Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “numerical modelling”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 307 records · Page 17
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

Time-dependent numerical modeling of dust halo formation at comets

The evolution of gas and dust distributions following a spatially and temporally localized comet outburst was calculated using a hybrid kinetic-hydrodynamic method. In the inner coma the time-dependent continuity, momentum, and energy equations of the dusty gas flow were solved simultaneously using 12 dust sizes. Beyond 300 km a three-dimensional kinetic model was used to calculate the trajectory of each individual dust grain. It was found that following the onset of the comet outburst a gas-dust blast wave propagates outward in the inner coma. About 15 minutes after the increased gas and dust production was initiated at the nucleus, a new equilibrium was reached in the inner coma. The most important feature of this new steady state was the significant increase of the dust terminal velocities. These higher terminal velocity values resulted in larger apex distances for dust particles emitted during the outburst. The dust particles spend a relatively long time near their apex points; therefore, the outburst generates long-lasting distinct dust envelopes in front of the regular dust coma.

Gombosi, T. I.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Numerical modeling of the vortex/airfoil interaction

A modeling of the vortex-airfoil interaction is presented in which the finite-area of the real vortices is taken into consideration. Two vortex models are used. In the first, a disturbed piece of vorticity layer is simulated by four rows of discrete vortices of small strength. In the second, a number of discrete vortices is arranged within a circle. The first model may simulate a shear layer or a wake, while the second, a well-formed vortex. The method was applied to the calculation of the pressure induced on the surface of the airfoil by the interacting vortex. Both models give similar results. It was found that for large distances of the vortex from the surface of the airfoil, the consideration or not of the finite-area of the vortex is not a significant factor in determining the induced pressure field. However, when the distance of the vortex from the surface is reduced, its shape is distorted and the induced pressure pulses have lower amplitude than the ones induced by an equivalent point vortex. In the limit, where the vortex impinges on the leading edge of the airfoil, it is split into two and the time dependent pressure coefficient takes even negative values at some time intervals.

Panaras, Argyris G.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Numerical modeling of proton and electron bursts in a realistic magnetotail

Particle trajectories of the magnetotail ion and electron bursts were simulated using the Beard-Hirschi-Propp (1982) magnetic field model and data generated by IMP 8. Particle trajectories were computed both in the absence of the electric field, and with electric field introduced locally perpendicular to the magnetic field. The results indicate that the motions of energetic particles near the nominal neutral sheet can be divided into two types. Proton and electron parallel trajectories have most of their trajectory motion parallel to the magnetic field lines and travel long distances along field lines. Perpendicular particle trajectories travel much shorter distances with much of the trajectory motion perpendicular to the magnetic field and with proton trajectories interacting with the neutral sheet region. Only the premidnight trajectories connect to reasonable source locations, which explains the preferential occurrence of earthward energetic proton burst anisotropies in the premidnight sector.

Kutchko, Frank J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

A numerical modeling study of a Montana thunderstorm. I - Model results versus observations involving nonelectrical aspects. II - Model results versus observations involving electrical aspects

Model results and the observed cloud behavior are examined in terms of nonelectrical and electrical aspects of a thunderstorm. The characteristics of the two-dimensional, time-dependent atmospheric electricity model used to simulate the cloud observations of July 19, 1981 in Miles City, Montana are described. The interactions of the dynamics and microphysics of the cloud with the charge separation mechanisms are analyzed. It is observed that the model accurately represents many of the observed characteristics of the cloud; however, the cloud base height, maximum liquid water content, and the time from first formation of precipitation until it reaches the ground are not accurately modeled. It is found that the model adequately represents the electrical field structure of the cloud and the electrical field strengths.

Helsdon, John H., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Comments on the challenge of using mesoscale data in mesoscale numerical models

The dangers of addressing the initialization issues for limited-area mesoscale models by extending the lessons learned during the development of global analysis and prediction systems are discussed. Lack of impact with data inserts at one time suggests that the lateral boundary conditions imposed on the limited-area models might force the model simulation toward a preferred solution, work against the new data being inserted into the model and, therefore, limit the potential impact that this data can have on the model system. The second potential pitfall involves the imposition of balance constraints on the data that are being inserted into the model to compute winds from temperature data and/or temperature from wind data.

Uccellini, Louis W.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Numerical modelling of the classical nova outburst

A mechanism is described that promises to explain how nova outbursts take place on white dwarf of 1 solar mass or less and for accretion rates of 4 x 10 to the -10 solar mass/yr or greater.

Kutter, G. S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

A Numerical Model of Unsteady, Subsonic Aeroelastic Behavior

A method for predicting unsteady, subsonic aeroelastic responses was developed. The technique accounts for aerodynamic nonlinearities associated with angles of attack, vortex-dominated flow, static deformations, and unsteady behavior. The fluid and the wing together are treated as a single dynamical system, and the equations of motion for the structure and flow field are integrated simultaneously and interactively in the time domain. The method employs an iterative scheme based on a predictor-corrector technique. The aerodynamic loads are computed by the general unsteady vortex-lattice method and are determined simultaneously with the motion of the wing. Because the unsteady vortex-lattice method predicts the wake as part of the solution, the history of the motion is taken into account; hysteresis is predicted. Two models are used to demonstrate the technique: a rigid wing on an elastic support experiencing plunge and pitch about the elastic axis, and an elastic wing rigidly supported at the root chord experiencing spanwise bending and twisting. The method can be readily extended to account for structural nonlinearities and/or substitute aerodynamic load models. The time domain solution coupled with the unsteady vortex-lattice method provides the capability of graphically depicting wing and wake motion.

Strganac, Thomas W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The use of available potential energy to evaluate the impact of satellite data on numerical model analysis during FGGE

To evaluate the effect of the FGGE satellite observing system, the following two data sets were compared by examining the available potential energy (APE) and extratropical cyclone activity within the entire global domain during the first Special Observing Period: (1) the complete FGGE IIIb set, which incorporates satellite soundings, and (2) a NOSAT set which incorporates only conventional data. The time series of the daily total APEs indicate that NOSAT values are larger than the FGGE values, although in the Northern Hemisphere the differences are negligible. Analyses of cyclone scale features revealed only minor differences between the Northern Hemisphere FGGE and NOSAT analyses. On the other hand, substantial differences were revealed in the two Southern Hemisphere analyses, where the satellite soundings apparently add detail to the FGGE set.

Horn, Lyle H.↗
NASA NTRS1987

A numerical model for supersonic reacting mixing layers

A current research effort is underway at the NASA Langley Research Center to achieve a detailed understanding of important phenomena present when a supersonic flow undergoes a chemical reaction. A computer program has been developed to study the details of such flows. The program has been constructed to consider the multicomponent diffusion and convection of important species, the finite-rate reaction of these species, and the resulting interaction between the fluid mechanics and chemistry. Code results from the analysis of a spatially developing and reacting mixing layer are presented, and conclusions are drawn regarding the structure of the evolving layer and its associated flame.

Drummond, J. Philip↗
NASA NTRS1988

Review and assessment of the database and numerical modeling for turbine heat transfer

The objectives of the HOST Turbine Heat Transfer subproject were to obtain a better understanding of the physics of the aerothermodynamic phenomena and to assess and improve the analytical methods used to predict the flow and heat transfer in high-temperature gas turbines. At the time the HOST project was initiated, an across-the-board improvement in turbine design technology was needed. A building-block approach was utilized and the research ranged from the study of fundamental phenomena and modeling to experiments in simulated real engine environments. Experimental research accounted for approximately 75 percent of the funding while the analytical efforts were approximately 25 percent. A healthy government/industry/university partnership, with industry providing almost half of the research, was created to advance the turbine heat transfer design technology base.

Gladden, H. J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Review and assessment of the database and numerical modeling for turbine heat transfer

The objectives of the NASA Hot Section Technology (HOST) Turbine Heat Transfer subproject were to obtain a better understanding of the physics of the aerothermodynamic phenomena and to assess and improve the analytical methods used to predict the flow and heat transfer in high-temperature gas turbines. At the time the HOST project was initiated, an across-the-board improvement in turbine design technology was needed. A building-block approach was utilized and the research ranged from the study of fundamental phenomena and modeling to experiments in simulated real engine environments. Experimental research accounted for approximately 75 percent of the funding while the analytical efforts were approximately 25 percent. A healthy government/industry/university partnership, with industry providing almost half of the research, was created to advance the turbine heat transfer design technology base.

H J Gladden↗
NASA NTRS1988

Space shuttle main engine numerical modeling code modifications and analysis

The user of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes must be concerned with the accuracy and efficiency of the codes if they are to be used for timely design and analysis of complicated three-dimensional fluid flow configurations. A brief discussion of how accuracy and efficiency effect the CFD solution process is given. A more detailed discussion of how efficiency can be enhanced by using a few Cray Research Inc. utilities to address vectorization is presented and these utilities are applied to a three-dimensional Navier-Stokes CFD code (INS3D).

Ziebarth, John P.↗
NASA NTRS1988

A numerical model for gravity wave dissipation in the thermosphere

Two simplified models have been developed for the internal gravity wave dissipation due to viscosity, thermal conduction, and ion-drag in a multilayered, isothermal thermosphere. Both models use the WKB approximation, ray theory, and the time-averaged equations of gravity wave energy conservation. One model uses all the equations appropriate to a dissipative atmosphere, while the other uses the dispersion equation and polarization relations applicable to a nondissipative atmosphere, neglecting the viscous and thermal conduction contributions to the energy flux. Results from these models are compared to each other and to the results obtained by Klostermeyer (1973), using a full-wave model.

Hickey, M. P.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Tersail - A numerical model for combined analysis of vegetation canopy bidirectional reflectance and thermal emissions

A modification of the Tergra model (Soer, 1977) is presented, which incorporates the scattering from arbitrarily inclined leaves canopy reflectance model (Verhoef and Bunnik, 1981) for the calculation of albedo and canopy resistance. The combined model, known as Tersail, is capable of simulating the relationship between the bidirectional reflectance and the thermal response of a canopy. The accuracy of the model is tested using data over wheat canopies in Phoenix, Arizona, showing that the model is a good simulator of canopy temperatures under a variety of conditions.

Hope, Allen S.↗
NASA NTRS1989

A numerical model of electrodynamics of plasma within the contaminant gas cloud of the Space Shuttle Orbiter at low earth orbit

A two-dimensional cloud was used to study the plasma dynamics within the outgas cloud associated with the Orbiter. It is shown that the polarization field is not symmetric about the direction of motion of the outgas cloud. It rotates in a way that can be predicted in simple cases by the ratio of the Hall and Pederson currents within the outgas cloud. The polarization field magnitude produced in the model was not large.

Eccles, J. Vincent↗
NASA NTRS1989

A three-dimensional numerical model of ionospheric plasma in the magnetosphere

A three-dimensional particle trajectory tracing in empirical models of the geoelectric and geomagnetic fields is used to study the ionospheric contribution to magnetospheric plasma. Various ionospheric outflows are examined and results on ion transport are presented in terms of density, composition, and energy. Results are presented for two opposite magnetospheric configurations, ground state and storm phases. An estimate of the contribution of ionospheric O(+) to the hot plasma sheet is given. The simulation results are compared with observational data.

Delcourt, D. C.↗
NASA NTRS1989

An investigation of resonant waves in a numerical model of an observed sudden stratospheric warming

A global quasi-linear time-dependent model that is able to represent the interaction of a single planetary Rossby wave with the zonal flow is used to investigate several questions concerning the role of resonance in the major stratospheric warming of February 1979. Special attention is given to the examination of the degree of dependence of the warming development on the phase speed of the wave and the initial mean flow. The results indicate that the preconditioning occurred early in the month, just after the minor sudden warming around February 5-7, and that a fairly broad range of eastward traveling phase speeds was capable of generating a warming. The model sensitivity tests indicate that the warming simulation has a weak dependence on the frequency of wave forcing and on the day used for initializing the basic state.

Smith, Anne K.↗