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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 523 records · Page 29

Theory and simulation of the beam cyclotron instability.

A theory of plasma beam cyclotron instability is developed on the basis of computer simulation experiments. The theory holds that at certain turbulence levels, electron cross-field diffusion which supresses the electron gyroresonances is created by turbulent wave-particle interactions in a plasma beam after a period of quasi-linear exponential development of turbulence. The stabilizing effect of Landau ion damping is noted. The behavior of cold and hot ions is discussed.

Lampe, M.↗

Effects of surface anomalies on certain model generated meteorological histories

The Mintz-Arakawa 2-level general circulation model has been used in a series of experiments to compute the response of the model atmosphere to: (1) a positive sea surface temperature anomaly in the North Pacific Ocean in summer and in winter, (2) an identical anomaly in the South Pacific Ocean in the Southern Hemisphere winter, and (3) anomalous northward and southward displacements of the Northern Hemisphere snow line over the continents. In each case computations were carried out for 90 forecast days. Results are shown in terms of the differences between anomaly and control histories. Time series of certain regional response indices, including area-average sea level pressure and 600 mb circulation indices, as well as 30-day mean sea level pressure maps are used in the analysis. Of particular interest is the evidence of significant interhemisphere influence.

Spar, J.↗

Profile inversion in presence of ray bending

Inversion of radio occultation data for planetary atmospheres and ionospheres has been performed using the seismological Herglotz-Wiechert method, as adapted by Phinney and Anderson to the radio-occultation case. Profile reconstruction performed in computer simulated experiments with this approach have been compared with the ones obtained with the straight-ray Abel transform. For a thin atmosphere and ionosphere, like the ones encountered on Mars, microwave occultation data can be inverted accurately with both methods. For a dense ionosphere like the sun's corona, ray bending of microwaves is severe, and recovered refractivity by the Herglotz-Wiechert method provides significant improvement over the straight-ray Abel transform: the error reduces from more than 60% to less than 20% at a height of 60,000 km above the base of the corona.

Wallio, H. A.↗

A comparison of techniques for inversion of radio-ray phase data in presence of ray bending

Derivations are presented of the straight-line Abel transform and the seismological Herglotz-Wiechert transform (which takes ray bending into account) that are used in the reconstruction of refractivity profiles from radio-wave phase data. Profile inversion utilizing these approaches, performed in computer-simulated experiments, are compared for cases of positive, zero, and negative ray bending. For thin atmospheres and ionospheres, such as the Martian atmosphere and ionosphere, radio wave signals are shown to be inverted accurately with both methods. For dense media, such as the solar corona or the lower Venus atmosphere, the refractive recovered by the seismological Herglotz-Wiechert transform provide a significant improvement compared with the straight-line Abel transform.

Wallio, H. A.↗

Geographic applications of ERTS-1 data to landscape change

The analysis of landscape change requires large area coverage on a periodic basis in order to analyze aggregate changes over an extended period of time. To date, only the ERTS program can provide this capability. Three avenues of experimentation and analysis are being used in the investigation: (1) a multi-scale sampling procedure utilizing aircraft imagery for ground truth and control; (2) a densitometric and computer analytical experiment for the analysis of gray tone signatures, comparisons and ultimately for landscape change detection and monitoring; and (3) an ERTS image enhancement procedure for the detection and analysis of photomorphic regions.

Rehder, J. B.↗

Applications of ERTS-1 data to landscape change in eastern Tennessee

The author has identified the following significant results. The analysis of landscape change in eastern Tennessee from ERTS-1 data is being derived from three avenues of experimentation and analysis: (1) a multi-stage sampling procedure utilizing ground and aircraft imagery for ground truth and control; (2) a densitometric and computer analytical experiment for the analysis of gray tone signatures and comparisons for landscape change detection and monitoring; and (3) an ERTS image enhancement procedure for the detection and analysis of photomorphic regions. Significant results include: maps of strip mining changes and forest inventory, watershed identification and delimitation, and agricultural regions derived from spring plowing patterns appearing on the ERTS-1 imagery.

Rehder, J. B.↗

Simulation of pitch angle diffusion of charged particles in a disordered magnetic field

Results are reported for computer simulation experiments in which a statistical ensemble of random magnetic field realizations is generated, orbits of charged particles in the random fields are followed, and a pitch-angle diffusion coefficient is derived from the temporal evolution of the orbits. Diffusion coefficients predicted by three nonlinear theories are compared with the derived coefficients for the standard quasilinear theory of velocity diffusion, and the goals of future simulations are outlined.

Kaiser, T. B.↗

Ride-quality testing under controlled flight conditions

As part of a NASA program to develop the technology of ride quality, a flight-test program has been conducted to obtain subjective reactions of a significant number of test passengers to a variety of controlled and repeatable flight conditions. For these experiments, the computer of a variable-stability research aircraft was programmed to precisely control the aircraft's in-flight motions as specified by motion command signals prerecorded on magnetic tape. Problems initially encountered derived primarily from the quality of the motion command signals and tape playback device, plus the aircraft motion response in degrees of freedom other than that desired. Problem solutions were obtained through the use of filtering and compensating networks. The variable-stability-system modifications, problems encountered, and their solutions are described. The test procedure is described and sample results are presented which illustrate the usefulness of this technique for ride-quality research.

Schoonover, W. E., Jr.↗

Asteroid collisions, craters, regoliths, and lifetimes

Laboratory experiments and computer modeling are used to predict the development of regoliths on all asteroids more than a few tens of kilometers in diameter, allowing for a wide range in the intrinsic strength of asteroidal surface materials. The high frequency of interasteroid collisions requires nearly all asteroids to be fragments of precursors.

Chapman, C. R.↗

Diagnostic experiments on supersonic jet noise

Experiments and computations on the flowfield and radiated noise of supersonic model jets are discussed. The shock associated noise produced by large scale instabilities in underexpanded supersonic jets, the nonlinear propagation distortion phenomenon in the noise radiated by supersonic model jets, and computations of instability evolution and radiated noise using the LSNOIS computer code are addressed.

Mclaughlin, D. K.↗

ARTS BETA testing report

The advanced real time system (ARTS) was tested utilizing existing commercial system hardware and software which has been operating under advanced operating system (AOS) for several years in a multitasking, multiprocessing, and multiple computer environment. Experiences with ARTS in terms of compatibility with AOS, ease of transmission between AOS and ARTS, and functional areas of ARTS which were tested are discussed. Relative and absolute performance of ARTS versus AOS as measured in the system environment are also presented.

Mccune, M. C.↗

Earth Radiation Science Seminars

Earth radiation budget experiments, instrumentation, computational methods, and the effect of increased CO2 on climate were discussed.

Hall, J. B., Jr.↗

Training state agency personnel in satellite remote sensing technology - Solutions to a special problem

To aid state/local agencies in starting effective programs to apply Landsat and other remote sensing data, NASA's Eastern Regional Remote Sensing Applications Center (ERRSAC) has developed a comprehensive training program as part of its technology transfer mission. Skills in data processing and interpretation are produced through 'hands-on' experience with computer techniques used to conduct practical applications involving state-oriented projects, conducted jointly by agencies and ERRSAC. In time, ERRSAC will shift much of these training activities to universities where future agency personnel can obtain a broader foundation in remote sensing.

Short, N. M.↗

Recent experiences with three-dimensional transonic potential flow calculations

Some recent experiences with computer programs capable of solving finitie-difference approximations to the full potential equation for the transonic flow past three dimensional swept wings and simple wing-fuselage combinations are discussed. The programs used are a nonconservative program for swept wings, a quasi-conservative finite-volume program capable of treating swept wings mounted on fuselages of slowly varying circular cross section, and a fully conservative finite volume scheme capable of treating swept wings and wing-cylinder combinations. The present capabilities of these codes are reviewed. The relative merits of the conservative and nonconservative formulations are discussed, and the results of calculations including corrections for the boundary-layer displacement effect are presented.

Caughey, D. A.↗

A basic code for the prediction of transient three-dimensional turbulent flowfields

A primitive pressure-velocity finite difference code has been developed to predict transient three-dimensional turbulent flow. The code is a simplified yet effective prediction procedure for use by persons with little experience in computational fluid dynamics, and into which user-oriented complexities can easily be added. The method is based on the transient two-dimensional Los Alamos SOLA prediction technique for laminar flows. Turbulence is simulated by means of a two-equation turbulence model; species diffusion and buoyancy are also included. Two applications of the code are presented to local destratification near the release structure of a reservoir and to the deflection of a jet entering normally into a uniform cross-flow. Predicted results exhibit good agreement with experimental data, showing that a useful characterization of fully three-dimensional flows is now available.

Busnaina, A. A.↗

A scanning laser velocimeter for turbulence research

Turbulent and unsteady separated flows occur on most practical flight vehicles, but are not yet sufficiently understood for designs to provide safe margins of performance without recourse to extensive experiment and computation. In date, reliable experimental data for even basic flows is severely limited and does not yet provide a satisfactory data base with which to assess current design and calculation methods. Although the laser velocimeter (LV) has become a proven, nonintrusive instrument for the measurement of local mean velocities and turbulence properties, measurements have been of a mean, statistical nature derived from averages accumulated independently at different positions in the flow. Thus, the measurements do not give an instantaneous dynamic, picture of the flow-field structures. Accordingly, a new technique for rapid LV scans of turbulent flow fields was proposed. The potential of this new instrument for fundamental fluid mechanical measurements of turbulent flows has been demonstrated. The results clearly show that significant unsteady flow features are hidden by conventional measurements and that the scanning laser velocimeter should prove an invauable tool in future studies of the structure of turbulent flows.

Duen, F. K.↗

Heat transfer in aeropropulsion systems

Aeropropulsion heat transfer is reviewed. A research methodology based on a growing synergism between computations and experiments is examined. The aeropropulsion heat transfer arena is identified as high Reynolds number forced convection in a highly disturbed environment subject to strong gradients, body forces, abrupt geometry changes and high three dimensionality - all in an unsteady flow field. Numerous examples based on heat transfer to the aircraft gas turbine blade are presented to illustrate the types of heat transfer problems which are generic to aeropropulsion systems. The research focus of the near future in aeropropulsion heat transfer is projected.

Simoneau, R. J.↗