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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 289 records · Page 16
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Verification of an acoustic transmission matrix analysis of sound propagation in a variable area duct without flow

A predicted standing wave pressure and phase angle profile for a hard wall rectangular duct with a region of converging-diverging area variation is compared to published experimental measurements in a study of sound propagation without flow. The factor of 1/2 area variation used is sufficient magnitude to produce large reflections. The prediction is based on a transmission matrix approach developed for the analysis of sound propagation in a variable area duct with and without flow. The agreement between the measured and predicted results is shown to be excellent.

Miles, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Dynamic dielectric characterization of thermosets and thermoplastics using intrinsic variables

Dynamic dielectric analysis has been used to study curing polymer systems and thermoplastics. Measurements have been made over a frequency range of six decades. The data are analyzed in terms of capacitance, conductance, dissipation, complex permittivity, and conductivity (sigma). Complex permittivity and sigma are properties which are characteristic of the cure state of the material and independent of the size of the sample. LARC-160, PMR-15, NARMCO 5208, Epon and UDEL-P1700 have been studied. The experimental results suggest that when ionic processes dominate the dielectric response, the intensive property sigma is a good monitor of the resin's viscosity.

Kranbuehl, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Nanoflare Evidence from Analysis of the X-Ray Variability of an Active Region Observed with Hinode/XRT

The investigation of the heating mechanisms of the confined coronal plasma is still under intense debate. It is widely believed that the energy source for coronal heating is the magnetic energy stored in the solar corona. An unsolved problem is how this magnetic energy is converted into thermal energy of the confined coronal plasma. As Parker proposed in 1988 rapid pulses called nanoflares are among the best candidate mechanisms of magnetic energy release. Nowadays a challenging problem is to obtain evidence that such nanoflares are really at work. If small energy discharges (nanoflares) contribute in some way to coronal heating, they could be too small and frequent to be resolved as independent events. In this case, we would need to search for indirect evidence. The idea of this work is that, if the solar corona emission is sustained by repeated nanoflares, locally the X-ray emission may not be entirely constant but may show variations around the mean intensity. So the nanoflares may leave their signature on the light curves. Many authors (Shimizu & Tsuneta 1997; Vekstein & Katsukawa 2000; Katsukawa & Tsuneta 2001; Katsukawa 2003; Sakamoto et al. 2008) pointed out that a detailed analysis of intensity fluctuations of the coronal X-ray emission could give us information on these smallest flares. Following this hint we use this approach for the first time on Hinode data, searching, with statistical analysis, for small but systematic variability in noisy background light curves and their link to coronal heating models.

Terzo, S.↗
NASA NTRS1959

Analysis of Turbulent Flow and Heat Transfer on a Flat Plate at High Mach Numbers with Variable Fluid Properties

A previous analysis of turbulent heat transfer and flow with variable fluid properties in smooth passages is extended to flow over a flat plate at high Mach numbers, and the results are compared with experimental data. Velocity and temperature distributions are calculated for a boundary layer with appreciative effects of frictional heating and external heat transfer. Viscosity and thermal conductivity are assumed to vary as a power or the temperature, while Prandtl number and specific heat are taken as constant. Skin-friction and heat-transfer coefficients are calculated and compared with the incompressible values. The rate of boundary-layer growth is obtained for various Mach numbers.

Deissler, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Problems and programming for analysis of IUE high resolution data for variability

Observations of variability in stellar winds provide an important probe of their dynamics. It is crucial however to know that any variability seen in a data set can be clearly attributed to the star and not to instrumental or data processing effects. In the course of analysis of IUE high resolution data of alpha Cam and other O, B and Wolf-Rayet stars several effects were found which cause spurious variability or spurious spectral features in our data. Programming was developed to partially compensate for these effects using the Interactive Data language (IDL) on the LASP PDP 11/34. Use of an interactive language such as IDL is particularly suited to analysis of variability data as it permits use of efficient programs coupled with the judgement of the scientist at each stage of processing.

Grady, C. A.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Hydrological analysis in watersheds with a variable-resolution global climate model (VR-CESM)

Traditionally, watershed-scale hydrology is simulated by distributed hydrological models with offline meteorological forcing data, or by regional regional climate models that link atmospheric and land hydrology interactions. Global climate models (GCMs) are rarely used to study watershed-scale hydrology due to the relatively coarse grid resolution, computationally expensive downscaling, and simplified physical processes. Recently, however, watershed-scale hydrology analysis has become possible in GCMs due to the development of variable-resolution GCMs that dynamically couple the hydrological processes between atmosphere and land systems at fine resolutions in selected regions and coarse resolution elsewhere. In this study, we used the variable-resolution Community Earth System Model (VR-CESM) with refined-resolution (14 km) in the western U.S. and eastern China to evaluate watershed-scale hydrology. Furthermore, we compared the historical VR-CESM outputs with gauge measurements and other hydrological models (e.g., National Water Model in the U.S.) and calibrated the subsurface runoff capacities in four mountainous watersheds. An RCP8.5 projection from 2007 to 2050 is used to estimate the impact of changing precipitation and snow climatology on watershed hydrology. We also analyzed the long-term runoff variability and the possibility of extreme runoff events as simulated by the VR-CESM. Although calibration is not possible in larger-scale watersheds, VR-CESM simulates the long-term annual variability of watersheds and provides insights on climate change impacts on hydrology. We conclude that refined-resolution VR-CESM can be used for watershed-scale hydrology analysis to understand water resources and water balance, in addition to traditional watershed-scale hydrological models. It enables hydrological analysis at multiple watersheds in one simulation and can help understand the two-way dynamics between land surface hydrology and atmospheric processes, and is especially practical for projecting climate change impacts. However, it is challenging to apply VR-CESM for hydrologic analysis in regulated watersheds as human factors (e.g., pumping, irrigation, water diversion) have not been fully addressed in VR-CESM.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2001

A Unified Development of Basis Reduction Methods for Rotor Blade Analysis

The axial foreshortening effect plays a key role in rotor blade dynamics, but approximating it accurately in reduced basis models has long posed a difficult problem for analysts. Recently, though, several methods have been shown to be effective in obtaining accurate,reduced basis models for rotor blades. These methods are the axial elongation method,the mixed finite element method, and the nonlinear normal mode method. The main objective of this paper is to demonstrate the close relationships among these methods, which are seemingly disparate at first glance. First, the difficulties inherent in obtaining reduced basis models of rotor blades are illustrated by examining the modal reduction accuracy of several blade analysis formulations. It is shown that classical, displacement-based finite elements are ill-suited for rotor blade analysis because they can't accurately represent the axial strain in modal space, and that this problem may be solved by employing the axial force as a variable in the analysis. It is shown that the mixed finite element method is a convenient means for accomplishing this, and the derivation of a mixed finite element for rotor blade analysis is outlined. A shortcoming of the mixed finite element method is that is that it increases the number of variables in the analysis. It is demonstrated that this problem may be rectified by solving for the axial displacements in terms of the axial forces and the bending displacements. Effectively, this procedure constitutes a generalization of the widely used axial elongation method to blades of arbitrary topology. The procedure is developed first for a single element, and then extended to an arbitrary assemblage of elements of arbitrary type. Finally, it is shown that the generalized axial elongation method is essentially an approximate solution for an invariant manifold that can be used as the basis for a nonlinear normal mode.

Ruzicka, Gene C.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Seyfert galaxy ultraviolet emission-line intensities and variability - A self-consistent photoionization analysis applied to broad-line-emitting gas in NGC 3783

Well-constrained photoionization models for the Seyfert I galaxy NGC 3783 are developed. Both cross-correlation analyses and line variability trends with varying ionizing radiation flux require a multicomponent picture. All the data for He II 1640 A, C IV 1549 A, and semiforbidden C III 1909 A can be reasonably well reproduced by two cloud components. One has a source-cloud distance of 24 lt-days, gas density around 3 x 10 exp 10/cu cm, ionization parameter range of 0.04-0.2, and cloud thickness such that about half of the carbon is doubly ionized and about half is triply ionized. The other component is located approximately 96 lt-days from the source, is shielded from the source by the inner cloud, has a density about 3 x 10 to the 9th/cu cm, and is characterized by an ionization parameter range of 0.001-0.03, The cloud thickness is such that about 45 percent carbon is doubly ionized and about 55 percent is singly ionized.

Koratkar, Anuradha P.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Space sickness predictors suggest fluid shift involvement and possible countermeasures

Preflight data from 64 first time Shuttle crew members were examined retrospectively to predict space sickness severity (NONE, MILD, MODERATE, or SEVERE) by discriminant analysis. From 9 input variables relating to fluid, electrolyte, and cardiovascular status, 8 variables were chosen by discriminant analysis that correctly predicted space sickness severity with 59 pct. success by one method of cross validation on the original sample and 67 pct. by another method. The 8 variables in order of their importance for predicting space sickness severity are sitting systolic blood pressure, serum uric acid, calculated blood volume, serum phosphate, urine osmolality, environmental temperature at the launch site, red cell count, and serum chloride. These results suggest the presence of predisposing physiologic factors to space sickness that implicate a fluid shift etiology. Addition of a 10th input variable, hours spent in the Weightless Environment Training Facility (WETF), improved the prediction of space sickness severity to 66 pct. success by the first method of cross validation on the original sample and to 71 pct. by the second method. The data suggest that WETF training may reduce space sickness severity.

Simanonok, K. E.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Machine-learning identification of the variability of mean velocity and turbulence intensity for wakes generated by onshore wind turbines: Cluster analysis of wind LiDAR measurements

Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) measurements of isolated wakes generated by wind turbines installed at an onshore wind farm are leveraged to characterize the variability of the wake mean velocity and turbulence intensity during typical operations, which encompass a breadth of atmospheric stability regimes and rotor thrust coefficients. The LiDAR measurements are clustered through the k-means algorithm, which enables identifying the most representative realizations of wind turbine wakes while avoiding the imposition of thresholds for the various wind and turbine parameters. Considering the large number of LiDAR samples collected to probe the wake velocity field, the dimensionality of the experimental dataset is reduced by projecting the LiDAR data on an intelligently truncated basis obtained with the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD). The coefficients of only five physics-informed POD modes are then injected in the k-means algorithm for clustering the LiDAR dataset. The analysis of the clustered LiDAR data and the associated supervisory control and data acquisition and meteorological data enables the study of the variability of the wake velocity deficit, wake extent, and wake-added turbulence intensity for different thrust coefficients of the turbine rotor and regimes of atmospheric stability. Furthermore, the cluster analysis of the LiDAR data allows for the identification of systematic off-design operations with a certain yaw misalignment of the turbine rotor with the mean wind direction.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1988

Statistical error analysis in CCD time-resolved photometry with applications to variable stars and quasars

Differential photometric time series obtained from CCD frames are tested for intrinsic variability using a newly developed analysis of variance technique. In general, the objects used for differential photometry will not all be of equal magnitude, so the techniques derived here explicitly correct for differences in the measured variances due to photon statistics. Other random-noise terms are also considered. The technique tests for the presence of intrinsic variability without regard to its random or periodic nature. It is then applied to observations of the variable stars ZZ Ceti and US 943 and the active extragalactic objects OQ 530, US 211, US 844, LB 9743, and OJ 287.

Howell, Steve B.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Variability of African Farming Systems from Phenological Analysis of NDVI Time Series

Food security exists when people have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food at all times to meet their dietary needs. The natural resource base is one of the many factors affecting food security. Its variability and decline creates problems for local food production. In this study we characterize for sub-Saharan Africa vegetation phenology and assess variability and trends of phenological indicators based on NDVI time series from 1982 to 2006. We focus on cumulated NDVI over the season (cumNDVI) which is a proxy for net primary productivity. Results are aggregated at the level of major farming systems, while determining also spatial variability within farming systems. High temporal variability of cumNDVI occurs in semiarid and subhumid regions. The results show a large area of positive cumNDVI trends between Senegal and South Sudan. These correspond to positive CRU rainfall trends found and relate to recovery after the 1980's droughts. We find significant negative cumNDVI trends near the south-coast of West Africa (Guinea coast) and in Tanzania. For each farming system, causes of change and variability are discussed based on available literature (Appendix A). Although food security comprises more than the local natural resource base, our results can perform an input for food security analysis by identifying zones of high variability or downward trends. Farming systems are found to be a useful level of analysis. Diversity and trends found within farming system boundaries underline that farming systems are dynamic.

Vrieling, Anton↗
NASA NTRS2002

A geostatistical analysis of small-scale spatial variability in bacterial abundance and community structure in salt marsh creek bank sediments

Small-scale variations in bacterial abundance and community structure were examined in salt marsh sediments from Virginia's eastern shore. Samples were collected at 5 cm intervals (horizontally) along a 50 cm elevation gradient, over a 215 cm horizontal transect. For each sample, bacterial abundance was determined using acridine orange direct counts and community structure was analyzed using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA fingerprinting of whole-community DNA extracts. A geostatistical analysis was used to determine the degree of spatial autocorrelation among the samples, for each variable and each direction (horizontal and vertical). The proportion of variance in bacterial abundance that could be accounted for by the spatial model was quite high (vertical: 60%, horizontal: 73%); significant autocorrelation was found among samples separated by 25 cm in the vertical direction and up to 115 cm horizontally. In contrast, most of the variability in community structure was not accounted for by simply considering the spatial separation of samples (vertical: 11%, horizontal: 22%), and must reflect variability from other parameters (e.g., variation at other spatial scales, experimental error, or environmental heterogeneity). Microbial community patch size based upon overall similarity in community structure varied between 17 cm (vertical) and 35 cm (horizontal). Overall, variability due to horizontal position (distance from the creek bank) was much smaller than that due to vertical position (elevation) for both community properties assayed. This suggests that processes more correlated with elevation (e.g., drainage and redox potential) vary at a smaller scale (therefore producing smaller patch sizes) than processes controlled by distance from the creek bank. c2002 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRS2013

Global Weather States and Their Properties from Passive and Active Satellite Cloud Retrievals

In this study, the authors apply a clustering algorithm to International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) cloud optical thickness-cloud top pressure histograms in order to derive weather states (WSs) for the global domain. The cloud property distribution within each WS is examined and the geographical variability of each WS is mapped. Once the global WSs are derived, a combination of CloudSat and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) vertical cloud structure retrievals is used to derive the vertical distribution of the cloud field within each WS. Finally, the dynamic environment and the radiative signature of the WSs are derived and their variability is examined. The cluster analysis produces a comprehensive description of global atmospheric conditions through the derivation of 11 WSs, each representing a distinct cloud structure characterized by the horizontal distribution of cloud optical depth and cloud top pressure. Matching those distinct WSs with cloud vertical profiles derived from CloudSat and CALIPSO retrievals shows that the ISCCP WSs exhibit unique distributions of vertical layering that correspond well to the horizontal structure of cloud properties. Matching the derived WSs with vertical velocity measurements shows a normal progression in dynamic regime when moving from the most convective to the least convective WS. Time trend analysis of the WSs shows a sharp increase of the fair-weather WS in the 1990s and a flattening of that increase in the 2000s. The fact that the fair-weather WS is the one with the lowest cloud radiative cooling capability implies that this behavior has contributed excess radiative warming to the global radiative budget during the 1990s.

histograms↗
NASA NTRS1988

Analysis of long term heart rate variability: methods, 1/f scaling and implications

The use of spectral techniques to quantify short term heart rate fluctuations on the order of seconds to minutes has helped define the autonomic contributions to beat-to-beat control of heart rate. We used similar techniques to quantify the entire spectrum (0.00003-1.0 Hz) of heart rate variability during 24 hour ambulatory ECG monitoring. The ECG from standard Holter monitor recordings from normal subjects was sampled with the use of a phase locked loop, and a heart rate time series was constructed at 3 Hz. Frequency analysis of the heart rate signal was performed after a nonlinear filtering algorithm was used to eliminate artifacts. A power spectrum of the entire 24 hour record revealed power that was inversely proportional to frequency, 1/f, over 4 decades from 0.00003 to 0.1 Hz (period approximately 10 hours to 10 seconds). Displaying consecutive spectra calculated at 5 minute intervals revealed marked variability in the peaks at all frequencies throughout the 24 hours, probably accounting for the lack of distinct peaks in the spectra of the entire records.

Non-NASA Center↗
DOE OSTI2024

AutoCheck: Automatically Identifying Variables for Checkpointing by Data Dependency Analysis

Checkpoint/Restart (C/R) has been widely deployed in numerous HPC systems, Clouds, and industrial data centers, which are typically operated by system engineers. Nevertheless, there is no existing approach that helps system engineers without domain expertise and domain scientists without system fault tolerance knowledge identify those critical variables accounted for correct application execution restoration in a failure for C/R. To address this problem, we propose an analytical model and a tool (AutoCheck) that can automatically identify critical variables to checkpoint for C/R. AutoCheck relies on first, analytically tracking and optimizing data dependency between variables and other application execution state, and second, a set of heuristics that identify critical variables for checkpointing from the refined data dependency graph (DDG). AutoCheck allows programmers to pinpoint critical variables to checkpoint quickly within a few minutes. We evaluate AutoCheck on 13 representative HPC benchmarks, demonstrating that AutoCheck can efficiently identify correct critical variables to checkpoint.

HPC↗
NASA NTRS1994

Advanced support systems development and supporting technologies for Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS)

A methyl acetate reactor was developed to perform a subscale kinetic investigation in the design and optimization of a full-scale metabolic simulator for long term testing of life support systems. Other tasks in support of the closed ecological life support system test program included: (1) heating, ventilation and air conditioning analysis of a variable pressure growth chamber, (2) experimental design for statistical analysis of plant crops, (3) resource recovery for closed life support systems, and (4) development of data acquisition software for automating an environmental growth chamber.

Simon, William E.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Spinning-Up: The Case of the Symbiotic X-Ray Binary 3A 1954+319

We present a timing and spectral analysis of the variable X-ray source 3A 1954+319, Our analysis is mainly based on an outburst serendipitously observed during INTEGRAL Key Program observations of the Cygnus region in 2008 fall and on the Swift/BAT longterm light curve, Previous observations, though sparse, have identified the source to be one of only nine known symbiotic X-ray binaries, i.e., systems composed of an accreting neutron star orbiting in a highly inhomogeneous medium around an M-giant companion. The spectrum of 3A 1954+319 above 20 keY can be best described by a broken power law model. The extremely long pulse period of approx.5.3 hours is clearly visible in the INTEGRAL/ISGRI light curve and confirmed through an epoch folding period search. Furthermore, the light curve allows us to determine a very strong spin up of -2x10(exp 4)h/h during the outburst. This spin up is confirmed by the pulse period evolution calculated from Swift/BAT data. The Swift/BAT data also show a long spin-down trend prior to the 2008 outburst. which is confirmed in archival INTEGRAL/ISGRI data. We discuss possible accretion models and geometries allowing for the transfer of such large amounts of angular momentum and investigate the harder spectrum of this outburst compared to previously published results.

Fuerst, F.↗