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The properties of close multiple stars

A reexamination of the properties of close multiple systems is conducted, taking into account recent numerical, analytical, and observational results. The orbital elements of 43 spectroscopic multiple systems are presented in a table. Tables with photometry data of the systems and data describing their properties are also provided. Attention is given to period ratios, mass ratios, orbital coplanarity, stability, lithium abundances and age estimates, and prospects of future observations. Numerical studies indicate that fragmentation produces binary components with mass ratios usually close to 1.0, while fission usually produces mass ratios in the range 0.1-0.5. Using analytical stability criteria, all 27 close multiple systems considered are stable if they are corotating. If they are counter-rotating, four systems are possibly unstable. However, other factors suggest that even these four are probably stable. The solar-type close multiple systems ranged in age from 100 million years to 2,000 million years.

Fekel, F. C., Jr.↗

The use of the Regier number in the structural design with flutter constraints

This preliminary investigation introduces the use of the Regier number as a flutter constraint criterion for aeroelastic structural optimization. Artificial neural network approximations are used to approximate the flutter criterion requirements as a function of the design Mach number and the parametric variables defining the aspect ratio, center of gravity, taper ratio, mass ratio, and pitch inertia of the wing. The presented approximations are simple enough to be used in the preliminary design stage without a well defined structural model. An example problem for a low-speed, high-aspect-ratio, light-aircraft wing is presented. The example problem is analyzed for the flutter Mach number using doublet lattice aerodynamics and the PK solution method. The use of the Regier number constraint criterion to optimize the example problem for minimum structural mass while maintaining a constant flutter Mach number is demonstrated.

Dunn, H. J.↗

Forced convection heat transfer to air/water vapor mixtures

Heat transfer coefficients were measured using both dry and humid air in the same forced convection cooling scheme and were compared using appropriate nondimensional parameters (Nusselt, Prandtl and Reynolds numbers). A forced convection scheme with a complex flow field, two dimensional arrays of circular jets with crossflow, was utilized with humidity ratios (mass ratio of water vapor to air) up to 0.23. The dynamic viscosity, thermal conductivity and specific heat of air, steam and air/steam mixtures are examined. Methods for determining gaseous mixture properties from the properties of their pure components are reviewed as well as methods for determining these properties with good confidence. The need for more experimentally determined property data for humid air is discussed. It is concluded that dimensionless forms of forced convection heat transfer data and empirical correlations based on measurements with dry air may be applied to conditions involving humid air with the same confidence as for the dry air case itself, provided that the thermophysical properties of the humid air mixtures are known with the same confidence as their dry air counterparts.

Richards, D. R.↗

Effect of Engine Thrust and Isp Tradeoffs and Alternate Propellants on ΔV Budget and Architecture Mass for 1st Generation Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Flight Test Systems

Following the first Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) system test, also known as DRACO, the next NTP system to be developed would be the 1st Generation NTP system. An analysis was conducted to determine the performance of different vehicle configurations utilizing hydrogen (H-NTP), ammonia (A-NTP), and methane (M-NTP) as propellants launched onboard commercial launch vehicles. This was enabled by a quasi-steady-state power balance engine model and vehicle component physics that sized the vehicle system using Master Equipment List (MEL) parameters. The analysis considered configuration cases outlined by a matrix of different mission classes and vehicle configurations that covered the design space of the 1st Generation NTP system to explore various propellant options, engine architectures, and mission scopes. Four mission classes were evaluated which included single burn missions performing maneuvers having a ΔV of 1 km/s and 2.5 km/s followed by 2-burn and 4-burn missions that aimed to exhaust the launch vehicles volume or mass limitations. In all cases, the NTP systems with the lowest thrust class had the longest burn time of which A-NTP and M-NTP systems provided the longest and shortest burn times depending on the launch vehicle used while H-NTP systems tended to cluster together in the middle. Longer burn times could be useful as a testing platform to increase the time for data accumulation. Across the multi-burn cases, H-NTP systems were found to be volume limited while A-NTP and M-NTP systems were mass limited. Both single burn missions showed that A-NTP configurations provided the lowest dry mass given that ammonia had the highest density with comparable performance to M-NTP systems and no requirement for cryocoolers. The results showed that beyond the propellant selection type, the launch vehicle selection, which included Starship, New Glenn, Vulcan, Falcon 9 (recoverable), and Falcon Heavy (recoverable), was a primary driving factor in the test vehicle’s capabilities. Trends were determined based on a set of dimensionless parameters that included the mass ratio of inert mass to initial wetted mass, ratio of specific impulse to burn time, and a dimensionless engine parameter (ratio of impulse to engine momentum). These relationships found the “knees-in-the-curves” that could be a significant point of reference for the designer as they indicate a change in the trend which is located at a specific impulse to burn time ratio of 1, a mass ratio of 0.6, and an engine performance parameter of 4. This study did not attempt to make a recommendation rather provide the tools for the reader to select their own configuration based on their needs.

Propellant↗

Effect of Engine Thrust and Isp Tradeoffs and Alternate Propellants on ΔV Budget and Architecture Mass for 1st Generation Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Flight Test Systems

Following the first Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) system test, also known as DRACO, the next NTP system to be developed would be the 1st Generation NTP system. An analysis was conducted to determine the performance of different vehicle configurations utilizing hydrogen (H-NTP), ammonia (A-NTP), and methane (M-NTP) as propellants launched onboard commercial launch vehicles. This was enabled by a quasi-steady-state power balance engine model and vehicle component physics that sized the vehicle system using Master Equipment List (MEL) parameters. The analysis considered configuration cases outlined by a matrix of different mission classes and vehicle configurations that covered the design space of the 1st Generation NTP system to explore various propellant options, engine architectures, and mission scopes. Four mission classes were evaluated which included single burn missions performing maneuvers having a ΔV of 1 km/s and 2.5 km/s followed by 2-burn and 4-burn missions that aimed to exhaust the launch vehicles volume or mass limitations. In all cases, the NTP systems with the lowest thrust class had the longest burn time of which A-NTP and M-NTP systems provided the longest and shortest burn times depending on the launch vehicle used while H-NTP systems tended to cluster together in the middle. Longer burn times could be useful as a testing platform to increase the time for data accumulation. Across the multi-burn cases, H-NTP systems were found to be volume limited while A-NTP and M-NTP systems were mass limited. Both single burn missions showed that A-NTP configurations provided the lowest dry mass given that ammonia had the highest density with comparable performance to M-NTP systems and no requirement for cryocoolers. The results showed that beyond the propellant selection type, the launch vehicle selection, which included Starship, New Glenn, Vulcan, Falcon 9 (recoverable), and Falcon Heavy (recoverable), was a primary driving factor in the test vehicle’s capabilities. Trends were determined based on a set of dimensionless parameters that included the mass ratio of inert mass to initial wetted mass, ratio of specific impulse to burn time, and a dimensionless engine parameter (ratio of impulse to engine momentum). These relationships found the “knees-in-the-curves” that could be a significant point of reference for the designer as they indicate a change in the trend which is located at a specific impulse to burn time ratio of 1, a mass ratio of 0.6, and an engine performance parameter of 4. This study did not attempt to make a recommendation rather provide the tools for the reader to select their own configuration based on their needs.

Propellant↗

Effect of Engine Thrust and Isp Tradeoffs and Alternate Propellants on ΔV Budget and Architecture Mass for 1st Generation Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Flight Test Systems

Following the first Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) system test, also known as DRACO, the next NTP system to be developed would be the 1st Generation NTP system. An analysis was conducted to determine the performance of different vehicle configurations utilizing hydrogen (H-NTP), ammonia (A-NTP), and methane (M-NTP) as propellants launched onboard commercial launch vehicles. This was enabled by a quasi-steady-state power balance engine model and vehicle component physics that sized the vehicle system using Master Equipment List (MEL) parameters. The analysis considered configuration cases outlined by a matrix of different mission classes and vehicle configurations that covered the design space of the 1st Generation NTP system to explore various propellant options, engine architectures, and mission scopes. Four mission classes were evaluated which included single burn missions performing maneuvers having a ΔV of 1 km/s and 2.5 km/s followed by 2-burn and 4-burn missions that aimed to exhaust the launch vehicles volume or mass limitations. In all cases, the NTP systems with the lowest thrust class had the longest burn time of which A-NTP and M-NTP systems provided the longest and shortest burn times depending on the launch vehicle used while H-NTP systems tended to cluster together in the middle. Longer burn times could be useful as a testing platform to increase the time for data accumulation. Across the multi-burn cases, H-NTP systems were found to be volume limited while A-NTP and M-NTP systems were mass limited. Both single burn missions showed that A-NTP configurations provided the lowest dry mass given that ammonia had the highest density with comparable performance to M-NTP systems and no requirement for cryocoolers. The results showed that beyond the propellant selection type, the launch vehicle selection, which included Starship, New Glenn, Vulcan, Falcon 9 (recoverable), and Falcon Heavy (recoverable), was a primary driving factor in the test vehicle’s capabilities. Trends were determined based on a set of dimensionless parameters that included the mass ratio of inert mass to initial wetted mass, ratio of specific impulse to burn time, and a dimensionless engine parameter (ratio of impulse to engine momentum). These relationships found the “knees-in-the-curves” that could be a significant point of reference for the designer as they indicate a change in the trend which is located at a specific impulse to burn time ratio of 1, a mass ratio of 0.6, and an engine performance parameter of 4. This study did not attempt to make a recommendation rather provide the tools for the reader to select their own configuration based on their needs.

Propellant↗

The mass of the classical Cepheid SU Cygni

Velocities of the companion of the classical Cepheid SU Cyg have been measured from 13 IUE high-dispersion spectra. Because the companion is itself a member of a short-period binary system, its short-period orbit and the orbital amplitude of the center of mass in the long-period system are determined from a triple system solution. The velocity amplitude of the short-period center of mass in the long-period orbit is 32.2 + or - 1.6 km/s. This leads to a mass ratio between the mass of the Cepheid and the sum of the masses of the companions of 1.07 + or - 0.05. Combining this mass ratio with the mass function from the Cepheid orbit produces a purely dynamical lower limit to the mass of the Cepheid of 5.9 + or - 0.4 solar masses, in good agreement with the evolutionary mass for the Cepheid without mass loss or convective overshoot near the main sequence.

Evans, Nancy Remage↗

Comparison of Mixing Calculations for Reacting and Non-Reacting Flows in a Cylindrical Duct

A production 3-D elliptic flow code has been used to calculate non-reacting and reacting flow fields in an experimental mixing section relevant to a rich burn/quick mix/lean burn (RQL) combustion system. A number of test cases have been run to assess the effects of the variation in the number of orifices, mass flow ratio, and rich-zone equivalence ratio on the flow field and mixing rates. The calculated normalized temperature profiles for the non-reacting flow field agree qualitatively well with the normalized conserved variable isopleths for the reacting flow field indicating that non-reacting mixing experiments are appropriate for screening and ranking potential rapid mixing concepts. For a given set of jet momentum-flux ratio, mass flow ratio, and density ratio (J, MR, and DR), the reacting flow calculations show a reduced level of mixing compared to the non-reacting cases. In addition, the rich-zone equivalence ratio has noticeable effect on the mixing flow characteristics for reacting flows.

Oechsle, V. L.↗

Periodic orbits of the asteroidal type in the circular restricted three-body problem

Periodic orbits of the asteroidal type in the circular restricted problem are studied by varying the period of the infinitesimal body (asteroid) and the mass ratio of the primaries (Sun-Jupiter mass ratio). The results indicate that asteroidal periodic orbits can exist for the actual Sun-Jupiter mass ratio for resonances of the Hecuba (2:1), Hilda (3:2) and Thule (4:3) groups, but not for resonances of higher consecutive integer ratios. It is also found that an asteroid can be placed in a periodic orbit at a position with mean motion between 2:1 and 3:2 even if Jupiter is about 9 times more massive than its actual value. However, an asteroid cannot be placed in a periodic orbit beyond the 4:3 resonance for the actual Sun-Jupiter mass ratio.

Kwok, J. H.↗

Factors controlling precision and accuracy in isotope-ratio-monitoring mass spectrometry

The performance of systems in which picomole quantities of sample are mixed with a carrier gas and passed through an isotope-ratio mass spectrometer system was examined experimentally and theoretically. Two different mass spectrometers were used, both having electron-impact ion sources and Faraday cup collector systems. One had an accelerating potential of 10kV and accepted 0.2 mL of He/min, producing, under those conditions, a maximum efficiency of 1 CO2 molecular ion collected per 700 molecules introduced. Comparable figures for the second instrument were 3 kV, 0.5 mL of He/min, and 14000 molecules/ion. Signal pathways were adjusted so that response times were <200 ms. Sample-related ion currents appeared as peaks with widths of 3-30 s. Isotope ratios were determined by comparison to signals produced by standard gases. In spite of rapid variations in signals, observed levels of performance were within a factor of 2 of shot-noise limits. For the 10-kV instrument, sample requirements for standard deviations of 0.1 and 0.5% were 45 and 1.7 pmol, respectively. Comparable requirements for the 3-kV instrument were 900 and 36 pmol. Drifts in instrumental characteristics were adequately neutralized when standards were observed at 20-min intervals. For the 10-kV instrument, computed isotopic compositions were independent of sample size and signal strength over the ranges examined. Nonlinearities of <0.04%/V were observed for the 3-kV system. Procedures for observation and subtraction of background ion currents were examined experimentally and theoretically. For sample/ background ratios varying from >10 to 0.3, precision is expected and observed to decrease approximately 2-fold and to depend only weakly on the precision with which background ion currents have been measured.

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗

Determination of the area and mass distribution of orbital debris fragments

A technique is described to estimate the area-to-mass ratio of debris fragments using orbital fragments obtained by radar. The area-to-mass ratio of about 2600 fragments arising from the breakup of 24 artificial satellites was determined; an analysis of the data on about 200 objects with known mass, size, and shape has been made, and a calibration of the observed radar cross-section (RCS) to the effective area of these objects has provided a method to estimate the effective area of debris fragments. From the knowledge of the effective area and the estimated area-to-mass ratio, the mass and area distribution of each of the known breakup has been obtained. As a function of time, the orbital elements can be used to invert any propagation algorithm to yield the area-to-mass ratio of an orbiting object.

Badhwar, Gautam D.↗

Observing Mergers of Nonspinning Black Hole Binaries with LISA

Recent advances in the field of numerical relativity now make it possible to calculate the final, most powerful merger phase of binary black hole coalescence. We present the application of nonspinning numerical relativity waveforms to the search for and precision measurement of black hole binary coalescences using LISA. In particular, we focus on the advances made in moving beyond the equal mass, nonspinning case into other regions of parameter space, focusing on the case of nonspinning holes with ever-increasing mass ratios. We analyze the available unequal mass merger waveforms from numerical relativity, and compare them to two models, both of which use an effective one body treatment of the inspiral, but which use fundamentally different approaches to the treatment of the merger-ringdown. We confirm the expected mass ratio scaling of the merger, and investigate the changes in waveform behavior and their observational impact with changing mass ratio. Finally, we investigate the potential contribution from the merger portion of the waveform to measurement uncertainties of the binary's parameters for the unequal mass case.

McWilliams S.↗

Effect of fuel to air ratio on Mach 0.3 burner rig hot corrosion of ZrO2-Y2O3 thermal barrier coatings

A Mach 0.3 burner rig test program was conducted to determine how the fuel to air mass ratio affects the durability of ZrO2-Y2O3/Ni-16Cr-6Al-0.31Y thermal barrier coating systems in combustion products containing 5 ppm Na and 2 ppm V. As the fuel to air mass ratio was increased from 0.039 to 0.049, the durability of ZrO2-6Y2O3, ZrO2-8Y2O3 and ZrO2-12Y2O3 coatings decreased. ZrO2-8Y2O3 coatings were approximately 2X and 1.3X more durable than ZrO2-12Y2O3 and ZrO2-6Y2O3 coatings respectively at the fuel to air mass ratio of 0.039. The number of one hour cycles endured by ZrO2-8Y2O3 coatings varied from averages of 53 to 200 for the fuel to air mass ratios of 0.049 and 0.039, respectively. At the fuel to air mass ratio of 0.049, all ZrO2-Y2O3 coated specimens failed in 40 to 60 one hour cycles

Hodge, P. E.↗

A two parameter survey of periodic orbits in the restricted problem of three bodies

Within the context of the restricted problem of three bodies the effects caused by varying the mass ratio of the primaries and the eccentricity of their orbits, upon periodic orbits of the infinitesimal mass which are numerical continuations of circular orbits in the ordinary problem of two bodies are shown. A recursive power series technique is used to numerically integrate the equations of motion as well as the first variational equations in order to generate a two parameter family of perodic orbits and identify the linear stability characteristics. Seven such families are investigated with equally spaced mass ratios from 0.0 to 1.0 and eccentricities of the orbits of the primaries in a range 0.0 to 0.6. Stable orbits are associated with large distances of the infinitesimal mass from the perturbing primary, nearly circular motion of the primaries, and small mass ratios of the primaries. Unstable orbits for the infinitesimal mass are associated with small distances from the perturbing primary, highly elliptic orbits of the primaries and large mass ratios.

Shelus, P. J.↗

Stagger angle dependence of inertial and elastic coupling in bladed disks

Conditions which necessitate the inclusion of disk and shaft flexibility in the analysis of blade response in rotating blade-disk-shaft systems are derived in terms of nondimensional parameters. A simple semianalytical Rayleigh-Ritz model is derived in which the disk possesses all six rigid body degrees of freedom, which are elastically constrained by the shaft. Inertial coupling by the rigid body motion of the disk on a flexible shaft and out-of-plane elastic coupling due to disk flexure are included. Frequency ratios and mass ratios, which depend on the stagger angle, are determined for three typical rotors: a first stage high-pressure core compressor, a high bypass ratio fan, and an advanced turboprop. The stagger angle controls the degree of coupling in the blade-disk system. In the blade-disk-shaft system, the stagger angle determines whether blade-disk motion couples principally to the out-of-plane or in-plane motion of the disk on the shaft. The Ritz analysis shows excellent agreement with experimental results.

Crawley, E. F.↗

Millimeter continuum observations of Galactic center giant molecular cloud cores

Results are presented of observations of 1.3- and 0.8-mm continuum emission toward the cores of three Galactic center molecular clouds with ongoing massive star formation, Sagittarius B2, C, and D, which were made in order to study possible variations in the high-mass star formation rate per unit mass between the Galactic center and the disk. The luminosity-to-mass ratio, based on the mass estimates derived from the millimeter continuum emission, is used as a tracer of the high-mass star formation rate in GMC cores. The magnitude of errors involved in using millimeter continuum emission for determining the core mass is estimated through radiative transfer modeling. It is inferred from the present millimeter data, along with previously published far-infrared data, that the Sgr C and D cores are very similar in terms of mean dust optical depth and temperature. The luminosity-to-mass ratios derived for the Sgr C and D cores are found to be consistent with those of typical disk GMC cores with comparable far-infrared luminosities.

Lis, D. C.↗

Acoustic radiation damping of flat rectangular plates subjected to subsonic flows

The acoustic radiation damping for various isotropic and laminated composite plates and semi-infinite strips subjected to a uniform, subsonic and steady flow has been predicted. The predictions are based on the linear vibration of a flat plate. The fluid loading is characterized as the perturbation pressure derived from the linearized Bernoulli and continuity equations. Parameters varied in the analysis include Mach number, mode number and plate size, aspect ratio and mass. The predictions are compared with existing theoretical results and experimental data. The analytical results show that the fluid loading can significantly affect realistic plate responses. Generally, graphite/epoxy and carbon/carbon plates have higher acoustic radiation damping values than similar aluminum plates, except near plate divergence conditions resulting from aeroelastic instability. Universal curves are presented where the acoustic radiation damping normalized by the mass ratio is a linear function of the reduced frequency. A separate curve is required for each Mach number and plate aspect ratio. In addition, acoustic radiation damping values can be greater than or equal to the structural component of the modal critical damping ratio (assumed as 0.01) for the higher subsonic Mach numbers. New experimental data were acquired for comparison with the analytical results.

Lyle, Karen Heitman↗

Pulsed Plasma Thruster Technology Development and Flight Demonstration Program

Because of anticipated near- and far-term mission needs for innovative new electric propulsion technologies, the NASA On-Board Propulsion program is sponsoring NASA Lewis Research Centers' Pulsed Plasma Thruster (PPT) technology development program to rapidly advance PPT technology. This is a joint effort of Lewis' On-Board Propulsion Branch and Space Flight Project Branch. Building on state-of-the-art technology developed and flown in the 1970's and 1980's for Department of Defense missions, newly developed PPT program designs are realizing significant gains in system mass reduction, thrust to mass ratio, total impulse to mass ratio, and variability of impulse bit.

Peterson, Todd T.↗