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At least 847 records · Page 47

On the transonic aerodynamics of a compressor blade row

Linearized analyses have been carried out for the induced velocity and pressure fields within a compressor blade row operating in an infinite annulus at transonic Mach numbers of the flow relative to the blades. In addition, the relationship between the induced velocity and the shape of the mean blade surface has been determined. A computational scheme has been developed for evaluating the blade mean surface ordinates and surface pressure distributions. The separation of the effects of a specified blade thickness distribution from the effects of a specified distribution of the blade lift has been established. In this way, blade mean surface shapes that are necessary for the blades to be locally nonlifting have been computed and are presented for two examples of blades with biconvex parabolic arc sections of radially tapering thickness. Blade shapes that are required to achieve a zero thickness, uniform chordwise loading, constant work spanwise loading are also presented for two examples. In addition, corresponding surface pressure distributions are given. The flow relative to the blade tips has a high subsonic Mach number in the examples that have been computed. The results suggest that at near-sonic relative tip speeds the effective blade shape is dominated by the thickness distribution, with the lift distribution playing only a minor role.

Erickson, J. C., Jr.↗

Supersonic shock wave/vortex interaction

Although shock wave/vortex interaction is a basic and important fluid dynamics problem, very little research has been conducted on this topic. Therefore, a detailed experimental study of the interaction between a supersonic streamwise turbulent vortex and a shock wave was carried out at the Penn State Gas Dynamics Laboratory. A vortex is produced by replaceable swirl vanes located upstream of the throat of various converging-diverging nozzles. The supersonic vortex is then injected into either a coflowing supersonic stream or ambient air. The structure of the isolated vortex is investigated in a supersonic wind tunnel using miniature, fast-response, five-hole and total temperature probes and in a free jet using laser Doppler velocimetry. The cases tested have unit Reynolds numbers in excess of 25 million per meter, axial Mach numbers ranging from 2.5 to 4.0, and peak tangential Mach numbers from 0 (i.e., a pure jet) to about 0.7. The results show that the typical supersonic wake-like vortex consists of a non-isentropic, rotational core, where the reduced circulation distribution is self similar, and an outer isentropic, irrotational region. The vortex core is also a region of significant turbulent fluctuations. Radial profiles of turbulent kinetic energy and axial-tangential Reynolds stress are presented. The interactions between the vortex and both oblique and normal shock waves are investigated using nonintrusive optical diagnostics (i.e. schlieren, planar laser scattering, and laser Doppler velocimetry). Of the various types, two Mach 2.5 overexpanded-nozzle Mach disc interactions are examined in detail. Below a certain vortex strength, a 'weak' interaction exists in which the normal shock is perturbed locally into an unsteady 'bubble' shock near the vortex axis, but vortex breakdown (i.e., a stagnation point) does not occur. For stronger vortices, a random unsteady 'strong' interaction results that causes vortex breakdown. The vortex core reforms downstream of the rear stagnation point, and the reduced circulation distribution once again becomes self-similar in this region. A-new model of this interaction is proposed. Finally, a curve defining the approximate limits of supersonic vortex breakdown is presented.

Settles, G. S.↗

Far-field multimodal acoustic radiation directivity

A comparison is made between approximate equations for far-field acoustic radiation patterns and exact equations for single and multimodal excitations in order to determine the validity range for the approximate approach. It is found that for single-mode cases: (1) the gross behavior of the primary lobes is adequately described by the approximate equations, (2) some error is found for lower and zero radial order modes, and (3) some agreement is yielded between exact and approximate sidelobes, although the approximate equation was not intended to simulate sidelobes. Multimodal approximate equations are compared to exact equations for various distributions of modal power; for all cases excellent agreement is found. For multimodal patterns it is noted that many modes influence the final level and shape of the directivity curve, although the major contributions are from the higher radial order modes.

Saule, A. V.↗

The structure of the coma cluster of galaxies.

Analysis of radial velocities in the coma cluster (many of them new) in conjunction with previous data on the density distribution. The cluster extends more than 200 min in radius, with bright and faint galaxies distributed in nearly the same way. Some spirals are members. Several different determinations of M/L give values around 250. The cluster is stabilized by a 'missing mass' some seven times the mass of the galaxies, which must be distributed in the same way as the galaxies.

Rood, H. J.↗

Variations of the interplanetary magnetic field intensity between 1 and 0.3 AU

This is a preliminary report on the interplanetary magnetic field intensity B measured by the Rome/GSFC experiment carried on Helios 1 over the period 10 December 1974 to 3 April 1975 when the spacecraft moved from 1 AU to 0.3 AU (on 15 March 1975) and back to 0.47 AU. The large-scale radial variations between 1 and 0.3 AU are consistent with Parker's model for a spiral field. The distribution of B between 0.30 AU and 0.32 AU is comparable to that generally observed near 1 AU. Large changes are observed from day to day. Surprisingly large and abrupt changes in B (about 30 gammas in a few hours) are observed near perihelion.

Mariani, F.↗

Voyager observations of ion phase space densities in the Jovian magnetosphere

Data from the Voyager low-energy charged particle experiment (LECP) were used to calculate ion phase space densities in Jupiter's magnetosphere. The calculation of F at constant mu and J(2) requires the determination of particle fluxes at specific pitch angles and energies. It is shown that the greatest uncertainties in the determination of F from LECP data arise from the fits to the measured pitch angle distributions and differential energy spectra. An estimate is provided of this uncertainty and of others arising from model radial diffusion coefficients and magnetic fields. The general nature of the curves is consistent with inward diffusion of these energetic ions from the outer magnetosphere combined with losses near but starting beyond the orbit of Io. These losses are not consistent with simple satellite sweeping by Io alone and are probably due to an Io-torus wave-particle interaction. The lifetime against loss deduced from the data is approximately 20,000 s near Io and is a value consistent with strong diffusion losses. The measured ion loss rate declines much more rapidly than the strong diffusion loss rate as L increases from 7 to 9, suggesting that the loss rate is well below the strong-diffusion rate beyond 7 Jupiter radii for ions observed by the LECP.

Paonessa, M.↗

The hydrogen coma of Comet Halley before perihelion: Preliminary observations with dynamics Explorer 1

The hydrogen coma of Comet Halley has been observed in resonantly scattered solar Lyman-alpha radiation during the period 1-29 January 1986 as the comet approached perihelion. These observations were obtained with the imaging photometer for vacuum-ultraviolet wavelengths on the spacecraft Dynamics Explorer 1. For the initial analysis of observations available in 17 orbits distributed throughout the period, least-squares fits are computed for the observed exponential decrease in brightness with radial distance from the nucleus. Brightness at the nucleus increased from approx. 3 to 17 kR during the observing period. Preliminary analysis yields water production rates of approx. 3.6 x 10 to the 29th power and 1.9 x 10 to the 30th power molecules/sec on 1 and 29 January, respectively.

Craven, J. D.↗

The hydrogen coma of Comet Halley before perihelion Preliminary observations with Dynamics Explorer 1

The hydrogen coma of Comet Halley has been observed in resonantly scattered solar Lyman-alpha radiation during the period 4-29 January 1986 as the comet approached perihelion. These observations were obtained with the imaging photometer for vacuum-ultraviolet wavelengths on the spacecraft Dynamics Explorer 4. For the initial analysis of observations available in 17 orbits distributed throughout the period, least-squares fits are computed for the observed exponential decrease in brightness with radial distance from the nucleus. Brightness at the nucleus increased from approx. 3 to 17 kR during the observing period. Preliminary analysis yields water production rates of approx. 3.6 x 10 to the 29th power and 1.9 x 10 to the 30th power molecules/sec on 1 and 29 January, respectively.

Craven, J. D.↗

Near equatorial signatures of dynamic auroral processes

Low energy electrons detected in the midmagnetosphere near the geomagnetic equator are hypothesized to originate from the auroral region near the ionospheric ends of the flux tubes. Electrons between 0.1 and 25 eV having pitch angle distributions peaked within 5 deg of B are routinely observed with electron spectrometers on the AMPTE/CCE satellite at radial distances of 7 R(e) to apogee at 9 R(e). If of auroral origin, as suggested, the detection of such fluxes provides important information about the auroral acceleration process, its dynamics, and about the effects of pitch angle scattering mechanisms in the magnetosphere.

Klumpar, D. M.↗

Spectrally resolved eclipse maps of the accretion disk in UX Ursae Majoris

An effort is made to observationally constrain accretion disks on the basis of light curves from the eclipsing cataclysmic variable UX Ursae Majoris, reconstructing the spectral energy distribution across the face of an accretion disk. The spectral resolution obtained suffices to reveal not only the radial dependence of absorption and emission line features within the disk, but also the spectral details of the bright spot that is formed where the accretion stream from the secondary star collides with the disk. The importance of such constraints for theoretical models is noted.

Rutten, Rene G. M.↗

1919+479: Big WAT in a poor cluster

New x-ray, optical, and redshift data are presented for the cluster of galaxies associated with the giant, 1 Mpc diameter, wide-angle tailed (WAT) radio galaxy 1919+479. The ROSAT Position-Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) pointed observation shows an x-ray peak on the WAT and elongated diffuse emission tracing the galaxy distribution. In addition, an asymmetric extension of emission exists between the tails of the WAT. The fitting of a Raymond-Smith thermal model to the x-ray spectra suggests an approximately = 2 keV temperature intracluster medium (ICM). The cooling time and irregular morphology rule out a cluster-wide cooling flow. The x-ray luminosity and temperature are consistent with the velocity dispersion, 480 km/s, estimated from 31 galaxy velocities. However, this velocity distribution is significantly non-Gaussian, which along with the x-ray morphology, suggests incomplete virialization in the cluster. Substructure analysis does not reveal significant clumping in the velocities/positions; but, the spatial distribution of galaxies is very elongated. Also, the cD galaxy producing the WAT does not have a significant radial peculiar velocity with respect to the cluster centroid. These characteristics are consistent with a merger scenario in which a subcluster has crossed the cluster core in the plane of the sky and has dispersed. We compare this cluster with the post-merger cluster Abell 2634 (Pinkney et al., 1993), containing the prototype WAT, and with a recent N-Body/Hydro simulation of merging clusters. The similarities indicate that the cluster 1919+479 may be the poor extreme of a class of clusters in which the bulk motion in the ICM, caused by a subcluster merger, in shaping the central WAT.

Pinkney, Jason↗

The Role of Marangoni Convection for the FZ-Growth of Silicon

Fluctuations of the electrical resistivity due to inhomogeneous dopant distribution are still a serious problem for the industrial processing yield of doped silicon crystals. In the case of silicon floating-zone growth, the main sources of these inhomogeneities are time- dependent flows in the liquid phase during the growth process. Excluding radio frequency (RF) induced convection, buoyancy and thermocapillary (Marangoni) convection are the two natural reasons for fluid flow. Both originate from temperature/concentration gradients in the melt, buoyancy convection through thermal/concentrational volume expansion, and thermocapillary convection through the temperature/concentration dependence of the surface tension. To improve the properties of grown crystals, knowledge of the strength, the characteristic, and the relation of these two flow mechanisms is essential. By the use of microgravity, the effect and the strength of buoyancy (gravity dependent) and thermocapillary (gravity independent) convection can be separated and clarified. Applying magnetic fields, both convective modes can be influenced: fluid flow can either be damped (static magnetic fields) or overlaid by a regular flow regime (rotating magnetic fields). Two complementary approaches have been pursued: Silicon full zones (experiments on the German sounding rockets TEXUS 7, 12, 22, 29, and 36) with the maximum temperature at half of the zone height and silicon half zones (experiments on the Japanese sounding rockets TR-IA4 and 6) with the maximum temperature at the top of the melt. With the full zone arrangement, the intensity and the frequency of the dopant striations could be determined and the critical Marangoni number could be identified. The half zone configuration is suited to classify the flow pattern and to measure the amplitude and the frequency of temperature fluctuations in the melt by inserting thermocouples or temperature sensors into the melt. All experiments have been carried out in monoellipsoid mirror furnaces. Typical zone geometries are approx. 8 to 14 mm in diameter and height. The crystals grown under microgravity are compared to crystals grown in static axial magnetic fields (B<5 tesla) and in transversal rotating magnetic fields (B<7.5 mT / f=50 Hz). Experimental results are completed by 3D numerical simulations: the obtained temperature and concentration distribution in the melt confirm the damping effect of rotating magnetic fields and explain the change in the radial segregation under static magnetic fields.

Dold, P.↗

Magnetospheric Substorm Electrodynamics

It was proposed that the expansion phase of substorms results from a reduction in the large-scale electric field imparted to the magnetosphere from the solar wind, following a greater than or equal to 30 min growth phase due to an enhancement in this electric field. The reduction in the electric field is assumed to propagate anti-sunward within the magnetosphere. Triggering by a reduction in the electric field is suggested by the observation that substorms are often triggered by northward turning of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). However, under the theory presented here, substorms may be triggered by anything that causes an electric field reduction such as a reduction in the magnitude of the y-component of the IMF. A reduction in the large-scale electric field disrupts both the inward motion and energization of plasma sheet particles that occurs during the growth phase. It is suggested here that this can lead to formation of the expansion-phase current wedge and active aurora. The current wedge results from the magnetic drift of ions, which has a speed proportional to particle energy, and a large azimuthal gradient in mean particle energy that is expected to develop in the vicinity of magnetic midnight during the growth phase. Current wedge formation will most likely be initiated near the radial distance (approx. 6- 10 R(sub E)) of the peak in the growth-phase plasma pressure distribution, and then propagate tailward from that region. Order-of-magnitude calculations show that the above proposal can account for the rapid development of the expansion phase relative to the growth phase, the magnitude of the reduction in the cross-tail current within the current wedge, the speeds of tailward and westward expansion of the current reduction region, the speeds of poleward and westward motion of active aurora in the ionosphere, and the magnitude of wedge field-aligned currents that connect the ionospheric region of active auroral to the divergent cross-tail current within the magnetosphere. Fundamental observational signatures of substorms and other auroral-zone disturbances were examined.

Lyons, L. R.↗

Dynamical Evolution of Ring-Satellite Systems

The goal of this research was to understand dynamical processes related to the evolution of size distribution of particles in planetary rings and application of theoretical results to explain features in the present rings of giant planets. We studied velocity evolution and accretion rates of ring particles in the Roche zone. We developed a new numerical code for the evolution of ring particle size distribution, which takes into account the above results for particle velocity evolution and accretion rates. We also studied radial diffusion rate of ring particles due to inelastic collisions and gravitational encounters. Many of these results can be also applied to dynamical evolution of a planetesimal disk. Finally, we studied rotation rates of moonlets and particles in planetary rings, which would influence the accretional evolution of these bodies. We describe our key accomplishments during the past three years in more detail in the following.

Ohtsuki, Keiji↗

Static Load Distribution in Ball Bearings

A numerical procedure for computing the internal loading distribution in statically loaded, single-row, angular-contact ball bearings when subjected to a known combined radial and thrust load is presented. The combined radial and thrust load must be applied in order to avoid tilting between inner and outer rings. The numerical procedure requires the iterative solution of Z + 2 simultaneous nonlinear equations - where Z is the number of the balls - to yield an exact solution for axial and radial deflections, and contact angles. Numerical results for a 218 angular-contact ball bearing have been compared with those from the literature and show significant differences in the magnitudes of the ball loads, contact angles, and the extent of the loading zone.

Ricci, Mario↗

Geomagnetic Field Distortion by a Solar Stream as a Mechanism for the Production of Polar Aurora and Electrojets

This paper describes a mechanism for charge separation in the geomagnetically trapped radiation which may account for some observed phenomena associated with the polar aurora and the electrojet current systems. The following development is proposed: given that there exist eastward or westward longitudinal gradients in the geomagnetic field resulting from distortion of the geomagnetic field by solar streams, if the trapped radiation is adiabatic in character, radial drift separation of positive and negative charged particles must occur. It follows that, for bounded or irregular distributions of plasma number density in such an adiabatic - drift region, electric fields will arise. The origin of such electric fields will not arrest the drift separation of the charged particles, but will contribute to exponential growth of irregularities in the trapped plasma density. An adiabatic acceleration mechanism is described, which is based on incorporating the electrostatic energy of the particle in the energy function for the particle. Direct consequences of polarization of the geomagnetically trapped radiation will be the polar electrojet current systems and the polar aurora.

Kern, J. W.↗

The Paradox of Filamented Coronal Hole Flow but Uniform High Speed Wind

Plumes and rays in coronal holes are nearly radially aligned density striations that follow the ambient magnetic field. They have long been known, but have gained new interest with growing awareness that coronal hole flow is inherently filamentary. In retrospect, filamentary flow should have been no surprise. This is because,Beta much less than 1 in coronal holes inside approximately 10 Solar radius, allowing the flow to be filamentary down to the smallest scale of photospheric magnetic activity. While the magnetic field itself is locally smooth across any height above ca. 50,000 km, SOHO/MDI has shown that the photospheric magnetic field is a complex array of rapidly evolving small bipoles that are constantly emerging, evolving, and cancelling. The resulting activity is manifested in microflares, concentrated in the magnetic network, that produce Impulsive injections at the footpoints of coronal field lines. The uneven distribution of this activity in space and time is the source of coronal hole filamentation. What is surprising is that the radial flow speed also exhibits filamentary structure. It is not well described as smooth, spherically symmetric, diverging flow, but instead ranges from 300 to over 1000 km/s at 5.5 Solar radius among field-aligned filaments like those seen in plumes and rays [Feldman et al., JGR, Dec. 1997]. This is completely unlike the constant high speed solar wind reported beyond 0.3 AU. Consequently, plumes and filamentary structure must be strongly mixed, and the mixing must be far along by 0.3 AU to be consistent with Helios observations. The paradox is what causes the mixing? Existing models of coronal heating and solar wind acceleration hardly address this issue. One possibility we are investigating is the MHD Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, to which the shear between plumes and interplume corona is expected to become unstable at 5-10 Solar radius. This instability can be simulated and followed far into the nonlinear regime and may lead to Alfvenic fluctuations like those seen at 1 AU.

Suess, Steven T.↗

Effect of a Nonplanar Melt-Solid Interface on Lateral Compositional Distribution during Unidirectional Solidification of a Binary Alloy with a Constant Growth Velocity V: Theory - Part 1

Infrared detector materials, such as Hg(1-x)Cd(x)Te, Hg(1-x)Zn(x)Te have energy gaps almost linearly proportional to its composition. Due to the wide separation of liquidus and solidus curves of their phase diagram, there are compositional segregations in both of axial and radial directions of these crystals grown in the Bridgman system unidirectionally with constant growth rate. It is important to understand the mechanisms which affect lateral segregation such that large uniform radial composition crystal is possible. Following Coriell, etc's treatment, we have developed a theory to study the effect of a curved melt-solid interface shape on the lateral composition distribution. The system is considered to be cylindrical system with azimuthal symmetric with a curved melt-solid interface shape which can be expressed as a linear combination of a series of Bessell's functions. The results show that melt-solid interface shape has a dominate effect on lateral composition distribution of these systems. For small values of b, the solute concentration at the melt-solid interface scales linearly with interface shape with a proportional constant of the product of b and (1 - k), where b = VR/D, with V as growth velocity, R as sample radius, D as diffusion constant and k as distribution constant. A detailed theory will be presented. A computer code has been developed and simulations have been performed and compared with experimental results. These will be published in another paper.

Wang, Jai-Ching↗