Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “compositional reasoning”

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

Fatigue behavior of SiC reinforced Ti/6Al-4V/ at 650 C

Axial, low cycle fatigue properties of 25 and 44 fiber vol pct SiC/Ti(6Al-4V) composites, measured at 650 C, were compared with the fatigue properties of unreinforced Ti(6Al-4V) at the same temperature. A prior study of the fatigue behavior of this composite system at room temperature indicated that the SiC fiber reinforcement did not provide the anticipated improvement of fatigue resistance of this alloy. At 650 C, the composite fatigue properties degraded somewhat from those at room temperature. However, these properties degraded more for the unreinforced matrix at 650 C with the result that the composite fatigue strength was two to three times the fatigue strength of the matrix alloy. The reasons for this reversal are discussed in terms of crack initiation at broken fibers and residual matrix stresses.

Bhatt, R. T.↗

Valles Marineris, Mars: An optimum science-sample site

The Valles Marineris troughs offer an opportunity to sample rocks that reflect various ages and compositions, giving insight into important processes on Mars. Most of the samples would be located within reasonable proximity and could be easily reached by rovers or balloons. Although landing a spacecraft on the floor of the Valles Marineris may be too dangerous for the first sample-return mission to Mars, the scientific rewards would be so great that such a landing should be considered for later flights.

Lucchitta, B. K.↗

Joint transform correlation with the synthetic estimation filter

The synthetic estimation filter (SEF) combines a set of input images into a much smaller set of filters. Those input images correspond to views of a known object taken with a variety of values of the pose parameter to be estimated. The response of the filter to variations in the pose parameter is tailored so that estimation can be done to a precision considerably finer than the intervals between filters in the pose space. The technique is extended to the joint transform correlator; as a reference, the composite image from which the SEF is conventionally calculated is used. Precautions are necessary for practical reasons. For example, the SEF algorithm may call for negative values in the image, an unrealizable condition with amplitude encoding, whereas with phase-mostly filtering in the SEF, negative image values are easily accommodated.

Monroe, Stanley E., Jr.↗

Durability and Damage Development in Woven Ceramic Matrix Composites

Damage development in woven SiC/SiNC ceramic matrix composites (CMC's) under tensile and cyclic loading both at room and elevated temperatures have been investigated for the exhaust nozzle of high-efficient turbine engines. The ultimate strength, failure strain, proportional limit and modulus data at a temperature range of 23 to 1250 C are generated. The tensile strength of SiC/SiNC woven composites have been observed to increase with increased temperatures up to 1000 C. The stress/strain plot shows a pseudo-yield point at 25 percent of the failure strain (epsilon(sub r)) which indicates damage initiation in the form of matrix cracking. The evolution of damage beyond 0.25 epsilon(sub f), both at room and elevated temperature comprises multiple matrix cracking, interfacial debonding, and fiber pullout. Although the nature of the stress/strain plot shows damage-tolerant behavior under static loading both at room and elevated temperature, the life expectancy of SiC/SiNC composites degrades significantly under cyclic loading at elevated temperature. This is mostly due to the interactions of fatigue damage caused by the mechanically induced plastic strain and the damage developed by the creep strain. The in situ damage evolutions are monitored by acoustic event parameters, ultrasonic C-scan and stiffness degradation. Rate equations for modulus degradation and fatigue life prediction of ceramic matrix composites both at room and elevated temperatures are developed. These rate equations are observed to show reasonable agreement with experimental results.

Haque, A.↗

The Bholghati howardite - Chemical study

Bholghati is homogeneous on a cm scale in major element composition, but heterogeneous in trace elements such as the rare earth elements (REEs). The REEs are concentrated in accessory phosphates, and their sampling can influence the REE patterns of eucritic clasts which, in turn, can govern the bulk REE patterns. Bholghati can be reasonably modeled with 56 percent eucritic, 45 percent diogenitic, and 3 percent dark clast components; however, an additional component (feldspathic) is required to match the bulk composition. Dark clasts represent carbonaceous CM type material that was admixed with other components during regolith formation on the eucrite parent body. One eucritic clast (fine-grained) is light REE (LREE) depleted relative to heavy REE, which is unusual in normal eucrites. The LREE depletion pattern cannot be modeled from one-stage partial melting of a chondritic source; however, it can be modeled from a nonchondritic source depleted in LREEs or multistage melting of a chondritic source, provided that the LREE depletion is not from undersampling of phsphates. Bholghati has a complex history that involved early multiple magmatic events, later annealing, and fragmentation and low-temperature mixing of eucritic, diogenitic, and carbonaceous components on the howardite parent body.

Laul, J.-C.↗

Spatial and Temporal Variability of Trace Gas Columns Derived from WRF/Chem Regional Model Output: Planning for Geostationary Observations of Atmospheric Composition

We quantify both the spatial and temporal variability of column integrated O3, NO2, CO, SO2, and HCHO over the Baltimore / Washington, DC area using output from the Weather Research and Forecasting model with on-line chemistry (WRF/Chem) for the entire month of July 2011, coinciding with the first deployment of the NASA Earth Venture program mission Deriving Information on Surface conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality (DISCOVER-AQ). Using structure function analyses, we find that the model reproduces the spatial variability observed during the campaign reasonably well, especially for O3. The Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) instrument will be the first NASA mission to make atmospheric composition observations from geostationary orbit and partially fulfills the goals of the Geostationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) mission. We relate the simulated variability to the precision requirements defined by the science traceability matrices of these space-borne missions. Results for O3 from 0- 2 km altitude indicate that the TEMPO instrument would be able to observe O3 air quality events over the Mid-Atlantic area, even on days when the violations of the air quality standard are not widespread. The results further indicated that horizontal gradients in CO from 0-2 km would be observable over moderate distances (≥ 20 km). The spatial and temporal results for tropospheric column NO2 indicate that TEMPO would be able to observe not only the large urban plumes at times of peak production, but also the weaker gradients between rush hours. This suggests that the proposed spatial and temporal resolutions for these satellites as well as their prospective precision requirements are sufficient to answer the science questions they are tasked to address.

TEMPO↗

Compositional dispersions in lunar and terrestrial basalts

The dispersions in composition observed among samples of terrestrial basalts with known field relationships are compared with those of various subgroups of lunar mare basalts. The comparison indicates that there are no substantial reasons based on trace-element data to require that large numbers of different basalts were sampled at each Apollo site. The Apollo 15 olivine and quartz normative basalts and the Apollo 12 ilmenite and olivine basalts show compositional variations which are no more pronounced than those found within single terrestrial flows, whose inhomogeneity in horizontal section has been demonstrated. The inhomogeneities of the parent rocks in the case of the Apollo 12 and 15 basalts on a scale of centimeters overshadow any differences which might exist among different general regions of the lava flows from which these samples might have derived.

Haskin, L. A.↗

On the age of the Onverwacht Group, Swaziland sequence, South Africa

Some rocks of the Onverwacht Group, South Africa, have been analyzed for Rb and Sr concentrations and Sr isotopic composition. These rocks include volcanic rocks, layered ultramafic differentiates and cherty sediments. Whole rock data indicate that the Rb-Sr isotopic systems in many samples were open and yield no reasonable isochron relationships. However, the data of mineral separates from a basaltic komatiite define a good isochron of 3.50 (plus or minus .2) b.y. with an initial Sr-87/Sr-86 ratio of 0.70048 plus or minus 5. The orthodox interpretation of this age is the time of the low grade metamorphism. It is reasonable to assume that the age of 3.50 b.y. might also represent the time of initial Onverwacht volcanism and deposition. The initial Sr-87/Sr-86 ratio obtained above is important to an understanding of the Sr isotopic composition of the Archean upper mantle.

Jahn, B.-M.↗

Readily fiberizable glasses having a high modulus of elasticity

New glass compositions yield composites having higher moduli of elasticity and specific moduli of elasticity than commercially available glasses. Over a reasonable temperature range the glasses have a viscosity of about 20,000 poises. They consist of silica, alumina, magnesia, and beryllia, plus at least one uncommon oxide.

Bacon, J. F.↗

Cosmic-ray isotopic composition

The 'age' of the cosmic rays and the origin of cosmic ray source matter are discussed. General approaches to the interpretation of the abundances of secondary radioactive nuclides are reviewed using Be-10 as an illustration. The present state of Be-10 based cosmic ray age determinations are summarized, briefly mentioning some recent results based on the isotope Al-26. The effects of nonhomogeneous propagation models on the interpretation of the radioactive isotope observations are mentioned. The cosmic ray source isotopic composition is discussed, emphasizing the neon composition. Mass histogram findings on the abundance of various elements in cosmic rays are described and possible reasons for some abundance enhancements are considered.

Wiedenbeck, M. E.↗

High Resistivity Transparent/Conductive Coatings for Space Applications: Problems and Possible Improvements

We have prepared transparent films with a sheet relativity of 10(exp 1) to 10(exp 12) ohm/square by co-depositing a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) with magnesium fluoride, using two independently controlled RF magnetron sputter guns to facilitate adjustment of the film composition, Co-deposited indium tin oxide (ITO) and MgF2 on quartz and flexible polymeric substrate exhibited reasonably stable sheet resistivity over several months' time, with substantially lower optical reflectance than that of pure ITO. However, exposure to low-intensity blue light reduces sheet resistivity by as much as two orders of magnitude. Our results suggest this photoconductivity effect may be present in all InO(x)-based materials. We find that sheet resistivity can by "tuned" by admitting a small amount of high-purity air during deposition offering the possibility of closed loop process control.

Cashman, Thomas↗

Numerical Validation of Composite Panel Impact Tests

Researchers have met the challenge of modeling impact events involving composite targets for a variety of applications in a variety of ways. In this paper, the theory and implementation details of an orthotropic visco-elastic-visco-plastic material model with strain rate dependence are discussed. The model is driven by experimental data from quasi-static as well as high strain rate tests, and the data is used in defining the deformation, damage and failure sub-models. Validation data is generated by shooting a hollow 50 g Al-2024 projectile at different velocities against a flat panel target made of unidirectional composite material in a 16-ply [(0/90/45/-45)_(2)]_(S) layup. Explicit dynamic finite element analyses of four high speed tests involving one contained (projectile rebounded) and three uncontained (projectile penetrated) impact tests show that the developed material model and modeling techniques yield reasonable and acceptable predictions.

Orthotropic Composite↗

Effects of alloy composition on cyclic flame hot-corrosion attack of cast nickel-base superalloys at 900 deg C

The effects of Cr, Al, Ti, Mo, Ta, Nb, and W content on the hot corrosion of nickel base alloys were investigated. The alloys were tested in a Mach 0.3 flame with 0.5 ppmw sodium at a temperature of 900 C. One nondestructive and three destructive tests were conducted. The best corrosion resistance was achieved when the Cr content was 12 wt %. However, some lower-Cr-content alloys ( 10 wt%) exhibited reasonable resistance provided that the Al content alloys ( 10 wt %) exhibited reasonable resistance provided that the Al content was 2.5 wt % and the Ti content was Aa wt %. The effect of W, Ta, Mo, and Nb contents on the hot-corrosion resistance varied depending on the Al and Ti contents. Several commercial alloy compositions were also tested and the corrosion attack was measured. Predicted attack was calculated for these alloys from derived regression equations and was in reasonable agreement with that experimentally measured. The regression equations were derived from measurements made on alloys in a one-quarter replicate of a 2(7) statistical design alloy composition experiment. These regression equations represent a simple linear model and are only a very preliminary analysis of the data needed to provide insights into the experimental method.

Deadmore, D. L.↗

Composite micromechanical modeling using the boundary element method

The use of the boundary element method for analyzing composite micromechanical behavior is demonstrated. Stress-strain, heat conduction, and thermal expansion analyses are conducted using the boundary element computer code BEST-CMS, and the results obtained are compared to experimental observations, analytical calculations, and finite element analyses. For each of the analysis types, the boundary element results agree reasonably well with the results from the other methodologies, with explainable discrepancies. Overall, the boundary element method shows promise in providing an alternative method to analyze composite micromechanical behavior.

Goldberg, Robert K.↗

Measurements of the stress supported by the crush zone in open hole composite laminates loaded in compression

Measurements of the stress supported by the crush zone in open hole specimens loaded in compression were carried out on two composite laminates, AS4/PEEK and IM6/HST-7, containing circular holes of three different diameters. Compression tests were conducted in a specially designed high-axial-alignment material test system machine. Results indicated that the local stress supported in the crush zone is much less than the stress required to initiate the crush, providing the reason for the finding of Guynn et al. (1987) that the Dugdale model does not accurately predict the load-damage size relationship of open hole composite specimens loaded in compression.

Guynn, E. Gail↗

Lessons learned from the DC-10 carbon-epoxy rudder program

With the DC-10 carbon-epoxy rudder, the Douglas Aircraft Company achieved one of the greatest percentage weight savings associated with composite structures. Apart from minor damage from lightning strikes, the 15 rudders put into service have experienced virtually trouble-free operation for about a decade. This paper explains why a multirib, postbuckled skin design was used for the DC-10 composite rudder, how it was justified, and how it would have compared with more conventional sandwich design concepts. Special attention is devoted to the reasons why, for such postbuckled designs, it is better to allow the skin to wrinkle and unload itself than to reinforce it and make it resist buckling until some higher load level is attained. With minor changes in the manufacturing technique, this design concept is ideal for the control surfaces on many aircraft. The paper includes suggestions on how to make even better composite control surfaces in the future.

Hart-Smith, L. J.↗

Relationships between pigment composition variation and reflectance for plant species from a coastal savannah in California

Advances in imaging spectroscopy have indicated that remotely sensed reflectance measurements of the plant canopy may be used to identify and qualify some classes of canopy biochemicals; however, the manner in which differences in biochemical compositions translate into differences is not well understood. Most frequently, multiple linear regression routines have been used to correlate narrow band reflectance values with measured biochemical concentrations. Although some success has been achieved with such methods for given data sets, the bands selected by multiple regression are not consistent between data sets, nor is it always clear what physical or biological basis underlies the correlation. To examine the relationship between biochemical concentration and leaf reflectance signal we chose to focus on the visible spectrum where the primary biochemical absorbances are due to photosynthetic pigments. Pigments provide a range of absorbance features, occur over a range of concentrations in natural samples, and are ecophysiologically important. Concentrations of chlorophyll, for example, have been strongly correlated to foliar nitrogen levels within a species and to photosynthetic capacity across many species. In addition pigments effectively absorb most of the photosynthetically active radiation between 400-700 nm, a spectral region for which silicon detectors have good signal/noise characteristics. Our strategy has been to sample a variety of naturally occurring species to measure leaf reflectance and pigment compositions. We hope to extend our understanding of pigment reflectance effects to interpret small overlapping absorbances of other biochemicals in the infrared region. For this reason, selected samples were also tested to determine total nitrogen, crude protein, cellulose, and lignin levels. Leaf reflectance spectra measured with AVIRIS bandwidths and wavelengths were compared between species and within species and for differences between seasons, for changes in the the shape of the spectra. We attempt to statistically correlate these shape changes with differences in pigment compositions. In parallel with our comparisons of pigment composition and leaf reflectance, we have modified the PROSPECT leaf reflectance model to test the contributions of pigments or pigment group concentrations. PROSPECT considers a leaf as a multi-layer dielectric plane with an uneven surface. Jacquemoud adapted the basic analysis of Allen for surface effects, a leaf thickness factor, and the absorption of water and chlorophyll (actually all pigments) and the plant matrix. Our modifications to PROSPECT in the forward direction include breaking out the pigment concentration parameter into separate components for chlorophyll a and b and a number of xanthophylls and carotenes, and introducing a shift and convolution function to model the spread and shift from their in vitro measurements to their in vivo state. Further, we have considered how the matrix elements (i.e., all biochemicals and structural effects not modeled explicity) vary with species.

Ustin, Susan L.↗

Associative Flow Rule Used to Include Hydrostatic Stress Effects in Analysis of Strain-Rate-Dependent Deformation of Polymer Matrix Composites

designing reliable composite engine cases that are lighter than the metal cases in current use. The types of polymer matrix composites that are likely to be used in such an application have a deformation response that is nonlinear and that varies with strain rate. The nonlinearity and the strain-rate dependence of the composite response are due primarily to the matrix constituent. Therefore, in developing material models to be used in the design of impact-resistant composite engine cases, the deformation of the polymer matrix must be correctly analyzed. However, unlike in metals, the nonlinear response of polymers depends on the hydrostatic stresses, which must be accounted for within an analytical model. By applying micromechanics techniques along with given fiber properties, one can also determine the effects of the hydrostatic stresses in the polymer on the overall composite deformation response. First efforts to account for the hydrostatic stress effects in the composite deformation applied purely empirical methods that relied on composite-level data. In later efforts, to allow polymer properties to be characterized solely on the basis of polymer data, researchers at the NASA Glenn Research Center developed equations to model the polymers that were based on a non-associative flow rule, and efforts to use these equations to simulate the deformation of representative polymer materials were reasonably successful. However, these equations were found to have difficulty in correctly analyzing the multiaxial stress states found in the polymer matrix constituent of a composite material. To correct these difficulties, and to allow for the accurate simulation of the nonlinear strain-rate-dependent deformation analysis of polymer matrix composites, in the efforts reported here Glenn researchers reformulated the polymer constitutive equations from basic principles using the concept of an associative flow rule. These revised equations were characterized and validated in an experimental program carried out through a university grant with the Ohio State University, wherein tensile and shear deformation data were obtained for a representative polymer for strain rates ranging from quasi-static to high rates of several hundred per second. Tensile deformation data also were obtained over a variety of strain rates and fiber orientation angles for a representative polymer matrix composite composed using the polymer.

Goldberg, Robert K.↗