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At least 271 records · Page 15

The Wiener-Hermite expansion applied to decaying isotropic turbulence using a renormalized time-dependent base

The problem of decaying isotropic turbulence has been studied using a Wiener-Hermite expansion with a renormalized time-dependent base. The theory is largely deductive and uses no modeling approximations. It has been found that many properties of large-Reynolds-number turbulence can be calculated (at least for moderate time) using the moving-base expansion alone. Such properties found are the spectrum shape in the dissipation range, the Kolmogorov constant, and the energy cascade in the inertial subrange. Furthermore, by using a renormalization scheme, it is possible to extend the calculation to larger times and to initial conditions significantly different from the equilibrium form. If the initial spectrum is the Kolmogorov spectrum perturbed with a spike or dip in the inertial subrange, the process proceeds to eliminate the perturbation and relax to the preferred spectrum shape. The turbulence decays with the proper dissipation rate, and several other properties are found to agree with measured data. The theory is also used to calculate the energy transfer and the flatness factor of turbulence.

Hogge, H. D.↗

Time-dependence of sea-ice concentration and multiyear ice fraction in the Arctic Basin

Microwave images of sea ice obtained by Nimbus-5 and the NASA CV-990 airborne laboratory are used to determine the time variation of the sea-ice concentration and multiyear ice fraction within the pack ice in the Arctic Basin. The images, constructed from data acquired from the electrically scanned microwave radiometer, are analyzed for four seasons during 1973-1975. Observations indicate significant variations in the sea-ice concentration in the spring, late fall, and early winter. Sea-ice concentrations as low as 50% were detected in large areas in the interior of the Arctic polar sea-ice pack. The applicability of passive-microwave remote sensing for monitoring the time dependence of sea-ice concentration is considered.

Gloersen, P.↗

A model for gas phase chemistry in interstellar clouds. II - Nonequilibrium effects and effects of temperature and activation energies

The chemical evolution of diffuse and dense interstellar clouds is examined via the time-dependent model outlined by Prasad and Huntress (1980). This paper presents specific results for CH, CO, CH4, O2, CH2O, CN, C2, C2H, HC3N, and NH3. Comparison with observations and predictions of other contemporary models show that cloud temperature plays a very important role through the inverse temperature dependence of radiative association reactions and through activation energies in neutral reactions and selected ion-molecule reactions. The observed fractional abundance of CN with respect to H2 and more accurate recent laboratory data on CN + O and CN + O2 reactions suggest that there is an unidentified, yet efficient, mechanism for conversion of O and O2 into polyatomic species. C2H and HC3N are synthesized early in the history of dense clouds. The value of the fractional abundance of C2H remains high, because as the cloud cools down the activation energy in the C2H + O reaction closes down this most important loss channel. A rapidly decreasing fractional abundance of O with time can also accomplish the same result. The value of the fractional abundance of HC3N remains high because it is an unreactive molecule and probably does not condense readily onto grains.

Prasad, S. S.↗

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.↗

An analytic formulation for heating source memory in the thermospheric composition

Numerical calculations from a spectral circulation model are utilized to construct an analytic Green's function formulation describing the meridional, time-dependent thermospheric composition and temperature response during magnetic storms. The purpose is to develop a formulation that embodies source memory while being sufficiently simple to serve as a heuristic guide for empirical modeling. By passing from the discrete Fourier series representation, utilized for the numerical circulation model, to a continuous Fourier integral representation, explicit waves are obtained for the thermospheric response times. The response times are altitude and species dependent and can exceed two days below 200 km. Thus, for certain storm scenarios, pronounced source memory signatures for the composition and temperature are predicted. Response times obtained from the formulation are shown to give a response consistent with previously published neutral composition data from AE-C for the February 1974 storm when an ap dependent heat source is employed.

Porter, H. S.↗

Temperature-dependent creep buckling of plates

Time-dependent lateral deflection of flat rectangular plates is predicted by the Norton-Bailey (Norton 1929, Bailey 1935) power law for material creep. The plates have a through-thickness steady-state temperature distribution, and the effects are considered by using Maxwell's law to modify the power creep law. Equations are derived for creep exponents of 3 and 5, using the sandwich plate element to predict creep buckling of plates. Predictions of creep buckling with a temperature variation between the inner and outer plate surfaces are found to be somewhat dependent on the creep buckling relationship assumed. When significant scatter justifies a variation in the creep constants up to an order of magnitude, discrepancies in predictions using the two exponents are reasonable, and for one engineering material, the predictions have the same degree of agreement with experimental data as have the respective creep laws.

Ross, D. A.↗

The viscoelastic response of a graphite/epoxy laminate

An accelerated characterization procedure has been developed for time-dependent compliances and strengths of resin-matrix composites. The procedure, which is based on a time-temperature-stress superposition principle, is applied to a graphite/epoxy laminate T300/934. Creep rupture analytical models are discussed, and model predictions are compared with experimental data. Master curves for the creep compliances are given.

Brinson, H. F.↗

Solar UV variability - Effects on stratospheric ozone, trace constituents and thermal structure

The effect of long-term (11-year solar cycle) solar UV variability on stratospheric chemical and thermal structure has been studied using a time-dependent one-dimensional model. Previous studies have suggested substantial variations in local and total ozone, and in stratospheric thermal structure from solar minimum to solar maximum. It is shown that significant variations also occur in some of the trace constituents. Members of the HOx family and N2O exhibit the largest variations, and these changes, if detected, may provide additional means of verifying the presence of solar UV variability and its effects. Some of the species show large phase differences with the assumed solar flux variation. The role of chemical and transport time constants on the time variations of the trace species is examined. Comparisons with reported ozone and temperature data show reasonable agreement for the period 1960 to 1972.

Natarajan, M.↗

The steady global corona

The formation of the steady coronal structure which consists of coronal streamers and holes is seen in terms of a model employing numerical solutions of time-dependent, dissipationless, magnetohydrodynamic equations of motion applicable to the meridional plane. A coronal streamer consists of closed magnetic field lines near the solar surface with overlying and adjacent open field lines, and the atmosphere, which is stationary in the closed region, flows outward in the open region, or coronal hole. The steady coronal structure is obtained by starting the numerical calculation with a state comprising a polytropic, hydrodynamical solution to the steady-state radial equation of motion coupled with a dipole magnetic field. Global coronal configurations are calculated for values of the plasma beta which vary from 0.1 to 100. It is found that the height and lateral extension of the closed region are only weakly dependent on the data.

Steinolfson, R. S.↗

Unsteady rotor aerodynamics using a vortex panel method

The problem of the potential incompressible flow about a helicopter rotor blade is solved using an unsteady vortex-panel method where the mutual interaction between the blade and the distorting free wake is taken into account. The present method alleviates the need to rely upon measured-wake geometries or p5escribed-wake models in order to calculate the airloads. A computer program has been developed which is capable of predicting the geometry of the time-dependent three-dimensional (3-D) wake and the instantaneous loadings for a single blade in hover, climb, and forward flight. The solution is obtained by using a time-accurate step-by-step procedure. The complex-wake geometry at any time is presented graphically with a computer graphics system. Calculated results are compared with published data for a rotor blade in both hover and forward flight. The code has also been applied to the study of the effect of changing blade tip geometry.

Crispin, Y.↗

Fine-scale structure of the Jovian magnetotail current sheet

New evidence concerning the detailed structure of the magnetic field in and near the Jovian tail sheet is presented, and nonunique temporal variations in the sheet structure are deduced. Data from Voyagers 1 and 2 are used to show that the local sheet structure, while tending to vary with time and distance from Jupiter, generally corresponds to one of four general types. The four types are classified using examples, and possible geometries associated with each type are identified. The locations of the different types of sheet crossings are pointed out and discussed. The possibility of reconnection occurring at the current sheet is discussed through analogy with the terrestrial magnetotail. It is concluded that the results support the view that reconnection occurs in the Jovian magnetotail as a time-dependent, and possibly spatially localized, process.

Behannon, K. W.↗

Physical processes in the strong magnetic fields of accreting neutron stars

Analytical formulae are fitted to observational data on physical processes occurring in strong magnetic fields surrounding accreting neutron stars. The propagation of normal modes in the presence of a quantizing magnetic field is discussed in terms of a wave equation in Fourier space, quantum electrodynamic effects, polarization and mode ellipticity. The results are applied to calculating the Thomson scattering, bremsstrahlung and Compton scattering cross-sections, which are a function of the frequency, angle and polarization of the magnetic field. Numerical procedures are explored for solving the radiative transfer equations. When applied to modeling X ray pulsars, a problem arises in the necessity to couple the magnetic angle and frequency dependence of the cross-sections with the hydrodynamic equations. The use of time-dependent averaging and approximation techniques is indicated.

Meszaros, P.↗

A 3-dimensional Navier-Stokes-Euler code for blunt-body flow computations

The shock-layer flowfield is obtained with or without viscous and heat-conducting dissipations from the conservative laws of fluid dynamics equations using a shock-fitting implicity finite-difference technique. The governing equations are cast in curvilinear-orthogonal coordinates and transformed to the domain between the shock and the body. Another set of equations is used for the singular coordinate axis, which, together with a cone generator away from the stagnation point, encloses the computation domain. A time-dependent alternating direction implicit factorization technique is applied to integrate the equations with local-time increment until a steady solution is reached. The shock location is updated after the flowfield computation, but the wall conditions are implemented into the implicit procedure. Innovative procedures are introduced to define the initial flowfield, to treat both perfect and equilibrium gases, to advance the solution on a coarse-to-fine grid sequence, and to start viscous flow computations from their corresponding inviscid solutions. The results are obtained from a grid no greater than 28 by 18 by 7 and converged within 300 integration steps. They are of sufficient accuracy to start parabolized Navier-Stokes or Euler calculations beyond the nose region, to compare with flight and wind-tunnel data, and to evaluate conceptual designs of reentry spacecraft.

Li, C. P.↗

Calculation of steady and unsteady airfoil flow fields via the Navier-Stokes equations

A compressible time-dependent procedure for the two-dimensional ensemble averaged Navier-Stokes equations has been applied to the isolated airfoil problem in steady and unsteady flows. The procedure solves the governing equations via the linearized block implicit technique. Turbulence is modeled either via a mixing length or turbulence energy approach. The equations are solved in general non-orthogonal form with no-slip boundary conditions applied at the airfoil surface. Results are presented for airfoils at constant incidence, an airfoil in ramp motion and an airfoil oscillating through a dynamic stall loop. In general, steady converged solutions are obtained within 70 time steps over the range of Mach numbers considered. Comparisons with measured data show good agreement between computation and measurement.

Shamroth, S. J.↗

Finite difference simulation of unsteady interactive flows

The development of time-dependent numerical simulations of unsteady interactive flows of an aerodynamic nature is reviewed with emphasis on compressible flows at flight Reynolds numbers and noniterative schemes based on Navier-Stokes equations. The importance of writing the equations in strong conservation-law form for a generalized body-oriented coordinate system is pointed out. The discussion covers time and length scales and numerical methods currently in use. Some computed results are presented and compared with experimental data.

Deiwert, G. S.↗

Turbulence Modeling for Unsteady Transonic Flows

Conditionally sampled, ensemble-averaged velocity measurements, made with a laser velocimeter, were taken in the flowfield over the rear half of an 18% thick circular arc airfoil at zero incidence tested at M = 0.76 and at a Reynolds number based on chord of 11 x 10(exp 6). Data for one cycle of periodic unsteady flow having a reduced frequency f of 0.49 are analyzed. A series of compression waves, which develop in the early stages of the cycle, strengthen and coalesce into a strong shock wave that moves toward the airfoil leading edge. A thick shear layer forms downstream of the shock wave. The kinetic energy and shear stresses increase dramatically, reach a maximum when dissipation and diffusion of the turbulence exceed production, and then decrease substantially. The response lime of the turbulence to the changes brought about by the shock-wave passage upstream depends on the shock-wave strength and position in the boundary layer. The cycle completes itself when the shock wave passes the midchord, weakens, and the shear layer collapses. Remarkably good comparisons are found with computations that employ the time-dependent Reynolds averaged form of the Navier-Stokes equations using an algebraic eddy viscosity model, developed for steady flows.

Marvin, J. G.↗

Turbulence Modeling for Unsteady Transonic Flows

Conditionally sampled, ensemble-averaged velocity measurements, made with a laser velocimeter, were taken in the flowfield over the rear half of an 18% thick circular arc airfoil at zero incidence tested at M = 0.76 and of a Reynolds number based on chord of 11 x 10(exp 6). Data for one cycle of periodic unsteady flow having a reduced frequency bar-f of 0.49 are analyzed. A series of compression waves, which develop in the early stages of the cycle, strengthen and coalesce into a strong shock wave that moves toward the airfoil leading edge. A thick shear layer forms downstream of the shock wave. The kinetic energy and shear stresses increase dramatically, reach a maximum when dissipation and diffusion of the turbulence exceed production, and then decrease substantially. The response time of the turbulence to the changes brought about by the shock-wave passage upstream depends on the shock-wave strength and position in the boundary layer. The cycle completes itself when the shock wave passes the midchord, weakens, and the shear layer collapses. Remarkably good comparisons are found with computations that employ the time-dependent Reynolds averaged form of the Navier-Stokes equations using an algebraic eddy viscosity model, developed for steady flows.

Marvin, J. G.↗

High-Fidelity Modeling Approach for Coupling Thermal, Fluid, and Neutronic Analysis in an NTP Engine

Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP), with its increased efficiency compared to traditional rocket engines, is a potentially enabling technology for space missions of higher complexity, such as delivering heavy machinery or crew to the moon or other planets. Thus, exploring modeling approaches that can effectively couple the thermal, fluid, and neutronic behaviors of NTP reactors is essential to mitigate cost and schedule challenges with hardware development. This paper details one such approach which utilizes Cardinal to unify reactor physics analysis performed using OpenMC, heat transfer analysis performed using the MOOSE framework, and thermal hydraulic analysis performed using the MOOSE Thermal Hydraulic Module. This approach is demonstrated with a proof of concept that focuses on a legacy reactor geometry from the historic NERVA program. This preliminary model found an overprediction in, when compared to the reference data, axial power peaking and the temperatures of both solids and fluids by roughly 20%. It is clear, however, that the model conserved a number of broad trends, and a few model refinements should reduce the observed error. This approach has definite merit and should enable the production of informative results for more modern NTP systems. This work is a first step in creating a transient reactor model that can be updated across a sequence of time steps based on continually fluctuating, time-dependent boundary conditions.

Nuclear Thermal Propulsion↗