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At least 613 records · Page 34

Bone Conduction Headphone Research and Human-in-the-Loop Test Results

The new space suit being developed for exploration EVAs on the surface of the Moon and in microgravity environments is called xEMU. A government reference model had been developed and had undergone testing. This suit contains new upgrades from the current EMU on ISS, such as integrated speakers and microphones, eliminating the need for astronauts to wear a Communications Carrier Assembly (CCA) on their head during spacewalks. However, upon testing, it was noticed that this feature causes acoustic coupling, that results in communications echo and feedback. A proposed solution to this issue is to have the astronaut wear a bone conduction headset for audio capabilities while on EVA to receive incoming voice communications from Mission Control and other EVA or IVA crew members. This would eliminate the acoustic coupling and echo effect while being more ergonomically sound than the current CCA and leave the ear open to suit ambient sound for situational awareness. A human-in-the-loop evaluation was performed, comparing five commercially available bone conduction headsets, to evaluate comfort, fit, and adjustability for long-duration wear. Five engineering test subjects with different head sizes were utilized to wear the headsets for six hours and provide succinct feedback and score the headsets on a variety of factors, to help determine which of the headsets performed the best and could advance to future bone conduction audio testing. Three of the headsets were well-received among the diverse group of subjects, and at least one of these will advance to further testing to be considered for future use under the xEMU helmet for exploration EVAs. Rating results and evaluation methods for this bone conduction headset evaluation will be presented.

Bridget M Cavanaugh↗

Bone Conduction Headphone Research and Testing for xEMU Communications Applications

The new space suit being developed for exploration EVAs on the surface of the Moon and in microgravity environments is referred to as xEMU. A government reference model had been developed and has undergone extensive functional and environmental testing. This suit contains new upgrades from the current EMU on ISS, such as integrated speakers and microphones, eliminating the need for astronauts to wear a Communications Carrier Assembly (CCA) on their heads during spacewalks. However, this design approach results in speaker-to-microphone acoustic coupling and communications echo and feedback. A proposed solution to this issue is to replace the integrated open speakers with an astronaut worn bone conduction headset for audio capabilities while on EVA to receive incoming voice communications from Mission Control and other EVA or IVA crew members. This would eliminate the acoustic coupling and echo effect while being more ergonomically sound than the current CCA and leave the ear open to suit-ambient sound for situational awareness. A human-in-the-loop evaluation was performed, comparing five commercially available bone conduction headsets, to evaluate comfort, fit, and adjustability for long-duration wear. Five engineering test subjects with different head sizes were utilized to wear the headsets for six hours and provide succinct feedback and score the headsets on a variety of factors, to help determine which of the headsets performed the best and could advance to future bone conduction audio testing. Three of the headsets were well-received among the diverse group of subjects, and at least one of these will advance to further testing to be considered for future use under the xEMU helmet for exploration EVAs. Rating results and evaluation methods for this bone conduction headset evaluation will be presented.

Bridget Cavanaugh↗

SUbsonic Single Aft eNgine (SUSAN) Power/Propulsion System Hardware-in-the-Loop Test Results

Electrified Aircraft Propulsion (EAP) technology offers a promising path forward for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other negative environmental effects from the commercial aviation sector. EAP systems can reduce fuel burn and improve performance over state-of the-art designs, however the increased complexity and highly coupled nature of these systems present challenges that require new control approaches. The SUbsonic Single Aft eNgine (SUSAN) Electrofan is a concept aircraft developed by NASA as a reference design for a commercial transport aircraft with a highly integrated hybrid-electric powertrain. This paper summarizes the results of a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) test of a control architecture developed for the SUSAN power/propulsion system (PPS). The test was performed in the Hybrid Propulsion Emulation Rig (HyPER) facility at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) and involved a real-time reference model of the SUSAN PPS and control system running with a sub-scale electro-mechanical system replacing one of the PPS subsystems. A side-by-side comparison of the simulated and real systems in the HIL test results shows that the control architecture functions well in both the simulation and the real-time HIL environment. In both cases the controller is able to simultaneously deliver the required thrust response and balance power levels between the electrical and turbomachinery subsystems.

Jonah J Sachs-Wetstone↗

SUbsonic Single Aft eNgine (SUSAN) Power/Propulsion System Hardware-in-the-Loop Test Results

Electrified Aircraft Propulsion (EAP) technology offers a promising path forward for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other negative environmental effects from the commercial aviation sector. EAP systems can reduce fuel burn and improve performance over state-of the-art designs, however the increased complexity and highly coupled nature of these systems present challenges that require new control approaches. The SUbsonic Single Aft eNgine (SUSAN) Electrofan is a concept aircraft developed by NASA as a reference design for a commercial transport aircraft with a highly integrated hybrid-electric powertrain. This paper summarizes the results of a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) test of a control architecture developed for the SUSAN power/propulsion system (PPS). The test was performed in the Hybrid Propulsion Emulation Rig (HyPER) facility at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) and involved a real-time reference model of the SUSAN PPS and control system running with a sub-scale electro-mechanical system replacing one of the PPS subsystems. A side-by-side comparison of the simulated and real systems in the HIL test results shows that the control architecture functions well in both the simulation and the real-time HIL environment. In both cases the controller is able to simultaneously deliver the required thrust response and balance power levels between the electrical and turbomachinery subsystems.

EAP↗

Summary Report of the FY24 DOE Contributions to the GIF VHTR CMVB

The Generation-IV Forum (GIF) Very-High-Temperature Reactor-Computational Methods Validation and Benchmark (VHTR-CMVB) initiative, involving organizations from Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) (South Korea), Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology of Tsinghua University (INET) (China), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) (U.S.), Joint Research Centre (JRC) (Europe), and Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) (Japan), is dedicated to the verification and validation of tools for High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors (HTGRs) analysis, using data shared by Computational Methods Validation and Benchmark (CMVB) signatories. For FY24, the US DOE CMVB has committed to several critical activities. Under WP1, led by the US, the integration of the High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor - Pebble-Bed Module (HTR-PM) Phenomena Identification and Ranking Table (PIRT) into the comparative PIRT is progressing, with a new draft of the comparison tables issued earlier this year and currently being utilized by INET for their contribution. Neutronic validation efforts under WP3 include the preparation of the burnup analysis benchmark, preliminary calculations, and the development of reference models and results. In WP2, a validation exercise for hot gas mixing in the lower plenum of HTR-PM is in progress, using experimental data from INET (China) to validate modeling approaches. A model of the experimental facility has been developed using StarCCM+, with initial calculations slated for presentation at the GIF CMVB meeting this fall. Another WP2 activity focuses on validating numerical models for air-cooled Reactor Cavity Cooling System (RCCS) with experimental data from the Wisconsin Madison RCCS facility. A high-fidelity model, developed using NEK-RS, is currently being validated with available data from a low power forced convection test. These efforts are aimed at enhancing and confirming the accuracy of HTGR analysis tools, ensuring their alignment with experimental data and regulatory requirements.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Research study on neutral thermodynamic atmospheric model

The Global Reference Atmospheric Model is used along with the revised perturbation statistics to evaluate and computer graph various atmospheric statistics along a space shuttle reference mission and abort trajectory. The trajectory plots are height vs. ground range, with height from ground level to 155 km and ground range along the reentry trajectory. Cross sectional plots, height vs. latitude or longitude, are also generated for 80 deg longitude, with heights from 30 km to 90 km and latitude from -90 deg to +90 deg, and for 45 deg latitude, with heights from 30 km to 90 km and longitudes from 180 deg E to 180 deg W. The variables plotted are monthly average pressure, density, temperature, wind components, and wind speed and standard deviations and 99th inter-percentile range for each of these variables.

Hargraves, W. R.↗

Reference and Standard Atmosphere Models

This paper describes the development of standard and reference atmosphere models along with the history of their origin and use since the mid 19th century. The first "Standard Atmospheres" were established by international agreement in the 1920's. Later some countries, notably the United States, also developed and published "Standard Atmospheres". The term "Reference Atmospheres" is used to identify atmosphere models for specific geographical locations. Range Reference Atmosphere Models developed first during the 1960's are examples of these descriptions of the atmosphere. This paper discusses the various models, scopes, applications and limitations relative to use in aerospace industry activities.

Johnson, Dale L.↗

The GRAM-3 model

The Global Reference Atmosphere Model (GRAM) is under continuous development and improvement. GRAM data were compared with Middle Atmosphere Program (MAP) predictions and with shuttle data. An important note: Users should employ only step sizes in altitude that give vertical density gradients consistent with shuttle-derived density data. Using too small a vertical step size (finer then 1 km) will result in what appears to be unreasonably high values of density shears but what in reality is noise in the model.

Justus, C. G.↗

Hydrogen Plus Other Alternative Fuels Risk Assessment Models (HyRAM+) Technical Reference Manual (V.6.0)

The HyRAM+ software is an open-source toolkit that provides publicly available models and default input values to enable straightforward and consistent safety assessments for hydrogen and other alternative fuel systems, such as natural gas and propane. The HyRAM+ quantitative risk assessment calculation incorporates annual likelihood of leaks or failures for both compressed gaseous and liquefied flammable fuels, as well as probabilistic models for the effects of heat flux and overpressure. HyRAM

08 HYDROGEN↗

Towards a Reference Architecture for Model-Based Engineering Environments

A key aspect of adopting model-based systems engineering as a practice in an organization is the design and development, and adoption of corresponding processes and tools that support the model-based paradigm. In an effort to enable the unified implementation of such processes and tools, this paper introduces a reference architecture model that serves as a specification for a model-based engineering environment. Current systems engineering practices, products, processes and technologies are used as input for continuously refining the architecture model. In the paper, we introduce and report on the current status of this reference architecture model, and present the methodology applied in developing the reference architecture. We conclude that while there are a very large number of domain- or application-specific processes requiring specialized behavior, these can be reduced through abstraction to a small set of core functions that need to be supported by a realization of a model-based engineering environment. Only very few organization-domain- or application-specific aspects require specialized consideration.

Herzig, Sebastian J. I.↗

Shuttle derived atmospheric density model. Part 2: STS atmospheric implications for AOTV trajectory analysis, a proposed GRAM perturbation density model

A perturbation model to the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Global Reference Atmosphere Model (GRAM) was developed for use in the Aeroassist Orbital Transfer Vehicle (AOTV) trajectory and analysis. The model reflects NASA Space Shuttle experience over the first twelve entry flights. The GRAM was selected over the Air Force 1978 Reference Model because of its more general formulation and wider use throughout NASA. The add-on model, a simple scaling with altitude to reflect density structure encountered by the Shuttle Orbiter was selected principally to simplify implementation. Perturbations, by season, can be utilized to minimize the number of required simulations, however, exact Shuttle flight history can be exercised using the same model if desired. Such a perturbation model, though not meteorologically motivated, enables inclusion of High Resolution Accelerometer Package (HiRAP) results in the thermosphere. Provision is made to incorporate differing perturbations during the AOTV entry and exit phases of the aero-asist maneuver to account for trajectory displacement (geographic) along the ground track.

Findlay, J. T.↗

Interpretation of waverider performance data using computational fluid dynamics

A computational study was conducted to better understand experimental results obtained from wind tunnel tests of a Mach 4 waverider model and a comparative reference configuration. The experimental results showed that the performance of the reference configuration was slightly better than that of the waverider model. These results contradict waverider design theory, which suggests that a waverider optimized for maximum lift-to-drag should provide better performance than any other non-waverider configuration at a given design point, especially at hypersonic speeds. The computational results showed that the predicted surface pressure values and the integrated lift and drag coefficients from the pressure distributions were much lower for the reference model than for the flat-top model, due to the reference model bottom surface having a slight expansion. The lift-to-drag ratios for the flat-top model were higher due to a relatively low drag for the same amount of lift. These results indicate that the performance advantage of the reference model was due to the shape of the bottom surface and not due to the flat top surface. The results also showed that the reference model exhibited the same shock attachment characteristics as the waverider because the planform shapes were identical. CFD predictions show that the planform shape gives the waverider an advantage in performance over conventional hypersonic vehicles and that altering the bottom surface of a waverider does not cause significant performance degradation.

Cockrell, Charles E., Jr.↗

Interpretation of Waverider Performance Data Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

A computational study was conducted to better understand experimental results obtained from wind tunnel tests of a Mach 4 waverider model and a comparative reference configuration. The experimental results showed that the performance of the reference configuration was slightly better than that of the waverider model. These results contradict waverider design theory, which suggests that a waverider optimized for maximum lift-to-drag should provide better performance than any other non-waverider configuration at a given design point, especially at hypersonic speeds. The computational results showed that the predicted surface pressure values and the integrated lift and drag coefficients from the pressure distributions were much lower for the reference model than for the flat-top model, due to the reference model bottom surface having a slight expansion. The lift-to-drag ratios for the flat-top model were higher due to a relatively low drag for the same amount of lift. These results indicate that the performance advantage of the reference model was due to the shape of the bottom surface and not due to the flat top surface. The results also showed that the reference model exhibited the same shock attachment characteristics as the waverider because the planform shapes were identical. CFD predictions show that the planform shape gives the waverider an advantage in performance over conventional hypersonic vehicles and that altering the bottom surface of a waverider does not cause significant performance degradation.

Cockrell, Charles E., Jr.↗

The Impact of Dielectric Constant Model and Surface Reference on Differences Between SMOS and Aquarius Sea Surface Salinity

Two ongoing space missions share the scientific objective of mapping the global Sea Surface Salinity (SSS), yet their observations show significant discrepancies. ESA's Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) and NASA's Aquarius use L-band (1.4 GHz) radiometers to measure emission from the sea surface and retrieve SSS. Significant differences in SSS retrieved by both sensors are observed, with SMOS SSS being generally lower than Aquarius SSS, except for very cold waters where SMOS SSS is the highest overall. Figure 1 is an example of the difference between the SSS retrieved by SMOS and Aquarius averaged over one month and 1 degree in longitude and latitude. Differences are mostly between -1 psu and +1 psu (psu, practical salinity unit), with a significant regional and latitudinal dependence. We investigate the impact of the vicarious calibration and retrieval algorithm used by both mission on these differences.

SMOS↗

Skylab earth resources experiment package /EREP/ - Sea surface topography experiment

The S-193 Skylab radar altimeter was operated in a round-the-world pass on Jan. 31, 1974. The main purpose of this experiment was to test and 'measure' the variation of the sea surface topography using the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) geoid model as a reference. This model is based upon 430,000 satellite and 25,000 ground gravity observations. Variations of the sea surface on the order of -40 to +60 m were observed along this pass. The 'computed' and 'measured' sea surfaces have an rms agreement on the order of 7 m. This is quite satisfactory, considering that this was the first time the sea surface has been observed directly over a distance of nearly 35,000 km and compared to a computed model. The Skylab orbit for this global pass was computed using the Goddard Earth Model (GEM 6) and S-band radar tracking data, resulting in an orbital height uncertainty of better than 5 m over one orbital period.

Vonbun, F. O.↗

Wind-tunnel investigation of the validity of a sonic-boom-minimization concept

The Langley unitary plan unitary plan wind tunnel was used to determine the validity of a sonic-boom-minimization theory. Five models - two reference and three low-boom constrained - were tested at design Mach numbers of 1.5 and 2.7. Results show that the pressure signatures generated by the low-boom models had significantly lower overpressure levels than those produced by the reference models and that small changes in the Mach number and/or the lift caused relatively small changes in the signature shape and overpressure level. Boundary-layer effects were found in the signature shape and overpressure level. Boundary-layer effects were found to be sizable on the low-boom models, and when viscous corrections were included in the analysis, improved agreement between the predicted and the measured signatures was noted. Since this agreement was better at Mach 1.5 than at Mach 2.7, it was concluded that the minimization method was definitely valid at Mach 1.5 and was probably valid at Mach 2.7, with further work needed to resolve the uncertainty.

Mack, R. J.↗