Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “mean”

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

Quasi-modal vibration control by means of active control bearings

This paper investigates a design method of an active control bearing system with only velocity feedback. The study provides a new quasi-modal control method for a control system design of an active control bearing system in which feedback coefficients are determined on the basis of a modal analysis. Although the number of sensors and actuators is small, this quasi-modal control method produces a control effect close to an ideal modal control.

Nonami, K.↗

Basic studies on delta wing flow modifications by means of apex fences

The effectiveness of apex fences on a 60-deg delta wing at low speeds was experimentally investigated. Resembling highly swept spoilers in appearance, the fences are designed to fold out of the wing apex region upper surface near the leading edges, where they generate a powerful vortex pair. The intense suction of the fence vortices augments lift in the apex region, the resulting positive pitching moment being utilized to trim trailing edge flaps for lift augmentation during approach and landing at relatively low angles of attack. The fences reduce the apex lift at high angles of attack, leading to a desirable nose-down moment. The above projected functions of the apex fence device were validated and quantified through low speed tunnel tests, comprising upper surface pressure surveys on a semispan model and balance measurements on a geometrically similar fully span wing/body configuration. Fence parameters such as area, shape, hinge position and deflection angle were investigated. Typical results are presented indicating the apex fence potential in controlling the longitudinal characteristics of a tail-less delta.

Hoffler, K. D.↗

On the interaction between the quasi-2-day wave and the mean flow

Studies of the quasi-2-day wave show that it is a summertime phenomenon. Long-term measurement of the winds in the 60 to 100 km height range at Adelaide show that the wave appears in the late December but that the peak amplitudes are not reached until mid-January. In the summer of 1983 to 1984 the main phase of the wave appeared as a pulse in mid-January which lasted about 7 cycles (14 days). Little or no amplification with height was observed; peak amplitudes were about 60 m/s for the meridional and 20 m/s for the zonal component. Coincident with the onset of the pulse, a temporary but substantial change occurred throughout a deep layer of the upper mesosphere over a period of about 3 days. A change of more than 10 m/s occurred in the northward flow while the change in the zonal flow (about 30 m/s westward) actually caused a reversal of the prevailing zonal circulation.

Craig, R. L.↗

Vortex generators as a means for increasing rotor performance

Field tests on a horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) have shown that Vortex Generators (VGs) can increase the efficiency of large propeller type (horizontal axis) wind turbines. VGs are devices which are attached to the surfaces of an aerodynamic body to influence the boundary layer behavior. It is pointed out that VGs were originally developed for delaying stall on aircraft wings. An investigation was conducted regarding the possibility to employ VGs also for the improvement of the performance of an intermediate size HAWT with a diameter in the range from 24 to 46 meters. This investigation included wind tunnel tests involving a rotor blade tip section, and field tests. The wind tunnel tests showed that VGs can improve the peak lift capabilities of the section while only slightly increasing the drag. The field tests showed that VGs can increase the rotor power in winds above 6 m/s.

Corrigan, R. D.↗

Aspects of the determination of winds by means of scatterometry and of the utilization of vector wind data for meteorological forecasts

The present paper provides a description of four aspects of scatterometer winds and their uses. The theory of wave generation by the wind is considered along with an analysis of the properties of superobservations, and studies of intermittent versus continuous data assimilation methods for numerical weather predictions which use remotely sensed data. A comparison of the sum of squares versus the maximum likelihood method for recovering the vector winds is also conducted. Questions regarding wind speed, friction velocity, or normal stress are discussed and synoptic scale fields from Seasat-SASS data are examined.

Pierson, W. J., Jr.↗

Mean flow in turbulent boundary layers disturbed to alter skin friction

A comparative evaluation is made of recent developments in methods for the reduction of boundary layer drag, encompassing longitudinal surface riblets, 'outer layer' devices, (OLDs) and longitudinal convex surface curvature. The boundary layer of a surface with a longitudinal concave curvature is also studied, to complement the convex case results. The net drag reductions achievable by both riblets and OLDs are noted to be a rather modest 10 percent. Boundary layers exhibit asymmetric response to streamwise surface curvatures, with the response being slower for the case of a concave than a convex curvature.

Bandyopadhyay, P. R.↗

Responses of a hot film and a pressure probe to acoustic excitation in mean flow

The responses of a hot film sensor and a pressure probe to acoustic excitation in steady flow up to a Mach number of 0.5 were measured and compared with the responses of a microphone, flush mounted in the wall of the flow duct. When compared in terms of fluctuating pressure, the response of the pressure probe was less than that of the wall microphone by about 2.1 dB or less at the 0.5 Mach number, while the response of the ho film probe was as much as 6.0 dB above that of the wall sensor, at the Mach numbers 0.3 and 0.5. In terms of fluctuating Reynolds number, the response of the hot film probe was greater than that of the wall-mounted sensor by at most 5.0 dB at the same Mach numbers. Removing the response contribution from fluctuating temperature in the hot film mathematical model improved the agreement between the two transducer responses for both comparisons.

Jones, M. G.↗

An Investigation of Some Aspects of the Sonic Boom by Means of Wind-Tunnel Measurements of Pressures About Several Bodies at a Mach Number of 2.01

An investigation of some aspects of the sonic boom has been made with the aid of wind-tunnel measurements of the pressure distributions about bodies of various shapes. The tests were made in the Langley 4- by 4-foot supersonic pressure tunnel at a Mach number of 2.01 and at a Reynolds number per foot of 2.5 x 10(exp 6). Measurements of the pressure field were made at orifices in the surface of a boundary-layer bypass plate. The models which represented both fuselage and wing types of thickness distributions were small enough to allow measurements as far away as 8 body lengths or 64 chords. The results are compared with estimates made using existing theory. To the first order, the boom-producing pressure rise across the bow shock is dependent on the longitudinal development of body area and not on local details. Nonaxisymmetrical shapes may be replaced by equivalent bodies of revolution to obtain satisfactory theoretical estimates of the far-field pressures.

Carlson, Harry W.↗

Coherent lidar signal fluctuation reduction by means of frequency diversity technique

The atmospheric return measured by a coherent lidar is typically characterized by rapid and deep fluctuations in signal strength. These fluctuations result from the interference of the fields backscattered to the lidar from randomly located aerosol particles which move relative to the lidar pulse. In many applications, it is necessary to determine the average value of the lidar signal intensity at some range. A new method utilizes frequency diversity initially suggested by Goldstein and subsequently studied in the microwave radar domain by others. It is expected that the application of the frequency diversity method in the coherent lidar domain will eventually provide greater efficiency and speed in the return signal averaging needed to obtain accurate intensity estimates. The frequency diversity method recognizes that the transmitted lidar pulse is very long compared to a wavelength and consequently a given phase, theta sub i, is repeated many times within the pulse. In order to test this concept, a fairly simple laboratory experiment was designed which simulates scattering of a lidar pulse from atmospheric aerosol. The testing of the frequency diversity method is discussed.

Schotland, R. M.↗

Coordinated study of the behavior of the middle atmosphere in winter: Monthly mean comparisons of satellite and radiosonde data and derived quantities

A series of workshops were conducted for intercomparison of middle atmosphere data from a variety of sounding systems. The purposes were several: intercomparison of temperature data from various sources: characterization of any observed differences with an attempt to understand those differences, and to provide guidance to users of the data as to the validity of derived quantitites.

Grose, W. L.↗

Means for phase locking the outputs of a surface emitting laser diode array

An array of diode lasers, either a two-dimensional array of surface emitting lasers, or a linear array of stripe lasers, is phase locked by a diode laser through a hologram which focuses the output of the diode laser into a set of distinct, spatially separated beams, each one focused onto the back facet of a separate diode laser of the array. The outputs of the diode lasers thus form an emitted coherent beam out of the front of the array.

Lesh, James R.↗

Interaction Between a Vortex and a Turbulent Boundary Layer. Part 1: Mean Flow Evolution and Turbulence Properties

An experimental study was conducted to examine the interaction between a single weak streamwise vortex and a two-dimensional turbulent boundary layer. Attention was focused on characterizing the effect of the boundary layer on the vortex, including the effects of a moderate adverse pressure gradient. Rapid growth of the vortex core was observed, and a flattening of the core shape occurred when the dimension of the core radius became comparable to the distance of the vortex center from the surface. Adverse pressure gradients caused an increase in the rate of core growth, and therefore, a stronger distortion of the core shape. Measurements of surface skin friction beneath the vortex and some of the Reynolds stresses are presented.

Westphal, Russell V.↗

Method and means for generation of tunable laser sidebands in the far-infrared region

A method for generating tunable far-infrared radiation is described. The apparatus includes a Schottky-barrier diode which has one side coupled through a conductor to a waveguide that carries a tunable microwave frequency; the diode has an opposite side which is coupled through a radiating whisker to a bias source. Infrared light is directed at the diode, and infrared light with tunable sidebands is radiated by the whisker through an open space to a reflector. The original infrared is separated from a tunable infrared sideband by a polarizing Michelson interferometer.

Pickett, Herbert M.↗

IBM JCL made easy by means of ISPF dialog application

An interactive cathode ray tube (CRT) terminal application has been developed which automatically generates the job control language (JCL) and submits NASTRAN batch jobs at an IBM mainframe installation. The relevant parameters for each NASTRAN batch job are stored in a table. Once a table entry is defined, the corresponding NASTRAN batch job may be submitted as often as desired with a minimum of keystrokes. For most users, there is no need for any knowledge of JCL.

Cooper, Charles E.↗

Image analysis of particle field by means of computed tomography

In order to visualize and investigate spray structures, computed tomography technique is applied to analyze droplet information. From the transmitted light intensity through the spray and/or the data of particle size distribution obtained from a Fraunhofer diffraction principle, the quantitative volume of spray droplet or local particle size was calculated and the reconstruction of spray structures was made. The background of computed tomography is described along with some experimental results of the structure of intermittent spray such as diesel spray.

Nakayama, Mitsushige↗

Dynamic dielectric analysis - A means for process control

The development of dynamic dielectric analysis techniques (as a 'smart' sensor for quantitative NDE) and of intelligent closed-loop cure systems is reported. The cure process of both BF3:R-catalyzed and uncatalyzed tetraglycidyl-4,4'-diaminodiphenyl methane (TGDDM)/diamine epoxy resins was studied. Measurements were made over a frequency range of six decades. The resin was monitored continuously throughout the cure process as it changed from a viscous liquid to a highly crosslinked solid. From the frequency dependence of the dielectric loss, the specific conductivity has been determined and shown to directly monitor the viscosity before the gel point is reached. Dielectric master plots of the cure process, analogous to time-temperature superposition plots for rheological data, have been developed.

Kranbuehl, D.↗

A new meaning to 'flying the desk'

A unique advanced transport flight station design is described. The various systems and displays of the design are described, including: the configuration; switches; tailored logic/artificial intelligence; primary flight controllers; front panel displays; primary flight/navigation display; engine power/status, approach charts, and weather display; the Advisory, Caution, and Warning System/Cockpit Display of Traffic Information display; checklist/functional systems display; head-up display; voice command and response system; Flight Management Computer system; and integrated communications/navigation system. The application of the flight station to military research is briefly discussed.

Sexton, G. A.↗

Zonal mean properties of Jupiter's upper troposphere from Voyager infrared observations

Voyager IRIS spectra of Jupiter are used to derive zonal averages for 270- and 150-mb temperatures, as well as optical depths through the troposphere at two temperatures, ammonia concentrations near the 680-mb level, and the parahydrogen fraction near the 270-mb level. Simple modeling of an axisymmetric circulation incorporating the linear damping of perturbations from a uniform state for both winds and temperature yields results that are consistent with observed thermal wind shears and with the vertical motion field.

Gierasch, P. J.↗