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At least 1,135 records · Page 63

Effect of Melt Convection at Various Gravity Levels and Orientations on the Forces Acting on a Large Spherical Particle in the Vicinity of a Solidification Interface

Numerical modeling was Undertaken to analyze the influence of both radial and axial thermal gradients on convection patterns and velocities claiming solidification of pure Al and an Al-4 wt% Cu alloy. The objective of the numerical task was to predict the influence of convective velocity on an insoluble particle near a solid/liquid (s/l) interface. These predictions were then be used to define the minimum gravity level (q) required to investigate the fundamental physics of interactions between a particle and a s/l interface. This is an ongoing NASA founded flight experiment entitled "particle engulfment and pushing by solidifying interfaces (PEP)". Steady-state calculations were performed for different gravity levels and orientations with respect to the gravity vector The furnace configuration used in this analysis is the quench module insert (QMI-1) proposed for the Material Science Research Facility (MSRF) on board the International Space Station (ISS). The general model of binary alloy solidification was based on the finite element code FIDAP. At a low g level of 10(exp -4) g(sub o) (g(sub o) = 9.8 m/square s) maximum melt convection was obtained for an orientation of 90 deg. Calculations showed that even for this worst case orientation the dominant forces acting on the particle are the fundamental drag and interfacial forces.

Bune, Andris V.↗

Concept Designed and Developed for Distortion- Tolerant, High-Stability Engine Control

Engine Control Future aircraft turbine engines, both commercial and military, must be able to successfully accommodate expected increased levels of steady-state and dynamic engine-face distortion. Advanced tactical aircraft are likely to use thrust vectoring to enhance their maneuverability. As a result, the engines will see more extreme aircraft angles-of-attack and sideslip levels than are currently encountered with present-day aircraft. Also, the mixed-compression inlets needed for the High Speed Civil Transport will likely encounter disturbances similar to those seen by tactical aircraft, in addition to planar pulse, inlet buzz, and high distortion levels at low flight speed and off-design operation. The current approach of incorporating a sufficient component design stall margin to tolerate these increased levels of distortion would significantly reduce performance. The objective of the High Stability Engine Control (HISTEC) program is to design, develop, and flight demonstrate an advanced, high-stability, integrated engine-control system that uses measurement-based, real-time estimates of distortion to enhance engine stability. The resulting distortion-tolerant control reduces the required design stall margin, with a corresponding increase in performance and decrease in fuel burn. The HISTEC concept has been designed and developed, and the software implementing the concept has successfully accommodated time-varying distortion. The NASA Lewis Research Center is currently overseeing the development and validation of the hardware and software necessary to flight test the HISTEC concept. HISTEC is a contracted effort with Pratt & Whitney of West Palm Beach, Florida. The HISTEC approach includes two major systems: A Distortion Estimation System (DES) and Stability Management Control (SMC). DES is an aircraft-mounted, high-speed processor that estimates the amount and type of distortion present and its effect on the engine. It uses high-response pressure measurements at the engine face to calculate indicators of the type and extent of distortion in real time. From these indicators, DES determines the effects of distortion on the propulsion systems and the corresponding engine match point necessary to accommodate it. DES output consists of fan and compressor pressure ratio trim commands that are passed to the SMC. In addition, DES uses maneuver information, consisting of angle-of-attack and sideslip from the flight control, to anticipate high inlet distortion conditions. The SMC, which is contained in the engine-mounted, Improved Digital Electronic Engine Control (IDEEC), includes advanced control laws to directly control the fan and compressor transient operating line (pressure ratio). These advanced control laws, with a multivariable design, have the potential for higher bandwidth and the resulting more precise control of engine match. The ability to measure and assess the distortion effects in real time coupled with a high-response controller improves engine stability at high levels of distortion. The software algorithms implementing DES have been designed, developed, and demonstrated, and integration testing of the DES and SMC software has been completed. The results show that the HISTEC system will be able to sense inlet distortion, determine the effect on engine stability, and accommodate distortion by maintaining an adequate margin for engine surge. The Pratt &Whitney Comprehensive Engine Diagnostic Unit was chosen as the DES processor. An instrumented inlet case for sensing distortion was designed and fabricated. HISTEC is scheduled for flight test on the ACTIVE F-15 aircraft at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, in late 1996.

Source record↗

Distortion Tolerant Control Demonstrated in Flight

Future aircraft turbine engines, both commercial and military, will have to be able to successfully accommodate expected increased levels of steady-state and dynamic engine-face distortion. Advanced tactical aircraft are likely to use thrust vectoring for enhanced aircraft maneuverability. As a result, the engines will see more extreme aircraft angle-of-attack alpha and sideslip beta levels than currently encountered with present-day aircraft. Also, the mixed-compression inlets needed for the High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) will likely encounter disturbances similar to those seen by tactical aircraft, in addition to planar pulse, inlet buzz, and high distortion levels at low flight speed and off-design operation. The current approach of incorporating sufficient component design stall margin to tolerate these expected levels of distortion would result in significant performance penalties. The objective of NASA's High Stability Engine Control (HISTEC) program is to design, develop, and flight demonstrate an advanced, high-stability, integrated engine control system that uses measurement-based real-time estimates of distortion to enhance engine stability. The resulting distortion tolerant control adjusts the stall margin requirement online in real-time. This reduces the design stall margin requirement, with a corresponding increase in performance and decrease in fuel burn.

DeLaat, John C.↗

Distortion Tolerant Control Flight Demonstration Shown to Be Successful

Future aircraft turbine engines, both commercial and military, will have to be able to successfully accommodate expected increased levels of steady-state and dynamic engine-face distortion. Advanced tactical aircraft are likely to use thrust vectoring for enhanced aircraft maneuverability. As a result, the engines will see more extreme distortion levels than currently encountered with present-day aircraft. Also, the mixed-compression inlets needed for the High-Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) will likely encounter disturbances similar to those seen by tactical aircraft, in addition to planar pulse, inlet buzz, and high distortion levels at low flight speed and off-design operation. The current approach of incorporating sufficient component design stall margin to tolerate these expected levels of distortion would result in significant performance penalties. The objectives of NASA's High Stability Engine Control (HISTEC) program, which has reached a highly successful conclusion, were to design, develop, and flight demonstrate an advanced, high-stability, integrated engine control system that uses measurement-based real-time estimates of distortion to enhance engine stability. The resulting distortion tolerant control adjusts the stall margin requirement online in real time. This reduces the design stall margin requirement, with a corresponding increase in performance and decrease in fuel burn.

Litt, Jonathan S.↗

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Thruster Control Mode Design and Flight Experience

National Aeronautics and Space Administration s (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, MD, designed, built, tested, and launched the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on June 18, 2009. The LRO spacecraft is the first operational spacecraft designed to support NASA s return to the Moon, as part of the Vision for Space Exploration. LRO was launched aboard an Atlas V 401 launch vehicle into a direct insertion trajectory to the Moon. Twenty-four hours after separation the propulsion system was used to perform a mid-course correction maneuver. Four days after the mid-course correction a series of propulsion maneuvers were executed to insert LRO into its commissioning orbit. The commission period lasted eighty days and this followed by a second set of thruster maneuvers that inserted LRO into its mission orbit. To date, the spacecraft has been gathering invaluable data in support of human s future return to the moon. The LRO Attitude Control Systems (ACS) contains two thruster based control modes: Delta-H and Delta-V. The design of the two controllers are similar in that they are both used for 3-axis control of the spacecraft with the Delta-H controller used for momentum management and the Delta-V controller used for orbit adjust and maintenance maneuvers. In addition to the nominal purpose of the thruster modes, the Delta-H controller also has the added capability of performing a large angle slew maneuver. A suite of ACS components are used by the thruster based control modes, for both initialization and control. For initialization purposes, a star tracker or the Kalman Filter solution is used for providing attitude knowledge and upon entrance into the thruster based control modes attitude knowledge is provided via rate propagation using a inertial reference unit (IRU). Rate information for the controller is also supplied by the IRU. Three-axis control of the spacecraft in the thruster modes is provided by eight 5-lbf class attitude control thrusters configured in two sets of four thrusters for redundancy purposes. Four additional 20-lbf class thrusters configured in two sets of two thrusters are used for Lunar Orbit Insertion maneuvers. The propulsion system is one the few systems on-board the LRO spacecraft that has built in redundancy. The Delta-H controller consists of a Proportional-Derivative (PD) controller with a structural filter on the thrusters and a Proportional controller on the reaction wheels. The PD control that employs the thrusters is used for attitude and rate control. The Proportional controller on the reaction wheels is used for commanding the wheels to a new momentum state. The ground commands used for the Delta-H controller are the system momentum vector, reaction wheel momentum, maximum expected command time, and which set of attitude control thrusters to use. The ability to command both the system momentum vector and reaction wheel momentum in the Delta-H controller provides both a capability and an additional source of operator error. Large angle slews via the Delta-H controller is achievable via this commands because these commands are used for the exit mode criteria. Setting these commands to non-consistent values prevents the mode from exiting nominally.

Hsu, Oscar C.↗

Satellite Data Assimilation in the GEOS Atmospheric Data Assimilation System

The Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) is used for weather, climate, and air quality forecasts and producing reanalysis datasets. Its atmospheric data assimilation system (ADAS) is a hybrid–4DEnVar system. Various satellite radiance, atmospheric motion vector (winds), aircraft, and convectional data are assimilated by this system to produce global atmospheric states. The GEOS ADAS is enhanced by considering correlated observational errors among infrared radiance observations and assimilating new microwave radiance data in all-sky conditions. Historical microwave radiance data are tested within the all-sky microwave radiance assimilation framework and show beneficial effect in the preparation of the next GEOS reanalysis product. In this seminar, I will present the procedures of to assimilate microwave radiance data in all-sky conditions in the GEOS-ADAS. I will also discuss our efforts to update GEOS ADAS by assimilating more satellite data such as geostationary infrared observations and new observations made by the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) aboard NOAA 21 polar orbit satellite.

Jianjun Jin↗

All-sky Microwave Radiance Assimilation in The GEOS Atmospheric Reanalysis for The Early 21st Century (GEOS-21C)

The Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) is used for weather, climate, and air quality forecasts and producing reanalysis datasets. Its atmospheric data assimilation system (ADAS) is a hybrid–4DEnVar system. Various satellite radiance, atmospheric motion vector (winds), aircraft, and convectional data are assimilated by this system to produce global atmospheric states. Satellite data assimilation within GEOS ADAS is enhanced by considering correlated observational errors among infrared radiance observations and assimilating new microwave radiance data in all-sky conditions since the release of the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2). These new microwave radiance data include brightness temperature measurements made by the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) microwave imager (GMI) and Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 / Global Change Observation Mission 1st – Water (AMSR2/GCOM-W). Historical microwave radiance data made by various Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) and the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E) aboard the Aqua satellite are tested within the all-sky microwave radiance assimilation framework in the preparation of the GEOS enhanced Atmospheric Reanalysis for the early 21st century (GEOS-21C). Assimilation of these data in all-sky conditions enhances use of other satellite data and improves GEOS analysis and forecast. In this talk, we will present the procedures of to assimilate microwave radiance data in all-sky conditions and their impact on atmospheric analysis in the preparation of GEOS-21C.

Jianjun Jin↗

A sample computation of kinematic properties from cloud motion vectors.

Distributions of relative vorticity and balanced height have been computed from the cloud velocities associated with the cloud structure of an extratropical cyclone over the continental United States during a three-day period in March 1970. Cloud motions are assigned either to a 'mid-level,' or to a 'high level.' Derived vorticity and balanced height are compared with concurrent National Meteorological Center (NMC) analyses and also with similar kinematic quantities obtained from rawins at three constant-pressure levels. The computations of relative vorticity using mid-level cloud motion vectors show encouraging results. Patterns of computed cyclonic vorticity are related to the development, location, and movement of the surface cyclone. The analyses suggest that the 'mid-level' corresponds best to the 700-mb level. The vorticity analysis from the 'high-level' motion vectors presented difficulties.

Viezee, W.↗

The relation between quasars’ optical spectra and variability

Abstract Brightness variation is an essential feature of quasars, but its mechanism and relationship to other physical quantities are not understood well. We aimed to find the relationship between the optical variability and spectral features to reveal the regularity behind the random variation. It is known that a quasar’s Fe ii/Hβ flux ratio and equivalent width of [O iii]5007 are negatively correlated; this is called Eigenvector 1. In this work, we visualized the relationship between the position on this Eigenvector 1 (EV1) plane and how the brightness of the quasars had changed after ∼10 yr. We conducted three analyses, using a different quasar sample in each. The first analysis showed the relation between the quasars’ distributions on the EV1 plane and how much they had changed brightness, using 13438 Sloan Digital Sky Survey quasars. This result shows how brightness changes later are clearly related to the position on the EV1 plane. In the second analysis, we plotted the sources reported as “changing-look quasars” (or “changing-state quasars”) on the EV1 plane. This result shows that the position on the EV1 plane corresponds to the activity level of each source, and the bright or dim states of them are distributed on the opposite sides divided by the typical quasar distribution. In the third analysis, we examined the transition vectors on the EV1 plane using sources with multiple-epoch spectra. This result shows that the brightening and dimming sources move on a similar path and they reach a position corresponding to the opposite activity level. We also found this trend is opposite to the empirical rule that $R_{\rm {Fe\, \small {II}}}$ positively correlated with the Eddington ratio, which has been proposed based on the trends of a large number of quasars. From all these analyses, it is indicated that quasars tend to oscillate between both sides of the distribution ridge on the EV1 plane; each of them corresponds to a dim state and a bright state. This trend in optical variation suggests that significant brightness changes, such as changing-look quasars, are expected to repeat.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Analysis of structural response data using discrete modal filters

The application of reciprocal modal vectors to the analysis of structural response data is described. Reciprocal modal vectors are constructed using an existing experimental modal model and an existing frequency response matrix of a structure, and can be assembled into a matrix that effectively transforms the data from the physical space to a modal space within a particular frequency range. In other words, the weighting matrix necessary for modal vector orthogonality (typically the mass matrix) is contained within the reciprocal model matrix. The underlying goal of this work is mostly directed toward observing the modal state responses in the presence of unknown, possibly closed loop forcing functions, thus having an impact on both operating data analysis techniques and independent modal space control techniques. This study investigates the behavior of reciprocol modal vectors as modal filters with respect to certain calculation parameters and their performance with perturbed system frequency response data.

Freudinger, Lawrence C.↗

Ionizing radiation effects in SONOS-based neuromorphic inference accelerators

Here, we evaluate the sensitivity of neuromorphic inference accelerators based on Silicon-Oxide-Nitride-Oxide-Silicon (SONOS) charge trap memory arrays to total ionizing dose (TID) effects. Data retention statistics were collected for 16 Mbit of 40 nm SONOS digital memory exposed to ionizing radiation from a Co-60 source, showing good retention of the bits up to the maximum dose of 500 krad(Si). Using this data, we formulate a rate-equation-based model for the TID response of trapped charge carriers in the ONO stack, and predict the effect of TID on intermediate device states between ‘program’ and ‘erase’. This model is then used to simulate arrays of low-power, analog SONOS devices that store 8-bit neural network weights and support in situ matrix-vector multiplication. We evaluate the accuracy of the irradiated SONOS-based inference accelerator on two image recognition tasks – CIFAR-10 and the challenging ImageNet dataset – using state-of-the-art convolutional neural networks, such as ResNet-50. We find that across the datasets and neural networks evaluated, the accelerator tolerates a maximum TID between 10 krad(Si) and 100 krad(Si), with deeper networks being more susceptible to accuracy losses due to TID.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Precise predictions for same-sign W-boson scattering at the LHC

Vector-boson scattering processes are of great importance for the current run-II and future runs of the Large Hadron Collider. The presence of triple and quartic gauge couplings in the process gives access to the gauge sector of the Standard Model (SM) and possible new-physics contributions there. To test any new-physics hypothesis, sound knowledge of the SM contributions is necessary, with a precision which at least matches the experimental uncertainties of existing and forthcoming measurements. In this article we present a detailed study of the vector-boson scattering process with two positively-charged leptons and missing transverse momentum in the final state. In particular, we first carry out a systematic comparison of the various approximations that are usually performed for this kind of process against the complete calculation, at LO and NLO QCD accuracy. Such a study is performed both in the usual fiducial region used by experimental collaborations and in a more inclusive phase space, where the differences among the various approximations lead to more sizeable effects. Afterwards, we turn to predictions matched to parton showers, at LO and NLO: we show that on the one hand, the inclusion of NLO QCD corrections leads to more stable predictions, but on the other hand the details of the matching and of the parton-shower programs cause differences which are considerably larger than those observed at fixed order, even in the experimental fiducial region. We conclude with recommendations for experimental studies of vector-boson scattering processes.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Topological defects and topological materials

We report that defects in materials that interpolate between two orientation states such as domain walls and those which relate to some kind of material discontinuity, e.g. dislocations and disclinations, comprise topological defects. Noncoplanar vector arrangements, e.g. vortices, skyrmions, and possibly monopole-like excitations, also belong to this family of defects. Presence of such defects affects many of the macroscopic properties of materials, for example electronic transport and strength. Materials in which topological aspects, e.g. edge or surface states, affect the electronic, transport and other properties can be described as topological materials. Topological insulators, topological superconductors and certain Dirac materials, e.g. graphene and Weyl semimetals, belong to this class of materials. Lastly, these materials possess unusual functionalities potentially useful in a variety of information processing and quantum computation based applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Indirect detection constraints on the model space of dark matter effective theories

Using limits on photon flux from Dwarf Spheroidal galaxies, we place bounds on the parameter space of models in which Dark Matter annihilates into multiple final state particle pair channels. We derive constraints on effective operator models with Dark Matter couplings to third generation fermions and to pairs of Standard Model vector bosons. We present limits in various slices of model parameter space along with estimations of the region of maximal validity of the effective operator approach for indirect detection. Finally, we visualize our bounds for models with multiple final state annihilations by projecting parameter space constraints onto triangles, a technique familiar from collider physics; and we compare our bounds to collider limits on equivalent models.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Creating Binary Cu–Bi Compounds via High-Pressure Synthesis: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study

Exploration beyond the known phase space of thermodynamically stable compounds into the realm of metastable materials is a frontier of materials chemistry. The application of high pressure in experiment and theory provides a powerful vector by which to explore this uncharted phase space, allowing discovery of complex new structures and bonding in the solid state. We harnessed this approach for the Cu–Bi system, where the realization of new phases offers potential for exotic properties such as superconductivity. This potential is due to the presence of bismuth, which, by virtue of its status as one of the heaviest stable elements, forms a critical component in emergent materials such as superconductors and topological insulators. To fully investigate and understand the Cu–Bi system, we welded theoretical predictions with experiment to probe the Cu–Bi system under high pressures. By employing the powerful approach of in situ X-ray diffraction in a laser-heated diamond anvil cell (LHDAC), we thoroughly explored the high-pressure and high-temperature (high-PT) phase space to gain insight into the formation of intermetallic compounds at these conditions. We employed density functional theory (DFT) calculations to calculate a pressure versus temperature phase diagram, which correctly predicts that CuBi is stabilized at lower pressures than Cu11Bi7, and allows us to uncover the thermodynamic contributions responsible for the stability of each phase. Detailed comparisons between the NiAs structure type and the two high-pressure Cu–Bi phases, Cu11Bi7 and CuBi, reveal the preference for elemental segregation within the Cu–Bi phases, and highlight the unique channels and layers formed by ordered Cu vacancies. The electron localization function from DFT calculations account for the presence of these “voids” as a manifestation of the lone pair orientation on the Bi atoms. Our study demonstrates the power of joint experimental–computational work in exploring the chemistry occurring at high-PT conditions. The existence of multiple high-pressure-stabilized phases in the Cu–Bi binary system, which can be readily identified with in situ techniques, offers promise for other systems in which no ambient pressure phases are known to exist.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Wave vector and field vector orientation dependence of Fe K pre-edge X-ray absorption features in clinopyroxenes

Abstract Pre-edge X-ray absorption features are commonly used to derive redox states for transition metal oxides in crystals and glasses. Several calibrations for Fe2+ and Fe3+ in silicate glasses have utilized the general relationships among pre-edge peak intensity, energy, and redox state. However, absorption variations complicate those relationships in anisotropic crystals. Although absorption anisotropy at and above the energy of the rising edge adheres to the typical cos2 relationship observed in absorption spectroscopies at other energies, the anisotropy of the pre-edge is far more complicated. Prior studies focusing on pre-edge absorption anisotropy demonstrate a 1-cos4φ dependence of absorption magnitudes with rotation. Experiments presented here show that absorption magnitudes of the pre-edge vary as a function of both electric field vector orientation and wave vector direction. However, rotations around the field vector axis or wave vector axis individually result in cos2 dependence of absorption magnitudes. Rotations where both wave vector and field vector orientation are varied are not well fit by either model in the pre-edge. The resulting anisotropy complicates the process of measuring characteristic absorption in the pre-edge, making valence state determinations challenging for strongly anisotropic crystal structures such as pyroxene.

Geochemistry & Geophysics↗

A new state reconstructor for digital controls systems using weighted-average measurements

A state reconstructor is presented for a linear continuous-time plant driven by a zero-order-hold. It takes a continuous-time output vector from the plant and convolutes it with a weighting-function matrix whose elements are time dependent. This result is integrated over T second intervals to generate weighted-averaged measurements, every T seconds, that are used in the state reconstruction process. If the plant is noise-free and can be modeled precisely, the output of this state reconstructor exactly equals the true state of the plant and accomplishes this without knowledge of the plant's initial state. If noise or modeling errors are a problem, it can be catenated with a state observer or a Kalman filter for a synergistic effect.

Polites, Michael E.↗

Unsymmetric Lanczos model reduction and linear state function observer for flexible structures

This report summarizes part of the research work accomplished during the second year of a two-year grant. The research, entitled 'Application of Lanczos Vectors to Control Design of Flexible Structures' concerns various ways to use Lanczos vectors and Krylov vectors to obtain reduced-order mathematical models for use in the dynamic response analyses and in control design studies. This report presents a one-sided, unsymmetric block Lanczos algorithm for model reduction of structural dynamics systems with unsymmetric damping matrix, and a control design procedure based on the theory of linear state function observers to design low-order controllers for flexible structures.

Su, Tzu-Jeng↗