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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 829 records · Page 46

Human comfort response to random motions with a dominant pitching motion

The effects of random pitching velocities on passenger ride comfort response were examined on the NASA Langley Visual Motion Simulator. The effects of power spectral density shape and frequency ranges from 0 to 2 Hz were studied. The subjective rating data and the physical motion data obtained are presented. No attempt at interpretation or detailed analysis of the data is made. Motions in all degrees of freedom existed as well as the intended pitching motion, because of the characteristics of the simulator. These unwanted motions may have introduced some interactive effects on passenger responses which should be considered in any analysis of the data.

Stone, R. W., Jr.↗

Lee-side vortices on delta wings at hypersonic speeds.

A fluid-dynamic investigation was carried out to determine the cause of intense heating observed on the lee meridian of hypersonic delta wings and also to derive means for its suppression. Several experimental techniques were combined with analysis of extensive heat-transfer measurements at a freestream Mach number of six in a range of Reynolds number to acquire a general description of the lee-flow structure. With attached leading-edge flow on the delta wings, the dominant feature is a pair of embedded vortices on the lee meridian whose interaction with the boundary-layer is responsible for the observed local heating. On the basis of flow visualization results and heat-transfer correlations, a qualitative vortex flow model is proposed which differs essentially from the conventional inboard separation vortex model.

Rao, D. M.↗

Human comfort response to dominant random motions in longitudinal modes of aircraft motion

The effects of random vertical and longitudinal accelerations and pitching velocity passenger ride comfort responses were examined on the NASA Langley Visual Motion Simulator. Effects of power spectral density shape were studied for motions where the peak was between 0 and 2 Hz. The subjective rating data and the physical motion data obtained are presented without interpretation or detailed analysis. There existed motions in all other degrees of freedom as well as the particular pair of longitudinal airplane motions studied. These unwanted motions, caused by the characteristics of the simulator may have introduced some interactive effects on passenger responses.

Stone, R. W., Jr.↗

Experimental study of effects of forebody geometry on high angle of attack static and dynamic stability

A series of low speed wind tunnel tests on a generic fighter model with a cylindrical fuselage were made to investigate the effects of forebody shape on static and dynamic lateral/directional stability. Five forebodies, including a chine nose of unconventional cross-sectional shape, were tested. Conventional force tests were conducted to determine static stability characteristics and single degree-of-freedom free-to-roll tests were used to study the wing rock susceptibility of the model with the various forebodies. Flow visualization data were obtained to aid in analysis of the complex flow phenomena involved. The results show that forebody cross-sectional shape can strongly effect both static and dynamic (roll) stability at high angles of attack. Large variations in stability were obtained for the various forebody geometries. These characteristics result from the impact of cross-sectional shape on forebody vortex development, the behavior of the vortices at sideslip conditions, and their interaction with the wing and empennage flow fields.

Brandon, J. M.↗

Space Radiation Effects on Human Cells: Modeling DNA Breakage, DNA Damage Foci Distribution, Chromosomal Aberrations and Tissue Effects

Future long-tem space travel will face challenges from radiation concerns as the space environment poses health risk to humans in space from radiations with high biological efficiency and adverse post-flight long-term effects. Solar particles events may dramatically affect the crew performance, while Galactic Cosmic Rays will induce a chronic exposure to high-linear-energy-transfer (LET) particles. These types of radiation, not present on the ground level, can increase the probability of a fatal cancer later in astronaut life. No feasible shielding is possible from radiation in space, especially for the heavy ion component, as suggested solutions will require a dramatic increase in the mass of the mission. Our research group focuses on fundamental research and strategic analysis leading to better shielding design and to better understanding of the biological mechanisms of radiation damage. We present our recent effort to model DNA damage and tissue damage using computational models based on the physics of heavy ion radiation, DNA structure and DNA damage and repair in human cells. Our particular area of expertise include the clustered DNA damage from high-LET radiation, the visualization of DSBs (DNA double strand breaks) via DNA damage foci, image analysis and the statistics of the foci for different experimental situations, chromosomal aberration formation through DSB misrepair, the kinetics of DSB repair leading to a model-derived spectrum of chromosomal aberrations, and, finally, the simulation of human tissue and the pattern of apoptotic cell damage. This compendium of theoretical and experimental data sheds light on the complex nature of radiation interacting with human DNA, cells and tissues, which can lead to mutagenesis and carcinogenesis later in human life after the space mission.

Ponomarev, A. L.↗

Visualizing Geospatial Data through ESRI Story Maps for Earth Science Education: Lessons Learned from My NASA Data

For 20 years My NASA Data (MND) has curated NASA Earth science data and provided the data to educators in engaging learner-centered resources. MND has recently featured story maps as an innovative way to engage students in NASA Earth data. A story map is a cloud-based lesson that engages the learner in interactive geospatial maps using NASA data, and other multimedia content, text, and tasks that can be seamlessly incorporated in classroom instruction. This immersive technology eliminates the need for the user to move among tricky interfaces to access and visualize Earth science data, and no special software is required to be downloaded. Each story map integrates data from different NASA satellite missions, retrieved from Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs). Story maps also employ data analysis tools, such as time series options and swipe tools that allow learners to view and analyze relationships between scientific variables. MND has produced 25 story map lesson plans on the topics of air quality, the urban heat island effect, Earth’s energy budget, phytoplankton distribution, hurricane formation, solar eclipses, ocean circulation patterns, sea ice extent, and volcanic eruptions. Nine of them are extended story maps and written in the 5E format, which is internationally recognized as best practice based on how children learn science. Each story map resource is developed by the MND team featuring a GIS programming specialist, a lead scientist, and educational specialist/s to ensure the context, content, and methods are scientifically and educationally sound. The MND story maps are written for middle and high school science teachers and students as they connect with the Earth Systems Science phenomena featured in the Next Generation Science Standards. Each story map includes supporting resources for smooth integration in the classroom. During Fiscal Year 2023, The My NASA Data website received over 100,000 story map engagements during. These metrics highlight the interest in story maps as an Earth Science educational resource.

Desiray Wilson↗

Evaluation of tactual displays for flight control

Manual tracking experiments were conducted to determine the suitability of tactual displays for presenting flight-control information in multitask situations. Although tracking error scores are considerably greater than scores obtained with a continuous visual display, preliminary results indicate that inter-task interference effects are substantially less with the tactual display in situations that impose high visual scanning workloads. The single-task performance degradation found with the tactual display appears to be a result of the coding scheme rather than the use of the tactual sensory mode per se. Analysis with the state-variable pilot/vehicle model shows that reliable predictions of tracking errors can be obtained for wide-band tracking systems once the pilot-related model parameters have been adjusted to reflect the pilot-display interaction.

Levison, W. H.↗

Sensor fusion IV: Control paradigms and data structures; Proceedings of the Meeting, Boston, MA, Nov. 12-15, 1991

Various papers on control paradigms and data structures in sensor fusion are presented. The general topics addressed include: decision models and computational methods, sensor modeling and data representation, active sensing strategies, geometric planning and visualization, task-driven sensing, motion analysis, models motivated biology and psychology, decentralized detection and distributed decision, data fusion architectures, robust estimation of shapes and features, application and implementation. Some of the individual subjects considered are: the Firefly experiment on neural networks for distributed sensor data fusion, manifold traversing as a model for learning control of autonomous robots, choice of coordinate systems for multiple sensor fusion, continuous motion using task-directed stereo vision, interactive and cooperative sensing and control for advanced teleoperation, knowledge-based imaging for terrain analysis, physical and digital simulations for IVA robotics.

Schenker, Paul S.↗

Web-based Preprocessing and Visualization of 3D FIB Tomography Data for Nuclear Fuel Characterization

Three-dimensional (3D) focused ion beam (FIB) tomography enables reconstruction of internal nuclear fuel features that can't be fully evaluated through surface imaging alone. This capability supports characterization of fuel constituents and defects under thermal and irradiation conditions relevant to microreactor development. However, large tomography datasets can create data-handling, loading, and visualization challenges, especially when image-stack preparation and file conversion must be completed with separate tools. The Computational Ultraspatial Tomography Toolkit for High-Resolution Object Analysis Tools (CUTTRHOAT) is an open-source web application being developed to display FIB tomography datasets available through the Nuclear Research Data System (NRDS). The current alpha version requires prepared HDF5 datasets and has limited integrated data-preparation capabilities. This project improves CUTTHROAT by adding dataset-folder selection, automatic input detection, dataset scanning, missing-slice identification, blank-slice insertion, and image-stack-to-HDF5 conversion. Two applications will be compared: the baseline CUTTHROAT alpha workflow and the updated application containing the integrated data-handling and preprocessing functions. Evaluation will consider dataset detection accuracy, conversion success, loading time, rendering responsiveness, application stability, and user interaction. Preliminary results demonstrate successful loading of existing HDF5 files and converted image stacks, while testing also identified performance reductions caused by excessive blank-slice generation. The updated workflow reduces reliance on external preparation tools and supports more direct movement from image stacks to color-code 3D visualization. Future work includes refining missing-slice handling, integrating additional preprocessing functions, like a denoising feature, parsing TIFF metadata for automatic voxel scaling, and adding manual X, Y, and Z voxel-spacing inputs for PNG and JPEG.

36 - MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Polymer-cement composites with adhesion and re-adhesion (healing) to casing capability for geothermal wellbore applications

Deterioration of cement/casing adhesion in wellbore scenarios can result in unwanted and potentially harmful leakage with the potential of serious repair costs. In this work, we explore the use of self-healing polymers added to conventional wellbore cements as a way to bring about self-healing and readhering (to steel casing) properties to the composite material. The polymers are pH resistant and seem to improve the cement integrity after exposure to typical chemical and thermal stresses encountered under geothermal wellbore conditions. We find that addition of about 10-15 wt% of polymer to the cement visually increases its resistance to fracturing from exposure to geothermal conditions, while the adhesive strength of cement/stainless steel increases with curing time for a period of about 10 days. Self-healing capability was demonstrated by permeability analysis showing that polymer-cement composites reduce flow by 50-70% at cement bulk and at the cement/steel interface. Use of atomistic simulations imply that these polymers have good wetting properties on the steel surfaces. Analysis of the interactions between steel/polymer and cement/polymer show that they are complementary, resulting in a wider range of bonding patterns. Cracks are likely to expose under-coordinated sites that result in more bonding interactions, which agrees well with the permeability measurements showing high degree of healed cracks and healed (cement-steel) interfacial gaps together with an overall increased in structural integrity of these advanced polymer-cement composite materials.

Rod, Kenton A.↗

Three-dimensional tertiary structure of yeast phenylalanine transfer RNA

Results of an analysis and interpretation of a 3-A electron density map of yeast phenylalanine transfer RNA. Some earlier detailed assignments of nucleotide residues to electron density peaks are found to be in error, even though the overall tracing of the backbone conformation of yeast phenylalanine transfer RNA was generally correct. A new, more comprehensive interpretation is made which makes it possible to define the tertiary interactions in the molecule. The new interpretation makes it possible to visualize a number of tertiary interactions which not only explain the structural role of most of the bases which are constant in transfer RNAs, but also makes it possible to understand in a direct and simple fashion the chemical modification data on transfer RNA. In addition, this pattern of tertiary interactions provides a basis for understanding the general three-dimensional folding of all transfer RNA molecules.

Kim, S. H.↗

The Effect of Visual Information on the Manual Approach and Landing

The effect of visual information in combination with basic display information on the approach performance. A pre-experimental model analysis was performed in terms of the optimal control model. The resulting aircraft approach performance predictions were compared with the results of a moving base simulator program. The results illustrate that the model provides a meaningful description of the visual (scene) perception process involved in the complex (multi-variable, time varying) manual approach task with a useful predictive capability. The theoretical framework was shown to allow a straight-forward investigation of the complex interaction of a variety of task variables.

Wewerinke, P. H.↗

New tool for kinematic regime estimation in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering

We introduce a new phenomenological tool based on momentum region indicators to guide the analysis and interpretation of semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering measurements. The new tool, referred to as “affinity”, is devised to help visualize and quantify the proximity of any experimental kinematic bin to a particular hadron production region, such as that associated with transverse momentum dependent factorization. We apply the affinity estimator to existing HERMES and COMPASS data and expected data from Jefferson Lab and the future Electron-Ion Collider. We also provide an interactive notebook based on Machine Learning for fast evaluation of affinity.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

New techniques for experimental generation of two-dimensional blade-vortex interaction at low Reynolds numbers

An experimental investigation of two dimensional blade vortex interaction was held at NASA Langley Research Center. The first phase was a flow visualization study to document the approach process of a two dimensional vortex as it encountered a loaded blade model. To accomplish the flow visualization study, a method for generating two dimensional vortex filaments was required. The numerical study used to define a new vortex generation process and the use of this process in the flow visualization study were documented. Additionally, photographic techniques and data analysis methods used in the flow visualization study are examined.

Booth, E., Jr.↗

Display format, highlight validity, and highlight method: Their effects on search performance

Display format and highlight validity were shown to affect visual display search performance; however, these studies were conducted on small, artificial displays of alphanumeric stimuli. A study manipulating these variables was conducted using realistic, complex Space Shuttle information displays. A 2x2x3 within-subjects analysis of variance found that search times were faster for items in reformatted displays than for current displays. Responses to valid applications of highlight were significantly faster than responses to non or invalidly highlighted applications. The significant format by highlight validity interaction showed that there was little difference in response time to both current and reformatted displays when the highlight validity was applied; however, under the non or invalid highlight conditions, search times were faster with reformatted displays. A separate within-subject analysis of variance of display format, highlight validity, and several highlight methods did not reveal a main effect of highlight method. In addition, observed display search times were compared to search time predicted by Tullis' Display Analysis Program. Benefits of highlighting and reformatting displays to enhance search and the necessity to consider highlight validity and format characteristics in tandem for predicting search performance are discussed.

Donner, Kimberly A.↗

Convective Melting of Particles in Flow Under Microgravity Conditions

Study of melting of dispersed or packed solid particles in a fluid under gravity and microgravity conditions provides benchmark information for many engineering applications such as material processing, environmental assessment and protection and space fire protection. During such processes, packed or dispersed solid particles are interacting with fluid flow at above-melting temperatures. By unmasking the buoyancy effects in coupled flow, phase change and heat transport phenomena, a better understanding of melting rate in non-thermal equilibrium, convective conditions can be studied. A series of flight experiments were conducted onboard the NASA KC-135 Microgravity Research Airplane. The Particle Melting in Plow (PMF) module was designed to allow flow through the initially packed ice particles at controlled temperature and velocity. To achieve this, a close-loop flow system was designed. Video images were taken to record the visualization of the melting process, from which a time variation of packed particle thickness distribution at different times can be obtained by the image analysis method. The fluid temperature distribution within the melting zone is measured by thermocouples. An infrared camera was mounted from the top of the test section to record the ice-water thermal images at a given location. The results from thermal images yield local temperature variation between melting solid and liquid and local Stephan number. Typical results for a number of cases are presented. The mathematical model, describing mass, energy, and momentum balance equations for the liquid and solid phases, is presented. It is found that melting rate is influenced mainly by the ratio of Reynolds number (based on the initial particle diameter) to the Froud number, and Stephan number. At the absence of gravity, Froud number approaches zero, Reynolds number and Stephan number become dominant factors governing the melting rate. The numerically determined results are compared with the experimental ones. It is found that the discrepancy between the predicted and measured melting rate is largely due to the inaccuracy in the constitutive equations for effective thermal physical properties, such as effective thermal conductivity and diffusivity, and transport properties, such as particle interaction coefficient, and local heat transfer coefficient of particles.

Stewart, C.↗

Hybrid Reality Lab Capabilities - Video 2

Our Hybrid Reality and Advanced Operations Lab is developing incredibly realistic and immersive systems that could be used to provide training, support engineering analysis, and augment data collection for various human performance metrics at NASA. To get a better understanding of what Hybrid Reality is, let's go through the two most commonly known types of immersive realities: Virtual Reality, and Augmented Reality. Virtual Reality creates immersive scenes that are completely made up of digital information. This technology has been used to train astronauts at NASA, used during teleoperation of remote assets (arms, rovers, robots, etc.) and other activities. One challenge with Virtual Reality is that if you are using it for real time-applications (like landing an airplane) then the information used to create the virtual scenes can be old (i.e. visualized long after physical objects moved in the scene) and not accurate enough to land the airplane safely. This is where Augmented Reality comes in. Augmented Reality takes real-time environment information (from a camera, or see through window, and places digitally created information into the scene so that it matches with the video/glass information). Augmented Reality enhances real environment information collected with a live sensor or viewport (e.g. camera, window, etc.) with the information-rich visualization provided by Virtual Reality. Hybrid Reality takes Augmented Reality even further, by creating a higher level of immersion where interactivity can take place. Hybrid Reality takes Virtual Reality objects and a trackable, physical representation of those objects, places them in the same coordinate system, and allows people to interact with both objects' representations (virtual and physical) simultaneously. After a short period of adjustment, the individuals begin to interact with all the objects in the scene as if they were real-life objects. The ability to physically touch and interact with digitally created objects that have the same shape, size, location to their physical object counterpart in virtual reality environment can be a game changer when it comes to training, planning, engineering analysis, science, entertainment, etc. Our Project is developing such capabilities for various types of environments. The video outlined with this abstract is a representation of an ISS Hybrid Reality experience. In the video you can see various Hybrid Reality elements that provide immersion beyond just standard Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality.

Delgado, Francisco J.↗

Improved visualization of flow field measurements

A capability was developed that makes it possible to apply to measured flow field data the visualization tools developed to display numerical solutions for computational fluid dynamic problems. The measurement monitor surface (MMS) procedure was applied to the analysis of flow field measurements within a low aspect ratio transonic axial flow fan rotor obtained with 2-D laser anemometry. The procedure generates input for the visualization tools developed to display numerical solutions for computational fluid dynamics problems. The relative Mach number contour plots obtained by this method resemble the conventional contour plots obtained by more traditional methods. The results show that the MMS procedure can be used to generate input for the multidimensional processing and analysis tools developed for data from numerical flow field simulations. They show that an experimenter can apply the MMS procedure to his data and then use an interactive graphics program to display scalar quantities like the Mach number by profiles, carpet plots, contour lines, and surfaces using various colors. Also, flow directionality can be shown by display of vector fields and particle traces.

Miles, Jeffrey Hilton↗