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At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2010

Application of the Tor Vergata Scattering Model to L Band Backscatter During the Corn Growth Cycle

At the USDA's Optimizing Production Inputs for Economic and Environmental Enhancement (OPE3) experimental site in Beltsville, Maryland, USA) a field campaign took place throughout the 2002 corn growth cycle from May 10th (emergence of corn crops) to October 2nd (harvest). One of the microwave instruments deployed was the multi-frequency (X-, C- and L-band) quad-polarized (HH, HV, VV, VH) NASA GSFC/George Washington University (GWU) truck mounted radar. During the field campaign, this radar system provided once a week fully polarized C- and L-band (4.75 and 1.6 GHz) backscatter measurements from incidence angle of 15, 35, and 55 degrees. In support of microwave observations, an extensive ground characterization took place, which included measurements of surface roughness, soil moisture, vegetation biomass and morphology. The field conditions during the campaign are characterized by several dry downs with a period of drought in the month of August. Peak biomass the corn canopies was reached on July 24th with a total biomass of approximately 6.5 kg/sq m. This dynamic range in both soil moisture and vegetation conditions within the data set is ideal for the validation of discrete medium vegetation scattering models. In this study, we compare the L band backscatter measurements with simulations by the Tor Vergata model (ferrazzoli and Guerriero 1996). The measured soil moisture, vegetation biomass and most reliably measured vegetation morphological parameters (e.g. number of leaves, number of stems and stem height) were used as input for the Tor Vergata model. The more uncertain model parameters (e.g. surface roughness, leaf thickness) and the stem diameter were optimized using a parameter estimation routine based on the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. As cost function for this optimization, the HH and VV polarized backscatter measured and stimulated by the TOR Vergata model for incidence angle of 15, 35, and 55 degrees were used (6 measurements in total). The calibrated Tor Vergata model simulations are in excellent agreement with the measurements of Root Mean Squared Differences (RMSD's) of 0.8, 0.9 and 1.4 dB for incidences of 15, 35 and 55 degrees, respectively. The results from this study that a physically based scattering model with the appropriate parameterization can accurately simulate backscatter measurements and, as such, have the potential of being used for the retrieval of biophysical variables (e.g. soil moisture and vegetation biomass).

Joseph, A. T.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Sound propagation in segmented exhaust ducts - Theoretical predictions and comparison with measurements

Suppressions due to acoustic treatment in the annular exhaust duct of a model fan have been theoretically predicted and compared with measurements. The predictions are based on the modal analysis of sound propagation in a straight annular flow duct with segmented treatment. Measured values of the mode distribution of the fan noise source (fan-stator interaction source only) and the acoustic impedance of the treatment in the duct were used as input to the prediction program. The predicted suppressions (under the assumption of uniform flow in the duct) compared well with the measured in-duct suppression for all test conditions. The measurements were made in an anechoic chamber and the interaction modes generated in the fan spanned a cut-off ratio range from nearly one to seven.

Joshi, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Laboratory comparison of continuous vs. binary phase-mostly filters

Recent developments in spatial light modulators have led to devices which are capable of continuous phase modulation, even if only over a limited range. One of these devices, the deformable mirror device is used, to compare the relative merits of binary and partially-continuous phase filters in a specific problem of pattern recognition by optical correlation. Each filter was physically limited to only about a radiation of modulation. Researchers have predicted that for low input noise levels, continuous phase-only filters should have a higher absolute correlator peak output than the corresponding binary filters, as well as having a larger SNR. When continuous and binary filters were implemented on the DMD and they exhibited the same performance; an ad hoc filter optimization procedure was developed for use in the laboratory. The optimized continuous filter gave higher correlation peaks than did an independently optimized binary filter. Background behavior in the correlation plane was similar for the two filters, and thus the SNR showed the same improvement for the continuous filter. A phasor diagram analysis and computer simulation have explained part of the optimization procedure's success.

Monroe, Stanley E., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1992

A wall interference assessment/correction system

A Wall Signature method, the Hackett method, has been selected to be adapted for the 12-ft Wind Tunnel wall interference assessment/correction (WIAC) system in the present phase. This method uses limited measurements of the static pressure at the wall, in conjunction with the solid wall boundary condition, to determine the strength and distribution of singularities representing the test article. The singularities are used in turn for estimating wall interferences at the model location. The Wall Signature method will be formulated for application to the unique geometry of the 12-ft Tunnel. The development and implementation of a working prototype will be completed, delivered and documented with a software manual. The WIAC code will be validated by conducting numerically simulated experiments rather than actual wind tunnel experiments. The simulations will be used to generate both free-air and confined wind-tunnel flow fields for each of the test articles over a range of test configurations. Specifically, the pressure signature at the test section wall will be computed for the tunnel case to provide the simulated 'measured' data. These data will serve as the input for the WIAC method-Wall Signature method. The performance of the WIAC method then may be evaluated by comparing the corrected parameters with those for the free-air simulation. Each set of wind tunnel/test article numerical simulations provides data to validate the WIAC method. A numerical wind tunnel test simulation is initiated to validate the WIAC methods developed in the project. In the present reported period, the blockage correction has been developed and implemented for a rectangular tunnel as well as the 12-ft Pressure Tunnel. An improved wall interference assessment and correction method for three-dimensional wind tunnel testing is presented in the appendix.

Lo, Ching F.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Quantification of Inlet Impedance Concept and a Study of the Rayleigh Formula for Noise Radiation from Ducted Fan Engines

This paper addresses two aspects of duct propagation and radiation which can contribute to more efficient fan noise predictions. First, we assess the effectiveness of Rayleigh's formula as a ducted fan noise prediction tool. This classical result which predicts the sound produced by a piston in a flanged duct is expanded to include the uniform axial inflow case. Radiation patterns using Rayleigh's formula with single radial mode input are compared to those obtained from the more precise ducted fan noise prediction code TBIEM3D. Agreement between the two methods is excellent in the peak noise regions both forward and aft. Next, we use TBIEM3D to calculate generalized radiation impedances and power transmission coefficients. These quantities are computed for a wide range of operating parameters. Results were obtained for higher Mach numbers, frequencies, and circumferential mode orders than have been previously published. Viewed as functions of frequency, calculated trends in lower order inlet impedances and power transmission coefficients are in agreement with known results. The relationships are more oscillatory for higher order modes and higher Mach numbers.

Posey, Joe W.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Developing and Testing a Physics Guided Machine Learning NeuralNetwork to Predict Tonal Noise Emitted by a Propeller

Artificial neural networks offer a highly nonlinear and adaptive model for predicting complex interactions between input-output parameters. However, these networks require large datasets which often exceed practical considerations in modeling experimental results. To alleviate the dataset size requirement, a method known as physics guided machine learning has been applied to construct several neural networks for predicting propeller tonal noise in the time domain over a broad range of flight conditions. Three space-filling designs, namely, Latin-Hypercube, Sphere-Packing, and Grid-Space, were used to distribute points throughout the input parameter space encompassing nondimensional flight conditions and observer geometry. Each neural network’s performance was validated by conditions outside of the training set and compared to the Propeller Analysis System tool from the NASA Aircraft Noise Prediction Program. Compared to the Grid-Space input design, the Latin-Hypercube and the Sphere-Packing designs provided a better representation of the domain for training. Regarding the network archetype, a fully connected perceptron was found to outperform the partially connected perceptron in their ability to predict tonal noise for small datasets. The black-box nature of these neural networks was also explored to understand how the networks constructed the waveform and understand why some network designs produce better models.

Propeller noise↗
NASA NTRS1989

Prediction and measurement of low-frequency harmonic noise of a hovering model helicopter rotor

Far-field acoustic data for a model helicopter rotor have been gathered in a large open-jet, acoustically treated wind tunnel with the rotor operating in hover and out of ground-effect. The four-bladed Boeing 360 model rotor with advanced airfoils, planform, and tip shape was run over a range of conditions typical of today's modern helicopter main rotor. Near in-plane acoustic measurements were compared with two independent implementations of classical linear theory. Measured steady thrust and torque were used together with a free-wake analysis (to predict the thrust and drag distributions along the rotor radius) as input to this first-principles theoretical approach. Good agreement between theory and experiment was shown for both amplitude and phase for measurements made in those positions that minimized distortion of the radiated acoustic signature at low-frequencies.

Aggarawal, H. R.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The radial evolution of the amplitudes of 'dissipationless' turbulent solar wind fluctuations

We examine the evolution with heliocentric distance of the amplitude of fluctuations in the interplanetary magnetic and velocity fields assuming a model of homogeneous, steady state turbulence. Both the Alfven ratio and the normalized cross helicity are taken to be constant, compared to other variations, and the turbulence is assumed to be nearly incompressive. The fluctuation amplitudes are found by assuming the heating of the plasma by the fluctuations to be negligible; quasi-steady state turbulence with damping balanced by large-scale energy input will lead to the same conclusions for inertial range fluctuations. While the assumptions of this model contrast sharply with those for purely Alfvenic fluctuations, the radial dependence of the amplitude of the fluctuations for reasonable parameters is very nearly that found from both WKB analysis and recent turbulence modeling. The robustness of this result suggests why some predictions of WKB theory are apparently correct in solar wind conditions where the theory is not expected to be valid.

Verma, M. K.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Delay analysis of combinations of pass transistors and classical logic gates

Combinations of pass transistors and logic gates driving nonlinear capacitive loads are analyzed for the presence of characteristics that will permit easier and more accurate digital logic simulation. Accurate time delay models are developed by studying the nature of the response of simplified circuit models to variations of input waveform rise and fall times and output loading. The nonlinear effects of the CMOS logic devices are minimized to permit easier interpretation of the influence of nonlinear capacitive loads. The performance of a CMOS inverter with a complex nonlinear load consisting of a pass transistor that separates a range of capacitances is compared to the same inverter circuit with a linear capacitive load to develop an understanding of the unique requirements of modeling a nonlinear system. Several methods of modeling the delay of CMOS circuits are reviewed, and a multi-parameter linear model is described. General guidelines for designing CMOS circuits with complex load circuits are developed, emphasizing that the circuit output rise delays and fall delays must be separately analyzed.

Gibson, Jonathan S.↗
NASA NTRS1995

The NASA/MSFC Global Reference Atmospheric Model-1995 version (GRAM-95)

The latest version of the Global Reference Atmospheric Model (GRAM-95) is presented and discussed. GRAM-95 uses the new Global Upper Air Climatic Atlas (GUACA) CD-ROM data set, for 0- to 27-km altitudes. As with earlier versions, GRAM-95 provides complete geographical and altitude coverage for each month of the year. Individual years 1985 to 1991 and a period-of-record (1980 to 1991) can be simulated for the GUACA height range. GRAM-95 uses a specially developed data set, based on Middle Atmosphere Program (MAP) data, for the 20- to 120-km height range, and the NASA Marshall Engineering Thermosphere (MET) model for heights above 90 km. Fairing techniques assure a smooth transition in the overlap height ranges (20 to 27 km and 90 to 120 km). In addition to the traditional GRAM variables of pressure, density, temperature and wind components, GRAM-95 now includes water vapor and 11 other atmospheric constituents (O3, N2O, CO, CH4, CO2, N2, O2, O, A, He, and H). A new, variable-scale perturbation model provides both large-scale and small-scale deviations from mean values for the thermodynamic variables and horizontal and vertical wind components. The perturbation model includes new features that simulate intermittency (patchiness) in turbulence and small-scale perturbation fields. The density perturbations and density gradients (density shears) computed by the new model compare favorably in their statistical characteristics with observed density perturbations and density shears from 32 space shuttle reentry profiles. GRAM-95 provides considerable improvement in wind estimates from the new GUACA data set, compared to winds calculated from the geostrophic wind relations previously used in the 0- to 25-km height range. The GRAM-95 code has been put into a more modular form, easier to incorporate as subroutines in other programs (e.g., trajectory codes). A complete user's guide for running the program, plus sample input and output, is provided.

Justus, C. G.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Performance Evaluation of Titanium Ion Optics for the NASA 30 cm Ion Thruster

The results of performance tests with titanium ion optics were presented and compared to those of molybdenum ion optics. Both titanium and molybdenum ion optics were initially operated until ion optics performance parameters achieved steady state values. Afterwards, performance characterizations were conducted. This permitted proper performance comparisons of titanium and molybdenum ion optics. Ion optics' performance A,as characterized over a broad thruster input power range of 0.5 to 3.0 kW. All performance parameters for titanium ion optics of achieved steady state values after processing 1200 gm of propellant. Molybdenum ion optics exhibited no burn-in. Impingement-limited total voltages for titanium ion optics where up to 55 V greater than those for molybdenum ion optics. Comparisons of electron backstreaming limits as a function of peak beam current density for molybdenum and titanium ion optics demonstrated that titanium ion optics operated with a higher electron backstreaming limit than molybdenum ion optics for a given peak beam current density. Screen grid ion transparencies for titanium ion optics were as much as 3.8 percent lower than those for molybdenum ion optics. Beam divergence half-angles that enclosed 95 percent of the total beam current for titanium ion optics were within 1 to 3 deg. of those for molybdenum ion optics. All beam divergence thrust correction factors for titanium ion optics were within 1 percent of those with molybdenum ion optics.

Soulas, George C.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Optimal Electrodynamic Tether Phasing Maneuvers

We study the minimum-time orbit phasing maneuver problem for a constant-current electrodynamic tether (EDT). The EDT is assumed to be a point mass and the electromagnetic forces acting on the tether are always perpendicular to the local magnetic field. After deriving and non-dimensionalizing the equations of motion, the only input parameters become current and the phase angle. Solution examples, including initial Lagrange costates, time of flight, thrust plots, and thrust angle profiles, are given for a wide range of current magnitudes and phase angles. The two-dimensional cases presented use a non-tilted magnetic dipole model, and the solutions are compared to existing literature. We are able to compare similar trajectories for a constant thrust phasing maneuver and we find that the time of flight is longer for the constant thrust case with similar initial thrust values and phase angles. Full three-dimensional solutions, which use a titled magnetic dipole model, are also analyzed for orbits with small inclinations.

Bitzer, Matthew S.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Evaluation of two swept-infinite-wing potential/viscous-flow computer programs

Two computer programs capable of predicting the potential and viscous interacting flow around wings of infinite aspect ratio was evaluated. The programs are compared in terms of their capabilities, the approximations and the methods of solution used, and the input requirements. Six airfoils, each representative of a class of airfoils, are used as test airfoils. The results predicted by the programs are presented for each airfoil at sweep angles of 0, 20, and 40 degrees over a range of angles of attack. The results show that at zero sweep both programs predicted the aerodynamic coefficients well and generally in good agreement with measurements. At 20 and 40 degrees of sweep, as there are no experimental data available, definitive conclusions cannot be drawn about the accuracy of the predictions although the results are presented and discussed. The execution times are approximately the same for the two programs.

Arimilli, R. V.↗
NASA NTRS2001

High Voltage TAL Performance

The performance of a two-stage, anode layer Hall thruster was evaluated. Experiments were conducted in single and two-stage configurations. In single-stage configuration, the thruster was operated with discharge voltages ranging from 300 to 1700 V. Discharge specific impulses ranged from 1630 to 4140 sec. Thruster investigations were conducted with input power ranging from 1 to 8.7 kW, corresponding to power throttling of nearly 9: 1. An extensive two-stage performance map was generated. Data taken with total voltage (sum of discharge and accelerating voltage) constant revealed a decrease in thruster efficiency as the discharge voltage was increased. Anode specific impulse values were comparable in the single and two-stage configurations showing no strong advantage for two-stage operation.

Jacobson, David T.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Comparison Of Downscaled CMIP5 Precipitation Datasets For Projecting Changes In Extreme Precipitation In The San Francisco Bay Area.

Water resource managers planning for the adaptation to future events of extreme precipitation now have access to high resolution downscaled daily projections derived from statistical bias correction and constructed analogs. We also show that along the Pacific Coast the Northern Oscillation Index (NOI) is a reliable predictor of storm likelihood, and therefore a predictor of seasonal precipitation totals and likelihood of extremely intense precipitation. Such time series can be used to project intensity duration curves into the future or input into stormwater models. However, few climate projection studies have explored the impact of the type of downscaling method used on the range and uncertainty of predictions for local flood protection studies. Here we present a study of the future climate flood risk at NASA Ames Research Center, located in South Bay Area, by comparing the range of predictions in extreme precipitation events calculated from three sets of time series downscaled from CMIP5 data: 1) the Bias Correction Constructed Analogs method dataset downscaled to a 1/8 degree grid (12km); 2) the Bias Correction Spatial Disaggregation method downscaled to a 1km grid; 3) a statistical model of extreme daily precipitation events and projected NOI from CMIP5 models. In addition, predicted years of extreme precipitation are used to estimate the risk of overtopping of the retention pond located on the site through simulations of the EPA SWMM hydrologic model. Preliminary results indicate that the intensity of extreme precipitation events is expected to increase and flood the NASA Ames retention pond. The results from these estimations will assist flood protection managers in planning for infrastructure adaptations.

Storm↗
NASA NTRS1986

The evolution of very low mass stars

The results of numerical evolutionary calculations for stars with masses in the range of 0.01-0.10 solar mass are presented. The stellar models by which these stars are followed from the early stages of contraction through deuterium burning to the very late stages of degenerate cooling at ages comparable to that of the Galaxy are described, and the methodology used to investigate the major uncertainties in the input physics are discussed. It is found that, for brown dwarfs with masses substantially below the end of the hydrogen-burning main sequence, the evolution of the effective temperature and bolometric luminosity are fairly well determined, despite the residual uncertainties in the input physics. In particular, the evolution is remarkably insensitive to the choice of the atmospheric opacity law at low temperatures and to the amount of mismatch in specific entropy across the stellar envelope. The minimum mass for a star to attain main-sequence status is moderately sensitive to the assumed input physics, particularly the surface boundary conditions.

Nelson, L. A.↗
NASA NTRS1997

A Functional Simulator of Spacecraft Resources

The SPAcecraft SIMulator (SPASIM) simulates the functions and resources of a spacecraft to quickly perform Phase A trade-off analyses and uncover any operational bottlenecks during any part of the mission. Failure modes and operational contingencies can be evaluated allowing optimization for a range of mission scenarios. The payloads and subsystems are simulated, using a hierarchy of graphical models, in terms of how their functions affect resources such as propellant, power, and data. Any of the inputs and outputs of the payloads and subsystems can be plotted during the simulation. Most trade-off analyses, including those that compare current versus advanced technology, can be performed by changing values in the parameter menus. However, when a component is replaced by one with a different functional architecture, its graphical model can also be modified or replaced by drawing from a component library. SPASIM has been validated using several spacecraft designs which were at least at the Critical Design Review level. The user and programmer guide, including figures, is available on line as a hyper text document. This is an easy-to-use and expand tool which is based on MATLAB and SIMULINK. It runs on SGI workstations and PCs under Windows 95 or NT.

Liceaga, Carlos A.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Estimating Mangrove Aboveground Biomass from Airborne LiDAR Data: a Case Study from the Zambezi River Delta

Mangroves are ecologically and economically important forested wetlands with the highest carbon (C) density of all terrestrial ecosystems. Because of their exceptionally large C stocks and importance as a coastal buffer, their protection and restoration has been proposed as an effective mitigation strategy for climate change. The inclusion of mangroves in mitigation strategies requires the quantification of C stocks (both above and belowground) and changes to accurately calculate emissions and sequestration. A growing number of countries are becoming interested in using mitigation initiatives, such as REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation), in these unique coastal forests. However, it is not yet clear how methods to measure C traditionally used for other ecosystems can be modified to estimate biomass in mangroves with the precision and accuracy needed for these initiatives. Airborne Lidar (ALS) data has often been proposed as the most accurate way for larger scale assessments but the application of ALS for coastal wetlands is scarce, primarily due to a lack of contemporaneous ALS and field measurements. Here, we evaluated the variability in field and Lidar-based estimates of aboveground biomass (AGB) through the combination of different local and regional allometric models and standardized height metrics that are comparable across spatial resolutions and sensor types, the end result being a simplified approach for accurately estimating mangrove AGB at large scales and determining the uncertainty by combining multiple allometric models.We then quantified wall-to-wall AGB stocks of a tall mangrove forest in the Zambezi Delta, Mozambique. Our results indicate that the Lidar H100 height metric correlates well with AGB estimates, with R(exp 2) between 0.80 and 0.88 and RMSE of 33% or less. When comparing Lidar H100 AGB derived from three allometric models, mean AGB values range from 192 Mg ha(exp −1) up to 252 Mg ha(exp −1).We suggest the best model to predict AGB was based on the East Africa specific allometry and a power-based regression that used Lidar H100 as the height input with an R(exp 2) of 0.85 and an RMSE of 122 Mg ha(exp −1) or 33%. The total AGB of the Lidar inventoried mangrove area (6654 ha) was 1 350 902 Mg with a mean AGB of 203 Mg ha(exp −1) +/-166 Mg ha(exp −1). Because the allometry suggested here was developed using standardized height metrics, it is recommended that the models can generate AGB estimates using other remote sensing instruments that are more readily accessible over other mangrove ecosystems on a large scale, and as part of future carbon monitoring efforts in mangroves.

Fatoyinbo, Temilola↗