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At least 613 records · Page 34

Photoelectric line profiles in umbral spectra.

Umbral line profiles of H-alpha, NaD2 and HeI 10830 have been observed photoelectrically with a pressure scanning spectrometer. The H-alpha line profile shows, in a medium-sized spot, a pronounced weakening in the wings but a persistence of the line core in agreement with the results of Fricke and Elsaesser (1965). The profile of the HeI 10830 line shows an unexpected strengthening over the umbra of the two spots which have been observed. The NaD2 line profile together with continuum observations at 4260, 5890, and 6530 A have been accounted for with an empirical (T, tau) relation by one of us (Yun, 1971). The wavelength dependence and the absolute values from 4000 to 14,000 A of the intensity curve generated by this relation shows very good agreement with the intensities observed by Woehl et al. (1970) in a spot of similar diameter.

Fay, T. D.↗

Aerodynamic loads measurements on externally blown flap STOL models

Small-scale-model data have shown large static loads on the flap system behind the engines. The large-scale-model tests confirmed the magnitude of these loads and indicated that the relative loading of each flap element depends on the engine-wing-flap geometry. Flap response measurements indicated that the unsteady pressure loading excited the natural vibration modes of the flap system on this model. Since this was a boilerplate model, the only conclusion that can be drawn is that the possibility of large vibration loads must be considered for a flight-weight structure. The similarity of the unsteady pressure and flap response spectra for the wind-off and wind-on cases indicated that it may be possible to realistically test flight-weight flap structures on a static test stand rather than endure the extra costs and scheduling problems associated with large-scale wind-tunnel tests. There is a potential flap-temperature problem which if not resolved might preclude the use of materials such as aluminum and the composites in the flap structure.

Greene, G. C.↗

Creep resistance

High-temperature structural applications usually require creep resistance because some average stress is maintained for prolonged periods. Alloy and microstructural design guidelines for creep resistance are presented through established knowledge on creep behavior and its functional dependences on alloy microstructure. Important considerations related to creep resistance of alloys as well as those that are harmful to high-temperature properties are examined. Although most of the creep models do not predict observed creep behavior quantitatively, they are sophisticated enough to provide alloy or microstructural design guidelines. It is shown that creep-resistant microstructures are usually in conflict with microstructures that improve such other properties as stress rupture ductility. Greater understanding of the effects of environments on creep and stress rupture behavior of materials is necessary before one can optimally design alloys for applications in different environments.

Tien, J. K.↗

Frequency selection and calibration of a water vapor radiometer

The calibration coefficients of existing water vapor radiometers are dependent upon meteorology profiles. This is shown to be due mainly to incorrect frequency pairs. By properly selecting an optimum frequency pair, the dependency can be reduced to a relatively small amount which can be handily adjusted by surface measurement alone. Hence, a universal calibration equation is applicable to all environmental conditions - site, seasonal and diurnal variations. Optimum frequency pairs are systematically searched. Error analysis indicates that calibration for the water vapor phase delay accurate to less than 2 cm is possible at all elevation angles greater than 15 degrees.

Wu, S. C.↗

Simulated aircraft takeoff performance with frosted wings

The absolute and relative safety of certain nocturnal frost formations on general aviation and transport type airfoils is evaluated by a computer simulation program. The frost layer aerodynamic penalty and takeoff program was used to calculate the frost thickness distribution on an airfoil with time, as well as the aerodynamic penalties associated with the frost layer during takeoff. The program was validated by nocturnal frost formation experiments on an inclined flat plate and by comparisons with documented aerodynamic penalties of an arbitrarily roughened airfoil. For various meteorological conditions and runway take-off velocities, a frost layer can be determined that produces no aerodynamic penalty, thus inferring the absolute safety of the airfoil with respect to frost. The relative safety of a frosted airfoil depends on the ability of the engine power reserve to overcome both as much as doubling of airfoil drag and an increased stall speed due to lift penalties.

Dietenberger, M. A.↗

Harmonic structure of Pc 3-4 pulsations

Power spectra of magnetic pulsations observed at synchronous orbit by the ATS 6 satellite often show several spectral peaks simultaneously. Such pulsations, called harmonic events because of the nearly constant separation between successive peaks, are continuously observed in the dayside in the Pc 3-4 frequency range (6.6-100 mHz). The harmonic events are seen clearly only in the east-west magnetic field component. The spectral peaks are regularly spaced with a typical minimum separation of 14 mHz in the morning gradually decreasing to 10 mHz in the afternoon. In the dynamic spectra of harmonic events, the fundamental mode is usually absent. In addition, the relative amplitudes of the higher harmonics depend on the magnetic latitude. These observed features can be explained by a standing Alfven wave consisting of many discrete harmonic frequencies. A statistical analysis of power spectra demonstrates that at least 10-30% of Pc 3 pulsations can be classified as harmonic events. For a selected event on August 7, 1975, the plasma mass density at the synchronous orbit is estimated to be 3-8 hydrogen mass/cu cm.

Takahashi, K.↗

Photon bunching and the photon-noise-limited performance of infrared detectors

The photon-noise-limited performance of a radiation detector exposed to a thermal background of temperature T is analyzed by calculating the resulting specific detectivity. Both ideal photon detectors of arbitrary quantum efficiency eta and ideal thermal detectors of arbitrary emissivity eta are considered; and the effects of both shot noise and excess noise are taken into account. The relative contributions of these two sources depend on the quantum efficiency or emissivity of the system. For frequencies nu such that hnu/kT is much less than eta, excess noise can make an appreciable contribution to the total system noise. For the case of the detection of the narrow-band radiation, the specific detectivity is independent of eta in the limit hnu/kT is much less than eta.

Boyd, R. W.↗

Some effects of global dust storms on the atmospheric circulation of Mars

A zonally symmetric primitive equation modelled on a sphere is used to numerically simulate the Martian atmosphere's response to various dust loads, as well as the ability of its meridional circulation to transport dust globally, where the circulation is driven by heating due to the absorption of solar and IR radiation by dust and CO2, in addition to sensible heat exchange with the ground. A preliminary experiment shows the model distribution of winds and temperature to compare favorably with zonally averaged values from a general circulation model. Experiments simulating the evolution of global dust storms show that dust is effectively transported by the zonal mean circulation, which rapidly intensifies as the dust spreads, and that the basic structure of the circulation is relatively insensitive to details, being mostly dependent on the heating of the tropical and subtropical atmosphere.

Haberle, R. M.↗

Wind tunnel tests of a zero length, slotted-lip engine air inlet for a fixed nacelle V/STOL aircraft

Zero length, slotted lip inlet performance and associated fan blade stresses were determined during model tests using a 20 inch diameter fan simulator in the NASA-LeRC 9 by 15 foot low speed wind tunnel. The model configuration variables consisted of inlet contraction ratio, slot width, circumferential extent of slot fillers, and length of a constant area section between the inlet throat and fan face. The inlet performance was dependent on slot gap width and relatively independent of inlet throat/fan face spacer length and slot flow blockage created by 90 degree slot fillers. Optimum performance was obtained at a slot gap width of 0.36 inch. The zero length, slotted lip inlet satisfied all critical low speed inlet operating requirements for fixed horizontal nacelles subsonic V/STOL aircraft.

Woollett, R. R.↗

Microstructural analysis of solar cell welds

Parallel-gap resistance welding of silicon solar cells with copper interconnects results in complex microstructural variations that depend on the welding variables. At relatively low heat input solid-state welds are produced. At medium heat the Ag-Cu eutectic forms resulting in a braze joint. High heat produces a fusion weld with complete melting of the silver layer on the silicon solar cell. If the silicon is also melted, cracking occurs in the silicon cell below the weld nugget. These determinations were made using light microscopy, microprobe, and scanning electron microscopy analyses.

Moore, T. J.↗

Incompressible Navier-Stokes and parabolized Navier-Stokes solution procedures and computational techniques

Recent developments with finite-difference techniques are emphasized. The quotation marks reflect the fact that any finite discretization procedure can be included in this category. Many so-called finite element collocation and galerkin methods can be reproduced by appropriate forms of the differential equations and discretization formulas. Many of the difficulties encountered in early Navier-Stokes calculations were inherent not only in the choice of the different equations (accuracy), but also in the method of solution or choice of algorithm (convergence and stability, in the manner in which the dependent variables or discretized equations are related (coupling), in the manner that boundary conditions are applied, in the manner that the coordinate mesh is specified (grid generation), and finally, in recognizing that for many high Reynolds number flows not all contributions to the Navier-Stokes equations are necessarily of equal importance (parabolization, preferred direction, pressure interaction, asymptotic and mathematical character). It is these elements that are reviewed. Several Navier-Stokes and parabolized Navier-Stokes formulations are also presented.

Rubin, S. G.↗

Vehicle charging and potential on the STS-3 mission

An electron gun with fast pulse capability was used in the vehicle charging and potential experiment carried on the OSS-1 pallet to study dielectric charging, return current mechanisms, and the techniques required to manage the electrical charging of the orbiter. Return currents and charging of the dielectrics were measured during electron beam emission and plasma characteristics in the payload bay were determined in the absence of electron beam emission. The fast pulse electron generator, charge current probes, spherical retarding potential analyzer, and the digital control interface unit which comprise the experiment are described. Results show that the thrusters produce disturbances which are variable in character and magnitude. Strong ram/wake effects were seen in the ion densities in the bay. Vehicle potentials are variable with respect to the plasma and depend upon location on the vehicle relative to the main engine nozzles, the vehicle attitude, and the direction of the geomagnetic field.

Williamson, R.↗

Quantitative interpretation of cloud radiances observed with a 94 GHz scanning radiometer

A description is presented of the results of a theoretical study to evaluate the remote sensing technique to determine integrated liquid water content. The considered technique uses 94 GHz passive microwave observations as applied to nonprecipitation clouds over the ocean. The study indicates that it is possible to infer the precipitable water of the atmosphere with a useful accuracy from a single 94 GHz nadir measurement and an estimated sea surface temperature. It is demonstrated that the integrated liquid water content of nonprecipitable clouds can be estimated with a relative accuracy of 20% to 30% depending on the atmospheric water vapor content from a microwave passive measurement at 94 GHz in the presence of clouds and in cloud free areas in the vicinity of the cloud in conjunction with information on the sea surface and cloud top temperatures.

Szejwach, G.↗

Stellar coronae - What can be predicted with minimum flux models?

In order to determine the possible errors of various minimum flux corona (MFC) predictions, MFC models are compared with a grid of detailed coronal models covering a range of two orders of magnitude in coronal heating and damping length values. The MFC concept is totally unreliable in the prediction of mass loss and the relative importance of various kinds of energy losses, and MFC predictions for the mass loss rate and energy losses due to stellar wind can be wrong by many orders of magnitude. It is suggested that for future applications, the unreliable MFC formulas should be replaced by a grid of related models accounting for the coronal dependence on damping length, such as the models underlying the present study.

Hammer, R.↗

The effect of a coronal shock wave on the solar wind ionization state

In connection with studies of solar wind ionization state freezing, it is shown that, by using a Lagrangian approach of following individual fluid parcels, the techniques used previously for calculating ionization state variations in a steady state case can be extended straightforwardly to time-varying flows. The specific ionization state calculations presented are for a relatively simple picture of time-dependent coronal flow, based on a well-known model of a self-similar shock wave propagating through the corona. Time-dependent ionization effects for the sudden transition between two otherwise steady flows are likely to be limited to a narrow range of gas parcels which, having been shocked within the coronal freezing-in radius, pass a fixed interplanetary observer in an interval of a few tens of minutes. The amplitude of any rise in interplanetary ionization temperature associated with the coronal shock is likely to be considerably smaller than the jump in electron temperature that actually occurs in the corona.

Owocki, S. P.↗

Black hole accretion disks - Electrodynamic coupling of accretion-disk coronae and the partitioning of soft and hard X-ray emission

It is demonstrated that the observed large ratio of hard to soft X-ray emission and the bimodel behavior of black hole accreting X-ray sources such as Cygnus X-1 can be described in terms of a magnetically structured accretion disk corona which is electrodynamically coupled to the disk turbulent motions while the disk is thermodynamically coupled to the corona as described by a feedback parameter delta. The observed ratio of hard to soft X-ray emission is independent of the disk thickness, and weakly dependent of the disk parameter alpha relating the disk viscous stresses to the total pressure. Observed values of the luminosity ratio point towards strong differences of the feedback of the low state compared to the high state, in the sense that low state means small feedback (delta less than 0.2) and high state means strong feedback delta of about 0.5.

Kuperus, M.↗

Passive damping concepts for slender columns in space structures

An experimental and theoretical study of three different passive damping concepts is conducted for a slender member with partial rotational end restraints. Over a hundred full-scale natural vibration experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of mass-string, polyethylene tubing, and chain damping concepts. The damping properties obtained from the experiments were used in the approximate analyses based on the partial differential equation of motion for the problem. The comparison of the experimental and the theoretical deflection-time relations shows that the velocity-dependent damping model used in the theory is adequate. From the experimental results, the effect of end connection friction and induced axial forces on damping is identified. The definition of an efficiency index is proposed based on the damping ratio and the mass of a given passive damping device. Using this definition, the efficiencies of the three damping devices are compared. The polyethylene tubing concept resulted into a low damping efficiency.

Razzaq, Z.↗

A flight test method for pilot/aircraft analysis

In high precision flight maneuvres a pilot is a part of a closed loop pilot/aircraft system. The assessment of the flying qualities is highly dependent on the closed loop characteristics related to precision maneuvres like approach, landing, air-to-air tracking, air-to-ground tracking, close formation flying and air-to air refueling of the receiver. The object of a research program at DFVLR is the final flight phase of an air to ground mission. In this flight phase the pilot has to align the aircraft with the target, correct small deviations from the target direction and keep the target in his sights for a specific time period. To investigate the dynamic behavior of the pilot-aircraft system a special ground attack flight test technique with a prolonged tracking maneuvres was developed. By changing the targets during the attack the pilot is forced to react continously on aiming errors in his sights. Thus the closed loop pilot/aircraft system is excited over a wide frequency range of interest, the pilot gets more information about mission oriented aircraft dynamics and suitable flight test data for a pilot/aircraft analysis can be generated.

Koehler, R.↗