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At least 343 records · Page 19

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NASA NTRS1994

Unique passive diagnostic for slapper detonators

The objective of this study was to find a material and configuration that could reliably detect the proper functioning of a slapper (non-explosive) detonator. Because of the small size of the slapper geometry (on the order of a 15 mils), most diagnostic techniques are not suitable. This program has the additional requirements that the device would be used on centrifuge so that it could not use any electrical power or output signals. This required that the diagnostic be completely passive. The paper describes the three facets of the development effort: complete characterization of the slapper using VISAR measurements, selection of the diagnostic material and configuration, and testing of the prototype designs. The VISAR testing required that use of a special optical probe to allow the laser light to reach both bridges of the dual-slapper detonator. Results are given in the form of flyer velocity as a function of the initiating charge voltage level. The selected diagnostic design functions in a manner similar to a dent block except that the impact of the Kapton disk from a properly-functioning slapper causes a fracture pattern. A quick visual inspection is all that is needed to determine if the flyer velocity exceeded the threshold value. Sub-threshold velocities produce a substantially different appearance.

Brigham, William P.↗

NASA NTRS2005

Control Method for Video Guidance Sensor System

A method is provided for controlling operations in a video guidance sensor system wherein images of laser output signals transmitted by the system and returned from a target are captured and processed by the system to produce data used in tracking of the target. Six modes of operation are provided as follows: (i) a reset mode; (ii) a diagnostic mode; (iii) a standby mode; (iv) an acquisition mode; (v) a tracking mode; and (vi) a spot mode wherein captured images of returned laser signals are processed to produce data for all spots found in the image. The method provides for automatic transition to the standby mode from the reset mode after integrity checks are performed and from the diagnostic mode to the reset mode after diagnostic operations are commands is permitted only when the system is in the carried out. Further, acceptance of reset and diagnostic standby mode. The method also provides for automatic transition from the acquisition mode to the tracking mode when an acceptable target is found.

Richard T Howard↗

NASA NTRS2005

Control method for video guidance sensor system

A method is provided for controlling operations in a video guidance sensor system wherein images of laser output signals transmitted by the system and returned from a target are captured and processed by the system to produce data used in tracking of the target. Six modes of operation are provided as follows: (i) a reset mode; (ii) a diagnostic mode; (iii) a standby mode; (iv) an acquisition mode; (v) a tracking mode; and (vi) a spot mode wherein captured images of returned laser signals are processed to produce data for all spots found in the image. The method provides for automatic transition to the standby mode from the reset mode after integrity checks are performed and from the diagnostic mode to the reset mode after diagnostic operations are carried out. Further, acceptance of reset and diagnostic commands is permitted only when the system is in the standby mode. The method also provides for automatic transition from the acquisition mode to the tracking mode when an acceptable target is found.

Howard, Richard T.↗

NASA NTRS1979

The applicability of Brillouin scattering to flow field diagnostics

To fill the void between turbulence theory and experiment; particularly in the flow fields consisting of monatomic gases, for example in wind tunnels, means of measuring fluctuating quantities are needed. In the area of density fluctuation measurement, the optical method of Brillouin scattering was suggested. This was based on the theory, that the Brillouin scattered intensity is proportional to a function of density. In this investigation the potential of this method as a diagnostic tool was studied. Here the density fluctuations in gases were sought. Continuous wave lasers and interferometers were used as the primary illuminating source and scattered light filters respectively.

Laiosa, J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Density sensitive X-ray line ratios in the Be I, B I, and Ne I isoelectronic sequences

The intensities of X-ray transitions in highly charged ions in the Be I, B I, and Ne I isoelectronic sequences have been calculated as functions of electron density. The intensities of the transitions from the 2s(n)2p(m)3p configuration, relative to the intensities from the 2s(n)2p(m)3s and 2s(n)p(m)3d configurations, are strong functions of electron density in high-density plasmas. The density sensitivity occurs at electron densities between 10 to the 16th/cu cm (for Si ions) and 10 to the 22nd/cu cm (for Kr ions). Opacity is unimportant for plasma dimensions that are characteristic of dense laser-produced plasmas. These X-ray line ratios represent a promising new density diagnostic for high-density plasmas.

Feldman, U.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Distributed communications and control network for robotic mining

The application of robotics to coal mining machines is one approach pursued to increase productivity while providing enhanced safety for the coal miner. Toward that end, a network composed of microcontrollers, computers, expert systems, real time operating systems, and a variety of program languages are being integrated that will act as the backbone for intelligent machine operation. Actual mining machines, including a few customized ones, have been given telerobotic semiautonomous capabilities by applying the described network. Control devices, intelligent sensors and computers onboard these machines are showing promise of achieving improved mining productivity and safety benefits. Current research using these machines involves navigation, multiple machine interaction, machine diagnostics, mineral detection, and graphical machine representation. Guidance sensors and systems employed include: sonar, laser rangers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, clinometers, and accelerometers. Information on the network of hardware/software and its implementation on mining machines are presented. Anticipated coal production operations using the network are discussed. A parallelism is also drawn between the direction of present day underground coal mining research to how the lunar soil (regolith) may be mined. A conceptual lunar mining operation that employs a distributed communication and control network is detailed.

Schiffbauer, William H.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Compact spaceflight solution crystal-growth system

A versatile, miniaturized, stand alone, crystal solution growth chamber design is presented which is based on fiber optics, diode lasers, and holographic optical elements in conjunction with knowledge gained from previous Spacelab work. Diagnostics instrumentation is based on a crystal growth monitor, a growth/dissolution monitor with feedback, solution diagnostics, multiple wavelength holography, and single wavelength or color Schlieren with video recording.

Trolinger, James D.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Experimental investigation of a simulated LOX injector flow field

Current development of liquid oxidizer injectors for liquid rocket engines is highly dependent upon experimental investigations of the two-phase liquid oxidizer/gaseous fuel injection plume characteristics. This paper describes an effort to increase the applicability of optical diagnostic approaches to such flow fields find includes an innovative approach for interpreting laser-induced fluorescence signals from axisymmetric two-phase flows. The usefulness of both laser-induced fluorescence and surface scattering techniques are explored herein. The flow field selected for this investigation is an oxidizer-swirled, coaxial flow produced using an injector design under consideration for use in the Space Transportation Main Engine (STME). The liquid oxygen (LOX) flow through this injector is simulated using water. Photographs of laser-induced fluorescence and particle scattering and measured profiles of the mass distribution in this flow field are presented and discussed herein.

Hartfield, Roy J., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Steady and Unsteady Flow Field Measurements Within a NASA 22-Inch Fan Model

Results are presented of an experiment conducted to investigate possible sources of fan noise in the flow developed by a 22-in. (55.9 cm) diameter turbofan model. Flow diagnostic data were acquired to identify possible sources of both tone and broadband noise. Laser Doppler velocimetry was used to characterize the tip flows that develop within the rotor blade passages, the wake flow downstream of the rotor, and the shock waves that develop on the blades when operated at transonic relative tip speeds. Single-point hot-wire measurements were made in the rotor wake to determine the frequency content and the length scales of the flow unsteadiness. The results document the changes in the rotor wake flow with both rotor speed and axial distance downstream of the rotor. The data also show the tip flow development within the blade passage, its migration downstream, and (at high rotor speeds) its merging with the blade wake of the following blade. Data also depict the variation of the tip flow with tip clearance. LDV data obtained within the blade passages at high rotor speeds illustrate the passage-to-passage variation of the mean shock position. Spectra computed from the single-point hot-wire measurements illustrate how the energy in the flow oscillations is split between periodic and random components, and how this split varies with both radial and axial position in the rotor wake.

Podboy, Gary G.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Development of Doppler Global Velocimetry for Wind Tunnel Testing

The development of Doppler global velocimetry is described. Emphasis is placed on the modifications necessary to advance this nonintrusive laser based measurement technique from a laboratory prototype to a viable wind tunnel flow diagnostics tool. Several example wind tunnel flow field investigations are described to illustrate the versatility of the technique. Flow conditions ranged from incompressible to Mach 2.8 with measurement distances extending from 1 to 15 m.

Meyers, James F.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Gain measurements of the Ca-Xe charge exchange system

Charge-exchange-pumped Ca(+) was studied for possible positive laser gain at 370.6 and 315.9 nm using an Xe MPD arc as the Xe(+) source. The present paper describes the MPD arc, the calcium injection system, the diagnostics for gain, and spontaneous emission measurements and results. No positive gain measurements were observed. A small Xe-Ca charge exchange cross section compared to He-metal laser systems charge exchange cross sections is the most probable reason why the result was negative.

Michels, C. J.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Development of advanced diagnostics for characterization of burning droplets in microgravity

Diagnostic techniques currently used for microgravity research are generally not as advanced as those used in earth based gravity experiments. Diagnostic techniques for measuring the instantaneous radial temperature profile (or temperature gradients) within the burning droplet do not exist. Over the past few years, Aerometrics has been researching and developing a rainbow thermometric technique for measuring the droplet temperatures of burning droplets. This technique has recently been integrated with the phase Doppler interferometric technique to yield a diagnostic instrument that can be used to simultaneously measure the size, velocity, and temperature of burning droplets in complex spray flames. Also, the rainbow thermometric technique has been recently integrated with a point-diffraction interferometric technique for measuring the instantaneous gas phase temperature field surrounding a burning droplet. These research programs, apart from being very successful, have also helped us identify other innovative techniques for the characterization of burning droplets. For example, new techniques have been identified for measuring the instantaneous regression rate of burning droplets. Also, there is the possibility of extracting the instantaneous radial temperature distribution or the temperature gradients within a droplet during transient heating. What is important is that these diagnostic techniques have the potential for making use of inexpensive, light-weight, and rugged devices such as diode lasers and linear CCD arrays. As a result, they can be easily packaged for incorporation into microgravity drop-test and flight-test facilities. Furthermore, with the use of linear CCD arrays, data rates as high as 10-100 kHz can be easily achieved. This data rate is orders of magnitude higher than what is currently achievable. In this research and development program, a compact and rugged diagnostic system will be developed that can be used to measure instantaneous fuel droplet diameter, droplet regression rate, and the droplet internal temperature profiles or gradients at very high data rates in microgravity experiments.

Sankar, Subramanian↗

NASA NTRS1987

Flowfield measurements in a separated and reattached flat plate turbulent boundary layer

The separation and reattachment of a large-scale, two-dimensional turbulent boundary layer at low subsonic speed on a flat plate has been studied experimentally. The separation bubble was 55 cm long and had a maximum bubble thickness, measured to the height of the mean dividing streamline, of 17 cm, which was twice the thickness of the inlet boundary layer. A combination of laser velocimetry, hot-wire anemometry, pneumatic probing techniques, and flow visualization were used as diagnostics. Principal findings were that an outer inviscid rotational flow was defined which essentially convected over the blockage associated with the inner, viscously dominated bubble recirculation region. A strong backflow region in which the flow moved upstream 100 percent of the time was measured near the test surface over the central 35 percent of the bubble. A laminar backflow boundary layer having pseudo-turbulent characteristics including a log-linear velocity profile was generated under the highly turbulent backflow. Velocity profile shapes in the reversed flow region matched a previously developed universal backflow profile at the upstream edge of the separation region but not in the steady backflow region downstream. A smoke flow visualization movie and hot-film measurements revealed low frequency nonperiodic flapping at reattachment. However, forward flow fraction data at reattachment and mean velocity profiles in the redeveloping boundary layer downstream of reattachment correlated with backward-facing step data when the axial dimension was scaled by the distance from the maximum bubble thickness to reattachment.

Patrick, William P.↗

NASA NTRS1998

Breaking the Wavelength Barrier

Under an SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) contract with Goddard Space Flight Center, Focused Research, Inc. and New Focus, Inc., developed a single mode tunable diode laser from 1.9 to 4.0 microns. As an offshoot from this work, they were able to introduce a 2.0 micron diode laser into their commercial product line. These lasers are useful in trace gas detection, environmental monitoring, seeding of lidar systems, and medical diagnostic experiments.

Source record↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Laser Absorption Spectroscopy Measurements of Post-Shock Non-Equilibrium Species in the NASA Ames Electric Arc Shock Tube

The NASA Ames Electric Arc Shock Tube (EAST) is a unique facility capable of generating high enthalpy, shock-heated impulse gas flows representative of the kinetic and radiative conditions encountered by atmospheric entry vehicles. The facility maintains a successful history with emission spectroscopy, providing measurements of absolute radiance upon which various validation studies are anchored. The central objective of this work is to develop a comprehensive tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) sensing capability to provide complementary experimental insights to existing emission techniques. More specifically, a fast-scanning TDLAS-based diagnostic targeting the cyano radical (CN) in the near-infrared(near-IR) near 926.6 nm is employed in mixtures of 2.2% CH4in N2by mole for a sweep of incident shock velocities ranging 3.0-5.5 km/s and fill pressures 0.3-1.15 Torr. Laser scan rates up to 500 kHz probe multiple absorption features to provide quantitative measurements of temperature and species number density profiles behind the incident shock. In all instances, the temperature trend is consistent between emission-inferred and TDLAS-inferred measurements. However, at the lower-velocity conditions, there is an appreciable offset between the Data Parallel Line Relaxation Code (DPLR) simulation and experimental measurements. A similar behavior is observed in number density profiles, with emission measurements providing inferences of the CN(B) and CN(A) state, while TDLAS measurements provide an additional inference of the CN(X) state. In the fast-scanned experiments, measurement inferred number densities suggest a much faster production of CN at early times than captured by the model. This discrepancy motivates ongoing, additional spectroscopic and kinetics CN experiments to resolve the accuracy of modeling assumptions.

Efaine Chang↗

NASA NTRS1999

Non-Intrusive Laser-Induced Imaging for Speciation and Patternation in High Pressure Gas Turbine Combustors

The next generation of was turbine combustors for aerospace applications will be required to meet increasingly stringent constraints on fuel efficiency, noise abatement, and emissions. The power plants being designed to meet these constraints will operate at extreme conditions of temperature and pressure, thereby generating unique challenges to the previously employed diagnostic methodologies. Current efforts at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) utilize optically accessible, high pressure flametubes and sector combustor rigs to probe, via advanced nonintrusive laser techniques, the complex flowfields encountered in advanced combustor designs. The fuel-air mixing process is of particular concern for lowering NO(x) emissions generated in lean, premixed engine concepts. Using planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) we have obtained real-time, detailed imaging of the fuel spray distribution for a number of fuel injector over a wide range of operational conditions that closely match those expected in the proposed propulsion systems. Using a novel combination of planar imaging, of fuel fluorescence and computational analysis that allows an examination of the flowfield from any perspective, we have produced spatially and temporally resolved fuel-air distribution maps. These maps provide detailed insight into the fuel injection at actual conditions never before possible, thereby greatly enhancing the evaluation of fuel injector performance and combustion phenomena.

Locke, Randy J.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Investigations of coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy /CARS/ for practical combustion diagnostics

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) is a coherent wave-mixing process in which the signal emerges as a laser-like beam in a precise direction. The spectroscopic technique is appropriate to spatially and temporally resolved measurements of temperature and major species concentrations in combustion. It has been generated from all of the dominant constituents in air-fed, hydrogen, and hydrocarbon fueled combustion, and found applicable to practical combustion systems. High pressure effects on CARS spectra have also been examined.

Eckbreth, A. C.↗

NASA NTRS2010

Widely Tunable Mode-Hop-Free External-Cavity Quantum Cascade Laser

The external-cavity quantum cascade laser (EC-QCL) system is based on an optical configuration of the Littrow type. It is a room-temperature, continuous wave, widely tunable, mode-hop-free, mid-infrared, EC-QCL spectroscopic source. It has a single-mode tuning range of 155 cm(exp -1) (approximately equal to 8% of the center wavelength) with a maximum power of 11.1 mW and 182 cm(exp -1) (approximately equal to 15% of the center wavelength), and a maximum power of 50 mW as demonstrated for 5.3 micron and 8.4 micron EC-QCLs, respectively. This technology is particularly suitable for high-resolution spectroscopic applications, multi-species tracegas detection, and spectroscopic measurements of broadband absorbers. Wavelength tuning of EC-QCL spectroscopic source can be implemented by varying three independent parameters of the laser: (1) the optical length of the gain medium (which, in this case, is equivalent to QCL injection current modulation), (2) the length of the EC (which can be independently varied in the Rice EC-QCL setup), and (3) the angle of beam incidence at the diffraction grating (frequency tuning related directly to angular dispersion of the grating). All three mechanisms of frequency tuning have been demonstrated and are required to obtain a true mode-hop-free laser frequency tuning. The precise frequency tuning characteristics of the EC-QCL output have been characterized using a variety of diagnostic tools available at Rice University (e.g., a monochromator, FTIR spectrometer, and a Fabry-Perot spectrometer). Spectroscopic results were compared with available databases (such as HITRAN, PNNL, EPA, and NIST). These enable precision verification of complete spectral parameters of the EC-QCL, such as wavelength, tuning range, tuning characteristics, and line width. The output power of the EC-QCL is determined by the performance of the QC laser chip, its operating conditions, and parameters of the QC laser cavity such as mirror reflectivity or intracavity losses. In order to maximize the output power, an analysis and optimization of the EC laser parameters has been performed. The parameters of the beam emitted from the gain medium, such as divergence angle, beam profile, and astigmatism, have been investigated. The gain medium has been fully characterized before and after each stage of modification. The main modification steps are coating one facet of the gain chip with a high reflectivity mirror and the other facet with an anti-reflection layer. Then the chip is mounted in the EC-QCL. The optomechanical design has been reviewed and improved to provide for precise collimation of the strongly divergent beam of the QCL and the tuning diffraction grating.

Wysocki, Gerard↗