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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

A New Real - Time Fault Detection Methodology for Systems Under Test

The purpose of this research is focussed on the identification/demonstration of critical technology innovations that will be applied to various applications viz. Detection of automated machine Health Monitoring (BM, real-time data analysis and control of Systems Under Test (SUT). This new innovation using a High Fidelity Dynamic Model-based Simulation (BFDMS) approach will be used to implement a real-time monitoring, Test and Evaluation (T&E) methodology including the transient behavior of the system under test. The unique element of this process control technique is the use of high fidelity, computer generated dynamic models to replicate the behavior of actual Systems Under Test (SUT). It will provide a dynamic simulation capability that becomes the reference truth model, from which comparisons are made with the actual raw/conditioned data from the test elements.

Johnson, Roger W.↗

Performance evaluations of a liquid solar collector

Report presents procedures and results of thermal performance tests on single-covered liquid solar collector under simulated comditions. Test conditions and data are given in tables and graphs for stagnation tests and thermal performance test. In addition, time-constant test and incident-angle modifier test were conducted to determine transient effect and incident-angle effect. Results of collector load tests are also given.

Shih, K.↗

High-efficiency Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda)

Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer is the method of choice for many plant biotechnology laboratories; however, large-scale use of this organism in conifer transformation has been limited by difficult propagation of explant material, selection efficiencies and low transformation frequency. We have analyzed co-cultivation conditions and different disarmed strains of Agrobacterium to improve transformation. Additional copies of virulence genes were added to three common disarmed strains. These extra virulence genes included either a constitutively active virG or extra copies of virG and virB, both from pTiBo542. In experiments with Norway spruce, we increased transformation efficiencies 1000-fold from initial experiments where little or no transient expression was detected. Over 100 transformed lines expressing the marker gene beta-glucuronidase (GUS) were generated from rapidly dividing embryogenic suspension-cultured cells co-cultivated with Agrobacterium. GUS activity was used to monitor transient expression and to further test lines selected on kanamycin-containing medium. In loblolly pine, transient expression increased 10-fold utilizing modified Agrobacterium strains. Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer is a useful technique for large-scale generation of transgenic Norway spruce and may prove useful for other conifer species.

NASA Discipline Plant Biology↗

Development and evaluation of the impulse transfer function technique

The development of the test/analysis technique known as the impulse transfer function (ITF) method is discussed. This technique, when implemented with proper data processing systems, should become a valuable supplement to conventional dynamic testing and analysis procedures that will be used in the space shuttle development program. The method can relieve many of the problems associated with extensive and costly testing of the shuttle for transient loading conditions. In addition, the time history information derived from impulse testing has the potential for being used to determine modal data for the structure under investigation. The technique could be very useful in determining the time-varying modal characteristics of structures subjected to thermal transients, where conventional mode surveys are difficult to perform.

Mantus, M.↗

Aeroelastic Modeling of a Nozzle Startup Transient

Lateral nozzle forces are known to cause severe structural damage to any new rocket engine in development during test. While three-dimensional, transient, turbulent, chemically reacting computational fluid dynamics methodology has been demonstrated to capture major side load physics with rigid nozzles, hot-fire tests often show nozzle structure deformation during major side load events, leading to structural damages if structural strengthening measures were not taken. The modeling picture is incomplete without the capability to address the two-way responses between the structure and fluid. The objective of this study is to develop a tightly coupled aeroelastic modeling algorithm by implementing the necessary structural dynamics component into an anchored computational fluid dynamics methodology. The computational fluid dynamics component is based on an unstructured-grid, pressure-based computational fluid dynamics formulation, while the computational structural dynamics component is developed under the framework of modal analysis. Transient aeroelastic nozzle startup analyses at sea level were performed, and the computed transient nozzle fluid-structure interaction physics presented,

Wang, Ten-See↗

System for measuring transients in fluid flow

When test valve is actuated, piston is moved by pressurized fluid, and displacement is monitored by electro-optical tracking system and recorded by oscilloscope camera. Electro-optical monitor produces output voltage proportional to displacement of piston.

Pearson, D. J.↗

Vibration Performance Comparison Study on Current Fiber Optic Connector Technologies

Fiber optic cables are increasingly being used in harsh environments where they are subjected to vibration. Understanding the degradation in performance under these conditions is essential for integration of the fibers into the given application. System constraints oftentimes require fiber optic connectors so subsystems can be removed or assembled as needed. In the present work, various types of fiber optic connectors were monitored in-situ during vibration testing to examine the transient change in optical transmission and the steady-state variation following the event. Inspection of the fiber endfaces and connectors was performed at chosen intervals throughout the testing.

Ott, Melanie N.↗

Development of a Cryogenic Thermal Distortion Measurement Facility for Testing the James Webb Space Telescope Instrument Support Integration Module 2-D Test Assemblies

The James Webb Space Telescope Instrument Support Integration Module (ISIM) is being designed and developed at the Goddard Space Flight Center. The ISM Thermal Distortion Testing (ITDT) program was started with the primary objective to validate the ISM mechanical design process. The ITDT effort seeks to establish confidence and demonstrate the ability to predict thermal distortion in composite structures at cryogenic temperatures using solid element models. This-program's goal is to better ensure that ISIM meets all the mechanical and structural requirements by using test results to verify or improve structural modeling techniques. The first step to accomplish the ITDT objectives was to design, and then construct solid element models of a series 2-D test assemblies that represent critical building blocks of the ISIM structure. Second, the actual test assemblies consisting of composite tubes and invar end fittings were fabricated and tested for thermal distortion. This paper presents the development of the GSFC Cryo Distortion Measurement Facility (CDMF) to meet the requirements of the ISIM 2-D test. assemblies, and other future ISIM testing needs. The CDMF provides efficient cooling with both a single, and two-stage cryo-cooler. Temperature uniformity of the test assemblies during thermal transients and at steady state is accomplished by using sapphire windows for all of the optical ports on the radiation shields and by using .thermal straps to cool the test assemblies. Numerical thermal models of the test assemblies were used to predict the temperature uniformity of the parts during cooldown and at steady state. Results of these models are compared to actual temperature data from the tests. Temperature sensors with a 0.25K precision were used to insure that test assembly gradients did not exceed 2K lateral, and 4K axially. The thermal distortions of two assemblies were measured during six thermal cycles from 320K to 35K using laser interferometers. The standard deviation for all of the distortion measurements is less than 0.5 microns, which falls within the ISIM requirement of 3 microns.

Miller, Franklin↗

Impact Testing and Simulation of a Sinusoid Foam Sandwich Energy Absorber

A sinusoidal-shaped foam sandwich energy absorber was developed and evaluated at NASA Langley Research Center through multi-level testing and simulation performed under the Transport Rotorcraft Airframe Crash Testbed (TRACT) research project. The energy absorber, designated the "sinusoid," consisted of hybrid carbon- Kevlar® plain weave fabric face sheets, two layers for each face sheet oriented at +/-45deg with respect to the vertical or crush direction, and a closed-cell ELFOAM(TradeMark) P200 polyisocyanurate (2.0-lb/ft3) foam core. The design goal for the energy absorber was to achieve an average floor-level acceleration of between 25- and 40-g during the full-scale crash test of a retrofitted CH-46E helicopter airframe, designated TRACT 2. Variations in the design were assessed through quasi-static and dynamic crush testing of component specimens. Once the design was finalized, a 5-ft-long subfloor beam was fabricated and retrofitted into a barrel section of a CH-46E helicopter. A vertical drop test of the barrel section was conducted onto concrete to evaluate the performance of the energy absorber prior to retrofit into TRACT 2. Finite element models were developed of all test articles and simulations were performed using LSDYNA ®, a commercial nonlinear explicit transient dynamic finite element code. Test analysis results are presented for the sinusoid foam sandwich energy absorber as comparisons of load-displacement and acceleration-time-history responses, as well as predicted and experimental structural deformations and progressive damage for each evaluation level (component testing through barrel section drop testing).

Jackson, Karen E.↗

Results of Use of Heat Flux Sensors on Liquid Hydrogen Tanks

Heat flux sensors were used to characterize the performance of insulation on the Structural Heat Intercept, Insulation, and Vibration Evaluation Rig (SHIIVER), a large-scale test article designed to simulate upper stage cryogenic propellant tank thermal performance in simulated space environments. Usually, the insulation heat loads are derived from calculations removing all other heat sources and attributing the residual heat load to the insulation system. Testing for SHIIVER included the tank being just insulated with spray-on-foam insulation as well as covering the domes with multilayer insulation while leaving the barrel section insulated with spray-on-foam. Heat flux sensors were located at multiple locations on both domes as well as on the barrel section of the tank. Results from the SHIIVER testing using the heat flux sensors are compared to other calculated heat inputs for both liquid nitrogen and liquid hydrogen testing as a function of tank fill level. Further investigation into the transient nature of the SHIIVER testing including the heat flux sensors provided insight into heat flow patterns that may not have been otherwise seen using temperature sensors and calculated insulation heat loads. While the demonstrated uncertainties in the absolute values in the heat flux sensors are high, the values and the trends match well with other calculation methods. The results of SHIIVER allow for the use of heat flux sensors for measurements of insulation performance and dynamic system thermal response for future applications.

Cryogenic Fluid Management↗

Results of Use of Heat Flux Sensors on Liquid Hydrogen Tanks

ABSTRACT: Heat flux sensors were used to characterize the performance of insulation on the Structural Heat Intercept, Insulation, and Vibration Evaluation Rig (SHIIVER), a large-scale test article designed to simulate upper stage cryogenic propellant tank thermal performance in simulated space environments. Usually, the insulation heat loads are derived from calculations removing all other heat sources and attributing the residual heat load to the insulation system. Testing for SHIIVER included the tank being just insulated with spray-on-foam insulation as well as covering the domes with multilayer insulation while leaving the barrel section insulated with spray-on-foam. Heat flux sensors were located at multiple locations on both domes as well as on the barrel section of the tank. Results from the SHIIVER testing using the heat flux sensors are compared to other calculated heat inputs for both liquid nitrogen and liquid hydrogen testing as a function of tank fill level. Further investigation into the transient nature of the SHIIVER testing including the heat flux sensors provided insight into heat flow patterns that may not have been otherwise seen using temperature sensors and calculated insulation heat loads. While the demonstrated uncertainties in the absolute values in the heat flux sensors are high, the values and the trends match well with other calculation methods. The results of SHIIVER allow for the use of heat flux sensors for measurements of insulation performance and dynamic system thermal response for future applications.

Cryogenic Fluid Management↗

Effect of transient winds on the flow quality of an open-circuit wind-tunnel model

The effect of a transient wind on the test-section flow quality of an open-circuit wind tunnel was investigated experimentally. The investigation was restricted to transient wind effects associated with the inlet. A small open-circuit wind tunnel was placed outside in the real wind environment. Test-section speed and angularity as well as wind speed and direction was measured by high-response instrumentation. The inlet configuration was varied with a set of screens, a removable honeycomb, and a removable inlet lip. Acceptable flow was obtained at all wind angles and for wind- to test-section-velocity ratios up to 0.4 with an inlet configuration having five screens, a honeycomb, and a lip. With inlet configurations sensitive to winds, a transient wind parallel to the tunnel axis produced local fluctuations in test-section speed and angularity; however, oscillation of the average test-section speed was not evident. The effect of wind direction was negligible up to wind angles of 45 deg relative to the tunnel axis. At larger wind angles, flow distortions occurred primarily on the windward side of the test section.

Breunlin, D. C.↗

Failure Modes in Capacitors When Tested Under a Time-Varying Stress

Steady step surge testing (SSST) is widely applied to screen out potential power-on failures in solid tantalum capacitors. The test simulates the power supply's on and off characteristics. Power-on failure has been the prevalent failure mechanism for solid tantalum capacitors for decoupling applications. On the other hand, the SSST can also be reviewed as an electrically destructive test under a time-varying stress. It consists of rapidly charging the capacitor with incremental voltage increases, through a low resistance in series, until the capacitor under test is electrically shorted. Highly accelerated life testing (HALT) is usually a time-efficient method for determining the failure mechanism in capacitors; however, a destructive test under a time-varying stress like SSST is even more effective. It normally takes days to complete a HALT test, but it only takes minutes for a time-varying stress test to produce failures. The advantage of incorporating specific time-varying stress into a statistical model is significant in providing an alternative life test method for quickly revealing the failure modes in capacitors. In this paper, a time-varying stress has been incorporated into the Weibull model to characterize the failure modes. The SSST circuit and transient conditions to correctly test the capacitors is discussed. Finally, the SSST was applied for testing polymer aluminum capacitors (PA capacitors), Ta capacitors, and multi-layer ceramic capacitors with both precious metal electrode (PME) and base-metal-electrodes (BME). It appears that testing results are directly associated to the dielectric layer breakdown in PA and Ta capacitors and are independent on the capacitor values, the way the capacitors being built, and the manufactures. The testing results also reveal that ceramic capacitors exhibit breakdown voltages more than 20 times the rated voltage, and the breakdown voltages are inverse proportional to the dielectric layer thickness. The possibility of ceramic capacitors in front-end decoupling applications to block the surge noise from a power supply is also discussed.

Liu, David (Donhang)↗

Hybrid bearings for LH2 and LO2 turbopumps

Hybrid combinations of hydrostatic and ball bearings can improve bearing performance for liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen turbopumps. Analytic studies were conducted to optimize hybrid bearing designs for the SSME-type turbopump conditions. A method to empirically determine damping coefficients was devised. Four hybrid bearing configurations were designed, and three were fabricated. Six hybrid and hydrostatic-only bearing configurations will be tested for steady-state and transient performance, and quantification of damping coefficients. The initial tests were conducted with the liquid hydrogen bearing.

Butner, M. F.↗

Artemis IV Docking in Radiation Belt Charging Environment

NASA’s Artemis IV mission is planned to deliver the International Habitation Module (I-Hab) to the Gateway space station in lunar orbit. The I-Hab will be launched aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) vehicle as a co-manifested payload with the Orion spacecraft. After translunar injection begins, the Orion spacecraft will separate from the SLS Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) and then dock with the I-Hab to extract it from the EUS. Because of the altitude, orientation, and time for this to occur, the vehicle-to-vehicle potential between the I-Hab/EUS vehicle and Orion spacecraft could exceed several thousand volts. The docking of these two spacecrafts with such large differential potentials presents a challenge for the vehicles. This presentation describes the space environments at the docking altitude, the calculated vehicle-to-vehicle potential, and the possible impacts of the resulting voltage and current transients occurring at first contact. Additionally, possible risk mitigation tests to demonstrate compatibility with the transient current and voltages will be presented.

Matthew Mccollum↗

Numerical analysis of pulse facility transient flow through a supersonic combustion model

The supersonic high enthalpy flow from a shock tunnel facility flowing through a two-dimensional duct simulating a combustor has been computed for two test conditions for both steady and transient inflow. The nominal test conditions had stagnation enthalpies of 4.3 and 12.1 MJ/kg, with corresponding flight Mach numbers of 9 and 16, respectively. A full Navier-Stokes code (SPARK) was used to compute the flow development and the mixing of a hydrogen jet injected from the base of a central strut. Results of the calculations are presented and compared with wall pressure data. Additional comparisons of the transient and steady inflow results are presented to assess the effect of transient flow on the data. This paper presents a status of the progress in applying CFD codes to analyze the transient flow from a pulse facility.

Rogers, R. Clayton↗

Development of an Aeroelastic Modeling Capability for Transient Nozzle Side Load Analysis

Lateral nozzle forces are known to cause severe structural damage to any new rocket engine in development during test. While three-dimensional, transient, turbulent, chemically reacting computational fluid dynamics methodology has been demonstrated to capture major side load physics with rigid nozzles, hot-fire tests often show nozzle structure deformation during major side load events, leading to structural damages if structural strengthening measures were not taken. The modeling picture is incomplete without the capability to address the two-way responses between the structure and fluid. The objective of this study is to develop a coupled aeroelastic modeling capability by implementing the necessary structural dynamics component into an anchored computational fluid dynamics methodology. The computational fluid dynamics component is based on an unstructured-grid, pressure-based computational fluid dynamics formulation, while the computational structural dynamics component is developed in the framework of modal analysis. Transient aeroelastic nozzle startup analyses of the Block I Space Shuttle Main Engine at sea level were performed. The computed results from the aeroelastic nozzle modeling are presented.

Wang, Ten-See↗

Development of an Aeroelastic Modeling Capability for Transient Nozzle Side Load Analysis

Lateral nozzle forces are known to cause severe structural damage to any new rocket engine in development during test. While three-dimensional, transient, turbulent, chemically reacting computational fluid dynamics methodology has been demonstrated to capture major side load physics with rigid nozzles, hot-fire tests often show nozzle structure deformation during major side load events, leading to structural damages if structural strengthening measures were not taken. The modeling picture is incomplete without the capability to address the two-way responses between the structure and fluid. The objective of this study is to develop a coupled aeroelastic modeling capability by implementing the necessary structural dynamics component into an anchored computational fluid dynamics methodology. The computational fluid dynamics component is based on an unstructured-grid, pressure-based computational fluid dynamics formulation, while the computational structural dynamics component is developed in the framework of modal analysis. Transient aeroelastic nozzle startup analyses of the Block I Space Shuttle Main Engine at sea level were performed. The computed results from the aeroelastic nozzle modeling are presented.

Wang, Ten-See↗