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At least 109 records · Page 6

An improved lateral control wheel steering law for the Transport Systems Research Vehicle (TSRV)

A lateral control wheel steering law with improved performance was developed for the Transport Systems Research Vehicle (TSRV) simulation and used in the Microwave Landing System research project. The control law converted rotational hand controller inputs into roll rate commands, manipulated ailerons, spoilers, and the rudder to achieve the desired roll rates. The system included automatic turn coordination, track angle hold, and autopilot/autoland modes. The resulting control law produced faster roll rates (15 degrees/sec), quicker response to command reversals, and safer bank angle limits, while using a more concise program code.

Ragsdale, W. A.↗

Flight Crew Survey Responses from the Interval Management (IM) Avionics Phase 2 Flight Test

The Interval Management (IM) Avionics Phase 2 flight test used three aircraft over a nineteen day period to operationally evaluate a prototype IM avionics. Quantitative data were collected on aircraft state data and IM spacing algorithm performance, and qualitative data were collected through end-of-scenario and end-of-day flight crew surveys. The majority of the IM operations met the performance goals established for spacing accuracy at the Achieve-by Point and the Planned Termination Point, however there were operations that did not meet goals for a variety of reasons. While the positive spacing accuracy results demonstrate the prototype IM avionics can contribute to the overall air traffic goal, critical issues were also identified that need to be addressed to enhance IM performance. The first category was those issues that impacted the conduct and results of the flight test, but are not part of the IM concept or procedures. These included the design of arrival and approach procedures was not ideal to support speed as the primary control mechanism, the ground-side of the Air Traffic Management Technology Demonstration (ATD-1) integrated concept of operations was not part of the flight test, and the high workload to manually enter the information required to conduct an IM operation. The second category was issues associated with the IM spacing algorithm or flight crew procedures. These issues include the high frequency of IM speed changes and reversals (accelerations), a mismatch between the deceleration rate used by the spacing algorithm and the actual aircraft performance, and some spacing error calculations were sensitive to normal operational variations in aircraft airspeed or altitude which triggered additional IM speed changes. Once the issues in these two categories are addressed, the future IM avionics should have considerable promise supporting the goals of improving system throughput and aircraft efficiency.

Baxley, Brian T.↗

Results from an Interval Management (IM) Flight Test and Its Potential Benefit to Air Traffic Management Operations

NASA's first Air Traffic Management Technology Demonstration (ATD-1) subproject successfully completed a 19-day flight test of an Interval Management (IM) avionics prototype. The prototype was built based on IM standards, integrated into two test aircraft, and then flown in real-world conditions to determine if the goals of improving aircraft efficiency and airport throughput during high-density arrival operations could be met. The ATD-1 concept of operation integrates advanced arrival scheduling, controller decision support tools, and the IM avionics to enable multiple time-based arrival streams into a high-density terminal airspace. IM contributes by calculating airspeeds that enable an aircraft to achieve a spacing interval behind the preceding aircraft. The IM avionics uses its data (route of flight, position, etc.) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) state data from the Target aircraft to calculate this airspeed. The flight test demonstrated that the IM avionics prototype met the spacing accuracy design goal for three of the four IM operation types tested. The primary issue requiring attention for future IM work is the high rate of IM speed commands and speed reversals. In total, during this flight test, the IM avionics prototype showed significant promise in contributing to the goals of improving aircraft efficiency and airport throughput.

Baxley, Brian↗

Magnetic reconnection and kinetic waves generated in the Earth's quasi-parallel bow shock

Magnetic reconnection in quasi-parallel shocks, relevant to the Earth's bow shock, is studied by means of two-dimensional full particle-in-cell simulations. As the Alfvénic Mach number increases, the propagation direction of the waves excited in the transition region changes, and the shock becomes more turbulent with more reconnection sites. In the higher Mach number shock, abundant electron-only reconnection sites are generated with scales on the order of the ion skin depth or less. Non-reconnecting current sheets can also generate electron jets and energy dissipation can occur there as well. However, non-reconnecting current sheets with the magnetic field reversal typically show a smaller energy dissipation rate than reconnecting current sheets. In the shock transition region, two types of waves are responsible for driving reconnection: one has a wavelength around three ion skin depths (di), and the other has a wavelength less than 1 di. Electron and ion distribution functions show that in regions where the former type of waves is excited, there are two ion beams and a single-peaked electron distribution. In contrast, in regions where the latter type of waves is excited, there are multiple electron and ion beams. The waves propagating obliquely to the magnetic field bend the magnetic field lines, and magnetic reconnection occurs where oppositely directed field lines come into contact.

N. Bessho↗

Formation of curved seafloor fabric by changes in rift propagation velocity and spreading rate - Application to the 95.5 deg W Galapagos propagator

Possible rigid plate models and shear models for the formation of curved seafloor lineaments by rift propagation are investigated and are applied to the Galapagos propagation rift system at 95 deg W. It is shown that the geometry noted at the Galapagos can result from either rift propagation acceleration or a spreading rate decrease during the last few hundred thousand years. It is postulated that the reverse curvature could result from either deceleration of rift propagation or an increase in spreading rate. The data interpreted as requiring a shear zone are found to be equally consistent with two distinct models based on rigid plate tectonics.

Acton, Gary↗

Ionization of NO at high temperature

Rate coefficients for ionization produced in collision of N and O atoms and the reverse dissociative recombination of NO(+) and electrons is redeveloped so as to provide the specific rate dependence on translational, vibrational, and free-electron temperatures. At equilibrium, the results compare favorably with experimental data over a wide range of temperature.

Hansen, C. Frederick↗

Switching Characteristics of a 4H-SiC Based Bipolar Junction Transistor to 200 C

Static curves and resistive load switching characteristics of a 600 V, 4 A rated, SiC-based NPN bipolar power transistor (BJT) were observed at selected temperatures from room to 200 C. All testing was done in a pulse mode at low duty cycle (approx.0.1 percent). Turn-on was driven by an adjustable base current pulse and turn-off was accelerated by a negative base voltage pulse of 7 V. These base drive signals were implemented by 850 V, gated power pulsers, having rise-times of roughly 10 ns, or less. Base charge sweep-out with a 7 V negative pulse did not produce the large reverse base current pulse seen in a comparably rated Si-based BJT. This may be due to a very low charge storage time. The decay of the collector current was more linear than its exponential-like rise. Switching observations were done at base drive currents (I(sub B)) up to 400 mA and collector currents (I(sub C)) up to 4 A, using a 100 Omega non-inductive load. At I(sub B) = 400 mA and I(sub C) = 4 A, turn-on times typically varied from 80 to 94 ns, over temperatures from 23 to 200 C. As expected, lowering the base drive greatly extended the turn-on time. Similarly, decreasing the load current to I(sub C) = 1 A with I(sub B) = 400 mA produced turn-on times as short as 34 ns. Over the 23 to 200 C range, with I(sub B) = 400 mA and I(sub C) = 4 A, turn-off times were in the range of 72 to 84 ns with the 7 V sweep-out.

Niedra, Janis M.↗

Laser velocimeter measurements in shrouded and unshrouded radial flow pump impellers

Shrouded and unshrouded versions of a four-vaned radial flow impeller with a design flow coefficient of 0.063 were tested in a volute pump using a two-component frequency-shifted laser velocimeter. Velocity profiles were measured at six flow rates and at four radial and six circumferential positions in the volute. The variations of the velocity from blade to blade and in the axial direction were measured and are presented. A passage vortex caused by tip leakage and relative casing wall velocity was found in the unshrouded impeller. The tip leakage did not accumulate in the suction wake region; the suction wake region was only 30 to 50 percent as large in the unshrouded impeller as compared to the shrouded impeller. The slip was 30 percent higher in the unshrouded impeller and the variation of slip with flow rate is presented. At no measured position in the impellers did the slip factor reach unity; the closest approach was 0.90. Reverse loadings of the vanes at outer radii were found for flow rates below the impeller/volute matching point for both impellers.

Hamkins, C. P.↗

Principal sources and dispersal patterns of suspended particulate matter in nearshore surface waters of the northeast Pacific Ocean

The author has identified the following significant results. Release-recovery paths of drift cards released in conjunction with ERTS-1 overflight show that nearshore surface currents along the central and northern California coast flowed southward at an average rate in excess of 10 cm/sec (8.5 km/day) during August and September 1973 (California Current). By the middle of October 1973, the nearshore surface currents had reversed and the dominant flow velocity was northward at an average rate in excess of 20 cm/sec (17 km/ day) (Davidson Current). The August-September data suggested the presence of counterclockwise gyres in Monterey Bay and the Gulf of the Farallones, but by the middle of October, the gyres were no longer evident. Imagery of April 1973 showed well developed plumes of suspended sediment in Monterey Bay from the Salinas River and in the Gulf of the Farallones from San Francisco Bay. ERTS-1 imagery provides an effective means of monitoring timber harvest in the redwood forest along the northern California coast. ERTS-1 imagery also clearly portrays contrasting topographic belts characterized by fluvial erosion and by mass movement. The most visually apparent and most persistent river mouth suspended sediment plumes are associated with those rivers that drain belts of topography that appear to have been eroded primarily by mass movement.

Carlson, P. R.↗

On the Coronal Mass Ejection Detection Rate during Solar Cycles 23 and 24

The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) mission's white light coronagraphs have observed more than25,000 coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from 1996 January to the end of 2015 July. This period of time covers almost two solar cycles (23 and 24). The basic attributes of CMEs, reported in the SOHO/Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) catalog, during these solar cycles were statistically analyzed. The question of the CME detection rate and its connection to the solar cycles was considered in detail. Based on the properties and detection rate, CMEs can be divided into two categories: regular and specific events. The regular events are pronounced and follow the pattern of sunspot number. On the other hand, the special events are poorer and more correlated with the general conditions of heliosphere and corona. Nevertheless, both groups of CMEs are the result of the same physical phenomenon, viz. release of magnetic energy from closed field regions. It was demonstrated that the enhanced CME rate, since the solar cycle 23 polar-field reversal, is due to a significant decrease of total(magnetic and plasma) heliospheric pressure as well as the changed magnetic pattern of solar corona. CMEs expel free magnetic energy and helicity from the Sun; therefore, they are related to complex solar magnetic field structure. It is also worth emphasizing that the CMEs listed in the SOHO/LASCO catalog are real ejections (not false identification). Their detection rate reflects the global evolution of the magnetic field on the Sun, and not only changes in the magnetic structures associated with sunspots.

Michalek, Grzegorz↗

Magnus effects on spinning transonic missiles

Magnus forces and moments were measured on a basic-finner model spinning in transonic flow. Spin was induced by canted fins or by full-span or semi-span, outboard and inboard roll controls. Magnus force and moment reversals were caused by Mach number, reduced spin rate, and angle of attack variations. Magnus center of pressure was found to be independent of the angle of attack but varied with the Mach number and model configuration or reduced spin rate.

Seginer, A.↗

On the cyclic stress-strain behaviour of a Ni-base superalloy at room temperature

The cyclic stress-strain behavior of Nimonic alloy PE16 was studied at room temperature and at different aging conditions to determine whether the plateau in the cyclic stress-strain curve (CSSC) reported by Arbuthnot (1982) is typical of the room temperature behavior and/or some specific initial microstructural states. Specimen blanks were heat-treated in batches in Ar/H2 (98/2) atmosphere to produce gamma-prime precipitates of different average sizes, but with the volume fraction of gamma-prime precipitates kept constant at about 7 percent at all the heat-treatment conditions. Total axial strain controlled LCF tests were conducted under fully reversed loading (R = -1) at a constant strain rate of 0.004/s, using a servohydraulic machine. The load response in tension and compression was recorded continually, and stress-strain hysteresis loops were recorded at frequent intervals. In the present investigation, the CSSCs of the P16 alloy at room temperature did not display the plateaus reported by Arbuthnot.

Singh, Vakil↗

Dissociative Recombination (DR) and Associative Ionization (AI) Cross Section Calculations for the NO+ + e yields N + O (2D+3P, 2P+3P, and 2D+1D) Reaction for Atmospheric Entry Modeling

During entry of a space craft into Earth atmosphere, the flow surrounding the vehicle becomes partially ionized leading to significant cation and free-electron production. Subsequently, electron impact excitation and dissociation form radiating excited state species that contribute to the heat load on the vehicle. While experimental data on selected total cross sections are available, few experiments address the need for accurate AI cross sections for metastable atomic states at the high temperatures realized in atmospheric re-entry. In order to maintain desired safety margins during atmospheric entry of a space vehicle, chemical reaction models need to accurately account for this process. For the present study, we have computed vibrationally resolved cross sections for the DR of NO+ for electron energies between 0.01 to 10 eV and apply microscopic reversibility to obtain the AI cross sections and rate coefficients. For the DR cross section calculations, we use state-of-the-art MRCI potential energy curves. The resulting adiabatic potential curves are transformed to a diabatic representation, which is used in time-dependent wave packet calculations to describe the nuclear motion of the dissociating cation upon collision with an electron. Based on the wave function evolution in time, these calculations provide T-matrix and cross sections for the DR including recombination into the low energy metastable atomic states. The DR and AI rate coefficients are compared with the available experimental data.

Ewa Papajak↗

Effect of ohmic, mass-transfer, and kinetic resistances on linear-sweep voltammetry in a cylindrical-pore electrode

A means is presented to account for the effect of ohmic, mass-transfer, and kinetic resistances on linear-sweep voltammograms by modeling a pore in a porous matrix as a cylindrical-pore electrode, and solving the mass and charge conservation equations in the context of this geometry for the simply redox reaction O + ne(-) yield R where both O and R are soluble species. Both analytical and numerical techniques are used to solve the governing equations. The calculated peak currents and potentials are correlated by empirical formulas to the measurable parameters: sweep rate, concentration of the redox species, diffusion coefficient, conductivity of the electrolyte, and pore dimensions. Using the correlations, a methodology is established for determining if the redox reaction kinetics are irreversible or reversible (Nernstian). If the reaction is irreversible, it is shown how the standard rate constant and the transfer coefficient may be extracted from linear-sweep voltammetry data, or, if the reaction is reversible, how the number of electrons transferred may be deduced.

Weidner, John W.↗

Design Safety Used in NASA's Human-rated Primary Lithium Batteries

Single cell tests were benign for external short, inadvertent charge and overdischarge into reversal up to 4.5 A. At lower current loads cells die (may be due to excessive dendrite formation) benignly. String level external short circuits lead to an unbalanced overdischarge, with one cell going into reversal. The result is catastrophic violent venting. Unbalanced string overdischarges at different currents causes catastrophic violent venting also. Heat-to-vent is very dramatic displaying violent venting Simulated internal short is also catastrophic and displays violent venting. Battery is not UL-rated; hence does not have dual-fault tolerance or tolerance to inherent cell tolerance to failures Battery Design for NASA JSC's human-rated application for use on ISS was changed to include two bypass diodes per cell to provide for two-failure tolerance to overdischarge into reversal (and external short) hazards.

Jeevarajan, J.↗

Nucleation theory - Is replacement free energy needed?

It has been suggested that the classical theory of nucleation of liquid from its vapor as developed by Volmer and Weber (1926) needs modification with a factor referred to as the replacement free energy and that the capillary approximation underlying the classical theory is in error. Here, the classical nucleation equation is derived from fluctuation theory, Gibb's result for the reversible work to form a critical nucleus, and the rate of collision of gas molecules with a surface. The capillary approximation is not used in the derivation. The chemical potential of small drops is then considered, and it is shown that the capillary approximation can be derived from thermodynamic equations. The results show that no corrections to Volmer's equation are needed.

Doremus, R. H.↗

Laboratory experiments on stability and entrainment of oceanic stratocumulus. Part 2: Entrainment experiment

A stratified interface is stable to the buoyancy reversal instability for surprisingly large values of D (buoyancy reversal parameter). A new instability mechanism is proposed, which considers the mixing process at the interface. For the type of density curves studied here, under strong perturbations, the mixed parcel must have a buoyancy reversal comparable to the initial stratification before the interface is unstable. This is in accord with a simple model of the interface mixing process, as well as aircraft observations of long-live marine stratocumulus clouds. These clouds' remarkable longevity in the face of finite D indicates that they can be stable (Hanson, 1984; Albrecht et al., 1985; Siems et al., 1989). It is suggested that buoyancy reversal as well as the disturbance must be large for Cloudtop Entrainment Stability. The effect of buoyancy reversal (evaporative cooling) does not always enhance the entrainment rate over that in the inert case, but it may be negligible if Ri (Richardson number) is large (Ri is larger than 50) and D is small (D is smaller than 0.5). This work may shed some light on the fundamental mechanism of the breakup process of the subtropical stratocumulus clouds into tradewind cumulus. These results may also be related to the instability in the Weddell Sea off of Antarctica.

Shy, Shenqyang S.↗

Reversing Flows and Heat Spike: Caused by Solar g-Modes?

The Quasi Biennial Oscillation in the Earth s upper atmosphere has an analog deep inside the Sun. As on Earth, the flow is east or west, it is at low latitude, and it reverses direction in a roughly periodic manner. The period in the solar case is 1.3 years. It was detected using solar oscillations similar to the way earthquakes are used to study the Earth's interior. But its cause was not known. We showed that global oscillations (g-modes) can supply enough angular momentum to drive zonal flows with the observed reversal period. This required a calculation of wave dissipation rates inside each flow and in the turbulent layer that separates any two flows of opposite sign. Heat that this process leaves behind causes a thermal spike inside the Sun at the same depth. This may explain an anomaly in observed sound speed that has had no sure explanation.

Mayr, Hans G.↗