NASA's plans for future NASTRAN capability

Improvements in the NASTRAN systems management office are presented. Among the improvements are the following items: (1) the FEER eigenmethod and its extension to complete eigenvalue problems; (2) the addition of a supersonic flutter package which allows gust response calculations and active control effects as membrane In addition to capabilities mentioned, an error correction information system is also introduced

Future NSMO plans for maintenance of NASTRAN

The objectives of the NASTRAN computer program system are discussed. Specific reference is made to the use of NASTRAN in the space shuttle program. The use of NASTRAN by agencies other than NASA is reported. The subjects presented are: (1) planned developments, (2) capability improvements, (3) efficiency improvements, and (4) new error correction procedure

Off-Axis Drag of Dendrite Fragments at Low Reynolds Number

The aim of the present investigation is to characterize the motion of dendrite fragments falling under the influence of gravity in a uniform liquid medium at low Reynolds number. In an earlier study, Zakhem, Weidman and de Groh (1992) reported on the settling speed of model equiaxed dendrite grains released along their axis of symmetry. In this follow-up study uniaxial model dendrite grains were released off-axis to observe and document their motion at different orientations. It was hypothesized that the dendrite models might rotate when released off-axis in which case an attempt would be made to document the ensuing unsteady motion. This latter event turned out to be in fact true: at the small but finite Reynolds numbers that existed, each uniaxial dendrite slowly rotated towards its equilibrium orientation while failing under the influence of gravity. In addition to completing the original goal, we have made use of a beads-on-a shell Stokes flow code to numerically determine the drag coefficient for capsules, i.e.. uniaxial dendrites without arms. The drag on horizontally and vertically falling capsules are reported and compared with measurements

Quasi-steady vortical structures in vertically vibrating soap �lms

An analysis of the quasi-steady streaming of the liquid in a vertically vibrated horizontal soap film is reported. The air around the soap film is seen to play a variety of roles: it transmits normal and tangential oscillatory stresses to the film, damps out Marangoni waves, and forces non-oscillatory deflection of the film and tangential motion of the liquid. Non-oscillatory volume forcing originating inside the liquid is also analysed. This forcing dominates the quasi-steady streaming when the excitation frequency is close to the eigenfrequency of a Marangoni mode of the soap film, while both volume forcing in the liquid and surface forcing of the gas on the liquid are important when no Marangoni mode resonates. Different manners by which the combined forcings can induce quasi-steady streaming motion are discussed and some numerical simulations of the quasi-steady liquid flow are presented

On the drag of model dendrite fragments at low Reynolds number

An experimental study of low Reynolds number drag on laboratory models of dendrite fragments has been conducted. The terminal velocities of the dendrites undergoing free fall along their axis of symmetry were measured in a large Stokes flow facility. Corrections for wall interference give nearly linear drag vs Reynolds number curves. Corrections for both wall interference and inertia effects show that the dendrite Stokes settling velocities are always less than that of a sphere of equal mass and volume. In the Stokes limit, the settling speed ratio is found to correlate well with primary dendrite arm aspect ratio and a second dimensionless shape paremeter which serves as a measure of the fractal-like nature of the dendrite models. These results can be used to estimate equiaxed grain velocities and distance of travel in metal castings. The drag measurements may be used in numerical codes to calculate the movement of grains in a convecting melt in an effort to determine macrosegregation patterns caused by the sink/float mechanism

Applicability of ERTS-1 to Montana geology

The author has identified the following significant results. Late autumn imagery provides the advantages of topographic shadow enhancement and low cloud cover. Mapping of rock units was done locally with good results for alluvium, basin fill, volcanics, inclined Paleozoic and Mesozoic beds, and host strata of bentonite beds. Folds, intrusive domes, and even dip directions were mapped where differential erosion was significant. However, mapping was not possible for belt strata, was difficult for granite, and was hindered by conifers compared to grass cover. Expansion of local mapping required geologic control and encountered significant areas unmappable from ERTS imagery. Annotation of lineaments provided much new geologic data. By extrapolating test site comparisons, it is inferred that 27 percent of some 1200 lineaments mapped from western Montana represent unknown faults. The remainder appear to be localized mainly by undiscovered faults and sets of minor faults or joints

Applicability of ERTS-1 to lineament and photogeologic mapping in Montana: Preliminary report

A lineament map prepared from a mosaic of western Montana shows about 85 lines not represented on the state geologic map, including elements of a northeast-trending set through central western Montana which merit ground truth checking and consideration in regional structural analysis. Experimental fold annotation resulted in a significant local correction to the state geologic map. Photogeologic mapping studies produced only limited success in identification of rock types, but they did result in the precise delineation of a late Cretaceous or early Tertiary volcanic field (Adel Mountain field) and the mapping of a connection between two granitic bodies shown on the state map. Imagery was used successfully to map clay pans associated with bentonite beds in gently dipping Bearpaw Shale. It is already apparent that ERTS imagery should be used to facilitate preparation of a much needed statewide tectonic map and that satellite imagery mapping, aided by ground calibration, provides and economical means to discover and correct errors in the state geologic map

Waves in Radial Gravity Using Magnetic Fluid

We are beginning laboratory experiments using magnetically active ferrofluids to study surface waves in novel geometries. Terrestrial gravity is eliminated from the dynamics, and the magnetic body force felt by ferrofluid in the presence of a magnetic field gradient is used to create a geopotential field which is a section of or an entire sphere or cylinder. New optical, electromagnetic and ultrasonic diagnostic techniques are under development to initially study capillary-gravity wave propagation and interaction in such geometries

On super free fall.

Villermaux & Pomeau (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 642, 2010, p. 147) analysed the motion of the interface of an inviscid liquid column released from rest in a vertical tube whose area expands gradually downwards, with application to an inverted conical container for which experimental measurements were carried out. An error in the analysis is found and corrected in the present investigation, which provides the new governing equation for the super-accelerated interface motion down gradually varying tubes in general, and integrated results for interface trajectories, velocities and accelerations down a conical tube in particular. Interestingly, the error does not affect any of the conclusions given in the 2010 paper. Further new results are reported here such as the equation governing the centre of mass and proof that the end point acceleration is exactly that of gravit