ASRC Aerospace Corporation

About: ASRC Aerospace Corporation is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: In situ resource utilization & Propulsion. The organization has 194 authors who have published 404 publications receiving 4748 citations.

Application of an Optimal Tuner Selection Approach for On-Board Self-Tuning Engine Models

Abstract: An enhanced design methodology for minimizing the error in on-line Kalman filter-based aircraft engine performance estimation applications is presented in this paper. It specifically addresses the underdetermined estimation problem, in which there are more unknown parameters than available sensor measurements. This work builds upon an existing technique for systematically selecting a model tuning parameter vector of appropriate dimension to enable estimation by a Kalman filter, while minimizing the estimation error in the parameters of interest. While the existing technique was optimized for open-loop engine operation at a fixed design point, in this paper an alternative formulation is presented that enables the technique to be optimized for an engine operating under closed-loop control throughout the flight envelope. The theoretical Kalman filter mean squared estimation error at a steady-state closed-loop operating point is derived, and the tuner selection approach applied to minimize this error is discussed. A technique for constructing a globally optimal tuning parameter vector, which enables full-envelope application of the technology, is also presented, along with design steps for adjusting the dynamic response of the Kalman filter state estimates. Results from the application of the technique to linear and nonlinear aircraft engine simulations are presented and compared to the conventional approach of tuner selection. The new methodology is shown to yield a significant improvement in on-line Kalman filter estimation accuracy.Copyright © 2011 by ASME

Development of Jet Noise Power Spectral Laws Using SHJAR Data

Abstract: High quality jet noise spectral data measured at the Aeroacoustic Propulsion Laboratory at the NASA Glenn Research Center is used to examine a number of jet noise scaling laws. Configurations considered in the present study consist of convergent and convergent-divergent axisymmetric nozzles. Following the work of Viswanathan, velocity power factors are estimated using a least squares fit on spectral power density as a function of jet temperature and observer angle. The regression parameters are scrutinized for their uncertainty within the desired confidence margins. As an immediate application of the velocity power laws, spectral density in supersonic jets are decomposed into their respective components attributed to the jet mixing noise and broadband shock associated noise. Subsequent application of the least squares method on the shock power intensity shows that the latter also scales with some power of the shock parameter. A modified shock parameter is defined in order to reduce the dependency of the regression factors on the nozzle design point within the uncertainty margins of the least squares method.

Ballistics Model for Particles on a Horizontal Plane in a Vacuum Propelled by a Vertically Impinging Gas Jet

Abstract: A simple trajectory model has been developed and is presented. The particle trajectory path is estimated by computing the vertical position as a function of the horizontal position using a constant horizontal velocity and a vertical acceleration approximated as a power law. The vertical particle position is then found by solving the differential equation of motion using a double integral of vertical acceleration divided by the square of the horizontal velocity, integrated over the horizontal position. The input parameters are: x(sub 0) and y(sub 0), the initial particle starting point; the derivative of the trajectory at x(sub 0) and y(sub 0), s(sub 0) = s(x(sub 0))= dx(y)/dy conditional expectation y = y((sub 0); and b where bx(sub 0)/y(sub 0) is the final trajectory angle before gravity pulls the particle down. The final parameter v(sub 0) is an approximation to a constant horizontal velocity. This model is time independent, providing vertical position x as a function of horizontal distance y: x(y) = (x(sub 0) + s(sub 0) (y-y(sub 0))) + bx(sub 0) -(s(sub 0)y(sub 0) ((y - y(sub 0)/y(sub 0) - ln((y/y(sub 0)))-((g(y-y(sub 0)(exp 2))/ 2((v(sub 0)(exp 2). The first term on the right in the above equation is due to simple ballistics and a spherically expanding gas so that the trajectory is a straight line intersecting (0,0), which is the point at the center of the gas impingement on the surface. The second term on the right is due to vertical acceleration, which may be positive or negative. The last term on the right is the gravity term, which for a particle with velocities less than escape velocity will eventually bring the particle back to the ground. The parameters b, s(sub 0), and in some cases v(sub 0), are taken from an interpolation of similar parameters determined from a CFD simulation matrix, coupled with complete particle trajectory simulations.

Thermal Properties of Lunar Regolith Simulants

Abstract: Various high temperature chemical processes have been developed to extract oxygen and metals from lunar regolith. These processes are tested using terrestrial analogues of the regolith. But all practical terrestrial analogs contain H2O and/or OH-, the presence of which has substantial impact on important system behaviors. We have undertaken studies of lunar regolith simulants to determine the limits of the simulants to validate key components for human survivability during sustained presence on the moon. Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) yields information on phase transitions and melting temperatures. Themo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) with mass spectrometric (MS) determination of evolved gas species yields chemical information on various oxygenated volatiles (water, carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and phosphorus oxides) and their evolution temperature profiles. The DTA and TGAMS studies included JSC-1A fine, NU-LHT-2M and its proposed feed stocks: anorthosite; dunite; HQ (high quality) glass and the norite from which HQ glass is produced. Fig 1 is a data profile for anorthosite. The DTA (Fig 1a) indicates exothermic transitions at 355 and 490 C and endothermic transitions at 970 and 1235 C. Below the 355 C transition, water (Molecular Weight, MW, 18 in Fig 1c) is lost accounting for approximately 0.1% mass loss due to water removal (Fig 1b). Just above 490 C a second type of water is lost, presumably bound in lattices of secondary minerals. Between 490 and the 970 transition other volatile oxides are lost including those of hydrogen (third water type), carbon (MW = 44), sulfur (MW = 64 and 80), nitrogen (MW 30 and 46) and possibly phosphorus (MW = 79, 95 or 142). Peaks at MW = 35 and 19 may be attributable to loss of chlorine and fluorine respectively. Negative peaks in the NO (MW = 30) and oxygen (MW = 32) MS profiles may indicate the production of NO2 (MW = 46). Because so many compounds are volatilized in this temperature range quantification of the mass loss associated with individual species is difficult. Similar information will be presented for the other materials studied in this investigation.

Engine Icing Modeling and Simulation (Part I): Ice Crystal Accretion on Compression System Components and Modeling its Effects on Engine Performance

Abstract: During the past two decades the occurrence of ice accretionwithin commercial high bypass aircraft turbine engines undercertain operating conditions has been reported. Numerousengine anomalies have taken place at high altitudes that wereattributed to ice crystal ingestion such as degraded engineperformance, engine roll back, compressor surge and stall,and even flameout of the combustor. As ice crystals areingested into the engine and low pressure compressionsystem, the air temperature increases and a portion of the icemelts allowing the ice-water mixture to stick to the metalsurfaces of the engine core. The focus of this paper is onestimating the effects of ice accretion on the low pressurecompressor, and quantifying its effects on the engine systemthroughout a notional flight trajectory. In this paper it wasnecessary to initially assume a temperature range in whichengine icing would occur. This provided a mechanism tolocate potential component icing sites and allow thecomputational tools to add blockages due to ice accretion in aparametric fashion. Ultimately the location and level ofblockage due to icing would be provided by an ice accretioncode. To proceed, an engine system modeling code and amean line compressor flow analysis code were utilized tocalculate the flow conditions in the fan-core and low pressurecompressor and to identify potential locations within thecompressor where ice may accrete. Note that there is abaseline value of aerodynamic blockage due to low velocityair near the compressor inner and outer walls and bladesurfaces (boundary layer blockage). There is also a blockagedue to the blade metal thickness. In this study, the “additionalblockage” refers to blockage due to the accretion of ice on themetal surfaces. Once the potential locations of ice accretionare identified, the levels of additional blockage due toaccretion were parametrically varied to estimate the effectson the low pressure compressor blade row performanceoperating within the engine system environment. This studyincludes detailed analysis of compressor and engineperformance during cruise and descent operating conditionsat several altitudes within the notional flight trajectory. Thepurpose of this effort is to develop the codes to provide apredictive capability to forecast the onset of engine icingevents, such that they could help in the avoidance of theseevents.It has been reported that ice crystal accretion in gas turbineengines is dependent on the amount of mixed phaseconditions (liquid and solid) that exist. In addition, theproblem of ice accretion is highly multi-disciplinary, since itinvolves heat transfer from the air to the compressor metalsurfaces. The first phase of this study focuses on addressingthe thermodynamic cycle through the engine system code andthe mean line flow analysis through the compressor through aflight trajectory. The second phase of this study focuses on