Search NASASearch

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “nonlinear dynamical systems”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 73 records · Page 4

Robustness Analysis of Integrated LPV-FDI Filters and LTI-FTC System for a Transport Aircraft

This paper proposes an analysis framework for robustness analysis of a nonlinear dynamics system that can be represented by a polynomial linear parameter varying (PLPV) system with constant bounded uncertainty. The proposed analysis framework contains three key tools: 1) a function substitution method which can convert a nonlinear system in polynomial form into a PLPV system, 2) a matrix-based linear fractional transformation (LFT) modeling approach, which can convert a PLPV system into an LFT system with the delta block that includes key uncertainty and scheduling parameters, 3) micro-analysis, which is a well known robust analysis tool for linear systems. The proposed analysis framework is applied to evaluating the performance of the LPV-fault detection and isolation (FDI) filters of the closed-loop system of a transport aircraft in the presence of unmodeled actuator dynamics and sensor gain uncertainty. The robustness analysis results are compared with nonlinear time simulations.

Khong, Thuan H.

Understanding plasma turbulence through exact coherent structures

Plasma turbulence is a key challenge in understanding transport phenomena in magnetically confined plasmas. This work presents a generalized framework to analyze plasma turbulence that utilizes periodic orbit theory. In periodic orbit theory, doubly periodic solutions (coherent structures) of the governing equation(s) serve as building blocks of the considered turbulent dynamics. To illustrate the concept and method, the particularly simple Kuramoto–Sivashinsky (referred to here as LMRT for the original authors: LaQuey, Mahajan, Rutherford, and Tang) trapped-ion mode toy model is used. By applying numerical optimization techniques to the LMRT equation, we extract coherent spacetime patterns that represent the library of allowable fundamental structures of the equation. These structures provide a framework to systematically describe turbulence as a composition of recurrent solutions, revealing an underlying order within chaotic plasma motion. Although illustrated here using the simplified LMRT model for clarity, this framework provides a general strategy that can be extended to more complex and realistic models of plasma turbulence, including gyrokinetic systems. This offers a new method for predicting and potentially controlling transport processes in fusion plasmas by providing a bridge between nonlinear dynamical systems theory and plasma physics in the form of a generalized framework with which to analyze and understand spatially extended nonlinear partial differential equations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY

A predictability study of Lorenz's 28-variable model as a dynamical system

The dynamics of error growth in a two-layer nonlinear quasi-geostrophic model has been studied to gain an understanding of the mathematical theory of atmospheric predictability. The growth of random errors of varying initial magnitudes has been studied, and the relation between this classical approach and the concepts of the nonlinear dynamical systems theory has been explored. The local and global growths of random errors have been expressed partly in terms of the properties of an error ellipsoid and the Liapunov exponents determined by linear error dynamics. The local growth of small errors is initially governed by several modes of the evolving error ellipsoid but soon becomes dominated by the longest axis. The average global growth of small errors is exponential with a growth rate consistent with the largest Liapunov exponent. The duration of the exponential growth phase depends on the initial magnitude of the errors. The subsequent large errors undergo a nonlinear growth with a steadily decreasing growth rate and attain saturation that defines the limit of predictability. The degree of chaos and the largest Liapunov exponent show considerable variation with change in the forcing, which implies that the time variation in the external forcing can introduce variable character to the predictability.

Krishnamurthy, V.

Direct statistical simulation of the Lorenz96 system in model reduction approaches

Direct statistical simulation (DSS) of nonlinear dynamical systems bypasses the traditional route of accumulating statistics by lengthy direct numerical simulations by solving the equations that govern the statistics themselves. DSS suffers, however, from the curse of dimensionality as the statistics (such as correlations) generally have higher dimensions than the underlying dynamical variables. Here we investigate two approaches to reduce the dimensionality of DSS, illustrating each method with numerical experiments with the Lorenz96 dynamical system. The forms of DSS chosen here involve approximate closures at second and third order in the equal-time cumulants. We demonstrate significant reduction in computational effort that can be achieved without sacrificing the accuracy of DSS. The methods developed here can be applied to turbulent fluid and magnetohydrodynamical systems. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Li, Kuan

Limitations for Quantum Algorithms to Solve Turbulent and Chaotic Systems

We investigate the limitations of quantum computers for solving nonlinear dynamical systems. In particular, we tighten the worst-case bounds of the quantum Carleman linearisation (QCL) algorithm answering one of their open questions. We provide a further significant limitation for any quantum algorithm that aims to output a quantum state that approximates the normalized solution vector. Given a natural choice of coordinates for a dynamical system with one or more positive Lyapunov exponents and solutions that grow sub-exponentially, we prove that any such algorithm has complexity scaling at least exponentially in the integration time. As such, an efficient quantum algorithm for simulating chaotic systems or regimes is likely not possible.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING

Electron Quantum Dynamics in Strong-Field Irradiation

The major goal of the project was to investigate the nonsequential ionization dynamics of atomic systems with two active electrons under intense laser irradiation. In order to gain insights into such nonlinear dynamical systems, one must resort to clever numerical methods due to the poor scaling of computational memory and time. Accordingly, we have extended the virtual detector method of Feuerstein and Thumm by incorporating quasi-classical “virtual” particles that evolve alongside the Schrödinger wavefunction. A major and recent part of this research effort was to further extend the virtual-detector method to model a two-active-electron atomic system.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS

The matching of biological and technical elements and systems

The conditions necessary for matching the input-output relationships of nonlinear dynamic systems without memory and with image memory are discussed. A structural representation is provided for the input-output relationships of matched elements and systems with distributed kernels.

Zozulya, Y. I.

Streak camera based SLR receiver for two color atmospheric measurements

To realize accurate two-color differential measurements, an image digitizing system with variable spatial resolution was designed, built, and integrated to a photon-counting picosecond streak camera, yielding a temporal scan resolution better than 300 femtosecond/pixel. The streak camera is configured to operate with 3 spatial channels; two of these support green (532 nm) and uv (355 nm) while the third accommodates reference pulses (764 nm) for real-time calibration. Critical parameters affecting differential timing accuracy such as pulse width and shape, number of received photons, streak camera/imaging system nonlinearities, dynamic range, and noise characteristics were investigated to optimize the system for accurate differential delay measurements. The streak camera output image consists of three image fields, each field is 1024 pixels along the time axis and 16 pixels across the spatial axis. Each of the image fields may be independently positioned across the spatial axis. Two of the image fields are used for the two wavelengths used in the experiment; the third window measures the temporal separation of a pair of diode laser pulses which verify the streak camera sweep speed for each data frame. The sum of the 16 pixel intensities across each of the 1024 temporal positions for the three data windows is used to extract the three waveforms. The waveform data is processed using an iterative three-point running average filter (10 to 30 iterations are used) to remove high-frequency structure. The pulse pair separations are determined using the half-max and centroid type analysis. Rigorous experimental verification has demonstrated that this simplified process provides the best measurement accuracy. To calibrate the receiver system sweep, two laser pulses with precisely known temporal separation are scanned along the full length of the sweep axis. The experimental measurements are then modeled using polynomial regression to obtain a best fit to the data. Data aggregation using normal point approach has provided accurate data fitting techniques and is found to be much more convenient than using the full rate single shot data. The systematic errors from this model have been found to be less than 3 ps for normal points.

Varghese, Thomas K.

Discrete time learning control in nonlinear systems

In this paper digital learning control methods are developed primarily for use in single-input, single-output nonlinear dynamic systems. Conditions for convergence of the basic form of learning control based on integral control concepts are given, and shown to be satisfied by a large class of nonlinear problems. It is shown that it is not the gross nonlinearities of the differential equations that matter in the convergence, but rather the much smaller nonlinearities that can manifest themselves during the short time interval of one sample time. New algorithms are developed that eliminate restrictions on the size of the learning gain, and on knowledge of the appropriate sign of the learning gain, for convergence to zero error in tracking a feasible desired output trajectory. It is shown that one of the new algorithms can give guaranteed convergence in the presence of actuator saturation constraints, and indicate when the requested trajectory is beyond the actuator capabilities.

Longman, Richard W.

A quasi-analytical method for non-iterative computation of nonlinear controls

An optimal control solution process was developed for a general class of nonlinear dynamical systems. The method combines control theory, perturbation methods, and Van Loan's recent matrix exponential results. A variety of applications support the practical utility of this method. Nonlinear rigid body optimal maneuvers are routinely solved. Flexible body dynamical systems of an order greater than 40 were solved. The method fails occasionally due to poor convergence of the perturbation expansion or numerical difficulties associated with computing the matrix exponential. The method is attractive because it appears to be a good candidate for semi-automation; no initial guess is required, and it usually converges at 2nd or 3rd order in minutes of machine time.

Junkins, J. L.

Neural networks for self-learning control systems

It is shown how a neural network can learn of its own accord to control a nonlinear dynamic system. An emulator, a multilayered neural network, learns to identify the system's dynamic characteristics. The controller, another multilayered neural network, next learns to control the emulator. The self-trained controller is then used to control the actual dynamic system. The learning process continues as the emulator and controller improve and track the physical process. An example is given to illustrate these ideas. The 'truck backer-upper,' a neural network controller that steers a trailer truck while the truck is backing up to a loading dock, is demonstrated. The controller is able to guide the truck to the dock from almost any initial position. The technique explored should be applicable to a wide variety of nonlinear control problems.

Nguyen, Derrick H.

Modelling chaotic vibrations using NASTRAN

Due to the unavailability and, later, prohibitive cost of the computational power required, many phenomena in nonlinear dynamic systems have in the past been addressed in terms of linear systems. Linear systems respond to periodic inputs with periodic outputs, and may be characterized in the time domain or in the frequency domain as convenient. Reduction to the frequency domain is frequently desireable to reduce the amount of computation required for solution. Nonlinear systems are only soluble in the time domain, and may exhibit a time history which is extremely sensitive to initial conditions. Such systems are termed chaotic. Dynamic buckling, aeroelasticity, fatigue analysis, control systems and electromechanical actuators are among the areas where chaotic vibrations have been observed. Direct transient analysis over a long time period presents a ready means of simulating the behavior of self-excited or externally excited nonlinear systems for a range of experimental parameters, either to characterize chaotic behavior for development of load spectra, or to define its envelope and preclude its occurrence.

Sheerer, T. J.

The pEst version 2.1 user's manual

This report is a user's manual for version 2.1 of pEst, a FORTRAN 77 computer program for interactive parameter estimation in nonlinear dynamic systems. The pEst program allows the user complete generality in definig the nonlinear equations of motion used in the analysis. The equations of motion are specified by a set of FORTRAN subroutines; a set of routines for a general aircraft model is supplied with the program and is described in the report. The report also briefly discusses the scope of the parameter estimation problem the program addresses. The report gives detailed explanations of the purpose and usage of all available program commands and a description of the computational algorithms used in the program.

Murray, James E.

State estimation with small nonlinearities

A variety of techniques is available for estimating the states of nonlinear dynamic systems from noisy data. The differences among several of these procedures in the presence of small dynamic and observational nonlinearities are investigated. Four discrete estimation algorithms are analyzed. The first is a strictly least square estimator, while the others are recursive algorithms similar to the Kalman filter used for estimating the states of linear systems. A group of analytic expressions is developed for the mean and covariance of the error in each of these estimators so that they may be compared without lengthy Monte Carlo simulations. The covariance expressions show that, to first order, all the estimators have the same covariance. Expressions for the means show that each estimator has a different bias. Several examples are carried out demonstrating that the relative magnitudes of the bias errors in the various estimators can be a strong function of such parameters as initial covariances and number of data points. Under some circumstances, more complicated algorithms can have larger biases than smaller ones.

Conrad, B.

A neighboring optimal feedback control scheme for systems using discontinuous control.

The calculation and implementation of the neighboring optimal feedback control law for multiinput, nonlinear dynamical systems, using discontinuous control, is discussed. An initialization procedure is described which removes the requirement that the neighboring initial state be in the neighborhood of the nominal initial state. This procedure is a bootstrap technique for determining the most appropriate control-law gain for the neighboring initial state. The mechanization of the neighboring control law described is closed loop in that the concept of time-to-go is utilized in the determination of the control-law gains appropriate for each neighboring state. The gains are chosen such that the time-to-go until the next predicted switch time or predicted final time is the same for both the neighboring and nominal trajectories. The procedure described is utilized to solve the minimum-time satellite attitude-acquisition problem.

Foerster, R. E.