SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “variability 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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,279 records · Page 71

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1978

Carbon, nitrogen and sulfur in Apollo 15, 16 and 17 rocks

Carbon, nitrogen and sulfur contents, as well as carbon isotopic compositions, were determined for seven lunar rocks from the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 missions. Sequential combustion at three temperatures was used to resolve terrestrial contamination from indigenous lunar volatiles. Nitrogen abundances averaged 0.4 micrograms/gram in the samples. The results of the sequential combustion analysis suggested that all the samples contained variable amounts of terrestrial carbon contamination prior to examination. Indigenous lunar carbon abundances ranging from 2.5 to 6 micrograms/gram were found. Thus the moon appears to be substantially depleted in nitrogen and carbon relative to the earth and C and H meteorites.

Des Marais, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Analysis of backward error recovery for concurrent processes with recovery blocks

Three different methods of implementing recovery blocks (RB's). These are the asynchronous, synchronous, and the pseudo recovery point implementations. Pseudo recovery points so that unbounded rollback may be avoided while maintaining process autonomy are proposed. Probabilistic models for analyzing these three methods under standard assumptions in computer performance analysis, i.e., exponential distributions for related random variables were developed. The interval between two successive recovery lines for asynchronous RB's mean loss in computation power for the synchronized method, and additional overhead and rollback distance in case PRP's are used were estimated.

Shin, K. G.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Measurement of the linear viscoelastic behavior of antimisting kerosene

Measurements of dynamic viscoelastic properties in very small oscillating shear deformations was made on solutions of a jet fuel, Jet A, containing an antimisting polymeric additive, FM-9. A few measurements were also made on solutions of FM-9 in a mixed solvent of mineral oil, Tetralin, and 0-terphenyl. Two samples of FM-9 had approximate number-average molecular weights of 12,000,000 and 8,100,000 as deduced from analysis of the measurements. The ranges of variables were 2.42 to 4.03 g/1 in concentration (0.3 to 0.5% by weight), 1 to 35 in temperature, 1.3 to 9.4 cp in solvent viscosity, and 103 to 6100 Hz in frequency. Measurements in the Jet A solvent were made both with and without a modifying carrier. The results were compared with the Zimm theory and the viscoelastic behavior was found to resemble rather closely that of ordinary non-polar polymers in theta solvents. The relation of the results to the antithixotropic behavior of such solutions a high shear rates is discussed in terms of intramolecular and intermolecular interactions.

Ferry, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The integrated manual and automatic control of complex flight systems

Pilot/vehicle analysis techniques for optimizing aircraft handling qualities are presented. The analysis approach considered is based on the optimal control frequency domain techniques. These techniques stem from an optimal control approach of a Neal-Smith like analysis on aircraft attitude dynamics extended to analyze the flared landing task. Some modifications to the technique are suggested and discussed. An in depth analysis of the effect of the experimental variables, such as prefilter, is conducted to gain further insight into the flared land task for this class of vehicle dynamics.

Schmidt, D. K.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Atmospheric effects on the remote sensing estimation of forest leaf area index

An analysis is presented of the magnitude and variability of the effect of the atmosphere on high-altitude Daedalus Airborne Thematic Mapper data. By regressing ATM radiances against ground radiances (from measurements by a helicopter-mounted Barnes Modular Multiband Radiometer), it was possible to account for atmospheric conditions and variability across a 250 km transect in Oregon to estimate coniferous forest leaf area index. The technique permitted scene contrast to be increased, providing an improved capability for measurement of ground feature radiance.

Spanner, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The design of a turboshaft speed governor using modern control techniques

The objectives of this program were: to verify the model of off schedule compressor variable geometry in the T700 turboshaft engine nonlinear model; to evaluate the use of the pseudo-random binary noise (PRBN) technique for obtaining engine frequency response data; and to design a high performance power turbine speed governor using modern control methods. Reduction of T700 engine test data generated at NASA-Lewis indicated that the off schedule variable geometry effects were accurate as modeled. Analysis also showed that the PRBN technique combined with the maximum likelihood model identification method produced a Bode frequency response that was as accurate as the response obtained from standard sinewave testing methods. The frequency response verified the accuracy of linear models consisting of engine partial derivatives and used for design. A power turbine governor was designed using the Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) method of full state feedback control. A Kalman filter observer was used to estimate helicopter main rotor blade velocity. Compared to the baseline T700 power turbine speed governor, the LQR governor reduced droop up to 25 percent for a 490 shaft horsepower transient in 0.1 sec simulating a wind gust, and up to 85 percent for a 700 shaft horsepower transient in 0.5 sec simulating a large collective pitch angle transient.

Delosreyes, G.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Continental scale variability in vegetation reflectance and its relationship to canopy morphology

The spectral canopy reflectance, biomass, and projected leaf-area index (LAI) of widely dispersed plots of a North American coastal plant were measured in order to study potential impacts of continental-scale environmental variability on the assumptions underlying remote vegetation analysis. Systematic changes in the canopy geometry and resultant near-infrared reflectance of this plant were noted. Mean infrared canopy reflectances of canopies in the northern half of the range were shown to nearly double those of the southern half. It is suggested that the difference results from divergent canopy morphologies, with the northern canopies presenting greater horizontally projected LAIs per unit biomass than southern canopies.

Bartlett, D. S.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Design guide: Designing and building high voltage power supplies, volume 2

This report contains an accumulation of publications and analyses aimed at developing guidelines for improving both high voltage and low voltage power supplies for the U.S. Air Force systems command. It is the intent of the report to supply good design and manufacturing techniques for the packaging and the building of high quality, reliable, long-life power supplies. These data are based on the wealth of engineering practices established by design and manufacturing engineers. The contents are: Fundamentals of Insulation: Gases, Liquid Dielectrics, Solid Insulation; Environment: Pressure, Particulates, Environmental Interactions with Space Power Systems, Surface Charging, System Design Criteria; Configuration and Design Data: Designs, Transients, Grounding and Bonding, Thermal Control; Materials and Processes: Insulation, Processes, Process Variables; Manufacturing: Yield, Government and Industrial Survey, Analysis, Problem Areas and Suggested Solutions, Designs That Have Worked in High Voltage Equipment, Manufacturing Summary; and Tests: Performance, Insulation Tests, Materials Testing, Component and Equipment Tests, Performance Testing, Facility and Environment, Accelerated Life Test; Maintenance and Repair: Maintenance, Test Sets, Pilots and Crewmen, Air Logistic Centers, Design Problem Recommendations.

W G Dunbar↗

NASA NTRS1989

Tropical Pacific moisture variability

Research objectives are to: (1) describe the synoptic scale variability of moisture over the tropical Pacific Ocean; (2) describe the systems leading to this variability; and (3) develop and implement satellite analysis procedures to facilitate (1) and (2) over the data sparse Pacific.

Mcguirk, James P.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Integrated multidisciplinary optimization of rotorcraft: A plan for development

This paper describes a joint NASA/Army initiative at the Langley Research Center to develop optimization procedures aimed at improving the rotor blade design process by integrating appropriate disciplines and accounting for important interactions among the disciplines. The paper describes the optimization formulation in terms of the objective function, design variables, and constraints. Additionally, some of the analysis aspects are discussed, validation strategies are described, and an initial attempt at defining the interdisciplinary couplings is summarized. At this writing, significant progress has been made, principally in the areas of single discipline optimization. Accomplishments are described in areas of rotor aerodynamic performance optimization for minimum hover horsepower, rotor dynamic optimization for vibration reduction, and rotor structural optimization for minimum weight.

Adelman, Howard M.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Spectral behavior of Hercules X-1 - Its long-term variability and pulse phase spectroscopy

Results are presented of the analysis of the broad-energy-band Her X-1 spectra obtained by HEAO 1. Data from 13 pointed observations covered three 35-day cycles in February, August, and September of 1978. The pulse phase-averaged spectrum did not show any apparent variation during the main-on state, except for the overall intensity. The pulse phase-resolved spectrum, on the other hand, showed a moderately strong phase dependence in each of the main-on state pointings. This may imply that the orientation of the emission region is not changing on a monthly time frame, but the geometry of that region may evolve with time.

Soong, Y.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Development of the CELSS Emulator at NASA JSC

The Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) Emulator is under development at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) with the purpose to investigate computer simulations of integrated CELSS operations involving humans, plants, and process machinery. This paper describes Version 1.0 of the CELSS Emulator that was initiated in 1988 on the JSC Multi Purpose Applications Console Test Bed as the simulation framework. The run module of the simulation system now contains a CELSS model called BLSS. The CELSS Emulator makes it possible to generate model data sets, store libraries of results for further analysis, and also display plots of model variables as a function of time. The progress of the project is presented with sample test runs and simulation display pages.

Cullingford, Hatice S.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Time scales and variability of area-averaged tropical oceanic rainfall

A statistical analysis of time series of area-averaged rainfall over the oceans has been conducted around the diurnal time scale. The results of this analysis can be applied directly to the problem of establishing the magnitude of expected errors to be incurred in the estimation of monthly area-averaged rain rate from low orbiting satellites. Such statistics as the mean, standard deviation, integral time scale of background red noise, and spectral analyses were performed on time series of the GOES precipitation index taken at 3-hour intervals during the period spanning December 19, 1987 to March 31, 1988 over the central and eastern tropical Pacific. The analyses have been conducted on 2.5 x 2.5 deg and 5 x 5 deg grid boxes, separately. The study shows that rainfall measurements by a sun-synchronous satellite visiting a spot twice per day will include a bias due to the existence of the semidiurnal cycle in the SPCZ ranging from 5 to 10 percentage points. The bias in the ITCZ may be of the order of 5 percentage points.

Shin, Kyung-Sup↗

NASA NTRS1990

Atmospheric peroxyacetyl nitrate measurements over the Brazilian Amazon Basin during the wet season - Relationships with nitrogen oxides and ozone

An analysis is presented on the distribution and variability of PAN as well as its relationship with measured chemical and meteorological parameters. The chemicals of most interest for which measurements were available are PAN, NO(x), O3, CO, and C2Cl4. PAN was measured by the electron capture gas chromatographic technique, and the technique for calibrations and measurements are detailed. Data show that significant concentrations of PAN (5-125 ppt) are present during the wet season and this PAN is 1-5 times more abundant than NO(x). PAN levels at different atmospheric locations are discussed, and it is noted that PAN shows evidence of a possible latitudinal gradient in the free troposphere, with values falling rapidly from the northern midlatitudes toward the equator. High correlations between O3 and PAN levels suggest that nonmethane hydrocarbons may contribute significantly to high O3 in the free troposphere. Evidence indicates that virtually all of the NO(x) above 4 km could result from PAN decomposition.

Singh, H. B.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Tethered gravity laboratories study

Tethered gravity laboratories study is presented. The following subject areas are covered: variable gravity laboratory; attitude tether stabilizer; configuration analysis (AIT); dynamic analysis (SAO); and work planned for the next reporting period.

Lucchetti, F.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Development of the CELSS emulator at NASA. Johnson Space Center

The Closed Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) Emulator is under development. It will be used to investigate computer simulations of integrated CELSS operations involving humans, plants, and process machinery. Described here is Version 1.0 of the CELSS Emulator that was initiated in 1988 on the Johnson Space Center (JSC) Multi Purpose Applications Console Test Bed as the simulation framework. The run model of the simulation system now contains a CELSS model called BLSS. The CELSS simulator empowers us to generate model data sets, store libraries of results for further analysis, and also display plots of model variables as a function of time. The progress of the project is presented with sample test runs and simulation display pages.

Cullingford, Hatice S.↗

NASA NTRS1991

N-Decane Droplet Combustion in the NASA-Lewis 5 Second Zero-Gravity Facility - Results in Test Gas Environments Other than Air

The burning rate of single droplets of n-decane in a microgravity environment of the NASA-Lewis 5 Second Zero-Gravity Facility was investigated as a function of time, together with the flame diameter/droplet diameter ratio, for a wide range of test environments other than normal air conditions, using an engineering model of the flight experiment. Oxygen mole fractions were varied from 18 to 50 percent, the total test chamber pressure was varied from 0.5 to 2 atmospheres, and the initial droplet diameter was varied from 0.98 to 2.41 mm. Measurements showed that the average burning rates for n-decane droplets exhibited the same qualitative trends as are found in two current models. Temporal analysis of the local burning rates showed variable rates of change in local burning as the droplet combustion progressed. The causes and implications of these findings are discussed.

Haggard, John B.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Interval prediction in structural dynamic analysis

Methods for assessing the predictive accuracy of structural dynamic models are examined with attention given to the effects of modal mass, stiffness, and damping uncertainties. The methods are based on a nondeterministic analysis called 'interval prediction' in which interval variables are used to describe parameters and responses that are unknown. Statistical databases for generic modeling uncertainties are derived from experimental data and incorporated analytically to evaluate responses. Covariance matrices of modal mass, stiffness, and damping parameters are propagated numerically in models of large space structures by means of three methods. The test data tend to fall within the predicted intervals of uncertainty determined by the statistical databases. The present findings demonstrate the suitability of using data from previously analyzed and tested space structures for assessing the predictive accuracy of an analytical model.

Hasselman, Timothy K.↗