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At least 937 records · Page 52

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NASA NTRS1984

Improved resolution rain measurements from spaceborne radar altimeters

Rain measurement of the type described here are considered vital from the standpoint of representing a flag for altimeter data that may be corrupted by rain. It also provides sorely needed rain data over the oceans where little or no such data is available. It is demonstrated that improved resolution measurements of precipitation may be obtained from satellite borne radars with antenna beams having relatively large surface footprints. The method employs deconvolution and Fourier transform procedures, and assumes a knowledge of the antenna beam pattern. As an example, the technique is specifically directed towards the application of future spaceborne radar altimeters which may contain additional range gates to enable the measurement of rain at altitude. It is demonstrated that because of the natural variability of rain in the lateral extent, the standard beam averaging over the footprint could easily produce erroneous interpretations of the intensity of rain and its extent. On the other hand, many of these ambiguities may be removed employing the deconvolution techniques described.

Goldhirsh, J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The PDS-VAX intelligent plate scanning system of Trieste Astronomical Observatory

An intelligent subsystem for interfacing a PDS1010A digital microdensitometer to a DEC DR11W DMA 16 bit UNIBUS port in DEC VAX VMS environment was tested. The subsystem employs two MOTOROLA M68000 microprocessors with 128 KB data memory. The PDS primitives and the user defined high level scanning functions and preprocessing modules are loaded from the host computer into two 8 KB RAM memories in the microprocessors using a dedicated PDS control language. The subsystem is planned to employ a nonstandard photomultiplier electronics. Two design schemes were tested: (1) based on three amplifiers of gain 10 cascaded and multiplexed to a 12 bit AD converter, and (2) based on a single amplifier of gain 100 and two 14 bit AD converters.

Pucillo, M.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Computer simulation of surface and film processes

Adequate computer methods, based on interactions between discrete particles, provide information leading to an atomic level understanding of various physical processes. The success of these simulation methods, however, is related to the accuracy of the potential energy function representing the interactions among the particles. The development of a potential energy function for crystalline SiO2 forms that can be employed in lengthy computer modelling procedures was investigated. In many of the simulation methods which deal with discrete particles, semiempirical two body potentials were employed to analyze energy and structure related properties of the system. Many body interactions are required for a proper representation of the total energy for many systems. Many body interactions for simulations based on discrete particles are discussed.

Tiller, W. A.↗

NASA NTRS1984

A Battery Charger and State of Charge Indicator

A battery charger which has a full wave rectifier in series with a transformer isolated 20 kHz dc-dc converter with high frequency switches, which are programmed to actively shape the input dc line current to be a mirror image of the ac line voltage is discussed. The power circuit operates at 2 kW peak and 1 kW average power. The BC/SCI has two major subsystems: (1) the battery charger power electronics with its controls; and (2) a microcomputer subsystem which is used to acquire battery terminal data and exercise the state of charge software programs. The state of charge definition employed is the energy remaining in the battery when extracted at a 10 kW rate divided by the energy capacity of a fully charged new battery. The battery charger circuit is an isolated boost converter operating at an internal frequency of 20 kHz. The switches selected for the battery charger are the single most important item in determining its efficiency. The combination of voltage and current requirements dictate the use of high power NPN Darlington switching transistors. The power circuit topology is a three switch design which utilizes a power FET on the center tap of the isolation transformer and the power Darlingtons on each of the two ends. An analog control system is employed to accomplish active input current waveshaping as well as the necessary regulation.

Latos, T. S.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Study of the system of middle atmosphere-ionosphere using remote-sensing data

In the present investigation, the methods of statistical spectral analysis are employed for a study of the quasi-periodic changes of state parameters of the middle atmosphere and the ionosphere, taking into account oscillations with periods of several days. The considered oscillations are typical for planetary waves. The theory and empirical findings regarding transient planetary waves are utilized as a basis for the concepts employed in the data analysis and for the interpretation of the results. The results of the investigation show a presence of coherent variations in the time series of radiation density measurements and other state parameters for the middle atmosphere and the ionosphere. The existence of presumably dynamic coupling processes can be recognized in oscillations with periods of about 16 or 5 days.

Hass, H.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Estimation of a remote sensing system point-spread function from measured imagery

A general approach to identifying the point spread function (PSF) of a remotely sensed scene is demonstrated in terms of a step function for an abrupt change in the gray level along the row or column of the image data. The estimate of the PSF is made in terms of a finite sum of basis functions, employing a sequence of rectangular pulses covering the spatial extent of the PSF. The approximation, if narrow impulses are employed, provides accurate fidelity to the PSF. The method becomes practical when the geometrical structure of the scene elements producing the measured response is known. The field boundary is obtained through consideration of the differing intensities on each side of the boundary, which is a step discontinuity. The mathematical procedure for the technique is provided, together with a sample problem from Landsat-4 Thematic Mapper data. Atmospheric blurring and electronic effects on the overall PSF and the cubic convolution resampling effects are noted.

Mcgillem, C. D.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Automated pixel screening and selection technique

One approach for estimating crop acreage on the basis of Landsat data involves the sampling of portions of Landsat imagery which represent 5 x 6-n mi areas on the ground, taking into account acreage estimates for each of these areas. Difficulties concerning the estimating procedures are related to labeling. These difficulties arise in particular in connection with mixed pixels. The present investigation is concerned with the employment of a suitable automated technique for overcoming these difficulties. A description of the selected technique is presented, and the test conducted for the evaluation of the technique is discussed. It is found that the employed automated pixel screening and selection procedure provides representative samples of the scene. The amount of time spent on pure pixel selection is significantly reduced by using the automated method.

Dailey, C. L.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Toxicological evaluation of the Columbia spacecraft

The toxicology procedures developed for the Space Shuttle program to evaluate and eliminate contaminants in the cabin atmosphere characterized, and results from STS missions 1-5 are reviewed. Shuttle maximum-allowable-concentration standards (SMAC) equal to 10-50 percent of those established for normal 40-h work weeks on the ground have been established for a broad range of substances, and outgassing data are employed in choosing spacecraft construction materials. Gases are removed by the atmospheric revitalization system (CO2-removal bed, catalytic oxidizer, and dehumidifier). Whole-gas and adsorbed-gas samples are employed in ground-based and inflight measurements of contaminants: results are presented in tables. A total of 152 substances, of which 64 were well defined, were detected in STS-1-5. Only the toluene contamination on STS-2 (17 ppm compared to the SMAC of 20 ppm) was considered serious.

Rippstein, W. J., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Transonic flow calculations using a flux vector splitting method for the Euler equations

A study of the flux vector splitting method of Steger and Warming for the solution of the time dependent Euler equations in strong conservation law form for arbitrary two-dimensional geometries is presented. The procedure employed here differs from that of Buning and Steger in that it uses a different algorithm and employs implicit boundary conditions. Moreover, the method, as implemented here, does not contain any explicit smoothing or any adjustable parameters. Calculations were carried out for an NACA 0012 airfoil at various Mach numbers and angles of attack, and cylinders. Steady symmetric solutions were obtained for the full cylinder at a freestream Mach number of .5 without imposing a symmetry condition. In general, good agreement with other methods was obtained.

Seaford, C. M.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Evolutionary development of the space plasma laboratory

In connection with payload definition studies for the Shuttle, one particular study, initiated in 1971, was concerned with the Definition of a Plasma Physics and Environmental Perturbation Laboratory (PPEPL). Possibilities were explored for performing, from a manned Shuttle-borne laboratory, investigations utilizing the natural space plasma environment around the Shuttle, and investigations employing controlled active experiments within the space plasma environment. Special emphasis was placed on employing controlled active experiment techniques using a manned Shuttle for short duration (7 to 30 days) missions and frequent reflights.

Roberts, W. T.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Slant path rain attenuation and path diversity statistics obtained through radar modeling of rain structure

Single and joint terminal slant path attenuation statistics at frequencies of 28.56 and 19.04 GHz have been derived, employing a radar data base obtained over a three-year period at Wallops Island, VA. Statistics were independently obtained for path elevation angles of 20, 45, and 90 deg for purposes of examining how elevation angles influences both single-terminal and joint probability distributions. Both diversity gains and autocorrelation function dependence on site spacing and elevation angles were determined employing the radar modeling results. Comparisons with other investigators are presented. An independent path elevation angle prediction technique was developed and demonstrated to fit well with the radar-derived single and joint terminal radar-derived cumulative fade distributions at various elevation angles.

Goldhirsh, J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Identification of oxygen-related midgap level in GaAs

An oxygen-related deep level ELO was identified in GaAs employing Bridgman-grown crystals with controlled oxygen doping. The activation energy of ELO is almost the same as that of the dominant midgap level: EL2. This fact impedes the identification of ELO by standard deep level transient spectroscopy. However, it was found that the electron capture cross section of ELO is about four times greater than that of EL2. This characteristic served as the basis for the separation and quantitative investigation of ELO employing detailed capacitance transient measurements in conjunction with reference measurements on crystals grown without oxygen doping and containing only EL2.

Lagowski, J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Models and analysis for twin-lift helicopter systems

The major limitation of a modern helicopter with respect to its employment in transport operations has been a relatively small payload size. Among several ideas for overcoming this limitation are a number of multiple-lift schemes using two or more helicopters to lift payloads too large for a single helicopter. On a number of occasions, pairs of helicopters carrying a single load have been successfully employed. However, a considerable amount of flying skill was required in these cases in connection with the manual control tasks involved. Some form of automatic control will, therefore, be needed until twin-lift operations become generally practical. The present investigation is concerned with the development of models of the Twin-Lift System which can be used as a basis for the design of automatic control.

Lewis, J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Development of a turbulence near-wall model and its application to separated and reattached flows

A numerical study is reported of flow and heat transfer in the separated and reattached flows created by an abrupt pipe expansion. In the study attention has been given primarily to the development of turbulence near-wall models based on the wall function. An efficient numerical method is also employed for the computation of high-velocity flows. The computed results are compared with experimental data obtained earlier. Generally, better results are obtained by employing the present near-wall models, and among them the three-layer model is superior to the two-layer one.

Amano, R. S.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Positional repeatability measurements of stepper motors at cryogenic temperatures

For cryogenically-cooled infrared instruments and telescopes employed in space, reliable and predictable motor operations at 4 K in vacuum are in most cases necessary. For the Shuttle Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF), stepper motors may be employed in a number of applications. A test facility was designed and built for measuring stepper motor positional repeatability, in vacuum, over a temperature range from ambient to liquid helium temperature. Tests regarding positional repeatability were conducted at different motor speeds, directions of motor rotation, step sizes, and power conditions. In addition, tests were performed with respect to the ability of the motor to remain in a position with no power applied to the motor.

Pompea, S. M.↗

NASA NTRS1984

An adaptive guidance logic for an aeroasisted orbital transfer vehicle

The Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) is to be employed for the delivery of a paylod to a high earth orbit, such as a geosynchronous orbit. Subsequently, the OTV is to return to a low earth parking orbit. The present investigation is concerned with an aeroassisted OTV (AOTV) which achieves the required reduction in velocity on its return to the parking orbit through aerodynamic braking. An adaptive guidance logic is employed to control and AOTV as it passes through the earth's upper atmosphere. Attention is given to details regarding the adaptive guidance logic, and a performance evaluation. It is found that the performance of the adaptive guidance logic is satisfactory for the considered conditions.

Hill, O.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Large-aperture interferometer with local reference beam

A large-aperture interferometer was devised by adding a local-reference-beam-generating optical system to a schlieren system. Two versions of the interferometer are demonstrated, one employing 12.7 cm (5 in.) diameter schlieren optics, the other employing 30.48 cm (12 in.) diameter parabolic mirrors in an off-axis system. In the latter configuration a cylindrical lens is introduced near the light source to correct for astigmatism. A zone plate is a satisfactory decollimating element in the reference-beam arm of the interferometer. Attempts to increase the flux and uniformity of irradiance in the reference beam by using a diffuser are discussed. Previously announced in STAR as N83-13979

Howes, W. L.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Mass and momentum turbulent transport experiments with confined swirling coaxial jets. I

An experimental study of mixing downstream of swirling coaxial jets discharging into an expanded duct was conducted to obtain data for the evaluation and improvement of turbulent transport models currently used in a variety of computational procedures throughout the combustion community. A combination of laser velocimeter and laser induced fluorescence techniques was employed to obtain mean and fluctuating velocity and concentration distributions which were used to derive mass and momentum turbulent transport parameters currently incorporated into various combustor flow models. Flow visualization techniques were also employed to determine qualitatively the time dependent characteristics of the flow and the scale of turbulence. Mean and fluctuating velocity profiles and probability density functions were obtained at selected axial and radial locations throughout the flow field. Mixing occurred in several steps of axial and radial mass transport and was coupled with a large radial mean convective flux. Major mixing regions were observed to occur (1) at the interface between the inner stream and the centerline recirculation zone, and (2) at the interface between the inner jet and the annular jet streams. Mixing for swirling flow was completed in one-third the length required for nonswirling flow.

Johnson, B. V.↗