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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 235 records · Page 13

NASA's Global Precipitation Mission Ground Validation Segment

NASA is designing a Ground Validation Segment (GVS) as one of its contributions to the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. The GPM GVS provides an independent means for evaluation, diagnosis, and ultimately improvement of the GPM spaceborne measurements and precipitation products. NASA's GPM GVS concept calls for a combination of direct observations executed within a Multidimensional Observing Volume (MOV) and model-based analyses executed by a Satellite Simulator Model (SSM). The MOV consists of ground-based instruments that measure local surface and atmospheric properties required for GPM validation. The SSM utilizes MOV measurements in a forward numerical model. The goal of the SSM forward modeling is calculation of the following properties: top-of-atmosphere microwave radiative quantities to within sensor noise of those measured by the GPM Core Satellite, precipitation quantities identical to those generated by the standard GPM precipitation retrieval algorithms, and quantitative/objective error estimates of both sets of quantities. At present, the GVS is in the early design stage and various scenarios have been generated to assess how it will be used in the GPM era. The GPM GVS will be operational in the year prior to the launch of the GPM core satellite, which has a launch date scheduled for December 2010.

GVS (GROUND VALIDATION SEGMENT)↗

Development of Modal Test Techniques for Validation of a Solar Sail Design

This paper focuses on the development of modal test techniques for validation of a solar sail gossamer space structure design. The major focus is on validating and comparing the capabilities of various excitation techniques for modal testing solar sail components. One triangular shaped quadrant of a solar sail membrane was tested in a 1 Torr vacuum environment using various excitation techniques including, magnetic excitation, and surface-bonded piezoelectric patch actuators. Results from modal tests performed on the sail using piezoelectric patches at different positions are discussed. The excitation methods were evaluated for their applicability to in-vacuum ground testing and to the development of on orbit flight test techniques. The solar sail membrane was tested in the horizontal configuration at various tension levels to assess the variation in frequency with tension in a vacuum environment. A segment of a solar sail mast prototype was also tested in ambient atmospheric conditions using various excitation techniques, and these methods are also assessed for their ground test capabilities and on-orbit flight testing.

Gaspar, James L.↗

Flight Test Validation of Optimal Input Design and Comparison to Conventional Inputs

A technique for designing optimal inputs for aerodynamic parameter estimation was flight tested on the F-18 High Angle of Attack Research Vehicle (HARV). Model parameter accuracies calculated from flight test data were compared on an equal basis for optimal input designs and conventional inputs at the same flight condition. In spite of errors in the a priori input design models and distortions of the input form by the feedback control system, the optimal inputs increased estimated parameter accuracies compared to conventional 3-2-1-1 and doublet inputs. In addition, the tests using optimal input designs demonstrated enhanced design flexibility, allowing the optimal input design technique to use a larger input amplitude to achieve further increases in estimated parameter accuracy without departing from the desired flight test condition. This work validated the analysis used to develop the optimal input designs, and demonstrated the feasibility and practical utility of the optimal input design technique.

Morelli, Eugene A.↗

Validation of the Galileo scan platform control design using DISCOS

The flexibility of the Galileo spacecraft's scan platform control system stator structure, which lies between the scan platform and one of the control actuators, has been a major design consideration. Tests have been conducted to verify the prevention of undesirable interactions between the structure and the control loop, by means of the Dynamic Interaction Simulation of Controls and Structure (DISCOS) program. The scan platform's control design has been validated for the achievement of 140-microradians maximum position deviation and 50 microradians of jitter over 1-sec intervals.

Chodas, J. L.↗

Validation of the Mars 2020 Fault Protection Design: Navigating the Infinity of the Off-Nominal

On July 30th 2020, the Mars 2020 mission successfully launched out of Cape Canaveral, Florida, passed through the Earth’s shadow, and began its short cruise to Mars. Less than seven months later, the Perseverance rover touched down safely in Jezero Crater to begin its ambitious mission that includes looking for signs of ancient life and collecting samples for future return to Earth. Getting to the successful landing, or “Tango Delta Nominal,” could not have been achieved without also considering the off-nominal. One of the teams supporting this ambitious mission is the fault protection (FP) team. This team is tasked with assessing the various failures, or faults, that could prevent mission success and with ensuring that the autonomous behaviors built into the software and hardware can detect faults and recover the vehicle to a safe state. As part of its charter, the FP team designed a test campaign to provide confidence in the system’s robustness to off-nominal scenarios across all of Mars 2020’s mission phases. The greatest challenge associated with designing such a validation campaign was reducing the infinite number of anomalous scenarios into a finite test suite. In addition, the tests needed to be executed efficiently in order to utilize the team’s limited test venue access, but still needed to maintain a level of rigor that guaranteed confidence in the test outcomes. Given that each test scenario generated massive amounts of data, the team also developed methods for quickly ascertaining whether the autonomous fault protection behaviors maintained vehicle safety in the presence of an anomaly. This paper summarizes the processes that the Mars 2020 fault protection team employed to execute its off-nominal validation campaign. It captures both the methods of generating a suite of off-nominal tests, as well as reducing it to a subset that can be realistically executed within schedule and resource constraints. It also describes the various processes and philosophies that the team utilized to execute the tests efficiently, including creating a standardized procedure template, keeping the test cases modular so that they could be easily interchanged, and capturing common fault injections in a change-controlled database. Finally, it will describe the tools and processes for assessing the test data, focusing in particular on a tool that evaluated vehicle state using “secondary” sources of data to validate that the software had truly configured the spacecraft to the expected safe state.

Morantz, Chaz↗

LOX/hydrocarbon rocket engine analytical design methodology development and validation. Volume 1: Executive summary and technical narrative

During the past three decades, an enormous amount of resources were expended in the design and development of Liquid Oxygen/Hydrocarbon and Hydrogen (LOX/HC and LOX/H2) rocket engines. A significant portion of these resources were used to develop and demonstrate the performance and combustion stability for each new engine. During these efforts, many analytical and empirical models were developed that characterize design parameters and combustion processes that influence performance and stability. Many of these models are suitable as design tools, but they have not been assembled into an industry-wide usable analytical design methodology. The objective of this program was to assemble existing performance and combustion stability models into a usable methodology capable of producing high performing and stable LOX/hydrocarbon and LOX/hydrogen propellant booster engines.

Pieper, Jerry L.↗

Two-Stage Axial Compressor Rig Designed To Develop and Validate Advanced Aerodynamic Technologies

Future aeropropulsion gas turbine engines must be affordable in addition to being energy efficient and environmentally benign. Progress in aerodynamic design capability is required not only to maximize the specific thrust of next-generation engines without sacrificing fuel consumption, but also to reduce parts count by increasing the aerodynamic loading of the compression system. To meet future compressor requirements, the NASA Glenn Research Center is investigating advanced aerodynamic design concepts that will lead to more compact, higher efficiency, and wider operability configurations than are currently in operation.

Larosiliere, Louis M.↗

Experimental Validation of an Integrated Controls-Structures Design Methodology

The first experimental validation of an integrated controls-structures design methodology for a class of large order, flexible space structures is described. Integrated redesign of the controls-structures-interaction evolutionary model, a laboratory testbed at NASA Langley, was described earlier. The redesigned structure was fabricated, assembled in the laboratory, and experimentally tested against the original structure. Experimental results indicate that the structure redesigned using the integrated design methodology requires significantly less average control power than the nominal structure with control-optimized designs, while maintaining the required line-of-sight pointing performance. Thus, the superiority of the integrated design methodology over the conventional design approach is experimentally demonstrated. Furthermore, amenability of the integrated design structure to other control strategies is evaluated, both analytically and experimentally. Using Linear-Quadratic-Guassian optimal dissipative controllers, it is observed that the redesigned structure leads to significantly improved performance with alternate controllers as well.

Maghami, Peiman G.↗

Design and Development of the Handling Frame Assembly Table for the NIF Sustainment Project (Draft)

The Handling Frame Assembly Table is a custom designed piece of equipment developed to support the NIF Sustainment Project. The NIF Sustainment project's goal is to refurbish the National Ignition Facility (NIF), the world’s largest and most energetic laser, so it can continue advancing research in fusion energy, national security, and high energy density physics. A key aspect of this effort involves replacing all 1,728 blast shields on the NIF, which requires specialized equipment such as the Handling Frame Assembly Table to support the production of new blast shields. This project follows a systems engineering approach that guides the design sequence. This report documents the design process from initial concept through final design, including stakeholder analysis, requirements development, conceptual design, design analysis and validation, and final design. Future work will focus on building and commissioning the system.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Advanced embedded processing: Present and future

Integrated airframe/propulsion control system architecture is discussed. The main objectives of the program are: design and validation methodology for system architecture; system design; system specification; and small-scale system testing.

Cohen, Gerald C.↗

Landsat-7 Simulation and Testing Environments

A spacecraft Attitude Control and Determination Subsystem (ACDS) is heavily dependent upon simulation throughout its entire development, implementation and ground test cycle. Engineering simulation tools are typically developed to design and analyze control systems to validate the design and software simulation tools are required to qualify the flight software. However, the need for simulation does not end here. Operating the ACDS of a spacecraft on the ground requires the simulation of spacecraft dynamics, disturbance modeling and celestial body motion. Sensor data must also be simulated and substituted for actual sensor data on the ground so that the spacecraft will respond by sending commands to the actuators as they will on orbit. And finally, the simulators is the primary training tool and test-bed for the Flight Operations Team. In this paper various ACDS simulation, developed for or used by the Landsat 7 project will be described. The paper will include a description of each tool, its unique attributes, and its role in the overall development and testing of the ACDS. Finally, a section is included which discusses how the coordinated use of these simulation tools can maximize the probability of uncovering software, hardware and operations errors during the ground test process.

Holmes, E.↗

Supersonic Retro-Propulsion Experimental Design for Computational Fluid Dynamics Model Validation

The development of supersonic retro-propulsion, an enabling technology for heavy payload exploration missions to Mars, is the primary focus for the present paper. A new experimental model, intended to provide computational fluid dynamics model validation data, was recently designed for the Langley Research Center Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel Test Section 2. Pre-test computations were instrumental for sizing and refining the model, over the Mach number range of 2.4 to 4.6, such that tunnel blockage and internal flow separation issues would be minimized. A 5-in diameter 70-deg sphere-cone forebody, which accommodates up to four 4:1 area ratio nozzles, followed by a 10-in long cylindrical aftbody was developed for this study based on the computational results. The model was designed to allow for a large number of surface pressure measurements on the forebody and aftbody. Supplemental data included high-speed Schlieren video and internal pressures and temperatures. The run matrix was developed to allow for the quantification of various sources of experimental uncertainty, such as random errors due to run-to-run variations and bias errors due to flow field or model misalignments. Some preliminary results and observations from the test are presented, although detailed analyses of the data and uncertainties are still on going.

Berry, Scott A.↗

TPSAS-NF1676L-14336-DND

Problem Statement: Develop robust CFD-based methods for rapid design and analysis of supersonic cruise aircraft that are highly efficient, and have a low sonic boom. What is our approach? - Advanced Efficient Analysis / Design Methods - Develop computational algorithms and techniques for rapid high fidelity analysis of supersonic fluid flow phenomena, which will also contribute to multi-fidelity analysis / design tools. - Experimental Validation - Validate concepts for design optimization of both high aerodynamic efficiency and low sonic boom.

Linda Bangert↗

A Design Rationale Capture Tool to Support Design Verification and Re-use

A design rationale tool (DR tool) was developed to capture design knowledge to support design verification and design knowledge re-use. The design rationale tool captures design drivers and requirements, and documents the design solution including: intent (why it is included in the overall design); features (why it is designed the way it is); information about how the design components support design drivers and requirements; and, design alternatives considered but rejected. For design verification purposes, the tool identifies how specific design requirements were met and instantiated within the final design, and which requirements have not been met. To support design re-use, the tool identifies which design decisions are affected when design drivers and requirements are modified. To validate the design tool, the design knowledge from the Taxiway Navigation and Situation Awareness (T-NASA; Foyle et al., 1996) system was captured and the DR tool was exercised to demonstrate its utility for validation and re-use.

design verification↗

Experimental Investigation of a Point Design Optimized Arrow Wing HSCT Configuration

The M2.4-7A Arrow Wing HSCT configuration was optimized for straight and level cruise at a Mach number of 2.4 and a lift coefficient of 0.10. A quasi-Newton optimization scheme maximized the lift-to-drag ratio (by minimizing drag-to-lift) using Euler solutions from FL067 to estimate the lift and drag forces. A 1.675% wind-tunnel model of the Opt5 HSCT configuration was built to validate the design methodology. Experimental data gathered at the NASA Langley Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel (UPWT) section #2 facility verified CFL3D Euler and Navier-Stokes predictions of the Opt5 performance at the design point. In turn, CFL3D confirmed the improvement in the lift-to-drag ratio obtained during the optimization, thus validating the design procedure. A data base at off-design conditions was obtained during three wind-tunnel tests. The entry into NASA Langley UPWT section #2 obtained data at a free stream Mach number, M(sub infinity), of 2.55 as well as the design Mach number, M(sub infinity)=2.4. Data from a Mach number range of 1.8 to 2.4 was taken at UPWT section #1. Transonic and low supersonic Mach numbers, M(sub infinity)=0.6 to 1.2, was gathered at the NASA Langley 16 ft. Transonic Wind Tunnel (TWT). In addition to good agreement between CFD and experimental data, highlights from the wind-tunnel tests include a trip dot study suggesting a linear relationship between trip dot drag and Mach number, an aeroelastic study that measured the outboard wing deflection and twist, and a flap scheduling study that identifies the possibility of only one leading-edge and trailing-edge flap setting for transonic cruise and another for low supersonic acceleration.

Narducci, Robert P.↗

Flight Rule Design, Implementation, Verification, and Validation for the Psyche Mission

NASA Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL)’s upcoming mission Psyche will begin its journey to the asteroid (16) Psyche in late 2022 in an effort to better understand its origins and, in turn, better understand our own. Operating the spacecraft safely will require the dedicated efforts of a small team that understands the spacecraft’s operational constraints, as well as a set of powerful spacecraft models designed to catch command errors that can pose risks to mission success. One of the responsibilities of the operations team is to ensure adherence to a set of Flight Rules written by spacecraft and instrument experts that are designed to mitigate these risks. Psyche’s innovations in Flight Rule design principles and advancements in the tools and processes used to implement and check Flight Rules are discussed. A comparison of Psyche’s approach to Flight Rules to other JPL missions will provide lessons learned for future missions that must perform constraint checking during operations. Flight Rule development faces several major challenges. First, flight rule developers must work with Subject Matter Experts (SME) to write the rules in a way that captures the intent of the constraint in a straightforward, enforceable manner. Second, software implementers must correctly interpret flight rules into code so that it meets the original intent of the SME. Finally, a means must be provided for SMEs to validate flight rule implementations without requiring them to understand the underlying software. Innovative processes intended to efficiently close the loop between stakeholders and software developers are described, such as the use of test-driven development to provide stakeholders with easy-to-review implementations. New guidelines for flight rule writing, designed to address these challenges, are described for future missions to adopt and build upon. Psyche Mission System has a variety of new and heritage tools that improve in the Flight Rule validation and checking process. Psyche developed a powerful, new tool called RandSEQ and made significant improvements to Octopusjam, two valuable tools that aid the development of Flight Rule unit tests. Advancements in the models and processes for performing sequence validation with SEQuence GENerator (SEQGEN), the primary, high-heritage tool used for automated flight rule checks on Psyche, are described. The development of new software and the advancements to existing software put Psyche at the forefront of Flight Rule technology. All missions must perform detailed constraint checking, so a comparison of Psyche’s approach to some of these items to the approaches taken by other missions such as Dawn, M2020, and Europa Clipper is done, specifically to examine SME-developer communication, tools used, and development process. Lessons learned from this comparison will be provided.

Weise, Tim↗