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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.

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At least 1,801 records · Page 100

NASA SpaceCube Edge TPU SmallSat Card for Autonomous Operations and Onboard Science-Data Analysis

Using state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI)frameworks onboard spacecraft is challenging because common spacecraft processors cannot provide comparable performance to datacenters with server-grade CPUs and GPUs available for terrestrial applications and advanced deep-learning networks. This limitation makes small, lo w-p o we r AI microchip architectures, such as the Google Coral Edge Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), attractive for space missions where the application-specific design enables both high-performance and power-efficient computing for AI applications. To address these challenging considerations for space deployment, this research introduces the design and capabilities of a CubeSat-sized Edge TPU-based co-processor card, known as the SpaceCube Low-power Ed g e Artificial Intelligence Resilient Node (SC-LEARN). This design conforms to NASA’s CubeSat Card Specification (CS2) for integration into next-generation SmallSat and CubeSat systems. This paper describes the overarching architecture and design of the SC-LEARN, as well as, the supporting test card designed for rapid prototyping and evaluation. The SC-LEARN was developed with three operational modes: (1) a high-performance parallel-processing mode,(2)a fault-tolerant mode for onboard resilience, and (3) a power-saving mode with cold spares. Importantly, this research also elaborates on both training and quantization of Tensor Flow models for the SC-LEARN for use onboard with representative, open-source datasets. Lastly, we describe future research plans, including radiation-beam testing and flight demonstration.

Advanced avionics↗

Sub-Grid Model Improving Shrinking Core Simulations of Redox-Sensitive Technetium Release From Slag Cement Waste Forms - 17295

Numerical simulation of Tc transport in reducing cementitious materials undergoing oxidation is challenging because the effective solid-solute partition coefficient (K{sub d}) varies greatly between the reduced and oxidized states, assuming the Tc mass loading far exceeds that required to reach solubility in the aqueous phase, as is typical in waste disposal. In a conventional finite-volume formulation, the local aqueous concentration increases orders of magnitude when a computational cell switches from a reducing to oxidizing condition, which is an artifact of numerical discretization. In principal such artifacts can be reduced to an insignificant level by refining the computational grid. However, this approach is not feasible in typical facility scale applications due to computer runtime and storage limitations. In this paper an alternative sub-grid Tc release model is derived to approximately capture redox processes occurring at scales smaller than the computational mesh. This alternative approach introduces minimal additional computational expense, while significantly reducing numerical artifacts in the form of Tc concentration / flux spikes. The method is illustrated for two simple geometries and the Savannah River Site Saltstone waste Disposal Facility. The sub-grid model is shown to significantly reduce artificial spikes in Tc-99 release, resulting in more physically realistic numerical simulations. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Thread selection according to power characteristics during context switching on compute nodes

Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for thread selection during context switching on a plurality of compute nodes that includes: executing, by a compute node, an application using a plurality of threads of execution, including executing one or more of the threads of execution; selecting, by the compute node from a plurality of available threads of execution for the application, a next thread of execution in dependence upon power characteristics for each of the available threads; determining, by the compute node, whether criteria for a thread context switch are satisfied; and performing, by the compute node, the thread context switch if the criteria for a thread context switch are satisfied, including executing the next thread of execution.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Status of NASA. Marshall Space Flight Center CFD application and validation activities

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center personnel presented a paper on the status of MSFC computational fluid dynamics application and validation activities. Subjects discussed included the Space Shuttle Main Engine studies, unsteady multistage turbine loads, fuel pump discharge volutes, and injector LOX inlet results based on fundamental flows, subcomponents, and interactive components/systems.

Schutzenhofer, L. A.↗

Evaluating Multi-core Architectures through Accelerating the Three-Dimensional Lax–Wendroff Correction

Wave propagation forward modeling is a widely used computational method in oil and gas exploration. The iterative stencil loops in such problems have broad applications in scientific computing. However, executing such loops can be highly time time-consuming, which greatly limits application’s performance and power efficiency. In this paper, we accelerate the forward modeling technique on the latest multi-core and many-core architectures such as Intel Sandy Bridge CPUs, NVIDIA Fermi C2070 GPU, NVIDIA Kepler K20x GPU, and the Intel Xeon Phi Co-processor. For the GPU platforms, we propose two parallel strategies to explore the performance optimization opportunities for our stencil kernels. For Sandy Bridge CPUs and MIC, we also employ various optimization techniques in order to achieve the best.

3D Wave Forward Modeling↗

A hybrid computational approach to multiple-body viscous flow problems - Application to large-eddy breakup in a boundary layer

By combining stream-function and integral-velocity formulations, the hybrid computational procedure is rendered applicable to unsteady, two-dimensional flows about multiple bodies; the bodies in the flow are replaced by distributions of bound vorticity over their surfaces. By expressing the rotational velocity field generated by the free vorticity in terms of the stream function, stream function boundary conditions are required only on the periphery of the computational domain. The procedure is employed in the simulation of coherent eddy breakup by a single flat plate that is embedded in a viscous boundary layer, exhibiting significant unsteady flow features through the graphical presentation of vorticity contours.

Kinney, R. B.↗

MEDUSA - An overset grid flow solver for network-based parallel computer systems

Continuing improvement in processing speed has made it feasible to solve the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations for simple three-dimensional flows on advanced workstations. Combining multiple workstations into a network-based heterogeneous parallel computer allows the application of programming principles learned on MIMD (Multiple Instruction Multiple Data) distributed memory parallel computers to the solution of larger problems. An overset-grid flow solution code has been developed which uses a cluster of workstations as a network-based parallel computer. Inter-process communication is provided by the Parallel Virtual Machine (PVM) software. Solution speed equivalent to one-third of a Cray-YMP processor has been achieved from a cluster of nine commonly used engineering workstation processors. Load imbalance and communication overhead are the principal impediments to parallel efficiency in this application.

Smith, Merritt H.↗

Dynamic analysis of astronaut motions in microgravity: Applications for Extravehicular Activity (EVA)

Simulations of astronaut motions during extravehicular activity (EVA) tasks were performed using computational multibody dynamics methods. The application of computational dynamic simulation to EVA was prompted by the realization that physical microgravity simulators have inherent limitations: viscosity in neutral buoyancy tanks; friction in air bearing floors; short duration for parabolic aircraft; and inertia and friction in suspension mechanisms. These limitations can mask critical dynamic effects that later cause problems during actual EVA's performed in space. Methods of formulating dynamic equations of motion for multibody systems are discussed with emphasis on Kane's method, which forms the basis of the simulations presented herein. Formulation of the equations of motion for a two degree of freedom arm is presented as an explicit example. The four basic steps in creating the computational simulations were: system description, in which the geometry, mass properties, and interconnection of system bodies are input to the computer; equation formulation based on the system description; inverse kinematics, in which the angles, velocities, and accelerations of joints are calculated for prescribed motion of the endpoint (hand) of the arm; and inverse dynamics, in which joint torques are calculated for a prescribed motion. A graphical animation and data plotting program, EVADS (EVA Dynamics Simulation), was developed and used to analyze the results of the simulations that were performed on a Silicon Graphics Indigo2 computer. EVA tasks involving manipulation of the Spartan 204 free flying astronomy payload, as performed during Space Shuttle mission STS-63 (February 1995), served as the subject for two dynamic simulations. An EVA crewmember was modeled as a seven segment system with an eighth segment representing the massive payload attached to the hand. For both simulations, the initial configuration of the lower body (trunk, upper leg, and lower leg) was a neutral microgravity posture. In the first simulation, the payload was manipulated around a circular trajectory of 0.15 m radius in 10 seconds. It was found that the wrist joint theoretically exceeded its ulnal deviation limit by as much as 49. 8 deg and was required to exert torques as high as 26 N-m to accomplish the task, well in excess of the wrist physiological limit of 12 N-m. The largest torque in the first simulation, 52 N-m, occurred in the ankle joint. To avoid these problems, the second simulation placed the arm in a more comfortable initial position and the radius and speed of the circular trajectory were reduced by half. As a result, the joint angles and torques were reduced to values well within their physiological limits. In particular, the maximum wrist torque for the second simulation was only 3 N-m and the maximum ankle torque was only 6 N-m.

Newman, Dava J.↗

Computer program for calculation of complex chemical equilibrium compositions and applications. Supplement 1: Transport properties

An addition to the computer program of NASA SP-273 is given that permits transport property calculations for the gaseous phase. Approximate mixture formulas are used to obtain viscosity and frozen thermal conductivity. Reaction thermal conductivity is obtained by the same method as in NASA TN D-7056. Transport properties for 154 gaseous species were selected for use with the program.

Gordon, S.↗

A perspective on technical needs in computational structures technology

The wide spectrum of needs and applications are demonstrated of computational structural mechanics. The spectrum ranges from micro structural mechanics to the optimization of the performance of aerovehicles. Critical high leveraged technologies will require engineering process modernization and automation, affordable structures and materials, and advanced computational technology. Recent advances at Rockwell International in computational structural mechanics addressed these issues and improve the ability to achieve advanced aircraft objectives.

Abdi, Frank F.↗

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