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At least 19 records

Measurement of Model Noise in a Hard-Wall Wind Tunnel

Identification, analysis, and control of fluid-mechanically-generated sound from models of aircraft and automobiles in special low-noise, semi-anechoic wind tunnels are an important research endeavor. Such studies can also be done in aerodynamic wind tunnels that have hard walls if phased microphone arrays are used to focus on the noise-source regions and reject unwanted reflections or background noise. Although it may be difficult to simulate the total flyover or drive-by noise in a closed wind tunnel, individual noise sources can be isolated and analyzed. An acoustic and aerodynamic study was made of a 7-percent-scale aircraft model in a NASA Ames 7-by-10-ft (about 2-by-3-m) wind tunnel for the purpose of identifying and attenuating airframe noise sources. Simulated landing, takeoff, and approach configurations were evaluated at Mach 0.26. Using a phased microphone array mounted in the ceiling over the inverted model, various noise sources in the high-lift system, landing gear, fins, and miscellaneous other components were located and compared for sound level and frequency at one flyover location. Numerous noise-alleviation devices and modifications of the model were evaluated. Simultaneously with acoustic measurements, aerodynamic forces were recorded to document aircraft conditions and any performance changes caused by geometric modifications. Most modern microphone-array systems function in the frequency domain in the sense that spectra of the microphone outputs are computed, then operations are performed on the matrices of microphone-signal cross-spectra. The entire acoustic field at one station in such a system is acquired quickly and interrogated during postprocessing. Beam-forming algorithms are employed to scan a plane near the model surface and locate noise sources while rejecting most background noise and spurious reflections. In the case of the system used in this study, previous studies in the wind tunnel have identified noise sources up to 19 dB below the normal background noise of the wind tunnel. Theoretical predictions of array performance are used to minimize the width and the side lobes of the beam pattern of the microphone array for a given test arrangement. To capture flyover noise of the inverted model, a 104-element microphone array in a 622-mm-diameter cluster was installed in a 19-mm-thick poly(methyl methacrylate) plate in the ceiling of the test section of the wind tunnel above the aircraft model (see Figure 1). The microphones were of the condenser type, and their diaphragms were mounted flush in the array plate, which was recessed 12.7 mm into the ceiling and covered by a porous aromatic polyamide cloth (not shown in the figure) to minimize boundary-layer noise. This design caused the level of flow noise to be much less than that of flush-mount designs. The drawback of this design was that the cloth attenuated sound somewhat and created acoustic resonances that could grow to several dB at a frequency of 10 kHz.

Soderman, Paul T.↗

An empirical model for inverted-velocity-profile jet noise prediction

An empirical model for predicting the noise from inverted-velocity-profile coaxial or coannular jets is presented and compared with small-scale static and simulated flight data. The model considered the combined contributions of as many as four uncorrelated constituent sources: the premerged-jet/ambient mixing region, the merged-jet/ambient mixing region, outer-stream shock/turbulence interaction, and inner-stream shock/turbulence interaction. The noise from the merged region occurs at relatively low frequency and is modeled as the contribution of a circular jet at merged conditions and total exhaust area, with the high frequencies attenuated. The noise from the premerged region occurs at high frequency and is modeled as the contribution of an equivalent plug nozzle at outer stream conditions, with the low frequencies attenuated.

Stone, J. R.↗

Modeling Characteristics Of Surfaces For Radar Polarimetry

Paper reviews mathematical models of polarimetric radar backscattering characteristics of various types of terrain; forests, grasslands, and lava fields. Represents approach to imaging radar polarimetry in which one accumulates models predicting realistic polarization signatures and represent distinct scattering processes, without attempting full vector solutions of Maxwell's equations in all cases. Idea to develop ability to invert models to identify unknown terrain depicted in polarimetric radar images. Describes models, major scattering characteristics predicted by models, and interpretation of characteristics in terms of dominant scattering mechanisms. Models predict realistic polarization signatures.

Van Zyl, Jakob J.↗

Remote sensing of earth terrain

In remote sensing, the encountered geophysical media such as agricultural canopy, forest, snow, or ice are inhomogeneous and contain scatters in a random manner. Furthermore, weather conditions such as fog, mist, or snow cover can intervene the electromagnetic observation of the remotely sensed media. In the modelling of such media accounting for the weather effects, a multi-layer random medium model has been developed. The scattering effects of the random media are described by three-dimensional correlation functions with variances and correlation lengths corresponding to the fluctuation strengths and the physical geometry of the inhomogeneities, respectively. With proper consideration of the dyadic Green's function and its singularities, the strong fluctuation theory is used to calculate the effective permittivities which account for the modification of the wave speed and attenuation in the presence of the scatters. The distorted Born approximation is then applied to obtain the correlations of the scattered fields. From the correlation of the scattered field, calculated is the complete set of scattering coefficients for polarimetric radar observation or brightness temperature in passive radiometer applications. In the remote sensing of terrestrial ecosystems, the development of microwave remote sensing technology and the potential of SAR to measure vegetation structure and biomass have increased effort to conduct experimental and theoretical researches on the interactions between microwave and vegetation canopies. The overall objective is to develop inversion algorithms to retrieve biophysical parameters from radar data. In this perspective, theoretical models and experimental data are methodically interconnected in the following manner: Due to the complexity of the interactions involved, all theoretical models have limited domains of validity; the proposed solution is to use theoretical models, which is validated by experiments, to establish the region in which the radar response is most sensitive to the parameters of interest; theoretically simulated data will be used to generate simple invertible models over the region. For applications to the remote sensing of sea ice, the developed theoretical models need to be tested with experimental measurements. With measured ground truth such as ice thickness, temperature, salinity, and structure, input parameters to the theoretical models can be obtained to calculate the polarimetric scattering coefficients for radars or brightness temperature for radiometers and then compare theoretical results with experimental data. Validated models will play an important role in the interpretation and classification of ice in monitoring global ice cover from space borne remote sensors in the future. We present an inversion algorithm based on a recently developed inversion method referred to as the Renormalized Source-Type Integral Equation approach. The objective of this method is to overcome some of the limitations and difficulties of the iterative Born technique. It recasts the inversion, which is nonlinear in nature, in terms of the solution of a set of linear equations; however, the final inversion equation is still nonlinear. The derived inversion equation is an exact equation which sums up the iterative Neuman (or Born) series in a closed form and, thus, is a valid representation even in the case when the Born series diverges; hence, the name Renormalized Source-Type Integral Equation Approach.

Yueh, Herng-Aung↗

Reflectance Modeling

The main thrust of the work conducted is in the modeling of spectral responses of discontinuous conifer forest canopies, considered as collections of conical forms that are illuminated at an angle and cast shadows on contracting background. The three first-year objectives are: (1) modification of the variance-driven model to incorporate overlapping of shadows and crowns; (2) collection and analysis of photographic data to calibrate tree-spacing functions; and (3) collection of field data to determine height, spacing, and shape of conifers in open and closed stands in the Goosenest (California) test area. Modification of the invertible model uses a linear approximation to correct for the reduction in shadow and canopy area that occurs when shadows fall on crowns or tree crowns intersect. Comparison of the results of the approximation with a series of Monte Carlo simulations shows that the mean area covered by crowns or shadows is approximated quite accurately, but the variance calculated departs significantly from simulated values. The analysis of tree spacing patterns using air photos showed that spacing tended to be somewhat regular at a scale approximately equal to the average distance between trees, but at larger distance scales counts of trees in cells could be approximated acceptably by a Poisson (random) function.

Strahler, A. H.↗

Low-speed aerodynamic characteristics of a 1/8-scale X-29A airplane model at high angles of attack and sideslip

A 1/8-scale model of the X-29A airplane was tested in the Ames 12-Foot Pressure Wind Tunnel at a Mach number of 0.20 and Reynolds numbers of 0.13 x 10 to the 6th power to 2.00 x 10 to the 6th power based on a fuselage forebody depth of 0.4 ft, For the test series presented herein, the angle of attack ranged from 40 deg. to 90 deg. and the angle of sideslip ranged from -10 deg. to 30 deg. for the erect attitude. Tests with the model inverted covered angles of attack from -40 deg. to -90 deg. and angles of sideslip from -30 deg. to 10 deg. Data were obtained for the basic design and for several forebody strakes. An alternate forebody design was also tested. The results provided information for selection of forebody strakes for compensation of Reynolds number effect on the 1/25-scale free-spinning model tested in the Langley Spin Tunnel.

Whipple, R. D.↗

Unpowered Aerodynamic Characteristics of a 15-Percent Scale Model of a Twin-Engine Commuter Aircraft

An experimental investigation was conducted in the Ames 12-Foot Pressure Wind Tunnel to determine the unpowered aerodynamic characteristics of a 15-percent-scale model of a twin-engine commuter aircraft. Model longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics were examined at discrete flap deflections for various angle-of-attack and wind-tunnel-velocity ranges with the empennage on and off. Data are presented for the basic model configuration consisting of the fuselage, wing, basic wing leading edge, double slotted flaps, midengine nacelles, and empennage. Other configurations tested include a particle-span drooped leading edge (dropped outboard of the engine nacelles), a full-span drooped leading edge, low- and high-mounted engine nacelles, and a single-slotted flap. An evaluation was made of the model mounting system by comparing data obtained with the model mounted conventionally on the wind-tunnel model-support struts and the model inverted.

Morgan, D. G.↗

An empirical model for inverted-velocity-profile jet noise prediction

It is known that the noise generated by inverted-velocity-profile coaxial (without center plug) and coannular (with center plug) nozzles should be modeled as the combined contributions of various source regions and noise generation mechanisms. In this paper, an empirical noise-prediction model is described which considers the noise generated by two jet-mixing regions and two potential regions of shock/turbulence interaction. Results calculated from the empirical model are compared with model-scale experimental data for static and simulated flight conditions. These comparisons are made for cases where both streams are subsonic, where the outer stream is supersonic with the inner stream subsonic, and where both streams are supersonic. The cases considered cover a range of inner-to-outer-stream area ratios and include both coaxial and coannular nozzles. It is shown that the model gives reasonable predictions of absolute noise spectra and even better predictions of incremental changes.

Stone, J. R.↗

Large-scale wind-tunnel tests of inverting flaps on a STOL utility aircraft model

A unique inverting flap system was investigated on a large scale deflected slipstream model in the Ames 40 by 80 foot wind tunnel. The subject tests utilized 33% chord double-slotted flaps on a low aspect ratio wing that was fully immersed in the propeller slipstream. Evaluation of the flap effectiveness is aided by comparisons with the results of tests of other flap systems on the same twin propeller, twin tail boom STOL utility aircraft mode. No extreme or abrupt force or moment increments were encountered when the flaps were deflected through a wide range, corresponding to the complete retraction/extension spectrum. The lift and descent capability of the inverting flaps compared very favorably with that of the other flap systems that have been tested on this model, including some with much greater mechanical complexity. As expected, the flaps caused large nose down, pitching moment increments at the high lift settings; however, the trimmed characteristics are still competitive with those obtained from the more complicated flap systems. It is believed that these flaps may have promising potential application to the design of relatively simple STOL utility aircraft with improved performance capabilities. In addition, they may merit consideration as retrofits to existing aircraft with less effective flap systems.

Feistel, T. W.↗

Invertible canopy reflectance modeling of vegetation structure in semiarid woodland

The Li-Strahler canopy reflectance model, driven by Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data, provided regional estimates of tree size and density in two bioclimatic zones in West Africa. This model exploits tree geometry in an inversion technique to predict average tree size and density from reflectance data using a few simple parameters measured in the field (spatial pattern, shape, and size distribution of trees) and in the imagery (spectral signatures of scene components). The model was tested in sparse woodland and wooded grassland in the Sahelian and Sudanian bioclimatic zones in West Africa.

Franklin, Janet↗

Estimation of agronomic variables using spectral signatures

Techniques for the determination of leaf area index or leaf angle distribution from remote-sensing canopy-reflectance (CR) measurements are developed on the basis of empirical models relating CR to parameters such as soil and vegetation spectral properties, solar flux, and viewing angle. A general procedure for inverting CR models is presented and applied to the models of Suits (1972), Verhoef and Bunnik (1981), and Norman (1979) in the IR range. Numerical results for a soybean canopy are compared in a table, and the error sensitivity of the inverted models is shown to be relatively high, requiring the use of ancillary data such as soil reflectance, leaf reflectance, and leaf transmittance.

Goel, N. S.↗

Aircraft automatic-flight-control system with inversion of the model in the feed-forward path using a Newton-Raphson technique for the inversion

A new automatic flight control system concept suitable for aircraft with highly nonlinear aerodynamic and propulsion characteristics and which must operate over a wide flight envelope was investigated. This exact model follower inverts a complete nonlinear model of the aircraft as part of the feed-forward path. The inversion is accomplished by a Newton-Raphson trim of the model at each digital computer cycle time of 0.05 seconds. The combination of the inverse model and the actual aircraft in the feed-forward path alloys the translational and rotational regulators in the feedback path to be easily designed by linear methods. An explanation of the model inversion procedure is presented. An extensive set of simulation data for essentially the full flight envelope for a vertical attitude takeoff and landing aircraft (VATOL) is presented. These data demonstrate the successful, smooth, and precise control that can be achieved with this concept. The trajectory includes conventional flight from 200 to 900 ft/sec with path accelerations and decelerations, altitude changes of over 6000 ft and 2g and 3g turns. Vertical attitude maneuvering as a tail sitter along all axes is demonstrated. A transition trajectory from 200 ft/sec in conventional flight to stationary hover in the vertical attitude includes satisfactory operation through lift-cure slope reversal as attitude goes from horizontal to vertical at constant altitude. A vertical attitude takeoff from stationary hover to conventional flight is also demonstrated.

Smith, G. A.↗

Predicting Ecologically Important Vegetation Variables from Remotely Sensed Optical/Radar Data Using Neural Networks

A number of satellite sensor systems will collect large data sets of the Earth's surface during NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) era. Efforts are being made to develop efficient algorithms that can incorporate a wide variety of spectral data and ancillary data in order to extract vegetation variables required for global and regional studies of ecosystem processes, biosphere-atmosphere interactions, and carbon dynamics. These variables are, for the most part, continuous (e.g. biomass, leaf area index, fraction of vegetation cover, vegetation height, vegetation age, spectral albedo, absorbed photosynthetic active radiation, photosynthetic efficiency, etc.) and estimates may be made using remotely sensed data (e.g. nadir and directional optical wavelengths, multifrequency radar backscatter) and any other readily available ancillary data (e.g., topography, sun angle, ground data, etc.). Using these types of data, neural networks can: 1) provide accurate initial models for extracting vegetation variables when an adequate amount of data is available; 2) provide a performance standard for evaluating existing physically-based models; 3) invert multivariate, physically based models; 4) in a variable selection process, identify those independent variables which best infer the vegetation variable(s) of interest; and 5) incorporate new data sources that would be difficult or impossible to use with conventional techniques. In addition, neural networks employ a more powerful and adaptive nonlinear equation form as compared to traditional linear, index transformations, and simple nonlinear analyses. These neural networks attributes are discussed in the context of the authors' investigations of extracting vegetation variables of ecological interest.

Kimes, Daniel S.↗

Machine Learning for Dynamical Modeling of a Flexible Inverted Pendulum System

The inverted pendulum system, a canonical example of an unstable mechanical system, is often used to model the control problems encountered in the flight of rockets in the initial stages of launch, when the airspeed is too small for aerodynamic stability. A system with a flexible pendulum is a variant that more accurately simulates rocket flight nonlinearities (particularly, the flex modes of the rocket). To increase NASA capability of modeling dynamical systems for which closed form solutions are not clear or easily developed, this project aims to provide a machine learning approach that produces a learned dynamical model of the PENNY robot (a rover with a flexible inverted pendulum) from operational data. The developed approach can then be generalized to other complex dynamical systems, including but not limited to rockets and other robotic systems.

M. A. DuPuis↗

Analysis of the Measurement and Modeling of a Digital Inverter Based on a Ferroelectric Transistor

The use of ferroelectric materials for digital memory devices is widely researched and implemented, but ferroelectric devices also possess unique characteristics that make them have interesting and useful properties in digital circuits. Because ferroelectric transistors possess the properties of hysteresis and nonlinearity, a digital inverter containing a FeFET has very different characteristics than one with a traditional FET. This paper characterizes the properties of the measurement and modeling of a FeFET based digital inverter. The circuit was set up using discrete FeFETs. The purpose of this circuit was not to produce a practical integrated circuit that could be inserted directly into existing digital circuits, but to explore the properties and characteristics of such a device and to look at possible future uses. Input and output characteristics are presented, as well as timing measurements. Comparisons are made between the ferroelectric device and the properties of a standard digital inverter. Potential benefits and possible uses of such a device are presented.

MacLeod, Todd C.↗