SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AEROSPACE REPORTS
A Biweekly Publication of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
VOLUME 44, ISSUE 1 - January 13, 2006
05 AIRCRAFT DESIGN, TESTING AND PERFORMANCE
Includes all stages of design of aircraft and aircraft structures and systems.
Also includes aircraft testing, performance and evaluation, and aircraft and flight simulation technology.
For related information see also 18 Spacecraft Design, Testing and Performance and 39 Structural Mechanics.
For land transportation vehicles see 85 Technology Utilization and Surface Transportation.
20060001710 Southampton Univ., UK
Practical Adaptive Noise Reduction in the Aircraft Cockpit Environment
Powell, G. A.; Darlington, P.; Wheeler, P. D.; IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing (ICASSP '87); Volume 1; 1987, pp. 6.2.1-6.2.4; In English; See also 20060001583 Contract(s)/Grant(s): A94B/3594; Copyright; Avail.: Other Sources
This paper presents some preliminary results from adaptive noise cancellation experiments performed in a fighter aircraft cockpit simulator. The sound field and noise levels used in the experiment were very much more realistic than those used in previously reported experiments and the adaptive noise cancellation was performed in real time, using man mountable, Texas instruments TMS 320 based hardware. The results confirm earlier assertions and indicate that generally, software and 'off line' simulations have yielded optimistic results. Author
Cockpit Simulators; Fighter Aircraft; Noise Reduction
20060001770 Northrop Grumman Corp., El Segundo, CA USA
AFRL/NASA Shaped Sonic Boom Experiment Flight Test Program. Delivery Order 0021: Origins and Overview of the Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration Program
Pawlowski, JosephW.; Graham, David H.; Boccadoro, Charles H.; Coen, Peter G.; Maglieri, Domenic J.; Jan. 1, 2005; 41 pp.; In English; Original contains color illustrations Contract(s)/Grant(s): F33615-00-D-3054-0021; Proj-A03T Report No.(s): AD-A440153; AFRL-VA-WP-TP-2005-300; No Copyright; Avail.: Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)
The goal of the DARPA Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration (SSBD) Program was to demonstrate for the first time in flight that sonic booms can be substantially reduced by incorporating specialized aircraft shaping techniques. Although mitigation of the sonic boom via specialized shaping techniques was theorized decades ago, until now this theory had never been tested with a flight vehicle subjected to actual flight conditions in a real atmosphere. The demonstrative success, which occurred on 27 August 2003 with repeat flights in the supersonic corridor at Edwards Air Force Base, is a critical milestone in the development of next-generation supersonic aircraft that could one day fly unrestricted over land and help usher in a new era of time-critical air transport. Pressure measurements obtained on the ground and in the air confirmed that the specific modifications made to a Northrop Grumman F-5E aircraft not only changed the shape of the shock wave signature emanating from the aircraft, but also produced a 'flat-top' signature whose shape persisted, as predicted, as the pressure waves propagated through the atmosphere to the ground. This accomplishment represents a major advance towards reducing the startling and potentially damaging noise of a sonic boom. This paper describes the evolution of the SSBD program, including the rationale for test article selection, and provides an overview of the history-making accomplishments achieved during the SSBD effort, as well as the follow-on AFRL/NASA Shaped Sonic Boom Experiment (SSBE) Program, whose goal was to further evaluate the characteristics and robustness of shaped boom signatures. The report includes 23 briefing charts that summarize its content. DTIC
Acoustic Properties; Flight Tests; Noise Reduction; Shapes; Signatures; Sonic Booms; Supersonic Aircraft
20060001772 Northrop Grumman Corp., El Segundo, CA USA
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Air Vehicles Technology Integration Program (AVTIP). Delivery Order 0020: Prediction of Manufacturing Tolerances for Laminar Flow
Drake, Aaron; Bender, Anne M.; Solomon, William D., Jr.; Vavra, Andrea J.; Jun. 1, 2005; 290 pp.; In English; Original contains color illustrations Contract(s)/Grant(s): F33615-00-D-3054-0020; Proj-A071 Report No.(s): AD-A440161; AFRL-VA-WP-TR-2005-3060; No Copyright; Avail.: Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)
An examination of the effects of surface excrescences on boundary layer transition has been performed, including both experimental and computational components. The experimental study focused on stagnation-line starting condition boundary layers in incompressible flow without sweep effects. The study was performed at low-Reynolds number-less than 106-and included the effects of both adverse and favorable pressure gradients. The results for both forward and aft-facing steps indicate a substantial stabilizing effect of favorable pressure gradient on excrescence-induced boundary layer transition. These findings suggest that manufacturing tolerances for laminar flow aircraft could be loosened in areas where even mild favorable pressure gradients exist. The present study, due to its limited scope, does not provide sufficient basis for setting actual manufacturing tolerances; however, it provides a solid foundation on which follow-on examinations including compressibility effects can be built. DTIC
Aircraft; Laminar Flow; Manufacturing; Wings
20060001840 Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, CA USA
Limited Characterization of the SPADS Radar System, Project 'START'
Roessig, Keith M.; Kearl, Leonard C.; Carazo, Oscar; Ferreri, Francesco; Jun. 1, 2005; 63 pp.; In English; Original contains color illustrations Report No.(s): AD-A440351; AFFTC-TIM-05-02; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A04 , Hardcopy
The USAF Test Pilot School conducted flight tests to characterize the Weibel-manufactured Spaceport Arrival and Departure System (SPADS) radar functionality and performance for potential use as a single-station time-space-position information (TSPI) source. TSPI truth source data was measured with Advanced Range Data System (ARDS) pods for aircraft tracking, cinetheodolites for munition trajectory tracking and video bomb scoring (VBS) for bomb impact predictions. DTIC
Aircraft; Impact Prediction; Radar
20060001867 North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC USA
Dynamically Resolved Simulation of Atmospheric Features and Turbulence Using Advanced Models and Adaptive Algorithms
McRae, D. S.; Xiao, Xudong; Hassan, Hassan A.; Feb. 16, 2005; 22 pp.; In English; Original contains color illustrations Contract(s)/Grant(s): FA8718-04-C-0019 Report No.(s): AD-A440414; AFRL-VS-HA-TR-2005-1106; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy
Development of the North Carolina State University (NCSU) adaptive high-resolution atmospheric model and the atmospheric version of the NCSU k-zeta turbulence model continued during this contract period. The boundary condition implementation at the lateral boundaries was changed to radiative type to better preserve fixed condition boundary values. A sponge layer condition was installed at the upper boundary. The solution redistribution algorithm after mesh adaptation was changed to a weighted essentially non-oscillatory algorithms in order to improve accuracy. Basic development of the turbulence model was completed and the equations are included herein. The full turbulence model was included in the code and 3-D runs were initiated to begin comparison with observation and other codes. A widely used generic 2-D windstorm case was used for confirmation and verification of the changes. initial results demonstrated the breakdown of shear layers into clear air turbulence of sufficient severity to produce 1-g vertical accelerations for aircraft. DTIC
Algorithms; Atmospheric Models; Atmospheric Turbulence; Clear Air Turbulence; Simulation
20060001883 Air Force Inst. of Tech., Wright-Patterson AFB, OH USA
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Experimental Investigation of a Lift Augmented Ground Effect Platform
Igue, Roberto T.; Sep. 1, 2005; 108 pp.; In English; Original contains color illustrations Report No.(s): AD-A440437; AFIT/GAE/ENY/05-S04; No Copyright; Avail.: Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)
This experimental study investigated the feasibility of applying the concept of a skirtless hovercraft into the production of an operational vehicle. A 0.255 m diameter prototype was designed, built and tested. An air bearing table was used as a testing platform, virtually eliminating the influence of friction and providing one degree of freedom for the experiments. Static tests were performed at various heights and craft configurations, providing a wide range of data for comparison. Lift, torque and efficiency were measured and calculated for each setting. Pressure and velocity information was also collected at specific points around the craft when operating at different heights above ground. The results indicate a significant increase in total lift and efficiency when operating the model at close to the ground heights, in ground effect, compared to the lift produced by the propeller and motor alone. Even more significant changes were found when comparing the in ground effect results with the out of ground effect values of lift and efficiency. The study also investigated the use of Coanda nozzles on the peripheral region of the craft, and found them to be less efficient than straight nozzles with similar size and flow rates. Comparisons between the experimental results and previous computational fluid dynamic analysis are also made and presented in this study. DTIC
Ground Effect (Aerodynamics); Ground Effect Machines; Helicopters
20060001888 RAND Corp., Santa Monica, CA USA
American Carrier Air Power at the Dawn of a New Century
Lambeth, Benjamin S.; Jan. 1, 2005; 135 pp.; In English; Original contains color illustrations Contract(s)/Grant(s): DASW01-01-C-0004 Report No.(s): AD-A440448; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A07, Hardcopy
This report presents the highlights of the U.S. Navy's carrier air performance during the first two major wars of the 21st century: Operation Enduring Freedom against the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan in 2001 and 2002 and the subsequent 3-week period of major combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom in early 2003 that finally ended the rule of Saddam Hussein. The report also addresses ongoing modernization trends in U.S. carrier air capability. In the first war noted above, U.S. carrier air power substituted almost entirely for land-based theater air forces because of an absence of suitable shore-based forward operating locations for the latter. In the second, 6 of 12 carriers and their embarked air wings were surged to contribute to the campaign, with a seventh carrier battle group held in reserve in the Western Pacific and an eighth also deployed and available for tasking. The air wings that were embarked in the 6 committed carriers in the latter campaign flew approximately half the total number of fighter sorties generated altogether by U.S. Central Command. As attested by the performance of naval aviation in both operations, the warfighting potential of today's U.S. carrier strike groups has grown substantially over that of the carrier battle groups that represented the cutting edge of U.S. naval power at the end of the Cold War. The research findings reported herein are the interim results of a larger ongoing study by the author on U.S. carrier air operations and capability improvements since the end of the Cold War. They should interest U.S. naval officers and other members of the defense and national security community concerned with the evolving role of U.S. carrier air power in joint and combined operations. An extensive bibliography is included. DTIC
Afghanistan; Aircraft Carriers; Iraq; Military Aviation
20060001898 Metron, Inc., Reston, VA USA
Top-Down Mechanism Design Study for Multi-UAV Search and Surveillance
Godfrey, Gregory A.; Oct. 31, 2005; 6 pp.; In English Contract(s)/Grant(s): W911NF-04-C-0041 Report No.(s): AD-A440491; ARO-47062.2-MA-DRP; No Copyright; Avail.: Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)
Under this seedling effort, Metron has developed and demonstrated 'function-driven design' technology for complex distributed systems and applied it to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) ground target surveillance scenario. The authors considered three types of UAV interaction mechanisms (auction/bidding methods, swapping-based methods and local optimization methods) and two different target motion models (stationary and mobile, random walkers). There are two primary breakthroughs. The first is a value potential approach to optimizing search paths based on approximating an infinite-horizon search plan. Using this value potential to dictate UAV motion improves the search performance, especially for disjoint, multimodal (patchy) probability distributions on target position. The second innovation introduces dynamic area sectoring, which allows UAVs to partition the search area dynamically and to balance the search workload across UAVs. Sectoring also eliminates the need to deconflict search paths and simplifies collision avoidance because each UAV stays inside its sector. Combining the value potential-based UAV motion and dynamic sectoring reduced the median time to target detection by up to 40 percent in this experimental testing. Based in part on the improved multi-sensor search capability developed under this seedling effort, Metron has been awarded a NAVAIR Phase II SBIR contract to accelerate the transition of this distributed search technology. DTIC
Detection; Drone Vehicles; Surveillance; Target Acquisition; Targets
20060001903 RAND Corp., Santa Monica, CA USA
Competition and Innovation in the U.S. Fixed-Wing Military Aircraft Industry
Birkler, John; Bower, Anthony G.; Drezner, Jeffrey A.; Lee, Gordon; Lorell, Mark; Smith, Giles; Timson, Fred; Trimble, William P. G.; Younossi, Obaid; Jan. 1, 2003; 128 pp.; In English; Original contains color illustrations Report No.(s): AD-A440507; No Copyright; Avail.: Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)
In the first couple of decades following World War II, over a dozen firms competed vigorously to develop and produce U.S. military aircraft. During the ensuing years, some firms left the business and others merged, so that by 1990 only eight firms survived. In the following few years, the pace of consolidation quickened. Today, only three firms are capable of developing and producing major military aircraft systems. Policymakers have expressed concern that further consolidation could erode the competitive environment, which has been a fundamental driver of innovation in the military aircraft industry. DTIC
Aircraft Configurations; Competition; Fixed Wings; Industries
20060001922 Applied Research Associates, Inc., Tyndall AFB, FL USA
Halon Flightline Extinguisher Evaluation: Data Supporting Standard Development
Dierdorf, Dougls S.; Kiel, Jennifer C.; Oct. 1, 2005; 19 pp.; In English Contract(s)/Grant(s): F08637-98-C-6002; Proj-4915 Report No.(s): AD-A440586; AFRL-ML-TY-TR-2005-4583; No Copyright; Avail.: Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)
This evaluation of flightline fire extinguishers has been conducted to determine minimum performance criteria for assessing the capability of fire extinguishing agents to suppress two specific aircraft engine fires; three dimensional flowing fuel fires in the aircraft tail pipe and engine nacelle fires that can be fought through the access panel. This test series documented performance of 150 lb fire extinguishers containing Halon 1211 for extinguishing hidden and running fuel fires. An F-100 engine nacelle mockup was used to evaluate the full extinguishment times and amount of extinguishing agent used on a series of twenty aft engine and pool fires of 100-ft2 and ten access panel fires. The test series data was successfully used to develop a consistent, repeatable test procedure with pass/fail criteria for three dimensional and hidden fires through the rear engine and the access panel. The resulting document provides the performance standard for assessing alternative agents to determine suitability for use by USAF personnel in support of flightline fire extinguishers with the primary mission of rescue and fire suppression during aviation related incidents. DTIC
Aircraft Engines; Fire Extinguishers; Fires; Halon
20060002034 National War Coll., Washington, DC USA
Maritime Patrol Aircraft - Operational Versatility from the Sea
Hallowell, Paul E.; Jan. 1, 1994; 18 pp.; In English Report No.(s): AD-A440539; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy
U.S. Force structure in the post-Cold War security environment continues to be a subject of constant debate. While the Bottom-Up Review (BUR) thoroughly examined future defense requirements, it actually raised more questions than it answered since the result of that process remains unaffordable. In the absence of a bonafide National Security Strategy, efforts to size and shape the military will undoubtedly continue to be a very difficult undertaking. And with budgetary constraints essentially driving force structure decisions, it becomes imperative that the military incorporate and retain cost-effective platforms that have utility across a wide range of warfare areas. One such platform is the P-3 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA). Traditionally, with the aircraft carrier as the centerpiece of naval aviation, non-organic assets such as the P-3 have often been left behind when it comes to representation for programs and budget decisions in the Pentagon. Now that the ColdWar is over, funding has become even more difficult for MPA, as pressure to reduce anti-submarine warfare assets in the absence of a Soviet submarine threat has translated into deep cuts for the P-3 community. In 1990, there were 24 active patrol squadrons; by 1996, there will be 12 -- the largest cut among all navy platforms. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the value of MPA across a wide range of warfare disciplines and to underscore the importance of preserving current force structure. The author begins by examining two mission areas for which MPA has no equal: maritime surveillance and antisubmarine warfare (ASW). He then discusses MPA's capability with respect to integrated task group support and its utility in fulfilling forward presence objectives. Finally, he concludes with a look at platform capability in terms of OPNAV's Joint Mission Area Assessment criteria, which now forms the basis for all future resource decisions. DTIC
Antisubmarine Warfare; Military Aircraft; Oceans; P-3 Aircraft; Patrols; Seas; Surveillance
20060002278 Mitre Corp., USA
A Predictive Model of User Equipage Costs for Future Air Traffic Services and Capabilities: An Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast Example
Hollinger, Kent; Nickum, James; Peed, Doyle; Stock, Todd; Proceedings of the Fifth Integrated Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance (ICNS) Conference and Workshop; November 2005, pp. 1-37; In English; See also 20060002231; Original contains color illustrations Contract(s)/Grant(s): DTFA01-01-C-00001; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy; Available from CASI on CD-ROM only as part of the entire parent document
Many new technological solutions are considered in efforts to improve the efficiency and capacity of the National Airspace System (NAS). Most of these technologies require the addition or modification of equipment not only on the ground, but also in the aircraft that operate in the NAS. Because it is increasingly difficult for the Federal Aviation Administration to justify mandates for forced aircraft equipage, it is often necessary to depend upon the aircraft owner/operators to voluntarily equip their aircraft with the needed technology. If these aircraft equipage costs are too high, the owner/operators may not equip their aircraft and the overall program might not proceed as desired. Presented is a methodology that can be used to estimate the user equipage costs for future air traffic services and capabilities. Included is a forecast of future US aircraft, broken down by model for Air Transport aircraft and by type for General Aviation aircraft. This forecast, when combined with model or type specific aircraft knowledge, provides an estimate of the future mix of aircraft capabilities, and can be utilized for any technology under study. The model considers aircraft classification and architecture to determine equipage states and identifies transition costs between each state. Also, methods for estimating owner/operator reactions and responses to the availability of the new technology, as well as the impact and cost of a possible equipage mandate, are presented. An example of usage of the model is presented that analyzes Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) equipage costs for the applications of broadcast surveillance and cockpit display of traffic information (CDTI) operational procedures. The presented methodology may also be used for other technological solutions, including navigation and communications. Author
Mathematical Models; Costs; Predictions; Surveillance; Maintenance
20060002280 Mitre Corp., McLean, VA, USA
Strategic Applications of Controller-Assigned Airborne Separation (CAAS)
Simons, Elliot M.; Maroney, David R.; Proceedings of the Fifth Integrated Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance (ICNS) Conference andWorkshop; November 2005, pp. 1-22; In English; See also 20060002231; Original contains color and black and white illustrations Contract(s)/Grant(s): DTFA01-01-C-00001; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy; Available from CASI on CD-ROM only as part of the entire parent document
MITRE Corporation s Center for Advanced Aviation Systems Development (MITRE/CAASD) has developed an expanded concept for strategic airborne separation that incorporates ground-based conflict detection tools into the original set of tactical procedures defined as Controller-Assigned Airborne Separation (CAAS). The new strategic tools provide flight crews with advanced planning information, and air traffic controllers with conflict-free flight plan amendments that include airborne separation for resolving specific conflicts. To date, CAAS has been studied for potential controller workload reduction to resolve conflicts between pairs of aircraft only, delegating separation responsibility to the cockpit for limited durations and under specific operating conditions. The airborne equipment needed for a tactical CAAS maneuver is ADS-B and a modified CDTI. The expanded strategic concept, which requires data link in addition to ADS-B/CDTI, takes advantage of the ground-based capabilities to establish strategic conflict resolutions up to 20 minutes in advance, with tools such as User Requested Evaluation Tool (URET) and Problem Analysis Resolution and Ranking (PARR). Strategic CAAS is the next step in an 'airborne delegation of separation authority' evolution defined by MITRE/CAASD s Future Vision research program. The goal of Future Vision is to provide a conceptual basis for improvements to the air traffic system that will provide greater flexibility in flight operations, fewer airborne and ground delays, and a reduction in controller workload, while maintaining the highest level of safety. Following Strategic CAAS, Future Vision will study grouping of aircraft at high altitude, then aircraft 'streaming' that implies self-separation on closely-spaced parallel offset routes. The MITRE/CAASD research into controller-based airborne separation and self-separation is intended to be consistent with the ICAO framework defined under Airborne Separation Assistance Systems (ASAS). Author
Airborne Equipment; Display Devices; Separators; Separation; Controllers
20060002325 ViaSat, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
Aeronautical Network Research Simulator (ANRS)
Garcia, Manuel L.; Kocin, Michael; Musser, Gregory; Proceedings of the Fifth Integrated Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance (ICNS) Conference and Workshop; November 2005; 28 pp.; In English; See also 20060002231; Original contains color illustrations; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy; Available from CASI on CD-ROM only as part of the entire parent document
This presentation focuses on a cost effective Virtual RF Test Bench Environment utilizing a modular, scalable approach which minimizes cost and risk, of the outgrowth of architectures previously implemented in Virtual Aircraft Capability (VAC) and Joint Communication Simulator (JCS). This presentation includes a focus on a staged approach to development and implementation, the addition of waveforms added without significant impact to hardware, model air traffic communication traffic loads of realistic operational scenarios (flight plan), performance evaluation of throughput and delay of aeronautical sub networks under load, and support repeatable experimental trials. Derived from text
Cost Effectiveness; Simulators; Performance Tests
Source: NASA.
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