Polynomial solutions for the equations of celestial mechanics.
Perturbation theories for equations of celestial mechanics, obtaining analytical solutions in terms of Chebyshev polynomial series
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Perturbation theories for equations of celestial mechanics, obtaining analytical solutions in terms of Chebyshev polynomial series
Polynomial interpolation is an essential subject in numerical analysis. Dealing with a real interval, it is well known that even if f(x) is an analytic function, interpolating at equally spaced points can diverge. On the other hand, interpolating at the zeroes of the corresponding Chebyshev polynomial will converge. Using the Newton formula, this result of convergence is true only on the theoretical level. It is shown that the algorithm which computes the divided differences is numerically stable only if: (1) the interpolating points are arranged in a different order, and (2) the size of the interval is 4.
A class of projection operators with values in a subspace of polynomials is analyzed. These projection operators are related to the Hilbert spaces involved in the numerical analysis of spectral methods. They are, in the first part of the paper, the standard Sobolev spaces and, in the second part, some weighted Sobolev spaces, the weight of which is related to the orthoronality relation satisfied by the Chebyshev polynomials. These results are used to study the approximation of a model fourth-order problem.
A numerically exact spectral method for solving the time-dependent Schroedinger equation in spherical coordinates is described. The angular dependence of the wave function is represented on a two-dimensional grid of evenly spaced points. The fast Fourier transform algorithm is used to transform between the angle space representation of the wave function and its conjugate representation in momentum space. The time propagation of the wave function is evaluated using an expansion of the time evolution operator as a series of Chebyshev polynomials. Calculations performed for a model system representing H2 scattering from a rectangular corrugated surface yield transition probabilities that are in excellent agreement with those obtained using the close-coupling wave packet (CCWP) method. However, the new method is found to require substantially more computation time than the CCWP method because of the large number of grid points needed to represent the angular dependence of the wave function and the variation in the number of terms required in the Chebyshev representation of the time evolution operator.
Chebyshev polynomials maximum property, examining effect of roundoff errors in Horner scheme for floating point arithmetic
A quasi-continuous method is developed for solving thin-wing problems. For the purpose of satisfying the wing boundary conditions, the spanwise vortex distribution is assumed to be stepwise-constant, while the chordwise vortex integral is reduced to a finite sum through a modified trapezoidal rule and the theory of Chebyshev polynomials. Wing-edge and Cauchy singularities are acounted for. The total aerodynamic characteristics are obtained by an appropriate quadrature integration. The two-dimensional results for airfoils without flap deflection reproduce the exact solutions in lift and pitching moment coefficients, the leading edge suction, and the pressure difference at a finite number of points. For a flapped airfoil, the present results are more accurate than those given by the vortex-lattice method. The three-dimensional results also show an improvement over the results of the vortex-lattice method. Extension to nonplanar applications is discussed.
A new method is developed for solving the lifting-surface equation for thin wings. The solution requires the downwash equation to be in the form of Cauchy integrals which can be interpreted as a vortex lattice with the positions of the vortices and control points dictated by the finite sum used to approximate the integrals involved. Lan's continuous loading method is employed for the chordwise integral since it properly accounts for the leading-edge singularity, Cauchy singularity, and Kutta condition. Unlike Lan, the spanwise loading is also continuous and the Cauchy singularity in the spanwise integral is also properly accounted for by using the midpoint trapezoidal rule and the theory of Chebyshev polynomials. This technique yields the exact classical solution to Prandtl's lifting-line equation.The solution to the lifting-surface equation for rectangular wings was found to compare well with other continuous loading methods, but with much smaller computational times, and to converge faster than other vortex lattice methods.
Iterative methods for the approximate solution of the nonlinear state estimation problem are investigated in which the solution is retained in the form of a finite series of Chebyshev polynomials. Algorithms are presented which allow the state to be estimated from observational data in either the batch or the sequential form. The advantages of these techniques are discussed.
An inherent numerical problem associated with the fully explicit pseudospectral numerical simulation of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equation for viscous flows with no-slip walls is described. A semi-implicit scheme which circumvents this numerical difficulty is presented. In this algorithm the equation of continuity rather than the Poisson equation for pressure is solved directly. Pseudospectral formulation of the channel flow problem using Fourier series and Chebyshev polynomials expansions is given for this scheme. An example demonstrating the applicability of the method is given.
A feed design and reflector geometry were determined for an ultra low sidelobe offset fed 1.22 meter antenna suitable for use in the 12 GHz broadcasting satellite service. Arbitrary constraints used to evaluate the relative merits of the feed horns and range of f/D geometries are: minimum efficiency of 55 percent, -30 dB first sidelobe level (relative to on axis gain), a 0 dBi plateau beyond the near in sidelobe region, and a Chebyshev polynomial based envelope (borrowed from filter theory) for the region from the -3 dB beamwidth points to the 0 dBi plateau region. This envelope is extremely stringent but the results of this research effort indicate that two steps of corrugated feed and a cluster array of small 1 lambda horns do meet the constraints. A set of performance specifications and a mechanical design suitable for a consumer oriented market in the broadcasting satellite service was developed. Costs for production quantities of 10,000 units/yr. are estimated to be around $150.
The mission performance characteristics of ramjet-propelled missiles are highly dependent upon the trajectory flown. Integration of the trajectory profile with the ramjet propulsion system performance characteristics to achieve optimal missile performance is very complex. Past trajectory optimization methods have been extremely problem dependent and require a high degree of familiarity to achieve success. A general computer code (CTOP) has been applied to ramjet-powered missiles to compute open-loop optimal trajectories. CTOP employs Chebyshev polynomial representations of the states and controls. This allows a transformation of the continuous optimal control problem to one of parameter optimization. With this method, the trajectory boundary conditions are always satisfied. State dynamics and path constraints are enforced via penalty functions. The presented results include solutions to minimum fuel-to-climb, minimum time-to-climb, and minimum time-to-target intercept problems.
Expansions in Chebyshev polynomials are used to study the linear stability of one dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) quasi-equilibria, in the presence of finite resistivity and viscosity. The method is modeled on the one used by Orszag in accurate computation of solutions of the Orr-Sommerfeld equation. Two Reynolds like numbers involving Alfven speeds, length scales, kinematic viscosity, and magnetic diffusivity govern the stability boundaries, which are determined by the geometric mean of the two Reynolds like numbers. Marginal stability curves, growth rates versus Reynolds like numbers, and growth rates versus parallel wave numbers are exhibited. A numerical result which appears general is that instability was found to be associated with inflection points in the current profile, though no general analytical proof has emerged. It is possible that nonlinear subcritical three dimensional instabilities may exist, similar to those in Poiseuille and Couette flow.
A detailed description of spectral multigrid methods is provided. This includes the interpolation and coarse-grid operators for both periodic and Dirichlet problems. The spectral methods for periodic problems use Fourier series and those for Dirichlet problems are based upon Chebyshev polynomials. An improved preconditioning for Dirichlet problems is given. Numerical examples and practical advice are included.
The possibility of improving the accuracy of geodetic results by use of simultaneously observed ranges to Lageos, in a differencing mode, from pairs of stations was studied. Simulation tests show that model errors can be effectively minimized by simultaneous range differencing (SRD) for a rather broad class of network satellite pass configurations. The methods of least squares approximation are compared with monomials and Chebyshev polynomials and the cubic spline interpolation. Analysis of three types of orbital biases (radial, along- and across track) shows that radial biases are the ones most efficiently minimized in the SRC mode. The degree to which the other two can be minimized depends on the type of parameters under estimation and the geometry of the problem. Sensitivity analyses of the SRD observation show that for baseline length estimations the most useful data are those collected in a direction parallel to the baseline and at a low elevation. Estimating individual baseline lengths with respect to an assumed but fixed orbit not only decreases the cost, but it further reduces the effects of model biases on the results as opposed to a network solution. Analogous results and conclusions are obtained for the estimates of the coordinates of the pole.
Expansions in Chebyshev polynomials are used to study the linear stability of one-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic quasi-equilibria, in the presence of finite resistivity and viscosity. The method is modeled on the one used by Orszag in accurate computation of solutions of the Orr-Sommerfeld equation. Two Reynolds-like numbers involving Alfven speeds, length scales, kinematic viscosity, and magnetic diffusivity govern the stability boundaries, which are determined by the geometric mean of the two Reynolds-like numbers. Marginal stability curves, growth rates versus Reynolds-like numbers, and growth rates versus parallel wave numbers are exhibited. A numerical result that appears general is that instability has been found to be associated with inflection points in the current profile, though no general analytical proof has emerged. It is possible that nonlinear subcritical three-dimensional instabilities may exist, similar to those in Poiseuille and Couette flow.
A detailed description of spectral multigrid methods is provided. This includes the interpolation and coarse-grid operators for both periodic and Dirichlet problems. The spectral methods for periodic problems use Fourier series and those for Dirichlet problems are based upon Chebyshev polynomials. An improved preconditioning for Dirichlet problems is given. Numerical examples and practical advice are included.
An iterative collocation technique is described for modeling implicit viscosity in three-dimensional incompressible wall bounded shear flow. The viscosity can vary temporally and in the vertical direction. Channel flow is modeled with a Fourier-Legendre approximation and the mean streamwise advection is treated implicitly. Explicit terms are handled with an Adams-Bashforth method to increase the allowable time-step for calculation of the implicit terms. The algorithm is applied to low amplitude unstable waves in a plane Poiseuille flow at an Re of 7500. Comparisons are made between results using the Legendre method and with Chebyshev polynomials. Comparable accuracy is obtained for the perturbation kinetic energy predicted using both discretizations.
The method of complex characteristics and hodograph transformation for the design of shockless airfoils was introduced by Bauer, Garabedian, and Korn and has been extended by the author to design subcritical and supercritical cascades with high solidities and large inlet angles. This new capability was achieved by introducing a new conformal mapping of the hodograph domain onto an ellipse and expanding the solution in terms of Chebyshev polynomials. A new computer code, the NASA Lewis inverse design code, was developed based on this idea. This new design code is an efficient method for the design of airfoils in cascade. In particular, the design of subcritical cascades of airfoils is a very fast, robust, and versatile process. The inverse design code can be made to interact with a turbulent boundary layer calculation to obtain airfoils with no separated flows at the design condition. This report is intended to serve as a users manual for this design code. Material previously reported by the author is included here for completeness and quick access to the user. The manual contains a description of the method followed by a discussion of the design procedure and examples. The input parameters necessary to run the code are then described and their default values given. Output listings corresponding to six different blade shapes designed with the code are given, as well as the necessary input data to reproduce the computer runs. The examples have been chosen to show that a wide range of applications can be covered with the code, ranging from supercritical propeller sections to wind tunnel turning vanes that can operate with a large inlet flow angle range.