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At least 577 records · Page 32

Exploring the use of I/O nodes for computation in a MIMD multiprocessor

As parallel systems move into the production scientific-computing world, the emphasis will be on cost-effective solutions that provide high throughput for a mix of applications. Cost effective solutions demand that a system make effective use of all of its resources. Many MIMD multiprocessors today, however, distinguish between 'compute' and 'I/O' nodes, the latter having attached disks and being dedicated to running the file-system server. This static division of responsibilities simplifies system management but does not necessarily lead to the best performance in workloads that need a different balance of computation and I/O. Of course, computational processes sharing a node with a file-system service may receive less CPU time, network bandwidth, and memory bandwidth than they would on a computation-only node. In this paper we begin to examine this issue experimentally. We found that high performance I/O does not necessarily require substantial CPU time, leaving plenty of time for application computation. There were some complex file-system requests, however, which left little CPU time available to the application. (The impact on network and memory bandwidth still needs to be determined.) For applications (or users) that cannot tolerate an occasional interruption, we recommend that they continue to use only compute nodes. For tolerant applications needing more cycles than those provided by the compute nodes, we recommend that they take full advantage of both compute and I/O nodes for computation, and that operating systems should make this possible.

Kotz, David↗

Mixing of Dust and NH3 Observed Globally over Anthropogenic Dust Sources

The global distribution of dust column burden derived from MODIS Deep Blue aerosol products is compared to NH3 column burden retrieved from IASI infrared spectra. We found similarities in their spatial distributions, in particular their hot spots are often collocated over croplands and to a lesser extent pastures. Globally, we found 22% of dust burden collocated with NH3, with only 1% difference between land-use databases. This confirms the importance of anthropogenic dust from agriculture. Regionally, the Indian subcontinent has the highest amount of dust mixed with NH3 (26 %), mostly over cropland and during the pre-monsoon season. North Africa represents 50% of total dust burden but accounts for only 4% of mixed dust, which is found over croplands and pastures in Sahel and the coastal region of the Mediterranean. In order to evaluate the radiative effect of this mixing on dust optical properties, we derive the mass extinction efficiency for various mixtures of dust and NH3, using AERONET sunphotometers data. We found that for dusty days the coarse mode mass extinction efficiency decreases from 0.62 to 0.48 square meters per gram as NH3 burden increases from 0 to 40 milligrams per square meter. The fine mode extinction efficiency, ranging from 4 to 16 square mters per gram, does not appear to depend on NH3 concentration or relative humidity but rather on mineralogical composition and mixing with other aerosols. Our results imply that a significant amount of dust is already mixed with ammonium salt before its long range transport. This in turn will affect dust lifetime, and its interactions with radiation and cloud properties

dust sources↗

Asymmetric effects in three-dimensional spatially-developing mixing layers

Three-dimensional structures in spatially developing mixing layers are examined using direct numerical simulations. The growth of streamwise vortices and their interaction with the main two-dimensional rollers as well as the effects of the observed hydrodynamic structures on asymmetric entrainment and mixing are studied. It is found that, at low Reynolds number, the streamwise vortices reduce the entrainment asymmetry of the two-dimensional flow. Passive scalar mixing is quantified by calculating the amount of combustion product produced by a fast chemical reaction. It is shown that the temporally developing case is easier to simulate, but contains an extra symmetry not present in spatially developing flows.

Buell, Jeffrey C.↗

Three-dimensional simulations of large eddies in the compressible mixing layer

Consideration is given to the effect of compressibility on a plane mixing layer that is a prototype free shear layer, amenable to study by numerical simulation and experiment. The full time-dependent compressible Navier-Stokes equations are solved numerically for a temporally evolving mixing layer employing a mixed spectral and high-order finite difference method. Simulations with random initial conditions confirm the prediction of linear stability theory that at high Mach numbers oblique waves grow faster than two-dimensional waves. Simulations are presented of the nonlinear temporal evolution of the most rapidly amplified linear instability waves.

Sandham, N. D.↗

CFD analyses of combustor and nozzle flowfields

The objectives of the research are to improve design capabilities for low thrust rocket engines through understanding of the detailed mixing and combustion processes. A Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) technique is employed to model the flowfields within the combustor, nozzle, and near plume field. The computational modeling of the rocket engine flowfields requires the application of the complete Navier-Stokes equations, coupled with species diffusion equations. Of particular interest is a small gaseous hydrogen-oxygen thruster which is considered as a coordinated part of an ongoing experimental program at NASA LeRC. The numerical procedure is performed on both time-marching and time-accurate algorithms, using an LU approximate factorization in time, flux split upwinding differencing in space. The integrity of fuel film cooling along the wall, its effectiveness in the mixing with the core flow including unsteady large scale effects, the resultant impact on performance and the assessment of the near plume flow expansion to finite pressure altitude chamber are addressed.

Tsuei, Hsin-Hua↗

Molecular Viscosity and Diffusivity Effects in Transitional and Shock-Driven Mixing Flows

Here, this paper investigates the importance of molecular viscosity and diffusivity for the prediction of transitional and shock-driven mixing flows featuring high and low Reynolds and Mach number regions. Two representative problems are computed with implicit large-eddy simulations using the inviscid Euler equations (EE) and viscous Navier-Stokes equations (NSE): the Taylor-Green vortex at Reynolds number Re = 3000 and initial Mach number Ma = 0.28, and an air- SF 6 -air gas curtain subjected to two shock waves at Ma = 1.2. The primary focus is on differences between NSE and EE predictions due to viscous effects. The outcome of the paper illustrates the advantages of utilizing NSE. In contrast to the EE, where the effective viscosity decreases upon grid refinement, NSE predictions can be assessed for simulations of flows with transition to turbulence at prescribed constant Re. The NSE can achieve better agreement between solutions and reference data, and the results converge upon grid refinement. On the other hand, the EE predictions do not converge with grid refinement, and can only exhibit similarities with the NSE results at coarse grid resolutions. We also investigate the effect of viscous effects on the dynamics of the coherent and turbulent fields, as well as on the mechanisms contributing to the production and diffusion of vorticity. The results show that nominally inviscid calculations can exhibit significantly varying flow dynamics driven by changing effective resolution-dependent Reynolds number, and highlight the role of viscous processes affecting the vorticity field. These tendencies become more pronounced upon grid refinement. The discussion of the results concludes with the assessment of the computational cost of inviscid and viscous computations.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Fundamental Study of a 7-Element Fuel Injector Configuration for Gas Turbine Combustors - A Look at Cold Flow and Burning Measurements

Lean direct injection (LDI) is a combustion concept to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) for next generation aircraft gas turbine engines. These newer engines have cycles that increase fuel efficiency through increased operating pressures, which increase combustor inlet temperatures. NOx formation rates increase with higher temperatures, and the LDI strategy is to avoid high temperature by staying fuel lean and away from stoichiometric burning. Thus, LDI relies on rapid and uniform fuel/air mixing. Additionally, in combustors for smaller core engines, the area and volume bring about mixing and time scale challenges not found in larger engines. As part of our parametric study in which we vary swirler angle and orientation and look at their effect on fluid mixing and combustion, we examine one configuration of a 7-point lean direct injector by looking at the non-combusting 2-D velocity field using PIV, and combusting system for chemical species using chemiluminescent imaging and flame spectroscopy. The circular 7-point array consists of axial swirlers, with the center 60° swirler surrounded by six 52° swirlers. The velocity results for this configuration show that the outer swirlers serve to isolate the center flow field near the injector exit. A recirculation zone forms downstream of the center swirler, but not behind the outer swirlers. The combusting results also show an isolated zone directly downstream of the center injector. The flame spectra show variation in speciation of combustion species such as OH*, C3*, CH*, and C2* as a function of position within the combustor.

lean direct injection↗

Studies of High Energy Density Discharge and Laser-Driven Deflagrating Plasma Stagnations

The goal of this proposal is to develop an understanding of the thermalization and mixing of high energy density (HED) interpenetrating and stagnating plasma deflagrations on two different platforms. The first is opposing gas-fed Z-pinch plasma expansions in a facility at Stanford University. The second is the convergence of multiple deflagration fronts generated by inverted corona laser ablations through experiments carried out by the P.I. as part of a larger team at the University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics. The link between the two platforms is the role played by kinetic effects that impact mixing and the conversion of directed to thermal energy. Such kinetic effects are important because of the relatively high temperatures despite high plasma densities.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

“Cold-Flow” Experiments Supporting CFD of Mixing Flowfields for High-Speed Fuel Injectors for Scramjet Applications

Recent flight demonstrations of supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) vehicles prove their increasing promise for military (rapid response and strike capability on global scale), aerospace (safer and more affordable access to space), and civil aviation (hypersonic point-to-point transport) applications. Currently, these technologies are still in their early development stages with commercial interest and investment at only a fraction of that of government organizations such as NASA and DoD. To advance hypersonic air-breathing propulsion technologies to the technology readiness levels necessary for access to space or widespread commercialization, further government investments and university engagement are needed over the next decade and likely beyond. This is because designing scramjet propulsion devices capable of robust high-speed air-breathing operation, characterized by rapid fuel and air mixing, short combustion times, and ensuring stable flame, has proven difficult. In this presentation, after a brief engineering-level introduction to scramjets technology, we will discuss one of the key challenges in high-speed propulsion design, namely the fuel injector design. Attempts at improving fuel injection to enhance fuel-air mixing while simultaneously reducing engine thrust losses have received a great deal of attention over the years. Although some amount of loss is thermodynamically unavoidable and occurs due to the desired effect of molecular mixing of fuel and air, any losses beyond this minimum required amount reduces the thrust potential of the engine. The Enhanced Injection and Mixing Project (EIMP) at NASA Langley Research Center aims at addressing this design challenge by analyzing the performance of a number of baseline and novel fuel injectors for high-speed applications. The project leverages computational and experimental capabilities with the goal to investigate scramjet fuel injection and mixing physics, improve our understanding of the underlying physical process, and develop enhancement strategies relevant to hypersonic flight Mach numbers. The talk will discuss the current computational and experimental research approaches using one of the baseline injectors considered by the EIMP as an example.

Scramjet↗

Mixed-mode strain-energy-release rate effects on edge delamination of composites

Unnotched graphite/epoxy laminates, designed to delaminate at the edges under static and cyclic tensile loads, were tested and analyzed. The specimen stacking sequences were chosen so that the total strain-energy-release rate, G, for edge delamination was identical for all three layups. However, each layup had different percentages of crack-opening and shear-mode strain-energy-release rates, G sub 1 and G sub 2, respectively. Results with composites made from T300 graphite fibers and 5208 epoxy, a brittle resin, indicated that only G sub 1 contributed to delamination onset under static loading. However, results with composites made from C6000 fibers and H205 epoxy, a tougher resin, indicated that the total F governed the onset of edge delaminations under cyclic loads. In addition, for both materials, the threshold level of G for delamination onset in fatigue was significantly less than the critical G sub c measured in static tests. Futhermore, although the C6000/H205 material had a much higher static G sub c than T300/5208, its fatigue resistance was only slightly better. A series of mixed-mode tests, like the ones in this study, may be needed to evaluate toughened-resin composites developed for highly strained composite structures subjected to cyclic loads.

Obrien, T. K.↗

NASA Tech Briefs, November 2003

Topics covered include: Computer Program Recognizes Patterns in Time-Series Data; Program for User-Friendly Management of Input and Output Data Sets; Noncoherent Tracking of a Source of a Data-Modulated Signal; Software for Acquiring Image Data for PIV; Detecting Edges in Images by Use of Fuzzy Reasoning; A Timer for Synchronous Digital Systems; Prototype Parts of a Digital Beam-Forming Wide-Band Receiver; High-Voltage Droplet Dispenser; Network Extender for MIL-STD-1553 Bus; MMIC HEMT Power Amplifier for 140 to 170 GHz; Piezoelectric Diffraction-Based Optical Switches; Numerical Modeling of Nanoelectronic Devices; Organizing Diverse, Distributed Project Information; Eigensolver for a Sparse, Large Hermitian Matrix; Modified Polar-Format Software for Processing SAR Data; e-Stars Template Builder; Software for Acoustic Rendering; Functionally Graded Nanophase Beryllium/Carbon Composites; Thin Thermal-Insulation Blankets for Very High Temperatures; Prolonging Microgravity on Parabolic Airplane Flights; Device for Locking a Control Knob; Cable-Dispensing Cart; Foam Sensor Structures Would be Self-Deployable and Survive Hard Landings; Real-Gas Effects on Binary Mixing Layers; Earth-Space Link Attenuation Estimation via Ground Radar Kdp; Wedge Heat-Flux Indicators for Flash Thermography; Measuring Diffusion of Liquids by Common-Path Interferometry; Zero-Shear, Low-Disturbance Optical Delay Line; Whispering-Gallery Mode-Locked Lasers; Spatial Light Modulators as Optical Crossbar Switches; Update on EMD and Hilbert-Spectra Analysis of Time Series; Quad-Tree Visual-Calculus Analysis of Satellite Coverage; Dyakonov-Perel Effect on Spin Dephasing in n-Type GaAs; Update on Area Production in Mixing of Supercritical Fluids; and Quasi-Sun-Pointing of Spacecraft Using Radiation Pressure.

Source record↗

Three-pion effects in $K^0-\bar{K}^0$ mixing

The rate of mixing between a neutral kaon and an anti-kaon ($K^0$-$\bar{K}^0$) is given, in part, by a long-range matrix element, defined with two insertions of the weak Hamiltonian separated by physical, Minkowski time evolution. For physical quark masses, the kaon mass lies above the two- and three-pion thresholds and, as a result, this long-range matrix element receives contributions from intermediate on-shell $2\pi$ and $3\pi$ states. These contributions cannot easily be captured in a finite Euclidean spacetime, meaning that such matrix elements are not directly accessible via lattice QCD. In this talk, we present a strategy for combining quantities that can be extracted in numerical lattice QCD calculations in order to reproduce the physical, infinite-volume long-range amplitude for $K^0-\bar{K}^0$. The key novelty relative to published work is that we fully include the effects of three-particle states that were previously neglected. The strategy is built on existing formalism for long-range matrix elements with two-particle intermediate states, together with the relativistic-field-theory finite-volume formalism for extracting three-hadron weak decays.

Jackura, Andrew↗

Shapes of Nonbuoyant Round Luminous Hydrocarbon/Air Laminar Jet Diffusion Flames

The shapes (luminous flame boundaries) of round luminous nonbuoyant soot-containing hydrocarbon/air laminar jet diffusion flames at microgravity were found from color video images obtained on orbit in the Space Shuttle Columbia. Test conditions included ethylene- and propane-fueled flames burning in still air at an ambient temperature of 300 K, ambient pressures of 35-130 kPa, initial jet diameters of 1.6 and 2.7 mm, and jet exit Reynolds numbers of 45-170. Present test times were 100-200 s and yielded steady axisymmetric flames that were close to the laminar smoke point (including flames both emitting and not emitting soot) with luminous flame lengths of 15-63 mm. The present soot-containing flames had larger luminous flame lengths than earlier ground-based observations having similar burner configurations: 40% larger than the luminous flame lengths of soot-containing low gravity flames observed using an aircraft (KC-135) facility due to reduced effects of accelerative disturbances and unsteadiness; roughly twice as large as the luminous flame lengths of soot-containing normal gravity flames due to the absence of effects of buoyant mixing and roughly twice as large as the luminous flame lengths of soot-free low gravity flames observed using drop tower facilities due to the presence of soot luminosity and possible reduced effects of unsteadiness. Simplified expressions to estimate the luminous flame boundaries of round nonbuoyant laminar jet diffusion flames were obtained from the classical analysis of Spalding (1979); this approach provided Successful Correlations of flame shapes for both soot-free and soot-containing flames, except when the soot-containing flames were in the opened-tip configuration that is reached at fuel flow rates near and greater than the laminar smoke point fuel flow rate.

Lin, K.-C.↗

Shapes of Nonbuoyant Round Luminous Hydrocarbon/Air Laminar Jet Diffusion Flames

The shapes (luminous flame boundaries) of round luminous nonbuoyant soot-containing hydrocarbon/air laminar jet diffusion flames at microgravity were found from color video images obtained on orbit in the Space Shuttle Columbia. Test conditions included ethylene- and propane-fueled flames burning in still air at an ambient temperature of 300 K ambient pressures of 35-130 kPa, initial jet diameters of 1.6 and 2.7 mm, and jet exit Reynolds numbers of 45-170. Present test times were 100-200 s and yielded steady axisymmetric flames that were close to the laminar smoke point (including flames both emitting and not emitting soot) with luminous flame lengths of 15-63 mm. The present soot-containing flames had larger luminous flame lengths than earlier ground-based observations having similar burner configurations: 40% larger than the luminous flame lengths of soot-containing low gravity flames observed using an aircraft (KC-135) facility due to reduced effects of accelerative disturbances and unsteadiness; roughly twice as large as the luminous flame lengths of soot-containing normal gravity flames due to the absence of effects of buoyant mixing and roughly twice as large as the luminous flame lengths of soot-free low gravity flames observed using drop tower facilities due to the presence of soot luminosity and possible reduced effects of unsteadiness, Simplified expressions to estimate the luminous flame boundaries of round nonbuoyant laminar jet diffusion flames were obtained from the classical analysis of Spalding; this approach provided successful correlations of flame shapes for both soot-free and soot-containing flames, except when the soot-containing flames were in the opened-tip configuration that is reached at fuel flow rates near and greater than the laminar smoke point fuel flow rate.

Lin, K.-C.↗

A numerical study of the spectral radiative properties of packed bed with mixed bauxite and silica spheres

Bauxite and silica particles have gained increasing attention for applications in the field of concentrated solar power. In this work, a Monte Carlo ray-tracing simulation is performed to predict the radiative properties (absorptance, reflectance, and transmittance) of packed beds with mixed bauxite and silica spherical particles at wavelengths of 0.5, 2.6, 9.0, and 9.35 µm. These wavelengths are representative for the visible, near-infrared, and the mid-infrared regions that are important for solar and thermal radiation, respectively. A repeating unit-column approach is used to mathematically represent the particle bed. The effects of particle mixing ratio, volume fraction, and wavelength on the predicted radiative properties are examined. The obtained radiative properties are inputted to an inverse method to retrieve the effective absorption and scattering coefficients as well as the scattering albedo, which may be later used in a continuous-scale radiative heat transfer analysis. Furthermore, the independent scattering model is used to obtain the absorption coefficient and scattering albedo based on the absorption and scattering cross sections predicted by a Monte Carlo algorithm for a single particle. It is shown that the independent scattering model underpredicts the scattering coefficient for opaque particles but overpredicts the scattering coefficient for semitransparent particles for sufficiently high particle volume fractions. Here, the radiative properties calculated from the independent scattering model are compared to the full Monte Carlo simulation of the particle bed to examine the influence of particle mixing on dependent scattering.

42 ENGINEERING↗

The fungicidal and phytotoxic properties of benomyl and PPM in supplemented agar media supporting transgenic arabidopsis plants for a Space Shuttle flight experiment

Fungal contamination is a significant problem in the use of sucrose-enriched agar-based media for plant culture, especially in closed habitats such as the Space Shuttle. While a variety of fungicides are commercially available, not all are equal in their effectiveness in inhibiting fungal contamination. In addition, fungicide effectiveness must be weighed against its phytotoxicity and in this case, its influence on transgene expression. In a series of experiments designed to optimize media composition for a recent shuttle mission, the fungicide benomyl and the biocide "Plant Preservative Mixture" (PPM) were evaluated for effectiveness in controlling three common fungal contaminants, as well as their impact on the growth and development of arabidopsis seedlings. Benomyl proved to be an effective inhibitor of all three contaminants in concentrations as low as 2 ppm (parts per million) within the agar medium, and no evidence of phytotoxicity was observed until concentrations exceeded 20 ppm. The biocide mix PPM was effective as a fungicide only at concentrations that had deleterious effects on arabidopsis seedlings. As a result of these findings, a concentration of 3 ppm benomyl was used in the media for experiment PGIM-01 which flew on shuttle Columbia mission STS-93 in July 1999.

Non-NASA Center↗

Jet Noise Modeling for Suppressed and Unsuppressed Aircraft in Simulated Flight

This document describes the development of further extensions and improvements to the jet noise model developed by Modern Technologies Corporation (MTC) for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The noise component extraction and correlation approach, first used successfully by MTC in developing a noise prediction model for two-dimensional mixer ejector (2DME) nozzles under the High Speed Research (HSR) Program, has been applied to dual-stream nozzles, then extended and improved in earlier tasks under this contract. Under Task 6, the coannular jet noise model was formulated and calibrated with limited scale model data, mainly at high bypass ratio, including a limited-range prediction of the effects of mixing-enhancement nozzle-exit chevrons on jet noise. Under Task 9 this model was extended to a wider range of conditions, particularly those appropriate for a Supersonic Business Jet, with an improvement in simulated flight effects modeling and generalization of the suppressor model. In the present task further comparisons are made over a still wider range of conditions from more test facilities. The model is also further generalized to cover single-stream nozzles of otherwise similar configuration. So the evolution of this prediction/analysis/correlation approach has been in a sense backward, from the complex to the simple; but from this approach a very robust capability is emerging. Also from these studies, some observations emerge relative to theoretical considerations. The purpose of this task is to develop an analytical, semi-empirical jet noise prediction method applicable to takeoff, sideline and approach noise of subsonic and supersonic cruise aircraft over a wide size range. The product of this task is an even more consistent and robust model for the Footprint/Radius (FOOTPR) code than even the Task 9 model. The model is validated for a wider range of cases and statistically quantified for the various reference facilities. The possible role of facility effects will thus be documented. Although the comparisons that can be accomplished within the limited resources of this task are not comprehensive, they provide a broad enough sampling to enable NASA to make an informed decision on how much further effort should be expended on such comparisons. The improved finalized model is incorporated into the FOOTPR code. MTC has also supported the adaptation of this code for incorporation in NASA s Aircraft Noise Prediction Program (ANOPP).

Stone, James R.↗