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At least 163 records · Page 9

Airframe Noise Simulations of a Full-Scale Large Civil Transport in Landing Configuration

This paper summarizes the results obtained from an extensive computational campaign to accurately predict full-scale landing gear noise for large civil transports. A highly accurate digital model of a full-scale Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with as-flown nose and main landing gear components was developed for use in the simulations. Two aircraft configurations were selected: nose and main landing gear deployed with wing high-lift devices retracted, and nose and main landing gear deployed with wing high-lift devices deflected. The two configurations were simulated without and with toboggan fairings installed on the main gear to represent the principal configurations evaluated during the 2005 QTD2 flight test. All simulations were performed with the lattice Boltzmann solver PowerFLOW® to resolve and capture the highly complex, unsteady flow field in the immediate vicinity of the aircraft. The far-field noise sig-nature of the aircraft was computed via a Ffowcs-Williams and Hawkings integral approach, with flow quantities on a permeable surface enclosing the source regions used as input. Synthetic pressure records at ground array microphone locations used during the QDT2 test were employed to generate narrowband acoustic maps and integrated far-field noise spectra. With high-lift devices retracted, the predicted spectra showed that landing gear noise is equivalent to total airframe noise, with no other airframe sources appearing within 10 dB of gear peak levels. Application of a toboggan fairing to the main gear produced modest noise reductions of 1-2 dB across the resolved frequency range. With high-lift devices deflected, undercarriage noise was within 3-4 dB of the total airframe noise, thus comprising nearly half of the total airframe noise. For this configuration, the toboggan fairing did not produce a reduction in noise, corroborating trends previously observed in QTD2 flight test data.

airframe noise↗

Prospects for Probing Strong Gravity with a Pulsar-Black Hole System

The discovery of a pulsar (PSR) in orbit around a black hole (BH) is expected to provide a superb new probe of relativistic gravity and BH properties. Apart from a precise mass measurement for the BH, one could expect a clean verification of the dragging of space-time caused by the BH spin. In order to measure the quadrupole moment of the BH for testing the no-hair theorem of general relativity (GR), one has to hope for a sufficiently massive BH. In this respect, a PSR orbiting the super-massive BH in the center of our Galaxy would be the ultimate laboratory for gravity tests with PSRs. But even for gravity theories that predict the same properties for BHs as GR, a PSR-BH system would constitute an excellent test system, due to the high grade of asymmetry in the strong field properties of these two components. Here we highlight some of the potential gravity tests that one could expect from different PSR-BH systems.

gravity↗

The Influence of Modulated Signal Risetime in Flight Electronics Radiated Immunity Testing with a Mode-Stirred Chamber

For electromagnetic immunity testing of an electronic system, it is desirable to demonstrate its functional integrity when exposed to the full range and intensity of environmental electromagnetic threats that may be encountered over its operational life. As part of this, it is necessary to show proper system operation when exposed to representative threat signal modulations. Modulated signal transition time is easily overlooked, but can be highly significant to system susceptibility. Radiated electromagnetic field immunity testing is increasingly being performed in Mode Stirred Chambers. Because the peak field vs. time relationship is affected by the operation of a reverberating room, it is important to understand how the room may influence any input signal modulation characteristics. This paper will provide insight into the field intensity vs. time relationship within the test environment of a mode stirred chamber. An understanding of this relationship is important to EMC engineers in determining what input signal modulation characteristics will be transferred to the equipment under test. References will be given for the development of this topic, and experimental data will be presented

Ely, Jay J.↗

UK-4 prototype spacecraft magnetic tests

The spacecraft was tested in a magnetic test facility which uses a 42 ft. diameter coil system to produce a controlled magnetic field of high uniformity over a large central volume. The primary objectives of the tests were: (1) to determine the permanent, induced, and stray magnetic moments of the spacecraft and to assess its magnetic stability; (2) to evaluate the magnetorquer coil system; and (3) to deperm, compensate, and make other adjustments necessary to achieve satisfactory magnetic characteristics for the spacecraft. The test facility and procedures are described together with the results obtained. In addition, the problems encountered during the tests and the significance of the test findings are discussed.

Pruett, W. E.↗

Acoustical evaluation of the NASA Lewis 9 by 15 foot low speed wind tunnel

The test section of the NASA Lewis 9- by 15-Foot Low Speed Wind Tunnel was acoustically treated to allow the measurement of acoustic sources located within the tunnel test section under simulated free field conditions. The treatment was designed for high sound absorption at frequencies above 250 Hz and to withstand tunnel airflow velocities up to 0.2 Mach. Evaluation tests with no tunnel airflow were conducted in the test section to assess the performance of the installed treatment. This performance would not be significantly affected by low speed airflow. Time delay spectrometry tests showed that interference ripples in the incident signal resulting from reflections occurring within the test section average from 1.7 dB to 3.2 dB wide over a 500 to 5150 Hz frequency range. Late reflections, from upstream and downstream of the test section, were found to be insignificant at the microphone measuring points. For acoustic sources with low directivity characteristics, decay with distance measurements in the test section showed that incident free field behavior can be measured on average with an accuracy of +/- 1.5 dB or better at source frequencies from 400 Hz to 10 kHz. The free field variations are typically much smaller with an omnidirectional source.

Dahl, Milo D.↗

Turbine Airfoil With CMC Leading-Edge Concept Tested Under Simulated Gas Turbine Conditions

Silicon-based ceramics have been proposed as component materials for gas turbine engine hot-sections. When the Navy s Harrier fighter experienced engine (Pegasus F402) failure because of leading-edge durability problems on the second-stage high-pressure turbine vane, the Office of Naval Research came to the NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field for test support in evaluating a concept for eliminating the vane-edge degradation. The High Pressure Burner Rig (HPBR) was selected for testing since it could provide temperature, pressure, velocity, and combustion gas compositions that closely simulate the engine environment. The study focused on equipping the stationary metal airfoil (Pegasus F402) with a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) leading-edge insert and evaluating the feasibility and benefits of such a configuration. The test exposed the component, with and without the CMC insert, to the harsh engine environment in an unloaded condition, with cooling to provide temperature relief to the metal blade underneath. The insert was made using an AlliedSignal Composites, Inc., enhanced HiNicalon (Nippon Carbon Co. LTD., Yokohama, Japan) fiber-reinforced silicon carbide composite (SiC/SiC CMC) material fabricated via chemical vapor infiltration. This insert was 45-mils thick and occupied a recessed area in the leading edge and shroud of the vane. It was designed to be free floating with an end cap design. The HPBR tests provided a comparative evaluation of the temperature response and leading-edge durability and included cycling the airfoils between simulated idle, lift, and cruise flight conditions. In addition, the airfoils were aircooled, uniquely instrumented, and exposed to the exact set of internal and external conditions, which included gas temperatures in excess of 1370 C (2500 F). In addition to documenting the temperature response of the metal vane for comparison with the CMC, a demonstration of improved leading-edge durability was a primary goal. First, the metal vane was tested for a total of 150 cycles. Both the leading edge and trailing edge of the blade exhibited fatigue cracking and burn-through similar to the failures experienced in service by the F402 engine. Next, an airfoil, fitted with the ceramic leading edge insert, was exposed for 200 cycles. The temperature response of those HPBR cycles indicated a reduced internal metal temperature, by as much as 600 F at the midspan location for the same surface temperature (2100 F). After testing, the composite insert appeared intact, with no signs of failure on either the vane s leading or trailing edge. Only a slight oxide scale, as would be expected, was noted on the insert. Overall, the CMC insert performed similarly to a thick thermal barrier coating. With a small air gap between the metal and the SiC/SiC leading edge, heat transfer from the CMC to the metal alloy was low, effectively lowering the temperatures. The insert's performance has proven that an uncooled CMC can be engineered and designed to withstand the thermal up-shock experienced during the severe lift conditions in the Pegasus engine. The design of the leading-edge insert, which minimized thermal stresses in the SiC/SiC CMC, showed that the CMC/metal assembly can be engineered to be a functioning component.

Robinson, R. Craig↗

Integrating biomechanics in evolutionary studies, with examples from the amphidromous goby model system

The functional capacities of animals are a primary factor determining survival in nature. In this context, understanding the biomechanical performance of animals can provide insight into diverse aspects of their biology, ranging from ecological distributions across habitat gradients to the evolutionary diversification of lineages. To survive and reproduce in the face of environmental pressures, animals must perform a wide range of tasks, some of which entail tradeoffs between competing demands. Moreover, the demands encountered by animals can change through ontogeny as they grow, sexually mature or migrate across environmental gradients. To understand how mechanisms that underlie functional performance contribute to survival and diversification across challenging and variable habitats, we have pursued diverse studies of the comparative biomechanics of amphidromous goby fishes across functional requirements ranging from prey capture and fast-start swimming to adhesion and waterfall climbing. The pan-tropical distribution of these fishes has provided opportunities for repeated testing of evolutionary hypotheses. By synthesizing data from the lab and field, across approaches spanning high-speed kinematics, selection trials, suction pressure recordings, mechanical property testing, muscle fiber-type measurements and physical modeling of bioinspired designs, we have clarified how multiple axes of variation in biomechanical performance associate with the ecological and evolutionary diversity of these fishes. Here our studies of how these fishes meet both common and extreme functional demands add new, complementary perspectives to frameworks developed from other systems, and illustrate how integrating knowledge of the mechanical underpinnings of diverse aspects of performance can give critical insights into ecological and evolutionary questions.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Antennas for 20/30 GHz and beyond

Antennas of 20/30 GHz and higher frequency, due to the small wavelength, offer capabilities for many space applications. With the government-sponsored space programs (such as ACTS) in recent years, the industry has gone through the learning curve of designing and developing high-performance, multi-function antennas in this frequency range. Design and analysis tools (such as the computer modelling used in feedhorn design and reflector surface and thermal distortion analysis) are available. The components/devices (such as BFN's, weight modules, feedhorns and etc.) are space-qualified. The manufacturing procedures (such as reflector surface control) are refined to meet the stringent tolerance accompanying high frequencies. The integration and testing facilities (such as Near-Field range) also advance to facilitate precision assembling and performance verification. These capabilities, essential to the successful design and development of high-frequency spaceborne antennas, shall find more space applications (such as ESGP) than just communications.

Chen, C. Harry↗

Validation of High-Fidelity CFD/CAA Framework for Launch Vehicle Acoustic Environment Simulation against Scale Model Test Data

A hybrid Computational Fluid Dynamics and Computational Aero-Acoustics (CFD/CAA) modeling framework has been developed for launch vehicle liftoff acoustic environment predictions. The framework couples the existing highly-scalable NASA production CFD code, Loci/CHEM, with a high-order accurate discontinuous Galerkin solver developed in the same production framework, Loci/THRUST, to accurately resolve and propagate acoustic physics across the entire launch environment. Time-accurate, Hybrid RANS/LES CFD modeling is applied for predicting the acoustic generation physics at the plume source, and a high-order accurate unstructured discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method is employed to propagate acoustic waves away from the source across large distances using high-order accurate schemes. The DG solver is capable of solving 2nd, 3rd, and 4th order Euler solutions for non-linear, conservative acoustic field propagation. Initial application testing and validation has been carried out against high resolution acoustic data from the Ares Scale Model Acoustic Test (ASMAT) series to evaluate the capabilities and production readiness of the CFD/CAA system to resolve the observed spectrum of acoustic frequency content. This paper presents results from this validation and outlines efforts to mature and improve the computational simulation framework.

Liever, Peter A.↗

Validation of High-Fidelity CFD/CAA Framework for Launch Vehicle Acoustic Environment Simulation against Scale Model Test Data

A hybrid Computational Fluid Dynamics and Computational Aero-Acoustics (CFD/CAA) modeling framework has been developed for launch vehicle liftoff acoustic environment predictions. The framework couples the existing highly-scalable NASA production CFD code, Loci/CHEM, with a high-order accurate Discontinuous Galerkin solver developed in the same production framework, Loci/THRUST, to accurately resolve and propagate acoustic physics across the entire launch environment. Time-accurate, Hybrid RANS/LES CFD modeling is applied for predicting the acoustic generation physics at the plume source, and a high-order accurate unstructured mesh Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method is employed to propagate acoustic waves away from the source across large distances using high-order accurate schemes. The DG solver is capable of solving 2nd, 3rd, and 4th order Euler solutions for non-linear, conservative acoustic field propagation. Initial application testing and validation has been carried out against high resolution acoustic data from the Ares Scale Model Acoustic Test (ASMAT) series to evaluate the capabilities and production readiness of the CFD/CAA system to resolve the observed spectrum of acoustic frequency content. This paper presents results from this validation and outlines efforts to mature and improve the computational simulation framework.

Liever, Peter A.↗

Super Resolution Digital Image Correlation (SR-DIC): an Alternative to Image Stitching at High Magnifications

Abstract Background High-resolution Digital Image Correlation (DIC) measurements have previously been produced by stitching of neighboring images, which often requires short working distances. Separately, the image processing community has developed super resolution (SR) imaging techniques, which improve resolution by combining multiple overlapping images. Objective This work investigates the novel pairing of super resolution with digital image correlation, as an alternative method to produce high-resolution full-field strain measurements. Methods First, an image reconstruction test is performed, comparing the ability of three previously published SR algorithms to replicate a high-resolution image. Second, an applied translation is compared against DIC measurement using both low- and super-resolution images. Third, a ring sample is mechanically deformed and DIC strain measurements from low- and super-resolution images are compared. Results SR measurements show improvements compared to low-resolution images, although they do not perfectly replicate the high-resolution image. SR-DIC demonstrates reduced error and improved confidence in measuring rigid body translation when compared to low resolution alternatives, and it also shows improvement in spatial resolution for strain measurements of ring deformation. Conclusions Super resolution imaging can be effectively paired with Digital Image Correlation, offering improved spatial resolution, reduced error, and increased measurement confidence.

Hansen, R. S.↗

GrainGNN: A dynamic graph neural network for predicting 3D grain microstructure

We propose GrainGNN, a surrogate model for the evolution of polycrystalline grain structure under rapid solidification conditions in metal additive manufacturing. High fidelity simulations of solidification microstructures are typically performed using multicomponent partial differential equations (PDEs) with moving interfaces. The inherent randomness of the PDE initial conditions (grain seeds) necessitates ensemble simulations to predict microstructure statistics, e.g., grain size, aspect ratio, and crystallographic orientation. Here, currently such ensemble simulations are prohibitively expensive and surrogates are necessary.In GrainGNN, we use a dynamic graph to represent interface motion and topological changes due to grain coarsening. We use a reduced representation of the microstructure using hand-crafted features; we combine pattern finding and altering graph algorithms with two neural networks, a classifier (for topological changes) and a regressor (for interface motion). Both networks have an encoder-decoder architecture; the encoder has a multi-layer transformer long-short-term-memory architecture; the decoder is a single layer perceptron.We evaluate GrainGNN by comparing it to high-fidelity phase field simulations for in-distribution and out-of-distribution grain configurations for solidification under laser power bed fusion conditions. GrainGNN results in 80%–90% pointwise accuracy; and nearly identical distributions of scalar quantities of interest (QoI) between phase field and GrainGNN simulations compared using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. GrainGNN's inference speedup (PyTorch on single x86 CPU) over a high-fidelity phase field simulation (CUDA on a single NVIDIA A100 GPU) is 150×–2000× for 100-initial grain problem. Further, using GrainGNN, we model the formation of 11,600 grains in 220 seconds on a single CPU core.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Design, development, and test of a laser velocimeter for high speed turbomachinery

The paper describes the design, development, and test of a laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) to map the velocity fields in a small, high speed, 8:1 pressure ratio, 0.91 kg/s (2 lbm/s), centrifugal compressor. This instrument is being used as a diagnostic tool for the study of the basic fluid dynamics of the inducer, impeller and the diffuser regions of high pressure ratio, small, centrifugal compressors. The LDV instrumentation has been optimized to permit the measurement of instantaneous velocities up to approximately 500 m/s, measured in absolute coordinates, within a rotating compressor impeller. Velocities of the same magnitude can also be measured in the two-dimensional radial plane of the diffuser. It is shown that LDV can make nondisturbing gas velocity measurements and surmount the difficulties found in applying other types of aerodynamic instrumentation to this measurement problem.

Runstadler, P. W., Jr.↗

Impact of the chiral asymmetry and a magnetic field on the passage of an energetic test parton in a QCD medium

We study the dependence of soft contribution to the energy loss of a test parton moving with a high velocity on the chiral imbalance and magnetic field in the QCD medium. A semiclassical approach is adopted to estimate the parton energy loss that takes into account the back-reaction on the parton due to the polarization effects of the QCD medium while traversing through the medium. We find that the motion of the parton is sensitive to the chiral asymmetry in the medium. Further, we investigate the effect of magnetic field-induced anisotropy on the energy transfer between the moving parton and the medium. Our results show that the energy loss of the parton is strongly influenced by the strength of the magnetic field as well as the relative orientation of the motion of the parton and the direction of the magnetic field in the medium.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Magnetic Field Mapping of a 2.5 T Fixed-Field HTS Gantry Magnet for Proton Therapy

We present results from testing a high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet prototype for proton therapy. This magnet is specifically designed for a novel rotating gantry capable of delivering the entire proton beam energy range (70225 MeV) while maintaining a fixed magnetic field in the superconducting magnets. The gantry layout simplifies the magnet design, enabling the use of straight, flat racetrack Bi-2223 (DI-BSCCO) coil technology and operation at higher temperatures (1015 K). The magnet has a non-linear field distribution for bending and focusing the proton beams. To validate this feature, we developed a system for measuring the magnetic field distribution in the magnet aperture. We present the design of this hall probe array and experimental results from two different magnet tests at 4.2 K in a liquid helium bath. These results are compared with the simulated field distribution and discussed in the context of the required field quality for the application.

Mosat, M↗

New particle pusher with hadronic interactions for modeling multimessenger emission from compact objects

We propose novel numerical schemes based on the Boris method in curved spacetime, incorporating both hadronic and radiative interactions for the first time. Once the proton has lost significant energy due to radiative and hadronic losses, and its gyroradius has decreased below typical scales on which the electromagnetic field varies, we apply a guiding center approximation (GCA). We fundamentally simulate collision processes either with a Monte-Carlo method or, where applicable, as a continuous energy loss, contingent on the local optical depth. To test our algorithm for the first time combining the effects of electromagnetic, gravitational, and radiation fields including hadronic interactions, we simulate highly relativistic protons traveling through various electromagnetic fields and proton backgrounds. We provide unit tests in various spatially dependent electromagnetic and gravitational fields and background photon and proton distributions, comparing the trajectory against analytic results. We propose that our method can be used to analyze hadronic interactions in black hole accretion disks, jets, and coronae to study the neutrino abundance from active galactic nuclei.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Rad-Hard, Miniaturized, Scalable, High-Voltage Switching Module for Power Applications Rad-Hard, Miniaturized

A paper discusses the successful development of a miniaturized radiation hardened high-voltage switching module operating at 2.5 kV suitable for space application. The high-voltage architecture was designed, fabricated, and tested using a commercial process that uses a unique combination of 0.25 micrometer CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) transistors and high-voltage lateral DMOS (diffusion metal oxide semiconductor) device with high breakdown voltage (greater than 650 V). The high-voltage requirements are achieved by stacking a number of DMOS devices within one module, while two modules can be placed in series to achieve higher voltages. Besides the high-voltage requirements, a second generation prototype is currently being developed to provide improved switching capabilities (rise time and fall time for full range of target voltages and currents), the ability to scale the output voltage to a desired value with good accuracy (few percent) up to 10 kV, to cover a wide range of high-voltage applications. In addition, to ensure miniaturization, long life, and high reliability, the assemblies will require intensive high-voltage electrostatic modeling (optimized E-field distribution throughout the module) to complete the proposed packaging approach and test the applicability of using advanced materials in a space-like environment (temperature and pressure) to help prevent potential arcing and corona due to high field regions. Finally, a single-event effect evaluation would have to be performed and single-event mitigation methods implemented at the design and system level or developed to ensure complete radiation hardness of the module.

Adell, Philippe C.↗

Pulsed High Temperature Superconducting Central Solenoid Model Coil for Plasma Current Drive and Control in High-Field Compact Commercial Fusion Power Plants (CRADA Final Report)

This ARPA-E BETHE project was aimed to design, build and test a fast-ramping HighTemperature Superconducting (HTS) Central Solenoid Model Coil (CSMC) that significantly derisks a full-size HTS Central Solenoid (CS) capable of driving and controlling the plasma current in a compact, high-field, low-cost tokamak power plant. The LBNL objectives and milestones for this project were divided into two distinct tracts: Diagnostics and Quench Simulation.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗