Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to King, R. L..
A computer version of the U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976, was developed. The computer program was developed in modular form for easy incorporation into the user's program and for easy modification for specialized uses.
A relationship between the atmospheric general circulation and geophysical hydrodynamic experiments was sought by attempting to find a relationship between wave number and temperature gradient at mid-latitudes at 500 mb. To this end data were gathered from four winter seasons and analyzed. The statistical analysis failed to provide convincing support for the hypothesis of a direct relationship between wave number and temperature gradient, although an indication that the transient waves may be so related was noted.
The current version of the NASA turbulent simulation model in the form of a digital computer program, TBMOD, is described. The logic of the program is discussed and all inputs and outputs are defined. An alternate method of shear simulation suitable for incorporation into the model is presented. The simulation is based on a von Karman spectrum and the assumption of isotropy. The resulting spectral density functions for the shear model are included.
Three sets of meteorological criteria were analyzed to determine the probabilities of favorable launch and landing conditions. Probabilities were computed for every 3 hours on a yearly basis using 14 years of weather data. These temporal probability distributions, applicable to the three sets of weather criteria encompassing benign, moderate and severe weather conditions, were computed for both Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Edwards Air Force Base. In addition, conditional probabilities were computed for unfavorable weather conditions occurring after a delay which may or may not be due to weather conditions. Also, for KSC, the probabilities of favorable landing conditions at various times after favorable launch conditions have prevailed have been computed so that mission probabilities may be more accurately computed for those time periods when persistence strongly correlates weather conditions. Moreover, the probabilities and conditional probabilities of the occurrence of both favorable and unfavorable events for each individual criterion were computed to indicate the significance of each weather element to the overall result.
The probabilities of favorable and unfavorable weather conditions for launch and landing of the STS under different criteria were computed for every three hours on a yearly basis using 14 years of weather data. These temporal probability distributions were considered for three sets of weather criteria encompassing benign, moderate and severe weather conditions for both Kennedy Space Center and for Edwards Air Force Base. In addition, the conditional probabilities were computed for unfavorable weather conditions occurring after a delay which may or may not be due to weather conditions. Also for KSC, the probabilities of favorable landing conditions at various times after favorable launch conditions have prevailed. The probabilities were computed to indicate the significance of each weather element to the overall result.
The proper application of constant-volume balloons (CVB) for measurement of atmospheric phenomena was determined. And with the proper interpretation of the resulting data. A literature survey covering 176 references is included. the governing equations describing the three-dimensional motion of a CVB immersed in a flow field are developed. The flowfield model is periodic, three-dimensional, and nonhomogeneous, with mean translational motion. The balloon motion and flow field equations are cast into dimensionless form for greater generality, and certain significant dimensionless groups are identified. An alternate treatment of the balloon motion, based on first-order perturbation analysis, is also presented. A description of the digital computer program, BALLOON, used for numerically integrating the governing equations is provided.
A theoretical treatment is presented of the motion of a constant-volume balloon immersed in a three-dimensional spatially nonhomogeneous periodic flow field with a mean translational flow velocity. The governing equations are the equations of conservation of momentum of the balloon, coupled with the equations of conservation of momentum of the fluid. In the mathematical model employed, the flow field is represented by a periodic function. The numerical results are in general agreement with observations. Noteworthy is that the balloon does not move with the same mean velocity as the wind and, thus, when Taylor's hypothesis for the fluid is satisfied, the balloon does not 'lock in' with the wind velocity. When Taylor's hypothesis for the parcel is satisfied, however, the balloon does match the mean wind direction (but not its speed).
Extreme values, median values, and nine percentile values are tabulated for eight meteorological variables at Cape Kennedy, Florida and at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The variables are temperature, relative humidity, station pressure, water vapor pressure, water vapor mixing ratio, density, and enthalpy. For each month eight hours are tabulated, namely, 0100, 0400, 0700, 1000, 1300, 1600, 1900, and 2200 local time. These statistics are intended for general use for the space shuttle design trade-off analysis and are not to be used for specific design values.