Engineering topics

Han, S. M.

Publications and source records attributed to Han, S. M..

At least 19 records

NASA NTRS1989

Three-dimensional, time-dependent MHD simulations of interplanetary plasmoids

The paper presents a three-dimensional time-dependent simulation of a solar-ejected diamagnetic plasmoid that retains its closed topology to and beyond earth. It is assumed in this case that, before entering the computational domain, the plasmoid already exists at or near the sun. A simulation is also presented for a plasmoid that is formed in the corona near the sun or in the interplanetary medium as a consequence of the reconnection of opposite-directed IMF lines. The plasma and magnetic properties of the expanding plasmoid as it moves toward an observer at 1 AU are described.

Dryer, M.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Expected IPS variations due to a disturbance described by a 3-D MHD model

The variations of interplanetary scintillation due to a disturbance described by a three-dimensional, time-dependent, MHD model of the interplanetary medium are calculated. The resulting simulated IPS maps are compared with observations of real disturbances and it is found that there is some qualitative agreement. It is concluded that the MHD model with a more realistic choice of input conditions would probably provide a useful description of many interplanetary disturbances.

Tappin, S. J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

A Three-Dimensional, Time-Dependent Numerical Modeling of Super-Sonic, Super-Alfvenic MHD Flow

A three-dimensional, time-dependent, MHD disturbance propagating through a steady inhomogeneous MHD flow is analyzed by a numerical model based on the Lax-Wendroff finite difference method. The initial steady MHD flow is assumed to be supersonic and super-Alfvenic. The background steady MHD flow is obtained by dropping the time-dependent terms in the unsteady MHD equations. A transient MHD disturbance corresponding to a MHD shock is generated at the lower radial boundary surface. The resulting development and propagation of 3-D MHD disturbances interacting with the background steady MHD flow are numerically simulated in this first application to the field of interplanetary physics. Detailed descriptions of the mathematical formulation and numerical methodology are presented. Example computations are performed to demonstrate the validity of the formulation and the capabilities of the model.

Han, S. M.↗

NASA NTRS1987

A numerical study of transient, thermally-conductive solar wind

A numerical analysis of transient solar wind starting at the solar surface and arriving at 1 AU is performed by an implicit numerical method. The model hydrodynamic equations include thermal conduction terms for both steady and unsteady simulations. Simulation results show significant influence of thermal conduction on both steady and time-dependent solar wind. Higher thermal conduction results in higher solar wind speed, higher temperature, but lower plasma density at 1 AU. Higher base temperature at the solar surface gives lower plasma speed, lower temperature, but higher density at 1 AU. Higher base density, on the other hand, gives lower velocity, lower temperature, but higher density at 1 AU.

Han, S. M.↗

NASA NTRS1987

A simulation of the IPS variations from a magnetohydrodynamical simulation

Calculations of the variations of interplanetary scintillation (IPS) from a disturbance simulated by a 3-D magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) model of the solar wind are presented. The simulated maps are compared with observations and it is found that the MHD model reproduces the qualitative features of observed disturbances. The disturbance produced by the MHD simulation is found to correspond in strength with the weakest disturbance which can be reliably detected by existing single station IPS observations.

Tappin, S. J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Interplanetary shock collisions - Forward with reverse shocks

When one interplanetary shock overtakes another, the structure that results depends upon the nature of the interacting shocks. The results of collisions of forward with reverse shocks, in two dimensions, are numerically examined, and it is shown that the results depend primarily upon shock strength. It is also noted that such interactions could explain why many energy outburst on the sun that would be expected to cause geomagnetic effects at the earth, do not.

Smith, Z. K.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Three-dimensional, time-dependent, MHD model of a solar flare-generated interplanetary shock wave

A three-dimensional time-dependent MHD model of the propagation of an interplanetary shock wave into an ambient three-dimensional heliospheric solar wind is initialized with a peak velocity of 1000 km/s at the center of a right circular cone of 18 deg included angle at 18 solar radii. Differences from a previous 2-1/2 simulation (Wu et al., 1983; Gislason et al., 1984; Dryer et al., 1984) include diminuation of the solar peak velocity and concentration of the peak density at each radius. The IMF magnitude starts with high-latitude peaks, and helical-like IMF rotation is noted due to a large-amplitude nonlinear Alfven wave in the shocked plasma.

Dryer, M.↗

NASA NTRS1986

MHD simulation of the 'geoeffectiveness' of interplanetary disturbances

A series of examples is used to evaluate the 'geoeffectiveness' prediction technique that is based on the classical, initial boundary value problem of MHD. For the nonplanar simulation of a corotating stream, it is shown that the technique can compute relevant solar wind parameters at the earth's location. For the nonplanar simulation of a complex series of events, qualitative agreement is found for large-scale structures, but the phasing and amplitudes are not satisfactory. Preliminary work with a fully three-dimensional, time-dependent simulation of a flare-generated interplanetary shock wave shows that the effect of the latitudinal variation produces attenuation of the heliolongitudinal component of the IMF and of the radial velocity.

Dryer, M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The solar-flare induced earth's environment

A composite numerical simulation model developed from a series of MHD models was used to compute the solar-flare-generated disturbances of physical parameters, such as density, temperature, velocity, and magnetic field from the solar surface (i.e., the photospheric level) to the earth's environment. It is shown that the disturbed earth's environment at high latitudes can be approximated by starting with the knowledge of the occurrence and the strength of a solar flare, then simulating the evolutionary consequences of the solar disturbance through interplanetary space up to and through the magnetosphere.

Wu, S. T.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Magnetohydrodynamic modelling of interplanetary disturbances between the sun and earth

A time-dependent, nonplanar, two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic computer model is used to simulate a series, separately examined, of solar flare-generated shock waves and their subsequent disturbances in interplanetary space between the sun and the earth's magnetosphere. The 'canonical' or ansatz series of shock waves include initial velocities near the sun over the range 500 to 3500 km/s. The ambient solar wind, through which they propagate, is taken to be a steady state homogeneous plasma (that is, independent of heliolongitude) with a representative set of plasma and magnetic field parameters. Complete sets of solar wind plasma and magnetic field parameters are presented and discussed. Particular attention is addressed to the MHD model's ability to address fundamental operational questions vis-a-vis the long-range forecasting of geomagnetic disturbances. These questions are: (1) will a disturbance (such as the present canonical series of solar flare shock waves) produce a magnetospheric and ionospheric disturbance, and, if so, (2) when will it start, (3) how severe will it be, and (4) how long will it last? The model's output is used to compute various solar wind indices of current interest as a demonstration of the model's potential for providing 'answers' to these questions.

Dryer, M.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Numerical study of two-dimensional non-plane MHD wave propagation in a supersonic, superalfvenic magnetohydrodynamic flow

The features of a 2.5-dimensional time-dependent MHD numerical code used to simulate the propagation of finite amplitude MHD waves through an inhomogeneous, supersonic superalfvenic medium are described. Basic equations for conservation of mass, momentum, and free energy in a unit volume plasma gas and for magnetic induction are defined. Initial conditions are functions of the radial coordinates and disturbances are introduced at the lower boundary. A set of finite difference equations based on a Lax-Wendroff scheme is used for the simulation. The model is applied to analyzing a solar flare shock wave in steady-state and global transient conditions while propagating at 1 AU heliolongitude.

Han, S. M.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Non-planar MHD model for solar flare-generated disturbances in the heliospheric equatorial plane

An analysis, with a representative (canonical) example of solar-flare-generated equatorial disturbances, is made for the temporal and spatial changes in the solar wind plasma and magnetic field environment between the sun and 1 AU. The goal is to search for first-order global consequences rather than to make a parametric study. The analysis treats all three plasma velocity and magnetic field components in any convenient heliospheric plane of symmetry. The representative disturbance is examined for the canonical case in which the temporal and spatial changes in a homogeneous solar wind caused by a solar-flare-generated shock wave are described. All plasma and field parameters at three radial locations are examined. These are the central meridian and 33 deg W and 90 deg W of the flare's central meridian. It is found that the incorporation of a small meridional magnetic field in the ambient magnetic spiral field has negligible effect on the results. The magnetic field exhibits strong kinking within the interplanetary shocked flow, even reversed polarity that, coupled with low temperature and low density, suggests a plausible explanation for magnetic clouds' with accompanying double-streaming of electrons observed at directions approximately 90 deg to the heliocentric radius.

Wu, S. T.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Magnetohydrodynamics of atmospheric transients. IV - Nonplane two-dimensional analyses of energy conversion and magnetic field evolution

The evolution of the magnetic field and the manner of conversion of thermal energy into different forms in the corona following a solar flare are investigated by means of a nonplane magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) analysis. All three components of magnetic field and velocity are treated in a physically self-consistent manner, with all physical variables as functions of time (t) and two spatial coordinates (r, theta). The difference arising from the initial magnetic field, either twisted (force-free) or non-twisted (potential), is demonstrated. Consideration is given to two initial field topologies (open vs. closed). The results demonstrate that the conversion of magnetic energy is faster for the case of the initially twisted (force-free) field than for the initially untwisted (potential) field. In addition, the twisted field is found to produce a complex structure of the density enhancements.

Wu, S. T.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Numerical model of a two-dimensional, non-plane transient magnetohydrodynamic flow

The equations describing two-dimensional three-component magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) transient flows are formulated for a system of spherical coordinates. With the numerical code based on Implicit Continuous Fluid Eulerian (ICE) scheme, MHD flows resulting from a sudden energy release in a stratified medium are examined. Because of the inclusion of out-of-plane components of velocity and magnetic fields, MHD transverse waves are observed in addition to fast, slow and entropy waves. Numerical results for compressible MHD shocks are found in satisfactory agreement with the theoretical predictions.

Han, S. M.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Numerical experimentation on spherically symmetric one-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic /MHD/ wave propagation

Radial propagation of one-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves are analyzed numerically on the basis of the Implicit-Continuous-Fluid-Eulerian (ICE) scheme. Accuracy of the numerical method and other properties are tested through the study of MHD wave propagation. The three different modes of MHD waves (i.e., fast-, slow- and Alfven (transverse) mode) are generated by applying physically consistent boundary perturbations derived from MHD compatibility relations. It is shown that the resulting flow following these waves depend upon the relative configurations of the initial magnetic field and boundary perturbations.

Han, S. M.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Magnetohydrodynamics of atmospheric transients. III - Basic results of nonplane two-dimensional analysis

The dynamic response of a stratified atmosphere permeated by a magnetic field to a sudden localized energy release (e.g., the onset of a flare) is examined in a physically self-consistent manner within the approximation of axisymmetric two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics. In contrast to the previous plane analyses, with the inclusion of out-of-plane components of magnetic and velocity fields, it is shown that the presence of transverse waves leads to spiraling material motions and formation of ring current with open (mostly radial) magnetic field configuration. In the closed (mostly azimuthal) magnetic field, the evolutionary response of a magnetic field is shown to follow the typical sequence observed with a flare, namely, the relaxations of magnetic shear toward the potential configuration. The details of the results are described with discussions on their physical significance.

Nakagawa, Y.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Thermal stratification in liquid storage tanks

Comprehensive literature survey indicates thermal stratification in solarenergy/liquid-storage tank improves system performance by as much as 15 percent. Collector efficiency increases when collector inlet fluid is drawn from bottom of storage tank, where fluid is coolest; warmest liquid drawn top of tank to satisfy thermal load.

Christensen, D. L.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Dynamics of coronal transients - Two-dimensional non-plane MHD models

Numerical results are obtained for non-plane MHD responses to a sudden energy release in a stratified model atmosphere. In agreement with observations, it is shown that after the energy release, the magnetic field affected by the energy release relaxes toward the potential configuration while the outer atmospheric fields increase its shear. Additional results suggest a new way of interpreting the energy storage and release in repeated flares.

Nakagawa, Y.↗