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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 181 records · Page 10

Dynamic mixing in magma bodies - Theory, simulations, and implications

The magma-mixing process is different from the mantle mixing process in that the mixing components of magma are dynamically active, with the melt density depending strongly on composition. This paper describes simulations of time-dependent variable-viscosity double-diffusive convection which were carried out to investigate quantitatively the mixing dynamics of magma in melt-dominated magma bodies. Results show that the dynamics of double-diffusive convection can impart complex patterns of composition, through time and space. The mixing time depends nonlinearly on many factors, including heat flux driving convection, the rate of diffusion of chemical species, the relative importance of thermal and chemical buoyancy, the viscosities of the mixing components, and the shape of the magma body.

Oldenburg, Curtis M.↗

A numerical investigation of crossflow separation on a three-caliber tangent ogive-cylinder

A parabolized Navier-Stokes code was used to calculate laminar crossflow separation on a simple body of revolution. Convergence lines were defined as lines on which skin-friction lines converge and were visually determined from the computed skin-friction patterns. These convergence lines were shown to be limit lines and not envelopes. Examination of crossflow cuts of streamtubes which encircled the body indicated that crossflow separation (defined by a fold in the streamtube) began after the onset of negative crossflow velocities but before a convergence line could be determined from the skin-friction patterns. There were no rapid changes or extrema in the pressure, skin-friction, vorticity, or flow-angle distributions that indicated where separation occurred. Instead, crossflow separation developed gradually and involved an extended region of the surface.

Yates, Leslie A.↗

Stabilizing influence of earth perturbations on polar lunar orbiters

A class of highly inclined lunar orbits is discussed for which earth perturbations have significant influence on the orbit evolution and the usefulness of the orbit for scientific exploration. The theory of the long-term motion of particles under third-body and zonal harmonic perturbations is taken as a starting point for investigations of orbits with relatively long lifetimes and evolutionary patterns that enhance the effectiveness of the satellite as a lunar farside relay. An equilibrium solution in the doubly-averaged three-body problem with oblateness is identified and the results of some numerical integrations are presented.

Uphoff, C.↗

Interpretation of satellite-observed thunderstorm anvil structure

The radiative characteristics of an anvil plume sensed by satellite radiometers are studied to discern the reason for an observed 'V' pattern of colder temperatures and a corresponding internal warm region. The measured black body temperature is affected by the ice water content and particle distributions in the cloud layer. Attention is given to 'V' anvil structure examined by Haynesfield et al. (1979). The GOES satellite IR data are treated with a plane parallel geometric radiative transfer model and a particle trajectory model is used to simulate ice particle concentrations downwind from a strongly divergent cloud top. Output from the two models indicate the 'V' pattern arises from divergence in the storm anvil. The particle concentration was elevated within the V-shaped region, causing lower temperatures in the V arms. The V is produced by strong upper level flow as well as strong mass and moisture divergence in the storm outflow.

Heymsfield, G. M.↗

Sinusoidal reaction formulation for radiation and scattering from conducting surfaces

A piecewise-sinusoidal reaction technique is developed for scattering and radiation from perfectly conducting bodies of arbitrary shape. The theory and numerical results for scattering patterns of rectangular plates and radiation patterns of corner-reflector antennas are presented. Experimental measurements are included for comparison with the calculated data.

Richmond, J. H.↗

Dynamic Moire Methods for Detection of Loosened Space Shuttle Tiles

Moire fringe methods for detecting loose space shuttle tiles were investigated with a test panel consisting of a loose tile surrounded by four securely bonded tiles. The test panel was excited from 20 to 150 Hz with in-plane sinusoidal acceleration of 2 g (peak). If the shuttle orbiter can be subjected to periodic excitation of 1 to 2 g (peak) and rigid-body periodic displacements do not mask the change in the Moire pattern due to tile looseness, then the use of projected Moire fringes to detect out-of-plane rockin appears to be the most viable indicator of tile looseness since no modifications to the tiles are required.

Snow, W. L.↗

Microyield Stress in Composite Materials

New interferometric method for measuring microyield stress faster and more accurate than previous strain-gage method. Multiple laser beams reflected from corner-cube reflectors arranged in triangular patterns yielding data sufficient to separate length changes from rigid-body motion and bending.

Mcmahan, L.↗

Negative Selection Algorithm for Aircraft Fault Detection

We investigated a real-valued Negative Selection Algorithm (NSA) for fault detection in man-in-the-loop aircraft operation. The detection algorithm uses body-axes angular rate sensory data exhibiting the normal flight behavior patterns, to generate probabilistically a set of fault detectors that can detect any abnormalities (including faults and damages) in the behavior pattern of the aircraft flight. We performed experiments with datasets (collected under normal and various simulated failure conditions) using the NASA Ames man-in-the-loop high-fidelity C-17 flight simulator. The paper provides results of experiments with different datasets representing various failure conditions.

Dasgupta, D.↗

A novel culture morphology resulting from applied mechanical strain

To demonstrate that cells both perceive and respond to external force, a strain/relaxation regimen was applied to normal human fetal and aged dermal fibroblasts cultured as monolayers on flexible membranes. The precisely controlled protocol of stretch (20% elongation of the culture membrane) at 6.67 cycles/min caused a progressive change in the monolayers, such that the original randomly distributed pattern of cells became a symmetric, radial distribution as the cell bodies aligned parallel to the applied force. High cell density interfered with the success of re-alignment in the fetal cell cultures observed, which may reflect a preference in this cell strain for cell-cell over cell-matrix contacts. The chronologically aged cells observed did not demonstrate this feature, aligning efficiently at all seeding densities examined. The role of microfilaments in force perception and transmission was investigated through the addition of cytochalasin D in graded doses. Both intercellular interactions and cytoskeletal integrity mediate the morphological response to mechanical strain.

NASA Discipline Cell Biology↗

NASA Tech Briefs, August 2005

Topics include: Hidden Identification on Parts: Magnetic Machine-Readable Matrix Symbols; System for Processing Coded OFDM Under Doppler and Fading; Multipurpose Hyperspectral Imaging System; Magnetic-Flux-Compensated Voltage Divider; High-Performance Satellite/Terrestrial-Network Gateway; Internet-Based System for Voice Communication With the ISS; Stripline/Microstrip Transition in Multilayer Circuit Board; Dual-Band Feed for a Microwave Reflector Antenna; Quadratic Programming for Allocating Control Effort; Range Process Simulation Tool; Simulator of Space Communication Networks; Computing Q-D Relationships for Storage of Rocket Fuels; Contour Error Map Algorithm; Portfolio Analysis Tool; Glass Frit Filters for Collecting Metal Oxide Nanoparticles; Anhydrous Proton-Conducting Membranes for Fuel Cells; Portable Electron-Beam Free-Form Fabrication System; Miniature Laboratory for Detecting Sparse Biomolecules; Multicompartment Liquid-Cooling/Warming Protective Garments; Laser Metrology for an Optical-Path-Length Modulator; PCM Passive Cooling System Containing Active Subsystems; Automated Electrostatics Environmental Chamber; Estimating Aeroheating of a 3D Body Using a 2D Flow Solver; Artificial Immune System for Recognizing Patterns; Computing the Thermodynamic State of a Cryogenic Fluid; Safety and Mission Assurance Performance Metric; Magnetic Control of Concentration Gradient in Microgravity; Avionics for a Small Robotic Inspection Spacecraft; and Simulation of Dynamics of a Flexible Miniature Airplane.

Source record↗

A Comparative Analysis of the Magnetic Field Signals over Impact Structures on the Earth, Mars and the Moon

An improved description of magnetic fields of terrestrial bodies has been obtained from recent space missions, leading to a better characterization of the internal fields including those of crustal origin. One of the striking differences in their crustal magnetic field is the signature of large impact craters. A comparative analysis of the magnetic characteristics of these structures can shed light on the history of their respective planetary-scale magnetic dynamos. This has motivated us to identify impact craters and basins, first by their quasi-circular features from the most recent and detailed topographic maps and then from available global magnetic field maps. We have examined the magnetic field observed above 27 complex craters on the Earth, 34 impact basins on Mars and 37 impact basins on the Moon. For the first time, systematic trends in the amplitude and frequency of the magnetic patterns, inside and outside of these structures are observed for all three bodies. The demagnetization effects due to the impact shock wave and excavation processes have been evaluated applying the Equivalent Source Dipole forward modeling approach. The main characteristics of the selected impact craters are shown. The trends in their magnetic signatures are indicated, which are related to the presence or absence of a planetary-scale dynamo at the time of their formation and to impact processes. The low magnetic field intensity at center can be accepted as the prime characteristic of a hypervelocity impact and strongly associated with the mechanics of impact crater formation. In the presence of an active internal field, the process of demagnetization due to the shock impact is associated with post-impact remagnetization processes, generating a more complex magnetic signature.

Earth↗

Examination of the anomalous behavior of three gravity gradient satellites

The anomalous oscillatory behavior of three satellites was examined. The satellites were all hinged, two-body, gravity gradient configurations passively stabilized about their three principal axes by gravity gradient and damper torques. Two basic behavior patterns were observed. Either the satellites were stable with attitude perturbations less than + or - 5 deg or their behavior tended towards a low frequency rigid body oscillation dominated by large yaw motions and in some cases by yaw inversions. A causal relationship between sun angle and the character of satellite behavior was observed which appears to indicate that thermal distortion is a critical factor in a gravity gradient satellite's dynamic behavior. The behavior appeared to be futher modified by the existence of response frequencies that were higher than anticipated values.

Goldman, R. L.↗

Position determination systems

A system for an orbital antenna, operated at a synchronous altitude, to scan an area of a celestial body is disclosed. The antenna means comprises modules which are operated by a steering signal in a repetitive function for providing a scanning beam over the area. The scanning covers the entire area in a pattern and the azimuth of the scanning beam is transmitted to a control station on the celestial body simultaneous with signals from an activated ground beacon on the celestial body. The azimuth of the control station relative to the antenna is known and the location of the ground beacon is readily determined from the azimuth determinations.

Shores, P. W.↗

Gravity receptors in a microcrustacean water flea - Sensitivity of antennal-socket setae in Daphnia magna

Gravity receptors of Dephnia magna were discovered on the basal segment of the swimming antennae and were shown to respond to upward water currents that pass the animal as it sinks between swimming strokes. Sensitivity of the gravity perceiving mechanism was tested by subjecting daphnids to a series of five decreasingly dense aqueous solutions (neutral density to water) in darkness (to avoid visual cues). Three-dimensional, video analysis of body position (pitch, yaw and roll) and swimming path (hop and sink, vertical and horizontal patterns) revealed a gradual threshold that occurred near a density difference between the animal and its environment of less than 0.25%. Because daphnids do not sink but continue to slide after stroking in the increased density solutions, gravity perception appears to occur during a vertical swing of the longitudinal body axis to the vertical plane, about their center of gravity, and, thereby, implies a multidirectional sensitivity for the antennal-socket setae.

Meyers, D. G.↗

Task IV: Development of Circumferential Inlet Distortion through a Representative Eleven Stage High-speed Axial Compressor

The concepts and the procedure developed in Task I and Task III were used to determine the response of an eleven-stage high-speed compressor to an inlet distortion of 180 deg. circumferential extent for contrasting against its performance under uniform inlet flow. Using the computed results at the inlet to and outlet of the compressor, the computed total pressure ratio and efficiency for the clean condition are determined to be 14.22 and 76.9 percent respectively. As for the distorted case, these are determined to be 10.35 and 71.8 percent respectively, showing deterioration 76.9 percent vs 71.8 percent). The physical consistency of the computed flow field was assessed as a means of demonstrating the applicability and utility of the body force representation for inlet distortion computations. Specifically the computed evolution of the distorted pattern in static pressure and total pressure from compressor inlet to exit is examined. For the eleven-stage compressor examined here, the deterioration in performance has been found to be particularly severe in the last 2 stages. This suggests that the last two stages could be redesigned to alleviate the observed deterioration thus making the compressor performance insensitive to circumferential inlet distortion. This can potentially be accomplished by first determining what should the body force distribution of the last two stages should be to achieve minimal or no deterioration in performance in the last two stages. One can then in principle proceed to determine the blade design to yield such a body force distribution.

Tan, Choon-Sooi↗

The Role of Adaptation in Body Load-Regulating Mechanisms During Locomotion

Body loading is a fundamental parameter that modulates motor output during locomotion, and is especially important for controlling the generation of stepping patterns, dynamic balance, and termination of locomotion. Load receptors that regulate and control posture and stance in locomotion include the Golgi tendon organs and muscle spindles at the hip, knee, and ankle joints, and the Ruffini endings and the Pacinian corpuscles in the soles of the feet. Increased body weight support (BWS) during locomotion results in an immediate reorganization of locomotor control, such as a reduction in stance and double support duration and decreased hip, ankle, and knee angles during the gait cycle. Previous studies on the effect during exposure to increased BWS while walking showed a reduction in lower limb joint angles and gait cycle timing that represents a reorganization of locomotor control. Until now, no studies have investigated how locomotor control responds after a period of exposure to adaptive modification in the body load sensing system. The goal of this research was to determine the adaptive properties of body load-regulating mechanisms in locomotor control during locomotion. We hypothesized that body load-regulating mechanisms contribute to locomotor control, and adaptive changes in these load-regulating mechanisms require reorganization to maintain forward locomotion. Head-torso coordination, lower limb movement patterns, and gait cycle timing were evaluated before and after a 30-minute adaptation session during which subjects walked on a treadmill at 5.4 km/hr with 40% body weight support (BWS). Before and after the adaptation period, head-torso and lower limb 3D kinematic data were obtained while performing a goal directed task during locomotion with 0% BWS using a video-based motion analysis system, and gait cycle timing parameters were collected by foot switches positioned under the heel and toe of the subjects shoes. Subjects showed adaptive modification in the body load-regulating mechanisms that included increased head movement amplitude, increased knee and ankle flexion, and increased stance, stride, and double support time, with no change in the performance of the task with respect to that measured before exposure to BWS. These changes in locomotor control are opposite to that reported during 40% BWS exposure and indicative of an after-effect after removal of the adaptive stimulus. Therefore, it is evident that just 30 minutes of 40% BWS during locomotion was sufficient to induce adaptive modifications in the body load sensing systems that contribute to reorganization of sensory contributions to stable locomotor control.

Ruttley, Tara↗

A study of atmospheric effects on pattern recognition devices

The author has identified the following significant results. ERTS-1 imagery can be applied in the broadscale assessment of forest resources as a supplement to aerial photography and field survey. There was no application to inventory of crop and pasture diseases mainly because of poor quality and low resolution, and unreliability of image acquisition. Inventory of soil erosion was satisfactory in humid eastern New South Wales, but not in semi-arid areas. Patterns of snow cover, areas of water in natural and artificial water bodies, extent of bushfires, and location of coastal mobile sand bodies were readily apparent. ERTS-1 imagery was judged to be a valuable addition to conventional techniques of regional small scale geological mapping. ERTS data was successfully used to map flooding and flood progression. The imagery was found suitable for mapping at 1:1,000,000 scale both on the mainland and in Antarctica, but did not meet accuracy specifications for 1:250,000 mapping.

Thomson, F. J.↗