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At least 181 records · Page 10

Tolerence for work-induced heat stress in men wearing liquidcooled garments

An investigation of the heat tolerance in men unable to dispose of metabolic heat as fast as it is produced within the body is discussed. Examinations were made of (a) the effect of work rate (metabolic rate) on tolerance time when body heat storage rate is a fixed quantity, and (b) tolerance time as a function of metabolic rate when heat loss is terminated after a thermal quasi-equilibrium was attained under comfortable conditions of heat transfer. The nature of the physiological mechanisms involved in such heat stress situations, and the possibility of using prediction techniques to establish standard procedures in emergencies involving cooling system failures are also discussed.

Blockley, W. V.↗

Fault-tolerance experiments with the JPL STAR computer.

Results of fault-tolerance experiments performed using an experimental computer with dynamic (standby) redundancy, including replaceable subsystems and a 'program rollback' provision to eliminate transient-caused errors. After a brief review of the specification of fault-tolerance with respect to transient faults, including a description of the method of injection of transient faults in software and system tests, fault-tolerance experiments carried out with this computer with regard to the determination of fault classes, software verification, system verification, and recovery stability are summarized. A test and repair processor is described which constitutes a special monitor unit of the computer and is used to obtain information for fault detection in the other subsystems of the computer and to ensure that proper recovery occurs when a fault is detected.

Avizienis, A.↗

Comparison of 70 deg tilt, LBNP, and passive standing as measures of orthostatic tolerance

The present study was performed to assess the reliability of lower body negative pressure (LBNP) as a test of orthostatic tolerance. The need for this assessment arose from the prior observation in this laboratory that some subjects show wide day-to-day variation in heart rate responses to LBNP. The extent of these variations was so great as to raise a serious question as to the value of LBNP as a measure of study-induced alterations (e.g., those produced by bedrest or weightlessness) in orthostatic tolerance. Five healthy volunteers were subjected to a series of tests, consisting of 70 deg tilt, LBNP, and passive standing, on three occasions preceding and three occasions following a 2-week period of bedrest. Study results show that it is possible to subdivide the volunteers into subgroups which show either great or little day-to-day variability in any of the three tests. All three tests revealed bedrest-induced alterations in orthostatic tolerance quite adequately. Of the three tests studied, LBNP most frequently resulted in the largest test-induced heart rate alterations, followed by quiet standing and, finally 70 deg tilt.

Hyatt, K. H.↗

Architectures for fault-tolerant spacecraft computers

This paper summarizes the results of a long-term research program in fault-tolerant computing for spacecraft on-board processing. In response to changing device technology this program has progressed from the design of a fault-tolerant uniprocessor to the development of fault-tolerant distributed computer systems. The unusual requirements of spacecraft computing are described along with the resulting real-time computer architectures. The following aspects of these designs are discussed: (1) architectural features to minimize complexity in the distributed computer system, (2) fault-detection and recovery, (3) techniques to enhance reliability and testability, and (4) design approaches for LSI implementation.

Rennels, D. A.↗

Validation Methods for Fault-Tolerant avionics and control systems, working group meeting 1

The proceedings of the first working group meeting on validation methods for fault tolerant computer design are presented. The state of the art in fault tolerant computer validation was examined in order to provide a framework for future discussions concerning research issues for the validation of fault tolerant avionics and flight control systems. The development of positions concerning critical aspects of the validation process are given.

Source record↗

The relation between tilt table and acceleration-tolerance and their dependence on stature and physical fitness

A group of 12 highly trained athletes and a group of 12untrained students were subjected to passive changes of position on a tilt table and positive accelerations in a centrifuge. During a 20 min tilt, including two additional respiratory maneuvers, the number of faints and average cardiovascular responses did not differ significantly between the groups. During linear increase of acceleration, the average blackout level was almost identical in both groups. Statistically significant coefficients of product-moment correlation for various relations were obtained. The coefficient of multiple determination computed for the dependence of acceleration tolerance on heart-eye distance and systolic blood pressure at rest allows the explanation of almost 50% of the variation of acceleration tolerance. The maximum oxygen uptake showed the expected significant correlation to the heart rate at rest, but not the acceleration tolerance, or to the cardiovascular responses to tilting.

Klein, K. E.↗

Damage tolerance research on composite compression panels

The damage tolerance of composites was investigated. Results show that severe degradation in material strength may occur due to impact damage and that reduced strain allowables should be considered to compensate for possible impact damage. The mechanisms of failure involved in impact so that local damage will be reduced and arrest of propagating fracture initiated at impact locations are examined. Compression strength reductions for damage due to impact by a 1.27 cm diameter spherical projectile in thick laminates representative of wing skin panels are presented. Also discussed are the results of concepts recently evaluated to improve damage tolerance. These concepts range from improvements at the materials level to advanced structural configurations designed to arrest or limit the growth of propagating fractures. The results indicate that substantial improvements in the damage tolerance of graphite-epoxy composite structures can be achieved through the proper combination of materials and structural design.

Rhodes, M. D.↗

A Voyager attitude control perspective on fault tolerant systems

In current spacecraft design, a trend can be observed to achieve greater fault tolerance through the application of on-board software dedicated to detecting and isolating failures. Whether fault tolerance through software can meet the desired objectives depends on very careful consideration and control of the system in which the software is imbedded. The considered investigation has the objective to provide some of the insight needed for the required analysis of the system. A description is given of the techniques which have been developed in this connection during the development of the Voyager spacecraft. The Voyager Galileo Attitude and Articulation Control Subsystem (AACS) fault tolerant design is discussed to emphasize basic lessons learned from this experience. The central driver of hardware redundancy implementation on Voyager was known as the 'single point failure criterion'.

Rasmussen, R. D.↗

An aircraft sensor fault tolerant system

The design of a sensor fault tolerant system which uses analytical redundancy for the Terminal Configured Vehicle (TCV) research aircraft in a Microwave Landing System (MLS) environment was studied. The fault tolerant system provides reliable estimates for aircraft position, velocity, and attitude in the presence of possible failures in navigation aid instruments and onboard sensors. The estimates, provided by the fault tolerant system, are used by the automated guidance and control system to land the aircraft along a prescribed path. Sensor failures are identified by utilizing the analytic relationship between the various sensor outputs arising from the aircraft equations of motion.

Caglayan, A. K.↗

Enhancement of chronic acceleration tolerance by selection

A review is presented of experiments concerning the physiological consequences of chronic acceleration and of studies of selection for acceleration tolerance over many generations. It is shown that acceleration selection is effective in improving chronic acceleration tolerance. However, it is determined that the variable selection procedure employed in developing this acceleration-tolerant line limits the confidence in the quantitative evaluation of the procedure.

Smith, A. H.↗

A fault tolerant approach to state estimation and failure detection in nonlinear systems

The design problem considered in the present investigation involves a nonlinear discrete time stochastic system where replicated sensors provide redundant observations of inputs and outputs of the system, compensate for sensor 'normal operating' bias levels, and generate reliable estimates for the plant states in the presence of possible sensor failures. The resulting fault tolerant design should utilize inherent analytical redundancy and be capable of detecting many different types and levels of sensor failures. In addition, it should have minimal complexity. In connection with these goals, a sensor fault tolerant system design methodology is developed. The performance of the considered approach to an application is discussed, taking into account the design of a sensor fault tolerant system using analytic redundancy for the Terminal Configured Vehicle research aircraft in a microwave landing system environment.

Lancraft, R. E.↗

Concepts for improving the damage tolerance of composite compression panels

The residual strength of specimens with damage and the sensitivity to damage while subjected to an applied inplane compression load were determined for flatplate specimens and blade-stiffened panels. The results suggest that matrix materials that fail by delamination have the lowest damage tolerance capability. Alternate matrix materials or laminates which are transversely reinforced suppress the delamination mode of failure and change the failure mode to transverse shear crippling which occurs at a higher strain value. Several damage-tolerant blade-stiffened panel design concepts are evaluated. Structural efficiency studies conducted show only small mass penalties may result from incorporating these damage-tolerant features in panel design. The implication of test results on the design of aircraft structures was examined with respect to FAR requirements.

Rhodes, M. D.↗

Development and analysis of the Software Implemented Fault-Tolerance (SIFT) computer

SIFT (Software Implemented Fault Tolerance) is an experimental, fault-tolerant computer system designed to meet the extreme reliability requirements for safety-critical functions in advanced aircraft. Errors are masked by performing a majority voting operation over the results of identical computations, and faulty processors are removed from service by reassigning computations to the nonfaulty processors. This scheme has been implemented in a special architecture using a set of standard Bendix BDX930 processors, augmented by a special asynchronous-broadcast communication interface that provides direct, processor to processor communication among all processors. Fault isolation is accomplished in hardware; all other fault-tolerance functions, together with scheduling and synchronization are implemented exclusively by executive system software. The system reliability is predicted by a Markov model. Mathematical consistency of the system software with respect to the reliability model has been partially verified, using recently developed tools for machine-aided proof of program correctness.

Goldberg, J.↗

Fault tolerant software modules for SIFT

The implementation of software fault tolerance is investigated for critical modules of the Software Implemented Fault Tolerance (SIFT) operating system to support the computational and reliability requirements of advanced fly by wire transport aircraft. Fault tolerant designs generated for the error reported and global executive are examined. A description of the alternate routines, implementation requirements, and software validation are included.

Hecht, M.↗

On requirements for software fault tolerance for flight controls

The need for the application of software fault tolerance techniques in digital flight control systems is argued to follow from the requirements derivable from the safety constraints of such systems, requirements which can be stated in terms of minimum acceptable system reliability levels and, moreover, stated quantitatively. It is argued further that, while fault tolerance appears to be a viable mechanism in general, individual fault tolerance schemes need to be analyzed to ensure that they are adequate to the task and being properly utilized, that such analysis is essentially an exercise in software 'reliability' estimation involving software characteristics not currently included in software 'reliability' modeling (most especially, the degree of correlation of malfunctions among redundant, dissimilar software modules), and that, consequently, further research and studies in the characterization of software behavior and malfunctions is required.

Migneault, G. E.↗

Simulation of a G-tolerance curve using the pulsatile cardiovascular model

A computer simulation study, performed to assess the ability of the cardiovascular model to reproduce the G tolerance curve (G level versus tolerance time) is reported. A composite strength duration curve derived from experimental data obtained in human centrifugation studies was used for comparison. The effects of abolishing automomic control and of blood volume loss on G tolerance were also simulated. The results provide additional validation of the model. The need for the presence of autonomic reflexes even at low levels of G is pointed out. The low margin of safety with a loss of blood volume indicated by the simulation results underscores the necessity for protective measures during Shuttle reentry.

Solomon, M.↗

Ultrareliable, fault-tolerant control systems: A conceptual description

An Ultrareliable, Fault-Tolerant, Control-System (UFTCS) concept is described using a systems design philosophy which allows development of system structures containing virtually no common elements. Common elements limit achievable system reliability and can cause catastrophic loss of fault-tolerant system function. The UFTCS concept provides the means for removing common system elements by permitting the elements of the system to operate as independent, uncoupled entities. Multiple versions of the application program are run on dissimilar hardware. Fault tolerance is achieved through the use of static redundancy management.

Webster, L. D.↗

Fuel containment and damage tolerance for large composite primary aircraft structures. Phase 1: Testing

Technical problems associated with fuel containment and damage tolerance of composite material wings for transport aircraft were identified. The major tasks are the following: (1) the preliminary design of damage tolerant wing surface using composite materials; (2) the evaluation of fuel sealing and lightning protection methods for a composite material wing; and (3) an experimental investigation of the damage tolerant characteristics of toughened resin graphite/epoxy materials. The test results, the test techniques, and the test data are presented.

Sandifer, J. P.↗