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At least 109 records · Page 6

A theoretical and experimental study of sound attenuation in an annular duct.

The flow duct used in the experiments for this study was described in an earlier paper by Plumblee and Dean (1972). Angular and radial standing modes were excited in isolation, and the modal attenuation and phase speed were measured in an annular duct with locally reacting liners. Contour maps of constant attenuation and phase speed were computed in the wall impedance plane for no-flow and several flow conditions, and experimental data were compared with some of these calculations. The effect of flow on modal attenuation and phase speed was measured and is theoretically verified. The major result of this study is the verification of theoretical predictions which ultimately can lead to a duct liner design optimization without resort to expensive and lengthy test programs.

Plumblee, H. E.↗

An investigation of hydraulic-line resonance and its attenuation

An investigation of fluid resonance in high-pressure hydraulic lines has been made with two types of fluid dampers (or filters) installed in the line. One type involved the use of one or more closed-end tubes branching at right angles from a main line, and the other type was a fluid muffler installed in-line. These devices were evaluated in forced vibration tests with oscillatory disturbances over a 1000-Hz range applied to one end of the line and with oscillatory pressures measured at various stations along the main pipe. Limited applications of acoustic-wave theory to the branched systems are also included. Results show varying attenuations of pressure perturbations, depending on the number and location of branches and the type of muffler. Up to three branches were used in the branch-resonator study, and the largest frequency range with maximum attenuation was obtained for a three-branch configuration. The widest frequency ranges with significant attenuations were obtained with two types of fluid mufflers.

Sewall, J. L.↗

Some measurements of the attenuation of solar radiation during BOMEX

Measurements of the upward and downward flux of solar radiation in two broad wavelength bands defined by glass filters were made at height between about 300 and 12,000 m in the neighborhood of Barbados during the BOMEX experiment in the summer of 1969. These were examined on selected occasions, apparently cloudless, to determine the attenuation (absorption and upward scattering) that could not be attributed to atmospheric gases and must be considered to be caused by particles. Total particle absorption between the lowest and highest flight levels was found to be of order 5%, and upward scatter of order 1% of the incident radiation. Unexplained attenuation above the highest level was of order 2%. The attenuation attributed to particles was approximately the same magnitude as the geometrical cross section deduced by direct particle sampling on the same flights.

Drummond, A. J.↗

On the excess attenuation of sound in the atmosphere

The attenuation suffered by an acoustic plane wave propagating from an elevated source to the ground, in excess of absorption losses, was studied. Reported discrepancies between attenuation measurements made in the field and theories which only account for absorption losses are discussed. It was concluded that the scattering of sound by turbulence results in a nonnegligible contribution to the total attenuation.

Deloach, R.↗

Thrust-augmented vortex attenuation

An experimental investigation was conducted to determine the vortex attenuating effect of engine thrust. Tests were made using a 0.03-scale model of the Boeing 747 transport aircraft as a vortex generating model. A Learjet-class probe model was used to measure the vortex induced rolling moment at a scale separation distance of 1.63 km. These tests were conducted at a lift coefficient of 1.4 at a model velocity of 30.48 m/s. The data presented indicate that engine thrust is effective as a vortex attenuating device when the engines are operated at high thrust levels and are positioned to direct the high energy engine wake into the core of the vortex. The greatest thrust vortex attenuation was obtained by operating the inboard engine thrust reversers at one-quarter thrust and the outboard engines at maximum forward thrust.

Patterson, J. C., Jr.↗

Vortex attenuation flight experiments

Flight tests evaluating the effects of altered span loading, turbulence ingestion, combinations of mass and turbulence ingestion, and combinations of altered span loading turbulance ingestion on trailed wake vortex attenuation were conducted. Span loadings were altered in flight by varying the deflections of the inboard and outboard flaps on a B-747 aircraft. Turbulence ingestion was achieved in flight by mounting splines on a C-54G aircraft. Mass and turbulence ingestion was achieved in flight by varying the thrust on the B-747 aircraft. Combinations of altered span loading and turbulence ingestion were achieved in flight by installing a spoiler on a CV-990 aircraft and by deflecting the existing spoilers on a B-747 aircraft. The characteristics of the attenuated and unattenuated vortexes were determined by probing them with smaller aircraft. Acceptable separation distances for encounters with the attenuated and unattenuated vortexes are presented.

Barber, M. R.↗

K-band attenuation by rain at constant reflectivity

The paper considers a radar method of determining rain intensity which uses a dual wavelength system to measure both reflectivity Z and attenuation A and solving for the constants in an assumed exponential drop size distribution. Calculations are confined to the K-band, relations between A and the rain intensity R being determined for different values of Z for wavelengths of 0.86 and 1.24 cm. It is shown that measurements of reflectivity and attenuation by a dual wavelength radar can provide separate derivations of rain intensity. Available data on errors in an A-R relation indicate that the derivation from the attenuation measurement will be no better than from the Z-R relation.

Wexler, R.↗

General relationships between ultrasonic attenuation and dispersion

General relationships between the ultrasonic attenuation and dispersion are presented. The validity of these nonlocal relationships hinges only on the properties of causality and linearity, and does not depend upon details of the mechanism responsible for the attenuation and dispersion. Approximate, nearly local relationships are presented and are demonstrated to predict accurately the ultrasonic dispersion in solutions of hemoglobin from the results of attenuation measurements.

Odonnell, M.↗

A depolarization and attenuation experiment using the COMSTAR and CTS satellites

Monthly and annual percent-of-time data on ground rain fall rate and attenuation on satellite downlinks at 11.7 GHz, 19.04 GHz, and 28.56 GHz is presented. Equal probability values of attenuation and rain rate are compared for monthly, quarterly, half-year periods and for the entire year. Regression equations relating cross polarization isolation to the logarithm of attenuation are also presented.

Bostian, C. W.↗

Precipitation attenuation studies based on measurements of ATS-6 20/30-GHz beacon signals at Clarksburg, MD.

COMSAT Laboratories participated in the millimeter wavelength propagation experiment, performing measurements of the 20/30-GHz ATS-6 satellite beacon signals and auxiliary measurements such as radiometric sky temperature and minute precipitation at Clarksburg, MD. These measurements were intended to broaden the data base required to advance satellite path at frequencies over 10 GHz. A correlation is established between direct measurement of attenuation of the signal radiated from the satellite and the indirect measurement of attenuation by auxiliary ground-based equipment. The indirectly derived statistics agreed reasonably well or can be reconciled with earlier published results and may therefore be used as a basis for estimating long-term cumulative attenuation statistics.

Fang, D. J.↗

A global model for rain attenuation prediction

A model was developed for the prediction of rain attenuation statistics for 8 rain rate climate regions spanning all land regions from the equator to the poles. The model uses empirically determined rain rate distributions for each climate region and an empirical model to estimate path averaged rain rate for given values of point rain rate. Attenuation distribution observations were compared with model predictions. Good agreement was obtained for earth-space paths at 0.1 percent of the year. At the extremes, 0.01 and 1 percent of the year the observations were generally within the model estimate bounds but the agreement is not as good as at 0.1 percent of the year. The discrepancies are attributed to the limited duration of the attenuation observations and to the limited number of rain rate distribution observations.

Crane, R. K.↗

Pulse transducer with artifact signal attenuator

An artifact signal attenuator for a pulse rate sensor is described. The circuit for attenuating background noise signals is connected with a pulse rate transducer which has a light source and a detector for light reflected from blood vessels of a living body. The heart signal provided consists of a modulated dc signal voltage indicative of pulse rate. The artifact signal resulting from light reflected from the skin of the body comprises both a constant dc signal voltage and a modulated dc signal voltage. The amplitude of the artifact signal is greater and the frequency less than that of the heart signal. The signal attenuator circuit includes an operational amplifier for canceling the artifact signal from the output signal of the transducer and has the capability of meeting packaging requirements for wrist-watch-size packages.

Cash, W. H., Jr.↗

Cumulative slant path rain attenuation associated with COMSTAR beacon at 28.56 GHz for Wallops Island, Virginia

Yearly, monthly, and time of day fade statistics are presented and characterized. A 19.04 GHz yearly fade distribution, corresponding to a second COMSTAR beacon frequency, is predicted using the concept of effective path length, disdrometer, and rain rate results. The yearly attenuation and rain rate distributions follow with good approximation log normal variations for most fade and rain rate levels. Attenuations were exceeded for the longest and shortest periods of times for all fades in August and February, respectively. The eight hour time period showing the maximum and minimum number of minutes over the year for which fades exceeded 12 db were approximately between 1600 to 2400, and 0400 to 1200 hours, respectively. In employing the predictive method for obtaining the 19.04 GHz fade distribution, it is demonstrated theoretically that the ratio of attenuations at two frequencies is minimally dependent of raindrop size distribution providing these frequencies are not widely separated.

Goldhirsh, J.↗

Temperature and frequency dependence of ultrasonic attenuation in selected tissues

Ultrasonic attenuation over the frequency range of 1.5-10 MHz has been measured as a function of temperature for porcine liver, backfat, kidney and spleen as well as for a single specimen of human liver. The attenuation in these excised specimens increases nearly linearly with frequency. Over the temperature range of approximately 4-37 C the attenuation decreases with increasing temperature for most soft tissue studied.

Gammell, P. M.↗

Permittivity and attenuation of wet snow between 4 and 12 GHz

The permittivity and attenuation of prepared samples of wet snow are measured and curves presented showing the dependence of these quantities of snow wetness and frequency. Equations are given that express the experimentally determined relation between attenuation per unit length and volume-percent wetness at any frequency between 4 and 12 GHz. Additional equations are given for the calculation of permittivity from the snow density, attenuation per unit length, and frequency. Water retention characteristics of snow are described. Some applications of the techniques, such as runoff forecasting from mountain snowpacks, are proposed.

Linlor, W. I.↗

Radar estimation of slant path rain attenuation at frequencies above 10 GHz and comparisons with measured multi-season results

Techniques and results pertaining to estimating Earth satellite path rain attenuation events and statistics using radar at nonattenuating wavelengths are presented. The radar formulation and beam scanning methods are described and the procedure for relating the radar measured Rayleigh reflectivity to the high frequency Mie attenuation coefficient are given. Examples of radar derived single terminal statistics and estimation criteria as they relate to path angle and frequency are reviewed. Radar derived space diversity statistics and their dependence on terminal spacing and frequency are described. Site diversity performance curves obtained by radar and radiometry are compared with each other demonstrating the utility of radar methods. Results of a multi-year experiment to test, refine, and establish accuracies of radar methods for arriving at estimates of rain attenuation along an Earth-satellite path are discussed. Comparisons of measured and radar estimated fade events are presented and found to be good. Comparisons of cumulative fade distributions show agreement to be excellent giving an rms deviation of 1 dB.

Goldhirsh, J.↗

Static tests of excess ground attenuation at Wallops Flight Center

An extensive experimental measurement program which evaluated the attenuation of sound for close to horizontal propagation over the ground was designed to replicate, under static conditions, results of the flight measurements carried out earlier by NASA at the same site (Wallops Flight Center). The program consisted of a total of 41 measurement runs of attenuation, in excess of spreading and air absorption losses, for one third octave bands over a frequency range of 50 to 4000 Hz. Each run consisted of measurements at 10 locations up to 675 m, from a source located at nominal elevations of 2.5, or 10 m over either a grassy surface or an adjacent asphalt concrete runway surface. The tests provided a total of over 8100 measurements of attenuation under conditions of low wind speed averaging about 1 m/s and, for most of the tests, a slightly positive temperature gradient, averaging about 0.3 C/m from 1.2 to 7 m. The results of the measurements are expected to provide useful experimental background for the further development of prediction models of near grazing incidence sound propagation losses.

Sutherland, L. C.↗

Microwave noise temperature and attenuation of clouds at frequencies below 50 GHz

The microwave attenuation and noise temperature effects of clouds can result in serious degradation of telecommunications link performance, especially for low-noise systems presently used in deep-space communications. Although cloud effects are generally less than rain effects, the frequent presence of clouds will cause some amount of link degradation a large portion of the time. Cloud types, water particle densities, radiative transfer, attenuation and noise temperature calculations are reviewed and examples of basic link signal to noise ratio calculations are given. Calculations for twelve different cloud models are presented for frequencies of from 1 to 50 GHz and elevation angles of 30 degrees and 90 degrees. These case results may be used as a handbook to predict noise temperature and attenuation values for known or forecast cloud conditions.

Slobin, S. D.↗