Doppler lidar results from the San Gorgonio Pass experiments

During FY-84, the Doppler Lidar data from the San Gorgonio Pass experiments were analyzed, evaluated, and interpreted with regard to signal strength, signal width, magnitude and direction of velocity component and a goodness parameter associated with the expected noise level of the signal. From these parameters, a screening criteria was developed to eliminate questionable data. For the most part analysis supports the validity of Doppler Lidar data obtained at San Gorgonio Pass with respect to the mean velocity magnitude and direction. The question as to whether the Doppler width could be interpreted as a measure of the variance of the turbulence within the Doppler Lidar System (DLS) focal volume was not resolved. The stochastic nature of the Doppler broadening from finite residence time of the particles in the beam as well as other Doppler broadening phenomenon tend to mask the Doppler spread associated with small scale turbulence. Future tests with longer pulses may assist in better understanding

Scaling analysis applied to the NORVEX code development and thermal energy flight experiment

A scaling analysis is used to study the dominant flow processes that occur in molten phase change material (PCM) under 1 g and microgravity conditions. Results of the scaling analysis are applied to the development of the NORVEX (NASA Oak Ridge Void Experiment) computer program and the preparation of the Thermal Energy Storage (TES) flight experiment. The NORVEX computer program which is being developed to predict melting and freezing with void formation in a 1 g or microgravity environment of the PCM is described. NORVEX predictions are compared with the scaling and similarity results. The approach to be used to validate NORVEX with TES flight data is also discussed. Similarity and scaling show that the inertial terms must be included as part of the momentum equation in either the 1 g or microgravity environment (a creeping flow assumption is invalid). A 10(exp -4) environment was found to be a suitable microgravity environment for the proposed PCM

Electron microscopical and histochemical studies on the transverse striated muscles of birds after prolonged hypokinesis

Studies of the gastrocnemius muscle were carried out in 4 month old cockerels of the laying hybrid after hypokinesis lasting 15 and 30 days. It was found that restricted movement resulted in dystrophic changes of myotibrils, enlargement of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and oedem of interfibrillar spaces. Histochemical studies revealed focuses of increased activity of non-specific esterase, decreased activity of dehydrogenase of lactic acid and a positive reaction of acid phosphatase

Symbolic Computational Approach to the Marangoni Convection Problem With Soret Diffusion

A recently reported solution for stationary stability of a thermosolutal system with Soret diffusion is re-derived and examined using a symbolic computational package. Symbolic computational languages are well suited for such an analysis and facilitate a pragmatic approach that is adaptable to similar problems. Linearization of the equations, normal mode analysis, and extraction of the final solution are performed in a Mathematica notebook format. An exact solution is obtained for stationary stability in the limit of zero gravity. A closed form expression is also obtained for the location of asymptotes in relevant parameter, (Sm(sub c), Mac(sub c)), space. The stationary stability behavior is conveniently examined within the symbolic language environment. An abbreviated version of the Mathematica notebook is given in the Appendix

Onset of Convection Due to Surface Tension Variations in Multicomponent and Binary Fluid Layers

Under certain conditions, such as in thin liquid films or microgravity, surface tension variations along a free surface can induce convection. Convection onset due to surface tension variation is important to many terrestrial technological processes in addition to microgravity materials processing applications. Examples include coating, drying crystallization, solidification, liquid surface contamination, and containerless processing. In double-diffusive and multicomponent systems, the spatial variations of surface tension are associated with two or more stratifying agencies, respectively. For example, both temperature and species (concentration) gradients are associated with convection in the solidification of binary alloys or salt ponds. The direction of the two (or more) gradients has a profound effect on the nature of the flow at or slightly beyond the onset of convection. Our recent work at the NASA Lewis Research Center focused on characterizing surface-tension-induced onset of convection, often referred to as Marangoni-Benard convection. Exact solutions for the stationary neutral stability of multicomponent fluid layers with interfacial deformation were derived. These solutions also permit the computation of a boundary curve that separates the long and finite wavelength instabilities. Computing points along this boundary using the exact solution (when possible) is more efficient than the typical numerical approaches, such as finite difference or spectral methods. Above the curve, a long wavelength instability was predicted, suggesting that convection would occur principally through one large flow cell in the layer, whereas below the curve, finite wavelength instabilities occur which suggest multiple finite-sized circulation cells. For many common liquids with layer depths greater than 100 mm, finite wave instability is predicted under terrestrial conditions; however, with little exception, long wavelength instability is predicted in microgravity for the identical fluid systems

Convective Instability of a Gravity Modulated Fluid Layer with Surface Tension Variation

Gravity modulation of an unbounded fluid layer with surface tension variations along its free surface is investigated. In parameter space of (wavenumber, Marangoni number) modulation has a destabilizing effect on the unmodulated neutral stability curve for large Prandtl number, Pr, and small modulation frequency, Omega, while a stabilizing effect is observed for small Pr and large Omega. As Omega yields infinity, the modulated neutral stability curves approach the unmodulated neutral stability curve. At certain values of Pr and L2 multiple minima are observed and the neutral stability curves become highly distorted. Closed regions of subharmonic instability are also observed. Alternating regions of synchronous and subharmonic instability separated by very thin stable regions are observed in (1/Omega,g(sub 1)) space for the singly diffusive cases. Quasiperiodic behavior in addition to the synchronous and subharmonic responses, are observed for the case of a double diffusive fluid layer. Minimum acceleration amplitudes were observed to closely correspond with a subharmonic response, Lambda(sub im) = Omega/2

Thermal modeling with solid/liquid phase change of the thermal energy storage experiment

A thermal model which simulates combined conduction and phase change characteristics of thermal energy storage (TES) materials is presented. Both the model and results are presented for the purpose of benchmarking the conduction and phase change capabilities of recently developed and unvalidated microgravity TES computer programs. Specifically, operation of TES-1 is simulated. A two-dimensional SINDA85 model of the TES experiment in cylindrical coordinates was constructed. The phase change model accounts for latent heat stored in, or released from, a node undergoing melting and freezing

Analysis of the NASA/MSFC airborne Doppler lidar results from San Gorgonio Pass, California

The NASA/MSFC Airborne Doppler Lidar System was flown in July 1981 aboard the NASA/Ames Convair 990 on the east side of San Gorgonio Pass California, near Palm Springs, to measure and investigate the accelerated atmospheric wind field discharging from the pass. At this region, the maritime layer from the west coast accelerates through the pass and spreads out over the valley floor on the east side of the pass. The experiment was selected in order to study accelerated flow in and at the exit of the canyon. Ground truth wind data taken concurrently with the flight data were available from approximately 12 meteorological towers and 3 tala kites for limited comparison purposes. The experiment provided the first spatial data for ensemble averaging of spatial correlations to compute lateral and longitudinal length scales in the lateral and longitudinal directions for both components, and information on atmospheric flow in this region of interest from wind energy resource considerations

Analysis of the NASA/MSFC Airborne Doppler Lidar results from San Gorgonio Pass, California

Two days during July of 1981 the NASA/MSFC Airborne Doppler Lidar System (ADLS) was flown aboard the NASA/AMES Convair 990 on the east side of San Gorgonio Pass California, near Palm Springs, to measure and investigate the accelerated atmospheric wind field discharging from the pass. The vertical and horizontal extent of the fast moving atmospheric flow discharging from the San Gorgonio Pass were examined. Conventional ground measurements were also taken during the tests to assist in validating the ADLS results. This particular region is recognized as a high wind resource region and, as such, a knowledge of the horizontal and vertical extent of this flow was of interest for wind energy applications. The statistics of the atmospheric flow field itself as it discharges from the pass and then spreads out over the desert were also of scientific interests. This data provided the first spatial data for ensemble averaging of spatial correlations to compute longitudinal and lateral integral length scales in the longitudinal and lateral directions for both components

Sporadicity and synchronization in one-dimensional asymmetrically coupled maps

A one-dimensional chain of sporadic maps with asymmetric nearest neighbour couplings is numerically studied. It is shown that in the region of strong asymmetry the system becomes spatially fully synchronized, even in the thermodinamic limit, while the Lyapunov exponent is zero. For weak asymmetry the synchronization is no more complete, and the Lyapunov exponent becomes positive. In addition one has a clear relation between temporal and spatial chaos, {\it i.e.}: a positive effective Lyapunov exponent corresponds to a lack of synchronization and {\it vice versa}Comment: 9 pages + 3 figures (postscript appended uuencoded tar), IOP style (appended uuencoded compress