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NASA NTRS1983

Radiation protection for manned space activities

The Earth's natural radiation environment poses a hazard to manned space activities directly through biological effects and indirectly through effects on materials and electronics. The following standard practices are indicated that address: (1) environment models for all radiation species including uncertainties and temporal variations; (2) upper bound and nominal quality factors for biological radiation effects that include dose, dose rate, critical organ, and linear energy transfer variations; (3) particle transport and shielding methodology including system and man modeling and uncertainty analysis; (4) mission planning that includes active dosimetry, minimizes exposure during extravehicular activities, subjects every mission to a radiation review, and specifies operational procedures for forecasting, recognizing, and dealing with large solar flaes.

Jordan, T. M.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Software reliability: Additional investigations into modeling with replicated experiments

The effects of programmer experience level, different program usage distributions, and programming languages are explored. All these factors affect performance, and some tentative relational hypotheses are presented. An analytic framework for replicated and non-replicated (traditional) software experiments is presented. A method of obtaining an upper bound on the error rate of the next error is proposed. The method was validated empirically by comparing forecasts with actual data. In all 14 cases the bound exceeded the observed parameter, albeit somewhat conservatively. Two other forecasting methods are proposed and compared to observed results. Although demonstrated relative to this framework that stages are neither independent nor exponentially distributed, empirical estimates show that the exponential assumption is nearly valid for all but the extreme tails of the distribution. Except for the dependence in the stage probabilities, Cox's model approximates to a degree what is being observed.

Nagel, P. M.↗

NASA NTRS1984

On the impact of communication complexity in the design of parallel numerical algorithms

This paper describes two models of the cost of data movement in parallel numerical algorithms. One model is a generalization of an approach due to Hockney, and is suitable for shared memory multiprocessors where each processor has vector capabilities. The other model is applicable to highly parallel nonshared memory MIMD systems. In the second model, algorithm performance is characterized in terms of the communication network design. Techniques used in VLSI complexity theory are also brought in, and algorithm independent upper bounds on system performance are derived for several problems that are important to scientific computation.

Gannon, D.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Viscosity of rock-ice mixtures and applications to the evolution of icy satellites

Theory and experiments are used to establish lower and upper bounds on the ratio of actual viscosity to pure ice viscosity for a suspension of rock particles in a water ice matrix. A rheological model for rock-ice mixtures is described, establishing bounds for the range of possible viscosity enhancements provided by a suspension of silicate spheres in an ice matrix. A parametrized thermal convection model is described and used to determine a criterion for criticality, defined as the heat flow and/or silicate volume fraction for which the satellite temperature profile intercepts the melting curve of water ice. The consequences of achieving this critical state are examined, and it is shown that under certain circumstances a 'runaway' differentiation can occur in which the silicates settle to form a core and extensive melting of water ice takes place, the latent heat being supplied by the gravitational energy of differentiation. A possible application of these results to Ganymede and Callisto is described.

Friedson, A. J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

The photodissociation lifetimes of the OH and OD radicals in comets

The photodissociation rates of OH and OD molecules due to absorption of solar radiation in the X(2)Pi-A(2)Sigma(+) electronic transition are calculated to lie between 3.5 and 6.7 x 10 to the -6th/sec for OH for heliocentric velocities between -60 and +60 km/sec and at about 4.7 x 10 to the -7th/sec for OD at 1 AU from the sun. The corresponding lifetimes, which are upper bounds to the actual lifetimes, are generally consistent with the observational cometary data.

Singh, P. D.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Extensional collapse modes of structural members

Attenuation of the load transmitted to a vehicle occupant by the structure, either by modifying structural assembly, changing geometry of its elements, or adding specific load limiting devices to help dissipate kinetic energy was studied. General aviation aircraft have fuselage subfloors of a built up structure which are generally very stiff perpendicular to the floor of the cabin. The subfloor structure, designed to crush at an appropriate force level, can be used to advantage in a crash by dissipating energy through plastic buckling of the floor beams and frames. Simple closed form solutions to predict the mean crushing force levels of subfloor designs is useful in engineering practice. The crushing process of thin walled, plate formed, open structures with particular emphasis on L and cruciform shapes was analyzed. Lower and upper bound solutions for the mean crushing strength of cruciforms are obtained by considering modes of deformation which account for both bending and extensional deformation. It is the importance of extensional deformation to the energy absorption process, representing at least one third of the dissipated energy is shown. Previously announced in STAR as N82-33765

Hayduk, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Robustness of adaptive control algorithms in the presence of unmodeled dynamics

This paper reports the outcome of an exhaustive analytical and numerical investigation of stability and robustness properties of a wide class of adaptive control algorithms in the presence of unmodeled dynamics and output disturbances. The class of adaptive algorithms considered are those commonly referred to as model-reference adaptive control algorithms, self-tuning controllers, and dead-beat adaptive controllers; they have been developed for both continuous-time systems and discrete-time systems. The existing adaptive control algorithms have been proven to be globally asymptotically stable under certain assumptions, the key ones being (1) that the number of poles and zeroes of the unknown plant are known, and (2) that the primary performance criterion is related to good command following. These theoretical assumptions are too restrictive from an engineering point of view. Real plants always contain unmodeled high-frequency dynamics and small delays, and hence no upper bound on the number of the plant poles and zeroes exists. Also real plants are always subject to unmeasurable output additive disturbances, although these may be guide small. Hence, it is important to critically examine the stability robustness properties of the existing adaptive algorithms when some of the theoretical assumptions are removed; in particular, their stability and performance properties in the presence of unmodeled dynamics and output disturbances. Previously announced in STAR as N83-16061

Rohrs, C. E.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Thickness of Saturn's rings inferred from Voyager 1 observations of microwave scatter

Earth-based telescopic observations indicate that Saturn's rings are about 1 kilometer thick, while spacecraft measurements and theoretical considerations give an upper bound of about 100 meters. Analysis of a shielding effect present in radio occultation provides a sensitive new measure of the ring thickness. On the basis of this effect, Voyager 1 microwave measurements of near-forward scatter imply a thickness ranging from less than 10 meters in ring C to about 20 and 50 meters in the Cassini division and ring A, respectively. Monolayer models do not fit the observations in the latter two regions. The discrepancy between the earth-based and spacecraft measurements may be due to warps in the ring plane or effects of tenuous material outside the primary ring system.

Zebker, H. A.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Design principles for high efficiency small-grain polysilicon solar cells, with supporting experimental studies

Design principles suggested here aim toward high conversion efficiency (greater than 15 percent) in polysilicon cells. The principles seek to decrease the liabilities of both intragranular and grain-boundary-surface defects. The advantages of a phosphorus atom concentration gradient in a thin (less than 50 microns) base of a p(+)/n(x)/n(+) drift-field solar cell, which produces favorable gradients in chemical potential, minority-carrier mobility and diffusivity, and recombination lifetime (via phosphorus gettering) are suggested. The degrading effects of grain boundaries are reduced by these three gradients and by substituting atoms (P, H, F or Li) for vacancies on the grain-boundary surface. From recent experiments comes support for the benefits of P diffusion down grain boundaries and, for quasi-grain-boundary-free and related structures. New analytic solutions for the n(x)-base include the effect of a power-law dependence between P concentration and lifetime. These provide an upper-bound estimate on the open circuit voltage. Finite-difference numerical solutions of the six Shockley equations furnish complete information about all solar-cell parameters and add insight concerning design.

Lindholm, F. A.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Internal waves in the Gulf of California - Observations from a spaceborne radar

Pronounced signatures of internal waves were detected repeatedly in the Gulf of California by the Seasat synthetic aperture radar (SAR). A series of nine images with exactly repeating ground coverage was used to study the temporal variability of the internal wave field in the area. It was found that the number of observed wave groups was highly correlated with the strength of the local tides: the maximum number occurred during spring tides and the minimum number occurred during neap tides, indicating that the internal waves were tidally forced. Most of the wave activity was found to the north of 28 deg N where the tides were the strongest in the Gulf. The application of a simple, nonlinear internal wave model to the observations indicated that the peak-to-peak amplitude of the observed waves was about 50 m with an uncertainty of a factor of 2. The estimated upper bound for the rate of the loss of tidal energy to internal waves was about 5 x 10 to the 15th erg/s, representing only 10 percent of the rate of the dissipation of the dominant M2 tide in the Gulf.

Fu, L.-L.↗

NASA NTRS1984

A multilevel method for structural synthesis

A multilevel method for structural synthesis based on finite element modeling at both the system and the substructure level is set forth. At the system level, the design is described using basis vectors generated via substructure design modification. Whenever possible, substructure constraints are satisfied via local material redistribution. At both the system level and the substructure level, design modification is carried out by solving a sequence of approximate problems. The method generates upper bound approximations for the optimum design and it has potential for substantial gains in computational efficiency, because the uncoupled substructure design modification problems can be processed in parallel.

Schmit, L. A.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Pioneer 10 search for gravitational waves - No evidence for coherent radiation from Geminga

Attempts to identify a periodic gravitational wave signal from the binary Geminga in the reduced Doppler data from the Pioneer 10 spacecraft are reported. The study was performed to examine the possibility that the observed 160 min solar oscillation is driven by a gravitational wave from the binary, which has a period exactly one cycle different from the solar oscillation. Three 12 hr passes of Doppler data from Pioneer 10, now beyond the orbit of Neptune, were subjected to FFT analysis to detect a spectral gravitational wave signature. None was found. Least squares analysis of all low noise data from 1981 to characterize the amplitude and phase of a signal from Geminga also produced a null result. Finally, an upper bound was calculated for the polarization component of the potentially observable gravitational strain.

Anderson, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Structural load prediction methods for space payloads

The state of the art in structural loads prediction procedures for spacecraft is summarized. Three categories of prediction techniques delineated by cost, complexity, comprehensiveness, accuracy, and applications are outlined. The lowest cost method has been used for earth resources, communications, and weather satellites, the medium cost method for sun-synchronous orbits and the large space telescope, and the most expensive for planetary missions, comet rendezvous, and out-of-ecliptic orbits, all assuming Shuttle launch. The lowest cost method involves a mass-acceleration curve. A shock spectra technique predicts a least upper bound for loads. A recovered transient method analyzes the interface acceleration of two connected launch vehicles. The most accurate method devised thus far is a transient analysis of the total launch vehicle/payload dynamic system.

Wada, B. K.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Three unusual strokes in a triggered lightning flash

Time-resolved photographic records of three strokes of a triggered lightning flash are examined. These strokes exhibit several examples of novel behavior that include (1) the abrupt transformation of dart leaders to stepped leaders and (2) the partial 'reflection' of dart leader luminosity back up the channel. Both phenomena are associated with an apparent discontinuity in channel characteristics between the natural and artificial (wire) sections of the channel. We estimate the ratio of characteristic impedances for these sections to have an upper bound of about a factor of 3. Analysis of one of the dart leader 'reflections' yields a propagation speed of 9.6 x 10 to the 7th m/s whereas the dart leader and return stroke speeds (two-dimensional) over the same channel section are 1.7 x 10 to the 7th and 13 x 10 to the seventh m/s, respectively. Also, one of the return strokes reveals the occurrence of two distinct waves of luminosity that are separated by only 5 microns and that travel up nearly identical channels that differ only in the channel terminus.

Idone, V. P.↗

NASA NTRS1984

On some properties of force-free magnetic fields in infinite regions of space

Techniques for solving boundary value problems (BVP) for a force free magnetic field (FFF) in infinite space are presented. A priori inequalities are defined which must be satisfied by the force-free equations. It is shown that upper bounds may be calculated for the magnetic energy of the region provided the value of the magnetic normal component at the boundary of the region can be shown to decay sufficiently fast at infinity. The results are employed to prove a nonexistence theorem for the BVP for the FFF in the spatial region. The implications of the theory for modeling the origins of solar flares are discussed.

Aly, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

On the probability of undetected error for the maximum distance separable codes

The performance of maximum-distance-separable codes with symbols from GF(1) when they are used for pure error detection or for simultaneous error correction and detection is investigated. These codes are good for symbol error detection. Their probability of undetected error is upper bounded by q to the -r and decreases monotonically as the symbol error probability epsilon decreases from (q-1)/q to 0, where r is the number of parity-check symbols of a code.

Kasami, T.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Section 1. Method of determining mode shapes and natural frequencies of the NASA unmodified test structure. Section 2. Continuous beam closed from solution to the NASA-LSS astromast torsional vibration, appendix E

The methods used to determine the lower natural frequencies and their corresponding mode shapes of the NASA-LSS Astromast (Unmodified Test Structure), and the mass integrals associated with the mode shapes are illustrated. The test structure is modeled as a cantilever beam with 91 lumped masses and without the tip mass on the free end of the bram. This uncouples the torsion and bending modes and allows for them to be determined separately. The frequency range was limited to an upper bound of 100 rad/sec (15.92 Hz.). In this range from 0.-100. rad/sec, three bending frequencies and one torsion frequency was found.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1985

A concatenated coding scheme for error control

A concatenated coding scheme for error control in data communications is analyzed. The inner code is used for both error correction and detection, however the outer code is used only for error detection. A retransmission is requested if the outer code detects the presence of errors after the inner code decoding. The probability of undetected error of the above error control scheme is derived and upper bounded. Two specific exmaples are analyzed. In the first example, the inner code is a distance-4 shortened Hamming code with generator polynomial (X+1)(X(6)+X+1) = X(7)+X(6)+X(2)+1 and the outer code is a distance-4 shortened Hamming code with generator polynomial (X+1)X(15+X(14)+X(13)+X(12)+X(4)+X(3)+X(2)+X+1) = X(16)+X(12)+X(5)+1 which is the X.25 standard for packet-switched data network. This example is proposed for error control on NASA telecommand links. In the second example, the inner code is the same as that in the first example but the outer code is a shortened Reed-Solomon code with symbols from GF(2(8)) and generator polynomial (X+1)(X+alpha) where alpha is a primitive element in GF(z(8)).

Lin, S.↗