Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Maximum principle”

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 217 records · Page 12

A community survey of helicopter noise annoyance conducted under controlled noise exposure conditions

Reactions to low numbers of helicopter noise events (less than 50 per day) were studied in a community setting. Community residents were repeatedly interviewed about daily noise annoyance reactions on days when helicopter noise exposures were, without the residents' knowledge, controlled. The effects of maximum noise level and number of noise events on helicopter noise annoyance are consistent with the principles contained in LEQ-based noise indices. The effect of the duration of noise events is also consistent with LEQ-based indices. After removing the effect of differences in noise levels (LEQ) there is not an important difference between reactions to impulsive and nonimpulsive types of helicopters. EPNL, where corrected for number of overflights, and LEQ are approximately equally successful in representing the characteristics of noise which are related to human response. The new type of design provided estimates of the parameters in a noise reaction model which would not obtained with a similar degree of precision from conventional study designs.

Fields, J. M.↗

Risk Classification Modernization

NASA’s risk classification system dates back to an era when every new NASA space mission was a one-of-a-kind build, and the only way to obtain reliability was as a by-product through a combination of reliability analyses, extensive and stringent quality requirements, and extensive testing. Originally, there were very limited commercial capabilities to develop systems to work reliably in space, so NASA considered its own homegrown approach the only recipe for success. This approach involved very detailed and prescriptive piece-part controls and no reliance on (and to some extent a rejection of) any type of commercial practices. Often risk was considered to be the lowest when NASA had the maximum amount of control and prescription, and the highest when commercial practices were largely employed, and these principles drove risk classification in the agency. Over time, however, commercial capabilities grew, and many products became standardized and commercialized, while the agency maintained its tried-and-true approach, paying little attention to the evolution of the commercial sector. This presentation introduces GSFC’s new approach at risk classification, which includes classification of components and full spacecraft, as well as of constellations of spacecraft.

risk↗

Modernizing NASA's Risk Classification System

NASA's risk classification system dates back to an era when every new NASA space mission was a one-of-a-kind build, and the only way to obtain reliability was as a by-product through a combination of reliability analyses, extensive and stringent quality requirements, and extensive testing. Originally, there were very limited commercial capabilities to develop systems to work reliably in space, so NASA considered its own homegrown approach the only recipe for success. This approach involved very detailed and prescriptive piece-part controls and no reliance on (and to some extent a rejection of) any type of commercial practices. Often risk was considered to be the lowest when NASA had the maximum amount of control and prescription, and the highest when commercial practices were largely employed, and these principles drove risk classification in the agency. Over time, however, commercial capabilities grew, and many products became standardized and commercialized, while the agency maintained its tried-and-true approach, paying little attention to the evolution of the commercial sector. In fact, the commercial sector was developing systems that have direct, proven reliability, established over time, while NASA still maintained the approach to ignore the reality of the commercialized aspects of standard products, label them as high risk, and attempt to change them to align with the agency's piece-part control practices. A table of mission classification vs lifetime for missions launched after 2000 indicates no correlation between lifetime and classification, with the few exceptions involving missions that have very limited objectives and no valid purpose to continue after they were met. This paper steps through some of the key historical elements in risk classification and NASA's overall approach to assurance, and presents some elements being brought forward to modernize the approach and take advantage of the growing capability in the commercial sector.

risk↗

Risk Classification Modernization

NASA’s risk classification system dates back to an era when every new NASA space mission was a one-of-a-kind build, and the only way to obtain reliability was as a by-product through a combination of reliability analyses, extensive and stringent quality requirements, and extensive testing. Originally, there were very limited commercial capabilities to develop systems to work reliably in space, so NASA considered its own homegrown approach the only recipe for success. This approach involved very detailed and prescriptive piece-part controls and no reliance on (and to some extent a rejection of) any type of commercial practices. Often risk was considered to be the lowest when NASA had the maximum amount of control and prescription, and the highest when commercial practices were largely employed, and these principles drove risk classification in the agency. Over time, however, commercial capabilities grew, and many products became standardized and commercialized, while the agency maintained its tried-and-true approach, paying little attention to the evolution of the commercial sector. This presentation introduces GSFC’s new approach at risk classification, which includes classification of components and full spacecraft, as well as of constellations of spacecraft.

risk↗

Parametric Analysis of the Charge-Hold-Vent Method for Cryogenic Propellant Tank Chill Down

In the absence of external heat exchangers, the on-orbit transfer of cryogenic propellants requires the receiver tank to first be quenched to a sufficiently low energy state to allow for a continuous no-vent fill to avoid unnecessary venting of liquid. One proposed method for tank chilldown that minimizes the potential for venting liquid is the charge hold vent (CHV) method. CHV follows a cyclic process that gradually removes thermal energy from the receiver tank by injecting liquid with the vent valve closed and allowing the fluid and wall to reach near-thermal equilibrium before venting the superheated vapor. However, the CHV method must be optimized to minimize complexity, mass, and time. This paper presents a modular CHV analytical model used to quantify the number of cycles and propellant mass consumed based on first principles. The model is used to examine the effect of eight parameters: receiver tank material, volume, mass, maximum expected operating pressure, and initial pressure, liquid injection pressure and temperature, and the target temperature. The model is validated against the only two available CHV datasets. Based on results, the tank mass-to-volume ratio is the most important factor in determining the number of CHV cycles and thus degree of difficulty in tank chilldown. The model can easily be used for early-stage design, sizing, and analysis of cryogenic propellant transfer systems.

Tank Chilldown↗

Parametric Analysis of the Charge-Hold-Vent Method for Cryogenic Propellant Tank Chill Down

Abstract. In the absence of external heat exchangers, the on-orbit transfer of cryogenic propellants requires the receiver tank to first be quenched to a sufficiently low energy state to allow for a continuous no-vent fill to avoid unnecessary venting of liquid. One proposed method for tank chilldown that minimizes the potential for venting liquid is the charge hold vent (CHV) method. CHV follows a cyclic process that gradually removes thermal energy from the receiver tank by injecting liquid with the vent valve closed and allowing the fluid and wall to reach near-thermal equilibrium before venting the superheated vapor. However, the CHV method must be optimized to minimize complexity, mass, and time. This paper presents a modular CHV analytical model used to quantify the number of cycles and propellant mass consumed based on first principles. The model is used to examine the effect of eight parameters: receiver tank material, volume, mass, maximum expected operating pressure, and initial pressure, liquid injection pressure and temperature, and the target temperature. The model is validated against the only two available CHV datasets. Based on results, the tank mass-to-volume ratio is the most important factor in determining the number of CHV cycles and thus degree of difficulty in tank chilldown. The model can easily be used for early-stage design, sizing, and analysis of cryogenic propellant transfer systems. Keywords: tank chilldown, charge-hold-vent, no-vent fill

Tank Chilldown↗

A Study of the Use of Contact Loading to Simulate Low Velocity Impact

Although numerous studies on the impact response of laminated composites have been conducted, there is as yet no agreement within the composites community on what parameter or parameters are adequate for quantifying the severity of an impact event. One of the more interesting approaches that has been proposed uses the maximum contact force during impact to "quantify" the severity of the impact event, provided that the impact velocity is sufficiently low. A significant advantage of this approach, should it prove to be reliable, is that quasi-static contact loading could be used to simulate low velocity impact. In principle, a single specimen, loaded quasi-statically to successively increasing contact loads could be used to map the entire spectrum of damage as a function of maximum contact force. The present study had as its objective assessing whether or not the maximum contact force during impact is a suitable parameter for characterizing an impact. The response of [+/-60/0(sub 4)/+/-60/0(sub 2)](sub s) laminates fabricated from Fiberite T300/934 graphite epoxy and subjected to quasi-static contact loading and to low velocity impact was studied. Three quasi-static contact load levels - 525 lb., 600 lb., and 675 lb. - were selected. Three impact energy levels - 1.14 ft.-lb., 2.0 ft.-lb., and 2.60 ft.-lb. - were chosen in an effort to produce impact events in which the maximum contact forces during the impact events were 525 lb., 600 lb., and 625 lb., respectively. Damage development was documented using dye-penetrant enhanced x-ray radiography. A digital image processing technique was used to obtain quantitative information about the damage zone. Although it was intended that the impact load levels produce maximum contact forces equal to those used in the quasi-static contact experiments, larger contact forces were developed during impact loading. In spite of this, the damage zones developed in impacted specimens were smaller than the damage zones developed in specimens subjected to the corresponding quasi-static contact loading. The impacted specimens may have a greater tendency to develop fiber fracture, but, at present, a quantitative assessment of fiber fracture is not available. In addressing whether or not contact force is an adequate metric for describing the severity of an impact event, the results of this study suggest that it is not. In cases where the quasi-static load level and the maximum contact force during impact were comparable, the quasi-statically loaded specimens consistently developed larger damage zones. It should be noted, however, that using quasi-static damage data to forecast the behavior of impacted material may give conservative estimates of the residual strength of impacted composites.

Highsmith, Alton L.↗

Development of lightning current detector

A lightning current detector to record the maximum current amplitude of a lightning strike to the 150 meter weather tower at KSC was developed. The principle of operation of the detector is discussed, materials chosen to build the detector are described, and calibration tests performed on the detector are given. Field results of the detectors from two separate lightning strikes to the tower are included.

Livermore, S.↗

The ac power line protection for an IEEE 587 Class B environment

The 587B series of protectors are unique, low clamping voltage transient suppressors to protect ac-powered equipment from the 6000V peak open-circuit voltage and 3000A short circuit current as defined in IEEE standard 587 for Category B transients. The devices, which incorporate multiple-stage solid-state protector components, were specifically designed to operate under multiple exposures to maximum threat levels in this severe environment. The output voltage peaks are limited to 350V under maximum threat conditions for a 120V ac power line, thus providing adequate protection to vulnerable electronic equipment. The principle of operation and test performance data is discussed.

Roehr, W. D.↗

Radiative Electronic Bound States in the Continuum from Defects in Semiconductors

Continuum-buried defect states in semiconductors are generally expected to be optically inactive because of their strong coupling to continuum bands. Here, we show that such defects can instead host radiative electronic bound states in the continuum (BICs) using the silicon G center as a prototypical example. Hybrid functional first-principles calculations with a Hubbard U correction reveal that a localized defect state, initially buried below the valence band maximum (VBM) in the ground state, undergoes exchange-driven energy-level reordering under optical excitation and shifts above the VBM. This exchange-induced transition suppresses nonradiative decay and enables a robust radiative emission. By computing temperature-dependent nonradiative lifetimes and comparing them to experimental photoluminescence (PL) lifetimes, we quantitatively reproduce the observed temperature dependence of the emission. These results uncover a stabilization mechanism for continuum-embedded defect states and establish electronic BICs as a general paradigm for designing defect-based optical systems, including quantum emitters and qubits.

Hong, SeongYun↗

Thermal History Mapping Technology for Turbine Engine Diagnostics

The infusion of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) in next generation gas turbines represents daunting challenges as the failure of protective coating, known as Environmental Barrier Coating (EBC), means little remnant life of CMC components. Consequently reliable lifing is critical to the success of CMC components. Accurate thermal mapping of EBC in rig and engine test is of paramount importance because temperature is the most critical variable for EBC life. Current temperature measurement technologies include thermocouples, pyrometers, IR cameras, and thermal paints. Thermocouples require a passage to access the components and pyrometers and IR cameras require line-of-sight. Thermal paints are based on color-sensitive pigments that visually indicate the temperature that a component experienced. Thermal paints do not require line-of-sight, however, they have a low resolution and a limited temperature capability (~1400°C). Thermal history coating is based on oxide ceramic which luminesces when excited with a light source. The luminescence changes when the material's structure changes triggered by heat impact. The maximum temperature to which the material was exposed can be determined from the luminescence change. This paper describes the principles of this new technique and demonstrates its capabilities for EBCs exposed to excess of 1500°C.

Lee, Kang N.↗

CME Evolution in the Structured Heliosphere and Effects at Earth and Mars During Solar Minimum

The activity of the Sun alternates between a solar minimum and a solar maximum, the former corresponding to a period of “quieter” status of the heliosphere. During solar minimum, it is in principle more straightforward to follow eruptive events and solar wind structures from their birth at the Sun throughout their interplanetary journey. In this paper, we report analysis of the origin, evolution, and heliospheric impact of a series of solar transient events that took place during the second half of August 2018, that is, in the midst of the late declining phase of Solar Cycle 24. In particular, we focus on two successive coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and a following high-speed stream (HSS) on their way toward Earth and Mars. We find that the first CME impacted both planets, whilst the second caused a strong magnetic storm at Earth and went on to miss Mars, which nevertheless experienced space weather effects from the stream interacting region preceding the HSS. Analysis of remote-sensing and in-situ data supported by heliospheric modeling suggests that CME–HSS interaction resulted in the second CME rotating and deflecting in interplanetary space, highlighting that accurately reproducing the ambient solar wind is crucial even during “simpler” solar minimum periods. Lastly, we discuss the upstream solar wind conditions and transient structures responsible for driving space weather effects at Earth and Mars.

Space weather↗

Interactive Learning During Solar Maximum

The goal of this project is to develop and distribute e-educational material for space science during times of solar activity that emphasizes underlying basic science principles of solar disturbances and their effects on Earth. This includes materials such as simulations, animations, group projects and other on-line materials to be used by students either in high school or at the introductory college level. The on-line delivery tool originally intended to be used is known as Interactive Multimedia Education at a Distance (IMED), which is a web-based software system used at UCLA for interactive distance learning. IMED is a password controlled system that allows students to access text, images, bulletin boards, chat rooms, animation, simulations and individual student web sites to study science and to collaborate on group projects.

Ashour-Abdalla, Maha↗

(NH 3 (CH 2 ) 7 NH 3 ) 2 Sn 3 I 10 , a Vacancy-Ordered Three-Dimensional Tin(II) Perovskite-Derived Semiconductor

Ordering vacancies in hybrid Sn(II) halide semiconductors provides a strategy for preventing uncontrolled oxidation and formation of mobile holes. In this study, we report the structure and optical and electronic properties of (NH 3 (CH 2 ) 7 NH 3 ) 2 Sn 3 I 10 , a vacancy-ordered perovskite derivative with three-dimensional inorganic connectivity. The crystal structure resembles that of a Dion–Jacobson layered perovskite derivative, but with [SnI 5 ] square pyramids bridging the layers. UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy reveals a sharp onset of light absorption at 1.86(1) eV with the photoluminescence emission maximum at 1.90(1) eV. However, the maximum excitation occurs from 3.42 to 3.81 eV (325 to 370 nm), revealing a significant Stokes shift of 1.3 eV. The electronic properties determined from dark and time-resolved microwave conductivity measurements reveal a minimum carrier mobility of 4.3 × 10 –2 cm 2 V –1 s –1 and a maximum carrier density of 5.96 × 10 16 cm –3 , a uniquely low value for a hybrid Sn(II) halide semiconductor. The transport behavior in combination with first-principles calculations of the electronic band structure and dielectric permittivity suggest polaron-mediated electronic transport, yet the photogenerated carriers have a fast and fluence-dependent nonradiative recombination rate, suggestive of localized “defect-like” states at the band edge. The observed photoluminescence is most consistent with single-ion-like behavior of an asymmetric Sn(II) environment. Together, these results suggest that defect ordering presents a strategy for the reduction of mobile charge carriers at equilibrium.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Solar Cells: Insights and Outlooks

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites have been widely used in silicon-based tandem solar cells for their advantages of tunable bandgap, high light absorption coefficient, and high power conversion efficiency (PCE). However, the maximum PCE of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells (PSTSCs) is still below the theoretical limit. This Review describes the PSTSCs' working principle and then summarizes the research progress in recent years, including a comparison of perovskite layers, interconnection layers, and silicon bottom cells. Then, the n-i-p PSTSCs and p-i-n PSTSCs are presented based on the PSCs' top cells, and the main factors affecting the efficiency of PSTSCs are discussed in detail. Finally, an outlook on the future development of PSTSCs is discussed.

electrical conductivity↗

The undetected error probability for Reed-Solomon codes

McEliece and Swanson (1986) offered an upper bound on P(E)u, the decoder error probability given u symbol errors occur. In the present study, by using a combinatoric technique such as the principle of inclusion and exclusion, an exact formula for P(E)u is derived. The P(E)u of a maximum distance separable code is observed to approach Q rapidly as u gets large, where Q is the probability that a completely random error pattern will cause decoder error. An upper bound for the expansion P(E)u/Q - 1 is derived, and is shown to decrease nearly exponentially as u increases. This proves analytically that P(E)u indeed approaches Q as u becomes large, and that some laws of large number come into play.

Cheung, Kar-Ming↗

Root damage analysis of aircraft engine blade subject to ice impact

The blade root response due to ice impact on an engine blade is simulated using the NASA in-house code BLASIM. The ice piece is modeled as an equivalent spherical object impacting on the leading edge of the blade and has the velocity opposite to that of the aircraft with direction parallel to the engine axis. The effect of ice impact is considered to be an impulse load on the blade with its amplitude computed based on the momentum transfer principle. The blade response due to the impact is carried out by modal superposition using the first three modes. The maximum dynamic stresses at the blade root are computed at the quarter cycle of the first natural frequency. A combined stress failure function based on modified distortion energy is used to study the spanwise bending damage response at the blade root. That damage function reaches maximum value for very low ice speeds and increases steeply with increases in engine speed.

Reddy, E. S.↗

Preliminary Tests of Blowers of Three Designs Operating in Conjunction with a Wing-Duct Cooling System for Radial Engines, Special Report

This paper is one of several dealing with methods intended to reduce the drag of present-day radial engine installations and improve the cooling at zero and low air speeds, The present paper describes model wind-tunnel tests of blowers of three designs tested in conjunction with a wing-nacelle combination. The principle of operation involved consists of drawing cooling air into ducts located in the wing root at the point of maximum slipstream velocity, passing the air through the engine baffles from rear to front, and exhausting the air through an annular slot located between the propeller and the engine with the aid of a blower mounted on the spinner. The test apparatus consisted essentially of a stub wing having a 5-foot chord and a 15-foot span, an engine nacelle of 20 inches diameter enclosing a 25-horsepower electric motor, and three blowers mounted on propeller spinners. Two of the blowers utilize centrifugal force while the other uses the lift from airfoils to force the air out radially through the exit slot. Maximum efficiencies of over 70 percent were obtained for the system as a whole. Pressures were measured over the entire flight range which were in excess of those necessary to cool present-day engines, The results indicated that blowers mounted on propeller spinners could be built sufficiently powerful and efficient to warrant their use as the only, or chief, means of forcing air through the cooling system, so that cooling would be independent of the speed of the airplane.

Biermann, David↗