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At least 307 records · Page 17

AGARD standard aeroelastic configurations for dynamic response. 1: Wing 445.6

This report contains experimental flutter data for the AGARD 3D swept tapered standard configuration "Wing 445.6", along with related descriptive data of the model properties required for comparative flutter calculations. As part of a cooperative AGARD-SMP programme, guided by the Sub-Committee on Aeroelasticity, this standard configuration may serve as a common basis for comparisons of calculated and measured aeroelastic behaviour. These comparisons will promote a better understanding of the assumptions, approximations and limitations underlying the various aerodynamic methods applied, thus pointing the way to further improvements.

Aircraft↗

Analysis of the Global Microwave Polarization Data of Clouds

Two NASA microwave radiometers, the satellite-borne GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement) Microwave Imager (GMI) and the aircraft-borne CoSMIR (the Conical Scanning Millimeter-wave Imaging Radiometer), measure vertically- and horizontally-polarized microwaves emitted by cloud particles and the Earth below, providing unique information on ice crystal properties in clouds. Their data reveal that non-spherical ice crystals are common and they fall in a preferred horizontally aligned orientation in convective and optically thick clouds especially near cloud top. A bin (particle-size-resolving) microphysical model with an ice crystal shape representation is developed to simulate the evolution of ice crystal properties (i.e., size, shape and orientation), where the radiation effect on microphysics (REM) is taken into account. Since REM represents the effect of all (e.g., both infrared and solar) radiation on ice crystal temperature, it relies upon the ice crystal proprieties that determine how an ice crystal receives radiation. Definitely, REM is different from the radiative effects that cause sensitivity at the microwave frequencies in the GPM and CoSMIR observations. Model results show that horizontally-oriented ice crystals grow faster than vertically-oriented (or spherical) ones due to REM. When both horizontally- and vertically-oriented ice crystals coexist in an air parcel, the model results show that the former grow by vapor deposition whereas the latter shrink by sublimation and disappear eventually. These modeling results are supported by the GMI data and the CoSMIR observations from MC3E (Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment) and OLYMPEX (Olympic Mountains Experiment) on the prevalence of horizontally-oriented ice crystals. Moreover, the REM-induced precipitation explains the CloudSat observations of rare thin clouds in the tropical mid-troposphere as well as the common diamond dust in the high latitudes.

Xiping Zeng↗

Estimators of primary production for interpretation of remotely sensed data on ocean color

The theoretical basis is explained for some commonly used estimators of daily primary production in a vertically uniform water column. These models are recast into a canonical form, with dimensionless arguments, to facilitate comparison with each other and with an analytic solution. The limitations of each model are examined. The values of the photoadaptation parameter I(k) observed in the ocean are analyzed, and I(k) is used as a scale to normalize the surface irradiance. The range of this scaled irradiance is presented. An equation is given for estimation of I(k) from recent light history. It is shown how the models for water column production can be adapted for estimation of the production in finite layers. The distinctions between model formulation, model implementation and model evaluation are discussed. Recommendations are given on the choice of algorithm for computation of daily production according to the degree of approximation acceptable in the result.

Platt, Trevor↗

Adaptive Sampling of Time Series During Remote Exploration

This work deals with the challenge of online adaptive data collection in a time series. A remote sensor or explorer agent adapts its rate of data collection in order to track anomalous events while obeying constraints on time and power. This problem is challenging because the agent has limited visibility (all its datapoints lie in the past) and limited control (it can only decide when to collect its next datapoint). This problem is treated from an information-theoretic perspective, fitting a probabilistic model to collected data and optimizing the future sampling strategy to maximize information gain. The performance characteristics of stationary and nonstationary Gaussian process models are compared. Self-throttling sensors could benefit environmental sensor networks and monitoring as well as robotic exploration. Explorer agents can improve performance by adjusting their data collection rate, preserving scarce power or bandwidth resources during uninteresting times while fully covering anomalous events of interest. For example, a remote earthquake sensor could conserve power by limiting its measurements during normal conditions and increasing its cadence during rare earthquake events. A similar capability could improve sensor platforms traversing a fixed trajectory, such as an exploration rover transect or a deep space flyby. These agents can adapt observation times to improve sample coverage during moments of rapid change. An adaptive sampling approach couples sensor autonomy, instrument interpretation, and sampling. The challenge is addressed as an active learning problem, which already has extensive theoretical treatment in the statistics and machine learning literature. A statistical Gaussian process (GP) model is employed to guide sample decisions that maximize information gain. Nonsta tion - ary (e.g., time-varying) covariance relationships permit the system to represent and track local anomalies, in contrast with current GP approaches. Most common GP models are stationary, e.g., the covariance relationships are time-invariant. In such cases, information gain is independent of previously collected data, and the optimal solution can always be computed in advance. Information-optimal sampling of a stationary GP time series thus reduces to even spacing, and such models are not appropriate for tracking localized anomalies. Additionally, GP model inference can be computationally expensive.

Thompson, David R.↗

TOPEX orbit determination by solving gravity parameters with multiple arc data

Multiple arc data from repeated ground track are combined to reduce the error due to gravity field uncertainty in the determination of TOPEX orbit. The TOPEX dynamics is modeled with relatively few gravity parameters to account for the effect of the local gravity field. The gravity parameters are common to all arcs. The estimation algorithm uses the Householder transformation to combine multiple arc data and solve for the gravity parameters. The earth gravity field can be recovered with very modest amount of calculation.

Wu, J.-T.↗

Image Segmentation, Registration, Compression, and Matching

A novel computational framework was developed of a 2D affine invariant matching exploiting a parameter space. Named as affine invariant parameter space (AIPS), the technique can be applied to many image-processing and computer-vision problems, including image registration, template matching, and object tracking from image sequence. The AIPS is formed by the parameters in an affine combination of a set of feature points in the image plane. In cases where the entire image can be assumed to have undergone a single affine transformation, the new AIPS match metric and matching framework becomes very effective (compared with the state-of-the-art methods at the time of this reporting). No knowledge about scaling or any other transformation parameters need to be known a priori to apply the AIPS framework. An automated suite of software tools has been created to provide accurate image segmentation (for data cleaning) and high-quality 2D image and 3D surface registration (for fusing multi-resolution terrain, image, and map data). These tools are capable of supporting existing GIS toolkits already in the marketplace, and will also be usable in a stand-alone fashion. The toolkit applies novel algorithmic approaches for image segmentation, feature extraction, and registration of 2D imagery and 3D surface data, which supports first-pass, batched, fully automatic feature extraction (for segmentation), and registration. A hierarchical and adaptive approach is taken for achieving automatic feature extraction, segmentation, and registration. Surface registration is the process of aligning two (or more) data sets to a common coordinate system, during which the transformation between their different coordinate systems is determined. Also developed here are a novel, volumetric surface modeling and compression technique that provide both quality-guaranteed mesh surface approximations and compaction of the model sizes by efficiently coding the geometry and connectivity/topology components of the generated models. The highly efficient triangular mesh compression compacts the connectivity information at the rate of 1.5-4 bits per vertex (on average for triangle meshes), while reducing the 3D geometry by 40-50 percent. Finally, taking into consideration the characteristics of 3D terrain data, and using the innovative, regularized binary decomposition mesh modeling, a multistage, pattern-drive modeling, and compression technique has been developed to provide an effective framework for compressing digital elevation model (DEM) surfaces, high-resolution aerial imagery, and other types of NASA data.

Yadegar, Jacob↗

Adaptation of a Hyperspectral Atmospheric Correction Algorithm for Multi-spectral Ocean Color Data in Coastal Waters

This SIMBIOS contract supports several activities over its three-year time-span. These include certain computational aspects of atmospheric correction, including the modification of our hyperspectral atmospheric correction algorithm Tafkaa for various multi-spectral instruments, such as SeaWiFS, MODIS, and GLI. Additionally, since absorbing aerosols are becoming common in many coastal areas, we are making the model calculations to incorporate various absorbing aerosol models into tables used by our Tafkaa atmospheric correction algorithm. Finally, we have developed the algorithms to use MODIS data to characterize thin cirrus effects on aerosol retrieval.

Gao, Bo-Cai↗

Models of an In-Situ Propellant Production Plant for Mars Exploration

An in-situ propellant production system (ISPP) is designed to make rocket fuel from chemicals in the Martian atmosphere in order to reduce the amount of materials that would need to be brought from Earth to support Mars missions. We have developed a description of a hypothetical ISPP system that we would like to make available to researchers who are interested in the problem of automatically diagnosing failures in complex NASA systems. This problem description will help researchers to investigate problems of interest to NASA. We would like to make the following material publicly available: (1) a 'common sense' model of an ISPP system; (2) low- and medium-fidelity simulations of the ISPP system written in Microsoft Excel and HCC; and (3) previously published data and diagrams concerning ISPP components. We do not believe there are any export considerations on these materials for the following reasons: (1) These models are not useful for guidance and real time control of vehicles, encrpytion, or any other software purpose categorized under the Export Control Classification Numbers; and (2) The models are very high level and would not by themselves enable real-time control of a real hardware system. The models are at the level of common sense. They capture, for example, that if a heater is turned on an increase in temperature should result(see the attached excerpt). We do not believe there is any commercial value to this material, given the low commercial demand for propellant plants on mars. We have spoken to acting Code IC Division Chief Dan Clancy, and he concurs with our desire to make these materials publicly available via a technical report.

Goodrich, Charlie↗

Influences of Models on the Unsteady Pressure Characteristics of the NASA National Transonic Facility

Pressure fluctuations have been measured over the course of several tests in the National Transonic Facility to study unsteady phenomenon both with and without the influence of a model. Broadband spectral analysis will be used to characterize the length scales of the tunnel. Special attention will be given to the large-scale, low frequency data that influences the Mach number and force and moment variability. This paper will also discuss the significance of the vorticity and sound fields that can be related to the Common Research Model and will also highlight the comparisons to an empty tunnel configuration. The effectiveness of vortex generators placed at the interface of the test section and wind tunnel diffuser showed promise in reducing the empty tunnel unsteadiness, however, the vortex generators were ineffective in the presence of a model.

Jones, Gregory↗

The Effect of Strain on the Base Resistance and Transit Time of Ungraded and Compositional-Graded SiGe HBTs

A theoretical study of the effects of the strain on the base properties of ungraded and compositional-graded n-p-n SiGe Heterojunction Bipolar Transistors (HBT) is presented. The dependencies of the transverse hole mobility and longitudinal electron mobility upon strain, composition and doping, are formulated using published Monte-Carlo data and, consequently, the base resistance and transit time are modeled and calculated. The results are compared to results obtained using common formulas that ignore these dependencies. The differences between the two sets of results are shown. The paper's conclusion is that for the design, analysis and optimization of high frequency SiGe HBTs the strain effects on the base properties cannot be ignored.

Rosenfeld, D.↗

Experimental Investigations of the NASA Common Research Model in the NASA Langley National Transonic Facility and NASA Ames 11-Ft Transonic Wind Tunnel (Invited)

Experimental aerodynamic investigations of the NASA Common Research Model have been conducted in the NASA Langley National Transonic Facility and the NASA Ames 11-ft wind tunnel. Data have been obtained at chord Reynolds numbers of 5 million for five different configurations at both wind tunnels. Force and moment, surface pressure and surface flow visualization data were obtained in both facilities but only the force and moment data are presented herein. Nacelle/pylon, tail effects and tunnel to tunnel variations have been assessed. The data from both wind tunnels show that an addition of a nacelle/pylon gave an increase in drag, decrease in lift and a less nose down pitching moment around the design lift condition of 0.5 and that the tail effects also follow the expected trends. Also, all of the data shown fall within the 2-sigma limits for repeatability. The tunnel to tunnel differences are negligible for lift and pitching moment, while the drag shows a difference of less than ten counts for all of the configurations. These differences in drag may be due to the variation in the sting mounting systems at the two tunnels.

Rivers, S. M.↗

OGLE-2014-BLG-0962 and a Comparison of Galactic Model Priors to Microlensing Data

OGLE-2014-BLG-0962 (OB140962) is a stellar binary microlensing event that was well covered by observations from the Spitzer satellite as well as ground-based surveys. Modeling yields a unique physical solution: a mid-M+M-dwarf binary with M(prim) = 0.20 ± 0.01 M(☉) and M(sec) = 0.16 ± 0.01 M(☉), with projected separation of 2.0 ± 0.3 au. The lens is only D(LS) = 0.41 ± 0.06 kpc in front of the source, making OB140962 a bulge lens and the most distant Spitzer binary lens to date. In contrast, because the Einstein radius (θ(E) = 0.143 ± 0.007 mas) is unusually small, a standard Bayesian analysis, conducted in the absence of parallax information, would predict a brown dwarf binary. We compare the results of Bayesian analysis using two commonly used Galactic model priors to the measured values for a set of Spitzer lenses. We find all models tested predict lens properties consistent with the Spitzer data. Furthermore, we illustrate the methodology for probing the Galactic distribution of planets by comparing the cumulative distance distribution of the Spitzer two-body lenses to that of the Spitzer single lenses.

Yutong Shan↗

High performance FORTRAN without templates: An alternative model for distribution and alignment

Language extensions of FORTRAN are being developed which permit the user to map data structures to the individual processors of distributed memory machines. These languages allow a programming style in which global data references are used. Current efforts are focussed on designing a common basis for such languages, the result of which is known as High Performance Fortran (HPF). One of the central debates in the HPF effort revolves around the concept of templates, introduced as an abstract index space to which data could be aligned. A model for the mapping of data which provides the functionality of High Performance Fortran distributions without the use of templates is presented.

Chapman, Barbara↗

Transonic flutter and gust-response tests and analyses of a wind-tunnel model of a torsion free wing airplane

An exploratory study of a 1/5.5 size, complete airplane version of a torsion free wing (TFW) fighter aircraft was conducted. The TFW consisted of a wing/boom/canard assembly on each fuselage side that was interconnected by a common pivot shaft so that the TFW could rotate freely in pitch. The effect of the TFW was evaluated by comparing data obtained with the TFW free and the TFW locked to the fuselage. With the model mounted on cables to simulate an airplane free flying condition, flutter boundaries were measured at Mach number (M) from 0.85 to 1.0 and gust responses at M = 0.65 and 0.90. The critical flutter mode for the TFW free configuration was found experimentally to occur at M = 0.95 and had the rigid TFW pitch mode as its apparent aerodynamic driver.

Ruhlin, C. L.↗

Independent Verification of Mars-GRAM 2010 with Mars Climate Sounder Data

The Mars Global Reference Atmospheric Model (Mars-GRAM) is an engineering-level atmospheric model widely used for diverse mission and engineering applications. Applications of Mars-GRAM include systems design, performance analysis, and operations planning for aerobraking, entry, descent and landing, and aerocapture. Atmospheric influences on landing site selection and long-term mission conceptualization and development can also be addressed utilizing Mars-GRAM. Mars-GRAM's perturbation modeling capability is commonly used, in a Monte Carlo mode, to perform high-fidelity engineering end-to-end simulations for entry, descent, and landing. Mars-GRAM is an evolving software package resulting in improved accuracy and additional features. Mars-GRAM 2005 has been validated against Radio Science data, and both nadir and limb data from the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES). From the surface to 80 km altitude, Mars-GRAM is based on the NASA Ames Mars General Circulation Model (MGCM). Above 80 km, Mars-GRAM is based on the University of Michigan Mars Thermospheric General Circulation Model (MTGCM). The most recent release of Mars-GRAM 2010 includes an update to Fortran 90/95 and the addition of adjustment factors. These adjustment factors are applied to the input data from the MGCM and the MTGCM for the mapping year 0 user-controlled dust case. The adjustment factors are expressed as a function of height (z), latitude and areocentric solar longitude (Ls).

Justh, Hilary L.↗

GRAIL Refinements to Lunar Seismic Structure

The present ]day internal structure of the Moon provides insight not only into its own formation and evolution, but also that of all rocky planetary bodies. The most direct way to probe a planet fs interior structure is through seismology. As part of the Apollo lunar missions, four seismometers were deployed on the nearside surface of the Moon between the years 1969 and 1972. These instruments operated continuously until 1977, forming the only substantial extraterrestrial seismic data set in existence. These data have been used to constrain various aspects of the seismic velocity and density structure of the Moon. Typical 1-D models recognize a 30-60 km thick crust overlying a nearly constant ]velocity mantle, and extend to a depth of approximately 1000 km, below which the lack of penetrating moonquake ray ]paths precludes the seismic determination of deeper structure. Previously, the lack of observed moonquakes from the far side of the Moon has been used to infer the presence of a highly attenuating (possibly molten) core. Indirect geophysical measurements such as moment of inertia, magnetic induction, lunar laser ranging, and elemental abundances of mare basalts also place varying constraints on core size and state. In combination with seismic studies, these indirect measurements have been used to arrive at a commonly accepted model of the Moon's deepest interior that includes a solid inner and fluid outer core, overlain by a partial melt boundary layer. We recently applied modern array seismology techniques to the Apollo data and revealed detailed core structure, including the first direct confirmation of the presence of a solid inner core. Our study focused on the identification of core ]reflected phases in deep moonquake seismograms. The resulting model of the Moon fs innermost structure was found to be consistent with the commonly accepted model. However, the modeled layer radii may vary by tens of kilometers, as is expected when accounting for uncertainties such as moonquake location, timing errors, and potential seismic heterogeneities. In addition, the modeled velocities may vary with a 1-to-1 trade ]off with the modeled reflector depth. The GRAIL (Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory) mission, launched in Sept. 2011, placed two nearly identical spacecraft in lunar orbit. The two satellites make extremely high-resolution measurements of the lunar gravity field, which can be used to constrain the interior structure of the Moon using a "crust to core" approach. GRAIL fs constraints on crustal thickness, mantle structure, core radius and stratification, and core state (solid vs. molten) will complement seismic investigations in several ways. Here we present a progress report on our efforts to advance our knowledge of the Moon fs internal structure using joint gravity and seismic analyses. We will focus on methodology, including 1) refinements to the seismic core constraint accomplished through array processing of Apollo seismic data, made by applying a set of travel time corrections based on GRAIL structure estimates local to each Apollo seismic station; 2) modeling deep lunar structure through synthetic seismograms, to test whether the seismic core model can reproduce the core reflections observed in the Apollo seismograms; and 3) a joint seismic and gravity inversion in which we attempt to fit a family of seismic structure models with the gravity constraints from GRAIL, resulting in maps of seismic velocities and densities that vary from a nominal model both laterally and with depth.

Weber, Renee↗

Enclosure fire modeling

A fire characterization methodology is presented, which for the first time provides a unified analysis framework for the integration of all fire tests data on a common basis. Fire temperatures, smoke densities, toxic gas concentrations and heat fluxes to material properties, enclosure geometry, and ventilation factors are provided in this fire characterization approach. The fire characterization methodology was used to develop an enclosure fire hazards analysis procedure capable of predicting the probable course in fire prevention.

Coulbert, C. D.↗

A Combined Computational, Experimental, and Technology Development Approach to In-Space Laser Manufacturing Maturation at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

In-space manufacturing (ISM) is emerging as a field vital to continued access and capabilities in the space environment. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is advancing the frontier of in-space laser manufacturing (ISLM) techniques through work initially focused on maturing laser beam welding (LBW) and laser forming (LF) for use in space. Such techniques proffer the ability to assemble and join structures in space from sheet metal or other stock – extant satellites, in situ resource utilization of Lunar regolith, etc. – by forming to desired shapes and then joining via in-space welding (ISW). ISLM processes are useful for assembly, joining, modification, and repair of structures in free space and on the Lunar surface such as large observatories, antennas, trusses, blast/thermal/radiation shields, pressure vessels, and more. However, these techniques are not yet qualified & certified (Q&C) for regular application in space. It would be prohibitively expensive, laborious, and time-consuming to perform Q&C via traditional experimental approaches as data collection & experimentation in space is resource-intensive. As such, benchmark experiments and focused, properly instrumented technology demonstration efforts in space can collect sufficient data that – when combined with verified computational models in an integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) approach – can validate ICME tools capable of translating more readily obtained ground data to in-space, in situ, computationally informed Q&C of ISLM techniques. Several ISLM projects at MSFC are obtaining the data required to validate ICME tools through both ground and flight experiments. A parabolic flight experiment of LBW under vacuum is manifested for August 2024, including both microgravity and Lunar gravity profiles. This collaboration with the Ohio State University is investigating common aerospace alloys such as 316L stainless steel, 2219 aluminum alloy, and Ti64 titanium alloy. In situ data collection includes videography, thermography, and reference thermocouples to build a thermal model of the welds. This will elucidate the relevant physics when combined with post-flight microstructural examination and mechanical testing. MSFC is also progressing towards a suborbital flight experiment of LBW under vacuum, which could provide reams of data on ISW during sustained, high-quality reduced gravity. The effect of combined thermal (cryogenic and high-temperature) and vacuum exposure on both LBW (NASA-funded) and LF (DARPA-funded) is being investigated through ground experiments. In addition to the copious data collected during these ground experiments, ruggedization of LBW hardware will also be pursued. The datasets from these experiments will be used to validate computational models which will inform future ISLM efforts in an ICME framework. A variety of techniques across lengths scales, from CALPHAD-driven thermodynamics & kinetics to phase field modeling of solidification to kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of grain evolution at the mesoscale, will be employed to accelerate the infusion and eventual Q&C of LBW and LF for use in space. The development of data-driven surrogate models to bridge ground to flight experiments and thereby reduce the need for resource-intensive experiments in space will also be investigated. These ICME techniques, surrogate models, and datasets from ground testing can also be employed to advance manufacturing in terrestrial environments.

in-space welding↗