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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

Bayesian recursive image estimation.

A procedure for recursively estimating images that are characterized statistically by the mean and correlation functions associated with the random process representing the brightness level is proposed for the case where the images are corrupted by additive noise. First, a dynamic model is developed with a response characteristic which matches that of the scanner output (the input of the estimator is the output of a horizontal line scanner) in a statistical sense. Such models have the form of an ordinary differential or difference equation with white noise input. An insignificant approximation is introduced by using a constant-coefficient model. The appropriate model is a vector valued difference equation with the solution representing a vector Markov process. The next step is to obtain the minimum mean square estimate of the image by using a Kalman filter. Since the image estimation is an interpolation problem, two successive runs over the observation are performed in opposite directions and the resultant estimates are averaged. Examples are included for illustration.

Nahi, N. E.↗

Buckling of cylindrical shells with random imperfections

Buckling of long cylindrical shells with random imperfections subjected to axial loads is treated using the method of truncated hierarchy. A system of homogeneous variational equations is set up to examine the existence of bifurcation in the neighborhood of the equilibrium state. These equations are linear and involve stationary random coefficients. The truncated-hierarchy method is applied, and characteristic equations are obtained. Various exponential cosine correlation functions associated with asymmetric imperfections are examined numerically. Qualitatively, the results obtained are as anticipated.

Fersht, R. S.↗

Thermal scale modeling of a manned spacecraft

A manned spacecraft thermal scale modeling program is described. The program consisted of the design, construction, instrumentation, testing, data correlation, and associated analysis of a transient thermal scale model (TSM) of the Subsystem Test Bed (STB). The STB was chosen as a representative manned spacecraft for which detailed thermal vacuum test data were available. The STB is a cylindrical vehicle (15 ft diameter by 8.3 ft high) with four docking hatches and six windows. The pressure shell is insulated with multilayer insulation and protected by meteoroid shields. Four truss assemblies were used to support the STB during testing. It was concluded that thermal scale modeling can be used as an effective thermal design/verification tool for manned spacecraft. Thermal analysis can be used in conjunction with scale model testing to provide a verified math model that can be applied to the prototype manned spacecraft.

Shannon, R. L.↗

Turbulence in a gaseous hydrogen-liquid oxygen rocket combustion chamber

The intensity of turbulence and the Lagrangian correlation coefficient for a LOX-GH2 rocket combustion chamber was determined from experimental measurements of tracer gas diffusion. A combination of Taylor's turbulent diffusion theory and a numerical method for solving the conservation equations of fluid mechanics was used to calculate these quantities. Taylor's theory was extended to consider the inhomogeneity of the turbulence field in the axial direction of the combustion chamber, and an exponential function was used to represent the Lagrangian correlation coefficient. The results indicate that the value of the intensity of turbulence reaches a maximum of 14% at a location about 7" downstream from the injector. The Lagrangian correlation coefficient associated with this value is given by the above exponential expression where alpha = 10,000/sec.

Lebas, J.↗

Snow backscatter in the 1-8 GHz region

The 1-8 GHz microwave active spectrometer system was used to measure the backscatter response of snow covered ground. The scattering coefficient was measured for all linear polarization combinations at angles of incidence between nadir and 70 deg. Ground truth data consisted of soil moisture, soil temperature profile, snow depth, snow temperature profile, and snow water equivalent. The radar sensitivity to snow water equivalent increased in magnitude with increasing frequency and was almost angle independent for angles of incidence higher than 30 deg, particularly at the higher frequencies. In the 50 deg to 70 deg angular range and in the 6 to 8 GHz frequency range, the sensitivity was typically between -0.4 dB/.1 g/sq cm and -0.5 dB/,1 g/sq cm, and the associated linear correlation coefficient had a magnitude of about 0.8.

Ulaby, F. T.↗

A derivation of the statistical characteristics of SAR imagery data

Basic statistical properties of the speckle effect and the associated spatial correlation of SAR image data are discussed. Statistics of SAR sensed measurement and their relationships to the surface mean power reflectivity are derived. The Rayleigh speckle model is reviewed. Applications of the derived statistics to SAR radiometric measures and image processing are considered.

Wu, C.↗

Lunar volcanic glasses and their constraints on mare petrogenesis

The compositional properties of volcanic glasses from the Apollo 11, 14, 15 and 16 landing sites are examined and implications of the results for mare basalt petrogenesis and deep lunar structures are discussed. Major-element and nickel analyses were performed on the glasses using electron probe techniques, and R-mode principal component analysis was performed on the 19 different compositions of glass distinguished. The glasses are found to form two distinct chemical arrays based on the major elements and Ni. The presence of two chemically isolated cumulate systems in the mantle at different depths is thus inferred, and a model is developed for mare petrogenesis in which each system was itself composed of two lithologic components that underwent hybridization, assimilation or mixing to generate the large compositional range of magmas represented by the lunar volcanic glasses. The surface-correlated elements associated with the volcanic glasses are attributed to another reservoir in the deep interior which may be responsible for gas emissions causing lunar transient phenomena. The model developed allows predictions to be made concerning the liquidus phase relations, trace and radiogenic element distributions, nonradiogenic isotope compositions and sample ages.

Delano, J. W.↗

Real-time optical holographic tracking of multiple objects

A coherent optical correlation technique for real-time simultaneous tracking of several different objects making independent movements is described, and experimental results are presented. An evaluation of this system compared with digital computing systems is made. The real-time processing capability is obtained through the use of a liquid crystal television spatial light modulator and a dichromated gelatin multifocus hololens. A coded reference beam is utilized in the separation of the output correlation plane associated with each input target so that independent tracking can be achieved.

Chao, Tien-Hsin↗

The association of solar millisecond radio spikes with hard X-ray emission

Conventional observational data regarding solar millisecond spikes are compared with data gathered simultaneously in the hard X-ray band by means of a statistical analysis. The analysis considers the association rate, correlation degree, and relative time delays between hard X-ray emissions (in the 25-438 keV range) and radio-spike events. About 95 percent of the radio-spike bursts occur during impulsive hard X-ray bursts, and approximately 43 percent of the compared events are characterized by hard X-ray time profiles that mimic the concentration of simultaneous radio spikes. The delay of the radio emission with respect to the hard X-ray bursts puts some constraints on the acceleration and propagation of particles. The time delays and the quantization into discrete radio events are theorized to be caused by the operation of the accelerator.

Guedel, M.↗

OB associations and giant molecular clouds in the galaxy

Giant molecular clouds (GMC's) are the sites of all OB star formation in the Galaxy. These OB stars typically form in large associations and photoionize the surrounding gas, eventually destroying the clouds from which they were born. CO surveys have revealed the distribution of GMC's in the Galaxy, and radio observations provide data on the distribution of associations. These results are extrapolated to determine Galactic mean distribution functions of each and then combined to determine how GMC's and OB associations are correlated. The resulting probability distribution of luminosity given cloud mass implies that although most of the molecular mass of the Galaxy is in massive star forming complexes, a large number of clouds above which massive star formation is extremely likely and abundant and below which it is almost certainly absent.

Williams, Jonathan↗

An approach to studying the reliability of microgravity experiments

The identification of key factors that influence the non-success of experiments conducted under microgravity conditions will aid in the planning, design and implementation of future space shuttle experiments, as well as other microgravity experiments (i.e., experiments conducted on the Space Station). Similarly, knowledge of the experiments' reliability will assist in forecasting the success of forthcoming experiments. Since a relatively large number of Space Shuttle experiments have been conducted to date, a substantial pool of data exists for assessing the possible causes or factors which influence experiment non-successes. This report details the task being undertaken at NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) to measure the Space Shuttle experiments non-success trends and identify causes that significantly affect their performance. It addresses the activities associated with correlating experiment macro-factors with experiment non-successes. The development and implementation of a microgravity database to be used for tracking and correlating experiment non-success factors, as well as the criteria for measuring experiment success and non-success is also discussed.

Thaggard, Michael↗

An Approach to Studying the Reliability of Microgravity Experiments

The identification of key factors that influence the nonsuccess of experiments conducted under microgravity conditions will aid in the planning, design, and implementation of future space shuttle experiments, as well as other microgravity experiments (i.e., experiments conducted on the space station). Similarly, knowledge of the experiments' reliability will assist in forecasting the success of forthcoming experiments. Since a relatively large number of space shuttle experiments have been conducted to date, a substantial pool of data exists for assessing the possible causes or factors which influence experiment nonsuccesses. This report details the task being undertaken at NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) to measure the space shuttle experiments' nonsuccess trends and identify causes that significantly affect their performance. It addresses the activities associated with correlating experiment macro-factors with experiment nonsuccesses. The development and implementation of a microgravity database to be used for tracking and correlating experiment nonsuccess factors, as well as the criteria for measuring experiment success and nonsuccess, are also discussed.

Thaggard, Michael↗

Computer Supported Indexing: A History and Evaluation of NASA's MAI System

Computer supported indexing systems may be categorized in several ways. One classification scheme refers to them as statistical, syntactic, semantic or knowledge-based. While a system may emphasize one of these aspects, most systems actually combine two or more of these mechanisms to maximize system efficiency. Statistical systems can be based on counts of words or word stems, statistical association, and correlation techniques that assign weights to word locations or provide lexical disambiguation, calculations regarding the likelihood of word co-occurrences, clustering of word stems and transformations, or any other computational method used to identify pertinent terms. If words are counted, the ones of median frequency become candidate index terms. Syntactical systems stress grammar and identify parts of speech. Concepts found in designated grammatical combinations, such as noun phrases, generate the suggested terms. Semantic systems are concerned with the context sensitivity of words in text. The primary goal of this type of indexing is to identify without regard to syntax the subject matter and the context-bearing words in the text being indexed. Knowledge-based systems provide a conceptual network that goes past thesaurus or equivalent relationships to knowing (e.g., in the National Library of Medicine (NLM) system) that because the tibia is part of the leg, a document relating to injuries to the tibia should he indexed to LEG INJURIES, not the broader MeSH term INJURIES, or knowing that the term FEMALE should automatically be added when the term PREGNANCY is assigned, and also that the indexer should be prompted to add either HUMAN or ANIMAL. Another way of categorizing indexing systems is to identify them as producing either assigned- or derived-term indexes.

Silvester, June P.↗

Carrier Plus: A sensor payload for Living With a Star Space Environment Testbed (LWS/SET)

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTR4) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center are collaborating to develop the Carrier Plus sensor experiment platform as a capability of the Space Environments Testbed (SET). The Space Environment Testbed (SET) provides flight opportunities for technology experiments as part of NASA's Living With a Star (LWS) program. The Carrier Plus will provide new capability to characterize sensor technologies such as state-of-the-art visible focal plane arrays (FPAs) in a natural space radiation environment. The technical objectives include on-orbit validation of recently developed FPA technologies and performance prediction methodologies, as well as characterization of the FPA radiation response to total ionizing dose damage, displacement damage and transients. It is expected that the sensor experiment will carry 4-6 FPAs and associated radiation correlative environment monitors (CEMs) for a 2006-2007 launch. Sensor technology candidates may include n- and p-charge coupled devices (CCDs), active pixel sensors (APS), and hybrid CMOS arrays. The presentation will describe the Carrier Plus goals and objectives, as well as provide details about the architecture and design. More information on the LWS program can be found at http://lws.gsfc.nasa.gov/. Business announcements for LWS/SET and program briefings are posted at http://lws-set.gsfc.nasa.gov

Marshall, Cheryl J.↗

Comparison of Dust Optical Depth From Multi-Sensor Products and MONARCH (Multiscale Online Non-hydrostatic AtmospheRe CHemistry) Dust Reanalysis Over North Africa, the Middle East, and Europe

Aerosol reanalysis datasets are model-based, observationally constrained, continuous 3D aerosol fields with a relatively high temporal frequency that can be used to assess aerosol variations and trends, climate effects, and impacts on socioeconomic sectors, such as health. Here we compare and assess the recently published MONARCH (Multiscale Online Non-hydrostatic AtmospheRe CHemistry) high-resolution regional desert dust reanalysis over northern Africa, the Middle East, and Europe (NAMEE) with a combination of ground-based observations and space-based dust retrievals and products. In particular, we compare the total and coarse dust optical depth (DOD) from the new reanalysis with DOD products derived from MODIS (MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer), MISR (Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer), and IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer) spaceborne instruments. Despite the larger uncertainties, satellite-based datasets provide a better geographical coverage than ground-based observations, and the use of different retrievals and products allows at least partially overcoming some single-product weaknesses in the comparison. Nevertheless, limitations and uncertainties due to the type of sensor, its operating principle, its sensitivity, its temporal and spatial resolution, and the methodology for retrieving or further deriving dust products are factors that bias the reanalysis assessment. We, therefore, also use ground-based DOD observations provided by 238 stations of the AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork) located within the NAMEE region as a reference evaluation dataset. In particular, prior to the reanalysis assessment, the satellite datasets were evaluated against AERONET, showing moderate underestimations in the vicinities of dust sources and downwind regions, whereas small or significant overestimations, depending on the dataset, can be found in the remote regions. Taking these results into consideration, the MONARCH reanalysis assessment shows that total and coarse-DOD simulations are consistent with satellite- and ground-based data, qualitatively capturing the major dust sources in the area in addition to the dust transport patterns. Moreover, the MONARCH reanalysis reproduces the seasonal dust cycle, identifying the increased dust activity that occurred in the NAMEE region during spring and summer. The quantitative comparison between the MONARCH reanalysis DOD and satellite multi-sensor products shows that the reanalysis tends to slightly overestimate the desert dust that is emitted from the source regions and underestimate the transported dust over the outflow regions, implying that the model's removal of dust particles from the atmosphere, through deposition processes, is too effective. More specifically, small positive biases are found over the Sahara desert (0.04) and negative biases over the Atlantic Ocean and the Arabian Sea (−0.04), which constitute the main pathways of the long-range dust transport. Considering the DOD values recorded on average there, such discrepancies can be considered low, as the low relative bias in the Sahara desert (< 50 %) and over the adjacent maritime regions (< 100 %) certifies. Similarly, over areas with intense dust activity, the linear correlation coefficient between the MONARCH reanalysis simulations and the ensemble of the satellite products is significantly high for both total and coarse DOD, reaching 0.8 over the Middle East, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Arabian Sea and exceeding it over the African continent. Moreover, the low relative biases and high correlations are associated with regions for which large numbers of observations are available, thus allowing for robust reanalysis assessment.

Michail Mytilinaios↗

Statistical fitting accuracy in photon correlation spectroscopy

Continuing our experimental investigation of the fitting accuracy associated with photon correlation spectroscopy, we collect 150 correlograms of light scattered at 90 deg from a thermostated sample of 91-nm-diameter, polystyrene latex spheres in water. The correlograms are taken with two correlators: one with linearly spaced channels and one with geometrically spaced channels. Decay rates are extracted from the single-exponential correlograms with both nonlinear least-squares fits and second-order cumulant fits. We make several statistical comparisons between the two fitting techniques and verify an earlier result that there is no sample-time dependence in the decay rate errors. We find, however, that the two fitting techniques give decay rates that differ by 1 percent.

Shaumeyer, J. N.↗