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At least 199 records · Page 11

Collisional interchange instability. II - A comparison of the numerical simulations with the in situ experimental data

A two-dimensional model applicable to F region ionosphere plasma instabilities has been developed and described in a companion paper. Here the model is applied to equatorial F region irregularities and is tested against rocket and satellite data. As a diagnostic, simulated data sets are created which are similar to the one-dimensional measurements of plasma density performed by space probes and the Fourier transform of these data is taken in the same manner and used by the space experimentors. Unlike previous simulations of this phenomenon, an inherent anisotropy is found in the instability development which is mirrored in the in situ data. Evidence that the shallow spectral slopes which often characterize spread F rocket spectra near the F peak may be due to a change in the angle between the rocket velocity vector and the characteristic directions in the medium is presented.

Kelley, M. C.↗

Boundary-layer stability analysis of NLF and LFC experimental data at subsonic and transonic speeds

NASA-Lewis has conducted wind tunnel experiments to ascertain the effectiveness of state-of-the-art in natural laminar flow (NLF) and LFC airfoils for subsonic and transonic speeds, such as the NLF(1)-0414F and the SCLFC(1)-0513F. Attention is given to the effects of Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) and/or crossflow linear mechanisms amplifying small disturbances to generate turbulence. It is found that the incompressible TS transitional n-factors were generally in the 9-12 range, in agreement with earlier correlation studies; the TS instability was the dominant instability mode on a swept-planform LFC airfoil over the entire range of test conditions.

Berry, Scott A.↗

On ice shape prediction methodologies and comparison with experimental data

Comparisons are made between the analysis of Wilder (1969), Bragg (1982), and the ice shape predictions of LEWICE given a specific airfoil geometry and set of meteorological conditions. Also, comparisons are made between the actual ice shapes as found in flight tests of the NASA Lewic RC Twin Otter and that predicted by the approximate methods noted earlier and LEWICE. Further, an investigation of two important parameters in the analysis of LEWICE has been made. Time stepping and initial surface roughness has been varied to identify any trends in the results. Guidelines have been identified for the correlation of these two parameters with the results in terms of atmospheric conditions. The range of meteorological conditions chosen, such as droplet diameter, free air temperature, and liquid water content has allowed rime, mixed, and glaze ice shapes at the leading edge of an airfoil to be investigated.

Korkan, K. D.↗

A study of ice shape prediction methodologies and comparison with experimental data

Current analytical ice shape prediction methods are described and evaluated. The analyses of Gray (1958), Wilder (1969), and Bragg (1982) are compared with the prediction of the LEWICE computer analysis. The effects of time stepping and initial surface roughness on analysis predictions are studied utilizing the prediction methods and flight data. Rime, mixed, and glazed ice shapes at the leading edge of an airfoil are analyzed. It is observed that there is no change in ice shape prediction if ice accumulation is less than 0.01, a minimum of 2 time steps is need to incorporate time dependent behavior into the analysis, and the LEWICE analysis provided the most accurate predictions.

Korkan, K. D.↗

The use of artificial neural networks in experimental data acquisition and aerodynamic design

It is proposed that an artificial neural network be used to construct an intelligent data acquisition system. The artificial neural networks (ANN) model has a potential for replacing traditional procedures as well as for use in computational fluid dynamics validation. Potential advantages of the ANN model are listed. As a proof of concept, the author modeled a NACA 0012 airfoil at specific conditions, using the neural network simulator NETS, developed by James Baffes of the NASA Johnson Space Center. The neural network predictions were compared to the actual data. It is concluded that artificial neural networks can provide an elegant and valuable class of mathematical tools for data analysis.

Meade, Andrew J., Jr.↗

The application of experimental data to blade wake interaction noise prediction

Blade wake interaction noise (BWI) has been defined as the broadband noise generated by the ingestion of turbulent trailing tip vortices by helicopter rotors. This has been shown to be the dominant contributor to the subjectively important part of the acoustic spectrum for the approach stage of a helicopter flyover. A prediction method for BWI noise based on the calculated trailing vortex trajectories has been developed and estimates of the vortex turbulence have been made. These measurements were made on a trailing vortex from a split wing arrangement and did not give the spectrum of the velocity fluctuations. A recent experiment carried out to measure the turbulence associated with a trailing vortex and the application of the results to BWI noise prediction is described.

Glegg, Stewart A. L.↗

A linear programming approach to characterizing norm bounded uncertainty from experimental data

The linear programming spectral overbounding and factorization (LPSOF) algorithm, an algorithm for finding a minimum phase transfer function of specified order whose magnitude tightly overbounds a specified nonparametric function of frequency, is introduced. This method has direct application to transforming nonparametric uncertainty bounds (available from system identification experiments) into parametric representations required for modern robust control design software (i.e., a minimum-phase transfer function multiplied by a norm-bounded perturbation).

Scheid, R. E.↗

Theoretical nozzle performance of a microwave electrothermal thruster using experimental data

Research aimed at developing a fundamental understanding of the plasma processes as applied to spacecraft propulsion is presented. Calorimetric, photographic, and spectrophotometric measurements based on the TM011 and TM012 modes in the resonance cavity have been performed. The efficiency of a thruster has been calculated using a theoretical model for predicting temperature, velocity, and species density within the propellant. It is concluded that the microwave electrothermal thruster is a viable alternative to electrode thrusters.

Haraburda, Scott S.↗

Identification of system, observer, and controller from closed-loop experimental data

This paper considers the identification problem of a system operating in closed-loop with an existing feedback controller. The closed-loop system is excited by a known excitation signal, and the resulting time histories of the closed-loop system response and the feedback signal are measured. From the time history data, the algorithm computes the Markov parameters of a closed-loop observer, from which the Markov parameters of the individual open-loop plant, observer, and controller are recovered. A state space model of the open-loop plant and the gain matrices for the controller and the observer are then realized. The results of the paper are demonstrated by an example using actual aircraft flutter test data.

Juang, Jer-Nan↗

ARID relative calibration experimental data and analysis

Several experiments measure the orientation error of the ARID end-frame as well as linear displacements in the Orbiter's y- and z-axes. In each experiment the position of the ARID on the trolley is fixed and the manipulator extends and retracts along the Orbiter's y-axis. A sensor platform consisting of four sonars arranged in a '+' pattern measures the platform pitch about the Orbiter's y-axis (angle b) and yaw about the Orbiter's x-axis (angle alpha). Corroborating measurements of the yaw error were performed using a carpenter's level to keep the platform perpendicular to the gravity vector at each ARID pose being measured.

Doty, Keith L↗