Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Numerical software”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 559 records · Page 31

LAMPS software and mesoscale prediction studies

The full-physics version of the LAMPS model has been implemented on the Perkin-Elmer computer. In Addition, LAMPS graphics processors have been rewritten to the run on the Perkin-Elmer and they are currently undergoing final testing. Numerical experiments investigating the impact of convective parameterized latent heat release on the evolution of a precipitating storm have been performed and the results are currently being evaluated. Curent efforts include the continued evaluation of the impact of initial conditions on LAMPS model results. This work will help define measurement requirements for future research field projects as well as for observations in support of operational forecasts. Also, the impact of parameterized latent heat on the evolution of precipitating systems is continuing. This research is in support of NASA's proposed Earth Observation Mission (EOM).

Perkey, D. J.↗

Grid2: A Program for Rapid Estimation of the Jovian Radiation Environment: A Numeric Implementation of the GIRE2 Jovian Radiation Model for Estimating Trapped Radiation for Mission Concept Studies

Grid2 is a program that utilizes the Galileo Interim Radiation Electron model 2 (GIRE2) Jovian radiation model to compute fluences and doses for Jupiter missions. (Note: The iterations of these two softwares have been GIRE and GIRE2; likewise Grid and Grid2.) While GIRE2 is an important improvement over the original GIRE radiation model, the GIRE2 model can take as long as a day or more to compute these quantities for a complete mission. Grid2 fits the results of the detailed GIRE2 code with a set of grids in local time and position thereby greatly speeding up the execution of the model--minutes as opposed to days. The Grid2 model covers the time period from 1971 to 2050and distances of 1.03 to 30 Jovian diameters (Rj). It is available as a direct-access database through a FORTRAN interface program. The new database is only slightly larger than the original grid version: 1.5 gigabytes (GB) versus 1.2 GB.

Europa↗

Markov Chains For Testing Redundant Software

Preliminary design developed for validation experiment that addresses problems unique to assuring extremely high quality of multiple-version programs in process-control software. Approach takes into account inertia of controlled system in sense it takes more than one failure of control program to cause controlled system to fail. Verification procedure consists of two steps: experimentation (numerical simulation) and computation, with Markov model for each step.

White, Allan L.↗

SimGraph: A Flight Simulation Data Visualization Workstation

Today's modern flight simulation research produces vast amounts of time sensitive data, making a qualitative analysis of the data difficult while it remains in a numerical representation. Therefore, a method of merging related data together and presenting it to the user in a more comprehensible format is necessary. Simulation Graphics (SimGraph) is an object-oriented data visualization software package that presents simulation data in animated graphical displays for easy interpretation. Data produced from a flight simulation is presented by SimGraph in several different formats, including: 3-Dimensional Views, Cockpit Control Views, Heads-Up Displays, Strip Charts, and Status Indicators. SimGraph can accommodate the addition of new graphical displays to allow the software to be customized to each user s particular environment. A new display can be developed and added to SimGraph without having to design a new application, allowing the graphics programmer to focus on the development of the graphical display. The SimGraph framework can be reused for a wide variety of visualization tasks. Although it was created for the flight simulation facilities at NASA Langley Research Center, SimGraph can be reconfigured to almost any data visualization environment. This paper describes the capabilities and operations of SimGraph.

Kaplan, Joseph A.↗

Identifying Trends in Deep Space Network Monitor Data

A computer program has been developed that analyzes Deep Space Network monitor data, looking for changes of trends in critical parameters. This program represents a significant improvement over the previous practice of manually plotting data and visually inspecting the resulting graphs to identify trends. This program uses proven numerical techniques to identify trends. When a statistically significant trend is detected, then it is characterized by means of a symbol that can be used by pre-existing model-based reasoning software. The program can perform any of the following functions: Given an expectation that data in a given list should exhibit an upward, downward, constant, or unknown trend, it can determine whether the data do or do not follow such a trend. Given a list of data, it can identify which of the aforementioned trends the data follow. Given two lists of data, it can determine whether or not both follow the same trend. This program can be executed on a variety of computers. It can be distributed in either source code or binary code form. It must be run in conjunction with any one of a number of Lisp compilers that are available commercially or as shareware.

James, Mark↗

Coupled Solid Rocket Motor Ballistics and Trajectory Modeling for Higher Fidelity Launch Vehicle Design

Multi-stage launch vehicles with solid rocket motors (SRMs) face design optimization challenges, especially when the mission scope changes frequently. Significant performance benefits can be realized if the solid rocket motors are optimized to the changing requirements. While SRMs represent a fixed performance at launch, rapid design iterations enable flexibility at design time, yielding significant performance gains. The streamlining and integration of SRM design and analysis can be achieved with improved analysis tools. While powerful and versatile, the Solid Performance Program (SPP) is not conducive to rapid design iteration. Performing a design iteration with SPP and a trajectory solver is a labor intensive process. To enable a better workflow, SPP, the Program to Optimize Simulated Trajectories (POST), and the interfaces between them have been improved and automated, and a graphical user interface (GUI) has been developed. The GUI enables real-time visual feedback of grain and nozzle design inputs, enforces parameter dependencies, removes redundancies, and simplifies manipulation of SPP and POST's numerous options. Automating the analysis also simplifies batch analyses and trade studies. Finally, the GUI provides post-processing, visualization, and comparison of results. Wrapping legacy high-fidelity analysis codes with modern software provides the improved interface necessary to enable rapid coupled SRM ballistics and vehicle trajectory analysis. Low cost trade studies demonstrate the sensitivities of flight performance metrics to propulsion characteristics. Incorporating high fidelity analysis from SPP into vehicle design reduces performance margins and improves reliability. By flying an SRM designed with the same assumptions as the rest of the vehicle, accurate comparisons can be made between competing architectures. In summary, this flexible workflow is a critical component to designing a versatile launch vehicle model that can accommodate a volatile mission scope.

Ables, Brett↗

Detached Eddy Simulation for the F-16XL Aircraft Configuration

Numerical simulations for the flow around the F-16XL configuration as a contribution to the Cranked Arrow Wing Aerodynamic Project International 2 (CAWAPI-2) have been performed. The NASA Langley Tetrahedral Unstructured Software System (TetrUSS) with its USM3D solver was used to perform the unsteady flow field simulations for the subsonic high angle-of-attack case corresponding to flight condition (FC) 25. Two approaches were utilized to capture the unsteady vortex flow over the wing of the F-16XL. The first approach was to use Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) coupled with standard turbulence closure models. The second approach was to use Detached Eddy Simulation (DES), which creates a hybrid model that attempts to combine the most favorable elements of URANS models and Large Eddy Simulation (LES). Computed surface static pressure profiles are presented and compared with flight data. Time-averaged and instantaneous results obtained on coarse, medium and fine grids are compared with the flight data. The intent of this study is to demonstrate that the DES module within the USM3D solver can be used to provide valuable data in predicting vortex-flow physics on a complex configuration.

Elmiligui, Alaa↗

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Power, Avionics, and Software (PAS) 101

EVA systems consist of a spacesuit or garment, a PLSS, a PAS system, and spacesuit interface hardware. The PAS system is responsible for providing power for the suit, communication of several types of data between the suit and other mission assets, avionics hardware to perform numerous data display and processing functions, and information systems that provide crewmembers data to perform their tasks with more autonomy and efficiency. Irimies discussed how technology development efforts have advanced the state-of-the-art in these areas and shared technology development challenges.

Irimies, David↗

Formal Methods in the Development of Highly Assured Software for Unmanned Aircraft Systems

In traditional software development methodologies, operational and functional requirements of systems are often specified in structured natural language notations. These restricted notations provide good documentation support, but only provide limited support for semantic analysis. These notations are generally not rich enough to unambiguously specify the requirements of safety-critical systems that, for example, involve complex numerical computations or that interact with the physical environment. Examples of these safety-critical systems are autonomous vehicles such as unmanned aircraft systems. This talk advocates the use of expressive formal logics, such as higher-order logic, to specify the operational and functional requirement of unmanned systems and to prove the correctness of these requirements. Semantic analysis of requirements written in higher-order logic is supported through the use of interactive theorem provers. Formal models serve as ideal reference implementations of functional requirements. Hence, formal logics enable software validation techniques where software implementations can be checked against functional requirements in a mechanical way. The Formal Methods group in the Safety-Critical Avionics Systems Branch at NASA Langley Research Center has conducted research on the development and application of formal verification techniques to safety-critical applications of interest to NASA for more than 30 years. This talk illustrates the use of formal methods in the development of highly-assured autonomous unmanned aircraft systems.

Formal Methods↗

Effects of regenerator geometry on pulse tube refrigerator performance

This paper gives results of the cooling performance of a double-inlet pulse tube refrigerator using various regenerators. The same pulse tube was used for all the experiments and measured 4.76 mm in diameter and 46.2 mm in length. A commercial linear compressor with a swept volume of 4 cm3 was used in these experiments. The operating conditions were held constant at a mean pressure of 2.0 MPa and a frequency of 54 Hz. Using finite difference software called REGEN3.1, developed at NIST, and recent experiment results, we optimized a series of regenerators based on dimensions, materials and screen packing. The values used for calculating the thermal conduction through stacked screens by REGEN3.1 were based on recent experimental results from NIST. The regenerator tubes were designed using 316 stainless steel and titanium materials. The regenerator matrices investigated were 400-mesh and 500-mesh stainless steel screen. The valve settings for both orifices were adjusted to minimize the no-load temperature for all regenerators. A cooling capacity curve from 0 to 3 W was also determined. The performance of the pulse tube refrigerator using the different regenerators is discussed. The experimental results from the various regenerators are evaluated and compared with their corresponding numerically calculated coefficient of performance (COP) and regenerator design as determined by REGEN3.1.

NASA Discipline Life Sciences Technologies↗

Composite structural materials

Physical properties of fiber reinforced composites; structural concepts and analysis; manufacturing; reliability; and life prediction are subjects of research conducted to determine the long term integrity of composite aircraft structures under conditions pertinent to service use. Progress is reported in (1) characterizing homogeneity in composite materials; (2) developing methods for analyzing composite materials; (3) studying fatigue in composite materials; (4) determining the temperature and moisture effects on the mechanical properties of laminates; (5) numerically analyzing moisture effects; (6) numerically analyzing the micromechanics of composite fracture; (7) constructing the 727 elevator attachment rib; (8) developing the L-1011 engine drag strut (CAPCOMP 2 program); (9) analyzing mechanical joints in composites; (10) developing computer software; and (11) processing science and technology, with emphasis on the sailplane project.

Ansell, G. S.↗

Multispectral remote sensing as stratigraphic and structural tool, Wind River Basin and Big Horn Basin areas, Wyoming

The use of Landsat TM, Airborne Imaging Spectrometer, and airborne Thermal IR Multispectral Scanner data in the geological evaluation of two sites in central Wyoming is described and illustrated with diagrams, maps, photographs, sample images, and tables of numerical data. The value of the remotely sensed information on the areal variation of attitude, sequence, thickness, and lithology of exposed strata is demonstrated; details of the data analysis are given; and the specialized software packages employed are briefly characterized.

Lang, Harold R.↗

Expressions Module for the Satellite Orbit Analysis Program

The Expressions Module is a software module that has been incorporated into the Satellite Orbit Analysis Program (SOAP). The module includes an expressions- parser submodule built on top of an analytical system, enabling the user to define logical and numerical variables and constants. The variables can capture output from SOAP orbital-prediction and geometric-engine computations. The module can combine variables and constants with built-in logical operators (such as Boolean AND, OR, and NOT), relational operators (such as >, <, or =), and mathematical operators (such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, modulus, exponentiation, differentiation, and integration). Parentheses can be used to specify precedence of operations. The module contains a library of mathematical functions and operations, including logarithms, trigonometric functions, Bessel functions, minimum/ maximum operations, and floating- point-to-integer conversions. The module supports combinations of time, distance, and angular units and has a dimensional- analysis component that checks for correct usage of units. A parser based on the Flex language and the Bison program looks for and indicates errors in syntax. SOAP expressions can be built using other expressions as arguments, thus enabling the user to build analytical trees. A graphical user interface facilitates use.

Edmonds, Karina↗

Eclipse-Free-Time Assessment Tool for IRIS

IRIS_EFT is a scientific simulation that can be used to perform an Eclipse-Free- Time (EFT) assessment of IRIS (Infrared Imaging Surveyor) mission orbits. EFT is defined to be those time intervals longer than one day during which the IRIS spacecraft is not in the Earth s shadow. Program IRIS_EFT implements a special perturbation of orbital motion to numerically integrate Cowell's form of the system of differential equations. Shadow conditions are predicted by embedding this integrator within Brent s method for finding the root of a nonlinear equation. The IRIS_EFT software models the effects of the following types of orbit perturbations on the long-term evolution and shadow characteristics of IRIS mission orbits. (1) Non-spherical Earth gravity, (2) Atmospheric drag, (3) Point-mass gravity of the Sun, and (4) Point-mass gravity of the Moon. The objective of this effort was to create an in-house computer program that would perform eclipse-free-time analysis. of candidate IRIS spacecraft mission orbits in an accurate and timely fashion. The software is a suite of Fortran subroutines and data files organized as a "computational" engine that is used to accurately predict the long-term orbit evolution of IRIS mission orbits while searching for Earth shadow conditions.

Eagle, David↗

The systems improved numerical fluids analysis code (SINFAC)

A computer program has been developed to model the steady-state performance of single and two-phase heat transport systems. The development effort had the intent of making the program general, relatively easy to implement and easy to integrate into currently available software. The primary use of the program is for, but not limited to, heat transport system for spacecraft. In order to show the program has achieved its intended goals, the program was first applied to a small loop and a quick parametric study done. Next a verification study was done in which the temperature data from a thermal loop flown on the space shuttle was compared to modeler predictions.

Schweickart, Russell B.↗

Cumulative reports and publications through 31 December 1983

All reports for the calendar years 1975 through December 1983 are listed by author. Since ICASE reports are intended to be preprints of articles for journals and conference proceedings, the published reference is included when available. Thirteen older journal and conference proceedings references are included as well as five additional reports by ICASE personnel. Major categories of research covered include: (1) numerical methods, with particular emphasis on the development and analysis of basic algorithms; (2) computational problems in engineering and the physical sciences, particularly fluid dynamics, acoustics, structural analysis, and chemistry; and (3) computer systems and software, especially vector and parallel computers, microcomputers, and data management.

Source record↗

Strategy for reflector pattern calculation: Let the computer do the work

Using high frequency approximations, the secondary pattern of a reflector antenna can be calculated by numerically evaluating a radiation integral I(u,v). In recent years, tremendous effort has been expended to reducing I(u,v) to Fourier integrals. These reduction schemes are invariably reflector geometry dependent. Hence, different analyses/computer software development must be carried out for different reflector shapes/boundaries. it is pointed out, that, as the computer power improves, these reduction schemes are no longer necessary. Comparable accuracy and computation time can be achieved by evaluating I(u,v) by a brute force FFT described in this note. Furthermore, there is virtually no restriction on the reflector geometry by using the brute force FFT.

Lam, P. T.↗

Strategy for reflector pattern calculation - Let the computer do the work

Using high frequency approximations, the secondary pattern of a reflector antenna can be calculated by numerically evaluating a radiation integral I(u,v). In recent years, tremendous effort has been expended to reducing I(u,v) to Fourier integrals. These reduction schemes are invariably reflector geometry dependent. Hence, different analyses/computer software development must be carried out for different reflector shapes/boundaries. It is pointed out, that, as the computer power improves, these reduction schemes are no longer necessary. Comparable accuracy and computation time can be achieved by evaluating I(u,v) by a brute force FFT described in this note. Furthermore, there is virtually no restriction on the reflector geometry by using the brute force FFT.

Lam, P. T.↗