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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 199 records · Page 11

Seasat synthetic aperture radar observations of wave-current and wave-topographic interactions

This study investigated the capability of a spaceborne, imaging radar system to detect subtle changes in the propagation characteristics of ocean wave systems. Specifically, an evolving surface gravity wave system emanating from Hurricane Ella and propagating toward Cape Hatteras, NC, formed the basis of this investigation. This wave system was successfully imaged by the Seasat synthetic aperture radar (SAR) during revolution 974 on September 3, 1978. Estimates of the dominant wavelength and direction of the ocean waves were derived from the SAR data by using optical Fourier transforms. Environmental data of the test area, which included the surface velocity vector within the Gulf Stream, the location of Hurricane Ella, and local bathymetric information, were used in conjunction with the SAR data to form the basis of this comparative study. Favorable agreement was found between wave rays calculated by utilizing theoretical wave-current and wave-topographic interactions and SAR observed dominant wavelength and direction changes across the Gulf Stream and continental shelf.

Meadows, G. A.↗

Attenuation of Solar Energetic Particles By Wave-Particle Interaction With an Ion Thruster Plume

Solar energetic particles (SEP) are a significant concern for interplanetary human spaceflight. This work investigates wave-particle interactions caused by the incidence of a beam of energetic protons, representing a notional SEP event, onto a cloud of xenon ions, representing a notional ion thruster plume. The resulting electromagnetic ion/ion instability is developed to investigate the degree to which energetic protons can be scattered out of the initial beam.

space weather↗

Experimental Database with Baseline CFD Solutions: 2-D and Axisymmetric Hypersonic Shock-Wave/Turbulent-Boundary-Layer Interactions

A database compilation of hypersonic shock-wave/turbulent boundary layer experiments is provided. The experiments selected for the database are either 2D or axisymmetric, and include both compression corner and impinging type SWTBL interactions. The strength of the interactions range from attached to incipient separation to fully separated flows. The experiments were chosen based on criterion to ensure quality of the datasets, to be relevant to NASA's missions and to be useful for validation and uncertainty assessment of CFD Navier-Stokes predictive methods, both now and in the future. An emphasis on datasets selected was on surface pressures and surface heating throughout the interaction, but include some wall shear stress distributions and flowfield profiles. Included, for selected cases, are example CFD grids and setup information, along with surface pressure and wall heating results from simulations using current NASA real-gas Navier-Stokes codes by which future CFD investigators can compare and evaluate physics modeling improvements and validation and uncertainty assessments of future CFD code developments. The experimental database is presented tabulated in the Appendices describing each experiment. The database is also provided in computer-readable ASCII files located on a companion DVD.

Database↗

Nonlinear wave particle interaction in the Earth's foreshock

The possibility that ion beams could provide a free energy source for driving an ion/ion instability responsible for the ULF wave occurrence is investigated. For this, the wave dispersion relation with the observed parameters is solved. Secondly, it is shown that the ring-like distributions could then be produced by a coherent nonlinear wave-particle interaction. It tends to trap the ions into narrow cells in velocity space centered around a well-defined pitch-angle, directly related to the saturation wave amplitude in the analytical theory. The theoretical predictions with the observations are compared.

Mazelle, C.↗

Proposed backward wave oscillation in the infrared.

Birefringence of certain crystals sufficiently large to allow collinear backward wave interaction of three electromagnetic waves with signal frequency tunable over large portion of IR SPECTRUM

INFRARED SPECTRUM↗

A semikinetic model for early stage plasmasphere refilling. II - Effects of wave-particle interactions

The paper treats the early stages of plasmasphere refilling along an initially depleted L = 4 magnetic flux tube through a semikinetic model, with special attention given to the effects of wave-particle interactions in which stochastic diffusion of ions in perpendicular velocity due to equatorially concentrated electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves plays a central role. Characteristic individual ion trajectories are examined, as well as the devolution of bulk parameters and ion distribution functions when equal 'polar wind' streams are injected at the northern and southern ionospheres. In the ion trajectories, relatively modest and realistic perpendicular electric field power levels are found to lead to decreased mirror latitudes, substantial acceleration, and equatorial entrainment of these ions. A substantial equatorial density depletion is also found, in agreement with the results of Olsen (1992).

Lin, J.↗

PIV Measurements of Shock-Wave/Boundary-Layer Interactions at Mach 2.5 in a Circular Test Section

The particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurement technique has been applied to make detailed measurements in an impinging shock-wave/boundary-layer interaction (SWBLI) flowfield in a test section of circular cross-section. By virtue of this test section geometry, the flowfields studied are free from effects of the complex coupling of sidewall and corner interaction into the primary impinging shock interaction typical of a rectangular test section. The cone-cylinder shock generator hardware was arranged in both coaxial alignment with the test section to generate axisymmetric SWBLIs and in offset positions to generate swept SWBLIs. The angle of the conical section was also varied to alter the strength of the impinging shock wave. The application of the PIV technique in this test section required meticulous design to provide adequate optical access without disturbing the SWBLI flow. Details of the stereoscopic PIV apparatus and the velocity measurements obtained for a Mach 2.5 freestream are presented. Key features of the mean velocity and turbulent stress fields are highlighted. This data set should enable validation of computational fluid dynamics results for these flowfields.

Shockwave Boundary Layer Interaction↗

PIV Measurements of Shock-Wave/Boundary-Layer Interactions at Mach 2.5 in a Circular Test Section

The particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurement technique has been applied to make detailed measurements in an impinging shock-wave/boundary-layer interaction (SWBLI) flowfield in a test section of circular cross-section. By virtue of this test section geometry, the flowfields studied are free from effects of the complex coupling of sidewall and corner interaction into the primary impinging shock interaction typical of a rectangular test section. The cone-cylinder shock generator hardware was arranged in both coaxial alignment with the test section to generate axisymmetric SWBLIs and in offset positions to generate swept SWBLIs. The angle of the conical section was also varied to alter the strength of the impinging shock wave. The application of the PIV technique in this test section required meticulous design to provide adequate optical access without disturbing the SWBLI flow. Details of the stereoscopic PIV apparatus and the velocity measurements obtained for a Mach 2.5 freestream are presented. Key features of the mean velocity and turbulent stress fields are highlighted. This data set should enable validation of computational fluid dynamics results for these flowfields.

Shockwave Boundary Layer Interaction↗

Auroral kilometric radiation - An example of relativistic wave-particle interaction in geoplasma

The earth's auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) is believed to be produced by the electron-cyclotron maser instability. This instability is the result of a wave-particle interaction in which relativistic effects are crucial. An explanation is given as to how these relativistic effects alter the shape of the resonance curve in velocity space and modify the R - X mode wave dispersion near the electron cyclotron frequency compared to the results obtained in the nonrelativistic limit and from cold-plasma theory. The properties of the cyclotron maser instability in a driven system are illustrated using two-dimensional electromagnetic particle simulations which incorporate a continual flow of primary energetic electrons along the magnetic field.

Pritchett, P. L.↗

Hypersonic crossing shock-wave/turbulent-boundary-layer interactions

Experimental data for two three-dimensional intersecting shock-wave/turbulent boundary-layer interaction flows at Mach 8.3 are presented. The test bodies, composed of two sharp fins fastened to a flat plate test bed, were designed to generate flows with varying degrees of pressure gradient, boundary-layer separation, and turning angle. The data include surface pressure and heat transfer distributions as well as mean flow field surveys both in the undisturbed and interaction regimes. The data are presented in a convenient form to be used to validate existing or future computational models of these hypersonic flows.

Kussoy, M. I.↗

Prediction of hypersonic shock-wave/turbulent-boundary-layer interaction flows

Solutions of the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations are presented and compared with experimental surface data for a series of hypersonic shock-wave/turbulent-boundary-layer interaction flows. The turbulence models used include algebraic and two-equation eddy-viscosity models developed for transonic and supersonic flows. Also several additional modifications to the two-equation model to account for compressibility effects are developed and used. Although the modifications improve the agreement with the experimental data, no single model or modification correctly predicts all the test cases.

Horstman, C. C.↗

Transonic Shock-Wave/Boundary-Layer Interactions on an Oscillating Airfoil

Unsteady aerodynamic loads were measured on an oscillating NACA 64A010 airfoil In the NASA Ames 11 by 11 ft Transonic Wind Tunnel. Data are presented to show the effect of the unsteady shock-wave/boundary-layer interaction on the fundamental frequency lift, moment, and pressure distributions. The data show that weak shock waves induce an unsteady pressure distribution that can be predicted quite well, while stronger shock waves cause complex frequency-dependent distributions due to flow separation. An experimental test of the principles of linearity and superposition showed that they hold for weak shock waves while flows with stronger shock waves cannot be superimposed.

Davis, Sanford S.↗

CFD Validation Experiment of a Mach 2.5 Axisymmetric Shock-Wave/Boundary-Layer Interaction

Preliminary results of an experimental investigation of a Mach 2.5 two-dimensional axisymmetric shock-wave/ boundary-layer interaction (SWBLI) are presented. The purpose of the investigation is to create a SWBLI dataset specifically for CFD validation purposes. Presented herein are the details of the facility and preliminary measurements characterizing the facility and interaction region. These results will serve to define the region of interest where more detailed mean and turbulence measurements will be made.

Shock-Wave/Boundary Layer Interaction↗

The effect of wave-particle interactions on the polar winds O(+)

The escape of the polar wind plasma is an important element in the ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling. Both theory and observations indicate that the wave-particle interactions (WPI) play a significant role in the dynamics of ion outflow along open geomagnetic field lines. A Monte Carlo simulation was developed in order to include the effect of the WPI in addition to the factors that are traditionally included in the 'classical' polar wind (i.e. gravity, electrostatic field, and divergence of geomagnetic field lines). The ion distribution function (f(sub j)), as well as the profiles of its moments (density, drift velocity, temperature, etc.) were found for different levels of WPI, that is, for different values of the normalized diffusion rate in the velocity space (D(tilde) (sub j perpendicular). Although the model included O(=), H(+) and eletrons, we presented only the results related to the O(+) ion. We found that (1) both the density and drift velocity of O(+) increased with the WPI strength, and consequently, the O(+) escape flux was enhanced by a factor of up to 10(exp 5), (2) The O(+) ions could be energized up to a few electron volts; (3) for moderate and high levels of WPI D(tilde) (sub perpendicular) (O(+) greater than (tilde) 1, the distribution function f(O(+)) displayed very pronounced conic features at altitudes around 3 R(sub e). Finally, the interplay between the downward body force, the upward mirror force, and the perpendicular heating resulted in the formation of the 'pressure cooker' effect. This phenomena explained some interesting features of our solution, such as, the peak in the O(=) temperature, and the formation of 'ears' and conics for f(O(+)) around 2.5 R(sub e).

Barakat, A. R.↗

A More Accurate and Efficient Technique Developed for Using Computational Methods to Obtain Helical Traveling-Wave Tube Interaction Impedance

The phenomenal growth of commercial communications has created a great demand for traveling-wave tube (TWT) amplifiers. Although the helix slow-wave circuit remains the mainstay of the TWT industry because of its exceptionally wide bandwidth, until recently it has been impossible to accurately analyze a helical TWT using its exact dimensions because of the complexity of its geometrical structure. For the first time, an accurate three-dimensional helical model was developed that allows accurate prediction of TWT cold-test characteristics including operating frequency, interaction impedance, and attenuation. This computational model, which was developed at the NASA Lewis Research Center, allows TWT designers to obtain a more accurate value of interaction impedance than is possible using experimental methods. Obtaining helical slow-wave circuit interaction impedance is an important part of the design process for a TWT because it is related to the gain and efficiency of the tube. This impedance cannot be measured directly; thus, conventional methods involve perturbing a helical circuit with a cylindrical dielectric rod placed on the central axis of the circuit and obtaining the difference in resonant frequency between the perturbed and unperturbed circuits. A mathematical relationship has been derived between this frequency difference and the interaction impedance (ref. 1). However, because of the complex configuration of the helical circuit, deriving this relationship involves several approximations. In addition, this experimental procedure is time-consuming and expensive, but until recently it was widely accepted as the most accurate means of determining interaction impedance. The advent of an accurate three-dimensional helical circuit model (ref. 2) made it possible for Lewis researchers to fully investigate standard approximations made in deriving the relationship between measured perturbation data and interaction impedance. The most prominent approximations made in the analysis were addressed and fully investigated for their accuracy by using the three-dimensional electromagnetic simulation code MAFIA (Solution of Maxwell's Equations by the Finite Integration Algorithm) (refs. 3 and 4). We found that several approximations introduced significant error (ref. 5).

Kory, Carol L.↗

Extreme waves in the Agulhas - A case study in wave-current interaction

SIR data obtained in October 1984 off the South African coast are analyzed. The analysis of the derived ocean-wave slope spectra reveals the presence of two wave systems: a swell field from the SW of about 190 m wavelength and a swell out of the SE with a wavelength of about 220 m. An observed increase in wave energy along the northern edge of the Agulhas, caused by the propagation of the 190 m wave system opposite to that of the Agulhas Current, is studied by modeling the interaction of a wave with an opposite current. The role of refraction in the energy intensification is discussed. The effects of currrent curvature on the trajectory of the wave group and of meandering on a uniform wave field are investigated. A possible mechanism for the generation of extreme waves is proposed.

Irvine, David E.↗

A weakly nonlinear theory for wave-vortex interactions in curved channel flow

A weakly nonlinear theory is developed to study the interaction of Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) waves and Dean vortices in curved channel flow. The predictions obtained from the theory agree well with results obtained from direct numerical simulations of curved channel flow, especially for low amplitude disturbances. Some discrepancies in the results of a previous theory with direct numerical simulations are resolved.

Singer, Bart A.↗

Turbulent properties of axisymmetric shock-wave/boundary-layer interaction flows

A combined experimental and computational investigation of an axisymmetric turbulent shock-wave boundary-layer interaction flow is presented. Experimental measurements include both mean and fluctuating data obtained by LDV techniques and identify large scale unsteady motions associated with shock induced separation. Computations using the compressible Navier-Stokes equations, and a two-equation turbulence model are in relatively good agreement with experimental measurements. It is found that the large scale unsteady motions do not appear to have a critical impact on the ability to compute the mean properties of the flows investigated in this paper.

Brown, J. L.↗