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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 271 records · Page 15
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2006

Microthruster Propulsion for the Space Technology 7 (ST7) Technology Demonstration Mission

For future applications to precision formation flying missions, NASA's New Millennium Program is scheduled to test colloid micro-Newton thrusters (CMNTs) on the ST7 technology demonstration mission. These CMNTs are part of a disturbance reduction system (DRS) on the ESA SMART-2 Spacecraft or LISA Pathfinder. The goal of the ST7 DRS is to demonstrate technologies necessary to meet the nanometer precision positioning control requirements of the LISA mission. In order to achieve these goals, the CMNTs are required to demonstrate a thrust resolution of less than 0.1 micro-N and a thrust noise of less than 0.1 micro-N/[square root]Hz for thrust levels between 5 and 30 micro-N. Developed by Busek Co. with support from JPL in testing an design, the CMNT has been developed over the last four years into a flight-ready microthrust system. The development, validation testing, and flight unit production of the CMNTs are described. Development tests and analysis include preliminary wear tests, propellant loading process verification, flow testing, and performance verification. Validation and flight unit verification includes thermal and structural analysis, life testing, thermal and dynamic load testing, and performance verification. Final delivery of the units is planned in 2007 with and planned launch and flight demonstration 2009.

microthruster↗
NASA NTRS1982

Assessment of the Shuttle Orbiter Thermal Protection System undensified tiles under mission dynamic loads

A description is provided of the results of a series of base driven random dynamic load tests of the Thermal Protection System (TPS). The results were used to insure the integrity of the undensified TPS prior to the first flight in the wing and mid-fuselage region. The number of specimens and the load ranges investigated were limited. Attention is given to the test specimens, the test procedure, a data analysis, and a discussion of the results. All specimens for both the wing and mid-fuselage regions survived an equivalent of 72 ascent missions and exhibited residual static strength greater than their original proof loads. These results indicate that the undensified tiles had sufficient strength to withstand ascent loads during the first flight.

Cooper, P. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Structural qualification testing and operational loading on a fiberglass rotor blade for the Mod-OA wind turbine

Fatigue tests were performed on full- and half-scale root end sections, first to qualify the root retention design, and second to induce failure. Test methodology and results are presented. Two operational blades were proof tested to design limit load to ascertain buckling resistance. Measurements of natural frequency, damping ratio, and deflection under load made on the operational blades are documented. The tests showed that all structural design requirements were met or exceeded. Blade loads measured during 3000 hr of field operation were close to those expected. The measured loads validated the loads used in the fatigue tests and gave high confidence in the ability of the blades to achieve design life.

Sullivan, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Correlation Results for a Mass Loaded Vehicle Panel Test Article Finite Element Models and Modal Survey Tests

High-fidelity Finite Element Models (FEMs) were developed to support a recent test program at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). The FEMs correspond to test articles used for a series of acoustic tests. Modal survey tests were used to validate the FEMs for five acoustic tests (a bare panel and four different mass-loaded panel configurations). An additional modal survey test was performed on the empty test fixture (orthogrid panel mounting fixture, between the reverb and anechoic chambers). Modal survey tests were used to test-validate the dynamic characteristics of FEMs used for acoustic test excitation. Modal survey testing and subsequent model correlation has validated the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the FEMs. The modal survey test results provide a basis for the analysis models used for acoustic loading response test and analysis comparisons

Maasha, Rumaasha↗
NASA NTRS1984

Highly Maneuverable Aircraft Technology (HiMAT) flight-flutter test program

The highly maneuverable aircraft technology (HiMAT) vehicle was evaluated in a joint NASA and Air Force flight test program. The HiMAT vehicle is a remotely piloted research vehicle. Its design incorporates the use of advanced composite materials in the wings, and canards for aeroelastic tailoring. A flight-flutter test program was conducted to clear a sufficient flight envelope to allow for performance, stability and control, and loads testing. Testing was accomplished with and without flight control-surface dampers. Flutter clearance of the vehicle indicated satisfactory damping and damping trends for the structural modes of the HiMAT vehicle. The data presented include frequency and damping plotted as a function of Mach number.

Kehoe, M. W.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The growth of short cracks in 4340 steel and aluminum-lithium 2090

The objectives were to investigate crack initiation characteristics and short crack growth behavior for Al-Li 2090 and for 4340 steel and to evaluate the ability of a closure-based crack-growth model to predict fatigue crack growth rates and total fatigue lives for the steel. Single-edge-notched tension specimens of each alloy were used to obtain the short crack growth rate information via an acetate replica technique. In addition to constant amplitude loading, tests on the steel were conducted using the Felix/28 variable amplitude spectrum (a shortened form of a standard loading sequence for fixed or semi-rigid helicopter rotors). The short crack growth rates were compared to those for long cracks grown under similar loading conditions. Metallurgical features associated with crack initiation are discussed. For Al-Li 2090 under R = -1 loading, the short cracks grew well below the long crack threshold and grew at acute angles to the loading axis. For 4340 steel under constant amplitude loading at R = 0.5 and 0 and for the Felix/28 spectrum loading, short-crack growth rates agreed well with long-crack growth rates, even near the long-crack threshold. A slight short-crack effect, growth below the long-crack threshold, was observed at R = -1. Fatigue lives were found to depend on the size and type of initiation site, especially for the Felix/28 loading sequence. A semi-empirical crack-growth model incorporating crack-closure effects was used to predict crack growth rates and total fatigue lives of notched 4340 steel specimens. An initial defect size and shape typical of those identified in this steel was assumed for the life predictions. For all loading conditions, reasonable agreement was found between measured and predicted values for both crack growth rates and fatigue lives.

Swain, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Factor analysis and predictive validity of microcomputer-based tests

11 tests were selected from two microcomputer-based performance test batteries because previously these tests exhibited rapid stability (less than 10 min, of practice) and high retest reliability efficiencies (r greater than 0.707 for each 3 min. of testing). The battery was administered three times to each of 108 college students (48 men and 60 women) and a factor analysis was performed. Two of the three identified factors appear to be related to information processing ("encoding" and "throughput/decoding"), and the third named an "output/speed" factor. The spatial, memory, and verbal tests loaded on the "encoding" factor and included Grammatical Reasoning, Pattern Comparison, Continuous Recall, and Matrix Rotation. The "throughput/decoding" tests included perceptual/numerical tests like Math Processing, Code Substitution, and Pattern Comparison. The output speed factor was identified by Tapping and Reaction Time tests. The Wonderlic Personnel Test was group administered before the first and after the last administration of the performance tests. The multiple Rs in the total sample between combined Wonderlic as a criterion and less than 5 min. of microcomputer testing on Grammatical Reasoning and Math Processing as predictors ranged between 0.41 and 0.52 on the three test administrations. Based on these results, the authors recommend a core battery which, if time permits, would consist of two tests from each factor. Such a battery is now known to permit stable, reliable, and efficient assessment.

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Cryogenically-Cooled MW Inverter for Electric Aircraft Propulsion

Power electronic converter will be a key enabler for future electrified aircraft propulsion system. In aircraft applications, superconducting technologies such as superconducting motors and generators along with supporting power systems will grow in importance. Utilizing cryogenic cooling for power converter potentially can significantly improve the inverter system efficiency and specific power. This paper presents the cooling, hardware,and testing of a cryogenically-cooled MW inverter developed for electrified aircraft propulsion system. The 1 MVA full load testing with cryogenic cooling is demonstrated. The developed inverter system achieves 18 kVA/kg specific power and 99% efficiency, which provides a promising solution to achieve high power density and efficiency for future electrified aircraft propulsion system.

cryogenically-cooled inverter↗
NASA NTRS2009

Design and Testing of Braided Composite Fan Case Materials and Components

Triaxial braid composite materials are beginning to be used in fan cases for commercial gas turbine engines. The primary benefit for the use of composite materials is reduced weight and the associated reduction in fuel consumption. However, there are also cost benefits in some applications. This paper presents a description of the braided composite materials and discusses aspects of the braiding process that can be utilized for efficient fabrication of composite cases. The paper also presents an approach that was developed for evaluating the braided composite materials and composite fan cases in a ballistic impact laboratory. Impact of composite panels with a soft projectile is used for materials evaluation. Impact of composite fan cases with fan blades or blade-like projectiles is used to evaluate containment capability. A post-impact structural load test is used to evaluate the capability of the impacted fan case to survive dynamic loads during engine spool down. Validation of these new test methods is demonstrated by comparison with results of engine blade-out tests.

Roberts, Gary D.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Design and Testing of Braided Composite Fan Case Materials and Components

Triaxial braid composite materials are beginning to be used in fan cases for commercial gas turbine engines. The primary benefit for the use of composite materials is reduced weight and the associated reduction in fuel consumption. However, there are also cost benefits in some applications. This paper presents a description of the braided composite materials and discusses aspects of the braiding process that can be utilized for efficient fabrication of composite cases. The paper also presents an approach that was developed for evaluating the braided composite materials and composite fan cases in a ballistic impact laboratory. Impact of composite panels with a soft projectile is used for materials evaluation. Impact of composite fan cases with fan blades or blade-like projectiles is used to evaluate containment capability. A post-impact structural load test is used to evaluate the capability of the impacted fan case to survive dynamic loads during engine spool down. Validation of these new test methods is demonstrated by comparison with results of engine blade-out tests.

Roberts, Gary D.↗
NASA NTRS1970

Optimum structural design based on reliability analysis

Proof-load test improves statistical confidence in the estimate of reliability, numerical examples indicate a definite advantage of the proof-load approach in terms of savings in structural weight. The cost of establishing the statistical distribution of strength of the structural material is also introduced into the cost formulation

Heer, E.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Initial Evaluation of Acoustic Emission SHM of PRSEUS Multi-bay Box Tests

A series of tests of the Pultruded Rod Stitched Efficient Unitized Structure (PRSEUS) HWB Multi-Bay Test Article were conducted during the second quarter of 2015 at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) in the Combined Loads Test facility (COLTS). This report documents the Acoustic Emission (AE) data collected during those tests along with an initial analysis of the data. A more detailed analysis will be presented in future publications.

Horne, Michael R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

System tests with electric thruster beam and accelerator directly powered from laboratory solar arrays

Laboratory high voltage solar arrays were operated directly connected to power the beam and accelerator loads of an 8-centimeter ion thruster. The beam array comprised conventional 2 by 2 centimeter solar cells; the accelerator array comprised multiple junction edge-illuminated solar cells. Conventional laboratory power supplies powered the thruster's other loads. Tests were made to evaluate thruster performance and to investigate possible electrical interactions between the solar arrays and the thruster. Thruster performance was the same as with conventional laboratory beam and accelerator power supplies. Most of the thruster beam short circuits that occurred during solar array operation were cleared spontaneously without automatic or manual intervention. No spontaneous clearing occurred during conventional power supply operation.

Stover, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Strain measurement technique for elevated temperature tensile and creep testing of foil-gage metals

This paper describes a strain measurement technique suitable for elevated-temperature tensile and creep testing of foil-gage metals, using a modified commonly available mechanical extensometer in conjunction with a displacement transducer. The extensometer was modified by attaching to it a counterbalance (to reduce the effect of the extensometer weight on the total maximum test load) and by incorporating a conical tip/flat-edge design (to minimize induced stresses in the specimen resulting from extensometer attachment). Creep tests were performed on 0.102-mm-thick specimens of Ti-6Al-4V at temperatures of 427 and 538 C, at nominal applied stresses of 310.3 and 172.4 MPa, respectively. Examination of the resulting creep curves suggested that the strain measurement system provided actual creep strain values with good accuracy.

Blackburn, L. B.↗
NASA NTRS1954

Theoretical performance characteristics of sharp-lip inlets at subsonic speeds

A method is presented for the estimation of the subsonic-flight-speed characteristics of sharp-lip inlets applicable to supersonic aircraft. The analysis, based on a simple momentum balance consideration, permits the computation of inlet-pressure-recovery mass-flow relations and additive-drag coefficients for forward velocities from zero to the speed of sound. The penalties for operation of a sharp-lip inlet at velocity ratios other than 1.0 may be severe; at lower velocity ratios an additive drag is incurred that is not cancelled by lip suction, while at higher velocity ratios, unavoidable losses in inlet total pressure will result. In particular, at the take-off condition, the total pressure and the mass flow for a choked inlet are only 79 percent of the values ideally attainable with a rounded lip. The test specimens were polished and unnotched. The manufacturer of the material, the Aluminum Company of America, has made axial-load tests on 24S-T4 and 75S-T6 rod material. The test techniques used at the three laboratories are described in detail; the test results are presented and are compared with each other and with results obtained on unpolished sheet by the National Bureau of Standards. Experimental data obtained at zero speed with a sharp-lip supersonic inlet model were in substantial agreement with the theoretical results. (author)

Fradenburgh, Evan A↗
NASA NTRS1977

Force testing manual for the Langley 20-inch Mach 6 tunnel

Data reduction and procedures for conducting force tests in a 20 inch Mach 6 tunnel are described. A discussion of pretest and testing phases are included. Items that are to be checked during model design and construction are outlined as well as safety requirements, starting loads tests, instructions for data acquisition and model installation. Measurement of balance and model misalignment and instructions for calibrating the angle of attack screen are covered. Procedures for making reference pressure, attitude tare, and data runs are included. The 20 inch tunnel force program is examined, and a description of data recording system input and load contrast sheets is given. An appendix presents a description, operating characteristics, and Mach number calibration of the tunnel, as well as tunnel characteristics.

Keyes, J. W.↗