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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 487 records · Page 27

Restricted invariance of the Navier-Stokes equation

It is well known that the classical Navier-Stokes equation for three-dimensional incompressible viscous flow is invariant under Galilean transformations. In the present paper, it is shown that, although the general invariance group is no larger than Galilean-scale dilitation, the Navier-Stokes equation for incompressible viscous flow admits time-dependent rotational invariance for solutions of special types.

Rosen, G.↗

A comprehensive comparison between experiment and prediction for a transonic turbulent separated flow

Attempts to predict surface pressure distributions on lifting surfaces have been relatively unsuccessful in the transonic regime when the shock wave is of sufficient strength to produce an extensive region of turbulent separated flow. For these conditions, the viscous flow behavior must be accurately described even to obtain reasonable predictions of surface pressure. The present paper addresses this problem. Detailed comparisons between prediction and experiment are made for a transonic, turbulent boundary-layer separation (freestream Mach number = 0.875) for which the turbulent flow properties (including the turbulent Reynolds stress) had been measured by the laser velocimeter technique from upstream of the separated region through reattachment. The flow was generated on an axisymmetric 'bump' model designed to simulate the flow on an airfoil at transonic conditions. The numerical methods used in the comparisons include the solution of the time-dependent, mass-averaged Navier-Stokes equations, and the solution of the compressible boundary-layer equations by the inverse method. Solutions were obtained for the well established Cebeci-Smith algebraic turbulence model and the more recently developed Wilcox-Rubesin two-equation turbulence model.

Johnson, D. A.↗

Solar atmospheric dynamics. I - Formation of optically thick chromospheric lines

Two of the most representative chromospheric lines, Mg II k and Ca II K are used to study the formation of optically thick lines in a time-dependent, one-dimensional model of the solar atmosphere. Time sequences of these line profiles are calculated for two kinds of atmospheric motions: propagation of a pulse through the atmosphere, and free oscillations. The mechanisms of formation (especially the displacement of the emitting layers) are studied for different parts of the profiles. Finally, the deformations of the profiles are analyzed using methods also suitable for observations, and the resulting parameters are compared to physical variables in order to evaluate the diagnostic methods.

Gouttebroze, P.↗

The effects on the earth's magnetotail from shocks in the solar wind

A new, minimally diffusive MHD computer code has been used to simulate the time-dependent, 2D interaction of the solar wind with the earth's magnetosphere. The equilibrium with a simulated unmagnetized solar wind shows the basic features of the magnetosphere: bow shock, magnetopause, and long magnetotail. A simulated shock in the solar wind shows the presence of shock focussing in the midplane of the magnetotail. This focussing can be important in the energy budget of the plasma sheet and may have an important role in the initiation of substorms.

Lyon, J.↗

Arctic Sea ice decay simulated for a CO2-induced temperature rise

A large scale numerical time-dependent model of sea ice that takes into account the heat fluxes in and out of the ice, the seasonal occurrence of snow, and ice motions was used in an experiment to determine the response of the Arctic Ocean ice pack to a warming of the atmosphere. The degree of warming specified is that expected for a doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide with its associated greenhouse effect, a condition that could occur before the middle of the next century. The results of three 5-year simulations with a warmer atmosphere and varied boundary conditions were: (1) that in the face of a 5 K surface atmospheric temperature increase the ice pack disappeared completely in August and September but reformed in the central Arctic Ocean in mid fall; (2) that the simulations were moderately dependence on assumptions concerning cloud cover; and (3) that even when atmospheric temperature increases of 6-9 K were combined with an order-of-magnitude increase in the upward heat flux from the ocean, the ice still appeared in winter. It should be noted that a year-round ice-free Arctic Ocean has apparently not existed for a million years or more.

Heat flux↗

A stochastic model of cumulus clumping

Observations show that cumulus clouds often occur in long-lived mesoscale groups, or clumps. Five possible explanations of clumping are surveyed. The 'mutual protection hypothesis,' that clumps occur because cumulus clouds create and maintain, in their near environments, relatively favorable conditions for the development of succeeding clouds, is examined at length. This idea is tested through the use of a simple time-dependent model in which clouds, triggered at randomly selected locations, tend to stabilize their environment in the face of a prescribed constant forcing. Results show that clumping occurs when the cloud-induced stabilization rate is strongest at an intermediate distance from a cloud, and that it does not occur when the stabilization rate decreases monotonically away from a cloud.

Randall, D. A.↗

Interstellar sulfur chemistry

The results of a chemical model of SO, CS, and OCS chemistry in dense clouds are summarized. The results are obtained from a theoretical study of sulfur chemistry in dense interstellar clouds using a large-scale time-dependent model of gas-phase chemistry. Among the results are the following: (1) owing to activation energy, the reaction of CS with O atoms is efficient as a loss mechanism of CS during the early phases of cloud evolution or in hot and oxygen-rich sources such as the KL nebula; (2) if sulfur is not abnormally depleted in dense clouds, then the observed abundances of SO, SO2, H2S, CS, OCS, H2CS, and SiS indicate that sulfur is mostly atomic in dense clouds; and (3) OCS is stable against reactions with neutral atoms and radicals in dense clouds.

Prasad, S. S.↗

Automating the process of estimating spacecraft mass

To help prevent the problem of mass reduction late in a spacecraft development program, the process of estimating spacecraft mass has been formulated in algorithmic form and incorporated in software that will allow trained users to interface with the integral design parameters data base interactively. The software will use historical data to extrapolate future values of a given time-dependent parameter and be manipulated by a dynamic graphics configuration builder. Future expansions of this work promise to automate the entire conceptual mission design process.

Skinner, D. L.↗

Stress corrosion cracking in the earth

Two fundamental concepts of fracture mechanics are used to develop a theory of the earthquake mechanism which specifically predicts observed time-dependent rupture phenomena such as slow earthquakes, postseismic rupture growth and afterslip, multiple events, foreshocks, and aftershocks. The theory also predicts that there must be a nucleation stage prior to an earthquake, and suggests a physical mechanism by which one earthquake may trigger another. Investigations show that all earthquakes must be preceded by a quasi-static slip over a portion of the rupture surfaces, although it may be difficult to detect in practice, and a study of delayed multiple events characterizes the strength of some barriers in the earth as having a stress corrosion index of about 24.

Das, S.↗

Use of source distributions for evaluating theoretical aerodynamics of thin finite wings at supersonic speeds

A series of publications on the source-distribution methods for evaluating the aerodynamics of thin wings at supersonic speeds is summarized, extended, and unified. Included in the first part are the deviations of: (a) the linearized partial-differential equation for unsteady flow at a substantially constant Mach number. b) The source-distribution solution for the perturbation-velocity potential that satisfies the boundary conditions of tangential flow at the surface and in the plane of the wing; and (c) the integral equation for determining the strength and the location of sources to describe the interaction effects (as represented by upwash) of the bottom and top wing surfaces through the region between the finite wing boundary and the foremost Mach wave. The second part deals with steady-state thin-wing problems. The third part of the report approximates the integral equation for unsteady upwash and includes a solution of approximate equation. Expressions are then derived to evaluate the load distributions for time-dependent finite-wing motions.

Evvard, John C↗

Generalized indical forces on deforming rectangular wings in supersonic flight

A method is presented for determining the time-dependent flow over a rectangular wing moving with a supersonic forward speed and undergoing small vertical distortions expressible as polynomials involving spanwise and chordwise distances. The solution for the velocity potential is presented in a form analogous to that for steady supersonic flow having the familiar "reflected area" concept discovered by Evvard. Particular attention is paid to indicial-type motions and results are expressed in terms of generalized indicial forces. Numerical results for Mach numbers equal to 1.1 and 1.2 are given for polynomials of the first and fifth degree in the chordwise and spanwise directions, respectively, on a wing having an aspect ratio of 4.

Lomax, Harvard↗

Single-drop reactive extraction/extractive reaction with forced convective diffusion and interphase mass transfer

An algorithm has been developed for time-dependent forced convective diffusion-reaction having convection by a recirculating flow field within the drop that is hydrodynamically coupled at the interface with a convective external flow field that at infinity becomes a uniform free-streaming flow. The concentration field inside the droplet is likewise coupled with that outside by boundary conditions at the interface. A chemical reaction can take place either inside or outside the droplet, or reactions can take place in both phases. The algorithm has been implemented, and for comparison results are shown here for the case of no reaction in either phase and for the case of an external first order reaction, both for unsteady behavior. For pure interphase mass transfer, concentration isocontours, local and average Sherwood numbers, and average droplet concentrations have been obtained as a function of the physical properties and external flow field. For mass transfer enhanced by an external reaction, in addition to the above forms of results, we present the enhancement factor, with the results now also depending upon the (dimensionless) rate of reaction.

Kleinman, Leonid S.↗

Numerical Solution of Supersonic Laminar Flow Over an Inclined Body of Revolution

A mixed explicit-implicit scheme is used to solve the time-dependent thin-layer approximation of the Navier-Stokes equations for a supersonic laminar flow over an inclined body of revolution. Test cases for Mach 2.8 flow over a cylinder with 15-deg flare angle at angles of attack of 0,1, and 4 deg are calculated. Good agreement is obtained between the present computed results and experimental measurements of surface pressure. A pair of vortices on the leeward and a peak in the normal force distribution near the flared juncture are predicted; the role of circumferential communication is discussed.

Hung, C. M.↗

A Comparison of Theory and Observation of the Echo I Satellite

Observations of the Echo I balloon satellite have been compared with a theory including the following perturbing effects: (1) solar radiation pressure; (2) lunar and solar gravitation; (3) second, third, and fourth harmonics of the earth's gravitational potential; and (4) atmospheric drag. With a set of orbital elements at the 26th day of the lifetime of the satellite, it was possible to match the observational data to 180 days with root mean square residuals as follows: Delta-a = 17.9 km, Delta-e = 0.0021, Delta-i = 0.0177 deg., Delta-omega = 1.1231 deg., Delta-Omega = 0.4821 deg., Delta-perigee height = 7.50 km. No differential correction has been applied as yet. Values of atmospheric density between 1500 and 930 km, assuming neutral drag effects only, have been inferred from the orbital data. The connection between solar activity and drag is also examined. As the Echo I perigee height continues to oscillate between 900 and 1500 km, more valuable orbital data will be obtained and atmospheric properties will be deduced. Further refinements in the mathematical model, especially in a time-dependent model atmosphere, should bring a substantial reduction in the residuals of the observations.

Bryant, R. W.↗

Theoretical Determination of Lifetime of Compressed Plates at Elevated Temperatures

A method for the theoretical determination of the lifetime of com- pressed plates at elevated temperatures is presented. In this approach, linearized equations are used throughout with the assumption that the plate material is a standard linear solid. The critical time (lifetime) is determined by reducing the time-dependent behavior to the time- independent response of purely elastic buckling. Theoretically predicted lifetimes of 2024-T3 (formerly 24S-T3) aluminum-alloy plates at 450 F are compared with experimental values obtained in previous work.

Herrmann, George↗

Measurements of Unsteady Vortex Flowfields

A combined surface hot film and laser velocimeter measurement technique has been developed for the study of time-dependent turbulent flows. Data obtained in a compressible cylinder wake (M(sub infinity) = 0.6) are presented, and its structure in both the Eulerian and Lagrangian frames is discussed. Turbulence data obtained by conventional and phase averaging of the velocity fluctuations provide details of the small- and large-scale contributions to the total turbulent field.

Owen, F. K.↗

Correlation of Resonance Charge Exchange Cross-Section Data in the Low-Energy Range

During the course of a literature survey concerning resonance charge exchange, an unusual degree of agreement was noted between an extrapolation of the data reported by Kushnir, Palyukh, and Sena and the data reported by Ziegler. The data of Kushnir et al. are for ion-atom relative energies from 10 to 1000 ev, while the data of Ziegler are for a relative energy of about 1 ev. Extrapolation of the data of Kushnir et al. was made in accordance with Holstein's theory, 3 which is a combination of time-dependent perturbation methods and classical orbit theory. The results of this theory may be discussed in terms of a critical impact parameter b(sub c).

Sheldon, John W.↗

Battery Pack Shape Optimization using Transient Heat Conduction Coupled with Cell-Discharge Analysis

Battery electric systems exhibit significant time-dependence, especially when evaluated in the context of an aircraft mission profile with continually changing power demands. Additionally, when evaluating battery-powered aircraft concepts, it is important to accurately compute the temperature of the batteries and properly characterize the thermal response of the system. The temperature of the batteries has a significant impact on cell performance, in addition to safety considerations of maintaining battery temperatures below their operating limit. Because of these considerations, battery models for preliminary design and optimization of aircraft should include the capability to accurately compute the temperature distribution within the battery pack. Furthermore, battery pack designs should be as light-weight as possible to maximize the pack energy density, while also considering battery temperature limits. Here, we demonstrate a simultaneous trajectory and shape optimization of a battery pack concept, using a transient heat transfer finite element model coupled with a time-varying cell-discharge battery model to provide this capability. Including the transient finite element problem in the loop enables accurate temperatures that can be passed back to the cell discharge model, while the cell discharge model can supply the finite element model with time-varying heat boundary conditions to the finite element problem, further benefiting the fidelity of the thermal response of the batteries. We first demonstrate the coupling capability between the battery cell-discharge model and the transient finite-element heat transfer through an optimization which computes the optimal current profile for the battery pack while ensuring the battery temperatures remain below their operational limit. We then build on this optimization by adding shape optimization to the problem, which allows us to consider a composite objective function which also minimizes the mass of the battery pack, while also producing an optimal current discharge profile.

Optimization↗