Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Integral Experiment”

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 199 records · Page 11

Overview of ICE Project: Integration of Computational Fluid Dynamics and Experiments

Researchers at the NASA Glenn Research Center have developed a prototype integrated environment for interactively exploring, analyzing, and validating information from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) computations and experiments. The Integrated CFD and Experiments (ICE) project is a first attempt at providing a researcher with a common user interface for control, manipulation, analysis, and data storage for both experiments and simulation. ICE can be used as a live, on-tine system that displays and archives data as they are gathered; as a postprocessing system for dataset manipulation and analysis; and as a control interface or "steering mechanism" for simulation codes while visualizing the results. Although the full capabilities of ICE have not been completely demonstrated, this report documents the current system. Various applications of ICE are discussed: a low-speed compressor, a supersonic inlet, real-time data visualization, and a parallel-processing simulation code interface. A detailed data model for the compressor application is included in the appendix.

Stegeman, James D.↗

Materials processing in low gravity

Activities of the Materials Processing in Low Gravity Program in which the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) designed, fabricated, and performed various low gravity experiments in materials processing between October 26, 1988 through October 25, 1989 are discussed. Details of low gravity experiments using the Drop Facilities at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and the KC-135 aircraft at Ellington Field are discussed. This effort included the defining of experimental requirements and equipment, experiment-facility integration requirements, building/assembling the necessary experiment apparatus, and conducting experiments which will contribute to the knowledge base for commercialization of materials processing in low gravity. UAH also performed logistical support needed to execute the experimentation, the necessary sample preparation, metallography analysis, and physical properties measurements of the processed samples.

Workman, Gary L.↗

Four Channel Time Multiplexed Photonic Doppler Velocimetry using an Optical Switch

Photonic Doppler Velocimetry (PDV) is a diagnostic commonly used in shock physics and dynamic compression experiments to reliably get velocity information from experiments. In PDV systems, a common method of reducing experimental cost is to use time and frequency multiplexing to increase the number of PDV probes. With time multiplexing, interference between probes is a frequent problem. In this report, we look at using a high-speed optical switch to reduce this interference, including measuring the amount of interference generated to determine if it has the potential to affect experiments and integrating a time multiplexing system into an experiment. We find that, when applied to PDV systems, there is approximately (-23.4 ± 0.9) dB of interference measured in the short time Fourier transform between switch inputs. When an optical switch based time multiplexing system was integrated into a dynamic compression experiment, the system was able to successfully combine the signals from four different PDV probes onto a single optical cable without unacceptable levels of interference in the spectrogram. An optical switch based time multiplexing system appears to be a promising method for reducing the cost of fielding larger numbers of PDV probes in an experiment.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Status of the CERBERUS Evaluation for the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP) Handbook

Modeling & Simulation (M&S) tools are used to analyze advanced reactor designs and the safety of current nuclear operations. As computers continue to improve, we are able to enhance resolution in our calculations. Therefore, the limitations of simulation capability are in the quality of data that is being used, including our ability to quantify the uncertainty and sensitivity of that data. In order to model systems of interest with increasing accuracy, the industry must improve key nuclear data measurements. The International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP) compiles and evaluates experiment data in a handbook that can be used by criticality safety engineers and others to validate computer codes and cross section libraries at nuclear facilities. Both critical and subcritical experiments are included in the handbook. These experiments, along with differential measurements, can help improve the quality of nuclear data. Concerns regarding the accuracy of Cu nuclear data have been published. The large values and trend of C-E for the Zeus intermediate energy benchmark, being one of the primary examples. Furthermore, very few experiments have been designed to be sensitive to Cu (as shown in Figure 1), so an integral, critical experiment is needed to help resolve these differences.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

An Integrated XRF/XRD Instrument for Mars Exobiology and Geology Experiments

By employing an integrated x-ray instrument on a future Mars mission, data obtained will greatly augment those returned by Viking; details characterizing the past and present environment on Mars and those relevant to the possibility of the origin and evolution of life will be acquired. A combined x-ray fluorescence/x-ray diffraction (XRF/XRD) instrument was breadboarded and demonstrated to accommodate important exobiology and geology experiment objectives outlined for MESUR and future Mars missions. Among others, primary objectives for the exploration of Mars include the intense study of local areas on Mars to establish the chemical, mineralogical, and petrological character of different components of the surface material; to determine the distribution, abundance, and sources and sinks of volatile materials, including an assessment of the biologic potential, now and during past epoches; and to establish the global chemical and physical characteristics of the Martian surface. The XRF/XRD breadboard instrument identifies and quantifies soil surface elemental, mineralogical, and petrological characteristics and acquires data necessary to address questions on volatile abundance and distribution. Additionally, the breadboard is able to characterize the biogenic element constituents of soil samples providing information on the biologic potential of the Mars environment. Preliminary breadboard experiments confirmed the fundamental instrument design approach and measurement performance.

Koppel, L. N.↗

An Overview of NASA's SubsoniC Research Aircraft Testbed (SCRAT)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Dryden Flight Research Center acquired a Gulfstream III (GIII) aircraft to serve as a testbed for aeronautics flight research experiments. The aircraft is referred to as SCRAT, which stands for SubsoniC Research Aircraft Testbed. The aircraft’s mission is to perform aeronautics research; more specifically raising the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of advanced technologies through flight demonstrations and gathering high-quality research data suitable for verifying the technologies, and validating design and analysis tools. The SCRAT has the ability to conduct a range of flight research experiments throughout a transport class aircraft’s flight envelope. Experiments ranging from flight-testing of a new aircraft system or sensor to those requiring structural and aerodynamic modifications to the aircraft can be accomplished. The aircraft has been modified to include an instrumentation system and sensors necessary to conduct flight research experiments along with a telemetry capability. An instrumentation power distribution system was installed to accommodate the instrumentation system and future experiments. An engineering simulation of the SCRAT has been developed to aid in integrating research experiments. A series of baseline aircraft characterization flights has been flown that gathered flight data to aid in developing and integrating future research experiments. This paper describes the SCRAT’s research systems and capabilities

aeronautics↗

An Overview of NASA's Subsonic Research Aircraft Testbed (SCRAT)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Dryden Flight Research Center acquired a Gulfstream III (GIII) aircraft to serve as a testbed for aeronautics flight research experiments. The aircraft is referred to as SCRAT, which stands for SubsoniC Research Aircraft Testbed. The aircraft's mission is to perform aeronautics research; more specifically raising the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of advanced technologies through flight demonstrations and gathering high-quality research data suitable for verifying the technologies, and validating design and analysis tools. The SCRAT has the ability to conduct a range of flight research experiments throughout a transport class aircraft's flight envelope. Experiments ranging from flight-testing of a new aircraft system or sensor to those requiring structural and aerodynamic modifications to the aircraft can be accomplished. The aircraft has been modified to include an instrumentation system and sensors necessary to conduct flight research experiments along with a telemetry capability. An instrumentation power distribution system was installed to accommodate the instrumentation system and future experiments. An engineering simulation of the SCRAT has been developed to aid in integrating research experiments. A series of baseline aircraft characterization flights has been flown that gathered flight data to aid in developing and integrating future research experiments. This paper describes the SCRAT's research systems and capabilities.

testbed↗

Development of a high performance MagLIF target platform using high aspect ratio coated liners and low-mix laser preheat

We report on a series of Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion (MagLIF) experiments conducted on the Z pulsed power facility that utilized high aspect ratio (ratio of outer radius to wall thickness) liners with dielectric coatings and low-mix laser preheat configurations. The liners consisted of an aspect ratio of 10.6 beryllium tube coated with 75 μm of epoxy on the outside that have been shown to maintain a better implosion stability than uncoated beryllium and have demonstrated consistent stagnation performances in previous experiments [Ampleford et al., Phys. Plasmas 31, 022703 (2024)]. Two-dimensional HYDRA simulations were used to design three different “co-injection” laser configurations, whereby a second laser is used to provide an early prepulse before the main pulse, to reduce LEH foil mix while increasing the fuel density and coupled energy. The laser preheat energy for each configuration was constrained using dedicated laser experiments before being applied to the integrated MagLIF experiments on Z. The DD neutron yield for experiments using co-injection preheat configurations is found to increase with the specific preheat energy in line with simulations. The highest neutron yield achieved in this study of 1.1 × 10 13 matches the highest reported in a MagLIF experiment to date and is a factor 3.5 times higher than similar experiments using preheat with no phase plate smoothing. We attempt to assess the effects of mix and morphology to explain the improved performance; however, neither factor is found to be conclusive within the uncertainty of the measurements.

Harvey-Thompson, A. J.↗

Apollo experience report: Crew station integration. Volume 2: Crew station displays and controls

The functional requirements for the Apollo displays and controls system are presented. The configuration of the displays, controls, and panels for both the command module and the lunar module are described, and the design development and operational experience of the displays and controls system are discussed. Pertinent recommendations for future displays and controls system design efforts are made.

Langdoc, W. A.↗

CVT/GPL phase 3 integrated testing

The hardware for 20 candidate shuttle program life sciences experiments was installed in the GPL and experiments were conducted during a 5-day simulated mission. The experiments involved humans, primates, rats, chickens, and marigold plants. All experiments were completed to the satisfaction of the experimenters. In addition to the scientific data gathered for each experiment, information was obtained concerning experiment hardware design and integration, experiment procedures, GPL support systems, and test operations. The results of the integrated tests are presented.

Shurney, R. E.↗

Dynamic modeling of heat pipe integrated thermal battery latent heat storage system experiment validation

A heat pipe integrated thermal battery system has been constructed to investigate a high-temperature latent heat thermal energy storage technology that takes advantage of near isothermal operation of latent heat storage and heat pipes to potentially enable high-energy isothermal heat storage. A dynamic model constructed in Modelica has been validated, showing errors between 2.5 °C–39.7 °C across 10-h to 47-h simulations against experiment results, showing good prediction capability of experiment output, especially against phase change time. Model calibrations showing vessel heat-up capability of 3 kW and heat pipes combining to provide 600 W each during experiment operation validate experiment circumstances including reduced material loading and reduced power capability. The experiment configuration uses an Al-Mg-Zn eutectic metal as the storage material, heated via heat tape wrapped around the vessel and guide tubes to bring the system to operation range (>400 °C) and to simulate charging heat exchange, respectively, with heat rejection occurring through the surfaces of the material and facilitated via guide tubes with less insulation wrapping. The model is available in the open-source repository HYBRID on Github.

25 - ENERGY STORAGE↗

A vertically integrated snow/ice model over land/sea for climate models. I - Development. II - Impact on orbital change experiments

A vertically integrated formulation (VIF) model for sea ice/snow and land snow is discussed which can simulate the nonlinear effects of heat storage and transfer through the layers of snow and ice. The VIF demonstates the accuracy of the multilayer formulation, while benefitting from the computational flexibility of linear formulations. In the second part, the model is implemented in a seasonal dynamic zonally averaged climate model. It is found that, in response to a change between extreme high and low summer insolation orbits, the winter orbital change dominates over the opposite summer change for sea ice. For snow over land the shorter but more pronounced summer orbital change is shown to dominate.

Neeman, Binyamin U.↗

Integrating CFD, CAA, and Experiments Towards Benchmark Datasets for Airframe Noise Problems

Airframe noise corresponds to the acoustic radiation due to turbulent flow in the vicinity of airframe components such as high-lift devices and landing gears. The combination of geometric complexity, high Reynolds number turbulence, multiple regions of separation, and a strong coupling with adjacent physical components makes the problem of airframe noise highly challenging. Since 2010, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has organized an ongoing series of workshops devoted to Benchmark Problems for Airframe Noise Computations (BANC). The BANC workshops are aimed at enabling a systematic progress in the understanding and high-fidelity predictions of airframe noise via collaborative investigations that integrate state of the art computational fluid dynamics, computational aeroacoustics, and in depth, holistic, and multifacility measurements targeting a selected set of canonical yet realistic configurations. This paper provides a brief summary of the BANC effort, including its technical objectives, strategy, and selective outcomes thus far.

Choudhari, Meelan M.↗

Design of an expert system for estimating the cost of new knowledge in high energy astrophysics

The High Energy Astrophysics Costing Tool (HEACT) is a combined Expert System/Numerical Simulation to evaluate sensors and experiments proposed for space platforms in order to determine their expected performance and to assess the amount and quality of scientific information likely to be gathered by such experiments. The end product of this tool will be both a cost estimate for the experiment package as deployed and also an estimate of the amount of new scientific knowledge (both new data and reductions in the uncertainties of previous measurements) which would result from the actual deployment and operation of that experiment package. The numerical simulation part of HEACT will contain components to: (1) calculate the high energy signatures of both actual and proposed classes of astrophysical objects, and (2) model the response and resolution of the candidate sensors for observing those objects. The rule based part of the HEACT will be based on knowledge in the areas of experiment design, instrument selection, and system integration developed from experience with existing high energy astrophysics observatories, both orbiting and lofted by rockets or balloons. This paper presents mainly results from the design of the rule-based part of HEACT. It focuses on the structure of the rules and the structures used to represent the knowledge related to the design and integration of such experiments. Methods for integrating the results from numerical simulations into the expert system will also be discussed.

Bosworth, Edward L., Jr.↗

Apollo Experience Report: Crew Station Integration. Volume 5: Lighting Considerations

The lighting requirements for the Apollo spacecraft are presented. The natural lighting factors are discussed in terms of major constraints. A general description of the external and internal lighting systems for the command and lunar modules is presented with a discussion of the primary approach and design criteria followed during development. Some of the more difficult problems encountered during the implementation of a new lighting system are reviewed.

Wheelwright, C. D.↗