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At least 595 records · Page 33

Turbulence modeling for aerodynamic flows

The state of statistical turbulence modeling is reviewed with emphasis on compressible aerodynamic flows. A three-stage modeling process is suggested to act as a frame-work for improving turbulence models for complex flows. This process is then used to guide assessments of the comparative performance of various levels of turbulence models for several examples of flow fields of aerodynamic interest. The examples cover flows in two and three dimensions and with a broad range of Mach numbers. In addition to considerations of individual flow fields, some generalizations are drawn from the aggregate behavior of the comparisons.

Rubesin, Morris W.↗

A statistical rain attenuation prediction model with application to the advanced communication technology satellite project. Part 2: Theoretical development of a dynamic model and application to rain fade durations and tolerable control delays for fade countermeasures

A dynamic rain attenuation prediction model is developed for use in obtaining the temporal characteristics, on time scales of minutes or hours, of satellite communication link availability. Analagous to the associated static rain attenuation model, which yields yearly attenuation predictions, this dynamic model is applicable at any location in the world that is characterized by the static rain attenuation statistics peculiar to the geometry of the satellite link and the rain statistics of the location. Such statistics are calculated by employing the formalism of Part I of this report. In fact, the dynamic model presented here is an extension of the static model and reduces to the static model in the appropriate limit. By assuming that rain attenuation is dynamically described by a first-order stochastic differential equation in time and that this random attenuation process is a Markov process, an expression for the associated transition probability is obtained by solving the related forward Kolmogorov equation. This transition probability is then used to obtain such temporal rain attenuation statistics as attenuation durations and allowable attenuation margins versus control system delay.

Manning, Robert M.↗

Narrowband and wideband characterisation of satellite mobile/PCN channel

This paper presents models characterizing satellite mobile channel. Statistical narrowband models based on the CSER high elevation angle channel measurement campaign are reported. Such models are understood to be useful for communication system simulations. It has been shown from the modelling results that for the mobile satellite links at high elevation angles line-of-sight (LOS) signal is available most of the time, even under the heavy shadowing conditions. Wideband measurement campaign which CSER is about to undertake, and subsequently the modelling approach to be adopted is also discussed. It is noted that a wideband channel model is expected to provide a useful tool in investigating CDMA applications.

Butt, G.↗

Seasonal Atmospheric and Oceanic Predictions

Several projects associated with dynamical, statistical, single column, and ocean models are presented. The projects include: 1) Regional Climate Modeling; 2) Statistical Downscaling; 3) Evaluation of SCM and NSIPP AGCM Results at the ARM Program Sites; and 4) Ocean Forecasts.

Roads, John↗

A Statistical Comparison of PSC Model Simulations and POAM Observations

A better knowledge of PSC composition and formation mechanisms is important to better understand and predict stratospheric ozone depletion. Several past studies have attempted to compare modeling results with satellite observations. These comparisons have concentrated on case studies. In this paper we adopt a statistical approach. POAM PSC observations from several Arctic winters are categorized into Type Ia and Ib PSCs using a technique based on Strawa et al. The discrimination technique has been modified to employ the wavelengths dependence of the extinction signal at all wavelengths rather than only at 603 and 10 18 nm. Winter-long simulations for the 1999-2000 Arctic winter have been made using the IMPACT model. These simulations have been constrained by aircraft observations made during the SOLVE/THESEO 2000 campaign. A complete set of winter-long simulations was run for several different microphysical and PSC formation scenarios. The simulations give us perfect knowledge of PSC type (Ia, Ib, or II), composition, especially condensed phase HNO3 which is important for denitrification, and condensed phase H2O. Comparisons are made between the simulation and observation of PSC extinction at 1018 rim versus wavelength dependence, winter-long percentages of Ia and Ib occurrence, and temporal and altitude trends of the PSCs. These comparisons allow us to comment on how realistic some modeling scenarios are.

Strawa, A. W.↗

Evaluation of the Williams-type spring wheat model in North Dakota and Minnesota

The Williams type model, developed similarly to previous models of C.V.D. Williams, uses monthly temperature and precipitation data as well as soil and topological variables to predict the yield of the spring wheat crop. The models are statistically developed using the regression technique. Eight model characteristics are examined in the evaluation of the model. Evaluation is at the crop reporting district level, the state level and for the entire region. A ten year bootstrap test was the basis of the statistical evaluation. The accuracy and current indication of modeled yield reliability could show improvement. There is great variability in the bias measured over the districts, but there is a slight overall positive bias. The model estimates for the east central crop reporting district in Minnesota are not accurate. The estimate of yield for 1974 were inaccurate for all of the models.

Leduc, S.↗

Audibility of Multiple, Low-Frequency Tonal Signals in Noise

The main purpose of this study is to examine the audibility of multiple, low-frequency tones that are placed in distinct auditory channels. Three experiments are described, the goals of which are to determine if the presence of sound in multiple channels results in enhanced audibility and to assess the applicability of the Statistical Summation Model (SSM) to this frequency range. This model predicts that for the case of multiple signals that are in separate auditory channels, implying statistical independence, each with sensitivity value d prime of i, the resulting total sensitivity is given by the square root of the sum of the squares of the individual d prime of i values. In common with previous studies conducted at higher frequencies, the signals are pure tones and the maskers are broadband noise. The requirement that low frequency tones be placed in separate auditory filters limited the number of tones to a maximum of three. The first of the three experiments measured the change in masked thresholds for two- and three-tone signals relative to the level of the equally-detectable single tones. The multiple tone signals were composed of combinations of 55, 120 and 200 Hz tones. The measured changes in thresholds exceeded those predicted by the SSM, although they did not differ statistically from the model predictions. The second experiment employed the same overall approach but acquired more data and concentrated on the three-tone signal. Once again, the measured changes in masked threshold exceeded the model predictions, this time to a statistically-significant degree. Two issues were postulated with the potential to yield inflated changes in masked threshold: interaction between tones resulting in perceptible intermodulation/difference tones, and the assumption that the tones were in distinct auditory filters and statistically independent of one another. The third experiment used two sets of three-tone signals to address these latter concerns. The first set of three tones was composed of harmonically related tone frequencies of 55, 110 and 165 Hz, which was an attempt to reduce effects of intermodulation difference tones. The second set of three tones was chosen to be 110, 220 and 330 Hz, again reducing effects of difference tones, but also providing greater separation between tones. Results for the first set of three tones compared to those of the earlier experiments indicated that intermodulation was not an important effect. The second set of three tones (110, 220, 330 Hz) yielded changes in masked thresholds that, on average, were in good agreement with the SSM, although intersubject variability was large and prohibited a definitive conclusion regarding the concern that tone spacing was inadequate. The results of the three experiments showed that the masked threshold of sounds with multiple (two or three) equally-detectable low frequency tones was lower than those of the single tones. In other words, it is clear that audibility is enhanced by the presence of signals in multiple auditory filters. This finding is consistent with most previous research conducted at higher frequencies. In contrast with previous research, test subjects were, on average, able to detect multitone sounds at lower levels than those predicted using the SSM. Analyses that included Monte Carlo simulations showed that normally distributed errors in the single tone thresholds result in biased estimates of the thresholds of multitone sounds. This phenomenon is likely responsible for at least a substantial fraction of the unexpected deviation of measurements from SSM predictions.

Rafaelof, Menachem↗

Origin of the Greenland Ice Sheet

A climate model resolving the seasonal cycle and the two horizontal dimensions was developed and applied to several problems of current interest. Models of this type are useful when for various reasons a general circulation model experiment is not warranted or not feasible. For example, in cases where the signal to natural variability is small it may be advantageous to first consider such a statistical dynamical model because extremely long runs may be necessary in the application. In this case the simpler statistical dynamical model serves as a pilot study device. The model developed is a thermodynamic model whose solution yields the equilibrium seasonal cycle for the surface temperature field over the globe. The model is essentially a statement of the conservation of heat energy for individual columns of the earth atmosphere system. Various terms such as the infrared radiation flux to space are parameterized with earth radiation budget data from satellites such as Nimbus 6. The primary agent modulating the seasonal cycle amplitude is the heat capacity per unit area which is a strong function of surface type -- ocean surface can store 60 times more heat per unit time than land. By adjusting its few empirical parameters the model can be brought into remarkable agreement with the observed seasonal cycle. The model is then very useful for looking at the dependence of the seasonal cycle of the temperature on such externally defined variables as the Earth's orbital elements (eccentricity, tilt, precession of equinoxes) or the configuration of land-sea geography which can be changed by continental drift.

North, G. R.↗

Abrasion-ablation model for neutron production in heavy ion collisions

In intermediate energy nucleus-nucleus collisions, neutron production at forward angles is observed to occur with a Gaussian shape that is centered near the beam energy and extends to energies well above that of the beam. This paper presents an abrasion-ablation model for making quantitative predictions of the neutron spectrum. To describe neutrons produced from the abrasion step of the reaction where the projectile and target overlap, we use the Glauber model and include effects of final-state interactions. We then use the prefragment mass distribution from abrasion with a statistical evaporation model to estimate the neutron spectrum resulting from ablation. Measurements of neutron production from Ne and Nb beams are compared with calculations, and good agreement is found.

NASA Discipline Radiation Health↗

Nonlinear viscoelasticity and relaxation phenomena of polymer solids

In the light of a three-chain model of statistical network theories of rubberlike elastic models, it is assumed that the free energy function of incompressible viscoelastic polymer solids is a separable, symmetric function of the principle stretch ratios and the hidden thermodynamic coordinates along the same directions. This assumption leads to a characterization of those viscoelastic polymer solids which exhibit the property of factorizability between the time and strain functions.

Peng, S. T. J.↗

Real-time three-dimensional color doppler evaluation of the flow convergence zone for quantification of mitral regurgitation: Validation experimental animal study and initial clinical experience

BACKGROUND: Pitfalls of the flow convergence (FC) method, including 2-dimensional imaging of the 3-dimensional (3D) geometry of the FC surface, can lead to erroneous quantification of mitral regurgitation (MR). This limitation may be mitigated by the use of real-time 3D color Doppler echocardiography (CE). Our objective was to validate a real-time 3D navigation method for MR quantification. METHODS: In 12 sheep with surgically induced chronic MR, 37 different hemodynamic conditions were studied with real-time 3DCE. Using real-time 3D navigation, the radius of the largest hemispherical FC zone was located and measured. MR volume was quantified according to the FC method after observing the shape of FC in 3D space. Aortic and mitral electromagnetic flow probes and meters were balanced against each other to determine reference MR volume. As an initial clinical application study, 22 patients with chronic MR were also studied with this real-time 3DCE-FC method. Left ventricular (LV) outflow tract automated cardiac flow measurement (Toshiba Corp, Tokyo, Japan) and real-time 3D LV stroke volume were used to quantify the reference MR volume (MR volume = 3DLV stroke volume - automated cardiac flow measurement). RESULTS: In the sheep model, a good correlation and agreement was seen between MR volume by real-time 3DCE and electromagnetic (y = 0.77x + 1.48, r = 0.87, P <.001, delta = -0.91 +/- 2.65 mL). In patients, real-time 3DCE-derived MR volume also showed a good correlation and agreement with the reference method (y = 0.89x - 0.38, r = 0.93, P <.001, delta = -4.8 +/- 7.6 mL). CONCLUSIONS: real-time 3DCE can capture the entire FC image, permitting geometrical recognition of the FC zone geometry and reliable MR quantification.

Validation Studies↗

Visual detection of spatial contrast patterns: evaluation of five simple models

The ModelFest Phase One dataset is a collection of luminance contrast thresholds for 43 two-dimensional monochromatic spatial patterns confined to an area of approximately two by two degrees. These data were collected by a collaboration among twelve laboratories, and were designed to provide a common database for calibration and testing of spatial vision models. Here I report fits of the ModelFest data with five models: Peak Contrast, Contrast Energy, Generalized Energy, a Gabor Channels model, and a Discrete Cosine Transform model. The Gabor Channels model provides the best fit, though the other, simpler models, with the exception of Peak Contrast, provide remarkably good fits as well. Though there are clear individual differences, regularities in the data suggest the possibility of constructing a standard observer for spatial vision. c2000 Optical Society of America.

NASA Discipline Space Human Factors↗

Rain cell size statistics as a function of rain rate for attenuation modeling

Rain cell size statistics as a function of rain rate have been deduced by employing a radar data base of rain reflectivity data acquired over a three-year period at Wallops Island, VA. These cell statistics have important applications in slant path rain attenuation modeling and remote sensing of the earth's surface from space at frequencies above 10 GHz.

Goldhirsh, J.↗

Coupling the Community Atmospheric Model (CAM) with the Statistical Spectral Interpolation (SSI) System under ESMF

The first set of interoperability experiments illustrates the role ESMF can play in integrating the national Earth science resources. Using existing data assimilation technology from NCEP and the National Weather Service, the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM) was able to ingest conventional and remotely sensed observations, a capability that could open the door to using CAM for weather as well as climate prediction. CAM, which includes land surface capabilities, was developed by NCAR, with key components from GSFC. In this talk we will describe the steps necessary for achieving the coupling of these two systems.

daSilva, Arlindo↗

Testing of hypotheses about altitude decompression sickness by statistical analyses

This communication extends a statistical analysis of forced-descent decompression sickness at altitude in exercising subjects (J Appl Physiol 1994; 76:2726-2734) with a data subset having an additional explanatory variable, rate of ascent. The original explanatory variables for risk-function analysis were environmental pressure of the altitude, duration of exposure, and duration of pure-O2 breathing before exposure; the best fit was consistent with the idea that instantaneous risk increases linearly as altitude exposure continues. Use of the new explanatory variable improved the fit of the smaller data subset, as indicated by log likelihood. Also, with ascent rate accounted for, replacement of the term for linear accrual of instantaneous risk by a term for rise and then decay made a highly significant improvement upon the original model (log likelihood increased by 37 log units). The authors conclude that a more representative data set and removal of the variability attributable to ascent rate allowed the rise-and-decay mechanism, which is expected from theory and observations, to become manifest.

NASA Center JSC↗

A non-Markovian model of avalanche gain statistics for a solid-state photomultiplier

A solid-state photomultiplier (SSPM) capable of continously detecting individual photons of wavelength between 0.4 and 28 microns has recently been disclosed (Petroff et al., 1987). The initial response of the SSPM to single photon is a fast, high-amplitude current pulse of between 10,000 and 100,000 electrons. A phenomenological model of the SSPM avalanche process is presented which successfully predicts the shape of the observed pulse-amplitude distribution by including small history-dependent effects on the carrier transport. The model clarifies the consequences of the electric field strength and the scattering of the electrons for the development of the avalanche in the SSPM.

Laviolette, Randall A.↗

A statistical rain attenuation prediction model with application to the advanced communication technology satellite project. 3: A stochastic rain fade control algorithm for satellite link power via non linear Markow filtering theory

The dynamic and composite nature of propagation impairments that are incurred on Earth-space communications links at frequencies in and above 30/20 GHz Ka band, i.e., rain attenuation, cloud and/or clear air scintillation, etc., combined with the need to counter such degradations after the small link margins have been exceeded, necessitate the use of dynamic statistical identification and prediction processing of the fading signal in order to optimally estimate and predict the levels of each of the deleterious attenuation components. Such requirements are being met in NASA's Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) Project by the implementation of optimal processing schemes derived through the use of the Rain Attenuation Prediction Model and nonlinear Markov filtering theory.

Manning, Robert M.↗