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At least 865 records · Page 48

IRIS Observations of Magnetic Interactions in the Solar Atmosphere Between Preexisting and Emerging Magnetic Fields. II. UV Emission Properties

Multiwavelength ultraviolet (UV) observations by the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph satellite in active region NOAA 12529 have recently pointed out the presence of long-lasting brightenings, akin to UV bursts, and simultaneous plasma ejections occurring in the upper chromosphere and transition region during secondary flux emergence. These signatures have been interpreted as evidence of small-scale, recurrent magnetic reconnection episodes between the emerging flux region (EFR) and the preexisting plage field. Here we characterize the UV emission of these strong, intermittent brightenings and study the surge activity above the chromospheric arch filament system (AFS) overlying the EFR. We analyze the surges and the cospatial brightenings observed at different wavelengths. We find an asymmetry in the emission between the blue and red wings of the Si iv λ1402 Å and Mg ii k λ2796.3 lines, which clearly outlines the dynamics of the structures above the AFS that form during the small-scale eruptive phenomena. We also detect a correlation between the Doppler velocity and skewness of the Si iv λλ1394 and 1402 line profiles in the UV burst pixels. Finally, we show that genuine emission in the Fe xii λ1349.4 line is cospatial to the Si iv brightenings. This definitely reveals a pure coronal counterpart to the reconnection event.

Guglielmino, Salvo L.↗

Electromagnetic Modeling of Wind tunnel Magnetic Suspension and Balance Systems

An analytical framework for the open-loop behavior of a permanent magnet element levitated within an applied magnetic field are shown, in the context of application to wind tunnel Magnetic Suspension and Balance Systems (MSBS). Various modes of motion are identified, which correlate with observed behavior of the NASA/ODU 6-inch MSBS. This system is being developed as a technology demonstrator for dynamic stability testing of atmospheric entry capsules, with possible application to a supersonic wind tunnel. The analytic equations are populated with field information from experimental measurements and a finite element model. Finally, a system simulation can provide alternative estimates of system dynamic behavior via model linearization, with preliminary comparisons presented. Taken together, the analytical framework, experimental measurement, finite element analysis, and dynamic simulation provide a complete understanding of the characteristics and behavior of the MSBS.

magnetic suspension↗

Regional Analysis of the 2015–16 Lower Mekong River Basin Drought Using NASA Satellite Observations

Study region Lower Mekong River Basin (LMRB) Study focus Satellite remote sensing products are widely used for monitoring droughts. Using NASA satellite sensors of precipitation (Global Measurement Mission, GPM), soil moisture (Soil Moisture Active and Passive, SMAP), and terrestrial water storage (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment, GRACE), this study evaluates the historical drought in the LMRB during 2015–16. SMAP soil moisture was validated against in-situ soil moisture, and GPM precipitation and SMAP soil moisture were cross-validated with streamflow observations. The spatiotemporal dynamics of soil moisture were also examined in different ranges of catchment areas. In performing the analysis, we used lagged correlations between hydrological variables and the indices of the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI). New hydrological insights for the regions Spatio-temporal patterns of drought in 2015–16 were examined from the entire basin to small watersheds. A mismatch occurs when using GRACE data to study droughts in small watersheds (many of the small watersheds would be a fraction of the few 100 km2 spatial resolutions of GRACE pixel). In smaller watersheds, hydrological drought (SSI) was closely defined with SMAP soil moisture downscaled to 1 km rather than the meteorological drought index (SPI). By leveraging satellite-based observations across a range of spatial scales, this study highlights the utility of Earth observations in informing water resources and land management decisions at the regional scale.

Mekong↗

An experimental investigation of two-dimensional thrust augmenting ejectors, part 2

The flow-field within a two-dimensional thrust augmenting ejector has been documented experimentally. Results are presented on the mean velocity field and the turbulent correlations by Laser Doppler Velocimeter, surface pressure distribution, surface temperature distribution, and thrust performance for two shroud geometries. The maximum primary nozzle pressure ratio tested was 3.0. The tests were conducted at primary nozzle temperature ratios of 1.0, 1.8 and 2.7. Two ejector characteristic lengths have been identified based on the dynamics of the ejector flow field, i.e., a minimum length L sub m below which no significant mixing occurs, and a critical length L sub c associated with the development of U'V' correlation in the ejector. These characteristic lengths divide the ejector flow field into three distinctive regions: the entrance region where there is no direct interaction between the primary flow and the ejector shroud; the interaction region where there is an increased momentum of induced flow near the shroud surface; and a pipe flow region characterized by an increased skin friction where x is the distance downstream from the ejector inlet. The effect of the coflowing induced flow has been shown to produce inside the ejector a centerline velocity that has increased over the free-jet data.

Bernal, L.↗

Low frequency oscillations in total ozone measurements

Low frequency oscillations with periods of approximately one to two months are found in eight years of global grids of total ozone data from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) satellite instrument. The low frequency oscillations corroborate earlier analyses based on four years of data. In addition, both annual and seasonal one-point correlation maps based on the 8-year TOMS data are presented. The results clearly show a standing dipole in ozone perturbations, oscillating with 35 to 50 day periods over the equatorial Indian Ocean-west Pacific region. This contrasts with the eastward moving dipole reported in other data sets. The standing ozone dipole appears to be a dynamical feature associated with vertical atmospheric motions. Consistent with prior analyses based on lower stratospheric temperature fields, large-scale standing patterns are also found in the extratropics of both hemispheres, correlated with ozone fluctuations over the equatorial west Pacific. In the Northern Hemisphere, a standing pattern is observed extending from the tropical Indian Ocean to the north Pacific, across North America, and down to the equatorial Atlantic Ocean region. This feature is most pronounced in the NH summer.

Gao, X. H.↗

Low-frequency oscillations in total ozone measurements

Low frequency oscillations with periods of approximately one to two months are found in eight years of global grids of total ozone data from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) satellite instrument. The low frequency oscillations corroborate earlier analyses based on four years of data. In addition, both annual and seasonal one-point correlation maps based on the 8-year TOMS data are presented. The results clearly show a standing dipole in ozone perturbations, oscillating with 35 to 50 day periods over the equatorial Indian Ocean-west Pacific region. This contrasts with the eastward moving dipole reported in other data sets. The standing ozone dipole appears to be a dynamical feature associated with vertical atmospheric motions. Consistent with prior analyses based on lower stratospheric temperature fields, large-scale standing patterns are also found in the extratropics of both hemispheres, correlated with ozone fluctuations over the equatorial west Pacific. In the Northern Hemisphere, a standing pattern is observed extending from the tropical Indian Ocean to the north Pacific, across North America, and down to the equatorial Atlantic Ocean region. This feature is most pronounced in the NH summer.

Gao, X. H.↗

A correlation of scale model and flight aeroacoustic data for the Space Shuttle vehicle

A correlation is presented between aeroacoustic data acquired in the early Space Shuttle flights and in the various scale model tests from which the Shuttle vibroacoustic design environments were derived. These are the external acoustic data on the vehicle elements at liftoff, during the transonic and maximum dynamic pressure period of ascent flight, and during spent SRB reentry. The maximum external acoustic environment on the Shuttle elements in a given 1/3-octave frequency band comes from one of these critical flight regimes. The data correlation is seen to be good, testifying to adequate scale model measurement and test techniques. Some of the more salient features of the scale model test programs are described.

Dougherty, N. S.↗

Dynamics of Playa lakes in the Texas High Plains

Three small playa lake basins on the Texas High Plains were originally selected as ERTS-1 test sites to attempt correlation of ERTS-1 imagery with the water balance ecosystem and geology/morphology of the lake basins. The 5-mile long large Double Lakes playa complex was also instrumented as an alternate test site. Analysis of bands 6 and 7 of ERTS-1 MSS imagery shows that lake basins as small as 200 m in diameter (+ or - 10 acres) can be reliably classified as being wet or dry, thus supplying the methodology for a rapid, periodic census of surface water. A cost/benefit analysis reveals that the use of MSS imagery for such a census results in a 66 to 200-fold cost reduction when compared to the costs of using other conventional methods.

Reeves, C. C., Jr.↗

Flow dynamic environment data base development for the SSME

The fluid flow-induced vibration of the Space Shuttle main engine (SSME) components are being studied with a view to correlating the frequency characteristics of the pressure fluctuations in a rocket engine to its operating conditions and geometry. An overview of the data base development for SSME test firing results and the interactive computer software used to access, retrieve, and plot or print the results selectively for given thrust levels, engine numbers, etc., is presented. The various statistical methods available in the computer code for data analysis are discussed. Plots of test data, nondimensionalized using parameters such as fluid flow velocities, densities, and pressures, are presented. Results are compared with those available in the literature. Correlations between the resonant peaks observed at higher frequencies in power spectral density plots with pump geometry and operating conditions are discussed. An overview of the status of the investigation is presented and future directions are discussed.

Sundaram, C. V.↗

Modal Correlation of Complex Aerospace Joints Using Automated Variable Substitution

A critical task involved with being able to predict flight loads accurately in aerospace finite element models (FEMs) is the prior verification of the FEMs by conducting modal survey testing (MST). Experience comparing dynamic response of initial FEMs to MST data tends to demonstrate that FEMs can have unacceptable accuracy even when best modeling practices are followed. One inherent source of inaccuracy in linear dynamic FEMs is the modeling of nonlinear joints with mechanisms such as spherical bearings. These joints are usually designed to freely translate or rotate under the high levels of loading experienced in flight. Engineers who create linear FEMs conventionally model these joints without any stiffness in the mechanism degrees of freedom to meet this design intent. However, inaccuracy is observed during test validation of these FEMs, which usually relies on low-level force excitation orders of magnitude below flight load levels. This low-level modal test rarely overcomes the joint friction that is present, and thus the mechanism joints are able to react loads. This divide between the test results and the FEM creates a significant challenge to the engineer who is performing the correlation, in that the engineer has no basis for what stiffness value should be used to make the FEM match the test results. A compounding challenge is that complicated built-up aerospace structures commonly have multiple joints through a load path where each joint will “stick” and “slip” at different levels of force input. Explicitly matching the dynamics of a system containing these nonlinear mechanisms would require a nonlinear FEM, which is prohibitively costly for dynamic simulations of most aerospace systems. The objective of this paper is to present a workflow that can efficiently cycle through many iterations of a FEM, allowing a Monte Carlo style examination of the design space to identify candidate stiffness values for nonlinear mechanism joints. The outlined approach is specific to MSC Nastran and utilizes MSC Nastran’s symbolic substitution capabilities, coupled with the IMAT™ and Attune™ software packages developed by ATA Engineering, Inc. (ATA). The workflow is demonstrated with a case study from the correlation effort for The Boeing Company’s Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 Starliner FEM. Keywords: Correlation, MSC Nastran, IMAT™, Attune™, Finite Element Model, Modal Testing

Correlation↗

Quantitative Measures for Software Independent Verification and Validation

As software is maintained or reused, it undergoes an evolution which tends to increase the overall complexity of the code. To understand the effects of this, we brought in statistics experts and leading researchers in software complexity, reliability, and their interrelationships. These experts' project has resulted in our ability to statistically correlate specific code complexity attributes, in orthogonal domains, to errors found over time in the HAL/S flight software which flies in the Space Shuttle. Although only a prototype-tools experiment, the result of this research appears to be extendable to all other NASA software, given appropriate data similar to that logged for the Shuttle onboard software. Our research has demonstrated that a more complete domain coverage can be mathematically demonstrated with the approach we have applied, thereby ensuring full insight into the cause-and-effects relationship between the complexity of a software system and the fault density of that system. By applying the operational profile we can characterize the dynamic effects of software path complexity under this same approach We now have the ability to measure specific attributes which have been statistically demonstrated to correlate to increased error probability, and to know which actions to take, for each complexity domain. Shuttle software verifiers can now monitor the changes in the software complexity, assess the added or decreased risk of software faults in modified code, and determine necessary corrections. The reports, tool documentation, user's guides, and new approach that have resulted from this research effort represent advances in the state of the art of software quality and reliability assurance. Details describing how to apply this technique to other NASA code are contained in this document.

Lee, Alice↗

Dynamic and static modeling of the shuttle orbiter's thermal protection system

The dynamic and static analysis methods used to model the nonlinear structural behavior of the Shuttle Orbiter's tile/pad thermal protection system are discussed. The structural evaluation of the tile/pad system is complicated by the nonlinear stiffening, hysteresis and viscosity exhibited by the pad material. Application of the analysis to square tiles subject to sinusoidal and random excitation is presented along with appropriate test data. Correlation is considered good. In order to treat the stress analysis of thousands of individual tiles, a nonlinear static analysis was developed which utilizes equivalent static loads derived from the dynamic environment. Tensile stress at the bondline is examined in thousands of unique tiles.

Housner, J. M.↗

Spatial Correlation in the Ambient Core Noise Field of a Turbofan Engine

An acoustic transfer function relating combustion noise and turbine exit noise in the presence of enclosed ambient core noise is investigated using a dynamic system model and an acoustic system model for the particular turbofan engine studied and for a range of operating conditions. Measurements of cross-spectra magnitude and phase between the combustor and turbine exit and auto-spectra at the turbine exit and combustor are used to show the presence of indirect and direct combustion noise over the frequency range of 0 400 Hz. The procedure used evaluates the ratio of direct to indirect combustion noise. The procedure used also evaluates the post-combustion residence time in the combustor which is a factor in the formation of thermal NOx and soot in this region. These measurements are masked by the ambient core noise sound field in this frequency range which is observable since the transducers are situated within an acoustic wavelength of one another. An ambient core noise field model based on one and two dimensional spatial correlation functions is used to replicate the spatially correlated response of the pair of transducers. The spatial correlation function increases measured attenuation due to destructive interference and masks the true attenuation of the turbine.

Miles, Jeffrey Hilton↗

Dynamically supported geoid highs over hotspots: Observation and theory

Hotspots are associated with long wavelength geoid highs, an association that is even stronger when the geoid highs associated with subduction zones are removed. These associations are quantified by expanding the hotspot distribution in spherical harmonics and calculating correlation coefficients as a function of harmonic degree. The hotspot distribution spectrum is essentially white, with peaks at degrees 2 and 6. It is correlated positively with the slab residual geoid for degrees 2 to 6, with low seismic velocity in the lower mantle at degree 2, and with low seismic velocity in the upper mantle at degree 6. A variety of fluid mechanical models were tested for hotspots, including lithospheric delamination and hot plumes, by calculating their predicted dynamic geoid responses and comparing them to the observations. These models include the effects of temperature dependent rheology. The preferred hotspot model, based on observations of the geoid and seismic tomography, has plumes preferentially occurring in regions of large scale background temperature highs in a mantle with substantial viscosity increase with depth, although other models are possible.

Richards, M. A.↗

Dynamically supported geoid highs over hotspots - Observation and theory

Hotspots are associated with long wavelength geoid highs, an association that is even stronger when the geoid highs associated with subduction zones are removed. These associations are quantified by expanding the hotspot distribution in spherical harmonics and calculating correlation coefficients as a function of harmonic degree. The hotspot distribution spectrum is essentially white, with peaks at degrees 2 and 6. It is correlated positively with the slab residual geoid for degrees 2 to 6, with low seismic velocity in the lower mantle at degree 2, and with low seismic velocity in the upper mantle at degree 6. A variety of fluid mechanical models were tested for hotspots, including lithospheric delamination and hot plumes, by calculating their predicted dynamic geoid responses and comparing them to the observations. These models include the effects of temperature dependent rheology. The preferred hotspot model, based on observations of the geoid and seismic tomography, has plumes preferentially occurring in regions of large scale background temperature highs in a mantle with substantial viscosity increase with depth, although other models are possible.

Richards, Mark A.↗

Space-Time Correlations and Spectra of Wall Pressure in a Turbulent Boundary Layer

Measurements of the statistical properties of the fluctuating wall pressure produced by a subsonic turbulent boundary layer are described. The measurements provide additional information about the structure of the turbulent boundary layer; they are applicable to the problems of boundary-layer induced noise inside an airplane fuselage and to the generation of waves-on water. The spectrum of the wall pressure is presented in dimensionless form. The ratio of the root-mean-square wall pressure to the free-stream dynamic pressure is found to be a constant square root of bar P(sup 2)/q(sub infinity) = 0.006 independent of Mach number and Reynolds number. In addition, space- time correlation measurements in the stream direction show that pressure fluctuations whose scale is greater than or equal to 0.3 times the boundary-layer thickness are convected with the convection speed U(sub c) = 0.82U(sub infinity) where U(infinity) is the free-stream velocity and have lost their identity in a distance approximately equal to 10 boundary-layer thicknesses.

Willmarth, W. W.↗

Recent Developments in Gun Operating Techniques at the NASA Ames Ballistic Ranges

This paper describes recent developments in gun operating techniques at the Ames ballistic range complex. This range complex has been in operation since the early 1960s. Behavior of sabots during separation and projectile-target impact phenomena have long been observed by means of short-duration flash X-rays: new versions allow operation in the lower-energy ("soft") X-ray range and have been found to be more effective than the earlier designs. The dynamics of sabot separation is investigated in some depth from X-ray photographs of sabots launched in the Ames 1.0 in and 1.5 in guns; the sabot separation dynamics appears to be in reasonably good agreement with standard aerodynamic theory. Certain sabot packages appear to suffer no erosion or plastic deformation on traversing the gun barrel, contrary to what would be expected. Gun erosion data from the Ames 0.5 in, 1.0 in, and 1.5 in guns is examined in detail and can be correlated with a particular non- dimensionalized powder mass parameter. The gun erosion increases very rapidly as this parameter is increased. Representative shapes of eroded gun barrels are given. Guided by a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, the operating conditions of the Ames 0.5 in and 1.5 in guns were modified. These changes involved: (1) reduction in the piston mass, powder mass and hydrogen fill pressure and (2) reduction in pump tube volume, while maintaining hydrogen mass. These changes resulted in muzzle velocity increases of 0.5-0.8 km/sec, achieved simultaneously with 30-50 percent reductions in gun erosion.

Bogdanoff, D. W.↗