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At least 1,261 records · Page 70

Object-oriented approach for gas turbine engine simulation

An object-oriented gas turbine engine simulation program was developed. This program is a prototype for a more complete, commercial grade engine performance program now being proposed as part of the Numerical Propulsion System Simulator (NPSS). This report discusses architectural issues of this complex software system and the lessons learned from developing the prototype code. The prototype code is a fully functional, general purpose engine simulation program, however, only the component models necessary to model a transient compressor test rig have been written. The production system will be capable of steady state and transient modeling of almost any turbine engine configuration. Chief among the architectural considerations for this code was the framework in which the various software modules will interact. These modules include the equation solver, simulation code, data model, event handler, and user interface. Also documented in this report is the component based design of the simulation module and the inter-component communication paradigm. Object class hierarchies for some of the code modules are given.

Curlett, Brian P.↗

A Functional Comparison of Lunar Regoliths and Their Simulants

Lunar regolith simulants are essential to the development of technology for human exploration of the Moon. Any equipment that will interact with the surface environment must be tested with simulant to mitigate risk. To reduce the greatest amount of risk, the simulant must replicate the lunar surface as well as possible. To quantify the similarities and differences between simulants, the Figures of Merit were developed. The Figures of Merit software compares the simulants and regolith by particle size, particle shape, density, and bulk chemistry and mineralogy; these four properties dictate the majority of the remaining characteristics of a geologic material. There are limitations to both the current Figures of Merit approach and simulants in general. The effect of particle textures is lacking in the Figures of Merit software, and research into this topic has only recently begun with applications to simulants. In addition, not all of the properties for lunar regolith are defined sufficiently for simulant reproduction or comparison; for example, the size distribution of particles greater than 1 centimeter and the makeup of particles less than 10 micrometers is not well known. For simulants, contamination by terrestrial weathering products or undesired trace phases in feedstock material is a major issue. Vapor deposited rims have not yet been created for simulants. Fortunately, previous limitations such as the lack of agglutinates in simulants have been addressed and commercial companies are now making agglutinate material for simulants. Despite some limitations, the Figures of Merit sufficiently quantify the comparison between simulants and regolith for useful application in lunar surface technology. Over time, the compilation and analysis of simulant user data will add an advantageous predictive capability to the Figures of Merit, accurately relating Figures of Merit characteristics to simulant user parameters.

Rickman, D.↗

Big Data Challenges at CCMC

Like other research centers, the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC, https://ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov) at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is also experiencing the big data challenges. CCMC hosts over 80 space weather models for Runs On Request (ROR), Continuous Runs and Instant Runs simulation services for the research community. In addition, CCMC has started to support simulation output onboarding in response to the Open Science initiative. Overall, we have accumulated over petabytes of simulation output data and are rapidly growing. In this presentation, we will discuss our data and storage challenges. We will present our attempts to address our challenges and any associated lessons learned. CCMC uses Apache Airflow to ensure data transfer is consistent. We will give a brief overview on how we leverage Apache Airflow to enhance our environment.

space weather↗

Big Data Challenges at the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC)

Like other research centers, the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC, https://ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov) at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is also experiencing the big data challenges. CCMC hosts over 80 space weather models for Runs On Request (ROR), Continuous Runs and Instant Runs simulation services for the research community. In addition, CCMC has started to support simulation output onboarding in response to the Open Science initiative. Overall, we have accumulated over petabytes of simulation output data and are rapidly growing. In this presentation, we will discuss our data and storage challenges. We will present our attempts to address our challenges and any associated lessons learned. CCMC uses Apache Airflow to ensure data transfer is consistent. We will give a brief overview on how we leverage Apache Airflow to enhance our environment.

space weather↗

Factor Analysis Applied the VFY-218 RCS Data

Present statistical factor analysis of computer simulations and measurement data for the VFY-218 configuration. Factor analysis try to quantify the statistical grouping of measurements and simulations.

Woo, Alex↗

Computer Simulations to Study Diffraction Effects of Stacking Faults in Beta-SiC: II. Experimental Verification: Experimental Verification - 2

Earlier results from computer simulation studies suggest a correlation between the spatial distribution of stacking errors in the Beta-SiC structure and features observed in X-ray diffraction patterns of the material. Reported here are experimental results obtained from two types of nominally Beta-SiC specimens, which yield distinct XRD data. These samples were analyzed using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and the stacking error distribution was directly determined. The HRTEM results compare well to those deduced by matching the XRD data with simulated spectra, confirming the hypothesis that the XRD data is indicative not only of the presence and density of stacking errors, but also that it can yield information regarding their distribution. In addition, the stacking error population in both specimens is related to their synthesis conditions and it appears that it is similar to the relation developed by others to explain the formation of the corresponding polytypes.

Pujar, Vijay V.↗

Development of a procedure to model high-resolution wind profiles from smoothed or low-frequency data

The derivation of simulated Jimsphere wind profiles from low-frequency rawinsonde data and a generated set of white noise data are presented. A computer program is developed to model high-resolution wind profiles based on the statistical properties of data from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Comparison of the measured Jimsphere data, rawinsonde data, and the simulated profiles shows excellent agreement.

Camp, D. W.↗

Development and Testing of Automatically Generated ACS Flight Software for the MAP Spacecraft

By integrating the attitude determination and control system (ACS) analysis and design, flight software development, and flight software testing processes, it is possible to improve the overall spacecraft development cycle, as well as allow for more thorough software testing. One of the ways to achieve this integration is to use code-generation tools to automatically generate components of the ACS flight software directly from a high-fidelity (HiFi) simulation. In the development of the Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP) spacecraft, currently underway at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, approximately 1/3 of the ACS flight software was automatically generated. In this paper, we will examine each phase of the ACS subsystem and flight software design life cycle: analysis, design, and testing. In the analysis phase, we scoped how much software we would automatically generate and created the initial interface. The design phase included parallel development of the HiFi simulation and the hand-coded flight software components. Everything came together in the test phase, in which the flight software was tested, using results from the HiFi simulation as one of the bases of comparison for testing. Because parts of the spacecraft HiFi simulation were converted into flight software, more care needed to be put into its development and configuration control to support both the HiFi simulation and flight software. The components of the HiFi simulation from which code was generated needed to be designed based on the fact that they would become flight software. This process involved such considerations as protecting against mathematical exceptions, using acceptable module and parameter naming conventions, and using an input/output interface compatible with the rest of the flight software. Maintaining good configuration control was an issue for the HiFi simulation and the flight software, and a way to track the two systems was devised. Finally, an integrated test approach was devised to support flight software testing at both the unit- and build-test levels using the HiFi simulation to generate data for performance verification. Another benefit of the simulation and code-generation application used on the MAP project is that it supported bringing flight software and test data into the HiFi simulation environment. It was possible to integrate parts of the hand-coded flight software into the HiFi simulation, and also possible to import flight software test data for comparison and performance verification. This capability was used to incorporate the flight software Kalman filter into the HiFi simulation. This enabled us to greatly increase the amount of testing that could be done on the filter, because we could exert a greater degree of control over the software-only simulation than over the flight software test environment. Also, since the simulation could be used to run the Kalman filter faster than real time, our testing efficiency was greatly increased. We will conclude our discussion with a summary of the lessons learned thus far using automatically- generated code for the MAP project, and the spacecraft status as we work towards our scheduled launch in the year 2000.

ODonnell, James R., Jr.↗

Understanding and utilization of Thematic Mapper and other remotely sensed data for vegetation monitoring

The TM Tasseled Cap transformation, which provides both a 50% reduction in data volume with little or no loss of important information and spectral features with direct physical association, is presented and discussed. Using both simulated and actual TM data, some important characteristics of vegetation and soils in this feature space are described, as are the effects of solar elevation angle and atmospheric haze. A preliminary spectral haze diagnostic feature, based on only simulated data, is also examined. The characteristics of the TM thermal band are discussed, as is a demonstration of the use of TM data in energy balance studies. Some characteristics of AVHRR data are described, as are the sensitivities to scene content of several LANDSAT-MSS preprocessing techniques.

Crist, E. P.↗

Independent Verification and Validation for Artemis I Ascent Integrated Flight Performance Simulation

The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) has performed independent model development to support cross-model verification for the Space Launch System (SLS) Program since 2012 which culminated, for Artemis I, in a postflight reconciliation analysis of the Artemis I ascent trajectory (validation). This post-flight analysis was completed by both the NESC and the SLS Program. Upon successful completion of the Artemis I mission, multiple preflight simulations of the nominal ascent trajectory were updated with Day of Launch (DOL) conditions and simulated results were compared to reconstructed flight data derived from telemetry measurements. Dispersed trajectories were also produced using a combination of DOL conditions and preflight uncertainties, which ideally should bound the Artemis I flight data. Finally, multibody dynamics were simulated for some of the separation events to support clearance analyses. This paper focuses on validating and understanding the accuracy of the models by comparing simulated results against the Artemis I flight data. In addition, discrepancies uncovered between simulations led to opportunities to investigate areas for potential model improvement to refine preflight simulations for future Artemis missions. Included in this paper is background on the flight performance simulation tools, the postflight analysis approach, and a comparison of simulation results against the Artemis I flight data. Simulated results were found to generally be in close agreement with each other and the Artemis I flight data.

Jacob Fleck↗

Man-systems evaluation of moving base vehicle simulation motion cues

A motion cue investigation program is reported that deals with human factor aspects of high fidelity vehicle simulation. General data on non-visual motion thresholds and specific threshold values are established for use as washout parameters in vehicle simulation. A general purpose similator is used to test the contradictory cue hypothesis that acceleration sensitivity is reduced during a vehicle control task involving visual feedback. The simulator provides varying acceleration levels. The method of forced choice is based on the theory of signal detect ability.

Kirkpatrick, M.↗

Wind Shear/Turbulence Inputs to Flight Simulation and Systems Certification

The purpose of the workshop was to provide a forum for industry, universities, and government to assess current status and likely future requirements for application of flight simulators to aviation safety concerns and system certification issues associated with wind shear and atmospheric turbulence. Research findings presented included characterization of wind shear and turbulence hazards based on modeling efforts and quantitative results obtained from field measurement programs. Future research thrusts needed to maximally exploit flight simulators for aviation safety application involving wind shear and turbulence were identified. The conference contained sessions on: Existing wind shear data and simulator implementation initiatives; Invited papers regarding wind shear and turbulence simulation requirements; and Committee working session reports.

Bowles, Roland L.↗

A Further Look at X-33 Entry Guidance and Beyond

An entry guidance design developed at Iowa State University (ISU) for the X-33 advanced technology demonstrator is outlined and compared with the X-33 entry guidance algorithms developed at NASA Marshall. Both designs are based on the Space Shuttle entry guidance concept, but significant improvements have been made to enhance the performance and reduce the complexity. The ISU design was incorporated into MAVERIC, a high fidelity vehicle simulation software for the X-33, and evaluated in Monte Carlo simulations against random dispersions in propulsion system, wind and atmospheric properties, aerodynamic coefficients, interaction between propulsion and aerodynamics, and navigation data. The simulations clearly demonstrated the capability and precision of the ISU entry guidance design in successfully guiding the X-33 in some rather difficult flight scenarios. As the entry guidance development for the X-33 is completing, this report also offers some review of the strength and limitations of the current Shuttle-based entry guidance framework, and finally some potential candidates for next generation of more capable and cost-effective entry guidance designs are discussed.

Lu, Ping↗

Robustness of Gridded Precipitation Products for Vietnam Basins using the Comprehensive Assessment Framework of Rainfall

The use of satellite–based precipitation products (SPPs) have become increasingly prevalent as key inputs to provide regional rainfall for improving hydrological simulations in data–spare regions. This study introduces a new approach – Comprehensive Assessment Framework of Rainfall (CAFR) to evaluate six satellite–based precipitation products (SPPs) for eleven basins with different sizes across Vietnam (2007–2015). These SPPs include the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement Final run Version 6 (GPM IMERGF V6), Multi–Source Weighted–Ensemble Precipitation (MSWEP) V2.2, Soil Moisture to Rain (SM2RAIN) – Advanced SCATterometer (ASCAT) V1.5, Asian Precipitation–Highly–Resolved Observational Data Integration Towards Evaluation (APHRODITE) V1901, Climate Hazards group Infrared Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) V2.0, and Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks (PERSIANN) – Climate Data Record (CDR) V1.0. With the proposed CAFR: (1) IMERGF is suggested to have the best performance overall, especially when simulating flood peaks; (2) SM2RAIN–ASCAT demonstrates the best skills in metrics related to the dry season; (3) For streamflow simulations, SPPs' performance is sensitive to basin size, with larger basins showing better performance skills. In this study, we demonstrate the capability of our proposed framework to better understand SPP applications in hydrological modeling.

Comprehensive Assessment Framework of Rainfall (CA↗

Simulator performance validation and improvement through recorded data.

During the development of two-segment approach procedures instrumentation systems were installed on a 727 flight simulator to monitor a variety of flight parameters. Parameters monitored and data format were designed to be the same as those to be used in later flight tests with line aircraft. Good correlation existed between simulator and aircraft data in many areas. Previously identified areas of poor simulation were checked with quantitative data. The objective data obtained could be used for simulation improvements in areas previously changed primarily by using subjective data obtained from pilots. Areas where similar techniques could improve simulation were identified.

Seay, D. L.↗

Kalman estimation for SEDS measurements

The first on-orbit experiment of the Small Expendable Deployer System (SEDS) for tethered satellites will collect telemetry data for tethered length, rate of deployment, and tether tension. The post-flight analysis will use this data to reconstruct the deployment history and determine payload position and tether shape. Two Kalman estimator algorithms were written, and output using simulated measurement data was compared. Both estimators exhibited the same estimated state histories, indicating that numerical instability in the traditional algorithm was not the cause of filter divergence. Estimation of acceleration biases was added, which reduced the error but did not correct the divergence. An add-a-bead estimator that adds lumped masses as the tether is deployed was written, which provides a state model that matches the BEADSIM simulation providing the true measurements and states. This twenty-one bead estimator produced state histories similar to those of the two-bead estimator, indicating that the filter divergence was not caused by a reduced-order model. The noise models used to date are relatively simple and may be the source of estimator divergence. The investigation of colored noise models, cross-correlated measurement and process covariances, and noise-adaptive filter techniques is recommended.

Carrington, Connie K.↗

Efficient estimation algorithms for a satellite-aided search and rescue mission

It has been suggested to establish a search and rescue orbiting satellite system as a means for locating distress signals from downed aircraft, small boats, and overland expeditions. Emissions from Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT), now available in most U.S. aircraft are to be utilized in the positioning procedure. A description is presented of a set of Doppler navigation algorithms for extracting ELT position coordinates from Doppler data. The algorithms have been programmed for a small computing machine and the resulting system has successfully processed both real and simulated Doppler data. A software system for solving the Doppler navigation problem must include an orbit propagator, a first guess algorithm, and an algorithm for estimating longitude and latitude from Doppler data. Each of these components is considered.

Argentiero, P.↗

Improvement of the Earth's gravity field from terrestrial and satellite data

The terrestrial gravity data base was updated. Studies related to the Geopotential Research Mission (GRM) have primarily considered the local recovery of gravity anomalies on the surface of the Earth based on satellite to satellite tracking or gradiometer data. A simulation study was used to estimate the accuracy of 1 degree-mean anomalies which could be recovered from the GRM data. Numerous procedures were developed for the intent of performing computations at the laser stations in the SL6 system to improve geoid undulation calculations.

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