SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “randomizer”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 217 records · Page 12

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1991

Randomization of dust-ejecta motions and the observed morphology of cometary heads

The computer code that has been used over years to study the dust-coma morphology of comets and to generate their synthetic images is upgraded by introducing two categories of random perturbations into the motions of dust particles ejected from discrete sources of activity on the nucleus surface. The new technique is applied to three types of morphological features: multiple concentric halos, a system of spiral jets, and a sunward fan-shaped coma. The results indicate that inclusion of random perturbations substantially enhances the capability for generating synthetic images that faithfully simulate the observed appearance of dust comets. By increasing the magnitude of perturbations in the synthetic images beyond a certain limit, it is possible to 'erase' morphological features characteristic of the ejection process. This implies that the lack of distinct morphology in the head of a comet cannot be interpreted as the absence of discrete sources of activity on the nucleus surface. The effects of varying random perturbations on the appearance of the computer-generated images are investigated in detail and the suspected major role that imperfect flow collimation (or flow divergence) in dust jets plays with regard to the observed coma morphology is discussed.

Sekanina, Zdenek↗

NASA NTRS1991

Spatio-temporal contextual classification based on Markov random field model

A contextural classifier based on a Markov random field model, which can utilize both spatial and temporal contexts, is investigated. Spatial and temporal neighbors are defined, and the class assignment of each pixel is assumed to be dependent only on the measurement vectors of itself and those of its spatial and temporal neighbors according to the Markov random field property. Only interpixel class dependency context is used in the classification. The joint prior probability of the classes of each pixel and its spatial and temporal neighbors are modeled by a Gibbs random field. The classification is performed in a recursive manner. Experiments with multi-temporal Thematic Mapper data show promising results.

Jeon, Byeungwoo↗

NASA NTRS1990

Scattering from randomly oriented scatterers with strong permittivity fluctuations

Strong permittivity fluctuation theory is used to solve the problem of scattering from a medium composed of completely randomly oriented scatterers under a low frequency limit. Gaussian statistics are not assumed for the renormalized scattering sources. Numerical results on effective permittivity are illustrated for oblate and prolate spheroidal scatterers and compared with the results for spherical scatterers. The results are consistent with discrete scatterer theory. The effective permittivity of a random medium embedded with nonspherical scatterers shows a higher imaginary part than the spherical scatterer case with equal correlation volume. Under the distorted Born approximation, the polarimetric covariance matrix for the backscattered electric field is calculated for half-space randomly oriented scatterers. The nonspherical geometry of the scatterers shows significant effects on the cross-polarized backscattering returns, and the correlation coefficient between HH and VV returns. The polarimetric backscattering coefficients can provide useful information in distinguishing the geometry of scatterers.

Yueh, S. H.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Randomization in robot tasks

This paper investigates the role of randomization in the solution of robot manipulation tasks. One example of randomization is shown by the strategy of shaking a bin holding a part in order to orient the part in a desired stable state with some high probability. Randomization can be useful for mobile robot navigation and as a means of guiding the design process.

Erdmann, Michael↗

NASA NTRS1993

A statistical analysis of mesoscale rainfall as a random cascade

The paper considers the random cascade theory for spatial rainfall. Particular attention was given to the following four areas: (1) the relationship of the random cascade theory of rainfall to the simple scaling and the hierarchical cluster-point-process theories, (2) the mathematical foundations for some of the formalisms commonly applied in the develpment of statistical cascade theory, (3) the empirical evidence for a random cascade theory of rainfall, and (4) the way of using data for making estimates of parameters and for making statistical inference within this theoretical framework. An analysis of space-time rainfall data is presented. Cascade simulations are carried out to provide a comparison with methods of analysis that are applied to the rainfall data.

Gupta, Vijay K.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Gravitational microlensing - The effect of random motion of individual stars in the lensing galaxy

We investigate the influence of random motion of individual stars in the lensing galaxy on the light curve of a gravitationally lensed background quasar. We compare this with the effects of the transverse motion of the galaxy. We find that three-dimensional random motion of stars with a velocity dispersion sigma in each dimension is more effective in producing 'peaks' in a microlensed light curve by a factor a about 1.3 than motion of the galaxy with a transverse velocity v(t) = sigma. This effectiveness parameter a seems to depend only weakly on the surface mass density. With an assumed transverse velocity of v(t) = 600 km/s of the galaxy lensing the QSO 2237+0305 and a measured velocity dispersion of sigma = 215 km/s, the expected rate of maxima in the light curves calculated for bulk motion alone has to be increased by about 10 percent due to the random motion of stars. As a consequence, the average time interval Delta t between two high-magnification events is smaller than the time interval Delta(t) bulk, calculated for bulk motion alone, Delta t about 0.9 Delta(t) bulk.

Kundic, Tomislav↗

NASA NTRS1991

A finite element large deflection random response of a pipe containing fluid flow

A finite element approach is developed for beam type pipes undergoing large deflections subjected to random loadings. The influence of fluid velocity on the random response is investigated. The root-mean-square (rms) deflections and frequencies for different sound spectrum level values are determined for pipes with both ends either simply supported or clamped. The required number of modes to achieve accurate rms deflections is studied. The prediction of fatigue life is then based on the maximum rms stress. This analytical investigation will help to broaden the basic understanding of the role of fluid flow within structures subjected to random excitations.

Chiang, C. K.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Light scattering by size-shape distributions of randomly oriented axially symmetric particles of a size comparable to a wavelength

Rigorously light scattering by size-shape distributions of randomly oriented axially symmetric particles are calculated by the T-matrix method, as extended to randomly oriented scatterers. The computational scheme is described along with a newly developed convergence procedure that makes it possible to substantially reduce computer time and storage requirements. The elements of the Stokes scattering matrix for a power-law size distribution of randomly oriented moderately aspherical spheroids are shown to be much smoother than and differ substantially from those of equivalent monodisperse spheroids; averaging over orientations does not eliminate the necessity of averaging over particle sizes. The angular-scattering behavior of the ensembles of nonspherical particles is found to be significantly different from that of the equivalent polydisperse spheres.

Mishchenko, Michael I.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Application of the target decomposition theorem to a polarimetric random media model

With advances in polarimetric radar measurements of land surfaces, the need for understanding the underlying scattering mechanisms and dominant target features has become the focus of many studies. In particular, the maximum use of the polarimetric information to identify and/or separate parameters related to the surface features such as vegetation thickness, structure, water content, and soil surface characteristics will enhance the possibility of using polarimetric radars for monitoring the earth's surface from space. In this paper, Cloude's decomposition theorem is applied to a polarimetric random media model to simulate the radar measurements of vegetated canopies. The vegetated canopies are modeled as a three layer discrete random medium with leaves and branches in the first layer, tree trunks in the second layer, and a half space of homogeneous ground with rough interface as the bottom layer. The distorted born approximation (DBA) has been used to compute full Mueller matrix of the canopy, using canonical dielectric objects such as thin discs and cylinders as leaves, branches, and trunks, respectively. The Mueller matrix and the derived covariance matrix contain information on the second order statistics of radar signals at various polarizations from the canopy. To decompose the covariance matrix to its constituent targets, the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the covariance matrix are computed in terms of the physical parameters of the canopy. In addition, each eigenvector explicitly shows the scattering mechanisms such as odd and even reflections in the canopy. Cloude's decomposition theorem is applied using the Pauli spin matrices as a basis and an expression for the degree of disorder or the entropy for the vegetated surface is found. Then, the physical parameters estimated from in situ measurements are used in the random media to obtain realistic covariance matrices. As a result, the sensitivity of the eigenvalue spectrums and the coefficients resulting from the target decomposition theorem to the physical parameters of the canopy are examined and the possible use of Cloude's theorem to estimate vegetation and soil parameters is discussed.

Saatchi, Sasan S.↗

NASA NTRS1994

On the minimum of independent geometrically distributed random variables

The expectations E(X(sub 1)), E(Z(sub 1)), and E(Y(sub 1)) of the minimum of n independent geometric, modifies geometric, or exponential random variables with matching expectations differ. We show how this is accounted for by stochastic variability and how E(X(sub 1))/E(Y(sub 1)) equals the expected number of ties at the minimum for the geometric random variables. We then introduce the 'shifted geometric distribution' and show that there is a unique value of the shift for which the individual shifted geometric and exponential random variables match expectations both individually and in the minimums.

Ciardo, Gianfranco↗

NASA NTRS1994

Statistical analysis of mesoscale rainfall: Dependence of a random cascade generator on large-scale forcing

Under the theory of independent and identically distributed random cascades, the probability distribution of the cascade generator determines the spatial and the ensemble properties of spatial rainfall. Three sets of radar-derived rainfall data in space and time are analyzed to estimate the probability distribution of the generator. A detailed comparison between instantaneous scans of spatial rainfall and simulated cascades using the scaling properties of the marginal moments is carried out. This comparison highlights important similarities and differences between the data and the random cascade theory. Differences are quantified and measured for the three datasets. Evidence is presented to show that the scaling properties of the rainfall can be captured to the first order by a random cascade with a single parameter. The dependence of this parameter on forcing by the large-scale meteorological conditions, as measured by the large-scale spatial average rain rate, is investigated for these three datasets. The data show that this dependence can be captured by a one-to-one function. Since the large-scale average rain rate can be diagnosed from the large-scale dynamics, this relationship demonstrates an important linkage between the large-scale atmospheric dynamics and the statistical cascade theory of mesoscale rainfall. Potential application of this research to parameterization of runoff from the land surface and regional flood frequency analysis is briefly discussed, and open problems for further research are presented.

Over, Thomas, M.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Effect of the degree of disorder on electronic and optical properties in random superlattices

A three-dimensional tight-binding calculation is developed and used to study disorder effects in a realistic random superlattice. With increasing disorder, a tendency of possible indirect-direct band-gap transition is suggested. Direct evidence of mobility edges between localized and extended states in three-dimensional random systems is given. As system disorder increases, the optical absorption intensities increase dramatically from five to forty-five times stronger than the ordered (GaAs)(sub 1)/(AlAs)(sub 1) superlattice. It is believed that the degree of disorder significantly affects electronic and optical properties of GaAs/AlAs random superlattices.

Wang, E. G.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Clustering, randomness, and regularity in cloud fields. 4: Stratocumulus cloud fields

To complete the analysis of the spatial distribution of boundary layer cloudiness, the present study focuses on nine stratocumulus Landsat scenes. The results indicate many similarities between stratocumulus and cumulus spatial distributions. Most notably, at full spatial resolution all scenes exhibit a decidedly clustered distribution. The strength of the clustering signal decreases with increasing cloud size; the clusters themselves consist of a few clouds (less than 10), occupy a small percentage of the cloud field area (less than 5%), contain between 20% and 60% of the cloud field population, and are randomly located within the scene. In contrast, stratocumulus in almost every respect are more strongly clustered than are cumulus cloud fields. For instance, stratocumulus clusters contain more clouds per cluster, occupy a larger percentage of the total area, and have a larger percentage of clouds participating in clusters than the corresponding cumulus examples. To investigate clustering at intermediate spatial scales, the local dimensionality statistic is introduced. Results obtained from this statistic provide the first direct evidence for regularity among large (more than 900 m in diameter) clouds in stratocumulus and cumulus cloud fields, in support of the inhibition hypothesis of Ramirez and Bras (1990). Also, the size compensated point-to-cloud cumulative distribution function statistic is found to be necessary to obtain a consistent description of stratocumulus cloud distributions. A hypothesis regarding the underlying physical mechanisms responsible for cloud clustering is presented. It is suggested that cloud clusters often arise from 4 to 10 triggering events localized within regions less than 2 km in diameter and randomly distributed within the cloud field. As the size of the cloud surpasses the scale of the triggering region, the clustering signal weakens and the larger cloud locations become more random.

Lee, J.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Weight distributions for turbo codes using random and nonrandom permutations

This article takes a preliminary look at the weight distributions achievable for turbo codes using random, nonrandom, and semirandom permutations. Due to the recursiveness of the encoders, it is important to distinguish between self-terminating and non-self-terminating input sequences. The non-self-terminating sequences have little effect on decoder performance, because they accumulate high encoded weight until they are artificially terminated at the end of the block. From probabilistic arguments based on selecting the permutations randomly, it is concluded that the self-terminating weight-2 data sequences are the most important consideration in the design of constituent codes; higher-weight self-terminating sequences have successively decreasing importance. Also, increasing the number of codes and, correspondingly, the number of permutations makes it more and more likely that the bad input sequences will be broken up by one or more of the permuters. It is possible to design nonrandom permutations that ensure that the minimum distance due to weight-2 input sequences grows roughly as the square root of (2N), where N is the block length. However, these nonrandom permutations amplify the bad effects of higher-weight inputs, and as a result they are inferior in performance to randomly selected permutations. But there are 'semirandom' permutations that perform nearly as well as the designed nonrandom permutations with respect to weight-2 input sequences and are not as susceptible to being foiled by higher-weight inputs.

Dolinar, S.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Verification of force and acceleration specifications for random vibration tests of Cassini spacecraft equipment

The use of force limiting in the random vibration testing of the Cassini spacecraft's subsystems is reported on. A verification of the Cassini equipment random vibration test acceleration and force specifications is provided by interface acceleration and force data measured in acoustic tests of the Cassini spacecraft development test model (DTM). Acoustic tests were performed on the DTM structure with different structural and equipment configurations. The acceleration and force spectra at the interface between the equipment items and the spacecraft DTM structure were measured in the acoustic tests and compared with the equipment random vibration test specifications. The spacecraft's apparent masses were measured at the equipment mounting points and used in force limit predictions.

Chang, Kurng Y.↗

NASA NTRS1996

A Numerical Simulation of Scattering from One-Dimensional Inhomogeneous Dielectric Random Surfaces

In this paper, an efficient numerical solution for the scattering problem of inhomogeneous dielectric rough surfaces is presented. The inhomogeneous dielectric random surface represents a bare soil surface and is considered to be comprised of a large number of randomly positioned dielectric humps of different sizes, shapes, and dielectric constants above an impedance surface. Clods with nonuniform moisture content and rocks are modeled by inhomogeneous dielectric humps and the underlying smooth wet soil surface is modeled by an impedance surface. In this technique, an efficient numerical solution for the constituent dielectric humps over an impedance surface is obtained using Green's function derived by the exact image theory in conjunction with the method of moments. The scattered field from a sample of the rough surface is obtained by summing the scattered fields from all the individual humps of the surface coherently ignoring the effect of multiple scattering between the humps. The statistical behavior of the scattering coefficient sigma(sup 0) is obtained from the calculation of scattered fields of many different realizations of the surface. Numerical results are presented for several different roughnesses and dielectric constants of the random surfaces. The numerical technique is verified by comparing the numerical solution with the solution based on the small perturbation method and the physical optics model for homogeneous rough surfaces. This technique can be used to study the behavior of scattering coefficient and phase difference statistics of rough soil surfaces for which no analytical solution exists.

Sarabandi, Kamal↗

NASA NTRS1997

A New Approach to Extreme Value Estimation Applicable to a Wide Variety of Random Variables

Designing reliable structures requires an estimate of the maximum and minimum values (i.e., strength and load) that may be encountered in service. Yet designs based on very extreme values (to insure safety) can result in extra material usage and hence, uneconomic systems. In aerospace applications, severe over-design cannot be tolerated making it almost mandatory to design closer to the assumed limits of the design random variables. The issue then is predicting extreme values that are practical, i.e. neither too conservative or non-conservative. Obtaining design values by employing safety factors is well known to often result in overly conservative designs and. Safety factor values have historically been selected rather arbitrarily, often lacking a sound rational basis. To answer the question of how safe a design needs to be has lead design theorists to probabilistic and statistical methods. The so-called three-sigma approach is one such method and has been described as the first step in utilizing information about the data dispersion. However, this method is based on the assumption that the random variable is dispersed symmetrically about the mean and is essentially limited to normally distributed random variables. Use of this method can therefore result in unsafe or overly conservative design allowables if the common assumption of normality is incorrect.

Holland, Frederic A., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Testing for Random Limit Load Versus Static Limit Load

This document is an effort to report the basic test findings in an ongoing quest for understanding how random load factors should be applied to structural components in order to verify the strength of space flight hardware. A Spacelab experiment known as the Atmospheric Emission Photometric Imager (AEPI) was subjected to both an expected flight random environment and the associated Miles' equation equivalent static load. During each of these tests, the fiberglass pedestal was instrumented with 16 triaxial strain gauges around its base. Component strains and invariant stresses were compared. As seen previously in other hardware tests, the stress distribution from the random environment was an order of magnitude below the comparable static stresses. With a proposed data acquisition system, a strain database will be developed that will quantify an empirical relationship between dynamic and static limit stresses. This event will allow a more accurate estimate of launch environment effects on new technology structural components.

Lee, H. M.↗