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At least 235 records · Page 13

Application of digital image analysis techniques to antimisting fuel spray characterization

Pulsed ruby laser sheet illumination of the spray is used for the initial recording of data on very-high-resolution photographic film. The digitization of mosaic elements is effected with a vidicon and video digitizer whose output is stored in computer RAM memory for processing. Highly nonspherical elements and a broad range of drop diameters (8-2000 microns) resulting from the unusual rheological properties of the fuel-additive system are accommodated by the device configuration and algorithms. It is found that the generation of two-dimensional images by means of scattered light also eliminates errors resulting from variations in the index of refraction and from the submicron scattering sites that are often present within the modified fuel. No a priori information on the drop size distribution or on the system response to various drop sizes is required.

Fleeter, R.↗

Stratospheric aerosol mass and latitudinal distribution of the El Chichon eruption cloud for October 1982

The eruptions of El Chicon in Mexico during March and April, 1982, produced the largest enhancements in stratospheric aerosols, which were experienced in at least the last 20 years. An experimental survey flight was conducted in October-November 1982 to underfly El Chichon's eruption cloud and to map out its latitudinal distribution. A NASA aircraft was flown between 46 deg N latitude and 46 deg S latitude in a coordinated field campaign. The present investigation is concerned with the results of lidar stratospheric measurements taken over the entire mission. The employed airborne lidar system consists of a ruby laser, nominally emitting 1 joule/pulse at 0.5 pulse/sec during flight, and a 35.6-cm receiving Cassegrainian-configured telescope. The lidar data presented are described in two forms, taking into account the lidar backscattering ratio and the integrated aerosol backscattering function.

Mccormick, M. P.↗

Atomization and combustion performance of antimisting kerosene and jet fuel

Combustion performance of antimisting kerosene (AMK) containing FM-9 polymer was investigated at various levels of degradation (restoration of AMK for normal use in a gas turbine engine). To establish the relationship of degradation and atomization to performance in an aircraft gas turbine combustor, sprays formed by the nozzle of a JT8-D combustor with Jet A and AMK at 1 atmosphere (atm) (14.1 lb/square in absolute) pressure and 22 C at several degradation levels were analyzed. A new spray characterization technique based on digital image analysis of high resolution, wide field spray images formed under pulsed ruby laser sheet illumination was developed. Combustion tests were performed for these fuels in a JT8-D single can combustor facility to measure combustion efficiency and the lean extinction limit. Correlation of combustion performance under simulated engine operating conditions with nozzle spray Sauter mean diameter (SMD) measured at 1 atm and 22 C were observed. Fuel spray SMD and hence the combustion efficiency are strongly influenced by fuel degradation level. Use of even the most highly degraded AMK tested (filter ratio = 1.2) resulted in an increase in fuel consumption of 0.08% to 0.20% at engine cruise conditions.

Fleeter, R.↗

High Speed Crystal Growth by Q-switched Laser Melting

The modification of the structural and electrical properties of semiconductors short radiation pulses obtained from Q-switched lasers is described. These modifications are accomplished by high heating and cooling rates. This processing revealed novel crystal growth and high speed resolidification phenomena. The behavior of semiconductor Si is analyzed. The annealing process typically employs short pulses of radiation in or near the visible region of the spectrum. The Q-switched ruby and Nd-YAG lasers are commonly used and these are sometimes mode locked to reduce the pulse length still further. Material to be annealed can be processed with a single large area radiation spot. Alternatively, a small radiation spot size can be used and a large sample area is covered by overlapping irradiated regions.

Cullis, A. G.↗

Reconstruction of a 3-dimensional transonic rotor flow field from holographic interferogram data

Holographic interferometry and computer-assisted tomography (CAT) are used to determine the transonic velocity field of a model rotor blade in hover. A pulsed ruby laser recorded 40 interferograms with a 2-ft-diam view field near the model rotor-blade tip operating at a tip Mach number of 0.90. After digitizing the interferograms and extracting fringe-order functions, the data are transferred to a CAT code. The CAT code then calculates the perturbation velocity in seeral planes above the blade surface. The values from the holography-CAT method compare favorably with previously obtained numerical computations in most locations near the blade tip. The results demonstrate the technique's potential for three-dimensional transonic rotor flow studies.

Yu, Y. H.↗

Three-dimensional, transonic rotor flow field reconstructed from holographic interferogram data

Holographic interferometry and computer-assisted tomography (CAT) are used to determine the transonic flow field of a model rotor blade in hover. A pulsed ruby laser records 40 interferograms with a 61 cm-diam view field near the model rotor-blade tip operating at a tip Mach number of 0.90. After digitizing the interferograms and extracting fringe-order functions, the data are transferred to a CAT code. The CAT code then calculates pressure coefficients in several planes above the blade surface. The values from the holography-CAT method compare favorably with previously obtained numerical computations and laser velocimeter measurements at most locations near the blade tip. The results demonstrate the technique's potential for three-dimensional transonic rotor flow studies.

Kittleson, J. K.↗

MAP-oriented research in the People's Republic of China

A brief accounting of MAP oriented research in the Republic of China is given. A stratosphere balloon launching facility and its capabilities are reviewed. Observations of the stratospheric aerosols with a balloon-borne aerosol computer were made. Long term monitoring of stratospheric aerosols induced by volcanic eruptions are made with a ruby lidar. The main parameters of an ST radar system are given. The ionospheric D region is investigated with the method of ionospheric absorption. And photochemical modeling and radiation parameterization of the middle atmosphere are made.

Lu, D.↗

Thermal history of a metamorphic core complex

Fission track (FT) thermochronology studies of lower plate rocks of the Ruby Mountains-East Humbolt Range metamorphic core complex provide important constraints on the timing an nature of major middle Tertiary extension of northeast Nevada. Rocks analyzed include several varieties of mylonitic orthogneiss as well as amphibolitic orthognesses from the non-mylonitic infrastructural core. Oligocene-age porphyritic biotite granodiorite of the Harrison Pass pluton was also studied. The minerals dated include apatite, zircon, and sphene and were obtained from the same rocks that have been previously studied. FT ages are concordant and range in age from 26.4 Ma to 23.8 Ma, with all showing overlap at 1 sigma between 25.4 to 23.4 Ma. Concordancy of all FT ages from all structural levels indicates that the lower plate cooled rapidly from temperatures above approx. 285 C (assumed sphene closure temperature (2)) to below approx. 150 C (assumed apatite closure temperature) near the beginning of the Miocene. This suggests that the lower plate cooled at a rate of at least approx. 36 deg C/Ma during this event. Rapid cooling of the region is considered to reflect large-scale tectonic denudation (intracrustal thinning), the vertical complement to intense crustal extension. FT data firmly establish the upper limit on the timing of mylonitization during detachment faulting and also coincide with the age of extensive landscape disruption.

Dokka, R. K.↗

Reconstruction of a three-dimensional, transonic rotor flow field from holographic interferogram data

Holographic interferometry and computer-assisted tomography (CAT) are used to determine the transonic velocity field of a model rotor blade in hover. A pulsed ruby laser recorded 40 interferograms with a 2-ft-diam view field near the model rotor-blade tip operating at a tip Mach number of 0.90. After digitizing the interferograms and extracting fringe-order functions, the data are transferred to a CAT code. The CAT code then calculates the perturbation velocity in several planes above the blade surface. The value from the holography-CAT method compare favorably with previously obtained numerical computations in most locations near the blade tip. The results demonstrate the technique's potential for three-dimensional transonic rotor flow studies.

Yu, Y. H.↗

Coherent lidar technology for global wind profiling

Current lidar systems are proven sensors for atmospheric wind measurement. Ground-based and airborne continuous wave and pulsed CO2 systems were developed and applied to several wind measuring applications. Analytical and hardware feasibility studies indicte the feasibility of measuring the global wind field from a space splatform. A Global Backscater Experiment is planned by NASA to develop a global model of aerosol backscatter using a CO2 laser. Ground-based aerosol backscatter profiles will also be obtained using a ruby and a pulsed CO2 lidar.

Huffaker, R. M.↗

Inversion of 2 wavelength Lidar data for cloud properties

The inversion of the lidar equation to derive quantitative properties of the atmosphere has continued to present considerable difficulty. The results of a study in which Klett's procedure was utilized for the analysis of cloud backscatter measurements made simulataneously at two ruby lidar wavelengths (694nm,347nmm) are presented. With one lidar system a cloud is probed at the two wavelength and the backscatter measured simulataneously by separate receivers. As a result two sigma profiles which should differ only because the wavlength dependence of the scattering. Experimental data presented to demonstrate the effects and the implications of the applications of the inversion method will be discussed.

Pal, S. R.↗

Improved solution of the lidar equation utilizing particle counter measurements

The extraction of particle backscattering from incoherent lidar measurements poses some problems. In the case of measurements of the stratospheric aerosol layer the solution of the lidar equation is based on two assumptions which are necessary to normalize the measured signal and to correct it with the two-way transmission of the laser pulse. Normalization and transmission are tackled by adding the information contained in aerosol particle counter measurements of the University of Wyoming to the ruby lidar measurements at Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Calculated backscattering from height levels above 25 km for the El Chichon period will be compared with lidar measurements and necessary corrections. The calculated backscatter-to-extinction ratios are compared to those, which were derived from a comparison of published extinction values to measured lidar backscattering at Garmisch. These ratios were used to calculate the Garmisch lidar returns. For the period 4 to 12 months after the El Chichon eruption a backscater-to-extinction ratio of 0.026 1/sr was applied with smaller values before and after that time.

Jaeger, H.↗

Lidar observations of the decline of the El Chichon stratospheric load

The eruption of the Mexican volcano El Chichon in Apr. 1982 enhanced the stratospheric aerosol load to a level which so far has not been observed by remote sensing techniques. The ruby lidar system at Garmisch-Partenkirchen recorded an increase of about two orders of magnitude above the background level of the years 1977/78. At northern midlatitudes backscattering was peaking in Jan./Feb. 1983, as illustrated. The decline of the El Chichon stratospheric perturbation is discussed. The decay of the El Chichon stratospheric cloud is characterized by an overall 1/e lifetime of about 12 months. The El Chichon decay is further characterized by seasonal variations of the integral backscattering coefficient, which exhibit a winter maximum and a summer minimum. These variations are inversely correlated with the seasonal mean movement of the tropopause height indicating transport processes.

Jaeger, H.↗

Airborne lidar observations of Arctic polar stratospheric clouds

Polar stratospheric clouds (PSC's) have been detected repeatedly during Arctic and Antarctic winters since 1978/1979 by the SAM II (Stratospheric Aerosol Measurement II) instrument aboard the NIMBUS-7 satellite. PSC's are believed to form when supercooled sulfuric acid droplets freeze, and subsequently grow by deposition of ambient water vapor as the local stratospheric temperature falls below the frost point. In order to study the characteristics of PSC's at higher spatial and temporal resolution than that possible from the satellite observations, aircraft missions were conducted within the Arctic polar night vortex in Jan. 1984 and Jan. 1986 using the NASA Langley Research Center airborne dual polarization ruby lidar system. A synopsis of the 1984 and 1986 PSC observations is presented illustrating short range spatial changes in cloud structure, the variation of backscatter ratio with temperature, and the depolarization characterics of cloud layers. Implications are noted with regard to PSC particle characteristics and the physical process by which the clouds are thougth to form.

Poole, L. R.↗

Lidar observation of the mesospheric sodium layer in Antarctica

The mesospheric sodium layer has been observed at Syowa Station in Antarctica during the wintering period of the 26th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. A lidar observation of the polar middle atmosphere at the station has been performed as a part of the Middle Atmosphere Program since 1983. At first stratospheric aerosols have been observed by the system based on a ruby laser. In 1985 a new transmitting system consisting of a tunable dye laser was added to that system to observe the sodium layer, too. The characteristics of the lidar system are given. The results of the mesospheric sodium layer observed on 42 nights during the period from March to October, 1985 are also given.

Nomura, A.↗

Multiple scattering depolarization in marine stratus clouds: Lidar experiments

The depolarization of ruby lidar backscattering caused by multiple scattering in marine stratus clouds was examined systematically from a field site on the southern California coast. Investigated were the effects on the linear depolarization (delta) of lidar receiver field of view (FOV), elevation angle and laser beam pointing errors. An approximately linear increase in maximum delta values was observed with increasing receiver FOV, and the importance of accurate transmitter/receiver beam alignment was demonstrated during experiments in which the laser axis was deliberately misaligned. An elevation angle dependence to the delta values was observed as a consequence of the natural vertical inhomogeneity of water cloud content above the cloud base. Time histories of the depolarization characteristics of dissipating stratus clouds revealed significant spatial and temporal variability in delta values attributed to cloud composition variations. Employing a 1 mrad transmitter FOV, maximum delta values of 0.21 nd 0.33 were observed with 1 and 3 mrad receiver FOVs, respectively, from the low stratus clouds. The fundamental causes and effects on the lidar equation of multiple scattering are also discussed.

Sassen, K.↗

Melting of troilite at high pressure in a diamond cell by laser heating

A system for measuring melting temperatures at high pressures is described. The sample is heated with radiation from a YAG laser. The beam is reflected downward through a microscope objective, through the upper diamond anvil, and focused onto the sample. Hense, intense heating is produced only at the sample and not within the diamond anvils. A vidicon system is used to observe the sample during heating. Incandescent light from the heated sample passes back through the objective lens into a grating spectrometer. The spectrum of the incandescent light is received by the photodiode array and stored in the multichannel analyzer. These data can then be transferred to floppy disk for analysis. A curve fitting program is used to compare the spectra with standard blackbody curves and to determine the temperature. Pressure is measured by the ruby fluorescence method. The system was used to study the melting behavior of natural troilite (FeS).

Bassett, William A.↗