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Levy, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Levy, R..

At least 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Wind speed statistics for Goldstone, California, anemometer sites

An exploratory wind survey at an antenna complex was summarized statistically for application to future windmill designs. Data were collected at six locations from a total of 10 anemometers. Statistics include means, standard deviations, cubes, pattern factors, correlation coefficients, and exponents for power law profile of wind speed. Curves presented include: mean monthly wind speeds, moving averages, and diurnal variation patterns. It is concluded that three of the locations have sufficiently strong winds to justify consideration for windmill sites.

Berg, M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

A three-dimensional turbulent compressible subsonic duct flow analysis for use with constructed coordinate systems

An approximate analysis is presented which is applicable to nonorthogonal coordinate systems having a curved centerline and planar transverse coordinate surfaces normal to the centerline. The primary flow direction is taken to coincide with the local direction of the duct centerline and is hence normal to transverse coordinate planes. The formulation utilizes vector components (velocity, vorticity, transport equations) defined in terms of local Cartesian directions aligned with the centerline tangent, although the governing equations themselves are expressed in general nonorthogonal coordinates. For curved centerlines, these vector quantities are redefined in new local Cartesian directions at each streamwise location. The use of local Cartesian variables and fluxes leads to governing equations which require only first derivatives of the coordinate transformation, and this provides for the aforementioned ease in using constructed coordinates.

Levy, R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Optimality criteria solution strategies in multiple constraint design optimization

Procedures and solution strategies are described to solve the conventional structural optimization problem using the Lagrange multiplier technique. The multipliers, obtained through solution of an auxiliary nonlinear optimization problem, lead to optimality criteria to determine the design variables. It is shown that this procedure is essentially equivalent to an alternative formulation using a dual method Lagrangian function objective. Although mathematical formulations are straight-forward, successful applications and computational efficiency depend upon execution procedure strategies. Strategies examined, with application examples, include selection of active constraints, move limits, line search procedures, and side constraint boundaries.

Levy, R.↗
NASA NTRS1980

A three-dimensional turbulent compressible subsonic duct flow analysis for use with constructed coordinate systems

An approximate analysis, applicable to nonorthogonal coordinate systems having a curved centerline and planar transverse coordinate surfaces normal to the centerline, is presented for computation of three-dimensional subsonic flow in straight and curved diffusers. The formulation is intended to facilitate the use of constructed coordinates in circumstances where it is difficult to maintain smooth behavior in higher derivatives; the use of local Cartesian variables and fluxes leads to governing equations which require only first derivatives of the coordinate transformation. The analysis is applied to a particular family of duct and diffuser geometries having curved centerlines and superelliptic cross sections. Qualitative agreement with experimental measurements is observed with regard to streamwise vortices and distortion of the primary flow.

Levy, R.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Development of a three-dimensional supersonic inlet flow analysis

A method for computing three dimensional flow in supersonic inlets is described. An approximate set of governing equations is given for viscous flows which have a primary flow direction. The governing equations are written in general orthogonal coordinates. These equations are modified in the subsonic region of the flow to prevent the phenomenon of branching. Results are presented for the two sample cases: a Mach number equals 2.5 flow in a square duct, and a Mach number equals 3.0 flow in a research jet engine inlet. In the latter case the computed results are compared with the experimental data. A users' manual is included.

Buggeln, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Computation of three-dimensional viscous supersonic flow in inlets

A new approach has been developed for the computation of the three-dimensional viscous supersonic flow with embedded subsonic regions adjacent to solid boundaries and is applied to a mixed-compression supersonic inlet typical of current designs. The approach uses a reduced form of the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations so that the resultant equations can be treated as an initial boundary value problem and thus be solved by non-iterative forward marching in space. The numerical procedure utilizes an efficient consistently-split linearized block implicit technique to solve the finite difference analogues to the set of governing partial differential equations.

Buggeln, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Calculation of three-dimensional turbulent subsonic flows in transition ducts

A method for computing three-dimensional turbulent subsonic flow in curved ducts is being developed. A set of tube-like surface oriented coordinates is employed for a general class of geometries applicable to subsonic diffusers with offset bends. The geometric formulation is complex and no previous treatment of this class of viscous flow problems is known to the authors. The duct centerline is a space curve specified by piecewise polynomials. A Frenet frame is located on the centerline at each axial location. The cross sections are described by superellipses imbedded in the Frenet frame. Duct surfaces are also coordinate surfaces, which greatly simplifies the boundary conditions. The resulting coordinates are nonorthogonal. An approximate set of governing equations is employed for viscous flows having strong flow in a primary flow direction. The derivation is coordinate invariant and the resulting equations are expressed in tensor form. These equations are solved by an efficient alternating direction implicit (ADI) method. This numerical method is generally stable and permits solution in difficult geometries using the general tensor formulation.

Levy, R.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Development of a three-dimensional turbulent duct flow analysis

A method for computing three-dimensional turbulent subsonic flow in curved ducts is described. An approximate set of governing equations is given for viscous flows which have a primary flow direction. The derivation is coordinate invariant, and the resulting equations are expressed in terms of tensors. General tube-like coordinates were developed for a general class of geometries applicable to many internal flow problems. The coordinates are then particularized to pipes having superelliptic cross sections whose shape can vary continuously between a circle and a near rectangle. The analysis is applied to a series of relevant aerodynamic problems including transition from nearly square to round pipes and flow through a pipe with an S-shaped bend.

Eiseman, P. R.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Implementation of natural frequency analysis and optimality criterion design

A description is presented of an effective optimality criterion computer design approach for member size selection to improve frequency characteristics for moderately large structure models. It is shown that the implementation of the simultaneous iteration method within a natural frequency structural design optimization provides a method which is more efficient in isolating the lowest natural frequency modes than the frequently applied Stodola method. Additional computational advantages are derived by using previously converged eigenvectors at the start of the iterations during the second and the following design cycles. Vectors with random components can be used at the first design cycle, which, in relation to the entire computer time for the design program, results in only a moderate computational penalty.

Levy, R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Digital generation of alongwind velocity field

A procedure is described for generating simulation samples of the two-dimensional fluctuating component of the wind velocity acting on the surface of a paraboloidal antenna. A numerical example shows that a simulation sample can be generated rapidly by computer with results that appear reasonable. To complete the performance evaluation of the antenna surface for the random wind velocity, it would be necessary to combine the velocity field with pressure coefficients that can be established for the antenna surface. Loading coefficients could be derived readily from this combination and then standard procedures could be applied for the evaluation of the antenna rms measure of performance in response to the loading.

Shinozuka, M.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Implementation of wind performance studies for large antenna structures

Structural design procedures are described for a large antenna system to meet performance requirements under gravity and wind loading. A computational method is shown for the evaluation of performance in response to wind loading. Cumulative probability distribution curves for wind loading gain reductions for 100-m-diameter antennas are developed to compare a relatively heavy baseline reflector backup structure with two lighter-weight structures; all have equivalent, acceptable performance for gravity loading.

Levy, R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Antenna bias rigging for performance objective

An optimum bias rigging for a paraboloidal antenna can be used to minimize the expected average mean-square half-pathlength surface deviations. Statistics of deep space planetary missions are employed to develop weighting factors for antenna elevation angles during these missions. A procedure is shown to compute the optimum rigging angle from these weights.

Levy, R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Wind power prediction models

Investigations were performed to predict the power available from the wind at the Goldstone, California, antenna site complex. The background for power prediction was derived from a statistical evaluation of available wind speed data records at this location and at nearby locations similarly situated within the Mojave desert. In addition to a model for power prediction over relatively long periods of time, an interim simulation model that produces sample wind speeds is described. The interim model furnishes uncorrelated sample speeds at hourly intervals that reproduce the statistical wind distribution at Goldstone. A stochastic simulation model to provide speed samples representative of both the statistical speed distributions and correlations is also discussed.

Levy, R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Computer-aided design of antenna structures and components

This paper discusses computer-aided design procedures for antenna reflector structures and related components. The primary design aid is a computer program that establishes cross sectional sizes of the structural members by an optimality criterion. Alternative types of deflection-dependent objectives can be selected for designs subject to constraints on structure weight. The computer program has a special-purpose formulation to design structures of the type frequently used for antenna construction. These structures, in common with many in other areas of application, are represented by analytical models that employ only the three translational degrees of freedom at each node. The special-purpose construction of the program, however, permits coding and data management simplifications that provide advantages in problem size and execution speed. Size and speed are essentially governed by the requirements of structural analysis and are relatively unaffected by the added requirements of design. Computation times to execute several design/analysis cycles are comparable to the times required by general-purpose programs for a single analysis cycle. Examples in the paper illustrate effective design improvement for structures with several thousand degrees of freedom and within reasonable computing times.

Levy, R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Conceptual studies for new low-cost 64-m antennas

Recent software developments expedite design investigations of proposed new 64-m antenna structures. The software consists of programs to generate structure model data and a design program that chooses preferential cross sectional sizes of the structural members. Numerous new designs are summarized that can represent weight savings of from 25% to 50% with respect to the tipping weight of the existing Mars antenna. These designs provide a more favorable symmetrical support for the reflector backup and tend to provide superior surface accuracy for gravity, although not necessarily wind, loading on the antenna.

Levy, R.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Nonproportional loading limit for structures

The design of most structures involves ensuring integrity for several independent loading conditions. Often, it is rational to design these, exploiting the ductility of the materials to reduce structural costs. Then, ensuring integrity evokes the need for nonmonotonic limit analyses. A groundwork is laid for implementing these analyses. An alternate limit load characterization to that of Greenberg is provided, a mathematical statement of the problem leading to both monotonic (proportional) and nonmonotonic limit loads values is formulated, a direct limit load analysis procedure for analysis within a finite-element framework is described, and limit loads for sets of simple structures are evaluated. A direct limit analysis process is described, and monotonic limit loads are characterized. The process furnishes 'exact' values of limit loads with increasing efficiency as the number of structural elements and force redundancy decreases. Tests show that the accuracy of predicting nonmonotonic limit loads is very sensitive to the number of degrees of freedom in the analysis compared with the total number in the model.

Melosh, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Improved procedures for mass matrix-reductions in eigenvalue solutions

Analytical models of three structures were used to test mass matrix-reduction schemes. Accuracy of four mode shapes and frequencies was tracked through successive mass matrix-reductions with diminishing numbers of indicator degrees of freedom. Results were consistently disappointing. Two new procedures were developed in attempt to improve accuracy.

Levy, R.↗