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At least 379 records · Page 21

Data traffic reduction schemes for Cholesky factorization on asynchronous multiprocessor systems

Communication requirements of Cholesky factorization of dense and sparse symmetric, positive definite matrices are analyzed. The communication requirement is characterized by the data traffic generated on multiprocessor systems with local and shared memory. Lower bound proofs are given to show that when the load is uniformly distributed the data traffic associated with factoring an n x n dense matrix using n to the alpha power (alpha less than or equal 2) processors is omega(n to the 2 + alpha/2 power). For n x n sparse matrices representing a square root of n x square root of n regular grid graph the data traffic is shown to be omega(n to the 1 + alpha/2 power), alpha less than or equal 1. Partitioning schemes that are variations of block assignment scheme are described and it is shown that the data traffic generated by these schemes are asymptotically optimal. The schemes allow efficient use of up to O(n to the 2nd power) processors in the dense case and up to O(n) processors in the sparse case before the total data traffic reaches the maximum value of O(n to the 3rd power) and O(n to the 3/2 power), respectively. It is shown that the block based partitioning schemes allow a better utilization of the data accessed from shared memory and thus reduce the data traffic than those based on column-wise wrap around assignment schemes.

Naik, Vijay K.↗

Measurement of sound emitted by flying projectiles with aeroacoustic sources

Training projectiles with axisymmetric ring cavities that produce intense tones in an airstream were shot in a straight-line trajectory. A ground-based microphone was used to obtain the angular distribution of sound intensity produced from the flying projectile. Data reduction required calculation of Doppler and attenuation factors. Also, the directional sensitivity of the ground-mounted microphone was measured and used in the data reduction. A rapid angular variation of sound intensity produced from the projectile was found that can be used to plot an intensity contour map on the ground. A full-scale field test confirmed the validity of the aeroacoustic concept of producing a relatively intense whistle from the projectile, and the usefulness of short-range flight tests that yield acoustic data free of uncertainties associated with diffraction, reflection, and refraction at jet boundaries in free-jet tests.

Cho, Y. I.↗

Reduction and analysis of ATS-6 data

The reduction of data obtained by the experiment on ATS-6 is presented and a scientific analysis of the data is included. During the period covered significant progress was made in both reduction and analysis of ATS-6 data. The relationship between the direction of the interplanetary magnetic field and the fluxes of energetic electrons at the synchronous altitude was clarified, and a simple model of the energetic electron environment as observed by ATS-6 was developed and a simple empirical relationship was extended, which predicts the maximum energetic electron flux to be expected at the synchronous orbit.

Paulikas, G. A.↗

In-flight performance of the IUE

A report on the initial performance of the IUE satellite, launched in January, 1978, is given. Attention is given to optical performance, camera performance, background corrections, photometric performance, and data reduction. Samples of high-dispersion and low-dispersion spectra are shown. A remaining problem of proper separation of high dispersion orders in data reduction is discussed.

Boggess, A.↗

Determination of load sequence effects on the degradation and failure of composite materials

A theoretical model was established to predict the fatigue behavior of composite materials, with emphasis placed on predictions of the degradation of residual strength and residual stiffness during fatigue cycling. The model parameters were evaluated from three test series including static strength fatigue life and residual strength tests. The tests were applied to two graphite/epoxy laminates. Load sequence effects were emphasized for both laminates and the predicted results agreed quite well with subsequent verification tests. Dynamic as well as static stiffness reduction data were collected by use of a PDP11-03 computer, which performed quite satisfactorily and permitted the recording of a substantial amount of dynamic stiffness reduction data.

Yang, J. N.↗

Finite element analysis of the end notched flexure specimen for measuring Mode II fracture toughness

The paper presents a finite element analysis of the end-notched flexure (ENF) test specimen for Mode II interlaminar fracture testing of composite materials. Virtual crack closure and compliance techniques employed to calculate strain energy release rates from linear elastic two-dimensional analysis indicate that the ENF specimen is a pure Mode II fracture test within the constraints of small deflection theory. Furthermore, the ENF fracture specimen is shown to be relatively insensitive to process-induced cracks, offset from the laminate midplane. Frictional effects are investigated by including the contact problem in the finite element model. A parametric study investigating the influence of delamination length, span, thickness, and material properties assessed the accuracy of beam theory expressions for compliance and strain energy release rate, GII. Finite element results indicate that data reduction schemes based upon beam theory underestimate GII by approximately 20-40 percent for typical unidirectional graphite fiber composite test specimen geometries. Consequently, an improved data reduction scheme is proposed.

Gillespie, J. W., Jr.↗

Modeling and characterization of the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) nonscanner and scanner sensors

The Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) is making high-absolute-accuracy measurements of the reflected solar and Earth-emitted radiation as well as the incoming solar radiation from three satellites: ERBS, NOAA-9, and NOAA-10. Each satellite has four Earth-looking nonscanning radiometers and three scanning radiometers. A fifth nonscanner, the solar monitor, measures the incoming solar radiation. The development of the ERBE sensor characterization procedures are described using the calibration data for each of the Earth-looking nonscanners and scanners. Sensor models for the ERBE radiometers are developed including the radiative exchange, conductive heat flow, and electronics processing for transient and steady state conditions. The steady state models are used to interpret the sensor outputs, resulting in the data reduction algorithms for the ERBE instruments. Both ground calibration and flight calibration procedures are treated and analyzed. The ground and flight calibration coefficients for the data reduction algorithms are presented.

Halyo, Nesim↗

Reexamination of the Edge Crack Torsion Test for Determining the Mode III Delamination Toughness of Laminated Composites

The edge crack torsion (ECT) test is reexamined to address two primary concerns with this method. The first of these relates to inconsistencies in the data reduction procedure that was originally proposed and is most commonly used to compute the mode III interlaminar fracture toughness, G(sub IIIc), from the experimental data. The second relates to the observation that plies neighboring the preimplanted insert in the standard ECT layup are unable to contain initiation and growth of intralaminar cracks, and that growth of these cracks contributes to errors in the apparent values of G(sub IIIc). To address these issues, an alternative data reduction technique, which uses a polynomial expression to represent the ECT specimen’s compliance versus crack length relation, is proposed. The accuracy and potential drawbacks of this expression are investigated using FE simulations. Next, seven groups of ECT specimens are fabricated and tested. Each of these groups contains specimens with preimplanted inserts that are bounded by plies at different +q and -q orientations. The seven groups consist of values of q that vary from 0° to 90° in 15° increments. Tests on these specimens show that intralaminar cracking occurs in specimens from all batches except those for which q equals 15° or 30°. However, values of G(sub IIIc) measured using specimens with these two ply orientations were not equal and, for q = 30°, the values of G(sub IIIc) that were obtained were not completely independent of initial starter crack length. Potential issues accounting for these observations and other challenges associated with measuring G(sub IIIc) using the ECT test are discussed.

Polymer matrix composites↗

SNAPRed: Reduction of multidimensional neutron time-of-flight diffraction data

SNAP is a neutron time-of-flight diffractometer at the Spallation Neutron Source operated by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It generates large arrays of neutron detection events that encode the crystalline atomic structure of materials under study. SNAPRed is an application that makes these datasets accessible to end users by orchestrating the process of data reduction while automatically managing the variable neutron instrumentation configuration. It supports arbitrary grouping and masking of individual detector pixels and includes custom-developed data compression approaches to accommodate the large volumes of data generated by the SNAP instrument.

Diffraction↗

Measurement of angular distribution of sound emission from training projectiles in subsonic flight

Training projectiles with nose ring cavities that produce intense whistles in stationary free-jet tests were shot in a relatively straight-line trajectory. A ground based microphone was used to obtain the angular distribution of sound intensity produced from the subsonically flying projectile. Data reduction required calculation of Doppler and attenuation factors which were determined based on a non-linear trajectory. Also, the directional sensitivity of the microphone was measured and used in the data reduction. Significant angular variation of sound intensity produced from the projectile was found which can be used to plot an intensity contour map on the ground. A full-scale field test confirmed the validity of the aeroacoustic concept of producing a relatively intense whistle from the projectile, and the usefulness of a real-time data acquisition system.

Cho, Y. I.↗

ATS simultaneous and turnaround ranging experiments

This report explains the data reduction and spacecraft position determination used in conjunction with two ATS experiments - Trilateration and Turnaround Ranging - and describes in detail a multilateration program that is used for part of the data reduction process. The process described is for the determination of the inertial position of the satellite, and for formating input for related programs. In the trilateration procedure, a geometric determination of satellite position is made from near simultaneous range measurements made by three different tracking stations. Turnaround ranging involves two stations; one, the master station, transmits the signal to the satellite and the satellite retransmits the signal to the slave station which turns the signal around to the satellite which in turn retransmits the signal to the master station. The results of the satellite position computations using the multilateration program are compared to results of other position determination programs used at Goddard. All programs give nearly the same results which indicates that because of its simplicity and computational speed the trilateration technique is useful in obtaining spacecraft positions for near synchronous satellites.

Watson, J. S.↗

Results of the long range position-determining system tests

The long range position-determining system (LRPDS) has been developed by the Corps of Engineers to provide the Field Army with a rapid and accurate positioning capability. The LRPDS consists of an airborne reference position set (RPS), up to 30 ground based positioning sets (PS), and a position computing central (PCC). The PCC calculates the position of each PS based on the range change information provided by each Set. The positions can be relayed back to the PS again via RPS. Each PS unit contains a double oven precise crystal oscillator. The RPS contains a Hewlett-Packard cesium beam standard. Frequency drifts and off-sets of the crystal oscillators are taken in account in the data reduction process. A field test program was initiated in November 1972. A total of 54 flights were made which included six flights for equipment testing and 48 flights utilizing the field test data reduction program. The four general types of PS layouts used were: short range; medium range; long range; tactical configuration. The overall RMS radial error of the unknown positions varied from about 2.3 meters for the short range to about 15 meters for the long range. The corresponding elevation RMS errors vary from about 12 meters to 37 meters.

Rhode, F. W.↗

The data acquisition system for the Anglo-Australian Observatory 2-degree field project

The Anglo-Australian Observatory (AAO) is building a system that will provide a two-degree field of view at prime focus. A robot positioner will be used to locate up to 400 optical fibers at pre-determined positions in this field. While observations are being made using one set of 400 fibers, the robot will be positioning a second set of fibers in a background field that can be moved in to replace the first when the telescope is moved to a new position. The fibers feed two spectrographs each with a 1024 square CCD detector. The software system being produced to control this involves Vaxes for overall control and data recording, UNIX workstations for fiber configuration calculations and on-line data reduction, and VME systems running VxWorks for real-time control of critical parts such as the positioner robot. The system has to be able to interact with the observatory's present data acquisition systems, which use the ADAM system. As yet, the real-time parts of ADAM have not been ported to Unix, and so we are having to produce a smaller-scale system that is similar but inherently distributed (which ADAM is not). We are using this system as a testbed for ideas that we hope may eventually influence an ADAM II system. The system we are producing is based on a message system that is designed to be able to handle inter-process and inter-processor messages of any length, efficiently, and without ever requiring a task to block (i.e., be unresponsive to 'cancel' messages, enquiry messages), other than when deliberately waiting for external input - all of which will be through such messages. The essential requirement is that a message 'send' operation should never be able to block. The messages will be hierarchical, self-defining, machine-independent data structures. This allows us to provide very simple monitoring of messages for diagnostic purposes, and allows general purpose interface programs to be written without needing to share precise byte by byte message format definitions. Programs in this system have interfaces defined simply in terms of named actions and their parameters. Real-time control programs are required to be able to handle a number of such actions concurrently; data reduction programs will normally only need to handle one action at a time ('process an image', 'display a spectrum', etc).

Shortridge, K.↗

Optimum radars and filters for the passive sphere system

Studies have been conducted to determine the influence of the tracking radar and data reduction technique on the accuracy of the meteorological measurements made in the 30 to 100 kilometer altitude region by the ROBIN passive falling sphere. A survey of accuracy requirements was made of agencies interested in data from this region of the atmosphere. In light of these requirements, various types of radars were evaluated to determine the tracking system most applicable to the ROBIN, and methods were developed to compute the errors in wind and density that arise from noise errors in the radar supplied data. The effects of launch conditions on the measurements were also examined. Conclusions and recommendations have been made concerning the optimum tracking and data reduction techniques for the ROBIN falling sphere system.

Luers, J. K.↗

Influence of Strain-Gage Balance Characteristics on the Precision Error of the Drag Coefficient

Improvements and results of a new method are presented that computes a pre-test estimate of the precision error of the drag coefficient of a wind tunnel model. The error estimate is defined as the part of the drag coefficient's precision error that is primarily associated with the precision error of the angle of attack measurement and physical characteristics of the chosen strain-gage balance. The method indirectly describes the precision error of the angle of attack measurement by using an assumed balance gage output variation of one microV/V. The physical characteristics of the balance, on the other hand, are described by partial derivatives of the axial and normal forces with respect to the strain-gage outputs. These derivatives can directly be obtained from the data reduction matrix of the balance. The precision error estimate itself is calculated by applying a simple explicit equation that uses the model reference area, the dynamic pressure, the angle of attack, the coefficients of the linear terms of the data reduction matrix, and the electrical output variation of one microvolt per volt as input. Precision errors at constant angle of attack may be visualized as contour plots by plotting them, for example, versus the Mach number and the total pressure. Characteristics of NASA's MC60E balance are used in combination with the reference area of a generic wind tunnel model in order to demonstrate that error estimates are independent of both the balance load format and the units chosen for the description of balance loads, model reference area, and the dynamic pressure. Finally, experimental data from a wind tunnel test of the Ames Check Standard Model in the NASA Ames 11-foot Transonic Wind Tunnel illustrates the application of the method to real-world test data.

precision error↗

The Celescope survey and the galactic distribution of interstellar absorption

The instrumentation and data-reduction techniques used in the Celescope experiment conducted on board OAO-2 are reviewed. A brief summary is presented of the principles of UV astronomy, the Celescope optical package and bay E4 electronic module assembly are described, and the distribution of the Celescope pictures is plotted in galactic coordinates. Described data-reduction techniques include the determination of the U-B and B-V colors, removal of interstellar extinction effects, and construction of model atmospheres for the observed stars. Some difficulties and apparent contradictions encountered in the data interpretation are noted.

Davis, R. J.↗

Implementation of a High-Speed FPGA and DSP Based FFT Processor for Improving Strain Demodulation Performance in a Fiber-Optic-Based Sensing System

NASA's Aviation Safety and Security Program is pursuing research in on-board Structural Health Management (SHM) technologies for purposes of reducing or eliminating aircraft accidents due to system and component failures. Under this program, NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) is developing a strain-based structural health-monitoring concept that incorporates a fiber optic-based measuring system for acquiring strain values. This fiber optic-based measuring system provides for the distribution of thousands of strain sensors embedded in a network of fiber optic cables. The resolution of strain value at each discrete sensor point requires a computationally demanding data reduction software process that, when hosted on a conventional processor, is not suitable for near real-time measurement. This report describes the development and integration of an alternative computing environment using dedicated computing hardware for performing the data reduction. Performance comparison between the existing and the hardware-based system is presented.

Farley, Douglas L.↗