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At least 595 records · Page 33

Influence of radiative heating and cumulus convection on development of mean monsoon circulation in July

Numerical simulations of July mean monsoon circulation in the tropics are described. The model used in the simulations was based on a series of primitive equations for the combined effects of variations of solar radiation, radiative diurnal warming, and large-scale and deep cumulus condensation, and the kinematic effects of topography. The initial states of the model were derived from the observed mean distributions of pressure and humidity. Analysis of the numerical results showed that the large-scale features of the mean July monsoon circulation in the tropics are created mainly by differential diabatic heating under the influence of the specific topography. The time necessary to establish the large scale features was only about 5 days when the diurnal variation of solar radiation was taken into account. Graphic illustrations of the simulated mean July flow conditions are provided.

Kuo, H. L.↗

Simulation of mesoscale convective response

Results are reported from a transfer of thermodynamic and dynamic data downscale from a two-dimensional mesoscale model to a two-dimensional cloud model and a subsequent examination of the differential convective response of the cloud model to a mesoscale structure. The mesoscale model included a high resolution PBL formulation, with convective forces expressed in a profile of exchange coefficients over the height of the PBL and the magnitude of the surface heat flux. Account was also taken of forcing by long- and short-wave radiation, surface forcing by the surface energy budget, the terrain shape, and possible wave reflection at the top boundary. The slab-symmetric cloud model possessed subgrid-scale features, five types of moisture terms, and a subroutine for accretion processes. The mesoscale environment was observed to have a significant impact on convective response, i.e., the vertical velocity and the cloud water. Various factors which were not included in the study and which must be considered are discussed.

Mcnider, R. T.↗

Gravity field of Venus - A preliminary analysis

The gravitational field of Venus obtained by tracking the Pioneer Venus Orbiter is examined. For each spacecraft orbit, two hours of Doppler data centered around periapsis were used to estimate spacecraft position and velocity and the velocity residuals obtained were spline fit and differentiated to produce line of sight gravitational accelerations. Consistent variations in line of sight accelerations from orbit to orbit reveal the presence of gravitational anomalies. A simulation of isostatic compensation for an elevated region on the surface of Venus indicates that the mean depth of compensation is no greater than about 100 km. Gravitational spectra obtained from a Fourier analysis of line of sight accelerations from selected Venus orbits are compared to the earth's gravitational spectrum and spherical harmonic gravitational potential power spectra of the earth, the moon and Mars. The Venus power spectrum is found to be remarkably similar to that of the earth, however systematic variations in the harmonics suggest differences in dynamic processes or lithospheric behavior.

Phillips, R. J.↗

Candidate control design metrics for an agile fighter

Success in the fighter combat environment of the future will certainly demand increasing capability from aircraft technology. These advanced capabilities in the form of superagility and supermaneuverability will require special design techniques which translate advanced air combat maneuvering requirements into design criteria. Control design metrics can provide some of these techniques for the control designer. Thus study presents an overview of control design metrics and investigates metrics for advanced fighter agility. The objectives of various metric users, such as airframe designers and pilots, are differentiated from the objectives of the control designer. Using an advanced fighter model, metric values are documented over a portion of the flight envelope through piloted simulation. These metric values provide a baseline against which future control system improvements can be compared and against which a control design methodology can be developed. Agility is measured for axial, pitch, and roll axes. Axial metrics highlight acceleration and deceleration capabilities under different flight loads and include specific excess power measurements to characterize energy meneuverability. Pitch metrics cover both body-axis and wind-axis pitch rates and accelerations. Included in pitch metrics are nose pointing metrics which highlight displacement capability between the nose and the velocity vector. Roll metrics (or torsion metrics) focus on rotational capability about the wind axis.

Murphy, Patrick C.↗

Measurement of Temperature Fluctuations and Microscopic Growth Rates in a Silicon Floating Zone Under Microgravity

USA Several microgravity experiments on sounding rockets and the Space Shuttle have shown that time-dependent thermocapillary (Marangoni) convection is the major cause for the formation of dopant striations in floating-zone grown semiconductor crystals, at least in small-scale systems not employing RF heating. To quantify this correlation, a silicon floating-zone experiment was performed during the TEXUS36 flight (February 7, 1998) in the monoellipsoid mirror furnace TEM02-ELLI. During the experiment, temperature fluctuations in the silicon melt zone and the microscopic growth rate were simultaneously measured. Temperature fluctuations of 0.5 C - 0.7 C with main frequencies between 0.1 Hz and 0.3 Hz were detectable. The microscopic growth rate fluctuated considerably around the average growth rate of 1 mm/min: rates from 4 mm/min to negative values (backmelting) were observed. Dopant striations are clearly visible in the Sb-doped crystal. They were characterized by Spreading Resistance measurements and Differential Interference Contrast microscopy. The frequencies associated with the dopant inhomogeneities correspond quite well with those of the temperature fluctuations and microscopic growth rates. 3D numerical simulations were performed to predict the optimum position of the temperature sensor, to evaluate characteristic temperature amplitudes and frequencies, and to give insight into the instability mechanisms of Marangoni convection in this configuration. The simulations were in good agreement with the experimental values, showing temperature fluctuations with frequencies ? 0.25 Hz and amplitudes up to 1.8 C at a position equivalent to that of the sensor tip in the experiment.

Croell, Arne↗

Measurement of Temperature Fluctuations and Microscopic Growth Rates in a Silicon Floating Zone on TEXUS36

Several pg experiments on sounding rockets and the Space Shuttle have shown that time-dependent thermocapillary (Marangoni) convection is the major cause for the formation of dopant striations in floating-zone grown semiconductor crystals, at least in small-scale systems not employing RF heating. To quantify this correlation, a silicon floating-zone experiment was performed during the TEXUS36 flight (February 7, 1 998) in the monoellipsoid mirror furnace TEM02-ELLI. During the experiment, temperature fluctuations in the silicon melt zone and the microscopic growth rate were simultaneously measured. Temperature fluctuations of 0.5 C - 0.7 C with main frequencies between 0.1 Hz and 0.3Hz were detectable. The microscopic growth rate fluctuated considerably around the average growth rate of 1 mm/min: rates from 4mm/min to negative values (backmelting) were observed. Dopant striations are clearly visible in the Sb-doped crystal. They were characterized by Spreading Resistance measurements and Differential Interference Contrast microscopy. The frequencies associated with the dopant inhomogeneities correspond quite well with those of the temperature fluctuations and microscopic growth rates. 3D numerical simulations were performed to predict the optimum position of the temperature sensor, to evaluate characteristic temperature amplitudes and frequencies, and to give insight into the instability mechanisms of Marangoni convection in this configuration. The simulations were in good agreement with the experimental values, showing temperature fluctuations with frequencies? 0.25 Hz and amplitudes up to 1.8 C at a position equivalent to that of the sensor tip in the experiment.

Croell, Arne↗

Nonlinear Waves and Particle Heating in the Auroral Ionosphere

In the two year period, the researchers have developed innovative 2-D simulation codes for modeling the interaction between electron beams and plasma waves and particles in the auroral ionosphere. These new simulations include kinetic wave particles as well as wave-wave interactions near and above approximately 500 km. The principal numerical model consists of partial-differential equations which evolve large amplitude magnetized 2-D Langmuir waves self-consistently with the electron distribution function. Progress was also made in developing 2-D Particle in Cell (PIC) codes.

Goldman, Martin↗

The Effect of Basis Selection on Static and Random Acoustic Response Prediction Using a Nonlinear Modal Simulation

An investigation of the effect of basis selection on geometric nonlinear response prediction using a reduced-order nonlinear modal simulation is presented. The accuracy is dictated by the selection of the basis used to determine the nonlinear modal stiffness. This study considers a suite of available bases including bending modes only, bending and membrane modes, coupled bending and companion modes, and uncoupled bending and companion modes. The nonlinear modal simulation presented is broadly applicable and is demonstrated for nonlinear quasi-static and random acoustic response of flat beam and plate structures with isotropic material properties. Reduced-order analysis predictions are compared with those made using a numerical simulation in physical degrees-of-freedom to quantify the error associated with the selected modal bases. Bending and membrane responses are separately presented to help differentiate the bases.

Rizzi, Stephen A.↗

Lessons Learned From Evaluation and Mitigation of Space Charging Threat Due to Use of Isolated (Hybrid) Bearings on the Pace Ocean Color Instrument

A high precision, high resolution Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) was developed for the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission which required the use of electrically isolated Hybrid Bearings (silicon nitride balls). While desirable for technical performance of the instrument, this application caused portions of the instrument to become electrically isolated and come under threat of space charging effects from charged particles and the resultant differential charging. An evaluation of the environment, susceptibility of the components, such as bearings and electronics, and mitigation strategies were performed. As part of that process, simulations of the charging environment, analysis of internal mechanism charging and prediction of most likely discharge paths, testing of the bearings for susceptibility as well as resulting damage were performed and analyzed. Additionally, a novel method to deal with charging was developed. Considerations for dealing with electrically isolated mechanisms, results of the above-mentioned efforts as well as lessons learned are presented.

space charging↗

Does vector-free gravity simulate microgravity? Functional and morphologic attributes of clinorotated nerve and muscle grown in cell culture

Cocultured Xenopus neurons and myocytes were subjected to non-vectorial gravity by clinostat rotation to determine if microgravity, during space flights, may affect cell development and communications. Clinorotated cells showed changes consistent with the hypothesis that cell differentiation, in microgravity, is altered by interference with cytoskeleton-related mechanisms. We found: increases in the myocyte and its nuclear area, "fragmentation" of nucleoli, appearance of neuritic "aneurysms", decreased growth in the presence of "trophic" factors, and decreased yolk utilization. The effects were most notable at 1-10 rpm and depended on the onset and duration of rotation. Some parameters returned to near control values within 48 hrs after cessation of rotation. Cells from cultures rotated at higher speeds (>50 rpm) appeared comparable to controls. Compensation by centrifugal forces may account for this finding. Our data are consistent, in principle, with effects on other, flighted cells and suggest that "vector-free" gravity may simulate certain aspects of microgravity. The distribution of acetylcholine receptor aggregates, on myocytes, was also altered. This indicates that brain development, in microgravity, may also be affected.

NASA Discipline Cell Biology↗

Marshall system for aerospace system simulation (MARSYAS), user's manual

The capabilities of the Marshall system for aerospace system simulation (MARSYAS) and how to use it are described. MARSYAS is a software system that allows easy setup and control of the simulation of the dynamics of large physical systems on a digital computer. The physical systems are modeled in the form of block diagrams or equations. The blocks can have multiple inputs and multiple outputs, and they can be nested to form hierarchies. The block diagrams can contain transfer functions, nonlinear and logical functions, equations, analog computer elements and FORTRAN programs. The input format of the equations can be combinations of nonlinear, time-varying differential equations and algebraic equations in their original format. MARSYAS could also serve as a storage and retrieval system for models as a basis for a model configuration control system on a central time-shared computer. The outputs of the simulation system can be not only time-responses but also other analysis data such as frequency response, power spectrum and stability parameters. The MARSYAS translator is written in FORTRAN running on the Univac 1108 computer under the EXEC 8 operating system.

Ventre, A.↗

Multigrid Methods for Fully Implicit Oil Reservoir Simulation

In this paper we consider the simultaneous flow of oil and water in reservoir rock. This displacement process is modeled by two basic equations: the material balance or continuity equations and the equation of motion (Darcy's law). For the numerical solution of this system of nonlinear partial differential equations there are two approaches: the fully implicit or simultaneous solution method and the sequential solution method. In the sequential solution method the system of partial differential equations is manipulated to give an elliptic pressure equation and a hyperbolic (or parabolic) saturation equation. In the IMPES approach the pressure equation is first solved, using values for the saturation from the previous time level. Next the saturations are updated by some explicit time stepping method; this implies that the method is only conditionally stable. For the numerical solution of the linear, elliptic pressure equation multigrid methods have become an accepted technique. On the other hand, the fully implicit method is unconditionally stable, but it has the disadvantage that in every time step a large system of nonlinear algebraic equations has to be solved. The most time-consuming part of any fully implicit reservoir simulator is the solution of this large system of equations. Usually this is done by Newton's method. The resulting systems of linear equations are then either solved by a direct method or by some conjugate gradient type method. In this paper we consider the possibility of applying multigrid methods for the iterative solution of the systems of nonlinear equations. There are two ways of using multigrid for this job: either we use a nonlinear multigrid method or we use a linear multigrid method to deal with the linear systems that arise in Newton's method. So far only a few authors have reported on the use of multigrid methods for fully implicit simulations. Two-level FAS algorithm is presented for the black-oil equations, and linear multigrid for two-phase flow problems with strong heterogeneities and anisotropies is studied. Here we consider both possibilities. Moreover we present a novel way for constructing the coarse grid correction operator in linear multigrid algorithms. This approach has the advantage in that it preserves the sparsity pattern of the fine grid matrix and it can be extended to systems of equations in a straightforward manner. We compare the linear and nonlinear multigrid algorithms by means of a numerical experiment.

Molenaar, J.↗

Numerical Modeling of Boiling in a Heated Tube

This paper presents numerical models of boiling in a heated tube using the Generalized Fluid System Simulation Program (GFSSP), a finite-volume-based general-purpose flow network code developed at NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center. The heated tube is discretized into a one-dimensional array of nodes and branches to represent the flow of liquid and vapor in a tube with a prescribed pressure differential. The solid wall is also discretized into solid nodes and conductors to allow for heat transfer between the wall and the fluid. The conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy of the fluid are solved simultaneously with the energy conservation equation for the solid wall. Two experimental configurations of fluid flowing in a vertical tube have been simulated, one with water and the other with liquid hydrogen. This paper compares experimental data with numerical predictions based on four different published correlations for boiling heat transfer coefficients. Three of these correlations are applicable to the saturated vertical flow conditions of the experiments. One of them is applicable to film boiling and has been used for the liquid hydrogen experiment, which was in film boiling regime. For the case of boiling water, the predictions of wall temperatures using the boiling heat transfer correlations agreed well with the experimental results. However, in the case of boiling hydrogen larger discrepancies were observed between the experimental data and numerical predictions.

Majumdar, Alok↗

Flow study in the cross sectional planes of a turbine scroll

A numerical study of the nonviscous flow characteristics in the cross-sectional planes of a radial inflow turbine scroll is presented. The velocity potential is used in the formulation to determine the flow velocity in these planes resulting from the continuous mass discharge. The effect of the through flow velocity is simulated by a continuous distribution of source/sink in the cross-section. A special iterative procedure is devised to handle the solution of the resulting Poisson's differential equation with Neumann boundary conditions in a domain with generally curved boundaries. The analysis is used to determine the effects of the radius of curvature, the location of the scroll section and its geometry on the flow characteristics in the turbine scroll.

Hamed, A.↗

Determination of atmospheric properties from lidar measurements

Differential absorption lidar techniques for determining basic atmospheric properties to high accuracy are described. The theory of a two-wavelength lidar temperature measurement is given with simulation results that show accuracies of 0.5 to 1 K for measurements from ground-based and satellite platforms. The theory of measurements of the atmospheric pressure profile using absorption troughs, broad regions of nearly uniform absorption, is also described with simulation results that show accuracies of 0.1 to 0.3 percent. Recent measurements which confirm the accuracy of these techniques are reviewed.

Korb, C. L.↗

Pre-shuttle lidar system research

Included are the results of the initial phase of a simulation study in connection with photomultiplier tubes (PMT) and associated networks and an analytical study of atmospheric physics (including multiscattering) leading to modeling studies in connection with differential absorption lidar (DIAL) observations. This effort was in support of the ER-2 aircraft DIAL projects.

Lang, R. H.↗

On dynamic loads in parallel shaft transmissions. 1: Modelling and analysis

A model of a simple parallel-shaft, spur-gear transmission is presented. The model is developed to simulate dynamic loads in power transmissions. Factors affecting these loads are identified. Included are shaft stiffness, local compliance due to contact stress, load sharing, and friction. Governing differential equations are developed and a solution procedure is outlined. A parameter study of the solutions is presented in NASA TM-100181 (AVSCOM TM-87-C-3).

Lin, Edward Hsiang-Hsi↗