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At least 325 records · Page 18

On the formation of galaxies with flat rotation curves

The dynamical development of a gravitationally unstable, initially uniform, collision-free medium has been studied by means of fully self-consistent three-dimensional numerical experiments. The system is encouraged to form just one blob by means of a small density bump, and its collapse is followed until a steady state has been reached. That blob may be interpreted as a galaxy, complete with halo. The galaxies that form have flat 'rotation curves'. Particles with initial speeds in excess of the velocity (V0) in that flat rotation curve remain unaffected by the collapse; those with speeds less than V0 join the collapse and have their speeds increased to V0. A quasi-virial argument yields correct estimates for V0.

Smith, B. F.↗

Gravity Probe-B Spacecraft attitude control based on the dynamics of slosh wave-induced fluid stress distribution on rotating dewar container of cryogenic propellant

The dynamical behavior of fluids, in particular the effect of surface tension on partially-filled rotating fluids, in a full-scale Gravity Probe-B Spacecraft propellant dewar tank imposed by various frequencies of gravity jitters have been investigated. Results show that fluid stress distribution exerted on the outer and inner walls of rotating dewar are closely related to the characteristics of slosh waves excited on the liquid-vapor interface in the rotating dewar tank. This can provide a set of tool for the spacecraft dynamic control leading toward the control of spacecraft unbalance caused by the uneven fluid stress distribution due to slosh wave excitations.

Hung, R. J.↗

Dynamic analysis of a flexible spacecraft with rotating components. Volume 1: Analytical developments

Analytical procedures and digital computer code are presented for the dynamic analysis of a flexible spacecraft with rotating components. Topics, considered include: (1) nonlinear response in the time domain, and (2) linear response in the frequency domain. The spacecraft is assumed to consist of an assembly of connected rigid or flexible subassemblies. The total system is not restricted to a topological connection arrangement and may be acting under the influence of passive or active control systems and external environments. The analytics and associated digital code provide the user with the capability to establish spacecraft system nonlinear total response for specified initial conditions, linear perturbation response about a calculated or specified nominal motion, general frequency response and graphical display, and spacecraft system stability analysis.

Bodley, C. S.↗

Nonlinear equations for dynamics of pretwisted beams undergoing small strains and large rotations

Nonlinear beam kinematics are developed and applied to the dynamic analysis of a pretwisted, rotating beam element. The common practice of assuming moderate rotations caused by structural deformation in geometric nonlinear analyses of rotating beams was abandoned in the present analysis. The kinematic relations that described the orientation of the cross section during deformation are simplified by systematically ignoring the extensional strain compared to unity in those relations. Open cross section effects such as warping rigidity and dynamics are ignored, but other influences of warp are retained. The beam cross section is not allowed to deform in its own plane. Various means of implementation are discussed, including a finite element formulation. Numerical results obtained for nonlinear static problems show remarkable agreement with experiment.

Hodges, D. H.↗

Age-related changes in human vestibulo-ocular and optokinetic reflexes: Pseudorandom rotation tests

The dynamic response properties of horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and optokinetic reflex (OKR) were characterized in 216 human subjects ranging in age from 7 to 81 years. The object of this cross-sectional study was to determine the effects of aging on VOR and OKR reflex dynamics, and to identify the distributions of parameters which describe VOR and OKR responses to pseudorandom stimuli in a putatively normal population. In general, VOR and OKR response parameters changed in a manner consistent with declining function with increasing age. For the VOR this was reflected in declining response amplitudes, although the magnitude of the decline was small relative to the variability of the data. For the OKR the lag time of the response, probably associated with the time required for visual information processing, increased linearly with age at a rate of about 1 ms per year.

Peterka, R. J.↗

Model Of Bearing With Hydrostatic Damper

Improved mathematical model of rotational and vibrational dynamics of bearing package in turbopump incorporates effects of hydrostatic damper. Part of larger finite-element model representing rotational and vibrational dynamics of rotor and housing of pump. Includes representations of deadband and nonlinear stiffness and damping of ball bearings, nonlinear stiffness and damping of hydrostatic film, and stiffness of bearing support. Enables incorporation of effects of hydrostatic damper into overall rotor-dynamic mathematical model without addition of mathematical submodel of major substructure.

Goggin, David G.↗

Visual Vestibular Interaction in the Dynamic Visual Acuity Test during Voluntary Head Rotation

Although intact vestibular function is essential in maintaining spatial orientation, no good screening tests of vestibular function are available to the aviation community. High frequency voluntary head rotation was selected as a vestibular stimulus to isolate the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) from visual influence. A dynamic visual acuity test that incorporates voluntary head rotation was evaluated as a potential vestibular function screening tool. Twenty-seven normal subjects performed voluntary sinusoidal head rotation at frequencies from 0.7-4.0 Hz under three different visual conditions: visually-enhanced VOR, normal VOR, and visually suppressed VOR. Standardized Baily-Lovie chart letters were presented on a computer monitor in front of the subject, who then was asked to read the letters while rotating his head horizontally. The electro-oculogram and dynamic visual acuity score were recorded and analyzed. There were no significant differences in gain or phase shift among three visual conditions in the frequency range of 2.8 to 4.0 Hz. The dynamic visual acuity score shifted less than 0.3 logMAR at frequencies under 2.0 Hz. The dynamic visual acuity test at frequencies a round 2.0 Hz can be recommended for evaluating vestibular function.

VISUAL ACUITY↗

Bubble mass center and fluid feedback force fluctuations activated by constant lateral impulse with variable thrust

Sloshing dynamics within a partially filled rotating dewar of superfluid helium 2 are investigated in response to constant lateral impulse with variable thrust. The study, including how the rotating bubble of superfluid helium 2 reacts to the constant impulse with variable time period of thrust action in microgravity, how amplitudes of bubble mass center fluctuates with growth and decay of disturbances, and how fluid feedback forces fluctuates in activating on the rotating dewar through the dynamics of sloshing waves are investigated. The numerical computation of sloshing dynamics is based on the non-inertial frame spacecraft bound coordinate with lateral impulses actuating on the rotating dewar in both inertial and non-inertial frames of thrust. Results of the simulations are illustrated.

Hung, R. J.↗

Rotating Liquid Drops: Plateaus Experiment Revisited

The dynamics of liquid drops rotating in another liquid were studied experimentally with an oil drop suspended in a neutral buoyancy tank. New stable shapes not predicted by the theory were observed.

Tagg, R.↗

A finite element approach for the dynamic analysis of joint-dominated structures

A finite element method to model dynamic structural systems undergoing large rotations is presented. The dynamic systems are composed of rigid joint bodies and flexible beam elements. The configurations of these systems are subject to change due to the relative motion in the joints among interconnected elastic beams. A body fixed reference is defined for each joint body to describe the joint body's displacements. Using the finite element method and the kinematic relations between each flexible element and its corotational reference, the total displacement field of an element, which contains gross rigid as well as elastic effects, can be derived in terms of the translational and rotational displacements of the two end nodes. If one end of an element is hinged to a joint body, the joint body's displacements and the hinge degree of freedom at the end are used to represent the nodal displacements. This results in a highly coupled system of differential equations written in terms of hinge degrees of freedom as well as the rotational and translational displacements of joint bodies and element nodes.

Chang, Che-Wei↗

Dynamical Signatures of Thermotoga maritima Maltose-Binding Proteins Affected by Ligand Binding

Functional segregation among protein isoforms depends on the interplay of their overall structures and the molecular dynamics of these structures. Thermotoga maritima maltose-binding protein (tmMBP) isoforms show size-dependent differential binding of maltose and malto-oligomers while maintaining remarkable fold conservation. This differential behavior needs detailed characterization in native-like aqueous conditions to understand the effects of protein dynamics on ligand binding and recognition. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), neutron spin echo (NSE) spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used in conjunction with previously published computational molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to understand the dynamic behavior of tmMBPs experimentally. SANS provided information on the overall structure of the molecules, while NSE was used to determine the dynamics in the nanosecond time scale. Both tmMBP2 and tmMBP3 have a bidomain architecture linked with a flexible hinge, with the binding pocket sitting in the cleft between the two domains. tmMBP2 and tmMBP3 showed different solution dynamics, with the translational and rotational components dominating the dynamics of both systems, resulting in a clear differentiation of their diffusion pattern. A faster dynamics component was also observed and was attributed to segmental dynamics. Differences observed between the ligand-free (apo) and ligand-bound (holo) states of the two proteins are attributed to conformational entropy. Our results highlight the intricacies of how structure and dynamics can together shape binding to a repertoire of substrates in structurally similar proteins.

Diffusion↗

Experimental Study of the Invariance of Pressure Gain with Respect to the Dynamics of Multiple Competing Waves in a Rotating Detonation Combustor

Changes in the overall performance of a rotating detonation combustor with respect to changes in operation mode and wave dynamics arising by operation with fixed inlet/exit geometry but at different combustor, lengths are investigated experimentally. The air inlet, fuel injection, and exit constriction geometry are held constant while only the length of the detonation channel is varied from 71 to 137 mm (which corresponds to about 10 to 20 channel widths). Operation of H2/air over a range of air mass flow rates and equivalence ratios are considered for every chamber length. The number and speed of (primary) detonation and secondary waves are characterized through high-speed pressure measurements in the detonation channel and aft chemiluminescence videos. The number of waves is found to increase with length while detonation wave speed decreases significantly. Particular emphasis is given to characterize a phenomenon that is observed at operation with longer combustor lengths and higher mass flow rates. The phenomenon manifests as a super-cycle behavior with a period equal to many detonation wave rotational periods and is characterized by a periodic and structured ascending/descending sequence of the number, speed, and direction of both (primary) detonation and secondary waves. This phenomenon is likely a manifestation of the system failing in achieving operation with a higher number of detonation waves as length and/or mass flow rate are increased. The performance of the device is quantified in terms of measured thrust and pressure gain (through the use of the equivalent available pressure). Both metrics are essentially found to be invariant with respect to combustor length and most importantly, mode of operation. Surprisingly, even operation with complex wave dynamics arising from transitions between multiple competing wave systems does not appear to alter the overall global performance of the device but rather, it remains defined by the total (capture) air mass flow rate, equivalence ratio, and inlet/outlet areas.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Dynamic properties of elastomer cartridge specimens under a rotating load

This paper presents the results of a program of analysis and test to determine the dynamic properties of elastomer cartridges operating under a rotating load. These measured properties were compared to predictions based on results of unidirectional tests with the same elastomer material. The test method for the dynamic stiffness and damping measurements was essentially the same as the Base Excitation Resonant Mass Method. The primary difference is that the exciting force used for these most recent tests was exerted by rotating unbalance in a rotational test rig rather than a shake table. The specimens tested were: two rectangular cross-section, continuous ring cartridges of different cross-section and three cylindrical button cartridges of different button thickness. Tests were performed for strains from about 0.0001 to about 0.01 (double amplitude). Material properties and prediction equations determined from reciprocating tests were used to make numerical predictions of stiffness, damping, and loss coefficient for the test elements, with encouraging results. Strain was shown to be an important parameter in determining these dynamic properties, particularly damping and loss coefficient.

Darlow, M. S.↗

Sloshing of Cryogenic Helium Driven by Lateral Impulse/Gravity Gradient-Dominated/or g-Jitter-Dominated Accelerations and Orbital Dynamics

The coupling of slosh dynamics within a partially filled rotating dewar of superfluid helium 11 with spacecraft orbital dynamics is investigated in response to the environmental disturbances of (a) lateral impulses, (b) gravity gradients and (c) g-jitter forces. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the coupling of helium 11 fluid slosh dynamics driven by three cases of environmental force with spacecraft dynamics can affect the bubble deformations and their associated fluid and spacecraft mass centre fluctuations. The numerical computation of slosh dynamics is based on a rotational frame, while the spacecraft dynamics is associated with a non-rotational frame. Results show that the major contribution of orbital dynamics is driven by coupling with slosh dynamics. Neglecting the effect of slosh dynamics acting on the spacecraft may lead to the wrong results for the development of orbital and attitude control techniques.

Hung, R. J.↗

Synthesis and dynamic characteristics of large structures with rotating substructures

The variational equations of motion of large structures with rotating substructures are derived by the substructure synthesis approach, whereby a discretization procedure akin to the Rayleigh-Ritz method is used to represent the elastic motion of every substructure by a suitable set of admissible functions. Using an inclusion principle for gyroscopic systems, the effects on the predicted system dynamic characteristics of truncating the number of admissible functions used for each substructure can be assessed. Criteria for rational selection of admissible functions are presented.

Meirovitch, L.↗

Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of the Swordfish Oxygen/Methane Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine

Rotating Detonation Rocket Engines (RDREs) provide several theoretical performance benefits over traditional deflagration combustion rocket engines. RDREs can potentially generate higher specific impulse (ISP) for a given propellant combination enabling significant consumable mass savings for a spaceflight vehicle. Conversely, RDREs are a relatively new technology with a shallower analytical modeling base compared to traditional combustion engine architectures. In this work, we utilize time-accurate, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling to simulate the complex fluid environment inside an RDRE combustion chamber and propellant manifolds. The selected engine of study is the Swordfish RDRE which was developed and tested and at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). CFD simulations were conducted using the as-tested Swordfish geometry and conditions to facilitate comparison between the analytical predictions and experimental results.

Brian R. Richardson↗

Nonlinear bending-torsional vibration and stability of rotating, pretwisted, preconed blades including Coriolis effects

The coupled bending-bending-torsional equations of dynamic motion of rotating, linearly pretwisted blades are derived including large precone, second degree geometric nonlinearities and Coriolis effects. The equations are solved by the Galerkin method and a linear perturbation technique. Accuracy of the present method is verified by comparisons of predicted frequencies and steady state deflections with those from MSC/NASTRAN and from experiments. Parametric results are generated to establish where inclusion of only the second degree geometric nonlinearities is adequate. The nonlinear terms causing torsional divergence in thin blades are identified. The effects of Coriolis terms and several other structurally nonlinear terms are studied, and their relative importance is examined.

Subrahmanyam, K. B.↗