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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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Papers are presented dealing with interdisciplinary research in the fields of geodesy, solid earth and ocean physics. Topics discussed include: solid earth and ocean tides; the rotation of the earth and polar motion; vertical crustal motions; the geoid and ocean surface; earthquake mechanism; sea level changes; and lunar dynamics.
The results and conclusions of the six-year effort concerned with the development and implementation of a university educational program intended to prepare scientists and engineers for upper-level management and administrative positions (as distinct from senior technical positions) were presented. This interdisciplinary program is at the graduate level, leading to a Master of Arts degree, and is given within a Division of Public Administration.
Zero-gravity offers selective effect on growth and metabolic activity unicellular organisms as well as unique opportunities in purification of organic compounds. These make it possible to consider the biosynthesis and recovery of certain metabolites economically feasible in space. Design, construction and operation of systems for the above mentioned purposes requires interdisciplinary actions within the scope of a new discipline: space bioengineering. The problems and perspectives of this discipline particularly in the application of bioreactor-recovery systems in space to manufacture metabolites of high economic and scientific value. Special attention is paid to pivotal factors such as various mass transport phenomena, contamination control, automatic control of optimum environment and synchronization of the operation of the biological (biosynthesis) and the physiochemical (recovery-purification) systems.
The mechanism of the solar radiation and its effect on the environment are discussed. These interdisciplinary discussions were expected to expose typical instrumentation requirements in the exploration of the solar and terrestrial system in such manner as to make it a significant factor in the proper management of the use of the earth's limited resources.
The separation of purely solar physics from magnetospheric physics, and the effects of solar activity on geomagnetic activity are investigations which can be accomplished using the shuttle orbiter in an extended sortie mode, or an unmanned solar terrestrial observatory powered by the power module in an extended duration mode. When the power module is used with the shuttle in a sortie support mode, both the instrument capacity and the time in orbit of the orbiter can be increased several fold. In the free-flyer mode, the power module would be capable of providing power, basic attitude control, basic thermal control and housekeeping communications for unmanned, large, independent mission payloads in low earth orbit for periods of 6 months or longer. Instrument requirements for interdisciplinary joint observational programs are discussed for studies of the magnetosphere, the atmosphere, sun-weather relationships. Description summary charts of the power module are included.
An interdisciplinary study of the 65-km diameter Manicouagan ring structure in Quebec was undertaken to gain insight into the integrated effects of impacts on terrestrial planetary bodies. The paper serves as an introduction to several companion papers and summarizes major conclusions. Studies of the 214 m.y. old structure show that the melt rocks are texturally inhomogeneous but chemically homogeneous and can be modeled as a mixture of target lithologies. The melt rocks have a Sr-87/Sr-86 ratio compatible with the melting of crustal rocks. The melt had a two-stage cooling history with clast-melt interactions indicative of mixing superheated silicate liquid with cold clasts. Grain size, clast reactions, and thermal equilibration of clasts and melts are described.
It is shown that the interdisciplinary study of the nonmare lunar rocks based on trace element, major element, and isotopic data plus petrographic evidence can succeed in amassing a large suite of demonstrably pristine rocks, and that the relative numbers of these rocks are not in accord with statistics amassed on soil fragments and glasses. The term 'pristine' is taken to mean rocks with primary compositions (albeit not necessarily textures) produced by lunar endogenous igneous processes. Melt rocks and crystalline matrix breccias produced by impact processes are excluded. A petrographic synonym for pristine would be 'unremelted, monomict'. It is found that anorthositic norites and noritic anorthosites were rare as primary nonmare rocks. Mechanical mixing appears to have been the dominant petrogenetic process on the highlands.
A description is presented of the preliminary results of interdisciplinary studies of matrix samples. The significance of the 73215 studies is considered and the relationship of 73215 to other Apollo 17 highland breccias is discussed. According to a tentative hypothesis 73215 is an aggregate of fragments plus melt generated in a very large impact, possibly the Serenitatis basin-forming event. If this is correct, studies of this sample will make it possible to date the Serenitatis event and will provide an insight into the breccia-forming processes associated with such events. Studies of the clasts in the breccia will provide an opportunity to formulate a partial characterization of the preimpact source terrain. An investigation of the deep lunar crust might perhaps also be possible.
A description is presented of the nature of the aerospace technology system that might be expected by the 21st century from a reasonable evolution of the current resources and capabilities. An aerospace employment outlook is provided. The years 1977 and 1978 seem to be marking the beginning of a period of stability and moderate growth in the aerospace industry. Aerospace research and development employment increased to 70,000 in 1977 and is now occupying a near-constant 18% share of the total research and development work force. The changing job environment is considered along with the future of aerospace education. It is found that one trend is toward a more interdisciplinary education. Most trend setters in engineering education recognize that the really challenging engineering problems invariably require the judicious exercise of several disciplines for their solution. Some future trends in aerospace technology are discussed. By the year 2000 space technology will have achieved major advances in four areas, including management of information, transportation, space structures, and energy.
Projected advances in discipline areas associated with aerospace engineering are discussed. The areas examined are propulsion and power, materials and structures, aerothermodynamics, and electronics. Attention is directed to interdisciplinary relationships; one example would be the application of communications technology to the solution of propulsion problems. Examples involving projected technology changes are presented, and technology integration and societal effects are considered.
A systematic interdisciplinary study of the Apollo 17 station 7 boulder, from the foot of the North Massif at Taurus-Littrow, is described. The astronauts observed four lithologies: a large white clast represented by 77215, cut by dark dikelets (77075) and enclosed in blue-gray breccia (77115); the assemblage of these three rock types is in turn surrounded by green-gray breccia (77135). The history of the station 7 boulder, as construed from the results of the consortium study, is presented.
The workshop is reported which was held to establish guidelines for future development of ecological support systems, and to develop a group of researchers who understand the interdisciplinary requirements of the overall program.
The development of an analysis software system capable of performing interdisciplinary preliminary design analyses of large space structure configurations is discussed. Disciplines such as thermal, structures, and controls are to be integrated into a highly user oriented analysis capability. The key feature of the integrated analysis capability, a rapid and efficient system that will minimize solution turnaround time, is discussed.
A conference held at Langley Research Center in May of 1980 brought together university experts from the fields of Control Theory, Operations Research, and Artificial Intelligence to explore current research in automation from both the perspective of their own particular disciplines and from that of interdisciplinary considerations. Informal discussions from the final day of the those day conference are summarized.
Based on the belief that actual flight hardware development of large space systems will necessitate a formalized method of integrating the various engineering discipline analyses, an efficient highly user oriented software system capable of performing interdisciplinary design analyses with tolerable solution turnaround time is planned Specific analysis capability goals were set forth with initial emphasis given to sequential and quasi-static thermal/structural analysis and fully coupled structural/control system analysis. Subsequently, the IAC would be expanded to include a fully coupled thermal/structural/control system, electromagnetic radiation, and optical performance analyses.
The development of an integrated analysis computer program capable of performing the conceptual/preliminary structural system design analysis of large space systems is addressed. The integrated analysis capability (IAC) specifications include thermal/structural/controls integration, an emphasis on existing software and interactive graphics and I/O, a project size capability of 1 to 50 users (1 to 5 users concurrent), and the use of the FORTRAN '77 language. The advantages of the DISCOS and NASTRAN computer programs to the IAC are outlined and recommendations for other programs are made. Barriers to the development of the system arising from the interdisciplinary data flow are defined.
The activities of the Chemical Research Projects Office at Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California are reported. The office conducts basic and applied research in the fields of polymer chemistry, computational chemistry, polymer physics, and physical and organic chemistry. It works to identify the chemical research and technology required for solutions to problems of national urgency, synchronous with the aeronautic and space effort. It conducts interdisciplinary research on chemical problems, mainly in areas of macromolecular science and fire research. The office also acts as liaison with the engineering community and assures that relevant technology is made available to other NASA centers, agencies, and industry. Recent accomplishments are listed in this report. Activities of the three research groups, Polymer Research, Aircraft Operating and Safety, and Engineering Testing, are summarized. A complete bibliography which lists all Chemical Research Projects Office publications, contracts, grants, patents, and presentations from 1975 to 1980 is included.
The principal aim of the paper is to re-emphasize and focus on both the multidisciplinary nature of the environment assisted cracking or embrittlement phenomenon. The multiplicity of factors involved in the embrittlement process is indicated, the mutual dependence of these factors and the influences of mechanical and environmental conditions are considered, and the interactions of various factors in determining the overall embrittlement response are discussed. The need for an interdisciplinary approach for resolving the major differences and for understanding embrittlement is outlined.