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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1998

Computational Model of Human and System Dynamics in Free Flight: Studies in Distributed Control Technologies

This paper presents a set of studies in full mission simulation and the development of a predictive computational model of human performance in control of complex airspace operations. NASA and the FAA have initiated programs of research and development to provide flight crew, airline operations and air traffic managers with automation aids to increase capacity in en route and terminal area to support the goals of safe, flexible, predictable and efficient operations. In support of these developments, we present a computational model to aid design that includes representation of multiple cognitive agents (both human operators and intelligent aiding systems). The demands of air traffic management require representation of many intelligent agents sharing world-models, coordinating action/intention, and scheduling goals and actions in a potentially unpredictable world of operations. The operator-model structure includes attention functions, action priority, and situation assessment. The cognitive model has been expanded to include working memory operations including retrieval from long-term store, and interference. The operator's activity structures have been developed to provide for anticipation (knowledge of the intention and action of remote operators), and to respond to failures of the system and other operators in the system in situation-specific paradigms. System stability and operator actions can be predicted by using the model. The model's predictive accuracy was verified using the full-mission simulation data of commercial flight deck operations with advanced air traffic management techniques.

Corker, Kevin M.↗
NASA NTRS1961

Heat-Transfer Tests of 20-Millimeter Projectiles at a Mach Number of 5 with an Analysis by Unsteady Scaling Laws to Predict Component Temperature Rises after Firing for Various Free-Flight Conditions

The temperature time history of various components of a 20-millimeter projectile was obtained by transient heating tests in a Mach number 5 blowdown tunnel. An unsteady scaling law is derived and used to predict the temperature time histories after firing in flight at various Mach numbers and altitudes.

Trimpi, Robert L.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Thermo Physics Facilities Branch Brochure ARC Jet Complex Fact Sheets, Hypervelocity Free-Flight Aerodynamic Facility Fact Sheets, Ames Vertical Gun Range Fact Sheets

The Ames Arc Jet Complex has a rich heritage of over 40 years in Thermal Protection System (TPS) development for every NASA Space Transportation and Planetary program, including Apollo, Space Shuttle, Viking, Pioneer-Venus, Galileo, Mars Pathfinder,Stardust, NASP,X-33,X-34,SHARP-B1 and B2,X-37 and Mars Exploration Rovers. With this early TPS history came a long heritage in the development of the arc jet facilities. These are used to simulate the aerodynamic heating that occurs on the nose cap, wing leading edges and on other areas of the spacecraft requiring thermal protection. TPS samples have been run in the arc jets from a few minutes to over an hour,from one exposure to multiple exposures of the same sample, in order t o understand the TPS materials response to a hot gas flow environment (representative of real hyperthermal environments experienced in flight). The Ames Arc l e t Complex is a key enabler for customers involved in the three major areas of TPS development: selection, validation, and qualification. The arc jet data are critical for validating TPS thermal models, heat shield designs and repairs, and ultimately for flight qualification.

Fretter, E. F.↗
NASA NTRS1961

Free-Flight Skin-Temperature and Surface-Pressure Measurements on a Highly Polished Nose Having a 100 deg Total-Angle Cone and a 10 deg Half-Angle Conical Flare Section up to a Mach Number of 4.08

The skin temperature and surface pressure were measured on a large-scale, highly polished nose having a relatively sharp-tipped 100 deg total-angle cone followed by a conical flare section of 10 deg half-angle. The measurements were obtained in flight from a rocket-propelled model up to a peak Mach number of 4.08 and a peak Reynolds number of 22 x 10(exp 6) per foot. Temperature distributions indicated that the heating on the forward 3.5 inches of the 100 deg cone was lower than the heating on the rearward portion. Likewise, measured temperatures on the flare portion of the test nose were generally lower than the temperatures on the 100 deg cone portion. The data indicated that the local Reynolds numbers of transition, based on calculated boundary-layer momentum thicknesses, ranged from 530 to 940 for a Mach number range from 2.72 to 3.75. Comparison of measured cone pressures with theory for a sharp cone showed that theory overestimates the cone pressures. Pressure measurements on the flare portion of the nose showed that in the lower speed range the flow expands below atmospheric pressure in going from the cone to the flare; however, as the speed increased, the expansion diminished and for speeds greater than a Mach number of approximately 3.0 the flare pressure coefficients were at or near a value of zero.

Rashis, Bernard↗
NASA NTRS1961

Measurements of Aerodynamic Heat Transfer and Boundary-Layer Transition on a 10 deg Cone in Free Flight at Supersonic Mach Numbers up to 5.9

Measurements of aerodynamic heat transfer have been made at six stations on the 40-inch-long 10 deg. total-angle conical nose of a rocket- propelled model which was flight tested at Mach numbers up to 5.9. are presented for a range of local Mach number just outside the bound- ary layer on the cone from 1.57 to 5.50, and a range of local Reynolds number from 6.6 x 10(exp 6) to 55.2 x 10(exp 6) based on length from the nose tip.

Rumsey, Charles B.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Predicting Human Error in Air Traffic Control Decision Support Tools and Free Flight Concepts

The document is a set of briefing slides summarizing the work the Advanced Air Transportation Technologies (AATT) Project is doing on predicting air traffic controller and airline pilot human error when using new decision support software tools and when involved in testing new air traffic control concepts. Previous work in this area is reviewed as well as research being done jointly with the FAA. Plans for error prediction work in the AATT Project are discussed. The audience is human factors researchers and aviation psychologists from government and industry.

Mogford, Richard↗
NASA NTRS1954

Design and Evaluation of a Turbojet Exhaust Simulator, Utilizing a Solid-Propellant Rocket Motor, for use in Free-Flight Aerodynamic Research Models

A method has been developed for modifying a rocket motor so that its exhaust characteristics simulate those of a turbojet engine. The analysis necessary to the design is presented along with tests from which the designs are evaluated. Simulation was found to be best if the exhaust characteristics to be duplicated were those of a turbojet engine at high altitudes and with the afterburner operative.

deMoraes, Carlos A.↗
NASA NTRS1950

Free-Flight Investigation of the Static and Dynamic Longitudinal Stability Characteristics of 1/3.7-Scale Rocket-Powered Models of the Bell MX-776A

An investigation of the static and dynamic longitudinal stability characteristics of 1/3.7 scale rocket-powered model of the Bell MX-776A has been made for a Mach number range from 0.8 to 1.6. Two models were tested with all control surfaces at 0 degree deflection and centers of gravity located 1/4 and 1/2 body diameters, respectively, ahead of the equivalent design location. Both models were stable about the trim conditions but did not trim at 0 degree angle of attack because of slight constructional asymmetries. The results indicated that the variation of lift and pitching moment was not linear with angle of attack. Both lift-curve slope and pitching-moment-curve slope were of the smallest magnitude near 0 degree angle of attack. In general, an increase in angle of attack was accompanied by a rearward movement of the aerodynamic center as the rear wing moved out of the downwash from the forward surfaces. This characteristic was more pronounced in the transonic region. The dynamic stability in the form of total damping factor varied with normal-force coefficient but was greatest for both models at a Mach number of approximately 1.25. The damping factor was greater at the lower trim normal-force coefficients except at a Mach number of 1.0. At that speed the damping factor was of about the same magnitude for both models. The drag coefficient increased with trim normal-force coefficient and was largest in the transonic region.

Michal, David H.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Free-Flight Test Results of Scale Models Simulating Viking Parachute/Lander Staging

This report presents the results of Viking Aerothermodynamics Test D4-34.0. Motion picture coverage of a number of Scale model drop tests provides the data from which time-position characteristics as well as canopy shape and model system attitudes are measured. These data are processed to obtain the instantaneous drag during staging of a model simulating the Viking decelerator system during parachute staging at Mars. Through scaling laws derived prior to test (Appendix A and B) these results are used to predict such performance of the Viking decelerator parachute during staging at Mars. The tests were performed at the NASA/Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Vertical Assembly Building (VAB). Model assemblies were dropped 300 feet to a platform in High Bay No. 3. The data consist of an edited master film (negative) which is on permanent file in the NASA/LRC Library. Principal results of this investigation indicate that for Viking parachute staging at Mars: 1. Parachute staging separation distance is always positive and continuously increasing generally along the descent path. 2. At staging, the parachute drag coefficient is at least 55% of its prestage equilibrium value. One quarter minute later, it has recovered to its pre-stage value.

Polutchko, Robert J.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Transition Experiments on Blunt Bodies with Isolated Roughness Elements in Hypersonic Free Flight

Smooth titanium hemispheres with isolated three-dimensional (3D) surface roughness elements were flown in the NASA Ames hypersonic ballistic range through quiescent CO2 and air environments. Global surface intensity (temperature) distributions were optically measured and thermal wakes behind individual roughness elements were analyzed to define tripping effectiveness. Real-gas Navier-Stokes calculations of model flowfields, including laminar boundary layer development in these flowfields, were conducted predict key dimensionless parameters used to correlate transition on blunt bodies in hypersonic flow. For isolated roughness elements totally immersed within the laminar boundary layer, critical roughness Reynolds numbers for flights in air were found to be higher than those measured for flights in CO2, i.e., it was easier to trip the CO2 boundary layer to turbulence. Tripping effectiveness was found to be dependent on trip location within the subsonic region of the blunt body flowfield, with effective tripping being most difficult to achieve for elements positioned closest to the stagnation point. Direct comparisons of critical roughness Reynolds numbers for 3D isolated versus 3D distributed roughness elements for flights in air showed that distributed roughness patterns were significantly more effective at tripping the blunt body laminar boundary layer to turbulence.

Reda, Daniel C.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Modeling the Launch Abort Vehicle's Subsonic Aerodynamics from Free Flight Testing

An investigation into the aerodynamics of the Launch Abort Vehicle for NASA's Constellation Crew Launch Vehicle in the subsonic, incompressible flow regime was conducted in the NASA Langley 20-ft Vertical Spin Tunnel. Time histories of center of mass position and Euler Angles are captured using photogrammetry. Time histories of the wind tunnel's airspeed and dynamic pressure are recorded as well. The primary objective of the investigation is to determine models for the aerodynamic yaw and pitch moments that provide insight into the static and dynamic stability of the vehicle. System IDentification Programs for AirCraft (SIDPAC) is used to determine the aerodynamic model structure and estimate model parameters. Aerodynamic models for the aerodynamic body Y and Z force coefficients, and the pitching and yawing moment coefficients were identified.

Hartman, Christopher L.↗
NASA NTRS2000

X-38 V-132 Free Flight 2 (This is a video tape)

Mr. Aldo Bordano will be presenting details of some of the JSC flight mechanics involvement in the X-38 testing program. Focus shall be on the parafoil system with regards its testing, performance analysis, and GN&C. An excellent example of a recent flight test at Dryden Flight Research Center shall be shown which portrays the system characteristics, sequencing, performance, and testing techniques. The intent is to inform the scientific and engineering communities about the developments in the X-38 parafoil program, as well as invite feedback on potential improvements in testing or systems.

Bordano, Aldo J.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Towards the Prediction of Entry Capsule Dynamic Stability Characteristics with Reduced Free Flight Motion in FUN3D

Work is done to verify FUN3D's 6-DOF path and begin active application to flight projects. This work moves towards a computational predictive capability for entry capsule dynamic stability such that data from concurrent ground testing will enable validation efforts of this solver and its continued use on EDL vehicles. Applications of the solver to the Dragonfly mission to Titan and the Mars Sample Return - Earth Entry System are discussed.

Eli Shellabarger↗