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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 91 records · Page 5

Optimization of the structural and control system for LSS with reduced-order model

The objective is the simultaneous design of the structural and control system for space structures. The minimum weight of the structure is the objective function, and the constraints are placed on the closed loop distribution of the frequencies and the damping parameters. The controls approach used is linear quadratic regulator with constant feedback. A reduced-order control system is used. The effect of uncontrolled modes is taken into consideration by the model error sensitivity suppression (MESS) technique which modified the weighting parameters for the control forces. For illustration, an ACOSS-FOUR structure is designed for a different number of controlled modes with specified values for the closed loop damping parameters and frequencies. The dynamic response of the optimum designs for an initial disturbance is compared.

Khot, N. S.↗

Performance of the 12GHz, 200 watt transmitter experiment package for the Hermes satellite

Performance characteristics from on-orbit tests of the Transmitter Experiment Package (TEP) for the Hermes Satellite are presented. The TEP consists of a Power Processing System (PPS), an Output Stage Tube (OST) and a Variable Conductance Heat Pipe System (VCHPS), all of which are described. The OST is a coupled-cavity Traveling Wave Tube (TWT) with a Multistage Depressed Collector (MDC) and a stepped velocity-tapered slow wave structure for efficiency enhancement. It has an RF output power of 233 watts and overall efficiency of 50.75 percent at a center band frequency of 12.080 GHz. The PPS provides the required operating voltages, regulation, control and protection for the OST. The VCHPS consists of a fin radiator and three dual-artery stainless steel heat pipes using methanol and a mixture of inert gases. Test results presented include efficiencies, RF output power and body current. A discussion of thermal anomalies which occurred is presented.

Alexovich, R. E.↗

Performance of the 12 GHz, 200 watt Transmitter Experiment Package for the Hermes Satellite

Performance characteristics from on-orbit tests of the Transmitter Experiment Package (TEP) for the Hermes Satellite are presented. The tests were conducted from February 8, 1976 through August 8, 1977. The TEP consists of a Power Processing System (PPS), an Output Stage Tube (OST) and a Variable Conductance Heat Pipe System (VCHPS), all of which are described. The OST is a coupled-cavity traveling wave tube with a multistage depressed collector and a stepped velocity-tapered slow wave structure for efficiency enhancement. It has an RF output power of 233 W and overall efficiency of 50.75% at a center band frequency of 12.080 GHz. The PPS provides the required operating voltages, regulation, control and protection for the OST. The VCHPS consists of a fin radiator and three dual-artery stainless steel heat pipes using methanol and a mixture of inert gases. Test results presented include efficiencies, RF output power and body current. A discussion of thermal anomalies which occurred is presented.

Alexovich, R. E.↗

Role of Dendritic Cells in Immune Dysfunction

The specific aims of the project were: (1) Application of the NASA bioreactor to enhance cytokine-regulated proliferation and maturation of dendritic cells (DC). (2) Compare the frequency and function of DC in normal donors and immunocompromised cancer patients. (3) Analyze the effectiveness of cytokine therapy and DC-assisted immunotherapy (using bioreactor-expanded DC) in a murine model of experimental fungal disease. Our investigations have provided new insight into DC immunobiology and have led to the development of methodology to evaluate DC in blood of normal donors and patients. Information gained from these studies has broadened our understanding of possible mechanisms involved in the immune dysfunction of space travelers and earth-bound cancer patients, and could contribute to the design of novel therapies to restore/preserve immunity in these individuals. Several new avenues of investigation were also revealed. The results of studies completed during Round 2 are summarized.

Savary, Cherylyn A.↗

Fluid shear stress as a regulator of gene expression in vascular cells: possible correlations with diabetic abnormalities

Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased frequency, severity and more rapid progression of cardiovascular diseases. Metabolic perturbations from hyperglycemia result in disturbed endothelium-dependent relaxation, activation of coagulation pathways, depressed fibrinolysis, and other abnormalities in vascular homeostasis. Atherosclerosis is localized mainly at areas of geometric irregularity at which blood vessels branch, curve and change diameter, and where blood is subjected to sudden changes in velocity and/or direction of flow. Shear stress resulting from blood flow is a well known modulator of vascular cell function. This paper presents what is currently known regarding the molecular mechanisms responsible for signal transduction and gene regulation in vascular cells exposed to shear stress. Considering the importance of the hemodynamic environment of vascular cells might be vital to increasing our understanding of diabetes.

Review, Tutorial↗

An Indirect Mixed-Sensitivity Approach to Microgravity Vibration Isolation: The Exploitation of Kinematic Coupling In Frequency-weighting Design-Filter Selections

Many space-science experiments need an active isolation system to provide them with the requisite microgravity environment. The isolation systems planned for use with the International Space Station have been appropriately modeled using relative position relative velocity, and acceleration states. In theory, frequency-weighting design filters can be applied to these state-space models, in order to develop optimal H2 or mixed-norm controllers with desired stability and performance characteristics. In practice, however, the kinematic coupling among the various states can lead, through the associated frequency-weighting-filters, to conflicting demands on the Riccati design "machinery." The results can be numerically ill-conditioned regulator and estimator Riccati equations and/or reduced intuition in the design process. In addition, kinematic coupling can result in a redundancy in the demands imposed by the frequency weights. Failure properly to account for this type of coupling can lead to an unnecessary increase in controller dimensionality and, in turn, controller complexity. This paper suggests a rational approach to the assignment of frequency-weighting design filters, in the presence of the kinematic coupling among states that exists in the microgravity vibration isolation problem.

Hampton, R. David↗

An Indirect Mixed-Sensitivity Approach to Microgravity Vibration Isolation: The Exploitation of Kinematic Coupling In Frequency-Weighting Design-Filter Selections

Many space science experiments need an active isolation system to provide them with the requisite microgravity environment. The isolation systems planned for use with the International Space Station have been appropriately modeled using relative position, relative velocity, and acceleration states. In theory, frequency design filters can be applied to these state-space models, in order to develop optimal H, or mixed-norm controllers with desired stability- and performance characteristics. In practice. however, the kinematic coupling among the various states can lead, through the associated frequency-weighting-filters, to conflicting demands on the Riccati design "machinery." The results can be numerically ill-conditioned regulator and estimator Riccati equations and/or reduced intuition in the design process. In addition, kinematic coupling can result in a redundancy in the demands imposed by the frequency weights. Failure properly to account for this type of coupling can lead to an unnecessary increase in controller dimensionality and, in turn, controller complexity. This paper suggests a rational approach to the assignment of frequency weighting design filters, in the presence of the kinematic coupling among states that exists in the microgravity vibration isolation problem.

Hampton, R. David↗

Spool valve cycles at controlled frequency

Spool valve accurately controls the cycle of a pneumatically-actuated system over long periods. Regulation of pressure from the external source, positioning of the adjusting plugs, and magnet selection, together afford wide variation in cyclic timing and speed of closure in either direction.

Charlton, K. W.↗

The role of time and speed in NASA's SUNLITE program

The SUNLITE program of NASA's LaRC aims to demonstrate lower noise and better frequency stability for continuous-wave (CW) solid-state lasers in the microgravity environment of space. The program will utilize laser-diode-pumped nonplanar-ring oscillators regulated by ultra-stable high-finesse Fabry-Perot Spectrometers to produce light beams with phase rate or frequency variations as low as 3 Hz. SUNLITE will use the period-method (P-method) to measure the phase rate and frequency stability of the lasers. The P-method was chosen because it requires less memory space for the raw data, because frequencies can be analyzed on-line in real-time simply by reciprocating the periods (fi = 1/pi), and because the mean and variance of the frequencies can be calculated as fast or faster than they can be with the fastest fast Fourier transformations. Furthermore, for a given signal-to-noise power ratio, the P-method requires less data and less computer time to extract the noise components. Although the P-method does require fast Time Interval Counters, the Fourier transformation method requires comparably fast Sampling Volt meters. For either method, however, time and computer speed play a critical role.

Hafele, Joseph C.↗

Preparation of dielectric coating of variable dielectric constant by plasma polymerization

A plasma polymerization process for the deposition of a dielectric polymer coating on a substrate comprising disposing of the substrate in a closed reactor between two temperature controlled electrodes connected to a power supply is presented. A vacuum is maintained within the closed reactor, causing a monomer gas or gas mixture of a monomer and diluent to flow into the reactor, generating a plasma between the electrodes. The vacuum varies and controls the dielectric constant of the polymer coating being deposited by regulating the gas total and partial pressure, the electric field strength and frequency, and the current density.

Hudis, M.↗

Design and evaluation of control systems for large communications satellites

Control techniques for future large flexible spacecraft are developed. Control design and analysis are supported by a comprehensive CAD system. The proposed operational mobile communications satellite (OMSAT) featuring a 44 m offset fed antenna is used as target application. Requirements for satellite attitude control and communications beam pointing are defined. The following control methods are applied to the system: standard linear optimal regulator (LOR) with Luenberger observer, LOR/observer with selective spill-over suppression, frequency shaped LOR, LOR with closed-loop order reduction by cost decoupling, and robust servomechanism.

Steiber, M. E.↗

The dynamics and control of large-flexible space structures, part 10

A mathematical model is developed to predict the dynamics of the proposed orbiting Spacecraft Control Laboratory Experiment (SCOLE) during the station keeping phase. The equations of motion are derived using a Newton-Euler formulation. The model includes the effects of gravity, flexibility, and orbital dynamics. The control is assumed to be provided to the system through the Shuttle's three torquers, and through six actuators located by pairs at two points on the mast and at the mass center of the reflector. The modal shape functions are derived using the fourth order beam equation. The generic mode equations are derived to account for the effects of the control forces on the modal shape and frequencies. The equations are linearized about a nominal equilibrium position. The linear regulator theory is used to derive control laws for both the linear model of the rigidized SCOLE as well as that of the actual SCOLE including the first four flexible modes. The control strategy previously derived for the linear model of the rigidized SCOLE is applied to the nonlinear model of the same configuration of the system and preliminary single axis slewing maneuvers conducted. The results obtained confirm the applicability of the intuitive and appealing two-stage control strategy which would slew the SCOLE system, as if rigid to its desired position and then concentrate on damping out the residual flexible motions.

Bainum, Peter M.↗

Active vibration control with model correction on a flexible laboratory grid structure

This paper presents experimental and computational comparisons of three active damping control laws applied to a complex laboratory structure. Two reduced structural models were used with one model being corrected on the basis of measured mode shapes and frequencies. Three control laws were investigated, a time-invariant linear quadratic regulator with state estimation and two direct rate feedback control laws. Experimental results for all designs were obtained with digital implementation. It was found that model correction improved the agreement between analytical and experimental results. The best agreement was obtained with the simplest direct rate feedback control.

Schamel, George C., II↗

Transfer function analysis of dynamic cerebral autoregulation in humans

To test the hypothesis that spontaneous changes in cerebral blood flow are primarily induced by changes in arterial pressure and that cerebral autoregulation is a frequency-dependent phenomenon, we measured mean arterial pressure in the finger and mean blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (VMCA) during supine rest and acute hypotension induced by thigh cuff deflation in 10 healthy subjects. Transfer function gain, phase, and coherence function between changes in arterial pressure and VMCA were estimated using the Welch method. The impulse response function, calculated as the inverse Fourier transform of this transfer function, enabled the calculation of transient changes in VMCA during acute hypotension, which was compared with the directly measured change in VMCA during thigh cuff deflation. Beat-to-beat changes in VMCA occurred simultaneously with changes in arterial pressure, and the autospectrum of VMCA showed characteristics similar to arterial pressure. Transfer gain increased substantially with increasing frequency from 0.07 to 0.20 Hz in association with a gradual decrease in phase. The coherence function was > 0.5 in the frequency range of 0.07-0.30 Hz and < 0.5 at < 0.07 Hz. Furthermore, the predicted change in VMCA was similar to the measured VMCA during thigh cuff deflation. These data suggest that spontaneous changes in VMCA that occur at the frequency range of 0.07-0.30 Hz are related strongly to changes in arterial pressure and, furthermore, that short-term regulation of cerebral blood flow in response to changes in arterial pressure can be modeled by a transfer function with the quality of a high-pass filter in the frequency range of 0.07-0.30 Hz.

NASA Discipline Cardiopulmonary↗

CMOS-Compatible SOI MESFETS for Radiation-Hardened DC-to-DC Converters

A radiation-tolerant transistor switch has been developed that can operate between 196 and +150 C for DC-to-DC power conversion applications. A prototype buck regulator component was demonstrated to be performing well after a total ionizing dose of 300 krad(Si). The prototype buck converters showed good efficiencies at ultra-high switching speeds in the range of 1 to 10 MHz. Such high switching frequency will enable smaller, lighter buck converters to be developed as part of the next project. Switching regulators are widely used in commercial applications including portable consumer electronics.

Thornton, Trevor↗

Evaluation of exercise-respiratory system modifications and integration schemes for physiological systems

Exercise subroutine modifications are implemented in an exercise-respiratory system model yielding improvement of system response to exercise forcings. A more physiologically desirable respiratory ventilation rate in addition to an improved regulation of arterial gas tensions and cerebral blood flow is observed. A respiratory frequency expression is proposed which would be appropriate as an interfacing element of the respiratory-pulsatile cardiovascular system. Presentation of a circulatory-respiratory system integration scheme along with its computer program listing is given. The integrated system responds to exercise stimulation for both nonstressed and stressed physiological states. Other integration possibilities are discussed with respect to the respiratory, pulsatile cardiovascular, thermoregulatory, and the long-term circulatory systems.

Gallagher, R. R.↗

A study of Schwarz converters for nuclear powered spacecraft

High power space systems which use low dc voltage, high current sources such as thermoelectric generators, will most likely require high voltage conversion for transmission purposes. This study considers the use of the Schwarz resonant converter for use as the basic building block to accomplish this low-to-high voltage conversion for either a dc or an ac spacecraft bus. The Schwarz converter has the important assets of both inherent fault tolerance and resonant operation; parallel operation in modular form is possible. A regulated dc spacecraft bus requires only a single stage converter while a constant frequency ac bus requires a cascaded Schwarz converter configuration. If the power system requires constant output power from the dc generator, then a second converter is required to route unneeded power to a ballast load.

Stuart, Thomas A.↗