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At least 1,207 records · Page 67

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NASA NTRS1985

Effects of soil tillage on the microwave emission of soils

In order to understand the interactions of soil properties and microwave emission better, a series of field experiments were conducted in 1984. Small plots were measured with a truck-mounted passive microwave radiometer operating at 1.4 GHz. These data were collected concurrent with ground observations of soil moisture and bulk density. Treatment effects studied included different soil moisture contents and bulk densities. Evaluations of the data have shown that commonly used models of the dielectric properties of wet soils do not explain the observations obtained in these experiments. This conclusion was based on the fact that the roughness parameters determined through optimization were significantly larger than those observed in similar investigations. These discrepancies are most likely due to the soil structure. Commonly used models assume a homogeneous three phase mixture of soil solids, air and water. Under tilled conditions the soil is actually a two phase mixture of aggregates and voids. Appropriate dielectric models for this tilled condition were evaluated and found to explain the observations. These results indicate that previous conclusions concerning the effects of surface roughness in tilled fields may be incorrect, and they may explain some of the inconsistencies encountered in roughness modeling.

Jackson, T. J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Surface texture characterization by angular distributions of scattered light

Work at the National Bureau of Standards to develop an on-line optical measurement device and attendant algorithms for automated optical scattering measurements of machined metal surfaces are described. The surfaces could be milled, ground or lapped, and the system is intended to categorize the resulting surface characteristics. The optical device consists of a He-Ne laser which is shone on a surface. The scattered light is captured by a semicircular array of 87 detector elements rotated over the scanned area. The light signals are processed through a digital voltmeter and then an A/D converter. The signals are then stored for later comparisons with optical scattering data obtained by optical instruments used with stylus instruments for characterizing surface topographies. A theoretical model has been defined which relates light scattering and the characteristics of the surface roughness. Initial experimental results with a sinusoidal surface have indicated that although the system can follow the trend of the roughness, the roughness amplitude is as yet uncertainly defined and the computations require excessive time.

Gilsinn, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Quantitative flaw characterization with scanning laser acoustic microscopy

Surface roughness and diffraction are two factors that have been observed to affect the accuracy of flaw characterization with scanning laser acoustic microscopy. Inaccuracies can arise when the surface of the test sample is acoustically rough. It is shown that, in this case, Snell's law is no longer valid for determining the direction of sound propagation within the sample. The relationship between the direction of sound propagation within the sample, the apparent flaw depth, and the sample's surface roughness is investigated. Diffraction effects can mask the acoustic images of minute flaws and make it difficult to establish their size, depth, and other characteristics. It is shown that for Fraunhofer diffraction conditions the acoustic image of a subsurface defect corresponds to a two-dimensional Fourier transform. Transforms based on simulated flaws are used to infer the size and shape of the actual flaw.

Generazio, E. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Observations of the seasonal variability of soil moisture and vegetation cover over Africa using satellite microwave radiometry

Multispectral passive microwave data from the scanning multichannel microwave radiometer (SMMR) on the Nimbus-7 satellite were processed selectively for a 1 yr period over Africa. The data show a wide dynamic range of brightness temperature (180 to 290 K), corresponding to variations in surface features such as moisture, temperature, vegetation, roughness, and large-scale topography. It appears that soil moisture variability is detectable with the SMMR over large regions of Africa. To what extent roughness and vegetation affect this capability is not clear. The lowest SMMR frequency is C-band (6.6 GHz), thus any soil moisture sensitivity at this frequency would be much improved by a sensor at L-band (1 to 2 GHz) less affected by roughness and vegetation.

Njoku, Eni G.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Are the virial masses of clusters smaller than we think?

The constraints that the available X-ray spectral and imaging data place on the mass distribution and mass to light ratio of rich clusters are considered. It was found for the best determined cases that the mass to light ratio is less than 125 h sub 50 at radii exceeding 1 h sub 50 Mpc. The mass to light ratio is approximately constant at radii exceeding 1 h sub 50 Mpc but may rise to values of roughly 200 h sub 50 in the central regions. The fraction of the total mass that is in baryons, primarily the hot X-ray emitting gas, is roughly 30% thus setting the mass to light ratio of the dark material to roughly 70. The model that fits the X-ray data for Coma is in good agreement with the observed optical velocity dispersion vs. radius data.

Cowie, L. L.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Development and testing of vortex generators for small horizontal axis wind turbines

Vortex generators (VGs) for a small (32 ft diameter) horizontal axis wind turbine, the Carter Model 25, have been developed and tested. Arrays of VGs in a counterrotating arrangement were tested on the inbound half-span, outboard half-span, and on the entire blade. VG pairs had their centerlines spaced at a distance of 15% of blade chord, with a spanwise width of 10% of blade chord. Each VG had a length/height ratio of 4, with a height of between 0.5% and 1.0% of the blade chord. Tests were made with roughness strips to determine whether VGs alleviated the sensitivity of some turbines to an accumulation of bugs and dirt on the leading edge. Field test data showed that VGs increased power output up to 20% at wind speeds above 10 m/s with only a small (less than 4%) performance penalty at lower speeds. The VGs on the outboard span of the blade were more effective than those on inner sections. For the case of full span coverage, the energy yearly output increased almost 6% at a site with a mean wind speed of 16 mph. The VGs did reduce the performance loss caused by leading edge roughness. An increase in blade pitch angle has an effect on the power curve similar to the addition of VGs. VGs alleviate the sensitivity of wind turbine rotors to leading edge roughness caused by bugs and drift.

Gyatt, G. W.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Comparison of Hirs' equation of Moody's equation for determining rotordynamic coefficients of annular pressure seals

The rotordynamic coefficients of an incompressible-flow annular pressure seal were determined using a bulk-flow model in conjunction with two different friction factor relationships. The first, Hirs' equation, assumes the friction factor is a function of Reynolds number only. The second, Moody's equation, approximates Moody's diagram and assumes the friction factor is a function of both Reynolds number and relative roughness. For each value of relative roughness, Hirs' constants were determined so that both equations gave the same magnitude and slope of the friction factor. For smooth seals, both relationships give the same results. For rough seals (e/2 H sub 0 = 0.05) Moody's equation predicts 44% greater direct stiffness, 35% greater cross-coupled stiffness, 19% smaller cross-coupled damping, 59% smaller cross-coupled inertia, and nominally the same direct damping and direct inertia.

Nelson, Clayton C.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Development of wind tunnel techniques for the solution of problems in planetary Aeolian processes

Kutzbach reports wind profiles over a series of roughness elements on a frozen lake and how the wind profile changed as the surface roughness was varied. The approach of the current study was to duplicate Kutzbach's roughness arrays in the wind tunnel at 1/20 and 1/40 scales, and to compare the wind profiles over these scale models to those derived by Kutzbach at full scale in the field. The effects of scale differences and data reduction techniques are discussed. Although the study suggests that wind tunnel scale models can predict parameters measured in the field, the development of more definitive guidelines requires a field experiment designed specifically for comparison with wind tunnel results.

Sullivan, Robert↗

NASA NTRS1986

Comparison of Hirs' equation with Moody's equation for determining rotordynamic coefficients of annular pressure seals

The rotordynamic coefficients of an incompressible-flow annular pressure seal were determined using a bulk-flow model in conjunction with two different friction factor relationships. The first, Hirs' equation, assumes the friction factor is a function of Reynolds number only. The second, Moody's equation, approximates Moody's diagram and assumes the friction factor is a function of both Reynolds number and relative roughness. For each value of relative roughness, Hirs' constants were determined so that both equations gave the same magnitude and slope of the friction factor. For smooth seals, both relationships give the same results. For rough seals, Moody's equation predicts 44 percent greater direct stiffness, 35 percent greater cross-coupled stiffness, 19 percent smaller cross-coupled damping, 59 percent smaller cross-coupled inertia, and nominally the same direct damping and direct inertia.

Nelson, C. C.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Are the virial masses of clusters smaller than we think?

The constraints that the available X-ray spectral and imaging data place on the mass distribution and mass to light ratio of rich clusters are considered. It was found for the best determined cases that the mass to light ratio is less than 125 h sub 50 at radii exceeding 1 h sub 50 Mpc. The mass to light ratio is approximately constant at radii exceeding 1 h sub 50 Mpc but may rise to values of roughly 200 h sub 50 in the central regions. The fraction of the total mass that is in baryons, primarily the hot X-ray emitting gas, is roughly 30 percent thus setting the mass to light ratio of the dark material to roughly 70. The model that fits the X-ray data for Coma is in good agreement with the observed optical velocity dispersion vs. radius data.

Cowie, L. L.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Theoretical and experimental study of the radar backscatter of Arctic sea ice

The present theoretical model for sea ice radar backscatter has supported parametric studies of radar signature sensitivity to changes in salinity, temperature, brine volume, density, air bubble size, and surface roughness. Parametric study results indicate that first-year and multiyear ice may be confused when first-year ice is very rough and has exceptionally high salinity, as well as being only a few degrees C from the melting point. Confusion also arises when multiyear ice is slightly more saline, the temperature is a few degrees C from the melting point, surface is moderately rough, and air bubbles are small but still typical of multiyear ice.

Onstott, Robert G.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Interseismic deformation for normal fault earthquakes

Comparison between the coseismic vertical deformation associated with normal fault earthquakes and permanent deformation indicated by geologic structure indicates that large deformation must occur during the period between earthquakes. When sufficient geodetic and geologic information is available it is possible to estimate the spatial character of this interseismic deformation. A case in point is the 1983 Borah Peak, Idaho earthquake. This normal fault earthquake produced roughly 5 times as much basin subsidence as it did uplift of the adjacent mountain ranges. In contrast, geophysical and geological observations show that the basin is roughly as deep as the bounding range is high. A similar normal fault event in the Basin and Range, the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake, was also accompanied by substantially larger subsidence than uplift. In this case, postseismic geodetic measurements show broad regional uplift with a spatial pattern which is roughly consistent with that proposed for the Borah Peak event. Modeling suggests that postseismic viscoelastic relaxation and strain accumulation in an elastic lithosphere overlying a viscoelastic asthenosphere are possible physical mechanisms to generate interseismic uplift. These mechanisms may be the contemporary expression of those processes responsible for the high elevation of the Basin and Range Province.

Reilinger, Robert↗

NASA NTRS1987

Boundary layer simulator (BLIMPJ) improvement

Improvements were made to advance the current Boundary Layer Integral Matrix Procedure - Version J (BLIMPJ) containing previously modeled simplified calculation methods accounting for surface roughness, relaminarization, and thick boundary layer effects. These improvements have potential applications in the design of the future Orbit Transfer Vehicles (OTV) engines. The coded wall roughness module was validated successfully against measured data from the LeRC 60-15 degree half-angle conical nozzle. The relaminarization model was modified to include wall cooling and roughness based on a set of test data from the same nozzle. The model was compared against typical data sets for validation in different flow regimes. The thrust loss calculation for thick boundary layer effects was computerized where the iterations between TDK and BLIMPJ proceeded automatically until convergence was achieved. An example is given for a typical OTV nozzle with an area ratio 1293.

Praharaj, S. C.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Evidence for change in particle excitation of Jupiter's atmosphere 1968-1979

Analysis of the Pioneer 10 and rocket observations of disk averaged emission from the sunlit atmosphere of Jupiter indicates that the spectrally integrated EUV brightness was reduced by at least a factor of two relative to Voyager spacecraft observations in 1979. Most of the variation is caused by the H Ly-alpha component in the spectrum, which was reduced roughly one order of magnitude near the time of solar minimum in 1972-1973. Although the analysis of the data does not produce entirely consistent results, the weight of evidence points to a factor of order roughly two lower abundance of H in Jupiter's atmosphere in 1972-1973 relative to 1979. The low emission rate in H Ly-alpha near the time of solar minimum in this proposed scenario is caused by an electroglow energy depositon rate reduced by a factor of roughly three. The apparent reduced abundance of H implies a reduced thermospheric temperature, even under the assumption of a constant electroglow deposition rate.

Shemansky, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Calculation of the effects of ice on the backscatter of a ground plane

Described is a technique for examining the effect of a rough ice layer on the backscatter of a ground plane. The technique is applied to the special case of a rough ice layer that is periodic in space. By assuming that the roughness is periodic, the backscatter of the ground plane can be found from the backscatter of a single period. Backscatter calculations are presented for a single period in which the thickness of the ice layer has a Gaussian shape.

Lambert, K. M.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Inference of geologic surface parameters from polarimetric radar observations and model inversion

The results of inferring geologic parameters such as rms surface height, correlation length, and dielectric constant of rough surfaces by fitting observed polarization signatures with those predicted by the second order Rice model are discussed. The inferred results are compared to measured values of rms height and correlation length. The rms height values inferred are in good agreement with in situ measurements. The inferred correlation lengths generally do not agree with measured values. The results allow the separation of the effects of surface roughness and dielectric constant on the overall backscatter from rough surfaces.

Vanzyl, Jakob J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Active microwave measurements of artificial sea ice

A 5 m x 15 m outdoor tank of 1.2 m depth was filled with sea water, and polarimetric radar backscatter data were collected at 1.8, 5, and 10 GHz for incidence angles 0 to 60 deg. Observations commenced with open water and continued until 30 cm of sea ice formed. The roughness of the ice surface is important in determining the general backscatter level for first-year ice. Experiments were performed to study the change in backscatter with various roughness scales. Effects of freeze and thaw conditions were also examined. Absolute backscatter levels for new to gray ice are small, except for the large, coherent returns at vertical. The backscatter responses of new, gray, rough grey, and desalinated first-year ice at linear polarization are dissimilar. This is confirmed by examining their polarization signatures.

Onstott, R. G.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The effects of wall surface defects on boundary-layer transition in quiet and noisy supersonic flow

The design of supersonic vehicles with laminar flow control and vehicles such as the Space Shuttle requires information on allowable transition tolerances to fabrication defects such as discrete surface roughness and waviness. A relatively large data base on the effects of discrete roughness on transition exists for subsonic and supersonic speeds. The existing supersonic wind tunnel transition data are contaminated by wind tunnel noise emanating from the turbulent boundary layers on the nozzle walls. Roughness and waviness transition data obtained in a quiet Mach 3.5 supersonic wind tunnel are compared with those obtained in conventional noisy flows.

Morrisette, E. Leon↗