24,655 research outputs found
Life extending control: An interdisciplinary engineering thrust
The concept of Life Extending Control (LEC) is introduced. Possible extensions to the cyclic damage prediction approach are presented based on the identification of a model from elementary forms. Several candidate elementary forms are presented. These extensions will result in a continuous or differential form of the damage prediction model. Two possible approaches to the LEC based on the existing cyclic damage prediction method, the measured variables LEC and the estimated variables LEC, are defined. Here, damage estimates or measurements would be used directly in the LEC. A simple hydraulic actuator driven position control system example is used to illustrate the main ideas behind LEC. Results from a simple hydraulic actuator example demonstrate that overall system performance (dynamic plus life) can be maximized by accounting for component damage in the control design
A reusable rocket engine intelligen control
An intelligent control system for reusable space propulsion systems for future launch vehicles is described. The system description includes a framework for the design. The framework consists of an execution level with high-speed control and diagnostics, and a coordination level which marries expert system concepts with traditional control. A comparison is made between air breathing and rocket engine control concepts to assess the relative levels of development and to determine the applicability of air breathing control concepts to future reusable rocket engine systems
Life extending control: A concept paper
The concept of Life Extending Control is defined. Life is defined in terms of mechanical fatigue life. A brief description is given of the current approach to life prediction using a local, cyclic, stress-strain approach for a critical system component. An alternative approach to life prediction based on a continuous functional relationship to component performance is proposed.Base on cyclic life prediction an approach to Life Extending Control, called the Life Management Approach is proposed. A second approach, also based on cyclic life prediction, called the Implicit Approach, is presented. Assuming the existence of the alternative functional life prediction approach, two additional concepts for Life Extending Control are presented
HI and Hot Gas in the Outskirts of the M81 Group
Results are presented from a wide area, high resolution HI synthesis survey
of the outer regions of the nearby M81 group, where internal (galactic) and
external (group-related) evolution processes can be studied simultaneously in
great detail. The survey encompasses the star forming dwarf galaxies M81dwA,
UGC4483, and HoII, where evidence of ram pressure stripping was recently
discovered. The data do not reveal any intergalactic HI, but the outer parts of
HoII are reminiscent of tidal tails. We argue however that those structures are
equally consistent with the latest ram pressure models including cooling. The
case for a hot intergalactic medium in this poor, spiral-only group is thus
still open. The survey also puts tight constraints on possible counterparts to
the local high velocity cloud population in an external group, reaching a 3
sigma column density of 10^19 atom/cm^2 and a 6 sigma limiting mass of 1.5x10^5
M_sun.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, to be published in "Recycling Intergalactic and
Interstellar Matter," eds. P.-A. Duc, J. Braine, & E. Brinks (ASP: San
Francisco
Volumetric measurement of tank volume
A method is disclosed for determining the volume of compressible gas in a system including incompressible substances in a zero-gravity environment consisting of measuring the change in pressure (delta P) for a known volume change rate (delta V/delta t) in the polytrophic region between isothermal and adiabatic conditions. The measurements are utilized in an idealized formula for determining the change in isothermal pressure (delta P sub iso) for the gas. From the isothermal pressure change (delta iso) the gas volume is obtained. The method is also applicable to determination of gas volume by utilizing work (W) in the compression process. In a passive system, the relationship of specific densities can be obtained
Digital electric field induced switching of plasmonic nanorods using an electro-optic fluid fiber
We demonstrate the digital electric field induced switching of plasmonic
nanorods between 1 and 0 orthogonal aligned states using an electro-optic fluid
fiber component. We show by digitally switching the nanorods, that thermal
rotational diffusion of the nanorods can be circumvented, demonstrating an
approach to achieve submicrosecond switching times. We also show, from an
initial unaligned state, that the nanorods can be aligned into the applied
electric field direction in 110 nanoseconds. The high-speed digital switching
of plasmonic nanorods integrated into an all-fiber optical component may
provide novel opportunities for remote sensing and signaling applications
A preliminary model of the coma of 2060 Chiron
We have included gravity in our fluid dynamic model with chemical kinetics of dusty comet comae and applied it with two dust sizes to 2060 Chiron. A progress report on the model and preliminary results concerning gas/dust dynamics and chemistry is given
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