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At least 1,801 records · Page 100

Cloud parameters derived from GOES during the 1987 marine stratocumulus FIRE Intensive Field Observation (IFO) period

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) is well suited for observations of the variations of clouds over many temporal and spatial scales. For this reason, GOES data taken during the Marine Stratocumulus Intensive Field Observations (IFO) (June 29 to July 19, 1987, Kloessel et al.) serve several purposes. One facet of the First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) is improvement of the understanding of cloud parameter retrievals from satellite-observed radiances. This involves comparisons of coincident satellite cloud parameters and high resolution data taken by various instruments on other platforms during the IFO periods. Another aspect of FIRE is the improvement of both large- and small-scale models of stratocumulus used in general circulation models (GCMs). This may involve, among other studies, linking the small-scale processes observed during the IFO to the variations in large-scale cloud fields observed with the satellites during the IFO and Extended Time Observation (ETO) periods. Preliminary results are presented of an analysis of GOES data covering most of the IFO period. The large scale cloud-field characteristics are derived, then related to a longer period of measurements. Finally, some point measurements taken from the surface are compared to regional scale cloud parameters derived from satellite radiances.

Young, David F.↗

Modeling and control design of a wind tunnel model support

The 12-Foot Pressure Wind Tunnel at Ames Research Center is being restored. A major part of the restoration is the complete redesign of the aircraft model supports and their associated control systems. An accurate trajectory control servo system capable of positioning a model (with no measurable overshoot) is needed. Extremely small errors in scaled-model pitch angle can increase airline fuel costs for the final aircraft configuration by millions of dollars. In order to make a mechanism sufficiently accurate in pitch, a detailed structural and control-system model must be created and then simulated on a digital computer. The model must contain linear representations of the mechanical system, including masses, springs, and damping in order to determine system modes. Electrical components, both analog and digital, linear and nonlinear must also be simulated. The model of the entire closed-loop system must then be tuned to control the modes of the flexible model-support structure. The development of a system model, the control modal analysis, and the control-system design are discussed.

Howe, David A.↗

Applications of higher harmonic control to hingeless rotor systems

A comprehensive analytical formulation was developed to predict the vibratory hub loads of a helicopter rotor system in forward flight. This analysis is used to calculate the optimal higher harmonic control inputs and associated actuator power required to minimize these hub loads. The present formulation is based on a finite element method in space and time. A nonlinear time domain, unsteady aerodynamic model is used to obtain the airloads, and the rotor induced inflow is calculated using a nonuniform inflow model. Predicted vibratory hub loads are correlated with experimental data from a scale model rotor. Results of a parametric study on a hindgeless rotor show that blade flap, lag and torsion vibration characteristics, offset of blade center of mass from elastic axis, offset of elastic axis from quarter-chord axis, and blade thrust greatly affect the higher harmonic control actuator power requirement.

Nguyen, Khanh↗

Modeling and control design of a wind tunnel model support

The 12-Foot Pressure Wind Tunnel at Ames Research Center is being restored. A major part of the restoration is the complete redesign of the aircraft model supports and their associated control systems. An accurate trajectory control servo system capable of positioning a model (with no measurable overshoot) is needed. Extremely small errors in scaled-model pitch angle can increase airline fuel costs for the final aircraft configuration by millions of dollars. In order to make a mechanism sufficiently accurate in pitch, a detailed structural and control-system model must be created and then simulated on a digital computer. The model must contain linear representations of the mechanical system, including masses, springs, and damping in order to determine system modes. Electrical components, both analog and digital, linear and nonlinear must also be simulated. The model of the entire closed-loop system must then be tuned to control the modes of the flexible model-support structure. The development of a system model, the control modal analysis, and the control-system design are discussed.

Howe, David A.↗

Parametric Study of the Effect of Membrane Tension on Sunshield Dynamics

The NGST sunshield is a lightweight, flexible structure consisting of pretensioned membranes supported by deployable booms. The structural dynamic behavior of the sunshield must be well understood in order to predict its influence on observatory performance. A 1/10th scale model of the sunshield has been developed for ground testing to provide data to validate modeling techniques for thin film membrane structures. The validated models can then be used to predict the behaviour of the full scale sunshield. This paper summarizes the most recent tests performed on the 1/10th scale sunshield to study the effect of membrane preload on sunshield dynamics. Topics to be covered include the test setup, procedures, and a summary of results.

Ross, Brian↗

Mach 4 Test Results of a Dual-Flowpath, Turbine Based Combined Cycle Inlet

An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the performance of a turbine based combined cycle (TBCC) inlet concept, consisting of a low speed turbojet inlet and high speed dual-mode scramjet inlet. The main objectives of the study were (1) to identify any interactions between the low and the high speed inlets during the mode transition phase in which both inlets are operating simultaneously and (2) to determine the effect of the low speed inlet operation on the performance of the high speed inlet. Tests were conducted at a nominal freestream Mach number of 4 using an 8 percent scale model representing a single module of a TBCC inlet. A flat plate was installed upstream of the model to produce a turbulent boundary layer which simulated the full-scale vehicle forebody boundary layer. A flowmeter/back pressure device, with remote actuation, was attached aft of the high speed inlet isolator to simulate the back pressure resulting from dual-mode scramjet combustion. Results indicate that the inlets did not interact with each other sufficiently to affect inlet operability. Flow spillage resulting from a high speed inlet unstart did not propagate far enough upstream to affect the low speed inlet. Also, a low speed inlet unstart did not cause the high speed inlet to unstart. The low speed inlet improved the performance of the high speed inlet at certain conditions by diverting a portion of the boundary layer generated on the forebody plate.

Albertson, Cindy w.↗

DDStore: Distributed Data Store for Scalable Training of Graph Neural Networks on Large Atomistic Modeling Datasets

Graph neural networks (GNNs) are a class of Deep Learning models used in designing atomistic materials for effective screening of large chemical spaces. To ensure robust prediction, GNN models must be trained on large volumes of atomistic data on leadership class supercomputers. Even with the advent of modern architectures that consist of multiple storage layers that include node-local NVMe devices in addition to device memory for caching large datasets, extreme-scale model training faces I/O challenges at scale.We present DDStore, an in-memory distributed data store designed for GNN training on large-scale graph data. DDStore provides a hierarchical, distributed, data caching technique that combines data chunking, replication, low-latency random access, and high throughput communication. DDStore achieves near-linear scaling for training a GNN model using up to 1000 GPUs on the Summit and Perlmutter supercomputers, and reaches up to a 6.15x reduction in GNN training time compared to state-of-the-art methodologies.

Choi, Jong Youl↗

Scale bridging damage model for quasi-brittle metals informed with crack evolution statistics

Computationally efficient methods for bridging length scales, from highly resolved micro/meso-scale models that can explicitly model crack growth, to macro-scale continuum models that are more suitable for modeling large parts, have been of interest to researchers for decades. In this work, an improved brittle damage model is presented for the simulation of dynamic fracture in continuum scale quasi-brittle metal components. Crack evolution statistics, including the number, length, and orientation of individual cracks, are extracted from high-fidelity, finite discrete element method (FDEM) simulations and used to generate effective material moduli that reflect the material’s damaged state over time. This strategy allows for the retention of small-scale physical behaviors such as crack growth and coalescence in continuum scale hydrodynamic simulations. However, the high-fidelity simulations required to generate the crack statistics are computationally expensive. Thus, steps were taken to produce a flexible constitutive model to reduce the number of costly high-fidelity simulations needed to produce accurate results. A new stress based degradation criterion is introduced for the degradation of individual material zones. This allows for the development of a heterogeneous damage distribution within the bulk material. Then a flow stress model is added to the hydrodynamic simulation to account for plasticity in quasi-brittle materials. As a result, the effective moduli model can be applied to a larger range of materials. The effective moduli constitutive model is used to simulate beryllium flyer plate experiments. The results from the continuum scale simulations using statistics from a single high-fidelity simulation are found to be in excellent agreement with numerical and experimental velocity interferometer data. The same set of crack statistics are used to extrapolate the results of a higher rate flyer plate case using the effective moduli model. In conclusion, the extension of this model to higher rate cases shows promise for further reducing the number of costly high-fidelity simulations needed to generate crack statistics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A Crew Seat for Human Exploration in Multiple Gravity Environments

This work attempts to develop a single crew seating solution that is applicable across a range of gravity environments encountered by spacecraft proposed in several conceptual spacecraft architectures. All of these spacecraft will need to provide some sort of stationary accommodation for the crew for performing various activities such as work in science laboratories, maintenance and repair facilities, medical care facilities, and spacecraft operations centers, as well as for basic habitation in crew quarters, entertainment / relaxation facilities, and crew dining facilities. Depending on the spacecraft or architecture, this stationary accommodation may be experienced continuously in microgravity, such as would be the case for the Deep Space Exploration Vehicle. Alternately, it could be in continuous lunar or Martian gravity, such as the Common Habitat base camps. It could experience fractional gravity, such as a Pressurized Rover for In-Space Missions at a Near Earth Asteroid or one of the Martian moons. It could alternate between artificial gravity and microgravity, such as the Nautilus-X. It could alternate between microgravity and lunar or Martian gravity, such as the SpaceX Starship Human Landing System or the Blue Origin Blue Moon Block 2 Human Landing System. Or it could be in continuous Earth gravity, such as ground trainer systems. Prior human spaceflight systems for stationary accommodation have been focused on microgravity applications. These systems have their own limitations and cannot be used in a gravity environment. A public crowdsourcing campaign generated dozens of ideas, which ultimately generated a Gecko Mobility Aids system for crew translation and the Multi-Gravity Crew Seat (MGCS) for stationary accommodation. The MGCS functions in gravity as a traditional terrestrial seat, performing functions of load for the overall body and forearms, as well as head and neck load relief while positioning the body within range of an intended task. In microgravity, the MGCS functions as a body restraint, securing the body against inadvertent drifting by applying a restraining pressure at the front and back of the thighs, shoulders, and back. The initial MGCS concept was developed in a NASA hackathon and was refined through a review of dozens of terrestrial seating styles. Additionally, a review of anthropometry and biomechanics data related to the neutral body posture was conducted to help inform the microgravity configuration of the MGCS. A series of CAD models were iteratively developed, with subject matter expert reviews leading to design improvements. A scale model was constructed and used with a humanoid model to demonstrate MGCS accommodation of a human-like body in both gravity and microgravity modes. Work to develop a full-scale protype of the MGCS is discussed, including design and fabrication of the headrest, arm rest, seat back, seat pan, seat base, and the conversion mechanisms. A 1-g human-in-the-loop evaluation of the prototype assessed the acceptability of performing seated activities in the MGCS, collecting data on the usability, comfort, and ease of ingress/egress. Based on the evaluation results, design modifications needed for reduced gravity testing are documented and initial work is indicated for a reduced gravity test plan.

Restraints and Mobility Aids↗

Augmentation of Stagnation Region Heat Transfer Due to Turbulence from a DLN Can Combustor

Heat transfer measurements have been made in the stagnation region of a flat plate with a circular leading edge. Electrically heated aluminum strips placed symmetrically about the leading edge stagnation region were used to measure spanwise-averaged heat transfer coefficients. The maximum Reynolds number obtained, based on leading edge diameter, was about 100,000. The model was immersed in the flow field downstream of an approximately half-scale model of a can-type combustor from a low NO(x), ground-based power-generating turbine. The tests were conducted with room temperature air; no fuel was added. Room air flowed into the combustor through six vane-type fuel/air swirlers. The combustor can contained no dilution holes. The fuel/air swirlers all swirled the incoming airflow in a counterclockwise direction (facing downstream). A five-hole probe flow field survey in the plane of the model stagnation point showed the flow was one big vortex with flow angles up to 36 deg at the outer edges of the rectangular test section. Hot-wire measurements showed test section flow had very high levels of turbulence, around 28.5%, and had a relatively large axial-length scale-to-leading edge diameter ratio of 0.5. X-wire measurements showed the turbulence to be nearly isotropic. Stagnation heat transfer augmentation over laminar levels was around 77% and was about 14% higher than predicted by a previously developed correlation for isotropic grid-generated turbulence.

VanFossen, G. James↗

Modeling Flight: The Role of Dynamically Scaled Free-Flight Models in Support of NASA's Aerospace Programs

The state of the art in aeronautical engineering has been continually accelerated by the development of advanced analysis and design tools. Used in the early design stages for aircraft and spacecraft, these methods have provided a fundamental understanding of physical phenomena and enabled designers to predict and analyze critical characteristics of new vehicles, including the capability to control or modify unsatisfactory behavior. For example, the relatively recent emergence and routine use of extremely powerful digital computer hardware and software has had a major impact on design capabilities and procedures. Sophisticated new airflow measurement and visualization systems permit the analyst to conduct micro- and macro-studies of properties within flow fields on and off the surfaces of models in advanced wind tunnels. Trade studies of the most efficient geometrical shapes for aircraft can be conducted with blazing speed within a broad scope of integrated technical disciplines, and the use of sophisticated piloted simulators in the vehicle development process permits the most important segment of operations the human pilot to make early assessments of the acceptability of the vehicle for its intended mission. Knowledgeable applications of these tools of the trade dramatically reduce risk and redesign, and increase the marketability and safety of new aerospace vehicles. Arguably, one of the more viable and valuable design tools since the advent of flight has been testing of subscale models. As used herein, the term "model" refers to a physical article used in experimental analyses of a larger full-scale vehicle. The reader is probably aware that many other forms of mathematical and computer-based models are also used in aerospace design; however, such topics are beyond the intended scope of this document. Model aircraft have always been a source of fascination, inspiration, and recreation for humans since the earliest days of flight. Within the scientific community, Leonardo da Vinci, George Cayley, and the Wright brothers are examples of early aviation pioneers who frequently used models during their scientific efforts to understand and develop flying machines. Progress in the technology associated with model testing in worldwide applications has firmly established model aircraft as a key element in new aerospace research and development programs. Models are now routinely used in many applications and roles, including aerodynamic data gathering in wind tunnel investigations for the analysis of full-scale aircraft designs, proof-of-concept demonstrators for radical aeronautical concepts, and problem-solving exercises for vehicles already in production. The most critical contributions of aerospace models are to provide confidence and risk reduction for new designs and to enhance the safety and efficiency of existing configurations.

Chambers, Joseph↗

Improving Mathematical Exposition of an Industrial-Scale Linear Program

Industrial-scale models require considerable setup time; hence, once built, they are used in myriad ways to consider closely related cases. In practice, the code for these models frequently evolves without appropriate notational choices, largely as a result of the lengthy development time of, and the number of individuals contributing to, their formulation. This leads to inefficiencies and obfuscates model structures that might be leveraged to expedite solutions. In this paper, we advocate for an emerging literature on model formulation “best practices” and present the reformulation of a widely used industrial-scale linear program. The efficient mathematical expression of this linear program, used to plan capacity expansion in the energy sector, allows for greater transparency of model structures and enhanced ability to identify computational performance improvements, as well as a lucid interpretation of its solutions. This type of formulation is employed in several mathematical programming courses at our university as an example of the advantages of best practices; the model more broadly is used widely to inform policy in the U.S. energy sector.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Instrumentation and control system for an F-15 stall/spin

An instrumentation and control system is described that was used for radio-controlled F-15 airplane model stall/spin research at the NASA-Langley Research Center. This stall/spin research technique, using scale model aircraft, provides information on the post-stall and spin-entry characteristics of full-scale aircraft. The instrumentation described provides measurements of flight parameters such as angle of attack and sideslip, airspeed, control-surface position, and three-axis rotation rates; these data are recorded on an onboard magnetic tape recorder. The proportional radio control system, which utilizes analog potentiometric signals generated from ground-based pilot inputs, and the ground-based system used in the flight operation are also described.

Pitts, F. L.↗

Preliminary comparison of model and prototype wakes

Velocity and turbulence profiles previously measured in the wake of a long building 3.2 m high, located in the field, transverse to the wind and in an atmospheric boundary layer several hundred meters thick are compared with wake profiles at corresponding longitudinal stations for a scale model of the building located in a large meteorological wind tunnel having a boundary layer thickness of 0.61 m to assess the accuracy of full scale wake profile predictions based on model tests. Results are presented which show that disparities in nondimensional profiles result from differences in relative depth of logarithmic layers and in surface conditions.

Logan, E., Jr.↗

Experimental investigation of stability and stall flutter of a free-floating wing V/STOL model

An experimental investigation was made of the static and dynamic stability characteristics of a one-fourth scale model of a tilt-propeller free-wing V/STOL aircraft. The effects of wing pivot location, wing chord, trailing-edge angle, propeller tilt angle, and thrust were studied, and a limited evaluation was made of high-lift devices. A dynamically similar wing was used to measure frequency and damping ratio from transient response data in the linear aerodynamic regime and the results were compared to quasi-steady and unsteady aerodynamic theory. It was found that at high trim angles of attack, in the nonlinear aerodynamic regime, stall flutter oscillations occurred with typical amplitudes ranging from 15 to 20 deg. Wing control tab deflection was effective in initiating and terminating stall flutter but variations in configuration or operating conditions did not greatly influence the occurrence of characteristics of the oscillations.

Ormiston, R. A.↗

Noise measurements for various configurations of a model of a mixer nozzle externally blown flap system

Noise data were taken for variations to a large scale model of an externally blown flap lift augmentation system. The variations included two different mixer nozzles (7 and 8 lobes), two different wing models (2 and 3 flaps), and different lateral distances between the wing chord line and the nozzle centerline. When the seven lobe was used with the trailing flap in the 60 deg position, increasing the wing to nozzle distance had no effect on the sound level. When the eight lobe nozzle was used there was a decrease in sound level. With the 20 deg flap setting the noise level decreased when the distance was increased using either nozzle.

Goodykoontz, J. H.↗

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