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At least 235 records · Page 13

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NASA NTRS1997

UFLIC: A Line Integral Convolution Algorithm for Visualizing Unsteady Flows

This paper presents an algorithm, UFLIC (Unsteady Flow LIC), to visualize vector data in unsteady flow fields. Using the Line Integral Convolution (LIC) as the underlying method, a new convolution algorithm is proposed that can effectively trace the flow's global features over time. The new algorithm consists of a time-accurate value depositing scheme and a successive feed-forward method. The value depositing scheme accurately models the flow advection, and the successive feed-forward method maintains the coherence between animation frames. Our new algorithm can produce time-accurate, highly coherent flow animations to highlight global features in unsteady flow fields. CFD scientists, for the first time, are able to visualize unsteady surface flows using our algorithm.

Shen, Han-Wei↗

NASA NTRS2008

Application of an Ensemble Smoother to Precipitation Assimilation

Assimilation of precipitation in a global modeling system poses a special challenge in that the observation operators for precipitation processes are highly nonlinear. In the variational approach, substantial development work and model simplifications are required to include precipitation-related physical processes in the tangent linear model and its adjoint. An ensemble based data assimilation algorithm "Maximum Likelihood Ensemble Smoother (MLES)" has been developed to explore the ensemble representation of the precipitation observation operator with nonlinear convection and large-scale moist physics. An ensemble assimilation system based on the NASA GEOS-5 GCM has been constructed to assimilate satellite precipitation data within the MLES framework. The configuration of the smoother takes the time dimension into account for the relationship between state variables and observable rainfall. The full nonlinear forward model ensembles are used to represent components involving the observation operator and its transpose. Several assimilation experiments using satellite precipitation observations have been carried out to investigate the effectiveness of the ensemble representation of the nonlinear observation operator and the data impact of assimilating rain retrievals from the TMI and SSM/I sensors. Preliminary results show that this ensemble assimilation approach is capable of extracting information from nonlinear observations to improve the analysis and forecast if ensemble size is adequate, and a suitable localization scheme is applied. In addition to a dynamically consistent precipitation analysis, the assimilation system produces a statistical estimate of the analysis uncertainty.

Zhang, Sara↗

NASA NTRS2009

Discrete Adjoint-Based Design Optimization of Unsteady Turbulent Flows on Dynamic Unstructured Grids

An adjoint-based methodology for design optimization of unsteady turbulent flows on dynamic unstructured grids is described. The implementation relies on an existing unsteady three-dimensional unstructured grid solver capable of dynamic mesh simulations and discrete adjoint capabilities previously developed for steady flows. The discrete equations for the primal and adjoint systems are presented for the backward-difference family of time-integration schemes on both static and dynamic grids. The consistency of sensitivity derivatives is established via comparisons with complex-variable computations. The current work is believed to be the first verified implementation of an adjoint-based optimization methodology for the true time-dependent formulation of the Navier-Stokes equations in a practical computational code. Large-scale shape optimizations are demonstrated for turbulent flows over a tiltrotor geometry and a simulated aeroelastic motion of a fighter jet.

Nielsen, Eric J.↗

NASA NTRS2014

The Seasonal Cycle of Water Vapour on Mars from Assimilation of Thermal Emission Spectrometer Data

We present for the first time an assimilation of Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) water vapour column data into a Mars global climate model (MGCM). We discuss the seasonal cycle of water vapour, the processes responsible for the observed water vapour distribution, and the cross-hemispheric water transport. The assimilation scheme is shown to be robust in producing consistent reanalyses, and the global water vapour column error is reduced to around 2-4 pr micron depending on season. Wave activity is shown to play an important role in the water vapour distribution, with topographically steered flows around the Hellas and Argyre basins acting to increase transport in these regions in all seasons. At high northern latitudes, zonal wavenumber 1 and 2 stationary waves during northern summer are responsible for spreading the sublimed water vapour away from the pole. Transport by the zonal wavenumber 2 waves occurs primarily to the west of Tharsis and Arabia Terra and, combined with the effects of western boundary currents, this leads to peak water vapour column abundances here as observed by numerous spacecraft. A net transport of water to the northern hemisphere over the course of one Mars year is calculated, primarily because of the large northwards flux of water vapour which occurs during the local dust storm around L(sub S) = 240-260deg. Finally, outlying frost deposits that surround the north polar cap are shown to be important in creating the peak water vapour column abundances observed during northern summer.

Thermal Emission Spectrometer↗

NASA NTRS1991

The chemical composition of the dust-free Martian atmosphere - Preliminary results of a two-dimensional model

This paper describes a two-dimensional model of the Martian atmosphere, in which chemical, radiative and dynamical processes are treated interactively. The model is developed for a carbon dioxide-hydrogen-oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere and provides estimates of concentrations for 19 chemical species. The dynamical equations are expressed in the transformed Eulerian coordinates. The wave driving and eddy mixing coefficients resulting from gravity and Rossby wave absorption are computed consistently with the evolving distribution of the mean zonal wind. The net diabatic heating/cooling rate is derived from a detailed radiative scheme including the contributions of CO2, O3, H2O and O2, and is computed consistently with the calculated distribution of temperature and trace species quantities. The computed temperature field as well as the meridional and seasonal variations of ozone column abundance are in good agreement with the distributions observed by Mariner 9 and Viking spacecrafts and the results obtained by previous studies. The present version of the model does not include the effects of dust, clouds and polar hood and only the chemistry in a dust-free atmosphere is considered.

Moreau, D.↗

NASA NTRS2002

Self-Consistent Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling and Associated Plasma Energization Processes

Magnetosphere-Ionosphere (MI) coupling and associated with this process electron and ion energization processes have interested scientists for decades and, in spite of experimental and theoretical research efforts, are still ones of the least well known dynamic processes in space plasma physics. The reason for this is that the numerous physical processes associated with MI coupling occur over multiple spatial lengths and temporal scales. One typical example of MI coupling is large scale ring current (RC) electrodynamic coupling that includes calculation of the magnetospheric electric field that is consistent with the ring current (RC) distribution. A general scheme for numerical simulation of such large-scale magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling processes has been presented earlier in many works. The mathematical formulation of these models are based on "modified frozen-in flux theorem" for an ensemble of adiabatically drifting particles in the magnetosphere. By tracking the flow of particles through the inner magnetosphere, the bounce-averaged phase space density of the hot ions and electrons can be reconstructed and the magnetospheric electric field can be calculated such that it is consistent with the particle distribution in the magnetosphere. The new a self-consistent ring current model has been developed that couples electron and ion magnetospheric dynamics with calculation of electric field. Two new features were taken into account in addition to the RC ions, we solve an electron kinetic equation in our model, self-consistently including these results in the solution. Second, using different analytical relationships, we calculate the height integrated ionospheric conductances as the function of precipitated high energy magnetospheric electrons and ions as produced by our model. This results in fundamental changes to the electric potential pattern in the inner magnetosphere, with a smaller Alfven boundary than previous potential formulations would predict but one consistent with recent satellite observations. This leads to deeper penetration of the plasma sheet ions and electrons into the inner magnetosphere and more effective ring current ions and electron energization.

Khazanov, G. V.↗

NASA NTRS1978

The artificial compression method for computation of shocks and contact discontinuities. III - Self-adjusting hybrid schemes

This paper presents a new computational method for the calculation of discontinuous solutions of hyperbolic systems of conservation laws, which deal effectively with both shock and contact discontinuities. The method consists of two stages: in the first stage a standard finite-difference scheme is hybridized with a nonoscillatory first order accurate method to provide for the monotonic variation of the solution near discontinuities, and in the second stage artificial compression is applied to sharpen transitions at discontinuities. This modification of a standard finite-difference method results in a scheme which preserves the order of truncation error of the original method and yet yields a sharp and oscillation free transition for both shocks and contact discontinuities. The modification can be easily implemented in existing computer codes.

Harten, A.↗

NASA NTRS1993

An investigation of error characteristics and coding performance

The first year's effort on NASA Grant NAG5-2006 was an investigation to characterize typical errors resulting from the EOS dorn link. The analysis methods developed for this effort were used on test data from a March 1992 White Sands Terminal Test. The effectiveness of a concatenated coding scheme of a Reed Solomon outer code and a convolutional inner code versus a Reed Solomon only code scheme has been investigated as well as the effectiveness of a Periodic Convolutional Interleaver in dispersing errors of certain types. The work effort consisted of development of software that allows simulation studies with the appropriate coding schemes plus either simulated data with errors or actual data with errors. The software program is entitled Communication Link Error Analysis (CLEAN) and models downlink errors, forward error correcting schemes, and interleavers.

Ebel, William J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Experimental Development of a Failure Detection Scheme for Large Space Structures

Large flexible spacecraft may require control systems consisting of large numbers of sensors and actuators. To assure a viable mission, the control system should tolerate failures of some of the control components. Hence, it is desirable to automate the process of failure detection, identification, and control system reconfiguration (FDI&R). Some of the opportunities to accommodate failure in the spacecraft design are reviewed. Some methods for FDI&R are presented in overview, and the method chosen for experimental testing is described. Finally, the experimental activities leading to the validation of the technique are presented.

Montgomery, R. C.↗

NASA NTRS1982

A scheme for tracking and pointing at small celestial bodies during high velocity encounters

A scheme has been developed and verified for closed-loop tracking and pointing space-borne science instruments at small celestial bodies, such as comets and asteroids, during high velocity encounters. To overcome ephemeris uncertainties for these bodies, the scheme involves sequential estimation of flyby model parameters. The design consists of a two-axis gimballed platform mounted on a three-axis stabilized spacecraft. A platform-mounted optical tracker provides closed-loop target measurements and precision micro-step actuators enable high-rate platform slewing. For comet missions which involve dust particle impact disturbances, a dual-mode attitude control scheme is presented for minimizing transient response time.

Burdick, G. M.↗

NASA NTRS1988

A multiprocessing architecture for real-time monitoring

A multitasking architecture for performing real-time monitoring and analysis using knowledge-based problem solving techniques is described. To handle asynchronous inputs and perform in real time, the system consists of three or more distributed processes which run concurrently and communicate via a message passing scheme. The Data Management Process acquires, compresses, and routes the incoming sensor data to other processes. The Inference Process consists of a high performance inference engine that performs a real-time analysis on the state and health of the physical system. The I/O Process receives sensor data from the Data Management Process and status messages and recommendations from the Inference Process, updates its graphical displays in real time, and acts as the interface to the console operator. The distributed architecture has been interfaced to an actual spacecraft (NASA's Hubble Space Telescope) and is able to process the incoming telemetry in real-time (i.e., several hundred data changes per second). The system is being used in two locations for different purposes: (1) in Sunnyville, California at the Space Telescope Test Control Center it is used in the preflight testing of the vehicle; and (2) in Greenbelt, Maryland at NASA/Goddard it is being used on an experimental basis in flight operations for health and safety monitoring.

Schmidt, James L.↗

NASA NTRS1989

A parallel finite-difference method for computational aerodynamics

A finite-difference scheme for solving complex three-dimensional aerodynamic flow on parallel-processing supercomputers is presented. The method consists of a basic flow solver with multigrid convergence acceleration, embedded grid refinements, and a zonal equation scheme. Multitasking and vectorization have been incorporated into the algorithm. Results obtained include multiprocessed flow simulations from the Cray X-MP and Cray-2. Speedups as high as 3.3 for the two-dimensional case and 3.5 for segments of the three-dimensional case have been achieved on the Cray-2. The entire solver attained a factor of 2.7 improvement over its unitasked version on the Cray-2. The performance of the parallel algorithm on each machine is analyzed.

Swisshelm, Julie M.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Vector Quantization With Emergent Codebook Structure

Proposed scheme under development for transmission of vector-quantized digital video images, vector quantizer codebook updated to adapt quantizer to changing signal statistics. Intended to be realized with electronic neural network. Codebook, which consists of patterns constituting video images, will undergo training during operation and scheme will develop codebooks ordered during training. System enables coding more compact, more immune to noise, and supports variable rate compression.

Ahalt, Stanley C.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Algorithms for the Euler and Navier-Stokes equations for supercomputers

The steady state Euler and Navier-Stokes equations are considered for both compressible and incompressible flow. Methods are found for accelerating the convergence to a steady state. This acceleration is based on preconditioning the system so that it is no longer time consistent. In order that the acceleration technique be scheme-independent, this preconditioning is done at the differential equation level. Applications are presented for very slow flows and also for the incompressible equations.

Turkel, E.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Identification and control of structures in space

Work during the period January 1 to June 30, 1985 has concentrated on the completion of the derivation of the equations of motion for the Spacecraft Control Laboratory Experiment (SCOLE) as well on the development of a control scheme for the maneuvering of the spacecraft. The report consists of a paper presented at the Fifth Symposium on Dynamics and Control of Large Structures, June 12 to 14, 1985 at Blacksburg, VA.

Meirovitch, L.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Evidence for structural stacking and repetition in the greenstones of the Kalgoorlie district, western Australia

Most previous stratigraphic interpretations of the southern part of the Norseman-Wiluna Greenstone Belt have proposed polycyclic sequences. These invoked two and sometimes three successive suites of mafic and/or ultimafic volcanics and intrusives separated by felsic volcanics and immature clastic sediments, however no distinctive lithological differences were reported between successive mafic-ultramaic sequences. When interpretations of the area further to the north are integrated, a total of four separate major mafic-ultramafic uites emerges for a large part of the Norseman-Wiluna Belt. Although the author does not intent to imply that all polycyclic stratigraphies are wrong in principle such a situation seems suspiciously over-complex and stimulates the need to look critically at the individual areas where the stratigraphies have seen erected. For the Kalgoorlie area in the south, some of the schemes have already provoked scepticism and a simpler model consisting of one cycle subject to structural repetition has been evolved by workers in the Geological Survey of Western Australia for part of this area. The latter drew attention to the carbon copy similarity between the elements of some polycyclic stratigraphies. Much more regionally extensive integrated structural and stratigraphic data is still required to evaluate the relationship between structure and stratigraphy more fully, an objective substantially limited by poor outcrop and deep weathering, but with due effort, far from unattainable.

Martyn, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Algorithms for the Euler and Navier-Stokes equations for supercomputers

Turkel, E.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Three dimensional unstructured multigrid for the Euler equations

The three dimensional Euler equations are solved on unstructured tetrahedral meshes using a multigrid strategy. The driving algorithm consists of an explicit vertex-based finite element scheme, which employs an edge-based data structure to assemble the residuals. The multigrid approach employs a sequence of independently generated coarse and fine meshes to accelerate the convergence to steady-state of the fine grid solution. Variables, residuals and corrections are passed back and forth between the various grids of the sequence using linear interpolation. The addresses and weights for interpolation are determined in a preprocessing stage using linear interpolation. The addresses and weights for interpolation are determined in a preprocessing stage using an efficient graph traversal algorithm. The preprocessing operation is shown to require a negligible fraction of the CPU time required by the overall solution procedure, while gains in overall solution efficiencies greater than an order of magnitude are demonstrated on meshes containing up to 350,000 vertices. Solutions using globally regenerated fine meshes as well as adaptively refined meshes are given.

Mavriplis, D. J.↗