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At least 613 records · Page 34

Computation of supersonic flow fields about bodies in coning motion using a shock-capturing finite-difference technique.

A numerical method for computing the nonlinear inviscid flow field surrounding a body performing coning motion is described. The method permits accurate computation of the aerodynamic moment due to one of the four motions characterizing an arbitrary nonplanar motion. Results of computations for a slender circular cone in coning motion are presented, and show good agreement with experiment for angles of attack up to twice the cone half angle. The computational results display significant departure of the side moment from the linear theory value with increasing angle of attack, but agree well with experimental measurements. This indicates that the initial nonlinear behavior of the aerodynamic moment is determined primarily by the inviscid flow.

Schiff, L. B.↗

UK-5 Van Allen belt radiation exposure: A special study to determine the trapped particle intensities on the UK-5 satellite with spatial mapping of the ambient flux environment

Vehicle encountered electron and proton fluxes were calculated for a set of nominal UK-5 trajectories with new computational methods and new electron environment models. Temporal variations in the electron data were considered and partially accounted for. Field strength calculations were performed with an extrapolated model on the basis of linear secular variation predictions. Tabular maps for selected electron and proton energies were constructed as functions of latitude and longitude for specified altitudes. Orbital flux integration results are presented in graphical and tabular form; they are analyzed, explained, and discussed.

Stassinopoulos, E. G.↗

Predicted trapped particle radiation levels for Tiros-N

Vehicle encountered electron and proton fluxes were calculated for a set of nominal TIROS-N trajectories with new computational methods and new electron environment models. Temporal variations in the electron data were considered and partially accounted for. Estimates of energetic solar proton fluxes are given for the lifetime of the satellite at selected integral energies from 10 to 100 MeV. Field strength calculations were performed with an extrapolated model on the basis of linear secular variation predictions. Orbital flux integration results are presented in graphical and tabular form.

Stassinopoulos, E. G.↗

Magnetometer instrument team studies for the definition phase of the outer planets grand tour

The work performed by the magnetic fields investigation team during the mission definition phases of the Outer Planets Grand Tour (OPGT) and the Mariner Jupiter Saturn (MJS) Missions is reported. This work involved three tasks: (1) defining the objectives of the magnetic fields investigations, (2) defining the magnetometer systems required to meet these objectives, and (3) developing and testing hardware elements in certain mission-specific areas.

Coleman, P. J., Jr.↗

Performance of 30-cm ion thrusters with dished accelerator grids

Thirteen sets of dished accelerator grids were treated on five different 30 cm diameter bombardment thrusters to evaluate the effects of grid geometry variations on thruster discharge chamber performance. The dished grid parameters varied were: grid-to-grid spacing, screen and accelerator grid hole diameter, screen and accelerator open area fraction, compensation for beam divergence losses, and accelerator grid thickness. The effects on discharge chamber performance of main magnetic field changes, magnetic baffle current, cathode pole piece length and cathode position were also investigated.

Rawlin, V. K.↗

STOL aircraft flight and landing area considerations.

One proposed solution to the total short-haul transportation system problem is to use existing low-wing-loading turbopropeller STOL aircraft. Deflected slipstream turboprop aircraft have also been considered for early STOL service. Aspects of current aircraft research are discussed together with the NASA research aircraft, field length and aircraft performance considerations, crosswind landings, crosswind reducing fences, elevated STOL ports, a guaranteed friction STOL runway, and problems of runway containment.

Riebe, J. M.↗

A study of some nine-element decision rules

A nine-element rule is one that makes a classification decision for each pixel based on data from that pixel and its eight immediate neighbors. Three such rules, all fast and simple to use, are defined and tested. All performed substantially better on field interiors than the best one-point rule. Qualitative results indicate that fine detail and contradictory testimony tend to be overlooked by the rules.

Richardson, W.↗

Development and testing of laser Doppler system components for wake vortex monitoring. Volume 1: Scanner development, laboratory and field testing and system modeling

A servo-controlled range/elevation scanner for the laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) was developed and tested in the field to assess its performance in detecting and monitoring aircraft trailing vortices in an airport environment. The elevation scanner provides a capability to manually point the LDV telescope at operator chosen angles from 3.2 deg. to 89.6 deg within 0.2 deg, or to automatically scan the units between operator chosen limits at operator chosen rates of 0.1 Hz to 0.5 Hz. The range scanner provides a capability to manually adjust the focal point of the system from a range of 32 meters to a range of 896 meters under operator control, or to scan between operator chosen limits and at rates from 0.1 Hz to 6.9 Hz. The scanner controls are designed to allow simulataneous range and elevation scanning so as to provide finger scan patterns, arc scan patterns, and vertical line scan patterns. The development and testing of the unit is discussed, along with a fluid dynamic model of the wake vortex developed in a laser Doppler vortex sensor simulation program.

Wilson, D. J.↗

Performance of 30-cm ion thrusters with dished accelerator grids

Thirteen sets of dished accelerator grids were tested on five different 30-cm diameter bombardment thrustors to evaluate the effects of grid geometry variations on thrustor discharge chamber performance. The dished grid parameters varied were: grid-to-grid spacing, screen and accelerator grid hole-diameter, screen and accelerator open area fraction, compensation for beam divergence losses, and accelerator grid thickness. Also investigated were the effects on discharge chamber performance of main magnetic field changes, magnetic baffle current cathode pole piece length and cathode position.

Rawlin, V. K.↗

Recent progress in the hydrographic applications of a N2/Ne laser

Laboratory and field measurements have been performed on the transmission/scattering characteristics of a pulsed neon laser as a function of water turbidity. These results have been used to establish the criteria for an airborne laser bathymetry system. Extensive measurements have been made of laser induced fluorescence using a pulsed tunable dye laser. Feasibility has been demonstrated for remote detection and possible identification of various types of algae and oils. Similar measurements made on a wide variety of organic dyes have shown this technique to have applications in remote measurement of subsurface currents, temperature, and salinity.

Hickman, G. D.↗

Recent advances in the applications of pulsed lasers in the hydrosphere

Laboratory and field measurements have been performed on the transmission/scattering characteristics of a pulsed neon laser as a function of water turbidity. These results have been used to establish the criteria for an airborne laser bathymetry system. Extensive measurements have been made of laser induced fluorescence using a pulsed tunable dye laser. Feasibility has been demonstrated for remote detection and possible identification of various types of algae and oils. Similar measurements made on a wide variety of organic dyes have shown this technique to have applications in remote measurements of subsurface currents, temperature and salinity.

Hickman, G. D.↗

High-speed communication detector characterization by bit error rate measurements

Performance data taken on several candidate high data rate laser communications photodetectors is presented. Measurements of bit error rate versus signal level were made in both a 1064 nm system at 400 Mbps and a 532 nm system at 500 Mbps. RCA silicon avalanche photodiodes are superior at 1064 nm, but the Rockwell hybrid 3-5 avalanche photodiode preamplifiers offer potentially superior performance. Varian dynamic crossed field photomultipliers are superior at 532 nm, however, the RCA silicon avalanche photodiode is a close contender.

Green, S. I.↗

Prospects for a breakthrough in field-dependent 'propulsion'

If sufficient justification exists to start the development of a field physics laboratory, attention might well be given to the development of two advanced types of field-independent propulsion systems. These are gravimagnetic systems and field resonance systems. The first are multipurpose propulsion systems employing the 'gravitational' effects of coherent electromagnetic energy configurations. The second are deep-space propulsion systems which artificially generate an energy pattern that matches precisely, or resonates with, a virtual pattern associated with a distant space-time point. A new model of space-time/field interactions is used in the present paper to describe the potential characteristics of electromagnetic/gravitational field interactions and the performance capabilities of these two propulsion systems.

Holt, A. C.↗

A current access, self-structured, multilayered bubble domain memory

Preliminary experimental results are reported on a self-structured, multilayer bubble memory with buried data layer. Stripe domains are used to move carrier bubbles by magnetostatic coupling. An expression is derived for that coupling as a function of thickness of the GGG separation layer. Experimental values of coupling are given as a function of bias field. An expression for stripe curvature as a function of bias field is derived. The performance of seven different current access stripe propagation circuits is reported.

Stermer, R. L., Jr.↗

Top-mounted inlet system feasibility for transonic-subsonic fighter aircraft applications

To inlet flow field and engine inlet performance data for an advanced fighter aircraft configuration were obtained over the Mach 0.6 to 2.0 range. The studies not only provided extensive data for the baseline arrangement, but also evaluated the effects of key aircraft configuration variables (inlet location, canopy-dorsal integration, wing leading-edge extension planform area, and variable incidence canards) on top inlet performance. In order to set these data in the context of practical aircraft systems top inlet performance is compared with that of more conventional inlet/airframe integrations. The results of these evaluations show that, for the top inlet configuration tested, relatively good inlet performance and compatibility characteristics are maintained during subsonic and transonic maneuver. However, at supersonic speeds, flow expansion over the forebody and wings causes an increase in local inlet Mach number subsequently reduces inlet performance levels. These characteristics infer that although top inlets many not pose a viable design option for aircraft requiring a high degree of supersonic maneuverability, they have distinct promise for vehicles with subsonic and transonic maneuver capabilities.

Williams, T. L.↗

A computer program for the simulation of heat and moisture flow in soils

A computer program that simulates the flow of heat and moisture in soils is described. The space-time dependence of temperature and moisture content is described by a set of diffusion-type partial differential equations. The simulator uses a predictor/corrector to numerically integrate them, giving wetness and temperature profiles as a function of time. The simulator was used to generate solutions to diffusion-type partial differential equations for which analytical solutions are known. These equations include both constant and variable diffusivities, and both flux and constant concentration boundary conditions. In all cases, the simulated and analytic solutions agreed to within the error bounds which were imposed on the integrator. Simulations of heat and moisture flow under actual field conditions were also performed. Ground truth data were used for the boundary conditions and soil transport properties. The qualitative agreement between simulated and measured profiles is an indication that the model equations are reasonably accurate representations of the physical processes involved.

Camillo, P.↗

The mechanisms of flame holding in the wake of a bluff body

The flame holding mechanism for lean methane- and lean propane-air flames is examined under conditions where the recirculation zone is absent. The main objective of this work is to study the holding process in detail in an attempt to determine the mechanism of flame holding and also the conditions where this mechanism is viable and when it fails and blow-off occurs. Inverted flames held in the wake of a flat strip were studied. Experiments with different sizes of flame holders were performed. The velocity flow field was determined using a laser Doppler velocimetry technique. Equation of continuity was used to calculate the flame temperature from the change in area of flow streamlines before and after the flame. Observations of the inverted flame itself were obtained using schlieren and direct photography. Results show that there are different mechanisms operative at the time of blow-off for lean propane and methane flames. Blow-off or extinction occurs for lean propane-air flame in spite of the reaction going to completion and the disparity between the heat loss and the gain in mass diffusion in the reaction zone i.e., Le 1.0 causes the flame to blow-off. For methane-air flame the controlling factor or blow-off is incomplete reaction due to higher blowing rate leading to reduced residence time in the reaction zone.

Strehlow, R. A.↗

Numerical investigation of internal high-speed viscous flows using a parabolic technique

A feasibility study has been conducted to assess the applicability of an existing parabolic analysis (ADD-Axisymmetric Diffuser Duct), developed previously for subsonic viscous internal flows, to mixed supersonic/subsonic flows with heat addition simulating a SCRAMJET combustor. A study was conducted with the ADD code modified to include additional convection effects in the normal momentum equation when supersonic expansion and compression waves are present. A set of test problems with weak shock and expansion waves have been analyzed with this modified ADD method and stable and accurate solutions were demonstrated provided the streamwise step size was maintained at levels larger than the boundary layer displacement thickness. Calculations made with further reductions in step size encountered departure solutions consistent with strong interaction theory. Calculations were also performed for a flow field with a flame front in which a specific heat release was imposed to simulate a SCRAMJET combustor. In this case the flame front generated relatively thick shear layers which aggravated the departure solution problem. Qualitatively correct results were obtained for these cases using a marching technique with the convective terms in the normal momentum equation suppressed. It is concluded from the present study that for the class of problems where strong viscous/inviscid interactions are present a global iteration procedure is required.

Anderson, O. L.↗