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At least 433 records · Page 24

Program For Displaying Computed Electromagnetic Fields

EM-ANIMATE computer program specialized visualization displays and animates output data on near fields and surface currents computed by electromagnetic-field program - in particular MOM3D (LAR-15074). Program based on windows and contains user-friendly, graphical interface for setting viewing options, selecting cases, manipulating files, and like. Written in FORTRAN 77. EM-ANIMATE also available as part of package, COS-10048, includes MOM3D, IRIS program computing near-field and surface-current solutions of electromagnetic-field equations.

Hom, Kam W.↗

Prediction of shipboard electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems using artificial intelligence (AI) technology

The electromagnetic interference prediction problem is characteristically ill-defined and complicated. Severe EMI problems are prevalent throughout the U.S. Navy, causing both expected and unexpected impacts on the operational performance of electronic combat systems onboard ships. This paper focuses on applying artificial intelligence (AI) technology to the prediction of ship related electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems.

Swanson, David J.↗

Marshall Space Flight Center Electromagnetic Compatibility Design and Interference Control (MEDIC) handbook

The purpose of the MEDIC Handbook is to provide practical and helpful information in the design of electrical equipment for electromagnetic compatibility (EMS). Included is the definition of electromagnetic interference (EMI) terms and units as well as an explanation of the basic EMI interactions. An overview of typical NASA EMI test requirements and associated test setups is given. General design techniques to minimize the risk of EMI and EMI suppression techniques at the board and equipment interface levels are presented. The Handbook contains specific EMI test compliance design techniques and retrofit fixes for noncompliant equipment. Also presented are special tests that are useful in the design process or in instances of specification noncompliance.

Clark, T. L.↗

Quantization of Electromagnetic Fields in Cavities

A quantization procedure for the electromagnetic field in a rectangular cavity with perfect conductor walls is presented, where a decomposition formula of the field plays an essential role. All vector mode functions are obtained by using the decomposition. After expanding the field in terms of the vector mode functions, we get the quantized electromagnetic Hamiltonian.

Kakazu, Kiyotaka↗

Electromagnetic Scattering Analysis of Arbitrarily Shaped Material Cylinder by FEM-BEM Method

A hybrid method that combines the finite element method (FEM) and the boundary element method (BEM) is developed to analyze electromagnetic scattering from arbitrarily shaped material cylinders. By this method, the material cylinder is first enclosed by a fictitious boundary. Maxwell's equations are then solved by FEM inside and by BEM outside the boundary. Electromagnetic scattering from several arbitrarily shaped material cylinders is computed and compared with results obtained by other numerical techniques.

Deshpande, M. D.↗

Design and Analysis of an Electromagnetic Thrust Bearing

A double-acting electromagnetic thrust bearing is normally used to counter the axial loads in many rotating machines that employ magnetic bearings. It essentially consists of an actuator and drive electronics. Existing thrust bearing design programs are based on several assumptions. These assumptions, however, are often violated in practice. For example, no distinction is made between maximum external loads and maximum bearing forces, which are assumed to be identical. Furthermore, it is assumed that the maximum flux density in the air gap occurs at the nominal gap position of the thrust runner. The purpose of this paper is to present a clear theoretical basis for the design of the electromagnetic thrust bearing which obviates such assumptions.

Banerjee, Bibhuti↗

Asymptotic Waveform Evaluation (AWE) Technique for Frequency Domain Electromagnetic Analysis

The Asymptotic Waveform Evaluation (AWE) technique is applied to a generalized frequency domain electromagnetic problem. Most of the frequency domain techniques in computational electromagnetics result in a matrix equation, which is solved at a single frequency. In the AWE technique, the Taylor series expansion around that frequency is applied to the matrix equation. The coefficients of the Taylor's series are obtained in terms of the frequency derivatives of the matrices evaluated at the expansion frequency. The coefficients hence obtained will be used to predict the frequency response of the system over a frequency range. The detailed derivation of the coefficients (called 'moments') is given along with an illustration for electric field integral equation (or Method of Moments) technique. The radar cross section (RCS) frequency response of a square plate is presented using the AWE technique and is compared with the exact solution at various frequencies.

Cockrell, C. R.↗

An Improved Computational Technique for Calculating Electromagnetic Forces and Power Absorptions Generated in Spherical and Deformed Body in Levitation Melting Devices

An improved computational technique for calculating the electromagnetic force field, the power absorption and the deformation of an electromagnetically levitated metal sample is described. The technique is based on the volume integral method, but represents a substantial refinement; the coordinate transformation employed allows the efficient treatment of a broad class of rotationally symmetrical bodies. Computed results are presented to represent the behavior of levitation melted metal samples in a multi-coil, multi-frequency levitation unit to be used in microgravity experiments. The theoretical predictions are compared with both analytical solutions and with the results or previous computational efforts for the spherical samples and the agreement has been very good. The treatment of problems involving deformed surfaces and actually predicting the deformed shape of the specimens breaks new ground and should be the major usefulness of the proposed method.

Zong, Jin-Ho↗

On the Shape of Liquid Metal Droplets in Electromagnetic Levitation Experiments

We present calculations and measurements on the shape of liquid metal droplets in electromagnetic levitation experiments. A normal stress balance model was developed to predict the shapes of liquid metal droplets that will be obtained in a microgravity experiment to measure the viscosity and surface tension of undercooled metals. This model was tested by calculating the droplet shapes in containerless experiments conducted to determine the surface tension of liquid metals. Inconsistencies associated with the results of a previous paper are elucidated. The computational results of the mathematical model are compared with the results of ground-based experiments for two different metals. The importance of the ratio of electromagnetic skin depth-to-droplet radius to the accuracy of the mathematical model is discussed. A planned alternate approach to modeling the shape by consideration of the entire droplet rather than only the surface is presented. As an example of an application. the influence of the shape on the splitting of the surface oscillation modes of levitated liquid metal droplets is discussed.

Schwartz, E.↗

Theory of an Electromagnetic Mass Accelerator for Achieving Hypervelocities

It is shown that for any electromagnetic accelerator which employs an electromagnetic force for driving the projectile and uses the projectile as the heat sink for the energy dissipated in it by ohmic heating, the maximum velocity attainable without melting is a function of the mass of the projectile. Therefore, for hypervelocities a large projectile mass is required and thus a power supply of very large capacity is necessary. It is shown that the only means for reducing the power requirement is maximizing the gradient of the mutual inductance. In the scheme of the sliding-coil accelerator investigated herein, the gradient of the mutual inductance is continuously maintained at a high value. It is also shown that for minimum length of the accelerator, the current must be kept constant despite the rise in induced voltage during acceleration. The use of a capacitor bank as an energy source with the condition that the current be kept constant is investigated. Experiments at low velocities are described.

Thom, Karlheinz↗

Experimental Smoke and Electromagnetic Analog Study of Induced Flow Field About a Model Rotor in Steady Flight Within Ground Effect

Hovering and steady low-speed forward-flight tests were run on a 4-foot-diameter rotor at a ground height of 1 rotor radius. The two blades had a 2 to 1 taper ratio and were mounted in a see-saw hub. The solidity ratio was 0.05. Measurements were made of the rotor rpm, collective pitch, and forward-flight velocity. Smoke was introduced into the tip vortex and the resulting vortex pattern was photographed from two positions. Using the data obtained from these photographs, wire models of the tip vortex configurations were constructed and the distribution of the normal component of induced velocity at the blade feathering axis that is associated with these tip vortex configurations was experimentally determined at 450 increments in azimuth position from this electromagnetic analog. Three steady-state conditions were analyzed. The first was hovering flight; the second, a flight velocity just under the wake "tuck under" speed; and the third, a flight velocity just above this speed. These corresponded to advance ratios of 0, 0.022, and 0.030 (or ratios of forward velocity to calculated hovering induced velocity of approximately 0, 0.48, and 0.65), respectively, for the model test rotor. Cross sections of the wake at 450 intervals in azimuth angle as determined from the path of the tip vortex are presented graphically for all three cases. The nondimensional normal component of the induced velocity that is associated with the tip vortex as determined by an electromagnetic analog at 450 increments in azimuth position and at the blade feathering axis is presented graphically. It is shown that the mean value of this component of the induced velocity is appreciably less after tuck-under than before. It is concluded that this method yields results of engineering accuracy and is a very useful means of studying vortex fields.

Gray, Robin B.↗

Transition to Turbulence in an Electromagnetically-Levitated Droplet

During experiments on the MSL-1 (First Microgravity Science Laboratory) mission of the Space Shuttle (STS-83 and STS-94, April and July 1997), a transition to turbulence in an electromagnetically levitated droplet was observed. Until the present time, there has been no information available on the flow state inside electromagnetically-levitated droplets. A new criterion for transition to turbulence in levitated droplets has been developed, and the experimentally observed behavior provides direct experimental verification of the theory.

Hyers, R. W.↗

Advanced Electromagnetic Methods for Aerospace Vehicles

The imminent destructive threats of Lightning on helicopters and other airborne systems has always been a topic of great interest to this research grant. Previously, the lightning induced currents on the surface of the fuselage and its interior were predicted using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method as well as the NEC code. The limitations of both methods, as applied to lightning, were identified and extensively discussed in the last meeting. After a thorough investigation of the capabilities of the FDTD, it was decided to incorporate into the numerical method a subcell model to accurately represent current diffusion through conducting materials of high conductivity and finite thickness. Because of the complexity of the model, its validity will be first tested for a one-dimensional FDTD problem. Although results are not available yet, the theory and formulation of the subcell model are presented and discussed here to a certain degree. Besides lightning induced currents in the interior of an aircraft, penetration of electromagnetic fields through apertures (e.g., windows and cracks) could also be devastating for the navigation equipment, electronics, and communications systems in general. The main focus of this study is understanding and quantifying field penetration through apertures. The simulation is done using the FDTD method and the predictions are compared with measurements and moment method solutions obtained from the NASA Langley Research Center. Cavity-backed slot (CBS) antennas or slot antennas in general have many applications in aircraft-satellite type of communications. These can be flushmounted on the surface of the fuselage and, therefore, they retain the aerodynamic shape of the aircraft. In the past, input impedance and radiation patterns of CBS antennas were computed using a hybrid FEM/MoM code. The analysis is now extended to coupling between two identical slot antennas mounted on the same structure. The predictions are performed using both the hybrid FEM/MoM and the FDTD NEWS code. The results are compared with each other as well as with measurements performed in the ElectroMagnetic Anechoic Chamber (EMAC) of ASU. In addition to self and mutual impedances versus frequency, the comparisons include mutual coupling S(sub 12) as a function of distance for various slot orientations.

Balanis, Constantine A.↗

The Linear Bicharacteristic Scheme for Computational Electromagnetics

The upwind leapfrog or Linear Bicharacteristic Scheme (LBS) has previously been implemented and demonstrated on electromagnetic wave propagation problems. This paper extends the Linear Bicharacteristic Scheme for computational electromagnetics to treat lossy dielectric and magnetic materials and perfect electrical conductors. This is accomplished by proper implementation of the LBS for homogeneous lossy dielectric and magnetic media, and treatment of perfect electrical conductors (PECs) are shown to follow directly in the limit of high conductivity. Heterogeneous media are treated through implementation of surface boundary conditions and no special extrapolations or interpolations at dielectric material boundaries are required. Results are presented for one-dimensional model problems on both uniform and nonuniform grids, and the FDTD algorithm is chosen as a convenient reference algorithm for comparison. The results demonstrate that the explicit LBS is a dissipation-free, second-order accurate algorithm which uses a smaller stencil than the FDTD algorithm, yet it has approximately one-third the phase velocity error. The LBS is also more accurate on nonuniform grids.

Beggs, John H.↗

Investigation of Electromagnetic Field Threat to Fuel Tank Wiring of a Transport Aircraft

National Transportation Safety Board investigators have questioned whether an electrical discharge in the Fuel Quantity Indication System (FQIS) may have initiated the TWA-800 center wing tank explosion. Because the FQIS was designed to be incapable of producing such a discharge on its own, attention has been directed to mechanisms of outside electromagnetic influence. To support the investigation, the NASA Langley Research Center was tasked to study the potential for radiated electromagnetic fields from external radio frequency (RF) transmitters and passenger carried portable electronic devices (PEDs) to excite the FQIS enough to cause arcing, sparking or excessive heating within the fuel tank.

Ely, Jay J.↗

Suspended Patch Antenna Array With Electromagnetically Coupled Inverted Microstrip Feed

The paper demonstrates a four-element suspended patch antenna array, with a parasitic patch layer and an electromagnetically coupled inverted microstrip feed, for linear polarization at K-Band frequencies. This antenna has the following advantages over conventional microstrip antennas: First, the inverted microstrip has lower attenuation than conventional microstrip; hence, conductor loss associated with the antenna corporate feed is lower resulting in higher gain and efficiency. Second, conventional proximity coupled patch antennas require a substrate for the feed and a superstrate for the patch. However, the inverted microstrip fed patch antenna makes use of a single substrate, and hence, is lightweight and low cost. Third, electromagnetic coupling results in wider bandwidth. Details regarding the design and fabrication will be presented as well as measured results including return loss, radiation patterns and cross-polarization levels.

Simons, Rainee N.↗

Electromagnetic Field Penetration Studies

A numerical method is presented to determine electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of rectangular enclosure with apertures on its wall used for input and output connections, control panels, visual-access windows, ventilation panels, etc. Expressing EM fields in terms of cavity Green's function inside the enclosure and the free space Green's function outside the enclosure, integral equations with aperture tangential electric fields as unknown variables are obtained by enforcing the continuity of tangential electric and magnetic fields across the apertures. Using the Method of Moments, the integral equations are solved for unknown aperture fields. From these aperture fields, the EM field inside a rectangular enclosure due to external electromagnetic sources are determined. Numerical results on electric field shielding of a rectangular cavity with a thin rectangular slot obtained using the present method are compared with the results obtained using simple transmission line technique for code validation. The present technique is applied to determine field penetration inside a Boeing-757 by approximating its passenger cabin as a rectangular cavity filled with a homogeneous medium and its passenger windows by rectangular apertures. Preliminary results for, two windows, one on each side of fuselage were considered. Numerical results for Boeing-757 at frequencies 26 MHz, 171-175 MHz, and 428-432 MHz are presented.

Deshpande, M.D.↗

Turbulent Transition in Electromagnetically Levitated Drops

Electromagnetic levitation (EML) is an important tool in materials research. Because a sample can be processed without contact with a container, experiments may be performed on high temperature, highly reactive, and undercooled liquid metals. Many of these experiments are affected by fluid flow in the sample, driven by the electromagnetic positioning force. Despite the importance of convection in these experiments, the transition to turbulence is not well understood in this system. However, we have observed a transition from laminar to turbulent flow in EML droplets in the course of microgravity experiments in TEMPUS on the Space Shuttle (STS-94). The transition occurs repeatably and over a narrow range of conditions. These experimental observations are compared with two competing theories about the transition to turbulence. Also, the results of a particle tracking study of the instabilities leading up to the transition to turbulence are presented.

Hyers, Robert W.↗