Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Optimality conditions”

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 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1980

An improved lamination technique for solar arrays

Encapsulating solar cells by lamination has been plagued with problems such as bubbles, cell shifting, ripples, and cracked cells. A low-cost laminating procedure has been developed using a double vacuum bagging technique and recently improved formulations of ethylene vinyl acetate, successfully minimizing these problems. The lamination fixturing used is described. The causes and cures of various problems are discussed and solutions to these problems presented. The apparent modulus of the face sheet seen by the module being laminated is believed to be the primary variable which must be optimized. Conditions at the module edge are also considered to be important for producing an acceptable product.

Garcia, A., III↗
NASA NTRS1983

Optimal symmetric flight with an intermediate vehicle model

The present investigation is concerned with an examination of optimal symmetry flight on the basis of the intermediate vehicle model. The analysis is partly based upon an exploration of Euler solutions for the path-angle-as-control model carried out by Kelley (1958). The current analysis takes into account higher-order optimality conditions and 'chattering-control' phenomena. Attention is given to details regarding the intermediate vehicle model, the Legendre-Clebsch necessary condition, the conjugate-point test, and the numerical solution of the time-range problem. It is found that the flight path angle takes on the role of control variable in the model. From physical considerations, it can be seen that when a positive margin of thrust over drag exists, the maximum-range climb trajectory without time or fuel constraints has no proper maximum nor an upper bound.

Kelley, H. J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Optimal symmetric flight with an intermediate vehicle model

The present investigation is concerned with an examination of optimal symmetry flight on the basis of the intermediate vehicle model. The analysis is partly based upon an exploration of Euler solutions for the path-angle-as-control model carried out by Kelley (1958). The current analysis takes into account higher-order optimality conditions and "chattering-control' phenomena. Attention is given to details regarding the intermediate vehicle model, the Legendre-Clebsch necessary condition, the conjugate-point test, and the numerical solution of the time-range problem. It is found that the flight path angle takes on the role of control variable in the model. From physical considerations, it can be seen that when a positive margin of thrust over drag exists, the maximum-range climb trajectory without time or fuel constraints has no proper maximum nor an upper bound.

Menon, P. K. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The definition of the process of electrochemical impregnation of nickel electrodes

Electrochemical impregnation was studied during a series of experiments designed to define the optimal conditions for the fabrication of dimensionally stable cell anodes of Ni-H2 and Ni-Cd systems. The influence of various parameters, such as current and duration of electrolysis, temperature and acidity of the chemical bath, the concentrations of Ni and Co as well as the use of ethanol was determined. Results show that the electrochemical impregnation process as defined is industrially feasible and it is suggested that Ni-H2 and Ni-Cd type electrodes be produced in sufficient quantity to further evaluate their performance characteristics.

Antoine, P.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Optimal trajectories for aeroassisted orbital transfer

Consideration is given to classical and minimax problems involved in aeroassisted transfer from high earth orbit (HEO) to low earth orbit (LEO). The transfer is restricted to coplanar operation, with trajectory control effected by means of lift modulation. The performance of the maneuver is indexed to the energy expenditure or, alternatively, the time integral of the heating rate. Firist-order optimality conditions are defined for the classical approach, as are a sequential gradient-restoration algorithm and a combined gradient-restoration algorithm. Minimization techniques are presented for the aeroassisted transfer energy consumption and time-delay integral of the heating rate, as well as minimization of the pressure. It is shown that the eigenvalues of the Jacobian matrix of the differential system is both stiff and unstable, implying that the sequential gradient restoration algorithm in its present version is unsuitable. A new method, involving a multipoint approach to the two-poing boundary value problem, is recommended.

Miele, A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A scheme for handling arrays in data-flow systems

An examination of the effects of atomicity (higher resolution) on the performance of array processors (data-flow computers) is presented. Data-flow principles are reviewed, noting the reliance on parallel processing using functional languages to specify sequencing of the operations. Techniques are described for eliminating the necessity of copying whole arrays between processing steps, thereby reducing the number of store cycles. The method involves setting whole columns to specific values rather than individual elements. The individual column values can be processed in parallel, i.e., a locally optimized condition exists. A drawback of the system is the need for more low level arguments, to identify the appropriate processing sequences, and high system complexity.

Gaudiot, J.-L.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Detection of bedrock topography beneath a thin cover of alluvium using thermal remote sensing

Modeling of the annual heat flow within a thin alluvium veneer on a granitic bedrock substrate in desert environments, such as found in the southwestern United States, predicts that at certain times of the year the depth to bedrock has a measurable effect on the surface temperature if the alluvium cover is less than 2 m thick. Changes in the thickness of the alluvial cover caused by bedrock topography will produce contrasts in the surface temperature. If temperature contrasts as small as 0.1 C can be resolved, a linear topographic feature having several metres of relief buried by 1.5 m of alluvium may be visible in thermal imagery acquired during January or August in the southwestern U.S. under optimal conditions. Thermal remote sensing may provide a means for delineating some buried faults, fluvial channels, and other features of interest on buried, granitic pediment surfaces.

Nash, D. B.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Evaluation of a Stirling engine heater bypass with the NASA Lewis nodal-analysis performance code

In support of the U.S. Department of Energy's Stirling Engine Highway Vehicle Systems program, the NASA Lewis Research Center investigated whether bypassing the P-40 Stirling engine heater during regenerative cooling would improve engine performance. The Lewis nodal-analysis Stirling engine computer simulation was used for this investigation. Results for the heater-bypass concept showed no significant improvement in the indicated thermal efficiency for the P-40 Stirling engine operating at full-power and part-power conditions. Optimizing the heater tube length produced a small increase in the indicated thermal efficiency with the heater-bypass concept.

Sullivan, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Parallel electric fields in extragalactic jets - Double layers and anomalous resistivity in symbiotic relationships

After examining the properties of Coulomb-collision resistivity, anomalous (collective) resistivity, and double layers, a hybrid anomalous-resistivity/double-layer model is introduced. In this model, beam-driven waves on both sides of a double layer provide electrostatic plasma-wave turbulence that greatly reduces the mobility of charged particles. These regions then act to hold open a density cavity within which the double layer resides. In the double layer, electrical energy is dissipated with 100 percent efficiency into high-energy particles, creating conditions optimal for the collective emission of polarized radio waves.

Borovsky, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Physical vapor transport crystal growth

The goals of this research are two-fold: to study effective means of growing ZnSe crystals of good optical quality and to determine the advantages of growing such crystals in microgravity. As of this date the optimal conditions for crystal growth have not been determined. However, successful growth runs were made in two furnances and the results are given.

Yoel, Dave W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Mixed finite element formulation applied to shape optimization

The development presented introduces a general form of mixed formulation for the optimal shape design problem. The associated optimality conditions are easily obtained without resorting to highly elaborate mathematical developments. Also, the physical significance of the adjoint problem is clearly defined with this formulation.

Rodrigues, Helder↗
NASA NTRS1988

Tracing structural optima as a function of available resources by a homotopy method

Optimization problems are typically solved by starting with an initial estimate and proceeding iteratively to improve it until the optimum is found. The design points along the path from the initial estimate to the optimum are usually of no value. The present work proposes a strategy for tracing a path of optimum solutions parameterized by the amount of available resources. The paper specifically treats the optimum design of a structure to maximize its buckling load. Equations for the optimum path are obtained using Lagrange multipliers, and solved by a homotopy method. The solution path has several transitions from unimodal to bimodal solutions. The Lagrange multipliers and second-order optimality conditions are used to detect branching points and to switch to the optimum solution path. The procedure is applied to the design of a foundation which supports a column for maximum buckling load. Using the total available foundation stiffness as a homotopy parameter, a set of optimum foundation designs is obtained.

Haftka, Raphael T.↗
NASA NTRS1989

An investigation of using an RQP based method to calculate parameter sensitivity derivatives

Estimation of the sensitivity of problem functions with respect to problem variables forms the basis for many of our modern day algorithms for engineering optimization. The most common application of problem sensitivities has been in the calculation of objective function and constraint partial derivatives for determining search directions and optimality conditions. A second form of sensitivity analysis, parameter sensitivity, has also become an important topic in recent years. By parameter sensitivity, researchers refer to the estimation of changes in the modeling functions and current design point due to small changes in the fixed parameters of the formulation. Methods for calculating these derivatives have been proposed by several authors (Armacost and Fiacco 1974, Sobieski et al 1981, Schmit and Chang 1984, and Vanderplaats and Yoshida 1985). Two drawbacks to estimating parameter sensitivities by current methods have been: (1) the need for second order information about the Lagrangian at the current point, and (2) the estimates assume no change in the active set of constraints. The first of these two problems is addressed here and a new algorithm is proposed that does not require explicit calculation of second order information.

Beltracchi, Todd J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Snow as a habitat for microorganisms

There are three major habitats involving ice and snow, and the microorganisms studied from these habitats are most eukaryotic. Sea ice is inhabited by algae called diatoms, glacial ice has sparse populations of green algai cal desmids, and the temporary and permanent snows in mountainous regions and high latitudes are inhabited mostly by green algal flagellates. The life cycle of green algal flagellates is summarized by discussing the effects of light, temperature, nutrients, and snow melts. Specific examples of optimal conditions and environmental effects for various snow algae are given. It is not likely that the eukaryotic snow algae presented are candidated for life on the planet Mars. Evolutionally, eukaryotic cells as know on Earth may not have had the opportunity to develop on Mars (if life evolved at all on Mars) since eukaryotes did not appear on Earth until almost two billion years after the first prokaryotic organisms. However, the snow/ice ecosystems on Earth present themselves as extreme habitats were there is evidence of prokaryotic life (eubacteria and cyanbacteria) of which literally nothing is known. Any future surveillances of extant and/or extinct life on Mars should include probes (if not landing sites) to investigate sites of concentrations of ice water. The possibility of signs of life in Martian polar regions should not be overlooked.

Hoham, Ronald W.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Perfusion Bioreactor Module

Perfusion bioreactor module, self-contained, closed-loop cell-culture system that operates in microgravity or on Earth. Equipment supports growth or long-term maintenance of cultures of human or other fragile cells for experiments in basic cell biology or process technology. Designed to support proliferation (initially at exponential rates of growth) of cells in complex growth medium and to maintain confluent cells in defined medium under conditions optimized to permit or encourage selected functions of cells, including secretion of products of cells into medium.

Morrison, Dennis R.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Theory of microemulsions in a gravitational field

A theory of microemulsions developed previously is extended to include the effect of a gravitational field. It predicts variation with position of drop size, drop volume fraction, and area per molecule in the surfactant films within a microemulsion phase. Variation in volume fraction is greatest and occurs in such a way that oil content increases with increasing elevation, as has been found experimentally. Large composition variations are predicted within a middle phase microemulsion near optimal conditions because inversion from the water-continuous to the oil-continuous arrangement occurs with increasing elevation. Generally speaking, gravity reduces solubilization within microemulsions and promotes separation of excess phases.

Jeng, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1989

A survey on the structured singular value

The structured singular value, U, is an important linear algebra tool to study a class of matrix perturbation problems. It is useful for analyzing the robustness of stability and performance of uncertain, (nominally) linear systems. Computation of (M) is difficult, and usually, upper and lower bounds are all that can be reliably computed. Upper bounds give conservative estimates of the sizes of allowable perturbations. The maximum singular value of a matrix M is an upper bound for (M). As an upper bound, it can be improved by finding a transformations to the data (i.e. M) which do not change the structured singular value, but do reduce the maximum singular value. Typically, upper bound algorithms involve searches over sets of transformations to yield the tightest bound. Lower bound algorithms are intelligent searches for minimum-norm solutions to multivariable polynomial equations, and are based on various optimality conditions that hold at the global (and, unfortunately, some local) minima. The current methods to compute both of these types of bounds are reviewed. Theoretical justification and extensive numerical experience with the various algorithms are covered.

Packard, Andy↗