Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Complexity”

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 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

The significance of ACTH for the process of formation of complex heparin compounds in the blood during immobilization stress

Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) was administered to rats at different times following adrenalectomy. Adrenocorticotropin caused a significant increase in the formation of heparin complexes even in the absence of stress factor. When ACTH secretion is blocked, immobilization stress is not accompanied by an increase in the process of complex formation. The effect of ACTH on the formation of heparin complexes was mediated through its stimulation of the adrenal cortex.

Kudryashov, B. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Evaluation of terrain complexity by autocorrelation

The topographic complexity of various sections of the Ozark, Appalachian, and Interior Low Plateaus, as well as of the New England, Piedmont, Blue Ridge, Ouachita, and Valley and Ridge Provinces of the Eastern United States were characterized. The variability of autocorrelation within a small area (7 1/2-ft quadrangle) to the variability at widely separated and diverse areas within the same physiographic region was compared to measure the degree of uniformity of the processes which can be expected to be encountered within a given physiographic province. The variability of autocorrelation across the eight geomorphic regions was compared and contrasted. The total study area was partitioned into subareas homogeneous in terrain complexity. The relation between the complexity measured, the geomorphic process mix implied, and the way in which geobotanical information is modified into a more or less recognizable entity is demonstrated. Sampling strategy is described.

Craig, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Microdisc gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate of organic material from rat otoconial complexes

The gravity receptors of all vertebrates utilize a 'test mass' consisting of a complex arrangement of mineral and organic substance that lies over the sensory receptor areas. In most vertebrates, the mineral is a polymorph of calcium carbonate in the form of minute, single crystals called otoconia. An investigation is conducted to determine the number of proteins in otoconial complexes and their molecular weights. The investigation makes use of a microdisk gel electrophoresis method reported by Gainer (1971). The most important finding of the reported research is that analysis of the proteins of the organic material of the otoconial complexes is possible when sensitive microanalytical methods are employed. Further modification of the basic technique employed and the inclusion of other sensitive staining methods should mean that, in the future, protein separation by molecular weight will be possible in sample pools containing only two otoconial masses.

Ross, M. D.↗
NASA NTRS1980

In vitro Ca-45/++/ uptake and exchange by otoconial complexes in high and low K/+/Na/+/ fluids

Recently, data have been accumulating to indicate that saccular and utricular otoconial complexes of the gravity receptor organs are dynamic and interact constantly with their environment. This study investigates the possibility that the ionic composition of the surrounding fluid influences calcium ion binding and release, and explores the importance of the K(+)/Na(+) ratio. Two in-vitro methods were developed, the first of which employed artificial endolymph and perilymph while ionically balanced fluids in which only the K(+)/Na(+) was altered were used in the second. The ability of rat complexes to take up Ca-45(++) during incubation with these fluids was assessed using liquid scintillation spectrometry. In vitro uptake of Ca-45(++) was greater in fluids with a high K(+)/Na(+) ratio than in fluids in which the ratio was low. The ability of the complexes to take up Ca-45(++) appeared to decline with age.

Ross, M. D.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Determination of normal modes from measured complex modes

A technique is presented for computing a set of normal modes from a set of measured complex modes. The number of elements in the modal vectors, which is equal to the number of measurements, can be larger than the number of modes under consideration. It is also shown that the practice of normal mode approximation to complex modes can lead to very large errors when the modes are too complex. A numerical example and a simulated experiment illustrate the concepts discussed and support the theory presented.

Ibrahim, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The molecular cloud complex associated with ON 1

Observations of CO with different resolutions near the compact H II region/maser source ON 1 are presented, as well as new H2CO and HCO(+) observations. ON 1 is part of an extended molecular cloud complex with overall dimensions of 25 x 60 pc at a distance of 1.4 kpc; it appears to be the only site of star formation in at least the western part of the complex. ON 1 coincides with a compact and dense molecular cloud core (size 0.8 pc) that shows little sign of disruption indicating that ON 1 has only recently turned on. The isolation and apparent youth of ON 1 suggest that the very beginning of the star formation phase of a molecular cloud complex is observed here.

Israel, F. P.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Origin of Archean anorthosites - Evidence from the Bad Vermilion Lake anorthosite complex, Ontario

Studies of the petrology and geochemistry of the anorthosite complex at Bad Vermillion Lake, Canada, based on 400 samples collected in summer, 1979, are presented. Petrographic, microprobe, X-ray-fluorescence, and instrumental-neutron-activation analyses were performed. Major and trace-element abundances of the anorthositic rocks and surrounding mafic and felsic rocks are reported in tables, chondrite-normalized rare-earth-element patterns are shown, and the anorthositic, intrusive, and metavolcanic formations are characterized in detail. The anothrositic plagioclases are found to have a coarse porphyritic texture and calcic composition (80 normative mol percent An) similar to those of other Archean anorthosite complexes. Chemical similarities indicate that the gabbro and mafic to felsic metavolcanic formations associated with the anorthosite complex may be comagmatic with it, while the absence of ultramafic material and the bulk composition of the comagmatic basalt (about 20 wt percent Al2O3) suggest that much of the original comagmatic material has been separated.

Ashwal, L. D.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Complexities of high temperature metal fatigue: Some steps toward understanding

After pointing out many of the complexities that attend high temperature metal fatigue beyond those already studied in the sub-creep range, a description of the micromechanisms of deformation and fracture is presented for several classes of materials that were studied over the past dozen years. Strainrange Partitioning (SRP) is used as a framework for interpreting the results. Several generic types of behavior were observed with regard both to deformation and fracture and each is discussed in the context of the micromechanisms involved. Treatment of cumulative fatigue damage and the possibility of ""healing'' of damage in successive loading loops, has led to a new interpretation of the Interaction Damage Rule of SRP. Using the concept of ""equivalent micromechanistic damage'' -- that the same damage on a microscopic scale is induced if the same hysteresis loops are generated, element for element -- it turns out the Interaction Damage Rule essentially compounds a number of variants of hysteresis loops, all of which have the same damage according to SRP concepts, into a set of loops each containing only one of the generic SRP strainranges. Thus the damage associcated with complex loops comprising several types of strainrange is analyzed by considering a combination of loops each containing only one type of strainrange. This concept is expanded to show how several independent loops can combine to ""heal'' creep damage in a complex loading history.

Manson, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A novel algorithm for sea surface height estimation using complex SAR data

A method of extracting sea height information from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) complex data was studied. A fundamental SAR ocean imaging model for gravity waves showed that information about the long wave is present in the SAR complex data, especially its phase. Phase demodulation algorithm followed by linear regression and filtering was employed. Only the latter two steps incorporated a priori information that might be available. A relatively simplified simulation indicated that the finite bandwidth of the SAR system imposed the apparently most serious limitation. A preliminary application to SEASAT-SAR complex imagery was encouraging. Information about the long wave, if incorporated into a more sophisticated phase demodulation structure, i.e., at an earlier point in the algorithm, could conceivably mitigate this bandwidth limitation.

Harger, R. O.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The scaling of complex craters

The empirical relation between the transient crater diameter (Dg) and final crater diameter (Dr) of complex craters and basins is estimated using cumulative terrace widths, central uplift diameters, continuous ejecta radii, and transient crater reconstructions determined from lunar and terrestrial impact structures. The ratio Dg/Dr is a power law function of Dr, decreasing uniformly from unity at the diameter of the simple-complex crater morphology transition to about 0.5 for large multiring basins like Imbrium on the moon. The empirical constants in the Dg/Dr relation are interpreted physically to mean that the position of the final rim relative to the transient crater, and hence the extent of collapse, is controlled or greatly influenced by the properties of the zone of dissociated material produced by the impact shock. The continuity of the Dg/Dr relation over the entire spectrum of morphologic types from complex craters to multiring basins implies that the rims of all these structures form in the same tectonic environment despite morphologic differences.

Croft, S. K.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Workspace Program for Complex-Number Arithmetic

COMPLEX is workspace program designed to empower APL with complexnumber capabilities. Complex-variable methods provide analytical tools invaluable for applications in mathematics, science, and engineering. COMPLEX written in APL.

Patrick, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Computation of Normal Modes from Identified Complex Modes

A technique is presented to compute a set of normal modes from a set of measured (damped) complex modes. The number of elements in the modal vectors, which is equal to the number of measurements, can be larger than the number of modes under consideration. It is also shown in this paper that the practice of normal mode approximation to complex modes can lead to considerably large errors when the modes are too complex. A numerical example and a simulated experiment are presented to illustrate the concepts discussed and to support the theory presented.

Ibrahim, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Atmospheric and Science Complexity Effects on Surface Bidirectional Reflectance

Among the tools used in passive remote sensing of Earth resources in the visible and near-infrared spectral regions are measurements of spectral signature and bidirectional reflectance functions (BDRFs). Determination of surface properties using these observables is complicated by a number of factors, including: (1) mixing of surface components, such as soil and vegetation, (2) multiple reflections of radiation due to complex geometry, such as in crop canopies, and (3) atmospheric effects. In order to bridge the diversity in these different approaches, there is a need for a fundamental physical understanding of the influence of the various effects and a quantiative measure of their relative importance. In particular, we consider scene complexity effects using the example of reflection by vegetative surfaces. The interaction of sunlight with a crop canopy and interpretation of the spectral and angular dependence of the emergent radiation is basically a multidimensional radiative transfer problem. The complex canopy geometry, underlying soil cover, and presence of diffuse as well as collimated illumination will modify the reflectance characteristics of the canopy relative to those of the individual elements.

Diner, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The method of complex characteristics for transonic airfoil design, with an application to compressors

The use of mathematical models to study physical problems of current interest to aeronautical engineers has been made possible by the development of numerical techniques to compute solutions of the differential equations of transonic aerodynamics. These advances have encouraged the improvement of supercritical wing technology. A method to determined steady, shockless flow of an inviscid, compressible fluid past a cascade of airfoils in the (x,y)-plane is considered, taking into account also the case of an isolated airfoil. The method of complex characteristics solves the equations in the hodograph plane by extending all variables into the complex domain, where the notion of type is no longer significant. Attention is given to the mathematical background, the method of complex characteristics, and numerical calculations.

Bledsoe, M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Description and operational status of the National Transonic Facility computer complex

This paper describes the National Transonic Facility (NTF) computer complex and its support of tunnel operations. The capabilities of the research data acquisition and reduction are discussed along with the types of data that can be acquired and presented. Pretest, test, and posttest capabilities are also outlined along with a discussion of the computer complex to monitor the tunnel control processes and provide the tunnel operators with information needed to control the tunnel. Planned enhancements to the computer complex for support of future testing are presented.

Boyles, G. B., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Multiband far-infrared observations of the NGC 6334 complex

Multiband far-infrared (20-155 microns) observations of the large H II region/molecular cloud complex NGC 6334 are presented. The observations were performed simultaneously in four bands with effective wavelengths 21, 42, 71, and 134 microns. Eight far-infrared sources were detected which cover the range from sources with little of no continuum radio emission to well-developed H II regions. Maps of dust temperature and far-infrared optical depth of the complex are presented which reveal large-scale variations in the color temperature and optical depth. Star formation in the complex is discussed and it is concluded that a Rayleigh-Taylor instability generated by the gravitational attraction of the galactic plane can explain the regular separation of the far-IR sources.

Loughran, L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A new VLSI complex integer multiplier which uses a quadratic-polynomial residue system with Fermat numbers

A quadratic-polynomial Fermat residue number system (QFNS) has been used to compute complex integer multiplications. The advantage of such a QFNS is that a complex integer multiplication requires only two integer multiplications. In this article, a new type Fermat number multiplier is developed which eliminates the initialization condition of the previous method. It is shown that the new complex multiplier can be implemented on a single VLSI chip. Such a chip is designed and fabricated in CMOS-pw technology.

Truong, T. K.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Clump 1 - An unusual molecular cloud complex near the Galactic center

The properties of the (C-12)O and (C-13)O emission from Clump I, a complex of molecular clouds which shows the largest noncircular velocities of any molecular material known in the Milky Way, are studied. Observations of the J = 1-0 rotational transitions of the above molecules are reported, and the large-scale distribution and kinematics of the molecular gas in the direction of Clump I are discussed. The small-scale structure is described based on one arcmin resolution of (C-13)O data. Physical properties of the molecular material are derived, and the dynamics of the Clump I clouds are discussed in the context of their stability against Galactic tidal forces. It is concluded that all the clouds in the complex are gravitationally bound, although their outer envelopes may be tidally disrupted by the Galactic potential. The relative motion of the clouds is qualitatively similar to giant molecular cloud complexes in spiral arms of the outer Galactic disk, but the velocities are higher.

Bania, T. M.↗