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At least 1,153 records · Page 64

Apparatus and methodology for fire gas characterization by means of animal exposure

While there is a great deal of information available from small-scale laboratory experiments and for relatively simple mixtures of gases, considerable uncertainty exists regarding appropriate bioassay techniques for the complex mixture of gases generated in full-scale fires. Apparatus and methodology have been developed based on current state of the art for determining the effects of fire gases in the critical first 10 minutes of a full-scale fire on laboratory animals. This information is presented for its potential value and use while further improvements are being made.

Marcussen, W. H.↗

Vortex shedding from a blunt trailing edge with equal and unequal external mean velocities

A flow-visualization study has shown that strong Karman vortices develop behind the blunt trailing edge of a plate when the free-stream velocities over both surfaces are equal and that the vortices tend to disappear when the surface velocities are unequal. This observation provides an explanation for the occurence and disappearance of certain discrete tones often found to be present in the noise spectra of coaxial jets. Both the vortex formation and the tones occur at a Strouhal number based on the lip thickness and the average of the external steady-state velocities of about 0.2. Results from theoretical calculations of the vortex formation, based on an inviscid incompressible analysis of the motion of point vortices, were in good agreement with the experimental observations.

Boldman, D. R.↗

Transfer function verification and block diagram simplification of a very high-order distributed pole closed-loop servo by means of non-linear time-response simulation

Linear frequency domain methods are inadequate in analyzing the 1975 Viking Orbiter (VO75) digital tape recorder servo due to dominant nonlinear effects such as servo signal limiting, unidirectional servo control, and static/dynamic Coulomb friction. The frequency loop (speed control) servo of the VO75 tape recorder is used to illustrate the analytical tools and methodology of system redundancy elimination and high order transfer function verification. The paper compares time-domain performance parameters derived from a series of nonlinear time responses with the available experimental data in order to select the best possible analytical transfer function representation of the tape transport (mechanical segment of the tape recorder) from several possible candidates. The study also shows how an analytical time-response simulation taking into account most system nonlinearities can pinpoint system redundancy and overdesign stemming from a strictly empirical design approach. System order reduction is achieved through truncation of individual transfer functions and elimination of redundant blocks.

Mukhopadhyay, A. K.↗

Method of and means for testing a tape record/playback system

A tape record/playback system was tested by first deriving an analog test signal and a band-limited digital reference signal from a pseudo-noise sequence generator driven by a clock signal. It recorded the signals on respective tracks of the system during operation in a record mode. During the playback mode of operation of the system, a delayed analog reference signal without time base variations was reconstructed from the played back reference signal. It was compared with the played back test signal in order to obtain an error signal that was a measure of the performance of the system.

Wallace, G. R.↗

Study to investigate and evaluate means of optimizing the Ku-band communication function for the space shuttle

The forward link of the overall Ku-band communication system consists of the ground- TDRS-orbiter communication path. Because the last segment of the link is directed towards a relatively low orbiting shuttle, a PN code is used to reduce the spectral density. A method is presented for incorporating code acquisition and tracking functions into the orbiter's Ku-band receiver. Optimization of a three channel multiplexing technique is described. The importance of Costas loop parameters to provide false lock immunity for the receiver, and the advantage of using a sinusoidal subcarrier waveform, rather than square wave, are discussed.

Simon, M. K.↗

Mean sea level determination from satellite altimetry

The primary experiment on the Geodynamics Experimental Ocean Satellite-3 (GEOS-3) is the radar altimeter. This experiment's major objective is to demonstrate the utility of measuring the geometry of the ocean surface, i.e. the geoid. Results obtained from this experiment so far indicate that the planned objectives of measuring the topography of the ocean surface with an absolute accuracy of + or - 5 meters can be met and perhaps exceeded. The GEOS-3 satellite altimeter measurements have an instrument precision in the range of + or - 25 cm to + or - 50 cm when the altimeter is operating in the short pulse mode.

Kahn, W. D.↗

Attitude reorientation of spacecraft by means of impulse coning

Minimum maneuver costs for attitude reorientation of spacecraft of all possible inertial distribution over a wide range of maneuver angles by use of the impulse coning method of reorientation was studied. Maneuver cost is proportional to the product of fuel consumed and time expended during a maneuver. Assumptions included impulsive external control torques, rigid-body spacecraft, rest-to-rest maneuvers, and no disturbance torques. Also, coning maneuvers were constrained to have equal initial and final cone angles. Maneuver costs are presented for general reorientations as well as for spin-axis reorientations where final attitude about the spin axis is arbitrary.

Martz, C. W.↗

Study to investigate and evaluate means of optimizing the Ku-band combined radar/communication functions for the space shuttle

The performance of the space shuttle orbiter's Ku-Band integrated radar and communications equipment is analyzed for the radar mode of operation. The block diagram of the rendezvous radar subsystem is described. Power budgets for passive target detection are calculated, based on the estimated values of system losses. Requirements for processing of radar signals in the search and track modes are examined. Time multiplexed, single-channel, angle tracking of passive scintillating targets is analyzed. Radar performance in the presence of main lobe ground clutter is considered and candidate techniques for clutter suppression are discussed. Principal system parameter drivers are examined for the case of stationkeeping at ranges comparable to target dimension. Candidate ranging waveforms for short range operation are analyzed and compared. The logarithmic error discriminant utilized for range, range rate and angle tracking is formulated and applied to the quantitative analysis of radar subsystem tracking loops.

Weber, C. L.↗

TSE computers - A means for massively parallel computations

A description is presented of hardware concepts for building a massively parallel processing system for two-dimensional data. The processing system is to use logic arrays of 128 x 128 elements which perform over 16 thousand operations simultaneously. Attention is given to image data, logic arrays, basic image logic functions, a prototype negator, an interleaver device, image logic circuits, and an image memory circuit.

Strong, J. P., III↗

Geometrical meaning of the curl operation when A dot curl A does not equal 0

We examine the geometrical interpretation of the vector operation curl for vector fields A such that A dot curl A does not equal 0. It is not possible to construct even locally a surface normal to field lines of A at all points; an explicit geometrical demonstration of this fact is given. Such fields do not admit the construction of orthogonal curvilinear coordinates in which one set of coordinate curves lies along field lines of A.

Barnes, A.↗

Probing the earth's gravity field by means of satellite-to-satellite tracking

Two satellite-to-satellite tracking (sst) tests are described in detail: (1) the ATS-6/Geos-3 and (2) the ATS-6/Apollo-Soyuz experiment. The main purpose of these two experiments was to track via ATS-6 the Geos-3, as well as the Apollo-Soyuz and to use these tracking data to determine both of the orbits at the same time, each of the orbits alone, and to test the two sst links to study local gravity anomalies. A second purpose was to test communications, command and data transmission from the ground via ATS-6 to these spacecraft and back again to the ground.

Vonbun, F. O.↗

Temperature and pressure determinations in the Venus atmosphere by means of high-resolution spectra from 1 to 2.5 microns

Twenty-one bands of CO2 and the 2-0 band of CO were analyzed for best temperature and pressure fits from Venus spectra obtained with the 'Connes' interferometer at the Steward Observatory 2.25-m telescope during the spring of 1971. An average temperature of 241 plus or minus 7 K, an effective pressure of 0.12 plus or minus 0.06 atm, and an average two-way transmission abundance of 3 km-amagat were determined. No difference in temperature or pressure between hot bands, a double hot band, and regular bands was found. The results indicate that, most likely, spectroscopic line formation occurs in a relatively clear space above a scattering cloud layer with a reasonably well-defined upper boundary.

Dierenfeldt, K. E.↗

An estimate of mean flow properties in a turbulent diffusion flame

Turbulent diffusion flames were computed while neglecting fluctuations of density, concentration and temperature, with reference to a central hydrogen jet issuing into a parallel coaxial airstream. An estimate for the time-average rate of fuel consumption was made, based mainly on dimensional analysis.

Bangert, L. H.↗