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At least 307 records · Page 17

High resolution frequency to time domain transformations applied to the stepped carrier MRIS measurements

Two narrow-band radar systems are developed for high resolution target range estimation in inhomogeneous media. They are reformulations of two presently existing systems such that high resolution target range estimates may be achieved despite the use of narrow bandwidth radar pulses. A double sideband suppressed carrier radar technique originally derived in 1962, and later abandoned due to its inability to accurately measure target range in the presence of an interfering reflection, is rederived to incorporate the presence of an interfering reflection. The new derivation shows that the interfering reflection causes a period perturbation in the measured phase response. A high resolution spectral estimation technique is used to extract the period of this perturbation leading to accurate target range estimates independent of the signal-to-interference ratio. A non-linear optimal signal processing algorithm is derived for a frequency-stepped continuous wave radar system. The resolution enhancement offered by optimal signal processing of the data over the conventional Fourier Transform technique is clearly demonstrated using measured radar data. A method for modeling plane wave propagation in inhomogeneous media based on transmission line theory is derived and studied. Several simulation results including measurement of non-uniform electron plasma densities that develop near the heat tiles of a space re-entry vehicle are presented which verify the validity of the model.

Ardalan, Sasan H.↗

Vorticity equation for MHD fast waves in geospace environment

The MHD vorticity equation is modified in order to apply it to nonlinear MHD fast waves or shocks when their extent along the magnetic field is limited. Field-aligned current (FAC) generation is also discussed on the basis of this modified vorticity equation. When the wave normal is not aligned to the finite velocity convection and the source region is spatially limited, a longitudinal polarization causes a pair of plus and minus charges inside the compressional plane waves or shocks, generating a pair of FACs. This polarization is not related to the separation between the electrons and ions caused by their difference in mass, a separation which is inherent to compressional waves. The resultant double field-aligned current structure exists both with and without the contributions from curvature drift, which is questionable in terms of its contribution to vorticity change from the viewpoint of single-particle motion.

Yamauchi, M.↗

A reflection ansatz for surfaces with electrically small radii of curvature

Uniform reflection coefficients are developed for two- and three-dimensional, edge-like, perfectly conducting surfaces in the deep lit region. The uniformity is with respect to the electrical size of the radii of curvature at the surface's specular point. This uniformity allows one to physically interpret the reflected field from a smooth surface as one of the radii of curvature approaches zero as a diffracted field. The coefficients are heuristically generated from the exact scattered field for a two dimensional parabolic cylinder with plane wave illumination. The significant variables in this solution are the radii of curvature at the specular point and the distance between the specular point and the incident shadow boundaries in the principal planes. The field prediction accuracy of these reflection cofficients are critically examined through comparisons with reflected fields extracted from scattered fields of canonical surfaces.

Dominek, Allen K.↗

Transmission of sound from a nozzle carrying a compressible subsonic flow

The effect of an aperture on an impinging plane wave in a duct is extended to the case where the duct carries a compressible mean flow. The effect of the mean flow is to induce the closing mechanical impedance to have a significant resistive component in addition to the reactive component due to the 'attached mass' effect. The effect of the reactive load on the aperture is shown to be especially important for large contraction ratios. Of special interest is the acoustic particle velocity at the exit plane of the aperture. This is the 'piston velocity' that drives the spherical acoustic waves in the far field. The effect of aperture geometry on the piston velocity is established, and a criterion for minimum acoustic radiation is presented. An experimental arrangement for measuring the piston velocity with a hot-wire anemometer is described.

Davis, S. S.↗

Dirichlet-type absorbing boundary conditions for peridynamic scalar waves in two-dimensional viscous media

Construction of absorbing boundary conditions (ABCs) for nonlocal models is generally challenging, primarily due to the fact that nonlocal operators are commonly associated with volume constrained boundary conditions. Moreover, application of Fourier and Laplace transforms, which are essential for the majority of available methods for ABCs, to nonlocal models is complicated. In this paper, we propose a simple method to construct accurate ABCs for peridynamic scalar wave-type problems in viscous media. The proposed ABCs are constructed in the time and space domains and are of Dirichlet type. Consequently, their implementation is relatively simple, since no derivatives of the wave field are required. The proposed ABCs are derived at the continuum level, from a semi-analytical solution of the exterior domain using harmonic exponential basis functions in space and time (plane-wave modes). The numerical implementation is done using a meshfree collocation approach employed within a boundary layer adjacent to the interior domain boundary. The modes satisfy the peridynamic numerical dispersion relation, resulting in a compatible solution of the interior region (near-field) with that of the exterior region (far-field). The accuracy and stability of the proposed ABCs are demonstrated with several numerical examples in two-dimensional unbounded domains.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Effects of refraction by means flow velocity gradients on the standing wave pattern in three-dimensional, rectangular waveguides

The influence of a mean vortical flow on the connection between the standing wave pattern in a rectangular three dimensional waveguide and the corresponding duct axial impedance was determined analytically. The solution was derived using a perturbation scheme valid for low mean flow Mach numbers and plane wave sound frequencies. The results show that deviations of the standing wave pattern due to refraction by the mean flow gradients are small.

Hersh, A. S.↗

Radar polarimetry for geoscience applications

The present volume on radar polarimetry for geoscience applications discusses wave properties and polarization, scattering matrix representation for simple targets, scattering models for point and distributed targets, polarimetric scatterometer systems and measurements, polarimetric radar system design, and polarimetric SAR applications. Attention is given to plane waves in a lossless homogeneous medium-wave polarization, polarization synthesis and response, and coordinate system transformations. Topics addressed include high- and low-frequency scattering, rough-surface scattering models, radiative transfer theory and deficiencies thereof, solutions for the radiative transfer equation, and a radiative transfer model for a forest canopy. Also discussed are network analyzer-based polarimetric scatterometers, calibration of polarimetric scatterometers, synthesized polarization response of distributed targets, and measurement of the propagation parameters of a forest canopy.

Ulaby, Fawwaz T.↗

On a method computing transient wave propagation in ionospheric regions

A consequence of an exoatmospheric nuclear burst is an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) radiated from it. In a region far enough away from the burst, where nonlinear effects can be ignored, the EMP can be represented by a large-amplitude narrow-time-width plane-wave pulse. If the ionosphere intervenes the origin and destination of the EMP, frequency dispersion can cause significant changes in the original pulse upon reception. A method of computing these dispersive effects of transient wave propagation is summarized. The method described is different from the standard transform techniques and provides physical insight into the transient wave process. The method, although exact, can be used in approximating the early-time transient response of an ionospheric region by a simple integration with only explicit knowledge of the electron density, electron collision frequency, and electron gyrofrequency required. As an illustration of the method, it is applied to a simple example and contrasted with the corresponding transform solution.

Gray, K. G.↗

Impressed Sources and Fields in the Volume-Integral-Equation Formulation of Electromagnetic Scattering by a Finite Object: A Tutorial

Although free space cannot generate electromagnetic waves, the majority of existing accounts of frequency-domain electromagnetic scattering by particles and particle groups are based on the postulate of existence of an impressed incident field, usually in the form of a plane wave. In this tutorial we discuss how to account for the actual existence of impressed source currents rather than impressed incident fields. Specifically, we outline a self-consistent theoretical formalism describing electromagnetic scattering by an arbitrary finite object in the presence of arbitrarily distributed impressed currents, some of which can be far removed from the object and some can reside in its vicinity, including inside the object. To make the resulting formalism applicable to a wide range of scattering-object morphologies, we use the framework of the volume integral equation formulation of electromagnetic scattering, couple it with the notion of the transition operator, and exploit the fundamental symmetry property of this operator. Among novel results, this tutorial includes a streamlined proof of fundamental symmetry (reciprocity) relations, a simplified derivation of the Foldy equations, and an explicit analytical expression for the transition operator of a multi-component scattering object.

Symmetry relations↗

Peridynamic elastic waves in two-dimensional unbounded domains: Construction of nonlocal Dirichlet-type absorbing boundary conditions

The focus of this paper is on application of peridynamics (PD) to propagation of elastic waves in unbounded domains. We construct absorbing boundary conditions (ABCs) derived from a semi-analytical solution of the PD governing equation at the exterior region. This solution is made up of a finite series of plane waves, as fundamental solutions (modes), which satisfy the PD dispersion relations. The modes are adjusted to transmit the energy from the interior region (near field) to the exterior region (far field). The corresponding unknown coefficients of the series are found in terms of the displacement field at a layer of points adjacent to the absorbing boundary. This is accomplished through a collocation procedure at subregions (clouds) around each absorbing point. The proposed ABCs offer appealing advantages, which facilitate their application to PD. They are of Dirichlet-type, hence their implementation is relatively simple as no derivatives of the field variables are required. They are constructed in the time and space domains and thus application of Fourier and Laplace transforms, cumbersome for nonlocal models, is not required. At the discrete level, the modes satisfy the same numerical dispersion relations of the near field, which makes the far-field solution compatible with that of the near field. We scrutinize the performance of the proposed ABCs through several examples. So our investigation shows that the proposed ABCs perform stably in time with an appropriate level of accuracy even in problems characterized by highly-dispersive propagating waves, including crack propagation in semi-unbounded brittle solids.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Correspondence between discrete and continuous models of excitable media: trigger waves

We present a theoretical framework for relating continuous partial differential equation (PDE) models of excitable media to discrete cellular automata (CA) models on a randomized lattice. These relations establish a quantitative link between the CA model and the specific physical system under study. We derive expressions for the CA model's plane wave speed, critical curvature, and effective diffusion constant in terms of the model's internal parameters (the interaction radius, excitation threshold, and time step). We then equate these expressions to the corresponding quantities obtained from solution of the PDEs (for a fixed excitability). This yields a set of coupled equations with a unique solution for the required CA parameter values. Here we restrict our analysis to "trigger" wave solutions obtained in the limiting case of a two-dimensional excitable medium with no recovery processes. We tested the correspondence between our CA model and two PDE models (the FitzHugh-Nagumo medium and a medium with a "sawtooth" nonlinear reaction source) and found good agreement with the numerical solutions of the PDEs. Our results suggest that the behavior of trigger waves is actually controlled by a small number of parameters.

Non-NASA Center↗

Acoustic scattering by smooth elastic cylinders insonified by directional transceivers: Monostatic theory and experiments

A theoretical model for predicting the acoustic field scattered by an elastic cylinder that is partially insonified by a directional transceiver is proposed in the form of a simple approximate one-dimensional integral. This model accounts for spherical spreading and directivity of the incident waves and extends the formulation used in a preceding article by including effects due to oblique insonification of a long cylinder assuming negligible end-contributions. The scattered field of an infinitely long cylinder for obliquely incident plane waves and point receivers is used to approximate the apparent volume flow of cylinders partially insonified by directional transceivers. The scattered pressure that is derived using the apparent volume flow, in contrast to the previous formulation, is capable of predicting axially propagating guided wave resonances; these natural modes are excited, in addition to circumferential ones, at off-normal incident angles. The model is compared with exact numerical simulations and with previously published as well as new laboratory data. The analysis illustrates the different realistic effects associated with scattering from elastic cylinders insonified by a directional transceiver both theoretically and experimentally.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Reciprocity principle in duct acoustics

Various reciprocity relations in duct acoustics have been derived on the basis of the spatial reciprocity principle implied in Green's functions for linear waves. The derivation includes the reciprocity relations between mode conversion coefficients for reflection and transmission in nonuniform ducts, and the relation between the radiation of a mode from an arbitrarily terminated duct and the absorption of an externally incident plane wave by the duct. Such relations are well defined as long as the systems remain linear, regardless of acoustic properties of duct nonuniformities which cause the mode conversions.

Cho, Y. C.↗

Reciprocity principle in duct acoustics

Various reciprocity relations in duct acoustics have been derived on the basis of the spatial reciprocity principle implied in Green's functions for linear waves. The derivation includes the reciprocity relations between mode conversion coefficients for reflection and transmission in nonuniform ducts, and the relation between the radiation of a mode from an arbitrarily terminated duct and the absorption of an externally incident plane wave by the duct. Such relations are well defined as long as the systems remain linear, regardless of acoustic properties of duct nonuniformities which cause the mode conversions.

Cho, Y.-C.↗

Analytical and experimental investigation of the propagation and attenuation of sound in extended reaction lined ducts

Results are presented of an analytical and experimental study of the attenuation and propagation of harmonically excited sound waves in an extended reaction lined cylindrical duct. The duct geometry considered consisted of an annular outer region of bulk material surrounding an inner cylinder of air. The coupled wave equations governing the motion of the sound in both the inner and annular regions were solved numerically. The numerically predicted attenuation and propagation constants were in excellent agreement with measured values using Kevlar as the liner material for plane-wave mode (0,0) excitation over the frequency from 100 to 7,000 Hz. Although the numerical model was verified using Kevlar, it can be used with any fibrous constructed bulk liner. The results of this study demonstrate that a good start has been made on the numerical modelling of the acoustic performance of extended reaction liners.

Hersh, A. S.↗

Matrix-based, finite-difference algorithms for computational acoustics

A compact numerical algorithm is introduced for simulating multidimensional acoustic waves. The algorithm is expressed in terms of a set of matrix coefficients on a three-point spatial grid that approximates the acoustic wave equation with a discretization error of O(h exp 5). The method is based on tracking a local phase variable and its implementation suggests a convenient coordinate splitting along with natural intermediate boundary conditions. Results are presented for oblique plane waves and compared with other procedures. Preliminary computations of acoustic diffraction are also considered.

Davis, Sanford↗

On propagation of long waves in curved ducts.

Propagation of waves in curved ducts and pipes belong to the class of motion which is characterized by wave patterns totally different from those known in straight ducts or in unlimited space. The curvilinear boundaries are responsible for the appearance of a continuous standing radial wave which in turn affects the transmitted tangential waves. The purpose of this paper is to solve the problem of propagation of long acoustic waves in slightly and sharply bent ducts. This problem has been only partially analyzed by various authors. In this study two acoustic systems are considered which allow determination of the basic modes of motion and describe the transition and distortion of plane waves as they propagate down the curved channel. A detailed study of the behavior of waves in junctions between straight and curved ducts is also given. Solutions and expressions for principal modes of the wave are obtained by using the linearized equation of motion solved for its characteristic values. This original approach required a novel use of Bessel functions to determine the characteristic values of the steady and the decaying fields of motion.

Rostafinski, W.↗