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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 217 records · Page 12
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1985

Observations, theoretical ideas and modeling of turbulent flows: Past, present and future

Turbulence was analyzed in a historical context featuring the interactions between observations, theoretical ideas, and modeling within three successive movements. These are identified as predominantly statistical, structural and deterministic. The statistical movement is criticized for its failure to deal with the structural elements observed in turbulent flows. The structural movement is criticized for its failure to embody observed structural elements within a formal theory. The deterministic movement is described as having the potential of overcoming these deficiencies by allowing structural elements to exhibit chaotic behavior that is nevertheless embodied within a theory. Four major ideas of this movement are described: bifurcation theory, strange attractors, fractals, and the renormalization group. A framework for the future study of turbulent flows is proposed, based on the premises of the deterministic movement.

Chapman, G. T.↗
NASA NTRS2004

A Model for the Oxidation of Carbon Silicon Carbide Composite Structures

A mathematical theory and an accompanying numerical scheme have been developed for predicting the oxidation behavior of carbon silicon carbide (C/SiC) composite structures. The theory is derived from the mechanics of the flow of ideal gases through a porous solid. The result of the theoretical formulation is a set of two coupled nonlinear differential equations written in terms of the oxidant and oxide partial pressures. The differential equations are solved simultaneously to obtain the partial vapor pressures of the oxidant and oxides as a function of the spatial location and time. The local rate of carbon oxidation is determined using the map of the local oxidant partial vapor pressure along with the Arrhenius rate equation. The nonlinear differential equations are cast into matrix equations by applying the Bubnov-Galerkin weighted residual method, allowing for the solution of the differential equations numerically. The numerical method is demonstrated by utilizing the method to model the carbon oxidation and weight loss behavior of C/SiC specimens during thermogravimetric experiments. The numerical method is used to study the physics of carbon oxidation in carbon silicon carbide composites.

Sullivan, Roy M.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Combined mode I and mode II fracture of monolithic ceramics

The mode I, mode II, and combined mode I-mode II fracture behaviors of a coarse-grained silicon nitride, a fine-grained silicon nitride, and an alumina were investigated. These ceramics were fractured from two types of fracture initiating flaws: small surface flaws and large single edge precracks. The small surface flaws were introduced by Knoop indentation in flexural samples at various angles to the tensile stress direction and fractured in four-point bending. The samples with large precracks were fractured in the asymmetric four-point-bend geometry. The mixed-mode fracture toughness values obtained from the two flaw configurations were in good agreement with each other. All three ceramics displayed very similar mixed-mode fracture behavior, although their microstructures were not similar. Comparison of experimental data to mixed-mode fracture theories revealed that the minimum strain energy density theory best described the mixed-mode fracture behavior of all three ceramics.

Tikare, Veena↗
NASA NTRS2004

Telescoping Mechanics: A New Paradigm for Composite Behavior Simulation

This report reviews the application of telescoping mechanics to composites using recursive laminate theory. The elemental scale is the fiber-matrix slice, the behavior of which propagates to laminate. The results from using applications for typical, hybrid, and smart composites and composite-enhanced reinforced concrete structures illustrate the versatility and generality of telescoping scale mechanics. Comparisons with approximate, single-cell, and two- and three-dimensional finite-element methods demonstrate the accuracy and computational effectiveness of telescoping scale mechanics for predicting complex composite behavior.

Chamis, C. C.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Constitutive relationships for anisotropic high-temperature alloys

A constitutive theory is presented for representing the anisotropic viscoplastic behavior of high temperature alloys that posses directional properties resulting from controlled grain growth or solidification. The theory is an extension of a viscoplastic model that was applied in structural analyses involving isotropic metals. Anisotropy is introduced through the definition of a vector field that identifies a preferential (solidification) direction at each material point. Following the development of a full multiaxial theory, application is made to homogeneously stressed elements in pure shear and to a uniaxially stressed rectangular block in plane stress with the stress direction oriented at an arbitrary angle with the material direction. It is shown that an additional material parameter introduced to characterize the degree of anisotropy can be determined on the basis of simple creep tests.

Robinson, D. N.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Genetic algorithms as global random search methods

Genetic algorithm behavior is described in terms of the construction and evolution of the sampling distributions over the space of candidate solutions. This novel perspective is motivated by analysis indicating that that schema theory is inadequate for completely and properly explaining genetic algorithm behavior. Based on the proposed theory, it is argued that the similarities of candidate solutions should be exploited directly, rather than encoding candidate solution and then exploiting their similarities. Proportional selection is characterized as a global search operator, and recombination is characterized as the search process that exploits similarities. Sequential algorithms and many deletion methods are also analyzed. It is shown that by properly constraining the search breadth of recombination operators, convergence of genetic algorithms to a global optimum can be ensured.

Peck, Charles C.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Genetic algorithms as global random search methods

Genetic algorithm behavior is described in terms of the construction and evolution of the sampling distributions over the space of candidate solutions. This novel perspective is motivated by analysis indicating that the schema theory is inadequate for completely and properly explaining genetic algorithm behavior. Based on the proposed theory, it is argued that the similarities of candidate solutions should be exploited directly, rather than encoding candidate solutions and then exploiting their similarities. Proportional selection is characterized as a global search operator, and recombination is characterized as the search process that exploits similarities. Sequential algorithms and many deletion methods are also analyzed. It is shown that by properly constraining the search breadth of recombination operators, convergence of genetic algorithms to a global optimum can be ensured.

Peck, Charles C.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Constitutive relationships for anisotropic high-temperature alloys

A constitutive theory is presented for representing the anisotropic viscoplastic behavior of high-temperature alloys that possess directional properties resulting from controlled grain growth or solidification. The theory is an extension of a viscoplastic model that has been applied in structural analyses involving isotropic metals. Anisotropy is introduced through the definition of a vector field that identifies a preferential (solidification) direction at each material point. Following the development of a full multiaxial theory, application is made to homogeneously stressed elements in pure shear and to a uniaxially stressed rectangular block in plane stress with the stress direction oriented at an arbitrary angle with the material direction. It is shown that an additional material parameter introduced to characterize the degree of anisotropy can be determined on the basis of simple creep tests.

Robinson, D. N.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A multiaxial theory of viscoplasticity for isotropic materials

Many viscoplastic constitutive models for high temperature structural alloys are based exclusively on uniaxial test data. Generalization to multiaxial states of stress is made by assuming the stress dependence to be on the second principal invariant (J sub 2) of the deviatoric stress, frequently called the effective stress. If such a J sub 2 theory, based on uniaxial testing, is called upon to predict behavior under conditions other than uniaxial, e.g., pure shear, and it does so poorly, nothing is left to adjust in the theory. For a fully isotropic material whose inelastic deformation behavior is relatively independent of hydrostatic stress, the most general stress dependence is on the two (non-zero) principal invariants of the deviatoric stress, J sub 2 and J sub 3. These invariants constitute what is known as an integrity basis for the material. A time dependent constitutive theory with stress dependence on J sub 2 and J sub 3 is presented, that reduces to a known J sub 2 theory as a special case.

Robinson, D. N.↗
NASA NTRS2001

The Role of Convection and Growth Competition in Phase Selection in Microgravity: Controlled Convection in the Containerless Processing of Steel Alloys

Containerless processing using electromagnetic levitation (EML) is a powerful technique in the investigation of reactive molten metal systems. On ground, the power required to overcome the weight of the sample is sufficient to cause significant heating and induce substantial melt convection. In microgravity, the heating and positioning fields may be decoupled and the field strength may be varied to achieve the desired level of convection within the limits set by the geometry of the levitation coil and the sample size. From high-speed digital images of the double recalescence behavior of Fe-Cr-Ni alloys in ground-based testing and in reduced-gravity aboard the NASA KC-135 parabolic aircraft, we have shown that phase selection can be predicted based on a growth competition model. An important parameter in this model is the delay time between primary nucleation and subsequent nucleation of the stable solid within the liquid/metastable solid array. This delay time is a strong function of composition and a weak function of the undercooling of the melt below the metastable liquidus. From the results obtained during the first Microgravity Sciences Laboratory (MSL-1) mission, we also know that convection may significantly influence the delay time, especially at low undercoolings. Currently, it is unclear what mechanism controls the formation of a heterogeneous site that allows nucleation of the austenitic phase on the pre-existing ferrite skeleton. By examining the behavior of the delay time under different convective conditions, we hypothesize that we can differentiate between several of these mechanisms to gain an understanding of how to control microstructural. evolution. We will anchor these predictions by examining samples quenched at different times following primary recalescence in microgravity. A second important parameter in the growth competition model is the identification of the growth rate of the stable phase into the semi-solid array that formed during primary recalescence. Current dendritic growth theory is inadequate in predicting solidification behavior under these conditions as metallographic analyses show that stable phase growth proceeds along the interface between the metastable solid and residual liquid. Since growth velocity is independent of the initial undercooling relative to the metastable liquidus, we hypothesize that purely thermal effects can be separated from other important growth model parameters by careful selection of the liquid composition in a ternary system.

Matson, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Creep behavior of copper at intermediate temperatures. II - Surface microstructural observations. III - A comparison with theory

Three different types of microstructural slip features are noted to occur during the creep of Cu at 0.46-0.72 of absolute melting point. While single slip is associated with higher temperatures and lower stresses, complex wavy slip features are observed at higher temperatures and higher stresses as well as with increasing strains: suggesting the importance of cross-slip mechanisms. At lower temperatures and higher stresses the multiple-slip morphologies observed indicate that cross-slip mechanisms may control the creep of polycrystalline Cu only over a limited stress and temperature range. A phenomenological model is proposed which assumes that (1) cell boundaries within subgrains act as both sources of, and obstacles to, gliding dislocations, and (2) dislocation annihilation occurs at the cell boundaries by climb and cross-slip.

Raj, S. V.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Heavy fermion behavior explained by bosons

Conventional heavy fermion (HF) theories require existence of massive fermions. We show that heavy fermion phenomena can also be simply explained by existence of bosons with moderate mass but temperature dependent concentration below the formation temperature T(sub B), which in turn is close to room temperature. The bosons B(++) are proposed to be in chemical equilibrium with a system of holes h(+): B(++) = h(+) + h(+). This equilibrium is governed by a boson breaking function f(T), which determines the decreasing boson density and the increasing fermion density with increasing temperature. Since HF-compounds are hybridized from minimum two elements, we assume in addition existence of another fermion component h(sub s)(+) with temperature independent density. This spectator component is thought to be the main agent in binding the bosons in analogy with electronic or muonic molecules. Using a linear boson breaking function we can explain temperature dependence of the giant linear specific heat coefficient gamma(T) coming essentially from bosons. The maxima in resistivity, Hall coefficient, and susceptibility are explained by boson localization effects due to the Wigner crystallization. The antiferromagnetic transitions in turn are explained by similar localization of the pairing fermion system when their density n(sub h)(T(sub FL)) becomes lower than n(sub WC), the critical density of Wigner crystallization. The model applies irrespective whether a compound is superconducting or not. The same model explains the occurrence of low temperature antiferromagnetism also in high-T(sub c) superconductors. The double transition in UPt3 is proposed to be due to the transition of the pairing fermion liquid from spin polarized to unpolarized state.

Kallio, A.↗
NASA NTRS1997

A Viscoplastic Constitutive Theory for Monolithic Ceramic Materials

With increasing use of ceramic materials in high temperature structural applications such as advanced heat engine components, the need arises to accurately predict thermomechanical behavior. This paper, which is the first of two in a series, will focus on inelastic deformation behavior associated with these service conditions by providing an overview of a viscoplastic constitutive model that accounts for time-dependent hereditary material deformation (e.g., creep, stress relaxation, etc.) in monolithic structural ceramics. Early work in the field of metal plasticity indicated that inelastic deformations are essentially unaffected by hydrostatic stress. This is not the case, however, for ceramic-based material systems, unless the ceramic is fully dense. The theory presented here allows for fully dense material behavior as a limiting case. In addition, ceramic materials exhibit different time-dependent behavior in tension and compression. Thus, inelastic deformation models for ceramics must be constructed in a fashion that admits both sensitivity to hydrostatic stress and differing behavior in tension and compression. A number of constitutive theories for materials that exhibit sensitivity to the hydrostatic component of stress have been proposed that characterize deformation using time-independent classical plasticity as a foundation. However, none of these theories allow different behavior in tension and compression. In addition, these theories are somewhat lacking in that they are unable to capture creep, relaxation, and rate-sensitive phenomena exhibited by ceramic materials at high temperature. When subjected to elevated service temperatures, ceramic materials exhibit complex thermomechanical behavior that is inherently time-dependent, and hereditary in the sense that current behavior depends not only on current conditions, but also on thermo-mechanical history. The objective of this work is to present the formulation of a macroscopic continuum theory that captures these time-dependent phenomena. Specifically, the overview contained in this paper focuses on the multiaxial derivation of the constitutive model, and examines the scalar threshold function and its attending geometrical implications.

Janosik, Lesley A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Probabilistic composite analysis

Formal procedures are described which are used to computationally simulate the probabilistic behavior of composite structures. The computational simulation starts with the uncertainties associated with all aspects of a composite structure (constituents, fabrication, assembling, etc.) and encompasses all aspects of composite behavior (micromechanics, macromechanics, combined stress failure, laminate theory, structural response, and tailoring) optimization. Typical cases are included to illustrate the formal procedure for computational simulation. The collective results of the sample cases demonstrate that uncertainties in composite behavior and structural response can be probabilistically quantified.

Chamis, C. C.↗
NASA NTRS2017

The Failure of Correlation to Describe Out-of-Plane Carbon=Carbon Bending

Carbon-carbon multiply bonded systems are improperly described with standard correlation methods and basis sets. For computations of vibrational modes, the out-of- plane bends can be reported as imaginary at worst or simply too low at best. Utilizing the simplest of aromatic structures (cyclopropenylidene) and various levels of theory, this work diagnoses this known behavior for the first time. A combined 1-particle and n-particle basis set effect conspire to produce these non-physical results. When moving from sp2 to sp3 hybridization in the carbon atoms, the larger number of basis functions overcorrects the energy. This is exacerbated by correlation methods. These allow for occupation of the π and π∗ orbitals in the expanded wave function that combine with the hydrogen s orbitals. As a result, the improperly described space can be further and non-physically stabilized by post-Hartree-Fock correlation. This represents a fundamental problem with at least Hartree-Fock based methods of all flavors in describing carbon. Beyond being a flaw in quantum chemical theory, other repercussions will be present in computations regarding spectroscopy as well as energy and environmental studies where highly-accurate hydrocabon vibrational transitions or thermochemical data are needed.

Fortenberry, Ryan C.↗
NASA NTRS1999

A Quasi-Linear Behavioral Model and an Application to Self-Directed Learning

A model is presented that describes the relationship between one's knowledge of the world and the concomitant personal behaviors that serve as a mechanism to obtain desired outcomes. Integrated within this model are the differing roles that outcomes serve as motivators and as modifiers to one's worldview. The model is dichotomized between general and contextual applications. Because learner self-directedness (a personal characteristic) involves cognition and affection while self-directed learning (a pedagogic process) encompasses conation, behavior and introspection, the model can be dichotomized again in another direction. Presented also are the roles that cognitive motivation theories play in moving an individual through this behavioral model and the roles of wishes, self-efficacy, opportunity and self-influence.

Ponton, Michael K.↗
NASA NTRS1996

A viscoelastic higher-order beam finite element

A viscoelastic internal variable constitutive theory is applied to a higher-order elastic beam theory and finite element formulation. The behavior of the viscous material in the beam is approximately modeled as a Maxwell solid. The finite element formulation requires additional sets of nodal variables for each relaxation time constant needed by the Maxwell solid. Recent developments in modeling viscoelastic material behavior with strain variables that are conjugate to the elastic strain measures are combined with advances in modeling through-the-thickness stresses and strains in thick beams. The result is a viscous thick-beam finite element that possesses superior characteristics for transient analysis since its nodal viscous forces are not linearly dependent an the nodal velocities, which is the case when damping matrices are used. Instead, the nodal viscous forces are directly dependent on the material's relaxation spectrum and the history of the nodal variables through a differential form of the constitutive law for a Maxwell solid. The thick beam quasistatic analysis is explored herein as a first step towards developing more complex viscoelastic models for thick plates and shells, and for dynamic analyses. The internal variable constitutive theory is derived directly from the Boltzmann superposition theorem. The mechanical strains and the conjugate internal strains are shown to be related through a system of first-order, ordinary differential equations. The total time-dependent stress is the superposition of its elastic and viscous components. Equations of motion for the solid are derived from the virtual work principle using the total time-dependent stress. Numerical examples for the problems of relaxation, creep, and cyclic creep are carried out for a beam made from an orthotropic Maxwell solid.

Johnson, Arthur R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Some crucial corona and prominence observations

A number of theories and hypotheses are currently being developed to explain the often complex behavior of corona and prominence plasmas. In order to test the theories and hypotheses certain crucial observations are necessary. Some of these observations are examined and a few conclusions are drawn. Corona mass balance, corona and prominence classifications, prominence formation and stability, and coronal mass ejection are dicussed.

Tandberg-Hanssen, E. A.↗