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At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Lagrangian and Eulerian Supersaturation Statistics in Turbulent Cloudy Rayleigh–Bénard Convection: Applications for LES Subgrid Modeling

Abstract Turbulent fluctuations of scalar and velocity fields are critical for cloud microphysical processes, e.g., droplet activation and size distribution evolution, and can therefore influence cloud radiative forcing and precipitation formation. Lagrangian and Eulerian water vapor, temperature, and supersaturation statistics are investigated in direct numerical simulations (DNS) of turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection in the Pi Convection Cloud Chamber to provide a foundation for parameterizing subgrid-scale fluctuations in atmospheric models. A subgrid model for water vapor and temperature variances and covariance and supersaturation variance is proposed, valid for both clear and cloudy conditions. Evaluation of phase change contributions through an a priori test using DNS data shows good performance of the model. Supersaturation is a nonlinear function of temperature and water vapor, and relative external fluxes of water vapor and heat (e.g., during entrainment-mixing and phase change) influence turbulent supersaturation fluctuations. Although supersaturation has autocorrelation and structure functions similar to the independent scalars (temperature and water vapor), the autocorrelation time scale of supersaturation differs. Relative scalar fluxes in DNS without cloud make supersaturation PDFs less skewed than the adiabatic case, where they are highly negatively skewed. However, droplet condensation changes the PDF shape response: it becomes positively skewed for the adiabatic case and negatively skewed when the sidewall relative fluxes are large. Condensation also increases correlations between water vapor and temperature in the presence of relative scalar fluxes but decreases correlations for the adiabatic case. These changes in correlation suppress supersaturation variability for the nonadiabatic cases and increase it for the adiabatic case. Implications of this work for subgrid microphysics modeling using a Lagrangian stochastic scheme are also discussed.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Probing the Wind Component of Radio Emission in Luminous High-redshift Quasars

We discuss a probe of the contribution of wind-related shocks to the radio emission in otherwise radio-quiet quasars. Given (1) the nonlinear correlation between UV and X-ray luminosity in quasars, (2) that such a correlation leads to higher likelihood of radiation-line-driven winds in more luminous quasars, and (3) that luminous quasars are more abundant at high redshift, deep radio observations of high-redshift quasars are needed to probe potential contributions from accretion disk winds. We target a sample of 50 z ≃ 1.65 color-selected quasars that span the range of expected accretion disk wind properties as traced by broad C iv emission. 3 GHz observations with the Very Large Array to an rms of ≈10 μJy beam -1 probe to star formation rates of ~400 M ⊙ yr -1 , leading to 22 detections. Supplementing these pointed observations are survey data of 388 sources from the LOFAR Two-meter Sky Survey Data Release 1 that reach comparable depth (for a typical radio spectral index), where 123 sources are detected. These combined observations reveal a radio detection fraction that is a nonlinear function of C iv emission-line properties and suggest that the data may require multiple origins of radio emission in radio-quiet quasars. We find evidence for radio emission from weak jets or coronae in radio-quiet quasars with low Eddington ratios, with either (or both) star formation and accretion disk winds playing an important role in optically luminous quasars and correlated with increasing Eddington ratio. Additional pointed radio observations are needed to fully establish the nature of radio emission in radio-quiet quasars.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1971

Direct modeling parameter signature analysis and failure mode prediction of physical systems using hybrid computer optimization

High speed automated identification and design of dynamic systems, both linear and nonlinear, are discussed. Special emphasis is placed on developing hardware and techniques which are applicable to practical problems. The basic modeling experiment and new results are described. Using the improvements developed successful identification of several systems, including a physical example as well as simulated systems, was obtained. The advantages of parameter signature analysis over signal signature analysis in go-no go testing of operational systems were demonstrated. The feasibility of using these ideas in failure mode prediction in operating systems was also investigated. An improved digital controlled nonlinear function generator was developed, de-bugged, and completely documented.

Drake, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1971

The estimation of the constituent densities of the upper atmosphere by means of a recursive filtering algorithm.

The structure of the upper atmosphere can be indirectly probed by light in order to determine the global density structure of ozone, aerosols, and neutral atmosphere. Scattered and directly transmitted light is measured by a satellite and is shown to be a nonlinear function of the state which is defined to be a point-wise decomposition of the density profiles. Dynamics are imposed on the state vector and a structured estimation problem is developed. The estimation of these densities is then performed using a linearized Kalman-Bucy filter and a linearized Kushner-Stratonovich filter.

Mcgarty, T. P.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Estimation in nonlinear systems with transport delay.

The problem of estimation of state in nonlinear dynamical systems containing time delays is studied. The plant is specified by a set of nonlinear differential-difference equations. Observations are a nonlinear function of current and/or delayed states. Both contain additive disturbances. The criterion used for the optimal estimates is the integral of the weighted squared error. Using the theory of the calculus of variations, equations are developed for the estimation. They are first expressed in the form of a split boundary value problem, which is then converted to an initial value problem for on-line estimation. The result yields a sequential estimation scheme in which filtered and smoothed estimates are computed in a sequential manner. The applicability of the procedure is demonstrated by a practical example.

Stoller, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1973

A new approach to the design of time varying control systems with application to the space shuttle booster

A general approach toward the analysis and design of closed loop control for slowly time-varying linear systems was investigated. The approach is by the method of generalized multiple scales, in which slow and fast dynamics are systematically separated by employing different clocks which measure time at varying rates. The clocks, which are necessarily nonlinear functions of time, so that the system dynamics are asymptotically invariant with respect to the new time scale. A transfer function relating the output to the input for general linear slowly time-varying systems is developed and represents the actual system under certain conditions. The clock functions are shown to satisfy an algebraic characteristic equation and can be determined in general in terms of the coefficients.

Ramnath, R. V.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Stabilization of nonlinear systems using linear observers

It is shown that a linear observer can always be employed to stabilize a nonlinear system which contains a true Popov type nonlinearity in the closed interval from 0 to k, where k is finite, provided the nonlinear function and a completely observable output of the linear portion are available as inputs to the observer. Taking into consideration the case in which a completely observable output is not available from the linear portion, stabilization is shown to be possible if the original linear approximation of the system is asymptotically stable.

Strane, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1973

A new approach to the design of time-varying control systems with application to the Space Shuttle Boost

A general approach to the analysis and design of closed-loop control for slowly time-varying linear systems is presented. The approach uses the method of generalized multiple scales in which slow and fast dynamics are systematically separated by employing different 'clocks' which measure time at varying rates. The clocks, which are necessarily nonlinear functions of time, are chosen in such a manner that the system dynamics are asymptotically invariant with respect to the new time scale. A transfer function relating the output to the input for general linear slowly time-varying systems is developed and represents the actual system under certain conditions. The clock function is shown to satisfy an algebraic characteristic equation and can be determined in terms of the coefficients. The approach can be viewed as an extension of time-invariant linear feedback control theory.

Ramanth, R. V.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Long-distance recording of the humidity over the sea

A procedure is developed for long distance recording of humidity over the sea that uses humidity detectors of the sorption type, whose electrical properties depend on the relative humidity of the air. The moisture sensitive material of the hygristor is the organic polymer polyacrylonitryl, deposited on silver electrodes and thermally treated. In the measurements of the relative humidity from 60% to 95%, the resistance of the hygristor varies from several hundred kiloohms to a few kiloohms, and is an essentially nonlinear function of the humidity.

Buklanov, V. V.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Our contaminated atmosphere: The danger of climate change, phases 1 and 2

The effects of increased concentrations of atmospheric particulate matter on average surface temperature and on the components of the earth's radiation budget are studied. An atmospheric model which couples particulate loading to surface temperature and to changes in the earth's radiation budget was used. A determination of the feasibility of using satellites to monitor the effect of increased atmospheric particulate concentrations is performed. It was found that: (1) a change in man-made particulate loading of a factor of 4 is sufficient to initiate an ice age; (2) variations in the global and hemispheric weighted averages of surface temperature, reflected radiant fluz and emitted radiant flux are nonlinear functions of particulate loading; and (3) a black satellite sphere meets the requirement of night time measurement sensitivity, but not the required day time sensitivity. A nonblack, spherical radiometer whose external optical properties are sensitive to either the reflected radiant fluz or the emitted radiant flux meets the observational sensitivity requirements.

Cimorelli, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Statistical analysis of trim maneuvers in low thrust interplanetary navigation

An analytical technique for the statistical analysis of a low thrust trim maneuver in interplanetary navigation has been developed. The maneuver is treated rigorously as a nonlinear function of the trajectory errors to be removed, and the corresponding nongaussian statistics are developed. The method determines the statistical properties of the maneuver direction and duration, as well as the final state dispersion covariance. The analytical technique is applied to the terminal maneuver in a 1980 Encke slow flyby mission and is found to yield accurate statistical results with much less effort than Monte Carlo simulation. The method permits consideration of a shorter terminal maneuver than does linear analysis, with a consequent improvement in delivery accuracy.

Rinker, G. C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Optical profilometer

Device, consisting of optical scanning subsystem, two light detectors with associated amolifiers, analog divider, and adjustable nonlinear function generator, directly determines surface area, absolute depth, and point-to-point distance of three-dimensional object without physical contact with surface under observation.

Burcher, E. E.↗
NASA NTRS1976

A technique using a nonlinear helicopter model for determining trims and derivatives

A technique is described for determining the trims and quasi-static derivatives of a flight vehicle for use in a linear perturbation model; both the coupled and uncoupled forms of the linear perturbation model are included. Since this technique requires a nonlinear vehicle model, detailed equations with constants and nonlinear functions for the CH-47B tandem rotor helicopter are presented. Tables of trims and derivatives are included for airspeeds between -40 and 160 knots and rates of descent between + or - 10.16 m/sec (+ or - 200 ft/min). As a verification, the calculated and referenced values of comparable trims, derivatives, and linear model poles are shown to have acceptable agreement.

Ostroff, A. J.↗