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At least 109 records · Page 6

Plasma kinetic theory

Plasma kinetic theory is examined. Data cover nonlinear oscillations and plasma turbulence in uniform and nonuniform media.

Kaufman, A. N.↗

Control of nonlinear stochastic systems using adaptive estimation

A general procedure for the design of a digital controller for nonlinear stochastic systems is presented; the emphasis is on development of partitioned-adaptive control techniques which provide rapid tracking of the system state vector to follow rapid trajectory variations. Tests involving the control of a low-order nonlinear oscillator suggest that the procedure yields an effective method for achieving closed-loop performance, despite the difficulty of the control problem

Vanlandingham, H. F.↗

Analytical and experimental vibration and buckling characteristics of a pretensioned stayed column

Modal vibration tests to determine lateral modes of vibration of a stayed column and static axial compression tests to determine the column's buckling and postbuckling behavior have been performed. Effects of stay tension levels and vibration-load interaction are presented. Two finite element models are used to analyze the column, a three-dimensional frame using NASTRAN and an equivalent two-dimensional frame using an exact dynamic stiffness matrix. Both analyses correlated well with the linear vibration and buckling experimental data. Results indicate premature buckling of the column due to vibration-load interaction and nonlinear oscillations due to stay slackening. Postbuckling behavior of the column is unusual because of stay slackening and results in a postbuckling restoring force of less than the bifurcation buckling load. Guidelines for design of pretensioned structures are presented which consider buckling, postbuckling and vibration behavior.

Belvin, W. K.↗

A theory of rotating stall of multistage axial compressors. II - Finite disturbances

A small-disturbance theory of rotating stall in axial compressors is extended to finite amplitude, assuming the compressor characteristic is a parabola over the range of the disturbance. An exact solution is found which requires the operating point to be at the minimum or maximum of the parabola. If the characteristic is flat in a deep-stall regime, the previous harmonic solution applies with neither reverse flow or 'unstalling'. If the characteristic is concave upward in deep stall, the disturbance has a skewed shape, steeper at the stall-zone trailing edge as experiment shows. Propagation speed is only slightly affected by this nonlinearity. Near stall inception, negative curvature in combination with multiple stall zones can limit the nonlinear oscillation, in the manner of 'progressive' stall. If, as seems likely, lag at stall inception is negative (opposite to inertia), propagation speed exceeds 1/2 wheel speed, as experiments suggest.

Moore, F. K.↗

On the clock mechanism and the implausibility of the 35 day precessing disk in HZ Herculis/Hercules X-1

The concept of the precessing accretion disk in HZ Her/Her X-1 in its varied forms, to account for the 35 day periodicity in the X-ray flux, has met many objections from a number of workers on various grounds, but it is still being invoked in current publications. These objections are reviewed and additional arguments are presented against the precessing accretion disk model. The implausibility of the disk models is demonstrated. An alternate clock mechanism, based on nonlinear oscillations in the normal star, which provides the modulation of the mass flow is discussed.

Kondo, Y.↗

Bursting star formation and the overabundance of Wolf-Rayet stars

The ratio of the number of WR-stars to their OB progenitors appears to be significantly higher in some extragalactic systems than in our Galaxy. This overabundance of Wolf-Rayet-stars can be explained as a consequence of a recent burst of star formation. It is suggested that this burst is the manifestation of a long period nonlinear oscillation in the star formation process, produced by positive feedback effects between young stars and the interstellar medium. Star burst galaxies with large numbers of WR-stars must generate gamma - fluxes but due to the distance, all of them are beyond the reach of present-day ray detectors, except probably 30 Dor.

Bodigfee, G.↗

A simple nonlinear joint model

Hertzian contact theory is applied to a butt joint with specially mismatched bearing surfaces to devise a simple mathematical model of nonlinear axial force-displacement behavior in jointed members. Normalized tangent stiffness-force plots, for several values of a joint imperfection parameter, are presented for the sample case of solid structural members of circular section. The results illustrate the potential problem of high joint compliance at low axial-force levels, as well as the generally desirable stiffening and linearizing effects of preload. A nonlinear oscillator problem based on the static model is also formulated and solved to illustrate the effect of amplitude on natural frequency. As expected, natural frequency is low when amplitude is small. The results call attention to the important roles that tight tolerances and preload are expected to play in the design and fabrication of deployable and erectable truss-type space structures.

Fichter, W. B.↗

A generalization of the method of harmonic balance

A procedure is provided for generalizing the method of harmonic balance to obtain higher-order approximations to the periodic solutions of differential equations for two systems, one a conservative system and the other nonconservative. The procedure is currently being applied to investigate the possible solution behaviors of singular, nonlinear oscillators, where the usual perturbation methods do not work.

Mickens, R. E.↗

An approximate analytic solution of a set of nonlinear model alpha-omega-dynamo equations for marginally unstable systems

An approximate analytic solution of a set of nonlinear model alpha-omega-dynamo equations is obtained. The reaction of the Lorentz force on the velocity shear which stretches and, hence, amplifies the magnetic field is incorporated into the model. To single out the effect of the Lorentz force on the omega-effect, the effect of the Lorentz force on the alpha-effect is neglected in this study. The solution represents a nonlinear oscillation with the amplitude and period determined by the dynamo number N. The amplitude is proportional to N - 1, while the period is almost exactly the same as the dissipation time of the unstable mode (proportional to N).

Hinata, S.↗

Indications of low dimensionality in magnetospheric dynamics

Using three separate but related approaches, the question of whether the dynamic response of the magnetosphere to the solar wind input may be described by a low-order system of equations is examined. First, it is determined that the dimension of the subset (the attractor) in the high-dimensional magnetospheric phase space associated with the westward auroral electrojet (AL) index for some of the data sets compiled by Bargatze et al. (1985) is 4.0 + or - 0.2, seemingly independent of activity level. Second, direct modeling of the magnetosphere, considering the bulk properties of the tail plasma, leads to a system of equations that is similar to those previously reported as a dripping faucet model; here, the focus is specifically on the prediction of a natural frequency in this model. Finally, a peak is identified with the predicted frequency in power spectra of AL computed for intervals with both low and high activity. Peaks at other frequencies also appear in the spectra, and such resonances would be expected for a chaotic nonlinear oscillator. Combining these approaches it is concluded that at least some aspects of magnetospheric dynamics may be meaningfully modeled by low-dimensional sets of equations.

Roberts, D. A.↗

On the global dynamics of adaptive systems - A study of an elementary example

The inherent nonlinear character of adaptive systems poses serious theoretical problems for the analysis of their dynamics. On the other hand, the importance of their dynamic behavior is directly related to the practical interest in predicting such undesirable phenomena as nonlinear oscillations, abrupt transients, intermittence or a high sensitivity with respect to initial conditions. A geometrical/qualitative description of the phase portrait of a discrete-time adaptive system with unmodeled disturbances is given. For this, the motions in the phase space are referred to normally hyperbolic (structurally stable) locally invariant sets. The study is complemented with a local stability analysis of the equilibrium point and periodic solutions. The critical character of adaptive systems under rather usual working conditions is discussed. Special emphasis is put on the causes leading to intermittence. A geometric interpretation of the effects of some commonly used palliatives to this problem is given. The 'dead-zone' approach is studied in more detail. The predicted dynamics are compared with simulation results.

Espana, Martin D.↗

Dynamics of Aqueous Foam Drops

We develop a model for the nonlinear oscillations of spherical drops composed of aqueous foam. Beginning with a simple mixture law, and utilizing a mass-conserving bubble-in-cell scheme, we obtain a Rayleigh-Plesset-like equation for the dynamics of bubbles in a foam mixture. The dispersion relation for sound waves in a bubbly liquid is then coupled with a normal modes expansion to derive expressions for the frequencies of eigenmodal oscillations. These eigenmodal (breathing plus higher-order shape modes) frequencies are elicited as a function of the void fraction of the foam. A Mathieu-like equation is obtained for the dynamics of the higher-order shape modes and their parametric coupling to the breathing mode. The proposed model is used to explain recently obtained experimental data.

Akhatov, Iskander↗

Physical Sciences Research Priorities and Plans in OBPR

This paper presents viewgraphs of physical sciences research priorities and plans at the Office of Biological and Physical Sciences Research (OBPR). The topics include: 1) Sixth Microgravity Fluid Physics and Transport Phenomena Conference; 2) Beneficial Characteristics of the Space Environment; 3) Windows of Opportunity for Research Derived from Microgravity; 4) Physical Sciences Research Program; 5) Fundamental Research: Space-based Results and Ground-based Applications; 6) Nonlinear Oscillations; and 7) Fundamental Research: Applications to Mission-Oriented Research.

Trinh, Eugene↗

Coupled Groups of g-Modes in a Sun with Mixed Core

Groups of linear g-modes can sum to create long-lived nonlinear oscillations in small "hot volumes" very deep in the Sun that help drive the modes. In these volumes (dimensions -10 Mm), the time average rate of He-3 burning doubles as temperature fluctuations exceed 10% and rises by an order of magnitude for fluctuations of 25%. To be consistent with locally large motions, we impose a mixed shell on an otherwise standard solar model before computing g-mode solutions. Mixing in the assumed shell r = (0.10+/-0.03) R(sub sun) is rapid (<<10(exp 6) yr) with slower mixing somewhat beyond. If l is the principal spherical harmonic index, a set of g-modes for any single l less than or equal to 15 with five consecutive radial harmonics can be excited with nearly linear thermal amplitudes, A(sub T) less than or equal to 0.053, throughout the star and a fractional temperature fluctuation in its hot volume of (Delta)T/T less than or equal to 0.18. These thresholds for excitation will become smaller when sets for several values of l are computed simultaneously. There is some evidence for the rotation of g-mode sets in the long solar activity record and g-mode upward wave flux has been suggested to explain the 1.3 yr reversing flows tentatively detected below the Sun's convective envelope (CE). The large local amplitudes needed for excitation implies that g-modes may transport a non-negligible fraction of the solar luminosity, yet their near linear amplitudes outside the hot volume suggests amplitudes over most of the solar surface that would be barely detectable for l > 3. A formalism is presented for summing the g-modes and estimating growth rates under the approximation that modes are strictly linear except in a hot volume which holds only a few percent of mode kinetic energy. Finally over the range 2 less than or equal to l less than or equal to 30, we summed all zonal harmonics, m, for a given l and computed the relative angular orientations that would release the most nuclear energy. This should be close to the physically preferred angular state of such a family and a few examples were displayed.

Wolff, Charles L.↗

Demystifying Power System Oscillations - Recent and Ongoing Efforts

Summary of recent and ongoing research efforts in power system oscillation analysis and techniques for locating the source of oscillations. Review of existing technologies, best practice in industry, as well as challenges.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗