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At least 685 records · Page 38

High Resolution Experiments of Compressible Turbulence Interacting With Shock Waves

Most of the second year of our research program focused on exploring the potentially favorable the effects of expansion waves on homogeneous and isotropic turbulence, which is formed downstream of a grid. Expansion waves are associated with compressible flows and may reduce the drag over airfoils by suppressing turbulence. In the very few previous investigations of interactions of turbulence with expansion waves the effects due to stabilizing streamline curvature substantially masked the effects of turbulence suppression due to flow expansion though the waves. In the present flow configuration planar expansion waves interact with grid generated turbulence in our high-resolution shock tube research facility. This approach will assess directly the effects of the interaction on turbulence. The first objective of our study was to identify the nature of expansion waves present in our shock tube facility. Our time-dependent numerical simulations of the flow in our facility indicated the existence of two regions of traveling expansion waves. The system of expansion waves utilized in this investigation is generated by the exiting shock wave and the induced flow behind it at the end of the driver. Several new measuring techniques are being developed which are capable of providing velocity-gradient-related quantities in compressible flows for the first time.

Agui, Juan↗

Differential charge radii: Proton-neutron interaction effects

The analysis of self-consistency and proton-neutron interaction effects in the buildup of differential charge radii were carried out in covariant density functional theoretical calculations without pairing interaction on the example of selected configurations in the Pb isotopes. The proton-neutron interaction of neutron(s) added to the neutron 𝑁 = 126 core and the protons forming the 𝑍 = 82 proton core is responsible for a major contribution to the buildup of differential charge radii. It depends on the products of proton and neutron wave functions and thus on their nodal structure. This interaction leads to a redistribution of single-particle density of occupied proton states which in turn modifies the charge radii. Furthermore, the microscopic origin of this redistribution and its consequences for differential charge radii were investigated for the first time. Self-consistency effects affecting the shape of proton potential, total proton densities and the energies of the single-particle proton states provide only minor contribution to differential charge radii.

190 ≤ A ≤ 219↗

Validation of a transonic analysis code for use in preliminary design of advanced transport configurations

The WBPPW code has the capability of analyzing flow-field effects about configurations which include wing pylons and engine nacelles or pods in addition to the basic wing/fuselage combination. Using the concept of grid embedding, the code solves the extended small disturbance transonic flow equation for complex flow interactions of the various configuration components. A general description of the code and solution algorithm is included. Results are presented and compared with experiment for various configurations which encompass the code capabilities. These include wing planform and wing contour modifications and variations in nacelle position beneath a high-aspect-ratio wing. Results are analyzed in the light of preliminary design, where the capability to accurately compute flow-field effects resulting from various configuration perturbations is important. The comparisons show that the computational results are sensitive to subtle design modifications and that the code could be used as an effective guide during the design process for transport configurations.

Waggoner, E. G.↗

Mars Sample Return, Sample Retrieval Lander, Reaction Control System Jet Interaction Supersonic Wind Tunnel Test Overview with CFD Predictions

NASA's Mars Sample Return campaign will be launching several missions over the next decade that will work together to return rock samples from Mars back to Earth. The Sample Retrieval Lander (SRL) will deliver the Mars Ascent Vehicle and fetch rover to the surface of Mars in 2006. Rock samples collected by the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, landing in early 2021, will be loaded on the the ascent vehicle to be launched into Mars orbit for retrieval by yet another spacecraft. The Sample Retrieval Lander will be a blunt entry capsule similar to past Mars entry vehicles like Mars Science Laboratory and Viking. The vehicle will fly a guided entry, using a small lift vector produced by a non-zero trim angle of attack to eliminate downrange and crossrange position errors at the point of parachute deploy. This energy and heading management is achieved with a reaction control system (RCS) that directs the bank angle of the vehicle and also minimizes unwanted capsule dynamics. The reaction control system and control design is based on the Mars Science Laboratory and Mars 2020 RCS systems. However, due to packaging constraints, the backshell of this new entry vehicle has a different geometry than those earlier designs. To certify the RCS system for flight the project must characterize the jet plume interactions with the capsule backshell that could impair or significantly augment the RCS control authority. This characterization will be done through a combination of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis and wind tunnel test. Two candidate arrangements of the RCS jets have been identified for the SRL vehicle and are currently under evaluation before final selection. The aero/RCS plume interactions of these candidate configurations have been measured in a supersonic wind tunnel test in NASA Langley's Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel. The test was conducted in the fall of 2020 and data is currently being reduced. An overview of the candidate RCS configurations are presented here with an overview of the wind tunnel model design, jet scaling and scaled nozzle design, and the test matrix. Preliminary CFD runs are presented with an assessment of the predicted plumes and their interaction with the wake flow of the vehicle. The predicted effects of the model sting is provided as well. This high fidelity wind tunnel test is being conducted much earlier in the SRL project than would normally be done. The test was funded as part of a CFD evaluation task funded by NASA's Aerosciences Evaluation and Test Capabilities Project. The objective of the evaluation task was to compare the ability of CFD to predict complex flows with data that can be measured in the Langley Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel. RCS Jet interactions were selected as a type of complex flow that is important to NASA missions. In addition to providing useful data to the SRL project, there was added emphasis on quantifying the accuracy of the CFD predictions and wind tunnel test data. An overview of the uncertainty quantification methodologies for computational and experimental portions of this test is presented.

blunt body↗

TIGER: A user-friendly interactive grid generation system for complicated turbomachinery and axis-symmetric configurations

The issue of time efficiency in grid generation is addressed by developing a user friendly graphical interface for interactive/automatic construction of structured grids around complex turbomachinery/axis-symmetric configurations. The accuracy of geometry modeling and its fidelity is accomplished by adapting the nonuniform rational b-spline (NURBS) representation. A customized interactive grid generation code, TIGER, has been developed to facilitate the grid generation process for complicated internal, external, and internal-external turbomachinery fields simulations. The FORMS Library is utilized to build user-friendly graphical interface. The algorithm allows a user to redistribute grid points interactively on curves/surfaces using NURBS formulation with accurate geometric definition. TIGER's features include multiblock, multiduct/shroud, multiblade row, uneven blade count, and patched/overlapping block interfaces. It has been applied to generate grids for various complicated turbomachinery geometries, as well as rocket and missile configurations.

Shih, Ming H.↗

Interim noise correlation for some OTW configurations using external jet-flow deflectors

Jet/flap interaction acoustic data obtained statically from a model-scale study of STOL-OTW configurations with a conical nozzle mounted above the wing and using various external deflectors to provide jet-flow attachment are correlated. The acoustic data are correlated in terms that consider the jet/flap interaction noise contributions associated primarily with fluctuating lift, trailing edge, and configuration wake noise sources. Variables considered include deflector geometry, flap setting and wing size. Finally, the configuration overall noise levels are related to static lift and thrust measurements in order to provide insight into possible acoustic/aerodynamic performance trade-off benefits.

Von Glahn, U.↗

Aerodynamic interaction between vortical wakes and the viscous flow about a circular cylinder

In the design analysis of conventional aircraft configurations, the prediction of the strong interaction between vortical wakes and the viscous flow field about bodies is of considerable importance. Interactions between vortical wakes and aircraft components are even more common on rotorcraft and configurations with lifting surfaces forward of the wing. An accurate analysis of the vortex-wake interaction with aircraft components is needed for the optimization of the payload and the reduction of vibratory loads. However, the three-dimensional flow field beneath the rotor disk and the interaction of the rotor wake with solid bodies in the flow field are highly complex. The present paper has the objective to provide a basis for the considered interactions by studying a simpler problem. This problem involves the two-dimensional interaction of external wakes with the viscous flow about a circular cylinder.

Stremel, P. M.↗

Minimum-fuel trajectories for hypersonic vehicles with aeropropulsive interactions

The class of hypersonic vehicle configurations with single stage-to-orbit (SSTO) capability reflect highly integrated airframe and propulsion systems. These designs are also known to exhibit a large degree of interaction between the airframe and engine dynamics. Consequently, even simplified hypersonic models are characterized by tightly coupled nonlinear equations of motion. It is to be determined how these features, along with the stringent mission requirements placed on the vehicle, affect its trajectory performance. In this paper, a trajectory optimization problem for a generic hypersonic lifting body will be formulated, a solution method outlined, and results presented. The solution sought is a minimum-fuel trajectorv for orbit injection. It is also desired to study the effect of heating constraints on the vehicle.

Lovell, T. A.↗

The PROUST radar: First results

Two campaigns took place in 1984 with the PROUST Radar operating in a bistatic mode, the transmitting antenna pointing at the vertical and the receiving one, 1 deg. off the vertical axis. The antenna beam intersection covers an altitude range between 3 and 9 km. The first of these campaigns are analyzed. The results analyzed show the capability of the PROUST Radar to measure the turbulent parameters and study the turbulence-wave interaction. In its present configuration (bistatic mode and 600 m vertical resolution), it has been necessary to make some assumptions that are known not to be truly fulfilled: homogeneous turbulence and constant vertical wind intensity over a 600-m thickness. It is clear that a more detailed study of the interaction between wave and turbulence will be possible with the next version of PROUST Radar (30-m altitude resolution and monostatic mode) that will soon be achieved.

Bertin, F.↗

Data-Driven Method for Nonlinear Modal Interaction Identification in Fighter Aircraft

The purpose of this paper is to report a new data-driven analysis methodology for identifying nonlinear modal interactions and its application to aeroelastic wind-tunnel data from a generic fighter configuration, which reveals global modal interactions in this system caused by multiple resonance capture events initiated by local nonlinearities. It is shown that during supersonic testing at the Transonic Dynamics Tunnel, vibro-impacts at the embedded external fuel tank shakers on the inboard underwing stations of the generic fighter introduce strong nonlinearity that gives rise to nonlinear modal interactions. Specifically, time–frequency analysis of the acceleration data demonstrates that 6∶5 and 7∶6 transient resonance captures occur across the aircraft exclusively during this vibro-impact forcing window. Further analysis suggests that these resonance captures are dependent on Mach number. These results show experimentally that local vibro-impacts can cause global nonlinear effects in an aeroelastic system and that these effects can be identified using the new methodology herein. The data-driven analysis scheme employed shows applicability to full-aircraft flight test data for identifying nonlinear modal interactions without knowledge of the precise nonlinear contributors.

nonlinear dynamics↗

Study of the Mutual Interaction Between a Wing Wake and an Encountering Airplane

In an effort to increase airport productivity, several wind-tunnel and flight-test programs are currently underway to determine safe reductions in separation standards between aircraft. These programs are designed to study numerous concepts from the characteristics and detection of wake vortices to the wake-vortex encounter phenomenon. As part of this latter effort, computational tools are being developed and utilized as a means of modeling and verifying wake-vortex hazard encounters. The objective of this study is to assess the ability of PMARC, a low-order potential-flow panel method, to predict the forces and moments imposed on a following business-jet configuration by a vortex interaction. Other issues addressed include the investigation of several wake models and their ability to predict wake shape and trajectory, the validity of the velocity field imposed on the following configuration, modeling techniques and the effect of the high-lift system and the empennage. Comparisons with wind-tunnel data reveal that PMARC predicts the characteristics for the clean wing-body following configuration fairly well. Non-linear effects produced by the addition of the high-lift system and empennage, however, are not so well predicted.

Walden, A. B.↗

Validation of High-Speed Turbulent Boundary Layer and Shock-Boundary Layer Interaction Computations with the OVERFLOW Code

The capability of the OVERFLOW code to accurately compute high-speed turbulent boundary layers and turbulent shock-boundary layer interactions is being evaluated. Configurations being investigated include a Mach 2.87 flat plate to compare experimental velocity profiles and boundary layer growth, a Mach 6 flat plate to compare experimental surface heat transfer,a direct numerical simulation (DNS) at Mach 2.25 for turbulent quantities, and several Mach 3 compression ramps to compare computations of shock-boundary layer interactions to experimental laser doppler velocimetry (LDV) data and hot-wire data. The present paper describes outlines the study and presents preliminary results for two of the flat plate cases and two small-angle compression corner test cases.

Oliver, A. B.↗

Dislocation-graphene interactions in Cu/graphene composites and the effect of boundary conditions: a molecular dynamics study

Here, in this paper, systematic molecular dynamics simulations were employed to study dislocation-graphene interactions in Cu/graphene systems using two carefully selected configurations: (i) edge dislocations in the pileup interacting with graphene during nanoindentation and (ii) complex dislocations interacting with graphene in compression of layered nanopillars. The intrinsic and extrinsic size effects were investigated with respect to varying the Cu lamella thickness and pillar sizes, revealing an anomalous extrinsic size effect: the smaller, the weaker. To understand which boundary conditions are physically consistent, both free and periodic graphene were considered. It was seen that edge dislocations in the pileup continuously transmitted across the free graphene through Cu/graphene interfacial sliding and graphene reorientation, whereas transmission was very difficult for periodic graphene as its in-plane deformation was required. In compression of Cu/graphene nanopillars, the strengthening effect of free graphene was found to be less obvious than that of the periodic case, which could be attributed to free graphene edges acting as dislocation sources after the compressed Cu overflowed the graphene sheet from all directions. We therefore conclude that the strengthening effect of periodic graphene inclusions appears to be overestimated, such that free graphene should be more appropriate.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Two- and three-nucleon contact interactions and ground-state energies of light- and medium-mass nuclei

Classes of two-nucleon (2N) contact interactions are developed in configuration space at leading order (LO), next-to-leading order (NLO), and next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order (N3LO) by fitting the experimental singlet np scattering length and deuteron binding energy at LO, and np and pp scattering data in the laboratory-energy ranges 0–15 MeV at NLO and 0–25 MeV at N3LO. These interactions are regularized by including two Gaussian cutoffs, one for T = 0 and the other for T = 1 channels. The cutoffs are taken to vary in the ranges R 0 = (1.5 –2.3) fm and R 1 = (1.5 –3.0) fm. The 780 (1100) data points up to 15 (25) MeV energy, primarily differential cross sections, are fitted by the NLO (N3LO) models with a χ 2 / datum about 1.7 or less (well below 1.5), when harder cutoff values are adopted. As a first application, we report results for the binding energies of nuclei with mass numbers A = 3 –6 and 16 obtained with selected LO and NLO 2N models both by themselves as well as in combination with a LO three-nucleon (3N) contact interaction. The latter is characterized by a single low-energy constant that is fixed to reproduce the experimental 3 H binding energy. The inclusion of the 3N interaction largely removes the sensitivity to cutoff variations in the few-nucleon systems and leads to predictions for the 3 He and 4 He binding energies that cluster around 7.8 and 30 MeV, respectively. However, in 16 O this cutoff sensitivity remains rather strong. Finally, predictions at LO only are also reported for medium-mass nuclei with A = 40 , 48, and 90.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Vortical flow management for improved configuration aerodynamics: Recent experiences

Recent progress in vortex-control applications for alleviating the adverse consequences of three dimensional separation and vortical interactions on slender body/swept wing configurations is reported. Examples include helical separation trip to alleviate the side force due to forebody vortex asymmetry; hinged strakes to avoid vortex breakdown effects; compartmentation of swept leading edge separation to delay the pitch-up instability; under wing vortex trip and vortex trip and vortex flaps for drag reduction at high lift; and an apex-flap trimmer to fully utilize the lift capability of trailing-edge flaps for take off and landing of delta wings. Experimental results on generic wind-tunnel models are presented to illustrate the vortex-management concepts involved and to indicate their potential for enhancing the subsonic aerodynamics of supersonic-cruise type vehicles.

Rao, D. M.↗

Application of advanced grid generation techniques for flow field computations about complex configurations

In the computation of flowfields about complex configurations, it is very difficult to construct a boundary-fitted coordinate system. An alternative approach is to use several grids at once, each of which is generated independently. This procedure is called the multiple grids or zonal grids approach; its applications are investigated. The method conservative providing conservation of fluxes at grid interfaces. The Euler equations are solved numerically on such grids for various configurations. The numerical scheme used is the finite-volume technique with a three-stage Runge-Kutta time integration. The code is vectorized and programmed to run on the CDC VPS-32 computer. Steady state solutions of the Euler equations are presented and discussed. The solutions include: low speed flow over a sphere, high speed flow over a slender body, supersonic flow through a duct, and supersonic internal/external flow interaction for an aircraft configuration at various angles of attack. The results demonstrate that the multiple grids approach along with the conservative interfacing is capable of computing the flows about the complex configurations where the use of a single grid system is not possible.

Kathong, Monchai↗

Unpacking the drivers of diurnal dynamics of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF): Canopy structure, plant physiology, instrument configuration and retrieval methods

Sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) from spaceborne sensors is a promising tool for global carbon cycle monitoring, but its application is constrained by insufficient understanding of the drivers underlying diurnal SIF dynamics. SIF measurements from ground-based towers can reveal diurnal SIF dynamics across biomes and environmental conditions; however, meaningful interpretation of diurnal variations requires disentangling impacts from canopy structure, plant physiology, instrument configuration and retrieval methods, which often interact with and confound each other. This study aims to unpack these drivers using 1) concurrent ground and airborne canopy-scale and leaf-scale measurements at a corn field, 2) a mechanistic SIF model that explicitly considers the dynamics of photochemistry (via the fraction of open photosystem II reaction centers, qL) and photoprotection (via nonphotochemical quenching, NPQ) as well as their interactive dependence on the sub-canopy light environment, and 3) cross-comparison of SIF instrument configurations and retrieval methods. We found that crop row orientations and sun angles can introduce a distinctive midday dip in SIF in absence of stress, due to a midday drop of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR) when crop rows are north-south oriented. Canopy structure caused distinctive responses in both qL and NPQ at different positions within the vertical canopy that collectively influenced fluorescence quantum yield (Φ F ) at the leaf scale. Once integrated at the canopy scale, diurnal dynamics of both APAR and canopy escape probability (ε) are critical for accurately shaping diurnal SIF variations. While leaf-level qL and NPQ exhibited strong diurnal dynamics, their influence was attenuated at the canopy scale due to opposing effects on SIF at different canopy layers. Furthermore, different system configurations (i.e., bi-hemispherical vs. hemispherical-conical) and retrieval methods can bias the SIF magnitude and distort its diurnal shapes, therefore confounding the interpretation of inherent strength and dynamics of SIF emission. Our findings demonstrate the importance of crop row structures, interactive variations in canopy structure and plant physiology, instrument configuration, and retrieval method in shaping the measured dynamics of diurnal SIF. This study highlights the necessity to account for these factors to accurately interpret satellite SIF, and informs future synthesis work with different SIF instrumentation and retrieval methods across sites.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DFT-based mesoscopic interactions of N adatoms on Cu(100)

The first-principles density functional theory (DFT) method is used to directly calculate the interactions of N atoms of various configurations on Cu(100) surfaces. This allows us to derive a mesoscopic substratemediated interaction model. We find that, for these Cu(100)-supported two-dimensional N clusters, oscillating substrate-mediated interactions obtained from an elastic eigenvector approach including a mesoscopic interacting range (called the mesoscopic model) have reasonable agreement with the DFT results. The DFT periodic boundary conditions are properly mapped into the mesoscopic model. The model is used to analyze the energies of c(2×2) square islands independent of their sizes. Previous experimental studies have shown that, in the low coverage region, N atoms agglomerate to isolated square islands of about 5 nm × 5 nm in size with a c(2×2) structure. With increasing coverage, those islands form regular patterns but do not touch below about 0.4 monolayers. From previous experiments and calculations, the square island pattern shows significant elastic effects which are now confirmed.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗