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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 NTRS1991

Simulation of extra-vehicular activity (EVA) self-rescue

Self-rescue during EVA is examined in terms of the use of a hand-held thruster that is similar to the hand-held maneuvering units HHMU developed for earlier programs. The problem of assessing velocity-increment requirements is addressed by means of examples of simulation technologies for studying EVA. The technologies evaluated include virtual reality systems such as the Virtual Interactive Environment Workstation (VIEW) and the Space Operations Simulator, and standard approaches like the air-bearing floor and the space shuttle. The VIEW is employed for a study of five trained NASA subjects that conduct a simulated return to a spacecraft with an HMMU under variable conditions. The study demonstrates the efficacy of VIEW for obtaining fuel-consumption values, and separation velocity is identified as the most significant determinant of the fuel and time requirements for a self-rescue operation.

Brody, Adam R.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Self-sensing piezoelectric actuation - Analysis and application to controlled structures

Issues related to modeling and implementation of a self-sensing piezoelectric actuator are investigated. The necessary formulation for modeling the simultaneous sensing and actuation phenomenon is provided. Open and closed loop experiments performed on a cantilevered beam test specimen are described. The sensitivity of the results to representative errors introduced in the implementation of the transducer is demonstrated analytically and experimentally. The self-sensing actuator is also implemented using an active piezoelectric strut in a truss structure.

Anderson, Eric H.↗
NASA NTRS1992

A new explicit variable time-integration self-starting methodology for computational structural dynamics

A new explicit variable time-integration methodology and architecture which possesses self-starting attributes, eliminates the need to involve acceleration computations, and which has improved accuracy characteristics in comparison to the traditional central-difference-type formulations customarily advocated is described for applicability to computational structural dynamics. To sharpen the focus of the present study, an explicit variable time-integration architecture which is relatively simple, yet effective, is described. Unlike variable explicit time-integration formulations adopted in the past, the present self-starting variable time-integration architecture and implementation aspects facilitate a simplified representation and a straightforward and effective approach for combining finite element meshes requiring different time steps in a single analysis. Numerical test cases are provided which demonstrate the applicability of the proposed formulations.

Tamma, Kumar K.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Far-infrared self-broadening in methylcyanide - Absorber-perturber resonance

Using tunable far-infrared spectrometers with high-frequency stability and accuracy, the self-pressure broadening and shift of CH3CN are measured. Evidence of absorber-perturber resonance effects on the collisional line shape are obtained. This tests the theoretical model and its possible improvements and also allows predictions of broadening and shift for a large class of molecules. Moreover, the resonance effect produces a theoretical temperature dependence of self-broadening that is different from what is commonly assumed.

Buffa, G.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Hydrodynamic instabilities in supernova remnants - Self-similar driven waves

An initial study aimed at elucidating the multidimensional aspects of the hydrodynamic instabilities in supernova remnants is presented. Self-similar solutions are found to exist for the interaction of a steep power-law density profile expanding into a relatively flat stationary power-law density profile. Consideration of the pressure and entropy profiles in the shocked 1D flows shows that the flows are subject to convective instability, by a local criterion. The growth rate for the instability becomes very large near the contact discontinuity between the two shocked regions. A linear analysis of the complete self-similar solutions shows that the solutions are unstable above a critical wavenumber and that the growth rate is greatest at the position of the contact discontinuity. The X-ray image of the remnant of SN 1572 (Tycho) shows emission from clumps of supernova ejecta, which is good evidence for instabilities in this remnant.

Chevalier, Roger A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Self-absorption theory applied to rocket measurements of the nitric oxide (1, 0) gamma band in the daytime thermosphere

Observations of the UV fluorescent emissions of the NO (1, 0) and (0, 1) gamma bands in the lower-thermospheric dayglow, made with a sounding rocket launched on March 7, 1989 from Poker Flat, Alaska, were analyzed. The resonant (1, 0) gamma band was found to be attenuated below an altitude of about 120 km. A self-absorption model based on Holstein transmission functions was developed for the resonant (1, 0) gamma band under varying conditions of slant column density and temperature and was applied for the conditions of the rocket flight. The results of the model agreed with the measured attenuation of the band, indicating the necessity of including self-absorption theory in the analysis of satellite and rocket limb data of NO.

Eparvier, F. G.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Self-Damping Sprung Wheel

Self-damping sprung wheel provides shock-absorbing suspension for wheelchair, reducing user's discomfort when traversing rough terrain or obstacles. Pair of self-damping sprung wheels installed in place of conventional large rear wheels of standard wheelchair, which user operates in conventional manner. Rim deflects in vicinity of contact with ground or floor. Includes inner and outer hoops bending when obstacle encountered. Shear deformation of elastomeric hoop between them absorbs energy. Thus, three hoops act together as damping spring. Alternative version of wheel designed for bicycle.

Weddendorf, Bruce↗
NASA NTRS1993

Self-Frequency-Doubling Glass-Fiber Laser

Specially prepared germanium and phosphorous-doped glass optical fiber doped with neodymium shown to act as self-frequency-doubling laser. Self-frequency-doubling fiber laser with further refinements, eliminates need for expensive, easily damaged, nonlinear crystals currently used. Enables one to avoid loss and damage mechanisms associated with interfaces of nonlinear crystals as well as to eliminate angle/temperature phase-matching tuning.

Selker, Mark D.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Self-Amplified Optical Pattern Recognizer

Self-amplified optical pattern recognizers developed for use in recognition of patterns, in optical computing, and in optoelectronic neural networks. In recognizer, photorefractive crystal serves as medium in which one holographically records diffraction-grating filter representing pattern with which recognition sought. Apparatus "self-amplified" because signal amplified within filter to many orders of magnitude greater than in prior optical pattern recognizers. Basic principle of operation applicable to many types of correlation filters, including (but not limited to) Vander Lugt matched filters, joint-transform filters, and phase-only filters.

Liu, Hua-Kuang↗
NASA NTRS1992

Self-organized rock textures and multiring structure in the Duolun crater

The Duolun impact crater is a multiring basin located 200 km north of Beijing. From the center to the edge of the crater there are innermost rim, inner ring, outer rim, and outermost ring. Recently, we have found some self-organized textures or chaos phenomena in shock-metamorphic rocks from the Duolun impact crater, such as turbulence in matrices of impact glass, oscillatory zoning, or chemical chaos of spherulites in spherulitic splashed breccia, fractal wavy textures or self-similar wavy textures with varied scaling in impact glass, and crystallite beams shaped like Lorentz strange attractors. The rare phenomena indicate that the shock-metamorphic rocks from Duolun crater are formed far from equilibrium. If impact cratering generates momentarily under high-pressure and superhigh-temperature, occurrence of those chaos phenomena in shock-metamorphic rock is not surprising.

Wu, Siben↗
NASA NTRS1992

The multidimensional self-adaptive grid code, SAGE

This report describes the multidimensional self-adaptive grid code SAGE. A two-dimensional version of this code was described in an earlier report by the authors. The formulation of the multidimensional version is described in the first section of this document. The second section is presented in the form of a user guide that explains the input and execution of the code and provides many examples. Successful application of the SAGE code in both two and three dimensions for the solution of various flow problems has proven the code to be robust, portable, and simple to use. Although the basic formulation follows the method of Nakahashi and Deiwert, many modifications have been made to facilitate the use of the self-adaptive grid method for complex grid structures. Modifications to the method and the simplified input options make this a flexible and user-friendly code. The new SAGE code can accommodate both two-dimensional and three-dimensional flow problems.

Davies, Carol B.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Numerical study of cathode emission constraints on cylindrical self-field MPD thruster performance

A stability equation relating thruster discharge current, argon propellant mass flow rate, and electrode geometry has been solved for a variety of cylindrical self-field MPD thruster configurations and discharge currents. Realistic values for cathode emission current densities were used to provide additional constraints on the thruster geometries. A two-dimensional MPD code was employed to provide better estimates of the maximum achievable specific impulse, thrust, and flow efficiency for cases of interest. The model results indicate that long life, cylindrical self-field MPD thrusters operated with argon propellant may not be able to provide specific impulse values in excess of 2100s. Alternate electrode geometries, applied magnetic fields, and/or low molecular weight propellants may be necessary to achieve higher values of specific impulse.

Lapointe, Michael R.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Neural self-tuning adaptive control of non-minimum phase system

The motivation of this research came about when a neural network direct adaptive control scheme was applied to control the tip position of a flexible robotic arm. Satisfactory control performance was not attainable due to the inherent non-minimum phase characteristics of the flexible robotic arm tip. Most of the existing neural network control algorithms are based on the direct method and exhibit very high sensitivity, if not unstable, closed-loop behavior. Therefore, a neural self-tuning control (NSTC) algorithm is developed and applied to this problem and showed promising results. Simulation results of the NSTC scheme and the conventional self-tuning (STR) control scheme are used to examine performance factors such as control tracking mean square error, estimation mean square error, transient response, and steady state response.

Ho, Long T.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Every Good Virtue You Ever Wanted in a Q-switched Solid-state Laser and More: Monolithic, Diode-pumped, Self-q-switched, Highly Reproducible, Diffraction-limited Nd:yag Laser

The applications of Q-switched lasers are well known, for example, laser radar, laser remote sensing, satellite orbit determination, Moon orbit and 'moon quake' determination, satellite laser communication, and many nonlinear optics applications. Most of the applications require additional properties of the Q-switched lasers, such as single-axial and/or single-transverse mode, high repetition rate, stable pulse shape and pulse width, or ultra compact and rugged oscillators. Furthermore, space based and airborne lasers for lidar and laser communication applications require efficient, compact, lightweight, long-lived, and stable-pulsed laser sources. Diode-pumped solid-state lasers (DPSSL) have recently shown the potential for satisfying all of these requirements. We will report on the operating characteristics of a diode-pumped, monolithic, self-Q-switched Cr,Nd:YAG laser where the chromium ions act as a saturable absorber for the laser emission at 1064 nm. The pulse duration is 3.5 ns and the output is highly polarized with an extinction ratio of 700:1. It is further shown that the output is single-longitudinal-mode with transform-limited spectral line width without pulse-to-pulse mode competition. Consequently, the pulse-to-pulse intensity fluctuation is less than the instrument resolution of 0.25 percent. This self-stabilization mechanism is because the lasing mode bleaches the distributed absorber and establishes a gain-loss grating similar to that used in the distributed feedback semiconductor lasers. A repetition rate above 5 KHz has also been demonstrated. For higher power, this laser can be used for injection seeding an amplifier (or amplifier chain) or injection locking of a power oscillator pumped by diode lasers. We will discuss some research directions on the master oscillator for higher output energy per pulse as well as how to scale the output power of the diode-pumped amplifier(s) to multi-kilowatt average power.

Chen, Y. C.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Adding dynamic rules to self-organizing fuzzy systems

This paper develops a Dynamic Self-Organizing Fuzzy System (DSOFS) capable of adding, removing, and/or adapting the fuzzy rules and the fuzzy reference sets. The DSOFS background consists of a self-organizing neural structure with neuron relocation features which will develop a map of the input-output behavior. The relocation algorithm extends the topological ordering concept. Fuzzy rules (neurons) are dynamically added or released while the neural structure learns the pattern. The DSOFS advantages are the automatic synthesis and the possibility of parallel implementation. A high adaptation speed and a reduced number of neurons is needed in order to keep errors under some limits. The computer simulation results are presented in a nonlinear systems modelling application.

Buhusi, Catalin V.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Self-tuning multivariable pole placement control of a multizone crystal growth furnace

This paper presents the design and implementation of a multivariable self-tuning temperature controller for the control of lead bromide crystal growth. The crystal grows inside a multizone transparent furnace. There are eight interacting heating zones shaping the axial temperature distribution inside the furnace. A multi-input, multi-output furnace model is identified on-line by a recursive least squares estimation algorithm. A multivariable pole placement controller based on this model is derived and implemented. Comparison between single-input, single-output and multi-input, multi-output self-tuning controllers demonstrates that the zone-to-zone interactions can be minimized better by a multi-input, multi-output controller design. This directly affects the quality of crystal grown.

Batur, C.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Self-focusing of whistler waves

The theory of axially symmetric self-focusing of whistler waves, based on the full system of Maxwell equations, is developed. The plasma is described by the magnetohydrodynamic equations including the ponderomotive force from RF field. The nonlinear Schrodinger equations (NSE) for arbitrary azimuthal modes of whistler waves are derived. It is shown that they differ from the NSE for a scalar field; this is connected with an intrinsic angular momentum due to the rotating polarization of whistlers. It is shown that the self-focusing, as described by the NSE, differs in its final stage from the results following the full set of Maxwell equations. The latter gives defocusing after sufficient narrowing of the initial wave beam, due to transformation of the trapped wave into a nontrapped branch which is not contained in the NSE description. The oscillatory character of the defocusing is demonstrated.

Karpman, V. I.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Dynamic coordination of a self-reconfigurable manipulator system

The authors present the dynamic coordination of a self-reconfigurable manipulator system capable of changing its mechanical structure according to given task requirements. The self-reconfiguration is achieved by reconfiguring the topology of a dual-arm system through serial, parallel, and bracing structures. Particular emphasis is placed on the dynamic coordination of two arms having three different dual-arm topologies. The authors develop the Cartesian space dynamic models of a dual-arm system of three dual-arm topologies and derive the kinematic and dynamic constraints imposed on two arms in cooperation. Dual-arm dynamic manipulabilities are defined to quantify the dynamic performance of three dual-arm topologies in terms of the efficiency of generating Cartesian accelerations. A methodology of selecting serial, parallel, and bracing structures based on dual-arm dynamic manipulabilities is provided.

Kim, Sungbok↗