SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “important processes”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,099 records · Page 61

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1995

Solar radiation, phytoplankton pigments and the radiant heating of the equatorial Pacific warm pool

Recent optical, physical, and biological oceanographic observations are used to assess the magnitude and variability of the penetrating flux of solar radiation through the mixed layer of the warm water pool (WWP) of the western equatorial Pacific Ocean. Typical values for the penetrative solar flux at the climatological mean mixed layer depth for the WWP (30 m) are approx. 23 W/sq m and are a large fraction of the climatological mean net air-sea heat flux (approx. 40 W/sq m). The penetrating solar flux can vary significantly on synoptic timescales. Following a sustained westerly wind burst in situ solar fluxes were reduced in response to a near tripling of mixed layer phytoplankton pigment concentrations. This results in a reduction in the penetrative flux at depth (5.6 W/sq m at 30 m) and corresponds to a biogeochemically mediated increase in the mixed layer radiant heating rate of 0.13 C per month. These observations demonstrate a significant role of biogeochemical processes on WWP thermal climate. We speculate that this biogeochemically mediated feedback process may play an important role in enhancing the rate at which the WWP climate system returns to normal conditions following a westerly wind burst event.

Siegel, David A.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Spectroscopic measurements of element abundances in the solar corona: Variations on the FIP theme

Solar wind and solar energetic particle (SEP) data yield systematic differences between elemental abundances in the corona and in the photosphere related to the first ionization potential (FIP) of the elements: low-FIP elements are preferentially enhanced relative to high-FIP elements by about a factor of four. Spectroscopic studies of the inner corona show that such a pattern may apply on average but not in detail for coronal loops: substantial abundance differences occur between different types of coronal structures, and variations have been found from flare to flare, from one active region to another, and over time in the same region; further, in some flares, anomalies such as enhanced Ne:O ratios, distinctly at odds with the FIP pattern, show that a competing element selection mechanism sometimes operates. Details of the observed abundance variability -- such as the magnitude of the variations, the relevant temporal and spatial scales, and correlations with other properties of the given coronal structure -- may give important clues to the processes which supply and heat the corona, or they may reflect the changing physical conditions or locations where those processes take place. However, many such details remain to be established definitively. At present, abundance variability is primarily a major complication to data analysis and interpretation. However, once it is better understood, it may provide a new diagnostic tool for probing the lower layers of the solar atmosphere.

Saba, J. L. R.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Simulating fluxes from heterogeneous land surfaces: Explicit subgrid method employing the biosphere-atmosphere transfer scheme (BATS)

A vectorized version of the biosphere-atmosphere transfer scheme (VBATS) is used to study moisture, energy, and momentum fluxes from heterogeneous land surfaces st the scale of an atmospheric model (AM) grid cells. To incorporate subgrid scale inhomogeneity, VBATS includes two important features: (1) characterization of the land surface (vegetation and soil parameters) at N subgrid points within an AM grid cell and (2) explicit distribution of climate forcing (precipitation, clouds, etc.) over the subgrid. In this study, VBATS is used in stand-alone mode to simulate a single AM grid cell and to evaluate the effects of subgrid scale vegetation and climate specification on the surface fluxes and hydrology. It is found that the partitioning of energy can be affected by up to 30%, runoff by 50%, and surface stress in excess of 60%. Distributing climate forcing over the AM grid cell increases the Bowen ratio, as a result of enhanced sensible heat flux and reduced latent heat flux. The combined effect of heterogeneous vegetation and distribution of climate is found to be dependent on the dominat vegetation class in the AM grid cell. Development of this method is part of a larger program to explore the importance of subgrid scale processes in regional and global climate simulations.

Seth, Anji↗

NASA NTRS1995

SeaWiFS technical report series. Volume 32: Level-3 SeaWiFS data products. Spatial and temporal binning algorithms

The level-3 data products from the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) are statistical data sets derived from level-2 data. Each data set will be based on a fixed global grid of equal-area bins that are approximately 9 x 9 sq km. Statistics available for each bin include the sum and sum of squares of the natural logarithm of derived level-2 geophysical variables where sums are accumulated over a binning period. Operationally, products with binning periods of 1 day, 8 days, 1 month, and 1 year will be produced and archived. From these accumulated values and for each bin, estimates of the mean, standard deviation, median, and mode may be derived for each geophysical variable. This report contains two major parts: the first (Section 2) is intended as a users' guide for level-3 SeaWiFS data products. It contains an overview of level-0 to level-3 data processing, a discussion of important statistical considerations when using level-3 data, and details of how to use the level-3 data. The second part (Section 3) presents a comparative statistical study of several binning algorithms based on CZCS and moored fluorometer data. The operational binning algorithms were selected based on the results of this study.

Hooker, Stanford B.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Filtration combustion: Smoldering and SHS

Smolder waves and SHS (self-propagating high-temperature synthesis) waves are both examples of combustion waves propagating in porous media. When delivery of reactants through the pores to the reaction site is an important aspect of the process, it is referred to as filtration combustion. The two types of filtration combustion have a similar mathematical formulation, describing the ignition, propagation and extinction of combustion waves in porous media. The goal in each case, however, is different. In smoldering the desired goal is to prevent propagation, whereas in SHS the goal is to insure propagation of the combustion wave, leading to the synthesis of desired products. In addition, the scales in the two areas of application may well differ. For example, smoldering generally occurs at a relatively low temperature and with a smaller propagation velocity than SHS filtration combustion waves. Nevertheless, the two areas of application have much in common, so that mechanisms learned about in one application can be used to advantage in the other. In this paper we discuss recent results in the areas of filtration combustion.

Matkowsky, Bernard J.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Middle Atmosphere Electrodynamics During a Thunderstorm

Rocket-based instrumentation investigations of middle atmospheric electrodynamics during thunderstorms were conducted in coordination with balloon-measurements at Wallops Island, Virginia. Middle atmosphere electrodynamics and energy coupling are of particular importance to associated electrical processes at lower and higher altitudes. Objectives of this research effort included: (1) investigation of thunderstorm effects on middle atmosphere electrical structure, including spatial and temporal dependence; (2) characterization of electric field transients and the associated energy deposited at various altitudes; (3) evaluation of the vertical Maxwell current density over a thunderstorm to study the coupling of energy to higher altitudes; and (4) investigation of the coupling of energy to the ionosphere and the current supplied to the 'global circuit.'

Croskey, Charles L.↗

NASA NTRS1996

A Framework for Performing V&V within Reuse-Based Software Engineering

Verification and validation (V&V) is performed during application development for many systems, especially safety-critical and mission-critical systems. The V&V process is intended to discover errors, especially errors related to critical processing, as early as possible during the development process. Early discovery is important in order to minimize the cost and other impacts of correcting these errors. In order to provide early detection of errors, V&V is conducted in parallel with system development, often beginning with the concept phase. In reuse-based software engineering, however, decisions on the requirements, design and even implementation of domain assets can be made prior to beginning development of a specific system. In this case, V&V must be performed during domain engineering in order to have an impact on system development. This paper describes a framework for performing V&V within architecture-centric, reuse-based software engineering. This framework includes the activities of traditional application-level V&V, and extends these activities into domain engineering and into the transition between domain engineering and application engineering. The framework includes descriptions of the types of activities to be performed during each of the life-cycle phases, and provides motivation for the activities.

Addy, Edward A.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Monte Carlo Simulation of the Rapid Crystallization of Bismuth-Doped Silicon

In this Letter we report Ising model simulations of the growth of alloys which predict quite different behavior near and far from equilibrium. Our simulations reproduce the phenomenon which has been termed 'solute trapping,' where concentrations of solute, which are far in excess of the equilibrium concentrations, are observed in the crystal after rapid crystallization. This phenomenon plays an important role in many processes which involve first order phase changes which take place under conditions far from equilibrium. The underlying physical basis for it has not been understood, but these Monte Carlo simulations provide a powerful means for investigating it.

Jackson, Kenneth A.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Enantiomeric Cross-Inhibition in the Synthesis of Oligonucleotides on a Nonchiral Template

Prebiotic syntheses of chiral monomers always yield racemic mixtures. Living systems, however, utilize L-amino acids and D-nucleotides in their biopolymers. The generation of optical asymmetry by selection and amplification in an autocatalytic process is, therefore, an important element in many theories of the origin of life. Replication of polynucleotides in template-directed syntheses is an obvious candidate for such an amplification step in a pre-'RNA world'. A serious objection to this suggestion is the observation that the efficiency of template-directed syntheses of RNA is limited by enantiomeric cross-inhibition. Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNAs), amide-linked, nonchiral analogues of RNA, have been 'copied' into RNA and constitute an alternative to chiral polynucleotides as an informational replicating system. Here, we use PNA as model for a hypothetical, nonchiral precursor of RNA in experiments re-examining enantiomeric cross-inhibition. We find that enantiomeric cross-inhibition is as serious in the polymerization of nucleotides on a PNA template as it is on a conventional RNA or DNA template.

Schmidt, Jurgen G.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Momentum Impact Studies on Solar Cells

One efficient way of propelling a spacecraft in space is by means of a rocket (thruster). It is important to understand the process which governs the action. The propulsion system of all rockets consists of a fuel storage system of which there are many different types, due to the different varieties of fuels. There must also be a fuel transport system. The fuel is then expanded in an expansion region, triggered by some form of combustion, and is then accelerated to the nozzle region where it is expelled through the nozzle. The expelled propellant from the rocket comes out and creates a plume. The plume's interaction with spacecraft structures is the focus of this study.

Conner, James Derrick↗

NASA NTRS1996

Endogenous Synthesis of Prebiotic Organic Molecules

The necessary condition for the synthesis of organic compounds on the primitive earth is the presence of reducing conditions. This means an atmosphere of CH4, CO, or CO2 + H2. The atmospheric nitrogen can be N2 with a trace of NH3, but NH4(+) is needed in the ocean at least for amino acid synthesis. Many attempts have been made to use CO2 + H2O atmospheres for prebiotic synthesis, but these give at best extremely low yields of organic compounds, except in the presence of H2. Even strong reducing agents such as FeS + H2S or the mineral assemblages of the submarine vents fail to give significant yields of organic compounds with CO2. There appears to be a high kinetic barrier to the non-biological reduction of CO2 at low temperatures using geological reducing agents. The most abundant source of energy for prebiotic synthesis is ultraviolet light followed by electric discharges, with electric discharges being more efficient, although it is not clear which was the important energy source. Photochemical process would also make significant contributions. In an atmosphere Of CO2, N2, and H2O with no H2, the production rates of HCN and H2CO would be very low, 0.001 or less than that of a relatively reducing atmosphere. The concentration of organic compounds under these non-reducing conditions would be so low that there is doubt whether the concentration mechanism would be adequate for further steps toward the origin of life. A number of workers have calculated the influx of comets and meteorites on the primitive earth as a source of organic compounds. We conclude that while some organic material was added to the earth from comets and meteorites the amount available from these sources at a given time was at best only a few percent of that from earth bases syntheses under reducing conditions.

Miller, Stanley L.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Computational and Experimental Study of Energetic Material in a Counterflow Microgravity Environment

Ground based (normal gravity) combustion studies can provide important information on the processes by which monopropellants and composite systems burn. The effects of gravitational forces, however, can often complicate the interpretation of the models and the implementation of experiments designed to help elucidate complex issues. We propose to utilize a combined computational/experimental approach in a microgravity environment to understand the interaction of oxidizer-binder diffusion flames in composite propellants. By operating under microgravity conditions we will be able to increase the length scales and suppress the gravitational forces on melting binders such that increased resolution of both major and minor species will be possible thus reducing the demands placed on both the computational and diagnostic tools. Results of a detailed transport/finite rate chemistry model will be compared with nonintrusive optical diagnostic measurements of the structure and extinction of diffusion flames in which oxidizers such as ammonium perchlorate (AP) and ammonium dinitramide (ADN) are counterflowed against realistic binders such as hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) and 3,3-bis(azidomethyl)oxetane (BAMO). The work proposed herein represents a collaborative effort among the research groups at Yale University, Princeton University and the Combustion Diagnostics Laboratory at the Naval Air Warfare Center in China Lake, CA.

Smooke, Mitchell D.↗

NASA NTRS1999

The East Asian Jet Stream and Asian-Pacific Climate

In this study, the NASA GEOS and NCEP/NCAR reanalyses and GPCP rainfall data have been used to study the variability of the East Asian westerly jet stream and its impact on the Asian-Pacific climate, with a focus on interannual time scales. Results indicate that external forcings such as sea surface temperature (SST) and land surface processes also play an important role in the variability of the jet although this variability is strongly governed by internal dynamics. There is a close link between the jet and Asian-Pacific climate including the Asian winter monsoon and tropical convection. The atmospheric teleconnection pattern associated with the jet is different from the ENSO-related pattern. The influence of the jet on eastern Pacific and North American climate is also discussed.

Yang, Song↗

NASA NTRS2000

Description of the AILS Alerting Algorithm

This document provides a complete description of the Airborne Information for Lateral Spacing (AILS) alerting algorithms. The purpose of AILS is to provide separation assurance between aircraft during simultaneous approaches to closely spaced parallel runways. AILS will allow independent approaches to be flown in such situations where dependent approaches were previously required (typically under Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC)). This is achieved by providing multiple levels of alerting for pairs of aircraft that are in parallel approach situations. This document#s scope is comprehensive and covers everything from general overviews, definitions, and concepts down to algorithmic elements and equations. The entire algorithm is presented in complete and detailed pseudo-code format. This can be used by software programmers to program AILS into a software language. Additional supporting information is provided in the form of coordinate frame definitions, data requirements, calling requirements as well as all necessary pre-processing and post-processing requirements. This is important and required information for the implementation of AILS into an analysis, a simulation, or a real-time system.

Samanant, Paul↗

NASA NTRS2000

The Evolution of Tropospheric Temperature Field and its Relationship With The Onset of Asian Summer Monsoon

The mean state and year-to-year variations of the tropospheric temperature fields and their relationship with the establishment of the summertime East Asian monsoon (EAM) and the Indian monsoon (INM) are studied using the NCEP reanalysis data of 15 years (1982-1996). The results show that the seasonal shift of the South Asian High in the upper troposphere and the establishment of the EAM and the INM are closely related to the seasonal warming which causes a reversal of the meridional gradient of upper tropospheric mean temperature over the monsoon regions. On the average of 15 years, the reversal time of the temperature gradient in the EAM region (INM region) is concurrent with (one pentad earlier than) the onset time of the summer monsoon. In most years of the 15-year period, the reversal of temperature gradient coincides or precedes the onset time of the summer monsoon in both the EAM region and the INM region. The results suggest an important role of thermal processes on the establishment of the Asian monsoon. The contributors to the upper tropospheric warming over the EAM region are the strong horizontal warm advection and the diabetic heating against the adiabatic cooling due to upward motion. In the INM region, strong adiabatic heating by subsidence and the diabetic heating are major warming processes against the strong horizontal cold advection related to the persistent northwestlies to the southwestern periphery of the Tibetan Plateau. It appears that the early or late establishment of the Asian summer monsoon is not directly related to the differential warming near the surface.

He, H.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Inductive Measurement of Plasma Jet Electrical Conductivity (MSFC Center Director's discretionary Fund)

Measurement of plasma jet electrical conductivity has utility in the development of explosively driven magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) energy converters as well as magnetic flux compression reaction chambers for nuclear/chemical pulse propulsion and power. Within these types of reactors, the physical parameter of critical importance to underlying MHD processes is the magnetic Reynolds number, the value of which depends upon the product of plasma electrical conductivity and velocity. Therefore, a thorough understanding of MHD phenomena at high magnetic Reynolds number is essential, and methods are needed for the accurate and reliable measurement of electrical conductivity in high-speed plasma jets. It is well known that direct measurements using electrodes suffer from large surface resistance, and an electrodeless technique is desired. To address this need, an inductive probing scheme, originally developed for shock tube studies, has been adapted. In this method, the perturbation of an applied magnetic field by a plasma jet induces a voltage in a search coil, which, in turn, can be used to infer electrical conductivity through the inversion of a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind. A 1-in.-diameter probe using a light-gas gun. Exploratory laboratory experiments were carried out using plasma jets expelled from 15-g shaped charges. Measured conductivities were in the range of 4 kS/m for unseeded octol charges and 26 kS/m for seeded octol charges containing 2-percent potassium carbonate by mass.

Turner, M. W.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Flight Experiment to Study Double-Diffusive Instabilities in Silver-Dopped Lead Bromide Crystals

The main objective of the present program is to understand thermosolutal convection during crystal growth of PbBr2-AgBr alloys. This involves identification of the growth conditions for microgravity experiments delineating the microsegregation, observation of convecto-diffusive instabilities and comparison with theoretical models. The overall objectives can be summarized as follows: 1. Observe and study the double diffusive and morphological instabilities in controlled conditions and to compare with theoretically predicted convective and morphological instability curves. 2. Study the three-dimensional morphological instabilities and resulting cellular growth that occur near the onset of morphological instability in the bulk samples under purely diffusive conditions. 3. Understand the micro-and macro-segregation of silver dopant in lead bromide crystals in microgravity. 4. Provide basic data on convective behavior in alloy crystals grown by the commercially important Bridgman crystal growth process.

Singh, N. B.↗

NASA NTRS2002

Intra-Engine Trace Species Chemistry

Prompted by the needs of downstream plume-wake models, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Aerodyne Research Incorporated (ART) initiated a collaborative effort, with funding from the NASA AEAP, to develop tools that would assist in understanding the fundamental drivers of chemical change within the intra-engine exhaust flow path. Efforts have been focused on the development of a modeling methodology that can adequately investigate the complex intra-engine environment. Over the history of this project, our research has increasingly pointed to the intra-engine environment as a possible site for important trace chemical activity. Modeling studies we initiated for the turbine and exhaust nozzle have contributed several important capabilities to the atmospheric effects of aviation assessment. These include a more complete understanding of aerosol precursor production, improved initial conditions for plume-wake modeling studies, and a more comprehensive analysis of ground-based test cell and in-flight exhaust measurement data. In addition, establishing a physical understanding of important flow and chemical processes through computational investigations may eventually assist in the design of engines to reduce undesirable species.

Waitz, Ian A.↗