Wind Tunnel and Full-scale Forces on Rocket Sleds


Book Description

Vertical quasi-steady state forces on three dual rail rocket sleds, which were predicted using wind tunnel data, are compared with those measured on the Holloman Test Track. A description of the magnitude and character of the oscillatory forces is also presented. This is the first such comparison since the advent of rocket sled testing. Wind tunnel force tests on the three rocket sleds indicated that aerodynamic forces would be of sufficient magnitude to warrant consideration in structural design. The forces measured during the track tests indicated that the aerodynamic contribution was the dominant component to the vertical quasi-steady state force in the supersonic regime. The results of full-scale investigations showed implicitly that when the sleds experienced considerable aerodynamic forces, the wind tunnel data agreed fairly well with the forces measured on the rocket sled. The quasi-steady state vertical forces were predicted, using wind tunnel data, to within 3,000 pounds for loads between 12,000 and 32,000 pounds. (Author).










Low-Speed Wind Tunnel Testing


Book Description

A brand-new edition of the classic guide on low-speed wind tunnel testing While great advances in theoretical and computational methods have been made in recent years, low-speed wind tunnel testing remains essential for obtaining the full range of data needed to guide detailed design decisions for many practical engineering problems. This long-awaited Third Edition of William H. Rae, Jr.'s landmark reference brings together essential information on all aspects of low-speed wind tunnel design, analysis, testing, and instrumentation in one easy-to-use resource. Written by authors who are among the most respected wind tunnel engineers in the world, this edition has been updated to address current topics and applications, and includes coverage of digital electronics, new instrumentation, video and photographic methods, pressure-sensitive paint, and liquid crystal-based measurement methods. The book is organized for quick access to topics of interest, and examines basic test techniques and objectives of modeling and testing aircraft designs in low-speed wind tunnels, as well as applications to fluid motion analysis, automobiles, marine vessels, buildings, bridges, and other structures subject to wind loading. Supplemented with real-world examples throughout, Low-Speed Wind Tunnel Testing, Third Edition is an indispensable resource for aerospace engineering students and professionals, engineers and researchers in the automotive industries, wind tunnel designers, architects, and others who need to get the most from low-speed wind tunnel technology and experiments in their work.




Theory of Ground Vehicles


Book Description

An updated edition of the classic reference on the dynamics of road and off-road vehicles As we enter a new millennium, the vehicle industry faces greater challenges than ever before as it strives to meet the increasing demand for safer, environmentally friendlier, more energy efficient, and lower emissions products. Theory of Ground Vehicles, Third Edition gives aspiring and practicing engineers a fundamental understanding of the critical factors affecting the performance, handling, and ride essential to the development and design of ground vehicles that meet these requirements. As in previous editions, this book focuses on applying engineering principles to the analysis of vehicle behavior. A large number of practical examples and problems are included throughout to help readers bridge the gap between theory and practice. Covering a wide range of topics concerning the dynamics of road and off-road vehicles, this Third Edition is filled with up-to-date information, including: * The Magic Formula for characterizing pneumatic tire behavior from test data for vehicle handling simulations * Computer-aided methods for performance and design evaluation of off-road vehicles, based on the author's own research * Updated data on road vehicle transmissions and operating fuel economy * Fundamentals of road vehicle stability control * Optimization of the performance of four-wheel-drive off-road vehicles and experimental substantiation, based on the author's own investigations * A new theory on skid-steering of tracked vehicles, developed by the author.




Facing the Heat Barrier


Book Description

This volume from The NASA History Series presents an overview of the science of hypersonics, the study of flight at speeds at which the physics of flows is dominated by aerodynamic heating. The survey begins during the years immediately following World War II, with the first steps in hypersonic research: the development of missile nose cones and the X-15; the earliest concepts of hypersonic propulsion; and the origin of the scramjet engine. Next, it addresses the re-entry problem, which came to the forefront during the mid-1950s, showing how work in this area supported the manned space program and contributed to the development of the orbital shuttle. Subsequent chapters explore the fading of scramjet studies and the rise of the National Aerospace Plane (NASP) program of 1985–95, which sought to lay groundwork for single-stage vehicles. The program's ultimate shortcomings — in terms of aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials — are discussed, and the book concludes with a look at hypersonics in the post-NASP era, including the development of the X-33 and X-34 launch vehicles, further uses for scramjets, and advances in fluid mechanics. Clearly, ongoing research in hypersonics has yet to reach its full potential, and readers with an interest in aeronautics and astronautics will find this book a fascinating exploration of the field's history and future.




Coastal Engineering 1996


Book Description

Four-volume set of the proceedings of the September 1996 Conference which presented ongoing research, applications to design projects, and case histories of completed projects. Each volume has author and subject indexes and contains 375 chapters which discuss characteristics of coastal waves and currents; long period waves, storm surges and wave groups; coastal structures; coastal processes and sediment transport; and coastal, estuarine, and environmental problems. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR







Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports


Book Description

Lists citations with abstracts for aerospace related reports obtained from world wide sources and announces documents that have recently been entered into the NASA Scientific and Technical Information Database.