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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 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

Griffith diffusers

Contoured wall diffusers are designed by using an inverse method. The prescribed wall velocity distribution(s) was taken from the high lift airfoil designed by A. A. Griffith in 1938; therefore, such diffusers are named Griffith diffusers. First the formulation of the inverse problem and the method of solution are outlined. Then the typical contour of a two-dimensional diffuser and velocity distributions across the flow channel at various stations are presented. For a Griffith diffuser to operate as it is designed, boundary layer suction is necessary. Discussion of the percentage of through-flow required to be removed for the purpose of boundary layer control is given. Finally, reference is made to the latest version of a computer program for a two-dimensional diffuser requiring only area ratio, nondimensional length and suction percentage as inputs.

Yang, T.-T.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The effect of a nonuniform planetary albedo on the interpretation of earth radiation budget observations

The flux density measured at satellite altitude with a fixed field of view radiometer differs from the true flux density reflected by the earth-atmosphere system within the field of view of the radiometer. This difference is due to angular response characteristics of the radiometer, solid angle effects due to geometry, and angular reflectance effects of the earth-atmosphere system. All of these effects lead to uncertainties in the interpretation of instantaneous earth radiation budget measurements. The differences between the true flux density and the measured flux density are shown to be significant when the field of view of the radiometer is large and when the atmosphere has a nonuniform, or spatially dependent, reflectance (albedo). A simulation experiment is described whereby the scene within the field of view of a nadir looking sensor is divided into a large number of equal area elements, each of which reflects radiation with one of two different reflectance models (corresponding to cloud-free and cloudy areas). The conditional mean values of the measured flux density, given values of the true flux density, are shown to differ significantly from the conditional means of the inverse problem, that of finding the mean value of the true flux density given a value for the measured flux density. The differences between the true flux density and the measured flux density are examined as a function of satellite altitude, field of view of the radiometer and solar zenith angle (including the effects of a terminator within the field of view) for both Lambertian and non-Lambertian reflectance models.

King, M. D.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Analysis of Lageos' altitude decrease

The paper treats the inverse problem of celestial mechanics which consists of determining the force field or potential from given or observed orbit(s). From the observational information, according to which Lageos loses approximately 1 mm altitude per day, a linear partial differential equation is formulated. The solution of this equation gives the field responsible for the above-mentioned, as yet unexplained, small but well established secular decrease in the semi-major axis. Note that the altitude-loss is not due to air-drag because of the very high altitude of this satellite.

Szebehely, V.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Required developments in structural dynamics

The finite element method, modal component synthesis, and the use of fast Fourier transformation were key developments in structural dynamics in the past 15 to 20 years. Current areas requiring additional effort include: (1) the correct calculation of modal shape and natural frequencies for complex structures; (2) the correlation of math models with test data; (3) the establishment of a criteria for "goodness" of the correlation between analysis and test; (4) the selection of the correct displacement functions when using computer programs for modal synthesis; (5) accuracy of response calculations; and (6) the inverse problem of determining the force problem from the response data. Trends identified include the use of distributed computing, greater reliance on analysis, and the possible use of artificial intelligence techniques, or some way of feeding back information, to provide solution guidance to engineers.

Wada, B. K.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Computational methods for estimation of parameters in hyperbolic systems

Approximation techniques for estimating spatially varying coefficients and unknown boundary parameters in second order hyperbolic systems are discussed. Methods for state approximation (cubic splines, tau-Legendre) and approximation of function space parameters (interpolatory splines) are outlined and numerical findings for use of the resulting schemes in model "one dimensional seismic inversion' problems are summarized.

Banks, H. T.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Estimation of coefficients and boundary parameters in hyperbolic systems

Semi-discrete Galerkin approximation schemes are considered in connection with inverse problems for the estimation of spatially varying coefficients and boundary condition parameters in second order hyperbolic systems typical of those arising in 1-D surface seismic problems. Spline based algorithms are proposed for which theoretical convergence results along with a representative sample of numerical findings are given.

Banks, H. T.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Time dependent computation of the Euler equations for designing 2-D cascades, including the case of transonic shock free design

A numerical method to solve the inverse problem for airfoil cascades is described. The case of compressible, inviscid flow is considered. The proposed method is based on the finite difference approximation of the time-dependent Euler equations. Numerical examples show the capability of the method to design subsonic or transonic shockless blades.

Zannetti, L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

On the solution of the generalized wave and generalized sine-Gordon equations

The generalized wave equation and generalized sine-Gordon equations are known to be natural multidimensional differential geometric generalizations of the classical two-dimensional versions. In this paper, a system of linear differential equations is associated with these equations, and it is shown how the direct and inverse problems can be solved for appropriately decaying data on suitable lines. An initial-boundary value problem is solved for these equations.

Ablowitz, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Computational methods for the identification of spatially varying stiffness and damping in beams

A numerical approximation scheme for the estimation of functional parameters in Euler-Bernoulli models for the transverse vibration of flexible beams with tip bodies is developed. The method permits the identification of spatially varying flexural stiffness and Voigt-Kelvin viscoelastic damping coefficients which appear in the hybrid system of ordinary and partial differential equations and boundary conditions describing the dynamics of such structures. An inverse problem is formulated as a least squares fit to data subject to constraints in the form of a vector system of abstract first order evolution equations. Spline-based finite element approximations are used to finite dimensionalize the problem. Theoretical convergence results are given and numerical studies carried out on both conventional (serial) and vector computers are discussed.

Banks, H. T.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Estimation of coefficients and boundary parameters in hyperbolic systems

Semi-discrete Galerkin approximation schemes in connection with inverse problems for the estimation of spatially varying coefficients and boundary condition parameters in second order hyperbolic systems typical of those arising in 1-D surface seismic problems are considered. Spline based algorithms are proposed for which theoretical convergence results along with a representative sample of numerical findings are given.

Banks, H. T.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Isotropic probability measures in infinite dimensional spaces: Inverse problems/prior information/stochastic inversion

Let R be the real numbers, R(n) the linear space of all real n-tuples, and R(infinity) the linear space of all infinite real sequences x = (x sub 1, x sub 2,...). Let P sub n :R(infinity) approaches R(n) be the projection operator with P sub n (x) = (x sub 1,...,x sub n). Let p(infinity) be a probability measure on the smallest sigma-ring of subsets of R(infinity) which includes all of the cylinder sets P sub n(-1) (B sub n), where B sub n is an arbitrary Borel subset of R(n). Let p sub n be the marginal distribution of p(infinity) on R(n), so p sub n(B sub n) = p(infinity)(P sub n to the -1(B sub n)) for each B sub n. A measure on R(n) is isotropic if it is invariant under all orthogonal transformations of R(n). All members of the set of all isotropic probability distributions on R(n) are described. The result calls into question both stochastic inversion and Bayesian inference, as currently used in many geophysical inverse problems.

Backus, George↗
NASA NTRS1988

Toward a comprehensive theory for the sweeping of trapped radiation by inert orbiting matter

There is a need to calculate loss rates when trapped Van Allen radiation encounters inert orbiting material such as planetary rings and satellites. An analytic expression for the probability of a hit in a bounce encounter is available for all cases where the absorber is spherical and the particles are gyrotropically distributed on a cylindrical flux tube. The hit probability is a function of the particle's pitch angle, the size of the absorber, and the distance between flux tube and absorber, when distances are scaled to the gyroradius of a particle moving perpendicular to the magnetic field. Using this expression, hit probabilities have been computed in drift encounters for all regimes of particle energies and absorber sizes. This technique generalizes the approach to sweeping lifetimes, and is particularly suitable for attacking the inverse problem, where one is given a sweeping signature and wants to deduce the properties of the absorber(s).

Fillius, Walker↗
NASA NTRS1988

An approximation theory for the identification of nonlinear distributed parameter systems

An abstract approximation framework for the identification of nonlinear distributed parameter systems is developed. Inverse problems for nonlinear systems governed by strongly maximal monotone operators (satisfying a mild continuous dependence condition with respect to the unknown parameters to be identified) are treated. Convergence of Galerkin approximations and the corresponding solutions of finite dimensional approximating identification problems to a solution of the original finite dimensional identification problem is demonstrated using the theory of nonlinear evolution systems and a nonlinear analog of the Trotter-Kato approximation result for semigroups of bounded linear operators. The nonlinear theory developed here is shown to subsume an existing linear theory as a special case. It is also shown to be applicable to a broad class of nonlinear elliptic operators and the corresponding nonlinear parabolic partial differential equations to which they lead. An application of the theory to a quasilinear model for heat conduction or mass transfer is discussed.

Banks, H. T.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Use of LANDSAT images of vegetation cover to estimate effective hydraulic properties of soils

This work focuses on the characterization of natural, spatially variable, semivegetated landscapes using a linear, stochastic, canopy-soil reflectance model. A first application of the model was the investigation of the effects of subpixel and regional variability of scenes on the shape and structure of red-infrared scattergrams. Additionally, the model was used to investigate the inverse problem, the estimation of subpixel vegetation cover, given only the scattergrams of simulated satellite scale multispectral scenes. The major aspects of that work, including recent field investigations, are summarized.

Eagleson, Peter S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

A fast approach to designing airfoils from given pressure distribution in compressible flows

A new inverse method for aerodynamic design of airfols is presented for subcritical flows. The pressure distribution in this method can be prescribed as a function of the arc length of the as-yet unknown body. This inverse problem is shown to be mathematically equivalent to solving only one nonlinear boundary value problem subject to known Dirichlet data on the boundary. The solution to this problem determines the airfoil, the freestream Mach number, and the upstream flow direction. The existence of a solution to a given pressure distribution is discussed. The method is easy to implement and extremely efficient. A series of results for which comparisons are made with the known airfoils is presented.

Daripa, Prabir↗
NASA NTRS1987

Isotropic probability measures in infinite-dimensional spaces

Let R be the real numbers, R(n) the linear space of all real n-tuples, and R(infinity) the linear space of all infinite real sequences x = (x sub 1, x sub 2,...). Let P sub in :R(infinity) approaches R(n) be the projection operator with P sub n (x) = (x sub 1,...,x sub n). Let p(infinity) be a probability measure on the smallest sigma-ring of subsets of R(infinity) which includes all of the cylinder sets P sub n(-1) (B sub n), where B sub n is an arbitrary Borel subset of R(n). Let p sub n be the marginal distribution of p(infinity) on R(n), so p sub n(B sub n) = p(infinity) (P sub n to the -1 (B sub n)) for each B sub n. A measure on R(n) is isotropic if it is invariant under all orthogonal transformations of R(n). All members of the set of all isotropic probability distributions on R(n) are described. The result calls into question both stochastic inversion and Bayesian inference, as currently used in many geophysical inverse problems.

Backus, George↗
NASA NTRS1988

Analysis of LIMS data by potential vorticity inversion

This paper analyzes LIMS data for a minor warming of January 1979 by potential vorticity inversion, to investigate how flows in the middle atmosphere were determined. The inversion problem of calculating the flow from the potential vorticity is solved repeatedly, including and excluding different portions of the potential vorticity, thus revealing which bits of potential vorticity were important in determining the flow at a time and location of interest. The results of the analysis of LIMS data indicate that the middle stratospheric flow is dominated by potential vorticity that is local in height and in latitude, while planetary-scale mesospheric flows are primarily induced by potential vorticity in the stratosphere. A possible explanation for this difference is proposed.

Robinson, Walter A.↗