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At least 325 records · Page 18

New candidate lasers for power beaming and discussion of their applications

Solar power has obvious advantages for long-duration high-power laser operations in space, provided that cost effective conversion of solar photons to laser photons can be accomplished. Both the CO baseline system and the iodine direct-pumped system described in the present paper imply total system weights of 50 to 150 thousand kilograms per 100 MW of power transmitted. To equal the contemplated 5 to 10 GW of each microwave-linked space power system now being studied would require 50 to 100 STAG-type devices having total weights in orbit in the range of (2.5 to 15.0) by 10 to the sixth kilograms. The analysis indicates that laser options can be from 2 to 20 times more favorable weight-wise than other space power system options. The cost advantages would scale similarly.

Rather, J. D. G.↗

Nitrogen isotope systematics of two Apollo 12 soils

Soils 12023 and 12037 were analyzed for nitrogen by step-wise heating. Helium contents, Ar-40/Ar-36 ratios and spallation N-15 ages were determined in addition to nitrogen contents and isotopic compositions. The results for 12023 show it to be a typical lunar soil similar to many Apollo 16 and 17 soils in its nitrogen content and delta N-15 value, with a complex history. Soil 12037 appears to have had a simple, two-stage surface exposure history; one exposure occurring recently for about 10-20 m.y. and the other between about 3 to 4 b.y. ago. The delta N-15 value of nitrogen implanted in the earlier exposure was -125%. This nitrogen may reside in the minor components of 12037 such as the KREEP. If it should reside in the basaltic component of 12037, however, then the variation in the delta N-15 of implanted nitrogen with time probably has been more complex than previously considered.

Becker, R. H.↗

Cost estimating Brayton and Stirling engines

Brayton and Stirling engines were analyzed for cost and selling price for production quantities ranging from 1000 to 400,000 units per year. Parts and components were subjected to indepth scrutiny to determine optimum manufacturing processes coupled with make or buy decisions on materials and small parts. Tooling and capital equipment costs were estimated for each detail and/or assembly. For low annual production volumes, the Brayton engine appears to have a lower cost and selling price than the Stirling Engine. As annual production quantities increase, the Stirling becomes a lower cost engine than the Brayton. Both engines could benefit cost wise if changes were made in materials, design and manufacturing process as annual production quantities increase.

Fortgang, H. R.↗

Thermal cycling graphite-polyimide

The effects of repetitive thermal cycling on the temperature-thermal deformation relation of graphite-polyimide were determined. The bending and axial strains, measured with strain gages, of unsymmetric 0 deg sub 2/90 deg sub 2 and 0 deg sub 4/90 deg sub 4 laminates were used as an indication of thermal deformation. The strains were measured as a function of temperature and two temperature ranges were used, room temperature to 180 C and room temperature to 315 C. Five cycles were run in each temperature range and the cycling was done in quasistatic fashion. The response of a flat 0 deg sub 8 laminate was measured as were the effects of repetitive cycling on the strain gages themselves. A piece-wise linear theory, based on classical lamination theory and using the variation of mechanical and thermal expansion properties with temperature, was compared with the experimental results. The correlation between theoretical predictions and experimental results for the thinner laminate was poor.

Hyer, M. W.↗

Combining paleointensity methods - A dual-valued determination on lunar sample 10017,135

A single-heating procedure for the determination of two partially independent values of paleofield intensity for one sample is presented. The procedure combines data for Shaw-type and 'ARM-method' determinations furnishing the ratio thermoremanent magnetization (TRM) to ARM acquisition efficiency corrected for physicochemical alteration to the magnetic carriers. Applicability of the Shaw-method to Fe-bearing samples is demonstrated by simulated paleointensity determinations on synthetic samples containing multidomain grains. The combined Shaw-ARM procedure was applied to a linear basalt sample, but the Thellier-Thellier method could not provide a meaningful determination of the neighboring chip. These conflicting findings may be explained by multiple step-wise heatings causing more damage to carriers than a single heating procedure, and by the natural remanent magnetization in this lunar basalt not being a simple TRM.

Hoffman, K. A.↗

Modeling of terrain gradient for stochastically spaced rows of a measurement matrix

Terrain gradients are employed to evaluate passable regions for unmanned martian roving vehicle. Range data matrix is displaced randomly row wise at the shallow elevation angles near the skyline. The magnitude of the measurement noise in the elevation angles can approach that of the spacing of the same angle. By using a variable incremental data spacing scanning scheme, one can estimate this signal noise ratio. It is found that the error in slope estimate at far distance becomes large for a given elevation angle error. Evaluation of the in-path slopes can be expressed in terms of the inverse of the range slopes. This is because of the fact that the elevation angle is considered as a random variable while the range data are relatively less noisy. An error analysis is performed and it is found that the change of slope is a nonlinear function of the error in elevation angle.

Mediavilla, R.↗

An extension of the local momentum theory to a distorted wake model of a hovering rotor

The local momentum theory is based on the instantaneous balance between the fluid momentum and the blade elemental lift at a local station in the rotor rotational plane. Therefore, the theory has the capability of evaluating time wise variations of air loading and induced velocity distributions along a helicopter blade span. Unlike a complex vortex theory, this theory was developed to analyze the instantaneous induced velocity distribution effectively. The boundaries of this theory and a computer program using this theory are discussed. A concept introduced into the theory is the effect of the rotor wake contraction in hovering flight. A comparison of this extended local momentum theory with a prescribed wake vortex theory is also presented. The results indicate that the extended local momentum theory has the capability of achieving a level of accuracy similar to that of the prescribed wake vortex theory over wide range variations of rotor geometrical parameters. It is also shown that the analytical results obtained using either theory are in reasonable agreement with experimental data.

Kawachi, K.↗

Nonlinear laminate analysis for metal matrix fiber composites

A nonlinear laminate analysis is described for predicting the mechanical behavior (stress-strain relationships) of angleplied laminates in which the matrix is strained nonlinearly by both the residual stress and the mechanical load and in which additional nonlinearities are induced due to progressive fiber fractures and ply relative rotations. The nonlinear laminate analysis (NLA) is based on linear composite mechanics and a piece wise linear laminate analysis to handle the nonlinear responses. Results obtained by using this nonlinear analysis on boron fiber/aluminum matrix angleplied laminates agree well with experimental data. The results shown illustrate the in situ ply stress-strain behavior and synergistic strength enhancement.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Modification in drag of turbulent boundary layers resulting from manipulation of large-scale structures

The effects of placing a parallel-plate turbulence manipulator in a boundary layer are investigated by means of flow visualization and hot-wire measurements. The manipulator was found to be effective in inhibiting the intermittent large scale structure of the boundary layer, and the effect persists for at least 70 boundary-layer thicknesses downstream of the manipulator. With the removal of the large scale, there was an observed reduction in the streamwise turbulence intensity levels near the wall. The downstream distribution of the skin friction coefficient, determined from the stream wise change in fluid momentum, was also altered by the introduction of the manipulator. The data from both the visualization and hot wire studies are provided.

Corke, T. C.↗

Nonlinear laminate analysis for metal matrix fiber composites

A nonlinear laminate analysis is described for predicting the mechanical behavior (stress-strain relationships) of angle-ply laminates in which the matrix is strained nonlinearly by both the residual stress and the mechanical load and in which additional nonlinearities are induced due to progressive fiber fractures and ply relative rotations. The nonlinear laminate analysis is based on linear composite mechanics and a piece-wise linear laminate analysis to handle the nonlinear responses. Results obtained by using this nonlinear analysis on boron-fiber/aluminum-matrix angle-ply laminates agree well with experimental data. The results shown illustrate the in situ ply stress-strain behavior and synergistic strength enhancement.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Waveband evaluation of proposed thematic mapper in forest cover classification

This study involved the evaluation of the characteristics of multispectral scanner data relative to forest cover type mapping, using NASA's NS-001 multispectral scanner to simulate the proposed Thematic Mapper (TM). The objectives were to determine: (1) the optimum number of wavebands to utilize in computer classifications of TM data; (2) which channel combinations provide the highest expected classification accuracy; and (3) the relative merit of each channel in the context of the cover classes examined. Transformed divergence was used as a measure of statistical distance between spectral class densities associated with each of twelve cover classes. The maximum overall mean pair-wise transformed divergence was used as the basis for evaluating all possible waveband combinations available for use in computer-assisted forest cover classifications.

Latty, R. S.↗

A real time Pegasus propulsion system model for VSTOL piloted simulation evaluation

A real time propulsion system modeling technique suitable for use in man-in-the-loop simulator studies was developd. This technique provides the system accuracy, stability, and transient response required for integrated aircraft and propulsion control system studies. A Pegasus-Harrier propulsion system was selected as a baseline for developing mathematical modeling and simulation techniques for VSTOL. Initially, static and dynamic propulsion system characteristics were modeled in detail to form a nonlinear aerothermodynamic digital computer simulation of a Pegasus engine. From this high fidelity simulation, a real time propulsion model was formulated by applying a piece-wise linear state variable methodology. A hydromechanical and water injection control system was also simulated. The real time dynamic model includes the detail and flexibility required for the evaluation of critical control parameters and propulsion component limits over a limited flight envelope. The model was programmed for interfacing with a Harrier aircraft simulation. Typical propulsion system simulation results are presented.

Mihaloew, J. R.↗

Influence of surface static-pressure orifices on boundary-layer transition

An investigation of the interaction of a laminar boundary layer and surface static-pressure orifices was conducted on a natural laminar flow airfoil. The effects of both favorable and adverse pressure gradients were studied at Reynolds numbers based on airfoil chord from approximately 500,000 to 6,000,000 with Mach number varying accordingly from about 0.03 to 0.42. The smaller the diameter of the orifice, the less likely it will cause premature transition. Locating the orifices in a chord-wise row aligned with the flow appears to have an additive, adverse effect on transition. Tube length-to-orifice diameter ration does not seem to have a consistent influence on transition.

Somers, D. M.↗

Susceptibility of symmetric structures to nonlinear torsional coupling

The susceptibility to induced torsional response of symmetric building structures with nonliner resisting elements was investigated. Stability curves show the effect of the arrangement of the load resisting elements on induced torsional coupling in these nonliner but other wise symmetric structures. Universal upper and lower bound instability curves are also derived; these identify the susceptibility to torsional coupling of symmetric structures with different stiffness arrangements but which have equal mass and total lateral stiffness, and which are intended to model alternative structural strategies for lateral load resistance.

Pekau, O. A.↗

K/Ar dating of lunar soils. IV - Orange glass from 74220 and agglutinates from 14259 and 14163

Total fusion Ar-40 - A-39 analyses of orange glass from lunar soil 74220 combined with the sums of earlier stepwise heating data by other workers have yielded a precise K/Ar isochron with a slope corresponding to an age of 3.66 + or - 0.03 G.y. for the orange glass. The result is in marginal agreement with Huneke's (1978) age of 3.60 + or - 0.04 G.y. for 74220 glass. The Ar systematics in the agglutinates from 14259 and 14163 are dominated by volume correlated argon. Step-wise heating analyses yield data which define experimentally reproducible linear arrays in Ar-40/Ar-36 vs. K-40/Ar-36 diagrams. The slopes of these arrays correspond formally to very old ages, but it is not clear, however, that such ages have any physical significance.

Alexander, E. C., Jr.↗

Light elements in lunar soils revisited - Carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and helium

Based on combined data from F2-stripping and step-wise heating experiments, it is found that about 30-40% of carbon and nitrogen in submature and mature lunar soils resides in the outermost 0.1 micron of grains, presumably in the amorphous coatings that are known to be present. The remainder of carbon and nitrogen resides in composite particles such as agglutinates and microbreccias, within which C and N are distributed in a roughly uniform way. Helium shows much larger variations in its distribution between grain surfaces and interiors, with helium yield related to ilmenite content of the soil. The depth distribution of solar wind hydrogen is not readily resolvable by the stripping technique.

Becker, R. H.↗

On elastic-plastic analysis of an overloaded breech ring using NASTRAN

The piece-wise linear analysis option of the NASTRAN code was used to analyze a photoplastic model for a sliding breech mechanism. A two dimensional finite element representation for the breech ring was chosen and the material was made of polycarbonate resin. The aluminum block was regarded as rigid and the width of contact was assumed to remain unchanged during loading. The displacements and stresses in the breech ring were obtained for loading in the elastic as well as plastic range. The maximum tensile stresses before and after complete unloading were obtained and compared with numerical and experimental results.

Chen, P. C. T.↗

Flutter and steady/unsteady aerodynamic characteristics of supercritical and conventional transport wings

This paper presents the technical details and results of a high-speed wind-tunnel test program of an aeroelastic cantilevered transport type wing with two pylon-mounted engines. The tests were conducted in the NASA-Langley 16-foot Transonic Dynamic tunnel (TDT) during December 1981. Flutter of identical planforms, mass properties, and stiffness. The test parameters included different values of model stiffness and wing loading at various angles of attack. The models were instrumented at span-wise wing stations to determine bending and torsion deflections and vertical accelerations. At two model wing stations, pressure transducers were distributed along the chord to record static and unsteady oscillatory pressures during the approach to and onset of flutter. This paper presents the test program with results of the flutter characteristics and selected steady and unsteady aerodynamic data for both airfoils at different angles of attack for various Mach numbers and dynamic pressures.

Grosser, W. F.↗