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At least 451 records · Page 25

Computing high-speed flows past an oscillating cylinder near a vertical wall

A computational method to simulate unsteady flows involving moving rigid boundaries and interference has been developed. The method is used to solve inviscid equations governing the fluid flow and the dynamic equations governing the motion of rigid bodies. A second-order accurate, upwind-biased, and alterating-direction-implicit method is used to solve the governing equations of the flow. A kinematic domain decomposition (KDD) procedure is extended to treat 3D problems with a high degree of accuracy and generality. The method under consideration is applied to both transonic and supertransonic flows. Both cases involve flow past a cylinder which is forced to pitch sinusoidally near a vertical wall. Benefits of the proposed approach include accurate calculation of the flow around 3D moving multiple bodies with interference; reduction of a numerical error; in particular, the dispersion error which strongly affects wave propagation; and minimization of the phase error which is accumulated according to the time advance procedure.

Yen, Guan-Wei↗

A solar dynamo surface wave at the interface between convection and nonuniform rotation

A simple dynamo surface wave is presented to illustrate the basic principles of a dynamo operating in the thin layer of shear and suppressed eddy diffusion beneath the cyclonic convection in the convection zone of the sun. It is shown that the restriction of the shear delta(Omega)/delta(r) to a region below the convective zone provides the basic mode with a greatly reduced turbulent diffusion coefficient in the region of strong azimuthal field. The dynamo takes on the character of a surface wave tied to the lower surface z = 0 of the convective zone. There is a substantial body of evidence suggesting a fibril state for the principal flux bundles beneath the surface of the sun, with fundamental implications for the solar dynamo.

Parker, E. N.↗

Numerical solution of wave equations for the stability of the inner cometo-sheath

Numerical solution of the MHD wave equations for stability of the cometary sheath determined by the balance between the inward Lorentz body force and the outward ion-neutral drag force is obtained by using a two-point boundary value method. The eigenvalues and the eigenfunctions are obtained numerically by treating the cometary inner sheath as a layer of finite thickness, bounded by the contact surface, i.e., the diamagnetic cavity boundary. The magnetic field structure discovered in the ionosphere of Comets Halley and Giacobini-Zinner is found to be unstable. The effects of finite plasma pressure, dissociative recombination, and mass loading due to photoionization are found to be stabilizing but are unable to quench the instability completely. It is also found that the higher the neutral production rate the lesser is the growth rate for the instability.

Srivastava, Krishna M.↗

Stability of the Halley cometosheath with resistivity and plasma motion

The MHD stability of the cometary inner sheath determined by the balance between the inward Lorentz body force and the outward ion-neutral drag force is investigated by numerically solving the wave equations which include resistivity, plasma motion and plasma pressure with the help of two-point boundary value method. The eigenvalues and the eigenfunctions are obtained numerically by treating the cometary inner sheath as a layer of finite thickness, bounded by the contact surface, that is, the diamagnetic cavity boundary. To gain insight into the problem, certain limiting cases of the wave equations are also discussed. The diamagnetic cavity boundary and the adjacent layer of about 100-km thickness of Comet Halley is found to be unstable. The effects of finite plasma pressure, dissociative recombination, mass loading due to photoionization, resistivity, and plasma motion are found to be stabilizing but are unable to quench the instability completely. Motion of the Halley ionopause has been confirmed by observations.

Srivastava, Krishna M.↗

Dynamics and Control of Articulated Anisotropic Timoshenko Beams

The paper illustrates the use of continuum models in control design for stabilizing flexible structures. A 6-DOF anisotropic Timoshenko beam with discrete nodes where lumped masses or actuators are located provides a sufficiently rich model to be of interest for mathematical theory as well as practical application. We develop concepts and tools to help answer engineering questions without having to resort to ad hoc heuristic ("physical") arguments or faith. In this sense the paper is more mathematically oriented than engineering papers and vice versa at the same time. For instance we make precise time-domain solutions using the theory of semigroups of operators rather than formal "inverse Laplace transforms." We show that the modes arise as eigenvalues of the generator of the semigroup, which are then related to the eigenvalues of the stiffness operator. With the feedback control, the modes are no longer orthogonal and the question naturally arises as to whether there is still a modal expansion. Here we prove that the eigenfunctions yield a biorthogonal Riesz basis and indicate the corresponding expansion. We prove mathematically that the number of eigenvalues is nonfinite, based on the theory of zeros of entire functions. We make precise the notion of asymptotic modes and indicate how to calculate them. Although limited by space, we do consider the root locus problem and show for instance that the damping at first increases as the control gain increases but starts to decrease at a critical value, and goes to zero as the gain increases without bound. The undamped oscillatory modes remain oscillatory and the rigid-body modes go over into deadbeat modes. The Timoshenko model dynamics are translated into a canonical wave equation in a Hilbert space. The solution is shown to require the use of an "energy" norm which is no more than the total energy: potential plus kinetic. We show that, under an appropriate extension of the notion of controllability, rate feedback with a collocated sensor can stabilize the structure in the sense that all modes are damped and the energy decays to zero. An example, non-numeric, is worked out in some detail illustrating the concepts and theory developed.

Balakrishnan, A. V.↗

Stability of the Halley Cometo-Sheath with Resistivity and Plasma Motion

The MHD stability of the cometary inner shealth determined by the balance between the inward Lorentz body force and the outward ion-neutral drag force is investigated by numerically solving the wave equations which include resistivity, plasma motion and plasma pressure with the help of two-point boundary value method.

Comets Cometosheath MHD Stability↗

Experimental surface flow patterns and flow-field phenomena of a delta-wing space-shuttle orbiter

Composite photographs of the surface flow and shadowgraphs of the shock wave pattern are presented that depict the hypersonic flow field of a typical delta wing space shuttle orbiter. Results from a wind tunnel test in air are given in side, oblique, and projected plan views for angles of attack from 0 to 60 deg. The tests were conducted at a Mach number of 7.4 and for Reynolds numbers based on body length of 6,000,000 and 9,000,000. The interrelationship is shown for the intersecting bow and wing leading edge waves with the surface flow for angles of attack for which: (1) the leading edge wave is attached, and (2) the leading edge wave is detached.

Cleary, J. W.↗

Forecasting Weather with a Wave of the Hand

Building upon its successful collaboration with NASA, Cybernet introduced GestureStorm(TradeMark), a weather map management system that utilizes both body tracking and gesture recognition technology for televised weather reports. The GestureStorm software interface enables meteorologists to control the computerized visual effects on weather maps using hand gestures and body movements. Prior to this, meteorologists prepared scripted on-air reports to coincide with the timing of graphics on the computerized maps. They knew when and where weather and Doppler radar maps would appear on the monitor, but could not react in real time. Cybernet s new product frees forecasters from a script, enabling them to directly interact with the weather picture in real time, significantly reducing the preparation time for the broadcast. With this technology, meteorologists control the pace of the visuals and can incorporate spontaneous close-ups with simple hand movements. In cases of severe weather, meteorologists strive to report new information as quickly as possible. GestureStorm gives forecasters an edge as they track late-breaking storms. The reduced preparation and real-time interaction shave critical minutes from the time required to broadcast severe weather warnings.

Source record↗

Impact on a Compressible Fluid

Upon impact of a solid body on the plane surface of a fluid, there occurs on the vetted surface of the body an abrupt pressure rise which propagates into both media with the speed of sound. Below, we assume the case where the speed of propagation of sound in the body which falls on the surface of the fluid may be regarded as infinitely large in comparison with the speed of propagation of sound in the fluid; that is, we shall assume that the falling body is absolutely rigid. IN this case, the entire relative speed of the motion which takes place at the beginning of the impact is absorbed by the fluid. The hydrodynamic pressures arising thereby are propagated from the contact surface within the fluid with the speed of sound in the form of compression and expansion waves and are gradually damped. After this, they are dispersed like impact pressures, reach ever larger regions of the fluid remote fran the body and became equal to zero; in the fluid there remain hydrodynamic pressures corresponding to the motion of the body after the impact. Neglecting the forces of viscosity and taking into account, furthermore, that the motion of the fluid begins from a state of rest, according to Thomson's theorem, we may consider the motion of an ideal compressible fluid in the process of impact to be potential. We examine the case of impact upon the surface of a ccmpressible fluid of a flat plate of infinite extent or of a body, the immersed part of the surface of which may be called approximately flat. In this report we discuss the first phase of the impact pressure on the surface of a fluid, prior to the appearance of a cavity, since at this stage the hydrodynamic pressures reach their maximum values. Observations, after the fall of the bodies on the surface of the fluid, show that the free surface of the fluid at this stage is almost completely at rest if one does not take into account the small rise in the neighborhood of the boundaries of the impact surface.

Egorov, L. T.↗

Radiative Heating on the After-Body of Martian Entry Vehicles

This paper presents simulations of the radiative heat flux imparted on the after-body of vehicles entering the Martian atmosphere. The radiation is dominated by CO2 bands emitting in the mid-wave infrared spectral region. This mechanism has traditionally not been considered in the design of past Mars entry vehicles. However, with recent analysis showing that the CO2 radiation can be greater than convective heating in the wake, and with several upcoming and proposed missions to Mars potentially affected, an investigation of the impact of this radiation is warranted. The focus of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the impact to aerothermal heating predictions and to provide comparisons between NASA's two main radiation codes, NEQAIR and HARA. The tangent slab approximation is shown to be overly conservative, by as much as 58 percent, for most back- shell body point locations compared to using a full angular integration method. However, due to the complexity of the wake flow, it is also shown that tangent slab does not always represent an upper limit for radiative heating. Furthermore, analysis in this paper shows that it is not possible to provide a general knock-down factor from the tangent slab results to those obtained using the more rigorous full integration method. When the radiative heating is accounted for on the after-body, the unmargined total heat flux can be as high as 14 watts per square centimeter.

After-body↗

Observations of Leonid Meteors Using a Mid-Wave Infrared Imaging Spectrograph

We report broadband 3-5.5 micrometer detections of two Leonid meteors observed during the 1998 Leonid Multi-Instrument Aircraft Campaign. Each meteor was detected at only one position along their trajectory just prior to the point of maximum light emission. We describe the particular aspects of the Aerospace Corp. Mid-wave Infra-Red Imaging Spectrograph (MIRIS) developed for the observation of short duration transient events that impact its ability to detect Leonid meteors. This instrument had its first deployment during the 1998 Leonid MAC. We infer from our observations that the mid-infrared light curves of two Leonid meteors differed from the visible light curve. At the points of detection, the infrared emission in the MIRIS passband was 25 +/- 4 times that at optical wavelengths for both meteors. In addition, we find an upper limit of 800 K for the solid body temperature of the brighter meteor we observed, at the point in the trajectory where we made our mid-wave infrared detection.

Rossano, G. S.↗

Aerodynamic tests and analysis of a turbojet-boosted launch vehicle concept (spacejet) over a Mach number range of 1.50 to 2.86

Results from analytical and experimental studies of the aerodynamic characteristics of a turbojet-boosted launch vehicle concept through a Mach number range of 1.50 to 2.86 are presented. The vehicle consists of a winged orbiter utilizing an area-ruled axisymmetric body and two winged turbojet boosters mounted underneath the orbiter wing. Drag characteristics near zero lift were of prime interest. Force measurements and flow visualization techniques were employed. Estimates from wave drag theory, supersonic lifting surface theory, and impact theory are compared with data and indicate the ability of these theories to adequately predict the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle. Despite the existence of multiple wings and bodies in close proximity to each other, no large scale effects of boundary layer separation on drag or lift could be discerned. Total drag levels were, however, sensitive to booster locations.

Riebe, G. D.↗

Hypervelocity impacts and magnetization of small bodies in the Solar System

The observed magnetism of asteroids such as Gaspra and Ida (and other small bodies in the solar system including the Moon and meteorites) may have resulted from an impact-induced shock wave producing a thermodynamic state in which iron-nickel alloy, dispersed in a silicate matrix, is driven from the usual low-temperature, low-pressure, alpha, kaemacite, phase to the paramagnetic, epsilon (hcp), phase. The magnetization was acquired upon rarefaction and reentry into the ferromagnetic, alpha, structure. The degree of remagnetization depends on the strength of the ambient field, which may have been associated with a Solar-System-wide magnetic field. A transient field induced by the impact event itself may have resulted in a significant, or possibly, even a dominant contribution, as well. The scaling law of Housen et al. (Housen, K. R., R. M. Schmidt, and K. A. Holsapple 1991) for catastrophic asteroid impact disaggregation imposes a constraint on the degree to which small planetary bodies may be magnetized and yet survive fragmentation by the same event. Our modeling results show it is possible that Ida was magnetized when a large impact fractured a 125 +/- 22-km-radius protoasteroid to form the Koronis family. Similarly, we calculate that Gaspra could be a magnetized fragment of a 45 +/- 15 km-radius protoasteroid.

Chen, Guangqing↗

Gravity wave-driven fluctuations in the O2 atmospheric (0-1) nightglow from an extended, dissipative emission region

The wave-driven fluctuations in the O2(0-1) atmospheric nightglow is modeled and the parameter (eta) is calculated using a model that accounts for either three-body recombination of atomic oxygen atoms alone to form the O2(b exp 1 Sigma(g)(+)) state directly, or by the further inclusion of the process that allows the formation of the O2(c exp 1 Sigma(u)(-)) intermediate state. The calculations are performed for a latitude of 18 deg N and for the months of March and June. The general results, which display how (eta) varies with wave period, horizontal wavelength, season, and chemical scheme, show that for given values of wave period and horizontal wavelength it is not possible to discriminate between seasonal effects and between the effects of different chemical schemes at evanescent and short gravity wave periods. It is shown that, when quenching by atomic oxygen is ignored, the resulting values of (eta) calculated with the complete chemistry are similar to those obtained from the three-body recombination scheme alone.

Hickey, Michael P.↗

General Relativistic Theory of the VLBI Time Delay in the Gravitational Field of Moving Bodies

The general relativistic theory of the gravitational VLBI experiment conducted on September 8, 2002 by Fomalont and Kopeikin is explained. Equations of radio waves (light) propagating from the quasar to the observer are integrated in the time-dependent gravitational field of the solar system by making use of either retarded or advanced solutions of the Einstein field equations. This mathematical technique separates explicitly the effects associated with the propagation of gravity from those associated with light in the integral expression for the relativistic VLBI time delay of light. We prove that the relativistic correction to the Shapiro time delay, discovered by Kopeikin (ApJ, 556, L1, 2001), changes sign if one retains direction of the light propagation but replaces the retarded for the advanced solution of the Einstein equations. Hence, this correction is associated with the propagation of gravity. The VLBI observation measured its speed, and that the retarded solution is the correct one.

Kopeikin, Sergei↗

Dominant partition method

By use of the L'Huillier, Redish, and Tandy (LRT) wave function formalism, a partially connected method, the dominant partition method (DPM) is developed for obtaining few body reductions of the many body problem in the LRT and Bencze, Redish, and Sloan (BRS) formalisms. The DPM maps the many body problem to a fewer body one by using the criterion that the truncated formalism must be such that consistency with the full Schroedinger equation is preserved. The DPM is based on a class of new forms for the irreducible cluster potential, which is introduced in the LRT formalism. Connectivity is maintained with respect to all partitions containing a given partition, which is referred to as the dominant partition. Degrees of freedom corresponding to the breakup of one or more of the clusters of the dominant partition are treated in a disconnected manner. This approach for simplifying the complicated BRS equations is appropriate for physical problems where a few body reaction mechanism prevails.

Dixon, R. M.↗