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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 253 records · Page 14
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NASA NTRS1973

Measurement of irregularities in angular velocities of rotating assemblies in memory devices on magnetic carriers

Problems in measurement of irregularities in angular velocity of rotating assemblies in memory devices with rigid and flexible magnetic data carriers are discussed. A device and method for determination of change in angular velocities in various frequency and rotation rate ranges are examined. A schematic diagram of a photoelectric sensor for recording the signal pulses is provided. Mathematical models are developed to show the amount of error which can result from misalignment of the test equipment.

Virakas, G. I.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Studies of irregularities in motion of vibroshock type mechanisms

Reciprocating motion mechanisms, in which a mass with large gaps can be driven with almost uniform speed, are investigated. A single-mass system with dry friction, the motion of which is restricted by two stops, is examined. The system is put into motion by kinematic disturbances through a flexible link. Periodic modes of movement, under conditions in which the disturbance arises from two impacts on the mass (from the right and left stops) are examined. Primary attention was given to irregularities in the course of the mass. The shock interaction of the mass with the stop was accounted for by the shock speed restoration coefficient R. The shock-frequency characteristics of the free shock vibrations were determined. Expressions were obtained which define the transitional process. The phase and velocity of several succeeding shocks were determined. After taking account of the conditions of the steady mode of movement, velocities and phases in the steady mode of movement were obtained.

Mateyshka, S. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Generation of large scale field-aligned density irregularities in ionospheric heating experiments

Threshold and growth rate for stimulated Brillouin scattering are calculated for a uniform magnetoplasma. These are then compared with the threshold and growth rate of a new thermal instability in which the nonlinear Lorentz force felt by the electrons at the beat frequency of the two electromagnetic waves is replaced by a pressure force due to differential heating in the interference pattern of the pump wave and the generated electromagnetic wave. This thermal instability, which is still essentially stimulated Brillouin scattering, has a threshold which is especially low when the propagation vector of the beat wave is almost normal to the magnetic field. The threshold is then considerably lower than the threshold for normal stimulated Brillouin scattering and therefore this new instability is probably responsible for the generation of large scale field aligned irregularities and ionospheric spread F.

Fejer, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1974

On the marginally stable saturation spectrum of unstable type I equatorial electrojet irregularities

Formulation of a self-consistent convective nonlinear theory of type I irregularities in the equatorial electrojet. It is found that a combination of three mechanisms - convective amplification, quasi-linear polarization electric field reduction, and nonlinear particle orbit diffusion damping - accounts for radar backscatter observations of a ubiquitous marginally stable (or 'constant ion-acoustic Doppler shift') saturation spectrum better than any of the three mechanisms treated separately. In particular, no spatially homogeneous theory without wave refraction can account for the observations. Wave refraction alone or with quasi-linear polarization electric field reduction is also inadequate. Wave refraction, quasi-linear polarization reduction, and particle orbit diffusion theory appear to account for type I observations at radar elevation angles less than 60 deg. Vertical type I backscatter cannot be explained without modifying the present laminar electrojet model.

Lee, K.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Waves and irregularities in the solar wind

This review is meant for the nonspecialist who wants a simple physical picture. Some simple calculations are given to show why waves and irregularities in the solar wind are of importance in obtaining a physical understanding of the dynamical processes occurring in the interplanetary medium. The basic physics of various phenomena observed in the heliosphere, resulting because of the presence of waves in the solar wind, is spelled out in some detail. The most fundamental point made in this review is that a considerable body of phenomena occurring in the solar wind are either caused directly or modified significantly by the turbulent waves that are always present in the solar wind.

Lee, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Calculation of the motion of an airplane under the influence of irregular disturbances

The application of mathematical advances made in electricity and other branches to problems of airplane dynamics is demonstrated. The Heaviside-Bromwich methods of solution of linear differential equations are described and it is shown how these methods avoid the consideration of boundary conditions and of particular or complementary integrals. It is pointed out that if the solution of the differential equation is obtained for the case of a unit disturbance, the effect of varying disturbances may be found therefrom by Carson's theorem. A graphical solution of Carson's integral for irregular disturbances is given. The procedure of obtaining unit solutions of the equations is then taken up and the analogy between Heaviside's symbolic series solution and a physical procedure of approximation is shown. It is suggested that a fictitious impulsive disturbance be used in the treatment of initial motions.

Jones, R. T.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The irregularity spectrum in interstellar space

Published data on the interstellar scintillations of three pulsars are analyzed using a theory based on the Markov approximation for strong scintillations. The data are found to be consistent with either a Gaussian or Kolmogorov-like power-law irregularity spectrum for the interstellar material. For two of the pulsars, application of the Kolmogorov power law suggests the presence of regions of larger than normal electron density between us and the pulsar. The parameters of the deduced power-law spectrum are considered with independent measures of the large-scale structures of the gas and indicate the possibility of a broadly turbulent interstellar medium with a Kolmogorov-like spectrum.

Lee, L. C.↗
NASA NTRS1976

High supersonic aerodynamic characteristics of five irregular planform wings with systematically varying wing fillet geometry tested in the NASA/LaRC 4-foot UPWT (LEG 2) (LA45A/B)

An experimental and analytical aerodynamic program to develop predesign guides for irregular planform wings is reported. The benefits are linearization of subsonic lift curve slope to high angles of attack and avoidance of subsonic pitch instabilities at high lift by proper tailoring of the planform fillet wing combination while providing the desired hypersonic trim angle and stability. The two prime areas of concern are to optimize shuttle orbiter landing and entry characteristics. Basic longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics at high supersonic speeds are developed.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1977

Reynolds number effects on the aerodynamic characteristics of irregular planform wings at Mach number 0.3

The subsonic aerodynamic characteristics of a series of irregular planform wings were studied in wind tunnel tests conducted at M = 0.3 over a range of Reynolds numbers from 1.6 million to 26 million/m. The five basic wing planforms varied from a trapezoidal to a delta shape. Leading edge extensions, added to the basic shape, varied in approximately 5 deg increments from the wing leading edge sweep-back angle to a maximum 80 deg. Most of the tests were conducted using an NACA 0008 airfoil section with grit boundary layer trips. Tests were also conducted using an NACA 0012 airfoil section and an 8% thick wedge. In addition, the effect of free transition (no grit) was investigated. A body was used on all models.

Kruse, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Non-linear analysis of vibrations of irregular plates

A numerical perturbation method is used to investigate the forced vibrations of irregular plates. Nonlinear terms associated with the midplane stretching are retained in the analysis. The numerical part of the method involves the use of linear, finite element techniques to determine the free oscillation mode shapes and frequencies and to obtain the linear midplane stress resultants caused by the midplane stretching. Representing the solution as an expansion in terms of these linear mode shapes, these modes and the resultants are used to determine the equations governing the time-dependent coefficients of this expansion. These equations are solved by using the method of multiple scales. Specific solutions are given for the main-resonant vibrations of an elliptical plate in the presence of internal resonances. The results indicate that modes other than the driven mode can be drawn into the steady state response. Though the excitation is composed of a single harmonic, the response may not be periodic. Moreover, the particular types of responses that can occur are highly dependent on the mode being excited and are sensitive to small geometrical changes.

Lobitz, D. W.↗
NASA NTRS1977

A hermetic sealing process for large irregularly shaped hybrid microcircuit enclosures

A system for sealing vacuum baked hybrids in a dry inert atmosphere using an overlapping spot resistance weld is described. A unique electrode configuration and fixturing that permits sealing of large and irregularly shaped gold plated Kovar packages to the hermeticity requirements of MIL-STD-883 was discussed. Metallurgical considerations and comparisons to laser sealing were made. Problems encountered during the development and optimization of the process were highlighted. Solutions to plating, fixturing, warpage, weld splatter and cracked bead problems are presented.

Stahler, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Quiet-time plasma irregularities at 1400 km in the cleft region

The quiet north polar cleft at 1400 km was studied by Isis-2 instruments, and data from the retarding potential analyzer and the cylindrical electrostatic probe show that thermal plasma density fluctuations are distributed in a region between 75 deg and 82 deg invariant latitude and approximately dawn to dusk. Cleft shape and shape variations are described. Thermal ions and thermal electrons usually fluctuated together, but suprathermal electrons fluctuated independently. Data on thermal plasma patterns correlates fairly well with observations of soft particles and auroral optical emissions and not as well with measurements of high-energy particles. The data suggest that the energy source for the thermal irregularities is associated with soft particles and that precipitating high-energy particles do not drive the thermal plasma at these altitudes.

Kayser, S. E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Incoherent scatter radar observations of irregular structure in mid-latitude sporadic E layers

The basic experiments used phase-coded pulses to record electron density profiles with a resolution of 600 m in range and 300 m in horizontal extent, while scanning in azimuth. Data from incoherent scatter radar were compared with simultaneous ionosonde observations. Observations of sporadic E layers by incoherent scatter radar were discussed in terms of the effects of the neutral wind system acting on metallic ions. Several features were noted in the data, which support the wind shear mechanism of layer formation. The sporadic E layers often contained a pronounced small-scale structure, especially at times when partially transparent echoes were observed by the ionosonde. Under specific conditions, the ions in a meteor trail can be converged by a shear in the neutral wind into a relatively small irregularity at the center of a sporadic E layer.

Miller, K. L.↗
NASA NTRS1979

HF-induced parametric decay in presence of field-aligned irregularities

A nonlinear theory for the saturation of the HF-induced parametric decay instability is formulated in terms of the normal modes of a field-aligned plasma wave duct. Coupling coefficients between modes are derived, and a saturation spectrum is computed numerically for a typical irregularity. The computed spectrum shows that unstable waves may propagate at larger angles to the magnetic field than would be the case in a regular medium. The relevance of this work to the experiment of Muldrew and Showen (1977), concerning the height of the HF-induced plasma line at Arecibo, is discussed. A possible explanation is also found for the 'decay line' feature in comparison with the 'broad bump' in the observed backscatter spectrum.

Rypdal, K.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Interstellar polarization in an irregularly fluctuating medium

The interstellar polarization of starlight for an irregularly fluctuating medium is analyzed statistically. A general formulation is presented for the case in which the propagation distance s is larger than the coherence scale of the fluctuations. One specific result for randomly changing field direction is that the linear polarization saturates at a value which can be much less than unity, in agreement with observations.

Nee, S. F.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Power spectrum of small-scale density irregularities in the interstellar medium

Observations of the interstellar scintillation of radiation from 17 pulsars are reported which are used to place limits on the power spectrum of small-scale electron density irregularities in the interstellar medium. Measurements made at 340, 408, and 450 MHz in the dispersion measure range 3-57/cu cm pc of the time-dependent radio frequency spectrum of interstellar scintillations were analyzed to determine the scintillation index and a scintillation frequency-correlation scale based on the autocorrelation function in radio frequency of the fluctuations in scintillation. The dispersion-measure dependence of the scintillation frequency correlation scale is found to be consistent with both Gaussian model interstellar medium spectra and power-law spectra with indices between 3.0 and 4, while the radio-frequency scaling of the frequency correlation scale is consistent with power law indices between 2.8 and 3.9. However comparison of the shape of the radio-frequency autocorrelation function with model calculations indicates power law models with indices greater than 3.6 are possible. Data are also consistent with a local three-dimensional density spectrum at a wave number of 10 to the -9th/m of 3 x 10 to the 28th to 3 x 10 to the 29th/cu m.

Armstrong, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Spectral characteristics of medium-scale equatorial F region irregularities

The spectral characteristics of equatorial F region irregularities with scale sizes from a few kilometers to several hundred kilometers have been measured using data from the Atmospheric Explorer-E satellite. The spectra admit the expected power law characterization with a mean spectral index near 2. There is, however, a systematic decrease in the spectral index with increasing perturbation strength which has not previously been reported. Nearly simultaneous phase scintillation data from the Wideband satellite were also spectrally analyzed for comparison with the AE-E data. The same systematic decrease of the spectral index with increasing perturbation strength was found in the measured phase spectral indices. A completely unambiguous comparison between the in situ and scintillation deduced turbulence levels cannot be made. However, for realistic propagation model parameters, the spectral characterization of turbulence based on the phase scintillation data is generally consistent with that observed in situ.

Livingston, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Ultraviolet photometry from the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory. XL - The energy distributions of spiral and irregular galaxies

Measurements of the total light of 40 spiral and irregular galaxies are presented. The photometry covers the wavelength range 1550-4250 A and is calibrated on an absolute basis. On the average later-type galaxies are not only bluer at short wavelengths than ellipticals but significantly bluer than visual colors would imply. This reflects a recent history of more vigorous formation of massive stars. The shape of the upper part of the initial mass function apparently varies more among early-type galaxies, producing a wide scatter in their energy distributions. In at least some galaxies interstellar dust appears to have little influence upon the emerging radiation. The local volume luminosity spectrum due to galaxies turns up steeply at short wavelengths, and is shaped largely by contributions from late-type galaxies. The observed ultraviolet background cannot be produced by normal galaxies, although the large corrections implied by theoretical evolutionary models may account for the measurements.

Code, A. D.↗