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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 199 records · Page 11

An analysis of job placement patterns of black and non-black male and female undergraduates at the University of Virginia and Hampton Institute

Research questions were proposed to determine the relationship between independent variables (race, sex, and institution attended) and dependent variables (number of job offers received, salary received, and willingness to recommend source of employer contact). The control variables were academic major, grade point average, placement registration, nonemployment activity, employer, and source of employer contact. An analysis of the results revealed no statistical significance of the institution attended as a predictor of job offers or salary, although significant relationships were found between race and sex and number of job offers received. It was found that academic major, grade point average, and source of employer contact were more useful than race in the prediction of salary. Sex and nonemployment activity were found to be the most important variables in the model. The analysis also indicated that Black students received more job offers than non-Black students.

Anderson, A. F.↗

Difference equation for superradiance

The evolution of a completely excited system of N two-level atoms, distributed over a large region and interacting with all modes of radiation field, is studied. The distinction between r-conserving (RC) and r-nonconserving (RNC) processes is emphasized. Considering the number of photons emitted as the discrete independent variable, the evolution is described by a partial difference equation. Numerical solution of this equation shows the transition from RNC dominance at the beginning to RC dominance later. This is also a transition from incoherent to coherent emission of radiation.

Lee, C. T.↗

Slowly varying component of extreme ultraviolet solar radiation and its relation to solar radio radiation

A study of the correlations between solar EUV line fluxes and solar radio fluxes has been carried out. A calibration for the Goddard Space Flight Center EUV spectrum is suggested. The results are used to obtain an equation for the absolute EUV flux for several lines in the 150- to 400-A region and the total flux of 81 intense lines in the region, the 2800-MHz radio flux being used as independent variable.

Chapman, R. D.↗

Prolongation structures of nonlinear evolution equations

A technique is developed for systematically deriving a 'prolongation structure' - a set of interrelated potentials and pseudopotentials - for nonlinear partial differential equations in two independent variables. When this is applied to the Korteweg-de Vries equation, a new infinite set of conserved quantities is obtained. Known solution techniques are shown to result from the discovery of such a structure: related partial differential equations for the potential functions, linear 'inverse scattering' equations for auxiliary functions, Backlund transformations. Generalizations of these techniques will result from the use of irreducible matrix representations of the prolongation structure.

Wahlquist, H. D.↗

Multivariate Analysis, Retrieval, and Storage System (MARS). Volume 6: MARS System - A Sample Problem (Gross Weight of Subsonic Transports)

The Mars system is a tool for rapid prediction of aircraft or engine characteristics based on correlation-regression analysis of past designs stored in the data bases. An example of output obtained from the MARS system, which involves derivation of an expression for gross weight of subsonic transport aircraft in terms of nine independent variables is given. The need is illustrated for careful selection of correlation variables and for continual review of the resulting estimation equations. For Vol. 1, see N76-10089.

Hague, D. S.↗

Stabilization by modification of the Lagrangian

In order to reduce the error growth during a numerical integration, a method of stabilization of the differential equations of the Keplerian motion is offered. It is characterized by the use of the eccentric anomaly as an independent variable in such a way that the time transformation is given by a generalized Lagrange formalism. The control terms in the equations of motion obtained by this modified Lagrangian give immediately a completely Liapunov-stable set of differential equations. In contrast to other publications, here the equation of time integration is modified by a control term which leads to an integral which defined the time element for the perturbed Keplerian motion.

Baumgarte, J. W.↗

Fixed-range optimum trajectories for short-haul aircraft

An algorithm, based on the energy-state method, is derived for calculating optimum trajectories with a range constraint. The basis of the algorithm is the assumption that optimum trajectories consist of, at most, three segments: an increasing energy segment (climb); a constant energy segment (cruise); and a decreasing energy segment (descent). This assumption allows energy to be used as the independent variable in the increasing and decreasing energy segments, thereby eliminating the integration of a separate adjoint differential equation and simplifying the calculus of variations problem to one requiring only pointwise extremization of algebraic functions. The algorithm is used to compute minimum fuel, minimum time, and minimum direct-operating-cost trajectories, with range as a parameter, for an in-service CTOL aircraft and for an advanced STOL aircraft. For the CTOL aircraft and the minimum-fuel performance function, the optimum controls, consisting of air-speed and engine power setting, are continuous functions of the energy in both climb and descent as well as near the maximum or cruise energy. This is also true for the STOL aircraft except in the descent where at one energy level a nearly constant energy dive segment occurs, yielding a discontinuity in the airspeed at that energy. The reason for this segment appears to be the relatively high fuel flow at idle power of the engines used by this STOL aircraft. Use of a simplified trajectory which eliminates the dive increases the fuel consumption of the total descent trajectory by about 10 percent and the time to fly the descent by about 19 percent compared to the optimum.

Erzberger, H.↗

Creation of a ceramics handbook

A group of common ceramic materials (alumina, magnesium oxide, silicon nitride, and silicon carbide) were characterized through literature searches according to their physical properties. The files used were the NASA file, DDC/GRA File, Engineering Index File and standard library searches. The results of these searches are arranged by material properties including mechanical, electrical, electromagnetic, where applicable, and fracture; and the entries are arranged in chronological order by candidate. A list, by author, follows where tabular information including charts and figures of results is given along with a brief statement of the results and conclusions. In both cases, information on the independent variables along with their range is given. The results of an extensive industry survey asking for names of other candidates on which information is lacking and also what type of service, if any, is desired in keeping a current information file on general ceramic materials.

Craft, W. J.↗

Satellite attitude prediction by multiple time scales method

An investigation is made of the problem of predicting the attitude of satellites under the influence of external disturbing torques. The attitude dynamics are first expressed in a perturbation formulation which is then solved by the multiple scales approach. The independent variable, time, is extended into new scales, fast, slow, etc., and the integration is carried out separately in the new variables. The theory is applied to two different satellite configurations, rigid body and dual spin, each of which may have an asymmetric mass distribution. The disturbing torques considered are gravity gradient and geomagnetic. Finally, as multiple time scales approach separates slow and fast behaviors of satellite attitude motion, this property is used for the design of an attitude control device. A nutation damping control loop, using the geomagnetic torque for an earth pointing dual spin satellite, is designed in terms of the slow equation.

Tao, Y. C.↗

Preliminary scaling laws for plasma current, ion kinetic temperature, and plasma number density in the NASA Lewis bumpy torus plasma

Parametric variation of independent variables which may affect the characteristics of bumpy torus plasma have identified those which have a significant effect on the plasma current, ion kinetic temperature, and plasma number density, and those which do not. Empirical power law correlations of the plasma current, and the ion kinetic temperature and number density were obtained as functions of potential applied to the midplane electrode rings, the background neutral gas pressure, and the magnetic field strength. Additional parameters studied included the type of gas, the polarity of the midplane electrode rings, the mode of plasma operation, and the method of measuring the plasma number density. No significant departures from the scaling laws appear to occur at the highest ion kinetic temperatures or number densities obtained to date.

Roth, J. R.↗

Combined magnetic and gravity analysis

Efforts are made to identify methods of decreasing magnetic interpretation ambiguity by combined gravity and magnetic analysis, to evaluate these techniques in a preliminary manner, to consider the geologic and geophysical implications of correlation, and to recommend a course of action to evaluate methods of correlating gravity and magnetic anomalies. The major thrust of the study was a search and review of the literature. The literature of geophysics, geology, geography, and statistics was searched for articles dealing with spatial correlation of independent variables. An annotated bibliography referencing the Germane articles and books is presented. The methods of combined gravity and magnetic analysis techniques are identified and reviewed. A more comprehensive evaluation of two types of techniques is presented. Internal correspondence of anomaly amplitudes is examined and a combined analysis is done utilizing Poisson's theorem. The geologic and geophysical implications of gravity and magnetic correlation based on both theoretical and empirical relationships are discussed.

Hinze, W. J.↗

Information content in Iris spectra

Spectra from the satellite instrument Iris (infrared interferometer spectrometer) were examined to find the number of independent variables needed to describe the broad-band high-resolution spectral data. The radiated power in the atmospheric window from 771 to 981 per cm was the first parameter chosen for fitting observed spectra. At succeeding levels of analysis, the residual variability (observed spectrum minus best-fit spectrum) in an ensemble of observations was partitioned into spectral eigenvectors. The eigenvector describing the largest fraction of this variability was examined for a strong spectral signature; the power in the corresponding spectral band was then used as the next fitting parameter. The measured power in nine spectral intervals, when it was inserted in the spectral-fitting functions, was adequate to describe most spectra to within the noise level of Iris. Considerations of relative signal strength and scales of atmospheric variability suggest a combination sounder (multichannel, broad field of view) scanner (window channel, small field of view) as an efficient observing instrument.

Price, J. C.↗

An analytical state transition matrix for an orbit perturbed by oblateness

A new analytical state transition matrix is presented. This transition matrix contains the two-body terms and the secular and short periodic terms due to the J2 oblateness perturbation. The matrix is derived from a satellite theory which uses a set of 8 canonical elements with the true anomaly as the independent variable. This theory was chosen because of its accuracy and concise formulation. It presents no problems concerning the accuracy of the mean motion, which is typical for classical satellite theories. Numerical experiments show the J2 transition matrix to be superior to the simple two-body matrix.

Mueller, A. C.↗

Stabilization by modification of the Lagrangian

In order to reduce the error growth during a numerical integration, a method for stabilizing the differential equations of Keplerian motion is offered. It is characterized by the use of the eccentric anomaly as independent variable in such a way that the time transformation is given by a generalized Lagrange formalism. The control terms in the equations of motion obtained by this modified Lagrangian give immediately a completely Lyapunov-stable set of differential equations. The equation of time integration is modified by a control term which leads to an integral which defined the time element for the perturbed Keplerian motion.

Baumgarte, J. W.↗

Transition from incoherence to coherence in the spontaneous emission of extended systems

Using the results of a previous paper, we study the evolution of a completely excited system of N two-level atoms, distributed in a circular cylinder with dimensions much larger than the wavelength, interacting with all modes of radiation field. We emphasize the distinction between r-conserving (rC) and r-nonconserving (rNC) processes (r is the so-called cooperation number). Considering the number of photons emitted as the discrete independent variable, the evolution is described by a partial difference equation. Numerical solutions of this equation show the transition from rNC dominance at the beginning to rC dominance later. This is also a transition from incoherent to coherent emission of radiation.

Lee, C. T.↗

A new formulation for anisotropic radiative transfer problems. I - Solution with a variational technique

The equations of radiative transfer in anisotropically scattering media are reformulated as linear operator equations in a single independent variable. The resulting equations are suitable for solution by a variety of standard mathematical techniques. The operators appearing in the resulting equations are in general nonsymmetric; however, it is shown that every bounded linear operator equation can be embedded in a symmetric linear operator equation and a variational solution can be obtained in a straightforward way. For purposes of demonstration, a Rayleigh-Ritz variational method is applied to three problems involving simple phase functions. It is to be noted that the variational technique demonstrated is of general applicability and permits simple solutions for a wide range of otherwise difficult mathematical problems in physics.

Cheyney, H., III↗

A method for developing K/S boundary conditions

A method for developing the missing general K/S (Kustaanheimo/Stiefel) boundary conditions is presented, with use of the formalism of optimal control theory. As illustrative examples, the method is applied to the transfer between two position and velocity vectors and to the K/S Lambert problem to derive the missing terminal conditions. The necessary equations for a solution are then developed to the K/S Lambert problem with both the fictitious time, s, and the generalized eccentric anomaly, E, as the independent variables. The latter formulation, requiring the solution of only one nonlinear, well-behaved equation in one unknown, E, results in considerable simplification of the problem. This simplification is possible because the energy equation, in the E-formulation, is separable.

Jezewski, D. J.↗

A self-documenting source-independent data format for computer processing of tensor time series

The UCLA Space Science Group has developed a fixed format intermediate data set called a block data set, which is designed to hold multiple segments of multicomponent sampled data series. The format is sufficiently general so that tensor functions of one or more independent variables can be stored in the form of virtual data. This makes it possible for the unit data records of the block data set to be arrays of a single dependent variable rather than discrete samples. The format is self-documenting with parameter, label and header records completely characterizing the contents of the file. The block data set has been applied to the filing of satellite data (of ATS-6 among others).

Mcpherron, R. L.↗