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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 613 records · Page 34

Minimal cosmic background fluctuations implied by streaming motions

The minimal cosmic background radiation (CBR) anisotropy implied by the presence of peculiar motions of a given amplitude on some specified scale is calculated using a new, power spectrum-independent approach. If the tentative evidence for deviations from the Hubble flow of magnitude delta V/V roughly 0.1 at V roughly 5000 km/s is confirmed, microwave background fluctuations with a coherence scale of about 2 deg and dispersion delta T/T greater than 10 to the -5th are predicted. It is found that the existing upper limits on delta T/T are not inconsistent with v(r) = 500 km/s at r = 50/h Mpc. A reduction of the observational limits on the CBR anisotropy below the authors' minimal predictions for delta T/T would challenge the current interpretation of measurements of deviations from the Hubble flow. Gravitational instability without reheating as a mechanism for generation of the large-scale structure of the universe would be in severe difficulty.

Juszkiewicz, Roman↗

Propeller aircraft interior noise model. II - Scale-model and flight-test comparisons

A program for predicting the sound levels inside propeller driven aircraft arising from sidewall transmission of airborne exterior noise is validated through comparisons of predictions with both scale-model test results and measurements obtained in flight tests on a turboprop aircraft. The program produced unbiased predictions for the case of the scale-model tests, with a standard deviation of errors of about 4 dB. For the case of the flight tests, the predictions revealed a bias of 2.62-4.28 dB (depending upon whether or not the data for the fourth harmonic were included) and the standard deviation of the errors ranged between 2.43 and 4.12 dB. The analytical model is shown to be capable of taking changes in the flight environment into account.

Willis, C. M.↗

Spatial and temporal variations of the ion velocity measured in the Venus ionosphere

Temporal and spatial deviations of ion velocity from the dominant flow of the Venusian ionosphere were detected in data collected from a retarding potential analyzer (RPA) aboard the Pioneer-Venus orbiter spectrometer. The ion velocity measurements were analyzed for the first 3.5 Venus years of the Pioneer-Venus mission, approximately through orbit 780. The deviations of ion velocity from the dominant velocity of the Venusian ionosphere, which generally flows nightward and is almost symmetric about the sun-Venus axis, affect both the ionospheric structure and dynamics. Two examples of departure from steady symmetric flow that were measured by the RPA are discussed.

Miller, K. L.↗

Differential absorption lidar signal averaging

This paper presents experimental results using an atmospheric backscatter dual CO2 laser DIAL. It is shown that DIAL signals can be averaged to obtain an N exp -1/2 dependence decrease in the standard deviation of the ratio of backscattered returns from two lasers, where N is the number of DIAL signals averaged, and that such a lidar system can make measurements of gas concentrations with a precision of 0.7 percent in absorptance over 75 m in a short measurement time when the signal strength is high. Factors that eventually limit the rate of improvement in the SNR, such as changes in the ratio of the absorption and/or backscatter at the two laser frequencies and background noise, are discussed. In addition, it is noted that DIAL measurements made using hard-target backscatter often show departures from N exp -1/2 dependence improvement in the standard deviation because they are further limited by the combined effects of atmospheric turbulence and speckle (since the relative reproducibility of the speckle pattern on the receiver gives rise to correlations of the lidar signals).

Grant, William B.↗

Inflight evaluation of pilot workload measures for rotorcraft research

The effectiveness of heart-rate monitoring and the NASA TLX workload rating scale (Hart et al., 1985) in measuring helicopter-pilot workloads is investigated experimentally. Four NASA test pilots flew two 2-h missions each in an SH-3G helicopter, following scenarios with takeoff, hover, cross-country, and landing tasks; pilot performance on the tasks undertaken near the landing area was measured by laser tracking. The results are presented in graphs and discussed in detail, and it is found that the TLX ratings clearly distinguish the flight segments and are well correlated with the performance data. The mean heart rate (measured as interbeat interval) is correlated (r = -0.69) with the TLX workload, but only the standard deviation of the interbeat interval is able to distinguish between flight segments; the correlation between standard deviation and TLX ratings is negative but not significant.

Shively, Robert J.↗

The generalized transmission error of spiral bevel gears

The traditional definition of the transmission error of parallel-axis gear pairs is reviewed and shown to be unsuitable for characterizing the deviation from conjugate action of bevel gear pairs for vibration excitation characterization purposes. This situation is rectified by generalizing the concept of the transmission error of parallel-axis gears to a three-component transmission error for spiral bevel gears of nominal spherical involute design. A general relationship is derived which expresses the contributions to the three-component transmission error from each gear of a meshing spiral bevel pair as a linear transformation of the six coordinates that describe the deviation of the shaft centerline position of each gear of the pair from the position of its rigid perfect involute counterpart.

Mark, W. D.↗

Optimization and guidance of penetration landing trajectories in a windshear

The optimization and guidance of penetration landing trajectories in a windshear are considered. It is assumed that the aircraft is controlled by the angle of attack and the power setting. For the optimal trajectory, the performance index being minimized measures the deviation of the flight trajectory from the nominal trajectory. In turn, the nominal trajectory includes two parts: the approach part (nominal glide slope constant) and the flare part (nominal glide slope varying linearly with the horizontal distance). Numerical results show that the optimal trajectory deviates somewhat from the nominal trajectory in the shear region. A guidance scheme is developed to approximate the optimal trajectory. The angle of attack is determined by the windshear intensity, the absolute path inclination, and the glide slope angle, while the power setting is determined by the windshear intensity and the velocity. Numerical results indicate that the guidance trajectory is close to the optimal trajectory.

Miele, A.↗

Optical Tracker For Longwall Coal Shearer

Photographic record yields information for correction of vehicle path. Tracking system records lateral movements of longwall coal-shearing vehicle. System detects lateral and vertical deviations of path of vehicle moving along coal face, shearing coal as it goes. Rides on rails in mine tunnel, advancing on toothed track in one of rails. As vehicle moves, retroreflective mirror rides up and down on teeth, providing series of pulsed reflections to film recorder. Recorded positions of pulses, having horizontal and vertical orientations, indicate vertical and horizontal deviations, respectively, of vehicle.

Poulsen, Peter D.↗

Circularity-Measuring System

Shape gauge and associated computer constitute system measuring deviations of large cylinders from roundness. Shaped and held somewhat like crossbow, measures relative locations of three points on surface of large, round object. By making connected series of measurements around periphery technician using gauge determines deviation of object from perfect circularity. Used to measure straightness, roundness, or complicated shapes of such large geometrical objects as surfaces of aircraft and hulls of ships.

WHIPPO. WALTER B.↗

Interplanetary medium data book: Supplement 3A, 1977-1985

Supplement 3 of the Interplanetary Medium Data Book contains a detailed discussion of a data set compilation of hourly averaged interplanetary plasma and magnetic field parameters. The discussion addresses data sources, systematic and random differences, time shifting of ISEE 3 data, and plasma normalizations. Supplement 3 also contains solar rotation plots of field and plasma parameters. Supplement 3A contains computer-generated listings of selected parameters from the composite data set. These parameters are bulk speed (km/sec), density (per cu cm), temperature (in units of 1000 K) and the IMF parameters: average magnitude, latitude and longitude angles of the vector made up of the average GSE components, GSM Cartesian components, and the vector standard deviation. The units of field magnitude, components, and standard deviation are gammas, while the units of field direction angles and degrees.

Couzens, David A.↗

Application of linear response theory to experimental data of simultaneous radiation and annealing response of a CMOS device

Results from the application of linear response theory are compared to experimental data from simultaneous radiation and annealing response of a CMOS device. In particular, a method is applied which was developed earlier to determine the characteristic time, t(0), as well as the parameters A and C in the 1n(t) dependence of the linear response function R(t) = -C + A1n(1-t/t(0)). The method is based on a study of the linear response for t being much less than t(0), when R(t) can be expanded in a power series of t: R(t) = R(0) + R'(0)t + 1/2R''(0)t-squared + 1/3R'''(0)t-cubed + ..., where R'(0) and R''(0) are, respectively, the first and second derivatives of R with respect to t. To find the linear response, R(t-t') is substituted in the form of this power series equation into a general equation for the shift of the threshold potential. To test the method, irradiation experiments were conducted on RCA 10(6) rad-hard CMOS IC's. A dose rate of approximately 130 rads/min was used. An IC was irradiated with Co-60 gamma rays for several hours, taking measurements of the threshold potential for one n-channel and one p-channel transistor every ten minutes. For the p-channel transistor, t(0) was found to be approximately 110 min and for the n-channel, t(0) was approximately 70 min. For the p-channel, the theoretical curve deviates from the experimental points only after 70 min; for the n-channel, the deviation takes place after 45 min. Additional findings are discussed and the application of the method to pure annealing is described.

Litovchenko, V.↗

USL/DBMS NASA/PC R and D project C programming standards

A set of programming standards intended to promote reliability, readability, and portability of C programs written for PC research and development projects is established. These standards must be adhered to except where reasons for deviation are clearly identified and approved by the PC team. Any approved deviation from these standards must also be clearly documented in the pertinent source code.

Dominick, Wayne D.↗

Progress of research to identify rotating thunderstorms using satellite imagery

The possibility of detecting potentially tornadic thunderstorm cells from geosynchronous satelite imagery is determined. During the life of the contract, we examined eight tornado outbreak cases which had a total of 124 individual thunderstorm cells, 37 of which were tornadic.These 37 cells produced a total of 119 tornadoes. The outflow characteristics of all the cells were measured. Through the use of a 2-D flow field model, we were able to simulate the downstream developmemt of an anvil cloud plume which was emitted by the storm updraft at or near the tropopause. We used two parameters to characterize the anvil plume behavior: its speed of downstream propagation (U max) and the clockwise deviation of the centerline of the anvil plume from the storm relative ambient wind at the anvil plume outflow level (MDA). U max was the maximum U-component of the anvil wind parameter required to successfully maintain an envelope of translating particles at the tip of the expanding anvil cloud. MDA was the measured deviation angle acquired from McIDAS, between the storm relative ambient wind direction and the storm relative anvil plume outflow direction; tha latter being manipulated by controlling a tangential wind component to force the envelope of particles to maintain their position of surrounding the expanding outflow cloud.

Anderson, Charles E.↗

Laser transit anemometer software development program

Algorithms were developed for the extraction of two components of mean velocity, standard deviation, and the associated correlation coefficient from laser transit anemometry (LTA) data ensembles. The solution method is based on an assumed two-dimensional Gaussian probability density function (PDF) model of the flow field under investigation. The procedure consists of transforming the data ensembles from the data acquisition domain (consisting of time and angle information) to the velocity space domain (consisting of velocity component information). The mean velocity results are obtained from the data ensemble centroid. Through a least squares fitting of the transformed data to an ellipse representing the intersection of a plane with the PDF, the standard deviations and correlation coefficient are obtained. A data set simulation method is presented to test the data reduction process. Results of using the simulation system with a limited test matrix of input values is also given.

Abbiss, John B.↗

Space shuttle propulsion estimation development verification

The application of extended Kalman filtering to estimating the Space Shuttle Propulsion performance, i.e., specific impulse, from flight data in a post-flight processing computer program is detailed. The flight data used include inertial platform acceleration, SRB head pressure, SSME chamber pressure and flow rates, and ground based radar tracking data. The key feature in this application is the model used for the SRB's, which is a nominal or reference quasi-static internal ballistics model normalized to the propellant burn depth. Dynamic states of mass overboard and propellant burn depth are included in the filter model to account for real-time deviations from the reference model used. Aerodynamic, plume, wind and main engine uncertainties are also included for an integrated system model. Assuming uncertainty within the propulsion system model and attempts to estimate its deviations represent a new application of parameter estimation for rocket powered vehicles. Illustrations from the results of applying this estimation approach to several missions show good quality propulsion estimates.

Rogers, Robert M.↗

High accuracy thermal conductivity measurements near the lambda transition of helium with very high temperature resolution

Over the past few years extensive thermal conductivity measurements near the lambda point of helium were made. The original goal of measuring the thermal conductivity with a resolution of t = T/T sub lambda -1 of 3 x 10(-8) was reached, but with somewhat less accuracy than was hoped. Subtle effects in the apparatus near the transition were observed which reduced the ability to interpret the results. Nevertheless, for resolution of t is greater than or equal to 10(-7) reliable data was obtained, extending previous measurements by more than an order of magnitude. Deviations from theoretical predictions were observed for t is less than or equal to 3 x 10(-6) leading to the question of the validity of the present renormalization group analysis of transport properties, at least for the case of helium. This anomaly led to closer examination of the boundary effects in the measurements. During the experiments a totally unexpected effect in the very dilute He-3 - He-4 mixtures was observed which led to the explanation of the anomalous results. The concentration dependence of the thermal conductivity near T sub lambda in the superfluid phase was found to deviate strongly from the predictions. The results gave an independent verification of this behavior and caused reanalysis of the Khalatnikov theory of hydrodynamics of the mixtures. An alternative solution was found which is in better agreement with the experiment.

Fairbank, William M.↗

Cosmological gravitational waves

A cosmological background of gravitational waves would alter the propagation of radiation, inducing redshift fluctuations, apparent source position deflections, and luminosity variations. By comparing these astrophysical effects with observations, it is possible to deduce upper limits on the energy density present in gravitational waves. Emphasis is placed on microwave background anisotropy from the redshift deviations and galaxy clustering correlation functions from the angular deviations. Many of the gravitational wave effects are shown to be generalizations of the gravitational lensing formalism.

Linder, Eric V.↗

Measurement of the de Sitter precession of the moon - A relativistic three-body effect

Lunar laser-ranging data, accumulated between 1970 and 1986, are analyzed to estimate the deviation of the precession of the moon's orbit from the predictions of general relativity. No deviation from this predicted de Sitter precession rate of nearly 2 angular sec per century (sec/cy) is found, to within an estimated standard error of 0.04 sec/cy. This standard error, 2 percent of the predicted effect, incorporates an assessment of the likely contributions of systematic errors, and is about threefold larger than the statistical standard error.

Shapiro, I. I.↗