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Results for “transient performance analysis”

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 253 records · Page 14

Flexible rotor dynamics analysis

A digital computer program was developed to analyze the general nonaxisymmetric and nonsynchronous transient and steady-state rotor dynamic performance of a bending- and shear-wise flexible rotor-bearing system under various operating conditions. The effects of rotor material mechanical hysteresis, rotor torsion flexibility, transverse effects of rotor axial and torsional loading and the anisotropic, in-phase and out-of-phase bearing stiffness and damping force and moment coefficients were included in the program to broaden its capability. An optimum solution method was found and incorporated in the computer program. Computer simulation of experimental data was made and qualitative agreements observed. The mathematical formulations, computer program verification, test data simulation, and user instruction was presented and discussed.

Shen, F. A.↗

Temperature distributions and thermal stresses in a graded zirconia/metal gas path seal system for aircraft gas turbine engines

A ceramic/metallic aircraft gas turbine outer gas path seal designed for improved engine performance was studied. Transient temperature and stress profiles in a test seal geometry were determined by numerical analysis. During a simulated engine deceleration cycle from sea-level takeoff to idle conditions, the maximum seal temperature occurred below the seal surface, therefore the top layer of the seal was probably subjected to tensile stresses exceeding the modulus of rupture. In the stress analysis both two- and three-dimensional finite element computer programs were used. Predicted trends of the simpler and more easily usable two-dimensional element programs were borne out by the three-dimensional finite element program results.

Taylor, C. M.↗

HEAP: Heat Energy Analysis Program, a computer model simulating solar receivers

A computer program which can distinguish between different receiver designs, and predict transient performance under variable solar flux, or ambient temperatures, etc. has a basic structure that fits a general heat transfer problem, but with specific features that are custom-made for solar receivers. The code is written in MBASIC computer language. The methodology followed in solving the heat transfer problem is explained. A program flow chart, an explanation of input and output tables, and an example of the simulation of a cavity-type solar receiver are included.

Lansing, F. L.↗

Thermal analysis research applicable to space station technology needs

Thermal analysis, optimization, and software research and development at the NASA Langley Research Center which is applicable to analytical design calculations for space station structures are summarized. Topics discussed include integrated thermal-structural software, improved thermal radiation analysis, solution techniques for transient temperatures, unified thermal-structural finite elements, thermal structural sensitivity analysis and optimization, and concept and performance analysis for heat pipes.

Adelman, H. M.↗

An investigation of the transient thermal analysis of spur gears

A finite element computer program is developed for evaluating the transient behavior of surface temperature in high performance spur gears. The time dimension is implemented using two and three point finite difference schemes. The different schemes are provided for the purpose of numerical stability and convergence studies. A detailed explanation of the gear cooling process leading to the establishment of a modified Blok model is also included. Other conventional models for approximating the heat transfer coefficients are available for comparison. Preliminary results are given showing snap shots of gear temperature contours at the initial stages of tooth engagement.

El-Bayoumy, L. E.↗

An investigation of the transient thermal analysis of spur gears

A finite element computer program is developed for evaluating the transient behavior of surface temperature in high performance spur gears. The time dimension is implemented using two and three point finite difference schemes. The different schemes are provided for the purpose of numerical stability and convergence studies. A detailed explanation of the gear cooling process leading to the establishment of a modified Blok model is also included. Other conventional models for approximating the heat transfer coefficients are available for comparison. Preliminary results are given showing snap shots of gear temperature contours at the initial stages of tooth engagement.

El-Bayoumy, L. E.↗

A comparison of methods for DPLL loop filter design

Four design methodologies for loop filters for a class of digital phase-locked loops (DPLLs) are presented. The first design maps an optimum analog filter into the digital domain; the second approach designs a filter that minimizes in discrete time weighted combination of the variance of the phase error due to noise and the sum square of the deterministic phase error component; the third method uses Kalman filter estimation theory to design a filter composed of a least squares fading memory estimator and a predictor. The last design relies on classical theory, including rules for the design of compensators. Linear analysis is used throughout the article to compare different designs, and includes stability, steady state performance and transient behavior of the loops. Design methodology is not critical when the loop update rate can be made high relative to loop bandwidth, as the performance approaches that of continuous time. For low update rates, however, the miminization method is significantly superior to the other methods.

Aguirre, S.↗

Photospheric origins of chromospheric and coronal activity

This contract is for a two-year research study of the origins of activity in the upper atmosphere of the sun. The approach is to collect high resolution images of the lower atmosphere on observing runs at the Swedish Solar Observatory on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. The best observations are analyzed and compared with data from other telescopes and/or theoretical models, to study magnetic flux emergence, coronal heating, and various dynamic phenomena and transients. Software for analysis and visualization of the data is developed as needed. The contract is being performed by the Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory, part of the Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory (LPARL) of the Research and Development Division (RDD) of Lockheed Missiles and Space Co., Inc. (LMSC).

Tarbell, Theodore↗

Evaluation of SSME test data reduction methods

Accurate prediction of hardware and flow characteristics within the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) during transient and main-stage operation requires a significant integration of ground test data, flight experience, and computational models. The process of integrating SSME test measurements with physical model predictions is commonly referred to as data reduction. Uncertainties within both test measurements and simplified models of the SSME flow environment compound the data integration problem. The first objective of this effort was to establish an acceptability criterion for data reduction solutions. The second objective of this effort was to investigate the data reduction potential of the ROCETS (Rocket Engine Transient Simulation) simulation platform. A simplified ROCETS model of the SSME was obtained from the MSFC Performance Analysis Branch . This model was examined and tested for physical consistency. Two modules were constructed and added to the ROCETS library to independently check the mass and energy balances of selected engine subsystems including the low pressure fuel turbopump, the high pressure fuel turbopump, the low pressure oxidizer turbopump, the high pressure oxidizer turbopump, the fuel preburner, the oxidizer preburner, the main combustion chamber coolant circuit, and the nozzle coolant circuit. A sensitivity study was then conducted to determine the individual influences of forty-two hardware characteristics on fourteen high pressure region prediction variables as returned by the SSME ROCETS model.

Santi, L. Michael↗

Fulgurites: A Look at Transient High Temperature Processes in Silicates

Fulgurites result from transient high temperature processes, and some have extremely reduced phases. We performed both modeling and a microprobe analysis of natural fulgurites. The modeling suggests vapor phase C causes reduction of silicate liquid. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Wasserman, A. A.↗

Numerical Analysis of Temperature Gradients and Interface Shape During Directional Solidification of Al and Al-Cu Alloy Under Microgravity Conditions

Numerical modeling was undertaken to analyze the influence of radial thermal gradient on solid/liquid interface shape and convection patterns during solidification of pure Al and Al-4 wt. % Cu alloy. Steady state calculations were performed for different gravity levels and orientations. Furthermore, transient modeling was undertaken to investigate effect of the solidification velocity. The furnace configuration used in this analysis is the proposed International Space Station Furnace. Results from a thermal model of the furnace core were used as initial boundary conditions for solidification modeling. The Solidification model was adopted from previous work and was based on the finite element code FIDAP. Thermocouple data and quenched interface shape from a pure Al sample flown on the Life Sciences and Microgravity Spacelab (LMS) mission, July 1996 was used for model validation. Good agreement was obtained between the predicted interface shape and that measured from the quenched LMS sample. It was found that the imposed temperature boundary condition must be sufficiently smooth for the heat fluxes in the model to be self-consistent. The model predicted that alloy sample Al-Cu is more sensitive to variations in the gravity level compared to pure Al. For Al-Cu alloy, solute diffusivity is approximately 10(exp 4) times smaller than thermal diffusivity of pure Al. Hence, in a microgravity environment the weak convection has no measurable effect on the heat fluxes, but is still strong enough to affect concentration distribution. Since the alloy melting temperature is determined by concentration the interface shape depends on the level of convection. This was found not to be the case for pure metal.

Bune, Andris V.↗

An ODE-Enabled Distributed Transient Stability Analysis for Networked Microgrids

Networked microgrid (NMG) exhibits noteworthy resiliency and flexibility benefits for the mutual support from neighboring microgrids. With high penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) and the associated controls, the transient stability analysis of NMGs is of critical significance. To address the issues of computation burdens and privacy in the centralized transient analysis, this paper devises an ordinary differential equation (ODE)-enabled distributed transient stability (DTS) methodology for NMGs. First, an ODE-based microgrid model is established to capture the dynamics in the droop control of DERs as well as network and load. Further, a distributed DTS is devised for the ODE representation of an NMG, allowing a privacy-preserving transient analysis of each microgrid while accurately reconstructing the frequency dynamics under droop controls in all DERs. In conclusion, extensive tests are performed to verify the validity of the ODE-based microgrid model through both dynamic response and eigenvalue analysis, and the efficacy of the DTS algorithm in simulating the large signal responses and the frequent fluctuations in NMG.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Benchmarking the PCMCI Causal Discovery Algorithm for Spatiotemporal Systems

Causal discovery algorithms construct hypothesized causal graphs that depict causal dependencies among variables in observational data. While powerful, the accuracy of these algorithms is highly sensitive to the underlying dynamics of the system in ways that have not been fully characterized in the literature. In this report, we benchmark the PCMCI causal discovery algorithm in its application to gridded spatiotemporal systems. Effectively computing grid-level causal graphs on large grids will enable analysis of the causal impacts of transient and mobile spatial phenomena in large systems, such as the Earth’s climate. We evaluate the performance of PCMCI with a set of structural causal models, using simulated spatial vector autoregressive processes in one- and two-dimensions. We develop computational and analytical tools for characterizing these processes and their associated causal graphs. Our findings suggest that direct application of PCMCI is not suitable for the analysis of dynamical spatiotemporal gridded systems, such as climatological data, without significant preprocessing and downscaling of the data. PCMCI requires unrealistic sample sizes to achieve acceptable performance on even modestly sized problems and suffers from a notable curse of dimensionality. This work suggests that, even under generous structural assumptions, significant additional algorithmic improvements are needed before causal discovery algorithms can be reliably applied to grid-level outputs of earth system models.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Tool for Turbine Engine Closed-Loop Transient Analysis (TTECTrA) Users' Guide

The tool for turbine engine closed-loop transient analysis (TTECTrA) is a semi-automated control design tool for subsonic aircraft engine simulations. At a specific flight condition, TTECTrA produces a basic controller designed to meet user-defined goals and containing only the fundamental limiters that affect the transient performance of the engine. The purpose of this tool is to provide the user a preliminary estimate of the transient performance of an engine model without the need to design a full nonlinear controller.

systems analysis↗

Evaluating the dynamic response of in-flight thrust calculation techniques during throttle transients

New flight test maneuvers and analysis techniques for evaluating the dynamic response of in-flight thrust models during throttle transients have been developed and validated. The approach is based on the aircraft and engine performance relationship between thrust and drag. Two flight test maneuvers, a throttle step and a throttle frequency sweep, were developed and used in the study. Graphical analysis techniques, including a frequency domain analysis method, were also developed and evaluated. They provide quantitative and qualitative results. Four thrust calculation methods were used to demonstrate and validate the test technique. Flight test applications on two high-performance aircraft confirmed the test methods as valid and accurate. These maneuvers and analysis techniques were easy to implement and use. Flight test results indicate the analysis techniques can identify the combined effects of model error and instrumentation response limitations on the calculated thrust value. The methods developed in this report provide an accurate approach for evaluating, validating, or comparing thrust calculation methods for dynamic flight applications.

Ray, Ronald J.↗

The Effect of Velocity on the Extinction Behavior of a Diffusion Flame during Transient Depressurization

Current fire suppression plans for the International Space Station include the use of venting (depressurization) as a method for extinguishing a fire. Until recently this process had only been examined as part of a material flammability experiment performed on Skylab in the early 1970's. Due to the low initial pressure (0.35 Atm) and high oxygen concentration (65%), the Skylab experimental results are not applicable for understanding the effects of venting on a fire in a space station environment (21%O2, 1 Atm). Recent research examined the extinction behavior of a diffusion flame over a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) cylinder during a transient depressurization in low-gravity. The numerical model was used to examine extinction limits as a function of depressurization rate, forced flow velocity, and initial solid phase temperature. The experimental and numerically predicted extinction data indicated that as the solid phase temperature increased the pressure required to extinguish the flame decreased. The numerical model was also used to examine conditions not obtainable in the low-gravity experiments. From these simulations, a series of extinction boundaries were generated that showed a region of increased flammability existed at a forced flow of 10 cm/s. Analysis of these extinction boundaries indicated that they were quasi-steady in nature, and that the final extinction conditions were independent of the transient process. The velocity range in the previous study was limited and thus the results did not examine the effects of velocities less than 1 cm/s or greater than 20 cm/s. This study utilized low-gravity experiments performed on NASA's Reduced-gravity Research Aircraft Laboratory and numerical simulations to examine conditions applicable to the Space Station environment. This paper extends the analysis of the previous study to a comprehensive examination of the effect of increased velocity on extinction behavior and extinction limits during a transient depressurization in low-gravity. This is achieved by examining extinction data from buoyant (normal-gravity) and low-buoyant (low-gravity) depressurization. experiments, as well as from numerical predictions of flame behavior during depressurization in a non-buoyant (zero-gravity) environment.

Goldmeer, Jeffrey S.↗

Data analysis tasks: BATSE

Miscellaneous tasks related to the operation of, and analysis of data from, the Burst and Transient Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) were performed. The results are summarized and relevant references are included.

Paciesas, William S.↗

Development of an Aeroelastic Modeling Capability for Transient Nozzle Side Load Analysis

Lateral nozzle forces are known to cause severe structural damage to any new rocket engine in development during test. While three-dimensional, transient, turbulent, chemically reacting computational fluid dynamics methodology has been demonstrated to capture major side load physics with rigid nozzles, hot-fire tests often show nozzle structure deformation during major side load events, leading to structural damages if structural strengthening measures were not taken. The modeling picture is incomplete without the capability to address the two-way responses between the structure and fluid. The objective of this study is to develop a coupled aeroelastic modeling capability by implementing the necessary structural dynamics component into an anchored computational fluid dynamics methodology. The computational fluid dynamics component is based on an unstructured-grid, pressure-based computational fluid dynamics formulation, while the computational structural dynamics component is developed in the framework of modal analysis. Transient aeroelastic nozzle startup analyses of the Block I Space Shuttle Main Engine at sea level were performed. The computed results from the aeroelastic nozzle modeling are presented.

Wang, Ten-See↗