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At least 1,297 records · Page 72

Large-area sheet task advanced dendritic web growth development

The computer code for calculating web temperature distribution was expanded to provide a graphics output in addition to numerical and punch card output. The new code was used to examine various modifications of the J419 configuration and, on the basis of the results, a new growth geometry was designed. Additionally, several mathematically defined temperature profiles were evaluated for the effects of the free boundary (growth front) on the thermal stress generation. Experimental growth runs were made with modified J419 configurations to complement the modeling work. A modified J435 configuration was evaluated.

Duncan, C. S.↗

ADAM: An Axisymmetric Duct Aeroacoustic Modeling system

An interconnected system of computer programs for analyzing the propagation and attenuation of sound in aeroengine ducts containing realistic compressible subsonic mean flows, ADAM was developed primarily for research directed towards the reduction of noise emitted from turbofan aircraft engines. The two basic components are a streamtube curvature program for determination of the mean flow, and a finite element code for solution of the acoustic propagation problem. The system, which has been specifically tailored for ease of use, is presently installed at NASA Langley Reseach Center on a Control Data Cyber 175 Computer under the NOS Operating system employing a Tektronix terminal for interactive graphics. The scope and organization of the ADAM system is described. A users guide, examples of input data, and results for selected cases are included.

Abrahamson, A. L.↗

Spatial information technologies for remote sensing today and tomorrow; Proceedings of the Ninth Pecora Symposium, Sioux Falls, SD, October 2-4, 1984

Topics discussed at the symposium include hardware, geographic information system (GIS) implementation, processing remotely sensed data, spatial data structures, and NASA programs in remote sensing information systems. Attention is also given GIS applications, advanced techniques, artificial intelligence, graphics, spatial navigation, and classification. Papers are included on the design of computer software for geographic image processing, concepts for a global resource information system, algorithm development for spatial operators, and an application of expert systems technology to remotely sensed image analysis.

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Implicit hybrid schemes for the flux-difference split, three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations

Implicit hybrid algorithms employing symmetric planar Gauss-Seidel (SPGS) relaxation and either block-tridiagonally structured coefficient matrices (AF-SPGS) or block-triangular coefficient matrices (LU-SPGS) are derived to solve the flux-difference-split Navier-Stokes equations for three-dimensional incompressible flow in an upwind scheme. The physical basis of the approach is discussed, and results for problems involving vortex flow around a thin delta wing at Reynolds numbers 900,000 and 10,000 are presented graphically. It is found that AF-SPGS converges faster on vector computers which depend on long vector lengths to achieve optimum performance, whereas LU-SPGS is preferable on sequentially operating machines and vector computers using shorter vector lengths.

Hartwich, P.-M.↗

MDO can help resolve the designer's dilemma

Multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) is presented as a rapidly growing body of methods, algorithms, and techniques that will provide a quantum jump in the effectiveness and efficiency of the quantitative side of design, and will turn that side into an environment in which the qualitative side can thrive. MDO borrows from CAD/CAM for graphic visualization of geometrical and numerical data, data base technology, and in computer software and hardware. Expected benefits from this methodology are a rational, mathematically consistent approach to hypersonic aircraft designs, designs pushed closer to the optimum, and a design process either shortened or leaving time available for different concepts to be explored.

Sobieszczanski-Sobieski, Jaroslaw↗

A CLIPS/X-window interface

The design and implementation of an interface between the C Language Integrated Production System (CLIPS) expert system development environment and the graphic user interface development tools of the X-Window system are described. The underlying basis of the CLIPS/X-Window is a client-server model in which multiple clients can attach to a single server that interprets, executes, and returns operation results, in response to client action requests. Implemented in an AIX (UNIX) operating system environment, the interface has been successfully applied in the development of graphics interfaces for production rule cooperating agents in a knowledge-based computer aided design (CAD) system. Initial findings suggest that the client-server model is particularly well suited to a distributed parallel processing operational mode in a networked workstation environment.

Pohl, Kym Jason↗

Computer Program For Generation Of Surface Grids

S3D is useful computer program for generation of grids on surfaces of bodies having complicated shapes. Product of integration of robust and widely applicable interpolation technique with latest in computer-workstation technology. Incorporates highly efficient and easy-to-use graphical-interface software, enables real-time and interactive analyses of surface-geometry data and facilitates construction of surface grids.

Ching, Raymond↗

Real-Time Visualization of an HPF-based CFD Simulation

Current time-dependent CFD simulations produce very large multi-dimensional data sets at each time step. The visual analysis of computational results are traditionally performed by post processing the static data on graphics workstations. We present results from an alternate approach in which we analyze the simulation data in situ on each processing node at the time of simulation. The locally analyzed results, usually more economical and in a reduced form, are then combined and sent back for visualization on a graphics workstation.

Kremenetsky, Mark↗

F-Nets and Software Cabling: Deriving a Formal Model and Language for Portable Parallel Programming

Parallel programming is still being based upon antiquated sequence-based definitions of the terms "algorithm" and "computation", resulting in programs which are architecture dependent and difficult to design and analyze. By focusing on obstacles inherent in existing practice, a more portable model is derived here, which is then formalized into a model called Soviets which utilizes a combination of imperative and functional styles. This formalization suggests more general notions of algorithm and computation, as well as insights into the meaning of structured programming in a parallel setting. To illustrate how these principles can be applied, a very-high-level graphical architecture-independent parallel language, called Software Cabling, is described, with many of the features normally expected from today's computer languages (e.g. data abstraction, data parallelism, and object-based programming constructs).

DiNucci, David C.↗

EWB: The Environment WorkBench Version 4.0

The Environment WorkBench EWB is a desktop integrated analysis tool for studying a spacecraft's interactions with its environment. Over 100 environment and analysis models are integrated into the menu-based tool. EWB, which was developed for and under the guidance of the NASA Lewis Research Center, is built atop the Module Integrator and Rule-based Intelligent Analytic Database (MIRIAD) architecture. This allows every module in EWB to communicate information to other modules in a transparent manner from the user's point of view. It removes the tedious and error-prone steps of entering data by hand from one model to another. EWB runs under UNIX operating systems (SGI and SUN workstations) and under MS Windows (3.x, 95, and NT) operating systems. MIRIAD, the unique software that makes up the core of EWB, provides the flexibility to easily modify old models and incorporate new ones as user needs change. The MIRIAD approach separates the computer assisted engineering (CAE) tool into three distinct units: 1) A modern graphical user interface to present information; 2) A data dictionary interpreter to coordinate analysis; and 3) A database for storing system designs and analysis results. The user interface is externally programmable through ASCII data files, which contain the location and type of information to be displayed on the screen. This approach provides great flexibility in tailoring the look and feel of the code to individual user needs. MIRIADbased applications, such as EWB, have utilities for viewing tabulated parametric study data, XY line plots, contour plots, and three-dimensional plots of contour data and system geometries. In addition, a Monte Carlo facility is provided to allow statistical assessments (including uncertainties) in models or data.

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NASA Tech Briefs, August 1996

Topics covered include: Graphics and Simulation; Electronic Components and Circuits; Electronic Systems; Physical Sciences; Materials; Computer Programs; Mechanics; Machinery/Automation; Manufacturing/Fabrication; Mathematics and Information Sciences; Life Sciences; Books and Reports

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NASA Tech Briefs, August 1999

Topics include: Graphics and Simulation; Electronic Components and Circuits; Electronic Systems; Physical Sciences; Materials; Computer Programs; Mechanics; Machinery/Automation;

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Comparison of Two Digital Stethoscopes with the Traditional Stethoscope Used on International Space Station

A traditional stethoscope is currently flown on the International Space Station (ISS). The background noise on the ISS is much higher than a normal exam room, and the literature shows that traditional stethoscopes are unable to function effectively in high noise environments. Digital stethoscopes provide amplification which improves the audibility in a quiet environment. This study is designed to determine if digital stethoscopes offer any advantage over traditional stethoscopes in being able to identify normal and abnormal sounds in the ISS noise environment. Methods: An ISS noise simulation facility was created to reproduce ISS noise profiles by modifying pink noise with a software-based graphic equalizer. The files were played in a continuous loop on a computer, amplified through a high-end stereo system and adjusted using a sound level meter. Nine caregiver analogues were given the same auscultation lesson received by astronauts. They began testing by becoming familiar with normal and abnormal sounds on a Student Auscultation Manikin . They then used two digital stethoscopes and a traditional stethoscope identical to the one flown on the ISS to auscultate the manikin sounds in the noise facility. They identified the sounds on a questionnaire and picked which of the three stethoscopes they preferred. Results: Evaluators displayed equivalent accuracy in sound identification when using either the 3M model 4000 digital stethoscope or traditional stethoscope. However, the 3M was preferred 2 to 1 by the evaluators, primarily because of additional amplification of the sounds. Discussion: Although our results show that the current ISS stethoscope and the "best-of-breed" digital stethoscope provide essentially the same auscultation utility, the latter has the advantage of recording and transmitting sounds to a remote physician. Since the astronaut caregivers are non-physiCians, this capability may be worth the additional expense and effort needed to certify the digital stethoscope for flight.

Rasbury, Jack↗

An Investigation of Parallel Programming Techniques Applied to Monte Carlo Simulations for Post-Flight Reconstruction of Spacecraft Trajectory

Parallelizing software to execute on multi-core central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) can be challenging. For some fields outside of Computer Science, this transition comes with new issues. For example, memory limitations can require modifications to code not initially developed to run on GPUs. This work applies the Open Multi-Processing (OpenMP) and Open Accelerators (OpenACC) directive-based parallelization strategies on a Monte Carlo simulation approach for trajectory reconstruction enabling it to run on multi-core CPUs and GPUs. Large matrix operations are the most common use of GPUs, which are not present in this algorithm; however, the natural parallelism of independent trajectories in Monte Carlo simulations is exploited. Benchmarking data are presented comparing execution times of the software for single-thread CPUs, multi-thread CPUs with OpenMP, and multi-thread GPUs using OpenACC. These data were collected using nodes with Intel® Xeon® E5-2670 (Sandy Bridge) CPUs enhanced with NVIDIA® Tesla® K40 GPUs on the Pleiades Supercomputer cluster at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center (ARC) and a local Intel® Xeon Phi™ node at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC).

Williams, R. Anthony↗

OpenACC unified programming environment for GPU and FPGA multi-hybrid acceleration

Attached accelerators have been frequently used in recent High Per- formance Computing (HPC) systems because of their high performance/power ratio. In particular, the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is the most popu- lar accelerator owing to its high peak FLOPS performance and high memory bandwidth supported by HBM2, etc. However, the performance of GPU depends highly on a large degree of SIMD parallelism and has difficulty sustaining a high performance on programs with frequent branch operations or a partially low degree of parallelism.By contrast, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) has received attention as a different type of accelerator than GPU as a fully reconfigurable processor fitting the target applications. The high performance of FPGA is mainly provided by a pipelined operation and optimized circuit suitable for any operation even with frequent conditional branches. We have been focusing on the flexibility of FPGA to compensate for the weakness of GPU. We believe that the coupling of GPU with FPGA can result in one of the most powerful accelerating platforms available.However, the program coding of GPU and FPGA coupling can be quite difficult for application users. Traditionally, CUDA by NVIDIA has been the most popular programming language with the largest share of GPUs used in HPC, whereas a hardware description language such as Verilog HDL has been used in FPGA programming. OpenCL coding has recently become available even on high-end FPGAs. Moreover, several recent studies have also enabled the OpenACC coding for use in FPGA. In this study, we provide a unified programming system based on OpenACC for a platform equipped with both GPU and FPGA aiming at the next-generation accelerated supercomputer framework. Our programming environment is called Multi-Hybrid OpenACC Translator (MHOAT), and in this paper, we describe the basic concept and prototype system of MHOAT based on an evaluation on the amount of coding required and the performance of a hybrid multi-device accelerated system.

Tsunashima, Ryuta↗

History of visual systems in the Systems Engineering Simulator

The Systems Engineering Simulator (SES) houses a variety of real-time computer generated visual systems. The earliest machine dates from the mid-1960's and is one of the first real-time graphics systems in the world. The latest acquisition is the state-of-the-art Evans and Sutherland CT6. Between the span of time from the mid-1960's to the late 1980's, tremendous strides have been made in the real-time graphics world. These strides include advances in both software and hardware engineering. The purpose is to explore the history of the development of these real-time computer generated image systems from the first machine to the present. Hardware advances as well as software algorithm changes are presented. This history is not only quite interesting but also provides us with a perspective with which we can look backward and forward.

Christianson, David C.↗

HPC Molecular Simulation Tries Out a New GPU: Experiences on Early AMD Test Systems for the Frontier Supercomputer

Molecular simulation is an important tool for nu- merous efforts in physics, chemistry, and the biological sciences. Simulating molecular dynamics requires extremely rapid cal- culations to enable sufficient sampling of simulated temporal molecular processes. The Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Cray EX Frontier supercomputer installed at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF) will provide an exascale resource for open science, and will feature graphics processing units (GPUs) from Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). The future LUMI supercomputer in Finland will be based on an HPE Cray EX platform as well. Here we test the ports of several widely used molecular dynamics packages that have each made substantial use of acceleration with NVIDIA GPUs, on Spock, the early Cray pre-Frontier testbed system at the OLCF which employs AMD GPUs. These programs are used extensively in industry for pharmaceutical and materials research, as well as academia, and are also frequently deployed on high-performance computing (HPC) systems, including national leadership HPC resources. We find that in general, performance is competitive and installation is straightforward, even at these early stages in a new GPU ecosystem. Our experiences point to an expanding arena for GPU vendors in HPC for molecular simulation.

Sedova, Ada↗