SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Location Description”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

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

At least 325 records · Page 18

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1979

The French short term radiopropagation predictions in the decameter band

Weekly and daily predictions of the ionospheric characteristics relevant to radio propagation are considered. A description of the techniques involved is given as well as examples showing how the prediction messages are prepared. The short term predictions are confined to restricted geographical areas and are relevant to radio circuits whose terminators are both located inside the same zone. They can be used with a reasonable approximation for circuits less than 3000 km of length whose reflection point lies within a given zone.

Lassudrie-Duchesne, P.↗

NASA NTRS1983

New observations of plasma vortices and insights into their interpretation

Two- and three-dimensional plasma measurements and three-dimensional magnetic field measurements made with the ISEE 1 and 2 satellites during sixteen plasma vortex occurrences in the magnetotail plasma sheet are used to develop a fuller description of the vortex phenomenon than has existed heretofore. The phase and energy propagation properties of the vortex waves was studied in particular. The rotation period of the vortices (T = 10 + or - 5 minutes) is apparently independent of location, while the wavelength (lambda not less than several Re) increases with increasing distance down the tail, pointing to a global mode of propagation in which effects of inhomogeneous equilibrium are important. The flow rotation can be explained by propagation of surface waves or resonant waves in a uniform medium. Other observed features, however, require a nonuniform model: nonuniform propagation properties and differences of the phase propagation speed calculated from different components of velocity or magnetic field.

Hones, E. W., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS2014

Pulsed Inductive Plasma Acceleration: Performance Optimization Criteria

Optimization criteria for pulsed inductive plasma acceleration are developed using an acceleration model consisting of a set of coupled circuit equations describing the time-varying current in the thruster and a one-dimensional momentum equation. The model is nondimensionalized, resulting in the identification of several scaling parameters that are varied to optimize the performance of the thruster. The analysis reveals the benefits of underdamped current waveforms and leads to a performance optimization criterion that requires the matching of the natural period of the discharge and the acceleration timescale imposed by the inertia of the working gas. In addition, the performance increases when a greater fraction of the propellant is initially located nearer to the inductive acceleration coil. While the dimensionless model uses a constant temperature formulation in calculating performance, the scaling parameters that yield the optimum performance are shown to be relatively invariant if a self-consistent description of energy in the plasma is instead used.

Polzin, Kurt A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Ground vibration tests of a high fidelity truss for verification of on orbit damage location techniques

This paper describes a series of modal tests that were performed on a cantilevered truss structure. The goal of the tests was to assemble a large database of high quality modal test data for use in verification of proposed methods for on orbit model verification and damage detection in flexible truss structures. A description of the hardware is provided along with details of the experimental setup and procedures for 16 damage cases. Results from selected cases are presented and discussed. Differences between ground vibration testing and on orbit modal testing are also described.

Kashangaki, Thomas A. L.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Evaluation of thermal network correction program using test temperature data

An evaluation process to determine the accuracy of a computer program for thermal network correction is discussed. The evaluation is required since factors such as inaccuracies of temperatures, insufficient number of temperature points over a specified time period, lack of one-to-one correlation between temperature sensor and nodal locations, and incomplete temperature measurements are not present in the computer-generated information. The mathematical models used in the evaluation are those that describe a physical system composed of both a conventional and a heat pipe platform. A description of the models used, the results of the evaluation of the thermal network correction, and input instructions for the thermal network correction program are presented.

Ishimoto, T.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Sensitivity of the structure of untripped mixing layers to small changes in initial conditions

An experimental study was conducted concerning the influence of small changes in initial conditions on the near- and far-field evolution of the three-dimensional structure of a plan mixing layer. A two-stream mixing layer with a velocity ratio of 0.6 was generated with the initial boundary layers on the splitter plate laminar and was nominally two-dimensional. The initial conditions were changed slightly by interchanging the high- and low-speed sides of the wind tunnel, while maintaining the same velocities, and hence velocity ratio. This resulted in small changes in the initial boundary layer properties, and the perturbations present in the boundary layers were interchanged between the high- and low-speed sides for the two cases. The results indicate that, even with this relatively minor change in initial conditions, the near-field regions of the two cases differ significantly. The peak Reynolds stress levels in the near-field differ by up to 100 percent, and this is attributed to a difference in the location of the initial spanwise vortex roll-up. In addition, the positions and shapes of the individual streamwise vortical structures differ for the two cases, although the overall structures differ for the two cases, although the overall qualitative description of these structures is comparable. The subsequent reorganization and decay of the streamwise vortical structures is very similar for the two cases. As a result, in the far field, both mixing layers achieve similar structure, yielding comparable growth rates, Reynolds stress, distribution, and spectral content.

Plesniak, M. W.↗

NASA NTRS1993

NASA space geodesy program: Catalogue of site information

This is the first edition of the NASA Space Geodesy Program: Catalogue of Site Information. This catalogue supersedes all previous versions of the Crustal Dynamics Project: Catalogue of Site Information, last published in May 1989. This document is prepared under the direction of the Space Geodesy and Altimetry Projects Office (SGAPO), Code 920.1, Goddard Space Flight Center. SGAPO has assumed the responsibilities of the Crustal Dynamics Project, which officially ended December 31, 1991. The catalog contains information on all NASA supported sites as well as sites from cooperating international partners. This catalog is designed to provde descriptions and occupation histories of high-accuracy geodetic measuring sites employing space-related techniques. The emphasis of the catalog has been in the past, and continues to be with this edition, station information for facilities and remote locations utilizing the Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR), and Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) techniques. With the proliferation of high-quality Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers and Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS) transponders, many co-located at established SLR and VLBI observatories, the requirement for accurate station and localized survey information for an ever broadening base of scientists and engineers has been recognized. It is our objective to provide accurate station information to scientific groups interested in these facilities.

Bryant, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1995

An experimental study of light scattering by large, irregular particles

The intensity and polarization of light scattered by a variety of types of artificial partices large compared to the wavelength were measured as a function of phase angle. Shape, surface roughness, absorption coefficient, and internal scattering coefficient were varied systematically and their effects studied. Scattering by clear, smooth-surfaced spheres is in quantitative agreement with the predictions of the geometrical optics (ray theory) approximation to physical optics (Mie theory). The phase functions of almost all of the particles measured have both forward and backward scattering lobes. A two-parameter, double Henyey-Greenstein function generally provides reasonably good descriptions of the data, while keeping the number of free parameters to the minimum necessary. On a double Henyey- Greenstein parameter plot all of the particles fall into an L-shaped area of restricted size in which the location is characteristic of the particle type. Formalisms based on the equivalent slab model are also given for estimating the scattering efficiency of a large, irregular particle. For most dielectric particles the transmitted, forward scattered light is partially negatively polarized. It is this component that is respopnsible for the well-known maximum in the polarization curves of planetary regoliths at phase angles around 100 deg. For phase angles between about 30 deg and 70 deg the internally scattered light is found to be randomly polarized in the particles studied here, so that the only contribution to the second component of the Stokes vector is by Fresnel reflection from the particle surface. If this empirical result is general, measurement of the second Stokes vector of the light scattered from a regolith at these angles may provide a method of remotely measuring the mean refractive index.

Mcguire, Audrey F.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Flight, Wind-Tunnel, and Computational Fluid Dynamics Comparison for Cranked Arrow Wing (F-16XL-1) at Subsonic and Transonic Speeds

Geometrical, flight, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and wind-tunnel studies for the F-16XL-1 airplane are summarized over a wide range of test conditions. Details are as follows: (1) For geometry, the upper surface of the airplane and the numerical surface description compare reasonably well. (2) For flight, CFD, and wind-tunnel surface pressures, the comparisons are generally good at low angles of attack at both subsonic and transonic speeds, however, local differences are present. In addition, the shock location at transonic speeds from wind-tunnel pressure contours is near the aileron hinge line and generally is in correlative agreement with flight results. (3) For boundary layers, flight profiles were predicted reasonably well for attached flow and underneath the primary vortex but not for the secondary vortex. Flight data indicate the presence of an interaction of the secondary vortex system and the boundary layer and the boundary-layer measurements show the secondary vortex located more outboard than predicted. (4) Predicted and measured skin friction distributions showed qualitative agreement for a two vortex system. (5) Web-based data-extraction and computational-graphical tools have proven useful in expediting the preceding comparisons. (6) Data fusion has produced insightful results for a variety of visualization-based data sets.

John E Lamar↗

NASA NTRS1976

Description and test results of a digital supersonic propulsion system integrated control

A digitally implemented integrated inlet/engine control system was developed and tested on a mixed compression, Mach 2.5, supersonic inlet and augmented turbofan engine. The control matched engine airflow to available inlet airflow so that in steady state, the shock would be at the desired location, and the overboard bypass doors would be closed. During engine induced transients, such as augmentor lights and cutoffs, the inlet operating point was momentarily changed to a more supercritical point to minimize unstarts. The digital control also provided automatic inlet restart.

Batterton, P. G.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Astronomic Telescope Facility: Preliminary systems definition study report. Volume 2: Technical description

The Astrometric Telescope Facility (AFT) is to be an earth-orbiting facility designed specifically to measure the change in relative position of stars. The primary science investigation for the facility will be the search for planets and planetary systems outside the solar system. In addition the facility will support astrophysics investigations dealing with the location or motions of stars. The science objective and facility capabilities for astrophysics investigations are discussed.

Sobeck, Charlie↗

NASA NTRS2000

Ground-Based Lidar Measurements of Aerosols During ACE-2 Instrument Description, Results, and Comparisons with Other Ground-Based and Airborne Measurements

A micro-pulse lidar system (MPL) was used to measure the vertical and horizontal distribution or aerosols during the Aerosol Characterization Experiment 2 (ACE-2) in June and July of 1997. The MPL measurements were made at the Izana observatory (IZO), a weather station located on a mountain ridge (28 deg 18'N, 16 deg 30'W, 2367 m asl) near the center of the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands. The MPL was used to acquire aerosol backscatter, extinction, and optical depth profiles for normal background periods and periods influenced by Saharan dust from North Africa. System tests and calibration procedures are discussed, and in analysis of aerosol optical profiles acquired during ACE-2 is presented. MPL data taken during normal IZO conditions (no dust) showed that upslope aerosols appeared during the day and dissipated at night and that the layers were mostly confined to altitudes a few hundred meters above IZO. MPL data taken during a Saharan dust episode on 17 July showed that peak aerosol extinction values were an order of magnitude greater than molecular scattering over IZO. and that the dust layers extended to 5 km asl. The value of the dust backscatter-extinction ratio was determined to be 0.027 + 0.007 per sr. Comparisons of the MPL data with data from other co-located instruments showed good agreement during the dust episode.

Welton, Ellsworth J.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Ground-Based Lidar Measurements of Aerosols During ACE-2: Instrument Description, Results, and Comparisons with Other Ground-Based and Airborne Measurements

A micro-pulse lidar system (MPL) was used to measure the vertical and horizontal distribution of aerosols during the Aerosol Characterization Experiment 2 (ACE-2) in June and July of 1997. The MPL measurements were made at the Izana observatory (IZO), a weather station located on a mountain ridge (28 deg 18 min N, 16 deg 30 min W, 2367 m asl) near the center of the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands. The MPL was used to acquire aerosol backscatter, extinction, and optical depth profiles for normal background periods and periods influenced by Saharan dust from North Africa. System tests and calibration procedures are discussed, and an analysis of aerosol optical profiles acquired during ACE-2 is presented. MPL data taken during normal IZO conditions (no dust) showed that upslope aerosols appeared during the day and dissipated at night and that the layers were mostly confined to altitudes a few hundred meters above IZO. MPL data taken during a Saharan dust episode on 17 July showed that peak aerosol extinction values were an order of magnitude greater than molecular scattering over IZO, and that the dust layers extended to 5 km asl. The value of the dust backscatter-extinction ratio was determined to be 0.027 +/- 0.007 sr(exp -1). Comparisons of the MPL data with data from other collocated instruments showed good agreement during the dust episode.

Welton, Ellsworth J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Solar photovoltaic powered refrigerators/freezers for medical use in remote geographic locations

One of the obstacles preventing widespread immunication against disease is the virtual absence of reliable, low maintenance refrigeration systems for storage of vaccines in remote geographic locations. A system which consists of a solar photovoltaic cell array and an integrated refrigerator/freezer-energy storage unit is discussed herein. The array converts solar radiation into direct current (DC) electricity with no moving parts and no intermediate steps. A detailed description of the refrigeration system, its design and an analysis thereof, performance test procedures, and test results are presented. A system schematic is also provided.

Darkazalli, G.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Mod-2 wind turbine field operations experiment

The three-machine, 7.5 MW Goodnoe Hills located near Goldendale, Washington and is now in a research/experimental operations phase that offers a unique opportunity to study the effects of single and multiple wind turbines interacting with each other, the power grid; and the environment. Following a brief description of the turbine and project history, this paper addresses major problem areas and research and development test results. Field operations, both routine and nonroutine, are discussed. Routine operation to date has produced over 13,379,000 KWh of electrical energy during 11,064 hr of rotation. Nonroutine operation includes suspended activities caused by a crack in the low speed shaft that necessitated a redesign and reinstallation of this assembly on all three turbines. With the world's largest cluster back in full operation, two of the turbines will be operated over the next years to determine their value as energy producer. The third unit will be used primarily for conducting research tests requiring configuration changes to better understand the wind turbine technology. Technical areas summarized pertain to system performance and enhancements. Specific research tests relating to acoustics, TV interference, and wake effects conclude the paper.

Gordon, L. H.↗

NASA NTRS1991

A Variational Formalism for the Radiative Transfer Equation: Prelude to Model 3

The MODEL III variational data assimilation model is the third of four general assimilation models designed to blend weather data measured from space based platforms in the meteorological data mainstream in a way that maximizes the information content of the satellite data. Because there are many different observation locations and there are many instruments with different measurement error characteristics, it is also necessary to require that the blending be done to maximize the information content of the data and simultaneously to retain a dynamically consistent and reasonably accurate description of the state of the atmosphere. This is ideally a variational problem for which the data receive relative weights that are inversely proportional to measurement error and are adjusted to satisfy a set of dynamical equations that govern atmospheric processes. The advantage of MODEL III over the previous two models is that radiance, the atmospheric variable measured by satellite, becomes a dependent variable. In the previous versions, mean layer temperatures that had been retrieved from the radiances by some method, were included in the assimilation by substituting them in place of the rawinsonde temperatures. Now both rawinsonde temperatures and satellite radiances are included independently in the assimilation.

Achtemeier, Gary L.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Performance evaluation of the JPL TOPSAR system: An across-track interferometric SAR system for topographic mapping

An across-track interferometric (XTI) SAR has the capability of determining the three dimensional target location from the recorded radar echos thus providing high spatial resolution both horizontally and vertically. The output of an XTI SAR will typically include both a radar backscatter map and a digital elevation model (DEM). The accuracy of the derived DEM is determined by factors such as data acquisition geometry, signal-to-noise ratio, knowledge of platform position and attitude as well as the accuracy of the processing system. In the summer of 1992 the authors acquired TOPSAR data over the Ft. Irwin area in California, a desert area with significant relief (height standard deviation 150 m). Very accurate DEM's have been derived for this area by the Topographic Engineering Center (TEC) using digital correlation methods on 1:20,000 scale digitized photographs. Corner reflectors were deployed in the area, and their locations were determined to cm accuracies by the Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) using differential GPS techniques. DEM's generated from the acquired radar data have been rotated and translated to overlay the reference DEM's provided by TEC. A detailed description of the errors and their characteristics will be given. The standard deviations of the radar data sets we acquired measured over a 5.6 by 7 km area were 1.9 and 2.3 m. The corresponding numbers for flat areas were 1.1 and 2.0 m and for mountain areas 3.3 and 2.2 m.

Madsen, Soren N.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Characterization of Vertical Ozonesonde Measurements in Equatorial Regions Utilizing the Cooperative Enterprise SHADOZ

Vertical ozone profiles between the Equator and 10 S latitude available from the Southern Hemisphere Additional Ozone (SHADOZ) program provide consistent data Ozone sets from up to 10 sounding locations. SHADOZ designed to provide independent ozone profiles in the tropics for evaluation of satellite ozone data and models has made available over 600 soundings over the period 1998-1999. These observations provide an ideal data base for the detailed description of ozone and afford differential comparison between sites. TOMS total ozone when compared with correlative integrated total ozone overburden from the sondes is found to be negatively biased when using the classical constant mixing ratio procedure to determine residual ozone. On the other hand, the climatological method proposed by McPeters and Labow appears to give consistent results but is positively biased. The longer then two years series of measurements also was subjected to harmonic analysis to examine data cycles. These will be discussed as well.

Schmidlin, F. J.↗