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At least 271 records · Page 15

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NASA NTRS1992

Structural dynamics and vibrations of damped, aircraft-type structures

Engineering preliminary design methods for approximating and predicting the effects of viscous or equivalent viscous-type damping treatments on the free and forced vibration of lightly damped aircraft-type structures are developed. Similar developments are presented for dynamic hysteresis viscoelastic-type damping treatments. It is shown by both engineering analysis and numerical illustrations that the intermodal coupling of the undamped modes arising from the introduction of damping may be neglected in applying these preliminary design methods, except when dissimilar modes of these lightly damped, complex aircraft-type structures have identical or nearly identical natural frequencies. In such cases, it is shown that a relatively simple, additional interaction calculation between pairs of modes exhibiting this 'modal response' phenomenon suffices in the prediction of interacting modal damping fractions. The accuracy of the methods is shown to be very good to excellent, depending on the normal natural frequency separation of the system modes, thereby permitting a relatively simple preliminary design approach. This approach is shown to be a natural precursor to elaborate finite element, digital computer design computations in evaluating the type, quantity, and location of damping treatment.

Young, Maurice I.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Satellite Delivery of Aviation Weather Data

With aviation traffic continuing to increase worldwide, reducing the aviation accident rate and aviation schedule delays is of critical importance. In the United States, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has established the Aviation Safety Program and the Aviation System Capacity Program to develop and test new technologies to increase aviation safety and system capacity. Weather is a significant contributor to aviation accidents and schedule delays. The timely dissemination of weather information to decision makers in the aviation system, particularly to pilots, is essential in reducing system delays and weather related aviation accidents. The NASA Glenn Research Center is investigating improved methods of weather information dissemination through satellite broadcasting directly to aircraft. This paper describes an on-going cooperative research program with NASA, Rockwell Collins, WorldSpace, Jeppesen and American Airlines to evaluate the use of satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) for low cost broadcast of aviation weather information, called Satellite Weather Information Service (SWIS). The description and results of the completed SWIS Phase 1 are presented, and the description of the on-going SWIS Phase 2 is given.

Kerczewski, Robert J.↗

NASA NTRS2002

Testbed for development of a DSP-based signal processing subsystem for an Earth-orbiting radar scatterometer

A testbed for evaluation of general-purpose digital signal processors in earth-orbiting radar scatterometers is discussed. Because general purpose DSP represents a departure from previous radar signal processing techniques used on scatterometers, there was a need to demonstrate key elements of the system to verify feasibility for potential future scatterometer instruments. Construction of the testbed also facilitated identification of an appropriate software development environment and the skills mix necessary to perform the work.

digitial signal processing↗

NASA NTRS2011

Insect Residue Contamination on Wing Leading Edge Surfaces: A Materials Investigation for Mitigation

Flight tests have shown that residue from insect strikes on aircraft wing leading edge surfaces may induce localized transition of laminar to turbulent flow. The highest density of insect populations have been observed between ground level and 153 m during light winds (2.6 -- 5.1 m/s), high humidity, and temperatures from 21 -- 29 C. At a critical residue height, dependent on the airfoil and Reynolds number, boundary layer transition from laminar to turbulent results in increased drag and fuel consumption. Although this represents a minimal increase in fuel burn for conventional transport aircraft, future aircraft designs will rely on maintaining laminar flow across a larger portion of wing surfaces to reduce fuel burn during cruise. Thus, insect residue adhesion mitigation is most critical during takeoff and initial climb to maintain laminar flow in fuel-efficient aircraft configurations. Several exterior treatments investigated to mitigate insect residue buildup (e.g., paper, scrapers, surfactants, flexible surfaces) have shown potential; however, implementation has proven to be impractical. Current research is focused on evaluation of wing leading edge surface coatings that may reduce insect residue adhesion. Initial work under NASA's Environmentally Responsible Aviation Program focused on evaluation of several commercially available products (commercial off-the-shelf, COTS), polymers, and substituted alkoxy silanes that were applied to aluminum (Al) substrates. Surface energies of these coatings were determined from contact angle data and were correlated to residual insect excrescence on coated aluminum substrates using a custom-built "bug gun." Quantification of insect excrescence surface coverage was evaluated by a series of digital photographic image processing techniques.

Lorenzi, Tyler M.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Designing Facilities for Collaborative Operations

A methodology for designing operational facilities for collaboration by multiple experts has begun to take shape as an outgrowth of a project to design such facilities for scientific operations of the planned 2003 Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission. The methodology could also be applicable to the design of military "situation rooms" and other facilities for terrestrial missions. It was recognized in this project that modern mission operations depend heavily upon the collaborative use of computers. It was further recognized that tests have shown that layout of a facility exerts a dramatic effect on the efficiency and endurance of the operations staff. The facility designs (for example, see figure) and the methodology developed during the project reflect this recognition. One element of the methodology is a metric, called effective capacity, that was created for use in evaluating proposed MER operational facilities and may also be useful for evaluating other collaboration spaces, including meeting rooms and military situation rooms. The effective capacity of a facility is defined as the number of people in the facility who can be meaningfully engaged in its operations. A person is considered to be meaningfully engaged if the person can (1) see, hear, and communicate with everyone else present; (2) see the material under discussion (typically data on a piece of paper, computer monitor, or projection screen); and (3) provide input to the product under development by the group. The effective capacity of a facility is less than the number of people that can physically fit in the facility. For example, a typical office that contains a desktop computer has an effective capacity of .4, while a small conference room that contains a projection screen has an effective capacity of around 10. Little or no benefit would be derived from allowing the number of persons in an operational facility to exceed its effective capacity: At best, the operations staff would be underutilized; at worst, operational performance would deteriorate. Elements of this methodology were applied to the design of three operations facilities for a series of rover field tests. These tests were observed by human-factors researchers and their conclusions are being used to refine and extend the methodology to be used in the final design of the MER operations facility. Further work is underway to evaluate the use of personal digital assistant (PDA) units as portable input interfaces and communication devices in future mission operations facilities. A PDA equipped for wireless communication and Ethernet, Bluetooth, or another networking technology would cost less than a complete computer system, and would enable a collaborator to communicate electronically with computers and with other collaborators while moving freely within the virtual environment created by a shared immersive graphical display.

Norris, Jeffrey↗

NASA NTRS2022

Apollo Crew Loads Data Mining

INTRODUCTION Human exposure data to dynamic loads in spaceflight are sparse not only because very few crewmembers have flown in space, but also because much of the historic data is no longer readily available. Earth and Moon landings of the Apollo missions are unique and valuable for understanding human tolerance in water landing conditions for both short-duration and long-duration crewmembers as well as informing crew tolerance in standing postures during planetary landings. The goal of this task was to find relevant Apollo data to better understand human tolerance in these scenarios, in order to apply this knowledge to future missions. METHODS The goal of this task was to recover time history data from dynamic phases of flight from crewed Apollo missions. The first phase of the task was to search available records at JSC and other centers to locate the appropriate records at the National Archives in Fort Worth, TX. Once the possible data locations were located, it was planned that one researcher would travel to the National Archives in Fort Worth, TX to collect the relevant Apollo data. Once the data was retrieved, they would be digitized for future use and evaluation, and archived within the Human Physiology, Performance, Protection, and Operations (H-3PO) laboratory within the Human Health and Performance Directorate. These data would be used to assess the feasibility and acceptability of current standards and vehicle design requirements for lunar and Mars missions. Additionally, any medical monitoring required, or physiological changes noted in crewmembers based on dynamic loads would be documented for future use. RESULTS Relevant records were found at Ft. Worth, TX and College Park, MD using the National Archives Online Catalog. In addition to the online catalog, an Archives staff member was able to share an additional inventory list of NASA JSC records held in Ft. Worth, TX. Due to COVID-19, NASA has only recently allowed non-mission essential travel. In addition, the National Archives has also been closed to the public since March 2020. Because of this, travel to the National Archives to search records there has not been possible. CONCLUSION The findings include collections at the National Archives at both Ft. Worth, TX and College Park, MD that could possibly hold the data we are looking for. Unfortunately, the descriptions of each collection are very broad. Though we are hopeful that relevant data is stored in one of these collections, we cannot be sure that we will find what we are looking for. At this time, it is not clear when the Archives will reopen to the public or when NASA will allow travel. Travel to the Archives has been postponed, and will be reassessed at a future date.

T Reiber↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

High-Temperature Mechanical Tensile Testing of Unidirectional Sic/Sic Composites Using A Versatile Lamp Furnace

Silicon carbide (SiC) based ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are of interest for high-temperature structural applications, including use in turbine engine components. To understand damage mechanisms and predict durability of these systems, in-depth knowledge of their behavior at ambient and high temperatures is necessary. A method for high temperature testing of SiC/SiC minicomposite specimens up to 1500oC in both tensile fast fracture and creep conditions to investigate their thermomechanical behavior will be presented. This method utilizes a novel radiation heat furnace, equipped with infrared lamps with ellipsoidal reflectors, to heat the specimen at the furnace center in user-defined atmospheres. The housing structure of the lamps allows for observation of the specimen during testing using optical methods and for conducting other experimental studies. The goal is to employ nondestructive health monitoring techniques in-situ, including acoustic emission (AE), electrical resistance (ER), and digital image correlation (DIC) to evaluate damage initiation and evolution in the minicomposite specimens during tensile testing. Results from mechanical testing and nondestructive techniques will be presented. Electron microscopy and X-ray micro-computed tomography were used to further characterize specimen damage after testing.

Aeronautics↗

NASA NTRS1991

Flying quality analysis and flight evaluation of a highly augmented combat rotorcraft

This paper discusses implications of digital flight control system design for rotorcraft and illustrates the analysis of the resulting handling qualities obtained with the Advanced Digital Optical Control System demonstrator in the context of the proposed new handling-qualities specification for rotorcraft. Topics covered are digital flight control design and analysis methods, flight testing techniques, handling-qualities evaluation results, and correlation of flight test results with analytical models and the proposed handling-qualities specification. The evaluation of the demonstrator system indicates desirable response characteristics based on equivalent damping and frequency, but undersirably large effective time delays (exceeding 240 ms in all axes). Piloted handling qualities are found to be desirable or adequate for all low, medium, and high pilot gain tasks, but handling qualities are inadequate for ultrahigh gain tasks such as slope and running landings. Correlation of these results with the proposed handling-qualities specification indicates good agreement for the bandwidth boundaries, but suggests the need for more stringent limits on allowable phase delay. Analytical models based on emulation (s-plane) techniques compare favorably with flight-extracted frequency-domain characteristics of the overall (end-to-end) system responses.

Tischler, Mark B.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Remotely piloted research vehicle evaluation of advanced control system effects on spins

Special functions of an advanced control system were investigated for effects on spin entries and recoveries utilizing a 3/8-scale model of the F-15 airplane as a remotely piloted research vehicle (RPRV). Telemetry uplinks and downlinks were used with a ground-based digital computer to mechanize the RPRV control system for spin tests in flight. Results from the model RPRV flight tests and from a real time digital spin simulation were used to evaluate the F-15 stall inhibiter and an automatic spin recovery system developed for the RPRV model

Petersen, K. L.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Standalone Hazard Evaluation and Refinement From Instrument Findings (S.H.E.R.I.F)

SHERIF is a novel algorithm which defines a unique, non-iterative method for the combination of LiDAR scans into a Digital Elevation Map (DEM) and the simultaneous evaluation of that DEM for Safe Site Selection (SSL) and Hazard Detection (HD). This creates a sensor independent method for a spacecraft conducting Entry Descent and Landing (EDL) operations to synthesize terrain scans and generate a more complete and evolving understanding of the landing site topography as well as the associated hazards. SHERIF aims to increase safety and mission success probability by more effectively using the data from a single sensor to increase situational awareness, knowledge of the landing site and its hazards, as well as informing a more streamlined transition from Terrain Relative Navigation (TRN) to Hazard Relative Navigation (HRN) during descent.

Hazard Detection↗

NASA NTRS1978

Investigation of new techniques for aircraft navigation using the omega navigation

An OMEGA navigation receiver with a microprocessor as the computational component was investigated. A version of the INTEL 4004 microprocessor macroassembler suitable for use on the CDC-6600 system and development of a FORTRAN IV simulator program for the microprocessor was developed. Supporting studies included development and evaluation of navigation algorithms to generate relative position information from OMEGA VLF phase measurements. Simulation studies were used to evaluate assumptions made in developing a navigation equation in OMEGA Line of Position (LOP) coordinates. Included in the navigation algorithms was a procedure for calculating a position in latitude/longitude given an OMEGA LOP fix. Implementation of a digital phase locked loop (DPLL) was evaluated on the basic of phase response characteristics over a range of input phase variations. Included also is an analytical evaluation on the basis of error probability of an algorithm for automatic time synchronization of the receiver to the OMEGA broadcast format. The use of actual OMEGA phase data and published propagation prediction corrections to determine phase velocity estimates was discussed.

Baxa, E. G., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1982

An evaluation of Seasat SAR imagery for urban analysis

Digitally processed Seasat SAR imagery of the Denver, Colorado, area is analyzed with regard to the types of urban data that can be detected and/or inferred from satellite-borne L-band systems. Black-and-white images of the scene were generated at three scales to determine the advantages and detail discernible at each level of display. The large-scale imagery was density-sliced to evaluate the feasibility of producing a semiautomated land-cover classification from the SAR data. Gray level classes were assigned colors to aid interpretation and subsequently compared with the black-and-white images to assess the contribution of each technique and benefits of combining the data from both procedures.

Henderson, F. M.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Detection of signals by the digital integrate-and-dump filter with offset sampling

The Integrate and Dump Filter (IDF) is used as a matched filter for the detection of signals in additive white Gaussian noise. The performance of the digital integrate and dump filter is evaluated. The case considered is when symbol times are known and the sampling clock is free running at a constant rate, i.e., the sampling clock is not phase locked to the symbol clock. Degradations in the output signal to noise ratio of the digital implementation due to sampling rate, sampling offset, and finite bandwidth, resulting from the anti-aliasing low pass prefilter, are computed and compared with those of the analog counterpart. It is shown that the digital IDF performs within 0.6 dB of the ideal analog IDF whenever the prefilter bandwidth exceeds four times the symbol rate and when sampling is performed at the Nyquist rate. The loss can be reduced to 0.3 dB by doubling the sampling rate, where 0.2 dB loss results from finite bandwidth and 0.1 dB results from the digital IDF.

Sadr, R.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Real-time closed-loop simulation and upset evaluation of control systems in harsh electromagnetic environments

Digital control systems for applications such as aircraft avionics and multibody systems must maintain adequate control integrity in adverse as well as nominal operating conditions. For example, control systems for advanced aircraft, and especially those with relaxed static stability, will be critical to flight and will, therefore, have very high reliability specifications which must be met regardless of operating conditions. In addition, multibody systems such as robotic manipulators performing critical functions must have control systems capable of robust performance in any operating environment in order to complete the assigned task reliably. Severe operating conditions for electronic control systems can result from electromagnetic disturbances caused by lightning, high energy radio frequency (HERF) transmitters, and nuclear electromagnetic pulses (NEMP). For this reason, techniques must be developed to evaluate the integrity of the control system in adverse operating environments. The most difficult and illusive perturbations to computer-based control systems that can be caused by an electromagnetic environment (EME) are functional error modes that involve no component damage. These error modes are collectively known as upset, can occur simultaneously in all of the channels of a redundant control system, and are software dependent. Upset studies performed to date have not addressed the assessment of fault tolerant systems and do not involve the evaluation of a control system operating in a closed-loop with the plant. A methodology for performing a real-time simulation of the closed-loop dynamics of a fault tolerant control system with a simulated plant operating in an electromagnetically harsh environment is presented. In particular, considerations for performing upset tests on the controller are discussed. Some of these considerations are the generation and coupling of analog signals representative of electromagnetic disturbances to a control system under test, analog data acquisition, and digital data acquisition from fault tolerant systems. In addition, a case study of an upset test methodology for a fault tolerant electromagnetic aircraft engine control system is presented.

Belcastro, Celeste M.↗

NASA NTRS1991

A proposal to extend our understanding of the global economy

Satellites acquire information on a global and repetitive basis. They are thus ideal tools for use when global scale and analysis over time is required. Data from satellites comes in digital form which means that it is ideally suited for incorporation in digital data bases and that it can be evaluated using automated techniques. The development of a global multi-source data set which integrates digital information is proposed regarding some 15,000 major industrial sites worldwide with remotely sensed images of the sites. The resulting data set would provide the basis for a wide variety of studies of the global economy. The preliminary results give promise of a new class of global policy model which is far more detailed and helpful to local policy makers than its predecessors. The central thesis of this proposal is that major industrial sites can be identified and their utilization can be tracked with the aid of satellite images.

Hough, Robbin R.↗

NASA NTRS1981

A Nonlinear Propulsion System Simulation Technique for Piloted Simulators

In the past, propulsion system simulations used in flight simulators have been extremely simple. This resulted in a loss of simulation realism since significant engine and aircraft interactions were neglected and important internal engine parameters were not computed. More detailed propulsion system simulators are needed to permit evaluations of modern aircraft propulsion systems in a simulated flight environment. A real time digital simulation technique has been developed which provides the capabilities needed to evaluate propulsion system performance and aircraft system interaction on manned flight simulators. A parameter correlation technique is used with real and pseudo dynamics in a stable integration convergence loop. The technique has been applied to a multivariable propulsion system for use in a piloted NASA flight simulator program. Cycle time is 2.0 ms on a Univac 1110 computer and 5.7 ms on the simulator computer, a Xerox Sigma 8. The model is stable and accurate with time steps up to 50 ms. The program evaluated the simulation technique and the propulsion system digital control. The simulation technique and model used in that program are described and results from the simulation are presented.

Mihaloew, J. R.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Application of ERTS-1 imagery to land use, forest density and soil investigations in Greece

Photographic and digital imagery received from ERTS-1 was analyzed and evaluated as to its usefulness for the assessment of agricultural and forest land resources. Black and white, and color composite imagery provided spectral and spatial data, which, when matched with temporal land information, provided the basis for a semidetailed land use and forest site evaluation cartography. Color composite photographs have provided some information on the status of irrigation of agricultural lands. Computer processed digital imagery was successfully used for detailed crop classification and semidetailed soil evaluation. The results and techniques of this investigation are applicable to ecological and geological conditions similar to those prevailing in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Yassoglou, N. J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Application of digital holographic interferometry to pressure measurements of symmetric, supercritical, and circulation control airfoils in transonic flow fields

Six airfoil interferograms were evaluated using a semiautomatic image-processor system which digitizes, segments, and extracts the fringe coordinates along a polygonal line. The resulting fringe order function was converted into density and pressure distributions and a comparison was made with pressure transducer data at the same wind tunnel test conditions. Three airfoil shapes were used in the evaluation to test the capabilities of the image processor with a variety of flows. Symmetric, supercritical, and circulation-control airfoil interferograms provided fringe patterns with shocks, separated flows, and high-pressure regions for evaluation. Regions along the polygon line with very clear fringe patterns yielded results within 1 percent of transducer measurements, while poorer quality regions, particularly near the leading and trailing edges, yielded results that were not as good.

Torres, Francisco J.↗