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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 289 records · Page 16

A Study of the Effects of Blade Shape on Rotor Noise

A new rotor noise prediction system called the Tiltrotor Aeroacoustic Code (TRAC) has been developed under the Short Haul (Civil Tiltrotor) program between NASA, the Army, and the U.S. helicopter industry. This system couples the comprehensive rotorcraft code CAMRAD.Mod1 with either the high resolution sectional loads code HIRES or the full potential CFD code FPRBVI to predict unsteady blade loads, which are then input to the noise prediction program WOPWOP. In this paper, HIRES will be used to predict the blade-vortex interaction (BVI) noise trends associated with blade shape. The baseline shape selected was a 17% scale model of a contemporary design 4 bladed rotor. Measurements for this rotor were acquired in the Duits-Nederslandse Windtunnel (DNW). The code is used to predict noise for the base configuration and the results are compared to the measured data. This provides a firm foundation for investigating the BVI noise trends associated with blade shape. The shapes selected for study are based on variation of sweep and taper which reflect plausible "passive" design concepts. Comparisons of power required, integrated noise, and aerodynamics are made and important trends are noted.

Jones, Henry E.↗

Reduced-Order Modeling of a Heaving Airfoil

A reduced-order model of a flapping airfoil is developed using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD). The proper basis functions, developed from snapshots of full Navier-Stokes simulations, are used for a Galerkin projection of the governing equations. The resulting coupled, nonlinear ordinary di.erential equations have a low dimension because the first few basis members capture most of the energy of the flow. The reduced-order model is used to simulate heaving motions that are both similar to and different from the motion(s) used to generate the basis functions, and the errors in the model are quantified. Several methods are used to generate mode sets that can be used over a range of heaving parameters, including snapshots from one, two, and multiple Navier-Stokes simulations. As snapshots from additional simulations are added to the decomposition, the mode sets become richer and can simulate a wider range of parameter space, at some computational cost. Whereas the POD method is fully applicable in three dimensions, the simulation technique based on a body-fixed and body-fitted grid suffers large overhead when extended to three dimensions. To reduce the overhead, an embedding technique is discussed which embeds the solid wing into a fixed Cartesian grid. The wing, which can now have multiple pieces and also be flexible, is represented by a distribution of body forces. This distribution is determined to give exactly the flow around a flapping wing.

Haj-Hariri, H.↗

Thermal Design of the Cassini Narrow Angle Camera

The Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) is one of two cameras in the Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) on the Cassini Spacecraft (S/C), the second camera is a Voyager-inherited Wide Angle Camera (WAC). Cassini is currently planned to be launched in October 1997 and will arrive at Saturn for a four year tour in June 2004. The Narrow Angle Optics are a Ritchey Chretien type Optics, has a focal length of 2000 mm, a relative aperture of f/10.5, a spectral range of 200 to 1100 nm, 24 filters, a pixel field of view of 6.0 microradian/pixel, and has a field of view of 3.5 x 3.5 degrees. The sensor is a Charged Couple Device (CCD), 1024 x 1024 pixels with a pixel size of 12 x 12 um, a full well greater than 50,000 e-, on chip processing of up to 800,000 e- pixel summation, a dark current of less than 0.1 e-/pixel/sec at operating temperature, and a charge transfer efficiency of 0.99999 at operating temperature...

Hoffman, Pamela↗

Modeling Climate Responses to Spectral Solar Forcing on Centennial and Decadal Time Scales

We report a series of experiments to explore clima~ responses to two types of solar spectral forcing on decadal and centennial time scales - one based on prior reconstructions, and another implied by recent observations from the SORCE (Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment) SIM (Spectral 1rradiance Monitor). We apply these forcings to the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) Global/Middle Atmosphere Model (GCMAM). that couples atmosphere with ocean, and has a model top near the mesopause, allowing us to examine the full response to the two solar forcing scenarios. We show different climate responses to the two solar forCing scenarios on decadal time scales and also trends on centennial time scales. Differences between solar maximum and solar minimum conditions are highlighted, including impacts of the time lagged reSponse of the lower atmosphere and ocean. This contrasts with studies that assume separate equilibrium conditions at solar maximum and minimum. We discuss model feedback mechanisms involved in the solar forced climate variations.

Wen, G.↗

Reduced Complexity Model Intercomparison Project Phase 2: Synthesizing Earth System Knowledge for Probabilistic Climate Projections

Over the last decades, climate science has evolved rapidly across multiple expert domains. Our best tools to capture state-of-the-art knowledge in an internally self-consistent modelling framework are the increasingly complex fully coupled Earth System Models (ESMs). However, computational limitations and the structural rigidity of ESMs mean that the full range of uncertainties across multiple domains are difficult to capture with ESMs alone. The tools of choice are instead more computationally efficient reduced complexity models (RCMs), which are structurally flexible and can span the response dynamics across a range of domain-specific models and ESM experiments. Here we present Phase 2 of the Reduced Complexity Model Intercomparison Project (RCMIP Phase 2), the first comprehensive intercomparison of RCMs that are probabilistically calibrated with key benchmark ranges from specialized research communities. Unsurprisingly, but crucially, we find that models which have been constrained to reflect the key benchmarks better reflect the key benchmarks. Under the low-emissions SSP1-1.9 scenario, across the RCMs, median peak warming projections range from 1.3 to 1.7°C (relative to 1850-1900, using an observationally-based historical warming estimate of 0.8°C between 1850-1900 and 1995-2014). Further developing methodologies to constrain these projection uncertainties seems paramount given the international community's goal to contain warming to below 1.5°C above pre-industrial in the long-term. Our findings suggest that users of RCMs should carefully evaluate their RCM, specifically its skill against key benchmarks and consider the need to include projections benchmarks either from ESM results or other assessments to reduce divergence in future projections.

Climate↗

A Modular Conjugate Heat Transfer Optimization Framework for Thermal Management of Electric Aircraft

Conjugate heat transfer (CHT) analysis and optimization is a powerful method for improving thermal management, as it simultaneously resolves the temperature distribution in both fluid and solid domains. This paper presents a modular, discrete adjoint-based CHT optimization capability integrated within the OpenMDAO/MPhys framework. A unique feature of the proposed framework is its flexibility to extend to multidisciplinary optimization, including aero-structural-thermal applications. The fluid domain is modeled using a finite-volume Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solver, and the solid domain with a conduction heat transfer solver. A mixed Neumann-Dirichlet boundary condition is developed to enable full submersion of the solid geometry within the fluid domain, while ensuring consistent temperature and heat flux coupling at the CHT interface. Gradient-based optimization is performed; the gradients are efficiently computed using the discrete adjoint solvers implemented in DAFoam. To demonstrate the method, this paper considers two cases related to electric aircraft thermal management: a U-bend heat exchanger and an actively cooled battery pack. The U-bend case aims to minimize pressure loss while maximizing heat flux by changing the pipe geometry. The optimized design reduces pressure loss by 52.7% and increases total heat flux by 2.3%. In the battery pack case, a 3-by-3 cell configuration is cooled by ambient airflow, with constant heat generation prescribed in the cells. The battery casing shape serves as the design variable, and the objective function is a weighted sum of pressure loss and pack weight, subject to a maximum temperature constraint. The optimized design achieves a 44.6% reduction in pressure loss and a 1.5% reduction in weight, while satisfying the thermal constraint. To ensure the reliability of the optimized designs, this study validates coarse-mesh, steady-state predictions against fine-mesh unsteady simulations, demonstrating consistency within acceptable errors. This work demonstrates the potential of the developed framework to enable rapid, high-fidelity design of thermal management systems for electric aircraft.

heat transfer↗

Theoretical study of the nitrogen atom hyperfine coupling constant

The nitrogen-atom isotropic hyperfine coupling constant A(iso) is studied as a function of improvements in both the one-particle and n-particle basis sets. The study underscores the importance of diffuse basis functions. For example, the (9s 5p) primitive set of Huzinaga (1965) augmented with an even-tempered diffuse s function yields values for A(iso) that are virtually identical to an energy-optimized (23s 12p) even-tempered set. The A(iso) constant is found to converge relatively quickly with increasing l quantum numbers: d, f, and g functions are estimated to contribute 2.5 + or - 0.2, 0.4 + or - 0.1, and 0.05 + or - 0.05 MHz, respectively. Full CI calibration calculations indicate that very high levels of correlation treatment are required for quantitative results. In addition, a strong coupling is observed between the one-particle and n-particle requirements. The best result, 10.4 MHz, is in excellent agreement with the accurate experimental value of 10.4509 MHz.

Bauschlicher, Charles W., Jr.↗

Investigation of the three-dimensional flow field within a transonic fan rotor: Experiment and analysis

An experimental investigation of the three dimensional flow field through a low aspect ratio, transonic, axial flow fan rotor has been conducted using an advanced laser anemometer (LA) system. Laser velocimeter measurements of the rotor flow field at the design operating speed and over a range of through flow conditions are compared to analytical solutions. The numerical technique used herein yields the solution to the full, three dimensional, unsteady Euler equations using an explicit time marching, finite volume approach. The numerical analysis, when coupled with a simplified boundary layer calculation, generally yields good agreement with the experimental data. The test rotor has an aspect ratio of 1.56, a design total pressure ratio of 1.629 and a tip relative Mach number of 1.38. The high spatial resolution of the LA data matrix (9 radial by 30 axial by 50 blade to blade) permits details of the transonic flow field such as shock location, turning distribution and blade loading levels to be investigated and compared to analytical results.

Pierzga, M. J.↗

On the interaction between dust and gas in late-type stellar atmospheres and winds

An assumption inherent to most models of dust-driven winds from cool, evolved stars is that the radiative and collisional drag forces acting on an individual dust grain are in balance throughout the flow. We have checked the validity of this supposition of 'complete momentum coupling' by comparing the grain motion obtained from such a model with that derived from solution of the full grain equation of motion. For physical conditions typical of the circumstellar envelopes of oxygen-rich red giants, we find that silicate grains with initial radii smaller than about 5 x 10 exp -6 cm decouple from the ambient gas near the base of the outflow. The implications of these results for models of dust-driven mass loss from late-type giants and supergiants are discussed.

Macgregor, K. B.↗

High-Power, High-Thrust Ion Thruster (HPHTion)

Advances in high-power photovoltaic technology have enabled the possibility of reasonably sized, high-specific power solar arrays. At high specific powers, power levels ranging from 50 to several hundred kilowatts are feasible. Ion thrusters offer long life and overall high efficiency (typically greater than 70 percent efficiency). In Phase I, the team at ElectroDynamic Applications, Inc., built a 25-kW, 50-cm ion thruster discharge chamber and fabricated a laboratory model. This was in response to the need for a single, high-powered engine to fill the gulf between the 7-kW NASA's Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) system and a notional 25-kW engine. The Phase II project matured the laboratory model into a protoengineering model ion thruster. This involved the evolution of the discharge chamber to a high-performance thruster by performance testing and characterization via simulated and full beam extraction testing. Through such testing, the team optimized the design and built a protoengineering model thruster. Coupled with gridded ion thruster technology, this technology can enable a wide range of missions, including ambitious near-Earth NASA missions, Department of Defense missions, and commercial satellite activities.

Peterson, Peter Y.↗

Reanalyzing Environmental Lidar Data for Archaeology: Mesoamerican Applications and Implications

This paper presents a preliminary archaeological assessment of extensive transects of lidar recently collected by environmental scientists over southern Mexico using the G-LiHT system of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. In particular, this article offers the results of a first phase of research, consisting of: 1) characterization and classification of the cultural and ecological context of the samples, and 2) bare earth processing and visual inspection of a sample of the flight paths for identification of probable anthropogenic Precolumbian features. These initial results demonstrate that significant contributions to understanding variations in Precolumbian land-use and settlement patterns and change is possible with truly multi-regional lidar surveys not originally captured for archaeological prospection. We point to future directions for the development of archaeological applications of this robust data set. Finally, we offer the potential for enriching archaeological research through tightly coupled collaborations with environmental science and monitoring. Archaeologists in the neotropics can acquire more data, better realize the full potential of lidar surveys, and better contribute to interdisciplinary studies of human-environmental dynamic systems through regionally focused and collaborative scientific research.

Golden, Charles↗

Semi-Supervised Learning of Lift Optimization of Multi-Element Three-Segment Variable Camber Airfoil

This chapter describes a new intelligent platform for learning optimal designs of morphing wings based on Variable Camber Continuous Trailing Edge Flaps (VCCTEF) in conjunction with a leading edge flap called the Variable Camber Krueger (VCK). The new platform consists of a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methodology coupled with a semi-supervised learning methodology. The CFD component of the intelligent platform comprises of a full Navier-Stokes solution capability (NASA OVERFLOW solver with Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model) that computes flow over a tri-element inboard NASA Generic Transport Model (GTM) wing section. Various VCCTEF/VCK settings and configurations were considered to explore optimal design for high-lift flight during take-off and landing. To determine globally optimal design of such a system, an extremely large set of CFD simulations is needed. This is not feasible to achieve in practice. To alleviate this problem, a recourse was taken to a semi-supervised learning (SSL) methodology, which is based on manifold regularization techniques. A reasonable space of CFD solutions was populated and then the SSL methodology was used to fit this manifold in its entirety, including the gaps in the manifold where there were no CFD solutions available. The SSL methodology in conjunction with an elastodynamic solver (FiDDLE) was demonstrated in an earlier study involving structural health monitoring. These CFD-SSL methodologies define the new intelligent platform that forms the basis for our search for optimal design of wings. Although the present platform can be used in various other design and operational problems in engineering, this chapter focuses on the high-lift study of the VCK-VCCTEF system. Top few candidate design configurations were identified by solving the CFD problem in a small subset of the design space. The SSL component was trained on the design space, and was then used in a predictive mode to populate a selected set of test points outside of the given design space. The new design test space thus populated was evaluated by using the CFD component by determining the error between the SSL predictions and the true (CFD) solutions, which was found to be small. This demonstrates the proposed CFD-SSL methodologies for isolating the best design of the VCK-VCCTEF system, and it holds promise for quantitatively identifying best designs of flight systems, in general.

Intelligent Systems↗

Identifying Outside Influences as Latent Factors to Risk in Human Performance

During the Acquisition Life Cycle for a program, there are several opportunities for the system in design to be adjusted in accordance with its changing landscape as it is being shaped by evolving policy and organizational culture. Human Systems Integration is integral to identifying these opportunities of change as there are a set number of activities that may account for altered operational states, human performance deviations, and overall component engagement if HSI is enacted early enough in the life cycle. Some changes that occur in the operational environment may not be accounted for since the organizational culture and practices are not currently a part of the HSI focus. Likewise, policy changes themselves from a top-to-bottom analysis may not have the appearance of effecting human performance until having gone through a trail-and-error period. Workarounds to adjust for unforeseen policy affects become the system's solution that usually includes changes in the training and education of the operators, maintainers, and support personnel. A system full of workarounds and off-normal practices, that cause operators to disregard the purpose of the design, coupled with the false notion that these activities are proven for successful system operation, is the very definition of “an accident waiting to happen”. Unforeseen changes in policies and practices that cause new and unusual activities to successfully and keep the system running, should be considered latent factors that may cause a potential mishap, and not part of the resilience that humans provide to the successful operation of the system. This presentation will explore how latent factors may find their way into system operations and how they can be identified and addressed.

Human Systems Integration↗

Turbulence modeling of free shear layers for high performance aircraft

In many flowfield computations, accuracy of the turbulence model employed is frequently a limiting factor in the overall accuracy of the computation. This is particularly true for complex flowfields such as those around full aircraft configurations. Free shear layers such as wakes, impinging jets (in V/STOL applications), and mixing layers over cavities are often part of these flowfields. Although flowfields have been computed for full aircraft, the memory and CPU requirements for these computations are often excessive. Additional computer power is required for multidisciplinary computations such as coupled fluid dynamics and conduction heat transfer analysis. Massively parallel computers show promise in alleviating this situation, and the purpose of this effort was to adapt and optimize CFD codes to these new machines. The objective of this research effort was to compute the flowfield and heat transfer for a two-dimensional jet impinging normally on a cool plate. The results of this research effort were summarized in an AIAA paper titled 'Parallel Implementation of the k-epsilon Turbulence Model'. Appendix A contains the full paper.

Sondak, Douglas↗

Flow studies in close-coupled ventral nozzles for STOVL aircraft

Flow in a generic ventral nozzle system was studied experimentally and analytically with the PARC3D computational fluid dynamics program (a full Navier-Stokes equations solver) in order to evaluate the program's ability to predict system performance and internal flow patterns. A generic model of a tailpipe with a rectangular ventral nozzle, about one-third of full size, was tested with unheated air at steady-state pressure ratios up to 4.0. Measurements showed about 5.5 percent flow-turning loss and reasonable nozzle performance coefficients. The flow turned more than the designed 90 deg, causing an aftward axial component in the total thrust. Flow behavior into and through the ventral duct is discussed and illustrated with paint streak flow visualization photographs. PARC3D graphic images are shown for comparison with the experiment photographs. The program successfully predicted internal flow patterns; it also computed thrust and discharge coefficients within 1 percent of measured values.

Mcardle, Jack G.↗

Full Scale Rotor Aeroacoustic Predictions and the Link to Model Scale Rotor Data

The NASA Aeroacoustic Prediction System (NAPS) is used to establish a link between model-scale and full-scale rotor predictions and is partially validated against measured wind tunnel and flight aeroacoustic data. The prediction approach of NAPS couples a comprehensive rotorcraft analysis with acoustic source noise and propagation codes. The comprehensive analysis selected for this study is CAMRAD-II, which provides the performance/trim/wake solution for a given rotor or flight condition. The post-trim capabilities of CAMRAD-II are used to compute high-resolution sectional airloads for the acoustic tone noise analysis, WOPMOD. The tone noise is propagated to observers on the ground with the propagation code, RNM (Rotor Noise Model). Aeroacoustic predictions are made with NAPS for an isolated rotor and compared to results of the second Harmonic Aeroacoustic Rotor Test (HART-II) program, which tested a 40% dynamically and Mach-scaled BO-105 main rotor at the DNW. The NAPS is validated with comparisons for three rotor conditions: a baseline condition and two Higher Harmonic Control (HHC) conditions. To establish a link between model and full-scale rotor predictions, a full-scale BO-105 main rotor input deck for NAPS is created from the 40% scale rotor input deck. The full-scale isolated rotor predictions are then compared to the model predictions. The comparisons include aerodynamic loading, acoustic levels, and acoustic pressure time histories for each of the three conditions. With this link established, full-scale predictions are made for a range of descent flight conditions and compared with measured trends from the recent Rotorcraft Operational Noise Abatement Procedures (RONAP) flight test conducted by DLR and ONERA. Additionally, the effectiveness of two HHC conditions from the HART-II program is demonstrated for the full-scale rotor in flight.

Boyd, D. Douglas, Jr.↗

Approach to Integrate Global-Sun Models of Magnetic Flux Emergence and Transport for Space Weather Studies

The Sun lies at the center of space weather and is the source of its variability. The primary input to coronal and solar wind models is the activity of the magnetic field in the solar photosphere. Recent advancements in solar observations and numerical simulations provide a basis for developing physics-based models for the dynamics of the magnetic field from the deep convection zone of the Sun to the corona with the goal of providing robust near real-time boundary conditions at the base of space weather forecast models. The goal is to develop new strategic capabilities that enable characterization and prediction of the magnetic field structure and flow dynamics of the Sun by assimilating data from helioseismology and magnetic field observations into physics-based realistic magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations. The integration of first-principle modeling of solar magnetism and flow dynamics with real-time observational data via advanced data assimilation methods is a new, transformative step in space weather research and prediction. This approach will substantially enhance an existing model of magnetic flux distribution and transport developed by the Air Force Research Lab. The development plan is to use the Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF) to develop Coupled Models for Emerging flux Simulations (CMES) that couples three existing models: (1) an MHD formulation with the anelastic approximation to simulate the deep convection zone (FSAM code), (2) an MHD formulation with full compressible Navier-Stokes equations and a detailed description of radiative transfer and thermodynamics to simulate near-surface convection and the photosphere (Stagger code), and (3) an MHD formulation with full, compressible Navier-Stokes equations and an approximate description of radiative transfer and heating to simulate the corona (Module in BATS-R-US). CMES will enable simulations of the emergence of magnetic structures from the deep convection zone to the corona. Finally, a plan will be summarized on the development of a Flux Emergence Prediction Tool (FEPT) in which helioseismology-derived data and vector magnetic maps are assimilated into CMES that couples the dynamics of magnetic flux from the deep interior to the corona.

Mansour, Nagi N.↗

Nonlinear Dynamic Modeling of a Supersonic Commercial Transport Turbo-Machinery Propulsion System for Aero-Propulso-Servo-Elasticity Research

This paper covers the development of an integrated nonlinear dynamic model for a variable cycle turbofan engine, supersonic inlet, and convergent-divergent nozzle that can be integrated with an aeroelastic vehicle model to create an overall Aero-Propulso-Servo-Elastic (APSE) modeling tool. The primary focus of this study is to provide a means to capture relevant thrust dynamics of a full supersonic propulsion system by using relatively simple quasi-one dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods that will allow for accurate control algorithm development and capture the key aspects of the thrust to feed into an APSE model. Previously, propulsion system component models have been developed and are used for this study of the fully integrated propulsion system. An overview of the methodology is presented for the modeling of each propulsion component, with a focus on its associated coupling for the overall model. To conduct APSE studies the described dynamic propulsion system model is integrated into a high fidelity CFD model of the full vehicle capable of conducting aero-elastic studies. Dynamic thrust analysis for the quasi-one dimensional dynamic propulsion system model is presented along with an initial three dimensional flow field model of the engine integrated into a supersonic commercial transport.

Control Theory↗