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At least 505 records · Page 28
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1992

Aerodynamic shape optimization via sensitivity analysis on decomposed computational domains

Direct and iterative method considered to be most applicable to large systems of linear equations arising in discrete sensitivity analysis are assessed. Based on a single-domain grid, computations are performed using a banded matrix solver and an iterative solver, the generalized minimum residual (GMRES) method. The banded matrix solver is found to be generally the most economical method for those applications where the number of right-hand sides is large (i.e., a large number of design variables or a large number of adjoint vectors). For systems of equations that are too large to be solved by direct methods, an approach is proposed whereby the computational domain is divided into small subdomains, and each subdomain is solved separately.

Eleshaky, Mohamed E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

The evolving intergalactic medium - The uncollapsed baryon fraction in a cold dark matter universe

The time-varying density of the intergalactic medium (IGM) is calculated by coupling detailed numerical calculations of the thermal and ionization balance and radiative transfer in a uniform IGM of H and He to the linearized equations for the growth of density fluctuations in both gases and a dark component in a cold dark matter universe. The IGM density is identified with the collapsed baryon fraction. It is found that even if the IGM is never reheated, a significant fraction of the baryons remain uncollapsed at redshifts of four. If instead the collapsed fraction releases enough ionizing radiation or thermal energy to reionize the IGM by z greater than four as required by the Gunn-Peterson (GP) constraint, the uncollapsed fraction at z of four is even higher. The known quasar distribution is insufficient to supply the ionizing radiation necessary to satisfy the GP constraint in this case and, if stars are instead responsible, a substantial metallicity must have been produced by z of four.

Shapiro, Paul R.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Numerical quasi-linear study of the critical ionization velocity phenomenon

The critical ionization velocity (CIV) for a neutral barium (Ba) gas cloud moving across the static magnetic field is studied numerically using quasi-linear equations and a parameter range which is typical for the shaped-charge Ba gas release experiments in space. For consistency the charge exchange between the background oxygen ions and neutral atoms and its reverse process, as well as the excitation of the neutral Ba atoms, are included. The numerical results indicate that when the ionization rate due to CIV becomes comparable to the charge exchange rate the energy lost to the ionization and excitation collisions by the superthermal electrons exceeds the energy gain from the waves that are excited by the ion beam. This results in a CIV yield less than the yield by the charge exchange process.

Moghaddam-Taaheri, E.↗
NASA NTRS1993

A new parallel-vector finite element analysis software on distributed-memory computers

A new parallel-vector finite element analysis software package MPFEA (Massively Parallel-vector Finite Element Analysis) is developed for large-scale structural analysis on massively parallel computers with distributed-memory. MPFEA is designed for parallel generation and assembly of the global finite element stiffness matrices as well as parallel solution of the simultaneous linear equations, since these are often the major time-consuming parts of a finite element analysis. Block-skyline storage scheme along with vector-unrolling techniques are used to enhance the vector performance. Communications among processors are carried out concurrently with arithmetic operations to reduce the total execution time. Numerical results on the Intel iPSC/860 computers (such as the Intel Gamma with 128 processors and the Intel Touchstone Delta with 512 processors) are presented, including an aircraft structure and some very large truss structures, to demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of MPFEA.

Qin, Jiangning↗
NASA NTRS1993

Geometrically nonlinear design sensitivity analysis on parallel-vector high-performance computers

Parallel-vector solution strategies for generation and assembly of element matrices, solution of the resulted system of linear equations, calculations of the unbalanced loads, displacements, stresses, and design sensitivity analysis (DSA) are all incorporated into the Newton Raphson (NR) procedure for nonlinear finite element analysis and DSA. Numerical results are included to show the performance of the proposed method for structural analysis and DSA in a parallel-vector computer environment.

Baddourah, Majdi A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Finite element procedures for coupled linear analysis of heat transfer, fluid and solid mechanics

Coupled finite element formulations for fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and solid mechanics are derived from the conservation laws for energy, mass, and momentum. To model the physics of interactions among the participating disciplines, the linearized equations are coupled by combining domain and boundary coupling procedures. Iterative numerical solution strategy is presented to solve the equations, with the partitioning of temporal discretization implemented.

Sutjahjo, Edhi↗
NASA NTRS1993

Application of GPS attitude determination to gravity gradient stabilized spacecraft

Recent advances in the Global Positioning System (GPS) technology have initiated a new era in aerospace navigation and control. GPS receivers have become increasingly compact and affordable, and new developments have made attitude determination using subcentimeter positioning among two or more antennas feasible for real-time applications. GPS-based attitude control systems will become highly portable packages which provide time, navigation, and attitude information of sufficient accuracy for many aerospace needs. A typical spacecraft application of GPS attitude determination is a gravity gradient stabilized satellite in low Earth orbit that employs a GPS receiver and four body mounted patch antennas. The coupled, linearized equations of motion enable complete position and attitude information to be extracted from only two antennas. A discussion of the various error sources for spaceborne GPS attitude measurement systems is included. Attitude determination of better than 0.3 degrees is possible for 1 meter antenna separation. Suggestions are provided to improve the accuracy of the attitude solution.

Lightsey, E. G.↗
NASA NTRS1993

A hydrodynamic model of the oscillating screen viscometer

The viscometer consists of an oscillating screen immersed in a fluid and free to rotate about an axis in its plane. The viscosity can be determined from the measured ratio of the periodic driving force to the screen motion when an adequate hydrodynamical model of the immersed oscillator is available. The screen is formed by a square mesh of thin wire whose dimensions invite comparison with asymptotic results for narrow hollow bodies translating in Stokes flow. These indicate that the closed hole structure of the grid plays an important role in determining its motion. It is shown that this role diminishes as the frequency increases. The computed results, obtained from a system of linear equations, are consistent with experimental values over the appropriate range of frequency.

Davis, A. M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1947

On subsonic compressible flows by a method of correspondence II : application of methods to studies of flow with circulation about a circular cylinder

A general method for studying the flow of a compressible fluid around a closed body was discussed in Part I of this report. Here, application is made to the specific case in which the linearized equation of state is used. For a given incompressible flow around a specific profile, a corresponding compressible flow is found. The flow at infinity remains unchanged. Detailed studies are made of the flow with circulation around a unit circle, and velocity distributions are found for a wide range of Mach number and angle of attack. Comparisons are made with other methods.

GELBART ABE↗
NASA NTRS1946

Theoretical lift and drag of thin triangular wings at supersonic speeds

A method is derived for calculating the lift and the drag due to lift of point-forward triangular wings and a restricted series of sweptback wings at supersonic speeds. The elementary or "supersonic sources" solution of the linearized equation of motion is used to find the potential function of a line of doublets. The flow about the triangular flat plate is then obtained by a surface distribution of these doublet lines. The lift-curve slope of triangular wings is found to be a function of the ratio of the tangent of the apex angle to the tangent of the Mach angle. As the apex angle approaches and becomes greater than the Mach angle, the lift coefficient of the triangular wing becomes equal to that of a two-dimensional supersonic airfoil at the same Mach number. The drag coefficient due to lift of triangular wings with leading edges well behind the Mach cone is shown to be close to that of elliptically loaded wings of the same aspect ratio in subsonic flight. The resultant force on wings with leading edges outside the Mach cone, however, is shown to act normal to the surfaces and thus an induced drag equal to the lift times the angle of attack is obtained.

Brown, Clinton E↗
NASA NTRS1947

Theoretical study of air forces on an oscillating or steady thin wing in a supersonic main stream

A theoretical study, based on the linearized equations of motion for small disturbance, is made of the air forces on wings of general plan forms moving forward at a constant supersonic speed. The boundary problem is set up for both the harmonically oscillating and the steady conditions. Two types of boundary conditions are distinguished, which are designated "purely supersonic" and "mixed supersonic." the method is illustrated by applications to a number of examples for both the steady and the oscillating conditions. The purely supersonic case involves independence of action of the upper and lower surfaces of the airfoil and present analysis is mainly concerned with this case. A discussion is first given of the fundamental or elementary solution corresponding to a moving source. The solutions for the velocity potential are then synthesized by means of integration of the fundamental solution for the moving source. The method is illustrated by applications to a number of examples for both the steady and the oscillating cases and for various plan forms, including swept wings and rectangular and triangular plan forms. The special results of a number of authors are shown to be included in the analysis.

Garrick, I E↗
NASA NTRS1918

Theory of an Airplane Encountering Gusts III

Report presents a new method for solving linear equations developed by Bromwich, which is suited to determine the motion for any particular gust, when the machine started from equilibrium, without the trouble of determining the constants of integration in the complementary function. (author)

Wilson, Edwin Bidwell↗
NASA NTRS1948

Damping in Pitch and Roll of Triangular Wings at Supersonic Speeds

A method is derived for calculating the damping coefficients in pitch and roll for a series of triangular wings and a restricted series of sweptback wings at supersonic speeds. The elementary "supersonic source" solution of the linearized equation of motion is used to find the potential function of a line of doublets, and the flows are obtained by surface distributions of these doublet lines. The damping derivatives for triangular wings are found to be a function of the ratio of the tangent of the apex angle to the tangent of the Mach angle. As this ratio becomes equal to and greater than 1.0 for triangular wings, the damping derivatives, in pitch and in roll, become constant. The damping derivative in roll becomes equal to one-half the value calculated for an infinite rectangular wing, and the damping derivative in pitch for pitching about the apex becomes equal to 3.375 times that of an infinite rectangular wing.

Brown, Clinton E↗
NASA NTRS1993

An analysis of fiber-matrix interface failure stresses for a range of ply stress states

A graphite/bismaleimide laminate was prepared without the usual fiber treatment and was tested over a wide range of stress states to measure its ply cracking strength. These tests were conducted using off-axis flexure specimens and produced fiber-matrix interface failure data over a correspondingly wide range of interface stress states. The absence of fiber treatment, weakened the fiber-matrix interfaces and allowed these tests to be conducted at load levels that did not yield the matrix. An elastic micromechanics computer code was used to calculate the fiber-matrix interface stresses at failure. Two different fiber-array models (square and diamond) were used in these calculations to analyze the effects of fiber arrangement as well as stress state on the critical interface stresses at failure. This study showed that both fiber-array models were needed to analyze interface stresses over the range of stress states. A linear equation provided a close fit to these critical stress combinations and, thereby, provided a fiber-matrix interface failure criterion. These results suggest that prediction procedures for laminate ply cracking can be based on micromechanics stress analyses and appropriate fiber-matrix interface failure criteria. However, typical structural laminates may require elastoplastic stress analysis procedures that account for matrix yielding, especially for shear-dominated ply stress states.

Crews, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Aerodynamic flight control to increase payload capability of future launch vehicles

In this report, we provide some examples of French, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese launch vehicles that have utilized fins in their designs. Next, the aerodynamic design of the fins is considered in Section 3. Some comments on basic static stability and control theory are followed by a brief description of an aerodynamic characteristics prediction code that was used to estimate the characteristics of a modified NLS 1.5 Stage vehicle. Alternative fin designs are proposed and some estimated aerodynamic characteristics presented and discussed. Also included in Section 3 is a discussion of possible methods of enhancement of the aerodynamic efficiency of fins, such as vortex generators and jet flaps. We consider the construction of fins for launch vehicles in Section 4 and offer an assessment of the state-of-the-art in the use of composites for aerodynamic control surfaces on high speed vehicles. We also comment on the use of smart materials for launch vehicle fins. The dynamic stability and control of a launch vehicle that utilizes both thrust vector control (engine nozzle gimballing) and movable fins is the subject addressed in Section 5. We give a short derivation of equations of motion for a launch vehicle moving in a vertical plane above a spherical earth, discuss the use of a gravity-turn nominal trajectory, and give the form of the period equations linearized about such a nominal. We then consider feedback control of vehicle attitude using both engine gimballing and fin deflection. Conclusions are stated and recommendations made in Section 6. An appendix contains aerodynamic data in tabular and graphical formats.

Cochran, John E., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Computation of signal delays in RC networks

A model for signal delay computation in RC networks is presented. The strength of the paradigm is its generality and simplicity. The definition of delay is applicable to RC meshes with potential resistive attenuating paths to ground. The algorithms can also be applied to undriven circuits (static charge sharing) and circuits with initial charge. To compute the delays, each node in the network is explored locally to derive a system of sparse linear equations. The solutions of the system are delay values based on the Elmore time constant at each point in the circuit.

Hidalgo, Juan Carlos↗
NASA NTRS1993

Review and analysis of dense linear system solver package for distributed memory machines

A dense linear system solver package recently developed at the University of Texas at Austin for distributed memory machine (e.g. Intel Paragon) has been reviewed and analyzed. The package contains about 45 software routines, some written in FORTRAN, and some in C-language, and forms the basis for parallel/distributed solutions of systems of linear equations encountered in many problems of scientific and engineering nature. The package, being studied by the Computer Applications Branch of the Analysis and Computation Division, may provide a significant computational resource for NASA scientists and engineers in parallel/distributed computing. Since the package is new and not well tested or documented, many of its underlying concepts and implementations were unclear; our task was to review, analyze, and critique the package as a step in the process that will enable scientists and engineers to apply it to the solution of their problems. All routines in the package were reviewed and analyzed. Underlying theory or concepts which exist in the form of published papers or technical reports, or memos, were either obtained from the author, or from the scientific literature; and general algorithms, explanations, examples, and critiques have been provided to explain the workings of these programs. Wherever the things were still unclear, communications were made with the developer (author), either by telephone or by electronic mail, to understand the workings of the routines. Whenever possible, tests were made to verify the concepts and logic employed in their implementations. A detailed report is being separately documented to explain the workings of these routines.

Narang, H. N.↗
NASA NTRS1994

A mathematical model for simulating noise suppression of lined ejectors

A mathematical model containing the essential features embodied in the noise suppression of lined ejectors is presented. Although some simplification of the physics is necessary to render the model mathematically tractable, the current model is the most versatile and technologically advanced at the current time. A system of linearized equations and the boundary conditions governing the sound field are derived starting from the equations of fluid dynamics. A nonreflecting boundary condition is developed. In view of the complex nature of the equations, a parametric study requires the use of numerical techniques and modern computers. A finite element algorithm that solves the differential equations coupled with the boundary condition is then introduced. The numerical method results in a matrix equation with several hundred thousand degrees of freedom that is solved efficiently on a supercomputer. The model is validated by comparing results either with exact solutions or with approximate solutions from other works. In each case, excellent correlations are obtained. The usefulness of the model as an optimization tool and the importance of variable impedance liners as a mechanism for achieving broadband suppression within a lined ejector are demonstrated.

Watson, Willie R.↗