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At least 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2013

Solutions of the Taylor-Green Vortex Problem Using High-Resolution Explicit Finite Difference Methods

A computational fluid dynamics code that solves the compressible Navier-Stokes equations was applied to the Taylor-Green vortex problem to examine the code s ability to accurately simulate the vortex decay and subsequent turbulence. The code, WRLES (Wave Resolving Large-Eddy Simulation), uses explicit central-differencing to compute the spatial derivatives and explicit Low Dispersion Runge-Kutta methods for the temporal discretization. The flow was first studied and characterized using Bogey & Bailley s 13-point dispersion relation preserving (DRP) scheme. The kinetic energy dissipation rate, computed both directly and from the enstrophy field, vorticity contours, and the energy spectra are examined. Results are in excellent agreement with a reference solution obtained using a spectral method and provide insight into computations of turbulent flows. In addition the following studies were performed: a comparison of 4th-, 8th-, 12th- and DRP spatial differencing schemes, the effect of the solution filtering on the results, the effect of large-eddy simulation sub-grid scale models, and the effect of high-order discretization of the viscous terms.

DeBonis, James R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Numerical study of the vortex burst phenomenon for delta wings

A flux-difference splitting scheme is employed to compute low-speed flows over a delta wing for angles of attack from 0 to 40 deg as steady-state solutions to the three-dimensional, Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations in their thin-layer approximation. The finite-difference scheme is made spatially second-order accurate by applying a total variation diminishing-like discretization to the inviscid fluxes and central differencing to the viscous shear fluxes. Using first-order accurate Euler backward-time differencing, an efficient implicit algorithm is constructed, which combines approximate factorization in cross planes with a symmetric planar Gauss-Seidel relaxation in the remaining third spatial direction. The geometry of the thin (maximum thickness is 0.021), slender (aspect ratio is unity), sharp-edged delta wing is taken from Hummel's (1967, 1978) wind tunnel model. Over the entire angle-of-attack range, the computed values of lift and pitching moment are in good agreement with the experimental data. Also details of the flow-fieldlike spanwise surface pressure distributions compare well with the experiment. Computed flow-field results with a bubble-type vortex burst are analyzed in detail.

Hartwich, PETER-M.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Structure and Bonding of Carbon in Clays from CI Carbonaceous Chondrites

Carbonaceous chondrites (CC) contain a diverse suite of C-rich materials. Acid dissolution of these meteorites leaves a C-rich residue with chemical and structural affinities to kerogen. This material has primarily been analyzed in bulk, and much information has been provided regarding functional groups and elemental and isotopic compositions. However, comparatively little work has been done on C in unprocessed meteorites. Studies of CCs suggest a spatial relationship of some C-rich materials with products of aqueous alteration. Recent studies revealed discrete submicronsized, C-rich particles in Tagish Lake and a range of CM2 meteorites. A challenge is to correlate the findings from the bulk acid-residue studies with those of high-spatial resolution-mineralogical and spectroscopic observations of unprocessed meteorites. Hence, the relationship between the C-rich materials in the acid residues and its form and locations in the unprocessed meteorite remains unclear. Here we provide information on the structure and bonding of C associated with clays in CI carbonaceous chondrites. Additional information is included in the original extended abstract.

Garview, Laurence a. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Rotor blade aeroelastic stability and response in forward flight

The aeroelastic stability and response problem of the coupled flap-lag-torsional dynamics of a hingeless rotor blade in forward flight is treated in a comprehensive manner. The spatial dependence of the partial differential, nonlinear, equations of motion is discretized using a multimodal Galerkin method. The aeroelastic problem is coupled with the trim state of the helicopter obtained from improved, representative, trim procedures. The nonlinear time dependent equilibrium position, or response, about which the equations are linearized is obtained by solving a sequence of linear periodic response problems, using quasi-linearization. Numerous results illustrating blade behavior in forward flight are presented.

Friedmann, P. P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Coupled flap-lag-torsional dynamics of hingeless rotor blades in forward flight

The aeroelastic stability and response problem of the coupled flap-lag-torsional dynamics of an isolated hingeless rotor blade in forward flight is considered. Linear, quasi-steady aerodynamics below stall is included. The spatial dependence of the partial differential nonliner equations of motion is discretized using a multimodal Galerkin method. The nonlinear time dependent equilibrium position (steady state response) about which the equations are linearized is obtained by solving a sequence of linear periodic response problems (quasilinearization). Results illustrating blade behavior in forward flight for both soft-in-plane and stiff-in-plane designs are presented. Quasilinearization provides a clear indication of the cases when nonlinear terms due to moderate deflections are important. The results indicate that nonlinearities affect system stability much more than system response. This implies that for obtaining blade vibrations and loads, approximate analytical models based on linearized formulations could be employed, whereas for determining blade stability a more accurate nonlinear analysis would be required.

Friedmann, P. P.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Delay line anodes for microchannel-plate spectrometers

A photon-counting readout system for microchannel-plate spectrometers is described that uses a delay line and timing circuit for the wavelength coordinate and a wedge-wedge charge division system for the orthogonal spatial coordinate. A novel zigzag layout allows these two anode patterns to coexist on a common planar substrate and share the charge from each photoevent, thereby simultaneously localizing the photon in each of its two dimensions. Unlike wedge-and-strip or resistive anode encoders, the delay line offers a spatial resolution that is relatively independent of the format length. Unlike discrete anode systems, the delay line readout system's complexity is also independent of the field of view size. These facts make the delay line readout system advantageous in large format detectors. A testbed detector having a delay line propagation speed of 2.2 mm/ns and a time resolution of 33 ps FWHM has been assembled. Ultraviolet testing shows a Gaussian event distribution having a 70-micron FWHM width; the readout system blur contribution is less than 50-micron FWHM.

Lampton, M.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Droplet model for autocorrelation functions in an Ising ferromagnet

The autocorrelation function of Ising spins in an ordered phase is studied via a droplet model. Only noninteracting spherical droplets are considered. The Langevin equation which describes fluctuations in the radius of a single droplet is studied in detail. A general description of the transformation to a Fokker-Planck equations and the ways in which a spectral analysis of that equation can be used to compute the autocorrelation function is given. It is shown that the eigenvalues of the Fokker-Planck operator form (1) a continuous spectrum of relaxation rates starting from zero for d = 2, (2) a continuous spectrum with a finite gap for d = 3, and (3) a discrete spectrum for d greater than 4, where d is the spatial dimensionality. Detailed solutions for various cases are presented.

Tang, Chao↗
NASA NTRS1990

Numerical investigation of laminar-turbulent transition in a flat plate wake

Lamina-turbulent transition of high-deficit flat plate wakes is investigated by direct numerical simulations using the complete Navier Stokes equations. The simulations are based on a spatial model so that both the base flow and the disturbance flow can develop in the downstream direction. The Navier Stokes equations are used in a vorticity-velocity form and are solved using a combination of finite difference and spectral approximations. Fourier series are used in the spanwise direction. Second-order finite-differences are used to approximate the spatial derivatives in the streamwise and transverse directions. For the temporal discretion, a combination of ADI, Crank-Nicolson, and Adams-Bashforth methods is employed. The discretized velocity equations are solved using fast Helmholtz solvers. Code validation is accomplished by comparison of the numerical results to both linear stability and to experiments. Calculations of two- and/or three-dimensional sinuous and mode disturbances in the wake of flat plate are undertaken. For calculations of two-dimensional disturbances, the wake is forced at an amplitude level so that nonlinear disturbance development may be observed. In addition, the forcing amplitude is varied in order to determine its effect on the disturbance behavior. To investigate the onset of three-dimensionality, the wake is forced with a small-amplitude three-dimensional disturbance and a larger amplitude two-dimensional disturbance. The two-dimensional forcing amplitude is varied in order to determine its influence on the three-dimensional flow field.

Fasel, Hermann F.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A computational procedure for the dynamics of flexible beams within multibody systems

The dynamic analysis of three dimensional elastic beams which experience large rotational and large deformational motions are examined. The beam motion is modeled using an inertial reference for the translational displacements and a body-fixed reference for the rotational quantities. Finite strain rod theories are then defined in conjunction with the beam kinematic description which accounts for the effects of stretching, bending, torsion, and transverse shear deformations. A convected coordinate representation of the Cauchy stress tensor and a conjugate strain definition is introduced to model the beam deformation. To treat the beam dynamics, a two-stage modification of the central difference algorithm is presented to integrate the translational coordinates and the angular velocity vector. The angular orientation is then obtained from the application of an implicit integration algorithm to the Euler parameter/angular velocity kinematical relation. The combined developments of the objective internal force computation with the dynamic solution procedures result in the computational preservation of total energy for undamped systems. The present methodology is also extended to model the dynamics of deployment/retrieval of the flexible members. A moving spatial grid corresponding to the configuration of a deployed rigid beam is employed as a reference for the dynamic variables. A transient integration scheme which accurately accounts for the deforming spatial grid is derived from a space-time finite element discretization of a Hamiltonian variational statement. The computational results of this general deforming finite element beam formulation are compared to reported results for a planar inverse-spaghetti problem.

Downer, Janice Diane↗
NASA NTRS1991

On the large scale structure of X-ray background sources

The large scale clustering of the sources responsible for the X-ray background is discussed, under the assumption of a discrete origin. The formalism necessary for calculating the X-ray spatial fluctuations in the most general case where the source density contrast in structures varies with redshift is developed. A comparison of this with observational limits is useful for obtaining information concerning various galaxy formation scenarios. The calculations presented show that a varying density contrast has a small impact on the expected X-ray fluctuations. This strengthens and extends previous conclusions concerning the size and comoving density of large scale structures at redshifts 0.5 between 4.0.

Bi, H. G.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Global changes in biogeochemical cycles in response to human activities

The main objective of our research was to characterize biogeochemical cycles at continental and global scales in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This characterization applied to both natural ecosystems and those disturbed by human activity. The primary elements of interest were carbon and nitrogen and the analysis sought to quantify standing stocks and dynamic cycling processes. The translocation of major nutrients from the terrestrial landscape to the atmosphere (via trace gases) and to fluvial systems (via leaching, erosional losses, and point source pollution) were of particular importance to this study. Our aim was to develop the first generation of Earth System Models. Our research was organized around the construction and testing of component biogeochemical models which treated terrestrial ecosystem processes, aquatic nutrient transport through drainage basins, and trace gas exchanges at the continental and global scale. A suite of three complementary models were defined within this construct. The models were organized to operate at a 1/2 degree latitude by longitude level of spatial resolution and to execute at a monthly time step. This discretization afforded us the opportunity to understand the dynamics of the biosphere down to subregional scales, while simultaneously placing these dynamics into a global context.

Moore, Berrien, III↗
NASA NTRS1994

Dynamic modeling of orographically induced precipitation

Local orography governs the triggering of cloud formation and the enhancement of processes such as condensation and hydrometeor nucleation and growth in mountainous regions. Intense, lengthy precipitation events are typical upwind of the topographic divide, with sharply decreasing magnitude and duration on the lee side. Differences in mean annual precipitation of several hundred percent between windward slopes of orographic barriers and adjacent valleys or lee side slopes are not unusual. Because much of the streamflow in areas such as the western United States is derived from mountainous areas that are remote and often poorly instrumented, modeling of orographic precipitation has important implications for water resources management. Models of orographically induced precipitation differ by their treatment of atmospheric dynamics and by the extent to which they rely on bulk parameterization of cloud and precipitation physics. Adiabatic ascent and a direct proportionality between efficiency and orographically magnified updrafts are the most frequent assumptions in orographic precipitation modeling. Space-time discretization (i.e., resolution) is a major issue because of the high spatial variability of orographic precipitation. For a specific storm, relative errors as large as 50 to 100% are common in the forecast/hindcast of precipitation intensity and can be even larger in the case of catastrophic storms. When monthly or seasonal timescales are used to evaluate model performance, the magnitude of such errors decreases dramatically, reaching values as low as 10 to 15%. Current research is focusing on the development of data assimilation techniques to incorporate radar and satellite observations, and on the development of aggregation and disaggregation methodologies to address the implications of modeling a multiscale problem at restricted spatial and temporal resolutions.

Barros, Ana Paula↗
NASA NTRS1995

Speed Discrimination: Multiple Stimuli Appear Better Than One

We reported that for a 21FC task with multiple moving grating patches (Gabors) in each interval, thresholds for speed discrimination decreased with the number of patches, while increasing the area of a single grating produced no such effect. Furthermore, this decrease occurred regardless of the spacing of the patches about a circle of eccentricity 4 degrees, i.e., whether they were maximally separated or almost touching. These results suggest that it is the multiple, discrete grating patches that cause thresholds to decrease, rather than the spatial arrangement. To test this hypothesis, we measured the effect of dividing a large grating into four quadrants, by superimposing a mean-luminance cross on it. The mean speed discrimination thresholds (Weber Fractions) for four observers were 19, 15, and 11 plus or minus 2%, for the single large grating, the grating with cross, and the 4 maximally-separated, small gratings, respectively. Thus, breaking up a single large grating into multiple parts caused thresholds to improve, despite the fact that less of the original patch was visible. To investigate the possible contribution of total bounding contour length, we measured the effect of coalescing three small grating patches into a single banana-shaped patch, while keeping the total contour length constant. These two conditions were compared to a single, circular Gabor patch of equivalent area that had (necessarily) a smaller contour length. Preliminary data from 3 of 4 observers were similar for the small-grating and banana configurations, but increased for the single, large grating, suggesting that contour length might play a role. We are also investigating the role of low-level factors pertinent to the large grating, such as the pooling of signals from motion units at different eccentricities, and the stimulation of extended inhibitory motion surrounds, as well as the possible contribution of topdown influences that segment the stimulus into distinct objects.

Verghese, Preeti↗
NASA NTRS2003

Modeling Charge Collection in Detector Arrays

A detector array charge collection model has been developed for use as an engineering tool to aid in the design of optical sensor missions for operation in the space radiation environment. This model is an enhancement of the prototype array charge collection model that was developed for the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST) program. The primary enhancements were accounting for drift-assisted diffusion by Monte Carlo modeling techniques and implementing the modeling approaches in a windows-based code. The modeling is concerned with integrated charge collection within discrete pixels in the focal plane array (FPA), with high fidelity spatial resolution. It is applicable to all detector geometries including monolithc charge coupled devices (CCDs), Active Pixel Sensors (APS) and hybrid FPA geometries based on a detector array bump-bonded to a readout integrated circuit (ROIC).

Hardage, Donna↗
NASA NTRS2022

Volatile Abundances, Extended Coma Sources, and Nucleus Ice Associations in Comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)

High-resolution infrared spectra of comet C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy were acquired with NIRSPEC at the W. M. Keck Observatory on two post-perihelion dates(UT 2015 February 2 and 3).H2O was measured simultaneously with CO,CH3OH, H2CO, CH4, C2H6,C2H4, C2H2, HCN, and NH3 on both dates, and rotational temperatures, production rates, relative abundances, H2O ortho-to-para ratios, and spatial distributions in the coma were determined. The first detection of C2H4in a comet from ground-based observations is reported. Abundances relative to H2O for all species were found to be in the typical range compared with values for other comets in the overall population to date. There is evidence of variability in rotational temperatures and production rates on timescales that are small compared with the rotational period of the comet. Spatial distributions of volatiles in the coma suggest complex outgassing behavior.CH3OH, HCN, C2H6, and CH4 spatial distributions in the coma are consistent with direct release from associated ices in the nucleus and are peaked in a more sunward direction compared with co-measured dust. H2O spatial profiles are clearly distinct from these other four species, likely due to a sizable coma contribution from icy grain sublimation.Spatial distributions for C2H2,H2CO, and NH3suggest substantial contributions from extended coma sources, providing further evidence for distinct origins and associations for these species in comets. CO shows a different spatial distribution compared with other volatiles, consistent with jet activity from discrete nucleus ice sources.

Neil Dello Russo↗
NASA NTRS1987

Image coding of SAR imagery

Five coding techniques in the spatial and transform domains have been evaluated for SAR image compression: linear three-point predictor (LTPP), block truncation coding (BTC), microadaptive picture sequencing (MAPS), adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT), and adaptive Hadamard transform (AHT). These techniques have been tested with Seasat data. Both LTPP and BTC spatial domain coding techniques provide very good performance at rates of 1-2 bits/pixel. The two transform techniques, ADCT and AHT, demonstrate the capability to compress the SAR imagery to less than 0.5 bits/pixel without visible artifacts. Tradeoffs such as the rate distortion performance, the computational complexity, the algorithm flexibility, and the controllability of compression ratios are also discussed.

Chang, C. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1994

The rotation of photospheric magnetic fields: A random walk transport model

In an earlier study of solar differential rotation, we showed that the transport of magnetic flux across latitudes acts to establish quasi-stationary patterns, therby accounting for the observed rigid rotation of the large-scale photospheric field. In that paper, the effect of supergranular convection was represented by a continuum diffusion, limiting the applicability of the calculations to large spatial scales. Here we extend the model to scales comparable to that of the supergranulation itself by replacing the diffusive transport with a discrete random walk process. Rotation curves are derived by cross-correlating the simulated photospheric field maps for a variety of time lags and spatial resolutions. When the lag between maps is relatively short less than or approximately = 15 days), the midlatitude correlation functions show two distinct components: a broad feature associated with the large-scale unipolar patterns and a narrow feature originating from small magnetic structures encompossing from one to several supergranular cells. By fitting the broad component we obtain the rigid rotation profile of the patterns, whereas by fitting the narrow component, we recover the differential rate of the photospheric plasma itself. For time lags of 1 month or greater, only the broad feature associated with the long-lived patterns remains clearly identifiable in the simulations.

Wang, Y. -M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Analytical prediction of aerospace vehicle vibration environments

Considerable attention has been given recently to the formulation and validation of analytical models for the prediction of aerospace vehicle vibration response to acoustic and fluctuating pressures. This paper summarizes the development of such analytical models for two applications, (1) structural vibrations of the Space Shuttle orbiter vehicle due to broadband rocket noise and aerodynamic boundary layer turbulence, and (2) structural vibrations of general aviation aircraft due to discrete frequency propeller and reciprocating engine exhaust noise. In both cases, the spatial exterior excitations are convected pressure fields which are described on the basis of measured cross spectra (coherence and phase) information. Structural modal data are obtained from analytical predictions, and structural responses to appropriate excitation fields are calculated. The results are compared with test data, and the strengths and weaknesses of the analytical models are assessed.

Wilby, J. F.↗