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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 1,009 records · Page 56
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

Calculation of continuum damping of Alfvén eigenmodes in tokamak and stellarator equilibria

In an ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) plasma, shear Alfvén eigenmodes may experience dissipationless damping due to resonant interaction with the shear Alfvén continuum. This continuum damping can make a significant contribution to the overall growth/decay rate of shear Alfvén eigenmodes, with consequent implications for fast ion transport. One method for calculating continuum damping is to solve the MHD eigenvalue problem over a suitable contour in the complex plane, thereby satisfying the causality condition. Such an approach can be implemented in three-dimensional ideal MHD codes which use the Galerkin method. Analytic functions can be fitted to numerical data for equilibrium quantities in order to determine the value of these quantities along the complex contour. This approach requires less resolution than the established technique of calculating damping as resistivity vanishes and is thus more computationally efficient. The complex contour method has been applied to the three-dimensional finite element ideal MHD Code for Kinetic Alfvén waves. In this paper, we discuss the application of the complex contour technique to calculate the continuum damping of global modes in tokamak as well as torsatron, W7-X and H-1NF stellarator cases. To the authors' knowledge, these stellarator calculations represent the first calculation of continuum damping for eigenmodes in fully three-dimensional equilibria. The continuum damping of global modes in W7-X and H-1NF stellarator configurations investigated is found to depend sensitively on coupling to numerous poloidal and toroidal harmonics.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

A New Framework for Interstellar Medium Emission Line Models: Connecting Multiscale Simulations across Cosmological Volumes

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array have detected emission lines from the ionized interstellar medium (ISM) in some of the first galaxies at z ≳ 6. These measurements present an opportunity to better understand galaxy assembly histories and may allow important tests of state-of-the-art galaxy formation simulations. It is challenging, however, to model these lines in their proper cosmological context. In order to meet this challenge, we introduce a novel subgrid line emission modeling framework. The framework uses the high-z zoom-in simulation suite from the Feedback in Realistic Environments (FIRE) collaboration. The line emission signals from H II regions within each simulated FIRE galaxy are modeled using the semianalytic HIIL INES code. A machine learning approach is then used to determine the conditional probability distribution for the line luminosity to stellar-mass ratio from the H II regions around each simulated stellar particle. This conditional probability distribution can then be applied to predict the line luminosities around stellar particles in lower-resolution, yet larger volume cosmological simulations. As an example, we apply this approach to the IllustrisTNG simulations at z = 6. The resulting predictions for the [O II ], [O III ], and Balmer line luminosities as a function of star formation rate agree well with current observations. Our predictions differ, however, from related works in the literature, which lack detailed subgrid ISM models. This highlights the importance of our multiscale simulation modeling framework. Finally, we provide forecasts for future line luminosity function measurements from the JWST and quantify the cosmic variance in such surveys.

(ISM:) H II regions↗
NASA NTRS1979

Gating effects in Halobacterium halobium membrane transport

The transport of Na(+) via an H(+)/Na(+) antiporter and of aspartate and serine via Na(+)/amino acid symport systems was studied in Halobacterium halobium cell envelope vesicles. Gradients for H(+) were produced by illuminating the bacteriorhodopsin-containing vesicles at different light intensities, and the rate and extent of Na(+) transport were followed as functions of the electrochemical potential difference for protons. The coupling of Na(+) and H(+) gradients suggested a translocation stoichiometry of 2H(+)/Na(+) for the antiporter. The rate of Na(+) transport increases steeply above a critical transmembrane electrochemical proton gradient, and since the electrical and the chemical potentials of H(+) at this threshold point vary with the experimental conditions, while the sum of these potentials is constant, it was concluded that the gating of the Na(+) transport is caused by the total electrochemical gradient.

Lanyi, J. K.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Redundant asynchronous microprocessor system for fault tolerant flight control and navigation

Unlike their synchronized counterparts, redundant channels in an asynchronous flight system can, under no-fault conditions, exhibit cross-channel data disparities. Sources of these errors are examined in terms of the general, individual functions of the flight control and navigation application in the asynchronous digital environment. The effects of asynchronism on trajectory programmers, dynamic control algorithms and data reconstruction processes are examined in terms of data skews, data latencies, and clock rate uncertainties. An example is presented in which time corrections are applied to reduce the data disparities. Practical limitations of the approach of the example are discussed.

Dunn, W. R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Cardiac reserve during weightlessness simulation and shuttle flight

Bedrest deconditioning is suspected to reduce cardiac function. However, quantitation of subtle decreases in cardiac reserve may be difficult. Normal subjects show considerable variability in heart rate response, reflected by a relatively broadband interbeat interval power spectrum. We hypothesized that the deconditioning effects of bedrest would induce narrowing of this spectrum, reflecting a reduction in the autonomically-modulated variability in heart rate. Ten aerobically conditioned men (average 35-50 years) underwent orthostatic tolerance testing with lower body negative pressure pre-bedrest and after 10 days of bedrest, while on placebo and after intravenous atropine. Spectra were derived by Fourier analysis of 128 interbeat interval data sets from subjects with sufficient numbers of beats during matched periods of the protocol. Data suggest that atropine unmasks the deconditioning effect of bedrest in athletic men, evidenced by a reduction in interbeat interval spectral power compared with placebo. Spectral analysis offers a new means of quantitating the effects of bedrest deconditioning and autonomic perturbations on cardiac dynamics.

Goldberger, A. L.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Methanol Droplet Combustion in Oxygen-Inert Environments in Microgravity

The Flame Extinguishment (FLEX) experiment that is currently underway in the Combustion Integrated Rack facility onboard the International Space Station is aimed at understanding the effects of inert diluents on the flammability of condensed phase fuels. To this end, droplets of various fuels, including alkanes and alcohols, are burned in a quiescent microgravity environment with varying amounts of oxygen and inert diluents to determine the limiting oxygen index (LOI) for these fuels. In this study we report experimental observations of methanol droplets burning in oxygen-nitrogen-carbon dioxide and oxygen-nitrogen-helium gas mixtures at 0.7 and 1 atmospheric pressures. The initial droplet size varied between approximately 1.5 mm and 4 mm to capture both diffusive extinction brought about by insufficient residence time at the flame and radiative extinction caused by excessive heat loss from the flame zone. The ambient oxygen concentration varied from a high value of 30% by volume to as low as 12%, approaching the limiting oxygen index for the fuel. The inert dilution by carbon dioxide and helium varied over a range of 0% to 70% by volume. In these experiments, both freely floated and tethered droplets were ignited using symmetrically opposed hot-wire igniters and the burning histories were recorded onboard using digital cameras, downlinked later to the ground for analysis. The digital images yielded droplet and flame diameters as functions of time and subsequently droplet burning rate, flame standoff ratio, and initial and extinction droplet diameters. Simplified theoretical models correlate the measured burning rate constant and the flame standoff ratio reasonably well. An activation energy asymptotic theory accounting for time-dependent water dissolution or evaporation from the droplet is shown to predict the measured diffusive extinction conditions well. The experiments also show that the limiting oxygen index for methanol in these diluent gases is around 12% to 13% oxygen by volume.

Nayagam, Vedha↗
NASA NTRS2021

What Makes Hybrid Concurrent Engineering Teams Work and Not Work: A Theoretical Analysis

Aerospace concurrent engineering teams (CETs) have been around since 1995 and have evolved into various shapes and forms. Historically, CETs have been designed to function with all team members physically collocated. In order to continue operating during the coronavirus pandemic, these teams have had to become fully distributed in 2020. Previously, distributed CETs were predicted to be considerably less efficient than traditional CETs. However, at JPL studies are being successfully run at peak rate in a distributed mode. As nominal working conditions resume after the pandemic, a major question is whether these teams must go back to being fully collocated or if they can become successful hybrid teams, with half or more of the engineers working remotely. In order to address this question, it is important to understand the key characteristics that make a CET more likely to be successful in a remote mode. This paper revisits a framework for characterizing concurrent engineering teams, providing a means to describe and compare the behavior of concurrent engineering teams in various settings [1], and uses the framework to make recommendations for future hybrid teams.

Chattopadhyay, Debarati↗
DOE OSTI2019

Effect of Ionizing Radiation on the Redox Chemistry of Penta- and Hexavalent Americium

The recent development of facile methods to oxidize trivalent americium to its higher valence states holds promise for the discovery of new chemistries and critical insight into the behavior of the 5f electrons. However, progress in understanding high valent americium chemistry has been hampered by americium’s inherent ionizing radiation field, and its concomitant effects on americium redox chemistry. Any attempt to understand high valent americium reduction and/or disproportionation must account for the effects of these radiolytic processes. Fortunately, the effects of ionizing radiation on water and aqueous nitric acid solutions are well known. Values for the yields of the major radiolytically produced reactive species that could conceivably react with americium, and their rate coefficients, are available for use in radiation chemical modeling. Therefore, we present a complete, quantitative, mechanistic description of the radiation-induced redox chemistry of the americyl oxidation states in aerated, aqueous nitric acid, as a function of radiation quality (type and energy) and solution composition using multi-scale modeling calculations supported by experiment. The reduction of Am(VI) to Am(V) was found to be most sensitive to the effects of ionizing radiation, undergoing rapid reductions with the steady-state products of aqueous HNO 3 radiolysis, i.e., HNO 2 , H 2 O 2 , and HO 2 •, which dictated its practical lifetime under acidic conditions. In contrast Am(V) is only susceptible to radiolytic oxidation, mainly through its reactions with NO 3 •, and is notably radiation resistant with respect to direct one-electron reduction to produce Am(IV). Our multiscale modeling calculations predict that the lifetime of Am(V) is dictated by its rate of disproportionation, 2AmO 2 + + 4 Haq + → AmO 2 2+ + Am 4+ + 2H 2 O, with a fourth-order dependence on [H aq + ] in agreement with previous experimental findings, giving an optimized rate coefficient of $k$ = 2.27 × 10 -6 M -5 s -1 . This disproportionation initially produces Am(IV) and Am(VI) species, but the lack of any spectroscopic evidence in our study for Am(IV) suggests that solvent reduction of this cation occurs rapidly. The ultimate product of all the Am(VI)/Am(V) irradiations is Am(III), which shows great stability in an irradiation field.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Toward extreme high-temperature supercritical CO 2 power cycles: Leakage characterization of ceramic 3D-printed heat exchangers

We report future supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO 2 ) Brayton power cycles demand high-performance gas-to-gas heat exchangers (HXs) operating under extreme temperature and pressure conditions at which most existing superalloy materials fail to function safely. Ceramic HXs are deemed excellent candidates for advanced sCO 2 power plants as they can withstand high-temperature working environments. Particularly, ceramic 3D printing enables compact HX topologies employing complex and efficient heat transfer features. However, ceramic 3D-printed walls separating hot and cold flow streams are susceptible to a through-plane leakage inherent to a powder-based manufacturing process, including ceramic 3D printing. A potential leakage through ceramic separating walls poses a significant challenge in developing reliable ceramic 3D-printed HXs and could deteriorate thermal performance. In this study, various parameters, including feedstock slurry, 3D-printing direction, and post-processing conditions, are considered, for the first time, to characterize the argon gas leakage rate associated with alumina 3D-printed parts. Three 3D-printed ceramic structures of flat plates, curved tubes, and small-scale plate-and-frame HXs with various thicknesses are systematically studied to determine powder and ceramic 3D-printing conditions to eliminate the through-plane leakage. The results showed that an alumina 3D-printed plate with a thickness of 0.75 mm demonstrates a permeability of 6 x 10 -4 milli-darcy. An alumina 3D-printed tube with a wall thickness of 0.9 mm revealed a permeability of 9.6 x 10 -7 milli-darcy. Furthermore, leakage test results of functional 3D-printed modules showed a dependency on the 3D-printing direction. Particularly, alumina cell-scale HXs employing 1.5-mm-thick horizontal and vertical 3D-printed separating walls demonstrated impermeability and gas permeability of 7.2 x 10 -5 millidarcy, respectively. Insights gained from the present study facilitate the development of complex ceramic 3D-printed HXs and other balance of plant components for next-generation high-temperature high-pressure sCO 2 power cycles.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Fractal dimension of cohesive sediment flocs at steady state under seven shear flow conditions

The morphological properties of kaolin flocs were investigated in a Couette-flow experiment at the steady state under seven shear flow conditions (shear rates of 5.36, 9.17, 14, 24, 31, 41 and 53 s -1 ). These properties include a one-dimensional (1-D) fractal dimension (D 1 ), a two-dimensional (2-D) fractal dimension (D 2 ), a perimeter-based fractal dimension (D pf ) and an aspect ratio (AR). They were calculated based on the projected area (A), equivalent size, perimeter (P) and length (L) of the major axis of the floc determined through sample observation and an image analysis system. The parameter D 2 , which characterizes the relationship between the projected area and the length of the major axis using a power function, A ∝ L D 2 , increased from 1.73 ± 0.03, 1.72 ± 0.03, and 1.75 ± 0.04 in the low shear rate group (G = 5.36, 9.17, and 14 s -1 ) to 1.92 ± 0.03, 1.82 ± 0.02, 1.85 ± 0.02, and 1.81 ± 0.02 in the high shear rate group (24, 31, 41 and 53 s -1 ), respectively. The parameter D 1 characterizes the relationship between the perimeter and length of the major axis by the function P ∝ L D 1 and decreased from 1.52 ± 0.02, 1.48 ± 0.02, 1.55 ± 0.02, and 1.63 ± 0.02 in the low shear group (5.36, 9.17, 14 and 24 s -1 ) to 1.45 ± 0.02, 1.39 ± 0.02, and 1.39 ± 0.02 in the high shear group (31, 41 and 53 s -1 ), respectively. The results indicate that with increasing shear rates, the flocs become less elongated and that their boundary lines become tighter and more regular, caused by more breakages and possible restructurings of the flocs. The parameter D pf , which is related to the perimeter and the projected area through the function , decreased as the shear rate increased almost linearly. The parameter AR, which is the ratio of the length of the major axis and equivalent diameter, decreased from 1.56, 1.59, 1.53 and 1.51 in the low shear rate group to 1.43, 1.47 and 1.48 in the high shear rate group. These changes in D pf and AR show that the flocs become less convoluted and more symmetrical and that their boundaries become smoother and more regular in the high shear rate group than in the low shear rate group due to breakage and possible restructuring processes. To assess the effects of electrolyte and sediment concentration, 0.1 mol/L calcium chloride (CaCl 2 ) and initial sediment concentration from 7.87 × 10 -5 to 1.57 × 10 -5 were used in this preliminary study. The addition of electrolyte and increasing sediment concentration could produce more symmetrical flocs with less convoluted and simpler boundaries. In addition, some new information on the temporal variation of the median size of the flocs during the flocculation process is presented.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Comparative studies of glycolytic pathways and channeling under in vitro and in vivo modes

This study constructed cell‐free glycolytic enzyme systems and compared them to their in vivo functions in Escherichia coli . Under in vitro conditions, flux regulation followed enzyme concentrations and kinetics. In E. coli, only one of the isozymes of phosphofructokinase (PfkA) and fructose‐bisphosphate aldolase (FbaA) facilitate Embden‐Meyerhof‐Parnas (EMP) flux, but under in vitro assays, these isozymes were interchangeable. Additionally, in vitro introduction of the Entner–Doudoroff (ED) pathway improved glycolysis rates, while in vivo overexpression of the ED pathway could not capture significant flux unless its phosphotransferase system (PTS) was knocked out. Lastly, in vivo dynamic 13 C‐experiments revealed that the labeling order of EMP pathway intermediates was not strictly cascade, indicating intracellular metabolites were not well mixed. These enigmatic observations cannot be fully explained by thermodynamics or substrate level regulations. This article supports the long‐time conjecture that EMP enzymes are channeled, and the PTS may be an anchor point to initiate enzyme assemblies. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J , 65: 483–490, 2019

Abernathy, Mary H.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Structure and Site Evolution of Framework Ni Species in MIL-127 MOFs for Propylene Oligomerization Catalysis

A mixed-valence oxotrimer metal–organic framework (MOF), Ni-MIL-127, with a fully coordinated nickel atom and two iron atoms in the inorganic node, generates a missing linker defect upon thermal treatment in helium (>473 K) to engender an open coordination site on nickel which catalyzes propylene oligomerization devoid of any cocatalysts or initiators. This catalyst is stable for ~20 h on stream at 500 kPa and 473 K, unprecedented for this chemistry. The number of missing linkers on synthesized and activated Ni-MIL-127 MOFs is quantified using temperature-programmed oxidation, 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy to be ~0.7 missing linkers per nickel; thus, a majority of Ni species in the MOF framework catalyze propylene oligomerization. In situ NO titrations under reaction conditions enumerate ~62% of the nickel atoms as catalytically relevant to validate the defect density upon thermal treatment. Propylene oligomerization rates on Ni-MIL-127 measured at steady state have activation energies of 55–67 kJ mol –1 from 448 to 493 K and are first-order in propylene pressures from 5 to 550 kPa. Density functional theory calculations on cluster models of Ni-MIL-127 are employed to validate the plausibility of the missing linker defect and the Cossee–Arlman mechanism for propylene oligomerization through comparisons between apparent activation energies from steady-state kinetics and computation. Here this study illustrates how MOF precatalysts engender defective Ni species which exhibit reactivity and stability characteristics that are distinct and can be engineered to improve catalytic activity for olefin oligomerization.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Study of plasma induced nanostructure formation and surface morphology changes on tungsten and stainless steel at atmospheric pressure

The formation of nanostructures such as “fuzz,” holes, and flakes was observed on tungsten and stainless steel anodes in a 1 atm glow discharge with helium as the feed gas. The structures exhibited morphology similar to the tungsten fuzz growth observed in experiments that simulate wall conditions in fusion reactors, suggesting that similar physics may be present in both scenarios. The anode surface temperature ranged between 1000 and 1300 K with an ion fluence rate of order 10 24 s -1 m -2 . In this work, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope were used to characterize the evolution of nanostructure formation as a function of time. Observed nanostructures were found to vary with the morphology of the discharge plasma attachment. The composition of the structures was found to be predominantly the native metal by using energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. This work gives some insight into the formation of nanostructures at atmospheric pressure, which not only has applications for material processing, but also provides potentially another avenue to study fuzz formation processes relevant to fusion plasma-wall interactions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Study Results and Plans for Future Improvement of the NSLS-II FOFB System

Currently, the fast orbit feedback (FOFB) system correct the transverse orbit in both planes via air coil magnets installed over low conductivity sections of vacuum chamber (stainless steel bellows) with a fast acquisition (FA) that samples at 10kHz. Bandwidth of a few kHz has been achieved (power-supply + corrector + vacuum chamber) for the purpose that the FOFB bandwidth limitation is not anymore limited by the correctors. The bandwidths of the FOFB system in both planes have been experimentally characterized in the open-loop condition via sinwave excitation method. They are significantly lower than the measurements (2.5kHz in x) done by Weixing Chen et al when the control system was largely bypassed, only from PSI to fast correctors, final to BPM. The estimated dI/dt as a function of the frequency from the beam noise spectrum has been compared to the slew rate of the power supply. The most recent study evidences: after the optimization of fast corrector compensation circuit, the power supply system along shows the 3dB bandwidth of 5.6kHz in the horizontal plane and 3.5kHz in the vertical plane. Preliminary beam studies indicate the potential increase of the system bandwidth and the gain within the FOFB bandwidth. Finally, the plan for combing the FOFB and SOFB systems to correct down to DC has been discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

WISP: Watching grid Infrastructure Stealthily through Proxies (Final Technical Report)

The complex interdependencies of cyber systems (sensors and communications), physical grids and associated electricity market operations make protecting electric power grids a significant challenge. The energy sector is constantly under new, targeted, advanced and dangerous cyber-attacks that have the potential to result in the loss of human life. These threats are further exacerbated by our need to modernize the grid. One focus of cyber security research in smart grids is the securing of the SCADA system through advanced intrusion detection systems (IDS) and bad data detection algorithms in state estimation. These methods either require full knowledge of the system topology and parameters or fail to understand the physical behaviors under attack. WISP (Watching grid Infrastructure Stealthily through Proxies) is designed to provide additional protection to the power grid using only publicly available data. In particular, WISP exploits the spatio-temporal nature of the real time locational marginal prices (LMPs), in conjunction with other information such as bids, weather, outages and load data to analyze anomalous power pricing behaviors and then correlate those observations to localize regions of interest and identify potential cyber events. WISP is non-intrusive as the tool is deployed as a service in the Cloud or on premise and provides reliable information to system operators for enhanced situational awareness, without impeding energy delivery functions. The WISP technology comprises three modules: the data-driven anomaly detection core, the vulnerability and risk analysis and the root cause analysis. The data-driven anomaly detection core performs the tasks of feature selection, anomaly detection and attack region localization. The vulnerability and risk analysis module provides system level information of the vulnerable variables and times, assisting the operators in selecting monitoring and protection nodes. The root cause analysis module takes the detection results and identifies potential operational conditions that contribute to the detected anomalies. In Phase I, we have demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of WISP. We developed a realistic electricity market simulator capable of generating normal and attack market data under various operational conditions. We developed a series of cyber-attack detection and analysis algorithms and evaluated them under multiple data sources. Finally, we integrated all modules into an end-to-end software, providing functions for data management, data analytics and visualization. Specifically, we have achieved: (i) real-time data acceptance from external utility interfaces with >99% acceptance rate; (ii) high performance anomaly detection algorithms with >98% detection accuracy and <0.1% false alarm rate; and (iii) ultra-low computing delay <50 milliseconds. Additionally, our team developed algorithms to identify the vulnerable variables in electricity market operations and root cause analysis functions to identify major contributors to the price spikes. These ancillary modules are necessary when deploying WISP in real world industry environment. In Phase II, we have demonstrated the effectiveness of WISP software on realistic largescale power systems. We performed red team testing for the Phase I WISP software and identified software vulnerabilities and implemented corresponding mitigation solutions. We adapted the electricity market simulator for the Texas synthetic 2000-bus system and generated datasets for the false data injection attacks. We created database and visualization interfaces for the Texas system and the ISO New England system. We performed software optimization in terms of operation efficiency, computing speed and detection accuracy. Finally, we tested the software on the Texas system and the ISO New England system and evaluated the detection performance. Overall, we achieved above 89% detection rate, below 3% false alarm rate and below 37 seconds of end-to-end detection delay.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS1993

A Laboratory Model of a Hydrogen/Oxygen Engine for Combustion and Nozzle Studies

A small laboratory diagnostic thruster was developed to augment present low thrust chemical rocket optical and heat flux diagnostics at the NASA Lewis Research Center. The objective of this work was to evaluate approaches for the use of temperature and pressure sensors for the investigation of low thrust rocket flow fields. The nominal engine thrust was 110 N. Tests were performed at chamber pressures of about 255 kPa, 370 kPa, and 500 kPa with oxidizer to fuel mixture ratios between 4.0 and 8.0. Two gaseous hydrogen/gaseous oxygen injector designs were tested with 60 percent and 75 percent fuel film cooling. The thruster and instrumentation designs were proven to be effective via hot fire testing. The thruster diagnostics provided inner wall temperature and static pressure measurements which were compared to the thruster global performance data. For several operating conditions, the performance data exhibited unexpected trends which were correlated with changes in the axial wall temperature distribution. Azimuthal temperature distributions were found to be a function of operating conditions and hardware configuration. The static pressure profiles showed that no severe pressure gradients were present in the rocket. The results indicated that small differences in injector design can result in dramatically different thruster performance and wall temperature behavior, but that these injector effects may be overshadowed by operating at a high fuel film cooling rate.

Morren, Sybil Huang↗
NASA NTRS2002

NESTEM-QRAS: A Tool for Estimating Probability of Failure

An interface between two NASA GRC specialty codes, NESTEM and QRAS has been developed. This interface enables users to estimate, in advance, the risk of failure of a component, a subsystem, and/or a system under given operating conditions. This capability would be able to provide a needed input for estimating the success rate for any mission. NESTEM code, under development for the last 15 years at NASA Glenn Research Center, has the capability of estimating probability of failure of components under varying loading and environmental conditions. This code performs sensitivity analysis of all the input variables and provides their influence on the response variables in the form of cumulative distribution functions. QRAS, also developed by NASA, assesses risk of failure of a system or a mission based on the quantitative information provided by NESTEM or other similar codes, and user provided fault tree and modes of failure. This paper will describe briefly, the capabilities of the NESTEM, QRAS and the interface. Also, in this presentation we will describe stepwise process the interface uses using an example.

Patel, Bhogilal M.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Digital first order hold circuit

There is provided a digitally controlled first order hold circuit and waveform synthesizer for digitally controlling the representation of a function over an approximation interval. In accordance with the operation of the invention, the first order hold circuit and waveform generator receives a digital data input signal which contains initial condition data, up/down data, and slope data for the approximation interval. The initial condition data is loaded into an up/down counter which is incremented using counting data at a rate depending on the value of the slope data and in a direction depending on the value of the up-down data. In order to minimize delays arising from data acquistion, two frequency synthesizer circuits are provided such that one frequency synthesizer provides counting data while the other frequency synthesizer receives slope data. During alternating intervals, the other frequency synthesizer circuit provides counting data while the other circuit receives slope data. In addition, long length data input signals covering a plurality of approximation intervals are provided to reduce the demands on a main system central processing unit.

Chan, Fred N.↗