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At least 631 records · Page 35

Absorption by halo gas in the direction of M13

A high velocity cloud in the direction 1 = 59 degrees, b = 41 degrees is detected in absorption at approximately -80 km/s in high dispersion IUE spectra of the blue star Barnard 29 in the globular cluster M13. The cloud is also seen in the H I 21 cm emission data of Kerr and Knapp (1972). Its radial velocity agrees with Giovanelli's data (1980, 1981) for high velocity clouds seen in this general direction of the sky. The cloud's motion is incompatible with the suggestions that neutral halo gas corotates with disk gas. The motion could be explained if neutral halo gas rotates more slowly than disk gas with increasing distance from the galactic plane. Because of our very limited understanding of the actual motions of halo gas, the scale height of this gas is best derived from plots of N sin b versus z for galactic and extragalactic stars.

De Boer, K. S.↗

Directional radiometric measurements of row-crop temperatures

The variability of directional sensor response for a cotton row crop in Phoenix, Arizona was measured for various solar zenith angles. The geometric structure of the canopy was described with regard to height, width, spacing, and shape of rows. In addition, radiometric temperature data were collected on four scene components: sunlit and shaded vegetation and sunlit and shaded soil. These data were used to test the predictions and assumptions of a modified version of the row crop model of Jackson et al. (1979), which predicts the thermal infrared response of a sensor as a function of sensor view angle, component temperature, and geometrical structure of the canopy. The field data showed sensor response differentials as great as 16.2 C when going from a zenith view angle of 0 deg to one of 80 deg normal to the row direction. The rms deviation between the predicted and measured sensor response for all measurement periods and view angles was 0.96 C.

Kimes, D. S.↗

A miniature, directional surface-fence gage for three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer measurements

A new miniature (3.175 mm overall diameter) surface-fence gage was developed to measure simultaneously the magnitude and direction of wall shear stress under three-dimensional turbulent boundary layers. Two fence elements were placed orthogonal to each other on the end surface of the gage. The gage was calibrated for its directional and magnitude sensitivities. It was then tested under an axisymmetric swirling boundary layer, subject to a sudden transverse strain. The advantage of the gage was demonstrated, and excellent agreement was obtained with the results from surface oil flow interferometry and velocity field measurements. The results also compared well with numerical computations.

Higuchi, H.↗

Influence of gravity driven convection on the directional solidification of Bi/MnBi eutectic composites

The role of gravity on Bridgman-Stockharger directional solidification of eutectic Bi/MnBi has been studied in reduced gravity aboard NASA sounding rocket SPAR flight experiments and contrasted with normal gravity investigations. The directional solidification of eutectic Bi/MnBi results in a low volume fraction, faceted/nonfaceted aligned rod eutectic whose MnBi rod size, interrod spacing, thermal and magnetic properties are sensitive functions of solidification processing conditions. The morphology of the low-gravity samples showed striking differences compared with identically processed, normal gravity samples grown in the same apparatus. The MnBi rod diameter and interrod spacing distributions were significantly smaller, approximately 50 percent, for the low gravity samples compared with identically processed one gravity samples. Accompanying the smaller MnBi rod diameters observed in the flight samples, was an increase in permanent magnet properties which reached greater than 97 percent of the theoretical maximum. Gravitationally induced thermal instabilities in one-gravity which result in irregular interface movement and associated difficulty of the faceted MnBi phase to branch are suggested to explain the morphological differences between one and low gravity solidification.

Pirich, R. G.↗

IR detectors - Heterodyne and direct

Recent developments in the area of wide-bandwidth infrared detectors, both for direct and heterodyne detection, are reviewed with emphasis on the differences and tradeoffs between photodiodes and photoconductors. In the direct-detection mode, where amplifier noise is an important consideration, the state-of-the-art detection noise equivalent power is approximated by 500 (B/10 MHz) pW. At short wavelengths (less than 1.7 micron), avalanche photodiodes offer superior performance, with a detection noise equivalent power of about 50 (B/10 MHz) pW. In heterodyne operation, near-ideal sensitivities of about 0.3 (B/10 MHz) pW have been achieved with 77K photodiodes. At 10 microns, HgCdTe photoconductors offer very good heterodyne performance at elevated temperatures: 2 (B/10 MHz) pW at 195 K and potentially 3 (B/10 MHz) pW at 250 K.

Spears, D. L.↗

Direct-Photon-Detection Communications

Optical communications system based on direct detection of photons rather than heterodyning of carrier with local oscillator. Direct-detection system uses single laser source, pulse-position modulation, and Reed-Solomon coding to protect against burst errors. Conventional photomultiplier tube is receiver. Technology applicable to terrestrial communications.

Lesh, J. R.↗

Direct coronal heating from dissipation of magnetic field

The visible corona of the Sun appears to be heated by direct dissipation of magnetic fields. The magnetic fields in the visible corona are tied at both ends to the photosphere where the active convection continually rotates and shuffles the footpoints in a random pattern. The twisting and wrapping of flux tubes about each other produce magnetic neutral sheets in a state of dynamical nonequilibrium such that the current sheets become increasingly concentrated with the passage of time. Dissipation of the high current densities takes place regardless of the high electrical conductivity of the fluid. The convection on the feet of the lines of force at the surface of the Sun goes directly (within a matter of 10 to 20 hours) into heat in the corona. The rate of doing work seems adequate to supply the necessary 10 to the 7th power ergs/square cm. sec for the active corona.

Parker, E. N.↗

Preliminary Study of (2-D) Digital Filtering for Dealiasing NOSS Wind Direction Data

A pattern classification approach to wind streamline direction ambiguity removal is investigated. The basic approach involves establishing an appropriate measurement of a characterizing vector of the streamline orientation angle parameter surface. Clustering and training techniques are employed to distinguish major meteorological features from which directional information may be determined.

Stoughton, J. W.↗

Direct numerical simulation of reacting flows

The objectives of this work are: (1) to extend the technique of direct numerical simulations to turbulent, chemically reacting flows, (2) to test the validity of the method by comparing computational results with laboratory data, and (3) to use the simulations to gain a better understanding of the effects of turbulence on chemical reactions. The effects of both the large scale structure and the smaller scale turbulence on the overall reaction rates are addressed. The relationship between infinite reaction rate and finite reaction rate chemistry is compared with some of the results of calculations with existing theories and laboratory data. The direct numerical simulation method involves the numerical solution of the detailed evolution of the complex turbulent velocity and concentration fields. Using very efficient numerical methods (e.g., pseudospectral methods), the fully nonlinear (possibly low pass filtered) equations of motion are solved and no closure assumptions or turbulence models are used. Statistical data are obtained by performing spatial, temporal, and/or ensemble averages over the computed flow fields.

Riley, J. J.↗

The effect of row direction on the microwave emission from vegetation canopies

Experiments were conducted to determine the microwave brighthness temperature of corn and soybean canopies as a function of polarization and azimuth look direction. A strong dependence on row direction and polarization is observed for soybeans. The corn canopy shows a similar dependence, although to a lesser extent. The variation in brightness temperature is shown to be related to the canopy alone, since the underlying soil surface was blocked by reflecting metal screens.

Brunfeldt, D. R.↗

Microsegregation during directional solidification

During the directional solidification of alloys, solute inhomogeneities transverse to the growth direction arise due to morphological instabilities (leading to cellular or dendritic growth) and/or due to convection in the melt. In the absence of convection, the conditions for the onset of morphological instability are given by the linear stability analysis of Mullins and Sekerka. For ordinary solidification rates, the predictions of linear stability analysis are similar to the constitutional supercooling criterion. However, at very rapid solidification rates, linear stability analysis predicts a vast increase in stabilization in comparison to constitutional supercooling.

Coriell, S. R.↗

A direct method for the solution of unsteady two-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations

The unsteady incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are formulated in terms of vorticity and stream function in generalized curvilinear orthogonal coordinates to facilitiate analysis of flow configurations with general geometries. The numerical method developed solves the conservative form of the transport equation using the alternating-direction implicit method, whereas the stream-function equation is solved by direct block Gaussian elimination. The method is applied to a model problem of flow over a back-step in a doubly infinite channel, using clustered conformal coordinates. One-dimensional stretching functions, dependent on the Reynolds number and the asymptotic behavior of the flow, are used to provide suitable grid distribution in the separation and reattachment regions, as well as in the inflow and outflow regions. The optimum grid distribution selected attempts to honor the multiple length scales of the separated-flow model problem. The asymptotic behavior of the finite-differenced transport equation near infinity is examined and the numerical method is carefully developed so as to lead to spatially second-order accurate wiggle-free solutions, i.e., with minimum dispersive error. Results have been obtained in the entire laminar range for the backstep channel and are in good agreement with the available experimental data for this flow problem.

Ghia, K. N.↗

The development of directional coarsening of the gamma-prime precipitate in superalloy single crystals

A study has been made of the kinetics of the directional coarsening of the gamma-prime precipitates in Ni-5.8Al-14.6Mo-6.2Ta single crystals during creep at 982 C. In this alloy, which is characterized by a large negative lattice misfit between the gamma-prime precipitate and the gamma matrix, the formation of gamma-prime rafts begins during primary creep, and the rafts grow in length as the deformation proceeds into steady-state creep. After that, the length of the rafts stabilizes. The thickness of the rafts remains constant from primary up to tertiary creep. The directional coarsening behavior of the alloy studied is similar to that of a more conventional single-crystal superalloy having a substantially smaller negative misfit.

Mackay, R. A.↗

Accuracy and directional sensitivity of the single-wire technique

Multi-orientation of a single-hot-wire is a novel way to measure the three time-mean velocities, the three turbulent normal stresses, and the three turbulent shear stresses. The present study focuses on the accuracy and directional sensitivity of the technique with respect to mean flow velocity orientation to the probe. Results demonstrate relative insensitivity, indicating that the method is a useful cost-effective tool for turbulent flows of unknown dominant flow direction.

Lilley, D. G.↗

Analysis of large solid propellant rocket engine exhaust plumes using the direct simulation Monte Carlo method

A new solution procedure has been developed to analyze the flowfield properties in the vicinity of the Inertial Upper Stage/Spacecraft during the 1st stage (SRMI) burn. Continuum methods are used to compute the nozzle flow and the exhaust plume flowfield as far as the boundary where the breakdown of translational equilibrium leaves these methods invalid. The Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method is applied everywhere beyond this breakdown boundary. The flowfield distributions of density, velocity, temperature, relative abundance, surface flux density, and pressure are discussed for each species for 2 sets of boundary conditions: vacuum and freestream. The interaction of the exhaust plume and the freestream with the spacecraft and the 2-stream direct interaction are discussed. The results show that the low density, high velocity, counter flowing free-stream substantially modifies the flowfield properties and the flux density incident on the spacecraft. A freestream bow shock is observed in the data, located forward of the high density region of the exhaust plume into which the freestream gas does not penetrate. The total flux density incident on the spacecraft, integrated over the SRM1 burn interval is estimated to be of the order of 10 to the 22nd per sq m (about 1000 atomic layers).

Hueser, J. E.↗

Direction of crack growth in fibrous composites

A model for predicting the direction of crack growth in resin matrix composite materials is presented. The model is based upon the normal stress and the anisotropic tensile strength on arbitrary planes about the tip of a crack. The model is incorporated into a finite element solution which predicts energy release rates in addition to the direction of crack growth. Results are obtained for cracks in unidirectional off-axis slotted tensile coupons. Comparisons are made with other theories and experimental results.

Buczek, M. B.↗

Wave normal directions of chorus near the equatorial source region

OGO 5 triaxial search coil magnetometer data are used to determine the wave propagation directions of postmidnight chorus in the near-equatorial region at L shells of 6 to 7. The methods used to estimate the wave normal directions involved minimum variance, the imaginary part of the cross-spectral matrix, the eigenvector of the Hermitian cross-spectral matrix, and a fitting of dispersion relations for one-wave and two-wave models to the cross-spectral matrix. Wave propagation at all frequencies within chorus tones is found to occur most frequently along the magnetic field with median and average cone angles of 9.1 deg and 12.2 deg, respectively. It is concluded that for waves propagating parallel to B, wave growth is maximum.

Goldstein, B. E.↗

Investigation of the effect of vehicle, angle-of-attack, and trim elevon position on lateral-directional aerodynamic parameters of the Shuttle Orbiter

This paper discusses the lateral-directional stability and control coefficients extracted from onboard measurements made during reentry of flights two to eight of the Space Shuttle Orbiters. Maximum likelihood estimation is applied to data derived from accelerometer and rate gyro measurements and trajectory, meteorological and control surface data to estimate these lateral-directional parameters. Comparison of estimated coefficients across the seven flights and two shuttle vehicles is made. The effect of the angle-of-attack, and trim elevon deflection on estimated values of the stability and control derivatives is also studied.

Schiess, J. R.↗