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Visualization of a Capsule Entry Vehicle Reaction-Control System (RCS) ThrusterPlanar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) was used to visualize the reaction control system (RCS) jet flow emanating from the aft-body of an Apollo-geometry capsule test article in the NASA Langley Research Center 31-Inch Mach 10 Air wind tunnel. The RCS jet was oriented normal to the aft surface of the model and had a nominal Mach number of 2.94. The composition of the jet gas by mass was 95% nitrogen (N2) and 5% nitric oxide (NO). The RCS jet flowrate varied between zero and 0.5 standard liters per minute and the angle of attack and tunnel stagnation pressure were also varied. PLIF was used to excite the NO molecules for flow visualization. These flow visualization images were processed to determine the trajectory and to quantify the flapping of the RCS jet. The spatial resolution of the jet trajectory measurement was about 1 mm and the single-shot precision of the measurement was estimated to be 0.02 mm in the far field of the jet plume. The jet flapping, measured by the standard deviation of the jet centerline position was as large as 0.9 mm, while the jet was 1.5-4 mm in diameter (full width at half maximum). Schlieren flow visualization images were obtained for comparison with the PLIF. Surface pressures were also measured and presented. Virtual Diagnostics Interface (VIDI) technology developed at NASA Langley was used to superimpose and visualize the data sets. The measurements demonstrate some of the capabilities of the PLIF method while providing a test case for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) validation.
Document ID
20060005204
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Danehy, P. M.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Wilkes, J. A.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Brauckmann, G. J.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Alderfer, D. W.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Jones, S. B.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Patry, D. P.
(Swales Aerospace Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2006
Subject Category
Fluid Mechanics And Thermodynamics
Report/Patent Number
AIAA Paper 2006-1532
Meeting Information
Meeting: 44th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit
Location: Reno, NV
Country: United States
Start Date: January 9, 2006
End Date: January 12, 2006
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
OTHER: 23-090-20-ii
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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