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At least 991 records · Page 55

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NASA NTRS1992

Martian impact crater degradation studies: Implications for localized obliteration episodes

Early spacecraft missions to Mars revealed that impact craters display a range of degradational states, but full appreciation of the range of preservational characteristics was not revealed until the Mariner 9 and Viking missions in the 1970's. Many studies have described the spatial and temporal distribution of obliteration episodes based on qualitative descriptions of crater degradation. Recent advances in photoclinometric techniques have led to improved estimates of crater morphometric characteristics. The present study is using photoclinometry to determine crater profiles and is comparing these results with the crater geometry expected for pristine craters of identical size. The result is an estimate of the degree of degradation suffered by Martian impact craters in selected regions of the planet. Size-frequency distribution analyses of craters displaying similar degrees of degradation within localized regions of the planet may provide information about the timing of obliteration episodes in these regions.

Barlow, N. G.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Nonlinear stratified flow over localized topographic obstacles on Mars

The current dynamical influence of the Martian atmosphere on the surface is clearly revealed by dark surface albedo features which are associated with localized topographic relief and were described in detail and classified as Type I(d) wind streaks. The contrast of the streaks diminishes or disappears during the global dust storms, and the streaks are observed to quickly reform after the termination of the storms; the streaks remain stable after L(sub S) = 0 deg until the next dust storm. These observations, together with the ragged edges of the streaks, were used to infer that the dark streaks are formed by the removal of bright dust from a darker substrate.

Magalhaes, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

An approximate local thermodynamic nonequilibrium radiation model for air

A radiatively coupled viscous shock layer analysis program which includes chemical and thermal nonequilibrium is used to calculate stagnation point flow profiles for typical aeroassisted orbital transfer vehicle conditions. Two methods of predicting local thermodynamic nonequilibrium radiation effects are used as a first and second order approximation to this phenomena. Tabulated results for both nitrogen and air freestreams are given with temperature, species, and radiation profiles for some air conditions. Two body solution results are shown for 45 and 60 degree hyperboloid bodies at 12 km/sec and 80 km altitude. The presented results constitute an advancement in the engineering modeling of radiating nonequilibrium reentry flows.

Gally, Thomas A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Impeller tandem blade study with grid embedding for local grid refinement

Flow non-uniformity at the discharge of high power density impellers can result in significant unsteady interactions between impeller blades and downstream diffuser vanes. These interactions result in degradation of both performance and pump reliability. The MSFC Pump Technology Team has recognized the importance of resolving this problem and has thus initiated the development and testing of a high head coefficient impeller. One of the primary goals of this program is to improve impeller performance and discharge flow uniformity. The objective of the present work is complimentary. Flow uniformity and performance gains were sought through the application of a tandem blade arrangement. The approach adopted was to numerically establish flow characteristics at the impeller discharge for the baseline MSFC impeller and then parametrically evaluate tandem blade configurations. A tandem design was sought that improves both impeller performance and discharge uniformity. The Navier-Stokes solver AEROVISC was used to conduct the study. Grid embedding is used to resolve local gradients while attempting to minimize model size. Initial results indicate that significant gains in flow uniformity can be achieved through the tandem blade concept and that blade clocking rather than slot location is the primary driver for flow uniformity.

Bache, George↗

NASA NTRS1990

Design of localizer capture and track hold for a transport airplane - An H(infinity)/LTR approach

The authors describe the design of a lateral track-hold control law in a localizer capture and track autopilot using a procedure based on H(infinity)-optimization and loop transfer recovery. The recovery of the achievable performance using output feedback from a satisfactory track-hold design obtained in an H(infinity)-optimization is demonstrated. Simulation for a lateral track command is presented along with robustness properties of the output feedback design. Results indicate that the recovery of achievable performance must be carefully traded-off against control bandwidth limitation.

Chen, B. M.↗

NASA NTRS1991

An optimal sensing strategy for recognition and localization of 3-D natural quadric objects

An optimal sensing strategy for an optical proximity sensor system engaged in the recognition and localization of 3-D natural quadric objects is presented. The optimal sensing strategy consists of the selection of an optimal beam orientation and the determination of an optimal probing plane that compose an optimal data collection operation known as an optimal probing. The decision of an optimal probing is based on the measure of discrimination power of a cluster of surfaces on a multiple interpretation image (MII), where the measure of discrimination power is defined in terms of a utility function computing the expected number of interpretations that can be pruned out by a probing. An object representation suitable for active sensing based on a surface description vector (SDV) distribution graph and hierarchical tables is presented. Experimental results are shown.

Lee, Sukhan↗

NASA NTRS1991

Constant covariance in local vertical coordinates for near-circular orbits

A method is presented for devising a covariance matrix that either remains constant or grows in keeping with the presence of a period error in a rotating local-vertical coordinate system. The solution presented may prove useful in the initialization of simulation covariance matrices for near-circular-orbit problems. Use is made of the Clohessy-Wiltshire equations and the travelling-ellipse formulation.

Shepperd, Stanley W.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Thermoviscoplastic response of thin plates subjected to intense local heating

A finite element method is employed to investigate the thermoviscoplastic response of a half-cylinder to intense localized transient heating. Thermoviscoplastic material behavior is characterized by the Bodner-Partom constitutive model. Structure geometry is modeled with a three-dimensional assembly of CST-DKT plate elements incorporating the large deflection von Karman assumptions. The paper compares the results of a dynamic analysis with a quasi-static analysis for the half-cylinder structure with a step-function transient temperature loading similar to that which may be encountered with shock wave interference on a hypersonic leading edge.

Byrom, Ted G.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Model localization experiments on a ribbed antenna

In this paper, the model localization (ML) phenomenon is investigated experimentally and analytically to determine the influence of its parameters. For this purpose, a full-scale 12-rib loosely-coupled antenna testbed with small imperfections is dynamically tested for various levels of inter-rib coupling stiffness and excitation force. The experimental results are described herein. Using a simplified numerical model of the structure, a sensitivity analysis of the modal behavior is also performed. The numerical and experimental results are shown to agree remarkably well, thereby providing conclusive validation of the ML phenomenon on a testbed having the dynamic characteristics of space structures.

Levine-West, M. B.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Localized lower hybrid acceleration of ionospheric plasma

Observations of the transverse acceleration of ions in localized regions of intense lower hybrid waves at altitudes near 1000 km in the auroral ionosphere are reported. The acceleration regions are thin filaments with dimensions across geomagnetic field lines of about 50-100 m corresponding to 5-10 thermal ion gyroradii or one hot ion gyroradius. Within the acceleration region lower hybrid waves reach peak-to-peak amplitudes of 100-300 mV/m and ions are accelerated transversely with characteristic energies of the order of 10 eV. These observations are consistent with theories of lower hybrid wave collapse.

Kintner, P. M.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Stable localized patterns in thin liquid films

A two-dimensional nonlinear evolution equation is studied which describes the three-dimensional spatiotemporal behavior of the air-liquid interface of a thin liquid film lying on the underside of a cooled horizontal plate. It is shown that the equation has a Liapunov functional, and this fact is exploited to demonstrate that the Marangoni effect can stabilize the destabilizing effect of gravity (the Rayleigh-Taylor instability), allowing for the existence of stable localized axisymmetric solutions for a wide range of parameter values. Various properties of these structures are discussed.

Deissler, Robert J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Sufficient conditions for a local minimum of the Bolza problem with a scalar terminal point constraint

Sufficient conditions for a weak relative minimum for a form of the Bolza problem of variational calculus are derived. Testing of the second-order conditions requires the backward integration of fewer matrix elements than in the case of most previously published sets of conditions. The derivation is felt to be more complete and straightforward than previous derivations. The variational problem considered is relatively simple, with just a scalar constraint to implicitly or explicitly determine the final time, in order to avoid the complexities associated with controllability considerations. Sufficient conditions for a local minimum for more general optimal control problems can be approached by building upon the derivation and results presented here.

Wood, Lincoln J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

An approximate local thermodynamic nonequilibrium radiation model for air

Gally, Thomas A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Localized sources of propagating acoustic waves in the solar photosphere

A time series of Doppler measurements of the solar photosphere with moderate spatial resolution is described which covers a portion of the solar disk surrounding a small sunspot group. At temporal frequencies above 5.5 mHz, the Doppler field probes the spatial and temporal distribution of regions that emit acoustic energy. In the frequency range between 5.5 and 7.5 mHz, inclusive, a small fraction of the surface area emits a disproportionate amount of acoustic energy. The regions with excess emission are characterized by a patchy structure at spatial scales of a few arcseconds and by association (but not exact co-location) with regions having substantial magnetic field strength. These observations bear on the conjecture that most of the acoustic energy driving solar p-modes is created in localized regions occupying a small fraction of the solar surface area.

Brown, Timothy M.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Local-time asymmetries in the Venus thermosphere

Our current understanding of the global structure and dynamics of the Venus thermosphere is embodied in models such as the Venus Thermospheric General Circulation Model (VTGCM) and empirical composition models such as VIRA and VTS3. We have completed an analysis of ultraviolet images of Venus at 130 nm acquired by the Pioneer Venus Orbiter Ultraviolet Spectrometer (PVOUVS). We have examined 97 images spanning the 10-year period between 1980 and 1990, and have developed a technique for global radiative transfer modeling with which we create synthetic models of each image analyzed. We have developed a hypothesis for understanding the persistent local-time asymmetry observed as a signature of vertically propagating internal gravity waves interacting with the thermospheric SS-AS circulation. This hypothesis is presented.

Alexander, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Combining constraint satisfaction and local improvement algorithms to construct anaesthetists' rotas

A system is described which was built to compile weekly rotas for the anaesthetists in a large hospital. The rota compilation problem is an optimization problem (the number of tasks which cannot be assigned to an anaesthetist must be minimized) and was formulated as a constraint satisfaction problem (CSP). The forward checking algorithm is used to find a feasible rota, but because of the size of the problem, it cannot find an optimal (or even a good enough) solution in an acceptable time. Instead, an algorithm was devised which makes local improvements to a feasible solution. The algorithm makes use of the constraints as expressed in the CSP to ensure that feasibility is maintained, and produces very good rotas which are being used by the hospital involved in the project. It is argued that formulation as a constraint satisfaction problem may be a good approach to solving discrete optimization problems, even if the resulting CSP is too large to be solved exactly in an acceptable time. A CSP algorithm may be able to produce a feasible solution which can then be improved, giving a good, if not provably optimal, solution.

Smith, Barbara M.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Locally adaptive vector quantization: Data compression with feature preservation

A study of a locally adaptive vector quantization (LAVQ) algorithm for data compression is presented. This algorithm provides high-speed one-pass compression and is fully adaptable to any data source and does not require a priori knowledge of the source statistics. Therefore, LAVQ is a universal data compression algorithm. The basic algorithm and several modifications to improve performance are discussed. These modifications are nonlinear quantization, coarse quantization of the codebook, and lossless compression of the output. Performance of LAVQ on various images using irreversible (lossy) coding is comparable to that of the Linde-Buzo-Gray algorithm, but LAVQ has a much higher speed; thus this algorithm has potential for real-time video compression. Unlike most other image compression algorithms, LAVQ preserves fine detail in images. LAVQ's performance as a lossless data compression algorithm is comparable to that of Lempel-Ziv-based algorithms, but LAVQ uses far less memory during the coding process.

Cheung, K. M.↗

NASA NTRS1990

State and local governments

The Virginia Space Grant Consortium approach to a close working relation to state and local governments is presented as a model for consideration. State government relations are especially important in that this is a primary resource in securing matching funds. Avenues for establishing these relationships are listed and discussed.

Barnes, Dennis↗