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NASA NTRS1989

An adaptive embedded mesh procedure for leading-edge vortex flows

A procedure for solving the conical Euler equations on an adaptively refined mesh is presented, along with a method for determining which cells to refine. The solution procedure is a central-difference cell-vertex scheme. The adaptation procedure is made up of a parameter on which the refinement decision is based, and a method for choosing a threshold value of the parameter. The refinement parameter is a measure of mesh-convergence, constructed by comparison of locally coarse- and fine-grid solutions. The threshold for the refinement parameter is based on the curvature of the curve relating the number of cells flagged for refinement to the value of the refinement threshold. Results for three test cases are presented. The test problem is that of a delta wing at angle of attack in a supersonic free-stream. The resulting vortices and shocks are captured efficiently by the adaptive code.

Powell, Kenneth G.↗

NASA NTRS1988

A CMOS matrix for extracting MOSFET parameters before and after irradiation

An addressable matrix of 16 n- and 16 p-MOSFETs was designed to extract the dc MOSFET parameters for all dc gate bias conditions before and after irradiation. The matrix contains four sets of MOSFETs, each with four different geometries that can be biased independently. Thus the worst-case bias scenarios can be determined. The MOSFET matrix was fabricated at a silicon foundry using a radiation-soft CMOS p-well LOCOS process. Co-60 irradiation results for the n-MOSFETs showed a threshold-voltage shift of -3 mV/krad(Si), whereas the p-MOSFETs showed a shift of 21 mV/krad(Si). The worst-case threshold-voltage shift occurred for the n-MOSFETs, with a gate bias of 5 V during the anneal. For the p-MOSFETs, biasing did not affect the shift in the threshold voltage. A parasitic MOSFET dominated the leakage of the n-MOSFET biased with 5 V on the gate during irradiation. Co-60 test results for other parameters are also presented.

Blaes, B. R.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Visual acceleration detection - Effect of sign and motion orientation

Thresholds for the detection of constant acceleration and deceleration of a discrete object moving along horizontal and vertical axes were studied. A staircase methodology was used to determine thresholds for three average velocities (0.7, 1.2, and 1.7 deg/sec). Thresholds, expressed as the proportion of velocity change, did not differ significantly among the average velocities; thus, a consistent Weber-like fraction is suggested by the data. Furthermore, there was an interaction between the axis of motion (horizontal or vertical) and the sign of the velocity change (acceleration or deceleration): accelerations were easier to detect along the vertical axis, decelerations along the horizontal axis.

Calderone, Jack B.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Solar array arcing in plasmas

Solar cells in space plasma conditions are known to arc into the plasma when the interconnects are at a negative potential of a few hundred volts, relative to plasma potential. For cells with silver-coated interconnects, a threshold voltage for arcing exists at about -230 V, as found in both ground and LEO experiments. The arc rate beyond the threshold voltage depends nearly linearly on plasma density, but has a strong power-law dependence on voltage, such that for small increments in operating voltage there is a large increment in arc rate. The arcs generate broadband radio interference and visible light. In ground tests, interconnects have been damaged by arcs in cells having insufficient isolation from a source of high current. Models for the arcs are highly dependent on the choice of interconnect conductor material exposed to the plasma and possibly on the geometry and choice of adjacent insulator material. Finally, new technology solar cells use copper for the cell interconnects, a material which may have a lower arcing threshold voltage than silver. It is expected, from ground tests of simulated solar cells, that any junction of conductor and insulator exposed to space plasma conditions will arc into the plasma at a few hundred volts negative potential, relative to the local plasma.

Ferguson, Dale C.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Estimating the exceedance probability of rain rate by logistic regression

Recent studies have shown that the fraction of an area with rain intensity above a fixed threshold is highly correlated with the area-averaged rain rate. To estimate the fractional rainy area, a logistic regression model, which estimates the conditional probability that rain rate over an area exceeds a fixed threshold given the values of related covariates, is developed. The problem of dependency in the data in the estimation procedure is bypassed by the method of partial likelihood. Analyses of simulated scanning multichannel microwave radiometer and observed electrically scanning microwave radiometer data during the Global Atlantic Tropical Experiment period show that the use of logistic regression in pixel classification is superior to multiple regression in predicting whether rain rate at each pixel exceeds a given threshold, even in the presence of noisy data. The potential of the logistic regression technique in satellite rain rate estimation is discussed.

Chiu, Long S.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Molecular clouds without detectable CO

The clouds identified by Desert, Bazell, and Boulanger (DBB clouds) in their search for high-latitude molecular clouds were observed in the CO (J = 1-0) line, but only 13 percent of the sample was detected. The remaining 87 percent are diffuse molecular clouds with CO abundances of about 10 to the -6th, a typical value for diffuse clouds. This hypothesis is shown to be consistent with Copernicus data. The DBB clouds are shown to ben an essentially complete catalog of diffuse molecular clouds in the solar vicinity. The total molecular surface density in the vicinity of the sun is then only about 20 percent greater than the 1.3 solar masses/sq pc determined by Dame et al. (1987). Analysis of the CO detections indicates that there is a sharp threshold in extinction of 0.25 mag before CO is detectable and is derived from the IRAS I(100) micron threshold of 4 MJy/sr. This threshold is presumably where the CO abundance exhibits a sharp increase

Blitz, Leo↗

NASA NTRS1990

The growth of short cracks in 4340 steel and aluminum-lithium 2090

The objectives were to investigate crack initiation characteristics and short crack growth behavior for Al-Li 2090 and for 4340 steel and to evaluate the ability of a closure-based crack-growth model to predict fatigue crack growth rates and total fatigue lives for the steel. Single-edge-notched tension specimens of each alloy were used to obtain the short crack growth rate information via an acetate replica technique. In addition to constant amplitude loading, tests on the steel were conducted using the Felix/28 variable amplitude spectrum (a shortened form of a standard loading sequence for fixed or semi-rigid helicopter rotors). The short crack growth rates were compared to those for long cracks grown under similar loading conditions. Metallurgical features associated with crack initiation are discussed. For Al-Li 2090 under R = -1 loading, the short cracks grew well below the long crack threshold and grew at acute angles to the loading axis. For 4340 steel under constant amplitude loading at R = 0.5 and 0 and for the Felix/28 spectrum loading, short-crack growth rates agreed well with long-crack growth rates, even near the long-crack threshold. A slight short-crack effect, growth below the long-crack threshold, was observed at R = -1. Fatigue lives were found to depend on the size and type of initiation site, especially for the Felix/28 loading sequence. A semi-empirical crack-growth model incorporating crack-closure effects was used to predict crack growth rates and total fatigue lives of notched 4340 steel specimens. An initial defect size and shape typical of those identified in this steel was assumed for the life predictions. For all loading conditions, reasonable agreement was found between measured and predicted values for both crack growth rates and fatigue lives.

Swain, M. H.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Symbol lock detection in the ARX 2 and Block 5 receivers

The performances of 5 symbol-lock detectors are compared. These detectors are the square-law detector with overlapping (SQOD) and nonoverlapping integrators, the absolute-value detectors with overlapping and nonoverlapping integrators, and the signal-power estimator detector (SPED). The analysis considers various scenarios in which the observation interval is much larger than or equal to the symbol-synchronizer loop bandwidth, and which were not considered in previous analyses. Also, the case of threshold setting in the absence of signal is considered. It is shown, that the SQOD outperforms all others when the threshold is set in the presence of a signal, independent of the relationship between loop bandwidth and observation period. On the other hand, the SPED outperforms all others when the threshold is set in the presence of noise only.

Shihabi, M.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Precluding nonlinear ISI in direct detection long-haul fiber optic systems

Long-distance, high-rate fiber optic systems employing directly modulated 1.55-micron single-mode lasers and conventional single-mode fiber suffer severe intersymbol interference (ISI) with a large nonlinear component. A method of reducing the nonlinearity of the ISI, thereby making linear equalization more viable, is investigated. It is shown that the degree of nonlinearity is highly dependent on the choice of laser bias current, and that in some cases the ISI nonlinearity can be significantly reduced by biasing the laser substantially above threshold. Simulation results predict that an increase in signal-to-nonlinear-distortion ratio as high as 25 dB can be achieved for synchronously spaced samples at an optimal sampling phase by increasing the bias current from 1.2 times threshold to 3.5 times threshold. The high SDR indicates that a linear tapped delay line equalizer could be used to mitigate ISI. Furthermore, the shape of the pulse response suggests that partial response precoding and digital feedback equalization would be particularly effective for this channel.

Swenson, Norman L.↗

NASA NTRS1991

1,3P(0) resonance states in positronium ions

The complex-rotation method was used to calculate doubly excited 1,3P(0) autodetaching resonances in Ps(-). The wave function is of the Hylleraas type with number of terms up to 1330, and Feshbach resonances connected with the positronium n = 4, 5, and 6 thresholds are reported. The study has also identified 1P(0) shape resonances connected with the n = 4 and 6 thresholds and a 3P(0) shape resonance connected with the n = 5 threshold.

Ho, Y. K.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Erosive Augmentation of Solid Propellant Burning Rate: Motor Size Scaling Effect

Two different independent variable forms, a difference form and a ratio form, were investigated for correlating the normalized magnitude of the measured erosive burning rate augmentation above the threshold in terms of the amount that the driving parameter (mass flux or Reynolds number) exceeds the threshold value for erosive augmentation at the test condition. The latter was calculated from the previously determined threshold correlation. Either variable form provided a correlation for each of the two motor size data bases individually. However, the data showed a motor size effect, supporting the general observation that the magnitude of erosive burning rate augmentation is reduced for larger rocket motors. For both independent variable forms, the required motor size scaling was attained by including the motor port radius raised to a power in the independent parameter. A boundary layer theory analysis confirmed the experimental finding, but showed that the magnitude of the scale effect is itself dependent upon scale, tending to diminish with increasing motor size.

Strand, L. D.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Application of lightning data to satellite-based rainfall estimation

Information on lightning may improve rain estimates made from infrared images of a geostationary satellite. We address this proposition through a case from the Cooperative Huntsville Meteorological Experiment (COHMEX). During the afternoon and evening of 13 July 1986 waves of showers and thunderstorms developed over and near the lower Tennessee River Valley. For the shower and thunderstorm region within 200 km of the National Weather Service radar at Nashville, Tennessee, we measure cold-cloud area in a sequence of GOES infrared images covering all but the end of the shower and thunderstorm period. From observations of the NASA/Marshall direction-finding network in this small domain, we also count cloud-to-ground lightning flashes and, from scans of the Nashville radar, we calculate volume rain flux. Using a modified version of the Williams and Houze scheme, over an area within roughly 240 km of the radar (the large domain), we identify and track cold cloud systems. For these systems, over the large domain, we measure area and count flashes; over the small domain, we calculate volume rain flux. For a temperature threshold of 235K, peak cloud area over the small domain lags both peak rain flux and peak flash count by about four hours. At a threshold of 226K, the lag is about two hours. Flashes and flux are matched in phase. Over the large domain, nine storm systems occur. These range in size from 300 to 60,000 km(exp 2); in lifetime, from about 2 1/2 h to 6 h or more. Storm system area lags volume rain flux and flash count; nevertheless, it is linked with these variables. In essential respects the associations were the same when clouds were defined by a threshold of 226K. Tentatively, we conclude that flash counts complement infrared images in providing significant additional information on rain flux.

Martin, David W.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Laboratory study of the temporal evolution of the current-voltage characteristic of a probe in the wake of an object immersed in a pulsed flowing plasma

Measurements of the current-voltage characteristics of a Langmuir probe in the near wake of a disk immersed in a pulsed flowing plasma were made. A 1 cm diameter biasable sphere was placed in the ion-free near wake region of a 10 cm diameter disk immersed in a Mach 8 pulsed flowing plasma. The current-voltage characteristic of the sphere was observed as a function of time as the sphere bias was scanned from -5000 V to +1000 V. The collected current is found to be monotonically increasing with increasing positive bias voltage but exhibits a threshold voltage for current collection as the bias voltage becomes more negative. Potential measurements in the wake region were made for a sphere bias voltages below, at, and above the current collection threshold for a number of times during the wake formation period. The time evolution of the potential profile is shown to change as the sheath around the biased sphere is established. Predictions from the particle trajectory code SIMION are compared with data, showing excellent agreement in the prediction of the current collection threshold.

Meassick, S.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Optical distributed sensors for feedback control: Characterization of photorefractive resonator

The aim of the project was to explore, define, and assess the possibilities of optical distributed sensing for feedback control. This type of sensor, which may have some impacts in the dynamic control of deformable structures and the monitoring of small displacements, can be divided into data acquisition, data processing, and control design. Analogue optical techniques, because they are noninvasive and afford massive parallelism may play a significant role in the acquisition and the preprocessing of the data for such a sensor. Assessing these possibilities was the aim of the first stage of this project. The scope of the proposed research was limited to: (1) the characterization of photorefractive resonators and the assessment of their possible use as a distributed optical processing element; and (2) the design of a control system utilizing signals from distributed sensors. The results include a numerical and experimental study of the resonator below threshold, an experimental study of the effect of the resonator's transverse confinement on its dynamics above threshold, a numerical study of the resonator above threshold using a modal expansion approach, and the experimental test of this model. A detailed account of each investigation, including methodology and analysis of the results are also included along with reprints of published and submitted papers.

Indebetouw, Guy↗

NASA NTRS1991

Depth-size tradeoffs for neural computation

The tradeoffs between the depth (i.e., the time for parallel computation) and the size (i.e., the number of threshold gates) in neural networks are studied. The authors focus the study on the neural computations of symmetric Boolean functions and some arithmetic functions. It is shown that a significant reduction in the size is possible for symmetric functions and some arithmetic functions, at the expense of a small constant increase in depth. In the process, several neural networks which have the minimum size among all the known constructions have been developed. Results on implementing symmetric functions can be used to improve results about arbitrary Boolean functions. In particular, It is shown that any Boolean function can be computed in a depth-3 neural network with O(2n/2) threshold gates; it is also proven that a minimum number of threshold gates are required.

Siu, Kai-Yeung↗

NASA NTRS1991

CRRES microelectronic test chip

The JPL CRRES chip was designed and fabricated in 1985 and included in the CRRES MEP. MOSFET Matrix results show the effect of shielding on radiation-induced MOSFET threshold voltage shifts and channel mobility degradation. Shielded (middle board) MOSFETs have a threshold-voltage damage factor that is approximately three orders of magnitude smaller than would be estimated from Co-60 ground tests. Unshielded (outer board) MOSFETs have a threshold-voltage damage factor that would be estimated from Co-60 ground tests. Temperature swings as large as 23 C with a 22.5 orbit periodicity affected the MOSFET data and were removed from the data in order to reveal the radiation effects. This experiment demonstrated the feasibility of characterizing MOSFETs in a matrix, thus reducing the complexity and mass of the experiment.

Lin, Y.-S.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Quantitative subpixel spectral detection of targets in multispectral images

The conditions that affect the spectral detection of target materials at the subpixel scale are examined. Two levels of spectral mixture analysis for determining threshold detection limits of target materials in a spectral mixture are presented, the cases where the target is detected as: (1) a component of a spectral mixture (continuum threshold analysis) and (2) residuals (residual threshold analysis). The results of these two analyses are compared under various measurement conditions. The examples illustrate the general approach that can be used for evaluating the spectral detectability of terrestrial and planetary targets at the subpixel scale.

Sabol, Donald E., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Impact damage in small diameter graphite/epoxy composite struts

An investigation was performed to study impact induced damage in small-diameter struts made of a composite material with a brittle matrix system. The major focus is on characterizing the impact behavior associated with the barely visible damage. An experimental procedure including ultrasonic inspection, instrumented impact testing, and delamination buckling and residual strength measurements is presented. From the ultrasonic inspection, it is found that for the strut specimens under investigation, the impact energy level for barely visible damage threshold is above that of the internal damage threshold. A 60- to 65-percent reduction in compressive strength was typical for struts subjected to the barely visible impact damage threshold.

Chen, G.-S.↗