SEARCH · Engineering Papers
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.
Computer program performs transformations in the order S-to W-to Z to allow arithmetic to be completed in the W-plane. The method is based on a direct transformation from the S-plane to the W-plane. The W-plane poles and zeros are transformed into Z-plane poles and zeros using the bilinear transformation algorithm.
Computerized scheduling system calculates an index of overall schedule-effectiveness. The schedule-effectiveness index is a measurement of actual overall performance against the existing schedule, and a series of schedule-effectiveness values indicates the trend of actual performance. This computer program is written in Fortran 4.
Nuclear propulsion for manned Mars expedition, discussing engine and launch optimization, computer simulation, performance, trip times, velocity, weight, etc
Computer program performs stability analyses for a wide class of shells without unduly restrictive approximations. The program uses numerical integration, finite difference of finite element techniques to solve with reasonable accuracy almost any buckling problem for shells exhibiting orthotropic behavior.
Analog computer to perform open-loop equalization for multishaker environmental vibration testing
Time variable telecommunications performance prediction computer program for spacecraft telemetry and communications systems
Collisionless computer model performing gravitational experiments with two dimensional galaxy
All-body configuration hypersonic transport aircraft performance by computer synthesis, considering sonic boom constraint, maximum payload ratio and optimal cruise speed
Computer circuit performing both counting and shifting logic operations also capable of miniaturization and integration in basic circuits
Computer program performs the many calculations necessary for solving radiating, nonadiabatic flow of air in chemical equilibrium. Solution method provides accurate description of blunt body flow field in subsonic region.
A sequence of six types of pattern recognition system is examined. A program is described to illustrate some of the features developed. The first type (similar to many of the programs currently used) preprocesses by applying layers of local averaging and differencing transforms to smooth, fill in gaps and heighten contours, curves, and angles. It then applies a set of characterizers, each of which implies a set of names. The program chooses the single most high implied name. The second type combines the preprocessing transforms and the characterizers into a single operation of general type. Transforms build up a next representation of the input, while the characterizers imply the output name. The third type erases the distinction between a transform and an implication. Now all outputs are stored in the next transform layer. As the program averages information, its layers shrink, so that the system builds a cone of layers. When the program reaches the apex (a layer of only one cell that contains all the information), it chooses the single name with which it classifies the input. The fourth type is capable of choosing more than one name and, therefore, can both describe and classify the scene. The fifth type examines the interrelations among the set of names chosen. The sixth step can be taken to converse about the scene, developing an appropriate description in response to suggestions and queries. This allows the program to perform more computations and to look again on demand.
The table look-up approach is based on prestoring in fast, random-access, core memory the desired answer (e.g., crop-type) for all combinations of multispectral scanner outputs from selected channels. Specifically, each set of measurements from a given point on the ground is interpreted as that address in core memory where the answer can be retrieved. Substituting the simple retrieval operation for the length y computations required by the conventional approach offers two advantages: (1) the processing time is reduced by more than an order of magnitude; (2) the multispectral scanner data can be processed by computers having minimal sophistication, complexity, and cost. These two advantages may make it possible to use an onboard computer to perform the classification function in flight.
A general description of cyclotron harmonic resonant pitch-angle scattering is presented. Quasi-linear diffusion coefficients are prescribed in terms of the wave normal distribution of plasma wave energy. Numerical computations are performed for the specific case of relativistic electrons interacting with a band of low frequency whistler-mode turbulence. A parametric treatment of the wave energy distribution permits normalized diffusion coefficients to be presented graphically solely as a function of the electron pitch-angle. The diffusion coefficients generally decrease with increasing cyclotron harmonic number. Higher harmonic diffusion is insignificant at very small electron pitch-angles, but becomes increasingly important as the pitch-angle increases. One thus expected the rate of pitch-angle scattering to decrease with increasing electron energy, since the resonant value of the latter varies proportionately with harmonic number. This indicates that, in mirror-type magnet field geometrics, such as the earth's radiation belts, the diffusion losses of high energy electrons are likely to be appreciably slower than those at low energy.
Inversion of radio occultation data for planetary atmospheres and ionospheres has been performed using the seismological Herglotz-Wiechert method, as adapted by Phinney and Anderson to the radio-occultation case. Profile reconstruction performed in computer simulated experiments with this approach have been compared with the ones obtained with the straight-ray Abel transform. For a thin atmosphere and ionosphere, like the ones encountered on Mars, microwave occultation data can be inverted accurately with both methods. For a dense ionosphere like the sun's corona, ray bending of microwaves is severe, and recovered refractivity by the Herglotz-Wiechert method provides significant improvement over the straight-ray Abel transform: the error reduces from more than 60% to less than 20% at a height of 60,000 km above the base of the corona.
An analytical technique to compute the performance of an arbitrary jet-flapped wing is developed. The solution technique is based on the method of Maskell and Spence in which the well-known lifting-line approach is coupled with an auxiliary equation providing the extra function needed in jet-flap theory. The present method is generalized to handle straight, uncambered wings of arbitrary planform, twist, and blowing (including unsymmetrical cases). An analytical procedure is developed for continuous variations in the above geometric data with special functions to exactly treat discontinuities in any of the geometric and blowing data. A rational theory for the effect of finite wing thickness is introduced as well as simplified concepts of effective aspect ratio for rapid estimation of performance.
Continued development of a metabolic monitor utilizing a mass spectrometer and digital computer to perform measurements and data reduction, is reported. The device prints-out breath-by-breath values for 02 consumption, C02 production, minute volume and tidal volume. The flow is measured by introduction of a tracer gas to the expired gas stream. Design modifications to reduce pressure drop in the flow splitter to one inch of water at 600 liters/min flow and to extend the range of linear flow measurement to 1000 liters/min are discussed.
Many algorithms used for data smoothing, data classification and error detection require the calculation of the distance from a point to the polynomial interpolating its 2n neighbors (n on each side). This computation, if performed naively, would require the solution of a system of equations and could create numerical problems. This note shows that if the data is equally spaced, then this calculation can be performed using a simple recursion formula.
The relative abundances of seven constituent nuclei, He4, C12, O16, Ne20, Mg24, Si28, and Fe56, are calculated as a function of time for neutron star atmospheres within which exist magnetic fields of the order of 10 to the 13th G. The opacity, equation of state of the electrons, and cooling rate of the magnetic star are discussed, and it is shown to be a reasonable approximation to assume an atmosphere to be isothermal. The effects of particle diffusion are included in the nuclear reaction network. Computations are performed both for a constant mass atmosphere and for an atmosphere in which mass is being ejected. It is found that the final abundances are model-independent, as long as the initial model contains predominantly He4. The relative abundances are compared to the cosmic ray spectrum. For both the constant-mass and mass-loss atmospheres, nucleosynthesis proceeds virtually completely to Fe56. However the outermost layers of the envelope, in which no mass is being ejected, are composed almost entirely of He4 with trace amounts of Fe56. After the loss of about 10 to the 21st g, only Fe56 is ejected from atmospheres expelling mass.