Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Splitting”

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 361 records · Page 20

Flux-vector splitting for the Euler equations

Flux-vector splitting is shown to be the simplest way of implementing upwind differencing for the full or isenthalpic Euler equations combined with the ideal-gas law. The scheme presented produces steady shock profiles with two interior zones. A disadvantage in using flux-vector splitting is that it leads to numerical diffusion of a contact discontinuity at rest. This diffusion, however, can be removed, and present research is aimed at achieving this with minimal computational effort.

Van Leer, B.↗

A comparison of finite volume flux vector splittings for the Euler equations

A comparison is made between the computational results of the Steger-Warming (1981) and van Leer (1982) flux splitting methods, which have been applied in generalized coordinates to quasi-one-dimensional transonic flow in a nozzle and two-dimensional subsonic, transonic, and supersonic flow over airfoils. The latter splitting method leads to higher convergence rates and a sharper representation of shocks in the transition region. The second-order accurate, one-sided-difference model is extended to a third-order, upwind-biased model with only small additional computational effort.

Anderson, W. K.↗

Implicit flux-split schemes for the Euler equations

Recent progress in the development of implicit algorithms for the Euler equations using the flux-vector splitting method is described. Comparisons of the relative efficiency of relaxation and spatially-split approximately factored methods on a vector processor for two-dimensional flows are made. For transonic flows, the higher convergence rate per iteration of the Gauss-Seidel relaxation algorithms, which are only partially vectorizable, is amply compensated for by the faster computational rate per iteration of the approximately factored algorithm. For supersonic flows, the fully-upwind line-relaxation method is more efficient since the numerical domain of dependence is more closely matched to the physical domain of dependence. A hybrid three-dimensional algorithm using relaxation in one coordinate direction and approximate factorization in the cross-flow plane is developed and applied to a forebody shape at supersonic speeds and a swept, tapered wing at transonic speeds.

Thomas, J. L.↗

Multigrid acceleration of the flux split Euler equations

Multigrid acceleration is applied to a flux-split algorithm for solving the Euler equations in two and three dimensions. The basic algorithm is an implicit spatially-split approximate factorization method. The stability of the scheme in comparison to other factorization is examined. Results are presented for two-dimensional airfoil flows and three-dimensional wing flows which demonstrate substantially improved convergence with the multigrid algorithm. An asymptotic spectral radius of 0.89 and 0.93 is attained for a 97 x 17 x 17 wing solution at subcritical and supercritical conditions, respectively.

Anderson, W. K.↗

Discontinuous solutions to hyperbolic systems under operator splitting

Two-dimensional systems of linear hyperbolic equations are studied with regard to their behavior under a solution strategy that in alternate time-steps solves exactly the component one-dimensional operators. The initial data is a step function across an oblique discontinuity. The manner in which this discontinuity breaks up under repeated applications of the split operator is analyzed, and it is shown that the split solution will fail to match the true solution in any case where the two operators do not share all their eigenvectors. The special case of the fluid flow equations is analyzed in more detail, and it is shown that arbitrary initial data gives rise to pseudo acoustic waves and a non-physical stationary wave. The implications of these findings for the design of high-resolution computing schemes are discussed.

Roe, P. L.↗

Chemistry-split techniques for viscous reactive blunt body flow computations

The weak-coupling structure between the fluid and species equations has been exploited and resulted in three, closely related, time-iterative implicit techniques. While the primitive variables are solved in two separated groups and each by an Alternating Direction Implicit (ADI) factorization scheme, the rate-species Jacobian can be treated in either full or diagonal matrix form, or simply ignored. The latter two versions render the split technique to solving for species as scalar rather than vector variables. The solution is completed at the end of each iteration after determining temperature and pressure from the flow density, energy and species concentrations. Numerical experimentation has shown that the split scalar technique, using partial rate Jacobian, yields the best overall stability and consistency. Satisfactory viscous solutions were obtained for an ellipsoidal body of axis ratio 3:1 at Mach 35 and an angle of attack of 20 degrees.

Li, C. P.↗

Extension and applications of flux-vector splitting to unsteady calculations on dynamic meshes

The Van Leer method of flux-vector splitting for the Euler equations is extended for use on moving meshes and all the properties of the original splittings are maintained. The solution is advanced in time with an implicit, approximately factored algorithm. The use of multiple grids to reduce the computer time is investigated. A substantial reduction in computer time to resolve a pitching cycle is easily obtained with virtually no loss in accuracy. A subiterative procedure to eliminate factorization and linearization errors so that larger time steps can be used is also investigated. Subsequent computations show good agreement with experimental data for transonic and supersonic airfoils and wings undergoing forced pitching oscillation.

Anderson, W. Kyle↗

Modulated-splitting-ratio fiber-optic temperature sensor

A fiber-optic temperature sensor is described, which uses a small silicon beamsplitter whose splitting ratio varies as a function of temperature. A four-beam technique is used to measure the sensor's temperature-indicating splitting ratio. This referencing method provides a measurement that is largely independent of the transmission properties of the sensor's optical fiber link. A significant advantage of this sensor, relative to other fiber-optic sensors, is its high stability, which permits the fiber-optic components to be readily substituted, thereby simplifying the sensor's installation and maintenance.

Beheim, Glenn↗

Optimized retrievals of precipitable water from the VAS 'split window'

Precipitable water fields have been retrieved from the VISSR Atmospheric Sounder (VAS) using a radiation transfer model for the differential water vapor absorption between the 11- and 12-micron 'split window' channels. Previous moisture retrievals using only the split window channels provided very good space-time continuity but poor absolute accuracy. This note describes how retrieval errors can be significantly reduced from plus or minus 0.9 to plus or minus 0.6 gm/sq cm by empirically optimizing the effective air temperature and absorption coefficients used in the two-channel model. The differential absorption between the VAS 11- and 12-micron channels, empirically estimated from 135 colocated VAS-RAOB observations, is found to be approximately 50 percent smaller than the theoretical estimates. Similar discrepancies have been noted previously between theoretical and empirical absorption coefficients applied to the retrieval of sea surface temperatures using radiances observed by VAS and polar-orbiting satellites. These discrepancies indicate that radiation transfer models for the 11-micron window appear to be less accurate than the satellite observations.

Chesters, Dennis↗

Magnetic field drift shell splitting - Cause of unusual dayside particle pitch angle distributions during storms and substorms

This paper presents a magnetic field drift shell-splitting model for the unusual butterfly and head-and-shoulder energetic (E greater than 25 keV) particle pitch angle distributions (PADs) which appear deep within the dayside magnetosphere during the course of storms and substorms. Drift shell splitting separates the high and low pitch angle particles in nightside injections as they move to the dayside magnetosphere, so that the higher pitch angle particles move radially away from earth. Consequently, butterfly PADs with a surplus of low pitch angle particles form on the inner edge of the injection, but head-and-shoulder PADs with a surplus of high pitch angle particles form on the outer edge. A similar process removes high pitch angle particles from the inner dayside magnetosphere during storms, leaving the remaining lower pitch angle particles to form butterfly PADs on the inner edge of the ring current. A detailed case and statistical study of Charge Composition Explorer/Medium-energy Particle Analyzer observations, as well as a review of previous work, shows most examples of unusual PADs to be consistent with the model.

Sibeck, D. G.↗

Comparison of flux-vector and flux-difference splitting techniques for hypersonic flow

Some numerical aspects of flux-vector splitting (FVS) and flux-difference splitting (FDS) schemes are investigated to determine the accuracy for the shock and expansion waves in hypersonic blunt body flow fields. The analysis includes the implementation of Steger-Warming's three-component FVS (Reklis and Thomas, 1981), van Leer's (1986) FVS, and Yang's (1985) FDS to the right-hand side of a time marching scheme where the left-hand side is a variant of the incremental line Gauss-Seidel scheme. Numerous computations are performed by blending two simple flux limiters to test the various schemes on a generic aerobrake at M(infinity) = 10 and zero angle of attack. It is found that the flux limiter plays a very important role in the accuracy of shock capturing. The steady state results are compared to those of a shock-fitting scheme and advantages and disadvantages of each scheme are discussed briefly.

Wey, T. C.↗

Evaluation of the split cantilever beam for Mode 3 delamination testing

A test rig for testing a thick split cantilever beam for scissoring delamination (mode 3) fracture toughness was developed. A 3-D finite element analysis was conducted on the test specimen to determine the strain energy release rate, G, distribution along the delamination front. The virtual crack closure technique was used to calculate the G components resulting from interlaminar tension, GI, interlaminar sliding shear, GII, and interlaminar tearing shear, GIII. The finite element analysis showed that at the delamination front no GI component existed, but a GII component was present in addition to a GIII component. Furthermore, near the free edges, the GII component was significantly higher than the GIII component. The GII/GIII ratio was found to increase with delamination length but was insensitive to the beam depth. The presence of GII at the delamination front was verified experimentally by examination of the failure surfaces. At the center of the beam, where the failure was in mode 3, there was significant fiber bridging. However, at the edges of the beam where the failure was in mode 3, there was no fiber bridging and mode 2 shear hackles were observed. Therefore, it was concluded that the split cantilever beam configuration does not represent a pure mode 3 test. The experimental work showed that the mode 2 fracture toughness, GIIc, must be less than the mode 3 fracture toughness, GIIIc. Therefore, a conservative approach to characterizing mode 3 delamination is to equate GIIIc to GIIc.

Martin, Roderick H.↗

A detailed analysis of inviscid flux splitting algorithms for real gases with equilibrium or finite-rate chemistry

The extension of the known flux-vector and flux-difference splittings to real gases via rigorous mathematical procedures is demonstrated. Formulations of both equilibrium and finite-rate chemistry for real-gas flows are described, with emphasis on derivations of finite-rate chemistry. Split-flux formulas from other authors are examined. A second-order upwind-based TVD scheme is adopted to eliminate oscillations and to obtain a sharp representation of discontinuities.

Shuen, Jian-Shun↗

Modulated-splitting-ratio fiber-optic temperature sensor

A fiber-optic temperature sensor is described that uses a small silicon beamsplitter whose splitting ratio varies as a function of temperature. A four-beam technique is used to measure the sensor's temperature-indicating splitting ratio. This referencing method provides a measurement that is largely independent of the transmission properties of the sensor's optical fiber link. A significant advantage of this sensor, relative to other fiber-optic sensors, is its high stability, which permits the fiber-optic components to be readily substituted, thereby simplifying the sensor's installation and maintenance.

Beheim, Glenn↗

Atmospheric methane measurement instrument using a Zeeman-split He-Ne laser

The construction of an atmospheric methane measurement instrument based on a Zeeman-split IR He-Ne laser is reported. The laser has a tranverse magnetic field over about 2/3 of its gain length and can oscillate at an (unsplit) frequency (2947.91/cm) centered on a methane absorption line, or on either of two frequencies split by + or - 0.055/cm from the center, with low CH4 absorption. The laser is tuned to dwell sequentially at each frequency, giving two differential absorption measurements in each 46-ms tuning cycle. Atmospheric measurements are made using two multiple pass absorption cells, one with fast (0.75-s) and one with slow (5-s) flow response times. Fluctuations in ambient CH4 of about 20-ppb (rms, 1-s averaging) are detected, with interference fringe effects the dominant noise source. The instrument has operated in a field experiment (NASA GTE/ABLE-3A) in Alaska.

Mcmanus, J. Barry↗

Distributed computing system with dual independent communications paths between computers and employing split tokens

This is a distributed computing system providing flexible fault tolerance; ease of software design and concurrency specification; and dynamic balance of the loads. The system comprises a plurality of computers each having a first input/output interface and a second input/output interface for interfacing to communications networks each second input/output interface including a bypass for bypassing the associated computer. A global communications network interconnects the first input/output interfaces for providing each computer the ability to broadcast messages simultaneously to the remainder of the computers. A meshwork communications network interconnects the second input/output interfaces providing each computer with the ability to establish a communications link with another of the computers bypassing the remainder of computers. Each computer is controlled by a resident copy of a common operating system. Communications between respective ones of computers is by means of split tokens each having a moving first portion which is sent from computer to computer and a resident second portion which is disposed in the memory of at least one of computer and wherein the location of the second portion is part of the first portion. The split tokens represent both functions to be executed by the computers and data to be employed in the execution of the functions. The first input/output interfaces each include logic for detecting a collision between messages and for terminating the broadcasting of a message whereby collisions between messages are detected and avoided.

Rasmussen, Robert D.↗

Image segmentation by iterative parallel region growing and splitting

The spatially constrained clustering (SCC) iterative parallel region-growing technique is applied to image analysis. The SCC algorithm is implemented on the massively parallel processor at NASA Goddard. Most previous region-growing approaches have the drawback that the segmentation produced depends on the order in which portions of the image are processed. The ideal solution to this problem (merging only the single most similar pair of spatially adjacent regions in the image in each iteration) becomes impractical except for very small images, even on a massively parallel computer. The SCC algorithm overcomes these problems by performing, in parallel, the best merge within each of a set of local, possibly overlapping, subimages. A region-splitting stage is also incorporated into the algorithm, but experiments show that region splitting generally does not improve segmentation results. The SCC algorithm has been tested on various imagery data, and test results for a Landsat TM image are summarized.

Tilton, James C.↗

An intrinsically n-dimensional generalized flux vector splitting implicit finite element Euler algorithm

A generalized flux-vector splitting implicit Galerkin finite-element algorithm for the Euler equations in curvilinear coordinates for ideal and reacting gases is derived. For an arbitrary equation of state, the curvilinear-coordinate flux vector is split in kinematic and kinetic components, and the associated jacobian matrix eigenvalues explicitly depend on the metric data. After directional semidiscretization, the terminal ordinary differential-equation system is solved via a nonlinearly stable implicit Runge-Kutta scheme in concert with an accurate tensor matrix product factorization. The results for selected two-dimensional supersonic and axisymmetric hypersonic flows validate the algorithm and verify its robustness for curvilinear-coordinate computations. The evolution towards a steady state is achieved for large Courant numbers without indication of numerical instabilities.

Iannelli, G. S.↗