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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 1,423 records · Page 79
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1977

Phugoid characteristics of a YF-12 airplane with variable-geometry inlets obtained in flight tests at a Mach number of 2.9

Flight tests were conducted with the YF-12 airplane to examine the airplane's longitudinal characteristics at a Mach number of approximately 2.9. Phugoid oscillations as well as short period pulses were analyzed with the variable geometry engine inlets in the fixed and the automatic configurations. Stability and control derivatives for the velocity and altitude degrees of freedom and the standard short period derivatives were obtained. Inlet bypass door position was successfully used to represent the total inlet system, and the effect of the inlets on the velocity and altitude derivatives was determined. The phugoid mode of the basic airplane (fixed inlet configuration) had neutral damping, and the height mode was stable. With the addition of the inlets in the automatic configuration, the phugoid mode was slightly divergent and the height mode was divergent with a time to double amplitude of about 114 seconds. The results of the derivative estimation indicated that the change in the height mode characteristics was primarily the result of the change in the longitudinal force derivative with respect to velocity.

Powers, B. G.↗
NASA NTRS1978

The GEOS-3 orbit determination investigation

The nature and improvement in satellite orbit determination when precise altimetric height data are used in combination with conventional tracking data was determined. A digital orbit determination program was developed that could singly or jointly use laser ranging, C-band ranging, Doppler range difference, and altimetric height data. Two intervals were selected and used in a preliminary evaluation of the altimeter data. With the data available, it was possible to determine the semimajor axis and eccentricity to within several kilometers, in addition to determining an altimeter height bias. When used jointly with a limited amount of either C-band or laser range data, it was shown that altimeter data can improve the orbit solution.

Pisacane, V. L.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Flight demonstrations of curved, descending approaches and automatic landings using time referenced scanning beam guidance

The Terminal Configured Vehicle (TCV) program operates a Boeing 737 modified to include a second cockpit and a large amount of experimental navigation, guidance and control equipment for research on advanced avionics systems. Demonstration flights to include curved approaches and automatic landings were tracked by a phototheodolite system. For 50 approaches during the demonstration flights, the following results were obtained: the navigation system, using TRSB guidance, delivered the aircraft onto the 3 nautical mile final approach leg with an average overshoot of 25 feet past centerline, subjet to a 2-sigma dispersion of 90 feet. Lateral tracking data showed a mean error of 4.6 feet left of centerline at the category 1 decision height (200 feet) and 2.7 feet left of centerline at the category 2 decision height (100 feet). These values were subject to a sigma dispersion of about 10 feet. Finally, the glidepath tracking errors were 2.5 feet and 3.0 feet high at the category 1 and 2 decision heights, respectively, with a 2 sigma value of 6 feet.

White, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS1978

D sub 3 spicules and the lower chromosphere

High resolution filtergrams of the solar limb in D sub 3 and off-band H-alpha have been used to investigate the spatial structure of the D sub 3 chromosphere. It was found that spicules provide the major contribution to the intensity of the D sub 3 emission band observed above the limb, with the remainder of the emission coming from a semi-homogeneous background component at low heights. The observations can be understood on the basis of the photoionization model, whereby it is found that helium is only slightly ionized at the height of peak intensity in the D sub 3 emission band, and that spicules are at least three times denser than their surroundings at this height. In coronal holes, the D sub 3 emission is confined to isolated emission patches, and these patches contain a fine structure resembling normal chromospheric spicules.

Marsh, K. A.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Ion temperature troughs and interhemispheric transport observed in the equatorial ionosphere

Ion temperature and ion drift velocity data from Atmosphere Explorer D have verified the existence of interhemispheric plasma transport and ion temperature troughs in the topside equatorial ionosphere. The data were taken during solar minimum conditions at night where the exospheric temperature was typically 700 K and the O(+)-H(+) transition height was 520 km. Large field-aligned ion velocities were observed above about 700 km, where the H(+)/O(+) number density ratio was about 3. Model calculations have shown that the ion temperature decrease is produced by quasi-adiabatic expansion of the plasma, but the expansion cooling mechanism is less efficient at solar minimum than at solar maximum owing to the lower O(+)-H(+) transition height. Ion temperature troughs greater than 400 K were not observed even when the field-aligned ion velocity was greater than 700 m/s. Most of the expansion occurs below the transition height, and during sunspot minimum, thermal coupling to the neutral atmosphere is much more effective in quenching the cooling which the field-aligned transport tends to produce.

Heelis, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Remote sensing of sea state by analysis of backscattered microwave phase fluctuations

The relative phase of a normally incident microwave signal scattered off the sea surface is a random function of space and time. The statistics of these random phase fluctuations contain information about the wave-height statistics. This study demonstrates that the wave-height spectra can be deduced directly in terms of the spectra of the phase fluctuations without recourse to inversion techniques even when surface roughness exceeds many wavelengths of the incident signal. In the particular case of a nadir-directed satellite-mounted microwave source operating in the backscatter mode, the wave-height and phase spatial spectra are proportional with a constant proportionality of (2k0) squared, where k0 is the wavenumber of the scattered signal.

Clifford, S. F.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Surface roughness measuring system

Significant height information of ocean waves, or peaks of rough terrain is obtained by compressing the radar signal over different widths of the available chirp or Doppler bandwidths, and cross-correlating one of these images with each of the others. Upon plotting a fixed (e.g., zero) component of the cross-correlation values as the spacing is increased over some empirically determined range, the system is calibrated. To measure height with the system, a spacing value is selected and a cross-correlation value is determined between two intensity images at a selected frequency spacing. The measured height is the slope of the cross-correlation value used. Both electronic and optical radar signal data compressors and cross-correlations are disclosed for implementation of the system.

Jain, A.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Effect of rotor tip clearance and configuration on overall performance of a 12.77-centimeter tip diameter axial-flow turbine

The rotor tip clearance was obtained by use of a recess in the casing above the rotor blades and also by use of a reduced blade height. For the recessed casing configuration, the optimum rotor blade height was found to be the one where the rotor tip diameter was equal to the stator tip diameter. The tip clearance loss associated with this optimum recessed casing configuration was less than that for the reduced blade height configuration.

Haas, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Ionospheric range-rate effects in satellite-to-satellite tracking

Ionospheric range and range rate corrections in satellite-to-satellite tracking were investigated and the magnitude of errors that have to be considered for communications between satellites and related experiments was defined. The major causes of the sudden and sometimes large variations apparent in the ionospheric range and range rate corrections along the satellite arc are the geometric effects of the raypath and the curved ionosphere, and the localized perturbations in electron density along the satellite-to-satellite line of sight. Ionospheric tracking errors are greatly effected by the following parameters, whose influence was thoroughly investigated: satellite height, height of maximum electron density, localized ionospheric perturbations and gradients, and electron density variations with diurnal, day-to-day, seasonal, and solar cycle patterns. The results point to the need of using a sophisticated modeling approach incorporating daily solar data, and where possible actual ionospheric measurements as update information. Simulations were performed for satellites at various heights: Apollo, Geos, and Nimbus tracked by ATS-6; and in two different geometric configurations: coplanar and perpendicular orbits.

Bent, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The friction and wear of metals and binary alloys in contact with an abrasive grit of single-crystal silicon carbide

Sliding friction experiments were conducted with various metals and iron-base binary alloys (alloying elements Ti, Cr, Mn, Ni, Rh and W) in contact with single crystal silicon carbide riders. Results indicate that the friction force in the plowing of metal and the groove height (corresponding to the wear volume of the groove) decrease linearly as the shear strength of the bulk metal increases. The coefficient of friction and groove height generally decrease, and the contact pressure increases with an increase in solute content of binary alloys. There appears to be very good correlation of the solute to iron atomic ratio with the decreasing rate of change of coefficient of friction, the decreasing rate of change of groove height and the increasing rate of change of contact pressure with increasing solute content. These rates of change increase as the solute to iron atomic radius ratio increases or decreases from unity.

Miyoshi, K.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Direct energy inputs to the middle atmosphere

As a working definition of the extent of the middle atmosphere (MA), the height range from 30 to 100 km was adopted. The neutral and ionic composition and the dynamics within this height range are, for the most part, poorly understood. From available information, the importance of various particle and photon energy sources, including their variability, for ionization of the neutral atmosphere in this height range is assessed. The following topics are discussed: (1) penetration of the MA by particle and electromagnetic energy; (2) ionization sources for the MA; (3) galactic cosmic rays; (4) solar H Ly alpha, other EUV, and X-rays; (5) magnetospheric electrons and bremsstrahlung X-rays; and (6) solar cosmic rays.

Rosenberg, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

A design point correlation for losses due to part-span dampers on transonic rotors

The design-point losses caused by part-span dampers were correlated for 21 transonic axial-flow fan rotors that had tip speeds varying from 350 to 488 meters per second and design pressure ratios of 1.5 to 2.0. The additional loss attributable to the damper and the total region along the blade height influenced were correlated with selected aerodynamic and geometric parameters. The maximum damper loss correlated well with the mean inlet Mach number at the damper location, the geometric parameters of leading- and trailing-edge damper radius normalized by mean passage height and damper aerodynamic chord, respectively, and the aerodynamic loading parameter of the blade camber divided by the solidity at the damper location. The region of damper influence extended over a mean passage height of the order of 10 to 15 times the maximum damper thickness.

Roberts, W. B.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Heat transfer characteristics for inline and staggered arrays of circular jets with crossflow of spent air

Heat transfer characteristics were measured for two dimensional arrays of jets impinging on a surface parallel to the jet orifice plate. The impinging flow was constrained to exit in a single direction along the channel formed by the jet plate and the heat transfer surface. Both mean Nusselt numbers and streamwise Nusselt number profiles are presented as a function of Reynolds number and geometric parameters. These are the streamwise and transverse hole spacings ranging from 5 to 10 and 4 to 8 jet orifice diameters, respectively; the channel height ranging from 1 to 6 diameters; and the hole pattern which includes both inline and staggered arrays. The results show that significant periodic variations occur in the streamwise Nusselt number profiles, persisting downstream for at least ten rows of jet holes. Channel height can have a significant effect on the chordwise profiles, smoothed across the periodic variations. For the smaller channel heights, Nusselt numbers first decrease and then increase downstream. Where significant differences exist, inline hole patterns provide better heat transfer than staggered ones. These and other effects of the geometric parameters are presented and discussed.

Metzger, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Effect of rotor tip clearance and configuration on overall performance of a 12.77-centimeter tip diameter axial-flow turbine

An extensive experimental investigation was made to determine the effect of varying the rotor tip clearance of a 12.77-cm-tip diameter, single-stage, axial-flow reaction turbine. In this investigation, the rotor tip clearance was obtained by use of a recess in the casing above the rotor blades and also by use of a reduced blade height. For the recessed casing configuration, the optimum rotor blade height was found to be the one where the rotor tip diameter was equal to the stator tip diameter. The tip clearance loss associated with this optimum recessed casing configuration was less than that for the reduced blade height configuration.

Haas, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Influence of the atmospheric masses on the gravitational field of the earth

Seasonal and latitude dependent corrections to the gravity and height anomalies are developed in order to account for the neglect of the atmospheric masses outside the geoid, when using Stokes' equation. It is shown that the atmospheric correction to gravity at sea level is almost constant, equal to 0.871 mgals with a variation of 2 microgals whereas the height anomaly correction varies between -0.1 cm and -1.3 cm. Further, when the combined latitudinal/seasonal dependence is neglected in the atmospheric corrections, the maximum error introduced is on the order of 40 microgals for the gravity corrections and 0.7 cm for the height anomaly corrections.

Christodoulidis, D. C.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer experiment - Vertical distribution of ozone on Mars

The vertical distribution of ozone in the atmosphere of Mars is computed from ultraviolet spectra obtained by the Mariner 9 spacecraft. In the Northern Hemisphere the ozone scale height is much smaller than the atmospheric scale height in midlatitudes and increases rapidly to a maximum farther north. At high latitudes (above 60 deg) there is no significant difference between the scale heights of ozone in the Northern (winter) Hemisphere and the Southern (summer) Hemisphere. Comparison of the ozone distribution with atmospheric temperature structure indicates that at some locations in the North, the density of water vapor increases with altitude, and the time for vertical mixing is about 3 days or more.

Wehrbein, W. M.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Radio science with Voyager 1 at Jupiter - Preliminary profiles of the atmosphere and ionosphere

A preliminary profile of the atmosphere of Jupiter in the South Equatorial Belt shows (1) the tropopause occurring at a pressure level of 100 millibars and temperature of about 113 K, (2) a higher warm inversion layer at about the 35-millibar level, and (3) a lower-altitude constant lapse rate matching the adiabatic value of about 2 K/km, with the temperature reaching 150 K at the 600-millibar level. Preliminary afternoon and predawn ionospheric profiles at 12 deg and near the equator, respectively, have topside plasma scale heights of 590 km changing to 960 km above an altitude of 3500 km for the dayside, and about 960 km at all measured heights above the peak for the nightside. The higher value of scale height corresponds to a plasma temperature of 1100 K under the assumption of a plasma of protons and electrons in ambipolar diffusive equilibrium. The peak electron concentration in the upper ionosphere is approximately 200,000/cu cm for the dayside and about a factor of 10 less for the nightside. These peaks occur at altitudes of 1600 and 2300 km, respectively. Continuing analyses are expected to extend and refine these results, and to be used to investigate other regions and phenomena.

Eshleman, V. R.↗
NASA NTRS1978

How thick are lunar mare basalts

It is argued that De Hon's estimates of the thickness of lunar mare basalts, made by analyzing 'ghost' craters on mare surfaces, were inflated as the result of the crater morphometric data of Pike (1977) to reconstruct rim heights of degraded craters. Crater rim heights of 82 randomly selected highland craters of various states of degradation were determined, and median rim height was compared to that of corresponding fresh impact structures. Results indicate that the thickness estimates of De Hon may be reduced by a factor of 2, and that the total volume of mare basalt produced throughout lunar history could be as little as 1-2 million cubic kilometers. A survey of geochemical and petrographic evidence indicates that lateral transport of regolith components over distances of much greater than 10 km is relatively inefficient; it is suggested that vertical mixing of a highland substrate underlying the basaltic fill may have had a primordial role in generating the observed mare width distributions and high concentrations of exotic components in intrabasin regoliths.

Hoerz, F.↗