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At least 379 records · Page 21

The NASA controls-structures interaction technology program

The interaction between a flexible spacecraft structure and its control system is commonly referred to as controls-structures interaction (CSI). The CSI technology program is developing the capability and confidence to integrate the structure and control system, so as to avoid interactions that cause problems and to exploit interactions to increase spacecraft capability. A NASA program has been initiated to advance CSI technology to a point where it can be used in spacecraft design for future missions. The CSI technology program is a multicenter program utilizing the resources of the NASA Langley Research Center, the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The purpose of this paper is to describe the current activities, results to date, and future activities of the NASA CSI technology program.

Newsom, Jerry R.↗

An assessment of full potential and Euler solutions for self-generated rotor blade-vortex interactions

An assessment is made of the accuracy and suitability of the three-dimensional full potential and Euler equations in the modeling of subcritical and supercritical rotor blade-vortex interactions (BVI). The interaction velocity fields are obtained through a nonlinear superposition of the rotor and the vortex wake flow fields. Vortex effects are simulated using the velocity 'transpiration' approach. A modified surface condition is prescribed and enforced at each time step of the computations to satisfy the tangency boundary condition. Potential blade-vortex encounters are identified and tracked in time at equal increments of rotor azimuth using the lifting-line helicopter/rotor trim code CAMRAD. This information is then utilized in interpolation routines within the flow solvers to compute the instantaneous position(s) of the interaction vortex element(s) with respect to the blade for the time-accurate calculations. Results for subcritical self-generated BVI and for supercritical interactions resulting from an upstream-generated vortex are presented.

Hassan, A. A.↗

Theoretical and experimental study of unsteady rotor/body aerodynamic interactions

A systematic study is made of the unsteady interactions between a rotor and a body in order to assess the degree of sophistication necessary to accurately predict the unsteady pressure signatures on a helicopter fuselage due to the rotor and its wake. Experimental measurements and theoretical calculations were both made in order to clarify the nature of the unsteady interactions and to define the limitations of potential flow theory in modeling the various phenomena. An attempt is made to accurately model the geometry of vortex/surface interactions as well as to include the appropriate unsteady terms in the analysis. Unsteady pressure measurements from a series of wind tunnel experiments are also provided. Such data has allowed new conlusions on the nature of body pressure signatures which are due to blade passage effects, close wake interactions, and wake inmpingement on the fuselage. It is also concluded that the flowfield about the body is highly unsteady and cannot be modeled without the inclusion of the unsteady terms in the calculation of the local surface pressures and that theoretical modeling is still possible over most of the flow field using an unsteady inviscid analysis.

Crouse, G. L.↗

An exploratory study of a three-dimensional shock wave turbulent boundary layer interaction in a corner

Three-dimensional shock wave turbulent boundary layer interactions in a corner have been studied at M about 3. The first phase, detailed mean wall static pressure distributions, has shown the interaction of a two-dimensional flow on one wall with the three-dimensional flow generated by a fin. Major three-dimensional effects on both flows were observed, extending from the interaction of the initial region of the three-dimensional flow and the corner. A large part of the resulting corner flow has little resemblance to either the two-dimensional or three-dimensional interacting flows.

Bogdonoff, S. M.↗

Interaction of a finite-length ion beam with a background plasma - Reflected ions at the quasi-parallel bow shock

The coupling of a finite-length, field-aligned, ion beam with a uniform background plasma is investigated using one-dimensional hybrid computer simulations. The finite-length beam is used to study the interaction between the incident solar wind and ions reflected from the earth's quasi-parallel bow shock, where the reflection process may vary with time. The coupling between the reflected ions and the solar wind is relevant to ion heating at the bow shock and possibly to the formation of hot, flow anomalies and re-formation of the shock itself. Consistent with linear theory, the waves which dominate the interaction are the electromagnetic right-hand polarized resonant and nonresonant modes. However, in addition to the instability growth rates, the length of time that the waves are in contact with the beam is also an important factor in determining which wave mode will dominate the interaction. It is found that interaction will result in strong coupling, where a significant fraction of the available free energy is converted into thermal energy in a short time, provided the beam is sufficiently dense or sufficiently long.

Onsager, T. G.↗

The effect of bleed configuration on shock/boundary layer interactions

The flow field characteristics are simulated numerically in an oblique shock wave/laminar boundary layer interaction for three different bleed configurations. The numerical solution for the flow field is obtained for the strong conservation-law form of the two-dimensional compressible Navier-Stokes equations using an implicit scheme. The computations model the flow in the interaction region and inside the bleed slot for an impinging oblique shock of sufficient strength to cause boundary layer separation on a flat plate boundary layer. The computed results are presented for a normal bleed slot at three different locations, upstream, across and downstream of the shock impingement point. The detailed flow characteristics in the interaction zone and inside the bleed slot are compared for the three cases. The resulting surface pressure and shear stress distributions are also compared for the three bleed cases and for the shock wave boundary layer interaction without bleed.

Hamed, A.↗

Analysis of airframe/engine interactions in integrated flight and propulsion control

An analysis framework for the assessment of dynamic cross-coupling between airframe and engine systems from the perspective of integrated flight/propulsion control is presented. This analysis involves to determining the significance of the interactions with respect to deterioration in stability robustness and performance, as well as critical frequency ranges where problems may occur due to these interactions. The analysis illustrated here investigates both the airframe's effects on the engine control loops and the engine's effects on the airframe control loops in two case studies. The second case study involves a multi-input/multi-output analysis of the airframe. Sensitivity studies are performed on critical interactions to examine the degradations in the system's stability robustness and performance. Magnitudes of the interactions required to cause instabilities, as well as the frequencies at which the instabilities occur are recorded. Finally, the analysis framework is expanded to include control laws which contain cross-feeds between the airframe and engine systems.

Schierman, John D.↗

Radial evolution of interaction regions

Near and outside 1 AU, corotating interaction regions bounded by shocks form at the leading edges of high-speed streams. This paper describes the radial evolution of interaction regions, the merging of interaction regions belonging to neighboring streams, and the coalescence of interaction regions belonging to successive solar rotations.

Whang, Y. C.↗

Data analysis and interpretation related to space system/environment interactions at LEO altitude

Several studies made on the interaction of active systems with the LEO space environment experienced from orbital or suborbital platforms are covered. The issue of high voltage space interaction is covered by theoretical modeling studies of the interaction of charged solar cell arrays with the ionospheric plasma. The theoretical studies were complemented by experimental measurements made in a vacuum chamber. The other active system studied was the emission of effluent from a space platform. In one study the emission of plasma into the LEO environment was studied by using initially a 2-D model, and then extending this model to 3-D to correctly take account of plasma motion parallel to the geomagnetic field. The other effluent studies related to the releases of neutral gas from an orbiting platform. One model which was extended and used determined the density, velocity, and energy of both an effluent gas and the ambient upper atmospheric gases over a large volume around the platform. This model was adapted to study both ambient and contaminant distributions around smaller objects in the orbital frame of reference with scale sizes of 1 m. The other effluent studies related to the interaction of the released neutral gas with the ambient ionospheric plasma. An electrostatic model was used to help understand anomalously high plasma densities measured at times in the vicinity of the space shuttle orbiter.

Raitt, W. John↗

Interactive solution-adaptive grid generation procedure

TURBO-AD is an interactive solution adaptive grid generation program under development. The program combines an interactive algebraic grid generation technique and a solution adaptive grid generation technique into a single interactive package. The control point form uses a sparse collection of control points to algebraically generate a field grid. This technique provides local grid control capability and is well suited to interactive work due to its speed and efficiency. A mapping from the physical domain to a parametric domain was used to improve difficulties encountered near outwardly concave boundaries in the control point technique. Therefore, all grid modifications are performed on the unit square in the parametric domain, and the new adapted grid is then mapped back to the physical domain. The grid adaption is achieved by adapting the control points to a numerical solution in the parametric domain using control sources obtained from the flow properties. Then a new modified grid is generated from the adapted control net. This process is efficient because the number of control points is much less than the number of grid points and the generation of the grid is an efficient algebraic process. TURBO-AD provides the user with both local and global controls.

Henderson, Todd L.↗

Interactive solution-adaptive grid generation

TURBO-AD is an interactive solution-adaptive grid generation program under development. The program combines an interactive algebraic grid generation technique and a solution-adaptive grid generation technique into a single interactive solution-adaptive grid generation package. The control point form uses a sparse collection of control points to algebraically generate a field grid. This technique provides local grid control capability and is well suited to interactive work due to its speed and efficiency. A mapping from the physical domain to a parametric domain was used to improve difficulties that had been encountered near outwardly concave boundaries in the control point technique. Therefore, all grid modifications are performed on a unit square in the parametric domain, and the new adapted grid in the parametric domain is then mapped back to the physical domain. The grid adaptation is achieved by first adapting the control points to a numerical solution in the parametric domain using control sources obtained from flow properties. Then a new modified grid is generated from the adapted control net. This solution-adaptive grid generation process is efficient because the number of control points is much less than the number of grid points and the generation of a new grid from the adapted control net is an efficient algebraic process. TURBO-AD provides the user with both local and global grid controls.

Choo, Yung K.↗

TIGER: Turbomachinery interactive grid generation

A three dimensional, interactive grid generation code, TIGER, is being developed for analysis of flows around ducted or unducted propellers. TIGER is a customized grid generator that combines new technology with methods from general grid generation codes. The code generates multiple block, structured grids around multiple blade rows with a hub and shroud for either C grid or H grid topologies. The code is intended for use with a Euler/Navier-Stokes solver also being developed, but is general enough for use with other flow solvers. TIGER features a silicon graphics interactive graphics environment that displays a pop-up window, graphics window, and text window. The geometry is read as a discrete set of points with options for several industrial standard formats and NASA standard formats. Various splines are available for defining the surface geometries. Grid generation is done either interactively or through a batch mode operation using history files from a previously generated grid. The batch mode operation can be done either with a graphical display of the interactive session or with no graphics so that the code can be run on another computer system. Run time can be significantly reduced by running on a Cray-YMP.

Soni, Bharat K.↗

Electrical and chemical interactions at Mars Workshop, part 1

The Electrical and Chemical Interactions at Mars Workshop, hosted by NASA Lewis Research Center on November 19 and 20, 1991, was held with the following objectives in mind: (1) to identify issues related to electrical and chemical interactions between systems and their local environments on Mars, and (2) to recommend means of addressing those issues, including the dispatch of robotic spacecraft to Mars to acquire necessary information. The workshop began with presentations about Mars' surface and orbital environments, Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) systems, environmental interactions, modeling and analysis, and plans for exploration. Participants were then divided into two working groups: one to examine the surface of Mars; and the other, the orbit of Mars. The working groups were to identify issues relating to environmental interactions; to state for each issue what is known and what new knowledge is needed; and to recommend ways to fulfill the need. Issues were prioritized within each working group using the relative severity of effects as a criterion. Described here are the two working groups' contributions. A bibliography of materials used during the workshop and suggested reference materials is included.

Source record↗

Collision integrals for the interaction of the ions of nitrogen and oxygen in a plasma at high temperatures and pressures

The corrections to the transport cross-sections and collision integrals for Coulomb interactions arising from the application of realistic interaction energies of the ions of nitrogen and oxygen are investigated. Accurate potential-energy curves from an ab initio electronic-structure calculation and a semiclassical description of the scattering are used to determine the difference between the cross-sections for the real interaction forces and a Coulomb force for large values of the Debye shielding parameter. Graphs of the correction to the diffusion and viscosity-collision integrals are presented for temperatures from about 10,000 K to 150,000 K. This correction can be combined with tabulations of the collision integrals for shielded Coulomb potentials to determine the contribution of N(+)-N(+), N(+)-O(+), and O(+)-O(+) interactions to the transport properties of high-temperature air. Analytical forms are fitted to the calculated results to assist this application.

Stallcop, James R.↗

Unsteady separation in sharp fin-induced shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interaction at Mach 5

Fluctuating wall-pressure measurements are made in shock-wave/turbulent-boundary-layer interactions generated by sharp/unswept fins at angles of attack of 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, and 28 degrees at Mach 5. The experiment was conducted under approximately adiabatic wall temperature conditions. The mean and rms pressure distributions can be collapsed in conical coordinates. The wall-pressure signal near separation is intermittent for all angles of attack (16-28 deg) and is qualitatively similar to that measured in unswept flows. However, the shock frequencies are higher - about 5 kHz compared to 0.5-1 kHz. Over the range of sweepbacks examined, from 25-55 deg, the spectral content of the fluctuating pressures does not change. Thus, the increase in separation-shock frequency from 1 to 5 kHz occurs at lower interaction sweepback and is not a continuous process with increasing sweepback. Power spectra at the position of maximum rms in the intermittent region for interactions in different incoming boundary layers have the same center frequency. The maximum rms in the intermittent region correlates with interaction sweepback, not with overall inviscid pressure rise.

Schmisseur, J. D.↗

Presupernova evolution in massive interacting binaries

The way in which binary interaction affects the presupernova evolution of massive close binaries and the resulting supernova explosions is investigated systematically by means of a Henyey-type stellar evolution code that was modified to allow its application to binary stellar evolution calculations. The code makes it possible to trace the effects of mass and angular momentum loss from the binary, as well as mass transfer within the binary system. It is found that a large number of binary scenarios can be distinguished, depending on the type of binary interaction and the evolutionary stage of the supernova progenitor at the time of the interaction. Monte Carlo simulations are performed to estimate the frequencies of the occurrence of various scenarios. It is found that, because of a previous binary interaction, 15-30 percent of all massive stars (with initial masses greater than about 8 solar masses) become helium stars, and another 5 percent of all massive stars end their lives as blue supergiants rather than as red supergiants.

Podsiadlowski, PH.↗

Three-dimensional blade vortex interactions

A three-dimensional time dependent Navier-Stokes analysis was applied to the rotor blade vortex interaction problem. The numerical procedure is an iterative implicit procedure using three point central differences to represent spatial derivatives. A series of calculations were made to determine the time steps, pseudo-time steps, iterations, artificial dissipation level, etc. required to maintain a nondissipative vortex. Results show the chosen method to have excellent non-dissipative properties provided the correct parameters are chosen. This study was used to set parameters for both two- and three-dimensional blade vortex interaction studies. The case considered was the interaction between a vortex and a NACA0012 airfoil. The results showed the detailed physics during the interaction including the pressure pulse propagating from the blade. The simulated flow physics was qualitatively similar to that experimentally observed. The BVI phenomena is the result of the buildup and violent collapse of the shock waves and local supersonic pockets on the blade surfaces. The resulting pressure pulse build-up appears to be centered at the blade leading edge.

Davoudzadeh, Farhad↗

Turbulence modeling in shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interactions

The research performed was an experimental program to help develop turbulence models for shock wave boundary layer interactions. The measurements were taken in a Mach 3, 16 deg compression corner interaction, at a unit Reynolds number of 63 x 10(exp 6)/m. The data consisted of heat transfer data taken upstream and downstream of the interaction, hot wire measurements of the instantaneous temperature and velocity fluctuations to verify the Strong Reynolds Analogy, and single- and double-pulsed Rayleigh scattering images to study the development of the instantaneous shock/turbulence interaction.

Smits, A. J.↗