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At least 1,063 records · Page 59

Benchmark Solutions for Computational Aeroacoustics (CAA) Code Validation

NASA has conducted a series of Computational Aeroacoustics (CAA) Workshops on Benchmark Problems to develop a set of realistic CAA problems that can be used for code validation. In the Third (1999) and Fourth (2003) Workshops, the single airfoil gust response problem, with real geometry effects, was included as one of the benchmark problems. Respondents were asked to calculate the airfoil RMS pressure and far-field acoustic intensity for different airfoil geometries and a wide range of gust frequencies. This paper presents the validated that have been obtained to the benchmark problem, and in addition, compares them with classical flat plate results. It is seen that airfoil geometry has a strong effect on the airfoil unsteady pressure, and a significant effect on the far-field acoustic intensity. Those parts of the benchmark problem that have not yet been adequately solved are identified and presented as a challenge to the CAA research community.

Scott, James R.↗

SPAR improved structural-fluid dynamic analysis capability

The results of a study whose objective was to improve the operation of the SPAR computer code by improving efficiency, user features, and documentation is presented. Additional capability was added to the SPAR arithmetic utility system, including trigonometric functions, numerical integration, interpolation, and matrix combinations. Improvements were made in the EIG processor. A processor was created to compute and store principal stresses in table-format data sets. An additional capability was developed and incorporated into the plot processor which permits plotting directly from table-format data sets. Documentation of all these features is provided in the form of updates to the SPAR users manual.

Pearson, M. L.↗

Explicit robust schemes for implementation of a class of principal value-based constitutive models: Symbolic and numeric implementation

The issue of developing effective and robust schemes to implement a class of the Ogden-type hyperelastic constitutive models is addressed. To this end, special purpose functions (running under MACSYMA) are developed for the symbolic derivation, evaluation, and automatic FORTRAN code generation of explicit expressions for the corresponding stress function and material tangent stiffness tensors. These explicit forms are valid over the entire deformation range, since the singularities resulting from repeated principal-stretch values have been theoretically removed. The required computational algorithms are outlined, and the resulting FORTRAN computer code is presented.

Arnold, S. M.↗

Nonreflecting Far-Field Boundary Conditions for Unsteady Transonic Flow Computation

The approximate nonreflecting far-field boundary condition, as proposed by Engquisi and Majda, is implemented In the computer code LTRAN2. This code solves the Implicit finite-difference representation of the small-disturbance equations for unsteady transonic flows about airfoils. The nonreflecting boundary condition and the description of the algorithm for Implementing these conditions In LTRAN2 tire discussed. Various cases re computed and compared with results from the older, more conventional procedures. One concludes that the nonreflecting far-field boundary approximation allows the far-field boundary to be located closer to the airfoil; this permits a decrease in the computer lime required to obtain the solution through the use of fewer mesh points.

Kwak, D.↗

Boltzmann Transport Code Update: Parallelization and Integrated Design Updates

The on going efforts at developing a web site for radiation analysis is expected to result in an increased usage of the High Charge and Energy Transport Code HZETRN. It would be nice to be able to do the requested calculations quickly and efficiently. Therefore the question arose, "Could the implementation of parallel processing speed up the calculations required?" To answer this question two modifications of the HZETRN computer code were created. The first modification selected the shield material of Al(2219) , then polyethylene and then Al(2219). The modified Fortran code was labeled 1SSTRN.F. The second modification considered the shield material of CO2 and Martian regolith. This modified Fortran code was labeled MARSTRN.F.

Heinbockel, J. H.↗

Binary Black Holes and Gravitational Waves

The final merger of two black holes releases a tremendous amount of energy, more than the combined light from all the stars in the visible universe. This energy is emitted in the form of gravitational waves, and observing these sources with gravitational wave detectors such as LIGO and LISA requires that we know the pattern or fingerprint of the radiation emitted. Since black hole mergers take place in regions of extreme gravitational fields, we need to solve Einstein's equations of general relativity on a computer in order to calculate these wave patterns. For more than 30 years, scientists have tried to compute these wave patterns. However, their computer codes have been plagued by problems that caused them to crash. This situation has changed dramatically in the past 2 years, with a series of amazing breakthroughs. This discussion examines these gravitational patterns, showing how a spacetime is constructed on a computer to build a simulation laboratory for binary black hole mergers. The focus is on recent advances that are revealing these waveforms, and the dramatic new potential for discoveries that arises when these sources will be observed by the space-based gravitational wave detector LISA.

Centrella, Joan↗

Characterization of Aerodynamic Interactions with the Mars Science Laboratory Reaction Control System Using Computation and Experiment

On August 5 , 2012, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) entry capsule successfully entered Mars' atmosphere and landed the Curiosity rover in Gale Crater. The capsule used a reaction control system (RCS) consisting of four pairs of hydrazine thrusters to fly a guided entry. The RCS provided bank control to fly along a flight path commanded by an onboard computer and also damped unwanted rates due to atmospheric disturbances and any dynamic instabilities of the capsule. A preliminary assessment of the MSL's flight data from entry showed that the capsule flew much as predicted. This paper will describe how the MSL aerodynamics team used engineering analyses, computational codes and wind tunnel testing in concert to develop the RCS system and certify it for flight. Over the course of MSL's development, the RCS configuration underwent a number of design iterations to accommodate mechanical constraints, aeroheating concerns and excessive aero/RCS interactions. A brief overview of the MSL RCS configuration design evolution is provided. Then, a brief description is presented of how the computational predictions of RCS jet interactions were validated. The primary work to certify that the RCS interactions were acceptable for flight was centered on validating computational predictions at hypersonic speeds. A comparison of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) predictions to wind tunnel force and moment data gathered in the NASA Langley 31-Inch Mach 10 Tunnel was the lynch pin to validating the CFD codes used to predict aero/RCS interactions. Using the CFD predictions and experimental data, an interaction model was developed for Monte Carlo analyses using 6-degree-of-freedom trajectory simulation. The interaction model used in the flight simulation is presented.

Schoenenberger, Mark↗

Laser-heated thruster

The development of computer codes for the thrust chamber of a rocket of which the propellant gas is heated by a CW laser beam was investigated. The following results are presented: (1) simplified models of laser heated thrusters for approximate parametric studies and performance mapping; (3) computer programs for thrust chamber design; and (3) shock tube experiment to measure absorption coefficients. Two thrust chamber design programs are outlined: (1) for seeded hydrogen, with both low temperature and high temperature seeds, which absorbs the laser radiation continuously, starting at the inlet gas temperature; and (2) for hydrogen seeded with cesium, in which a laser supported combustion wave stands near the gas inlet, and heats the gas up to a temperature at which the gas can absorb the laser energy.

Kemp, N. H.↗

The role of under-determined approximations in engineering and science application

There is currently a great deal of interest in using response surfaces in the optimization of aircraft performance. The objective function and/or constraint equations involved in these optimization problems may come from numerous disciplines such as structures, aerodynamics, environmental engineering, etc. In each of these disciplines, the mathematical complexity of the governing equations usually dictates that numerical results be obtained from large computer programs such as a finite element method program. Thus, when performing optimization studies, response surfaces are a convenient way of transferring information from the various disciplines to the optimization algorithm as opposed to bringing all the sundry computer programs together in a massive computer code. Response surfaces offer another advantage in the optimization of aircraft structures. A characteristic of these types of optimization problems is that evaluation of the objective function and response equations (referred to as a functional evaluation) can be very expensive in a computational sense. Because of the computational expense in obtaining functional evaluations, the present study was undertaken to investigate under-determinined approximations. An under-determined approximation is one in which there are fewer training pairs (pieces of information about a function) than there are undetermined parameters (coefficients or weights) associated with the approximation. Both polynomial approximations and neural net approximations were examined. Three main example problems were investigated: (1) a function of one design variable was considered; (2) a function of two design variables was considered; and (3) a 35 bar truss with 4 design variables was considered.

Carpenter, William C.↗

An adaptive mesh-moving and refinement procedure for one-dimensional conservation laws

We examine the performance of an adaptive mesh-moving and /or local mesh refinement procedure for the finite difference solution of one-dimensional hyperbolic systems of conservation laws. Adaptive motion of a base mesh is designed to isolate spatially distinct phenomena, and recursive local refinement of the time step and cells of the stationary or moving base mesh is performed in regions where a refinement indicator exceeds a prescribed tolerance. These adaptive procedures are incorporated into a computer code that includes a MacCormack finite difference scheme wih Davis' artificial viscosity model and a discretization error estimate based on Richardson's extrapolation. Experiments are conducted on three problems in order to qualify the advantages of adaptive techniques relative to uniform mesh computations and the relative benefits of mesh moving and refinement. Key results indicate that local mesh refinement, with and without mesh moving, can provide reliable solutions at much lower computational cost than possible on uniform meshes; that mesh motion can be used to improve the results of uniform mesh solutions for a modest computational effort; that the cost of managing the tree data structure associated with refinement is small; and that a combination of mesh motion and refinement reliably produces solutions for the least cost per unit accuracy.

Biswas, Rupak↗

Comprehensive Modeling of the Apache With CAMRAD II

This paper presents a report of a multi year study of the U.S. Army LONGBOW APACHE (AH-64D) aircraft. The goals of this study were to provide the Apache Project Managers Office (PMO) with a broad spectrum of calibrated comprehensive and CFD models of the AH-64D aircraft. The goal of this paper is to present an overview of the comprehensive model which has been developed. The CAMRAD II computer code was chosen to complete this task. The paper first discusses issues that must be addressed when modeling the Apache using CAMRAD. The work required the acquisition of a data base for the aircraft and the development and application of a multidisciplinary computer model. Sample results from various parts of the model are presented. Conclusions with regard to the strengths and weaknesses of simulations based on this model are discussed.

Jones, Henry E.↗

Comprehensive Modeling of the Apache with CAMRAD II

This paper presents a report of a multi year study of the U.S. Army LONGBOW APACHE (AH-64D) aircraft. The goals of this study were to provide the Apache Project Managers Office (PMO) with a broad spectrum of calibrated comprehensive and CFD models of the AH-64D aircraft. The goal of this paper is to present an overview of the comprehensive model which has been developed. The CAMRAD II computer code was chosen to complete this task. The paper first discusses issues that must be addressed when modeling the Apache using CAMRAD. The work required the acquisition of a data base for the aircraft and the development and application of a multidisciplinary computer model. Sample results from various parts of the model are presented. Conclusions with regard to the strengths and weaknesses of simulations based on this model are discussed.

Jones, Henry E.↗

TOMCAT - A code for numerical generation of boundary-fitted curvilinear coordinate systems on fields containing any number of arbitrary two-dimensional bodies

A method for automatic generation of boundary-fitted curvilinear coordinate systems, where the transformed coordinates are solutions of an elliptic differential system in the physical plane, and where the coordinate lines are coincident with all boundaries of a general multiply-connected, two-dimensional region containing any number of arbitrarily shaped bodies, and is described along with a suitable computer code for implementing the method. Any partial differential system can be solved on the boundary-fitted coordinate system by appropriate transformations. The transformed equations are approximated by finite differences and solved numerically in the transformed plane. All computations, whether for generating coordinate system or then solving the transformed equations, can be done on a rectangular field with square mesh with no interpolation required on the boundaries. The physical boundaries may even be time-dependent.

Thompson, J. F.↗

Hydrodynamic solutions at a sonic-boom focus

Study of the focusing of sonic-boom N waves using a numerical shock-following method. The computer code used in the calculations employs a moving mesh so that weak N wave shocks can be followed for large distances without numerical dissipation. In several sample calculations, overpressures at the focus ranging from 2 to 20 times the nominal overpressure have been computed. It is also found that weak shocks tend to cusp at the axis in accord with the geometric-acoustics description, whereas strong shocks straighten out without cusping.

Parker, L. W.↗

Computation of three-dimensional flow in turbofan mixers and comparison with experimental data

A three-dimensional, viscous computer code was used to calculate the mixing downstream of a typical turbofan mixer geometry. Experimental data were obtained using pressure and temperature rakes at the lobe and nozzle exit stations. Secondary flow velocities were also obtained. These data were used to validate the computer results. An assessment was also made to determine the relative importance of turbulence in the mixing phenomenon as compared with the streamwise vorticity set up by the secondary flows. The observations suggest that the generation of streamwise vorticity appears to play a significant role in determining the temperature distribution at the nozzle exit plane.

Povinelli, L. A.↗

Continuous infrared emission of proto- and young-planetary nebulae

Evolutionary sequences of planetary nebulae (PNe) were calculated beginning from the moment of shell ejection to its dissipation and IR spectra of the outgoing radiation were obtained for different stages of the evolution. To solve the coupled hydrodynamical and radiation transfer problem a computer code was used in which gas and dust are treated as two separate hydrodynamical components. The models, which are calculated for two grain materials (graphite and silicate) have a size distribution of particles based on that found for the interstellar medium. In the computations, the recent optical properties of graphite and astronomical silicate grains tabulated by Draine (1987) were employed. It was assumed that silicate of graphite grains exist below some critical temperature equal to 1300 or to 1700 K, respectively. Infrared model spectra are compared with the IR radiation emitted by some proto- and some young-planetary nebulae. The observed IR continua can be quite well matched with our models with grains having a reasonable size range.

Szczerba, Ryszard↗

Numerical modeling of preburner flowfield

This work is intended to numerically predict the flowfields inside the preburner of the Space Shuttle Main Engine. The computer code (FDNS) based on pressure correction method is modified and adapted with an elliptic grid generator. The original configuration of the preburner in conjunction with downstream gas turbines has been simplified geometrically and numerically modeled at its full power in this work. The computational results are presented and qualitatively discussed with test data collected in NASA/MSFC.

Chow, A. S.↗

Multigrid, Fractional-Step Computation Of Flow

Speed of computer code solving three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations of flow of incompressible fluid by fractional-step method increased significantly by use of multigrid procedures. In method, equations solved on general nonorthogonal curvilinear coordinate grid, using volume fluxes. At each time step, computations performed in two fractional steps. In first step, equations of conservation of momentum solved by use of gradient of pressure from previous time step via explicit approximate-factorization method, yielding approximate flow field that does not satisfy equation of conservation of mass. In second step, discrete Poisson-like equation with Neumann-type boundary conditions, formed by combining equations of conservation of momentum and mass, solved iteratively.

Kwak, Dochan↗