Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “time-dependent basis”

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

The challenge to unify treatment of high-temperature fatigue - A partisan proposal based on strainrange partitioning.

The strainrange partitioning concept divides the imposed strain into four basic ranges involving time-dependent and time-independent components. It is shown that some of the results presented at the Symposium can be better correlated on the basis of this concept than by alternative methods. It is also suggested that methods of data generation and analysis can be helpfully guided by this approach. Potential applicability of the concept to the treatment of frequency and hold-time effects, environmental influence, crack initiation and growth, thermal fatigue, and code specifications are then briefly considered. A required experimental program is outlined.

Manson, S. S.↗

Winter bulge and diurnal variations in hydrogen inferred from AE-C composition measurements

In situ mass spectrometric measurements of ion and neutral particle thermospheric compositions have been used to infer the latitudinal and diurnal variations of thermospheric atomic hydrogen for solstice conditions. Local time-dependent and local time-independent components of the observed hydrogen distribution were separated on the basis of a model generated by expanding the log of neutral hydrogen concentration in terms of spherical harmonics. Results are compared with analogous data on N2 concentration; the comparison reveals an anticorrelation between gas temperature and hydrogen concentration. The slope of this anticorrelation line represents the 'zero flux condition' from the exosphere theory of Hodges (1973), thus further bearing out the conclusion that exospheric flow is the dominant process governing the global distribution of hydrogen.

Brinton, H. C.↗

Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Pulsating Turbulent Flow

The objective of this investigation was to study the effects of small amplitude sinusoidal pulsations on fully developed turbulent flow in a tube from both experimental and theoretical viewpoints. Theoretical models for the macroscopic behavior of pulsating turbulent tube flow were developed for the two cases of very low and very high pulsation frequencies. The models are based on assumptions of quasi-steady and frozen eddy viscosity flow behavior, respectively. The models successfully predict unsteady velocity profiles, thereby supporting the currently proposed definitions of frequency regimes in pulsating turbulent flow. Experimental measurements were made of the time-dependent pressure drop and velocity profiles over the range of frequency-to-Reynolds number ratios from 0.0095 to 0.24. The two macroscopic models developed in this study predict unsteady velocity profiles which are in moderately good agreement with the experiments in their respective frequency regimes, and a previously developed quasi-steady model is found to predict experimental velocity profiles well in both the quasisteady and the frozen eddy viscosity frequency regimes. The effect of flow pulsations on the dissipation of turbulence energy in the vicinity of the wall was measured in the lower transition frequency regime. The long-time averaged dissipation was observed to be unchanged from the steady flow dissipation, within the accuracy of the experiment. A theoretical model of the periodic viscous sublayer was also developed and applied to pulsating flow in a tube, in order to investigate the effects of flow pulsations on the rate of production of turbulence in the region of the wall. The periodic viscous sublayer model predicts sublayer growth periods in steady flow which agree with the published experimental data. When the model is applied to pulsating flow, the response of the sublayer growth period falls into three frequency regimes, the parameters of which are in approximate agreement with the frequency regimes which are defined on the basis of macroscopic flow behavior. The sublayer renewal cycle exhibits quasi-steady flow behavior when the sublayer growth period is much less than the pulsation period, transition behavior when these two periods are approximately equal, and frozen eddy viscosity behavior when the sublayer period is much longer than the pulsation period. The effect of the sublayer growth and renewal cycle on the level of turbulence was investigated by two methods. The velocity fluctuations seen by a point velocity probe located close to the wall were predicted from the model in one method and the rate of turbulence production was estimated from the frequency of sublayer renewal events in the other.

Kingston, G. C.↗

Interplanetary disturbances in the solar wind produced by density, temperature, or velocity pulses at 0.08 AU

Time-dependent solutions of a one-fluid model of the interplanetary medium are investigated. This set of unsteady hydrodynamic equations has been written in conserved form in order to apply the Lax-Wendroff (1960) method for the solution of this problem. The initial disturbance is specified by a pulse at 0.08 AU. Physically, this pulse can be interpreted as having been caused by a solar flare, surge, or any other solar disturbance. The equilibrium condition is determined to be the steady solution of the governing equations and represents the quiet solar wind. Results are presented in terms of density, temperature, and velocity profiles of the interplanetary gas flow at heliocentric distances up to 6 AU at several times. Also, the trajectories of disturbances for various initial pulses are shown. Some June 1972 interplanetary observational data are compared with these theoretical calculations. On the basis of these results, the effects of solar disturbances on the interplanetary environment (such as the generation of large nonlinear wave trains in the shock wakes) can be inferred.

Wu, S. T.↗

A finite difference solution for the propagation of sound in near sonic flows

An explicit time/space finite difference procedure is used to model the propagation of sound in a quasi one-dimensional duct containing high Mach number subsonic flow. Nonlinear acoustic equations are derived by perturbing the time-dependent Euler equations about a steady, compressible mean flow. The governing difference relations are based on a fourth-order, two-step (predictor-corrector) MacCormack scheme. The solution algorithm functions by switching on a time harmonic source and allowing the difference equations to iterate to a steady state. The principal effect of the non-linearities was to shift acoustical energy to higher harmonics. With increased source strengths, wave steepening was observed. This phenomenon suggests that the acoustical response may approach a shock behavior at at higher sound pressure level as the throat Mach number aproaches unity. On a peak level basis, good agreement between the nonlinear finite difference and linear finite element solutions was observed, even through a peak sound pressure level of about 150 dB occurred in the throat region. Nonlinear steady state waveform solutions are shown to be in excellent agreement with a nonlinear asymptotic theory.

Hariharan, S. I.↗

A finite difference solution for the propagation of sound in near sonic flows

An explicit time/space finite difference procedure is used to model the propagation of sound in a quasi one-dimensional duct containing high Mach number subsonic flow. Nonlinear acoustic equations are derived by perturbing the time-dependent Euler equations about a steady, compressible mean flow. The governing difference relations are based on a fourth-order, two-step (predictor-corrector) MacCormack scheme. The solution algorithm functions by switching on a time harmonic source and allowing the difference equations to iterate to a steady state. The principal effect of the non-linearities was to shift aocustical energy to higher harmonics. With increased source strength, wave steepening was observed. This phenomenon suggests that the acoustical response may approach a shock behavior at higher sound pressure level as the throat Mach number approaches unity. On a peak level basis, good agreement between the nonlinear finite difference and linear finite element solutions was observed, even through a peak sound pressure level of about 150 dB occurred in the throat region. Nonlinear steady state waveform solutions are shown to be in excellent agreement with a nonlinear asymptotic theory. Previously announced in STAR as N83-30167

Hariharan, S. I.↗

Estimation of high temperature low cycle fatigue on the basis of inelastic strain and strainrate

Fatigue life at elevated temperature can be predicted by introducing parametric values obtained from monotonic constitutive behavior into the Universal-Slopes Equation. For directionally solidified MAR-M200+HF at 975 C, these parameters are the maximum stress achievable under entirely plastic (time-independent) and purely creep (time-dependent) conditions and the corresponding inelastic strains, as well as the elastic modulus. For materials which exhibit plasticity/creep interaction, two more pairs of monotonic parameters must be evaluated for fatigue life prediction. This life-prediction method based on the Universal-Slopes Equation, resulted from a constitutive model characterizing monotonic and cyclic data as inelastic strainrate as a function of inelastic strain. Characterizing monotonic data is this way, permitted distinction between different material responses such as strain-hardening, strain-softening, and dynamic recovery effects. Understanding and defining the region of influence of each of these effects facilitated formulation of the constitutive model in relation to the mechanical and microstructural processes occurring in the material under cyclic loading.

Berkovits, A.↗

Impulsive H-alpha diagnostics of electron-beam-heated solar flare model chromospheres

Time-dependent H-alpha profiles were computed for the dynamic model atmospheres of Fisher, Canfield, and McClymont (1985) simulating the effects of an intense impulsively initiated power-law beam of electrons incident on the chromosphere. The temporal response of H-alpha arises from three separate physical mechanisms, whose relative importance varies over the line profile. The fastest variations (typically less than 0.1 s for the explosive heating discussed here) arise from energy imbalance; these are apparent on chromospheric heating and cooling time scales and have their greatest amplitude at line center. Slower variations arise from ionization imbalance and are most apparent in the blue wing. The slowest variations arise from hydrodynamic effects and are related to the formation of a chromospheric condensation; these are most apparent in the red wing. These results provide a basis for the design and analysis of observations of H-alpha, in coordination with hard X-rays or microwaves, to test mechanisms of energy transport in solar flares.

Canfield, Richard C.↗

Influence of the equilibration process in supernova remnant shocks on their X-ray and coronal iron surface brightnesses

SNR model computation results have been obtained which indicate that the radial distribution of soft X-ray and forbidden coronal Fe surface brightnesses in adiabatic, middle-aged SNRs can be used as a basis of discrimination for whether the equilibration time is short or long, by comparison with the ionization time-scale. These models are based on a grid of Sedov-Taylor models with time-dependent, nonequilibrium collisional ionization of 13 chemical elements; the two extreme equilibration conditions assumed are T(ion) = T(e) and a Coulomb equilibration of ion and electron temperatures. The models are compared with data taken from X-ray images of the Cygnus Loop and Puppis A.

Jerius, D.↗

Polarimetry of four Wolf-Rayet stars

Time-dependent broadband linear polarimetric observations of four WR stars are presented. On a time basis of days, WR 3 and SR 131 displayed no polarization variability above measurement errors. The position angle of WR 3 was consistent with the polarization being mainly of interstellar origin. The polarization of WR 103 showed variations, in one night on a time scale of hours. The polarization of WR 151 showed a modulation with orbital phase that was used to derive an estimate of the WN5 and O8 star's masses, of 6 and 14 solar masses, respectively. Four phenomenological types of polarization variability are introduced, and the stars are described in terms of them.

Schulte-Ladbeck, Regina E.↗

Time-dependent models of magnetized pair plasmas

Attention is given to a numerical code developed to study the time evolution of electron-positron plasmas. The code solves in a self-consistent manner kinetic equations describing the effects of Compton scattering, two-photon pair production, pair annihilation, cooling of pairs via Coulomb scattering, e-e bremsstrahlung, and synchrotron radiation. The kinetic equations are derived under the approximation of homogeneous and isotropic particle distributions on the basis of a study by Coppi and Blandford (1993). Both stationary and time-varying output radiation spectra are computed. Good qualitative agreement with previous calculations is found, except where the differences are attributable to the improved treatment of the microphysics.

Coppi, Paolo S.↗

Foundations for statistical-physical precipitation retrieval from passive microwave satellite measurements. II - Emission-source and generalized weighting-function properties of a time-dependent cloud-radiation model

The foremost physical aspects of microphysical-radiative interactions that control the formation and modulation of frequency-dependent passive microwave TB over a continental cold-rain precipitation system are explained within the framework of the essential ingredients of a physically based precipitation-retrieval algorithm. The analysis is based on a modeling study in which a 3D cloud model has provided the objective basis for generating an extensive set of microphysical profiles that describe numerous precipitation features in the course of the evolution of a continental hail storm. A summary of the various components of the algorithm, as well as the surface rain rates, is given. The algorithm employs the cloud model to provide a consistent and objectively generated source of detailed microphysical information as the underpinnings to an inversion-based perturbative retrieval scheme.

Mugnai, Alberto↗

Application of an Energy-Based Life Prediction Model to Bithermal and Thermomechanical Fatigue

The inelastic hysteresis energy applied to the material in a cycle is used as the basis for predicting nonisothermal fatigue life of a wrought cobalt-base superalloy, Haynes 188, from isothermal fatigue data. Damage functions that account for hold-time effects and time-dependent environmental phenomena such as oxidation and hot corrosion are proposed in terms of the inelastic hysteresis energy per cycle. The proposed damage functions are used to predict the bithermal and thermomechanical fatigue lives of Haynes 188 between 316 and 760 C from isothermal fatigue data. Predicted fatigue lives of all but two of the nonisothermal tests are within a factor of 1.5 of the experimentally observed lives.

Radhakrishnan, V. M.↗

Minimal microwave anisotrophy from perturbations induced at late times

Aside from primordial gravitational instability of the cosmological fluid, various mechanisms have been proposed to generate large-scale structure at relatively late times, including, e.g., 'late-time' cosmological phase transitions. In these scenarios, it is envisioned that the universe is nearly homogeneous at the times of last scattering and that perturbations grow rapidly sometimes after the primordial plasma recombines. On this basis, it was suggested that large inhomogeneities could be generated while leaving relatively little imprint on the cosmic microwave background (MBR) anisotropy. In this paper, we calculate the minimal anisotropies possible in any 'late-time' scenario for structure formation, given the level of inhomogeneity observed at present. Since the growth of the inhomogeneity involves time-varying gravitational fields, these scenarios inevitably generate significant MBR anisotropy via the Sachs-Wolfe effect. Moreover, we show that the large-angle MBR anisotropy produced by the rapid post-recombination growth of inhomogeneity is generally greater than that produced by the same inhomogeneity growth via gravitational instability. In 'realistic' scenarios one can decrease the anisotropy compared to models with primordial adiabatic fluctuations, but only on very small angular scales. The value of any particular measure of the anisotropy can be made small in late-time models, but only by making the time-dependence of the gravitational field sufficiently 'pathological'.

Jaffe, Andrew H.↗

Theoretical Basis for Estimated Test Times and Conditions for Drop Tower and Space-Based Droplet Burning Experiments With Methanol and N-Heptane

In order to develop an extensive envelope of test conditions for NASA's space-based Droplet Combustion Experiment (DCE) as well those droplet experiments which can be performed using a drop tower, the transient vaporization and combustion of methanol and n-heptane droplets were simulated using a recently developed fully time-dependent, spherically symmetric droplet combustion model. The transient vaporization of methanol and n-heptane was modeled to characterize the instantaneous gas phase composition surrounding the droplet prior to the introduction of an ignition source. The results for methanol/air showed that the entire gas phase surrounding a 2 mm methanol droplet deployed in zero-g .quickly falls outside the lean flammability limit. The gas phase surrounding an identically-sized n-heptane droplet, on the other hand, remains flammable. The combustion of methanol was then modeled considering a detailed gas phase chemical kinetic mechanism (168 steps, 26 species) and the effect of the dissolution of flame-generated water into the liquid droplet. These results were used to determine the critical ignition diameter required to achieve quasi-steady droplet combustion in a given oxidizing environment. For droplet diameters greater than the critical ignition diameter, the model predicted a finite diameter at which the flame would extinguish. These extinction diameters were found to vary significantly with initial droplet diameter. This phenomenon appears to be unique to the transient heat transfer, mass transfer and chemical kinetics of the system and thus has not been reported elsewhere to date. The extinction diameter was also shown to vary significantly with the liquid phase Lewis number since the amount of water present in the droplet at extinction is largely governed by the rate at which water is transported into the droplet via mass diffusion. Finally, the numerical results for n-heptane combustion were obtained using both 2 step and 96 step semi-emperical chemical kinetic mechanisms. Neither mechanism exhibited the variation of extinction diameter with initial diameter.

Marchese, Anthony J.↗

The Distant Tail at 200 R(sub E): Comparison Between Geotail Observations and the Results from a Global Magnetohydrodynamic Simulation

This paper reports a comparison between Geotail observations of plasmas and magnetic fields at 200 R(sub E) in the Earth's magnetotail with results from a time-dependent, global magnetohydrodynamic simulation of the interaction of the solar wind with the magnetosphere. The study focuses on observations from July 7, 1993, during which the Geotail spacecraft crossed the distant tail magnetospheric boundary several times while the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) was predominantly northward and was marked by slow rotations of its clock angle. Simultaneous IMP 8 observations of solar wind ions and the IMF were used as driving input for the MHD simulation, and the resulting time series were compared directly with those from the Geotail spacecraft. The very good agreement found provided the basis for an investigation of the response of the distant tail associated with the clock angle of the IMF. Results from the simulation show that the stresses imposed by the draping of magnetosheath field lines and the asymmetric removal of magnetic flux tailward of the cusps altered considerably the shape of the distant tail as the solar wind discontinuities convected downstream of Earth. As a result, the cross section of the distant tail was considerably flattened along the direction perpendicular to the IMF clock angle, the direction of the neutral sheet following that of the IMF. The simulation also revealed that the combined action of magnetic reconnection and the slow rotation of the IMF clock angle led to a braiding of the distant tail's magnetic field lines along the axis of the tail, with the plane of the braid lying in the direction of the IMF.

Berchem, J.↗

Geoid Anomalies and Dynamic Topography from Time Dependent, Spherical Axisymmetric Mantle Convection

Geoid anomalies and dynamic topography are two important diagnostics of mantle convection. We present geoid and topography results for several time-dependent convection models in spherical axisymmetric geometry for Rayleigh numbers between 10(exp 6) and 10(exp 7) with depth-dependent viscosity and mixtures of bottom and internal heating. The models are strongly chaotic, with boundary layer instabilities erupting out of both thermal boundary layers. In some instances, instabilities from one boundary layer influence the development of instabilities in the other boundary layer. Such coupling between events at the top and bottom of the mantle has been suggested to play a role in a mid-Cretaceous episode of enhanced volcanism in the Pacific. These boundary layer instabilities produce large temporal variations in the geoid anomalies and dynamic nd to the topography associated with the convection. The amplitudes of these fluctuations depend on the detailed model parameter,.% it of this but fluctuations of 30-50% relative to the time-averaged geoid and topography are common. The convective planform is strongly sensitive to the specific initial conditions. Convection cells with larger aspect ratio tend to have larger fractional fluctuations in their geoid and topography amplitudes, because boundary layer instabilities have more time to develop in long cells. In some instances, we observe low-amplitude topographic highs adjacent to the topographic lows produced by cold downwellings. We discuss applications of these results to several situations, including the temporal variability of m basis. hotspots such as Hawaii, the topography of subduction zone outer rises, and the topography of coronae on Venus.

Kiefer, Walter S.↗

Potential Flow Theory and Operation Guide for the Panel Code PMARC

The theoretical basis for PMARC, a low-order panel code for modeling complex three-dimensional bodies, in potential flow, is outlined. PMARC can be run on a wide variety of computer platforms, including desktop machines, workstations, and supercomputers. Execution times for PMARC vary tremendously depending on the computer resources used, but typically range from several minutes for simple or moderately complex cases to several hours for very large complex cases. Several of the advanced features currently included in the code, such as internal flow modeling, boundary layer analysis, and time-dependent flow analysis, including problems involving relative motion, are discussed in some detail. The code is written in Fortran77, using adjustable-size arrays so that it can be easily redimensioned to match problem requirements and computer hardware constraints. An overview of the program input is presented. A detailed description of the input parameters is provided in the appendices. PMARC results for several test cases are presented along with analytic or experimental data, where available. The input files for these test cases are given in the appendices. PMARC currently supports plotfile output formats for several commercially available graphics packages. The supported graphics packages are Plot3D, Tecplot, and PmarcViewer.

Ashby, Dale L.↗