Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Capacity Analysis”

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 127 records · Page 7

Digital and analog communication systems

The book presents an introductory treatment of digital and analog communication systems with emphasis on digital systems. Attention is given to the following topics: systems and signal analysis, random signal theory, information and channel capacity, baseband data transmission, analog signal transmission, noise in analog communication systems, digital carrier modulation schemes, error control coding, and the digital transmission of analog signals.

Shanmugam, K. S.↗

Heat Capacity Mapping Mission (HCMM): Interpretation of imagery over Canada

Visual analysis of HCMM images acquired over two sites in Canada and supporting aircraft and ground data obtained at a smaller subsite in Alberta show that nightime surface temperature distribution is primarily related to the near-surface air temperature; the effects of topography, wind, and land cover were low or indirect through air temperature. Surface cover and large altitudinal differences were important parameters influencing daytime apparent temperature values. A quantitative analysis of the relationship between the antecedent precipitation index and the satellite thermal IR measurements did not yield statistically significant correlation coefficients, but the correlations had a definite temporal trend which could be related to the increasing uniformity of vegetation cover. The large pixel size (resulting in a mixture of cover types and soil/canopy temperatures measured by the satellite) and high cloud cover frequency found in images covering both Canadian sites and northern U.S. were considered the main deficiencies of the thermal satellite data.

Cihlar, J.↗

Topoclimatological survey of Switzerland

The application of Heat Capacity Mapping Mission data to subsynoptic climate analysis of Switzerland was examined. The data included the surface temperature distributions of urban heat islands and the Swiss Alps. Analog and digital data evaluation procedures are described as well as the ground truth acquisition and comparison program. The dependence of the temperature distributions on topography and surface coverage types is assessed. The results indicate that air temperature inversion zones are detectable.

Winiger, M.↗

Adiabatic Compression of Oxygen: Real Fluid Temperatures

The adiabatic compression of oxygen has been identified as an ignition source for systems operating in enriched oxygen atmospheres. Current practice is to evaluate the temperature rise on compression by treating oxygen as an ideal gas with constant heat capacity. This paper establishes the appropriate thermodynamic analysis for the common occurrence of adiabatic compression of oxygen and in the process defines a satisfactory equation of state (EOS) for oxygen. It uses that EOS to model adiabatic compression as isentropic compression and calculates final temperatures for this system using current approaches for comparison.

Barragan, Michelle↗

Static Torsion Testing and Modeling of a Variable Thickness Hybrid Composite Bull Gear

Torsional strength of a variable thickness hybrid gear web was measured by performing static testing on the part in a large torsion test frame. The outer rim of the hybrid gear web was fixed to the bottom of the test frame and loading was applied to the web through a shaft. The test setup included the installation of digital image correlation (DIC) systems to obtain deformation and strain measurements from the surfaces of the hybrid gear web and the mechanical test equipment to ensure reliability of the test. The results indicated that the variable thickness hybrid gear web achieved approximately twice the torsional strength compared to that of previous hybrid gear designs. The DIC analysis showed significantly more straining of the loading shaft than the actual test article. Additionally, the results demonstrated the importance and affect that the metallic, lobed interlock features had on the principal strain and out-of-plane displacement fields. The analysis revealed that the fixed outer rim was in fact rotating and a rigid body motion compensation (RBMC) function was computed to determine the actual rotation of the hub and composite web relative to the outer rim. Modeling simulations were performed for the variable thickness hybrid gear web and correlated well with the RBMC rotational deformation seen in the DIC analysis. In addition to benchmarking the load capacity of the hybrid gear web, measuring its strength is useful information to define the parameters needed for dynamic, endurance, and other testing of the part.

Johnston, Joel P.↗

The CEOS Data Cube Portal: A User-Friendly, Open Source Software Solution for the Distribution, Exploration, Analysis, and Visualization of Analysis Ready Data

There is an urgent need to increase the capacity of developing countries to take part in the study and monitoring of their environments through remote sensing and space-based Earth observation technologies. The Open Data Cube (ODC) provides a mechanism for efficient storage and a powerful framework for processing and analyzing satellite data. While this is ideal for scientific research, the expansive feature space can also be daunting for end-users and decision-makers who simply require a solution which provides easy exploration, analysis, and visualization of Analysis Ready Data (ARD). Utilizing innovative web-design and a modular architecture, the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) has created a web-based user interface (UI) which harnesses the power of the ODC yet provides a simple and familiar user experience: the CEOS Data Cube (CDC). This paper presents an overview of the CDC architecture and the salient features of the UI. In order to provide adaptability, flexibility, scalability, and robustness, we leverage widely-adopted and well-supported technologies such as the Django web framework and the AWS Cloud platform. The fully-customizable source code of the UI is available at our public repository. Interested parties can download the source and build their own UIs. The UI empowers users by providing features that assist with streamlining data preparation, data processing, data visualization, and sub-setting ARD products in order to achieve a wide variety of Earth imaging objectives through an easy to use web interface.

User Interface↗

A parametric analysis of performance characteristics of satellite-borne multiple-beam antennas

An analytical and empirical model is presented for parametric study of multiple beam antenna frequency reuse capacity and interbeam isolation. Two types of reflector antennas, the axisymmetric parabolic and the offset-parabolic reflectors, are utilized to demonstrate the model. The parameters of the model are introduced and their limitations are discussed in the context of parabolic reflector antennas. The model, however, is not restricted to analysis of reflector antenna performance. Results of the analyses are covered in two tables. The model parameters, objectives, and descriptions are given, multiple-beam antenna frequency reuse capacity and interbeam isolation analysis of the two types of reflectors are discussed as well as future developments of the program model.

Salmasi, A. B.↗

Space Station Freedom electric power system evolution analysis status

The ability is examined of the SSF baselined EPS to transition to operate at a greater system capacity beyond the SSF Permanent Manned Capability PMC) milestone. Specifically, a status of a current analysis is discussed concerning additions, modifications, changeout, or combination thereof of baseline EPS hardware and/or software needed to accomplish the power generation, distribution, operation, and use needed to meet evolving SSF mission objectives. This discussion results in several EPS architectural options that facilitate the addition or substitution of new technologies.

Zernic, Michael J.↗

Projected Demand and Potential Impacts to the National Airspace System of Autonomous, Electric, On-Demand Small Aircraft

Electric propulsion and autonomy are technology frontiers that offer tremendous potential to achieve low operating costs for small-aircraft. Such technologies enable simple and safe to operate vehicles that could dramatically improve regional transportation accessibility and speed through point-to-point operations. This analysis develops an understanding of the potential traffic volume and National Airspace System (NAS) capacity for small on-demand aircraft operations. Future demand projections use the Transportation Systems Analysis Model (TSAM), a tool suite developed by NASA and the Transportation Laboratory of Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Demand projections from TSAM contain the mode of travel, number of trips and geographic distribution of trips. For this study, the mode of travel can be commercial aircraft, automobile and on-demand aircraft. NASA's Airspace Concept Evaluation System (ACES) is used to assess NAS impact. This simulation takes a schedule that includes all flights: commercial passenger and cargo; conventional General Aviation and on-demand small aircraft, and operates them in the simulated NAS. The results of this analysis projects very large trip numbers for an on-demand air transportation system competitive with automobiles in cost per passenger mile. The significance is this type of air transportation can enhance mobility for communities that currently lack access to commercial air transportation. Another significant finding is that the large numbers of operations can have an impact on the current NAS infrastructure used by commercial airlines and cargo operators, even if on-demand traffic does not use the 28 airports in the Continental U.S. designated as large hubs by the FAA. Some smaller airports will experience greater demand than their current capacity allows and will require upgrading. In addition, in future years as demand grows and vehicle performance improves other non-conventional facilities such as short runways incorporated into shopping mall or transportation hub parking areas could provide additional capacity and convenience.

Smith, Jeremy C.↗

Risks of Increased Earth Independence

As human space exploration begins to extend beyond the immediate vicinity of Earth, the ability of expertise on the ground to support operations will progressively decrease. Ground control expertise has been the primary countermeasure preventing loss of life and mission over the past sixty years and it will be gradually stripped away as expeditions reach further into space. The large, flexible and adaptive teams of experts on the ground, provide not only engineering analysis and problem-solving but also greatly increased work capacity. Monitoring of the large and fast moving stream of telemetry data is carried out around the clock by 20-30 flight controllers per shift. Analysis of that data and troubleshooting is carried out by an additional 50-100 engineers per shift. Artificial intelligence capabilities will need to be part of the solution but will not the entire solution. As progress continues to be made on intelligent systems, especially those for use in complex, dynamic environments where humans will remain a part of the activity, there is an ever increasing need to focus on how those systems will interact with the humans. Although capabilities such as natural language processing and facial recognition have become common place, even basic aspects of problem-solving, causal reasoning and generative decision-making remain well-beyond of our current capabilities. Advanced data visualization, procedure execution support, and new training approaches will be needed to close the gap between what is currently provided by experts on the ground and what the crew will need to do in increasingly autonomous ways with greater distance from Earth.

human-systems integration architecture↗

A Data-Driven Analysis of a Tactical Surface Scheduler

NASA's Airspace Technology Demonstration-2 (ATD-2) integrates arrival, departure, and surface operations to extend integrated traffic sequencing all the way from the gate to the overhead stream and back again for multi-airport, metroplex environments. A key concept of ATD-2 centers on surface scheduling that allows aircraft to taxi, climb, and insert within the overhead stream with minimal interruptions. A core principle is to allow aircraft to absorb delay at the gate prior to engine start in order to reduce overall fuel burn and emissions. To achieve these goals, it is necessary for the scheduler to properly balance the demand at the runway with the available capacity while also predicting accurate takeoff times. This paper provides a data-driven analysis of the runway demand capacity balancing and measures the accuracy of schedules that are generated while running in a live operational environment at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. We found that using minimum-time wake vortex separation constraints to define runway capacity resulted in scheduling departure operations at a slightly higher rate than the runway was operating and we discovered a surprising relationship between the runway rate and the accuracy of the schedules.

Tactical Surface Scheduler↗

A Data-Driven Analysis of a Tactical Surface Scheduler

NASA's Airspace Technology Demonstration-2 (ATD-2) integrates arrival, departure, and surface operations to extend integrated traffic sequencing all the way from the gate to the overhead stream and back again for multi-airport, metroplex environments. A key concept of ATD-2 centers on surface scheduling that allows aircraft to taxi, climb, and insert within the overhead stream with minimal interruptions. A core principle is to allow aircraft to absorb delay at the gate prior to engine start in order to reduce overall fuel burn and emissions. To achieve these goals, it is necessary for the scheduler to properly balance the demand at the runway with the available capacity while also predicting accurate takeoff times. This paper provides a data-driven analysis of the runway demand capacity balancing and measures the accuracy of schedules that are generated while running in a live operational environment at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. We found that using minimum-time wake vortex separation constraints to define runway capacity resulted in scheduling departure operations at a slightly higher rate than the runway was operating and we discovered a surprising relationship between the runway rate and the accuracy of the schedules.

Tactical Surface Scheduler↗

Thermal shaft effects on load-carrying capacity of a fully coupled, variable-properties cryogenic journal bearing

The purpose of this work was to perform a rather complete analysis for a cryogenic (oxygen) journal bearing. The Reynolds equation required coupling and simultaneous solution with the fluid energy equation. To correctly account for the changes in the fluid viscosity, the fluid energy equation was coupled with the shaft and bearing heat conduction energy equations. The effects of pressure and temperature on the density, viscosity, and load-carrying capacity were further discussed as analysis parameters, with respect to relative eccentricity and the angular velocity. The isothermal fluid case and the adiabatic fluid case represented the limiting boundaries. The discussion was further extrapolated to study the Sommerfeld number dependency on the fluid Nusselt number and its consequence on possible total loss of load-carrying capacity and/or seizure (catastrophic failure).

Braun, M. J.↗

Capacity Management and Walkdown During LEO Cycling of Nickel-Hydrogen Cells and Batteries

This viewgraph presentation discusses the following topics: 1) Capacity walkdown defined and illustrated; 2) Importance of capacity walkdown: 3) Four approaches to understanding the phenomenon - Pressure Trend, Charging Curve, Electrochemical Voltage Spectroscopy, and Destructive Physical Analysis Studies; 4) Results of the interrelated studies; 5) Suggested mechanism for capacity walkdown; and 6) Charging protocols to avoid the problem. In summary: 1) capacity walkdown is a consequence of the inability to maintain a high state of charge; 2) Capacity loss is typically 35% which would be expected by the valence difference between gamma and beta nickel oxyhydroxide; 3) Cycling at -5 degrees facilitates the formation of the gamma phase; 4) Excessive overcharge can also facilitate gamma phase formation at the expense of cycle life; and 5) Conditions can now be suggested to help minimize capacity walkdown.

Thaller, Lawrence H.↗

Innovative design of composite structures: The use of curvilinear fiber format in structural design of composites

The influence is investigated of a curvilinear fiber format on load carrying capacity of a layered fiber reinforced plate with a centrally located hole. A curvilinear fiber format is descriptive of layers in a laminate having fibers which are aligned with the principal stress directions in those layers. Laminates of five curvilinear fiber format designs and four straightline fiber format designs are considered. A quasi-isotropic laminate having a straightline fiber format is used to define a baseline design for comparison with the other laminate designs. Four different plate geometries are considered and differentiated by two values of hole diameter/plate width equal to 1/6 and 1/3, and two values of plate length/plate width equal to 2 and 1. With the plates under uniaxial tensile loading on two opposing edges, alignment of fibers in the curvilinear layers with the principal stress directions is determined analytically by an iteration procedure. In-plane tensile load capacity is computed for all of the laminate designs using a finite element analysis method. A maximum strain failure criterion and the Tsai-Wu failure criterion are applied to determine failure loads and failure modes. Resistance to buckling of the laminate designs to uniaxial compressive loading is analyzed using the commercial code Engineering Analysis Language. Results indicate that the curvilinear fiber format laminates have higher in-plane tensile load capacity and comparable buckling resistance relative to the straightline fiber format laminates.

Charette, R. F.↗

Probabilistic Analysis of Ground-Holding Strategies

The Ground-Holding Policy Problem (GHPP) has become a matter of great interest in recent years because of the high cost incurred by aircraft suffering from delays. Ground-holding keeps a flight on the ground at the departure airport if it is known it will be unable to land at the arrival airport. The GBPP is determining how many flights should be held on the ground before take-off and for how long, in order to minimize the cost of delays. When the uncertainty associated with airport landing capacity is considered, the GHPP becomes complicated. A decision support system that incorporates this uncertainty, solves the GHPP quickly, and gives good results would be of great help to air traffic management. The purpose of this thesis is to modify and analyze a probabilistic ground-holding algorithm by applying it to two common cases of capacity reduction. A graphical user interface was developed and sensitivity analysis was done on the algorithm, in order to see how it may be implemented in practice. The sensitivity analysis showed the algorithm was very sensitive to the number of probabilistic capacity scenarios used and to the cost ratio of air delay to ground delay. The algorithm was not particularly sensitive to the number of periods that the time horizon was divided into. In terms of cost savings, a ground-holding policy was the most beneficial when demand greatly exceeded airport capacity. When compared to other air traffic flow strategies, the ground-holding algorithm performed the best and was the most consistent under various situations. The algorithm can solve large problems quickly and efficiently on a personal computer.

Sheel, Minakshi↗

On Solar Thermal Electric Power Capacity Sizing

The commercialization of parabolic dish/generator modules are investigated. Design analysis indicates that a 10 sq m/ three kilowatt generator configuration is simple and easy to maintain, manufacturing is easily adaptable, the demand is already established, the unit is cost effective and the hardware is readily available.

Clark, J. S.↗