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NASA NTRS1976

Estimated grain saltation in a Martian atmosphere

Mariner 9 spacecraft images showing evidence of variable surface features and surface erosion resulting from atmospheric wind on Mars have caused a renewed interest in the eolian mechanics of saltating grains. To study this phenomenon, both experimental investigation in an atmospheric wind tunnel and numerical solutions of the equations of motion of a single grain under Martian surface conditions were conducted. The numerical solutions for earth were used and empirically adjusted to correlate with existing experimental data for Mars. These modified equations were then solved to estimate grain motion for Mars. These calculations show the importance of a lifting force on the grain to initiate motion in both earth and Mars calculations. Major findings include a comparison of earth and Mars grain trajectories that show Mars length scales to be longer and to fall with a higher terminal grain velocity. The grains in the Mars calculation also made a smaller collision angle with the surface on rebound.

White, B. R.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Windblown dust on earth, Mars and Venus

Attempts to predict threshold speeds for windblown dust and sand on Mars and Venus have raised new questions about the mechanism of soil and sand transport by wind. Estimates of threshold speeds on Mars and Venus are made including the effects of both Reynolds number and interparticle forces of cohesion. The current estimates show lower threshold speeds for small particles than previous estimates by Hess, who assumed that Reynolds number is the only important parameter. These estimates, on the other hand, show somewhat higher threshold speeds than those of Sagan and Bagnold, who assumed that the particles are cohesionless. An optimum particle size results, for which threshold speed is a minimum, contrary to Sagan and Bagnold's prediction.

Iversen, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1977

A long-lived coronal arch system observed in X-rays

A large long-lived soft X-ray emitting arch system was observed during the last Skylab mission. This arcade stayed in the same approximate position for several solar rotations. It is suggested that these long-lived arches owe their stability to the stable coronal magnetic-field configuration. A global constant-alpha force-free magnetic-field analysis, as developed by Nakagawa et al. (1977), is used to describe the arches, and results in a marked resemblance between the theoretical magnetic-field configuration and the observed X-ray emitting feature.

Mcguire, J. P.↗

NASA NTRS1979

A study of the drooped leading edge airfoil

Wind tunnel tests were conducted to examine various aspects of the drooped-leading edge airfoil which reduces the tendency for an airplane to enter a spin after stall occurs. Three baseline models were used for tests of two dimensional models: NACA 0015, 0014.6, and 0014.2. The 14.6% and 14.2% models were derived from NACA 0015 sections by increasing the chord and matching the profiles aft section. Force, balance data (lift, drag, pitching moment) were obtained for each model at a free-steam Reynold's number of 2.66 x 10 to the 6th power/m. In addition, oil flow visualization tests were performed at various angles of attack. An existing NACA 64 sub 1 A211 airfoil was used in a second series of tests. The leading edge flap was segmented in three parts which allowed various baseline/drooped leading edge configurations to be tested. Force balance and flow visualization tests were completer at chord Renolds numbers of 0.44 x 10 to the 6th power, 1.4 x 10 to the 6th power, and 2.11 x 10 to the 6th power. Test results are included.

Anderson, J. D., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1979

A numerical model of the Martian polar cap winds

An investigation of the Martian polar cap winds and their response to a variety of factors is carried out by numerical experiments based on a zonally symmetric primitive equation model. The seasonal thermal forcing, mass exchange between polar caps and atmosphere, large-scale topography, and polar cap size are discussed, noting that topography has a small effect, but the circulation intensity increases with cap size. The model results show that surface winds near the edge of a retreating polar cap are enhanced, and that the surficial wind indicators near the south pole are formed during spring and those near the north pole during winter. It is suggested that the high-latitude dune fields in the northern hemisphere are formed when the terrain is covered by frost, and that the saltating particles are 'snowflakes' which formed by the mechanism proposed by Pollack (1976). The model results for the winter simulation compare favorably with general circulation model (GCM) calculations.

Haberle, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Aerodynamic characteristics of a hypersonic research airplane concept having a 70 deg swept double-delta wing at Mach numbers from 0.80 to 1.20, with summary of data from 0.20 to 6.0

The static longitudinal, lateral, and directional stability characteristics of a hypersonic research airplane concept having a 70 deg swept double-delta wing were investigated. Force tests were conducted in the Langley 8 foot transonic pressure tunnel for a Reynolds number (based on fuselage length) range of 6.30 x 10 to the 6th power to 7.03 x 10 to the 6th power, at angles of attack from about -4 deg to 23 deg, and at angles of sideslip of 0 deg and 5 deg. The configuration variables included the wing planform, tip fins, the center vertical tail, and scramjet engine modules. Variations of the more important aerodynamic parameters with Mach number for Mach numbers from 0.20 to 6.0 are summarized. A state-of-the-art example of theoretically predicting performance parameters and static longitudinal and directional stability over the Mach number range is included.

Penland, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1981

A microprocessor-based table lookup approach for magnetic bearing linearization

An approach for producing a linear transfer characteristic between force command and force output of a magnetic bearing actuator without flux biasing is presented. The approach is microprocessor based and uses a table lookup to generate drive signals for the magnetic bearing power driver. An experimental test setup used to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach is described, and test results are presented. The test setup contains bearing elements similar to those used in a laboratory model annular momentum control device.

Groom, N. J.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Implications of Titan's north-south brightness asymmetry

Voyager 1 images of Titan, when normalized to remove limb darkening, reveal an axially symmetric brightness pattern with significant north-south asymmetry. This interhemispheric contrast seems to be a response to seasonal solar heating variations resulting from Titan's inclined spin axis. The contrast significantly lags the solar forcing, indicating that its production involves the atmosphere well below the unit optical depth level. The contrast has a significant effect on Titan's disk-integrated brightness as seen from earth, and probably accounts for most of the observed long term variation, with solar UV variations accounting for the remainder.

Sromovsky, L. A.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Active region magnetic fields inferred from simultaneous VLA microwave maps, X-ray spectroheliograms, and magnetograms

The VLA maps at 6-cm wavelength discussed here are generated from observations of a solar active region (NOAA 2363) on March 29 and 30, 1980. The X-ray spectroheliograms were acquired for this region in the lines of O VIII, Ne IX, Mg XI, Si XIII, S XV, and Fe XXV. It is found that the peaks of X-ray and 6-cm emission do not coincide but that the sources in the two wavelength domains tend to overlap. These facts are seen as evidence for the existence of opacity mechanisms other than thermal bremsstrahlung. To quantify this assertion, differential emission measures are computed to derive densities and temperatures. Using these and calculated force-free magnetic fields from Kitt Peak magnetograms, an assessment is made of the mechanism of gyroresonance absorption at low harmonics of the electron gyrofrequency as the source of opacity responsible for the microwave features. It is concluded that large-scale currents must be present in the active region loops to account for the bright 6-cm sources far from sunspots.

Schmahl, E. J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

pH profile of the adsorption of nucleotides onto montmorillonite. II - Adsorption and desorption of 5-prime-AMP in iron-calcium montmorillonite systems

The interaction of 5-prime-AMP with montmorillonite saturated with various ratios of two metals found ubiquitously on the surface of earth, that is, iron and calcium, is investigated. Adsorption and desorption of the nucleotide were studied in the pH range of 2-12 at three levels of addition: 0.080, 0.268 and 0.803 mmole 5-prime-AMP per gram of clay. Two desorption stages were employed - H2O wash and NaOH extraction (pH = 12.0). 5-prime-AMP was preferentially adsorbed on the Fe-containing clays relative to the Ca clay. The nucleotide was fully recovered by the two desorption stages, mostly by the NaOH extraction. The evidence at hand indicates that 5-prime-AMP reaction with clay is affected by electrostatic interactions involving both attraction and repulsion forces. Some specific adsorption, possibly the result of covalent bonding and complex formation with the adsorbed ion, cannot be ruled out for iron but does not appear to operate for calcium. Changes in pH cause varying degrees of attaction and repulsion of 5-prime-AMP and may have been operating on the primitive earth, leading to sequences of adsorption and release of this biomolecule.

Banin, A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Initial adaptation testing of the bidimensionally self-adapting wall of the French T2 wind tunnel, around a three-dimensional object

The test series was carried out at ONERA/CERT at the T2 wind tunnel in September 1984. The objective of this series was to minimize wall interference through a bidimensional adaptation around the models, inducing tridimensional flows. For this, three different models were used, measuring either the pressures or the forces and moment of pitch (balance). The adaptation was derived from a correction computation in the compressible axisymmetric tridimensional.

Archambaud, J. P.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Chronology of surface units on the icy satellites of Saturn

Because the impact flux history in the Saturnian system has been similar in its general form to that for the inner solar system and Jupiter, it is possible to develop an absolute calibration model for the relative ages derived from the density of impact craters. This has been done by identifying the density at which the crater populations change characteristics from that during post-accretion heavy bombardment to a later population of low but continuous flux. The transition between these two populations occurred at a known time throughout the solar system, 3.9 by, and provides an absolute calibration point on which to construct a calibration curve. Results based on calibrating relative age data to this absolute flux model suggest that most surfaces are ancient, greater than 3.9 by (or within several 100 million years). Only Enceladus and Dione have had prolonged activity that has resulted in resurfacing. The activity on Enceladus was probably driven by tidal forces, whereas the mechanism for driving resurfacing on Dione has yet to be identified.

Boyce, J. M.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Gas liquid flow at microgravity conditions - Flow patterns and their transitions

The prediction of flow patterns during gas-liquid flow in conduits is central to the modern approach for modeling two phase flow and heat transfer. The mechanisms of transition are reasonably well understood for flow in pipes on earth where it has been shown that body forces largely control the behavior observed. This work explores the patterns which exist under conditions of microgravity when these body forces are suppressed. Data are presented which were obtained for air-water flow in tubes during drop tower experiments and Learjet trajectories. Preliminary models to explain the observed flow pattern map are evolved.

Dukler, A. E.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Studies of an orbital gradiometer mission

The goal of using an orbital gradiometer mission to provide an accurate (1 to 2 mgal), high resolution (1 by 1 deg), global map of the earth's geopotential is currently being investigated. This investigation involves the simulation of the satellite ephemeris and the corresponding gradiometer measurements which can be used in the study of various techniques and methodologies that were proposed to recover the parameters used in modeling the geopotential. Also, the effects on the mission of various time varying forces acting on the spacecraft were included in the studies.

Schutz, B. E.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Time-dependent Navier-Stokes computations for flow-induced vibrations of vanes

Flows over two curved vane configurations were computed using a time-accurate compressible Navier-Stokes flow model. One configuration showed the presence of strong flow-induced vibrations at Strouhal numbers near 0.19 and 0.38 for bending and torsional excitation. In the other configuration, a simple modification reduced both types of response. Laminar flows were analyzed for the effects of flow-induced vibrations, and flow fields were solved for a rigid vane and a vane undergoing forced vibrations at prescribed amplitude and frequency simulating vibration response to a coupled vortex-shedding/elastic motion feedback cycle.

Liu, B. L.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Damage detection in elastic structures using vibratory residual forces and weighted sensitivity

A methodology is presented for detecting structural damage in elastic structures by nondestructive means. Measured modal test data along with a correlated analytical structural model are used to locate potentially damaged regions using residual modal force vectors and to conduct a weighted sensitivity analysis to assess the extent of mass and/or stiffness variations, where damage is characterized as a stiffness reduction. The current approach is unique among other approaches in that it accounts for (1) variations in system mass, system stiffness, and mass center (locations), (2) perturbations of both the natural frequencies and modal vectors, and (3) statistical confidence factors for the structural parameters and potential experimental instrumentation error. Moreover, this procedure can be used with either full or reduced models. A wide variety of numerical examples are presented that show that the current method provides a precise indication of both the location and the extent of structural damage.

Ricles, J. M.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Stationary eddies in the Mars general circulation as simulated by the NASA-Ames GCM

Quasistationary eddies are prominent in a large set of simulations of the Mars general circulation performed with the NASA-Ames GCM. Various spacecraft observations have at least hinted at the existence of such eddies in the Mars atmosphere. The GCM stationary eddies appear to be forced primarily by the large Mars topography, and (to a much lesser degree) by spatial variations in the surface albedo and thermal inertia. The stationary eddy circulations exhibit largest amplitudes at high altitudes (above 30-40 km) in the winter extratropical regions. In these regions they are of planetary scale, characterized largely by zonal wavenumbers 1 and 2. Southern Hemisphere winter appears to be dominated by a very strong wave 1 pattern, with both waves 1 and 2 being prominent in the Northern Hemisphere winter regime. This difference seems to be basically understandable in terms of differences in the topography in the two hemispheres. The stationary eddies in the northern winter extratropics are found to increase in amplitude with dust loading. This behavior appears to be at least partly associated with changes in the structure of the zonal-mean flow that favor a greater response to wave 1 topographic forcing. There are also strong stationary eddy circulations in the tropics and in the summer hemisphere. The eddies in the summer subtropics and extratropics arc substantially stronger in southern summer than in northern summer. The summer hemisphere stationary circulations are relatively shallow and are characterized by smaller zonal scales than those in the winter extratropics.

Barnes, J. R.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Cardiopulmonary adaptation to weightlessness

The lung is profoundly affected by gravity. The absence of gravity (microgravity) removes the mechanical stresses acting on the lung paranchyma itself, resulting in a reduction in the deformation of the lung due to its own weight, and consequently altering the distribution of fresh gas ventilation within the lung. There are also changes in the mechanical forces acting on the rib cage and abdomen, which alters the manner in which the lung expands. The other way in which microgravity affects the lung is through the removal of the gravitationally induced hydrostatic gradients in vascular pressures, both within the lung itself, and within the entire body. The abolition of a pressure gradient within the pulmonary circulation would be expected to result in a greater degree of uniformity of blood flow within the lung, while the removal of the hydrostatic gradient within the body should result in an increase in venous return and intra-thoracic blood volume, with attendant changes in cardiac output, stroke volume, and pulmonary diffusing capacity. During the 9 day flight of Spacelab Life Sciences-1 (SLS-1) we collected pulmonary function test data on the crew of the mission. We compared the results obtained in microgravity with those obtained on the ground in both the standing and supine positions, preflight and in the week immediately following the mission. A number of the tests in the package were aimed at studying the anticipated changes in cardiopulmonary function, and we report those in this communication.

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