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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.

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At least 1,081 records · Page 60
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1976

Simulation of a turbofan engine for evaluation of multivariable optimal control concepts

This paper describes the development and use of a real-time simulation of the F100-PW-100 turbofan engine. The simulation is being used in a multi-variable optimal controls research program using linear quadratic regulatory theory. The simulation is used to generate linear engine models at selected operating points and evaluate the control algorithm. The paper discusses a technique to reduce the order of the model and compares selected results between high and low order models.

Seldner, K.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Solar-electric geocentric transfer

Time-optimal or nearly-time-optimal trajectory computer program developed for solar-electric geocentric transfer considers yaw motion only, yaw and roll only, and unconstrained motion configurations.

Malchow, H. L.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Engineering model 8-cm thruster subsystem

An Engineering Model (EM) 8 cm Ion Thruster Propulsion Subsystem was developed for operation at a thrust level 5 mN (1.1 mlb) at a specific impulse 1 sub sp = 2667 sec with a total system input power P sub in = 165 W. The system dry mass is 15 kg with a mercury-propellant-reservoir capacity of 8.75 kg permitting uninterrupted operation for about 12,500 hr. The subsystem can be started from a dormant condition in a time less than or equal to 15 min. The thruster has a design lifetime of 20,000 hr with 10,000 startup cycles. A gimbal unit is included to provide a thrust vector deflection capability of + or - 10 degrees in any direction from the zero position. The EM subsystem development program included thruster optimization, power-supply circuit optimization and flight packaging, subsystem integration, and subsystem acceptance testing including a cyclic test of the total propulsion package.

Herron, B. G.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) engine study phase A, extension

The current Phase A-Extension of the OTV engine study program seeks to provide additional expander and staged combustion cycle data that will lead to design definition of the OTV engine. The proposed program effort will optimize the expander cycle engine concept (consistent with identified OTV engine requirements), investigate the feasibility of kitting the stage combustion cycle engine to provide extended low thrust operation, and conduct in-depth analysis of development risk, crew safety, and reliability for both cycles. Additional task will address costing of a 10k thrust expander cycle engine and support of OTV systems study contractors.

Sobin, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Development and flight test evaluation of a pitch stability augmentation system for a relaxed stability L-1011

The L-1011 has been flight tested to demonstrate the relaxed static stability concept as a means of obtaining significant drag benefits to achieve a more energy efficient transport. Satisfactory handling qualities were maintained with the design of an active control horizontal tail for stability and control augmentation to allow operation of the L-1011 at centers of gravity close to the neutral point. Prior to flight test, a motion base visual flight simulator program was performed to optimize the augmentation system. The system was successfully demonstrated in a test program totaling forty-eight actual flight hours.

Rising, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Minimum Induced Drag of Nonplanar Wings

DRG program incorporates numerical optimization technique for calculating bound-circulation distribution required for minimum induced drag of nonplanar wings. DRG written in FORTRAN IV.

Ku, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

High efficiency, low cost thin GaAs solar cells

The feasibility of fabricating space-resistant, high efficiency, light-weight, low-cost GaAs shallow-homojunction solar cells for space application is demonstrated. This program addressed the optimal preparation of ultrathin GaAs single-crystal layers by AsCl3-GaAs-H2 and OMCVD process. Considerable progress has been made in both areas. Detailed studies on the AsCl3 process showed high-quality GaAs thin layers can be routinely grown. Later overgrowth of GaAs by OMCVD has been also observed and thin FaAs films were obtained from this process.

Fan, J. C. C.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Basic research for the geodynamics program

Some objectives of this geodynamic program are: (1) optimal utilization of laser and VLBI observations as reference frames for geodynamics, (2) utilization of range difference observations in geodynamics, and (3) estimation techniques in crustal deformation analysis. The determination of Earth rotation parameters from different space geodetic systems is studied. Also reported on is the utilization of simultaneous laser range differences for the determination of baseline variation. An algorithm for the analysis of regional or local crustal deformation measurements is proposed along with other techniques and testing procedures. Some results of the reference from comparisons in terms of the pole coordinates from different techniques are presented.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1984

The human role in space. Volume 3: Generalizations on human roles in space

The human role in space was studied. The role and the degree of direct involvement of humans that will be required in future space missions, was investigated. Valid criteria for allocating functional activities between humans and machines were established. The technology requirements, ecnomics, and benefits of the human presence in space were examined. Factors which affect crew productivity include: internal architecture; crew support; crew activities; LVA systems; IVA/EVA interfaces; and remote systems management. The accomplished work is reported and the data and analyses from which the study results are derived are included. The results provide information and guidelines to enable NASA program managers and decision makers to establish, early in the design process, the most cost effective design approach for future space programs, through the optimal application of unique human skills and capabilities in space.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1987

Simulation Of Research And Development Projects

Measures of preference for alternative project plans calculated. Simulation of Research and Development Projects (SIMRAND) program aids in optimal allocation of research and development resources needed to achieve project goals. Models system subsets or project tasks as various network paths to final goal. Each path described in terms of such task variables as cost per hour, cost per unit, and availability of resources. Uncertainty incorporated by treating task variables as probabilistic random variables. Written in Microsoft FORTRAN 77.

Miles, Ralph F.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Instructions to working groups

The key to the success of this workshop is your active participation in the working group process. The goals of this workshop are to address four major questions regarding Cockpit Resource Management (CRM) Training. To some extent the working group topic areas parallel these issues, but in some cases they do not. However, it is important for all of the working groups to keep these general questions in mind during their deliberations: (1) What are the essential elements of an optimal CRM Training program; (2) What are the strengths and weaknesses of current approaches to CRM Training; (3) How can CRM Training best be implemented, and what barriers exist; and (4) Is CRM Training effective, do we know, and if not, how can we find out.

Foushee, H. Clayton↗
NASA NTRS1987

Meteor velocity distribution and an optimum monitoring mathematical model

At present, there are a great number of radio meteor, ionosphere and rocket observation data for the altitude range of 80 to 100 km which indicate the existence of large scale circulation systems in the mesopause to low thermosphere range which change regularly with season and latitude. But the existing observation network and observation programs are not optimal for revealing the main factors forming the circulation mode at these altitudes. A generalized optimum monitoring mathematical model is offered for consideration. The model input data are distribution density, response function, individual measurement root mean square uncertainty and detection effectiveness function. The model makes it possible to obtain the observation distribution density, the minimal possible dispersion and optimized system effectiveness.

Volkov, N. G.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Improved perfluoroalkylether fluid development

The objective of this program was to optimize and scale up the linear perfluoroalkylether stabilization process and to provide test data regarding the fluids' thermal oxidative stability in the presence of metal alloys. The stabilization of Fomblin Z-25 was scaled up to 300 g of fluid. The modified fluid was stable at 316 C in oxygen in the presence of M-50 alloy for more than 24 hrs but less than 40 hrs; the amount of volatiles produced after 24 hrs was 5.5 mg/g. In the presence of Ti(4Al,4Mn) alloy, under the above conditions, following an exposure of 24 hrs, the amount of volatiles formed was 6.2 mg/g; 56 hrs exposure yielded 13.9 mg/g. The commercial fluid at 288 C (in oxygen) in the presence of M-50 after 15 hrs of exposure decomposed extensively, 342 mg/g; in the presence of Ti(4Al,4Mn) alloy after only 8 hrs at 288 C, the amount of volatiles was 191 mg/g. Formulation of the commercial fluid with C2PN3 additive was not as effective as the stabilization processing. All the perfluoroalkylether fluids studied were stable in nitrogen at 343 C. The thermal oxidative stability in the absence of metal alloys varied, with Aflunox exhibiting the best behavior. All the fluids were degraded in oxygen at 316 C during 24 hrs exposure to Ti(4Al,4Mn) alloy with the exception of a perfluoroalkylether substituted triazine and the modified Z-25.

Paciorek, K. L.↗
NASA NTRS1987

IECON '87: Industrial applications of control and simulation; Proceedings of the 1987 International Conference on Industrial Electronics, Control, and Instrumentation, Cambridge, MA, Nov. 3, 4, 1987

Recent advances in control-system design and simulation are discussed in reviews and reports. Among the topics considered are fast algorithms for generating near-optimal binary decision programs, trajectory control of robot manipulators with compensation of load effects via a six-axis force sensor, matrix integrators for real-time simulation, a high-level control language for an autonomous land vehicle, and a practical engineering design method for stable model-reference adaptive systems. Also addressed are the identification and control of flexible-limb robots with unknown loads, adaptive control and robust adaptive control for manipulators with feedforward compensation, adaptive pole-placement controllers with predictive action, variable-structure strategies for motion control, and digital signal-processor-based variable-structure controls.

Hartley, Tom T.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Low-gravity experiment sensitivity to residual acceleration - A review

Work related to the analysis of experiment sensitivity to residual acceleration experienced in LEO spacecraft is reviewed. Most of the work discussed concerns heat, mass, and momentum transfer in fluid physics and materials science experiments. On the basis of the current understanding of experiment sensitivity, it is concluded that, in general, experimenters should be concerned about the effect of residual acceleration, and that careful modeling included as part of an experiment program will enable optimal use of the limited experiment time available in space.

Alexander, J. Iwan D.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The growth of zinc selenide single crystals by physical vapor transport in microgravity

Growth and characterization studies will be performed on zinc selenide single crystals. The high temperature outgassing behavior of the silica ampoule material will be studied in order to develop a cleaning and bake-out procedure that will minimize the amount of impurities introduced into the vapor from the ampoule materials and in particular during the seal-off procedure. The outgassing behavior of the ZnSe starting material will be studied during high vacuum refinement at elevated temperatures in order to develop a temperature pressure program that will optimize the removal of impurities while minimizing a shift in stoichiometry due to preferred evaporation of the higher fugacity component. The mass spectrometer system was completed, and after calibration, will be used to perform the above tasks. The system and its operation is described in detail.

Anderson, Elmer E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Towards a theory of automated elliptic mesh generation

The theory of elliptic mesh generation is reviewed and the fundamental problem of constructing computational space is discussed. It is argued that the construction of computational space is an NP-Complete problem and therefore requires a nonstandard approach for its solution. This leads to the development of graph-theoretic, combinatorial optimization and integer programming algorithms. Methods for the construction of two dimensional computational space are presented.

Cordova, J. Q.↗