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At least 199 records · Page 11

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NASA NTRS1989

Solving periodic block tridiagonal systems using the Sherman-Morrison-Woodbury formula

Many algorithms for solving the Navier-Stokes equations require the solution of periodic block tridiagonal systems of equations. By applying a splitting to the matrix representing this system of equations, it may first be reduced to a block tridiagonal matrix plus an outer product of two block vectors. The Sherman-Morrison-Woodbury formula is then applied. The algorithm thus reduces a periodic banded system to a non-periodic banded system with additional right-hand sides and is of higher efficiency than standard Thomas algorithm/LU decompositions.

Yarrow, Maurice↗

NASA NTRS1989

A block-corrected subdomain solution procedure for recirculating flow calculations

This paper describes a robust and efficient subdomain solution procedure for two-dimensional recirculating flows. The solution domain is divided into a number of overlapping subdomains, and a direct fully coupled solution is obtained for each subdomain using a sparse matrix form of LU decomposition. An effective parabolic block correction procedure, which calculates global corrections to the tentative solution by a marching technique similar to that used for boundary layer flows, is used to accelerate the convergence of the basic procedure. The use of effective block correction is found to be essential for the success of the subdomain approach on strongly recirculating flows. In a number of laminar two-dimensional flows, the new block-corrected method performed extremely well, rivaling the best direct methods in execution time, while requiring substantially less computer storage. The new method proved to be from two to ten times faster than conventional iterative methods, while requiring only a moderate increase in storage.

Braaten, M. E.↗

NASA NTRS1989

How to push a block along a wall

Some robot tasks require manipulation of objects that may be touching other fixed objects. The effects of friction and kinematic constraint must be anticipated, and may even be exploited to accomplish the task. An example task, a dynamic analysis, and appropriate effector motions are presented. The goal is to move a rectangular block along a wall, so that one side of the block maintains contact with the wall. Two solutions that push the block along the wall are discussed.

Mason, Matthew T.↗

NASA NTRS1990

The role of synoptic/planetary-scale interactions during the development of a blocking anticyclone

Consideration is given to the development of a blocking anticyclone over the North Atlantic preceded by explosive cyclogenesis about 500 km south of Nova Scotia during January 19-21, 1979. The general behavior of the block is studied using the extended height tendency equation. The relative importance of planetary-scale, synoptic-scale, and scale-interaction forcing of the block is examined.

Tsou, Chih-Hua↗

NASA NTRS1991

Imide/arylene ether block copolymers

Two series of imide/arylene either block copolymers were prepared using an arylene ether block and either an amorphous or semi-crystalline imide block. The resulting copolymers were characterized and selected physical and mechanical properties were determined. These results, as well as comparisons to the homopolymer properties, are discussed.

Jensen, B. J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Automatic blocking of nested loops

Blocked algorithms have much better properties of data locality and therefore can be much more efficient than ordinary algorithms when a memory hierarchy is involved. On the other hand, they are very difficult to write and to tune for particular machines. The reorganization is considered of nested loops through the use of known program transformations in order to create blocked algorithms automatically. The program transformations used are strip mining, loop interchange, and a variant of loop skewing in which invertible linear transformations (with integer coordinates) of the loop indices are allowed. Some problems are solved concerning the optimal application of these transformations. It is shown, in a very general setting, how to choose a nearly optimal set of transformed indices. It is then shown, in one particular but rather frequently occurring situation, how to choose an optimal set of block sizes.

Schreiber, Robert↗

NASA NTRS1990

Simulations of winter blocking episodes using observed sea surface temperatures

The formation of major Northern Hemisphere blockings during January 1979 is studied in numerical simulations of the global atmosphere with a sea surface temperature (SST) field updated with observations during the model integration. Both the standard 4 x 5 degrees latitude-longitude and high-resolution 2 x 2.5 degrees versions of the Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres general circulation models (GCMs) are employed. The SST field is provided by a blend analysis of in situ and satellite-retrieved data. The simulations by the high-resolution GCM with a realistic SST field of the ocean surface are shown to be capable of producing two successive realistic major blockings in the Pacific and Atlantic through a one-month period. The skill in predicting the blocking formation as obtained in the simulations is due to improved skill in forecasting of ultralog waves. Although the results are encouraging, only one initial state is involved in this series of simulations; therefore, the results should not be generalized yet at this stage of investigation.

Kung, Ernest C.↗

NASA NTRS1991

A generalized multi-block version of INS3D

A multiblock version of NASA's INS3D which permits the user to compute flows in arbitrary geometries without code modifications is developed. Solution continuity across block interfaces was achieved through automatic communication among adjacent blocks. Overlapping layers of grid points were employed in this process. It is found that solution accuracy and convergence histories are comparable to equivalent single-block cases.

Kim, Young-Mog↗

NASA NTRS1991

Navier-Stokes solutions about the F/A-18 wing-LEX-fuselage configuration with multi-block structured grids

Three-dimensional thin-layer Navier-Stokes computations are presented for the F/A-18 configuration. The modeled configuration includes an accurate surface representation of the fuselage, leading-edge-extension, as well as the wing with and without leading-edge-flap deflection. A multi-block structured volume grid with various topologies is generated using transfinite interpolation technique. The flowfield domain is divided into twenty blocks, each representing a particular geometrical complexity of the configuration. The results are obtained from an algorithm for solving the compressible Navier-Stokes equations that incorporates an upwind-biased, flux-difference-splitting approach. In addition, a newly developed capability that allows for generalized surface patching among blocks is employed. Turbulent results are presented for flow conditions that correspond to recent NASA F/A-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle flight experiments. Good correlations between the computations and the flight test results are disclosed for both surface flow patterns as well as surface pressure distributions.

Ghaffari, Farhad↗

NASA NTRS1992

Basalt-Block Heat-Storage Plant

Concept for storage of solar heat for later use based on use of basalt, cast into blocks and stacked in inflatable gas-tight enclosure serving as heat-storage chamber. Heat flows to blocks from solar collector during day and from blocks to heat engine at night.

Sullivan, Thomas A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Domain modeling and grid generation for multi-block structured grids with application to aerodynamic and hydrodynamic configurations

About five years ago, a joint development was started of a flow simulation system for engine-airframe integration studies on propeller as well as jet aircraft. The initial system was based on the Euler equations and made operational for industrial aerodynamic design work. The system consists of three major components: a domain modeller, for the graphical interactive subdivision of flow domains into an unstructured collection of blocks; a grid generator, for the graphical interactive computation of structured grids in blocks; and a flow solver, for the computation of flows on multi-block grids. The industrial partners of the collaboration and NLR have demonstrated that the domain modeller, grid generator and flow solver can be applied to simulate Euler flows around complete aircraft, including propulsion system simulation. Extension to Navier-Stokes flows is in progress. Delft Hydraulics has shown that both the domain modeller and grid generator can also be applied successfully for hydrodynamic configurations. An overview is given about the main aspects of both domain modelling and grid generation.

Spekreijse, S. P.↗

NASA NTRS1992

An interactive multi-block grid generation system

A grid generation procedure combining interactive and batch grid generation programs was put together to generate multi-block grids for complex aircraft configurations. The interactive section provides the tools for 3D geometry manipulation, surface grid extraction, boundary domain construction for 3D volume grid generation, and block-block relationships and boundary conditions for flow solvers. The procedure improves the flexibility and quality of grid generation to meet the design/analysis requirements.

Kao, T. J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

On the decoder error probability of block codes

By using coding and combinational techniques, an explicit formula is derived which enumerates the complete weight distribution of decodable words of block codes using partially known weight distributions. Also an approximation formula for nonbinary block codes is obtained. These results in turn give exact and approximate expressions for the decoder error probability PE(u) of block codes.

Cheung, Kar-Ming↗

NASA NTRS1992

Parallel computing strategies for block multigrid implicit solution of the Euler equations

A multigrid diagonal implicit algorithm has been developed to solve the three-dimensional Euler equations of inviscid compressible flow on block-structured grids. An improved method of advancing the multigrid cycle has been examined with respect to convergence rates, accuracy, and efficiency. In this method, the multigrid cycle is advanced independently in each of the blocks, and the information exchange between the blocks is done using buffer arrays, allowing for the asynchronous updating of interface boundary conditions. This updating scheme is used to eliminate the convergence problems found in a previous implementation of the algorithm while retaining its potential for efficient parallel execution. Results are computed for transonic flows past wings and include pressure distributions to verify the accuracy of the scheme and convergence histories to demonstrate the efficiency of the method. Efficiencies that were obtained using a modest number of processors in parallel are also presented and discussed.

Yadlin, Yoram↗

NASA NTRS1991

A conformal block structured grid for turbomachinery cascades in two dimensions

A block structured conformal transformation is presented for application to turbomachinery cascades. In comparison with the traditional single block cases that are, at best, supplemented with branch cuts, there is a richer variety of choices for the grid topology. The choice presented leads to a substantial improvement in the grid quality. This is reflected in a relatively uniform covering of the cascade region. While grid clustering is not intended or supplied with the block conformal structure, it can be injected afterwards. When viewed as a controlled experiment, the present study provides a significant example of the effect of grid topology upon the grid quality. In a larger sense, this puts some focus upon the effects of grid topology in more general situations.

Wang, Zhu↗

NASA NTRS1993

A study of circumferentially-heated and block-heated heat pipes. I - Experimental analysis and generalized analytical prediction of capillary limits. II - Three-dimensional numerical modeling as a conjugate problem

The wall and centerline vapor temperatures and heat output are determined experimentally for a low-temperature copper-water heat pipe under uniform circumferential heating and block heating. The time required to reach a vapor temperature of 60 C from an initial ambient temperature of 21 C is determined for both modes of heating. The experimental capillary limit of the heat pipe is compared to the generalized capillary limits for block-heated pipes over a range of vapor temperatures. A three-dimensional numerical model is then developed for determining the temperature, pressure, and velocity distributions in the entire domain of a circumferentially heated and a block-heated pipe. The problem is formulated as a conjugate problem, without the assumption of a uniform vapor temperature. The predictions of the model are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data.

Schmalhofer, Joseph↗

NASA NTRS1991

Interactions between synoptic-scale eddies and the large-scale flow during the development of blocking over the North Atlantic Ocean

Earlier studies of blocking are extended by examining the interactions that occur between the synoptic-scale eddies and the large-scale flow during the development of wintertime blocking events over the North Atlantic Ocean. In particular, attention is given to the change of synoptic-scale eddy activity during the development of blocking and to the role of anomalous forcing by synoptic-scale eddies in the development of large-scale flow anomalies. The dynamical mechanisms accounting for the observed variations in eddy activity are identified.

Neilley, Peter P.↗

NASA NTRS1950

Altitude Test Chamber Investigation of Performance of a 28-inch Ram-jet Engine II : Effects of Gutter Width and Blocked Area on Operating Range and Combustion Efficiency

Altitude-test-chamber investigation of effects of flame-holder blocked area and gutter width on performance of 28-inch diameter ram jet at simulated flight Mach number of 2.0 for altitudes from 40,000 to 55,000 feet was conducted at NACA Lewis laboratory. Ten flame holders investigated covered gutter widths from 1.00 to 2.50 inches and blocked areas from 40.5 to 62.0 percent of combustion-chamber area. Gutter width did not appreciably affect combustion efficiency. Increase in blocked area from 40 to 62 percent resulted in 5- to 10-percent increase in combustion efficiency. Increasing gutter width resulted in improvement in fuel-air-ratio operating range.

Shillito, T B↗