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NASA NTRS1995

Convectively Generated Gravity Waves In The Tropical Stratosphere: Case Studies And Importance For The Circulation Of The Middle Atmosphere

The advent of high altitude aircraft measurements in the stratosphere over tropical convective systems has made it possible to observe the mesoscale disturbances in the temperature field that these systems excite. Such measurements show that these disturbances have horizontal scales comparable to those of the underlying anvils (about 50-100 km) with peak to peak theta surface variations of about 300-400 meters. Moreover, correlative wind measurements from the tropical phase of the Stratosphere-Troposphere Exchange Project (STEP) clearly show that these disturbances are gravity waves. We present two case studies of anvil-scale gravity waves over convective systems. Using steady and time-dependent linear models of gravity wave propagation in the stratosphere, we show: (1) that the underlying convective systems are indeed the source of the observed phenomena; and (2) that their generating mechanism can be crudely represented as flow over a time-dependent mountain. We will then discuss the effects gravity waves of the observed amplitudes have on the circulation of the middle atmosphere, particularly the quasi-biennial, and semiannual oscillations.

Pfister, Leonhard↗

NASA NTRS2002

The Current Status of Unsteady CFD Approaches for Aerodynamic Flow Control

An overview of the current status of time dependent algorithms is presented. Special attention is given to algorithms used to predict fluid actuator flows, as well as other active and passive flow control devices. Capabilities for the next decade are predicted, and principal impediments to the progress of time-dependent algorithms are identified.

Carpenter, Mark H.↗

NASA NTRS1973

A flight simulator for advanced aircraft - Servo design to realization.

Discussion of computer-aided design results obtained for a moving-base, three-man flight simulator. From a control viewpoint, the structure is discussed in terms of disturbance torques, damping ratios, natural frequencies, load acceleration, and smoothness. The use of inertia to achieve well-behaved structural transfer functions and smooth or high fidelity load accelerations is demonstrated. Transfer functions in the complex frequency domain, as well as time-dependent solutions to the system, are derived. The relative merits of using position and/or velocity as primary feedback, for a limited travel acceleration device, are discussed. Root locus plots, which were utilized in the control-system design, Bode plots, and time-dependent plots are drawn. In addition, the theoretical ratio of velocity to commanded input Bode plot is compared to the experimental results, and the dramatic effect on the load smoothness plot caused by selecting velocity over position as primary feedback is shown.

King, R. F.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Equivalent source modeling of the main field using MAGSAT data

The software was considerably enhanced to accommodate a more comprehensive examination of data available for field modeling using the equivalent sources method by (1) implementing a dynamic core allocation capability into the software system for the automatic dimensioning of the normal matrix; (2) implementing a time dependent model for the dipoles; (3) incorporating the capability to input specialized data formats in a fashion similar to models in spherical harmonics; and (4) implementing the optional ability to simultaneously estimate observatory anomaly biases where annual means data is utilized. The time dependence capability was demonstrated by estimating a component model of 21 deg resolution using the 14 day MAGSAT data set of Goddard's MGST (12/80). The equivalent source model reproduced both the constant and the secular variation found in MGST (12/80).

Source record↗

NASA NTRS2007

Influence of the Convection Electric Field Models on Predicted Plasmapause Positions During Magnetic Storms

In the present work, we determine how three well documented models of the magnetospheric electric field, and two different mechanisms proposed for the formation of the plasmapause influence the radial distance, the shape and the evolution of the plasmapause during the geomagnetic storms of 28 October 2001 and of 17 April 2002. The convection electric field models considered are: Mcllwain's E51) electric field model, Volland-Stern's model and Weimer's statistical model compiled from low-Earth orbit satellite data. The mechanisms for the formation of the plasmapause to be tested are: (i) the MHD theory where the plasmapause should correspond to the last-closed- equipotential (LCE) or last-closed-streamline (LCS), if the E-field distribution is stationary or time-dependent respectively; (ii) the interchange mechanism where the plasmapause corresponds to streamlines tangent to a Zero-Parallel-Force surface where the field-aligned plasma distribution becomes convectively unstable during enhancements of the E-field intensity in the nightside local time sector. The results of the different time dependent simulations are compared with concomitant EUV observations when available. The plasmatails or plumes observed after both selected geomagnetic storms are predicted in all simulations and for all E-field models. However, their shapes are quite different depending on the E-field models and the mechanisms that are used. Despite the partial success of the simulations to reproduce plumes during magnetic storms and substorms, there remains a long way to go before the detailed structures observed in the EUV observations during periods of geomagnetic activity can be accounted for very precisely by the existing E-field models. Furthermore, it cannot be excluded that the mechanisms currently identified to explain the formation of "Carpenter's knee" during substorm events, will', have to be revised or complemented in the cases of geomagnetic storms.

Pierrard, V.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Large Prandtl number finite-amplitude thermal convection with Maxwell viscoelasticity

It has long been known that the earth behaves viscoelastically. Viscoelasticity may be of importance in two aspects of mantle convection, including time-dependent behavior and local storage of recoverable work. The present investigation makes use of thermal convection in a box as a prototype of mantle flow. It is demonstrated that recoverable work can be important to the local mechanical energy balance in the descending lithosphere. It is shown that, even when assuming large viscoelastic parameters, an inherent time-dependence of viscoelastic convection appears only in local exchanges of mechanical energy. There is no strong exchange between buoyant potential energy and recoverable strain energy in the Rayleigh number range investigated. The investigation is mainly concerned with viscoelastic effects occurring on a buoyant time scale. It is found that viscoelastic effects have a negligible influence on the long term thermal energetics of mantle convection.

Ivins, E. R.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Aerodynamic Characteristics of an Aerospace Vehicle During a Subsonic Pitch-Over Maneuver

Time-dependent CFD has been used to predict aerospace vehicle aerodynamics during a subsonic rotation maneuver. The inviscid 3D3U code is employed to solve the 3-D unsteady flow field using an unstructured grid of tetrahedra. As this application represents a challenge to time-dependent CFD, observations concerning spatial and temporal resolution are included. It is shown that even for a benign rotation rate, unsteady aerodynamic effects are significant during the maneuver. Possibly more significant, however, the rotation maneuver creates ow asymmetries leading to yawing moment, rolling moment, and side force which are not present in the quasi-steady case. A series of steady solutions at discrete points in the maneuver are also computed for comparison with wind tunnel measurements and as a means of quantifying unsteady effects.

Kleb, William L.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Simultaneous stochastic inversion for geomagnetic main field and secular variation. II - 1820-1980

With the aim of producing readable time-dependent maps of the geomagnetic field at the core-mantle boundary, the method of simultaneous stochastic inversion for the geomagnetic main field and secular variation, described by Bloxham (1987), was applied to survey data from the period 1820-1980 to yield two time-dependent geomagnetic-field models, one for the period 1900-1980 and the other for 1820-1900. Particular consideration was given to the effect of crustal fields on observations. It was found that the existing methods of accounting for these fields as sources of random noise are inadequate in two circumstances: (1) when sequences of measurements are made at one particular site, and (2) for measurements made at satellite altitude. The present model shows many of the features in the earth's magnetic field at the core-mantle boundary described by Bloxham and Gubbins (1985) and supports many of their earlier conclusions.

Bloxham, Jeremy↗

NASA NTRS2000

Growth of Matrix Cracks During Intermediate Temperature Stress Rupture of a SiC/SiC Composite in Air

The crack density of woven Hi-Nicalon(sup TM) (Nippon Carbon, Japan) fiber, BN interphase, melt-infiltrated SiC matrix composites was determined for specimens subjected to tensile stress rupture at 815 C. A significant amount of matrix cracking occurs due to the growth of fiber-bridged microcracks even at stresses below the run-out condition. This increased cracking corresponded to time dependent strain accumulation and acoustic emission activity during the constant load test. However, the portion of the rupture specimens subjected to cooler temperatures (< 600 C than the hot section had significantly lower crack densities compared to the hotter regions. From the acoustic emission and time dependent strain data it can be inferred that most of the matrix crack growth occurred within the first few hours of the tensile rupture experiment. The crack growth was attributed to an interphase recession mechanism that is enhanced by the presence of a thin carbon layer between the fiber and the matrix as a result of the composite fabrication process. One important consequence of matrix crack growth at the lower stresses is poor retained strength at room temperature for specimens that did not fail.

Morscher, Gregory N.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Diffraction of a shock wave by a compression corner. I - Regular reflection

The unsteady, two-dimensional flowfield resulting from the interaction of a moving planar shock wave with a compression corner is determined using a second-order, discontinuity-fitting, finite-difference approach. The time-dependent Euler equations are transformed to normalize the distance between the body and peripheral shock and to include the existing self-similar property of the flow. The resulting set of partial differential equations in conservation-law form is then solved in a time-dependent fashion using MacCormack's scheme. The vortical singularity, which lies on the body surface, and the single reflected shock are both treated as discontinuities in the numerical procedure. The results of the numerical simulation compare quite favorably with existing experimental interferograms and yield better flowfield resolution than previous first-order, shock-capturing, numerical solutions.

Kutler, P.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Initial-value problems for Rossby waves in a shear flow with critical level

The time-dependent evolution of sheared Rossby waves starting from an initial disturbance is studied for the simple case in which the shear is uniform. The uniform-shear assumption allows explicit solutions to be obtained which are useful in addressing the issue of the long-time asymptotic approach to normal modes and in assessing the relative importance of viscosity, nonlinearity and time-dependence in the evolution of Rossby waves in the presence of critical layers.

Tung, K. K.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Effect of Gravity on the Mammalian Cell Deformation

The effect of human cell immersed in culture liquid under a micro-gravity environment has been investigated. The study is based on the numerical simulation of the configuration of human cell affected by the time dependent variation of gravity acceleration ranging from 10(exp -3) to 2 g(sub o) (g(sub o) = 9.81 m/s(exp 2)) in 15 seconds. Both the free floating cell and the cell contacted to the upper and lower inclined walls imposed by the time-dependent reduced gravity acceleration are considered in this study. The results show that the cell configuration changes from spherical to horizontally elongated ellipsoid for both the free floating cell and the cell sitting on the lower inclined wall while the cell configuration varies from spherical to vertically elongated ellipsoid for the cell hanging to the upper inclined wall when the gravity acceleration increases. Experimental observations, carried out of human cells exposed to the variation of gravity levels, show that the results of experimental observations agree exactly with the theoretical model computation described in this paper. These results sre significant for humans exposed to the micro-gravity environment.

Hung, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS2002

Local Discontinuous Galerkin Methods for Partial Differential Equations with Higher Order Derivatives

In this paper we review the existing and develop new continuous Galerkin methods for solving time dependent partial differential equations with higher order derivatives in one and multiple space dimensions. We review local discontinuous Galerkin methods for convection diffusion equations involving second derivatives and for KdV type equations involving third derivatives. We then develop new local discontinuous Galerkin methods for the time dependent bi-harmonic type equations involving fourth derivatives, and partial differential equations involving fifth derivatives. For these new methods we present correct interface numerical fluxes and prove L(exp 2) stability for general nonlinear problems. Preliminary numerical examples are shown to illustrate these methods. Finally, we present new results on a post-processing technique, originally designed for methods with good negative-order error estimates, on the local discontinuous Galerkin methods applied to equations with higher derivatives. Numerical experiments show that this technique works as well for the new higher derivative cases, in effectively doubling the rate of convergence with negligible additional computational cost, for linear as well as some nonlinear problems, with a local uniform mesh.

Yan, Jue↗

NASA NTRS1979

Global magnetohydrodynamic simulation of the two-dimensional magnetosphere

The time-dependent magnetohydrodynamic interaction of the solar wind with a two-dimensional dipole magnetic field has been simulated using a novel Lagrangian particle type of MHD code that can treat local low density or vacuum regions without numerical instability. This enables one to simulate the time-dependent magnetic tail. When the solar wind field is southward, a magnetic field line topology consistent with Dungey's model emerges in steady state. The tail, however, is short, and the x-points are only slightly shifted from their vacuum locations, because of strong numerical resistivity. Different configurations resulting from different relative orientations of the solar wind magnetic field and dipole axis are also presented. While the magnetic field is relatively steady, the density and flow in the magnetosheath are turbulent, as are the bow shock and magnetopause; the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability may account for these phenomena. We also model a 'substorm' as the passage of a rotational discontinuity in the solar wind over the dipole. Both 90 and 180 deg shifts to a southward solar wind field cause a violent readjustment of the magnetic tail which eventually settles down to the Dungey configuration.

Leboeuf, J. N.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Coronal closed structures. IV - Hydrodynamical stability and response to heating perturbations

The response of magnetically confined atmospheres to perturbations in the temperature and density distribution, and the local heating rate by means of a one-dimensional time-dependent hydrodynamical code, which incorporates the full energy, momentum and mass conservation equations is studied. These studies extend the linear instability analysis of Habbal and Rosner (1979) into the finite-amplitude regime, and generalize the confined atmosphere models of Serio et al., to the time-dependent domain. The results show that closed coronal atmospheres are stable against finite-amplitude perturbations if the chromospheric response is taken into account; and observed correlated increases in coronal density and temperature can only be achieved under quiescent conditions by increasing the heat deposition rate relatively more in the chromosphere than in the corona.

Peres, G.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Bifurcations in unsteady aerodynamics

Nonlinear algebraic functional expansions are used to create a form for the unsteady aerodynamic response that is consistent with solutions of the time dependent Navier-Stokes equations. An enumeration of means of invalidating Frechet differentiability of the aerodynamic response, one of which is aerodynamic bifurcation, is proposed as a way of classifying steady and unsteady aerodynamic phenomena that are important in flight dynamics applications. Accomodating bifurcation phenomena involving time dependent equilibrium states within a mathematical model of the aerodynamic response raises an issue of memory effects that becomes more important with each successive bifurcation.

Tobak, M.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Physical interpretations from the motions of comets Halley and Giacobini-Zinner

For comets Halley and Giacobini-Zinner (GZ), the model of the rocket-like, outgassing forces affecting the comet motion is shown to be consistent with the vaporization of water ice from the comet nuclei. For comet GZ, the dramatic time dependence of the outgassing forces suggests that this comet's spin axis passed through the orbit plane in the mid 1960's. Modeling of Halley's motion over two millennia indicates that the comet is rotating in a direct sense, with no obvious long-term time dependence in the average outgassing forces. The precession of the spin pole axis is not apparent. Secular changes in the comet's angular elements show no evidence for a ring of comet-like material beyond the orbit of Neptune. An obvious 1986 postperihelion bias in comet Halley's observation residuals is modeled by assuming a radial center-of-light/center-of-mass offset.

Yeomans, D. K.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Bifurcations in unsteady aerodynamics

Nonlinear algebraic functional expansions are used to create a form for the unsteady aerodynamic response that is consistent with solutions of the time dependent Navier-Stokes equations. An enumeration of means of invalidating Frechet differentiability of the aerodynamic response, one of which is aerodynamic bifurcation, is proposed as a way of classifying steady and unsteady aerodynamic phenomena that are important in flight dynamics applications. Accommodating bifurcation phenomena involving time dependent equilibrium states within a mathematical model of the aerodynamic response raises an issue of memory effects that becomes more important with each successive bifurcation.

Tobak, M.↗