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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 109 records · Page 6

The importance of plasma effects on electron-cyclotron maser-emission from flaring loops

Electron cyclotron maser instability has been suggested as the cause of the observed short (10-20 msec), intense (an approximate brightness temperature of 10 to the 15th K) and up to 100% polarized microwave solar emission. It is shown that plasma effects and thermal cyclotron damping, ignored in previous theories, play an important role in controlling the frequency range of the emission. The radio emission is suppressed for ratios of the plasma frequency to the cyclotron frequency smaller than 0.4. An examination of the cyclotron damping, reveals that the maser action is suppressed unless a large fraction (i.e., over 10%) of the accelerated electrons participates in the emission process.

Sharma, R. R.↗

Shock-wave properties and high-pressure equations of state of geophysically important materials

Shock wave (Hugoniot), shock temperature, and release data are presented for several geophysically important, refractory materials. A sensitive multichannel optical pyrometer was developed to measure shock temperatures (2500 to 5600 K at pressures from 48 to 117 GPa) in anorthite (CaAl2Si2O8) glass. Shock temperatures of 3750 to 6000 K at pressures from 140 to 182 GPa were measured in calcium oxide (CaO). Temperature data were used to constrain the energetics of the B1-B2 phase transition at 70 GPa in CaO, and to construct a finite strain equation of state for CaO consistent with previous Hugoniot data. The CaO equation of state was used with equation of state parameters of other oxides to construct a theoretical mixed oxide Hugoniot of anorthite, which is in agreement with new Hugoniot data above about 50 GPa, determined using experimental techniques developed. The mixed oxide model, however, overestimates the shock temperatures, and does not accurately predict measured release paths.

Boslough, M. B.↗

Evolution of the Tharsis province of Mars - The importance of heterogeneous lithospheric thickness and volcanic construction

A new model for the origin and evolution of the Tharsis province that emphasizes that the topography of Tharsis may be produced largely by construction, rather than uplift, is proposed. Underlying the model is the premise that the elastic lithosphere of Mars was laterally heterogeneous early in Martian history; such heterogeneity is discernible later in Martian history from the variable tectonic response of the lithosphere to local surface loads. It is contended that the mechanism for the evolution of Tharsis described here led to permanent topographic and gravity highs and a greatly thickened crust in the Tharsis region. An important advantage of the model is that no anomalous dynamical or chemical properties need be sustained in the Martian mantle beneath Tharsis for billions of years. The mantle beneath Tharsis is thus seen as playing a passive rather than an active role in the regional volcanic and tectonic activity, much like the role of the mantle beneath major midocean ridges on earth.

Solomon, S. C.↗

Importance of Properties of Solids to Friction and Wear Behaviour

The main properties of solids which influence friction and wear are discussed and published rules which relate material properties to friction and wear are considered. In addition, recent experimental results on the tribological behaviour of metals and polymers illustrating the effect of some important interaction characteristics on friction and wear are presented. Finally, a framework for the systematic compilation and documentation of relevant tribological parameters in experimental friction and wear investigations is given.

Czichos, H.↗

Structures and Properties of Polymers Important to Their Wear Behavior

The wear and transfer of various semicrystalline polymers sliding against smooth steel or glass surfaces were examined. The effects of structures, and properties of polymers on their wear behavior are discussed. It is found that the high wear characteristics of PTFE is due to the easy destruction of the banded structure of PTFE. The size of spherulites and the molecular profile are closely related to the magnitude of wear rates of typical semicrystalline polymers. The effects of these factors on the wear rate on the basis of the destruction or melting of spherulites at the frictional surface are discussed. Although the fatigue theory of wear indicates that some mechanical properties are important to wear behavior, it is shown that the theory does not always explain the experimental result obtained on a smooth surface.

Tanaka, K.↗

Space structure vibration modes: How many exist? Which ones are important?

This report attempts to shed some light on the two issues raised in the title, namely, how many vibration modes does a real structure have, and which of these modes are important? The surprise-free answers to these two questions are, respectively, an infinite number and the first several modes. The author argues that the absurd subspace (all but the first billion modes) is not a strength of continuum modeling, but, in fact, a weakness. Partial differential equations are not real structures, only mathematical models. This note also explains (1) that the PDE model and the finite element model are, in fact, the same model, the latter being a numerical method for dealing with the former, (2) that modes may be selected on dynamical grounds other than frequency alone, and (3) that long slender rods are useful as primitive cases but dangerous to extrapolate from.

Hughes, P. C.↗

Radiatively Driven Winds and What They Imply: a Review of Radiative Driven Instabilities and Their Importance in Hot Stars

The mass loss and acceleration of the mass flow comes, directly or indirectly, from the radiative forces of the resonance lines. These radiative forces can also cause instabilities to grow in the flow, and this is probably an important source of non-radiative heating and momentum in hot stars. The physical origin of these instabilities is described, and some of the problems of hot stars where radiative driven instabilities may play a part are briefly discussed.

Hearn, A. G.↗

Importance of Gravity for Plant Growth and Behavior

Flight experiments on the importance of gravity to plant growth and behavior are reported. The following studies were undertaken: (1) hyperastic responses to incremental changes of an axially imposed centripetal force; (2) Spacelab-1 experiments, methods for preparing soil in flight hardware containers were impound, to ensure desired moisture content and minimal contamination probability; (3) mesocotyl growth patterns were established by Avena lore exposure to red light during early seedling outogency; (4) the development of flight hardware; (5) choice of member of seedlings in each cube; (6) data processing and reduction; (7) clinostat validation; circummutation in space was more vigorous than on Earth based clinostat.

Brown, A. H.↗

On the importance of viscous dissipation in Io

A model of Io is presented that consists of an elastic inner core, a low strength asthenosphere, and a thin elastic outer shell. The middle layer is ssumed to posses negligible shear strength and to be characterized by a Newtonian viscosity. The fluid in the viscous layer is forced to circulate mainly by the tidal distortion in the outer shell, modeled here as a variation in the distortion amplitude. As a result, heat is generated in the fluid by viscous dissipation. There are three important unconstrained parameters in the model: the fluid viscosity, the thickness of the fluid layer, and the degree to which the distortion of the outer shell is affected by the fluid viscosity. For a wide range of these model parameters viscous heating can generate just as much or even more heat than does elastic dissipation is the outer shell. The model suggests that much of Io's heat flow may be generated below the outer shell and could provide a source of energy for any silicate volcanism on the satellite.

Ross, M. N.↗

A very important process of nucleosynthesis in stars

When some nuclei are free from strong gravitational field, they are unstable and will become stable nuclei by competitions of following processes: (1) neutron-evaporation; (2) spontaneous fission; and (3) beta prime 3-decay. At the initial stage, (1) and (2) are important and (3) can be ignored. The qualitative results are as follows: (1) it seems that nuclei with A 100 come from the spontaneous fission and beta prime decay of neutron-evaporated nuclei with A similiar to 140-440, which can replace the r-process; (2) the super-heavy elements with Z=114--126 (A similiar to 330--360) can be formed. They can be observed in cosmic rage if they have the halftime T 10 to the 7th poweer years; (3) the peak in the rare-earth elements comes from the symmetric fission of super-heavy elements; (4) there are more neutron-rich nuclei in the fragments; and (5) the abundances of a 83 elements in cosmic rays are one order of magnitude higher than that in the solar system.

Yu, C.↗

Importance of anisotropic bending stiffnesses on buckling of symmetrically laminated composite plates loaded in compression

The differential equation governing buckling of symmetrically laminated composite plates loaded in compression is presented in nondimensional form. From this equation, nondimensional material coefficients are obtained and a nondimensional parameter is presented that is used to assess when anisotropic bending stiffnesses can be neglected in a buckling analysis. Results obtained using finite element analyses are presented that show how boundary conditions, aspect ratio, fiber orientation, stacking sequence, and thickness affect the importance of the anisotropic bending stiffnesses.

Nemeth, M. P.↗

The relative importance of aerosol scattering and absorption in remote sensing

The relative importance of aerosol optical thickness and absorption is illustrated through computing radiances for radiative transfer models. The radiance of sunlight reflected from models of the earth-atmosphere system is computed as a function of the aerosol optical thickness and its albedo of single scattering; it is noted that the albedo varies from 0.6 in urban environment to nearly 1 in areas with low graphitic carbon content. The calculations are applied to the example of satellite measurements of biomass. It is found that when surface classifications are made by means of clustering techniques the presence of gradients in the aerosol optical properties results in the dispersion of points in the plot correlating radiances viewed in two different directions. Finally, though such a remote sensing parameter as contrast is weakly affected by aerosol absorption, it is highly dependent on its optical thickness.

Fraser, R. S.↗

Thermoelastic stress - How important as a cause of earthquakes in young oceanic lithosphere?

Thermoelastic or thermal stress is a potentially important contributor to the state of stress in the oceanic lithosphere. The present paper provides several simple models for the state of thermoelastic stress in a young oceanic lithosphere, taking into account a comparison of the predictions of these models with the characteristics of near-ridge earthquakes. Attention is given to the characteristics of near-ridge earthquakes, sources of stress in an oceanic lithosphere, previous models of thermal stress, the calculation of thermal stress, and thermal stress models. A test is conducted of the hypothesis that thermoelastic stress is a significant component of the stress field in a young oceanic lithosphere. The considered models support the hypothesis that thermoelastic stress is a significant component of the stress field in a young oceanic lithosphere.

Bratt, S. R.↗

The importance and attainment of accurate absolute radiometric calibration

The importance of accurate absolute radiometric calibration is discussed by reference to the needs of those wishing to validate or use models describing the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with the atmosphere and earth surface features. The in-flight calibration methods used for the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and the Systeme Probatoire d'Observation de la Terre, Haute Resolution visible (SPOT/HRV) systems are described and their limitations discussed. The questionable stability of in-flight absolute calibration methods suggests the use of a radiative transfer program to predict the apparent radiance, at the entrance pupil of the sensor, of a ground site of measured reflectance imaged through a well characterized atmosphere. The uncertainties of such a method are discussed.

Slater, P. N.↗

The importance of diffuse f functions for transition metals

The importance of a diffuse f function for determining the dissociation energy (De) of Cu2 and the 3F-3D energy separation in Ni atom is investigated. It is found that the diffuse f contributes at most 0.05 eV to the De of Cu2 when added to a basis containing tight f functions and a flexibly contracted d basis. The diffuse f function is found to decrease the 3F-3D separation in Ni, but by substantially less than the tight f functions.

Langhoff, S. R.↗

Evaluation of the importance of the relative velocity during evaporation of drops in sprays

The importance of relative velocity past individual drops composing a burning spray with an envelope flame is estimated by applying the Bellan and Cuffel (1983) spray evaporation model to an ambient flow going around the spray without penetrating it. The model assumes a spherical spray composed of monodisperse uniformly distributed droplets which all move at the same speed, and relative gas/spray velocities, and spray radii used were representative of boiler and furnace operations. Numerical calculations indicate that the spray is more prone to ambient flow penetration for leaner mixtures (particularly for n = 1/cu cm), lower initial temperatures of gas phase and droplet, and more dilute spray configurations.

Bellan, J.↗

Interdependence of parameters important to the design of subsonic canard-configured aircraft

An analysis is made of the interrelationship of the longitudinal parameters important to the aerodynamic design of an efficient canard or tandem wing configuration. It is shown that theoretical configuration span efficiencies substantially greater than one are feasible with the proper choice of parameters. This improvement can translate into significantly increased lift/drag ratios assuming fixed spans. The Prandtl-Munk relationship for induced drag is used as a convenient qualitative guide, with stability and trim criteria superimposed. An 'aspect-ratio ratio' parameter is introduced to aid in optimizing a configuration longitudinally. It is shown that a canard/wing 'aspect-ratio ratio' of approximately 3/2 to 2 is necessary to achieve peak span efficiency for a given span ratio and gap, assuming representative parameters.

Feistel, T. W.↗

Atmospheric-water absorption features near 2.2 micrometers and their importance in high spectral resolution remote sensing

Selective absorption of electromagnetic radiation by atmospheric gases and water vapor is an accepted fact in terrestrial remote sensing. Until recently, only a general knowledge of atmospheric effects was required for analysis of remote sensing data; however, with the advent of high spectral resolution imaging devices, detailed knowledge of atmospheric absorption bands has become increasingly important for accurate analysis. Detailed study of high spectral resolution aircraft data at the U.S. Geological Survey has disclosed narrow absorption features centered at approximately 2.17 and 2.20 micrometers not caused by surface mineralogy. Published atmospheric transmission spectra and atmospheric spectra derived using the LOWTRAN-5 computer model indicate that these absorption features are probably water vapor. Spectral modeling indicates that the effects of atmospheric absorption in this region are most pronounced in spectrally flat materials with only weak absorption bands. Without correction and detailed knowledge of the atmospheric effects, accurate mapping of surface mineralogy (particularly at low mineral concentrations) is not possible.

Kruse, F. A.↗