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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

Criteria for analysis-test correlation of structural dynamic systems

A rational criterion for structural dynamic analysis-test correlation has been established by using a matrix perturbation technique. This criterion can be used for the verification of an analytical model by the test results. Also, the same technique can be applied to update the analytical results by using the test results without repeating the entire analytical procedure. A sample problem has been used to demonstrate this technique. Very satisfactory results are obtained with only the first-order perturbation solution included for transient loading. For periodic loading, higher-order perturbation solutions are needed to achieve the same accuracy.

Chen, J. C.↗

State-Space System Realization with Input- and Output-Data Correlation

This paper introduces a general version of the information matrix consisting of the autocorrelation and cross-correlation matrices of the shifted input and output data. Based on the concept of data correlation, a new system realization algorithm is developed to create a model directly from input and output data. The algorithm starts by computing a special type of correlation matrix derived from the information matrix. The special correlation matrix provides information on the system-observability matrix and the state-vector correlation. A system model is then developed from the observability matrix in conjunction with other algebraic manipulations. This approach leads to several different algorithms for computing system matrices for use in representing the system model. The relationship of the new algorithms with other realization algorithms in the time and frequency domains is established with matrix factorization of the information matrix. Several examples are given to illustrate the validity and usefulness of these new algorithms.

Juang, Jer-Nan↗

Fractal landscapes in biological systems: long-range correlations in DNA and interbeat heart intervals

Here we discuss recent advances in applying ideas of fractals and disordered systems to two topics of biological interest, both topics having common the appearance of scale-free phenomena, i.e., correlations that have no characteristic length scale, typically exhibited by physical systems near a critical point and dynamical systems far from equilibrium. (i) DNA nucleotide sequences have traditionally been analyzed using models which incorporate the possibility of short-range nucleotide correlations. We found, instead, a remarkably long-range power law correlation. We found such long-range correlations in intron-containing genes and in non-transcribed regulatory DNA sequences as well as intragenomic DNA, but not in cDNA sequences or intron-less genes. We also found that the myosin heavy chain family gene evolution increases the fractal complexity of the DNA landscapes, consistent with the intron-late hypothesis of gene evolution. (ii) The healthy heartbeat is traditionally thought to be regulated according to the classical principle of homeostasis, whereby physiologic systems operate to reduce variability and achieve an equilibrium-like state. We found, however, that under normal conditions, beat-to-beat fluctuations in heart rate display long-range power law correlations.

Non-NASA Center↗

Simulation of a Cold Gas Thruster System and Test Data Correlation

During developmental testing of the Ascent Abort 1 (AA-1) cold gas thruster system, unexpected behavior was detected. Upon further review the design as it existed may not have met the requirements. To determine the best approach for modifying the design, the system was modeled with a dynamic fluid analysis tool (EASY5). The system model consisted of the nitrogen storage tank, pressure regulator, thruster valve, nozzle, and the associated interconnecting line lengths. The regulator and thruster valves were modeled using a combination of the fluid and mechanical modules available in EASY5. The simulation results were then compared against actual system test data. The simulation results exhibited behaviors similar to the test results, such as the pressure regulators response to thruster firings. Potential design solutions were investigated using the analytical model parameters, including increasing the volume downstream of the regulator and increasing the orifice area. Both were shown to improve the regulator response.

Hauser, Daniel M.↗

A theorem of equivalence on the methods of least-squares estimation

A theorem on the methods of least-squares estimation is stated and proved. This theorem enables the replacement of a system of correlated measurements by an equivalent system of uncorrelated measurements without a whitening process, thus simplifying the analysis while resulting in the same minimum-variance estimate.

Wu, S.-C.↗

Test and analysis correlation for structural dynamic systems

In this paper the authors summarize the activities at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in modifying the structural mathematical model to correlate with its modal test results. In addition to the results from the Viking and Galileo spacecrafts, developments in the parameter estimation of structural mathematical models of large flexible structures using Multiple Boundary Condition Tests (MBCT) are presented.

Wada, B. K.↗

Updates and Correlation of EMU System-Level Model (SINDA EMU)

During United States Extravehicular Activity 80 (US EVA 80), water was observed in the helmet of an Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) during cabin repressurization. One of the primary methods of determining the likely cause of this failure was through a comparison of EVA 80 to other historical EVAs using an analytical approach. The Systems Improved Numerical Differential Analysis EMU model (SINDA EMU) is a system-level model of the EMU that was used in this investigation. SINDA EMU was initially developed and correlated to test data in the 1980s. Since its conception, SINDA EMU has been continually adjusted based on new test data and changes to the EMU design. To support the water in the helmet investigation, SINDA EMU needed to be further updated and recorrelated to ensure accurate results. These changes included changing the primary carbon dioxide (CO2) removal technology, implementing logic to allow for re-evaporation of sweat runoff from the liquid cooling and ventilation garment (LCVG), and improving the transient modeling capabilities. To validate the implementation of these adjustments, SINDA EMU was correlated to test data from the 1990s and human-in-the-loop (HITL) testing from 2014. These updates and correlation efforts proved that SINDA EMU is an effective tool for investigating the EVA 80 water in the helmet failure event.

Noah Lial Andersen↗

Measurement and analysis of operating system fault tolerance

This paper demonstrates a methodology to model and evaluate the fault tolerance characteristics of operational software. The methodology is illustrated through case studies on three different operating systems: the Tandem GUARDIAN fault-tolerant system, the VAX/VMS distributed system, and the IBM/MVS system. Measurements are made on these systems for substantial periods to collect software error and recovery data. In addition to investigating basic dependability characteristics such as major software problems and error distributions, we develop two levels of models to describe error and recovery processes inside an operating system and on multiple instances of an operating system running in a distributed environment. Based on the models, reward analysis is conducted to evaluate the loss of service due to software errors and the effect of the fault-tolerance techniques implemented in the systems. Software error correlation in multicomputer systems is also investigated.

Lee, I.↗

The System Complexity Metric (SCM) Explains Systems Design and is Correlated with Cost and Failure Rate

The human short term memory span and working capacity is limited to three to five items, especially if they are organized complex “chunks” of information. The impression of complexity occurs when a system is simply difficult to understand, where there is no apparent pattern to predict its behavior. Hierarchical systems design can reduce perceived complexity and increase the amount of information that can be managed. The SCM was developed to measure complexity and help compare proposed overall system architectures before detailed design information is available. The SCM is defined as the sum of the number of major nodes, N, in the system block diagram plus the number of one-way interactions, I, between the nodes. SCM = N + I. SCM’s are easily determined by direct inspection of high-level block diagrams of life support systems. Axiomatic design develops a hierarchy of subsystem requirements and designs together in a top-down, back-and-forth process. A coupling matrix is used to control the relationships between the subsystem functions and design concepts. Axiomatic design can improve system design by decoupling requirements and designs. Axiomatic design was applied to the planning of a closed life support system, similar to that used on the International Space Station. A materially open as opposed to a closed system design was created by removing the interconnections required to close the system. The open system had the same number of designed subsystems as the closed system, but it had many fewer interconnections and its SCM was lower by about half. The costs were estimated and the MTBF (Mean Time Before Failure) tabulated for open and closed space life support systems. The estimated costs were linearly proportional to SCM for the wide variations of SCM in life support, but small differences may not be significant. The flight and preflight MTBF’s both declined exponentially with increasing MTBF, faster than MTBF-2, even though the preflight estimated MTBF’s were about ten times higher than the flight MTBF’s.

System Complexity Metric (SCM)↗

Dual-wavelength correlation measurements with an airborne pulsed carbon dioxide lidar system

Dual-wavelength correlation data are presented for ground-level and airborne measurements of topographic and ocean backscatter near the 9.5-micron wavelength. Data were acquired with a pulsed carbon dioxide, dual-laser, dual-wavelength lidar system. The best system performance gave a dual-wavelength uncorrelated noise component of 2.8% and 9% standard deviation for ground-based and airborne data, respectively. This sets one limit on lidar measurement accuracy with a single pulse pair.

Bufton, J. L.↗

Optical calculation of correlation filters for a robotic vision system

A method is presented for designing optical correlation filters based on measuring three intensity patterns: the Fourier transform of a filter object, a reference wave and the interference pattern produced by the sum of the object transform and the reference. The method can produce a filter that is well matched to both the object, its transforming optical system and the spatial light modulator used in the correlator input plane. A computer simulation was presented to demonstrate the approach for the special case of a conventional binary phase-only filter. The simulation produced a workable filter with a sharp correlation peak.

Knopp, Jerome↗

Correlation of an optical system degradation with contamination on a critical surface

The loss of sensitivity of a radiantly cooled radiometer during space operation was investigated. A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), mounted in the proximity of the instrument filter lens and held at its temperature, measured the contaminant at the location during a vacuum test. The temperature cycling of the lens and the QCM verified the contamination of the lens as the cause of the deterioration. Data on the instrument performance in space and in the chamber allowed estimation of the rate of contaminant accretion on the lens in space service. That rate was used to estimate the contaminant partial pressure. The nature of material was inferred by comparison of the partial pressures and the saturated vapor pressures of materials at the temperature of the contaminated surface. These data, in conjunction with data on fields of view of the lens, are used to identify the sources of contamination.

Scialdone, J. J.↗

Achromatic optical correlator for white light pattern recognition

An achromatic optical correlator using spatially multiplexed achromatic matched spatial filters (MSFs) for white light optical pattern recognition is presented. The MSF array is synthesizd using a monochromatic laser and its achromaticity is achieved by adjusting the scale and spatial carrier frequency of each MSF to accommodate the wavelength variations in white light correlation detections. Systems analysis and several experimental results showing the correlation peak intensity using white-light illumination are presented.

Chao, Tien-Hsin↗

Aeroelastic Flight Data Analysis with the Hilbert-Huang Algorithm

This paper investigates the utility of the Hilbert-Huang transform for the analysis of aeroelastic flight data. It is well known that the classical Hilbert transform can be used for time-frequency analysis of functions or signals. Unfortunately, the Hilbert transform can only be effectively applied to an extremely small class of signals, namely those that are characterized by a single frequency component at any instant in time. The recently-developed Hilbert-Huang algorithm addresses the limitations of the classical Hilbert transform through a process known as empirical mode decomposition. Using this approach, the data is filtered into a series of intrinsic mode functions, each of which admits a well-behaved Hilbert transform. In this manner, the Hilbert-Huang algorithm affords time-frequency analysis of a large class of signals. This powerful tool has been applied in the analysis of scientific data, structural system identification, mechanical system fault detection, and even image processing. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the potential applications of the Hilbert-Huang algorithm for the analysis of aeroelastic systems, with improvements such as localized/online processing. Applications for correlations between system input and output, and amongst output sensors, are discussed to characterize the time-varying amplitude and frequency correlations present in the various components of multiple data channels. Online stability analyses and modal identification are also presented. Examples are given using aeroelastic test data from the F/A-18 Active Aeroelastic Wing aircraft, an Aerostructures Test Wing, and pitch-plunge simulation.

Brenner, Marty↗