Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports Volume 38 July 28, 2000

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DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
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20000061448 NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA USA
Development of X-33/X-34 Aerothermodynamic Data Bases: Lessons Learned and Future Enhancements
Miller, C. G., NASA Langley Research Center, USA; Aerodynamic Design and Optimisation of Flight Vehicles in a Concurrent
Multi-Disciplinary Environment; June 2000, pp. 32-1 - 32-12; In English; See also 20000061419; Copyright Waived; Avail:
CASI; A03, Hardcopy
A synoptic of programmatic and technical lessons learned in the development of aerothermodynamic data bases for the X-33
and X-34 programs is presented in general terms and from the perspective of the NASA Langley Research Center Aerothermodynamics
Branch. The format used is that of the ”aerothermodynamic chain,” the links of which are personnel, facilities, models/test
articles, instrumentation, test techniques, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Because the aerodynamic data bases upon
which the X-33 and X-34 vehicles will fly are almost exclusively from wind tunnel testing, as opposed to CFD, the primary focus
of the lessons learned is on ground-based testing. The period corresponding to the development of X-33 and X-34 aerothermodynamic
data bases was challenging, since a number of other such programs (e.g., X-38, X-43) competed for resources at a time of
downsizing of personnel, facilities, etc., outsourcing, and role changes as NASA Centers served as subcontractors to industry. The
impact of this changing environment is embedded in the lessons learned. From a technical perspective, the relatively long times
to design and fabricate metallic force and moment models, delays in delivery of models, and a lack of quality assurance to determine
the fidelity of model outer mold lines (OML) prior to wind tunnel testing had a major negative impact on the programs. On
the positive side, the application of phosphor thermography to obtain global, quantitative heating distributions on rapidly fabricated
ceramic models revolutionized the aerothermodynamic optimization of vehicle OMLs, control surfaces, etc. Vehicle designers
were provided with aeroheating information prior to, or in conjunction with, aerodynamic information early in the program,
thereby allowing trades to be made with both sets of input; in the past only aerodynamic data were available as input. Programmatically,
failure to include transonic aerodynamic wind tunnel tests early in the assessment phase led to delays in the optimization
phase, as OMLs required modification to provide adequate transonic aerodynamic performance without sacrificing subsonic and
hypersonic performance. Funding schedules for industry, based on technical milestones, also presented challenges to aerothermodynamics
seeking optimum flying characteristics across the subsonic to hypersonic speed regimes and minimum aeroheating.
This paper is concluded with a brief discussion of enhancements in ground-based testing/CFD capabilities necessary to partially/
fully satisfy future requirements.
Author
Aerodynamic Characteristics; Aerothermodynamics; Data Bases; Fabrication; Ground Tests; X-33 Reusable Launch Vehicle;
X-34 Reusable Launch Vehicle; X-38 Crew Return Vehicle
20000061485 Center for Army Analysis, Fort Belvoir, VA USA
Third Special Conference on Historical Data Analysis (SCOHDA 3) Final Report, Feb. - Mar. 2000
Gory, Duane; Mar. 2000; 35p; In English; 3rd, 2-3 Mar. 2000, Fort Belvoir, VA, USA
Report No.(s): AD-A377305; CAA-R-00-12; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A03, Hardcopy; A01, Microfiche
The Center for Army Analysis hosted the Third Special Conference on Historical Data Analysis (SCOHDA III) from 2-3
March 2000. The purpose of the conference was to provide an exchange between the armies of the USA, UK, Australia, and France
on techniques for examining and uses of data on historical combat operations to support defense planning and analysis.
DTIC
Conferences; Histories; Defense Program; Data Processing
20000062302 Information International Associates, Inc., Oak Ridge, TN USA
CENDI Metadata Initiatives: Beyond the Bibliographic Record
Hodge, Gail; Apr. 1998; 23p; In English
Report No.(s): AD-A377496; CENDI-1998-3; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A03, Hardcopy; A01, Microfiche
No Abstract Available.
DTIC
Information Retrieval; Information Transfer; Information Theory; Information Systems
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