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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 55 records · Page 3

A linearized theory method of constrained optimization for supersonic cruise wing design

A linearized theory wing design and optimization procedure which allows physical realism and practical considerations to be imposed as constraints on the optimum (least drag due to lift) solution is discussed and examples of application are presented. In addition to the usual constraints on lift and pitching moment, constraints are imposed on wing surface ordinates and wing upper surface pressure levels and gradients. The design procedure also provides the capability of including directly in the optimization process the effects of other aircraft components such as a fuselage, canards, and nacelles.

Miller, D. S.↗

Methods for the evaluation of alternative disaster warning systems

For each of the methods identified, a theoretical basis is provided and an illustrative example is described. The example includes sufficient realism and detail to enable an analyst to conduct an evaluation of other systems. The methods discussed in the study include equal capability cost analysis, consumers' surplus, and statistical decision theory.

Agnew, C. E.↗

Remote sensing, land use, and demography - A look at people through their effects on the land

Relevant causes of failure by the remote sensing community in the urban scene are analyzed. The reasons for the insignificant role of remote sensing in urban land use data collection are called the law of realism, the incompatibility of remote sensing and urban management system data formats is termed the law of nominal/ordinal systems compatibility, and the land use/population correlation dilemma is referred to as the law of missing persons. The study summarizes the three laws of urban land use information for which violations, avoidance, or ignorance have caused the decline of present remote sensing research. Particular attention is given to the rationale for urban land use information and for remote sensing. It is shown that remote sensing of urban land uses compatible with the three laws can be effectively developed by realizing the 10 percent contribution of remote sensing to urban land use planning data collection.

Paul, C. K.↗

Simulation replay - Implementation and flight simulation applications

Throughout the aircraft development process flight simulators are used to evaluate design concepts, 'handling' qualities, and operational procedures. A modern flight research simulator comprises a cockpit equipped with flight instruments and controls, subsystems to provide visual, motion, and other flight cues, and a digital computer. REPLAY is a computer program which enables a user to reproduce the multidimensional flight cues for an entire simulation 'run'. Attention is given to simulation fidelity improvement, simulation data recovery, simulation quality assurance, and aircraft systems research. It is pointed out that each of the applications discussed supports aircraft systems research by improving the realism, efficiency, or reliability of the simulation facility.

Crane, D. F.↗

Use of piloted simulation for studies of fighter departure/spin susceptibility

The NASA-Langley Research Center has incorporated into its stall/spin research program on military airplanes the use of piloted, fixed-base simulation to complement the existing matrix of unique research testing techniques. The piloted simulations of fighter stall/departure flight dynamics are conducted on the Langley Differential Maneuvering Simulator (DMS). The objectives of the simulation research are reviewed. The rationale underlying the simulation methods and procedures used in the evaluation of airplane characteristics is presented. The evaluation steps used to assess fighter stall/departure characteristics are discussed. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the flight dynamics phenomena dealt with. The considerable experience accumulated in the conduct of piloted stall/departure simulation indicates that simulation provides a realistic evaluation of an airplane's maneuverability at high angles of attack and an assessment of the departure and spin susceptibility of the airplane. This realism is obtained by providing the pilot a complete simulation of the airplane and control system which can be flown using a realistic cockpit and visual display in simulations of demanding air combat maneuvering tasks. The use of the piloted simulation methods and procedures described were found very effective in identifying stability and control problem areas and in developing automatic control concepts to alleviate many of these problems. A good level of correlation between simulated flight dynamics and flight test results were obtained over the many fighter configurations studied in the simulator.

Gilbert, W. P.↗

Transonic assessment of two-dimensional wind tunnel wall interference using measured wall pressures

A method is described for assessing wall interference in two dimensional wind tunnels with better realism and accuracy than is achieved with methods based on classical wall interference theory. Measured pressure distributions were imposed as boundary conditions on a nonlinear transonic form of the potential equation to obtain an accurate computational reproduction of the actual tunnel flow. Wall-induced velocity perturbations were then extracted to yield both corrections to the tunnel test conditions and a measure of the adequacy of these corrections to account for tunnel interference. Application of the method to a transonic tunnel with variable porosity walls is illustrated.

Kemp, W. B., Jr.↗

Effect of field of view and monocular viewing on angular size judgements in an outdoor scene

Observers typically overestimate the angular size of distant objects. Significantly, overestimations are greater in outdoor settings than in aircraft visual-scene simulators. The effect of field of view and monocular and binocular viewing conditions on angular size estimation in an outdoor field was examined. Subjects adjusted the size of a variable triangle to match the angular size of a standard triangle set at three greater distances. Goggles were used to vary the field of view from 11.5 deg to 90 deg for both monocular and binocular viewing. In addition, an unrestricted monocular and binocular viewing condition was used. It is concluded that neither restricted fields of view similar to those present in visual simulators nor the restriction of monocular viewing causes a significant loss in depth perception in outdoor settings. Thus, neither factor should significantly affect the depth realism of visual simulators.

Denz, E. A.↗

A Nonlinear Propulsion System Simulation Technique for Piloted Simulators

In the past, propulsion system simulations used in flight simulators have been extremely simple. This resulted in a loss of simulation realism since significant engine and aircraft interactions were neglected and important internal engine parameters were not computed. More detailed propulsion system simulators are needed to permit evaluations of modern aircraft propulsion systems in a simulated flight environment. A real time digital simulation technique has been developed which provides the capabilities needed to evaluate propulsion system performance and aircraft system interaction on manned flight simulators. A parameter correlation technique is used with real and pseudo dynamics in a stable integration convergence loop. The technique has been applied to a multivariable propulsion system for use in a piloted NASA flight simulator program. Cycle time is 2.0 ms on a Univac 1110 computer and 5.7 ms on the simulator computer, a Xerox Sigma 8. The model is stable and accurate with time steps up to 50 ms. The program evaluated the simulation technique and the propulsion system digital control. The simulation technique and model used in that program are described and results from the simulation are presented.

Mihaloew, J. R.↗

Low-visibility visual simulation with real fog

An environmental fog simulation (EFS) attachment was developed to aid in the study of natural low-visibility visual cues and subsequently used to examine the realism effect upon the aircraft simulator visual scene. A review of the basic fog equations indicated that two major factors must be accounted for in the simulation of low visibility - one due to atmospheric attenuation and one due to veiling luminance. These factors are compared systematically by (1) comparing actual measurements to those computed from the fog equations, and (2) comparing runway-visual-range-related visual-scene contrast values with the calculated values. These values are also compared with the simulated equivalent equations and with contrast measurements obtained from a current electronic fog synthesizer to help identify areas in which improvements are needed. These differences in technique, the measured values, the features of both systems, a pilot opinion survey of the EFS fog, and improvements (by combining features of both systems) that are expected to significantly increase the potential as well as flexibility for producing a very high-fidelity low-visibility visual simulation are discussed.

Chase, W. D.↗

Group 1: Scenario design and development issues

All LOFT scenarios and flight segments should be designed on the basis of a detailed statement of specific objectives. These objectives must state what kind of situation is to be addressed and why. The origin, routing, and destination of a particular scenario should be dictated by the specific objectives for that scenario or leg. Other factors to be considered are the desired weather, climate, etc. Simulator visual system, as well as other capabilities and limitations must be considered at a very early stage of scenario design. The simulator navigation area must be apropriate and must coincide with current Jeppeson charts. Much of the realism of LOFT is destroyed if the crew is unable to use current manuals and other materials.

Sherwin, P.↗

VTOL/STOL visual study

The development of data bases and real time techniques to improve the realism of sea state, bow and stern wake, and ship motion is addressed. This system was designed for use with the Vertical Motion Simulator to perform basic studies on VTOL/STOL aircraft.

Lewandowski, F. P.↗

Mean flowfields in axisymmetric combustor geometries with swirl

Six flowfield configurations are investigated with sidewall angles of 90 and 45 deg, and swirl vane angles of 0, 45, and 70 deg. It is found that central recirculation zones occur for the swirling flow cases investigated, which extend from the inlet to x/D = 1.7, where x is the axial polar coordinate, and D is the test section diameter. Five-hole pitot probe pressure measurements are used to determine time-mean velocities, and corresponding flow situations are predicted and compared to results of experimental data. Excellent agreement is found for the nonswirling flow, although poor agreement is found for swirling flow cases, especially near the inlet. The discrepancy is attributed to the lack of realism in the turbulence model, and/or to inaccurate specification of time-mean velocity and turbulence energy distributions at the inlet.

Rhode, D. L.↗

Modelling the core magnetic field of the earth

It is suggested that radial off-center dipoles located within the core of the earth be used instead of spherical harmonics of the magnetic potential in modeling the core magnetic field. The off-center dipoles, in addition to more realistically modeling the physical current systems within the core, are if located deep within the core more effective at removing long wavelength signals of either potential or field. Their disadvantage is that their positions and strengths are more difficult to compute, and such effects as upward and downward continuation are more difficult to manipulate. It is nevertheless agreed with Cox (1975) and Alldredge and Hurwitz (1964) that physical realism in models is more important than mathematical convenience. A radial dipole model is presented which agrees with observations of secular variation and excursions.

Harrison, C. G. A.↗

On the design of an interactive biosphere for the GLAS general circulation model

Improving the realism and accuracy of the GLAS general circulation model (by adding an interactive biosphere that will simulate the transfers of latent and sensible heat from land surface to atmosphere as functions of the atmospheric conditions and the morphology and physiology of the vegetation) is proposed.

Mintz, Y.↗

A simulation study of crew performance in operating an advanced transport aircraft in an automated terminal area environment

A simulation study assessing crew performance operating an advanced transport aircraft in an automated terminal area environment is described. The linking together of the Langley Advanced Transport Operating Systems Aft Flight Deck Simulator with the Terminal Area Air Traffic Model Simulation was required. The realism of an air traffic control (ATC) environment with audio controller instructions for the flight crews and the capability of inserting a live aircraft into the terminal area model to interact with computer generated aircraft was provided. Crew performance using the advanced displays and two separate control systems (automatic and manual) in flying area navigation routes in the automated ATC environment was assessed. Although the crews did not perform as well using the manual control system, their performances were within acceptable operational limits with little increase in workload. The crews favored using the manual control system and felt they were more alert and aware of their environment when using it.

Houck, J. A.↗

Development of real-time ATC simulation facility

The Flight Transportation Laboratory has developed a real time interactive Air Traffic Control simulation facility designed to provide a versatile and easy to use tool for research and experimentation involving air traffic control. The facility uses a VAX-11/750 as the central computer. The SANDERS GRAPHICS-7 display system is used to simulate air traffic control displays. Pseudo-pilot displays are provided on Texas Instruments TI940 video terminals. Finally, a custom designed audio system driven by a Z-80 and interfaced with the VAX provides voice communication between the air traffic controllers and the pseudo-pilots. The audio system provides computer controlled voice disguising and thus allows each aircraft to have its own audio characteristics and provides an added realism to the experiment. The facility can accommodate multiple controller stations and pseudo-pilot stations. Each station is manned by a single operator who has a large repertoire of commands with which to control his/her display and the simulated aircraft under his/her jurisdiction. An additional console and a distinct set of commands allow full controllability of the simulation environment by the experimenter in real time.

Pararas, J.↗

Three dimensional global modeling of atmospheric CO2

The initial attempts to model the atmospheric CO2 distribution, including couplings to the ocean and biosphere as sources and sinks of atmospheric CO2, encourage the notion that this approach will lead to useful quantitative constraints on CO2 fluxes. Realization of this objective will require: (1) continued improvement in the realism of the global transport modeling; (2) extended timeline of atmospheric CO2 monitoring, which improved precision and improved definition of the uncertainties in the measured CO2 amounts; and (3) given an accurate knowledge of model capabilities and limitations and given a good understanding of CO2 observations and their limitations, there is a need for good ideas concerning what quantitative information on the carbon cycle can be inferred from global modeling.

Hanse, J.↗

A Study of the Adequacy of Quasi-geostrophic Dynamics for Modeling the Effect of Frontal Cyclones on the Larger Scale Flow

The major objectives of this study are to test the validity of quasi-geostrophic (QG) dynamics, compared to primitive equation (PE) dynamics for modeling the effect of cyclone waves on the larger scale flow, and to study the formation of frontal cyclones and the dynamics of occluded frontogenesis. In order to extend the realism of the initial conditions over those used in earlier work of this nature and in order to include strong surface frontal zones in the initial conditions, a horizontal resolution on the order of 100 km between gridpoints is needed. In order to allow for integrations of up to two weeks simulated time and to keep the logistics and cost of the runs feasible, the horizontal domain of the models must be reduced. Based on work concerning polar lows, the tropospheric static stability was reduced and was also allowed to vary in different tropospheric layers. Previous work used a 'standard atmosphere' temperature lapse rate. Stratospheric stability remains unchanged. The use of one of these 'reduced stability' cases, with no surface frontal zone present resulted in the discovery of normal mode perturbations.

Mudrick, S.↗