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At least 199 records · Page 11

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NASA NTRS2003

Determination of Dimensionless Attenuation Coefficient in Shaped Resonators

The value of dimensionless attenuation coefficient is an important factor when numerically predicting high-amplitude acoustic waves in shaped resonators. Both the magnitude of the pressure waveform and the quality factor rely heavily on this dimensionless parameter. Previous authors have stated the values used, but have not completely explained their methods. This work fully describes the methodology used to determine this important parameter. Over a range of frequencies encompassing the fundamental resonance, the pressure waves were experimentally measured at each end of the shaped resonators. At the corresponding dimensionless acceleration, the numerical code modeled the acoustic waveforms generated in the resonator using various dimensionless attenuation coefficients. The dimensionless attenuation coefficient that most closely matched the pressure amplitudes and quality factors of the experimental and numerical results was determined to be the value to be used in subsequent studies.

Daniels, C.↗

NASA NTRS2002

Phenylephrine-induced elevations in arterial blood pressure are attenuated in heat-stressed humans

To test the hypothesis that phenylephrine-induced elevations in blood pressure are attenuated in heat-stressed humans, blood pressure was elevated via steady-state infusion of three doses of phenylephrine HCl in 10 healthy subjects in both normothermic and heat stress conditions. Whole body heating significantly increased sublingual temperature by ~0.5 degrees C, muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), heart rate, and cardiac output and decreased total peripheral vascular resistance (TPR; all P < 0.005) but did not change mean arterial blood pressure (MAP; P > 0.05). At the highest dose of phenylephrine, the increase in MAP and TPR from predrug baselines was significantly attenuated during the heat stress [DeltaMAP 8.4 +/- 1.2 mmHg; DeltaTPR 0.96 +/- 0.85 peripheral resistance units (PRU)] compared with normothermia (DeltaMAP 15.4 +/- 1.4 mmHg, DeltaTPR 7.13 +/- 1.18 PRU; all P < 0.001). The sensitivity of baroreflex control of MSNA and heart rate, expressed as the slope of the relationship between MSNA and diastolic blood pressure, as well as the slope of the relationship between heart rate and systolic blood pressure, respectively, was similar between thermal conditions (each P > 0.05). These data suggest that phenylephrine-induced elevations in MAP are attenuated in heat-stressed humans without affecting baroreflex control of MSNA or heart rate.

Non-NASA Center↗

NASA NTRS2002

The X-ray attenuation characteristics and density of human calcaneal marrow do not change significantly during adulthood

Changes in the material characteristics of bone marrow with aging can be a significant source of error in measurements of bone density when using X-ray and ultrasound imaging modalities. In the context of computed tomography, dual-energy computed techniques have been used to correct for changes in marrow composition. However, dual-energy quantitative computed tomography (DE-QCT) protocols, while increasing the accuracy of the measurement, reduce the precision and increase the radiation dose to the patient in comparison to single-energy quantitative computed tomography (SE-QCT) protocols. If the attenuation properties of the marrow for a particular bone can be shown to be relatively constant with age, it should be possible to use single-energy techniques without experiencing errors caused by unknown marrow composition. Marrow was extracted by centrifugation from 10 mm thick frontal sections of 34 adult cadaver calcanei (28 males, 6 females, ages 17-65 years). The density and energy-dependent linear X-ray attenuation coefficient of each marrow sample were determined. For purposes of comparing our results, we then computed an effective CT number at two GE CT/i scan voltages (80 and 120 kVp) for each specimen. The coefficients of variation for the density, CT number at 80 kVp and CT number at 120 kVp were each less than 1%, and the parameters did not change significantly with age (p > 0.2, r2 < 0.02, power > 0.8 where the minimum acceptable r2 = 0.216). We could demonstrate no significant gender-associated differences in these relationships. These data suggest that calcaneal bone marrow X-ray attenuation properties and marrow density are essentially constant from the third through sixth decades of life.

NASA Discipline Musculoskeletal↗

NASA NTRS2002

Aging attenuates the vestibulosympathetic reflex in humans

BACKGROUND: The vestibular system contributes to sympathetic activation by engagement of the otolith organs. However, there is a significant loss of vestibular function with aging. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine if young and older individuals differ in their cardiovascular and sympathetic responses to otolithic stimulation (ie, head-down rotation, HDR). We hypothesized that responses to otolithic stimulation would be attenuated in older adults because of morphological and physiological alterations that occur in the vestibular system with aging. METHODS AND RESULTS: Arterial blood pressure, heart rate, muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), and head rotation were measured during HDR in 11 young (26 +/- 1 years) and 11 older (64 +/- 1 years) subjects in the prone posture. Five older subjects performed head rotation (chin to chest) in the lateral decubitus position, which simulates HDR but does not alter afferent inputs from the vestibular system. MSNA responses to HDR were significantly attenuated in older as compared with young subjects (P<0.01). MSNA increased in the older subjects by only 12 +/- 5% as compared with 85 +/- 16% in the young. Furthermore, HDR elicited significant reductions in mean arterial blood pressure in older (Delta-6 +/- 1 mm Hg; P<0.01) but not young subjects (Delta1 +/- 1 mm Hg). In contrast to HDR, head rotation performed in the lateral decubitus position did not elicit hypotension. MSNA responses to baroreceptor unloading and the cold pressor test were not different between the age groups. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that aging attenuates the vestibulosympathetic reflex in humans and may contribute to the increased prevalence of orthostatic hypotension with age.

NASA Discipline Neuroscience↗

NASA NTRS2004

Measured Attenuation of Coplanar Waveguide on 6H, p-type SiC and High Purity Semi-Insulating 4H SiC through 800 K

Wireless sensors for high temperature applications such as oil drilling and mining, automobiles, and jet engine performance monitoring require circuits built on wide bandgap semiconductors. In this paper, the characteristics of microwave transmission lines on 4H-High Purity Semi-Insulating SiC and 6H, p-type SiC is presented as a function of temperature and frequency. It is shown that the attenuation of 6H, p-type substrates is too high for microwave circuits, large leakage current will flow through the substrate, and that unusual attenuation characteristics are due to trapping in the SiC. The 4H-HPSI SiC is shown to have low attenuation and leakage currents over the entire temperature range.

Ponchak, George E.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Dietary calcium attenuates platelet aggregation and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) are known to be blood pressure sensitive to dietary calcium. The effects of dietary calcium on platelet aggregation and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization were assessed by turbidimetric methods and fura-2 methods, respectively, in washed platelets of SHR. Ca2+ ATPase activity was examined in aortic membrane fractions. Six weeks of dietary calcium supplementation attenuated the increase of systolic blood pressure (SBP 199 +/- 16 v 170 +/- 9 mm Hg, P < .001) and thrombin-induced platelet aggregation (84.5 +/- 3.7 v 73.7 +/- 7.4%, P < .004) at 9 weeks of age. The ionomycin-induced intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) peak in the absence of external Ca2+, which reflects [Ca2+]i storage size, and thrombin-evoked [Ca2+]i release from [Ca2+]i storage were decreased by 2.0% Ca diet (472 +/- 55 v 370 +/- 23 nmol/L, P < .001, 339 +/- 29 v 278 +/- 33 nmol/L, P < .002). In addition, SBP was positively correlated with platelet aggregation (r = 0.703, P = .0088), thrombin-evoked [Ca2+]i (r = 0.739, P = .0044), and ionomycin-induced [Ca2+]i (r = 0.591, P = .0415), respectively. However, there was no significant effect of dietary calcium on Ca2+-ATPase activity in aortic membranes. These results suggest that dietary calcium supplementation had a beneficial effect on platelets of SHR by attenuating [Ca2+]i mobilization from [Ca2+]i storage. The hypotensive effect of dietary calcium might be associated with attenuated [Ca2+]i mobilization in SHR.

NASA Discipline Regulatory Physiology↗

NASA NTRS2011

Assessment of the CALIPSO Lidar 532 nm Attenuated Backscatter Calibration Using the NASA LaRC Airborne High Spectral Resolution Lidar

The Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) instrument on the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) spacecraft has provided global, high-resolution vertical profiles of aerosols and clouds since it became operational on 13 June 2006. On 14 June 2006, the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) was deployed aboard the NASA Langley B-200 aircraft for the first of a series of 86 underflights of the CALIPSO satellite to provide validation measurements for the CALIOP data products. To better assess the range of conditions under which CALIOP data products are produced, these validation flights were conducted under both daytime and nighttime lighting conditions, in multiple seasons, and over a large range of latitudes and aerosol and cloud conditions. This paper presents a quantitative assessment of the CALIOP 532 nm calibration (through the 532 nm total attenuated backscatter) using an internally calibrated airborne HSRL underflight data and is the most extensive study of CALIOP 532 nm calibration. Results show that average HSRL and CALIOP 532 nm total attenuated backscatter agree on average within 2.7% +/- 2.1% (CALIOP lower) at night and within 2.9 % +/- 3.9% (CALIOP lower) during the day., demonstrating the accuracy of the CALIOP 532 nm calibration algorithms. Additionally, comparisons with HSRL show consistency of the CALIOP calibration before and after the laser switch in 2009 as well as improvements in the daytime version 3 calibration scheme compared with the version 2 calibration scheme. Potential systematic uncertainties in the methodology relevant to validating satellite lidar measurements with an airborne lidar system are discussed and found to be less than 3.7% for this validation effort with HSRL. Results from this study are also compared to those from prior assessments of CALIOP calibration and attenuated backscatter.

Rogers, Raymond R.↗

NASA NTRS2011

Landing gear noise attenuation

A landing gear noise attenuator mitigates noise generated by airframe deployable landing gear. The noise attenuator can have a first position when the landing gear is in its deployed or down position, and a second position when the landing gear is in its up or stowed position. The noise attenuator may be an inflatable fairing that does not compromise limited space constraints associated with landing gear retraction and stowage. A truck fairing mounted under a truck beam can have a compliant edge to allow for non-destructive impingement of a deflected fire during certain conditions.

Moe, Jeffrey W.↗

NASA NTRS2011

Long-Term Changes in Light Scattering in Chesapeake Bay Inferred from Secchi Depth, Light Attenuation, and Remote Sensing Measurements

The relationship between the Secchi depth (Z(sub SD)) and the diffuse attenuation coefficient for photosynthetically active radiation (K(sub d)(PAR)), and in particular the product of the two, Z(sub SD) X K(sub d)(PAR), is governed primarily by the ratio of light scattering to absorption. We analyzed measurements of Z(sub SD) and K(sub d)(PAR) at main stem stations in Chesapeake Bay and found that the Z(sub SD) X K(sub d)(PAR) product has declined at rates varying from 0.020 to 0.033 /yr over the 17 to 25 years of measurement, implying that there has been a long -term increase in the scattering-to-absorption ratio. Remote sensing reflectance at the green wavelength most relevant to Z(sub SD) and K(sub d)(PAR) in these waters, R(sub rs)(555), did not exhibit an increasing trend over the 10 years of available measurements. To reconcile the observations we constructed a bio-optical model to calculate Z(sub SD), K(sub d)(PAR), Z(sub SD) X K(sub d)(PAR), and R(sub rs)(555) as a function of light attenuating substances and their mass-specific absorption and scattering coefficients. When simulations were based exclusively on changes in concentrations of light attenuating substances, a declining trend in Z(sub SD) E K(sub d) entailed an increasing trend in R(sub rs)(555), contrary to observations. To simulate both decreasing Z(sub SD) X K(sub d)(PAR) and stationary R(sub rs)(555), it was necessary to allow for a declining trend in the ratio of backscattering to total scattering. Within our simulations, this was accomplished by increasing the relative proportion of organic detritus with high mass-specific scattering and low backscattering ratio. An alternative explanation not explicitly modeled is an increasing tendency for the particulate matter to occur in large aggregates. Data to discriminate between these alternatives are not available.

Gallegos, Charles L.↗

NASA NTRS2016

Effects of Liner Length and Attenuation on NASA Langley Impedance Eduction

This study explores the effects of liner length and attenuation on the CHE (convected Helmholtz equation) impedance eduction method, in which the surface impedance of an acoustic liner is inferred through an iterative process based on repeated solutions to the convected Helmholtz equation. Wire mesh-over-honeycomb and perforate-over-honeycomb acoustic liners are tested in the NASA Langley Grazing Flow Impedance Tube, and the resultant data are processed using two impedance eduction methods. The first is the CHE method, and the second is a direct method (labeled the KT method) that uses the Kumaresan and Tufts algorithm to compute the impedance directly. The CHE method has been extensively used for acoustic liner evaluation, but experiences anomalous behavior under some test conditions. It is postulated that the anomalies are related to the liner length and/or attenuation. Since the KT method only employs data measured over the length of the liner, it is expected to be unaffected by liner length. A comparison of results achieved with the two impedance eduction methods is used to explore the interactive effects of liner length and attenuation on the CHE impedance eduction method.

Jones, M. G.↗

NASA NTRS2019

Path Attenuation Estimates for the DPR

The algorithm for the Surface Reference Technique (SRT) has been updated from version V6A to version V6X. The modified algorithm is designed to process dual-frequency radar data which are now available over the full swath. Comparisons between V6A and V6X show that the dual-wavelength version of the SRT (DSRT) eliminates some of the overestimates of path attenuation in the outer swath that occurred in the earlier version of the algorithm when dual-frequency data was unavailable in the outer swath. However, the DSRT is not reliable in cases of light rain rates where only the Ku-band channel detects rain, nor is it reliable in high rain rate cases where the Ka-band surface signal is lost through attenuation. A modified hybrid algorithm is planned for version 7 that can combine the best features of single- and dual-frequency path attenuation methods.

Meneghini, Robert↗

NASA NTRS2019

Evaluation of Impact Energy Attenuators and Composite Material Designs of a UAM VTOL Concept Vehicle

The development of Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) vehicles for the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) markets presents a need for light weight vehicle structures with effective occupant protection capabilities. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been working to fill that need, recently developing a cadre of concept vehicles to help characterize UAM design feasibility. This paper describes a study, using these concept vehicles, to evaluate the use of advanced composite structure and energy attenuating designs in the UAM vehicle design space. A finite element model (FEM) of a single passenger quadrotor concept vehicle was developed in LS-Dyna® and simulated under nominal and off-nominal vertical impact conditions. A variety of energy attenuating design mechanisms were implemented within this model to quantify their effectiveness in improving occupant safety. The use of carbon composites in both the energy attenuation mechanisms and vehicle structure was evaluated. The results of this study found significant reduction in occupant injury risk with the implementation of energy absorbing composite crush tubes and landing gear within the vehicle design. Additionally the use of a carbon fiber as a structural material was found to provide significant weight reduction while maintaining similar occupant loads to that predicted with an aluminum structure. This work provides a preliminary evaluation of design mechanisms and materials that may be used to optimize occupant protection capabilities within the UAM market.

Putnam, Jacob↗

NASA NTRS2020

Enabling Dynamic Vehicle Analyses With Improved Atmospheric Attenuation Models in Glenn Research Center Communication Analysis Suite

To aid in meeting the NASA objective of returning humans to the Moon, the Glenn Research Center’s Communication Analysis Suite was augmented with two distinct capabilities. The first capability added was the vehicle propagator. This allows the addition of dynamic aircraft and ground vehicles around any celestial body within the solar system during an analysis. This functionality interpolates the position and velocity of the vehicle relative to a celestial body at the time steps analyzed using the type of path and either a series of waypoints or a direction and duration of travel. The implications of this new capability include lunar rovers and/or drones, such as Dragonfly, where the vehicle propagator will analyze the communications architecture. The newly created vehicle propagator is now in use in communications studies for the 2024 lunar missions, simulating the movement of lunar rovers across the Moon’s southern pole. The second capability added was the augmentation of the atmospheric attenuation model. The previous model did not have a uniform low-elevation attenuation model due to the trigonometric approximation for path length and the exponential nature of low-elevation scintillation. User-defined weather parameters were also added to the updated atmospheric attenuation model. The previous model solely used tabular data based upon the season and location of the transmitting antenna. Multiple simulations of the same configuration now return different results based on the differing weather parameters. Cognitive communications analysis efforts can use this second capability to generate neural network training data based on differing weather conditions at utilized ground stations, a critical step in allowing neural networks to learn how weather parameters impact communications performance.

vehicle propagation↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Design of a Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow Flight Test Article

A natural laminar flow test article has been designed and analyzed for a flight test at the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center using the F-15 aircraft with Centerline Instrument Pylon (CLIP) testbed. The flight test aims to experimentally validate the new Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) design method in a flight environment. The CATNLF design method uses geometry shaping to produce specific pressure distributions that enable laminar flow on vehicle components with high sweep and high Reynolds numbers by attenuating the crossflow growth that typically leads to premature transition on such components. The CATNLF test article, which will be mounted vertically below the F-15 for flight testing, is designed to be representative of a transonic transport wing and accounts for transition mechanisms due to crossflow, Tollmien-Schlichting, and attachment line transition instabilities. The test article is predicted to support 53% surface area of laminar flow on the suction-side at the design point and maintains significant laminar flow extents at near-cruise, off-design conditions. The design was performed, flight matrix selected, and instrumentation chosen with two primary test goals in mind: to confirm the effectiveness of the CATNLF method in attenuating crossflow growth on a representative transonic transport wing, and to investigate surface requirements needed for laminar flow applications.

Michelle N. Lynde↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Simultaneous use of Ground Reflection and Lateral Attenuation Noise Models

Ground reflections and lateral attenuation due to refraction and scattering are two effects of acoustic propagation that can strongly influence noise received by an observer. Software that predicts community aviation noise can be reliant on ground reflection models to predict noise at receivers. However, empirical lateral attenuation models often include the influence of ground reflections implicitly, so a double-bookkeeping error can exist if one is used together with a reflection model. An accounting method that reconciles this bookkeeping issue for the Chien and Soroka reflection model and a Society of Automotive Engineers lateral attenuation model is presented. Importance to emerging supersonic civil aircraft is discussed.

noise↗

NASA NTRS2019

New Estimates of Ice and Oxygen Fluxes Across the Entire Lid of Lake Vostok From Observations of Englacial Radio Wave Attenuation

Over deep Antarctic subglacial lakes, spatially varying ice thickness and the pressure‐dependent melting point of ice result in distinct areas of melting and freeze‐on at the ice‐water interface, that is, at the lake lid. These ice mass fluxes drive lake circulation and, because basal Antarctic ice contains air clathrate, affect the input of oxygen to the lake, with implications for subglacial life. Inferences of rates of melting and freeze‐on, that is, accretion rates, from radar layer tracking and geodesy are limited in spatial coverage and resolution. Here we develop a new method to estimate accretion rate, and the resulting oxygen input at a lake lid, using airborne radar data over Lake Vostok together with ice‐temperature and chemistry data from the Vostok ice core. Because the lake lid is a coherent reflector of known reflectivity (at our radar frequency), we can infer depth‐averaged radio wave attenuation in the ice, with a spatial resolution of ~1 km along flight lines. Spatial variation in attenuation depends mostly on variation in ice temperature near the lid, which in turn varies strongly with ice mass flux at the lid. We model ice temperature versus depth with ice mass flux as a parameter, thus linking that flux to observed depth‐averaged attenuation. The resulting map of melt and accretion rates independently reproduces features known from earlier studies but now covers the entire lid. We find that freeze‐on is dominant when integrated over the lid, with an ice imbalance of 0.05 to 0.07 cu.km/year, which is robust against uncertainties.

Dale P. Winebrenner↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Simultaneous Use of Ground Reflection and Lateral Attenuation Noise Models

noise↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Joint Acceptance Attenuation Factor of Integrated Pressure with Unsteady Pressure-Sensitive Paint Measurements

The Unsteady Pressure-Sensitive Paint (uPSP) is widely used to measure the surface pressure of scaled models in wind tunnel tests. Compared to the conventional pressure transducers, uPSP has the advantage of high spatial resolution. With multiple high-speed Complementary Metal Oxide Superconductor (CMOS) cameras, the uPSP data collected with the camera pixels are mapped to the surface grid of the scaled model and converted to pressure. The shot noise is the dominant component of the noise in the uPSP measurement. The integrated pressure is usually computed on the grid nodes of a user-defined patch. The effect of shot noise is reduced in the integrated pressure on the patch; however, the measurement of the aerodynamic pressure may also be attenuated by the decorrelation of the flow pressure field being measured. This paper discusses the Joint Acceptance Attenuation Factor (JAAF) of the integrated pressure with uPSP measurements. The JAAF, a function of frequency, is defined as the ratio of the Power Spectral Density (PSD) of the integrated aerodynamic pressure on the patch to the average PSD of the aerodynamic pressure on the grid nodes of the patch. In this paper, the JAAF is investigated for the integrated pressure on rectangular patches, whose edges are defined in the direction along the streamline or across the streamline. Based on the assumption that the surface pressure field can be described by the Corcos model, the closed-form formulas to compute the JAAFs of the integrated pressure on the discrete grid nodes of a rectangular patch and over the continuous area of a rectangular patch are derived respectively. It is shown that the JAAF of the integrated pressure over the continuous area of a rectangular patch is the limit of that on discrete nodes of the rectangular patch when the number of nodes in each row or column goes to infinity. The closed-form formulas of the JAAF derived in this paper, with estimated parameters of the model, are verified with the measurements of the uPSP and the conventional pressure transducer collected in the Space Launch System Ascent Unsteady Aerodynamics Test at NASA Ames Research Center in November 2017. The closed-form formulas of the JAAF of the integrated pressure on the rectangular patches, based on the Corcos model, provide an efficient method to estimate the attenuation of integration by the decorrelation of the flow pressure field and set references for the comparison of the spectrum of the integrated uPSP measurements and the conventional pressure transducer measurements. The work described in this paper is a part of NASA’s development of a new state-of-the-art uPSP capability in production wind tunnels. Funding was provided by the NASA Aerosciences Evaluation and Test Capabilities Portfolio Office.

acoustics↗