Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “core”

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 343 records · Page 19

Pole-strength of the earth from Magsat and magnetic determination of the core radius

A model based on two days of Magsat data is used to numerically evaluate the unsigned magnetic flux linking the earth's surface, and a comparison of the 16.054 GWb value calculated with values from earlier geomagnetic field models reveals a smooth, monotonic, and recently-accelerating decrease in the earth's pole strength at a 50-year average rate of 8.3 MWb, or 0.052%/year. Hide's (1978) magnetic technique for determining the radius of the earth's electrically-conducting core is tested by (1) extrapolating main field models for 1960 and 1965 downward through the nearly-insulating mantle, and then separately comparing them to equivalent, extrapolated models of Magsat data. The two unsigned fluxes are found to equal the Magsat values at a radius which is within 2% of the core radius; and (2) the 1960 main field and secular variation and acceleration coefficients are used to derive models of 1930, 1940 and 1950. The same core magnetic radius value, within 2% of the seismic value, is obtained. It is concluded that the mantle is a nearly-perfect insulator, while the core is a perfect conductor, on the decade time scale.

Voorhies, G. V.↗

A problem in representing the core magnetic field of the earth using spherical harmonics

Although there are computational advantages to the representation of the earth's magnetic field by spherical harmonic coefficients of the magnetic potential, up to the thirteenth degree and order, the following disadvantages emerge: (1) the use of spherical harmonics of up to a certain degree does not remove wavelengths greater than a certain value from the surface fields, and (2) the total field magnitudes represented by spherical harmonics up to a certain degree have minimum wavelengths equal to the circumference of the earth divided by twice the maximum degree of the harmonic used. The implications of the ways in which surface fields are separated into core and crustal components are discussed, and it is concluded that since field signals are generated in the core, the representation of the core field by spherical harmonics of potential does not adequately represent all core field components.

Carle, H. M.↗

Measurements of the lunar induced magnetic moment in the geomagnetic tail - Evidence for a lunar core

Apollo 15 and 16 subsatellite fluxgate magnetometer data have been analyzed for all intervals in which the moon was in the lobes of the geomagnetic tail to obtain an improved estimate of the average magnitude of the induced dipole moment of the moon. The resulting set of estimates yields an induced magnetic moment of -4.23 x 10 to the 22nd Gauss-cu cm per Gauss of applied field, corresponding to a G-factor of -0.008 + or - 0.001. These measurements do not place strong constraints on the conductivity of the lunar core. The observed effects would be detected as long as the core conductivity was greater than about 10 mho/m. If the outer cool layers of the moon that are at temperatures below the effective Curie point contain little or no free iron, then these measurements are consistent with the presence of a conducting core whose radius is slightly larger than 400 km. If these outer layers of the moon contain significant amounts of free iron and hence exhibit the paramagnetism expected in such a situation the core size could be even greater.

Russell, C. T.↗

Modelling the core magnetic field of the earth

It is suggested that radial off-center dipoles located within the core of the earth be used instead of spherical harmonics of the magnetic potential in modeling the core magnetic field. The off-center dipoles, in addition to more realistically modeling the physical current systems within the core, are if located deep within the core more effective at removing long wavelength signals of either potential or field. Their disadvantage is that their positions and strengths are more difficult to compute, and such effects as upward and downward continuation are more difficult to manipulate. It is nevertheless agreed with Cox (1975) and Alldredge and Hurwitz (1964) that physical realism in models is more important than mathematical convenience. A radial dipole model is presented which agrees with observations of secular variation and excursions.

Harrison, C. G. A.↗

Advances in core loss calculations for magnetic materials

A new analytical technique which predicts the basic magnetic properties under various operating conditions encountered in state-of-the-art dc-ac/dc converters is discussed. Using a new flux-controlled core excitation circuit, magnetic core characteristics were developed for constant values of ramp flux (square wave voltage excitation) and frequency. From this empirical data, a mathematical loss characteristics equation is developed to analytically predict the specific core loss of several magnetic materials under various waveform excitation conditions. In addition, these characteristics show the circuit designer for the first time the direct functional relatonships between induction level and specific core loss as a function of the two key dc-dc converter operating parameters of input voltage and duty cycle.

Triner, J. E.↗

What has happened in the cores of globular clusters

It is found that some aspects of the observed data for globular cluster cores cannot be easily explained in terms of the existing theory of dynamical evolution. It is noted that globular clusters span only a factor of 40 in core mass, while ranging over a factor of 10 to the 6th in central density, an observation that cannot be explained as a selection effect. A strong correlation is found between the central density and the distance of a cluster from the galactic center. In addition, when cluster cores are evolved backward in time in their initial conditions, using the available theory of dynamical evolution, evidence emerges that many clusters have already undergone core collapse, for which no evolutionary theory exists. It is concluded that these results indicate the incompleteness of the theory of dynamical evolution.

Lightman, A. P.↗

Helicopter engine core noise

Calculated engine core noise levels, based on NASA Lewis prediction procedures, for five representative helicopter engines are compared with measured total helicopter noise levels and ICAO helicopter noise certification requirements. Comparisons are made for level flyover and approach procedures. The measured noise levels are generally significantly greater than those predicted for the core noise levels, except for the Sikorsky S-61 and S-64 helicopters. However, the predicted engine core noise levels are generally at or within 3 dB of the ICAO noise rules. Consequently, helicopter engine core noise can be a significant contributor to the overall helicopter noise signature.

Vonglahn, U. H.↗

A method for modeling finite-core vortices in wake-flow calculations

A numerical method for computing nonplanar vortex wakes represented by finite-core vortices is presented. The approach solves for the velocity on an Eulerian grid, using standard finite-difference techniques; the vortex wake is tracked by Lagrangian methods. In this method, the distribution of continuous vorticity in the wake is replaced by a group of discrete vortices. An axially symmetric distribution of vorticity about the center of each discrete vortex is used to represent the finite-core model. Two distributions of vorticity, or core models, are investigated: a finite distribution of vorticity represented by a third-order polynomial, and a continuous distribution of vorticity throughout the wake. The method provides for a vortex-core model that is insensitive to the mesh spacing. Results for a simplified case are presented. Computed results for the roll-up of a vortex wake generated by wings with different spanwise load distributions are presented; contour plots of the flow-field velocities are included; and comparisons are made of the computed flow-field velocities with experimentally measured velocities.

Stremel, P. M.↗

Dissipative melting as a mechanism for core formation

Cosmochemical studies strongly favor a near-homogeneous accretion of the earth. These studies also show that core segregation probably occurred within the first 100,000 years of earth history. Mechanisms of core formation have received relatively little attention. The principal purpose of this paper is to examine dissipative melting as a possible mechanism for core segregation. For a large iron body migrating through the mantle, the potential energy lost by the body is dissipated by frictional heating. If the body has a radius greater than about 30 km, the frictional heating is sufficient to melt a path through which the body can fall. If the iron body is liquid (as expected) with a low viscosity, it would penetrate the mantle as a diapir. The problem of an immiscible liquid body melting its way through a solid is solved, and a family of diapir shapes is obtained. It is found that dissipative heating may be a viable mechanism for core segregation if sufficiently large bodies of liquid iron can form.

Turcotte, D. L.↗

An upper ocean current jet and internal waves in a Gulf Stream warm core ring

On June 22, 1982, the R/V Endeavor, while participating in a multi-ship study of a warm core ring 82B, encountered a strong front in the core of the ring. The vessel was headed on a radial section outward from ring center while a CTD was repeatedly raised and lowered between 10 and 300 m. Current profiles in the upper 100 m were obtained continuously with a Doppler acoustic profiling system. Above the shallow 45 m seasonal thermocline, a current jet of 4 km width was encountered having a central core of relatively light water and a maximum current of 1.1 m/s. This jet was both highly nonlinear and totally unexpected. A high frequency packet of directional internal waves was acoustically observed in the seasonal thermocline at the outer edge of the jet. Vertical velocities were large enough (6 cm/s) as to be directly observable in the Doppler returns. The waves were propagating from the northeast, parallel to the ship track, and orthogonal to the jet toward the center of the warm core ring. While a nonlinear, centrifugal term was required for the force balance of the jet, the high-frequency internal wave packet could be explained with linear, gravest-mode wave dynamics.

Joyce, T. M.↗

Dense cores in dark clouds - Young embedded stars at 2 micrometers

Twenty-five visually opaque regions which contain strong sources of NH3 (1,1) line emission (dense cores) have been surveyed for evidence of associated stars at two microns. Five such stars have been found, of which three - in B5, L1489, and L1582 - are optically invisible and probably embedded in their associated cores. The stars in B5 and L1489 have 2-100 micron spectra and luminosity similar to those of HL Tau, a very young T Tauri star. These stars probably formed in the cores where they are now seen. These results tend to confirm earlier suggestions that low-mass stars form in dense cores.

Benson, P. J.↗

Extremely high energy hadron and gamma-ray families(3). Core structure of the halo of superfamily

The study of the core structure seen in the halo of Mini-Andromeda 3(M.A.3), which was observed in the Chacaltaya emulsion chamber, is presented. On the assumption that lateral distribution of darkness of the core is exponential type, i.e., D=D0exp(-R/r0), subtraction of D from halo darkness is performed until the cores are gone. The same quantity on cores obtained by this way are summarized. The analysis is preliminary and is going to be developed.

Yamashita, S.↗

A search at the millijansky level for milli-arcsecond cores in a complete sample of radio galaxies

A complete sample of 26 extended radio galaxies was observed at 2.29 GHz with the Mark III VLBI system. The fringe spacing was about 3 milli-arcsec, and the detection limit was about 2 millijanskys. Half of the galaxies were found to possess milli-arcsec radio cores. In all but three sources, the nuclear flux density was less than 0.04 of the total flux density. Galaxies with high optical luminosity (less than -21.2) were more likely than less luminous galaxies to contain a detectable milliparcsec radio core (69 percent vs. 20 percent). For objects with arcsec cores, 80 percent were found to have a milli-arcsec core, even though the milli-arcsec object did not always contribute the greater part of the arcsec flux density.

Wehrle, A. E.↗

Magnetorotational iron core collapse

During its final evolutionary stages, a massive star, as considered in current astrophysical theory, undergoes rapid collapse, thereby triggering a sequence of a catastrophic event which results in a Type II supernova explosion. A remnant neutron star or a black hole is left after the explosion. Stellar collapse occurs, when thermonuclear fusion has consumed the lighter elements present. At this stage, the core consists of iron. Difficulties arise regarding an appropriate model with respect to the core collapse. The present investigation is concerned with the evolution of a Type II supernova core including the effects of rotation and magnetic fields. A simple neutrino model is developed which reproduced the spherically symmetric results of Bowers and Wilson (1982). Several two-dimensional computational models of stellar collapse are studied, taking into account a case in which a 15 solar masses iron core was artificially given rotational and magnetic energy.

Symbalisty, E. M. D.↗

Separation of core and crustal magnetic field sources

Fluid motions in the electrically conducting core and magnetized crustal rocks are the two major sources of the magnetic field observed on or slightly above the Earth's surface. The exact separation of these two contributions is not possible without imposing a priori assumptions about the internal source distribution. Nonetheless models like these were developed for hundreds of years Gauss' method, least squares analysis with a truncated spherical harmonic expansion was the method of choice for more than 100 years although he did not address separation of core and crustal sources, but rather internal versus external ones. Using some arbitrary criterion for appropriate truncation level, we now extrapolate downward core field models through the (approximately) insulating mantle. Unfortunately our view can change dramatically depending on the degree of truncation for describing core sources.

Shure, L.↗

Tethered Satellite System (TSS) core equipment

To date, three Tethered Satellite System (TSS) missions of the Italian provided scientific satellite orbiting in the ionosphere connected to U.S. Space Shuttle is foreseen. The first mission will use an electrically conductive tether of 20 km deployed upward from the orbiter flying at 300 km altitude. This mission will allow investigation of the TSS electrodynamic interaction with the ionosphere due to the high voltage induced across the two terminators of the system during its motion throughout the geomagnetic field. The second mission will use a dielectric tether of 100 km deployed downward from the Orbiter flying at 230 km altitude. Tethered-vehicle access to altitude as low as 120 to 150 km from the Orbiter would permit direct long term observation of phenomena in the lower thermosphere and determination of other dynamical physical processes. The third mission would use the same configuration of the first electrodynamic mission with the complete Core Equipment. Study of power generation by tethered systems would be possible by operating the Core Equipment in the inverted current mode. This mode of operation would allow ion current collection upon the TSS satellite by controlling its potential with respect to the ambient ionospheric plasma. The main requirements of the Core Equipment configuration to date foreseen for the first TSS electrodynamic mission is described. Besides the Core Equipment purposes, its hardware and operational sub-modes of operation are described.

Bonifazi, C.↗

X-ray and radio core emission in radio quasars

In order to investigate the physical relationship between X-ray and radio core emission in radio-selected quasars, 35 radio quasars have been observed with the VLA at 6 and 20 cm. The sample was chosen from a list of radio quasars with known X-ray luminosity but poorly known radio properties. Including data gathered from the literature, radio core detections or upper limits at 6 cm have been obtained for 127 radio quasars which have published Einstein X-ray data. A statistical association is sought between radio core luminosity and X-ray luminosity, and it is found that there is a strong correlation. The slope of the relation of L(x) to L(Gamma)-alpha is alpha = 0.71 + or - 0.07 for unresolved quasars with flat radio spectra. The slope decreases as quasars with extended radio regions are considered. This is traced to the presence of radio emission which is unrelated to the X-ray emission, in the presently unresolved cores of quasars.

Kembhavi, A.↗

Unusual electron distribution functions in the solar wind derived from the Helios plasma experiment - Double-strahl distributions and distributions with an extremely anisotropic core

Electron distribution functions with unusual features, which have been observed on rare occasions in the solar wind by the Helios probes, are presented. Two examples show a strong symmetric bidirectional anisotropy in the energy regime of the halo up to particle energies of 800 eV (double-strahl distributions). Another example shows an unusually strong bidirectional anisotropy in the energy regime of the core (below 150 eV). The infrequently observed double-strahl distributions provide evidence that magnetic field loops can exist in the solar wind where electrons are trapped. In addition, they provide evidence that in the case of electrons trapped in closed magnetic field structures the break in the energy spectrum separating the core from the halo is produced only by collisions. On the other hand, the class of distribution functions with strongly anisotropic cores indicates that in the case of 'open' magnetic field lines the break between core and halo is largely determined both by the interplanetary electrostatic potential and by collisions.

Pilipp, W. G.↗