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Rotary Balance Wind Tunnel Testing for the FASER Flight Research AircraftFlight dynamics research was conducted to collect and analyze rotary balance wind tunnel test data in order to improve the aerodynamic simulation and modeling of a low-cost small unmanned aircraft called FASER (Free-flying Aircraft for Sub-scale Experimental Research). The impetus for using FASER was to provide risk and cost reduction for flight testing of more expensive aircraft and assist in the improvement of wind tunnel and flight test techniques, and control laws. The FASER research aircraft has the benefit of allowing wind tunnel and flight tests to be conducted on the same model, improving correlation between wind tunnel, flight, and simulation data. Prior wind tunnel tests include a static force and moment test, including power effects, and a roll and yaw damping forced oscillation test. Rotary balance testing allows for the calculation of aircraft rotary derivatives and the prediction of steady-state spins. The rotary balance wind tunnel test was conducted in the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) 20-Foot Vertical Spin Tunnel (VST). Rotary balance testing includes runs for a set of given angular rotation rates at a range of angles of attack and sideslip angles in order to fully characterize the aircraft rotary dynamics. Tests were performed at angles of attack from 0 to 50 degrees, sideslip angles of -5 to 10 degrees, and non-dimensional spin rates from -0.5 to 0.5. The effects of pro-spin elevator and rudder deflection and pro- and anti-spin elevator, rudder, and aileron deflection were examined. The data are presented to illustrate the functional dependence of the forces and moments on angle of attack, sideslip angle, and angular rate for the rotary contributions to the forces and moments. Further investigation is necessary to fully characterize the control effectors. The data were also used with a steady state spin prediction tool that did not predict an equilibrium spin mode.
Document ID
20160010112
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Denham, Casey
(Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA, United States)
Owens, D. Bruce
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 5, 2016
Publication Date
June 13, 2016
Subject Category
Aerodynamics
Aircraft Stability And Control
Report/Patent Number
AIAA Paper 2016-3105
NF1676L-22827
Meeting Information
Meeting: AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference (Aviation Forum 2016)
Location: Washington, DC
Country: United States
Start Date: June 13, 2016
End Date: June 17, 2016
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 432938.11.01.07.43.30
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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