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NASA NTRS1977

Contribution to polar albedo from a mesospheric aerosol layer

An examination is made of the impact of a layer of particulate matter, assumed to be ice crystals, on the albedo of the polar region. The model is time dependent, includes the growth of the layer, and incorporates the diffuse nature of radiation reflected from the surface and atmosphere. Although the magnitude of the effect is about an order of magnitude less than previous results, the impact is one of heating instead of cooling. It is also shown that ignoring the diffuse nature of the radiation reflected from the underlying earth-atmosphere system, as has been done in many previous simple models, can result in overestimation of the climatological impact of aerosols in sign and magnitude by a factor of up to 4-6.

Hummel, J. R.↗

NASA NTRS2015

Vibroacoustic Tailoring of a Rod-Stiffened Composite Fuselage Panel with Multidisciplinary Considerations

An efficient multi-objective design tailoring procedure seeking to improve the vibroacoustic performance of a fuselage panel while maintaining or reducing weight is presented. The structure considered is the pultruded rod stitched efficient unitized structure, a highly integrated composite structure concept designed for a noncylindrical, next-generation flight vehicle fuselage. Modifications to a baseline design are evaluated within a six-parameter design space including spacing, flange width, and web height for both frame and stringer substructure components. The change in sound power radiation attributed to a design change is predicted using finite-element models sized and meshed for analyses in the 500 Hz, 1 kHz, and 2 kHz octave bands. Three design studies are carried out in parallel while considering a diffuse acoustic field excitation and two types of turbulent boundary-layer excitation. Kriging surrogate models are used to reduce the computational costs of resolving the vibroacoustic and weight objective Pareto fronts. The resulting Pareto optimal designs are then evaluated under a static pressurization ultimate load to assess structural strength and stability. Results suggest that choosing alternative configurations within the considered design space can reduce weight and improve vibroacoustic performance without compromising strength and stability of the structure under the static load condition considered, but the tradeoffs are significantly influenced by the spatial characteristics of the assumed excitation field.

Allen, Albert R.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Multiscale Modeling of the Uptake of Hydrogen Chloride on Anodized Aluminum in Relevance to Spacecraft Fire Safety

Fire safety is a critical component of space missions. An electrical fire within the spacecraft often produces gaseous hydrogen chloride (HCl) from the smoldering of wire insulation. These gases tend to stick to the interior materials of the spacecraft, which is often comprised of treated aluminum. Determining the rate of uptake for HCl by aluminum helps the safe design of the spacecraft to reduce catastrophic mission risk. Our previous studies showed that a one-step global reaction model for adsorption of HCl on aluminum is incapable of predicting the experimentally measured HCl uptake of anodized aluminum, compared to other treatments with thinner oxide layers. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that aluminum chloride is found deep in the oxide layer of the anodized aluminum, implying that the transport of HCl within the oxide layer covering the aluminum surface must be considered. This work uses a multiscale modeling approach to predict the uptake of HCl. A pore model is developed wherein the HCl reacts with the aluminum oxide pore walls to create an aluminum chloride layer. The HCl then diffuses through that layer for further reaction, until the diffusion resistance grows too large, and the surface is said to be saturated. The pore model is then coupled with the reactor-scale model to predict overall HCl uptake. Results show that this new multiscale approach predicts the uptake of HCl far more accurately than previously used single-scale models.

Modeling↗

NASA NTRS1985

Electrical coupling effects on the temporal evolution of F layer plasma structure

A time dependent model of F region structure decay by 'classical' cross field diffusion and electrical coupling along magnetic field lines to the E region is examined. The temporal behavior of the ion concentration fluctuations is determined by the electric field in the coupled system as well as by the initial perturbation spectra and the E region recombination rate. The formation of image structure in the E region ion concentration affects the lifetime of F layer structure in a scale size dependent way. Once an image is formed, the image amplitude and the driving F region structure amplitude decay at the same rate. At large scale sizes of at least lambda(2pi/k), this rate is proportional to k2 and the ratio of the temperatures in each region. At small scale sizes it depends on the E region recombination rate and the temperatures of the two regions but is only very weakly dependent on k. The background E region concentration determines the wave number beyond which the structure amplitude decay rate is almost independent of its scale size.

Heelis, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS2019

A Multi-Physics Study on High-Specific Power Li-O2 Batteries for Electric Aircraft

Commercialization of lithium-air batteries faces many challenges, such as electrolyte decomposition, short cycle life, low energy and power density, etc. However, commercialization of Li-O2 batteries for aeronautics is much more challenging due to additional safety constraints on cyclability and performance (high specific power and specific energy). For this presentation, we will discuss inter-related aspects of physics-based modeling of a pack: cell and battery model calibration. In addition, we will evaluate and present optimal battery designs for high discharge current density, high discharge time, and low battery mass using simulation-based optimization.The Finite Element Model (FEM) used to simulate a Li-O2 cell is based on the work of Bevara [1]. The different aspects of the model are based on: porous electrode theory and concentrated electrolyte theory; quantum tunneling model for the resistance of conformal layer of discharge product (Li2O2) [1]; Butler-Volmer kinetics for electrochemical reaction; Fick's diffusion for oxygen transport; and an oxygen dissolution model is applied at the air/electrolyte interface [2]. The electrolyte properties such as ion conductivity, ion diffusion, oxygen diffusion, and mass density of the electrolyte were taken from Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations [3]; while the other model parameters, which includes mass of cell components, were calibrated to match experiments at high discharge current densities. The cell mass includes the anode, cathode, separator, electrolyte, and other components (such as current collector). This calibrated model is used to perform parametric studies on cathode thickness, porosity, tortuosity, carbon particle size, electrolyte transport and material properties, partial pressure of oxygen, discharge time, and discharge current density to study optimal designs for high specific power and energy. References:1. Bevara, V. & Andrei, P. (2014), J. Electrochem. Soc. 161 (14), A2068-A2079.2.Mehta, M. & Andrei, P. (2015), J. Power Sources. 286, 299-308.3.Liyana-Arachchi, T.; Haskins, J.; Burke, C.; Diederichsen, K.; McCloskey, B.; & Lawson, J. (2018), J. Phys. Chem. B. 122 (36), 8548 - 8559.4.Choi, W.; Kikumoto, H.; Choudhary, R. & Ooka, R. (2018), Applied Energy, 209, 306-321.

Mehta, Mohit↗

NASA NTRS2011

Test-Anchored Vibration Response Predictions for an Acoustically Energized Curved Orthogrid Panel with Mounted Components

rich body of vibroacoustic test data was recently generated at Marshall Space Flight Center for component-loaded curved orthogrid panels typical of launch vehicle skin structures. The test data were used to anchor computational predictions of a variety of spatially distributed responses including acceleration, strain and component interface force. Transfer functions relating the responses to the input pressure field were generated from finite element based modal solutions and test-derived damping estimates. A diffuse acoustic field model was applied to correlate the measured input sound pressures across the energized panel. This application quantifies the ability to quickly and accurately predict a variety of responses to acoustically energized skin panels with mounted components. Favorable comparisons between the measured and predicted responses were established. The validated models were used to examine vibration response sensitivities to relevant modeling parameters such as pressure patch density, mesh density, weight of the mounted component and model form. Convergence metrics include spectral densities and cumulative root-mean squared (RMS) functions for acceleration, velocity, displacement, strain and interface force. Minimum frequencies for response convergence were established as well as recommendations for modeling techniques, particularly in the early stages of a component design when accurate structural vibration requirements are needed relatively quickly. The results were compared with long-established guidelines for modeling accuracy of component-loaded panels. A theoretical basis for the Response/Pressure Transfer Function (RPTF) approach provides insight into trends observed in the response predictions and confirmed in the test data. The software developed for the RPTF method allows easy replacement of the diffuse acoustic field with other pressure fields such as a turbulent boundary layer (TBL) model suitable for vehicle ascent. Structural responses using a TBL model were demonstrated, and wind tunnel tests have been proposed to anchor the predictions and provide new insight into modeling approaches for this environment. Finally, design load factors were developed from the measured and predicted responses and compared with those derived from traditional techniques such as historical Mass Acceleration Curves and Barrett scaling methods for acreage and component-loaded panels.

Frady, Gregory P.↗

NASA NTRS1956

A Theory for Stability and Buzz Pulsation Amplitude in Ram Jets and an Experimental Investigation Including Scale Effects

From a theory developed on a quasi-one-dimensional-flow basis, it is found that the stability of the ram jet is dependent upon the instantaneous values of mass flow and total pressure recovery of the supersonic diffuser and immediate neighboring subsonic diffuser. Conditions for stable and unstable flow are presented. The theory developed in the report is in agreement with the experimental data of NACA-TN-3506 and NACA-RM-L50K30. A simple theory for predicting the approximate amplitude of small pressure pulsation in terms of mass-flow decrement from minimum-stable mass flow is developed and found to agree with experiments. Cold-flow tests at a Mach number of 1.94 of ram-jet models having scale factors of 3.15:1 and Reynolds number ratios of 4.75:1 with several supersonic diffuser configurations showed only small variations in performance between geometrically similar models. The predominant variation in steady-flow performance resulted from the larger boundary layer in the combustion chamber of the low Reynolds number models. The conditions at which buzz originated were nearly the same for the same supersonic diffuser (cowling-position angle) configurations in both large and small diameter models. There was no appreciable variation in stability limits of any of the models when the combustion-chamber length was increased by a factor of three. The unsteady-flow performance and wave patterns were also similar when considered on a reduced-frequency basis determined from the relative lengths of the model. The negligible effect of Reynolds number on stability of the off-design configurations was not anticipated in view of the importance of boundary layer to stability, and this result should not be construed to be generally applicable. (author)

Trimpi, Robert L↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Composite Bond Line Measurements Based on a Bayesian Analysis of Flash Thermography Data

For bonded composite materials, an accurate characterization of the adhesive bond line is needed to predict failure modes and fracture toughness. In this paper, bond line thickness was estimated from data obtained using through transmission flash thermography. The forward model that predicts back surface temperature is based on a three layer heat diffusion equation with varying diffusivity and flux boundary conditions. The corresponding inverse problem of estimating bond line thickness from measurement data was solved using a Bayesian approach that assumed Gaussian priors for the bond line thickness and thermal diffusivity of the adherends. Finally, the outputs of the thermography based method were compared to measurements that were collected using a micrometer and ultrasound testing.

Flash thermography↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Composite Bond Line Measurements Based on A Bayesian Analysis of Flash Thermography Data

Flash thermography↗

NASA NTRS1989

Measurements of diffusion limited solidification at varying gravity

The environment of the NASA KC-135 low gravity aircraft was employed to examine the effects of g-jitter on the growth of a solidification diffusion layer for 28 wt pct NH4Cl-H2O, a metal alloy model material. The hypothesis that jitter (vibrational) effects account for previously observed low gravity growth anomalies was investigated by comparing optical data (central dark ground method) for 10-squared g(e) (earth's gravity) KC-135 growth conditions and 1 g(e) laboratory conditions. Accelerometer data obtained during the flight program showed the KC-135 low gravity environment to have extreme levels of jitters.

Mccay, T. D.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Thermal and solutal conditions at the tips of a directional dendritic growth front

The line-of-sight averaged, time-dependent dendrite tip concentrations for the diffusion dominated vertical directional solidification of a metal model (ammonium chloride and water) were obtained by extrapolating exponentially fit diffusion layer profiles measured using a laser interferometer. The tip concentrations were shown to increase linearly with time throughout the diffusion dominated growth process for an initially stagnant dendritic array. The process was terminated for the cases chosen by convective breakdown suffered when the conditionally stable diffusion layer exceeded the critical Rayleigh criteria. The transient tip concentrations were determined to significantly exceed the values predicted for steady state, thus producing much larger constitutional undercoolings. This has ramifications for growth speeds, arm spacings and the dendritic structure itself.

Mccay, T. D.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Mechanism for Surface Warming in the Equatorial Pacific during 1994-95

Mechanisms controlling the variation in sea surface temperature warm event in the equatorial Pacific were investigated through ocean model simulations. In addition, the mechanisms of the climatological SST cycle were investigated. The dominant mechanisms governing the seasonal cycle of SST vary significantly across the basin. In the western Pacific the annual cycle of SST is primarily in response to external heat flux. In the central basin the magnitude of zonal advection is comparable to that of the external heat flux. In the eastern basin the role of zonal advection is reduced and the vertical mixing is more important. In the easternmost equatorial Pacific the vertical entrainment contribution is as large as that of vertical diffusion. The model estimate of the vertical mixing contribution to the mixed layer heat budget compared well with estimates obtained by analysis of observations using the same diagnostic vertical mixing scheme. During 1994- 1995 the largest positive SST anomaly was observed in the mid-basin and was related to reduced latent heat flux due to weak surface winds. In the western basin the initial warming was related to enhanced external heating and reduced cooling effects of both vertical mixing and horizontal advection associated with weaker than usual wind stress. In the eastern Pacific where winds were not significantly anomalous throughout 1994-1995, only a moderate warm surface anomaly was detected. This is in contrast to strong El Nino events where the SST anomaly is largest in the eastern basin and, as shown by previous studies, the anomaly is due to zonal advection rather than anomalous surface heat flux. The end of the warm event was marked by cooling in July 1995 everywhere across the equatorial Pacific.

Rienecker, Michele M.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Dynamics of the middle atmosphere in winter (Dynamics). Interrelation between the different variations of turbulent diffusion and ionospheric absorption originating in the middle atmosphere

The turbulent diffusion coefficient was computed from the parameters of sporadic E layers using the wind shear theory of midlatitude sporadic E and models of the ionosphere as well as that of the neutral upper atmosphere. The turbulent diffusion coefficient obtained for the period of circulation disturbances associated with stratospheric warmings and for the intervals of the winter anomaly indicate changes similar to the ionospheric absorption of radio waves, in the former case decreased, in the latter case increased values. This may hit at the role of turbulent transport in the formation of these anomalies. On the basis of these findings, a seasonal variation of the turbulent diffusion coefficient having a minimum in summer and an increase of this parameter with increasing geomagnetic activity are anticipated.

Bencze, P.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Small particle transport across turbulent nonisothermal boundary layers

The interaction between turbulent diffusion, Brownian diffusion, and particle thermophoresis in the limit of vanishing particle inertial effects is quantitatively modeled for applications in gas turbines. The model is initiated with consideration of the particle phase mass conservation equation for a two-dimensional boundary layer, including the thermophoretic flux term directed toward the cold wall. A formalism of a turbulent flow near a flat plate in a heat transfer problem is adopted, and variable property effects are neglected. Attention is given to the limit of very large Schmidt numbers and the particle concentration depletion outside of the Brownian sublayer. It is concluded that, in the parameter range of interest, thermophoresis augments the high Schmidt number mass-transfer coefficient by a factor equal to the product of the outer sink and the thermophoretic suction.

Rosner, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS2011

Towards Simulating a Realistic Planetary Seismic Wavefield: The Contribution of the Megaregolith and Low-Velocity Waveguides

Lunar seismograms are distinctly different from their terrestrial counterparts. The Apollo lunar seismometers recorded moonquakes without distinct P- or S-wave arrivals; instead waves arrive as a diffuse coda that decays over several hours making the identification of body waves difficult. The unusual character of the lunar seismic wavefield is generally tied to properties of the megaregolith: it consists of highly fractured and broken crustal rock, the result of extensive bombardment of the Moon. The megaregolith extends several kilometers into the lunar crust, possibly into the mantle in some regions, and is covered by a thin coating of fine-scale dust. These materials possess very low seismic velocities that strongly scatter the seismic wavefield at high frequencies. Directly modeling the effects of the megaregolith to simulate an accurate lunar seismic wavefield is a challenging computational problem, owing to the inherent 3-D nature of the problem and the high frequencies (greater than 1 Hz) required. Here we focus on modeling the long duration code, studying the effects of the low velocities found in the megaregolith. We produce synthetic seismograms using 1-D slowness integration methodologies, GEMINI and reflectivity, and a 3-D Cartesian finite difference code, Wave Propagation Program, to study the effect of thin layers of low velocity on the surface of a planet. These codes allow us generate seismograms with dominant frequencies of approximately 1 Hz. For background lunar seismic structure we explore several models, including the recent model of Weber et al., Science, 2011. We also investigate variations in megaregolithic thickness, velocity, attenuation, and seismogram frequency content. Our results are compared to the Apollo seismic dataset, using both a cross correlation technique and integrated envelope approach to investigate coda decay. We find our new high frequency results strongly support the hypothesis that the long duration of the lunar seismic codes is generated by the presence of the low velocity megaregolith, and that the diffuse arrivals are a combination of scattered energy and multiple reverberations within this layer. The 3-D modeling indicates the extreme surface topography of the Moon adds only a small contribution to scattering effects, though local geology may play a larger role. We also study the effects of the megaregolith on core reflected and converted phases and other body waves. Our analysis indicates detection of core interacting arrivals with a polarization filter technique is robust and lends the possibility of detecting other body waves from the Moon.

Schmerr, Nicholas C.↗

NASA NTRS1988

A model of the tropical Pacific sea surface temperature climatology

A model for the climatological mean sea surface temperature (SST) of the tropical Pacific Ocean is developed. The upper ocean response is computed using a time dependent, linear, reduced gravity model, with the addition of a constant depth frictional surface layer. The full three-dimensional temperature equation and a surface heat flux parameterization that requires specification of only wind speed and total cloud cover are used to evaluate the SST. Specification of atmospheric parameters, such as air temperature and humidity, over which the ocean has direct influence, is avoided. The model simulates the major features of the observed tropical Pacific SST. The seasonal evolution of these features is generally captured by the model. Analysis of the results demonstrates the control the ocean has over the surface heat flux from ocean to atmosphere and the crucial role that dynamics play in determining the mean SST in the equatorial Pacific. The sensitivity of the model to perturbations in the surface heat flux, cloud cover specification, diffusivity, and mixed layer depth is discussed.

Seager, Richard↗

NASA NTRS1985

Fluid Dynamics and Thermodynamics of Vapor Phase Crystal Growth

The ground-based research effort under this program is concerned with systematic studies of the effects of variations: (1) of the relative importance of buoyancy-driven convection, and (2) of diffusion and viscosity conditions on crystal properties. These experimental studies are supported by thermodynamic characterizations of the systems, based on which fluid dynamic parameters can be determined. The specific materials under investigation include: the GeSe-GeI4, Ge-GeI4, HgTe-HgI2, and Hg sub (1-x)Cd sub (x) Te-HgI2 systems. Mass transport rate studies of the GeSe-GeI system as a function of orientation of the density gradient relative to the gravity vector demonstrated the validity of flux anomalies observed in earlier space experiments. The investigation of the effects of inert gases on mass flux yielded the first experimental evidence for the existence of a boundary layer in closed ampoules. Combined with a thorough thermodynamic analysis, a transport model for diffusive flow including chemical vapor transport, sublimation, and Stefan flow was developed.

Wiedemeier, H.↗

NASA NTRS2003

The NASA/Ames Mars General Circulation Model: Model Improvements and Comparison with Observations

For many years, the NASA/Ames Mars General Circulation Model (GCM) has been built around the UCLA B-grid dynamical core. An attached tracer transport scheme based on the aerosol microphysical model of Toon et al. (1988) provided a tool for studying dust storm transport and feedbacks (Murphy et al., 1995). While we still use a B-grid version of the model, the Ames group is now transitioning to the ARIES/GEOS Goddard C-grid dynamical core (Suarez and Takacs, 1995). The C-grid produces smoother fields when the model top is raised above 50 km, and has a built in transport scheme for an arbitrary number of tracers. All of our transport simulations are now carried out with the C-grid. We have also been updating our physics package. Several years ago we replaced our bulk boundary layer scheme with a level 2 type diffusive scheme, and added a multi-level soil model (Haberle et al., 2000). More recently we replaced our radiation code with a more generalized two-stream code that accounts for aerosol multiple scattering and gaseous absorption. This code gives us much more flexibility in choosing aerosol optical properties and radiatively active gases.

Haberle, R. M.↗