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At least 199 records · Page 11

Parallelization and Visual Analysis of Multidimensional Fields: Application to Ozone Production, Destruction, and Transport in Three Dimensions

This final report has four sections. We first describe the actual scientific results attained by our research team, followed by a description of the high performance computing research enhancing those results and prompted by the scientific tasks being undertaken. Next, we describe our research in data and program visualization motivated by the scientific research and also enabling it. Last, we comment on the indirect effects this research effort has had on our work, in terms of follow up or additional funding, student training, etc.

Schwan, Karsten↗

Reaching Broad Audiences from a Large Agency Setting

NASA’s missions, engineering accomplishments, and scientific findings have inspired generations and advanced our understanding of the world we live in. NASA’s Earth science data are acquired by various sources, including satellites, aircraft, and field measurements. Captured data, their by-products, and their visual representations developed by research teams become available within few hours after satellite overpass or processing through a variety of NASA’s imaging, mapping services, and portals. Such online services as the Global Imagery Browse Services (GIBS), Worldview, LANCE, and LAADS DAAC are freely and openly available thanks to NASA’s Earth-Observing Satellite Data and Information Systems (EOSDIS). These services provide access to products created over the last 30 years, support a broad range of users from the scientific community to the general public, and cover a multitude of applications such as basic and applied scientific research, natural hazard and disaster monitoring, and social and educational outreach. In order to illustrate the significance of the overall work, the visualization products, and the broad range of users, we present three case studies: NASA’s Black Marble Product Suite, the Global Imagery Browse Services (GIBS) and Worldview, and the scientific visualization production process to communicate results to the scientific community and the general public.

Helen-Nicole Kostis↗

Integrative visualization of the molecular structure of a cellular microdomain

Abstract An integrative approach to visualization is used to create a visual snapshot of the structural biology of the polar microdomain of Caulobacter crescentus . The visualization is based on the current state of molecular and cellular knowledge of the microdomain and its cellular context. The collaborative process of researching and executing the visualization has identified aspects that are well determined and areas that require further study. The visualization is useful for dissemination, education, and outreach, and the study lays the groundwork for future 3D modeling and simulation of this well‐studied example of a cellular condensate.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Simulator evaluation of a remotely piloted vehicle lateral landing task using a visual display

A simulator evaluation of a remotely piloted research vehicle was conducted at NASA Ames Research Center's Dryden Flight Research Facility to determine the utility of a visual display when studying the influence of changes in the lateral stick gearing gains during landing approaches. The test vehicle used in this study was a highly maneuverable aircraft technology (HiMAT) aircraft, which is a 0.44 scale version of an envisioned small, single seat fighter airplane. Handling qualities ratings and comments obtained from pilots using a simulated visual display of a runway scene and a simulated instrument landing system (ILS) display were compared with the results of actual flight tests. The visual display was found to provide an adequate representation of the test vehicle in a visual landing approach, and it improved the roll response cues provided to the pilot. The handling qualities ratings and comments for flight and simulation visual landing approaches correlated well. The ILS simulation results showed reduced correlation compared with the flight results for ILS approaches. Handling qualities criteria for remotely piloted research vehicles are also discussed in this paper.

Sarrafian, S. K.↗

Simulator evaluation of a remotely piloted vehicle lateral landing task using a visual display

A simulator evaluation of a remotely piloted research vehicle was conducted at NASA Ames Research Center's Dryden Flight Research Facility to determine the utility of a visual display when studying the influence of changes in the lateral-stick gearing gains during landing approaches. The test vehicle used in this study was a highly maneuverable aircraft technology (HiMAT) aircraft, which is a 0.44-scale version of an envisioned small, single-seat fighter airplane. Handling qualities ratings and comments obtained from pilots using a simulated visual display of a runway scene and a simulated instrument landing system (ILS) display were compared with the results of actual flight tests. The visual display was found to provide an adequate representation of the test vehicle in a visual landing approach, and it improved the roll response cues provided to the pilot. The handling qualities ratings and comments for flight and simulation visual landing approaches correlated well. The ILS simulation results showed reduced correlation compared with the flight results for ILS approaches. Handling qualities criteria for remotely piloted research vehicles are also discussed in this paper.

Sarrafian, S. K.↗

Integrating Spaceflight Human System Risk Research

NASA is working to increase the likelihoods of human health and performance success during exploration missions, and subsequent crew long-term health. To manage the risks in achieving these goals, a system modeled after a Continuous Risk Management framework is in place. "Human System Risks" (Risks) have been identified, and approximately 30 are being actively addressed by NASA's Human Research Program (HRP). Research plans for each of HRP's Risks have been developed and are being executed. Ties between the research efforts supporting each Risk have been identified, however, this has been in an ad hoc fashion. There is growing recognition that solutions developed to address the full set of Risks covering medical, physiological, behavioral, vehicle, and organizational aspects of the exploration missions must be integrated across Risks and disciplines. We will discuss how a framework of factors influencing human health and performance in space is being applied as the backbone for bringing together sometimes disparate information relevant to the individual Risks. The resulting interrelated information is allowing us to identify and visualize connections between Risks and research efforts in a systematic and standardized way. We will discuss the applications of the visualizations and insights to research planning, solicitation, and decision-making processes.

Mindock, J.↗

Visual-Motion Cueing in Altitude and Yaw Control

Research conducted using the Vertical Motion Simulator at the NASA Ames Research Center examined the contributions of platform motion and visual level-of-detail (LOD) cueing to tasks that required altitude and/or yaw control in a simulated AH-64 Apache helicopter. Within the altitude control tasks the LOD manipulation caused optical density to change across altitudes by a small, moderate, or large amount; while platform motion was either present or absent. The results from these tasks showed that both constant optical density and platform motion improved altitude awareness in an altitude repositioning task, while the presence of platform motion also led to improved performance in a vertical rate control task. The yaw control tasks had pilots'sit 4.5 ft in front of the center of rotation, thus subjecting them to both rotational and lateral motions during a yaw. The pilots were required to regulate their yaw, while the platform motion was manipulated in order to present all combinations of the resulting rotational and lateral motion components. Ratings of simulation fidelity and sensed platform motion showed that the pilots were relatively insensitive to the rotational component, but highly aware of the lateral component. Together these findings show that: 1) platform motion cues are important when speed regulation is required during altitude change; 2) platform motion contributes to the perception of movement amplitude; 3) lateral, but not rotational, motion cues are essential to the perception of vehicle yaw; and 4) LOD management yielding constant optical density across altitudes improves altitude awareness.

Johnson, Walter W.↗

Water tunnel results of leading-edge vortex flap tests on a delta wing vehicle

A water tunnel flow visualization test on leading edge vortex flaps was conducted at the flow visualization facility of the NASA Ames Research Center's Dryden Flight Research Facility. The purpose of the test was to visually examine the vortex structures caused by various leading edge vortex flaps on the delta wing of an F-106 model. The vortex flaps tested were designed analytically and empirically at the NASA Langley Research Center. The three flap designs were designated as full-span gothic flap, full-span untapered flap, and part-span flap. The test was conducted at a Reynolds number of 76,000/m (25,000/ft). This low Reynolds number was used because of the 0.076-m/s (0.25-ft/s) test section flow speed necessary for high quality flow visualization. However, this low Reynolds number may have influenced the results. Of the three vortex flaps tested, the part-span flap produced what appeared to be the strongest vortex structure over the flap area. The full-span gothic flap provided the next best performance.

Delfrate, J. H.↗

Mapping by VESGEN of Blood Vessels in the Retinas of ISS Crew Members and Bed Rest Subjects for Increased Understanding of VIIP

Research by NASA has established that significant risks for visual impairment in association with increased intracranial pressure (VIIP) are incurred by microgravity spaceflight, especially long-duration missions. Impairments include decreased near visual acuity, posterior globe flattening, choroidal folds, optic disc edema, and cotton wool spots. Much remains to be learned about the etiology of VIIP before effective countermeasures can be developed. Contributions of retinal vascular remodeling to the etiology of VIIP have not yet been investigated, primarily due to the current lack of ophthalmic tools for precisely measuring progressive pathophysiological remodeling of the retinal microvasculature. Although ophthalmic science and clinical practice are now highly sophisticated at detecting indirect, secondary signs of vascular remodeling such as cotton wool spots that arise during the progression of retinal vascular diseases, methods for quantifying direct, primary vascular changes are not yet established. To help develop insightful analysis of retinal vascular remodeling for aerospace medicine, we will map and quantify by our innovative VESsel GENeration Analysis (VESGEN) software the remodeling status of retinal blood vessels in crew members before and after ISS missions, and in healthy human subjects before and after head-down tilt bed rest. For this proof-of-concept study, we hypothesize that pathophysiological remodeling of retinal blood vessels occurs in coordination with microgravity-induced fluid shifts prior to development of visual impairments. VESGEN analysis in previous research supported by the US National Institutes of Health identified surprising new opportunities to regenerate retinal vessels during early-stage progression of the visually impairing, potentially blinding disease, diabetic retinopathy.

ISS Crew↗

F-18 high alpha research vehicle surface pressures - Initial in-flight results and correlation with flow visualization and wind-tunnel data

Flight tests with the NASA F-18 high-alpha research vehicle (HARV) have yielded pressure distributions at angles of attack from 10 to 50 deg, at Mach 0.23 to 0.6, at five fuselage forebody stations and three on the leading-edge extensions (LEXs). Correlations are made between these data and both previously obtained HARV flow visualizations and wind tunnel model test results. The general trend is one in which the forebody's maximum suction pressure peaks increase in magnitude, after their first appearance at alpha of about 19 deg, with increasing alpha. LEX pressure-distribution trends involve the inward progression of the maximum suction peaks, an increase in the magnitude of the maximum pressure peaks up to pressure core breakdown, and the decrease and general flattening of the pressure distribution beyond the LEX primary vortex breakdown.

Fisher, David F.↗

Stratified charge rotary engine - Internal flow studies at the MSU engine research laboratory

High-speed visualization and laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) systems consisting of a 40-watt copper vapor laser, mirrors, cylindrical lenses, a high speed camera, a synchronization timing system, and a particle generator were developed for the study of the fuel spray-air mixing flow characteristics within the combustion chamber of a motored rotary engine. The laser beam is focused down to a sheet approximately 1 mm thick, passing through the combustion chamber and illuminates smoke particles entrained in the intake air. The light scattered off the particles is recorded by a high speed rotating prism camera. Movies are made showing the air flow within the combustion chamber. The results of a movie showing the development of a high-speed (100 Hz) high-pressure (68.94 MPa, 10,000 psi) fuel jet are also discussed. The visualization system is synchronized so that a pulse generated by the camera triggers the laser's thyratron.

Hamady, F.↗

Review of Full-Scale F/A-18 Research at NASA Ames Research Center

Results of flow visualization and tail buffett studies conducted on a full-scale production F/A-18 fighter aircraft in the 80- by 120-Foot Wind Tunnel of the National Full-Scale Aerodynamic Complex are presented. Test conditions range between 20 degrees and 40 degrees angle of attack, 16 degrees and -16 degrees side-slip angle, and up to a Mach number of 0.15 (corresponding to a Reynolds number of 12.3 x 10(exp 6) based on mean aerodynamic chord). Flow visualization results include both surface and off-surface techniques that examine forebody, canopy, leading-edge extension, and wing flow fields. Unsteady pressures measured at 96 locations on the port tail fin are used to determine the effect of a removable leading-edge extension fence on tail buffet loads at high angle of attack. Analyses and comparisons include tail fin bending moment and wave velocities on the tail surface. Repeatability and scaling issues are assessed through comparison with measurements from previous full-scale tests and several small-scales tests.

Olson, Lawrence E.↗

Computer-Graphical Visualization Of Flow Fields

Report discusses state of art of visualization of flow fields by means of computer graphics. Describes recent trends, problems, and limitations of current equipment and computer programs in general and focuses on approach used at Ames Research Center to create visual displays.

Watson, Val↗

Evaluation of force-torque displays for use with space station telerobotic activities

Recent experiments which addressed Space Station remote manipulation tasks found that tactile force feedback (reflecting forces and torques encountered at the end-effector through the manipulator hand controller) does not improve performance significantly. Subjective response from astronaut and non-astronaut test subjects indicated that force information, provided visually, could be useful. No research exists which specifically investigates methods of presenting force-torque information visually. This experiment was designed to evaluate seven different visual force-torque displays which were found in an informal telephone survey. The displays were prototyped in the HyperCard programming environment. In a within-subjects experiment, 14 subjects nullified forces and torques presented statically, using response buttons located at the bottom of the screen. Dependent measures included questionnaire data, errors, and response time. Subjective data generally demonstrate that subjects rated variations of pseudo-perspective displays consistently better than bar graph and digital displays. Subjects commented that the bar graph and digital displays could be used, but were not compatible with using hand controllers. Quantitative data show similar trends to the subjective data, except that the bar graph and digital displays both provided good performance, perhaps do to the mapping of response buttons to display elements. Results indicate that for this set of displays, the pseudo-perspective displays generally represent a more intuitive format for presenting force-torque information.

Hendrich, Robert C.↗

Visualization of the flow about a delta wing maneuvering in pitch to very high angle of attack

An experimental program of unsteady aerodynamic measurements has been carried out in one of the 7 ft by 10 ft low-speed wind tunnels at NASA Ames Research Center. Flow-visualization measurements on a delta wing model of AR = 1.0 with sharp leading edges were carried out by means of a thin planar sheet of laser light fixed in the test section at a convenient angle to the flow direction. Smoke images of the fluid motion and vortex structure above the model were recorded photographically and later analyzed to determine such information as the positions of the cores and occurrence of bursting. Large amplitude transient motion involving post stall angle of attack excursions produced significant hysteresis in the vortex burst location and was reflected in the measured aerodynamic loads.

Jarrah, M. A. M.↗

Helium bubble flow visualization of the spanwise separation on a NACA 0012 with simulated glaze ice

Research has been performed to experimentally visualize and document the flow separation due to simulated glaze ice accretion on a NACA 0012 semispan with 30-deg sweep using helium bubbles as flow tracers. Results are compared to Navier-Stokes computational simulations for different angles of attack. Prior to acquiring data for the semispan model, a two-dimensional experiment was conducted to determine the accuracy of using the helium bubbles as flow tracers. Results from the 3D experiment compare well to the computational simulations.

Kerho, M.↗

An Interdisciplinary Method for the Visualization of Novel High-Resolution Precision Photography and Micro-XCT Data Sets of NASA's Apollo Lunar Samples and Antarctic Meteorite Samples to Create Combined Research-Grade 3D Virtual Samples for the Benefit of Astromaterials Collections Conservation, Curation, Scientific Research and Education

New technologies make possible the advancement of documentation and visualization practices that can enhance conservation and curation protocols for NASA's Astromaterials Collections. With increasing demands for accessibility to updated comprehensive data, and with new sample return missions on the horizon, it is of primary importance to develop new standards for contemporary documentation and visualization methodologies. Our interdisciplinary team has expertise in the fields of heritage conservation practices, professional photography, photogrammetry, imaging science, application engineering, data curation, geoscience, and astromaterials curation. Our objective is to create virtual 3D reconstructions of Apollo Lunar and Antarctic Meteorite samples that are a fusion of two state-of-the-art data sets: the interior view of the sample by collecting Micro-XCT data and the exterior view of the sample by collecting high-resolution precision photography data. These new data provide researchers an information-rich visualization of both compositional and textural information prior to any physical sub-sampling. Since January 2013 we have developed a process that resulted in the successful creation of the first image-based 3D reconstruction of an Apollo Lunar Sample correlated to a 3D reconstruction of the same sample's Micro- XCT data, illustrating that this technique is both operationally possible and functionally beneficial. In May of 2016 we began a 3-year research period during which we aim to produce Virtual Astromaterials Samples for 60 high-priority Apollo Lunar and Antarctic Meteorite samples and serve them on NASA's Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation website. Our research demonstrates that research-grade Virtual Astromaterials Samples are beneficial in preserving for posterity a precise 3D reconstruction of the sample prior to sub-sampling, which greatly improves documentation practices, provides unique and novel visualization of the sample's interior and exterior features, offers scientists a preliminary research tool for targeted sub-sample requests, and additionally is a visually engaging interactive tool for bringing astromaterials science to the public.

Blumenfeld, E. H.↗