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Engineering topics

Guist, L. R.

Publications and source records attributed to Guist, L. R..

Investigation of flexible nozzle wall-flutter incidents in the NASA-Ames Research Center 11- by 11-foot transonic wind tunnel

Twice during the spring of 1978, the two steel-plate 'flex-walls' that form the variable-geometry nozzle of the 11- by 11-foot tunnel at Ames Research Center experienced a severe dynamic instability. Both walls fluttered in the fundamental beam-bending mode and experienced stresses approaching the yield strength of the material. Both flutter incidents occurred at Mach numbers of about 1.15. The tunnel, operational for 24 years, had no history of such an instability. The cause of these flutter incidents, the steps taken to prevent a recurrence, and the requalification of the facility are described.

Erickson, L. L.

Solid medium thermal engine

A device is described which uses a single phase metallic working substance to convert thermal energy directly into mechanical energy. The device consists of a cylindrical metal tube which is free to rotate about its axis while being subjected to continuous bending moment stresses along the longitudinal axis of rotation. The stressing causes portions of the tube to be under compression while other parts are under tension which in turn causes the tube to rotate and provide mechanical energy.

Jedlicka, J. R.

Metal tube used as solar engine

Ends of metal tube are fastened to axles which are supported on bearings so tube can rotate about its long axis while subjected to invariant bending moment that stresses it along longitudinal axis of rotation. Heat absorbed leads to expansion of metal, which unbalances internal forces and generates rotational moment in tube.

Jedlicka, J. R.

Bileaf mechanical strain gage

Bileaf lever detects small deformations by highly magnifying linear displacements. Device is applicable to force measuring instruments, pressure cells, temperature gages, existing strain gages, dial gages, or extensometers. Additional magnification is obtained by cementing a small mirror to mobile end of bileaf.

Guist, L. R.

Simple method for forming thin-wall pressure vessels

Application of internal hydrostatic pressure to seam-welded circular cylindrical tanks having corner-welded, flat, circular ends forms large thin-walled high quality tanks. Form limits expansion of cylindrical portion of final tank while hemispherical ends develop freely; no external form or restraint is required to fabricate spherical tanks.

Erickson, A. L.