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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

A computer program for fitting smooth surfaces to an aircraft configuration and other three dimensional geometries

A computer program that uses a three-dimensional geometric technique for fitting a smooth surface to the component parts of an aircraft configuration is presented. The resulting surface equations are useful in performing various kinds of calculations in which a three-dimensional mathematical description is necessary. Programs options may be used to compute information for three-view and orthographic projections of the configuration as well as cross-section plots at any orientation through the configuration. The aircraft geometry input section of the program may be easily replaced with a surface point description in a different form so that the program could be of use for any three-dimensional surface equations.

Craidon, C. B.↗

Use of graphics in the design office at the Military Aircraft Division of the British Aircraft Corporation

The CAD/CAM interactive computer graphics system was described; uses to which it has been put were shown, and current developments of the system were outlined. The system supports batch, time sharing, and fully interactive graphic processing. Engineers using the system may switch between these methods of data processing and problem solving to make the best use of the available resources. It is concluded that the introduction of on-line computing in the form of teletypes, storage tubes, and fully interactive graphics has resulted in large increases in productivity and reduced timescales in the geometric computing, numerical lofting and part programming areas, together with a greater utilization of the system in the technical departments.

Coles, W. A.↗

Infrared scanner concept verification test report

The test results from a concept verification test conducted to assess the use of an infrared scanner as a remote temperature sensing device for the space shuttle program are presented. The temperature and geometric resolution limits, atmospheric attenuation effects including conditions with fog and rain, and the problem of surface emissivity variations are included. It is concluded that the basic concept of using an infrared scanner to determine near freezing surface temperatures is feasible. The major problem identified is concerned with infrared reflections which result in significant errors if not controlled. Action taken to manage these errors result in design and operational constraints to control the viewing angle and surface emissivity.

Bachtel, F. D.↗

Data base manipulation for assessment of multiresource suitability and land change

Progress is reported in three tasks which support the overall objectives of renewable resources inventory task of the AgRISTARS program. In the first task, the geometric correction algorithms of the Master Data Processor were investigated to determine the utility of data corrected by this processor for U.S. Forest Service uses. The second task involved investigation of logic to form blobs as a precursor step to automatic change detection involving two dates of LANDSAT data. Some routine procedures for selecting BLOB (spatial averaging) parameters were developed. In the third task, a major effort was made to develop land suitability modeling approches for timber, grazing, and wildlife habitat in support of resource planning efforts on the San Juan National Forest.

Colwell, J.↗

Analysis of Satellite Communications Antenna Patterns

Computer program accurately and efficiently predicts far-field patterns of offset, or symmetric, parabolic reflector antennas. Antenna designer uses program to study effects of varying geometrical and electrical (RF) parameters of parabolic reflector and its feed system. Accurate predictions of far-field patterns help designer predict overall performance of antenna. These reflectors used extensively in modern communications satellites and in multiple-beam and low side-lobe antenna systems.

Rahmat-Samii, Y.↗

Cartography

The demand for cartographic products at scales of 1:25,000 to 1:250,000 continues to increase throughout the world in order to meet requirements associated with: the survey and management of natural resources; environmental planning; and the establishment of geo-referenced data bases. A satellite system involving the use of multispectral linear array (MLA) sensors designed to meet cartographic requirements in terms of the completeness of detail and geometric accuracy standards associated with mapping programs offers great promise for rapidly providing the data with which to produce four types of map products/and data. These include topographic maps; digital terrain information (x,y,z coordinates; thematic mapping; and image maps. Each type of cartographic product/data is briefly considered in relation to current needs.

Source record↗

Test chip assembler and test program generator

One of the major problems in working at the geometry level for the generation of either test structure or functional circuit designs is the amount of labor involved in the design phase. To reduce the amount of labor involved in both the design and test of the structures used, JPL has developed a design and test program consisting of a Test Chip Assembler (TCA) and a Test Program Generator (TPG), which creates the geometrical description of the structures and generates the necessary test information using a high-level language. This system reduces the design time for a test chip by a factor of 30. To analyze the data obtained from wafer probing, a statistical package called STMJPL was developed. Some of the capabilities of the JPL software (STMJPL) are described.

Pina, C. A.↗

Stress Stiffening Of STARDYNE Plate Elements

Stress-stiffening program, written in FORTRAN language, calculates geometric stiffness matrix, resulting from stressed condition. Creates file appended to STARDYNE bulk data deck containing entries added to STARDYNE stiffness matrix. Format of this file compatible with STARDYNE.

Philpot, Dennis C.↗

Users' Guide to Vinci: Personal Computer Software for Planning Image-based Measurements in Wind Tunnels

Vinci is software that can be used to plan image-based measurements in wind tunnels. It allows the user to plan the placement of cameras and the choice of lenses well in advance of a test, thereby reducing the set-up time and cost when tunnel occupancy begins. It can also be used post-test to display data (pressure-sensitive paint, particle image velocimetry, model deformation) in context with the test article. Vinci is self-contained and runs on personal computers under Windows operating systems. No other software is required. Test articles are represented by CFD-like surface grids that may be read from an external file or created within the program as a combination of simple geometric shapes. The user controls the position and orientation of the test article through a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and may add many additional objects, including tunnel walls and windows, a wide variety of simple geometric shapes, mirrors, lamps, and laser sheets. The application computes simulated images from up to 40 cameras. Images are based on pinhole projection. Each camera is defined by the sensor size and the focal length of the lens. All camera parameters, including position and point angles, are controlled through the GUI. Simulated images are displayed in a window of the GUI and may be saved as bitmaps.

Users’ Guide, Image Planning, Wind Tunnels, Softwa↗

Determination of the geometrical factor and of the spatial distributions of particles for a cosmic ray telescope using a Monte Carlo approach

A program is presented which uses a Monte Carlo technique to compute the geometrical factor of a detector, and the spatial and angular distributions of simulated particles at designated layers within the detector. As the program is written, each layer is assumed to be rectangular, parallel to every other layer with its edges parallel to the edges of every other layer, and centered about a common axis. This program is written in Fortran 4 for the IBM 360 computers and is currently being run under the Fortran 4 (h) compiler. Same features such as the subroutine ERRSET, RANDU, and REMTIM and the type declarations REAL *8 and LOGICAL *1 may need to be changed for use with a different computer system. The use of input data cards, and a sample data set are presented. Lists of the symbol definition, card images of the FORTRAN object deck and subroutines are included along with a flow diagram.

Hemmer, M.↗

PLANS; a finite element program for nonlinear analysis of structures. Volume 2: User's manual

The PLANS system, rather than being one comprehensive computer program, is a collection of finite element programs used for the nonlinear analysis of structures. This collection of programs evolved and is based on the organizational philosophy in which classes of analyses are treated individually based on the physical problem class to be analyzed. Each of the independent finite element computer programs of PLANS, with an associated element library, can be individually loaded and used to solve the problem class of interest. A number of programs have been developed for material nonlinear behavior alone and for combined geometric and material nonlinear behavior. The usage, capabilities, and element libraries of the current programs include: (1) plastic analysis of built-up structures where bending and membrane effects are significant, (2) three dimensional elastic-plastic analysis, (3) plastic analysis of bodies of revolution, and (4) material and geometric nonlinear analysis of built-up structures.

Pifko, A.↗

NERVA mass properties computer methodology

The computer codes are presented that were used for the weight, center of gravity, and mass moment of inertia calculations and documentation for the NERVA. The two programs, E15301 and 12001B, are the basic tools used for weights work on the NERVA program. Used in conjunction with one another, they allow for rapid weights estimates for new concepts or changes while allowing for orderly documentation, which is a necessity in any effective weights effort. Program E15301 requires that each component be resolved into a collection of standard shapes. Separate subroutines then process geometric and material density data for each entry. The master program the performs all calculations necessary to combine these results into a total weight, center of gravity, and moment of inertia for the component. Program 12001B accepts previously calculated weight and center of gravity data for individual components. The program sums weights and calculates center of gravities and moments of inertia for systems of up to four levels of assemblies. The output identifies the engine parts in a format usable directly in a formal report.

Hall, I. K.↗

Development of computer models for the prediction of large distorted antenna characteristics

A program for calculating the radiation patterns of analytic reflector antennas, using geometric optics and aperture plane integration techniques, was modified and extended to include nonanalytic surfaces. The original program, while capable of predicting patterns for a variety of reflectors, both smooth and multipanelled, was subject to the restriction that the surface had to be expressed analytically, i.e., described by a set of mathematical equations. This restriction was removed by adapting a technique which allows the reflector configuration to be interpolated from a finite set of points measured on the surface. Criteria for choosing both the number and distribution of these measured surface points were developed by comparing the predicted antenna radiation patterns with measured laboratory results. Test cases involved relatively smooth as well as grossly distorted arbitrary surfaces. Finally, surface point accuracies were established by applying random error analysis to the measurement process.

Moskowitz, S. M.↗

Improvements to the missile aerodynamic prediction code DEMON3

The computer program DEMON3 was developed for the aerodynamic analysis of nonconventional supersonic configurations comprising a body with noncircular cross section and up to two wing or fin sections. Within a wing or fin section, the lifting surfaces may be cruciform, triform, planar, or low profile layouts; the planforms of the lifting surfaces allow for breaks in sweep. The body and fin sections are modeled by triplet and constant u-velocity panels, respectively, accounting for mutual body-fin interference. Fin thickness effects are included for the use of supersonic planar source panels. One of the unique features of DEMON3 is the modeling of high angle of attack vortical effects associated with the lifting surfaces and the body. In addition, shock expansion and Newtonian pressure calculation methods can be optionally engaged. These two dimensional nonlinear methods are augmented by aerodynamic interference determined from the linear panel methods. Depending on the geometric details of the body, the DEMON3 program can be used to analyze nonconventional configurations at angles of attack up to 25 degrees for Mach numbers from 1.1 to 6. Calculative results and comparisons with experimental data demonstrate the capabilities of DEMON3. Limitations and deficiencies are listed.

Dillenius, Marnix F. E.↗

An Update on Design Tools for Optimization of CMC 3D Fiber Architectures

Objective: Describe and up-date progress for NASA's efforts to develop 3D architectural design tools for CMC in general and for SIC/SiC composites in particular. Describe past and current sequential work efforts aimed at: Understanding key fiber and tow physical characteristics in conventional 2D and 3D woven architectures as revealed by microstructures in the literature. Developing an Excel program for down-selecting and predicting key geometric properties and resulting key fiber-controlled properties for various conventional 3D architectures. Developing a software tool for accurately visualizing all the key geometric details of conventional 3D architectures. Validating tools by visualizing and predicting the Internal geometry and key mechanical properties of a NASA SIC/SIC panel with a 3D orthogonal architecture. Applying the predictive and visualization tools toward advanced 3D orthogonal SiC/SIC composites, and combining them into a user-friendly software program.

Lang, J.↗

GASP- General Aviation Synthesis Program. Volume 2: Geometry

The gross characteristics of an aircraft under study are specified to the subroutines SIZE. The principal quantities specified are both geometric (lengths and areas) and operational (altitude and Mach number). The sequence of computations carried out by SIZE is controlled by the parameter NPC which is passed into SIZE by COMMON. When NPC-0, the computation is initialized. Subsequently, NPC is set to 2 and the program advances through the geometric computations. Geometry models for the fuselage, wing, empennage, cabin pressurization, and nacelle area are examined.

Hague, D.↗