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At least 235 records · Page 13

Structural Certification of Human-Rated Inflatable Space Structures

This paper details the results of an initial study to develop a certification plan for human-rated inflatable space structures, including guidelines for qualification testing. Habitable softgoods inflatables are multi-layered shell structures that use high-strength webbing, cordage and broadcloth fabric to carry the skin loads of a variety of volumetric shapes and structural architectures. The primary objectives of this study are to define the key parameters that affect these structures and propose a statistically robust approach to defining safety and knockdown factors based on test and analysis. Current NASA standards for habitable inflatable space structures use a factor of safety of 4, which was inherited from airship design criteria. An updated approach to defining a design factor, taking into account material strength variability, load variability in the article, number of test samples, and damage and degradation effects is specified. Accurate analytical modeling of these structures is hindered by the difficulty of obtaining accurate and consistent material data due to load-history- dependent, nonlinear load versus strain behavior. A building block approach to certification is detailed that uses stochastic modeling and statistical test design and analysis to address the unique challenges these high-strength softgoods structures present. Human-rated inflatable modules are a transformative capability for launching much larger habitable volumes into space than is possible with rigid shell structures. This research aims to provide the framework for certifying these structures for future human space exploration missions.

Jones, Thomas C.↗

Analytical Methods in Vibrations.

Book on analytical methods in vibrations covering general mathematical formulations of common features of various vibrating systems

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS↗

Modeling of the geosynchronous plasma environment

An analytic simulation of the geosynchronous environment in terms of local time and the daily A sub P index is presented. The simulation is compared with actual statistical data from approximately 50 days of ATS 5 plasma data and 50 days of ATS 6 plasma data. At low levels of activity the model adequately simulates the local time variations of the plasma parameters. At high values of geomagnetic activity, the predicted magnitudes of the plasma parameters agree with the statistical results but the effects of multiple injections are evident in both the data and the simulation, biasing the local time variations.

Garrett, H. B.↗

Fan noise caused by the ingestion of anisotropic turbulence - A model based on axisymmetric turbulence theory

An analytical model of fan noise caused by inflow turbulence, a generalization of earlier work by Mani, is presented. Axisymmetric turbulence theory is used to develop a statistical representation of the inflow turbulence valid for a wide range of turbulence properties. Both the dipole source due to rotor blade unsteady forces and the quadrupole source resulting from the interaction of the turbulence with the rotor potential field are considered. The effects of variations in turbulence properties and fan operating conditions are evaluated. For turbulence axial integral length scales much larger than the blade spacing, the spectrum is shown to consist of sharp peaks at the blade passing frequency and its harmonics, with negligible broadband content. The analysis can then be simplified considerably and the total sound power contained within each spectrum peak becomes independent of axial length scale, while the width of the peak is inversely proportional to this parameter. Large axial length scales are characteristic of static fan test facilities, where the transverse contraction of the inlet flow produces highly anisotropic turbulence. In this situation, the rotor/turbulence interaction noise is mainly caused by the transverse component of turbulent velocity.

Kerschen, E. J.↗

Chemical Analysis of Primitive Objects Using a Slitless Ultraviolet Meteor Spectrometer (CAPO-SUMS)

Measure the elemental composition in both random meteors and in the bolides forming specific meteor streams (these are traceable to specific small bodies in the solar system). These will yield the average chemical composition and degree of chemical variability in a statistically significant number of planetesimals. CAPO-SUMS is functionally equivalent to a series of multiple, small-body sample analysis missions, but provides much more analytical capability than is possible on any orbital or flyby mission due to the vaporization, ionization and ultraviolet emission from the ablating bolide as it enters the atmosphere. CAPO-SUMS will provide a chemical context from which the detailed analytical studies provided by a cometary or asteroidal lander mission can be interpreted.

Nuth, J. A.↗

Mshpy23: A User-Friendly, Parameterized Model of Magnetosheath Conditions

Lunar Environment heliospheric X-ray Imager (LEXI) and Solar wind – Magnetosphere - Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) will observe magnetosheath and its boundary motion in soft X-rays for understanding magnetopause reconnection modes under varioussolar wind conditions after their respective launches in 2024 and 2025. Magnetosheath conditions, namely, plasma density, velocity, and temperature, are key parameters for predicting and analyzing soft X-ray images from the LEXI and SMILE missions. We developed a user-friendly model of magnetosheath that parameterizes number density, velocity, temperature, and magnetic field by utilizing the global Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) model as well as the pre-existing gas-dynamic and analytic models. Using this parameterized magnetosheath model, scientists can easily reconstruct expected soft X-ray images and utilize them for analysis of observed images of LEXI and SMILE without simulating the complicated global magnetosphere models. First, we created an MHD based magnetosheath model by running a total of 14 OpenGGCM global MHD simulations under 7 solar wind densities (1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30cm−3) and 2 interplanetary magnetic field BZ components (± 4nT), and then parameterizing the results in new magnetosheath conditions. We compared the magnetosheath model result with THEMIS statistical data and it showed good agreement with a weighted Pearson correlation coefficient greater than 0.77, especially for plasma density and plasma velocity. Second, we compiled a suite of magnetosheath models incorporating previous magnetosheath models (gas-dynamic, analytic), and did two case studies to test the performance. The MHD based model was comparable to or better than the previous models while providing self consistency among the magnetosheath parameters. Third, we constructed a tool to calculate a soft X-ray image from any given vantage point, which can support the planning and data analysis of the aforementioned LEXI and SMILE missions. A release of the code has been uploaded to a Github repository.

Magnetosheath↗

Analysis of a Rocket Based Combined Cycle Engine during Rocket Only Operation

The all rocket mode of operation is a critical factor in the overall performance of a rocket based combined cycle (RBCC) vehicle. However, outside of performing experiments or a full three dimensional analysis, there are no first order parametric models to estimate performance. As a result, an axisymmetric RBCC engine was used to analytically determine specific impulse efficiency values based upon both full flow and gas generator configurations. Design of experiments methodology was used to construct a test matrix and statistical regression analysis was used to build parametric models. The main parameters investigated in this study were: rocket chamber pressure, rocket exit area ratio, percent of injected secondary flow, mixer-ejector inlet area, mixer-ejector area ratio, and mixer-ejector length-to-inject diameter ratio. A perfect gas computational fluid dynamics analysis was performed to obtain values of vacuum specific impulse. Statistical regression analysis was performed based on both full flow and gas generator engine cycles. Results were also found to be dependent upon the entire cycle assumptions. The statistical regression analysis determined that there were five significant linear effects, six interactions, and one second-order effect. Two parametric models were created to provide performance assessments of an RBCC engine in the all rocket mode of operation.

Smith, T. D.↗

Statistics of primordial density perturbations from discrete seed masses

The statistics of density perturbations for general distributions of seed masses with arbitrary matter accretion is examined. Formal expressions for the power spectrum, the N-point correlation functions, and the density distribution function are derived. These results are applied to the case of uncorrelated seed masses, and power spectra are derived for accretion of both hot and cold dark matter plus baryons. The reduced moments (cumulants) of the density distribution are computed and used to obtain a series expansion for the density distribution function. Analytic results are obtained for the density distribution function in the case of a distribution of seed masses with a spherical top-hat accretion pattern. More generally, the formalism makes it possible to give a complete characterization of the statistical properties of any random field generated from a discrete linear superposition of kernels. In particular, the results can be applied to density fields derived by smoothing a discrete set of points with a window function.

Scherrer, Robert J.↗

A stochastic-dynamic model for global atmospheric mass field statistics

A model that yields the spatial correlation structure of atmospheric mass field forecast errors was developed. The model is governed by the potential vorticity equation forced by random noise. Expansion in spherical harmonics and correlation function was computed analytically using the expansion coefficients. The finite difference equivalent was solved using a fast Poisson solver and the correlation function was computed using stratified sampling of the individual realization of F(omega) and hence of phi(omega). A higher order equation for gamma was derived and solved directly in finite differences by two successive applications of the fast Poisson solver. The methods were compared for accuracy and efficiency and the third method was chosen as clearly superior. The results agree well with the latitude dependence of observed atmospheric correlation data. The value of the parameter c sub o which gives the best fit to the data is close to the value expected from dynamical considerations.

Ghil, M.↗

Viscous-inviscid aerodynamic analysis of two-dimensional thrust augmentors

A theory for the computation of two-dimensional thrust augmentor performance is developed. The flow field is assumed to be incompressible, of uniform density and statistically steady. The flow in and around the augmentor is assumed to consist of an outer, inviscid part and an inner, viscous part. The outer field is calculated analytically and then matched with the inner, viscous field, which is computed by means of integral methods. This form of analysis leads to a simple and economical approach, particularly useful for conducting parametric studies. The theoretical results are compared with recently acquired experimental data.

Tavella, D. A.↗

Implementation of Insight Responsibilities in Process Engineering

This report describes an approach for evaluating flight readiness (COFR) and contractor performance evaluation (award fee) as part of the insight role of NASA Process Engineering at Kennedy Space Center. Several evaluation methods are presented, including systems engineering evaluations and use of systems performance data. The transition from an oversight function to the insight function is described. The types of analytical tools appropriate for achieving the flight readiness and contractor performance evaluation goals are described and examples are provided. Special emphasis is placed upon short and small run statistical quality control techniques. Training requirements for system engineers are delineated. The approach described herein would be equally appropriate in other directorates at Kennedy Space Center.

Osborne, Deborah M.↗

An Operator Method for Field Moments from the Extended Parabolic Wave Equation and Analytical Solutions of the First and Second Moments for Atmospheric Electromagnetic Wave Propagation

The extended wide-angle parabolic wave equation applied to electromagnetic wave propagation in random media is considered. A general operator equation is derived which gives the statistical moments of an electric field of a propagating wave. This expression is used to obtain the first and second order moments of the wave field and solutions are found that transcend those which incorporate the full paraxial approximation at the outset. Although these equations can be applied to any propagation scenario that satisfies the conditions of application of the extended parabolic wave equation, the example of propagation through atmospheric turbulence is used. It is shown that in the case of atmospheric wave propagation and under the Markov approximation (i.e., the delta-correlation of the fluctuations in the direction of propagation), the usual parabolic equation in the paraxial approximation is accurate even at millimeter wavelengths. The comprehensive operator solution also allows one to obtain expressions for the longitudinal (generalized) second order moment. This is also considered and the solution for the atmospheric case is obtained and discussed. The methodology developed here can be applied to any qualifying situation involving random propagation through turbid or plasma environments that can be represented by a spectral density of permittivity fluctuations.

Manning, Robert M.↗

Advanced statistical methods for improved data analysis of NASA astrophysics missions

The investigators under this grant studied ways to improve the statistical analysis of astronomical data. They looked at existing techniques, the development of new techniques, and the production and distribution of specialized software to the astronomical community. Abstracts of nine papers that were produced are included, as well as brief descriptions of four software packages. The articles that are abstracted discuss analytical and Monte Carlo comparisons of six different linear least squares fits, a (second) paper on linear regression in astronomy, two reviews of public domain software for the astronomer, subsample and half-sample methods for estimating sampling distributions, a nonparametric estimation of survival functions under dependent competing risks, censoring in astronomical data due to nondetections, an astronomy survival analysis computer package called ASURV, and improving the statistical methodology of astronomical data analysis.

Feigelson, Eric D.↗

Coordination procedure for radio relay and communication satellite services

A global rain rate statistic model is used to link microwave propagation statistics to measurable rain statistics in order to develop international telecommunication site criteria for radio relay and communication satellite services that minimize interference between receivers and transmitters. This rain coordination procedure utilizes a rain storm cell size, a statistical description of the rainfall rate within the cell valid for most of the earth's surface, approximations between Raleigh scatter and constancy of precipitation with altitude, and an analytic relation between radar reflectivity and rain rate.

Eckerman, J.↗

Multispectral data acquisition and classification - Statistical models for system design

In this paper we relate the statistical processes that are involved in multispectral data acquisition and classification to a simple radiometric model of the earth surface and atmosphere. If generalized, these formulations could provide an analytical link between the steadily improving models of our environment and the performance characteristics of rapidly advancing device technology. This link is needed to bring system analysis tools to the task of optimizing remote sensing and (real-time) signal processing systems as a function of target and atmospheric properties, remote sensor spectral bands and system topology (e.g., image-plane processing), radiometric sensitivity and calibration accuracy, compensation for imaging conditions (e.g., atmospheric effects), and classification rates and errors.

Huck, F. O.↗

Cloud temperatures from ammonia observations

In association with an ammonia survey of the southern Galaxy (Peters et al., 1986), a search was made for improved analytical formulas to expedite the data analysis. Semi-empirical formulas are presented which relate the kinetic temperature of a molecular cloud to the kinetic temperature used in full statistical equilibrium calculations. The formulas can be used in a simple way to improve the estimate of the kinetic temperature obtained from ammonia observations.

Kuiper, T. B. H.↗

An investigation of the 'Overlap' between the Statistical-Discrete-Gust and the Power-Spectral-Density analysis methods

This paper presents the results of a NASA investigation of a claimed 'Overlap' between two gust response analysis methods: the Statistical Discrete Gust (SDG) method and the Power Spectral Density (PSD) method. The claim is that the ratio of an SDG response to the corresponding PSD response is 10.4. Analytical results presented in this paper for several different airplanes at several different flight conditions indicate that such an 'Overlap' does appear to exist. However, the claim was not met precisely: a scatter of up to about 10 percent about the 10.4 factor can be expected.

Perry, Boyd, III↗

Formation of on-site normal points

We describe our methods of fitting a smoothing function to observational range differences from a predicted orbit, by deducing corrections to the orbit in the radial and along-track directions. The method has been used on observations of a variety of satellites, and using predicted orbits computed both by numerical integration using IRV's as starting values and analytically from orbital elements. The along-track corrections to the predicted orbit have been successfully used in the form of time biases to improve subsequent predictions, and a statistical test has been devised to ensure that the range residuals may be used to form unbiased quick look normal points.

Appleby, G. M.↗