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At least 451 records · Page 25

Measuring rapid ocean tidal earth orientation variations with very long baseline interferometry

Ocean tidal effects on universal time and polar motion (UTPM) are investigated at four nearly diurnal (K(sub 1), P(sub 1), O(sub 1), and Q(sub 1)) and four nearly semidiurnal (K(sub 2), S(sub 2), M(sub 2), and N(sub 2)) frequencies by analyzing very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) data extending from 1978 to 1992. We discuss limitations of comparisons between experiment and theory for the retograde nearly diurnal polar motion components due to their degeneracy with prograde components of the nutation model. Estimating amplitudes of contributions to the modeled VLBI observables at these eight frequencies produces a statistically highly significant improvement of 7 mm to the residuals of a fit to the observed delays. Use of such an improved UTPM model also reduces the 14-30 mm scatter of baseline lengths about a time-linear model of tectonic motion by 3-14 mm, also withhigh significance levels. A total of 28 UTPM ocean tidal amplitudes can be unambiguously estimated from the data, with resulting UTI and PM magnitudes as large as 21 micro secs and 270 microarc seconds and formal uncertainties of the order of 0.3 micro secs and 5 microarc secs for UTI and PM, respectively. Empirically determined UTPM amplitudes and phases are com1pared to values calculated theoretically by Gross from Seiler's global ocean tide model. The discrepancy between theory and experiment is larger by a factor of 3 for UTI amplitudes (9 micro secs) than for prograde PM amplitudes (42 microarc secs). The 14-year VLBI data span strongly attenuates the influence of mismodeled effects on estimated UTPM amplitudes and phases that are not coherent with the eight frequencies of interest. Magnitudes of coherent and quasi-coherent systematic errors are quantified by means of internal consistency tests. We conclude that coherent systematic effects are many times larger than the formal uncertainties and can be as large as 4 micro secs for UTI and 60 microarc secs for polar motion. On the basis of such ealistic error estimates, 22 of the 31 fitted UTPM ocean tidal amplitudes differ from zero by more than 2 sigma.

Sovers, O. J.↗

Genetic Algorithm-Guided, Adaptive Model Order Reduction of Flexible Aircrafts

This paper presents a methodology for automated model order reduction (MOR) of flexible aircrafts to construct linear parameter-varying (LPV) reduced order models (ROM) for aeroservoelasticity (ASE) analysis and control synthesis in broad flight parameter space. The novelty includes utilization of genetic algorithms (GAs) to automatically determine the states for reduction while minimizing the trial-and-error process and heuristics requirement to perform MOR; balanced truncation for unstable systems to achieve locally optimal realization of the full model; congruence transformation for "weak" fulfillment of state consistency across the entire flight parameter space; and ROM interpolation based on adaptive grid refinement to generate a globally functional LPV ASE ROM. The methodology is applied to the X-56A MUTT model currently being tested at NASA/AFRC for flutter suppression and gust load alleviation. Our studies indicate that X-56A ROM with less than one-seventh the number of states relative to the original model is able to accurately predict system response among all input-output channels for pitch, roll, and ASE control at various flight conditions. The GA-guided approach exceeds manual and empirical state selection in terms of efficiency and accuracy. The adaptive refinement allows selective addition of the grid points in the parameter space where flight dynamics varies dramatically to enhance interpolation accuracy without over-burdening controller synthesis and onboard memory efforts downstream. The present MOR framework can be used by control engineers for robust ASE controller synthesis and novel vehicle design.

Numerical Analysi↗

Powder Bed Fusion Laser Beam Metals Additive Manufacturing: Process Monitoring Approaches for Qualification and Certification

The use of in-situ process monitoring is of interest to lower the cost of inspection for the qualification of powder bed fusion laser beam metal (PBF-LB/M) additively manufactured (AM) parts. Precise monitoring of the PBF-LB/M AM build process constitutes a multi-scale and multi-discipline task. There are several significant challenges to the in-situ approach: the synchronization of sensor signals to process steps; the physical interpretation and classification of sensor signals; managing very large datasets; and comparing the inputs with the observed monitoring signals. At NASA Langley Research Center, a configurable architecture additive testbed has been developed to monitor the build process with synchronized sensors. The philosophy and method adopted for the synchronization of the cameras with laser power and position throughout a complex PBF-LB/M AM build will be described. The synchronized in-situ monitoring signals are compared with ex-situ nondestructive inspection, x-ray computed tomography (XCT). Such comparisons permit a better understanding of how the sequential process actions of LPBF-AM can affect build quality. The multi-scale and complex process of printing additively manufactured (AM) parts can have unexpected, but predictable, build conditions that result in material microstructure variability. This presentation will describe an additive manufacturing model-based process metric (AM-PM) computational method that is a fully parallel reduced order modeling approach developed to evaluate the evolution of AM processes. This method couples the known sequence of the AM process with a physically informed nearest neighbors’ calculation to map the conditions of a part-scale build. The result is a map of the build that is derived directly from build files or in-situ process monitoring sensors. The methodology of the approach will be described and mapped to the porosity observed from XCT for a complex PBF-LB/M build. Such comparative results develop understanding of how the sequential process actions can affect the PBF-LB/M AM build quality and microstructure variability.

Laser Powder Bed Fusion↗

Singular perturbation analysis of AOTV-related trajectory optimization problems

The problem of real time guidance and optimal control of Aeroassisted Orbit Transfer Vehicles (AOTV's) was addressed using singular perturbation theory as an underlying method of analysis. Trajectories were optimized with the objective of minimum energy expenditure in the atmospheric phase of the maneuver. Two major problem areas were addressed: optimal reentry, and synergetic plane change with aeroglide. For the reentry problem, several reduced order models were analyzed with the objective of optimal changes in heading with minimum energy loss. It was demonstrated that a further model order reduction to a single state model is possible through the application of singular perturbation theory. The optimal solution for the reduced problem defines an optimal altitude profile dependent on the current energy level of the vehicle. A separate boundary layer analysis is used to account for altitude and flight path angle dynamics, and to obtain lift and bank angle control solutions. By considering alternative approximations to solve the boundary layer problem, three guidance laws were derived, each having an analytic feedback form. The guidance laws were evaluated using a Maneuvering Reentry Research Vehicle model and all three laws were found to be near optimal. For the problem of synergetic plane change with aeroglide, a difficult terminal boundary layer control problem arises which to date is found to be analytically intractable. Thus a predictive/corrective solution was developed to satisfy the terminal constraints on altitude and flight path angle. A composite guidance solution was obtained by combining the optimal reentry solution with the predictive/corrective guidance method. Numerical comparisons with the corresponding optimal trajectory solutions show that the resulting performance is very close to optimal. An attempt was made to obtain numerically optimized trajectories for the case where heating rate is constrained. A first order state variable inequality constraint was imposed on the full order AOTV point mass equations of motion, using a simple aerodynamic heating rate model.

Calise, Anthony J.↗

Structural representation for analysis of a controlled structure

The purpose was to determine what reduced order structural representation is most appropriate for coupling with a control system. The goal was to choose a reduced order structural model which retains as closely as possible the characteristics of the closed loop model with a full order structural representation. By characteristics of the closed loop model, it is meant that the closed loop eigenvalues and the closed loop transfer functions from commands to loads and from commands to response. This process does not address the accuracy of the full order model (usually a finite element model) but only the loss of accuracy associated with reducing th model. For the purposes of this study, only collocated sensors and actuators are examined. The choice of a structural representation for noncollocated sensors and actuators is not so clear.

Blelloch, Paul A.↗

A Machine Learning Framework for Error Compensation in Radiative Transfer Calculations

Radiative heat transfer influences the amount of heat flux transferred to the surface of the hypersonic vehicle, which is essential to evaluate the performance of thermal protection systems. The radiative heat flux is found to be computationally prohibitive while accounting for the variation in spatial, angular, and spectral domains. A new methodology has been recently developed to alleviate the cost of computation in the spectral domain by constructing flow-agnostic reduced-order models (ROMs). The developed spectral ROM databases provide grouping strategies that account for non-equilibrium absorption and emission as well as interaction between disparate species due to spectral overlap in associated radiative processes. However, the developed ROMs need to be optimized for a specific combination of interacting gas species and would need to re-calibrated in case individual species are added/omitted. In this work, we use various machine learning (ML) techniques to approximate the radiative intensities determined by a ROM optimized for a specific gas mixture. The ML model relies on the ROM databases developed for a single species which ignores any spectral overlap. Thus, radiation evaluation starts with a simple summation of radiative intensities predicted using these non-calibrated ROMs for the contributing species. The ML framework then provides a correction to account for the interplay in the frequency, i.e., emission of photons by one species and absorption by another, and yields mixture-specific radiation fields. Once trained on the individual ROM databases, the ML framework offers instantaneous corrections that serves as a time/cost effective alternative to the optimization of ROMs for a specific gas mixture. The ML framework is trained on both the high fidelity and ROM evaluated line of sight (LOS) data from Orion, Stardust, and FIRE II cases to obtain a general purpose correction model for earth re-entry scenarios when radiation contributions from both atomic nitrogen and atomic oxygen are considered. A geometric length scale parameter is used in the training process to account for errors introduced in the ROM databases as a consequence of high optical thickness. The efficacy of the ML framework is underscored through extensive analysis of train and test errors with respect to all the re-entry scenarios. The applicability of such an ML framework was further corroborated by embedding it in a state-of-the-art US3D - NERO system for determining the radiative heat flux transferred to the hypersonic vehicle surface.

Radiation↗

Model reduction for flexible space structures

This paper presents the conditions under which modal truncation yields a near-optimal reduced-order model for a flexible structure. Next, a robust model reduction technique to cope with the damping uncertainties typical of flexible space structure is developed. Finally, a flexible truss and the COFS-1 structure are used to give realistic applications for the model reduction techniques studied in the paper.

Gawronski, Wodek↗

Estimating 11-year solar UV variations using 27-day response as a guide to isolate trends in total column ozone

The total column ozone response to 11-year solar ultraviolet (UV) variations is estimated here from the observed response to 27-day solar variations adjusted for the theoretical difference between the 27-day response and 11-year response. The estimate is tested by comparing two data sets where long-term drifts have been removed, the Nimbus 7 TOMS Version 6 total column ozone and the 280 nm core-to-wing ratio (a proxy for solar UV variations). The 365-day running means of data area-weighted between 40 deg N to 40 deg S latitude give a 1.9% ozone variation related to the 11-year solar cycle compared with the estimate of 1.8%. Estimates of linear trends were reduced by a factor of 2 by including solar effects. The standard deviation from the empirical model was reduced from 1.0 to 0.6 Dobson Units, by including the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO), but the QBO did not significantly alter trend estimates. Both the ozone responses to 27-day and 11-year solar variations were considerably stronger than predicted by a 2-D theoretical model.

Keating, G. M.↗

A dual assault upon turbulence

All known calculation methods incorporate some sort of turbulence model to reduce the infinite hierarchy of equations, under Reynolds' averaging, to a finite set. All such models suffer from a certain ad hoc nature. A dual structure model was developed wherein the turbulence field is, somewhat arbitrarily, decomposed into large eddies which presumably are dominant contributors to the Reynolds' stress and small eddies which feed on the large eddies as these, in turn feed upon the average flow to gain their energy. These concepts have been developed into a dual approach, one extractive and the other predictive as outlined below.

Payne, F. R.↗

Modeling and control of beam-like structures

The most popular finite element codes are based upon appealing theories of convergence of modal frequencies. For example, the popularity of cubic elements for beam-like structures is due to the rapid convergence of modal frequencies and stiffness properties. However, for those problems in which the primary consideration is the accuracy of response of the structure at specified locations it is more important to obtain accuracy in the modal costs than in the modal frequencies. The modal cost represents the contribution of a mode in the norm of the response vector. This paper provides a complete modal cost analysis for beam-like continua. Upper bounds are developed for mode truncation errors in the model reduction process and modal cost analysis dictates which modes to retain in order to reduce the model for control design purposes.

Hu, A.↗

Modal cost analysis for simple continua

The most popular finite element codes are based upon appealing theories of convergence of modal frequencies. For example, the popularity of cubic elements for beam-like structures is due to the rapid convergence of modal frequencies and stiffness properties. However, for those problems in which the primary consideration is the accuracy of response of the structure at specified locations, it is more important to obtain accuracy in the modal costs than in the modal frequencies. The modal cost represents the contribution of a mode in the norm of the response vector. This paper provides a complete modal cost analysis for simple continua such as beam-like structures. Upper bounds are developed for mode truncation errors in the model reduction process and modal cost analysis dictates which modes to retain in order to reduce the model for control design purposes.

Hu, A.↗

ROM/RMF control of the flexible, articulated-truss space crane

The large size and extreme flexibility of an articulated space crane entail great difficulties in precision positioning. Control strategies for the flexible multibody system are here developed using a Timoshenko-beam finite-element model (FEM) which captures the system's low frequency characteristics. From the FEM, a reduced-order model (ROM) controller is designed which rotates the fixed shape crane about the base alpha joint to actuate positioning control. Eigenvalue analysis of the closed-loop system shows the destabilizing effect of controller-structure interaction (CSI). Making use of a parallel bank of residual mode filters (RMFs) compensated for CSI, restoring system stability and performance. The linear control law is simulated in closed-loop with the beam model. The ROM-based control law with RMF compensation is an effective, low-order controller.

Reisenauer, Brian T.↗

Predicting the Effects of Test Media in Ground-Based Propulsion Testing

This paper discusses the progress of work which began in mid-2004 sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Test & Evaluation/Science & Technology (T&E/S&T) Program. The purpose of the work is to improve the state of the art of CFD capabilities for predicting the effects of the test media on the flameholding characteristics in scramjet engines. The program has several components including the development of advance algorithms and models for simulating engine flowpaths as well as a fundamental experimental and diagnostic development effort to support the formulation and validation of the mathematical models. The paper will provide details of current work involving the development of phenomenological models for Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes codes, large-eddy simulation techniques and reduced-kinetics models. Experiments that will provide data for the modeling efforts will also be described, along with with the associated nonintrusive diagnostics used to collect the data.

Drummond, J. Philip↗

Development of Methods to Predict the Effects of Test Media in Ground-Based Propulsion Testing

This report discusses work that began in mid-2004 sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Test & Evaluation/Science & Technology (T&E/S&T) Program. The work was undertaken to improve the state of the art of CFD capabilities for predicting the effects of the test media on the flameholding characteristics in scramjet engines. The program had several components including the development of advanced algorithms and models for simulating engine flowpaths as well as a fundamental experimental and diagnostic development effort to support the formulation and validation of the mathematical models. This report provides details of the completed work, involving the development of phenomenological models for Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes codes, large-eddy simulation techniques and reduced-kinetics models. Experiments that provided data for the modeling efforts are also described, along with with the associated nonintrusive diagnostics used to collect the data.

Drummond, J. Philip↗

A Multimodel Investigation of Asian Summer Monsoon UTLS Transport Over the Western Pacific

The Asian summer monsoon (ASM) as a chemical transport system is investigated using a suite of models in preparation for an airborne field campaign over the Western Pacific. Results show that the dynamical process of anticyclone eddy shedding in the upper troposphere rapidly transports convectively uplifted Asian boundary layer air masses to the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere over the Western Pacific. The models show that the transported air masses contain significantly enhanced aerosol loading and a complex chemical mixture of trace gases that are relevant to ozone chemistry. The chemical forecast models consistently predict the occurrence of the shedding events, but the predicted concentrations of transported trace gases and aerosols often differ between models. The airborne measurements to be obtained in the field campaign are expected to help reduce the model uncertainties. Furthermore, the large-scale seasonal chemical structure of the monsoon system is obtained from modeled carbon monoxide, a tracer of the convective transport of pollutants, which provides a new perspective of the ASM circulation, complementing the dynamical characterization of the monsoon.

Laura L. Pan↗

On Computationally Efficient Radiative Transfer Calculations for Three-Dimensional Entry Problems

The current work presents an efficient simulation framework for rigorously modeling radiative fields emanating from non-equilibrium planetary entry flows in complex three-dimensional domains. Key to this endeavor is adoption of finite-volume discretization in lieu of brute-force ray tracing. This change in conjunction with mesh sweeping and Lebedev-type quadrature for angular integration allows spatial-angular resolution of radiative transfer to be performed in a computationally tractable manner. Additionally, a new methodology has been established to build standalone reduced-order spectral databases for non-equilibrium radiative properties that can be applied to a broad range of hypersonic planetary entry problems with minimal loss in accuracy. The efficacy of the new framework has been demonstrated on the atomic nitrogen radiative system. The resulting reduced-order model requires three orders-of-magnitude fewer spectral evaluations and results in a 95% decrease in memory footprint. A comparative study for representative forebody and afterbody lines-of-sight from Stardust, FIRE II, and meteor entries into the Earth atmosphere indicates that both total intensity variation and detailed spectra can be retrieved with as few as 625 reduced-order groups (contrasting with the 100,000 frequencies in the original full set model). Similarly, three-dimensional predictions of radiative heating experienced by the Orion forebody are in excellent agreement with legacy radiation solvers while requiring only a sliver (roughly 0.5%) of computing wall time.

3D radiation↗

On Computationally Efficient Radiative Transfer Calculations for Three-dimensional Entry Problems

The current work presents an efficient simulation framework for rigorously modeling radiative fields emanating from non-equilibrium planetary entry flows in complex three-dimensional domains. Key to this endeavor is adoption of finite-volume discretization in lieu of brute-force ray tracing. This change in conjunction with mesh sweeping and Lebedev-type quadrature for angular integration allows spatial-angular resolution of radiative transfer to be performed in a computationally tractable manner. Additionally, a new methodology has been established to build standalone reduced-order spectral databases for non-equilibrium radiative properties that can be applied to a broad range of hypersonic planetary entry problems with minimal loss in accuracy. The efficacy of the new framework has been demonstrated on the atomic nitrogen radiative system. The resulting reduced-order model requires three orders-of-magnitude fewer spectral evaluations and results in a 95% decrease in memory footprint. A comparative study for representative forebody and afterbody lines-of-sight from Stardust, FIRE II, and meteor entries into the Earth atmosphere indicates that both total intensity variation and detailed spectra can be retrieved with as few as 625 reduced-order groups (contrasting with the 100,000 frequencies in the original full set model). Similarly, three-dimensional predictions of radiative heating experienced by the Orion forebody are in excellent agreement with legacy radiation solvers while requiring only a sliver (roughly 0.5%) of computing wall time.

3D radiation↗

Hydrodynamic Instability in an Extended Landau/Levich Model of Liquid-Propellant Combustion at Normal and Reduced Gravity

The classical Landau/Levich models of liquid-propellant combustion, despite their relative simplicity, serve as seminal examples that correctly describe the onset of hydrodynamic instability in reactive systems. Recently, these two separate models have been combined and extended to account for a dynamic dependence, absent in the original formulations, of the local burning rate on the local pressure and temperature fields. The resulting model admits an extremely rich variety of both hydrodynamic and reactive/diffusive instabilities that can be analyzed either numerically or analytically in various limiting parameter regimes. In the present work, a formal asymptotic analysis, based on the realistic smallness of the gas-to-liquid density ratio, is developed to investigate the combined effects of gravity and other parameters on the hydrodynamic instability of the propagating liquid/gas interface. In particular, an analytical expression is derived for the neutral stability boundary A(p)(k), where A(p) is the pressure sensitivity of the burning rate and k is the wavenumber of the disturbance. The results demonstrate explicitly the stabilizing effect of gravity on long-wave disturbances, the stabilizing effect of viscosity (both liquid and gas) and surface tension on short-wave perturbations, and the instability associated with intermediate wavenumbers for negative values of A(p). In the limiting case of weak gravity, it is shown that hydrodynamic instability in liquid-propellant combustion is a long-wave instability phenomenon, whereas at normal gravity, this instability is first manifested through O(1) wavenumber disturbances. it is also demonstrated that, in general, surface tension and the viscosity of both the liquid and gas phases each produce comparable stabilizing effects in the long-wavenumber regime, thereby providing important modifications to previous analyses in which one or more of these effects were neglected.

Margolis, S. B.↗