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NASA NTRS1989

Variable geometry trusses

Vibration control and kinematic control with variable-geometry trusses are covered. The analytical approach taken is to model each actuator with lumped masses and model a beam with finite elements, including in each model the generalized reaction forces from the beam on the actuator or vice versa. It is concluded that, from an operational standpoint, the variable-geometry truss actuator is more favorable than the inertia-type actuator. A spatial variable-geometry truss is used to test out rudimentary robotic tasks.

Robertshaw, H. H.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Effects of state recovery on creep buckling under variable loading

Structural alloys embody internal mechanisms that allow recovery of state with varying stress and elevated temperature, i.e., they can return to a softer state following periods of hardening. Such material behavior is known to strongly influence structural response under some important thermomechanical loadings, for example, that involving thermal ratchetting. The influence of dynamic and thermal recovery on the creep buckling of a column under variable loading is investigated. The column is taken as the idealized (Shanley) sandwich column. The constitutive model, unlike the commonly employed Norton creep model, incorporates a representation of both dynamic and thermal (state) recovery. The material parameters of the constitutive model are chosen to characterize Narloy Z, a representative copper alloy used in thrust nozzle liners of reusable rocket engines. Variable loading histories include rapid cyclic unloading/reloading sequences and intermittent reductions of load for extended periods of time; these are superimposed on a constant load. The calculated results show that state recovery significantly affects creep buckling under variable loading.

Robinson, D. N.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Rapid variability of the iron fluorescence line from the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC6814

NGC6814, one of the faster X-ray-variable AGN, has been observed with the Large Area Counters aboard the Ginga satellite in order to obtain data on the variability of the iron fluorescence line and thus to constrain the distribution of cold gas from which the line originates. A positive correlation measured between the variability of the iron-line flux and the continuum emission suggests an upper limit of 10 to the 14th cm for the size of the ion reprocessing region.

Kunieda, Hideyo↗

NASA NTRS1990

CCD time-resolved photometry of faint cataclysmic variables. III

CCD time-resolved photometry in V, B, and near-IR for 17 faint cataclysmic variables (CVs) is presented and analyzed. The data are obtained at Kitt Peak National Observatory, the Perkins reflector, Lowell Observatory, and the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos from April-June 1989. The degree of variability and periodicities for the CVs are examined. It is observed that the variability of most of the stars is consistent with CV class behavior. Orbital periods for five CVs are determined, and three potential eclipsing systems are detected.

Howell, Steve B.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Broad-band properties of the CfA Seyfert galaxies. III - Ultraviolet variability

A total of 657 archived IUE spectra are used to study the UV variability properties of six members of the CfA Seyfert I galaxy sample. All show strong evidence for continuum and line variations and a tendency for less luminous objects to be more strongly variable. Most objects show a clear correlation at zero lag between UV spectral index and luminosity, evidence that the variable component is an accretion disk around a black hole which is systematically smaller in less luminous sources. No correlation is seen between the continuum luminosity and equivalent width of the C IV, Mg II, and semiforbidden C III emission lines when the entire sample is examined, but a clear anticorrelation is present when only repeated observations of individual objects are considered. This is due to a combination of light-travel time effects in the broad-line region and the nonlinear responses of lines to continuum fluctuations.

Edelson, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1990

1H 0709-360 - A cataclysmic variable with an orbital period inside the 'period gap'

The discovery is reported of the second cataclysmic variable with a binary period lying well inside the nominal 2-3 hr period gap. The object, 1H 0709-360, is an X-ray source which has been identified on the basis of positional data from the instruments of the HEAO 1 survey. The X-ray source was also detected by the Uhuru and Ariel 5 surveys. Multicolor photometry has revealed eclipsing behavior at an orbital period of 2.444 hr. Radial velocity measurements show modulations at the same period, with an offset between the spectroscopic and photometric conjunctions. Both the eclipse profile and a clear rotational disturbance in the radial velocities of emission lines during eclipse provide unambiguous evidence for the existence of an accretion disk. Thus the object cannot be an AM Herculis variable, a conclusion supported by the absence of circular polarization. Instead, the evidence suggests that the object could be a DQ Herculis magnetic variable that is close to synchronism. The evolutionary implications of this rare object are discussed.

Tuohy, I. R.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Optimal control of singularly perturbed nonlinear systems with state-variable inequality constraints

The established necessary conditions for optimality in nonlinear control problems that involve state-variable inequality constraints are applied to a class of singularly perturbed systems. The distinguishing feature of this class of two-time-scale systems is a transformation of the state-variable inequality constraint, present in the full order problem, to a constraint involving states and controls in the reduced problem. It is shown that, when a state constraint is active in the reduced problem, the boundary layer problem can be of finite time in the stretched time variable. Thus, the usual requirement for asymptotic stability of the boundary layer system is not applicable, and cannot be used to construct approximate boundary layer solutions. Several alternative solution methods are explored and illustrated with simple examples.

Calise, A. J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

WRA 751, a candidate for a new luminous blue variable

Results are presened on spectroscopic observations (carried out with the ESO 1.52-m telescope at La Silla, Chile) and measurements made by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite on the star WRA 751. It is estimated that the T(eff) of this star is 30,000 K and its E(B-V) is 1.8 mag. Comparison with evolutionary tracks of Maeder and Meynet (1980) indicates that WRA 751 is located in the region of luminous blue variables at a lower limit of the initial mass of about 50 solar masses. Its other physical characteristics, such as the light variability, strong Fe II lines, and the extinction-free spectral energy distribution, suggest that WRA 751 is a candidate for a new luminous blue variable.

Hu, J. Y.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Long-term Solar Irradiance Variability: 1984-1989 Observations

Long-term variability in the total solar irradiance has been observed in the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) solar monitor measurements. The monitors have been used to measure the irradiance from the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA-9 and NOAA-10 spacecraft platforms since October 25, 1984, January 23, 1985, and October 22, 1986, respectively. Before September 1986, the ERBS irradiance values were found to be decreasing -0.03 percent per year. This period was marked by decreasing solar magnetic activity. Between September 1986 and mid-1989, the irradiance values increased approximately 0.1 percent. The latter period was marked by increasing solar activity which was associated with the initiations of the sunspot cycle number 22 and of a new 22-year Hale solar magnetic cycle. Therefore, long-term solar-irradiance variability appears to be correlated directly with solar activity. The maximum smoothed sunspot number occurred during September 1989, according to the Sunspot Index Data Center. Therefore, the recent irradiance increasing trend should disappear during early 1990 and change into a decreasing trend if the observed irradiance variability is correlated more so with the 11-year sunspot cycle than the 22-year Hale cycle. The ERBE irradiance values are presented and compared with sunspot activity for the 1984 to 1989 period. The ERBE values are compared with those available from the Nimbus-7 and Solar Maximum Mission spacecraft experiments.

Lee, Robert B., III↗

NASA NTRS1990

Preliminary interpretation of the Mg II variability of L2 Puppis

L2 Pup is perhaps the brightest SRb/Mira variable in the sky, with extreme variability from 2.6 to 6.2 magnitudes visually and a normal variation between 3.5 to 5.5. More than 60 percent of its cycles show large amplitude (2 magnitude) variation that is Mira like; however at intervals of 40 to 50 cycles it goes into a phase of smaller amplitude variability. One of the small amplitude episodes began in 1986 while L2 Pup was being observed with IUE (International Ultraviolet Explorer) as part of the monitoring program. During the first three observed cycles, Mg II emission in L2 Pup behaved in a manner similar to that in other normal Miras, and L2 Pup's light curve was also Mira like. However, during the fourth cycle there was an abrupt change in the Mg II emission, although the visual light curve remained normal through that cycle. In the next cycle the light curve also decreased in amplitude, and the Mg II emission remained anomalously low.

Brugel, Edward W.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Short-term FUV flux variability and phase-dependent winds in Be stars

FUV (Far Ultraviolet) light curves and the behavior of the C IV wind line versus phase are discussed for four Be stars. The IUE (International Ultraviolet Explorer) data acquired during three multiwavelength campaigns aimed at determining the cause for short term optical light variability in Be stars and whether it is linked with the mass loss mechanism is presented. The observations confirm that it is a modulation in the star's photospheric temperature that causes the flux variability. A phase dependent variation is seen in the equivalent width and profile in the C IV wind line. The wind absorption tends to be strongest at maximum light and in a Be shell star the absolute flux of its C IV emission component appears to be anticorrelated with the absorption strength and the level of the FUV flux. The observations suggest that nonradial pulsations are responsible for the photometric variability and the generic model of a star pulsating in a sectorial mode.

Peters, G. J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

An interim reference model for the variability of the middle atmosphere H2O vapor distribution

Water vapor is an important minor constituent in the studies of the middle atmosphere for a variety of reasons, including its role as a source for active HO(y) chemicals and its use in analysis of transport processes. A number of in situ and remote techniques were employed in the determination of water vapor distributions. Two of the more complete data sets were used to develop an interim reference profile. First, there are the seven months of Nimbus 7 limb infrared monitor of the stratosphere (LIMS) data obtained during Nov. 1978 to May 1979 over the range 64S to 84N latitude and from about 100 to 1 mb in the mid-mesosphere at several fixed Northern Hemisphere mid-latitude sites. These two data sets were combined to give a mid-lattitude, interim reference water vapor profile for the entire vertical range of the middle atmosphere and with accuracies of better than 25 percent. The daily variability of stratospheric water vapor profiles about the monthly mean was also established from these data sets for selected months. Information is also provided on the longitudinal variability of LIMS water vapor profiles about the daily, weekly, and monthly zonal means. Generally, the interim reference water vapor profile and its variability are consistent with prevailing ideas about chemistry and transport.

Remsberg, E. E.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Impact of interannual variability (1979-1986) of transport and temperature on ozone as computed using a two-dimensional photochemical model

Values of the monthly mean heating rates and the residual circulation characteristics were calculated using NMC data for temperature and the solar backscattered UV ozone for the period between 1979 and 1986. The results were used in a two-dimensional photochemical model in order to examine the effects of temperature and residual circulation on the interannual variability of ozone. It was found that the calculated total ozone was more sensitive to variations in interannual residual circulation than in the interannual temperature. The magnitude of the modeled ozone variability was found to be similar to the observed variability, but the observed and modeled year-to-year deviations were, for the most part, uncorrelated, due to the fact that the model did not account for most of the QBO forcing and for some of the observed tropospheric changes.

Jackman, Charles H.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Control design variable linking for optimization of structural/control systems

In this study a method is presented to integrate the design space of structural/control system optimization problems in the case of state feedback control. Conventional structural sizing variables and elements of the feedback gain matrix are both treated as strictly independent design variables in the optimization by extending design variable linking concepts to the control gains. Examples which involve a variety of behavior constraints, including dynamic transient response and control force limits, are effectively solved by using the method presented.

Jin, I. M.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Cloud-screening for Africa using a geographically and seasonally variable infrared threshold

A spatially variable monthly, infrared cloud-threshold data base has been used to screen cloud-contaminated observations from radiances measured by the NOAA-9 AVHRR over Africa. Cloud-screening through a monthly average infrared threshold based on measured surface air temperature, which is geographically dependent, shows an improvement over using a seasonally and geographically independent thermal cloud threshold of 287 K. It is found that differences in cloud-screening for these two thresholds occur for cases of lower altitude clouds or subpixel clouds where the radiative temperature is higher than the 287 K infrared threshold, yet colder than the variable threshold developed by Stowe et al. (1988) for the Nimbus-7 global cloud climatology. The variable IR threshold is shown to be effective over persistently cloud-covered regions, such as the coastal region of the Gulf of Guinea, but may introduce some erroneous cloud identifications over mountains.

Eck, T. F.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Three-dimensional potential flows from functions of a 3D complex variable

Potential, or ideal, flow velocities can be found from the gradient of an harmonic function. An ordinary complex valued analytic function can be written as the sum of two real valued functions, both of which are harmonic. Thus, 2D complex valued functions serve as a source of functions that describe two-dimensional potential flows. However, this use of complex variables has been limited to two-dimensions. Recently, a new system of three-dimensional complex variables has been developed at the NASA Ames Research Center. As a step toward application of this theory to the analysis of 3D potential flow, several functions of a three-dimensional complex variable have been investigated. The results for two such functions, the 3D exponential and 3D logarithm, are presented in this paper. Potential flows found from these functions are investigated. Important characteristics of these flows fields are noted.

Kelly, Patrick↗

NASA NTRS1990

Total solar irradiance variability - 5 years of ERBE data

Data obtained by the ERBS solar monitors measuring total solar irradiance variability are discussed. The ERBS and NOAA-99 monitors derived 1365 W/sq m as the magnitude of the solar irradiance, normalized to 1 astronomical unit. The NOAA-10 monitor yielded 1363 W/m as the magnitude of the irradiance. The long-term precision of the monitors was demonstrated by the detection of the decreasing and increasing trends in the irradiance at levels of the order of 0.03 to 0.05 percent per year. The ERBS and NOAA-9 measurements demonstrated that solar variability exists in a systematic mode which is directly correlated with the solar magnetic activity, indicated by sunspot activity. It is argued that during the decline of sunspot cycle 22, the solar irradiance variability may be entirely different from that which was observed during the decline of cycle 21.

Lee, Robert B., III↗

NASA NTRS1991

The connection between coronal bright points and the variability of the quiet-sun extreme-ultraviolet emission

An analysis of the EUV/Skylab data recorded at six wavelengths simultaneously and scanning the chromosphere to the corona is reported. The results show that, whether in a coronal hole or a quiet region, the significant variable emission in the quiet sun is preferentially localized in the enhanced emission produced by EUV bright points in the boundaries of network cells. The spatial density of the variable and enhanced emission varies with temperature, with a minimum at 3 x 10 exp 5 K which indicates two favored temperature distributions of small-scale loops in the quiet sun, one below 3 x 10 exp 5 K and one at coronal temperatures. The enhanced emission occupies between 10 and 25 percent of the solar surface, depending on the temperature, while the variable emission covers between 5 and 15 percent. For a given region, the spatial density at a given temperature does not vary in time by more than 10 percent about its mean value.

Habbal, Shadia R.↗