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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.

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At least 1,765 records · Page 98
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1982

Simulation and testing of digital control on a flexible beam

Large space structures are expected to have control problems due to low stiffness and damping, and control laws for these structures must deal with shape and configuration control as well as attitude and orbit maintenance. In general, these control tasks must be accomplished without adversely interacting with the lightly damped and low frequency vibration modes of the structure. Modal control schemes have been proposed to deal with these problems. A discrete time parameter adaptive control scheme which uses modal control has been proposed by Montgomery and Johnson (1978). In the present investigation the method considered by Montgomery and Johnson is applied to a homogeneous free-free beam in both numerical simulation and laboratory experimentation. Mathematical modeling of the beam is treated in a manner expedient for digital simulation and control implementation.

Williams, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Self-Alining Quick-Connect Joint

Quick connect tapered joint used with minimum manipulation and force. Split ring retainer holds locking ring in place. Minimal force required to position male in female joint, at which time split-ring retainers are triggered to release split locking rings. Originally developed to assemble large space structures, joint is simple, compact, strong, lightweight, self alining, and has no loose parts.

Lucy, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Control pole placement relationships

Using a simplified Large Space Structure (LSS) model, a technique was developed which gives algebraic relationships for the unconstrained poles. The relationships, which were obtained by this technique, are functions of the structural characteristics and the control gains. Extremely interesting relationships evolve for the case when the structural damping is zero. If the damping is zero, the constrained poles are uncoupled from the structural mode shapes. These relationships, which are derived for structural damping and without structural damping, provide new insight into the migration of the unconstrained poles for the CFPPS.

Ainsworth, O. R.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Active damping of a flexible beam

The development of an algorithm that will determine actuator and sensor locations on a flexible beam is discussed. Large space structures will have many locations where actuators can be placed. This research seeks to determine the optimum locations. In addition, the best locations are determined while certain constraints are satisfied which guarantee that mission performance requirements are achieved. The approach adopted is to consider actuators and sensors to be collocated so as to produce an equivalent viscous damper. Ultimately, the experimental results of measuring the log decrement during free decay will correlate with the analytical predictions.

Horner, G. C.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Robust precision pointing control of large space platform payloads

Large space structure (LSS) secondary controllers to enhance inherent damping, and primary controllers for controlling rigid-body modes and structural modes are discussed. It was concluded that LSS control is stable and robust and offers promise. Further investigation is needed on the effects of actuator/sensor bandwidth.

Joshi, S. M.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Active control of a flexible beam

Because of inherent low damping and high flexibility, large space structures may require some form of active control of their dynamics. Because of the apparent inability to accurately model the dynamics of these structures, methods for parameter adaptive control are now being developed at Langley. This approach uses a digital computer to process discrete sensor data, identify modal parameters, calculate modal control gains, and then convert the modal forces to real forces. Some of the problems considered are: (1) the possibility that there may be modes to control with limited amounts of hardware, and (2) the required accuracy of identified structural parameters.

Williams, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Requirements for a mobile communications satellite system. Volume 1: Executive summary

Three types of satellite-aided mobile communications are considered for users in areas not served by (terrestrial) cellular radio systems. In System 1, mobile units are provided a direct satellite link to a gateway station, which serves as the interface to the terrestrial toll network. In System 2, a terrestrial radio link similar to those in cellular systems connects the mobile unit to a translator station; each translator relays the traffic from mobile units in its vicinity, via satellite, to the regional gateway. It is not feasible for System 2 to provide ubiquitous coverage. Therefore, System 3 is introduced, in which the small percentage of users not within range of a translator are provided a direct satellite link as in System 1. While System 2 can operate with leased satellite capacity, Systems 1 and 3 require a dedicated satellite. A major portion of this study is concerned with the design of a satellite for System 1. A weight limit of 10,000 lbs, corresponding to the projected 1990 STS capability, is imposed on the design. Frequency re-use of the allocated spectrum, through multiple satellite beams, is employed to generate the specified system capacity. Both offset-fed and center-fed reflectors are considered. For an assumed 10-MHz allocation and a population of 350,000 subscribers, a two-satellite system is required. The reflector diameters corresponding to offset-fed and center-fed geometries are 46 m and 62 m, respectively. Thus, large-space-structure technology is inherent to the implementation of System 1. In addition to establishing the technical requirements for the three types of satellite systems, the monthly service charge needed to provide a specified return on invested capital is computed. A net present value analysis is used for this purpose.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1983

Practical small-scale explosive seam welding

Joining principles and variables, types of joints, capabilities, and current and potential applications are described for an explosive seam welding process developed at NASA Langley Research Center. Variable small quantities of RDX explosive in a ribbon configuration are used to create narrow (less than 0.5 inch), long length, uniform, hermetrically sealed joints that exhibit parent metal properties in a wide variety of metals, alloys, and combinations. The first major all application of the process is the repair of four nuclear reactors in Canada. Potential applications include pipelines, sealing of vessels, and assembly of large space structures.

Bement, L. J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Current status of system identification methodology

Large space structures, system identification, model formulation, experimental design, model order and structure determination, parameter estimation, reduced order modeling, and closed loops are considered.

Larimore, W. E.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Space environmental effects on materials

Research efforts at NASA-Langley to characterize the durability of composite materials which are candidates or use as components on various space hardware systems are reviewed. The material applications include large space structures, antennas, cables, thermal control coatings, solar reflectors, and satellite power systems. Simulation facilities have been built to study radiation effects on polymer matrix composites, and the dimensional stability of the matrix composites and tension stabilized.

Tenny, D. R.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A closed-loop principal component analysis of a tetrahedral truss

A tetrahedral truss, representative of a fairly broad class of large space structures, is considered. A method, measuring the dynamical importance of each elastic mode when the structure is under feedback control, is presented. The main conclusion is that the closed-loop importance of each vibration mode depends on the robustness requirements. Also, there appears to be a conflict between precise control of a given node of the structure and stability margin, these two requirements leading to contradictory classifications of the modes by order of importance.

Jonckheere, E. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Number and placement of control system sensors considering possible failures

A methodology has been presented which is intended to assist the designer of a control system for a large space structure to decide how many sensors should be incorporated in the system and where they should be placed on the structure. This approach is intended to be especially useful in the early stages of the evolution of the system, before a complete control system concept has been defined. This methodology is based on a quantitative measure of the observability of the system for a given set of sensors. The effect of possible component failures during the mission period was incorporated in the measure. The question of sensor placement is then resolved by finding the locations which maximize the performance measure. The number of components to use cannot be determined by optimizing the measure because the observability always improves with increased number of sensors if they are optimally located. However, the improvement in the measure with component number can be determined, and this information can be used along with data on cost, power required, etc., to decide how many sensors to use.

Vandervelde, W. E.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Orbiting chains and rings

Two very different, highly flexible, space structures proposed during the last decade which involve analytical solution of certain partial differential equations are discussed. The first structure is an array, or hanging chain of aluminum beads which would serve as a convenient communicator if, under the influence of the Earth's gravity gradient, it assumes a local vertical orientation as it circles the Earth. Two passive schemes have been proposed for damping the rigid modes: twist the wire at the ends to provide non-zero moment of inertia about the vertical, thereby inducing relative motion of the two tips during rigid pitch or roll, and thus exercising a damper; and introduce weak lossy springs between the end sections and the main section; thereby providing linear coupling between the springs and all the in-plane (pitch) modes. The second structure is a complete ring of satellites cabled together at synchronous altitude. By a slight increase in altitude, the cable is in tension. This configuration is, however, unstable, and an active feedback control scheme is required to stabilize it. A possible scheme involves local cable length adjustment based on measurement of local altitude and shape variations and their rates.

Breakwell, J. V.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Hardware verification of distributed/adaptive control

Adaptive control techniques are studied for their future application to the control of large space structures, where uncertain or changing parameters may destabilize standard control system designs. The approach used is to examine an extended Kalman filter estimator, in which the state vector is augmented with the unknown parameters. The associated Riccatti equation is linearized about the case of exact knowledge of the parameters. By assuming that parameter variations occur slowly, the filter complexity is reduced further yet. Simulations on a two degree-of-freedom oscillator demonstrate the parameter-tracking capability of the filter, and an implementation on the JPL Flexible Beam Facility using an incorrect model shows the adaptive filter/optimal control to be stable where a standard Kalman filter/optimal control design is unstable.

Eldred, D. B.↗
NASA NTRS1982

On-orbit propulsion requirements and performance assessment of ion propulsion subsystems for future GEO large satellite missions

It is pointed out that a large class of future spacecraft, referred to as large space structures (LSS), will require advanced stationkeeping thrust subsystems. The present investigation is concerned with the performance requirements of such advanced stationkeeping thrust subsystems. An analytical model is employed to evaluate the sensitivity of the total stationkeeping thrust-system mass, for geosynchronous spacecraft, to variations in the mission parameters and thrust-system performance, taking into account ion propulsion thrust systems. The model is formulated for geosynchronous missions and considers only the N-S orbit perturbations due to sun-moon forces and the E-W orbit perturbations due to solar pressure, since these are the dominant orbit perturbations of LSS missions. The thrust system is scaled in relation to the performance capabilities of the existing 8- and 30-cm diameter ion-thruster technology and consists of separate N-S and E-W thrusters.

Wessel, F. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Space environmental effects on materials

Research efforts at NASA-Langley to characterize the durability of composite materials which are candidates for use as components on various space hardware systems are reviewed. The material applications include large space structures, antennas, cables, thermal control coatings, solar reflectors, and satellite power systems. Simulation facilities have been built to study radiation effects on polymer matrix composites, and the dimensional stability of the matrix composites and tension stabilized cables. Numerical models are being developed for radiation effects on the mechanical, physical, and optical properties. Additionally, chemical and microstructural analyses are performed to identify damage mechanisms and the limits of effectiveness of accelerating life tests. It is noted that no residual strength reduction has been detected in polymer films after dosages of 5 billion rads of electron radiation.

Tenney, D. R.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Computer coordination of limb motion for locomotion of a multiple-armed robot for space assembly

Consideration is given to a possible robotic system for the construction of large space structures, which may be described as a multiple general purpose arm manipulator vehicle that can walk over the structure under construction to a given site for further work. A description is presented of the locomotion of such a vehicle, modeling its arms in terms of a currently available industrial manipulator. It is noted that for whatever maximum speed of operation is chosen, rapid changes in robot velocity create situations in which already-selected handholds are no longer practical. A step is added to the 'free gait' walking algorithm in order to solve this problem.

Klein, C. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Control - Demands mushroom as station grows

The NASA space station, which is presently in the planning stage, is to be composed of both rigid and nonrigid modules, rotating elements, and flexible appendages subjected to environmental disturbances from the earth's atmospheric gravity gradient, and magnetic field, as well as solar radiation and self-generated disturbances. Control functions, which will originally include attitude control, docking and berthing control, and system monitoring and management, will with evolving mission objectives come to encompass such control functions as articulation control, autonomous navigation, space traffic control, and large space structure control. Attention is given to the advancements in modular, distributed, and adaptive control methods, as well as system identification and hardware fault tolerance techniques, which will be required.

Szirmay, S. Z.↗