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At least 307 records · Page 17

The application of TSIM software to act design and analysis on flexible aircraft

The TSIM software is described. This is a package which uses an interactive FORTRAN-like simulation language for the simulation on nonlinear dynamic systems and offers facilities which include: mixed continuous and discrete time systems, time response calculations, numerical optimization, automatic trimming of nonlinear aircraft systems, and linearization of nonlinear equations for eigenvalues, frequency responses and power spectral response evaluation. Details are given of the application of TSIM to the analysis of aeroelastic systems under the RAE Farborough extension FLEX-SIM. The aerodynamic and structural data for the equations of motion of a flexible aircraft are prepared by a preprocessor program for incorporation in TSIM simulations. Within the simulation, the flexible aircraft model may then be selected interactively for different flight conditions and modal reduction techniques applied. The use of FLEX-SIM is demonstrated by an example of the flutter prediction for a simple aeroelastic model. By utilizing the numerical optimization facility of TSIM, it is possible to undertake identification of required parameters in the TSIM model within the simulation.

Kaynes, Ian W.↗

A new method for analysis of limit cycle behavior of the NASA/JPL 70-meter antenna axis servos

A piecewise linear method of analyzing the effects of discontinuous nonlinearities on control system performance is described. The limit cycle oscillatory behavior of the system resulting from the nonlinearities is described in terms of a sequence of linear system transient responses. The equations are derived which relate the initial and the terminal conditions of successive transients and the boundary conditions imposed by the non-linearities. The method leads to a convenient computation algorithm for prediction of limit cycle characteristics resulting from discontinuous nonlinearities such as friction, deadzones, and hysteresis.

Hill, R. E.↗

Analysis, modelling and simulation of the large-angle magnetic suspension test fixture

The large-angle magnetic suspension test fixture (LAMSTF) research project is described which is based on a sophisticated finite element computer program, VF/GFUN, for calculating magnetic fields. The LAMSTF design includes eddy current paths the effect of which on system dynamics is being studied to modify the system dynamic model and the digital controller. Linearized equations of motions have been developed for system modelling and analysis of controllers.

Britcher, Colin P.↗

Transient Simulation of the Integrated Powerhead Demonstrator (IPD) Rocket Engine

The IPD rocket engine is the product of a joint Air Force/NASA program to demonstrate the concept of a full-flow staged combustion power cycle. In this type of rocket engine cycle, both the entire fuel flow and the entire oxidizer flow are combusted in one of two pre-bumers and used to drive two turbopumps, thus utilizing the flow work of the total propellant flow. The basis of the IPD engine program relies on integrating newly developed and pre-existing hardware to demonstrate the component and material technologies to make this concept feasible, while simultaneously saving development time and costs. To provide insight to the project team and contractors during engine development and test phases, the engine system was modeled at MSFC using the Rocket Engine Transient Simulation (ROCETS) software to analyze system performance and determine component integration issues. The ROCETS software is used extensively a MSFC to perform steady-state power-balances and transient simulations of thermodynamic power and general fluid systems. The software is favored for its capability to solve large systems of non-linear equations, its librarie of fluid properties and flow devices, its flexibility to modify existing code to improve the physics-derived approximations of real fluid thermodynamic behavior, and the ability to add unique system constraints. The purpose of this paper is to present the methodology used to model the IPD engine system, detail the pitfalls encountered with the software, and explain the approximations made to more accurately represent engine component and fluid behavior. Engine system performance output from the model will be presented and explained in comparison with real fluid and component behavior.

Guidos, Mike↗

Decentralized regulation of dynamic systems

A special class of decentralized control problem is discussed in which the objectives of the control agents are to steer the state of the system to desired levels. Each agent is concerned about certain aspects of the state of the entire system. The state and control equations are given for linear time-invariant systems. Stability and coordination, and the optimization of decentralized control are analyzed, and the information structure design is presented.

Chu, K. C.↗

A Coupled Aeroelastic Model for Launch Vehicle Stability Analysis

A technique for incorporating distributed aerodynamic normal forces and aeroelastic coupling effects into a stability analysis model of a launch vehicle is presented. The formulation augments the linear state-space launch vehicle plant dynamics that are compactly derived as a system of coupled linear differential equations representing small angular and translational perturbations of the rigid body, nozzle, and sloshing propellant coupled with normal vibration of a set of orthogonal modes. The interaction of generalized forces due to aeroelastic coupling and thrust can be expressed as a set of augmenting non-diagonal stiffness and damping matrices in modal coordinates with no penalty on system order. While the eigenvalues of the structural response in the presence of thrust and aeroelastic forcing can be predicted at a given flight condition independent of the remaining degrees of freedom, the coupled model provides confidence in closed-loop stability in the presence of rigid-body, slosh, and actuator dynamics. Simulation results are presented that characterize the coupled dynamic response of the Ares I launch vehicle and the impact of aeroelasticity on control system stability margins.

Orr, Jeb S.↗

Development of iterative techniques for the solution of unsteady compressible viscous flows

The development of efficient iterative solution methods for the numerical solution of two- and three-dimensional compressible Navier-Stokes equations is discussed. Iterative time marching methods have several advantages over classical multi-step explicit time marching schemes, and non-iterative implicit time marching schemes. Iterative schemes have better stability characteristics than non-iterative explicit and implicit schemes. In this work, another approach based on the classical conjugate gradient method, known as the Generalized Minimum Residual (GMRES) algorithm is investigated. The GMRES algorithm has been used in the past by a number of researchers for solving steady viscous and inviscid flow problems. Here, we investigate the suitability of this algorithm for solving the system of non-linear equations that arise in unsteady Navier-Stokes solvers at each time step.

Sankar, Lakshmi N.↗

Dynamics of a spinning space station with a counterweight connected by multiple cables.

A unique and relatively simple approach is presented for obtaining the linearized equations of motion. A conservative system consisting of two rigid bodies connected by any number of massless cables with linear axial stiffness is assumed. The cable forces and torques are expanded in a Taylor series about the equilibrium values of the system coordinates which results in a cable stiffness matrix. The method of obtaining the equilibrium values of the coordinates is discussed and results are presented. The range of validity of the linear model is determined by comparing results with a digital simulation of the nonlinear system.

Nixon, D. D.↗

Perturbation solution of the Navier-Stokes equations and its relation to the Lighthill-Curle solution of aerodynamic sound

The aerodynamic sound described by the Lighthill-Curle solution is reexamined using a method of matched asymptotic expansions. The governing Navier-Stokes equations written in nondimensional form are expanded for a small Mach number. First- and second-order solutions for the pressure field are obtained, and the singular nature of the expansion at large distances is indicated. The nearfield pressure is governed by the Poisson equation, whereas the farfield equations describe a linear wave system in a dissipative medium. The pseudosound is related to the incompressible Reynolds stresses associated with a solenoidal velocity field, the velocity, the pressure perturbation, and their derivatives on the boundaries. A uniformly valid first-order solution for the pressure is obtained. It is shown that viscosity, thermal conductivity, and entropy in the flow do not contribute to the first-order noise generation, while the viscous stress contributes to noise only from some boundaries. The application of the proposed perturbation method to a subsonically moving surface and a hot jet is discussed.

Pan, Y. S.↗

Calculation of unsteady transonic flows using the integral equation method

The basic integral equations for a harmonically oscillating airfoil in a transonic flow with shock waves are derived; the reduced frequency is assumed to be small. The problems associated with shock wave motion are treated using a strained coordinate system. The integral equation is linear and consists of both line integrals and surface integrals over the flow field which are evaluated by quadrature. This leads to a set of linear algebraic equations that can be solved directly. The shock motion is obtained explicitly by enforcing the condition that the flow is continuous except at a shock wave. Results obtained for both lifting and nonlifting oscillatory flows agree satisfactorily with other accurate results.

Nixon, D.↗

Identification of aerodynamic indicial functions using flight data

It is pointed out that the use of indicial function representation provides a model superior to the aerodynamic derivative model. Specific derivatives can be approximated from the indicial models. The model can also be used to compute equivalent stability and control parameters not usually available from flight data. It is shown that derivatives regarding the angle-of-attack and the side slip angle can be derived directly from the indicial functions without any identifiability problem. Attention is given to the pitch moment coefficient, linear indicial function representation, the identification problem for the pitch moment equation, the identifiability of linear systems, parametric representations of the indicial functions, an identification technique, angle-of-attack and pitch rate dynamics in the pitch plane, multivariate linear models, nonlinear aerodynamic indicial functions, measurement system accuracy, and poststall and spin-entry data from a scaled research vehicle.

Gupta, N. K.↗