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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.

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NASA NTRS1991

Elliptic jets. II - Dynamics of coherent structures: Pairing

The dynamics of the jet column mode of vortex pairing in the near field of an elliptic jet was investigated. Hot-wire measurements and flow visualization were used to examine the details of the pairing mechanism of nonplanar vortical elliptic structures and its effect on such turbulence measures as coherent velocities, incoherent turbulence intensities, incoherent and coherent Reynolds, stresses, turbulence production, and mass entrainment. It was found that pairing of elliptic vortices in the jet column does not occur uniformly around the entire perimeter, unlike in a circular jet. Merger occurs only in the initial major-axis plane. In the inital minor-axis plane, the trailing vortex rushes through the leading vortex without pairing and then breaks down violently, producing considerably greater entrainment and mixing than in circular or plane jets.

Husain, Hyder S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Systematic differences between the field and cluster elliptical galaxies

Multivariate statistical techniques and fundamental plane fits are used here to study possible systematic differences between field ellipticals (FEs) and cluster ellipticals (CEs). The FEs show more intrinsic scatter in their properties, especially when stellar population variables are included. Pairwise correlations for the two samples are different; the correlations are systematically better for the cluster sample, meaning that ellipticals in the two samples populate their fundamental planes in different ways. Bivariate correlations are different for the two samples, implying that they have different fundamental planes. This is especially true for the correlations which include the population variables Mg2 and (B-V), which are sensitive both to the enrichment history and the storm formation history.

De Carvalho, R. R.↗
NASA NTRS1992

On the origin of globular clusters in elliptical galaxies

Multivariate statistical analysis is used to correlate the estimated total numbers of globular clusters in elliptical galaxies (N sub gc), and the numbers per unit luminosity (S sub N), with a variety of observed properties of the host galaxies. Both N sub gc and S sub N are correlated with the so-called fundamental plane of elliptical galaxies, suggesting that the processes which determine global properties of ellipticals also largely determine their globular cluster content, although a considerable residual scatter remians. The redder (presumably more metal-rich) galaxies were found to have more globular clusters, implying that a dissipative formation mechanism was involved. Galaxies which have more anisotropic velocity distributions were also found to have more clusters, suggesting that mergers may have been important in the production of globular systems.

Djorgovski, S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

The prediction of noise radiation from supersonic elliptic jets

This paper describes the prediction of noise radiation from supersonic elliptic jets. The noise is associated with the large scale structures in the jet mixing layer. These structures are described as instability waves. The local characteristics of the instability waves are determined from a compressible, linear, analysis. The jet mean velocity and density are described in elliptic cylindrical coordinates. The local eigensolution for the instability waves is determined from a finite difference solution of the non-separable boundary value problem. This inner solution which is formulated in terms of the method of multiple scales is matched with the radiated field using the method of matched asymptotic expansions. The form of the far-field directivity is derived. Predictions are presented for the noise radiation by the several modes of instability in the elliptic jet. The radiated field is not axisymmetric and certain modes radiate strongly in the directions of the major and minor axes of the jet. The extension of the present work to other geometries and flow fields is discussed.

Morris, Philip J.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The velocity fields of elliptical galaxies: Steps toward a solution of the intrinsic shape problem

One of the few surviving signatures, at low redshift, of the process of galaxy formation should be the distribution of shapes of elliptical galaxies. Yet the problem of inferring this distribution from the observed ellipticals is still unsolved, because insufficient use has been made of kinematic information. The levels of 'sophistication' of the theoretical models and of the observations have up to now been poorly matched. The kinematic data available for most ellipticals consists of only major and minor axis spectra; and Franx et al. (1991) find, using simple geometric models, that the addition of only one kinematic parameter (the ratio of minor axis to major axis rotation velocity) to the photometry is just not enough to finely constrain the intrinsic shape distribution. On the other hand, the more elaborate self-consistent models (e.g., Levison and Richstone 1987, Statler 1987) have made only infrequent and model-dependent predictions of complicated velocity patterns, mostly at small radii, and have not discussed how they change with shape.

Statler, Thomas S.↗
NASA NTRS1993

On the nature of star formation in cooling flow ellipticals

We present evidence based on narrow band optical and near-IR imaging that field and cluster cooling flow galaxies are enriched in low mass stars as a result of recent, truncated IMF star formation from accreting gas. We imaged 25 normal and 6 cooling flow ellipticals using a narrow blue band system. All galaxies have similar mean colors and color gradients. Near IR surface photometry was obtained for three normal ellipticals, three cooling flow ellipticals, and three cluster cooling flows.

Hanlan, Patricia C.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Increased heat transfer to elliptical leading edges due to spanwise variations in the freestream momentum: Numerical and experimental results

A study of the effect of spanwise variation in momentum on leading edge heat transfer is discussed. Numerical and experimental results are presented for both a circular leading edge and a 3:1 elliptical leading edge. Reynolds numbers in the range of 10,000 to 240,000 based on leading edge diameter are investigated. The surface of the body is held at a constant uniform temperature. Numerical and experimental results with and without spanwise variations are presented. Direct comparison of the two-dimensional results, that is, with no spanwise variations, to the analytical results of Frossling is very good. The numerical calculation, which uses the PARC3D code, solves the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations, assuming steady laminar flow on the leading edge region. Experimentally, increases in the spanwise-averaged heat transfer coefficient as high as 50 percent above the two-dimensional value were observed. Numerically, the heat transfer coefficient was seen to increase by as much as 25 percent. In general, under the same flow conditions, the circular leading edge produced a higher heat transfer rate than the elliptical leading edge. As a percentage of the respective two-dimensional values, the circular and elliptical leading edges showed similar sensitivity to span wise variations in momentum. By equating the root mean square of the amplitude of the spanwise variation in momentum to the turbulence intensity, a qualitative comparison between the present work and turbulent results was possible. It is shown that increases in leading edge heat transfer due to spanwise variations in freestream momentum are comparable to those due to freestream turbulence.

Rigby, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1993

NGC 5018 - A metal-poor giant elliptical

Far-UV observations are presently used to investigate the origin of the weak Mg2 index in the spectrum of NGC 5018; IUE spectra are obtained for the central regions of the galaxy, in order to detect evidence of ongoing star formation. It is concluded that star formation cannot produce the weak-lined spectrum in question, and that NGC 5018 seems to be a giant elliptical galaxy with the mean metallicity of a dwarf elliptical, representing a class of ellipticals that strongly deviates from the log sigma-Mg2 relationship due to intrinsic differences in their old stellar populations.

Bertola, Francesco↗
NASA NTRS1993

Shear and compression buckling analysis for anisotropic panels with centrally located elliptical cutouts

An approximate analysis for buckling of biaxial- and shear-loaded anisotropic panels with centrally located elliptical cutouts is presented in the present paper. The analysis is composed of two parts, a prebuckling analysis and a buckling analysis. The prebuckling solution is determined using Lekhnitskii's complex variable equations of plane elastostatics combined with a Laurent series approximation and a boundary collocation method. The buckling solution is obtained using the principle of minimum potential energy. A by-product of the minimum potential energy equation is an integral equation which is solved using Gaussian quadrature. Comparisons with documented experimental results and finite element analyses indicate that the approximate analysis accurately predicts the buckling loads of square biaxial- and shear-loaded panels having elliptical cutouts with major axes up to sixty percent of the panel width. Results of a parametric study are presented for shear- and compression-loaded rectangular anisotropic panels with elliptical cutouts. The effects of panel aspect ratio, cutout shape, cutout size, cutout orientation, laminate anisotropy, and combined loading on the buckling load are examined.

Britt, V. O.↗
NASA NTRS1993

A new method for the identification of non-Gaussian line profiles in elliptical galaxies

A new parameterization for the line profiles of elliptical galaxies, the Gauss-Hermite series, is proposed. This approach expands the line profile as a sum of orthogonal functions which minimizes the correlations between the errors in the parameters of the fit. This method also make use of the fact that Gaussians provide good low-order fits to observed line profiles. The method yields measurements of the line strength, mean radial velocity, and the velocity dispersion as well as two extra parameters, h3 and h4, that measure asymmetric and symmetric deviations of the line profiles from a Gaussian, respectively. The new method was used to derive profiles for three elliptical galaxies which all have asymmetric line profiles on the major axis with symmetric deviations from a Gaussian. Results confirm that elliptical galaxies have complex structures due to their complex formation history.

Van Der Marel, Roeland P.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Nuclear winds in active elliptical galaxies. I - Interaction

The interaction of a supersonic wind generated by an active nucleus, a nuclear wind, with the hot interstellar medium of an elliptical host galaxy is investigated. We survey the basic time and spatial scales of this interaction through a study covering the range of probable wind and galaxy parameters. The evolving wind/ISM interaction is detailed, with the conclusion that a true equilibrium state is never possible due to long cooling times. Alteration of the wind by mass loading is considered, and a relationship between nuclear winds and central stellar clusters in this context is outlined. The nuclear wind will fundamentally alter the interstellar medium of the host galaxy. Powerful radio galaxies and quasars can evacuate the entire ISM of their host galaxy. In an isolated elliptical galaxy, winds from moderately powerful radio galaxies will either be confined to within about a kpc or evacuate the entire hot ISM. Even in the relatively high pressure ISM of elliptical galaxies winds containing only 1 percent-10 percent of the radiant luminosity of the active nucleus will extend to the narrow-line region. Therefore, nuclear winds are likely to control the properties of the narrow-line emission.

Smith, Steven J.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Precession and circularization of elliptical space-tether motion

In this paper, we present a simplified analytic model for predicting motion of long space tethers. The perturbation model developed here addresses skip rope motion, where each end of the tether is held in place and the middle of the tether swings with a motion similar to that of a child's skip rope. If the motion of the tether midpoint is elliptical rather than circular, precession of the ellipse complicates the procedures required to damp this motion. The simplified analytic model developed in this paper parametrically predicts the precession of elliptical skip rope motion. Furthermore, the model shows that elliptic skip rope motion will circularize when damping is present in the longitudinal direction. Compared with high-fidelity simulation results, this simplified model provides excellent predictions of these phenomena.

Chapel, Jim D.↗
NASA NTRS1929

Forces on Elliptic Cylinders in Uniform Air Stream

This report presents the results of wind tunnel tests on four elliptic cylinders with various fineness ratios, conducted in the Navy Aerodynamic Laboratory, Washington. The object of the tests was to investigate the characteristics of sections suitable for streamline wire which normally has an elliptic section with a fineness ratio of 4.0; also to learn whether a reduction in fineness ratio would result in improvement; also to determine the pressure distribution on the model of fineness ratio of 4. Four elliptic cylinders with fineness ratios of 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 were made and then tested in the 8 by 8 wind tunnel; first, for cross-wind force, drag, and yawing moment at 30 miles an hour and various angles of yaw; next for drag 0 degree pitch and 0 degree yaw and various wind speeds; then for end effect on the smallest and largest models; and lastly for pressure distribution over the surface of the largest model at 0 degree pitch and 0 degree yaw and various wind speeds. In all tests, the length of the model was transverse to the current. The results are given for standard air density, p = .002378 slug per cubic foot. This account is a slight revised form of report no. 315. A summary of conclusions is given at the end of the text. (author)

Zahm, A F↗
NASA NTRS1946

Effect of compressibility at high subsonic velocities on the lifting force acting on an elliptic cylinder

An extended form of the Ackeret iteration method, applicable to arbitrary profiles, is utilized to calculate the compressible flow at high subsonic velocities past an elliptic cylinder. The angle of attack to the direction of the undisturbed stream is small and the circulation is fixed by the Kutta condition at the trailing end of the major axis. The expression for the lifting force on the elliptic cylinder is derived and shows a first-step improvement of the Prandtl-Glauert rule. It is further shown that the expression for the lifting force, although derived specifically for an elliptic cylinder, may be extended to arbitrary symmetrical profiles.

Kaplan, Carl↗
NASA NTRS1993

Wind-tunnel investigation of aerodynamic efficiency of three planar elliptical wings with curvature of quarter-chord line

Three planar, untwisted wings with the same elliptical chord distribution but with different curvatures of the quarter-chord line were tested in the Langley 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel (8-ft TPT) and the Langley 7- by 10-Foot High-Speed Tunnel (7 x 10 HST). A fourth wing with a rectangular planform and the same projected area and span was also tested. Force and moment measurements from the 8-ft TPT tests are presented for Mach numbers from 0.3 to 0.5 and angles of attack from -4 degrees to 7 degrees. Sketches of the oil-flow patterns on the upper surfaces of the wings and some force and moment measurements from the 7 x 10 HST tests are presented at a Mach number of 0.5. Increasing the curvature of the quarter-chord line makes the angle of zero lift more negative but has little effect on the drag coefficient at zero lift. The changes in lift-curve slope and in the Oswald efficiency factor with the change in curvature of the quarter-chord line (wingtip location) indicate that the elliptical wing with the unswept quarter-chord line has the lowest lifting efficiency and the elliptical wing with the unswept trailing edge has the highest lifting efficiency; the crescent-shaped planform wing has an efficiency in between.

Mineck, Raymond E.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Elliptic surface grid generation on minimal and parmetrized surfaces

An elliptic grid generation method is presented which generates excellent boundary conforming grids in domains in 2D physical space. The method is based on the composition of an algebraic and elliptic transformation. The composite mapping obeys the familiar Poisson grid generation system with control functions specified by the algebraic transformation. New expressions are given for the control functions. Grid orthogonality at the boundary is achieved by modification of the algebraic transformation. It is shown that grid generation on a minimal surface in 3D physical space is in fact equivalent to grid generation in a domain in 2D physical space. A second elliptic grid generation method is presented which generates excellent boundary conforming grids on smooth surfaces. It is assumed that the surfaces are parametrized and that the grid only depends on the shape of the surface and is independent of the parametrization. Concerning surface modeling, it is shown that bicubic Hermite interpolation is an excellent method to generate a smooth surface which is passing through a given discrete set of control points. In contrast to bicubic spline interpolation, there is extra freedom to model the tangent and twist vectors such that spurious oscillations are prevented.

Spekreijse, S. P.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Ellipticals with kinematically distinct cores : HST imaging of the nuclear structure of IC 1459

The elliptical galaxy IC 1459 has one of the strongest counter-rotating core components of any observed elliptical. Here we present Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Planetary Camera images of the center of IC 1459. Before deconvolution, our V band images reveal a bright point source at the galaxy nucleus, and dust near the nucleus. After removal of the central point source, deconvolution and model fitting, we show that the central starlight profile is better fit by a 'cusp' model than an isothermal core model. The photometric properties of the stellar light are comparable to those of other ellipticals without counter-rotating core components. There is an indication of a central stellar disk, although its detection is complicated by the extensive dust. Although the velocity field of the emission-line gas is ordered, the dust distribution is very irregular, and indicates nonequilibrium motions. The irregular dust distribution suggests that material is currently infalling and may be fueling the active nucleus. There is no direct evidence which relates the dust and gas to the peculiar stellar kinematics.

Forbes, Duncan A.↗
NASA NTRS1994

On the ellipticity of the Galactic disk

We investigate two kinds of constraints on the ellipticity of the Galactic disk: local constraints, based on the kinematics of the solar neighborhood (such as the Oort constants, the axis ratio of the velocity ellipsoid, the vertex deviation, and the radial velocity of the local standard of rest relative to the Galactic center), and global constraints (H I tangent point velocities, the velocity fields of distant carbon stars, Cepheids and H II regions, and the kinematics of distant H I). Local and global constraints independently suggest that the Sun lies near the minor axis of the potential of an elliptical Galactic disk, with equipotential axis ratio 0.9. The kinematic data are consistent with a flat rotation curve of constant ellipticity, with a mean rotation speed of 200 km/s. In this model, the present velocity of the local standard of rest is 180 km/s.

Kuijken, Konrad↗