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At least 487 records · Page 27

An Assessment of CFD Effectiveness for Vortex Flow Simulation to Meet Preliminary Design Needs

The low-speed flight and transonic maneuvering characteristics of combat air vehicles designed for efficient supersonic flight are significantly affected by the presence of free vortices. At moderate-to-high angles of attack, the flow invariably separates from the leading edges of the swept slender wings, as well as from the forebodies of the air vehicles, and rolls up to form free vortices. The design of military vehicles is heavily driven by the need to simultaneously improve performance and affordability.1 In order to meet this need, increasing emphasis is being placed on using Modeling & Simulation environments employing the Integrated Product & Process Development (IPPD) concept. The primary focus is on expeditiously providing design teams with high-fidelity data needed to make more informed decisions in the preliminary design stage. Extensive aerodynamic data are needed to support combat air vehicle design. Force and moment data are used to evaluate performance and handling qualities; surface pressures provide inputs for structural design; and flow-field data facilitate system integration. Continuing advances in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) provide an attractive means of generating the desired data in a manner that is responsive to the needs of the preliminary design efforts. The responsiveness is readily characterized as timely delivery of quality data at low cost.

Raj, P.↗

Laser doppler velocimeter system for subsonic jet mixer nozzle testing at the NASA Lewis Aeroacoustic Propulsion Lab

A laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) system developed for the Aeroacoustic Propulsion Laboratory (APL) at the NASA Lewis Research Center is described. This system was developed to acquire detailed flow field data which could be used to quantify the effectiveness of internal exhaust gas mixers (IEGM's) and to verify and calibrate computational codes. The LDV was used as an orthogonal, three component system to measure the flow field downstream of the exit of a series of IEGM's and a reference axisymmetric splitter configuration. The LDV system was also used as a one component system to measure the internal axial flow within the nozzle tailpipe downstream of the mixers. These IEGM's were designed for low-bypass ratio turbofan engines. The data were obtained at a simulated low flight speed, high-power operating condition. The optical, seeding, and data acquisition systems of the LDV are described in detail. Sample flow field measurements are provided to illustrate the capabilities of the system at the time of this test, which represented the first use of LDV at the APL. A discussion of planned improvements to the LDV is also included.

Podboy, Gary G.↗

Satellite-Derived Dynamics of Southern Ocean Sea Ice

Antarctic ERS-2, RADARSAT Synthetic Aperture Radar and ERS-1/2 Scatterometer images were analyzed with SMMI radiometer image time-series data to investigate seasonal variability in satellite-tracked sea-ice dynamics in the Southern Ocean during 1992. Supporting field data were acquired during 'in-situ' experiments including the winter 1992 Ice Station Weddell and Winter Weddell Gyre studies. A variety of surface measurements were made during these experiments including Argos-buoy deployment and GPS drift measurements. These are used in conjunction with International Program for Antarctic Buoys drift trajectories for ice-motion tracking validation. Comparisons between gridded Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSMI) ice-motion vectors and European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts/National Centers for Environmental Prediction (ECMWF/NCEP) analyses indicate that large-scale drift is forced predominantly by the long-term mean, large-scale synoptic pressure field. Only sub-daily SAR sea-ice tracking can capture high-frequency fluctuations, driven by polar lows or tidal forcing. In these cases, sea-ice drift can respond rapidly to changes in forcing on semi-diurnal time scales depending on the location with respect to the coastline. Seasonality of ice drift, particularly in the Weddell and Ross Seas, is linked to ice extent and compactness, and internal ice stresses transmitted through the pack ice from the coast. Three-monthly seasonal climatologies are presented of austral winter of ice drift in the Southern Ocean. The large Weddell and Ross Sea gyres are clearly resolved along with key seasonal and spatial attributes of their cyclonic circulation. Regional time series of ice dynamics parameters are used to illustrate correlations with meteorological forcing. Persistent divergence such as that occurring in the Ronne-Filchner polynya system results in large fractions of new ice. Similarly, convergence zones produce large fractions of deformed ice and characterize the dynamics of regions where perennial ice is observed. High shear strains also help delineate the axis of the Antarctic divergence in many places in the ice cover. In these regions, the separation between the coastal 'east wind drift'and ACC-dominated drift regimes is characterized by zonally extended regions of intense shear.

Drinkwater, Mark R.↗

Comprehensive Analyses of Data Collected from TEREK (Solar EUV Telescope) RES-C (Solar X-Ray Spectrometer) and SORS (Solar Radio Spectrometer) on board CORONAS-1 Using Magnetohydrodynamic Models

By using the observed magnetic field data obtained from the Wilcox Solar Observatory at Stanford University as the inputs to a two-dimensional plane-of-sky magnetohydrodynamic model, via numerical relaxation method, we have deduced the plasma and magnetic field parameters for the observed coronal hole by CORONAS-1. The method for this self-consistent MHD analysis will be discussed in detail. Numerical results for the magnetic field configuration, velocity distribution, density and temperature distributions will be presented. We have converted the computed density to polarization brightness in order to directly compare the MHD outputs with observations. Also included is a summary of achievements made during the grant period. This section is summarized into three categories: 1) Visit of Co-Investigators; 2) Presentations; and 3) Papers published, accepted and submitted for publication in journals.

Wu, S. T.↗

The 1982 direct strike lightning data

Wideband waveforms data which were obtained during the 1982 direct-strike lightning tests utilizing the NASA F106-B aircraft specially instrumented for lightning electromagnetic measurements. The aircraft was operated in a thunderstorm environment to elicit strikes to the aircraft during this testing period. Electromagnetic field data were recorded to both attached lightning and free field excitation of the aircraft.

Thomas, M. E.↗

A shock surface geometry - The February 15-16, 1967, event

An estimated shape is presented for the surface of the flare-associated interplanetary shock of February 15-16, 1967, as seen in the ecliptic-plane cross section. The estimate is based on observations by Explorer 33 and Pioneers 6 and 7. The estimated shock normal at the Explorer 33 position is obtained by a least-squares shock parameter-fitting procedure for that satellite's data; the shock normal at the Pioneer 7 position is found by using the magnetic coplanarity theorem and magnetic-field data. The average shock speed from the sun to each spacecraft is determined along with the local speed at Explorer 33 and the relations between these speeds and the position of the initiating solar flare. The Explorer 33 shock normal is found to be severely inclined and not typical of interplanetary shocks. It is shown that the curvature of the shock surface in the ecliptic plane near the earth-Pioneer 7 region is consistent with a radius of not more than 0.4 AU.

Lepping, R. P.↗

Observation and modeling of energetic particles at synchronous orbit on July 29, 1977

In the twelve hours following a worldwide storm, there was a series of at least four magnetospheric substorms, the last and largest of which exhibited an expansion phase onset at approximately 1200 UT. Data from six spacecraft in three general local time groupings (0300, 0700, and 1300 LT) were examined and vector magnetic field data and energetic electron and ion data from approximately 15 keV to 2 MeV were employed.

Baker, D. N.↗

Thorium concentrations in the lunar surface. V - Deconvolution of the central highlands region

The distribution of thorium in the lunar central highlands measured from orbit by the Apollo 16 gamma-ray spectrometer is subjected to a deconvolution analysis to yield improved spatial resolution and contrast. Use of two overlapping data fields for complete coverage also provides a demonstration of the technique's ability to model concentrations several degrees beyond the data track. Deconvolution reveals an association between Th concentration and the Kant Plateau, Descartes Mountain and Cayley plains surface formations. The Kant Plateau and Descartes Mountains model with Th less than 1 part per million, which is typical of farside highlands but is infrequently seen over any other nearside highland portions of the Apollo 15 and 16 ground tracks. It is noted that, if the Cayley plains are the result of basin-forming impact ejecta, the distribution of Th concentration with longitude supports an origin from the Imbrium basin rather than the Nectaris or Orientale basins. Nectaris basin materials are found to have a Th concentration similar to that of the Descartes Mountains, evidence that the latter may have been emplaced as Nectaris basin impact deposits.

Metzger, A. E.↗

Electrical potential measurements in the lower atmosphere

Lower-atmospheric potential measurements obtained in 1983 through 1985 using the Hy-wire technique are summarized in this paper. Observed values of the potential were in the range of 50-100 kV in Fairbanks, AK, compared with 100-200 kV at Wallops Island, VA. When one-hour averages are formed from the entire data set the result is a unitary variation very reminiscent of both the Carnegie curve and more recent stratospheric electric field data. A comparison with an aircraft potential measurement in the same vicinity during April 1983 demonstrates that the two techniques yield roughly similar results, except that the Hy-wire measurements were 20-30 percent lower in absolute value.

Woosley, J. D.↗

Interface structure of co-rotating interaction regions

Plasma and particle observations on Ulysses during its passes through the southern and northern heliosphere have revealed that, inside the streamer belt, the large-scale structure of the quiet global heliosphere is dominated by corotating interaction regions (CIRs). Therefore, considerable attention is now being given to the internal plasma structure of CIRs, and in particular, to the manifestations of the stream interfaces that should mark their origins as interactions between low speed solar wind (in the low-latitude streamer belt) and high speed solar wind (from the equatorial extensions of the high latitude polar coronal holes). The SWICS and HI-SCALE experiments on Ulysses combine plasma and energetic particle measurements that are of considerable utility for such studies because, between them, they cover the proton energy range from 10 eV to 5 MeV. These measurements are used, together with magnetic field data, to study the remarkable series of CIRs that occurred during the period beginning July 1992 and the end of 1993 as Ulysses rose from the ecliptic to a southern heliographic latitude of 48 deg. The structure of the regions between the forward and reverse shocks were previously analyzed in terms of the proton specific entropy argument log that should exhibit a discontinuous jump at the stream interface. It was claimed that the stream interface, defined with respect to specific entropy, is also associated with a discontinuity in energetic proton intensities. The energetic particle data (greater than 60 keV) and how they were ordered with respect to interfaces and with respect to the magnetic field were examined.

Ogilvie, K. W.↗

Structural Life and Reliability Metrics: Benchmarking and Verification of Probabilistic Life Prediction Codes

Over the past two decades there has been considerable effort by NASA Glenn and others to develop probabilistic codes to predict with reasonable engineering certainty the life and reliability of critical components in rotating machinery and, more specifically, in the rotating sections of airbreathing and rocket engines. These codes have, to a very limited extent, been verified with relatively small bench rig type specimens under uniaxial loading. Because of the small and very narrow database the acceptance of these codes within the aerospace community has been limited. An alternate approach to generating statistically significant data under complex loading and environments simulating aircraft and rocket engine conditions is to obtain, catalog and statistically analyze actual field data. End users of the engines, such as commercial airlines and the military, record and store operational and maintenance information. This presentation describes a cooperative program between the NASA GRC, United Airlines, USAF Wright Laboratory, U.S. Army Research Laboratory and Australian Aeronautical & Maritime Research Laboratory to obtain and analyze these airline data for selected components such as blades, disks and combustors. These airline data will be used to benchmark and compare existing life prediction codes.

Litt, Jonathan S.↗

Practical Pocket PC Application w/Biometric Security

I work in the Flight Software Engineering Branch, where we provide design and development of embedded real-time software applications for flight and supporting ground systems to support the NASA Aeronautics and Space Programs. In addition, this branch evaluates, develops and implements new technologies for embedded real-time systems, and maintains a laboratory for applications of embedded technology. The majority of microchips that are used in modern society have been programmed using embedded technology. These small chips can be found in microwaves, calculators, home security systems, cell phones and more. My assignment this summer entails working with an iPAQ HP 5500 Pocket PC. This top-of-the-line hand-held device is one of the first mobile PC's to introduce biometric security capabilities. Biometric security, in this case a fingerprint authentication system, is on the edge of technology as far as securing information. The benefits of fingerprint authentication are enormous. The most significant of them are that it is extremely difficult to reproduce someone else's fingerprint, and it is equally difficult to lose or forget your own fingerprint as opposed to a password or pin number. One of my goals for this summer is to integrate this technology with another Pocket PC application. The second task for the summer is to develop a simple application that provides an Astronaut EVA (Extravehicular Activity) Log Book capability. The Astronaut EVA Log Book is what an astronaut would use to report the status of field missions, crew physical health, successes, future plans, etc. My goal is to develop a user interface into which these data fields can be entered and stored. The applications that I am developing are created using eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0 with the Pocket PC 2003 Software Development Kit provided by Microsoft.

Logan, Julian↗

Interplanetary medium data book

Unresolved questions on the physics of solar wind and its effects on magnetospheric processes and cosmic ray propagation were addressed with hourly averaged interplanetary plasma and magnetic field data. This composite data set is described with its content and extent, sources, limits of validity, and the mutual consistency studies and normalizations to which the input data were subjected. Hourly averaged parameters were presented in the form of digital listings and 27-day plots. The listings are contained in a separately bound appendix.

King, J. H.↗

Average Characteristics of Triggered and Nontriggered Substorms

Magnetic field data from ground stations, geosynchronous orbit, and magnetotail are examined to study the response to substorm activity with and without apparent interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) perturbations. Global substorms are identified using a sudden, persistent decrease in the AL index. The onset of this global expansion is taken to be the time of the Pi2 burst nearest to the beginning of the AL decrease. IMF triggers were identified subjectively through visual scanning of the data. Both northward turnings of the IMF B, and decreases in the amplitude of the By component were considered as possible triggers. Two different solar wind monitors were used in the investigation: IMP 8 in a circular orbit with a distance between approx.12 and approx.35 R(sub E) from the Earth-Sun line and ISEE 2 in an elliptical orbit with a distance of only approx.5- 10 R(sub E) from the Earth-Sun line. The results of superposed epoch analysis show that the temporal response from ground stations, geosynchronous orbit, and magnetotail are nearly identical for triggered (with apparent IMF perturbation) and nontriggered (without apparent IMF perturbation) substorms. It is therefore concluded that the nontriggered substorms are not a different form of activity than triggered substorms. However, we demonstrate that the magnitude of the response is different for the two types of substo&. By every measure considered, triggered substorm are systematically larger than nontriggered substorms. We interpret the fact that nearly 40% of all substorms cannot be associated with an IMF trigger as evidence that substorms are caused by an internal instability. However, the fact that so many appear to be triggered suggests that this internal instability is susceptible to external perturbations by the IMF. The fact that triggered substorms are larger than nontriggered substorms is counterintuitive, and we have no explanation for the observation.

Hsu, Tung-Shin↗

Measurements of Heat Transfer, Flow, and Pressures in a Simulated Turbine Blade Internal Cooling Passage

An experimental study was made to obtain quantitative information on heat transfer, flow, and pressure distribution in a branched duct test section that had several significant features of an internal cooling passage of a turbine blade. The objective of this study was to generate a set of experimental data that could be used for validation of computer codes that would be used to model internal cooling. Surface heat transfer coefficients and entrance flow conditions were measured at nominal entrance Reynolds numbers of 45,000, 335,000, and 726,000. Heat transfer data were obtained by using a steady-state technique in which an Inconel heater sheet is attached to the surface and coated with liquid crystals. Visual and quantitative flow-field data from particle image velocimetry measurements for a plane at midchannel height for a Reynolds number of 45,000 were also obtained. The flow was seeded with polystyrene particles and illuminated by a laser light sheet. Pressure distribution measurements were made both on the surface with discrete holes and in the flow field with a total pressure probe. The flow-field measurements yielded flow-field velocities at selected locations. A relatively new method, pressure sensitive paint, was also used to measure surface pressure distribution. The pressure paint data obtained at Reynolds numbers of 335,000 and 726,000 compared well with the more standard method of measuring pressures by using discrete holes.

Russell, Louis M.↗

Observations of moon-plasma interactions by orbital and surface experiments

Extensive magnetic field observations together with crucial plasma measurements by the Explorer 35 lunar orbiter and Apollo surface and orbital experiments have established the basic nature of the moon's interaction with the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field. The effective absorption of the incident solar wind by the moon creates a plasma void or cavity behind the moon. The cavity-associated magnetic signature is characterized by an enhancement in magnetic field magnitude B within the cavity as compared with the mean level of B in the surrounding interplanetary plasma and dips or decreases in B near the cavity boundaries with the solar wind. Apollo particle and field measurements on the lunar surface have provided evidence of a regional interaction of the highly conducting solar wind with lunar remanent magnetic fields. Simultaneous plasma and magnetic field data, from the spectrometer and the lunar surface magnetometer at the Apollo 12 location, show the compression of the local remanent field by large solar wind and magnetosheath plasma dynamic pressures.

Schubert, G.↗

The triggering and subsequent development of a solar flare

A solar flare which occurred on Sept. 5, 1973, is discussed on the basis of high temporal and spatial resolution pictures taken with the Skylab S-056 X-ray telescope. The temporal evolution of the flare is outlined, and magnetic-field data for the active region are compared with the soft X-ray observations. A close similarity between calculated magnetic-field lines and the overall structure of the X-ray core is shown to suggest that the flare occurred in an entire arcade of loops rather than in a single loop. Sequential brightening of different X-ray features is taken as an indication that some triggering disturbance moved from one side to the other in the flare core at velocities of 180 to 280 km/s. The two most intense X-ray features were found in places where the magnetic field composing the arcade had a small radius of curvature with horizontal field gradients higher than the surrounding area and where the axis of the arcade changed direction. It is suggested that a magetosonic wave triggered the energy releases as it propagated down the arcade and steepened the field gradients

Vorpahl, J. A.↗

Cosmic ray variations and magnetic field fluctuations in the outer heliosphere

It is formally confirmed that Galactic-cosmic-ray intensity variations measured by Voyager 2 during recovery from solar maximum are caused by traveling compressions and rarefactions in the mean interplanetary magnetic field. Voyager magnetic-field data are used as input to a time-independent, spherically symmetric, cosmic-ray-transport equation in the force-field approximation. The solutions closely followed the count rate of cosmic rays greater than 75 MeV/nucleon over 4 years, during the recovery phase of the 11-year solar-driven cosmic-ray cycle. This strongly supports prior theoretical assertions that turbulent interaction regions traveling with the solar wind are the major cause of the solar-cycle variation of Galactic cosmic rays in the ecliptic region.

Perko, J. S.↗