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At least 757 records · Page 42

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NASA NTRS1974

Analysis of vortex wake encounter upsets

The problem of an airplane being upset by encountering the vortex wake of a large transport on takeoff or landing is currently receiving considerable attention. This report describes the technique and results of a study to assess the effectiveness of automatic control systems in alleviating vortex wake upsets. A six-degree-of-freedom nonlinear digital simulation was used for this purpose. The analysis included establishing the disturbance input due to penetrating a vortex wake from an arbitrary position and angle. Simulations were computed for both a general aviation airplane and a commercial jet transport. Dynamic responses were obtained for the penetrating aircraft with no augmentation, and with various command augmentation systems, as well as with human pilot control. The results of this preliminary study indicate that attitude command augmentation systems can provide significant alleviation of vortex wake upsets; and can do it better than a human pilot.

Johnson, W. A.↗

NASA NTRS1993

The interaction of radiative and dynamical processes during a simulated sudden stratospheric warming

An analysis of a spontaneous sudden stratospheric warming that occurred during a 2-year integration of the Langley Research Center (LaRC) Atmospheric Simulation Model is presented. The simulated warming resembles observed 'wave 1' warmings in the Northern Hemisphere stratosphere and provides an opportunity to investigate the radiative and dynamical processes occurring during the warming event. Isentropic analysis of potential vorticity sources and sinks indicates that dynamically induced departures from radiative equilibrium play an important role in the warming event. Enhanced radiative cooling associated with a series of upper stratospheric warm pools leads to radiative dampening within the polar vortex. Within the 'surf zone' large-scale radiative cooling leads to diabatic advection of high potential vorticity air from aloft. Lagrangian area diagnostics of the simulated warming agree well with Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) analyses. Dynamical mixing is shown to account for the majority of the decrease in the size of the polar vortex during the simulated warming. An investigation of the nonlinear deformation of material lines that are initially coincident with diagnosed potential vorticity isopleths is conducted to clarify the relationship between the Lagrangian area diagnostics and potential vorticity advection during wave breaking events.

Pierce, R. B.↗

NASA NTRS2015

An All-Fiber, Modular, Compact Wind Lidar for Wind Sensing and Wake Vortex Applications

This paper discusses an innovative, compact and eyesafe coherent lidar system developed for wind and wake vortex sensing applications. With an innovative all-fiber and modular transceiver architecture, the wind lidar system has reduced size, weight and power requirements, and provides enhanced performance along with operational elegance. This all-fiber architecture is developed around fiber seed laser coupled to uniquely configured fiber amplifier modules. The innovative features of this lidar system, besides its all fiber architecture, include pulsewidth agility and user programmable 3D hemispherical scanner unit. Operating at a wavelength of 1.5457 microns and with a PRF of up to 20 KHz, the lidar transmitter system is designed as a Class 1 system with dimensions of 30"(W) x 46"(L) x 60"(H). With an operational range exceeding 10 km, the wind lidar is configured to measure wind velocities of greater than 120 m/s with an accuracy of +/- 0.2 m/s and allow range resolution of less than 15 m. The dynamical configuration capability of transmitted pulsewidths from 50 ns to 400 ns allows high resolution wake vortex measurements. The scanner uses innovative liquid metal slip ring and is built using 3D printer technology with light weight nylon. As such, it provides continuous 360 degree azimuth and 180 degree elevation scan angles with an incremental motion of 0.001 degree. The lidar system is air cooled and requires 110 V for its operation. This compact and modular lidar system is anticipated to provide mobility, reliability, and ease of field deployment for wind and wake vortex measurements. Currently, this wind lidar is undergoing validation tests under various atmospheric conditions. Preliminary results of these field measurements of wind characteristics that were recently carried out in Colorado are discussed.

Prasad, Narasimha S.↗

DOE OSTI2023

The Dynamics of Megafire Smoke Plumes in Climate Models: Why a Converged Solution Matters for Physical Interpretations

As the climate system warms, megafires have become more frequent with devastating effects. A byproduct of these events is the creation of smoke plumes that can rise into the stratosphere and spread across the globe where they reside for many months. To gain a deeper understanding of the plume dynamics, global climate simulations of a megafire were performed at a wide range of grid spacings from 2.0° down to 7 km, including a 7 km nonhydrostatic experiment. The analysis focuses on how the resolved dynamics affects the specification of the plume characteristics such as injection height and black carbon (BC) mass. Prior studies initialize the smoke plume at one or a few grid points and this is shown here to produce severely dissipative dynamics. In order to validate such simulations with observations, enhancements of the plume characteristics to offset the dissipation is necessary. Using a numerically converged simulation, sensitivity tests show that to approximate the observed stratospheric lifetime, a reduction in BC fraction by 50% is necessary for external mixtures. The vorticity dynamics of the plume is also analyzed with a Lagrangian budget to understand the mechanisms responsible for the evolution of a collocated anticyclonic vortex. The results can be distilled down into a simple conceptual model. As the plume rises, the air diverges at the top of the updraft where the largest concentrations of smoke are found. This divergence induces a dilution of the background cyclonic absolute vorticity producing an anticyclonic vortex. Vortex decay occurs from opposite arguments.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS2002

Dynamical and chemical contributions to variability in microwave limb sounder Arctic stratoshperic column ozone

Analyses of column ozone above 100 hPa (Col100) derived from Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) data in February/March 1992-1998 show that about half of the interannual variability in Col100 in the Arctic polar vortex in late winter results from interannual variability in chemical loss. A majority of the remainder results from interannual variability in day-to-day dynamical motions including adiabatic warming/cooling and poleward advection of underlying upper tropospheric subtropical air on short timescales, rather than from variations in descent rates and large-scale transport over the winters. The morphology of Col100 from MLS remains very similar to that in the dynamical models even in the years with most chemical ozone loss. The amount and character of day-to-day variability in dynamical models closely follows that in MLS Col100. Although the morphology of and day-to-day variability in Arctic column ozone are controlled by dynamical processes, chemical ozone loss was a major factor in producing both the low values of and the large interannual variability in Arctic column ozone observed during the 1990s.

Arctic ozone loss↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Inlet Vortex Generator Design for the X-59 Low Boom Flight Demonstrator

An array of vortex generators was designed for the X-59 Low Boom Flight Demonstrator aircraft inlet. Prior to the a High Speed Inlet DistortionTest, concern regarding potentially high measurements of steady state or dynamic distortion prompted an effort to examine the use of passive flow control to reduce distortion levels. Design of experiments methodology was used to develop two matrices of vortex generators placed inside the inlet serpentine duct and upstream of the inlet on the compression surface, varying on several geometric parameters. Reynolds- Averaged Navier-Stokes simulations were performed using the FUN3D flow solver at Mach 1.45 to analyze the impact of each configuration on total pressure recovery, circumferential distortion, and radial distortion. Results fromsimulations of the baseline aircraft are compared with data acquired in the NASA Glenn Research Center’s 8- by 6-foot SupersonicWind Tunnel. A vortex generator configuration with vanes placed upstream of the inlet terminal shock was shown to significantly increase total pressure recovery and decrease circumferential distortion with no penalty to radial distortion levels. Inlet mass flow sweeps at Mach 1.45, 0.6, and 0.3 indicated no detrimental effects from the vanes at off-design conditions.

Vortex generators↗

NASA NTRS1985

Near field pressure fluctuations in a circular jet

The vortical structures in shear layers govern many dynamic aspects of the jet, including entrainment of mass, transfer of momentum and noise generation. These structures develop from instability waves and undergo a merging process. Vortex merging reduces the time scale and increases the length scale of the shear layer. At the same time pressure fluctuations are induced by the unsteady motion. These pressure perturbations can exert high level dynamic loading on nearby structures, and radiate to the far field as noise. In this study, the generation mechanism of the pressure fluctuations and the radiation process are examined.

Ho, C. M.↗

NASA NTRS2017

Solar Activity Across the Scales: from Small-Scale Quiet-Sun Dynamics to Magnetic Activity Cycles

Observations as well as numerical and theoretical models show that solar dynamics is characterized by complicated interactions and energy exchanges among different temporal and spatial scales. It reveals magnetic self-‐organization processes from the smallest scale magnetized vortex tubes to the global activity variation known as the solar cycle. To understand these multiscale processes and their relationships, we use a two-fold approach: 1) рealistic 3D radiative MHD simulations of local dynamics together with high-‐resolution observations by IRIS, Hinode, and SDO; and 2) modeling of solar activity cycles by using simplified MHD dynamo models and mathematical data assimilation techniques. We present recent results of this approach, including the interpretation of observational results from NASA heliophysics missions and predictive capabilities. In particular, we discuss the links between small-‐scale dynamo processes in the convection zone and atmospheric dynamics, as well as an early prediction of Solar Cycle 25.

Magneti↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Inlet Vortex Generator Design for the X-59 Low Boom Flight Demonstrator

An array of vortex generators was designed for the X-59 Low Boom Flight Demonstrator aircraft inlet. Prior to the a High Speed Inlet Distortion Test, concern regarding potentially high measurements of steady state or dynamic distortion prompted an effort to examine the use of passive flow control to reduce distortion levels. Design of experiments methodology was used to develop two matrices of vortex generators placed inside the inlet serpentine duct and upstream of the inlet on the compression surface, varying on several geometric parameters. Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes simulations were performed using the FUN3D flow solver at Mach 1.45 to analyze the impact of each configuration on total pressure recovery, circumferential distortion, and radial distortion. Results from simulations of the baseline aircraft are compared with data acquired in the NASA Glenn Research Center’s 8- by 6-foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel. A vortex generator configuration with vanes placed upstream of the inlet terminal shock was shown to significantly increase total pressure recovery and decrease circumferential distortion with no penalty to radial distortion levels. Inlet mass flow sweeps at Mach 1.45, 0.6, and 0.3 indicated no detrimental effects from the vanes at off-design conditions.

Vortex generators↗

DOE OSTI2022

Spontaneous self-propulsion and nonequilibrium shape fluctuations of a droplet enclosing active particles

Active particles, such as swimming bacteria or self-propelled colloids, spontaneously assemble into large-scale dynamic structures. Geometric boundaries often enforce different spatio-temporal patterns compared to unconfined environment and thus provide a platform to control the behavior of active matter. Here, we report collective dynamics of active particles enclosed by soft, deformable boundary, that is responsive to the particles’ activity. We reveal that a quasi two-dimensional fluid droplet enclosing motile colloids powered by the Quincke effect (Quincke rollers) exhibits strong shape fluctuations with a power spectrum consistent with active fluctuations driven by particle-interface collisions. A broken detailed balance confirms the nonequilibrium nature of the shape dynamics. We further find that rollers self-organize into a single drop-spanning vortex, which can undergo a spontaneous symmetry breaking and vortex splitting. The droplet acquires motility while the vortex doublet exists. Our findings provide insights into the complex collective behavior of active colloidal suspensions in soft confinement.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2017

Avoided criticality and slow relaxation in frustrated two-dimensional models

Here, frustration and the associated phenomenon of “avoided criticality” have been proposed as an explanation for the dramatic relaxation slowdown in glass-forming liquids. To test this, we have undertaken a Monte Carlo study of possibly the simplest such problem, the two-dimensional XY model with frustration corresponding to a small flux f per plaquette. At f = 0, there is a Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition at T*, but at any small but nonzero f, this transition is avoided and replaced (presumably) by a vortex-ordering transition at much lower temperatures. We thus have studied the evolution of the dynamics for small and moderate f as the system is cooled from above T* to below. Although we do find strongly temperature-dependent slowing of the dynamics as T crosses T* and that simultaneously the dynamics becomes more complex, neither effect is anywhere nearly as dramatic as the corresponding phenomena in glass-forming liquids. At the very least, this implies that the properties of supercooled liquids must depend on more than frustration and the existence of an avoided transition.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2019

Assessing Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) in a Forced Shallow-Water Model with Moisture

Two forced shallow-water flow scenarios are explored in a 2D fourth-order finite-volume dynamical core with adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) to investigate AMR’s ability to track and resolve complex evolving features. Traditional shallow-water test cases are mainly characterized by large-scale smooth flows that do not effectively test the multiscale abilities of variable-resolution and AMR models to resolve sharp gradients and small-scale flow filaments. Therefore, adding forcing mechanisms to the shallow-water system to model key atmospheric processes adds complexity and creates small-scale phenomena. These can serve as foci for dynamic grid refinement while remaining simple enough to study the numerical design of a model’s dynamical core. The first shallow-water flow scenario represents a strengthening, tropical cyclone–like, vortex that is driven by a Betts–Miller-like convection scheme. The second shallow-water test is built upon a barotropically unstable jet with an added Kessler-like warm rain scheme that leads to precipitating frontal zones. The key feature of both tests is that there is significant sensitivity to the model grid while converging (structurally) at high resolution. Both test cases are investigated for a series of uniform resolutions and a variety of AMR tagging criteria. The AMR simulations demonstrate that grid refinement can resolve local features without requiring global high-resolution meshes. However, the results are sensitive to the refinement criteria. Criteria that trigger refinement early in a simulation reproduce the uniform-resolution reference solutions most reliably. Finally, in contrast, AMR criteria that delay refinement for several days require careful tuning of the AMR thresholds to improve results compared with uniform-resolution simulations.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1990

Airloads, wakes, and aeroelasticity

Fundamental considerations regarding the theory of modeling of rotary wing airloads, wakes, and aeroelasticity are presented. The topics covered are: airloads and wakes, including lifting-line theory, wake models and nonuniform inflow, free wake geometry, and blade-vortex interaction; aerodynamic and wake models for aeroelasticity, including two-dimensional unsteady aerodynamics and dynamic inflow; and airloads and structural dynamics, including comprehensive airload prediction programs. Results of calculations and correlations are presented.

Johnson, Wayne↗

NASA NTRS1990

Airloads and wake models for a comprehensive helicopter analysis

Johnson, Wayne↗

NASA NTRS1995

Gaseous Vortices in Barred Spiral Galaxies

During the course of examining many two-dimensional, as well as a smaller sample of three-dimensional, models of gas flows in barred spiral galaxies, we have been impressed by the ubiquitous presence fo vortex pairs, oriented roughly perpendicular to their bars, with one vortex on each side. The vortices are obvious only when viewed in the bar frame, and the centers of their velocity fields usually are near Lagrangian points L(sub 4,5). In all models that we have studied, the vortices form on essentially the same time scale as that for the development of gaseous spiral arms, typically two bar rotations. Usually the corotation radius, r(sub c), lies slightly beyond the end of the bar. Depending upon the mass distributions of the various components, gas spirals either into, or out of, the vortices: In the former case, the vortices become regions of high density, whereas the opposite is true if the gas spirals out of a vortex. The models described in this paper have low-density vortices, as do most of the models we have studied. Moreover, usually the vortex centers lie approximately within +/- 15 deg of L(sub 4,5). In the stellar dynamic limit, when pressure and viscous forces are absent, short-period orbits exist, centered on L(sub 4,5). These orbits need not cross and therefore their morphology is that of gas streamlines, that is, vortices. We believe that the gas vortices in our models are hydrodynamic analogues of closed, short-period, libration orbits centered on L(sub 4,5).

England, Martin N.↗

NASA NTRS2012

Observations of C-band Brightness Temperatures and Ocean Surface Wind Speed and Rain Rate from the Hurricane Imaging Radiometer (HIRAD)

HIRAD flew on the WB-57 over Earl and Karl during NASA s GRIP (Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes) campaign in August - September of 2010. HIRAD is a new Cband radiometer using a synthetic thinned array radiometer (STAR) technology to obtain cross-track resolution of approximately 3 degrees, out to approximately 60 degrees to each side of nadir. (The resulting swath width for a platform at 60,000 feet is roughly 60 km, and resolution for most of the swath is around 2 km.) By obtaining measurements of emissions at 4, 5, 6, and 6.6 GHz, observations of ocean surface wind speed and rain rate can be retrieved. This technique has been used for many years by precursor instruments, including the Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR), which has been flying on the NOAA and USAF hurricane reconnaissance aircraft for several years to obtain observations within a single footprint at nadir angle. Results from the flights during the GRIP campaign will be shown, including images of brightness temperatures, wind speed, and rain rate. Comparisons will be made with observations from other instruments on the GRIP campaign, for which HIRAD observations are either directly comparable or are complementary. Features such as storm eye and eyewall, location of storm wind and rain maxima, and indications of dynamical features such as the merging of a weaker outer wind/rain maximum with the main vortex may be seen in the data. Potential impacts on operational ocean surface wind analyses and on numerical weather forecasts will also be discussed.

Miller, Timothy L.↗

NASA NTRS2012

New Observations of C-band Brightness Temperatures and Ocean Surface Wind Speed and Rain Rate From the Hurricane Imaging Radiometer (HIRAD)

HIRAD flew on the WB-57 during NASA's GRIP (Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes) campaign in August September of 2010. HIRAD is a new C-band radiometer using a synthetic thinned array radiometer (STAR) technology to obtain cross-track resolution of approximately 3 degrees, out to approximately 60 degrees to each side of nadir. By obtaining measurements of emissions at 4, 5, 6, and 6.6 GHz, observations of ocean surface wind speed and rain rate can be retrieved. This technique has been used for many years by precursor instruments, including the Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR), which has been flying on the NOAA and USAF hurricane reconnaissance aircraft for several years to obtain observations within a single footprint at nadir angle. Results from the flights during the GRIP campaign will be shown, including images of brightness temperatures, wind speed, and rain rate. Comparisons will be made with observations from other instruments on the GRIP campaign, for which HIRAD observations are either directly comparable or are complementary. Features such as storm eye and eyewall, location of storm wind and rain maxima, and indications of dynamical features such as the merging of a weaker outer wind/rain maximum with the main vortex may be seen in the data. Potential impacts on operational ocean surface wind analyses and on numerical weather forecasts will also be discussed.

Miller, Timothy L.↗

NASA NTRS2012

Hurricane Imaging Radiometer (HIRAD) Observations of Brightness Temperatures and Ocean Surface Wind Speed and Rain Rate During NASA's GRIP and HS3 Campaigns

HIRAD flew on high-altitude aircraft over Earl and Karl during NASA s GRIP (Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes) campaign in August - September of 2010, and plans to fly over Atlantic tropical cyclones in September of 2012 as part of the Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) mission. HIRAD is a new C-band radiometer using a synthetic thinned array radiometer (STAR) technology to obtain spatial resolution of approximately 2 km, out to roughly 30 km each side of nadir. By obtaining measurements of emissions at 4, 5, 6, and 6.6 GHz, observations of ocean surface wind speed and rain rate can be retrieved. The physical retrieval technique has been used for many years by precursor instruments, including the Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR), which has been flying on the NOAA and USAF hurricane reconnaissance aircraft for several years to obtain observations within a single footprint at nadir angle. Results from the flights during the GRIP and HS3 campaigns will be shown, including images of brightness temperatures, wind speed, and rain rate. Comparisons will be made with observations from other instruments on the campaigns, for which HIRAD observations are either directly comparable or are complementary. Features such as storm eye and eye-wall, location of storm wind and rain maxima, and indications of dynamical features such as the merging of a weaker outer wind/rain maximum with the main vortex may be seen in the data. Potential impacts on operational ocean surface wind analyses and on numerical weather forecasts will also be discussed.

Miller, Timothy L.↗