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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 37 records · Page 2

Comparison of undulation difference accuracies using gravity anomalies and gravity disturbances

Errors in the outer zone contribution to oceanic undulation differences computed from a finite set of potential coefficients based on satellite measurements of gravity anomalies and gravity disturbances are analyzed. Equations are derived for the truncation errors resulting from the lack of high-degree coefficients and the commission errors arising from errors in the available lower-degree coefficients, and it is assumed that the inner zone (spherical cap) is sufficiently covered by surface gravity measurements in conjunction with altimetry or by gravity anomaly data. Numerical computations of error for various observational conditions reveal undulation difference errors ranging from 13 to 15 cm and from 6 to 36 cm in the cases of gravity anomaly and gravity disturbance data, respectively for a cap radius of 10 deg and mean anomalies accurate to 10 mgal, with a reduction of errors in both cases to less than 10 cm as mean anomaly accuracy is increased to 1 mgal. In the absence of a spherical cap, both cases yield error estimates of 68 cm for an accuracy of 1 mgal and between 93 and 160 cm for the lesser accuracy, which can be reduced to about 110 cm by the introduction of a perfect 30-deg reference field.

Jekeli, C.↗

Effect of probe configuration on radiative heating during Jovian entry

The radiative heating to the probe's surface and the effects of the recession of the heat shield caused by this heating are analyzed for five initial probe configurations for a Jovian entry. The initial configurations are spherically capped, conical bodies and hyperboloids. The results show that severe blunting of the nose region occurs for all configurations due to ablation of the heat shield caused by the large radiative heating rates. Recession at the nose region can possibly cause a concavity at the stagnation point. Furthermore, the recession of the heat shield, especially for the spherically capped, conical bodies, will be underpredicted if the change in the probe's shape during the entry is neglected in an analysis.

Sutton, K.↗

Investigation of the Crust of the Pannonian Basin, Hungary Using Low-Altitude CHAMP Horizontal Gradient Magnetic Anomalies

The Pannonian Basin is a deep intra-continental basin that formed as part of the Alpine orogeny. It is some 600 by 500 km in area and centered on Hungary. This area was chosen since it has one of the thinnest continental crusts in Europe and is the region of complex tectonic structures. In order to study the nature of the crustal basement we used the long-wavelength magnetic anomalies acquired by the CHAMP satellite. The SWARM constellation, scheduled to be launched next year, will have two lower altitude satellites flying abreast, with a separation of between ca. 150 to 200 km. to record the horizontal magnetic gradient. Since the CHAMP satellite has been in orbit for eight years and has obtained an extensive range of data, both vertically and horizontally there is a large enough data base to compute the horizontal magnetic gradients over the Pannonian Basin region using these many CHAMP orbits. We recomputed a satellite magnetic anomaly map, using the spherical-cap method of Haines (1985), the technique of Alsdorf et al. (1994) and from spherical harmonic coefficients of MF6 (Maus et aI., 2008) employing the latest and lowest altitude CHAMP data. We then computed the horizontal magnetic anomaly gradients (Kis and Puszta, 2006) in order to determine how these component data will improve our interpretation and to preview what the SW ARM mission will reveal with reference to the horizontal gradient anomalies. The gradient amplitude of an 1000 km northeast-southwest profile through our horizontal component anomaly map varied from 0 to 0.025 nT/km with twin positive anomalies (0.025 and 0.023 nT/km) separated by a sharp anomaly negative at o nT/km. Horizontal gradient indicate major magnetization boundaries in the crust (Dole and Jordan, 1978 and Cordell and Grauch, 1985). Our gradient anomaly was modeled with a twodimensional body and the anomaly, of some 200 km, correlates with a 200 km area of crustal thinning in the southwestern Pannonian Basin.

Taylor, Patrick T.↗

Three-dimensional computer model for the atmospheric general circulation experiment

An efficient, flexible, three-dimensional, hydrodynamic, computer code has been developed for a spherical cap geometry. The code will be used to simulate NASA's Atmospheric General Circulation Experiment (AGCE). The AGCE is a spherical, baroclinic experiment which will model the large-scale dynamics of our atmosphere; it has been proposed to NASA for future Spacelab flights. In the AGCE a radial dielectric body force will simulate gravity, with hot fluid tending to move outwards. In order that this force be dominant, the AGCE must be operated in a low gravity environment such as Spacelab. The full potential of the AGCE will only be realized by working in conjunction with an accurate computer model. Proposed experimental parameter settings will be checked first using model runs. Then actual experimental results will be compared with the model predictions. This interaction between experiment and theory will be very valuable in determining the nature of the AGCE flows and hence their relationship to analytical theories and actual atmospheric dynamics.

Roberts, G. O.↗

Local Lunar Gravity Field Analysis over the South Pole-aitken Basin from SELENE Farside Tracking Data

We present a method with which we determined the local lunar gravity field model over the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin on the farside of the Moon by estimating adjustments to a global lunar gravity field model using SELENE tracking data. Our adjustments are expressed in localized functions concentrated over the SPA region in a spherical cap with a radius of 45deg centered at (191.1 deg E, 53.2 deg S), and the resolution is equivalent to a 150th degree and order spherical harmonics expansion. The new solution over SPA was used in several applications of geophysical analysis. It shows an increased correlation with high-resolution lunar topography in the frequency band l = 40-70, and admittance values are slightly different and more leveled when compared to other, global gravity field models using the same data. The adjustments expressed in free-air anomalies and differences in Bouguer anomalies between the local solution and the a priori global solution correlate with topographic surface features. The Moho structure beneath the SPA basin is slightly modified in our solution, most notably at the southern rim of the Apollo basin and around the Zeeman crater

Lunar Gravity↗

Hailstone impact simulator.

The hailstone impact simulator was constructed to provide experimental data in support of a program to develop the analytical methods for predicting hail damage to aircraft structures. This paper describes the simulator, its operation, the type of data obtained, and the resulting damage by individual hailstones to metallic flat sheets and spherical caps. Simulated hailstones of 1.3, 2.5, 3.8, and 5.1 cm in diameter were used at impact velocities of 60 to 600 m/s.

Alfaro-Bou, E.↗

Prediction of hail damage to aircraft.

Description of a hailstone impact simulator, a valuable laboratory apparatus which can be used for such hailstone research as the testing of prospective structural designs or generating data to compare with theory. The simulator consists of a launcher and a velocity-measuring system. It has been successfully used to obtain deformation data on flat sheets and spherical caps of various sizes impacted by hailstones at typical flight velocities. A computer program is described which adequately predicts the damage to a simple structure when impacted by a hailstone.

Hayduk, R. J.↗

Characteristics of Coupled Nongray Radiating Gas Flows with Ablation Product Effects About Blunt Bodies During Planetary Entries

A computational method was developed for the fully-coupled solution of nongray, radiating gas flows with ablation product effects about blunt bodies during planetary entries. The treatment of radiation accounts for molecular band, continuum, and atomic line transitions with a detailed frequency dependence of the absorption coefficient. The ablation of the entry body was solved as part of the solution for a steady-state ablation process. The method was applied by results at typical conditions during entry to Venus. The radiative heating rates along the downstream region of the body can exceed the stagnation point value. The radiative heating to the body is attenuated in the boundary layer at the downstream region of the body and at the stagnation point of the body. A study of the radiation, inviscid flow about spherically capped, conical bodies during planetary entries shows that the nondimensional, radiative heating distributions are nonsimilar with entry conditions. Caution should be exercised in attempting to extrapolate results from known distributions to other entry conditions for which solutions have not yet been obtained.

Sutton, K.↗

Vibration of skewed cantilever plates and helicoidal shells

Theoretical vibration frequencies and mode shapes are obtained for skewed plates and helicoidal shells with a cantilever boundary. Using Hamilton's law of varying action, a power series solution is developed to obtain converged numerical results for the five lowest frequencies. Effects of geometrical variables such as aspect ratio, sweep angle and shell radius to thickness ratio are investigated. Accuracy of the solution method is substantiated by comparison with existing skewed plate spherical cap, and conical shell results.

Beres, D. P.↗

Radiative heating about outer planet entry probes

A study has been conducted to define the radiative, heating-rate distributions about spherically capped, 60 deg half-angle conical entry probes to the outer planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus. The radiative heating rates are calculated by a direct method for the solution of the inviscid flow equations with coupled, nongray radiative transport. Results are presented for a range of entry conditions using the atmospheric models denoted as nominal, warm, and cool for each planet which show that both the magnitude and distribution of radiative heating rate are strongly dependent on the atmospheric model and the free-stream conditions.

Sutton, K.↗

A generalized orthogonal coordinate system for describing families of axisymmetric and two-dimensional bodies

A generalized curvilinear orthogonal coordinate system is presented which can be used for approximating various axisymmetric and two-dimensional body shapes of interest to aerodynamicists. Such body shapes include spheres, ellipses, spherically capped cones, flat-faced cylinders with rounded corners, circular disks, and planetary probe vehicles. A set of transformation equations is also developed whereby a uniform velocity field approaching a body at any angle of attack can be resolved in the transformed coordinate system. The Navier-Stokes equations are written in terms of a generalized orthogonal coordinate system to show the resultant complexity of the governing equations.

Gnoffo, P. A.↗

Global accuracy estimates of point and mean undulation differences obtained from gravity disturbances, gravity anomalies and potential coefficients

Through the method of truncation functions, the oceanic geoid undulation is divided into two constituents: an inner zone contribution expressed as an integral of surface gravity disturbances over a spherical cap; and an outer zone contribution derived from a finite set of potential harmonic coefficients. Global, average error estimates are formulated for undulation differences, thereby providing accuracies for a relative geoid. The error analysis focuses on the outer zone contribution for which the potential coefficient errors are modeled. The method of computing undulations based on gravity disturbance data for the inner zone is compared to the similar, conventional method which presupposes gravity anomaly data within this zone.

Jekeli, C.↗

Spherical models: Basic states and stability

Steady axisymmetric basic states in a spherical cap and their stability to azimuthally varying perturbations of different wave numbers were numerically investigated. The main features of the planned computer code and numerical methods are outlined.

Roberts, G. O.↗

On making large nonlinear problems small

Reduction methods for solving large-scale nonlinear problems are considered. Attention is given to: (1) the selection of basis vectors for steady-state problems; (2) the identification and determination of bifurcation and limit points, including tracing post-limit-point and post-bifurcation-point paths using reduction methods; (3) the application of reduction methods to nonlinear problems with prescribed nonzero values of the fundamental unknowns; and (4) the use of reduction methods in conjunction with multifield (mixed) finite element models. The effectiveness of using reduction methods is demonstrated on the basis of several numerical examples including two-dimensional steady conduction in a square plate with temperature dependent thermal conductivity and a shallow spherical cap subjected to a central-point load and a ring load.

Noor, A. K.↗

Engineering flowfield method with angle-of-attack applications

An approximate inviscid flowfield method has been extended to include heat-transfer predictions using a technique to account for variable-entropy edge conditions. The engineering code computes the flowfield over hyperboloids, ellipsoids, paraboloids, and sphere cones at 0 deg angle of attack (AOA). For angle-of-attack applications, an approximation to sphere-cone streamline-spreading effects on the heat transfer along the windward and leeward rays and an empirical circumferential heating technique have been incorporated also in the method. The present engineering calculations yield good comparisons with existing pressure and heating data over sphere cones even at high incidence values with the restriction that the sonic-line location remain on the spherical cap.

Zoby, E. V.↗

Gravitational lensing effects of vacuum strings - Exact solutions

Exact interior and exterior solutions to Einstein's field equations are derived for vacuum strings. The exterior solution for a uniform density vacuum string corresponds to a conical space while the interior solution is that of a spherical cap. For Mu equals 0-1/4 the external metric is ds-squared = -dt-squared + dr-squared + (1-4 Mu)-squared r-squared dphi-squared + dz-squared, where Mu is the mass per unit length in the string in Planck masses per Planck length. A maximum mass per unit length for a string is 6.73 x 10 to the 27th g/cm. It is shown that strings cause temperature fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background and produce equal brightness double QSO images separated by up to several minutes of arc. Formulae for lensing probabilities, image splittings, and time delays are derived for strings in a realistic cosmological setting. String searches using ST, the VLA, and the COBE satellite are discussed.

Gott, J. R., III↗