SEARCH · Engineering Papers
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.
Synthetic-aperture ultrasound tomography systems and methods using scanning arrays and algorithms configured to simultaneously acquire ultrasound transmission and reflection data, and process the data using ultrasound waveform tomography with a wave-energy-based preconditioning method for improved ultrasound tomography imaging.
The structural, electronic, optical and elastic properties of ZnGeAs{sub 2} semiconductor have been investigated using pseudopotential plane wave method within the density functional theory (DFT). The optimized lattice constants, energy gap and crystal field splitting parameter are calculated. The optical properties such as dielectric function, optical reflectivity,, extinction coefficient, absorption spectra, refractive index and electron energy loss spectrum have been studied. The values of bulk modulus (B), elastic constants (C{sub ij}), Young’s modulus (Y), Zener anisotropic factor (A), Poisson’s ratio (ν) and Debye temperature (Θ{sub D}) have been calculated. The calculated values of all these parameters are compared with the available experimental values and the values reported by different workers. A fairly good agreement has been found between them.
We study the effect of discrete symmetry breaking in inhomogeneous scattering media within the framework of generic wave propagation. Our focus is on one-dimensional scattering potentials exhibiting local symmetries. We find a class of spatially invariant nonlocal currents, emerging when the corresponding generalized potential exhibits symmetries in arbitrary spatial domains. These invariants characterize the wave propagation and provide a spatial mapping of the wave function between any symmetry related domains. This generalizes the Bloch and parity theorems for broken reflection and translational symmetries, respectively. Their nonvanishing values indicate the symmetry breaking, whereas a zero value denotes the restoration of the global symmetry where the well-known forms of the two theorems are recovered. These invariants allow for a systematic treatment of systems with any local symmetry combination, providing a tool for the investigation of the scattering properties of aperiodic but locally symmetric systems. To this aim we express the transfer matrix of a locally symmetric potential unit via the corresponding invariants and derive quantities characterizing the complete scattering device which serve as key elements for the investigation of transmission spectra and particularly of perfect transmission resonances. -- Highlights: •We show that local discrete symmetries yield invariant currents. •Bloch and parity theorems are generalized when the associated symmetries are broken. •Formulation of scattering via the symmetry-induced invariant currents. •We provide sum rules for the invariant currents characterizing perfect transmission.
Detailed simulations of the bifurcation and ignition of an Argon-diluted Hydrogen/Oxygen mixture in the two-stage weak ignition regime are performed. An adaptive mesh-refinement (AMR) technique is employed to resolve all relevant physical scales that are associated with the viscous boundary-layer, the reaction front, and the shock-wave. A high-order hybrid WENO/central-differencing method is used as spatial discretization scheme, and a detailed chemical mechanism is employed to describe the combustion of the H2/O2 mixture. The operating conditions considered in this study are p = 5 bar and T = 1100 K, and fall in the third explosion limit. The computations show that the mixing of the thermally stratified fluid, carrying different momentum and enthalpy, introduces inhomogeneities in the core-region behind the reflected shock. These inhomogeneities act as localized ignition kernels. During the induction period, these kernels slowly expand and eventually transition to a detonation wave that rapidly consumes the unburned mixture.In competition with this detonation wave are the presence of secondary ignition kernels that appear in the unreacted core-region between reflected shock and detonation wave.
A method of compensation for the polarization- dependent phase anisotropy of a metal reflector has been proposed. The essence of the method is to coat the reflector with multiple thin alternating layers of two dielectrics that have different indices of refraction, so as to introduce an opposing polarization-dependent phase anisotropy. The anisotropy in question is a phenomenon that occurs in reflection of light at other than normal incidence: For a given plane wave having components polarized parallel (p) and perpendicular (s) to the plane of incidence, the phase of s-polarized reflected light differs from the phase p-polarized light by an amount that depends on the angle of incidence and the complex index of refraction of the metal. The magnitude of the phase difference is zero at zero angle of incidence (normal incidence) and increases with the angle of incidence. This anisotropy is analogous to a phase anisotropy that occurs in propagation of light through a uniaxial dielectric crystal. In such a case, another uniaxial crystal that has the same orientation but opposite birefringence can be used to cancel the phase anisotropy. Although it would be difficult to prepare a birefringent material in a form suitable for application to the curved surface of a typical metal reflector in an optical instrument, it should be possible to effect the desired cancellation of phase anisotropy by exploiting the form birefringence of multiple thin dielectric layers. (The term "form birefringence" can be defined loosely as birefringence arising, in part, from a regular array of alternating subwavelength regions having different indices of refraction.)
The sub-surface structures of water-bearing icy worlds (e.g., Europa, Enceladus, and Titan) and the structures of icy regions on Mars contain critical information about their origin and evolution. These bodies have been identified as high-priority targets in the NRC Planetary Science Decadal Survey, which noted a lack of technology readiness as one impediment to related missions. An Elastic Wave Analyzer for Icy Sub-surfaces (EWAIS) instrument is being developed to acquire data that can provide answers to fundamental science questions related to these bodies. The EWAIS instrument generates and receives elastic waves using an array of piezoelectric transducers capable of operating at temperatures as low as 30K. A developed breadboard acquires reflected signals from discontinuities in the traveled materials’ impedance (the product of wave velocity and density) along the wave path. Analysis of the acquired data can be used to determine the elastic properties, presence of cracks, locations of cavities and other discontinuities, as well as the thicknesses of ice and liquid layers. The EWAIS instrument is being developed with a novel dual-frequency transmitter array that will enable reaching distances of kilometers through ice, as well as resolving smaller acoustic reflectors nearer the EWAIS instrument. The selected dual frequencies correspond to two depth ranges that can be analyzed, with resolutions of tens of centimeters in the region of tens to hundreds of meters and tens of meters on the kilometers scale, respectively. The EWAIS will be applicable for operation from any in-situ platform, including surface assets (e.g., lander and rover) and sub-surface assets (e.g., melting probes).
A technique to launch a circular TE{sub 13} mode to interact with the helical electron beam of a gyrotron travelling wave amplifier is proposed and verified by simulation and cold test in this paper. The high order (HOM) TE{sub 13} mode is excited by a broadband Y-type power divider with the aid of a cylindrical waveguide system. Using grooves and convex strips loaded at the lateral planes of the output cylindrical waveguide, the electric fields of the potential competing TE{sub 32} and TE{sub 71} modes are suppressed to allow the transmission of the dominant TE{sub 13} mode. The converter performance for different structural dimensions of grooves and convex strips is studied in detail and excellent results have been achieved. Simulation predicts that the average transmission is ∼−1.8 dB with a 3 dB bandwidth of 7.2 GHz (91.5–98.7 GHz) and port reflection is less than −15 dB. The conversion efficiency to the TE{sub 32} and TE{sub 71} modes are, respectively, under −15 dB and −24 dB in the operating frequency band. Such an HOM converter operating at W-band has been fabricated and cold tested with the radiation boundary. Measurement from the vector network analyzer cold test and microwave simulations show a good reflection performance for the converter.
Defects which posses rough surfaces greatly affect ultrasonic wave scattering behaviour, often reducing the magnitude of reflected signals. Ultrasonic inspections rely upon this response for detecting and sizing flaws. For safety critical components reliable characterisation is crucial. Therefore, providing an accurate means to predict reductions in signal amplitude is essential. An extension of Kirchhoff theory has formed the basis for the UK power industry inspection justifications. However, it is widely recognised that these predictions are pessimistic owing to analytical approximations. A numerical full field modelling approach does not fall victim to such limitations. Here, a Finite Element model is used to aid in setting a non-conservative reporting threshold during the inspection of a large pressure vessel forging that might contain embedded rough defects. The ultrasonic response from multiple rough surfaces defined by the same statistical class is calculated for normal incident compression waves. The approach is validated by comparing coherent scattering with predictions made by Kirchhoff theory. At lower levels of roughness excellent agreement is observed, whilst higher values confirm the pessimism of Kirchhoff theory. Furthermore, the mean amplitude in the specular direction is calculated. This represents the information obtained during an inspection, indicating that reductions due to increasing roughness are significantly less than the coherent component currently being used.
The concept of total-internal-reflection elastic metasurface (TIR-MS) was recently proposed [1] and employed within flexible planar waveguides in order to create highly subwavelength sound-hard barriers impenetrable to low frequency elastic waves. The underlying physical mechanism relies on the design of engineered interfaces exhibiting extreme phase gradients such that any incoming wave at, approximately, any incidence will experience total-internal-reflection conditions. At the design frequency, the metasurface exhibits a large phase gradient such that, in accordance with the generalized Snell's law, the first critical angle is virtually always exceeded. It is worth noting that in practical realizations, the actual total reflection performance might vary depending on the angle of incidence. This dependence is due to the discrete implementation of the metasurface which results in diffraction effects. This paper presents the results of an experimental study that explores the vibration isolation performance of TIR-MS when applied to structures made of complex combinations of different elastic waveguides (e.g. bolted assemblies of beams, plates, and shells). Such system can be seen as a prototypical structure emulating mechanical assemblies of practical interest for many engineering applications. Experimental results confirm that, when the TIR-MS is embedded in the host waveguide, significant vibration isolation capabilities are achieved under quasi-omnidirectional incidence and highly subwavelength excitation conditions (i.e. the ratio of the operating wavelength to the width of the TIR-MS is approximately 5.25). Furthermore, these experimental results suggest new interesting directions to achieve vibration isolation and mechanical energy filtering for practical engineering systems.
A study on the low voltage, high efficiency and wide bandwidth travelling wave tube by using a novel folded frame slow-wave structure is carried out in this paper. The radio frequency characteristics of the folded frame structure, including dispersion property, interaction impedances, and reflection property are investigated and compared to the similar symmetric double V-shape meander-line structure. Then, the beam-wave interaction process of the folded frame travelling wave tube (TWT) with rectangular sheet electron beam is simulated by 3-D particle-in-cell algorithms. The results show that the output power and electron efficiency can reach 259 W and 13.5% at the center frequency of 140 GHz, respectively. Simultaneously, the instantaneous 3-dB bandwidth is 24 GHz. Compared to the symmetric double V-shaped TWT, the output power and electron efficiency of the folded frame TWT are increased.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Plasma waves observed in the VLF range upstream of planetary bow shocks not only modify the particle distributions, but also provide important information about the acceleration processes that occur at the bow shock. Electron plasma oscillations observed near the tangent field line in the electron foreshock are generated by electrons reflected at the bow shock through a process that has been referred to as Fast Fermi acceleration. Fast Fermi acceleration is the same as shock-drift acceleration, which is one of the mechanisms by which ions are energized at the shock. We have generated maps of the VLF emissions upstream of the Venus bow shock, using these maps to infer properties of the shock energization processes. We find that the plasma oscillations extend along the field line up to a distance that appears to be controlled by the shock scale size, implying that shock curvature restricsts the flux and energy of reflected electrons. We also find that the ion acoustic waves are observed in the ion foreshock, but at Venus these emissions are not detected near the ULF forshock boundary. Through analogy with terrestrial ion observations, this implies that the ion acoustic waves are not generated by ion beams, but are instead generated by diffuse ion distributions found deep within the ion foreshock. However, since the shock is much smaller at Venus, and there is no magnetosphere, we might expect ion distributions within the ion foreshock to be different than at the Earth. Mapping studies of the terrestrial foreshock similar to those carried out at Venus appear to be necessary to determine if the inferences drawn from Venus data are applicable to other foreshocks.
In this work, we simulate temperature reductions during heat-wave events and during typical summer conditions from the installation of highly reflective "cool" roofs in the Chinese megacity of Guangzhou. We simulate temperature reductions during six of the strongest historical heat-wave events over the past decade, finding average urban midday temperature reductions of 1.2 °C. In comparison, we simulate 25 typical summer weeks between 2004 and 2008, finding average urban midday temperature reductions of 0.8 °C, indicating that air temperature sensitivity to urban albedo in Guangzhou varies with meteorological conditions. We find that roughly three-fourths of the variance in air temperature reductions across all episodes can be accounted for by a linear regression, including only three basic properties related to the meteorological conditions: mean daytime temperature, humidity, and ventilation to the greater Guangzhou urban area. While these results highlight the potential for cool roofs to mitigate peak temperatures during heat waves, the temperature reductions reported here are based on the upper bound case, which increases albedos of all roofs (but does not modify road albedo or wall albedo).
The possibility that gamma-ray bursts originate from quakes deep in the solid crust of a neutron star is investigated. Seismic waves are radiated if shear stress is relieved by brittle fracture. However they cannot propagate directly to the surface but are temporarily trapped below a reflecting layer. The shaking of the stellar surface couples the seismic waves to Alfven waves which propagate out into the magnetosphere. The crust-magnetosphere transmission coefficient strongly increases with wave frequency and magnetic field strength. Alfven wave luminosities sufficient to power galactic gamma-ray bursts are possible if magnetic fields greater than 100 billion G cover at least part of the stellar surface. As the Alfven waves propagate out into the low density magnetosphere, they become increasingly charge starved, thereby accelerating particles to relativistic energies.
It was discovered in the 19th century, the Brewster effect is known to occur for transverse-magnetic waves in regular optical dielectrics; however, it is believed to arise for transverse-electric (TE) waves only in systems with magnetic responses, i.e., nonunity effective relative permeability. This paper introduces a scheme to realize the TE Brewster effect in a homogeneous dielectric interface without magnetic responses, by adding ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene. In particular, the effect remains even for waves approaching normal incidence, spanning from terahertz to visible frequencies. In contrast to the conventional Brewster effect, the graphene-assisted TE Brewster effect is asymmetric, and can be achieved only when the incidence is from the higher-refractive-index side. Moreover, graphene layers can tailor a total-internal-reflection dielectric interface into zero reflection, accompanied by perfect absorption. This control over TE waves enabled by ultrathin 2D materials may lead to a variety of applications, such as atomically thin absorbers, polarizers, and antireflection coating.
A previous dichroic plate analysis has assumed that an ideal uniform plane wave illuminates the dichroic plate at a single angle of incidence. In fact, a horn radiates energy at the dichroic plate and illuminates it at many different angles. To model the horn and dichroic plate system, the horn pattern is represented as a group of plane waves traveling in different directions. The details of this analysis are presented this article. The calculated and measured reflected radiation patterns show good agreement. The noise temperature predicted from the horn pattern model is shown to be more accurate than that from a simple plane-wave model.
Device approaches are investigated for optically addressed SLMs based on molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) engineered III-V materials and structures. Strong photooptic effects can be achieved in periodically delta-doped multiple-quantum-well structures, but are still insufficient for high-contrast modulation with only single- or double-pass absorption through active layers of practical thickness. The asymmetric Fabry-Perot cavity approach is employed to permit extinction of light due to interference of light reflected from the front and back surfaces of the cavity. This approach is realized with an all-MBE-grown structure consisting of GaAs/AlAs quarter-wave stack reflector grown over the GaAs substrate as the high reflectance mirror and the GaAs surface as the low reflectance mirror. High-contrast modulation is achieved using a low-power InGaAs/GaAs quantum well laser for the control signal.
This review highlights conceptual issues that have both governed and reflected the direction of collisionless shock research in the past quarter century. These include MHD waves and their steepening, the MHD Rankine-Hugoniot relations, the super-critical shock transition, nonlinear oscillatory wave trains, ion sound anomalous resistivity and the resistive-dispersive transition for subcritical shocks, ion reflection and the structure of supercritical quasi-perpendicular shocks, the earth's foreshock, quasi-parallel shocks, and finally, shock acceleration processes.