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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 505 records · Page 28

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NASA NTRS1973

Microsampling techniques for infrared spectroscopic analysis of lunar and terrestrial minerals

Microsampling techniques have been developed for infrared analysis of single mineral grains from lunar rocks and dusts, allowing a detailed molecular structure characterization of these complex fine-grained samples. The methods include special devices for isolating single grains, preparing micropellets from the grains, and obtaining in situ microspecular reflectance spectra from grains in polished rock samples. Although specifically developed for the work on lunar samples, the special techniques for single grain infrared analysis were found to be equally useful in studies of complex terrestrial mineral samples. For example, infrared microanalysis has contributed substantially in solving problems concerned with our natural resources, such as the structural characterization of minerals from commercial iron ores, marine deposits, coal, and fly ash derived from coal.

Estep, P. A.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Use of three-dimensional photoelasticity in fracture mechanics

The philosophy of fracture mechanics is reviewed and utilized to formulate a simplified approach to the determination of the stress-intensity factor photoelastically for three-dimensional problems. The method involves a Taylor Series correction for the maximum in-plane shear stress (TSCM) and does not involve stress separation. The results are illustrated by applying the TSCM to surface flaws in bending fields. Other three-dimensional problems solved by the TSCM are cited.

Smith, C. W.↗

NASA NTRS1973

A variable step incremental procedure

Description of a variable step incremental procedure for the solution of nonlinear equations in finite element structural analysis. The proposed procedure is effective in improving the accuracy of the basic incremental technique and in providing, in addition, an accurate estimate of the discretization error. The proposed approach is highly appropriate for solving problems for which the user has no a priori estimate of the step size to use.

Thomas, G. R.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Effects of hypercapnia and bedrest on psychomotor performance

Two weeks of continuous exposure to simulated weightlessness (bedrest) and/or an elevated (30 torr) CO2 environment had no detrimental effect on complex tracking performance, eye-hand coordination, or problem-solving ability. These results were consistent with previously reported behavioral findings which investigated these two factors only as independent stressors.

Storm, W. F.↗

NASA NTRS1974

The feasibility of a unified role for NASA regional dissemination centers and technology application teams

Insights and recommendations arising from a study of the feasibility of combining the NASA Regional Dissemination Center (RDC) and Technology Application Team (Tateam) roles to form Regional Application Centers (RADC's) are presented. The apparent convergence of the functions of RDC's and Tateams is demonstrated and strongly supportive of the primary recommendation that an applications function be added to those already being performed by the RDC's. The basis of a national network for technology transfer and public and private sector problem solving is shown to exist, the skeleton of which is an interactive network of Regional Application Centers and NASA Field Centers. The feasibility of developing and extending this network is considered and the detailed ramifications of so doing are discussed and the imperatives emphasized. It is hypothesized that such a national network could become relatively independent of NASA funding within five years.

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NASA NTRS1975

Determination of the satellite attitude and its motion about the center of mass

The algorithm requirements for the problem solving and factors determining the accuracy of the solution are analyzed. The types of telemetry data used and the models adopted for the satellite motion about the center of the mass are described. The scheme for the technique used to determine the attitude on the basis of magnetometer data is also discussed.

Khatskevich, I. G.↗

NASA NTRS1975

What kind of students should be developed through aeronautical engineering education?

The educational requirements for future aeronautical engineering students are postulated. The change in aeronautical engineering from increasing aircraft performance without regard to cost is compared with the cost effective aspects of future research. The capabilities of future engineers are discussed with respect to the following areas: (1) problem solving, (2) planning and organizing, (3) communication, and (4) professionalism.

Holloway, R. B.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Characterization of measurements in quantum communication

A characterization of quantum measurements by operator valued measures is presented. The generalized measurements include simultaneous approximate measurement of noncommuting observables. This characterization is suitable for solving problems in quantum communication. Two realizations of such measurements are discussed. The first is by adjoining an apparatus to the system under observation and performing a measurement corresponding to a self-adjoint operator in the tensor-product Hilbert space of the system and apparatus spaces. The second realization is by performing, on the system alone, sequential measurements that correspond to self-adjoint operators, basing the choice of each measurement on the outcomes of previous measurements. Simultaneous generalized measurements are found to be equivalent to a single finer grain generalized measurement, and hence it is sufficient to consider the set of single measurements. An alternative characterization of generalized measurement is proposed. It is shown to be equivalent to the characterization by operator-values measures, but it is potentially more suitable for the treatment of estimation problems. Finally, a study of the interaction between the information-carrying system and a measurement apparatus provides clues for the physical realizations of abstractly characterized quantum measurements.

Chan, V. W. S.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Light beams and radiation patterns in random media

The purpose of this paper is to apply a numerical technique in solving problems involving light beams in a random medium. The technique starts by generating numerically sample media with prescribed statistical properties. Rays are then traced in these sample media, and the ray statistics are compiled. These statistics are utilized to find the mean square displacement and distribution of a beam. Problems on beam broadening and distortion of radiation patterns are considered. Fluctuations in wave amplitude and phase are also investigated. When possible, the numerical results are compared with the analytical results and experimental results.

Youakim, M. Y.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Use of graphics in the design office at the Military Aircraft Division of the British Aircraft Corporation

The CAD/CAM interactive computer graphics system was described; uses to which it has been put were shown, and current developments of the system were outlined. The system supports batch, time sharing, and fully interactive graphic processing. Engineers using the system may switch between these methods of data processing and problem solving to make the best use of the available resources. It is concluded that the introduction of on-line computing in the form of teletypes, storage tubes, and fully interactive graphics has resulted in large increases in productivity and reduced timescales in the geometric computing, numerical lofting and part programming areas, together with a greater utilization of the system in the technical departments.

Coles, W. A.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Applied Remote Sensing Program (ARSP)

The activities and accomplishments of the Applied Remote Sensing Program during FY 1975-1976 are reported. The principal objective of the Applied Remote Sensing Program continues to be designed projects having specific decision-making impacts as a principal goal. These projects are carried out in cooperation and collaboration with local, state and federal agencies whose responsibilities lie with planning, zoning and environmental monitoring and/or assessment in the application of remote sensing techniques. The end result of the projects is the use by the involved agencies of remote sensing techniques in problem solving.

Johnson, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Non-equilibrium radiation from viscous chemically reacting two-phase exhaust plumes

A knowledge of the structure of the rocket exhaust plumes is necessary to solve problems involving plume signatures, base heating, plume/surface interactions, etc. An algorithm is presented which treats the viscous flow of multiphase chemically reacting fluids in a two-dimensional or axisymmetric supersonic flow field. The gas-particle flow solution is fully coupled with the chemical kinetics calculated using an implicit scheme to calculate chemical production rates. Viscous effects include chemical species diffusion with the viscosity coefficient calculated using a two-equation turbulent kinetic energy model.

Penny, M. M.↗

NASA NTRS1976

TCV software test and validation tools and technique

The paper describes techniques for testing and validating software for the TCV (Terminal Configured Vehicle) program which is intended to solve problems associated with operating a commercial transport aircraft in the terminal area. The TCV research test bed is a Boeing 737 specially configured with digital computer systems to carry out automatic navigation, guidance, flight controls, and electronic displays research. The techniques developed for time and cost reduction include automatic documentation aids, an automatic software configuration, and an all software generation and validation system.

Straeter, T. A.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Charge-coupled differential amplifier

Device solves problem of differential voltage gain in sampled-data metal-oxide semiconductor, producing gain at any frequency compatible with CCD operation, with low noise, low power, good linearity, and high stability.

Hewes, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Nonlinear finite elements

Comprehensive survey of past and current literature on geometrically-nonlinear finite elements is organized into handbook form and serves as valuable reference when solving problems in nonlinear structural mechanics. Handbook provides rapid access to wide variety of element types and facilitates evaluation of different elements as to their features, probable accuracy, and complexity.

Jones, R. E.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Moisture transport in composites

The moisture distribution and moisture content of composite materials exposed to humid air or to water are discussed. Expressions are presented for estimating the weight gain of both single and multilayered composites when the moisture content and the temperature of the environment are constant. The parameters needed for solving problems in the time varying environmental conditions are specified, and a numerical approach for the solution of such problems is indicated.

Springer, G. S.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Remote sensing utility in a disaster struck urban environment

Six major public health areas which might be affected by a natural disaster were identified. The functions and tasks associated with each area following a disaster, potential ways remote sensing could aid these functions, and the baseline data which would expedite problem solving associated with these functions are discussed.

Rush, M.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Atmospheric aerosols: Their Optical Properties and Effects (supplement)

A digest of technical papers is presented. Topics include aerosol size distribution from spectral attenuation with scattering measurements; comparison of extinction and backscattering coefficients for measured and analytic stratospheric aerosol size distributions; using hybrid methods to solve problems in radiative transfer and in multiple scattering; blue moon phenomena; absorption refractive index of aerosols in the Denver pollution cloud; a two dimensional stratospheric model of the dispersion of aerosols from the Fuego volcanic eruption; the variation of the aerosol volume to light scattering coefficient; spectrophone in situ measurements of the absorption of visible light by aerosols; a reassessment of the Krakatoa volcanic turbidity, and multiple scattering in the sky radiance.

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