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At least 235 records · Page 13

Extreme ultraviolet quantum efficiency of opaque alkali halide photocathodes on microchannel plates

Comprehensive measurements are presented for the quantum detection efficiency (QDE) of the microchannel plate materials CsI, KBr, KCl, and MgF2, over the 44-1800 A wavelength range. QDEs in excess of 40 percent are achieved by several materials in specific wavelength regions of the EUV. Structure is noted in the wavelength dependence of the QDE that is directly related to the valence-band/conduction-band gap energy and the onset of atomic-like resonant transitions. A simple photocathode model allows interpretation of these features, together with the QDE efficiency variation, as a function of illumination angle.

Siegmund, O. H. W.↗

Confidence set inference with a prior quadratic bound

In the uniqueness part of a geophysical inverse problem, the observer wants to predict all likely values of P unknown numerical properties z=(z sub 1,...,z sub p) of the earth from measurement of D other numerical properties y (sup 0) = (y (sub 1) (sup 0), ..., y (sub D (sup 0)), using full or partial knowledge of the statistical distribution of the random errors in y (sup 0). The data space Y containing y(sup 0) is D-dimensional, so when the model space X is infinite-dimensional the linear uniqueness problem usually is insoluble without prior information about the correct earth model x. If that information is a quadratic bound on x, Bayesian inference (BI) and stochastic inversion (SI) inject spurious structure into x, implied by neither the data nor the quadratic bound. Confidence set inference (CSI) provides an alternative inversion technique free of this objection. Confidence set inference is illustrated in the problem of estimating the geomagnetic field B at the core-mantle boundary (CMB) from components of B measured on or above the earth's surface.

Backus, George E.↗

On the state estimation of structures with second order observers

The use of Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) control synthesis techniques implies the availability of full state feedback. For vibration control of structures, usually only a limited number of states are measured from which an observer model reconstructs the full state. It is shown that using second order observers is a viable technique for reconstructing the unmeasured states of structures under mildly restrictive conditions. Moreover, the computational advantages of the second order observer as compared to a first order observer indicate that significantly larger observer models may be utilized. Numerical examples are used to demonstrate the performance of second order observers. The implications of second order observers in the development of Controls-Structures Interaction (CSI) technology is discussed.

Belvin, W. Keith↗

A survey of experiments and experimental facilities for control of flexible structures

This paper presents a survey of U.S. ground experiments and facilities dedicated to the study of active control of flexible structures. The facilities will be briefly described in terms of capability, configuration, size and instrumentation. Topics on the experiments include vibration suppression, slewing and system identification. Future research directions, particularly of the NASA Langley Research Center's Controls/Structures Interaction (CSI) ground test program, will be discussed.

Sparks, Dean W., Jr.↗

NASA'S controls-structures interaction program

A NASA program is about to start which has the objective to advance Controls-Structures Interaction (CSI) technology to a point where it can be used in spacecraft design for future missions. Because of the close interrelationships between the structure, the control hardware, and the analysis/design, a highly interdisciplinary activity is defined in which structures, dynamics, controls, computer and electronics engineers work together on a daily basis and are co-located to a large extent. Methods will be developed which allow the controls and structures analysis and design functions to use the same mathematical models. Hardware tests and applications are emphasized and will require development of concepts and test methods to carry out. Because of a variety of mission application problem classes, several time-phased, focus ground test articles are planned. They will be located at the Langley Researdh Center (LaRC), the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It is anticipated that the ground tests will be subject to gravity and other environmental effects to the extent that orbital flights tests will be needed for verification of some technology items. The need for orbital flight experiments will be quantified based on ground test results and mission needs. Candidate on-orbit experiments will be defined and preliminary design/definition and cost studies will be carried out for one or more high-priority experiments.

Hanks, Brantley R.↗

The solar flare and cosmic gamma-ray burst experiment aboard the Ulysses spacecraft

The HUS-Ulysses team has prepared an instrument for the Ulysses spacecraft consisting of 2 Csi detectors and 2 Si surface barrier detectors for measuring x rays in the range 5 to 200 keV with up to 8 ms time resolution. The prime objectives of the experiment are the study of solar flares and cosmic gamma-ray bursts. The Ulysses mission will leave the ecliptic during the forthcoming solar maximum. The total time above ecliptic latitudes + or - 70 degrees is expected to be 230 days. The solar data can be used in conjunction with other experiments to measure the directivity of the emission and for correlative studies.

Boer, Michel↗

Modeling and control of flexible space platforms with articulated payloads

The first steps in developing a methodology for spacecraft control-structure interaction (CSI) optimization are identification and classification of anticipated missions, and the development of tractable mathematical models in each mission class. A mathematical model of a generic large flexible space platform (LFSP) with multiple independently pointed rigid payloads is considered. The objective is not to develop a general purpose numerical simulation, but rather to develop an analytically tractable mathematical model of such composite systems. The equations of motion for a single payload case are derived, and are linearized about zero steady-state. The resulting model is then extended to include multiple rigid payloads, yielding the desired analytical form. The mathematical models developed clearly show the internal inertial/elastic couplings, and are therefore suitable for analytical and numerical studies. A simple decentralized control law is proposed for fine pointing the payloads and LFSP attitude control, and simulation results are presented for an example problem. The decentralized controller is shown to be adequate for the example problem chosen, but does not, in general, guarantee stability. A centralized dissipative controller is then proposed, requiring a symmetric form of the composite system equations. Such a controller guarantees robust closed loop stability despite unmodeled elastic dynamics and parameter uncertainties.

Graves, Philip C.↗

Computational architecture for integrated controls and structures design

To facilitate the development of control structure interaction (CSI) design methodology, a computational architecture for interdisciplinary design of active structures is presented. The emphasis of the computational procedure is to exploit existing sparse matrix structural analysis techniques, in-core data transfer with control synthesis programs, and versatility in the optimization methodology to avoid unnecessary structural or control calculations. The architecture is designed such that all required structure, control and optimization analyses are performed within one program. Hence, the optimization strategy is not unduly constrained by cold starts of existing structural analysis and control synthesis packages.

Belvin, W. Keith↗

LACE flight dynamics experiment

The Low Power Atmospheric Compensation Experiment (LACE) is scheduled for launch in late 1989 into a 556 km altitude circular orbit of 43 deg inclination. The LACE flight dynamics experiment is an experiment secondary to the primary LACE mission. The purpose of the experiment is to provide on-orbit systems identification of the LACE spacecraft. The structure of the LACE spacecraft is of special interest to the CSI community. It incorporates 3 deployable/retractable booms of maximum length 45.72 m (150 ft) mounted on a rectangular parallelepiped bus of mass 1,200 kg. The zenith directed gravity gradient boom is mounted on the top of the bus; the retroreflector boom is mounted forward and deployed along the velocity vector, the balance boom is mounted and pointed aft. Attitude stabilization is accomplished by means of gravity gradient torques and by a momentum wheel. The LACE flight dynamics experiment is designed to measure modal frequencies, damping ratios, and oscillation amplitudes of the LACE spacecraft, as well as the vibration intensity generated by boom deployments and retractions. It is anticipated that this experiment will provide an opportunity for improvements in the accuracy of computer simulations of flexible structures and multibody dynamics.

Fisher, Shalom↗

Integrated modeling and analysis of a space-truss article

MSC/NASTRAN is being used in the Controls-Structures Interaction (CSI) program at NASA Langley Research Center as a key analytical tool for structural analysis as well as the basis for control law development, closed-loop performance evaluation, and system safety checks. Guest investigators from academia and industry are performing dynamics and control experiments on a flight-like deployable space truss called Mini-Mast to determine the effectiveness of various active-vibration control laws. MSC/NASTRAN was used to calculate natural frequencies and mode shapes below 100 Hz to describe the dynamics of the 20-meter-long lightweight Mini-Mast structure. Gravitational effects contribute significantly to structural stiffness and are accounted for through a two-phase solution in which the differential stiffness matrix is calculated and then used in the eigensolution. Reduced modal models are extracted for control law design and evaluation of closed-loop system performance. Predicted actuator forces from controls simulations are then applied to the extended model to predict member loads and stresses. These pre-test analyses reduce risks associated with the structural integrity of the test article, which is a major concern in closed-loop control experiments due to potential instabilities.

Alan E Stockwell↗

Minimum attainable RMS attitude error using co-located rate sensors

A closed form analytical expression for the minimum attainable attitude error (as well as the error rate) in a flexible beam by feedback control using co-located rate sensors is announced. For simplicity, researchers consider a beam clamped at one end with an offset mass (antenna) at the other end where the controls and sensors are located. Both control moment generators and force actuators are provided. The results apply to any beam-like lattice-type truss, and provide the kind of performance criteria needed under CSI - Controls-Stuctures-Integrated optimization.

Balakrishnan, A. V.↗

JPL control/structure interaction test bed real-time control computer architecture

The Control/Structure Interaction Program is a technology development program for spacecraft that exhibit interactions between the control system and structural dynamics. The program objectives include development and verification of new design concepts - such as active structure - and new tools - such as combined structure and control optimization algorithm - and their verification in ground and possibly flight test. A focus mission spacecraft was designed based upon a space interferometer and is the basis for design of the ground test article. The ground test bed objectives include verification of the spacecraft design concepts, the active structure elements and certain design tools such as the new combined structures and controls optimization tool. In anticipation of CSI technology flight experiments, the test bed control electronics must emulate the computation capacity and control architectures of space qualifiable systems as well as the command and control networks that will be used to connect investigators with the flight experiment hardware. The Test Bed facility electronics were functionally partitioned into three units: a laboratory data acquisition system for structural parameter identification and performance verification; an experiment supervisory computer to oversee the experiment, monitor the environmental parameters and perform data logging; and a multilevel real-time control computing system. The design of the Test Bed electronics is presented along with hardware and software component descriptions. The system should break new ground in experimental control electronics and is of interest to anyone working in the verification of control concepts for large structures.

Briggs, Hugh C.↗

Effects of source vs. interactive actuator assumptions on modelling of a smart structure

Embedded or internal actuators in a structure are being utilized to perform vibration attenuation, pointing maneuvers, damage control, and other adaptive tasks. The controls-structures-interaction (CSI) design process depends strongly on the coupled dynamic response of the structure and the actuators. A bond graph approach is used to guide this analytical study to uncover the effects of certain generic actuator types on the closed-loop, initial condition control of a single-mode structural model and an eighteen-state model of an active truss. So-called 'flow' and 'effort' source actuator types were studied and were shown to have significant differences in closed-loop response for ranges of initial conditions and system open-loop natural frequencies.

Robertshaw, Harry H.↗

Performance of bismuth germanate active shielding on a balloon flight over Antarctica

The GRAD (Gamma-Ray Advanced Detector) gamma-ray spectrometer was flown on a balloon at an altitude of 36.6 km over Antarctica on January 8-10, 1988, where it was used to make observations of SN 1987A. The performance of the bismuth germanate (BGO) active shielding in the near-space environment over Antarctica is examined. The promised effectiveness of this shielding in the suppression of unwanted background has been demonstrated. The BGO-shielded GRAD spectrometer detected gamma-ray lines with fluxes of 0.002/sq cm sec from SN 1987A in a radiation background approximately a factor of 4 more intense than that over Alice Springs, Australia. This level of sensitivity indicates that BGO is at least as effective as CsI when used as active shielding. Isomerism is common, both in the bismuth and germanium regions of the nuclear chart, but is found to be less of a problem for background suppression in the latter region than in the former.

Rester, A. C.↗

Status of DSMT research program

The status of the Dynamic Scale Model Technology (DSMT) research program is presented. DSMT is developing scale model technology for large space structures as part of the Control Structure Interaction (CSI) program at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). Under DSMT a hybrid-scale structural dynamics model of Space Station Freedom was developed. Space Station Freedom was selected as the focus structure for DSMT since the station represents the first opportunity to obtain flight data on a complex, three-dimensional space structure. Included is an overview of DSMT including the development of the space station scale model and the resulting hardware. Scaling technology was developed for this model to achieve a ground test article which existing test facilities can accommodate while employing realistically scaled hardware. The model was designed and fabricated by the Lockheed Missile and Space Co., and is assembled at LaRc for dynamic testing. Also, results from ground tests and analyses of the various model components are presented along with plans for future subassembly and matted model tests. Finally, utilization of the scale model for enhancing analysis verification of the full-scale space station is also considered.

Mcgowan, Paul E.↗

An integrated control/structure design method using multi-objective optimization

The benefits are demonstrated of a multiobjective optimization based control structure integrated design methodology. An application of the proposed CSI methodology to the integrated design of the Spacecraft COntrol Lab Experiment (SCOLE) configuration is presented. Integrated design resulted in reducing both the control performance measure and the mass. Thus, better overall performance is achieved through integrated design optimization. The mutliobjective optimization approach used provides Pareto optimal solutions by unconstrained minimization of a differentiable KS function. Furthermore, adjusting the parameters gives insight into the trade-offs involved between different objectives.

Gupta, Sandeep↗

Combined structures-controls optimization of lattice trusses

The role that distributed parameter model can play in CSI is demonstrated, in particular in combined structures controls optimization problems of importance in preliminary design. Closed form solutions can be obtained for performance criteria such as rms attitude error, making possible analytical solutions of the optimization problem. This is in contrast to the need for numerical computer solution involving the inversion of large matrices in traditional finite element model (FEM) use. Another advantage of the analytic solution is that it can provide much needed insight into phenomena that can otherwise be obscured or difficult to discern from numerical computer results. As a compromise in level of complexity between a toy lab model and a real space structure, the lattice truss used in the EPS (Earth Pointing Satellite) was chosen. The optimization problem chosen is a generic one: of minimizing the structure mass subject to a specified stability margin and to a specified upper bond on the rms attitude error, using a co-located controller and sensors. Standard FEM treating each bar as a truss element is used, while the continuum model is anisotropic Timoshenko beam model. Performance criteria are derived for each model, except that for the distributed parameter model, explicit closed form solutions was obtained. Numerical results obtained by the two model show complete agreement.

Balakrishnan, A. V.↗

Calibration and operation of a large space-based optical interferometer

The on-orbit calibration of the optics, structure, and control systems of the CSI Focus Mission Interferometer (FMI) is described. The calibration involves the estimation and propagation of both positional and rotational parameters and the propagation of both positional and rotational parameters at the nanometer/nanoradian level. It is shown that, given a nanometer class metrology system to monitor positional changes of critical optical elements, this calibration procedure should enable the FMI to perform 50 picoradian astrometry. The same Kalman filter that implements the initializing calibration of the interferometer baselines and internal pathlengths will also participate in the astrometric measurements of stellar positions.

Laskin, R. A.↗