Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Data Reasoning”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,801 records · Page 100

Numerical solutions for supersonic corner flow

Analytical solutions for inviscid supersonic corner flows are virtually nonexistent due to the complexity of the interference geometry. In view of this, numerical solutions for swept-compressive and swept-expansive corner flows are obtained. The governing equations are written in strong conservation-law form and are solved iteratively in nonorthogonal conical coordinates by use of a second-order, shock-capturing, finite-difference technique. The computed wave structure and surface pressure distributions are compared with high Reynolds number experimental data and show very good agreement. The results clearly show that supersonic corner flow at reasonably high Reynolds numbers including the effect of sweep is dominated by the inviscid field.

Shankar, V.↗

A correlative study of simultaneously measured He(++) fluxes in the solar wind and in the magnetosphere utilizing Imp-1 and 1971-089A satellite data

Simultaneously measured He(++) fluxes in the solar wind and in the magnetosphere were studied using data from the plasma spectrometer on the Imp I satellite and the energetic ion mass spectrometer on the low altitude polar orbiting satellite 1971-89A. A detailed comparison of the He(++) energy spectra measured simultaneously in the solar wind and in the low altitude dayside polar cusp on March 7, 1972 was made. The energy-per-unit-charge range of the energetic ion mass spectrometer on board the polar orbiting satellite was 700 eV to 12 keV. Within this range there was a clear maximum in the He(++) energy spectrum at approximately 1.5 keV/nucleon. There was not a clearly defined maximum in the H(+) spectrum, but the data were consistent with a peak between 0.7 and 1.0 keV/nucleon. Both spectra could be reasonably well fit with a convecting Maxwellian plus a high energy tail; however, the mean velocity for He(++) distribution was significantly greater than that for the H(+) distribution. The simultaneous solar wind measurements showed the mean velocities for both ion species to be approximately 600 km/sec. The discrepancies between the relative velocity distributions in the low altitude cusp and those in the solar wind are consistent with a potential difference of approximately 1.4 kV along their flow direction between the two points of observation.

Shelley, E. G.↗

Plasma property and performance prediction for mercury ion thrusters

The discharge chambers of mercury ion thrusters are modelled so the principal effects and processes which govern discharge plasma properties and thruster performance are described. The conservation relations for mass, charge and energy when applied to the Maxwellian electron population in the ion production region yield equations which may be made one-dimensional by the proper choice of coordinates. Solutions to these equations with the appropriate boundary conditions give electron density and temperature profiles which agree reasonably well with measurements. It is then possible to estimate plasma properties from thruster design data and those operating parameters which are directly controllable. By varying the operating parameter inputs to the computer code written to solve these equations, perfromance curves are obtained which agree quite well with measurements.

Longhurst, G. R.↗

MEGA16 - Computer program for analysis and extrapolation of stress-rupture data

The computerized form of the minimum commitment method of interpolating and extrapolating stress versus time to failure data, MEGA16, is described. Examples are given of its many plots and tabular outputs for a typical set of data. The program assumes a specific model equation and then provides a family of predicted isothermals for any set of data with at least 12 stress-rupture results from three different temperatures spread over reasonable stress and time ranges. It is written in FORTRAN 4 using IBM plotting subroutines and its runs on an IBM 370 time sharing system.

Ensign, C. R.↗

Analysis of driver performance under reduced visibility

Mathematical models describing vehicle dynamics as well as human behavior may be useful in evaluating driver performance and in establishing design criteria for vehicles more compatible with man. In 1977, a two level model of driver steering behavior was developed, but its parameters were identified for clear visibility conditions only. Since driver performance degrades under conditions of reduced visibility, e.g., fog, the two level model should be investigated to determine its applicability to such conditions. The data analysis of a recently performed driving simulation experiment showed that the model still performed reasonably well under fog conditions, although there was a degradation in its predictive capacity during fog. Some additional parameters affecting anticipation and lag time may improve the model's performance for reduced visibility conditions.

Kaeppler, W. D.↗

Fatigue life analysis of a turboprop reduction gearbox

A fatigue life analysis of the Allison T56/501 turboprop reduction gearbox was developed. The life and reliability of the gearbox was based on the lives and reliabilities of the main power train bearings and gears. The bearing and gear lives were determined using the Lundberg-Palmgren theory and a mission profile. The five planet bearing set had the shortest calculated life among the various gearbox components, which agreed with field experience where the planet bearing had the greatest incidences of failure. The analytical predictions of relative lives among the various bearings were in reasonable agreement with field experience. The predicted gearbox life was in excellent agreement with field data when the material life adjustment factors alone were used. The gearbox had a lower predicted life in comparison with field data when no life adjustment factors were used or when lubrication life adjustment factors were used either alone or in combination with the material factors.

Lewicki, D. G.↗

Fatigue life analysis of a turboprop reduction gearbox

A fatigue life analysis of the Allison T56/501 turboprop reduction gearbox was developed. The life and reliability of the gearbox was based on the lives and reliabilities of the main power train bearings and gears. The bearing and gear lives were determined using the Lundberg-Palmgren theory and a mission profile. The five planet bearing set had the shortest calculated life among the various gearbox components, which agreed with field experience where the planet bearing had the greatest incidences of failure. The analytical predictions of relative lives among the various bearings were in reasonable agreement with field experience. The predicted gearbox life was in excellent agreement with field data when the material life adjustment factors alone were used. The gearbox had a lower predicted life in comparison with field data when no life adjustment factors were used or when lubrication life adjustment factors were used either alone or in combination with the material factors.

Lewicki, D. G.↗

BCAUS Project description and consideration of separation of data and control

The commonly stated truths that data may be segregated from program control in generic expert system shells and that such tools support straightforward knowledge representation were examined. The ideal of separation of data from program control in expert systems is difficult to realize for a variety of reasons. One approach to achieving this goal is to integrate hybrid collections of specialized shells and tools instead of producing custom systems built with a single all purpose expert system tool. Aspects of these issues are examined in the context of a specific diagnostic expert system application, the Backup Control Mode Analysis and Utility System (BCAUS), being developed for the Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) spacecraft. The project and the knowledge gained in working on the project are described.

Bush, Joy L.↗

Masses and the evolution of Wolf-Rayet binaries

Recent polarimetric observations have provided inclinations of double-line spectroscopic binary systems containing Wolf-Rayet stars with O star companions. Therefore, reasonably accurate masses of ten Wolf-Rayet stars in binaries are now known. These data are compared to evolutionary models of massive close binaries based on the scenario that O + O systems evolve into WR + O systems. Good agreement is found between the observations and nonconservative binary models with classical cores for the observed range of contemporary masses. The models with large convective-core overshooting fail to describe systems with Wolf-Rayet stars having observed masses larger than about 10 solar masses.

Schulte-Ladbeck, Regina E.↗

Some low-altitude cusp dependencies on the interplanetary magnetic field

The low-altitude cusp dependencies on the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) were investigated using the algorithm of Newell and Meng (1988) to identify the cusp proper. The algorithm was applied to 12,569 high-latitude dayside passes of the DMSP F7 spacecraft, and the resulting cusp positioning data were correlated with the IMF. It was found that the cusp latitudinal position correlated reasonably well (0.70) with the Bz component when the IMF had a southward component. The correlation for the northward Bz component was only 0.18, suggestive of a half-wave rectifier effect. The ratio of cusp ion number flux precipitation for Bz southward to that for Bz northward was 1.75 + or - 0.12. The statistical local time widths of the cusp proper for the northward and the southward Bz components were found to be 2.1 h and 2.8 h, respectively.

Newell, Patrick T.↗

Final shuttle-derived atmospheric database: Development and results from thirty-two flights

The final Shuttle-derived atmospheric data base is presented. The relational data base is comprised of data from 32 Space Transportation System (STS) descent flights, to include available meteorology data taken in support of each flight. For the most part, the available data are restricted to the middle atmosphere. In situ accelerations, sensed by the tri-redundant Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to an accuracy better than 1 mg, are combined with post-flight Best Estimate Trajectory (BET) information and predicted, flight-substantiated Orbiter aerodynamics to provide determinations up to altitudes of 95 km. In some instances, alternate accelerometry data with micro-g resolution were utilized to extend the data base well into the thermosphere. Though somewhat limited, the ensemble of flights permit a reasonable sampling of monthly, seasonal, and latitudinal variations which can be utilized for atmospheric science investigations and model evaluations and upgrades as appropriate. More significantly, the unparallel vertical resolution in the Shuttle-derived results indicate density shears normally associated with internal gravity waves or local atmospheric instabilities. Consequently, these atmospheres can also be used as stress-atmospheres for Guidance, Navigation and Control (GN and C) system development and analysis as part of any advanced space vehicle design activities.

Findlay, John T.↗

Breakup of a liquid jet in supersonic crossflow

A theoretical study of the breakup of a circular liquid jet injected transversely into a supersonic air stream is conducted. Two different criteria for breakup are explored in the context of a previously developed model for the behavior of liquid jets in compressible crossflow (Heister et al., 1989). The local sonic point criterion first proposed by Schetz, et al. (1980) is explored, in addition to an auxiliary criterion put forth by Clark (1964) based on surface-tension stability. It is found that the local sonic point appears to provide a more reasonable approximation to the actual location of jet breakup, based on comparisons with limited experimental data.

Li, H.-S.↗

Modeling the rapid spherical compression of isotropic turbulence

Rapid distortion analysis is used to modify the form of the closure model for the dissipation rate of the turbulent kinetic energy. The modification is such that the evolution of the dissipation rate during a rapid compression is predicted exactly; good agreement between the model prediction and direct simulation data is obtained. Previous closure proposals fail to properly predict the rapid compression case. The reason for the difference between the present and previous models is traced to the fact that previous workers neglected variations of kinematic viscosity.

Coleman, Gary N.↗

Training effectiveness assessment: Methodological problems and issues

The U.S. military uses a large number of simulators to train and sustain the flying skills of helicopter pilots. Despite the enormous resources required to purchase, maintain, and use those simulators, little effort has been expended in assessing their training effectiveness. One reason for this is the lack of an evaluation methodology that yields comprehensive and valid data at a practical cost. Some of these methodological problems and issues that arise in assessing simulator training effectiveness, as well as problems with the classical transfer-of-learning paradigm were discussed.

Cross, Kenneth D.↗

Low-energy multiple rendezvous of main belt asteroids

An approach to multiple asteroid rendezvous missions to the main belt region is proposed. In this approach key information which consists of a launch date and delta V can be generated for all possible pairs of asteroids satisfying specific constraints. This information is made available on a computer file for 1000 numbered asteroids with reasonable assumptions, limitations, and approximations to limit the computer requirements and the size of the data file.

Penzo, Paul A.↗

Time domain identification of element matrices

Accurate mathematical models are clearly an important part of the design, modification, control, and damage assessment of large space structures. A critical part of model determination of any type of structure is the use of system identification (SI), a process for using measured excitation and response data to improve the form of a mathematical model or the values of the parameters in it. The reasons for using SI are manifold, but most of them involve uncertainties in either the form of or the parameters in the mathematical model. Some of the more common uncertainties are the following: the nature of the damping, the characteristics of sloppy or sticky joints, inelastic material properties, and parameters in a reduced Degree-of-Freedom (DOF) model. This paper contains a description of the SI algorithm followed by two illustrations: one in which all parameters in a shear building model are determined using pull back and quick release data, and another in which an equivalent reduced DOF model is obtained for a two story frame.

Matzen, Vernon C.↗

Tests of Aluminum-alloy Stiffened-sheet Specimens Cut from an Airplane Wing

The specimens used in the present tests were cut from an actual airplane wing of the stressed-skin type. The specimens thus obtained were not representative of the usual type of laboratory specimens because the stiffeners were not exactly parallel nor evenly spaced and, in one case, the skin consisted of pieces of sheet of different thicknesses. The test data obtained indicate that the buckling strain of stiffened curved sheet can be computed with reasonable accuracy by the equation given by Wenzek. The ultimate loads of the specimens when tested as flat sheet were within +/-11 percent of the product of the compressive yield strength and the cross-sectional area of the stiffeners. A rivet spacing equal to 98 times the sheet thickness was a source of weakness, and rivet spacings up to 36 times the sheet thickness appeared satisfactory.

Holt, Marshall↗

Determination of control-surface characteristics from NACA plain-flap and tab data

The data from previous NACA pressure-distribution investigations of plain flaps and tabs have been analyzed and are presented in this paper in a form readily applicable to the problems of control-surface design. The experimentally determined variation of aerodynamic parameters with flap chord and tab chord are given in chart form and comparisons are made with the theory. With the aid of these charts and the theoretical relationships for a thin airfoil, the aerodynamic characteristics for control surfaces of any plan form with plain flaps and tabs may be determined. A discussion of the basic equations of the thin-airfoil theory and the development of a number of additional equations that will be helpful in tail design are presented in the appendixes. The procedure for applying the data is described and a sample problem of tail design is included. The data presented and the method of application set forth in this report should provide a reasonably accurate and satisfactory means of computing the aerodynamic characteristics of control surfaces.

TAIL SURFACES, HORIZONTAL - CHAR↗

Refine your search to explore more results.