Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “dynamical decoupling”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 181 records · Page 10

Output model-following control synthesis for an oblique-wing aircraft

Recent interest in oblique-wing aircraft has focused on the potential aerodynamic performance advantage of a variable-skew oblique wing over a conventional or symmetric sweep wing. Unfortunately, the resulting asymmetric configuration has significant aerodynamic and inertial cross-coupling between the aircraft longitudinal and lateral-directional axes. Presented here is a decoupling control law synthesis technique that integrates stability augmentation, decoupling, and the direct incorporation of desired handling qualities into an output feedback controller. The proposed design technique uses linear quadratic regulator concepts in the framework of explicit model following. The output feedback strategy used is a suboptimal projection from the state space to the output space. Dynamics are then introduced into the controller to improve steady-state performance and increase system robustness. Closed-loop performance is shown by application of the control laws to the linearized equations of motion and nonlinear simulation of an oblique-wing aircraft.

Pahle, Joseph W.↗

Progress in the Development of a Class of Efficient Low Dissipative High Order Shock-capturing Methods

In a series of papers, Olsson (1994, 1995), Olsson & Oliger (1994), Strand (1994), Gerritsen Olsson (1996), Yee et al. (1999a,b, 2000) and Sandham & Yee (2000), the issue of nonlinear stability of the compressible Euler and Navier-Stokes Equations, including physical boundaries, and the corresponding development of the discrete analogue of nonlinear stable high order schemes, including boundary schemes, were developed, extended and evaluated for various fluid flows. High order here refers to spatial schemes that are essentially fourth-order or higher away from shock and shear regions. The objective of this paper is to give an overview of the progress of the low dissipative high order shock-capturing schemes proposed by Yee et al. (1999a,b, 2000). This class of schemes consists of simple non-dissipative high order compact or non-compact central spatial differencings and adaptive nonlinear numerical dissipation operators to minimize the use of numerical dissipation. The amount of numerical dissipation is further minimized by applying the scheme to the entropy splitting form of the inviscid flux derivatives, and by rewriting the viscous terms to minimize odd-even decoupling before the application of the central scheme (Sandham & Yee). The efficiency and accuracy of these scheme are compared with spectral, TVD and fifth- order WENO schemes. A new approach of Sjogreen & Yee (2000) utilizing non-orthogonal multi-resolution wavelet basis functions as sensors to dynamically determine the appropriate amount of numerical dissipation to be added to the non-dissipative high order spatial scheme at each grid point will be discussed. Numerical experiments of long time integration of smooth flows, shock-turbulence interactions, direct numerical simulations of a 3-D compressible turbulent plane channel flow, and various mixing layer problems indicate that these schemes are especially suitable for practical complex problems in nonlinear aeroacoustics, rotorcraft dynamics, direct numerical simulation or large eddy simulation of compressible turbulent flows at various speeds including high-speed shock-turbulence interactions, and general long time wave propagation problems. These schemes, including entropy splitting, have also been extended to freestream preserving schemes on curvilinear moving grids for a thermally perfect gas (Vinokur & Yee 2000).

Yee, H. C.↗

Research and development at ORNL/CESAR towards cooperating robotic systems for hazardous environments

One of the frontiers in intelligent machine research is the understanding of how constructive cooperation among multiple autonomous agents can be effected. The effort at the Center for Engineering Systems Advanced Research (CESAR) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) focuses on two problem areas: (1) cooperation by multiple mobile robots in dynamic, incompletely known environments; and (2) cooperating robotic manipulators. Particular emphasis is placed on experimental evaluation of research and developments using the CESAR robot system testbeds, including three mobile robots, and a seven-axis, kinematically redundant mobile manipulator. This paper summarizes initial results of research addressing the decoupling of position and force control for two manipulators holding a common object, and the path planning for multiple robots in a common workspace.

Mann, R. C.↗

Effects of primary rotor parameters on flapping dynamics

The effects of flapping dynamics of four main rotor design features that influence the agility, stability, and operational safety of helicopters are studied. The parameters include flapping hinge offset, flapping hinge restraint, pitch-flap coupling, and blade lock number. First, the flapping equations of motion are derived that explicitly contain the design parameters. The dynamic equations are then developed for the tip-path plane, and the influence of individual and combined variations in the design parameters determined. The steady state flapping response is examined with respect to control input and aircraft angular rate which leads to a feedforward control law for control decoupling through cross feed, and a feedback control law to decouple the steady state flapping response. The condition for achieving perfect decoupling of the flapping response due to aircraft pitch and roll rates without using feedback control is also found for the hover case. It is indicated that the frequency of the regressing flapping mode of the rotor system can become low enough to require consideration in the assessment of handling characteristics.

Chen, R. T. N.↗

The dynamics and control of large flexible space structures, 8

A development of the in plane open loop rotational equations of motion for the proposed Spacecraft Control Laboratory Experiment (SCOLE) in orbit configuration is presented based on an Eulerian formulation. The mast is considered to be a flexible beam connected to the (rigid) shuttle and the reflector. Frequencies and mode shapes are obtained for the mast vibrational appendage modes (assumed to be decoupled) for different boundary conditions based on continuum approaches and also preliminary results are obtained using a finite element representation of the mast reflector system. The linearized rotational in plane equation is characterized by periodic coefficients and open loop system stability can be examined with an application of the Floquet theorem. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the potential instability associated with actuator time delays even for delays which represent only a small fraction of the natural period of oscillation of the modes contained in the open loop model of the system. When plant and measurement noise effects are added to the previously designed deterministic model of the hoop column system, it is seen that both the system transient and steady state performance are degraded. Mission requirements can be satisfied by appropriate assignment of cost function weighting elements and changes in the ratio of plant noise to measurement noise.

Bainum, P. M.↗

TOMS Tropical Tropospheric Ozone Data Sets at the University of Maryland Website

Since 1997, shortly after the launch of the Earth-Probe TOMS (Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer) satellite instrument, we have been processing data in near-real time to post maps of tropical tropospheric ozone at a website: metosrv2.umd.edu/-tropo. Daily, 3-day and 9-day averages of tropical tropospheric ozone column depth (TTO) are viewable from 10N to 10S. Data can be downloaded (running 9-day means) from 20N-30S. Pollution events are trackable along with dynamically-induced variations in tropospheric ozone column. TOMS smoke aerosol (toms.gsfc.nasa.gov) can be used to interpret biomass burning ozone, as for example, during the extreme ozone and smoke pollution period during the ENSO-related fires of August November 1997. During that time plumes of ozone and smoke were frequently decoupled and ozone from Indonesian fires and from Africa merged in one large feature by late October 1997. In addition to the Earth-Probe TOMS record, data as half-month averages and as daily 9-day means from the Nimbus 7 TOMS instrument are at the metosrv2.umd.edu/-tropo website. A guide to the website and examples of ozone time-series and maps will be shown.

Kochhar, A. K.↗

The spectrum of density perturbations in an expanding universe

The basic dynamic equations that govern the evolution of perturbations in a Friedmann-Lemaitre universe are derived. General solutions describing the evolution of adiabatic perturbations in the density of matter are obtained, and the choice of the appropriate initial conditions is examined. The various perturbation modes are compared, and the effects of decoupling on the perturbation spectrum are studied. The scheme used to follow the evolution of density perturbations through decoupling is based on an extension of the Eddington approximation to the radiative transfer equation, and is strictly valid in both optically thick and thin limits.

Silk, J.↗

Nonlinear simulation of a flexible aircraft in maneuvering flight

A mathematical model integrating nonlinear rigid-body flight mechanics and linear aeroelastic dynamics is examined; the equations of motion for an elastic aircraft in accelerated flight are developed using Lagrangian mechanics. This approach is used to construct a simulation model of an F/A-18 (configured with tip missiles) which includes angular/elastic inertial coupling (IC). In general, the elastic modes significantly affected by IC were aerodynamically decoupled from the rest of the model. The affected modes were those which induced changes in total aircraft mass distribution. The elastic effect is noticeable if deformation-induced mass distribution changes are significant with respect to modal mass and modal frequencies. A modal parameter is presented which characterizes the level of IC between elastic momentum and rigid-body angular momentum.

Buttrill, Carey S.↗

The dynamic analysis of submerged structures

Methods are described by which the dynamic interaction of structures with surrounding fluids can be computed by using finite element techniques. In all cases, the fluid is assumed to behave as an acoustic medium and is initially stationary. Such problems are solved either by explicitly modeling the fluid (using pressure or displacement as the basic fluid unknown) or by using decoupling approximations which take account of the fluid effects without actually modeling the fluid.

Everstine, G. C.↗

Essential uncontrollability of discrete linear, time-invariant, dynamical systems

The concept of a 'best approximating m-dimensional subspace' for a given set of vectors in n-dimensional whole space is introduced. Such a subspace is easily described in terms of the eigenvectors of an associated Gram matrix. This technique is used to approximate an achievable set for a discrete linear time-invariant dynamical system. This approximation characterizes the part of the state space that may be reached using modest levels of control. If the achievable set can be closely approximated by a proper subspace of the whole space then the system is 'essentially uncontrollable'. The notion finds application in studies of failure-tolerant systems, and in decoupling.

Cliff, E. M.↗

High-alpha vortex decoupling investigations on a chine forebody/Delta wing configuration at transonic Mach numbers

A test program conducted in the LaRC 8-foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel on a blended chine/delta wing model to verify the concept of controlled vortex decoupling via inboard leading-edge flaps for improved high-alpha lateral/directional characteristics is discussed. This test extended the Mach number range of a data base previously generated in a LaRC 7 ft. by 10 ft High Speed Tunnel investigation. Six-component force/moment, forebody surface pressures, and central and twin tall static and dynamic loads were measured at Mach numbers of 0.4 to 1.2; laser light-sheet visualizations were also performed. Selected data are analyzed and discussed, emphasizing lateral/directional improvements and tail environment enhanced attainable by leading-edge flaps in the maximum lift region.

Rao, Dhanvada M.↗

The dynamics and control of large flexible space structures, 2. Part A: Shape and orientation control using point actuators

The equations of planar motion for a flexible beam in orbit which includes the effects of gravity gradient torques and control torques from point actuators located along the beam was developed. Two classes of theorems are applied to the linearized form of these equations to establish necessary conditions for controlability for preselected actuator configurations. The feedback gains are selected: (1) based on the decoupling of the original coordinates and to obtain proper damping, and (2) by applying the linear regulator problem to the individual model coordinates separately. The linear control laws obtained using both techniques were evaluated by numerical integration of the nonlinear system equations. Numerical examples considering pitch and various number of modes with different combination of actuator numbers and locations are presented. The independent model control concept used earlier with a discretized model of the thin beam in orbit was reviewed for the case where the number of actuators is less than the number of modes. Results indicate that although the system is controllable it is not stable about the nominal (local vertical) orientation when the control is based on modal decoupling. An alternate control law not based on modal decoupling ensures stability of all the modes.

Bainum, P. M.↗

Head-eye tracking in two-dimensional pursuit tasks

The neurological control systems for the eye and head are studied by investigating dynamic eye and head rotations in two degrees of freedom using bandlimited, white noise stimuli, nominally wide field of view stimulus presentations of + or - 10 deg and power spectral analysis of the data to produce input/output transfer and coherence functions. Determined were frequency response characteristics of these systems, the linearity of the transfer functions in both coupled and decoupled vertical and horizontal stimulus/response reference axes and the amount of cross axis coupling present in system responses. A comparative study was also conducted to assess the differences in response characteristics between single axis and dual axis visual stimulation for the same subject.

Shirachi, D. K.↗

Dynamics and Control of Flexible Spacecraft During and After Slewing Maneuvers

The dynamics and control of slewing maneuvers of a large flexible spacecraft, namely, NASA Spacecraft Control Laboratory Experiment (SCOLE) test article are studied. The dynamical equations obtained for slewing maneuvers are highly nonlinear and coupled. The maneuver is expressed in terms of four Euler parameters and is specified as the angular displacement about an arbitrary axis. The slew maneuver control problem is developed in terms of rigid-body slewing and suppression of two elastic modes is analyzed using the method of nonlinear decoupling.

Kakad, Y. P.↗

Hydroclimatic Controls over Global Variations in Phenology and Carbon Flux

The connection between phenological and hydroclimatological variations are quantified through joint analyses of global NDVI, LAI, and precipitation datasets. The global distributions of both NDVI and LAI in the warm season are strongly controlled by three quantities: mean annual precipitation, the standard deviation of annual precipitation, and Budyko's index of dryness. Upon demonstrating that these same basic (if biased) relationships are produced by a dynamic vegetation model (the dynamic vegetation and carbon storage components of the NCAR Community Land Model version 4 combined with the water and energy balance framework of the Catchment Land Surface Model of the NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office), we use the model to perform a sensitivity study focusing on how phenology and carbon flux might respond to climatic change. The offline (decoupled from the atmosphere) simulations show us, for example, where on the globe a given small increment in precipitation mean or variability would have the greatest impact on carbon uptake. The analysis framework allows us in addition to quantify the degree to which climatic biases in a free-running GCM are manifested as biases in simulated phenology.

Koster, Randal↗

Aircraft maneuver optimization of reduced-order approximation

Review of recent work in recasting the energy type of approximation to aircraft flight in terms of singular perturbation theory and in extending this theory to three-dimensional maneuvers. Singular perturbations for differential equations arising in optimal control are first examined for a system of fairly general form but low order. The attitude dynamics for optimal flight of a rocket in vacuum is then studied as an introductory, and fairly transparent, example. The question of the choice of variables is then discussed. Finally, optimal aircraft flight in various reduced-order approximations is investigated. In particular, the problem of three-dimensional aircraft flight is formulated for singular perturbation treatment, and possibilities for decoupling into several lower-order problems are illustrated. The use of reduced-order approximation facilitates numerical computations by reducing the number of multiplier initial values that must be determined simultaneously and by improving the conditioning of the differential equations.

Kelley, H. J.↗

A three-dimensional dynamic analysis and libration study of a tethered satellites system

By a three-dimensional Lagrangian formulation, an exact set of ten coupled nonlinear second-order differential equations has been derived for a system with an extensible tether connecting two end satellites of distributed mass. The effects of tether mass, small orbital eccentricity, central body oblateness, aerodynamic drag force, and solar radiation pressure are also included in the formulation. By linearizing the exact differential equations, the in-plane (orbital plane) differential equations are found to be decoupled from the out-of-plane ones. The characteristic equation of the in-plane differential equations is derived and some associated stability constraints are shown.

Tang, C. C. H.↗

Alfven-wave dissipation: A support mechanism for quiescent prominences

High resolution filtergrams or spectrograms of the main body of quiescent prominences often show a very vivid dynamical picture that cannot be reconciled with static models. Even if large differences exist between individual prominences in this respect, at least parts of the prominence are usually found to be in a 'choppy', turbulent state. Evidence for systematic flows are found in local regions in the prominence and also in the transition zone in the surroundings. These two regions are probably decoupled magnetically. Alfven waves are generally believed to be responsible for the heating in the upper chromosphere and corona (Hollweg 1986). Since evidence for the presence of Alfven-waves has also been found in the solar wind field, it is highly probable that such waves are generated in the convection zone of the sun and propagated outwards in the solar atmosphere wherever a proper magnetic field is present to carry the waves. The most basic magnetic formations in the solar atmosphere are simple loops. They occur all over the solar surface and cover a large range of magnetic field strengths. Loops with the strongest magnetic fields are found in active regions. It is to be expected that the Alfven-wave flux which is channelled into the loops from below, could show considerable variation both with heliocentric latitude, with time and locally between neighbouring loops. What happens when a magnetic loop is exposed to the appropriate Alfven-wave flux required to heat the upper solar atmosphere is examined.

Jensen, Eberhart↗