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At least 73 records · Page 4

Implementation of an Unsteady PSP System in the NASA TDT

An unsteady pressure-sensitive paint (uPSP) system has been developed to provide time-resolved pressure measurements in the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT). Obtaining these measurements necessitated the development of environmental enclosures to protect the high-speed camera and ultraviolet lights required for uPSP from the harsh environment present during tunnel operation. Since the facility main drive was non-functioning during the testing window, performance of the uPSP system was demonstrated using an impinging jet with a passive oscillator attachment to provide unsteady flow with a known frequency independent of amplitude. Measurements were obtained for tunnel pressures ranging from 565 to 2116 psf, and model angles of attack between -4 degrees and 4 degrees. Results indicate that the system is capable of measuring surface pressure differentials on the order of 0.01 psi at full scale with a camera frame rate of at least 10 kHz. Spectral analysis shows that the fundamental frequency of the oscillating jet is captured by the uPSP system, as are the second and third harmonics. Dynamic mode decomposition highlights the dominant coherent spatial structures of the surface pressure, along with the associated frequency and growth rate of each mode, allowing for a de-noised reconstruction of the uPSP measurements. The experimental campaign outlined within this report also confirmed compatibility of the uPSP system with the TDT facility data acquisition system, and verified the successful integration with existing processing capabilities within the NASA advanced supercomputing environment. Note: this presentation is an MP4 video with sound, color with a run time of 10 minutes 37 seconds.

unsteady pressure-sensitive paint↗

The double oval UV auroral distribution. 2: The most poleward arc system and the dynamics of the magnetotail

The poleward arc system of a double oval distribution is shown to activate at the end of the optical expansion phase signifying the beginning of substorm recovery. The velocity dispersed ion signature (VDIS) can exist coincident with this discrete aurora developing on the most poleward oval. Although the VDIS is usually associated with ion beams in the plasma sheet boundary layer, it is demonstrated that the ionospheric signature is not beamlike but distributed in pitch angle. At the time when the double oval begins to form, the magnetic field in the magnetotail lobe becomes less flared and can show Pc 5 period oscillations. Similar pulsations also exist in the ionosphere associated with the most poleward oval and with stationary surge formation. Theoretical considerations link this phenomenon with a wave source tailward of x(sub GSE) = -30R(sub E) and fast mode evanescent waves propagating earthward in the tail lobe region. In this case the magnetotail appears to act like a waveguide and the plasma sheet boundary layer as a resonance region. This implies that the coupling of this fast mode waves is with the plasma sheet boundary layer and not with dipolar like field lines. The implications of this for the reconnection model of substorms are discussed.

Elphinstone, R. D.↗

Experimental determination of three dimensional liquid rocket nozzle admittances.

The three dimensional nozzle admittance, an important parameter in combustion instability studies, was experimentally measured for several nozzle configurations. The admittance values were obtained using a modification of the classical impedance tube technique. The modified impedance tube method measures the admittance of a duct termination in the presence of one dimensional mean flow and three dimensional oscillations. Values of the nozzle admittance were obtained from pressure amplitude measurements taken at discrete points along the length of the tube. To determine the effects of nozzle geometry, nozzles were tested with half-angles of 15, 30, and 45 degrees and entrance Mach numbers of 0.08, 0.16, and 0.20. The admittance results are presented as functions of nondimensional frequency for mixed first tangential-longitudinal modes. These results are compared with available theoretical predictions and favorable agreement between theory and experiment is shown.

Zinn, B. T.↗

Experimental determination of three-dimensional liquid rocket nozzle admittances.

The three-dimensional nozzle admittance, an important parameter in combustion instability studies, was experimentally measured for several nozzle configurations. The admittance values were obtained using a modification of the classical impedance tube technique. The modified impedance tube method measures the admittance of a duct termination in the presence of one-dimensional mean flow and three-dimensional oscillations. Values of the nozzle admittance were obtained from pressure amplitude measurements taken at discrete points along the length of the tube. To determine the effects of nozzle geometry, nozzles were tested with half-angles of 15, 30, and 45 deg and entrance Mach numbers of 0.08, 0.16, and 0.20. The admittance results are presented as functions of nondimensional frequency for mixed first tangential-longitudinal modes. These results are compared with available theoretical predictions, and good agreement between theory and experiment is shown.

Zinn, B. T.↗

Thrust law effects on the longitudinal stability of hypersonic cruise

In the present analytical treatment of the cruising flight stability of an aerospacecraft in nearly circular orbit, on the basis of a thrust law which arbitrarily depends on altitude, speed, and angle of attack, attention is given to thrust law effects on the translational (height and phugoid) and rotational (angle of attack) modes. The partial derivatives of the propulsive forces in conjunction with the aerodynamic forces, with respect to speed and altitude, are noted to exert a major influence on the stability of translational dynamics; the partial derivative of the component of propulsive and aerodynamic forces which is perpendicular to vehicle velocity (with respect to the angle of attack) is a primary determinant of the damping of angle-of-attack oscillations, while the partial derivative of the sum about the center of mass of aerodynamic and propulsive pitching moments, with respect to the angle of attack, determines the corresponding period.

Markopoulos, Nikos↗

Nonlinear Analysis of a Two-Parachute System Undergoing Pendulum Motion

Motion resembling that of a pendulum undergoing large-amplitude limit cycle oscillation was observed during a series of flight tests of an unoccupied Orion Capsule Parachute Assembly System (CPAS) comprised of two parachutes and a capsule payload. Large excursions away from vertical by the capsule could cause it to strike the ground or ocean at a large angle with respect to vertical, or at a large horizontal speed. These conditions are undesirable because they would endanger the occupants of the capsule in an actual mission. A simplified planar dynamics model in conjunction with a nonlinear normal force coefficient vs. angle of attack model serves as the basis of an analytical investigation of the fundamental dynamics of this pendulum motion. Output error methodology from system identification theory was used to identify the parameters of the nonlinear aerodynamics model. The identified model yielded excellent comparison with portions of flight test data where the pendulum motion occurred. Due to the inherent nonlinear nature of the pendulum motion limit cycle, traditional nonlinear analysis techniques were applied to gain further insight into the system. Lyapunov’s direct method provided mathematical proof in the absolute stability of the pendulum mode. Describing Function method was used to predict the amplitude and frequency of the limit cycle oscillation. Finally, phase plane analysis allowed easy visualization on the size and shape of the limit cycle with respect to variations in key aerodynamic parameters.

Pei, Jing↗

Blade-Pitch Control for Quieting Tilt-Rotor Aircraft

A method of reducing the noise generated by a tilt-rotor aircraft during descent involves active control of the blade pitch of the rotors. This method is related to prior such noise-reduction methods, of a type denoted generally as higher-harmonic control (HHC), in which the blade pitch is made to oscillate at a harmonic of the frequency of rotation of the rotor. A tilt-rotor aircraft is so named because mounted at its wing tips are motors that can be pivoted to enable the aircraft to take off and land like a helicopter or to fly like a propeller airplane. When the aircraft is operating in its helicopter mode, the rotors generate more thrust per unit rotor-disk area than helicopter rotors do, thus producing more blade-vortex interaction (BVI) noise. BVI is a major source of noise produced by helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft during descent: When a rotor descends into its own wake, the interaction of each blade with the blade-tip vortices generated previously gives rise to large air-pressure fluctuations. These pressure fluctuations radiate as distinct, impulsive noise. In general, the pitch angle of the rotor blades of a tilt-rotor aircraft is controlled by use of a swash plate connected to the rotor blades by pitch links. In both prior HHC methods and the present method, HHC control signals are fed as input to swash-plate control actuators, causing the rotor-blade pitch to oscillate. The amplitude, frequency, and phase of the control signal can be chosen to minimize BVI noise.

Betzina, Mark D.↗

Wind-tunnel investigation of surface-pressure fluctuations associated with aircraft buffet

Fluctuating pressures and forces that cause aircraft buffeting have been measured on a semispan rigid-wing model of a typical variable-sweep fighter-type aircraft at transonic speeds. The rms spectral and spatial correlation characteristics of wing fluctuating pressures, fluctuating pressure summations, and structural responses are presented and discussed for a Mach number of 0.85, wing sweep angles of 26 and 72 deg, and angles of attack up to 12 deg. The fluctuating pressure characteristics beneath wing shock waves and leading-edge vortices and in regions of attached and separated flows are presented. Results indicate that: (1) the mean and fluctuating static pressure characteristics are related; (2) a circulation oscillation exists for attached flow conditions below buffet onset; and (3) a significant coupling exists between the wing shock-wave oscillation and the wing first torsional mode when shock-induced separation is present.

Riddle, D. W.↗

Nonlinear attitude control of elastic spacecraft-antenna system

An approach to large angle rotational maneuvers of a spacecraft-beam-tip body (an antenna or a reflector) configuration based on nonlinear invertibility and linear feedback stabilization is presented. A control law u sub d is derived to obtain independent decoupled control of attitude angles, lateral elastic deflections, slopes due to bending and angular deflection due to torsion at the tip of the beam using torquers and force actuators. For the stabilization of the elastic oscillations, a linear feedback control law, u sub s, is obtained based on a linearized model about the terminal state augmented with a servo-compensator. Simulation results obtained for single axis control, for simplicity, show that large slewing and elastic mode stabilization can be accomplished in spite of uncertainty in the system using the total control u = u sub d + u sub s.

Singh, S. N.↗

Rover imaging system for the Mars rover/sample return mission

In the past year, the conceptual design of a panoramic imager for the Mars Environmental Survey (MESUR) Pathfinder was finished. A prototype camera was built and its performace in the laboratory was tested. The performance of this camera was excellent. Based on this work, we have recently proposed a small, lightweight, rugged, and highly capable Mars Surface Imager (MSI) instrument for the MESUR Pathfinder mission. A key aspect of our approach to optimization of the MSI design is that we treat image gathering, coding, and restoration as a whole, rather than as separate and independent tasks. Our approach leads to higher image quality, especially in the representation of fine detail with good contrast and clarity, without increasing either the complexity of the camera or the amount of data transmission. We have made significant progress over the past year in both the overall MSI system design and in the detailed design of the MSI optics. We have taken a simple panoramic camera and have upgraded it substantially to become a prototype of the MSI flight instrument. The most recent version of the camera utilizes miniature wide-angle optics that image directly onto a 3-color, 2096-element CCD line array. There are several data-taking modes, providing resolution as high as 0.3 mrad/pixel. Analysis tasks that were performed or that are underway with the test data from the prototype camera include the following: construction of 3-D models of imaged scenes from stereo data, first for controlled scenes and later for field scenes; and checks on geometric fidelity, including alignment errors, mast vibration, and oscillation in the drive system. We have outlined a number of tasks planned for Fiscal Year '93 in order to prepare us for submission of a flight instrument proposal for MESUR Pathfinder.

Source record↗

Trends and Variations of Ocean Surface Latent Heat Flux: Results from GSSTF2c Data Set

Trends and variations of Goddard Satellite-based Surface Turbulent Fluxes (GSSTF) version 2c (GSSTF2c) latent heat flux (LHF) are examined. This version of LHF takes account of the correction in Earth incidence angle. The trend of global mean LHF for GSSTF2c is much reduced relative to GSSTF version 2b Set 1 and Set 2 for the same period 1988-2008. Temporal increase of GSSTF2c LHF in the two decades is 11.0%, in which 3.1%, 5.8%, and 2.1% are attributed to the increase in wind, the increase in sea surface saturated air humidity, and the decrease in near-surface air humidity, respectively. The first empirical orthogonal function of LHF is a conventional El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) mode. However, the trends in LHF are independent of conventional ENSO phenomena. After removing ENSO signal, the pattern of LHF trends is primarily determined by the pattern of air-sea humidity difference trends.

global mean↗

Mathematical and computational studies of the stability of axisymmetric annular capillary free surfaces

Of principal interest is the stability of a perfectly wetting liquid in an inverted, vertical, right circular-cylindrical container having a concave spheroidal bottom. The mathematical conditions that the contained liquid be in stable static equilibrium are derived, including those for the limiting case of zero contact angle. Based on these results, a computational investigation is carried out for a particular container that is used for the storage of liquid fuels in NASA Centaur space vehicles, for which the axial ratio of the container bottom is 0.724. It is found that for perfectly wetting liquids the qualitative nature of the onset of instability changes at a critical liquid volume, which for the Centaur fuel tank corresponds to a mean fill level of approximately 0.503 times the tank's radius. Small-amplitude periodic sloshing modes for this tank were calculated; oscillation frequencies or growth rates are given for several Bond numbers and liquid volumes, for normal modes having up to six angular nodes.

Albright, N.↗

The coupled aeroelastic response of turbomachinery blading to aerodynamic excitations

An energy balance technique is developed to predict the coupled bending-torsion mode aerodynamically forced response of an airfoil. In this technique, the energy input to the airfoil system per cycle of oscillation is generated by gust forces and moments and, under certain conditions, the self-induced aerodynamic forces and moments. The energy dissipation per cycle is associated with the structural damping, the static moment term for coupled motions, and under certain conditions, the self-induced aerodynamic forces and moments. The effects of the various aerodynamic parameters on the coupled forced response are then considered.In particular, the effects of the inlet Mach number, the interblade phase angle, the level of structural damping, and the cascade geometry on the coupled bending-torsion aerodynamically forced response of a flat plate airfoil cascade are demonstrated.

Hoyniak, D.↗

Theory and observations of electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves in Saturn's inner magnetosphere

High-resolution Voyager 1 magnetic field observations of Saturn's inner magnetosphere are examined for the presence of ULF waves. Quasi-circular left-hand polarized transverse oscillations are found in the near-equatorial region of 5-7 Rs with a wave period about 10 s and peak amplitude of about 2 nT. The wave is identified as the electromagnetic oxygen cyclotron mode occurring at a frequency just below the O(+) ion cyclotron frequency. A theoretical model of wave excitation based on gyroresonant coupling through a temperature anisotropy of O(+) pickup ions is developed which accounts for the principal features of the wave spectrum. It is hypothesized that wave-particle interactions provide a level of scattering commensurate with the weak pitch angle diffusion regime but nonetheless one that regulates and maintains a constant thermal anisotropy of ions along the magnetic field. Arguments are also presented that O(+) was the dominant thermal ion of the Dione-Tethys plasma torus at the time of the Pioneer 11 encounter the year previous to the Voyager 1 measurements.

Barbosa, D. D.↗

Dynamic Aeroelastic Flight Dynamic Modeling of Mach 0.745 Transonic Truss-Braced Wing

This paper presents a modeling approach for dynamic aeroelastic flight dynamic analysis of the Mach0.745 Transonic Truss-Braced Wing. The modeling approach is based on a transonic correction method to correct the Theodorsen’s theory for transonic flow. CFD unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations (RANS) simulations are conducted using FUN3D solver for a series of wing sections from the Mach 0.745Transonic Truss-Braced Wing in pitch and plunge oscillations. Unsteady lift and pitching moment coefficients are obtained and used to develop the correction terms in the Theodorsen’s theory to account for transonic aerodynamics. The unsteady lift and pitching moment derivatives with respect to the unsteady angle of attack are obtained as functions of the reduced frequency. These derivatives are used to compute the unsteady lift and pitching moment contributions by the angle of attack, pitch rate, and roll rate. They are then approximated using a frequency-domain regression to obtain the dynamic stability derivatives for the Mach 0.745 Transonic Truss-Braced Wing. The structural dynamic mode shapes of the Mach 0.745 TTBW are extracted from a NAS-TRAN finite-element model. These mode shapes are used to compute the generalized unsteady aerodynamic forces. The aerodynamic mass, damping, and stiffness and the aerodynamic lag states are constructed to couple the dynamic aeroelastic contribution to the flight dynamic model of the Mach 0.745 Transonic Truss-Braced Wing. The coupled dynamic aeroelastic flight dynamic equations of motion are formulated. The eigenvalues of the coupled system are computed. All the flight dynamic modes and structural dynamic modes are stable at Match 0.745. The effect of transonic aerodynamics generally causes all the dynamic modes to have lower damping values

Flight Dynamics↗

Steepened magnetosonic waves in the high beta plasma surrounding Comet Giacobini-Zinner

Studies of intense hydromagnetic waves at Giacobini-Zinner are extended to investigate the mode and direction of wave propagation. Simultaneous high-resolution measurements of electron density fluctuations demonstrate that long period waves propagate in the magnetosonic mode. Principal axis analyses of the long period waves and accompanying partial rotations show that the sum of the wave phase rotations is 360 deg, indicating that both are parts of the same wave oscillation. The time sequence of the steepened waveforms observed by ICE shows that the waves must propagate towards the Sun with Cph less than Vsw. Observations are consistent with wave generation by resonant ion ring or ion beam instability which predicts right-hand polarized waves propagating in the ion beam (solar) direction. The large amplitudes and small scale sizes of the cometary waves suggest that rapid pitch-angle scattering and energy transfer with energetic ions should occur. Since the waves are highly compressive, first-order Fermi acceleration is forecast.

Tsurutani, B. T.↗

Oscillating two-stream and parametric decay instabilities in a weakly magnetized plasma

The paper considers the effects of a weak ambient magnetic field on the oscillating two-stream and parametric decay instabilities with emphasis on the dependence of the angular variation of the instability thresholds and growth rates on the magnetic field. A dispersion relation is derived in the limit in which the electron plasma frequency is much greater than the cyclotron frequency, and is solved for dipole and monochromatic pump spectra. The analysis shows that the presence of a magnetic field can substantially enhance thresholds and reduce growth rates for waves propagating at an oblique angle with respect to the ambient magnetic field, so that the magnetic field has a stabilizing influence on the off-parallel propagating modes.

Freund, H. P.↗

Modulation of energetic particle fluxes by a mixed mode of transverse and compressional waves

Modulation characteristics of particle fluxes in the presence of a mixed mode of compressional and transverse magnetic waves at hydromagnetic frequencies are investigated through kinetic perturbation of the distribution function. The magnetospheric medium where the particles are modulated contains both the magnetic and pressure gradients. The modulation features are found to be strongly dependent on the energy and pitch angle of the particles. Drifting particles can resonate with waves whose phase velocities are close to their drift velocities. When this occurs, the modulation amplitudes become significantly large and large phase shifts will occur. It is pointed out that resonance is important for particles with mid pitch angles (40-70 deg). The phase shift between the particle modulations and the magnetic field oscillations are strongly controlled by the combined effects of transverse and compressional wave components and/or the occurrence of drift resonance. Numerical calculations are performed using the dispersion relation of drift mirror Alfven waves as an example of waves with both compressional and transverse components.

Lin, C. S.↗