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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

Kinetic friction attributed to enhanced radiation by cyclotron maser instability

Along the auroral field lines, a fraction of the energetic electrons injected from the magnetotail is reflected by the earth's convergent geomagnetic field. The reflected loss-cone electrons are unstable with respect to the cyclotron maser instability, resulting in the auroral kilometric radiation. This paper investigates the kinetic friction force exerted on the energetic electrons by the enhanced radiation field. It is found that the enhanced radiation results in a deceleration of reflected electrons, thereby providing an effective resistivity. In addition, the rate of decrease (increase) of effective perpendicular (parallel) kinetic temperatures is also evaluated. The analysis is carried out over various physical parameters such as the degree of loss cone, average particle energy, and the ratio of plasma frequency to cyclotron frequency.

Yoon, Peter H.↗

The role of frictional stress in misfit dislocation generation

An evaluation is undertaken of the implications of the friction and frictionless models of misfit dislocation generation in view of: (1) experimental measurements of the critical thickness above which misfit dislocation generation occurs; and (2) the amount of strain relaxation that occurs as a function of layer thickness, time, and temperature. Some of the frictional force terms that were expected to exhibit a strong temperature dependence are shown to be independent of temperature.

Jesser, William A.↗

Split torque transmission load sharing

Split torque transmissions are attractive alternatives to conventional planetary designs for helicopter transmissions. The split torque designs can offer lighter weight and fewer parts but have not been used extensively for lack of experience, especially with obtaining proper load sharing. Two split torque designs that use different load sharing methods have been studied. Precise indexing and alignment of the geartrain to produce acceptable load sharing has been demonstrated. An elastomeric torque splitter that has large torsional compliance and damping produces even better load sharing while reducing dynamic transmission error and noise. However, the elastomeric torque splitter as now configured is not capable over the full range of operating conditions of a fielded system. A thrust balancing load sharing device was evaluated. Friction forces that oppose the motion of the balance mechanism are significant. A static analysis suggests increasing the helix angle of the input pinion of the thrust balancing design. Also, dynamic analysis of this design predicts good load sharing and significant torsional response to accumulative pitch errors of the gears.

Krantz, T. L.↗

Robust stability of second-order systems

A feedback linearization technique is used in conjunction with passivity concepts to design robust controllers for space robots. It is assumed that bounded modeling uncertainties exist in the inertia matrix and the vector representing the coriolis, centripetal, and friction forces. Under these assumptions, the controller guarantees asymptotic tracking of the joint variables. A Lagrangian approach is used to develop a dynamic model for space robots. Closed-loop simulation results are illustrated for a simple case of a single link planar manipulator with freely floating base.

Chuang, C.-H.↗

A coupled subsurface-boundary layer model of water on Mars

A 1D numerical model of the exchange of H2O between the atmosphere and subsurface of Mars through the PBL is employed to explore the mechanisms of H2O exchange and to elucidate the role played by the regolith in the local H2O budget. The atmospheric model includes effects of Coriolis, pressure gradient, and frictional forces for momentum: radiation, sensible heat flux, and advection for heat. It is suggested that in most cases, the flux through the Martian surface reverses twice in the course of each sol. The effects of surface albedo, thermal inertia, solar declination, atmospheric optical depth, and regolith pore structure are explored. It is proposed that higher thermal inertia forces more H2O into the atmosphere because the regolith is warmer at depth.

Zent, Aaron P.↗

Energy loss partitioning during ballistic impact of polymer composites

The objective of this study is to determine the energy dissipation processes in polymer-matrix composites during impact of ballistic projectiles. These processes include heat, fiber deformation and breakage, matrix deformation and fracture, and interfacial delamination. In this study, experimental measurements were made, using specialized specimen designs and test methods, to isolate the energy consumed by each of these processes during impact in the ballistic range. Using these experiments, relationships between material parameters and energy dissipation were examined. Composites with the same matrix but reinforced with Kevlar, PE, and graphite fabric were included in this study. These fibers were selected based on the differences in their intrinsic properties. Matrix cracking was found to be one of the most important energy absorption mechanisms during impact, especially in ductile samples such as Spectra-900 PE and Kevlar-49 reinforced polymer. On the contrary, delamination dominated the energy dissipation in brittle composites such as graphite reinforced materials. The contribution from frictional forces was also investigated and the energy partitioning among the different processes evaluated.

Zee, Ralph H.↗

A passivity based controller for free base manipulators

A feedback linearization technique is used in conjunction with passivity concepts to design robust controllers for free base robots. It is assumed that bounded modeling uncertainties exist in the inertia matrix and the vector representing the coriolis, centripetal, and friction forces. Under these assumptions, the controller guarantees asymptotic tracking of the joint variables. A Lagrangian approach is used to develop a dynamic model for space robots. Closed-loop simulation results are illustrated for a simple case of a single link planar space manipulator with freely floating base.

Chuang, C.-H.↗

Impact tests on rubber compression springs for airplane landing gears

The present report gives the results of tests which were made for the purpose of solving the problem of whether diagrams obtained from pressure tests could be conclusive for the determination of the safe impact coefficients. It is first established that the rubber rings adhere firmly to the compression surfaces during deformation. Suggestions are thus obtained for a constructive simplification of the rubber rings. The hysteresis phenomenon is ascribed to external and internal friction forces. A device for falling tests is then described with which the process of shock absorption with rubber rings was tested.

Hohenemser, K↗

Elongation Transducer For Tensile Tests

Extensometer transducer measures elongation of tensile-test specimen with negligible distortion of test results. Used in stress-versus-strain tests of small specimens of composite materials. Clamping stress distributed more evenly. Specimen clamped gently between jaw and facing surface of housing. Friction force of load points on conical tips onto specimen depends on compression of spring, adjusted by turning cover on housing. Limp, light nylon-insulated electrical leads impose minimal extraneous loads on measuring elements.

Roberts, Paul W.↗

Bolted Structural Joint Sustains Reversing Shear Load

Bolted structural joint satisfies competing requirements to accommodate tolerances yet fits snugly to sustain reversing shear loads. Inner and outer eccentric bushings fit in shear block. Frictional force generated by bolt tension prevents rotation of bushings after assembly.

Mott, J. B.↗

Vertical transport of water in the Martian boundary layer

We are continuing our examination of the transport of H2O through the martian boundary layer, and we have written a one-dimensional numerical model of the exchange of H2O between the atmosphere and subsurface of Mars through the planetary boundary layer (PBL). Our goal is to explore the mechanisms of H2O exchange, and to elucidate the role played by the regolith in the local H2O budget. The atmospheric model includes effects of Coriolis, pressure gradient, and frictional forces for momentum, as well as radiation, sensible heat flux, and advection for heat. The model differs from Flasar and Goody by use of appropriate Viking-based physical constants and inclusion of the radiative effects of atmospheric dust. We specify the pressure gradient force or compute it from a simple slope model. The subsurface model accounts for conduction of heat and diffusion of H2O through a porous adsorbing medium in response to diurnal forcing. The model is initialized with depth-independent H2O concentrations (2 kg M(exp -3)) in the regolith, and a dry atmosphere. The model terminates when the atmospheric H2O column abundance stabilizes at 0.1 percent per sol.

Zent, Aaron P.↗

Controlling under-actuated robot arms using a high speed dynamics process

The invention controls an under-actuated manipulator by first obtaining predetermined active joint accelerations of the active joints and the passive joint friction forces of the passive joints, then computing articulated body qualities for each of the joints from the current positions of the links, and finally computing from the articulated body qualities and from the active joint accelerations and the passive joint forces, active joint forces of the active joints. Ultimately, the invention transmits servo commands to the active joint forces thus computed to the respective ones of the joint servos. The computation of the active joint forces is accomplished using a recursive dynamics algorithm. In this computation, an inward recursion is first carried out for each link, beginning with the outermost link in order to compute the residual link force of each link from the active joint acceleration if the corresponding joint is active, or from the known passive joint force if the corresponding joint is passive. Then, an outward recursion is carried out for each link in which the active joint force is computed from the residual link force if the corresponding joint is active or the passive joint acceleration is computed from the residual link force if the corresponding joint is passive.

Jain, Abhinandan↗

The coefficient of restitution of ice particles in glancing collisions: Experimental results for unfrosted surfaces

Both Saturn's rings and planetesimal disks are made up of particles in Keplerian orbits. Inelastic collisions between these particles regulate their dynamical evolution and possible aggregation. We present an experiment to simulate glancing collisions in Saturn's rings and in planetesimal disks and thus measure contributions to the energy loss for both normal and tangential velocity components. In this experiment, a spherical iceball mounted on a long-period, two dimensional pendulum is made to impact a flat ice surface in a low-temperature environment. This paper describes the experimental apparatus in detail and presents results for smooth unfrosted surfaces. The energy loss for tangential motion is suprisingly low, indicating that very little friction is present at low impact speeds for relatively smooth ice surfaces and temperatures near 100 K. We have also investigated room-temperature collisions of a rubber ball on a rough surface to understand the energy loss in situations where the tangential friction force is not small. In this analogous case, the energy loss is maximum for impact angles in the range 45 deg-60 deg.

Supulver, Kimberley D.↗

Colors Of Liquid Crystals Used To Measure Surface Shear Stresses

Developmental method of mapping shear stresses on aerodynamic surfaces involves observation, at multiple viewing angles, of colors of liquid-crystal surface coats illuminated by white light. Report describing method referenced in "Liquid Crystals Indicate Directions Of Surface Shear Stresses" (ARC-13379). Resulting maps of surface shear stresses contain valuable data on magnitudes and directions of skin friction forces associated with surface flows; data used to refine mathematical models of aerodynamics for research and design purposes.

Reda, D. C.↗

Friction Stir Welding of SiC/Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a new solid state process for joining metals by plasticizing and consolidating materials around the bond line using thermal energy producing from frictional forces. A feasibility study for FSW of Metal Matrix Composites (MMC) was investigated using aluminum 6092 alloy reinforced with 17% SiC particulates. FSW process consists of a special rotating pin tool that is positioned to plunge into the MMC surface at the bond line. As the tool rotates and move forward along the bond line, the material at the bond line is heated up and forced to flow around the rotating tip to consolidate on the tip's backside to form a solid state joint. FSW has the potential for producing sound welds with MMC because the processing temperature occurs well below the melting point of the metal matrix; thereby eliminating the reinforcement-to-matrix solidification defects, reducing the undesirable chemical reactions and porosity problems.

Lee, Jonathan A.↗

A Self-Consistent Plasma-Sheath Model for the Inductively Coupled Plasma Reactor

Accurate determination of ion flux on a wafer requires a self-consistent, multidimensional modeling of plasma reactor that adequately resolves the sheath region adjoining the wafer. This level of modeling is difficult to achieve since non-collisional sheath lengths are usually 3-4 orders of magnitude smaller than the reactor scale. Also, the drift-diffusion equations used for ion transport becomes invalid in the sheath since the ion frictional force is no longer in equilibrium with drift and diffusion forces. The alternative is to use a full momentum equation for each ionic species. In this work we will present results from a self-consistent reactor scale-sheath scale model for 2D inductively coupled plasmas. The goal of this study is to improve the modeling capabilities and assess the importance of additional physics in determining important reactor performance features, such as the ion flux uniformity, coil frequency and configuration effects, etc. Effect of numerical dissipation on the solution quality will also be discussed.

Bose, Deepak↗

A Transport Model for Non-Local Heating of Electrons in ICP Reactors

A new model has been developed for non-local heating of electrons in ICP reactors, based on a hydrodynamic approach. The model has been derived using the electron momentum conservation in azimuthal direction with electromagnetic and frictional forces respectively as driving force and damper of harmonic oscillatory motion of electrons. The resulting transport equations include the convection of azimuthal electron momentum in radial and axial directions, thereby accounting for the non-local effects. The azimuthal velocity of electrons and the resulting electrical current are coupled to the Maxwell's relations, thus forming a self-consistent model for non-local heating. This model is being implemented along with a set of Navier-Stokes equations for plasma dynamics and gas flow to simulate low-pressure (few mTorr's) ICP discharges. Characteristics of nitrogen plasma in a TCP 300mm etch reactor is being studied. The results will be compared against the available Langmuir probe measurements.

Chang, C. H.↗