Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Dynamic Procedures”

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.

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

At least 1,099 records · Page 61

Transient responses of phosphoric acid fuel cell power plant system

An analytical and computerized study of the steady state and transient response of a phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) system was completed. Parametric studies and sensitivity analyses of the PAFC system's operation were accomplished. Four non-linear dynamic models of the fuel cell stack, reformer, shift converters, and heat exchangers were developed based on nonhomogeneous non-linear partial differential equations, which include the material, component, energy balance, and electrochemical kinetic features. Due to a lack of experimental data for the dynamic response of the components only the steady state results were compared with data from other sources, indicating reasonably good agreement. A steady state simulation of the entire system was developed using, nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The finite difference method and trial-and-error procedures were used to obtain a solution. Using the model, a PAFC system, that was developed under NASA Grant, NCC3-17, was improved through the optimization of the heat exchanger network. Three types of cooling configurations for cell plates were evaluated to obtain the best current density and temperature distributions. The steady state solutions were used as the initial conditions in the dynamic model. The transient response of a simplified PAFC system, which included all of the major components, subjected to a load change was obtained. Due to the length of the computation time for the transient response calculations, analysis on a real-time computer was not possible. A simulation of the real-time calculations was developed on a batch type computer. The transient response characteristics are needed for the optimization of the design and control of the whole PAFC system. All of the models, procedures and simulations were programmed in Fortran and run on IBM 370 computers at Cleveland State University and the NASA Lewis Research Center.

Lu, Cheng-Yi↗

Continuum models for beam-like and plate-like lattice structures

A simple, rational approach is presented for developing continuum models for large repetitive beam-like and plate-like lattices with arbitrary configurations subjected to static, thermal and dynamic loadings. The continuum models for these structures are shear flexible beams and plates. They account for local effects in the repeating element of the actual structure and are characterized by their thermoelastic strain and kinetic energies from which the equations of motion and constitutive relations can be derived. The procedure for developing the expressions for thermoelastic strain and kinetic energies of the continuum involves introducing basic assumptions regarding the variation of the temperature, displacement and strain components in one or two directions (for plate-like and beam-like lattices) and obtaining effective thermoelastic and dynamic coefficients of the continuum in terms of material properties and geometry of the original lattice structure. The high accuracy of the continuum models developed is demonstrated by means of numerical examples.

Noor, A. K.↗

Advanced Air Traffic Management Research (Human Factors and Automation): NASA Research Initiatives in Human-Centered Automation Design in Airspace Management

NASA has initiated a significant thrust of research and development focused on providing the flight crew and air traffic managers automation aids to increase capacity in en route and terminal area operations through the use of flexible, more fuel-efficient routing, while improving the level of safety in commercial carrier operations. In that system development, definition of cognitive requirements for integrated multi-operator dynamic aiding systems is fundamental. The core processes of control and the distribution of decision making in that control are undergoing extensive analysis. From our perspective, the human operators and the procedures by which they interact are the fundamental determinants of the safe, efficient, and flexible operation of the system. In that perspective, we have begun to explore what our experience has taught will be the most challenging aspects of designing and integrating human-centered automation in the advanced system. We have performed a full mission simulation looking at the role shift to self-separation on board the aircraft with the rules of the air guiding behavior and the provision of a cockpit display of traffic information and an on-board traffic alert system that seamlessly integrates into the TCAS operations. We have performed and initial investigation of the operational impact of "Dynamic Density" metrics on controller relinquishing and reestablishing full separation authority. (We follow the assumption that responsibility at all times resides with the controller.) This presentation will describe those efforts as well as describe the process by which we will guide the development of error tolerant systems that are sensitive to shifts in operator work load levels and dynamic shifts in the operating point of air traffic management.

Corker, Kevin M.↗

Study of propellant dynamics in a shuttle type launch vehicle

A method and an associated digital computer program for evaluating the vibrational characteristics of large liquid-filled rigid wall tanks of general shape are presented. A solution procedure was developed in which slosh modes and frequencies are computed for systems mathematically modeled as assemblages of liquid finite elements. To retain sparsity in the assembled system mass and stiffness matrices, a compressible liquid element formulation was incorporated in the program. The approach taken in the liquid finite element formulation is compatible with triangular and quadrilateral structural finite elements so that the analysis of liquid motion can be coupled with flexible tank wall motion at some future time. The liquid element repertoire developed during the course of this study consists of a two-dimensional triangular element and a three-dimensional tetrahedral element.

Jones, C. E.↗

Rancor Integrated Procedure System (RIPS): A Computer-Based Procedure Platform for Advanced Reactor Research

The Rancor Microworld Simulator is a simplified, pressurized water, small modular reactor simulator that includes a multi-unit plant model server, an advanced digital human-machine control interface, and the Rancor Integrated Procedure System (RIPS). Rancor provides a research and development tool that can be used for collecting operator performance data and for prototyping concepts of operations (ConOps) for advanced reactor development. RIPS is meant as a research tool and includes many unique features: (1) RIPS has a robust procedure authoring system. (2) RIPS has the capability to run any of the three IEEE-Std-1786 computer-based procedure types. (3) RIPS can be configured to take on the look and feel of different vendors’ computer-based procedure systems for the purpose of developing and evaluating different ConOps for plant upgrades or new builds. (4) RIPS includes the capability for logging operator procedure use, including integrating procedure logs with Rancor simulator logs, thereby allowing automated data collection of operator scenario runs. (5) RIPS integrates with the Human Unimodel for Nuclear Technology to Enhance Reliability (HUNTER), a dynamic human reliability analysis environment that creates a digital human twin or virtual operator to mimic reactor operator performance. (6) RIPS includes support for automation of plant monitoring and control functions. While RIPS is explicitly built into Rancor, it may also be used with full-scope training simulators. This functionality allows RIPS to be used for existing plants and advanced reactors under development.

99 - GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Comprehensive Performance Calibration Guidance for Perovskites and Other Emerging Solar Cells

Emerging photovoltaic (PV) technologies (e.g., organic, perovskite, and solution processed quantum dot) have attracted remarkable attention with the rapid growth of their efficiencies, and their transition toward commercialization. Accurate and reliable efficiency measurements of these PV technologies are crucial, yet much more complicated than for conventional PV technologies due to the former's pronounced dynamic responses to changes in measurement conditions (e.g., current–voltage (I–V) scan rate and preconditioning) and their susceptibility to degradation. Adjustments to the measurement procedures are therefore necessary so that a reproducible “steady state” is reached during measurement. Furthermore, given the small size of many emerging cells, inappropriate device area definition and solar simulator setup can lead to measurement errors. Here, comprehensive efficiency calibration guidance is offered for emerging solar cells, including area measurement; spectral irradiance translation to standard test conditions; and steady-state electrical performance. The necessity of reporting steady-state efficiency is justified with a statistical performance comparison between conventional and steady-state I–V scans over hundreds of cells the group has received globally for efficiency certifications. The procedures described here do not require specialized measurement instrumentation; what matters most are changes to the measurement protocols. These described changes aim to enable better comparisons between reported efficiencies.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Structure-property relationship between lignin structures and properties of 3D-printed lignin composites

Lignin is a low-cost and renewable bioresource with a huge annual production promising to prepare sustainable materials. However, the poor interfacial adhesion between many lignin-polymer pairs deteriorates the mechanical performance of the composites, which seriously limits the application of lignin in 3D printing via fused depositional modeling. This work examined lignin-polyamide 12 (PA 12) intermolecular interactions (e.g., hydrogen bonding) to address the interface challenge. To realize this goal, the phenolic hydroxyl content was increased for a kraft softwood lignin using a LiBr/HBr demethylation procedure, increasing phenoxy content by 61.7%. Increased hydrogen bonding interactions between modified lignin (Pine-Lig-OH) and PA 12 demonstrated a significantly improved molten dynamic modulus by rheological analysis. Regarding mechanical properties, by adding 20 wt% of Pine-Lig-OH, the tensile strength and Young's modulus reached 46.6 MPa and 1.62 GPa, 30.2% and 33.9% higher than PA 12, respectively. Further morphological analysis proved the interfacial interactions are enhanced by showing the difference in the phase gaps. The dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) supported the conclusion that Pine-Lig-OH could interact with polymer chains, alternating segmental movements due to the strong interaction. Here, this study presents a method to enhance lignin composite properties by promoting interactions with the polymer matrix through modified functional groups, guiding future lignin composite research.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Modeling the partitioning of amphiphilic molecules and co-solvents in biomembranes

We report amphiphilic co-solvents can have a significant impact on the structure, organization and physical properties of lipid bilayers. Describing the mutual impact of partitioning and induced structure changes is therefore a crucial consideration for a range of topics such as anesthesia and other pharmacokinetic effects, as well as microbial solvent tolerance in the production of biofuels and other fermentation products, where molecules such as ethanol, butanol or acetic acid might be generated. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) is a key method for studying lipid and polymer bilayer structures, with many models for extracting bilayer structure (thickness, area per lipid etc.) from scattering data in use today. However, the molecular details of co-solvent partitioning are conflated with induced changes to bilayer structure, making interpretation and modeling of the scattering curves a challenge with the existing set of models. To address this, a model of a bilayer structure is presented which invokes a two-term partition constant accounting for the localization of the co-solvent within the bilayer. This model was validated using a series of SANS measurements of lipid vesicles in the presence of the co-solvent tetrahydrofuran (THF), showing several strategies of how to deploy the two-parameter partition constant model to describe scattering data and extract both structure and partitioning information from the data. Molecular dynamics simulations are then used to evaluate assumptions of the model, provide additional molecular scale details and illustrate its complementary nature to the data fitting procedure. This approach results in estimates of the partition coefficient for THF in 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine at 35°C, along with an estimate of the fraction of THF residing in the hydrophobic core of the membrane. The authors envision that this model will be applicable to a wide range of other bilayer/amphiphile interactions and provide the associated code needed to implement this model as a fitting algorithm for scattering data in the SasView suite.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Video instrumentation for radionuclide angiocardiography.

Two types of videoscintiscopes for performing radioisotopic angiocardiography with a scintillation camera are described, and use of these instruments in performing clinical studies is illustrated. Radionuclide angiocardiography is a simple, quick and accurate procedure recommended as a screening test for patients with a variety of congenital and acquired cardiovascular lesions. When performed in conjunction with coronary arterial catheterization, dynamic radionuclide angiography may provide useful information about regional myocardial perfusion. Quantitative capabilities greatly enhance the potential of this diagnostic tool.

Kriss, J. P.↗

On the prediction of critical flutter conditions from subcritical response data and some related wind-tunnel experience

Methods of interpreting response measurements which could be amenable to flight flutter testing procedures were studied analytically and in the wind tunnel. One suggested scheme, which requires evaluation, is an iterative technique in which derivatives obtained from subcritical response data are used to indicate the approach to flutter. A simplification of this procedure was considered by examining the manner in which a single characteristic of the subcritical response behaves in relation to variations of the density or dynamic pressure in the approach to flutter. The use of this single parameter scheme was examined for random excitation as well as for sinusoidal forcing. The feasibility of the method is illustrated by several examples and the relative merits of random and sinusoidal excitation are discussed.

Houbolt, J. C.↗

Optimal estimation and attitude control of a solar electric propulsion spacecraft

Established procedures of linear, quadratic, Gaussian optimal estimation and control are developed and interpreted for their application to the problem of attitude control of spacecraft with dynamically significant elastic appendages. Results are presented both in general terms and for specific application to a solar electric spacecraft. Comparisons are made between alternative coordinate systems, and a realistic range of design parameters is considered. For single axis control, system evaluation is accomplished by simulation of a fifteenth-order spacecraft plant with alternative second-order, fourth-order, and sixth-order constant gain estimators. Results point out the importance of modeling errors.

Larson, V.↗

Lagrangian computation of inviscid compressible flows

A Lagrangian method is developed to solve the Euler equations of gas dynamics. The solution of the equations is obtained by a numerical computation with the well-known Flux-Corrected-Transport (FCT) numerical method. This procedure is modified so that the boundary treatment is accurate and relatively simple. Shock waves and other flow discontinuities are captured monotonically without any type of fitting procedures. The Lagrangian method is employed so that the problem of mesh generation is completely avoided. The method is applicable to all Mach numbers except the low subsonic range where compressibility effects are small. The method is applied to a one-dimensional Riemann problem (shock tube) and to a two-dimensional supersonic channel flow with reflecting shock waves.

Klopfer, G. H.↗

Coolant passage heat transfer with rotation. A progress report on the computational aspects

Turbine airfoils are subjected to increasingly higher heat loads which escalate the cooling requirements in order to satisfy life goals for the component materials. If turbine efficiency is to be maintained, however, cooling requirements should be as low as possible. To keep the quantity of cooling air bounded, a more efficient internal cooling scheme must be developed. One approach is to employ airfoils with multipass cooling passages that contain devices to augment internal heat transfer while limiting pressure drop. Design experience with multipass cooling passage airfoils has shown that a surplus of cooling air must be provided as a margin of safety. This increased cooling air leads to a performance penalty. Reliable methods for predicting the internal thermal and aerodynamic performance of multipass cooling passage airfoils would reduce or eliminate the need for the safety margin of surplus cooling air. The objective of the program is to develop and verify improved analytical methods that will form the basis for design technology which will result in efficient turbine components with improved durability without sacrificing performance. The objective will be met by: (1) establishing a comprehensive experimental data base that can form the basis of an empirical design system; (2) developing computational fluid dynamic techniques; and (3) analyzing the information in the data base with both phenomenological modeling and mathematical modeling to derive a suitable design and analysis procedure.

Aceto, L. D.↗

A data base and analysis program for shuttle main engine dynamic pressure measurements

A dynamic pressure data base management system is described for measurements obtained from space shuttle main engine (SSME) hot firing tests. The data were provided in terms of engine power level and rms pressure time histories, and power spectra of the dynamic pressure measurements at selected times during each test. Test measurements and engine locations are defined along with a discussion of data acquisition and reduction procedures. A description of the data base management analysis system is provided and subroutines developed for obtaining selected measurement means, variances, ranges and other statistics of interest are discussed. A summary of pressure spectra obtained at SSME rated power level is provided for reference. Application of the singular value decomposition technique to spectrum interpolation is discussed and isoplots of interpolated spectra are presented to indicate measurement trends with engine power level. Program listings of the data base management and spectrum interpolation software are given. Appendices are included to document all data base measurements.

Coffin, T.↗

Development of the general interpolants method for the CYBER 200 series of supercomputers

The General Interpolants Method (GIM) is a 3-D, time-dependent, hybrid procedure for generating numerical analogs of the conservation laws. This study is directed toward the development and application of the GIM computer code for fluid dynamic research applications as implemented for the Cyber 200 series of supercomputers. An elliptic and quasi-parabolic version of the GIM code are discussed. Turbulence models, algebraic and differential equations, were added to the basic viscous code. An equilibrium reacting chemistry model and an implicit finite difference scheme are also included.

Stalnaker, J. F.↗

CFD for applications to aircraft aeroelasticity

Strong interactions of structures and fluids are common in many engineering environments. Such interactions can give rise to physically important phenomena such as those occurring for aircraft due to aeroelasticity. Aeroelasticity can significantly influence the safe performance of aircraft. At present exact methods are available for making aeroelastic computations when flows are in either the linear subsonic or supersonic range. However, for complex flows containing shock waves, vortices and flow separations, computational methods are still under development. Several phenomena that can be dangerous and limit the performance of an aircraft occur due to the interaction of these complex flows with flexible aircraft components such as wings. For example, aircraft with highly swept wings experience vortex induced aeroelastic oscillations. Correct understanding of these complex aeroelastic phenomena requires direct coupling of fluids and structural equations. Here, a summary is presented of the development of such coupled methods and applications to aeroelasticity since about 1978 to present. The successful use of the transonic small perturbation theory (TSP) coupled with structures is discussed. This served as a major stepping stone for the current stage of aeroelasticity using computational fluid dynamics. The need for the use of more exact Euler/Navier-Stokes (ENS) equations for aeroelastic problems is explained. The current development of unsteady aerodynamic and aeroelastic procedures based on the ENS equations are discussed. Aeroelastic results computed using both TSP and ENS equations are discussed.

Guruswamy, Guru P.↗

Overview of CFD flow modeling and validation: NASA. Ames Research Center

NASA Ames Center personnel presented data on stages of code development and corresponding experiments in the application of computational fluid dynamics for aeronautical investigations. Specific subjects included algorithms, grid generation, facilities, instrumentation, and data acquisition. Numerical simulation and flow modelling were described to show the procedure for calibration and validation.

Marvin, Joe G.↗

Applying transfer matrix method to the estimation of the modal characteristics of the NASA Mini-Mass Truss

It is beneficial to use a distributed parameter model for large space structures because the approach minimizes the number of model parameters. Holzer's transfer matrix method provides a useful means to simplify and standardize the procedure for solving the system of partial differential equations. Any large space structures can be broken down into sub-structures with simple elastic and dynamical properties. For each single element, such as beam, tether, or rigid body, we can derive the corresponding transfer matrix. Combining these elements' matrices enables the solution of the global system equations. The characteristics equation can then be formed by satisfying the appropriate boundary conditions. Then natural frequencies and mode shapes can be determined by searching the roots of the characteristic equation at frequencies within the range of interest. This paper applies this methodology, and the maximum likelihood estimation method, to refine the modal characteristics of the NASA Mini-Mast Truss by successively matching the theoretical response to the test data of the truss. The method is being applied to more complex configurations.

Shen, Ji-Yao↗