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At least 451 records · Page 25
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1995

Large-Amplitude Long-Wave Instability of a Supersonic Shear Layer

For sufficiently high Mach numbers, small disturbances on a supersonic vortex sheet are known to grow in amplitude because of slow nonlinear wave steepening. Under the same external conditions, linear theory predicts slow growth of long-wave disturbances to a thin supersonic shear layer. An asymptotic formulation is given here which adds nonzero shear-layer thickness to the weakly nonlinear formulation for a vortex sheet. Spatial evolution is considered, for a spatially periodic disturbance having amplitude of the same order, in Reynolds number, as the shear-layer thickness. A quasi-equilibrium inviscid nonlinear critical layer is found, with effects of diffusion and slow growth appearing through nonsecularity condition. Other limiting cases are also considered, in an attempt to determine a relationship between the vortex-sheet limit and the long-wave limit for a thin shear layer; there appear to be three special limits, corresponding to disturbances of different amplitudes at different locations along the shear layer.

Messiter, A. F.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Transonic Shock-Wave/Boundary-Layer Interactions on an Oscillating Airfoil

Unsteady aerodynamic loads were measured on an oscillating NACA 64A010 airfoil In the NASA Ames 11 by 11 ft Transonic Wind Tunnel. Data are presented to show the effect of the unsteady shock-wave/boundary-layer interaction on the fundamental frequency lift, moment, and pressure distributions. The data show that weak shock waves induce an unsteady pressure distribution that can be predicted quite well, while stronger shock waves cause complex frequency-dependent distributions due to flow separation. An experimental test of the principles of linearity and superposition showed that they hold for weak shock waves while flows with stronger shock waves cannot be superimposed.

Davis, Sanford S.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Evaluation of dual flow thrust vectored nozzles with exhaust stream impingement

The main objective of this project was to predict the expansion wave/oblique shock wave structure in an under-expanded jet expanding from a convergent nozzle. The shock structure was predicted by combining the calculated curvature of the free pressure boundary with principles and governing equations relating to oblique shock wave and expansion wave interaction. The procedure was then continued until the shock pattern repeated itself. A mathematical model was then formulated and written in FORTRAN to calculate the oblique shock/expansion wave structure within the jet. In order to study shock waves in expanding jets, Schlieren photography, a form of flow visualization, was employed. Thirty-six Schlieren photographs of jets from both a straight and 15 degree nozzle were taken. An iterative procedure was developed to calculate the shock structure within the jet and predict the non-dimensional values of Prandtl primary wavelength (w/rn), distance to Mach Disc (Ld) and Mach Disc radius (rd). These values were then compared to measurements taken from Schlieren photographs and experimental results. The results agreed closely to measurements from Schlieren photographs and previously obtained data. This method provides excellent results for pressure ratios below that at which a Mach Disc first forms. Calculated values of non-dimensional distance to the Mach Disc (Ld) agreed closely to values measured from Schlieren photographs and published data. The calculated values of non-dimensional Mach Disc radius (rd), however, deviated from published data by as much as 25 percent at certain pressure ratios.

Carpenter, Thomas W.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Applicability of 1D site response analysis to shallow sedimentary basins: A critical evaluation through physics-based 3D ground motion simulations

One-dimensional site response analysis (1D SRA) remains the standard practice in considering the effect of local soil deposits and predicting site-specific ground motions, although its range of applicability to realistic seismic wavefields is still in question. In this 1D approach, horizontal and vertical ground shaking are assumed to be induced by vertically propagating shear and compressional waves, respectively. A recent study based on analytical two-dimensional (2D) plane waves and simple point source earthquake simulations has shown two mechanistic limitations in this 1D modelling technique for general inclined seismic waves, that is, systematic over-prediction of the vertical motion and wave trapping in the 1D soil column. In this article, we evaluate in detail the applicability of this 1D modelling approach to realistic three-dimensional (3D) simulated seismic wavefields in shallow sedimentary basins. Linear-viscoelastic 1D SRA predictions using two types of input motions that are commonly used in practice—rock outcrop and in-column motions, are compared with the reference true site response results from 3D earthquake simulations in terms of various measures in the frequency and time domain. It is shown that the horizontal motion in the 3D seismic wavefield exhibits dominant shear wave propagation phenomenon, while the vertical motion is a combined effect of compressional and shear waves and can be over-predicted by the 1D approach when the incident seismic waves are inclined. Direct evidence of the wave refraction process that leads to the vertical motion over-prediction is provided. 1D SRA with in-column inputs can yield motions that have significantly longer duration compared to the true 3D site response solution due to trapped waves, casting in doubt the frequent need for increased soil damping in existing site studies to compensate for wave attenuation due to scattering alone. Sensitivity investigation on the increase of soil profile damping by a multiplier D mul shows D mul values compatible with those found in the literature for both horizontal and vertical motions. It is shown that the level of D mul optimized for a best match of the spectral acceleration is dependent on the characteristic of the input motion and a larger D mul is typically required for the vertical component. In contrast, 1D SRA with outcrop motions predicts motions with shorter significant duration due to its inability to capture the basin-edge generated surface waves. A suite of ground motion simulations was performed to assess the sensitivity of the observations to the basin geologic structure including the velocity gradient, rock-basin impedance contrast and basin depth. The analysis results show that the accuracy of the simplified 1D procedure is dependent on the wavefield composition of both the input motions and the true 3D site response solution. While the horizontal motions in shallow sedimentary basins can, to the first order, be reasonably captured by the simplified 1D approach, 1D SRA for the vertical component is in general not reliable and contributions from inclined shear waves should be accounted for in site-specific evaluation of the vertical design ground motion.

1D assumption↗
DOE OSTI2021

Using spin alignment of inelastically excited nuclei in fast beams to assign spins: The spectroscopy of 13 O as a test case

Excited states in O 13 were investigated using inelastic scattering of an E / A = 69.5 MeV O 13 beam off of a Be 9 target. The excited states were identified in the invariant-mass spectra of the decay products. Both single-proton and sequential two-proton decays of the excited states were examined. Furthermore, for a number of the excited states, the protons were emitted with strong anisotropy where emissions transverse to the beam axis are favored. The measured proton-decay angular distributions were compared to predictions from distorted-wave Born-approximation calculations of the spin alignment which was shown to be largely independent of the excitation mechanism. The deduced O 13 level scheme is compared to ab initio no-core shell model with continuum predictions. The lowest-energy excited states decay isotropically consistent with predictions of strong proton 1 s 1 / 2 structure. Above these states in the level scheme, we observed a number of higher-spin states not predicted within the model. Possibly these are associated with rotational bands built on deformed cluster configurations predicted by antisymmetrized molecular dynamics calculations. The spin alignment mechanism is shown to be useful for making spin assignments and may have widespread use.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1989

Spectral analysis of temperature and Brunt-Vaisala frequency fluctuations observed by radiosondes

Recent studies have revealed that vertical wave number spectra of wind velocity and temperture fluctuations in the troposphere and the lower stratosphere are fairly well explained by a saturated gravity wave spectrum. But N(2) (N:Brunt-Vaisala (BV) frequency) spectra seem to be better for testing the scaling of the vertical wave number spectra in layers with different stratifications, beause its energy density is proportional only to the background value of N(2), while that for temperature depends on both the BV frequency and the potential temperature. From temperature profiles observed in June to August 1987 over the MU Observatory, Japan, by using a radiosonde with 30 m height resolution, N(2) spectra are determined in the 2 to 8.5 km (troposphere) and 18.5 to 25 km (lower stratosphere) ranges. Although individual spectra show fairly large day-by-day variability, the slope of the median of 34 spectra agrees reasonably with the theoretical value of -1 in the wave number range of 6 x 10(-4) similar to 3 x 10(-3) (c/m). The ratio of the spectral energy between these two height regions is about equal to the ratio of N(2), consistent with the prediction of saturated gravity wave theory.

Tsuda, T.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The modulation of a radar signal from the ocean surface due to slope and hydrodynamic effects

The modulation of the signal level of a tower-based radar scatterometer illuminating a small area of the ocean surface is predicted from direct measurements of the hydrodynamic conditions of the ocean surface and compared with X band radar measurements taken simultaneously. The radar backscatter is assumed to be due to Bragg resonance between the signal and the ripple waves. The effects of the slope of the ocean surface due to passing long waves are modeled by converting a measured wave height series into a slope time series. Laser-slope-gauge measurements of the spectrum of the ripple waves that ride upon the long ocean waves are used to predict the hydrodynamic effects. Comparisons with the measured radar signal show that the slope modulation alone gives a poor prediction of the modulation. Inclusion of the hydrodynamic effects in the simulation appears more promising, although it also is not entirely successful with this data set.

West, James C.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Two-component model of strong Langmuir turbulence - Scalings, spectra, and statistics of Langmuir waves

A simple two-component model of strong turbulence that makes clear predictions for the scalings, spectra, and statistics of Langmuir waves is developed. Scalings of quantities such as energy density, power input, dissipation power wave collapse, and number density of collapsing objects are investigated in detail and found to agree well with model predictions. The nucleation model of wave-packet formation is strongly supported by the results. Nucleation proceeds with energy flowing from background to localized states even in the absence of a driver. Modulational instabilities play little or no role in maintaining the turbulent state when significant density nonuniformities are present.

Robinson, P. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Generation of broadband electrostatic noise by ion beam instabilities in the magnetotail

Particle data from ISEE 1 sampled in the earth's magnetotail show the presence of energetic ion beams in the boundary layer of the plasma sheet. A theory of instabilities driven by the beams is developed and compared with wave data sampled simultaneously to the particle data. It is concluded that the ion beams generate broadband electrostatic bursts of noise. The electrostatic noise correlates well with the occurrence of the beams, and the spectrum is consistent with that predicted from a negative energy beam instability under magnetotail conditions. The theory predicts that a spectrum of growing waves can be driven for frequencies from 0.001 omega(pe) up to omega(pe), the electron plasma frequency, with a spectral peak typically near 0.01 omega(pe) or lower, in agreement with the wave data. Furthermore, as one moves away from the source region perpendicular to the magnetic field, the high frequency components of the observed wave spectra are predicted to disappear gradually, leaving the low frequency part of the spectrum, also as is observed. Evidence is given for significant pitch angle scattering of the beams by the broadband electrostatic noise, leading to more isotropic ion distributions.

Grabbe, C. L.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Postbuckling failure of composite plates with central holes

The postbuckling failure of square composite plates with central holes is analyzed numerically and experimentally. The particular plates studies have stacking sequences of: (+ and - 45/0/90)(sub 2S); (+ and - 45/0(sub 2))(sub 2S); (+ and - 45/0(sub 6))(sub S); and (+ and - 45)(sub 4S). A simple plate geometry, one with a hole diameter to plate width ratio of 0.3 is compared. Failure load, failure mode, and failure location are predicted numerically by using the finite element method. Predictions are compared with experimental results. In numerical failure analysis the interlaminar shear stresses, as well as the inplane stresses are taken into account. An issue addressed in this study is the possible mode shape change of the plate during loading. It is predicted that the first three laminates fail due to excessive stresses in the fiber direction, and more importantly, that the load level is independent of whether the laminate is deformed in a one-half or two-half wave configuration. It is predicted that the fourth laminate fails due to excessive inplane shear stress. Interlaminar shear failure is not predicted for any laminates. For the first two laminates the experimental observations correlated well with the predictions. Experimentally, the third laminate failed along the side support due to interlaminar shear strength S(sub 23). The fourth experimental laminate failed due to inplane shear in the location predicted, however material softening resulted in a different failure load from predictions.

Lee, H. H.↗
NASA NTRS1997

The impact of UVCS/SOHO observations on models of ion-cyclotron resonance heating of the solar corona

The compatibility between theoretical models and observations of the temperatures and anisotropic distributions of hydrogen and minor ions in the solar corona is examined. The ultraviolet coronagraph spectrometer (UVCS) instrument onboard SOHO measured hydrogen kinetic temperatures along lines of sight in coronal holes in excess of 3 x 10(exp 6) K and O(+5) ion kinetic temperatures of at least 2 x 10(exp 8) K. Various features of plasma heating by the dissipation of high-frequency ion-cyclotron resonance Alfven waves, which may be the most natural physical mechanism to produce certain plasma conditions, are examined. Preliminary quantitative models of the ion motion in polar coronal holes are presented, and it is shown that such models can be used to predict the spectrum of waves required to reproduce the observations. Indeed, the more ionic species that are observed spectroscopically, the greater the extent in frequency space the wave spectrum can be inferred.

Cranmer, S. R.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Pressure suppresses the density wave order in kagome metal LuNb 6 ⁢Sn 6

The density waves that develop in kagome metals ScV 6 ⁢Sn 6 and LuNb 6 ⁢Sn 6 at low temperature appear to arise from underfilled atomic columns within a V-Sn or Nb-Sn scaffolding. Compressing this network with applied pressure in ScV 6 ⁢Sn 6 suppressed the structural transition temperature by constraining atomic rattling and inhibiting the shifts that define the structural modulation. We predicted that the density wave transition in LuNb 6⁢ Sn 6 at 68 K would be suppressed by pressure as well. In this Letter, we examine the pressure dependence of the density wave transition by measuring resistance vs temperature up to 2.26 GPa. We found the transition temperature is smoothly depressed and disappears around 1.9 GPa. In conclusion, this result not only addresses our prediction, but strengthens the rattling chains origin of structural instabilities in the HfFe 6⁢ Ge 6 -type kagome metals.

Charge density waves↗
NASA NTRS1989

Large space antenna concepts for ESGP

It is appropriate to note that 1988 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the reflector antenna. It was in 1888 that Heinrich Hertz constructed the first one, a parabolic cylinder made of sheet zinc bent to shape and supported by a wooden frame. Hertz demonstrated the existence of the electromagnetic waves that had been predicted theoretically by James Clerk Maxwell some 22 years earlier. In the 100 years since Hertz's pioneering work the field of electromagnetics has grown explosively: one of the technologies is that of remote sensing of planet Earth by means of electromagnetic waves, using both passive and active sensors located on an Earth Science Geostationary Platform (ESEP). For these purposes some exquisitely sensitive instruments were developed, capable of reaching to the fringes of the known universe, and relying on large reflector antennas to collect the minute signals and direct them to appropriate receiving devices. These antennas are electrically large, with diameters of 3000 to 10,000 wavelengths and with gains approaching 80 to 90 dB. Some of the reflector antennas proposed for ESGP are also electrically large. For example, at 220 GHz a 4-meter reflector is nearly 3000 wavelengths in diameter, and is electrically quite comparable with a number of the millimeter wave radiotelescopes that are being built around the world. Its surface must meet stringent requirements on rms smoothness, and ability to resist deformation. Here, however, the environmental forces at work are different. There are no varying forces due to wind and gravity, but inertial forces due to mechanical scanning must be reckoned with. With this form of beam scanning, minimizing momentum transfer to the space platform is a problem that demands an answer. Finally, reflector surface distortion due to thermal gradients caused by the solar flux probably represents the most challenging problem to be solved if these Large Space Antennas are to achieve the gain and resolution required of them.

Love, Allan W.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Stability of the Wave Bearing on an Elastic Support

Numerical computation predicts that an elastic support can substantially improve the stability of the wave bearing if the dynamic stiffness and damping of this support are in a specific range of values. To experimentally validate this prediction, the housing of a gas bearing was mounted on elastic O-rings and the threshold of sub-synchronous whirl motion was experimentally observed when the bearing runs unloaded with a rotating speed up to 30,000 RPM. The O-ring system was also dynamically characterized by measuring its stiffness and damping at various frequencies up to 500 Hz. Good correlation exists between the experimental data and numerical prediction.

Dimofte, Florin↗
NASA NTRS1993

Effects of shock strength on shock turbulence interaction

Direct numerical simulation (DNS) and linear analysis (LIA) of isotropic turbulence interacting with a shock wave are performed for several upstream shock normal Mach numbers (M(sub 1)). Turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) is amplified across the shock wave, but this amplification tends to saturate beyond M(sub 1) = 3.0. TKE amplification and Reynolds stress anisotropy obtained in DNS are consistent with LIA predictions. Rapid evolution of TKE immediate downstream of the shock wave persists for all shock strengths and is attributed to the transfer between kinetic and potential modes of turbulence energy through acoustic fluctuations. Changes in energy spectra and various length scales across the shock wave are predicted by LIA, which is consistent with DNS results. Most turbulence length scales decrease across the shock. Dissipation length scale (rho-bar q(exp 3) / epsilon), however, increases slightly for shock waves with M(sub 1) less than 1.65. Fluctuations in thermodynamic variables behind the shock wave stay nearly isentropic for M(sub 1) less than 1.2 and deviate significantly from isentropy for the stronger shock waves due to large entropy fluctuation generated through the interaction.

Lee, Sangsan↗
NASA NTRS1982

A feedback model for the source of auroral kilometric radiation

It is noted that in order to compensate for the wave refraction inside the source, the boundary reflection surfaces must converge with altitude, and this implies that the most likely auroral kilometric radiation source would be a thin, local density enhancement, since the refractive index contours at its boundaries would be expected to slope inward. The ISEE observations of multiple spectral components, which are attributed to separate oscillations at different altitudes in the same enhancement, indicate a source thickness as small as 25 km and an internal wave growth threshold of roughly 40 dB, rather than the 70-120 dB previously believed necessary to account for auroral kilometric radiation without feedback. What is considered more significant is that the feedback model accounts for numerous aspects of the auroral kilometric radiation behavior, predicts emission at the wave growth saturation level, and leads to the conclusion that auroral kilometric radiation originates at many compact sites, each emitting a nearly monochromatic wave.

Calvert, W.↗