The sensitivity of a mesoscale forecast model to detailed three-dimensional isentropic initial analyses and varied vertical model resolution
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The temporal structure of electron fluxes precipitated by lightning that was measured at night over Wallops Island, Virginia, during August 1984 has been analyzed. A component of the precipitating electrons is almost certainly due to equatorial wave-particle interactions involving equatorial electron cyclotron resonance (EECR) with whistlers which produce pitch angle scattering. Precipitated electron fluxes of equatorial origin are characterized by a very steep spectral power exponent of about -20 above 100 keV. A second electron distribution from some other origin is also found whose time-integrated energy flux appears to be about equal in magnitude to the fluxes identified with the EECR processes.
Coronagraph observations of two post flare loop systems, recorded photographically in the emissions of Fe 14 (5303 A) and Fe 10 (6374 A), show occasional enhancements at the intersections of some loops. The brightness of such enhancements in the green line gradually increases to a maximum value several times greater than that of the legs of the loops and then declines with a typical lifetime approx. 30 to 60 min. In red line emission the loop systems are usually very faint, but show the same overall type of enhancement, with a lag in maximum brightness relative to that of the green line approx. 10 min. The electron density, derived from the cooling time, is approx. 10 to the 12th power/cu cm.
Following the realization that a simple iterative strategy for bringing the flexible walls of two-dimensional test sections to streamline contours was too slow for practical use, Judd proposed, developed, and placed into service what was the first Predictive Strategy. The Predictive Strategy reduced by 75 percent or more the number of iterations of wall shapes, and therefore the tunnel run-time overhead attributable to the streamlining process, required to reach satisfactory streamlines. The procedures of the Strategy are embodied in the FORTRAN subroutine WAS (standing for Wall Adjustment Strategy) which is written in general form. The essentials of the test section hardware, followed by the underlying aerodynamic theory which forms the basis of the Strategy, are briefly described. The subroutine is then presented as the Appendix, broken down into segments with descriptions of the numerical operations underway in each, with definitions of variables.
The objectives and accomplishments were to adapt and apply the newly created database of Shuttle/Centaur ground operations. Previously defined turnaround operations analyses were to be updated for ground-based OTVs (GBOTVs) and space-based OTVs (SBOTVs), design requirements identified for both OTV and Space Station accommodations hardware, turnaround operations costs estimated, and a technology development plan generated to develop the required capabilities. Technical and programmatic data were provided for NASA pertinent to OTV round and space operations requirements, turnaround operations, task descriptions, timelines and manpower requirements, OTV modular design and booster and Space Station interface requirements. SBOTV accommodations development schedule, cost and turnaround operations requirements, and a technology development plan for ground and space operations and space-based accommodations facilities and support equipment. Significant conclusion are discussed.
A global model describing the convective evaporation of dense and dilute clusters of drops has been formulated starting from first principles. The volume of the cluster and the number of drops in a given cluster are fixed, and the drops do not move with respect to each other. The model has been tested for three different drag models and shows less than 10-percent sensitivity in the prediction of the droplet lifetime. The initial relative velocity between drops and gases is a weak control parameter in the 40-1000-cm/s regime.
The initial reactions of the Herbst and Klemperer (1973) and the Dalgarno (1974) schemes (I and II, respectively) for the gas-phase synthesis of ammonia in dense interstellar clouds were investigated. The rate of the slightly endothermic reaction between N(+) and H2 to yield NH(+) and H (scheme I) under interstellar conditions was reinvestigated under thermal and nonthermal conditions based on laboratory data. It was found that the relative importance of this reaction in synthesizing ammonia is determined by how the laboratory data at low temperature are interpreted. On the other hand, the exothermic reaction between N and H3(+) to form NH2(+) + H (scheme II) was calculated to possess significant activation energy and, therefore, to have a negligible rate coefficient under interstellar conditions. Consequently, this reaction cannot take place appreciably in interstellar clouds.
The application of an upwind-biased implicit approximate factorization Navier-Stokes algorithm to the unsteady impulsive start-up flow over a circular cylinder at Reynolds number 1200 is described. The complete form of the compressible Navier-Stokes equations is used, and the algorithm is second-order accurate in both space and time. The development with time of the shape and size of the separated vortical flow region is computed, as well as the time-variation of several boundary layer parameters and profile shapes. Computations, in general, show excellent agreement with experiment, although the present method predicts a more rapid onset of reversed flow on the cylinder than evidenced in experiment. The changes that the vortical region behind the cylinder undergoes as the symmetric flow transitions to periodic vortex shedding are discussed. The flow becomes periodic with a Strouhal frequency of 0.222, which compares well with the experimental value of approximately 0.21. The effect of grid density on the development of the unsteady flow is also shown.
The specifications for a number of projects which are to be implemented within the University of Southwestern Louisiana NASA PC R and D Project are discussed. The goals and objectives of the PC development project and the interrelationships of the various components are discussed. Six projects are described. They are a NASA/RECON simulator, a user interface to multiple remote information systems, evaluation of various personal computer systems, statistical analysis software development, interactive presentation system development, and the development of a distributed processing environment. The relationships of these projects to one another and to the goals and objectives of the overall project are discussed.
A model for the emergence of buoyant segments of magnetic flux tubes whose ends are still anchored in the stable layers below the convection zone is developed. This model is based on the thin flux tube approximation of Spruit. Several specific examples of buoyant flux tube evolution computed with the model are described. In particular, attention is given to an example of a flux tube which results in upflows as it emerges, in contrast to the downflows generally believed to accompany the Parker instability.
Micromechanisms responsible for compressive failure in open-hole composite laminates were investigated. Specimens containing circular center holes were loaded in compression to failure at a slow rate, and the surface damage development during loading was monitored. Several coupon compression tests were interrupted prior to catastrophic failure to allow for the assessment of fiber shear crippling and/or fiber microbuckling by NDE techniques. From these sectioning studies, the extent and mode of failure were determined, and a three-dimensional schematic of the shear crippling zone was developed. Results show that the majority of the damage in compression-loaded open-hole composite laminates is shear crippled or microbuckled 0-deg fibers; in many cases, however, the shear crippling damage within the 0-deg plies produced shear strains and damage in the adjacent off-axis plies.
The extension of the known flux-vector and flux-difference splittings to real gases via rigorous mathematical procedures is demonstrated. Formulations of both equilibrium and finite-rate chemistry for real-gas flows are described, with emphasis on derivations of finite-rate chemistry. Split-flux formulas from other authors are examined. A second-order upwind-based TVD scheme is adopted to eliminate oscillations and to obtain a sharp representation of discontinuities.
A semi-empirical model is presented which describes the operating characteristics of resistojet and arcjet engines. Propellants considered include hydrogen, ammonia and hydrazine. Specific engine design and performance correlations are derived from previously published contractor reports, conference and journal papers of the past three decades. Fundamental performance relationships are identified and correlating parameters derived to describe engine operation over a wide range of input powers and propellant mass flow rates. Outputs are presented from a computer program formulated using these modeling relationships. Comparisons are made with present electrothermal engine designs and examples are presented to illustrate the usefulness of the models in predicting engine operation as a function of changes in engine geometry and operating modes.
A description of the phase 3 simplified integrated test (SIT) conducted at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Core Module Integration Facility (CMIF) in 1989 is presented. This was the first test in the phase 3 series integrated environmental control and life support systems (ECLSS) tests. The basic goal of the SIT was to achieve full integration of the baseline air revitalization (AR) subsystems for Space Station Freedom. Included is a description of the SIT configuration, a performance analysis of each subsystem, results from air and water sampling, and a discussion of lessons learned from the test. Also included is a full description of the preprototype ECLSS hardware used in the test.
The Avion is the result of an investigation into the preliminary design for a high-efficiency commercial transport aircraft. The Avion is designed to carry 79 passengers and a crew of five through a range of 1,500 nm at 455 kts (M=0.78 at 32,000 ft). It has a gross take-off weight of 77,000 lb and an empty weight of 42,400 lb. Currently there are no American-built aircraft designed to fit the 60 to 90 passenger, short/medium range marketplace. The Avion gathers the premier engineering achievements of flight technology and integrates them into an aircraft which will challenge the current standards of flight efficiency, reliability, and performance. The Avion will increase flight efficiency through reduction of structural weight and the improvement of aerodynamic characteristics and propulsion systems. Its design departs from conventional aircraft design tradition with the incorporation of a three-lifting-surface (or tri-wing) configuration. Further aerodynamic improvements are obtained through modest main wing forward sweeping, variable incidence canards, aerodynamic coupling between the canard and main wing, leading edge extensions, winglets, an aerodynamic tailcone, and a T-tail empennage. The Avion is propelled by propfans, which are one of the most promising developments for raising propulsive efficiencies at high subsonic Mach numbers. Special attention is placed on overall configuration, fuselage layout, performance estimations, component weight estimations, and planform design. Leading U.S. technology promises highly efficient flight for the 21st century; the Avion will fulfill this promise to passenger transport aviation.
The objective of the NASA Energy Efficient Engine program is to identify and verify the technology required to achieve significant reductions in fuel consumption and operating cost for future commercial gas turbine engines. The design and analysis is documented of the high pressure compressor which was tested as part of the Pratt and Whitney effort under the Energy Efficient Engine program. This compressor was designed to produce a 14:1 pressure ratio in ten stages with an adiabatic efficiency of 88.2 percent in the flight propulsion system. The corresponding expected efficiency for the compressor component test rig is 86.5 percent. Other performance goals are a surge margin of 20 percent, a corrected flow rate of 35.2 kg/sec (77.5 lb/sec), and a life of 20,000 missions and 30,000 hours. Low loss, highly loaded airfoils are used to increase efficiency while reducing the parts count. Active clearance control and case trenches in abradable strips over the blade tips are included in the compressor component design to further increase the efficiency potential. The test rig incorporates variable geometry stator vanes in all stages to permit maximum flexibility in developing stage-to-stage matching. This provision precluded active clearance control on the rear case of the test rig. Both the component and rig designs meet or exceed design requirements with the exception of life goals, which will be achievable with planned advances in materials technology.
A comparison is made of the effect of small changes in v-groove geometry, for several riblet films applicable for drag reduction to commercial transport aircraft, whose nominal v-groove dimension is of the order of 0.002 inch. The films were tested in a water towing-tank facility. The results obtained indicate that small riblet peak geometry variations can result in a deterioration of riblet drag-reduction efficacy of as much as 40 percent, while interriblet valley curvature was found not to be critical to riblet performance.
Clouds is an operating system in a novel class of distributed operating systems providing the integration, reliability, and structure that makes a distributed system usable. Clouds is designed to run on a set of general purpose computers that are connected via a medium-of-high speed local area network. The system structuring paradigm chosen for the Clouds operating system, after substantial research, is an object/thread model. All instances of services, programs and data in Clouds are encapsulated in objects. The concept of persistent objects does away with the need for file systems, and replaces it with a more powerful concept, namely the object system. The facilities in Clouds include integration of resources through location transparency; support for various types of atomic operations, including conventional transactions; advanced support for achieving fault tolerance; and provisions for dynamic reconfiguration.