Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Azimuth”

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.

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

At least 1,315 records · Page 73
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1987

Backscatter analysis of dihedral corner reflectors using physical optics and the physical theory of diffraction

The backscatter cross-sections of dihedral corner reflectors in the azimuthal plane are presently determined by both physical optics (PO) and the physical theory of diffraction (PTD), yielding results for the vertical and horizontal polarizations. In the first analysis method used, geometrical optics is used in place of PO at initial reflections in order to maintain the planar character of the reflected wave and reduce the complexity of the analysis. In the second method, PO is used at almost every reflection in order to maximize the accuracy of the PTD solution at the expense of a rapid increase in complexity. Induced surface current densities and resulting cross section patterns are illustrated for the two methods.

Griesser, Timothy↗
NASA NTRS1988

An experimental study of rotor-vortex interactions

A scheme for investigating general blade/vortex interactions (BVIs) has been used to obtain an unusual body of data. The scheme involves locating a vortex generator upstream of a nonlifting rotor so that the vortex interacts with the rotor at any desired forward azimuth. Parallel BVIs produced by this external vortex generator are shown to be nearly identical to those produced by the rotor alone operating in a normal descent mode. The test delineates various generic features of parallel and oblique BVIs. However, the dominant feature is the leading-edge pressure pulse. The effects of blade/vortex angle, and proximity (including head-on interactions) on this pulse are discussed. The effect of Mach number on the leading edge pressure variation is shown to be small even for supercritical interactions.

Caradonna, F. X.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Measurement and prediction of propeller flow field on the PTA aircraft at speeds of up to Mach 0.85

High speed subsonic transports powered by advanced propellers provide significant fuel savings compared to turbofan powered transports. Unfortunately, however, propfans must operate in aircraft-induced nonuniform flow fields which can lead to high blade cyclic stresses, vibration and noise. To optimize the design and installation of these advanced propellers, therefore, detailed knowledge of the complex flow field is required. As part of the NASA Propfan Test Assessment (PTA) program, a 1/9 scale semispan model of the Gulfstream II propfan test-bed aircraft was tested in the NASA-Lewis 8 x 6 supersonic wind tunnel to obtain propeller flow field data. Detailed radial and azimuthal surveys were made to obtain the total pressure in the flow and the three components of velocity. Data was acquired for Mach numbers ranging from 0.6 to 0.85. Analytical predictions were also made using a subsonic panel method, QUADPAN. Comparison of wind-tunnel measurements and analytical predictions show good agreement throughout the Mach range.

Aljabri, Abdullah S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

An eastward propagating compressional Pc 5 wave observed by AMPTE/CCE in the postmidnight sector

This paper presents a detailed analysis of a compressional Pc 5 wave observed in the postmidnight sector on July 21, 1986, using data from the magnetometer, the charge-energy-mass spectrometer, and the medium-energy particle analyzer aboard the AMPTE/Charge Composition Explorer (CCE) spacecraft. The Pc 5 wave exhibited harmonically related transverse and compressional magnetic oscillations, modulation of the flux of medium energy protons, and a large azimuthal wave number, i.e., properties that are similar to those of compressional Pc5 waves observed previously at geostationary orbit. The unique observations recorded by the AMPTE/CCE included the occurrence of the wave in the postmidnight sector, its sunward propagation with respect to the spacecraft, and the left-handed polarization of the perturbed magnetic field. In spite of the morphological uniqueness observed, the excitation of the July 21 event is considered to be due to the same type of instability as operates at geostationary orbit.

Takahashi, K.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Dihedral corner reflector backscatter using higher order reflections and diffractions

The uniform theory of diffraction (UTD) plus an imposed edge diffraction extension is used to predict the backscatter cross sections of dihedral corner reflectors which have right, obtuse, and acute included angles. The UTD allows individual backscattering mechanisms of the dihedral corner reflectors to be identified and provides good agreement with experimental cross-section measurements in the azimuthal plane. Multiply reflected and diffracted fields of up to third-order are included in the analysis for both horizontal and vertical polarizations. The coefficients of the uniform theory of diffraction revert to those of the geometrical theory of diffraction (GTD) in far-field cross-section analyses, but finite cross sections can be obtained everywhere by considering mutual cancellation of diffractions from parallel edges. Analytic calculations are performed using UTD coefficients; hence the accuracy required in angular measurements is more critical as the distance increases. The common far-field approximation that all rays to the observation point are parallel is too gross an approxiation for the angular parameters in the UTD coefficients in the far field.

Griesser, Timothy↗
NASA NTRS1988

Spectrogoniometer for measuring planetary surface materials at small phase angles

This paper describes an instrument, termed spectrogoniometer, which was designed to measure the bidirectional reflectance properties of planetary surface analogs at very small phase angles. By using a pellicle beam splitter, a highly collimated laser light source, and a carefully aligned apparatus it was possible to measure the reflectance properties of geologic samples under any viewing geometry: the angles of incidence and emission ranging from 0 to 90 deg, and the azimuthal angle ranging from 0 to 360 deg. The results on the effect of porosity are demonstrated by comparing measurements on a compact sample (with a void space of 25 percent) and a fluffy sample (with a void space of 90 percent). The fluffy sample exhibited a 30-percent increase in intensity between 10 and 0 deg, whereas the compact sample exhibited only a 20-percent increase.

Buratti, Bonnie J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Geological and vegetational applications of Shuttle Imaging Radar-B, Mineral County, Nevada

Multiple-incidence angle and multi-azimuth radar data were acquired from a Shuttle platform over test sites in Nevada in October 1984. An attempt was made to correlate these data with ground features for the purpose of evaluating the use of such data for geological and vegetational assessment. Standard ecological parameters with respect to the flora (community composition, dominance, and relative cover) were recorded in the field at the time of overflight. Although a total of 33 species representing 11 plant families were recognized, and plant cover ranged from 13 to 26 percent, radar data could not be used to separate plant communities. The signal return is more a function of abiotic conditions than vegetative characteristics. Illumination geometry plays an important role in the ability to detect strike-slip and dip-slip faults. Local incidence angle is the most important parameter, and SIR-B data takes with small incidence angles are superior for identifying certain styles of faulting. Look direction is critical for detecting faults with a dip-slip component. New structural features were not observed. Problems with radar antenna power and recording significantly affected data quality.

Borengasser, M. X.↗
NASA NTRS1988

On the secondary instability of Taylor-Goertler vortices to Tollmien-Schlichting waves in fully developed flows

There are many flows of practical importance where both Tollmien-Schlichting waves and Taylor-Goertler vortices are possible causes of transition to turbulence. The effect of fully nonlinear Taylor-Goertler vortices on the growth of small amplitude Tollmien-Schlichting waves is investigated. The basic state considered is the fully developed flow between concentric cylinders driven by an azimuthal pressure gradient. It is hoped that an investigation of this problem will shed light on the more complicated external boundary layer problem where again both modes of instability exist in the presence of concave curvature. The type of Tollmien-Schlichting waves considered have the asymptotic structure of lower branch modes of plane Poiseuille flow. Whilst instabilities at lower Reynolds number are possible, the latter modes are simpler to analyze and more relevant to the boundary layer problem. The effect of fully nonlinear Taylor-Goertler vortices on both two-dimensional and three-dimensional waves is determined. It is shown that, whilst the maximum growth as a function of frequency is not greatly affected, there is a large destabilizing effect over a large range of frequencies.

Bennett, James↗
NASA NTRS1987

An investigation of the vertical wavenumber and frequency spectra of gravity wave motions in the lower stratosphere

The vertical and oblique velocities of atmospheric motions in the lower stratosphere were analyzed using data obtained on February 1-5, 1986, from the Poker Flat, Alaska, MST radar; two beams of orthogonal polarization were directed vertically, and four oblique beams at 7 deg off-vertical were directed at azimuths of 64, 154, 244, and 334 deg from north. Results indicate that the majority of the energy at gravity wave periods is associated with inertia-gravity wave motions having an upward direction of propagation and dominant vertical wavelengths near 2 km. The results of vertical wavenumber spectra support the saturation hypothesis of Dewan and Good (1986) and Smith et al. (1987), suggesting that saturation processes act to control spectral amplitudes at large wavenumbers.

Fritts, David C.↗
NASA NTRS1988

A partially collisional model of the Titan hydrogen torus

Occasional collision effects are encompassed by the present numerical model of atomic hydrogen densities in Titan's hydrogen torus, which is noted to be azimuthally symmetric; the torus density peaks sharply at Titan's orbit, and rapidly decreases in the both radially outward and perpendicular directions. Collisions of Saturnian atoms with the torus population produce a corona. Without this coronal population, the torus model would not reproduce the Voyager 2 Lyman-alpha intensities. These observations may nevertheless be modelled by a torus-plus-corona model that also reconciles the Pioneer 11 torus observations with those of the two Voyager spacecraft.

Hilton, Douglas A.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Viscous pulsational instability of the transonic region of isothermal geometrically thin accretion discs. I - Analytical results

Viscous instability of the transonic region of the conventional geometrically thin alpha-type accretion disks is examined analytically. For simplicity, isothermal disks and isothermal perturbations are assumed. It is found that when the value of alpha is larger than a critical value the disk is unstable against two types of perturbations. One is local propagating perturbations of inertial acoustic waves. Results suggest the possibility that unstable perturbations develop to overstable global oscillations which are restricted only in the innermost region of the disk. The other is standing growing perturbations localized just at the transonic point. The cause of these instabilities is that the azimuthal component of the Lagrangian velocity variation associated with the perturbations becomes in phase with the variation of the viscous stress force. Because of this phase matching work is done on perturbations, and they are amplified.

Kato, Shoji↗
NASA NTRS1988

Dynamical oscillation and propulsion of magnetic fields in the convective zone of a star. IV - Eruption to the surface

It was shown in the previous paper that the heat accumulating beneath the azimuthal field in the convective zone of the sun initiates a Rayleight-Taylor instability, causing tongues of gas to intrude upward into the field. The present paper works out the conditions in an intruding tongue of gas, showing that it penetrates all the way through the field, emerging into the atmosphere above with a specific entropy significantly in excess of the ambient value. The entropy is large enough that the gas rises to the visible surface in 10 to the 6th s or less, where it produces a bipolar magnetic region. Once the eruption to the surface has carried away the accumulated hot gas below the field, there remains only the general downdraft which retracts the magnetic flux from the surface in a characteristic time of 10 to the 7th s.

Parker, E. N.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Geodetic measurement of deformation east of the San Andreas Fault in Central California

The shear strain rates in the Diablo Range of California have been calculated, and the slip rate along the Calaveras and Paicines faults in Central California have been estimated, on the basis of triangulation and trilateration data from two geodetic networks located between the western edge of the Great Valley and the San Andreas Fault. The orientation of the principal compressive strain predicted from the azimuth of the major structures in the region is N 25 deg E, leading to an average shear strain value that corresponds to a relative shortening rate of 4.5 + or - 2.4 mm/yr. It is inferred that the measured strain is due to compression across the fold of this area. The hypothesized uniform, fault-normal compression within the Coast Ranges is not supported by these results.

Sauber, Jeanne↗
NASA NTRS1987

Spacecraft on-board SAR processing technology

This paper provides an assessment of the on-board SAR processing technology for Eos-type missions. The proposed Eos SAR sensor and flight data system are introduced, and the SAR processing requirements are described. The SAR on-board SAR processor architecture selection is discussed, and a baseline processor architecture using a frequency-domain processor for range correlation and a modular fault-tolerant VLSI time-domain parallel array for azimuth correlation are described. The mass storage and VLSI technologies needed for implementing the proposed SAR processing are assessed. It is shown that acceptable processor power and mass characteristics should be feasible for Eos-type applications. A proposed development strategy for the on-board SAR processor is presented.

Liu, K. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Primary instabilities and bicriticality in flow between counter-rotating cylinders

The primary instabilities and bicritical curves for flow between counter-rotating cylinders have been computed numerically from the Navier-Stokes equations assuming axial periodicity. The computations provide values of the Reynolds numbers, wavenumbers, and wave speeds at the primary transition from Couette flow for radius ratios from 0.40-0.98. Particular attention has been focused on the bicritical curves that separate (as the magnitude of counter-rotation is increased) the transitions from Couette flow to flows with different azimuthal wavenumbers m and m + 1. This lays the foundation for further analysis of nonlinear mode interactions and pattern formation occurring along the bicritical curves and serves as a benchmark for experimental studies. Preliminary experimental measurements of transition Reynolds numbers and wave speeds presented here agree well with the computations from the mathematical model.

Langford, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS1988

On thermal instability and hydrostatic equilibrium in cooling flows

The nature of thermal instability in cluster cooling flows is investigated. The radial modes of a spherical static system are discussed, and it is shown that only the acoustical modes are present at short wavelengths and that there are no isobaric thermal instabilities. The analysis is expanded to include nonradial modes, and it is demonstrated that there are azimuthal high wavenumber thermal modes which can indeed become unstable according to the classical Field (1965) criterion. A new convective instability criterion is derived, and thermal instability and its limitations are briefly discussed.

Balbus, Steven A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The derivation of vector magnetic fields from Stokes profiles - Integral versus least squares fitting techniques

The results of two methods for deriving photospheric vector magnetic fields from the Zeeman effect, as observed in the Fe I line at 6302.5 A at high spectral resolution (45 mA), are compared. The first method does not take magnetooptical effects into account, but determines the vector magnetic field from the integral properties of the Stokes profiles. The second method is an iterative least-squares fitting technique which fits the observed Stokes profiles to the profiles predicted by the Unno-Rachkovsky solution to the radiative transfer equation. For sunspot fields above about 1500 gauss, the two methods are found to agree in derived azimuthal and inclination angles to within about + or - 20 deg.

Ronan, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Digital processing of orbital radar data to enhance geologic structure - Examples from the Canadian Shield

Various digital enhancement techniques for SAR are compared using SIR-B and Seasat images of the Canadian Shield. The three best methods for enhancing geological structure were found to be: (1) a simple linear contrast stretch; (2) a mean or median low-pass filter to reduce speckle prior to edge enhancement or a K nearest-neighbor average to cosmetically reduce speckle; and (3) a modification of the Moore-Waltz (1983) technique. Three look directions were coregistered and several means of data display were investigated as means of compensating for radar azimuth biasing.

Masuoka, Penny M.↗