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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 127 records · Page 7

A wide bandwidth electrostatic field sensor for lightning research

Data obtained from UHF radar observation of direct-lightning strikes to the NASA F-106B aircraft have indicated that most of the 690 strikes acquired during direct-strike lightning tests were triggered by the aircraft. As an aid in understanding the triggered lightning process, a wide bandwidth electric field measuring system was designed for the F-106B by implementing a clamped-detection signal processing concept originated at the Air Force Cambridge Research Lab in 1953. The detection scheme combines the signals from complementary stator pairs clamped to zero bolts at the exact moment when each stator pair is maximally shielded by the rotor, a process that restores the dc level lost by the charge amplifier. The system was implemented with four shutter-type field mills located at strategic points on the aircraft. The bandwidth of the system was determined in the laboratory to be from dc to over 100 Hz, whereas past designs had upper limits of 10 to 100 Hz. To obtain the undisturbed electric field vector and total aircraft charge, the airborne field mill system is calibrated by using techniques involving results from ground and flight calibrations of the F-106B, laboratory tests of a metallized model, and a finite difference time-domain electromagnetic computer code.

Zaepfel, Klaus P.↗

FREQ: A computational package for multivariable system loop-shaping procedures

Many approaches in the field of linear, multivariable time-invariant systems analysis and controller synthesis employ loop-sharing procedures wherein design parameters are chosen to shape frequency-response singular value plots of selected transfer matrices. A software package, FREQ, is documented for computing within on unified framework many of the most used multivariable transfer matrices for both continuous and discrete systems. The matrices are evaluated at user-selected frequency-response values, and singular values against frequency. Example computations are presented to demonstrate the use of the FREQ code.

Giesy, Daniel P.↗

Wave pressure in stellar atmospheres due to shock wave trains

Analytic expressions for the wave pressure of propagating shock wave trains in stellar atmospheres or winds are derived. Applications to weak shocks and stronger shocks with sawtooth profiles are discussed in detail. The shocks are treated as discontinuities. The results provide insight in the momentum balance of time-dependent stellar wind flows. The analytic expressions can be used as an independent test of hydrodynamic codes.

Gail, H.-P.↗

A computer code for multiphase all-speed transient flows in complex geometries. MAST version 1.0

The operation of the MAST code, which computes transient solutions to the multiphase flow equations applicable to all-speed flows, is described. Two-phase flows are formulated based on the Eulerian-Lagrange scheme in which the continuous phase is described by the Navier-Stokes equation (or Reynolds equations for turbulent flows). Dispersed phase is formulated by a Lagrangian tracking scheme. The numerical solution algorithms utilized for fluid flows is a newly developed pressure-implicit algorithm based on the operator-splitting technique in generalized nonorthogonal coordinates. This operator split allows separate operation on each of the variable fields to handle pressure-velocity coupling. The obtained pressure correction equation has the hyperbolic nature and is effective for Mach numbers ranging from the incompressible limit to supersonic flow regimes. The present code adopts a nonstaggered grid arrangement; thus, the velocity components and other dependent variables are collocated at the same grid. A sequence of benchmark-quality problems, including incompressible, subsonic, transonic, supersonic, gas-droplet two-phase flows, as well as spray-combustion problems, were performed to demonstrate the robustness and accuracy of the present code.

Chen, C. P.↗

Ultraviolet O2 transmittance - AURIC implementation

A new spectrally precise approach to Schumann-Runge synthesis has been devised, employing nine (9) different spectral arrays containing polynomial coefficients. The coefficients were fit to calculated cross sections obtained from a detailed Schumann-Runge model that incorporates the most recent high resolution spectroscopic data for a temperature range between 130 and 500K. This large data base is being used to reexamine the existing parameterizations of UV transmission and photolysis. In addition, it is now possible to extend atmospheric radiance codes further into the ultraviolet. Initial implementation has been accomplished for the MODTRAN code as part of the eventual development of AURIC, the Atmospheric Ultraviolet Radiance Integrated Code.

Anderson, G. P.↗

Axial and centrifugal pump meanline performance analysis

A meanline pump flow modeling method has been developed to provide a fast capability for modeling pumps of cryogenic rocket engines. Based on this method, a meanline pump flow code (PUMPA) has been written that can predict the performance of pumps at off-design operating conditions, given the loss of the diffusion system at the design point. The design point rotor efficiency is obtained from empirically derived correlations of loss to rotor specific speed. The rapid input setup and computer run time for the meanline pump flow code makes it an effective analysis and conceptual design tool. The map generation capabilities of the PUMPA code provide the information needed for interfacing with a rocket engine system modeling code.

Veres, Joseph P.↗

Particle Hydrodynamics with Material Strength for Multi-Layer Orbital Debris Shield Design

Three dimensional simulation of oblique hypervelocity impact on orbital debris shielding places extreme demands on computer resources. Research to date has shown that particle models provide the most accurate and efficient means for computer simulation of shield design problems. In order to employ a particle based modeling approach to the wall plate impact portion of the shield design problem, it is essential that particle codes be augmented to represent strength effects. This report describes augmentation of a Lagrangian particle hydrodynamics code developed by the principal investigator, to include strength effects, allowing for the entire shield impact problem to be represented using a single computer code.

Fahrenthold, Eric P.↗

Some User's Insights Into ADIFOR 2.0D

Some insights are given which were gained by one user through experience with the use of the ADIFOR 2.0D software for automatic differentiation of Fortran code. These insights are generally in the area of the user interface with the generated derivative code - particularly the actual form of the interface and the use of derivative objects, including "seed" matrices. Some remarks are given as to how to iterate application of ADIFOR in order to generate second derivative code.

Giesy, Daniel P.↗

Fuel-Air Mixing and Combustion in Scramjets

Activities in the area of scramjet fuel-air mixing and combustion associated with the Research and Technology Organization Working Group on Technologies for Propelled Hypersonic Flight are described. Work discussed in this paper has centered on the design of two basic experiments for studying the mixing and combustion of fuel and air in a scramjet. Simulations were conducted to aid in the design of these experiments. The experimental models were then constructed, and data were collected in the laboratory. Comparison of the data from a coaxial jet mixing experiment and a supersonic combustor experiment with a combustor code were then made and described. This work was conducted by NATO to validate combustion codes currently employed in scramjet design and to aid in the development of improved turbulence and combustion models employed by the codes.

Drummond, J. P.↗

Flow of GE90 Turbofan Engine Simulated

The objective of this task was to create and validate a three-dimensional model of the GE90 turbofan engine (General Electric) using the APNASA (average passage) flow code. This was a joint effort between GE Aircraft Engines and the NASA Lewis Research Center. The goal was to perform an aerodynamic analysis of the engine primary flow path, in under 24 hours of CPU time, on a parallel distributed workstation system. Enhancements were made to the APNASA Navier-Stokes code to make it faster and more robust and to allow for the analysis of more arbitrary geometry. The resulting simulation exploited the use of parallel computations by using two levels of parallelism, with extremely high efficiency.The primary flow path of the GE90 turbofan consists of a nacelle and inlet, 49 blade rows of turbomachinery, and an exhaust nozzle. Secondary flows entering and exiting the primary flow path-such as bleed, purge, and cooling flows-were modeled macroscopically as source terms to accurately simulate the engine. The information on these source terms came from detailed descriptions of the cooling flow and from thermodynamic cycle system simulations. These provided boundary condition data to the three-dimensional analysis. A simplified combustor was used to feed boundary conditions to the turbomachinery. Flow simulations of the fan, high-pressure compressor, and high- and low-pressure turbines were completed with the APNASA code.

Veres, Joseph P.↗

High Power Light Gas Helicon Plasma Source For VASMIR

The VASIMR space propulsion development effort relies on a high power (greater than 10kW) helicon source to produce a dense flowing plasma (H, D and He) target for ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) acceleration of the ions. Subsequent expansion in an expanding magnetic field (magnetic nozzle) converts ion lunetic energy to directed momentum. This plasma source must have critical features to enable an effective propulsion device. First, it must ionize most of the input neutral flux of gas, thus producing a plasma stream with a high degree of ionization for application of ICR power. This avoids propellant waste and potential power losses due to charge exchange. Next, the plasma stream must flow into a region of high magnetic field (approximately 0.5 T) for efficient ICR acceleration. Third, the ratio of input power to plasma flux must be low, providing an energy per ion-electron pair approaching 100 eV. Lastly, the source must be robust and capable of very long life-times (years). In our helicon experiment (VX-10) we have measured a ratio of input gas to plasma flux near 100%. The plasma flows from the helicon region (B approximately 0.1 T) into a region with a peak magnetic field of 0.8 T. The energy input per ion-electron pair has been measured at 300 plus or minus 100 eV. Recent results at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) show an enhanced efficiency mode of operation with a high power density, over 5 kW in a 5 cm diameter tube. Our helicon is presently 9 cm in diameter and operates up to 3.5 kW of input power. An upgrade to a power level of 10 kW is underway. Much of our recent work has been with a Boswell double-saddle antenna design. We are also converting the antenna design to a helical type. With these modifications, we anticipate an improvement in the ionization efficiency. This paper presents the results from scaling the helicon in the VX-10 device from 3.5 to 10 kW. We also compare the operation with a double-saddle to a helical antenna design. Finally, we discuss modeling of these configurations using ORNL's EMIR code.

Squire, J. P.↗

Vernon Bermuda Workshop: A Course in Sub-tropical Island Ecology

More than 30 years ago, educators in central Connecticut developed the Vernon Bermuda Workshop as a means of introducing middle- and high-school students to subtropical island ecology. Each year, after months of classroom preparation, approximately 20 top students spend one week at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (St. George's, Bermuda) studying the local flora and fauna in both the field and laboratory. The curriculum includes an additional array of activities, ranging from historical and ecological tours to spelunking, and culminates in a series of field-observation-related presentations. I am responsible for the meteorological and oceanographic components of the curriculum. In the field, my students collect time-series of biophysical variables over the course of a day, which they use to interpret diurnal patterns and interactions amongst the variables. I also add remote-sensing and phytoplankton biology components to the curriculum - in previous years, my students have studied time-series of Sea WIFS imagery collected at Bermuda during our trip. I have been an Instructor for this Workshop since 2003. The Workshop provides an outreach activity for GSFC Code 616.

Werdell, P. Jeremy↗

Big Software for SmallSats: Adapting CFS to CubeSat Missions

Expanding capabilities and mission objectives for SmallSats and CubeSats is driving the need for reliable, reusable, and robust flight software. While missions are becoming more complicated and the scientific goals more ambitious, the level of acceptable risk has decreased. Design challenges are further compounded by budget and schedule constraints that have not kept pace. NASA's Core Flight Software System (cFS) is an open source solution which enables teams to build flagship satellite level flight software within a CubeSat schedule and budget. NASA originally developed cFS to reduce mission and schedule risk for flagship satellite missions by increasing code reuse and reliability. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which launched in 2009, was the first of a growing list of Class B rated missions to use cFS. Large parts of cFS are now open source, which has spurred adoption outside of NASA. This paper reports on the experiences of two teams using cFS for current CubeSat missions. The performance overheads of cFS are quantified, and the reusability of code between missions is discussed. The analysis shows that cFS is well suited to use on CubeSats and demonstrates the portability and modularity of cFS code.

Open Source↗

A Potato cDNA Encoding a Homologue of Mammalian Multidrug Resistant P-Glycoprotein

A homologue of the multidrug resistance (MDR) gene was obtained while screening a potato stolon tip cDNA expression library with S-15-labeled calmodulin. The mammalian MDR gene codes for a membrane-bound P-glycoprotein (170-180 kDa) which imparts multidrug resistance to cancerous cells. The potato cDNA (PMDR1) codes for a polypeptide of 1313 amino acid residues (ca. 144 kDa) and its structural features are very similar to the MDR P-glycoprotein. The N-terminal half of the PMDR1-encoded protein shares striking homology with its C-terminal half, and each half contains a conserved ATP-binding site and six putative transmembrane domains. Southern blot analysis indicated that potato has one or two MDR-like genes. PMDR1 mRNA is constitutively expressed in all organs studied with higher expression in the stem and stolon tip. The PMDR1 expression was highest during tuber initiation and decreased during tuber development.

Wang, W.↗

On the decoder error probability of linear codes

By using coding and combinatorial techniques, an approximate formula for the weight distribution of decodable words of most linear block codes is evaluated. This formula is then used to give an approximate expression for the decoder error probability P(sub E)(u) of linear block codes, given that an error pattern of weight u has occurred. It is shown that P(sub E)(u) approaches the constant Q as u gets large, where Q is the probability that a completely random error pattern will cause decoder error.

Cheung, K.-M.↗

Combustor Computations for CO2-Neutral Aviation

Knowing the pure component C(sub p)(sup 0) or mixture C(sub p) (sup 0) as computed by a flexible code such as NIST-STRAPP or McBride-Gordon, one can, within reasonable accuracy, determine the thermophysical properties necessary to predict the combustion characteristics when there are no tabulated or computed data for those fluid mixtures 3or limited results for lower temperatures. (Note: C(sub p) (sup 0) is molar heat capacity at constant pressure.) The method can be used in the determination of synthetic and biological fuels and blends using the NIST code to compute the C(sub p) (sup 0) of the mixture. In this work, the values of the heat capacity were set at zero pressure, which provided the basis for integration to determine the required combustor properties from the injector to the combustor exit plane. The McBride-Gordon code was used to determine the heat capacity at zero pressure over a wide range of temperatures (room to 6,000 K). The selected fluids were Jet-A, 224TMP (octane), and C12. It was found that each heat capacity loci were form-similar. It was then determined that the results [near 400 to 3,000 K] could be represented to within acceptable engineering accuracy with the simplified equation C(sub p) (sup 0) = A/T + B, where A and B are fluid-dependent constants and T is temperature (K).

Hendricks, Robert C.↗

SATCOM antenna siting study on P-3C aircraft, volume 1

The NEC-BSC (Basic Scattering Code) was used to study the performance of a SATCOM antenna on a P-3C aircraft. After plate cylinder fields are added to version 3.1 of the NEC-BSC, it is shown that the NEC-BSC can be used to accurately predict the performance of a SATCOM antenna system on a P-3C aircraft. The study illustrates that the NEC-BSC gives good results when compared with scale model measurements provided by Boeing and Lockheed.

Bensman, D. A.↗