Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “explainable”

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 883 records · Page 49

JAL/JAS Integration: Toward a New Era of Competition

On October 2, 2002, JAL and JAS established a new holding company after obtaining the necessary approval from the government bodies. Full integration is planned to take place in April 2004. This paper will primarily explain how JAL/JAS integration will enable JAL to compete effectively with ANA, the giant in the domestic market, and how it will reinforce JAL's competitiveness through further cost reduction and revenue enhancement. In addition, the paper will explain how the keener domestic competition brought about by this integration could resolve the following two issues for the first time in the Japanese aviation history. Those two issues are: (1) providing better service to domestic customers, and (2) making Japanese airlines more competitive against foreign airlines in the international market. As a result, the paper will argue that such an integration, a logical outcome of the post-war civil aviation history of Japan, will significantly benefit customers, Japanese aviation industry and Japanese society as a whole.

Kanenari, Hideyuki↗

The Collisions of Chondrules Behind Shock Waves

One of the reasons that the mechanism(s) responsible for the formation of chondrules has remained so elusive is that each proposed mechanism must be able to explain a large number of features observed in chondrules. Most models of chondrule formation focus on matching the expected thermal histories of chondrules: rapid heating followed by cooling during crystallization at rates between approx. 10-1000 K/hr [1], and references therein]. Thus far, only models for large shock waves in the solar nebula have quantitatively shown that the thermal evolution of millimeter-sized particles in the nebula can match these inferred thermal histories [2-4]. While this is a positive step for the shock wave model, further testing is needed to see if other properties of chondrules can be explained in the context of this model. One area of interest is understanding the collisional evolution of chondrules after they encounter a shock wave. These collisions could lead to sticking, destruction, or bouncing. Here we focus on understanding what conditions are needed for these different outcomes to occur and try to reconcile the seemingly contradictory conclusions reached by studies of compound chondrule formation and chondrule destruction by collisions behind a shock wave.

Ciesla, F. J.↗

Tidal Forces as Drivers of Collisional Evolution

Planetary collisions are usually understood as shock-related phenomena, analogous to impact cratering. But at large scales, where the impact timescale is comparable to the gravitational timescale, collisions can be dominated by gravitational torques and disruptive tides. Shock physics fares poorly, in many respects, in explaining asteroid and meteorite genesis. Melts, melt residues, welded agglomerates and hydrous and gasrich phases among meteorites lead to an array of diverse puzzles whose solution might be explained, in part, by the thermomechanics of tidal unloading. Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 disrupted in a process that is common in the present and ancestral solar system, so here we consider specific effects tidal disruption had on the evolution of asteroids, comets and meteorites the unaccreted residues of planet formation.

Asphaug, E.↗

Wavy Lineaments on Europa: Fracture Propagation into Combined Nonsynchronous and Diurnal Stress Fields

Understanding the processes that have operated on Europa and the manner in which they may have changed through time is fundamental to understanding the satellite's geology and present-day habitability. Previous studies have shown that lineament patterns on Europa can be explained by accumulation of tensile stress from slow nonsynchronous rotation (NSR), while the cycloidal planforms of other Europan lineaments can be explained if fractures propagate through a diurnally changing tensile stress field. We find that fractures propagated into combined diurnal and NSR stress fields can be "wavy" in planform for NSR stress accumulated over ~2 to 8 of ice shell rotation and average propagation speeds of approx. 1 to 3 m/s. The variety of Europa's observed lineament planforms from cycloidal, to wavy, to arcuate can be produced by accumulation of NSR stress relative to the diurnal stress field. Varying proportions of these stress mechanisms plausibly may be related to a time-variable (slowing) NSR rate.

Crawford, Zane↗

Northern Hemisphere Gullies on Mars: Analysis of Spacecraft Data and Implications for Formation Mechanisms

The origin of geologically recent gullies on Mars has remained controversial since the discovery of these features by Malin and Edgett in 2000. Numerous models have been proposed which invoke various physical processes as well as various agents of erosion to explain the origin of the Martian gullies. Hypotheses to explain the formation of the gullies invoke shallow liquid water aquifers, deep liquid water aquifers, melting ground ice, snowmelt, dry landslides, and carbon dioxide aquifers. We test the validity of such gully formation mechanisms by analyzing data from the Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey spacecrafts to uncover trends in the dimensional and physical properties of the gullies and their surrounding terrain. A similar study has previously been completed for gullies located in the southern hemisphere of Mars. The work presented here focuses exclusively on gullies in the northern hemisphere based on the identification of 136 Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) images containing clear evidence of gully landforms, distributed in the northern mid and high latitudes. These sites have been analyzed in combination with Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA), Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES), and Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS) data to provide quantitative measurements of numerous gully characteristics. Parameters measured include apparent source depth and distribution, vertical and horizontal dimensions, slopes, compass orientations, near-surface ice content, and factors controlling present-day climatic conditions.

Heldmann, J. L.↗

Atmospheric Fragmentation of the Canyon Diablo Meteoroid

About 50 kyr ago the impact of an iron meteoroid excavated Meteor Crater, Arizona, the first terrestrial structure widely recognized as a meteorite impact crater. Recent studies of ballistically dispersed impact melts from Meteor Crater indicate a compositionally unusually heterogeneous impact melt with high SiO2 and exceptionally high (10 to 25% on average) levels of projectile contamination. These are observations that must be explained by any theoretical modeling of the impact event. Simple atmospheric entry models for an iron meteorite similar to Canyon Diablo indicate that the surface impact speed should have been around 12 km/s [Melosh, personal comm.], not the 15-20 km/s generally assumed in previous impact models. This may help explaining the unusual characteristics of the impact melt at Meteor Crater. We present alternative initial estimates of the motion in the atmosphere of an iron projectile similar to Canyon Diablo, to constraint the initial conditions of the impact event that generated Meteor Crater.

Pierazzo, E.↗

A Dynamic Fountain Model for Lunar Dust

During the Apollo era of exploration it was discovered that sunlight was scattered at the terminators giving rise to horizon glow and streamers above the lunar surface. This was observed from the dark side of the Moon during sunset and sunrise by both surface landers and astronauts in orbit. These observations were quite unexpected, as the Moon was thought to be a pristine environment with a negligible atmosphere or exosphere. Subsequent investigations have shown that the sunlight was most likely scattered by electrostatically charged dust grains originating from the surface. It has since been demonstrated that this dust population could have serious implications for astronomical observations from the lunar surface. The lunar surface is electrostatically charged by the Moon s large-scale interaction with the local plasma environment and the photoemission of electrons due to solar ultra-violet (UV) light and X-rays. The like-charged surface and dust grains then act to repel each other, such that under certain conditions the dust grains are lifted above the surface. We present a dynamic fountain model which can explain how sub-micron dust is able to reach altitudes of up to approximately 100 km above the lunar surface. Previous static dust levitation models are most applicable to the heavier micron-sized grains in close proximity proximity to the surface, but they cannot explain the presence of extremely light grains at high altitudes. If we relax the static constraint applied to previous models, and instead assume that the grains are in constant motion (under the action of dynamic forces), a new picture emerges for the behavior of sub-micron lunar dust.

Stubbs, T. J.↗

Heterogeneous Chemistry Involving Methanol in Tropospheric Clouds

In this report we analyze airborne measurements to suggest that methanol in biomass burning smoke is lost heterogeneously in clouds. When a smoke plume intersected a cumulus cloud during the SAFARI 2000 field project, the observed methanol gas phase concentration rapidly declined. Current understanding of gas and aqueous phase chemistry cannot explain the loss of methanol documented by these measurements. Two plausible heterogeneous reactions are proposed to explain the observed simultaneous loss and production of methanol and formaldehyde, respectively. If the rapid heterogeneous processing of methanol, seen in a cloud impacted by smoke, occurs in more pristine clouds, it could affect the oxidizing capacity of the troposphere on a global scale.

Tabazadeh, A.↗

3 Lectures: "Lagrangian Models", "Numerical Transport Schemes", and "Chemical and Transport Models"

The topics for the three lectures for the Canadian Summer School are Lagrangian Models, numerical transport schemes, and chemical and transport models. In the first lecture I will explain the basic components of the Lagrangian model (a trajectory code and a photochemical code), the difficulties in using such a model (initialization) and show some applications in interpretation of aircraft and satellite data. If time permits I will show some results concerning inverse modeling which is being used to evaluate sources of tropospheric pollutants. In the second lecture I will discuss one of the core components of any grid point model, the numerical transport scheme. I will explain the basics of shock capturing schemes, and performance criteria. I will include an example of the importance of horizontal resolution to polar processes. We have learned from NASA's global modeling initiative that horizontal resolution matters for predictions of the future evolution of the ozone hole. The numerical scheme will be evaluated using performance metrics based on satellite observations of long-lived tracers. The final lecture will discuss the evolution of chemical transport models over the last decade. Some of the problems with assimilated winds will be demonstrated, using satellite data to evaluate the simulations.

Anne Douglass↗

Influence of Nucleation Mechanisms on the Radiative Properties of Deep Convective Clouds and Subvisible Cirrus in CRYSTAL/FACE

During the past few years we have conducted work on several different topics, as reflected by our publications. As one of the Co-Project scientists for The Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers - Florida Area Cirrus Experiment (CRYSTAL FACE) we worked to help design the mission and then conduct it in the field. Another major activity during the past two years has been to pull together various groups to formulate plans for follow on missions to CRYSTAL FACE. We organized a workshop at the University of Colorado during the summer of 2003 to assess the best locations for future missions. Working with a group of about 10 scientists from around the country we prepared a science-planning document (Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling Experiment (TC(sup 4)) that outlined the rationale, locations, strategy to accomplish the goals, and possible payloads for a set of three tropical missions. We also prepared background materials for various NRAs being prepared at NASA Headquarters for missions in Costa Rica, Darwin and Guam. In conjunction with the group at NASA Ames we have helped build a new numerical model for deep convection and have applied that model to simulate the CRYSTAL data. Our goal in particular has been to better understand how convection distributes water vapor isotopes. CRYSTAL observations of water isotopes are very different from those suggested by previous workers who assumed the isotopes would obey Rayleigh fractionation. The water isotope study has several implications. First it is a check on the realism of the deep convection model. Second, the isotopes are a measure of the precipitation removal in the atmosphere. Hence they provide a constraint on a parameter that is difficult to otherwise measure. Finally it has been suggested that isotopes may be the key to unraveling the water transport into the stratosphere and upper troposphere. Such transport is critical both for the radiation balance and for stratospheric chemistry. Ours is the first model that is able to treat this transport. Our initial results have just been submitted to Geophys. Res. Lett (Smith et al., 2005). Essentially we are able to explain the vertical profiles of isotopes in the tropical tropopause transition layer. We are also able to account for stratospheric humidity and isotope abundances with this model. We have also been heavily involved in trying to improve our understanding of nitric acid condensation on ice. Gao et al (2004) have shown that water supersaturations above ice occur when the atmosphere is supersaturated with respect to nitric acid trihydrate. As one of the co-authors of that work, we suggested the mechanism that may explain why this is occurring. Essentially, ice does not like to grow near unit supersaturation, but does so because the water molecules can find sites on the ice surface to attach themselves to before they fly off the ice surface. This phenomena was well known in the 1960s when it was a source of debate about whether condensation and evaporation coefficients for ice would be the same. Evaporation does not require any molecular orientation, while condensation does, so it was possible that the coefficients would differ. They don't differ because the water molecules rapidly move across the surface and find places to attach. Nitric acid may be occupying these preferred sites and therefore the water molecules can't find a desirable place to attach. We anticipate that this research will be the subject of laboratory work during the coming few years. Another possibility that has been suggested is that cubic ice is forming in clouds. We have measured the vapor pressure of cubic ice, and plan to publish that result in the next few months. We have also been working on additional aspects of the condensation of nitric acid on ice. With Y. Kondo we studied the condensation of NOy on ice using the SOLVE data. Gamblin et al. have continued this work. The CRYSTAL NOy and HNO, groups have shown th their data can be fit using standard Langmuir isotherms as suggested in some, but not all, laboratory studies. We have found in the SOLVE data set that this is not the case. Moreover some laboratory studies show there are important kinetic effects that may be occurring in the atmosphere limiting the transfer of nitric acid to the ice. The SOLVE data seem consistent with these studies. We are currently re-analyzing the CRYSTAL data to look for these kinetic effects. There are a number of implications of these studies. One of the more interesting is that the nitric acid coating on ice can be used as a cloud clock to determine how long the cloud parcel has been in existence. We have also been involved with several laboratory studies. We have worked to improve the database on ice optical constants, which are critical for remote sensing. We have also studied the ways in which ice nucleates on clays. We suspect now that the standard theories used for depositional ice nucleation are completely incorrect. Further work will be needed to develop a new theory.

Toon, Owen B.↗

Motor Control of Two Flywheels Enabling Combined Attitude Control and Bus Regulation

This presentation discussed the flywheel technology development work that is ongoing at NASA GRC with a particular emphasis on the flywheel system control. The "field orientation" motor/generator control algorithm was discussed and explained. The position-sensorless angle and speed estimation algorithm was presented. The motor current response to a step change in command at low (10 kRPM) and high (60 kRPM) was discussed. The flywheel DC bus regulation control was explained and experimental results presented. Finally, the combined attitude control and energy storage algorithm that controls two flywheels simultaneously was presented. Experimental results were shown that verified the operational capability of the algorithm. shows high speed flywheel energy storage (60,000 RPM) and the successful implementation of an algorithm to simultaneously control both energy storage and a single axis of attitude with two flywheels. Overall, the presentation demonstrated that GRC has an operational facility that

Kenny, Barbara H.↗

Using Remote Sensing Data to Evaluate Surface Soil Properties in Alabama Ultisols

Evaluation of surface soil properties via remote sensing could facilitate soil survey mapping, erosion prediction and allocation of agrochemicals for precision management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between soil spectral signature and surface soil properties in conventionally managed row crop systems. High-resolution RS data were acquired over bare fields in the Coastal Plain, Appalachian Plateau, and Ridge and Valley provinces of Alabama using the Airborne Terrestrial Applications Sensor multispectral scanner. Soils ranged from sandy Kandiudults to fine textured Rhodudults. Surface soil samples (0-1 cm) were collected from 163 sampling points for soil organic carbon, particle size distribution, and citrate dithionite extractable iron content. Surface roughness, soil water content, and crusting were also measured during sampling. Two methods of analysis were evaluated: 1) multiple linear regression using common spectral band ratios, and 2) partial least squares regression. Our data show that thermal infrared spectra are highly, linearly related to soil organic carbon, sand and clay content. Soil organic carbon content was the most difficult to quantify in these highly weathered systems, where soil organic carbon was generally less than 1.2%. Estimates of sand and clay content were best using partial least squares regression at the Valley site, explaining 42-59% of the variability. In the Coastal Plain, sandy surfaces prone to crusting limited estimates of sand and clay content via partial least squares and regression with common band ratios. Estimates of iron oxide content were a function of mineralogy and best accomplished using specific band ratios, with regression explaining 36-65% of the variability at the Valley and Coastal Plain sites, respectively.

Sullivan, Dana G.↗

CSA/ASC Press Briefing

Nicole Gignac, Senior Communications Advisor Canadian Space Agency (CSA), introduces the panel for this CSA/ASC press briefing. The panel consist of: Dr. Steve Maclean, CSA astronaut; Dr. Paul Cooper, Deputy General Manager, MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA); and Dr. Iain Christie, Director of Research and Development from NEPTEC. Maclean will fly on the STS-115 Mission in February of 2006. He presents pictures and talks about the crewmembers of the Space Shuttle Columbia and Space Shuttle Discovery. Maclean also discusses entry risks as it pertains to the leading edge wing of Discovery. Paul Cooper explains and shows a video presentation of Canadarm robotics. The briefing ends with Dr Christie explaining the sensitive three dimensional inspections are performed in space that looks for cracks in the leading edge wing of the Space Shuttle Discovery.

Source record↗

Impacts of the Variability of Ice Types on the Decline of the Arctic Perennial Sea Ice Cover

The observed rapid decline in the Arctic perennial ice cover is one of the most remarkable signal of change in the Arctic region. Updated data now show an even higher rate of decline of 9.8% per decade than the previous report of 8.9% per decade mainly because of abnormally low values in the last 4 years. To gain insights into this decline, the variability of the second year ice, which is the relatively thin component of the perennial ice cover, and other ice types is studied. The perennial ice cover in the 1990s was observed to be highly variable which might have led to higher production of second year ice and may in part explain the observed ice thinning during the period and triggered further decline. The passive microwave signature of second year ice is also studied and results show that while the signature is different from that of the older multiyear ice, it is surprisingly more similar to that of first year ice. This in part explains why previous estimates of the area of multiyear ice during the winter period are considerably lower than the area of the perennial ice cover during the preceding summer. Four distinct clusters representing radiometrically different types have been identified using multi-channel cluster analysis of passive microwave data. Data from two of these clusters, postulated to come from second year and older multiyear ice regions are also shown to have average thicknesses of 2.4 and 4.1 m, respectively, indicating that the passive microwave data may contain some ice thickness information that can be utilized for mass balance studies. The yearly anomaly maps indicate high gains of first year ice cover in the Arctic during the last decade which means higher production of second year ice and fraction of this type in the declining perennial ice cover. While not the only cause, the rapid decline in the perennial ice cover is in part caused by the increasing fractional component of the thinner second year ice cover that is very vulnerable to total melt due to warming in the Arctic, especially in spring.

Comiso, Josefino C.↗

A Hadronic Synchrotron Mirror Model for the "Orphan" Tev Flare in 1ES 1959+650

Very high energy gamma-ray flares of TeV blazars are generally accompanied by simultaneous flaring activity in X-rays. The recent observations by the Whipple collaboration of an "orphan" TeV flare of 1 ES 1959+650 (without a simultaneous X-ray flare) are very difficult to reconcile with the standard leptonic synchrotron self-Compton model, which is routinely very successfully employed to explain the spectral energy distribution and spectral variability of TeV blazars. In this paper an alternative scenario is suggested in which the orphan TeV flare may originate from relativistic protons, interacting with an external photon field supplied by electron synchrotron radiation reflected off a dilute reflector. While the external photons will be virtually "invisible" to the comoving ultrarelativistic electrons in the jet because of Klein-Nishina effects, their Doppler-boosted energy is high enough to excite a Delta-resonance from relativistic protons with Lorentz factors of gamma(sub p) approx. 10(exp 3)-10(exp 4). This model is capable of explaining the orphan TeV flare of 1ES 1959+650 with plausible parameters, thus constraining the number and characteristic energy of relativistic protons in the jet of this blazar.

Bottcher, Markus↗

Neutrino Emission in the Hadronic Synchrotron Mirror Model: The "Orphan" Flare from 1ES 1959+650

A challenge to standard leptonic synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) models is the so-called orphan TeV flares, i.e., enhanced very high energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission without any contemporaneous X-ray flaring activity, that have recently been observed in TeV blazars (e.g., 1ES 1959+650). In order to explain the orphan TeV flare of 1 ES 1959+650 observed in 2002 June, the so-called hadronic synchrotron mirror model has been developed. Here relativistic protons are proposed to exist in the jet and interact with reflected electron synchrotron radiation of the precursor SSC flare. If the reflector is located in the cloud region, time shifts of several days are possible between the precursor and the orphan flare. The external photons, blue-shifted in the comoving jet frame, are able to excite the Delta(1232) resonance when interacting with protons of Lorentz factors gamma(sub p) approx. 10(exp 3)-10(exp 4). The decay products of this resonance include charged pions, which, on decay, give rise to neutrino production during the orphan flare. In this paper we calculate the expected neutrino emission for the 2002 June 4 orphan TeV flare of 1ES 1959+650. We compare our results with the recent observations of AMANDA-II of a neutrino event in spatial and temporal coincidence with the orphan flare of this blazar. We find that the expected neutrino signal from the hadronic synchrotron mirror model is insufficient to explain the claimed neutrino signal from the direction of 1ES 1959+650.

Reimer, A.↗

Geochemistry of Pallasite Olivines and the Origin of Main-Group Pallasites

Main-group pallasites (PMG) are mixtures of iron-nickel metal and magnesian olivine thought to have been formed at the core-mantle boundary of an asteroid [1]. Some have anomalous metal compositions (PMG-am) and a few have atypically ferroan olivines (PMG-as) [2]. PMG metal is consistent with an origin as a late fractionate of the IIIAB iron core [2]. Most PMG olivines have very similar Fe/Mg ratios, likely due to subsolidus redox reaction with the metal [3]. In contrast, minor and trace elements show substantial variation, which may be explained by either: (i) PMG were formed at a range of depths in the parent asteroid; the element variations reflect variations in igneous evolution with depth, (ii) the pallasite parent asteroid was chemically heterogeneous; the heterogeneity partially survived igneous processing, or (iii) PMG represent the core-mantle boundaries of several distinct parent asteroids [4, 5]. We have continued doing major, minor and trace elements by EMPA and INAA on a wider suite of PMG olivines, and have begun doing precise oxygen isotope analyses to test these hypotheses. Manganese is homologous with Fe(2+), and can be used to distinguish between magmatic and redox processes as causes for Fe/Mg variations. PMG olivines have a range in molar 1000*Mn/Mg of 2.3-4.6 indicating substantial igneous fractionation in olivines with very similar Fe/Mg (0.138-0.148). The Mg-Mn-Fe distributions can be explained by a fractional crystallization-reduction model; higher Mn/Mg ratios reflect more evolved olivines while Fe/Mg is buffered by redox reactions with the metal. There is a positive association between Mn/Mg and Sc content that is consistent with igneous fractionation. However, most PMG olivines fall within a narrow Mn/Mg range (3.0-3.6), but these show a substantial range in Sc (1.00-2.29 micro-g/g). Assuming fractional crystallization, this Sc range could have resulted from approx.65% crystallization of an ultramafic magma. This is inconsistent with formation at the core-mantle boundary of a single asteroid [4]. One alternative is that the PMG are fragments of several asteroids, and these could have had different initial Sc contents, Mn/Mg and differences in igneous history. Our preliminary O isotope data and those of [6, 7] do not support this, although the coverage of PMG olivines is incomplete. The PMG-as Springwater is not easily fit in any scenario. Its olivine has among the highest Mn/Mg suggesting it is one of the most evolved, but the lowest Sc content suggesting it is the least evolved. The O isotopic composition of Springwater olivine is the same as that of other PMG. Thus there is no indication that it represents a distinct parent asteroid. Our preliminary O isotopic data favor a single PMG parent asteroid. In this case, the olivines are more likely melt-residues, and that the parent asteroid was initially heterogeneous in chemical, but not isotopic, composition.

Mittlefehldt, D. W.↗

The Latitudinal Excursion of Coronal Magnetic Field Lines in Response to Differential Rotation: MHD Simulations

Solar energetic particles, which are believed to originate from corotating interacting regions (CIRS) at low heliographic latitude, were observed by the Ulysses spacecraft even as it passed over the Sun's poles. One interpretation of this result is that high-latitude field lines intercepted by Ulysses connect to low-latitude CIRs at much larger heliocentric distances. The Fisk model explains the latitudinal excursion of magnetic field lines in the solar corona and heliosphere as the inevitable consequence of the interaction of a tilted dipole in a differentially rotating photosphere with rigidly rotating coronal holes. We use a time-dependent three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) algorithm to follow the evolution of a simple model of the solar corona in response to the differential rotation of the photospheric magnetic flux. We examine the changes of the coronal-hole boundaries, the redistribution of the line-of-sight magnetic field, and the precession of field lines in the corona. Our results confirm the basic idea of the Fisk model, that differential rotation leads to changes in the heliographic latitude of magnetic field lines. However, the latitudinal excursion of magnetic field lines in this simple "tilted dipole" model is too small to explain the Ulysses observations. Although coronal holes in our model rotate more rigidly than do photospheric features (in general agreement with observations), they do not rotate strictly rigidly as assumed by Fisk. This basic difference between our model and Fisk's will be explored in the future by considering more realistic magnetic flux distributions, as observed during Ulysses polar excursions.

Lionello, Roberto↗