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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 541 records · Page 30
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

Triangular element for analysis of perforated plates under inplane and transverse loads

A C0-type triangular element formulation in orthogonal curvilinear coordinates has been developed, based on assumptions of transverse inextensibility and constant shear angle through thickness, for analysis of perforated plates subjected to in-plane and transverse loads. The assumed quadratic-displacement potential-energy approach is utilized in obtaining an element stiffness matrix and consistent load vector, which are numerically integrated. Numerical results have been obtained using a straight-sided triangular version, which behaves like a subparametric element, for stretching and bending analyses of perforated plates.

Chaudhuri, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Triangular element for analysis of a stretched plate weakened by a part-through hole

A C0-type triangular element formulation in orthogonal curvilinear coordinates has been developed, based on assumptions of transverse inextensibility and layerwise constant shear angle, for analysis of a stretched homogeneous plate weakened by a part-through hole. The element stiffness matrix and consistent load vector have been derived using an assumed-quadratic-displacement (in the curvilinear coordinate plane) potential-energy approach. Numerical results obtained using the straight-sided triangular element version indicate the presence of transverse shear deformation in a stretched homogeneous plate weakened by a symmetrically located concentric hole.

Chaudhuri, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Is N-protonated hydrogen isocyanide, H2NC(+), an observable interstellar species?

Ab initio molecular orbital theory is used to examine the singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces for the CH2N(+) system. The results confirm those of earlier studies which suggested that the singlet H2NC(+) isomer could be formed via the corresponding triplet isomer. Also, it is shown that the reaction HCN(+) + H2 might lead to this metastable isomer without invoking the triplet species. The best test of the hypothesis that this molecule can be formed by gas phase, ion molecule reactions and may be an important precursor in the interstellar synthesis of HCN and HNC is to search for it in space. To this end, theoretical predictions are made of its rotational frequencies and its vibrational frequencies and intensities to serve as a guide to laboratory spectroscopists and radioastronomers.

Defrees, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Isotopic effects in the collinear reactive FHH system

Exact quantum reaction probabilities for a collinear model of the F + HH, HD, DD and DH reactions on the MV potential energy surface have been computed using hyperspherical coordinates. The results, obtained up to a total energy of 1.8 eV, show three main features: (1) resonances, whose positions and widths are analyzed simply in the hyperspherical formalism; (2) a slowly varying background increasing for FHD, decreasing for FDH, and oscillating for FHH and FDD, whose variations are interpreted by classical dynamics; and (3) partial reaction probabilities revealing decreasing vibrational adiabaticity in the order FHH-FDD-FHD-FDH.

Lepetit, B.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A case study of GWE satellite data impact on GLA assimilation analyses of two ocean cyclones

The effects of the Global Weather Experiment (GWE) data obtained on January 18-20, 1979 on Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres assimilation analyses of simultaneous cyclones in the western Pacific and Atlantic oceans are examined. The ability of satellite data within assimilation models to determine the baroclinic structures of developing extratropical cyclones is evaluated. The impact of the satellite data on the amplitude and phase of the temperature structure within the storm domain, potential energy, and baroclinic growth rate is studied. The GWE data are compared with Data Systems Test results. It is noted that it is necessary to characterize satellite effects on the baroclinic structure of cyclone waves which degrade numerical weather predictions of cyclogenesis.

Gallimore, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1987

An approximate semi-analytical method for prediction of interlaminar shear stresses in an arbitrarily laminated thick plate

An approximate semianalytical method for determination of interlaminar shear stress distribution through the thickness of an arbitrarily laminated thick plate has been presented. The method is based on the assumptions of transverse inextensibility and layerwise constant shear angle theory (LCST) and utilizes an assumed quadratic displacement potential energy based finite element method (FEM). Centroid of the triangular surface has been proved from a rigorous mathematical point of view (Aubin-Nitsche theory), to be the point of exceptional accuracy for the interlaminar shear stresses. Numerical results indicate close agreement with the available three-dimensional elasticity theory solutions. A comparison between the present theory and that due to an assumed stress hybrid FEM suggest that the (normal) traction-free-edge condition is not satisfied in the latter approach. Furthermore, the present paper is the first to present the results for interlaminar shear stresses in a two-layer thick square plate of balanced unsymmetric angle-ply construction. A comparison with the recently proposed Equilibrium Method (EM) indicates the superiority of the present method, because the latter assures faster convergence as well as simultaneous vanishing of the transverse shear stresses on both of the exposed surfaces of the laminate. Superiority of the present method over the EM, in the case of a symmetric laminate, is limited to faster convergence alone. It has also been demonstrated that the combination of the present method and the reduced (quadratic order) numerical integration scheme yields convergence of the interlaminar shear stresses almost as rapidly as that of the nodal displacements, in the case of a thin plate.

Chaudhuri, Reaz A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Relaxation of magnetotail plasmas

A quasi-thermodynamic model is presented for the relaxation of magnetotail plasmas during substorms, followed by quiet times. It is proposed that the plasma relaxes to a state of low-potential energy subject to a small number of global constraints. The constraints are exactly preserved by all ideal motions and, approximately, by a wide class of motions of the plasma undergoing magnetic reconnection. A variational principle which minimizes the free energy predicts the relaxed state. Exact, two-dimensional solutions of the relaxed state are obtained. A universal feature of the exact solutions is a chain of magnetic islands along the tail axis. Sufficient conditions for the stability of relaxed states are obtained from the second variation of the free-energy functional.

Bhattacharjee, A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

A simple and efficient shear-flexible plate bending element

A shear-flexible triangular element formulation, which utilizes an assumed quadratic displacement potential energy approach and is numerically integrated using Gauss quadrature, is presented. The Reissner/Mindlin hypothesis of constant cross-sectional warping is directly applied to the three-dimensional elasticity theory to obtain a moderately thick-plate theory or constant shear-angle theory (CST), wherein the middle surface is no longer considered to be the reference surface and the two rotations are replaced by the two in-plane displacements as nodal variables. The resulting finite-element possesses 18 degrees of freedom (DOF). Numerical results are obtained for two different numerical integration schemes and a wide range of meshes and span-to-thickness ratios. These, when compared with available exact, series or finite-element solutions, demonstrate accuracy and rapid convergence characteristics of the present element. This is especially true in the case of thin to very thin plates, when the present element, used in conjunction with the reduced integration scheme, outperforms its counterpart, based on discrete Kirchhoff constraint theory (DKT).

Chaudhuri, Reaz A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The production of O(1S) from dissociative recombination of O2(+)

The first theoretical calculations of the rate coefficient alpha for dissociative recombination of O2(+) leading to O(1S) are reported for a wide range of temperatures. The findings are discussed in terms of the potential energy curves for the ground state of O2(+) and for the dissociative 1Sigma(u) state calculated here. Values of alpha for the equilibrium case in which the electron and vibrational temperatures are identical are shown.

Guberman, Steven L.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Finite-element grid improvement by minimization of stiffness matrix trace

A new and simple method of finite-element grid improvement is presented. The objective is to improve the accuracy of the analysis. The procedure is based on a minimization of the trace of the stiffness matrix. For a broad class of problems this minimization is seen to be equivalent to minimizing the potential energy. The method is illustrated with the classical tapered bar problem examined earlier by Prager and Masur. Identical results are obtained.

Kittur, Madan G.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Application of satellite data in observational and theoretical studies of the evolving structure of baroclinic waves

A variety of observational and theoretical studies were performed which were designed to clarify the relationship between satellite measurements of cloud and radiation and the evolution of transient and stationary circulation in middle latitudes. Satellite outgoing longwave radiation data are used to: (1) estimate the generation of available potential energy due to infrared radiation, and (2) show the extent to which these data can provide the signature of high and low frequency weather phenomena including blocking. In a significant series of studies the nonlinear, energetical, and predictability properties of these blocking situations, and the ralationship of blocking to the planetary, scale longwave structure are described. These studies form the background for continuing efforts to describe and theoretically account for these low frequency planetary wave phenomena in terms of their bimodal properties.

Saltzman, Barry↗
NASA NTRS1987

Ab initio studies of low-lying 3Sigma(-), 3Pi, and 5Sigma(-) states of NH. I - Potential curves and dipole moment functions

Configuration interaction wave functions, potential energy curves, and dipole moment functions have been calculated for the four lowest 3Sigma(-) and the three lowest 3Pi states and 5Sigma(-) states of NH. The electronic wave functions were constructed to give a balanced description of valence-Rydberg interactions. Two repulsive states have been identified as important photodissociation pathways. Spectroscopic constants are presented for the bound states, and results are compared to other theoretical and experimental work. The possible predissociation of the A 3Pi state by the 1 5Sigma(-) state is discussed.

Goldfield, Evelyn M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Study of pre-storm environment by using rawinsonde and satellite observations

Rawinsonde and satellite remote sensing data were utilized to examine the prestorm environment and mechanisms for the initiation of four groups of severe storms. The storms in Altus, Oklahoma, Pampas, Texas, Bennett, Colorado, and Red River Valley, Oklahoma are described. The geographical distributions of the areas of high moisture concentration and variations of tropopause heights for the storm groups are analyzed. It is detected that in the area of a low-level high concentration of moisture, the local tropopause height is lowest at the time of the storm cloud formation and development, and the potential energy storage per unit areas for the overshootiong clouds penetrating above the tropopause is related to the intensity of the storms produced. Numerical cloud modeling was performed for the storms. The model data are compared with the satellite and rawinsonde observations, and it is noted that the data correlate well.

Hung, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Thermal stresses of a wind turbine blade made of orthotropic material

This study is to investigate the thermal stress of a wind turbine blade made of wood composite material. First, the governing partial differential equation on heat conduction is stated, then, a finite element procedure using a variational approach is employed for the solution of the governing equation. Thus, the temperature field throughout the blade is determined. Next, based on the temperature field, a finite element procedure using potential energy approach is applied to determine the thermal stress field. A set of results is obtained through the use of a computer, which is considered to be satisfactory.

Fu, Kuan-Chen↗
NASA NTRS1987

Free surfaces and multilayer interfaces in the GaAs/AlAs system

Semiempirical potential energy functions have been utilized for a variety of calculations in the Ga-Al-As system. Surface energies have been calculated for several orientations of GaAs. Ledge energies for the GaAs (0 0 -1) (As-terminated) surface show long-range interaction effects with the ledge energy increasing with spacing. GaAs (001)/AlAs (001) superlattices have been simulated for a range of interlayer spacings with the excess interfacial energy per interlayer increasing from 5 erg/sq cm at an interlayer spacing of 1 molecular layer (5.8 A) to 50 erg/sq cm at an interlayer spacing of 18 molecular layers (103.8 A).

Choi, D. K.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Computer simulation of ledge formation and ledge interaction for the silicon (111) free surface

Both strip and triangular clusters, composed of 2 -1 -1 line ledges, have been simulated on the Si (111) surface. The long-range ledge-ledge interaction and the surface stress tensor distribution have been evaluated for these two pill-box geometries using a semiempirical potential-energy function that incorporates both two-body and three-body contributions. The consequences of the ledge-ledge interaction on two-dimensional nucleation for Si (111) has been evaluated as a function of Si adatom supersaturation and shown to differ significantly from conventional theory, where such interaction is neglected.

Balamane, H.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Comparison of the structure of harmonic aqueous glasses and liquid water

Glassy structures of water were generated by rapidly quenching configurations of 64 and 343 molecules of liquid water; and the potential energy was then expanded through quadratic order around local minima generated in this way, and the properties of the resulting harmonic system were calculated. The results obtained were used to test the degree to which the structure of liquid water is similar to that of a harmonic aqueous glass. The radial distribution functions for the glass were found to be remarkably similar to those of the liquid. Translational modes were found to be almost entirely responsible for the broadening of the oxygen-oxygen radial distribution function of the quenched configuration, and also primarily responsible for the broadening of other radial distribution functions.

Pohorille, Andrew↗
NASA NTRS1987

Stress concentration around a part-through hole weakening a laminated plates

A quasi-three-dimensional-elasticity type theory, based on the assumptions of transverse inextensibility and layerwise constant shear-angle, is presented, in the context of an assumed quadratic displacement potential energy approach, for analyzing an edge-loaded laminated plate weakened by the presence of a part-through hole. Numerical results, obtained using the C-deg-type triangular finite element, indicate the existence of severe cross-sectional warping in the vicinity of the hole and plate boundaries. Furthermore, the three-dimensional nature of the stress concentration factor in the neighborhood of the hole boundary is clearly exhibited. Besides, very high stress concentration factors are found in the layer weakened by the part-through hole. The numerical results presented should serve as bench-mark solutions for future comparisons.

Chaudhuri, Reaz A.↗