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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 235 records · Page 13
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NASA NTRS1995

Hypervelocity impact survivability experiments for carbonaceous impactors, part 2

Hypervelocity impact experiments were performed to further test the survivability of carbonaceous impactors and to determine potential products that may have been synthesized during impact. Diamonds were launched by the Ames two-stage light gas gun into Al plate at velocities of 2.75 and 3.1 km sec(exp -1). FESEM imagery confirms that diamond fragments survived in both experiments. Earlier experiments found that diamonds were destroyed on impact above 4.3 km sec(exp -1). Thus, the upper stability limit for diamond on impact into Al, as determined from our experimental conditions, is between 3.1 and 4.3 km sec(exp -1). Particles of the carbonaceous chondrite Nogoya were also launched into Al at a velocity of 6.2 km sec (exp -1). Laser desorption (L (exp 2) MS) analyses of the impactor residues indicate that the lowest and highest mass polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's) were largely destroyed on impact; those of intermediate mass (202-220 amu) remained at the same level or increased in abundance. In addition, alkyl-substituted homologs of the most abundant pre-impacted PAH's were synthesized during impact. These results suggest that an unknown fraction of some organic compounds can survive low to moderate impact velocities and that synthesized products can be expected to form up to velocities of, at least, 6.5 km sec(exp -1). We also present examples of craters formed by a unique microparticle accelerator that could launch micron-sized particles of almost any coherent material at velocities up to approximately 15 km sec(exp -1). Many of the experiments have a direct bearing on the interpretation of LDEF craters.

Bunch, T. E.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Asteroidal versus cometary meteoroid impacts on the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF)

Meteoroids that enter the Earth's atmosphere at low velocities will tend to impact the apex side (that surface facing the spacecraft direction of motion) of a spacecraft at a very high rate compared to the rate with which they will impact an antapex-facing surface. This ratio--apex to antapex impact rates--will become less as meteoroid entry velocities increase. The measured ration, apex to antapex, for 500 micron diameter impact craters in 6061-T6 aluminum on LDEF seems to be about 20 from the work of the meteoroid SIG group and others, that was presented at the first LDEF symposium. Such a ratio is more consistent with the meteoroid velocity distributions derived by Erickson and by Kessler, than it is with others that have been tested. These meteoroid velocity distributions have mean entry velocities into the Earth's atmosphere of 16.5 to 16.9 km/s. Others have numerically simulated the orbital evolution of small dust grains emitted from asteroids and comets. For those asteroidal grains small enough (below about 100 microns diameter) to drift from the asteroid belt to the orbit of the Earth, under P-R and solar wind drag, without suffering collisional destruction, the following results are found: as the ascending or descending nodes cross the Earth's orbit, their orbital eccentricities and inclinations are quite low (e less than 0.3, i less than 20 deg), and their mean velocity with respect to the Earth is about 5 or 6 km/s. When gravitational acceleration of the Earth is taken into account, the corresponding mean velocities relative to the top of the Earth's atmosphere are 12 to 13 km/s. This means that, at best, these small asteroidal particles cannot comprise more than 50 percent of the particles entering the Earth's atmosphere. When gravitational focusing is considered, they cannot comprise more than a few percent of those in heliocentric orbit at 1 AU. The rest are presumably of cometary origin.

Zook, Herbert A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Asteroidal versus cometary meteoroid impacts on the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF)

Meteoroids that enter the Earth's atmosphere at low velocities will tend to impact the apex side (that surface facing the spacecraft direction of motion) of a spacecraft at a very high rate compared to the rate with which they will impact an antapex-facing surface. This ratio -- apex to antapex impact rates -- will become less as meteoroid entry velocities increase. The measured ratio, apex to antapex, for 500 micron diameter impact craters in 6061-T6 aluminum on LDEF seems to be about 20 from the work of the meteoroid SIG group and from the work of Humes that was presented at the first LDEF symposium. Such a ratio is more consistent with the meteoroid velocity distributions derived by Erickson and by Kessler, than it is with others that have been tested. These meteoroid velocity distributions have mean entry velocities into the Earth's atmosphere of 16.5 to 16.9 km/s. Jackson and Zook (in a paper submitted to Icarus) have numerically simulated the orbital evolution of small dust grains emitted from asteroids and comets. For those asteroidal grains small enough (below about 100 microns diameter) to drift from the asteroid belt to the orbit of the Earth, under P-R and solar wind drag, without suffering collisional destruction, the following results are found: as their ascending or descending nodes cross the Earth's orbit (and when they might collide with the Earth), their orbital eccentricities and inclinations are quite low (e less than 0.3, i less than 20 degrees), and their mean velocity with respect to the Earth is about 5 or 6 km/s. When gravitational acceleration of the Earth is taken into account, the corresponding mean velocities relative to the top of the Earth's atmosphere are 12 to 13 km/s. This means that, at best, these small asteroidal particles can not comprise more than 50 percent of the particles entering the Earth's atmosphere. And when gravitational focusing is considered, they cannot comprise more than a few percent of those in heliocentric orbit at 1 AU. The rest are presumably of cometary origin.

Zook, Herbert A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Polymer materials research at NASA Ames Research Center

Polymers that provide significant improvements in both efficiency and safety for civilian transport aircraft and military combat aircraft were developed. High strength to weight structures such as carbon fiber composites with long term durability are requirements common to both classes of aircraft. Aircraft safety improvements in fire resistance and crashworthiness of primary and secondary structures are long term objectives for transport aircraft. Void filler ballistic foams, intumescent coatings, and radiation-resistant transparent plastics contribute to vulnerability reduction in combat military aircraft. Low and high velocity impact tolerance, fire resistance, thermal stability, and long term durability of polymers and components are emphasized.

J. A. Parker↗
NASA NTRS1991

The Flowfield Around a STOVL Aircraft Model in Ground Effect

An experimental investigation was conducted to determine the causes of hot gas ingestion of engine inlets in STOVL and V/STOVL aircraft in ground effect. Marker nephelometry was used to establish the interactions between the jets, forward velocity, and ground for a typical aircraft model configuration. The aircraft test model consisted of a two inlet configuration with four low subsonic velocity jets impacting vertically on a flat plate. The vertical distance between the plate and model under-surface was adjustable, and a wind tunnel provided forward air velocities from 0 to 0.1 times the jet velocity to simulate landing into a wind. Single frame pictures of the smoke concentration distribution in the flowfield revealed several vortical features in the interaction region, which were affected variously by the distance between the ground plane and model, the forward wind velocity, and the inlet suction. Some of these vortical features, such as the ground vortex, have been seen before in experiments using single jets. Other vortical features in the flowfield, such as the forward vortex pair, have not been seen before. Frame-averaged experimental smoke concentration profiles compared favorably with numerical time-averaged predictions of temperature distribution carried out at the University of Illinois. However, such predictions did not seem to reveal some aspects of the vortical flow features which should affect instantaneous distortion into the engine inlet.

Maclean, Roderick J.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Characterization of Aircraft Structural Damage Using Guided Wave Based Finite Element Analysis for In-Flight Structural Health Management

The development of multidisciplinary Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) tools will enable accurate detection, diagnosis and prognosis of damage under normal and adverse conditions during flight. The adverse conditions include loss of control caused by environmental factors, actuator and sensor faults or failures, and structural damage conditions. A major concern is the growth of undetected damage/cracks due to fatigue and low velocity foreign object impact that can reach a critical size during flight, resulting in loss of control of the aircraft. To avoid unstable catastrophic propagation of damage during a flight, load levels must be maintained that are below the load-carrying capacity for damaged aircraft structures. Hence, a capability is needed for accurate real-time predictions of safe load carrying capacity for aircraft structures with complex damage configurations. In the present work, a procedure is developed that uses guided wave responses to interrogate damage. As the guided wave interacts with damage, the signal attenuates in some directions and reflects in others. This results in a difference in signal magnitude as well as phase shifts between signal responses for damaged and undamaged structures. Accurate estimation of damage size and location is made by evaluating the cumulative signal responses at various pre-selected sensor locations using a genetic algorithm (GA) based optimization procedure. The damage size and location is obtained by minimizing the difference between the reference responses and the responses obtained by wave propagation finite element analysis of different representative cracks, geometries and sizes.

Seshadri, Banavara R.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Structural Health Management of Damaged Aircraft Structures Using the Digital Twin Concept

The development of multidisciplinary integrated Structural Health Management (SHM) tools will enable accurate detection, and prognosis of damaged aircraft under normal and adverse conditions during flight. As part of the digital twin concept, methodologies are developed by using integrated multiphysics models, sensor information and input data from an in-service vehicle to mirror and predict the life of its corresponding physical twin. SHM tools are necessary for both damage diagnostics and prognostics for continued safe operation of damaged aircraft structures. The adverse conditions include loss of control caused by environmental factors, actuator and sensor faults or failures, and structural damage conditions. A major concern in these structures is the growth of undetected damage/cracks due to fatigue and low velocity foreign object impact that can reach a critical size during flight, resulting in loss of control of the aircraft. To avoid unstable, catastrophic propagation of damage during a flight, load levels must be maintained that are below a reduced load-carrying capacity for continued safe operation of an aircraft. Hence, a capability is needed for accurate real-time predictions of damage size and safe load carrying capacity for structures with complex damage configurations. In the present work, a procedure is developed that uses guided wave responses to interrogate damage. As the guided wave interacts with damage, the signal attenuates in some directions and reflects in others. This results in a difference in signal magnitude as well as phase shifts between signal responses for damaged and undamaged structures. Accurate estimation of damage size, location, and orientation is made by evaluating the cumulative signal responses at various pre-selected sensor locations using a genetic algorithm (GA) based optimization procedure. The damage size, location, and orientation is obtained by minimizing the difference between the reference responses and the responses obtained by wave propagation finite element analysis of different representative cracks, geometries, and sizes.

Seshadri, Banavara R.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Stardust Interstellar Preliminary Examination IX: High-Speed Interstellar Dust Analog Capture in Stardust Flight-Spare Aerogel

The NASA Stardust mission used silica aerogel slabs to slowly decelerate and capture impinging cosmic dust particles for return to Earth. During this process, impact tracks are generated along the trajectory of the particle into the aerogel. It is believed that the morphology and dimensions of these tracks, together with the state of captured grains at track termini, may be linked to the size, velocity, and density of the impacting cosmic dust grain. Here, we present the results of laboratory hypervelocity impact experiments, during which cosmic dust analog particles (diameters of between 0.2 and 0.4 lm), composed of olivine, orthopyroxene, or an organic polymer, were accelerated onto Stardust flight spare low-density (approximately 0.01 g/cu cm) silica aerogel. The impact velocities (3-21 km/s) were chosen to simulate the range of velocities expected during Stardust's interstellar dust (ISD) collection phases. Track lengths and widths, together with the success of particle capture, are analyzed as functions of impact velocity and particle composition, density, and size. Captured terminal particles from low-density organic projectiles become undetectable at lower velocities than those from similarly sized, denser mineral particles, which are still detectable (although substantially altered by the impact process) at 15 km/s. The survival of these terminal particles, together with the track dimensions obtained during low impact speed capture of small grains in the laboratory, indicates that two of the three best Stardust candidate extraterrestrial grains were actually captured at speeds much lower than predicted. Track length and diameters are, in general, more sensitive to impact velocities than previously expected, which makes tracks of particles with diameters of 0.4 lm and below hard to identify at low capture speeds (<10 km/s). Therefore, although captured intact, the majority of the interstellar dust grains returned to Earth by Stardust remain to be found.

Stardust↗
NASA NTRS1980

Ultrasonic evaluation of impact-damaged graphite fiber composite

Unidirectional Hercules AS/3501-6 graphite fiber epoxy composites are subjected to repeated controlled low-velocity drop-weight impacts in the laminate direction. The degradation is ultrasonically monitored using through-thickness attenuation and a modified stress wave factor, SWF. There are correlations between the number of drop-weight impacts, the residual tensile strength, the through-thickness attenuation and the SWF.

Williams, J. H., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Progressive impact cratering

Most cratering experiments are designed to study the effects of a single hypervelocity impact into a target of uniform properties. Experiments involving multiple impacts are usually limited to low velocity projectiles and unconsolidated target materials. Gault described saturation cratering in an unconsolidated target. Quaide and Oberbeck studied crater forms produced by hypervelocity impact into layered targets. Several investigators have modeled the generation of either a regolith or megaregolith by repeated impact on planetary surfaces. Studies now in progress examine changes in crater morphology and target properties by repeated impact into an initially consolidated target. Current studies employ low velocity projectiles (2 g at 0.5 km/sec) and consolidated salt targets. Records of crater size, morphology, and accumulated ejecta thickness are maintained as impacts collect on the surface.

Dehon, R. A.↗
DOE OSTI2024

The OSIRIS-REx Sample Return Capsule re-entry: A coordinated seismo-acoustic observational campaign for the study of meteor phenomena

Objects entering Earth’s atmosphere at hypersonic velocities may generate powerful acoustic waves. Depending on atmospheric conditions and acoustic propagation paths, they may be captured using ground or balloon-borne microbarometers and microphones. Impacts into the Earth’s atmosphere by asteroids in a meter-size range are sporadic and unannounced, and thus, well-documented scientific observations of asteroids are rare and generally happen by chance. Arriving from interplanetary space at hypervelocity, spacecraft are considered analogues for low velocity meteoroids and asteroids impacting the Earth’s atmosphere, and as such provide unprecedented and unique opportunity to carry out planned observational campaigns and perform detailed studies of meteor phenomena. However, since the end of the Apollo era, only four instances of a hypersonic re-entry of an artificial body from interplanetary space with an incident speed of 11-12 km/s have been observed and studied. These were the Sample Return Capsules (SRCs) that brought physical samples of extraterrestrial material back to Earth (Genesis, Stardust, Hayabusa 1, Hayabusa 2). These re-entries were also detected by infrasound and/or seismic sensors. The next opportunity to observe an artificial meteor will be on 24 September 2023 with the re-entry of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx SRC that will bring samples of the carbonaceous near-Earth asteroid Bennu. The re-entry consists of several flight phases, including hypersonic and supersonic, providing a unique opportunity to observe these by infrasound and seismic sensors. We will discuss observational campaign efforts aimed to capture geophysical signals generated by the OSIRIS-REx SRC re-entry. This campaign utilizes an unparalleled number of instruments, both ground and airborne, strategically positioned in the immediate and extended region around the projected re-entry trajectory to maximize the scientific output.

47 - OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS1997

Analysis of Impact Induced Damage and its Effect on Structural Integrity of Space Flight Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels

The objective of this research work has been to provide analytical background and support to the ongoing experimental program at NASA, White Sands Test Facility, involving testing composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPV) for impact damage and cyclic pressurization. Preliminary theoretical basis, including the governing equations for a shallow shell subjected to internal pressure, has been established. Effects of the Griffith type cracks on the structural integrity of the cylindrical vessel were evaluated by methods of Fracture Mechanics. The results indicate that the effective mass of the pressure vessel is an important factor influencing the response to impact events. We also have found that the material properties of the target, contained in the constitutive equations of the composite attached to the Aluminum liner, dominate the impact event in the low velocity range, the material properties become less important, while the target mass distribution and the impactor mass become more significant as the velocity of the impactor increases. Therefore, at high-velocity impact it is not only the kinetic energy of the impactor but also its mass which has a significant effect on the dynamics of the event, and consequently on the induced damage. This work also suggests a methodology for an assessment of the rate of loading effects on the degradation of the material toughness associated with a high-velocity impact where the rate effects become significant. To model the rate dependence of the material response a viscoelastic-plastic constitutive equations were assumed, and on this basis predictions are made regarding the rate dependent material resistance curve. Other dynamic phenomena associated with the impact event have been treated in the framework of the Computational Mechanics using the courtesy of Prof. P. Guebelle and his graduate student at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who have an access to a super-fast computer located on their campus. Finally, the guidelines for a follow-up research program are provided in the body of this report. They address three major areas: theoretical research, numerical studies, and further experimental work.

Wnuk, Michael P.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Outcome of Recent Satellite Impact Experiments

This paper summarizes three satellite impact tests completed in early 2007 through collaboration between Kyushu University and the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office. The previous experiments completed in late 2005 aimed to compare low- and hyper-velocity impacts on identical target satellites, whereas the new tests used larger satellites as targets and aimed to investigate the effects of impact directions. Three identical micro satellites equipped with fully-functional electronic devices were prepared as targets. Their dimensions were 20 cm by 20 cm by 20 cm, and the mass of each was approximately 1.3 kilograms. Aluminum alloy solid spheres, with diameters of 3 cm and masses of 39 grams were prepared as projectiles. The impact velocity was approximately 1.7 km/s. The impact tests were carried out at the two-stage light gas gun facility at the Kyushu Institute of Technology. All three target satellites were completely fragmented, but there were noticeable differences among the three sets of fragments due to the different impact directions. More than 1000 fragments from each test were collected, measured, photographed, and documented with material descriptions. The analysis of the fragments is currently in progress. Preliminary results of the new data and comparisons with previous data will be included in the paper.

Hanada, Toshiya↗
NASA NTRS2017

Composite Overwrap Fragmentation Observations, Concerns, and Recommendations

A series of test activities has raised some concerns about the generation of orbital debris caused by failures of composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs). These tests have indicated that a large number of composite fragments can be produced by either pressure burst failures or by high-speed impacts. A review of prior high-speed tests with COPV indicates that other tests have produced large numbers of composite fragments. As was the case with the test referenced here, the tests tended to produce a large number of small composite fragments with relatively low velocities induced by the impact and or gas expansion.

Bangham, Mike↗
NASA NTRS1994

Further analysis of remnants found in LDEF and Mir impact craters

This study is the further investigation of space-exposed samples recently recovered from the American satellite LDEF and the Franco-Soviet Mir 'Aragatz' experiment. Some interesting impact features have been selected as examples to demonstrate various findings. Part of the objective of the experiments was to determine the nature and origin of particles in low earth orbit (LEO). Observations show that the 'multiple foil detectors' appear to be an effective way of retaining impactor residues of larger particles. They provide a 'witness' foil that shows the shape and dimensions of the impacting particle. Several low-velocity (less than 4 km/s) oblique craters containing significant quantities of impactor residue have been identified. Energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) analyses of the residues show evidence of micrometeoroid and debris compositions. Similarities between the meteoroid signatures and those of Brownlee particles have been noted. Evidence of at least two different grain compositions in one impacting particle is shown. The discovery of debris impacts on the trailing edge of LDEF demonstrates that artificial debris may be found, not just in circular orbits, but also in elliptical orbits.

Berthoud, S. Lucinda↗
NASA NTRS1994

Precision cleaning verification of fluid components by air/water impingement and total carbon analysis

NASA personnel at Kennedy Space Center's Material Science Laboratory have developed new environmentally sound precision cleaning and verification techniques for systems and components found at the center. This technology is required to replace existing methods traditionally employing CFC-113. The new patent-pending technique of precision cleaning verification is for large components of cryogenic fluid systems. These are stainless steel, sand cast valve bodies with internal surface areas ranging from 0.2 to 0.9 sq m. Extrapolation of this technique to components of even larger sizes (by orders of magnitude) is planned. Currently, the verification process is completely manual. In the new technique, a high velocity, low volume water stream impacts the part to be verified. This process is referred to as Breathing Air/Water Impingement and forms the basis for the Impingement Verification System (IVS). The system is unique in that a gas stream is used to accelerate the water droplets to high speeds. Water is injected into the gas stream in a small, continuous amount. The air/water mixture is then passed through a converging/diverging nozzle where the gas is accelerated to supersonic velocities. These droplets impart sufficient energy to the precision cleaned surface to place non-volatile residue (NVR) contaminants into suspension in the water. The sample water is collected and its NVR level is determined by total organic carbon (TOC) analysis at 880 C. The TOC, in ppm carbon, is used to establish the NVR level. A correlation between the present gravimetric CFC113 NVR and the IVS NVR is found from experimental sensitivity factors measured for various contaminants. The sensitivity has the units of ppm of carbon per mg/sq ft of contaminant. In this paper, the equipment is described and data are presented showing the development of the sensitivity factors from a test set including four NVRs impinged from witness plates of 0.05 to 0.75 sq m.

Barile, Ronald G.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Precision Cleaning Verification of Fluid Components by Air/Water Impingement and Total Carbon Analysis

NASA personnel at Kennedy Space Center's Material Science Laboratory have developed new environmentally sound precision cleaning and verification techniques for systems and components found at the center. This technology is required to replace existing methods traditionally employing CFC-113. The new patent-pending technique of precision cleaning verification is for large components of cryogenic fluid systems. These are stainless steel, sand cast valve bodies with internal surface areas ranging from 0.2 to 0.9 m(exp 2). Extrapolation of this technique to components of even larger sizes (by orders of magnitude) is planned. Currently, the verification process is completely manual. In the new technique, a high velocity, low volume water stream impacts the part to be verified. This process is referred to as Breathing Air/Water Impingement and forms the basis for the Impingement Verification System (IVS). The system is unique in that a gas stream is used to accelerate the water droplets to high speeds. Water is injected into the gas stream in a small, continuous amount. The air/water mixture is then passed through a converging-diverging nozzle where the gas is accelerated to supersonic velocities. These droplets impart sufficient energy to the precision cleaned surface to place non-volatile residue (NVR) contaminants into suspension in the water. The sample water is collected and its NVR level is determined by total organic carbon (TOC) analysis at 880 C. The TOC, in ppm carbon, is used to establish the NVR level. A correlation between the present gravimetric CFC-113 NVR and the IVS NVR is found from experimental sensitivity factors measured for various contaminants. The sensitivity has the units of ppm of carbon per mg-ft(exp 2) of contaminant. In this paper, the equipment is described and data are presented showing the development of the sensitivity factors from a test set including four NVR's impinged from witness plates of 0.05 to 0.75 m(exp 2).

Barile, Ronald G.↗