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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 433 records · Page 24

A self-consistent two-dimensional resistive fluid theory of field-aligned potential structures including charge separation and magnetic and velocity shear

A self-consistent two-fluid theory that includes the magnetic field and shear patterns is developed to model stationary electrostatic structures with field-aligned potential drops. Shear flow is also included in the theory since this seems to be a prominent feature of the structures of interest. In addition, Ohmic dissipation, a Hall term, and pressure gradients in a generalized Ohm's law, modified for cases without quasi-neutrality, are included. In the analytic theory, the electrostatic force is balanced by field-aligned pressure gradients (i.e., thermal effects in the direction of the magnetic field) and by pressure gradients and magnetic stresses in the perpendicular direction. Within this theory, simple examples of applications are presented to demonstrate the kind of solutions resulting from the model. The results show how the effects of charge separation and shear in the magnetic field and the velocity can be combined to form self-consistent structures such as are found to exist above the aurora, suggested also in association with solar flares.

Hesse, Michael↗

Extension of transonic flow computational concepts in the analysis of cavitated bearings

An analogy between the mathematical modeling of transonic potential flow and the flow in a cavitating bearing is described. Based on the similarities, characteristics of the cavitated region and jump conditions across the film reformation and rupture fronts are developed using the method of weak solutions. The mathematical analogy is extended by utilizing a few computational concepts of transonic flow to numerically model the cavitating bearing. Methods of shock fitting and shock capturing are discussed. Various procedures used in transonic flow computations are adapted to bearing cavitation applications, for example, type differencing, grid transformation, an approximate factorization technique, and Newton's iteration method. These concepts have proved to be successful and have vastly improved the efficiency of numerical modeling of cavitated bearings.

Vijayaraghavan, D.↗

Theory of instability and transition

The strongly nonlinear area of theory is discussed, as well as linear and weakly nonlinear (i.e., perturbation) theories, and it is noted that the weaknesses of the weakly nonlinear theory are essentially the inappropriate formulation in earlier works and the lack of guidance for the choice of the lowest-order basis. Attention is focused on the areas of theoretical/numerical development contributing to understanding the transition mechanism and new means for analyzing and predicting transition quantitatively. The nonlinear stability of nonparallel flows, linear secondary instability, and nonlinear wave interaction are analyzed. The incompressible flow over a flat plate with zero-pressure gradient is chosen as an example, while applications range to other shear flows including three-dimensional and compressible boundary layers.

Herbert, Thorwald↗

A hierarchical-multiobjective framework for risk management

A broad hierarchical-multiobjective framework is established and utilized to methodologically address the management of risk. United into the framework are the hierarchical character of decision-making, the multiple decision-makers at separate levels within the hierarchy, the multiobjective character of large-scale systems, the quantitative/empirical aspects, and the qualitative/normative/judgmental aspects. The methodological components essentially consist of hierarchical-multiobjective coordination, risk of extreme events, and impact analysis. Examples of applications of the framework are presented. It is concluded that complex and interrelated forces require an analysis of trade-offs between engineering analysis and societal preferences, as in the hierarchical-multiobjective framework, to successfully address inherent risk.

Haimes, Yacov Y.↗

GaAs CCD readout for engineered bandgap detectors

GaAs and related heterostructure charge-coupled devices (CCDs) for detector array readout multiplexer applications are described. Features of resistive-gate CCDs are compared with capacitive-gate CCDs for this application. Design examples of GaAs CCD readouts for linear and two-dimensional detector arrays with different detection methods and signal coupling schemes are described. Recent progress in two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) Al(0.3)Ga(0.7)As/GaAs resistive-gate CCDs is also presented. The 2DEG resistive-gate CCD conventional buried-channel GaAs CCD.

Song, J.-I.↗

Permanent magnet design methodology

Design techniques developed for the exploitation of high energy magnetically rigid materials such as Sm-Co and Nd-Fe-B have resulted in a revolution in kind rather than in degree in the design of a variety of electron guidance structures for ballistic and aerospace applications. Salient examples are listed. Several prototype models were developed. These structures are discussed in some detail: permanent magnet solenoids, transverse field sources, periodic structures, and very high field structures.

Leupold, Herbert A.↗

Remote sensing cloud properties from combined AVHRR HIRS/2 and ERBE observations

The paper describes a method for determining cloud parameters from the combined remote sensing measurements of the NOAA AVHRR and the High-Resolution Infrared Radiometer Sounder (HIRS-2). The method was implemented on a set of observations primarily limited to the tropical eastern Pacific. Examples of applications of this data set are presented.

Ackerman, Steven A.↗

An interactive system for aircraft design and optimization

A system for aircraft design utilizing a unique analysis architecture, graphical interface, and suite of numerical optimization methods is described in this paper. The non-procedural architecture provides extensibility and efficiency not possible with conventional programming techniques. The interface for analysis and optimization, developed for use with this method, is described and its application to example problems is discussed.

Kroo, Ilan M.↗

Grid adaptation to multiple functions for applied aerodynamic analysis

A fast and robust method of grid adaptation to multiple functions has been developed for flow analysis in 3D space. It is based on the equidistribution principle and the alternate direction adaptation method. The grid adaptation algorithm has been fully integrated with a space marching flow solver as contained within a 3D Navier-Stokes code and PAB3D-v2. The grid adaptation strategy, details of numerical implementation, examples of application, and potential extensions of the current method are presented in this paper.

Pao, S. P.↗

The multidimensional self-adaptive grid code, SAGE

This report describes the multidimensional self-adaptive grid code SAGE. A two-dimensional version of this code was described in an earlier report by the authors. The formulation of the multidimensional version is described in the first section of this document. The second section is presented in the form of a user guide that explains the input and execution of the code and provides many examples. Successful application of the SAGE code in both two and three dimensions for the solution of various flow problems has proven the code to be robust, portable, and simple to use. Although the basic formulation follows the method of Nakahashi and Deiwert, many modifications have been made to facilitate the use of the self-adaptive grid method for complex grid structures. Modifications to the method and the simplified input options make this a flexible and user-friendly code. The new SAGE code can accommodate both two-dimensional and three-dimensional flow problems.

Davies, Carol B.↗

Tethers

A tether of sufficient strength, capable of being lengthened or shortened and having appropriate apparatuses for capturing and releasing bodies at its ends, may be useful in propulsion applications. For example, a tether could allow rendezvous between spacecraft in substantially different orbits without using propellant. A tether could also allow co-orbiting spacecraft to exchange momentum and separate. Thus, a reentering spacecraft (such as the Shuttle) could give its momentum to one remaining on orbit (such as the space station). Similarly, a tether facility could gain momentum from a high I(sub sp)/low thrust mechanism (which could be an electrodynamics tether) and transfer than momentum by means of a tether to payloads headed for many different orbits. Such a facility would, in effect, combine high I(sub sp) with high thrust, although only briefly. An electrodynamic tether could propel a satellite from its launch inclination to a higher or lower inclination. Tethers could also allow samples to be taken from bodies such as the Moon. Three types of tether operations are illustrated. The following topics are discussed: (1) tether characteristics; (2) tether propulsion methods--basics, via momentum transfer, and electrodynamic tether propulsion; and (3) their use in planetary exploration.

Cutler, Andrew Hall↗

A composite structured/unstructured-mesh Euler method for complex airfoil shapes

A general two-dimensional Euler zonal method has been developed for computing flows about complex airfoil geometries such as multielement and iced airfoils. The method utilizes a composite structured and unstructured grid generated using conformal mapping and Delaunay triangulation, respectively. The finite-volume Euler method is then modified to couple solutions in the zones with structured and unstructured grids. Solutions about an iced airfoil and a multielement airfoil are given as examples of applications of the scheme.

Hefazi, H.↗

Finite element computation of compressible flows with the SUPG formulation

Finite element computation of compressible Euler equations is presented in the context of the streamline-upwind/Petrov-Galerkin (SUPG) formulation. The SUPG formulation, which is based on adding stabilizing terms to the Galerkin formulation, is further supplemented with a shock capturing operator which addresses the difficulty in maintaining a satisfactory solution near discontinuities in the solution field. The shock capturing operator, which has been derived from work done in entropy variables for a similar operator, is shown to lead to an appropriate level of additional stabilization near shocks, without resulting in excessive numerical diffusion. An implicit treatment of the impermeable wall boundary condition is also presented. This treatment of the no-penetration condition offers increased stability for large Courant numbers, and accelerated convergence of the computations for both implicit and explicit applications. Several examples are presented to demonstrate the ability of this method to solve the equations governing compressible fluid flow.

Le Beau, G. J.↗

Symbolic discrete event system specification

Extending discrete event modeling formalisms to facilitate greater symbol manipulation capabilities is important to further their use in intelligent control and design of high autonomy systems. An extension to the DEVS formalism that facilitates symbolic expression of event times by extending the time base from the real numbers to the field of linear polynomials over the reals is defined. A simulation algorithm is developed to generate the branching trajectories resulting from the underlying nondeterminism. To efficiently manage symbolic constraints, a consistency checking algorithm for linear polynomial constraints based on feasibility checking algorithms borrowed from linear programming has been developed. The extended formalism offers a convenient means to conduct multiple, simultaneous explorations of model behaviors. Examples of application are given with concentration on fault model analysis.

Zeigler, Bernard P.↗

A method for studying the hunting oscillations of an airplane with a simple type of automatic control

A method is presented for predicting the amplitude and frequency, under certain simplifying conditions, of the hunting oscillations of an automatically controlled aircraft with lag in the control system or in the response of the aircraft to the controls. If the steering device is actuated by a simple right-left type of signal, the series of alternating fixed-amplified signals occurring during the hunting may ordinarily be represented by a "square wave." Formulas are given expressing the response to such a variations of signal in terms of the response to a unit signal. A more complex type of hunting, which may involve cyclic repetition of signals of varying duration, has not been treated and requires further analysis. Several examples of application of the method are included and the results discussed.

Jones, Robert T↗

Integrated topology and shape optimization in structural design

Structural optimization procedures usually start from a given design topology and vary its proportions or boundary shapes to achieve optimality under various constraints. Two different categories of structural optimization are distinguished in the literature, namely sizing and shape optimization. A major restriction in both cases is that the design topology is considered fixed and given. Questions concerning the general layout of a design (such as whether a truss or a solid structure should be used) as well as more detailed topology features (e.g., the number and connectivities of bars in a truss or the number of holes in a solid) have to be resolved by design experience before formulating the structural optimization model. Design quality of an optimized structure still depends strongly on engineering intuition. This article presents a novel approach for initiating formal structural optimization at an earlier stage, where the design topology is rigorously generated in addition to selecting shape and size dimensions. A three-phase design process is discussed: an optimal initial topology is created by a homogenization method as a gray level image, which is then transformed to a realizable design using computer vision techniques; this design is then parameterized and treated in detail by sizing and shape optimization. A fully automated process is described for trusses. Optimization of two dimensional solid structures is also discussed. Several application-oriented examples illustrate the usefulness of the proposed methodology.

Bremicker, M.↗

A large eddy simulation scheme for turbulent reacting flows

The recent development of the dynamic subgrid-scale (SGS) model has provided a consistent method for generating localized turbulent mixing models and has opened up great possibilities for applying the large eddy simulation (LES) technique to real world problems. Given the fact that the direct numerical simulation (DNS) can not solve for engineering flow problems in the foreseeable future (Reynolds 1989), the LES is certainly an attractive alternative. It seems only natural to bring this new development in SGS modeling to bear on the reacting flows. The major stumbling block for introducing LES to reacting flow problems has been the proper modeling of the reaction source terms. Various models have been proposed, but none of them has a wide range of applicability. For example, some of the models in combustion have been based on the flamelet assumption which is only valid for relatively fast reactions. Some other models have neglected the effects of chemical reactions on the turbulent mixing time scale, which is certainly not valid for fast and non-isothermal reactions. The probability density function (PDF) method can be usefully employed to deal with the modeling of the reaction source terms. In order to fit into the framework of LES, a new PDF, the large eddy PDF (LEPDF), is introduced. This PDF provides an accurate representation for the filtered chemical source terms and can be readily calculated in the simulations. The details of this scheme are described.

Gao, Feng↗

Active magnetic bearing control loop modeling for a finite element rotordynamics code

A mathematical model of an active electromagnetic bearing which includes the actuator, the sensor and the control system is developed and implemented in a specialized finite element code for rotordynamic analysis. The element formulation and its incorporation in the model of the machine are described in detail. A solution procedure, based on a modal approach in which the number of retained modes is controlled by the user, is then shown together with other procedures for computing the steady-state response to both static and unbalance forces. An example of application shows the numerical results obtained on a model of an electric motor suspended on a five active-axis magnetic suspension. The comparison of some of these results with the experimental characteristics of the actual system shows the ability of the present model to predict its performance.

Genta, Giancarlo↗