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At least 469 records · Page 26

MARGInS: Model-Based Analysis of Realizable Goals in Systems

Under NASAs Constellation effort, the Exploration Technology Development Program funded research toward a system validation capability that applied machine learning and test-case generation techniques to the analysis of black-box system behavior. The behavior analysis capability scaled to spaces of hundreds of input parameters and tens of thousands of test cases. Aerospace systems at the vehicle level, especially those systems which contain some level of autonomy, are best described by hybrid and non-linear mathematics. Even simplified models of such systems need parameter dimensionalities in the hundreds or thousands of parameters in order to capture sufficient fidelity. The System Safety Assessments (such as those described in the SAE ARP 4761A Safety Assessment Process guidelines) for these systems are prone to errorinteractions between the vehicles subsystems are complex, and can display emergent behaviors. NASA captured this new analysis in the Model-based Analysis of Realizable Goals in Systems (MARGInS) tool and applied it to the Pad Abort 1 (PA-1) simulation as part of the independent validation and verification cycle before the PA-1 flight test in May of 2010. MARGInS evaluated the adherence of the high-fidelity simulation to its requirements, and deter- mined the margins to failure from the expected nominal input conditions. Following the PA-1 test, the capabilities within the MARGInS framework have been extended with sophisticated statistical and white-box test case generation techniques and applied to other NASA missions. The frame- work now includes a critical factors analysis that was applied to NASAs Orion simulation and design. NASAs Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) leveraged the existing MARGInS framework for work on aviation safety for civil transport vehicles and for research on autonomy issues. The NASA ARMD effort created a time series output prediction capability that has been used to characterize trajectories for a plane with an adaptive control system, and a safety boundary detection capability that has been applied to an air traffic control concept of operation for the Federal Aviation Administration. The statistical and machine- learning based techniques within MARGInS have been successfully combined with concolic execution to improve the coverage of a critical unit by driving system-level inputs. The use case driving the concolic execution and MARGInS integration was inspired by the Air France 447 disaster in which the loss of a critical functionality (the airspeed calculation from the pitot tubes) led to loss of the entire plane with the people aboard. To illustrate capabilities and limitations, we will highlight the analyses for the applications listed above. We will then discuss the future plans for MARGInS and its interfaces with other tools.

Validation↗

A regional analysis of cloudy mean spherical albedo over the marine stratocumulus region and the tropical Atlantic Ocean

Since clouds are the largest variable in Earth's radiation budget, it is critical to determine both the spatial and temporal characteristics of their radiative properties. The relationships between cloud properties and cloud fraction are studied in order to supplement grid scale parameterizations. The satellite data used is from three hourly ISCCP (International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project) and monthly ERBE (Earth Radiation Budget Experiment) data on a 2.5 deg x 2.5 deg latitude-longitude grid. Mean cloud spherical albedo, the mean optical depth distribution, and cloud fraction are examined and compared off the coast of California and the mid-tropical Atlantic for July 1987 and 1988. Individual grid boxes and spatial averages over several grid boxes are correlated to Coakley's theory of reflection for uniform and broken layered cloud and to Kedem, et al.'s findings that rainfall volume and fractional area of rain in convective systems is linear. Kedem's hypothesis can be expressed in terms of cloud properties. That is, the total volume of liquid in a box is a linear function of cloud fraction. Results for the marine stratocumulus regime indicate that albedo is often invariant for cloud fractions of 20% to 80%. Coakley's satellite model of small and large clouds with cores (1 km) and edges (100 m) is consistent with this observation. The cores maintain high liquid water concentrations and large droplets while the edges contain low liquid water concentrations and small droplets. Large clouds are just a collection of cores. The mean optical depth (TAU) distributions support the above observation with TAU values of 3.55 to 9.38 favored across all cloud fractions. From these results, a method based upon Kedem, et al's theory is proposed to separate the cloud fraction and liquid water path (LWP) calculations in a general circulation model (GCM). In terms of spatial averaging, a linear relationship between albedo and cloud fraction is observed. For tropical locations outside the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), results of cloud fraction and albedo spatial averaging followed that of the stratus boxes containing few overcast scenes. Both the ideas of Coakley and Kedem, et al. apply. Within the ITCZ, the grid boxes tended to have the same statistical properties as stratus boxes containing many overcast scenes. Because different dynamical forcing mechanisms are present, it is difficult to devise a method for determining subgrid scale variations. Neither of the theories proposed by Kedem, et al. or Coakley works well for the boxes with numerous overcast scenes.

Ginger, Kathryn M.↗

A Regional Analysis of Cloudy Mean Spherical Albedo over the Marine Stratocumulus Region and the Tropical Atlantic Ocean

Since clouds are the largest variable in Earth's radiation budget, it is critical to determine both the spatial and temporal characteristics of their radiative properties. This study examines the relationships between cloud properties and cloud fraction in order to supplement grid scale parameterizations. The satellite data used in this study is from three hourly ISCCP (International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project) and monthly ERBE (Earth Radiation Budget Experiment) data on a 2.50 x 2.50 latitude-longitude grid. Mean cloud spherical albedo, the mean optical depth distribution and cloud fraction are examined and compared off the coast of California and the mid-tropical Atlantic for July 1987 and 1988. Individual grid boxes and spatial averages over several grid boxes are correlated to Coakleys (1991) theory of reflection for uniform and broken layered cloud and to Kedem, et al.(1990) findings that rainfall volume and fractional area of rain in convective systems is linear. Kedem's hypothesis can be expressed in terms of cloud properties. That is, the total volume of liquid in a box is a linear function of cloud fraction. Results for the marine stratocumulus regime indicate that albedo is often invariant for cloud fractions of 20% to 80%. Coakley's satellite model of small and large clouds with cores (1 km) and edges (100 in) is consistent with this observation. The cores maintain high liquid water concentrations and large droplets while the edges contain low liquid water concentrations and small droplets. Large clouds are just a collection of cores. The mean optical depth (TAU) distributions support the above observation with TAU values of 3.55 to 9.38 favored across all cloud fractions. From these results, a method based upon Kedem, et al. theory is proposed to separate the cloud fraction and liquid water path (LWP) calculations in a general circulation model (GCM). In terms of spatial averaging, a linear relationship between albedo and cloud fraction is observed. For tropical locations outside the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), results of cloud fraction and albedo spatial averaging followed that of the stratus boxes containing few overcast scenes. Both the ideas of Coakley and Kedem, et al. apply. Within the ITCZ, the grid boxes tended to have the same statistical properties as stratus boxes containing many overcast scenes. Because different dynamical forcing mechanisms are present, it is difficult to devise a method for determining subgrid scale variations. Neither of the theories proposed by Kedem, et al. or Coakley works well for the boxes with numerous overcast scenes.

Ginger, Kathryn M.↗

Simulator study of pilot-aircraft-display system response obtained with a three-dimensional-box pictorial display

The effect of varying the two important display parameters of a pictorial display on pilot opinion performance, and pilot aircraft display system servomechanism response is examined. The display presents a picture of a three dimensional box that moves along the desired path ahead of the aircraft. The two display parameters examined are the field of view of the picture (from + or - 5 deg to + or - 45 deg) and the distance to the box (from 92 m (300 ft) to 6100 m (20 000 ft)). The results show that the pilots prefer a distance to the box of 915 m (3000 ft) and a field of view of + or - 30 deg. The best performance, both in the sense of quickness of error correction and lowest standard deviation, is obtained with a distance to the box of 92 m (300 ft) and a field of view of + or - 15 deg. A pilot model analysis is used to determine the gains used by the pilots and the servomechanism response characteristics of the pilot aircraft display system.

Adams, J. J.↗

HAPEX-Sahel: A large-scale study of land-atmosphere interactions in the semi-arid tropics

The Hydrologic Atmospheric Pilot EXperiment in the Sahel (HAPEX-Sahel) was carried out in Niger, West Africa, during 1991-1992, with an intensive observation period (IOP) in August-October 1992. It aims at improving the parameteriztion of land surface atmospheric interactions at the Global Circulation Model (GCM) gridbox scale. The experiment combines remote sensing and ground based measurements with hydrological and meteorological modeling to develop aggregation techniques for use in large scale estimates of the hydrological and meteorological behavior of large areas in the Sahel. The experimental strategy consisted of a period of intensive measurements during the transition period of the rainy to the dry season, backed up by a series of long term measurements in a 1 by 1 deg square in Niger. Three 'supersites' were instrumented with a variety of hydrological and (micro) meteorological equipment to provide detailed information on the surface energy exchange at the local scale. Boundary layer measurements and aircraft measurements were used to provide information at scales of 100-500 sq km. All relevant remote sensing images were obtained for this period. This program of measurements is now being analyzed and an extensive modelling program is under way to aggregate the information at all scales up to the GCM grid box scale. The experimental strategy and some preliminary results of the IOP are described.

Gutorbe, J-P.↗

Magnetic Reconnection in a Sheared Magnetic Flux Tube: Slippage Versus Tearing

The process of magnetic reconnection in a flux tube can occur in a time-stationary fashion as slippage reconnection or in a time-dependent manner based on, for example, the tearing instability. However, it is not well known under which conditions a system can sustain slippage reconnection. Likewise, it is unclear whether systems can exhibit slippage reconnection and time-dependent reconnection simultaneously. In order to investigate these questions, we employ a set of 3D magnetohydrodynamic simulation. Using these simulations, we model a twisted flux tube with a spatially localized resistive region in the center of the simulation box, and an applied driver on one end plane of the simulation box. As a result, the Poynting flux injected at the boundary propagates to the resistive region and dissipates there. If the driver is nearly circular, we find a predominance of slippage reconnection, which decouples the applied driver entirely from one half of the flux tube. Second, a tearing-like instability occurs with slippage reconnection in the resistive region when the resistivity is strong enough and the cross section of the flux tube, as defined by the shape of the applied velocity perturbation, is elliptical enough. In this case we find the surprising feature that magnetic field perturbation generated by the tearing-like instability radiates away from the resistive region to influence the entire flux tube shape.

Hidetaka Kuniyoshi↗

Force Limiting Vibration Tests Evaluated from both Ground Acoustic Tests and FEM Simulations of a Flight Like Vehicle System Assembly

Marshall Space Flight Center has conducted a series of ground acoustic tests with the dual goals of informing analytical judgment, and validating analytical methods when estimating vibroacoustic responses of launch vehicle subsystems. The process of repeatedly correlating finite element-simulated responses with test-measured responses has assisted in the development of best practices for modeling and post-processing. In recent work, force transducers were integrated to measure interface forces at the base of avionics box equipment. Other force data was indirectly measured using strain gauges. The combination of these direct and indirect force measurements has been used to support and illustrate the advantages of implementing the Force Limiting approach for equipment qualification tests. The comparison of force response from integrated system level tests to measurements at the same locations during component level vibration tests provides an excellent illustration. A second comparison of the measured response cases from the system level acoustic tests to finite element simulations has also produced some principles for assessing the suitability of Finite Element Models (FEMs) for making vibroacoustics estimates. The results indicate that when FEM models are employed to guide force limiting choices, they should include sufficient detail to represent the apparent mass of the system in the frequency range of interest.

Smith, Andrew↗

ISS Propulsion Module Crew Systems Interface Analysis in the Intelligent Synthesis Environment

ERGO, a human modeling software for ergonomic assessment and task analysis, was used for the crew systems interface analysis of the International Space Station (ISS) Propulsion Module (PM). The objective of analysis was to alleviate passageway size concerns. Three basic passageway configuration concepts: (1) 45" clear passageway without centerline offset (2) 50" clear passageway, 12" centerline offset, (3) 50" clear passageway, no centerline offset, and were reviewed. 95 percentile male and female models which were provided by the software performed crew system analysis from an anthropometric point of view. Four scenarios in which the crew floats in microgravity through a 50" no-offset passageway as they carry a 16" x 20" x 30" avionics box were simulated in the 10-weeks of intensive study. From the results of the analysis, concept (3) was the preferred option. A full scale, three-dimensional virtual model of the ISS Propulsion Module was created to experience the sense of the Intelligent Synthesis Environment and to evaluate the usability and applicability of the software.

Chen, Di-Wen↗

Quantitative and experimental modelling of sapping networks

Development of drainage networks by erosion by emergent groundwater (sapping) is being modelled by a combination of laboratory experiments and theoretical modelling. Miniature drainage networks formed in fine-grained sediments share many morphologic characteristics of Martian and terrestrial networks suspected to be formed by sapping processes. A larger and better instrumented sapping box was constructed to further explore the processes of sapping and the morphology of resulting networks. The experiments to be conducted in the sapping box will investigate the roles of several factors in controlling network morphology. The mechanics of sapping of fine-grained sediments were investigated in experiments in a two-dimensional sapping chamber and through development of a theoretical model. Results of extensive tests on sapping erosion of fine-grained, cohesionless sediment were analyzed with a theoretical model of the mechanics of sapping erosion and transport.

Howard, A. D.↗

The application of time series models to cloud field morphology analysis

A modeling method for the quantitative description of remotely sensed cloud field images is presented. A two-dimensional texture modeling scheme based on one-dimensional time series procedures is adopted for this purpose. The time series procedure used is the seasonal autoregressive, moving average (ARMA) process in Box and Jenkins. Cloud field properties such as directionality, clustering and cloud coverage can be retrieved by this method. It has been demonstrated that a cloud field image can be quantitatively defined by a small set of parameters and synthesized surrogates can be reconstructed from these model parameters. This method enables cloud climatology to be studied quantitatively.

Chin, Roland T.↗

Urban Air Quality Management at Low-Cost Using Micro Air Sensors: A Case Study From Accra, Ghana

Urban air quality management is dependent on the availability of local air pollution data. In many major urban centers of Africa, there is limited to non-existent information on air quality. This is gradually changing in part due to the increasing use of micro air sensors which have the potential to enable the generation of ground-based air quality data at fine scales for understanding local emission trends. Regional literature on the application of the high-resolution data for emission source identification in this region is limited. In this study a micro air sensor was co-located at the Physics Department, University of Ghana with a reference grade instrument to evaluate its performance for estimating PM2.5 pollution accurately at fine scales and the value of this data in identification of local sources and their behavior over time. For this study 15 weeks of data at hourly resolution with approximately 2500 data pairs are generated and analyzed (June 01, 2023, to September 15, 2023). For this time period a coefficient of determination (r 2 ) of 0.83 was generated with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 5.44 μgm -3 between the pre local calibration micro air sensor (i.e. out of box) and the reference-grade instrument. Following currently accepted best practice methods (see e.g., PAS4023) a domain specific (i.e. local) calibration factor was generated using a multi-linear regression model and when this factor is applied to the micro air sensor data, a reduction i.e., improvement in MAE to 1.43 μgm -3 was found. Daily variation was calculated, a receptor model was applied, and time series plots as a function of wind direction were generated, including PM2.5/PM10 ratio scatter and count plots to explore the utility of this observational approach for local source identification. The 3 data sets were compared (out of box, domain calibrated and reference-grade) and it was found that although there were variations in the data reported, source areas highlighted based on these data were similar, with input from local sources such as traffic emissions and biomass burning. As the temporal resolution of observational data associated with these micro air sensors is higher than for reference grade instruments (primarily due to costs and logistics limitations), they have the potential to provide insight into the complex, often hyper localized sources associated with urban areas, such as those found in major African cities.

Source apportionment↗

Uhuru observations of the globular cluster X-ray source NGC 6712

Two years of Uhuru observations of the globular-cluster X-ray source A1850-08 = NGC 6712 are reported. An X-ray flare with a duration longer than that of reported X-ray bursts but shorter than that of X-ray transients is analyzed during which the source reached an intensity approximately one-third that of the Crab Nebula. It is found that the source shows day-to-day variability similar to that observed for the other six globular-cluster sources and for the great majority of galactic X-ray sources. A location is determined with 90% confidence by combining the Uhuru location with the Ariel 5 error box, and the identification of the X-ray source with the globular cluster is confirmed. Several possible models for the flaring behavior of the source are evaluated.

Cominsky, L.↗

Sensitivity analysis of dynamic aeroelastic responses

This paper summarizes ongoing research on the sensitivity analysis of dynamic aeroelastic response of wings. Two approaches are being used to express the unsteady aerodynamic loads: (1) the frequency-domain approach, and (2) the state-space approach. The frequency-domain approach is demonstrated on a three-dimensional box wing and the state-space domain approach is demonstrated on a simple two-dimensional sectional model. Three different methods are used to find the sensitivities: (1) a purely finite difference approach, (2) a semi-analytical approach in which an analytical expression is used for calculating the sensitivity of an eigenvalue of the complex valued aeroelastic matrix, however, the derivatives of the components of the matrix are obtained using finite difference, and (3) a semi-analytic approach that differs from (2) in the sense that the sensitivity of the aerodynamic matrix is now obtained analytically. A good agreement is seen between the three sets of results. For the two-dimensional sectional model the results for the sensitivities of the flutter speed with respect to the various parameters are obtained.

Kapania, Rakesh K.↗

Progress Toward an Efficient and General CFD Tool for Propulsion Design/Analysis

The simulation of propulsive flows inherently involves chemical activity. Recent years have seen substantial strides made in the development of numerical schemes for reacting flowfields, in particular those involving finite-rate chemistry. However, finite-rate calculations are computationally intensive and require knowledge of the actual kinetics, which are not always known with sufficient accuracy. Alternatively, flow simulations based on the assumption of local chemical equilibrium are capable of obtaining physically reasonable results at far less computational cost. The present study summarizes the development of efficient numerical techniques for the simulation of flows in local chemical equilibrium, whereby a 'Black Box' chemical equilibrium solver is coupled to the usual gasdynamic equations. The generalization of the methods enables the modelling of any arbitrary mixture of thermally perfect gases, including air, combustion mixtures and plasmas. As demonstration of the potential of the methodologies, several solutions, involving reacting and perfect gas flows, will be presented. Included is a preliminary simulation of the SSME startup transient. Future enhancements to the proposed techniques will be discussed, including more efficient finite-rate and hybrid (partial equilibrium) schemes. The algorithms that have been developed and are being optimized provide for an efficient and general tool for the design and analysis of propulsion systems.

Cox, C. F.↗

Dynamic Altitude Simulation System Performance Modeling

The "Dynamic Altitude Simulation Prediction Program," DASSPP, is a program to predict the transient response of an engine, test cell, ejector system under engine shutdown conditions. These transients are important to know so that corrective modifications can be adapted to prevent any damage to the engine or test cell. The "Dynamic Altitude System Simulation Prediction Program," DASSPP, is a major rewrite of the existing program "RL-1000" written in BASIC. The RL-1000 program was written to analyze the transients of the RL-10 system only. The new program is written to run in Excell 97 and utilizes the Visual BASIC language in Excell. The program has many added features not included in the original "Rl-1000" program. The program utilizes the ejector models developed during the summer of 1997. The new program is very user friendly and utilizes a dialog box for data input.

LaFrance, Leo J.↗

Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) Final Test Report of DM LHP TV Testing

Two loop heat pipes (LHPs) are to be used for thermal control of the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS), planned for flight in 2001. One LHP will be used to transport 100 W from a laser to the radiator, the other will transport 210 W from electronic boxes to the radiator. In order to verify the LHP design for the GLAS application, an LHP Development Model has been fabricated, and ambient and thermal vacuum tested. Two aluminum blocks of 15 kg and 30 kg, respectively, were attached to the LHP to simulate the thermal masses connected to the heat sources. A 20 W starter heater was installed on the evaporator to aid the loop startup. A new concept to thermally couple the vapor and liquid line was also incorporated in the LHP design. Such a thermal coupling would reduce the power requirement on the compensation chamber in order to maintain the loop set point temperature. To avoid freezing of the liquid in the condenser during cold cases, propylene was selected as the working fluid. The LHP was tested under reflux mode and with adverse elevation. Tests conducted included start-up, power cycle, steady state and transient operation during hot and cold cases, and heater power requirements for the set point temperature control of the LHP. Test results showed very successful operation of the LHP under all conditions. The 20 W starter heater proved necessary in order to start the loop when a large thermal mass was attached to the evaporator. The thermal coupling between the liquid line and the vapor line significantly reduced the heater power required for loop temperature control, which was less than 5 watts in all cases, including a cold radiator. The test also demonstrated successful operation with a propylene working fluid, with successful startups with condenser temperatures as low as 100 C. Furthermore, the test demonstrated accurate control of the loop operating temperature within +/- 0.2 C, and a successful shutdown of the loop during the survival mode of operation.

Baker, Charles↗

Two-Phase Flow in Filters and Orifices: In preparation for Measurements on ISS Packed Bed Reactor Experiment-Water Recovery Series (PBRE-WRS)

Understanding the hydrodynamics of adiabatic two-phase flows in packed bed reactors offers numerous benefits. It enables the optimization of chemical reactions rates and products, crucial for pharmaceuticals and energy production industries. Additionally, this understanding aids in designing more efficient and compact reactors, reducing space and resource requirements. Insights gained from studying such flows in microgravity contribute to advancements of space technologies and the enhancement of our capabilities for undertaking future long duration safe, and sustainable space exploration missions. The Packed Bed Reactor Experiment-Water Recovery Series (PBRE-WRS) is a flight experiment planned for operation on the Microgravity Science Glove box (MSG) facility of the International Space Station (ISS). The objective of the experiment is to validate hydrodynamic models at a range of gas and liquid flow rates. The microgravity environment allows for measurement and observation of aspects of fluid dynamics that are unique when compared to observations made in full or partial gravity environments. The experiment consists of testing two-phase flow hydrodynamics in three different filters, four (4) orifices and one check valve test articles. The experiment utilizes the hardware of the previously flown PBRE and PBRE-2 with packed beds of different packings materials and sizes. The fluid system of the PBRE-WRS consists of a nitrogen gas delivery and water delivery subsystems. The gas delivery subsystem can accommodate two ranges of gas flow rates, just as for the water delivery system. The nitrogen gas loop is open whereas the water loop is closed. Gas is separated from the water using a gas-liquid phase separator which is located in the water delivery module. Preliminary results from ground testing show the pressure drop increasing at different rates with the liquid and gas flow rates in the Brine filter. In this work, a detailed system description is presented along with a summary of results from ground performance testing of different test sections in an end-to-end preflight testing campaign.

Packed Bed Reactor Experiment↗

Two-Phase Flow in Filters and Orifices: ISS Packed Bed Reactor Experiment Water Recovery Series (PBRE-WRS)

Understanding the hydrodynamics of adiabatic two-phase flows in packed bed reactors offers numerous benefits. It enables the optimization of chemical reactions rates and products which results in more efficient and compact reactors, thus reducing space and resource requirements, crucial for long duration space missions. The Packed Bed Reactor Experiment-Water Recovery Series (PBRE-WRS) is a flight experiment planned for operation on the Microgravity Science Glove box (MSG) facility of the International Space Station (ISS). The objective of the experiment is to validate hydrodynamic models at a range of gas and liquid flow rates, where these models are used in the design of processes for life support systems in microgravity. The microgravity environment allows for measurement and observation of aspects of fluid dynamics that are unique when compared to observations made in full or partial gravity environments. The experiment consists of testing two-phase flow hydrodynamics in three different filters, four (4) orifices and one check valve test articles. The experiment utilizes the hardware of the previously flown PBRE and PBRE-2 with packed beds of different packings materials and sizes. The fluid system of the PBRE-WRS consists of a nitrogen gas delivery and water delivery subsystems. The gas delivery subsystem can accommodate two ranges of gas flow rates, just as for the water delivery system. The nitrogen gas loop is open whereas the water loop is closed. Gas is separated from the water using a gas-liquid phase separator which is located in the water delivery module. Preliminary results from ground testing show the pressure drop across the filters increasing at different rates with the liquid and gas flow rates. In this work, a detailed system description is presented along with a summary of results from ground performance testing of different test sections in an end-to-end preflight testing campaign.

ISS↗