Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Hawthorne”

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 145 records · Page 8

Extended performance solar electric propulsion thrust system study. Volume 2: Baseline thrust system

Several thrust system design concepts were evaluated and compared using the specifications of the most advanced 30- cm engineering model thruster as the technology base. Emphasis was placed on relatively high-power missions (60 to 100 kW) such as a Halley's comet rendezvous. The extensions in thruster performance required for the Halley's comet mission were defined and alternative thrust system concepts were designed in sufficient detail for comparing mass, efficiency, reliability, structure, and thermal characteristics. Confirmation testing and analysis of thruster and power-processing components were performed, and the feasibility of satisfying extended performance requirements was verified. A baseline design was selected from the alternatives considered, and the design analysis and documentation were refined. The baseline thrust system design features modular construction, conventional power processing, and a concentractor solar array concept and is designed to interface with the space shuttle.

Poeschel, R. L.↗

Extended performance solar electric propulsion thrust system design

A thrust system design has been established for an extended performance technology, 6.4 kW, 4800 sec specific impulse ion thruster. The configuration is comprised of ten thrusters configured with a power management and control subsystem in a modular thrust system design. The system design approach is an adaptation of that previously established for the baseline technology 2.7 kW, 3000 sec specific impulse ion thruster. The power management and control subsystem design includes a combination of individual electronics for each thruster and a set of electronics with redundancy that are common to all thrusters. The thermal dissipation from all electronics is removed with a common heat pipe/radiator assembly.

Cake, J. E.↗

Neurohumoral and mechanical factors in the modulation of left ventricular mass

The goals for the research were to define, describe, and study those neuroendocrine and mechanical mechanisms that may play a role in the initiation and maintenance of an increase in, or cause regression of, the mass of the left ventricle. Dynamic changes in heart mass have been observed to occur in man and animals: (1) enlargement of the heart is frequently encountered in patients with hypertensive disease, and (2) decrease in heart mass has been reported for men exposed to prolonged space flight. The basic physiologic processes which may explain how these changes occur, and the effects of gain or loss of myocardial mass on cardiac performance were considered significant questions to be answered for the benefit of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Franklin, Eleanor I.↗

Estimation of left ventricular mass in conscious dogs

A method for the assessment of the development or the regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in a conscious instrumented animal is described. First, the single-slice short-axis area-length method for estimating the left-ventricular mass (LVM) and volume (LVV) was validated in 24 formaldehyde-fixed canine hearts, and a regression equation was developed that could be used in the intact animal to correct the sonomicrometrically estimated LVM. The LVM-assessment method, which uses the combined techniques of echocardiography and sonomicrometry (in conjunction with the regression equation), was shown to provide reliable and reproducible day-to-day estimates of LVM and LVV, and to be sensitive enough to detect serial changes during the development of LVH.

Coleman, Bernell↗

Tribomaterial factors in space mechanism brake performance

The asbestos/phenolic pads of Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (SRMS) brakes are unsuitable for use in long life space mechanisms because their friction decreases on extended sliding in high vacuum. Dehydration of the material and accumulation of wear debris in the conforming interface of this tribosystem induces the permanent friction changes. Other polymer and some ceramic based materials exhibit similar frictional torque behavior due to the development of minimal contact patches by the interfacial debris. In contrast, high friction occurs when other ceramics form many small contacts throughout fine debris beds. Generating this latter interfacial structure during run-in ensures that the in-vacuo friction remains stable thereafter. Such materials with low wear rates are potential candidates for friction elements in SSRMS and similar mechanisms.

Hawthorne, H. M.↗

Deep Fabry-Perot imaging of NGC 6240: Kinematic evidence for merging galaxies

The authors have observed the superluminous, infrared galaxy NGC 6240 (z = 0.025) at H alpha with the Hawaii Imaging Fabry-Perot Interferometer (HIFI - Bland and Tully 1989). During the past decade, observational evidence from all wavebands indicates that the unusual appearance of NGC 6240 has resulted from a collision between two gas-rich systems, a view which is supported by our spectrophotometric data. However, the origin of the enormous infrared luminosity (4 times 10(exp 11) solar luminosity) detected by the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) remains highly controversial, where opinions differ on the relative roles of large-scale shocks, massive star formation or a buried 'active' nucleus. These mechanisms are discussed in the light of the author's Fabry-Perot observations.

Hawthorn, J. Bland↗

Ultramassive (about 10 to the 11th solar mass) dark core in the luminous infrared galaxy NGC 6240?

The first complete kinematic maps for the superluminous IR galaxy NGC 6240 are reported. The data reveal two dynamical disks that exhibit radically different rotation and are closely spaced in velocity and position. One disk is roughly aligned with the major axis of the near-IR continuum and exhibits flat rotation out to about 20 arsec in radius, centered on the doubled nucleus seen at optical, near-IR, and radio wavelengths. The rotation turns over at r(t1) roughly 7.2 arcsec with a peak-to-peak velocity amplitude of roughly 280/sin i1 km/s, where i1 is the disk inclination. The rotation curve of the second disk comprises an unresolved or marginally resolved central velocity gradient with a peak-to-peak amplitude of roughly 800/sin i2 km/s within r(t2) of 2.5 arcsec, and a faster than Keplerian dropoff outside r(t2). The peak rotation implies a compact mass M2 greater than 4.5 x 10 to the 10th solar mass/sin-squared i2 within a radius of 1.2 kpc.

Bland-Hawthorn, Jonathan↗

An X-ray image of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 1068

An image of NGC 1068 with 4-5 arcsec obtained with the High Resolution Imager on the Rosat X-ray Observatory in the energy band 0.1-2.4 keV is presented and discussed. The map reveals an unresolved nuclear source, extended (about 1.5 kpc) emission around the nucleus, and extended (about 13 kpc) emission from the starburst disk. The extended circumnuclear emission aligns toward the NE, the same direction as found for the resolved emission of the active nucleus in several other wavebands. Thermal emission from a hot wind is argued to be the source of the steep-spectrum, nuclear, and circumnuclear emission. The disk of NGC 1068 has ratios of soft X-ray to B band and soft X-ray to 60-micron luminosities which are similar to those found for other starburst systems. The X-ray spectrum of the starburst disk is harder than that of the nuclear emission. By adopting a plausible spectrum and extrapolating the present measured flux, it is concluded that the starburst disk contributes most of the hard component seen in the 2-10 keV band.

Wilson, A. S.↗

Three-dimensional flow in radial turbomachinery and its impact on design

In the two papers on the 'Theory of Blade Design for Large Deflections' published in 1984, a new inverse design technique was presented for designing the shape of turbomachinery blades in three-dimensional flow. The technique involves the determination of the blade profile from the specification of a distribution of the product of the radius and the pitched averaged tangential velocity (i.e., r bar-V(sub theta), the mean swirl schedule) within the bladed region. This is in contrast to the conventional inverse design technique for turbomachinery blading in two dimensional flow in which the blade surface pressure or velocity distribution is specified and the blade profile determined as a result; this is feasible in two-dimensional flow because the streamlines along the blade surfaces are known a priori. However, in three-dimensional flow, the stream surface is free to deform within the blade passage so that the streamlines on the blade surfaces are not known a priori; thus it is difficult and not so useful to prescribe the blade surface pressure or velocity distribution and determine the resulting blade profile. It therefore seems logical to prescribe the swirl schedule within the bladed region for designing a turbomachinery blade profile in three-dimensional flow. Furthermore, specifying r bar-V(sub theta) has the following advantages: (1) it is related to the circulation around the blade (i.e., it is an aerodynamic quantity); (2) the work done or extracted is approximately proportional to the overall change in r bar-V(sub theta) across a given blade row (Euler turbine equation); and (3) the rate of change of r bar-V(sub theta) along the mean streamline at the blade is related to the pressure jump across the blade and therefore the blade loading. Since the publications of those two papers, the technique has been applied to the design of a low speed as well as a high speed radial inflow turbine (for turbocharger applications) both of which showed definite improvements in performance over that of wheels of conventional designs, the design study of a high pressure ratio radial inflow turbine with and without splitter blades.

Tan, Choon S.↗

Influence of the active nucleus on the multiphase interstellar medium in NGC 1068

The luminous spiral NGC 1068 has now been imaged from x-ray to radio wavelengths at comparably high resolution (approximately less than 5 in. FWHM). The bolometric luminosity of this well-known Seyfert is shared almost equally between the active nucleus and an extended 'starburst' disk. In an ongoing study, we are investigating the relative importance of the nucleus and the disk in powering the wide range of energetic activity observed throughout the galaxy. Our detailed analysis brings together a wealth of data: ROSAT HRI observations, VLA lambda lambda 6-20 cu cm and OVRO interferometry, lambda lambda 0.4-10.8 micron imaging, and Fabry-Perot spectrophotometry.

Bland-Hawthorn, Jonathan↗

The formation of low-ionization emission in the halo of NGC 891

Imaging and Spectroscopic study first revealed the presence of a diffuse ionized medium (DIM), having unusual excitation, pervading the lower halo of the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 891. Emission from this DIM is strongest northeast of the nucleus, at radii between 2 and 8 kpc (hereafter region 1). The (N2)(lambda)6583/H(alpha) and (S2)(lambda) (lambda)6716,6731/H(alpha) ratios increase dramatically with z in region 1, from 0.6 and 0.5 respectively at z is approximately equal to 500 pc to 1.1 and 1.0 at z is approximately equal to 1 kpc, while nondetections of (O1)(lambda)6300 and (O3)(lambda)5007 emission yield upper limits of (O1)(lambda)6300/H(alpha) less than or equal to 0.05 and (O3)(lambda)5007/H(alpha) less than or equal to 0.15 for z less than 1 kpc. Previous photoionization models, using the radiation field from disk O and B stars, have been successful in reproducing the elevated (N2)(lambda)6583/H(alpha) and (S2)(lambda)(lambda)6716.6731/H(alpha) ratios observed. However, these radiation bounded models also produce significant (O3)(lambda)5007 emission, in conflict with the observed upper limit. Here, we report the results of new, matter bounded models for the photoionization of the DIM in region 1 of NGC 891.

Sokolowski, James↗

The vertical disk structure of the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 3079

NGC 3079 is an edge-on SB(s)c galaxy at a redshift of 1225 km/s relative to the Local Group. Earlier researchers found a spectacular 'figure-eight' radio structure aligned along the minor axis of the galaxy, centered on the nucleus, and extending 3 kpc above and below the plane. The geometry of this structure and the evidence of unusually high nuclear gas velocities suggest that a wind-type outflow from the nucleus is taking place. The disk of NGC 3079 is also remarkable: it is extremely rich in H 2 regions and is the only unambiguous example of a galaxy outside M31 and our own Galaxy to exhibit 'Heiles-like' shells. Other researchers have also identified a nebulosity with a ragged X-shaped morphology formed by a system of lumpy filaments with individual lengths of 3 - 5 kpc. They suggest that this material is ambient halo gas entrained into the boundary layers of the nuclear outflow. The complex structure of the line emission in NGC 3079 makes this object an ideal target for an imaging spectroscopic study. The present paper reports the preliminary results of such a study.

Veilleux, S.↗

Aerodynamic design of turbomachinery blading in three-dimensional flow - An application to radial inflow turbines

A computational method, based on a theory for turbomachinery blading design in three-dimensional inviscid flow, is applied to a parametric design study of a radial inflow turbine wheel. As the method requires the specification of swirl distribution, a technique for its smooth generation within the blade region is proposed. Excellent agreements have been obtained between the computed results from this design method and those from direct Euler computations, demonstrating the correspondence and consistency between the two. The computed results indicate the sensitivity of the pressure distribution to a lean in the stacking axis and a minor alteration in the hub/shroud profiles. Analysis based on Navier-Stokes solver shows no breakdown of flow within the designed blade passage and agreement with that from design calculation; thus the flow in the designed turbine rotor closely approximates that of an inviscid one. These calculations illustrate the use of a design method coupled to an analysis tool for establishing guidelines and criteria for designing turbomachinery blading.

Yang, Y. L.↗

On the origin of the Z-shaped narrow-line region in the Seyfert galaxy NGC 3516

A kinematic study has been carried out of the line-emitting gas in the Seyfert galaxy NGC 3516. The existence of two curved filaments in the central 2.5 kpc of this galaxy, which give Z-shaped appearance to its NLR. A precessing twin-jet model in which the line-emitting material is entrained by a precessing radio jet and kept ionized by the nuclear ionization field can explain the kinematic data of the brightest emission rather well. If this model is valid, this would make NGC 3516 the least luminous known active galaxy with a precessing jet. An alternative scenario assumes that the curved inner filaments represent gas entrained by a radio jet which is deflected by ram pressure from the rotation interstellar medium of the galaxy.

Veilleux, Sylvain↗

Design of Turbomachinery Blading in Three-Dimensional Flow By the Circulation Method: A Progress Report

In this paper, we report on the progress of the further development and application of an analytical theory for the design of turbomachinery blading in three-dimensional flow. After a section describing the recent development of the theory, we discuss the various applications including the investigations of the design of radial inflow turbines. Numerical examples are also presented to illustrate the application of the theory to the design of a free vortex fan, an axial turbine rotor, a free vortex compressor stage for low and high Mach numbers, a non-free vortex fan with trailing vortex sheets, and a counter-rotating propeller in the limit of a large number of blades. Further possible applications of the theory to the design of other aero- and hydrodynamic devices are discussed.

W R Hawthorne↗

Detector noise statistics in the non-linear regime

The statistical behavior of an idealized linear detector in the presence of threshold and saturation levels is examined. It is assumed that the noise is governed by the statistical fluctuations in the number of photons emitted by the source during an exposure. Since physical detectors cannot have infinite dynamic range, our model illustrates that all devices have non-linear regimes, particularly at high count rates. The primary effect is a decrease in the statistical variance about the mean signal due to a portion of the expected noise distribution being removed via clipping. Higher order statistical moments are also examined, in particular, skewness and kurtosis. In principle, the expected distortion in the detector noise characteristics can be calibrated using flatfield observations with count rates matched to the observations. For this purpose, some basic statistical methods that utilize Fourier analysis techniques are described.

Shopbell, P. L.↗

The IRAF Fabry-Perot analysis package: Ring fitting

As introduced at ADASSI, a Fabry-Perot analysis package for IRAF is currently under development as a joint effort of ourselves and Frank Valdes of the IRAF group. Although additional portions of the package were also implemented, we report primarily on the development of a robust ring fitting task, useful for fitting the calibration rings obtained in Fabry-Perot observations. The general equation of an ellipse is fit to the shape of the rings, providing information on ring center, ellipticity, and position angle. Such parameters provide valuable information on the wavelength response of the etalon and the geometric stability of the system. Appropriate statistical weighting is applied to the pixels to account for increasing numbers with radius, the Lorentzian cross-section, and uneven illumination. The major problems of incomplete, non-uniform, and multiple rings are addressed with the final task capable of fitting rings regardless of center, cross-section, or completion. The task requires only minimal user intervention, allowing large numbers of rings to be fit in an extremely automated manner.

Shopbell, P. L.↗

The radio emission from the ultraluminous far-infrared galaxy NGC 6240

We present new radio observations of the 'prototypical' ultraluminous far-infrared galaxy NGC 6240, obtained using the Very Large Array (VLA) at lambda = 20 cm in B-configuration and at lambda = 3.6 cm in A-configuration. These data, along with those from four previous VLA observations, are used to perform a comprehensive study of the radio emission from NGC 6240. Approximately 70% (approximately 3 x 10(exp 23) W/Hz) of the total radio power at 20 cm originates from the nuclear region (approximately less than 1.5 kpc), of which half is emitted by two unresolved (R approximately less than 36 pc) cores and half by a diffuse component. The radio spectrum of the nuclear emission is relatively flat (alpha approximately equals 0.6; S(sub nu) proportional to nu(exp -alpha). The supernova rate required to power the diffuse component is consistent with that predicted by the stellar evolution models of Rieke et al. (1985). If the radio emission from the two compact cores is powered by supernova remnants, then either the remnants overlap and form hot bubbles in the cores, or they are very young (approximately less than 100 yr.) Nearly all of the remaining 30% of the total radio power comes from an 'armlike' region extending westward from the nuclear region. The western arm emission has a steep spectrum (alpha approximately equals 1.0), suggestive of aging effects from synchrotron or inverse-Compton losses, and is not correlated with starlight; we suggest that it is synchrotron emission from a shell of material driven by a galactic superwind. Inverse Compton scattering of far-infrared photons in the radio sources is expected to produce an X-ray flux of approximately 2 - 6 x 10(exp -14) ergs/s/sq cm in the 2 - 10 keV band. No significant radio emission is detected from or near the possible ultramassive 'dark core'.

Colbert, Edward J. M.↗