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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 73 records · Page 4

Multidimensional Processing and Visual Rendering of Complex 3D Biomedical Images

The proposed technology uses advanced image analysis techniques to maximize the resolution and utility of medical imaging methods being used during spaceflight. We utilize COTS technology for medical imaging, but our applications require higher resolution assessment of the medical images than is routinely applied with nominal system software. By leveraging advanced data reduction and multidimensional imaging techniques utilized in analysis of Planetary Sciences and Cell Biology imaging, it is possible to significantly increase the information extracted from the onboard biomedical imaging systems. Year 1 focused on application of these techniques to the ocular images collected on ground test subjects and ISS crewmembers. Focus was on the choroidal vasculature and the structure of the optic disc. Methods allowed for increased resolution and quantitation of structural changes enabling detailed assessment of progression over time. These techniques enhance the monitoring and evaluation of crew vision issues during space flight.

Sams, Clarence F.↗

Space Shuttle Orbiter nose cap thermal analysis

The results of a Space Shuttle Orbiter nose cap entry aeroheating assessment, thermal analysis, and correlation of flight data using multidimensional thermal math models (TMM's) and a chemically reacting boundary-layer program are described in this paper. The object of this study was to verify and revise, if required, the nose cap design heating methods and the TMM's used for flight certification. Flight temperature measurements from two Orbiter vehicles, Columbia and Challenger, have been used in this analysis and provide the basis for verification and correlation of the aerothermodynamic environment. Nose cap thermal response predictions, using TMM's verified from certification tests, show that the aerothermodynamic environment can be satisfactorily predicted using accepted analytical methods.

Curry, D. M.↗

Charged-particle motion in multidimensional magnetic-field turbulence

We present a new analysis of the fundamental physics of charged-particle motion in a turbulent magnetic field using a numerical simulation. The magnetic field fluctuations are taken to be static and to have a power spectrum which is Kolmogorov. The charged particles are treated as test particles. It is shown that when the field turbulence is independent of one coordinate (i.e., k lies in a plane), the motion of these particles across the magnetic field is essentially zero, as required by theory. Consequently, the only motion across the average magnetic field direction that is allowed is that due to field-line random walk. On the other hand, when a fully three-dimensional realization of the turbulence is considered, the particles readily cross the field. Transport coefficients both along and across the ambient magnetic field are computed. This scheme provides a direct computation of the Fokker-Planck coefficients based on the motions of individual particles, and allows for comparison with analytic theory.

Giacalone, J.↗

The Aeronautical Data Link: Taxonomy, Architectural Analysis, and Optimization

The future Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) System will rely on global satellite navigation, and ground-based and satellite based communications via Multi-Protocol Networks (e.g. combined Aeronautical Telecommunications Network (ATN)/Internet Protocol (IP)) to bring about needed improvements in efficiency and safety of operations to meet increasing levels of air traffic. This paper will discuss the development of an approach that completely describes optimal data link architecture configuration and behavior to meet the multiple conflicting objectives of concurrent and different operations functions. The practical application of the approach enables the design and assessment of configurations relative to airspace operations phases. The approach includes a formal taxonomic classification, an architectural analysis methodology, and optimization techniques. The formal taxonomic classification provides a multidimensional correlation of data link performance with data link service, information protocol, spectrum, and technology mode; and to flight operations phase and environment. The architectural analysis methodology assesses the impact of a specific architecture configuration and behavior on the local ATM system performance. Deterministic and stochastic optimization techniques maximize architectural design effectiveness while addressing operational, technology, and policy constraints.

Morris, A. Terry↗

On the fragmentation of rotating interstellar clouds

Simple physical arguments are used to estimate the time scale for fragmentation of a collapsing, rotating, isothermal, interstellar cloud. This time scale is compared with a similarly estimated time scale for the collapse upon itself of a transitory ring structure. It is shown to be plausible for a cloud with a given ratio of rotational to gravitational energy (beta) that as the ratio of thermal to gravitational energy (alpha) is varied, there is an intermediate range of alpha where a ring forms and collapses on itself, prior to fragmentation. For higher or lower alpha, however, the cloud fragments prior to ring self-collapse. The analysis is compared with the results of numerical multidimensional, gravitational, hydrodynamical collapse and shown to be in good agreement with them.

Boss, A. P.↗

A Method for Generating Reduced-Order Linear Models of Multidimensional Supersonic Inlets

Simulation of high speed propulsion systems may be divided into two categories, nonlinear and linear. The nonlinear simulations are usually based on multidimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methodologies and tend to provide high resolution results that show the fine detail of the flow. Consequently, these simulations are large, numerically intensive, and run much slower than real-time. ne linear simulations are usually based on large lumping techniques that are linearized about a steady-state operating condition. These simplistic models often run at or near real-time but do not always capture the detailed dynamics of the plant. Under a grant sponsored by the NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio, a new method has been developed that can be used to generate improved linear models for control design from multidimensional steady-state CFD results. This CFD-based linear modeling technique provides a small perturbation model that can be used for control applications and real-time simulations. It is important to note the utility of the modeling procedure; all that is needed to obtain a linear model of the propulsion system is the geometry and steady-state operating conditions from a multidimensional CFD simulation or experiment. This research represents a beginning step in establishing a bridge between the controls discipline and the CFD discipline so that the control engineer is able to effectively use multidimensional CFD results in control system design and analysis.

Chicatelli, Amy↗

On the Fragmentation of Rotating Interstellar Clouds

Simple physical arguments are used to estimate the time scale for fragmentation of a collapsing, rotating, isothermal, interstellar cloud. This time scale is compared with a similarly estimated time scale for the collapse upon itself of a transitory ring structure. It is shown to be plausible for a cloud with a given ratio of rotational to gravitational energy (beta) that as the ratio of thermal to gravitational energy (alpha) is varied, there is an intermediate range of alpha where a ring forms and collapses on itself, prior to fragmentation. For higher or lower alpha however, the cloud fragments prior to ring self-collapse. The analysis is compared with the results of numerical multidimensional, gravitational, hydrodynamical collapse and shown to be in good agreement with them.

Boss, Alan Paul↗

Multiphysics Thermal-Fluid Design Analysis of a Non-Nuclear Tester for Hot-Hydrogen Materials and Component Development

The objective of this effort is to perform design analyses for a non-nuclear hot-hydrogen materials tester, as a first step towards developing efficient and accurate multiphysics, thermo-fluid computational methodology to predict environments for hypothetical solid-core, nuclear thermal engine thrust chamber design and analysis. The computational methodology is based on a multidimensional, finite-volume, turbulent, chemically reacting, thermally radiating, unstructured-grid, and pressure-based formulation. The multiphysics invoked in this study include hydrogen dissociation kinetics and thermodynamics, turbulent flow, convective, and thermal radiative heat transfers. The goals of the design analyses are to maintain maximum hot-hydrogen jet impingement energy and to minimize chamber wall heating. The results of analyses on three test fixture configurations and the rationale for final selection are presented. The interrogation of physics revealed that reactions of hydrogen dissociation and recombination are highly correlated with local temperature and are necessary for accurate prediction of the hot-hydrogen jet temperature.

Wang, Ten-See↗

Multiphysics Thermal-Fluid Analysis of a Non-Nuclear Tester for Hot-Hydrogen Materials Development

The objective of this effort is to analyze the thermal field of a non-nuclear tester, as a first step towards developing efficient and accurate multiphysics, thermo-fluid computational methodology to predict environments for hypothetical solid-core, nuclear thermal engine thrust chamber design and analysis. The computational methodology is based on a multidimensional, finite-volume, turbulent, chemically reacting, radiating, unstructured-grid, and pressure-based formulation. The multiphysics invoked in this study include hydrogen dissociation kinetics and thermodynamics, turbulent flow, convective, radiative and conjugate heat transfers.

Wang, Ten-See↗

Development of a Display Tool to Quality Control Weather Balloon Data for Space Launch Vehicles Using Python

Continuous atmospheric data analysis is an important factor for space launch vehicle design and operations. The balloon quality control tool was developed by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Natural Environments Branch (NEB) for monitoring quality control processes and verifying the automated flags created on the balloon data sets analyzed. The data sets currently analyzed are comprised of high-resolution and low-resolution balloon data from NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC), co-located on the United States Air Force’s Eastern range (ER) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The NEB was tasked to perform a quality assessment of these data sets and needed a tool to confirm the quality control (QC) flags produced from an automated process and add additional QC flags if necessary. This Graphical User Interface (GUI) was developed to visualize all of the data from these balloon sets, display any flags from the automated QC process, and add additional flags to variables if necessary. The GUI was developed in Python 3.6 utilizing different packages available such as pandas for data analysis and manipulation, NumPy for high-performance multidimensional array and tools to compute with and manipulate arrays, Matplotlib for plotting data and Tkinter to build the GUI.

Jessica K Headley↗

Development of a Display Tool to Quality Control Weather Balloon Data for Space Launch Vehicles

Continuous atmospheric data analysis is an important factor for space launch vehicle design and operations. The balloon quality control tool was developed by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Natural Environments Branch (NEB) for monitoring quality control processes and verifying the automated flags created on the balloon data sets analyzed. The data sets currently analyzed are comprised of high-resolution and low-resolution balloon data from NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC), co-located on the United States Air Force’s Eastern range (ER) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The NEB was tasked to perform a quality assessment of these data sets and needed a tool to confirm the quality control (QC) flags produced from an automated process and add additional QC flags if necessary. This Graphical User Interface (GUI) was developed to visualize all of the data from these balloon sets, display any flags from the automated QC process, and add additional flags to variables if necessary. The GUI was developed in Python 3.6 utilizing different packages available such as pandas for data analysis and manipulation, NumPy for high-performance multidimensional array and tools to compute with and manipulate arrays, Matplotlib for plotting data and Tkinter to build the GUI.

Jessica K Headley↗

Mapping Arid Vegetation Species Distributions in the White Mountains, Eastern California, Using AVIRIS, Topography, and Geology

Our challenge is to model plant species distributions in complex montane environments using disparate sources of data, including topography, geology, and hyperspectral data. From an ecologist's point of view, species distributions are determined by local environment and disturbance history, while spectral data are 'ancillary.' However, a remote sensor's perspective says that spectral data provide picture of what vegetation is there, topographic and geologic data are ancillary. In order to bridge the gap, all available data should be used to get the best possible prediction of species distributions using complex multivariate techniques implemented on a GIS. Vegetation reflects local climatic and nutrient conditions, both of which can be modeled, allowing predictive mapping of vegetation distributions. Geologic substrate strongly affects chemical, thermal, and physical properties of soils, while climatic conditions are determined by local topography. As elevation increases, precipitation increases and temperature decreases. Aspect, slope, and surrounding topography determine potential insolation, so that south-facing slopes are warmer and north-facing slopes cooler at a given elevation. Topographic position (ridge, slope, canyon, or meadow) and slope angle affect sediment accumulation and soil depth. These factors combine as complex environmental gradients, and underlie many features of plant distributions. Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data, digital elevation models, digitized geologic maps, and 378 ground control points were used to predictively map species distributions in the central and southern White Mountains, along the western boundary of the Basin and Range province. Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF) bands were calculated from the visible and near-infrared AVIRIS bands, and combined with digitized geologic maps and topographic variables using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). CCA allows for modeling species 'envelopes' in multidimensional environmental space, which can then be projected across entire landscapes.

VandeVen, C.↗

Numerical analysis of ignition transients in solid rocket motors

A model to analyze the unstready multidimensional turbulent flow in the head-end, star slot section of a solid rocket motor during the ignition transient is developed. The present paper examines the fluid dynamic aspects of the starting transient. A finite-difference solution of the unsteady, compressible, full Navier-Stokes equations, together with a two-equation k-epsilon turbulence model, is obtained utilizing the MacCormack explicit, predictor-corrector technique. Computed results for the flow in the slot are compared with experimental data obtained in cold flow tests of a scaled model of the Space Shuttle SRM head-end, star grain section. The agreement between the calculated flowfield and existing experimental data is very good.

Ciucci, A.↗

The Measurement of Radiation Exposure of Astronauts by Radiochemical Techniques

The principal gamma-ray-omitting radioisotopes produced in the body of astronauts by cosmic-ray bombardment which have half-lives long enough to be useful for radiation dose evaluation are Be-7, Na-22, and Na-24. The sodium isotopes were measured in the preflight and postflight urine and feces, and those feces specimens collected during the manned Apollo missions, by analysis of the urine salts and the raw feces in large crystal multidimensional gamma-ray spectrometers. The Be-7 was chemically separated, and its concentration measured in an all Na(T1), anticoincidence shielded, scintillation well crystal. The overall sensitivity of the experiment was reduced by almost all variables such as low concentrations of excreted cosmogenic radionuclides, high concentrations of injected radionuclides, low sample sizes, long delay periods before analysis, and uncertain excretion rates. The astronaut radiation dose in millirads, as determined by this technique, for the Apollo 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 missions was 330, 160, 315, 870 ? 550, 31, 110, and 250 respectively. In view of these limitations this technique would be best applied to cases of unusually high exposures, such as that encountered from solar flares.

R L Brodzinski↗

Evaluation of innovative rocket engines for single-stage earth-to-orbit vehicles

Computer models of rocket engines and single-stage-to-orbit vehicles that were developed by the authors at DFVLR and NASA have been combined. The resulting code consists of engine mass, performance, trajectory and vehicle sizing models. The engine mass model includes equations for each subsystem and describes their dependences on various propulsion parameters. The engine performance model consists of multidimensional sets of theoretical propulsion properties and a complete thermodynamic analysis of the engine cycle. The vehicle analyses include an optimized trajectory analysis, mass estimation, and vehicle sizing. A vertical-takeoff, horizontal-landing, single-stage, winged, manned, fully reusable vehicle with a payload capability of 13.6 Mg (30,000 lb) to low earth orbit was selected. Hydrogen, methane, propane, and dual-fuel engines were studied with staged-combustion, gas-generator, dual bell, and the dual-expander cycles. Mixture ratio, chamber pressure, nozzle exit pressure liftoff acceleration, and dual fuel propulsive parameters were optimized.

Manski, Detlef↗

Generalized multi-point inverse airfoil design

In a rather general sense, inverse airfoil design can be taken to mean the problem of specifying a desired set of airfoil characteristics, such as the airfoil maximum thickness ratio, pitching moment, part of the velocity distribution or boundary-layer development, etc., then from this information determine the corresponding airfoil shape. This paper presents a method which approaches the design problem from this perspective. In particular, the airfoil is divided into segments along which, together with the design conditions, either the velocity distribution or boundary-layer development may be prescribed. In addition to these local desired distributions, single parameters like the airfoil thickness can be specified. The problem of finding the airfoil shape is determined by coupling an incompressible, inviscid, inverse airfoil design method with a direct integral boundary-layer analysis method and solving the resulting nonlinear equations via a multidimensional Newton iteration technique. The approach is fast and easily allows for interactive design. It is also flexible and could be adapted to solving compressible, inverse airfoil design problems.

Selig, Michael S.↗

An expert system/ion trap mass spectrometry approach for life support systems monitoring

Efforts to develop sensor and control system technology to monitor air quality for life support have resulted in the development and preliminary testing of a concept based on expert systems and ion trap mass spectrometry (ITMS). An ITMS instrument provides the capability to identify and quantitate a large number of suspected contaminants at trace levels through the use of a variety of multidimensional experiments. An expert system provides specialized knowledge for control, analysis, and decision making. The system is intended for real-time, on-line, autonomous monitoring of air quality. The key characteristics of the system, performance data and analytical capabilities of the ITMS instrument, the design and operation of the expert system, and results from preliminary testing of the system for trace contaminant monitoring are described.

Palmer, Peter T.↗