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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 253 records · Page 14

The ALTEA/ALTEINO projects: studying functional effects of microgravity and cosmic radiation

The ALTEA project investigates the risks of functional brain damage induced by particle radiation in space. A modular facility (the ALTEA facility) is being implemented and will be operated in the International Space Station (ISS) to record electrophysiological and behavioral descriptors of brain function and to monitor their time dynamics and correlation with particles and space environment. The focus of the program will be on abnormal visual perceptions (often reported as "light flashes" by astronauts) and the impact on retinal and brain visual structures of particle in microgravity conditions. The facility will be made available to the international scientific community for human neurophysiological, electrophysiological and psychophysics experiments, studies on particle fluxes, and dosimetry. A precursor of ALTEA (the 'Alteino' project) helps set the experimental baseline for the ALTEA experiments, while providing novel information on the radiation environment onboard the ISS and on the brain electrophysiology of the astronauts during orbital flights. Alteino was flown to the ISS on the Soyuz TM34 as part of mission Marco Polo. Controlled ground experiments using mice and accelerator beams complete the experimental strategy of ALTEA. We present here the status of progress of the ALTEA project and preliminary results of the Alteino study on brain dynamics, particle fluxes and abnormal visual perceptions. c2004 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

manned↗

Aeroelastic Tailoring via Tow Steered Composites

The use of tow steered composites, where fibers follow prescribed curvilinear paths within a laminate, can improve upon existing capabilities related to aeroelastic tailoring of wing structures, though this tailoring method has received relatively little attention in the literature. This paper demonstrates the technique for both a simple cantilevered plate in low-speed flow, as well as the wing box of a full-scale high aspect ratio transport configuration. Static aeroelastic stresses and dynamic flutter boundaries are obtained for both cases. The impact of various tailoring choices upon the aeroelastic performance is quantified: curvilinear fiber steering versus straight fiber steering, certifiable versus noncertifiable stacking sequences, a single uniform laminate per wing skin versus multiple laminates, and identical upper and lower wing skins structures versus individual tailoring.

Stanford, Bret K.↗

Impact of Traffic-Following on Order of Autonomous Airspace Operations

We investigate the dynamic emergence of traffic order in a distributed multi-agent system, aiming to minimize inefficiencies that stem from unnecessary structural impositions. We introduce a methodology for developing a dynamically updating traffic pattern map of the airspace by leveraging information about the consistency and frequency of flow directions used by current as well as preceding traffic. Informed by this map, an agent can discern the degree to which it is advantageous to follow traffic by trading off utilities such as time and order. We show that for the traffic levels studied, for low degrees of traffic-following behavior, there is minimal penalty in terms of aircraft travel times while improving the overall orderliness of the airspace. On the other hand, heightened traffic-following behavior may result in increased aircraft travel times, while marginally reducing the overall entropy of the airspace. Ultimately, the methods and metrics presented in this paper can be used to optimally and dynamically adjust an agent’s traffic-following behavior based on these trade-offs.

Airspace Operations↗

Light airplane crash tests at impact velocities of 13 and 27 m/sec

Two similar general aviation airplanes were crash tested at the Langley impact dynamics research facility at velocities of 13 and 27 m/sec. Other flight parameters were held constant. The facility, instrumentation, tests specimens, and test method are briefly described. Structural damage and accelerometer data are discussed.

Alfaro-Bou, E.↗

Monitoring Data-Structure Evolution in Distributed Message-Passing Programs

Monitoring the evolution of data structures in parallel and distributed programs, is critical for debugging its semantics and performance. However, the current state-of-art in tracking and presenting data-structure information on parallel and distributed environments is cumbersome and does not scale. In this paper we present a methodology that automatically tracks memory bindings (not the actual contents) of static and dynamic data-structures of message-passing C programs, using PVM. With the help of a number of examples we show that in addition to determining the impact of memory allocation overheads on program performance, graphical views can help in debugging the semantics of program execution. Scalable animations of virtual address bindings of source-level data-structures are used for debugging the semantics of parallel programs across all processors. In conjunction with light-weight core-files, this technique can be used to complement traditional debuggers on single processors. Detailed information (such as data-structure contents), on specific nodes, can be determined using traditional debuggers after the data structure evolution leading to the semantic error is observed graphically.

Sarukkai, Sekhar R.↗

Interface Finite Elements for the Analysis of Fracture Initiation and Progression

Progressive failure analyses (PFA) are important for the prediction of residual strength and damage tolerance of vehicle structures, and to predict the energy absorbing capability of vehicle structures under crash-type loads. Typically continuum damage mechanics (CDM) and fracture mechanics (FM) are the methods used for PFA. The method of interfacial damage mechanics (IDM) is used for PFA in this research. IDM has capabilities intermediate between CDM and FM, and is used to numerically model the initiation, growth, and arrest of cracks. IDM smooths the stress singularity at the crack tip, and is easily adaptable with other nonlinearties such as plasticity and material damage. IDM is implemented by user-defined interface elements in the ABAQUS/ Standard structural analysis software package. The structural components selected to demonstrate the effectiveness PFA using interface elements are, for the most part, those with published test data. These structural components were subjected to quasi-static loading in the tests. Thus, the ABAQUS analyses are used to predict geometrically and materially nonlinear equilibrium states. Impact loading, dynamic fracture, reflected stress waves, inertia, and time dependent material behavior are not considered.

Ambur, Damodar R.↗

Structural assessment of a space station solar dynamic heat receiver thermal energy storage canister

The structural performance of a space station thermal energy storage (TES) canister subject to orbital solar flux variation and engine cold start up operating conditions was assessed. The impact of working fluid temperature and salt-void distribution on the canister structure are assessed. Both analytical and experimental studies were conducted to determine the temperature distribution of the canister. Subsequent finite element structural analyses of the canister were performed using both analytically and experimentally obtained temperatures. The Arrhenius creep law was incorporated into the procedure, using secondary creep data for the canister material, Haynes 188 alloy. The predicted cyclic creep strain accumulations at the hot spot were used to assess the structural performance of the canister. In addition, the structural performance of the canister based on the analytically determined temperature was compared with that based on the experimentally measured temperature data.

Thompson, R. L.↗

CME Propagation Through the Heliosphere: Status and Future of Observations and Model Development

The ISWAT (International Space Weather Action Teams) heliosphere clusters H1 and H2 have a focus on interplanetary space and its characteristics, especially on the large-scale co-rotating and transient structures impacting Earth. Solar wind stream interaction regions, generated by the interaction between high-speed solar wind originating in large-scale open coronal magnetic fields and slower solar wind from closed magnetic fields, are regions of compressed plasma and magnetic field followed by high-speed streams that recur at the ~27 day solar rotation period. Short-term reconfigurations of the lower coronal magnetic field generate flare emissions and provide the energy to accelerate enormous amounts of magnetised plasma and particles in the form of coronal mass ejections into interplanetary space. The dynamic interplay between these phenomena changes the configuration of interplanetary space on various temporal and spatial scales which in turn influences the propagation of individual structures. While considerable efforts have been made to model the solar wind, we outline the limitations arising from the rather large uncertainties in parameters inferred from observations that make reliable predictions of the structures impacting Earth difficult. Moreover, the increased complexity of interplanetary space as solar activity rises in cycle 25 is likely to pose a challenge to these models. Combining observational and modeling expertise will extend our knowledge of the relationship between these different phenomena and the underlying physical processes, leading to improved models and scientific understanding and more-reliable space-weather forecasting. The current paper summarizes the efforts and progress achieved in recent years, identifies open questions, and gives an outlook for the next 5–10 years. It acts as basis for updating the existing COSPAR roadmap by Schrijver et al. (2015), as well as providing a useful and practical guide for peer-users and the next generation of space weather scientists.

Space weather↗

Impact damage resistance of composite fuselage structure, part 1

The impact damage resistance of laminated composite transport aircraft fuselage structures was studied experimentally. A statistically based designed experiment was used to examine numerous material, laminate, structural, and extrinsic (e.g., impactor type) variables. The relative importance and quantitative measure of the effect of each variable and variable interactions on responses including impactor dynamic response, visibility, and internal damage state were determined. The study utilized 32 three-stiffener panels, each with a unique combination of material type, material forms, and structural geometry. Two manufacturing techniques, tow placement and tape lamination, were used to build panels representative of potential fuselage crown, keel, and lower side-panel designs. Various combinations of impactor variables representing various foreign-object-impact threats to the aircraft were examined. Impacts performed at different structural locations within each panel (e.g., skin midbay, stiffener attaching flange, etc.) were considered separate parallel experiments. The relationship between input variables, measured damage states, and structural response to this damage are presented including recommendations for materials and impact test methods for fuselage structure.

Dost, E. F.↗

Parallel computations and their impact on mechanics; Proceedings of the Symposium, ASME Winter Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, Dec. 13-18, 1987

The conference presents papers on parallel architectures and the programming environment, parallel numerical algorithms, structural mechanics applications, and fluid dynamics applications. Topics include concurrent computer architecture, the state-of-the-art in highly parallel computer systems, supercomputer programming environments, uniquely parallel algorithms, the parallel solution of nonlinear elliptic equations, highly parallel banded systems solvers, and optimal mapping of irregular finite element domains to parallel processors. Consideration is also given to parallel processing in finite element structural analysis, heirarchical parallelism in a finite element CFD algorithm, and a parallelized elliptic solver for reacting flows.

Noor, Ahmed K.↗

The use of impact force as a scale parameter for the impact response of composite laminates

The building block approach is currently used to design composite structures. With this approach, the data from coupon tests is scaled up to determine the design of a structure. Current standard impact tests and methods of relating test data to other structures are not generally understood and are often used improperly. A methodology is outlined for using impact force as a scale parameter for delamination damage for impacts of simple plates. Dynamic analyses were used to define ranges of plate parameters and impact parameters where quasi-static analyses are valid. These ranges include most low velocity impacts where the mass of the impacter is large and the size of the specimen is small. For large mass impacts of moderately thick (0.35 to 0.70 cm) laminates, the maximum extent of delamination damage increased with increasing impact force and decreasing specimen thickness. For large mass impact tests at a given kinetic energy, impact force and hence delamination size depends on specimen size, specimen thickness, boundary conditions, and indenter size and shape. If damage is reported in terms of impact force instead of kinetic energy, large mass test results can be applied directly to other plates of the same size.

Jackson, Wade C.↗

The use of impact force as a scale parameter for the impact response of composite laminates

The building block approach is currently used to design composite structures. With this approach, the data from coupon tests are scaled up to determine the design of a structure. Current standard impact tests and methods of relating test data to other structures are not generally understood and are often used improperly. A methodology is outlined for using impact force as a scale parameter for delamination damage for impacts of simple plates. Dynamic analyses were used to define ranges of plate parameters and impact parameters where quasi-static analyses are valid. These ranges include most low-velocity impacts where the mass of the impacter is large, and the size of the specimen is small. For large-mass impacts of moderately thick (0.35-0.70 cm) laminates, the maximum extent of delamination damage increased with increasing impact force and decreasing specimen thickness. For large-mass impact tests at a given kinetic energy, impact force and hence delamination size depends on specimen size, specimen thickness, boundary conditions, and indenter size and shape. If damage is reported in terms of impact force instead of kinetic energy, large-mass test results can be applied directly to other plates of the same thickness.

Jackson, Wade C.↗

Structural assessment of a Space Station solar dynamic heat receiver thermal energy storage canister

This paper assesses the structural performance of a Space Station thermal energy storage (TES) canister subject to orbital solar flux variation and engine cold start-up operating conditions. The impact of working fluid temperature and salt-void distribution on the canister structure are assessed. Both analytical and experimental studies were conducted to determine the temperature distribution of the canister. Subsequent finite-element structural analyses of the canister were performed using both analytically and experimentally obtained temperatures. The Arrhenius creep law was incorporated into the procedure, using secondary creep data for the canister material, Haynes-188 alloy. The predicted cyclic creep strain accumulations at the hot spot were used to assess the structural performance of the canister. In addition, the structural performance of the canister based on the analytically-determined temperature was compared with that based on the experimentally-measured temperature data.

Tong, M. T.↗

Impact of Traffic-Following on Order of Autonomous Airspace Operations

In this paper, we investigate the dynamic emergence of traffic order in a distributed multi-agent system, aiming to minimize inefficiencies that stem from unnecessary structural impositions. We introduce a methodology for developing a dynamically updating traffic pattern map of the airspace by leveraging information about the consistency and frequency of flow directions used by current as well as preceding traffic. Informed by this map, an agent can discern the degree to which it is advantageous to follow traffic by trading off utilities such as time and order. We show that for the traffic levels studied, for low degrees of traffic-following behavior, there is minimal penalty in terms of aircraft travel times while improving the overall orderliness of the airspace. On the other hand, heightened traffic-following behavior may result in increased aircraft travel times, while marginally reducing the overall entropy of the airspace. Ultimately, the methods and metrics presented in this paper can be used to optimally and dynamically adjust an agent’s traffic-following behavior based on these trade-offs.

Airspace Operations↗

Impact of Thermoplastic Composites: Testing and Modeling

Thermoplastic Composites (TPCs) are being increasingly considered for aerospace applications given their faster manufacturing cycles and lower cost. The NASA High-Rate Composite Aircraft Manufacturing (HiCAM) project aims to evaluate and mature thermoplastic manufacturing technologies to achieve a 4X – 6X increase in the production rate of Next Generation Single Aisle (NGSA) commercial aircraft. Within the purview of the NASA HiCAM project, this work investigates the response of thermoplastic composites under High Energy Dynamic Impact (HEDI) conditions. HEDI tests were conducted on panels fabricated with a carbon fiber reinforced low melt semi-crystalline resin TC1225 LMPAEK T700G (T700/LMPAEK) material system. A blunt metal projectile was chosen as the impactor which impacted the T700/LMPAEK panels over a range of impact velocities imparted by a gas gun test setup. As expected, lower velocity impacts caused the projectile to rebound, whereas higher velocity impacts resulted in the projectile penetrating the test panels. For the test cases in which the projectile rebounded, the predominant damage modes recorded with Ultrasonic (UT) scans included interlaminar delaminations which exhibited a “rotating fan” like structure when viewed in the through-thickness direction. Additionally, the dynamic deflection of the center point of the back face of the test panels and the velocity of the projectile was also measured during the test. Finite element models were developed to model a test case in which the projectile rebounded. These models were developed using LS-DYNA® wherein the primary objective was to evaluate the ability of the material model MAT299 to capture the dynamic response and damage modes in the T700/LMPAEK test panels. MAT299 is a Deformation Gradient Decomposition (DGD) based Continuum Damage Mechanics (CDM) material model. The interlaminar delaminations were modeled using the cohesive contact formulation available within LS-DYNA, wherein the mixed-mode fracture is captured via the Benzegaggh-Kenane (B-K) mode-dependent fracture energy interpolation law. The above-mentioned modeling methods have mostly been applied to thermoset composites and adapting them to TPCs involves addressing challenges associated with appropriately representing material behavior. Therefore, the proposed paper would discuss the systematic approach taken to adapt thermoset composites modeling practices for applications to TPCs, while appropriately addressing material behavior. The proposed paper would show that the predicted back face center point deflection correlated reasonably well with experimental data and the peak deflection was predicted to be within 5% of the experimental measurements. The projectile rebound velocity, while predicted to be higher than the experimental measurement, was within reasonable bounds. Additionally, it will be shown that the predicted delamination shapes were in reasonable agreement with experimental data.

Composite Materials↗