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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
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NASA NTRS1983

Dust particles in the anomalous tail of Comet Kohoutek (1973 XII)

Intermediate results from theoretical models of the anomalous spikelike dust distribution observed in the tail of Comet Kohoutek using the Skylab white-light coronograph on December 28.996, 1973, are reported. The time evolution is studied using the model of Finson and Probstein (1968) and assuming power-law variation of the dust-production rate and the particle-size distribution. Brightness profiles are calculated and presented graphically for comparison with those derived from the observation photograph: the model predicts a longer duration of the spike phenomenon than was observed. It is shown qualitatively that this discrepancy can be removed by introducing a finite dust-emission velocity (e.g., 1 m/s) into the model.

Keller, H. U.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Uniformly high-order accurate non-oscillatory schemes, 1

The construction and the analysis of nonoscillatory shock capturing methods for the approximation of hyperbolic conservation laws was begun. These schemes share many desirable properties with total variation diminishing schemes (TVD), but TVD schemes have at most first order accuracy, in the sense of truncation error, at extreme of the solution. A uniformly second order approximation was constucted, which is nonoscillatory in the sense that the number of extrema of the discrete solution is not increasing in time. This is achieved via a nonoscillatory piecewise linear reconstruction of the solution from its cell averages, time evolution through an approximate solution of the resulting initial value problem, and averaging of this approximate solution over each cell.

Harten, A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

A Comparison of the Bounded Derivative and the Normal Mode Initialization Methods Using Real Data

Browning et al. (1980) proposed an initialization method called the bounded derivative method (BDI). They used analytical data to test the new method. Kasahara (1982) theoretically demonstrated the equivalence between BDI and the well known nonlinear normal mode initialization method (NMI). The purposes of this study are the extension of the application of BDI to real data and comparison with NMI. The unbalanced initial state (UBD) is data of January, 1979 OOZ which were interpolated from the adjacent sigma levels of the GLAS GCM to the 300 mb surface. The global barotropic model described by Takacs and Balgovind (1983) is used. Orographic forcing is explicitly included in the model. Many comparisons are performed between various quantities. However, we only present a comparison of the time evolution at two grid points A(50 S, 90 E) and B(10 S, 20 E) which represent low and middle latitude locations. To facilitate a more complete comparison an initialization experiment based on the classical balance equation (CBE) was also included.

Semazzi, F. H. M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Decay of a coherent scalar disturbance in a turbulent flow

The time evolution of an initially coherent, sinusoidal passive-scalar disturbance is considered when the wavelength q is less than the length scale of the surrounding isotropic turbulent flow. In 64 sup 3 direct numerical simulations a Gaussian prescription for the average scalar amplitude breaks down after a timescale associated with the wavenumber of the disturbance and there is a transition to a new characteristic decay. The Gaussian prescription is given by exp(-(1/2) q-squared w(t)), where a form for w(t), the Lagrangian mean square displacement of a single fluid particle, is proposed. After the transition the decay is given by exp(-t/tau), where tau is the new characteristic timescale. If q k(sub K), then 1/tau = 1/tau(sub D) + 1/tau(sub K), where k(sub K) is the Kolmogorov wavenumber, tau(sub D) is the diffusive timescale and tau(sub K) is the Kolmogorov timescale. An experiment originally proposed by de Gennesis considered in which the evolution of a coherent laser-induced pattern is read by a diffracting laser. The theory of this experiment involves the dispersion of particle pairs, but it is shown that in a certain limit it reduces to the single Fourier-mode problem and can be described in terms of single particle diffusion. The decay of a single mode after the transition in the simulation best describes the experiment.

Kerr, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Final stages of transition to turbulence in plane channel flow

This paper involves a numerical simulation of the final stages of transition to turbulence in plane channel flow at a Reynolds number of 1500. Three-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are numerically integrated to obtain the time evolution of two- and three-dimensional finite-amplitude disturbances. Computations are performed on the CYBER-203 vector processor for a 32 x 51 x 32 grid. Solutions indicate the existence of structures similar to those observed in the laboratory and characteristics of the various stages of transition that lead to final breakdown. In particular, evidence points to the formation of a upside-down-V-shaped vortex and the subsequent system of horseshoe vortices inclined to the main flow direction as the primary elements of transition. Details of the resulting flow field after breakdown indicate the evolution of streaklike formations found in turbulent flows. Although the flow field does approach a steady state (turbulent channel flow), the introduction of subgrid-scale terms seems necessary to obtain fully developed turbulence statistics.

Biringen, S.↗
NASA NTRS1985

VLBI monitoring of the superluminal quasar 3C 273, 1977-1982

The compact ratio structure of the quasar 3C 273 has been monitored with a VLBI array at 5.0 and 10.7 GHz at six-month intervals during 1977-1982. THe VLBI monitoring observations, data reduction, calibration, and mapping techniques are described, and hybrid maps from the monitoring program are presented along with a brief discussion of the main features. Results on the source kinematics (superluminal motion of the knots and their time evolution) are given, and synchro-Compton models of the knots are presented and limits to their Doppler factors (delta) derived from X-ray measurements. The constraints on jet geometry provided by the combined measurements of delta and v/c are considered. For the core, the inhomogeneous jet model of Koenigl (1981) is compared with the available data. The relation between 3C 273 and the similar superluminal source 3C 345 is discussed.

Unwin, S. C.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The Einstein soft X-ray survey of the Pleiades

The results of a 0.1-4.5-keV X-ray survey of a 2 x 2-deg area centered on the Pleiades open cluster, performed using the imaging proportional counter and high-resolution imager of the Einstein Observatory on four days in 1980-1981, are presented in extensive tables, graphs, maps, histograms, and finding charts and characterized. A total of 61 sources are detected, and 44 of these are identified with cluster members of spectral types B-M. Findings discussed include Lx/Lbol of 10 the -7th for early-type stars; F-star mean Lx like that of F stars in the Hyades and in the field (denying time evolution of Lx); mean G-star Lx = 3.7 x 10 to the 29th erg/sec; G-star activity decay more gradual than 1/sq rt t, with sharp fall for t greater than 1 Gyr; and no evidence for X-ray-emissivity/rotational-velocity correlation in a homogeneous sample of K dwarfs or a sample of K and M stars with established V sin i data.

Caillault, J.-P.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The temporal evolution of 3-m striations in the modified ionosphere

Experiments were performed at Arecibo, Puerto Rico, to investigate the evolution times of 3-m field-aligned striations produced in the ionosphere by powerful high-frequency (HF) radio waves. The results of this investigation are now summarized. First, the striations' rise times are dependent on the HF electric field. The E region data suggest that this dependence is nonlinear. Second, the threshold value of the HF electric field required to produce detectable striations was experimentally determined. At threshold the component of the HF electric field perpendicular to the geomagnetic field is calculated to be 0.09 V/m in the F region and 0.37 V/m in the E region. Third, both the E and the F region data verify theoretical predictions that the striations' decay times are directly proportional to the electron diffusion across B. Finally, a one-to-one correspondence between the growth of the 3-m striations and the decline of the HF-enhanced plasma line during overshoot is sometimes observed.

Coster, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The ethereal rings of Jupiter and Saturn

The brighter main band of the Jovian ring, which is tenuous and exhibits little substructure, lies in the equatorial plane at 1.7-1.8 Jupiter radii, R(J); this is well within the Roche limit. Since dynamical evolution times and survival lifetimes for micron grains are of the order of less than 100-1000 years, the visible Jovian ring must be continuously replenished. It is suggested that most small grains are generated by micrometeoroids colliding into unseen parent bodies residing in the main band. The halo is composed of still smaller particles and is radially localized at about 1.3-1.7 R(J). Unlike the rings of Saturn and Uranus, the Jovian rings are distinguished by the determination of their form by single-particle dynamics rather than collective effects.

Burns, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Time-dependent dusty gasdynamical flow near cometary nuclei

This paper presents time-dependent solutions to the coupled dusty hydrodynamics equations describing the spherically symmetric expansion of cometary neutral gas in the vicinity of a cometary nucleus. The sublimation process is repressented by gas outflow from a dust-covered reservoir containing stationary gas whose pressure and density values are determined by the sublimating (Ts) and surface (T0) temperatures. The model resolves earlier ambiguities in determining gas production rates and provides analytic relations between Ts, T0, and the gas parameters at the sonic point. The time evolution of a cometary outburst was modeled. It was found that, as a result of the strong gas-dust interaction in the inner coma region, a 'slow' disturbance in both the dust and gas parameters will be created in addition to the familiar gas blast-wave solution. This new 'slow' disturbance, which propagates with a velocity of about 0.2 km/s, might be responsible for some of the observed slowly expanding cometary halos, such as the one which was recently identified using 1910 Mount Wilson high-resolution comet Halley photographs.

Gombosi, T. I.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Contribution of explosion and future collision fragments to the orbital debris environment

The time evolution of the near-earth man-made orbital debris environment modeled by numerical simulation is presented in this paper. The model starts with a data base of orbital debris objects which are tracked by the NORAD ground radar system. The current untrackable small objects are assumed to result from explosions and are predicted from data collected from a ground explosion experiment. Future collisions between earth orbiting objects are handled by the Monte Carlo method to simulate the range of collision possibilities that may occur in the real world. The collision fragmentation process between debris objects is calculated using an empirical formula derived from a laboratory spacecraft impact experiment to obtain the number versus size distribution of the newly generated debris population. The evolution of the future space debris environment is compared with the natural meteoroid background for the relative spacecraft penetration hazard.

Su, S.-Y.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Transition control by periodic suction-blowing

The applicability of active control of transition by period suction-blowing is investigated via direct numerical simulations of the Navier-Stokes equations. The time-evolution of finite-amplitude disturbances in plane channel flow is compared in detail with and without control. The analysis indicates that for relatively small three-dimensional amplitudes, a two-dimensional control effectively reduces disturbance growth rates even for linearly unstable Reynolds numbers. After the flow goes through secondary instability, three-dimensional control seems necessary to stabilize the flow. An investigation of the temperature field suggests that passive temperature contamination is operative to reflect the vorticity dynamics during transition.

Biringen, S.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Robustness of continuous-time adaptive control algorithms in the presence of unmodeled dynamics

This paper examines the robustness properties of existing adaptive control algorithms to unmodeled plant high-frequency dynamics and unmeasurable output disturbances. It is demonstrated that there exist two infinite-gain operators in the nonlinear dynamic system which determines the time-evolution of output and parameter errors. The pragmatic implications of the existence of such infinite-gain operators is that: (1) sinusoidal reference inputs at specific frequencies and/or (2) sinusoidal output disturbances at any frequency (including dc), can cause the loop gain to increase without bound, thereby exciting the unmodeled high-frequency dynamics, and yielding an unstable control system. Hence, it is concluded that existing adaptive control algorithms as they are presented in the literature referenced in this paper, cannot be used with confidence in practical designs where the plant contains unmodeled dynamics because instability is likely to result. Further understanding is required to ascertain how the currently implemented adaptive systems differ from the theoretical systems studied here and how further theoretical development can improve the robustness of adaptive controllers.

Rohrs, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Uniformly high order accurate essentially non-oscillatory schemes 3

In this paper (a third in a series) the construction and the analysis of essentially non-oscillatory shock capturing methods for the approximation of hyperbolic conservation laws are presented. Also presented is a hierarchy of high order accurate schemes which generalizes Godunov's scheme and its second order accurate MUSCL extension to arbitrary order of accuracy. The design involves an essentially non-oscillatory piecewise polynomial reconstruction of the solution from its cell averages, time evolution through an approximate solution of the resulting initial value problem, and averaging of this approximate solution over each cell. The reconstruction algorithm is derived from a new interpolation technique that when applied to piecewise smooth data gives high-order accuracy whenever the function is smooth but avoids a Gibbs phenomenon at discontinuities. Unlike standard finite difference methods this procedure uses an adaptive stencil of grid points and consequently the resulting schemes are highly nonlinear.

Harten, A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Nucleation experiments in a microgravity environment

A simple experimental apparatus is described in which a wide variety of vapor phase nucleation studies of refractory materials could be performed aboard NASA's KC-135 Research Aircraft. The chief advantage of a microgravity environment for these studies is the expected absence of thermally driven convective motions in the gas. The absence of convection leads to much more accurate knowledge of both the temperature distribution in the system and the time evolution of the refractory vapor concentration as a function of distance from the crucible.The evolution of the apparatus will be described as more experience is gained with the microgravity environment. Such experiments will be used to prepare for similar ones carried out aboard either the shuttle or Space Station where considerably longer duration experiments are possible.

Nuth, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Electromagnetic hot ion beam instabilities - Quasi-linear theory and simulation

This paper considers the quasi-linear theory of the right- and left-hand resonant electromagnetic instabilities driven by a hot ion beam streaming parallel to a magnetic field in a homogeneous Vlasov plasma. Using the single-mode approximation, the time evolutions of important parameters are obtained to show that for the range of parameters considered, reduction of the beam speed and formation of temperature anisotropies are the most significant factors in the quasi-linear stabilization process. Combining both instabilities in a quasi-linear study is found to produce a roughly equal mixture of both polarizations and relatively isotropic conditions for tenuous beam densities and low initial beam drift speeds. Computer simulations are used to compare with the quasi-linear results. The simulations justify the single-mode assumption, verify that quasi-linear changes are the means of saturation for the parameter range of concern, and check the nonlinear evolution of the system when both modes are present.

Rogers, B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The Toda lattice as a forced integrable system

The analytic properties of the Jost functions for the inverse scattering transform associated with the forced Toda lattice are shown to determine the time evolution of this particular boundary value problem. It is suggested that inverse scattering methods may be used generally to analyze forced integrable systems. Thus an extension of the applicability of the inverse scattering transform is indicated.

Hansen, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Evidence for beamed electrons in a limb X-ray flare observed by Hard X-Ray Imaging Spectrometer (HXIS)

The limb flare of November 18, 1980, 14:51 UT, was investigated on the basis of X-ray images taken by the Hard X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (HXIS) and of X-ray spectra from the Hard X-Ray Burst Spectrometer (HXRBS) aboard the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM). The impulsive burst was also recorded at microwave frequencies between 2 and 20 GHz whereas no optical flare and no radio event at frequencies below 1 GHz were reported. The flare occurred directly at the SW limb of the solar disk. Taking advantage of the spatial resolution of HXIS images, the time evolution of the X-radiation originating from relatively small source regions can be studied. Using Monte Carlo computations of the energy distribution of energetic electrons traversing the solar plasma, the bremsstrahlung spectra produced by the electrons were derived.

Haug, Eberhard↗