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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 469 records · Page 26

Structural Configuration Analysis of Advanced Flight Vehicle Concepts with Distributed Hybrid-Electric Propulsion

Structural configuration analysis of two advanced aircraft concepts with distributed hybrid-electric propulsion is presented. These concepts are characterized by multiple wing-mounted electric propulsors, which are powered by turbo-generators. Based on lessons learned from previous structural analysis of unconventional concepts, high-fidelity finite element models of the aircraft wing with embedded electric propulsors are developed. Although a hybrid-electric propulsion system has noise and emission benefits, it also adds electrical power system weights. Hence, efficient structural integration of the wing and propulsors is investigated for design improvement, structural analysis, and weight reduction. Wing structural weights of the two designs are compared with a baseline conventional transport aircraft wing for benefit assessment. In one design, the wing structural weight reduction partially compensates for the additional weight associated with the distributed electric propulsion system.

Mukhopadhyay, Vivek↗

Non-Intrusive Laser-Induced Imaging for Speciation and Patternation in High Pressure Gas Turbine Combustors

The next generation of was turbine combustors for aerospace applications will be required to meet increasingly stringent constraints on fuel efficiency, noise abatement, and emissions. The power plants being designed to meet these constraints will operate at extreme conditions of temperature and pressure, thereby generating unique challenges to the previously employed diagnostic methodologies. Current efforts at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) utilize optically accessible, high pressure flametubes and sector combustor rigs to probe, via advanced nonintrusive laser techniques, the complex flowfields encountered in advanced combustor designs. The fuel-air mixing process is of particular concern for lowering NO(x) emissions generated in lean, premixed engine concepts. Using planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) we have obtained real-time, detailed imaging of the fuel spray distribution for a number of fuel injector over a wide range of operational conditions that closely match those expected in the proposed propulsion systems. Using a novel combination of planar imaging, of fuel fluorescence and computational analysis that allows an examination of the flowfield from any perspective, we have produced spatially and temporally resolved fuel-air distribution maps. These maps provide detailed insight into the fuel injection at actual conditions never before possible, thereby greatly enhancing the evaluation of fuel injector performance and combustion phenomena.

Locke, Randy J.↗

Advanced reinforcement systems for intermetallic applications

A 2-D axisymmetric model was employed to determine the magnitude of the radial, axial, and hoop stresses caused by the thermal expansion difference between fiber and matrix and which result from the fabrication temperature cycle. Finite element analysis was conducted for single fiber model systems based on SCS-6/Ti3Al+Nb and Al2O3/NiAl. The stress distribution due to the imposition of a graded intermediate layer for each system was determined and included variables of layer thickness and gradation in interlayer chemistry in order to vary the expansion gradient between fiber and matrix. Thermal cycling tests were conducted on sputter coated SCS-6 fibers selectively coated with Ti3Al+Nb, with and without an intermediate layer. Cracking of the Ti3Al+Nb layers was prevented by an interlayer based on Ti-TiN-Ti. The interlayer thickness appeared critical to its efficiency. Similarly, for the case of Al2O3/NiAl, an intermediate layer consisting of a Ni bond coat on the sapphire fiber followed by a graded Al2O3-NiAl layer did not crack when given a thermal excursion to 1100 C and then cooled to room temperature. Acoustic emission tests on single fiber specimens were unsuccessful in detecting load drops associated with the successive fracture of the fiber. For the SCS-6/Ti3Al system this was the result of several factors which included the matrix/fiber ratio and poor bonding of the matrix and fiber. In the case of the Al2O3/NiAl system brittle failure of the NiAl matrix precluded fiber breakdown during tensile loading.

Merrick, Howard F.↗

An analytical/numerical correlation study of the multiple concentric cylinder model for the thermoplastic response of metal matrix composites

The utility of a recently developed analytical micromechanics model for the response of metal matrix composites under thermal loading is illustrated by comparison with the results generated using the finite-element approach. The model is based on the concentric cylinder assemblage consisting of an arbitrary number of elastic or elastoplastic sublayers with isotropic or orthotropic, temperature-dependent properties. The elastoplastic boundary-value problem of an arbitrarily layered concentric cylinder is solved using the local/global stiffness matrix formulation (originally developed for elastic layered media) and Mendelson's iterative technique of successive elastic solutions. These features of the model facilitate efficient investigation of the effects of various microstructural details, such as functionally graded architectures of interfacial layers, on the evolution of residual stresses during cool down. The available closed-form expressions for the field variables can readily be incorporated into an optimization algorithm in order to efficiently identify optimal configurations of graded interfaces for given applications. Comparison of residual stress distributions after cool down generated using finite-element analysis and the present micromechanics model for four composite systems with substantially different temperature-dependent elastic, plastic, and thermal properties illustrates the efficacy of the developed analytical scheme.

Pindera, Marek-Jerzy↗

Impact of computer advances on future finite elements computations

Research performed over the past 10 years in engineering data base management and parallel computing is discussed, and certain opportunities for research toward the next generation of structural analysis capability are proposed. Particular attention is given to data base management associated with the IPAD project and parallel processing associated with the Finite Element Machine project, both sponsored by NASA, and a near term strategy for a distributed structural analysis capability based on relational data base management software and parallel computers for a future structural analysis system.

Fulton, Robert E.↗

Software fault tolerance in computer operating systems

This chapter provides data and analysis of the dependability and fault tolerance for three operating systems: the Tandem/GUARDIAN fault-tolerant system, the VAX/VMS distributed system, and the IBM/MVS system. Based on measurements from these systems, basic software error characteristics are investigated. Fault tolerance in operating systems resulting from the use of process pairs and recovery routines is evaluated. Two levels of models are developed to analyze error and recovery processes inside an operating system and interactions among multiple instances of an operating system running in a distributed environment. The measurements show that the use of process pairs in Tandem systems, which was originally intended for tolerating hardware faults, allows the system to tolerate about 70% of defects in system software that result in processor failures. The loose coupling between processors which results in the backup execution (the processor state and the sequence of events occurring) being different from the original execution is a major reason for the measured software fault tolerance. The IBM/MVS system fault tolerance almost doubles when recovery routines are provided, in comparison to the case in which no recovery routines are available. However, even when recovery routines are provided, there is almost a 50% chance of system failure when critical system jobs are involved.

Iyer, Ravishankar K.↗

Investigating Actuation Force Fight with Asynchronous and Synchronous Redundancy Management Techniques

Within distributed fault-tolerant systems the term force-fight is colloquially used to describe the level of command disagreement present at redundant actuation interfaces. This report details an investigation of force-fight using three distributed system case-study architectures. Each case study architecture is abstracted and formally modeled using the Symbolic Analysis Laboratory (SAL) tool chain from the Stanford Research Institute (SRI). We use the formal SAL models to produce k-induction based proofs of a bounded actuation agreement property. We also present a mathematically derived bound of redundant actuation agreement for sine-wave stimulus. The report documents our experiences and lessons learned developing the formal models and the associated proofs.

Hall, Brendan↗

Performance modeling & simulation of complex systems (A systems engineering design & analysis approach)

Modeling of the Multi-mission Image Processing System (MIPS) will be described as an example of the use of a modeling tool to design a distributed system that supports multiple application scenarios. This paper examines: (a) modeling tool selection, capabilities, and operation (namely NETWORK 2.5 by CACl), (b) pointers for building or constructing a model and how the MIPS model was developed, (c) the importance of benchmarking or testing the performance of equipment/subsystems being considered for incorporation the design/architecture, (d) the essential step of model validation and/or calibration using the benchmark results, (e) sample simulation results from the MIPS model, and (f) how modeling and simulation analysis affected the MIPS design process by having a supportive and informative impact.

Hall, Laverne↗

The GEOS-5 Data Assimilation System-Documentation of Versions 5.0.1, 5.1.0, and 5.2.0

This report documents the GEOS-5 global atmospheric model and data assimilation system (DAS), including the versions 5.0.1, 5.1.0, and 5.2.0, which have been implemented in products distributed for use by various NASA instrument team algorithms and ultimately for the Modem Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA). The DAS is the integration of the GEOS-5 atmospheric model with the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) Analysis, a joint analysis system developed by the NOAA/National Centers for Environmental Prediction and the NASA/Global Modeling and Assimilation Office. The primary performance drivers for the GEOS DAS are temperature and moisture fields suitable for the EOS instrument teams, wind fields for the transport studies of the stratospheric and tropospheric chemistry communities, and climate-quality analyses to support studies of the hydrological cycle through MERRA. The GEOS-5 atmospheric model has been approved for open source release and is available from: http://opensource.gsfc.nasa.gov/projects/GEOS-5/GEOS-5.php.

M. M. Rienecker↗

Space optics; Proceedings of the Seminar, Huntsville, Ala., May 22-24, 1979

The seminar focused on infrared systems, the space telescope, new design for space astronomy, future earth resources systems, and planetary systems. Papers were presented on infrared astronomy satellite, infrared telescope on Spacelab 2, design alternatives for the Shuttle Infrared Telescope Facility, Spacelab 2 infrared telescope cryogenic system, geometrical theory of diffraction and telescope stray-light analysis, Space Telescope scientific instruments, faint-object spectrograph for the Space Telescope, light scattering from multilayer optics, bidirectional reflectance distribution function measurements of stray light suppression coatings for the Space Telescope, optical fabrication of a 60-in. mirror, interferogram analysis for space optics, nuclear-pumped lasers for space application, geophysical fluid flow experiment, coherent rays for optical astronomy in space, optical system with fiber-optical elements, and Pioneer-Venus solar flux radiometer.

Wyman, C. L.↗

Distributed Lunar Data Platform with Advanced Machine Learning Capabilities in Support of Lunar Science and Exploration

The United States 2020 Space Policy directive declares that NASA, in cooperation with private industry, will “extend human economic activity into deep space by establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon”. This goal will require advanced data management, as well as analysis, modeling and representation of lunar information in order to prepare for Artemis human missions, lunar science investigations and exploration. To meet this requirement, we conceptualize and present an implementation strategy for a distributed platform for lunar data retrieval, inferencing and analysis, which will be based on federated learning and the NASA Celestial Mapping System (CMS). In addition to demonstrating the imperative of enabling lunar-borne data to remain in-situ but still accessible, this presentation will also include examples of how third parties could contribute both datasets and new functionality into this platform using an AI-based data import pipeline and a plug-in architecture respectively.

Artificial Intelligence↗

A note on the regularity of solutions of infinite dimensional Riccati equations

This note is concerned with the regularity of solutions of algebraic Riccati equations arising from infinite dimensional LQR and LQG control problems. We show that distributed parameter systems described by certain parabolic partial differential equations often have a special structure that smoothes solutions of the corresponding Riccati equation. This analysis is motivated by the need to find specific representations for Riccati operators that can be used in the development of computational schemes for problems where the input and output operators are not Hilbert-Schmidt. This situation occurs in many boundary control problems and in certain distributed control problems associated with optimal sensor/actuator placement.

Burns, John A.↗

Quantitative analysis of aircraft multispectral-scanner data and mapping of water-quality parameters in the James River in Virginia

Statistical analysis techniques were applied to develop quantitative relationships between in situ river measurements and the remotely sensed data that were obtained over the James River in Virginia on 28 May 1974. The remotely sensed data were collected with a multispectral scanner and with photographs taken from an aircraft platform. Concentration differences among water quality parameters such as suspended sediment, chlorophyll a, and nutrients indicated significant spectral variations. Calibrated equations from the multiple regression analysis were used to develop maps that indicated the quantitative distributions of water quality parameters and the dispersion characteristics of a pollutant plume entering the turbid river system. Results from further analyses that use only three preselected multispectral scanner bands of data indicated that regression coefficients and standard errors of estimate were not appreciably degraded compared with results from the 10-band analysis.

Johnson, R. W.↗

Life Support Filtration System Trade Study for Deep Space Missions

The National Aeronautics and Space Administrations (NASA) technical developments for highly reliable life support systems aim to maximize the viability of long duration deep space missions. Among the life support system functions, airborne particulate matter filtration is a significant driver of launch mass because of the large geometry required to provide adequate filtration performance and because of the number of replacement filters needed to a sustain a mission. A trade analysis incorporating various launch, operational and maintenance parameters was conducted to investigate the trade-offs between the various particulate matter filtration configurations. In addition to typical launch parameters such as mass, volume and power, the amount of crew time dedicated to system maintenance becomes an increasingly crucial factor for long duration missions. The trade analysis evaluated these parameters for conventional particulate matter filtration technologies and a new multi-stage particulate matter filtration system under development by NASAs Glenn Research Center. The multi-stage filtration system features modular components that allow for physical configuration flexibility. Specifically, the filtration system components can be configured in distributed, centralized, and hybrid physical layouts that can result in considerable mass savings compared to conventional particulate matter filtration technologies. The trade analysis results are presented and implications for future transit and surface missions are discussed.

particulate matter filtration↗

Attribution of Flux Partitioning Variations Between Land Surface Models over the Continental U.S.

Accurate quantification of the terrestrial evapotranspiration (ET) components of plant transpiration (T), soil evaporation (E) and evaporation of the intercepted water (I) is necessary for improving our understanding of the links between the carbon and water cycles. Recent studies have noted that, among the modeled estimates, large disagreements exist in the relative contributions of T, E and I to the total ET. As these models are often used in data assimilation environments for incorporating and extending ET relevant remote sensing measurements, understanding the sources of inter-model differences in ET components is also necessary for improving the utilization of such remote sensing measurements. This study quantifies the contributions of two key factors explaining inter-model disagreements to the uncertainty in total ET: (1) contribution of the local partitioning and (2) regional distribution of ET. The analysis is conducted by using outputs from a suite of land surface models in the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS) configuration. For most of these models, transpiration is the dominant component of the ET partition. The results indicate that the uncertainty in local partitioning dominates the inter-model spread in modeled soil evaporation E. The inter-model differences in T are dominated by the uncertainty in the distribution of ET over the Eastern U.S. and the local partitioning uncertainty in the Western U.S. The results also indicate that uncertainty in the T estimates is the primary driver of total ET errors. Over the majority of the U.S., the contribution of the two factors of uncertainty to the overall uncertainty is non-trivial.

uncertainty↗

Attribution of Flux Partitioning Variations Between Land Surface Models Over the Continental U.S.

Accurate quantification of the terrestrial evapotranspiration (ET) components of plant transpiration (T), soil evaporation (E) and evaporation of the intercepted water (I) is necessary for improving our understanding of the links between the carbon and water cycles. Recent studies have noted that, among the modeled estimates, large disagreements exist in the relative contributions of T, E and I to the total ET. As these models are often used in data assimilation environments for incorporating and extending ET relevant remote sensing measurements, understanding the sources of inter-model differences in ET components is also necessary for improving the utilization of such remote sensing measurements. This study quantifies the contributions of two key factors explaining inter-model disagreements to the uncertainty in total ET: (1) contribution of the local partitioning and (2) regional distribution of ET. The analysis is conducted by using outputs from a suite of land surface models in the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS) configuration. For most of these models, transpiration is the dominant component of the ET partition. The results indicate that the uncertainty in local partitioning dominates the inter-model spread in modeled soil evaporation E. The inter-model differences in T are dominated by the uncertainty in the distribution of ET over the Eastern U.S. and the local partitioning uncertainty in the Western U.S. The results also indicate that uncertainty in the T estimates is the primary driver of total ET errors. Over the majority of the U.S., the contribution of the two factors of uncertainty to the overall uncertainty is non-trivial.

evapotranspiration partitioning; transpiration; so↗

On developing the local research environment of the 1990s - The Space Station era

A requirements analysis for the Space Station's polar platform data system has been performed. Based upon this analysis, a cluster, layered cluster, and layered-modular implementation of one specific module within the Eos Data and Information System (EosDIS), an active data base for satellite remote sensing research has been developed. It is found that a distributed system based on a layered-modular architecture and employing current generation work station technologies has the requisite attributes ascribed by the remote sensing research community. Although, based on benchmark testing, probabilistic analysis, failure analysis and user-survey technique analysis, it is found that this architecture presents some operational shortcomings that will not be alleviated with new hardware or software developments. Consequently, the potential of a fully-modular layered architectural design for meeting the needs of Eos researchers has also been evaluated, concluding that it would be well suited to the evolving requirements of this multidisciplinary research community.

Chase, Robert↗