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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 217 records · Page 12

Stability analysis of model-free control under constrained inputs for control of building HVAC systems

Recently introduced model-free control method has witnessed successful applications in various domains. While the framework of model-free control renders it simple and efficient, it imposes difficulties in implementing the method for complex applications under external constraints. Moreover, there is a lack of literature on the study and application of model-free control under constrained environments. This paper attempts to further the study of model-free control by employing it for monitoring indoor temperature of buildings through the control of building heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and studying the control design stability conditions under constrained inputs. Two kinds of constraints on the control input are considered and their stability conditions are investigated. The developed framework aims to highlight a potential path to analyze the stability under a given set of constraints. The results of employing model free control on the building HVAC system under unconstrained and constrained inputs are presented. The role of the model estimation error on the stability is also discussed.

Telsang, Bhagyashri↗

Developing Equivalent Surface Heat Transfer Input Parameters for Updated Standard 140/BESTEST Thermal Fabric Test Cases

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 140, Standard Method of Test for the Evaluation of Building Energy Analysis Computer Programs, is widely cited for evaluating software for use with performance-path energy efficiency analysis in conjunction with well-known energy-efficiency standards, including: ASHRAE Standard 90.1, the International Energy Conservation Code, and other international standards. This paper summarizes recent work to develop improved equivalent surface heat transfer input parameters for the building thermal fabric comparative test cases that comprise a portion of Standard 140. The software-to-software comparative test method allows comparison of simulation results from a wide variety of building energy simulation programs to each other. In this type of test method, it is of great importance to specify inputs that are as well-equivalenced as possible to accommodate a wide variety of input schemes for the tested programs, and thereby reduce the potential for disagreements among them in the tests. Results include new alternative constant surface coefficients that are appropriate to the test cases and demonstrate their ability to approximate the more detailed surface heat transfer models from which they are derived.

BESTEST↗

Evaluation of an Image-Derived Input Function for Kinetic Modeling of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor-Binding PET Ligands in Mice

Positron emission tomography (PET) radioligands that bind with high-affinity to α4β2-type nicotinic receptors (α4β2Rs) allow for in vivo investigations of the mechanisms underlying nicotine addiction and smoking cessation. Here, we investigate the use of an image-derived arterial input function and the cerebellum for kinetic analysis of radioligand binding in mice. Two radioligands were explored: 2-[ 18 F]FA85380 (2-FA), displaying similar pKa and binding affinity to the smoking cessation drug varenicline (Chantix), and [ 18 F]Nifene, displaying similar pKa and binding affinity to nicotine. Time–activity curves of the left ventricle of the heart displayed similar distribution across wild type mice, mice lacking the β2-subunit for ligand binding, and acute nicotine-treated mice, whereas reference tissue binding displayed high variation between groups. Binding potential estimated from a two-tissue compartment model fit of the data with the image-derived input function were higher than estimates from reference tissue-based estimations. Rate constants of radioligand dissociation were very slow for 2-FA and very fast for Nifene. We conclude that using an image-derived input function for kinetic modeling of nicotinic PET ligands provides suitable results compared to reference tissue-based methods and that the chemical properties of 2-FA and Nifene are suitable to study receptor response to nicotine addiction and smoking cessation therapies.

2-FA85380↗

Modeling Kilonova Light Curves: Dependence on Nuclear Inputs

The mergers of binary neutron stars, as well as black hole–neutron star systems, are expected to produce an electromagnetic counterpart that can be analyzed to infer the element synthesis that occurred in these events. We investigate one source of uncertainties pertinent to lanthanide-rich outflows: the nuclear inputs to rapid neutron capture nucleosynthesis calculations. We begin by examining 32 different combinations of nuclear inputs: eight mass models, two types of spontaneous fission rates, and two types of fission daughter product distributions. We find that such nuclear physics uncertainties typically generate at least one order of magnitude uncertainty in key quantities such as the nuclear heating (one and a half orders of magnitude at 1 day post-merger), the bolometric luminosity (one order of magnitude at 5 days post-merger), and the inferred mass of material from the bolometric luminosity (factor of 8 when considering the 8–10 day region). Since particular nuclear processes are critical for determining the electromagnetic signal, we provide tables of key nuclei undergoing β-decay, α-decay, and spontaneous fission important for heating at different times, identifying decays that are common among the many nuclear input combinations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Sensitivity Analysis of Numerical Modeling Input Parameters on Wind Turbine Loads in Deterministic Transient Load Cases

Aero-hydro-elastic-servo numerical models used to design and analyze wind turbines are based on thousands of variable input parameters that dictate the inflow, aerodynamic, structural, and control characteristics of the system as well as sea state, hydrodynamic, and mooring characteristics for fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind turbines. Each of these parameters has some level of uncertainty, which can significantly impact the predicted loads. Understanding the uncertainty in the inputs is critical to understanding the uncertainty in the outputs. This work demonstrates a screening technique to identify which parameters ultimate loads are most sensitive to so that more focus can be given to quantifying the possible range of those parameters. This technique has been demonstrated previously for different turbine and load case types and is extended here for a floating offshore wind turbine in design load cases with transient events both in the inflow and operations. Each load case features a deterministic gust, including variations in wind speed, direction, and shear. Load cases are considered with an operating turbine as well as with prescribed fault, startup, and shutdown procedures. The study found that key input parameters with a large impact on loads include the length of the gust, the magnitude of direction change and speed in the gust, the initial wind speed, and the shape of the gust profile.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Sensitivity analysis of numerical modeling input parameters on floating offshore wind turbine loads

Abstract. Floating wind turbines must withstand a unique and challenging set of loads from the wind and ocean environment. To de-risk development, accurate predictions of these loads are necessary. Uncertainty in modeling predictions leads to larger required safety factors, increasing project costs and the levelized cost of energy. Complex aero-hydro-elastic modeling tools use many input parameters to represent the wind, waves, current, aerodynamic loads, hydrodynamic loads, and structural properties. It is helpful to understand which of these parameters ultimately drives a design. In this work, an ultimate and fatigue-proxy load sensitivity analysis was performed with 35 different input parameters, using an elementary effects approach to identify the most influential parameters for a case study involving the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 5 MW baseline wind turbine atop the OC4-DeepCwind semisubmersible during normal operation. The importance of each parameter was evaluated using 14 response quantities of interest across three operational wind speed conditions. The study concludes that turbulent wind velocity standard deviation is the parameter with the strongest sensitivity; this value is important not just for turbine loads, but also for the global system response. The system center of mass in the wind direction is found to have the highest impact on the system rotation and tower loads. The current velocity is found to be the most dominating parameter for the system global motion and consequently the mooring loads. All tested wind turbulence parameters in addition to the standard deviation are also found to be influential. Wave characteristics are influential for some fatigue-proxy loading but do not significantly impact the extreme ultimate loads in these operational load cases. The required number of random seeds for stochastic environmental conditions is considered to ensure that the sensitivities are due to the input parameters and not due to the seed. The required number of analysis points in the parameter space is identified so that the conclusions represent a global sensitivity. The results are specific to the platform, turbine, and choice of parameter ranges, but the demonstrated approach can be applied widely to guide focus in parameter uncertainty.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Input noise approximation in tracker modeling

The validity of approximating random Gaussian distributed inputs used in human response modeling by sums of discrete sine waves is studied. An ideal rectangular power density spectrum is simulated using both filtered Gaussian white noise and sums-of-discrete sine waves with three different input cutoff frequencies in the same compensatory tracking task. Resulting normalized tracking error and quality operator observations are used to investigate apparent discrepancies in human operator characteristics. Results show that discrete and continuous input tracking data compare favorable when the power in the crossover region is taken into account.

Torrey, P. F.↗

NASTRAN postprocessor program for transient response to input accelerations

The description of a transient analysis program for computing structural responses to input base accelerations is presented. A hybrid modal formulation is used and a procedure is demonstrated for generating and writing all modal input data on user tapes via NASTRAN. Use of several new Level 15 modules is illustrated along with a problem associated with reading the postprocessor program input from a user tape. An example application of the program is presented for the analysis of a spacecraft subjected to accelerations initiated by thrust transients. Experience with the program has indicated it to be very efficient and economical because of its simplicity and small central memory storage requirements.

Wingate, R. T.↗

A Theoretical Investigation of the Input Characteristics of a Rectangular Cavity-Backed Slot Antenna

Equations which represent the magnetic and electric stored energies are derived for an infinite section of rectangular waveguide and a rectangular cavity. These representations which are referred to as being physically observable are obtained by considering the difference in the volume integrals appearing in the complex Poynting theorem. It is shown that the physically observable stored energies are determined by the field components that vanish in a reference plane outside the aperture. These physically observable representations are used to compute the input admittance of a rectangular cavity-backed slot antenna in which a single propagating wave is assumed to exist in the cavity. The slot is excited by a voltage source connected across its center; a sinusoidal distribution is assumed in the slot. Input-admittance calculations are compared with measured data. In addition, input-admittance curves as a function of electrical slot length are presented for several size cavities. For the rectangular cavity backed slot antenna, the quality factor and relative bandwidth were computed independently by using these energy relationships. It is shown that the asymptotic relationship which is usually assumed to exist between the quality bandwidth and the reciprocal of relative bandwidth is equally valid for the rectangular cavity backed slot antenna.

Cockrell, C. R.↗

On the design of optimal input signals in system identification

The problem of designing optimal inputs in the identification of multi-input multi-output linear systems with unknown time-varying parameters is considered using a Bayesian approach. A sensitivity index gives a measure of performance for the closed-loop system inputs. The computation of the optimal closed-loop mappings is shown to be a nontrivial exercise in stochastic control with no analytic solution, but optimal open-loop and affine laws yield much more tractable problems. For time-invariant systems, the sensitivity index considered is shown to be equivalent to the trace of the (strictly positive definite) information matrix associated with the system. Numerical examples are given. A Kalman filter is used to estimate the parameters. A necessary condition for the Kalman filter not to diverge when applying linear feedback is also given.

Lopez-Toledo, A. A.↗

The input admittance of the rectangular cavity-backed slot antenna

The input admittance of the rectangular cavity-backed slot antenna is investigated. The slot is assumed narrow so that the voltage distribution in its aperture is sinusoidal. Equations which represent the input admittance of this slot, backed by a rectangular cavity in which a single propagating wave is assumed to exist, are given. Calculations based on these representations are compared to available measured data. As the depth of the cavity increased the resonant frequency decreased and the bandwidth became narrower. Input admittance curves as a function of electrical slot length are also presented for several size cavities.

Cockrell, C. R.↗

Statistical evaluation of control inputs and eye movements in the use of instruments clusters during aircraft landing

Two different types of analyses were done on data from a study in which eye movements and other variables were recorded while four pilots executed landing sequences in a Boeing 737 simulation. Various conditions were manupulated, including changes in turbulence, starting position, and instrumentation. Control inputs were analyzed in the context of the various conditions and compared against ratings of workload obtained using the Cooper-Harper scale. A number of eye-scanning measures including mean dwell time and transition from one instrument to another were entered into a principal components factor analysis. The results show a differentiation between control inputs and eye-scanning behavior. This shows the need for improved definition of workload and experiments to uncover the important differences among control inputs, eye-scanning and cognitive processes of the pilot.

Dick, A. O.↗

A pseudo root-locus method for the design of a class of two-input-two-output systems

This paper presents the design of digital rebalance loops for a tuned-rotor gyro which is intended to be an attitude sensor in a strapdown inertial measurement unit. A tuned-rotor gyro is a two-degree-of-freedom gyro which has two input axes, with cross-coupling between them. The rebalance loop of the gyro serves for two purposes. First, it restores the position of the rotor to its null position after experiencing an attitude input. Second, the rebalancing signal, which is proportional to the attitude change, is calibrated to give the desired attitude information. Since the gyro has more than one input and one output, a multivariable control technique is needed for designing the rebalance loop. The analytic model for the gyro is described and the available design methods are examined. A new root-locus design technique specially developed for the present problem is outlined. The design of the rebalance loop using the new technique is given. The computer simulation result of the designed system is presented and discussed.

Kao, M. K.↗

A geometry package for generation of input data for a three-dimensional potential-flow program

The preparation of geometric data for input to three-dimensional potential flow programs was automated and simplified by a geometry package incorporated into the NASA Langley version of the 3-D lifting potential flow program. Input to the computer program for the geometry package consists of a very sparse set of coordinate data, often with an order of magnitude of fewer points than required for the actual potential flow calculations. Isolated components, such as wings, fuselages, etc. are paneled automatically, using one of several possible element distribution algorithms. Curves of intersection between components are calculated, using a hybrid curve-fit/surface-fit approach. Intersecting components are repaneled so that adjacent elements on either side of the intersection curves line up in a satisfactory manner for the potential-flow calculations. Many cases may be run completely (from input, through the geometry package, and through the flow calculations) without interruption. Use of the package significantly reduces the time and expense involved in making three-dimensional potential flow calculations.

Halsey, N. D.↗

Input filter design for switching regulators

A small signal average model is derived to study analytically the complex interaction among input filter, output filter and control loop, which frequently causes degradation of switch regulator performance. Analytically based design guidelines are formulated, and key design parameters are identified. It is shown that minimization of the forward transfer characteristics and the output impedance of the input filter at filter resonance are key to designing an input filter for a switching regulator with given output filter parameters and specified line and load conditions.

Lee, F. C.↗

A computer program for obtaining airplane configuration plots from digital Datcom input data

A computer program is described which reads the input file for the Stability and Control Digital Datcom program and generates plots from the aircraft configuration data. These plots can be used to verify the geometric input data to the Digital Datcom program. The program described interfaces with utilities available for plotting aircraft configurations by creating a file from the Digital Datcom input data.

Roy, M. L.↗

A novel input filter compensation scheme for switching regulators

A novel input-filter compensation scheme is proposed which uses feedforward loops to cancel the effects of peaking of the output impedance of the input filter, such that the converter is immune from performance degradation due to loop gain reduction. The scheme makes it possible to concurrently implement a high-performance converter and an effective input filter design with minimum weight and loss. A buck regulator with continuous current conduction is used as an example, and an analysis followed by a design procedure for the feedforward loops is presented.

Kelkar, S. S.↗