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At least 829 records · Page 46

Mitigating the Impacts of Measurement Error in the Quesst Mission Community Noise Study

Beginning in 2025, the NASA Quesst mission will conduct a series of community response tests involving flyovers of the X-59 aircraft at select localities across the United States. Several waves of a longitudinal survey will be administered over approximately one month of testing in order to capture perceptual responses to low-amplitude sonic booms, or “sonic thumps”. Simultaneously, noise exposure levels will be estimated by fusing model-based predictions with measurements taken from a sparse network of monitors in the region. As one of the aims of the study is to produce a dose-response curve, a regression model relating perceptual response to noise exposure levels, it is important to acknowledge the potential attenuation bias that results from measurement error in the estimated noise exposure levels. In this presentation we review and compare several methods for dealing with measurement error in generalized linear mixed models. The methods are demonstrated on simulated data and real data collected during past NASA risk reduction studies.

measurement error↗

Orbital Debris Shape Effect Investigations for Mitigating Risk

NASA’s Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) and Hypervelocity Impact Technology (HVIT) team have coordinated to better understand the risks to upper stages and spacecraft from non-spherical orbital debris. It is well understood that fragmentation (collision or explosion) events in orbit produce fragments of various materials, sizes, and shapes. To further characterize these parameters, the ODPO is developing the next-generation Orbital Debris Engineering Model (ORDEM) version 4.0 to include orbital debris shape distributions. Ground-based assets, such as radar and optical sensors, can provide size estimates and some insight into material based on radar return or optical filter photometry/spectroscopy, respectively. Characterizing an object’s shape requires more laboratory analyses to infer how shape affects these measurements. More importantly, in addition to size and material/density, the shape of fragments in orbit will alter the ballistic limit equations used in orbital debris risk assessments with NASA’s Bumper Code. The ODPO plans to release ORDEM 4.0 in the coming years. Performing ground-based laboratory impact tests on high-fidelity spacecraft mockups provides the means to directly measure size, mass, material/density, and shape of fragments, all key parameters needed to characterize real-world break up events. The DebriSat test, the results of which are provided, showcases the details of this type of experiment. The goal of this collaborative research between the ODPO and the HVIT team is to include a shape parameter in the environmental and breakup models used to assess risk for various space structures. This paper examines ground-based laboratory impact tests and the associated fragment shape categories. Provided these defined shapes, the approach is simplified by assuming a right circular cylinder (RCC) approximation with varying length-to-diameter ratios. Highlights of impact tests conducted by the HVIT team using non-spherical projectiles based on the RCC approximation are presented. Hydrocode simulations have also been performed to expand on the complexity of variations with non-spherical projectiles. Lastly, ray-tracing simulations of various RCCs of known material are provided to support the ongoing research on optical reflectance distributions with known shapes and to highlight how this may modify the current optical size estimation model. The status and plan forward are outlined for NASA's orbital debris shape effect investigation using a multidisciplinary approach by the ODPO and the HVIT team.

Heather Cowardin↗

Multipath Mitigation via Clustering for Position Estimation Refinement in Urban Environments

Position estimation using global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) suffers from poor accuracy within urban canyons due to significant signal disruption caused by tall buildings. This issue can be attributed to the GNSS signals reflecting off buildings resulting in severe multipath reflections which degrade the receiver's performance. In this paper, we introduce an innovative approach to filter GNSS satellite measurements to improve the accuracy of the estimated position by leveraging a clustering algorithm. This approach utilizes a predictive GNSS availability service to filter out non-line-of-sight measurements. Then, a subset of line-of-sight satellite measurement combinations are evaluated using a clustering algorithm. When combined, results show these techniques can reduce the mean horizontal error measured in an urban canyon by nearly an order of magnitude, from ~ 18 meters to ~ 2 meters when using a single point positioning solver.

GPS↗

Crew Autonomy Through Self-Scheduling: Guidelines for Crew Scheduling Performance Envelope and Mitigation Strategies

NASA’s future long duration exploration missions (LDEMs) will encounter increasing communication transmission delays as they move farther from Earth-based ground stations. Because crews can no longer rely on real-time support from ground planners, they will have to self-schedule their own operational timelines effectively and efficiently. To enable this, our team develops Playbook, a mission planning and scheduling tool. Our research focuses on quantifying scheduling performance using Playbook to inform the design and development of future features aimed at streamlining timeline creation. We also aim to propose standards and guidelines for autonomous crews in LDEMs. This year, we discuss preliminary results from HERA Campaign 6.

self-scheduling↗

An Open-Source Numerical Model for Mitigating Refractory Alloy Hot Cracking Susceptibility

Refractory alloys are susceptible to solidification cracking during welding and 3D printing. Composition control is an effective method of controlling solidification cracking. This work evaluates the effect of compositional variation in refractory metal systems on a computed solidification cracking susceptibility. A numerical model has been developed using Python code and open-source CALPHAD software to calculate Kou’s crack susceptibility index. The model is validated against past weldability studies performed on several refractory alloy systems. The approach is extended towards the development of new alloys with improved 3D printability and weldability and is shown to have utility in defining compositional limits for existing alloys and feedstocks. Furthermore, the model will aid in determining process controls for powder reuse and recycling.

pycalphad↗

Multipath Mitigation via Clustering for Position Estimation Refinement in Urban Environments

Position estimation using global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) suffers from poor accuracy within urban canyons due to significant signal disruption caused by tall buildings. This issue can be attributed to the GNSS signals reflecting off buildings resulting in severe multipath reflections which degrade the receiver's performance. In this paper, we introduce an innovative approach to filter GNSS satellite measurements to improve the accuracy of the estimated position by leveraging a clustering algorithm. This approach utilizes a predictive GNSS availability service to filter out non-line-of-sight measurements. Then, a subset of line-of-sight satellite measurement combinations are evaluated using a clustering algorithm. When combined, results show these techniques can reduce the mean horizontal error measured in an urban canyon by nearly an order of magnitude, from ~ 18 meters to ~ 2 meters when using a single point positioning solver.

GPS↗

Offset-Stoichiometric Reflowable Composite Bonding Method with Adhesive for Mitigating Strict Faying Surface Tolerances

Inherent susceptibility of adhesive bonds to miniscule quantities of contamination can cause undetectable weakened bonds. For this reason, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) places strict regulations on adhesively bonded joints in primary aircraft structures. To meet certification requirements aircraft manufactures resort to redundant load paths in the form of fasteners which inherently add weight to the structure and increase manufacturing time. In prior work, a secondary bonding technique called AERoBOND was developed, which utilized off-stoichiometric epoxymatrix resins to facilitate reflow and diffusion of the resin within the joint interface during a secondary bonding/cure process, thus achieving a bond similar to a co-cured joint. However, the AERoBOND process required tight spatial tolerances between the two parts being joined. This study examined the utilization of conventional adhesive with the AERoBOND method to act as a filler in the joint line, effectively reducing the need for tight tolerances on the joining parts and serving as a flexible alternative for existing manufacturing processes. Ultrasonic inspection, optical microscopy, and ASTM International standard tests were performed to analyze the joints for defects and to quantify the mode-I and mode-II interlaminar fracture toughness and short beam strength of the proposed methodology with varying manufacturing parameters. The comprehensive results indicate that the AERoBOND+ method with and without surface preparation performs comparably to co-cured and conventional, adhesively bonded joints when secondary cured in an autoclave with 791 kPa of pressure. As an example, the AERoBOND+ panel without surface preparation bonded with 791 kPa of pressure (referred to as AB+3 throughout paper) had a mode-I fracture toughness (G Ic ) of 0.643 kJ/m 2 and a mode-II fracture toughness (G IIc ) of 4.000 kJ/m 2 in the non-precracked condition and 4.218 kJ/m 2 in the precracked condition at the adhesive-to-prepreg interface. These results were 96%, 142%, and 217%, respectively, of a co-cured baseline panel (referred to as C1 throughout paper).

Composites↗