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At least 973 records · Page 54

A robust nonlinear attitude control law for space stations with flexible structural components

In this paper, a nonlinear attitude control law for space stations with flexible structural components is derived using a rigid-body model. This control law, depending on the Cayley-Rodriguez parameters, globally stabilizes the equilibrium of the rigid-body model. The effect of elastic deformations of the flexible structural components on the resulting feedback system dynamics is analyzed. It is found that the system's stability property is highly robust with respect to structural vibrations and inertial variations. The time-domain behavior of the feedback system is studied numerically using a model of a typical space station with flexible solar panels.

Wang, P. K. C.↗

Ratio of oxygen to sulfur in the Io plasma torus

The relative concentrations of O and S ions in the hot dense region of the Io plasma torus (IPT) are investigated by means of model calculations based on collisional diffusive equilibrium. The spectroscopic constraints and uncertainties encountered in calculating the ion partitioning and the modeling procedures employed are discussed, and the results are presented in tables and graphs and compared with Voyager EUV data and the rocket observations of Skinner and Durrance (1986). It is found that the observed O and S emission from the IPT can be reproduced by models with approximately equal partitioning between O and S species. The assumptions and analyses leading to the conclusion (Moreno et al., 1985) that the IPT is S-dominated (by 3 to 1 or more) are analyzed in detail and rejected.

Shemansky, Donald E.↗

Development of a continuous synthesis process for carbamazepine using validated in-line Raman spectroscopy and kinetic modelling for disturbance simulation

Mitigation of failure modes in the continuous synthesis (CS) of a drug substance (DS) has the potential to widen the adoption of continuous manufacturing (CM) technologies by the pharmaceutical industry. Here, this work demonstrates the development of a robust continuous process for the synthesis of carbamazepine (CBZ), an essential medicine as per the World Health Organization (WHO), facilitated by kinetic modelling and monitored by in-line Raman spectroscopy. Accurate kinetic modelling and the use of validated process analytical technology (PAT) models for quantitative measurement were found to play an important role in developing CS of drug substances. Kinetic data for the formation of CBZ from iminostilbene (ISB) were collected by batch reaction sampling and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. A non-linear solver and iterative method was applied to determine two sets of Arrhenius parameters simultaneously for the reaction system by minimizing the standard error of the model fit. The start-up and dynamic equilibrium stages for the CS of CBZ using a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) were modelled based on the batch kinetic data and employed to optimize conversion and simulate process disturbances. An in-line Raman spectroscopy method was successfully developed, validated, and integrated to determine the concentrations of CBZ and ISB within the operating range for the CS. The CS kinetic model was evaluated experimentally from startup to dynamic equilibrium over 10 residence times with monitoring by HPLC and in-line Raman spectroscopy. The developed kinetic model in tandem with in-line Raman spectroscopy successfully predicted disturbances due to changes in process variables and can serve as a useful tool in the future design of advanced process control strategies for the continuous synthesis of CBZ.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

On the steady flow of gas from the nuclei of Seyfert galaxies

Heating of gas energy released during explosive events produces hot winds in Seyfert nuclei. Steady-state solutions indicate that supersonic velocities up to about 800 km per sec are obtainable. Lyman continuum radiation emitted by the wind ionizes and maintains temperature of cooler gas clouds seen in emission, and dominates energy losses during early stages of expansion. A study of stability of the thermal equilibrium state leads to a two-component model: a hot stable phase (the wind), in pressure equilibrium with a cooler stable phase (clouds). Extreme variations in cloud electron densities are a consequence of the steep decrease with radius of external pressure. Cloud dynamics are related to the radius of formation and internal parameters. Permitted lines of H are emitted by high-density clouds formed at the base of the wind, while forbidden lines arise in radially moving clouds, produced throughout the wind.

Wolfe, A. M.↗

The transport of nitric oxide by the mean circulation and planetary waves

The effects of planetary waves on atmospheric nitric oxide (NO) concentration were investigated using a time-dependent numerical model. The model is used to calculate planetary wave and zonal mean winds, which in turn are used to calculate mean and perturbation NO distribution. The time-dependent model is used to determine equilibrium NO distributions resulting from time-dependent lower boundary planetary wave forcings. The factors which contribute to the zonal mean NO concentration are examined. NO chemistry is modelled using a simplified source sink approach. Changes in the initial NO distribution which result from the addition of planetary-wave winds are described. Planetary waves are found to induce a wavelike structure in the NO distribution which resembles that derived from observational data. These waves affect the NO concentration through wave-induced changes in the mean meridional circulation and through the NO perturbation induuced by the wave winds themselves.

Jones, G. A.↗

On vibrational imperfection sensitivity of Augusti's model structure in the vicinity of a non-linear static state

In this paper we present a closed-form solution for vibrational imperfection sensitivity the effect of small imperfections on the vibrational frequencies of perturbed motion around the static equilibrium state of Augusti's model Structure (a rigid link, pinned at one end to a rigid foundation and supported at the other by a linear extensional spring that retains its horizontality, as the system deflects). We also treat a modified version of that model with attendant slightly different dynamics. It is demonstrated that the vibrational frequencies decreases as the initial imperfections increase.

Elishakoff, Isaac↗

The rebound shock model for solar spicules - Dynamics at long times

The spicule model due to Hollweg is extended and developed. The dynamics is emphasized here; radiative and ionization losses, heat conduction, and nonshock heat input, are not included. In the model, a series of rebound shocks results in chromospheric material with spicule-like properties below a raised transition region. The shocks result from a single quasi-impulsive source in the photosphere. It is found that at long times, the model approaches a new hydrostatic equilibrium with the transition region remaining raised, and with a region of shock-heated chromosphere below it. Attention is given to the variation of the properties of the model in response to different values for the magnitude and location of the source, and to different initial transition region heights. It is concluded that the model is capable of generating structures with properties consistent with observations of spicules (with the exception of temperature) when only the dynamics is considered.

Sterling, Alphonse C.↗

A new convective adjustment scheme

A marked divergence in philosophy is presented. The primary objective of the proposed parameterization scheme is to ensure that the local vertical temperature and moisture structures, which in nature are strongly constrained by convection, be realistic in the large scale model. The concept of a quasi-equilibrium between the cloud field and the large-scale forcing has been well established. This means that convective regions have characteristic temperature and moisture structures that can be documented observationally and used as the basis of a convective adjustment procedure. In the scheme proposed here, the temperature and moisture structures will be adjusted simultaneously toward observed quasi-equilibrium structures. This ensures that on the grid scale a global model always maintains a realistic vertical temperature and moisture structure in the presence of convection. The saturation point formulation of moist thermodynamics will be used to introduce the observational and theoretical basis of the proposed convective adjustment. The scheme is then applied to a series of data sets from GATE, BOMEX, ATEX and an Arctic air-mass transformation to show the sensitivity of the scheme to different parameters and develop a parameter set suitable for both shallow and deep convection in a global model.

Betts, A. K.↗

Decentralized control of large flexible structures by joint decoupling

A decentralized control design method is presented for large complex flexible structures by using the idea of joint decoupling. The derivation is based on a coupled substructure state-space model, which is obtained from enforcing conditions of interface compatibility and equilibrium to the substructure state-space models. It is shown that by restricting the control law to be localized state feedback and by setting the joint actuator input commands to decouple joint 'degrees of freedom' (dof) from interior dof, the global structure control design problem can be decomposed into several substructure control design problems. The substructure control gains and substructure observers are designed based on modified substructure state-space models. The controllers produced by the proposed method can operate successfully at the individual substructure level as well as at the global structure level. Therefore, not only control design but also control implementation is decentralized. Stability and performance requirement of the closed-loop system can be achieved by using any existing state feedback control design method. A two-component mass-spring damper system and a three-truss structure are used as examples to demonstrate the proposed method.

Su, Tzu-Jeng↗

Sounding rocket observation of a hot atomic oxygen geocorona

A sounding rocket measurement of the ultraviolet, atomic oxygen dayglow reveals an excess of emission compared to standard thermospheric model calculations at exospheric altitudes. We explore two explanations for this discrepancy: a breakdown of the radiative transfer model due to nonlocal thermal equilibrium (non-LTE) conditions above the exobase and a hot atomic oxygen geocorona. In particular, the effects of non-LTE on the 3P2, 1, 0 sublevel populations are modeled, and a hot O component in the upper thermosphere and lower exosphere is added to investigate the effects on the modeled emissions. For both cases, the data are reanalyzed and compared with the results using a standard LTE model. A hot O geocorona having a peak density of 10(exp 6)/cc at 550 km and a temperature of 4000 K is consistent with the data and appears to be the most reasonable explanation of the high-altitude enhanced emissions observed in the data.

Cotton, Daniel M.↗

The magnetic structure of long-wavelength magnetohydrodynamic modes in current-carrying stellarator plasmas

Magnetic field fluctuations are observed in current-carrying stellarator plasmas when the rotational transform is close to a rational value at the edge of the plasma. At low plasma pressure, these fluctuations are associated with perturbed currents parallel to the equilibrium magnetic field lines. A model for these magnetohydrodynamic modes in a low-β, three-dimensional stellarator equilibria has been developed. A set of helical current filaments are constrained to mimic the structure of magnetic field lines on rational surfaces derived from three-dimensional (3D) equilibrium reconstructions. Transformation to straight field line coordinates then allows fitting of the poloidal magnetic sensor data to a single harmonic function, which fixes the modeled toroidal mode structure via the field line flow geometry. The developed procedure accurately captures phase and amplitude variation for m/n = 3/2, 3/1, and 4/1 modes in the 3D equilibria of the compact toroidal hybrid experiment.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Models of thermal relaxation mechanics for particle simulation methods

A comparative study is conducted of the simulation of molecular vibrational relaxation in rarefied flows by means of existing models and a novel phenomenological microscopic model. This improved technique iterates between translation-rotation and rotation-vibration exchanges; equilibrium is in this way promoted if the model for the latter process is compatible with quantized oscillators. The iteration-equipartition model retains computational simplicity and promotes thermal equilibrium, even in the case of nondegenerate anharmonic quantized oscillators and multispecies gas mixtures.

Haas, Brian L.↗

Thermodynamic modeling of double azeotropy systems

Azeotropes are boiling liquid mixtures which have identical vapor and liquid compositions. Known as polyazeotropy, azeotropic mixtures may exhibit more than one azeotrope at a given temperature or pressure. While the thermodynamic condition for azeotrope formation in vapor-liquid equilibrium is well established, thermodynamic modeling of mixtures exhibiting polyazeotropy remains challenging and prior modeling studies often failed to satisfactorily correlate the polyazeotropic behavior of associating systems. Based on the association NRTL model, this study presents successful correlation and analysis of double azeotrope formation for three diverse systems: strongly associating methanol + diethylamine binary, weakly associating ammonia + pentafluoroethane binary, and non-associating benzene + hexafluorobenzene binary systems. Furthermore, these systems exhibit polyazeotropic behavior as the temperature increases and approaches their Bancroft points.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Investigating high-energy proton-induced reactions on spherical nuclei: Implications for the preequilibrium exciton model

A number of accelerator-based isotope production facilities utilize $100-200$ MeV proton beams due to the high production rates enabled by high-intensity beam capabilities and the greater diversity of isotope production brought on by the long range of high-energy protons. However, nuclear reaction modeling at these energies can be challenging because of the interplay between different reaction modes and a lack of existing guiding cross section data. A Tri-lab collaboration has been formed between the Lawrence Berkeley, Los Alamos, and Brookhaven National Laboratories to address these complexities by characterizing charged-particle nuclear reactions relevant to the production of established and novel radioisotopes. In the inaugural collaboration experiments, stacked-targets of niobium foils were irradiated at the Brookhaven Linac Isotope Producer ($E_p=200$ MeV) and the Los Alamos Isotope Production Facility ($E_p=100$ MeV) to measure $^{93}$Nb(p,x) cross sections between $50-200$ MeV. The results were compared with literature data as well as the default calculations of the nuclear model codes TALYS, CoH, EMPIRE, and ALICE. The default code predictions largely failed to reproduce the measurements. Therefore, we developed a standardized procedure, which determines the reaction model parameters that best reproduce the most prominent reaction channels in a physically justifiable manner. Overall, the primary focus of the procedure was to determine the best parameterization for the pre-equilibrium two-component exciton model. This modeling study revealed a trend towards a relative decrease for internal transition rates at intermediate proton energies ($E_p=20-60$ MeV) in the current exciton model as compared to the default values. The results of this work are instrumental for the planning, execution, and analysis essential to isotope production.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Heating of the corona by magnetic singularities

Theoretical models of current-sheet formation and magnetic heating in the solar corona are examined analytically. The role of photospheric connectivity in determining the topology of the coronal magnetic field and its equilibrium properties is explored; nonequilibrium models of current-sheet formation (assuming an initially well connected field) are described; and particular attention is given to models with discontinuous connectivity, where magnetic singularities arise from smooth footpoint motions. It is shown that current sheets arise from connectivities in which the photospheric flux structure is complex, with three or more polarity regions and a magnetic null point within the corona.

Antiochos, Spiro K.↗

Chromospheric models for Altair (A7 IV-V)

The star, Altair (A7 IV-V), is clearly shown to have Lyman-alpha emission of chromospheric origin, while no evidence is found for the Mg II emission reported in previous investigations. We present non-Local Thermodymanic Equilibrium (non-LTE) semiempirical models incorporating partial redistribution of the chromosphere of Altair that reproduce the observed Lyman-alpha emission and the Mg II resonance absorption at 2800 A. We unambiguously establihed that chromospheres exist at spectral types as early as A7 on the main sequence, and we also demonstrate that it very unlikely that the observed emission originates in a corotating expanding wind. This result represents a new challenge for chromospheric heating theories. It may indicate that both differential rotation and convection layers, at least near the equator, exist in this fast rotating (v sin i = 220 km/s) star.

Ferrero, R. Freire↗

Solar chromospheric modeling based on submillimeter limb brightness profile

A method of modeling the solar chromosphere is developed, based on submillimeter continuum observations of the solar limb. Submillimeter radiation from the solar limb emanates from the chromosphere in local thermodynamic equilibrium, making it an important chromospheric diagnostic. Also, the use of high-resolution limb profiles allows for atmospheric modeling independent of gravitational hydrostatic equilibrium. The chromospheric model is constructed to match high-resolution solar limb profiles at 30, 50, 100, and 200 microns, determined by an occultation of the solar limb observed from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory during the total solar eclipse of July 31, 1981. This matching is achieved by 'stretching' the solar model atmosphere of Vernazza, Avrett, and Loesser (1981) vertically out of hydrostatic equilibrium, while maintainingn its vertical temperature-optical depth profile.

Hermans, L. M.↗