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At least 307 records · Page 17

Large-Amplitude Longitudinal Oscillations in a Solar Filament

We have developed the first self-consistent model for the observed large-amplitude oscillations along filament axes that explains the restoring force and damping mechanism. We have investigated the oscillations of multiple threads formed in long, dipped flux tubes through the thermal nonequilibrium process, and found that the oscillation properties predicted by our simulations agree with the observed behavior. We then constructed a model for the large-amplitude longitudinal oscillations that demonstrates that the restoring force is the projected gravity in the tube where the threads oscillate. Although the period is independent of the tube length and the constantly growing mass, the motions are strongly damped by the steady accretion of mass onto the threads by thermal nonequilibrium. The observations and our model suggest that a nearby impulsive event drives the existing prominence threads along their supporting tubes, away from the heating deposition site, without destroying them. The subsequent oscillations occur because the displaced threads reside in magnetic concavities with large radii of curvature. Our model yields a powerful seismological method for constraining the coronal magnetic field and radius of curvature of dips. Furthermore, these results indicate that the magnetic structure is most consistent with the sheared-arcade model for filament channels.

lament axes↗

Unsteady, Transonic Flow Around Delta Wings Undergoing Coupled and Natural Modes Response: A Multidisciplinary Problem

The unsteady, three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations coupled with the Euler equations of rigid-body dynamics are sequentially solved to simulate and analyze the aerodynamic response of a high angle of attack delta wing undergoing oscillatory motion. The governing equations of fluid flow and dynamics of the multidisciplinary problem are solved using a time-accurate solution of the laminar, unsteady, compressible, full Navier- Stokes equations with the implicit, upwind, Roe flux-difference splitting, finite-volume scheme and a four-stage Runge-Kutta scheme, respectively. The primary model under consideration consists of a 65 deg swept, sharp-edged, cropped delta wing of zero thickness at 20 deg angle of attack. In a freestream of Mach 0.85 and Reynolds number of 3.23 x 10(exp 6), the flow over the upper surface of the wing develops a complex shock system which interacts with the leading-edge primary vortices producing vortex breakdown. The effect of the oscillatory motion of the wing on the vortex breakdown and overall aerodynamic response is detailed to provide insight to the complicated physics associated with unsteady flows and the phenomenon of wing rock. Forced sinusoidal single and coupled mode rolling and pitching motion is presented for the wing in a transonic freestream. The Reynolds number, frequency of oscillation, and the phase angle are varied. Comparison between the single and coupled mode forced rolling and pitching oscillation cases illustrate the effects of coupling the motion. This investigation shows that even when coupled, forced rolling oscillation at a reduced frequency of 2(pi) eliminates the vortex breakdown which results in an increase in lift. The coupling effect for in phase forced oscillations show that the lift coefficient of the pitching-alone case and the rolling-moment coefficient of the rolling-alone case dominate the resulting response. However, with a phase lead in the pitching motion, the coupled motion results in a non-periodic response of the rolling moment. The second class of problems involve releasing the wing in roll to respond to the flowfield. Two models of sharp-edged delta wings, the previous 65 deg swept model and an 80 deg swept, sharp-edged delta wing, are used to observe the aerodynamic response of a wing free to roll in a transonic and subsonic freestream, respectively. These cases demonstrate damped oscillations, self-sustained limit cycle oscillations, and divergent rolling oscillations. Ultimately, an active control model using a mass injection system was applied on the surface of the wing to suppress the self-sustained limit cycle oscillation known as wing rock. Comparisons with experimental investigations complete this study, validating the analysis and illustrating the complex details afforded by computational investigations.

Menzies, Margaret Anne↗

On the wave forcing of the semi-annual zonal wind oscillation

Observational evidence of rather large period waves (23-60 d) in the troposphere/stratosphere, particularly during the winter months, is presented. Wind data collected on a regular basis employing high-altitude balloons and meteorological rockets over the past few years are used. Maximum entropy methods applied to the time series of zonal wind data indicate the presence of 23-60-waves more prominently than shorter-period waves. The waves have substantial amplitudes in the stratosphere and lower mesosphere, often larger than those noted in the troposphere. The mean zonal wind in the troposphere (5-15 km altitude) during December, January, and February exhibits the presence of strong westerlies at latitudes between 8 and 21 deg N.

Nagpal, O. P.↗

Effects of Resonance in Quasi-Periodic Oscillators of Neutron Star Binaries

Using a large quantity of Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer data presented in the literature, I offer a detailed investigation into the accuracy of the quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) frequency determination. The QPO phenomenon seen in X-ray binaries is possibly a result of the resonance of the intrinsic (eigen) oscillations and harmonic driving forces of the system. I show that the resonances, in the presence of the damping of oscillations, occur at frequencies that are systematically and randomly shifted with respect to the eigenfrequencies of the system. The shift value strongly depends on the damping rate that is measured by the half-width of the QPO feature. Taking into account this effect, I analyze the QPO data for four Z sources, Scorpius X-I, GX 340+0, GX 5-1, and GX 17+2, and two atoll sources, 4U 1728-34 and 4U 0614+09. The transition-layer model (TLM) predicts the existence of the invariant quantity delta, an inclination angle of the magnetospheric axis with respect to the normal to the disk. I calculate delta and the error bars of delta using the resonance shift, and I find that the inferred delta-values are consistent with constants for these four Z sources, in which horizontal-branch oscillation and kilohertz frequencies have been detected and correctly identified. It is shown that the inferred delta are in the range between 5.5 deg and 6.5 deg. I conclude that the TLM seems to be compatible with the data.

Titarchuk, Lev↗

Navier-Stokes prediction of large-amplitude forced and free-to-roll delta-wing oscillations

The three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged, Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations are used to numerically simulate nonsteady vortical flow about a 65 degree sweep delta wing at 30 degrees angle of attack. Two large-amplitude, high-rate, forced-roll motions and a damped free-to-roll motion are presented. The free-to-roll motion is computed by coupling the time-dependent RANS equations to the flight dynamic equation of motion. The computed results are compared with experimental forces, moments, and roll-angle time histories. The overall agreement is good. Vortex breakdown is present in each case, which causes significant time lags in the vortex breakdown motions relative to the body motions. This behavior strongly influences the dynamic forces and moments.

Chaderjian, Neal M.↗

Acoustic forcing of a liquid drop

The development of systems such as acoustic levitation chambers will allow for the positioning and manipulation of material samples (drops) in a microgravity environment. This provides the capability for fundamental studies in droplet dynamics as well as containerless processing work. Such systems use acoustic radiation pressure forces to position or to further manipulate (e.g., oscillate) the sample. The primary objective was to determine the effect of a viscous acoustic field/tangential radiation pressure forcing on drop oscillations. To this end, the viscous acoustic field is determined. Modified (forced) hydrodynamic field equations which result from a consistent perturbation expansion scheme are solved. This is done in the separate cases of an unmodulated and a modulated acoustic field. The effect of the tangential radiation stress on the hydrodynamic field (drop oscillations) is found to manifest as a correction to the velocity field in a sublayer region near the drop/host interface. Moreover, the forcing due to the radiation pressure vector at the interface is modified by inclusion of tangential stresses.

Lyell, M. J.↗

Simulations of vertical displacement oscillatory modes and global Alfvén Eigenmodes in JET geometry

Vertical Displacement Oscillatory Modes (VDOM), with frequency in the Alfvén range, are natural modes of oscillation of magnetically confined laboratory plasmas with elongated cross-section. These axisymmetric modes arise from the interaction between the plasma current, which is in equilibrium with currents flowing in external coils, and perturbed currents induced on a nearby conducting wall. The restoring force exerted by these perturbed currents on the vertical motion of the plasma column leads to its oscillatory behavior. An analytic model for VDOM was proposed based on an idealized 'straight tokamak' equilibrium with uniform equilibrium current density. This article introduces the first numerical simulations of VDOM in a realistic JET tokamak configuration, using the extended-MHD code NIMROD and drawing comparisons with Global Alfvén Eigenmodes (GAE). The results show qualitative agreement with analytic predictions regarding mode frequency and radial structure, supporting the identification of VDOM as a fundamental oscillation mode in tokamak plasmas. VDOM and GAE are modeled in a representative JET discharge, where axisymmetric perturbations with toroidal mode number n = 0 driven unstable by fast ions were observed. The two modes are examined separately using a forced oscillator within the NIMROD code, which enables a comparison of their characteristics and helps identify the experimentally observed mode possibly as a GAE.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Effect of Spacecraft Rotation on Fluid Convection Under Microgravity

The influence of the rotational effects on two-dimensional fluid convection in a rectangular enclosure with rigid walls during the orbital flight is considered. It is shown that the Coriolis force influence both on steady and oscillatory convection becomes significant at Ekman numbers which are quite attainable in the space orbital conditions. In the case of harmonic oscillations of the gravity force appearance of the resonance phenomena is demonstrated. Dependence of the height and shape of the resonance peak on aspect ratio of a rectangular domain and orientation of vectors of the gravity force and the angular rotation velocity is studied. Special attention is given to non-linear effects caused by convective terms of Navier-Stokes equations. The convection produced by variations of the angular rotation velocity of a spacecraft is also discussed. It is shown that in some cases the latter convection can be comparable with another kinds of convection.

Yuferev, Valentin S.↗

Nutations of sunflower seedlings on tilted clinostats

The kinetics of hypocotyl nutations in Helianthus annuus L. were measured on plants which were rotated on clinostats with axes of rotation inclined at various angles, alpha, away from the vertical. The g-force component acting in the direction of the plant axis was taken as g cos alpha. The average period and average amplitude of nutation were constant for all such axially directed g-forces between 1.0 and 0.2 g (vertical to about 80 inclination). On the horizontal clinostat (90 inclination) nutation was neither initiated nor sustained. The g-force just sufficient fully to activate nutational oscillations should be sought for g-force parameter values ranging from 0 to 0.2.

Brown, A. H.↗

Modelling of the MEA float zone using accelerometer data

During a floating zone experiment involving the growth of indium on a recent orbiter mission, (STS 32) oscillation of the zone shapes were observed to occur in response to the background acceleration. An understanding of the nature of the response of the zone shape to forced (g-jitter) oscillations and predictions of its impact on future experiments is of great interest not only to the PI's but to other commercial and academic investigators who plan to fly similar experiments in the orbiter and on space station. Motivated by this, a 15 month study was undertaken to analyze the nature of the g-sensitivity of the STS 32 floating zone crystal growth experiment. Numerical models were used to describe the time-dependent free surface motion of the zone as it responds to the spacecraft residual acceleration. Relevant experimental data concerning the acceleration environment was obtained from the Honeywell in Space Accelerometer (HISA) investigators through MSFC's ACAP program and processed and analyzed. For the indium floating zone experiment, a series of calculations were made using time-dependent axial accelerations g(t). The form of g(t) included simple sinusoidal disturbances as well as actual data (subject to appropriate filtering) measured on the STS 32 mission. Focus was on the calculation of the response of the free surface of the zone as well as the internal flows and internal heat transfer. The influence of solidification on the response of the zone shape was also examined but found to be negligible.

Alexander, J. Iwan D.↗

Preliminary Results of a Free-Flight Investigation of the Static Stability and Aileron Control Characteristics of 1/6 Scale Models of the Bell MX-776

An investigation of the static longitudinal stability, static directional stability, and aileron control characteristics at transonic and supersonic speeds is being made of 1/6 scale rocket-propelled model of the Bell MX-776. A stability investigation has been made of two symmetrical models with controls undeflected and centers of gravity one-half and one-body diameter, respectively, ahead of the equivalent design center-of-gravity location of the full-scale version. Both models developed large normal-force coefficients in both the subsonic and supersonic ranges which indicated longitudinal instability at low angles of attack. The side-force coefficients were small for both models and indicated that the models were directionally stable. A possible tendency toward dynamic directional instability in the transonic region was indicated by short-period oscillations of the side forces. The results showed a partial-span inboard aileron to be ineffective or to cause negative control in the the transonic region when deflected approximately 5 deg but not when deflected 10 deg. An investigation of drag showed it to increase with a rearward movement of the center of gravity. This indicates an increase in the trim angle of attack as could be caused by a decrease in static stability.

Michal, David H.↗

Surface Instability of Liquid Propellant under Vertical Oscillatory Forcing

Fluid motion in a fuel tank produced during thrust oscillations can circulate sub-cooled hydrogen near the liquid-vapor interface resulting in increased condensation and ullage pressure collapse. The first objective of this study is to validate the capabilities of a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool, CFD-ACE+, in modeling the fundamental interface transition physics occurring at the propellant surface. The second objective is to use the tool to assess the effects of thrust oscillations on surface dynamics. Our technical approach is to first verify the CFD code against known theoretical solutions, and then validate against existing experiments for small scale tanks and a range of transition regimes. A 2D axisymmetric, multi-phase model of gases, liquids, and solids is used to verify that CFD-ACE+ is capable of modeling fluid-structure interaction and system resonance in a typical thrust oscillation environment. Then, the 3D mode is studied with an assumed oscillatory body force to simulate the thrust oscillating effect. The study showed that CFD modeling can capture all of the transition physics from solid body motion to standing surface wave and to droplet ejection from liquid-gas interface. Unlike the analytical solutions established during the 1960 s, CFD modeling is not limited to the small amplitude regime. It can extend solutions to the nonlinear regime to determine the amplitude of surface waves after the onset of instability. The present simulation also demonstrated consistent trends from numerical experiments through variation of physical properties from low viscous fluid to high viscous fluids, and through variation of geometry and input forcing functions. A comparison of surface wave patterns under various forcing frequencies and amplitudes showed good agreement with experimental observations. It is concluded that thrust oscillations can cause droplet formation at the interface, which results in increased surface area and enhanced heat transfer between the liquid and gas phases as the ejected droplets travel well into the warmer gas region.

Yang, H. Q.↗

Micro-Scalable Thermal Control Device

A microscalable thermal control module consists of a Stirling cycle cooler that can be manipulated to operate at a selected temperature within the heating and cooling range of the module. The microscalable thermal control module is particularly suited for controlling the temperature of devices that must be maintained at precise temperatures. It is particularly suited for controlling the temperature of devices that need to be alternately heated or cooled. The module contains upper and lower opposing diaphragms, with a regenerator region containing a plurality of regenerators interposed between the diaphragms. Gaps exist on each side of each diaphragm to permit it to oscillate freely. The gap on the interior side one diaphragm is in fluid connection with the gap on the interior side of the other diaphragm through regenerators. As the diaphragms oscillate working gas is forced through the regenerators. The surface area of each regenerator is sufficiently large to effectively transfer thermal energy to and from the working gas as it is passed through them. The phase and amplitude of the oscillations can be manipulated electronically to control the steady state temperature of the active thermal control surface, and to switch the operation of the module from cooling to heating, or vice versa. The ability of the microscalable thermal control module to heat and cool may be enhanced by operating a plurality of modules in series, in parallel, or in connection through a shared bottom layer.

Matthew E. Moran↗

Propulsion Aeroelastic Analysis Developed for Flutter and Forced Response

The NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field develops new technologies to increase the fuel efficiency of aircraft engines, improve the safety of engine operation, reduce emissions, and reduce engine noise. With the development of new designs for fans, compressors, and turbines to achieve these goals, the basic aeroelastic requirements are that there should be no flutter (self-excited vibrations) or high resonant blade stresses (due to forced response) in the operating regime. Therefore, an accurate prediction and analysis capability is required to verify the aeroelastic soundness of the designs. Such a three-dimensional viscous propulsion aeroelastic analysis capability has been developed at Glenn with support from the Advanced Subsonic Technology (AST) program. This newly developed aeroelastic analysis capability is based on TURBO, a threedimensional unsteady aerodynamic Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes turbomachinery code developed previously under a grant from Glenn. TURBO can model the viscous flow effects that play an important role in certain aeroelastic problems such as flutter with flow separation, flutter at high loading conditions near the stall line (stall flutter), flutter in the presence of shock and boundary-layer interaction, and forced response due to wakes and shock impingement. In aeroelastic analysis, the structural dynamics representation of the blades is based on normal modes. A finite-element analysis code is used to calculate these in-vacuum vibration modes and the associated natural frequencies. In an aeroelastic analysis using the TURBO code, flutter and forced response are modeled as being uncoupled. To calculate if a blade row will flutter, one prescribes the motion of the blade to be a harmonic vibration in a specified in-vacuum normal mode. An aeroelastic analysis preprocessor is used to generate the displacement field required for the analysis. The work done by aerodynamic forces on the vibrating blade during a cycle of vibration is calculated. If this work is positive, the blade is dynamically unstable, since it will extract energy from the flow, leading to an increase in the blade s oscillation amplitude. The forced-response excitations on a blade row are calculated by modeling the flow through two adjacent blade rows using the TURBO code. The blades are assumed to be rigid. As an option, a single blade row can be modeled with the upstream blade row influence represented by a time-varying disturbance (gust) at the inlet boundary. The unsteady forces on a blade row from such analyses are used in a structural analysis along with the blade structural dynamics characteristics and aerodynamic damping associated with blade vibration to calculate the resulting dynamic stresses on the blade.

Bakhle, Milind A.↗

Dynamic Nucleation of Supercooled Melts and Measurement of the Surface Tension and Viscosity

We investigate the phenomenon of acoustic pressure-induced nucleation by using a novel approach involving the large amplitude resonant radial oscillations and collapse of a single bubble intentionally injected into a supercooled liquid. Using a combination of previously developed and proven techniques, the bubble is suspended in a fluid host by an ultrasonic field which supplies both the levitation capability as well as the forcing of the radial oscillations. We observe the effects of an increase in pressure (due to bubble collapse) in a region no larger than 100 microns within the supercooled melt to rigorously probe the hypothesis of pressure-induced nucleation of the solid phase. The use of single bubbles operating in narrow temporal and spatial scales will allow the direct and unambiguous correlation between the origin and location of the generation of the disturbance and the location and timing of the nucleation event. In a companion research effort, we are developing novel techniques for the non-contact measurements of the surface tension and viscosity of highly viscous supercooled liquids. Currently used non-invasive methods of surface tension measurement for the case of undercooled liquids generally rely of the quantitative determination of the resonance frequencies of drop shape oscillations, of the dynamics of surface capillary waves, or of the velocity of streaming flows. These methods become quickly ineffective when the liquid viscosity rises to a significant value. An alternate and accurate method which would be applicable to liquids of significant viscosity is therefore needed. We plan to develop such a capability by measuring the equilibrium shape of levitated undercooled melt droplets as they undergo solid-body rotation. The experimental measurement of the characteristic point of transition (bifurcation point) between axisymmetric and two-lobed shapes will be used to calculate the surface tension of the liquid. Such an approach has already been validated through the experimental verification of numerical modeling results. The experimental approach involves levitation, melting, and solidification of undercooled droplets using a hybrid ultrasonic-electrostatic technique in both a gaseous as well as a vacuum environment. A shape relaxation method will be investigated in order to derive a reliable method to measure the viscosity of undercooled melts. The analysis of the monotonic relaxation to equilibrium shape of a drastically deformed and super-critically damped free drop has been used to derive interfacial tension of immiscible liquid combinations where one of the component has high viscosity. A standard approach uses the initial elongation of a droplet through shear flows, but an equivalent method could involve the initial deformation of a drop levitated in a gas by ultrasonic radiation pressure, electric stresses, or even solid body rotation. The dynamic behavior of the free drop relaxing back to equilibrium shape will be modeled, and its characteristic time dependence should provide a quantitative means to evaluate the liquid viscosity.

Trinh, E. H.↗

Saturn's Equatorial Oscillation: Evidence of Descending Thermal Structure from Cassini Radio Occultations

Ground-based and Cassini CIRS thermal-infrared data have characterized the spatial and temporal characteristics of an equatorial oscillation in Saturn's middle atmosphere above the 100-mbar level. The CIRS data indicate a vertical pattern of alternating warm and cold anomalies at the equator. From the thermal wind equation this implies a concomitant reversal of zonal winds with attitude, relative to the cloud-top winds, with peak-to-peak amplitude approximately 200 meters per second. The ground-based observations do not having the altitude range or vertical resolution of the CIRS observations, but they cover several years and indicate an oscillation cycle of 1 years, roughly half of Saturn's year. Equatorial oscillations in Earth's middle atmosphere have primarily exhibited either quasi-biennial or semi-annual "periodicities," and both types have been extensively observed and modeled. They exhibit a vertical pattern of alternating warmer and cooler zonal-mean temperatures and zonal winds analogous to that described above for Saturn. Moreover, the pattern of winds and temperatures descends with time. Momentum deposition by damped vertically propagating easterly and westerly waves is thought to play a key role in forcing both types of oscillation, and it can plausibly account for the descent. Here we report the direct observation of this descent in Saturn's equatorial atmosphere from Cassini radio occultation soundings in 2005 and 2009. The retrieved temperatures are consistent with a descent of 0.6 x the pressure scale height over this time period. The descent rate is related to the magnitude of the wave forcing, radiative damping, and induced meridional circulations. A simple calculation implies that vertical wave fluxes of zonal momentum approximately 0.05 square meters per square second could account for the observed vertical descent on Saturn, which is comparable to the magnitude of the wave fluxes associated with the terrestrial quasi-biennial oscillation.

Flasar, F. M.↗

Nanomechanical squeezing: Toward quantum imaging with atomic force microscopy

Leveraging quantum effects in mechanical oscillators promises major advancements in nanometrology, including sensing and imaging. Microscopic cantilevers serve as versatile force sensors with broad applications in nanoscience, nanotechnology, and, increasingly, quantum sensing. Here, we theoretically model and investigate the quantum mechanics of cantilever probes in atomic force microscopy under conditions of reduced thermal noise. Specifically, our model captures the cantilever interaction with a surface via long-range attractive van der Waals forces and short-range repulsive-adhesive interactions described by the Derjaguin-Muller-Toporov model. We find that when the probe resides within the attractive interaction regime, a coherent state emerges, whereas, in the repulsive regime, a squeezed state forms for the cantilever's deformation state. Our calculations explain the functional role of interaction potentials in the quantum dynamics of macroscopic mechanical systems, which are proving useful in quantum sensing and information processing. The presented calculations can be extended to investigate other interaction forces relevant to atomic force microscopy.

Al-Sawai, Wael M. [Lamar Univ., Beaumont, TX (Unit↗