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At least 559 records · Page 31

Accurate upwind-monotone (nonoscillatory) methods for conservation laws

The well known MUSCL scheme of Van Leer is constructed using a piecewise linear approximation. The MUSCL scheme is second order accurate at the smooth part of the solution except at extrema where the accuracy degenerates to first order due to the monotonicity constraint. To construct accurate schemes which are free from oscillations, the author introduces the concept of upwind monotonicity. Several classes of schemes, which are upwind monotone and of uniform second or third order accuracy are then presented. Results for advection with constant speed are shown. It is also shown that the new scheme compares favorably with state of the art methods.

Huynh, Hung T.↗

A numerical method for systems of conservation laws of mixed type admitting hyperbolic flux splitting

The present treatment of elliptic regions via hyperbolic flux-splitting and high order methods proposes a flux splitting in which the corresponding Jacobians have real and positive/negative eigenvalues. While resembling the flux splitting used in hyperbolic systems, the present generalization of such splitting to elliptic regions allows the handling of mixed-type systems in a unified and heuristically stable fashion. The van der Waals fluid-dynamics equation is used. Convergence with good resolution to weak solutions for various Riemann problems are observed.

Shu, Chi-Wang↗

Conservative Grid-Interface Algorithm For Computing Flows

Best features of structured- and unstructured-grid methods combined. Gaps and overlaps between zonal grids eliminated by grid-interface algorithm, which generates single interfacial grid and corrects fluxes of flow quantities accordingly. Incorporated into two three-dimensional Navier-Stokes finite-volume codes and tested in computations of incompressible and compressible flows about simple bodies. Good numerical results obtained. General enough to be incorporated into other finite-volume codes without restrictions on complexities of shapes of bodies and zonal interfaces.

Klopfer, G. H.↗

Power-Conserving Stepping-Motor Drive Circuits

Two improved drive circuits for sinusoidally commutated stepping motor include feedback loops reducing unnecessary consumption of power by reducing drive-current amplitude, I, when motor operates under light load. Basic design strategy attempts to supply only little more current than minimum needed to overcome friction in lightly loaded condition. In this sinusoidally commutated two-phase stepping motor, magnetic field generated by drive currents in phase-A and phase-B stator windings urges rotor toward commanded angle x.

Nola, Frank J.↗

Brush seals for turbine engine fuel conservation

The program objective is to demonstrate brush seals for replacing labyrinth seals in turboprop engines. The approach taken was to design and procure brush seals with assistance from Sealol, modify and instrument an existing T407 low pressure turbine test rig, replace inner balance piston and outer balance piston labyrinth seals with brush seals, conduct cyclic tests to evaluate seal leakage at operating pressures and temperatures, and evaluate effect of seal pack width and rotor eccentricity. Results are presented in viewgraph format and show that brush seals offer performance advantages over labyrinth seals.

Sousa, Mike↗

Conservative force model performance for TOPEX/Poseidon precision orbit determination

The TOPEX/Poseidon spacecraft was launched on August 10, 1992 to study the Earth's oceans. To achieve maximum benefit from the altimetric data collected, mission requirements dictate that TOPEX/Poseidon's orbit must be computed at an unprecedented level of accuracy. In order to satisfy these requirements, a model which accounts for the satellite's complex geometry, attitude, and surface properties has been developed. This `box-wing' representation treats the spacecraft as the combination of flat plates arranged in the shape of a box and a connecetd solar array. The nonconservative forces acting on each of the eight surfaces are computed independently, yielding vector accelerations which are summed to compute the total aggregate effect on the satellite center-of-mass. Parameters associated with each flat plate were derived from a finite element analysis of the spacecraft. Certain parameters can be inferred from tracking data and have been adjusted to obtain a better representation of the satellite acceleration history. Changes in the nominal mission profile and the presence of an `anomalistic' force have complicated this tuning process. Model performance, parameter sensitivities, and the `anomalistic' force will be discussed.

Marshall, J. Andrew↗

Adaptively-refined overlapping grids for the numerical solution of systems of hyperbolic conservation laws

Adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) in conjunction with higher-order upwind finite-difference methods have been used effectively on a variety of problems in two and three dimensions. In this paper we introduce an approach for resolving problems that involve complex geometries in which resolution of boundary geometry is important. The complex geometry is represented by using the method of overlapping grids, while local resolution is obtained by refining each component grid with the AMR algorithm, appropriately generalized for this situation. The CMPGRD algorithm introduced by Chesshire and Henshaw is used to automatically generate the overlapping grid structure for the underlying mesh.

Brislawn, Kristi D.↗

Further Development of a New, Flux-Conserving Newton Scheme for the Navier-Stokes Equations

This paper is one of a series of papers describing the development of a new numerical approach for solving the steady Navier-Stokes equations. The key features in the current development are (1) the discrete representation of the dependent variables by way of high order polynomial expansions, (2) the retention of all derivatives in the expansions as unknowns to be explicitly solved for, (3) the automatic balancing of fluxes at cell interfaces, and (4) the discrete simulation of both the integral and differential forms of the governing equations. The main purpose of this paper is, first, to provide a systematic and rigorous derivation of the conditions that are used to simulate the differential form of the Navier-Stokes equations, and second, to extend our previously-presented internal flow scheme to external flows and nonuniform grids. Numerical results are presented for high Reynolds number flow (Re = 100,000) around a finite flat plate, and detailed comparisons are made with the Blasius flat plate solution and Goldstein wake solution. It is shown that the error in the streamwise velocity decreases like r(sup alpha)(Delta)y(exp 2), where alpha approx. 0.25 and r = delta(y)/delta(x) is the grid aspect ratio.

Scott, James R.↗

Mapping Vegetation Structure in Kakadu National Park: An AIRSAR and GIS Application in Conservation

Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (AIRSAR) data were used to map vegetation structure in Kakadu National Park Australia as part of the PACRIM project. SAR data were co-registered with Landsat TM, aerial photos, and map data in a geographic information system for a small test area consisting of mangrove, floodplain grasslands, lowland tropical evergreen forest and upland mixed deciduous and evergreen tropical forest near the South Alligator River. Landsat (Thematic Mapper) TM very clearly showed the floristic composition and burn scars from the previous years fires and the AIRSAR data provided a profile of vegetation structure. Extensive field data on vegetation species composition and structure were collected across a series of transects in cooperation with a survey of avifauna in an effort to link the habitat edge structure with bird species responses. A test site was found that contained two types of habitat edges: 1) A structure specific edge - characterized by the appearance of a very strong structural change in the forest canopy occurring in the absence of a substantial turnover in floristics. 2) Floristic edge - a sharp transition in vegetation genetic composition with a mixed set of structural changes. Specific polarization combinations were selected that were highly correlated to a set of desired structural parameters found in the field data. Classification routines were employed to group radar pixels into 3 structural classes based on: the Surface Area to Volume ratio (SA/V) of the stems, the SA/V of the branches, and the leaf area index of the canopy. Separate canopy structure maps were then entered into the GIS and bird responses were observed relative to the classes and their boundaries. Follow-on work will consist of extending this approach to neighboring areas, generating structure maps, predicting bird responses across the edges, and make accuracy assessments.

Imhoff, Marc L.↗

The Use of Human Factors Simulation to Conserve Operations Expense

In preparation for on-orbit operations, NASA performs experiments aboard a KC-135 which performs parabolic maneuvers, resulting in short periods of microgravity. While considerably less expensive than space operations, the use of this aircraft is costly. Simulation of tasks to be performed during the flight can allow the participants to optimize hardware configuration and crew interaction prior to flight. This presentation will demonstrate the utility of such simulation. The experiment simulated is the fluid dynamics of epoxy components which may be used in a patch kit in the event of meteoroid damage to the International Space Station. Improved configuration and operational efficiencies were reflected in early and increased data collection.

Hamilton, George S.↗

Active Control by Conservation of Energy Concept

Three unrelated experiments are discussed; each was extremely sensitive to initial conditions. The initial conditions are the beginnings of the origins of the information that nonlinearity displays. Initial conditions make the phenomenon unstable and unpredictable. With the knowledge of the initial conditions, active control requires far less power than that present in the system response. The first experiment is on the control of shocks from an axisymmetric supersonic jet; the second, control of a nonlinear panel response forced by turbulent boundary layer and sound; the third, control of subharmonic and harmonics of a panel forced by sound. In all three experiments, control is achieved by redistribution of periodic energy response such that the energy is nearly preserved from a previous uncontrolled state. This type of active control improves the performance of the system being controlled.

Maestrello, Lucio↗

Numerical Solution of Multi-Dimensional Hyperbolic Conservation Laws on Unstructured Meshes

The lecture material will discuss the application of one-dimensional approximate Riemann solutions and high order accurate data reconstruction as building blocks for solving multi-dimensional hyperbolic equations. This building block procedure is well-documented in the nationally available literature. The relevant stability and convergence theory using positive operator analysis will also be presented. All participants in the minisymposium will be asked to solve one or more generic test problems so that a critical comparison of accuracy can be made among differing approaches.

Barth, Timothy J.↗

On a Non-Reflecting Boundary Condition for Hyperbolic Conservation Laws

A non-reflecting boundary condition (NRBC) for practical computations in fluid dynamics and aeroacoustics is presented. The technique is based on the first principle of non-reflecting, plane wave propagation and the hyperbolicity of the Euler equation system. The NRBC is simple and effective, provided the numerical scheme maintains locally a C(sup 1) continuous solution at the boundary. Several numerical examples in 1D, 2D, and 3D space are illustrated to demonstrate its robustness in practical computations.

Loh, Ching Y.↗

Electrodeposition of High Quality Nickel Phosphorous Alloys for Pollution Reduction and Energy Conservation

NASA and the University of Alabama in Huntsville have developed ecologically friendly, versatile nickel and nickel cobalt phosphorous electroplating processes. Solutions show excellent performance with high efficiency for vastly extended throughput. Properties include, clean, low temperature operation (40 - 60 C), high Faradaic efficiency, low stress and high hardness. A variety of alloy and plating speed options are easily achieved from the same chemistry using soluble anodes for metal replacement with only 25% of the phosphorous additions required for electroless nickel. Thick deposits are easily achieved unattended, for electroforming freestanding shapes without buildup of excess orthophosphate or stripping of equipment.

Engelhaupt, Darell↗