Experimental results on the effect of the length-diameter ratio of the orifice on the spray characteristics, together with a brief analysis of the factors affecting these characteristics, are presented in this report. The length-diameter ratios tested ranged from 0.5 to 10; the orifice diameters from 0.008 to 0.040 inch; and the injection pressures from 2,000 to 8,000 pounds per square inch. The density of the air into which the fuel was discharged was varied from 0.38 to 1.35 pounds per cubic… more
Date: May 27, 1931
Creator: Gelalles, A. G.
open access

Effect of Tip Shape and Dihedral on Lateral-Stability Characteristics

Description: This report presents the results of wind tunnel tests to determine the effect of wing-tip shape and dihedral on some of the aerodynamic characteristics of Clark Y wings that affect the performance and lateral stability of airplanes. Force tests at several angles of yaw and rotation tests at zero yaw were made. From these tests the rates of change of rolling moment, yawing moment, and cross-wind force coefficients with angle of yaw and the rate of change of rolling moment coefficient with rollin… more
Date: August 27, 1935
Creator: Shortal, Joseph A.
open access

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

Description: 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 consecut… more
Date: January 27, 1927
Creator: Joachim, W. F. & Beardsley, E. G.
open access

A Flight Comparison of Conventional Ailerons on a Rectangular Wing and of Conventional and Floating Wing-Tip Ailerons on a Tapered Wing

Description: Report presents the results of flight tests comparing the relative effectiveness of conventional ailerons of the same size on wings of rectangular and tapered plan forms made with a Fairchild 22 airplane. Information is included comparing conventional and floating wing-tip ailerons on a tapered wing. The results showed that the conventional ailerons were somewhat more effective on the tapered than on the rectangular wing. The difference, however, was so small as to be imperceptible to the pilot… more
Date: October 27, 1937
Creator: Soulé, H. A. & Gracey, W.
open access

Infrared Radiation From Explosions in a Spark-Ignition Engine

Description: This report presents the results of an investigation to determine the variations in intensity and spectral distribution of the radiant energy emitted by the flames during normal and knocking explosions in an engine. Radiation extending into the infrared was transmitted by a window of fluorite, placed either near the spark plug or over the detonation zone at opposite ends of the combustion chamber. Concave, surface-silvered mirrors focused the beam, first at the slit of a stroboscope which opene… more
Date: February 27, 1934
Creator: Marvin, Charles F., Jr.; Caldwell, Frank R. & Steele, Sydney
open access

Internal-liquid-film-cooling experiments with air-stream temperatures to 2000 degrees F. in 2- and 4-inch-diameter horizontal tubes

Description: Report presents the results of an investigation conducted to determine the effectiveness of liquid-cooling films on the inner surfaces of tubes containing flowing hot air. Experiments were made in 2- and 4-inch-diameter straight metal tubes with air flows at temperatures from 600 degrees to 2000 degrees F. and diameter Reynolds numbers from 2.2 to 14 x 10(5). The film coolant, water, was injected around the circumference at a single axial position on the tubes at flow rates from 0.02 to .24 pou… more
Date: May 27, 1952
Creator: Kinney, George R.; Abramson, Andrew E. & Sloop, John L.
open access

Measurements of flow in the boundary layer of a 1/40-scale model of the U. S. Airship "Akron"

Description: This report presents the results of measurements of flow in the boundary layer of a 1/40-scale model of the U. S. Airship "Akron" (ZRS-4) made with the object of determining the boundary-layer thickness, the point of transition from laminar to the turbulent flow, and the velocity distribution in the boundary layer.
Date: April 27, 1932
Creator: Freeman, Hugh B.
open access

Pressure Distribution Over a Rectangular Monoplane Wing Model Up to 90 Degree Angle of Attack

Description: "The pressure distribution tests described in this report, covering angles of attack up to 90 degrees, were made on a rectangular monoplane wing model in the atmospheric wind tunnel of the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory. These tests indicate that a rectangular wing, by reason of its large tip loads, is uneconomical aerodynamically and structurally, has pronounced lateral instability above maximum lift, and is not adaptable to accurate calculation based on the classical wing theory" (p… more
Date: October 27, 1927
Creator: Knight, Montgomery & Loeser, Oscar, Jr.
open access

Summary of derived gust velocities obtained from measurements within thunderstorms

Description: Available measurements of the derived gust velocities within thunderstorms are summarized for altitudes from 5,000 to 34,000 feet. The results indicate that the intensity of the derived gust velocity is essentially constant up to altitudes of 20,000 feet and that an approximate 10-percent reduction in the gust intensity occurs for altitudes from 20,000 to 30,000 feet.
Date: July 27, 1955
Creator: Tolefson, H. B.
open access

Surface heat-transfer coefficients of finned cylinders

Description: An investigation to determine and correlate the experimental surface heat-transfer coefficients of finned cylinders with different air-stream cooling arrangements was conducted at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory from 1932 to 1938. The investigation covered the determination of the effect of fin width, fin space, fin thickness, and cylinder diameter on the heat transfer. Wind-tunnel tests were made in the free air stream with and without baffles and also with various devices for cre… more
Date: April 27, 1939
Creator: Ellerbrock, Herman H., Jr. & Biermann, Arnold E.
open access

Theoretical comparison of several methods of thrust augmentation for turbojet engines

Description: "A theoretical investigation of tail-pipe burning, water injection at the compressor inlet, combination tail-pipe burning plus water injection, bleedoff, and rocket-assist methods thrust augmentation for turbojet engines was made for an engine representative of those in current use. The effect of augmented liquid ratio on augmented thrust ratio and the effects of altitude and flight Mach number on the performance of various methods were determined. The additional take-off weight involved by the… more
Date: October 27, 1948
Creator: Hall, Eldon W. & Wilcox, E. Clinton
open access

The Theory of Propellers 1: Determination of the Circulation Function and the Mass Coefficient for Dual-Rotating Propellers

Description: "Values of the circulation function have been obtained for dual-rotating propellers. Numerical values are given for four, eight, and twelve-blade dual-rotating propellers and for advance ratios from 2 to about 6. In addition, the circulation function has been determine for single-rotating propellers for the higher values of the advance ratio. The mass coefficient, another quantity of significance in propeller theory, has been introduced" (p. 35).
Date: May 27, 1944
Creator: Theodorsen, Theodore
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