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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 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2005

Pharmacodynamics of Promethazine in Human Subjects

Promethazine (PMZ) is the drug of choice for the treatment of symptoms associated with space motion sickness in astronauts. Side effects of PMZ include sedation, dizziness and cognitive performance impairment. In this study, we examined pharmacodynamics (PD) in human subjects and validated methods for evaluating cognitive performance effects of medications in space. METHODS: PMZ (12.5,25, and 50 mg) or placebo was administered by IM injection to human subjects in a randomized double-blind treatment design. Samples and data were collected for 72 h post dose. PD evaluation was performed using a battery of performance tests administered using WinSCAT (Windows based Space Cognitive Assessment Test) on a laptop computer, and ARES (ANAM Readiness Evaluation System) on a PDA, plasma concentrations of PMZ were measured using a LC-MS method. RESULTS: Results indicate a linear correlation between PMZ concentration and cognitive performance parameters (p<0.01). Test accuracy decreased and test completion time and response time increased significantly with increasing plasma PMZ concentration. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a concentration dependent decrement in cognitive performance associated with PMZ. WinSCAT and ARES are sensitive tools for the assessment PMZ PD and may be applicable for such evaluations with other neurocognitive drugs.

Gatlin, K. T.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Time-Dependent Photoionization of Gaseous Nebulae: The Pure Hydrogen Case

We study the problem of time-dependent photoionization of low density gaseous nebulae subjected to sudden changes in the intensity of ionizing radiation. To this end, we write a computer code that solves the full timedependent energy balance, ionization balance, and radiation transfer equations in a self-consistent fashion for a simplified pure hydrogen case. It is shown that changes in the ionizing radiation yield ionizationthermal fronts that propagate through the cloud, but the propagation times and response times to such fronts vary widely and nonlinearly from the illuminated face of the cloud to the ionization front (IF). IFthermal fronts are often supersonic, and in slabs initially in pressure equilibrium such fronts yield large pressure imbalances that are likely to produce important dynamical effects in the cloud. Further, we studied the case of periodic variations in the ionizing flux. It is found that the physical conditions of the plasma have complex behaviors that differ from any steady-state solution. Moreover, even the time average of ionization and temperature is different from any steady-state case. This time average is characterized by overionization and a broader IF with respect to the steady-state solution for a mean value of the radiation flux. Around the time average of physical conditions there is a large dispersion in instantaneous conditions, particularly across the IF, which increases with the period of radiation flux variations. Moreover, the variations in physical conditions are asynchronous along the slab due to the combination of nonlinear propagation times for thermal frontsIFs and equilibration times.

Seyfert↗
NASA NTRS1996

Understanding Customer Dissatisfaction with Underutilized Distributed File Servers

An important trend in the design of storage subsystems is a move toward direct network attachment. Network-attached storage offers the opportunity to off-load distributed file system functionality from dedicated file server machines and execute many requests directly at the storage devices. For this strategy to lead to better performance, as perceived by users, the response time of distributed operations must improve. In this paper we analyze measurements of an Andrew file system (AFS) server that we recently upgraded in an effort to improve client performance in our laboratory. While the original server's overall utilization was only about 3%, we show how burst loads were sufficiently intense to lead to period of poor response time significant enough to trigger customer dissatisfaction. In particular, we show how, after adjusting for network load and traffic to non-project servers, 50% of the variation in client response time was explained by variation in server central processing unit (CPU) use. That is, clients saw long response times in large part because the server was often over-utilized when it was used at all. Using these measures, we see that off-loading file server work in a network-attached storage architecture has to potential to benefit user response time. Computational power in such a system scales directly with storage capacity, so the slowdown during burst period should be reduced.

Riedel, Erik↗
NASA NTRS1989

Method and system for providing precise multi-function modulation

A method and system is disclosed which provides precise multi-function digitally implementable modulation for a communication system. The invention provides a modulation signal for a communication system in response to an input signal from a data source. A digitized time response is generated from samples of a time domain representation of a spectrum profile of a selected modulation scheme. The invention generates and stores coefficients for each input symbol in accordance with the selected modulation scheme. The output signal is provided by a plurality of samples, each sample being generated by summing the products of a predetermined number of the coefficients and a predetermined number of the samples of the digitized time response. In a specific illustrative implementation, the samples of the output signals are converted to analog signals, filtered and used to modulate a carrier in a conventional manner. The invention is versatile in that it allows for the storage of the digitized time responses and corresponding coefficient lookup table of a number of modulation schemes, any of which may then be selected for use in accordance with the teachings of the invention.

Davarian, Faramaz↗
NASA NTRS1988

Beam-plasma interactions in space experiments - A simulation study

The plasma environment in the vicinity of a spacecraft during the injection of dense electron beams is studied using a two-dimensional, isolated-system electrostatic simulation model. The dependence of the beam stagnation time on the beam width and energy is examined. It is found that the relative size of the beam stagnation time and the ambient-plasma response time determines the environment of the spacecraft. The case of cross-field injection with beam stagnation time greater than plasma response time is discussed in detail. Also, the nature of the beam properties, plasma response, and wave spectra are considered.

Pritchett, P. L.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Options and Uncertainties in Planetary Defense: Mission Planning and Vehicle Design for Flexible Response

This paper is part of an integrated study by NASA and the NNSA to quantitatively understand the response timeframe should a threatening Earth-impacting near-Earth object (NEO) be identified. The two realistic responses considered are the use of a spacecraft functioning as either a kinetic impactor or a nuclear explosive carrier to deflect the approaching NEO. The choice depends on the NEO size and mass, the available response time prior to Earth impact, and the various uncertainties. Whenever practical, the kinetic impactor is the preferred approach, but various factors, such as large uncertainties or short available response time, reduce the kinetic impactor's suitability and, ultimately, eliminate its sufficiency. Herein we examine response time and the activities that occur between the time when an NEO is recognized as being a sufficient threat to require a deflection and the time when the deflection impulse is applied to the NEO. To use a kinetic impactor for successful deflection of an NEO, it is essential to minimize the reaction time and maximize the time available for the impulse delivered to the NEO by the kinetic impactor to integrate forward in time to the eventual deflection of the NEO away from Earth impact. To shorten the response time, we develop tools to survey the profile of needed spacecraft launches and the possible mission payloads. We further present a vehicle design capable of either serving as a kinetic impactor, or, if the need arises, serving as a system to transport a nuclear explosive to the NEO. These results are generated by analyzing a specific case study in which the simulated Earth-impacting NEO is modeled very closely after the real NEO known as 101955 Bennu (1999 RQ36). Bennu was selected for our case study in part because it is the best-studied of the known NEOs. It is also the destination of NASA's OSIRIS-REx sample return mission, which is, at the time of this writing, enroute to Bennu following a September 2016 launch.

characterization↗
NASA NTRS2017

Options and Uncertainties in Planetary Defense: Mission Planning and Vehicle Design for Flexible Response

This paper is part of an integrated study by NASA and the NNSA to quantitatively understand the response timeframe should a threatening Earth-impacting near-Earth object (NEO) be identified. The two realistic responses considered are the use of a spacecraft functioning as either a kinetic impactor or a nuclear explosive carrier to deflect the approaching NEO. The choice depends on the NEO size and mass, the available response time prior to Earth impact, and the various uncertainties. Whenever practical, the kinetic impactor is the preferred approach, but various factors, such as large uncertainties or short available response time, reduce the kinetic impactor's suitability and, ultimately, eliminate its sufficiency. Herein we examine response time and the activities that occur between the time when an NEO is recognized as being a sufficient threat to require a deflection and the time when the deflection impulse is applied to the NEO. To use a kinetic impactor for successful deflection of an NEO, it is essential to minimize the reaction time and maximize the time available for the impulse delivered to the NEO by the kinetic impactor to integrate forward in time to the eventual deflection of the NEO away from Earth impact. To shorten the response time, we develop tools to survey the profile of needed spacecraft launches and the possible mission payloads. We further present a vehicle design capable of either serving as a kinetic impactor, or, if the need arises, serving as a system to transport a nuclear explosive to the NEO. These results are generated by analyzing a specific case study in which the simulated Earth-impacting NEO is modeled very closely after the real NEO known as 101955 Bennu (1999 RQ36). Bennu was selected for our case study in part because it is the best-studied of the known NEOs. It is also the destination of NASA's OSIRIS-REx sample return mission, which is, at the time of this writing, enroute to Bennu following a September 2016 launch.

Brent W. Barbee↗
NASA NTRS2001

Diffusion Time-Scale of Porous Pressure-Sensitive Paint

Pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) is an optical pressure sensor that utilizes the oxygen quenching of luminescence. PSP measurements in unsteady aerodynamic flows require fast time response of the paint. There are two characteristic time-scales that are related to the time response of PSP. One is the luminescent lifetime representing an intrinsic physical limit for the achievable temporal resolution of PSP. Another is the time-scale of oxygen diffusion across the PSP layer. When the time-scale of oxygen diffusion is much larger than the luminescent lifetime, the time response of PSP is controlled by oxygen diffusion. In a thin homogenous polymer layer where diffusion is Fickian, the oxygen concentration 1021 can be described by the diffusion equation in one-dimension.

Liu, Tianshu↗
NASA NTRS1992

Rise time and response measurements on a LiSOCl2 cell

Dynamic impedance tests were performed on a 180 Ah LiSOCl2 cell in the frame of a short term work contract awarded by Aerospatiale as part of the Hermes Space Plane development work. These tests consisted of rise time and response measurements. The rise time test was performed to show the ability to deliver 4 KW, in the nominal voltage range (75-115 V), within less than 100 microseconds, and after a period at rest of 13 days. The response measurements test consisted of step response and frequency response tests. The frequency response test was performed to characterize the response of the LiSOCl2 cell to a positive or negative load step of 10 A starting from various currents. The test was performed for various depths of discharge and various temperatures. The test results were used to build a mathematical, electrical model of the LiSOCl2 cell which are also presented. The test description, test results, electrical modelization description, and conclusions are presented.

Bastien, Caroline↗
NASA NTRS1992

Performance Evaluation and Modeling Techniques for Parallel Processors

In practice, the performance evaluation of supercomputers is still substantially driven by singlepoint estimates of metrics (e.g., MFLOPS) obtained by running characteristic benchmarks or workloads. With the rapid increase in the use of time-shared multiprogramming in these systems, such measurements are clearly inadequate. This is because multiprogramming and system overhead, as well as other degradations in performance due to time varying characteristics of workloads, are not taken into account. In multiprogrammed environments, multiple jobs and users can dramatically increase the amount of system overhead and degrade the performance of the machine. Performance techniques, such as benchmarking, which characterize performance on a dedicated machine ignore this major component of true computer performance. Due to the complexity of analysis, there has been little work done in analyzing, modeling, and predicting the performance of applications in multiprogrammed environments. This is especially true for parallel processors, where the costs and benefits of multi-user workloads are exacerbated. While some may claim that the issue of multiprogramming is not a viable one in the supercomputer market, experience shows otherwise. Even in recent massively parallel machines, multiprogramming is a key component. It has even been claimed that a partial cause of the demise of the CM2 was the fact that it did not efficiently support time-sharing. In the same paper, Gordon Bell postulates that, multicomputers will evolve to multiprocessors in order to support efficient multiprogramming. Therefore, it is clear that parallel processors of the future will be required to offer the user a time-shared environment with reasonable response times for the applications. In this type of environment, the most important performance metric is the completion of response time of a given application. However, there are a few evaluation efforts addressing this issue.

Dimpsey, Robert Tod↗
NASA NTRS2015

A Methodology to Assess the Capability of Engine Designs to Meet Closed-Loop Performance and Operability Requirements

Designing a closed-loop controller for an engine requires balancing trade-offs between performance and operability of the system. One such trade-off is the relationship between the 95 percent response time and minimum high-pressure compressor (HPC) surge margin (SM) attained during acceleration from idle to takeoff power. Assuming a controller has been designed to meet some specification on response time and minimum HPC SM for a mid-life (nominal) engine, there is no guarantee that these limits will not be violated as the engine ages, particularly as it reaches the end of its life. A characterization for the uncertainty in this closed-loop system due to aging is proposed that defines elliptical boundaries to estimate worst-case performance levels for a given control design point. The results of this characterization can be used to identify limiting design points that bound the possible controller designs yielding transient results that do not exceed specified limits in response time or minimum HPC SM. This characterization involves performing Monte Carlo simulation of the closed-loop system with controller constructed for a set of trial design points and developing curve fits to describe the size and orientation of each ellipse; a binary search procedure is then employed that uses these fits to identify the limiting design point. The method is demonstrated through application to a generic turbofan engine model in closed-loop with a simplified controller; it is found that the limit for which each controller was designed was exceeded by less than 4.76 percent. Extension of the characterization to another trade-off, that between the maximum high-pressure turbine (HPT) entrance temperature and minimum HPC SM, showed even better results: the maximum HPT temperature was estimated within 0.76 percent. Because of the accuracy in this estimation, this suggests another limit that may be taken into consideration during design and analysis. It also demonstrates the extension of the characterization to other attributes that contribute to the performance or operability of the engine. Metrics are proposed that, together, provide information on the shape of the trade-off between response time and minimum HPC SM, and how much each varies throughout the life cycle, at the limiting design points. These metrics also facilitate comparison of the expected transient behavior for multiple engine models.

systems analysis↗
NASA NTRS2015

A Methodology to Assess the Capability of Engine Designs to Meet Closed-loop Performance and Operability Requirements

Designing a closed-loop controller for an engine requires balancing trade-offs between performance and operability of the system. One such trade-off is the relationship between the 95% response time and minimum high-pressure compressor (HPC) surge margin (SM) attained during acceleration from idle to takeoff power. Assuming a controller has been designed to meet some specification on response time and minimum HPC SM for a mid-life (nominal) engine, there is no guarantee that these limits will not be violated as the engine ages, particularly as it reaches the end of its life. A characterization for the uncertainty in this closed-loop system due to aging is proposed that defines elliptical boundaries to estimate worst-case performance levels for a given control design point. The results of this characterization can be used to identify limiting design points that bound the possible con- troller designs yielding transient results that do not exceed specified limits in response time or minimum HPC SM. This characterization involves performing Monte Carlo simulation of the closed-loop system with controller constructed for a set of trial design points and developing curve fits to describe the size and orientation of each ellipse; a binary search procedure is then employed that uses these fits to identify the limiting design point. The method is demonstrated through application to a generic turbofan engine model in closed- loop with a simplified controller; it is found that the limit for which each controller was designed was exceeded by less than 4.76%. Extension of the characterization to another trade-off, that between the maximum high-pressure turbine (HPT) entrance temperature and minimum HPC SM, showed even better results: the maximum HPT temperature was estimated within 0.76%. Because of the accuracy in this estimation, this suggests another limit that may be taken into consideration during design and analysis. It also demonstrates the extension of the characterization to other attributes that contribute to the performance or operability of the engine. Metrics are proposed that, together, provide information on the shape of the trade-off between response time and minimum HPC SM, and how much each varies throughout the life cycle, at the limiting design points. These metrics also facilitate comparison of the expected transient behavior for multiple engine models.

engine control↗
NASA NTRS1993

Predictive sensor method and apparatus

A microprocessor and electronics package employing predictive methodology was developed to accelerate the response time of slowly responding hydrogen sensors. The system developed improved sensor response time from approximately 90 seconds to 8.5 seconds. The microprocessor works in real-time providing accurate hydrogen concentration corrected for fluctuations in sensor output resulting from changes in atmospheric pressure and temperature. Following the successful development of the hydrogen sensor system, the system and predictive methodology was adapted to a commercial medical thermometer probe. Results of the experiment indicate that, with some customization of hardware and software, response time improvements are possible for medical thermometers as well as other slowly responding sensors.

Cambridge, Vivien J.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Transient Pulse-Response Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry for Complex, Deactivating Heterogeneous Catalytic Systems: Application to Ethane Dehydroaromatization

The study of complex, multistep bond-forming and -breaking reactions in heterogeneous catalytic systems often encounters challenges associated with the involvement of large numbers of intermediates among branching pathways. Kinetic information obtained from traditional steady-state measurements can be complemented with that from time-resolved methods to uncover details of the underlying chemistry. Herein, we describe an approach for tracking the complete time-resolved chemical composition (ca. 4–200 u) of a reactor effluent in response to a reactant pulse. We use a six-port rotary valve with a metered sampling loop to pulse reactants at ambient pressure into a flow reactor packed with a catalyst bed within the isothermal region of a heated furnace. The temporal evolution of effluent species is tracked using time-resolved molecular-beam time-of-flight mass spectrometry. We highlight the possibilities that this method has to offer by studying the complex bifunctional mechanism of ethane dehydroaromatization over an HZSM-5-supported platinum catalyst. We demonstrate that energy-tunable ionization sources, which facilitate isomer resolution, enable the measurement of the full mass spectral time-dependent system response. This includes the evolution of major products and mechanistically relevant reactive intermediates such as 1,3-butadiene and cyclopentadiene; these species have not previously been observed from this reaction. In additional studies, we also assess the role of platinum in the catalyst by examining temporal responses to ethane and ethylene feeds. Results show that two temporally distinct formation pathways exist for methane and benzene, and that their importance depends on both catalyst composition and reactant identity. Additionally, characteristics of catalyst deactivation are uniquely observable in the time-resolved mass spectral response, including the selective deactivation of a benzene formation pathway. The combination of time-of-flight mass spectrometry with tunable ionization enables the simultaneous observation of all effluents in a complex mixture of intermediates with isomer/isobar differentiation capabilities that can be applied to any complex reaction system.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1989

Radiation and thermal effects on the time-dependent response of T300/934 graphite/epoxy

Experimental studies have suggested that radiation, in conjunction with elevated temperatures, may lead to an exacerbation of the time-dependent response of such materials as T300/934 graphite/epoxy. Attention is given to the results of an investigation into such radiation/temperature effects with this composite system; creep tests were conducted on specimens of both irradiated and nonirradiated T300/934 composite and neat 934 resin specimens, at room temperature and 121 C. The radiation was of 1 MeV electrons, for a total dose of 10,000 Mrads; this simulates a 30-year exposure to radiation in geosynchronous orbit. Irradiation at elevated temperature led to a significant creep-response increase in the initial stages of loading.

Yancey, Robert N.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Excess Heat Capacity in Mo/Au Transition Edge Sensor Bolometric Detectors

Excessheat capacity in a bolometric detector has the consequence of increasing or leading to multiple device time con-stants.The Mo/Au bilayer transition edge sensor (TES) bolo-metric detectors intended for the high resolution mid-infrared spectrometer (HIRMES) have two response time, one of which is a few times longer than that estimated from materials used in the design. The relative contribution of this settling time to the overall time response of the detectors is roughly proportional with the pixel area, which ranges between ~0.3 and 2.6 mm2.Use of laser ablation to remove sections of the silicon membranes comprising the pixels results in a detector response with a smaller contribution from the secondary time constant.Additional information about the nature of this excess heat capacity is gleaned from glancing in-cidence x-ray diffraction, which reveals the presence of molyb-denum silicides near the silicon surface from the bi-layer deposi-tion.Quantitative analysis of the concentration of excess molyb-denum, estimated with secondary ion mass spectroscopy, is com-mensurate to the additional heat capacity needed to explain the anomalous time response of the detectors.

HIRMES↗
NASA NTRS1983

Comments on laser-excited fluorescence of the hydroxyl radical: Relaxation coefficients at atmospheric pressure, appendix 5

The lifetime of the excited state of a atom or molecule is often determined from the rate of fluorescence decay originating as a function of buffer gas pressure, an accurate determination is made of the rates of collision induced transitions away from the excited state. Deconvolution can in principle be employed to resolve fluorescence times shorter than the response times of the system. However, attainable reproducibility and accuracy in actual experiments usually set a limit beyond which no meaningful results are expected. Prudence thus dictates that the results of deconvolution be viewed with extreme caution whenever fluorescence time much shorter than the response of times of the system are indicated.

Wang, C. C.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Motivation in vigilance - Effects of self-evaluation and experimenter-controlled feedback.

Vigilance experiments have been performed to study the relative efficiency of feedback operations in enhancing vigilance performance. Two feedback operations were compared - i.e., experimenter-controlled feedback in the form of knowledge of results (KR) regarding response times to signal detections, and subject-controlled feedback in the form of self-evaluation (SE) of response times to signal detections. The subjects responded to the aperiodic offset of a visual signal during a 1-hr vigil. Both feedback operations were found to enhance performance efficiency: subjects in the KR and SE conditions had faster response times than controls receiving no evaluative feedback. Moreover, the data of the KR and SE groups did not differ significantly from each other. The results are discussed in terms of the hypothesis that self-evaluation is a critical factor underlying the incentive value of KR in vigilance tasks.

Warm, J. S.↗