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At least 1,693 records · Page 94

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NASA NTRS1989

Narrow bandgap semiconducting silicides: Intrinsic infrared detectors on a silicon chip

Polycrystalline thin films of CrSi2, LaSi2, and ReSi2 were grown on silicon substrates. Normal incidence optical transmittance and reflectance measurements were made as a function of wavelength. It was demonstrated that LaSi2 is a metallic conductor, but that CrSi2 and ReSi2 are, in fact, narrow bandgap semiconductors. For CrSi2, the complex index of refraction was determined by computer analysis of the optical data. From the imaginary part, the optical absorption coefficient was determined as a function of photon energy. It was shown that CrSi2 possesses an indirect forbidden energy gap of slightly less than 0.31 eV, and yet it is a very strong absorber of light above the absorption edge. On the other hand, the ReSi2 films exhibit an absorption edge in the vicinity of 0.2 eV. Measurements of the thermal activation energy of resistivity for ReSi2 indicate a bandgap of 0.18 eV. It is concluded that the semiconducting silicides merit further investigation for development as new silicon-compatible infrared detector materials.

Mahan, John E.↗

NASA NTRS1991

A grid-independent approximate Riemann solver with applications to the Euler and Navier-Stokes equations

A new two-dimensional approximate Riemann solver has been developed that obtains fluxes on grid faces via wave decomposition. By utilizing information propagation in the velocity-difference directions rather than in the grid-normal directions, this flux function more appropriately interprets and hence more sharply resolves shock and shear waves when they lie oblique to the grid. The model uses five waves to describe the difference in states at a grid face. Two acoustic waves, one shear wave, and one entropy wave propagate in the direction defined by the local velocity difference vector, while the fifth wave is a shear wave that propagates at a right angle to the other four. Test cases presented include a shock reflecting off a wall, a pure shear wave, supersonic flow over an airfoil, and viscous separated airfoil flow. Results using the new model give significantly sharper shock and shear contours than a grid-aligned solver. Navier-Stokes computations over an aifoil show reduced pressure distortions in the separated region as a result of the grid-independent upwinding.

Rumsey, Christopher L.↗

NASA NTRS1998

Design and Operating Characteristics of High-Speed, Small-Bore, Angular-Contact Ball Bearings

The computer program SHABERTH was used to analyze 35-mm-bore, angular-contact ball bearings designed and manufactured for high-speed turbomachinery applications. Parametric tests of the bearings were conducted on a high-speed, high-temperature bearing tester and were compared with the computer predictions. Four bearing and cage designs were studied. The bearings were lubricated either by jet lubrication or through the split inner ring with and without outer-ring cooling. The predicted bearing life decreased with increasing speed because of increased operating contact stresses caused by changes in contact angle and centrifugal load. For thrust loads only, the difference in calculated life for the 24 deg. and 30 deg. contact-angle bearings was insignificant. However, for combined loading, the 24 deg. contact-angle bearing gave longer life. For split-inner-ring bearings, optimal operating conditions were obtained with a 24 deg. contact angle and an inner-ring, land-guided cage, using outer-ring cooling in conjunction with low lubricant flow rates. Lower temperature and power losses were obtained with a single-outer-ring, land-guided cage for the 24 deg. contact-angle bearing having a relieved inner ring and partially relieved outer ring. Inner-ring temperatures were independent of lubrication mode and cage design. In comparison with measured values, reasonably good engineering correlation was obtained using the computer program SHABERTH for predicted bearing power loss and for inner- and outer-ring temperatures. The Parker formula for XCAV (used in SHABERTH, a measure of oil volume in the bearing cavity) may need to be refined to reflect bearing lubrication mode, cage design, and location of cage-controlling land.

Pinel, Stanley I.↗

NASA NTRS1990

A new continuum model for suspensions of gyrotactic micro-organisms

A new continuum model is formulated for dilute suspensions of swimming micro-organisms with asymmetric mass distributions. Account is taken of randomness in a cell's swimming direction, p, by postulating that the probability density function for p satisfies a Fokker-Planck equation analogous to that obtained for colloid suspensions in the presence of rotational Brownian motion. The deterministic torques on a cell, viscous and gravitational, are balanced by diffusion, represented by an isotropic rotary diffusivity Dr, which is unknown a priori, but presumably reflects stochastic influences on the cell's internal workings. When the Fokker-Planck equation is solved, macroscopic quantities such as the average cell velocity Vc, the particle diffusivity tensor D and the effective stress tensor sigma can be computed; Vc and D are required in the cell conservation equation, and sigma in the momentum equation. The Fokker-Planck equation contains two dimensionless parameters, lambda and epsilon; lambda is the ratio of the rotary diffusion time Dr-1 to the torque relaxation time B (balancing gravitational and viscous torques), while epsilon is a scale for the local vorticity or strain rate made dimensionless with B. In this paper we solve the Fokker-Planck equation exactly for epsilon = 0 (lambda arbitrary) and also obtain the first-order solution for small epsilon. Using experimental data on Vc and D obtained with the swimming alga, Chlamydomonas nivalis, in the absence of bulk flow, the epsilon = 0 results can be used to estimate the value of lambda for that species (lambda approximately 2.2; Dr approximately 0.13 s-1). The continuum model for small epsilon is then used to reanalyse the instability of a uniform suspension, previously investigated by Pedley, Hill & Kessler (1988). The only qualitatively different result is that there no longer seem to be circumstances in which disturbances with a non-zero vertical wavenumber are more unstable than purely horizontal disturbances. On the way, it is demonstrated that the only significant contribution to sigma, other than the basic Newtonian stress, is that derived from the stresslets associated with the cells' intrinsic swimming motions.

NASA Discipline Number 28-20↗

NASA NTRS2009

Design and Performance of a Spectrometer for Deployment on MISSE 7

A spectrometer for reflectance and transmission measurements of samples exposed to the space environment has been developed for deployment on the Materials on the International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) 7. The instrument incorporates a miniature commercial fiber optic coupled spectrometer with a computer control system for detector operation, sample motion and illumination. A set of three spectrometers were recently integrated on the MISSE7 platform with launch and deployment on the International Space Station scheduled for summer of this year. The instrument is one of many active experiments on the platform. The performance of the instrument prior to launch will be discussed. Data from samples measured in the laboratory will be compared to those from the instrument prior to launch. These comparisons will illustrate the capabilities of the current design. The space environment challenges many materials. When in operation on the MISSE 7 platform, the new spectrometer will provide real time data on the how the space environment affects the optical properties of thermal control paints and optical coatings. Data obtained from comparison of pre and post flight measurements on hundreds of samples exposed on previous MISSE platforms have been reported at these meetings. With the new spectrometer and the ability to correlate measured changes with time on orbit and the occurrence of both natural events and human activities, a better understanding of the processes responsible for degradation of materials in space will be possible.

Pippin, Gary↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Principal Component-Based Radiative Transfer Model (PCRTM) for Hyperspectral Remote Sensors for UV, VVIS, NIR, IR, and FIR Spectral Regions

Fast and accurate radiative transfer models are needed to efficiently process satellite hyperspectral remote sensors. We have developed a Principal Component-based radiative transfer model (PCRTM) which can simulate TOA radiance or reflectance spectra in the cloudy atmosphere for far IR, IR, NIR, VIS, and UV spectral regions quickly and accurately. Multi-scattering of multiple layers of clouds/aerosols is included in the model. Polarization components can also be calculated. The computation speed is 3 to 4 orders of magnitude faster than MODTRAN5, LBLRTM, and VLIDORT. The PCRTM calculated radiance spectra agree with reference RTM calculated radiance spectra very well (0.03 K in IR and 0.05% in solar). Comparisons of the PCRTM model calculations with observed AIRS, CrIS, IASI, NAST-I, and SCIAMACHY data will be presented. The solar-PCRTM has been developed for CLARREO PathFinder (CPF) and has been extensively used for CPF science algorithms. The PCRTM can also be used for many current and future NASA future missions such as EMIT, SBG, TEMPO, and PACE.

pcrtm↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Forward and Inverse Models for Satellite Remote Sensors using Principal Component Analysis

Satellite remote sensors such as AIRS on Aqua, CrIS on S-NPP, NOAA20 and JPSS-2, IASI on Metop A, B, and C make millions of observations each day with thousands of spectral channels for each observation; this poses challenges for efficiently inversion of the inherently large dataset as needed to retrieve atmospheric and surface properties. This presentation will illustrate the use of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to speed up radiative transfer forward model calculations and to stabilize the inversion algorithms. A Principal Component-based radiative transfer model (PCRTM) developed at NASA Langley Research Center can simulate top of atmosphere (TOA) radiance or reflectance spectra from 50 cm-1 to 50000 cm-1 (200 m to 0.20 m quickly and accurately. PCRTM demonstrated very high accuracy relative to reference line-by-line radiative transfer models and it saves orders of magnitude computational time. Examples of the PCRTM model developed for hyperspectral sensors such as AIRS, CrIS, IASI, NAST-I, SHIS, CPF, TEMPO, SBG, OMI, and SCIAMACHY will be presented. In addition to using the PCRTM as forward model, the NASA Langley developed inversion algorithm also uses PCA to compress the state vector into a compressed dimension to speed up and stabilize the inversion process. Examples of retrieved atmospheric temperature, water vapor, CO2, CO, CH4, N2O, and O3 profiles, cloud properties (optical depth, size, phase, and height), and surface properties (surface emissivity spectra and skin temperatures) will be presented. This algorithm is being transitioned to the NASA Sounder SIPS and NASA's Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC).

forward model↗

NASA NTRS2018

Synoptic Ozone, Cloud Reflectivity, and Erythemal Irradiance from Sunrise to Sunset for the Whole Earth as Viewed by the DSCOVR Spacecraft from the Earth-Sun Lagrange 1 Orbit

EPIC (Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera) on board the DSCOVR (Deep Space Climate Observatory) spacecraft is the first earth science instrument located near the earth-sun gravitational plus centrifugal force balance point, Lagrange 1. EPIC measures earth-reflected radiances in 10 wavelength channels ranging from 317.5 to 779.5 nm. Of these channels, four are in the UV range 317.5, 325, 340, and 388 nm, which are used to retrieve O3, 388 nm scene reflectivity (LER: Lambert equivalent reflectivity), SO2, and aerosol properties. These new synoptic quantities are retrieved for the entire sunlit globe from sunrise to sunset multiple times per day as the earth rotates in EPIC's field of view. Retrieved ozone amounts agree with ground-based measurements and satellite data to within 3 %. The ozone amounts and LER are combined to derive the erythemal irradiance for the earth's entire sunlit surface at a nadir resolution of 1818 km2 using a computationally efficient approximation to a radiative transfer calculation of irradiance. The results show very high summertime values of the UV index (UVI) in the Andes and Himalayas (greater than 18), and high values of UVI near the Equator at equinox.

Cloud reflectivity↗

DOE OSTI2016

A Study on Reconstruction of Intra-Pin Information in Pin-Wise Reactor Analysis

Along with nodal calculation, accurate pin-wise calculations with parallel computational platforms have been recently developed as alternative tools to nodal methods to maximize core performance and minimize uncertainties used in reactor safety analysis. Therefore, it is necessary to have a method for accurately reconstructing intra-pin information comparable to whole-core transport calculation while being significantly more computationally efficient. In this study, a method to reconstruct intra-pin information (intra-pin reconstruction) is proposed. This method is based on combining the local intra-pin form function with the global homogeneous distribution. The form functions are generated from a single pin calculation with reflective boundary conditions using Serpent 2, a Monte Carlo neutron transport code. The global homogeneous flux was reconstructed using the analytical solution of the diffusion equation due to its superior accuracy and speed compared to other methods. The study here is limited to a two-dimensional two-group problem of rectangular geometric fuel pin element. The pin-wise boundary constraints (BCs) and reference intra-pin power used for reconstruction and comparison were obtained from the Serpent 2 reference calculation. From our study, it is indicated that maximum relative error (MRE) between reconstructed and reference values is within 5%. In addition, a sensitivity study was also performed to assess the feasibility of the method when the proposed method is coupled with a pin-wise calculation. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

DOE OSTI2017

Modeling Effects of Annealing on Coal Char Reactivity to O 2 and CO 2 , Based on Preparation Conditions

Oxy-fired coal combustion is a promising potential carbon capture technology. Predictive computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are valuable tools in evaluating and deploying oxyfuel and other carbon capture technologies, either as retrofit technologies or for new construction. However, accurate predictive combustor simulations require physically realistic submodels with low computational requirements. A recent sensitivity analysis of a detailed char conversion model (Char Conversion Kinetics (CCK)) found thermal annealing to be an extremely sensitive submodel. In the present work, further analysis of the previous annealing model revealed significant disagreement with numerous datasets from experiments performed after that annealing model was developed. The annealing model was accordingly extended to reflect experimentally observed reactivity loss, because of the thermal annealing of a variety of coals under diverse char preparation conditions. The model extension was informed by a Bayesian calibration analysis. In addition, since oxyfuel conditions include extraordinarily high levels of CO 2 , the development of a first-ever CO 2 reactivity loss model due to annealing is presented.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

NASA NTRS2016

Cyber-Threat Assessment for the Air Traffic Management System: A Network Controls Approach

Air transportation networks are being disrupted with increasing frequency by failures in their cyber- (computing, communication, control) systems. Whether these cyber- failures arise due to deliberate attacks or incidental errors, they can have far-reaching impact on the performance of the air traffic control and management systems. For instance, a computer failure in the Washington DC Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZDC) on August 15, 2015, caused nearly complete closure of the Centers airspace for several hours. This closure had a propagative impact across the United States National Airspace System, causing changed congestion patterns and requiring placement of a suite of traffic management initiatives to address the capacity reduction and congestion. A snapshot of traffic on that day clearly shows the closure of the ZDC airspace and the resulting congestion at its boundary, which required augmented traffic management at multiple locations. Cyber- events also have important ramifications for private stakeholders, particularly the airlines. During the last few months, computer-system issues have caused several airlines fleets to be grounded for significant periods of time: these include United Airlines (twice), LOT Polish Airlines, and American Airlines. Delays and regional stoppages due to cyber- events are even more common, and may have myriad causes (e.g., failure of the Department of Homeland Security systems needed for security check of passengers, see [3]). The growing frequency of cyber- disruptions in the air transportation system reflects a much broader trend in the modern society: cyber- failures and threats are becoming increasingly pervasive, varied, and impactful. In consequence, an intense effort is underway to develop secure and resilient cyber- systems that can protect against, detect, and remove threats, see e.g. and its many citations. The outcomes of this wide effort on cyber- security are applicable to the air transportation infrastructure, and indeed security solutions are being implemented in the current system. While these security solutions are important, they only provide a piecemeal solution. Particular computers or communication channels are protected from particular attacks, without a holistic view of the air transportation infrastructure. On the other hand, the above-listed incidents highlight that a holistic approach is needed, for several reasons. First, the air transportation infrastructure is a large scale cyber-physical system with multiple stakeholders and diverse legacy assets. It is impractical to protect every cyber- asset from known and unknown disruptions, and instead a strategic view of security is needed. Second, disruptions to the cyber- system can incur complex propagative impacts across the air transportation network, including its physical and human assets. Also, these implications of cyber- events are exacerbated or modulated by other disruptions and operational specifics, e.g. severe weather, operator fatigue or error, etc. These characteristics motivate a holistic and strategic perspective on protecting the air transportation infrastructure from cyber- events. The analysis of cyber- threats to the air traffic system is also inextricably tied to the integration of new autonomy into the airspace. The replacement of human operators with cyber functions leaves the network open to new cyber threats, which must be modeled and managed. Paradoxically, the mitigation of cyber events in the airspace will also likely require additional autonomy, given the fast time scale and myriad pathways of cyber-attacks which must be managed. The assessment of new vulnerabilities upon integration of new autonomy is also a key motivation for a holistic perspective on cyber threats.

Complex Networks↗

NASA NTRS1998

Virtual and Experimental Visualization of Flows in Packed Beds of Spheres Simulating Porous Media Flows

A videotape presentation of flow in a packed bed of spheres is provided. The flow experiment consisted of three principal elements: (1) an oil tunnel 76.2 mm by 76.2 mm in cross section, (2) a packed bed of spheres in regular and irregular arrays, and (3) a flow characterization methodology, either (a) full flow field tracking (FFFT) or (b) computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulation. The refraction indices of the oil and the test array of spheres were closely matched, and the flow was seeded with aluminum oxide particles. Planar laser light provided a two-dimensional projection of the flow field, and a traverse simulated a three-dimensional image of the entire flow field. Light focusing and reflection rendered the spheres black, permitting visualization of the planar circular interfaces in both the axial and transverse directions. Flows were observed near the wall-sphere interface and within the set of spheres. The CFD model required that a representative section of a packed bed be formed and gridded, enclosing and cutting six spheres so that symmetry conditions could be imposed at all cross-boundaries. Simulations had to be made with the flow direction at right angles to that used in the experiments, however, to take advantage of flow symmetry. Careful attention to detail was required for proper gridding. The flow field was three-dimensional and complex to describe, yet the most prominent finding was flow threads, as computed in the representative 'cube' of spheres with face symmetry and conclusively demonstrated experimentally herein. Random packing and bed voids tended to disrupt the laminar flow, creating vortices.

Hendricks, R. C.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Accurate Time-Dependent Traveling-Wave Tube Model Developed for Computational Bit-Error-Rate Testing

The phenomenal growth of the satellite communications industry has created a large demand for traveling-wave tubes (TWT's) operating with unprecedented specifications requiring the design and production of many novel devices in record time. To achieve this, the TWT industry heavily relies on computational modeling. However, the TWT industry's computational modeling capabilities need to be improved because there are often discrepancies between measured TWT data and that predicted by conventional two-dimensional helical TWT interaction codes. This limits the analysis and design of novel devices or TWT's with parameters differing from what is conventionally manufactured. In addition, the inaccuracy of current computational tools limits achievable TWT performance because optimized designs require highly accurate models. To address these concerns, a fully three-dimensional, time-dependent, helical TWT interaction model was developed using the electromagnetic particle-in-cell code MAFIA (Solution of MAxwell's equations by the Finite-Integration-Algorithm). The model includes a short section of helical slow-wave circuit with excitation fed by radiofrequency input/output couplers, and an electron beam contained by periodic permanent magnet focusing. A cutaway view of several turns of the three-dimensional helical slow-wave circuit with input/output couplers is shown. This has been shown to be more accurate than conventionally used two-dimensional models. The growth of the communications industry has also imposed a demand for increased data rates for the transmission of large volumes of data. To achieve increased data rates, complex modulation and multiple access techniques are employed requiring minimum distortion of the signal as it is passed through the TWT. Thus, intersymbol interference (ISI) becomes a major consideration, as well as suspected causes such as reflections within the TWT. To experimentally investigate effects of the physical TWT on ISI would be prohibitively expensive, as it would require manufacturing numerous amplifiers, in addition to acquiring the required digital hardware. As an alternative, the time-domain TWT interaction model developed here provides the capability to establish a computational test bench where ISI or bit error rate can be simulated as a function of TWT operating parameters and component geometries. Intermodulation products, harmonic generation, and backward waves can also be monitored with the model for similar correlations. The advancements in computational capabilities and corresponding potential improvements in TWT performance may prove to be the enabling technologies for realizing unprecedented data rates for near real time transmission of the increasingly larger volumes of data demanded by planned commercial and Government satellite communications applications. This work is in support of the Cross Enterprise Technology Development Program in Headquarters' Advanced Technology & Mission Studies Division and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Small Business Technology Transfer programs.

Kory, Carol L.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Concentration of off-axis radiation by solar concentrators for space power

Off-axis radiation is radiation from any direction not parallel to the axis of the solar concentrator. It will be reflected to regions other than the focus of the parabolic concentrator and possibly concentrated there. Four types of off-axis radiation are discussed. These are: (1) small off-axis angles during walk-off; (2) large off-axis angles; (3) an extended off-axis source such as Earth albedo; and (4) miscellaneous off-axis sources including radio frequency sources and local point sources. A previous analytical study used a computer code named PIXEL to predict concentration of off-axis radiation and a previous experimental study used an 11-m diameter multifaceted dish concentrator to validate the PIXEL analysis. The PIXEL code was limited in that it represented concentration by an ideal parabolic reflector of light from a point source. Another code named OFFSET has been developed to represent the solar concentrator being developed for Space Station Freedom. It is a detailed, ray tracing model which represents 50 ray originating points on the Sun and reflections from 10 points on each of the 456 concentrator facets. Results of this code are generally similar to the PIXEL results although there are small differences due to the more detailed representations of the Sun and concentrator that were used in the OFFSET code.

Jefferies, Kent S.↗

DOE OSTI2014

Fluid dynamic modeling of nano-thermite reactions

This paper presents a direct numerical method based on gas dynamic equations to predict pressure evolution during the discharge of nanoenergetic materials. The direct numerical method provides for modeling reflections of the shock waves from the reactor walls that generates pressure-time fluctuations. The results of gas pressure prediction are consistent with the experimental evidence and estimates based on the self-similar solution. Artificial viscosity provides sufficient smoothing of shock wave discontinuity for the numerical procedure. The direct numerical method is more computationally demanding and flexible than self-similar solution, in particular it allows study of a shock wave in its early stage of reaction and allows the investigation of “slower” reactions, which may produce weaker shock waves. Moreover, numerical results indicate that peak pressure is not very sensitive to initial density and reaction time, providing that all the material reacts well before the shock wave arrives at the end of the reactor.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

NASA NTRS1983

Numerical computations on one-dimensional inverse scattering problems

An approximate method to determine the index of refraction of a dielectric obstacle is presented. For simplicity one dimensional models of electromagnetic scattering are treated. The governing equations yield a second order boundary value problem, in which the index of refraction appears as a functional parameter. The availability of reflection coefficients yield two additional boundary conditions. The index of refraction by a k-th order spline which can be written as a linear combination of B-splines is approximated. For N distinct reflection coefficients, the resulting N boundary value problems yield a system of N nonlinear equations in N unknowns which are the coefficients of the B-splines.

Dunn, M. H.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Numerical computations on one-dimensional inverse scattering problems

Dunn, M. H.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Unsteady, one-dimensional gas dynamics computations using a TVD type sequential solver

The efficacy of high resolution convection schemes to resolve sharp gradient in unsteady, 1D flows is examined using the TVD concept based on a sequential solution algorithm. Two unsteady flow problems are considered which include the problem involving the interaction of the various waves in a shock tube with closed reflecting ends and the problem involving the unsteady gas dynamics in a tube with closed ends subject to an initial pressure perturbation. It is concluded that high accuracy convection schemes in a sequential solution framework are capable of resolving discontinuities in unsteady flows involving complex gas dynamics. However, a sufficient amount of dissipation is required to suppress oscillations near discontinuities in the sequential approach, which leads to smearing of the solution profiles.

Thakur, Siddharth↗