Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “impulse test”

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 487 records · Page 27
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1928

The Measurement of Pressure Through Tubes in Pressure Distribution Tests

The tests described in this report were made to determine the error caused by using small tubes to connect orifices on the surface of aircraft to central pressure capsules in making pressure distribution tests. Aluminum tubes of 3/16-inch inside diameter were used to determine this error. Lengths from 20 feet to 226 feet and pressures whose maxima varied from 2 inches to 140 inches of water were used. Single-pressure impulses for which the time of rise of pressure from zero to a maximum varied from 0.25 second to 3 seconds were investigated. The results show that the pressure recorded at the capsule on the far end of the tube lags behind the pressure at the orifice end and experiences also a change in magnitude. For the values used in these tests the time lag and pressure change vary principally with the time of rise of pressure from zero to a maximum and the tube length. Curves are constructed showing the time lag and pressure change. Empirical formulas are also given for computing the time lag. Analysis of pressure distribution tests made on airplanes in flight shows that the recorded pressures are slightly higher than the pressures at the orifice and that the time lag is negligible. The apparent increase in pressure is usually within the experimental error, but in the case of the modern pursuit type of airplane the pressure increase may be 5 per cent. For pressure-distribution tests on airships the analysis shows that the time lag and pressure change may be neglected.

Hemke, Paul E↗
NASA NTRS1972

Technology development and demonstration of a low thrust resistojet thruster

Three thrusters were fabricated to definitized thruster drawings using new rhenium vapor deposition technology. Two of the thrusters were operated using ammonia as propellant and one was operated using hydrogen propellant for performance determination. All demonstrated consistent operational specific impulse performance while demonstrating thermal performance better than the development units from which they evolved. Two of the thrusters were subjected to environmental structural testing including vibration, acceleration and shock loading to specifications. Both of the thrusters subjected to the environmental tests passed all required tests. The third, spare, thruster was introduced into the life test portion of the program. Two thrusters were then subjected to a life cycling test program under typical spacecraft operating power levels. During the life test sequence, the hydrogen thruster accrued 720 operating life test cycles, more than 370 on-off cycles and 365 hours of powered up time. The ammonia accrued approximately 380 on-off cycles and 392.2 on time hours of operation during the 720 cycling hour test. Both thrusters completed the scheduled operational life test in reasonably good condition, structurally integral and capable of indefinite further operation.

Pfeifer, G. R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Implementation and extension of the impulse transfer function method for future application to the space shuttle project. Volume 2: Program description and user's guide

The data processing procedures and the computer programs were developed to predict structural responses using the Impulse Transfer Function (ITF) method. There are three major steps in the process: (1) analog-to-digital (A-D) conversion of the test data to produce Phase I digital tapes (2) processing of the Phase I digital tapes to extract ITF's and storing them in a permanent data bank, and (3) predicting structural responses to a set of applied loads. The analog to digital conversion is performed by a standard package which will be described later in terms of the contents of the resulting Phase I digital tape. Two separate computer programs have been developed to perform the digital processing.

Patterson, G.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Acoustic power dissipation on radiation through duct terminations - Experiments

This paper describes the acoustic transmission characteristics of ducts, nozzles, orifices, and perforated plates, studied under an experimental program using an acoustic impulse technique. In this technique high intensity pulses, generated by discharging a capacitor across a spark gap, were used as the sound source. The test conditions include heated and unheated flows, with and without simulated flight. Results for a straight round duct, three convergent nozzles, a suppressor nozzle, 12 orifice plates, and 10 perforated plates are presented. A low frequency acoustic power loss phenomenon was observed for all configurations at all test conditions including the no flow condition. It was suspected that the power loss phenomenon at the no flow condition could be due to the conversion of acoustic energy into vortical energy due to non-linear propagation of high intensity pulses. However, a small amount of low frequency power loss was noticed even when tests were repeated with a low intensity sound. Detailed flow visualization results were also obtained to complement the acoustic results.

Salikuddin, M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Pretest uncertainty analysis for chemical rocket engine tests

A parametric pretest uncertainty analysis has been performed for a chemical rocket engine test at a unique 1000:1 area ratio altitude test facility. Results from the parametric study provide the error limits required in order to maintain a maximum uncertainty of 1 percent on specific impulse. Equations used in the uncertainty analysis are presented.

Davidian, Kenneth J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Experiments on a repetitively pulsed electrothermal thruster

This paper presents experimental results from an investigation of a pulsed electrothermal (PET) thruster using water propellant. The PET thruster is operated on a calibrated thrust stand, and produces a thrust to power ratio of T/P = 0.07 + or - 0.01 N/kW. The discharge conditions are inferred from a numerical model which predicts pressure and temperature levels of 300-500 atm and 20,000 K, respectively. These values in turn correctly predict the measured values of impulse bit and discharge resistance. The inferred ideal exhaust velocity from these conditions is 17 km/sec, but the injection of water propellant produces a test tank background pressure of 10-20 Torr, which reduces the exhaust velocity to 14 km/sec. This value corresponds to a thrust efficiency of 54 + or - 7 percent when all experimental errors are taken into account.

Burton, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Impulsive acceleration and scatter-free transport of about 1 MeV per nucleon ions in (He-3)-rich solar particle events

Impulsive solar energetic particle (SEP) events are studied to: (1) describe a distinct class of SEP ion events observed in interplanetary space, and (2) test models of focused transport through detailed comparisons of numerical model prediction with the data. An attempt will also be made to describe the transport and scattering properties of the interplanetary medium during the times these events are observed and to derive source injection profiles in these events. ISEE 3 and Helios 1 magnetic field and plasma data are used to locate the approximate coronal connection points of the spacecraft to organize the particle anisotropy data and to constrain some free parameters in the modeling of flare events.

Mason, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Balances for the measurement of multiple components of force in flows of a millisecond duration

This paper reports a new balance for the measurement of three components of force - lift, drag and pitching moment - in impulsively starting flows which have a duration of about one millisecond. The basics of the design of the balance are presented and results of tests on a 15 deg semi-angle cone set at incidence in the T4 shock tunnel are compared with predictions. These results indicate that the prototype balance performs well for a 1.9 kg, 220 mm long model. Also presented are results from initial bench tests of another application of the deconvolution force balance to the measurement of thrust produced by a 2D scramjet nozzle.

Mee, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1953

Investigation of a Related Series of Turbine-Blade Profiles in Cascade

An application of airfoil design methods was used to design series of related turbine-blade profiles to satisfy the conditions of inlet flow angle and turning angle encountered in the usual range of turbine operation. A series of blade profiles applicable to most turbine blading requirements and a secondary series with particular reference to impulse conditions were designed. Five blade sections from these series ranging in mean-line turning angles from 63 deg. to 120 deg. were tested in low-speed cascade tunnels. From low-speed test results optimum blade angles of attack were selected at each test condition. The induced angle and the deviation angle of the flow were determined from the low-speed data. If these angles are known for the solidity and inlet angle of an application, the necessary camber is specified. A method of predicting high-speed pressure distributions from low-speed cascade test results is presented to extend the usefulness of the low-speed data. Sample high-speed tests of two of the five blade sections were made at Mach numbers up to the critical value. The results indicated satisfactory flow conditions in all of the blade passages tested.

Dunavant, James C.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Reduced Boil-Off System Sizing

NASA is currently developing cryogenic propellant storage and transfer systems for future space exploration and scientific discovery missions by addressing the need to raise the technology readiness level of cryogenic fluid management technologies. Cryogenic propellants are baselined in many propulsion systems due to their inherently high specific impulse; however, their low boiling points can cause substantial boil-off losses over time. Recent efforts such as the Reduced Boil-off Testing and the Active Thermal Control Scaling Study provide important information on the benefit of an active cooling system applied to LH2 propellant storage. Findings show that zero-boil off technologies can reduce overall mass in LH2 storage systems when low Earth orbit loiter periods extend beyond two months. A significant part of this mass reduction is realized by integrating two stages of cooling: a 20 K stage to intercept heat at the tank surface, and a 90 K stage to reduce the heat entering the less efficient 20 K stage. A missing element in previous studies, which is addressed in this paper, is the development of a direct method for sizing the 90 K cooling stage. Such a method requires calculation of the heat entering both the 90 K and 20 K stages as compared to the overall system masses, and is reliant upon the temperature distribution, performance, and unique design characteristics of the system in question. By utilizing the known conductance of a system without active thermal control, the heat being intercepted by a 90 K stage can be calculated to find the resultant lift and mass of each active thermal control stage. Integral to this is the thermal conductance of the cooling straps and the broad area cooling shield, key parts of the 90 K stage. Additionally, a trade study is performed to show the ability of the 90 K cooling stage to reduce the lift on the 20 K cryocooler stage, which is considerably less developed and efficient than 90 K cryocoolers.

Cryogenic fluid management↗
NASA NTRS1986

Lower power dc arcjet operations with hydrogen hydrogen/nitrogen propellant mixtures

The arcjet assembly from a flight model system was modified with a new thoriated tungsten nozzle insert and has been tested with hydrogen-nitrogen mixtures simulating the decomposition products of ammonia and hydrazine. Arcjet power consumption ranged from 0.7 to 1.15 kW depending on low rate, input current, and mixture composition. At a nominal 1 kW power level the ammonia mixtures thrust efficiency was about 0.31 at specific impulse values ranging between 460 and 500 sec. Hydrazine mixtures gave similar thrust efficiencies at the same power level with specific impulse values between 395 and 430 sec. Large, spontaneous voltage mode changes were not observed once the thruster had passed a period of instability immediately following start up. This period of instability, and the startup at low pressure, were seen as major causes of constrictor damage during the tests.

Curran, F. M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Low power dc arcjet operation with hydrogen/nitrogen propellant mixtures

The arcjet assembly from a flight model system was modified with a new thoriated tungsten nozzle insert and has been tested with hydrogen-nitrogen mixtures simulating the decomposition products of ammonia and hygrazine. Arcjet power consumption ranged from 0.7 to 1.15 kW depending on low rate, input current, and mixture composition. At a nominal 1 kW power level the ammonia mixtures thrust efficiency was about 0.31 at specific impulse values ranging between 460 and 500 sec. Hydrazine mixtures gave similar thrust efficiencies at the same power level with specific impulse values between 395 and 430 sec. Large, spontaneous voltage mode changes were not observed once the thruster had passed a period of instability immediately following start up. This period of instability, and the startup at low pressure, were seen as major causes of constrictor damage during the tests.

Curran, F. M.↗
NASA NTRS2007

General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT) Acceptance Test Plan [Draft]

The information presented in this Acceptance Test Plan document shows the current status of the General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT). GMAT is a software system developed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in collaboration with the private sector. The GMAT development team continuously performs acceptance tests in order to verify that the software continues to operate properly after updates are made. The GMAT Development team consists of NASA/GSFC Code 583 software developers, NASA/GSFC Code 595 analysts, and contractors of varying professions. GMAT was developed to provide a development approach that maintains involvement from the private sector and academia, encourages collaborative funding from multiple government agencies and the private sector, and promotes the transfer of technology from government funded research to the private sector. GMAT contains many capabilities, such as integrated formation flying modeling and MATLAB compatibility. The propagation capabilities in GMAT allow for fully coupled dynamics modeling of multiple spacecraft, in any flight regime. Other capabilities in GMAT inclucle: user definable coordinate systems, 3-D graphics in any coordinate system GMAT can calculate, 2-D plots, branch commands, solvers, optimizers, GMAT functions, planetary ephemeris sources including DE405, DE200, SLP and analytic models, script events, impulsive and finite maneuver models, and many more. GMAT runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms. Both the Graphical User Interface (GUI) and the GMAT engine were built and tested on all of the mentioned platforms. GMAT was designed for intuitive use from both the GUI and with an importable script language similar to that of MATLAB.

Dove, Edwin↗
NASA NTRS1988

25-LBF GO2/GH2 space station thruster

Multiple 25-lbf oxygen/gaseous hydrogen thruster assemblies for the Space Station propulsion application were designed and fabricated by Rocketdyne and endurance tested at the NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center. The thrusters incorporate a regeneratively cooled thrust chamber with a nozzle area ratio of 30, a 12-element coaxial injector, an ignition system, and close-coupled propellant valves. The various thruster configurations comprised of mating different injectors and thrust chambers. Over 2 million lbf-sec of impulse was demonstrated at mixture ratios from 3 to 8.4 at vacuum conditions. A thruster was subjected to over 10,000 pulses during which minimum impulse bits of less than 0.5 lb/sec were repeatedly and reliably demonstrated. A total operating time of 25.6 hr was accumulated on the thruster assemblies with one 6.1-hr. continuous firing duration. The thrusters operated between a thrust range of 11.2 and 36.6 lbf. The test results indicate that all major technology issues for long-life gaseous oxygen/gaseous hydrogen thrusters for the Space Station application have been resolved.

Finden, L. E.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Apollo 16 LM-11 descent propulsion system final flight evaluation

The performance of the LM-11 Descent Propulsion System during the Apollo 16 Mission was evaluated and found to be satisfactory. The average engine effective specific impulse was 0.1 second higher than predicted, but well within the predicted 1 sigma uncertainty of 0.2 seconds. The engine performance corrected to standard inlet conditions for the FTP portion of the burn at 50 seconds after ignition was as follows: thrust, 9839 lbf; specific impulse, 306.9 sec; and propellant mixture ratio, 1.592. These values are +0.34, +0.03 and +0.0 percent different, respectively, from the values reported from engine acceptance tests and were within specification limits. Several flight measurement discrepancies that existed during the flight are discussed.

Avvenire, A. T.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Two dimensional blade-vortex interaction flow visualization study

Blade-vortex interaction occurs when a rotor blade encounters the tip vortex from a previous rotor blade. To obtain details of the close encounter process, the results from a flow visualization study of an airfoil representing a rotor blade in the wake of an oscillating airfoil serving as a vortex generator are described. A distinguishing feature of this study is that the vortex filament is oriented parallel to the blade span, orthogonal to the test section free stream velocity. This orientation simulates the case of two-dimensional blade-vortex interaction, which is known to produce the most impulsive and most intensive BVI noise. Photographic data are examined to deduce qualitative and quantitative details of the close encounter interaction process with emphasis on structural changes in the vortex filament and its trajectory.

Booth, E. R., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The DE-AC accelerator system for high beam current density

A radically different ion accelerator system design has been developed to increase the extracted beam current density of ion thrusters. By independently controlling plasma ion extraction and acceleration, the Decoupled Extraction and Amplified Current (DE-AC) accelerator system gives higher beam currents at lower electric field stress levels. Results are presented for DE-AC grid system operation with the Test Bed Ion Engine. Using argon propellant, feasibility of a 60 mA/sq cm beam current density is shown. A discussion of power supply requirements, specific impulse operation and grid system geometrical design is presented also.

Aston, G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Progress report - Advanced cryogenic OTV engine technology

New technologies for space-based, reusable, throttleable, cryogenic orbit transfer propulsion are being evaluated. A variable-thrust (200 to 3000 lbF), 2000 psi chamber pressure, LO2/LH2 engine has been selected to demonstrate the 20-hour, 500-restart life goal, and a specific impulse in excess of 480 lbF-sec/lbM. The results of recent vehicle-engine integration analyses and the progress in design, fabrication, and testing are provided. Emphasis is placed on the following technology areas being investigated in support of the advanced engine design: LOX hydrostatic bearings; burn-resistant materials for high-pressure GOX turbines and valves; high surface-low flux annular combustion chambers for the dual propellant expander cycle; improved cooling approaches for high-pressure combustion chambers, new concepts in integrated controls; and engine health diagnostics.

Schoenman, L.↗