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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1972

Control of linear uncertain systems utilizing mismatched state observers

The control of linear continuous dynamical systems is investigated as a problem of limited state feedback control. The equations which describe the structure of an observer are developed constrained to time-invarient systems. The optimal control problem is formulated, accounting for the uncertainty in the design parameters. Expressions for bounds on closed loop stability are also developed. The results indicate that very little uncertainty may be tolerated before divergence occurs in the recursive computation algorithms, and the derived stability bound yields extremely conservative estimates of regions of allowable parameter variations.

Goldstein, B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The experimental results of a self tuning adaptive controller using online frequency identification

A fourth-order laboratory dynamic system featuring very low structural damping and a noncolocated actuator-sensor pair has been used to test a novel real-time adaptive controller, implemented in a minicomputer, which consists of a state estimator, a set of state feedback gains, and a frequency-locked loop for real-time parameter identification. The adaptation algorithm employed can correct controller error and stabilize the system for more than 50 percent variation in the plant's natural frequency, compared with a 10 percent stability margin in frequency variation for a fixed gain controller having the same performance as the nominal plant condition. The very rapid convergence achievable by this adaptive system is demonstrated experimentally, and proven with simple, root-locus methods.

Chiang, W.-W.↗
NASA NTRS1987

A new approach to adaptive control of manipulators

An approach in which the manipulator inverse is used as a feedforward controller is employed in the adaptive control of manipulators in order to achieve trajectory tracking by the joint angles. The desired trajectory is applied as an input to the feedforward controller, and the controller output is used as the driving torque for the manipulator. An adaptive algorithm obtained from MRAC theory is used to update the controller gains to cope with variations in the manipulator inverse due to changes of the operating point. An adaptive feedback controller and an auxiliary signal enhance closed-loop stability and achieve faster adaptation. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme for different reference trajectories, and despite large variations in the payload.

Seraji, H.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A numerical study of hypersonic stagnation heat transfer predictions at a coordinate singularity

The problem of grid induced errors associated with a coordinate singularity on heating predictions in the stagnation region of a three-dimensional body in hypersonic flow is examined. The test problem is for Mach 10 flow over an Aeroassist Flight Experiment configuration. This configuration is composed of an elliptic nose, a raked elliptic cone, and a circular shoulder. Irregularities in the heating predictions in the vicinity of the coordinate singularity, located at the axis of the elliptic nose near the stagnation point, are examined with respect to grid refinement and grid restructuring. The algorithm is derived using a finite-volume formulation. An upwind-biased total-variation diminishing scheme is employed for the inviscid flux contribution, and central differences are used for the viscous terms.

Grasso, Francesco↗
NASA NTRS1991

Temperature dependence of optical properties of GaAs

The effect of temperature on the optical properties of GaAs was investigated using spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements, between room temperature and about 610 C in increments of 50 C, of pseudodielectric functions and related optical constants of GaAs. A quantitative analysis of the pseudodielectric function spectrum was carried out using a harmonic-oscillator approximation (HOA) to fit the measured dielectric functions. Good fits were obtained with this model, which provides a convenient means of reproducing the GaAs dielectric function at any temperature, by using the temperature-dependent oscillator parameters. The HOA analysis also provides information about band-gap variation with temperature. Using the measured optical constants at a number of fixed temperatures, an algorithm was developed for computing the dielectric function spectrum at an arbitrary temperature in the range 22-610 C.

Yao, Huade↗
NASA NTRS1992

Real time thermal imaging for analysis and control of crystal growth by the Czochralski technique

A real time thermal imaging system with temperature resolution better than +/- 0.5 C and spatial resolution of better than 0.5 mm has been developed. It has been applied to the analysis of melt surface thermal field distributions in both Czochralski and liquid encapsulated Czochralski growth configurations. The sensor can provide single/multiple point thermal information; a multi-pixel averaging algorithm has been developed which permits localized, low noise sensing and display of optical intensity variations at any location in the hot zone as a function of time. Temperature distributions are measured by extraction of data along a user selectable linear pixel array and are simultaneously displayed, as a graphic overlay, on the thermal image.

Wargo, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Configuration optimization of space structures

The objective is to develop a computer aid for the conceptual/initial design of aerospace structures, allowing configurations and shape to be apriori design variables. The topics are presented in viewgraph form and include the following: Kikuchi's homogenization method; a classical shape design problem; homogenization method steps; a 3D mechanical component design example; forming a homogenized finite element; a 2D optimization problem; treatment of volume inequality constraint; algorithms for the volume inequality constraint; object function derivatives--taking advantage of design locality; stiffness variations; variations of potential; and schematics of the optimization problem.

Felippa, Carlos↗
NASA NTRS2009

Performance of MODIS Thermal Emissive Bands On-orbit Calibration Algorithms

Two nearly identical copies of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) are currently operated on-board the Terra and Aqua spacecrafts, launched in December 1999 and May 2002, respectively. Together, they have produced an unprecedented amount of science data products, which are widely used for the studies of changes in the Earth's system of land, oceans, and atmosphere. MODIS is a cross-track scanning radiometer, which uses a two-sided scan mirror and collects data continuously over a wide scan angle range (+/-55 degree relative to the instrument nadir) each scan of 1.47 seconds. It has 36 spectral bands with wavelengths ranging from visible (VIS) to long-wave infrared (LWIR). MODIS bands 1-19 and 26 are the reflective solar bands (RSB) and bands 20-25 and 27-36 are the thermal emissive bands (TEB). MODIS was developed and designed with improvements made over its heritage sensors (such as AVHRR and Landsat) and, in particular, with more stringent calibration requirements. Because of this, MODIS was built with a set of state-of-art on-board calibrators (OBC), which include a solar diffuser (SD), a solar diffuser stability monitor (SDSM), a blackbody (BB), a spectroradiometric calibration assembly (SRCA), and a space view (SV) port. With the exception of view angle differences, MODIS OBC measurements and the Earth View (EV) observations are made via the same optical path. MODIS TEB have a total of 160 individual TEB detectors (10 per band), which are located on two cold focal plane assemblies (CFPA). For nominal on-orbit operation, the CFPA temperature is controlled at 83K via a passive radiative cooler. For the TEB, the calibration requirements at specified typical scene radiances are less than or equal to 1% with an exception for the fire detection (low gain) band. MODIS TEB on-orbit calibration is performed on a scan-by-scan basis using a quadratic calibration algorithm, and data collected from sensor responses to the onboard BB and SV. The BB serves as the thermal calibration source and the SV provides measurements for the sensor's background and offsets. MODIS on-board BB is a v-grooved plate with its temperature measured using 12 platinum resistive thermistors (PRT) uniformly embedded in the BB substrate. All the BB thermistors were characterized pre-launch with reference to the NIST temperature standards. Unlike typical BB operations in many heritage sensors, which have no temperature control capability, the MODIS on-board BB can be operated at any temperatures between instrument ambient (about 270K) and 315K and can also be varied continuously within this range. This feature has significantly enhanced the MODIS' capability of tracking and updating the TEB nonlinear calibration coefficients over its entire mission. Following a brief description of MODIS TEB on-orbit calibration methodologies and its onboard BB operational activities, this paper provides a comprehensive performance assessment of MODIS TEB quadratic calibration algorithm. It examines the scan-by-scan, orbit-by-orbit, daily, and seasonal variations of detector responses and associated impact due changes in the CFPA and instrument temperatures. Specifically, this paper will analyze the contribution by each individual thermal emissive source term (BB, scan cavity, and scan mirror), the impact on the Level 1 B data product quality due to pre-launch and on-orbit calibration uncertainties. A comparison of Terra and Aqua TEB on-orbit performance, lessons learned, and suggestions for future improvements will also be made.

Xiong, Xiaoxiong↗
NASA NTRS2014

Non-Intrusive Sensor for In-Situ Measurement of Recession Rate of Ablative and Eroding Materials

A non-intrusive sensor for in-situ measurement of recession rate of heat shield ablatives. An ultrasonic wave source is carried in the housing. A microphone is also carried in the housing, for collecting the reflected ultrasonic waves from an interface surface of the ablative material. A time phasing control circuit is also included for time-phasing the ultrasonic wave source so that the waves reflected from the interface surface of the ablative material focus on the microphone, to maximize the acoustic pressure detected by the microphone and to mitigate acoustic velocity variation effects through the material through a de-coupling process that involves a software algorithm. A software circuit for computing the location off of which the ultrasonic waves scattered to focus back at the microphone is also included, so that the recession rate of the heat shield ablative may be monitored in real-time through the scan-focus approach.

Papadopoulos, George↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Automatic Boundary-Layer Adaptation of Structured Grids in VULCAN-CFD

In supersonic and hypersonic flow computations, well-resolved boundary layers are essential for accurate quantification of surface heating and transition prediction, particularly via linear stability analysis. Grid design for hypersonic flows with shocks, boundary-layer separation, and/or complex mean flow features incorporating spanwise/azimuthal inhomogeneities is a difficult issue. In comparison to a manual grid adaptation procedure, an autonomous grid adaptation technique offers significant improvements in computing time and solution quality. The VULCAN-CFD solver already includes a validated procedure for automatic adaption of structured grids to the bow shock. The present focus is on implementing an automatic boundary-layer adaptation capability in VULCAN-CFD that adapts structured, multiblock grids to both the bow shock and the boundary layer at the same time. The boundary-layer adaptation algorithm allows the user to specify the number of cells within the boundary layer, along with the input parameters used for detecting the edge of the boundary layer, namely, the variable used in the edge detection criterion,the edge detection method, the detection direction, and the relaxation factor used during the morphing of the grid. The algorithm automatically distributes grid points along the wall-normal direction to achieve a smooth variation in grid spacing from the edge of the boundary layer to a"junction" location within the outer part of the grid. Illustrative results are presented for three different high-speed configurations: the two-dimensional flow over a cylinder at Mach 17.6 and unit Reynolds number of Re=0.38x10^6 m^-1, the axisymmetric flow over a cone-cylinder-flare model at Mach 6.0 and Re = 10.5×10^6 m^-1, and the three-dimensional flow over a blunt, 7-degree half-angle cone at 5-degree angle of attack in a Mach 9.79 flow with Re = 17.1×10^6 m^-1. The automated boundary-layer adaptation is shown to provide an adequate grid topology that is aligned with the bow shock in the outer part of the grid and also resolves the viscous boundary-layer region close to the surface.

boundary layer transition↗
NASA NTRS1989

Upwind-biased, point-implicit relaxation strategies for hypersonic flowfield simulations on supercomputers

An upwind-biased, point-implicit relaxation algorithm for obtaining the numerical solution to the governing equations for three-dimensional, viscous, hypersonic flows in chemical and thermal nonequilibrium is described. The algorithm is derived using a finite-volume formulation in which the inviscid components of flux across cell walls are described with Roe's averaging and Harten's entropy fix with second-order corrections based on Yee's Symmetric Total Variation Diminishing scheme. The relaxation strategy is well suited for computers employing either vector or parallel architectures, and the relation between computer architecture and algorithm is emphasized. It is also well suited to the numerical solution of the governing equations on unstructured grids. Because of the point-implicit relaxation strategy, the algorithm remains stable at large Courant numbers without the necessity of solving large. block tri-diagonal systems. A single relaxation step depends only on information from nearest neighbors. Predictions for pressure distributions, surface heating, and aerodynamic coefficients compare well with experimental data for Mach 10 flow over a blunt body. Predictions for the hypersonic flow of air in chemical and thermal nonequilibrium (velocity = 8917 m/s, altitude = 78 km.) over the Aeroassist Flight Experiment (AFE) configuration obtained on a multi-domain grid are discussed.

Gnoffo, Peter A.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Effect of stratification and geometrical spreading on sonic boom rise time

The purpose of our investigation is to determine the effect of unsteadiness (not associated with turbulence) on rise time. The unsteadiness considered here is due to (1) geometrical spreading, (2) stratification, which includes variation in density, temperature, and relative humidity, and (3) N shaped waveform. A very general Burgers equation, which includes all these effects, is the propagation model for our study. The equation is solved by a new computational algorithm in which all the calculations are done in the time domain. The present paper is a progress report in which some of the factors contributing to unsteadiness are studied, namely geometrical spreading and variation in relative humidity. The work of Pierce and Kang, which motivated our study, is first reviewed. We proceed with a discussion of the Burgers equation model and the algorithm for solving the equation. Some comparison tests to establish the validity of the algorithm are presented. The algorithm is then used to determine the distance required for a steady-state shock, on encountering an abrupt change in relative humidity, to reach a new steady state based on the new humidity. It is found that the transition distance for plane shocks of amplitude 70 Pa is about 4 km when the change in relative humidity is 10 percent. Shocks of amplitude 140 Pa require less distance. The effect of spherical and cylindrical spreading is also considered. We demonstrate that a spreading shock wave never reaches steady state and that its rise time will be less than the equivalent steady state shock. Finally we show that an N wave has a slightly shorter rise time than a step shock of the same amplitude.

Cleveland, Robin O.↗
NASA NTRS1976

An algorithm for selecting a radiation transport subgrid for ablation and radiation coupled hypersonic viscous shock-layer problems

An algorithm is described for selecting a grid subset for calculating radiative transport. The subset spacing is determined by using the variation in aerothermal properties across the full grid of the shock layer. Results show that a radiation grid subset of 15 to 20 points can be used for viscous-shock layer calculations where approximately 50 grid points are required to define the aerothermal profiles. Results are presented for various planetary entry conditions with and without mass injection to demonstrate both the validity and utility of the algorithm.

Bolz, C. W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Algebraic grid generation using tensor product B-splines

Finite difference methods are more successful if the accompanying grid has lines which are smooth and nearly orthogonal. The development of an algorithm which produces such a grid when given the boundary description. Topological considerations in structuring the grid generation mapping are discussed. The concept of the degree of a mapping and how it can be used to determine what requirements are necessary if a mapping is to produce a suitable grid is examined. The grid generation algorithm uses a mapping composed of bicubic B-splines. Boundary coefficients are chosen so that the splines produce Schoenberg's variation diminishing spline approximation to the boundary. Interior coefficients are initially chosen to give a variation diminishing approximation to the transfinite bilinear interpolant of the function mapping the boundary of the unit square onto the boundary grid. The practicality of optimizing the grid by minimizing a functional involving the Jacobian of the grid generation mapping at each interior grid point and the dot product of vectors tangent to the grid lines is investigated. Grids generated by using the algorithm are presented.

Saunders, B. V.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Highlights of TOMS Version 9 Total Ozone Algorithm

The fundamental basis of TOMS total ozone algorithm was developed some 45 years ago by Dave and Mateer. It was designed to estimate total ozone from satellite measurements of the backscattered UV radiances at few discrete wavelengths in the Huggins ozone absorption band (310-340 nm). Over the years, as the need for higher accuracy in measuring total ozone from space has increased, several improvements to the basic algorithms have been made. They include: better correction for the effects of aerosols and clouds, an improved method to account for the variation in shape of ozone profiles with season, latitude, and total ozone, and a multi-wavelength correction for remaining profile shape errors. These improvements have made it possible to retrieve total ozone with just 3 spectral channels of moderate spectral resolution (approx. 1 nm) with accuracy comparable to state-of-the-art spectral fitting algorithms like DOAS that require high spectral resolution measurements at large number of wavelengths. One of the deficiencies of the TOMS algorithm has been that it doesn't provide an error estimate. This is a particular problem in high latitudes when the profile shape errors become significant and vary with latitude, season, total ozone, and instrument viewing geometry. The primary objective of the TOMS V9 algorithm is to account for these effects in estimating the error bars. This is done by a straightforward implementation of the Rodgers optimum estimation method using a priori ozone profiles and their error covariances matrices constructed using Aura MLS and ozonesonde data. The algorithm produces a vertical ozone profile that contains 1-2.5 pieces of information (degrees of freedom of signal) depending upon solar zenith angle (SZA). The profile is integrated to obtain the total column. We provide information that shows the altitude range in which the profile is best determined by the measurements. One can use this information in data assimilation and analysis. A side benefit of this algorithm is that it is considerably simpler than the present algorithm that uses a database of 1512 profiles to retrieve total ozone. These profiles are tedious to construct and modify. Though conceptually similar to the SBUV V8 algorithm that was developed about a decade ago, the SBUV and TOMS V9 algorithms differ in detail. The TOMS algorithm uses 3 wavelengths to retrieve the profile while the SBUV algorithm uses 6-9 wavelengths, so TOMS provides less profile information. However both algorithms have comparable total ozone information and TOMS V9 can be easily adapted to use additional wavelengths from instruments like GOME, OMI and OMPS to provide better profile information at smaller SZAs. The other significant difference between the two algorithms is that while the SBUV algorithm has been optimized for deriving monthly zonal means by making an appropriate choice of the a priori error covariance matrix, the TOMS algorithm has been optimized for tracking short-term variability using month and latitude dependent covariance matrices.

Bhartia, Pawan↗
NASA NTRS2017

Global navigation satellite system reflectometry (GNSS-R) algorithms for wetland observations

It is important to closely monitor the state of the world’s wetlands, as climate change and human encroachment in a rapid global urbanization trend threaten to cause large-scale wetland collapse. Because wetlands are often difficult to observe in situ, remote sensing is the only viable way to map wetland extent globally. However, current remote sensing methods suffer limitations in capturing wetland extent, and more importantly, wetland dynamics at appropriate spatial and temporal scales. GNSSReflectometry could help fill the current observation gap, as experimental data show that ground-reflected GNSS signals are very sensitive to changes in inundated areas. Furthermore, because this technique only requires a custom developed receiver and antenna system, a constellation of such instruments can potentially be launched at relatively low cost, providing global observations at sub-daily intervals. One challenge remains, however, which is quantitatively formulating the geophysical product of reflections over the land surface in various states of inundation. Here, we use a novel reflection dataset, derived from the SMAP radar receiver, to elucidate the sensitivity of reflections to small land surface features and their seasonal variations. Additionally, we quantify the dynamic range of reflections over both open and closed wetlands, and suggest an algorithm for wetland type classification.

UNKNOWN↗
NASA NTRS1974

A finite element solution algorithm for the Navier-Stokes equations

A finite element solution algorithm is established for the two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations governing the steady-state kinematics and thermodynamics of a variable viscosity, compressible multiple-species fluid. For an incompressible fluid, the motion may be transient as well. The primitive dependent variables are replaced by a vorticity-streamfunction description valid in domains spanned by rectangular, cylindrical and spherical coordinate systems. Use of derived variables provides a uniformly elliptic partial differential equation description for the Navier-Stokes system, and for which the finite element algorithm is established. Explicit non-linearity is accepted by the theory, since no psuedo-variational principles are employed, and there is no requirement for either computational mesh or solution domain closure regularity. Boundary condition constraints on the normal flux and tangential distribution of all computational variables, as well as velocity, are routinely piecewise enforceable on domain closure segments arbitrarily oriented with respect to a global reference frame.

Baker, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The influence of NO and ClO variations at twilight on the interpretation of solar occultation measurements

Measurement of short-lived photochemically-produced species in the stratosphere by solar occultation is difficult because the rapid variation of such species near the terminator introduces ambiguities in interpreting the measured absorption in terms of meaningful atmospheric abundances. These variations produce tangent path concentrations that are asymmetric relative to the tangent point, as opposed to the symmetrical distribution usually assumed in most inversion algorithms. Neglect of this asymmetry may yield an inverted profile that deviates significantly from the true sunset/sunrise profile. In the present paper, the influence of this effect on solar occultation measurements of ClO and NO is examined. The results show that average inhomogeneity factors, which measure the concentration variation along the tangent path and which can be calculated from a photochemical model, can indicate which species require more careful data analysis.

Boughner, R.↗