SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Model based development”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,027 records · Page 57

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS2014

Ionosphere Plasma State Determination in Low Earth Orbit from International Space Station Plasma Monitor

A plasma diagnostic package is deployed on the International Space Station (ISS). The system - a Floating Potential Measurement Unit (FPMU) - is used by NASA to monitor the electrical floating potential of the vehicle to assure astronaut safety during extravehicular activity. However, data from the unit also reflects the ionosphere state and seems to represent an unutilized scientific resource in the form of an archive of scientific plasma state data. The unit comprises a Floating Potential probe and two Langmuir probes. There is also an unused but active plasma impedance probe. The data, at one second cadence, are collected, typically for a two week period surrounding extravehicular activity events. Data is also collected any time a visiting vehicle docks with ISS and also when any large solar events occur. The telemetry system is unusual because the package is mounted on a television camera stanchion and its data is impressed on a video signal that is transmitted to the ground and streamed by internet to two off center laboratory locations. The data quality has in the past been challenged by weaknesses in the integrated ground station and distribution systems. These issues, since mid‐2010, have been largely resolved and the ground stations have been upgraded. Downstream data reduction has been developed using physics based modeling of the electron and ion collecting character in the plasma. Recursive algorithms determine plasma density and temperature from the raw Langmuir probe current voltage sweeps and this is made available in real time for situational awareness. The purpose of this paper is to describe and record the algorithm for data reduction and to show that the Floating probe and Langmuir probes are capable of providing long term plasma state measurement in the ionosphere. Geophysical features such as the Appleton anomaly and high latitude modulation at the edge of the Auroral zones are regularly observed in the nearly circular, 51 deg inclined, 400 km altitude ISS orbit. Evidence of waves in the ion collection current data is seen in geographic zones known to exhibit the spread‐F phenomenon. An anomaly in the current collection characteristic of the cylindrical probe appears also too be organized by the geomagnetic field.

Kramer, Leonard↗

NASA NTRS2015

Empirical Model Development for Predicting Shock Response on Composite Materials Subjected to Pyroshock Loading

The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) received a request to develop an analysis model based on both frequency response and wave propagation analyses for predicting shock response spectrum (SRS) on composite materials subjected to pyroshock loading. The model would account for near-field environment (approx. 9 inches from the source) dominated by direct wave propagation, mid-field environment (approx. 2 feet from the source) characterized by wave propagation and structural resonances, and far-field environment dominated by lower frequency bending waves in the structure. This report documents the outcome of the assessment.

Gentz, Steven J.↗

NASA NTRS2015

Empirical Model Development for Predicting Shock Response on Composite Materials Subjected to Pyroshock Loading: Appendices - Volume 2, Part 1

The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) received a request to develop an analysis model based on both frequency response and wave propagation analyses for predicting shock response spectrum (SRS) on composite materials subjected to pyroshock loading. The model would account for near-field environment (approximately 9 inches from the source) dominated by direct wave propagation, mid-field environment (approximately 2 feet from the source) characterized by wave propagation and structural resonances, and far-field environment dominated by lower frequency bending waves in the structure. This document contains appendices to the Volume I report.

Gentz, Steven J.↗

NASA NTRS2015

Empirical Model Development for Predicting Shock Response on Composite Materials Subjected to Pyroshock Loading

The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) received a request to develop an analysis model based on both frequency response and wave propagation analyses for predicting shock response spectrum (SRS) on composite materials subjected to pyroshock loading. The model would account for near-field environment (~9 inches from the source) dominated by direct wave propagation, mid-field environment (approximately 2 feet from the source) characterized by wave propagation and structural resonances, and far-field environment dominated by lower frequency bending waves in the structure. This document contains appendices to the Volume I report.

Gentz, Steven J.↗

NASA NTRS2015

Empirical Model Development for Predicting Shock Response on Composite Materials Subjected to Pyroshock Loading: Appendices

Gentz, Steven J.↗

NASA NTRS2016

Computational Role of Tunneling in a Programmable Quantum Annealer

Quantum tunneling is a phenomenon in which a quantum state tunnels through energy barriers above the energy of the state itself. Tunneling has been hypothesized as an advantageous physical resource for optimization. Here we present the first experimental evidence of a computational role of multiqubit quantum tunneling in the evolution of a programmable quantum annealer. We developed a theoretical model based on a NIBA Quantum Master Equation to describe the multi-qubit dissipative cotunneling effects under the complex noise characteristics of such quantum devices.We start by considering a computational primitive, the simplest non-convex optimization problem consisting of just one global and one local minimum. The quantum evolutions enable tunneling to the global minimum while the corresponding classical paths are trapped in a false minimum. In our study the non-convex potentials are realized by frustrated networks of qubit clusters with strong intra-cluster coupling. We show that the collective effect of the quantum environment is suppressed in the critical phase during the evolution where quantum tunneling decides the right path to solution. In a later stage dissipation facilitates the multiqubit cotunneling leading to the solution state. The predictions of the model accurately describe the experimental data from the D-WaveII quantum annealer at NASA Ames. In our computational primitive the temperature dependence of the probability of success in the quantum model is opposite to that of the classical paths with thermal hopping. Specially, we provide an analysis of an optimization problem with sixteen qubits,demonstrating eight qubit cotunneling that increases success probabilities. Furthermore, we report results for larger problems with up to 200 qubits that contain the primitive as subproblems.

hard problems↗

NASA NTRS2017

A Fast Hybrid (3-D/1-D) Model for Thermal Radiative Transfer in Cirrus via Successive Orders of Scattering

We investigate the impact of cirrus cloud heterogeneity on the direct emission by cloud or surface and on the scattering by ice particles in the thermal infrared (TIR). Realistic 3-D cirri are modeled with the 3DCLOUD code, and top-of-atmosphere radiances are simulated by the 3-D Monte Carlo radiative transfer (RT) algorithm 3DMCPOL for two (8.65 micrometers and 12.05 micrometers) channels of the Imaging Infrared Radiometer on CALIPSO. At nadir, comparisons of 1-D and 3-D RT show that 3-D radiances are larger than their 1-D counterparts for direct emission but smaller for scattered radiation. For our cirrus cases, 99% of the 3-D total radiance is computed by the third scattering order, which corresponds to 90% of the total computational effort, but larger optical thicknesses need more scattering orders. To radically accelerate the 3-D RT computations (using only few percent of 3-D RT time with a Monte Carlo code), even in the presence of large optical depths, we develop a hybrid model based on exact 3-D direct emission, the first scattering order from 1-D in each homogenized column, and an empirical adjustment linearly dependent on the optical thickness to account for higher scattering orders. Good agreement is found between the hybrid model and the exact 3-D radiances for two very different cirrus models without changing the empirical parameters. We anticipate that a future deterministic implementation of the hybrid model will be fast enough to process multiangle thermal imagery in a practical tomographic reconstruction of 3-D cirrus fields.

radiative transfer↗

NASA NTRS2018

Spacecraft Alignment Determination and Control for Dual Spacecraft Precision Formation Flying

Many proposed formation flying missions seek to advance the state of the art in spacecraft science imaging by utilizing dual-spacecraft precision formation flying (PFF) to enable a 'virtual' telescope (VT). Using precision dual-spacecraft alignment, very long focal lengths can be achieved by locating the optics on one spacecraft and the detector on the other. Proposed science missions include astrophysics concepts for X-ray imaging and exo-planet observation with large spacecraft separations (1000 km to 80,000 km), and heliophysics concepts for X-ray or extreme ultra-violet (EUV) imaging or solar coronagraphs with smaller separations (50m - 500m). These proposed missions require advances in guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) for PFF to enable high resolution science imaging. For many applications, the dual-spacecraft dynamics are coupled through the GN&C system when the relative ranging and position alignment sensor components are not co-located with their respective spacecraft mass centers. We develop a model-based PFF system design approach for the VT application, considering the coupling inherent in precision dual-spacecraft inertial alignment. These systems employ a variety of GN&C sensors and actuators, including laser-based alignment and ranging systems, camera-based imaging sensors, inertial measurement units (IMU), as well as microthruster systems and image motion compensation platforms. Results of a GN&C performance assessment reveal how data from relative position sensors can be employed in a Kalman filter framework to significantly improve alignment estimation performance. The assessment provides a comparison of two different GN&C formation flying architectures, illustrating the performance trades inherent in the choice of PFF system architecture in the VT application.

Formation Flying↗

NASA NTRS2017

Data Collection and Analysis Software Development for Rotor Dynamics Testing in Spin Laboratory

Gas turbine engine components undergo high rotational loading another complex environmental conditions. Such operating environment leads these components to experience damages and cracks that can cause catastrophic failure during flights. There are traditional crack detections and health monitoring methodologies currently being used which rely on periodic routine maintenances, nondestructive inspections that often times involve engine and components dis-assemblies. These methods do not also offer adequate information about the faults, especially, if these faults at subsurface or not clearly evident. At NASA Glenn research center, the rotor dynamics laboratory is presently involved in developing newer techniques that are highly dependent on sensor technology to enable health monitoring and prediction of damage and cracks in rotor disks. These approaches are noninvasive and relatively economical. Spin tests are performed using a subscale test article mimicking turbine rotor disk undergoing rotational load. Non-contact instruments such as capacitive and microwave sensors are used to measure the blade tip gap displacement and blade vibrations characteristics in an attempt develop a physics based model to assess/predict the faults in the rotor disk. Data collection is a major component in this experimental-analytical procedure and as a result, an upgrade to an older version of the data acquisition software which is based on LabVIEW program has been implemented to support efficiently running tests and analyze the results. Outcomes obtained from the tests data and related experimental and analytical rotor dynamics modeling including key features of the updated software are presented and discussed.

Rotor Dynamics↗

NASA NTRS2020

Mechanics-Based Modeling Approach for Rapid Prediction of Low Velocity Impact Damage in Composite Laminates

A mechanics-based modeling approach is developed to rapidly predict damage in polymer matrix composites resulting from a low velocity impact event. The approach is incorporated into a computer code that provides an efficient means to assess the damage resistance for a range of material systems, layup configurations, and impact scenarios. It is envisioned that the developed approach will aid in early design and analysis of composite structures where sizing and layup decisions must be made, and evaluating the feasibility of a large number of laminate configurations using numerical approaches such as finite element analysis (FEA) is prohibitively expensive. Therefore, the goal of the modeling approach is to predict the impact damage size given the laminate configuration and impact scenario. This information can then be used to determine the residual strength of the material. To be useful in such a context, the tool is designed to run quickly (<2 minutes) to allow a large number of design cases to be investigated. The results presented demonstrate that the model is capable of efficiently predicting low velocity impact damage size, shape, and location within an acceptable accuracy suitable for preliminary design and analysis of composite structures.

Borkowski, Luke↗

NASA NTRS2018

Application of a First-Principles Anomalous Transport Model for Electrons to Multiple Hall Thrusters and Operating Conditions

We have developed a physics-based model based on a pseudo-particle description of the electron cyclotron drift instability. A key improvement of the model with respect to previous work is that linear theory is not applied in the event of wave saturation and deviations of electrons or ions from a Maxwellian distribution function. In the acceleration region, the anomalous collision frequency is computed as the minimum value necessary to prevent the electron drift velocity from exceeding the thermal velocity. A functional based on the electron equilibration time is defined to control the transition from high to low resistivity regions. The model was previously applied to a single Hall thruster at its nominal operating condition, showing promising results that captured accurately the location of the thruster’s acceleration region. In this paper, we extend the use of this firstprinciples models to two additional thrusters, also considering multiple operating conditions for each of them. Numerical results are compared to experimental measurements obtained with non-invasive laser induced fluorescence. In general, the agreement between experiments and simulations is good. The model is able to predict the location of the acceleration region for all cases. We observe however that fine details, such as changes in the plasma potential gradient within the acceleration regions, are not captured. The model is also insensitive to changes in the magnetic field strength while experiments show that small shifts in location (of less than 5% of the acceleration channel length) occur. We plan to address the weaknesses of our method with the help of physical insight gained from kinetic simulations of the acceleration region.

Chaplin, Vernon H.↗

NASA NTRS2022

Integrated Topographic Corrections Improve Forest Mapping Using Landsat Imagery

In mountainous environments, topography strongly affects the reflectance due to illumination effects and cast shadows, which introduce errors in land cover classifications. However, topographic correction is not routinely implemented in standard data pre-processing chains (e.g., Landsat Analysis Ready Data), and there is a lack of consensus whether topographic correction is necessary, and if so, how to conduct it. Furthermore, methods that correct simultaneously for atmospheric and topographic effects are becoming available, but they have not been compared directly. Our objects were to investigate (1) the effectiveness of two topographic correction approaches that integrate atmospheric and topographic correction, (2) improvements in classification accuracy when analyzing topographically corrected single-date imagery (14 July 2016 and 2 October 2016), versus a full Landsat time series from 2014 to 2016, and 3) improvements in classification accuracy when including additional terrain information (i.e., topographic slope, elevation, and aspect). We developed a physical based model and compared it with an enhanced C-correction, both of which integrate atmospheric and topographic correction. We compared classification accuracies with and without topographic correction using combinations of single-date imagery, image composites and spectral-temporal metrics generated from the full Landsat time series, and additional terrain information in the Caucasus Mountains. We found that both the enhanced C-correction and the physical model performed very well and largely eliminated the correlation (Pearson’s correlation coefficient r ranges from 0.06 to 0.24) between surface reflectance and illumination condition, but the physical model performed best (r ranges from 0.05 to 0.11). Both image composites, and spectral-temporal metrics generated from corrected imagery, resulted in significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher classification accuracies and better forest classifications, especially for the mixed forests. Adding terrain information reduced classification error significantly, but not as much as topographic correction. In summary, topographic correction remains necessary, even when analyzing a full Landsat time series and including a digital elevation model in the classification. We recommend that topographic correction should be applied when analyzing Landsat satellite imagery in mountainous region for forest cover classification.

Atmospheric correction↗

NASA NTRS2023

3-Layer Radar Sounder Model for the Detection of Buried Ice Deposits under Martian Regolith

In this paper we will illustrate an electromagnetic sounder model for Martian regolith we have developed. The model is based on Kirchhoff approximation. The incidence beam is assumed to be a Gaussian beam. The model is suited to study the near surface (upper 10 meters) ice detection capability of the L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for the international Mars Ice Mapping (iMIM) mission.

Mars↗

NASA NTRS2024

Helium Conservation by Diffusion Limited Purging of Liquid Hydrogen Tanks

Recently, the new 1.2-million-gallon liquid hydrogen (LH 2 ) storage tank at the Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 was purged, replacing nitrogen with helium, using a piston purge process. This purging approach had been used on Space Shuttle External Tanks (ET) in the past, but not on one of the large LH 2 tanks. The result was a huge success, potentially saving more than 1 million cubic feet of helium and significant labor. To better understand this result, a diffusion-based purge model was developed. The model predictions accurately match the helium concentration data, providing understanding of the helium savings and suggesting how to better optimize the purging of this large tank for future operations. The model was then applied to the piston purging of the Space Shuttle ETs, showing that these purges were not optimal, but that the amount of wasted helium was not excessive and that additional helium might have been saved by small changes to the process. The Space Shuttle Program (SSP) has ended, but these results are applicable to the purging of future large cylindrical LH 2 tanks. Finally, data have been obtained on inerting the Space Launch System (SLS) Core Stage (CS) LH 2 tank, replacing hydrogen with helium after an aborted launch. This is a more complicated case, but the model predicts that substantial helium might be saved by modifying the current purging process.

Helium Conservation↗

DOE OSTI2011

The Effects of Heterogeneities on Seismic Wave Propagation in the Climax Stock

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty requires the ability to detect low-yield (less than 150kton) nuclear events. This kind of monitoring can only be done seismically on a regional scale (within 2000km). At this level, it is difficult to distinguish between low-yield nuclear events and non-nuclear events of similar magnitude. In order to confidently identify a nuclear event, a more detailed understanding of nuclear seismic sources is needed. In particular, it is important to know the effects of local geology on the seismic signal. This study focuses on P-wave velocity in heterogeneous granitoid. The Source Physics Experiment (SPE) is currently performing low-yield tests with chemical explosives at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). The exact test site was chosen to be in the Climax Stock, a cretaceous granodiorite and quartz-monzonite pluton located in Area 15 of the NNSS. It has been used in the past for the Hard Hat and Pile Driver nuclear tests, which provided legacy data that can be used to simulate wave propagation. The Climax Stock was originally chosen as the site of the SPE partly because of its assumed homogeneity. It has since been discovered that the area of the stock where the SPE tests are being performed contains a perched water table. In addition, the stock is known to contain an extensive network of faults, joints, and fractures, but the exact effect of these structural features on seismic wave velocity is not fully understood. The SPE tests are designed to seismically capture the explosion phenomena from the near- to the far-field transition of the seismic waveform. In the first SPE experiment, 100kg of chemical explosives were set off at a depth of 55m. The blast was recorded with an array of sensors and diagnostics, including accelerometers, geophones, rotational sensors, short-period and broadband seismic sensors, Continuous Reflectometry for Radius vs. Time Experiment, Time of Arrival, Velocity of Detonation, and infrasound sensors. The focus of this study is two-fold: (1) the geophone array that was focused over the SPE shot and (2) a high-resolution seismic profile that was recently acquired at the field site. The geophone array was placed radially around the SPE shot in five directions with 100m spacing and out to a distance of 2 km. The high-resolution profile was about 475m in length with station and shot spacing of 5m using a 7000lb mini-vibe as a source. In both data sets, the first arrivals will be used to develop velocity models. For the geophone array, 1-D P-wave velocity models will be developed to determine an average apparent velocity of the Climax Stock. The high-resolution data will be used to develop a 2-D P-wave velocity model along the seismic profile. This is in an effort to elucidate the water table in more detail and provide additional information on the near-surface structure. These results will be used in the overall modeling effort to fully characterize the test bed and develop a physics-based model to simulate seismic energy from the SPE events.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗

DOE OSTI2020

A Learning-based Supervisory Control Architecture for Electric Vehicle Charging System Paired with Energy Storages

A Machine Learning-based predictive model is developed for optimal dispatching energy storage system integrated with Electric Vehicle battery charger. The model is effectively trained using transfer learning algorithm and successfully validated via measurement data to achieve high fidelity and accuracy. The study findings provide possibilities for future development of the presented approach to implement computational heavy predictive algorithms with multi-step predictions in emerging modular bidirectional charger topologies to realize vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. The online tuning can be explored using the new measurements obtained during the operation, henceforth, enhancing the controller performance for integrating multiple DERs into distribution power networks that shows huge interest for the utilities and regulatory agencies. Multiple operation scenatios have been evaluated and simulation results are discussed to verify intended performance of the proposed control solution.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2016

Recovering New Type of Sources by Off-Site Source Recovery Project for WIPP Disposal - 16604

OSRP uses two types of eligible packaging configurations for Cm-244 and Cf-252 disposal to WIPP: an S-100 drum and a 12'' Pipe Overpack (POC) drum. Both types of packaging are WIPP accepted configurations for Contact Handled (CH) waste, which offer different advantages and disadvantages when used in the case of the two isotopes. The S-100 is a poly-shielded type A, 55 gallon drum, containing a 6'' diameter POC. The 12'' POC drum is a type A, 55 gallon drum without the internal poly-shield and with a pipe component of 12'' diameter. The S-100 drum presents the advantage of poly-shielding which is very important for neutron sources, such as the Cf-252, or Cm-244Be, at the expense of reduced internal volume. The 12'' POC drum presents a larger pipe component accommodating many more sources, like Cm-244 alpha emitters or shielded Cf-252, for which the CH dose rate is not an issue. All the sources prepared for disposal to WIPP are required to be special form, as defined in 49 CFR 173.403. When OSRP recovers normal form sources, these can be packaged in a field closable DOT certified Special Form Capsule (SFC) model II or model III, thus becoming special form. These capsules are then packaged in the type-A containers. The difference between the two types of packaging is that the 12'' POC can hold more sources, or a mix of sources and capsules at the expense of less shielding. This becomes important when the TRU content criteria of 100 nCi/g of TRU waste has to be met for the drums that are packaged for WIPP disposal. Measured neutron dose rates for Cm-244 packaged in S-100 agree reasonably well with calculated dose rates based on the models developed with MCNP. Future work will include validating the model for Cm-244 packaged in 12'' POC. A 1:1 ratio of neutron to gamma is expected for Cm-244Be dose rates packaged in S-100 drums. For Cf-252 packaged in S-100 and 12'' POC, the contribution of Cf-250 to the total emission neutron rate had to be taken into account due to the increasing role of Cf-250 as sources age. The uncertainty in the measurement of Cf-252 neutron dose rate for S-100 drum was quite high due to a high neutron background. A larger Cf- 252 source needs to be used for measurements in the future, in order to fully validate the model developed. A better agreement for measured versus calculated rate was obtained for a Cf-252 packaged in 12'' POC. For the WIPP disposal of these sources, OSRP will use the best packaging configuration for these isotopes in order to minimize the dose rate and maximize the TRU content. The S-100 packaging will be used for Cf-252 and Cm-244Be sources, when neutron dose reduction by the poly-shielding is important. Neutron dose rates will be estimated using the new MCNP correlations.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

DOE OSTI2016

A new model for active nucleation site density in boiling systems

A new model for active nucleation site density in boiling systems has been developed. The model is based on parametric analysis of existing experimental data and is a function of wall superheat, pressure, and contact angle. The model is applicable for a wide pressure range - from 0.101 MPa to 19.8 MPa. Preliminary studies of temperature dependency of the contact angle have also been performed. The new model is intended to improve the predictions of the interfacial area concentration in two-fluid models and the wall temperature in subcooled boiling simulations. Validation activities have shown that the active nucleation site density predicted by the new model is in a good agreement with various published experimental data, and have demonstrated the achieved improvements as compared to existing models. (authors)

42 ENGINEERING↗