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NASA NTRS1951

Steady-state Engine Windmilling and Engine Speed Decay Characteristics of an Axial-flow Turbojet Engine

A wind tunnel investigation has been conducted to determine the steady-state windmilling and engine speed decay characteristics of the J34-WE-32 turbo-jet over a range of altitudes from 5000 to 50,000 feet and simulated flight Mach numbers from 0.19 to 1.06. The effect of an engine accessory load on the speed decay characteristics was also determined. The accessory load was about 7.8 horsepower for engine speeds above 4000 rpm and decreased with decreasing engine speed. An analysis of the speed decay data was made and engine speed decay rates were determined for hypothetical accessory loads up to 40 horsepower.

ENGINES, TURBOJET - ALTITUDE TESTS↗

NASA NTRS2006

Instability of the Present LEO Satellite Populations

Several studies conducted during 1991-2001 demonstrated, with some assumed launch rates, the future unintended growth potential of the Earth satellite population, resulting from random, accidental collisions among resident space objects. In some low Earth orbit (LEO) altitude regimes where the number density of satellites is above a critical spatial density, the production rate of new breakup debris due to collisions would exceed the loss of objects due to orbital decay. A new study has been conducted in the Orbital Debris Program Office at the NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, using higher fidelity models to evaluate the current debris environment. The study assumed no satellites were launched after December 2005. A total of 150 Monte Carlo runs were carried out and analyzed. Each Monte Carlo run simulated the current debris environment and projected it 200 years into the future. The results indicate that the LEO debris environment has reached a point such that even if no further space launches were conducted, the Earth satellite population would remain relatively constant for only the next 50 years or so. Beyond that, the debris population would begin to increase noticeably, due to the production of collisional debris. Detailed analysis shows that this growth is primarily driven by high collision activities around 900 to 1000 km altitude - the region which has a very high concentration of debris at present. In reality, the satellite population growth in LEO will undoubtedly be worse than this study indicates, since spacecraft and their orbital stages will continue to be launched into space. Postmission disposal of vehicles (e.g., limiting postmission orbital lifetimes to less than 25 years) will help, but will be insufficient to constrain the Earth satellite population. To preserve better the near-Earth environment for future space activities, it might be necessary to remove existing large and massive objects from regions where high collision activities are expected.

Liou, Jer-Chyi↗

NASA NTRS1975

Decay of X-ray source A 0535+26

The All-Sky Monitor aboard Ariel V is described, and observations with it are reported for the transient X-ray source A 0535+26. It is noted that the observations were conducted in such a way that the decay phase of this source could be studied. The source's overall light curve between 3 and 6 keV is presented, and some decay features are described. The decay effects are compared with those observed in other transient sources, including Cen X-4, 2U 1543-47, and A 1524-62.

Kaluzienski, L. J.↗

NASA NTRS1980

The thermal X-ray flare plasma

Following a review of current observational and theoretical knowledge of the approximately 10 to the 7th K plasma emitting the thermal soft X-ray bursts accompanying every H alpha solar flare, the fundamental physical problem of the plasma, namely the formation and evolution of the observed X-ray arches, is examined. Extensive Skylab observations of the thermal X-ray plasmas in two large flares, a large subflare and several compact subflares are analyzed to determine plasma physical properties, deduce the dominant physical processes governing the plasma and compare large and small flare characteristics. Results indicate the density of the thermal X-ray plasma to be higher than previously thought (from 10 to the 10th to 10 to the 12th/cu cm for large to small flares), cooling to occur radiatively as much as conductively, heating to continue into the decay phase of large flares, and the mass of the thermal X-ray plasma to be supplied primarily through chromospheric evaporation. Implications of the results for the basic flare mechanism are indicated.

Moore, R.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Low-frequency sound absorption measurements in air

Thirty sets of sound absorption measurements in air at a pressure of 1 atmosphere are presented at temperatures from 10 C to 50 C, relative humidities from 0 to 100 percent, and frequencies from 10 to 2500 Hz. The measurements were conducted by the method of free decay in a resonant tube having a length of 18.261 m and bore diameter of 0.152 m. Background measurements in a gas consisting of 89.5 percent N2 and 10.5 percent Ar, a mixture which has the same sound velocity as air, permitted the wall and structural losses of the tube to be separated from the constituent absorption, consisting of classical rotational and vibrational absorption, in the air samples. The data were used to evaluate the vibrational relaxation frequencies of N2 and/or O2 for each of the 30 sets of meteorological parameters. Over the full range of humidity, the measured relaxation frequencies of N2 in air lie between those specified by ANSI Standard S1.26-1978 and those measured earlier in binary N2H2O mixtures. The measured relaxation frequencies could be determined only at very low values of humidity, reveal a significant trend away from the ANSI standard, in agreement with a prior investigation.

Zuckerwar, A. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Global excitation of wave phenomena in a dissipative multiconstituent medium. I - Transfer function of the earth's thermosphere. II - Impulsive perturbations in the earth's thermosphere

A transfer function approach is taken in constructing a spectral model of the acoustic-gravity wave response in a multiconstituent thermosphere. The model is then applied to describing the thermospheric response to various sources around the globe. Zonal spherical harmonics serve to model the horizontal variations in propagating waves which, when integrated with respect to height, generate a transfer function for a vertical source distribution in the thermosphere. Four wave components are characterized as resonance phenomena and are associated with magnetic activity and ionospheric disturbances. The waves are either trapped or propagate, the latter becoming significant when possessing frequencies above 3 cycles/day. The energy input is distributed by thermospheric winds. The disturbances decay slowly, mainly due to heat conduction and diffusion. Gravity waves appear abruptly and are connected to a sudden switching on or off of a source. Turn off of a source coincides with a reversal of the local atmospheric circulation.

Mayr, H. G.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Low-frequency absorption of sound in air

Zuckerwar, A. J.↗

NASA NTRS2008

Fiber Amplifier Report for NEPP 2008

Ongoing qualification activities of LiNbO3 modulators. Passive (unpumped) radiation testing of Er-, Yb-, and Er/Yb-doped fibers: a) Yb-doped fibers exhibit higher radiation resistance than Er-doped fibers; b) Er/Yb co-doped fibers exhibit largest radiation resistance. Active (pumped) radiation testing of Yb-doped fibers conducted at NASA GSFC: a) Typical decay behavior observed; b) No comparison could be made to other fibers due to problems with test setup. Development of new high power fiber terminations.

Thomes, Joe↗

NASA NTRS2014

Evaluation of Fast-Time Wake Vortex Models using Wake Encounter Flight Test Data

This paper describes a methodology for the integration and evaluation of fast-time wake models with flight data. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration conducted detailed flight tests in 1995 and 1997 under the Aircraft Vortex Spacing System Program to characterize wake vortex decay and wake encounter dynamics. In this study, data collected during Flight 705 were used to evaluate NASA's fast-time wake transport and decay models. Deterministic and Monte-Carlo simulations were conducted to define wake hazard bounds behind the wake generator. The methodology described in this paper can be used for further validation of fast-time wake models using en-route flight data, and for determining wake turbulence constraints in the design of air traffic management concepts.

Ahmad, Nashat N.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Comparison of Classical and Charge Storage Methods for Determining Conductivity of Thin Film Insulators

Conductivity of insulating materials is a key parameter to determine how accumulated charge will distribute across the spacecraft and how rapidly charge imbalance will dissipate. Classical ASTM and IEC methods to measure thin film insulator conductivity apply a constant voltage to two electrodes around the sample and measure the resulting current for tens of minutes. However, conductivity is more appropriately measured for spacecraft charging applications as the "decay" of charge deposited on the surface of an insulator. Charge decay methods expose one side of the insulator in vacuum to sequences of charged particles, light, and plasma, with a metal electrode attached to the other side of the insulator. Data are obtained by capacitive coupling to measure both the resulting voltage on the open surface and emission of electrons from the exposed surface, as well monitoring currents to the electrode. Instrumentation for both classical and charge storage decay methods has been developed and tested at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and at Utah State University (USU). Details of the apparatus, test methods and data analysis are given here. The JPL charge storage decay chamber is a first-generation instrument, designed to make detailed measurements on only three to five samples at a time. Because samples must typically be tested for over a month, a second-generation high sample throughput charge storage decay chamber was developed at USU with the capability of testing up to 32 samples simultaneously. Details are provided about the instrumentation to measure surface charge and current; for charge deposition apparatus and control; the sample holders to properly isolate the mounted samples; the sample carousel to rotate samples into place; the control of the sample environment including sample vacuum, ambient gas, and sample temperature; and the computer control and data acquisition systems. Measurements are compared here for a number of thin film insulators using both methods at both facilities. We have found that conductivity determined from charge storage decay methods is 102 to 104 larger than values obtained from classical methods. Another Spacecraft Charging Conference presentation describes more extensive measurements made with these apparatus. This work is supported through funding from the NASA Space Environments and Effects Program and the USU Space Dynamics Laboratory Enabling Technologies Program.

Swaminathan, Prasanna↗

NASA NTRS1999

Large Eddy Simulation of Aircraft Wake Vortices in a Homogeneous Atmospheric Turbulence: Vortex Decay and Descent

The effects of ambient turbulence on decay and descent of aircraft wake vortices are studied using a validated, three-dimensional: large-eddy simulation model. Numerical simulations are performed in order to isolate the effect of ambient turbulence on the wake vortex decay rate within a neutrally-stratified atmosphere. Simulations are conducted for a range of turbulence intensities, by injecting wake vortex pairs into an approximately homogeneous and isotropic turbulence field. The decay rate of the vortex circulation increases clearly with increasing ambient turbulence level, which is consistent with field observations. Based on the results from the numerical simulations, simple decay models are proposed as functions of dimensionless ambient turbulence intensity (eta) and dimensionless time (T) for the circulation averaged over a range of radial distances. With good agreement with the numerical results, a Gaussian type of vortex decay model is proposed for weak turbulence: while an exponential type of Tortex decay model can be applied for strong turbulence. A relationship for the vortex descent based on above vortex decay model is also proposed. Although the proposed models are based on simulations assuming neutral stratification, the model predictions are compared to Lidar vortex measurements observed during stable, neutral, and unstable atmospheric conditions. In the neutral and unstable atmosphere, the model predictions appear to be in reasonable agreement with the observational data, while in the stably-stratified atmosphere, they largely underestimate the observed circulation decay with consistent overestimation of the observed vortex descent. The underestimation of vortex decay during stably-stratified conditions suggests that stratification has an important influence on vortex decay when ambient levels of turbulence are weak.

Han, Jongil↗

NASA NTRS2008

Transdermal delivery of therapeutic agent

A device for the transdermal delivery of a therapeutic agent to a biological subject that includes a first electrode comprising a first array of electrically conductive microprojections for providing electrical communication through a skin portion of the subject to a second electrode comprising a second array of electrically conductive microprojections. Additionally, a reservoir for holding the therapeutic agent surrounding the first electrode and a pulse generator for providing an exponential decay pulse between the first and second electrodes may be provided. A method includes the steps of piercing a stratum corneum layer of skin with two arrays of conductive microprojections, encapsulating the therapeutic agent into biocompatible charged carriers, surrounding the conductive microprojections with the therapeutic agent, generating an exponential decay pulse between the two arrays of conductive microprojections to create a non-uniform electrical field and electrokinetically driving the therapeutic agent through the stratum corneum layer of skin.

Kwiatkowski, Krzysztof C.↗

NASA NTRS2015

Heat Capacity and Thermal Conductance Measurements of a Superconducting-Normal Mixed State by Detection of Single 3 eV Photons in a Magnetic Penetration Thermometer

We report on measurements of the detected signal pulses in a molybdenum-gold Magnetic Penetration Thermometer (MPT) in response to absorption of one or more 3 eV photons. We designed and used this MPT sensor for x-ray microcalorimetry. In this device, the diamagnetic response of a superconducting MoAu bilayer is used to sense temperature changes in response to absorbed photons, and responsivity is enhanced by a Meissner transition in which the magnetic flux penetrating the sensor changes rapidly to minimize free energy in a mixed superconducting normal state. We have previously reported on use of our MPT to study a thermal phonon energy loss to the substrate when absorbing x-rays. We now describe results of extracting heat capacity C and thermal conductance G values from pulse height and decay time of MPT pulses generated by 3 eV photons. The variation in C and G at temperatures near the Meissner transition temperature (set by an internal magnetic bias field) allow us to probe the behavior in superconducting normal mixed state of the condensation energy and the electron cooling power resulting from quasi-particle recombination and phonon emission. The information gained on electron cooling power is also relevant to the operation of other superconducting detectors, such as Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors.

superconductivity↗

NASA NTRS1992

Effect of spatial resolution on apparent sensitivity to initial conditions of a decaying flow as it becomes turbulent

In order to check for spurious chaos and obtain superior solutions for decaying Navier-Stokes flows, an investigation is conducted of the effect of spatial resolution on numerical results. The fourth-order finite difference method results obtained with grids of 32-cubed and 64-cubed points, and those of a pseudospectral method for 128-cubed points, indicate that the sensitivity of initially neighboring solutions to small changes in initial conditions increases with improving spatial resolution.

Deissler, Robert G.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Motion sickness - Acquisition and retention of adaptation effects compared in three motion environments

The acquisition and retention of adaptation effects in motion sickness was invetigated using a sudden-stop vestibulovisual interaction test for measuring susceptibility to motion sickness (Graybiel and Lackner, 1980). The test procedure included four successive assessments that provide not only an index of susceptibility to motion sickness but also the rates of acquisition and decay of adaptation effects. The 14 subjects who had participated in this test had previously served as subjects in parabolic flight experiments and seven of them had also taken part in the assessment of antimotion-sickness remedies in a slow rotation room. A study was conducted to determine whether these subjects' rates of acquisition and decay of adaptation to stressful motion represent consistent general features of their response across motion environments. It is found that an individual's rates of acquiring and losing adaptation are quite consistent in very different situations. In addition, the pattern of results indicate modifications of the sudden-stop vestibulovisual test that should increase its effectiveness as a motion-sickness screening procedure, both for orbital flight and for terrestrial conditions.

Graybiel, A.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Cosmic ray anisotropies observed late in the decay phase of solar flare events

Data was obtained from instrumentation on Explorers 34 and 41 on cosmic-ray anisotropy and magnetic field vectors during five solar flare events. The analysis was conducted in the energy range from 0.7 to 7.6 MeV, of the late decay phase, to evaluate the dependence of net cosmic-ray anisotropy vector amplitude and direction on the magnetic field azimuth. Results showed that in the late decay phase the direction of the net cosmic-ray anisotropy vector was invariant in relation to the direction of the magnetic field, particle energy, and species. Within the statistical error of the available data the invariant direction was perpendicular to the mean magnetic field direction.

Allum, F. R.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Electrostatic measurement system

A system for and method of contact-electrifying a dielectric to determine its electrostatic properties is described. The dielectric is placed in contact with a contact plate means, and connected to a voltage source means to charge the contact plate and to contact-electrify the dielectric. The contact plate means is disconnected from the voltage source and a charge sensor means monitors the rate of decay of the charge on the dielectric. If a conductive path from the contact plate to ground is desired, a lead may be connected between the conductor and ground. Automatic timing and charge monitoring are preferred for maximum accuracy, especially where dielectrics treated with antistatic agents are tested.

Johnston, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Review of the metallographic cooling rates of meteorites and a new model for the planetesimals in which they formed

The cooling rates of meteorites through approximately 900 -650 K, as read from their metal alloy compositions, are reviewed. Metallographic cooling rates are compared with the cooling rates that appear to be required by the K/Ar and Ar-40/Ar-39 ages of five meteorite classes, and discrepancies are found in all cases. Either (1) the metallographic cooling rates (and also Pu-244 fission cooling rates) are systematically in error, being too slow by a factor of approximately 6; or (2) the traditional thermal model for parent meteorite planets (having constant dimension and uniform physical properties) is oversimplified and the Ar closure temperatures for chondrites derived by Turner et al. (1978) are too low. An alternative parent planet model is proposed and numerically modeled, in which accretion of thermally insulating particulate matter, heat generation by Al-26 decay, melting or sintering of the particulate matter into conductive rock, and establishment of the properties of the meteorites occurred concurrently. Meteorite chronologies are somewhat easier to understand in this context, since the initially small, hot (thus sintered and conductive) bodies would have cooled rapidly to isotopic closure, but later cooling might have been much slower as a result of the continued accretion of insulating particulate matter.

Wood, J. A.↗