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At least 703 records · Page 39

A Validation Summary of the NCC Turbulent Reacting/non-reacting Spray Computations

This pper provides a validation summary of the spray computations performed as a part of the NCC (National Combustion Code) development activity. NCC is being developed with the aim of advancing the current prediction tools used in the design of advanced technology combustors based on the multidimensional computational methods. The solution procedure combines the novelty of the application of the scalar Monte Carlo PDF (Probability Density Function) method to the modeling of turbulent spray flames with the ability to perform the computations on unstructured grids with parallel computing. The calculation procedure was applied to predict the flow properties of three different spray cases. One is a nonswirling unconfined reacting spray, the second is a nonswirling unconfined nonreacting spray, and the third is a confined swirl-stabilized spray flame. The comparisons involving both gas-phase and droplet velocities, droplet size distributions, and gas-phase temperatures show reasonable agreement with the available experimental data. The comparisons involve both the results obtained from the use of the Monte Carlo PDF method as well as those obtained from the conventional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solution. Detailed comparisons in the case of a reacting nonswirling spray clearly highlight the importance of chemistry/turbulence interactions in the modeling of reacting sprays. The results from the PDF and non-PDF methods were found to be markedly different and the PDF solution is closer to the reported experimental data. The PDF computations predict that most of the combustion occurs in a predominantly diffusion-flame environment. However, the non-PDF solution predicts incorrectly that the combustion occurs in a predominantly vaporization-controlled regime. The Monte Carlo temperature distribution shows that the functional form of the PDF for the temperature fluctuations varies substantially from point to point. The results also bring to the fore some of the deficiencies associated with the use of assumed-shape PDF methods in spray computations.

Raju, M. S.↗

An experimental investigation of STOL longitudinal flying qualities in the landing approach using the variable stability X-22A aircraft.

The first in-flight flying qualities experiment using the variable stability X-22A aircraft investigated longitudinal flying qualities requirements for STOL aircraft in terminal area operations. Emphasis was placed on defining minimum requirements for the short-term response in VFR and IFR landing approaches at representative steep STOL approach conditions of 65 and 80 knots. Evaluation flights were conducted in negligible and moderate turbulence for a wide range of short-term frequencies and dampings. The results were compared with the short-term requirements of MIL-F-83300. The specified Level 1 and 2 VFR boundaries were found to be approximately valid in moderate turbulence for both VFR and IFR flight conditions. In negligible turbulence, the specified VFR Level 2 boundary was also approximately valid but the Level 1 boundary was found to be too stringent. Pilot rating gradients with damping were more apparent than with frequency for the range investigated.

Schuler, J. M.↗

The role of the helical jet mode in aerodynamic noise generation

The helical jet mode is modeled by an infinite helical vortex filament, and an exact analytical solution for the induced velocity field interior to the filament is derived. These expressions are then used to model the jet flow field and to analyze the high subsonic and supersonic jet noise generation. It is shown that noise will be generated directly if the helical mode convects or rotates. Reducing this noise by stabilizing the mode is difficult, since the self-induced velocities of the mode itself cause it to convect and rotate; the use of noncircular nozzles is suggested to eliminate the symmetry of the boundary condition. The helical mode can also generate noise indirectly by inducing time-dependent Coriolis accelerations on small-scale turbulence propagating in its induced velocity field. This suggests that any upstream turbulence generation has an enhanced potential for noise propagation when propagating in the presence of the helical mode.

Hardin, J. C.↗

Spectral scales in the atmospheric boundary layer

Wind data taken from 10 levels between 18 and 305 m were examined to determine the properties of atmospheric turbulence within and above the atmospheric surface layer into the PBL. The samples were averaged over 40 min intervals, with all periods of rain, fog, and other disturbances being eliminated from the 16 days of monitoring. Turbulence spectra were calculated using a fast Fourier transformation. The tower was located in rolling terrain covered with pine forests, waist-high scrub, and cultivated fields. Results are presented for the wavelength and Eulerian length scales, considering the neutral, stable, and unstable PBL. Correlation coefficients were found between velocity fluctuations and wavelengths for the stability classes. Good agreements were found for measured and computed spectra in all but unstable conditions.

Weber, A. H.↗

New outlook on control of crystalline and chemical perfection during growth of silicon

Significant progress has been made in our understanding of the Czochralski crystal growth process with the realization that the incorporation of oxygen into silicon is directly related to the internal gettering capability of wafers during device fabrication. It was also recognized that the electronic properties exhibited by silicon during various stages of device fabrication were significantly affected by the thermal history of the silicon during the post-growth cool-down period. Turbulent melt convection, induced by unavoidable destabilizing thermal gradients, was found to interfere with homogeneous dopant (and oxygen) incorporation and to influence markedly the dynamics of nonequilibrium point defects in the solidified silicon matrix during the cool-down period. In view of the unavoidability of destabilizing thermal gradients in conventional crystal growth configurations, melt stabilization through the application of magnetic fields is generally considered a viable approach. Control of heat input to the melt through heat pipe systems, as used during growth of germanium, cannot be applied to industrial growth of silicon. Recent studies have shown that heat exchange systems located coaxially about a growing crystal can be used to stabilize and control not only heat transfer in the grown crystal, but also in the melt adjacent to the solidification interface.

Witt, A. F.↗

Laboratory experiments on stability and entrainment of oceanic stratocumulus. Part 1: Instability experiment

The existence and persistence of marine stratocumulus play a significant role in the overall energy budget of the earth. Their stability and entrainment process are important in global climate studies, as well as for local weather forecasting. The purposes of the experimental simulations are to study this process and to address this paradox. The effects of buoyancy reversal is investigated, followed by two types of experiments. An instability experiment involves the behavior of a fully turbulent wake near the inversion generated by a sliding plate. Due to buoyancy reversal, the heavy, mixed fluid starts to sink, turning the potential energy created by the mixing process into kinetic energy, thereby increasing the entrainment rate. An entrainment experiment, using a vertically oscillating grid driven by a controllable speed motor, produces many eddy-induced entrainments at a surface region on scales much less than the depth of the layer.

Shy, Shenqyang S.↗

Matera Laser Ranging Observatory (MLRO): An overview

The Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) is currently under negotiation with the Bendix Field Engineering Corporation (BFEC) of the Allied Signal Aerospace Company (ASAC) to build a state-of-the-art laser ranging observatory for the Centro di Geodesia Spaziale, in Matera, Italy. The contract calls for the delivery of a system based on a 1.5 meter afocal Cassegrain astronomical quality telescope with multiple ports to support a variety of experiments for the future, with primary emphasis on laser ranging. Three focal planes, viz. Cassegrain, Coude, and Nasmyth will be available for these experiments. The open telescope system will be protected from dust and turbulence using a specialized dome which will be part of the building facilities to be provided by ASI. The fixed observatory facility will be partitioned into four areas for locating the following: laser, transmit/receive optics, telescope/dome enclosure, and the operations console. The optical tables and mount rest on a common concrete pad for added mechanical stability. Provisions will be in place for minimizing the effects of EMI, for obtaining maximum cleanliness for high power laser and transmit optics, and for providing an ergonomic environment fitting to a state-of-the-art multipurpose laboratory. The system is currently designed to be highly modular and adaptable for scaling or changes in technology. It is conceived to be a highly automated system with superior performance specifications to any currently operational system. Provisions are also made to adapt and accommodate changes that are of significance during the course of design and integration.

Varghese, Thomas K.↗

Effects of Artificial Viscosity on the Accuracy of High-reynolds-number Kappa-epsilon Turbulence Model

Wall functions, as used in the typical high Reynolds number k-epsilon turbulence model, can be implemented in various ways. A least disruptive method (to the flow solver) is to directly solve for the flow variables at the grid point next to the wall while prescribing the values of k and epsilon. For the centrally-differenced finite-difference scheme employing artificial viscocity (AV) as a stabilizing mechanism, this methodology proved to be totally useless. This is because the AV gives rise to a large error at the wall due to too steep a velocity gradient resulting from the use of a coarse grid as required by the wall function methodology. This error can be eliminated simply by extrapolating velocities at the wall, instead of using the physical values of the no-slip velocities (i.e. the zero value). The applicability of the technique used in this paper is demonstrated by solving a flow over a flat plate and comparing the results with those of experiments. It was also observed that AV gives rise to a velocity overshoot (about 1 percent) near the edge of the boundary layer. This small velocity error, however, can yield as much as 10 percent error in the momentum thickness. A method which integrates the boundary layer up to only the edge of the boundary (instead of infinity) was proposed and demonstrated to give better results than the standard method.

Chitsomboon, Tawit↗

Further observations on maximum likelihood estimates of stability and control characteristics obtained from flight data

A maximum likelihood estimation method for flight test data is described. Flight results based on 3000 maneuvers from 30 aircraft on the effect of resolution and sampling rate on the estimates, on understanding the discrepancies previously observed in the magnitude of the Cramer-Rao bounds, on the scale effects on the derivative estimates obtained from dynamic aircraft flight maneuvers, and on the analysis of lateral-directional maneuvers obtained in turbulence, are presented.

Iliff, K. W.↗

Stability of rotating magnetic stars and planets as Jupiter and the origin of convective motion

Based on the method of the energy principle, the effect of the coriolis force on the stability of rotating hydromagnetic systems was examined and the condition for instability was derived. It is shown that, in rotating systems, the coriolis force inhibits the onset of convective motion and that, once the condition for instability is fulfilled, overstable states are produced with respect to this motion. Such states seem to affect the onset of turbulent convective motion.

Sakurai, K.↗

Instability of a compressible circular free jet with consideration of the influence of the jet boundary layer thickness

The instability of a circular jet was investigated by means of the inviscid linearized stability theory. By variation of a jet parameter which takes the ratio of jet radius to boundary layer thickness into account, the influence of axisymmetry on the spatial growth rate and disturbance phase velocity is studied. The influence of Mach number and temperature ratio is discussed. A comparison with measurements shows that the instability of a turbulent jet boundary layer may also be explained by these results.

Michalke, A.↗

Flight-measured laminar boundary-layer transition phenomena including stability theory analysis

Flight experiments were conducted on a single-engine turboprop aircraft fitted with a 92-in-chord, 3-ft-span natural laminar flow glove at glove section lift coefficients from 0.15 to 1.10. The boundary-layer transition measurement methods used included sublimating chemicals and surface hot-film sensors. Transition occurred downstream of the minimum pressure point. Hot-film sensors provided a well-defined indication of laminar, laminar-separation, transitional, and turbulent boundary layers. Theoretical calculations of the boundary-layer parameters provided close agreement between the predicted laminar-separation point and the measured transition location. Tollmien-Schlichting (T-S) wave growth n-factors between 15 and 17 were calculated at the predicted point of laminar separation. These results suggest that for many practical airplane cruise conditions, laminar separation (as opposed to T-S instability) is the major cause of transition in predominantly two-dimensional flows.

Obara, C. J.↗

Instabilities and transition in the wall boundary layers of low-disturbance supersonic nozzles

Linear stability analysis and experimental nozzles were employed in studying means to control Tollmein-Schlichting (TS) waves and Taylor-Goertler (TG) vortices at transition points along walls in a supersonic wind tunnel. It was hoped that control of the TS waves and TG vortices would cause the wall flows to remain laminar, thereby reducing the turbulence noise in the tunnel. The test nozzles injecting the waves and vertices had Mach numbers from 3 to 5. TG vortices triggered transition, while axisymmetric nozzle flows suppressed it. TS waves were controllable with favorable pressure graients at Mach 3.5. Finally, advances were made in the capability of predicting the locations of the transition points.

Chen, F.-J.↗

Preliminary mixed-layer model results for FIRE marine stratocumulus IFO conditions

Some preliminary results from the Turton and Nicholls mixed layer model using typical FIRE boundary conditions are presented. The model includes entrainment and drizzle parametrizations as well as interactive long and shortwave radiation schemes. A constraint on the integrated turbulent kinetic energy balance ensures that the model remains energetically consistent at all times. The preliminary runs were used to identify the potentially important terms in the heat and moisture budgets of the cloud layer, and to assess the anticipated diurnal variability. These are compared with typical observations from the C130. Sensitivity studies also revealed the remarkable stability of these cloud sheets: a number of negative feedback mechanisms appear to operate to maintain the cloud over an extended time period. These are also discussed. The degree to which such a modelling approach can be used to explain observed features, the specification of boundary conditions and problems of interpretation in non-horizontally uniform conditions is also raised.

Barlow, R.↗

A computational study of the F-5A forebody emphasizing directional stability

CFD has been used to study the F-5A forebody flowfield at high angle-of-attack combined with sideslip. The classic wind tunnel experiment demonstrating the dominant contribution of the F-5A forebody to directional stability at high angle-of-attack has been simulated computationally over an angle-of-attack range from 10 deg to 45 deg. The key wind tunnel trend for C (n-beta) was obtained computationally using the code known as cfl3d to solve the Reynolds' equations using a modified form of the Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model. The computations provide detailed and fascinating insights into the physics of flowfield. The results of the investigation show that CFD has reached a level of development where computational methods can be used for high angle-of-attack aerodynamic design.

Mason, William H.↗

NASA Tech Briefs, May 2007

Topics include: Noise-Canceling Helmet Audio System; Program Analyzes Spacecraft/Ground Radio Links; Two-Way Communication Using RFID Equipment and Techniques; Six-Message Electromechanical Display System; Scanning Terahertz Heterodyne Imaging Systems; Master Clock and Time-Signal-Distribution System; Synchronous Phase-Resolving Flash Range Imaging; Integrated Radial Probe Transition From MMIC to Waveguide; Bar-Code System for a Microbiological Laboratory; MMIC Amplifier Produces Gain of 10 dB at 235 GHz; Mapping Nearby Terrain in 3D by Use of a Grid of Laser Spots; Digital Beam Deflectors Based Partly on Liquid Crystals; Narrow-Band WGM Optical Filters With Tunable FSRs; Better Finite-Element Analysis of Composite Shell Structures; Computing Spacecraft-Pointing Vectors for Limb Tracking; Enhanced Master Controller Unit Tester; Rover Graphical Simulator; Increasing Durability of Flame-Sprayed Strain Gauges; Multifunctional, High-Temperature Nanocomposites; Multilayer Impregnated Fibrous Thermal Insulation Tiles; Radiation-Shielding Polymer/Soil Composites; Film/Adhesive Processing Module for Fiber-Placement Processing of Composites; Fabrication of Submillimeter Axisymmetric Optical Components; Electrochemical Disposal of Hydrazines in Water; Statistical Model of Evaporating Multicomponent Fuel Drops; Resistively Heated SiC Nozzle for Generating Molecular Beams; Compact Packaging of Photonic Millimeter-Wave Receiver; Diffractive Combiner of Single-Mode Pump Laser-Diode Beams; Wide-Band, High-Quantum-Efficiency Photodetector; A Robustly Stabilizing Model Predictive Control Algorithm; Modeling Evaporation of Drops of Different Kerosenes; Development of Vapor-Phase Catalytic Ammonia Removal System; Several Developments in Space Tethers; Design Concept for a Nuclear Reactor-Powered Mars Rover; Formation-Initialization Algorithm for N Spacecraft; and DNSs of Multicomponent Gaseous and Drop-Laden Mixing Layers Achieving Transition to Turbulence.

Source record↗

Magnetoacoustic instability and termination of solar wind

Stability of a system composed of two interstreaming plasmas in the presence of a transverse magnetic field is investigated, and the theory is applied to solar-wind interaction with interplanetary gas. The system is susceptible to magnetoacoustic instability provided the ratio of densities of solar-wind protons to interplanetary protons is below a critical value. The turbulence produced by this instability will reduce the solar-wind speeds to subsonic values. This transition for the solar wind occurs at heliocentric distances between 5 and 20 AU.

Buti, B.↗

Steady and nonsteady supersonic turbulent afterbody flow

The effect of the specific heat ratio gamma of the incoming ideal gas on the flow properties, especially on pressure distributions along the base and sting surfaces and on reattachment distance, was investigated. The specific heat ratios considered were gamma = 1.2, 1.4, and 1.667. Also, effects of other major parameters, such as eddy-viscosity coefficient (or effective Reynolds number) and Mach number, on the afterbody pressure and reattachment distance were studied and are discussed. Evolution of shock induced flow and stabilization time were examined and are discussed for a transient problem. The important influence of the flow-field geometry, pressure distributions, and reattachment distance on the aerodynamics radiative heat transfer for an atmosphere entry probe in high speed flight are briefly described.

Yoshikawa, K. K.↗