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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 379 records · Page 21

Apparatus and method for measuring the Seebeck coefficient and resistivity of materials

An apparatus for measuring the thermoelectric properties of materials under high pressure is described that includes a pair of force transmitting assemblies constructed of thermally and electrically conductive material positioned between the ram and anvil of a press. Each force transmitting assembly has a small diameter pressing portion for contacting a face of the sample so that the sample can be squeezed between them. Each assembly also includes a heat exchanger to maintain the sample face at a controlled temperature, and an electrical conductor to carry current generated by the sample. A sleeve of thermally and electrically insulative material closely surrounds the pressing portions of the two assemblies.

Hadek, V.↗

Method of measuring the thickness of radioactive thin films

Thickness monitor consists of proportional X-ray counter coupled to pulse counting system, copper filter over face of counter, rotatable collimator containing radioactive source, and rotatable shutter. Monitor can be used as integral part of neutron generator. It has been used to measure titanium tritide film thicknesses from 0.1 to 30 micrometers.

Alger, D. L.↗

A method to measure the atmospheric aerosol content using ERTS-1 data

The apparent gradual increase of particles in the atmosphere has received considerable attention in recent years due to the possible effect of atmospheric aerosols on the earth's climate. The ERTS-1 satellite offered the opportunity of determining the feasibility of monitoring the atmospheric aerosol content on a global basis, as suggested by theoretical studies, which showed a linear relationship between the upwelling earth atmosphere radiance and the aerosol content. This relationship was investigated at two test sites, San Diego and the Salton Sea, using the MSS radiance data, with ground truth observations of the aerosol content being made with a Volz photometer at the time of the satellite overpasses. Significant results, relating the radiance over water surfaces to the atmospheric aerosol content, have been obtained. The results indicate that the MSS channels, 4, 5 and 6 centered at 0.55, 0.65 and 0.75 micron have comparable sensitivity, and that the aerosol content can be determined within + or - 10% with the assumed measurement errors of the MSS.

Griggs, M.↗

A novel method for measuring the polarization angle of satellite radio waves

One of the most important parameters for the study of the physics of the ionosphere is the columnar electron content. This can be obtained indirectly by measuring the Faraday rotation of signals emitted from satellites. Many different types of polarimeters have been developed for this purpose. Efforts to develop a new type of polarimeter, suitable for extensive network operation, led to a novel technique for measuring the polarization angle.

Antoniadis, D. A.↗

A method for measuring aircraft height and velocity using dual television cameras

A unique electronic optical technique, consisting of two closed circuit television cameras and timing electronics, was devised to measure an aircraft's horizontal velocity and height above ground without the need for airborne cooperative devices. The system is intended to be used where the aircraft has a predictable flight path and a height of less than 660 meters (2,000 feet) at or near the end of an air terminal runway, but is suitable for greater aircraft altitudes whenever the aircraft remains visible. Two television cameras, pointed at zenith, are placed in line with the expected path of travel of the aircraft. Velocity is determined by measuring the time it takes the aircraft to travel the measured distance between cameras. Height is determined by correlating this speed with the time required to cross the field of view of either camera. Preliminary tests with a breadboard version of the system and a small model aircraft indicate the technique is feasible.

Young, W. R.↗

Development of a preliminary design of a method to measure the effectiveness of virus exclusion during water process reclamation at zero-G

Organon Diagnostics has developed, under NASA sponsorship, a monitoring system to test the capability of a water recovery system to reject the passage of viruses into the recovered water. In this system, a non-pathogenic marker virus, bacteriophage F2, is fed into the process stream before the recovery unit and the reclaimed water is assayed for its presence. An engineering preliminary design has been performed as a parallel effort to the laboratory development of the marker virus test system. Engineering schematics and drawings present a preliminary instrument design of a fully functional laboratory prototype capable of zero-G operation.

Fraser, A. S.↗

Methods for measuring plating thicknesses on TAB lead frames

Plating three layer tape lead frames, used for tape automated bonding, offers a challenge to the electroplater because of nonuniform topography. Each lead frame contains large (typically .05 x. .05 inch) flat test pads located around the perimeter of the frame. These test pads are electrically connected to the bondable lead frame fingers which extend into an area in the center of the frame called the feature hole. The feature hole exposes these fingers to plating on all sides, while the test pads are exposed on only one side. In addition, the fingers are small in cross section (typically .003 x .0015 inches). Recent thickness measurements indicate that plating around the lead frame fingers is nearly twice as thick as that on test pad areas. Procedures and equipment were developed for measuring the thickness of the deposited material. Discussion was centered on the data obtained using the various measurement techniques and equipment.

Hagen, M. P.↗

A comparison of contour maps derived from independent methods of measuring lunar magnetic fields

Computer-generated contour maps of strong lunar remanent magnetic fields are presented and discussed. The maps, obtained by previously described (Eliason and Soderblom, 1977) techniques, are derived from a variety of direct and indirect measurements from Apollo 15 and 16 and Explorer 35 magnetometer and electron reflection data. A common display format is used to facilitate comparison of the maps over regions of overlapping coverage. Most large scale features of either weak or strong magnetic field regions are found to correlate fairly well on all the maps considered.

Lichtenstein, B. R.↗

Noncontacting method for measuring angular deflection

An apparatus is described for indicating the instantaneous angular deflection of an object about a selected axis without mechanical contact with the object. Light from a light source is transmitted through a flat refractor to a converging lens which focuses the light through another flat refractor onto a differential photocell. The first flat refractor is attached to the object such that when the object is deflected about the selected axis the refractor is also deflected about that axis. The two flat refractors are identical and they are placed an equal distance from the converging lens as are the light source and the photocell. The output of the photocell which is a function of image displacement is fed to a high gain amplifier that drives a galvanometer which rotates the second flat refractor. The second refractor is rotated so that the image displacement is very nearly zero making the galvanometer current a measure of the deflection of the object about the selected axis.

Bryant, E. L.↗

A new method of measuring radio source parameters of a partially polarized distributed source from spacecraft observations

An experimental system is analyzed which is designed to determine the angular and polarization properties of low frequency radio sources from measurements made on a spinning spacecraft. The system has been optimized to provide high accuracies for sources at high as well as low elevation angles. Theoretical expressions are derived for the response of this system to a partially polarized point source. Integrations are then carried out to get the system response to a uniform circular distributed source. Data processing techniques are derived so that computer simulations can be carried out to investigate the accuracy of this technique. It is shown that using 24 measurements of a partially polarized source (with Q = U = V = 0.5), taken in one spacecraft rotation, the resulting rms errors in angular position are less than one degree and the errors in determining the Stokes parameters are generally 1-10% for a wide range of source elevations.

Manning, R.↗

Grain quality inspection system

A review of grain quality indicators and measurement methods was conducted in order to assess the feasibility of using remote sensing technology to develop a continuous monitoring system for use during grain transfer operations. Most detection methods were found to be too slow or too expensive to be incorporated into the normal inspection procedure of a grain elevator on a continuous basis. Two indicators, moisture content and broken corn and foreign material, show potential for automation and are of an economic value. A microprocessor based system which utilizes commercially available electronic moisture meter was developed and tested. A method for automating BCFM measurement is described. A complete system description is presented along with performance test results.

Flood, C. A., Jr.↗

A method for measuring skin friction drag on a flat plate in contaminated gas flows

A technique for measuring friction drag in turbulent gas and gas/particle flows over flat plates is presented, and preliminary results are reported. A 0.25-in.-thick 72 x 6-in. Al plate is suspended by six horizontal support air bearings and four vertical alignment air bearings between fixed dummy plates and leading-edge and trailing-edge fairings in the 32-in.-high 48-in.-wide 11-ft-long test section of a closed-circuit atmospheric wind tunnel operating at 50-150 ft/sec. Particles of Fe and Al oxides of diameter 20-150 microns and density up to 0.3 lb particles per lb air are injected via a 6 x 0.167-in. nozzle; turbulence is induced by a roughened section of the leading-edge fairing; and friction drag is measured using a load-cell pressure transducer. Sample results are shown in a graph, demonstrating good agreement with theoretical drag calculations.

Oetting, R. B.↗