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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

Extended parametric representation of compressor fans and turbines. Volume 2: Part user's manual (parametric turbine)

A turbine modeling technique has been developed which will enable the user to obtain consistent and rapid off-design performance from design point input. This technique is applicable to both axial and radial flow turbine with flow sizes ranging from about one pound per second to several hundred pounds per second. The axial flow turbines may or may not include variable geometry in the first stage nozzle. A user-specified option will also permit the calculation of design point cooling flow levels and corresponding changes in efficiency for the axial flow turbines. The modeling technique has been incorporated into a time-sharing program in order to facilitate its use. Because this report contains a description of the input output data, values of typical inputs, and example cases, it is suitable as a user's manual. This report is the second of a three volume set. The titles of the three volumes are as follows: (1) Volume 1 CMGEN USER's Manual (Parametric Compressor Generator); (2) Volume 2 PART USER's Manual (Parametric Turbine); (3) Volume 3 MODFAN USER's Manual (Parametric Modulation Flow Fan).

Coverse, G. L.↗

Extended parametric representation of compressor fans and turbines. Volume 3: MODFAN user's manual (parametric modulating flow fan)

A modeling technique for single stage flow modulating fans or centrifugal compressors has been developed which will enable the user to obtain consistent and rapid off-design performnce from design point input. The fan flow modulation may be obtained by either a VIGV (variable inlet guide vane) or a VPF (variable pitch rotor) option. Only the VIGV option is available for the centrifugal compressor. The modeling technique has been incorporated into a time-sharing program to facilitate its use. Because this report contains a description of the input output data, values of typical inputs, and examples cases, it is suitable as a user's manual. This report is the last of a three volume set describing the parametric representation of compressor fans, and turbines. The titles of the three volumes are as follows: (1) Volume 1 CMGEN USER's Manual (Parametric Compressor Generator); (2) Volume 2 PART USER's Manual (Parametric Turbine); (3) Volume 3 MODFAN USER's Manual (Parametric Modulating Flow Fan).

Converse, G. L.↗

SETI - The microwave search problem and the targeted search approach

The targeted search component of the NASA SETI program is limited to time sharing in the usual fashion on existing large radio telescopes. Unless the consequences of this restriction are compensated by increased capability in the SETI electronic systems, an undesirable loss in sensitivity must be accepted in order to prevent a more costly and humanly unattractive lengthening of the projected five-year observing program to a duration of some decades.

Seeger, C. L.↗

Orbit determination using synthetic aperture radar

The use of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images to estimate orbital parameters is studied. The SAR image formation process which requires the ability to repeatedly transmit identical signals and accurately sense the return echoes from a region of terrain is described. The orbit determination capabilities of the SAR system's observables are investigated. Five SAR observations were collected from a simulated shuttle orbit, which was circular with a latitude of 220 km and along-track velocity of 7.7 km/sec, to obtain along-track and line-of-sight direction position measurements; the simulation reveals that only three SAR observations were required to determine the position of the spacecraft to within 100 m. A prototype SAR orbit determination system was developed. The system consists of a VAX 11/780 time-shared computer, a frame buffer, topographic maps, and software for line-pixel location of an object within a SAR image and for orbit determination. The prototype is applied to the processing of a single short arc of Shuttle Imaging-Radar-B (SIR-B) data. It is observed that the SAR data is useful as orbit determination or tracking data; however, the low SNRs in the SIR-B data made feature identification difficult.

Taber, W. L.↗

A high reliability battery management system

Over a period of some 5 years Canadian Astronautics Limited (CAL) has developed a system to autonomously manage, and thus prolong the life of, secondary storage batteries. During the development, the system was aimed at the space vehicle application using nickel cadmium batteries, but is expected to be able to enhance the life and performance of any rechargeable electrochemical couple. The system handles the cells of a battery individually and thus avoids the problems of over, and under, drive that inevitably occur in a battery of cells managed by an averaging system. This individual handling also allow cells to be totally bypassed in the event of failure, thus avoiding the losses associated with low capacity, partial short circuit, and the catastrophe of open circuit. The system has an optional capability of managing redundant batteries simultaneously, adding the advantage of on line reconditioning of one battery, while the other maintains the energy storage capability of the overall system. As developed, the system contains a dedicated, redundant, microprocessor, but the capability exists to have this computing capability time shared, or remote, and operating through a data link. As adjuncts to the basic management system CAL has developed high efficiency, polyphase, power regulators for charge and discharge power conditioning.

Moody, M. H.↗

Modified independent modal space control method for active control of flexible systems

A modified independent modal space control (MIMSC) method is developed for designing active vibration control systems for large flexible structures. The method accounts for the interaction between the controlled and residual modes. It incorporates also optimal placement procedures for selecting the optimal locations of the actuators in the structure in order to minimize the structural vibrations as well as the actuation energy. The MIMSC method relies on an important feature which is based on time sharing of a small number of actuators, in the modal space, to control effectively a large number of modes. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the application of the method to generic flexible systems. The results obtained suggest the potential of the devised method in designing efficient active control systems for large flexible structures.

Baz, A.↗

A comparison between IMSC, PI and MIMSC methods in controlling the vibration of flexible systems

A comparative study is presented between three active control algorithms which have proven to be successful in controlling the vibrations of large flexible systems. These algorithms are: the Independent Modal Space Control (IMSC), the Pseudo-inverse (PI), and the Modified Independent Modal Space Control (MIMSC). Emphasis is placed on demonstrating the effectiveness of the MIMSC method in controlling the vibration of large systems with small number of actuators by using an efficient time sharing strategy. Such a strategy favors the MIMSC over the IMSC method, which requires a large number of actuators to control equal number of modes, and also over the PI method which attempts to control large number of modes with smaller number of actuators through the use of an in-exact statistical realization of a modal controller. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the main features of the three algorithms and the merits of the MIMSC method.

Baz, A.↗

The effects of display-control I/O, compatibility, and integrality on dual-task performance and subjective workload

The utility of speech technology was evaluated in terms of three dual task principles: resource competition between the time shared tasks, stimulus central processing response compatibility, and task integrality. Empirical support for these principles was reviewed. Two studies investigating the interactive effects of the three principles were described. Objective performance and subjective workload ratings for both single and dual tasks were examined. It was found that the single task measures were not necessarily good predictors for the dual task measures. It was shown that all three principles played an important role in determining an optimal task configuration. This was reflected in both the performance measures and the subjective measures. Therefore, consideration of all three principles is required to insure proper use of speech technology in a complex environment.

Tsang, Pamela S.↗

An 8.4-GHz dual maser front end for Parkes reimplementation

An 8.4 GHz front-end system consisting of a feedhorn, a waveguide feed assembly, dual masers, and downconverters is being reimplemented at Parkes as part of the Parkes-Canberra Telemetry Array for the Voyager Neptune encounter. The front-end system was originally assembled by the European Space Agency on the Parkes antenna for the Giotto project. It was also used on a time-sharing basis by the DSN as part of the Parkes-Canberra Telemetry Array to enhance the data return from Voyager 2 at Uranus. At the conclusion of these projects in 1986, the front-end system was dismantled, packed, and shipped to Europe. Part of the system was then shipped to JPL on loan for reimplementation at Parkes for the Voyager Neptune encounter. The system is being redesigned and refurbished for operation at Parkes. Tasks include new microwave front-end control cabinets, a closed-cycle refrigeration data acquisition system, a new noise-adding radiometer system, a front-end controller assembly, and refurbishment of the dual 8.4 GHz traveling-wave masers (TWMs) and waveguide feed system.

Trowbridge, D. L.↗

The emergence of multi-user expert systems

There exists a set of problems for which the single user workstation is not a viable solution. In some cases, it may be necessary for the system to support numerous experts working on different aspects of a single logical activity concurrently. In others, the activity may extend over a prolonged period of time during which different experts will work on different phases of the project to produce a single integrated result. Another possibility is that the results produced by the expert system must be continuously available to some group other than that actively exercising the expert system. These are the types of applications which require multiuser expert systems. The nature of NASA tends to produce expert system domains which are inherently multiuser. It is these domains that this new class of expert systems has first been encountered. As expert systems move into the main stream of large scale engineering projects, these encounters will become more frequent. A need for expert system building tools which can accommodate the unique properties of these multiuser domains as they emerge is a problem which needs to be addressed as the current set of tools migrate to time sharing environments, and as new tools are developed.

Freeman, Michael S.↗

Dissociation of performance and subjective measures of workload

A theory is presented to identify sources that produce dissociations between performance and subjective measures of workload. The theory states that performance is determined by (1) amount of resources invested, (2) resource efficiency, and (3) degree of competition for common resources in a multidimensional space described in the multiple-resources model. Subjective perception of workload, multidimensional in nature, increases with greater amounts of resource investment and with greater demands on working memory. Performance and subjective workload measures dissociate when greater resources are invested to improve performance of a resource-limited task; when demands on working memory are increased by time-sharing between concurrent tasks or between display elements; and when performance is sensitive to resource competition and subjective measures are more sensitive to total investment. These dissociation findings and their implications are discussed and directions for future research are suggested.

Yeh, Yei-Yu↗

Attention theory and training research

This study used elements of attention theory as a methodological basis to decompose a complex training task in order to improve training efficiency. The complex task was a microcomputer flight simulation where subjects were required to control the stability of their own helicopter while acquiring and engaging enemy helicopers in a threat enviroment. Subjects were divided into whole-task, part-task, and part/open loop adaptive task groups in a transfer of training paradigm. The effect of reducing mental workload at the early stages of learning was examined with respect to the degree that subordinate elements of the complex task could be automated through practice of consistent, learnable stimulus-response relationships. Results revealed trends suggesting the benefit of isolating consistently mapped sub-tasks for part-task training and the presence of a time-sharing skill over and above the skill required for the separate subtasks.

Connelly, James G., Jr.↗

Modified independent modal space control method for active control of flexible systems

A modified independent modal space control (MIMSC) method is developed for designing active vibration control systems for large flexible structures. The method accounts for the interaction between the controlled and residual modes. It incorporates also optimal placement procedures for selecting the optimal locations of the actuators in the structure in order to minimize the structural vibrations as well as the actuation energy. The MIMSC method relies on an important feature which is based on time sharing of a small number of actuators, in the modal space, to control effectively a large number of modes. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the application of the method to generic flexible systems. The results obtained suggest the potential of the devised method in designing efficient active control systems for large flexible structures.

Baz, A.↗

Codes and modalities in multiple resources - A success and a qualification

The relevance of codes and modalities in a multiple-resource model to the prediction of task interference was investigated in an experiment in which either verbal or spatial decision tasks, responded to with either voice or key press, were time-shared with second-order tracking. Results indicate the importance of the dichotomy between verbal and spatial processing codes in accounting for task interference. Interference with tracking was consistently greater, and difficulty/performance trade-offs were stronger, when the spatial decision task was performed and the manual response was used. A review of the literature on the interference between a continuous visual task and a discrete task whose modality is either auditory or visual suggests that scanning produces a dominant cost to intramodal configurations when visual channels are separated in space. In absence of visual separation, the differences between cross-modal and intramodal performance may be best accounted for by a mechanism of preemption.

Wickens, Christopher D.↗

Modified independent modal space control method for active control of flexible systems

A modified independent modal space control (MIMSC) method is developed for designing active vibration control systems for large flexible structures. The method accounts for the interaction between the controlled and residual modes. It incorporates also optimal placement procedures for selecting the optimal locations of the actuators in the structure in order to minimize the structural vibrations as well as the actuation energy. The MIMSC method relies on an important feature which is based on time sharing of a small number of actuators, in the modal space, to control effectively a large number of modes. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the application of the method to generic flexible systems. The results obtained suggest the potential of the devised method in designing efficient active control systems for large flexible structures.

Baz, A.↗

Efficient grid generation

The application of a new efficient grid generation method in computational fluid dynamics is discussed. After 100 iterations, final grids were produced in about 110 seconds using a VAX 8650 computer in a time-shared mode. Using a SUN 3/50 workstation, a similar version of the program completed 100 iterations in about 15 minutes.

Gutierrez, Bill↗

An 8.4-GHz dual-maser front-end system for Parkes reimplementation

An 8.4-GHz front-end system consisting of a feedhorn, a waveguide feed assembly, dual masers, and downconverters was reimplemented at Parkes as part of the Parkes Canberra Telemetry Array for the Voyager Neptune encounter. The front-end system was originally assembled by the European Space Agency and installed on the Parkes antenna for the Giotto project. It was also used on a time-sharing basis by the Deep Space Network as part of the Parkes Canberra Telemetry Array to enhance the data return from the Voyager Uranus encounter. At the conclusion of these projects in 1986, part of the system was then shipped to JPL on loan for reimplementation at Parkes for the Voyager Neptune encounter. New design and implementation required to make the system operable at Parkes included new microwave front-end control cabinets, closed-cycle refrigeration monitor system, noise-adding radiometer system, front-end controller assembly, X81 local oscillator multiplier, and refurbishment of the original dual 8.4-GHz traveling-wave masers and waveguide feed system. The front-end system met all requirements during the encounter and was disassembled in October 1989 and returned to JPL.

Trowbridge, D. L.↗

TASKILLAN - A simulation to predict the validity of multiple resource models of aviation workload

The extent to which flight simulation models of increasing complexity are successful in predicting pilot performance was investigated using four models of increasing sophistication addressed by the TASKILLAN (for task skill analysis) computer-generated helicopter simulation. At the simplest level of complexity was the total task model (Model T), followed by the demand model (Model D), the undifferentiated capacity model (Model U), and, ultimately, by the multiple resources model (Model M), which is at the highest level of sophistication addressed by the TASKILLAN project. It was found that the correlations between variables were higher with the two more sophisticated models (U and M), which impose a penalty for increased difficulty in time-sharing. The performance prediction was best with the Model U, while the best predictors of subjective measures were models D and M.

Larish, Inge A.↗