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At least 379 records · Page 21

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NASA NTRS1980

Numerical simulation of shear flows over wavy boundaries

The full time-dependent two dimensional Navier-Stokes equations are solved using spectral methods to achieve high spatial accuracy and high order time-splitting methods together with conformal mapping methods to allow simulation of flow over steep waves, including general turbulent Reynolds stresses. The programs are used to study the properties of laminar and turbulent flow over a flat plate and in various wavy geometries. Results are compared with both available theory and experiment. For laminar flow, good agreement is achieved. For turbulent flow, the agreement is less satisfactory and may be explained by the simplified turbulent modelling use in the calculations.

Orszag, S. A.↗

NASA NTRS1980

A preliminary attempt to interpret the power spectrum of the solar five minute oscillations in terms of the global oscillation model

The observed power spectrum of the solar five minute oscillations is discussed from the viewpoint that the oscillations are excited by turbulent convection. The observations place significant constraints on the theory and suggest constraints on the solar model structure. It is shown that the steep low frequency side of the peak in the power spectrum is more readily explained if the mixing length is greater than one scale height. The high frequency end of the power spectrum is also discussed.

Kesley, D. A.↗

NASA NTRS1980

STS-1 operational flight profile. Volume 5: Descent, cycle 3. Appendix C: Monte Carlo dispersion analysis

The results of three nonlinear the Monte Carlo dispersion analyses for the Space Transportation System 1 Flight (STS-1) Orbiter Descent Operational Flight Profile, Cycle 3 are presented. Fifty randomly selected simulation for the end of mission (EOM) descent, the abort once around (AOA) descent targeted line are steep target line, and the AOA descent targeted to the shallow target line are analyzed. These analyses compare the flight environment with system and operational constraints on the flight environment and in some cases use simplified system models as an aid in assessing the STS-1 descent flight profile. In addition, descent flight envelops are provided as a data base for use by system specialists to determine the flight readiness for STS-1. The results of these dispersion analyses supersede results of the dispersion analysis previously documented.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1980

A comparison of radiative transfer models for predicting the microwave emission from soils

Two general types of numerical models for predicting microwave emission from soils are compared-coherent and noncoherent. In the former, radiation in the soil is treated coherently, and the boundary conditions on the electric fields across the layer boundaries are used to calculate the radiation intensity. In the latter, the radiation is assumed to be noncoherent, and the intensities of the radiation are considered directly. The results of the two approaches may be different because of the effects of interference, which can cause the transmitted intensity at the surface (i.e., emissivity) to be sometimes higher and sometimes lower for the coherent case than for the noncoherent case, depending on the relative phases of reflected fields from the lower layers. This coupling between soil layers in the coherent models leads to greater soil moisture sampling depths observed with this type of model, and is the major difference that is found between the two types of models. In noncoherent models, the emissivity is determined by the dielectric constraint at the air/soil interface. The subsequent differences in the results are functions of both the frequency of the radiation being considered and the steepness of the moisture gradient near the surface. The calculations were performed at frequencies of 1.4 and 19.4 GHz and for two sets of soil profiles. Little difference was observed between the models at 19.4 GHz; and only at the lower frequency were differences apparent because of the greater soil moisture sampling depth at this frequency.

Schmugge, T. J.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Small solar electric system components demonstration

The design and testing of high temperature thermal storage modules (TSM) are reported. The test goals were to demonstrate the thermocline propagation in the TSM, to measure the steepness of the thermocline, and to measure the effectiveness of the TSM when used in a Brayton system. In addition, a high temperature valve suitable for switching the TSM at temperatures to 1700 F is described and tested. Test results confirm the existence of a sharp thermocline under design conditions. The thermal profile was steeper than expected and was insensitive to air density over the range of the test conditions. Experiments were performed which simulated the airflow of a small Brayton engine, 20 KWe, having a pair of thermal storage modules acting as efficient recuperators. Low pressure losses, averaging 12 inches of water, and high effectiveness, 93% for a 15 minute switching cycle, were measured. The insulation surrounding the ceramic core limited thermal losses to approximately 1 KWt. The hot valve was operated over 100 cycles and performed well at temperatures up to 1700 F.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1979

Regolith layering processes based on studies of low-temperature volatile elements in Apollo core samples

The concentrations of Hg released at at the most 130 C increase with depth in near-surface samples from cores. This is in response to a daytime thermal gradient with temperatures of approximately 400 K at the surface decreasing to approximately 250 K at greater than 10 cm depth (Keihm and Langseth, 1973). The steepness of the slopes and the depths to which the concentration gradients extend appear to be determined by the color, density and possibly the grain size of the soils. Earlier surface layers can be identified and, in general, are in agreement with other indicators of such layers. Low temperature volatilized Br exhibits trends that parallel those of Hg in a number of cases. This is also true of Br and Hg fractions released in stepwise heating experiments at higher temperatures. The coherence, especially in higher temperature fractions, between these chemically dissimilar elements implies a common physical process of entrapment; possibly one related to the presence of vapor deposits on surfaces and to opening and closing of microcracks and pores.

Jovanovic, S.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Distant asteroids and outer Jovian satellites

Sixty percent of the sampled objects in the Hilda, Trojan and outer Jovian satellite locations belong to C-type and another 30% belong to a new group called RD-type (reddish and dark), sometimes referred to simply as D-type. Objects in this group have low albedo values between 2 and 4% and steep reflection spectra between 0.7 micron and 0.9 micron. Furthermore, 944 Hidalgo belongs to this group but shows color variation over its surface. Meteoritic minerals with similar optical reflection spectra are discussed. Trojans with sizes down to 15 km in the cloud preceding Jupiter are about 3.5 times more numerous than those in the following cloud. RD-type Trojans appear more often in the preceding cloud. There is a resemblance of spectrum, albedo and phase relation among the majority of Trojans and the outer Jovian satellites.

Degewij, J.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Volcano-ice interactions on Mars

Central volcanic eruptions beneath terrestrial glaciers have built steep-sided, flat-topped mountains composed of pillow lava, glassy tuff, capping flows, and cones of basalt. Subglacial fissure eruptions produced ridges of similar composition. In some places the products from a number of subglacial vents have combined to form widespread deposits. The morphologies of these subglacial volcanoes are distinctive enough to allow their recognition at the resolutions characteristic of Viking orbiter imagery. Analogs to terrestrial subglacial volcanoes have been identified on the northern plains and near the south polar cap of Mars. The polar feature provides probable evidence of volcanic eruptions beneath polar ice. A mixed unit of rock and ice is postulated to have overlain portions of the northern plains, with eruptions into this ground ice having produced mountains and ridges analogous to those in Iceland. Subsequent breakdown of this unit due to ice melting revealed the volcanic features. Estimated heights of these landforms indicate that the ice-rich unit once ranged from approximately 100 to 1200 m thick.

Allen, C. C.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Flutter spectral measurements using stationary pressure transducers

The paper deals with an analysis procedure, based on engine-order sampling, which eliminates effectively the engine harmonics from the overall flutter spectra obtained with a case-mounted static pressure transducer. Qualitative spectral analyses of pressure data, performed on the basis of blade order sampling, are examined. The interference of blade motion with the pressure signal in the steep gradient portion of the blade passage is demonstrated, using optimal displacement spectra. Two methods which remove the contribution of blade motion from the blade-pressure-difference spectra are described.

Kurkov, A. P.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Ions of Jovian origin observed by Voyager 1 and 2 in interplanetary space

Burst-like and long-lived ion fluxes (E greater than 30 keV) of Jovian origin have been observed in interplanetary space by the LECP instrument on the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft. Burst (few minute duration) events are observed at distances greater than 0.6 AU from Jupiter. These events are highly anisotropic and possess steep energy spectra, while long-lived (greater than 8 hour duration) events have relatively steady fluxes at low energies, strong anisotropies that decay with time, and a variable high energy component. Both types of events usually display simultaneous onsets and sharp cutoffs for all energies, an excess of atomic number Z not less than 6 particles compared to solar and interplanetary events, and particle flow directions pointed away from Jupiter along the local interplanetary magnetic field. The origin for the long-lived events appears to be inside the bow shock of the planet.

Zwickl, R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1979

An energy and potential enstrophy conserving scheme for the shallow water equations

A three-dimensional finite difference scheme for the solution of the shallow water momentum equations which accounts for the conservation of potential enstrophy in the flow of a homogeneous incompressible shallow atmosphere over steep topography as well as for total energy conservation is presented. The scheme is derived to be consistent with a reasonable scheme for potential vorticity advection in a long-term integration for a general flow with divergent mass flux. Numerical comparisons of the characteristics of the present potential enstrophy-conserving scheme with those of a scheme that conserves potential enstrophy only for purely horizontal nondivergent flow are presented which demonstrate the reduction of computational noise in the wind field with the enstrophy-conserving scheme and its convergence even in relatively coarse grids.

Arakawa, A.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Description and preliminary results of the 9-level UCLA general circulation model

The 9-level general circulation model, with the upper boundary of 50 mb, is a modification of the earlier 6- and 12-level versions used at UCLA. Two major design changes have been made in an effort to improve the model: (1) a potential enstrophy conserving scheme in the equation of motion has replaced the previous scheme which only conserved enstrophy for nondivergent flow, and (2) the treatment of the planetary boundary layer has been modified by making the predicted planetary boundary layer top a coordinate surface. Experiments with idealized steep mountains have been made to test each of the major modifications, and the model is now ready for general circulation simulation experiments.

Suarez, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1980

The direct deconvolution of X-ray spectra

The method of deconvolution of proportional counter X-ray spectra as outlined by Blissett and Cruise is reviewed with particular emphasis on low-energy spectra. This method involves the expansion of the incident spectrum in terms of a set of orthonormal singular functions which propagate independently through the detector matrix. When applied to low-energy detectors which typically exhibit absorption features in their efficiency curves, the initial Blissett and Cruise prescription is shown to be unstable. Alternative methods for handling the efficiency are described and evaluated. In the deconvolution of steep spectra, additional distortions are shown to arise as a result of sidelobe oscillations in the effective response functions. A selective weighting procedure is thus introduced to suppress spurious features of this type. Finally, the role of filtering in the deconvolution procedure is discussed and several suitable forms for the filter are suggested.

Kahn, S. M.↗

NASA NTRS1980

The origin of polygonal troughs on the northern plains of Mars

The morphology, distribution, geologic environment and relative age of large-scale polygonal trough systems on Mars are examined. The troughs are steep-walled, flat-floored, sinuous depressions typically 200-800 m wide, 20-120 m deep and spaced 5-10 km apart. The mechanics of formation of tension cracks is reviewed to identify the factors controlling the scale of tension crack systems; special emphasis is placed on thermal cracking in permafrost. It is shown that because of the extremely large scale of the Martian fracture systems, they could not have formed by thermal cracking in permafrost, dessication cracking in sediments or contraction cracking in cooling lava. On the basis of photogeologic evidence and analog studies, it is proposed that polygonal troughs on the northern plains of Mars are grabens.

Pechmann, J. C.↗

NASA NTRS1980

F region above Kauai - Measurement, model, modification

Results of the Lagopedo II experiment conducted from Kauai, Hawaii to investigate the ionospheric modification that occurs when rocket combustion products are introduced into the O(+)-rich F region are presented. The experiment involved the detonation of a chemical explosion in the F2 peak accompanied by rocket-borne measurements of ion composition and electron content in the vicinity of the explosion. The experimental data is found to be in good agreement with the predictions of a model of the nighttime ion densities in the midlatitude laminar ionosphere, with the exception of N2(+) densities before the explosion. H2O(+) and H3O(+) currents produced by considerable H2O outgassing from the rocket are used to determine a H3O(+)/H2O(+) dissociative recombination rate averaging 1.6 to 1.08, depending on model assumptions. At the time of the explosion, an ionic void 1 km in radius is observed, the boundary of which is characterized by a steep gradient in ionic densities. Evidence of variations in the concentrations of ambient ion species, new reactant species and ionic depletion by sweeping is also obtained.

Johnson, C. Y.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Multichannel spectrophotometry of stellar flares

Stellar flares have been observed using the 32 channel spectrophotometer on the 5 m telescope. Net flare fluxes in the region 3200-7000 A are presented. A simple model of blackbody radiation and hydrogen recombination emission appears to fit the continuum points well. Owing to vignetting problems, only the region between 4200 and 7000 A was used for a detailed fit to the Planck function to obtain apparent temperatures and effective areas. The rise of each flare was associated with an increase of the area, while the initial steep decline of the light was associated with a similar decrease of the blackbody temperature. The maximum temperatures, coincident with maximum light, were 7500-9500 K, similar to values for solar flares. The hydrogen line emission rose simultaneously with the continuum but declined more slowly. The ratio of H sub gamma to H sub alpha was about 1.5 at the peak, declining to about 1.0 after the peak.

Mochnacki, S. W.↗

NASA NTRS1980

A stratospheric aerosol increase

Large disturbances were noted in the stratospheric aerosol content in the midlatitude Northern Hemisphere commencing about 7 months after the eruption of La Soufriere and less than 1 month after the eruption of Sierra Negra. The aerosol was characterized by a very steep size distribution in the 0.15 to 0.25 micron radius range and contained a volatile component. Measurements near the equator and at the South Pole indicate that the disturbance was widespread. These observations were made before the May 18 eruption of Mt. St. Helens.

Rosen, J. M.↗

NASA NTRS1980

An analysis of short pulse and dual frequency radar techniques for measuring ocean wave spectra from satellites

Scanning beam microwave radars were used to measure ocean wave directional spectra from satellites. In principle, surface wave spectral resolution in wave number can be obtained using either short pulse (SP) or dual frequency (DF) techniques; in either case, directional resolution obtains naturally as a consequence of a Bragg-like wave front matching. A four frequency moment characterization of backscatter from the near vertical using physical optics in the high frequency limit was applied to an analysis of the SP and DF measurement techniques. The intrinsic electromagnetic modulation spectrum was to the first order in wave steepness proportional to the large wave directional slope spectrum. Harmonic distortion was small and was a minimum near 10 deg incidence. NonGaussian wave statistics can have an effect comparable to that in the second order of scattering from a normally distributed sea surface. The SP technique is superior to the DF technique in terms of measurement signal to noise ratio and contrast ratio.

Jackson, F. C.↗