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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 145 records · Page 8

The effect of a shallow low viscosity zone on the apparent compensation of midplate swells

A model for midplate swells is assumed where the swell topography is dynamically maintained by convection beneath a conducting lid. Using an idealized viscosity structure consisting of a low viscosity layer underneath the lid and overlying a constant viscosity region, the effect of the low viscosities, the layer thickness, and the Rayleigh number on the flow and on the inference of a compensation mechanism from the associated gravity, geoid, and topography anomalies is investigated. The calculations show that a simple plume model with stratified viscosity variations of less than two orders of magnitude near the surface can produce the range of depths of compensation seen at midplate swells. Shallow depths of compensation, therefore, cannot be used to argue against dynamic models for the formation of hot spot swells.

Robinson, Elizabeth M.↗

The Design and Use of a Temperature-Compensated Hot-Film Anemometer System for Boundary-Layer Flow Transition Detection on Supersonic Aircraft

An airborne temperature-compensated hot-film anemometer system has been designed, fabricated, and used to obtain in-flight airfoil boundary-layer flow transition data by the NASA Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility. Salient features of the anemometer include near constant sensitivity over the full flight envelope, installation without coaxial wiring, low-noise outputs, and self-contained signal conditioning with dynamic and steady-state outputs. The small size, low-power dissipation, and modular design make the anemometer suitable for use in modern high-performance research aircraft. Design of the temperature-compensated hot-film anemometer and its use for flow transition detection on a laminar flow flight research project are described. Also presented are data gathered in flight which is representative of the temperature-compensated hot-film anemometer operation at subsonic, transonic, and supersonic flight conditions.

Chiles, Harry R.↗

An approximate loop transfer recovery method for designing fixed-order compensators

A method for designing fixed-order dynamic compensators for multivariable time invariant linear systems is presented which is based on the minimization of a linear quadratic performance index. The present formulation is performed in an output feedback setting which uses an observer cononical form to represent the compensator dynamics. Techniques for penalizing the plant and compensator states and for selecting the distribution on initial conditions such that the loop transfer matrix approximates that of a full-state feedback design have been developed. The effectiveness of the method is demonstrated using the examples of the pointing of a flexible structure and a helicopter flight control problem.

Calise, Anthony J.↗

Approximation of discrete-time LQG compensators for distributed systems with boundary input and unbounded measurement

The approximation of optimal discrete-time linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) compensators for distributed parameter control systems with boundary input and unbounded measurement is considered. The approach applies to a wide range of problems that can be formulated in a state space on which both the discrete-time input and output operators are continuous. Approximating compensators are obtained via application of the LQG theory and associated approximation results for infinite dimensional discrete-time control systems with bounded input and output. Numerical results for spline and modal based approximation schemes used to compute optimal compensators for a one-dimensional heat equation with either Neumann or Dirichlet boundary control and pointwise measurement of temperature are presented and discussed.

Gibson, J. S.↗

Adaptive feed array compensation system for reflector antenna surface distortion

The feasibility of a closed loop adaptive feed array system for compensating reflector surface deformations has been investigated. The performance characteristics (gain, sidelobe level, pointing, etc.) of large communication antenna systems degrade as the reflector surface distorts mainly due to thermal effects from a varying solar flux. The compensating systems described in this report can be used to maintain the design performance characteristics independent of thermal effects on the reflector surface. The proposed compensating system employs the concept of conjugate field matching to adjust the feed array complex excitation coefficients.

Acosta, Roberto J.↗

The dual element method of strain gauge temperature compensation

The use of a known temperature compensation technique is suggested to reduce the overall temperature sensitivity of a PdCr strain gauge system being developed for turbine engine research. The temperature compensation technique proposed for this application uses a resistance thermometer in an adjacent leg of the strain gauge bridge circuit to cancel the thermally generated resistance change of the strain gauge. Equations for calculating the required compensation resistor values and the sensitivity of the resulting strain gauge bridge to both temperature and strain are presented.

Englund, David R.↗

Variations in effective compensation depth across Aphrodite Terra, Venus

Topography and gravity data obtained by Pioneer Venus Orbiter have been used to estimate an effective depth of Airy compensation for each of 75 orbital arcs that provide fairly uniform areal coverage of Aphrodite Terra. A general increase in compensation depth is noted to the east, with the most rapid change occurring near 135 deg. Five distinctive regional patterns, four well defined peaks, and one interval of widely scattered and poorly constrained depths are found to be superimposed on this larger trend. It is noted that the maxima in compensation depth correlate well with regional topographic highs.

Herrick, Robert R.↗

Effective elastic thicknesses of the lithosphere and mechanisms of isostatic compensation in Australia

The isostatic compensation of Australia is investigated using an isostatic model for the Australian lithosphere that assumes regional compensation of an elastic plate which undergoes flexure in response to surface and subsurface loading. Using the coherence between Bouguer gravity and topography and two separate gravity/topography data sets, it was found that, for the continent as a whole, loads with wavelengths above 1500 km are locally compensated. Loads with wavelengths in the range 600-1500 km are partially supported by regional stresses, and loads with wavelengths less than 600 km are almost entirely supported by the strength of the lithosphere. It was found that the predicted coherence for a flexural model of a continuous elastic plate does not provide a good fit to the observed coherence of central Australia. The disagreement between model and observations is explained.

Zuber, Maria T.↗

Compensating For Doppler Shift In Laser Instrumentation

Electronic tuning system continually adjusts frequency of tunable diode laser to compensate for Doppler shift caused by motion of transmitter or receiver containing laser. Doppler-shift-compensating system intended primarily for use in transmitter or receiver of laser remote-sensing or communication system to keep frequency of received signal within frequency range of narrow-band-pass filter. By use of narrow-band filter (instead of wide-band filter required in absence of Doppler compensation), signal-to-noise ratio of laser system increased. Thus, less-powerful transmitter usable.

Schwemmer, Geary K.↗

Compensating for pneumatic distortion in pressure sensing devices

A technique of compensating for pneumatic distortion in pressure sensing devices was developed and verified. This compensation allows conventional pressure sensing technology to obtain improved unsteady pressure measurements. Pressure distortion caused by frictional attenuation and pneumatic resonance within the sensing system makes obtaining unsteady pressure measurements by conventional sensors difficult. Most distortion occurs within the pneumatic tubing which transmits pressure impulses from the aircraft's surface to the measurement transducer. To avoid pneumatic distortion, experiment designers mount the pressure sensor at the surface of the aircraft, (called in-situ mounting). In-situ transducers cannot always fit in the available space and sometimes pneumatic tubing must be run from the aircraft's surface to the pressure transducer. A technique to measure unsteady pressure data using conventional pressure sensing technology was developed. A pneumatic distortion model is reduced to a low-order, state-variable model retaining most of the dynamic characteristics of the full model. The reduced-order model is coupled with results from minimum variance estimation theory to develop an algorithm to compensate for the effects of pneumatic distortion. Both postflight and real-time algorithms are developed and evaluated using simulated and flight data.

Whitmore, Stephen A.↗

Conjugate field approaches for active array compensation

Two approaches for calculating the compensating feed array complex excitations are namely, the indirect conjugate field matching (ICFM) and the direct conjugate field matching (DCFM) approach. In the ICFM approach the compensating feed array excitations are determined by considering the transmitting mode and the reciprocity principle. The DCF, in contrast calculates the array excitations by integrating directly the induced surface currents on the reflector under a receiving mode. DCFM allows the reflector to be illuminated by an incident plane wave with a tapered amplitude. The level of taper can effectively control the sidelobe level of the compensated antenna pattern. Both approaches are examined briefly.

Acosta, R. J.↗

Array feeds for reflector surface distortion compensation - Concepts and implementation

The development of a compensation algorithm based on the use of array feeds and a focal-plane conjugate field approach is discussed. Results of numerical simuations performed to verify the accuracy of the computer programs are examined, and an experimental study is described. Both the numerical and experimental results show that the array will compensate for the slowly varying surface distortion. In particular, for some typical, slowly varying thermal or gravitational surface distortions, a 19-element array feed can improve the reflector performance considerably. Additionally, it is demonstrated that it will be possible to compensate for the surface distortion without actual knowledge of the distortion itself.

Rahmat-Samii, Yahya↗

Thermal compensating mount

The main objective is to provide a device for maintaining the alignment integrity of an alignment sensitive component over a wide range of temperatures. A thermal compensating mount is presented. A cylindrical extension is integrally formed to the alignment sensitive component. Both the extension and component share the same coefficient of thermal expansion. The cylindrical extension is placed into a mounting structure which has a diameter greater than that of the extension. An adhesive secures the cylindrical extension to the mount. The difference between the diameters of the cylindrical extension and the cylindrical receptacle is such that the differential thermal expansion across the extension and the receptacle edges is exactly compensated for by the thermal compensation of the adhesive between them. Accordingly, the alignment sensitive component does not change position when subjected to temperature variations. One application of this invention is laser optical-path folding prisms, which are fixed to the mounting surface by a small amount of epoxy adhesive.

Jalink, Antony, Jr.↗

Compensation of distributed delays in integrated communication and control systems

The concept, analysis, implementation, and verification of a method for compensating delays that are distributed between the sensors, controller, and actuators within a control loop are discussed. With the objective of mitigating the detrimental effects of these network induced delays, a predictor-controller algorithm was formulated and analyzed. Robustness of the delay compensation algorithm was investigated relative to parametric uncertainties in plant modeling. The delay compensator was experimentally verified on an IEEE 802.4 network testbed for velocity control of a DC servomotor.

Ray, Asok↗

Delay compensation in integrated communication and control systems. II - Implementation and verification

The implementation and verification of the delay-compensation algorithm are addressed. The delay compensator has been experimentally verified at an IEEE 802.4 network testbed for velocity control of a DC servomotor. The performance of the delay-compensation algorithm was also examined by combined discrete-event and continuous-time simulation of the flight control system of an advanced aircraft that uses the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) linear token passing bus for data communications.

Luck, Rogelio↗

Compensator design for stability enhancement with collocated controllers

A continuum model rather than a finite element model is used. The optimal compensator design is formulated as a stochastic regulator problem and is shown to be solvable by the general infinite-dimensional theory developed by the author despite the lack of exponential stabilizability. Infinite-dimensional steady-state Riccati equations characterizing the feedback control gain and the Kalman filter gain operators can be solved explicitly. The associated performance indexes including the mean-square control-effort are calculated in closed form. As a first approximation, the compensator transfer function can be realized as a bank of bandpass filters in parallel centered at the undamped mode frequencies. Numerical calculations for the gain and bandwidths for a typical configuration are presented. The performance of the compensator is evaluated when in fact in the true model there is no actuator noise. The theoretical problem involved is to show that the infinite-dimensional stochastic process is asymptotically stationary. It is possible to calculate the steady-state covariance in closed form and thereby calculate performance indexes of interest explicitly, facilitating the choice of optimal design parameters.

Balakrishnan, A. V.↗

Homotopy approach to optimal, linear quadratic, fixed architecture compensation

Optimal linear quadratic Gaussian compensators with constrained architecture are a sensible way to generate good multivariable feedback systems meeting strict implementation requirements. The optimality conditions obtained from the constrained linear quadratic Gaussian are a set of highly coupled matrix equations that cannot be solved algebraically except when the compensator is centralized and full order. An alternative to the use of general parameter optimization methods for solving the problem is to use homotopy. The benefit of the method is that it uses the solution to a simplified problem as a starting point and the final solution is then obtained by solving a simple differential equation. This paper investigates the convergence properties and the limitation of such an approach and sheds some light on the nature and the number of solutions of the constrained linear quadratic Gaussian problem. It also demonstrates the usefulness of homotopy on an example of an optimal decentralized compensator.

Mercadal, Mathieu↗

Pneumatic distortion compensation for aircraft surface pressure sensing devices

In this paper a technique of compensating for pneumatic distortion in aircraft surface pressure sensing devices is developed. The compensation allows conventional pressure sensing technology to obtain improved unsteady pressure measurements. Pressure distortion caused by frictional attenuation and pneumatic resonance within the sensing system makes obtaining unsteady pressure measurements by conventional sensors difficult. Typically, most of the distortion occurs within the pneumatic tubing used to transmit pressure impulses from the surface of the aircraft to the measurement transducer. This paper develops a second-order distortion model that accurately describes the behavior of the primary wave harmonic of the pneumatic tubing. The model is expressed in state-variable form and is coupled with standard results from minimum-variance estimation theory to develop an algorithm to compensate for the effects of pneumatic distortion. Both postflight and real-time algorithms are developed and evaluated using simulated and flight data. Covariance selection and filter-tuning examples are presented. Results presented verify that, given appropriate covariance magnitudes, the algorithms accurately reconstruct surface pressure values from remotely sensed pressure measurements.

Whitmore, Stephen A.↗