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At least 991 records · Page 55

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NASA NTRS1978

Navier-Stokes calculations with a coupled strongly implicit method. Part 2: Spline solutions

A coupled strongly implicit method is combined with a deferred-corrector spline solver for the vorticity-stream function form of the Navier-Stokes equation. Solutions for cavity, channel and cylinder flows are obtained with the fourth-order spline 4 procedure. The strongly coupled spline corrector method converges as rapidly as the finite difference calculations and also allows for arbitrary large time increments for the Reynolds numbers considered. In some cases fourth-order smoothing or filtering is required in order to suppress high frequency oscillations.

Rubin, S. G.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Navier-Stokes calculations with a coupled strongly implicit method. II Spline deferred-corrector solutions

The coupled strongly implicit (CSIP) method described previously is combined with a deferred-corrector spline solver for the vorticity-stream function form of the Navier-Stokes equations. Solutions for cavity, channel and cylinder flows are obtained with the fourth-order spline 4 procedure. The strongly coupled spline corrector method converges as rapidly as the finite difference calculations and also allows for arbitrary large time increments for the Reynolds numbers considered (equal to or less than 1000). In some cases fourth-order smoothing or filtering is required in order to suppress high frequency oscillations.

Rubin, S. G.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Sensitivity analysis and approximation methods for general eigenvalue problems

Optimization of dynamic systems involving complex non-hermitian matrices is often computationally expensive. Major contributors to the computational expense are the sensitivity analysis and reanalysis of a modified design. The present work seeks to alleviate this computational burden by identifying efficient sensitivity analysis and approximate reanalysis methods. For the algebraic eigenvalue problem involving non-hermitian matrices, algorithms for sensitivity analysis and approximate reanalysis are classified, compared and evaluated for efficiency and accuracy. Proper eigenvector normalization is discussed. An improved method for calculating derivatives of eigenvectors is proposed based on a more rational normalization condition and taking advantage of matrix sparsity. Important numerical aspects of this method are also discussed. To alleviate the problem of reanalysis, various approximation methods for eigenvalues are proposed and evaluated. Linear and quadratic approximations are based directly on the Taylor series. Several approximation methods are developed based on the generalized Rayleigh quotient for the eigenvalue problem. Approximation methods based on trace theorem give high accuracy without needing any derivatives. Operation counts for the computation of the approximations are given. General recommendations are made for the selection of appropriate approximation technique as a function of the matrix size, number of design variables, number of eigenvalues of interest and the number of design points at which approximation is sought.

Murthy, D. V.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Equilibrium shape and location of a liquid drop acoustically positioned in a resonant rectangular chamber

The effect of a standing wave field in a rectangular chamber on the shape and location of an acoustically positioned drop or bubble is calculated. The sample deformation and equilibrium position are obtained from an analysis of the spherical harmonic projections of the total surface stress tensor. The method of calculation relies on the assumed condition that the sample is only slightly distorted from a spherical form. The equilibrium location of a levitated drop is combined with a formula introduced by Hasegawa (1979) to calcualte the ka dependence of the radiation force function. The present theory is valid for large as well as small ka values. Calculations in the small ka limit agree with previous theories and experimental results. Examples are presented for nonplane-wave modes as well as plane-wave rectangular modes.

Jackson, H. W.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Multigrid method for stability problems

The problem of calculating the stability of steady state solutions of differential equations is addressed. Leading eigenvalues of large matrices that arise from discretization are calculated, and an efficient multigrid method for solving these problems is presented. The resulting grid functions are used as initial approximations for appropriate eigenvalue problems. The method employs local relaxation on all levels together with a global change on the coarsest level only, which is designed to separate the different eigenfunctions as well as to update their corresponding eigenvalues. Coarsening is done using the FAS formulation in a nonstandard way in which the right-hand side of the coarse grid equations involves unknown parameters to be solved on the coarse grid. This leads to a new multigrid method for calculating the eigenvalues of symmetric problems. Numerical experiments with a model problem are presented which demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.

Ta'asan, Shlomo↗

NASA NTRS1990

Calculation of flight vibration levels of the AH-1G helicopter and correlation with existing flight vibration measurements

NASA-Langley is sponsoring a rotorcraft structural dynamics program with the objective to establish in the U.S. a superior capability to utilize finite element analysis models for calculations to support industrial design of helicopter airframe structures. In the initial phase of the program, teams from the major U.S. manufacturers of helicopter airframes will apply extant finite element analysis methods to calculate loads and vibrations of helicopter airframes, and perform correlations between analysis and measurements. The aforementioned rotorcraft structural dynamics program was given the acronym DAMVIBS (Design Analysis Method for Vibrations). Sikorsky's RDYNE Rotorcraft Dynamics Analysis used for the correlation study, the specifics of the application of RDYNE to the AH-1G, and comparisons of the predictions of the method with flight data for loads and vibrations on the AH-1G are described. RDYNE was able to predict trends of variations of loads and vibrations with airspeed, but in some instances magnitudes differed from measured results by factors of two or three to one. Sensitivities were studied of predictions to rotor inflow modeling, effects of torsional modes, number of blade bending modes, fuselage structural damping, and hub modal content.

Sopher, R.↗

NASA NTRS1971

Numerical calculation of turbulent boundary layers including suction or injection with binary diffusion.

The modelling of turbulent transport processes with an eddy viscosity representation of the inner, wall region for cases with suction or injection is considered in detail. It is shown how the van Driest solid wall model can be logically extended for such cases. Further, a new inductive model is developed. Finite difference calculations using the new inductive model are shown to be in good agreement with experimental data over a wide range of conditions. Lastly, a new method for calculating the wall shear within a finite difference solution is developed. This procedure greatly relaxes the requirement for fine grid spacing in the vertical direction.

Schetz, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Methods of galactic heavy ion transport

Two methods of calculating the transition of galactic heavy ions in the earth's atmosphere are compared with respect to accuracy, generality, and computer efficiency. The most general method is shown to have the highest accuracy and is a simple numerical procedure.

Wilson, John W.↗

NASA NTRS2021

A New Method for Simulating Photoprocesses in Astrochemical Models

We propose a new model for treating solid-phase photoprocesses in interstellar ice analogues. In this approach, photoionization and photoexcitation are included in more detail, and the production of electronically-excited (suprathermal) species is explic- itly considered. In addition, we have included non-thermal, non-diffusive chemistry to account for the low-temperature characteristic of cold cores. As an initial test of our method, we have simulated two previous experimental studies involving the UV irradiation of pure solid O2. In contrast to previous solid-state astrochemical model calculations which have used gas-phase photoabsorption cross-sections, we have em- ployed solid-state cross-sections in our calculations. This method allows the model to be tested using well-constrained experiments rather than poorly constrained gas-phase abundances in ISM regions. Our results indicate that inclusion of non-thermal reac- tions and suprathermal species allows for reproduction of low-temperature solid-phase photoprocessing that simulate interstellar ices within cold ( 10 K) dense cores such as TMC-1.

astrochemical modeling↗

NASA NTRS1981

The interaction of helium with alpha-quartz

A detailed method of calculating the three-dimensional interaction of gas atoms with solid surfaces has been developed in order to provide a quantitative means of determining atmospheric evolution and global distribution on exospheric planetary bodies. The computational method involves accurate structural models of the surface and subsurface, and numerical solution of 60-dimensional differential equations of motion in a Monte Carlo calculation of the collision process. Preliminary results for the He-alpha-quartz system are described.

Kunc, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Optimum windings for linear induction machines.

The matrix method of calculating linear induction machine performance as a function of winding current distribution was extended to determine the winding current distribution for maximum efficiency. Application of the method to typical magnetohydrodynamic generator geometries showed that electrical efficiencies of 0.5 to 0.6 are possible with fractional wavelength windings and without insulating vanes in the flow.

Elliott, D. G.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Electromagnetic dissociation effects in galactic heavy-ion fragmentation

Methods for calculating cross sections for the breakup of galactic heavy ions by the Coulomb fields of the interacting nuclei are presented. By using the Weizsacker-Williams method of virtual quanta, estimates of electromagnetic dissociation cross sections for a variety of reactions applicable to galactic cosmic ray shielding studies are presented and compared with other predictions and with available experimental data.

Norbury, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Binary collision rates of relativistic thermal plasmas. II - Spectra

Spectra of importance for the analysis of relativistic thermal plasmas are numerically calculated assuming a thermal form for the particle distribution functions. Complete sets of optically thin thermal electron-proton, electron-electron, and electron-positron bremsstrahlung spectra are calculated throughout the transrelativistic regime of electron temperatures and compared with approximate expressions for the spectra in the nonrelativistic and extreme relativistic regimes of temperature. A method for calculating accurate secondary particle production spectra in proton-proton collisions from threshold to the highest energies is presented based on an isobaric model near threshold and scaling representations at high energies. The production spectra of charged and neutral pions resulting from proton-proton collisions in relativistic proton plasmas are calculated, and the resultant electron, positron, and gamma-ray spectra from the decay of secondary pions are presented.

Dermer, C. D.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The modified correlation mass method for detecting neutrino mass from astrophysical neutrino bursts

A modified correlation mass method for calculating the value of a possible neutrino mass from neutrino bursts of astrophysical origin is proposed which can more sensitively detect small neutrino masses than previous methods. Application of the method to the neutrinos detected from SN 1987 A yields a value of 3.6 + or - 0.3 eV for the neutrino mass energy with a confidence level of 97 percent. Assuming a neutrino mass of 3.6 eV, and transforming all of the detected neutrino events back to the point of emission, it is shown that bursts are composed of a short initial pulse (which lasts for about 0.1 sec and contains 30-40 percent of the total neutrinos) and an extended emission lasting for about 10 sec.

Chan, Kwing L.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Calculation Of Pneumatic Attenuation In Pressure Sensors

Errors caused by attenuation of air-pressure waves in narrow tubes calculated by method based on fundamental equations of flow. Changes in ambient pressure transmitted along narrow tube to sensor. Attenuation of high-frequency components of pressure wave calculated from wave equation derived from Navier-Stokes equations of viscous flow in tube. Developed to understand and compensate for frictional attenuation in narrow tubes used to connect aircraft pressure sensors with pressure taps on affected surfaces.

Whitmore, Stephen A.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Linear-phase approximation in the triangular facet near-field physical optics computer program

Analyses of reflector antenna surfaces use a computer program based on a discrete approximation of the radiation integral. The calculation replaces the actual surface with a triangular facet representation; the physical optics current is assumed to be constant over each facet. Described here is a method of calculation using linear-phase approximation of the surface currents of parabolas, ellipses, and shaped subreflectors and compares results with a previous program that used a constant-phase approximation of the triangular facets. The results show that the linear-phase approximation is a significant improvement over the constant-phase approximation, and enables computation of 100 to 1,000 lambda reflectors within a reasonable time on a Cray computer.

Imbriale, W. A.↗

NASA NTRS1948

Surface-pressure Distributions on a Systematic Group of NACA 1-series Cowlings with and Without Spinners

A method for calculating the flow fields of axially symmetric bodies from their pressure distributions is reported in NACA RM No. L8I17. In order to facilitate application of this method to the important case of the cowling-spinner combination, for use in the design of propellers, the present paper presents static-pressure distributions on the tops of 79 high-critical-speed NACA 1-series cowling-spinner combinations over wide ranges of inlet-velocity ratio at angles of attack of 0 degrees, 2 degrees, 4 degrees, and 6 degrees. Static-pressure distributions around the nose sections of several cowlings are given in greater detail to aid in estimating the pressures near the stagnation points and to show the effect of changes in the internal lip shape. The effects of the operation of a typical propeller on the surface pressures on the cowling are shown for one configuration. The pressure distributions over the nine NACA 1-series nose inlets used as the basic components of these combinations are also presented ro supplement the existing open-nose-cowling data of NACA ACR No. L5F30a which are applicable to the case of the rotating cowling.

Boswinkle, Robert W JR↗

NASA NTRS1998

Models of Plumes: Their Flow, Their Geometric Spreading, and Their Mixing with Interplume Flow

There are two types of plume flow models: (1) 1D models using ad hoc spreading functions, f(r); (2) MagnetoHydroDynamics (MHD) models. 1D models can be multifluid, time dependent, and incorporate very general descriptions of the energetics. They confirm empirical results that plume flow is slow relative to requirements for high speed wind. But, no published 1 D model incorporates the rapid local spreading at the base (fl(r)) which has an important effect on mass flux. The one published MHD model is isothermal, but confirms that if b=8*pi*p/absolute value(B)2<<l then the field is nearly potential below -70,000 km. Building on the MHD result, we apply a two scale approximation to calculate fl(r). We also compute the global spreading (fg(r)) out to 5.0 RSUN imposed by coronal hole geometry. Global MHD models provide a potent method of calculating fg(r). Unambiguous plume signatures have not yet been found in the solar wind. This is probably due to strong mixing of plume and interplume flows near the Sun. We describe a physical source for strong mixing due to the observed flows being unstable to shear instabilities that lead to rapid disruption.

Suess, Steven T.↗