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At least 649 records · Page 36
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NASA NTRS1985

A Bayesian approach to nonlinear inversion

Powerful methods are now available for solving linear parametric inverse problems. However, many inverse problems which arise in geohysics are nonlinear. Fortunately, it is possible to treat most of these with the air of linear perturbation theory and liner inversion. But a convenient method is needed for assessing the importance of nonlinearity in these quasi-linear problems. The present paper provides such a method. Matsu'ura and Jackson (1984) have presented a simple algorithm for evaluating the asymptotic covariance matrix fo estimation errors. In the present investigation, aspects of linear inversion are discussed, taking into account linear parametric inverse problems, nonuniqueness, prior information, confidence limits, conditional and marginal statistics, the relative importance of the prior and observational data, and standardized variables. Attention is also given to nonlinear inversion, and the application of the considered approaches to a number of examples.

Jackson, D. D.↗
NASA NTRS1968

New technique for optimal smoothing of data

Recursive method for the optimal smoothing of data has numerical superiority and is more easily understood in terms of physical reasoning than earlier methods. Using a Kalman filter, the smoothing technique, applied to a nonlinear parameter identification problem, is useful in those situations where linearization about a reference solution is valid.

Fraser, D. C.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Theoretical study of stress concentrations at circular holes and inclusions in strain hardening materials.

Nonlinear boundary value problems of an infinite elastic-plastic plate with a circular hole subjected to pure tension and pure shear at infinity are solved by a method involving Fourier series and finite difference. On the basis of these solutions, the validity of Neuber's relationship between the stress and strain concentration factors for the plane stress problems is examined and a generalized Stowell formula for the stress concentration factor is proposed for problems in which the applied loading may be pure shear as well as pure tension and, furthermore, other stress states. By the same method of solution, the stress distributions around a rigid circular cylindrical inclusion embedded in an infinite rigid-plastic matrix subjected to uniform transverse pure shear and tension are obtained.

Huang, W. C.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Estimation and identification study for flexible vehicles

Techniques are studied for the estimation of rigid body and bending states and the identification of model parameters associated with the single-axis attitude dynamics of a flexible vehicle. This problem is highly nonlinear but completely observable provided sufficient attitude and attitude rate data is available and provided all system bending modes are excited in the observation interval. A sequential estimator tracks the system states in the presence of model parameter errors. A batch estimator identifies all model parameters with high accuracy.

Jazwinski, A. H.↗
NASA NTRS1973

CONMIN: A FORTRAN program for constrained function minimization: User's manual

CONMIN is a FORTRAN program, in subroutine form, for the solution of linear or nonlinear constrained optimization problems. The basic optimization algorithm is the Method of Feasible Directions. The user must provide a main calling program and an external routine to evaluate the objective and constraint functions and to provide gradient information. If analytic gradients of the objective or constraint functions are not available, this information is calculated by finite difference. While the program is intended primarily for efficient solution of constrained problems, unconstrained function minimization problems may also be solved, and the conjugate direction method of Fletcher and Reeves is used for this purpose. This manual describes the use of CONMIN and defines all necessary parameters. Sufficient information is provided so that the program can be used without special knowledge of optimization techniques. Sample problems are included to help the user become familiar with CONMIN and to make the program operational.

Vanderplaats, G. N.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Perturbation and harmonic balance methods for nonlinear panel flutter.

A systematic way of applying both perturbation methods and harmonic balance methods to nonlinear panel flutter problems is developed here. Results obtained by both these methods for two-dimensional simply supported and three-dimensional clamped-clamped plates with six modes agree well with those obtained by the straightforward direct integration method, yet require less computer time and provide better insight into the solutions. Effects of viscoelastic structural damping on the flutter stability boundary are generally found to be destabilizing and the postflutter behavior becomes more explosive. The methods developed here may be of interest in related vibration problems.

Kuo, C.-C.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Transient cooling of solid bodies of classical form by radiation

An approximate analytic method is presented for analysis of the unsteady process of radiative cooling of solid bodies of classical form. The nonlinear heat transfer problem is solved by the cascade linearization technique with use of the iteration method. Comparison of the results obtained even in the first approximation with the available numerical solutions indicates adequate engineering accuracy of the proposed technique.

Novikov, V. S.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Subsonic flow past an oscillating cascade with steady blade loading - Basic formulation

A nonlinear boundary value problem governing the subsonic flow in a single, extended, blade passage region of a high-deflection, two dimensional, oscillating cascade is derived. The blades are assumed to be undergoing identical harmonic motions of small amplitude with constant phase angle between the motion of adjacent blades. An asymptotic perturbation approach is used to determine the velocity potential. This formulation can be used in the numerical determination of unsteady potential and thus the unsteady aerodynamic force and moment under various combinations of cascade and flow parameters.

Verdon, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The use of series-solutions for batch and sequential estimation

Iterative methods for the approximate solution of the nonlinear state estimation problem are investigated in which the solution is retained in the form of a finite series of Chebyshev polynomials. Algorithms are presented which allow the state to be estimated from observational data in either the batch or the sequential form. The advantages of these techniques are discussed.

Feagin, T.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Aerodynamic loads near cranks, apexes, and tips of thin, lifting wings in incompressible flow

The calculation of the incompressible and irrotational flow in the vicinity of tips and corners of thin, lifting wings is considered. It is shown that the important characteristics of the flow are governed by an eigenvalue problem, which is nonlinear at the trailing edge because of the shed wake (assumed to be in the wing plane). A new solution method was devised because either the existing methods were not valid for the trailing edge case or they would have required excessive amounts of computer time. The new method, which is fundamentally different than the previous ones, was used to calculate solutions for a number of cases, including some for which correct answers had not previously been obtained. Two of these solutions were used to determine the validity of drag and leading-edge-suction distributions near the tips of a delta wing and a swept wing as calculated by using both the vortex lattice method and a kernel function method. The calculations for the swept wing resolved the question of whether or not the induced drag should be zero at the wing tip.

Medan, R. T.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Finite elements for contact problems in two-dimensional elastodynamics

A finite element approach for contact problems in two dimensional elastodynamics was proposed. Sticking, sliding, and frictional contact were taken into account. The method consisted of a modification of the shape functions, in the contact region, in order to involve the nodes of the contacting body. The formulation was symmetric (both bodies were contactors and targets), in order to avoid interpenetration. Compatibility over the interfaces was satisfied. The method was applied to the impact of a block on a rigid target. It is shown that the formulation can be applied to fluid structure interaction, and to problems involving material nonlinearity.

Zimmermann, T. K.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Thermocapillary flows and their stability

Steady convective flows for geometries of varying complexity are described. This in general involves the solution of nonlinear free boundary problems. The stability of these flows were determined to more complicated (perhaps time dependent) modes of fluid motion. These include shear flow and free surface instability modes, with possible coupling between them. The effect of surface chemical species is described, including impurities which act as surfactants and insoluble oxide films, on the convective patterns and their stability.

Davis, S.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Towards sub-optimal stochastic control of partially observable stochastic systems

A class of multidimensional stochastic control problems with noisy data and bounded controls encountered in aerospace design is examined. The emphasis is on suboptimal design, the optimality being taken in quadratic mean sense. To that effect the problem is viewed as a stochastic version of the Lurie problem known from nonlinear control theory. The main result is a separation theorem (involving a nonlinear Kalman-like filter) suitable for Lurie-type approximations. The theorem allows for discontinuous characteristics. As a byproduct the existence of strong solutions to a class of non-Lipschitzian stochastic differential equations in dimensions is proven.

Ruzicka, G. J.↗