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At least 73 records · Page 4

Three Dimensional Numerical Simulation of Rocket-based Combined-cycle Engine Response During Mode Transition Events

The GTX program at NASA Glenn Research Center is designed to develop a launch vehicle concept based on rocket-based combined-cycle (RBCC) propulsion. Experimental testing, cycle analysis, and computational fluid dynamics modeling have all demonstrated the viability of the GTX concept, yet significant technical issues and challenges still remain. Our research effort develops a unique capability for dynamic CFD simulation of complete high-speed propulsion devices and focuses this technology toward analysis of the GTX response during critical mode transition events. Our principal attention is focused on Mode 1/Mode 2 operation, in which initial rocket propulsion is transitioned into thermal-throat ramjet propulsion. A critical element of the GTX concept is the use of an Independent Ramjet Stream (IRS) cycle to provide propulsion at Mach numbers less than 3. In the IRS cycle, rocket thrust is initially used for primary power, and the hot rocket plume is used as a flame-holding mechanism for hydrogen fuel injected into the secondary air stream. A critical aspect is the establishment of a thermal throat in the secondary stream through the combination of area reduction effects and combustion-induced heat release. This is a necessity to enable the power-down of the rocket and the eventual shift to ramjet mode. Our focus in this first year of the grant has been in three areas, each progressing directly toward the key initial goal of simulating thermal throat formation during the IRS cycle: CFD algorithm development; simulation of Mode 1 experiments conducted at Glenn's Rig 1 facility; and IRS cycle simulations. The remainder of this report discusses each of these efforts in detail and presents a plan of work for the next year.

Edwards, Jack R.↗

Automatic control of a helicopter with a hanging load

An autopilot logic is designed here for controlling a helicopter with a hanging load. A 16th order model for the system is decoupled into four subsystems: (1) a second order system for yawing motion, (2) a second order system for vertical motion, (3) a sixth order system for longitudinal motion, and (4) a sixth order system for lateral motion. A measuring scheme, which could be used in remote areas, is developed and filters are designed to estimate the state variables from these measurements. The autopilot can be used to move the load over short distances without retracting the cables. This is done by automatically shifting the autopilot modes from position-hold (hover) to acceleration-hold to velocity-hold (cruise) to deceleration-hold to velocity-hold (near hover) to position-hold (hover). Use of such an autopilot might save considerable turnaround time. The Sikorsky S-61 helicopter is chosen as an example vehicle. The performance of the controlled system is studied in the presence of longitudinal and lateral winds.

Gupta, N. K.↗

Design considerations for a monolithic, GaAs, dual-mode, QPSK/QASK, high-throughput rate transceiver

A monolithic, GaAs, dual mode, quadrature amplitude shift keying and quadrature phase shift keying transceiver with one and two billion bits per second data rate is being considered to achieve a low power, small and ultra high speed communication system for satellite as well as terrestrial purposes. Recent GaAs integrated circuit achievements are surveyed and their constituent device types are evaluated. Design considerations, on an elemental level, of the entire modem are further included for monolithic realization with practical fabrication techniques. Numerous device types, with practical monolithic compatability, are used in the design of functional blocks with sufficient performances for realization of the transceiver.

Kot, R. A.↗

Simulating photospheric Doppler velocity fields

A method is described for constructing artificial data that realistically simulate photospheric velocity fields. The velocity fields include rotation, differential rotation, meridional circulation, giant cell convection, supergranulation, convective limb shift, p-mode oscillations, and observer motion. Data constructed by this method can be used for testing algorithms designed to extract and analyze these velocity fields in real Doppler velocity data.

Hathaway, David H.↗

Transition in hypersonic boundary layers

Linear stability theory for hypersonic boundary layers is presented. The theory is used to study the effects of real gas (under the assumption of local chemical equilibrium) and small nose bluntness on hypersonic boundary layer stability. It is found that chemical reactions have a stabilizing effect on the first mode instability and a destabilizing effect on the second mode instability in hypersonic boundary layers. There is also a tendency for the second-mode instability to shift to lower frequencies. The effect of small nose bluntness is found to be stabilizing.

Malik, Mujeeb R.↗

Repeated buckling of composite shear panels

Failures in service of aerospace structures and research at the Technion Aircraft Structures Laboratory have revealed that repeatedly buckled stiffened shear panels might be susceptible to premature fatigue failures. Extensive experimental and analytical studies have been performed at Technion on repeated buckling, far in excess of initial buckling, for both metal and composite shear panels with focus on the influence of the surrounding structure. The core of the experimental investigation consisted of repeated buckling and postbuckling tests on Wagner beams in a three-point loading system under realistic test conditions. The effects of varying sizes of stiffeners, of the magnitude of initial buckling loads, of the panel aspect ratio and of the cyclic shearing force, V sub cyc, were studied. The cyclic to critical shear buckling ratios, (V sub cyc/V sub cr) were on the high side, as needed for efficient panel design, yet all within possible flight envelopes. The experiments were supplemented by analytical and numerical analyses. For the metal shear panels the test and numerical results were synthesized into prediction formulas, which relate the life of the metal shear panels to two cyclic load parameters. The composite shear panels studied were hybrid beams with graphite/epoxy webs bonded to aluminum alloy frames. The test results demonstrated that composite panels were less fatigue sensitive than comparable metal ones, and that repeated buckling, even when causing extensive damage, did not reduce the residual strength by more than 20 percent. All the composite panels sustained the specified fatigue life of 250,000 cycles. The effect of local unstiffened holes on the durability of repeatedly buckled shear panels was studied for one series of the metal panels. Tests on 2024 T3 aluminum panels with relatively small unstiffened holes in the center of the panels demonstrated premature fatigue failure, compared to panels without holes. Preliminary tests on two graphite epoxy shear panels with small holes in the center showed no similar fatigue life degradation and no shift in failure mode. Further tests on the effect of holes are in progress.

Singer, Josef↗

Computational Confirmation of the Carrier for the "XCN" Interstellar Ice Bank: OCN(-) Charge Transfer Complexes

Recent experimental studies provide evidence that carrier for the so-called XCN feature at 2165 cm(exp -1) (4.62 micron) in young stellar objects is an OCN(-)/NH4(+) charge transfer (CT) complex that forms in energetically processed interstellar icy grain mantles. Although other RCN nitriles and RCN iosonitriles have been considered, Greenberg's conjecture that OCN(-) is associated with the XCN feature has persisted for over 15 years. In this work we report a computational investigation that thoroughly confirms the hypothesis that the XCN feature observed in laboratory studies can result from OCN(-)/NH4(+) CT complexes arising from HNCO and NH3, in a water ice environment. Density functional theory calculations with theory calculations with HNCO, NH3, and up to 12 waters reproduce seven spectroscopic measurements associated with XCN: the band origin of the asymmetric stretching mode of OCN(-), shifts due to isotopic substitutions of C, N, O, and H, and two weak features. However, very similar values are also found for the OCN(-)/NH4(+) CT complex arising from HOCN and NH3. In both cases, the complex forms by barrierless proton transfer from HNCO or HOCN to NH3 during the optimization of the solvated system. Scaled B3LYP/6-31+G** harmonic frequencies for HNCO and HOCN cases are 2181 and 2202 cm(exp -1), respectively.

Park, J.-Y.↗

Temperature Dependent E2 Raman Modes in the ZnCoO Ternary Alloy

The anharmonic properties of low and high frequency E2 modes of ZnO and Co doped ZnO were investigated using Raman scattering spectroscopy. We have determined the behavior of frequency, linewidths, and lifetime of E2 modes in the temperature range from 80 to 800 K. In the case of E2(high) mode the frequency shift towards the lower energy side was analyzed in light of the theory of anharmonic phonon-phonon interaction and thermal expansion of the lattice, and the linewidth behavior was analyzed in terms of anharmonic effect of three-phonon decay mechanism. But in the case of E2(low), the linewidth and frequency behaved practically harmonic with respect to temperature and independent of Co substitutions. It is found that the E2(high) phonon anharmonicity is higher for ZnCoO alloys than in pure ZnO and it increases with the compositional disorder. The low temperature lifetime of E2 phonon in ZnO, 1 % and 3% Co doped ZnO were found to be 1.S2, 1.74, and 1.54 ps, respectively.

Samanta, K.↗

Vibration mitigation using an inerter-based isolation system

Extreme dynamic environments can result in the failure of structures and equipment. To mitigate these effects, isolation systems can be used. In recent years, inerters have been studied as a part of different structural control methods. The inerter is attractive for many structural control methods because it can produce large mass effects despite having a small physical mass through the transformation of translational motion to the rotational motion of a flywheel. While inerters have been considered in structural control, experimental studies of isolation systems featuring inerters has been limited. This project seeks to study the ability of the addition of an inerter to improve the dynamic performance of isolation systems when considering a random vibration environment. The results of this study demonstrate that the inerter can have a large impact on the dynamic properties of an isolated system, including shifting the isolation mode frequency lower while reducing its amplitude. High frequency noise did result from the inclusion of the inerter but may not be of significant concern depending on the frequency range of interest. The strong performance of the inerter in a simplified isolation system observed during this work motivates future studies of inerters in isolation systems.

S.S. Abolghasemi↗

Infrared Spectroscopy of Naphthalene Aggregation and Cluster Formation in Argon Matrices

Fourier-transform mid-infrared absorption spectra of mixed argon/naphthalene matrices at 5 K are shown with ratios of argon-to-naphthalene that vary from 1000 to 0. These spectra show the changes as naphthalene clustering and aggregation occurs, with moderate spectral shifts affecting the C-H vibrational modes and relatively small or no shifts to the C-C and C-C-C vibrational modes. The possible contribution of homogeneous naphthalene clusters to the interstellar unidentified infrared bands is discussed. The contribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) clusters to the 7.7 micron emission plateau and the blue shading of the 12.7 micron emission band are identified as promising candidates for future research. In addition, since PAH clusters are model components of Jupiter and Titan's atmospheres, the information presented here may also be applicable to the spectroscopy of these objects.

Roser, J. E.↗

Effect of nonlinear interactions on p-mode frequencies and line widths

We calculate the effect of nonlinear interactions among solar acoustic modes upon the modal frequencies and energy loss rates (or line widths). The frequency shift for a radial p-mode of frequency 3 mHz is found to be about -0.5 microHz. The magnitude of nonlinear frequency shift increases more rapidly with frequency than the inverse mode mass (mode mass is defined as the ratio of energy in the mode to its surface velocity amplitude squared). This frequency shift is primarily due to nonresonant three-mode interactions and is dominated by high l surface gravity waves (f-modes) and p-modes. The line width of a radial p-mode of frequency 3 mHz, due to resonant nonlinear interactions, is about 0.3 microHz. This result is consistent with that of Kumar and Goldreich (1989). We also find, in agreement with these authors, that the most important nonlinear interactions of trapped p-modes involve f-modes and high-frequency p-modes (frequency greater than about 5 mHz) which propagate in the solar photosphere. Thus, using the arguments advanced by Kumar & Goldreich (1989), we conclude that nonlinear couplings cannot saturate the overstable solar p-modes at their small observed amplitudes. Both the nonlinear frequency shifts and line widths, at a fixed frequency, are proportional to the inverse of mode mass which for modes of degree greater than about 100 is approximately l(exp 0.8). Therefore, the frequency of an f-mode of l = 1000, due to nonlinear interactions, is decreased by approximately 0.4%.

Kumar, Pawan↗

Decadal-Interdecadal SST Variability and Regional Climate Teleconnections

Dominant modes of decadal and interdecadal SST variability and their impacts on summertime rainfall variability over East Asia and the North America are studied. Two dominant modes of interdecadal SST variability, one associated with El Nino-like warming in the global oceans and one with an east-west seesaw variation in the equatorial Pacific have been identified. The first mode is associated in part with a long-term warming trend in the topical oceans and cooling over the northern Pacific. The second mode suggests an westward shift and strengthening of the Walker circulation from 1960s to the 1980s. Over East Asian, the first SST mode is correlated with reduced rainfall in northern China and excessive rainfall in central China. This SST mode is also associated with the tendency for increased rainfall over the midwest region, and reduced rainfall over the east Coast of the US. The results suggest a teleconnection pattern which links the occurrences of drought and floods over the Asian monsoon and the US summertime time climate. This teleconnection is likely to be associated with decadal variability of the East Asian jetstream, which are affected by strong land surface heating over the Siberian region, as well as El Nino-like SST forcings. The occurrences of major droughts and floods in the East Asian and US continent in recent decades are discussed in light of the above teleconnection patterns.

Lau, William K. M.↗

Nonaxisymmetric secular instabilities driven by star/disk coupling

We determine conditions for the onset of nonaxisymmetric secular instabilities in polytropes with a wide range of angular momentum distributions using Lagrangian techniques, and then calculate the growth rate of such instabilities when driven by the coupling of the perturbed star to a circumstellar disk. We use Langrangian displacement vectors with azimuthal dependence proportional to exp (im phi), where m is an integer and phi is the azimuthal coordinate. The onset of secular instability in terms of the quantity T/absolute value of W, the ratio of rotational kinetic energy to gravitational potential energy, is affected by both the compressibility and the angular momentum distribution of the polytrope. The largest effects occur when the angular momentum distribution is varied. For polytropic index n = 3/2, the onset of secular instability for the m = 2 mode (the bar mode), as determined by its neutral point, shifts from T/absolute value of W = 0.141 to 0.093, while the m = 5 mode neutral point shifts from T/absolute value of W = 0.088 to 0.031 over the range of angular momentum distributions we consider. The smallest critical T/absolute value of W-values occur for the angular momentum distributions which are the most peaked toward the equator. For the angular momentum distribution of a Maclaurin spheroid, as the polytropic index n is increased from 3/2 to 5/2, the neutral point for m = 2 shifts from T/absolute value of W = 0.141 to 0.144 and the netural point for m = 5 shifts from T/absolute value of W = 0.069 to 0.078. The netural points for m = 2 and 5 for the Maclaurin sequence (n = 0) are 0.137 and 0.0629, respectively. As the angular momentum distribution becomes more peaked toward the equatorial radius of the polytropes, the critical T/absolute value of W-values generally become less sensitive to the compressibility of the polytrope. Star/disk coupling can drive the secular instability in systems where the star is surrounded by a massive disk and, if the instability can grow to moderate amplitude, then the coupling can transport significant amounts of angular momentum from the star into the circumstellar disk. We find, for the particular case of rotating protostars during the accretion phase, that the instability growth time can be shorter than the accretion time. Further, if the instability can grow to amplitudes on the order of several percent, the star/disk coupling can remove angular momentum from the forming star faster than it is added by accretion.

Imamura, James, N.↗

Frequency Correction for MIRO Chirp Transformation Spectroscopy Spectrum

This software processes the flyby spectra of the Chirp Transform Spectrometer (CTS) of the Microwave Instrument for Rosetta Orbiter (MIRO). The tool corrects the effect of Doppler shift and local-oscillator (LO) frequency shift during the flyby mode of MIRO operations. The frequency correction for CTS flyby spectra is performed and is integrated with multiple spectra into a high signal-to-noise averaged spectrum at the rest-frame RF frequency. This innovation also generates the 8 molecular line spectra by dividing continuous 4,096-channel CTS spectra. The 8 line spectra can then be readily used for scientific investigations. A spectral line that is at its rest frequency in the frame of the Earth or an asteroid will be observed with a time-varying Doppler shift as seen by MIRO. The frequency shift is toward the higher RF frequencies on approach, and toward lower RF frequencies on departure. The magnitude of the shift depends on the flyby velocity. The result of time-varying Doppler shift is that of an observed spectral line will be seen to move from channel to channel in the CTS spectrometer. The direction (higher or lower frequency) in the spectrometer depends on the spectral line frequency under consideration. In order to analyze the flyby spectra, two steps are required. First, individual spectra must be corrected for the Doppler shift so that individual spectra can be superimposed at the same rest frequency for integration purposes. Second, a correction needs to be applied to the CTS spectra to account for the LO frequency shifts that are applied to asteroid mode.

Lee, Seungwon↗

Stability of hypersonic boundary-layer flows with chemistry

The effects of nonequilibrium chemistry and three dimensionality on the stability characteristics of hypersonic flows are discussed. In two-dimensional (2-D) and axisymmetric flows, the inclusion of chemistry causes a shift of the second mode of Mack to lower frequencies. This is found to be due to the increase in size of the region of relative supersonic flow because of the lower speeds of sound in the relatively cooler boundary layers. Although this shift in frequency is present in both the equilibrium and nonequilibrium air results, the equilibrium approximation predicts modes which are not observed in the nonequilibrium calculations (for the flight conditions considered). These modes are superpositions of incoming and outgoing unstable disturbances which travel supersonically relative to the boundary-layer edge velocity. Such solutions are possible because of the finite shock stand-off distance. Their corresponding wall-normal profiles exhibit an oscillatory behavior in the inviscid region between the boundary-layer edge and the bow shock. For the examination of three-dimensional (3-D) effects, a rotating cone is used as a model of a swept wing. An increase of stagnation temperature is found to be only slightly stabilizing. The correlation of transition location (N = 9) with parameters describing the crossflow profile is discussed. Transition location does not correlate with the traditional crossflow Reynolds number. A new parameter that appears to correlate for boundary-layer flow was found. A verification with experiments on a yawed cone is provided.

Reed, Helen L.↗

Changing Hydroclimate Dynamics and the 19th to 20th Century Wetting Trend in the English Channel Region of Northwest Europe

Northwestern Europe has experienced a trend of increasingly wet winters over the past 150 years, with few explanations for what may have driven this hydroclimatic change. Here we use the Old World Drought Atlas (OWDA), a tree-ring based reconstruction of the self-calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index (scPDSI), to examine this wetting trend and place it in a longer hydroclimatic context. We find that scPDSI variability in northwestern Europe is strongly correlated with the leading mode of the OWDA during the last millennium (1000–2012). This leading mode, here named the ‘English Channel’ (EC) mode, has pronounced variability on interannual to centennial timescales and has an expression in scPDSI similar to that of the East Atlantic teleconnection pattern. A shift in the EC mode from a prolonged negative phase to more neutral conditions during the 19th and 20th centuries is associated with the wetting trend over its area of influence in England, Wales, and much of northern continental Europe. The EC mode is the dominant scPDSI mode from approximately 1000–1850, after which its dominance waned in favor of the secondary ‘North–South’ (NS) mode, which has an expression in scPDSI similar to that of the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). We examine the dynamical nature of both of these modes and how they vary on interannual to centennial timescales. Our results provide insight into the nature of hydroclimate variability in Europe before the widespread availability of instrumental observations.

hydroclimate↗

Acoustic system for material transport

An object within a chamber is acoustically moved by applying wavelengths of different modes to the chamber to move the object between pressure wells formed by the modes. In one system, the object is placed in one end of the chamber while a resonant mode, applied along the length of the chamber, produces a pressure well at the location. The frequency is then switched to a second mode that produces a pressure well at the center of the chamber, to draw the object. When the object reaches the second pressure well and is still traveling towards the second end of the chamber, the acoustic frequency is again shifted to a third mode (which may equal the first model) that has a pressure well in the second end portion of the chamber, to draw the object. A heat source may be located near the second end of the chamber to heat the sample, and after the sample is heated it can be cooled by moving it in a corresponding manner back to the first end of the chamber. The transducers for levitating and moving the object may be all located at the cool first end of the chamber.

Barmatz, M. B.↗

Supercritical baroclinic disturbances under the influence of topography

An Eady model modified to include Ekman dissipation and sloping horizontal boundaries is used to investigate the nonlinear evolution of baroclinic waves in the presence of surface topography. The effectiveness of the topography to phase lock and equilibrate a given mode vs that of baroclinity to propagate and vacillate that mode is found to depend on the topographic height, its zonal structure, and the level of supercriticality. When topography is sinusoidal and of the same wavelength as the baroclinically most unstable mode, it induces a short-period amplitude modulation whose envelope represents the baroclinic evolution. The dynamics of this modulation is explored analytically. When the sinusoidal topography is of a longer zonal wavelength, a 'mixed' wave state persists with amplitude dominance shifting between the topographic mode and the baroclinic mode, depending on the relative strength of form drag and baroclinicity. Model results are also compared, in appropriate parameter limits, with near-resonance asymptotic results and annulus experiments.

Chou, Shih-Hung↗