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At least 199 records · Page 11

An improved algorithm for the isolation of polynomial real zeros

THe Collins-Loos algorithm for computing isolating intervals for the zeros of an integer polynomial requires the evaluation of polynomials at rational points. This implies the use of arbitrary precision integer arithmetic. It is shown how careful use of single precision, floating point arithmetic within the context of a slightly modified algorithm can make the calculation considerably faster and no less exact. Typically, 95% or more of the evaluations can be done without exact arithmetic. The precise speedup depends on the relative costs of the arithmetic in a given implementation. The implementation on DEC KL-10 computer is some 5 to 10 times faster than the original Univac 1110 implementation in SAC-I.

Fateman, R. J.↗

Characterization of nonGaussian atmospheric turbulence for prediction of aircraft response statistics

Mathematical expressions were derived for the exceedance rates and probability density functions of aircraft response variables using a turbulence model that consists of a low frequency component plus a variance modulated Gaussian turbulence component. The functional form of experimentally observed concave exceedance curves was predicted theoretically, the strength of the concave contribution being governed by the coefficient of variation of the time fluctuating variance of the turbulence. Differences in the functional forms of response exceedance curves and probability densities also were shown to depend primarily on this same coefficient of variation. Criteria were established for the validity of the local stationary assumption that is required in the derivations of the exceedance curves and probability density functions. These criteria are shown to depend on the relative time scale of the fluctuations in the variance, the fluctuations in the turbulence itself, and on the nominal duration of the relevant aircraft impulse response function. Metrics that can be generated from turbulence recordings for testing the validity of the local stationary assumption were developed.

Mark, W. D.↗

Electron impact excitation of highly charged sodium-like ions

Optical transition probabilities and electron collision strengths for Ca X, Fe XVI, Zn XX, Kr XXVI and Mo XXXII are calculated for transitions between n equal to 3 and n equal to 4 levels. The calculations neglect relativistic effects on the radial functions. A semi-empirical approach provides wave functions of the excited states; a distorted wave function without exchange is employed to obtain the excitation cross sections. The density dependence of the relative intensities of certain emission lines in the sodium isoelectronic sequence is also discussed.

Blaha, M.↗

Bar-driven spiral waves in disk galaxies

The response of rotating disks of gas to barlike perturbations in galactic gravitational fields is investigated. In particular, two-dimensional time-dependent numerical hydrodynamical calculations have been performed in order to determine the steady-state response of disks of gas to rotating barlike perturbations. Two types of barlike perturbations are considered: oval distortions in the axisymmetric gravitational field of the disk, and heterogeneous prolate spheroids. The calculations reveal that in the absence of gaseous self-gravity, a viscous differentially rotating disk of gas responds to a rotating barlike perturbation by forming a central gas bar with two trailing spiral waves. The local phase of the gas response is primarily a function of the number and spacing of the principal resonances in the disk. This result may be understood in terms of particle orbit theory. The gas response to barlike perturbations also depends on the relative strength and the effective axial ratio of the bar. In these calculations strong narrow bars produce offset shocks in the central gas bar. These shocks correspond in position to the long narrow dust lanes observed in many barred spiral galaxies.

Huntley, J. M.↗

On the contribution of intramolecular zero point energy to the equation of state of solid H2

Experimental evidence shows that the internal zero-point energy of the H2 molecule exhibits a relatively strong pressure dependence in the solid as well as changing considerably upon condensation. It is shown that these effects contribute about 6% to the total sublimation energy and to the pressure in the solid state. Methods to modify the ab initio isolated pair potential to account for these environmental effects are discussed.

Chandrasekharan, V.↗

Plasma sheath effects and voltage distributions of large high-power satellite solar arrays

Knowledge of the floating voltage configuration of a large array in orbit is needed in order to estimate various plasma-interaction effects. The equilibrium configuration of array voltages relative to space depends on the sheath structure. The latter dependence for an exposed array is examined in the light of two finite-sheath effects. One effect is that electron currents may be seriously underestimated. The other is that a potential barrier for electrons can occur, restricting electron currents. A conducting surface is assumed on the basis of a conductivity argument. Finite-sheath effects are investigated. The results of assuming thin-sheath and thick-sheath limits on the floating configuration of a linearly connected array are studied. Sheath thickness and parasitic power leakage are estimated. Numerically computed fields using a 3-D code are displayed in the thick-sheath limit.

Parker, L. W.↗

Tropospheric limitations on the accuracy of phase measurement of coordinates in astronomy

The effect of tropospheric fluctuation on the accuracy of phase measurements of coordinates is discussed. The nature of the averaging of the tropospheric effects, if N coordinate measurements of duration T with period mu are made, is investigated. Various averaging modes depending on the relation of the various time parameters are investigated. Equations taking into account the correlations between individual observations are presented. It is shown that the correlation interval between the individual observations is always greater than the fluctuation period of tropospheric inhomogeneities typical for a given baseline.

Dravskikh, A. F.↗

Distribution analysis for F100(3) engine

The F100(3) compression system response to inlet circumferential distortion was investigated using an analytical compressor flow model. Compression system response to several types of distortion, including pressure, temperature, and combined pressure/temperature distortions, was investigated. The predicted response trends were used in planning future F100(3) distortion tests. Results show that compression system response to combined temperature and pressure distortions depends upon the relative orientation, as well as the individual amplitudes and circumferential extents of the distortions. Also the usefulness of the analytical predictions in planning engine distortion tests is indicated.

Walter, W. A.↗

A comparison of radiative transfer models for predicting the microwave emission from soils

Two general types of numerical models for predicting microwave emission from soils are compared-coherent and noncoherent. In the former, radiation in the soil is treated coherently, and the boundary conditions on the electric fields across the layer boundaries are used to calculate the radiation intensity. In the latter, the radiation is assumed to be noncoherent, and the intensities of the radiation are considered directly. The results of the two approaches may be different because of the effects of interference, which can cause the transmitted intensity at the surface (i.e., emissivity) to be sometimes higher and sometimes lower for the coherent case than for the noncoherent case, depending on the relative phases of reflected fields from the lower layers. This coupling between soil layers in the coherent models leads to greater soil moisture sampling depths observed with this type of model, and is the major difference that is found between the two types of models. In noncoherent models, the emissivity is determined by the dielectric constraint at the air/soil interface. The subsequent differences in the results are functions of both the frequency of the radiation being considered and the steepness of the moisture gradient near the surface. The calculations were performed at frequencies of 1.4 and 19.4 GHz and for two sets of soil profiles. Little difference was observed between the models at 19.4 GHz; and only at the lower frequency were differences apparent because of the greater soil moisture sampling depth at this frequency.

Schmugge, T. J.↗

Locking mechanism for orthopedic braces

An orthopedic brace locking mechanism is described which under standing or walking conditions cannot be unlocked, however under sitting conditions the mechanism can be simply unlocked so as to permit bending of the patient's knee. Other features of the device include: (1) the mechanism is rendered operable, and inoperable, dependent upon the relative inclination of the brace with respect to the ground; (2) the mechanism is automatically locked under standing or walking conditions and is manually unlocked under sitting conditions; and (3) the mechanism is light in weight and is relatively small in size.

Chao, J. I.↗

Influence of friction forces on the motion of VTOL aircraft during landing operations on ships at sea

Equations describing the friction forces generated during landing operations on ships at sea were formulated. These forces depend on the platform reaction and the coefficient of friction. The platform reaction depends on the relative sink rate and the shock absorbing capability of the landing gear. The friction coefficient varies with the surface condition of the landing platform and the angle of yaw of the aircraft relative to the landing platform. Landings by VTOL aircraft, equipped with conventional oleopneumatic landing gears are discussed. Simplifications are introduced to reduce the complexity of the mathematical description of the tire and shock strut characteristics. Approximating the actual complicated force deflection characteristic of the tire by linear relationship is adequate. The internal friction forces in the shock strut are included in the landing gear model. A set of relatively simple equations was obtained by including only those tire and shock strut characteristics that contribute significantly to the generation of landing gear forces.

Howard, J. C.↗

Boundary-layer analysis for the convection/diffusion transition in dendritic growth

The supercooling dependence of dendritic growth kinetics under the influence of convective heat transport is investigated theoretically and experimentally with emphasis on theoretical prediction of the supercooling level at which the transition from diffusion-controlled to convection-controlled dendritic growth occurs. It is shown that the crossover between diffusive and convective transport depends on the relative thickness of the Stefan length compared with the thermal boundary layer. These lengths become equal at a supercooling which may be calculated from diffusion theory and fluid mechanics. It is also shown that the crossover supercooling varies weakly with the gravitational acceleration, melt viscosity, and the volumetric expansion coefficient.

Glicksman, M. E.↗

Irrigated acreage in the Bear River Basin as of the 1975 growing season

The irrigated cropland in the Bear River Basin as of the 1975 growing season was inventoried from satellite imagery. LANDSAT color infrared images (scale 1:125,000) were examined for early, mid, and late summer dates, and acreage was estimated by use of township/section overlays. The total basin acreage was estimated to be 573,435 acres, with individual state totals as follows: Idaho 234,370 acres; Utah 265,505 acres; and Wyoming 73,560 acres. As anticipated, wetland areas intermingled among cropland appears to have produced an over-estimation of irrigated acreage. According to a 2% random sample of test sites evaluated by personnel from the Soil Conservation Service such basin-wide over-estimation is 7.5%; individual counties deviate significantly from the basin-wide figure, depending on the relative amount of wetland areas intermingled with cropland.

Ridd, M. K.↗

Calculation of composition distribution of ultrafine ion-H2O-H2SO4 clusters using a modified binary ion nucleation theory

Thomson's ion nucleation theory was modified to include the effects of curvature dependence of the microscopic surface tension of field dependent, nonlinear, dielectric properties of the liquid; and of sulfuric acid hydrate formation in binary mixtures of water and sulfuric acid vapors. The modified theory leads to a broadening of the ion cluster spectrum, and shifts it towards larger numbers of H2O and H2SO4 molecules. Whether there is more shifting towards larger numbers of H2O or H2SO4 molecules depends on the relative humidity and relative acidity of the mixture. Usually, a broadening of the spectrum is accompanied by a lowering of the mean cluster intensity. For fixed values of relative humidity and relative acidity, a similar broadening pattern is observed when the temperature is lowered. These features of the modified theory illustrate that a trace of sulfuric acid can facilitate the formation of ultrafine, stable, prenucleation ion clusters as well as the growth of the prenucleation ion clusters towards the critical saddle point conditions, even with low values of relative humidity and relative acidity.

Singh, J. J.↗

Optimization of radar imaging system parameters for geological analysis

The use of radar image simulation to model terrain variation and determine optimum sensor parameters for geological analysis is described. Optimum incidence angle is determined by the simulation, which evaluates separately the discrimination of surface features possible due to terrain geometry and that due to terrain scattering. Depending on the relative relief, slope, and scattering cross section, optimum incidence angle may vary from 20 to 80 degrees. Large incident angle imagery (more than 60 deg) is best for the widest range of geological applications, but in many cases these large angles cannot be achieved by satellite systems. Low relief regions require low incidence angles (less than 30 deg), so a satellite system serving a broad range of applications should have at least two selectable angles of incidence.

Waite, W. P.↗

A parametric study of the effect of inlet lip shape upon the radiated sound field

Far field sound radiation predictions for four different axisymmetric inlet lips excited by different tangential acoustic modes at several cut-off ratios are presented. These results were obtained by numerical integration of a special cylindrically symmetric integral representation of the external solutions of the Helmholtz equation which yields unique solutions at all wave numbers. The paper presents plots which detail the dependence of the relative SPL (dB) in the field upon the engine inlet lip shape, the modal input, and the cut-off ratio. Examination of these data indicate that: (1) as the inlet lip becomes larger the predominant acoustic radiation peak in the field becomes narrower and moves towards the centerline of the inlet; (2) as the order of the tangential acoustic mode of the driver increases the radiated sound peak again becomes narrower but moves away from the inlet centerline; and (3) as the cut-off ratio is increased for a specific tangential acoustic mode the predominant radiation peak becomes narrower and moves towards the centerline of the inlet.

Meyer, W. L.↗

The influence of laminar separation and transition on low Reynolds number airfoil hysteresis

An experimental study of the Lissaman 7769 and Miley MO6-13-128 airfoils at low chord Reynolds numbers is presented. Although both airfoils perform well near their design Reynolds number of about 600,000, they each produce a different type of hysteresis loop in the lift and drag forces when operated below chord Reynolds numbers of 300,000. The type of hysteresis loop was found to depend upon the relative location of laminar separation and transition. The influence of disturbance environment and experimental procedure on the low Reynolds number airfoil boundary layer behavior is also presented. The use of potential flow solutions to help predict how a given airfoil will behave at low Reynolds numbers is also discussed.

Mueller, T. J.↗

The atmosphere of Mars - Resources for the exploration and settlement of Mars

This paper describes methods of processing the Mars atmosphere to supply water, oxygen and buffer gas for a Mars base. Existing life support system technology is combined with innovative methods of water extraction, and buffer gas processing. The design may also be extended to incorporate an integrated greenhouse to supply food, oxygen and water recycling. It is found that the work required to supply one kilogram of an argon/nitrogen buffer gas is 9.4 kW-hr. To extract water from the dry Martian atmosphere can require up to 102.8 kW-hr per kilogram of water depending on the relative humidity of the air.

Meyer, T. R.↗