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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 271 records · Page 15

Continuum Covariance Propagation for Understanding Variance Loss in Advective Systems

We demonstrate for state dynamics governed by the continuity equation and related hyperbolic partial differential equations that significant, spurious variance loss occurs during covariance propagation by traditional methods used in data assimilation, even at full rank. This inaccurate variance evolution is caused not by numerical dissipation, but rather by a discontinuous change in the continuum covariance dynamics as correlation lengths tend to zero.

Shay Gilpin↗

Parallel Algorithm Solves Coupled Differential Equations

Numerical methods adapted to concurrent processing. Algorithm solves set of coupled partial differential equations by numerical integration. Adapted to run on hypercube computer, algorithm separates problem into smaller problems solved concurrently. Increase in computing speed with concurrent processing over that achievable with conventional sequential processing appreciable, especially for large problems.

Hayashi, A.↗

Nonlinear vibration of beams

Nonlinear partial differential equations of two variables for vibratory motions of beam

PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION↗

Prediction of free shear flows: A comparison of the performance of six turbulence models

The performance is evaluated of three distinct classes of turbulence model. These classes are: (1) Turbulent-viscosity models in which the length scale of turbulence is found by way of algebraic formulas, (2) turbulent-viscosity models in which the length scale of turbulence is found from a partial differential equation of transport, and (3) models in which the shear stress itself is the dependent variable of a partial differential conservation equation. Two models were examined in each class; thus, six different models were tested. A complete mathematical statement of these models is provided and a brief commentary on the models is included.

Launder, B. E.↗

Flag-lag-torsional dynamics of extensional and inextensional rotor blades in hover and in forward flight

The formulation of differential equations of motion for both extensional and inextensional rotor blades, and the effect of cubic nonlinearities was examined. The developed differential equations are reduced to a set of three integro partial differential equations for a hingeless blade by eliminating the extension variable. Aerodynamic forces are modelled using Greenberg's extension of Theodorsen's strip theory. Equations of motion are expanded into polynomial nonlinearities to evaluate the motion of the system.

Crespodasilva, M. R. M.↗

On the Importance of the Dynamics of Discretizations

It has been realized recently that the discrete maps resulting from numerical discretizations of differential equations can possess asymptotic dynamical behavior quite different from that of the original systems. This is the case not only for systems of Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) but in a more complicated manner for Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) used to model complex physics. The impact of the modified dynamics may be mild and even not observed for some numerical methods. For other classes of discretizations the impact may be pronounced, but not always obvious depending on the nonlinear model equations, the time steps, the grid spacings and the initial conditions. Non-convergence or convergence to periodic solutions might be easily recognizable but convergence to incorrect but plausible solutions may not be so obvious - even for discretized parameters within the linearized stability constraint. Based on our past four years of research, we will illustrate some of the pathology of the dynamics of discretizations, its possible impact and the usage of these schemes for model nonlinear ODEs, convection-diffusion equations and grid adaptations.

Sweby, Peter K.↗

Hypervelocity atmospheric flight: Real gas flow fields

Flight in the atmosphere is examined from the viewpoint of including real gas phenomena in the flow field about a vehicle flying at hypervelocity. That is to say, the flow field is subject not only to compressible phenomena, but is dominated by energetic phenomena. There are several significant features of such a flow field. Spatially, its composition can vary by both chemical and elemental species. The equations which describe the flow field include equations of state and mass, species, elemental, and electric charge continuity; momentum; and energy equations. These are nonlinear, coupled, partial differential equations that were reduced to a relatively compact set of equations of a self-consistent manner (which allows mass addition at the surface at a rate comparable to the free-stream mass flux). The equations and their inputs allow for transport of these quantities relative to the mass-averaged behavior of the flow field. Thus transport of mass by chemical, thermal, pressure, and forced diffusion; transport of momentum by viscosity; and transport of energy by conduction, chemical considerations, viscosity, and radiative transfer are included. The last of these complicate the set of equations by making the energy equation a partial integrodifferential equation. Each phenomenon is considered and represented mathematically by one or more developments. The coefficients which pertain are both thermodynamically and chemically dependent. Solutions of the equations are presented and discussed in considerable detail, with emphasis on severe energetic flow fields. For hypervelocity flight in low-density environments where gaseous reactions proceed at finite rates, chemical nonequilibrium is considered and some illustrations are presented. Finally, flight where the flow field may be out of equilibrium, both chemically and thermodynamically, is presented briefly.

Howe, John T.↗

Hypervelocity atmospheric flight: Real gas flow fields

Flight in the atmosphere is examined from the viewpoint of including real gas phenomena in the flow field about a vehicle flying at hypervelocity. That is to say, the flow field is subject not only to compressible phenomena, but is dominated by energetic phenomena. There are several significant features of such a flow field. Spatially, its composition can vary by both chemical and elemental species. The equations which describe the flow field include equations of state and mass, species, elemental, and electric charge continuity; momentum; and energy equations. These are nonlinear, coupled, partial differential equations that have been reduced to a relatively compact set of equations in a self-consistent manner (which allows mass addition at the surface at a rate comparable to the free-stream mass flux). The equations and their inputs allow for transport of these quantities relative to the mass-average behavior of the flow field. Thus transport of mass by chemical, thermal, pressure, and forced diffusion; transport of momentum by viscosity; and transport of energy by conduction, chemical considerations, viscosity, and radiative transfer are included. The last of these complicate the set of equations by making the energy equations a partial integrodifferential equation. Each phenomenon is considered and represented mathematically by one or more developments. The coefficients which pertain are both thermodynamically and chemically dependent. Solutions of the equations are presented and discussed in considerable detail, with emphasis on severe energetic flow fields. Hypervelocity flight in low-density environments where gaseous reactions proceed at finite rates chemical nonequilibrium is considered, and some illustrations are presented. Finally, flight where the flow field may be out of equilibrium, both chemically and thermodynamically, is presented briefly.

Howe, John T.↗

Recent advances in electromagnetic synthesis and analysis of dual-shaped reflector antennas

Dual-shaped reflectors have been used for many years. Thus, these reflectors have been used as high gain antennas on Voyagers 1 and 2. The objectives of the geometrical optics (GO) dual shaped synthesis are considered. Concerning the synthesis of dual shaped reflectors, it has been shown for circular symmetric reflectors that an exact GO solution can be found to the problem of transforming, by two reflections, any feed pattern into any aperture distribution. This problem involves solving two simultaneous nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The same approach for offset geometry leads to two simultaneous nonlinear partial differential equations. It is shown that these equations could also be integrated numerically, except that in general these equations are not total and therefore, in general, they do not have a 'smooth' solution. It is further shown that the offset partial differentials often very nearly form a total differential in many cases of practical importance.

Galindo-Israel, V.↗

Numerical solutions of transonic flows by parametric differentiation and integral equation techniques

The paper discusses results of an exploratory study of the advantages obtained by combining integral equation methods with the method of parametric differentiation in the treatment of transonic flow problems. In the proposed method, the nonlinear unsteady transonic flow equation for small perturbations is transformed into a linear equation by the use of the method of parametric differentiation. The linear equation is split into a pair of weakly coupled partial differential equations by writing the transformed perturbation potential as the sum of a steady component and an unsteady component. The solution of the steady equation as an integral equation is based on Ogana's treatment (1978). As a test case, the formulation is applied to predict the steady transonic flow over a nonlifting parabolic-arc airfoil.

Sivaneri, N. T.↗

Stability of partially lined combustors with distributed combustion

An integral method for theoretical evaluation of the stability of confined flows with mass sources is presented. This method is applied to evaluate the effect of partial length acoustic liners on liquid propellant combustors with distributed combustion sources. The combustor is modeled as a right circular cylinder terminated by a multiorifice (constant Mach number) nozzle. The spatial spread of combustion in the chamber is represented by an arbitrary number of pressure sensitive planar mass sources. On the cylindrical periphery of the chamber is an acoustic absorber of arbitrary length, position, and damping capability. Integral equations are developed from the partial differential equations describing the nonsteady flow and are solved iteratively. Results are given in terms of linear neutral stability plots using a pressure sensitive combustion response. Calculations indicate that increasing the axial spread of combustion increases the stability of the combustor and the effectiveness of the absorber. The most effective linear placement appears at the location of greatest combustion concentration.

Baer, M. R.↗

Neutrally stable atmospheric flow over a two-dimensional rectangular block

The phenomena of atmospheric flow over a two dimensional surface obstruction such as a building modeled as a rectangular block are analyzed by an approach using the Navier-Stokes equations with a two equation model of turbulence. The partial differential equations for the vorticity, stream function, turbulence kinetic energy, and turbulence length scale are solved by a finite difference technique. The predicted results are in agreement with the limited experimental data available. Current computed results show that the separation bubble originates from the upper front corner of the block and extends approximately 11.5 block heights behind the block. The decay of the mean velocity along the wake center line coincides almost perfectly with the experimental data. The vertical profiles of the mean velocity defect are also in reasonable agreement with wind tunnel results. Velocity profiles in the mixing region are shown to agree with the error function profile typically found in the shear layer. Details of the behavior of the turbulence kinetic energy and the turbulence length scale are also discussed.

Shieh, C. F.↗