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At least 649 records · Page 36

Effects of power line radiation into the magnetosphere

Observations of the effects of VLF power line radiation on whistler-mode waves in the magnetosphere are reviewed. High-altitude OGO-3 spectral data reveal evidence of enhanced chorus activity over populated regions starting at harmonics of the power-line frequencies. Low-altitude Ariel 3 measurements of 3.2 kHz noise intensity also indicate an enhancement of VLF activity over populated areas and their conjugates, however the relative importance of power line radiation, whistlers and spontaneous emissions is not known. The low-altitude polar-orbiting OGO-4 satellite also observed noise spectra at the harmonics of power line frequencies over industrial regions. Ground observations from Eights and Siple, Antarctica indicate that power line radiation effects on magnetospheric ducted paths peak at 3 kHz and near dawn, and exhibit a pronounced decrease on Sundays in the conjugate region, when power consumption is at a minimum. Experiments simulating power line radiation effects have also been performed. It is suggested that power line radiation effects magnetospheric activity by lowering the threshold for wave growth, with the localization of VLF sources acting to localize corresponding particle precipitation without necessarily affecting global average precipitation.

Helliwell, R. A.↗

Multicyclic control of a helicopter rotor considering the influence of vibration, loads, and control motion

Weighted multiple linear regression is used to establish a transfer function matrix relationship between higher harmonic control inputs and transducer vibration outputs for a controllable twist rotor. Data used in the regression were taken from the test of a KAMAN controllable twist rotor conducted in the Ames Research Center's 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel in June 1977. Optimal controls to minimize fixed system vibrational levels are calculated using linear quadratic regulatory theory with a control deflection penalty included in the performance criteria. Control sensitivity to changes in control travel, forward speed, and lift and propulsive forces is examined. It is found that the linear transfer matrix is a strong function of forward speed and a weak function of lift and propulsive force. An open-loop strategy is proposed for systems with limited control travel.

Brown, T. J.↗

Tenth NASTRAN User's Colloquium

The development of the NASTRAN computer program, a general purpose finite element computer code for structural analysis, was discussed. The application and development of NASTRAN is presented in the following topics: improvements and enhancements; developments of pre and postprocessors; interactive review system; the use of harmonic expansions in magnetic field problems; improving a dynamic model with test data using Linwood; solution of axisymmetric fluid structure interaction problems; large displacements and stability analysis of nonlinear propeller structures; prediction of bead area contact load at the tire wheel interface; elastic plastic analysis of an overloaded breech ring; finite element solution of torsion and other 2-D Poisson equations; new capability for elastic aircraft airloads; usage of substructuring analysis in the get away special program; solving symmetric structures with nonsymmetric loads; evaluation and reduction of errors induced by Guyan transformation.

Source record↗

Effects of acoustic treatment on the interior noise levels of a twin-engine propeller aircraft - Experimental flight results and theoretical predictions

In-flight noise level measurements were made within two cabin configurations of a general aviation business aircraft. The Fairchild Merlin IVC twin-engine aircraft was tested with bare walls and fiberglass insulation and in an executive trim configuration. Narrow-band and octave format data were subjected to analyses which permitted identification of the blade passage harmonics (BPH). Cabin noise level reductions (insertion losses) due to added insulation varied with position in the cabin, the BPH number, cabin pressure, and engine torque. The measurements were closely predicted using the propeller aircraft interior noise (PAIN) mode.

Beyer, T. B.↗

Comparison of propeller cruise noise data taken in the NASA Lewis 8- by 6-foot wind tunnel with other tunnel and flight data

The noise of advanced high speed propeller models measured in the NASA 8- by 6-foot wind tunnel has been compared with model propeller noise measured in another tunnel and with full-scale propeller noise measured in flight. Good agreement was obtained for the noise of a model counterrotation propeller tested in the 8- by 6-foot wind tunnel and in the acoustically treated test section of the Boeing Transonic Wind Tunnel. This good agreement indicates the relative validity of taking cruise noise data on a plate in the 8- by 6-foot wind tunnel compared with the free-field method in the Boeing tunnel. Good agreement was also obtained for both single rotation and counter-rotation model noise comparisons with full-scale propeller noise in flight. The good scale model to full-scale comparisons indicate both the validity of the 8- by 6-foot wind tunnel data and the ability to scale to full size. Boundary layer refraction on the plate provides a limitation to the measurement of forward arc noise in the 8- by 6-foot wind tunnel at the higher harmonics of the blade passing tone. The use of a validated boundary layer refraction model to adjust the data could remove this limitation.

Dittmar, James H.↗

Comparison of propeller cruise noise data taken in the NASA Lewis 8- by 6-foot wind tunnel with other tunnel and flight data

The noise of advanced high speed propeller models measured in the NASA 8- by 6-foot wind tunnel has been compared with model propeller noise measured in another tunnel and with full-scale propeller noise measured in flight. Good agreement was obtained for the noise of a model counterrotation propeller tested in the 8- by 6-foot wind tunnel and in the acoustically treated test section of the Boeing Transonic Wind Tunnel. This good agreement indicates the relative validity of taking cruise noise data on a plate in the 8- by 6-foot wind tunnel compared with the free-field method in the Boeing tunnel. Good agreement was also obtained for both single rotation and counter-rotation model noise comparisons with full-scale propeller noise in flight. The good scale model to full-scale comparisons indicate both the validity of the 8- by 6-foot wind tunnel data and the ability to scale to full size. Boundary layer refraction on the plate provides a limitation to the measurement of forward arc noise in the 8- by 6-foot wind tunnel at the higher harmonics of the blade passing tone. The sue of a validated boundary layer refraction model to adjust the data could remove this limitation.

Dittmar, James↗

Modeling of the Earth's gravity field using the New Global Earth Model (NEWGEM)

Traditionally, the global gravity field was described by representations based on the spherical harmonics (SH) expansion of the geopotential. The SH expansion coefficients were determined by fitting the Earth's gravity data as measured by many different methods including the use of artificial satellites. As gravity data have accumulated with increasingly better accuracies, more of the higher order SH expansion coefficients were determined. The SH representation is useful for describing the gravity field exterior to the Earth but is theoretically invalid on the Earth's surface and in the Earth's interior. A new global Earth model (NEWGEM) (KIM, 1987 and 1988a) was recently proposed to provide a unified description of the Earth's gravity field inside, on, and outside the Earth's surface using the Earth's mass density profile as deduced from seismic studies, elevation and bathymetric information, and local and global gravity data. Using NEWGEM, it is possible to determine the constraints on the mass distribution of the Earth imposed by gravity, topography, and seismic data. NEWGEM is useful in investigating a variety of geophysical phenomena. It is currently being utilized to develop a geophysical interpretation of Kaula's rule. The zeroth order NEWGEM is being used to numerically integrate spherical harmonic expansion coefficients and simultaneously determine the contribution of each layer in the model to a given coefficient. The numerically determined SH expansion coefficients are also being used to test the validity of SH expansions at the surface of the Earth by comparing the resulting SH expansion gravity model with exact calculations of the gravity at the Earth's surface.

Kim, Yeong E.↗

The aerodynamics of an oscillating cascade in a compressible flow field

Fundamental experiments are performed in the NASA Lewis Research Center Transonic Oscillating Cascade Facility to investigate and quantify the aerodynamics of a cascade of bioconvex airfoils executing torsion mode oscillations at realistic reduced frequency values. Both steady and unsteady airfoil surface pressures are measured at two inlet Mach numbers, 0.65 and 0.80, and two incidence angles, 0 and 7 deg, with the harmonic torsional airfoil cascade oscillations at realistic high reduced frequency and unsteady data obtained at several interblade phase angle values. The time-variant pressures are analyzed by means of discrete Fourier transform techniques, with these unique data compared with predictions from a linearized unsteady cascade model. The experimental results indicate that the interblade phase angle has a major effect on the chordwise distributions of the airfoil surface unsteady pressure, with the effect of reduced frequency, incidence angle, and Mach numbers somewhat less significant.

Buffum, D. H.↗

The magnetic field of Neptune

A model is given of the planetary magnetic field of Neptune based on a spherical harmonic analysis of the observations obtained by the Voyager 2. Generalized inverse techniques are used to partially solve a severely underdetermined inverse problem, and the resulting model is nonunique since the observations are limited in spatial distribution. Dipole, quadrupole, and octupole coefficients are estimated independently of other terms, and the parameters are shown to be well constrained by the measurement data. The large-scale features of the magnetic field including dipole tilt, offset, and harmonic content are found to characterize a magnetic field that is similar to that of Uranus. The traits of Neptune's magnetic field are theorized to relate to the 'ice' interior of the planet, and the dynamo-field generation reflects this poorly conducting planet.

Connerney, J. E. P.↗

SNR degradation in square-wave subcarrier downconversion

This article presents a study of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) degradation in the process of square-wave subcarrier downconversion. The study shows three factors that contribute to the SNR degradation: the cutoff of the higher frequency components in the data, the approximation of a square wave with a finite number of harmonics, and nonideal filtering. Both analytical and simulation results are presented.

Feria, Y.↗

A functional description of the Buffered Telemetry Demodulator (BTD)

This article gives a functional description of the buffered telemetry demodulator (BTD), which operates on recorded digital samples to extract the symbols from the received signal. The key advantages of the BTD are as follows: (1) its ability to reprocess the signal to reduce acquisition time; (2) its ability to use future information about the signal and to perform smoothing on past samples; and (3) its minimum transmission bandwidth requirement as each sub carrier harmonic is processed individually. The first application of the BTD would be the Galileo S-band contingency mission, where the signal is so weak that reprocessing to reduce the acquisition time is crucial. Moreover, in the event of employing antenna arraying with full spectrum combining, only the sub carrier harmonics need to be transmitted between sites, resulting in significant reduction in data rate transmission requirements. Software implementation of the BTD is described for various general-purpose computers.

Tsou, H.↗

Induced activation study of LDEF

Analysis of the induced radioactivity of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) is continuing with extraction of specific activities for various spacecraft materials. Data and results of activation measurements from eight facilities are being collected for interpretation at Eastern Kentucky University and NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center. The major activation mechanism in LDEF components is the proton flux in the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA). This flux is highly anisotropic, and could be sampled by taking advantage of the gravity-gradient stabilization of the LDEF. The directionally-dependent activation due to these protons was clearly observed in the data from aluminum experiment tray clamps (reaction product Na-22), steel trunnions (reaction product Mn-54 and others) and is also indicated by the presence of a variety of nuclides in other materials. A secondary production mechanism, thermal neutron capture, was observed in cobalt, indium, and tantalum, which are known to have large capture cross sections. Experiments containing samples of these metals and significant amounts of thermalizing low atomic number (Z) material showed clear evidence of enhanced activation of Co-60, In-114m, and Ta-182. Other mechanisms which activate spacecraft material that are not as easily separable from SAA proton activation, such as galactic proton bombardment and secondary production by fast neutrons, are being investigated by comparison to radiation environmental calculations. Deviations from one-dimensional radiation models indicate that these mechanisms are more important at greater shielding depths. The current status of the induced radioactivity measurements as of mid-year 1992 are reviewed. Specific activities for a number of materials which show SAA effects and thermal neutron capture are presented. The results for consistency by combining data from the participating institutions is also examined.

Harmon, B. A.↗

HHC study in the DNW to reduce BVI noise - An analysis

The noise of an aeroelastically scaled helicopter rotor has been studied in the German-Dutch wind tunnel in order to assess the utility of higher-harmonic control (HHC) in reducing blade-vortex interaction (BVI) noise. Acoustic data are presented for 3/rev, 4/rev, and 5/rev HHC, as applied to a typical landing approach rotor operating condition; noise reduction of up to 6 dB were found for advancing-blade BVI noise radiating upstream of the rotor, as well as for retreating blade BVI noise radiating below and downstream of the rotor.

Brooks, Thomas F.↗

Geoid-to-topography ratios on Venus: A global perspective

Recently available spherical harmonic solutions for the geoid and topography of Venus are sufficiently high resolution that they can be used to address questions concerning the relationship between geoid and topography on a regional scale. We have approached this question by mapping the geoid-to-topography ratio (GTR) on a systematic global basis. For a given point on the surface, we consider the geoid and elevation values at all points on a gridded representation of those fields located within a specified distance of the reference point. From the set of paired values, we determine the correlation coefficient and the best-fitting straight line. The latter is the GTR at that position, and the former is a measure of the significance of the derived ratio. This procedure is then repeated for all points on the global grid, yielding maps of the GTR and the correlation coefficient. Unlike previous studies of the GRT on Venus, this apprach permits us to make an objective and systematic search for regions with anomalous GTR's as well as areas that do not demonstrate any strong correlation between geoid and topography. These maps can be updated regularly as new harmonic models of the Venus geoid are produced from new Magellan tracking data. This procedure permits the development of a global perspective on the relationship between GTR and venusian surface tectonics.

Simons, Mark↗

The isostatic state of Mead crater

We have analyzed high-resolution Magellan Doppler tracking data over Mead crater, using both line-of-sight and spherical harmonic methods, and have found a negative gravity anomaly of about 4-5 mgal (at spacecraft altitude, 182 km). This is consistent with no isostatic compensation of the present topography; the uncertainty in the analysis allows perhaps as much as 30% compensation at shallow dpeths (approximately 25 km). This is similar to observations of large craters on Earth, which are not generally compensated, but contrasts with at least some lunar basins which are inferred to have large Moho uplifts and corresponding positive Bouguer anomalies. An uncompensated load of this size requires a lithosphere with an effective elastic lithosphere thickness greater than 30 km. In order for the crust-mantle boundary not to have participated in the deformation associated with the collapse of the transient cavity during the creation of the crater, the yield strength near the top of the mantle must have been significantly higher on Earth and Venus than on the Moon at the time of basin formation. This might be due to increased strength against frictional sliding at the higher confining pressures within the larger planets. Alternatively, the thinner crusts of Earth and Venus compared to that of the Moon may result in higher creep strength of the upper mantle at shallower depths.

Banerdt, W. B.↗

Continuation of potential field data to a common altitude

It is noted that the distorsions introduced by the variation of distance between the sources and the measurement points can be important enough to create fake anomalies. The average amplitude of the anomalies at MAGSAT altitude is of the order of a few nT. Thus it is necessary to be careful in reducing MAGSAT data to a common elevation. The achievement of the corresponding anomaly map is of primary importance for the study of regional and long wave length anomalies. A method for the continuation of potential fields is described which consists in representing any harmonic function (in particular the anomaly is function of space coordinates) as a sum of elementary harmonic functions; the continuation being achieved by an inverse technique. Tests, made on a synthetic set of data, evaluate the method.

Lemouel, J. L.↗

Data Fusion and Mining Techniques to Map Water Use and Drought across Spatial and Temporal Scales

As the world’s water resources come under increasing tension due to dual stressors of climate change and population growth, accurate knowledge of water consumption through evapotranspiration (ET) over a range in spatial scales will be critical in developing adaptation strategies. Remote sensing methods for monitoring consumptive water use (e.g, ET) are becoming increasingly important, especially in areas of significant water and food insecurity. One method to estimate ET from satellite-based methods, the Atmosphere Land Exchange Inverse (ALEXI) model uses the change in mid-morning land surface temperature to estimate the partitioning of sensible and latent heat fluxes which are then used to estimate daily ET. This presentation will outline several recent enhancements to the ALEXI modeling system, with a focus on global ET and drought monitoring. Until recently, ALEXI has been limited to areas with high resolution temporal sampling of geostationary sensors. The use of geostationary sensors makes global mapping a complicated process, especially for real-time applications, as data from as many as five different sensors are required to be ingested and harmonized to create a global mosaic. However, our research team has developed a new and novel method of using twice-daily observations from polar-orbiting sensors such as MODIS and VIIRS to estimate the mid-morning rise in LST that is used to drive the energy balance estimations within ALEXI. This allows the method to be applied globally using a single sensor (in this case, initially MODIS with a planned transition to VIIRS) rather than a global compositing of all available geostationary data. Other advantages of this new method include the higher spatial resolution provided by MODIS and VIIRS and the increased sampling at high latitudes where oblique view angles limit the utility of geostationary sensors. This presentation will focus on global applications for mapping water use and drought using data mining and data fusion across spatial scales extending from 5-km to 30-m “field-scale” estimates.

Christopher Hain↗

Acoustic test of a model rotor and tail rotor: Results for the isolated rotors and combined configuration

Acoustic data from a model scale main rotor and tail rotor experiment in the NASA Langley 14 by 22 Foot Subsonic Tunnel are presented for the main rotor and trail rotor in isolation and for the two rotors operating together. Results for the isolated main rotor show the importance of the rotor flapping conditions on mid-frequency noise content. High levels of main rotor retreating side blade-vortex interaction noise are shown to radiate downstream of the model. The isolated tail rotor noise results show the dominance of harmonic noise in the thrusting direction. The occurrence of tail rotor broadband noise is seen by the broadening of the tail rotor harmonics and is attributed to fuselage wake turbulence. The combined main and tail rotor data are presented to show the dominance of each rotor's different noise sources at different directivity locations.

Martin, R. M.↗