Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “stability selection”

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 901 records · Page 50

Comparison of experimental rotor damping data-reduction techniques

The ability of existing data reduction techniques to determine frequency and damping from transient time-history records was evaluated. Analog data records representative of small-scale helicopter aeroelastic stability tests were analyzed. The data records were selected to provide information on the accuracy of reduced frequency and decay coefficients as a function of modal damping level, modal frequency, number of modes present in the time history record, proximity to other modes with different frequencies, steady offset in time history, and signal-to-noise ratio. The study utilized the results from each of the major U.S. helicopter manufacturers, the U.S. Army Aeroflightdynamics Directorate, and NASA Ames Research Center using their inhouse data reduction and analysis techniques. Consequently, the accuracy of different data analysis techniques and the manner in which they were implemented were also evaluated. It was found that modal frequencies can be accurately determined even in the presence of significant random and periodic noise. Identified decay coefficients do, however, show considerable variation, particularly for highly damped modes. The manner in which the data are reduced and the role of the data analyst was shown to be important. Although several different damping determination methods were used, no clear trends were evident for the observed differences between the individual analysis techniques. It is concluded that the data reduction of modal-damping characteristics from transient time histories results in a range of damping values.

Warmbrodt, William↗

Stability and refrigeration of magnet cryosystems near 1.8 K using the thermomechanical effect

Magnet cryosystem options utilizing the thermomechanical effect of He II and the mechano-caloric effect for refrigeration (referred to as vortex refrigeration) are examined. The performance of the existing He II magnet refrigeration system is briefly reviewed, with attention given to superleak properties, vortex shedding, heat input, and thermodynamic cycle. It is concluded that the possibilities of magnet heat leak use for energetics and stability improvements are promising when He II is selected as magnet coolant.

Frederking, T. H. K.↗

Identification of thermodynamically stable ceramic reinforcement materials for iron aluminide matrices

Aluminide-base intermetallic matrix composites are currently being considered as potential high-temperature materials. One of the key factors in the selection of a reinforcement material is its chemical stability in the matrix. In this study, chemical interactions between iron aluminides and several potential reinforcement materials, which include carbides, oxides, borides, and nitrides, are analyzed from thermodynamic considerations. Several chemically compatible reinforcement materials are identified for the iron aluminides with Al concentrations ranging from 40 to 50 at. pct.

Misra, Ajay K.↗

Implicit flux-split Euler schemes for unsteady aerodynamic analysis involving unstructured dynamic meshes

Improved algorithms for the solution of the time-dependent Euler equations are presented for unsteady aerodynamic analysis involving unstructured dynamic meshes. The improvements have been developed recently to the spatial and temporal discretizations used by unstructured grid flow solvers. The spatial discretization involves a flux-split approach which is naturally dissipative and captures shock waves sharply with at most one grid point within the shock structure. The temporal discretization involves an implicit time-integration shceme using a Gauss-Seidel relaxation procedure which is computationally efficient for either steady or unsteady flow problems. For example, very large time steps may be used for rapid convergence to steady state, and the step size for unsteady cases may be selected for temporal accuracy rather than for numerical stability. Steady and unsteady flow results are presented for the NACA 0012 airfoil to demonstrate applications of the new Euler solvers. The unsteady results were obtained for the airfoil pitching harmonically about the quarter chord. The resulting instantaneous pressure distributions and lift and moment coefficients during a cycle of motion compare well with experimental data. The paper presents a description of the Euler solvers along with results and comparisons which assess the capability.

Batina, John T.↗

Three-dimensional flux-split Euler schemes involving unstructured dynamic meshes

Improved algorithms for the solution of the three-dimensional time-dependent Euler equations are presented for aerodynamic analysis involving unstructured dynamic meshes. The improvements have been developed recently to the spatial and temporal discretizations used by unstructured grid flow solvers. The spatial discretization involves a flux-split approach which is naturally dissipative and captures shock waves sharply with at most one grid point within the shock structure. The temporal discretization involves either an explicit time-integration scheme using a multi-stage Runge-Kutta procedure or an implicit time-integration scheme using a Gauss-Seidel relaxation procedure which is computationally efficient for either steady or unsteady flow problems. With the implicit Gauss-Seidel procedure, very large time steps may be used for rapid convergence to steady state, and the step size for unsteady cases may be selected for temporal accuracy rather than for numerical stability. Steady flow results are presented for both the NACA 0012 airfoil and the ONERA M6 wing to demonstrate applications of the new Euler solvers. The paper presents a description of the Euler solvers along with results and comparisons which assess the capability.

Batina, John T.↗

Implicit flux-split Euler schemes for unsteady aerodynamic analysis involving unstructured dynamic meshes

Improved algorithm for the solution of the time-dependent Euler equations are presented for unsteady aerodynamic analysis involving unstructured dynamic meshes. The improvements were developed recently to the spatial and temporal discretizations used by unstructured grid flow solvers. The spatial discretization involves a flux-split approach which is naturally dissipative and captures shock waves sharply with at most one grid point within the shock structure. The temporal discretization involves an implicit time-integration scheme using a Gauss-Seidel relaxation procedure which is computationally efficient for either steady or unsteady flow problems. For example, very large time steps may be used for rapid convergence to steady state, and the step size for unsteady cases may be selected for temporal accuracy rather than for numerical stability. Steady and unsteady flow results are presented for the NACA 0012 airfoil to demonstrate applications of the new Euler solvers. The unsteady results were obtained for the airfoil pitching harmonically about the quarter chord. The resulting instantaneous pressure distributions and lift and moment coefficients during a cycle of motion compare well with experimental data. A description of the Euler solvers is presented along with results and comparisons which assess the capability.

Batina, John T.↗

Three-dimensional flux-split Euler schemes involving unstructured dynamic meshes

Improved algorithms for the solution of the 3-D time dependent Euler equations are presented for aerodynamic analysis involving unstructured dynamic meshes. The improvements were developed recently to the spatial and temporal discretizations used by unstructured grid flow solvers. The spatial discretization involves a flux split approach which is naturally dissipative and captures shock waves sharply with at most one grid point within the shock structure. The temporal discretization involves either an explicit time integration scheme using a multistage Runge-Kutta procedure or an implicit time integration scheme using a Gauss-Seidel relaxation procedure which is computationally efficient for either steady or unsteady flow problems. With the implicit Gauss-Seidel procedure, very large time steps may be used for rapid convergence to steady state, and the step size for unsteady cases may be selected for temporal accuracy rather than for numerical stability. Steady flow results are presented for both the NACA 0012 airfoil and the ONERA M6 wing to demonstrate applications of the new Euler solvers. A description of the Euler solvers is presented along with results and comparisons which assess the capability.

Batina, John T.↗

Accuracy of an unstructured-grid upwind-Euler algorithm for the ONERA M6 wing

Improved algorithms for the solution of the three-dimensional, time-dependent Euler equations are presented for aerodynamic analysis involving unstructured dynamic meshes. The improvements have been developed recently to the spatial and temporal discretizations used by unstructured-grid flow solvers. The spatial discretization involves a flux-split approach that is naturally dissipative and captures shock waves sharply with at most one grid point within the shock structure. The temporal discretization involves either an explicit time-integration scheme using a multistage Runge-Kutta procedure or an implicit time-integration scheme using a Gauss-Seidel relaxation procedure, which is computationally efficient for either steady or unsteady flow problems. With the implicit Gauss-Seidel procedure, very large time steps may be used for rapid convergence to steady state, and the step size for unsteady cases may be selected for temporal accuracy rather than for numerical stability. Steady flow results are presented for both the NACA 0012 airfoil and the Office National d'Etudes et de Recherches Aerospatiales M6 wing to demonstrate applications of the new Euler solvers. The paper presents a description of the Euler solvers along with results and comparisons that assess the capability.

Batina, John T.↗

New developments in thermally stable polymers

Advances in high-temperature polymers since 1985 are discussed with the emphasis on the chemistry. High-temperature polymers refer to materials that exhibit glass-transition temperatures greater than 200 C and have the chemical structure expected to provide high thermooxidative stability. Specific polymers or series of polymers were selected to show how the chemical structure influences certain properties. Poly(arylene ethers) and polyimides are the two principal families of polymers discussed. Recent work on poly(arylene ethers) has concentrated on incorporating heterocyclic units within the polymer backbone. Recent polyimide work has centered on the synthesis of new polymers from novel monomers, several containing the trifluoromethyl group strategically located on the molecule. Various members in each of these polymer families display a unique combination of properties, heretofore unattainable. Other families of polymers are also briefly discussed with a polymer from an AB maleimidobenzocyclobutene exhibiting an especially attractive combination of properties.

Hergenrother, Paul M.↗

Appreciation and Prediction of Flying Qualities

The material given in this report summarizes some of the results of recent research that will aid the designers of an airplane in selecting or modifying a configuration to provide satisfactory stability and control characteristics. The requirements of the NACA for satisfactory flying qualities, which specify the important stability and control characteristics of an airplane from the pilot's standpoint, are used as the main topics of the report. A discussion is given of the reasons for the requirements, of the factors involved in obtaining satisfactory flying qualities, and of the methods used in predicting the stability and control characteristics of an airplane. The material is based on lecture notes for a training course for research workers engaged in airplane stability and control investigations.

Phillips, William H↗

ACSYNT inner loop flight control design study

The NASA Ames Research Center developed the Aircraft Synthesis (ACSYNT) computer program to synthesize conceptual future aircraft designs and to evaluate critical performance metrics early in the design process before significant resources are committed and cost decisions made. ACSYNT uses steady-state performance metrics, such as aircraft range, payload, and fuel consumption, and static performance metrics, such as the control authority required for the takeoff rotation and for landing with an engine out, to evaluate conceptual aircraft designs. It can also optimize designs with respect to selected criteria and constraints. Many modern aircraft have stability provided by the flight control system rather than by the airframe. This may allow the aircraft designer to increase combat agility, or decrease trim drag, for increased range and payload. This strategy requires concurrent design of the airframe and the flight control system, making trade-offs of performance and dynamics during the earliest stages of design. ACSYNT presently lacks means to implement flight control system designs but research is being done to add methods for predicting rotational degrees of freedom and control effector performance. A software module to compute and analyze the dynamics of the aircraft and to compute feedback gains and analyze closed loop dynamics is required. The data gained from these analyses can then be fed back to the aircraft design process so that the effects of the flight control system and the airframe on aircraft performance can be included as design metrics. This report presents results of a feasibility study and the initial design work to add an inner loop flight control system (ILFCS) design capability to the stability and control module in ACSYNT. The overall objective is to provide a capability for concurrent design of the aircraft and its flight control system, and enable concept designers to improve performance by exploiting the interrelationships between aircraft and flight control system design parameters.

Bortins, Richard↗

Penetration rates over 30 years in the space age

Experimental data from spacecraft providing impact penetration rates and cratering for metallic targets is reviewed. Data includes NASA Explorers 16 and 23 and the Pegasus series, the second US-UK satellite Ariel 2, Space Shuttle STS-3 (MFE), recovered surfaces on Solar Max Satellite, The Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) and EuReCa TiCCE. Factors concerning exposure to the environment are considered and, especially, material properties which affect the penetration resistance. Reference to a common material, Aluminum alloy 2024-T3, is effected and the data then compared to define firstly an average impact flux over the period. The data is examined, in the context of possible satellite and space debris growth rates, to determine the constancy of the flux. This also provides strong constraints on the current space debris component. It is found that the impact data are consistent with domination by natural meteoroid sources. Growth rates are not evident within the period 1980-1990 and Eureca TiCCE fluxes in 1993, for particles penetrating foils of around 10 microns thickness, supports the constancy of the flux. At larger dimensions the 1993 Eureca TiCCE fluxes show an 8-fold increase but this is considered not inconsistent with the selective exposure to meteoroid streams of a satellite stabilized in heliocentric co-ordinates for an 11 month period.

Mcdonnell, J. A. M.↗

Addition Polyimides from Non-Mutagenic Diamines

Studies were conducted to find an acceptable non-mutagenic diamine to replace 4,4'-methylenedianiline (MDA), a suspect carcinogen, which is currently being used in PMR-15 polyimide applications. Several diamines containing fluorine and trifluoromethyl substituent groups were synthesized. The diamines were polymerized with the dimethyl ester of 3,3',4,4'-benzophenone tetracarboxylic acid (BTDE), using the monomethyl ester of nadic acid (NE) as an endcap. The effect of diamine structure on rheological properties, glass transition temperature, and thermo-oxidative stability was investigated. Unidirectional laminates were fabricated from selected resins, using carbon fiber as the reinforcement. The results indicate that some of the diamines containing trifluoromethyl groups are non-mutagenic, and have potential to replace MDA in PMR polyimides for long-term applications at temperatures up to 300 C.

Delvigs, Peter↗

Final Results of the Ball AMSD Beryllium Mirror

The 1.4-meter semi-rigid, beryllium Advanced Mirror System Demonstrator (AMSD) mirror completed initial cryogenic testing at Marshall's X-ray Calibration Facility (XRCF) in August of 2003. Results of this testing show the mirror to have very low cryogenic surface deformation and possess exceptional figure stability. Subsequent to this cryogenic testing beryllium was selected as the material of choice for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) multi-segment primary mirror. Therefore, the AMSD mirror was sent back to SSG-Tinsley for additional ambient polishing to JWST requirements. The mirror was successfully polished to less than 22nm rms of low frequency error. Those additional results are presented with comparisons to the JWST requirements.

Chaney, David M.↗

Matlab Stability and Control Toolbox: Trim and Static Stability Module

This paper presents the technical background of the Trim and Static module of the Matlab Stability and Control Toolbox. This module performs a low-fidelity stability and control assessment of an aircraft model for a set of flight critical conditions. This is attained by determining if the control authority available for trim is sufficient and if the static stability characteristics are adequate. These conditions can be selected from a prescribed set or can be specified to meet particular requirements. The prescribed set of conditions includes horizontal flight, take-off rotation, landing flare, steady roll, steady turn and pull-up/ push-over flight, for which several operating conditions can be specified. A mathematical model was developed allowing for six-dimensional trim, adjustable inertial properties, asymmetric vehicle layouts, arbitrary number of engines, multi-axial thrust vectoring, engine(s)-out conditions, crosswind and gyroscopic effects.

Crespo, Luis G.↗

System and method of analyzing vibrations and identifying failure signatures in the vibrations

An apparatus, computer program product and method of analyzing structures. Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs) are extracted from the data and the most energetic IMF is selected. A spline is fit to the envelope for the selected IMF. The spline derivative is determined. A stability spectrum is developed by separating the positive and negative results into two different spectra representing stable (positive) and unstable (negative) damping factors. The stability spectrum and the non-linearity indicator are applied to the data to isolate unstable vibrations.

Huang, Norden E.↗

Challenges Encountered Using Ophthalmic Anesthetics in Space Medicine

On orbit, ophthalmic anesthetics are used for tonometry and off-nominal corneal examinations. Proparacaine has been flown traditionally. However, the manufacturers recently changed its storage requirements from room temperature storage to refrigerated storage to preserve stability and prolong the shelf-life. Since refrigeration on orbit is not readily available and there were stability concerns about flying proparacaine unrefrigerated, tetracaine was selected as an alternative ophthalmic anesthetic in 2013. We will discuss the challenges encountered flying and using these anesthetics on the International Space Station.

Bayuse, T.↗

Jig-Shape Optimization of a Low-Boom Supersonic Aircraft

A simple approach for optimizing the jig-shape is proposed in this study. This simple approach is based on an unconstrained optimization problem and applied to a low-boom supersonic aircraft. In this study, the jig-shape optimization is performed using the two-step approach. First, starting design variables are computed using the least-squares surface fitting technique. Next, the jig-shape is further tuned using a numerical optimization procedure based on an in-house object-oriented optimization tool. During the numerical optimization procedure, a design jig-shape is determined by the baseline jig-shape and basis functions. A total of 12 symmetric mode shapes of the cruise-weight configuration, rigid pitch shape, rigid left and right stabilator rotation shapes, and a residual shape are selected as sixteen basis functions. After three optimization runs, the trim shape error distribution is improved, and the maximum trim shape error of 0.9844 inches of the starting configuration becomes 0.00367 inch by the end of the third optimization run.

numerical analysi↗