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At least 487 records · Page 27

Filament wound data base development, revision 1, appendix A

Data are presented in tabular form for the High Performance Nozzle Increments, Filament Wound Case (FWC) Systems Tunnel Increments, Steel Case Systems Tunnel Increments, FWC Stiffener Rings Increments, Steel Case Stiffener Rings Increments, FWC External Tank (ET) Attach Ring Increments, Steel Case ET Attach Ring Increments, and Data Tape 8. The High Performance Nozzle are also presented in graphical form. The tabular data consist of six-component force and moment coefficients as they vary with angle of attack at a specific Mach number and roll angle. The six coefficients are normal force, pitching moment, side force, yawing moment, axial force, and rolling moment. The graphical data for the High Performance Nozzle Increments consist of a plot of a coefficient increment as a function of angle of attack at a specific Mach number and at a roll angle of 0 deg.

Sharp, R. Scott↗

Video guidance sensor

A Martin-Marietta study comparing the application of laser, video, or RF sensors was conducted in 1982. The study concluded that video was the most attractive sensor (the video also could be used for operator monitoring). The Retro-Reflector field Tracker from the Solar Array Flight Experiment was chosen as a 'first generation' sensor and integrated with guidance algorithms for evaluation on the air-bearing vehicle. Results indicated that this sensor was not applicable for the noise environment posed by the multi-layer insulation used on most spacecraft. A 'second generation' sensor was developed to be used with a modified RMS target. This sensor utilized two sets of laser diodes to acquire three optically filtered targets. The targets were illuminated first with a 780 nanometer diode, followed by illumination with a 830 nm diode. The second digitized picture was subtracted from the first to get a low-noise image. The centroids of the retroreflectors were used then to uniquely derive target attitude and range. The sensor presently operates to 80 feet and within +/- 40 degrees in pitch and yaw. Sensor operability is a concern if the sun is within a +/- 40 degree cone angle to the target. The present sensor performance characteristics are less than 1 percent range error and less than 1 degree angle error. Future sensor development is anticipated to extend the operating range to 150 feet and reduce the cone angle of sensor inoperability to within +/- 10 degrees of direct sunlight. Performance improvements also are anticipated. TRW currently is developing a system that utilizes dual cameras with simultaneous diode illumination. Although further development is being pursued, the basic system has proven sound, and the sensor is essentially ready for application.

Howard, Richard↗

Geoscience Laser Altimetry System (GLAS) Loop Heat Pipe Anomaly and On Orbit Testing

The Geoscience Laser Altimetry System (GLAS) is the sole instrument on the ICESat Satellite. On day 230 of 2003, the GLAS Component Loop Heat Pipe (CLHP) entered a slow circulation mode that resulted in the main electronics box reaching its hot safing temperature, after which the entire instrument was turned off. The CLHP had a propylene working fluid and was actively temperature controlled via a heater on the compensation chamber. The slow circulation mode happened right after a planned propulsive yaw maneuver with the spacecraft. It took several days to recover the CLHP and ensure that it was still operational. The recovery occurred after the entire instrument was cooled to survival temperatures and the CLHP compensation chamber cycled on a survival heater. There are several theories as to why this slow circulation mode exhibited itself, including: accumulation of Non-Condensible Gas (NCG), the secondary wick being under designed or improperly implemented, or an expanded (post-launch) leak across the primary wick. Each of these is discussed in turn, and the secondary wick performance is identified as the most likely source of the anomalous behavior. After the anomaly, the CLHP was controlled to colder temperatures to improve its performance (as the surface tension increases with lower temperature, as does the volume of liquid in the compensation chamber) and only precursor pulses occurred later in the mission. After GLAS s last laser failed, in late 2009, a decision was made to conduct engineering tests of both LHPs to try and duplicate this flight anomaly. The engineering tests consisted of control setpoint changes, sink changes, and one similar propulsive Yaw maneuver. The only test that showed any similar anomaly precursors on the CLHP was the propulsive maneuver followed by a setpoint increase. The ICESat Satellite was placed in a decaying orbit and ended its mission on August 30, 2010 in Barents Sea.

Baker, Charles↗

Process feasibility study in support of silicon material, task 1

Analyses of process system properties were continued for materials involved in the alternate processes under consideration for semiconductor silicon. Primary efforts centered on physical and thermodynamic property data for dichlorosilane. The following property data are reported for dichlorosilane which is involved in processing operations for solar cell grade silicon: critical temperature, critical pressure, critical volume, critical density, acentric factor, vapor pressure, heat of vaporization, gas heat capacity, liquid heat capacity and density. Work was initiated on the assembly of a system to prepare binary gas mixtures of known proportions and to measure the thermal conductivity of these mixtures between 30 and 350 C. The binary gas mixtures include silicon source material such as silanes and halogenated silanes which are used in the production of semiconductor silicon.

Li, K. Y.↗

Leading edge flap system for aircraft control augmentation

Traditional roll control systems such as ailerons, elevons or spoilers are least effective at high angles of attack due to boundary layer separation over the wing. This invention uses independently deployed leading edge flaps on the upper surfaces of vortex stabilized wings to shift the center of lift outboard. A rolling moment is created that is used to control roll in flight at high angles of attack. The effectiveness of the rolling moment increases linearly with angle of attack. No adverse yaw effects are induced. In an alternate mode of operation, both leading edge flaps are deployed together at cruise speeds to create a very effective airbrake without appreciable modification in pitching moment. Little trim change is required.

Rao, D. M.↗

The evolution of the SEASAT imaging radar

The paper describes the design parameters and development of a synthetic aperture radar for use on the SEASAT spacecraft. This imaging radar is designed to operate at altitudes of 800 km with an orbital inclination of 108 deg, a nominal resolution of 25 m, and a swath width of 100 km. The design evolved from planetary imaging radar studies conducted over many years where an L-band imaging radar was developed and tested on aircraft flights as a prototype system to map the surface of Venus. A solid-state transmitter is used where the pulse repetition frequency is a function of altitude and will be about 2kHz for a 12-m long antenna. The receiver consists of the receiver protector, input filters, the gain control, and the RF amplifier. The ground station uses the standard NASA receiver with a 10-m antenna. The correlator, either optical or digital, must be able to compensate for the pitch and yaw variations of the spacecraft as well as the inherent effective yaw caused by the rotation of the earth, and extract the range curvature and range walk effects.

Brown, W. E., Jr.↗

Optical air data systems and methods

Systems and methods for sensing air outside a moving aircraft are presented. In one embodiment, a system includes a laser for generating laser energy. The system also includes one or more transceivers for projecting the laser energy as laser radiation to the air. Subsequently, each transceiver receives laser energy as it is backscattered from the air. A computer processes signals from the transceivers to distinguish molecular scattered laser radiation from aerosol scattered laser radiation and determines one or more air parameters based on the scattered laser radiation. Such air parameters may include air speed, air pressure, air temperature and aircraft orientation angle, such as yaw, angle of attack and sideslip.

Caldwell, Loren M.↗

Optical air data systems and methods

Systems and methods for sensing air outside a moving aircraft are presented. In one embodiment, a system includes a laser for generating laser energy. The system also includes one or more transceivers for projecting the laser energy as laser radiation to the air. Subsequently, each transceiver receives laser energy as it is backscattered from the air. A computer processes signals from the transceivers to distinguish molecular scattered laser radiation from aerosol scattered laser radiation and determines one or more air parameters based on the scattered laser radiation. Such air parameters may include air speed, air pressure, air temperature and aircraft orientation angle, such as yaw, angle of attack and sideslip.

Caldwell, Loren M.↗

Optical air data systems and methods

Systems and methods for sensing air outside a moving aircraft are presented. In one embodiment, a system includes a laser for generating laser energy. The system also includes one or more transceivers for projecting the laser energy as laser radiation to the air. Subsequently, each transceiver receives laser energy as it is backscattered from the air. A computer processes signals from the transceivers to distinguish molecular scattered laser radiation from aerosol scattered laser radiation and determines one or more air parameters based on the scattered laser radiation. Such air parameters may include air speed, air pressure, air temperature and aircraft orientation angle, such as yaw, angle of attack and sideslip.

Caldwell, Loren M.↗

A piloted simulator investigation of static stability and stability/control augmentation effects on helicopter handling qualities for instrument approach

A ground simulator experiment was conducted on the Flight Simulator for Advanced Aircraft at Ames Research Center to investigate the influence of several static stability and stability/control augmentation design parameters on helicopter flying qualities during terminal area operations in instrument conditions. Effects of light turbulence were included. Two levels of static stability in each rotational axis (pitch, roll, yaw) were examined for a hingeless rotor configuration. The variations in pitch and roll were: (1) stable and (2) neutral static stability; in yaw there were two stable levels. Four types of stability/control augmentation were also examined for the lower level of static stability in each axis. This latter investigation covered three helicopter rotor types: hingeless, articulated, and teetering. Four pilots performed a total of 105 evaluations of these parameters for a representative VOR instrument approach task. Pilot rating results indicate the acceptability of neutral static stability longitudinally and laterally and the need for pitch-roll attitude augmentation to achieve a satisfactory system.

Lebacqz, J. V.↗

Plume/flowfield jet interaction effects on the Space Shuttle Orbiter during entry

A comparison of wind tunnel test results with actual flight test data from the performance of the Orbiter Reaction Control System during the STS-1 and -2 flights is presented. Jet interaction phenomena were modeled analytically and a decision was made to develop a jet interaction scaling parameter from empirical measurements wherever possible. A number of different scaling parameters resulted, and errors bounds were determined for tunnel-to-tunnel differences, model to tunnel differences, balance accuracy, real gas effects, varying nozzle configurations, and angle of sideslip. Flight test data has concentrated on the lateral/directional jet interaction of the aft yaw jets, which operate almost continuously from entry down to Mach 1 conditions. A discussion of rolling moments, side forces, and results of usage of the aft pitch and roll jets indicates an underprediction of the side force and yawing moment and overprediction of pitch and roll jet effects.

Kanipe, D. B.↗

Experimental Investigation of the Performance of a Mach-2.7 Two-dimensional Bifurcated Duct Inlet with 30 Percent Internal Contraction

An experimental study was conducted to determine the performance of a two-dimensional, mixed-compression bifurcated duct inlet system designed for a free-stream Mach number of 2.7. Thirty percent of the supersonic area contraction occurred internally. A movable ramp was used to vary the contraction ratio for off-design operation. Boundary layer bleed regions were located on the cowl, centerbody, and sidewall surfaces. There were also provisions for vortex generators on the cowl and centerbody of the subsonic diffuser. Data were obtained over the Mach number range of 2.0 to 2.8 and at angles of yaw from 0 deg. to the maximum value prior to inlet un-start. The test at Mach 2.8 was to obtain data for an over- speed condition. The Reynolds number varied from 2.5 to 2.3 million/ft for Mach numbers above 2.5. At Mach numbers of 2.5 and lower, the Reynolds number was set at 2.5 million/ft. Bleed patterns, vortex generator patterns, and ramp position were varied, and three inlet configurations were selected for more extensive study. Two of these configurations had self-starting capability. The self-starting configuration that was developed produced 89 percent total pressure recovery at the compressor face station with 6.8 percent total bleed. The compressor face distortion was about 16 percent. Vortex generators were extremely effective in re-distributing flow but were not as effective in reducing distortion. Excellent flow symmetry was achieved between the separated halves of the inlet, and twin-duct instability was not observed. The ramp tip shock was steeper than expected. This caused the cowl lip shock to be reflected from the ramp instead of being cancelled at the shoulder. However, peak recovery at the throat was still obtained with the ramp near the design position.

Wasserbauer, J. F.↗

Sensitivity Analysis of Modal Parameters of a Jacket Offshore Wind Turbine to Operational Conditions

Accurate estimation of offshore wind turbine (OWT) modal parameters has a prominent effect on the design loads, lifetime prediction, and dynamic response of the system. Modal parameters can vary during the operation of OWTs. This paper studies the variation and sensitivity analysis of an OWT’s modal parameters with respect to operational and environmental conditions. Three finite element models of a jacket-supported OWT at the Block Island Wind Farm are created within the OpenSees, SAP2000, and OpenFAST platforms and validated using experimental measurements. The OpenFAST model is used to simulate the modal parameters of the turbine under various wind speed, rotor speed, power, yaw angle, mean sea level, blade pitch angle, and soil spring values. The model-predicted modal parameters of the first fore–aft (FA) and side–side (SS) modes are compared to those identified from experimental measurements. Results from the simulations show that the first FA natural frequency and damping ratio mostly depend on the rotor speed and wind speed, respectively, while yaw angle and mean sea level do not have a visible effect. It is observed that there is about 8% stiffening in the first FA frequency and an aerodynamic damping of 7.5% during the operation of the OWT.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Automatic AVHRR image navigation software

This is the final report describing the work done on the project entitled Automatic AVHRR Image Navigation Software funded through NASA-Washington, award NAGW-3224, Account 153-7529. At the onset of this project, we had developed image navigation software capable of producing geo-registered images from AVHRR data. The registrations were highly accurate but required a priori knowledge of the spacecraft's axes alignment deviations, commonly known as attitude. The three angles needed to describe the attitude are called roll, pitch, and yaw, and are the components of the deviations in the along scan, along track and about center directions. The inclusion of the attitude corrections in the navigation software results in highly accurate georegistrations, however, the computation of the angles is very tedious and involves human interpretation for several steps. The technique also requires easily identifiable ground features which may not be available due to cloud cover or for ocean data. The current project was motivated by the need for a navigation system which was automatic and did not require human intervention or ground control points. The first step in creating such a system must be the ability to parameterize the spacecraft's attitude. The immediate goal of this project was to study the attitude fluctuations and determine if they displayed any systematic behavior which could be modeled or parameterized. We chose a period in 1991-1992 to study the attitude of the NOAA 11 spacecraft using data from the Tiros receiving station at the Colorado Center for Astrodynamic Research (CCAR) at the University of Colorado.

Baldwin, Dan↗

Moving base simulation of an ASTOVL lift-fan aircraft

Using a generalized simulation model, a moving-base simulation of a lift-fan short takeoff/vertical landing fighter aircraft was conducted on the Vertical Motion Simulator at Ames Research Center. Objectives of the experiment were to (1) assess the effects of lift-fan propulsion system design features on aircraft control during transition and vertical flight including integration of lift fan/lift/cruise engine/aerodynamic controls and lift fan/lift/cruise engine dynamic response, (2) evaluate pilot-vehicle interface with the control system and head-up display including control modes for low-speed operational tasks and control mode/display integration, and (3) conduct operational evaluations of this configuration during takeoff, transition, and landing similar to those carried out previously by the Ames team for the mixed-flow, vectored thrust, and augmentor-ejector concepts. Based on results of the simulation, preliminary assessments of acceptable and borderline lift-fan and lift/cruise engine thrust response characteristics were obtained. Maximum pitch, roll, and yaw control power used during transition, hover, and vertical landing were documented. Control and display mode options were assessed for their compatibility with a range of land-based and shipboard operations from takeoff to cruise through transition back to hover and vertical landing. Flying qualities were established for candidate control modes and displays for instrument approaches and vertical landings aboard an LPH assault ship and DD-963 destroyer. Test pilot and engineer teams from the Naval Air Warfare Center, Boeing, Lockheed, McDonnell Douglas, and the British Defence Research Agency participated in the program.

Chung, William W. Y.↗

Feedback control laws for highly maneuverable aircraft

During this year, we concentrated our efforts on the design of controllers for lateral/directional control using mu synthesis. This proved to be a more difficult task than we anticipated and we are still working on the designs. In the lateral-directional control problem, the inputs are pilot lateral stick and pedal commands and the outputs are roll rate about the velocity vector and side slip angle. The control effectors are ailerons, rudder deflection, and directional thrust vectoring vane deflection which produces a yawing moment about the body axis. Our math model does not contain any provision for thrust vectoring of rolling moment. This has resulted in limitations of performance at high angles of attack. During 1994-95, the following tasks for the lateral-directional controllers were accomplished: (1) Designed both inner and outer loop dynamic inversion controllers. These controllers are implemented using accelerometer outputs rather than an a priori model of the vehicle aerodynamics; (2) Used classical techniques to design controllers for the system linearized by dynamics inversion. These controllers acted to control roll rate and Dutch roll response; (3) Implemented the inner loop dynamic inversion and classical controllers on the six DOF simulation; (4) Developed a lateral-directional control allocation scheme based on minimizing required control effort among the ailerons, rudder, and directional thrust vectoring; and (5) Developed mu outer loop controllers combined with classical inner loop controllers.

Garrard, William L.↗

X-29A Lateral-Directional Stability and Control Derivatives Extracted From High-Angle-of-Attack Flight Data

The lateral-directional stability and control derivatives of the X-29A number 2 are extracted from flight data over an angle-of-attack range of 4 degrees to 53 degrees using a parameter identification algorithm. The algorithm uses the linearized aircraft equations of motion and a maximum likelihood estimator in the presence of state and measurement noise. State noise is used to model the uncommanded forcing function caused by unsteady aerodynamics over the aircraft at angles of attack above 15 degrees. The results supported the flight-envelope-expansion phase of the X-29A number 2 by helping to update the aerodynamic mathematical model, to improve the real-time simulator, and to revise flight control system laws. Effects of the aircraft high gain flight control system on maneuver quality and the estimated derivatives are also discussed. The derivatives are plotted as functions of angle of attack and compared with the predicted aerodynamic database. Agreement between predicted and flight values is quite good for some derivatives such as the lateral force due to sideslip, the lateral force due to rudder deflection, and the rolling moment due to roll rate. The results also show significant differences in several important derivatives such as the rolling moment due to sideslip, the yawing moment due to sideslip, the yawing moment due to aileron deflection, and the yawing moment due to rudder deflection.

Iliff, Kenneth W.↗

Aileron effectiveness for a subsonic transport model with a high-aspect-ratio supercritical wing

Aileron effectiveness for a subsonc energy efficient transport (EET) model with a high aspect ratio supercritical wing was determined in the 8-foot transonic pressure tunnel. Data are presented for ailerons located at three positions along the wing span. The ailerons were designed as a preliminary active control concept with gust load alleviation, maneuver load alleviation, and flutter suppression systems. A linear variation of rolling moment coefficient with angle of attack for individual and multiple aileron deflections at Mach numbers up to 0.81 is indicated. For Mach numbers greater than 0.81, the rolling moment coefficient data become nonlinear with increasing angle of attack. At Mach numbers near the design value increased aileron effectiveness resulted from aft transition locations, which produced relatively thin boundary layers and greater effective aileron deflections. Individual aileron deflections on the right wing panel produced only small effects on yawing moment and side force coefficients.

Jacobs, P. F.↗