A proposed spacecraft-to-earth communications link - the unified carrier approach.
Unified carrier, range tracking and communications system using phase-locked loop techniques for coherent spacecraft-to-Earth communications
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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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Nimbus C first orbit flight evaluation report
Flight evaluation of power, control, thermal, and pulse code modulation signal subsystems during first orbit of Nimbus C satellite
Morgan, F., Jr.↗
A shortcut to the riddle of the moon
The Lunar Data Information Center which serves as a reference and lending collection is described. The Center incorporates such methods as a classification scheme for mission-oriented documentation, sample photo browse files, lunar feature index, and color coding; a computer-based Moon Literature Bibliography provides search capability.
Waranius, F. B.↗
Design and development of the ERBE data management system
The Earth radiation budget experiment (ERBE) software development approach is described. An iterative development approach was adopted which provides for three releases or versions of the processing system, each of increasing levels of complexity and solidity. The final release of the system will be used to process the flight data. The major phases for each iterative release consist of specifications developed in concert with the science team, preliminary design, subsystem reviews, coding, subsystem code walkthroughs, system testing, system documentation, and project status review.
Kibler, J. F.↗
On the dynamic collapse of a column impacting a rigid surface
Results are presented of an analytical investigation on the dynamic collapse of an elastic periodically supported column. The column has an attached mass at one end and impacts a rigid surface with prescribed velocity and angle of incidence at the other end. A first-order approximate nonlinear analysis is developed in which it is assumed that only first-order nonlinear terms need be retained. Differential equations are derived and solved numerically by explicit time integration in order to determine specific ranges of the basic nondimensional parameters for which the response characteristics are markedly different. To assess modeling sophistication relative to prediction accuracy, a comparison is made of the results from this approximate analysis with those of a finite element computer code based on a convected coordinate formulation.
Housner, J. M.↗
A wide bandwidth electrostatic field sensor for lightning research
Data obtained from UHF Radar observation of direct-lightning strikes to the NASA F-106B airplane have indicated that most of the 690 strikes acquired during direct-strike lightning tests were triggered by the aircraft. As an aid in understanding the triggered lightning process, a wide bandwidth electric field measuring system was designed for the F-106B by implementing a clamped-detection signal processing concept originated at the Air Force Cambridge Research Lab in 1953. The detection scheme combines the signals from complementary stator pairs clamped to zero volts at the exact moment when each stator pair is maximally shielded by the rotor, a process that restores the dc level lost by the charge amplifier. The new system was implemented with four shutter-type field mills located at strategic points on the airplane. The bandwidth of the new system was determined in the laboratory to be from dc to over 100 Hz, whereas past designs had upper limits of 10 Hz to 100 Hz. To obtain the undisturbed electric field vector and total aircraft charge, the airborne field mill system is calibrated by using techniques involving results from ground and flight calibrations of the F-106B, laboratory tests of a metallized model, and a finite-difference time-domain electromagnetic computer code.
Zaepfel, K. P.↗
Further results on finite-state codes
A general construction for finite-state (FS) codes is applied to some well-known block codes. Subcodes of the (24,12) Golay code are used to generate two optimal FS codes with d sub free = 12 and 16. A partition of the (16,8) Nordstrom-Robinson code yields a d sub free = 10 FS code. Simulation results are shown and decoding algorithms are briefly discussed.
Pollara, F.↗
Multitasking for flows about multiple body configurations using the chimera grid scheme
The multitasking of a finite-difference scheme using multiple overset meshes is described. In this chimera, or multiple overset mesh approach, a multiple body configuration is mapped using a major grid about the main component of the configuration, with minor overset meshes used to map each additional component. This type of code is well suited to multitasking. Both steady and unsteady two dimensional computations are run on parallel processors on a CRAY-X/MP 48, usually with one mesh per processor. Flow field results are compared with single processor results to demonstrate the feasibility of running multiple mesh codes on parallel processors and to show the increase in efficiency.
Dougherty, F. C.↗
Noiseless Coding Of Magnetometer Signals
Report discusses application of noiseless data-compression coding to digitized readings of spaceborne magnetometers for transmission back to Earth. Objective of such coding to increase efficiency by decreasing rate of transmission without sacrificing integrity of data. Adaptive coding compresses data by factors ranging from 2 to 6.
Rice, Robert F.↗
Space lab system analysis
An analysis of the Automated Booster Assembly Checkout System (ABACS) has been conducted. A computer simulation of the ETHERNET LAN has been written. The simulation allows one to investigate different structures of the ABACS system. The simulation code is in PASCAL and is VAX compatible.
Rives, T. B.↗
Development of an integrated BEM for hot fluid-structure interaction
One of the most difficult problems in engine structural component durability analysis is the determination of the temperatures and fluxes in the structural components directly in contact with the hot gas flow path. Currently there exists no rational analytical or numerical technique which can effectively deal with this problem. Since the temperature distribution in the structural components are strongly influenced by both the fluid flow and the deformation as well as the cooling system in the structure, the only effective way to deal with this problem is to develop an integrated solid mechanics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer analysis for this problem. Herein, the Boundary Element Method (BEM) is chosen as the basic analysis tool principally because the definition of quantities like fluxes, temperatures, displacements, and velocities are very precise on a boundary based discretization scheme. One fundamental difficulty is that a BEM analysis requires a considerable amount of analytical work which is not present in other numerical methods. During the past year, all of this analytical work was completed and a two dimensional, general purpose code was written. A portion of the work is summarized.
Dargush, G. F.↗
Propagation of Secondary Antiprotons and Cosmic Rays in the Galaxy
Recent more accurate antiproton data obtained by the BESS team during the last solar minimum pose a challenge to conventional propagation models of cosmic rays. In particular, the diffusive reacceleration model, which matches well key secondary/primary isotope ratios in cosmic rays, fails to reproduce the secondary antiproton spectrum. Tuning both secondary/primary isotope ratios and antiprotons is possible, but requires artificial breaks in the diffusion coefficient and the injection spectrum of primaries. We will discuss some possibilities to overcome these difficulties in the propagation models. We will present new results of our calculation of CR propagation in the Galaxy using the GALPROP code.
Moskalenko, I. V.↗
The X-Ray Baldwin Effect: Z = 2 Fe-K and Compton Humps as Ionized Disk Diagnostics
Work on this project is almost complete. A final trip to the XMM Survey Science Center at the University of Leicester is being undertaken to ensure that the with Prof. A. King on theoretical implications in the context of his super- Eddington wind model for AGNs, that has just been published on astro-ph. The wind model we developed has led to a paper being submitted to ApJ. The referee's response requires some care, and so the PI will be visiting Dr. Guido Risaliti, with whom he developed the code, at the Arcetri Observatory, Italy, during the above trip.
Mushotzky, Richard F.↗
Monte Carlo Simulations of the Response of the MARIE Instrument
The MARIE instrument aboard Mars Odyssey functions as a telescope for the detection of charged, energetic, nuclei. The directionality that leads to the telescope description is achieved by requiring coincident signals in two designated detectors in MARIE s silicon detector stack for the instrument to trigger. Because of this, MARIE is actually a bi directional telescope. Triggering particles can enter the detector stack by passing through the lightly shielded front of the instrument, but can also enter the back of the instrument by passing through the bulk of Odyssey. Because of this, understanding how to relate the signals recorded by MARIE to astrophysically important quantities such as particle fluxes or spectra exterior to the spacecraft clearly requires detailed modeling of the physical interactions that occur as the particles pass through the spacecraft and the instrument itself. In order to facilitate in the calibration of the MARIE data, we have begun a program to simulate the response of MARIE using the FLUKA [1] [2] Monte Carlo radiation transport code.
Andersen, V.↗
GCR: Development of Improved Alloy 800H Weldment
In Section III, Division 5 of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Alloy 800H is qualified for elevated-temperature nuclear construction for temperatures up to 760°C (1400°F) and a maximum service life of 300,000 hours. There are two permissible filler metals for Alloy 800H weldments specified in Division 5: ENiCrFe-2 (Alloy A) and ERNiCr-3 (Alloy 82). Low creep-rupture strengths of these weldments at the upper limits of the qualified temperatures and service lives may restrict the design envelope for elevated-temperature nuclear construction with Alloy 800H. As a result, an alternative filler metal is desired to improve the creep-rupture strengths of Alloy 800H weldments for the qualified temperatures and service lives. This work investigates an overmatched filler metal. Specifically, a weldment with Alloy 800H base metal and Alloy 617 filler metal fabricated by semiautomated gas tungsten arc welding is investigated. A scoping creep-rupture test program was conducted of cross-weld specimens at temperatures ranging from 750 to 1000°C (1292 to 1832°F). Preliminary results on the creep-rupture strengths of the Alloy 800H weldment with an Alloy 617 filler metal do not show significant improvement compared to the filler metals currently qualified in Division 5 for Alloy 800H weldments. Consequently, work is in progress to investigate a matching filler metal, UTP A 2133 Mn.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
Continued development and correlation of analytically based weight estimation codes for wings and fuselages
The implementation of the changes to the program for Wing Aeroelastic Design and the development of a program to estimate aircraft fuselage weights are described. The equations to implement the modified planform description, the stiffened panel skin representation, the trim loads calculation, and the flutter constraint approximation are presented. A comparison of the wing model with the actual F-5A weight material distributions and loads is given. The equations and program techniques used for the estimation of aircraft fuselage weights are described. These equations were incorporated as a computer code. The weight predictions of this program are compared with data from the C-141.
Mullen, J., Jr.↗
Estimation of Stability and Control Derivatives of an F-15
A technique for real-time estimation of stability and control derivatives (derivatives of moment coefficients with respect to control-surface deflection angles) was used to support a flight demonstration of a concept of an indirect-adaptive intelligent flight control system (IFCS). Traditionally, parameter identification, including estimation of stability and control derivatives, is done post-flight. However, for the indirect-adaptive IFCS concept, parameter identification is required during flight so that the system can modify control laws for a damaged aircraft. The flight demonstration was carried out on a highly modified F-15 airplane (see Figure 1). The main objective was to estimate the stability and control derivatives of the airplane in nearly real time. A secondary goal was to develop a system to automatically assess the quality of the results, so as to be able to tell a learning neural network which data to use. Parameter estimation was performed by use of Fourier-transform regression (FTR) a technique developed at NASA Langley Research Center. FTR is an equation- error technique that operates in the frequency domain. Data are put into the frequency domain by use of a recursive Fourier transform for a discrete frequency set. This calculation simplifies many subsequent calculations, removes biases, and automatically filters out data beyond the chosen frequency range. FTR as applied here was tailored to work with pilot inputs, which produce correlated surface positions that prevent accurate parameter estimates, by replacing half the derivatives with predicted values. FTR was also set up to work only on a recent window of data, to accommodate changes in flight condition. A system of confidence measures was developed to identify quality-parameter estimates that a learning neural network could use. This system judged the estimates primarily on the basis of their estimated variances and of the level of aircraft response. The resulting FTR system was implemented in the Simulink software system and auto-coded in the C programming language for use on the Airborne Research Test System (ARTS II) computer installed in the F-15 airplane. The Simulink model was also used in a control room that utilizes the Ring Buffered Network Bus hardware and software, making it possible to evaluate test points during flights. In-flight parameter estimation was done for piloted and automated maneuvers, primarily at three test conditions. Figure 2 shows results for pitching moment due to symmetric stabilator actuations for a series of three pitch doublet maneuvers (in a doublet maneuver, a command to change attitude in a given direction by a given amount is followed immediately by a command to change attitude in the opposite direction by the same amount). A time window of 5 seconds was used. The portions of the curves shown in red are those that passed the confidence tests. The technique showed good convergence for most derivatives for both kinds of maneuvers - typically within a few seconds. The confidence tests were marginally successful, and it would be necessary to refine them for use in an IFCS.
Smith, Mark↗
On the perturbation effect and LET dependence of beam quality correction factors in carbon ion beams
Background: In a recent study, we reported beam quality correction factors, f Q , in carbon ion beams using Monte Carlo (MC) methods for a cylindrical and a parallel-plate ionization chamber (IC). A non-negligible perturbation effect was observed; however, the magnitude of the perturbation correction due to the specific IC subcomponents was not included. Furthermore, the stopping power data presented in the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) report 73 were used, whereas the latest stopping power data have been reported in the ICRU report 90. Purpose: The aim of this study was to extend our previous work by computing f Q correction factors using the ICRU 90 stopping power data and by reporting IC-specific perturbation correction factors. Possible energy or linear energy transfer (LET) dependence of the f Q correction factor was investigated by simulating both pristine beams and spread-out Bragg peaks (SOBPs). Methods: The TOol for PArticle Simulation (TOPAS)/GEANT4 MC code was used in this study. A 30 × 30 × 50 cm 3 water phantom was simulated with a uniform 10 × 10 cm 2 parallel beam incident on the surface. A Farmer-type cylindrical IC (Exradin A12) and two parallel-plate ICs (Exradin P11 and A11) were simulated in TOPAS using the manufacturer-provided geometrical drawings. The f Q correction factor was calculated in pristine carbon ion beams in the 150–450 MeV/u energy range at 2 cm depth and in the middle of the flat region of four SOBPs. The k Q correction factor was calculated by simulating the f Qo correction factor in a 60 Co beam at 5 cm depth. The perturbation correction factors due to the presence of the individual IC subcomponents, such as the displacement effect in the air cavity, collecting electrode, chamber wall, and chamber stem, were calculated at 2 cm depth for monoenergetic beams only. Additionally, the mean dose-averaged and track-averaged LET was calculated at the depths at which the f Q was calculated. Results: The ICRU 90 f Q correction factors were reported. The p dis correction factor was found to be significant for the cylindrical IC with magnitudes up to 1.70%. The individual perturbation corrections for the parallel-plate ICs were <1.0% except for the A11 p cel correction at the lowest energy. The f Q correction for the P11 IC exhibited an energy dependence of >1.00% and displayed differences up to 0.87% between pristine beams and SOBPs. Conversely, the f Q for A11 and A12 displayed a minimal energy dependence of <0.50%. The energy dependence was found to manifest in the LET dependence for the P11 IC. A statistically significant LET dependence was found only for the P11 IC in pristine beams only with a magnitude of <1.10%. Conclusions: The perturbation and k Q correction factor should be calculated for the specific IC to be used in carbon ion beam reference dosimetry as a function of beam quality.
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗