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At least 289 records · Page 16

Prediction of pilot opinion ratings using an optimal pilot model

A brief review of some of the more pertinent applications of analytical pilot models to the prediction of aircraft handling qualities is undertaken. The relative ease with which multiloop piloting tasks can be modeled via the optimal control formulation makes the use of optimal pilot models particularly attractive for handling qualities research. To this end, a rating hypothesis is introduced which relates the numerical pilot opinion rating assigned to a particular vehicle and task to the numerical value of the index of performance resulting from an optimal pilot modeling procedure as applied to that vehicle and task. This hypothesis is tested using data from piloted simulations and is shown to be reasonable. An example concerning a helicopter landing approach is introduced to outline the predictive capability of the rating hypothesis in multiaxis piloting tasks.

Hess, R. A.↗

Radiation forces on small particles in the solar system

Solar radiation forces on small particles in the solar system are examined, and the resulting orbital evolution of interplanetary and circumplanetary dust is considered. An expression is derived for the effects of radiation pressure and Poynting-Robertson drag on small, spherical particles using the energy and momentum transformation laws of special relativity, and numerical examples are presented to illustrate that radiation pressure and Poynting-Robertson drag are only important for particles within a narrow size range. The orbital consequences of these radiation forces are considered both for heliocentric and planetocentric orbiting particles, and the coupling between particle sizes and dynamics is discussed. A qualitative derivation is presented for the differential Doppler effect, which is due to the differential Doppler shifting of radiation from approaching and receding solar hemispheres, and the Yarkovsky effect, which is important for rotating meter-to kilometer-sized particles, is briefly described.

Burns, J. A.↗

Studies in astronomical time series analysis: Modeling random processes in the time domain

Random process models phased in the time domain are used to analyze astrophysical time series data produced by random processes. A moving average (MA) model represents the data as a sequence of pulses occurring randomly in time, with random amplitudes. An autoregressive (AR) model represents the correlations in the process in terms of a linear function of past values. The best AR model is determined from sampled data and transformed to an MA for interpretation. The randomness of the pulse amplitudes is maximized by a FORTRAN algorithm which is relatively stable numerically. Results of test cases are given to study the effects of adding noise and of different distributions for the pulse amplitudes. A preliminary analysis of the optical light curve of the quasar 3C 273 is given.

Scargle, J. D.↗

Multiple crossings of a very thin plasma sheet in the earth's magnetotail

High resolution magnetic field, thermal plasma, and energetic particle data measured on the IMP 8 spacecraft are used to demonstrate that a thin plasma sheet with rapidly flowing plasma undergoes violent oscillatory motion that causes the entire thickness of the plasma sheet to pass over the spacecraft in times which are sometimes as short as 10 s. Ions with 50 and 290 keV energy are investigated since their gyroradii are comparable to the plasma sheet thickness. As the spacecraft moves from the plasma sheet into the lobe, the energetic particle intensities decrease, but the 290 keV ions are relatively more numerous than 50 keV ions on field lines located deeper in the lobe.

Fairfield, D. H.↗

Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes computations of transonic flows The-state-of-the-art

The state of the art in computer simulations for transonic flowfields requiring solutions for the Navier-Stokes equations is assessed. It is noted that current simulations of transonic flowfields require comparisons with experimental results because the simulations are not free from discretization errors. Cases of turbulence are treated with weighted variables in a time-averaged scheme to yield Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations. The turbulence is modeled in a first-order approach with a Reynolds stress tensor or a second-order approach where the tensor is obtained from the Navier-Stokes equations. The choice of coordinate systems and dependent variables for simulating the flow around airfoils is discussed, with particular attention to curvilinear coordinates. The determinations of boundary conditions is examined, along with numerical methods related to physical phenomena

Mehta, U.↗

Interplanetary mission design handbook. Volume 1, part 3: Earth to Jupiter ballistic mission opportunities, 1985-2005

Graphical data necessary for the preliminary design of ballistic missions to Jupiter are provided. Contours of launch energy requirements, as well as many other launch and Jupiter arrival parameters, are presented in launch date/arrival date space for all launch opportunities from 1985 through 2005. In addition, an extensive text is included which explains mission design methods, from launch window development to Jupiter probe and orbiter arrival design, utilizing the graphical data in this volume as well as numerous equations relating various parameters.

Sergeyevsky, A. B.↗

Interplanetary mission design handbook. Volume 1, part 2: Earth to Mars ballistic mission opportunities, 1990-2005

Graphical data necessary for the preliminary design of ballistic missions to Mars are provided. Contours of launch energy requirements, as well as many other launch and Mars arrival parameters, are presented in launch date/arrival date space for all launch opportunities from 1990 through 2005. In addition, an extensive text is included which explains mission design methods, from launch window development to Mars probe and orbiter arrival design, utilizing the graphical data as well as numerous equations relating various parameters.

Sergeyevsky, A. B.↗

Interplanetary mission design handbook. Volume 1, part 1: Earth to Venus ballistic mission opportunities, 1991-2005

Graphical data necessary for the preliminary design of ballistic missions to Venus is presented. Contours of launch energy requirements, as well as many other launch and arrival parameters, are presented in launch data/arrival date space for all launch opportunities from 1991 through 2005. An extensive text is included which explains mission design methods, from launch window development to Venus probe and orbiter arrival design, utilizing the graphical data in this volume as well as numerous equations relating various parameters.

Sergeyevsky, A. B.↗

Modeling of transient heat pipe operation

Mathematical models and associated solution procedures which can be used to design heat pipe cooled structures for use on hypersonic vehicles are being developed. The models should also have the capability to predict off-design performance for a variety of operating conditions. It is expected that the resulting models can be used to predict startup behavior of liquid metal heat pipes to be used in reentry vehicles, hypersonic aircraft, and space nuclear reactors. Work to date related to numerical solutions of governing differential equations for the outer shell and the combination capillary structure and working fluid is summarized. Finite element numerical equations using both implicit, explicit, and combination methods were examined.

Colwell, G. T.↗

The 20th Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium

Numerous topics related to aerospace mechanisms were discussed. Deployable structures, electromagnetic devices, tribology, hydraulic actuators, positioning mechanisms, electric motors, communication satellite instruments, redundancy, lubricants, bearings, space stations, rotating joints, and teleoperators are among the topics covered.

Source record↗

Interplanetary mission design handbook. Volume 1, Part 5: Mars-to-Earth ballistic mission opportunities, 1992-2007

This document contains graphical data necessary for the preliminary design of ballistic missions returning from Mars. Contours of Mars-departure energy requirements, as well as many other launch and Earth-arrival parameters are presented in arrival-date/launch-date space for all departure opportunities from 1992 through 2007. In addition, an extensive companion document (Part 2) is available; it contains Earth-Mars graphical data and explains mission design methods, using the graphical data as well as numerous equations relating various parameters. This is one of a planned series of mission design handbooks.

Sergeyevsky, Andrey↗

Angular distribution of turbulence in wave space

An alternative to the one-point closure model for turbulence, the large eddy simulation (LES), together with its more exact relative, direct numerical simulation (DNS) are discussed. These methods are beginning to serve as partial substitutes for turbulence experiments. The eddy damped quasi-normal Markovian (EDQNM) theory is reviewed. Angular distribution of the converted data was examined in relationship to EDQNM.

Coleman, G.↗

Radiatively driven winds from magnetic, fast-rotating stars - Wolf-Rayet stars?

An analytical procedure is developed to solve the MHD equations for a stellar wind in the strong-magnetic-field, optically thick limit for hot stars. The slow-mode, Alfven, and fast-mode critical points are modified by the radiation terms in the force equation but in a manner that can be easily treated. Once the velocities and distances are known at the critical points, the streamline constants are determined in a straight-forward manner. This shows the structure of the wind with a relatively simple numerical scheme. The magnetic field and a radiation parameter specify the terminal wind velocity. High rotation rates and a modified slow-mode critical point close to the stellar surface determine the high mass-loss rates. Wolf-Rayet stars are modeled with 1000-G fields but require stellar rotational velocities approaching breakup values. The physical conditions that correspond to Wolf-Rayet models are so rare that another mechanism must be operating in these winds.

Nerney, Steven↗

Program Helps To Optimize Assembly Sequences

FAST project-management software tool designed to optimize sequence of assembly of Space Station Freedom. Assesses effects of detailed changes upon system and produces output metrics identifying preferred assembly sequences. Incorporates Space-Shuttle integration, Space-Station hardware, on-orbit operations, and governing programmatic considerations as either precedence relations or numerical data. Written in C language.

Borden, Chester S.↗

Mechanical energy flow models of rods and beams

It has been proposed that the flow of mechanical energy through a structural/acoustic system may be modeled in a manner similar to that of flow of thermal energy/in a heat conduction problem. If this hypothesis is true, it would result in relatively efficient numerical models of structure-borne energy in large built-up structures. Fewer parameters are required to approximate the energy solution than are required to model the characteristic wave behavior of structural vibration by using traditional displacement formulations. The energy flow hypothesis is tested in this investigation for both longitudinal vibration in rods and transverse flexural vibrations of beams. The rod is shown to behave approximately according to the thermal energy flow analogy. However, the beam solutions behave significantly differently than predicted by the thermal analogy unless locally-space-averaged energy and power are considered. Several techniques for coupling dissimilar rods and beams are also discussed. Illustrations of the solution accuracy of the methods are included.

Wohlever, J. C.↗

High resolution gravity models combining terrestrial and satellite data

Spherical harmonic expansions to degree 360 have been developed that combine satellite potential coefficient information, terrestrial gravity data, satellite altimeter information as a direct tracking data type and topographic information. These models define improved representations of the Earth's gravitational potential beyond that available from just satellite or terrestrial data. The development of the degree 360 models, however, does not imply a uniform accuracy in the determination of the gravity field as numerous geographic areas are devoid of terrestrial data or the resolution of such data is limited to, for example, 100 km. This paper will consider theoretical and numerical questions related to the combination of the various data types. Various models of the combination process are discussed with a discussion of various correction terms for the different models. Various sources of gravity data will be described. The new OSU91 360 model will be discussed with comparisons made to previous 360 models and to other potential coefficient models that are complete to degree 50. Future directions in high degree potential coefficient models will be discussed.

Rapp, Richard H.↗

Calculation of the hull and of the car-suspension systems of airships

Differential and integral curves are presented and well as numerous calculations relating to hulls. Some of the calculations include those relating to hulls, those relating to the invariability of the shape of the hulls, and those relating to the suspension of the hull.

AIRSHIP CARS↗