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At least 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1992

Analysis of surface roughness generation in aircraft ice accretion

Patterns of roughness evolution have been studied analysis of high magnification video observations of accreting ice surfaces provided by the NASA Lewis Research Center. Three distinct patterns of surface roughness generation have been identified within the parametric regions studied. They include: Rime, Multi-Zone Glaze, and Uniform Glaze. Under most icing conditions, a brief period of transient rime ice growth was observed caused by heat conduction into the body. The resulting thin rime layer explains previously observed insensitivity of some ice accretions to substrate insensitivity of some ice accretions to substrate surface chemistry and may provide justification for simplifying assumptions in ice accretion sailing and modeling effects.

Hansman, R. J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Theoretical analysis of rough-surface shadowing from point-source radiation.

The shadowing function, defined as the probability that a point on a rough surface will be illuminated by radiation from a source at fixed height above the surface, is considered. An exact expression for this probability is derived and evaluated approximately when the surface elevation is a normal random process. The effect of surface correlation is considered and shown to be appreciable. Several numerical computations of the shadowing function are presented.

Hardin, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Effects of surface roughness on the photometric properties of Mars

Starting with a macroscopically flat surface, which at each point scatters according to the Minnaert law with exponent k, the photometric effects of increasing the large-scale roughness of the Martian surface were investigated. The photometric properties of macroscopically rough surfaces can still be described by the Minnaert law, but with an exponent k star, in general not equal to k. Therefore observed values of the Minnaert exponent cannot be used to infer the small-scale surface properties of Mars (or of any planet) unless proper allowance is made for the photometric effects of large-scale roughness. The azimuthal dependence of k star provides a sensitive test for the importance of these effects.

Veverka, J.↗
DOE OSTI2024

The effect of stretching on polyamide – 6: assessment of crystallinity, mechanical properties, and surface roughness

Polyamide-6 (PA6), or nylon-6, is a widely used low-cost polymer material for various applications. Manufacturing PA6 into fibers involves a spinning process such as melt extrusion, which orients the polymer chains into a semicrystalline structure. When stretching the produced fibers to high strains, the PA6 fibers transition the metastable gamma phase back into the stable gamma phase. The effects of these large stretches on mechanical properties have not been explored after the stretch has been released. In this study, the effects on mechanical properties were studied by stretching the PA6 fibers from 10% to 50% tensile strain and subsequently releasing the fibers. The stretched fibers were characterized by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy to determine the changes to the crystal structure and surface roughness. The stretched fibers were then tensile tested to failure and the tensile properties were examined. The stress-strain curves on the post-stretched PA6 fibers showed clear softening in the fibers with lower initial moduli after 30% stretching. Furthermore, these results may hold a clue to softening of fibers in applications with repeated loading and have implications for mechanical stability and fatigue of this polymeric material.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1986

Effects of surface roughness on the aerodynamic characteristics of the Space Shuttle Orbiter configuration

An investigation has been conducted to determine the effects of surface roughness on two Space Shuttle Orbiter models. The tests were conducted over a Mach number range from 0.2 to 6.0 in the Langley Low Turbulance Pressure Tunnel, 8-foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel, Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel, 20-Inch Mach 6 Tunnel, and the Vought High Speed Tunnel. Analytical estimates of the degradation of the subsonic performance resulting from the roughness were made and are presented. The investigation also included tests to explore the possibility of asymmetric flow separation or attachment over the wings during transition from high to low angles of attack that might cause roll divergence.

Ware, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1992

A numerical assessment of rough surface scattering theories. I - Horizontal polarization. II - Vertical polarization

A numerical evaluation is presented of the regime of validity for various rough surface scattering theories against numerical results obtained by employing the method of moments. The contribution of each theory is considered up to second order in the perturbation expansion for the surface current. Considering both vertical and horizontal polarizations, the unified perturbation method provides best results among all theories weighed.

Rodriguez, Ernesto↗
NASA NTRS1976

Surface roughness estimation at three points on the lunar surface using 23-CM monostatic radar

Differences in quasi-specular scattering by the lunar surface have been observed at 23-cm wavelength by using earth-based radar. By taking advantage of libration, three subradar points were isolated, and distinct scattering laws were identified for terrain near Hipparchus, Sinus Medii, and the crater Schroeter F. Interpretations of lunar radar data should henceforth incorporate a recognition that these variations take place. Unidirectional rms surface slope estimates of 6-8 deg in the Central Highlands and 4-5 deg in old mare are appropriate to horizontal scales of 100 m.

Simpson, R. A.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Surface Roughness Effects on Heat Transfer in Additively Manufactured sCO 2 Cycle Heat Exchangers

An experimental study was performed to consider the impact of surface roughness on heat transfer and pressure drop to supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO 2 ) in additively manufactured channels. All tests were performed in the Heat Exchange and Experimental Testing (HEET) rig at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Morgantown, West Virginia. Four test articles were considered. The first was a hydrodynamically smooth, drawn tube. The other three were additively manufactured channels with square and rectangular cross sections, which were characterized by sand-grain roughness to hydraulic diameter ratios spanning 0.0029 to 0.0073. Friction factors were determined by measuring the tube mass flow rate and pressure drop. The tube side heat transfer coefficient was measured using the Wilson plot technique. It was found that the friction factor results were 8% greater than the Colebrook correlation. Greater deviation was observed between the heat transfer results and the correlations. The Gnielinski correlation overpredicted the experimental points by nominally 30% and the Norris correlation overpredicting the experimental points by nominally 25%. A thermal performance factor was formed from the friction factor augmentation and Nusselt number augmentation results. These results indicated a 10% improvement in heat duty for a heat exchanger constructed utilizing a tube with ϵ/D_h =0.0073 relative to a heat exchanger utilizing a smooth, conventional tube.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Upstream surface roughness and terrain are strong drivers of contrast in tornado potential between North and South America

Central North America is the global hotspot for tornadoes, fueled by elevated terrain of the Rockies to the west and a source of warm, moist air from equatorward oceans. This conventional wisdom argues that central South America, with the Andes to the west and Amazon basin to the north, should have a “tornado alley” at least as active as central North America. Central South America has frequent severe thunderstorms yet relatively few tornadoes. Here, we show that conventional wisdom is missing an important ingredient specific to tornadoes: a smooth, flat ocean-like upstream surface. Using global climate model experiments, we show that central South American tornado potential substantially increases if its equatorward land surface is smoothed and flattened to be ocean-like. Similarly, we show that central North American tornado potential substantially decreases if its equatorward ocean surface is roughened to values comparable to forested land. A rough upstream surface suppresses the formation of tornadic environments principally by weakening the poleward low-level winds, characterized by a weakened low-level jet east of the mountain range. Results are shown to be robust for any midlatitude landmass using idealized experiments with a simplified continent and mountain range. Our findings indicate that large-scale upstream surface roughness is likely a first-order driver of the strong contrast in tornado potential between North and South America.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1984

Experiments to test theoretical models of the polarization of light by rough surfaces

A number of attempts have been made to provide theoretical models of the physical processes involved in the polarization of light scattered by a rough surface, such as the regolith of an atmosphereless planet. Some laboratory experiments designed to test different aspects of these models are described. It is concluded that double Fresnel reflection is usually the dominant process in producing negative polarization, but that diffraction effects may play a significant part in double events involving small-scale surface features.

Geake, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Analysis and testing for rotordynamic coefficients of turbulent annular seals with different, directionally homogeneous surface-roughness treatment for rotor and stator elements

A theory is presented, based on a simple modification of Hirs' turbulent lubrication equations, to account for different but directionally-homogeneous surface roughness treatments for the rotor and stator of annular seals. The theoretical results agree with von Pragenau's predictions that a damper seal which uses a smooth rotor and a rough stator yields more net damping than a conventional seal which has the same roughness for both the rotor and stator. Experimental results for four stators confirm that properly-designed roughened stators yield higher net damping values and substantially less leakage than seals with smooth surfaces. The best seal from both damping and leakage viewpoints uses a round-hole-pattern stator. Initial results for this stator suggest that, within limits, seals can be designed to yield specified ratios of stiffness to damping.

Childs, D. W.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Surface roughness studies with DALLAS-detector array for laser light angular scattering

An attempt is made to develop a better mathematical description of optical scattering phenomena, in order to construct an optical scattering apparatus for reliable and routine measurements of roughness parameters without resorting to comparator standards. After a brief outline of optical scattering theory, a description is presented of an experimental instrument for measuring surface roughness which incorporates optical scattering principles. The instrument has a He-Ne laser which illuminates the test surface at a variable angle of incidence. Scattered light distribution is detected by an array of 87 fiber-optic sensors positioned in a rotating semicircular yoke. The output from the detector is digitized and analyzed in a laboratory computer. For a comparison with experimental data, theoretical distributions are calculated by substituting the roughness profiles into the operand of and integral equation for electromagnetic scattering developed by Beckmann and Spizzichino (1963). A schematic diagram of the instrument is provided and the general implications of the experimental results are discussed.

Vorburger, T. V.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Rough surface scattering results based on bandpass autocorrelation forms

Surface-height autocorrelation forms such as Gaussian and exponential are often used in studies of near-normal incidence rough-surface scattering. Such models require the existence of a constant, or DC, value in the spectrum. The consequences of autocorrelation forms that correspond to spectral processes that are essentially bandpass in nature are examined. One such process is that of ocean wind waves. In this case, the spectral components do not extend down to zero frequency. The physical optics backscatter theory is reexamined relative to such autocorrelation functions. Experimental results obtained from a wavetank are compared to the autocorrelation model used in the analysis. The analysis indicates that Gaussian correlation length or mean-square slope is not an appropriate parameter for narrowband conditions and that significant slope is a more relevant parameter. Inherent in the deep-phase assumption is some form of slope dependency. The analysis given (and variants thereof) can be used to provide insight into the physical effects of separate spectral components and of spectral directionality.

Miller, Lee S.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A rough-surface thermophysical model for airless planets

A model for determining diurnal temperatures in spherical-section depressions and which encompasses both subsurface heat-flow and direct and scattered sunlight effects is presently applied to the disk-integrated thermal emission of a rough planetary surface with nonzero thermal inertia. Attention is given to the variation with roughness and thermal inertia of the beaming parameter eta, which characterizes zero-phase thermal emission by comparison with a smooth, nonrotating body and is almost independent of albedo for a given surface roughness. The thermal phase curve of Ceres is noted to be well matched by the model features of (1) prograde rotation, (2) 44-deg rms surface slope, and (3) a thermal inertia that is 30 percent of the lunar value.

Spencer, John R.↗