Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “TIME DEPENDENCE”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 865 records · Page 48

Considerations for damage analysis of gas turbine hot section components

The hot flowpath of a gas turbine engine contains static and rotating components operating in a very hostile environment. Since the reliable operation of these components is critical to the safe and efficient performance of the engine, structural life analysis of these members is carried out with great care. However, the complex nature of the strain-temperature-time cycle affecting the engine makes a general analysis procedure difficult and usually leads to separating the damage into regimes where one damage mode dominates. In particular, cycle dependent, time dependent, and thermomechanical fatigue regimes have been identified and some general considerations of each region are discussed. This discussion includes both the damage models themselves and the application of the models. Specific examples of several models are given and important factors affecting each are presented.

Cook, T. S.↗

Solar-Driven Neutral Density Waves

Interstellar neutral hydrogen atoms flowing into the solar system are attracted by the solar gravitational force, repelled by solar hydrogen Ly-alpha radiation pressure, and are ionized, primarily, through charge exchange with the solar wind protons. The solar cycle variation of the radiation pressure causes the net central solar force to fluctuate between attraction and repulsion resulting in the modulation of the neutral hydrogen density about the usual time independent model. The calculation presented here shows that the time dependent downstream density is strongly modulated by a large number of travelling neutral density waves. The waves possess a continuous range of wavelengths as is to be expected for a Maxwellian gas subjected to several eleven year cycle variations during its journey through the solar system. The amplitudes of the density modulation were found to be quite large. The backscattered glow was found to depend on the position of the detector and the phase of the solar cycle. At the most favorable condition a deviation of the order of 25% from the time dependent glow might be observed.

Blum, P.↗

Simulations of 6-DOF Motion with a Cartesian Method

Coupled 6-DOF/CFD trajectory predictions using an automated Cartesian method are demonstrated by simulating a GBU-32/JDAM store separating from an F-18C aircraft. Numerical simulations are performed at two Mach numbers near the sonic speed, and compared with flight-test telemetry and photographic-derived data. Simulation results obtained with a sequential-static series of flow solutions are contrasted with results using a time-dependent flow solver. Both numerical methods show good agreement with the flight-test data through the first half of the simulations. The sequential-static and time-dependent methods diverge over the last half of the trajectory prediction. after the store produces peak angular rates. A cost comparison for the Cartesian method is included, in terms of absolute cost and relative to computing uncoupled 6-DOF trajectories. A detailed description of the 6-DOF method, as well as a verification of its accuracy, is provided in an appendix.

Murman, Scott M.↗

Modeling of growth, evaporation and sedimentation effects on transmission of visible and IR laser beams in artificial fogs

The dense polydisperse aerosol particles in a quiet chamber may spontaneously go through different microphysical processes including gravitational sedimentation, thermal coagulation, and growth or evaporation. In an earlier paper, we presented the results of a parametric study of the combined and separate effects of thermal coagulation and sedimentation on the time dependence of extinction of four visible and IR laser beams traversing an aerosol medium. As a continuation of this series of studies, the separate and combined effects of growth or evaporation and gravitational sedimentation on the time dependence of extinction of the same four visible and IR laser beams traversing in artificial fogs will be reported in this paper. The method of numerically modeling the change of water droplet size distribution with time due to growth/evaporation and the cutoff of larger aerosols due to gravitational sedimentation is described in detail. Factors governing the relative importance of these two processes are discussed. Results of this study show that the relative humidity or ambient temperature is a crucial parameter in determining the optical depth of the water droplet and aerosol media undergoing microphysical processes.

Yue, G. K.↗

Biogeochemical modeling at mass extinction boundaries

The causes of major mass extinctions is a subject of considerable interest to those concerned with the history and evolution of life on earth. The primary objectives of the proposed plan of research are: (1) to develop quantitative time-dependent biogeochemical cycle models, coupled with an ocean atmosphere in order to improve the understanding of global scale physical, chemical, and biological processes that control the distribution of elements important for life at times of mass extinctions; and (2) to develop a comprehensive data base of the best available geochemical, isotopic, and other relevant geologic data from sections across mass extinction boundaries. These data will be used to constrain and test the biogeochemical model. These modeling experiments should prove useful in: (1) determining the possible cause(s) of the environmental changes seen at bio-event boundaries; (2) identifying and quantifying little-known feedbacks among the oceans, atmosphere, and biosphere; and (3) providing additional insights into the possible responses of the earth system to perturbations of various timescales. One of the best known mass extinction events marks the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary (66 Myr ago). Data from the K/T boundary are used here to constrain a newly developed time-dependent biogeochemical cycle model that is designed to study transient behavior of the earth system. Model results predict significant fluctuations in ocean alkalinity, atmospheric CO2, and global temperatures caused by extinction of calcareous plankton and reduction in the sedimentation rates of pelagic carbonates and organic carbon. Oxygen-isotome and other paleoclimatic data from K/T time provide some evidence that such climatic fluctuations may have occurred, but stabilizing feedbacks may have acted to reduce the ocean alkalinity and carbon dioxide fluctuations.

Rampino, M. R.↗

Numerical simulation by TVD schemes of complex shock reflections from airfoils at high angle of attack

The shock-capturing capability of total variation diminishing (TVD) schemes is demonstrated for a more realistic complex shock-diffraction problem for which the experimental data are available. Second-order explicit upwind and symmetric TVD schemes are used to solve the time-dependent Euler equations of gas dynamics for the interaction of a blast wave with an airfoil at high angle-of-attack. The test cases considered are a time-dependent moving curved-shock wave and a contant moving planar-shock wave impinging at an angle-of-attack 30 deg on a NACA 0018 airfoil. Good agreement is obtained between isopycnic contours computed by the TVD schemes and those from experimental interferograms. No drastic difference in flow-field structure is found between the curved- and planar-shock wave cases, except for a difference in density level near the lower surface of the airfoil. Computation for cases with higher shock Mach numbers is also possible. Numerical experiments show that the symmetric TVD scheme is less sensitive to the boundary conditions treatment than the upwind scheme.

Moon, Young J.↗

Physical aging in epoxy matrices and composites

Postcured specimens of Thornell 300 carbon-fiber/Fiberite 934 epoxy as well as Fiberite 934 epoxy resin were quenched from above the glass transition temperature and annealed at 140, 110, or 80 C for times up to 100,000 min. No weight gain or loss was observed during annealing at these temperatures, but significant time-dependent variations were observed in density, modulus, hardness, damping, moisture absorption ability, and thermal expansion characteristics. The relations between the excess thermodynamic properties of epoxy glasses and their time-dependent behavior are discussed. The discussion is illustrated by results obtained by differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, tensile testing, solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering.

Kong, Eric Siu-Wai↗

Theoretical Study of Interhemispheric Electron Bouncing Within Pulsating Aurora

Wave-particle interaction processes in the equatorial magnetosphere initiate time-dependent electron precipitation in the pulsating aurora. These electrons enter loss-cone and bounce between the two magnetically conjugate hemispheres, collide with the atmospheric constituents, and introduce additional time scales in electron precipitation dynamics. In this letter we present preliminary results of pulsating aurora formation using the time-dependent SuperThermal Electron Transport code, which considers the magnetosphere-ionosphere-atmosphere energy coupling between the two magnetically conjugate regions and discuss their contribution to the peculiarities of electron distribution function formation within the pulsating aurora.

Pulsating Aurora↗

Thick-target bremsstrahlung interpretation of short time-scale solar hard X-ray features

Steady-state analyses of bremsstrahlung hard X-ray production in solar flares are appropriate only if the lifetime of the high energy electrons in the X-ray source is much shorter than the duration of the observed X-ray burst. For a thick-target nonthermal model, this implies that a full time-dependent analysis is required when the duration of the burst is comparable to the collisional lifetime of the injected electrons, in turn set by the lengths and densities of the flaring region. In this paper we present the results of such a time-dependent analysis, and we point out that the intrinsic temporal signature of the thick-target production mechanism, caused by the finite travel time of the electrons through the target, may indeed rule out such a mechanism for extremely short duration hard X-ray events.

Emslie, A. G.↗

Finite-Element Methods for Real-Time Simulation of Surgery

Two finite-element methods have been developed for mathematical modeling of the time-dependent behaviors of deformable objects and, more specifically, the mechanical responses of soft tissues and organs in contact with surgical tools. These methods may afford the computational efficiency needed to satisfy the requirement to obtain computational results in real time for simulating surgical procedures as described in Simulation System for Training in Laparoscopic Surgery (NPO-21192) on page 31 in this issue of NASA Tech Briefs. Simulation of the behavior of soft tissue in real time is a challenging problem because of the complexity of soft-tissue mechanics. The responses of soft tissues are characterized by nonlinearities and by spatial inhomogeneities and rate and time dependences of material properties. Finite-element methods seem promising for integrating these characteristics of tissues into computational models of organs, but they demand much central-processing-unit (CPU) time and memory, and the demand increases with the number of nodes and degrees of freedom in a given finite-element model. Hence, as finite-element models become more realistic, it becomes more difficult to compute solutions in real time. In both of the present methods, one uses approximate mathematical models trading some accuracy for computational efficiency and thereby increasing the feasibility of attaining real-time up36 NASA Tech Briefs, October 2003 date rates. The first of these methods is based on modal analysis. In this method, one reduces the number of differential equations by selecting only the most significant vibration modes of an object (typically, a suitable number of the lowest-frequency modes) for computing deformations of the object in response to applied forces.

Basdogan, Cagatay↗

Crustal deformation along the San Andreas, California

The goal is to achieve a better understanding of the regional and local deformation and crustal straining processes in western North America, particularly the effects of the San Andreas and nearby faults on the spatial and temporal crustal deformation behavior. Construction of theoretical models based on the mechanics of coupled elastic plate, viscoelastic foundation and large scale crack mechanics provide a rational basis for the interpretation of seismic and aseismic anomalies and expedite efforts in forecasting the stability of plate boundary deformation. Special focus is placed on the three dimensional time dependent surface deformation due to localized slippage in a elastic layer coupled to a visco-elastic substrate. The numerical analysis is based on a 3-D boundary element technique. Extension to visco-elastic coupling demands the derivation of 3-D time dependent Green's function. This method was applied to analyze the viscoelastic surface displacements due to a dislocated embedded patch. Surface uplift as a function of time and position are obtained. Comparisons between surface uplift for long and short dislocated patches are made.

Li, Victor C.↗

Further studies of unsteady boundary layers with flow reversal

One set of calculations was performed using the first order, time dependent turbulent boundary layer equations, and extended earlier work by Nash and Patel to a wider range of flows. Another set of calculations was performed for laminar flow using the time dependent Navier-Stokes equations. The results of the calculations confirm previous conclusions concerning the existence of a regime of unseparated flow, containing an embedded region of reversal, which is accessible to first order boundary layer theory. However, certain doubts are cast on the precise nature of the events which accompany the eventual breakdown of the theory due to singularity onset. The earlier view that the singularity appears as the final event in a sequence involving rapid thickening of the boundary layer and the formation of a localized region of steep gradients is called into question by the present results. It appears that singularity onset is not necessarily preceded by rapid boundary layer thickening, or even necessarily produces immediate thickening.

Nash, J. F.↗

Positron annihilation radiation from solar flares

Positron-annihilation radiation has been observed from the June 21, 1980 and June 3, 1982 flares by the gamma-ray spectrometer on the Solar Maximum Mission satellite. The observed 0.511-MeV line fluences from the flares were 14.6 + or - 3.3 gamma/sq cm and 103 + or - 8 gamma/sq cm, respectively. Measurement of the line width establishes an upper limit to the temperature in the annihilation region of 3 x 10 to the 6th K. The time dependence of the 0.511-MeV line during the 1980 flare is consistent with the calculations of Ramaty et al. (1983) for positrons created in the decay of radioactive nuclei. The time dependence of the 0.511-MeV line for the 1982 flare is more complex and requires more detailed study.

Share, G. H.↗

Temporal characteristics of the Jovian atmosphere

Drift scans along the central meridian of Jupiter have been obtained at wavelengths of 7.9, 17.8, and 19.7 microns. These observations indicate a significant north-south temperature asymmetry within the Jovian stratosphere but not within its troposphere, results which agree with the recent Voyager 1 observations. Employing a time-dependent stratospheric model, it is found that the observed north-south asymmetry is consistent with seasonal stratospheric variability. In the model, the primary cause for this variability is the time-dependent absorption of sunlight by aerosols.

Caldwell, J.↗

Predicted extreme-ultraviolet and X-ray spectrum of a microflare-heated corona

Sturrock et al. (1990) have proposed that a distribution of microflares produces the solar coronal and transition-region emission. This paper presents computed EUV and X-ray emission spectra from that distribution, including the effects of time-dependent ionization. The overall agreement of the predicted spectrum with observations is fairly good, although the predicted emission from the upper transition region is high by a factor of 2. Time-dependent ionization greatly enhances the He II 304-A line, improving the agreement with observation compared with ionization equilibrium models. The predicted effects on temperature-sensitive line ratios of other ions cannot yet be tested against observations due to uncertainties in instrumental calibration and atomic rates.

Raymond, John C.↗

A comparison and review of steady-state and time-varying reconnection

Extensions of Petschek's (1964) analysis are reviewed and used to investigate the steady-state and time-dependent reconnection in a current sheet geometry of the type observed at the magnetopause. It is shown that steady-state reconnection appears as a very special case in a time-dependent analysis. A single theoretical framework is proposed for interpreting reconnection phenomena at the magnetopause and for investigating the characteristics of dayside reconnection.

Semenov, V. S.↗

Molecular vibrational states during a collision

Alternative algebraic techniques to approximate a given Hamiltonian by a harmonic oscillator are described both for time-independent and time-dependent systems. We apply them to the description of a one dimensional atom-diatom collision. From the resulting evolution operator, we evaluate vibrational transition probabilities as well as other time-dependent properties. As expected, the ground vibrational state becomes a squeezed state during the collision.

Recamier, Jose A.↗

Crustal Uplift in the Southcentral Alaska Subduction Zones: A New Analysis and Interpretation of Tide Gauge Observations

We have examined the sea level height tide records at seven tide gauge sites in the region of southcentral Alaska that were affected by the 1964 Prince William Sound earthquake to determine the history of crustal uplift subsequent to the earthquake. There is considerable variation in the behavior depending on the location of the site relative to the 1964 rupture. At Seward, on the eastern side of the Kenai Peninsula we find a slow uplift that is consistent with elastic strain accumulation while at Seldovia and Nikiski on the western side of the Kenai we find a persistent rapid uplift of about 1 cm/yr that most likely represents a long term transient response to the earthquake, but which cannot be sustained over the expected recurrence interval for a great earthquake of several hundred years. Further to the southwest, at Kodiak, we find evidence that the rate of uplift, which is still several mm/yr, has slowed significantly over the past three and a half decades. To the east of the Kenai Peninsula we find subsidence at Cordova and an uncertain behavior at Valdez. At both of these sites there is a mathematically significant time-dependence to the uplift behavior, but the data confirming this time dependence are not as convincing as at Kodiak. At Anchorage, to the north there is little evidence of vertical motion since the earthquake. We compare these long term tide gauge records to recent GPS observations. In general there is reasonable consistency except at Anchorage and Cordova where the GPS measurement indicate somewhat more rapid uplift and subsidence, respectively.

Cohen, Steven C.↗