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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 667 records · Page 37
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1992

Estimation of local planetary gravity fields using line of sight gravity data and an integral operator

A novel method is presented for mapping line-of-sight gravity data (LOSGD) joining planetary probes and observers during Doppler tracking operations, with a view to geodetic and geophysical applications. LOSGD are in this case mapped as gravity anomalies along a radial direction, at constant altitude, using an inversion procedure in conjunction with a Tikhonov-Arsenine regularization method. The application of different regularization-parameter choices to a synthetic case is followed by application to the real case of Pioneer-Venus orbiter data for Venus' Gula Mons.

Barriot, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Comparison of some biased estimation methods (including ordinary subset regression) in the linear model

Ridge, Marquardt's generalized inverse, shrunken, and principal components estimators are discussed in terms of the objectives of point estimation of parameters, estimation of the predictive regression function, and hypothesis testing. It is found that as the normal equations approach singularity, more consideration must be given to estimable functions of the parameters as opposed to estimation of the full parameter vector; that biased estimators all introduce constraints on the parameter space; that adoption of mean squared error as a criterion of goodness should be independent of the degree of singularity; and that ordinary least-squares subset regression is the best overall method.

Sidik, S. M.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Mapping target signatures via partial unmixing of AVIRIS data

A complete spectral unmixing of a complicated AVIRIS scene may not always be possible or even desired. High quality data of spectrally complex areas are very high dimensional and are consequently difficult to fully unravel. Partial unmixing provides a method of solving only that fraction of the data inversion problem that directly relates to the specific goals of the investigation. Many applications of imaging spectrometry can be cast in the form of the following question: 'Are my target signatures present in the scene, and if so, how much of each target material is present in each pixel?' This is a partial unmixing problem. The number of unmixing endmembers is one greater than the number of spectrally defined target materials. The one additional endmember can be thought of as the composite of all the other scene materials, or 'everything else'. Several workers have proposed partial unmixing schemes for imaging spectrometry data, but each has significant limitations for operational application. The low probability detection methods described by Farrand and Harsanyi and the foreground-background method of Smith et al are both examples of such partial unmixing strategies. The new method presented here builds on these innovative analysis concepts, combining their different positive attributes while attempting to circumvent their limitations. This new method partially unmixes AVIRIS data, mapping apparent target abundances, in the presence of an arbitrary and unknown spectrally mixed background. It permits the target materials to be present in abundances that drive significant portions of the scene covariance. Furthermore it does not require a priori knowledge of the background material spectral signatures. The challenge is to find the proper projection of the data that hides the background variance while simultaneously maximizing the variance amongst the targets.

Boardman, Joseph W.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Three-dimensional inversion of satellite observed radiances A proposal

Fully three-dimensional temperature fields are obtained from observed satellite radiances through the use of variational methods which generalize the method of Wahba and Wendelberger (1980). This variational formalism allows a variety of different information types to contribute to the inversion process. Full use can be made of the horizontal smoothness of the temperature field in the calculation of three-dimensional retrievals. The present method facilitates the acquisition of maximum vertical resolution, accomplishes cloud effect filtering, and minimizes the effects of instrument noise, to yield horizontally coherent retrievals.

Hoffman, R. N.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Multipoint inverse design of an infinite cascade of airfoils

This paper describes a method for the design of an infinite cascade in incompressible flow. The method is based on conformal mapping and does not allow for multipoint design. The cascade blade is to determined is divided into a number of segments. Over each segment, the velocity distribution is prescribed together with an inlet or outlet flow angle at which this velocity distributions is to be achieved. In this way multipoint design requirements can be met. It is necessary to satisfy several conditions that arise to guarantee compatibility with the inlet and outlet flow as well as closure of the cascade blade. Satisfaction of these conditions does not necessarily result in a cascade with all of the desired characteristucs. For example, the cascade blades may be bulbous or crossed. Through Newtonian iteration, however, the desired characteristics may be prescribed directly. Four examples will be illustrated to demonstrate the capability of the method.

Selig, M. S.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Graphical and Numerical Description of Strain-Gage Balance Interactions

A new approach for the graphical and numerical description of balance interactions is presented. The approach uses data from single-component loads as input. This choice has the two advantages. First, the number of applied loads is at the minimum needed for interactions to be observed. In addition, the loads used for the description of interactions can easily be repeated at different sites. Output differences relative to the outputs of the zero load point of a load series are used for the description of interactions. Similarly, load differences relative to the loads of the zero load point of a load series are used for the description of the loads. Interactions are plotted versus the load differences for each load component while omitting the outputs of the primary gage of the chosen load component. The resulting plots have a characteristic star pattern as interactions are zero at zero load. Numerical estimates of the slopes of the interactions can be reverse-engineered from the load prediction equations of a balance if calibration data is examined. The slopes are the off-diagonal coefficients of the inverse of the matrix that has the coefficients of the linear terms of the fitted loads if the Non-Iterative Method is used for the analysis. Similarly, the slopes are the off-diagonal coefficients of the inverse of the matrix that is the non-iterative part of the primary load iteration equation if the Iterative Method is used for the analysis. Data from the calibration of a force balance is processed to illustrate the proposed graphical and numerical description of interactions.

wind tunnel test↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Graphical and Numerical Description of Strain-Gage Balance Interactions

A new approach for the graphical and numerical description of strain-gage balance interactions is presented. The approach uses data from single-component loads as input. This choice has the two advantages. First, the number of applied loads is at the minimum needed for interactions to be observed. In addition, the loads used for the description of interactions can easily be repeated at different sites. Output differences relative to the outputs of the zero load point of a load series are used for the description of interactions. Similarly, load differences relative to the loads of the zero load point of a load series are used for the description of the loads. Interactions are plotted versus the load differences for each load component while omitting outputs of the primary gage of the chosen load component. The resulting plots have a star pattern as all interactions are zero at zero load. Estimates of the slopes of the interactions can be obtained from the load prediction equations of a balance if calibration data is examined. The slopes are the off-diagonal coefficients of the inverse of the matrix that has the coefficients of the linear terms of the fitted loads if the Non-Iterative Method is used for the analysis. Similarly, the slopes are the off-diagonal coefficients of the inverse of the matrix that is the non-iterative part of the primary load iteration equation if the Iterative Method is used for the analysis. Data sets from a manual and a machine calibration of a force balance are processed to illustrate the proposed description of interactions.

strain-gage balance↗
NASA NTRS1998

Accelerated Training for Large Feedforward Neural Networks

In this paper we introduce a new training algorithm, the scaled variable metric (SVM) method. Our approach attempts to increase the convergence rate of the modified variable metric method. It is also combined with the RBackprop algorithm, which computes the product of the matrix of second derivatives (Hessian) with an arbitrary vector. The RBackprop method allows us to avoid computationally expensive, direct line searches. In addition, it can be utilized in the new, 'predictive' updating technique of the inverse Hessian approximation. We have used directional slope testing to adjust the step size and found that this strategy works exceptionally well in conjunction with the Rbackprop algorithm. Some supplementary, but nevertheless important enhancements to the basic training scheme such as improved setting of a scaling factor for the variable metric update and computationally more efficient procedure for updating the inverse Hessian approximation are presented as well. We summarize by comparing the SVM method with four first- and second- order optimization algorithms including a very effective implementation of the Levenberg-Marquardt method. Our tests indicate promising computational speed gains of the new training technique, particularly for large feedforward networks, i.e., for problems where the training process may be the most laborious.

Stepniewski, Slawomir W.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Accelerated complete-linearization method for calculating NLTE model stellar atmospheres

Two approaches to accelerating the method of complete linearization for calculating NLTE model stellar atmospheres are suggested. The first one, the so-called Kantorovich variant of the Newton-Raphson method, consists of keeping the Jacobi matrix of the system fixed, which allows us to calculate the costly matrix inversions only a few times and then keep them fixed during the subsequent computations. The second method is an application of the Ng acceleration. Both methods are extremely easy to implement with any model atmosphere code based on complete linearization. It is demonstrated that both methods, and especially their combination, yield a rapidly and globally convergent algorithm, which takes 2 to 5 times less computer time, depending on the model at hand and the required accuracy, than the ordinary complete linearization. Generally, the time gain is more significant for more complicated models. The methods were tested for a broad range of atmospheric parameters, and in all cases they exhibited similar behavior. Ng acceleration applied on the Kantorovich variant thus offers a significant improvement of the standard complete-linearization method, and may now be used for calculating relatively involved NLTE model stellar atmospheres.

Hubeny, I.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Determining the general circulation of the ocean - A nonlinear inverse problem

The usual inversion procedures for determining the oceanic circulation take the density field as given. This does not explicitly account for the mismatch between the data (which are typically a single realization of the density field) and the circulation being estimated (which may be a time mean or some other smoothed quantity), but explicit consideration of the uncertainty of the density data renders the problem nonlinear, and new estimation methods have to be used. As an example, a nonlinear inversion is successfully applied here to the simple analytical model of Stommel and Veronis (1981). It is also shown that their linear procedure, if properly used, yields a much better result than they obtained.

Mercier, H.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Application of the implicit MacCormack scheme to the parabolized Navier-Stokes equations

MacCormack's implicit finite-difference scheme was used to solve the two-dimensional parabolized Navier-Stokes (PNS) equations. This method for solving the PNS equations does not require the inversion of block tridiagonal systems of algebraic equations and permits the original explicit MacCormack scheme to be employed in those regions where implicit treatment is not needed. The advantages and disadvantages of the present adaptation are discussed in relation to those of the conventional Beam-Warming scheme for a flat plate boundary layer test case. Comparisons are made for accuracy, stability, computer time, computer storage, and ease of implementation. The present method was also applied to a second test case of hypersonic laminar flow over a 15% compression corner. The computed results compare favorably with experiment and a numerical solution of the complete Navier-Stokes equations.

Lawrence, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Phase Inversion: Inferring Solar Subphotospheric Flow and Other Asphericity from the Distortion of Acoustic Waves

A method is proposed for analyzing an almost monochromatic train of waves propagating in a single direction in an inhomogeneous medium that is not otherwise changing in time. An effective phase is defined in terms of the Hilbert transform of the wave function, which is related, via the JWKB approximation, to the spatial variation of the background state against which the wave is propagating. The contaminating effect of interference between the truly monochromatic components of the train is eliminated using its propagation properties. Measurement errors, provided they are uncorrelated, are manifest as rapidly varying noise; although that noise can dominate the raw phase-processed signal, it can largely be removed by low-pass filtering. The intended purpose of the analysis is to determine the distortion of solar oscillations induced by horizontal structural variation and material flow. It should be possible to apply the method directly to sectoral modes. The horizontal phase distortion provides a measure of longitudinally averaged properties of the Sun in the vicinity of the equator, averaged also in radius down to the depth to which the modes penetrate. By combining such averages from different modes, the two-dimensional variation can be inferred by standard inversion techniques. After taking due account of horizontal refraction, it should be possible to apply the technique also to locally sectoral modes that propagate obliquely to the equator and thereby build a network of lateral averages at each radius, from which the full three-dimensional structure of the Sun can, in principle, be determined as an inverse Radon transform.

Gough, Douglas↗
NASA NTRS2003

Fully Nonlinear Modeling and Analysis of Precision Membranes

High precision membranes are used in many current space applications. This paper presents a fully nonlinear membrane theory with forward and inverse analyses of high precision membrane structures. The fully nonlinear membrane theory is derived from Jaumann strains and stresses, exact coordinate transformations, the concept of local relative displacements, and orthogonal virtual rotations. In this theory, energy and Newtonian formulations are fully correlated, and every structural term can be interpreted in terms of vectors. Fully nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODES) governing the large static deformations of known axisymmetric membranes under known axisymmetric loading (i.e., forward problems) are presented as first-order ODES, and a method for obtaining numerically exact solutions using the multiple shooting procedure is shown. A method for obtaining the undeformed geometry of any axisymmetric membrane with a known inflated geometry and a known internal pressure (i.e., inverse problems) is also derived. Numerical results from forward analysis are verified using results in the literature, and results from inverse analysis are verified using known exact solutions and solutions from the forward analysis. Results show that the membrane theory and the proposed numerical methods for solving nonlinear forward and inverse membrane problems are accurate.

Pai, P. Frank↗
NASA NTRS1999

A Spherical Earth Solution for TOA Lightning Location Retrieval

With the advent of high-speed digital computers, the method of chi square minimization is a highly practical means for analyzing a wide variety of (otherwise intractable) nonlinear inversion problems in applied mathematical physics. Little thought or effort is required to apply the chi square method to obtain quick and reasonable estimates of a solution, and the method offers a means to assess retrieval errors. Because the method is simple and practical it is sometimes hastily applied to problems that can be solved by formal analytic or quasi-analytic means. Presently, Global Atmospherics Inc. (GAI) finds the minimum of a chi square function to analyze time-of-arrival (TOA) and magnetic bearing data derived from the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN); ellipsoidal Earth geometry is assumed. An analytic solution to this problem has not yet been attained, but the consideration and solving of less general problem statements might eventually lead to a final solution. In the present study, the problem of retrieving lightning ground-strike location on a spherical Earth surface using a network of 4 or more time-of-arrival (TOA) sensors is considered. It is shown that this problem has an analytic solution and therefore does not require the use of nonlinear estimation theory (such as the chi square method mentioned above). The mathematical robustness of the analytic solution is tested using computer-generated lightning sources and simulated TOA measurement errors. A quasi-analytic extension of the spherical Earth solution for an oblate spheroidal Earth geometry is considered in a related study. The incorporation of magnetic bearing information into these analytic solutions would lead to a general and elegant analytic retrieval scheme that would most likely replace the chi square estimation theory currently employed by Global Atmospherics Inc. (GAI).

Koshak, William J,↗
NASA NTRS1976

Adequacy of classical inverse bremsstrahlung theory for low-temperature plasmas

The authors examine those plasma heating conditions under which a theory more accurate than the classical inverse bremsstrahlung theory should be used to predict absorption coefficients when laser energy is injected into the plasma. A correlation plot for measured absorption coefficients at three laser wavelengths versus those calculated by quantum mechanical theory yields a correlation coefficient for the least-squares fit of 0.994. A plot of the ratio of the quantum-mechanically corrected electron ion inverse bremsstrahlung absorption coefficient to that calculated by classical methods versus plasma temperature shows that at around 20 eV and above the differences between classical and quantum predictions are negligible, but significant errors could arise from application of classical theories to lower-temperature plasmas. Some recent experiments in the literature are shown to be worthy of reinterpretation in this light.

Billman, K. W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The design and analysis of low-speed airfoils

PROFILE program solves diverse and inverse airfoil-flow problems. It combines conformational mapping method for design of airfoils with prescribed velocity-distribution characteristics, panel method for potential-flow analysis, and boundary-layer method. PROFILE is written in FORTRAN IV for implementation on CDC 6000-series computer.

Eppler, R.↗
NASA NTRS1980

CARDIAD approach to system dominance with application to turbofan engine models

The paper presents the CARDIAD (complex acceptability region for diagonal dominance) method for achieving the diagonal dominance condition in the inverse Nyquist array approach to the analysis and design of multivariable systems in the frequency domain. A design example is given for a sixth order, 4-input, 4-output model of a turbofan engine.

Schafer, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Fast image decompression for telebrowsing of images

Progressive image transmission (PIT) is often used to reduce the transmission time of an image telebrowsing system. A side effect of the PIT is the increase of computational complexity at the viewer's site. This effect is more serious in transform domain techniques than in other techniques. Recent attempts to reduce the side effect are futile as they create another side effect, namely, the discontinuous and unpleasant image build-up. Based on a practical assumption that image blocks to be inverse transformed are generally sparse, this paper presents a method to minimize both side effects simultaneously.

Miaou, Shaou-Gang↗