Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “WAVE DIFFRACTION”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Geometric Acoustics for Aircraft Noise Scattering

This paper discusses aircraft noise scattering by geometric acoustics, which consists of the basic features of sound propagation and reflection in rays or ray tubes, diffraction by smooth geometry in terms of surface creeping waves, and diffraction by abrupt geometry features such as the wing trailing edges. Based on the classic theories of these features, prediction methodologies can be constructed for aircraft noise scattering. The methodologies, however, require important modifications and extensions to account for unique features in aircraft noise applications, for both current conventional aircraft and future unconventional designs. These modifications and extensions include the derivation of a general reflection coefficient that contains the effects of surface geometry curvature, surface impedance, and mean flow. Corrections to the basic formulation of diffraction, both smooth geometry and sharp edges, are formulated to account for the finite dimensions of practical applications. For smooth geometry diffraction, a second order correction is used to continuously transition from insolified to shadow zones and an approach is presented to compute the properties of the geodesic path of surface wave propagation. A model is developed to make use of the ray propagation formulation for incoherent and partially coherent propagation and scattering, which is an important phenomenon in aircraft noise. Mean flow effect is also included in the methodology for low Mach number flows. Examples of calculations based on these theoretical developments are presented to illustrate the unique features in aircraft noise applications.

Yueping Guo↗
NASA NTRS1989

An investigation of the diffraction of an acoustic plane wave by a curved surface of finite impedance

Phenomena associated with long range propagation of sound over irregular topography motivated this work, which was to analyze the diffraction effects which would occur near the tops of hills and ridges. The diffraction of a high frequency plane wave due to its grazing of a two-dimensional curved surface of finite impedance was also studied. Laboratory scale models were constructed and measurements were made of the field on, above, and behind either of two curved surfaces possessing distinctly different impedances; that is, one was soft while the other was hard. The experimental technique consisted of simultaneously measuring the pressure at a reference point and at a field point due to a transient pulse generated by an electric spark. The pressure waveforms were digitized and processed. The ratio of the discrete Fourier transforms of the two waveforms provided an estimate of the insertion loss between them. The results of the measurements were compared with the predictions of a theory which was derived by Pierce using the method of Matched Asymptotic Expansions (MAE). The predictions relied upon the experimental evaluation of the impedance of each surface at grazing angles of incidence. This evaluation was achieved by a fairly standard technique involving empirical models of various generic types of surfaces. An example was shown of the important role that the structural intricacies of a surface play in the determination of an appropriate model. The comparison between the measurements and predictions indicated that the theory gives an excellent description of the field anywhere near a curved surface. Further, with a simple modification, the theory was also shown to give nearly as good of a description of the field surrounding a curved surface even at distances far behind the surface yet near the line of sight.

Kearns, James A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Free-field correction factor for spherical acoustic waves impinging on cylinders

The scattering and diffraction of spherical waves by an infinite rigid cylinder is analytically studied for monopole and dipole acoustic sources. A correction factor at the cylinder surface for the change in the free-field radiation levels due to the presence of the cylinder is calculated. The results indicate that the correction factor is sensitive to source frequency and location. Regions of negative correction factor, due to shadowing and creeping wave behavior are identified.

Fuller, C. R.↗
NASA NTRS1993

An extended UTD analysis for the scattering and diffraction from cubic polynomial strips

Spline and polynomial type surfaces are commonly used in high frequency modeling of complex structures such as aircraft, ships, reflectors, etc. It is therefore of interest to develop an efficient and accurate solution to describe the scattered fields from such surfaces. An extended Uniform Geometrical Theory of Diffraction (UTD) solution for the scattering and diffraction from perfectly conducting cubic polynomial strips is derived and involves the incomplete Airy integrals as canonical functions. This new solution is universal in nature and can be used to effectively describe the scattered fields from flat, strictly concave or convex, and concave convex boundaries containing edges. The classic UTD solution fails to describe the more complicated field behavior associated with higher order phase catastrophes and therefore a new set of uniform reflection and first-order edge diffraction coefficients is derived. Also, an additional diffraction coefficient associated with a zero-curvature (inflection) point is presented. Higher order effects such as double edge diffraction, creeping waves, and whispering gallery modes are not examined. The extended UTD solution is independent of the scatterer size and also provides useful physical insight into the various scattering and diffraction processes. Its accuracy is confirmed via comparison with some reference moment method results.

Constantinides, E. D.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Electromagnetic diffraction by plane reflection diffraction gratings

A plane wave theory was developed to study electromagnetic diffraction by plane reflection diffraction gratings of infinite extent. A computer program was written to calculate the energy distribution in the various orders of diffraction for the cases when the electric or magnetic field vectors are parallel to the grating grooves. Within the region of validity of this theory, results were in excellent agreement with those in the literature. Energy conservation checks were also made to determine the region of validity of the plane wave theory. The computer program was flexible enough to analyze any grating profile that could be described by a single value function f(x). Within the region of validity the program could be used with confidence. The computer program was used to investigate the polarization and blaze properties of the diffraction grating.

Bocker, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS2022

The Impact of Firn Models on Ultrawideband Brightness Temperatures in the Partially Coherent Model

The density profile of a polar ice sheet is an important parameter for the estimation of ice mass balance. Wave reflections caused by density variations are also a key uncertainty in the retrieval of ice sheet temperature profiles in Ultra-Wide band radiometry. In this paper, we examine different firn density profile models and analyze the subsurface reflections they cause using an analytical partially coherent approach. We also examine firn density profiles obtained from borehole measurements, from past UWBRAD modeling studies, from a community firn model, and from snow radar echo measurements. In previous studies, the ice sheet has been model as a 1D random medium with density variations in depth. However, horizontal density variations also exist, so that the ice sheet is a 3D random medium. Analyses using the partially coherent model show that in the presence of horizontal fluctuations, contributions from short scale variations vanish as the horizontal correlation length decreases due to the diffraction of waves.

Haokui Xu↗
NASA NTRS2004

Plate Scattering Visualization: Images, Near Fields, Currents, and Far Field Patterns

This paper presents a case study of a simple yet robust target for demonstration of the EM visualization process. A five lambda square plate exhibits many scattering mechanisms depending on excitation angle and polarization: specular scattering, leading and trailing edge diffraction, traveling wave, and edge wave scattering. Bistatic k space radiation images, currents maps, and near scattered / total fields are examined for each of these scattering mechanisms.

Shaeffer, John↗
NASA NTRS2007

NASA Tech Briefs, May 2007

Topics include: Noise-Canceling Helmet Audio System; Program Analyzes Spacecraft/Ground Radio Links; Two-Way Communication Using RFID Equipment and Techniques; Six-Message Electromechanical Display System; Scanning Terahertz Heterodyne Imaging Systems; Master Clock and Time-Signal-Distribution System; Synchronous Phase-Resolving Flash Range Imaging; Integrated Radial Probe Transition From MMIC to Waveguide; Bar-Code System for a Microbiological Laboratory; MMIC Amplifier Produces Gain of 10 dB at 235 GHz; Mapping Nearby Terrain in 3D by Use of a Grid of Laser Spots; Digital Beam Deflectors Based Partly on Liquid Crystals; Narrow-Band WGM Optical Filters With Tunable FSRs; Better Finite-Element Analysis of Composite Shell Structures; Computing Spacecraft-Pointing Vectors for Limb Tracking; Enhanced Master Controller Unit Tester; Rover Graphical Simulator; Increasing Durability of Flame-Sprayed Strain Gauges; Multifunctional, High-Temperature Nanocomposites; Multilayer Impregnated Fibrous Thermal Insulation Tiles; Radiation-Shielding Polymer/Soil Composites; Film/Adhesive Processing Module for Fiber-Placement Processing of Composites; Fabrication of Submillimeter Axisymmetric Optical Components; Electrochemical Disposal of Hydrazines in Water; Statistical Model of Evaporating Multicomponent Fuel Drops; Resistively Heated SiC Nozzle for Generating Molecular Beams; Compact Packaging of Photonic Millimeter-Wave Receiver; Diffractive Combiner of Single-Mode Pump Laser-Diode Beams; Wide-Band, High-Quantum-Efficiency Photodetector; A Robustly Stabilizing Model Predictive Control Algorithm; Modeling Evaporation of Drops of Different Kerosenes; Development of Vapor-Phase Catalytic Ammonia Removal System; Several Developments in Space Tethers; Design Concept for a Nuclear Reactor-Powered Mars Rover; Formation-Initialization Algorithm for N Spacecraft; and DNSs of Multicomponent Gaseous and Drop-Laden Mixing Layers Achieving Transition to Turbulence.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1983

A radio-frequency analysis of paraboloidal antennas located near diffracting fences

The cylindrical waves associated with the Sommerfeld solution for a diffracting half-plane are applied in the evaluation of the effects of secondary radiation on the focal-region-fields of paraboloids. A cross-correlation between the computed focal-region-fields and the feed-antenna-fields is then introduced to determine the modified radiation pattern of paraboloidal antennas. The half-plane solution is adapted to estimate the effects of a polygonal fence on 9-meter S-band and 3-meter S- and Ku-band antennas at the Merrit Island, Fl Spacecraft Tracking and Data Network Station.

Schmidt, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Design analysis of the astrometrical telescope facility

This paper presents a detailed analysis of a space-based telescope requiring an accuracy of 50 pico radians. A relationship between the geometric centroid of a diffraction image and wave aberrations is derived by a combination approach of diffraction optics and geometric optics. Based on sensitivity of the centroid, one-mirror and two-mirror aplanatic telescopes are investigated. The comparison among three telescopes, parabola, Schwartzschild and Ritchey-Chretien are quantitatively carried out in terms of their sensitivities to the systematic errors and random errors. The study shows that the Ritchey-Chretien design is the most preferable.

Huang, Chunsheng↗