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NASA NTRS1973

Active cleaning technique device

The objective of this program was to develop a laboratory demonstration model of an active cleaning technique (ACT) device. The principle of this device is based primarily on the technique for removing contaminants from optical surfaces. This active cleaning technique involves exposing contaminated surfaces to a plasma containing atomic oxygen or combinations of other reactive gases. The ACT device laboratory demonstration model incorporates, in addition to plasma cleaning, the means to operate the device as an ion source for sputtering experiments. The overall ACT device includes a plasma generation tube, an ion accelerator, a gas supply system, a RF power supply and a high voltage dc power supply.

Shannon, R. L.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Matrix Perturbation Techniques in Structural Dynamics

Matrix perturbation are developed techniques which can be used in the dynamical analysis of structures where the range of numerical values in the matrices extreme or where the nature of the damping matrix requires that complex valued eigenvalues and eigenvectors be used. The techniques can be advantageously used in a variety of fields such as earthquake engineering, ocean engineering, aerospace engineering and other fields concerned with the dynamical analysis of large complex structures or systems of second order differential equations. A number of simple examples are included to illustrate the techniques.

Caughey, T. K.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Techniques for the analysis of geodynamic effects using laser data

New orbit computation techniques have been developed to realize the full precision of laser ranging measurements from a single tracking station used to accurately determine the orbital inclination of a satellite. In order to evaluate earth and ocean tidal effects on the satellite and polar motion effects on the station latitude, improved computational techniques are described for perturbations significantly influencing the satellite's inclination, such as solar radiation pressure and geopotential resonance. By using the time independent value of maximum latitude reached by the satellite as the experimental variable, orbit tracking errors caused by imprecise modelling of the gravity field and atmospheric drag have been largely overcome and made possible long term analysis of osculating elements. With these techniques, quarter day spans of laser data have been employed to monitor the inclination of the satellite to the order 0.01 arcseconds precision over a period of seventeen months.

Dunn, P. J.↗

NASA NTRS1972

A simple Fourier analysis technique for measuring the dynamic response of manual control systems.

From a practical standpoint most dynamic response analysis techniques are complicated, expensive, and time consuming to mechanize and operate. Adaptive parameter tracking techniques partially overcome these faults, but they have prescribed forms which is an undesirable restriction for basic research. To overcome these drawbacks, an on-line Fourier analysis technique has been developed which deals only with the input and error signals in a manual feedback control system. Several sine waves are used for the input, and the on-line data measurement includes the error variance and a simple means for obtaining the sine and cosine transforms of the error signal at each of the input frequencies. From this relatively small amount of data, we show simple ways to compute the open- and closed-loop dynamic response at input frequencies and the relative amount of linearly correlated power in the error signal.

Allen, R. W.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Some new techniques for processing remotely obtained images by self-generated spectral masks.

An extension of a new technique that makes possible parallel, simultaneous processing of remotely obtained images is presented. The technique holds out promise for automatic onboard classification of data. The central feature involves the generation of binary masks, directly from the image, based on object reflectance data, that group objects into equivalence classes. These masks, called equivalence class masks, can be used in various logical combinations to isolate classes of objects with a priori known reflectance or radiance signatures. Experimental verification of the technique is furnished for simple scenes. A computational scheme, based on a sequence of integrated irradiance measurements on the image, that makes it possible to identify objects within an equivalence class is suggested.

Stark, H.↗

NASA NTRS1972

High resolution obtained by photoelectric scanning techniques.

Several applications of linear scanning of different types of objects are described; examples include double stars, satellites, the Red Spot of Jupiter and a landing site on the moon. This technique allows one to achieve a gain of about an order of magnitude in resolution over conventional photoelectric techniques; it is also effective in providing sufficient data for removing background effects and for the application of deconvolution procedures. Brief consideration is given to two-dimensional scanning, either at the telescope or of electronographic images in the laboratory. It is suggested that some of the techniques described should be given serious consideration for space applications.

Hall, J. S.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Digital image registration by correlation techniques.

This study considers the translation problem associated with digital image registration and develops a means for comparing commonly used correlation techniques. Using suitably defined constraints, an optimum and four suboptimum registration techniques are defined and evaluated. A computational comparison is made and Gaussian image statistics are used to compare the selected techniques in terms of radial position location error.

Popp, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Improved Hanle effect measurement technique for fast ions.

An improved averaging technique for use with foil-excited fast ions is applied to a Hanle-effect measurement of the mean life of some fast ions. With improved data analysis, the employed technique is expected to be more precise, as well as experimentally simpler than previously used techniques.

Liu, C. H.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Image analysis techniques associated with automatic data base generation.

This paper considers some basic problems relating to automatic data base generation from imagery, the primary emphasis being on fast and efficient automatic extraction of relevant pictorial information. Among the techniques discussed are recursive implementations of some particular types of filters which are much faster than FFT implementations, a 'sequential similarity detection' technique of implementing matched filters, and sequential linear classification of multispectral imagery. Several applications of the above techniques are presented including enhancement of underwater, aerial and radiographic imagery, detection and reconstruction of particular types of features in images, automatic picture registration and classification of multiband aerial photographs to generate thematic land use maps.

Bond, A. D.↗

NASA NTRS1973

New techniques for determining sizes of satellites and asteroids.

It is pointed out that until very recently not even a crude idea of the sizes was available for any but the five brightest satellites and, more marginally, the three brightest asteroids. Attention is given to three new techniques which are yielding radii for dozens of small objects and which, by virtue of their independence of angular size, are capable of extension to even smaller and fainter objects. The first new technique, and by far the most precise, is to derive the radius, and in many cases the shape as well, from timings of an occultation of a star by the small body. Both of the other new techniques are based on methods of determining surface reflectivities, since once the geometric albedo is known, the radius can be determined from the brightness.

Morrison, D.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Residual stress measurement and analysis using ultrasonic techniques.

A technique which utilizes ultrasonic radiation has been developed to measure residual stresses in metals. This technique makes it possible to detect and measure the magnitude of the principle stresses and also to obtain their direction. The velocities of ultrasonic waves in materials are measured as the time to travel a fixed path length, and the change in transit time is related to the applied stress. The linear relationship obtained allows a procedure based on this principle to be used for the measurement of residual stress using surface waves and shear waves. A method for plotting stress profiles through a material using surface waves uses varying frequencies for the ultrasonic wave. A limitation of the shear wave method is considered. The system used for this technique is called the Modified Time of Flight System.

Noronha, P. J.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Guidebook of nondestructive evaluation techniques for materials and structures

Seventy nondestructive techniques for evaluating material and structures are described in guidebook. Standardized format facilitates comparison of their merits and limitations for solving various problems. Guide includes index of flaw types and tabulated guide to use of nondestructive evaluation techniques. Alternative technique names are cross-referenced.

Vary, A.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Multiple regression technique for Pth degree polynominals with and without linear cross products

A multiple regression technique was developed by which the nonlinear behavior of specified independent variables can be related to a given dependent variable. The polynomial expression can be of Pth degree and can incorporate N independent variables. Two cases are treated such that mathematical models can be studied both with and without linear cross products. The resulting surface fits can be used to summarize trends for a given phenomenon and provide a mathematical relationship for subsequent analysis. To implement this technique, separate computer programs were developed for the case without linear cross products and for the case incorporating such cross products which evaluate the various constants in the model regression equation. In addition, the significance of the estimated regression equation is considered and the standard deviation, the F statistic, the maximum absolute percent error, and the average of the absolute values of the percent of error evaluated. The computer programs and their manner of utilization are described. Sample problems are included to illustrate the use and capability of the technique which show the output formats and typical plots comparing computer results to each set of input data.

Davis, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1974

A test technique for measuring lightning-induced voltages on aircraft electrical circuits

The development of a test technique used for the measurement of lightning-induced voltages in the electrical circuits of a complete aircraft is described. The resultant technique utilizes a portable device known as a transient analyzer capable of generating unidirectional current impulses similar to lightning current surges, but at a lower current level. A linear relationship between the magnitude of lightning current and the magnitude of induced voltage permitted the scaling up of measured induced values to full threat levels. The test technique was found to be practical when used on a complete aircraft.

Walko, L. C.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Domestic wash water reclamation for reuse as commode water supply using filtration: Reverse-osmosis separation technique

A combined filtration-reverse-osmosis water recovery system has been evaluated to determine its capability to reclaim domestic wash water for reuse as a commode water supply. The system produced water that met all chemical and physical requirements established by the U.S. Public Health Service for drinking water with the exception of carbon chloroform extractables, methylene blue active substances, and phenols. It is thought that this water is of sufficient quality to be reused as commode supply water. The feasibility of using a combined filtration and reverse-osmosis technique for reclaiming domestic wash water has been established. The use of such a technique for wash-water recovery will require a maintenance filter to remove solid materials including those less than 1 micron in size from the wash water. The reverse-osmosis module, if sufficiently protected from plugging, is an attractive low-energy technique for removing contaminants from domestic wash water.

Hall, J. B., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1974

An exploratory investigation of a wake disruption technique for studying wake reestablishment time

An exploratory investigation was made of a wake disruption technique for studying the hypersonic-wake reestablishment time in a blowdown wind tunnel. In this technique, a highly underexpanded jet issuing from the base of a 10 deg half-angle cone totally disrupts and displaces the conventional wake. The jet was rapidly shut off by an explosively actuated valve and the time for wake reestablishment was measured. The tests were conducted in the Mach 6 high Reynolds number tunnel at a stagnation temperature of 506 K and stagnation pressure of 2.86 MPa. The model base jet stagnation pressure was 3.55 MPa at room temperature. High-speed schlieren motion pictures indicated that disappearance of the disrupting jet and reestablishment of the wake-recompression shock were probably occurring simultaneously and that the time disruptive-jet-air shutoff to wake recompression shock reestablishment was probably between 200 and 450 microseconds (flow lengths from 1.8 to 4.2). The values of flow lengths are about one-thord to one-half the values measured in impulse facilities in a previous study. This shorter time is believed to be largely due to difference in flow conditions between the jet disruption technique and impulse facilities.

Clark, L. E.↗

NASA NTRS1974

An evaluation of machine processing techniques of ERTS-1 data for user applications

A broad study is described to evaluate a set of machine analysis and processing techniques applied to ERTS-1 data. Based on the analysis results in urban land use analysis and soil association mapping together with previously reported results in general earth surface feature identification and crop species classification, a profile of general applicability of this procedure is beginning to emerge. Put in the hands of a user who knows well the information needed from the data and also is familiar with the region to be analyzed it appears that significantly useful information can be generated by these methods. When supported by preprocessing techniques such as the geometric correction and temporal registration capabilities, final products readily useable by user agencies appear possible. In parallel with application, through further research, there is much potential for further development of these techniques both with regard to providing higher performance and in new situations not yet studied.

Landgrebe, D.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Extended electrode technique

The extended electrode technique is a unique welding process which utilizes manual gas-metal-arc (GMAW) semi-automatic equipment and close, square butt joints to effectively produce a weld. The technique takes advantage of the resistance heating of the electode extension to effect the root pass. Weldments as large as 72-X30-X2-inch have been fabricated with this technique under normal shipyard welding conditions. Mechanical properties and explosion bulge tests indicate that satisfactory results are obtained with this process. Potential savings of approximately 50 percent can be achieved in flat welding and repair of heavy structural steel members.

Schaper, V. D.↗