Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “RESTRAINT”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 415 records · Page 23

Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectible Space Structure (ACCESS) Neutral Buoyancy Testing Results

ACCESS, which is an acronym for Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectable Space Structure, is a planned Shuttle flight experiment to assess the potential of a manual on orbit construction concept and generate assembly data for correlation of ground test data. The individual parts (struts and nodal joints used to interconnect the struts) of the beam truss shown attached to the Shuttle in the figure are unpackaged and assembled by two astronauts working from fixed foot restraints (work stations). The planned flight experiment is described and results of the baseline neutral buoyancy simulation of the flight test are presented.

Heard, W. L., Jr.↗

National Space Transportation Systems Program mission report

The 515-41B National Space Transportation Systems Program Mission Report contains a summary of the major activities and accomplishments of the sixth operational Shuttle flight and fourth flight of the OV-099 vehicle, Challenger. Since this flight was the first to land at Kennedy Space Center, the vehicle was towed directly to the OPF (Orbiter Processing Facility) where preparations for flight STS-41C, scheduled for early April 1984, began immediately. The significant problems that occurred during STS-41B are summarized and a problem tracking list that is a complete list of all problems that occurred during the flight is given. None of the problems will affect the STS 41C flight. The major objectives of flight STS-41B were to successfully deploy the Westar satellite and the Indonesian Communications Satellite-B2 (PALAPA-B2); to evaluate the MMU (Manned Maneuvering Unit) support for EVA (Extravehicular Activities); to exercise the MFR (Manipulator Foot Restraint); to demonstrate a closed loop rendezvous; and to operate the M.R (Monodisperse Latex Reactor), the ACES (Acoustic Containerless Experiment System) and the IEF (Isoelectric Focusing) in cabin experiments; and to obtain photographs with the Cinema 360 Cameras.

Collins, M. A., Jr.↗

Habitability sleep accommodations

Schematic outlines are presented with various design requirements for the accommodation of the spacecrew of Space Stations. The primary concern is for sleeping accommodations. Some other general requirements given are for a rest place, entertainment, dressing area, personal item stowage, body restraint, total privacy, external viewing, and grooming provisions. Several plans are given for sleep quarters concepts.

Fisher, H. T.↗

Development of an energy-absorbing passenger seat for a transport aircraft

Commercial air transport passenger safety and survivability, in the event of an impact-survivable crash, are subjects receiving increased technical focus/study by the aviation community. A B-720 aircraft, highly instrumented, and remotely controlled from the ground by a pilot in a simulated cockpit, was crashed on a specially prepared gravel covered impact site. The aircraft was impacted under controlled conditions in an air-to-ground gear-up mode, at a nominal speed of 150 knots and 4-1/2 deg glide slope. Data from a number of on board, crash worthiness experiments provided valuable information related to structural loads/failure modes, antimisting kerosene fuel, passenger and attendant restraint systems and energy absorbing seats. The development of an energy absorbing (EA) seat accomplished through innovative modification of a typical modern standard commercial aviation transport, three passenger seat is described.

Eichelberger, C. P.↗

Capture and real-time display of selected Space Shuttle reentry data

Because the flight planning for the orbital flight test (OFT) flights of the NASA Space Shuttle required several months, there was very little time to analyze data from one flight before it was necessary to start final planning for the next flight. Real-time and selected immediate postflight data display of the reentry data minimized the postflight computer analysis time required so that the rigid time restraints imposed by the program could be met. This paper describes the methods used to decommutate and provide real-time and immediate postflight data display of selected Space Shuttle reentry data.

Chiles, H. R.↗

Primate body temperature and sleep responses to lower body positive pressure

Cephalic fluid shifts, induced by lower body positive pressure (LBPP) are known to influence various physiological systems (i.e., cardiovascular and renal). In earlier experiments, an apparent change in the arousal state of primates in such LBPP conditions was observed. This study was designed to examine the effects of LBPP on arousal state and body temperature level which is normally correlated with sleep. Chair-restrained male squirrel monkeys were exposed to 40 mmHg LBPP for 90-100 minutes between the daytime hours of 13:00-15:00. Each monkey was placed in a specially modified restraint chair to which they were highly trained. Deep body temperature (DBT) was collected from 10 animals. Sleep parameters were obtained from six animals chronically implanted for sleep recording. A video camera was used to observe each animal's apparent state of arousal. LBPP resulted in an approximate 0.9 C decrease in DBT. During video observation, some animals appeared drowsy during LBPP; however, sleep recording revealed no significant changes in the state of arousal. Thus, LBPP is capable of inducing a mild hyperthermia. Further, the mechanisms underlying the observed lowering of body temperature appear to be independent of arousal state.

Edgar, D. M.↗

Passive damping concepts for slender columns in space structures

An experimental and theoretical study of three different passive damping concepts is conducted for a slender member with partial rotational end restraints. Over a hundred full-scale natural vibration experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of mass-string, polyethylene tubing, and chain damping concepts. The damping properties obtained from the experiments were used in the approximate analyses based on the partial differential equation of motion for the problem. The comparison of the experimental and the theoretical deflection-time relations shows that the velocity-dependent damping model used in the theory is adequate. From the experimental results, the effect of end connection friction and induced axial forces on damping is identified. The definition of an efficiency index is proposed based on the damping ratio and the mass of a given passive damping device. Using this definition, the efficiencies of the three damping devices are compared. The polyethylene tubing concept resulted into a low damping efficiency.

Razzaq, Z.↗

Construction and control of large space structures

Recent NASA research efforts on space construction are reviewed. Preliminary results of the EASE/ACCESS Shuttle experiments are discussed. A 45-foot beam was constructed on orbit in 30 minutes using a manual assembly technique at a work station. A large tetrahedron was constructed several times using a free floating technique. The capability of repair, utilities installation, and handling the structures using a mobile foot restraint on the RMS was also demonstrated. Implications of the experiments for space station are presented. Models of 5-meter space station structure together with neutral buoyancy simulations suggest manual assembly techniques are feasible. Selected research on control of flexible structures is discussed.

Card, M. F.↗

Full-Scale Transport controlled Impact Demonstration

The controlled impact demonstration (CID) test of a transport aircraft took place on December 1, 1984, crashing at a prepared site on Rogers Dry Lakebed, Edwards Air Force Base, California. The demonstration was a setback for the antimisting kerosene (AMK) researchers. The impact conditions, considerably different from the planned scenario, exposed large quantities of degraded AMK and hydraulic fluid and caused unexpectedly hot ignition sources, bulk loss of fuel from the right wing, airflow patterns over the wings and fuselage that were untested on AMK, and fuel intrusion into the lower fuselage. The test was much more severe than planned and is generally considered to be unrepresentative of the type of survivable crash that would benefit from AMK. Ninety-seven percent of the sensors on the fuselage and wing structure, seats, dummies, restraint systems, galley, and bins were active at impact. A wealth of sensor data was collected from this once-in-a-lifetime research test. The flight data recorder experiments on board were also generally successful.

Hayduk, R. J.↗

Selection of an appropriate animal model for study of bone loss in weightlessness

Prolonged weightlessness in space flight results in a slow progressive demineralization of bone accompanied by an increased calcium output in the urine resulting in negative calcium balances. This possibly irreversible bone loss may constitute a serious limiting factor to long duration manned space flight. A number of preventative measures have been suggested, i.e., exercise during flight, dietary calcium supplements, use of specific prophylactic drugs. In order to facilitate research in these areas it is necessary to develop appropriate ground-based animal models that simulate the human condition of osteoporsis. An appropriate animal model would permit bone density studies, calcium balance studies, biochemical analyses, ground-based simulation models of weightlessness (bed rest, restraint, immobilization) and the planning of inflight experiments. Several animal models have been proposed in the biomedical research literature, but have inherent deficiencies. The purpose of this project was to evaluate models in the literature and determine which of these most closely simulates the phenomenon of bone loss in humans with regard to growth, bone remodeling, structural, chemical and mineralization similarities to human. This was accomplished by a comprehensive computer assisted literature search and report. Three animal models were examined closely for their relative suitability: the albino rat, monkey, and Beagle.

Wolinsky, I.↗

Nonlinear effects in the coupled response of tiles bonded to a plate

The coupled response to a large impulse on tiles bonded to a finite plate is studied. The analysis includes geometric nonlinearity born from boundary restraint in the plane, which stiffens the plate transversely. It also includes material nonlinearities born from plasticity of the plate's material and from properties of a polymer bond including memory and dissipation. The equations of motion are solved by the Galerkin method using linearized eigenfunctions of the system as trial functions. A strip of plate which is one tile wide is modeled.

El-Raheb, M.↗

Space Shuttle development update

The development efforts, since the STS-4 flight, in the Space Shuttle (SS) program are presented. The SS improvements introduced in the last two years include lower-weight loads, communication through the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, expanded extravehicular activity capability, a maneuvering backpack and the manipulator foot restraint, the improvements in thermal projection system, the 'optional terminal area management targeting' guidance software, a rendezvous system with radar and star tracker sensors, and improved on-orbit living conditions. The flight demonstrations include advanced launch techniques (e.g., night launch and direct insertion to orbit); the on-orbit demonstrations; and added entry and launching capabilities. The entry aerodynamic analysis and entry flight control fine tuning are described. Reusability, improved ascent performance, intact abort and landing flexibility, rollout control, and 'smart speedbrakes' are among the many improvements planned for the future.

Brand, V.↗

Your space suit and you - Significance of manloading in pressure suit design

Data collection on man-induced loads borne by space suits is discussed, with emphasis on the glove area. The distinction between the 'potential' maximum manload (measured according to the 95 percentile male outside the suit), and the actual manload experienced by the suit or 'limit manload', is stressed. Limit manload data for the glove were collected using a glove with finger and metacarpal joints and a hard shell to support strain gages. Potential manload data are theorized to exceed the limit manload (as corroborated by entire suit limit load data presented for the Apollo and Shuttle suits) because of load sharing within the fabric configuration, test inputs being at values other than 95 percentile values, and the restraint line acting like a spring and preventing the load from being induced. This, however, is not borne out by the glove test data, illustrating the difficulty of measuring the man/machine interface. Design load is determined by adding he pressure load and the limit load after compensations have been made for load splitting. Finally, a method for better testing, used in the design of an improved mobility glove for the Space Shuttle program, is presented.

Rouen, M.↗

Construction and control of large space structures

Recent NASA research efforts on space construction are reviewed. Preliminary results of the EASE/ACCESS Shuttle experiments are discussed. A 45-foot beam was constructed on orbit in 30 minutes using a manual assembly technique at a work station. A large tetrahedron was constructed several times using a free floating technique. The capability of repair, utilities installation, and handling the structures using a mobile foot restraint on the RMS was also demonstrated. Implications of the experiments for Space Station are presented. Models of 5-meter Space Station structure together with neutral buoyancy simulations suggest manual assembly techniques are feasible. Selected research on control of flexible structures is discussed. To support planned flight experiments, studies of the design and optimal placement of distributed active dampers are underway.

Card, M. F.↗

Concurrent processing in nonlinear structural stability

A concurrent processing algorithm is developed for materially nonlinear stability analysis of imperfect columns with biaxial partial rotational end restraints. The algorithm for solving the governing nonlinear ordinary differential equations is implemented on a multiprocessor computer called the 'Finite Element Machine', developed at the NASA Langley Research Center. Numerical results are obtained on up to nine concurrent processors. A substantial computational gain is achieved in using the parallel processing approach.

Darbhamulla, S. P.↗

Application of optimization techniques to vehicle design: A review

The work that has been done in the last decade or so in the application of optimization techniques to vehicle design is discussed. Much of the work reviewed deals with the design of body or suspension (chassis) components for reduced weight. Also reviewed are studies dealing with system optimization problems for improved functional performance, such as ride or handling. In reviewing the work on the use of optimization techniques, one notes the transition from the rare mention of the methods in the 70's to an increased effort in the early 80's. Efficient and convenient optimization and analysis tools still need to be developed so that they can be regularly applied in the early design stage of the vehicle development cycle to be most effective. Based on the reported applications, an attempt is made to assess the potential for automotive application of optimization techniques. The major issue involved remains the creation of quantifiable means of analysis to be used in vehicle design. The conventional process of vehicle design still contains much experience-based input because it has not yet proven possible to quantify all important constraints. This restraint on the part of the analysis will continue to be a major limiting factor in application of optimization to vehicle design.

Prasad, B.↗

Optimal redesign study of the harm wing

The purpose of this project was to investigate the use of optimization techniques to improve the flutter margins of the HARM AGM-88A wing. The missile has four cruciform wings, located near mid-fuselage, that are actuated in pairs symmetrically and antisymmetrically to provide pitch, yaw, and roll control. The wings have a solid stainless steel forward section and a stainless steel crushed-honeycomb aft section. The wing restraint stiffness is dependent upon wing pitch amplitude and varies from a low value near neutral pitch attitude to a much higher value at off-neutral pitch attitudes, where aerodynamic loads lock out any free play in the control system. The most critical condition for flutter is the low-stiffness condition in which the wings are moved symmetrically. Although a tendency toward limit-cycle flutter is controlled in the current design by controller logic, wing redesign to improve this situation is attractive because it can be accomplished as a retrofit. In view of the exploratory nature of the study, it was decided to apply the optimization to a wing-only model, validated by comparison with results obtained by Texas Instruments (TI). Any wing designs that looked promising were to be evaluated at TI with more complicated models, including body modes. The optimization work was performed by McIntosh Structural Dynamics, Inc. (MSD) under a contract from TI.

Mcintosh, S. C., Jr.↗

Simulated flight acoustic investigation of treated ejector effectiveness on advanced mechanical suppresors for high velocity jet noise reduction

Ten scale-model nozzles were tested in an anechoic free-jet facility to evaluate the acoustic characteristics of a mechanically suppressed inverted-velocity-profile coannular nozzle with an accoustically treated ejector system. The nozzle system used was developed from aerodynamic flow lines evolved in a previous contract, defined to incorporate the restraints imposed by the aerodynamic performance requirements of an Advanced Supersonic Technology/Variable Cycle Engine system through all its mission phases. Accoustic data of 188 test points were obtained, 87 under static and 101 under simulated flight conditions. The tests investigated variables of hardwall ejector application to a coannular nozzle with 20-chute outer annular suppressor, ejector axial positioning, treatment application to ejector and plug surfaces, and treatment design. Laser velocimeter, shadowgraph photograph, aerodynamic static pressure, and temperature measurement were acquired on select models to yield diagnositc information regarding the flow field and aerodynamic performance characteristics of the nozzles.

Brausch, J. F.↗