Explosive hypervelocity drag accelerator
Accelerator for launching hypervelocity projectile by drag force of jet produced by gaseous explosive products
Gross, M. B.↗
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Performance of closely spaced twin-jet afterbodies with different inboard-outboard fairing and nozzle shapes
Thrust-minus-drag forces and pressure distributions of closely spaced twin-jet afterbodies with different inboard-outboard fairing and nozzle shapes
Lee, E. E., Jr.↗
Investigation of the Applicability of the Free-wing Principle to Light, General Aviation Aircraft
Gust-alleviation benefits for aircraft employing an unconventional wing, free to pivot about a spanwise axis forward of its aerodynamic center and subject only to aerodynamic pitching moments imposed by lift and drag forces and a trailing-edge control surface are reviewed.
Porter, R. F.↗
Equatorial thermospheric composition and its variations
The neutral atmospheric composition experiment on the San Marco - 3 satellite has measured the composition of the equatorial atmosphere from 29 April to 29 November 1971. Preliminary results on the diurnal variation of atmospheric composition from 19 May to 30 June at 225 km. altitude are presented. The diurnal variation of helium is seen to reach its maximum near 0800 hours and its minimum in the late afternoon in contrast to the behavior of molecular nitrogen and argon. The atomic oxygen densities show smaller variations than the other gases. The mass densities calculated from the composition data agree well with those determined from the in situ drag force measurements and from orbital decay measurements.
Newton, G. P.↗
The San Marco 3 neutral atmosphere composition experiment
The experimental instrumentation of the San Marco 3 satellite is described along with the calibration and operation. The instrumentation for the following experiments was included: an air density experiment for measuring the instantaneous drag force, and thus the neutral particle total mass density; a neutral atmosphere composition experiment for measuring the densities of helium, atomic and molecular oxygen, molecular nitrogen and argon; and a neutral atmosphere temperature experiment to determine the gas kinetic temperature by measuring molecular nitrogen density variations in an orificed spherical chamber as a function of angle of attack.
Pelz, D. T.↗
Effects of resonant tesseral gravity coefficients on Viking-type orbits.
A special perturbation technique has been developed for the long-period and secular motion of a Viking-type orbiter. The technique uses a method of singly averaging the perturbations over the mean anomaly to determine changes in orbital elements due to atmospheric drag, solar radiation pressure, solar gravity, and the asymmetrical Mars gravitational field. The technique has been specialized to treat resonant tesseral gravity effects resulting from the commensurability of the satellite orbit period with the rotational period of the primary. Results are presented which indicate that orbiter lifetimes can be significantly reduced by resonant tesserals for orbits near the critical inclination. Conversely, it is shown that lifetimes can be extended via capture in resonant orbits which are stable against small drag forces.
Compton, H. R.↗
Equatorial thermospheric composition and its variations.
The neutral atmospheric composition experiment on the San Marco 3 satellite has measured the composition of the equatorial atmosphere from Apr. 29 to Nov. 29, 1971. Preliminary results on the diurnal variation of atmospheric composition from May 19 to June 30 at 225 km altitude are presented. The diurnal variation of helium is seen to reach its maximum near 0800 hours and its minimum in the late afternoon, in contrast to the behavior of molecular nitrogen and argon. The atomic oxygen densities show smaller variations than those of the other gases. The mass densities calculated from the composition data agree well with those determined from the in situ drag force measurements and from orbital decay measurements.
Newton, G. P.↗
High latitude ionospheric winds related to solar-interplanetary conditions
Treated jointly, two recent results imply that the distribution of winds in the polar ionosphere should change as a function of the direction of the interplanetary magnetic field. (1) From the motions of chemically released ion and neutral clouds, it is apparent that neutral winds in the high latitude ionosphere are driven principally by ion drag forces. (2) OGO-6 electric field measurements have demonstrated that there are definite relationships between the time-latitude distribution of ionospheric plasma convection and interplanetary magnetic field parameters, and also that the distribution is most sensitive to the azimuthal angle of the interplanetary field. Although direct neutral wind to interplanetary magnetic field comparisons are not available, logic clearly implies a close relationship. The lower altitude, meteorological effects of these externally driven ionospheric winds are not known. However, observations of infrasonic waves following sudden ionization enhancements indicate the existence of momentum transfer.
Heppner, J. P.↗
High latitude ionospheric winds related to solar-interplanetary conditions
Two recent results imply that the distribution of winds in the polar ionosphere should change as a function of the direction of the interplanetary magnetic field. From the motions of chemically released ion and neutral clouds, it is apparent that neutral winds in the high latitude ionosphere are driven principally by ion drag forces. OGO-6 electric field measurements have demonstrated that there are definite relationships between the time latitude distribution of ionospheric plasma convection and interplanetary magnetic field parameters, and also that the distribution is most sensitive to the azimuthal angle of the interplanetary field. The lower altitude, meteorological effects of these externally driven ionospheric winds are not known. However, observations of infrasonic waves following sudden ionization enhancements indicate the existence of momentum transfer.
Heppner, J. P.↗
Barium cloud evolution and striation formation in the magnetospheric release on September 21, 1971
The joint NASA-Max Planck Institute Barium Ion Cloud (BIC) Experiment on September 21, 1971 involved the release of 1.7 kg of neutral barium at an altitude of 31,500 km at a latitude of 6.93 deg N. and a longitude of 74.40 deg W. A theoretical model describing the barium neutral cloud expansion and the ion cloud formation is developed. The mechanism of formation of the striational features observed in the release is also discussed. Two candidate instabilities, which may contribute to striation formation, are examined. The drift instability stemming from the outwardly directed drag force exerted on the ions by the outstreaming neutrals is rejected on the grounds that the ion density is too low during the collision-dominated phase of the cloud expansion to support this kind of instability. The joint action of Rayleigh-Taylor and flute instabilities plausibly accounts for the observed striational structure. This same mechanism may well be operative at times of sudden injection of plasma into the inner magnetosphere during geomagnetic storms and may thus contribute to the formation of field-alined inhomogeneities which serve as whistler ducts.
Adamson, D.↗
Experimental investigation of the braking and cornering characteristics of 30 x 11.5-14.5, type 8, aircraft tires with different tread patterns
An investigation was conducted at the aircraft landing loads and traction facility to study the braking and cornering characteristics, including the drag-force and cornering-force friction coefficients, of 30 by 11.5-14.5, type VIII aircraft tires with five different tread patterns. Test data were obtained on dry, damp, and flooded runway surfaces over a range of yaw angles from 0 deg to 12 deg at ground speeds from 5 knots to 100 knots. The results of this investigation indicate that a tread pattern consisting of transverse cuts across the entire width of the tread slightly improved the tire traction performance on wet surfaces. The braking and cornering capability of the tires was degraded by thin-film lubrication and tire hydroplaning effects on the wet runway surfaces. The braking capability of the tires decreased when the yaw angle was increased.
Dreher, R. C.↗
Aerodynamic lift effect on satellite orbits
Numerical quadrature is employed to obtain orbit perturbation results from the general perturbation equations. Both aerodynamic lift and drag forces are included in the analysis of the satellite orbit. An exponential atmosphere with and without atmospheric rotation is used. A comparison is made of the perturbations which are caused by atmospheric rotation with those caused by satellite aerodynamic effects. Results indicate that aerodynamic lift effects on the semi-major axis and orbit inclination can be of the same order as the effects of atmosphere rotation depending upon the orientation of the lift vector. The results reveal the importance of including aerodynamic lift effects in orbit perturbation analysis.
Karr, G. R.↗
Anemometers for Mars
An investigation is conducted concerning the problems involved in the conduction of wind measurements on the planet Mars, taking into account the currently known characteristics of the Martian atmosphere. Problems introduced by the presence of the lander are examined. The suitability of several different types of anemometers for making the measurements is discussed, giving attention to rotating anemometers, sonic anemometers, ion tracers, drag force anemometers, pitot tubes, and thermal anemometers.
Henry, R. M.↗
Relation of solar wind fluctuations to differential flow between protons and alphas
An analysis is made of the difference between the alpha particle and proton flow velocities in the solar wind as observed by the OGO 5 satellite. The alpha and proton velocities from each of 962 spectral scans are compared with the variance of 32 solar wind flux measurements made during the scans. The average velocity difference is plotted for each of 10 logarithmic variance intervals and is seen to decrease and approach zero when the variance is high. It is shown that such an anticorrelation may be due to the fact the wave/particle interactions provide the drag force between two streams of different velocity in a collisionless plasma.
Neugebauer, M.↗
High-latitude ionospheric winds related to solar-interplanetary conditions
Treated jointly, two recent results imply that the distribution of winds in the polar ionosphere should change as a function of the direction of the interplanetary magnetic field. From the motions of chemically released ion and neutral clouds, it is apparent that neutral winds in the high-latitude ionosphere are driven principally by ion drag forces. OGO 6 electric field measurements demonstrate that there are definite relationships between the time/latitude distribution of ionospheric plasma convection and interplanetary magnetic field parameters, and also that the distribution is most sensitive to the azimuthal angle of the inter planetary field. Although direct neutral wind to interplanetary magnetic field comparisons are not available, logic clearly implies a close relationship. Observations of infrasonic waves following sudden ionization enhancements indicate the existence of momentum transfer.
Heppner, J. P.↗
Electrodynamics of long conducting tethers in the near-earth environment
An analytical approach was developed to evaluate the electrodynamic interactions affecting a thin, bare metallic wire moving in the ionosphere. The wire's diameter was smaller than the Debye length; therefore, the plasma sheath around the wire was taken into account in computing inducing drag force and torque. Computer programs were prepared for the numerical evaluation of mathematical functions that were required to compute the distribution of the potential along the wire and of the current in the wire. Numerical calculations based on this software are shown.
Dobrowolny, M.↗
Experimental studies on the aerodynamic performance and dynamic response of flow direction sensing vanes
Systematic investigations were performed on a variety of aerodynamic surfaces to obtain their potential for possible application to wind vanes. Among the surfaces tested were: (1) single vanes consisting of flat plates of various planforms having aspect ratios between 0.5 and 5; (2) bi-vanes with aspect ratio 2.5; (3) various cone and box vanes; and (4) various cruciform configurations. The models were subjected to windtunnel tests. In addition to lift and drag force measurements, damping and frequency test were performed under a variety of flow conditions.
Barna, P. S.↗
Time development of the flow about an impulsively started cylinder
A method is developed to determine the time-dependent flowfield about an impulsively started circular cylinder. An outer potential flow model is interfaced with an inner viscous flow region. The wake is described by a set of elementary point vortices. The position at which the point vortices are shed from the cylinder is obtained from a solution to the unsteady incompressible laminar boundary-layer equations. A rear shear-layer is postulated to account for backflow induced vorticity. Wake development is detailed from the initial formation of the two symmetric vortices to subsequent asymmetry and eventual alternate shedding. Unsteady pressure distributions, lift and drag forces, and Strouhal number are calculated and compared with experiment.
Deffenbaugh, F. D.↗