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At least 415 records · Page 23

NASA/DOD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. Paper 47: The value of computer networks in aerospace

This paper presents data on the value of computer networks that were obtained from a national survey of 2000 aerospace engineers that was conducted in 1993. Survey respondents reported the extent to which they used computer networks in their work and communication and offered their assessments of the value of various network types and applications. They also provided information about the positive impacts of networks on their work, which presents another perspective on value. Finally, aerospace engineers' recommendations on network implementation present suggestions for increasing the value of computer networks within aerospace organizations.

Bishop, Ann Peterson↗

Completed Beltrami-Michell formulation for analyzing mixed boundary value problems in elasticity

In elasticity, the method of forces, wherein stress parameters are considered as the primary unknowns, is known as the Beltrami-Michell formulation (BMF). The existing BMF can only solve stress boundary value problems; it cannot handle the more prevalent displacement of mixed boundary value problems of elasticity. Therefore, this formulation, which has restricted application, could not become a true alternative to the Navier's displacement method, which can solve all three types of boundary value problems. The restrictions in the BMF have been alleviated by augmenting the classical formulation with a novel set of conditions identified as the boundary compatibility conditions. This new method, which completes the classical force formulation, has been termed the completed Beltrami-Michell formulation (CBMF). The CBMF can solve general elasticity problems with stress, displacement, and mixed boundary conditions in terms of stresses as the primary unknowns. The CBMF is derived from the stationary condition of the variational functional of the integrated force method. In the CBMF, stresses for kinematically stable structures can be obtained without any reference to the displacements either in the field or on the boundary. This paper presents the CBMF and its derivation from the variational functional of the integrated force method. Several examples are presented to demonstrate the applicability of the completed formulation for analyzing mixed boundary value problems under thermomechanical loads. Selected example problems include a cylindrical shell wherein membrane and bending responses are coupled, and a composite circular plate.

Patnaik, Surya N.↗

Accurate D0 Values for SiF and SiF+

Highly accurate D0 values are determined for SiF and SiF+ using the CCSD(T) approach in conjunction with basis set extrapolation. The results include the effect of spin-orbit coupling and core-valence correlation. Our best DO estimates for SiF and SiF+ are 141.5 and 159.7 kcal/mol, respectively, which we estimate to have an uncertainty of +/- 1.0 kcal/mol. For SiF, the value is significantly larger than the older experiments and only slightly larger than the most recent experiment. Our value is slightly larger than previous calculations. For SiF+ our best estimate is in good agreement with previous calculations and slightly smaller than the experimental value.

Bauschlicher, Charles W., Jr.↗

Advanced Life Support System Value Metric

The NASA Advanced Life Support (ALS) Program is required to provide a performance metric to measure its progress in system development. Extensive discussions within the ALS program have reached a consensus. The Equivalent System Mass (ESM) metric has been traditionally used and provides a good summary of the weight, size, and power cost factors of space life support equipment. But ESM assumes that all the systems being traded off exactly meet a fixed performance requirement, so that the value and benefit (readiness, performance, safety, etc.) of all the different systems designs are exactly equal. This is too simplistic. Actual system design concepts are selected using many cost and benefit factors and the system specification is then set accordingly. The ALS program needs a multi-parameter metric including both the ESM and a System Value Metric (SVM). The SVM would include safety, maintainability, reliability, performance, use of cross cutting technology, and commercialization potential. Another major factor in system selection is technology readiness level (TRL), a familiar metric in ALS. The overall ALS system metric that is suggested is a benefit/cost ratio, [SVM + TRL]/ESM, with appropriate weighting and scaling. The total value is the sum of SVM and TRL. Cost is represented by ESM. The paper provides a detailed description and example application of the suggested System Value Metric.

Jones, Harry W.↗

Advanced Life Support System Value Metric

The NASA Advanced Life Support (ALS) Program is required to provide a performance metric to measure its progress in system development. Extensive discussions within the ALS program have led to the following approach. The Equivalent System Mass (ESM) metric has been traditionally used and provides a good summary of the weight, size, and power cost factors of space life support equipment. But ESM assumes that all the systems being traded off exactly meet a fixed performance requirement, so that the value and benefit (readiness, performance, safety, etc.) of all the different systems designs are considered to be exactly equal. This is too simplistic. Actual system design concepts are selected using many cost and benefit factors and the system specification is defined after many trade-offs. The ALS program needs a multi-parameter metric including both the ESM and a System Value Metric (SVM). The SVM would include safety, maintainability, reliability, performance, use of cross cutting technology, and commercialization potential. Another major factor in system selection is technology readiness level (TRL), a familiar metric in ALS. The overall ALS system metric that is suggested is a benefit/cost ratio, SVM/[ESM + function (TRL)], with appropriate weighting and scaling. The total value is given by SVM. Cost is represented by higher ESM and lower TRL. The paper provides a detailed description and example application of a suggested System Value Metric and an overall ALS system metric.

Jones, Harry W.↗

An Extreme-Value Approach to Anomaly Vulnerability Identification

The objective of this paper is to present a method for importance analysis in parametric probabilistic modeling where the result of interest is the identification of potential engineering vulnerabilities associated with postulated anomalies in system behavior. In the context of Accident Precursor Analysis (APA), under which this method has been developed, these vulnerabilities, designated as anomaly vulnerabilities, are conditions that produce high risk in the presence of anomalous system behavior. The method defines a parameter-specific Parameter Vulnerability Importance measure (PVI), which identifies anomaly risk-model parameter values that indicate the potential presence of anomaly vulnerabilities, and allows them to be prioritized for further investigation. This entails analyzing each uncertain risk-model parameter over its credible range of values to determine where it produces the maximum risk. A parameter that produces high system risk for a particular range of values suggests that the system is vulnerable to the modeled anomalous conditions, if indeed the true parameter value lies in that range. Thus, PVI analysis provides a means of identifying and prioritizing anomaly-related engineering issues that at the very least warrant improved understanding to reduce uncertainty, such that true vulnerabilities may be identified and proper corrective actions taken.

Everett, Chris↗

Coding for Parallel Links to Maximize the Expected Value of Decodable Messages

When multiple parallel communication links are available, it is useful to consider link-utilization strategies that provide tradeoffs between reliability and throughput. Interesting cases arise when there are three or more available links. Under the model considered, the links have known probabilities of being in working order, and each link has a known capacity. The sender has a number of messages to send to the receiver. Each message has a size and a value (i.e., a worth or priority). Messages may be divided into pieces arbitrarily, and the value of each piece is proportional to its size. The goal is to choose combinations of messages to send on the links so that the expected value of the messages decodable by the receiver is maximized. There are three parts to the innovation: (1) Applying coding to parallel links under the model; (2) Linear programming formulation for finding the optimal combinations of messages to send on the links; and (3) Algorithms for assisting in finding feasible combinations of messages, as support for the linear programming formulation. There are similarities between this innovation and methods developed in the field of network coding. However, network coding has generally been concerned with either maximizing throughput in a fixed network, or robust communication of a fixed volume of data. In contrast, under this model, the throughput is expected to vary depending on the state of the network. Examples of error-correcting codes that are useful under this model but which are not needed under previous models have been found. This model can represent either a one-shot communication attempt, or a stream of communications. Under the one-shot model, message sizes and link capacities are quantities of information (e.g., measured in bits), while under the communications stream model, message sizes and link capacities are information rates (e.g., measured in bits/second). This work has the potential to increase the value of data returned from spacecraft under certain conditions.

Klimesh, Matthew A.↗

Visualizations to Aid Decision-Making in the ACCP Value Framework

The Aerosols, Clouds, Convection, and Precipitation Value Framework is used to introduce structure, transparency, and traceability into the decision-making process for a study formulating and assessing potential observing system concepts to respond to the 2017-2027 Decadal Survey for Earth Science and Applications. Within the Value Framework, visualizations play an important role in presenting information and structuring conversations around that information. This paper describes three guiding principles that were applied to the design of the visualizations of the Value Framework, presents examples of visualizations that serve at least one of several functions (structuring communication, facilitating elicitation and aggregation of data, and summarizing complex information), and identifies lessons learned from the development and implementation of those visualizations. The guiding principles and lessons learned have not only contributed to the success of the Value Framework and the ACCP study, but also can be applied in other decision-making activities.

Christopher A. Jones↗

Visualizations to Aid Decision-Making in the ACCP Value Framework

The Aerosols, Clouds, Convection, and Precipitation Value Framework is used to introduce structure, transparency, and traceability into the decision-making process for a study formulating and assessing potential observing system concepts to respond to the 2017-2027 Decadal Survey for Earth Science and Applications. Within the Value Framework, visualizations play an important role in presenting information and structuring conversations around that information. This paper describes three guiding principles that were applied to the design of the visualizations of the Value Framework, presents examples of visualizations that serve at least one of several functions (structuring communication, facilitating elicitation and aggregation of data, and summarizing complex information), and identifies lessons learned from the development and implementation of those visualizations. The guiding principles and lessons learned have not only contributed to the success of the Value Framework and the ACCP study, but also can be applied in other decision-making activities.

Christopher A Jones↗

Singular value decomposition utilizing parallel algorithms on graphical processors

One of the current challenges in underwater acoustic array signal processing is the detection of quiet targets in the presence of noise. In order to enable robust detection, one of the key processing steps requires data and replica whitening. This, in turn, involves the eigen-decomposition of the sample spectral matrix, Cx = 1/K xKX(k)XH(k) where X(k) denotes a single frequency snapshot with an element for each element of the array. By employing the singular value decomposition (SVD) method, the eigenvectors and eigenvalues can be determined directly from the data without computing the sample covariance matrix, reducing the computational requirements for a given level of accuracy (van Trees, Optimum Array Processing). (Recall that the SVD of a complex matrix A involves determining V, , and U such that A = U VH where U and V are orthonormal and is a positive, real, diagonal matrix containing the singular values of A. U and V are the eigenvectors of AAH and AHA, respectively, while the singular values are the square roots of the eigenvalues of AAH.) Because it is desirable to be able to compute these quantities in real time, an efficient technique for computing the SVD is vital. In addition, emerging multicore processors like graphical processing units (GPUs) are bringing parallel processing capabilities to an ever increasing number of users. Since the computational tasks involved in array signal processing are well suited for parallelization, it is expected that these computations will be implemented using GPUs as soon as users have the necessary computational tools available to them. Thus, it is important to have an SVD algorithm that is suitable for these processors. This work explores the effectiveness of two different parallel SVD implementations on an NVIDIA Tesla C2050 GPU (14 multiprocessors, 32 cores per multiprocessor, 1.15 GHz clock - peed). The first algorithm is based on a two-step algorithm which bidiagonalizes the matrix using Householder transformations, and then diagonalizes the intermediate bidiagonal matrix through implicit QR shifts. This is similar to that implemented for real matrices by Lahabar and Narayanan ("Singular Value Decomposition on GPU using CUDA", IEEE International Parallel Distributed Processing Symposium 2009). The implementation is done in a hybrid manner, with the bidiagonalization stage done using the GPU while the diagonalization stage is done using the CPU, with the GPU used to update the U and V matrices. The second algorithm is based on a one-sided Jacobi scheme utilizing a sequence of pair-wise column orthogonalizations such that A is replaced by AV until the resulting matrix is sufficiently orthogonal (that is, equal to U ). V is obtained from the sequence of orthogonalizations, while can be found from the square root of the diagonal elements of AH A and, once is known, U can be found from column scaling the resulting matrix. These implementations utilize CUDA Fortran and NVIDIA's CUB LAS library. The primary goal of this study is to quantify the comparative performance of these two techniques against themselves and other standard implementations (for example, MATLAB). Considering that there is significant overhead associated with transferring data to the GPU and with synchronization between the GPU and the host CPU, it is also important to understand when it is worthwhile to use the GPU in terms of the matrix size and number of concurrent SVDs to be calculated.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Influence of the course boundary value problem on length scale parmeters for second-gradient continuum theories

All nonlocal continuum descriptions of inelastic material response involve length scale parameters that either directly or implicitly quantify the physical dimensions of a neighborhood of response which influences the behavior at a particular point. The second-gradient continuum theories such as those developed by Germain, Toupin and Mindlin, and Eringen, and giving rise to strain-gradient plasticity, is becoming a common coarse-scale basis for homogenization of material response that respects the non local nature of heterogeneous material response. Ideally, the length scale parameters involved in such homogenization would be intrinsically associated with dominant aspects of the microstructure. However, these parameters, at least in some cases, are inextricably linked to the details of the coarse scale boundary value problem. Accordingly, they cannot be viewed as pure constitutive parameters. An example problem of multiscale homogenization is presented to underscore the dependence of second-gradient length scale parameters on the coarse scale boundary value problem, namely the multiscale response of an idealized porous microstructure. The fine scale (microstructure) comprises elastic perfectly plastic matrix with a periodic array of circular voids. This fine scale description of the problem is identical for two separate classes of coarse scale boundary value problem, viz. an extruded channel subject to compression and eventually developing plastic shear bands and a thin layer of material with larger (coarse scale) elliptical voids subject to shear deformation. Implications of the relationship between length scale parameters and the details of the coarse scale boundary value problem are discussed and ideas to ascertain such length parameters from evolving response fields are presented.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

An Approach to the Automated Determination of Host Information Value

Enterprise networks are comprised of thousands of interconnected computer hosts, each of which is capable of creating, removing, and exchanging data according to the needs of their users. Thus, the distribution of high-value, sensitive, and proprietary information across enterprise networks is poorly managed and understood. A significant technology gap in information security is the inability to automatically quantify the value of the information contained on each host in a network. Such insight would allow an enterprise to scale its defenses, react intelligently to an intrusion, manage its configuration audits, and understand the leak potential in the event that a host is compromised. This paper outlines a novel approach to the automated determination of the value of the information contained on a host computer. It involves the classification of each text document on the host machine using the frequency of the document s terms and phrases. A host information value is computed using an enterprise-defined weighting schema and applying it to a host s document distribution. The method is adaptable to specific organizational information needs, requires manual intervention only during schema creation, and is repeatable and consistent regardless of changes in information on the host machines.

Beaver, Justin M↗

Value of Energy Storage for Grid Applications (Report Summary) (Presentation)

This analysis evaluates several operational benefits of electricity storage, including load-leveling, spinning contingency reserves, and regulation reserves. Storage devices were simulated in a utility system in the western United States, and the operational costs of generation was compared to the same system without the added storage. This operational value of storage was estimated for devices of various sizes, providing different services, and with several sensitivities to fuel price and other factors. Overall, the results followed previous analyses that demonstrate relatively low value for load-leveling but greater value for provision of reserve services. The value was estimated by taking the difference in operational costs between cases with and without energy storage and represents the operational cost savings from deploying storage by a traditional vertically integrated utility. The analysis also estimated the potential revenues derived from a merchant storage plant in a restructured market, based on marginal system prices. Due to suppression of on-/off-peak price differentials and incomplete capture of system benefits (such as the cost of power plant starts), the revenue obtained by storage in a market setting appears to be substantially less than the net benefit provided to the system. This demonstrates some of the additional challenges for storage deployed in restructured energy markets.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Total Acid Value Titration of Hydrotreated Biomass Fast Pyrolysis Oil: Determination of Carboxylic Acids and Phenolics with Multiple End-Point Detection

Total acid value titration has long been used to estimate corrosive potential of petroleum crude oil and fuel oil products. The method commonly used for this measurement, ASTM D664, utilizes KOH in isopropanol as the titrant with potentiometric end point determination by pH sensing electrode and Ag/AgCl reference electrode with LiCl electrolyte. A natural application of the D664 method is titration of pyrolysis-derived bio-oil, which is a candidate for refinery upgrading to produce drop in fuels. Determining the total acid value of pyrolysis derived bio-oil has proven challenging and not necessarily amenable to the methodology employed for petroleum products due to the different nature of acids present. We presented an acid value titration for bio-oil products in our previous publication which also utilizes potentiometry using tetrabutylammonium hydroxide in place of KOH as the titrant and tetraethylammonium bromide in place of LiCl as the reference electrolyte to improve the detection of these types of acids. This method was shown to detect numerous end points in samples of bio-oil that were not detected by D664. These end points were attributed to carboxylic acids and phenolics based on the results of HPLC and GC-MS studies. Additional work has led to refinement of the method and it has been established that both carboxylic acids and phenolics can be determined accurately. Use of pH buffer calibration to determine half-neutralization potentials of acids in conjunction with the analysis of model compounds has allowed us to conclude that this titration method is suitable for the determination of total acid value of pyrolysis oil and can be used to differentiate and quantify weak acid species. The measurement of phenolics in bio-oil is subject to a relatively high limit of detection, which may limit the utility of titrimetric methodology for characterizing the acidic potential of pyrolysis oil and products.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Object detection with a multistatic array using singular value decomposition

A method and system for detecting the presence of subsurface objects within a medium is provided. In some embodiments, the detection system operates in a multistatic mode to collect radar return signals generated by an array of transceiver antenna pairs that is positioned across a surface and that travels down the surface. The detection system converts the return signals from a time domain to a frequency domain, resulting in frequency return signals. The detection system then performs a singular value decomposition for each frequency to identify singular values for each frequency. The detection system then detects the presence of a subsurface object based on a comparison of the identified singular values to expected singular values when no subsurface object is present.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Towards a theory of economic value for modeling and simulation: incremental cost of parallel simulation (wip)

A useful perspective on the economic value of simulation in engineering comes from considering the role simulation plays in constructing a system. We propose a conceptual model that combines an embryonic concept of the value of an information bit with cost estimation tools used in software engineering. The model provides an economic justification for the common conception that models should be built to address specific questions rather than to comprehensively represent a referent system. Extending these ideas, we offer a model for the incremental value of parallel execution to explain why simulation applications that take advantage of sophisticated parallel discrete event simulation tools form a relatively narrow niche despite the ubiquity of parallel computing hardware. The proposed model enables us to bring value of information criteria into model development and to make predictions about the future of parallel simulation applications.

Nutaro, James J↗

Comparing the Value of Improved Variable Renewable Energy Forecasting Accuracy in South African and United States Power Systems: Preprint

The value associated with an improved VRE forecast in has been quantified in this research. The value of improved VRE forecasts can increase with increasing VRE penetration levels with the range of this value becoming wider at increasing penetration levels. This value also saturates with high levels of improved VRE forecasts as there is relatively lower impact of improving VRE forecasts further. This paper discusses how the improvement of variable renewable energy (VRE) forecasting could impact the South African power system and a United States power system.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Math processing by detection of elementary valued operands

One embodiment of the present invention includes a method for simplifying arithmetic operations by detecting operands with elementary values such as zero or 1.0. Computer and graphics processing systems perform a great number of multiply-add operations. In a significant portion of these operations, the values of one or more of the operands are zero or 1.0. By detecting the occurrence of these elementary values, math operations can be greatly simplified, for example by eliminating multiply operations when one multiplicand is zero or 1.0 or eliminating add operations when one addend is zero. The simplified math operations resulting from detecting elementary valued operands provide significant savings in overhead power, dynamic processing power, and cycle time.

Finchelstein, Daniel Frederic↗