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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Human Systems Risk Network - A Ranking Analysis of Risks

INTRODUCTION The Human Systems Risk Board (HSRB) is responsible for understanding, managing, and mitigating the risks associated with spaceflight. For a particular mission, the HSRB assigns each human system risk a rating on a 5x5 grid assessing its likelihood and consequence, which is ultimately used to compare and rank the risks. The HSRB approaches risk management by primarily establishing the context of each human system risk individually with the understanding that mitigating one risk might affect the likelihood, consequence, and mitigation approaches of another. To support this effort the HSRB, subject matter experts, and risk custodian teams created directed acyclic graphs (DAG), often called a causal graph, for the twenty-nine risks. In this presentation, we propose a new ranking algorithm for the risks which includes the downstream influence of each risk according to the information in the DAGs and provide an application of graph theoretic tools. METHODS In 2014, Mindock and Klaus proposed a taxonomy for human system risk influences which we have adopted to categorize the nodes in each DAG. Analyzing the nodes that correspond to the risks in this taxonomy allows us to analyze and understand how each risk influences the others. We construct an auxiliary network, which we call the Primary Risk Network (PRN), where the nodes are the twenty-nine space flight risks and, a directed edge connects Risk A to Risk B if Risk A has some influence on the likelihood or consequence of Risk B as described in the DAGS. We perform a variety of graph theoretic ranking methods on the nodes (or risks) in the PRN, including Katz centrality. RESULTS We rank the nodes in the PRN using the Katz centrality score. The ten risks with the highest score are pictured in Figure 1, colored (light to dark) according to their score. We analyze other centrality measures like betweenness centrality, eigenvector centrality, and the Estrada index, and provide the meaning of the corresponding rankings in terms of the risks. Future work includes analyzing the other categories in the taxonomy defined by Mindock and Klaus [1]. For example, we are interested in analyzing the nodes that are labeled as countermeasures or capabilities and perform similar analysis to measure their effect on certain medical conditions.

dag↗
NASA NTRS1977

Flutter of articulated pipes at finite amplitude

The plane motion of an articulated pipe made of two segments is examined and the flow velocity at which flutter manifests itself is sought. The pressure in the reservoir feeding the pipe is kept constant. In contrast to previous works, the flow velocity is not taken as a prescribed parameter of the system but is left to follow the laws of motion. This approach requires a nonlinear formulation of the problem and the equations of motion are solved using Krylov-Bogoliubov's method. A graph of the amplitude of the limit cycles, as a function of the fluid-system mass ratio, is presented and conclusions are drawn as to the necessity of considering nonlinearities in the analysis.

Rousselet, J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

NASA TLA workload analysis support. Volume 3: FFD autopilot scenario validation data

The data used to validate a seven time line analysis of forward flight deck autopilot mode for the pilot and copilot for NASA B737 terminal configured vehicle are presented. Demand workloads are given in two forms: workload histograms and workload summaries (bar graphs). A report showing task length and task interaction is also presented.

Sundstrom, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Partitioning of unstructured problems for parallel processing

Many large-scale computational problems are based on unstructured computational domains. Primary examples are unstructured grid calculations based on finite volume methods in computational fluid dynamics, or structural analysis problems based on finite element approximations. The question of how to distribute such unstructured computational domains over a large number of processors in a MIMD machine with distributed memory is addressed. A graph theoretical framework for these problems is established. Based on this framework three decomposition algorithms are introduced. In particular a new decomposition algorithm is discussed, which is based on the computation of an eigenvector of the Laplacian matrix associated with the graph. Numerical comparisons on large-scale two- and three-dimensional problems demonstrate the superiority of the new spectral bisection algorithm.

Simon, H. D.↗
NASA NTRS2015

A Wavelet Analysis Approach for Categorizing Air Traffic Behavior

In this paper two frequency domain techniques are applied to air traffic analysis. The Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT), like the Fourier Transform, is shown to identify changes in historical traffic patterns caused by Traffic Management Initiatives (TMIs) and weather with the added benefit of detecting when in time those changes take place. Next, with the expectation that it could detect anomalies in the network and indicate the extent to which they affect traffic flows, the Spectral Graph Wavelet Transform (SGWT) is applied to a center based graph model of air traffic. When applied to simulations based on historical flight plans, it identified the traffic flows between centers that have the greatest impact on either neighboring flows, or flows between centers many centers away. Like the CWT, however, it can be difficult to interpret SGWT results and relate them to simulations where major TMIs are implemented, and more research may be warranted in this area. These frequency analysis techniques can detect off-nominal air traffic behavior, but due to the nature of air traffic time series data, so far they prove difficult to apply in a way that provides significant insight or specific identification of traffic patterns.

wavelet analysis↗
NASA NTRS2003

Robot Acquisition of Active Maps Through Teleoperation and Vector Space Analysis

The work performed under this contract was in the area of intelligent robotics. The problem being studied was the acquisition of intelligent behaviors by a robot. The method was to acquire action maps that describe tasks as sequences of reflexive behaviors. Action maps (a.k.a. topological maps) are graphs whose nodes represent sensorimotor states and whose edges represent the motor actions that cause the robot to proceed from one state to the next. The maps were acquired by the robot after being teleoperated or otherwise guided by a person through a task several times. During a guided task, the robot records all its sensorimotor signals. The signals from several task trials are partitioned into episodes of static behavior. The corresponding episodes from each trial are averaged to produce a task description as a sequence of characteristic episodes. The sensorimotor states that indicate episode boundaries become the nodes, and the static behaviors, the edges. It was demonstrated that if compound maps are constructed from a set of tasks then the robot can perform new tasks in which it was never explicitly trained.

Peters, Richard Alan, II↗
NASA NTRS1973

Longitudinal oscillation of launch vehicles

During powered flight a vehicle may develop longitudinal self-excited oscillations, so-called oscillations, of its structure. The energy supplying the vibration is tapped from the thrust by the activity of the system itself; that is, oscillation of the structure causes oscillation of the propellant system, especially of the pumps. In this way an oscillating thrust can be created that, by a feedback loop, may sustain the structural oscillation under certain circumstances. Two special features of the system proved to be essential for creation of instability. One is the effect of the inherent time interval that the thrust oscillation is lagging behind the structural oscillation. The other is the decreased of system mass caused by the exhausting of gas. The latter feature may cause an initially stable system to become unstable. To examine the stability of the system, a single mass-spring model, which is the result of a one-term Galerkin approach to the equation of motion, has been considered. The Nyquist stability criterion leads to a stability graph that shows the stability conditions in terms of the system parameter and also demonstrates the significance of time lag, feedback magnitude, and loss of mass. An important conclusion can be drawn from the analysis: large relative displacements of the pump-engine masses favor instability. This is also confirmed by flight measurements.

Glaser, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Dynamical features of the plasma-sheet ion composition, density, and energy

The effects of changes in solar and geomagnetic activity on the major plasma-sheet ions are investigated on the basis of a statistical analysis of 1500 h of data obtained at distances 10-23 earth radii and energy/charge ratios 0.1-16 keV/e by the ISEE-1 energetic-ion mass spectrometer. The results are presented in extensive graphs and discussed in detail. It is found that substorm activity is accompanied by a significant decrease in the density of solar-origin H(+) ions, a sharp increase in the energy per nucleon of both H(+) and He(+) ions, and an increase in the density of terrestrial O(+) ions. A factor-of-three increase in the overall O(+) density over the observation period is attributed to an increase in the solar EUV flux.

Lennartsson, W.↗
NASA NTRS1982

NASA supercritical laminar flow control airfoil experiment

The design and goals of experimental investigations of supercritical LFC airfoils conducted in the NASA Langley 8-ft Transonic Pressure Tunnel beginning in March 1982 are reviewed. Topics addressed include laminarization aspects; flow-quality requirements; simulation of flight parameters; the setup of screens, honeycomb, and sonic throat; the design cycle; theoretical pressure distributions and shock-free limits; drag divergence and stability analysis; and the LFC suction system. Consideration is given to the LFC airfoil model, the air-flow control system, airfoil-surface instrumentation, liner design and hardware, and test options. Extensive diagrams, drawings, graphs, photographs, and tables of numerical data are provided.

Harvey, W. D.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A superelement methodology for coupled loads analysis of Space Station Freedom

A technique for calculating the effects of on-orbit loads on the structural dynamics of the International Space Station is developed on the basis of MSC/NASTRAN superelement solution sequences. The complexity of the Space Station program with its multiple configurations, international partners, and contractors is stressed, and the impact of this complexity on the dynamic-load analysis process is indicated. The MSC/NASTRAN-based approach is outlined, and its application to two versions of the Permanent Manned Capability configuration is described in detail, including component mode synthesis, GFSC/FLAME coupled-loads analysis (with components from the system FEM model or from the Work Package), and ISI/MATRIX-X generation of closed-loop forcing functions. The results of these sample analyses are presented in extensive tables and graphs and briefly characterized.

Del Basso, Steve↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Citizen Science Approach for Searching and Curating Literature of the Effects of Spaceflight on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Rodents and Humans

The spaceflight environment causes significant changes to the structure and function of the cardiovascular system, including fluid redistribution, alterations in blood pressure, and changes in cardiac output. The goal of this project is to quantitatively summarize the data on the effects of actual or simulated microgravity and radiation exposure resulting from spaceflight on the cardiovascular system. As the first step, a group of investigators approached through a collaboration of the Ames Life Science Data Archive (ALSDA) Analysis Working Group developed a list of relevant cardiovascular search terms. Based on these, medical librarians generated and executed the search strategy in Medline, CINAHL, Embase and NASA repositories. In parallel, we recruited students and young professionals from various space industry-affiliated organizations, resulting in ~100 individuals joining. With this program we aimed to reach students and young people underrepresented in STEM, including first-generation, female, minorities, disadvantaged backgrounds, fostered individuals, etc. These individuals completed a virtual training course on the nature and methodologies of the project. Following this, the participants were structured into teams with more senior/experienced individuals designated as team leaders. Currently, the teams are screening approximately 15,000 studies using the systematic review tool, Covidence. Teams will be extracting and curating data for meta-analysis of the cardiovascular spaceflight literature, but also extracting, submitting, and curating appropriate datasets into the new ALSDA submission portal and repository. This effort will result in collaborative publications based upon the literature meta-analyses, and a number of publicly accessible datasets for reuse, modeling, machine learning, and knowledge graph-type approaches. This approach reduces the length of time to complete title/abstract screening time from 1-2 years needed for this volume of studies, to 3-4 months, while also providing a unique, open-access educational experience to space research and training in knowledge synthesis tools to interested individuals.

space biology↗
NASA NTRS1977

Analysis of voltage data

The use of statistical analysis (regression analysis) to determine the data correlation between eight voltage parameters is discussed. The eight parameters correlated include: temperature, depth of discharge; charge rate; discharge rate; percent recharge; concentration of KOH; amount of KOH; and precharge. Graphs are presented which show: (1) starpoint/centerpoint cycles to failure vs. parameters; (2) cycles to failure vs. temperature; and (3) positive and negative plate thickness and weight vs. cycles. An empirical equation derived from cycles to failure vs. temperature graph for cells cycled at 1C charge, 2C discharge, and 14 percent recharge is also presented.

Mcdermott, P. P.↗
NASA NTRS1989

View graphs for GSFC Colloquium on OFMspert

Viewgraphs providing an overview of activities concerned with the development and testing of the Operator Function Model (OFM) expert system (OFMspert) are presented. The OFM is a mathematical tool for representing operator interaction with predominantly automated space ground control systems. OFM provides cognitive task analysis and served as the basis for the design of an intelligent operator's associate called OMFspert. An experimental implementation of OFMspert, referred to as Ally, was developed. An empirical evaluation of Ally was conducted to determine the effectiveness of a supervisory control team consisting of a human operator and Ally versus a control team consisting of two human operators. The experiment was carried out in the GT-MSOCC (Georgia Tech MultiSatellite Operations Control Center) domain, a research tool consisting of a high fidelity implementation of the operator interface to a GSFC ground control system. The viewgraphs outline the experimental design, operator performance measures, and preliminary results.

Mitchell, Christine M.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Expert systems for automated maintenance of a Mars oxygen production system

A prototype expert system was developed for maintaining autonomous operation of a Mars oxygen production system. Normal operation conditions and failure modes according to certain desired criteria are tested and identified. Several schemes for failure detection and isolation using forward chaining, backward chaining, knowledge-based and rule-based are devised to perform several housekeeping functions. These functions include self-health checkout, an emergency shut down program, fault detection and conventional control activities. An effort was made to derive the dynamic model of the system using Bond-Graph technique in order to develop the model-based failure detection and isolation scheme by estimation method. Finally, computer simulations and experimental results demonstrated the feasibility of the expert system and a preliminary reliability analysis for the oxygen production system is also provided.

Ash, Robert L.↗
NASA NTRS1961

The Use of Higher-Order Difference Methods in Beam Vibration Analysis

Simple and higher-order difference methods for the solution for the natural frequencies of vibration of a uniform beam are compared. The same basic higher-order method is used throughout for the interior cells, but three different methods of boundary-condition representation are given. Tables and graphs of the error in mode frequencies, as compared with a continuous beam, are given for the various methods as a function of the number of cells. It is concluded that higher-order methods improve accuracy for a given number of cells, with essentially no change in the quantity of computing equipment required.

Greenwood, Donald T.↗
NASA NTRS2011

General Tool for Evaluating High-Contrast Coronagraphic Telescope Performance Error Budgets

The Coronagraph Performance Error Budget (CPEB) tool automates many of the key steps required to evaluate the scattered starlight contrast in the dark hole of a space-based coronagraph. The tool uses a Code V prescription of the optical train, and uses MATLAB programs to call ray-trace code that generates linear beam-walk and aberration sensitivity matrices for motions of the optical elements and line-of-sight pointing, with and without controlled fine-steering mirrors (FSMs). The sensitivity matrices are imported by macros into Excel 2007, where the error budget is evaluated. The user specifies the particular optics of interest, and chooses the quality of each optic from a predefined set of PSDs. The spreadsheet creates a nominal set of thermal and jitter motions, and combines that with the sensitivity matrices to generate an error budget for the system. CPEB also contains a combination of form and ActiveX controls with Visual Basic for Applications code to allow for user interaction in which the user can perform trade studies such as changing engineering requirements, and identifying and isolating stringent requirements. It contains summary tables and graphics that can be instantly used for reporting results in view graphs. The entire process to obtain a coronagraphic telescope performance error budget has been automated into three stages: conversion of optical prescription from Zemax or Code V to MACOS (in-house optical modeling and analysis tool), a linear models process, and an error budget tool process. The first process was improved by developing a MATLAB package based on the Class Constructor Method with a number of user-defined functions that allow the user to modify the MACOS optical prescription. The second process was modified by creating a MATLAB package that contains user-defined functions that automate the process. The user interfaces with the process by utilizing an initialization file where the user defines the parameters of the linear model computations. Other than this, the process is fully automated. The third process was developed based on the Terrestrial Planet Finder coronagraph Error Budget Tool, but was fully automated by using VBA code, form, and ActiveX controls.

Marchen, Luis F.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Affect of Brush Seals on Wave Rotor Performance Assessed

The NASA Lewis Research Center's experimental and theoretical research shows that wave rotor topping can significantly enhance gas turbine engine performance levels. Engine-specific fuel consumption and specific power are potentially enhanced by 15 and 20 percent, respectively, in small (e.g., 400 to 700 hp) and intermediate (e.g., 3000 to 5000 hp) turboshaft engines. Furthermore, there is potential for a 3- to 6-percent specific fuel consumption enhancement in large (e.g., 80,000 to 100,000 lbf) turbofan engines. This wave-rotor-enhanced engine performance is accomplished within current material-limited temperature constraints. The completed first phase of experimental testing involved a three-port wave rotor cycle in which medium total pressure inlet air was divided into two outlet streams, one of higher total pressure and one of lower total pressure. The experiment successfully provided the data needed to characterize viscous, partial admission, and leakage loss mechanisms. Statistical analysis indicated that wave rotor product efficiency decreases linearly with the rotor to end-wall gap, the square of the friction factor, and the square of the passage of nondimensional opening time. Brush seals were installed to further minimize rotor passage-to-cavity leakage. The graph shows the effect of brush seals on wave rotor product efficiency. For the second-phase experiment, which involves a four-port wave rotor cycle in which heat is added to the Brayton cycle in an external burner, a one-dimensional design/analysis code is used in conjunction with a wave rotor performance optimization scheme and a two-dimensional Navier-Stokes code. The purpose of the four-port experiment is to demonstrate and validate the numerically predicted four-port pressure ratio versus temperature ratio at pressures and temperatures lower than those that would be encountered in a future wave rotor/demonstrator engine test. Lewis and the Allison Engine Company are collaborating to investigate wave rotor integration in an existing turboshaft engine. Recent theoretical efforts include simulating wave rotor dynamics (e.g., startup and load-change transient analysis), modifying the one-dimensional wave rotor code to simulate combustion internal to the wave rotor, and developing an analytical wave rotor design/analysis tool based on macroscopic balances for parametric wave rotor/engine analysis.

Source record↗