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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 163 records · Page 9
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NASA NTRS1985

Response functions of free mass gravitational wave antennas

The work of Gursel, Linsay, Spero, Saulson, Whitcomb and Weiss (1984) on the response of a free-mass interferometric antenna is extended. Starting from first principles, the earlier work derived the response of a 2-arm gravitational wave antenna to plane polarized gravitational waves. Equivalent formulas (generalized slightly to allow for arbitrary elliptical polarization) are obtained by a simple differencing of the '3-pulse' Doppler response functions of two 1-arm antennas. A '4-pulse' response function is found, with quite complicated angular dependences for arbitrary incident polarization. The differencing method can as readily be used to write exact response functions ('3n+1 pulse') for antennas having multiple passes or more arms.

Estabrook, F. B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Theoretical Studies of the Surface Tension of Liquid Metal System

A major goal of this project is to understand the surface tension and other thermophysical properties of liquid metals and alloys from a fundamental viewpoint. The approach is to calculate these quantities by a first principles technique which combines the statistical-mechanical theory of the liquid state with an electronic pseudopotential theory of electrons in metals. The inhomogeneity of the surface is treated using an ionic-density-functional formalism developed with the support of NASA. Of particular interest are the variation of surface tension with temperature and impurity concentration: such variations strongly influence the types of convection which make take place in a low-gravity environment. Some progress has already been achieved in computing the reduction of surface tension due to the presence of low-surface-tension impurities, and the corresponding surface segregation of such impurities. In the coming year, it is planned to concentrate on the surface properties of materials of particular interest to the MSA program: Si, Ga and GaSn alloys. An additional goal is to gain some theoretical understanding of the high temperature thermophysical properties of liquid metals, particularly high melting point materials which have not been studied extensively from a theoretical viewpoint.

Stroud, D. G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The synthesis and analysis of color images

A method is described for performing the synthesis and analysis of digital color images. The method is based on two principles. First, image data are represented with respect to the separate physical factors, surface reflectance and the spectral power distribution of the ambient light, that give rise to the perceived color of an object. Second, the encoding is made efficient by using a basis expansion for the surface spectral reflectance and spectral power distribution of the ambient light that takes advantage of the high degree of correlation across the visible wavelengths normally found in such functions. Within this framework, the same basic methods can be used to synthesize image data for color display monitors and printed materials, and to analyze image data into estimates of the spectral power distribution and surface spectral reflectances. The method can be applied to a variety of tasks. Examples of applications include the color balancing of color images, and the identification of material surface spectral reflectance when the lighting cannot be completely controlled.

Wandell, B. A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

An analysis of the productivity of a CELSS continuous algal culture system

One of the most attractive aspects of using algal cultures as plant components for a Closed Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS) is the efficiency with which they can be grown. Although algae are not necessarily intrinsically more efficient than higher plants, the ease which they can be handled and manipulated (more like chemical reagents than plants), and the culturing techniques available, result in much higher growth rates than are usually attainable with higher plants. Furthermore, preliminary experiments have demonstrated that algal growth and physiology is not detectable altered in a microgravity environment, (1) whereas the response of higher plants to zero gravity is unknown. In order to rationally design and operate culture systems, it is necessary to understand how the macroparameters of a culture system, e.g., productivity, are related to the physiological aspects of the algal culture. A first principles analysis of culture system is discussed, and a mathematical model that describes the relationship of culture productivity to the cell concentration of light-limited culture is derived. The predicted productivity vs cell concentration curve agrees well with the experimental data obtained to test this model, indicating that this model permits an accurate prediction of culture productivity given the growth parameters of the system.

Radmer, R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Jet shielding of jet noise

An experimental and theoretical study was conducted to develop a validated first principle analysis for predicting the jet noise reduction achieved by shielding one jet exhaust flow with a second, closely spaced, identical jet flow. A generalized fuel jet noise analytical model was formulated in which the acoustic radiation from a source jet propagates through the velocity and temperature discontinuity of the adjacent shielding jet. Input variables to the prediction procedure include jet Mach number, spacing, temperature, diameter, and source frequency. Refraction, diffraction, and reflection effects, which control the dual jet directivity pattern, are incorporated in the theory. The analysis calculates the difference in sound pressure level between the dual jet configuration and the radiation field based on superimposing two independent jet noise directivity patterns. Jet shielding was found experimentally to reduce noise levels in the common plane of the dual jet system relative to the noise generated by two independent jets.

Simonich, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Direct experimental determination of voltage across high-low junctions

High-low (HL) junctions form a part of many semiconductor devices, including back surface field solar cells. A first experimental determination and interpretation of the voltage across the HL junction under low- and high-injection conditions is presented as a function of the voltage across a nearby p/n junction. Theoretical analysis from first principles is shown to bear well on the experimental results. In addition, a test structure is proposed for measurement of the effective surface recombination velocity at the HL junctions.

Daud, T.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Aerodynamic performance of an annular flat plate airfoil cascade with nonuniform inlet velocity

The demand for increased gas turbine engine efficiency with minimum weight is leading to more complex blading designs, in which viscous and three-dimensional effects are significant. As a result, design procedures based on first principle, experimentally verified, three-dimensional aerodynamic analyses are required. This paper describes a series of experiments performed in a large-scale, subsonic, annular cascade facility specifically designed to provide three-dimensional aerodynamic data suitable for code verification. In particular, the effect of inlet velocity profile on the overall three-dimensional performance of a classical flat plate airfoil cascade is investigated over a range of incidence angles including those resulting in airfoil surface flow separation. All of the data are analyzed and correlated with appropriate nonseparated flow predictions.

Buffum, D.↗
NASA NTRS1986

On the flight dynamics of aeroelastic vehicles

The nonlinear equations of motion for an elasic airplane are developed from first principles. Lagrange's Equation and the Principle of Virtual Work are used to generate the equations of motion and strip theory is then employed to obtain closed form integral expressions for the generalized forces. The inertial coupling is minimized by appropriate choice of the body reference axes and by making use of free vibration modes of the body. In addition, particular attention is paid to the simplifying assumptions used during the development of the equations of motion. A unique aspect of this modeling process is that since the generalized aerodynamic forces are determined from closed form, analytic expressions, this method can be used to gain insight into the effects of parameter variations not easily obtained from numerical models. A numerical example is also presented in which the modeling method is applied to a representative elastic aircraft. The model is used to address the effects of aerodynamic coupling which occurs between the rigid body degrees of freedom and the elastic degrees of freedom. Finally, model simplification is addressed and two methods are evaluated. The resulting frequency responses are compared.

Schmidt, D. K.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Forecasts of solar and geomagnetic activity

Forecasts of solar and geomagnetic activity are critical since these quantities are such important inputs to the thermospheric density models. At this time in the history of solar science there is no way to make such a forecast from first principles. Physical theory applied to the Sun is developing rapidly, but is still primitive. Techniques used for forecasting depend upon the observations over about 130 years, which is only twelve solar cycles. It has been noted that even-numbered cycles systematically tend to be smaller than the odd-numbered ones by about 20 percent. Another observation is that for the last 12 cycle pairs, an even-numbered sunspot cycle looks rather like the next odd-numbered cycle, but with the top cut off. These observations are examples of approximate periodicities that forecasters try to use to achieve some insight into the nature of an upcoming cycle. Another new and useful forecasting aid is a correlation that has been noted between geomagnetic indices and the size of the next solar cycle. Some best estimates are given concerning both activities.

Joselyn, Joann↗
NASA NTRS1986

Geostationary microwave imagers detection criteria

Geostationary orbit is investigated as a vantage point from which to sense remotely the surface features of the planet and its atmosphere, with microwave sensors. The geometrical relationships associated with geostationary altitude are developed to produce an efficient search pattern for the detection of emitting media and metal objects. Power transfer equations are derived from the roots of first principles and explain the expected values of the signal-to-clutter ratios for the detection of aircraft, ships, and buoys and for the detection of natural features where they are manifested as cold and warm eddies. The transport of microwave power is described for modeled detection where the direction of power flow is explained by the Zeroth and Second Laws of Thermodynamics. Mathematical expressions are derived that elucidate the detectability of natural emitting media and metal objects. Signal-to-clutter ratio comparisons are drawn among detectable objects that show relative detectability with a thermodynamic sensor and with a short-pulse radar.

Stacey, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Computational aeroacoustics - Present status and future promise

The field of computational aeroacoustics (CAA), in which sound generation by unsteady flows is calculated from first principles, has recently emerged as a viable discipline. This paper describes one CAA technique which has been validated for low Mach number, low Reynolds number, two-dimensional flows. Results of its application to geometries producing both dipole and quadrupole type sound sources are presented along with theoretical and experimental comparisons. In addition, the future promise of this and other CAA techniques in removing the present limitations is evaluated.

Hardin, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The synthesis and analysis of color images

A method is described for performing the synthesis and analysis of digital color images. The method is based on two principles. First, image data are represented with respect to the separate physical factors, surface reflectance and the spectral power distribution of the ambient light, that give rise to the perceived color of an object. Second, the encoding is made efficiently by using a basis expansion for the surface spectral reflectance and spectral power distribution of the ambient light that takes advantage of the high degree of correlation across the visible wavelengths normally found in such functions. Within this framework, the same basic methods can be used to synthesize image data for color display monitors and printed materials, and to analyze image data into estimates of the spectral power distribution and surface spectral reflectances. The method can be applied to a variety of tasks. Examples of applications include the color balancing of color images, and the identification of material surface spectral reflectance when the lighting cannot be completely controlled.

Wandell, Brian A.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Investigations on the usefulness of the Massively Parallel Processor for study of electronic properties of atomic and condensed matter systems

The usefulness of the Massively Parallel Processor (MPP) for investigation of electronic structures and hyperfine properties of atomic and condensed matter systems was explored. The major effort was directed towards the preparation of algorithms for parallelization of the computational procedure being used on serial computers for electronic structure calculations in condensed matter systems. Detailed descriptions of investigations and results are reported, including MPP adaptation of self-consistent charge extended Hueckel (SCCEH) procedure, MPP adaptation of the first-principles Hartree-Fock cluster procedure for electronic structures of large molecules and solid state systems, and MPP adaptation of the many-body procedure for atomic systems.

Das, T. P.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The details of the convective evaporation of dense and dilute clusters of drops

A global model describing the convective evaporation of dense and dilute clusters of drops has been formulated starting from first principles. The volume of the cluster and the number of drops in a given cluster are fixed, and the drops do not move with respect to each other. The model has been tested for three different drag models and shows less than 10-percent sensitivity in the prediction of the droplet lifetime. The initial relative velocity between drops and gases is a weak control parameter in the 40-1000-cm/s regime.

Bellan, J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Noncoplanar magnetic fields, shock potentials, and ion deflection

A puzzling aspect of the structure of collisionless shock waves concerns the existence of a component of magnetic field that lies out of the coplanarity plane in the transition layer. It is shown that the existence of this component may be understood and its value calculated from a simple expression derived from first principles. The value of this field component may be derived without reference to the transformation properties of the fields or the changes in energy that the ions and electrons undergo on traversing the electrostatic potential of the shock interface.

Jones, Frank C.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Simulation studies for surfaces and materials strength

During this six month period of the Simulation Studies for Surfaces and Materials Strength program investigations were carried out in two general areas: (1) Energy barriers and structural transitions between isomers of small Al clusters were investigated. In this study an empirical potential function which was parametrized based on accurate first principle results was employed; (2) A comparative study was conducted to investigate the applicability of most commonly employed model potential functions in calculating various bulk, surface and small cluster properties.

Halicioglu, Timur↗
NASA NTRS1988

String mediated phase transitions

It is demonstrated from first principles how the existence of string-like structures can cause a system to undergo a phase transition. In particular, the role of topologically stable cosmic string in the restoration of spontaneously broken symmetries is emphasized. How the thermodynamic properties of strings alter when stiffness and nearest neighbor string-string interactions are included is discussed.

Copeland, ED↗
NASA NTRS1988

Planetary astronomy and supporting laboratory research

The aim was to obtain form laboratory measurements the molecular parameters needed to interpret observations of planetary and cometary spectra, and to develop the analytical and computational techniques to interpret the observed spectra in terms of planetary atmospheres including solids and cometary ices. The gas phase molecular parameters measured include the intensities and half-widths of vib-rotational lines, total intensities of absorption bands, temperature dependencies, and absorption and pressure parameters in random-band models of absorption bands. Computation of line shapes of H2 quadrupole lines from quantum mechanical first principles for comparison with laboratory data and use in modeling of planetary atmospheres was accomplished. The solid phase measurements include band profile and quantitative intensity measurements and dependence on composition as well as thermal and photolytic processing which mimics the particular astrophysical environments. Work on GeH4, PH3, has made significant progress.

Valero, F. P. J.↗