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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.

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At least 1,315 records · Page 73
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NASA NTRS1992

Wind-tunnel static and free-flight investigation of high-angle-of-attack stability and control characteristics of a model of the EA-6B airplane

An investigation was conducted in the Langley 30- by 60-Foot Tunnel and the Langley 12-Foot Low-Speed Tunnel to identify factors contributing to a directional divergence at high angles of attack for the EA-6B airplane. The study consisted of static wind-tunnel tests, smoke and tuft flow-visualization tests, and free-flight tests of a 1/8.5-scale model of the airplane. The results of the investigation indicate that the directional divergence of the airplane is brought about by a loss of directional stability and effective dihedral at high angles of attack. Several modifications were tested that significantly alleviate the stability problem. The results of the free-flight study show that the modified configuration exhibits good dynamic stability characteristics and could be flown at angles of attack significantly higher than those of the unmodified configuration.

Jordan, Frank L., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Self-pressurization of a spherical liquid hydrogen storage tank in a microgravity environment

Thermal stratification and self-pressurization of partially filled liquid hydrogen (LH2) storage tanks under microgravity condition is studied theoretically. A spherical tank is subjected to a uniform and constant wall heat flux. It is assumed that a vapor bubble is located in the tank center such that the liquid-vapor interface and tank wall form two concentric spheres. This vapor bubble represents an idealized configuration of a wetting fluid in microgravity conditions. Dimensionless mass and energy conservation equations for both vapor and liquid regions are numerically solved. Coordinate transformation is used to capture the interface location which changes due to liquid thermal expansion, vapor compression, and mass transfer at liquid-vapor interface. The effects of tank size, liquid fill level, and wall heat flux on the pressure rise and thermal stratification are studied. Liquid thermal expansion tends to cause vapor condensation and wall heat flux tends to cause liquid evaporation at the interface. The combined effects determine the direction of mass transfer at the interface. Liquid superheat increases with increasing wall heat flux and liquid fill level and approaches an asymptotic value.

Lin, C. S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Modeling interannual variability in the Martian seasonal CO2 cycle

One aspect of the seasonal pressure variations measured at the Viking Lander sites is their nearly perfect interannual repeatability. This presents a problem because it implies that the behavior of the seasonal polar caps should be highly repeatable from year to year as well. There are a number of observations and theories suggesting that the presence of dust and water ice clouds in the Martian atmosphere should have significant direct and indirect effects on the rates of CO2 condensation and sublimation in the north and south polar regions. These effects include (1) reduced rates of CO2 frost condensation during polar night seasons due to the radiative effects of dust and water ice clouds and associated CO2 clouds or elevated atmospheric temperatures and (2) reduced or elevated rates of frost sublimation due to the radiative effects of atmospheric dust or to changes in frost emissivities and albedos due to contamination by water ice and dust. The Viking Landing pressure observations are examined to determine the range and character of the interannual variations present. Then a diurnal and seasonal thermal model is used to examine the effects of interannual variations in the polar heat balance on seasonal pressure variations.

Wood, S. E.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Subsonic aerodynamic characteristics of a proposed advanced manned launch system orbiter configuration

The Advanced Manned Launch System is a proposed near-term technology, two-stage, fully reusable launch system that consists of an unmanned glide-back booster and a manned orbiter. An orbiter model that featured a large fuselage and an aft delta wing with tip fins was tested in the Langley 7- by 10-Foot High-Speed Tunnel. A crew cabin, large payload fairing, and crew access tunnel were mounted on the upper body. The results of the investigation indicated that the configuration was longitudinally stable to an angle of attack of about 6 deg about a center-of-gravity position of 0.7 body length. The model had an untrimmed lift-drag ratio of 6.6, but could not be trimmed at positive lift. The orbiter model was also directionally unstable. The payload fairing was responsible for about half the instability. The tip-fin controllers, which are designed as active controls to produce artificial directional stability, were effective in producing yawing moment, but sizable adverse rolling moment occurred at angles of attack above 6 deg. Differential deflection of the elevon surfaces was effective in producing rolling moment with only small values of adverse yawing moment.

Ware, George M.↗
NASA NTRS1992

High data rate applications of ACTS technology

Consideration is given to the existing Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network (BISDN), a delivery method as defined by the International Consultative Committee for Telephone and Telegraph, satellites' role in providing these services, and the NASA high data rate ACTS experiments. It is concluded that satellites have the capability to extend BISDN services beyond the range of the terrestrial BISDN and will provide certain BISDN services more cost effectively in a direct competitive or hybrid satellite-fiber implementation.

Vondeak, Thomas↗
NASA NTRS1992

On the formation and evolution of plasmoids - A survey of ISEE 3 Geotail data

The magnetic and plasma properties of plasmoids, their evolution with distance downtail, and the effect of the direction of the IMF on the plasmoid magnetic configuration were investigated by examining the ISEE 3 magnetometer and electron plasma measurements of the 1983 ISEE 3 Geotail Mission. Both data sets were systematically examined for the presence of bipolar magnetic signatures that occur while ISEE 3 was in the plasma sheet. Results revealed 366 events consistent with this signature while ISEE was in the plasma sheet. It was found that plasmoids are characterized by high-speed plasma flow and that many of them have a well-defined magnetic core field characterized by a field strength maximum at the center of the pass through the structure. Once completely formed, plasmoids are relatively stable. It was found that the size, velocity, magnetic core strength, and Bz field amplitude of plasmoids do not depend on the distance downtail beyond -100 R(E).

Moldwin, Mark B.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Gallery of fluid motion

Winning photographs from the ninth Annual Fluid Mechanics Photo Contest held by the Division of Fluid Dynamics of the American Physical Society in November 1991 are displayed. Pictures are presented of vortex flows, a periodic axisymmetric vortex breakdown in a cylinder with a rotating end wall, impacting water drops, a vortex structure behind a disk started from rest, dynamic stall, blue waves, isotherms in turbulent Rayleigh-Benard convection, a square jet, 'vapor lines' emanating from water droplets, viscosity effects on the directional solidification of NH4Cl solution in a Hele-Shaw cell, and stationary cross-flow vortices.

Reed, Helen L.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Terrestrial imaging spectrometry - Current status, future trends

A review of recent progress in the field of imaging spectrometry is presented based on the 14 articles comprising the special issue of this journal. The results presented were achieved through research done with data from the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS), the first imaging spectrometer to cover the full solar reflected portion of the spectrum. The majority of the early work in imaging spectrometry prior to AVIRIS focused largely on geological applications and specifically surface mineral identification. In the past 5 years, the range of applications has expanded into the scientific disciplines of ecology, hydrology, oceanography, and atmospheric science. Significant progress has also been made in sensor design and calibration, and information extraction. NASA plans to place high spectral resolution sensors in earth orbit within the next few years; two have been flown already on recent planetary missions and have proven to be of great value to the study of planetary surfaces and atmospheres. The work presented in this issue will lead directly to more effective utilization of imaging spectrometry in the study of the earth. We present a discussion of future trends in imaging spectrometry at the conclusion of this article.

Vane, Gregg↗
NASA NTRS1993

Factors influencing the intensity of magnetospheric substorms

A definition of the substorm is presented, and it is shown that the typical isolated substorm is produced by the superposition of effects of processes directly driven by the solar wind through dayside reconnection and those driven by unloading through nighttime reconnection. The single factor that determines whether a substorm will occur or not is the clock angle of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) around the earth-sun line. Only when this field points south of the GSM equatorial plane do the auroral electrojet indices depart from their quiet values. For a given clock angle, the level of activity increases with the IMF strength and solar wind velocity.

Mcpherron, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1950

Two-dimensional compressible flow in centrifugal compressors with straight blades

Six numerical examples are presented for steady, two-dimensional, compressible, nonviscous flow in centrifugal compressors with thin straight blades, the center lines of which generate the surface of a right circular cone when rotated about the axis of the compressor. A seventh example is presented for incompressible flow. The solutions were obtained in a region of the compressors, including the impeller tip, that was considered to be unaffected by the diffuser vanes or by the impeller-inlet configuration. Each solution applies to radial and mixed flow compressors with various cone angles but with the same angle between blades on the conic flow surface. The solution also apply to radial and mixed flow turbines with the rotation and the flow direction reversed. The effects of variations in the following parameters were investigated: (1) flow rate, (2) impeller-tip speed, (3) variation of passage height with radius, and (4) angle between blades on conic flow surface. The numerical results are presented in plots of the streamlines and constant Mach number lines. Correlation equations are developed whereby the flow conditions in any impeller with straight blades can be determined (in the region investigated by this analysis) for all operating conditions.

Stanitz, John D↗
NASA NTRS1950

General algebraic method applied to control analysis of complex engine types

A general algebraic method of attack on the problem of controlling gas-turbine engines having any number of independent variables was utilized employing operational functions to describe the assumed linear characteristics for the engine, the control, and the other units in the system. Matrices were used to describe the various units of the system, to form a combined system showing all effects, and to form a single condensed matrix showing the principal effects. This method directly led to the conditions on the control system for noninteraction so that any setting disturbance would affect only its corresponding controlled variable. The response-action characteristics were expressed in terms of the control system and the engine characteristics. The ideal control-system characteristics were explicitly determined in terms of any desired response action.

Boksenbom, Aaron S↗
NASA NTRS1991

Determining the solar-flare photospheric scale height from SMM gamma-ray measurements

A connected series of Monte Carlo programs was developed to make systematic calculations of the energy, temporal and angular dependences of the gamma-ray line and neutron emission resulting from such accelerated ion interactions. Comparing the results of these calculations with the Solar Maximum Mission/Gamma Ray Spectrometer (SMM/GRS) measurements of gamma-ray line and neutron fluxes, the total number and energy spectrum of the flare-accelerated ions trapped on magnetic loops at the Sun were determined and the angular distribution, pitch angle scattering, and mirroring of the ions on loop fields were constrained. Comparing the calculations with measurements of the time dependence of the neutron capture line emission, a determination of the He-3/H ratio in the photosphere was also made. The diagnostic capabilities of the SMM/GRS measurements were extended by developing a new technique to directly determine the effective photospheric scale height in solar flares from the neutron capture gamma-ray line measurements, and critically test current atmospheric models in the flare region.

Lingenfelter, Richard E.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Earth system dynamics: The interrelation of atmospheric, ocean and solid earth dynamics

The research work performed during the time period 16 Oct. 1992 through 31 Dec. 1993 is summarized. The overall research activity, including a list of the major findings of the EOS IDS research to date, is described, the publications and presentations are listed, and a budget request for the subsequent year is attached. Specifically, the report covers: EOS panel activities; major findings of research; team member contributions; new research directions; EOS restructuring effect; changes in requirements; plans for using existing data; collaborations with other EOS and non-EOS investigations; EOS instrument team interaction; instrument development verification and validation; interaction with EOSDIS and DAAC's; team coordination; overall management; summary of response to site review questions and comments; science computing facility; and additional new research activities.

Tapley, Byron D.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Infectious Disease risks associated with exposure to stressful environments

Multiple environmental factors asociated with space flight can increase the risk of infectious illness among crewmembers thereby adversely affecting crew health and mission success. Host defences can be impaired by multiple physiological and psychological stressors including: sleep deprivation, disrupted circadian rhythms, separation from family, perceived danger, radiation exposure, and possibly also by the direct and indirect effects of microgravity. Relevant human immunological data from isolated or stressful environments including spaceflight will be reviewed. Long-duration missions should include reliable hardware which supports sophisticated immunodiagnostic capabilities. Future advances in immunology and molecular biology will continue to provide therapeutic agents and biologic response modifiers which should effectively and selectively restore immune function which has been depressed by exposure to environmental stressors.

Meehan, Ichard T.↗
NASA NTRS1995

An a priori model for the reduction of nutation observations: KSV(1994.3) nutation series

We discuss the formulation of a new nutation series to be used in the reduction of modern space geodetic data. The motivation for developing such a series is to develop a nutation series that has smaller short period errors than the IAU 1980 nutation series and to provide a series that can be used with techniques such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) that have sensitivity to nutations but can directly separate the effects of nutations from errors in the dynamical force models that effect the satellite orbits. A modern nutation series should allow the errors in the force models for GPS to be better understood. The series is constructed by convolving the Kinoshita and Souchay rigid Earth nutation series with an Earth response function whose parameters are partly based on geophysical models of the Earth and partly estimated from a long series (1979-1993) of very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) estimates of nutation angles. Secular rates of change of the nutation angles to represent corrections to the precession constant and a secular change of the obliquity of the ecliptic are included in the theory. Time dependent amplitudes of the Free Core Nutation (FCN) that is most likely excited by variations in atmospheric pressure are included when the geophysical parameters are estimated. The complex components of the prograde annual nutation are estimated simultaneously with the geophysical parameters because of the large contribution to the nutation from the S(sub 1) atmospheric tide. The weighted root mean square (WRMS) scatter of the nutation angle estimates about this new model are 0.32 mas and the largest correction to the series when the amplitudes of the ten largest nutations are estimated is 0.18 +/- 0.03 mas for the in phase component of the prograde 18. 6 year nutation.

Herring, T. A.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Use of diffusive optical fibers for plant lighting

Lighting is one of the most critical aspects in plant production and environmental research with plants. Much research has been repeated on the effect of light intensity, spectral distribution of light and lighting cycle, but comparatively little research done on the effect of lighting direction on the growth, development and morphology of plants. When plants are grown with lamps above, light is directed downward to the plants. Downward or overhead lighting is utilized in almost all cases. However, downward lighting does not always give the best result in terms of lighting efficiency, growth, development and morphology of plants. In the present study, a sideward lighting system was developed using diffusive optical fiber belts. More higher quality tissue-cultured transplants could be produced in a reduced space with the sideward lighting system than with a downward lighting system. An application of the sideward lighting system using diffusive optical fiber belts is described and the advantages and disadvantages are discussed.

Kozai, T.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Water Surface Currents, Short Gravity-Capillary Waves and Radar Backscatter

Despite their importance for air-sea interaction and microwave remote sensing of the ocean surface, intrinsic properties of short gravity-capillary waves are not well established. This is largely due to water surface currents and their effects on the direct measurements of wave parameters conducted at a fixed point. Frequencies of small scale waves propagating on a surface which itself is in motion, are subject to Doppler shifts. Hence, the high frequency tail of the wave spectra obtained from such temporal observations is smeared. Conversion of this smeared measured-frequency spectra to intrinsic-frequency (or wavenumber) spectra requires corrections for the Doppler shifts. Such attempts in the past have not been very successful in particular when field data were used. This becomes evident if the amplitude modulation of short waves by underlying long waves is considered. Microwave radar studies show that the amplitude of a short wave component attains its maximum value near the crests and its minimum in the troughs of the long waves. Doppler-shifted wave data yield similar results but much larger in modulation magnitude, as expected. In general, Doppler shift corrections reduce the modulation magnitude. Overcorrection may result in a negligible modulation or even in a strong modulation with the maximum amplitude in the wave troughs. The latter situation is clearly contradictory to our visual observations as well as the radar results and imply that the advection by currents is overestimated. In this study, a differential-advection approach is used in which small scale waves are advected by the currents evaluated not at the free surface, but at a depth proportional to their wavelengths. Applicability of this approach is verified by the excellent agreement in phase and magnitude of short-wave modulation between results based on radar and on wave-gauge measurements conducted on a lake.

Atakturk, Serhad S.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Modeling of micro thrusters for gravity probe B

The concept of testing Einstein's general theory of relativity by means of orbiting gyroscopes was first proposed in 1959, which lead to the development of the Gravity Probe B experiment. Einstein's theory concerns the predictions of the relativistic precession of a gyroscope in orbit around earth. According to his theory, there will be two precessions due to the warping of space-time by the earth's gravitational field: the geodetic precession in the plane of the orbit, and the frame-dragging effect, in the direction of earth rotation. For a polar orbit, these components are orthogonal. In order to simplify the measurement of the precessions, Gravity Probe B (GP-B) will be placed in a circular polar orbit at 650 km, for which the predicted precessions will be 6.6 arcsec/year (geodetic) and 42 milli-arcsec/year (frame-dragging). As the gyroscope precesses, the orientation of its spin-axis will be measured with respect to the line-of-sight to Rigel, a star whose proper motion is known to be within the required accuracy. The line-of-sight to Rigel will be established using a telescope, and the orientation of the gyroscope spin axis will be measured using very sensitive SQUID (Superconducting Quantum Interference Device) magnetometers. The four gyroscopes will be coated with niobium. Below 2K, the niobium becomes superconducting and a dipole field will be generated which is precisely aligned with the gyroscope spin-axis. The change in orientation of these fields, as well as the spin-axis, is sensed by the SQUID magnetometers. In order to attain the superconducting temperatures for the gyroscopes and the SQUID's, the experiment package will be housed in a dewar filled with liquid helium. The helium flow through a GP-B micro thruster and into a vacuum is investigated using the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo method.

Jones, Kenneth M.↗