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Results for “Fluctuation diagnostics”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records

A fluctuation-induced plasma transport diagnostic based upon fast-Fourier transform spectral analysis

A diagnostic, based on fast Fourier-transform spectral analysis techniques, that provides experimental insight into the relationship between the experimentally observable spectral characteristics of the fluctuations and the fluctuation-induced plasma transport is described. The model upon which the diagnostic technique is based and its experimental implementation is discussed. Some characteristic results obtained during the course of an experimental study of fluctuation-induced transport in the electric field dominated NASA Lewis bumpy torus plasma are presented.

Powers, E. J.

Climate diagnostics

Diagnoses of climate fluctuations is examined emphasizing the assemblage of a host of observations, to develop a clearer physical picture of the nature and causal interrelationships of the climate events. Development of better statistical methods for making predictions of climate fluctuations and improving numerical climate prediction models is considered along with obtaining data for areas for which meager records exist such as the tropics and the southern hemisphere. The major circulation systems in the tropics, energy transports by the oceans and atmosphere, and the reflected or absorbed solar radiation values from the earth's surface are among the phenomena to be studied.

Source record

Core noise source diagnostics on a turbofan engine using correlation and coherence techniques

Fluctuating pressure measurements at several locations within the core of a turbofan engine were made simultaneously with far field acoustic measurements. Correlation and coherence techniques were used to determine the relative amplitude and phase relationships between core pressures at these various locations and between the core pressures and far field acoustic pressure. The combustor is a low frequency source region for acoustic propagation through the core nozzle and out to the far field. The relation between source pressure and the resulting sound pressure involves a 180 degree phase shift and an amplitude transfer function which varies approximately as frequency squared. This is consistent with a simplified model using fluctuating entropy as a source term.

Karchmer, A. M.

Core noise source diagnostics on a turbofan engine using correlation and coherence techniques

Fluctuating pressure measurements at several locations within the core of a turbofan engine were made simultaneously with far-field acoustic measurements. Correlation and coherence techniques were used to determine the relative amplitude and phase relationships between core pressures at these various locations and between the core pressures and far-field acoustic pressure. The results indicate that the combustor is a low-frequency source region for acoustic propagation through the core nozzle and out to the far-field. Specifically, it was found that the relation between source pressure and the resulting sound pressure involves a 180 deg phase shift and an amplitude transfer function which varies approximately as frequency squared. This is shown to be consistent with a simplified model using fluctuating entropy as a source term.

Karchmer, A.

The applicability of Brillouin scattering to flow field diagnostics

To fill the void between turbulence theory and experiment; particularly in the flow fields consisting of monatomic gases, for example in wind tunnels, means of measuring fluctuating quantities are needed. In the area of density fluctuation measurement, the optical method of Brillouin scattering was suggested. This was based on the theory, that the Brillouin scattered intensity is proportional to a function of density. In this investigation the potential of this method as a diagnostic tool was studied. Here the density fluctuations in gases were sought. Continuous wave lasers and interferometers were used as the primary illuminating source and scattered light filters respectively.

Laiosa, J.

Mechanism associated with the Space Shuttle main engine oxidizer valve/duct system anomalous high amplitude discrete acoustical excitation

Anomalous high frequency pressure fluctuations in the Space Shuttle main engine have been experienced during hot firings. Through diagnostic analysis of hot firing engine data, it was determined that this excitation originated at the main oxidizer valve. The intensity of these fluctuations was such that the main oxidizer valve was partially consumed in fire, experienced fretting, and had seal damage. Delineated in this paper are the associated dynamical phenomena and the methodologies leading toward understanding the excitation mechanism. The results presented demonstrate that the source of the anomalous frequencies was suppressed by a simple fix and all main oxidizer valve damage was terminated.

Schutzenhofer, L. A.

Unsteady turbulent shear flow in shock tube discontinuities

A pressure-ruptured shock tube and an arc driven shock tube, have been used to study the evolution of turbulent fluctuations at contact surfaces with N2O4-2NO2 mixtures and at ionizing shock fronts in argon. The study has focused on point density diagnostics derived from crossed light beam correlations and electric probes. Turbulent bursts are found for which dynamical and spectral analyses suggest a particle-like evolution of fluctuation segments with a unique and characteristic frequency, independent of flow history and overall flow conditions.

Johnson, J. A., III

Constance mirror program: Progress and plans

The current state of the mechanics of the Constance II experiment, the physics results gathered, the motivation background, and future plans for the Constance II experiment are reviewed. Several improvements have been made and several experimental investigations have been completed. These include the construction/installation/testing of: (1) liquid-nitrogen cooled, Ioffe bars installed, (2) a diverter coil (3) the 100 kW ICRF generator, (4) the data acquisition system, and (5) the optimum hot-iron operation of the machine with Titanium and pulsed-gas plasma guns. Measurements were made of the density, temperature, and radius of the plasma. Ion-cyclotron fluctuations were observed, their bandwidth measured, and data collected demonstrating resonance heating. New X-ray diagnostics were designed and purchased, and progress on the Thomson scattering was made. Finally, a new hot cathode gun was designed and constructed.

Klinkowstein, R. E.

Turbulence in argon shock waves

Irregular density fluctuations with turbulent-like behaviors are found in ionizing shock fronts produced by an arc-driven shock tube. Electric probes are used as the primary diagnostic. Spectral analyses show statistical patterns which seem frozen-in and characterizable by a dominant mode and its harmonics.

Johnson, J. A., III

Experimental investigations of turbulence in magnetized, partially ionized plasmas

An experimental investigation of turbulent fluctuations associated with gradient cross-field and Farley-Buneman instabilities is described. The experiments are carried out in magnetized plasma columns with an imposed radial electric field. Microwave scattering and probe measurements provide the plasma diagnostics. Particular attention is given to the varying characteristics of the turbulent spectra for both potential and density as a function of neutral gas pressure.

Mikkelsen, T.

Advances in laser technology for the atmospheric sciences; Proceedings of the Seminar, San Diego, Calif., August 25, 26, 1977

These papers deal with recent research, developments, and applications in laser and electrooptics technology, particularly with regard to atmospheric effects in imaging and propagation, laser instrumentation and measurements, and particle measurement. Specific topics include advanced imaging techniques, image resolution through atmospheric turbulence over the ocean, an efficient method for calculating transmittance profiles, a comparison of a corner-cube reflector and a plane mirror in folded-path and direct transmission through atmospheric turbulence, line-spread instrumentation for propagation measurements, scaling laws for thermal fluctuations in the layer adjacent to ocean waves, particle sizing by laser photography, and an optical Fourier transform analysis of satellite cloud imagery. Other papers discuss a subnanosecond photomultiplier tube for laser application, holography of solid propellant combustion, diagnostics of turbulence by holography, a camera for in situ photography of cloud particles from a hail research aircraft, and field testing of a long-path laser transmissometer designed for atmospheric visibility measurements.

Trolinger, J. D.

Global and local fluctuations of winter and summer simulations with the GLAS climate model

Winter and summer simulations were carried out with an improved version of the GLAS general circulation model. An improved method of computing the boundary layer fluxes, and a more realistic specification of the albedo of snow and ice covered surfaces were used. Each particular diagnostic quantity was computed from the model data and each of the 15 years of observations in precisely the same way, wherever possible. The reported observational results are averaged over the 15 winters or summers, as appropriate.

Straus, D. M.

Diagnostic calculations of airframe-radiated noise

Methods of calculating airframe noise due to the following components are presented: wings and stabilizers, flaps, landing gear 'self-noise', landing gear bay (wheel well) oscillations, separated flow interaction with edges of cavities, and doors associated with gear deployment. The predominant source mechanisms were dipole-like in nature, being related to the local fluctuating aerodynamic forces on struts, airfoil edges, cavity edges, etc. Available data are converted into semiempirical prediction methods to enable a tentative rank ordering of noise sources. A sample application of these prediction procedures is carried out for a typical CTOL passenger jet using actual aircraft parameters, where available.

Hayden, R. E.

Study of relation between Pc 3 micropulsations and magnetosheath fluctuations, and multisatellite investigation of earth's bow shock

The validity is investigated of a suggested model according to which Pc 3 and/or Pc 4 micropulsations are excited by magnetosheath field (and plasma) fluctuations arising in the quasi-parallel structure of the subsolar bow shock. The influence of solar wind plasma parameters on local shock structure and on the configuration of the entire bow shock system is included. Simultaneous data from two or more spacecraft and from multiple diagnostics is used to evaluate the geometrical factor, field-to-shock normal angle, or its B-X equivalent, and the principal plasma parameters. Results are presented and discussed.

Greenstadt, E. W.

The detection of interstellar C I in the immediate vicinity of the sun

Multiple stacked IUE spectra reveal the presence of interstellar C I 1657 in the trough of a corresponding photospheric feature in the nearby star, Alpha PsA (d = 7 pc). This represents the first detection of this neutral atom in the interstellar medium within the immediate vicinity of the sun. It is suggested that C I may be a much better diagnostic tool in studying the local interstellar medium than the neutral species K I and Na I, which are observable at visual wavelengths. Variations in C I column density, coupled with b-values deduced from the Mg II doublet ratio, may prove to be an important means to unravel density and temperature fluctuations in the very local interstellar medium. Comparison of the line of sight toward Alpha PsA with previous Copernicus interstellar Mg II results for that of Alpha Leo tentatively indicates that the distribution of Mg II in the local cloud is not homogeneous about the sun. Rough constraints on the ionization fraction of hydrogen toward Alpha PsA do not conflict with previous data, implying that the very local interstellar medium is significantly ionized.

Bruhweiler, F. C.

The multiple applications of electrons in space

An electron source such as a simple cathode is a cheap and light device which can serve several technological and scientific purposes in space: (1) electrostatic charging of a spacecraft can be limited by releasing electrons accumulated on the conductive elements of their surface; (2) the erosion of conductive coatings and the ability of conductive paints to withstand the space environment can be evaluated by monitoring the flow of charged particles impinging on their surface; (3) measuring the current collected by the spacecraft surface as a function of its potential with respect to an emitter is a very sensitive diagnostic technique which can yield a number of plasma parameters, such as density and temperature; (4) it is possible to convert the thermal motion of space plasmas into electrical energy by collecting energetic electrons and returning them to the medium as cold particles; (5) a wave in a plasma is characterized by a conduction current density which gives rise to fluctuations of the current flowing to the surface.

Grard, R. J. L.

The opportunities offered by SCADM for the study of surface phenomena related to interior structure and dynamics

The physical processes to be probed by experiments may be grouped as large scale flows, oscillations, and chromospheric/coronal diagnostics. While the fundamental concerns and observational equipments are similar within each class, different investigations may tell different things about the Sun. Observational requirements are listed for experiments to study (1) plasma-magnetic field interactions; (2) interior structure via oscillations; (3) chromospheric and coronal tracers; (4) rotation, meridional flows, and giant cells; (5) the depth dependence of rotation; (6) EUV luminosity; (7) intensity fluctuations and tracers; and (8) diameter oscillations, the effects of noise and timestring on experiment results are assessed.

Brown, T. M.