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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.

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At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2002

Airborne Geomagnetic Investigations at the Haughton Impact Structure, Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada: New Results

The well-preserved 23-Ma Haughton impact structure has an original rim diameter estimated at about 24 km. This work extends and completes the survey begun in 1999 to characterize the geomagnetic signature of Haughton. Mapping extent was about 75 W 60 km in order to clearly delineate regional features. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Glass, B. J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

On the shape and dynamics of wall structures in turbulent channel flow

Turbulence-producing events in turbulent channel flow were found to be predominantly associated with a symmetric vortical structures rather than pairs of counter-rotating structures. An asymmetry-preserving averaging scheme was devised, allowing a picture of the 'average' structure that more closely resembles the instantaneous one to be obtained. In addition, these structures were found to persist for long distances with little change while convecting downstream.

Guezennec, Yann G.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Effects of Microgravity on the Formation of Aerogels

This paper describes research to investigate fundamental aspects of the effects of microgravity on the formation of the microstructure of metal oxide alcogels and aerogels. We are studying the role of gravity on pore structure and gel uniformity in collaboration with Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) on gelling systems under microgravity conditions. While this project was just initiated in May 1998, related research performed earlier is described along with the plans and rationale for the current microgravity investigation to provide background and describe newly developing techniques that should be useful for the current gellation studies. The role of gravity in materials processing must be investigated through the study of well-mastered systems. Sol-gel processed materials are near-perfect candidates to determine the effect of gravity on the formation and growth of random clusters from hierarchies of aggregated units. The processes of hydrolysis, condensation, aggregation and gellation in the formation of alcogels are affected by gravity and therefore provide a rich system to study under microgravity conditions. Supercritical drying of the otherwise unstable wet alcogel preserves the alcogel structure produced during sol-gel processing as aerogel. Supercritically dried aerogel provides for the study of material microstructures without interference from the effects of surface tension, evaporation, and solvent flow. Aerogels are microstructured, low density open-pore solids. They have many unusual properties including: transparency, excellent thermal resistance, high surface area, very low refractive index, a dielectric constant approaching that of air, and extremely low sound velocity. Aerogels are synthesized using sol-gel processing followed by supercritical solvent extraction that leaves the original gel structure virtually intact. These studies will elucidate the effects of microgravity on the homogeneity of the microstructure and porosity of aerogel. The presence of poorly controlled microporosity in aerogel leads to material non-uniformity that gives rise to increased light scattering. Investigation of the effect of gravity driven solute flows within microclusters and their effect on condensation and agglomeration reactions will enable us to improve the preparation and properties of aerogel. Increased clarity of images viewed through aerogel and decreased scattering from the pores of aerogel will significantly improve the prospects for large-scale adoption of aerogel in such applications as transparent insulating windows, high performance thermal insulation, and Cherenkov detectors.

Hunt, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Novel Shock Microstructures in Accessory Minerals from the Haughton Dome, Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada

The 23 km-diameter, ca. 24 Ma Haughton Dome impact structure in the Canadian Arctic on Devon Island, Nunavut (89deg41′W, 75deg22′N) occurred within a two layered target composed of a shallowly-dipping ~1700 m thick succession of Paleozoic limestones and evaporates overlying ca.1.9 Ga high grade gneisses [1, 2]. Within the structure a well preserved impact melt bearing breccia unit contains a variety of shocked clasts from the pre-impact sediments and basement gneisses [3]. Due to their high level of preservation a variety of studies have been undertaken on the clast population of the melt bearing breccia, including characterization of shock within the accessory minerals of the basement lithologies [4, 5]. This study presents high resolution electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) microstructural data for zircon and monazite from historic samples of the basement gneiss, in which bulk shock pressures have been previously constrained based on major phases [4, 6]. Shocked zircon and monazite grains have been investigated from shock stage 1b (sample 72110), 2 (7273) and 3 (7192, Dig-9) [4, 6]. At lower shock levels zircon displays planar microstructures consistent with mechanical shock {112} twin formation [7] and deviatoric transformation to the high pressure polymorph reidite [8]. Zircon grains from shock stage three show a more chaotic microstructure with multiple orientations of tightly spaced sets of reidite that are variably recrystallized to zircon neoblasts. Monazite from lower shock stages contains a number of mechanical twin orientations that are indicative of shock deformation [9]. At higher shock pressures a lath like structure of interlocking twin orientations has been identified. This microstructure is suggestive of a reversion transformation from a high pressure polymorph [10] and is the first evidence for the transformation of monazite during shock.

Erickson, Timmons M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

An optimal structure for a 34-meter millimeter-wave center-fed BWG antenna: The Cross-Box concept

An approach to the design of the planned NASA/JPL 34 m elevation-over-azimuth (Az-El) antenna structure at the Venus site (DSS-13) is presented. The antenna structural configuration accommodates a large (2.44 m) beam waveguide (BWG) tube centrally routed through the reflector-alidade structure, an elevation wheel design, and an optimal structural geometry. The design encompasses a cross-box elevation wheel-reflector base substructure that preserves homology while satisfying many constraints, such as structure weight, surface tolerance, stresses, natural frequency, and various functional constraints. The functional requirements are set to ensure that microwave performance at millimeter wavelengths is adequate. The cross-box configuration was modeled, optimized, and found to satisfy all DSN HEF baseline antenna specifications. In addition, the structure design was conceptualized and analyzed with an emphasis on preserving the structure envelope and keeping modifications relative to the HEF antennas to a minimum, thus enabling the transferability of the BWG technology for future retrofitting. Good performance results were obtained.

Chuang, K. L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A model for radar images and its application to adaptive digital filtering of multiplicative noise

Standard image processing techniques which are used to enhance noncoherent optically produced images are not applicable to radar images due to the coherent nature of the radar imaging process. A model for the radar imaging process is derived in this paper and a method for smoothing noisy radar images is also presented. The imaging model shows that the radar image is corrupted by multiplicative noise. The model leads to the functional form of an optimum (minimum MSE) filter for smoothing radar images. By using locally estimated parameter values the filter is made adaptive so that it provides minimum MSE estimates inside homogeneous areas of an image while preserving the edge structure. It is shown that the filter can be easily implemented in the spatial domain and is computationally efficient. The performance of the adaptive filter is compared (qualitatively and quantitatively) with several standard filters using real and simulated radar images.

Frost, V. S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Conditionally-averaged structures in wall-bounded turbulent flows

The quadrant-splitting and the wall-shear detection techniques were used to obtain ensemble-averaged wall layer structures. The two techniques give similar results for Q4 events, but the wall-shear method leads to smearing of Q2 events. Events were found to maintain their identity for very long times. The ensemble-averaged structures scale with outer variables. Turbulence producing events were associated with one dominant vortical structure rather than a pair of counter-rotating structures. An asymmetry-preserving averaging scheme was devised that allowed a picture of the average structure which more closely resembles the instantaneous one, to be obtained.

Guezennec, Yann G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

A description of the correlated k distributed method for modeling nongray gaseous absorption, thermal emission, and multiple scattering in vertically inhomogeneous atmospheres

A radiative transfer method for treating nongray gaseous absorption and thermal emission in vertically inhomogeneous multiple scattering atmospheres is described. Probability density distributions of absorption coefficient strength are derived from line-by-line calculations to construct line-by-line and band model based k distributions. The monotonic ordering of absorption coefficient strengths in these k distributions implicitly preserves the monochromatic structure of the atmosphere at different pressure levels, thus simulating monochromatic spectral integration at a fraction of the line-by-line computing cost. The k distribution approach also permits accurate modeling of overlapping absorption by different atmospheric gases and accurate treatment of nongray absorption in multiple scattering media. It is shown that the correlated k distribution method is capable of achieving numerical accuracy to within 1 percent of cooling rates obtained with line-by-line calculations throughout the troposphere and most of the stratosphere.

Lacis, Andrew A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

A third order Runge-Kutta algorithm on a manifold

A third order Runge-Kutta type algorithm is described with the property that it preserves certain geometric structures. In particular, if the algorithm is initialized on a Lie group, then the resulting iterates remain on the Lie group.

Crouch, P. E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Continual expansion of the active-region corona observed by the Yohkoh Soft X-ray Telescope

We have found from the observations of the Yohkoh Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) that the corona above active regions expands occasionally, and almost continually in the cases of 'active' active regions. The key to this discovery has been a movie representation of the Yohkoh SXT data, which, for the first time, provides adequate sampling and continuity for this purpose. The movies show ubiquitous expansions above the active regions, with velocities in the range of a few to a few tens km/s. The expansion appears to preserve the overall structure of the active-region corona. This finding of almost continual expansion of the active-region corona may affect some of the basic ideas concerning active regions, as well as those of the mass-loss from the Sun and Sunlike stars.

Uchida, Yutaka↗
NASA NTRS1993

High accuracy computation of fluid-structure interaction in transonic cascades

A coupling strategy for simulating fluid-structure interaction phenomena is formulated and applied to the prediction of flutter in transonic cascades. The flow is governed by the Euler equations and discretized using a finite volume flux-splitting scheme. The structure is modeled using an isoparametric finite element formulation. The coupling strategy successfully reconciles these two formulations at the fluid-structure interface by enforcing both kinematic and kinetic boundary conditions. In particular, the conservation laws applicable to the combined fluid-structure system are preserved across the interface. Since the primary mechanism driving aeroelastic phenomena involves energy exchange occurring at the interface, this highly accurate coupling mechanism is believed to improve the predictive capability of the scheme. The coupled equations are advanced simultaneously in time using an implicit time integration method. Results obtained using the coupling method are presented for cascade geometries operating in transonic flow.

Boschitsch, Alexander↗
NASA NTRS1993

Numerical vorticity capturing for vortex-solid body interaction problems

A new numerical method based on adding a term to the Euler/Navier-Stokes equations has been demonstrated it can effectively treat vortex-dominated flows using low-order numerical schemes and coarse grids. The numerical diffusion introduced by convection schemes can be eliminated by modifying the velocity field as a result of solving the modified flow governing equations. The modification of the velocity field, which conserves the total vorticity, essentially convects the vorticity toward its local extreme to offset the numerical diffusion. This method preserves the vortex structure even when vortices travel on coarse grid region. The method is implemented with two distinctive codes: a Navier-Stokes flow solver based on vorticity-velocity formulation and an Euler code based on velocity-pressure formulation. Problems presented in this paper include airfoil dynamic stall, vortex airfoil interaction, and vortex-fuselage interactions.

Wang, Clin M.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Fluid-structural interactions using Navier-Stokes flow equations coupled with shell finite element structures

A computational procedure is presented to study fluid-structural interaction problems for three-dimensional aerospace structures. The flow is modeled using the three-dimensional unsteady Euler/Navier-Stokes equations and solved using the finite-difference approach. The three dimensional structure is modeled using shell/plate finite-element formulation. The two disciplines are coupled using a domain decomposition approach. Accurate procedures both in time and space are developed to combine the solutions from the flow equations with those of the structural equations. Time accuracy is maintained using aeroelastic configuration-adaptive moving grids that are computed every time step. The work done by aerodynamic forces due to structural deformations is preserved using consistent loads. The present procedure is validated by computing the aeroelastic response of a wing and comparing with experiment. Results are illustrated for a typical wing-body configuration.

Guruswamy, Guru P.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Coronal electron stream and Langmuir wave detection inside a propagation channel at 4.3 AU

Observations of an energetic interplanetary electron event associated with the production of Langmuir waves, both of which are identified at 4.3 AU by instruments on the Ulysses spacecraft, are presented in this paper. This electron event propagates inside a well-defined magnetic structure. The existence of this structure is firmly established by joint particle and plasma observations made by Ulysses instruments. Its local estimated radial width is of the order of 2.3 x 10(exp 7) km (0.15 AU). The electron beam is associated with a type III burst observed from Earth at high frequencies and at low frequencies from Ulysses in association with Langmuir waves detected inside the structure. The consistency of local (Ulysses) and remote (Earth) observations in terms of temporal and geometrical considerations establishes that the structure is anchored in the solar corona near the solar active region responisble for the observed type III emission and gives an accurate determination of the injection time for the observed electron beam. Propagation analysis of the electron event is presented. In order to quantify the magnetic field properties, a variance analysis has been performed and is presented in this paper. The analysis establishes that inside the structure the amount of magnetic energy involved in the fluctuations is less than 4% of the total magnetic energy; the minimal variance direction is well defined and in coincidence with the direction of the mean magnetic field. This configuration may produce conditions favorable for scatter free streaming of energetic electrons and/or Langmuir wave production. The results presented show that the magnetic field might play a role in stabilizing the coronal-origin plasma structures and then preserving them to large, approximately 4 AU, distances in the heliosphere.

Buttighoffer, A.↗
NASA NTRS2000

[Measurement of Speed and Direction of Ocean Surface Winds Using Quik Scat Scatterometer]

The SeaWinds on QuikSCAT scatterometer was developed by NASA JPL to measure the speed and direction of ocean surface winds. Simulations performed to estimate the performance of the instrument prior to its launch have indicated that the mid-swath accuracy is worse than that of the rest of the swath. This behavior is a general characteristic of scanning pencil beam scatterometers. For SeaWinds, the accuracy of the rest of the swath, and the size of the swath are such that the instrument meets its science requirements despite mid-swath shortcomings. However, by understanding the problem at mid-swath, we can improve the performance there as well. We discuss the underlying causes of the problem in detail and propose a new wind retrieval algorithm which improves mid-swath performance. The directional discrimination ability of the instrument varies with cross track distance wind speed, and direction. By estimating the range of likely wind directions for each measurement cell, one can optimally apply information from neighboring cells where necessary in order to reduce random wind direction errors without significantly degrading the resolution of the resultant wind field. In this manner we are able to achieve mid-swath RMS wind direction errors as low as 15 degrees for low winds and 10 degrees for moderate to high winds, while at the same time preserving high resolution structures such as cyclones and fronts.

Stiles, Bryan↗
NASA NTRS2000

A Probabilistic Technique for Improving the Mid-Swath Wind Direction Accuracy of Scanning Pencil Beam Scatterometers

The SeaWinds on QuikSCAT scatterometer is a device developed by NASA JPL to measure the speed and direction of ocean surface winds. Simulations performed in order to determine the expected performance of the instrument prior to its launch have indicated that the accuracy of the retrieved wind vectors varies across the swath. In particular the mid-swath accuracy is worse than that of the rest of the swath. This behavior is a general characteristic of scanning pencil beam scatterometers. For SeaWinds, the accuracy of the rest of the swath, and the size of the swath are such that the instrument meets its science requirements despite mid-swath shortcomings. However, by understanding the problem at mid-swath, we can improve the performance there as well, yielding even better coverage and accuracy than was originally intended. The mid-swath performance degradation is due to suboptimal viewing geometry. In particular mid-swath measurements contains measurements from two azimuths, roughly 180 degrees apart. With the standard wind retrieval technique, mid-swath root mean square (RMS) wind direction errors are approximately 30 degrees for low wind speeds (3 - 5.5 m/s) and 20 degrees for moderate to high wind speeds (5.5 - 30 m/s). We discuss the underlying causes of this phenomenon in detail and propose a modification to the wind retrieval technique in order to improve mid-swath performance. By estimating the range of likely wind directions for each measurement cell, one can optimally apply information from neighboring cells in order to reduce random wind direction errors without significantly degrading the resolution of the resultant wind field. In this manner we are able to achieve mid-swath RMS wind direction errors as low as 15 degrees for low winds and 10 degrees for moderate to high winds, while at the same time preserving high resolution structures such as cyclones and fronts. Since our results are based on simulated data, we also outline a procedure for making use of real data to optimize the technique after launch.

Stiles, Bryan↗
NASA NTRS2006

Chemical, Physical, and Mechanical Characterization of Isocyanate Cross-linked Amine-Modified Silica Aerogels

We describe a new mechanically strong lightweight porous composite material obtained by encapsulating the skeletal framework of amine-modified silica aerogels with polyurea. The conformal polymer coating preserves the mesoporous structure of the underlying silica framework and the thermal conductivity remains low at 0.041 plus or minus 0.001 W m(sup -1 K(sup -1). The potential of the new cross-linked silica aerogels for load-carrying applications was determined through characterization of their mechanical behavior under compression, three-point bending, and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). A primary glass transition temperature of 130 C was identified through DMA. At room temperature, results indicate a hyperfoam behavior where in compression cross-linked aerogels are linearly elastic under small strains (less than 4%) and then exhibit yield behavior (until 40% strain), followed by densification and inelastic hardening. At room temperature the compressive Young's modulus and the Poisson's ratio were determined to be 129 plus or minus 8 MPa and 0.18, respectively, while the strain at ultimate failure is 77% and the average specific compressive stress at ultimate failure is 3.89 x 10(exp 5) N m kg(sup -1). The specific flexural strength is 2.16 x 10(exp 4) N m kg(sup -1). Effects on the compressive behavior of strain rate and low temperature were also evaluated.

Katti, Atul↗
NASA NTRS2009

The Transition of High-Resolution NASA MODIS Sea Surface Temperatures into the WRF Environmental Modeling System

The NASA Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center has developed a Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sea surface temperature (SST) composite at 2-km resolution that has been implemented in version 3 of the National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Environmental Modeling System (EMS). The WRF EMS is a complete, full physics numerical weather prediction package that incorporates dynamical cores from both the Advanced Research WRF (ARW) and the Non-hydrostatic Mesoscale Model (NMM). The installation, configuration, and execution of either the ARW or NMM models is greatly simplified by the WRF EMS to encourage its use by NWS Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) and the university community. The WRF EMS is easy to run on most Linux workstations and clusters without the need for compilers. Version 3 of the WRF EMS contains the most recent public release of the WRF-NMM and ARW modeling system (version 3 of the ARW is described in Skamarock et al. 2008), the WRF Pre-processing System (WPS) utilities, and the WRF Post-Processing program. The system is developed and maintained by the NWS National Science Operations Officer Science and Training Resource Coordinator. To initialize the WRF EMS with high-resolution MODIS SSTs, SPoRT developed the composite product consisting of MODIS SSTs over oceans and large lakes with the NCEP Real-Time Global (RTG) filling data over land points. Filling the land points is required due to minor inconsistencies between the WRF land-sea mask and that used to generate the MODIS SST composites. This methodology ensures a continuous field that adequately initializes all appropriate arrays in WRF. MODIS composites covering the Gulf of Mexico, western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean are generated daily at 0400, 0700, 1600, and 1900 UTC corresponding to overpass times of the NASA Aqua and Terra polar orbiting satellites. The MODIS SST product is output in gridded binary-1 (GRIB-1) data format for a seamless incorporation into WRF via the WPS utilities. The full-resolution, 1-km MODIS product is sub-sampled to 2-km grid spacing due to limitations in handling very large dimensions in the GRIB-1 data format. The GRIB-1 files are posted online at ftp://ftp.nsstc.org/sstcomp/WRF/, which is directly accessed by the WRF EMS scripts. The MODIS SST composites are also downloaded to the EMS data server, which is accessible by the WRF EMS users and NWS WFOs. The SPoRT MODIS SST composite provides the model with superior detail of the ocean gradients around Florida and surrounding waters, whereas the operational RTG SST typically depicts a relatively smooth field and is not able to capture sharp horizontal gradients in SST. Differences of 2-3 C are common over small horizontal distances, leading to enhanced SST gradients on either side of the Gulf Stream and along the edges of the cooler shelf waters. These sharper gradients can in turn produce atmospheric responses in simulated temperature and wind fields as depicted in LaCasse et al. Differences in atmospheric verification statistics over a several month study were generally small in the vicinity of south Florida; however, the validation of SSTs at specific buoy locations revealed important improvements in the biases and RMS errors, especially in the vicinity of the cooler shelf waters off the east-central Florida coast. A current weakness in the MODIS SST product is the occurrence of occasional discontinuities caused by high latency in SST coverage due to persistent cloud cover. An enhanced method developed by Jedlovec et al. (2009, GHRSST User Symposium) reduces the occurrence of these problems by adding Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer -- EOS (AMSR-E) SST data to the compositing process. Enhanced SST composites are produced over the ocean regions surrounding the Continental U.S. at four times each day corresponding to Terra and Aqua equator crossing times. For a given day and overpass time, both MODInd AMSR-E data from the previous seven days form a collection used in the compositing. At each MODIS pixel, cloud-free SST values from the collection are used to form a weighted average based on their latency (number of days from the current day). In this way, recent SST data are given more weight than older data. One of the primary issues involved in incorporating the AMSR-E microwave data in the composites is the tradeoff between the decreased spatial resolution of the AMSR-E data (25 km) and the increased coverage due to its near all-weather capability. Currently, the AMSR-E is given a weight of 20% compared to MODIS data, thereby preserving the spatial structure observed in the MODIS data. Day-time (night-time) AMSR-E SST data from Aqua are used with both Terra and Aqua MODIS day-time (night-time) SST data sets.

Case, Jonathan L.↗