SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “ROUGHNESS”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 685 records · Page 38

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1985

Surface Units on Venus Derived from Pioneer-venus Altimetry, Roughness, and Reflectivity Measurements

The nature of the Venusian surface was revealed by Pioneer-Venus (PV) observations to be diverse at scales from tens to hundreds of kilometers. Spatial correlations of elevation, surface roughness, and radar reflectivity were investigated as a means of assessing the degree of homogeneity of surface radar properties within topographic provinces and develop a map of possible geologic boundaries. Correlations were performed in a supervised fashion whereby unit boundaries were selected on the basis of statistical and empirical studies of the individual data sets. Interpretations of these units in terms of geologic characteristics are based on the determination of physical units which are model dependent.

Peterfreund, A. R.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Specification of Surface Roughness Over Oceans in the GLAS Fourth Order GCM

The surface roughness height z sub 0 is a parameter which measures the effect of surface irregularities on the mean profiles which occur in the atmospheric surface layer. Over land surfaces, z sub 0 is a function of soil composition, plant canopy type and distribution and other factors such as buildings and structures. Over open water, z sub 0 depends only on the distribution of waves, wavelets and other surface irregularities. These, in turn, are thought to be determined by the mean wind within the surface layer. Large and Pond have derived an empirical relationship between the mean wind speed U sub 10 at the ten meter level over open water and the neutral drag coefficient C sub DN. Their relationship covers the range U sub 10 or = M/S. Earlier, Kondo had computed a relationship between U sub 10 and C sub DN on the basis of laboratory observations which extended down to the range of infinitely small wind speeds. An interpretation between the relationships of Large and Pond for large wind speed and of Kondo for small wind speed is presented.

Helfand, H. M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Optical receivers using rough reflectors

This report examines the possible use of rough, or nondiffraction-limited, reflectors for collecting optical signals. It is shown that in the absence of background radiation, the reflector's surface quality has little effect on the performance of a properly designed receiver, but that the presence of even small amounts of background radiation can lead to severe performance degradation. Techniques are suggested for improving receiver performance in high-background environments, and bounds and approximations to the exact error-probability expressions are derived.

Vilnrotter, V. A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Surface characteristics of Venus derived from Pioneer Venus altimetry, roughness, and reflectivity measurements

Pioneer Venus data sets for global topography, surface roughness, and reflectivity are analyzed, and the geological significance of some of the distinctive surface types is locally calibrated by examining high-resolution images from the Venera lander spacecraft and the Arecibo Observatory. Regional rock and bedrock surfaces are found to cover the majority of the planet. The relatively smooth rock and bedrock surfaces probably represent lava flows. Porous and unconsolidated fine materials cover less than about 27 percent of the surface. The distribution of soil surfaces indicate that they are the result of local weathering and small amounts of lateral transport. Several hypotheses for the origin of the high-dielectric materials which cover a small portion of the surface are discussed.

Head, J. W., III↗

NASA NTRS1986

Thermal smoothing of rough surfaces in vacuo

The derivation of equations governing the smoothing of rough surfaces, based on Mullins' (1957, 1960, and 1963) theories of thermal grooving and of capillarity-governed solid surface morphology is presented. As an example, the smoothing of a one-dimensional sine-shaped surface is discussed.

Wahl, G.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Parameterization of albedo, thermal inertia, and surface roughness of desert scrub/sandy soil surface

Spectral albedo, A sub n, for the direct solar beam is defined as A sub n (r sub i,s, theta sub 0) = r sub i exp(-s tan theta sub 0)1-I(s) where I(s) is the integral over all reflection angles describing the interception by the absorbing plants of the flux reflected from the soil, r sub i soil reflectance, assumed Lambertian, S the projection on a vertical plane of plants per unit surface area, and theta sub 0 is the solar zenith angle. Hemispheric reflectance for the direct solar beam equals 1-I(s) times the reflectance to the zenith. The values of s of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 respectively quantify sparse, moderately dense, and very dense desert scrub. Thin plants are assumed to be of negligible thermal inertia, and thus directly yield the absorbed insolation to the atmosphere. Surface thermal inertia is therefore effectively reduced. The ratio of surface roughness height to plant height is parameterized for sparse, moderately dense, and very dense desert-scrub as a function of s based on data expressing the dependence of this ratio on plant silhouette.

Otterman, J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

On the atomic roughness of solid-vapor interfaces - Significance of many-body interactions

Published experimental data on the atomic roughness of solid-vapor interfaces (SVIs) are compiled in a table and compared with the predictions of theoretical models based on the Bragg-Williams approximation (e.g., Jackson, 1958). Significant discrepancies are observed, and a new model employing site-dependent bond strengths based on many-body-interaction effects is developed and demonstrated. Predictions for Cu, Pb, and Zn are presented in extensive tables and graphs and characterized in detail: good agreement with experimental observations of anisotropic melting is obtained.

Chen, Jenn-Shing↗

NASA NTRS1987

Plume formation in the D-double prime-layer and the roughness of the core-mantle boundary

A series of very-high-resolution finite element calculations of plume formation in the D-double prime-layer has been performed for several plausible rheologies and boundary conditions in order to study both the early and later stages of boundary layer development. The results show that plumes are initiated by coalescence of small-scale convective instabilities within the low-viscosity region immediately above the core-mantle boundary (CMB). These instabilities support topographic roughness on the CMB having horizontal scales of 20-50 km and provide a source for scattered P-waves seen as precursors to the phases PKIKP and PKKP. The calculated structure of fully developed plumes emerging from the D-double prime-layer consists of 5-50 cm/yr flow confined to 50-100 km thick vertical conduits. With strongly temperature-dependent viscosity, plumes exhibit time-dependent behavior, including upward propagating solitary conduit waves, which may contribute to episodicity in hotspot volcanism.

Olson, Peter↗

NASA NTRS1987

Roughness measurements with multipolarization aircraft data

Multipolarization SAR data were collected over the SIR-B target area near Fresno, California, a few days before the Shuttle flight. Attempts to use these data to evaluate roughness models were unsuccessful. It is speculated that the processing of those data to give good total swath and target contrast resulted in very little variation among the bare fields. Special processing to provide adequate contrast among the targets of interest and to account for a large incidence angle variation may be necessary to make these data useful for this type of study.

Engman, E. T.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Interface roughness effect on stresses in ceramic coatings

This paper presents an analysis of the interface stress in plasma-sprayed zirconia coatings. The stress distributions along smooth and rough interfaces were calculated for perfectly bonded materials. The effect of mechanial interlock along the interface was also calculated. The interface stresses for noninterlocking interfaces were consistently higher; the interlocking interfaces showed high stresses in small regions only.

Mullen, Robert L.↗

NASA NTRS1988

The effects of longitudinal roughness elements upon the turbulent boundary layer

Velocity profiles and bursting statistics were measured in the presence of cylindrical longitudinal roughness elements (LREs) and compared to similar work by Johansen and Smith (1986). An algorithm was devised to detect low speed streaks (LSS) from the hot-wire rake data, allowing an estimation of the LREs' ability to reduce spatial randomness of the sublayer structure. The velocity profiles agree with Johansen and Smith's result that the effects of the LREs are felt only for y(+) less than about 15. The analysis of the bursting statistics and LSS algorithm output shows that the flow relaxes back to a flat plate boundary layer between the LREs. A crude first approximation is that the LREs simply impose the no-slip boundary condition at an elevation equivalent to their diameter. While the LREs might serve as a nucleation site for the LSS, spatial randomness of the structure is affected only very close to the LREs.

Blackwelder, R. F.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Scattering of electromagnetic waves from a periodic surface with random roughness

Equations for the scattering of electromagnetic waves from a randomly perturbed periodic surface have been formulated using the extended boundary condition method and solved using the small perturbation method. Surface currents and scattered fields are solved for up to the second order. The results indicate that as the correlation length of the random roughness increases, the bistatic scattering patterns of the scattered fields show several beams associated with each Bragg diffraction direction of the periodic surface. The beam shape becomes broader with smaller correlation length. Results obtained using the Kirchhoff approximation are found to agree well with the present results for the hh and vv polarized backscattering coefficients for small angles of incidence.

Yueh, H. A.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Effects of oxidation and roughness on Cu contact resistance from 4 to 290 K

Knowledge of the factors influencing contact resistance is important for optimizing system design in cryogenic applications. In space cryogenics, indirect cooling of infrared components is the primary concern. The presence of bolted joints results in contact resistances which can dominate all other contributions to the overall heat transfer rate. Here, thermal and electrical contact resistances measured between 4 K and 290 K for a series of bolted OFHC Cu contacts are reported. Surface roughness is found to have little effect on the overall contact resistance within the experimental limits, while oxidation can increase the contact resistance by as much as a factor of 100. Thermal and electrical contact resistances measured on the same contact show that the contact resistance temperature dependence does not follow the bulk dependence. For example, the residual resistance ratio (RRR) of the OFHC Cu is 110, but for contacts made from this material, the RRR is about two.

Nilles, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Measuring Thermal Conductivities Of Rough Specimens

Thermal conductivity of irregularly surfaced specimen measured more accurately and reliably by use of heat-transfer adhesive establishing contact between specimen and reference standards. Method useful when specimen made up of fragments of material. Adhesive ensures good thermal contact to pieces not matching others in height. In rough-surfaced or unequally sized specimens, heat-flow pattern becomes distorted, and temperatures at measurement points do not accurately represent those throughout reference standards and specimen. Filling voids with conductive adhesive restores nearly uniform distribution heat flow.

Striepens, Aloys H.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Electromagnetic wave scattering at near-grazing incidence from a gently undulating, rough surface

Models to estimate the reflection coefficient of a statistically rough surface, for example the works of Beckmann, Smith, and Vesecky are discussed. Bistatic radar experiments carried out during the Apollo 16 mission provide a data set with which to compare theoretical models and experimental data. These bistatic S-band radar experiments provide experimental estimates of the Moon's bistatic, forward scatter, reflection coefficient for grazing angles of 2.5 to 78 deg. Theoretical expressions for the reflection coefficient are developed for comparison with these experimental data. At grazing angles below 10 deg the models of Smith and Vesecky compare favorably with the data. Beckmann's model falls significantly more rapidly with decreasing grazing angle than does the data.

Vesecky, J. F.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Observations of the properties of the water surface roughness structure under the action of wind and waves

The statistical properties of a water surface roughness structure subjected to wind and waves are analyzed in a laboratory wind wave channel. The surface slope is derived using elevation measurements and the pitot tube is employed to measure wind speed. The transient responses of the surface slope to a calm condition and low, medium, and high wind conditions are studied. Two methods for determining a critical wind speed range are described.

Long, Steven R.↗

NASA NTRS1989

On the ability of rough surface scattering approximations to predict hydrodynamic modulation of the ocean radar cross section - A numerical study

Scattering from the ocean surface at microwave frequencies is often described by the Bragg scattering model or the two-scale model. Here, the ability of these models to predict cross section modulation is investigated by comparing Bragg and two-scale cross-sections with cross sections calculated by a numerical electromagnetic approach. The numerical method is used as the standard of comparison. For slightly rough surfaces, the Bragg model is found to be very accurate, but for much rougher surfaces, the two-scale model is superior and should be used for calculating both the absolute cross section and the change in cross section due to spatial or temporal modulation of the ocean wave height spectrum. These results are relevant to the interpretation of SAR images of ocean surface phenomena which perturb the wave height spectrum at ripple wavelengths.

Durden, Stephen L.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The effects of Reynolds number, rotor incidence angle, and surface roughness on the heat transfer distribution in a large-scale turbine rotor passage

A combined experimental and computational program was conducted to examine the heat transfer distribution in a turbine rotor passage geometrically similiar to the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) High Pressure Fuel Turbopump (HPFTP). Heat transfer was measured and computed for both the full-span suction and pressure surfaces of the rotor airfoil as well as for the hub endwall surface. The primary objective of the program was to provide a benchmark-quality data base for the assessment of rotor passage heat transfer computational procedures. The experimental portion of the study was conducted in a large-scale, ambient temperature, rotating turbine model. Heat transfer data were obtained using thermocouple and liquid-crystal techniques to measure temperature distributions on the thin, electrically-heated skin of the rotor passage model. Test data were obtained for various combinations of Reynolds number, rotor incidence angle and model surface roughness. The data are reported in the form of contour maps of Stanton number. These heat distribution maps revealed numerous local effects produced by the three-dimensional flows within the rotor passage. Of particular importance were regions of local enhancement produced on the airfoil suction surface by the main-passage and tip-leakage vortices and on the hub endwall by the leading-edge horseshoe vortex system. The computational portion consisted of the application of a well-posed parabolized Navier-Stokes analysis to the calculation of the three-dimensional viscous flow through ducts simulating the a gas turbine passage. These cases include a 90 deg turning duct, a gas turbine cascade simulating a stator passage, and a gas turbine rotor passage including Coriolis forces. The calculated results were evaluated using experimental data of the three-dimensional velocity fields, wall static pressures, and wall heat transfer on the suction surface of the turbine airfoil and on the end wall. Particular attention was paid to an accurate modeling of the passage vortex and to the development of the wall boundary layers including crossflow.

Blair, Michael F.↗