Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “surface interactions”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 181 records · Page 10

Jet-Surface Interaction Test: Phased Array Noise Source Localization Results

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect that a planar surface located near a jet flow has on the noise radiated to the far-field. Two different configurations were tested: 1) a shielding configuration in which the surface was located between the jet and the far-field microphones, and 2) a reflecting configuration in which the surface was mounted on the opposite side of the jet, and thus the jet noise was free to reflect off the surface toward the microphones. Both conventional far-field microphone and phased array noise source localization measurements were obtained. This paper discusses phased array results, while a companion paper discusses far-field results. The phased array data show that the axial distribution of noise sources in a jet can vary greatly depending on the jet operating condition and suggests that it would first be necessary to know or be able to predict this distribution in order to be able to predict the amount of noise reduction to expect from a given shielding configuration. The data obtained on both subsonic and supersonic jets show that the noise sources associated with a given frequency of noise tend to move downstream, and therefore, would become more difficult to shield, as jet Mach number increases. The noise source localization data obtained on cold, shock-containing jets suggests that the constructive interference of sound waves that produces noise at a given frequency within a broadband shock noise hump comes primarily from a small number of shocks, rather than from all the shocks at the same time. The reflecting configuration data illustrates that the law of reflection must be satisfied in order for jet noise to reflect off of a surface to an observer, and depending on the relative locations of the jet, the surface, and the observer, only some of the jet noise sources may satisfy this requirement.

Podboy, Gary G.↗

Large Vehicle Lunar Landing Surface Interaction and In-Situ Resource Based Risk Mitigation: Landing & Launch Pads

A key capability required for the exploration of planetary bodies is the ability to land on the surface. Previous work performed by NASA and other institutions has primarily focused on landing small spacecraft on planetary surfaces and the associated small-to-medium thrusters required for the soft landing. In the case of human exploration—particularly the establishment of long duration exploration and habitation outposts—the ability to land large landers, such as the SpaceX Starship, is necessary. These larger landing systems require the use of more powerful engines, with higher engine exhaust temperatures and higher landing loads. Understanding the excavation of material by the engines, as well as the potential for the landing legs to sink into the subsurface, is key in ensuring reliable and safe landings. A further improvement in landing reliability can be achieved by constructing landing / launch pads, especially with in-situ resources. Some material excavation by the plume is inevitable, leaving at least a portion of the surface scoured and uneven under the lander and ejecting regolith particles and rocks at very high velocities. One possible solution would be to robotically build landing / launch pads (ideally autonomously) at the destination using in-situ materials. In this case, the first one or few landers will need to land on unimproved surfaces at higher risk; however, they would bring the required equipment to build the landing pads with mostly local resources, thus increasing the reliability of safe landing for subsequent larger landers. A number of methods to build in-situ landing and launch pads have already been developed. These methods include no, or some, addition of required binder additives to the local regolith material, different processing approaches and result in varying landing pad strengths. A sub-scale rocket engine plume, was used to simulate some of the conditions of a landing on the Moon to assess the effectiveness of various materials for an in-situ built landing pad, The GO2/GCH4rocket engine fired on a 1m2area coupons of representative pad materials. The results will allow continued development towards materials that satisfy the landing pad properties required for the effective risk reduction and increased reliability for landing people and equipment on the lunar surface. This work contained two parts: (1) computer modeling of a large rocket engine plume interacting with regolith on the Moon, using the Granular Gas Flow Solver (GGFS) provided by CFD Research Corporation as well as other computational fluid dynamics codes (CFD) such as Loci/CHEM. (2) Developing landing/launch pad materials that could be used for in-situ construction on the lunar surface in the future, to mitigate the calculated effects of a large vehicle rocket engine landing and launching on the Moon.

Lunar↗

A program of data synthesis from the ALSEP/CPLEE ALSEP/SIDE, and Explorer 35 magnetometer to investigate lunar terminator and nightside particle fluxes and surface interactions

Lunar nightside electron fluxes were studied with the aid of the ALSEP/CPLEE and other instruments. The flux events were shown to be due to (a) electrons propagating upstream from the earth's bow shock, (b) electrons thermalized and scattered to the lunar surface by disturbances along the boundary of the lunar solarwind cavity, and (c) solar wind electrons scattered to the lunar surface by lunar limb shocks and/or compressional disturbances. These electrons were identified as a cause of the high night surface negative potentials observed in tha ALSEP/SIDE ion data. A study was also made of the shadowing of magnetotail plasma sheet electrons by interactions between the lunar body and the ambient magnetic field and by interactions between charged particles and lunar remnant magnetic fields. These shadowing effects were shown to modify lunar surface and near-lunar potential distributions.

Reasoner, D. L.↗

New directions in lubrication, materials, wear, and surface interactions - Tribology in the 80's

New directions in tribology are described. A range of topics is addressed, extending from fundamental research on tribological materials of all kinds and their surface effects, to final technological applications in mechanical components such as bearings, gears, and seals. The general topics addressed include: importance and definition of materials in tribology; future directions of research in adhesion and friction, wear and wear-resistant materials, and liquid lubricants and additives; status and new directions in elastohydrodynamic lubrication and solid lubricants; and tribological materials for mechanical components of the future.

Loomis, W. R.↗

Remote sensing of atmosphere-surface interaction parameters

Examples are given of the accuracy of the results obtained from the HIRS 2/MSU (High Resolution Infrared Sounder and Microwave Sounding Unit) analysis of ocean, atmosphere, and land parameters. Sea surface temperatures are compared with available ship and buoy radiosonde data, and land surface temperatures are compared with shelter temperatures. The seasonal change in land and ocean skin surface temperature is reviewed. The distribution of clouds is examined and their opacities in the visible and infrared parts of the spectrum are compared.

Chahine, M. T.↗

Investigation of atomic oxygen-surface interactions related to measurements with dual air density explorer satellites

For a number of candidate materials of construction for the dual air density explorer satellites the rate of oxygen atom loss by adsorption, surface reaction, and recombination was determined as a function of surface and temperature. Plain aluminum and anodized aluminum surfaces exhibit a collisional atom loss probability alpha .01 in the temperature range 140 - 360 K, and an initial sticking probability. For SiO coated aluminum in the same temperature range, alpha .001 and So .001. Atom-loss on gold is relatively rapid alpha .01. The So for gold varies between 0.25 and unity in the temperature range 360 - 140 K.

Wood, B. J.↗

Friction and Wear Modifiers Using Solvent Partitioning of Hydrophilic Surface-interactive Chemicals Contained in Boundary Layer-targeted Emulsions

A wear and/or friction reducing additive for a lubricating fluid in which the additive is a combination of a moderately hydrophilic single-phase compound and an anti-wear and/or anti-friction aqueous salt solution. The aqueous salt solution produces a coating on boundary layer surfaces. The lubricating fluid can be an emulsion-free hydrophobic oil, hydraulic fluid, antifreeze, or water. Preferably, the moderately hydrophilic single-phase compound is sulfonated castor oil and the aqueous salt solution additionally contains boric acid and zinc oxide. The emulsions produced by the aqueous salt solutions, the moderately hydrophilic single-phase compounds, or the combination thereof provide targeted boundary layer organizers that significantly enhance the anti-wear and/or anti-friction properties of the base lubricant by decreasing wear and/or friction of sliding and/or rolling surfaces at boundary layers.

Richmond, Robert Chafee↗

Friction and Wear Modifiers Using Solvent Partitioning of Hydrophilic Surface-Interactive Chemicals Contained in Boundary Layer-Targeted Emulsions

A wear and/or friction reducing additive for a lubricating fluid in which the additive is a combination of a moderately hydrophilic single-phase compound and an anti-wear and/or anti-friction aqueous salt solution. The aqueous salt solution produces a coating on boundary layer surfaces. The lubricating fluid can be an emulsion-free hydrophobic oil, hydraulic fluid, antifreeze, or water. Preferably, the moderately hydrophilic single-phase compound is sulfonated castor oil and the aqueous salt solution additionally contains boric acid and zinc oxide. The emulsions produced by the aqueous salt solutions, the moderately hydrophilic single-phase compounds, or the combination thereof provide targeted boundary layer organizers that significantly enhance the anti-wear and/or anti-friction properties of the base lubricant by decreasing wear and/or friction of sliding and/or rolling surfaces at boundary layers.

Richmond, Robert Chaffee↗

Friction and Wear Modifiers Using Solvent Partitioning of Hydrophilic Surface-Interactive Chemicals Contained in Boundary Layer-Targeted Emulsions

A wear and/or friction reducing additive for a lubricating fluid in which the additive is a combination of a moderately hydrophilic single-phase compound and an anti-wear and/or anti-friction aqueous salt solution. The aqueous salt solution produces a coating on boundary layer surfaces. The lubricating fluid can be an emulsion-free hydrophobic oil, hydraulic fluid, antifreeze, water, or a water-based lubricant. Preferably, the moderately hydrophilic single-phase compound is sulfonated castor oil and the aqueous salt solution additionally contains boric acid and zinc oxide. The emulsions produced by the aqueous salt solutions, the moderately hydrophilic single-phase compounds, or the combination thereof provide targeted boundary layer organizers that significantly enhance the anti-wear and/or anti-friction properties of the base lubricant by decreasing wear and/or friction of sliding and/or rolling surfaces at boundary layers.

Richmond, Robert Chaffee↗

Surface interaction mechanisms of 5eV atomic oxygen: Data analysis from the UAH experiment on STS-8

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) experiment which flew on the STS-8 mission had several objectives which were mostly of a speculative nature since so little was known of the processes of interest. The experiment provided original, if limited, data on: (1) oxidation of metal surfaces, (2) reaction rates of atomic oxygen with carbon and other surfaces and the dependence of these rates on temperature, and (3) the angular distribution of 5eV atoms scattered off a solid surface. Provided is a review of the results, with reference given to fuller published accounts where these are available.

Gregory, J. C.↗

Atomic forces between noble gas atoms, alkali ions, and halogen ions for surface interactions

The components of the physical forces between noble gas atoms, alkali ions, and halogen ions are analyzed and a data base developed from analysis of the two-body potential data, the alkali-halide molecular data, and the noble gas crystal and salt crystal data. A satisfactory global fit to this molecular and crystal data is then reproduced by the model to within several percent. Surface potentials are evaluated for noble gas atoms on noble gas surfaces and salt crystal surfaces with surface tension neglected. Within this context, the noble gas surface potentials on noble gas and salt crystals are considered to be accurate to within several percent.

Wilson, J. W.↗

Theoretical investigation of gas-surface interactions

The goal of this project was to develop computational tools for the calculation of the electronic structure of molecules containing heavy atoms, and to use these tools in the study of catalytic processes, with the overall objective of gaining an understanding of the catalytic process which could be used to design more efficient catalysts. The main catalytic system of interest was the combustion of hydrogen on platinum surfaces. Under this project, a flexible Dirac-Hartree-Fock (DHF) program has been developed, a code to calculate DHF correlation energies at the second-order Moeller-Plesset perturbation (PP2) level is almost complete, and code to include correlation at the MCSCF and MCSCF/MP2 level is planned. The tools so far developed have been validated and used to calibrate some more approximate methods, and applied to investigate the importance of relativistic effects in the bonding of hydrogen to platinum.

Dyall, Kenneth G.↗

Friction and Wear Management Using Solvent Partitioning of Hydrophilic-Surface-Interactive Chemicals Contained in Boundary Layer-Targeted Emulsions

Lubrication additives of the current invention require formation of emulsions in base lubricants, created with an aqueous salt solution plus a single-phase compound such that partitioning within the resulting emulsion provides thermodynamically targeted compounds for boundary layer organization thus establishing anti-friction and/or anti-wear. The single-phase compound is termed "boundary layer organizer", abbreviated BLO. These emulsion-contained compounds energetically favor association with tribologic surfaces in accord with the Second Law of Thermodynamics, and will organize boundary layers on those surfaces in ways specific to the chemistry of the salt and BLO additives. In this way friction modifications may be provided by BLOs targeted to boundary layers via emulsions within lubricating fluids, wherein those lubricating fluids may be water-based or oil-based.

Richmond, Robert Chaffee↗

The Gas-Surface Interaction of a Human-Occupied Spacecraft with a Near-Earth Object

NASA's asteroid redirect mission (ARM) will feature an encounter of the human-occupied Orion spacecraft with a portion of a near- Earth asteroid (NEA) previously placed in orbit about the Moon by a capture spacecraft. Applying a shuttle analog, we suggest that the Orion spacecraft should have a dominant local water exosphere, and that molecules from this exosphere can adsorb onto the NEA. The amount of adsorbed water is a function of the defect content of the NEA surface, with retention of shuttle-like water levels on the asteroid at 10(exp 15) H2O's/m2 for space weathered regolith at T approximately 300 K.

Asteroid↗

Hypervelocity atomic oxygen source for the study of atom-surface interactions

Planned improvements in an electric discharge heated atomic oxygen beam source are described which will provide 6 to 7 kms(-1) beams of atomic oxygen with a flux of 10(16) cm(-2) s(-1) at 50 cm distance from the source aperture. A major advance will be the use of a zone of silence nozzle-skimmer arrangement which is necessitated by the need for high source flux and performance. It is anticipated that a Phase 2 program would provide for the fabrication of a two stage vacuum system which would be suitable for bolting on to a UHV (ultrahigh vacuum) surface study apparatus.

Freedman, A.↗

Jet-Surface Interaction Test: Phased Array Noise Source Localization Results

Subsonic jets are relatively simple. The peak noise source location gradually moves upstream toward the nozzle as frequency increases. 2) Supersonic jets are more complicated. The peak noise source location moves downstream as frequency increases through a BBSN hump. 3) In both subsonic and supersonic jets the peak noise source location corresponding to a given frequency of noise moves downstream as jet Mach number increases. 4) The noise generated at a given frequency in a BBSN hump is generated by a small number of shocks, not from all the shocks at the same time. 5) Single microphone spectrum levels decrease when the noise source locations measured with the phased array are blocked by a shielding surface. This consistency validates the phased array data and the stationary monopole source model used to process it. 6) Reflecting surface data illustrate that the law of reflection must be satisfied for noise to reflect off a surface toward an observer. Depending on the relative locations of the jet, the surface and the observer only some of the jet noise sources may satisfy this requirement. 7) The low frequency noise created when a jet flow impinges on a surface comes primarily from the trailing edge regardless of the axial extent impacted by the flow.

Podboy, Gary↗

Atmosphere-surface interactions and atmospheric evolution on Mars

A knowledge of the original volatile endowment of Mars is essential for any discussion of atmospheric loss on this planet. Cosmochemical models which postulate that planetary bulk compositions and volatile contents were controlled by the radial temperature profile in the solar nebula, and estimated bulk compositions based on the assumption that Mars is the parent body for the SNC meteorites predicts that Mars is volatile-rich. However, contrary views can also be found. For illustrative purposes, it is assumed that Mars was volatile-rich initially like the Earth. Taking terrestrial volatiles as the sum of the atmospheric, crustal, and oceanic volatiles and assuming that Mars accreted with the same volatile content on a g/g basis, the volatile endowments for an Earth-like Mars correspond to approximately 14 bars CO2, 800 mbars N2, and 1.2 km H2O. Subsequent topics discussed are: composition of outgassing volatiles; rates of present day atmospheric-surface reactions; constraints on CO2 loss via carbonate formation; constraints on H2O loss; and loss of other volatiles.

Fegley, Bruce, Jr.↗