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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 379 records · Page 21

Numerical Simulation of Two-grid Ion Optics Using a 3D Code

A three-dimensional ion optics code has been developed under NASA's Project Prometheus to model two grid ion optics systems. The code computes the flow of positive ions from the discharge chamber through the ion optics and into the beam downstream of the thruster. The rate at which beam ions interact with background neutral gas to form charge exchange ions is also computed. Charge exchange ion trajectories are computed to determine where they strike the ion optics grid surfaces and to determine the extent of sputter erosion they cause. The code has been used to compute predictions of the erosion pattern and wear rate on the NSTAR ion optics system; the code predicts the shape of the eroded pattern but overestimates the initial wear rate by about 50%. An example of use of the code to estimate the NEXIS thruster accelerator grid life is also presented.

ion optics↗

National Combustion Code: A Multidisciplinary Combustor Design System

The Internal Fluid Mechanics Division conducts both basic research and technology, and system technology research for aerospace propulsion systems components. The research within the division, which is both computational and experimental, is aimed at improving fundamental understanding of flow physics in inlets, ducts, nozzles, turbomachinery, and combustors. This article and the following three articles highlight some of the work accomplished in 1996. A multidisciplinary combustor design system is critical for optimizing the combustor design process. Such a system should include sophisticated computer-aided design (CAD) tools for geometry creation, advanced mesh generators for creating solid model representations, a common framework for fluid flow and structural analyses, modern postprocessing tools, and parallel processing. The goal of the present effort is to develop some of the enabling technologies and to demonstrate their overall performance in an integrated system called the National Combustion Code.

Stubbs, Robert M.↗

Development of AIFTDS-4000, a flight-qualified, flexible, high-speed data acquisition system

The NASA flight research center has developed a prototype data acquisition system which integrates an airborne computer with a high-speed pulse code modulation system. The design of the airborne integrated flight test data system (AIFTDS) is the result of experience with airborne pulse code modulation data systems. The AIFTDS-4000 has proved the premise on which it was designed: that the needs and requirements of data acquisition system users can be integrated to produce a highly flexible system that will be more useful than existing systems.

Borek, R. W.↗

The integration of system specifications and program coding

Experience in maintaining up-to-date documentation for one module of the large-scale Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System 2 (MEDLARS 2) is described. Several innovative techniques were explored in the development of this system's data management environment, particularly those that use PL/I as an automatic documenter. The PL/I data description section can provide automatic documentation by means of a master description of data elements that has long and highly meaningful mnemonic names and a formalized technique for the production of descriptive commentary. The techniques discussed are practical methods that employ the computer during system development in a manner that assists system implementation, provides interim documentation for customer review, and satisfies some of the deliverable documentation requirements.

Luebke, W. R.↗

Scheduling Operations for Massive Heterogeneous Clusters

High-performance computing (HPC) programming has become increasingly difficult with the advent of hybrid supercomputers consisting of multicore CPUs and accelerator boards such as the GPU. Manual tuning of software to achieve high performance on this type of machine has been performed by programmers. This is needlessly difficult and prone to being invalidated by new hardware, new software, or changes in the underlying code. A system was developed for task-based representation of programs, which when coupled with a scheduler and runtime system, allows for many benefits, including higher performance and utilization of computational resources, easier programming and porting, and adaptations of code during runtime. The system consists of a method of representing computer algorithms as a series of data-dependent tasks. The series forms a graph, which can be scheduled for execution on many nodes of a supercomputer efficiently by a computer algorithm. The schedule is executed by a dispatch component, which is tailored to understand all of the hardware types that may be available within the system. The scheduler is informed by a cluster mapping tool, which generates a topology of available resources and their strengths and communication costs. Software is decoupled from its hardware, which aids in porting to future architectures. A computer algorithm schedules all operations, which for systems of high complexity (i.e., most NASA codes), cannot be performed optimally by a human. The system aids in reducing repetitive code, such as communication code, and aids in the reduction of redundant code across projects. It adds new features to code automatically, such as recovering from a lost node or the ability to modify the code while running. In this project, the innovators at the time of this reporting intend to develop two distinct technologies that build upon each other and both of which serve as building blocks for more efficient HPC usage. First is the scheduling and dynamic execution framework, and the second is scalable linear algebra libraries that are built directly on the former.

Humphrey, John↗

Coding and decoding for code division multiple user communication systems

A new algorithm is introduced which decodes code division multiple user communication signals. The algorithm makes use of the distinctive form or pattern of each signal to separate it from the composite signal created by the multiple users. Although the algorithm is presented in terms of frequency-hopped signals, the actual transmitter modulator can use any of the existing digital modulation techniques. The algorithm is applicable to error-free codes or to codes where controlled interference is permitted. It can be used when block synchronization is assumed, and in some cases when it is not. The paper also discusses briefly some of the codes which can be used in connection with the algorithm, and relates the algorithm to past studies which use other approaches to the same problem.

Healy, T. J.↗

NASA-Ames three-dimensional potential flow analysis system (POTFAN) equation solver code (SOLN) version 1

A computer program known as SOLN was developed as an independent segment of the NASA-Ames three-dimensional potential flow analysis systems of linear algebraic equations. Methods used include: LU decomposition, Householder's method, a partitioning scheme, and a block successive relaxation method. Due to the independent modular nature of the program, it may be used by itself and not necessarily in conjunction with other segments of the POTFAN system.

Davis, J. E.↗

National Combustion Code: Parallel Performance

This report discusses the National Combustion Code (NCC). The NCC is an integrated system of codes for the design and analysis of combustion systems. The advanced features of the NCC meet designers' requirements for model accuracy and turn-around time. The fundamental features at the inception of the NCC were parallel processing and unstructured mesh. The design and performance of the NCC are discussed.

Babrauckas, Theresa↗

In Silico Methods for Space System Analysis: Optical Link Coding Performance and Lunar Terrain Masks

As deep space links migrate toward higher frequency bands like 𝐾𝑎 and optical, thor- ough trade-space exploration becomes increasingly valuable for designing reliable and efficient communications systems. In this contribution, we leveraged high-performance, concurrent simulations when the run-time complexity of simulation software overwhelms capabilities of ordinary desktop machines. The first part of this manuscript describes how to run error correcting code simulations concurrently on a high-performance supercomputer. The second part of this study describes a framework to produce azimuth and elevation terrain masks from imagery of the Lunar South Pole.

Michels, Dominik L↗

A decoding procedure for the Reed-Solomon codes

A decoding procedure is described for the (n,k) t-error-correcting Reed-Solomon (RS) code, and an implementation of the (31,15) RS code for the I4-TENEX central system. This code can be used for error correction in large archival memory systems. The principal features of the decoder are a Galois field arithmetic unit implemented by microprogramming a microprocessor, and syndrome calculation by using the g(x) encoding shift register. Complete decoding of the (31,15) code is expected to take less than 500 microsecs. The syndrome calculation is performed by hardware using the encoding shift register and a modified Chien search. The error location polynomial is computed by using Lin's table, which is an interpretation of Berlekamp's iterative algorithm. The error location numbers are calculated by using the Chien search. Finally, the error values are computed by using Forney's method.

Lim, R. S.↗

Channel coding in the space station data system network

A detailed discussion of the use of channel coding for error correction, privacy/secrecy, channel separation, and synchronization is presented. Channel coding, in one form or another, is an established and common element in data systems. No analysis and design of a major new system would fail to consider ways in which channel coding could make the system more effective. The presence of channel coding on TDRS, Shuttle, the Advanced Communication Technology Satellite Program system, the JSC-proposed Space Operations Center, and the proposed 30/20 GHz Satellite Communication System strongly support the requirement for the utilization of coding for the communications channel. The designers of the space station data system have to consider the use of channel coding.

Healy, T.↗

Code Benchmark of Depressurized Conduction Cooldown Transient in the High Temperature Test Facility

This paper presents results from modeling of a depressurized conduction cooldown (DCC) transient at the High Temperature Test Facility (HTTF) as part of the OECD-NEA Thermal Hydraulics Code Validation Benchmark for High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors using HTTF Data . This paper briefly describes the benchmark and the models being used. It then presents a comparison of steady state and transient results based on the Problem 2 Exercise 1A and 1B definitions. We compare block and helium temperature distributions, mass flow distribution, and energy balance in steady state. All models show comparable mass flow distributions and energy balances. The temperatures within the core and outer regions are comparable in all models too, but inner reflector temperatures can vary significantly. Despite that, we find that the models are in good agreement for the full-power steady state. In the DCC, we look at block temperature at the core midplane and RCCS water exit temperature. The INL and ANL models are found to be in excellent agreement with one another on block temperature over time, while the agreement when the KAERI and NRG models are added into consideration is good. Differences in the transient heat removal from the RCCS cause the differences in block temperature over time in these models. The CNL models show similar trends to the INL, ANL, KAERI, and NRG models, but the temperatures are high because the volumes used in calculating the average temperature include the heater rods in the CNL models only. The HUN-REN model shows results that suggest significantly lower heat removal in the RCCS which merit further investigation.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

System Synchronizes Recordings from Separated Video Cameras

A system of electronic hardware and software for synchronizing recordings from multiple, physically separated video cameras is being developed, primarily for use in multiple-look-angle video production. The system, the time code used in the system, and the underlying method of synchronization upon which the design of the system is based are denoted generally by the term "Geo-TimeCode(TradeMark)." The system is embodied mostly in compact, lightweight, portable units (see figure) denoted video time-code units (VTUs) - one VTU for each video camera. The system is scalable in that any number of camera recordings can be synchronized. The estimated retail price per unit would be about $350 (in 2006 dollars). The need for this or another synchronization system external to video cameras arises because most video cameras do not include internal means for maintaining synchronization with other video cameras. Unlike prior video-camera-synchronization systems, this system does not depend on continuous cable or radio links between cameras (however, it does depend on occasional cable links lasting a few seconds). Also, whereas the time codes used in prior video-camera-synchronization systems typically repeat after 24 hours, the time code used in this system does not repeat for slightly more than 136 years; hence, this system is much better suited for long-term deployment of multiple cameras.

Nail, William↗