Matching Items (6)
Filtering by
- All Subjects: Drag
- All Subjects: Shockwave
- Creators: Takahashi, Timothy
Description
The following analysis was conducted at the Arizona State University open loop wind tunnel. Two 1/24-th scale NASCAR models were placed in a wind tunnel test section and were adjusted to study drafting that commonly occurs at superspeedway racetracks. The purpose of the experiment was to determine how drafting affects a leading and trailing car through changes in distance. A wind tunnel model was developed consisting of two 2019 NASCAR Chevy Camaro race car models, two bar-style load cells, and a programmed Arduino UNO. Two trials were run at each drafting distance, 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 car lengths apart. Each trial was run at a wind tunnel velocity of 78 mph (35 m/s) and force data was collected to represent the drag effects at each drafting location. Based on previously published experimentation, this analysis provided important data that related drafting effects in scale model race cars to full-scale vehicles. The experiment showed that scale model testing can be accurately completed when the wind tunnel Reynolds number is of the same magnitude as a full-scale NASCAR. However, the wind tunnel data collected was proven to be fully laminar flow and did not compare to the flow characteristics of typically turbulent flow seen in superspeedway races. Overall, the analytical drag analysis of drafting NASCAR models proved that wind tunnel testing is only accurate when many parameters are met and should only be used as a method of validation to full-scale testing.
ContributorsOlszak, Parker T (Author) / Takahashi, Timothy (Thesis director) / Kasbaoui, Mohamed (Committee member) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
Description
This thesis focused on verifying previous literature and research that has been conducted on different spherical objects. Mainly, verifying literature that examines both how surface roughness contributes to the overall drag and how wake turbulence is affected by different surface roughness. The goal of this project is to be able to capture data that shows that the flow transition from laminar to turbulent occurs at lower Reynolds numbers for a rough spherical object rather than a perfectly smooth sphere. In order to achieve this goal, both force balance testing and hot-wire testing were conducted in the Aero-lab complex in USE170. The force balance was mounted and used in the larger wind tunnel while the hot-wire probe was mounted and used in the smaller wind tunnel. Both of the wind tunnels utilized LABVIEW software in order to collect and convert the qualitative values provided by the testing probes and equipment. The two main types of testing equipment that were used in this project were the force balance and the hot-wire probe. The overall results from the experiment were inconclusive based on the limitations of both the testing probes and the testing facility itself. Overall, the experiment yielded very limited results due to these limitations.
ContributorsMilroy, Maxwell (Author) / Takahashi, Timothy (Thesis director) / Adrian, Ronald (Committee member) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor) / W. P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
As the push to develop ever more efficient aircraft increases, the use of lightweight composite materials to meet this push has increased. Traditional aircraft structural component sizing has revolved around the tensile yield strength of materials. Since composite materials excel in tensile strength, these traditional sizing tools provide overly optimistic weight reduction predictions. Furthermore, composite materials, in general, are weak under compression and shear. Thus, proper structural sizing yields heavier-than-expected designs. Nevertheless, a wing using thin, lightweight composites in the primary load-bearing components significantly impacts its static aeroelastic properties. These thin structures have a decreased flexural rigidity, making them more susceptible to bending. The bending of swept wings decreases the design wing twist and dihedral angle, potentially impacting the aerodynamic performance and the lateral stability and control, respectively. This work aims to determine what, if any, are the effects of excessive static aeroelastic properties on the aerodynamic performance of an aircraft. Does the perceived gain in the theoretical reduction in structural weight outweigh the potential reduction in aerodynamic performance?
ContributorsWebb, Benjamin David (Author) / Takahashi, Timothy (Thesis advisor) / Herrmann, Marcus (Committee member) / Perez, Ruben (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2022
Description
This experiment investigated the effects of different vortex generator sizes and configurations on the induced drag of a 2006 Honda Accord, with comparisons to a control test. Tuft tests were carried out prior to any data collection. The tufts were placed along the roof and rear window of the vehicle for each of the five vortex generator types. Video was taken of the tufts for each set of vortex generators, allowing a visual comparison of the flow characteristics with comparison to the control. Out of the four vortex generators tested, the two that yielded the most substantial change in the flow characteristics were utilized. The data collection was conducted utilizing the two sets of vortex generators, one large and one small, placed in three different locations along the roof of the vehicle. Over a course of four trials of data collection, each vortex generator size and configuration was tested two times along a stretch of Interstate 60, with each data set consisting of five minutes heading east, followed by five minutes heading west. Several experimental parameters were collected using an OBD II Bluetooth Adaptor, which were logged using the software compatible with the adaptor. This data was parsed and analyzed in Microsoft Excel and MATLAB. Utilizing an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) analytical scheme, the data was generalized to account for terrain changes, steady state speed fluctuations, and weather changes per night. Overall, upon analysis of the data, the vortex generators showed little-to-no benefit to either the fuel efficiency or engine load experienced by the vehicle during the duration of the experiment. This result, while unexpected, is substantial as it shows that the expenditure of purchasing these vortex generators for this make and model of vehicle, and potentially other similar vehicles, is unnecessary as it produces no meaningful benefit.
ContributorsMazza, Seth (Author) / Walther, Chase (Co-author) / Takahashi, Timothy (Thesis director) / Middleton, James (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2022-05
Description
This experiment investigated the effects of different vortex generator sizes and configurations on the induced drag of a 2006 Honda Accord, with comparisons to a control test. Tuft tests were carried out prior to any data collection. The tufts were placed along the roof and rear window of the vehicle for each of the five vortex generator types. Video was taken of the tufts for each set of vortex generators, allowing a visual comparison of the flow characteristics with comparison to the control. Out of the four vortex generators tested, the two that yielded the most substantial change in the flow characteristics were utilized. The data collection was conducted utilizing the two sets of vortex generators, one large and one small, placed in three different locations along the roof of the vehicle. Over a course of four trials of data collection, each vortex generator size and configuration was tested two times along a stretch of Interstate 60, with each data set consisting of five minutes heading east, followed by five minutes heading west. Several experimental parameters were collected using an OBD II Bluetooth Adaptor, which were logged using the software compatible with the adaptor. This data was parsed and analyzed in Microsoft Excel and MATLAB. Utilizing an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) analytical scheme, the data was generalized to account for terrain changes, steady state speed fluctuations, and weather changes per night. Overall, upon analysis of the data, the vortex generators showed little-to-no benefit to either the fuel efficiency or engine load experienced by the vehicle during the duration of the experiment. This result, while unexpected, is substantial as it shows that the expenditure of purchasing these vortex generators for this make and model of vehicle, and potentially other similar vehicles, is unnecessary as it produces no meaningful benefit.
ContributorsWalther, Chase (Author) / Mazza, Seth (Co-author) / Takahashi, Timothy (Thesis director) / Middleton, James (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2022-05
Description
The process of designing any real world blunt leading-edge wing is tedious andinvolves hundreds, if not thousands, of design iterations to narrow down a single design.
Add in the complexities of supersonic flow and the challenge increases exponentially.
One possible, and often common, pathway for this design is to jump straight into detailed
volume grid computational fluid dynamics (CFD), in which the physics of supersonic
flow are modeled directly but at a high computational cost and thus an incredibly long
design process. Classical aerodynamics experts have published work describing a process
which can be followed which might bypass the need for detailed CFD altogether.
This work outlines how successfully a simple vortex lattice panel method CFDcode can be used in the design process for a Mach 1.3 cruise speed airline wing concept.
Specifically, the success of the wing design is measured in its ability to operate subcritically (i.e. free of shock waves) even in a free stream flow which is faster than the
speed of sound. By using a modified version of Simple Sweep Theory, design goals are
described almost entirely based on defined critical pressure coefficients and critical Mach
numbers. The marks of a well-designed wing are discussed in depth and how these traits
will naturally lend themselves to a well-suited supersonic wing.
Unfortunately, inconsistencies with the published work are revealed by detailedCFD validation runs to be extensive and large in magnitude. These inconsistencies likely
have roots in several concepts related to supersonic compressible flow which are
explored in detail. The conclusion is made that the theory referenced in this work by the
classical aerodynamicists is incorrect and/or incomplete. The true explanation for the
perplexing shock wave phenomenon observed certainly lies in some convolution of the
factors discussed in this thesis. Much work can still be performed in the way of creating
an empirical model for shock wave formation across a highly swept wing with blunt
leading-edge airfoils.
Add in the complexities of supersonic flow and the challenge increases exponentially.
One possible, and often common, pathway for this design is to jump straight into detailed
volume grid computational fluid dynamics (CFD), in which the physics of supersonic
flow are modeled directly but at a high computational cost and thus an incredibly long
design process. Classical aerodynamics experts have published work describing a process
which can be followed which might bypass the need for detailed CFD altogether.
This work outlines how successfully a simple vortex lattice panel method CFDcode can be used in the design process for a Mach 1.3 cruise speed airline wing concept.
Specifically, the success of the wing design is measured in its ability to operate subcritically (i.e. free of shock waves) even in a free stream flow which is faster than the
speed of sound. By using a modified version of Simple Sweep Theory, design goals are
described almost entirely based on defined critical pressure coefficients and critical Mach
numbers. The marks of a well-designed wing are discussed in depth and how these traits
will naturally lend themselves to a well-suited supersonic wing.
Unfortunately, inconsistencies with the published work are revealed by detailedCFD validation runs to be extensive and large in magnitude. These inconsistencies likely
have roots in several concepts related to supersonic compressible flow which are
explored in detail. The conclusion is made that the theory referenced in this work by the
classical aerodynamicists is incorrect and/or incomplete. The true explanation for the
perplexing shock wave phenomenon observed certainly lies in some convolution of the
factors discussed in this thesis. Much work can still be performed in the way of creating
an empirical model for shock wave formation across a highly swept wing with blunt
leading-edge airfoils.
ContributorsKurus, Noah John (Author) / Takahashi, Timothy (Thesis advisor) / Benson, David (Committee member) / Niemczyk, Mary (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2020