Laser velocimeter measurements of the flowfield generated by an advanced counterrotating propeller

Results are presented of an investigation to measure the flowfield generated by an advanced counterrotating pusher propeller model similar to the full-scale Unducted Fan demonstrator engine. A laser Doppler velocimeter was used to measure the velocity field in several planes normal to the centerline of the model at axial stations upstream and downstream of each rotor. During this investigation, blades of the F4/A4 type were installed on the model which was operating in a freestream Mach 0.72 regime, with the advance ratio of each rotor set at 2.80. The measured data indicate only a slight influence of the potential field of each front rotor blade on the flowfield upstream of the rotor. The data measured downstream of the front rotor characterize the tip vortices, vortex sheets and potential field nonuniformities generated by the front rotor. The unsteadiness of the flow in the rotating frame of reference of the aft rotor is also illustrated

Blade-to-Blade Variations in Shocks Upstream of Both a Forward-Swept and an Aft-Swept Fan

Detailed laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) flow field measurements were made upstream of two fans, one forward-swept and one aft-swept, in order to learn more about the shocks which propagate upstream of these rotors when they are operated at supersonic tip speeds. The blade-to-blade variations in the flows associated with these shocks are thought to be responsible for generating Multiple Pure Tone (MPT) noise. The measured blade-to-blade variations are documented in this report through a series of slideshows which show relative Mach number contours computed from the velocity measurements. Data are presented for the forward-swept fan operating at three speeds (corresponding to tip relative Mach numbers of 0.817, 1.074, and 1.189), and for the aft-swept fan operating at two (tip relative Mach numbers of 1.074 and 1.189). These LDV data illustrate how the perturbations in the upstream flow field created by the rotating blades vary with axial position, radial position and rotor speed. As expected, at the highest tested speed the forward-swept fan swallowed the shocks which occur in the tip region, whereas the aftswept fan did not. This resulted in a much smaller flow disturbance just upstream of the tip of the forward-swept fan. Nevertheless, further upstream the two fan flows were much more similar

Laser velocimeter measurements of the flow field generated by a forward-swept propfan during flutter

Results are presented from an investigation to measure the flow field generated by a forward-swept propfan operating in flutter at a low forward velocity. For comparison to the flutter condition, flow field data are also presented for a slightly reduced rotational speed just below flutter. The forward-swept propfan was tested as the front rotor of a counterrotating pusher propeller. A laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) was used to measure the velocity field in planes normal to the model centerline downstream of the rotor and in planes of constant radius within the blade passages at each operating condition. A comparison of the data taken at the two different operating conditions indicated that the mean, time-averaged flow about the blades did not change drastically as the propfan rotational speed was increased from the stable operating point to the flutter condition. No regions of flow separation could be identified in the data plots of the mean intrablade flow field. The data also indicate that the relative flow about the blades remained subsonic during flutter operation. The blades were found to have a higher than expected tip loading at both operating conditions. This is thought to have been caused by the outer blade sections twisting under load to higher than expected effective blade angles. This high tip loading resulted in strong vortices and a very nonuniform flow downstream of the tips of the forward-swept blades. This high tip loading may also have caused the blade flutter

8- by 6-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel Compressor Inspected

The NASA Glenn Research Center's 8- by 6-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel (8 6 SWT) is NASA's only transonic propulsion wind tunnel. The test section speed range is between Mach 0.25 and 2.0. The 9- by 15-Foot Low-Speed Wind Tunnel (9 15 LWST), which has a speed range from 0 to 175 mph, is housed in the return leg of the 8 6 SWT and uses the same compressor. The 8 6 SWT uses a large, seven-stage axial flow compressor to drive the air through the tunnel. The compressor is 17 ft in diameter and is rated at 1600 m3 (56,600 ft3) of air/sec. It is driven by three electric motors with a combined horsepower of 87,000. A close examination of this compressor was performed in 2001, the first time since February of 1966

Shock Characteristics Measured Upstream of Both a Forward-Swept and an Aft-Swept Fan

Three different types of diagnostic data-blade surface flow visualization, shroud unsteady pressure, and laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV)--were obtained on two fans, one forward-swept and one aft-swept, in order to learn more about the shocks which propagate upstream of these rotors when they are operated at transonic tip speeds. Flow visualization data are presented for the forward-swept fan operating at 13831 rpm(sub c), and for the aft-swept fan operating at 12500 and 13831 rpm(sub c) (corresponding to tip rotational Mach numbers of 1.07 and 1.19, respectively). The flow visualization data identify where the shocks occur on the suction side of the rotor blades. These data show that at the takeoff speed, 13831 rpm(sub c), the shocks occurring in the tip region of the forward-swept fan are further downstream in the blade passage than with the aft-swept fan. Shroud unsteady pressure measurements were acquired using a linear array of 15 equally-spaced pressure transducers extending from two tip axial chords upstream to 0.8 tip axial chords downstream of the static position of the tip leading edge of each rotor. Such data are presented for each fan operating at one subsonic and five transonic tip speeds. The unsteady pressure data show relatively strong detached shocks propagating upstream of the aft-swept rotor at the three lowest transonic tip speeds, and weak, oblique pressure disturbances attached to the tip of the aft-swept fan at the two highest transonic tip speeds. The unsteady pressure measurements made with the forward-swept fan do not show strong shocks propagating upstream of that rotor at any of the tested speeds. A comparison of the forward-swept and aft-swept shroud unsteady pressure measurements indicates that at any given transonic speed the pressure disturbance just upstream of the tip of the forward-swept fan is much weaker than that of the aft-swept fan. The LDV data suggest that at 12500 and 13831 rpm(sub c), the forward-swept fan swallowed the passage shocks occurring in the tip region of the blades, whereas the aft-swept fan did not. Due to this difference, the flows just upstream of the two fans were found to be quite different at both of these transonic speeds. Nevertheless, despite distinct differences just upstream of the two rotors, the two fan flows were much more alike about one axial blade chord further upstream. As a result, the LDV data suggest that it is unwise to attempt to determine the effect that the shocks have on far field noise by focusing only on measurements (or CFD predictions) made very near the rotor. Instead, these data suggest that it is important to track the shocks throughout the inlet

Laser doppler velocimeter system for subsonic jet mixer nozzle testing at the NASA Lewis Aeroacoustic Propulsion Lab

A laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) system developed for the Aeroacoustic Propulsion Laboratory (APL) at the NASA Lewis Research Center is described. This system was developed to acquire detailed flow field data which could be used to quantify the effectiveness of internal exhaust gas mixers (IEGM's) and to verify and calibrate computational codes. The LDV was used as an orthogonal, three component system to measure the flow field downstream of the exit of a series of IEGM's and a reference axisymmetric splitter configuration. The LDV system was also used as a one component system to measure the internal axial flow within the nozzle tailpipe downstream of the mixers. These IEGM's were designed for low-bypass ratio turbofan engines. The data were obtained at a simulated low flight speed, high-power operating condition. The optical, seeding, and data acquisition systems of the LDV are described in detail. Sample flow field measurements are provided to illustrate the capabilities of the system at the time of this test, which represented the first use of LDV at the APL. A discussion of planned improvements to the LDV is also included

Terrain, politics, history

This article is based on the 2019 Dialogues in Human Geography plenary lecture at the Royal Geographical Society. It has four parts. The first discusses my work on territory in relation to recent work by geographers and others on the vertical, the volumetric, the voluminous, and the milieu as ways of thinking space in three-dimensions, of a fluid and dynamic earth. Second, it proposes using the concept of terrain to analyse the political materiality of territory. Third, it adds some cautions to this, through thinking about the history of the concept of terrain in geographical thought, which has tended to associate it with either physical or military geography. Finally, it suggests that this work is a way geographers might begin to respond to the challenge recently made by Bruno Latour, where he suggests that ‘belonging to a territory is the phenomenon most in need of rethinking and careful redescription; learning new ways to inhabit the Earth is our biggest challenge’. Responding to Latour continues this thinking about the relations between territory, Earth, land, and ground, and their limits

The long period of 3He-rich solar energetic particles measured by Solar Orbiter 2020 November 17–23

We report observations of a relatively long period of He-3-rich solar energetic particles (SEPs) measured by Solar Orbiter. The period consists of several well-resolved ion injections. The high-resolution STEREO-A imaging observations reveal that the injections coincide with extreme ultraviolet jets and brightenings near the east limb, not far from the nominal magnetic connection of Solar Orbiter. The jets originated in two adjacent, large, and complex active regions, as observed by the Solar Dynamics Observatory when the regions rotated into the Earth's view. It appears that the sustained ion injections were related to the complex configuration of the sunspot group and the long period of He-3-rich SEPs to the longitudinal extent covered by the group during the analyzed time period

First near-relativistic solar electron events observed by EPD onboard Solar Orbiter

Context. Solar Orbiter, launched in February 2020, started its cruise phase in June 2020, in coincidence with its first perihelion at 0.51 au from the Sun. The in situ instruments onboard, including the Energetic Particle Detector (EPD), operate continuously during the cruise phase enabling the observation of solar energetic particles. Aims. In situ measurements of the first near-relativistic solar electron events observed in July 2020 by EPD are analyzed and the solar origins and the conditions for the interplanetary transport of these particles investigated. Methods. Electron observations from keV energies to the near-relativistic range were combined with the detection of type III radio bursts and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) observations from multiple spacecraft in order to identify the solar origin of the electron events. Electron anisotropies and timing as well as the plasma and magnetic field environment were evaluated to characterize the interplanetary transport conditions. Results. All electron events were clearly associated with type III radio bursts. EUV jets were also found in association with all of them except one. A diversity of time profiles and pitch-angle distributions was observed. Different source locations and different magnetic connectivity and transport conditions were likely involved. The July 11 event was also detected by Wind, separated 107 degrees in longitude from Solar Orbiter. For the July 22 event, the Suprathermal Electron and Proton sensor of EPD allowed for us to not only resolve multiple electron injections at low energies, but it also provided an exceptionally high pitch-angle resolution of a very anisotropic beam. This, together with radio observations of local Langmuir waves suggest a very good magnetic connection during the July 22 event. This scenario is challenged by a high-frequency occultation of the type III radio burst and a nominally non-direct connection to the source; therefore, magnetic connectivity requires further investigation.</p

The first widespread solar energetic particle event observed by Solar Orbiter on 2020 November 29

Context. On 2020 November 29, the first widespread solar energetic particle (SEP) event of solar cycle 25 was observed at four widely separated locations in the inner (. 1 AU) heliosphere. Relativistic electrons as well as protons with energies > 50 MeV were observed by Solar Orbiter (SolO), Parker Solar Probe (PSP), the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO)-A and multiple near-Earth spacecraft. The SEP event was associated with an M4.4 class X-ray flare and accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME) and an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wave as well as a type II radio burst and multiple type III radio bursts. Aims. We present multi-spacecraft particle observations and place them in context with source observations from remote sensing instruments and discuss how such observations may further our understanding of particle acceleration and transport in this widespread event. Methods. Velocity dispersion analysis (VDA) and time shift analysis (TSA) were used to infer the particle release times at the Sun. Solar wind plasma and magnetic field measurements were examined to identify structures that influence the properties of the energetic particles such as their intensity. Pitch angle distributions and first-order anisotropies were analyzed in order to characterize the particle propagation in the interplanetary medium. Results. We find that during the 2020 November 29 SEP event, particles spread over more than 230° in longitude close to 1 AU. The particle onset delays observed at the different spacecraft are larger as the flare–footpoint angle increases and are consistent with those from previous STEREO observations. Comparing the timing when the EUV wave intersects the estimated magnetic footpoints of each spacecraft with particle release times from TSA and VDA, we conclude that a simple scenario where the particle release is only determined by the EUV wave propagation is unlikely for this event. Observations of anisotropic particle distributions at SolO, Wind, and STEREO-A do not rule out that particles are injected over a wide longitudinal range close to the Sun. However, the low values of the first-order anisotropy observed by near-Earth spacecraft suggest that diffusive propagation processes are likely involve