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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 397 records · Page 22

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NASA NTRS1973

A model based technique for the design of flight directors

A new technique for designing flight directors is discussed. This technique uses the optimal-control pilot/vehicle model to determine the appropriate control strategy. The dynamics of this control strategy are then incorporated into the director control laws, thereby enabling the pilot to operate at a significantly lower workload. A preliminary design of a control director for maintaining a STOL vehicle on the approach path in the presence of random air turbulence is evaluated. By selecting model parameters in terms of allowable path deviations and pilot workload levels, a set of director laws is achieved which allows improved system performance at reduced workload levels. The pilot acts essentially as a proportional controller with regard to the director signals, and control motions are compatible with those appropriate to status-only displays.

Levison, W. H.↗

NASA NTRS1975

A study of digital gyro compensation loops

The feasibility is discussed of replacing existing state-of-the-art analog gyro compensation loops with digital computations. This was accomplished by designing appropriate compensation loops for the dry turned TDF gyro, selecting appropriate data conversion and processing techniques and algorithms, and breadboarding the design for laboratory evaluation. A breadboard design was established in which one axis of a Teledyne turned-gimbal TDF gyro was caged digitally while the other was caged using conventional analog electronics. The digital loop was designed analytically to closely resemble the analog loop in performance. The breadboard was subjected to various static and dynamic tests in order to establish the relative stability characteristics and frequency responses of the digital and analog loops. Several variations of the digital loop configuration were evaluated. The results were favorable.

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NASA NTRS1974

The MAT project - Atmospheric turbulence measurements with emphasis on long wavelengths

The significant aspects of the NASA MAT (measurement of atmospheric turbulence) program are described. A principal objective of the project is to determine if the Von Karman equation is appropriate for clear-air turbulence in various meteorological conditions, and if so, to define the appropriate L-values in the equation. The current work is primarily a status report describing the measurement system and analysis procedure, some meteorological aspects, and several preliminary results. Measurements of gust velocity will be made over a wide altitude range and in different meteorological conditions. Power spectral density values will be obtained for the three components of gust velocity to wavelengths of 30,000 ft and greater. Principal meteorological parameters of interest include the jet stream, mountain waves, and flight at low altitude (or in the earth's boundary layer).

Murrow, H. N.↗

NASA NTRS1976

The reduction of aileron operating force by differential linkage

It is shown that the control force of ordinary ailerons may be reduced to zero over a range of deflections and at a given flight condition by the use of an appropriate differential movement. Approximations to the ideal motion obtainable with a simple linkage are discussed and a chart that enables the selection of an appropriate crank arrangement is presented. Various aspects of the practical application of the system are discussed and it is concluded that a small fixed tab, deflected to trim both ailerons upward, would be advantageous.

Jones, R. T.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Lagrangian density for collisional plasma

For the purpose of deriving appropriate Lagrangians for plasma equations that include effects of energy loss, the paper examines the inverse problem of the calculus of variations for systems of first- and second-order quasi-linear partial differential equations. This results in convenient forms of the sufficient conditions under which the given differential equations are Euler-Lagrange equations of a Lagrangian. These conditions are then applied to determine the necessary transformation that converts equations, apparently not already in it, into Euler-Lagrange form. The appropriate Lagrangian for a warm collisional plasma is obtained, and the Lagrangian is derived for a resistive transmission line.

Peng, Y.-K. M.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Effects of visual imagery on the accommodation response

Twenty-seven naive male subjects were tested to determine whether they could effect appropriate accommodation changes in an empty field by 'thinking near' and 'thinking far'. Evidence indicated that naive subjects could effect significant and appropriate accommodation changes, but only about a steady-state value of 1.0 diopter. Additionally, the data support the hypothesis that the resting state of accommodation is not at the visual far point, but, rather, at about 1.0 diopter.

Malmstrom, F. V.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Aeroelastic analysis for helicopter rotor blades with time-variable, non-linear structural twist and multiple structural redundancy: Mathematical derivation and program user's manual

The differential equations of motion for the lateral and torsional deformations of a nonlinearly twisted rotor blade in steady flight conditions together with those additional aeroelastic features germane to composite bearingless rotors are derived. The differential equations are formulated in terms of uncoupled (zero pitch and twist) vibratory modes with exact coupling effects due to finite, time variable blade pitch and, to second order, twist. Also presented are derivations of the fully coupled inertia and aerodynamic load distributions, automatic pitch change coupling effects, structural redundancy characteristics of the composite bearingless rotor flexbeam - torque tube system in bending and torsion, and a description of the linearized equations appropriate for eigensolution analyses. Three appendixes are included presenting material appropriate to the digital computer program implementation of the analysis, program G400.

Bielawa, R. L.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Data base management study

Data base management techniques and applicable equipment are described. Recommendations which will assist potential NASA data users in selecting and using appropriate data base management tools and techniques are presented. Classes of currently available data processing equipment ranging from basic terminals to large minicomputer systems were surveyed as they apply to the needs of potential SEASAT data users. Cost and capabilities projections for this equipment through 1985 were presented. A test of a typical data base management system was described, as well as the results of this test and recommendations to assist potential users in determining when such a system is appropriate for their needs. The representative system tested was UNIVAC's DMS 1100.

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NASA NTRS1976

Tentative civil airworthiness flight criteria for powered-lift transports

Representatives of the U.S., British, French, and Canadian airworthiness authorities participated in a NASA/FAA program to formulate tentative civil airworthiness flight criteria for powered-lift transports. The ultimate limits of the flight envelope are defined by boundaries in the airspeed/path-angle plane. Angle of attack and airspeed margins applied to these ultimate limits provide protection against both atmospheric disturbances and disturbances resulting from pilot actions or system variability, but do not ensure maneuvering capability directly, as the 30% speed margin does for conventional transports. Separate criteria provide for direct demonstration of adequate capability for approach path control, flare and landing, and for go-around. Demonstration maneuvers are proposed, and appropriate abuses and failures are suggested. Taken together, these criteria should permit selection of appropriate operating points within the flight envelopes for the approach, landing, and go-around flight phases which are likely to be most critical for powered-lift aircraft.

Hynes, C. S.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Lightweight reflector assembly

An inexpensive, lightweight reflective assembly member having good optical quality and particularly adaptable to accommodating temperature variations without providing destructive thermal stresses and reflective slope errors is described. The reflective assembly consists of a thin sheet of glass with appropriate reflective coating and a cellular glass block substrate bonded together. The method of fabrication includes abrading the cellular substrate with an abrasive master die to form an appropriate concave surface. An adhesive is applied to the abraded surface and a lamina reflective surface is placed under a uniform pressure to conform the reflective surface onto the desired abraded surface of the substrate.

Argoud, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Error behavior of multistep methods applied to unstable differential systems

The problem of modeling a dynamic system described by a system of ordinary differential equations which has unstable components for limited periods of time is discussed. It is shown that the global error in a multistep numerical method is the solution to a difference equation initial value problem, and the approximate solution is given for several popular multistep integration formulas. Inspection of the solution leads to the formulation of four criteria for integrators appropriate to unstable problems. A sample problem is solved numerically using three popular formulas and two different stepsizes to illustrate the appropriateness of the criteria.

Brown, R. L.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Uranus occults SAO158687

Experience gained in obtaining atmospheric parameters, oblatenesses, and diameters of Jupiter and Mars from recent stellar occultations by these planets is used to predict what can be learned from the March 1977 occultation of the star SAO158687 by Uranus. The spectra of this star and Uranus are compared to indicate the relative instrument intensities of the two objects, the four passbands where the relative intensities are most nearly equal are listed, and expected photon fluxes from the star are computed on the assumption that it has UBVRI colors appropriate for a K5 main-sequence object. It is shown that low photon noise errors can be achieved by choosing appropriate passbands for observation, and the rms error expected for the Uranus temperature profiles obtained from the occultation light curves is calculated. It is suggested that observers of this occultation should record their data digitally for optimum time resolution.

Elliot, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Aeroelastic characteristics of composite bearingless rotor blades

Owing to the inherent unique structural features of composite bearingless rotors, various assumptions upon which conventional rotor aeroelastic analyses are formulated, are violated. Three such features identified are highly nonlinear and time-varying structural twist, structural redundancy in bending and torsion, and for certain configurations a strongly coupled low frequency bending-torsion mode. An examination of these aeroelastic considerations and appropriate formulations required for accurate analyses of such rotor systems is presented. Also presented are test results from a dynamically scaled model rotor and complementary analytic results obtained with the appropriately reformulated aeroelastic analysis.

Bielawa, R. L.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Calculation of transonic flow over supercritical airfoil sections

Two numerical methods for calculating the transonic flow, including viscous effects over lifting airfoil sections and experimental data are compared for turbulent flow over a supercritical airfoil. In addition, results for a NACA 64A010 airfoil at nonzero angle of attack are compared to demonstrate the applicability of the numerical methods to classical, lifting airfoils. One numerical method is a solution to the time-averaged Navier-Stokes equations throughout the entire flow field. The other is a hybrid method that combines inviscid, boundary-layer, and Navier-Stokes equations in appropriate regions of the flow field. Both methods adequately predict the surface pressures and flow field about the 64A010 airfoil at M = 0.8 and alpha = 2 deg when an appropriate turbulence model is used. The methods are not as successful for the supercritical airfoil.

Rose, W. C.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Photoabsorption in formaldehyde

Theoretical studies of the vertical electronic dipole excitation and ionization spectra in molecular formaldehyde are reported. The investigations relied on configuration-interaction calculations and moment-theory techniques. A double-zeta basis of contracted Gaussian-lobe functions supplemented with appropriate polarization and bond functions was used to construct Fock spectra in C(2 nu) symmetry for certain states near the ground state equilibrium geometry. The ionization energies, discrete vertical transition frequencies, and oscillator strengths for occupied and vertical Fock orbitals are in general accord with experimental determinations and other theoretical calculations. Stieltjes and Chebyshev vertical electronic photoionization profiles were calculated and found to be in good agreement with appropriately averaged photoionization-mass spectrometric measurements of the cross section for parent H2CO(+) ion production.

Langhoff, P. W.↗

NASA NTRS1977

System safety in manned spaceflight

System safety in manned spaceflight is discussed with attention to the organization of the NASA safety effort, hazard identification and resolution, safety program integration, risk management visibility, and space transportation system payload safety. Key ingredients of the safety program, including concepts such as a distinct and appropriate level of responsibility for safety, and comprehensive and appropriate safety requirements from the policy level to the system level, are summarized. Program safety interrelationships are indicated.

Hammack, J. B.↗

NASA NTRS1978

A study of commuter airplane design optimization

The usability of the general aviation synthesis program (GASP) was enhanced by the development of separate computer subroutines which can be added as a package to this assembly of computerized design methods or used as a separate subroutine program to compute the dynamic longitudinal, lateral-directional stability characteristics for a given airplane. Currently available analysis methods were evaluated to ascertain those most appropriate for the design functions which the GASP computerized design program performs. Methods for providing proper constraint and/or analysis functions for GASP were developed as well as the appropriate subroutines.

Keppel, B. V.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Measurement of soil moisture trends with airborne scatterometers

The author had identified the following significant results. Repeated looks at surfaces that maintain constant roughness can provide an estimate of soil moisture in the surface, when appropriate radar look angles are used. Significant influence due to differences in soil moisture can be detected in the 13.3 GHz and 1.6 GHz scatterometer returns. Effects of normal crop densities have little influence on the surface soil moisture estimate, when appropriate look angles are used. It appears that different look angles are optimum for different frequencies to avoid effects from vegetation. Considering the frequency and look angles used on the Seasat-A imaging radar, differences in soil moisture should produce as much as 9 db difference in return on that system.

Blanchard, B. J.↗