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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.

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At least 721 records · Page 40
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1976

Numerical simulation of low gravity draining

A boundary value problem was solved numerically for a liquid that is assumed to be inviscid and incompressible, having a motion that is irrotational and axisymmetric, and having a constant (5 degrees) solid-liquid contact angle. The avoidance of excessive mesh distortion, encountered with strictly Lagrangian or Eulerian kinematics, was achieved by introducing an auxiliary kinematic velocity field along the free surface in order to vary the trajectories used in integrating the ordinary differential equations simulating the moving boundary. The computation of the velocity potential was based upon a nonuniform triangular mesh which was automatically revised to varying depths to accommodate the motion of the free surface. These methods permitted calculation of draining induced axisymmetric slosh through the many (or fractional) finite amplitude oscillations that can occur depending upon the balance of draining, gravitational, and surface tension forces. Velocity fields, evolution of the free surface with time, and liquid residual volumes were computed for three and one half decades of Weber number and for two Bond numbers, tank fill levels, and drain radii. Comparisons with experimental data are very satisfactory.

Bizzell, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Streaming effect of wall oscillation to boundary layer separation

This paper presents a preliminary theoretical result on the time averaged streaming effect of local forcing excitation to the boundary layer separation from smooth surface. The problem is formulated as a periodic disturbance to a basic steady breakaway separating flow, for which the data are taken from a numerical triple-deck solution. The ratio of Strouhal number St and Reynolds number Re plays an important role, both being assumed sufficiently high. The analytical and numerical results show that this streaming effect is quite strong at proper values of St/Re exp 1/4, which may delay or even suppress the separation.

Wu, X. H.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Circumnutations of sunflower hypocotyls in satellite orbit

The principal objective of the research reported here was to determine whether a plant's periodic growth oscillations, called circumnutations, would persist in the absence of a significant gravitational or inertial force. The definitive experiment was made possible by access to the condition of protracted near weightlessness in an earth satellite. The experiment, performed during the first flight of Spacelab on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shuttle, Columbia, in November and December, 1983, tested a biophysical model, proposed in 1967, that might account for circumnutation as a gravity-dependent growth response. However, circumnutations were observed in microgravity. They continued for many hours without stimulation by a significant g-force. Therefore, neither a gravitational nor an inertial g-force was an absolute requirement for initiation [correction of initation] or continuation of circumnutation. On average, circumnutation was significantly more vigorous in satellite orbit than on earth-based clinostats. Therefore, at least for sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) circumnutation, clinostatting is not the functional equivalent of weightlessness.

NASA Discipline Plant Biology↗
NASA NTRS1947

Theoretical Analysis and Bench Tests of a Control-Surface Booster Employing a Variable Displacement Hydraulic Pump

The NACA is conducting a general investigation of servo-mechanisms for use in powering aircraft control surfaces. This paper presents a theoretical analysis and the results of bench tests of a control-booster system which employs a variable displacement hydraulic pump. The booster is intended for use in a flight investigation to determine the effects of various booster parameters on the handling qualities of airplanes. Such a flight investigation would aid in formulating specific requirements concerning the design of control boosters in general. Results of the theoretical analysis and the bench tests indicate that the subject booster is representative of types which show promise of satisfactory performance. The bench tests showed that the following desirable features were inherent in this booster system: (1) No lost motion or play in any part of the system; (2) no detectable lag between motion of the contra1 stick and control surface; and (3) Good agreement between control displacements and stick-force variations with no hysteresis in the stick-force characteristics. The final design configuration of this booster system showed no tendency to oscillate, overshoot, or have other undesirable transient characteristics common to boosters.

Mathews, Charles W.↗
NASA NTRS2021

Solving Global Cirrus Cloud Top-of-the-Atmosphere Radiative Forcing from Satellite Lidar

We estimate top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) cirrus cloud radiative forcing from satellite lidar observations. We describe the technical innovations necessary to conduct this experiment. Specifically, we highlight advances in broadband radiative transfer modeling, and the optical and physical parameterizations necessary to run them. We present two years of results, across two decades (2008 vs. 2018), highlighting seasonal and annual differences. The goal of this endeavor is to standardize mechanics for transitioning this work to operational Level 2 ground and satellite lidar products moving forward. However, the unique TOA forcing characteristics of cirrus clouds are also discussed, including specifically daytime characteristics than can oscillate between warming and cooling regionally.

James R Campbell↗
DOE OSTI2022

Mechanisms of Low-Level Jet Formation in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Offshore

Low level jets (LLJs) in the atmosphere exhibit a local windspeed maximum inthe boundary layer and are commonly observed both over land and in coastal environments. Because LLJs present strong positive shear beneath the maximum (or "jet nose") and negative shear above the nose, they pose a challenge to future offshore wind technology through their impacts on turbine performance and wakes. Summertime LLJs in the Great Plains have been attributed to frictional decoupling triggering an inertial oscillation, whilecoastal LLJs in California or the North Sea have additional driving mechanisms such as baroclinic forcing. By comparison, LLJs in the coastal US Mid-Atlantic have received less attention, with conflicting evidence about the mechanism that triggers these high shear events. Motivated by future wind energy development in the region, this work elucidates the atmospheric mechanisms of LLJ formation in the US Mid-Atlantic. Using observational data from two floating LiDAR buoys deployed bythe New York State Energy Research and Development Authority in the NY Bight, we identify four sustained LLJ events whose windspeeds and directions are well predicted by a WRF simulation (Weather Research and Forecasting Model). From analysis of the WRF data, we find that the four case studies provide evidence of concurrent inertial oscillation, reduced vertical mixing, and baroclinicity. In addition, we use simple atmospheric dynamics and a single-column-model to compare the relative contribution of each of these mechanisms to triggering the LLJ. By improving understanding and predictability of coastal mid-Atlantic LLJs, this work reduces uncertaintiesof wind energy deployment in the region, aiding the US's transition toward renewable energy.

atmospheric boundary layers↗
DOE OSTI2021

Influence of the Indian Ocean Dipole on the large-scale circulation in South America

The influence of each phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) on the largescale circulation in South America is investigated using rainfall observations, fully-coupled, large-ensemble, historical simulations (LENS), and forced experiments using the coupled model’s atmospheric component. IOD events often occur when El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the largest source of interannual variability of precipitation in South America, is active. To distinguish from effects of ENSO, only cases during neutral ENSO conditions are analyzed in LENS and observations. During the positive IOD polarity, a perturbation in the localWalker circulation leads to increased convection over equatorial South America, resulting in wet anomalies in the Amazon basin. This signal is the opposite of what is expected during El Niño events. Tropical convection anomalies in the Indian Ocean also force an extratropical Rossby wave train that reaches subtropical South America. During positive IOD, the moisture flux from the Amazon to central and southeastern Brazil weakens, resulting in a drying of the area associated with the South Atlantic Convergence Zone. Meanwhile, the South Atlantic Subtropical High strengthens, contributing to a drying in southeastern Brazil. During negative IOD, the induced wave train from the Indian Ocean leads to increased moisture transport to the La Plata basin, leading to wet anomalies in the region.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Equilibrium carbon isotope fractionation factors of hydrocarbons: Semi-empirical force-field method

Here, we have calculated the reduced partition function ratios for carbon isotopes (β-factor) of 67 hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, cycloalkanes, and aromatics), including their 267 single-substituted isotopomers. The calculations were performed using the harmonic oscillator – rigid rotator model and the Urey / Bigeleisen-Mayer approach. Normal frequencies of molecular vibrations of the isotopologues were calculated from the molecular structures data and valence field force constants stored in the Light-handled Elucidation of Vibrations (LEV) database elaborated by Dr. Gribov and his colleagues in Russia. The LEV database is constructed from experimental spectroscopic and structural data by solving inverse problems of molecular vibrations. The LEV is internally consistent and the most comprehensive database available to date. The β-factor were calculated in the temperature range of 200–800 K with a 10 K step. Our calculations predict that the β-factors increase with an increasing number of C atoms within the same groups of hydrocarbons (e.g., alkanes). Our calculations also show a general descending order of 13 C enrichments among the different groups of hydrocarbons: cycloalkanes, aromatics, alkenes (double bonds) and isoalkanes, alkanes, alkynes (triple bonds). Position-specific, intramolecular isotope effects within hydrocarbons are determined by the β-factors of C in the different functional groups in the order: quaternary (C), tertiary (methine, CH), secondary (methylene, CH 2 ), primary (methyl, CH 3 ) and double bond (C=C), saturated bond (C - C), triple bond (HC≡). Our calculations on bulk and position-specific carbon isotope β-factors of the hydrocarbons, which are generally consistent with very limited ab initio calculations in the literature, are internally consistent and the most comprehensive to date for future applications to position-specific isotope geochemistry of hydrocarbons.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Coriolis forces modify magnetostatic ponderomotive potentials

It is possible to produce a ponderomotive effect in a plasma system without time-varying fields, if the plasma flows over spatial oscillations in the field. This can be achieved by superimposing a spatially oscillatory perturbation on a guide field, then setting up an electric field perpendicular to the guide field to drive flow over the perturbation. However, subtle distinctions in the structure of the resulting electric field can entirely change the behavior of the resulting ponderomotive force. Previous work has shown that, in slab models, these distinctions can be explained in terms of the polarization of the effective wave that appears in the co-moving frame. Here, we consider what happens to this picture in a cylindrical system, where the transformation to the co-moving (rotating) frame is not inertial. It turns out that the non-inertial nature of this frame transformation can lead to counterintuitive behavior, partly due to the appearance of parallel (magnetic-field-aligned) electric fields in the rotating frame even in cases where none existed in the laboratory frame. Apart from the academic interest of this study, the practical impact lies in being better able to anticipate the antenna configuration on the plasma periphery of a cylindrical plasma that will lead to optimal ponderomotive barrier formation in the interior plasma.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2000

A statistical model of the human core-temperature circadian rhythm

We formulate a statistical model of the human core-temperature circadian rhythm in which the circadian signal is modeled as a van der Pol oscillator, the thermoregulatory response is represented as a first-order autoregressive process, and the evoked effect of activity is modeled with a function specific for each circadian protocol. The new model directly links differential equation-based simulation models and harmonic regression analysis methods and permits statistical analysis of both static and dynamical properties of the circadian pacemaker from experimental data. We estimate the model parameters by using numerically efficient maximum likelihood algorithms and analyze human core-temperature data from forced desynchrony, free-run, and constant-routine protocols. By representing explicitly the dynamical effects of ambient light input to the human circadian pacemaker, the new model can estimate with high precision the correct intrinsic period of this oscillator ( approximately 24 h) from both free-run and forced desynchrony studies. Although the van der Pol model approximates well the dynamical features of the circadian pacemaker, the optimal dynamical model of the human biological clock may have a harmonic structure different from that of the van der Pol oscillator.

NASA Discipline Regulatory Physiology↗
DOE OSTI2024

On Forced RF Generation of CW Magnetrons for SRF Accelerators

CW magnetrons, initially developed for industrial RF heaters, were suggested to power RF cavities of superconducting accelerators due to their higher efficiency and lower cost than traditionally used klystrons, IOTs or solid-state amplifiers. RF amplifiers driven by a master oscillator serve as coherent RF sources. CW magnetrons are regenerative RF generators with a huge regenerative gain. This causes regenerative instability with a large noise when a magnetron operates with the anode voltage above the threshold of self-excitation. Traditionally for stabilization of magnetrons is used injection locking by a quite small signal. Then the magnetron except the injection locked oscillations may generate noise. This may preclude use of standard CW magnetrons in some SRF accelerators. Recently we developed briefly described below a mode for forced RF generation of CW magnetrons when the magnetron startup is provided by the injected forcing signal and the regenerative noise is suppressed. The mode is most suitable for powering high Q-factor SRF cavities.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
NASA NTRS1991

South Pacific convergence zone and global-scale circulations

The major goals of the research can be classified under three categories: (1) heat and moisture budget studies in the tropics; (2) the role of tropical forcing on subtropical wind maxima in the Southern Hemisphere; and (3) general circulation modeling of low latitude circulations. Research related to the first goal included budget estimates of precipitation, as well as a comparison to rainfall rates observed at numerous island stations. It also included a comparison between observed and satellite estimates of precipitable water. Results and methods used to achieve this goal are given. Included in the second research goal were diagnostic studies of the intraseasonal oscillation which is known to be an important component of organized tropical convection. Also, the role of extratropical forcing on subtropical wind maxima was examined through the use of Eliassen-Palm (EP) fluxes. Again, results and procedural details are discussed in section 3. To accomplish the third research goal, the GLA general circulation model (GCM) was ported to Purdue University and successfully used in a number of control and experimental runs to investigate the significance of tropical heating on subtropical and extratropical circulation features. As with the first two research goals, results and methodology are detailed. Documentation of publications, theses, conference preprint papers, and other scientific information relevant to the research results and significant accomplishments achieved under the contract are given. Finally, the conclusions of the sponsored research are given.

Vincent, Dayton G.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Sensitivity of the Tropical Ocean-Atmosphere to Seasonal and Long-Term Climate Forcing

Since the pioneer works of Bjerknes (1966,1969) many studies have been conducted to understand the El Nino and Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. These studies have led to a basic understanding of the dynamics of El Nino. Central to the couple dynamics of ENSO is the delayed action oscillator theory (Suarez and Schopf 1988), which successfully describes the cyclic feature of El Nino. While the oscillatory feature of El Nino is reasonably well understood, the irregularity of El Nino, the effect of monsoon on ENSO, and the response of coupled system to the global warming are still under debate. In the present study, we attempt to provide some theoretical understanding of possible impacts of seasonal cycle, monsoon, and climate changes on ENSO using intermediate coupled model.

Kim, K.-M.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Exact element modal analysis of beam/oscillator systems

Exact modal analysis of a beam/many-oscillator system is presented. Each oscillator consists of a discrete mass having rotational inertia, and two locally-dependent springs: one being rotational and the other, translational. A constant longitudinal force is applied to the mass, and its effect is coupled with the dynamic modes. The beam's distributed mass and other material properties, and its geometric properties, do not vary within spans bounded by the oscillators, but may vary from span to span. The classical separation-of-variables technique is used to obtain a dosedform description of the dynamic matrix, and the modal frequencies are determined as the zeros of this determinant.

Broome, Taft H., Jr.↗
DOE OSTI2024

On forced RF generation of CW magnetrons for SRF accelerators

CW magnetrons, initially developed for industrial RF heaters, were suggested to power RF cavities of superconducting accelerators due to their higher efficiency and lower cost of RF power per Watt than used traditionally klystrons, IOTs or solid-state amplifiers. RF amplifiers driven by a master oscillator serve as coherent RF sources. CW magnetrons are regenerative RF generators with a huge regenerative gain to start up reliably with self-excitation even if the tube is powered by a DC power supply. This causes regenerative instability with a large noise when a magnetron operates with the anode voltage above the threshold of self-excitation. Traditionally for stabilization of magnetrons is used injection locking by a signal PLock ≤ -20 dB or less then of the magnetron power PMag. Then the magnetron generates the injection locked oscillations and generates noise. This may preclude use of standard CW magnetrons in some SRF accelerators. We developed briefly described below a mode for forced coherent RF generation of CW magnetrons when the magnetron startup is provided by the injected forcing signal and the regenerative noise is suppressed. The mode is most suitable for powering high Q-factor SRF cavities.

Kazakevich, G.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Shock physics in warm dense matter: A quantum hydrodynamics perspective

Abstract Warm dense matter (WDM), an exotic, highly compressed state of matter between solid and plasma phases, is of high current interest, in particular for astrophysics and inertial confinement fusion. For the latter, in particular the propagation of compression shocks is crucial. The main unknown in the shock propagation in WDM is the behaviour of the electrons since they are governed by correlations, quantum and spin effects that need to be accounted for simultaneously. Here we describe the shock dynamics of the warm dense electron gas using a quantum hydrodynamic model. From the numerical hydrodynamic simulations, we observe that the quantum Bohm pressure induces shear force that weakens the formation and strength of the shock. In addition, the Bohm pressure induces an electron density response that takes the form of oscillations. This is confirmed by the theoretical analysis of the early stage of the shock formation. Our theoretical and numerical analyses allow us to identify characteristic dimensionless shock propagation parameters at which the effect of the Bohm force is important.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Northern Hemisphere Snow Drought in Earth System Model Simulations and ERA5‐Land Data in 1980–2014

Abstract Low snow levels over the past few decades and predictions of a low‐to‐no snow future have spurred research into snow droughts, which pose a threat to water security and management. Systematic data‐model comparisons of snow drought have been lacking, hindering our understanding of the drivers of snow drought in the past. To address this gap, we analyzed snow drought events using standardized snow water equivalent index derived from monthly results of four numerical experiments using the E3SM Land Model (ELM) and ERA5‐Land data during the period of 1980–2014. Additionally, we compared snow drought duration calculated from models with those from the ERA5‐Land data during selected El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) years. The numerical experiments were conducted with ELM driven by two prescribed atmospheric forcings, and with the coupled land‐atmosphere configuration of E3SM with and without plant hydraulics scheme feedback. Analysis reveals that 20%–30% of snow droughts occur due to factors other than above‐normal temperature and low snowfall, such as low soil moisture, warm soil temperature, and low relative humidity, etc., especially in high latitudes (50° North). Furthermore, our study highlights the exacerbating effect of ENSO events on snow drought conditions in various regions, despite some discrepancies between model and ERA5‐Land results. We also identified limitations of the coupled land‐atmosphere models in our current configuration in capturing the spatial patterns of snow droughts. This study underscores the challenge of predicting and mitigating snow drought and the need for a comprehensive understanding of the factors contributing to snow drought.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗