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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 145 records · Page 8

Intelligibility improvement of analog communication systems using an amplitude control technique.

An amplitude control technique has been employed for use with analog voice communication systems, which improves low-level phoneme reception and eliminates the received noise between words and syllables. Tests were conducted on a narrow-band frequency-modulation simplex voice communication channel employing the amplitude control technique. Presented for both the modified rhyme word tests and the phonetically balanced word tests are a series of graphical plots of the tests' score distribution, mean, and standard deviation as a function of received carrier-to-noise power density ratio. At low received carrier-to-noise power density ratios, a significant improvement in the intelligibility was obtained. A voice intelligibility improvement of more than 2 dB was obtained for the modified rhyme test words, and a voice intelligibility improvement in excess of 4 dB was obtained for the phonetically balanced word tests.

Wishna, S.↗

Finite amplitude dynamic motion of viscoelastic materials.

It is shown that an integral constitutive relation containing a memory function depending on strain tensor invariants can describe the rheological behavior of finite amplitude oscillatory motion of polymer solutions both qualitatively and quantitatively. Values of the material constants are obtained by a numerical technique of simultaneously curve fitting simple shearing viscosity, first normal stress difference, and small amplitude oscillatory motion data.

Yen, H.-C.↗

Amplitude variations of whistler-mode signals caused by their interaction with energetic electrons of the magnetosphere

Whistler mode waves that propagate through the magnetosphere exchange energy with energetic electrons by wave-particle interaction mechanisms. Using linear theory, a detailed investigation is presented of the resulting amplitude variations of the wave as it propagates. Arbitrary wave frequency and direction of propagation are considered. A general class of electron distributions that are nonseparable in particle energy and pitch-angle is proposed. It is found that the proposed distribution model is consistent with available whistler and particle observations. This model yields insignificant amplitude variation over a large frequency band, a feature commonly observed in whistler data. This feature implies a certain equilibrium between waves and particles in the magnetosphere over a wide spread of particle energy, and is relevant to plasma injection experiments and to monitoring the distribution of energetic electrons in the magnetosphere.

Bernard, L. C.↗

Hexagonal multiple phase-and-amplitude-shift-keyed signal sets

Selection of a particular signal set array for a bandwidth-constrained multiple phase-and-amplitude-shift-keyed (MPASK) communication system for a linear additive Gaussian noise channel requires consideration of factors such as average and/or peak power vs symbol error probability, signal amplitude dynamic range, simplicity of generation and detection, and number of bit errors per symbol error (Gray code properties). A simple technique is presented for generating and optimally detecting the honeycomb (hexagonal) signal set, i.e., the signal set that has the tightest sphere-packing properties. The symbol and bit error probability performance of this set is compared to other two-dimensional signal sets that have been investigated in the literature, and is shown to be slightly superior from an average power standpoint. The paper concludes with a comparison of all of these signal sets from the standpoint of the factors listed above.

Simon, M. K.↗

Multilayered models for electromagnetic reflection amplitudes

The remote sensing of snowpack characteristics with surface installations or with an airborne system could have important applications in water resource management and flood prediction. To derive some insight into such applications, the electromagnetic response of multilayer snow models is analyzed. Normally incident plane waves are assumed at frequencies ranging from 10 to the 6th power to 10 to the 10th power Hz, and amplitude reflection coefficients are calculated for models having various snow-layer combinations, including ice sheets. Layers are defined by a thickness, permittivity, and conductivity; the electrical parameters are constant or prescribed functions of frequency. To illustrate the effect of various layering combinations, results are given in the form of curves of amplitude reflection coefficients, versus frequency for a variety of models. Under simplifying assumptions, the snow thickness and effective dielectric constant can be estimated from the reflection coefficient variations as a function of frequency.

Linlor, W. I.↗

Flutter of articulated pipes at finite amplitude

Previous studies of the behavior of pipes conveying fluid have assumed that the fluid velocity relative to the pipe is a known quantity and is unaffected by the motion of the pipe. This approach eliminates the need to find the flow equations of motion, and is adequate for infinitesimal transverse amplitudes of motion of the pipe system, but is incapable of predicting what will be the effect of larger amplitudes. This last shortcoming may be of importance when flow velocities are near critical velocities, that is, velocities at which the system begins to flutter. It is the purpose of the present study to investigate in greater detail the dynamic behavior of pipes in the vicinity of critical velocities.

Rousselet, J.↗

Squeeze film dampers - Amplitude effects at low squeeze numbers

Gaseous squeeze film dampers are analyzed to determine the effect of periodic disturbance amplitude on the dynamic performance. Both circular and rectangular parallel surfaces are investigated. A solution of the nonlinear Reynolds equation is obtained by expanding the pressure in powers of the squeeze number, retaining up to and including terms of the order of the square of the squeeze number. The time dependent load characteristics are found. The effect of disturbance amplitude on the film stiffness and damping is given.

Sadd, M. H.↗

Power spectra of sinusoidal amplitude-modulated binary signals

Power spectra for binary phase-shift keyed (PSK) and frequency-shift keyed (FSK) signals with combined sinusoidal amplitude modulation by the bit rate clock are presented. Such signal formats have application in 'burst' communication systems wherein reliable bit synchronization is provided with relative receiver simplicity. Effects of the clock amplitude modulation index and phase are considered, and corresponding power spectra are illustrated. Further, effects of the clock parameters on the rate of spectral rolloff are given and compared with those of conventional PSK and FSK spectra.

Gee, T. H.↗

The use of TWT amplifiers in M-ary amplitude and phase shift keying systems

A great deal of research is presently being conducted to study modulation schemes in order to reduce the bandwidth of digital communications. These M-ary amplitude and phase shift keying (MAPSK) modulation systems place new requirements on TWT amplifiers in space applications in that the various signal sets usually include two or more discrete output power levels as well as discrete phases at each power level. This paper presents a variety of predistortion schemes to circumvent the TWT problems of AM distortion and AM-to-PM conversion in order to produce MAPSK signal sets. A feedback scheme is presented to correct for long-term phase and amplitude drifts in the transmitter. A complete transmitter is proposed using predistortion to produce the desired MAPSK signal set at very high data rates including the possible use of a feedback stabilization scheme.

Weber, W. J., III↗

Large amplitude free vibrations of tapered beams

The Galerkin method is used to investigate the large-amplitude free vibrations of simply supported and clamped tapered beams of rectangular cross-section which are frequently encountered in practical structures. Two types of linear tapers are considered: breadth and depth tapers. Two solutions are obtained for each type of taper, using trigonometric and polynomial displacement distributions. Frequency-amplitude relationships are obtained for all these cases for the fundamental flexural mode. The results indicate good agreement between trigonometric and polynomial solutions for all cases. The nonlinearity is noted to be always of the hardening type and, as expected, it is severe for beams with depth taper as compared with beams with breadth taper.

Raju, L. S.↗

Filamentation instability of a large amplitude whistler wave

Experiments performed in a pulsed afterglow plasma column with specified parameters revealed a filamentation instability of a large-amplitude whistler wave launched from antennas which produce a diverging energy flow in the linear regime. The difficult problem of diagnosing local density perturbations in a magnetized plasma in the presence of large-amplitude RF signals and nonuniform anisotropic electron distributions is discussed. Since Langmuir probes are too unreliable under these conditions, a microwave probe is developed based on the principle of the cavity shift method. The temporal and spatial evolution of the duct formation and wave propagation are shown. The role of the observed electron heating in the filamentation process is examined. The observed self-focusing process appears to be the result of the reinforcing interaction between the wave-induced density depression and the density-induced wave refraction. Interesting applications are noted.

Stenzel, R. L.↗

Experimental study of outdoor propagation of spherically speading periodic acoustic waves of finite amplitude

The outdoor propagation of spherically spreading sound waves of finite amplitude was investigated. The main purpose of the experiments was to determine the extent to which the outdoor environment, mainly random inhomogeneity of the medium, affects finite amplitude propagation. Periodic sources with fundamental frequencies in the range 6 to 8 kHz and source levels SPLlm from 140 to 149 dB were used. The sources were an array of 7 to 10 horn drivers and a siren. The propagation path was vertical and parallel to an 85 m tower, whose elevator carried the traveling microphone. The general conclusions drawn from the experimental results were as follows. The inhomogeneities caused significant fluctuations in the instantaneous acoustic signal, but with sufficient time averaging of the measured harmonic levels, the results were comparable to results expected for propagation in a quiet medium. Propagation data for the fundamental of the siren approached within 1 dB of the weak shock saturation levels. Extra attenuation on the order of 8 dB was observed. The measurements generally confirmed the predictions of several theoretical models. The maximum propagation distance was 36 m. The narrowbeam arrays were much weaker sources. Nonlinear propagation distortion was produced, but the maximum value of extra attenuation measured was 1.5 dB. The maximum propagation distance was 76 m. The behavior of the asymetric waveforms received in one experiment qualitatively suggested that beam type diffraction effects were present. The role of diffraction of high intensity sound waves in radiation from a single horn was briefly investigated.

Theobald, M. A.↗

Equivalent constant-amplitude concept for crack growth under spectrum loading

To simplify crack-growth calculations, an equivalent constant-amplitude concept is developed based on the crack-closure phenomenon and on results of pilot tests that showed that the crack-opening load remained essentially constant while cracks grew under repeating random-load sequences containing several thousand load peaks. An equation of crack growth equivalence resulting from derivations based on the crack closure crack growth law is obtained and used to determine a relationship between an equivalent number of cycles of constant-amplitude loading and the distribution of the random loads, the exponent in the crack growth law, and the ratio of the crack-opening load to the maximum load. The validity of the concept is tested experimentally on six different random-load sequences. Good agreement is found between experimental results and theoretical predictions.

Elber, W.↗

Application of the TRPLT1 element to large amplitude free vibrations of plates

A finite element formulation is developed for analyzing large amplitude free flexural vibrations of thin plates in NASTRAN. Stress distributions in the plate, in addition to deflection shapes and nonlinear frequencies are determined. Linearized equations of motion governing large amplitude oscillations of plates and a linearized geometrical stiffness matrix are presented. The solution procedure and convergence characteristics are discussed. The quasi-linear geometrical stiffness matrix for an eighteen degree-of-freedom higher order triangular plate element is evaluated by using a seven-point numerical integration. Nonlinear frequencies for square, rectangular, rhombic, and isosceles triangular plates, with edges simply supported or clamped, are compared with earlier solutions. The present formulation is found to give results entirely adequate for engineering purposes.

Mei, C.↗

Gain degradation and amplitude scintillation due to tropospheric turbulence

It is shown that a simple physical model is adequate for the prediction of the long term statistics of both the reduced signal levels and increased peak-to-peak fluctuations. The model is based on conventional atmospheric turbulence theory and incorporates both amplitude and angle of arrival fluctuations. This model predicts the average variance of signals observed under clear air conditions at low elevation angles on earth-space paths at 2, 7.3, 20 and 30 GHz. Design curves based on this model for gain degradation, realizable gain, amplitude fluctuation as a function of antenna aperture size, frequency, and either terrestrial path length or earth-space path elevation angle are presented.

Theobold, D. M.↗

On the stability of self-consistent large amplitude waves in a cold plasma. I - Transverse circularly polarized waves in the absence of a large scale magnetic field

It is demonstrated that a self-consistent circularly polarized wave in an otherwise field-free homogeneous cold plasma is unstable to small amplitude perturbations. For either an electron-positron plasma or an electron-proton plasma the instability rate is at least about the order of the effective plasma frequency when the bulk flow speed is zero. For finite bulk flow speeds of the plasma, it is shown that the electron-positron plasma is unstable, again with a growth rate of the order of the effective plasma frequency; it is also shown that the electron-proton plasma is unstable (at least at small wave numbers, k) with a growth rate proportional to k. The calculated instability rates are conservative, for other modes not investigated here may be more unstable. The results of these calculations bear directly on the understanding of plasma systems thought to be driven by large amplitude waves.

Lee, M. A.↗

On the angle between the average interplanetary magnetic field and the propagation direction of plane large amplitude Alfven waves

The paper shows that the experimentally observed close alignment of magnetic field minimum variance direction with the average magnetic field for Alfven waves in the solar wind is consistent with theoretically predicted properties of plane large amplitude Alfven waves in the MHD approximation. The theoretical properties of these Alfven waves constrain the time averaged magnetic field to cluster around the direction of minimum variance, which is aligned with the wave normal. Thus, spacecraft magnetometer observations in the solar wind of minimum variance directions strongly peaked about the average magnetic field direction are consistent with plane large amplitude Alfven waves which have wave normals aligned with the directions of minimum variance. This does not imply that geometrical hydromagnetic calculations for Alfven wave propagation direction in the solar wind are incorrect, but there is a discrepancy between geometrical hydromagnetics theory and observations that IMF minimum variance directions tend to be aligned with the ideal Parker spiral instead of the radial direction.

Lichtenstein, B. R.↗