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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1975

Advances in Application of Fast Semidirect Computational Methods in Transonic Flow

This paper is intended as a review and summary of the advances made in a recently developed approach for rapid numerical solution of the equations of inviscid transonic aerodynamics. The investigation has been limited to two-dimensional, steady, inviscid flow over airfoils in a subsonic free stream, with emphasis on development of a rapid computational technique, rather than on generality of application. The approach uses finite-difference algorithms called "fast direct elliptic solvers" within an iteration scheme. "Direct" means that the entire computation field is solved at once, rather than in successive traverses over the field as in a point- or line-relaxation method. Such an iterative method is referred to as "semidirect." The iterative convergence can be faster than in other relaxation methods because changes are felt simultaneously at all points in each succeeding iteration. Direct elliptic solvers and semidirect methods have restrictions, but these are gradually being removed. Direct solvers were first developed for solving Poisson's equation on a rectangle without interior boundaries. A method to treat first-order systems, a direct Cauchy-Riemann solver has also been developed. Numerical treatment of part of a system of nonlinear equations by a Poisson solver has been reported. Also Poisson solvers in semidirect methods were used for nonseparable elliptic equations. The semidirect method was extended to the solution of a problem of mixed type, where the improved Murman-Cole transonic small-disturbance difference equations were solved. A slightly supercritical flow over a biconvex airfoil was treated successfully, but the iterations did not converge for more strongly supercritical conditions In another work the addition of terms ot both sides of the difference equations stabilized the iteration for supercritical conditions with large supersonic zones. For this, the Cauchy-Riemann solver was revised to incl,ude the needed terms. Most recently, the evaluation of parameters for rapid convergence and comparisons, with Murman's line-relaxation method was described. The method was extended to full second order accuracy in a fully conservative formulation in another work.

Martin, E. Dale↗
NASA NTRS1999

A Hot-electron Direct Detector for Radioastronomy

A hot-electron transition-edge superconducting bolometer with adjustable thermal relaxation speed is proposed. The bolometer contacts are made from a superconductor with high critical temperature which blocks the thermal diffusion of hot carriers into the contacts. Thus electron-phonon interaction is the only mechanism for heat removal. The speed of thermal relaxation for hot electrons in a nanometer-size superconducting bolometer with T(sub c) = 100-300 mK is controlled by the elastic electron mean free path l. The relaxation rate behaves as T(sup 4)l at subkelvin temperatures and can be reduced by a factor of 10-100 by decreasing 1. Then an antenna- or wave guide-coupled bolometer with a time constant approx. = 10(exp -3) to 10(exp -4) s will exhibit photon-noise limited performance at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths. The bolometer will have a figure-of-merit NEPtau = 10(exp -22) - 10(exp -21) W/Hz at 100 mK which is 10(exp 3) to 10(exp 4) times better (ie: smaller) than that of a state-of-the-art bolometer. A tremendous increase in speed and sensitivity will have a significant impact for observational mapping applications.

Karasik, Boris S.↗
NASA NTRS2000

A Hot-Electron Far-Infrared Direct Detector

A new approach is proposed to improve the sensitivity of direct-detection bolometers at millimeter, submillimeter and far-infrared wavelengths. The idea is to adjust a speed of the thermal relaxation of hot-electrons in a nanometer size normal metal or super-conductive transition edge bolometer by controlling the elastic electron mean free path. If the bolometer contacts are made of a superconductor with high critical temperature (Nb, Pb etc.) then the thermal diffusion into the contacts is absent because of the Andreev's reflection and the electron-phonon relaxation is the only mechanism for heat removal. The relaxation rate should behave as T(sup 4)l at subkelvin temperatures (l is the electron elastic mean free path) and can be reduced by factor of 10-100 by decreasing l. Then an antenna- or waveguide-coupled bolometer with a time constant about 10(exp -3) to 10(exp -5) s at T approximately equals 0.1-0.3 K will exhibit photon-noise limited performance in millimeter and submillimeter range. The choice of the bolometer material is a tradeoff between a low electron heat capacity and fabrication. A state-of-the-art bolometer currently offers NEP = 10(exp -17) W(Square root of (Hz)) at 100 mK along with a approximately equals 2 msec time constant. The bolometer we propose will have a figure-of-merit, NEP(square root (r)), which is 10(exp 3) times smaller. This will allow for a tremendous increase in speed which will have a significant impact for observational mapping applications. Alternatively, the bolometer could operate at higher temperature with still superior sensitivity. This device can significantly increase a science return and reduce the cost for future observational missions. This research was performed by the Center for Space Microelectronics Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, and was sponsored by NASA, Office of Space Science.

Karasik, B. S.↗
NASA NTRS2000

A Hot-electron Direct Detector for Radioastronomy

A new approach is proposed to improve the sensitivity of direct-detection bolometers. The idea is to adjust a speed of the thermal relaxation of hot-electrons in a nanometer size normal metal or superconductive transition edge bolometer by controlling the elastic electron mean free path. If the bolometer contacts are made of a superconductor with high critical temperature then the thermal diffusion into the contacts is absent because of the Andreev's reflection and the electron-phonon relaxation is the only mechanism for heat removal. The relaxation rate should behave as 7(exp 4)l at subkelvin temperatures (l is the electron elastic mean free path) and can be reduced by factor of 10 - 100 by decreasing l. Then an antenna- or waveguide-coupled bolometer with a time constant approx. 10(exp -3) to 10(exp -5) S at T approx. = 0.1 - 0.3 K will exhibit photon-noise limited performance in millimeter and subn-millimeter range. The bolometer will have a figure-of-merit NEk square root of tau approx. = 10(exp -22) 10(exp -21) W/Hz at 100 mK which is 10(exp 3) times smaller than that of a state-of-the-art bolometer. This will allow for a tremendous increase in speed which will have a significant impact for observational mapping applications. Alternatively, the bolometer could operate at higher temperature with still superior sensitivity This research was performed by the Center for Space Microelectronics Technology, JPL, California Institute of Technology, under the contract for NASA.

Karasik, B. S.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Calf Venous Compliance in Supine Posture Equals that Measured with Head-up Tilt

Calf venous compliance is measured conventionally with venous occlusion, where compliance equals calf volume elevation per mmHg thigh occlusion pressure in relaxed legs of supine subjects. Compliance may also be measured during stepwise head-up tilt (HUT) as calf volume elevation per mmHg gravitational venous pressure elevation produced by HUT. Although HUT on a tilt table with a footplate activates calf muscles which could reduce compliance, this muscle activation is relatively small (less than or = 10% of maximal voluntary levels). Therefore, we hypothesized that calf compliance measured with HUT equals that measured with conventional supine venous occlusion. The venous occlusion protocol consisted of 20, 40, 60 and 80 mmHg thigh cuff inflations held for 1, 2, 3 and 4 min, respectively, in 14 supine subjects. One min of cuff deflation to 0 mmHg separated occlusions. Nine other subjects underwent HUT through the following angles held for 30s each: -12 deg., -6 deg., 0 deg., 12 deg., 30 deg., 54 deg., and 90 deg. HUT calf venous pressure data were interpolated from Katkov and Chestukhin; these data correspond to 70-80% of calculated calf venous pressure changes (pgh). Liquid metal-in-silastic strain gauges measured calf volume for both venous occlusion and HUT compliance. Relaxed calf compliance in supine subjects equaled 4.6 +/- 0.4 ml/mmHg (X +/- SE), as measured with venous occlusion. Calf compliance during HUT equaled 4.6 +/- 1.0 ml/mmHg. Therefore, calf compliance in supine, relaxed subjects equals that measured during head-up tilt. We conclude that the minimal calf muscle activation which occurs during HUT does not importantly affect calf compliance.

Watenpaugh, Donald E.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Decoupling the Role of Particle Inertia and Gravity on Particle Dispersion

Particle dispersion and the influence that particle momentum exchange has on the properties of a turbulent carrier flow in micro-gravity environments challenge present understanding and predictive schemes. The objective of this effort has been to develop and assess high-fidelity simulation tools for predicting particle transport within micro-gravity environments suspended in turbulent flows. The computational technique is based on Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The particular focus of the present work is on the class of dilute flows in which particle volume fractions and inter-particle collisions are negligible. Particle motion is assumed to be governed by drag with particle relaxation times ranging from the Kolmogorov scale to the Eulerian timescale of the turbulence and particle mass loadings up to one. The velocity field was made statistically stationary by forcing the low wavenumbers of the flow. The calculations were performed using 96(exp 3) collocation points and the Taylor-scale Reynolds number for the stationary flow was 62. The effect of particles on the turbulence was included in the Navier-Stokes equations using the point-force approximation in which 96(exp 3) particles were used in the calculations. DNS results show that particles increasingly dissipate fluid kinetic energy with increased loading, with the reduction in kinetic energy being relatively independent of the particle relaxation time. Viscous dissipation in the fluid decreases with increased loading and is larger for particles with smaller relaxation times. Fluid energy spectra show that there is a non-uniform distortion of the turbulence with a relative increase in small-scale energy. The non-uniform distortion significantly affects the transport of the dissipation rate, with the production and destruction of dissipation exhibiting completely different behaviors. The spectrum of the fluid-particle energy exchange rate shows that the fluid drags particles at low wavenumbers while the converse is true at high wavenumbers for small particles. A spectral analysis shows that the increase of the high wavenumber portion of the fluid energy spectrum can be attributed to transfer of the fluid-particle covariance by the fluid turbulence. This in turn explains the relative increase of small-scale energy caused by small particles observed in the present simulations as well as those of others.

Squires, Kyle D.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Time-Temperature Dependent Response of Filament Wound Composites for Flywheel Rotors

Flywheel energy storage offers an attractive alternative to battery systems used in space applications such as the International Space Station. Rotor designs capable of high specific energies benefit from the load carrying capacity of hoop wound carbon fibers but their long-term durability may be limited by time-temperature dependent radial deformations. This was investigated for the carbon/epoxy rotor material, IM7/8552. Coupon specimens were sectioned from filament wound panels. These were tested in compression and tension at room temperature (RT), 95 and 135 C for strain rates from 5x10(exp -6) per second to 5x10(exp -3) per second. Time, temperature and load sign dependent effects were significant transverse to the fiber. At -0.5 percent strain for 72 hr, compressive stresses relaxed 16.4 percent at 135 C and 13 percent at 95 C. Tensile stresses relaxed only 7 percent in 72 hr at 135 C for 0.5 percent strain. Using linear hereditary material response and Boltzmann s principle of superposition to describe this behavior is problematic if not intractable. Micromechanics analysis including the effects of processing residual stresses is needed to resolve the paradoxes. Uniaxial compressive stress relaxation data may be used to bound the loss of radial pre-load stresses in flywheel rotors.

Thesken, John C.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Geologic Evolution of the Martian Dichotomy and Plains Magnetization in the Ismenius Area of Mars

The global dichotomy divides the northern lowlands from the southern highlands, except where interrupted by relatively young volcanic provinces and impact basins. An elevation change of 2-4 km is typical across the dichotomy, and more than 6 km locally, over distances of several 100s km to as much as 1300 km [1,2]. A variety of exogenic and endogenic formation models have been proposed. Distinguishing between these models would help constrain the overall thermal evolution of the planet, possibly timing of core formation, and the associated mantle heat flux over time. A first step is to determine whether or not gravitational relaxation plays a role in modifying the boundary. Nimmo and Stevenson [3] examined 10 profiles across the dichotomy and used models of gravitational relaxation to conclude the relaxation has not occurred. In this study we begin by considering the geologic history in detail as inputs for modeling [4].

Smrekar, S. E.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Textbook Multigrid Efficiency for Leading Edge Stagnation

A multigrid solver is defined as having textbook multigrid efficiency (TME) if the solutions to the governing system of equations are attained in a computational work which is a small (less than 10) multiple of the operation count in evaluating the discrete residuals. TME in solving the incompressible inviscid fluid equations is demonstrated for leading- edge stagnation flows. The contributions of this paper include (1) a special formulation of the boundary conditions near stagnation allowing convergence of the Newton iterations on coarse grids, (2) the boundary relaxation technique to facilitate relaxation and residual restriction near the boundaries, (3) a modified relaxation scheme to prevent initial error amplification, and (4) new general analysis techniques for multigrid solvers. Convergence of algebraic errors below the level of discretization errors is attained by a full multigrid (FMG) solver with one full approximation scheme (F.4S) cycle per grid. Asymptotic convergence rates of the F.4S cycles for the full system of flow equations are very fast, approaching those for scalar elliptic equations.

Diskin, Boris↗
NASA NTRS2004

Textbook Multigrid Efficiency for Leading Edge Stagnation

A multigrid solver is defined as having textbook multigrid efficiency (TME) if the solutions to the governing system of equations are attained in a computational work which is a small (less than 10) multiple of the operation count in evaluating the discrete residuals. TME in solving the incompressible inviscid fluid equations is demonstrated for leading-edge stagnation flows. The contributions of this paper include (1) a special formulation of the boundary conditions near stagnation allowing convergence of the Newton iterations on coarse grids, (2) the boundary relaxation technique to facilitate relaxation and residual restriction near the boundaries, (3) a modified relaxation scheme to prevent initial error amplification, and (4) new general analysis techniques for multigrid solvers. Convergence of algebraic errors below the level of discretization errors is attained by a full multigrid (FMG) solver with one full approximation scheme (FAS) cycle per grid. Asymptotic convergence rates of the FAS cycles for the full system of flow equations are very fast, approaching those for scalar elliptic equations.

Diskin, Boris↗
NASA NTRS1999

Numerical Solution of Incompressible Navier-Stokes Equations Using a Fractional-Step Approach

A fractional step method for the solution of steady and unsteady incompressible Navier-Stokes equations is outlined. The method is based on a finite volume formulation and uses the pressure in the cell center and the mass fluxes across the faces of each cell as dependent variables. Implicit treatment of convective and viscous terms in the momentum equations enables the numerical stability restrictions to be relaxed. The linearization error in the implicit solution of momentum equations is reduced by using three subiterations in order to achieve second order temporal accuracy for time-accurate calculations. In spatial discretizations of the momentum equations, a high-order (3rd and 5th) flux-difference splitting for the convective terms and a second-order central difference for the viscous terms are used. The resulting algebraic equations are solved with a line-relaxation scheme which allows the use of large time step. A four color ZEBRA scheme is employed after the line-relaxation procedure in the solution of the Poisson equation for pressure. This procedure is applied to a Couette flow problem using a distorted computational grid to show that the method minimizes grid effects. Additional benchmark cases include the unsteady laminar flow over a circular cylinder for Reynolds Numbers of 200, and a 3-D, steady, turbulent wingtip vortex wake propagation study. The solution algorithm does a very good job in resolving the vortex core when 5th-order upwind differencing and a modified production term in the Baldwin-Barth one-equation turbulence model are used with adequate grid resolution.

Kiris, Cetin↗
NASA NTRS1988

Mechanism of rapid suppression of cell expansion in cucumber hypocotyls after blue-light irradiation

Rapid suppression of hypocotyl elongation by blue light in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) was studied to examine possible hydraulic and wall changes responsible for diminished growth. Cell-sap osmotic pressure, measured by vapor-pressure osmometry, was not decreased by blue light; turgor pressure, measured by the pressure-probe technique, remained constant during the growth inhibition; and stem hydraulic conductance, measured by dynamic and static methods, was likewise unaffected by blue light. Wall yielding properties were assessed by the pressure-block technique for in-vivo stress relaxation. Blue light reduced the initial rate of relaxation by 77%, but had little effect on the final amount of relaxation. The results demonstrate that blue irradiation acts to decrease the wall yielding coefficient, but not the yield threshold. Stress-strain (Instron) analysis showed that irradiation of the seedlings had little effect on the mechanical extensibilities of the isolated wall. The results indicate that blue light can reduce cell-wall loosening without affecting bulk viscoelastic properties, and indicate a chemorheological mechanism of cell-wall expansion.

NASA Discipline Number 40-30↗
NASA NTRS1991

Photoinhibition of stem elongation by blue and red light: effects on hydraulic and cell wall properties

The underlying mechanism of photoinhibition of stem elongation by blue (BL) and red light (RL) was studied in etiolated seedlings of pea (Pisum sativum L. cv Alaska). Brief BL irradiations resulted in fast transient inhibition of elongation, while a delayed (lag approximately 60 minutes) but prolonged inhibition was observed after brief RL. Possible changes in the hydraulic and wall properties of the growing cells during photoinhibition were examined. Cell sap osmotic pressure was unaffected by BL and RL, but both irradiations increased turgor pressure by approximately 0.05 megapascal (pressure-probe technique). Cell wall yielding was analyzed by in vivo stress relaxation (pressure-block technique). BL and RL reduced the initial rate of relaxation by 38 and 54%, while the final amount of relaxation was decreased by 48 and 10%, respectively. These results indicate that RL inhibits elongation mainly by lowering the wall yield coefficient, while most of the inhibitory effect of BL was due to an increase of the yield threshold. Mechanical extensibility of cell walls (Instron technique) was decreased by BL and RL, mainly due to a reduction in the plastic component of extensibility. Thus, photoinhibitions of elongation by both BL and RL are achieved through changes in cell wall properties, and are not due to effects on the hydraulic properties of the cell.

NASA Program Space Biology↗
NASA NTRS1989

Mechanism of gibberellin-dependent stem elongation in peas

Stem elongation in peas (Pisum sativum L.) is under partial control by gibberellins, yet the mechanism of such control is uncertain. In this study, we examined the cellular and physical properties that govern stem elongation, to determine how gibberellins influence pea stem growth. Stem elongation of etiolated seedlings was retarded with uniconozol, a gibberellin synthesis inhibitor, and the growth retardation was reversed by exogenous gibberellin. Using the pressure probe and vapor pressure osmometry, we found little effect of uniconozol and gibberellin on cell turgor pressure or osmotic pressure. In contrast, these treatments had major effects on in vivo stress relaxation, measured by turgor relaxation and pressure-block techniques. Uniconozol-treated plants exhibited reduced wall relaxation (both initial rate and total amount). The results show that growth retardation is effected via a reduction in the wall yield coefficient and an increase in the yield threshold. These effects were largely reversed by exogenous gibberellin. When we measured the mechanical characteristics of the wall by stress/strain (Instron) analysis, we found only minor effects of uniconozol and gibberellin on the plastic compliance. This observation indicates that these agents did not alter wall expansion through effects on the mechanical (viscoelastic) properties of the wall. Our results suggest that wall expansion in peas is better viewed as a chemorheological, rather than a viscoelastic, process.

NASA Discipline Plant Biology↗
NASA NTRS1994

Effects of silver ions (Ag+) on contractile ring function and microtubule dynamics during first cleavage in Ilyanassa obsoleta

The terminal phase of cell division involves tight constriction of the cleavage furrow contractile ring, stabilization/elongation of the intercellular bridge, and final separation of the daughter cells. At first cleavage, the fertilized eggs of the mollusk, Ilyanassa obsoleta, form two contractile rings at right angles to each other in the same cytoplasm that constrict to tight necks and partition the egg into a trefoil shape. The cleavage furrow contractile ring (CF) normally constricts around many midbody microtubules (MTs) and results in cleavage; the polar lobe constriction contractile ring (PLC) normally constricts around very few MTs and subsequently relaxes without cleavage. In the presence of Ag+ ions, the PLC 1) begins MT-dependent rapid constriction sooner than controls, 2) encircles more MTs than control egg PLCs, 3) elongates much more than control PLCs, and 4) remains tightly constricted and effectively cleaves the polar lobe from the egg. If Ag(+)-incubated eggs are returned to normal seawater at trefoil, tubulin fluorescence disappears from the PLC neck and the neck relaxes. If nocodazole, a drug that depolymerizes MTs, is added to Ag(+)-incubated eggs during early PLC constriction, the PLC is not stabilized and eventually relaxes. However, if nocodazole is added to Ag(+)-incubated eggs at trefoil, tubulin fluorescence disappears from the PLC neck but the neck remains constricted. These results suggest that Ag+ accelerates and gradually stabilizes the PLC constriction by a mechanism that is initially MT-dependent, but that progressively becomes MT-independent.

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRS2004

Vectran Fiber Time-Dependent Behavior and Additional Static Loading Properties

Vectran HS appears from literature and testing to date to be an ideal upgrade from Kevlar braided cords for many long-term, static-loading applications such as tie-downs on solar arrays. Vectran is a liquid crystalline polymer and exhibits excellent tensile properties. The material has been touted as a zero creep product. Testing discussed in this report does not support this statement, though the creep is on the order of four times slower than with similar Kevlar 49 products. Previous work with Kevlar and new analysis of Vectran testing has led to a simple predictive model for Vectran at ambient conditions. The mean coefficient of thermal expansion (negative in this case) is similar to Kevlar 49, but is not linear. A positive transition in the curve occurs near 100 C. Out-gassing tests show that the material performs well within parameters for most space flight applications. Vectran also offers increased abrasion resistance, minimal moisture regain, and similar UV degradation. The effects of material construction appear to have a dramatic effect in stress relaxation for braided Vectran. To achieve the improved relaxation rate, upgrades must also examine alternate construction or preconditioning methods. This report recommends Vectran HS as a greatly improved replacement material for applications where time-dependent relaxation is a major factor.

Fette, Russell B.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Energetics of Single Substitutional Impurities in NiTi

Shape-memory alloys are of considerable current interest, with applications ranging from stents to Mars rover components. In this work, we present results on the energetics of single substitutional impurities in B2 NiTi. Specifically, energies of Pd, Pt, Zr and Hf impurities at both Ni and Ti sites are computed. All energies are computed using the CASTEP ab initio code, and, for comparison, using the quantum approximate energy method of Bozzolo, Ferrante and Smith. Atomistic relaxation in the vicinity of the impurities is investigated via quantum approximate Monte Carlo simulation, and in cases where the relaxation is found to be important, the resulting relaxations are applied to the ab initio calculations. We compare our results with available experimental work.

Good, Brian S.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Numerical Evaluation of P-Multigrid Method for the Solution of Discontinuous Galerkin Discretizations of Diffusive Equations

This paper describes numerical experiments with P-multigrid to corroborate analysis, validate the present implementation, and to examine issues that arise in the implementations of the various combinations of relaxation schemes, discretizations and P-multigrid methods. The two approaches to implement P-multigrid presented here are equivalent for most high-order discretization methods such as spectral element, SUPG, and discontinuous Galerkin applied to advection; however it is discovered that the approach that mimics the common geometric multigrid implementation is less robust, and frequently unstable when applied to discontinuous Galerkin discretizations of di usion. Gauss-Seidel relaxation converges 40% faster than block Jacobi, as predicted by analysis; however, the implementation of Gauss-Seidel is considerably more expensive that one would expect because gradients in most neighboring elements must be updated. A compromise quasi Gauss-Seidel relaxation method that evaluates the gradient in each element twice per iteration converges at rates similar to those predicted for true Gauss-Seidel.

Atkins, H. L.↗