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Cardiovascular physiology - Effects of microgravity

Experiments during spaceflight and its groundbase analog, bedrest, provide consistent data which demonstrate that numerous changes in cardiovascular function occur as part of the physiological adaptation process to the microgravity environment. These include elevated heart rate and venous compliance, lowered blood volume, central venous pressure and stroke volume, and attenuated autonomic reflex functions. Although most of these adaptations are not functionally apparent during microgravity exposure, they manifest themselves during the return to the gravitational challenge of earth's terrestrial environment as orthostatic hypotension and instability, a condition which could compromise safety, health and productivity. Development and application of effective and efficient countermeasures such as saline "loading," intermittent venous pooling, pharmacological treatments, and exercise have become primary emphases of the space life sciences research effort with only limited success. Successful development of countermeasures will require knowledge of the physiological mechanisms underlying cardiovascular adaptation to microgravity which can be obtained only through controlled, parallel groundbased research to complement carefully designed flight experiments. Continued research will provide benefits for both space and clinical applications as well as enhance the basic understanding of cardiovascular homeostasis in humans.

Convertino, V.↗

Stability of Solutions of Initial Boundary-Balue Problems of Aerohydroelasticity

In designing structures and devices interacting with the flow of gas or liquid, it is necessary to solve the problems associated with the investigation of the stability required for their functioning and operational reliability. The definition of stability of an elastic body taken in the article corresponds to Lyapunov’s concept of stability of a dynamical system. On the base of the proposed nonlinear mathematical model the dynamic stability of the elastic aileron of the wing taking into account the incident subsonic flow of gas or liquid (in an ideal model of an incompressible environment) is investigated. Also a nonlinear mathematical model of the device relating to the vibration technique, which is intended for intensification of technological processes, for example, the process of mixing, is considered. The action of these devices is based on the oscillations of elastic elements during the gas or liquid flow. The dynamic stability of the elastic element located on one wall of the flow channel with the subsonic flow of gas or liquid (in an ideal model of a compressible environment) is investigated. Both models are described by a coupled nonlinear system of differential equations for the unknown functions — the potential of the gas velocity and deformation of the elastic element. On the basis of the construction of functionals, we obtain the sufficient conditions of the stability, the imposed restrictions on the free-stream velocity of the gas, the flexural stiffness of the elastic element, and other parameters of the mechanical system. The examples of construction of the stability regions for particular parameters of the mechanical system are presented.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Secure State Estimation with Asynchronous Measurements for Coordinated Cyber Attack Detection in Active Distribution Systems

Coordinated cyber attacks tamper with measurement data to disrupt the situational awareness of active distribution systems. Various sensors report measurements asynchronously at different rates, which introduces challenges during state estimation. In addition, this forces cyber intruders to exert greater effort to compromise multiple communication channels and launch coordinated attacks. Therefore, multi-channel and asynchronous measurements could be harnessed to develop more secure cyber defense strategies. In this paper, a prediction-correction-based multi-rate observer is designed to exploit the value of asynchronous measurements for the detection of coordinated false data injection (FDI) attacks. First, a time-function-dependent prediction-correction strategy is proposed to adjust the sampling interval for each sensor’s measurement. Then, an observer is designed based on the trade-off between estimation error and the optimal period of the most recent sampling instant, with the convergence of estimation error with the maximum permitted sampling interval. Moreover, the conditions for exponential stability are developed using the Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional technique. Next, a coordinated FDI attack detection strategy is developed based on the dual nonlinear minimization problem. The proposed attack detection and secure state estimation strategies are tested on the IEEE 13-node system. Simulation results show that these schemes are effective in enhancing attack detection based on asynchronous measurements or compromised data.

asynchronous measurements↗

Transportation and Systems Analysis Collaborations in Support of a Federal Consolidated Interim Storage Facility

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Integrated Waste Management (IWM) program under the Office of Nuclear Energy is planning for the future transportation, storage, and eventual disposal of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW) from nuclear power plant sites across the United States. To better enable informed decision-making regarding the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle, the IWM program has been sponsoring the development and application of system analysis tools capable of analyzing various options for managing SNF and HLW. With these tools, integrated waste management system (IWMS) architecture analyses are being conducted to support the future deployment of a comprehensive nuclear waste management system that considers all major back-end aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle (i.e., transportation, storage, and disposal). System analyses and assessments typically use these modeling and simulation tools to investigate implications of changes in various assumptions and parameters such as acceptance rates, receipt logic, facility capacities and capabilities, use of standardized canisters, start and stop dates of facilities, etc. The Next Generation System Analysis Model (NGSAM) is an agent-based simulation toolkit that is used for a system-level simulation and analysis focused on SNF management in the United States. An analyst using NGSAM has the ability to define several factors like the number of storage facilities, capacity at each facility, transportation schedules, shipment rates, and other conditions. NGSAM’s primary purpose is to provide a system analyst with capabilities to model the IWMS and gain insights into SNF and HLW management alternatives including the impact of system choices, associated cost estimates, and development of integrated yet flexible approaches. IWM is also developing the Stakeholder Tool for Assessing Radioactive Transportation (START). START is a web-based geospatial tool developed to provide visualization and initial evaluation of transportation options associated with future SNF and HLW shipment planning and operations. This includes characterizing safety, economic, and environmental conditions on and in proximity to shipment origins as well as along prospective transportation routes. Information from the START tool can be presented/shared as maps, graphics, geospatial files, and tabular form to enable easy data representation and export functionality. The system analysis, NGSAM, and START teams had been working closely for several years before formalizing this collaboration. START provides the SNF routing information for use in NGSAM. System analysts use the NGSAM tool to generate results (schedule, costs, infrastructure acquisitions, shipment rates, etc.). Subject-matter experts and system analysts work together to inform how NGSAM should model the waste management system. Specifically, this paper discusses the collaborations between the system analysis, NGSAM, and START teams and their accomplishments over the past year. Some examples of these efforts include calibrating and adding data to the START output files to meet NGSAM needs, gaining a better understanding of START data used in NGSAM, as well as how updates in START data could result in an improved NGSAM analysis. Detailed examples of various tasks that have been performed by the team will be discussed in the full paper. Continued efforts in this direction are expected in the coming years.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

High pressure experimental investigation of clinopyroxene dissolution in a K-basaltic melt

Dissolution of clinopyroxene (cpx) in a K-basaltic melt from the Campi Flegrei Volcanic District (Italy) has been investigated through dissolution and dissolution-crystallization experiments at pressure of 0.8 GPa, superliquidus temperature of 1350 °C, and dwell times between 0.5 and 1 h. The obtained dissolution rates range from 7.9·10 –6 cm s –1 to 6.1·10 –6 cm s –1 as a function of dwell time. In the dissolution-crystallization experiment (1300 °C; 0.8 GPa; 2 h), the formation of overgrowth rims accompanied by new cpx crystals suggests that the injection of recharge magmas in basaltic reservoir may lead to inverse or oscillatory zonation. The interaction between cpx and K-basaltic melt at ~1570 °C was studied by in situ radiography using synchrotron radiation combined with the Paris-Edinburgh press. Here, this resulted in cpx resorption to occur depending on the temperature conditions with respect to the liquidus temperature of the cpx (T cpxL ). The calculated cpx dissolution rates are ~5·10 –3 cm s –1 at T ≤ T cpxL and ~ 3·10 –2 cm s –1 at T ≥ T cpxL . The role of crystal dissolution in the estimation of magma residence times has been also tested for a natural magmatic system by interpolating the dissolution rates (~10 –5 –10 –6 cm s –1 ) with the textural data of cpx phenocrysts from the Agnano-Monte Spina pyroclastic deposit at Campi Flegrei caldera (Campanian region, Italy). Results from calculations indicate that the time required for partial or complete resorption of phenocrysts varies from ~0.5 to ~40 h, and that the effect of crystal dissolution may be relevant to estimate magma residence times whether significant dissolution occurs during magma mixing processes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

HIGH-TEMPERATURE IONIZATION IN PROTOPLANETARY DISKS

We calculate the abundances of electrons and ions in the hot (≳500 K), dusty parts of protoplanetary disks, treating for the first time the effects of thermionic and ion emission from the dust grains. High-temperature ionization modeling has involved simply assuming that alkali elements such as potassium occur as gas-phase atoms and are collisionally ionized following the Saha equation. We show that the Saha equation often does not hold, because free charges are produced by thermionic and ion emission and destroyed when they stick to grain surfaces. This means the ionization state depends not on the first ionization potential of the alkali atoms, but rather on the grains’ work functions. The charged species’ abundances typically rise abruptly above about 800 K, with little qualitative dependence on the work function, gas density, or dust-to-gas mass ratio. Applying our results, we find that protoplanetary disks’ dead zone, where high diffusivities stifle magnetorotational turbulence, has its inner edge located where the temperature exceeds a threshold value ≈1000 K. The threshold is set by ambipolar diffusion except at the highest densities, where it is set by Ohmic resistivity. We find that the disk gas can be diffusively loaded onto the stellar magnetosphere at temperatures below a similar threshold. We investigate whether the “short-circuit” instability of current sheets can operate in disks and find that it cannot, or works only in a narrow range of conditions; it appears not to be the chondrule formation mechanism. We also suggest that thermionic emission is important for determining the rate of Ohmic heating in hot Jupiters.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Analysis of gas absorption to a thin liquid film in the presence of a zero-order chemical reaction

The paper presents a detailed theoretical analysis of the process of gas absorption to a thin liquid film adjacent to a horizontal rotating disk. The film is formed by the impingement of a controlled liquid jet at the center of the disk and subsequent radial spreading of liquid along the disk. The chemical reaction between the gas and the liquid film can be expressed as a zero-order homogeneous reaction. The process was modeled by establishing equations for the conservation of mass, momentum, and species concentration and solving them analytically. A scaling analysis was used to determine dominant transport processes. Appropriate boundary conditions were used to solve these equations to develop expressions for the local concentration of gas across the thickness of the film and distributions of film height, bulk concentration, and Sherwood number along the radius of the disk. The partial differential equation for species concentration was solved using the separation of variables technique along with the Duhamel's theorem and the final analytical solution was expressed using confluent hypergeometric functions. Tables for eigenvalues and eigenfunctions are presented for a number of reaction rate constants. A parametric study was performed using Reynolds number, Ekman number, and dimensionless reaction rate as parameters. At all radial locations, Sherwood number increased with Reynolds number (flow rate) as well as Ekman number (rate of rotation). The enhancement of mass transfer due to chemical reaction was found to be small when compared to the case of no reaction (pure absorption), but the enhancement factor was very significant when compared to pure absorption in a stagnant liquid film. The zero-order reaction processes considered in the present investigation included the absorption of oxygen in aqueous alkaline solutions of sodiumdithionite and rhodium complex catalyzed carbonylation of methanol. Present analytical results were compared to previous theoretical results for limiting conditions, and were found to have very good agreement.

Rajagopalan, S.↗

A Characterization of the Reflected Quasipotential

Recent interest in the reflected quasipotential comes from the queueing theory literature, specifically the analysis of so-called (b,A,D) reflected Brownian motion where it is the large deviation rate function for the stationary distribution. Our purpose here is to characterize the reflected quasipotential in terms of a first-order Hamilton–Jacobi equation. Using conventional dynamic programming ideas, along with a complementarity problem formulation of the effect of the Skorokhod map on absolutely continuous paths, we will derive necessary conditions in the form of viscosity-sense boundary conditions. It turns out that even with these boundary conditions solutions are not unique. Thus a unique characterization needs to refer to some additional property of V(⋅). We establish such a characterization in two dimensions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

CFD simulation of simultaneous monotonic cooling and surface heat transfer coefficient

The monotonic heating regime method for determination of thermal diffusivity is based on the analysis of an unsteady-state (stabilised) thermal process characterised by an independence of the space-time temperature distribution on initial conditions. At the first kind of the monotonic regime a sample of simple geometry is heated / cooled at constant ambient temperature. The determination of thermal diffusivity requires the determination rate of a temperature change and simultaneous determination of the first eigenvalue. According to a characteristic equation the first eigenvalue is a function of the Biot number defined by a surface heat transfer coefficient and thermal conductivity of an analysed material. Knowing the surface heat transfer coefficient and the first eigenvalue the thermal conductivity can be determined. The surface heat transport coefficient during the monotonic regime can be determined by the continuous measurement of long-wave radiation heat flow and the photoelectric measurement of the air refractive index gradient in a boundary layer. CFD simulation of the cooling process was carried out to analyse local convective and radiative heat transfer coefficients more in detail. Influence of ambient air flow was analysed. The obtained eigenvalues and corresponding surface heat transfer coefficient values enable to determine thermal conductivity of the analysed specimen together with its thermal diffusivity during a monotonic heating regime.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Rubis CO selection using the vigorously aerobic and metabolically versatile bacterium Ralstonia eutropha

Recapturing atmospheric CO 2 is key to reducing global warming and increasing biological carbon availability. Ralstonia eutropha is a biotechnologically useful aerobic bacterium that uses the Calvin–Benson–Bassham ( CBB ) cycle and the enzyme ribulose 1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubis CO ) for CO 2 utilization, suggesting that it may be a useful host to bioselect Rubis CO molecules with improved CO 2 ‐capture capabilities. A host strain of R. eutropha was constructed for this purpose after deleting endogenous genes encoding two related Rubis CO s. This strain could be complemented for CO 2 ‐dependent growth by introducing native or heterologous Rubis CO genes. Mutagenesis and suppressor selection identified amino acid substitutions in a hydrophobic region that specifically influences Rubis CO 's interaction with its substrates, particularly O 2 , which competes with CO 2 at the active site. Unlike most Rubis CO s, the R. eutropha enzyme has evolved to retain optimal CO 2 ‐fixation rates in a fast‐growing host, despite the presence of high levels of competing O 2 . Yet its structure‐function properties resemble those of several commonly found Rubis CO s, including the higher plant enzymes, allowing strategies to engineer analogous enzymes. Because R. eutropha can be cultured rapidly under harsh environmental conditions (e.g., with toxic industrial flue gas), in the presence of near saturation levels of oxygen, artificial selection and directed evolution studies in this organism could potentially impact efforts toward improving Rubis CO ‐dependent biological CO 2 utilization in aerobic environments. Enzymes d ‐ribulose 1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, EC 4.1.1.39 ; phosphoribulokinase, EC 2.7.1.19

Satagopan, Sriram↗

Photochemistry of nitrogen in the Martian atmosphere

Models are developed for the photochemistry of a CO2-H2O-N2 atmosphere on Mars. Estimates are given for the concentrations of N, NO, NO2, NO3, N2O5, HNO2, HNO3, and N2O as a function of altitude. Nitric oxide is the most abundant form of odd nitrogen, present with a mixing ratio relative to CO2 of the order of 1 hundred-millionth. Deposition rates for nitrite and nitrate minerals could be as large as 300,000 N equivalent atoms per sq cm/sec under present conditions and may have been higher in the past.

Yung, Y. L.↗

Pseudosteady state analysis of nonlinear aircraft maneuvers

An analytical method has been developed for studying the combined effects of rotational coupling and nonlinear aerodynamics on aircraft response for specified control inputs. The method involves the simultaneous solution of two nonlinear equations which are functions of angle of attack, roll rate, and the control inputs. The method is applied to a number of maneuvers for a fighter type aircraft. Time history responses verified the usefulness of the analysis for predicting a variety of response characteristics caused by interacting nonlinear aerodynamic and inertial effects, including spin conditions.

Young, J. W.↗

Vortical dissipation in two-dimensional shear flows

An exact expression is derived for the viscous dissipation function of a real homogeneous and isotropic fluid, which has terms associated with the square of vorticity, wave radiation, and dilatation. The implications of the principle of maximal dissipation rate, are explored by means of this equation for a parallel channel flow and a cylindrical vortex flow. The consequences of a condition of maximum dissipation rate on the growth of disturbances in an unsteady, laminar shear layer are apparently consistent with predictions and observations of maximum growth rate of vortical disturbances. Finally, estimates of the magnitudes of several dissipative components of an unsteady vortex flow are obtained from measurements of a periodic wall jet.

Horne, W. Clifton↗

Effect of shaping sensor data on pilot response

The pilot of a modern jet aircraft is subjected to varying workloads while being responsible for multiple, ongoing tasks. The ability to associate the pilot's responses with the task/situation, by modifying the way information is presented relative to the task, could provide a means of reducing workload. To examine the feasibility of this concept, a real time simulation study was undertaken to determine whether preprocessing of sensor data would affect pilot response. Results indicated that preprocessing could be an effective way to tailor the pilot's response to displayed data. The effects of three transformations or shaping functions were evaluated with respect to the pilot's ability to predict and detect out-of-tolerance conditions while monitoring an electronic engine display. Two nonlinear transformations, on being the inverse of the other, were compared to a linear transformation. Results indicate that a nonlinear transformation that increases the rate-or-change of output relative to input tends to advance the prediction response and improve the detection response, while a nonlinear transformation that decreases the rate-of-change of output relative to input tends to lengthen the prediction response and make detection more difficult.

Bailey, Roger M.↗

Performance Characterization and Simulation of Amine-Based Vacuum Swing Sorption Units for Spacesuit Carbon Dioxide and Humidity Control

Controlling carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) vapor concentrations in a space suit is critical to ensuring an astronauts safety, comfort, and capability to perform extra-vehicular activity (EVA) tasks. Historically, this has been accomplished using lithium hydroxide (LiOH) and metal oxide (MetOx) canisters. Lithium hydroxide is a consumable material that requires priming with water before it becomes effective at removing carbon dioxide. MetOx is regenerable through a power-intensive thermal cycle but is significantly heavier on a volume basis than LiOH. As an alternative, amine-based vacuum swing beds are under aggressive development for EVA applications. The vacuum swing units control atmospheric concentrations of both CO2 and H2O through fully-regenerative process. The current concept, referred to as the rapid cycle amine (RCA), has resulted in numerous laboratory prototypes. Performance of these prototypes have been assessed experimentally and documented in previous reports. To support developmental e orts, a first principles model has also been established for the vacuum swing sorption technology. For the first time in several decades, a major re-design of Portable Life Support System (PLSS) for the extra-vehicular mobility unit (EMU) is underway. NASA at Johnson Space Center built and tested an integrated PLSS test bed of all subsystems under a variety of simulated EVA conditions of which the RCA prototype played a significant role. The efforts documented herein summarize RCA test performance and simulation results for single and variable metabolic rate experiments in an integrated context. In addition, a variety of off-nominal tests were performed to assess the capability of the RCA to function under challenging circumstances. Tests included high water production experiments, degraded vacuum regeneration, and deliberate valve/power failure and recovery.

Swickrath, Michael J.↗

Thermal Considerations for Reducing the Cooldown and Warmup Duration of the James Webb Space Telescope OTIS Cryo-Vacuum Test

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), set to launch in 2018, is NASAs next-generation flagship telescope. The Optical Telescope Element (OTE) and Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) contain all of the optical surfaces and instruments to capture and analyze the telescopes infrared targets. The integrated OTE and ISIM are denoted as OTIS, and will be tested as a single unit in a critical thermal-vacuum test in mid-2017 at NASA Johnson Space Centers Chamber A facility. The payload will be evaluated for workmanship and functionality in a 20K simulated flight environment during this thermal-vacuum test. However, the sheer thermal mass of the OTIS payload as well as the restrictive gradient, rate, and contamination-related constraints placed on test components precludes rapid cooldown or warmup to its steady-state cryo-balance condition. Hardware safety considerations precludes injection of helium gas for free molecular heat transfer. Initial thermal analysis predicted that transient radiative cooldown from ambient temperatures, while meeting all limits and constraints, would take 33.3 days; warmup similarly would take 28.4 days. This paper discusses methods used to reduce transition times from the original predictions through modulation of boundary temperatures and environmental conditions. By optimizing helium shroud transition rates and heater usage, as well as rigorously re-examining previously imposed constraints, savings of up to three days on cooldown and up to a week on warmup can be achieved. The efficiencies gained through these methods allow the JWST thermal test team to create faster cooldown and warmup profiles, thus reducing the overall test duration and cost, while keeping all of the required test operations.

Thermal↗

Thermal Considerations for Reducing the Cooldown and Warmup Duration of the James Webb Space Telescope OTIS Cryo-Vacuum Test

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), set to launch in 2018, is NASAs next-generation flagship telescope. The Optical Telescope Element (OTE) and Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) contain all of the optical surfaces and instruments to capture and analyze the telescopes infrared targets. The integrated OTE and ISIM are denoted as OTIS, and will be tested as a single unit in a critical thermal-vacuum test in mid-2017 at NASA Johnson Space Centers Chamber A facility. The payload will be evaluated for workmanship and functionality in a 20K simulated flight environment during this thermal-vacuum test. However, the sheer thermal mass of the OTIS payload as well as the restrictive gradient, rate, and contamination-related constraints placed on test components precludes rapid cooldown or warmup to its steady-state cryo-balance condition. Hardware safety considerations precludes injection of helium gas for free molecular heat transfer. Initial thermal analysis predicted that transient radiative cooldown from ambient temperatures, while meeting all limits and constraints, would take 33.3 days; warmup similarly would take 28.4 days. This paper discusses methods used to reduce transition times from the original predictions through modulation of boundary temperatures and environmental conditions. By optimizing helium shroud transition rates and heater usage, as well as rigorously re-examining previously imposed constraints, savings of up to three days on cooldown and up to a week on warmup can be achieved. The efficiencies gained through these methods allow the JWST thermal test team to create faster cooldown and warmup profiles, thus reducing the overall test duration and cost, while keeping all of the required test operations.

JWST↗

Training the Powered-Lift Evaluation Pilot

This poster describes a project to prepare pilots for a study assessing novel aircraft automation concepts for electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft using NASA’s Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS). By exploring the operational and learning challenges related to transitioning between forward flight and vertical landing, we seek to establish baselines of pilot workload and aircraft handling qualities across varying atmospheric conditions and automation states. The simulated eVTOL design differentiates flight control allocations as a function of airspeed across four speed ranges as the vehicle transitions between fully thrust-borne lift and wing-borne lift. As speed increases, side stick controls command: translational ground speeds, vertical and lateral acceleration, vertical rate, vertical flight path angle, and bank angle. This novel approach to flight control allocation creates a significant learning challenge for pilots. Since initial eVTOL aircraft may have limitations on hover capabilities, automation and flight guidance cues also vary with airspeed to provide efficient landing profiles while still providing cues suitable for cruise flight. The NASA team prepared the study pilots to follow these flight guidance cues along curved Required Navigation Performance (RNP) approaches and along 6o and 12o glide paths to energy-efficient assistive-hover landing and goarounds. The pre-VMS preparation sought to prepare pilots from diverse levels of experience and background. To do this, NASA researchers designed and developed a fixed-based, large field-ofview simulator with terrain, structures, and air traffic. With one day of combined classroom learning and skill development in the fixedbase simulator, pilots were largely able to fly the simulated eVTOL in the VMS with sufficient mastery to provide handling quality assessments using the Cooper-Harper Handling Qualities Rating and workload assessments through the Bedford Workload Scale.

AAM↗