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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 19 records

Initial comparisons of modular-sized, integrated utility systems and conventional systems for several building types

The results of a study of the application of a modular integrated utility system to six typical building types are compared with the application of a conventional utility system to the same facilities. The effects of varying the size and climatic location of the buildings and the size of the powerplants are presented. Construction details of the six building types (garden apartments, a high rise office building, high rise apartments, a shopping center, a high school, and a hospital) and typical site and floor plans are provided. The environmental effects, the unit size determination, and the market potential are discussed. The cost effectiveness of the various design options is not considered.

Benson, H. E.↗

A New Acceptor (N-type) Polyphenylenevinylene Building Block: SF-PPV-I

A new sulfone derivatized acceptor (n-type) polyphenylenevinylene "SF-PPV" with nano meter sizes and functional terminals has been synthesized and characterized. The SF-PPV-I that contains hydrocarbon alkyl-sulfone moieties has a strong photoluminescence in both solution and in solid thin film states. In dichloromethane, the 5-10 nm sized SF-PPV has a maximum emission at about 530 nm with excitation maximum at about 490 nm. UV-VIS shows a absorption peak onsite at about 500 nm. Optical spectroscopy and electrochemical studies revealed that the SF-PPV-I has an LUMO level at about -3.6 eV (relative to vacuum), and an HOMO level at about -6.1 eV. The average size (length) of SF-PPV-I can be controlled on the nano meter scale via synthetic means. The SF-PPV has the potential in developing polymer based supramolecular opto-electronic semiconductor devices.

Wang, Yiqing↗

Applications of thermal infrared imagery for energy conservation and environmental surveys

The survey procedures, developed during the winter and summer of 1976, employ color and color infrared aerial photography, thermal infrared imagery, and a handheld infrared imaging device. The resulting imagery was used to detect building heat losses, deteriorated insulation in built-up type building roofs, and defective underground steam lines. The handheld thermal infrared device, used in conjunction with the aerial thermal infrared imagery, provided a method for detecting and locating those roof areas that were underlain with wet insulation. In addition, the handheld infrared device was employed to conduct a survey of a U.S. Army installation's electrical distribution system under full operating loads. This survey proved to be cost effective procedure for detecting faulty electrical insulators and connections that if allowed to persist could have resulted in both safety hazards and loss in production.

Carney, J. R.↗

A sensitivity model for energy consumption in buildings. Part 1: Effect of exterior environment

A simple analytical model is developed for the simulation of seasonal heating and cooling loads of any class of buildings to complement available computerized techniques which make hourly, daily, and monthly calculations. An expression for the annual energy utilization index, which is a common measure of rating buildings having the same functional utilization, is derived to include about 30 parameters for both building interior and exterior environments. The sensitivity of a general class building to either controlled or uncontrolled weather parameters is examined. A hypothetical office type building, located at the Goldstone Space Communication Complex, Goldstone, California, is selected as an example for the numerical sensitivity evaluations. Several expressions of variations in local outside air temperature, pressure, solar radiation, and wind velocity are presented.

Lansing, F. L.↗

The Effects of Primary Light Sources on Worker Performance and Alertness

Traditional office buildings use a variety of primary light sources (e.g., LED/fluorescent lights). As interest in LEED certified office buildings increase and research has shown that enhanced lighting design improves human performance and alertness (Viola et al., 2008; Juslén & Tenner, 2005; Edwards & Torcellini, 2002), more office buildings are incorporating a daylighting design. We investigated the differences between employee performance and alertness in two different building types (daylight vs. artificial light). We hypothesized that employee performance and sleep duration would be improved in a building designed to increase exposure to natural daylight compared to traditional office settings.

cognitive performance↗

ICADS: A cooperative decision making model with CLIPS experts

A cooperative decision making model is described which is comprised of six concurrently executing domain experts coordinated by a blackboard control expert. The focus application field is architectural design, and the domain experts represent consultants in the area of daylighting, noise control, structural support, cost estimating, space planning, and climate responsiveness. Both the domain experts and the blackboard were implemented as production systems, using an enhanced version of the basic CLIPS package. Acting in unison as an Expert Design Advisor, the domain and control experts react to the evolving design solution progressively developed by the user in a 2-D CAD drawing environment. A Geometry Interpreter maps each drawing action taken by the user to real world objects, such as spaces, walls, windows, and doors. These objects, endowed with geometric and nongeometric attributes, are stored as frames in a semantic network. Object descriptions are derived partly from the geometry of the drawing environment and partly from knowledge bases containing prototypical, generalized information about the building type and site conditions under consideration.

Pohl, Jens↗

Analysis of Wake VAS Benefits Using ACES Build 3.2.1: VAMS Type 1 Assessment

The FAA and NASA are currently engaged in a Wake Turbulence Research Program to revise wake turbulence separation standards, procedures, and criteria to increase airport capacity while maintaining or increasing safety. The research program is divided into three phases: Phase I near term procedural enhancements; Phase II wind dependent Wake Vortex Advisory System (WakeVAS) Concepts of Operations (ConOps); and Phase III farther term ConOps based on wake prediction and sensing. The Phase III Wake VAS ConOps is one element of the Virtual Airspace Modelling and Simulation (VAMS) program blended concepts for enhancing the total system wide capacity of the National Airspace System (NAS). This report contains a VAMS Program Type 1 (stand-alone) assessment of the expected capacity benefits of Wake VAS at the 35 FAA Benchmark Airports and determines the consequent reduction in delay using the Airspace Concepts Evaluation System (ACES) Build 3.2.1 simulator.

Smith, Jeremy C.↗

Investigation of the Building M6-794 Roofing Fatality, Type A Mishap

The Building M6-794 Roofing Fatality Mishap Investigation Board (Board) was commissioned to gather information; analyze the facts; identify the proximate causes, root causes, and contributing factors relating to the mishap; and recommend appropriate actions to prevent a similar mishap from occurring in the future. During the investigation of this mishap, the Board also examined the fall protection policies of other NASA Centers and operating locations to gain an understanding of how those entities conduct fall protection, as well as the degree to which fall protection is standardized across the Agency.

Casper, John H.↗

Strategy for solar heating and cooling in buildings

The types of solar energy heating and cooling equipment for use with buildings are discussed. The steps from manufacturing to equipment installation are identified. A feasibility study for the use of solar energy was conducted. The study determined the technical, environmental, economic, sociological, political, and strategic aspects of solar heating and cooling.

Source record↗

Layered 'recognition cone' networks that pre-process, classify, and describe.

A sequence of six types of pattern recognition system is examined. A program is described to illustrate some of the features developed. The first type (similar to many of the programs currently used) preprocesses by applying layers of local averaging and differencing transforms to smooth, fill in gaps and heighten contours, curves, and angles. It then applies a set of characterizers, each of which implies a set of names. The program chooses the single most high implied name. The second type combines the preprocessing transforms and the characterizers into a single operation of general type. Transforms build up a next representation of the input, while the characterizers imply the output name. The third type erases the distinction between a transform and an implication. Now all outputs are stored in the next transform layer. As the program averages information, its layers shrink, so that the system builds a cone of layers. When the program reaches the apex (a layer of only one cell that contains all the information), it chooses the single name with which it classifies the input. The fourth type is capable of choosing more than one name and, therefore, can both describe and classify the scene. The fifth type examines the interrelations among the set of names chosen. The sixth step can be taken to converse about the scene, developing an appropriate description in response to suggestions and queries. This allows the program to perform more computations and to look again on demand.

Uhr, L.↗

Building penetration analysis

The airborne exposure to carbon fibers experienced within a building may be substantially less than that outside the building. By their very nature, buildings provide a barrier to the free flow of airborne particulate contaminants through the air space they occupy. The objective of this report is an evaluation of the degree to which buildings and other structures will attenuate potential exposures to carbon fibers. Most if not all types of buildings, and all phenomena which may influence the extent to which fibers in outdoor air can penetrate structures are addressed.

Source record↗

Improving Building Construction Specifications in State and Local Governments

State and local governments can benefit from master specifications systems that centralize data on all types of building materials, products, and processes. Most of these systems are organized according to the MASTERFORMAT system, which, along with guide specifications that require the insertion or deletion of standardized information, resulted from the specific needs of users and providers. For jurisdictions preparing their own specifications, staff time and cost are reduced. For those subcontracting the preparation, master specifications provide a means of evaluating the specifications submitted. Current management specification systems described include SPECINTACT, OMSPEC, MASTERPEC, and the NAVFAC, Corps of Engineers, and GSA guide specifications.

Source record↗

Extreme Mapping: Looking for Water on the Moon

There are many challenges when exploring extreme environments. Gathering accurate data to build maps about places that you cannot go is incredibly complex. NASA supports scientists by remotely operating robotic rovers to explore uncharted territories. One potential upcoming mission is to look for water near a lunar pole (the Resource Prospector mission). Learn about the technical hurdles and research steps that NASA takes before the mission. NASA practices on Earth with Mission Analogs which simulate the proposed mission. This includes going to lunar-type landscapes, building field networks, testing out rovers, instruments and operational procedures. NASA sets up remote science back rooms just as there are for actual missions. NASA develops custom Ground Data Systems software to support scientific mission planning and monitoring over variable time delays, and separate commanding software and infrastructure to operate the rovers.

MOON↗

Multimission spacecraft Dataplexer

The data multiplexing unit described is a low-power small-size building-block-type central data system designed for use on such spacecraft as the International Ultraviolet Explorer or the International Sun-Earth Explorer. Preprogrammed read-only memories are used to generate the telemetry format tailored to particular mission requirements. Low weight and low power dissipation are achieved with the aid of PMOS technology. The use of subcommutators in groups to meet particular spacecraft requirements allows low data rate experiments to be time-multiplexed into a single main input channel, to improve data collection and processing operations. The block diagram of the Dataplexer is discussed.

Cosme, R.↗

System design package for the solar heating and cooling central data processing system

The central data processing system provides the resources required to assess the performance of solar heating and cooling systems installed at remote sites. These sites consist of residential, commercial, government, and educational types of buildings, and the solar heating and cooling systems can be hot-water, space heating, cooling, and combinations of these. The instrumentation data associated with these systems will vary according to the application and must be collected, processed, and presented in a form which supports continuity of performance evaluation across all applications. Overall software system requirements were established for use in the central integration facility which transforms raw data collected at remote sites into performance evaluation information for assessing the performance of solar heating and cooling systems.

Source record↗

Kinematics of foldable discrete space cranes

Exact kinematic description of a NASA proposed prototype foldable-deployable discrete space crane are presented. A computer program is developed which maps the geometry of the crane once controlling parameters are specified. The program uses a building block type approach in which it calculates the local coordinates of each repeating cell and then combines them with respect to a global coordinates system.

Nayfeh, A. H.↗

Using Enviro-Pod low altitude imagery to inventory building surface materials for an acid rain study - A Baltimore example

Low altitude, oblique and vertical color photography taken from EPA's Enviro-Pod Ka 85 camera system has provided the data for taking an inventory of building surface materials in a test area of downtown Baltimore. Photography was acquired from a gridded flight plan to provide views of all sides of buildings. Color, texture, and linear detail are employed in the photo interpretation aided by contextual reference to a classification of building construction type developed in an earlier study. The work could potentially support a materials inventory initiated by the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP) by scientists from EPA, Geological Survey, and the Department of Energy. Initial results show the method to be viable. Discrete surface materials such as brick, both bare and painted, stone, and metal are identified.

Ellefsen, Richard↗