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Results for “Variational inequality”

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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Optimum configurations for bangless sonic booms.

A number of optimization problems are posed and solved for supersonic aircraft flight subject to the condition that a shock wave appears only incipiently in the sonic boom signal at a given point. The principal result is one giving the maximum effective gross weight of an aircraft of given effective length under given flight conditions. The calculus of variations with inequality constraints is used, with the novel features of a non-local isoperimetric relation and of only an upper bound on a control variable.

Hayes, W. D.

A result on differential inequalities and its application to higher order trajectory derivatives

A result on differential inequalities is obtained by considering the adjoint differential equation of the variational equation of the right side of the inequality. The main theorem is proved using basic results on differentiability of solutions with respect to initial conditions. The result is then applied to the problem of determining solution behavior using comparison techniques.

Gunderson, R. W.

Necessary conditions for a multistage bolza- mayer problem involving control variables and having inequality and finite equation constraints

A multiplier rule and analogues of the Weierstrass and Clebsch conditions are developed for a multistage Bolza-Meyer calculus of variations problems. The number of stages is fixed, but partition points defining state boundaries are variable. Discontinuities are allowed in variables finite equations and inequalities, as well as differential equations, all of which involve control variables. An appendix summarizes some of the results obtained by C. H. Denbow, as modified by R. W. hunt, for a generalized Bolza problem. The appendix is independent of the rest of the paper.

Differential equation

Imaginary-frequency polarizability and van der Waals force constants of two-electron atoms, with rigorous bounds

Variational functionals of Braunn and Rebane (1972) for the imagery-frequency polarizability (IFP) have been generalized by the method of Gramian inequalities to give rigorous upper and lower bounds, valid even when the true (but unknown) unperturbed wavefunction must be represented by a variational approximation. Using these formulas in conjunction with flexible variational trial functions, tight error bounds are computed for the IFP and the associated two- and three-body van der Waals interaction constants of the ground 1(1S) and metastable 2(1,3S) states of He and Li(+). These bounds generally establish the ground-state properties to within a fraction of a per cent and metastable properties to within a few per cent, permitting a comparative assessment of competing theoretical methods at this level of accuracy. Unlike previous 'error bounds' for these properties, the present results have a completely a priori theoretical character, with no empirical input data.

Glover, R. M.

Optimal control of a variable spin speed CMG system for space vehicles

Many future NASA programs require very high accurate pointing stability. These pointing requirements are well beyond anything attempted to date. This paper suggests a control system which has the capability of meeting these requirements. An optimal control law for the suggested system is specified. However, since no direct method of solution is known for this complicated system, a computation technique using successive approximations is used to develop the required solution. The method of calculus of variations is applied for estimating the changes of index of performance as well as those constraints of inequality of state variables and terminal conditions. Thus, an algorithm is obtained by the steepest descent method and/or conjugate gradient method. Numerical examples are given to show the optimal controls.

Liu, T. C.

Trajectory optimization for the Atlas/Centaur launch vehicle

A method for finding solutions to complex trajectory optimization problems with detailed hardware and launch vehicle constraints is presented. The trajectory optimization problem is formulated as a constrained function minimization problem by modeling the control by a function of a finite number of parameters. Although any parametric control model may be selected, the natural choice of parameters is the actual parameters of the parametric guidance equations flown on the flight digital computer. A variation of the method of multipliers is presented for performing the constrained function minimization. A functional is proposed that allows incorporation of state variable inequality constraints. Finally, optimization of the HEAO-A direct-ascent trajectory is discussed. The HEAO-A mission demonstrates profile optimization to meet range safety, tracking, heating, structural integrity, and attitude rate constraints.

Brusch, R. G.

The influence of the great inequality on the secular disturbing function of the planetary system.

This paper derives the contribution by the great inequality to the secular disturbing function of the principal planets. Andoyer's expansion of the planetary disturbing function and von Zeipel's method of eliminating the periodic terms is employed; thereby, the corrected secular disturbing function for the planetary system is derived. The conclusion is drawn that the canonicity of the equations for the secular variation of the heliocentric elements can be preserved if there be retained, in the secular disturbing function, terms only of the second and fourth order relative to the eccentricity and inclinations. The Krylov-Bogoliubov method is suggested for eliminating periodic terms, if it is desired to include the secular perturbations of the fifth and higher order in the heliocentric elements. The additional part of the secular disturbing function derived in this paper can be included in existing theories of the secular effects of principal planets.

Musen, P.

N-burn optimal analytic trajectories.

Derivation of N-burn analytic solutions for propellant-optimal transfer trajectories of a vehicle in a vacuum between arbitrary boundary conditions. Variational changes in the desired boundary conditions are expressed, in general, in terms of variational changes in the control vector and in the initial state vector. All coefficient matrices are computed recursively in terms of the analytic matrices established from the subarcs of the N-burn solution. The solution is applicable to shuttle ascent (exoatmospheric), rendezvous, and deorbit problems. Consideration is also given to state-variable and control-variable inequality constraints.

Jezewski, D. J.

Expansion and broadening of coronal loop transients - A theoretical explanation

Consequences are examined of the assumption that an observed coronal loop transient is a twisted rope of magnetic-field lines expanding and broadening in the background coronal plasma and magnetic field. It is shown that the expansion can be accounted for by the azimuthal component of the field; the observed broadening of the loop as it moves outward can be accounted for by the longitudinal component of the field. In order to have a net outward force and at the same time avoid a classical pinch (sausage) instability, the two components of the field must satisfy a certain inequality. It is predicted that, as the loop rises, the width (h) of its top portion should vary proportionally with distance (R) from the sun's center. This is in good agreement with measurements that show h is proportional to the 0.8 power of R. The prediction that the radius of curvature of the top portion of the loop should be proportional to R differs from the measured variation. The difference could be accounted for by a drag due to the background coronal field that flattens the loop's top.

Mouschovias, T. CH.