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At least 127 records · Page 7

F-15B Quiet Spike(TradeMark) Aeroservoelastic Flight-Test Data Analysis

System identification is utilized in the aerospace community for development of simulation models for robust control law design. These models are often described as linear, time-invariant processes and assumed to be uniform throughout the flight envelope. Nevertheless, it is well known that the underlying process is inherently nonlinear. Over the past several decades the controls and biomedical communities have made great advances in developing tools for the identification of nonlin ear systems. In this report, we show the application of one such nonlinear system identification technique, structure detection, for the an alysis of Quiet Spike(TradeMark)(Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Savannah, Georgia) aeroservoelastic flight-test data. Structure detectio n is concerned with the selection of a subset of candidate terms that best describe the observed output. Structure computation as a tool fo r black-box modeling may be of critical importance for the development of robust, parsimonious models for the flight-test community. The ob jectives of this study are to demonstrate via analysis of Quiet Spike(TradeMark) aeroservoelastic flight-test data for several flight conditions that: linear models are inefficient for modelling aeroservoelast ic data, nonlinear identification provides a parsimonious model description whilst providing a high percent fit for cross-validated data an d the model structure and parameters vary as the flight condition is altered.

Kukreja, Sunil L.↗

Atmospheric Hydroperoxides in West Antarctica: Links to Stratospheric Ozone and Atmospheric Oxidation Capacity

The troposphere above the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) was sampled for hydroperoxides at 21 locations during 2-month-long summer traverses from 2000 to 2002, as part of US ITASE (International Transantarctic Scientific Expedition). First time quantitative measurements using an HPLC method showed that methylhydroperoxide (MHP) is the only important organic hydroperoxide occurring in the Antarctic troposphere, and that it is found at levels ten times those previously predicted by photochemical models. During three field seasons, means and standard deviations for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were 321+/-158 pptv, 650+/-176 pptv and 330+/-147 pptv. While MHP was detected, but not quantified in December 2000, levels in summer 2001 and 2002 were 317+128 pptv and 304+/-172.2 pptv. Results from firn air experiments and diurnal variability of the two species showed that atmospheric H2O2 is significantly impacted by a physical snow pack source between 76 and 90degS, whereas MHP is not. We show strong evidence of a positive feedback between stratospheric ozone and H2O2 at the surface. Between November-27 and December-12 in 2001, when ozone column densities dropped below 220 DU (means in 2000 and 2001 were 318 DU and 334 DU, respectively), H2O2 was 1.7 times that observed in the same period in 2000 and 2002, while MHP was only 80% of the levels encountered in 2002. Photochemical box model runs suggest that NO and OH levels on WAIS are closer to coastal values, while Antarctic Plateau levels are higher, confirming that region to be a highly oxidizing environment. The modeled sensitivity of H2O2 and particularly MHP to NO offers the potential to use atmospheric hydroperoxides to constrain the NO background and thus estimate the past oxidation capacity of the remote atmosphere. Index Terms: 0365 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Troposphere: composition and chemistry; 0322 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Constituent sources and sinks; 1610 Global Change: Atmosphere (03 15,0325); 0736 Cryosphere: Snow (1827, 1863); 0724 Cryosphere: Ice Cores (4932) Keywords: hydrogen peroxide, methylhydroperoxide, Antarctica, air-snow exchange, stratospheric ozone, atmospheric oxidation capacity

Frey, Markus M.↗

Structure Computation of Quiet Spike[Trademark] Flight-Test Data During Envelope Expansion

System identification or mathematical modeling is used in the aerospace community for development of simulation models for robust control law design. These models are often described as linear time-invariant processes. Nevertheless, it is well known that the underlying process is often nonlinear. The reason for using a linear approach has been due to the lack of a proper set of tools for the identification of nonlinear systems. Over the past several decades, the controls and biomedical communities have made great advances in developing tools for the identification of nonlinear systems. These approaches are robust and readily applicable to aerospace systems. In this paper, we show the application of one such nonlinear system identification technique, structure detection, for the analysis of F-15B Quiet Spike(TradeMark) aeroservoelastic flight-test data. Structure detection is concerned with the selection of a subset of candidate terms that best describe the observed output. This is a necessary procedure to compute an efficient system description that may afford greater insight into the functionality of the system or a simpler controller design. Structure computation as a tool for black-box modeling may be of critical importance for the development of robust parsimonious models for the flight-test community. Moreover, this approach may lead to efficient strategies for rapid envelope expansion, which may save significant development time and costs. The objectives of this study are to demonstrate via analysis of F-15B Quiet Spike aeroservoelastic flight-test data for several flight conditions that 1) linear models are inefficient for modeling aeroservoelastic data, 2) nonlinear identification provides a parsimonious model description while providing a high percent fit for cross-validated data, and 3) the model structure and parameters vary as the flight condition is altered.

Kukreja, Sunil L.↗

F-15B QuietSpike(TradeMark) Aeroservoelastic Flight Test Data Analysis

System identification or mathematical modelling is utilised in the aerospace community for the development of simulation models for robust control law design. These models are often described as linear, time-invariant processes and assumed to be uniform throughout the flight envelope. Nevertheless, it is well known that the underlying process is inherently nonlinear. The reason for utilising a linear approach has been due to the lack of a proper set of tools for the identification of nonlinear systems. Over the past several decades the controls and biomedical communities have made great advances in developing tools for the identification of nonlinear systems. These approaches are robust and readily applicable to aerospace systems. In this paper, we show the application of one such nonlinear system identification technique, structure detection, for the analysis of F-15B QuietSpike(TradeMark) aeroservoelastic flight test data. Structure detection is concerned with the selection of a subset of candidate terms that best describe the observed output. This is a necessary procedure to compute an efficient system description which may afford greater insight into the functionality of the system or a simpler controller design. Structure computation as a tool for black-box modelling may be of critical importance for the development of robust, parsimonious models for the flight-test community. Moreover, this approach may lead to efficient strategies for rapid envelope expansion which may save significant development time and costs. The objectives of this study are to demonstrate via analysis of F-15B QuietSpike(TradeMark) aeroservoelastic flight test data for several flight conditions (Mach number) that (i) linear models are inefficient for modelling aeroservoelastic data, (ii) nonlinear identification provides a parsimonious model description whilst providing a high percent fit for cross-validated data and (iii) the model structure and parameters vary as the flight condition is altered.

Kukreja, Sunil L.↗

Exploring data-driven modeling of boundary layer transition

Prediction of laminar-turbulent transition in boundary layer flows is an important component of predicting the aerodynamic performance of a number of aerospace configurations. According to the CFD Vision 2030 [1], transition modeling represents acriticalarea in CFD simulation capability that will remain a pacing item for the foreseeable future. The fact thattransition can take placevia either one of a myriad possible paths adds to the challenges inreliable transition predictions, despite a limited knowledge of the relevant input parameters. In the low disturbance environments typical of flight applications, transition is often initiated by small amplitude disturbances in the form of linear instability waves of the laminar boundary layer. These disturbances amplify linearly at first and eventually undergo a sequence of nonlinear interactions that result in transition to turbulence. Because the nonlinear phase is rather rapid, the amplification of boundary layer instabilities is governed by the linearstability theory over a majority of the distance leading up to the onset of transition. Semi-empirical transition correlations based on the linear stability theory have been successful in explaining the observed trends in transition location within a broad class of flows. However, the application of stability theory is highly non-robust and often requires a significant domain expertise. Recent work at the NASA Langley Research Center has beenaimed at bridging the gap between physics based transition analyses such as those based on linear stability theory and practical applications that require transition prediction by users that may not be well versed in transition physics. The applications of deep learning have been at the center of these efforts. This presentation will focus on the progress achieved thus far, highlighting the applications of neural networks to selectedtransition scenarios across a range of Mach numbers and flow configuration, as well as the lessons learnedand remaining challengeswithrespect to the selection of training data and neural networks architectures, hyperparameter tuning, and the physical insights distilled from the otherwise black-box models.

M. R. Malik↗

On the Age of Cosmic Rays as Derived from the Abundance of Be-10

The isotopic composition of cosmic ray Be, B, C, and N was studied using a new range versus total light technique. Special emphasis was placed on the Be isotopes and in particular, on the radioactive isotope Be-10 due to its mean lifetime against decay. The experiment consisted of a thin trigger scintillator, an acrylic plastic Cerenkov detector and a spark chamber, followed by a totally active stack of 14 scintillation detectors. This stack of scintillators made possible the measurement of range, and also permitted the removal of interacting events by continuously monitoring their identities along their trajectories. The experiment was carried by balloon to atmospheric depths ranging from 3.5 to 5.0 g sq cm residual atmosphere for a total exposure time of 23 hr. Results indicate the survival of ( 55 + or -21) % of the Be-10 in the arriving cosmic rays; the data were interpreted using the leaky box model of cosmic ray propagation.

Hagen, F. A.↗

Second-order closure analysis of turbulent reacting flows

A reacting shear layer program for a complete second-order closure of turbulent reacting flows is developed. The program uses a typical eddy box model and many of the fluid mechanical turbulence models developed in earlier studies. The computer program actually solves a total of 30 equations, where the numerical integration of the equations is performed by a forward-time-centered space quasi-implicit upwind finite-difference scheme. Results for nonreacting and simple isothermal reacting flows are presented along with preliminary results for propane-air flames. It is shown that the program predictions for simple nonreacting flows are in good agreement with available data. The calculations for isothermal reacting flows demonstrate the importance of including a mixedness correlation in finite rate chemistry calculations, where significant errors in the flowfield properties can result from neglect of the interaction between turbulence and the chemistry. Results for propane-air diffusion flames further support this conclusion.

Varma, A. K.↗

An investigation of techniques for the measurement and interpretation of cosmic ray isotopic abundances

An instrument, the Caltech High Energy Isotope Spectrometer Telescope was developed to measure isotopic abundances of cosmic ray nuclei by employing an energy loss - residual energy technique. A detailed analysis was made of the mass resolution capabilities of this instrument. A formalism, based on the leaky box model of cosmic ray propagation, was developed for obtaining isotopic abundance ratios at the cosmic ray sources from abundances measured in local interstellar space for elements having three or more stable isotopes, one of which is believed to be absent at the cosmic ray sources. It was shown that the dominant sources of uncertainty in the derived source ratios are uncorrelated errors in the fragmentation cross sections and statistical uncertainties in measuring local interstellar abundances. These results were applied to estimate the extent to which uncertainties must be reduced in order to distinguish between cosmic ray production in a solar-like environment and in various environments with greater neutron enrichments.

Wiedenbeck, M. E.↗

Charge composition and energy spectra of cosmic-ray nuclei at energies above 5 GeV per nucleon

A scintillation-Cerenkov counter telescope, with three gas Cerenkov counters for energy determination between 5 and 90 GeV per nucleon, has been exposed for a net total of 4.5 sq m sr hr in two balloon flights in 1974. The measurement yields the chemical composition and energy spectra of cosmic-ray nuclei in the charge range 5-28. The differential spectral indices of oxygen and of the iron group are measured to be 2.67 plus or minus 0.04 and 2.5 plus or minus 0.08 above 5.4 GeV per nucleon, respectively. The results are interpreted in the context of the 'leaky-box' model of cosmic-ray confinement and propagation.

Caldwell, J. H.↗

On the propagation of cosmic rays in the Galaxy

Cosmic ray propagation in the Galaxy is examined within the framework of the leaky-box model, whereby phenomenological aspects of diffusion and propagation are related to the physical properties of the interstellar medium. The model is parameterized by data on composition, spectra, spectral change as a function of energy, and cosmic ray particle lifetime. It is assumed that electrons and nucleons have a common source within the Galaxy (probably associated with supernova remnants). Lifetime data and leakage length are compared with radio synchrotron and gamma-ray data to establish a place of origin for cosmic rays observed at earth, i.e., at a radius of 0.5-1.0 kpc from earth. It is noted that if the escape length becomes energy independent, all nuclear spectra will flatten, while the electron spectrum remains unchanged.

Ormes, J.↗

Relative abundance of antiprotons and antihelium in the primary cosmic radiation

The paper reports measurement of the antiproton-to-proton and antihelium-to-helium ratios in the 4-100 GeV/c range. A superconducting magnet spectrophotometer obtained the data during a balloon flight in May 1976. The upper limit value for the antiproton ratio is 0.0005 in the 4.2-12.5 GeV/c range. This value is only slightly higher than the expected value for a leaky box-model and nearly equal to the value expected in the Peter-Westergard model. It is suggested that this upper limit value rules out the closed galaxy model. Upper limit values for the antihelium ratio are 0.000058 in the 4-10 GeV/c range; less than 0.0001 in the 4-33 GeV/c range; and less than 0.01 in the 33-100 GeV/c range. The interpretation of the raw data is explained.

Badhwar, G. D.↗

The mean mass of the abundant cosmic-ray nuclei from boron to silicon at 1.2 GeV per atomic mass unit

Results are presented for an investigation of cosmic-ray isotopic composition in which a balloon-borne instrument was used to perform an isotopic analysis of the abundant elements from B through Si in the energy range from 1.0 to 1.6 GeV/amu. The technique employed, which depends on the effect of earth's magnetic field on incoming cosmic rays, and reduction of the observational data are described in detail. Mean masses of the elements B, C, N, O, Ne, Mg, and Si are extracted from normalized Cerenkov spectra and evaluated in terms of the 'leaky box' model of galactic propagation and confinement. The implications of the results for cosmic-ray sources are shown to be consistent with the nucleosynthesis of certain isotopes in the cosmic rays in explosive carbon burning under the conditions of peak temperature, density, and neutronization expected in an explosion of a massive highly evolved star. The possibility of alternate interpretations is noted.

Dwyer, R.↗

Computer predictions of photochemical oxidant levels for initial precursor concentrations characteristic of southeastern Virginia

A computer study was performed with a photochemical box model, using a contemporary chemical mechanism and procedure, and a range of initial input pollutant concentrations thought to encompass those characteristic of the Southeastern Virginia region before a photochemical oxidant episode. The model predictions are consistent with the expectation of high summer afternoon ozone levels when initial nonmethane hydrocarbon (NMHC) levels are in the range 0.30-0.40 ppmC and NOx levels are in the range 0.02-0.05 ppm. Calculations made with a Lagrangian model, for one of the previously calculated cases, which had produced intermediate afternoon ozone levels, suggest that urban source additions of NMHC and NOx exacerbate the photochemical oxidant condition.

Wakelyn, N. T.↗

A secondary tracer approach to the derivation of galactic cosmic-ray source isotopic abundances

A formalism has been developed for deriving cosmic-ray source isotopic abundances from observed local abundances using a purely secondary nuclide as a tracer of spallation production during propagation. Although the formalism is based on the leaky-box model of cosmic-ray propagation, it is shown that source abundances derived by the tracer technique are reasonably independent of detailed propagation models. The tracer formalism also permits a quantitative evaluation of the effects of observational uncertainties on deduced source abundances. It is shown that statistical errors in the observed abundances and uncertainties in the spallation cross sections are at present the dominant sources of uncertainty. The latter error can be reduced with increased detector size or exposure time, while the former can be minimized by measurements of the relative production cross sections. As a specific example, the tracer technique is applied to the isotopes of sulfur and calcium, and the level of uncertainties which must be achieved to distinguish evolutionary differences between solar-system material and cosmic ray-source material are established.

Stone, E. C.↗

The extension of the concept of the cosmic-ray path-length distribution to nonrelativistic energies

The concept of the cosmic-ray path-length distribution is examined. The corresponding cosmic-ray propagation calculational procedure has been justified theoretically at relativistic energies (Ginzburg and Syrovatskii, 1964) where the effects of ionization energy loss are negligible. The present paper extends the use of the path-length distribution concept in cosmic-ray propagation calculations to nonrelativistic energies. Sufficient constraints to effect this extension are presented. The solution of the cosmic-ray propagation equations in terms of a Green's function approach is also investigated and is used to provide a formulation of the path-length distribution at nonrelativistic as well as relativistic energies in terms of the cosmic-ray source distribution and the propagation characteristics of the interstellar medium. The leaky-box model of cosmic-ray propagation is also examined.

Lezniak, J. A.↗

Energy spectra of cosmic-ray nuclei to above 100 GeV per nucleon

Energy spectra of cosmic-ray nuclei boron to iron have been measured from 2 GeV per nucleon to beyond 100 GeV per nucleon. The data were obtained using an ionization calorimeter flown on a balloon from Palestine, Texas. The 3450 kg payload floated at 7 g/sq cm for almost 24 hours. The results are in excellent agreement with those of other workers where overlaps exist. The spectra are not consistent with single power laws, and demonstrate the power of using a single technique sensitive over a large dynamic range. The data are consistent with the leaky box model of cosmic-ray propagation. The boron data indicate that the cosmic-ray escape length decreases with increasing energy as E to the -(0.4 + or - 0.1) up to 100 GeV per nucleon. Secondary nuclei from iron are also consistent with this dependence. Predicted changes in the energy dependence of the ratios of primary nuclei O/C and (Fe + Ni)/(C + O) are also observed.

Simon, M.↗

A measurement of the cosmic-ray antiproton flux and a search for antihelium

Balloon-borne instrument measurements are presented of the cosmic-ray antiproton flux between 130 and 320 MeV, as well as the results of a search for antihelium between 130 and 370 MeV per nuclear. The antiprotons are found to have a spectral shape similar to the protons, down to about 100 MeV. Calculations of the expected flux of these particles under the assumption that they were created by collisions of high-energy cosmic rays with the interstellar gas, using the standard leaky box model for propagation in the Galaxy, predict a flux two orders of magnitude smaller than that observed. The discrepancy between calculation and experiment may be evidence that cosmic-ray protons have passed through more than 5.0 g/sq cm of material during their lifetime. The search for cosmic-ray antihelium sets a 95% confidence level upper limit on the antihelium/helium ratio of 0.000022.

Buffington, A.↗