Engineering PapersSearch

Engineering topics

Jones, R. L.

Publications and source records attributed to Jones, R. L..

At least 37 records · Page 2

Polar stratospheric clouds inferred from satellite data

Anomalously high radiances from the ozone channel of the Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) sounding instrument have been observed in the Northern Hemisphere winter lower stratosphere. Such events, thought to be due to polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs), are examined further by computing relative humidities using Stratospheric Sounding Unit temperatures and water vapor measurements from the LIMS Map Archive Tape analyses. Regions identified as PSCs are found to correspond closely to regions of high humidity. While instances of saturation were found, the average humidity at the centers of 39 PSCs was calculated to be 58 percent. Possible reasons for this apparent discrepancy are discussed. Applying a similar approach to the Southern Hemisphere, in 1979, virtually no PSCs are found in the vortex after September 10 at 20 km. This result has important implications for a number of proposed explanations for the Antarctic ozone hole.

Austin, J.

The water vapour budget of the stratosphere studied using LIMS and SAMS satellite data

Monthly zonal mean observations of H2O and CH4 made by the limb infrared monitor of the stratosphere and the stratospheric and mesospheric sounder instruments on Nimbus 7 have been used to investigate whether the H2O mixing ratios in the stratosphere are consistent with a source via the oxidation of CH4. While both sets of data show considerable seasonally varying structure, total hydrogen (neglecting molecular hydrogen) is relatively featureless with a mean value over the stratosphere of 6.0 + or - 0.35 ppmm(1sigma) for the five-month period studied. The uniformity of the total hydrogen fields points to the validity of the CH4 oxidation hypothesis. The derived fields of total hydrogen are used to deduce a mean H2O mixing ratio for air as it enters the stratosphere of 2.7 + or - 0.35 ppmv (1sigma) from which a desiccation temperature may be deduced.

Jones, R. L.

Middle atmosphere composition revealed by satellite observations

A series of plots that describe the state of the stratosphere and to some degree, the mesosphere as revealed by satellite observations are shown. The pertinent instrument features, spatial and temporal coverage, and details of accuracy and precision for the experiments providing the data were described. The main features of zonal mean cross sections and polar stereographic projections were noted and intercomparisons were discussed where a parameter was measured by more than one experiment. The main purpose was to collect the available data in one place and provide enough inforamation on limitations or cautions about the data so that they could be used in model comparisons and science studies.

Russell, J. M., III

Modal Analysis and Gain Estimation

Interactive program yields eigenvectors, eigenvalues, and gains for feedback-control systems. Interactive Modal Analysis and Gain Estimation System (IMAGES) provides eigensystem synthesis capability to control-system engineer. IMAGES modular and flexible. Capable of both modal and spectral synthesis of multi-input control systems. IMAGES user-oriented, interactive program that frees engineer to concentrate on eigensystem synthesis. Engineer provided with scratch-pad capability that speeds control-system design.

Jones, R. L.

Ceramic oxide reactions with V2O5 and SO3

Ceramic oxides are not inert in combustion environments, but can react with, inter alia, SO3, and Na2SO4 to yield low melting mixed sulfate eutectics, and with vanadium compounds to produce vanadates. Assuming ceramic degradation to become severe only when molten phases are generated in the surface salt (as found for metallic hot corrosion), the reactivity of ceramic oxides can be quantified by determining the SO3 partial pressure necessary for molten mixed sulfate formation with Na2SO3. Vanadium pentoxide is an acidic oxide that reacts with Na2O, SO3, and the different ceramic oxides in a series of Lux-Flood type of acid-base displacement reactions. To elucidate the various possible vanadium compound-ceramic oxide interactions, a study was made of the reactions of a matrix involving, on the one axis, ceramix oxides of increasing acidity, and on the other axis, vanadium compounds of increasing acidity. Resistance to vanadium compound reaction increased as the oxide acidity increased. Oxides more acidic than ZrO2 displaced V2O5. Examination of Y2O3- and CeO2-stabilized ZrO2 sintered ceramics which were degraded in 700 C NaVO3 has shown good agreement with the reactions predicted above, except that the CeO2-ZrO2 ceramic appears to be inexplicably degraded by NaVO3.

Jones, R. L.

IMAGES: A digital computer program for interactive modal analysis and gain estimation for eigensystem synthesis

An interactive digital computer program for modal analysis and gain estimation for eigensystem synthesis was written. Both mathematical and operation considerations are described; however, the mathematical presentation is limited to those concepts essential to the operational capability of the program. The program is capable of both modal and spectral synthesis of multi-input control systems. It is user friendly, has scratchpad capability and dynamic memory, and can be used to design either state or output feedback systems.

Jones, R. L.

Power-switch dV/dt sensing

Simple means for controlling voltage risetime and powerline noise used three transistors and capacitive feedback. Rate of change of voltage across load is reduced and controlled by circuit. Circuit is useful in situations where large wire bundles are subject to noise and crosstalk due to rapid current switching.

Jones, R. L.

EPRI-NASA Cooperative Project on Stress Corrosion Cracking of Zircaloys

Examinations of the inside surface of irradiated fuel cladding from two reactors show the Zircaloy cladding is exposed to a number of aggressive substances, among them iodine, cadmium, and iron-contaminated cesium. Iodine-induced stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of well characterized samples of Zircaloy sheet and tubing was studied. Results indicate that a threshold stress must be exceeded for iodine SCC to occur. The existence of a threshold stress indicates that crack formation probably is the key step in iodine SCC. Investigation of the crack formation process showed that the cracks responsible for SCC failure nucleated at locations in the metal surface that contained higher than average concentrations of alloying elements and impurities. A four-stage model of iodine SCC is proposed based on the experimental results and the relevance of the observations to pellet cladding interaction failures is discussed.

Cubicciotti, D.

Estimates of the moon's geometry using lunar orbiter imagery and Apollo laser altimeter data

Selenographic coordinates for about 6000 lunar points identified on the Lunar Orbiter photographs are tabulated and have been combined with those lunar radii derived from the Apollo 15 laser altimeter data. These coordinates were used to derive that triaxial ellipsoid which best fits the moon's irregular surface. Fits were obtaind for different constraints on both the axial orientations and the displacement of the center of the ellipsoid. The semiaxes for the unconstrained ellipsoid were a = 1737.6 km, b = 1735.6 km, and c = 1735.0 km which correspond to a mean radius of about 1736.1 km. These axes were found to be nearly parallel to the moon's principal axes of inertia, and the origin was displaced about 2.0 km from the moon's center of gravity in a direction away from the earth and to the south of the lunar equator.

Jones, R. L.

Lunar-Surface Closeup Stereoscopic Photography on the Sea of Tranquility (Apollo 11 Landing Site)

Analysis of returned lunar samples provides limited information about lunar geology. To obtain information about in-place lunar material, a closeup stereoscopic camera capable of photographing small-scale surface features was built and was used at the Apollo 11 landing site. Stereoscopic photographs were taken of surface areas relative to the lunar module, and the surfaces photographed were analyzed. The photographs are classified into five groups: soil disturbed by astronaut activities, generally undisturbed soil, loose aggregate surface material, crater bottoms with prominent glass deposits, and hard rock deposits. Glass deposits in the returned samples are described for comparison with the features observed in the photographs. The stereoscopic photographs were of outstanding quality and show the nature of lunar-surface material in detail. Lunar topography was reconstructed from the photographs with an analytical plotter. The photography results indicate that the closeup composition and genesis of lunar soil at the Apollo 11 landing site.

Greenwood, W. R.

Experiment M410: Color patch photography

A slate that supported four calibrated color targets was photographed during Gemini 10 mission extravehicular activity to determine if existing outdoor-type color films can reproduce colored objects accurately in the space environment. The experiment resulted in the acquisition of sufficient information to confirm that objects can be photographed in space with good color fidelity by the use of existing materials. Available color film is balanced to the solar spectrum in space, and the effect of ultraviolet energy on film degradation appears to be negligible.

Brinkmann, J. R.