Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Steady flows”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7

Temporal filters for isolating steady photospheric flows

A variety of temporal filters are tested on artificial data with 60 and 75 s sampling intervals to determine their accuracy in separating the nearly-steady photospheric flows from the p-mode oscillations in Doppler velocity data. Longer temporal averages are better at reducing the residual signal due to p-modes but they introduce additional errors from the rotation of the supergranule pattern across the solar disk. Unweighted filters (boxcar averages) leave residual rms errors of about 6 m/s from the p-modes after 60 min of averaging. Weighted filters, with nearly Gaussian shapes, leave similar residual errors after only 20 min of averaging and introduce smaller errors from the rotation of the supergranule pattern. The best filters found are weighted filters that use data separated by 150 or 120 s so that the p-modes are sampled at opposite phases.

Hathaway, David H.↗

Steady thermocapillary flows in two-dimensional slots

Liquid in a slot flows owing to a temperature gradient applied along its free surface. The thermal variation of surface tension induces a steady viscous flow directed on the surface from hot to cold, and recirculating below. For small aspect ratios A, giving flow in thin, two-dimensional slots, an asymptotic theory valid for A yields to 0 is used to obtain the fluid and thermal fields as well as the interfacial shapes. Solutions are obtained for both fixed lines and fixed angles at the contact between the interface and the solid side walls.

Sen, A. K.↗

Accurate solutions, parameter studies and comparisons for the Euler and potential flow equations

Parameter studies are conducted using the Euler and potential flow equation models for unsteady and steady flows in both two and three dimensions. The Euler code is an implicit, upwind, finite volume code which uses the Van Leer method of flux-vector-splitting which has been recently extended for use on dynamic meshes and maintain all the properties of the original splitting. The potential flow code is an implicit, finite difference method for solving the transonic small disturbance equations and incorporates both entropy and vorticity corrections into the solution procedures thereby extending its applicability into regimes where shock strength normally precludes its use. Parameter studies resulting in benchmark type calculations include the effects of spatial and temporal refinement, spatial order of accuracy, far field boundary conditions for steady flow, frequency of oscillation, and the use of subiterations at each time step to reduce linearization and factorization errors. Comparisons between Euler and potential flows results are made as well as with experimental data where available.

Anderson, W. Kyle↗

Spherical accretion onto quasars

The problem of time-steady accretion of gas irradiated by a self-consistently generated quasar-like continuum is investigated. A controversy in the literature is resolved by a careful distinction between the existence of solutions and their stability. Specific criteria are found for when thermal instabilities may disrupt single-phase steady flow. As a function of initial temperature (1,000,000-100,000,000 K), the boundaries of stable flow in the luminosity are determined relative to the Eddington (L/LE)-efficiency plane. The thermal and dynamical history of these steady flows is analyzed. The observational data that define quasars and type I Seyfert galaxies are matched to find values of efficiency and L/LE required for consistent spherically symmetric steady-flow models. The efficiency is constrained to be less than 1/100, and L/LE resides between several times 1/1000-1/100.

Krolik, J. H.↗

Surrogate-equation technique for simulation of steady inviscid flow

A numerical procedure for the iterative solution of inviscid flow problems is described, and its utility for the calculation of steady subsonic and transonic flow fields is demonstrated. Application of the surrogate equation technique defined herein allows the formulation of stable, fully conservative, type dependent finite difference equations for use in obtaining numerical solutions to systems of first order partial differential equations, such as the steady state Euler equations. Steady, two dimensional solutions to the Euler equations for both subsonic, rotational flow and supersonic flow and to the small disturbance equations for transonic flow are presented.

Johnson, G. M.↗

Spherical harmonic analysis of steady photospheric flows

A technique is presented in which full disk Doppler velocity measurements are analyzed using spherical harmonic functions to determine the characteristics of the spectrum of spherical harmonic modes and the nature of steady photospheric flows. Synthetic data are constructed in order to test the technique. In spite of the mode mixing due to the lack of information about the motions on the backside of the sun, solar rotation and differential rotation can be accurately measured and monitored for secular changes, and meridional circulations with small amplitudes can be measured. Furthermore, limb shift measurements can be accurately obtained, and supergranules can be fully resolved and separated from giant cells by their spatial characteristics.

Hathaway, David H.↗

Category 5 problem solution using an unstructured finite volume algorithm

For the simulation of flows with complex geometries, unstructured finite volume methods have proven to be very popular, and simulations of a large number of flows have been done with good results using this approach. Since most of the simulations to date were done for steady flows, it is not clear that present unstructured finite volume algorithms can accurately track the unsteady propagation of acoustic waves in a computation. Therefore, there is a need to assess the accuracy of these methods for acoustic calculations. In this paper, we perform the numerical simulation of a very small amplitude acoustic wave incident on the non-uniform steady flow in a quasi- 1 D convergent-divergent nozzle using an unstructured finite volume algorithm with piece-wise linear, least square reconstruction, Roe flux difference splitting, and second-order MacCormack time marching. First, the spatial accuracy of the algorithm is evaluated for the steady flow by running the simulation with a sequence of successively finer meshes. Then the unsteady numerical solution with the acoustic perturbation is presented.

Bui, Trong T.↗

Solutions of one-dimensional steady nozzle flow revisited

A formulation is presented by which any iteration process for obtaining the entropy increase in the flow of a one-dimensional steady nozzle is eliminated, and the simple solution of a quadratic equation is obtained. The proper parameters are then explicitly seen in the equation, and their effects on the solution are easily determined. Since only one root of the equation is physically admissible, entropy production, and therefore the shock wave, are uniquely determined by this set of parameters.

Liou, Meng-Sing↗

Accretion dynamics and polarized X-ray emission of magnetized neutron stars

The basic ideas of accretion onto magnetized neutron stars are outlined. These are applied to a simple model of the structure of the plasma mound sitting at the magnetic poles of such a star, in which upward diffusion of photons is balanced by their downward advection. This steady flow model of the plasma's dynamical state is used to compute the emission of polarized X-raysfrom the optically thick, birefringent medium. The linear polarization of the continuum radiation emerging from the quasi-static mound is found to be as much as 40 percent at some rotation phases, but is insensitive to the geometry of the accretion flow. The role of the accretion shock, whose detailed polarimetric and spectral characteristics have yet to be calculated, is emphasized as the final determinant of the properties of the emerging X-rays. Some results describing the fully time dependent dynamics of the flow are also presented. In particular, steady flow onto a neutron star is shown to exhibit formation of 'photon bubbles', regions of greatly reduced plasma density filled with radiation which form and rise on millisecond time scale. The possible role of these complex structures in the flow for the formation of the emergent spectrum is briefly outlined.

Arons, Jonathan↗

Small Engine Technology (Set) Task 8 Aeroelastic Prediction Methods

AlliedSignal Engines, in cooperation with NASA LeRC, completed an evaluation of recently developed aeroelastic computer codes using test cases from the AlliedSignal Engines fan blisk database. Test data for this task includes strain gage, light probe, performance, and steady-state pressure information obtained for conditions where synchronous or flutter vibratory conditions were found to occur. Aeroelastic codes evaluated include the quasi 3-D UNSFLO (developed at MIT and modified to include blade motion by AlliedSignal), the 2-D FREPS (developed by NASA LeRC), and the 3-D TURBO-AE (under development at NASA LeRC). Six test cases each where flutter and synchronous vibrations were found to occur were used for evaluation of UNSFLO and FREPS. In addition, one of the flutter cases was evaluated using TURBO-AE. The UNSFLO flutter evaluations were completed for 75 percent radial span and provided good agreement with the experimental test data. Synchronous evaluations were completed for UNSFLO but further enhancement needs to be added to the code before the unsteady pressures can be used to predict forced response vibratory stresses. The FREPS evaluations were hindered as the steady flow solver (SFLOW) was unable to converge to a solution for the transonic flow conditions in the fan blisk. This situation resulted in all FREPS test cases being attempted but no results were obtained during the present program. Currently, AlliedSignal is evaluating integrating FREPS with our existing steady flow solvers to bypass the SFLOW difficulties. ne TURBO-AE steady flow solution provided an excellent match with the AlliedSignal Engines calibrated DAWES 3-D viscous solver. Finally, the TURBO-AE unsteady analyses also matched experimental observations by predicting flutter for the single test case evaluated.

Eick, Chris D.↗

Study of Unsteady Flows with Concave Wall Effect

This paper presents computational fluid dynamic studies of the inlet turbulence and wall curvature effects on the flow steadiness at near wall surface locations in boundary layer flows. The time-stepping RANS numerical solver of the NASA Glenn-HT RANS code and a one-equation turbulence model, with a uniform inlet turbulence modeling level of the order of 10 percent of molecular viscosity, were used to perform the numerical computations. The approach was first calibrated for its predictabilities of friction factor, velocity, and temperature at near surface locations within a transitional boundary layer over concave wall. The approach was then used to predict the velocity and friction factor variations in a boundary layer recovering from concave curvature. As time iteration proceeded in the computations, the computed friction factors converged to their values from existing experiments. The computed friction factors, velocity, and static temperatures at near wall surface locations oscillated periodically in terms of time iteration steps and physical locations along the span-wise direction. At the upstream stations, the relationship among the normal and tangential velocities showed vortices effects on the velocity variations. Coherent vortices effect on the velocity components broke down at downstream stations. The computations also predicted the vortices effects on the velocity variations within a boundary layer flow developed along a concave wall surface with a downstream recovery flat wall surface. It was concluded that the computational approach might have the potential to analyze the flow steadiness in a turbine blade flow.

Wang, Chi R.↗

Comparison of characteristic schemes for three-dimensional, steady, isentropic flow.

The accuracy and order of three bicharacteristic schemes based on the numerical method of characteristics for three-dimensional, steady, isentropic, supersonic flow were compared based on numerical calculations. Comparisons were made for source flows and for flows in contoured axisymmetric nozzles. The first two methods were tetrahedral line networks, differing only in the manner in which the cross derivatives were evaluated. The third method was the pentahedral line network proposed by Butler. All three methods were numerically stable and produced efficient and accurate solutions. A discussion of the relative merits and disadvantages of each method is presented.

Cline, M. C.↗

On the computation of two- and three-dimensional steady transonic flows by relaxation methods

The paper is concerned with the application of the Murman and Cole (1971) relaxation scheme to steady, inviscid transonic flow problems in two and three dimensions. This scheme, which automatically accounts for weak shock waves, uses separate difference operators in elliptic and hyperbolic regions. The details of the scheme are described in terms of the original small disturbance formulation of Murman and Cole. In particular, Murman's recent (1973) introduction of fully conservative difference operators to obtain the correct shock jumps is examined. The extension to treating the exact isentropic equation is then covered with special attention given to Jameson's (to appear) rotated difference scheme for supersonic flow regions. The bulk of the discussion is related to two-dimensional procedures, and some comparisons with experiment are made, with emphasis on the effects of viscosity and wind-tunnel walls. Application of the Murman-Cole scheme is then discussed for small disturbances in three dimensions.

Bailey, F. R.↗

A study of dynamic stall using real time interferometry

Dynamic stall over an oscillating airfoil in compressible flow was studied using a real-time interferometry technique. Instantaneous flow field data was obtained for various unsteady as well as steady flow conditions. Comparison of steady flow interferograms with those taken in unsteady flow reveal a significant delay in the development of leading edge suction peaks in the unsteady case. The interferograms permit detailed analysis of the leading edge pressure field; as many as 13 pressure values have been obtained around the leading edge in the first 1 percent of the airfoil chord. The results offer a significant new insight into the character of the dynamic stall vortex, and the stall delay that is observed during dynamic motions.

Carr, L. W.↗

Steady hydromagnetic flows in open magnetic fields. II - Global flows with static zones

A theoretical study of an axisymmetric steady stellar wind with a static zone is presented, with emphasis on the situation where the global magnetic field is symmetrical about the stellar equator and is partially open. In this scenario, the wind escapes in open magnetic fluxes originating from a region at the star pole and a region at an equatorial belt of closed magnetic field in static equilibrium. The two-dimensional balance of the pressure gradient and the inertial, gravitational, and Lorentz forces in different parts of the flow are studied, along with the static interplay between external sources of energy (heating and/or cooling) distributed in the flow and the pressure distribution.

Tsinganos, K.↗

Steady hydromagnetic flows in open magnetic fields. I - A class of analytic solutions

In the case of an establishment of theoretical models of the hydromagnetic solar wind, the inclusion of the effects of the magnetic field in the solar wind makes it extremely dificult to solve the mathematical problem. This paper has the objective to present a set of particular analytic solutions. The general formulation of Tsinganos (1982) is used to identify a class of analytic solutions to the equations of steady hydromagnetic flows in spherical coordinates. Flow in an open magnetic field are studied, taking into account the problem in dimensionless form, the special case of radial flows with alpha = 0, general radial flows, illustrative examples for flows in which alpha is not equal to 0, a parametric study of nonradial flows in which alpha is not equal to zero, variations in the parameter nu, and variations in the initial speed eta.

Low, B. C.↗

Interactive-Boundary-Layer Computations For Oscillating Airfoil

Interactive-boundary-layer method developed for computations of steady flow, extended under assumption of quasi-steady flow, to computations of evolution of two-dimensional flow about oscillating airfoil under light-dynamic-stall conditions. Represents advance toward ability to compute unsteady flows at even greater angles of attack with solutions of equations normally used for description of boundary-layer flows on airfoils prior to stall. Important in practical studies of flow on blades of helicopter rotors, axial compressors, and turbines.

Carr, L. W.↗