Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Computer applications”

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 721 records · Page 40

A numerical investigation of a subsonic jet in a crossflow

The flowfield induced by a single, subsonic jet exhausting perpendicularly from a flat plate into a subsonic crossflow has been numerically investigated. The test case was chosen to match available experimental data where the jet Mach number was 0.78, and the freestream Mach number was 0.13. Time-averaged solutions were obtained using the thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations and two overlapping grids. The solutions were sensitive to the radial grid clustering near the edge of the jet and to the far-field boundary conditions. Experimental data comparisons were required to determine the most appropriate jet grid and satisfactory boundary conditions. Globally, the solutions converged in about 6000 iterations. The computational results accurately showed the deflected jet and associated contrarotating vortices. The fine clustered grid in the region upstream of the jet exit allowed the horseshoe vortex in the boundary layer near the jet exit to be captured. Most importantly for aircraft applications, the computed plate pressure distributions compared favorably with the experimental data over most of the surface. However, in the wake region immediately downstream of the jet exit, where there is extensive flow separation, some discrepancies with experimental data were observed. Two turbulence models were used in this study: (1) the zero-equation, two layer Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model; and (2) one-equation Baldwin-Barth turbulence model. The turbulence models gave results which generally compared no better with experimental data than the laminar computation results.

Chiu, Stephen H.↗

Spectral methods for CFD

One of the objectives of these notes is to provide a basic introduction to spectral methods with a particular emphasis on applications to computational fluid dynamics. Another objective is to summarize some of the most important developments in spectral methods in the last two years. The fundamentals of spectral methods for simple problems will be covered in depth, and the essential elements of several fluid dynamical applications will be sketched.

Zang, Thomas A.↗

Generic Divide and Conquer Internet-Based Computing

The rapid growth of internet-based applications and the proliferation of networking technologies have been transforming traditional commercial application areas as well as computer and computational sciences and engineering. This growth stimulates the exploration of new, internet-oriented software technologies that can open new research and application opportunities not only for the commercial world, but also for the scientific and high -performance computing applications community. The general goal of this research project is to contribute to better understanding of the transition to internet-based high -performance computing and to develop solutions for some of the difficulties of this transition. More specifically, our goal is to design an architecture for generic divide and conquer internet-based computing, to develop a portable implementation of this architecture, to create an example library of high-performance divide-and-conquer computing agents that run on top of this architecture, and to evaluate the performance of these agents. We have been designing an architecture that incorporates a master task-pool server and utilizes satellite computational servers that operate on the Internet in a dynamically changing large configuration of lower-end nodes provided by volunteer contributors. Our designed architecture is intended to be complementary to and accessible from computational grids such as Globus, Legion, and Condor. Grids provide remote access to existing high-end computing resources; in contrast, our goal is to utilize idle processor time of lower-end internet nodes. Our project is focused on a generic divide-and-conquer paradigm and its applications that operate on a loose and ever changing pool of lower-end internet nodes.

Radenski, Atanas↗

Developments in the computation of turbulent boundary layers

Computational techniques applicable to turbulent boundary layers are classified into solutions of Reynolds-averaged equations, in which all the effects of the turbulence are modelled, and solutions of three-dimensional, time dependent Navier-Stokes equations, in which the large eddies are calculated and only the turbulence at scales smaller than the computational mesh spacings has to be modelled. Current computation costs place engineering computations in the first of these categories; large eddy simulations are appropriate currently for special studies of the dynamical processes of turbulence in idealized flow fields. It is shown that the two methods are interrelated and that each can gain from advances in the other. The degree of success of a pair of increasingly complex Reynolds stress models to broaden their range of applicability is examined through comparisons with experimental data for a variety of flow conditions. An example of a large-eddy simulation is presented, compared with experimental results, and used to evaluate the models for pressure rate-of-strain correlations and dissipation in the Reynolds-averaged equations.

Rubesin, M. W.↗

Review of Lunar Dust Computational Fluid Dynamic Model Development, Applications, and Validation for Habitable Volumes

As humans look to return to the lunar surface, Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) must be able to control lunar dust concentrations to minimize impacts to crew health and equipment within the cabin environment. Lunar dust is abrasive and can deteriorate the performance of spacesuits and equipment inside of habitable volumes. Development and validation of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models assist in understanding the behavior of lunar dust and aids in design of ECLS systems. Previous analysis efforts include modeling the effect of lunar dust on the crew's health, devices to filter out lunar dust from ventilation systems, and module ventilation to predict where lunar dust would settle in modules. This paper is a literature review of the modeling and testing techniques currently used in industry to analyze how lunar dust will affect ECLSS functionality. Details about lunar dust material properties and knowledge gaps are also examined.

Monica Mah↗

Computer simulation analysis of the effects of countermeasures for reentry orthostatic intolerance

Fluid loading is a countermeasure currently in routine use to improve the g-tolerance of crewmembers during reentry and return of Shuttle flights. However, its effectiveness diminishes with mission duration. Countermeasures that will be effective on long-duration flights are needed and are presently under development. This paper discusses the application of computer simulation in the analysis of the effects of countermeasures for reentry orthostatic intolerance. The results suggest improvements upon the fluid loading countermeasure currently in use.

NASA Center JSC↗

Interactive surface grid generation

This paper describes a surface grid generation tool called S3D. It is the result of integrating a robust and widely applicable interpolation technique with the latest in workstation technology. Employing the use of a highly efficient and user-friendly graphical interface, S3D permits real-time interactive analyses of surface geometry data and facilitates the construction of surface grids for a wide range of applications in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The design objectives are for S3D to be stand-alone and easy to use so that CFD analysts can take a hands-on approach toward most if not all of their surface grid generation needs. Representative examples of S3D applications are presented in describing the various elements involved in the process.

Luh, Raymond Ching-Chung↗

G-cueing microcontroller (a microprocessor application in simulators)

A g cueing microcontroller is described which consists of a tandem pair of microprocessors, dedicated to the task of simulating pilot sensed cues caused by gravity effects. This task includes execution of a g cueing model which drives actuators that alter the configuration of the pilot's seat. The g cueing microcontroller receives acceleration commands from the aerodynamics model in the main computer and creates the stimuli that produce physical acceleration effects of the aircraft seat on the pilots anatomy. One of the two microprocessors is a fixed instruction processor that performs all control and interface functions. The other, a specially designed bipolar bit slice microprocessor, is a microprogrammable processor dedicated to all arithmetic operations. The two processors communicate with each other by a shared memory. The g cueing microcontroller contains its own dedicated I/O conversion modules for interface with the seat actuators and controls, and a DMA controller for interfacing with the simulation computer. Any application which can be microcoded within the available memory, the available real time and the available I/O channels, could be implemented in the same controller.

Horattas, C. G.↗

Proceedings of the 2004 NASA/ONR Circulation Control Workshop, Part 2

This conference proceeding is comprised of papers that were presented at the NASA/ONR Circulation Control Workshop held 16-17 March 2004 at the Radisson-Hampton in Hampton, VA. Over two full days, 30 papers and 4 posters were presented with 110 scientists and engineers in attendance, representing 3 countries. As technological advances influence the efficiency and effectiveness of aerodynamic and hydrodynamic applications, designs, and operations, this workshop was intended to address the technologies, systems, challenges and successes specific to Coanda driven circulation control in aerodynamics and hydrodynamics. A major goal of this workshop was to determine the state-of-the-art in circulation control and to assess the future directions and applications for circulation control. The 2004 workshop addressed applications, experiments, computations, and theories related to circulation control, emphasizing fundamental physics, systems analysis, and applied research. The workshop consisted of single session oral presentations, posters, and written papers that are documented in this unclassified conference proceeding. The format of this written proceeding follows the agenda of the workshop. Each paper is followed with the presentation given at the workshop. the editors compiled brief summaries for each effort that is at the end of this proceeding. These summaries include the paper, oral presentation, and questions or comments that occurred during the workshop. The 2004 Circulation Control Workshop focused on applications including Naval vehicles (Surface and Underwater vehicles), Fixed Wing Aviation (general aviation, commercial, cargo, and business aircraft); V/STOL platforms (helicopters, military aircraft, tilt rotors); propulsion systems (propellers, jet engines, gas turbines), and ground vehicles (automotive, trucks, and other); wind turbines, and other nontraditional applications (e.g., vacuum cleaner, ceiling fan). As part of the CFD focus area of the 2004 CC Workshop, CFD practitioners were invited to compute a two-dimensional benchmark problem for which geometry, flow conditions, grids, and experimental data were available before the workshop. The purpose was to accumulate a database of simulations for a single problem using a range of CFD codes, turbulence models, and grid strategies so as to expand knowledge of model performance/requirements and guide simulation of practical CC configurations.

Jones, Gregory S.↗

The growth of the tearing mode - Boundary and scaling effects

A numerical model of resistive magnetic tearing is developed in order to verify and relate the results of the principal approximations used in analytic analyses and to investigate the solutions and their growth-rate scalings over a large range of primary parameters which include parametric values applicable to the solar atmosphere. The computations cover the linear behavior for a variety of boundary conditions, emphasizing effects which differentiate magnetic tearing in astrophysical situations from that in laboratory devices. Eigenfunction profiles for long and short wavelengths are computed and the applicability of the 'constant psi' approximation is investigated. The growth rate is computed for values of the magnetic Reynolds number up to a trillion and of the dimensionless wavelength parameter down to 0.001. The analysis predicts significant effects due to differing values of the magnetic Reynolds number.

Steinolfson, R. S.↗

Atomistic Modeling of Semiconductors: Si, C, and 3C-SiC

An ongoing task of the Computational Materials Group (CMG) at the NASA Glenn Research Center is to enhance the role of atomistic simulations based on quantum-approximate methods in the study of new materials and their properties. One of the main goals of the activity continues to be breaching limitations that arise from the natural balance between accuracy, range of application, and computational simplicity. Whether that balance can be maintained while breaking new ground depends on the methods available with a minimum of constraints and limitations for the study of the energetics of arbitrary systems. The main tool used in CMG research, the Bozzolo- Ferrante-Smith (BFS) method for alloys, has no inherent constraint in its formulation, a feature that has allowed for successful research on various topics. In this article, we report on the latest development of the CMG program, namely, the extension and application of the BFS method to compound semiconductors, a departure from our previous research based primarily on metallic alloys.

Bozzolo, Guillermo↗

Application of queueing models to multiprogrammed computer systems operating in a time-critical environment

A model of a central processor (CPU) which services background applications in the presence of time critical activity is presented. The CPU is viewed as an M/M/1 queueing system subject to periodic interrupts by deterministic, time critical process. The Laplace transform of the distribution of service times for the background applications is developed. The use of state of the art queueing models for studying the background processing capability of time critical computer systems is discussed and the results of a model validation study which support this application of queueing models are presented.

Eckhardt, D. E., Jr.↗

Unsteady Aero Computation of a 1 1/2 Stage Large Scale Rotating Turbine

This report is the documentation of the work performed for the Subsonic Rotary Wing Project under the NASA s Fundamental Aeronautics Program. It was funded through Task Number NNC10E420T under GESS-2 Contract NNC06BA07B in the period of 10/1/2010 to 8/31/2011. The objective of the task is to provide support for the development of variable speed power turbine technology through application of computational fluid dynamics analyses. This includes work elements in mesh generation, multistage URANS simulations, and post-processing of the simulation results for comparison with the experimental data. The unsteady CFD calculations were performed with the TURBO code running in multistage single passage (phase lag) mode. Meshes for the blade rows were generated with the NASA developed TCGRID code. The CFD performance is assessed and improvements are recommended for future research in this area. For that, the United Technologies Research Center's 1 1/2 stage Large Scale Rotating Turbine was selected to be the candidate engine configuration for this computational effort because of the completeness and availability of the data.

To, Wai-Ming↗

An assessment of the real-time application capabilities of the SIFT computer system

The real-time capabilities of the SIFT computer system, a highly reliable multicomputer architecture developed to support the flight controls of a relaxed static stability aircraft, are discussed. The SIFT computer system was designed to meet extremely high reliability requirements and to facilitate a formal proof of its correctness. Although SIFT represents a significant achievement in fault-tolerant system research it presents an unusual and restrictive interface to its users. The characteristics of the user interface and its impact on application system design are assessed.

Butler, R. W.↗

Velocity-split Navier-Stokes solution procedure for incompressible high Reynolds number external flows

A method for solving the Navier-Stokes equations based on splitting the velocity vector into its rotational and irrotational parts was sucessfully applied to internal flow computations. The applicability of the method to external flows is examined by studying several model problems. The model problems are those of laminar and turbulent incompressible flow past a semi-infinite flat plate and laminar incompressible flow past a finite flat plate. For these problems, the procedure accurately reproduces the known solutions and is computationally very efficient even at high Reynolds numbers. Computational aspects of the method are discussed along with the possibility of using the procedure to retrofit a viscous capability into existing potential flow codes.

Dwoyer, D. L.↗

Center for Advanced Computational Technology

The Center for Advanced Computational Technology (ACT) was established to serve as a focal point for diverse research activities pertaining to application of advanced computational technology to future aerospace systems. These activities include the use of numerical simulations, artificial intelligence methods, multimedia and synthetic environments, and computational intelligence, in the modeling, analysis, sensitivity studies, optimization, design and operation of future aerospace systems. The Center is located at NASA Langley and is an integral part of the School of Engineering and Applied Science of the University of Virginia. The Center has four specific objectives: 1) conduct innovative research on applications of advanced computational technology to aerospace systems; 2) act as pathfinder by demonstrating to the research community what can be done (high-potential, high-risk research); 3) help in identifying future directions of research in support of the aeronautical and space missions of the twenty-first century; and 4) help in the rapid transfer of research results to industry and in broadening awareness among researchers and engineers of the state-of-the-art in applications of advanced computational technology to the analysis, design prototyping and operations of aerospace and other high-performance engineering systems. In addition to research, Center activities include helping in the planning and coordination of the activities of a multi-center team of NASA and JPL researchers who are developing an intelligent synthesis environment for future aerospace systems; organizing workshops and national symposia; as well as writing state-of-the-art monographs and NASA special publications on timely topics.

Noor, Ahmed K.↗

Microsoft Kinect Sensor Evaluation

My summer project evaluates the Kinect game sensor input/output and its suitability to perform as part of a human interface for a spacecraft application. The primary objective is to evaluate, understand, and communicate the Kinect system's ability to sense and track fine (human) position and motion. The project will analyze the performance characteristics and capabilities of this game system hardware and its applicability for gross and fine motion tracking. The software development kit for the Kinect was also investigated and some experimentation has begun to understand its development environment. To better understand the software development of the Kinect game sensor, research in hacking communities has brought a better understanding of the potential for a wide range of personal computer (PC) application development. The project also entails the disassembly of the Kinect game sensor. This analysis would involve disassembling a sensor, photographing it, and identifying components and describing its operation.

Billie, Glennoah↗

Applied Operations Research: Augmented Reality in an Industrial Environment

Augmented reality is the application of computer generated data or graphics onto a real world view. Its use provides the operator additional information or a heightened situational awareness. While advancements have been made in automation and diagnostics of high value critical equipment to improve readiness, reliability and maintenance, the need for assisting and support to Operations and Maintenance staff persists. AR can improve the human machine interface where computer capabilities maximize the human experience and analysis capabilities. NASA operates multiple facilities with complex ground based HVCE in support of national aerodynamics and space exploration, and the need exists to improve operational support and close a gap related to capability sustainment where key and experienced staff consistently rotate work assignments and reach their expiration of term of service. The initiation of an AR capability to augment and improve human abilities and training experience in the industrial environment requires planning and establishment of a goal and objectives for the systems and specific applications. This paper explored use of AR in support of Operation staff in real time operation of HVCE and its maintenance. The results identified include identification of specific goal and objectives, challenges related to availability and computer system infrastructure.

Cole, Stuart K.↗