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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 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2011

Enhanced Fuel-Optimal Trajectory-Generation Algorithm for Planetary Pinpoint Landing

An enhanced algorithm is developed that builds on a previous innovation of fuel-optimal powered-descent guidance (PDG) for planetary pinpoint landing. The PDG problem is to compute constrained, fuel-optimal trajectories to land a craft at a prescribed target on a planetary surface, starting from a parachute cut-off point and using a throttleable descent engine. The previous innovation showed the minimal-fuel PDG problem can be posed as a convex optimization problem, in particular, as a Second-Order Cone Program, which can be solved to global optimality with deterministic convergence properties, and hence is a candidate for onboard implementation. To increase the speed and robustness of this convex PDG algorithm for possible onboard implementation, the following enhancements are incorporated: 1) Fast detection of infeasibility (i.e., control authority is not sufficient for soft-landing) for subsequent fault response. 2) The use of a piecewise-linear control parameterization, providing smooth solution trajectories and increasing computational efficiency. 3) An enhanced line-search algorithm for optimal time-of-flight, providing quicker convergence and bounding the number of path-planning iterations needed. 4) An additional constraint that analytically guarantees inter-sample satisfaction of glide-slope and non-sub-surface flight constraints, allowing larger discretizations and, hence, faster optimization. 5) Explicit incorporation of Mars rotation rate into the trajectory computation for improved targeting accuracy. These enhancements allow faster convergence to the fuel-optimal solution and, more importantly, remove the need for a "human-in-the-loop," as constraints will be satisfied over the entire path-planning interval independent of step-size (as opposed to just at the discrete time points) and infeasible initial conditions are immediately detected. Finally, while the PDG stage is typically only a few minutes, ignoring the rotation rate of Mars can introduce 10s of meters of error. By incorporating it, the enhanced PDG algorithm becomes capable of pinpoint targeting.

Acikmese, Behcet↗
NASA NTRS1988

Outgassing asymmetry of periodic comet Encke. I - Apparitions 1924-1984

A concept of a collimated flow of ejecta from a discrete source (vent) on the surface of a rotating cometary nucleus is applied to P/Encke, based on positional observations of its sunward fanlike coma at 13 apparitions between 1924 and 1984. The major results include a finding that the observations are consistent with an invariable position of the rotation pole during the 60 yr (yielding an obliquity of 70 deg), although this is not to be interpreted as an indication that the nucleus is not precessing. Two vents are identified on the nucleus surface: one on the northern hemisphere at a latitude of +55 deg, of an estimated sublimitation area of 0.4 sq km, which is active along the inbound leg of the comet's orbit until a few days preperihelion and again beginning several weeks postperihelion; the other on the southern hemisphere at -75 deg, of an estimated area of 0.6 sq km, whose activity prevails in the intervening time. There appears to be a significant difference between the two regions in terms of dust content in their emissions.

Sekanina, Z.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Calculations of rotational flows using stream function

The stream function equation is solved for steady two-dimensional (and axisymmetric) rotational flows. Both finite differences and finite volumes discretization techniques are studied, using generalized body fitted coordinates and unstructured staggered grids, respectively. For inviscid transonic flows, a new artificial viscosity scheme which does not produce any artificial vorticity is introduced, for the stability of the mixed flow calculations and for capturing shocks. The solution of Euler equations, in primitive variables, are also considered. The effects of the artificial viscosity and numerical boundary conditions on the total enthalpy and the vorticity distributions are demonstrated.

Hafez, M.↗
DOE OSTI2025

CLPNets: Coupled Lie–Poisson neural networks for multi-part Hamiltonian systems with symmetries

To accurately compute data-based prediction of Hamiltonian systems, it is essential to utilize methods that preserve the structure of the equations over time. We consider a particularly challenging case of systems with interacting parts that do not reduce to pure momentum evolution. Such systems are essential in scientific computations, such as discretization of a continuum elastic rod, which can be viewed as the group of rotations and translations $SE(3)$. The evolution involves not only the momenta but also the relative positions and orientations of the particles. The presence of Lie group-valued elements, such as relative positions and orientations, poses a problem for applying previously derived methods for data-based computing. We develop a novel method of data-based computation and complete phase space learning of such systems. We follow the original framework of SympNets (Jin et al., 2020) and LPNets (Eldred et al., 2024), building the neural network from phase space mappings that preserve the Lie–Poisson structure. We derive a novel system of mappings that are built into neural networks describing the evolution of such systems. We call such networks Coupled Lie–Poisson Neural Networks, or CLPNets. We consider increasingly complex examples for the applications of CLPNets, starting with the rotation of two rigid bodies about a common axis, progressing to the free rotation of two rigid bodies, and finally to the evolution of two connected and interacting $SE(3)$ components, describing the discretization of an elastic rod into two elements. Our method preserves all Casimir invariants to machine precision, preserves energy to high accuracy, and shows good resistance to the curse of dimensionality, requiring only a few thousand data points for all cases studied (three to eighteen dimensions). Additionally, the method is highly economical in memory requirements, requiring only about 200 parameters for the most complex case considered.

Data-based modeling↗
NASA NTRS1991

What we know about the sun's internal rotation from solar oscillations

In this paper, a uniform approach of inversion was used to determine the internal rotation rate of the sun from each of the six available sets of solar oscillation data, which included the data of Duvall et al. (1986), Rhodes et al. (1987, 1990), Tomczyk (1988), Brown and Morrow (1987), and Libbrecht (1989). The technique chosen for inverting the solar oscillation data was the discretized least-squares technique. The results indicate that the rotation rate of the sun in the equatorial plane declines going inward between the surface and 0.6 of the radius and that the polar rate increases going inward (i.e., the surfacelike differential rotation decreases with depth).

Goode, Philip R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Feasibility study of a discrete bearing/roller drive rotary joint for the space station

The most critical mechanism on board the proposed space station is the continously rotating joint which must accurately align the solar power units with the sun during earth orbit. The feasibility of a multiple, discrete bearing supported joint driven by a self-loading, pinch drive actuator was investigated for this application. This concept appears to offer greater protection against catastrophic jamming, less sensitivity to adverse thermal gradients, greater accessibility to inorbit servicing or replacement and greater adaptability to very large (5 m) truss members than to more conventional continuous support bearing/gear reducer joints. Analytical trade studies performed herein establish that a discrete cam roller bearing support system having eight hangers around a continuous ring would provide sufficient radial and bending stiffness to prevent any degradation in the fundamental frequencies of the solar wing structure. Furthermore, it appears that the pinch roller drive mechanism can be readily sized to meet or exceed system performance and service life requirements. Wear life estimates based on experimental data for a steel roller coated with an advanced polyimide film show a continuous service life more than two orders of magnitude greater than required for this application.

Loewenthal, S. H.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Longwall shearer tracking system

A tracking system for measuring and recording the movements of a longwall shearer vehicle includes an optical tracking assembly carried at one end of a desired vehicle path and a retroreflector assembly carried by the vehicle. Continuous horizontal and vertical light beams are alternately transmitted by means of a rotating Dove prism to the reflector assembly. A vertically reciprocating reflector interrupts the continuous light beams and converts these to discrete horizontal and vertical light beam images transmitted at spaced intervals along the path. A second rotating Dove prism rotates the vertical images to convert them to a second series of horizontal images while the first mentioned horizontal images are left unrotated and horizontal. The images are recorded on a film.

Poulsen, P. D.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Characterization and classification of interacting ( 2 + 1 )-dimensional topological crystalline insulators with orientation-preserving wallpaper groups

While free fermion topological crystalline insulators have been largely classified, the analogous problem in the strongly interacting case has been only partially solved. In this work, we develop a characterization and classification of interacting, invertible fermionic topological phases in (2+1) dimensions with charge conservation, discrete magnetic translation and M-fold point group rotation symmetries, which form the group G f = U(1) f × Φ [Z 2 $\rtimes$Z M ] for M = 1,2,3,4, and 6. Φ is the magnetic flux per unit cell. We derive a topological response theory in terms of background crystalline gauge fields, which gives a complete classification of different phases and a physical characterization in terms of quantized response to symmetry defects. We then derive the same classification in terms of a set of real space invariants {$Θ^±_o$} that can be obtained from ground state expectation values of suitable partial rotation operators. We explicitly relate these real space invariants to the quantized coefficients in the topological response theory, and find the dependence of the invariants on the chiral central charge c – of the invertible phase. Finally, when Φ = 0 we derive an explicit map between the free and interacting classifications.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS1976

A Rayleigh-Ritz approach to the synthesis of large structures with rotating flexible components

The equations of motion for large structures with rotating flexible components are derived by regarding the structure as an assemblage of substructures. Based on a stationarity principle for rotating structures, it is shown that each continuous or discrete substructure can be simulated by a suitable set of admissible functions or admissible vectors. This substructure synthesis approach provides a rational basis for truncating the number of degrees of freedom both of each substructure and of the assembled structure.

Meirovitch, L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

A Rayleigh-Ritz approach to the synthesis of large gyroscopic structures

The equations of motion for large structures with rotating flexible components are derived by regarding the structure as an assemblage of substructures. Based on a stationarity principle for rotating structures, it is shown that each continuous or discrete substructure can be simulated by a suitable set of admissible functions or admissible vectors. This substructure synthesis approach provides a rational basis for truncating the number of degrees of freedom both of each substructure and of the assembled structure.

Meirovitch, L.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Subpixel translation-registration of random fields

The author examines both theoretically and through a simulation study the feasibility of identifying the location within a large reference gray-level array of a smaller sensed array to an accuracy finer than one pixel. It is assumed that the sensed image before discretization into pixels consists of a translated, but not rotated, section of the reference image with some superposed noise. The theoretical and empirical results show that when the noise has standard deviation no larger than that of a realistic reference field, the upper quartile of the registration error is on the order of 0.25-0.5 pixels.

Slud, Eric V.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Ice velocity at the ice front of the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica, as observed with ERS interferometry

ERS images of the two ends of the ice front of the Filchner-Ronne ice shelf (Antarctica) were utilized interferometrically to study the deformation rate of the ice shelf in response to viscous creep. On the western bank of Berkner Island (BI), near Hemmen Ice Rise (HIR), a time series of ERS data acquired in February 1992, in both ascending and descending mode, and with a three-day time interval, were utilized to map the ice velocity in two dimensions. Finite-element ice-shelf flow simulations are compared with the ERS interferograms to interpret the ice motion in terms of the physical constraints on ice-shelf flow. The efforts to fit artificial interferograms generated with model velocity output suggest that the flow regime is strongly influenced by three processes. First, a void-creation process responsible for rifts at coastal margins tends to uncouple the ice shelf from the ice rise and neighboring coast of BI. Secondly, sea ice within the void space appears to act as a binding agent between discrete ice-shelf fragments, allowing rigid-body rotations of these fragments. Third, strain rates appear to be enhanced in a narrow zone adjacent to HIR, implying significant strain softening along the boundary. It is believed that synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferogram/model intercomparison represents a powerful impetus towards the development of better, more physically realistic ice-shelf flow models.

Rignot, Eric↗
NASA NTRS2007

Multispectral Imager With Improved Filter Wheel and Optics

Figure 1 schematically depicts an improved multispectral imaging system of the type that utilizes a filter wheel that contains multiple discrete narrow-band-pass filters and that is rotated at a constant high speed to acquire images in rapid succession in the corresponding spectral bands. The improvement, relative to prior systems of this type, consists of the measures taken to prevent the exposure of a focal-plane array (FPA) of photodetectors to light in more than one spectral band at any given time and to prevent exposure of the array to any light during readout. In prior systems, these measures have included, variously the use of mechanical shutters or the incorporation of wide opaque sectors (equivalent to mechanical shutters) into filter wheels. These measures introduce substantial dead times into each operating cycle intervals during which image information cannot be collected and thus incoming light is wasted. In contrast, the present improved design does not involve shutters or wide opaque sectors, and it reduces dead times substantially. The improved multispectral imaging system is preceded by an afocal telescope and includes a filter wheel positioned so that its rotation brings each filter, in its turn, into the exit pupil of the telescope. The filter wheel contains an even number of narrow-band-pass filters separated by narrow, spoke-like opaque sectors. The geometric width of each filter exceeds the cross-sectional width of the light beam coming out of the telescope. The light transmitted by the sequence of narrow-band filters is incident on a dichroic beam splitter that reflects in a broad shorter-wavelength spectral band that contains half of the narrow bands and transmits in a broad longer-wavelength spectral band that contains the other half of the narrow spectral bands. The filters are arranged on the wheel so that if the pass band of a given filter is in the reflection band of the dichroic beam splitter, then the pass band of the adjacent filter is in the longer-wavelength transmission band of the dichroic beam splitter (see Figure 2). Each of the two optical paths downstream of the dichroic beam splitter contains an additional broad-band-pass filter: The filter in the path of the light transmitted by the dichroic beam splitter transmits and attenuates in the same bands that are transmitted and reflected, respectively, by the beam splitter; the filter in the path of the light reflected by the dichroic beam splitter transmits and attenuates in the same bands that are reflected and transmitted, respectively, by the dichroic beam splitter. In each of these paths, the filtered light is focused onto an FPA. As the filter wheel rotates at a constant angular speed, its shaft angle is monitored, and the shaft-angle signal is used to synchronize the exposure times of the two FPAs. When a single narrowband-pass filter on the wheel occupies the entire cross section of the beam of light coming out of the telescope, the spectrum of light that reaches the dichroic beam splitter lies entirely within the pass band of that filter. Therefore, the beam in its entirety is either transmitted by the dichroic beam splitter and imaged on the longer-wavelength FPA or reflected by the beam splitter and imaged onto the shorter-wavelength FPA.

Bremer, James C.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Remote detection of OH

This is a remote measurement technique utilizing a XeCl excimer laser tuned to the Q sub 21 1 rotational transition of the 0-0, A-X band at 307.847 nm. A wavemeter is under development to monitor, on a pulse-to-pulse basis, both the laser lineshape and absolute wavelength. Fluorescence is detected with a multiple Fabry-Perot type filter with a spectral resolution on the order of 0.001 nm. This is tuned to the overlapping Q sub 2 2, Q sub 12 2, Q sub 2 3, and Q sub 12 3 rotational transitions at 308.986 nm. The fringe pattern from this filter is imaged using a discrete, multi-anode detector which has a photon gain of 10 to the 8th power. This permits the simultaneous monitoring of OH fluorescence, N2 and/or O2 rotational Raman scattering and broadband background levels. The use of three etalons in series provides sufficient rejection, approx. greater than 10 to the 10th power, against the laser radiation only 1.2 nm away.

Mcdermid, I. Stuart↗
NASA NTRS1994

High-accuracy discrete positioning device

An article (30) is controllably and precisely positioned at one of three discrete locations defined by a linkage. The positioning apparatus includes two independently driven cranks (34, 42), with a link (50) pivotably connected between the two cranks (34, 42). Another connector (44) is pivotably connected between one of the cranks (34 or 42) and the article (30) to be positioned. The cranks (34, 42) are rotationally adjusted so that the pivot points (52, 54) of the link (50) are collinear with the axes of rotation of the cranks (40, 48), thereby defining one of the three discrete locations. Additional cranks and links can be provided to define additional discrete locations.

Brooks, John J.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Specifications of Cladding Diameter Measurements Conducted at AGHCF

Fuel element diameter data was collected on-site at the Alpha-Gamma Hot Cell Facility (AGHCF) before and after out-of-pile furnace transient tests of fuel elements. Available data records have been collected and preserved in the Out-of-Pile Transient Database (OPTD). This data is used to determine the transient-induced changes in fuel element diameter, or cladding strain, for the Whole Pin Furnace (WPF) tests. Fuel element diameter was measured by contact profilometry along the length of the fuel pin at specified rotational orientations and/or by a manually operated micrometer at several discrete axial locations along the pin. The Alpha-Gamma Hot Cell Facility Operations Manual details the way the facility operated, organizational and oversight responsibilities, and procedures for examination of samples. The working version of the manual at the time of the whole pin furnace tests and the test pin examinations is Doc. No. IPS-2-00-00, dated June 1989. This specification was developed using the operations manual and recovered measurement records in consultation with subject matter experts (SMEs). The measurement methods, format of the available post-test examination (PTE) data, and recommended methods for use and interpretation of that data are summarized. Section 2 describes the available diameter measurement data for the WPF tests with guidance for interpretation and usage, and Section 3 describes the instrument measurement procedures and calibration methods.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗