Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “STEP FUNCTION”

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.

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

At least 235 records · Page 13
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2006

Biology Inspired Approach for Communal Behavior in Sensor Networks

Research in wireless sensor network technology has exploded in the last decade. Promises of complex and ubiquitous control of the physical environment by these networks open avenues for new kinds of science and business. Due to the small size and low cost of sensor devices, visionaries promise systems enabled by deployment of massive numbers of sensors working in concert. Although the reduction in size has been phenomenal it results in severe limitations on the computing, communicating, and power capabilities of these devices. Under these constraints, research efforts have concentrated on developing techniques for performing relatively simple tasks with minimal energy expense assuming some form of centralized control. Unfortunately, centralized control does not scale to massive size networks and execution of simple tasks in sparsely populated networks will not lead to the sophisticated applications predicted. These must be enabled by new techniques dependent on local and autonomous cooperation between sensors to effect global functions. As a step in that direction, in this work we detail a technique whereby a large population of sensors can attain a global goal using only local information and by making only local decisions without any form of centralized control.

Jones, Kennie H.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Lightning Charge Retrievals: Dimensional Reduction, LDAR Constraints, and a First Comparison w/ LIS Satellite Data

A "dimensional reduction" (DR) method is introduced for analyzing lightning field changes whereby the number of unknowns in a discrete two-charge model is reduced from the standard eight to just four. The four unknowns are found by performing a numerical minimization of a chi-squared goodness-of-fit function. At each step of the minimization, an Overdetermined Fixed Matrix (OFM) method is used to immediately retrieve the best "residual source". In this way, all 8 parameters are found, yet a numerical search of only 4 parameters is required. The inversion method is applied to the understanding of lightning charge retrievals. The accuracy of the DR method has been assessed by comparing retrievals with data provided by the Lightning Detection And Ranging (LDAR) instrument. Because lightning effectively deposits charge within thundercloud charge centers and because LDAR traces the geometrical development of the lightning channel with high precision, the LDAR data provides an ideal constraint for finding the best model charge solutions. In particular, LDAR data can be used to help determine both the horizontal and vertical positions of the model charges, thereby eliminating dipole ambiguities. The results of the LDAR-constrained charge retrieval method have been compared to the locations of optical pulses/flash locations detected by the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS).

Koshak, William↗
NASA NTRS2007

Lightning Charge Retrievals: Dimensional Reduction, LDAR Constraints, and a First Comparison with LIS Satellite Data

A "dimensional reduction" ("DR") method is introduced for analyzing lightning field changes ((Delta)Es) whereby the number of unknowns in a discrete two-charge model is reduced from the standard eight (x, y, z, Q, x', y', z', Q') to just four (x, y, z, Q). The four unknowns (x, y, z, Q) are found by performing a numerical minimization of a chi-square function. At each step of the minimization, an overdetermined fixed matrix (OFM) method is used to immediately retrieve the best "residual source" (x', y', z', Q'), given the values of (x, y, z, Q). In this way, all eight parameters Ix. y, z, Q, x', y', z', Q') are found, yet a numerical search of only four parameters (x, y, z, Q) is required. The DR method has been used to analyze lightning-caused (Delta)Es derived from multiple ground-based electric field measurements at the NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and U.S. Air Force Eastern Range (ER). The accuracy of the DR method has been assessed by comparing retrievals with data provided by the lightning detection and ranging (LDAR) system at the KSC-ER. and from least squares error estimation theory, and the method is shown to be a useful "stand alone" charge retrieval tool. Since more than one charge distribution describes a finite set of (Delta)Es (i.e., solutions are nonunique), and since there can be appreciable differences in the physical characteristics of these solutions, not all DR solutions are physically acceptable. Hence. an alternative and more accurate method of analysis is introduced that uses LDAR data to constrain the geometry of the charge solutions. thereby removing physically unacceptable retrievals. The charge solutions derived from this method are shown to compare well with independent satellite- and ground-based observations of lightning m several Florida storms.

Koshak, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Unsteady Adjoint Approach for Design Optimization of Flapping Airfoils

This paper describes the work for optimizing the propulsive efficiency of flapping airfoils, i.e., improving the thrust under constraining aerodynamic work during the flapping flights by changing their shape and trajectory of motion with the unsteady discrete adjoint approach. For unsteady problems, it is essential to properly resolving time scales of motion under consideration and it must be compatible with the objective sought after. We include both the instantaneous and time-averaged (periodic) formulations in this study. For the design optimization with shape parameters or motion parameters, the time-averaged objective function is found to be more useful, while the instantaneous one is more suitable for flow control. The instantaneous objective function is operationally straightforward. On the other hand, the time-averaged objective function requires additional steps in the adjoint approach; the unsteady discrete adjoint equations for a periodic flow must be reformulated and the corresponding system of equations solved iteratively. We compare the design results from shape and trajectory optimizations and investigate the physical relevance of design variables to the flapping motion at on- and off-design conditions.

Lee, Byung Joon↗
NASA NTRS2015

Minimal Power Latch for Single-Slope ADCs

A latch circuit that uses two interoperating latches. The latch circuit has the beneficial feature that it switches only a single time during a measurement that uses a stair step or ramp function as an input signal in an analog to digital converter. This feature minimizes the amount of power that is consumed in the latch and also minimizes the amount of high frequency noise that is generated by the latch. An application using a plurality of such latch circuits in a parallel decoding ADC for use in an image sensor is given as an example.

Hancock, Bruce R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Investigating a hybrid perturbation-Galerkin technique using computer algebra

A two-step hybrid perturbation-Galerkin method is presented for the solution of a variety of differential equations type problems which involve a scalar parameter. The resulting (approximate) solution has the form of a sum where each term consists of the product of two functions. The first function is a function of the independent field variable(s) x, and the second is a function of the parameter lambda. In step one the functions of x are determined by forming a perturbation expansion in lambda. In step two the functions of lambda are determined through the use of the classical Bubnov-Gelerkin method. The resulting hybrid method has the potential of overcoming some of the drawbacks of the perturbation and Bubnov-Galerkin methods applied separately, while combining some of the good features of each. In particular, the results can be useful well beyond the radius of convergence associated with the perturbation expansion. The hybrid method is applied with the aid of computer algebra to a simple two-point boundary value problem where the radius of convergence is finite and to a quantum eigenvalue problem where the radius of convergence is zero. For both problems the hybrid method apparently converges for an infinite range of the parameter lambda. The results obtained from the hybrid method are compared with approximate solutions obtained by other methods, and the applicability of the hybrid method to broader problem areas is discussed.

Andersen, Carl M.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Tailored Silicone Network Architecture for Ultimate Mechanical Reinforcement

Hydrosilylation cured silicone elastomers are subject to reaction inefficiency, leading to incomplete and non-uniform crosslink networks, restricting the potential of mechanical reinforcement. This work investigates pre-synthesized, functional PDMS architectures as additives to improve ultimate mechanical performance relative to conventional single-step curing. Three custom, functional structures were prepared: a partially crosslinked PDMS scaffold (Structure A), a bottle-brush PDMS (Structure B), and a star-shaped PDMS derived from an MQ resin (Structure C). Rheological characterization was used to identify the ultimate design space and proper stoichiometric ratio for Structure A, and confirm successful formation of all structures for suitable incorporation into a base silicone formulation at 30wt%. Mechanical tests indicated that all three structures increased in ultimate tensile strength relative to their single-step counterparts, with Structure A providing additional improvements to toughness (432 vs. 258 kJ/m3) and ultimate elongation (158 vs. 115%). Furthermore, Structure B remained very soft in the unfilled state, while Structure C provided hardness (23 vs. 18 Shore A) and stiffness (780 vs. 420 kPa Young’s modulus) increases. In silica filled systems, Structure A retained increased strength but reduced elongation, while Structure B indicated strong reinforcement in terms of strength, toughness, and stiffness. Thermal analysis on the cure profiles of these materials suggested that pre-formation of network architectures enable a more complete reaction than a single-step process (15.9 vs. 15.1 J/g). Ultimately, these results indicate that tailoring PDMS architecture before the final cure can improve ultimate mechanical properties via improved network development in silicone elastomers. Furthermore, this work offers a promising strategy for designing higher-performance, more tunable silicone formulations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2005

Simplified Two-Time Step Method for Calculating Combustion and Emission Rates of Jet-A and Methane Fuel With and Without Water Injection

A simplified kinetic scheme for Jet-A, and methane fuels with water injection was developed to be used in numerical combustion codes, such as the National Combustor Code (NCC) or even simple FORTRAN codes. The two time step method is either an initial time averaged value (step one) or an instantaneous value (step two). The switch is based on the water concentration in moles/cc of 1x10(exp -20). The results presented here results in a correlation that gives the chemical kinetic time as two separate functions. This two time step method is used as opposed to a one step time averaged method previously developed to determine the chemical kinetic time with increased accuracy. The first time averaged step is used at the initial times for smaller water concentrations. This gives the average chemical kinetic time as a function of initial overall fuel air ratio, initial water to fuel mass ratio, temperature, and pressure. The second instantaneous step, to be used with higher water concentrations, gives the chemical kinetic time as a function of instantaneous fuel and water mole concentration, pressure and temperature (T4). The simple correlations would then be compared to the turbulent mixing times to determine the limiting rates of the reaction. The NASA Glenn GLSENS kinetics code calculates the reaction rates and rate constants for each species in a kinetic scheme for finite kinetic rates. These reaction rates are used to calculate the necessary chemical kinetic times. Chemical kinetic time equations for fuel, carbon monoxide and NOx are obtained for Jet-A fuel and methane with and without water injection to water mass loadings of 2/1 water to fuel. A similar correlation was also developed using data from NASA's Chemical Equilibrium Applications (CEA) code to determine the equilibrium concentrations of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide as functions of overall equivalence ratio, water to fuel mass ratio, pressure and temperature (T3). The temperature of the gas entering the turbine (T4) was also correlated as a function of the initial combustor temperature (T3), equivalence ratio, water to fuel mass ratio, and pressure.

Molnar, Melissa↗
NASA NTRS1993

Effects of an aft facing step on the surface of a laminar flow glider wing

A motor glider was used to perform a flight test study on the effects of aft facing steps in a laminar boundary layer. This study focuses on two dimensional aft facing steps oriented spanwise to the flow. The size and location of the aft facing steps were varied in order to determine the critical size that will force premature transition. Transition over a step was found to be primarily a function of Reynolds number based on step height. Both of the step height Reynolds numbers for premature and full transition were determined. A hot film anemometry system was used to detect transition.

Sandlin, Doral R.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Models of protocellular structures, functions and evolution

The central step in the origin of life was the emergence of organized structures from organic molecules available on the early earth. These predecessors to modern cells, called 'proto-cells,' were simple, membrane bounded structures able to maintain themselves, grow, divide, and evolve. Since there is no fossil record of these earliest of life forms, it is a scientific challenge to discover plausible mechanisms for how these entities formed and functioned. To meet this challenge, it is essential to create laboratory models of protocells that capture the main attributes associated with living systems, while remaining consistent with known, or inferred, protobiological conditions. This report provides an overview of a project which has focused on protocellular metabolism and the coupling of metabolism to energy transduction. We have assumed that the emergence of systems endowed with genomes and capable of Darwinian evolution was preceded by a pre-genomic phase, in which protocells functioned and evolved using mostly proteins, without self-replicating nucleic acids such as RNA.

Pohorille, Andrew↗
NASA NTRS1984

The efficient numerical calculation of condensational cloud drop growth

A modified Runge-Kutta integration technique is applied to condensational cloud droplet growth calculations, using the device of limiting dr, the growth of a droplet of radius r over the time step dt to some function of the absolute value of r(eq)-r, where r(eq) denotes the equilibrium value. The use of variable time steps to obtain an efficient choice of dt is also discussed. Results using these techniques are compared with those obtained with the standard fourth-order Runge-Kutta method, showing that the modified technique reduces the requisite computer time by a factor of about one hundred.

Robinson, N. F.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Incompressible flow computations based on the vorticity-stream function and velocity-pressure formulations

Finite element procedures and computations based on the velocity-pressure and vorticity-stream function formulations of incompressible flows are presented. Two new multistep velocity-pressure formulations are proposed and compared with the vorticity-stream function and one-step formulations. The example problems chosen are the standing vortex problem and flow past a circular cylinder. Benchmark quality computations are performed for the cylinder problem. The numerical results indicate that the vorticity-stream function formulation and one of the two new multistep formulations involve much less numerical dissipation than the one-step formulation.

Tezduyar, T. E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Derivation of linearized transfer functions for switching-mode regulations. Phase A: Current step-up and voltage step-up converters

Small-signal models are derived for the power stage of the voltage step-up (boost) and the current step-up (buck) converters. The modeling covers operation in both the continuous-mmf mode and the discontinuous-mmf mode. The power stage in the regulated current step-up converter on board the Dynamics Explorer Satellite is used as an example to illustrate the procedures in obtaining the small-signal functions characterizing a regulated converter.

Wong, R. C.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Mesoporous peptide frameworks engineered from crystallizable collagen-mimetic peptide amphiphiles

The rational design of porous frameworks with tunable pore dimensions and chemical functionalities is a critical step toward their implementation in diverse applications. While traditional porous materials are typically constructed from abiotic components, there is increasing interest in employing biologically derived building blocks (e.g., peptides and proteins) that offer unmatched structural and functional diversity. Here, we report the construction of crystalline mesoporous frameworks that are self-assembled from amphiphilic collagen-mimetic peptides. Comprehensive structural characterization via microscopy, spectroscopy, and computational techniques provides insights into the assembly packing model, in which hexagonally packed channels are interconnected by antiparallel-aligned collagen triple helices via hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Lastly, we demonstrate the functional potential of aCMP frameworks through the encapsulation of various molecular guests, including doxorubicin, an anti-cancer drug. Overall, this work establishes a class of mesoporous frameworks, derived from synthetically engineerable peptide conjugates, marking a significant step forward in broadening the architectural scope and application potential of peptide-based materials.

Perez, Anthony R↗
DOE OSTI2025

CIE Analysis Process for Engineered Systems

"CIE Analysis Process for Engineered Systems" outlines a comprehensive methodology for integrating Cyber-Informed Engineering (CIE) principles into both new and existing engineered systems. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (DOE CESER), the process aims to achieve cyber-informed decisions by producing functional security requirements for new systems and retrofitting existing systems to mitigate digital risks. The document details a step-by-step approach, including mission and function definition, digital asset awareness, consequence analysis, and mitigation analysis. It emphasizes the importance of documenting mechanical, electrical, programmable, and network components to protect system functions and provides examples and considerations for each step. The ultimate goal is to ensure that engineered systems remain resilient against cyber threats, maintaining safety, performance, and reliability.

42 - ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1993

A hybrid Pade-Galerkin technique for differential equations

A three-step hybrid analysis technique, which successively uses the regular perturbation expansion method, the Pade expansion method, and then a Galerkin approximation, is presented and applied to some model boundary value problems. In the first step of the method, the regular perturbation method is used to construct an approximation to the solution in the form of a finite power series in a small parameter epsilon associated with the problem. In the second step of the method, the series approximation obtained in step one is used to construct a Pade approximation in the form of a rational function in the parameter epsilon. In the third step, the various powers of epsilon which appear in the Pade approximation are replaced by new (unknown) parameters (delta(sub j)). These new parameters are determined by requiring that the residual formed by substituting the new approximation into the governing differential equation is orthogonal to each of the perturbation coordinate functions used in step one. The technique is applied to model problems involving ordinary or partial differential equations. In general, the technique appears to provide good approximations to the solution even when the perturbation and Pade approximations fail to do so. The method is discussed and topics for future investigations are indicated.

Geer, James F.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Further steps toward the next generation of covariant energy density functionals

The present study aims at further development of covariant energy density functionals (CEDFs) towards more accurate description of binding energies across the nuclear chart. Infinite basis corrections to binding energies in the fermionic and bosonic sectors of the covariant density functional theory are taken into account in the fitting protocol within the covariant density functional theory. In addition, total electron binding energies are used in the conversion of atomic binding energies into nuclear ones. Their dependence on neutron excess is investigated across the nuclear chart within the atomic approach. Furthermore, these factors were disregarded in the previous generation of covariant energy density functionals, but their omission leads to substantial global calculation errors for physical quantities of interest. For example, these errors for binding energies are of the order of 0.8 MeV or higher for the three major classes of covariant energy density functionals.

Binding energy & masses↗
NASA NTRS2011

Step-by-Step Simulation of Radiation of Radiation Chemistry Using Green Functions for Diffusion-Influenced Reactions

The irradiation of biological systems leads to the formation of radiolytic species such as H(raised dot), (raised dot)OH, H2, H2O2, e(sup -)(sub aq), etc.[1]. These species react with neighboring molecules, which result in damage in biological molecules such as DNA. Radiation chemistry is there for every important to understand the radiobiological consequences of radiation[2]. In this work, we discuss an approach based on the exact Green Functions for diffusion-influenced reactions which may be used to simulate radiation chemistry and eventually extended to study more complex systems, including DNA.

Plante, Ianik↗