Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Realizability 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.

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

At least 37 records · Page 2

Development and application of a time-history analysis for rotorcraft dynamics based on a component approach

A time history analysis for rotorcraft dynamics based on dynamical substructures, and nonstructural mathematical and aerodynamic components is described. The analysis is applied to predict helicopter ground resonance and response to rotor damage. Other applications illustrate the stability and steady vibratory response of stopped and gimballed rotors, representative of new technology. Desirable attributes expected from modern codes are realized, although the analysis does not employ a complete set of techniques identified for advanced software. The analysis is able to handle a comprehensive set of steady state and stability problems with a small library of components.

Sopher, R.↗

L-/S-band calibration error analysis.

Results of a statistical error analysis performed to determine the degree of uncertainty encountered when calibrating steerable receiving antennas with the solar calibration method. The analysis considers the propagation of precision error indices. It is shown that a worst-case one-sigma (1 sigma) uncertainty of plus or minus 0.8 dB in system noise temperature occurs for a solar calibration at L-band. Somewhat better precision can be achieved by monitoring the antenna gain-to-noise temperature ratio at a station; a worst-case uncertainty of plus or minus 0.5 dB (1 sigma) can be realized. An error analysis is made of a method to determine absolute antenna gain based upon solar flux density. The uncertainty in this type of measurement is plus or minus 0.7 dB (1 sigma) at L- and S-band frequencies.

Taylor, R. E.↗

A Realizable Reynolds Stress Algebraic Equation Model

The invariance theory in continuum mechanics is applied to analyze Reynolds stresses in high Reynolds number turbulent flows. The analysis leads to a turbulent constitutive relation that relates the Reynolds stresses to the mean velocity gradients in a more general form in which the classical isotropic eddy viscosity model is just the linear approximation of the general form. On the basis of realizability analysis, a set of model coefficients are obtained which are functions of the time scale ratios of the turbulence to the mean strain rate and the mean rotation rate. The coefficients will ensure the positivity of each component of the mean rotation rate. These coefficients will ensure the positivity of each component of the turbulent kinetic energy - realizability that most existing turbulence models fail to satisfy. Separated flows over backward-facing step configurations are taken as applications. The calculations are performed with a conservative finite-volume method. Grid-independent and numerical diffusion-free solutions are obtained by using differencing schemes of second-order accuracy on sufficiently fine grids. The calculated results are compared in detail with the experimental data for both mean and turbulent quantities. The comparison shows that the present proposal significantly improves the predictive capability of K-epsilon based two equation models. In addition, the proposed model is able to simulate rotational homogeneous shear flows with large rotation rates which all conventional eddy viscosity models fail to simulate.

Shih, Tsan-Hsing↗

Sonic boom propagation in stratified atmosphere

Comprehensive analysis and algorithm, realized in a computer program, provides realistic calculations for sonic boom signatures in the atmosphere. Algorithm includes maneuvering aircraft in a sonic boom pressure calculation, a ray-tube area calculation, and results in the form of complete signatures.

Haefeli, R. C.↗

Robustness issues in boundary feedback of flexible structures

Transfer function models for basic structural elements with boundary control reveal certain inherent properties relevant to questions of control system realization, design, and analysis of robustness. The transfer functions involved are not strictly proper, may be nonminimum phase (except for the special case of colocated actuation and sensing), and often have large number of poles on the imaginary axis. In this paper these basic questions are considered in terms of modeling and control system design for robustness. The application of algebraic methods for computing stabilizing control, based on certain exact, irrational transfer functions is investigated. Boundary control of the wave equation is considered and extension of the method to more general problems is suggested. Special attention is given to implementation issues associated with a class of infinite dimensional control laws.

Bennett, W. H.↗

Turbulence modeling for non-equilibrium flows

Two projects are reported. The first is the development and testing of an eddy viscosity transport model. This project also is a starting point for our work on developing computational tools for solving turbulence models in complex geometries. The second project is a stochastic analysis of the realizability of Reynolds stress transport models.

Durbin, Paul A.↗

A Study of Quality of Service Communication for High-Speed Packet-Switching Computer Sub-Networks

In this thesis, we analyze various factors that affect quality of service (QoS) communication in high-speed, packet-switching sub-networks. We hypothesize that sub-network-wide bandwidth reservation and guaranteed CPU processing power at endpoint systems for handling data traffic are indispensable to achieving hard end-to-end quality of service. Different bandwidth reservation strategies, traffic characterization schemes, and scheduling algorithms affect the network resources and CPU usage as well as the extent that QoS can be achieved. In order to analyze those factors, we design and implement a communication layer. Our experimental analysis supports our research hypothesis. The Resource ReSerVation Protocol (RSVP) is designed to realize resource reservation. Our analysis of RSVP shows that using RSVP solely is insufficient to provide hard end-to-end quality of service in a high-speed sub-network. Analysis of the IEEE 802.lp protocol also supports the research hypothesis.

Cui, Zhenqian↗

Clarifying Objectives and Results of Equivalent System Mass Analyses for Advanced Life Support

This paper discusses some of the analytical decisions that an investigator must make during the course of a life support system trade study. Equivalent System Mass (ESM) is often applied to evaluate trade study options in the Advanced Life Support (ALS) Program. ESM can be used to identify which of several options that meet all requirements are most likely to have lowest cost. It can also be used to identify which of the many interacting parts of a life support system have the greatest impact and sensitivity to assumptions. This paper summarizes recommendations made in the newly developed ALS ESM Guidelines Document and expands on some of the issues relating to trade studies that involve ESM. In particular, the following three points are expounded: 1) The importance of objectives: Analysis objectives drive the approach to any trade study, including identification of assumptions, selection of characteristics to compare in the analysis, and the most appropriate techniques for reflecting those characteristics. 2) The importance of results inferprefafion: The accuracy desired in the results depends upon the analysis objectives, whereas the realized accuracy is determined by the data quality and degree of detail in analysis methods. 3) The importance of analysis documentation: Documentation of assumptions and data modifications is critical for effective peer evaluation of any trade study. ESM results are analysis-specific and should always be reported in context, rather than as solitary values. For this reason, results reporting should be done with adequate rigor to allow for verification by other researchers.

Levri, Julie A.↗

Further Analysis on the Mystery of the Surveyor III Dust Deposits

The Apollo 12 lunar module (LM) landing near the Surveyor III spacecraft at the end of 1969 has remained the primary experimental verification of the predicted physics of plume ejecta effects from a rocket engine interacting with the surface of the moon. This was made possible by the return of the Surveyor III camera housing by the Apollo 12 astronauts, allowing detailed analysis of the composition of dust deposited by the LM plume. It was soon realized after the initial analysis of the camera housing that the LM plume tended to remove more dust than it had deposited. In the present study, coupons from the camera housing have been reexamined. In addition, plume effects recorded in landing videos from each Apollo mission have been studied for possible clues.

Metzger, Philip↗

Comparison of Modal Analysis Methods Applied to a Vibro-Acoustic Test Article

Modal testing of a vibro-acoustic test article referred to as the Aluminum Testbed Cylinder (ATC) has provided frequency response data for the development of validated numerical models of complex structures for interior noise prediction and control. The ATC is an all aluminum, ring and stringer stiffened cylinder, 12 feet in length and 4 feet in diameter. The cylinder was designed to represent typical aircraft construction. Modal tests were conducted for several different configurations of the cylinder assembly under ambient and pressurized conditions. The purpose of this paper is to present results from dynamic testing of different ATC configurations using two modal analysis software methods: Eigensystem Realization Algorithm (ERA) and MTS IDEAS Polyreference method. The paper compares results from the two analysis methods as well as the results from various test configurations. The effects of pressurization on the modal characteristics are discussed.

Pritchard, Jocelyn↗

Further Analysis on the Mystery of the Surveyor III Dust Deposits

The Apollo 12 lunar module (LM) landing near the Surveyor 1lI spacecraft at the end of 1969 has remained the primary experimental verification of the predicted physics of plume ejecta effects from a rocket engine interacting with the surface of the moon. This was made possible by the return of the Surveyor 1lI camera housing by the Apollo 12 astronauts, allowing detailed analysis of the composition of dust deposited by the Apollo 12 LM plume. It was soon realized after the initial analysis of the camera housing that the LM plume tended to remove more dust than it had deposited. In the present study, coupons from the camera housing were reexamined by a KSC research team using SEM/EDS and XPS analysis. In addition, plume effects recorded in landing videos from each Apollo mission have been studied for possible clues. Several likely scenarios are proposed to explain the Surveyor III dust observations. These include electrostatic attraction of the dust to the surface of the Surveyor as a result of electrostatic charging of the jet gas exiting the engine nozzle during descent; dust blown by the Apollo 12 LM fly-by while on its descent trajectory; dust ejected from the lunar surface due to gas forced into the soil by the Surveyor 1lI rocket nozzle, based on Darcy's law; and mechanical movement of dust during the Surveyor landing. Even though an absolute answer is not possible based on available data and theory, various computational models are employed to estimate the feasibility of each of these proposed mechanisms. Scenarios are then discussed which combine multiple mechanisms to produce results consistent with observations.

Metzger, Philip↗

Skylab program: Earth resources experiment package. Sensor performance evaluation. Volume 6: (S194) L-band radiometer

Analysis of the Skylab S194 L-band radiometer experiment data provided significant results pertaining to the actual realized performance during flight. Analysis of preflight test data provided a baseline from which to compare the experiment flight performance, although many radiometric data performance capabilities could only be demonstrated in the flight environment. The final results establish the overall hardware performance of the S194 system from which prospective users of the flight data can refer for various scientific applications. Instrument performance is presented in the areas of housekeeping and internal calibration parameters, antenna system integrity, dynamic range, linearity, precision, resolution, and absolute accuracy. Supplementary evaluations were included for an error analysis of system calibration stability. Results of the evaluation show that the instrument performance was generally as expected. Conclusions are drawn from the final evaluation results, and recommendations for improving the effectiveness of a future program are offered.

Kenney, G. P.↗

Integrated analysis tools for trade studies of spacecraft controller and sensor locations

The present investigation was conducted with the aim to evaluate the practicality and difficulties of modern control design methods for large space structure controls. The evaluation is used as a basis for the identification of useful computer-based analysis tools which would provide insight into control characteristics of a spacecraft concept. A description is presented of the wrap-rib antenna and its packaging concept. Attention is given to active control requirements, a mathematical model of structural dynamics, aspects of sensor and actuator location, the analysis approach, controllability, observability, the concept of balanced realization, transmission zeros, singular value plots, analysis results, model reduction, and an interactive computer program. It is pointed out that the application of selected control analysis tools to the wrap-rib antenna demonstrates several capabilities which can be useful during conceptual design.

Rowell, L. F.↗

Technical support for digital systems technology development. Task order 1: ISP contention analysis and control

Alternatives for realizing a packet-based network switch for use on a frequency division multiple access/time division multiplexed (FDMA/TDM) geostationary communication satellite were investigated. Each of the eight downlink beams supports eight directed dwells. The design needed to accommodate multicast packets with very low probability of loss due to contention. Three switch architectures were designed and analyzed. An output-queued, shared bus system yielded a functionally simple system, utilizing a first-in, first-out (FIFO) memory per downlink dwell, but at the expense of a large total memory requirement. A shared memory architecture offered the most efficiency in memory requirements, requiring about half the memory of the shared bus design. The processing requirement for the shared-memory system adds system complexity that may offset the benefits of the smaller memory. An alternative design using a shared memory buffer per downlink beam decreases circuit complexity through a distributed design, and requires at most 1000 packets of memory more than the completely shared memory design. Modifications to the basic packet switch designs were proposed to accommodate circuit-switched traffic, which must be served on a periodic basis with minimal delay. Methods for dynamically controlling the downlink dwell lengths were developed and analyzed. These methods adapt quickly to changing traffic demands, and do not add significant complexity or cost to the satellite and ground station designs. Methods for reducing the memory requirement by not requiring the satellite to store full packets were also proposed and analyzed. In addition, optimal packet and dwell lengths were computed as functions of memory size for the three switch architectures.

Stehle, Roy H.↗

Realizable feed-element patterns for multibeam reflector antenna analysis

The radiation pattern of a feed element is approximately described by a simple function (cos theta) to the q power. For a given element spacing of the feed array, simple formulas for estimating the practical value of q when the element is an open-ended rectangular waveguide, an open-ended circular waveguide, a pyramidal horn, or a cigar antenna are given.

Rahmat-Samii, Y.↗

Molecular wake shield gas analyzer

Techniques for measuring and characterizing the ultrahigh vacuum in the wake of an orbiting spacecraft are studied. A high sensitivity mass spectrometer that contains a double mass analyzer consisting of an open source miniature magnetic sector field neutral gas analyzer and an identical ion analyzer is proposed. These are configured to detect and identify gas and ion species of hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, nitric oxide, and carbon dioxide and any other gas or ion species in the 1 to 46 amu mass range. This range covers the normal atmospheric constituents. The sensitivity of the instrument is sufficient to measure ambient gases and ion with a particle density of the order of one per cc. A chemical pump, or getter, is mounted near the entrance aperture of the neutral gas analyzer which integrates the absorption of ambient gases for a selectable period of time for subsequent release and analysis. The sensitivity is realizable for all but rare gases using this technique.

Hoffman, J. H.↗

The physical and empirical basis for a specific clear-air turbulence risk index

An improved operational CAT detection and forecasting technique is developed and detailed. This technique is the specific clear air turbulence risk (SCATR) index. This index shows some promising results. The improvements seen using hand analyzed data, as a result of the more realistic representation of the vertical shear of the horizontal wind, are also realized in the data analysis used in the PROFS/CWP application. The SCATR index should improve as database enhancements such as profiler and VAS satellite data, which increase the resolution in space and time, are brought into even more sophisticated objective analysis schemes.

Keller, J. L.↗