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At least 199 records · Page 11

Carbonaceous materials subjected to extreme heating - A comparison of numerical simulation and experiments

The ablation of carbonaceous materials in a hydrogen-helium stream has been simulated using a charring materials ablator computer code. These results are compared with the first ablation data to be obtained from the Ames-NASA Giant Planet Pilot Facility. Test stream diagnostics and ablation effects on convective and radiative heat transfer are discussed since these parameters constitute important input data to the numerical simulation. Graphite ablation was predicted to within 10 to 20%, and carbon-phenolic somewhat less accurately.

Davy, W. C.↗

Investigation of direct solar-to-microwave energy conversion techniques

Identification of alternative methods of producing microwave energy from solar radiation for purposes of directing power to the Earth from space is investigated. Specifically, methods of conversion of optical radiation into microwave radiation by the most direct means are investigated. Approaches based on demonstrated device functioning and basic phenomenologies are developed. There is no system concept developed, that is competitive with current baseline concepts. The most direct methods of conversion appear to require an initial step of production of coherent laser radiation. Other methods generally require production of electron streams for use in solid-state or cavity-oscillator systems. Further development is suggested to be worthwhile for suggested devices and on concepts utilizing a free-electron stream for the intraspace station power transport mechanism.

Chatterton, N. E.↗

An experimental investigation of the effect of boundary layer refraction on the noise from a high-speed propeller

Models of supersonic propellers were previously tested for acoustics in the Lewis 8- by 6-Foot Wind Tunnel using pressure transducers mounted in the tunnel ceiling. The boundary layer on the tunnel ceiling is believed to refract some of the propeller noise away from the measurement transducers. Measurements were made on a plate installed in the wind tunnel which had a thinner boundary layer than the ceiling boundary layer. The plate was installed in two locations for comparison with tunnel ceiling noise data and with fuselage data taken on the NASA Dryden Jetstar airplane. Analysis of the data indicates that the refraction increases with: increasing boundary layer thickness; increasing free stream Mach number; increasing frequency; and decreasing sound radiation angle (toward the inlet axis). At aft radiation angles greater than about 100 deg there was little or no refraction. Comparisons with the airplane data indicated that not only is the boundary layer thickness important but also the shape of the velocity profile. Comparisons with an existing two-dimensional theory, using an idealized shear layer to approximate the boundary layer, showed that the theory and data had the same trends. Analysis of the data taken in the tunnel at two different distances from the propeller indicates a decay with distance in the wind tunnel at high Mach numbers but the decay at low Mach numbers is not as clear.

Dittmar, J. H.↗

Effects of nozzle design parameters on the extent of quiet test flow at Mach 3.5

Tests results at the NASA Langley Research Center, involving a Mach 3.5 pilot quiet tunnel, have shown that laminar-layered nozzle walls improve boundary layer stability and reduce stream disturbance levels caused by eddy Mach wave radiation. This type of wall design is required to obtain transition Reynolds numbers on tests models as high as those previously observed in supersonic flight vehicles. The Mach 3.5 pilot nozzle wall boundary layers were tested for Tollmein-Schlichting and Goertler linear amplification, and, in an analysis of Goertler vortices in two axisymmetric Mach 5 nozzles, transition values were found to vary. These values were applied to several nozzles with similar throat heights but different expansion rates. Among the nozzles included in the study, a flat-wall radial flow nozzle and a proposed rod-wall nozzle were tested. For the highest test unit Reynolds number, it was determined that the nozzle wall surface finish should not exceed 0.3 micron. Oil flow studies have indicated that Goertler vortex disturbances were the dominant mechanism causing transition on the walls of the pilot nozzle.

Beckwith, I. E.↗

Laser techniques for arc jet plasma diagnostics; continuation of a feasibility and design study

This study is concerned with the continuation of a feasibility and design study of laser-based diagnostic techniques for the non-instrusive measurement of species concentrations, temperatures, and velocity in the low density, high enthalpy flow through the arc-heated wind tunnel facility (ARMSEF) at NASA/JSC. Last summer several laser-induced radiation scattering methods were investigated and some preliminary measurements of the spectral distribution of radiation emitted by the arc-heated gas flow were made. Based upon those preliminary measurements and subsequent investigations, four laser-induced radiation scattering methods were selected for further detailed study, and preliminary design of a measurement system has been undertaken. Further measurements of the spectral distribution of radiation emitted from the arc-heated free stream and shock layer flows, using a redesigned measurement system, have been made for one axial position in the flow for a range of tunnel operating power levels. Further study of the literature for physical property data, theoretical models of processes, and applications of the diagnostic methods has been also carried out.

Wierum, F. A.↗

The circumstellar dust envelopes of red giant stars. I - M giant stars with the 10-micron silicate emission band

Spherical dust envelope models of red giant stars are constructed by solving the radiative transfer equations of the generalized two-stream Eddington approximation. The IRAS observations of M giant stars which show the 10-micron silicate emission band in IRAS LRS spectra are explained by the models with the dirty silicate grains with K proportional to lambda exp -1.5 for lambda greather than 28 microns. Under the assumption of steady mass flow in the envelope, this model analysis gives the following conclusions: (1) the strength of the silicate emission peak at 10 microns is a good indicator of the mass loss rate of the star, (2) no stars with the 10-microns silicate emission feature are observed in the range of mass loss rate smaller than 7 x 10 to the -8th solar mass/yr, and (3) the characteristic time of the mass loss process of M stars does not exceed a few 10,000 years.

Hashimoto, O.↗

Diagnostic calculations of the circulation in the Martian atmosphere

The circulation of the Martian atmosphere during late southern summer is derived from atmospheric temperature and dust distributions retrieved from a subset of the Mariner 9 infrared interferometer spectrometer (IRIS) thermal emission spectra (LS = 343-348 deg) (Santee and Crisp, 1933). Zonal-mean zonal winds are calculated by assuming gradient wind balance and zero surface zonal wind. Both hemispheres have intense midlatitude westerly jets with velocities of 80-90 m/s near 50 km; in the southern tropics the winds are easterly with velocities of 40 m/s near 50 km. The net effect of the zonal-mean meridional circulation and large-scale waves can be approximated by the diabatic ciculation, which is defined from the atmospheric thermal structure and net radiative heating rates. The radiative transfer model described by Crisp (1990) and Santee (1993) is used to compute solar heating and thermal cooling rates from diurnal averages of the retrieved IRIS temperature and dust distributions. At pressures below 4 mbar, there are large net radiative heating rates (up to 5 K/d) in the equatorial region and large net radiative cooling rates (up to 12 K/d) in the polar regions. These net radiative heating rates are used in a diagnostic stream function model which solves for the meridonal and vertical components of the diabatic circulation simultaneously. We find a two cell circulation, with rising motion over the equator, poleward flow in both hemispheres, sinking motion over both polar regions, and return flow in the lowest atmospheric levels. The maximum poleward velocity is 3 m/s in the tropics at approximately 55 km altitude, and the maximum vertical velocity is 2.5 cm/s downward over the north pole at approximately 60 km altitude. If these large transport rates are sustained for an entire season, the Martian atmosphere above the 1-mbar level is overturned in about 38 days. This diabatic circulation is qualitatively similar to the terrestial diabatic circulation at the comparable season, but is more vigorous.

Santee, Michelle L.↗

Diagnostic calculations of the circulation in the Martian atmosphere

The circulation of the Martian atmosphere during late southern summer is derived from atmospheric temperature and dust distributions retrieved from a subset of the Mariner 9 infrared interferometer spectrometer (IRIS) thermal emission spectra (L(sub s) = 343-348 deg). Zonal-mean zonal winds are calculated by assuming gradient wind balance and zero surface zonal wind. Both hemispheres have intense midlatitude westerly jets with velocities of 80-90 m/s near 50 km; in the southern tropics the winds are easterly with velocities of 40 m/s near 50 km. The net effect of the zonal mean meridional circulation and large-scale waves can be approximated by the diabatic circulation, which is defined from the atmospheric thermal structure and net radiative heating rates. The radiative transfer model described by Crisp (1990) and Santee (1993) is used to compute solar heating and thermal cooling rates from diurnal averages of the retrieved IRIS temperature and dust distributions. At pressures below 4 mbar, there are large net radiative heating rates (up to 5 K/d) in the equatorial region and large net radiative cooling rates (up to 12 K/d) in the polar regions. These net radiative heating rates are used in a diagnostic stream function model which solves for the meridional and vertical components of the diabatic circulation simultaneously. We find a two-cell circulation, with rising motion over the equator, poleward flow in both hemispheres, sinking motion over both polar regions, and return flow in the lowest atmospheric levels. The maximum poleward velocity is 3 m/s in the tropics at approx. 55 km altitude, and the maximum vertical velocity is 2.5 cm/s downward over the north pole at approx. 60 km altitude. If these large transport rates are sustained for an entire season, the Martian atmosphere above the 1-mbar level is overturned in about 38 days. This diabatic circulation is qualitatively similar to the terrestrial diabatic circulation at the comparable season, but is more vigorous.

Santee, Michelle L.↗

A Design of Experiments Investigation of Offset Streams for Supersonic Jet Noise Reduction

An experimental investigation into the noise characteristics of a dual-stream jet with four airfoils inserted in the fan nozzle was conducted. The intent of the airfoils was to deflect the fan stream relative to the core stream and, therefore, impact the development of the secondary potential core and noise radiated in the peak jet-noise direction. The experiments used a full-factorial Design of Experiments (DoE) approach to identify parameters and parameter interactions impacting noise radiation at two azimuthal microphone array locations, one of which represented a sideline viewing angle. The parameters studied included airfoil angle-of-attack, airfoil azimuthal location within the fan nozzle, and airfoil axial location relative to the fan-nozzle trailing edge. Jet conditions included subsonic and supersonic fan-stream Mach numbers. Heated jets conditions were simulated with a mixture of helium and air to replicate the exhaust velocity and density of the hot jets. The introduction of the airfoils was shown to impact noise radiated at polar angles in peak-jet noise direction and to have no impact on noise radiated at small and broadside polar angles and to have no impact on broadband-shock-associated noise. The DoE analysis showed the main effects impacting noise radiation at sideline-azimuthal-viewing angles included airfoil azimuthal angle for the airfoils on the lower side of the jet near the sideline array and airfoil trailing edge distance (with airfoils located at the nozzle trailing edge produced the lowest sound pressure levels). For an array located directly beneath the jet (and on the side of the jet from which the fan stream was deflected), the main effects impacting noise radiation included airfoil angle-of-attack and airfoil azimuthal angle for the airfoils located on the observation side of the jet as well and trailing edge distance. Interaction terms between multiple configuration parameters were shown to have significant impact on the radiated noise. The models were shown to adequately describe the sound-pressure levels obtained for a configuration in the center of the design space indicating the models can be used to navigate the design space.

Jet Noise↗

Equilibrium structure of solar magnetic flux tubes: Energy transport with multistream radiative transfer

We examine the equilibrium structure of vertical intense magnetic flux tubes on the Sun. Assuming cylindrical geometry, we solve the magnetohydrostatic equations in the thin flux-tube approximation, allowing for energy transport by radiation and convection. The radiative transfer equation is solved in the six-stream approximation, assuming gray opacity and local thermodynamic equilibrium. This constitutes a significant improvement over a previous study, in which the transfer was solved using the multidimensional generalization of the Eddington approximation. Convection in the flux tube is treated using mixing-length theory, with an additional parameter alpha, characterizing the suppression of convective energy transport in the tube by the strong magnetic field. The equations are solved using the method of partial linearization. We present results for tubes with different values of the magnetic field strength and radius at a fixed depth in the atmosphere. In general, we find that, at equal geometric heights, the temperature on the tube axis, compared to the ambient medium, is higher in the photosphere and lower in the convection zone, with the difference becoming larger for thicker tubes. At equal optical depths the tubes are generally hotter than their surroundings. The results are comparatively insensitive to alpha but depend upon whether radiative and convective energy transport operate simultaneously or in separate layers. A comparison of our results with semiempirical models shows that the temperature and intensity contrast are in broad agreement. However, the field strengths of the flux-tube models are somewhat lower than the values inferred from observations.

Hasan, S. S.↗

Solar Energetic Particles and Space Weather

The solar energetic particles (SEPs) of consequence to space weather are accelerated at shock waves driven out from the Sun by fast coronal mass ejections (CMEs). In the large events, these great shocks fill half of the heliosphere. SEP intensity profiles change appearance with longitude. Events with significant intensities of greater than ten MeV protons occur at an average rate of approx. 13 per year near solar maximum and several events with high intensities of > 100 McV protons occur each decade. As particles stream out along magnetic field lines from a shock near the Sun, they generate waves that scatter subsequent particles. At high intensities, wave growth throttles the flow below the 'streaming limit.' However, if the shock maintains its strength, particle intensities can rise above this limit to a peak when the shock itself passes over the observer creating a 'delayed' radiation hazard, even for protons with energies up to approx. one GeV. The streaming limit makes us blind to the intensities at the oncoming shock, however, heavier elements such as He, O, and Fe probe the shape of the wave spectrum, and variation in abundances of these elements allow us to evade the limit and probe conditions at the shock, with the aid of detailed modeling. At high energies, spectra steepen to form a spectral 'knee'. The location of the proton spectral knee can vary from approx. ten MeV to approx. one GeV, depending on shock conditions, greatly affecting the radiation hazard. Hard spectra are a serious threat to astronauts, placing challenging requirements for shielding, especially on long-duration missions to the moon or Mars.

Reames, Donald V.↗

Low-frequency broadband noise generated by a model rotor

Low-frequency broadband noise generated by model rotors is attributed to the interaction of ingested turbulence with the rotor blades. The influence of free-stream turbulence in the low-frequency broadband noise radiation from model rotors has been experimentally investigated. The turbulence was generated in the M.I.T. anechoic wind tunnel facility with the aid of bipolar grids of various sizes. The spectra and the intensity of the low-frequency broadband noise have been studied as a function of parameters which characterize the turbulence and of helicopter performance parameters. The location of the peak intensity was observed to be strongly dependent on the rotor-tip velocity and on the longitudinal integral scale of turbulence. The size scale of turbulence had negligible effect on the intensity of low-frequency broadband noise. The experimental data show good agreement with an ad hoc model based on unsteady aerodynamics.

Aravamudan, K. S.↗

An estimate of the velocity correlation tensor - Cosmological implications

The peculiar velocity correlation tensor in the cosmic background radiation is estimated using observations of large-scale streaming motions. Two models are considered, which assume gravitational instability and random phase fluctuations: the CDM (cold dark matter) model representing the standard Omega = 1 CDM dominated universe with adiabatic scale invariant initial fluctuations and the Peebles' baryon isocurvature (PBI) model, an Omega = 0.4 baryon dominated universe with initial isocurvature (entropy) fluctuations. In both cases, the assumed Hubble constant is H = 50 km/sec Mpc. Unlike the CDM model, low Omega, baryon dominated PBI scenarios containing entropy perturbations can lead to correlated velocities over scales exceeding 4,000 km/sec. Predictions of both the CDM and PBI models are discussed. The velocity field in the local standard of rest frame determined by the galaxies themselves is also considered.

Groth, Edward J.↗

Diffuse reflection from a stochastically bounded, semi-infinite medium

In order to determine the diffuse reflection from a medium bounded by a rough surface, the problem of radiative transfer in a boundary layer characterized by a statistical distribution of heights is considered. For the case that the surface is defined by a multivariate normal probability density, the propagation probability for rays traversing the boundary layer is derived and, from that probability, a corresponding radiative transfer equation. A solution of the Eddington (two stream) type is found explicitly, and examples are given. The results should be applicable to reflection from the regoliths of solar system bodies, as well as from a rough ocean surface.

Lumme, K.↗

Three dimensional modeling of cirrus during the 1991 FIRE IFO 2: Detailed process study

A three-dimensional model of cirrus cloud formation and evolution, including microphysical, dynamical, and radiative processes, was used to simulate cirrus observed in the FIRE Phase 2 Cirrus field program (13 Nov. - 7 Dec. 1991). Sulfate aerosols, solution drops, ice crystals, and water vapor are all treated as interactive elements in the model. Ice crystal size distributions are fully resolved based on calculations of homogeneous freezing of solution drops, growth by water vapor deposition, evaporation, aggregation, and vertical transport. Visible and infrared radiative fluxes, and radiative heating rates are calculated using the two-stream algorithm described by Toon et al. Wind velocities, diffusion coefficients, and temperatures were taken from the MAPS analyses and the MM4 mesoscale model simulations. Within the model, moisture is transported and converted to liquid or vapor by the microphysical processes. The simulated cloud bulk and microphysical properties are shown in detail for the Nov. 26 and Dec. 5 case studies. Comparisons with lidar, radar, and in situ data are used to determine how well the simulations reproduced the observed cirrus. The roles played by various processes in the model are described in detail. The potential modes of nucleation are evaluated, and the importance of small-scale variations in temperature and humidity are discussed. The importance of competing ice crystal growth mechanisms (water vapor deposition and aggregation) are evaluated based on model simulations. Finally, the importance of ice crystal shape for crystal growth and vertical transport of ice are discussed.

Jensen, Eric J.↗

Two-Dimensional Failure Waves and Ignition Fronts in Premixed Combustion

This paper is a continuation of our work on edge-flames in premixed combustion. An edge-flame is a two-dimensional structure constructed from a one-dimensional configuration that has two stable solutions (bistable equilibrium). Edge-flames can display wavelike behavior, advancing as ignition fronts or retreating as failure waves. Here we consider two one-dimensional configurations: twin deflagrations in a straining flow generated by the counterflow of fresh streams of mixture: and a single deflagration subject to radiation losses. The edge-flames constructed from the first configuration have positive or negative speeds, according to the value of the strain rate. But our numerical solutions strongly suggest that only positive speeds (corresponding to ignition fronts) can exist for the second configuration. We show that this phenomenon can also occur in diffusion flames when the Lewis numbers are small. And we discuss the asymptotics of the one-dimensional twin deflagration configuration. an overlooked problem from the 70s.

Vedarajan, T. G.↗