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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

A deformation analysis of flat flexible gear and its equation of original curved surfaces

The equation of the original curved surface of end harmonic gearing is determined by displacement analysis of flat flexible gear. The displacement analysis is also used to calculate the strength and rigidity of the gear. The latter is regarded as a circular plate with two concentrated loads, since its torsional rigidity is much larger than its bending rigidity. Small-deflection theory of thin plates is used to solve for the displacement of any point in the middle plane of the gear. New expressions are given for radial and tangential displacements of the middle plane under asymmetrical loading. A digital computer is used to obtain numerical values for the displacements.

Yunwen, S.↗

Jacobi-Bessel Analysis Of Antennas With Elliptical Apertures.

Coordinate transformation improves convergence pattern analysis of elliptical-aperture antennas. Modified version of Jacobi-Bessel expansion for vector diffraction analysis of reflector antennas uses coordinate transformation to improve convergence with elliptical apertures. Expansion converges rapidly for antennas with circular apertures, but less rapidly for elliptical apertures. Difference in convergence behavior between circular and elliptical Jacobi-Bessel algorithms indicated by highest values of indices m, n, and p required to achieve same accuracy in computed radiation pattern of offset paraboloidal antenna with elliptical aperture.

Rahmat-Samii, Y.↗

Shear buckling of specially orthotropic plates with centrally located cutouts

The shear loading of a composite rectangular plate with a centrally located circular cutout was analyzed in order to predict the buckling load of the plate. The first step in this analysis is to calculare the in-plane stress distribution of the plate prior to buckling. This problem can be solved using finite element methods, but a quicker and more cost efficient method is desired. The method chosen to determine the pre-buckling stresses is that of boundary collocation using complex variables. The real valued force functions are written in terms of two complex valued functions, each of which is a function of a different complex variable. The solution of the generalized biharmonic function is a superposition of functions of these two complex variables. For this analysis, the force functions are represented with a Laurent series. The constants in these series are found using boundary collocation. Two force equations for complex variables are satisfied over the plate boundaries to obtain these constants. The stresses in the plate are then known for any particular locations on the plate given the applied shear on the edges of the plate.

Klang, Eric C.↗

Performance Evaluation of the Gravity Probe B Design

This report documents the simulation of the Lockheed Martin designed Gravity Probe B (GPB) spacecraft developed tool by bd Systems Inc using the TREETOPS simulation. This study quantifies the effects of flexibility and liquid helium slosh on GPB spacecraft control performance. The TREETOPS simulation tool permits the simulation of flexible structures given that a flexible body model of the structure is available. For purposes of this study, a flexible model of the GPB spacecraft was obtained from Lockheed Martin. To model the liquid helium slosh effects, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results' were obtained, and used to develop a dynamic model of the slosh effects. The flexible body and slosh effects were incorporated separately into the TREETOPS simulation, which places the vehicle in a 650 km circular polar orbit and subjects the spacecraft to realistic environmental disturbances and sensor error quantities. In all of the analysis conducted in this study the spacecraft is pointed at an inertially fixed guide star (GS) and is rotating at a constant rate about this line of sight.

Francis, Ronnie↗

Isolation, characterization, and amino acid sequences of auracyanins, blue copper proteins from the green photosynthetic bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus

Three small blue copper proteins designated auracyanin A, auracyanin B-1, and auracyanin B-2 have been isolated from the thermophilic green gliding photosynthetic bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus. All three auracyanins are peripheral membrane proteins. Auracyanin A was described previously (Trost, J. T., McManus, J. D., Freeman, J. C., Ramakrishna, B. L., and Blankenship, R. E. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 7858-7863) and is not glycosylated. The two B forms are glycoproteins and have almost identical properties to each other, but are distinct from the A form. The sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis apparent monomer molecular masses are 14 (A), 18 (B-2), and 22 (B-1) kDa. The amino acid sequences of the B forms are presented. All three proteins have similar absorbance, circular dichroism, and resonance Raman spectra, but the electron spin resonance signals are quite different. Laser flash photolysis kinetic analysis of the reactions of the three forms of auracyanin with lumiflavin and flavin mononucleotide semiquinones indicates that the site of electron transfer is negatively charged and has an accessibility similar to that found in other blue copper proteins. Copper analysis indicates that all three proteins contain 1 mol of copper per mol of protein. All three auracyanins exhibit a midpoint redox potential of +240 mV. Light-induced absorbance changes and electron spin resonance signals suggest that auracyanin A may play a role in photosynthetic electron transfer. Kinetic data indicate that all three proteins can donate electrons to cytochrome c-554, the electron donor to the photosynthetic reaction center.

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗

Numerical Analysis of Film Cooling at High Blowing Ratio

Computational Fluid Dynamics is used in the analysis of a film cooling jet in crossflow. Predictions of film effectiveness are compared with experimental results for a circular jet at blowing ratios ranging from 0.5 to 2.0. Film effectiveness is a surface quantity which alone is insufficient in understanding the source and finding a remedy for shortcomings of the numerical model. Therefore, in addition, comparisons are made to flow field measurements of temperature along the jet centerline. These comparisons show that the CFD model is accurately predicting the extent and trajectory of the film cooling jet; however, there is a lack of agreement in the near-wall region downstream of the film hole. The effects of main stream turbulence conditions, boundary layer thickness, turbulence modeling, and numerical artificial dissipation are evaluated and found to have an insufficient impact in the wake region of separated films (i.e. cannot account for the discrepancy between measured and predicted centerline fluid temperatures). Analyses of low and moderate blowing ratio cases are carried out and results are in good agreement with data.

El-Gabry, Lamyaa↗

Mission Design for the Exploration of Ice Giants, Kuiper Belt Objects and Their Moons Using Kilopower Electric Propulsion

The exploration of Ice Giants, Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs) and their moons pose unique challenges from a mission design standpoint. NASA is currently developing a scalable 1-10 kilowatt electric class in-space fission reactor, known as Kilopower. The focus of this paper is to investigate the applicability of Kilopower Electric Propulsion to orbiting missions to Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. This effort is broken into two pieces for each destination. First, a broad search of interplanetary trajectories with multiple gravity assists is completed to identify a range of mission opportunities from 2025 to 2045. Second, preliminary analysis is completed to understand the accessibility of various destination orbits, including elliptical orbits around the primary body and circular orbits around the largest moons. Results suggest that orbital missions to Uranus and Neptune are feasible with reasonable time of flight. Further work is necessary to achieve similar success with Pluto missions, but preliminary results are promising.

Uranus↗

Analysis of a novel non-contacting waveguide backshort

A new non-contacting waveguide backshort has been developed for millimeter and submillimeter wave frequencies. The design consists of a metal bar with rectangular or circular holes cut into it, which is covered with a dielectric (mylar) layer to form a snug fit with the walls of a waveguide. Hole geometries are adjusted to obtain a periodic variation of the guide impedance on the correct length scale, in order to produce efficient reflection of RF power. It is a mechanically rugged design which can be easily fabricated for frequencies from 1 to 1000 GHz and is thus a sound alternative to the miniaturization of conventional non-contacting shorts. To aid in high-frequency design, a rigorous full-wave analysis has been completed, which will allow variations of the size, number and spacing of the holes to be easily analyzed. This paper will review the backshort design and the method developed for theoretical characterization, followed by a comparison of the experimental and numerical results. Low frequency models operating from 4-6 GHz are shown to demonstrate return loss of greater than -0.2 dB over a 33 percent bandwidth. The theory is in good agreement with measured data.

Weller, T. M.↗

User's manual for FRAC3D: Supplement to report on stress analysis for structures with surface cracks

The FRAC3D computer program, designed for use in analyzing stresses in structures (including plates, bars, or blocks) which may contain part-circular surface cracks or embedded circular cracks is described. Instructions are provided for preparing input, including that for the supporting programs LATTICE and MATSOL as well as for FRAC3D. The course of a substantial illustrative calculation is shown with both input and output. The formulas underlying the calculations are summarized and related to the subroutines in which they are used. Many issues of strategy in using this program for analysing stresses around surface cracks are elucidated.

Bell, J. C.↗

Analysis of cone-derived waveriders by hypersonic small-disturbance theory

Hypersonic small-disturbance theory is used to analyze slender waveriders derived from axisymmetric flows past circular cones. Viscous effects are accounted for by means of laminar boundary-layer theory. The shape of the waverider is determined by specifying the upper freestream surface, from which the lower compression surface can then be obtained. When this is done, the lift, drag, and pitching moment are determined in terms of quadratures over the shock layer in the base plane. They are functions of freestream Mach number, freestream Reynolds number based on the length of the waverider, some measure of slenderness, and other parameters relating to the shape of the waverider. The functional relationships can be cast in terms of similarity laws. The lift-to-drag ratio is determined for a wide range of shapes and parameters.

Rasmussen, Maurice L.↗

Titan Flagship Mission 3-Degree-of-Freedom Simulation Analysis

A NASA flagship mission to Titan, the largest moon of Saturn and the only moon in the solar system with a significant atmosphere, has been designed that uses three separate spacecraft, each requiring significant interaction with the atmosphere. The first vehicle is a Titan lander for lower-atmosphere and surface science. The second is an aerial vehicle for aerial science at approximately 10 km altitude with an expected lifetime of one year. This spacecraft will use the natural winds of Titan to cover a large area over its lifetime. The third vehicle is a Titan orbiter that will interact with the atmosphere in two respects. The first atmospheric interaction is the orbital insertion maneuver that will be accomplished using aerocapture, during which time the hyperbolic approach of 6.5 km/s will be reduced to 1.6 km/s over 41 minutes with an exit periapsis altitude of 130 km. The second atmospheric interaction occurs after a propulsive maneuver has raised the periapsis after aerocapture to 1170 km, where the atmosphere will be sampled over several months. This is the first phase of aerosampling that covers southern latitudes. After a 3.3-year circular science phase at an altitude of 1700 km, a second phase of additional aerosampling is performed sampling northern latitudes. The atmospheric trajectory analysis for these three spacecraft will be discussed throughout this paper.

Prince, Jill L.↗

An analysis of the expected eccentricity perturbations for the second Radio Astronomy Explorer (RAE B)

Analytical prediction of expected eccentricity perturbations for the RAE 2 lunar orbit shows that the eccentricity will grow linearly in time. Parametric inclination studies and analysis of perturbation equations establish a critical retrograde inclination of 116.565 at which the positive perturbation slope vanishes for a circular orbit about 1100 m above the lunar surface with an eccentricity constraint of less than 0.005 during a period of about one year.

Murphy, J. P.↗

Effect of free stream turbulence on flow separation

An analysis is presented to study the influence of free stream turbulence on separation in the case of crossflow over a circular cylinder. An eddy diffusivity model has been formulated and the governing momentum equation has been solved numerically. A correlation parameter has been suggested to correlate the angle of separation. It has been found that the angle of separation increases with increasing free stream turbulence intensity.

Gorla, R. S. R.↗

Orbit determination and gravitational field accuracy for a Mercury transponder satellite

Covariance studies were performed to investigate the orbit determination problem for a small transponder satellite in a nearly circular polar orbit with 4-hour period around Mercury. With X band and Ka band Doppler and range measurements, the analysis indicates that the gravitational field through degree and order 10 can be solved for from as few as 40 separate 8-hour arcs of tracking data. In addition, the earth-Mercury distance can be determined during each ranging period with about 6-cm accuracy. The expected geoid accuracy is 10 cm up through degree 5, and 1 m through degree 8. The main error sources were the geocentric range measurement error, the uncertainties in higher degree gravity field terms, which were not solved for, and the solar radiation pressure uncertainty.

Vincent, Mark A.↗

Analysis of Ground Effect on the Lifting Airscrew

A study is presented of ground effect as applied to the lifting airscrew of the type used in modern gyroplane and helicopters. The mathematical analysis of the problem has been verified by tests made of three rotor models in the presence of a large circular "ground plane." A method of approximating the decelerating effect during vertical approach to the ground has been devised. The results of the study are presented in the form of convenient charts.

Knight, Montgomery↗

Thermomechanical postbuckling of multilayered composite panels with cutouts

The results of a study of the detailed thermomechanical postbuckling response characteristics of flat unstiffened composite panels with central circular cutouts are presented. The panels are subjected to combined temperature changes and applied edge loading (or edge displacements). The analysis is based on a first-order shear deformation plate theory. A mixed formulation is used with the fundamental unknowns consisting of the generalized displacements and the stress resultants of the plate. The postbuckling displacements, transverse shear stresses, transverse shear strain energy density, and their sensitivity coefficients are evaluated. The sensitivity coefficients measure the sensitivity of the post-buckling response to variations in the different lamination and material parameters of the panel. Numerical results are presented showing the effects of the variations in the hole diameter, laminate stacking sequence, fiber orientation, and aspect ratio of the panel on the thermomechanical postbuckling response and its sensitivity to changes in panel parameters.

Noor, Ahmed K.↗

Load transfer in the stiffener-to-skin joints of a pressurized fuselage

Structural analyses are developed to determine the linear elastic and the geometrically nonlinear elastic response of an internally pressurized, orthogonally stiffened, composite material cylindrical shell. The configuration is a long circular cylindrical shell stiffened on the inside by a regular arrangement of identical stringers and identical rings. Periodicity permits the analysis of a unit cell model consisting of a portion of the shell wall centered over one stringer-ring joint. The stringer-ring-shell joint is modeled in an idealized manner; the stiffeners are mathematically permitted to pass through one another without contact, but do interact indirectly through their mutual contact with the shell at the joint. Discrete beams models of the stiffeners include a stringer with a symmetrical cross section and a ring with either a symmetrical or an asymmetrical open section. Mathematical formulations presented for the linear response include the effect of transverse shear deformations and the effect of warping of the ring's cross section due to torsion. These effects are important when the ring has an asymmetrical cross section because the loss of symmetry in the problem results in torsion and out-of-plane bending of the ring, and a concomitant rotation of the joint at the stiffener intersection about the circumferential axis. Data from a composite material crown panel typical of a large transport fuselage structure are used for two numerical examples. Although the inclusion of geometric nonlinearity reduces the 'pillowing' of the shell, it is found that bending is localized to a narrow region near the stiffener. Including warping deformation of the ring into the analysis changes the sense of the joint rotation. Transverse shear deformation models result in increased joint flexibility.

Johnson, Eric R.↗

The Effects of Crossflow on the Pressures and Lift Induced by the Fountain Generated Between Two Impinging Jets

When a jet STOVL aircraft is hovering, or in a crossflow, while close to the ground wall jets flowing radially outward from the impingement points of the jets are generated. An upflow, or fountain, is generated where the wall jets from adjacent jets meet on the ground surface. The induced lift and suckdown generated by the impingement of the fountain on the lower surface of the configuration has been the subject of previous studies. This study analyzes the limited available pressure and force data on the effect of crossflow on the fountain induced lift and suckdown. The analysis includes the effects of jet spacing, height and operating conditions. However, it is limited to twin jet configurations of circular, vertical jets operating at subcritical nozzle pressure ratios over a fixed ground surface.

Kuhn, Richard E.↗