Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Analytic linearization”

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 991 records · Page 55

Liquid spray cooling of a heated surface

The lowest surface temperature possible for the existance of spray evaporative cooling is determined experimentally to be a linear function of the impinging spray mass flux. A conduction-controlled analytical model of droplet evaporation gives fairly good agreement with experimental measurements at atmospheric pressure. At reduced pressures droplet evaporation rates are decreased significantly such that an optimum operating pressure exists for each desired surface heat flux. The initiation of the 'Leidenfrost state' provides the upper surface temperature bound for spray evaporative cooling.

Grissom, W. M.↗

Tearing instability in an anisotropic neutral sheet

A study is made of the collisionless tearing-mode stability properties of a field-reversed plasma layer whose temperature distribution is anisotropic. The plasma is confined by its self magnetic field with no external field. A kinetic description is used for both ions and electrons. The effects of the axis-crossing and nonaxis-crossing orbits are discussed. It is found that the conventional technique of matching the inner and outer asymptotic solutions at the electron inner-region is inadequate for the anisotropic case. An intermediate region in which the axis-crossing ion orbits are important is identified. The eigenvalue equation is solved using both analytic approximations and numerical methods to obtain the eigenmode structure and the linear dispersion relation. Previously announced in STAR as N84-14920

Chen, J.↗

Design and experimental verification of an equivalent forebody to produce disturbances equivalent to those of a forebody with flowing inlets

A method by which a simple equivalent faired body can be designed to replace a more complex body with flowing inlets has been demonstrated for supersonic flow. An analytically defined, geometrically simple faired inlet forebody has been designed using a linear potential code to generate flow perturbations equivalent to those produced by a much more complex forebody with inlets. An equivalent forebody wind-tunnel model was fabricated and a test was conducted in NASA Langley Research Center's Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel. The test Mach number range was 1.60 to 2.16 for angles of attack of -4 to 16 deg. Test results indicate that, for the purposes considered here, the equivalent forebody simulates the original flowfield disturbances to an acceptable degree of accuracy.

Haynes, Davy A.↗

Effect of ephemeris errors on the accuracy of the computation of the tangent point altitude of a solar scanning ray as measured by the SAGE 1 and 2 instruments

An analysis was made of the error in the minimum altitude of a geometric ray from an orbiting spacecraft to the Sun. The sunrise and sunset errors are highly correlated and are opposite in sign. With the ephemeris generated for the SAGE 1 instrument data reduction, these errors can be as large as 200 to 350 meters (1 sigma) after 7 days of orbit propagation. The bulk of this error results from errors in the position of the orbiting spacecraft rather than errors in computing the position of the Sun. These errors, in turn, result from the discontinuities in the ephemeris tapes resulting from the orbital determination process. Data taken from the end of the definitive ephemeris tape are used to generate the predict data for the time interval covered by the next arc of the orbit determination process. The predicted data are then updated by using the tracking data. The growth of these errors is very nearly linear, with a slight nonlinearity caused by the beta angle. An approximate analytic method is given, which predicts the magnitude of the errors and their growth in time with reasonable fidelity.

Buglia, James J.↗

Optimum design of structures subject to general periodic loads

A simplified version of Icerman's problem regarding the design of structures subject to a single harmonic load is discussed. The nature of the restrictive conditions that must be placed on the design space in order to ensure an analytic optimum are discussed in detail. Icerman's problem is then extended to include multiple forcing functions with different driving frequencies. And the conditions that now must be placed upon the design space to ensure an analytic optimum are again discussed. An important finding is that all solutions to the optimality condition (analytic stationary design) are local optima, but the global optimum may well be non-analytic. The more general problem of distributing the fixed mass of a linear elastic structure subject to general periodic loads in order to minimize some measure of the steady state deflection is also considered. This response is explicitly expressed in terms of Green's functional and the abstract operators defining the structure. The optimality criterion is derived by differentiating the response with respect to the design parameters. The theory is applicable to finite element as well as distributed parameter models.

Reiss, Robert↗

Dynamic Analyses Including Joints Of Truss Structures

Method for mathematically modeling joints to assess influences of joints on dynamic response of truss structures developed in study. Only structures with low-frequency oscillations considered; only Coulomb friction and viscous damping included in analysis. Focus of effort to obtain finite-element mathematical models of joints exhibiting load-vs.-deflection behavior similar to measured load-vs.-deflection behavior of real joints. Experiments performed to determine stiffness and damping nonlinearities typical of joint hardware. Algorithm for computing coefficients of analytical joint models based on test data developed to enable study of linear and nonlinear effects of joints on global structural response. Besides intended application to large space structures, applications in nonaerospace community include ground-based antennas and earthquake-resistant steel-framed buildings.

Belvin, W. Keith↗

Rapid Design of Gravity Assist Trajectories

Several International Solar Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) missions require the design of complex gravity assisted trajectories in order to investigate the interaction of the solar wind with the Earth's magnetic field. These trajectories present a formidable trajectory design and optimization problem. The philosophy and methodology that enable an analyst to design and analyse such trajectories are discussed. The so called 'floating end point' targeting, which allows the inherently nonlinear multiple body problem to be solved with simple linear techniques, is described. The combination of floating end point targeting with analytic approximations with a Newton method targeter to achieve trajectory design goals quickly, even for the very sensitive double lunar swingby trajectories used by the ISTP missions, is demonstrated. A multiconic orbit integration scheme allows fast and accurate orbit propagation. A prototype software tool, Swingby, built for trajectory design and launch window analysis, is described.

Carrico, J.↗

Rapid design of gravity assist trajectories

Several International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) missions require the design of complex gravity-assisted trajectories in order to investigate the interaction of the solar wind with the earth's magnetic field. These trajectories present a formidable trajectory design and optimization problem. This paper discusses the philosophy and methodology that enable an analyst to design and analyze such trajectories. The authors describe what is called 'floating end-point' targeting, which allows the inherently nonlinear multiple body problem to be solved with simple linear techniques. This paper demonstrates how floating end-point targeting combines analytic approximations with a Newton method targeter to achieve trajectory design goals quickly, even for the very sensitive double lunar swingby trajectories used by the ISTP missions. A Multiconic orbit integration scheme allows fast and accurate orbit propagation. This paper also describes a prototype software tool, Swingby, which has been built for trajectory design and launch window analysis.

Carrico, J.↗

Tearing mode instability in a multiple current sheet system

The tearing mode and magnetic reconnection are studied for multiple current sheet systems by two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations. Both the linear and nonlinear evolution of this process are anaylsed for laminar perturbations. The results illustrate the existence of a linear regime with a symmetric and antisymmetric mode and agree with previous analytic results (Otto and Birk, 1992). The nonlinear evolution shows a number of interesting new features and may explain some properties in corresponding studies of turbulent reconnection. For wavelengths larger than twice the current sheet separation the evolution of antisymmetric modes leads to an entire reconfiguration of the magnetic field and converts a major portion of the magnetic energy into kinetic energy. Antisymmetric modes with smaller wavelengths and symmetric modes are found to saturate. The influence of the value of the resistivity on the reconnection rate decreases in the nonlinear evolution, and the ratio of current sheet separation to wavelength seems to be of major importance. A comparion of the dynamics of periodic current sheets with the evolution of only two current sheets indicates that some of the results for the periodic system also apply to the evolution of only two interacting current sheets. The results are discussed with respect to observations of large-scale plasma and magnetic field reconfigurations in the magnetosheath and near the Earth's bow shock.

Yan, M.↗

Frequency-Domain Analysis of Diffusion-Cooled Hot-Electron Bolometer Mixers

A new theoretical model is introduced to describe heterodyne mixer conversion efficiency and noise (from thermal fluctuation effects) in diffusion-cooled superconducting hot-electron bolometers. The model takes into account the non-uniform internal electron temperature distribution generated by Wiedemann-Franz heat conduction, and accepts for input an arbitrary (analytical or experimental) superconducting resistance-versus- temperature curve. A non-linear large-signal solution is solved iteratively to calculate the temperature distribution, and a linear frequency-domain small-signal formulation is used to calculate conversion efficiency and noise. In the small-signal solution the device is discretized into segments, and matrix algebra is used to relate the heating modulation in the segments to temperature and resistance modulations. Matrix expressions are derived that allow single-sideband mixer conversion efficiency and coupled noise power to be directly calculated. The model accounts for self-heating and electrothermal feedback from the surrounding bias circuit.

Skalare, A.↗

Non-invasive glucose monitor

A non-invasive method for determining blood level of an analyte of interest, such as glucose, comprises: generating an excitation laser beam (e.g., at a wavelength of 700 to 900 nanometers); focusing the excitation laser beam into the anterior chamber of an eye of the subject so that aqueous humor in the anterior chamber is illuminated; detecting (preferably confocally detecting) a Raman spectrum from the illuminated aqueous humor; and then determining the blood glucose level (or the level of another analyte of interest) for the subject from the Raman spectrum. Preferably, the detecting step is followed by the step of subtracting a confounding fluorescence spectrum from the Raman spectrum to produce a difference spectrum; and determining the blood level of the analyte of interest for the subject from that difference spectrum, preferably using linear or nonlinear multivariate analysis such as partial least squares analysis. Apparatus for carrying out the foregoing method is also disclosed.

Lambert, James L.↗

Assessing blood brain barrier dynamics or identifying or measuring selected substances or toxins in a subject by analyzing Raman spectrum signals of selected regions in the eye

A non-invasive method for analyzing the blood-brain barrier includes obtaining a Raman spectrum of a selected portion of the eye and monitoring the Raman spectrum to ascertain a change to the dynamics of the blood brain barrier. Also, non-invasive methods for determining the brain or blood level of an analyte of interest, such as glucose, drugs, alcohol, poisons, and the like, comprises: generating an excitation laser beam (e.g., at a wavelength of 600 to 900 nanometers); focusing the excitation laser beam into the anterior chamber of an eye of the subject so that aqueous humor, vitreous humor, or one or more conjunctiva vessels in the eye is illuminated; detecting (preferably confocally detecting) a Raman spectrum from the illuminated portion of the eye; and then determining the blood level or brain level (intracranial or cerebral spinal fluid level) of an analyte of interest for the subject from the Raman spectrum. In certain embodiments, the detecting step may be followed by the step of subtracting a confounding fluorescence spectrum from the Raman spectrum to produce a difference spectrum; and determining the blood level and/or brain level of the analyte of interest for the subject from that difference spectrum, preferably using linear or nonlinear multivariate analysis such as partial least squares analysis. Apparatus for carrying out the foregoing methods are also disclosed.

Lambert, James L.↗

Assessing blood brain barrier dynamics or identifying or measuring selected substances, including ethanol or toxins, in a subject by analyzing Raman spectrum signals

A non-invasive method for analyzing the blood-brain barrier includes obtaining a Raman spectrum of a selected portion of the eye and monitoring the Raman spectrum to ascertain a change to the dynamics of the blood brain barrier.Also, non-invasive methods for determining the brain or blood level of an analyte of interest, such as glucose, drugs, alcohol, poisons, and the like, comprises: generating an excitation laser beam at a selected wavelength (e.g., at a wavelength of about 400 to 900 nanometers); focusing the excitation laser beam into the anterior chamber of an eye of the subject so that aqueous humor, vitreous humor, or one or more conjunctiva vessels in the eye is illuminated; detecting (preferably confocally detecting) a Raman spectrum from the illuminated portion of the eye; and then determining the blood level or brain level (intracranial or cerebral spinal fluid level) of an analyte of interest for the subject from the Raman spectrum. In certain embodiments, the detecting step may be followed by the step of subtracting a confounding fluorescence spectrum from the Raman spectrum to produce a difference spectrum; and determining the blood level and/or brain level of the analyte of interest for the subject from that difference spectrum, preferably using linear or nonlinear multivariate analysis such as partial least squares analysis. Apparatus for carrying out the foregoing methods are also disclosed.

Lambert, James L.↗

Practical Methodology for the Inclusion of Nonlinear Slosh Damping in the Stability Analysis of Liquid-Propelled Space Vehicles

A method is presented that allows for the prediction of the magnitude of limit cycles due to adverse control-slosh interaction in liquid propelled space vehicles using non-linear slosh damping. Such a method is an alternative to the industry practice of assuming linear damping and relying on: mechanical slosh baffles to achieve desired stability margins; accepting minimal slosh stability margins; or time domain non-linear analysis to accept time periods of poor stability. Sinusoidal input describing functional analysis is used to develop a relationship between the non-linear slosh damping and an equivalent linear damping at a given slosh amplitude. In addition, a more accurate analytical prediction of the danger zone for slosh mass locations in a vehicle under proportional and derivative attitude control is presented. This method is used in the control-slosh stability analysis of the NASA Space Launch System.

Ottander, John A.↗

On fluid flow in a heterogeneous medium under nonisothermal conditions

An asymptotic technique, valid in the presence of smoothly-varying heterogeneity, provides explicit expressions for the velocity of a propagating pressure and temperature disturbance. The governing equations contain nonlinear terms due to the presence of temperature-dependent coefficients and due to the advection of fluids with differing temperatures. Two cases give well-defined expressions in terms of the parameters of the porous medium: the uncoupled propagation of a pressure disturbance and the propagation of a fully coupled temperature and pressure disturbance. The velocity of the coupled disturbance or front, depends upon the medium parameters and upon the change in temperature and pressure across the front. For uncoupled flow, the semi-analytic expression for the front velocity reduces to that associated with a linear diffusion equation. A comparison of the asymptotic travel time estimates with calculations from a numerical simulator indicates reasonably good agreement for both uncoupled and coupled disturbances.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Axisymmetric boundary integral formulation for a two fluid system

A 3D axisymmetric Galerkin boundary integral formulation for modeling the motion of one inviscid fluid enclosed inside another is described. The interface variables are the velocity potential and the normal velocity, and they can be solved for separately, the second linear system being symmetric. The algorithm is validated by comparing with the analytic solutions for a static interior spherical drop, over a range of values for the relative densities D=rho_E/rho_I of exterior and interior fluids, and various boundary conditions. For time dependent simulations utilizing a Level Set method for the interface tracking, the accuracy has been checked by comparing against the known oscillation frequency of the sphere. Pinch-off profiles corresponding to an initial two lobe geometry drop and D=6 are also presented.

42 ENGINEERING↗

A Study of Turbulence-Driven Inward Momentum Flux & Construction of a Difference Scheme for Fokker-Planck-Landau Operator

Momentum transport driven by microinstability is studied via analytic theories, gyrokinetic simulations, and experimental data analysis. A scenario for rotation profile evolution is constructed based on experimental observation that parallel flow initiates at edge region and penetrates into core region of tokamak [1]. In particular, turbulent diffusion and inward convective pinch are studied according to this scenario. For study of convective momentum pinch, toroidal ion temperature gradient mode near marginal stability is examined in kinetic limit. It is found from quasilinear estimation that the inward turbulent equipartition momentum pinch remains as the most robust part of pinch. In addition, it is found that ion temperature gradient driven momentum pinch is inward for typical parameters, while ion density gradient driven momentum pinch is outward. It is shown by theoretical formulas and experimental data analysis that momentum pinch velocity is sensitive to the electron to ion temperature ratio. For study of diffusive momentum transport, parallel shear flow instability is studied in fluid limit. Diffusion coefficient using mixing length estimate from nonlocal theory reveals that it has a strong dependence on the parallel flow shear and is mainly carried by fluctuations in short wavelength regime. Gyrokinetic simulation of collisionless parallel shear flow instability shows that the analytic prediction of diffusion coefficient is comparable to numerical values in the linear phase of the simulations. In the nonlinear phase, fluctuation energy gets transferred to the long wavelength regime. A two-dimensional, uniform velocity-grid based solver for the nonlinear Fokker-Planck-Landau (FPL) collision operator has been developed in the limit of strong magnetic field. The conservative and entropy increasing semidiscretized numerical scheme for the isotropic FPL equation by C. Buet et al. (2002) has been extended to 2D velocity space. A Picard fixed point method is used for semi-implicit time advance. One time evaluation of interpolation coefficients for probability distribution function is introduced so that numerical equilibrium is achieved with Maxwellian. However, positivity property is sacrificed at the saving of computational costs. In addition, a highly practical method is suggested to apply the velocity-grid based collision solver to particle-in-cell code.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Frequency and damping rate of fast sausage waves

We investigate the frequency and damping rate of fast axisymmetric waves that are subject to wave leakage for a one-dimensional magnetic cylindrical structure in the solar corona. We consider the ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) dispersion relation for axisymmetric MHD waves superimposed on a straight magnetic cylinder in the zero β limit, similar to a jet or loop in the solar corona. An analytic study accompanied by numerical calculations has been carried out to model the frequency, damping rate, and phase speed of the sausage wave around the cut-off frequency and in the long wavelength limit. Analytic expressions have been obtained based on equations around the points of interest. They are linear approximations of the dependence of the sausage frequency on the wave number around the cut-off wavelength for both leaky and non-leaky regimes and in the long wavelength limit. Moreover, an expression for the damping rate of the leaky sausage wave has been obtained both around the cut-off frequency and in the long wavelength limit. These analytic results are compared with numerical computations. The expressions show that the complex frequencies are mainly dominated by the density ratio. In addition, it is shown that the damping eventually becomes independent of the wave number in the long wavelength limit. We conclude that the sausage mode damping directly depends on the density ratios of the internal and external media where the damping declines in higher density contrasts. Even in the long wavelength limit, the sausage mode is weakly damped for high-density contrasts. As such, sausage modes could be observed for a significant number of periods in high-density contrast loops or jets.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗