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At least 1,117 records · Page 62

The 1992 4th NASA SERC Symposium on VLSI Design

Papers from the fourth annual NASA Symposium on VLSI Design, co-sponsored by the IEEE, are presented. Each year this symposium is organized by the NASA Space Engineering Research Center (SERC) at the University of Idaho and is held in conjunction with a quarterly meeting of the NASA Data System Technology Working Group (DSTWG). One task of the DSTWG is to develop new electronic technologies that will meet next generation electronic data system needs. The symposium provides insights into developments in VLSI and digital systems which can be used to increase data systems performance. The NASA SERC is proud to offer, at its fourth symposium on VLSI design, presentations by an outstanding set of individuals from national laboratories, the electronics industry, and universities. These speakers share insights into next generation advances that will serve as a basis for future VLSI design.

Whitaker, Sterling R.↗

Engineering analyses and design calculations of NASA, Langley Research Center hydrogen-air-vitiated heater with oxygen replenishment

The technical basis is presented for the design of the hydrogen-air-vitiated heater. The heater liner is subjected to a maximum thermal environment at a specified condition, where the combustion gas temperature, pressure and flow rate are 5000 F, 750 psia, and 11.0 lb/sec, respectively, and results in a heat flux of the order of 275 BTU/sec-sq ft. Cooling and stress analyses indicate that water is the logical choice for cooling of the combustor liner. A mixing analysis was undertaken to establish a good combination of combustor length and injector configuration. The analysis, using a conservative analytical approach, indicates a combustor length of the order of 5 ft combined with discrete fuel and oxidizer injection at an approximate 2-1/2 inch radial combustor position, and results in uniform combustion products at the heater exit for all specified envelope conditions.

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An information driven strategy to support multidisciplinary design

The design of complex engineering systems such as aircraft, automobiles, and computers is primarily a cooperative multidisciplinary design process involving interactions between several design agents. The common thread underlying this multidisciplinary design activity is the information exchange between the various groups and disciplines. The integrating component in such environments is the common data and the dependencies that exist between such data. This may be contrasted to classical multidisciplinary analyses problems where there is coupling between distinct design parameters. For example, they may be expressed as mathematically coupled relationships between aerodynamic and structural interactions in aircraft structures, between thermal and structural interactions in nuclear plants, and between control considerations and structural interactions in flexible robots. These relationships provide analytical based frameworks leading to optimization problem formulations. However, in multidisciplinary design problems, information based interactions become more critical. Many times, the relationships between different design parameters are not amenable to analytical characterization. Under such circumstances, information based interactions will provide the best integration paradigm, i.e., there is a need to model the data entities and their dependencies between design parameters originating from different design agents. The modeling of such data interactions and dependencies forms the basis for integrating the various design agents.

Rangan, Ravi M.↗

Statistical methods for efficient design of community surveys of response to noise: Random coefficients regression models

Research studies of residents' responses to noise consist of interviews with samples of individuals who are drawn from a number of different compact study areas. The statistical techniques developed provide a basis for those sample design decisions. These techniques are suitable for a wide range of sample survey applications. A sample may consist of a random sample of residents selected from a sample of compact study areas, or in a more complex design, of a sample of residents selected from a sample of larger areas (e.g., cities). The techniques may be applied to estimates of the effects on annoyance of noise level, numbers of noise events, the time-of-day of the events, ambient noise levels, or other factors. Methods are provided for determining, in advance, how accurately these effects can be estimated for different sample sizes and study designs. Using a simple cost function, they also provide for optimum allocation of the sample across the stages of the design for estimating these effects. These techniques are developed via a regression model in which the regression coefficients are assumed to be random, with components of variance associated with the various stages of a multi-stage sample design.

Tomberlin, T. J.↗

Improved Algorithm For Finite-Field Normal-Basis Multipliers

Improved algorithm reduces complexity of calculations that must precede design of Massey-Omura finite-field normal-basis multipliers, used in error-correcting-code equipment and cryptographic devices. Algorithm represents an extension of development reported in "Algorithm To Design Finite-Field Normal-Basis Multipliers" (NPO-17109), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 12, No. 5, page 82.

Wang, C. C.↗

Moving base simulation of an integrated flight and propulsion control system for an ejector-augmentor STOVL aircraft in hover

A piloted motion simulator evaluation, using the NASA Ames Vertical Motion Simulator, was conducted in support of a NASA Lewis Contractual study of the integration of flight and propulsion systems of a STOVL aircraft. Objectives of the study were to validate the Design Methods for Integrated Control Systems (DMICS) concept, to evaluate the handling qualities, and to assess control power usage. The E-7D ejector-augmentor STOVL fighter design served as the basis for the simulation. Handling-qualities ratings were obtained during precision hover and shipboard landing tasks. Handling-qualities ratings for these tasks ranged from satisfactory to adequate. Further improvement of the design process to fully validate the DMICS concept appears to be warranted.

Mcneill, Walter, E.↗

Automated design synthesis of robotic/human workcells for improved manufacturing system design in hazardous environments [Slides]

Manufacturing tasks that are deemed too hazardous for workers require the use of automation, robotics, and/or other remote handling tools. The associated hazards may be radiological or non-radiological, and based on the characteristics of the environment and processing, a design may necessitate robotic labor, human labor, or both. There are also other factors such as cost, ergonomics, maintenance, and efficiency that also effect task allocation and other design choices. Handling the tradeoffs of these factors can be complex, and lack of experience can be an issue when trying to determine if and what feasible automation/robotics options exist. To address this problem, we utilize common engineering design approaches adapted more for manufacturing system design in hazardous environments. We limit our scope to the conceptual and embodiment design stages, specifically a computational algorithm for concept generation and early design evaluation. In regard to concept generation, we first develop the functional model or function structure for the process, using the common 'verb-noun' format for describing function. A common language or functional basis for manufacturing was developed and utilized to formalize function descriptions and guide rules for function decomposition. Potential components for embodiment are also grouped in terms of this functional language and are stored in a database. The properties of each component are given as quantitative and qualitative criteria. Operators are also rated for task-relevant criteria which are used to address task compatibility. Through the gathering of process requirements/constraints, construction of the component database, and development of the manufacturing basis and rule set, design knowledge is stored and available for computer use. Thus, once the higher level process functions are defined, the computer can automate the synthesis of new design concepts through alternating steps of embodiment and function structure updates/decomposition. In the process, criteria guide function allocation of components/operators and help ensure compatibility and feasibility. Through multiple function assignment options and varied function structures, multiple design concepts are created. All of the generated designs are then evaluated based on a number of relevant evaluation criteria: cost, dose, ergonomics, hazards, efficiency, etc. These criteria are computed using physical properties/parameters of each system based on the qualities an engineer would use to make evaluations. Nuclear processes such as oxide conversion and electrorefining are utilized to aid algorithm development and provide test cases for the completed program. Through our approach, we capture design knowledge related to manufacturing and other operations in hazardous environments to enable a computational program to automatically generate and evaluate system design concepts.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Flight Test Validation of Optimal Input Design and Comparison to Conventional Inputs

A technique for designing optimal inputs for aerodynamic parameter estimation was flight tested on the F-18 High Angle of Attack Research Vehicle (HARV). Model parameter accuracies calculated from flight test data were compared on an equal basis for optimal input designs and conventional inputs at the same flight condition. In spite of errors in the a priori input design models and distortions of the input form by the feedback control system, the optimal inputs increased estimated parameter accuracies compared to conventional 3-2-1-1 and doublet inputs. In addition, the tests using optimal input designs demonstrated enhanced design flexibility, allowing the optimal input design technique to use a larger input amplitude to achieve further increases in estimated parameter accuracy without departing from the desired flight test condition. This work validated the analysis used to develop the optimal input designs, and demonstrated the feasibility and practical utility of the optimal input design technique.

Morelli, Eugene A.↗

Determining acceptable limits of fast-electron preheat in direct-drive-ignition–scale target designs

In direct-drive–ignition designs, preheat by fast electrons created by the two-plasmon–decay or stimulated Raman instabilities can increase the adiabat in the fuel layer and reduce compression and neutron yield. Since eliminating the preheat entirely is a major challenge, it is necessary to understand the levels of preheat that preclude ignition in a direct-drive target. Two 1-D ignition-scale target designs serve as the basis for examining the effects of synthetically increasing the levels of fast electrons using the 1-D radiation–hydrodynamic code LILAC , which includes two models of fast-electron transport. The first is an ignition design adapted from a 2-D polar-direct-drive (PDD) design for the National Ignition Facility (NIF). The second is derived from the first but uses a laser pulse that generates stronger shocks and a higher fuel adiabat. This more stable “alpha-burner” design approaches ignition and achieves yield multiplication as a result of alpha heating. The designs are then re optimized to recover performance. The igniting design, when fast-electron transport was modeled with diffusion, was found to tolerate 50% more fast-electron preheat of the cold (sub-50 eV) DT ice layer when the laser pulse was optimized using the optimizer Telios . When a straight-line fast-electron transport model was used, the effects of optimization were negligible. For the alpha-burner design, an increase of over a factor of at least 3 in the tolerable level of fast-electron preheat was obtained for both transport models.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Acquisition/expulsion system for earth orbital propulsion system study. Volume 2: Cryogenic design

Detailed designs were made for three earth orbital propulsion systems; (1) the space shuttle (integrated) OMS/RCS, (2) the space shuttle (dedicated) OMS (LO2), and (3) the space tug. The preferred designs from the integrated OMS/RCS were used as the basis for the flight test article design. A plan was prepared that outlines the steps, cost, and schedule required to complete the development of the prototype DSL tank and feedline (LH2 and LO2) systems. Ground testing of a subscale model using LH2 verified the expulsion characteristics of the preferred DSL designs.

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Lightweight thermally efficient composite feedlines for the space tug cryogenic propulsion system

Six liquid hydrogen feedline design concepts were developed for the cryogenic space tug. The feedlines include composite and all-metal vacuum jacketed and nonvacuum jacketed concepts, and incorporate the latest technological developments in the areas of thermally efficient vacuum jacket end closures and standoffs, radiation shields in the vacuum annulus, thermal coatings, and lightweight dissimilar metal flanged joints. The feedline design concepts are evaluated on the basis of thermal performance, weight, cost, reliability, and reusability. Design concepts were proved in a subscale test program. Detail design was completed on the most promising composite feedline concept and an all-metal feedline. Three full scale curved composite feedlines and one all-metal feedline assembly were fabricated and subjected to a test program representative of flight hardware qualification. The test results show that composite feedline technology is fully developed. Composite feedlines are ready for space vehicle application and offer significant reduction in weights over the conventional all-metal feedlines presently used.

Spond, D. E.↗

High-burnup core design using minor actinide-containing metal fuel

A neutronic design study of metal fuel fast reactor (FR) cores is conducted on the basis of an innovative fuel design concept to achieve an extremely high burnup and realize an efficient fuel cycle system. Since it is expected that the burnup reactivity swing will become extremely large in an unprecedented high burnup core, minor actinides (MAs) from light water reactors (LWRs) are added to fresh fuel to improve the core internal conversion. Core neutronic analysis revealed that high burnups of about 200 MWd/kg for a small-scale core and about 300 MWd/kg for a large-scale core can be attained while suppressing the burnup reactivity swing to almost the same level as that of conventional cores with normal burnup. An actinide burnup analysis has shown that the MA consumption ratio is improved to about 60% and that the accumulated MAs originating from LWRs can be efficiently consumed by the high-burnup metal fuel FR. (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Generic HLW Repository In Bedded Salt In Germany: Emplacement Technologies and Repository Designs - 18288

In Germany, a new site selection act for a repository for HLW and SNF entered into force in July 2013 and was amended in spring 2017 [1]. It stipulates that the safety of repository systems for heat-generating radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel in different host rock formations be compared. This requires that generic repository concepts and adequate safety- and safety demonstration concepts for all potential host rock formations in Germany (salt, clay and crystalline rock) exist. For several decades, development of disposal concepts and safety analyses for a repository in a salt dome was prioritized while repository concepts for clay and crystalline rock have been taken into account for two decades only. So far, bedded salt formations have not been the subject of comparative investigations. Thus, in summer 2015, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) launched the R and D project KOSINA to develop repository designs and carry out safety analyses for different emplacement alternatives in a generic bedded salt formation and a generic salt pillow. KOSINA is an acronym for 'Concept development for a generic repository for heat-generating waste in bedded salt formations in Germany as well as development and testing of a safety and demonstration concept'. Together with its partners BGR, GRS, and IfG, DBE Technology GmbH has successfully carried out an almost three years lasting scientific programme, which will be concluded in April 2018. The core areas of the programme are the development of generic geologic models, including derivation of model parameters, the development of a safety and safety demonstration concept, the development of technical repository designs for four different emplacement alternatives, the analysis of geomechanical integrity, the evaluation of operational safety as well as the analysis of radiological consequences. An interim report, which compiles the basic data of the waste inventory, the repository design requirements, the data basis for geologic model developments, and the outline of a safety and safety demonstration concept, was already published in February 2016. The main achievements of the R and D project KOSINA are the development of four different repository designs, two per each generic geologic model (flat-bedded salt, salt pillow) based on thermomechanical calculations. This includes the implementation of a safety concept that provides containment of the radioactive materials with regard to the technical designs of waste packages, transport and emplacement technologies, and backfilling and sealing concepts. Furthermore, the integrity of the geologic barriers could be demonstrated for all four repository designs, and the long-term predictions showed no radiological releases during the demonstration period of one million years. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Terra and Aqua MODIS Design, Radiometry, and Geometry in Support of Land Remote Sensing

The NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) mission includes the construction and launch of two nearly identical Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments. The MODIS proto-flight model (PFM) is onboard the EOS Terra satellite (formerly EOS AM-1) launched on December 18, 1999 and hereafter referred to as Terra MODIS. Flight model-1 (FM1) is onboard the EOS Aqua satellite (formerly EOS PM-1) launched on May 04, 2002 and referred to as Aqua MODIS. MODIS was developed based on the science community s desire to collect multiyear continuous datasets for monitoring changes in the Earth s land, oceans and atmosphere, and the human contributions to these changes. It was designed to measure discrete spectral bands, which includes many used by a number of heritage sensors, and thus extends the heritage datasets to better understand both long- and short-term changes in the global environment (Barnes and Salomonson 1993; Salomonson et al. 2002; Barnes et al. 2002). The MODIS development, launch, and operation were managed by NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, Maryland. The sensors were designed, built, and tested by Raytheon/ Santa Barbara Remote Sensing (SBRS), Goleta, California. Each MODIS instrument offers 36 spectral bands, which span the spectral region from the visible (0.41 m) to long-wave infrared (14.4 m). MODIS collects data at three different nadir spatial resolutions: 0.25, 0.5, and 1 km. Key design specifications, such as spectral bandwidths, typical scene radiances, required signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) or noise equivalent temperature differences (NEDT), and primary applications of each MODIS spectral band are summarized in Table 7.1. These parameters were the basis for the MODIS design. More details on the evolution of the NASA EOS and development of the MODIS instruments are provided in Chap. 1. This chapter focuses on the MODIS sensor design, radiometry, and geometry as they apply to land remote sensing. With near-daily coverage of the Earth's surface, MODIS provides comprehensive measurements that enable scientists and policy makers to better understand and effectively manage the natural resources on both regional and global scales. Terra, the first large multisensor EOS satellite, is operated in a 10:30 am (local equatorial crossing time, descending southwards) polar orbit. Aqua, the second multisensor EOS satellite is operated in a 1:30 pm (local equatorial crossing time, ascending northwards) polar orbit. With complementing morning and afternoon observations, the Terra and Aqua MODIS, together with other sensors housed on both satellites, have greatly improved our understanding of the dynamics of the global environmental system.

Xiong, Xiaoxiong↗

Space-based test-bed concept

The space test-bed (STB) conceptual design proposed as a basis for the long-term experimental development of advanced spacecraft bus technology with minimum technological risk consists of a main spacecraft bus, whose subsystems furnish the common support functions for the entire facility, and attachable/detachable experimental pallets. The STB design requires only modest enhancements of current systems and techniques, with many off-the-shelf components. The economics of the STB are presently emphasized.

Gartrell, Charles F.↗

Optimization in the systems engineering process

The essential elements of the design process consist of the mission definition phase that provides the system requirements, the conceptual design, the preliminary design and finally the detailed design. Mission definition is performed largely by operations analysts in conjunction with the customer. The result of their study is handed off to the systems engineers for documentation as the systems requirements. The document that provides these requirements is the basis for the further design work of the design engineers at the Lockheed-Georgia Company. The design phase actually begins with conceptual design, which is generally conducted by a small group of engineers using multidisciplinary design programs. Because of the complexity of the design problem, the analyses are relatively simple and generally dependent on parametric analyses of the configuration. The result of this phase is a baseline configuration from which preliminary design may be initiated.

Lemmerman, Loren A.↗

Bowtie filters for dedicated breast CT: Theory and computational implementation

Purpose: To design bowtie filters with improved properties for dedicated breast CT to improve image quality and reduce dose to the patient. Methods: The authors present three different bowtie filters designed for a cylindrical 14-cm diameter phantom with a uniform composition of 40/60 breast tissue, which vary in their design objectives and performance improvements. Bowtie design #1 is based on single material spectral matching and produces nearly uniform spectral shape for radiation incident upon the detector. Bowtie design #2 uses the idea of basis material decomposition to produce the same spectral shape and intensity at the detector, using two different materials. Bowtie design #3 eliminates the beam hardening effect in the reconstructed image by adjusting the bowtie filter thickness so that the effective attenuation coefficient for every ray is the same. All three designs are obtained using analytical computational methods and linear attenuation coefficients. Thus, the designs do not take into account the effects of scatter. The authors considered this to be a reasonable approach to the filter design problem since the use of Monte Carlo methods would have been computationally intensive. The filter profiles for a cone-angle of 0° were used for the entire length of each filter because the differences between those profiles and the correct cone-beam profiles for the cone angles in our system are very small, and the constant profiles allowed construction of the filters with the facilities available to us. For evaluation of the filters, we used Monte Carlo simulation techniques and the full cone-beam geometry. Images were generated with and without each bowtie filter to analyze the effect on dose distribution, noise uniformity, and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) homogeneity. Line profiles through the reconstructed images generated from the simulated projection images were also used as validation for the filter designs. Results: Examples of the three designs are presented. Initial verification of performance of the designs was done using analytical computations of HVL, intensity, and effective attenuation coefficient behind the phantom as a function of fan-angle with a cone-angle of 0°. The performance of the designs depends only weakly on incident spectrum and tissue composition. For all designs, the dynamic range requirement on the detector was reduced compared to the no-bowtie-filter case. Further verification of the filter designs was achieved through analysis of reconstructed images from simulations. Simulation data also showed that the use of our bowtie filters can reduce peripheral dose to the breast by 61% and provide uniform noise and CNR distributions. The bowtie filter design concepts validated in this work were then used to create a computational realization of a 3D anthropomorphic bowtie filter capable of achieving a constant effective attenuation coefficient behind the entire field-of-view of an anthropomorphic breast phantom. Conclusions: Three different bowtie filter designs that vary in performance improvements were described and evaluated using computational and simulation techniques. Results indicate that the designs are robust against variations in breast diameter, breast composition, and tube voltage, and that the use of these filters can reduce patient dose and improve image quality compared to the no-bowtie-filter case.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗