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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

Catalysis of hydrolysis and nucleophilic substitution at the P-N bond of phosphoimidazolide-activated nucleotides in phosphate buffers

Phosphoimidazolide-activated derivatives of guanosine and cytidine 5'-monophosphates, henceforth called ImpN's, exhibit enhanced rates of degradation in the presence of aqueous inorganic phosphate in the range 4.0 < or = pH < or = 8.6. This degradation is been attributed to (i) nucleophilic substitution of the imidazolide and (ii) catalysis of the P-N bond hydrolysis by phosphate. The first reaction results in the formation of nucleoside 5'-diphosphate and the second in nucleoside 5'-monophosphate. Analysis of the observed rates as well as the product ratios as a function of pH and phosphate concentration allow distinction between various mechanistic possibilities. The results show that both H2PO4- and HPO4(2-) participate in both hydrolysis and nucleophilic substitution. Statistically corrected biomolecular rate constants indicate that the dianion is 4 times more effective as a general base than the monoanion, and 8 times more effective as nucleophile. The low Bronsted value beta = 0.15 calculated for these phosphate species, presumed to act as general bases in facilitating water attack, is consistent with the fact that catalysis of the hydrolysis of the P-N bond in ImpN's has not been detected before. The beta nuc = 0.35 calculated for water, H2PO4-, HPO4(2-), and hydroxide acting as nucleophiles indicates a more associative transition state for nucleotidyl (O2POR- with R = nucleoside) transfers than that observed for phosphoryl (PO3(2-)) transfers (beta nuc = 0.25). With respect to the stability/reactivity of ImpN's under prebiotic conditions, our study shows that these materials would not suffer additional degradation due to inorganic phosphate, assuming the concentrations of phosphate, Pi, on prebiotic Earth were similar to those in the present oceans ([Pi] approximately 2.25 micromoles).

NASA Discipline Number 52-20↗

Flexural Properties of Aramid-Reinforced Pultrusions

Four resin systems show improved properties after postcuring. Comparison of flexural properties made of pultrusions reinforced by Kevlar (or equivalent) aromatic polyamide and having constant fiber volume and varied matrices, pretreatments, and postcures. Objective of study to improve flexural properties of pultrusion reinforced with Kevlar (or equivalent). Advantages of using pultrusion process, over conventional hand-layup methods included higher production rates, low facility and labor requirements, and reduced manufacturing costs of advanced composites.

Wilson, M. L.↗

A thermal NO(x) prediction model - Scalar computation module for CFD codes with fluid and kinetic effects

A thermal NO(x) prediction model is developed to interface with a CFD, k-epsilon based code. A converged solution from the CFD code is the input to the postprocessing model for prediction of thermal NO(x). The model uses a decoupled analysis to estimate the equilibrium level of (NO(x))e which is the constant rate limit. This value is used to estimate the flame (NO(x)) and in turn predict the rate of formation at each node using a two-step Zeldovich mechanism. The rate is fixed on the NO(x) production rate plot by estimating the time to reach equilibrium by a differential analysis based on the reaction: O + N2 = NO + N. The rate is integrated in the nonequilibrium time space based on the residence time at each node in the computational domain. The sum of all nodal predictions yields the total NO(x) level.

Mcbeath, Giorgio↗

A spectroscopic experimental and computer-assisted empirical model for the production and energetics of excited oxygen molecules formed by atom recombination on shuttle tile surfaces

A visible emission spectroscopic method was developed. The amounts of excited singlet and triplet oxygen molecules produced by recombination on the Space Shuttle Orbiter thermal protective tiles at elevated temperatures are determined. Rate constants and energetics of the extremely exothermic reaction are evaluated in terms of a chemical and mathematical model. Implications for potential contribution to Shuttle surface reentry heating fluxes are outlined.

Owan, D. A.↗

Performance Characteristics of Venturi Tubes Used in Aircraft for Operating Air-driven Gyroscopic Instruments

Wind tunnel and flight tests were made to determine the performance characteristics of two designs of commercially available venturi tubes used in airplanes to operate air-driven gyroscopic instruments. Data obtained at sea level may be used to make approximate predictions of performance at higher altitudes. There is some indication that this may also be done for single venturi tubes. For a given installation in which an air-driven instrument is connected through tubing with a venturi tube, the volume rate of induced air flow is approximately proportional to the product of indicated air speed and the square root of the ratio of standard to ambient air pressure. The efficiency of such a system at a given altitude is constant. Rather large variations in suction and efficiency were found for individual tubes of the same design. Cylindrical fairings on the external surface resulted in a reduction of both drag and suction but little change in efficiency.

Sontag, Harcourt↗

Kinetics and product studies of the BrO + ClO reaction - Implications for Antarctic chemistry

Discharge flow-mass spectrometry and flash photolysis-UV spectrometry were used to investigate the reaction of ClO with BrO over the temperature range of 220-400 K and the pressure range of 1-760 Torr. Rate constants were determined for: (1) Br + ClOO, (2) Br + OClO, and (3) BrCl + O2. It is found that the rate constants for the overall reaction and each reaction branch are inversely dependent on temperature and independent of pressure. For temperatures found in the Antarctic stratosphere, the rate coefficients for the channels yielding ClOO and OClO are a factor of 2-3 larger than previously estimated.

Sander, Stanley P.↗

Chemical kinetic modeling of benzene and toluene oxidation behind shock waves

The oxidation of stoichiometric mixtures of benzene and toluene behind incident shock waves was studied for a temperature range from 1700 to 2800 K and a pressure range from 1.1 to 1.7 atm. The concentration of CO and CO2 produced were measured as well as the product of the oxygen atom and carbon monoxide concentrations. Comparisons between the benzene experimental data and results calculated by use of a reaction mechanism published in the open literature were carried out. With some additional reactions and changes in rate constants to reflect the pressure-temperature range of the experimental data, a good agreement was achieved between computed and experimental results. A reaction mechanism was developed for toluene oxidation based on analogous rate steps from the benzene mechanism. Measurements of NOx levels in an actual flame device, a jet-stirred combustor, were reproduced successfully by use of the reaction mechanism developed from the shock-tube experiments on toluene. These experimental measurements of NOx levels were reproduced from a computer simulation of a jet-stirred combustor.

Mclain, A. G.↗

Crack layer morphology and toughness characterization in steels

Both the macro studies of crack layer propagation are presented. The crack extension resistance parameter R sub 1 based on the morphological study of microdefects is introduced. Experimental study of the history dependent nature of G sub c supports the representation of G sub c as a product of specific enthalpy of damage (material constant) and R sub 1. The latter accounts for the history dependence. The observation of nonmonotonic crack growth under monotonic changes of J as well as statistical features of the critical energy release rate (variance of G sub c) indicate the validity of the proposed damage characterization.

Chudnovsky, A.↗

Measured ion-molecule reaction rates for modelling Titan's atmosphere

Rate coefficients for several two- and three-body ion-molecule reactions involving hydrocarbons have been determined at thermal energies and above using drift tube-mass spectrometer techniques. The measured rates for clustering and breakup reactions involving CH5(+) and C2H5(+) ions in methane are found to be strongly temperature dependent in the range from 80 to 240 K. The equilibrium constants determined for these reactions differ somewhat from those of Hiraoka and Kebarle (1975). Rate coefficients for two-body reactions of CH5(+), C2H5(+), N(+), H(+), and D(+) ions with methane and/or ethane have been measured. The results indicate that the product yields of several of the fast ion-molecule reactions depend strongly on ion energy (temperature), and therefore previous room-temperature results may be of limited value for model calculations of Titan's atmosphere.

Dheandhanoo, S.↗

Engineering verification of the biomass production chamber

The requirements for life support systems, both biological and physical-chemical, for long-term human attended space missions are under serious study throughout NASA. The KSC 'breadboard' project has focused on biomass production using higher plants for atmospheric regeneration and food production in a special biomass production chamber. This chamber is designed to provide information on food crop growth rate, contaminants in the chamber that alter plant growth requirements for atmospheric regeneration, carbon dioxide consumption, oxygen production, and water utilization. The shape and size, mass, and energy requirements in relation to the overall integrity of the biomass production chamber are under constant study.

Prince, R. P.↗

Gas-Phase Formation Rates of Nitric Acid and Its Isomers Under Urban Conditions

Ozone formation in urban smog is controlled by a complex set of reactions which includes radical production from photochemical processes, catalytic cycles which convert NO to NO2, and termination steps that tie up reactive intermediates in long-lived reservoirs. The reaction OH + NO2 + M -4 HONO2 + M (la) is a key termination step because it transforms two short-lived reactive intermediates, OH and NO2, into relatively long-lived nitric acid. Under certain conditions (low VOC/NOx), ozone production in polluted urban airsheds can be highly sensitive to this reaction, but the rate parameters are not well constrained. This report summarizes the results of new laboratory studies of the OH + NO2 + M reaction including direct determination of the overall rate constant and branching ratio for the two reaction channels under atmospherically relevant conditions.

Air pollution↗

A kinetic study of the interaction between atomic oxygen and aerosols

This study was concerned with the effects of NH4Cl and (NH4)2SO4 aerosols on the kinetics of disappearance of atomic oxygen. Atomic oxygen was generated by a 2.45-GHz microwave discharge and the kinetics of disappearance measured in a fast flow system using NO2 titration. Values of the recombination coefficient for heterogeneous wall recombination were determined for clean, H2SO4-coated, and (NH4)2SO4-coated Pyrex to be 0.000050, 0.000020, and 0.000019, respectively. A rapid exothermic chemical reaction was found to occur between atomic oxygen and an NH4Cl wall coating; the products were NH3, NO, H2O, and HCl. The NH4Cl aerosol was generated by gas phase reaction of NH3 with HCl. The aerosol particles were approximately spherical and nearly monodisperse with a mean diameter of 1.6 plus or minus 0.2 micron. The rate constant for the disappearance of atomic oxygen in the presence of NH4Cl aerosol was measured. No significant decrease was observed in the rate of disappearance of atomic oxygen in the presence of an (NH4)2SO4 aerosol at a concentration of 285 mg per cu m.

Akers, F. I.↗

Low-Temperature Friction-Stir Welding of 2024 Aluminum

Solid state friction-stir welding (FSW) has been demonstrated to involve dynamic recrystallization producing ultra-fine, equiaxed grain structures to facilitate superplastic deformation as the welding or joining mechanism. However, the average residual, equiaxed, grain size in the weld zone has ranged from roughly 0.5 micron to slightly more than 10 micron, and the larger weld zone grain sizes have been characterized as residual or static grain growth as a consequence of the temperatures in the weld zone (where center-line temperatures in the FSW of 6061 Al have been shown to be as high as 480C or -0.8 T(sub M) where T(sub M) is the absolute melting temperature)). In addition, the average residual weld zone grain size has been observed to increase near the top of the weld, and to decrease with distance on either side of the weld-zone centerline, an d this corresponds roughly to temperature variations within the weld zone. The residual grain size also generally decreases with decreasing FSW tool rotation speed. These observations are consistent with the general rules for recrystallization where the recrystallized grain size decreases with increasing strain (or deformation) at constant strain rate, or with increasing strain-rate, or with increasing strain rate at constant strain; especially at lower ambient temperatures, (or annealing temperatures). Since the recrystallization temperature also decreases with increasing strain rate, the FSW process is somewhat complicated because the ambient temperature, the frictional heating fraction, and the adiabatic heating fraction )proportional to the product of strain and strain-rate) will all influence both the recrystallization and growth within the FSW zone. Significantly reducing the ambient temperature of the base metal or work pieces to be welded would be expected to reduce the residual weld-zone grain size. The practical consequences of this temperature reduction would be the achievement of low temperature welding. This study compares the residual grain sizes and microstructures in 2024 Al friction-stir welded at room temperature (about 30C and low temperature (-30C).

Benavides, S.↗

Quantifying the Evolution of Molecular Production Rates of Comet 21P/Giacobini–Zinner with iSHELL/NASA-IRTF

This paper presents results from our molecular characterization of comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner during its 2018 apparition. We followed the comet during four observing runs, for a total of 8 nights. The high-resolution spectra of 21P were acquired using iSHELL - the near-IR high resolution immersion echelle spectrograph on NASA/IRTF (Mauna Kea, Hawaii). We detected many cometary emission lines across four customized iSHELL settings in the (2.9 – 5.2) μm range. CO abundances relative to water displayed a relatively constant behavior during the observing campaign, suggesting a possible correlation between the outgassing of water and CO. While CO mixing ratios in 21P are consistent with the reference median value for Jupiter Family comets (JFCs), ethane was depleted relative to the reference median value for JFCs, excepting one observing run (8th and 9th Aug) in which ethane appeared overabundant. We consider several possible causes: an ethane outburst, decreasing outgassing of water, or a seasonal effect owing to nucleus rotation. In the pre-perihelion runs, methanol was overabundant compared with the reference median value for JFCs, however it decreased steadily to a depleted value during 21P’s post-perihelion phase, suggesting a possible seasonal effect. We report 3-s upper limits for acetylene, formaldehyde, ammonia and methane. The ratios of our measured 3-s upper limits for acetylene and detections of hydrogen cyanide are consistent with the depletion of C2 relative to CN in 21P observed at optical wavelengths. This result confirms that 21P is depleted in the carbon chain primary volatile responsible for C2 production.

Faggi S.↗

A Kinetic and Product Study of the Cl + HO2 Reaction

Absolute rate data and product branching ratios for the reactions Cl + HO2 to HCl + O2 (k1a) and Cl + HO2 to OH + ClO (k1b) have been measured from 226 to 336 K at a total pressure of 1 Torr of helium using the discharge flow resonance fluorescence technique coupled with infrared diode laser spectroscopy. For kinetic measurements, pseudo-first-order conditions were used with both reagents in excess in separate experiments. HO2 was produced by two methods: through the termolecular reaction of H atoms with O2 and also by the reaction of F atoms with H2O2. Cl atoms were produced by a microwave discharge of Cl2 in He. HO2 radicals were converted to OH radicals prior to detection by resonance fluorescence at 308 nm. Cl atoms were detected directly at 138 nm also by resonance fluorescence. Measurement of the consumption of HO2 in excess Cl yielded k1a and measurement of the consumption of Cl in excess HO2 yielded the total rate coefficient, k1. Values of k1a and k1 derived from kinetic experiments expressed in Arrhenius form are (1.6 +/- 0.2) x 10-11 exp[(249 +/- 34)/T] and (2.8 +/- 0.1) x 10-11 exp[(123 +/- 15)/T] cm3 molecule-1 s-1, respectively. As the expression for k1 is only weakly temperature dependent, we report a temperature-independent value of k1 = (4.5 +/- 0.4) x 10-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1. Additionally, an Arrhenius expression for k1b can also be derived: k1b = (7.7 +/- 0.8) x 10-11 exp[-(708 +/- 29)/T] cm3 molecule-1 s-1. These expressions for k1a and k1b are valid for 226 K T 336 and 256 K T 296 K, respectively. The cited errors are at the level of a single standard deviation. For the product measurements, an excess of Cl was added to known concentrations of HO2 and the reaction was allowed to reach completion. HCl product concentrations were determined by IR absorption yielding the ratio k1a/k1 over the temperature range 236 K T 296 K. OH product concentrations were determined by resonance fluorescence giving rise to the ratio k1b/k1 over the temperature range 226 K T 336 K. Both of these ratios were subsequently converted to absolute numbers. Values of k1a and k1b from the product experiments expressed in Arrhenius form are (1.5 +/- 0.1) x 10-11 exp[(222 +/- 17)/T] and (10.6 +/- 1.5) x 10-11 exp[-(733 +/- 41)/T] cm3 molecule-1 s-1, respectively. These expressions for k1a and k1b are valid for 256 K T 296 and 226 K T 336 K, respectively. A combination of the kinetic and product data results in the following Arrhenius expressions for k1a and k1b of (1.4 +/- 0.3) x 10-11 exp[(269 +/- 58)/T] and (12.7 +/- 4.1) x 10-11 exp[-(801 +/- 94)/T] cm3 molecule-1 s-1, respectively. Numerical simulations were used to check for interferences from secondary chemistry in both the kinetic and product experiments and also to quantify the losses incurred during the conversion process HO2 to OH for detection purposes.

rate constants↗

Fluid dynamics of the unsteady two phase processes leading to DDT in granular solid propellants

Deflagration to Detonation (DDT) was predicted to occur in porous beds of high-energy solid propellants by solving the unsteady fluid mechanical convective heat transfer from hot gas products, obtained from the rapid burning at high pressures, provides the impetus to develop a narrow combustion zone and a resulting strong shock. A parametric study clearly indicates that DDT occurs only when a combination of the solids loading fraction, the burning rate constants, the propellant chemical energy, and the particle size provide for critical energy and gas release to support a detonation wave. Predictions for the run-up length to detonation as a function of these parameters are presented.

Krier, H.↗

Ethylene production throughout growth and development of plants

Ethylene production by 10 or 20 m2 stands of wheat, soybean, lettuce, potato, and tomato was monitored throughout growth and development in an atmospherically closed plant chamber. Chamber ethylene levels varied among species and rose during periods of canopy expansion and rapid growth for all species. Following this, ethylene levels either declined during seed fill and maturation for wheat and soybean, or remained relatively constant for potato and tomato (during flowering and early fruit development). Lettuce plants were harvested during rapid growth and peak ethylene production. Chamber ethylene levels increased rapidly during tomato ripening, reaching concentrations about 10 times that measured during vegetative growth. The highest ethylene production rates during vegetative growth ranged from 1.6 to 2.5 nmol m-2 d-1 during rapid growth of lettuce and wheat stands, or about 0.3 to 0.5 nmol g-1 fresh weight per hour. Estimates of stand ethylene production during tomato ripening showed that rates reached 43 nmol m-2 d-1 in one study and 93 nmol m-2 d-1 in a second study with higher lighting, or about 50x that of the rate during vegetative growth of tomato. In a related test with potato, the photoperiod was extended from 12 to 24 hours (continuous light) at 58 days after planting (to increase tuber yield), but this change in the environment caused a sharp increase in ethylene production from the basal rate of 0.4 to 6.2 nmol m-2 d-1. Following this, the photoperiod was changed back to 12 h at 61 days and ethylene levels decreased. The results suggest three separate categories of ethylene production were observed with whole stands of plants: 1) production during rapid vegetative growth, 2) production during climacteric fruit ripening, and 3) production from environmental stress.

NASA Discipline Life Support Systems↗

Mass property control of a synchronous meteorological satellite scanning experiment.

A scanning mirror assembly which is part of a Synchronous Orbit Meteorological Satellite is an example where mission objectives required measurement and control of weight, mass center, principal moments of inertia, and products of inertia. The scanning mirror oscillates within the spin stabilized spacecraft, and both the scanning motor torque and perturbation of spacecraft attitude and spin rate have to be reduced to low levels. A theoretically ideal solution would be to make the mirror inertia constant about all axes in a plane perpendicular to the oscillation axis. A practically attainable compromise is to locate principal axes preferentially and make the difference between two of them acceptably small. Methods for making the necessary mass property measurements and deriving and applying minimum weight ballast correction to achieve the necessary mass distribution are discussed. It is noted that mass property control operations are typically subject to practical constraints such as geometry and functional operation of the system and capability of available measurement facilities and fixtures.

Lang, W. E.↗