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At least 1,207 records · Page 67

Comparison of Numerical Model Results with Diffusion Flames in Microgravity

The effects of gravity on methane diffusion flames were studied using a finite difference numerical model. Variables under consideration included velocity, pressure, temperature, enthalpy, reactive species, and inert carrier gas. Results obtained showed that flames in zero gravity were wider and taller than those in normal gravity. The use of a six reaction scheme produced similar predictions of flame width and height compared to those of the single reaction case. The numerical models predicted a considerable difference in the flame base region between normal gravity and low gravity. This region is considered to be beyond the boundaries of current analytical models.

Hyer, Paul V.↗

Acoustic Treatment Design Scaling Methods: Numerical Simulation of the Nonlinear Acoustic Impedance of a Perforated Plate Single-Degree-of-Freedom Resonator Using a Time-Domain Finite Difference Method - Volume 4

Single-degree-of-freedom resonators consisting of honeycomb cells covered by perforated facesheets are widely used as acoustic noise suppression liners in aircraft engine ducts. The acoustic resistance and mass reactance of such liners are known to vary with the intensity of the sound incident upon the panel. Since the pressure drop across a perforated liner facesheet increases quadratically with the flow velocity through the facesheet, this is known as the nonlinear resistance effect. In the past, two different empirical frequency domain models have been used to predict the Sound Pressure Level effect of the incident wave on the perforated liner impedance, one that uses the incident particle velocity in isolated narrowbands, and one that models the particle velocity as the overall velocity. In the absence of grazing flow, neither frequency domain model is entirely accurate in predicting the nonlinear effect that is measured for typical perforated sheets. The time domain model is developed in an attempt to understand and improve the model for the effect of spectral shape and amplitude of multi-frequency incident sound pressure on the liner impedance. A computer code for the time-domain finite difference model is developed and predictions using the models are compared to current frequency-domain models.

Kraft, R. E.↗

Anisotropic velocity distributions in M87 - Is a supermassive black hole necessary

A collisionless distribution of stars with an anisotropic velocity distribution is considered as a model for the cores of spherical galaxies. The first moment of the corresponding Boltzmann equation is integrated to give the resulting density and velocity dispersion profiles. These distributions plus a central point source of light give a good fit to the data from recent observations of M87 without requiring a supermassive central object. This model requires one less fitting parameter than published models incorporating a central black hole. The same model with no point source of light also provides a good fit to the normal E1 galaxy NGC 3379. The success of this model in describing the cores of both M87 and NGC 3379 suggests that a supermassive black hole is not necessary in either.

Duncan, M. J.↗

Assessment of Particle Drag Models Using L2K and GBK Experimental Data

Properly assessing the drag force is an important element to computing the trajectories of particles traveling through a shock layer. This study will use experimental data in the German Aerospace Center (DLR) L2K arcjet to evaluate the ability of various particle drag models to reproduce the experimental particle velocity data.

particle flows↗

Minimal upper mantle temperature variations consistent with observed heat flow and plate velocities

Heat-flow and plate-velocity measurements are used to model upper-mantle temperature variations; the results are intended to form the basis for a gravity-field-variation model and are also applicable to the interpretation of petrological and seismological data. A 5-deg grid is used, a depth of 280 km is chosen as the fully convecting level, and it is assumed that 85 percent of the global heat production (4.0 x 10 to the 13th W) comes from below this level. The velocity field is calculated by integrating the momentum equations down to 280 km (assuming laterally homogeneous viscosity and density) and then used to determine the temperature fields. The results are presented in graphs, tables, and maps. The largest lateral temperature differences are about 1500 C and occur in the top 20 km, where the largest (about 200 C/Myr) nonlinear terms of the energy equation are also found. Below 50 km, heat transfer becomes more convective than conductive, and the most significant temperature variation appears in the form of negative 'tongues' as cold as -825 C at about 100 km. Temperature variations of at least + or - 180 C are calculated at the fully convecting level.

Kaula, W. M.↗

A statistical equilibrium analysis of interstellar CO toward zeta Ophiuchi as recorded by the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph

High-resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio echelle observations made by the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS), aboard the Hubble Space Telescope, of molecular (12)C(16)O and (13)C(16)O in the absorbing gas toward zeta Oph are reported. A statistical equilibrium model, incorporating a different way of dealing with the radiation field in the interstellar clouds, is presented. Based upon previous observations, two velocity components of the gas at V(sub LSR) = - 0.79 and 0.39 km/s, corresponding to solar velocity = -14.6 and -13.4 km/s, together with three different sets of velocity dispersions are adopted in our models. The ratios of the computed emergent intensities (I(sub em)) resulting from the emission lines in the lowest transitions (J = 1 goes to 0, 2 goes to 1, 3 goes to 2) of ground state of CO are presented. The ratios for the two velocity components, (I(sub em)(1 goes to 0)(sub 1))/(I(sub em)(1 goes to 0)(sub 2)), and (I(sub em)(2 goes to 1)(sub 1))/I(sub em)(1 goes to 0)(sub 1)) are comparable to the observed corrected antenna temperature ratios. From the solutions to the statistical equilibrium equations including the six lowest rotational transitions of CO and from multiple Voigt profile fits, the observed (12)CO and (13)CO UV abroption features are successfully reproduced. Profile fitting and double cloud curve-of-growth analysis using the GHRS and Copernicus data indicate that the abundance of CO is (1.8 +/- 0.2) x 10(exp 15)/sq cm. The most recently measured wavelength of the (6 goes to 0) (13)CO band by Haridass & Huber (R(0) = 1370.616 A) shows that the tentative (13)CO features in the GHRS data are unquestionably identified. If there is no blending from any other unknown interstellar species, the isotope ratio of (12)CO/(13)CO is approximately 82 +/- 25. This result is close to the terrestrial value of 90 and implies that the CO is not substantially fractionated, and (12)C(16)O experiences little preferential self-shielding through the selective isotopic photodissociation process. This conclusion differs strongly with that of Sheffer et al. Other implications of the results are discussed.

Lyu, Cheng-Hsuan↗

On the mechanism of ionization oscillations in Hall thrusters

Low-frequency ionization oscillations involving plasma and neutral density (breathing modes) are the most violent perturbations in Hall thrusters for electric propulsion. Because of its simplicity, the zero-dimensional (0D) predator–prey model of two nonlinearly coupled ordinary differential equations for plasma and neutral density has often been used for the characterization of such oscillations and scaling estimates. In this work, we investigate the properties of its continuum analog, the one-dimensional (1D) system of two nonlinearly coupled equations in partial derivatives (PDEs) for plasma and neutral density. This is a more general model, of which the standard 0D predator–prey model is a special limit case. We show that the 1D model is stable and does not show any oscillations for the boundary conditions relevant to Hall thrusters and the uniform ion velocity. We then propose a reduced 1D model based on two coupled PDEs for plasma and neutral densities that is unstable and exhibit oscillations if the ion velocity profile with the near-the-anode back-flow (toward the anode) region is used. Comparisons of the reduced model with the predictions of the full model that takes into account the self-consistent plasma response show that the main properties of the breathing mode are well captured. In particular, it is shown that the frequency of the breathing mode oscillations is weakly dependent on the final ion velocity but shows a strong correlation with the width of the ion back-flow region.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Data-assimilated time-lapse visco-acoustic full-waveform inversion: Theory and application for injected CO 2 plume monitoring

Continuous seismic monitoring for quantifying CO 2 plume migration and detection of any potential leakages in the subsurface is essential for the security of long-term anthropogenic carbon dioxide geologic storage. Traditional time-lapse full-waveform inversion (TLFWI) methods aim to map the CO 2 distribution by estimating seismic velocity changes, but recent studies find that CO 2 -induced attenuation is an important complement to seismic velocity for tracking the CO 2 plumes and even quantifying the CO 2 saturation. We have developed a novel data-assimilated TLFWI method to construct high-resolution time-lapse velocity and attenuation changes from dense time-lapse monitoring data. This method consists of two theoretical developments: visco-acoustic full-waveform inversion (QFWI) and multiparameter hierarchical matrix-powered extended Kalman filter (mHiEKF). The method is capable of (1) posing temporal constraints to retrieve time-lapse information from dense monitoring data by using mHiEKF, (2) accurately recovering high-spatial-resolution velocity and attenuation perturbations using first-order equation system-based QFWI, and (3) providing the model uncertainty by estimating their model standard deviation. With numerical examples, we first find the effectiveness of the new QFWI on estimating accurate velocity and attenuation models simultaneously. Then, a CO 2 leakage case and a realistic Frio-II CO 2 monitoring case are presented to find the advantages and applicability of our data-assimilated QFWI method for estimating time-lapse changes using dense time-lapse monitoring surveys. Here, by assimilating time-lapse seismic monitoring data over time, our data-assimilated QFWI method can improve the resolution of velocity and attenuation changes and decrease their model uncertainties.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Velocity-Space Hybridization of Direct Simulation Monte Carlo and a Quasi-Particle Boltzmann Solver

This paper presents a new method for modeling rarefied gas flows based on hybridization of direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) and discrete velocity method (DVM)-based quasi-particle representations of the velocity distribution function. It is aimed at improving the resolution of the tails of the distribution function (compared with DSMC) and computational efficiency (compared with DVM). Details of the method, such as the collision algorithm and the particle merging scheme, are discussed. The hybrid approach is applied to the study of noise in a Maxwellian distribution, computation of electron-impact ionization rate coefficient, as well as numerical simulation of a supersonic Couette flow. The hybrid-based solver is compared with pure DSMC and DVM approaches in terms of accuracy, computational speed, and memory use. It is shown that such a hybrid approach can provide a lower computational cost than a pure DVM approach, while being able to retain accuracy in modeling high-velocity tails of the distribution function. For problems where trace species have a significant impact on the flow physics, the proposed method is shown to be capable of providing better computational efficiency and accuracy compared with standard fixed-weight DSMC.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Free-field Ground Motion Induced by Underground Explosions at Aqueduct Mesa with Predictions for Physical Experiment One (PE1)

We fit standard power-law models for ground acceleration and particle velocity using scaled ground motion observations from underground nuclear explosions at Aqueduct Mesa on the Nevada National Security Site. The models are then validated using small-scale high-explosive (HE) test data from nearby Rainier Mesa. The comparison between model predictions and observations is good and can be made more favorable if the assumed yield for the HE tests are doubled. Further validation is made with a numerical experiment that additionally shows a transition in ground motion attenuation to elastic propagation (1 = r). An extended model is provided to incorporate the long-range transition in attenuation, which results in increased ground motions at farther range. We then make predictions for the field experiment, Physical Experiment One (PE1), to take place in P-tunnel on Aqueduct Mesa, and suggest that the models could be used in planning various operations for PE1.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗

Neutral winds and electric fields in the dust auroral oval. II - Theory and model

A two-dimensional numerical model of the thermosphere is applied to the auroral zone neutral wind, electric field, and plasma density data set, presented in an earlier paper. The model shows that the action of the Lorentz force can be responsible to a great extent for the large zonal velocities near the 150-km altitude. Model equations are described, an explanation of the use of the geophysical conditions is given, and model integrations are compared to the wind measurements. However, for the two-dimensional model to be effective, the atmosphere must not cross too many meridians of local time during the integration period, so that the background state should remain fairly uniform. It is concluded that the two-dimensional model cannot accurately explain the details of the wind profiles because of the three-dimensional character of the physical situation. Thus it is noted that the observed winds were part of a large-scale three-dimensional flow which is only weakly coupled to short-term variations in magnetospheric conditions.

Mikkelsen, I. S.↗

A non-Gaussian model of continuous atmospheric turbulence proposed for use in aircraft design

This paper describes a statistical model proposed for use in forecasting vehicle responses to stationary continuous atmospheric turbulence. The model is suggested by the observed patchy character of turbulence, and differs from models now in use in that it does not assume the gust velocity to be a Gaussian process. For simplicity only the vertical gust component is considered here. The validity of the proposed model is established through comparison with published data. This comparison shows that the model is in better agreement with observed gust velocity probability distributions and exceedance frequencies than is the widely used Gaussian model, especially insofar as high velocity gusts are concerned. A method of applying the proposed model to the determination of vehicle responses is developed. It is shown that response probability distributions as well as exceedance frequencies can be derived from the eigenvalues and eigenfunction of certain unsymmetric kernels.

Reeves, P. M.↗

Velocity vector analysis of a juncture flow using a three component laser velocimeter

A specialized single-axis, five-beam three-component laser velocimeter was constructed and used to study the flow field in a juncture. The juncture was defined by a blunt leading edged vertical splitter plate and a sharp leading edged horizontal plate. The investigations were conducted in the Low Turbulence Pressure Tunnel at a Mach number of 0.1 and a Reynolds number of 2.2 x 10 to the 6th per meter over the model. The three-component velocity flow field in the juncture was measured, Reynolds stresses calculated, and the velocity vector analysis performed.

Meyers, J. F.↗

Velocity Vector Analysis of a Juncture Flow Using a Three-Component Laser Velocimeter

A specialized single-axis, five-beam three-component laser velocimeter was constructed and used to study the flow field in a juncture. The juncture was defined by a blunt leading, edged vertical splitter plate and a sharp leading edged horizontal plate. The investigations were conducted in the Low Turbulence Pressure Tunnel at a Mach number of 0.1 and a Reynolds number of 2.2 x 10(exp 6) per meter over the model. The three-component velocity flow field in the juncture was measured, Reynolds stresses calculated and the velocity vector analysis performed.

Meyers, James F.↗

CFD Simulation of Floating Body Motion with Mooring Dynamics: Coupling MoorDyn with OpenFOAM

It is increasingly popular to use Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models to study floating structures subjected to ocean waves, especially when it comes to applications of floating offshore wind turbines and Wave Energy Converters (WECs). Mooring dynamics are currently lacking in most of these applications. This paper presents a coupled simulation study of moored floating body motion by coupling two open-source libraries: a finite volume CFD toolbox, OpenFOAM, and a lumped-mass mooring model, MoorDyn. The instantaneous floating body position and velocity are passed from the body motion solver in the CFD model to the mooring model to calculate the fairlead kinematics. The mooring reaction forces, which are calculated by MoorDyn after updating the mooring system states, are then returned to the body motion solver to update the floating body motion. Both mesh deformation and overset mesh methods are used as the mesh motion solver in the CFD model to account for the floating body motion. The coupled model was validated against experimental measurements for a floating box moored with four catenary lines under the action of regular waves, which came from a preliminary test campaign for WECs. Apart from the lumped-mass mooring model, the present work also coupled a quasi-static mooring model and a finite element model with the floating body motion solver in OpenFOAM. The mooring line tensions predicted by these models were compared. The coupled model equipped with three mooring line codes may be further used to carry out survivability studies of FOWTs and WECs subject to severe sea states.

floating body↗

Microwave characteristics of the ocean surface in the 1-10 GHz band

The microwave characteristics of calm, rough, and foam-covered ocean surfaces were studied, and a technique was developed for deriving thermodynamic ocean surface temperatures from brightness temperatures measured by an earth-orbiting radiometer. This investigation encompassed frequencies in the range 1 to 10 GHz (wavelength range of 30 to 3 cm) and was based on the use of a one-dimensional geometrical optics roughness model, including shadowing and multiple scattering of radiant electromagnetic energy. Provision is made in the model for characterizing surface roughness through the rms slope versus wind velocity relations previously established. Suitable foam and atmospheric models were superimposed on the roughness model.

Strong, A. E.↗

A model of the high-latitude ionospheric convection pattern

Mathematical expressions have been constructed that allow the large-scale global convection characteristics of the high-latitude ionosphere to be reproduced. The model contains no discontinuities in the ion convection velocity and as such should be useful in F region chemical models. The number of variables in the model allow such features as the dayside throat and the Harang discontinuity to be modeled. The applicability of the model to magnetospheric physics is limited by the exclusion of large-magnitude small-scale flow features associated with discrete arcs and by the inability of the model to produce separate flow cells at the same local time.

Heelis, R. A.↗

Application of a Reynolds Stress turbulence model to a supersonic hydrogen-air diffusion flame

A second-order differential Reynolds Stress turbulence model has been applied to the Favre-averaged Navier-Stokes equations for the study of supersonic flows undergoing hydrogen-air chemical reactions. An assumed Beta Probability Density Function is applied to account for the chemical source terms in the conservation equations. An algebraic Reynolds Flux model is used for the fluctuating density-velocity as well as the species mass fraction-velocity correlations. The variances of temperature and species fluctuations are also modelled using an algebraic flux technique. A seven-species, seven-reaction finite rate chemistry mechanism is used to simulate the combustion processes. The resulting formulation is validated by comparison with experimental data on reacting supersonic axisymmetric jets. Results obtained for specific conditions indicate that the effect of chemical reaction on the turbulence is significant.

Chandrasekhar, R.↗