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At least 793 records · Page 44

Algorithm for Estimating the Plume Centerline Temperature and Ceiling Jet Temperature in the Presence of a Hot Upper Layer

The experiments were designed to provide insight into the behavior of jet fuel fires in aircraft hangars and to study the impact of these fires on the design and operation of a variety of fire protection systems. As a result, the test series included small fires designed to investigate the operation of UV/IR detectors and smoke detectors as well as large fires which were used to investigate the operation of ceiling mounted heat detectors and sprinklers. The impact of the presence or absence of draft curtains was also studied in the 15 m hangar. It is shown that in order to predict the plume centerline temperature within experimental uncertainty, the entrainment of the upper layer gas must be modeled. For large fires, the impact of a changing radiation fraction must also be included in the calculation. The dependence of the radial temperature profile of the ceiling jet as a function of layer development is demonstrated and a ceiling jet temperature algorithm which includes the impact of a growing layer is developed.

ALGORITHMS↗

Structural control research and experiments at NASA/LaRC

The advances made in the area of structural dynamics and control using the flexible beam facility at the NASA Langley Research Center are surveyed. Spectral attention is given to the progress in adaptive control and reliability improvements using advanced control concepts. Both theoretical and experimental results are given to delineate the nature of the work being undertaken. With regard to adaptive control, emphasis is placed on parameter and system identification and on comparisons between competing on-line algorithms. In addition, results are presented for on-line modal control laws that are interfaced to a parameter identification scheme. This gives an on-line distributed adaptive control system. With regard to reliability, a design process is outlined that incorporates reliability over the design mission life.

Montgomery, R. C.↗

Structural control research and experiments at NASA/LaRC

Research progress in the area of structural dynamics and control using the flexible beam facility at the NASA Langley Research Center is reviewed. Particular attention is placed on the progress in adaptive control and reliability improvements using advanced control concepts. Both theoretical and experimental results are given to indicate the nature of the work being undertaken. In the adaptive control area, emphasis is placed on parameter and system identification and in comparison of competing on-line algorithms. Also, results are presented for on-line modal control laws that are interfaced to a parameter identification scheme. This provides an on-line distributed adaptive control system. In the reliability area, a design process is outlined that incorporates reliability over the design mission life.

Montgomery, R. C.↗

A three-dimensional dual potential procedure with applications to wind tunnel inlets and interacting boundary layers

A dual potential decomposition of the velocity field into a scalar and a vector potential function is extended to three dimensions and used in the finite-difference simulation of steady three-dimensional inviscid rotational flows and viscous flow. The finite-difference procedure was used to simulate the flow through the 80 by 120 ft wind tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center. Rotational flow produced by the stagnation pressure drop across vanes and screens which are located at the entrance of the inlet is modeled using actuator disk theory. Results are presented for two different inlet vane and screen configurations. The numerical predictions are in good agreement with experimental data. The dual potential procedure was also applied to calculate the viscous flow along two and three dimensional troughs. Viscous effects are simulated by injecting vorticity which is computed from a boundary layer algorithm. For attached flow over a three dimensional trough, the present calculations are in good agreement with other numerical predictions. For separated flow, it is shown from a two dimensional analysis that the boundary layer approximation provides an accurate measure of the vorticity in regions close to the wall; whereas further away from the wall, caution has to be exercised in using the boundary-layer equations to supply vorticity to the dual potential formulation.

Rao, K. V.↗

Navier-Stokes simulation of flow through a highly contoured subsonic diffuser

The flow through a highly offset subsonic diffuser with cross-sectional profiles that varied from rectangular at the duct entrance to circular at the engine face was numerically simulated. A multizonal approach combined with a two-grid topology was used to represent both the internal and external flowfields, and an implicit, approximately-factored, partially flux-split finite-difference algorithm was used to solve the three-dimensional thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations. The computed static pressures along the inlet wall and total pressures on the engine face were compared with experimental data. In addition, the overall flowfield within the duct was examined in detail. Good agreement is shown between experiment and computations, with the limiting factor being the lack of a reliable turbulence model for internal flow problems.

Chyu, W. J.↗

Evaluation of a multigrid-based Navier-Stokes solver for aerothermodynamic computations

A multigrid acceleration technique developed for solving the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations is used for computing high Mach number flows over configurations of practical interest. An explicit multistage Runge-Kutta type of time-stepping scheme is used as the basic algorithm. Solutions are presented for a spherically blunted cone at Mach 10 and a modified shuttle orbiter at Mach 6. The computed surface heat-transfer distributions are shown to compare favorably with the experimental data. Effect of grid-refinement on computed heat-transfer distributions is also examined to assess the numerical accuracy of the computed solutions. The rapid convergence rate associated with multigrid schemes in previous applications at transonic speeds is observed at the higher Mach number flows investigated here.

Vatsa, Veer N.↗

Random search optimization based on genetic algorithm and discriminant function

The general problem of optimization with arbitrary merit and constraint functions, which could be convex, concave, monotonic, or non-monotonic, is treated using stochastic methods. To improve the efficiency of the random search methods, a genetic algorithm for the search phase and a discriminant function for the constraint-control phase were utilized. The validity of the technique is demonstrated by comparing the results to published test problem results. Numerical experimentation indicated that for cases where a quick near optimum solution is desired, a general, user-friendly optimization code can be developed without serious penalties in both total computer time and accuracy.

Kiciman, M. O.↗

An assessment of viscous effects in computational simulation of benign and burst vortex flows on generic fighter wind-tunnel models using TEAM code

Vortex flows on a twin-tail and a single-tail modular transonic vortex interaction (MTVI) model, representative of a generic fighter configuration, are computationally simulated in this study using the Three-dimensional Euler/Navier-Stokes Aerodynamic Method (TEAM). The primary objective is to provide an assessment of viscous effects on benign (10 deg angle of attack) and burst (35 deg angle of attack) vortex flow solutions. This study was conducted in support of a NASA project aimed at assessing the viability of using Euler technology to predict aerodynamic characteristics of aircraft configurations at moderate-to-high angles of attack in a preliminary design environment. The TEAM code solves the Euler and Reynolds-average Navier-Stokes equations on patched multiblock structured grids. Its algorithm is based on a cell-centered finite-volume formulation with multistage time-stepping scheme. Viscous effects are assessed by comparing the computed inviscid and viscous solutions with each other and experimental data. Also, results of Euler solution sensitivity to grid density and numerical dissipation are presented for the twin-tail model. The results show that proper accounting of viscous effects is necessary for detailed design and optimization but Euler solutions can provide meaningful guidelines for preliminary design of flight vehicles which exhibit vortex flows in parts of their flight envelope.

Kinard, Tim A.↗

1D-Convolutional Neural Network Architecture for Generalized Time-Segmentation Tasks

Time segmentation of experimental data is a common and often difficult task. Consequently, it is of interest to automate this type of segmentation to reduce manual inputs, which are labor intensive and less consistent. However, simple thresholding algorithms are often insufficiently robust due either to noise or inconsistent data. This paper proposes a simple 1D CNN architecture as a generalized solution for typical time segmentation tasks. The layer architecture, training methods, and methods for simple customization are described as well as the results of application to three separate arc jet data streams: facility condition segmentation, video highlight segmentation, and calorimeter time-series segmentation.

Machine learning↗

1d-Convolutional Neural Network Architecture for Generalized Time-Segmentation Tasks

Time segmentation of experimental data is a common and often difficult task. Consequently, it is of interest to automate this type of segmentation to reduce manual inputs, which are labor intensive and less consistent. However, simple thresholding algorithms are often insufficiently robust due either to noise or inconsistent data. This paper proposes a simple 1D CNN architecture as a generalized solution for typical time segmentation tasks. The layer architecture, training methods, and methods for simple customization are described as well as the results of application to three separate arc jet data streams: facility condition segmentation, video highlight segmentation, and calorimeter time-series segmentation.

Machine learning↗

1D-Convolutional Neural Network Architecture for Generalized Time-Segmentation Tasks

Time segmentation of experimental data is a common and often difficult task. Consequently, it is of interest to automate this type of segmentation to reduce manual inputs, which are labor intensive and less consistent. However, simple thresholding algorithms are often insufficiently robust due either to noise or inconsistent data. This paper proposes a simple 1D convolutional neural net (CNN) architecture as a generalized solution for typical time segmentation tasks. The layer architecture, training methods, and methods for simple customization are described as well as the results of application to three separate arc jet data streams: facility condition segmentation, video highlight segmentation, and calorimeter time-series segmentation.

Machine learning↗

1D-Convolutional Neural Network Architecture for Generalized Time-series Segmentation

Time segmentation of experimental data is a common and often difficult task. Consequently, it is of interest to automate this type of segmentation to reduce manual inputs, which are labor intensive and less consistent. However, simple thresholding algorithms are often insufficiently robust due either to noise or inconsistent data. This paper proposes a simple 1D convolutional neural net (CNN) architecture as a generalized solution for typical time segmentation tasks. The layer architecture, training methods, and methods for simple customization will be described as well as the results of application to three separate data streams: facility condition segmentation, video highlight segmentation, and calorimeter time-series segmentation. In all three test cases the 1D-CNN performs better than tailored integral/derivative/thresholding algorithms across a range of signal-to-noise levels.

CNN↗

1D-Convolutional Neural Network Architecture for Generalized Time-series Segmentation

Time segmentation of experimental data is a common and often difficult task. Consequently, it is of interest to automate this type of segmentation to reduce manual inputs, which are labor intensive and less consistent. However, simple thresholding algorithms are often insufficiently robust due either to noise or inconsistent data. This paper proposes a simple 1D convolutional neural net (CNN) architecture as a generalized solution for typical time segmentation tasks. The layer architecture, training methods, and methods for simple customization will be described as well as the results of application to three separate data streams: facility condition segmentation, video highlight segmentation, and calorimeter time-series segmentation. In all three test cases the 1D-CNN performs better than tailored integral/derivative/thresholding algorithms across a range of signal-to-noise levels.

CNN↗

Investigation of Boundary Conditions for Flexible Multibody Spacecraft Dynamics

In support of both the Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs, a set of generic multibody dynamics algorithms integrated within the Trick simulation environment have addressed the variety of on-orbit manipulator simulation requirements for engineering analysis, procedures development and crew familiarization/training at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC). Enhancements to these dynamics algorithms are now being driven by a new set of Constellation program requirements for flexible multibody spacecraft simulation. One particular issue that has been discussed within the NASA community is the assumption of cantilever-type flexible body boundary conditions. This assumption has been commonly utilized within manipulator multibody dynamics formulations as it simplifies the computation of relative motion for articulated flexible topologies. Moreover, its use for modeling of space-based manipulators such as the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (SRMS) and Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) has been extensively validated against flight data. For more general flexible spacecraft applications, however, the assumption of cantilever-type boundary conditions may not be sufficient. This paper describes the boundary condition assumptions that were used in the original formulation, demonstrates that this formulation can be augmented to accommodate systems in which the assumption of cantilever boundary conditions no longer applies, and verifies the approach through comparison with an independent model previously validated against experimental hardware test data from a spacecraft flexible dynamics emulator.

Boundary-value problems↗

Calculation of supersonic viscous flow over delta wings with sharp subsonic leading edges

Two complementary procedures were developed to calculate the viscous supersonic flow over conical shapes at large angles of attack, with application to cones and delta wings. In the first approach the flow is assumed to be conical and the governing equations are solved at a given Reynolds number with a time-marching explicit finite-difference algorithm. In the second method the parabolized Navier-Stokes equations are solved with a space-marching implicit noniterative finite-difference algorithm. This latter approach is not restricted to conical shapes and provides a large improvement in computational efficiency over published methods. Results from the two procedures agree very well with each other and with available experimental data.

Vigneron, Y. C.↗

Calculation of supersonic viscous flow over delta wings with sharp subsonic leading edges

Two complementary procedures have been developed to calculate the viscous supersonic flow over conical shapes at large angles of attack, with application to cones and delta wings. In the first approach the flow is assumed to be conical and the governing equations are solved at a given Reynolds number with a time-marching explicit finite-difference algorithm. In the second method the parabolized Navier-Stokes equations are solved with a space-marching implicit noniterative finite-difference algorithm. This latter approach is not restricted to conical shapes and provides a large improvement in computational efficiency over published methods. Results from the two procedures agree very well with each other and with available experimental data.

Vigneron, Y. C.↗

An algorithm for finite element analysis of partly wrinkled membranes

A generalization and numerical implementation is presented of the Stein-Hedgepeth (1961) continuum theory for the analysis of partly wrinkled membranes, such as the tensioned membrane surfaces which are found in spacecraft structural components. The approach has its basis in experimental observations showing that when wrinkles develop in a membrane parallel to the x direction, the associated overall contraction in the y direction exceeds that predicted by the Poisson's ratio effect.

Miller, R. K.↗