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At least 307 records · Page 17

Error bounds for multi-h phase codes

Upper and lower bounds for the probability of a decoding error event and for symbol error probability are developed for the class of time-varying phase codes known as multi-h codes. The effect of finite decoder memory is also treated. The analysis is illustrated with numerical examples, and simulation results are compared.

Wilson, S. G.↗

NASA's oceanic remote sensing plans for the 1980's

An overview of NASA's oceanic remote sensing plans is given, focusing on an attempt to obtain time-varying three-dimensional structure data of the ocean. The first mission is the National Oceanic Satellite System, which is designed to perform an operational demonstration of global sea surface monitoring for NOAA and DOD. TOPEX is the second mission, and it is designed to observe the surface topography of the ocean in order to determine the absolute geostrophic velocity field of the ocean. The third mission, Ocean SAR, has not been defined, but the areas of physical interpretation of oceanic imagery, selection of optimal frequency and depression angle for specific observational needs, and real-time image processing must be considered. It is hoped that oceanic satellite missions will be optimally exploited by the end of the decade.

Wilson, W. S.↗

Instrument Measures Airflow Friction Without Contact

Dual beam laser interferometer determines airflow friction against body by measuring time-varying thickness of wind sheared oil film. Measurements yield skin friction between film and airstream. Errors from prerun oil flow, tunnel starting transients, and initial surface waves therefore eliminated.

Monson, D. J.↗

Verification and transfer of thermal pollution model. Volume 2: User's manual for 3-dimensional free-surface model

The six-volume report: describes the theory of a three-dimensional (3-D) mathematical thermal discharge model and a related one-dimensional (1-D) model, includes model verification at two sites, and provides a separate user's manual for each model. The 3-D model has two forms: free surface and rigid lid. The former, verified at Anclote Anchorage (FL), allows a free air/water interface and is suited for significant surface wave heights compared to mean water depth; e.g., estuaries and coastal regions. The latter, verified at Lake Keowee (SC), is suited for small surface wave heights compared to depth. These models allow computation of time-dependent velocity and temperature fields for given initial conditions and time-varying boundary conditions.

Lee, S. S.↗

Verification and transfer of thermal pollution model. Volume 3: Verification of 3-dimensional rigid-lid model

The six-volume report: describes the theory of a three dimensional (3-D) mathematical thermal discharge model and a related one dimensional (1-D) model, includes model verification at two sites, and provides a separate user's manual for each model. The 3-D model has two forms: free surface and rigid lid. The former, verified at Anclote Anchorage (FL), allows a free air/water interface and is suited for significant surface wave heights compared to mean water depth; e.g., estuaries and coastal regions. The latter, verified at Lake Keowee (SC), is suited for small surface wave heights compared to depth (e.g., natural or man-made inland lakes) because surface elevation has been removed as a parameter. These models allow computation of time-dependent velocity and temperature fields for given initial conditions and time-varying boundary conditions. The free-surface model also provides surface height variations with time.

Lee, S. S.↗

Verification and transfer of thermal pollution model. Volume 5: Verification of 2-dimensional numerical model

The six-volume report: describes the theory of a three dimensional (3-D) mathematical thermal discharge model and a related one dimensional (1-D) model, includes model verification at two sites, and provides a separate user's manual for each model. The 3-D model has two forms: free surface and rigid lid. The former, verified at Anclote Anchorate (FL), allows a free air/water interface and is suited for significant surface wave heights compared to mean water depth; e.g., estuaries and coastal regions. The latter, verified at Lake Keowee (SC), is suited for small surface wave heights compared to depth (e.g., natural or man-made inland lakes) because surface elevation has been removed as a parameter. These models allow computation of time dependent velocity and temperature fields for given initial conditions and time-varying boundary conditions.

Lee, S. S.↗

Verification and transfer of thermal pollution model. Volume 4: User's manual for three-dimensional rigid-lid model

The theory of a three dimensional (3-D) mathematical thermal discharge model and a related one dimensional (1-D) model are described. Model verification at two sites, a separate user's manual for each model are included. The 3-D model has two forms: free surface and rigid lid. The former allows a free air/water interface and is suited for significant surface wave heights compared to mean water depth, estuaries and coastal regions. The latter is suited for small surface wave heights compared to depth because surface elevation was removed as a parameter. These models allow computation of time dependent velocity and temperature fields for given initial conditions and time-varying boundary conditions. The free surface model also provides surface height variations with time.

Lee, S. S.↗

Search for time variations in 511 keV flux by ISEE-3 gamma-ray spectrometer

Upper limits to the variation of galactic 511 keV flux as observed by the ISEE-3 gamma-ray spectrometer for 500 days of nearly continuous observation are reported. It is pointed out that if sources similar to the galactic center source were distributed uniformly throughout the Galaxy, a source within 2-3 kpc could have been detected by the ISEE-3 spectrometer. The lack of detection is evidence that the galactic center source is unique within the Galaxy. The galactic center observations made with the HEAO-3 gamma-ray spectrometer are seen as supporting the contention that a time-varying source is 511 keV emission lies near the galactic center.

Norris, J. P.↗

A concept for global crop forecasting

The mission, instrumentation, and design concepts for microwave radiometer satellites for continuous crop condition forecasting and monitoring on a global basis are described. Soil moisture affects both crop growth and the dielectric properties of the soil, and can be quantified by analysis of reflected radiance passively received by orbiting spacecraft. A dedicated satellite reading a swath 200 km across, with 1 km and 1 K temperature resolution, could track the time-varying changes of solid moisture, sea ice, and water surface temperature. Launched by the Shuttle into an interim orbit, a boost would place the satellite in a 400 or 700 km orbit. Resolution requirements indicate a 45-725 m diam antenna, with 70 dB gain, operating at frequencies of 1.08, 2.03, and 4.95 GHz to ensure atmospheric transparency. Alternative structural concepts include either double-layer tetrahedral or single-layer geodesic trusses as the basic structural members. An analysis of the electrostatic positioning of the parabolic antenna membrane is outlined.

Lovelace, U. M.↗

Numerical investigation of unsteady flow development in a nozzle-duct configuration

A computational approach has been used to resolve the transient phenomena caused by a rocket engine starting up and exhausting into a short duct. The results are obtained from the finite-difference Navier-Stokes, continuity, and energy equations for a single component gas. Using a recently developed numerical technique to account for the time-varying boundary conditions at the nozzle throat and the duct openings, the numerical simulation of the idealized ignition flow model has yielded some insight into the complex interactions between the wave patterns and the vortical flow. The present findings verify the hypothesis that a lateral expansion of the jetstream outside the nozzle will generate an over-pressure pulse on the duct wall if the jetstream is restricted within the nozzle by flow separation. The numerical simulations of this complex flow problem should be useful for improving simple correlation techniques used for engineering purposes.

Li, C. P.↗

Atmospheric storm explanation of saturnian electrostatic discharges

Saturn electrostatic discharges (SED) monitored by the Voyager 1 were investigated to determine the source of the phenomena. Consideration has been given to two sources: the atmosphere at equatorial latitudes, where the cloud-top wind velocities correspond to the Saturn 10 hr 10 min rotation period; and the rings at 1.8 Saturn radius. The data were analyzed in terms of time and frequency, revealing a time-varying frequency, few detectable discharges outside of a low threshold, and the appearances and disappearances of the SED with no correlation with frequency. The periodicity of the SED episodes indicated that the source was occulted between revolutions, which ruled out the ring source. The SED signals were only detected on the dayside, suggesting the signals propagated through the dayside ionosphere. Diurnal variations in the ion densities could prohibit the signals from escaping on the nightside, a factor supported by detection of low frequency SED only during close passage of the Voyager. Ray tracing experiments have demonstrated that storm sources have emissions observable with the storm on the limb at the observed 30-40 MHz interval.

Kaiser, M. L.↗

Supersonic loads due to shuttle-orbiter/external-tank attachment structures

A large variety of tests were conducted during development of the Space Shuttle to determine the strength, fatigue, and thermal characteristics of the thermal-protection system of the orbiter. The research and analysis carried out to accurately define and simulate the flow characteristics immediately ahead of the external tank attachment structures are described. The highest known acoustic pressure loads occur in these regions and tests to insure the ability of the titles to withstand these acoustic loads, plus those due to pressure gradient, were thought necessary. First flight-critical wind tunnel tests were therefore conducted in the Langley 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel (8-Ft. TPT), which simulated the time histories of Shuttle ascent loads on tile arrays bonded to structures which accurately duplicated those of the Shuttle. The time-varying free stream conditions were provided by controlling the deflection angle history of diffuser spoiler flaps in an automated way. Time histories of the critical load parameters imposed on the tile arrays in the tunnel are compared with those expected in flight.

Edwards, C. L. W.↗

Flow mechanism and experimental investigation of a rotating stall in transonic compressors

The flow characteristics of the rotating stall in compressors is studied, and a flow model is developed along with a theoretical calculation method based on vortex theory. A detailed theoretical calculation is completed for a two dimensional flow field in a transonic rotor in a rotating stall, and the result is in good agreement with experimental findings. The oscillograms of time-varying stall characteristic parameters recorded for the onset, growth, and cessation processes of rotating stall are analyzed, and some new flow phenomena deserving of further investigation are discovered. These include serious separation of individual blades, often preceding the onset of rotating stall in compressors with very small blade-camber angles, and periodical variation of the circumferential width of the stall cell with time, accompanied by periodical oscillation of the width of the stall cell in the radial direction of the blade. The circumferential and radial oscillation frequencies are the same.

Yajun, L.↗

Structural considerations for a software life cycle dynamic simulation model

This paper presents the results of a preliminary study into the prospects for simulating the software implementation and maintenance life cycle process, with the aim of producing a computerized tool for use by management and software engineering personnel in project planning, tradeoff studies involving product, environmental, situational, and technological factors, and training. The approach taken is the modular application of a 'flow of resource' concept to the systems dynamics simulation modeling technique. The software life cycle process is represented as a number of stochastic, time-varying, interacting work tasks that each achieves one of the project milestones. Each task is characterized by the item produced, the personnel applied, and the budgetary profile.

Tausworthe, R. C.↗

Linear and circular polarization of the cosmic background radiation

New data which consist of continued measurements of the linear polarization of the cosmic background radiation as well as the first measurement of the circular polarization are examined. Eleven declinations have been surveyed for linear polarization and one declination for circular polarization, all at 9 mm wavelength. No evidence is found for either a significant linear or circular component with statistical errors on the linear component of 20-60 microK for various models. For linear polarization, a 95 percent confidence level limit of 0.1 mK (0.00003) for an axisymmetric anisotropic model is achieved, while for spherical harmonics through third order, a corresponding limit of 0.2 mK is achieved. For a declination of 37 deg, a limit of 12 mK is placed on the time-varying component and 20 mK on the dc component of the circular polarization at the 95 percent confidence level. At 37 percent declination, the sensitivity per beam patch (7 deg) is 0.2 mK.

Lubin, P.↗

The effect of a coronal shock wave on the solar wind ionization state

In connection with studies of solar wind ionization state freezing, it is shown that, by using a Lagrangian approach of following individual fluid parcels, the techniques used previously for calculating ionization state variations in a steady state case can be extended straightforwardly to time-varying flows. The specific ionization state calculations presented are for a relatively simple picture of time-dependent coronal flow, based on a well-known model of a self-similar shock wave propagating through the corona. Time-dependent ionization effects for the sudden transition between two otherwise steady flows are likely to be limited to a narrow range of gas parcels which, having been shocked within the coronal freezing-in radius, pass a fixed interplanetary observer in an interval of a few tens of minutes. The amplitude of any rise in interplanetary ionization temperature associated with the coronal shock is likely to be considerably smaller than the jump in electron temperature that actually occurs in the corona.

Owocki, S. P.↗

Manipulator interactive design with interconnected flexible elements

This paper describes the development of an analysis tool for the interactive design of control systems for manipulators and similar electro-mechanical systems amenable to representation as structures in a topological chain. The chain consists of a series of elastic bodies subject to small deformations and arbitrary displacements. The bodies are connected by hinges which permit kinematic constraints, control, or relative motion with six degrees of freedom. The equations of motion for the chain configuration are derived via Kane's method, extended for application to interconnected flexible bodies with time-varying boundary conditions. A corresponding set of modal coordinates has been selected. The motion equations are imbedded within a simulation that transforms the vector-dyadic equations into scalar form for numerical integration. The simulation also includes a linear, time-invariant controler specified in transfer function format and a set of sensors and actuators that interface between the structure and controller. The simulation is driven by an interactive set-up program resulting in an easy-to-use analysis tool.

Singh, R. P.↗

Cloud cover sampling capability of various satellite combinations for ISCCP

One of the most important objectives of the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) is the quantification of cloud cover and associated radiation parameters for climate research. The time-varying nature of cloud cover requires a measurement system that obtains cloud radiance at sufficient time intervals for determining accurate values of cloudiness for the appropriate averaging period. Current plans for the ISCCP call for such day to be acquired every 3 hours during both data and night to ensure that the diurnal cycle of cloud cover is adequately sampled. The satellite system proposed is an array of geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites. The error in mean cloud cover estimates for observation systems which do not include geostationary satellites are quantified. Candidates for such a system include two NOAA Sun-synchronous satellites with daylight equatorial-crossing times of 0730 and 1430, and a USSR satellite in an 81 deg. inclination, 900-km altitude orbit.

Harrison, E. F.↗