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Price, J. M.

Publications and source records attributed to Price, J. M..

Degradation Factor Approach for Impacted Composite Structural Assessment: MSFC Center Director's Discretionary Fund Final Report, Project No. 96-17

This technical memorandum documents the results of the research to develop a concept for assessing the structural integrity of impacted composite structures using the strength degradation factor in conjunction with available finite element tools. For this purpose, a literature search was conducted, a plan for conducting impact testing on two laminates was developed, and a finite element model of the impact process was created. Specimens for the impact testing were fabricated to support the impact testing plan.

Ortega, R.

Measurement of Plastic Stress and Strain for Analytical Method Verification (MSFC Center Director's Discretionary Fund Project No. 93-08)

The analytical prediction of stress, strain, and fatigue life at locations experiencing local plasticity is full of uncertainties. Much of this uncertainty arises from the material models and their use in the numerical techniques used to solve plasticity problems. Experimental measurements of actual plastic strains would allow the validity of these models and solutions to be tested. This memorandum describes how experimental plastic residual strain measurements were used to verify the results of a thermally induced plastic fatigue failure analysis of a space shuttle main engine fuel pump component.

Price, J. M.

Review of blunt body wake flows at hypersonic low density conditions

Recent results of experimental and computational studies concerning hypersonic flows about blunted cones including their near wake are reviewed. Attention is focused on conditions where rarefaction effects are present, particularly in the wake. The experiments have been performed for a common model configuration (70 deg spherically-blunted cone) in five hypersonic facilities that encompass a significant range of rarefaction and nonequilibrium effects. Computational studies using direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) and Navier-Stokes solvers have been applied to selected experiments performed in each of the facilities. In addition, computations have been made for typical flight conditions in both Earth and Mars atmospheres, hence more energetic flows than produced in the ground-based tests. Also, comparisons of DSMC calculations and forebody measurements made for the Japanese Orbital Reentry Experiment (OREX) vehicle (a 50 deg spherically-blunted cone) are presented to bridge the spectrum of ground to flight conditions.

Moss, J. N.

DSMC calculations for 70-deg blunted cone at 3.2 km/s in nitrogen

Numerical results obtained with the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method are presented for Mach 15.6 nitrogen flow about a 70-deg spherically blunted cone at zero incidence. This flow condition is one of several generated in the Large Energy National Shock (LENS) tunnel during tests of a 15.24 cm diameter model with an afterbody sting. The freestream Knudsen number, based on model diameter, is 0.0023. The focus of the DSMC calculations is to characterize the near wake flow under conditions where rarefaction effects may influence afterbody aerothermal loads. This report provides information concerning computational details along with flowfield and surface quantities. Calculations show that the flow enveloping the test model is in thermal nonequilibrium and a sizable vortex develops in the near wake. Along the model baseplane the heating rates are about 0.6 percent of the forebody stagnation value while the maximum heating along the sting is about 4.2 percent of the forebody stagnation value. Comparison of a Navier-Stokes solution with the present calculations show good agreement for surface heating, pressure, and skin friction results.

Moss, J. N.

Advanced Main Combustion Chamber structural jacket strength analysis

The structural analysis of the Advanced Main Combustion Chamber (AMCC) is presented. The AMCC is an advanced fabrication concept of the Space Shuttle Main Engine main combustion chamber (MCC). Reduced cost and fabrication time of up to 75 percent were the goals of the AMCC with cast jacket with vacuum plasma sprayed or platelet liner. Since the cast material for the AMCC is much weaker than the wrought material for the MCC, the AMCC is heavier and strength margins much lower in some areas. Proven hand solutions were used to size the manifolds cutout tee areas for combined pressure and applied loads. Detailed finite element strength analyses were used to size the manifolds, longitudinal ribs, and jacket for combined pressure and applied local loads. The design of the gimbal actuator strut attachment lugs were determined by finite element analyses and hand solutions.

Johnston, L. M.

Direct Monte Carlo Simulations of Hypersonic Low-Density Flows about an ASTV Including Wake Structure

Results of a numerical study concerning flow past a 70-deg blunted cone in hypersonic low-density flow environments are presented using the direct simulation Monte-Carlo method. The flow conditions simulated are those that can be obtained in existing low-density hypersonic wind tunnels. Results indicate that a stable vortex forms in the near wake at and below a freestream Knudsen number (based on cone diameter) of 0.01 and the size of the vortex increases with decreasing Knudsen number. The base region of the flow remains in thermal nonequilibrium for all cases considered herein.

Dogra, V. K.

Space Shuttle main engine powerhead structural modeling, stress and fatigue life analysis. Volume 3: Stress summay of blades and nozzles at FPL and 115 percent RPL loads. SSME HPFTP and HPOTP blades and nozzles

Gasdynamic environments applied to the turbine blades and nozzles of the HPFTP and HPOTP were analyzed. Centrifugal loads were applied to blades to account for the pump rotation of FPL and 115 percent RPL. The computer models used in the blade analysis with results presented in the form of temperature and stress contour plots are described. Similar information is given for the nozzles.

Hammett, J. C.

Atmospheric definition for Shuttle aerothermodynamic investigations

A procedure has been developed to estimate the freestream atmospheric properties along the Shuttle trajectory during atmospheric re-entry. The procedure utilizes measurement data obtained by NASA, NOAA, and the Air Force, and model data for regions where measured data are nonexistent. The results obtained are used to determine the best atmosphere-relative trajectory parameters during re-entry and to allow for an evaluation of the aerodynamic and aerothermodynamic characteristics of the Shuttle. A discussion of the method employed by the Langley Atmospheric Information Retrieval System, which is a computer code for the determination of atmospheric parameters, is presented. Results obtained from the first two Shuttle flights, STS-1 and STS-2, are also given with applications of these atmospheric parameters.

Price, J. M.

Atmospheric determination for Shuttle aerodynamic studies

Evaluation of the aerodynamic performance of the Shuttle during atmospheric reentry requires a determination of the free-stream atmospheric properties along the entry path. This determination must be of the best possible accuracy in order to fully utilize the Shuttle as an aerodynamic flight research vehicle. To accomplish this, two Shuttle Orbiter experiments, the Shuttle Upper Atmosphere Mass Spectrometer (SUMS) and the Shuttle Entry Air Data System (SEADS), are being developed to provide onboard measurements. SUMS will measure freestream parameters in the high altitude (above 90 km), high Mach number (M above 20) regions where conventional static pressure measurements are not available. SEADS will provide research quality data below about 90 km. Since these two experiments were not installed for the Shuttle developmental flights, an alternate method was needed to determine the freestream atmospheric properties along the entry trajectory. The method which was developed is described with a discussion of the results from the first five Shuttle flights.

Price, J. M.

Structural dynamic analysis of the Space Shuttle Main Engine

This structural dynamic analysis supports development of the SSME by evaluating components subjected to critical dynamic loads, identifying significant parameters, and evaluating solution methods. Engine operating parameters at both rated and full power levels are considered. Detailed structural dynamic analyses of operationally critical and life limited components support the assessment of engine design modifications and environmental changes. Engine system test results are utilized to verify analytic model simulations. The SSME main chamber injector assembly is an assembly of 600 injector elements which are called LOX posts. The overall LOX post analysis procedure is shown.

Scott, L. P.

Determination of atmospheric properties for STS-1 aerothermodynamic investigations

A procedure for determining an approximation to the freestream atmospheric properties along the Shuttle entry trajectory is presented. Meteorological data as input is obtained by rawinsondes from surface to 70 km, and meteorological spheres from 60-90 km, launched from Hawaii and California. The Langley Atmospheric Information Retrieval System (LAIRS) developed to approximate the atmospheric freestream properties along the flight path, is outlined, noting temperature and wind data are interpolated in altitude, while gradients and diurnal and semidiurnal coefficients are taken from the COSPAR reference atmosphere. The data are input to a model to project temperature profiles for the Shuttle descent, and the input atmospheric parameters are listed. Efforts are continuing in order to correct discrepancies in the generated profiles for regions below 3 km.

Price, J. M.

Early developments in solar cooling equipment

A brief description of a development program to design, fabricate and field test a series of solar operated or driven cooling devices, undertaken by the Marshall Space Flight Center in the context of the Solar Heating and Cooling Demonstration Act of 1974, is presented. Attention is given to two basic design concepts: the Rankine cycle principle and the use of a dessicant for cooling.

Price, J. M.

ERDA/NASA-MSFC solar heating and cooling development and demonstration program

The role of the Manned Space Flight Center (MSFC) in the National Solar Heating and Cooling program is evaluated. The responsibilities of the MSFC within this program are (1) to manage the development and testing of solar heating and cooling systems leading to marketable products, (2) to develop data acquisition equipment supporting a national data program, and (3) to manage and collect data from commercial demonstration sites. MSFC test facilities and demonstration sites are described.

Price, J. M.

A smoothing algorithm using cubic spline functions

Two algorithms are presented for smoothing arbitrary sets of data. They are the explicit variable algorithm and the parametric variable algorithm. The former would be used where large gradients are not encountered because of the smaller amount of calculation required. The latter would be used if the data being smoothed were double valued or experienced large gradients. Both algorithms use a least-squares technique to obtain a cubic spline fit to the data. The advantage of the spline fit is that the first and second derivatives are continuous. This method is best used in an interactive graphics environment so that the junction values for the spline curve can be manipulated to improve the fit.

Smith, R. E., Jr.

Computer program for solving compressible nonsimilar-boundary-layer equations for laminar, transitional, or turbulent flows of a perfect gas

A computer program is described which solves the compressible laminar, transitional, or turbulent boundary-layer equations for planar or axisymmetric flows. Three-point implicit difference relations are used to reduce the momentum and energy equations to finite-difference form. These equations are solved simultaneously without iteration. Turbulent flow is treated by the inclusion of either a two-layer eddy-viscosity model or a mixing-length formulation. The eddy conductivity is related to the eddy viscosity through a static turbulent Prandtl number which may be an arbitrary function of the distance from the wall boundary. The transitional boundary layer is treated by the inclusion of an intermittency function which modifies the fully turbulent model. The laminar-boundary-layer equations are recovered when the intermittency is zero, and the fully turbulent equations are solved when the intermittency is unity.

Price, J. M.