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NASA NTRS1989

Interactions of Tollmien-Schlichting waves and Dean vortices. Comparison of direct numerical simulation and a weakly nonlinear theory

Direct numerical simulation is used to evaluate a weakly nonlinear theory describing the interaction of Tollmien-Schlichting waves with Dean vortices in curved channel flow. The theory and the simulation agree for certain combinations of parameters, but the two approaches give conflicting results for other combinations. Some possibilities for these discrepancies are discussed.

Singer, Bart A.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Oscillations of drops in zero gravity with weak viscous effects

Nonlinear oscillations and other motions of large axially symmetric liquid drops in zero gravity are studied numerically by a boundary-integral method. The effect of small viscosity is included in the computations by retaining first-order viscous terms in the normal stress boundary condition. This is accomplished by making use of a partial solution of the boundary-layer equations which describe the weak vortical surface layer. Small viscosity is found to have a relatively large effect on resonant mode coupling phenomena.

Lundgren, T. S.↗

NASA NTRS1988

An experimental adaptive array to suppress weak interfering signals

An experimental adaptive antenna system to suppress weak interfering signals is described. It is a sidelobe canceller with two auxiliary elements. Modified feedback loops are used to control the array weights. The received signals are simulated in hardware for parameter control. Digital processing is used for algorithm implementation and performance evaluation. The experimental results are presented. They show that interfering signals as much as 10 dB below the thermal noise level in the main channel are suppressed by 20-30 dB. Such a system has potential application in suppressing the interference encountered in direct broadcast satellite communication systems.

Walton, Eric K.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Quadrature methods for periodic singular and weakly singular Fredholm integral equations

High-accuracy numerical quadrature methods for integrals of singular periodic functions are proposed. These methods are based on the appropriate Euler-Maclaurin expansions of trapezoidal rule approximations and their extrapolations. They are subsequently used to obtain accurate quadrature methods for the solution of singular and weakly singular Fredholm integral equations. Throughout the development the periodic nature of the problem plays a crucial role. Such periodic equations are used in the solution of planar elliptic boundary value problems such as those that arise in elasticity, potential theory, conformal mapping, and free surface flows. The use of the quadrature methods is demonstrated with numerical examples.

Sidi, Avram↗

NASA NTRS1989

Atom-atom inelastic collisions and three-body atomic recombination in weakly ionized argon plasmas

A stationary collisional-radiative model including both inelastic electron-atom and atom-atom collisions is used to examine nonequilibrium weakly ionized argon plasmas with atomic densities 10 to the 16th to 10 to the 20th/cu cm, temperatures below 6000 K, and with different degrees of radiation trapping. It is shown that three-body atomic recombination becomes important at high particle densities. Comparison is made between the present approach and Thomson's theory for atomic recombination.

Braun, C. G.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Progress on a Taylor weak statement finite element algorithm for high-speed aerodynamic flows

A new finite element numerical Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) algorithm has matured to the point of efficiently solving two-dimensional high speed real-gas compressible flow problems in generalized coordinates on modern vector computer systems. The algorithm employs a Taylor Weak Statement classical Galerkin formulation, a variably implicit Newton iteration, and a tensor matrix product factorization of the linear algebra Jacobian under a generalized coordinate transformation. Allowing for a general two-dimensional conservation law system, the algorithm has been exercised on the Euler and laminar forms of the Navier-Stokes equations. Real-gas fluid properties are admitted, and numerical results verify solution accuracy, efficiency, and stability over a range of test problem parameters.

Baker, A. J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The generation of MHD waves by forced turbulence in a weakly magnetized fluid

The effect of the fluctuating buoyancy force on wave generation in a weakly magnetized plasma is considered. As expected, the efficiency of MHD wave generation is enhanced by including this force. However, it remains true that the observed variation of coronal emission at fixed spectral type cannot be accounted for by a wave generation process of the type discussed here.

Rosner, R.↗

NASA NTRS1989

A weak Hamiltonian finite element method for optimal guidance of an advanced launch vehicle

A temporal finite-element method based on a mixed form of the Hamiltonian weak principle is presented for optimal control problems. The mixed form of this principle contains both states and costates as primary variables, which are expanded in terms of nodal values and simple shape functions. Time derivatives of the states and costates do not appear in the governing variational equation; the only quantities whose time derivatives appear therein are virtual states and virtual costates. Numerical results are presented for an elementary trajectory optimization problem; they show very good agreement with the exact solution along with excellent computational efficiency and self-starting capability. The feasibility of this approach for real-time guidance applications is evaluated. A simplified model for an advanced launch vehicle application that is suitable for finite-element solution is presented.

Hodges, Dewey H.↗

NASA NTRS1990

An assessment of the conditions for critical velocity ionization at the weakly magnetized planets

It has been proposed that critical velocity ionization (CVI) may occur in the magnetosheaths of weakly magnetized planets where the solar wind flows through the planets' upper atmospheres. One can examine this possibility for Venus and Mars by using magnetosheath flow and exosphere models to determine whether the criteria for CVI are met. These criteria include Brenning's empirical condition on the cross-field flow velocity (it must not exceed the local magnetosonic velocity) and the 'Townsend condition' requiring that the integrated probability of impact ionization by a hot electron be greater than 1 along a streamline past the planet. Application of the Spreiter-Stahara gas dynamic flow model and the Nagy and coworkers' models for the exospheres lead to the conclusion that the conditions can be met in a limited region near Venus. However, evidence for CVI has not been identified in in-situ data. Since key details of the planet-solar wind interaction can be explained in terms of photoionization alone, other signatures of the process must be sought in the observations if the presence of CVI is to be positively inferred.

Luhmann, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1990

HF Doppler and VHF radar observations of upper atmospheric disturbances caused by weak cold front during winter time

The simultaneous use of the Taiwan VHF radar and the HF Doppler sounder for remote measurement of three-dimensional winds, gravity waves, and density perturbations at mesospheric and thermospheric heights is demonstrated. A special event of atmospheric disturbances caused by propagating gravity waves excited by weak convective motions in winter time were investigated. The three-dimensional wind velocities at different heights were determined, and the frequency, horizontal wavelength, vertical wavelength, and phase velocity of the gravity waves were measured. The subtropical, low-latitude site makes the VHF radar and HF Doppler array systems unique, and the observations especially valuable for space projects dealing with low-latitude atmosphere.

Hung, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Laser skin friction measurements and CFD comparison of weak-to-strong swept shock/boundary-layer interactions

A joint experimental and computational study of skin friction in weak-to-strong swept shock wave/turbulent boundary-layer interactions has been carried out. A planar shock wave is generated by a sharp fin at angles of attack alpha = 10 deg and 16 deg at M(infinity) = 3 and 16 and 20 deg at M(infinity) = 4. Measurements are made using the Laser Interferometer Skin Friction meter, which optically detects the rate of thinning of an oil film applied to the test surface. The results show a systematic rise in the peak c(f) at the rear part of the interaction, where the separated flow atttaches. For the stronget case studied, this peak is an order of magnitude higher than the incoming freestream c(f)level.

Kim, K.-S.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Modifications to the relationship between the magnetic field and weak Zeeman features in the spectra of astrophysical masers

Numerical solutions are presented for the equations of radiative transfer for astrophysical masers in a magnetic field to describe the observed weak circular polarization of H2O and SiO masers. Previously unrecognized intensity-dependent effects are found to produce circular polarization which resembles that of the usual Zeeman effect. Astrophysical H2O, SiO, and perhaps other masers are likely to be radiatively saturated with rates for stimulated emission that are within 1-2 orders of magnitude of the Zeeman frequency. Under these conditions, the circular polarization found here tends to be larger (but can be smaller) and may be of opposite sign from that given by the standard treatment for polarized Zeeman spectra.

Nedoluha, Gerald E.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Weakly multi-dimensional cosmic-ray-modified MHD shocks

The multi-dimensional structure of weak, energetic-particle-modified shocks is investigated by means of appropriate perturbation techniques. The time-dependent shock-structure equation is found to be a generalized form of the well-known one-dimensional Burgers equation, whose steady state, in the absence of cosmic rays, is shown to be related to an equation modeling steady transonic flow in several dimensions. The time-dependent (1 + 2)- and (1 + 3)-dimensional Burgers equations are integrated exactly by means of Hirota's technique for one-shock solutions. On the basis of the exact solutions, a discussion relating the various length scales associated with the shock is presented.

Zank, G. P.↗

NASA NTRS1990

The effect of an electric field on the morphological stability of the crystal-melt interface of a binary alloy. III - Weakly nonlinear theory

The effect of a constant electric current on the crystal-melt interface morphology during directional solidification at constant velocity of a binary alloy is considered. A linear temperature field is assumed, and thermoelectric effects and Joule heating are neglected; electromigration and differing electrical conductivities of crystal and melt are taken into account. A two-dimensional weakly nonlinear analysis is carried out to third order in the interface amplitude, resulting in a cubic amplitude equation that describes whether the bifurcation from the planar state is supercritical or subcritical. For wavelengths corresponding to the most dangerous mode of linear theory, the demarcation between supercritical and subcritical behavior is calculated as a function of processing conditions and material parameters. The bifurcation behavior is a sensitive function of the magnitude and direction of the electric current and of the electrical conductivity ratio.

Wheeler, A. A.↗

NASA NTRS1991

An experimental SMI adaptive antenna array simulator for weak interfering signals

An experimental sample matrix inversion (SMI) adaptive antenna array for suppressing weak interfering signals is described. The experimental adaptive array uses a modified SMI algorithm to increase the interference suppression. In the modified SMI algorithm, the sample covariance matrix is redefined to reduce the effect of thermal noise on the weights of an adaptive array. This is accomplished by subtracting a fraction of the smallest eigenvalue of the original covariance matrix from its diagonal entries. The test results obtained using the experimental system are compared with theoretical results. The two show a good agreement.

Dilsavor, Ronald S.↗

NASA NTRS1991

A powerful local shear instability in weakly magnetized disks. I - Linear analysis. II - Nonlinear evolution

A broad class of astronomical accretion disks is presently shown to be dynamically unstable to axisymmetric disturbances in the presence of a weak magnetic field, an insight with consequently broad applicability to gaseous, differentially-rotating systems. In the first part of this work, a linear analysis is presented of the instability, which is local and extremely powerful; the maximum growth rate, which is of the order of the angular rotation velocity, is independent of the strength of the magnetic field. Fluid motions associated with the instability directly generate both poloidal and toroidal field components. In the second part of this investigation, the scaling relation between the instability's wavenumber and the Alfven velocity is demonstrated, and the independence of the maximum growth rate from magnetic field strength is confirmed.

Balbus, Steven A.↗

NASA NTRS1991

All high Tc edge-geometry weak links utilizing Y-Ba-Cu-O barrier layers

High quality YBa2Cu3O(7-x) normal-metal/YBa2Cu3O(7-x) edge-geometry weak links have been fabricated using nonsuperconducting Y-Ba-Cu-O barrier layers deposited by laser ablation at reduced growth temperatures. Devices incorporating 25-100 A thick barrier layers exhibit current-voltage characteristics consistent with the resistively shunted junction model, with strong microwave and magnetic field response at temperatures up to 85 K. The critical currents vary exponentially with barrier thickness, and the resistances scale linearly with Y-Ba-Cu-O interlayer thickness and device area, indicating good barrier uniformity, with an effective mormal metal coherence length of 20 A.

Hunt, B. D.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Propagation Characteristics Of Weakly Guiding Optical Fibers

Report discusses electromagnetic propagation characteristics of weakly guiding optical-fiber structures having complicated shapes with cross-sectional dimensions of order of wavelength. Coupling, power-dividing, and transition dielectric-waveguide structures analyzed. Basic data computed by scalar-wave, fast-Fourier-transform (SW-FFT) technique, based on numerical solution of scalar version of wave equation by forward-marching fast-Fourier-transform method.

Manshadi, Farzin↗