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At least 379 records · Page 21

Liquid Engine Jet Atomization Workshop report

The workshop was oriented to disclose information and unsettled problems to understand the fundamental physical mechanism of the droplet formation process. Based on presentation and discussion of results, recommendations were made which should lead to associated future activities. To accomplish this task, existing observations and experiments, contributing to the basic knowledge, providing data for analytical concept verification, and forming a basis for empirical correlations were solicited. Advanced analytical modeling methods or results from specific studies were requested as well as the experience and advice from injector designers. All effort is directed to advance current analytical techniques, simulating the flow behavior downstream of the injection elements in a liquid rocket combustion chamber. Such a tool can be used to optimize injector designs with respect to short length weight savings, wall material protection, or large heat energy transport to a regenerative cooling fluid, while simultaneously achieving the maximum specific impulse in performance. The liquid atomization process also forms a sound basis for combustion instability analysis.

Gross, Klaus W.↗

Experimental evidence for a new single-event upset (SEU) mode in a CMOS SRAM obtained from model verification

Modeling of SEU has been done in a CMOS static RAM containing 1-micron-channel-length transistors fabricated from a p-well epilayer process using both circuit-simulation and numerical-simulation techniques. The modeling results have been experimentally verified with the aid of heavy-ion beams obtained from a three-stage tandem van de Graaff accelerator. Experimental evidence for a novel SEU mode in an ON n-channel device is presented.

Zoutendyk, J. A.↗

A survey of the state-of-the-art and focused research in range systems

In this one-year renewal of NASA Contract No. 2-304, basic research, development, and implementation in the areas of modern estimation algorithms and digital communication systems have been performed. In the first area, basic study on the conversion of general classes of practical signal processing algorithms into systolic array algorithms is considered, producing four publications. Also studied were the finite word length effects and convergence rates of lattice algorithms, producing two publications. In the second area of study, the use of efficient importance sampling simulation technique for the evaluation of digital communication system performances were studied, producing two publications.

Kung, Yao↗

Helicopter flights with night-vision goggles: Human factors aspects

Night-vision goggles (NVGs) and, in particular, the advanced, helmet-mounted Aviators Night-Vision-Imaging System (ANVIS) allows helicopter pilots to perform low-level flight at night. It consists of light intensifier tubes which amplify low-intensity ambient illumination (star and moon light) and an optical system which together produce a bright image of the scene. However, these NVGs do not turn night into day, and, while they may often provide significant advantages over unaided night flight, they may also result in visual fatigue, high workload, and safety hazards. These problems reflect both system limitations and human-factors issues. A brief description of the technical characteristics of NVGs and of human night-vision capabilities is followed by a description and analysis of specific perceptual problems which occur with the use of NVGs in flight. Some of the issues addressed include: limitations imposed by a restricted field of view; problems related to binocular rivalry; the consequences of inappropriate focusing of the eye; the effects of ambient illumination levels and of various types of terrain on image quality; difficulties in distance and slope estimation; effects of dazzling; and visual fatigue and superimposed symbology. These issues are described and analyzed in terms of their possible consequences on helicopter pilot performance. The additional influence of individual differences among pilots is emphasized. Thermal imaging systems (forward looking infrared (FLIR)) are described briefly and compared to light intensifier systems (NVGs). Many of the phenomena which are described are not readily understood. More research is required to better understand the human-factors problems created by the use of NVGs and other night-vision aids, to enhance system design, and to improve training methods and simulation techniques.

Brickner, Michael S.↗

B-737 flight test of curved-path and steep-angle approaches using MLS guidance

A series of flight tests were conducted to collect data for jet transport aircraft flying curved-path and steep-angle approaches using Microwave Landing System (MLS) guidance. During the test, 432 approaches comprising seven different curved-paths and four glidepath angles varying from 3 to 4 degrees were flown in NASA Langley's Boeing 737 aircraft (Transport Systems Research Vehicle) using an MLS ground station at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility. Subject pilots from Piedmont Airlines flew the approaches using conventional cockpit instrumentation (flight director and Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI). The data collected will be used by FAA procedures specialists to develop standards and criteria for designing MLS terminal approach procedures (TERPS). The use of flight simulation techniques greatly aided the preliminary stages of approach development work and saved a significant amount of costly flight time. This report is intended to complement a data report to be issued by the FAA Office of Aviation Standards which will contain all detailed data analysis and statistics.

Branstetter, J. R.↗

Aeroservoelastic wind-tunnel investigations using the Active Flexible Wing Model: Status and recent accomplishments

The status of the joint NASA/Rockwell Active Flexible Wing Wind-Tunnel Test Program is described. The objectives are to develop and validate the analysis, design, and test methodologies required to apply multifunction active control technology for improving aircraft performance and stability. Major tasks include designing digital multi-input/multi-output flutter-suppression and rolling-maneuver-load alleviation concepts for a flexible full-span wind-tunnel model, obtaining an experimental data base for the basic model and each control concept and providing comparisons between experimental and analytical results to validate the methodologies. The opportunity is provided to improve real-time simulation techniques and to gain practical experience with digital control law implementation procedures.

Noll, Thomas E.↗

On the active control of wall-bounded turbulent flows

The direct numerical simulation technique is used to explore concepts for manipulation of turbulent boundary layers. Significant drag reduction was achieved when at each instant the normal component of velocity at the wall was prescribed to be 180 deg out of phase with the normal velocity slightly above the wall. The drag reduction is accompanied with significant reduction in the intensity of the wall-layer structures and reductions in the magnitude of Reynolds stresses throughout the flow. Suitability of wall pressure and shear stress fluctuations for detection of flow structures above the wall are examined.

Moin, P.↗

Aeroservoelastic wind-tunnel investigations using the active flexible wing model - Status and recent accomplishments

This paper describes the status of the joint NASA/Rockwell Active Flexible Wing Wind-Tunnel Test Program. The objectives of the program are to develop and validate the analysis, design and test methodologies required to apply multifunction active control technology for improving aircraft performance and stability. Major tasks of the program include designing digital multiinput/multioutput flutter-suppression and rolling-maneuver-load-alleviation concepts for a flexible full-span wind-tunnel model, obtaining an experimental data base for the basic model and each control concept, and providing comparisons between experimental and analytical results to validate the methodologies. This program is also providing the opportunity to improve real-time simulation techniques and to gain practical experience with digital control law implementation procedures.

Noll, Thomas↗

Bipolar coordinates for computation of transition duct flows

Numerical simulation techniques for flows in jet-engine transition ducts with changing cross sections are developed and demonstrated. The boundary-conforming grids required are generated using bipolar coordinates, and the singularities arising at the no-slip boundaries are treated as described by de Vahl Davis (1979) and Tsai and Levy (1987). Grids for several typical configurations are employed in computations with the three-dimensional laminar/turbulent viscous-flow solver of Levy et al. (1983), and the results are presented graphically. The scheme used to deal with singularities is shown to be robust, suggesting that the bipolar grids may be applicable to Navier-Stokes computations.

Madabhushi, R. K.↗

Simulation study of ion two-stream instability in the auroral acceleration region

Particle in cell plasma simulation technique has been used to study the effect of the ion two-stream instability on hydrogen and oxygen distributions at small relative drifts. Whether heating due to parallel modes which are unstable at low drifts might be sufficient to quench oblique modes which are unstable at higher drifts is investigated. It is found that this is not the case and that the oblique modes contribute significantly to heating.

Gray, Perry C.↗

Interactive real time flow simulations

An interactive real time flow simulation technique is developed for an unsteady channel flow. A finite-volume algorithm in conjunction with a Runge-Kutta time stepping scheme was developed for two-dimensional Euler equations. A global time step was used to accelerate convergence of steady-state calculations. A raster image generation routine was developed for high speed image transmission which allows the user to have direct interaction with the solution development. In addition to theory and results, the hardware and software requirements are discussed.

Sadrehaghighi, I.↗

Non-linear dynamic analysis of geared systems

Under driving conditions, a typical geared system may be subjected to large dynamic loads. Also, the vibration level of the geared system is directly related to the noise radiated from the gear box. The steady state dynamic behavior of the system is examined in order to design reliable and quiet transmissions. The scope is limited to a system containing a spur gear pair with backlash and periodically time varying mesh stiffness, and rolling element bearings with clearance type nonlinearities. The internal static transmission error at the gear mesh, which is of importance from high frequency noise and vibration control view point, is considered in the formulation in sinusoidal or periodic form. A dynamic finite element model of the linear time invariant (LTI) system is developed. Effects of several system parameters, such as torsional and transverse flexibilities of the shafts and prime mover/load inertias, on free and forced vibration characteristics are investigated. Several reduced order LTI models are developed and validated by comparing their eigen solutions with the finite element model results. Using the reduced order formulations, a three degree of freedom dynamic model is developed which includes nonlinearities associated with radical clearances in the radial rolling element bearings, backlash between a spur gear pair and periodically varying gear mesh stiffness. As a limiting case, a single degree of freedom model of the spur gear pair with backlash is considered and mathematical conditions for tooth separation and back collision are defined. Both digital simulation technique and analytical models such as method of harmonic balance and the method of multiple scales were used to develop the steady state frequency response characteristics for various nonlinear and/or time varying cases.

Singh, Rajendra↗

Workstations and gloveboxes for space station

Lockheed Missiles and Space Company is responsible for designing, developing, and building the Life Sciences Glovebox, the Laboratory Sciences Workbench, and the Maintenance Workstation plus 16 other pieces of equipment for the U.S. Laboratory Module of the Space Station Freedom. The Laboratory Sciences Workbench and the Maintenance Workstation were functionally combined into a double structure to save weight and volume which are important commodities on the Space Station Freedom. The total volume of these items is approximately 180 cubic feet. These workstations and the glovebox will be delivered to NASA in 1994 and will be launched in 1995. The very long lifetime of 30 years presents numerous technical challenges in the areas of design and reliability. The equipment must be easy to use by international crew members and also easy to maintain on-orbit. For example, seals must be capable of on-orbit changeout and reverification. The stringent contamination requirements established for Space Station Freedom equipment also complicate the zero gravity glovebox design. The current contamination control system for the Life Sciences Glovebox and the Maintenance Workstation is presented. The requirement for the Life Sciences Glovebox to safely contain toxic, reactive, and radioactive materials presents challenges. Trade studies, CAD simulation techniques and design challenges are discussed to illustrate the current baseline conceptual designs. Areas which need input from the user community are identified.

Junge, Maria↗

Paired and interacting galaxies: Conference summary

The author gives a summary of the conference proceedings. The conference began with the presentation of the basic data sets on pairs, groups, and interacting galaxies with the latter being further discussed with respect to both global properties and properties of the galactic nuclei. Then followed the theory, modelling and interpretation using analytic techniques, simulations and general modelling for spirals and ellipticals, starbursts and active galactic nuclei. Before the conference the author wrote down the three questions concerning pairs, groups and interacting galaxies that he hoped would be answered at the meeting: (1) How do they form, including the role of initial conditions, the importance of subclustering, the evolution of groups to compact groups, and the fate of compact groups; (2) How do they evolve, including issues such as relevant timescales, the role of halos and the problem of overmerging, the triggering and enhancement of star formation and activity in the galactic nuclei, and the relative importance of dwarf versus giant encounters; and (3) Are they important, including the frequency of pairs and interactions, whether merging and interactions are very important aspects of the life of a normal galaxy at formation, during its evolution, in forming bars, shells, rings, bulges, etc., and in the formation and evolution of active galaxies? Where possible he focuses on these three central issues in the summary.

Norman, Colin A.↗

Coherent motions in the turbulent boundary layer

The role of coherent structures in the production and dissipation of turbulence in a boundary layer is characterized, summarizing the results of recent investigations. Coherent motion is defined as a three-dimensional region of flow where at least one fundamental variable exhibits significant correlation with itself or with another variable over a space or time range significantly larger than the smallest local scales of the flow. Sections are then devoted to flow-visualization experiments, statistical analyses, numerical simulation techniques, the history of coherent-structure studies, vortices and vortical structures, conceptual models, and predictive models. Diagrams and graphs are provided.

Robinson, Stephen K.↗

A non-linear mathematical model for dynamic analysis of spur gears including shaft and bearing dynamics

A six-degree-of-freedom nonlinear semi-definite model with time varying mesh stiffness has been developed for the dynamic analysis of spur gears. The model includes a spur gear pair, two shafts, two inertias representing load and prime mover, and bearings. As the shaft and bearing dynamics have also been considered in the model, the effect of lateral-torsional vibration coupling on the dynamics of gears can be studied. In the nonlinear model developed several factors such as time varying mesh stiffness and damping, separation of teeth, backlash, single- and double-sided impacts, various gear errors and profile modifications have been considered. The dynamic response to internal excitation has been calculated by using the 'static transmission error method' developed. The software prepared (DYTEM) employs the digital simulation technique for the solution, and is capable of calculating dynamic tooth and mesh forces, dynamic factors for pinion and gear, dynamic transmission error, dynamic bearing forces and torsions of shafts. Numerical examples are given in order to demonstrate the effect of shaft and bearing dynamics on gear dynamics.

Ozguven, H. Nevzat↗

Particle acceleration by intense auroral VLF turbulence

Broadband turbulence in the lower-hybrid to plasma frequency range is found in a variety of forms in the suprauroral region, most notably as auroral hiss and VLF saucers. When the turbulence is intense, it is observed to be associated with ion conics (ions heated transverse to the geomagnetic field) and 'counter-streaming' electron fluxes (heated in both directions parallel to the field). A review is presented of the dispersion and propagation characteristics of whistler resonance-cone waves, which comprise the turbulence. Plasma simulation and mesoscale (Monte Carlo) simulation techniques are used to illustrate the interaction of the ambient plasma with the turbulence. These calculations demonstrate how this interaction results in transverse heating of the ions and parallel heating of the electrons of the plasma, leading to the formation of the observed heated and accelerated particle fluxes.

Retterer, John M.↗

Active turbulence control in wallbounded flow using direct numerical simulations

An exploratory study of concepts for active control of turbulent boundary layers using the direct numerical simulation technique was performed. Significant drag reduction was achieved when the surface boundary condition was modified such that it could suppress the large-scale structures present in the wall region. This was achieved by prescribing the normal component of velocity at the wall to be 180 deg out of phase with the normal velocity slightly above the wall at each instant. The drag reduction was accompanied with significant reduction in the intensity of the wall-layer structures and reductions in the magnitude of Reynolds stresses throughout the flow. Suitability of wall-pressure and shear-stress fluctuations for detection of flow structures above the wall was examined. A preliminary result obtained by applying the present control strategy to a transitional flow is also briefly described, from which one can infer a possible linkage between the control strategy and flow stability.

Kim, J.↗