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At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2011

Magnetic Penetration Effects in Small Superconducting Devices

The temperature dependent behavior of a superconducting body in an applied magnetic field involves flux penetration/expulsion both from screening currents (within a magnetic penetration depth) and variations in the superconducting order parameter (locally to form vortices or a mixed state, or globally in the Meissner effect). The temperature dependence of the magnetic penetration depth, in particular, has been used to make highly sensitive macroscopic thermometers. For the microscopic device volumes required in sensitive low temperature photon detectors, properties of actual thin film materials, non-uniformity of applied magnetic fields, and the influence of measurement circuit dynamics are complicating factors. We discuss the various penetration effects as demonstrated in a particularly promising combination of material and geometry that we have used to make sensitive x-ray microcalorimeters.

Stevenson, T. R.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Efficient Sequential Attitude Estimation from Vector Observations

This paper presents a computationally efficient, sequential method for attitude matrix estimation using gyro and vector measurements. The method is based on a recently introduced, minimal-parameter third-order method for solving the orthogonal matrix differential equation in R(sup n). In the three-dimensional case, these third-order attitude parameters can be interpreted as temporal-integrals of the body-frame angular velocity components. A nonlinear algorithm is developed, which uses this minimal set of three parameters to estimate the nine-parameter direction-cosine matrix. Having an extremely simple kinematic equation, these parameters render the resulting estimator highly computationally efficient. An orthogonalization procedure, incorporated into the measurement processing stage, enhances the accuracy and stability of the resulting algorithm, yet retains reasonable simplicity. The performance of the estimator is demonstrated via a Monte Carlo simulation study.

Oshman, Yaakov↗
NASA NTRS1990

Proton irradiation of simple gas mixtures: Influence of irradiation parameters

In order to get information about the influence of irradiation parameters on radiolysis processes of astrophysical interest, methane gas targets were irradiated with 6.5 MeV protons at a pressure of 1 bar and room temperature. Yields of higher hydrocarbons like ethane or propane were found by analysis of irradiated gas samples using gas chromatography. The handling of the proton beam was of great experimental importance for determining the irradiation parameters. In a series of experiments current density of the proton beam and total absorbed energy were shown to have a large influence on the yields of produced hydrocarbons. Mechanistic interpretations of the results are given and conclusions are drawn with regard to the chemistry and the simulation of various astrophysical systems.

Sack, Norbert J.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Conformational Characteristics of Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) Based Upon Ab Initio Electronic Structure Calculations on Model Molecules

Conformational energy contours of perfluoroalkanes, determined from ab initio calculations, confirm the well-known spitting of trans states into two minima at plus or minus 17 degrees but also show that the gauche states split as well, with minima at plus or minus 124 degrees and plus or minus 84 in order to relieve steric crowding. The directions of such split distortions from the perfectly staggered states are strongly coupled for adjacent pairs of bonds in a manner identical to the intradyad pair for poly (isobutylene) chains. These conformational characteristics are fully represented by a six-state rotational isomeric state (RIS) model for PTFE comprised of t(+), t(-), g(sup +)+, g(sup +)-, g(sup -) + and g(sup -)-states, located at the split energy minima. The resultant 6 x 6 statistical weight matrix is described by first-order interaction parameters for the g+(+) (ca. 0.6 kcal/mol) and g+- (ca. 2.0 kcal/mol) states, and second order parameters for the g(sup +)+g(sup +)+ (ca 0.6 kcal/mol) and g(sup +)+g(sup -)+ (ca. 1.0 kcal/mol) states. This six-state RIS model, without adjustment of the geometric or energy parameters as determined from the ab initio calculations, predicts the unperturbed chain dimensions and the fraction of gauche bonds as a function of temperature for PTFE in good agreement with available experimental values.

Smith, Grant D.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Estimation of Regional Evapotranspiration Using Remotely Sensed Land Surface Temperature. Part 1: Measurement of Evapotranspiration at the Environmental Research Center and Determination of Priestley-taylor Parameter

In order to study the distribution of evapotranspiration in the humid region using remote sensing technology, the parameter (alpha) in the Priestley-Taylor model was determined. The daily means of the parameter alpha = 1.14 can be available from summer to autumn and alpha = to approximately 2.0 in winter. The results of the satellite and the airborne sensing done on 21st and 22nd January, 1983, are described. Using the vegetation distribution in the Tsukuba Academic New Town, as well as the radiation temperature obtained by remote sensing and the radiation data observed at the ground surface, the evapotranspiration was calculated for each vegetation type by the Priestley-Taylor method. The daily mean evapotranspiration on 22nd January, 1983, was approximately 0.4 mm/day. The differences in evapotranspiration between the vegetation types were not detectable, because the magnitude of evapotranspiration is very little in winter.

Kotada, K.↗
NASA NTRS2010

A Systematic Approach for Model-Based Aircraft Engine Performance Estimation

A requirement for effective aircraft engine performance estimation is the ability to account for engine degradation, generally described in terms of unmeasurable health parameters such as efficiencies and flow capacities related to each major engine module. This paper presents a linear point design methodology for minimizing the degradation-induced error in model-based aircraft engine performance estimation applications. The technique specifically focuses on the underdetermined estimation problem, where there are more unknown health parameters than available sensor measurements. A condition for Kalman filter-based estimation is that the number of health parameters estimated cannot exceed the number of sensed measurements. In this paper, the estimated health parameter vector will be replaced by a reduced order tuner vector whose dimension is equivalent to the sensed measurement vector. The reduced order tuner vector is systematically selected to minimize the theoretical mean squared estimation error of a maximum a posteriori estimator formulation. This paper derives theoretical estimation errors at steady-state operating conditions, and presents the tuner selection routine applied to minimize these values. Results from the application of the technique to an aircraft engine simulation are presented and compared to the estimation accuracy achieved through conventional maximum a posteriori and Kalman filter estimation approaches. Maximum a posteriori estimation results demonstrate that reduced order tuning parameter vectors can be found that approximate the accuracy of estimating all health parameters directly. Kalman filter estimation results based on the same reduced order tuning parameter vectors demonstrate that significantly improved estimation accuracy can be achieved over the conventional approach of selecting a subset of health parameters to serve as the tuner vector. However, additional development is necessary to fully extend the methodology to Kalman filter-based estimation applications.

Simon, Donald L.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Finite-dimensional approximation for optimal fixed-order compensation of distributed parameter systems

In controlling distributed parameter systems it is often desirable to obtain low-order, finite-dimensional controllers in order to minimize real-time computational requirements. Standard approaches to this problem employ model/controller reduction techniques in conjunction with LQG theory. In this paper we consider the finite-dimensional approximation of the infinite-dimensional Bernstein/Hyland optimal projection theory. This approach yields fixed-finite-order controllers which are optimal with respect to high-order, approximating, finite-dimensional plant models. The technique is illustrated by computing a sequence of first-order controllers for one-dimensional, single-input/single-output, parabolic (heat/diffusion) and hereditary systems using spline-based, Ritz-Galerkin, finite element approximation. Numerical studies indicate convergence of the feedback gains with less than 2 percent performance degradation over full-order LQG controllers for the parabolic system and 10 percent degradation for the hereditary system.

Bernstein, Dennis S.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Digital robust active control law synthesis for large order flexible structure using parameter optimization

A generic procedure for the parameter optimization of a digital control law for a large-order flexible flight vehicle or large space structure modeled as a sampled data system is presented. A linear quadratic Guassian type cost function was minimized, while satisfying a set of constraints on the steady-state rms values of selected design responses, using a constrained optimization technique to meet multiple design requirements. Analytical expressions for the gradients of the cost function and the design constraints on mean square responses with respect to the control law design variables are presented.

Mukhopadhyay, V.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The reduced order model problem in distributed parameter systems adaptive identification and control

The research concerning the reduced order model problem in distributed parameter systems is reported. The adaptive control strategy was chosen for investigation in the annular momentum control device. It is noted, that if there is no observation spill over, and no model errors, an indirect adaptive control strategy can be globally stable. Recent publications concerning adaptive control are included.

Johnson, C. R., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1992

The secondary outburst maximum of T Coronae Borealis - Implications for the physics of accretion disks

The hypothesis of Webbink (1976) that the accretion of a torus of matter onto a main-sequence star caused secondary maxima during the 1866 and 1946 eruptions of the recurrent nova T CrB is examined. Simple 1D calculations show that the accretion disk viscosity must increase with time to produce light curves resembling observations. It is inferred that the physical mechanism responsible for producing the viscous dissipation in the accretion disk has a fast growth rate and saturates to a viscosity parameter of order unity. The good agreement between parameters estimated from observations and those derived from a physical mechanism suggests that the growth rate instability identified by Balbus and Hawley (1991) is a promising source for accretion disk viscosity.

Cannizzo, John K.↗
NASA NTRS1993

A consistent model reduction of measured modal parameters for reduced-order active control

The problem of synthesizing reduced-order linear models of vibrating structures for the design of fixed-order dynamic feedback control is investigated. The present technique builds on a recently developed procedure for constructing an objective set of mass and stiffness matrices from measured modal parameters that are akin to the Craig-Bampton synthesized ones obtained from finite element models. The constructed mass and stiffness matrices are determined directly from the identification of experimental data, however, rather than through correlation or reconciliation of a finite element model. A model truncation criterion is then applied to the identified minimum-order mass and stiffness model to satisfy certain observability/controllability requirements for the reduced model. Numerical examples illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique for synthesizing reduced-order controllers from system realizations of experimental data. The dynamic performance of the resulting closed-loop models is assessed using the known full-order structural dynamics and compared with existing model reduction techniques.

Alvin, K. F.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Glancing incidence EUV telescopes - Analysis and comparison

Steps in the derivation of generalized surface equations describing either a Wolter or Wolter-Schwarzschild type II extreme ultraviolet telescope are outlined. These surface equations are incorporated in an optical design program where first-order design parameters are varied to produce a number of different series of type II telescopes. These series are then ray traced to compare and analyze the geometric image quality for different designs in terms of minimum rms angular blur and field curvature. Results of an analysis illustrating the dependence of effective area on first-order design parameters are also presented. The differences and similarities between equivalent Wolter and Wolter-Schwarzschild designs are discussed.

Davila, P. M.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Analytical and Experimental Demonstration of an Alternate Mixing Performance Metric for High-Speed Fuel Mixing Studies

To experimentally assess the fuel/air mixing performance of high-speed fuel injectors, one-dimensional metrics that quantify the degree of mixing completeness downstream of the fuel injection location are required. The most accurate assessment of mixing performance is achieved with the mixing efficiency parameter. In order to experimentally determine the mixing efficiency parameter, the spatial distributions of both mass flux and fuel mass fraction must be measured. In-stream gas sampling techniques are commonly used to measure the fuel mass fraction distribution; however, the mass flux distribution is not easily determined because it requires the measurement of three independent aerothermodynamic variables in addition to the gas composition. Therefore, to experimentally determine the mixing efficiency parameter, the spatial distributions of four independent properties must be measured, with each property generally requiring its own unique probe. Because of this difficulty, it is commonly assumed that alternate metrics, which rely solely on the fuel distribution, are good indicators of mixing performance. However, since these alternate metrics do not provide a mass flux-weighted measure of mixing completeness, they can lead to incorrect conclusions being drawn about the mixing performance of the studied fuel injector configuration. Recognizing this shortcoming, this work proposes two new alternate mixing performance metrics that are easier to obtain than the mixing efficiency parameter. The analytical development of the new metrics, as well as their application to relevant CFD and experimental data of high-speed fuel injector configurations, is presented in this work. For two different experiments, the new metrics are shown to provide an excellent representation of the true mass flux-weighted mixing performance, unlike the traditionally-used alternatives. The results presented herein suggest that the new metrics can serve as accurate surrogates for mixing efficiency in future high-speed fuel/air mixing studies.

Cody R Ground↗
NASA NTRS2000

Emergent Aerospace Designs Using Negotiating Autonomous Agents

This paper presents a distributed design methodology where designs emerge as a result of the negotiations between different stake holders in the process, such as cost, performance, reliability, etc. The proposed methodology uses autonomous agents to represent design decision makers. Each agent influences specific design parameters in order to maximize their utility. Since the design parameters depend on the aggregate demand of all the agents in the system, design agents need to negotiate with others in the market economy in order to reach an acceptable utility value. This paper addresses several interesting research issues related to distributed design architectures. First, we present a flexible framework which facilitates decomposition of the design problem. Second, we present overview of a market mechanism for generating acceptable design configurations. Finally, we integrate learning mechanisms in the design process to reduce the computational overhead.

Deshmukh, Abhijit↗
NASA NTRS1981

Simulated lumped-parameter system reduced-order adaptive control studies

Two methods of interpreting the misbehavior of reduced order adaptive controllers are discussed. The first method is based on system input-output description and the second is based on state variable description. The implementation of the single input, single output, autoregressive, moving average system is considered.

Johnson, C. R., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Influence of an externally modulated photonic link on a microwave communications system

We analyze the influence of an externally modulated photonic link on the performance of a microwave communications system. From the analysis, we deduce limitations on the photocurrent, magnitude of the relaxation oscillation noise of the laser, third-order intercept point of the preamplifier, and other parameters in order for the photonic link to function according to the system specifications. Based on this, we outline a procedure for designing a photonic link that can be integrated in a system with minimal performance degradation.

Yao, X. S.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Application of a periodic lattice filter for identifying a flexible structure

Lattice filters have properties which make them attractive for the application to the identification of the parameters of flexible structures. Here, the problem of both order and parameter estimation is addressed, where the numerical difficulties of an embedded lattice filter are avoided by applying a periodic lattice filter. With this formulation, it is quite natural to estimate system order by applying Akaike's (1976) information criterion to each channel of the periodic lattice filter. Several examples including nonstationary cases are simulated to demonstrate these facts.

Lee, Young Jae↗