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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 181 records · Page 10

Testing flat-conductor cable

Report describes characteristics of type of FCC which consists of three AWG No. 12 flat copper conductors laminated between two films of polyethylene terephthalate (Mylar) insulation with self-extinguishing polyester adhesive.

Loggins, R. W.↗

Relative stiffness of flat conductor cables

The measurement of the bending moment required to obtain a given deflection in short lengths of flat conductor cable (FCC) is presented in this report. Experimental data were taken on 10 different samples of FCC and normalized to express all bending moments (relative stiffness factor) in terms of a cable 5.1 cm (2.0 in.) in width. Data are presented in tabular and graphical form for the covenience of designers who may be interested in finding torques exerted on critical components by short lengths of FCC.

Hankins, J. D.↗

Development of flat conductor cable for commercial and residential wiring

The overall spectrum of the space technology spin-off development project: development of Flat Conductor Cable (FCC) for commercial and residential wiring, is presented. A discussion of the background, program milestones, industry participants, system outgrowth, hardware availability, cost estimates, and overall status of the program is presented for the 1970-to-present time period.

Carden, J. R.↗

High temperature (Al2O3) insulation and light weight conductors

The of an aluminum conductor with an aluminum oxide insulation film was investigated. Aluminum oxide insulated wire or strip (with a melting point of 2050 C) is unique for applications in the electronic, missile, atomic reactor, aerospace, and aircraft industries. The oxide film is highly flexible, suitable for all windings of any size and shape of coil (magnetic). Briefly touched upon are the ultraviolet, proton gamma radiation uses, as well as high vacuum and cryogenic applications. Since the film is inorganic and chemically inert, it does not age or deteriorate in storage and has good dielectric properties (1000 volts per mil).

Walker, H.↗

Intercalated graphite electrical conductors

For years NASA has wanted to reduce the weight of spacecraft and aircraft. Experiments are conducted to find a lightweight synthetic metal to replace copper. The subject of this paper, intercalated graphite, is such a material. Intercalated graphite is made by heating petroleum or coal to remove the hydrogen and to form more covalent bonds, thus increasing the molecular weight. The coal or petroleum eventually turns to pitch, which can then be drawn into a fiber. With continued heating the pitch-based fiber releases hydrogen and forms a carbon fiber. The carbon fiber, if heated sufficiently, becomes more organized in parallel layers of hexagonally arranged carbon atoms in the form of graphite. A conductor of intercalated graphite is potentially useful for spacecraft or aircraft applications because of its low weight.

Banks, B. A.↗

Effects of particle size distribution in thick film conductors

Studies of particle size distribution in thick film conductors are discussed. The distribution of particle sizes does have an effect on fired film density but the effect is not always positive. A proper distribution of sizes is necessary, and while the theoretical models can serve as guides to selecting this proper distribution, improved densities can be achieved by empirical variations from the predictions of the models.

Vest, R. W.↗

Polymer thick-film conductors and dielectrics for membrane switches and flexible circuitry

The fabrication and operation of membrane switches are discussed. The membrane switch functions as a normally open, momentary contact, low-voltage pressure-sensitive device. Its design is a three-layer sandwich usually constructed of polyester film. Conductive patterns are deposited onto the inner side of top and bottom sheets by silk screening. The center spacer is then placed between the two circuit layers to form a sandwich, generally held together by an adhesive. When pressure is applied to the top layer, it flexes through the punched openings of the spacer to establish electrical contact between conductive pads of the upper and lower sheets, momentarily closing the circuit. Upon release of force the top sheet springs back to its normal open position. The membrane touch switch is being used in a rapidly expanding range of applications, including instrumentation, appliances, electronic games and keyboards. Its board acceptance results from its low cost, durability, ease of manufacture, cosmetic appeal and design flexibility. The principal electronic components in the membrane switch are the conductor and dielectric.

Nazarenko, N.↗

An investigation of arc discharging on negatively biased dielectric conductor samples in a plasma

Proposals are now being developed for the construction of high-power photovoltaic systems for operation in low Earth orbit, where the plasma number density is about 1,000 to 1,000,000 per cubic cm. Existing data indicate that interactions between the plasma and high-voltage surfaces of an orbiting power system will occur. In ground tests, where the applied voltage is increased negatively from ground, the array current collection shows an approximately linear rise until it terminates in arcing at greater than several hundred volts negative. This arcing may reduce the power generation efficiency and could possibly affect the low-level logic circuits of the spacecraft. Therefore it is important that the arcing phenomenon be well understood. This study is a survey of the behavior of different dielectric-conductor samples, including a solar cell module, that were biased negatively in a low-density plasma environment with the intent of defining arc discharge conditions and characteristics. Procedures and results are discussed.

Miller, W. L.↗

Numerical simulations of positively-biased probes and dielectric-conductor disks in a plasma

Plasma densities in the low-earth orbit range may be sufficient to cause difficulties for spacecraft operating at high voltages in this environment. The present investigation is concerned with the results of a continuing effort to develop a particle-in-cell (PIC), cylindrically-symmetric, 2-1/2 dimensional, self-consistent numerical simulation code. The simulation has the objective to explore the interactions of an ambient plasma with a conducting disk, which may be partially covered by a dielectric material. The disk and the surrounding dielectric material represent a hole in an insulator covering a conductor. Attention is given to a review of the simulation model, plain disk calculations, the disk and dielectric configuration, and the 'pinhole' effect.

Brandon, S. T.↗

Numerical simulation of positive-potential conductors in the presence of a plasma and a secondary-emitting dielectric

A 2 1/2-dimensional, cylindrically symmetric particle in cell program is used to simulate the interaction of a plasma with a positively biased disk covered by a dielectric material (Kapton). Several runs using different combinations of bias voltages and secondary electron yields are discussed. Special attention is paid to the role of the secondaries as the dielectric surface changes from a negative potential to become increasingly positive. This is termed the 'snapover' process. The contribution due to secondaries is examined by plotting the distribution (number versus position) of the particles emitted by the impacting on the dielectric. These plots show that secondaries are drawn back into the dielectric as well as the conductor in the case of snapover. Mechanisms and experimental implications for these particular distributions are discussed.

Kessel, R. L.↗

Measuring Conductor Widths and Spacings Electrically

Widths and spacings of conductor lines on integrated circuits measured electrically by split cross-bridge resistor technique. Speeds evaluation of integrated-circuit fabrication processes. When measurement of probe currents and voltages and reduction of measurement data automated, test structure probed and characterized in less than one second.

Buehler, Martin G.↗

Tester for Multiple-Conductor Cables

Portable testing circuit enables technician to determine quickly wiring errors in multiple-conductor electrical cable or terminal connectors. Active unit tester made of inexpensive integrated circuits and other readily available components. Timer and one-shot generate pulses counted by shift registers. Shift-register output terminals wired to connector pins so voltage applied to each pin in sequence.

Wirth, Manfred N.↗

Cutoff wavenumbers and modes for annular-cross-section waveguide with eccentric inner conductor of small radius

Analytical expressions are derived for the cutoff wavenumbers and the corresponding modes in annular-cross-section waveguides having inner conductors of small radius. Waveguides with circular and rectangular outer boundary are considered. In the case of the circular eccentric annular waveguide, comparison is made between the values of cutoff wavenumbers computed from the expressions derived in this paper and data obtained by a more rigorous numerical technique.

Davidovitz, Marat↗

RCS of a coated circular waveguide terminated by a perfect conductor

The radar cross section (RCS) of a circular waveguide terminated by a perfect electric conductor is calculated by the geometrical theory of diffraction for the rim diffraction and by a physical optics approximation for the interior irradiation. The interior irradiation is generally more than 10 dB higher than the rim diffraction for a/lambda equal to or greater than 1 (a is the waveguide radius, lambda is the free-space wavelength). At low frequencies (a/lambda about 1), the interior irradiation can be significantly reduced over a broad range of incident angle if the interior waveguide wall is coated with a thin layer (1 percent of the radius) of lossy magnetic material. Our theoretical prediction is confirmed by measurements. At higher frequencies (a/lambda about 3), a thin layer of coating is effective for the case of near axial incidence, provided that a good transition of the TE(11) mode near the waveguide opening to the HE(11) mode inside the waveguide is made. A thicker layer of coating is required for the RCS reduction over wider incident angle.

Lee, Choon S.↗

Analysis of Microstrip Lines with Alternative Implementation of Conductors and Superconductors

An analysis of microstrip line structures in which either the strip or the ground plane or both are made of a high Tc superconductor is presented. The effect of implementation of a superconductor to the strip and the ground plane is explained with the calculation of a conductor loss of the structure by the Phenomenological Loss Equivalence Method (PEM). The theoretical values are compared with the experimental results from a ring resonator which is made of a gold ground plane and a high Tc superconductor, YBa2Cu3O(7-x), strip.

Kong, K.-S.↗

Wideband finite difference time domain implementation of surface impedance boundary conditions for good conductors

Surface impedance boundary conditions are employed to reduce the solution volume during the analysis of scattering from lossy dielectric objects. In a finite difference solution, they also can be utilized to avoid using small cells, made necessary by shorter wavelengths in conducting media, throughout the solution volume. A 1-D implementation for a surface impedance boundary condition for good conductors in the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) technique.

Beggs, John H.↗

Wideband finite difference time domain implementation of surface impedance boundary conditions for good conductors

Surface impedance boundary conditions are used to reduce the solution volume during the analysis of scattering from lossy dielectric objects. In a finite difference solution, they also can be used to avoid using small cells, made necessary by shorter wavelengths in conducting media, throughout the solution volume. A one dimensional implementation is presented for a surface impedance boundary condition for good conductors in the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) technique. In order to illustrate the FDTD surface impedance boundary condition, a planar air-lossy dielectric interface is considered.

Beggs, John H.↗