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At least 199 records · Page 11

Insulation Debond Detection

Load-cell and acoustic responses indicate bonding condition nondestructively. Signal recorded by load cell direct and instantaneous measure of local stiffness of material at point of impact. Separate and distinctly different measurement that sensed by microphone. Spectrum analysis of pulse obtained from debonded point will only show frequencies below 425 Hz because insulation alone does not have stiffness to support energy at higher frequencies.

Johnston, G. D.↗

Techniques for measurements of horizontal and vertical velocities

Spectrum analysis and correlation methods used to measure the horizontal and vertical velocities of radar echo signals are examined mathematically. Topics include scattering/reflection geometry, monostatic versus bistatic operation, spaced antenna measurements, radar interferometry and the Doppler method. Vertical velocity determination, optimum pointing angles, and time resolution for periodic variations are also investigated.

Rottger, J.↗

A photoelectric lightcurve survey of small main belt asteroids

A survey to obtain photoelectric lightcurves of small main-belt asteroids was conducted from November 1981 to April 1982 using the 0.91- and 2.1-m telescopes at the University of Texas McDonald Observatory. A total of 18 main-belt asteroids having estimated dimaters under 30 km were observed with over half of these being smaller than 15 km. Rotational periods were determined or estimated from multiple nights of observation for nearly all of these yielding a sample of 17 small main-belt asteroids which is believed to be free of observational selection effects. All but two of these objects were investigated for very short periods in the range of 1 min to 2 hr using power spectrum analysis of a continuous set of integrations. No evidence for such short periods was seen in this sample. Rotationally averaged B(1,0) magnitudes were determined for most of the surveyed asteroids, allowing diameter estimates to be made. Imposing the suspected selection effects of photogaphic photometry on the results of this survey gives excellent agreement with the results from that technique. This shows that the inability of photographic photometry to obtain results for many asteroids is indeed due to the rotational parameter of those asteroids.

Binzel, R. P.↗

Internal hysteresis experienced on a high pressure syn gas compressor

A vibration instability phenomenon experienced in operating high pressure syn gas centrifugal compressors in two ammonia plants is described. The compressors were monitored by orbit and spectrum analysis for changes from baseline readings. It is found that internal hysteresis was the major destabilizing force; however, the problem was further complicated by seal lockup at the suction end of the compressor. A coupling lockup problem and a coupling fit problem, which frettage of the shaft, are also considered as contributors to the self excited vibrations.

Zeidan, F. Y.↗

Signal statistics of the radar echoes: Angle-of-arrival statistics, part 2.2A

The Doppler spectra, measured with a vertical antenna beam, are characterized by essentially two different kinds of distributions, one has a very narrow and the other a broad spectral width. The former is accepted as due to reflection whereas the latter is due to scattering. It can happen that both kinds of spectra are observed simultaneously. Superimposed on a fairly broad Gaussian signal spectrum, very narrow signal spikes are evident. Because some spikes occur at different Doppler frequencies, the subreflections have to be assumed to move with different radial velocities. To experimentally verify this reasonable assumption, it is proposed to measure the angle of arrival of the different signal returns. One can here make use of the essential advantage that the spikes can be filtered in frequency (called Doppler sortening or sharpening). By means of the cross spectrum analysis with the interferometer technique (measuring phase differences between spaced antennas), their angle of arrival can be measured. This will allow determination of the distribution of the angles of arrival.

Rottger, J.↗

Automated Signal-to-Noise Ratio Measurement

Computer-controlled spectrum analysis gives rapid results for communication systems. Locates carrier signal in intermediate-frequency band and measures both carrier amplitude and amplitude of noise in several channels near carrier frequency. Computer then computes ratio of signal to average noise. Because measurements and calculations are rapid, system used in fading communication channels.

Pineda, J. E.↗

Observational constraints on circumstellar dust

There is an enormous range in the properties of stars that are losing mass. The red giants responsible for injecting roughly half or more of the material into the interstellar medium are reviewed. The physical properties are described for the out flowing gases. Broadband observation constaints on the dust are described by use of spectrum analysis. Circumstellar dust is identified by carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds.

Jura, M.↗

Stanford Hardware Development Program

Architectures for high performance, digital signal processing, particularly for high resolution, wide band spectrum analysis were developed. These developments are intended to provide instrumentation for NASA's Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program. The real time signal processing is both formal and experimental. The efficient organization and optimal scheduling of signal processing algorithms were investigated. The work is complemented by efforts in processor architecture design and implementation. A high resolution, multichannel spectrometer that incorporates special purpose microcoded signal processors is being tested. A general purpose signal processor for the data from the multichannel spectrometer was designed to function as the processing element in a highly concurrent machine. The processor performance required for the spectrometer is in the range of 1000 to 10,000 million instructions per second (MIPS). Multiple node processor configurations, where each node performs at 100 MIPS, are sought. The nodes are microprogrammable and are interconnected through a network with high bandwidth for neighboring nodes, and medium bandwidth for nodes at larger distance. The implementation of both the current mutlichannel spectrometer and the signal processor as Very Large Scale Integration CMOS chip sets was commenced.

Peterson, A.↗

Persistent time intervals between features in solar flare hard X-ray emission

Several solar hard X-ray events (greater than 100 keV) were observed simultaneously with identical instruments on the Venera 11, 12, 13, 14, and Prognoz spacecraft. High time resolution (= 2 ms) data were stored in memory when a trigger occurred. The observations of modulation are presented with a period of 1.6 s for the event on December 3, 1978. Evidence is also presented for fast time fluctuations from an event on November 6, 1979, observed from Venera 12 and another on September 6, 1981, observed from the Solar Maximum Mission. Power spectrum analysis, epoch folding, and Monte Carlo simulation were used to evaluate the statistical significance of persistent time delays between features. The results are discussed in light of the MHD model proposed by Zaitsev and Stepanov.

Desai, Upendra D.↗

Pioneer 10 observations of the Beta Cephei stars Gamma Pegasi and Delta Ceti

The results of analyzing broad-band Pioneer 10 photometric observations of the low-amplitude pulsating Beta Cephei stars Gamma Pegasi and Delta Ceti are reported. Periods and light curve amplitudes of 3.649 + or - 0.020 hr, 0.05 + or - 0.02 mag for Gamma Peg and 3.869 + or - 0.020 hr, 0.13 + or - 0.02 mag for Delta Ceti are obtained; a power spectrum analysis of the data reveals no other periods. No evidence is found for a phase shift between the light curve maxima in the UV and visible regions. The observed amplitudes combined with published visual and near-UV data suggest a flux and temperature variability of about 200 solar luminosities and 250 K for Gamma Peg and about 600 solar luminosities and 450 K for Delta Cet. These results are compared with others obtained with satellite and ground-based instrumentation.

Peters, Geraldine J.↗

Use of a minimum rate of change formalism to quantify variability of extragalactic X-ray sources

A method to obtain rigorous, quantitative constraints on the rate of variability is suggested. The method is motivated by the case when the existence of time variability is unequivocal, but the statistical uncertainties are too large to apply more direct methods such as power spectrum analysis. Conceptually the data are fitted to a function of time and a set of free parameters. The method of Lagrange multipliers is used to solve for that parameter set which minimizes the value of the derivative at time t(m). The result can be related physically to the minimum efficiency with which rest mass must be converted to radiation energy. Slightly different formulations of the general principal are used to estimate maximum source size scales associated with the variability.

Schwartz, Daniel A.↗

Short solar events with evidence of repetitive structures

Several short (less than 40 s) solar hard X-ray events (greater than 100 keV) have been observed simultaneously with identical instruments on the Venera 11, 12, 13, and 14 and Prognoz 7 (Franco-Soviet Signe experiments) spacecraft. High time resolution (equal to or greater than 2 ms) data were stored in memory when a trigger occurred. The observations reported here were made by Prognoz 7 and V12 which were closer to the sun at the time and provided good statistics. Observations of modulation with a period of 1.6 s for the event on 1978 December 3 are presented. Also presented is evidence for fast time fluctuations from an event on 1979 November 6, observed with Venera 12, and another on 1981 September 6, observed with the Solar Maximum Hard X-Ray Burst Spectrometer. Power spectrum analysis, epoch folding, and Monte Carlo simulation to evaluate the statistical significance of persistent time delays between features. The results are discussed in light of the MHD model proposed by Zaitsev and Stepanov (1982) and Zaitsev, Stepanov, and Chernov (1984).

Desai, Upendra D.↗

VHF radar remote sensing of atmospheric parameters over Taiwan during the time period of Typhoon Wayne

The VHF radar located at the subtropical and low latitude observing site of Taiwan has been used to observe atmospheric parameters from the troposphere to the middle atmosphere during the time passage of Typhoon Wayne in August 1986. Time-dependent wind velocities with three-dimensional profiles have been plotted by processing the recorded data of the backscattered echo power and the Doppler spectral width of the signal returns from the VHF radar. Propagation characteristics of the gravity waves excited by the enhanced convective motions of Typhoon Wayne have been detected from the Fourier power spectrum analysis of the three-dimensional wind velocities from multiple beams of the VHF radar and their cross-correlation analysis. The density perturbations caused by the propagation of the gravity waves can be calculated from the VHF radar observations. The VHF radar can also be used to detect time-dependent vertical profiles of the liquid water content. The present study shows that the equivalent rainfall rate calculated from the VHF radar is in good agreement with the ground-based measurement of rainfall rate at the same area.

Hung, R. J.↗

Knox-Thompson images of 4 Vesta

Reconstructed images of the asteroid 4 Vesta reveal dark and bright patterns which can be followed across the disk as the asteroid rotates. Reasonable agreement is found with its visible light curve by assigning relative albedo 0 to the three darkest features, and relative albedo 2 to the three brightest features. From power-spectrum analysis of sets of images at two different epochs, Vesta's triaxial principal diameters, the orientation of its pole, and its rotational rate and sense are obtained. The images confirm the dominant role of surface structure, particularly the dark spots, in determining Vesta's light-curve signature.

Drummond, J. D.↗

Automated extraction of absorption features from Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) and Geophysical and Environmental Research Imaging Spectrometer (GERIS) data

Automated techniques were developed for the extraction and characterization of absorption features from reflectance spectra. The absorption feature extraction algorithms were successfully tested on laboratory, field, and aircraft imaging spectrometer data. A suite of laboratory spectra of the most common minerals was analyzed and absorption band characteristics tabulated. A prototype expert system was designed, implemented, and successfully tested to allow identification of minerals based on the extracted absorption band characteristics. AVIRIS spectra for a site in the northern Grapevine Mountains, Nevada, have been characterized and the minerals sericite (fine grained muscovite) and dolomite were identified. The minerals kaolinite, alunite, and buddingtonite were identified and mapped for a site at Cuprite, Nevada, using the feature extraction algorithms on the new Geophysical and Environmental Research 64 channel imaging spectrometer (GERIS) data. The feature extraction routines (written in FORTRAN and C) were interfaced to the expert system (written in PROLOG) to allow both efficient processing of numerical data and logical spectrum analysis.

Kruse, Fred A.↗

Optimizing for minimum weight when two different finite element models and analyses are required

The Finite Element Structural Optimization Program's (FESOP) ability to perform minimum weight optimization using two different finite element analyses and models is discussed. FESOP uses the ADS optimizer developed by Dr. Garret Vanderplaats to solve the nonlinear constrained optimization problem. The design optimization problem requires a response spectrum analysis and model to evaluate the stress and displacement constraints. However, the problem needs a frequency analysis and model to calculate the natural frequencies used to evaluate the frequency range constraints. The results of both the successful and unsuccessful approaches used to solve this difficult weight minimization problem are summarized. The results show that no one ADS optimization algorithm worked in all cases. However, the Sequential Convex Programming and Modified Method of Feasible Directions algorithms were the most successful.

Hall, Jeffrey C.↗

Design of a flexure mount for optics in dynamic and cryogenic environments

The design of a flexure mount for a mirror operating in a cryogenic environment is presented. This structure represents a design effort recently submitted to NASA Ames for the support of the primary mirror of the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF). The support structure must passively accommodate the differential thermal contraction between the glass mirror and the aluminium structure of the telescope during cryogenic cooldown. Further, it must support the one meter diameter, 116 kilogram (258 pound) primary mirror during a severe launch to orbit without exceeding the micro-yield of the material anywhere in the flexure mount. Procedures used to establish the maximum allowable radial stiffness of the flexural mount, based on the finite element program NASTRAN and the optical program FRINGE, are discussed. Early design concepts were evaluated using a parametric design program, and the development of that program is presented. Dynamic loading analyses performed with NASTRAN are discussed. Methods of combining modal responses resulting from a displacement response spectrum analysis are discussed, and a combination scheme called MRSS, modified root of sum of squares, is presented. Model combination schemes using MRSS, SRSS, and ABS are compared to the results of the modal frequency response analysis performed with NASTRAN.

Pollard, Lloyd Wayne↗

Integrated spectrum analyzer/wavemeter for pulsed, tunable lasers

A compact instrument for single shot spectrum analysis and real time wavelength measurement of pulsed, tunable lasers has been built. Its accuracy and limitations are discussed, along with its potential applications. Results of tests with a narrow-line Nd:YAG-pumped dye laser are also presented.

Cotnoir, Leo J.↗