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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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At least 91 records · Page 5

Unsteady Aerodynamic Modeling of Atmospheric Entry Vehicles in Subsonic and Incompressible Flow: A Frequency Response Approach

The determination of time-varying lift force and pitch moment generated by a purely pitching Earth-entry capsule is investigated. Experiments were conducted in the 12-foot Low-Speed Tunnel at NASA Langley Research Center, testing a range of oscillation frequencies at a zero-mean angle of attack with a pitching amplitude of 10 degrees. In light of these measurements, a closed-form set of analytically derived equations for lift and moment was used to develop a semi-empirical formulation, incorporating empirically determined values from the experimental runs. The equations are grounded in potential flow theory, Theodorsen's classical theory of unsteady aerodynamics, and the Joukowski theorem of conformal mapping. The unsteady aerodynamics generated by the oscillating body are then modeled by constructing frequency response functions, with quasi-steady forces and moments serving as inputs and unsteady forces and moments as outputs. The experimentally determined gain and phase variations characterize the unsteady nature of the flow and the system's response and flow time-lag to input flow parameters for a blunt-body entry vehicle. The final semi-empirical model is validated with a set of parameters beyond the initial test matrix.

Entry Systems Modeling↗

Determination of cooling air mass flow for a horizontally-opposed aircraft engine installation

The relationship between the amount of cooling air flow and the corresponding flow pressure difference across an aircraft engine was investigated in flight and on the ground. The flight test results were consistent with theory, but indicated a significant installation leakage problem. A ground test blower system was used to identify and reduce the leakage. The correlation between ground test cell determined engine orifice characteristics and flight measurements showed good agreement if the engine pressure difference was based on total pressure rather than static pressure.

Miley, S. J.↗

Comparison of measured and calculated aircraft lift generated pressures

Lift generated pressures produced by large, heavy aircraft at low altitudes were investigated due to concern over their possible effects on ground objects. Aircraft lift generated pressures were calculated using elementary airfoil theory, and these values were compared with ground level measurements made during an overflight program. The predicted and the measured values were in relatively good agreement. Due to lack of experimental investigations of this phenomenon, opportunity was taken during an overflight program to use a specially instrumented test range to measure the ground pressures produced for a range of aircraft weights and distances.

Findley, D. S.↗

A theory of electron cyclotron waves generated along auroral field lines observed by ground facilities

A generation mechanism for radio waves in the frequency range 150 - 700 kHz observed by ground facilities is suggested in terms of an electromagnetic electron cyclotron instability driven by auroral electrons. The excited waves can propagate downward along the ambient magnetic field lines and are thus observable with ground facilities. The trapped auroral electrons are supposed to play an important role in the generation process, because they give rise to a thermal anisotropy which consequently leads to the instability. The present work is a natural extension of the theory proposed earlier by Wu et al. (1983) which was discussed in a different context but may be used to explain the observed waves originated at low altitudes. This paper presents a possible wave generation mechanism valid in the entire auroral field-line region of interest.

Wu, C. S.↗

Theory of Radiation-Induced Attenuation in Optical Fibers

A new mathematical model for describing radiation-induced attenuation in optical fibers ispresented. Unlike the existing empirical power law, the new expression is dose- rate dependent andcan be used to predict low-dose-rate induced fiber loss occurring in space from the normally high-dose-rate results obtained in a ground-based laboratory. The new theory is in good agreement withthe experiment.

Liu, Duncan T. H.↗

Proton collisional excitation in the ground configuration of Fe/+12/.

Using semiclassical Coulomb excitation theory, proton collisional excitation and deexcitation cross sections are calculated for all transitions between the Fe(+12) ground configuration levels. Rate constants pertaining to these processes are then derived for coronal temperatures. These rates are shown to be comparable in all cases to the corresponding electron rate constants.

Landman, D. A.↗

The finite ground plane effect on the microstrip antenna radiation patterns

The uniform geometrical theory of diffraction (GTD) is employed for calculating the edge diffracted fields from the finite ground plane of a microstrip antenna. The source field from the radiating patch is calculated by two different methods: the slot theory and the modal expansion theory. Many numerical and measured results are presented to demonstrate the accuracy of the calculations and the finite ground plane edge effect.

Huang, J.↗

Determination of atmospheric properties from lidar measurements

Differential absorption lidar techniques for determining basic atmospheric properties to high accuracy are described. The theory of a two-wavelength lidar temperature measurement is given with simulation results that show accuracies of 0.5 to 1 K for measurements from ground-based and satellite platforms. The theory of measurements of the atmospheric pressure profile using absorption troughs, broad regions of nearly uniform absorption, is also described with simulation results that show accuracies of 0.1 to 0.3 percent. Recent measurements which confirm the accuracy of these techniques are reviewed.

Korb, C. L.↗

Proton collisional excitation in the ground configurations of Fe/+12/ and Fe/+13/. III - Transitions between magnetic sublevels

Values of proton collisional cross-sections at coronal energies have been computer for all transitions between magnetic sublevels of the Fe(+12) and Fe(+13) ground configurations. Semiclassical Coulomb excitation theory was used with the resulting truncated Schroedinger equations being directly integrated. The corresponding rate constants for coronal temperatures are presented and comparison is made with previous results.

Landman, D. A.↗

Parallax and atmospheric scattering effects on the inversion of satellite auroral observations

A technique for the inversion of satellite auroral brightness observations is developed, which takes into account the backscattering of light from the snow-covered ground and atmospheric scattering. The theory includes parallax effects. Parallax arises when a point in the aurora is observed from different angles against a background with a variable brightness. It is shown that observations from a spinning satellite at any given angle from nadir are sufficient to recover the auroral form.

Abreu, V. J.↗

Franck-Condon factors for photodetachment from LiO(-), NaO(-), and KO(-)

The 1Sigma(+), 3Sigma(+), 1Pi, and 3Pi states of the negative ions and the 2Pi and 2Sigma(+) states of the neutral alkali oxides are studied at high levels of theory. The calculations show that ground state of the negative ions changes from 3Pi for LiO(-) to 1Sigma(+) for KO(-). Although the calculations give a 3Pi ground state for NaO(-), we cannot rule out the possibility that the very low-lying 1Sigma(+) state is the true ground state. The Franck-Condon factors for photodetachment of an electron from the 1Sigma(+) and/or 3Pi states of the negative ion are presented to help interpret photodetachment experiments. Our best results for the A 2Sigma(+) - X 2Pi separations in LiO and NaO are 2496 and 2061/cm, which are in excellent agreement with that deduced (2516 and 2018/cm) from experiment.

Bauschlicher, Charles W., Jr.↗

SHIVA: Spaceflight Holography Investigation in a Virtual Apparatus

SHIVA, a NASA spaceflight program, will exploit a unique, holography-based, diagnostics tool to test and apply a new, more general analytical solution to a fundamental equation of motion. The equation describes particle dynamics in fluids in a microgravity environment, and our solution represents the first analytical solution of it. When gravity is removed the equation becomes much more complex and had been solved previously only by numerical means. After our analytical solution has been validated it will be used as a tool for making additional measurements of the gravity environment. Our experiment will be optimized for testing the model, measuring g, g-jitter, and other microgravity phenomena. We will also collect data for which no current theory exists, This paper describes ground experiments and analysis that have been conducted by the investigator team to support the flight experiment.

Trolinger, James D.↗

Dynamics of the Terrestrial Radiation Belts: a Review of Recent Results During the VarSITI (Variability of the Sun and Its Terrestrial Impact) Era, 2014–2018

The Earth’s magnetosphere is region that is carved out by the solar wind as it flows past and interacts with the terrestrial magnetic field. The inner magnetosphere is the region that contains the plasmasphere, ring current, and the radiation belts all co-located within about 6.6 Re, nominally taken to be bounding this region. This region is highly dynamic and is home to a variety of plasma waves and particle populations ranging in energy from a few eV to relativistic and ultra-relativistic electrons and ions. The interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) embedded in the solar wind via the process of magnetic reconnection at the sub-solar point sets up plasma convection and creates the magnetotail. Magnetic reconnection also occurs in the tail and is responsible for explosive phenomena known as substorms. Substorms inject low-energy particles into the inner magnetosphere and help generate and sustain plasma waves. Transients in the solar wind such as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), co-rotating interaction regions (CIRs), and interplanetary shocks compress the magnetosphere resulting in geomagnetic storms, energization, and loss of energetic electrons in the outer radiation belt and enhance the ring current, thereby driving the geomagnetic dynamics. The Specification and Prediction of the Coupled Inner-Magnetospheric Environment (SPeCIMEN) is one of the four elements of VarSITI (Variability of the Sun and Its Terrestrial Impact) program which seeks to quantitatively predict and specify the inner magnetospheric environment based on Sun/solar wind driving inputs. During the past 4 years, the SPeCIMEN project has brought together scientists and researchers from across the world and facilitated their efforts to achieve the project goal. This review provides an overview of some of the significant scientific advances in understanding the dynamical processes and their interconnectedness during the VarSITI era. Major space missions, with instrument suites providing in situ measurements, ground-based programs, progress in theory, and modeling are briefly discussed. Open outstanding questions and future directions of inner magnetospheric research are explored.

Shrikanth Kanekal↗

Approximate spin projection of three-component UHF wavefunctions - The states of the pentachlorocyclopentadienyl cation and the croconate dianion, C5O5/2-/

The approximate spin projection method of Amos et al. is extended to handle UHF wave functions having three significant components of differing multiplicity. An expression is given for the energy after single annihilation which differs from that of Amos and Hall. The new expression reproduces the results obtained from a previous exact calculation for which the weights and energies of the components are known. The extended approximate projection method is applied to the pi-electron UHF wave functions for the ground states of the pentachlorocyclopentadienyl cation and the croconate dianion, C5O5(2-). The results indicate a triplet ground state for the former and a singlet ground state for the latter, in agreement with experimental ESR susceptibility measurements for these molecular ions. C5C15(-) cannont be treated by restricted Hartree-Fock theory, due to its open-shell ground state. Incorrect results are obtained for the croconate dianion, if restricted Hartree-Fock theory and singly excited configuration interactions are utilized.

Phillips, D. H.↗

A theoretical investigation of ground effects on USB configurations

A formulation predicts the variation of circulation forces and jet reaction forces in ground proximity as a function of ground height. The predicted results agree well with available experimental data. It is shown that the wing-alone theory is not capable of predicting the ground effect for USB configurations.

Lan, C. E.↗