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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 1,495 records · Page 83
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1977

Euler angles, quaternions, and transformation matrices for space shuttle analysis

Relationships between the Euler angles and the transformation matrix, the quaternion and the transformation matrix, and the Euler angles and the quaternion are analyzed, and equations developed are applied directly to current space shuttle problems. The twelve three-axis Euler transformation matrices as functions of the Euler angles, the equations for the quaternion as a function of the Euler angles, and the Euler angles as a function of the transformation matrix elements are included along with a group of utility subroutines to accomplish the Euler matrix, quaternion matrix, and Euler quaternion relationships.

Henderson, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Shuttle Program. Euler angles, quaternions, and transformation matrices working relationships

A brief mathematical development of the relationship between the Euler angles and the transformation matrix, the quaternion and the transformation matrix, and the Euler angles and the quaternion is presented. The analysis and equations presented apply directly to current space shuttle problems. The twelve three-axis Euler transformation matrices are given as functions of the Euler angles, the equations for the quaternion as a funtion of the Euler angles, and the Euler angles as a function of the transformation matrix elements.

Henderson, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Survey of inlet noise reduction concepts for gas turbine engines

This paper presents an overview of advanced concepts for the suppression of noise in the inlets of gas turbine engines. Noise suppression concepts are described, the directions of current research are reviewed, and problem areas requiring further work are indicated. The discussion focuses on acoustic liners, high Mach number inlets, active acoustic absorption, water vapor injection, and blade row reflection.

Lansing, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Nimbus 6 ERB scanner studies for development of Earth Radiation Budget Satellite System (ERBSS)

The Nimbus 6 ERB scanner data were conducted to support the development of the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite System project. The ERB data were processed in terms of Earth targets and angular bins and used to evaluate currently available directional radiation models for the longwave and shortwave spectral ranges. Results indicate that available longwave models are adequate for the most part while available shortwave models are inadequate. An effort was initiated to develop improved shortwave models for various cloud conditions and various surface types for cloud free conditions.

Suttles, J. T.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The applicability of DOE solar cell and array technology to space power

An evaluation of the main terrestrial photovoltaic development projects was performed. Technologies that may have applicability to space power are identified. Where appropriate, recommendations are made for programs to capitalize on developed technology. It is concluded that while the funding expended by DOE is considerably greater than the space (NASA and DOD) budget for photovoltaics, the terrestrial goals and the means for satisfying them are sufficiently different from space needs that little direct benefit currently exists for space applications.

Scott-Monck, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Investigation of the effects of external current systems on the MAGSAT data utilizing grid cell modeling techniques

The feasibility of modeling magnetic fields due to certain electrical currents flowing in the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere was investigated. A method was devised to carry out forward modeling of the magnetic perturbations that arise from space currents. The procedure utilizes a linear current element representation of the distributed electrical currents. The finite thickness elements are combined into loops which are in turn combined into cells having their base in the ionosphere. In addition to the extensive field modeling, additional software was developed for the reduction and analysis of the MAGSAT data in terms of the external current effects. Direct comparisons between the models and the MAGSAT data are possible.

Klumpar, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Solar wind control of the low-latitude asymmetric magnetic disturbance field

The extent to which the low latitude dawn-dusk magnetic asymmetry is controlled by the dawn-dusk solar wind motional electric field VBs and/or substorm processes measured by the westward auroral electrojet index AL is studied using the technique of empirical linear prediction filters. A new index, (ASYM), defined as the difference between dawn and dusk deviations in the X (geomagnetic Northward) magnetic field component, is used to measure the dawn-dusk asymmetry. Quantitative information which characterizes the coupling processes are provided by the empirically determined filters obtained from this analysis. Results indicate that some currents are directly driven by the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction and that their magnetic perturbations contribute to both the AL and ASYM indices. However, a portion of the AL index that is uncorrelated with VBs is correlated with ASYM which suggests that internal magnetospheric processes also contribute to AL and ASYM.

Clauer, C. R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Report on Satellite Radar for Detecting Ocean Currents

Good resolution and high signal/noise ratio anticipated. Report describes orbiting sidelooking radar that measures ocean currents in direction toward or away from it. Radar relies on relationship between Doppler shifts and lengths and frequencies of ocean waves.

Jain, A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Space solar cell research: Problems and potential

The value of a passive, maintenance-free, renewable energy source was apparent in the early days of the space program, and the silicon solar cell was pressed into service. Efficiencies of those early space solar arrays were low, and lifetimes shorter than hoped for, but within a decade significant advances had been made in both areas. Better performance was achieved through improvements in silicon single crystal material, better device designs, and a better understanding of the factors that affect the performance of a solar cell in space. Chief among the latter, particularly for the mid-to-high altitude (HEO) and geosynchronous (GEO) orbits, are the effects of the naturally occurring particulate radiation environment. Although not as broadly important to the photovoltaic community at large as increased efficiency, the topic of radiation damage is critically important to use of solar cells in space, and is a major component of the NASA research program in space photovoltaics. A brief overview of some of the opportunities and challenges for space photovoltaic applications is given, and some of the current research directed at achieving high efficiency and controlling radiation damage in space solar cells is discussed.

Flood, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Magnetosphere-ionosphere interactions: Near Earth manifestations of the plasma universe

As the universe consists almost entirely of plasma, the understanding of astrophysical phenomena must depend critically on the understanding of how matter behaves in the plasma state. In situ observations in the near Earth cosmical plasma offer an excellent opportunity of gaining such understanding. The near Earth cosmical plasma not only covers vast ranges of density and temperature, but is the site of a rich variety of complex plasma physical processes which are activated as a results of the interactions between the magnetosphere and the ionosphere. The geomagnetic field connects the ionosphere, tied by friction to the Earth, and the magnetosphere, dynamically coupled to the solar wind. This causes an exchange of energy an momentum between the two regions. The exchange is executed by magnetic-field-aligned electric currents, the so-called Birkeland currents. Both directly and indirectly (through instabilities and particle acceleration) these also lead to an exchange of plasma, which is selective and therefore causes chemical separation. Another essential aspect of the coupling is the role of electric fields, especially magnetic field aligned (parallel) electric fields, which have important consequences both for the dynamics of the coupling and, especially, for energization of charged particles.

Faelthammar, Carl-Gunne↗
NASA NTRS1988

Characterization of a 30-GHz IMPATT solid state amplifier

Described are the characterization and testing of a 20 W solid state amplifier operating in the Ka band to be used in low cost experimental ground terminals. The amplifier was developed by the TRW Electronic Systems Group under NASA Contract NAS3-23266 as a proof-of-concept (POC) device in support of the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) program. Additional goals were development of high-power IMPATT devices and circulators, and multistage diode circuits, which are an integral part of the amplifier. The amplifier underwent acceptance testing at the NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio. Characteristics measured include the output power of 42 dB m, gain of 30 dB, an injection-locking RF bandwidth of 260 MHz, and an overall direct current-to-radiofrequency (dc-to-RF) efficiency of 6.7 percent.

Wald, Lawrence W.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Space solar cell research - Problems and potential

The value of a passive, maintenance-free, renewable energy source was immediately recognized in the early days of the space program, and the silicon solar cell, despite its infancy, was quickly pressed into service. Efficiencies of those early space solar arrays were low, and lifetimes shorter than hoped for, but within a decade significant advances had been made in both areas. Better performance was achieved because of a variety of factors, ranging from improvements in silicon single crystal material, to better device designs, to a better understanding of the factors that affect the performance of a solar cell in space. Chief among the latter, particularly for the mid-to-high altitude (HEO) and geosynchronous (GEO) orbits, are the effects of the naturally occurring particulate radiation environment. Although not as broadly important to the photovoltaic community at large as increased efficiency, the topic of radiation damage is critically important to use of solar cells in space, and is a major component of the NASA research program in space photovoltaics. This paper will give a brief overview of some of the opportunities and challenges for space photovoltaic applications, and will discuss some of the current reseach directed at achieving high efficiency and controlling the effects of radiation damage in space solar cells.

Flood, Dennis J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Adaptive wall research with two- and three-dimensional models in low speed and transonic tunnels

This paper summarises recent research at the University of Southampton into adaptive wall technology and outlines the direction of current efforts. The work is aimed at developing techniques for use in test sections where the top and bottom walls may be adjusted in single curvature. Wall streamlining eliminates, as far as experimentally possible, the top and bottom wall interference in low speed and transonic aerofoil testing. A streamlining technique has been developed for low speeds which allows the testing of swept wing panels in low interference environments. At higher speeds, a comparison of several two-dimensional transonic streamlining algorithms has been made and a technique for streamlining with a choked test section has also been developed. Three-dimensional work has mainly concentrated on tests of sidewall mounted half-wings and the development of the software packages required to assess interference and to adjust the flexible walls. It has been demonstrated that two-dimensional wall adaptation can significantly modify the level of wall interference around relatively large three-dimensional models. The residual interferences are small and are probably amenable to standard post-test correction methods. Tests on a calibrated wing-body model are planned in the near future to further validate the proposed streamlining technique.

Lewis, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Auroral zone field-aligned currents observed in the magnetotail and at intermediate altitudes - An ISEE perspective

The relationship between low-altitude auroral-zone field-aligned currents and the geomagnetic tail is investigated on the basis of a statistical analysis of ISEE and DE observations. The data are compiled in diagrams and graphs and characterized in detail. It is shown that the large-scale current systems of low-altitude regions 1 and 2 are only reduplicated in 27 percent of the observations at 2-7 earth radii (those associated with the onset of a substorm expansion), while the flow at the plasma-sheet boundary opposes the region 1 polarity (the highest-latitude near-midnight currents being directed earthward).

Elphic, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Incremental planning to control a blackboard-based problem solver

To control problem solving activity, a planner must resolve uncertainty about which specific long-term goals (solutions) to pursue and about which sequences of actions will best achieve those goals. A planner is described that abstracts the problem solving state to recognize possible competing and compatible solutions and to roughly predict the importance and expense of developing these solutions. With this information, the planner plans sequences of problem solving activities that most efficiently resolve its uncertainty about which of the possible solutions to work toward. The planner only details actions for the near future because the results of these actions will influence how (and whether) a plan should be pursued. As problem solving proceeds, the planner adds new details to the plan incrementally, and monitors and repairs the plan to insure it achieves its goals whenever possible. Through experiments, researchers illustrate how these new mechanisms significantly improve problem solving decisions and reduce overall computation. They briefly discuss current research directions, including how these mechanisms can improve a problem solver's real-time response and can enhance cooperation in a distributed problem solving network.

Durfee, E. H.↗
NASA NTRS1989

CSM research: Methods and application studies

Computational mechanics is that discipline of applied science and engineering devoted to the study of physical phenomena by means of computational methods based on mathematical modeling and simulation, utilizing digital computers. The discipline combines theoretical and applied mechanics, approximation theory, numerical analysis, and computer science. Computational mechanics has had a major impact on engineering analysis and design. When applied to structural mechanics, the discipline is referred to herein as computational structural mechanics. Complex structures being considered by NASA for the 1990's include composite primary aircraft structures and the space station. These structures will be much more difficult to analyze than today's structures and necessitate a major upgrade in computerized structural analysis technology. NASA has initiated a research activity in structural analysis called Computational Structural Mechanics (CSM). The broad objective of the CSM activity is to develop advanced structural analysis technology that will exploit modern and emerging computers, such as those with vector and/or parallel processing capabilities. Here, the current research directions for the Methods and Application Studies Team of the Langley CSM activity are described.

Knight, Norman F., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Ocean wave directional spectra and wave-current interaction in the Agulhas from the Shuttle Imaging Radar-B synthetic aperture radar

SIR-B synthetic aperture radar ocean-wave spectra for a 200-km pass crossing the Agulhas current off the coast of Africa are analyzed. A significant enhancement of one spectral peak along the northern edge of the current is attributed both to amplification of the waves by refraction-dominated wave-current interaction and to transient specular backscatter contributions spatially correlated to the waves.

Irvine, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A helically distorted MHD flux rope model

A flux rope model is proposed which has a variable degree of helical distortion from axisymmetry. The basis for this suggestion is a series of numerical and analytical investigations of magnetohydrodynamic states which result when an axial electric current is directed down on dc magnetic field. The helically distorted states involve a flow velocity and seem to be favored because of their lower rate of energy dissipation. Emphasis is on the magnetometer and particle energy analyzer traces that might be characteristic of such flux ropes. It is shown that even a fractionally small helical distortion may considerably alter the traces in minimum-variance coordinates. In short, what may be fairly common MHD processes can render a flux rope almost unrecognizable under standard diagnostics, even if the departures from axisymmetry are not great.

Theobald, Michael L.↗