Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Reliability Analysis”

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 1,207 records · Page 67

Comparative Study of TESS Photometry and Radial Velocities on Six Early K-type Contact Binaries with Similar Periods around 0.268 Day

High-precision light curves were extracted from TESScut images. Together with APOGEE and LAMOST medium-resolution spectra, a joint study was made for six early K-type contact binary candidates selected unbiasedly with orbital periods around 0.268 day. It is found that all of them (RV CVn, EK Com, V384 Ser, V1038 Her, EH CVn, and CSS_J125403.7+503945) are W-subtype shallow contact systems, though with different mass ratios (1/q = 0.27–0.62). The effective temperature differences between the binary components are around a few hundred kelvins. The original definitions of the A and W subtypes were compared with the customarily used methods, which rely on the shape or photometric solutions of the light curves. The latter two methods are not always reliable; therefore, the radial velocity analysis is strongly recommended. Through a collection of all available K-type contact binaries with both photometric and spectroscopic measurements, it is found that almost all of them are W-subtype systems, except for a few objects that have nearly identical temperatures for binary components. This W-subtype phenomenon for K-type contact binaries should be further checked with more samples in the future. Finally, the physical parameters of the targets were determined with joint data analysis, and the multiplicity is discussed for these targets. Objects V384 Ser and RV CVn are confirmed to very likely be triple systems from comprehensive analysis, while V1038 Her is a candidate of a triple system based on photometric and spectroscopic solutions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Theory of Electrostatic Fields in the Ionosphere at Equatorial Latitudes

The properties of the elongated electrostatic fields that are required to provide the coupling mechanism in the dynamo-motor concept of the E and F regions of the ionosphere are examined theoretically for the conditions that prevail in equatorial latitudes. The analysis is developed for an electrostatic field of arbitrary horizontal scale in a horizontally stratified partly ionized gas subject to an imposed magnetic field having the form of a parabolic arch over the equator. The anisotropic character and continuous variation with height of the conductivity are retained throughout , and numerical solutions are determined for the attenuation of the electric field with distance along the field line. The results are similar qualitatively to those found previously upon analysis of the corresponding problem for middle latitudes, but the attenuation of the electrostatic field with height is considerably greater. It develops, in particular, that the coupling between E and F regions is very small for fields having horizontal wavelengths of a few kilometers. It follows that the dynamo-motor concept could not be used to account for the presence of irregularities of this scale. On the other hand, it is found that almost all the attenuation occurs at heights near that of the E region. If an electrostatic field having a horizontal wavelength of a few kilometers could be produced at heights of, say 200 km or greater, it follows that it would be very elongated and extend with little change in amplitude from hemisphere to hemisphere. The results also indicate that effective coupling could be achieved for fields having horizontal wavelengths of the order of tens of kilometers, but the assumptions introduced to simplify the analysis may impair the quantitative reliability of the results for fields of this scale.

Briggs, Benjamin R.↗

Development of KSC program for investigating and generating field failure rates. Volume 1: Summary and overview

A summary of the KSC program for investigating the reliability aspects of the ground support activities is presented. An analysis of unsatisfactory condition reports (RC), and the generation of reliability assessment of components based on the URC are discussed along with the design considerations for attaining reliable real time hardware/software configurations.

Bean, E. E.↗

Geometric distortions of opticommercial panoramic television systems

One of the problems solvable by the spaceborne television system, topographical surveying, makes high demands on image quality, particularly on the geometric distortions introduced by the television camera. It is the geometric distortions which determine measurement accuracy and, consequently, the possibility of creating reliable planetary surface maps. Comparative analysis of the different television systems capable of solving the problem showed that the requirements on quality of the transmitted images are best satisfied by television cameras with opticomechanical scanning. The design of panoramic television systems and the process of image construction by the opticomechanical camera are discussed. Results indicate that panoramic television cameras have the necessary instrumental accuracy and permit determination of the direction to objects with an error practically equal to the resolution.

Govorov, V. M.↗

Control optimization, stabilization and computer algorithms for aircraft applications

Research related to reliable aircraft design is summarized. Topics discussed include systems reliability optimization, failure detection algorithms, analysis of nonlinear filters, design of compensators incorporating time delays, digital compensator design, estimation for systems with echoes, low-order compensator design, descent-phase controller for 4-D navigation, infinite dimensional mathematical programming problems and optimal control problems with constraints, robust compensator design, numerical methods for the Lyapunov equations, and perturbation methods in linear filtering and control.

Source record↗

High resolution mapping of the magnetic field of the solar corona

The mapping of the current-free magnetic field of the solar corona and the reliability of the spherical harmonic analysis of the photospheric magnetic field pattern are improved by data with much greater dynamic range and spatial resolution than previously available and a new algorithm which permits spherical harmonic expansion to a much higher value of the principal index. Coronal field maps can be drawn for local regions, for just the open field lines, and for various spatial resolutions on a global scale.

Altschuler, M. D.↗

Feasibility of determining flat roof heat losses using aerial thermography

The utility of aerial thermography for determining rooftop heat losses was investigated experimentally using several completely instrumented test roofs with known thermal resistances. Actual rooftop heat losses were obtained both from in-situ instrumentation and aerial thermography obtained from overflights at an altitude of 305 m. In general, the remotely determined roof surface temperatures agreed very well with those obtained from ground measurements. The roof heat losses calculated using the remotely determined roof temperature agreed to within 17% of those calculated from 1/R delta T using ground measurements. However, this agreement may be fortuitous since the convective component of the heat loss is sensitive to small changes in roof temperature and to the average heat transfer coefficient used, whereas the radiative component is less sensitive. This, at this time, it is felt that an acceptable quantitative determination of roof heat losses using aerial thermography is only feasible when the convective term is accurately known or minimized. The sensitivity of the heat loss determination to environmental conditions was also evaluated. The analysis showed that the most reliable quantitative heat loss determinations can probably be obtained from aerial thermography taken under conditions of total cloud cover with low wind speeds and at low ambient temperatures.

Bowman, R. L.↗

Feasibility of determining flat roof heat losses using aerial thermography

The utility of aerial thermography for determining rooftop heat losses is investigated. Actual rooftop heat losses were obtained both from in-situ instrumentation of test roofs with known thermal resistances and aerial thermography obtained from overflights at an altitude of 305 m. It is found that the roof heat losses calculated using the remotely determined roof temperature agreed to within 17% of those calculated from ground measurements. However it is noted that an acceptable quantitative determination of roof heat losses using aerial thermography is only feasible when the convective term is accurately known or minimized. In addition, the sensitivity of the heat loss determination to environmental conditions is also evaluated. Finally, the analysis shows that the most reliable determinations can probably be obtained under conditions of total cloud cover with low wind speeds and at low ambient temperatures.

Bowman, R. L.↗

Broadband electromagnetic sensors for aircraft lightning research

A set of electromagnetic sensors, or electrically-small antennas, is described. The sensors are designed for installation on an F-106 research aircraft for the measurement of electric and magnetic fields and currents during a lightning strike. The electric and magnetic field sensors mount on the aircraft skin. The current sensor mounts between the nose boom and the fuselage. The sensors are all on the order of 10 cm in size and should produce up to about 100 V for the estimated lightning fields. The basic designs are the same as those developed for nuclear electromagnetic pulse studies. The most important electrical parameters of the sensors are the sensitivity, or equivalent area, and the bandwidth (or rise time). Calibration of sensors with simple geometries is reliably accomplished by a geometric analysis; all the sensors discussed possess geometries for which the sensitivities have been calculated. For the calibration of sensors with more complex geometries and for general testing of all sensors, two transmission lines were constructed to transmit known pulsed fields and currents over the sensors.

Trost, T. F.↗

Calculation of skin-friction coefficients for low Reynolds number turbulent boundary layer flows

An analysis is presented of the reliability of various generally accepted empirical expressions for the prediction of the skin-friction coefficient C/sub f/ of turbulent boundary layers at low Reynolds numbers in zero-pressure-gradient flows on a smooth flat plate. The skin-friction coefficients predicted from these expressions were compared to the skin-friction coefficients of experimental profiles that were determined from a graphical method formulated from the law of the wall. These expressions are found to predict values that are consistently different than those obtained from the graphical method over the range 600 Re/sub theta 2000. A curve-fitted empirical relationship was developed from the present data and yields a better estimated value of C/sub f/ in this range. The data, covering the range 200 Re/sub theta 7000, provide insight into the nature of transitional flows. They show that fully developed turbulent boundary layers occur at Reynolds numbers Re/sub theta/ down to 425. Below this level there appears to be a well-ordered evolutionary process from the laminar to the turbulent profiles. These profiles clearly display the development of the turbulent core region and the shrinking of the laminar sublayer with increasing values of Re/sub theta/.

Barr, P. K.↗

Icing Frequencies Experienced During Climb and Descent by Fighter-Interceptor Aircraft

Data and analyses are presented on the relative frequencies of occurrence and severity of icing cloud layers encountered by jet aircraft in the climb and descent phases of flights to high altitudes. Fighter-interceptor aircraft operated by the Air Defense Command (USAF) at bases in the Duluth and Seattle areas collected the data with icing meters installed for a l-year period. The project was part of an extensive program conducted by the NACA to collect Icing cloud data for evaluating the icing problem relevant to routine operations. The average frequency of occurrence of icing was found to be about 5 percent of the number of climbs and descents during 1 year of operations The icing encounters were predominantly in the low and middle cloud layers, decreasing above 15,000 feet to practically none above 25,000 feet. The greatest thickness of ice that would accumulate on any aircraft component (as indicated by the accretion on a small object) was measured with the icing meters. The ice thicknesses on a small sensing probe averaged less than 1/32 inch and did not exceed 1/2 inch. Such accumulations are relatively small when compared with those that can form during horizontal flight in icing clouds. The light accretions resulted from relatively steep angles of flight through generally thin cloud layers. Because of the limited statistical reliability of the results, an analysis was made using previous statistics on icing clouds below an altitude of 20,000 feet to determine the general icing severity probabilities. The calculations were made using adiabatic lifting as a basis to establish the liquid-water content. Probabilities of over-all ice accretions on a small object as a function of airspeed and rate of climb were computed from the derived water contents. These results were then combined with the probability of occurrence of icing in order to give the icing severity that can be expected for routine aircraft operations.

Perkins, Porter J.↗

L band push broom microwave radiometer: Soil moisture verification and time series experiment Delmarva Peninsula

The verification of a multi-sensor aircraft system developed to study soil moisture applications is discussed. This system consisted of a three beam push broom L band microwave radiometer, a thermal infrared scanner, a multispectral scanner, video and photographic cameras and an onboard navigational instrument. Ten flights were made of agricultural sites in Maryland and Delaware with little or no vegetation cover. Comparisons of aircraft and ground measurements showed that the system was reliable and consistent. Time series analysis of microwave and evaporation data showed a strong similarity that indicates a potential direction for future research.

Jackson, T. J.↗

On numerical simulation of viscous flows

Numerical simulation methods for viscous incompressible laminar flows are reviewed, with a focus on finite-difference schemes. The approaches to high/moderate-Reynolds-number flows (strong-viscous-interaction model or single sets of equations) and the factors affecting the versatility, reliability, and accuracy of the analysis algorithms are considered; approximate-factorization implicit solution techniques for low-Reynolds-number flows are discussed; and the procedures used in a number of specific problems are indicated.

Ghia, K. N.↗

The kinetic energy spectrum of protons produced by the dissociative ionization of H2 by electron impact

The kinetic energy spectra of protons resulting from the dissociative ionization of H2 by electron impact have been measured for electron impact energies from threshold (approximately 17 eV) to 160 eV at 90 deg and 30 deg detection angles, using a crossed-beam experimental arrangement. To check reliability, two separate proton energy analysis methods have been employed, i.e., a time-of-flight proton energy analysis and an electrostatic hemispherical energy analyzer. The present results are compared with previous measurements.

Khakoo, M. A.↗

Application of a comprehensive analytical model of rotorcraft aerodynamics and dynamics (CAMRAD) to the McDonnell Douglas AH-64A helicopter

CAMRAD results on main rotor blade natural frequency and structural loads predictions are compared to flight test data and predictions of the Dynamic Analysis Research Tool (DART) and the Rotor/Airframe Comprehensive Aeroelastic Program (RACAP). Consideration is also given to the effects of various analytical options available in CAMRAD including dynamic stall, wake modeling, and the number of bending and torsion degrees of freedom included in the structural analysis. It is concluded that, while several modeling limitations are identified in the CAMRAD structural analyses, the structural loads predictions are as accurate as analysis codes which provide more representative models of the complex geometries and structures of the AH-64A rotor system. However, it is noted that the CAMRAD analysis cannot be considered fully reliable for dynamic predictions for more advanced bearingless rotor designs being proposed for future AH-64 configurations.

Callahan, C.↗

The solar simulation test of the ITALSAT thermal structural model

The ITALSAT structural/thermal model (STM) was submitted to a solar simulation test in order to verify the spacecraft thermal design and the thermal mathematical model which will be used to predict the on orbit temperatures. The STM was representative of the flight model in terms of configuration, structures, appendages and thermal hardware; dissipating dummy units were used to simulate the electronic units. The test consisted of the main phases: on station (beginning of life), on station (end of life), and transfer orbit. Preliminary results indicate that the test performances were satisfactory. The spacecraft measured temperatures were up to 15 degrees higher than the predicted ones. This imposes a careful correlation analysis in order to have reliable flight temperature predictions.

Giommi, M.↗