McCullough (George B.) Papers, 1943-1965

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Summary

Title:

George B. McCullough Papers

Dates:

1943-1965

Creators:

McCullough, George B.

Abstract:

The George B. McCullough Papers contain personal research materials and publications including data charts, equations, article drafts, NACA Technical Notes, and NASA Technical Notes. The collection as a whole documents McCullough's investigations into airfoils, helicopter rotors, and launch vehicles.

Extent:

Number of containers: 2 Volume: .70 cubic feet

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

NASA Ames History Office, NASA Ames Research Center. Moffett Field, California. PP16.04, George B. McCullough Papers, [Container number]: [Folder number]. [Identification of item]. [Date, if available].

Abbreviated Citation

NASA ARC. PP16.04, [Container number]: [Folder number]. [Identification of item]. [Date, if available].

Background

Scope and content:

The George B. McCullough collection contains documentation of McCullough's investigations into airfoils, helicopter rotors, and launch vehicles. Included are test data and engineering reference materials, and the associated NACA and NASA technical publications.

Series one consists of McCullough's research into boundary-layer profiles, static orifices, stall mechanics, and airfoil section stalling. Included are wind tunnel test booklets, data charts and graphs, handwritten mathematical equations, technical publication drafts, and other material related to his research.

Series two consists of McCullough's research results in the form of thirteen NACA and NASA Technical Notes. The publications include experiment summaries, test descriptions, results, and data charts. Each publication presents detailed technical studies conducted in several wind tunnels

Biographical / historical:

George B. McCullough came to work at NACA Ames as an aeronautical engineer in the early 1940s, soon after earning a degree from Stanford University. During the course of McCullough's employment, the NACA's theoretical research on wing design was extensive, driving the need for experimental work. McCullough started out conducting investigations on airfoil wing design and theory. Contributing to a number of NACA and NASA Technical Notes, McCullough's work on boundary layer profiles, stalling mechanics, leading edges and interpretation of test data helped advance aircraft wing design.

McCullough's research fell into three main research areas: NACA airfoils, helicopter rotors, and the effects of ground wind loads on launch vehicles. His investigations were mainly conducted in the 7-by-10-foot wind tunnel, 40-by-80-foot wind tunnel, and 12-foot pressure wind tunnel. McCullough authored and co-authored fifteen NACA and NASA technical publications related to this research.

The first research area focused primarily on airfoil sections. McCullough worked on the first set NACA airfoil designs. His investigations into wing sections were conducted in the 7- by-10-foot wind tunnels. Donald E. Gault and McCullough were the first to study new types of stalling mechanics for airfoil sections required for high-speed flight. The studies led to some of the first published technical notes on airfoils with boundary layer control and stall mechanics, which are still referenced by aeronautical engineers today. The breadth of this research can be found in his NACA Technical Notes from 1948 to 1955.

While studying airfoil sections, McCullough also began investigating helicopter rotors and their wing designs in the late 1950s. John McCloud and McCullough performed some of the first helicopter tests in the 40-by-80-foot wind tunnel. Together they calculated and measured stall boundaries based on rotor torque indications. As outlined in their NACA Technical Notes, McCullough investigated the performance advances of delaying receding blade stall by the use of blade sections with increased maximum lift. McCullough published two technical notes related to helicopter rotors.

McCullough's third area of research involved models of various launch vehicles (rockets) for NASA, not long after the organization's transition from NACA. McCullough studied wind loads on rocket models in the 12-foot pressure wind tunnel for the purpose of preventing the rockets from blowing over on the launchpad. Studying wind loads involved calculating the desirable Reynolds Number, developing a model with conduits, and determining the velocity of the base bend. McCullough produced three NASA Technical Notes as a result of this research.

Although this was not a main focus of his research, McCullough supported one additional set of wing designs before his retirement in the late 1960s. A 7-by-10-foot wind tunnel group consisting of Robert Dannenberg, Wallace Davis, and McCullough mocked up wing designs of mounted jet-engine nacelles, intended for large multi-jet engine airplanes. The designs evolved into single- and twin-engine nacelles mounted on the lower surface of the wing. The group provided the base design of the nacelles of the first jet bombers built in this country. Unlike the other three research areas, McCullough did not author any publications related to this work.

Custodial history:

Formerly in the possession of History San Jose, all George B. McCullough materials related to NACA and NASA were transferred to the NASA Ames History Office. Records not related to aeronautics remain with History San Jose.

Acquisition Information

Donated by History San Jose on March 28, 2016 (Accession 2016-004).

Arrangement:

The George B. McCullough collection was received with no apparent order. The records are arranged in two series, each one organized chronologically.

The papers are arranged into two series:

I. Research Materials, 1943-1960
II. Publications, 1948-1965

Rules or conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Bibliography:

Gault, Donald E. and McCullough, George B. Boundary-Layer and Stalling Characteristics of the NACA 64A066 Airfoil Section. Ames Aeronautical Laboratory. Moffett Field, CA: NACA TN 1923, 1949.

Hartman, Edwin P. Adventures in Research: A History of Ames Research Center 1941-1965. Washington, D.C. NASA SP-4313, 1970.

McCloud, John L. and McCullough, George B. Wind-tunnel Tests of a Full-Scale Helicopter Rotor with Symmetrical and with Cambered Blade Sections at Advance Ratio from 0.3 to 0.4. Ames Aeronautical Laboratory. Moffett Field, CA: NACA TN 4367, 1958.

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Aerodynamic Research
Aerofoils--Research
Boundary layer control
Launch vehicles (Astronautics) -- Design and construction
Leading edges (Aerodynamics)
Reynolds number
Rotors (Helicopters)
Stalling (Aerodynamics)
Wind tunnel testing

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:: Guide prepared by Danielle Lopez
Date Encoded:: Machine-readable finding aid created by Danielle Lopez. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: October 2016.

Access and use

Restrictions:: Collection is open for research.
Terms of access:: Copyright does not apply to United States government records. For non-government material, researcher must contact the original creator.