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At least 361 records · Page 20

Stalled Pulsing Inertial Oscillation Model for a Tornadic Cyclone

A supercell storm is a tall, rotating thunderstorm that can generate hail and tornadoes. Two models exist for the development of the storm's rotation or mesocyclone - the conventional splitting-storm model, and the more recent pulsing inertial oscillation (PIO) model, in which a nonlinear pulse represents the supercell. Although data support both models and both could operate in the same supercell, neither model has satisfactorily explained the tornadic cyclone. A tornadic cyclone is an elevated vorticity concentration of Rossby number approximately 1000 that develops within the contracting mesocyclone shortly before a major tornado appears at the surface. We now show that if the internal temperature excess due to latent energy release is limited to the realistic range of -12 K to +12 K, the PIO model can stall part way through the pulse in a state of contraction and spin-up. Should this happen, the stalled-PIO model can evolve into a tornadic cyclone with a central pressure deficit that exceeds 40 mb, which is greater than the largest measured value. This simulation uses data from a major tornadic supercell that occurred over Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA, on May 3, 1999. The stalled-PIO mechanism also provides a strategy for human intervention to retard or reverse the development of a tornadic cyclone and its pendant tornado.

Costen, Robert C.↗

A Simplified Theory of Coupled Oscillator Array Phase Control

Linear and planar arrays of coupled oscillators have been proposed as means of achieving high power rf sources through coherent spatial power combining. In such - applications, a uniform phase distribution over the aperture is desired. However, it has been shown that by detuning some of the oscillators away from the oscillation frequency of the ensemble of oscillators, one may achieve other useful aperture phase distributions. Notable among these are linear phase distributions resulting in steering of the output rf beam away from the broadside direction. The theory describing the operation of such arrays of coupled oscillators is quite complicated since the phenomena involved are inherently nonlinear. This has made it difficult to develop an intuitive understanding of the impact of oscillator tuning on phase control and has thus impeded practical application. In this work a simpl!fied theory is developed which facilitates intuitive understanding by establishing an analog of the phase control problem in terms of electrostatics.

Pogorzelski, R. J.↗

Nonlinear Reduced-Order Analysis with Time-Varying Spatial Loading Distributions

Oscillating shocks acting in combination with high-intensity acoustic loadings present a challenge to the design of resilient hypersonic flight vehicle structures. This paper addresses some features of this loading condition and certain aspects of a nonlinear reduced-order analysis with emphasis on system identification leading to formation of a robust modal basis. The nonlinear dynamic response of a composite structure subject to the simultaneous action of locally strong oscillating pressure gradients and high-intensity acoustic loadings is considered. The reduced-order analysis used in this work has been previously demonstrated to be both computationally efficient and accurate for time-invariant spatial loading distributions, provided that an appropriate modal basis is used. The challenge of the present study is to identify a suitable basis for loadings with time-varying spatial distributions. Using a proper orthogonal decomposition and modal expansion, it is shown that such a basis can be developed. The basis is made more robust by incrementally expanding it to account for changes in the location, frequency and span of the oscillating pressure gradient.

Prezekop, Adam↗

Quadratic resonance in the three-dimensional oscillations of inviscid drops with surface tension

The moderate-amplitude, three-dimensional oscillations of an inviscid drop are described in terms of spherical harmonics. Specific oscillation modes are resonantly coupled by quadratic nonlinearities caused by inertia, capillarity, and drop deformation. The equations describing the interactions of these modes are derived from the variational principle for the appropriate Lagrangian by expressing the modal amplitudes to be functions of a slow time scale and by preaveraging the Lagrangian over the time scale of the primary oscillations. Stochastic motions are predicted for nonaxisymmetric deformations starting from most initial conditions, even those arbitrarily close to the axisymmetric shapes. The stochasticity is characterized by a redistribution of the energy contained in the initial deformation over all the degrees of freedom of the interacting modes.

Natarajan, R.↗

Vaporization response of evaporating drops with finite thermal conductivity

A numerical computing procedure was developed for calculating vaporization histories of evaporating drops in a combustor in which travelling transverse oscillations occurred. The liquid drop was assumed to have a finite thermal conductivity. The system of equations was solved by using a finite difference method programmed for solution on a high speed digital computer. Oscillations in the ratio of vaporization of an array of repetitivity injected drops in the combustor were obtained from summation of individual drop histories. A nonlinear in-phase frequency response factor for the entire vaporization process to oscillations in pressure was evaluated. A nonlinear out-of-phase response factor, in-phase and out-of-phase harmonic response factors, and a Princeton type 'n' and 'tau' were determined. The resulting data was correlated and is presented in graphical format. Qualitative agreement with the open literature is obtained in the behavior of the in-phase response factor. Quantitatively the results of the present finite conductivity spray analysis do not correlate with the results of a single drop model.

Agosta, V. D.↗

On the stability of the unsteady boundary layer on a cylinder oscillating transversely in a viscous fluid

The stability of the two-dimensional flow induced by the tranverse oscillation of a cylinder in a viscous fluid is investigated in both the linear and weakly nonlinear regime. The major assumption that is made to simplify the problem is that the oscillation frequency is large in which case an unsteady boundary layer is set up on the cylinder. Results are given for cylinders of elliptic cross section and it is found that for any given eccentricity the most dangerous configuration is when the cylinder oscillates parallel to its minor axis. Some discussion of nonlinear effects is also given and for the circular cylinder it is shown that the steady streaming boundary layer of the basic flow is significantly altered by the instability.

Hall, P.↗

On the stability of the unsteady boundary layer on a cylinder oscillating transversely in a viscous fluid

The stability of the two-dimensional flow induced by the transverse oscillation of a cylinder in a viscous fluid is investigated in both the linear and weakly nonlinear regime. The major assumption that is made to simplify the problem is that the oscillation frequency is large in which case an unsteady boundary layer is set up on the cylinder. Results are given for cylinders of elliptic cross section and it is found that for any given eccentricity the most dangerous configuration is when the cylinder oscillates parallel to its minor axis. Some discussion of nonlinear effects is also given and for the circular cylinder it is shown that the steady streaming boundary layer of the basic flow is significantly altered by the instability.

Hall, P.↗

Optomechanical interaction in fibre lasers with micro-optomechanical resonance structures

We report the results of studies of fibre lasers with passive modulators based on light-excited micro-optomechanical resonance structures (micro-oscillators). It is shown that in fibre lasers based on active fibres doped with rare-earth elements (Er, Er/Yb, Yb, Nd), the optomechanical interaction of laser radiation with micro-oscillators of various types (fibre-optic, microvolume) leads to self-oscillations of the characteristics of laser radiation at frequencies of relaxation oscillations and intermode beats synchronised with the frequencies of elastic eigenoscillations of micro-oscillators. It is found that in an ultra-long erbium – ytterbium fibre laser with a nonlinear mirror based on a microcantilever, laser photothermal excitation of the second mode of elastic transverse oscillations of the microcantilever makes it possible to perform passive mode locking exclusively due to Q-switching of the laser cavity. Pulsed lasing with a controlled repetition rate (∼76 kHz), a pulse duration of 2 – 5 μs and an output energy of 0.1 μJ per pulse is implemented. Based on a simplified physical model of the indicated fibre lasers with micro-oscillators, we have developed an approximate mathematical model describing the regimes of passive mode locking of fibre lasers with micro-oscillators that play the role of mirrors with a nonlinear reflection coefficient in the laser cavity. The prospects for the development and application of the considered laser systems are discussed. (control of laser radiation parameters)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Modeling of vortex-induced oscillations based on indicial response approach

The indicial response approach, a modeling approach originally used for studying nonlinear problems in flight dynamics is applied to the study of vortex-induced oscillations phenomena. The indicial response of the velocity field is derived for the problem studied with emphasis on physical postulates involved. A full account of fluid dynamics effects is taken by considering the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The theory is applied to the particular case of flow past a cylinder in periodically forced motion to derive some salient features. The indicial response approach is shown to be equivalent to a currently popular approach based on the use of the amplitude equation. Jump and hysteresis phenomena that experiments indicate occur within the lock-in regime (where the velocity field oscillates at the forcing frequency) are captured by the approach.

Truong, Khiem Van↗

The Salience of Nonlinearities in the Boreal Winter Response to ENSO: Arctic Stratosphere and Europe

The salience of nonlinearities in the Arctic stratospheric response to El Niño - Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is evaluated in a 41 member ensemble of the period 1980 to 2009 in the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System Chemistry-Climate Model. Central Pacific El Niño (CP EN) events preferentially increase zonal wavenumber 2, while Eastern Pacific El Niño (EP EN) events preferentially increase zonal wavenumber 1, though these nonlinearities become statistically robust only after more than 45 events are considered. This leads to a difference in the morphology of SSW events preferentially forced by each ENSO flavor. While the zonal-mean Arctic stratospheric response is little different between EP and CP EN once one accounts for the relative weakness of CP events, the tropospheric subpolar negative North Atlantic Oscillation response is stronger for CP events. Other nonlinearities are even less salient: there is no indication of any nonlinearities in the wave driving between moderate EP EN and extreme EP EN, nor between EN and La Niña (LN). However in approximately 15% of the integrations within our ensemble, there is no difference in SSW frequency between EN and LN, suggesting that a similar SSW frequency for both EN and LN, as has occurred over the past 60 years, can occur by chance. The intra-ensemble variability in LN SSW frequency can be related back to intra-ensemble variability in the tropospheric response to LN.

Arctic↗

Flow-driven spectral chaos (FSC) method for simulating long-time dynamics of arbitrary-order non-linear stochastic dynamical systems

Uncertainty quantification techniques such as the time-dependent generalized polynomial chaos (TD-gPC) use an adaptive orthogonal basis to better represent the stochastic part of the solution space (aka random function space) in time. However, because the random function space is constructed using tensor products, TD-gPC-based methods are known to suffer from the curse of dimensionality. Here, we introduce a new numerical method called the flow-driven spectral chaos (FSC) which overcomes this curse of dimensionality at the random-function-space level. The proposed method is not only computationally more efficient than existing TD-gPC-based methods but is also far more accurate. The FSC method uses the concept of enriched stochastic flow maps to track the evolution of a finite-dimensional random function space efficiently in time. To transfer the probability information from one random function space to another, two approaches are developed and studied herein. In the first approach, the probability information is transferred in the mean-square sense, whereas in the second approach the transfer is done exactly using a new theorem that was developed for this purpose. The FSC method can quantify uncertainties with high fidelity, especially for the long-time response of stochastic dynamical systems governed by ODEs of arbitrary order. Six representative numerical examples, including a nonlinear problem (the Van-der-Pol oscillator), are presented to demonstrate the performance of the FSC method and corroborate the claims of its superior numerical properties. Finally, a parametric, high-dimensional stochastic problem is used to demonstrate that when the FSC method is used in conjunction with Monte Carlo integration, the curse of dimensionality can be overcome altogether.

(nonlinear) stochastic dynamical systems↗

Low-frequency oscillations in radiative-convective systems

Although eastward propagation has long been considered one of the essential features of the Madden-Julian waves, recent observations have revealed a stationary or quasi-stationary component in the oscillations, particularly in measures of the diabatic heating rate. Wave-CISK theories of the low-frequency oscillations have struggled to explain the observed period and vertical structure of the waves. On the other hand, theoretical and numerical studies have shown that low-frequency waves strongly resembling the observed oscillations can be excited by specified low-frequency oscillations of the convective heating. A problem with the latter set of theories is that the cause of the oscillatory heating has not been satisfactorily explained. It is proposed here that the observed low-frequency wave motions are the response to forcing by an essentially stationary, self-excited oscillating heat source that is produced by nonlinear interactions among radiation, cumulus convection, and the surface fluxes of sensible heat and moisture. Feedback of the large-scale motions on the latent heating is not required. Results from two very different one-dimensional models are presented to support this hypothesis. The physical processes included in the models are essentially the same, that is, radiation, cumulus convection, and the surface fluxes of sensible heat and moisture; the first model is highly simplified, however, while the second includes relatively sophisticated parameterizations of all the relevant physical processes. Results from both models show low-frequency oscillations of the latent heating, temperature, and moisture. Experiments show that the oscillations are favored by a warm sea surface and weak surface wind speeds, consistent with the observed conditions over the Indian Ocean and the tropical western Pacific Ocean.

Hu, QI↗

Insights into ENSO Diversity from an Intermediate Coupled Model. Part II: Role of Nonlinear Dynamics and Stochastic Forcing

Abstract In this study, we investigate how a single leading linear El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) mode, as studied in Part I, leads to the irregular coexistence of central Pacific (CP) and eastern Pacific (EP) ENSO, a phenomenon known as ENSO spatiotemporal diversity. This diversity is fundamentally generated by deterministic nonlinear pathways to chaos via the period-doubling route and, more prevailingly, the subharmonic resonance route with the presence of a seasonally varying basic state. When residing in the weakly nonlinear regime, the coupled system sustains a weak periodic oscillation with a mixed CP/EP pattern as captured by the linear ENSO mode. With a stronger nonlinearity effect, the ENSO behavior experiences a period-doubling bifurcation. The single ENSO orbit splits into coexisting CP-like and EP-like ENSO orbits. A sequence of period-doubling bifurcation results in an aperiodic oscillation featuring irregular CP and EP ENSO occurrences. The overlapping of subharmonic resonances between ENSO and the seasonal cycle allows this ENSO irregularity and diversity to be more readily excited. In the strongly nonlinear regime, the coupled system is dominated by regular EP ENSO. The deterministic ENSO spatiotemporal diversity is thus confined to a relatively narrow range corresponding to a moderately unstable ENSO mode. Stochastic forcing broadens this range and allows ENSO diversity to occur when the ENSO mode is weakly subcritical. A close relationship among a weakened mean zonal temperature gradient, stronger ENSO activity, and more (fewer) occurrences of EP (CP) ENSO is noted, indicating that ENSO–mean state interaction may yield ENSO regime modulations on the multidecadal time scale.

Geng, Licheng↗

Hydrodynamic Force on a Cylinder Oscillating at Low Frequency

The hydrodynamic force on a cylinder oscillating transversely to its axis is a nonlinear function of the displacement amplitude x0. We report measurements and numerical calculations of the force at frequencies low enough that delta > R, where delta is the viscous penetration length and R is the cylinder radius. For small amplitudes, the numerically calculated Fourier transform of the force per unit length, F(sub small), agrees with Stokes' analytical calculation. For larger amplitudes, the force per unit length found by both calculation and measurement is F = F(sub small)C (x(sub 0)/delta,R/delta). The complex function C depends only weakly on R/delta, indicating that x0/delta is more appropriate as a scaling variable than the Keulegan-Carpenter number KC = pi*x(sub 0)/R. The measurements used a torsion oscillator driven at frequencies from 1 to 12 Hz while immersed in dense xenon. The oscillator comprised cylinders with an effective radius of R = 13.4 micron and oscillation amplitudes as large as x(sub 0)/delta = 4 (corresponding to KC as large as 71). The calculations used similar conditions except that the amplitudes were as large as x0/delta = 28.

Berg, Robert F.↗

ENSO Diversity Simulated in a Revised Cane-Zebiak Model

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon features rich sea surface temperature (SST) spatial pattern variations dominated by the Central Pacific (CP) and Eastern Pacific (EP) patterns during its warm phase. Understanding such ENSO pattern diversity has been a subject under extensive research activity. To provide a framework for unveiling the fundamental dynamics of ENSO diversity, an intermediate coupled model based on the Cane-Zebiak-type framework, named RCZ, is established in this study. Compared with the original Cane-Zebiak model, RCZ consists of revised model formulation and well-tuned parameterization schemes. All model components are carefully validated against the observations via the standalone mode, in which the observed anomalous SST (wind stress) forcing is prescribed to drive the atmospheric (oceanic) component. The superiority of RCZ’s model components over those in the original Cane-Zebiak model is evidenced by their better performance in simulating the observations. Coupled simulation with RCZ satisfactorily reproduces aspects of the observed ENSO characteristics, including the spatial pattern, phase-locking, amplitude asymmetry, and, particularly, ENSO diversity/bi-modality. RCZ serves as a promising tool for studying dynamics of ENSO diversity as it resolves most of the relevant processes proposed in the literature, including atmospheric nonlinear convective heating, oceanic nonlinear dynamical heating, and the ENSO/westerly wind burst interaction.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Finite element analysis of nonlinear flutter of composite panels

A finite element formulation is developed to analyze large-amplitude panel flutter of arbitrary laminated plates. The plates considered are anisotropic composite, thin rectangular panels. The equations of motion for an oscillating plate are determined and solved by linearizing the nonlinear stiffness matrices. The solution procedure is presented to determine the limit-cycle motions which are caused by the large deflections and vibrations induced by the areodynamic load. The aerodynamic load is defined by the first-order piston theory. Examples studied include cross-ply laminates with various numbers of layers and three-layer angle-ply laminates with different lamination angles. The effects of simply supported and clamped boundary conditions of a cross-ply laminate are also examined.

Dixon, Iain R.↗