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At least 73 records · Page 4

Dynamic properties of aircraft tires

A research program has investigated the use of the von Schlippe string-type tire model for predicting the dynamic behavior of aircraft tires. The transfer-function method was used for theory evaluation. A more flexible two-constant modification to the string theory tire model is presented. Experiments were conducted on four types of scale model aircraft tires. Two types were of conventional bias construction, one type was an isotropic toroid, and one type was of unbelted radial construction. The conventional string theory and model gave predictions that were in good agreement with experimental data for bias constructed tires. The two-constant modification to string theory provided better agreement between predictions and experiment for the unconventional tires. The results indicate that the string theory tire model using static and slow-rolling tire properties predicts dynamic aircraft tire properties that have the same trends as the measured dynamic properties and, in most cases, provides good quantitative agreement.

Clark, S. K.↗

Two-Dimensional Scramjet Inlet Unstart Model: Wind-Tunnel Blockage and Actuation Systems Test

This supplement to NASA TM 109152 shows the Schlieren video (10 min. 52 sec., color, Beta and VHS) of the external flow field and a portion of the internal flow field of a two-dimensional scramjet inlet model in the NASA Langley 20-Inch Mach 6 Tunnel. The intent of the overall test program is to study (both experimentally and computationally) the dynamics of the inlet unstart; this (phase I) effort examines potential wind-tunnel blockage issues related to model sizing and the adequacy of the actuation systems in accomplishing the start and unstart. The model is equipped with both a moveable cowl and aft plug. Windows in the inlet sidewalls allow limited optical access to the internal shock structure. In the video, flow is from right to left, and the inlet is oriented inverted with respect to flight, i.e., with the cowl on top. The plug motion is obvious because the plug is visible in the aft window. The cowl motion, however, is not as obvious because the cowl is hidden from view by the inlet sidewall. The end of the cowl actuator arm, however, becomes visible above the inlet sidewalls between the windows when the cowl is up (see figure 1b of the primary document). The model is injected into the tunnel and observed though several actuation sequences with two plug configurations over a range of unit freestream Reynolds number at a nominal freestream Mach number of 6. The framing rate and shutter speed of the camera were too slow to fully capture the dynamics of the unstart but did prove sufficient to identify inlet start and unstart. This series of tests indicated that the model was appropriately sized for this facility and identified operability limits required first to allow the inlet to start and second to force the unstart.

Holland, Scott D.↗

Classical adiabatic perturbation theory

Classical Poincare-von Zeipel canonical perturbation theory extension to adiabatically perturbed systems with slow dependence on time or dynamic variables

Stern, D. P.↗

The substorm current wedge and field-aligned currents in MHD simulations of magnetotail reconnection

Results are reported from a three-dimensional MHD simulation of magnetotail reconnection, which, in contrast to earlier ones, starts from an equilibrium configuration that contains a region 1 type field-aligned current system at the plasma sheet/lobe boundary. This current system is found from equilibrium theory as the consequence of boundary conditions, which require that field lines at large distances from the earth become aligned-with the tail axis, consistent with observations and the expected consequences of the interaction with the solar wind. As in earlier simulations, the dynamic evolution develops from a slow diffusion to the fast growth of a three-dimensional tearing mode, initiated by the sudden occurrence or increase of resistivity, leading again to the formation and subsequent tailward ejection of a plasmoid, associated with fast plasma flows. In addition there are changes of the electric current system which are consistent with the substorm current wedge picture inferred from observations.

Birn, J.↗

The JPL/NASA solar probe mission

The Solar Probe mission, developed under the JPL/NASA outer planets program, is described. The system's design, based on X-2000 technology, is presented. The purpose of the mission is to: understand the plasma processes that heat the corona and accelerate the fast and slow solar winds; determine the dynamics of interior convection and small scale magnetism in the polar regions; to measure the high-latitude solar magnetic fields on the solar surface and determine how they project outwards into the solar system.

Tsurutani, Bruce T.↗

Report of the Stability and Dynamics Session

Important issues: Mass gauging; Stability dynamics of disconnected capillary surfaces; Slow capillary driven flow (i.e. wicking); Long-term material property evolution in micro-g; Dumping problem with freezing of dump lines.

Alexander, Iwan↗

Adaptive Control of a Transport Aircraft Using Differential Thrust

The paper presents an adaptive control technique for a damaged large transport aircraft subject to unknown atmospheric disturbances such as wind gust or turbulence. It is assumed that the damage results in vertical tail loss with no rudder authority, which is replaced with a differential thrust input. The proposed technique uses the adaptive prediction based control design in conjunction with the time scale separation principle, based on the singular perturbation theory. The application of later is necessitated by the fact that the engine response to a throttle command is substantially slow that the angular rate dynamics of the aircraft. It is shown that this control technique guarantees the stability of the closed-loop system and the tracking of a given reference model. The simulation example shows the benefits of the approach.

Stepanyan, Vahram↗

Experimental Identification and Simulation of Time and/or Rate Dependent Reversible and Irreversible Deformation Regions for both a Titanium and Nickel Alloy

In this paper time and/or rate dependent deformation regions are experimentally mapped out as a function of temperature. It is clearly demonstrated that the concept of a threshold stress (a stress that delineate reversible and irreversible behavior) is valid and necessary at elevated temperatures and corresponds to the classical yield stress at lower temperatures. Also the infinitely slow modulus, (Es) i.e. the elastic modulus of the material if it was loaded at an infinitely slow strain rate, and the "dynamic modulus", modulus, Ed, which represents the modulus of the material if it is loaded at an infinitely fast rate are used to delineate rate dependent from rate independent regions. As demonstrated at elevated temperatures there is a significant difference between the two modulus values, thus indicating both significant time-dependence and rate dependence. In the case of the nickel-based super alloy, ME3, this behavior is also shown to be grain size specific. Consequently, at higher temperatures viscoelastic behavior exist below k (i.e., the threshold stress) and at stresses above k the behavior is viscoplastic. Finally a multi-mechanism, stress partitioned viscoelastic model, capable of being consistently coupled to a viscoplastic model is characterized over the full temperature range investigated for Ti-6-4 and ME3.

Arnold, Steven M.↗

Singularity perturbed zero dynamics of nonlinear systems

Stability properties of zero dynamics are among the crucial input-output properties of both linear and nonlinear systems. Unstable, or 'nonminimum phase', zero dynamics are a major obstacle to input-output linearization and high-gain designs. An analysis of the effects of regular perturbations in system equations on zero dynamics shows that whenever a perturbation decreases the system's relative degree, it manifests itself as a singular perturbation of zero dynamics. Conditions are given under which the zero dynamics evolve in two timescales characteristic of a standard singular perturbation form that allows a separate analysis of slow and fast parts of the zero dynamics.

Isidori, A.↗

Dynamic and static fatigue behavior of sintered silicon nitrides

The dynamic and static fatigue behavior of Kyocera SN220M sintered silicon nitride at 1000 C was studied. Fractographic analysis of the material failing in dynamic fatigue revealed the presence of slow crack growth (SCG) at stressing rates below 41 MPa/min. Under conditions of static fatigue this material also displayed SCG at stresses below 345 MPa. SCG appears to be controlled by microcracking of the grain boundaries. The crack velocity exponent (n) determined from both dynamic and static fatigue tests ranged from 11 to 16.

Chang, J.↗

Topological Origins of the Slow Solar Wind

Although the slow solar wind has been studied for decades with both in situ and remote sensing observations, its origin is still a matter of intense debate. In the standard quasi-steady model, the slow wind is postulated to originate near coronal hole boundaries that define topologically well-behaved separatrices between open and closed field regions. In the interchange model, on the other hand, the slow wind is postulated to originate on open flux that is dynamically diffusing throughout the seemingly closed-field corona. We argue in favor of the quasi-steady scenario and propose that the slow wind is due to two effects: First, the open-closed boundary is highly complex due to the complexity of the photospheric flux distribution. Second, this boundary is continuously driven by the transport of magnetic helicity from the closed field region into the open. The implications of this model for the structure and dynamics of the corona and slow wind are discussed, and observational tests of the mode

Antiochos, Spiro↗

Critical Spacecraft-to-Earth Communications for Mars Exploration Rover (MER) entry, descent and landing

For planetary lander missions, the most challenging phase of the spacecraft to ground communications is during the entry, descent, and landing (EDL). As each 2003 Mars Exploration Rover (MER) enters the Martian atmosphere, it slows dramatically. The extreme acceleration and jerk cause extreme Doppler dynamics on the X-band signal received on Earth. When the vehicle slows sufficiently, the parachute is deployed, causing almost a step in deceleration. After parachute deployment, the lander is lowered beneath the parachute on a bridle. The swinging motion of the lander imparts high Doppler dynamics on the signal and causes the received signal strength to vary widely, due to changing antenna pointing angles. All this time, the vehicle transmits important health and status information that is especially critical if the landing is not successful. Even using the largest Deep Space Network antennas, the weak signal and high dynamics render it impossible to conduct reliable phase coherent communications. Therefore, a specialized form of frequency-shift-keying will be used. This paper describes the EDL scenario, the signal conditions, the methods used to detect and frequency-track the carrier and to detect the data modulation, and the resulting performance estimates.

entry, descent, and landing communications↗

The Dynamic Coupling of Streamers and Pseudostreamers to the Heliosphere

The slow solar wind is generally believed to result from the interaction of open and closed coronal magnetic flux at streamers and pseudostreamers. We use three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations to determine the detailed structure and dynamics of open-closed interactions that are driven by photospheric convective flows. The photospheric magnetic field model includes a global dipole giving rise to a streamer together with a large parasitic polarity region giving rise to a pseudostreamer that separates a satellite coronal hole from the main polar hole. Our numerical domain extends out to 30Rꙩ and includes an isothermal solar wind, so that the coupling between the corona and heliosphere can be calculated rigorously. This system is driven by imposing a large set of quasi-random surface flows that capture the driving of coronal flux in the vicinity of streamer and pseudostreamer boundaries by the supergranular motions. We describe the resulting structures and dynamics. Interchange reconnection dominates the evolution at both streamer and pseudostreamer boundaries, but the details of the resulting structures are clearly different from one another. Additionally, we calculate in situ signatures of the reconnection and determine the dynamic mapping from the inner heliosphere back to the Sun for a test spacecraft orbit. We discuss the implications of our results for interpreting observations from inner heliospheric missions, such as Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter, and for space weather modeling of the slow solar wind.

V. Aslanyan↗

Dynamics of Coronal Hole Boundaries

Remote and in situ observations strongly imply that the slow solar wind consists of plasma from the hot, closed-field corona that is released onto open magnetic field lines. The Separatrix Web theory for the slow wind proposesthat photospheric motions at the scale of supergranules are responsible for generating dynamics at coronal-holeboundaries, which result in the closed plasma release. We use three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamicsimulations to determine the effect of photospheric flows on the open and closed magnetic flux of a model coronawith a dipole magnetic field and an isothermal solar wind. A rotational surface motion is used to approximatephotospheric supergranular driving and is applied at the boundary between the coronal hole and helmet streamer.The resulting dynamics consist primarily of prolific and efficient interchange reconnection between open andclosed flux. The magnetic flux near the coronal-hole boundary experiences multiple interchange events, with someflux interchanging over 50 times in one day. Additionally, we find that the interchange reconnection occurs allalong the coronal-hole boundary and even produces a lasting change in magnetic-field connectivity in regions thatwere not driven by the applied motions. Our results show that these dynamics should be ubiquitous in the Sun andheliosphere. We discuss the implications of our simulations for understanding the observed properties of the slowsolar wind, with particular focus on the global-scale consequences of interchange reconnection.

Higginson, A. K.↗

A one-dimensional time-dependent model of the magnetized ionosphere of Venus

The behavior and time evolution of the large-scale magnetic fields and plasma of the dayside Venus ionosphere are studied using a one-dimensional model. The coupled continuity, momentum, and Maxwell's equations are solved simultaneously for O(+), O2(+), and H(+), and the magnetic field. The calculated magnetic field profiles are in good agreement with Pioneer Venus orbiter magnetometer observations. The magnetic field structure is quasi-steady for slow changes of the solar wind dynamic pressure. The peak at 165 km is maintained by downward convection from higher altitudes. The time scale for the decay of the field by the pure one-dimensional vertical diffusion/convection process is several hours unless the flux is resupplied from the top of the ionosphere.

Shinagawa, H.↗

Fracture Behavior of Ceramics Under Displacement Controlled Loading

A Mode I fracture specimen and loading method has been developed which permits the observation of stable crack extension in monolithic and in situ toughened ceramics. The developed technique was used to conduct room temperature tests on commercial grade alumina (Coors' AD-995) and silicon nitride (Norton NC-132). The results of these tests are reported. Crack growth for the alumina remained subcritical throughout testing revealing possible effects of environmental stress corrosion. The crack growth resistance curve for the alumina is presented. The silicon nitride tests displayed a series of stable (slow) crack growth segments interrupted by dynamic (rapid) crack extension. Crack initiation and arrest stress intensity factors, K(sub Ic) and K(sub Ia), for silicon nitride are reported. The evolution of the specimen design through testing is briefly discussed.

Calomino, Anthony↗

Droplet Combustion in a Slow Convective Flow

The objective of the present flight experiment definition study is to investigate the effects of slow forced convective flows on the dynamics of isolated single droplet combustion and is designed to complement the quiescent, microgravity droplet combustion experiments (DCE-1 and DCE-2) of Williams and Dryer. The fuels selected for this study are the same as those of DCE, namely, a sooting alkane fuel (heptane) and a non-sooting alcohol (methanol), and imposed flow rates are chosen between 0 and 20 cm/s with varying ambient oxygen concentrations and pressures. Within this velocity range, both accelerating and decelerating flow effects will also be investigated. Two different approaches to generate the forced flow are currently under development in ground-based facilities; the first is a flow tunnel concept where the forced flow is imposed against a stationary droplet, and in the second a tethered droplet is translated at a specified velocity in a quiescent ambient medium. Depending upon the engineering feasibility a selection will be made between these two approaches so that the experiment can be accommodated in the Multiple Droplet Combustion Apparatus (MDCA) currently being designed for the International Space Station. Recently, we have finished designing and fabricating the experimental rigs using both the above mentioned concepts. The flow tunnel concept is implemented in a 2.2 second drop tower rig. Preliminary experiments have been carried out using heptane and methanol in air at atmospheric pressure. The translating droplet apparatus is scheduled to be tested in the 5 second drop facility in the near future. This report presents some of the experimental results obtained for heptane.

Nayagam, V.↗

Current Sheets in the Corona and the Complexity of Slow Wind

The origin of the slow solar wind has long been one of the most important problems in solar/heliospheric physics. Two observational constraints make this problem especially challenging. First, the slow wind has the composition of the closed-field corona, unlike the fast wind that originates on open field lines. Second, the slow wind has substantial angular extent, of order 30 degrees, which is much larger than the widths observed for streamer stalks or the widths expected theoretically for a dynamic heliospheric current sheet. We propose that the slow wind originates from an intricate network of narrow (possibly singular) open-field corridors that emanate from the polar coronal hole regions. Using topological arguments, we show that these corridors must be ubiquitous in the solar corona. The total solar eclipse in August 2008, near the lowest point of cycle 23 affords an ideal opportunity to test this theory by using the ultra-high resolution Predictive Science's (PSI) eclipse model for the corona and wind. Analysis of the PSI eclipse model demonstrates that the extent and scales of the open-field corridors can account for both the angular width of the slow wind and its closed-field composition. We discuss the implications of our slow wind theory for the structure of the corona and heliosphere at solar minimum and describe further observational and theoretical tests.

Antiochos, Spiro↗