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At least 991 records · Page 55

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NASA NTRS1979

A simplified computer program for the prediction of the linear stability behavior of liquid propellant combustors

A program for predicting the linear stability of liquid propellant rocket engines is presented. The underlying model assumptions and analytical steps necessary for understanding the program and its input and output are also given. The rocket engine is modeled as a right circular cylinder with an injector with a concentrated combustion zone, a nozzle, finite mean flow, and an acoustic admittance, or the sensitive time lag theory. The resulting partial differential equations are combined into two governing integral equations by the use of the Green's function method. These equations are solved using a successive approximation technique for the small amplitude (linear) case. The computational method used as well as the various user options available are discussed. Finally, a flow diagram, sample input and output for a typical application and a complete program listing for program MODULE are presented.

Mitchell, C. E.↗

NASA NTRS1979

A comparison of linear acoustic theory with experimental noise data for a small-scale hovering rotor

Linear acoustic calculations based on full aerodynamic data as input are presented and compared with measured cases reported by Boxwell et al. (1978). The full aerodynamic data are obtained using three programs giving radial loading, chordwise loading, and chordwise position of transition. It is shown that in the theoretical results the most significant noise source mechanism is due to blade thickness. Thus the conclusions of Boxwell et al. as to the importance of nonlinearities around the blades are upheld. These conclusions concern the width, shape and the level of the acoustic pressure calculated from linear acoustic theory. Some of the approximations involved in the application of acoustic analogy using quadrupole sources are discussed. It is necessary that the near- and far-field problems of rotating blades be treated together as shown for the case of an oscillating sphere.

Farassat, F.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Forced baroclinic ocean motions. III - The linear equatorial basin case

The linear response to simple wind stress of an equatorial ocean described by baroclinic shallow water equations is studied. Three types of basin are considered in treating the linear spin-up of the equatorial ocean: a symmetric basin with zonal walls distant from the equator (compared to the equatorial radius of deformation); a symmetric basin with zonal walls near the equator; and an asymmetric basin with one wall near the equator and one distant. The approach to the steady (Sverdrup) solutions is analyzed, with special attention given to the fast planetary response. Numerical treatments of spin-up for various winds in each type of basin are also presented.

Cane, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Wave tilt sounding of a linearly inhomogeneous layered half-space

The wave tilt of a transverse electric (TE) electromagnetic wave over a linearly inhomogeneous lossy layer overlying a homogeneous half-space is studied. Two approaches are used: an exact formulation using solutions of Airy's equation and an approximate numerical solution using a large number of homogeneous layers with a linearly increasing dielectric constant. The numerical results of both solutions are practically identical as long as the thickness of the layers in the approximate model are somewhat smaller than a quarter-wave length.

Warne, L.↗

NASA NTRS1979

A linear scanning balloon-borne telescope for far-infrared astronomy

A low-background balloon-borne far-infrared (30-300 microns) telescope, utilizing a linear scan mode has dramatically increased the efficiency of mapping large extended areas over more conventional systems. The system consists of a 20 cm linear scanned mirror mounted as an off-axis (Herchelian) telescope designed to achieve an emissivity of 1% or less, a ten position cooled aperture-filter wheel, a cooled Pfund optical system with a composite diamond-germanium bolometer mounted in a spherical cavity, a minimum phase shift ultra-low frequency amplifier, and a 4 micron thick mylar dewar window. This system was used to produce detailed far-infrared maps of the galactic plane. The system specifications and operating parameters will be discussed and preliminary data shown.

Nishimura, T.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Quasi-optimal decoding of linear block codes using soft decision detection

A simple but effective decoding procedure, applicable to any (n,k) linear block code with symbols from GF(q), is described. The technique involves a transformation of the parity check equations which focuses the code's correction power on the soft symbol set while still retaining the capability to correct one symbol error from outside this set. The soft symbol set is defined to be the n-k least reliably detected code symbol positions whose parity check row-spaces are linearly independent. The process generates a number of error vector screening candidates, each a solution to the parity check equations, and the maximum-likelihood candidate is accepted.

Greene, E. P.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Opportunities for supersonic performance gains through non-linear aerodynamics

This paper contains a number of examples wherein basic aerodynamic shapes are shown to achieve improved performance when non-linear effects are taken into account. Analytical, numerical, and experimental results have all been used to demonstrate this conclusion. Improvements in both zero lift drag and drag due to lift have been identified. The results show that the exploitation of these non-linear aerodynamic effects may be a key ingredient of future supersonic aircraft.

Mason, W. H.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Minimum-variance fixed-form compensation of linear systems

The problem of determining the linear time-invariant compensator of a specified dimension which minimizes the asymptotic expected value of a quadratic form in the state variables of a linear stochastic system of arbitrary order, is considered. It is shown that under appropriate assumptions, the solution of this problem can be interpreted as a minimum-order observer-based or dual observer-based compensator for an optimally aggregated model of the plant.

Johnson, T. L.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Antenna feed system for receiving circular polarization and transmitting linear polarization

An invention is described which provides for receiving a circularly polarized signal from an antenna feed connected to orthogonally spaced antenna elements. It also provides for transmitting a linearly polarized signal through the same feed without switches, and without suffering a 3 dB polarization mismatch loss, using an arrangement of hybrid junctions. The arrangement is comprised of two dividing hybrid junctions, each connected to a different pair of antenna elements and a summing hybrid junction. In one version, a receiver is connected to the summing hybrid junction directly. A diplexer is used to connect a transmitter to only one pair of antenna elements. In another version, designated left and right circularly polarized (LCP and RCP) transmitters are connected to the summing hybrid junction by separate diplexers, and separate LCP and RCP sensitive receivers are connected to the diplexers in order to transmit linearly polarized signals using all four antenna elements while receiving circularly polarized signals as before. An orthomode junction and horn antenna may replace the two dividing hybrid junctions and antenna feed.

Seidel, B. L.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Design study of a 15 kW free-piston Stirling engine-linear alternator for dispersed solar electric power systems

A conceptual design of a free piston solar Stirling engine-linear alternator which can be designed and developed to meet the requirements of a near-term solar test bed engine with minimum risks was developed. The conceptual design was calculated to have an overall system efficiency of 38% and provide 15kW electric output. The free piston engine design incorporates features such as gas bearings, close clearance seals, and gas springs. This design is hermetically sealed to provide long life, reliability, and maintenance free operation. An implementation assessment study performed indicates that the free piston solar Stirling engine-linear alternator can be manufactured at a reasonable price cost (direct labor plus material) of $2,500 per engine in production quantities of 25,000 units per year. Opportunity for significant reduction of cost was also identified.

Dochat, G. R.↗

NASA NTRS1980

The primer vector in linear, relative-motion equations

Primer vector theory is used in analyzing a set of linear, relative-motion equations - the Clohessy-Wiltshire equations - to determine the criteria and necessary conditions for an optimal, N-impulse trajectory. Since the state vector for these equations is defined in terms of a linear system of ordinary differential equations, all fundamental relations defining the solution of the state and costate equations, and the necessary conditions for optimality, can be expressed in terms of elementary functions. The analysis develops the analytical criteria for improving a solution by (1) moving any dependent or independent variable in the initial and/or final orbit, and (2) adding intermediate impulses. If these criteria are violated, the theory establishes a sufficient number of analytical equations. The subsequent satisfaction of these equations will result in the optimal position vectors and times of an N-impulse trajectory. The solution is examined for the specific boundary conditions of (1) fixed-end conditions, two-impulse, and time-open transfer; (2) an orbit-to-orbit transfer; and (3) a generalized rendezvous problem. A sequence of rendezvous problems is solved to illustrate the analysis and the computational procedure.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1980

Linear state feedback, quadratic weights, and closed loop eigenstructures

Equations are derived for the angles of general multivariable root loci and linear quadratic optimal root loci, including angles of departure and approach. The generalized eigenvalue problem is used to compute angles of approach. Equations are also derived to find the sensitivity of closed loop eigenvalue and the directional derivatives of closed loop eigenvectors. An equivalence class of quadratic weights that produce the same asymptotic eigenstructure is defined, a canonical element is defined, and an algorithm to find it is given. The behavior of the optimal root locus in the nonasymptotic region is shown to be different for quadratic weights with the same asymptotic properties. An algorithm is presented that can be used to select a feedback gain matrix for the linear state feedback problem which produces a specified asymptotic eigenstructure. Another algorithm is given to compute the asymptotic eigenstructure properties inherent in a given set of quadratic weights. Finally, it is shown that optimal root loci for nongeneric problems can be approximated by generic ones in the nonasymptotic region.

Thompson, P. M.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Non-linear wave interaction in a magnetoplasma column. I - Theory. II Experiment

The paper presents an analysis of non-linear three-wave interaction for propagation along a cylindrical plasma column surrounded either by a metallic boundary, or by an infinite dielectric, and immersed in an infinite, static, axial magnetic field. An averaged Lagrangian method is used and the results are specialized to parametric amplification and mode conversion, assuming an undepleted pump wave. Computations are presented for a magneto-plasma column surrounded by free space, indicating that parametric growth rates of the order of a fraction of a decibel per centimeter should be obtainable for plausible laboratory plasma parameters. In addition, experiments on non-linear mode conversion in a cylindrical magnetoplasma column are described. The results are compared with the theoretical predictions and good qualitative agreement is demonstrated.

Larsen, J.-M.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Linear modes of convection in the solar envelope

The structure of the solar convective envelope calculated according to mixing-length theory is not consistent with the transport of the convective heat flux by any superposition of the fundamental linear convective modes. If the amplitudes of these modes can be estimated by consideration of the most important nonlinear terms in the equations of motion, it becomes possible to find solar models which are consistent with mode transport of the heat through the convective zone. These models may be characterized by a mixing length which varies from point to point through the envelope. The linear modes in such models show peaks in velocity at certain preferred length scales, but these scales do not necessarily correspond to those of the solar motions, such as the supergranulation.

Bogart, R. S.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Two-Stage Linearization Circuit

High accuracy is obtained by combining analog and digital corrections. Proximity-sensor linearization circuit has two stages. First-stage linearization is accurate to about 3 percent; accuracy of final output is better than 0.5 percent. By modifying contents of the Programable Read-Only Memory (PROM), circuit can also be used to derive a nonlinear output.

Waldeck, G. C.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Motion about the stable libration points in the linearized, restricted three-body problem

The motion of a point particle in the neighborhood of a triangular libration point (L sub 4 or L sub 5) in the linearized, restricted problem of three bodies in the plane is described. The derivation of the equations of motion is standard. From these equations, three invariants of the motion are obtained; the Jacobi integral is expressed linearly in terms of two of these. The trajectories for varied initial conditions are drawn, and a complete geometric description of the particle motion is given in elementary terms. Each trajectory has an exterior boundary curve; its equation is found. An approximation to this boundary curve was known; the two curves are compared graphically. For certain initial conditions, there is an interior region from which the trajectory is excluded; the equation of the boundary of this region is given.

Mittleman, D.↗

NASA NTRS1979

A higher order panel method for linearized supersonic flow

The basic integral equations of linearized supersonic theory for an advanced supersonic panel method are derived. Methods using only linear varying source strength over each panel or only quadratic doublet strength over each panel gave good agreement with analytic solutions over cones and zero thickness cambered wings. For three dimensional bodies and wings of general shape, combined source and doublet panels with interior boundary conditions to eliminate the internal perturbations lead to a stable method providing good agreement experiment. A panel system with all edges contiguous resulted from dividing the basic four point non-planar panel into eight triangular subpanels, and the doublet strength was made continuous at all edges by a quadratic distribution over each subpanel. Superinclined panels were developed and tested on s simple nacelle and on an airplane model having engine inlets, with excellent results.

Ehlers, F. E.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Discovery of intrinsic linear polarization in SS433

Observations of variable linear polarization in the optical range in the unique radio and X-ray source SS 433, which is characterized by moving emission lines in its visible and near-IR spectra, are reported. The observations were made with an unfiltered GaAs photocathode covering the spectral region 3000-9000 A, with a passband characteristic wavelength near 7000 A. Measurements reveal the presence of both a long-term and a very short time-scale variation in linear polarization in the continuum and in H-alpha, which indicate that a substantial fraction of the polarization is intrinsic to SS 433 and not produced in the interstellar medium. It is suggested that the most likely source of polarization in the optical continuum is electron scattering, and constraints on models of SS 433 implied by the discovery of intrinsic polarization are considered.

Mclean, I. S.↗