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At least 631 records · Page 35

Theoretical and experimental longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of an aspect ratio 0.25 sharp-edge delta wing at subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic speeds

The suction analogy concept of Polhamus for predicting vortex lift in conjunction with an appropriate potential-flow solution is called the present method. This method is applied to an aspect ratio 0.25 sharp-edge delta wing from a Mach number of 0.143 to 10.4 in free air and at 0.074 in ground effect, and also to an aspect ratio 0.35 triangular crosssectional body at a Mach number of 6.9. The models had subsonic leading edges at the test Mach numbers. Vortex-flow effects could be neither confirmed nor denied to exist at high speeds because of the lack of flow visualization above a Mach number of 0.143. The data, however, could be better predicted by including a vortex-flow effect, although not always to the extent predicted from the present method because of the presence of actual and hypothesized unmodeled flow situations. The method of Nenni and Tung (NASA CR-1860) tended to confirm the existence of vortex flow at hypersonic speeds. The hypersonic-tangent-cone method predicted best the delta-wing results over the test angle-of-attack range and hypersonic Mach number range and did equally as well as the present method for the triangular body.

Fox, C. H., Jr.↗

Flight simulator experiments to determine human reaction to aircraft motion environments

An analysis of human response to aircraft motion is presented using data obtained on the NASA Flight Research Center's Jetstar aircraft. The purpose of these tests was to explore the relationship of vertical and transverse accelerations to human comfort as well as obtain information on the maximum comfortable bank angle for commercial aircraft operations. A preliminary study was also conducted to establish the importance or lack thereof of the low frequency content of aircraft motion due to natural turbulence. An effort has been made to model these data and comparisons with appropriate sources are made.

Jacobson, I. D.↗

Evaluation of a Liquid Amine System for Spacecraft Carbon Dioxide Control

The analytical and experimental studies are described which were directed toward the acquisition of basic information on utilizing a liquid amine sorbent for in use in a CO2 removal system for manned spacecraft. Liquid amine systems are successfully used on submarines for control of CO2 generated by the crew, but liquid amines were not previously considered for spacecraft applications due to lack of development of satisfactory rotary phase separators. Developments in this area now make consideration of liquid amines practical for spacecraft system CO2 removal. The following major tasks were performed to evaluate liquid amine systems for spacecraft: (1) characterization, through testing, of the basic physical and thermodynamic properties of the amine solution; (2) determination of the dynamic characteristics of a cocurrent flow absorber; and (3) evaluation, synthesis, and selection of a liquid amine system concept oriented toward low power requirements. A low weight, low power system concept was developed. Numerical and graphical data are accompanied by pertinent observations.

Breaux, D. K.↗

Spinning mode sound propagation in ducts with acoustic treatment

A detailed theoretical study of the acoustic propagation of spinning modes in acoustically treated open circular ducts is described. The suppressor with splitter rings was modeled by using the rectangular approximation to the annular duct. The theoretical models were used to determine optimum impedance and maximum attenuation for several spinning lobe numbers from 0 to 50. Some interesting results of the analysis are that for circular ducts the maximum possible attenuation and the optimum wall impedance are strong functions of the lobe number. For annular ducts the attenuation and optimum wall impedance are insensitive to the spinning lobe number for well cut-on modes. The above results help explain why suppressors with splitter rings were quite effective in spite of the lack of detailed information on the noise source modal structure.

Rice, E. J.↗

Concerning the meteoritic origin of the Puchezh-Katunki crater

Criticism of the works of Vardaniants (1961) and Goretskii (1962) regarding the origin of the Puchezh-Katunki crater, and development of a new hypothesis regarding this disturbance. Although Vardaniants defines the Puchezh-Katunki disturbance as a structure of explosive nature and assumes that the explosion originated as a consequence of accumulation of gases in the crystalline basement of the Russian platform, he lacks evidence to qualify this explosion as coming from a depth. Goretskii's tectonic-injection hypothesis attributes the formation of the disturbance to penetration of an intrusion of basic and ultrabasic rocks into the Paleozoic rocks of the platform. It is shown that, even if the intrusion were spread somewhere at depth, it could not account for the extent of the deformation in the disturbance. It is suggested that this disturbance is of meteoritic origin, since the structure and morphology of the region are similar to the sloping conical surface produced by an explosive meteor crater. The energy, mass, and size of the asteroid which could cause such a disturbance are estimated, and it is shown that the probability of the occurrence of an impact of this size is finite over geological time.

Firsov, L.↗

The Willowbar meteorite

Results of microscopic and electron microprobe analyses of a meteorite which fell near Willowbar, Okla., in December 1971. Microscopic examination confirmed the differences in structure which could be seen on the cut faces. Three distinct regions could be recognized: unblackened, blackened, and black veins. Microprobe analyses of the silicate grains in the Willowbar meteorite show that it is an L chondrite. The lack of well-defined chondrules and the large size of the maskelynite grains suggests that it is a type 6 chondrite according to the classification of Van Schmus and Wood (1967). It also has large black veins of the same composition as the matrix, and thus it might best be described as a shock-brecciated L6 chondrite.

Lange, D. E.↗

High latitude electric fields and the modulations related to interplanetary magnetic field parameters

The meaning and characteristics of basic and average convection (i.e., electric field) patterns are described. The continuous existence of the basic convection pattern argues against treating magnetic field merging mechanisms as the fundamental cause of magnetospheric convection. However, whether related to merging or to some other mechanism, interplanetary magnetic field conditions significantly modulate the distribution, magnitudes, and boundaries of the convection pattern. A previous correlation between azimuthal angles of the interplanetary magnetic field and asymmetries in polar cap electric field distributions as seen by OGO-6 is reviewed. A new approach is taken to reveal correlations with the north-south angle and magnitude of the interplanetary field as well as additional features which correlate with the azimuthal angle. Both significant correlations and conditions which show a lack of correlation are found. Several aspects of the correlations appear to be particularly important.

Heppner, J. P.↗

Noise coupling between accommodation and accommodative vergence

For monocular viewing, the fluctuations in accommodative lens power in the frequency range from 0.5 to 3 Hz were found to be considerably greater than those in accommodative vergence movements of the covered eye. Considering the close synkinesis between these motor responses for step changes or slow variations in accommodative stimulus, this finding is unexpected. This apparent lack of synkinesis is found to result mainly from the fact that the decrease in small-signal linear gain with increasing frequency is more rapid in the case of the accommodative vergence system than in the case of the accommodation system, rather than from some nonlinear phenomenon.

Wilson, D.↗

Mesosiderites. I - Compositions of their metallic portions and possible relationship to other metal-rich meteorite groups

The metal from 17 mesosiderites has been analyzed for Ni, Ga, Ge, and Ir by the techniques of atomic-absorption spectrometry and neutron activation. Most mesosiderite metal samples fall in a narrow compositional range: Ni, 7.0-9.0%; Ga, 13-16 ppm; Ge, 47-58 ppm; and Ir, 2.4-4.4 ppm. Most of those falling outside these ranges belong to Powell's (1971) least-metamorphosed type. Mesosiderite metal falls in the same general composition range as IIIAB irons, IIIE irons, pallasites and H-group chondrite metal. There are distinct differences in detail, however, and firm evidence for a close genetic relationship between any of these groups and the mesosiderites is lacking.

Wasson, J. T.↗

On the nature of the nonthermal radio emission from the galactic center

Some recent observations of the galactic center appear at first sight to have made the character of the radio source Sgr A unclear. The flatness of the usually quoted spectrum, the lack of any measured polarization, the presence of hydrogen recombination lines, and the radio-infrared luminosity ratio are all consistent with Sgr A being a rather hot H II region. It is shown here, however, that when flux measurements between 80 MHz and 91000 MHz are all included and the multiple nature of the source is accounted for, the spectral index exceeds 0.4 - much too steep to be bremsstrahlung. There is, therefore, no question that Sgr A is a nonthermal source. It is further argued on the basis of a comparison of appearance, energetics and the recent results which no longer put Sgr A exactly at the center of the galaxy that Sgr A could be a supernova remnant rather than a miniature of active extragalactic radio sources.

Jones, T. W.↗

Supplementary notes on sea-surface temperature anomalies and model-generated meteorological histories

A numerical experiment was made on the Mintz-Arakawa two-level global general circulation model, investigating the effects of a transient one-month sea-surface temperature (SST) anomaly and of a persistent three-month SST anomaly. The time histories are compared with a control run that lacked the anomaly pattern. After one month, the anomaly and control synoptic patterns were as uncorrelated as any two random fields. It is found that the transient SST anomaly can alter the monthly and seasonal temperature and precipitation in the eastern U.S. by as much as two class intervals. The question of whether the real atmosphere is as sensitive to such an anomaly is raised but cannot be settled at this time.

Spar, J.↗

Trace element abundances and petrology of separates from Apollo 15 soils

Nine petrographically distinct separates from Apollo 15 coarse soils were characterized by electron microprobe and analyzed by neutron activation analysis for Ag, Au, Bi, Br, Cd, Cs, Ge, In, Ir, Rb, Re, Sb, Se, Te, Tl, U, and Zn. Like some alkali-poor anorthosites from Apollo 16, 15102 anorthosite is low in meteoritic siderophiles but enriched in Tl, perhaps by volcanic processes. Norites from 15102 and troctolites from 15302 are lower in KREEP than are Apollo 12 or 14 norites. A possible progenitor of KREEP-rich norite breccias has been found: a mesostasis-rich basalt from 15272 high in KREEP-related elements, but very low in the siderophiles Ir, Re, Au, Sb, and Ge, and hence lacking the ancient meteoritic component that occurs in all lunar norites. At least two varieties of ancient meteoritic component are present in the soil separates from this site, consistent with the complex impact history of the Pre-Imbrian surface.

Morgan, J. W.↗

Moonquakes, meteoroids, and the state of the lunar interior

Analysis of data returned from the four stations of the Apollo Seismic Network has revealed that the lunar interior can be divided into two major zones: a rigid, dynamically inactive outer shell, about 1000 km thick (the lunar lithosphere); and a relatively weak central zone (the lunar asthenosphere) in which partial melting is probable. The transition between these two zones is gradual. Seismic activity within the moon is far below that of the earth. The small moonquakes that do occur originate near the base of the lithosphere, and appear to fall within two major belts. Tidal energy appears to be an important, if not the dominant, source of energy released as moonquakes. A secular component of moonquake energy release may result from slight thermal expansion or contraction of the moon, weak convection in the asthenosphere, or secular recession of the moon from the earth. Lack of shallow moonquake activity implies that the moon is neither expanding nor contracting at an appreciable rate at present.

Latham, G.↗

On the formation of the lunar mascons

A new mascon hypothesis is proposed which accounts for: (1) the existence of lunar mascons for more than 3 b.y., (2) the evidence for extensive volcanic activity from 3.7 to 3.2 b.y. ago, (3) the existence of negative gravity anomaly rings, (4) insufficient mare material in Mare Orientale, and (5) the lack of mascons associated with craters smaller than 200 km diameter. Moreover, it provides a simple mechanism for mass transfer into the basins. The hypothesis is based on the perturbations introduced into a spherically symmetric thermal evolution model of the moon by a giant impact.

Arkani-Hamed, J.↗

The Apollo program and amino acids

Apollo lunar sample analyses designed to detect the presence of organic compounds are reviewed, and the results are discussed from the viewpoint of relevance to laboratory experiments on the synthesis of amino acids and to theoretical models of cosmochemical processes resulting in the formation of organic compounds. Glycine, alanine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, serine, and threonine have been found repeatedly in the hydrolyzates of hot aqueous extracts of lunar dust. These compounds represent an early step in the sequence of events leading to the rise of living material and were probably deposited by the solar wind. The results of the Apollo program so far suggest that the pathway from cosmic organic matter to life as it evolved on earth could have been pursued on the moon to the stage of amino acid precursors and then may have been terminated for lack of sufficient water.

Fox, S. W.↗

Ground testing and simulation. II - Aerodynamic testing and simulation: Saving lives, time, and money

The present work discusses in general terms the various kinds of ground facilities, in particular, wind tunnels, which support aerodynamic testing. Since not all flight parameters can be simulated simultaneously, an important problem consists in matching parameters. It is pointed out that there is a lack of wind tunnels for a complete Reynolds-number simulation. Using a computer to simulate flow fields can result in considerable reduction of wind-tunnel hours required to develop a given flight vehicle.

Dayman, B., Jr.↗

The lunar atmosphere

In contrast to the earth's atmosphere, the atmosphere of the moon is exceedingly tenuous and appears to consist mainly of noble gases. The solar wind impinges on the lunar surface, supplying detectable amounts of helium, neon and Ar-36. Influxes of solar wind protons and carbon and nitrogen ions are significant, but atmospheric gases containing these elements have not been positively identified. Radiogenic Ar-40 and Rn-222 produced within the moon have been detected. The present rate of effusion of argon from the moon accounts for about 0.4% of the total production of Ar-40 due to decay of K-40 if the average abundance of potassium in the moon is 1000 ppm. Lack of weathering processes in the regolith suggests that most of the atmospheric Ar-40 originates deep in the lunar interior, perhaps in a partially molten core. If so, other gases may be vented along with the argon.

Hodges, R. R., Jr.↗

Turbulent boundary-layer separation due to a forward-facing step

Pressure distribution tests were made at Mach numbers of 1.61 and 2.20, over a step-height range from 0 to 2.54 centimeters, and an effective Reynolds number range from about 8 to 150 million. The results were compared with some obtained at higher Mach numbers at approximately comparable boundary-layer conditions. The comparison showed several unexplainable anomalies, and pointed up the lack of boundary-layer information necessary for a proper analysis. An analysis of the data indicates the existence of a transverse vortex in the separated-flow region which weakens with increases in Reynolds and Mach number and significantly affects the pressure distributions.

Czarnecki, K. R.↗