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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 757 records · Page 42

A computational system for aerodynamic design and analysis of supersonic aircraft. Part 1: General description and theoretical development

An integrated system of computer programs was developed for the design and analysis of supersonic configurations. The system uses linearized theory methods for the calculation of surface pressures and supersonic area rule concepts in combination with linearized theory for calculation of aerodynamic force coefficients. Interactive graphics are optional at the user's request. Schematics of the program structure and the individual overlays and subroutines are described.

Middleton, W. D.↗

A system for aerodynamic design and analysis of supersonic aircraft. Part 4: Test cases

An integrated system of computer programs was developed for the design and analysis of supersonic configurations. The system uses linearized theory methods for the calculation of surface pressures and supersonic area rule concepts in combination with linearized theory for calculation of aerodynamic force coefficients. Interactive graphics are optional at the user's request. Representative test cases and associated program output are presented.

Middleton, W. D.↗

GASP- General Aviation Synthesis Program. Volume 6: Performance

Aircraft performance modeling requires consideration of propulsion, aerodynamics, and weight characteristics. Eleven subroutines used in modeling aircraft performance are presented and their interactions considered. Manuals for performance model users and programmers are included.

Hague, D.↗

Distributing structural optimization software between a mainframe and a minicomputer

This paper describes a distributed software system for solving large-scale structural optimization problems. Distributing the software between a mainframe computer and a minicomputer takes advantage of some of the best features available on each computer. The described software system consists of a finite element structural analysis computer program, a general purpose optimizer program, and several small user-supplied problem dependent programs. Comparison with a similar system executing entirely on the mainframe computer reveals that the distributed system costs less, uses computer resources more efficiently and improves production through faster turnaround and improved user control. The system interfaces with interactive graphics software for generating models and displaying the intermediate and final results

Rogers, J. L., Jr.↗

Human factors in equipment development for the Space Shuttle - A study of the general purpose work station

The results of a human factors test to assay the suitability of a prototype general purpose work station (GPWS) for biosciences experiments on the fourth Spacelab mission are reported. The evaluation was performed to verify that users of the GPWS would optimally interact with the GPWS configuration and instrumentation. Six male subjects sat on stools positioned to allow assimilation of the zero-g body posture. Trials were run concerning the operator viewing angles facing the console, the console color, procedures for injecting rates with dye, a rat blood cell count, mouse dissection, squirrel monkey transfer, and plant fixation. The trials were run for several days in order to gage improvement or poor performance conditions. Better access to the work surface was found necessary, together with more distinct and better located LEDs, better access window latches, clearer sequences on control buttons, color-coded sequential buttons, and provisions made for an intercom system when operators of the GPWS work in tandem.

Junge, M. K.↗

A Concept for the Processing and Display of Thematic Mapper Data

Multispectral information can best be accessed and evaluated through digital interactive image processing techniques. The potential user community, however, has not reached the level where image processing is being used routinely as a standard tool. Therefore, for the time being, special effort must be put into development of strategies that will guarantee optimal utilization of the spectral information contained in remote sensing data acquired under the varying conditions affecting each scene. The Thematic Mapper system provides spectral information in seven carefully selected spectral bands, covering the visible, near IR, short-wave IR and thermal IR region of the electromagntic spectrum. The challenge is to devise the best approach for presenting this complex spectral information in a pictorial format which can be understood and accepted as a standard by the growing user community.

Haydn, R.↗

Space station Platform Management System (PMS) replanning using resource envelopes

One of the responsibilities of the Space Station Platform Management System (PMS) is to maintain constraint-free, short-term plans for platform and free-flyer activities. Both the replanning function and the associated constraint-checking function are viewed as potentially requiring expert system assistance. The PMS Resource Envelope Scheduling System (PRESS) expert system, which is currently under development, is described. The PRESS capabilities will include the following: plan, replan, and perform constraint checking using resource envelopes resembling those required for telescience; initialize itself using the results fo a previous run; infer the replanning needs associated with a change in resource availability; allow the user to determine the level of interaction (including an advisory capability) with the system during execution; and generate both a graphic timeline and a report as output. The PRESS is being developed on an IBM PC/AT using TeKnowledge, Inc.'s M.1 expert system shell. The PRESS activity definitions and constraints are based on those defined for the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) mission scheduled for launch in early 1989.

Bush, Joy Lee↗

Software For Supervisory And Shared Control Of A Robot

User-Macro-Interface computer program provides interactive interface enabling human operator to plan tasks for multiple-arm telerobot, cause robot to execute tasks, and monitor robot. Enables operator to specify that robot execute various tasks and subtasks under various mixtures of manual or automatic control. Well suited for use where environment of task poorly modeled or unplanned or task unexpected.

Backes, Paul G.↗

Enhancements to the high speed convective heating and viscous drag prediction techniques of the Aerodynamic Preliminary Analysis System (APAS)

APAS is an interactive computer program that allows a user to quickly estimate the aerodynamic characteristics of aerospace and aeronautical vehicles throughout the speed range using a single geometry definition. This report documents the major differences between the high speed analysis portion of the APAS and the Mark III version of the hypersonic arbitrary-body program from which it has evolved and compares convective heating and viscous drag results from the APAS with CFD results, experimental data, and flight data.

Cruz, Christopher I.↗

Generating Finite-Element Models Of Composite Materials

Program starts at micromechanical level, from simple inputs supplied by user. COMGEN, COmposite Model GENerator, is interactive FORTRAN program used to create wide variety of finite-element models of continuous-fiber composite materials at micromechanical level. Quickly generates batch or "session files" to be submitted to finite-element preprocessor and postprocessor program, PATRAN. COMGEN requires PATRAN to complete model.

Melis, M. E.↗

Preliminary efforts toward development of data handling and analysis software for unsteady flow measurements: An application for aeroelastic transonic flow configurations

A few years ago the Structural Dynamics Division at LaRC started ambitious experimental research efforts known as the Benchmark Models Program. The primary objective of this program was to provide experimental data that may serve as a calibration source for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) efforts that deal with aeroelastic unsteady flow configurations. It also focuses on the understanding of complex flow phenomenon associated with unsteady flow developments. The overall plan for the program has been described by Bennett, including a presentation of initial test results of flutter of a rigid wing mounted on flexible supports. An example of a test model employed to measure the dynamic response along with corresponding pressure distributions is shown. This model incorporates eighty pressure transducers distributed along two spanwise stations. In addition, the models are equipped with four accelerometers and two strain gages. The data handling system for the Benchmark Model Program is under development. Several interactive computer routines designed for the user interface, dynamic memory allocation, unsteady flow measurements data extraction, and further data processing were developed. To present a few examples of measured data, the unsteady pressure distributions and the wing model dynamic response were plotted.

Finaish, Fathi↗

Software For Analysis Of SAR Data

MacSigmaO is interactive program for Macintosh computer enabling user to display and make computations from data collected by JPL AIR-SAR, ERS-1, JERS-1, and Magellan radar systems. Provides four basic functions: synthesis of images (if necessary), statistical analysis of selected areas, analysis of corner reflectors as calibration measure (if appropriate and possible), and informative mouse tracking. Written in C for use on Macintosh series of computers.

Norikane, Lynne↗

AXAF user interfaces for heterogeneous analysis environments

The AXAF Science Center (ASC) will develop software to support all facets of data center activities and user research for the AXAF X-ray Observatory, scheduled for launch in 1999. The goal is to provide astronomers with the ability to utilize heterogeneous data analysis packages, that is, to allow astronomers to pick the best packages for doing their scientific analysis. For example, ASC software will be based on IRAF, but non-IRAF programs will be incorporated into the data system where appropriate. Additionally, it is desired to allow AXAF users to mix ASC software with their own local software. The need to support heterogeneous analysis environments is not special to the AXAF project, and therefore finding mechanisms for coordinating heterogeneous programs is an important problem for astronomical software today. The approach to solving this problem has been to develop two interfaces that allow the scientific user to run heterogeneous programs together. The first is an IRAF-compatible parameter interface that provides non-IRAF programs with IRAF's parameter handling capabilities. Included in the interface is an application programming interface to manipulate parameters from within programs, and also a set of host programs to manipulate parameters at the command line or from within scripts. The parameter interface has been implemented to support parameter storage formats other than IRAF parameter files, allowing one, for example, to access parameters that are stored in data bases. An X Windows graphical user interface called 'agcl' has been developed, layered on top of the IRAF-compatible parameter interface, that provides a standard graphical mechanism for interacting with IRAF and non-IRAF programs. Users can edit parameters and run programs for both non-IRAF programs and IRAF tasks. The agcl interface allows one to communicate with any command line environment in a transparent manner and without any changes to the original environment. For example, the authors routinely layer the GUI on top of IRAF, ksh, SMongo, and IDL. The agcl, based on the facilities of a system called Answer Garden, also has sophisticated support for examining documentation and help files, asking questions of experts, and developing a knowledge base of frequently required information. Thus, the GUI becomes a total environment for running programs, accessing information, examining documents, and finding human assistance. Because the agcl can communicate with any command-line environment, most projects can make use of it easily. New applications are continually being found for these interfaces. It is the authors' intention to evolve the GUI and its underlying parameter interface in response to these needs - from users as well as developers - throughout the astronomy community. This presentation describes the capabilities and technology of the above user interface mechanisms and tools. It also discusses the design philosophies guiding the work, as well as hopes for the future.

Mandel, Eric↗

Design document for the Surface Currents Data Base (SCDB) Management System (SCDBMS), version 1.0

The Surface Currents Database Management System (SCDBMS) provides access to the Surface Currents Data Base (SCDB) which is maintained by the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO). The SCDBMS incorporates database technology in providing seamless access to surface current data. The SCDBMS is an interactive software application with a graphical user interface (GUI) that supports user control of SCDBMS functional capabilities. The purpose of this document is to define and describe the structural framework and logistical design of the software components/units which are integrated into the major computer software configuration item (CSCI) identified as the SCDBMS, Version 1.0. The preliminary design is based on functional specifications and requirements identified in the governing Statement of Work prepared by the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) and distributed as a request for proposal by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Krisnnamagaru, Ramesh↗

Design document for the MOODS Data Management System (MDMS), version 1.0

The MOODS Data Management System (MDMS) provides access to the Master Oceanographic Observation Data Set (MOODS) which is maintained by the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO). The MDMS incorporates database technology in providing seamless access to parameter (temperature, salinity, soundspeed) vs. depth observational profile data. The MDMS is an interactive software application with a graphical user interface (GUI) that supports user control of MDMS functional capabilities. The purpose of this document is to define and describe the structural framework and logical design of the software components/units which are integrated into the major computer software configuration item (CSCI) identified as MDMS, Version 1.0. The preliminary design is based on functional specifications and requirements identified in the governing Statement of Work prepared by the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) and distributed as a request for proposal by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Source record↗

TSS-Thermal Synthesizer System

Thermal Synthesizer System (TSS) is integrated set of thermal-analysis application programs designed to solve problems encountered by thermal engineers. Combines functionality of Systems Improved Numerical Differencing Analyzer/Fluid Integrator (SINDA/FLUINT) and radiation analysis with friendly and easily understood user-interface environment coupled with powerful interactive color graphics and geometric modeling capability. Enables thermal engineers to spend more time solving engineering problems instead of laboriously constructing and verifying math models. Written in FORTRAN and C language.

Chimenti, Edward↗

Telescience Resource Kit Software Lifecycle

The challenge of a global operations capability led to the Telescience Resource Kit (TReK) project, an in-house software development project of the Mission Operations Laboratory (MOL) at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). The TReK system is being developed as an inexpensive comprehensive personal computer- (PC-) based ground support system that can be used by payload users from their home sites to interact with their payloads on board the International Space Station (ISS). The TReK project is currently using a combination of the spiral lifecycle model and the incremental lifecycle model. As with any software development project, there are four activities that can be very time consuming: Software design and development, project documentation, testing, and umbrella activities, such as quality assurance and configuration management. In order to produce a quality product, it is critical that each of these activities receive the appropriate amount of attention. For TReK, the challenge was to lay out a lifecycle and project plan that provides full support for these activities, is flexible, provides a way to deal with changing risks, can accommodate unknowns, and can respond to changes in the environment quickly. This paper will provide an overview of the TReK lifecycle, a description of the project's environment, and a general overview of project activities.

Griner, Carolyn S.↗