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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 541 records · Page 30

General aviation energy-conservation research programs at NASA-Lewis Research Center

The major thrust of NASA's nonturbine general aviation engine programs is directed toward (1) reduced specific fuel consumption, (2) improved fuel tolerance; and (3) emission reduction. Current and planned future programs in such areas as lean operation, improved fuel management, advanced cooling techniques and advanced engine concepts, are described. These are expected to lay the technology base, by the mid to latter 1980's, for engines whose total fuel costs are as much as 30% lower than today's conventional engines.

Willis, E. A.↗

Third Conference on Fibrous Composites in Flight Vehicle Design, part 1

The use of fibrous composite materials in the design of aircraft and space vehicle structures and their impact on future vehicle systems are discussed. The topics covered include: flight test work on composite components, design concepts and hardware, specialized applications, operational experience, certification and design criteria. Contributions to the design technology base include data concerning material properties, design procedures, environmental exposure effects, manufacturing procedures, and flight service reliability. By including composites as baseline design materials, significant payoffs are expected in terms of reduced structural weight fractions, longer structural life, reduced fuel consumption, reduced structural complexity, and reduced manufacturing cost.

Source record↗

Extended performance solar electric propulsion thrust system study. Volume 3: Tradeoff studies of alternate thrust system configurations

Several thrust system design concepts were evaluated and compared using the specifications of the most advanced 30 cm engineering model thruster as the technology base. Emphasis was placed on relatively high power missions. The extensions in thruster performance required for the Halley's comet mission were defined and alternative thrust system concepts were designed in sufficient detail for comparing mass, efficiency, reliability, structure, and thermal characteristics. Confirmation testing and analysis of thruster and power-processing components were performed. A baseline design was selected from the alternatives considered, and the design analysis and documentation were refined. A program development plan was formulated that outlines the work structure considered necessary for developing, qualifying, and fabricating the flight hardware for the baseline thrust system within the time frame of a project to rendezvous with Halley's comet. An assessment was made of the costs and risks associated with a baseline thrust system as provided to the mission project under this plan. Critical procurements and interfaces were identified and defined.

Hawthorne, E. I.↗

General aviation internal-combustion engine research programs at NASA-Lewis Research Center

An update is presented of non-turbine general aviation engine programs. The program encompasses conventional, lightweight diesel and rotary engines. It's three major thrusts are: (1) reduced SFC's; (2) improved fuels tolerance; and (3) reduced emissions. Current and planned future programs in such areas as lean operation, improved fuel management, advanced cooling techniques and advanced engine concepts, are described. These are expected to lay the technology base, by the mid to latter 1980's, for engines whose life cycle fuel costs are 30 to 50% lower than today's conventional engines.

Willis, E. A.↗

Introduction to session on materials and structures

A review was given of the development of composites for aircraft. Supporting base technology and the Aircraft Energy Efficiency Composites Program are included. Specific topics discussed include: (1) environmental effects on materials; (2) material quality and chemical characterization; (3) design and analysis methods; (4) structural durability; (5) impact sensitivity; (6) carbon fiber electrical effects; and (7) composite components.

Vosteen, L. F.↗

Transition from glass to graphite in manufacture of composite aircraft structure

The transition from fiberglass reinforced plastic composites to graphite reinforced plastic composites is described. Structural fiberglass design and manufacturing background are summarized. How this experience provides a technology base for moving into graphite composite secondary structure and then to composite primary structure is considered. The technical requirements that must be fulfilled in the transition from glass to graphite composite structure are also included.

Buffum, H. E.↗

Extended performance solar electric propulsion thrust system study. Volume 2: Baseline thrust system

Several thrust system design concepts were evaluated and compared using the specifications of the most advanced 30- cm engineering model thruster as the technology base. Emphasis was placed on relatively high-power missions (60 to 100 kW) such as a Halley's comet rendezvous. The extensions in thruster performance required for the Halley's comet mission were defined and alternative thrust system concepts were designed in sufficient detail for comparing mass, efficiency, reliability, structure, and thermal characteristics. Confirmation testing and analysis of thruster and power-processing components were performed, and the feasibility of satisfying extended performance requirements was verified. A baseline design was selected from the alternatives considered, and the design analysis and documentation were refined. The baseline thrust system design features modular construction, conventional power processing, and a concentractor solar array concept and is designed to interface with the space shuttle.

Poeschel, R. L.↗

Satellite onboard feature classification using CCD's

In this paper discrete time analog signal processing applications of CCD's are discussed. The types of computations which can be performed in the CCD technology are discussed and compared with respect to their accuracy and required support hardware. The classification problem encountered in the reduction of multispectral data into features of terrestrial interest are decomposed into a CCD technology based hardware solution. The resulting system is readily implemented with existing and anticipated CCD devices. This system will be projected to spacecraft application.

Benz, H. F.↗

General aviation energy-conservation research programs at NASA-Lewis Research Center

A review is presented of non-turbine general aviation engine programs underway at the NASA-Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The program encompasses conventional, lightweight diesel and rotary engines. Its three major thrusts are, in order of priority: (1) reduced SFCs; (2) improved fuels tolerance; and (3) reducing emissions. Current and planned future programs in such areas as lean operation, improved fuel management, advanced cooling techniques and advanced engine concepts, are described. These are expected to lay the technology base, by the mid to latter 1980s, for engines whose total fuel costs are as much as 30% lower than today's conventional engines.

Willis, E. A.↗

General aviation internal combustion engine research programs at NASA-Lewis Research Center

An update is presented of non-turbine general aviation engine programs underway at the NASA-Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The program encompasses conventional, lightweight diesel and rotary engines. Its three major thrusts are: (a) reduced SFC's; (b) improved fuels tolerance; and (c) reducing emissions. Current and planned future programs in such areas as lean operation, improved fuel management, advanced cooling techniques and advanced engine concepts, are described. These are expected to lay the technology base, by the mid to late 1980's, for engines whose life cycle fuel costs are 30 to 50% lower than today's conventional engines.

Willis, E. A.↗

Inflight optical measurement of antenna surfaces

A technology base was developed for a wide variety of applications oriented sensors to meet requirements for the fabrication, assembly, test, surface figure monitoring, and ultimately surface figure active control of large space antennas. An optical sensor technique is described which establishes an ideal centerline at each beam during fabrication or later during assembly. Deviations from the centerline, either in lateral deformation or in twist, are measured to produce limit warnings or to evoke active control at the building machine.

Neiswander, R. S.↗

General aviation energy-conservation research programs

A review is presented of nonturbine general aviation engine programs underway at the NASA-Lewis Research Center. The program encompasses conventional, lightweight diesel, and rotary engines. Its three major thrusts are: (1) reduced SFC's; (2) improved fuels tolerance; and (3) reducing emissions. Current and planned future programs in such areas as lean operation, improved fuel management, advanced cooling techniques, and advanced engine concepts, are described. These are expected to lay the technology base, by the mid to latter 1980's, for engines whose total fuel costs are as much as 30% lower than today's conventional engines.

Willis, E. A.↗

Summary report of the Lightning and Static Electricity Committee

Lightning protection technology as applied to aviation and identifying these technology needs are presented. The flight areas of technical needs include; (1) the need for In-Flight data on lightning electrical parameters; (2) technology base and guidelines for protection of advanced systems and structures; (3) improved laboratory test techniques; (4) analysis techniques for predicting induced effects; (5) lightning strike incident data from General Aviation; (6) lightning detection systems; (7) obtain pilot reports of lightning strikes; and (8) better training in lightning awareness. The nature of each problem, timeliness, impact of solutions, degree of effort required, and the roles of government and industry in achieving solutions are discussed.

Plumer, J. A.↗

Recent theoretical developments and experimental studies pertinent to vortex flow aerodynamics, with a view towards design

Recent progress in a research program directed toward an improved vortex flow technology base was reviewed. Analysis methods for conical flow and analysis and design methods for nonconical flows are presented. Applications are made for a variety of planar, nonplanar, and interferring lifting surfaces. Several methods are shown to provide reasonable estimates of over-all forces and moments for simple wing planforms with the suction analogy method currently offering the most versatility for arbitrary configuration applications. For the prediction of surface loadings the free vortex sheet method being developed by Boeing is shown to have considerable promise and further development of this type of method is encouraged. A data base for ogee strake-wing configurations is summarized with an emphasis on the requirements for maximizing the interference lift. A strake planform design procedure is discussed and a first solution (gothic in planview) is integrated with a wing body. The data show the strake to exhibit expected stable vortex characteristics. It was found that, apart from increasing sweep, conically cambered delta wings developed drag levels approaching that of attached flow with increasing either the lift or the wing camber height, lastly, an approximate vortex flow design method, based on the suction analogy, is outlined and an example is given.

Lamar, J. E.↗

Autonomous Mechanical Assembly on the Space Shuttle: An Overview

The space shuttle will be equipped with a pair of 50 ft. manipulators used to handle payloads and to perform mechanical assembly operations. Although current plans call for these manipulators to be operated by a human teleoperator. The possibility of using results from robotics and machine intelligence to automate this shuttle assembly system was investigated. The major components of an autonomous mechanical assembly system are examined, along with the technology base upon which they depend. The state of the art in advanced automation is also assessed.

Raibert, M. H.↗

Evolution of space power systems

NASA planning for large power systems (tens to hundreds of kilowatts) in space for the next decade is summarized. Applications requiring large amounts of power, the selection of solar photovoltaic as the primary power conversion approach, and the power technology base are explained. Large power systems, beginning with a Space Shuttle/Spacelab power augmentation kit and an orbitally stored Power Module, are described.

Freitag, R. F.↗

Recent theoretical developments and experimental studies pertinent to vortex flow aerodynamics - With a view towards design

A review is presented of recent progress in a research program directed towards the development of an improved vortex-flow technology base. It is pointed out that separation induced vortex-flows from the leading and side edges play an important role in the high angle-of-attack aerodynamic characteristics of a wide range of modern aircraft. In the analysis and design of high-speed aircraft, a detailed knowledge of this type of separation is required, particularly with regard to critical wind loads and the stability and performance at various off-design conditions. A description of analytical methods is presented. The theoretical methods employed are divided into two classes which are dependent upon the underlying aerodynamic assumptions. One conical flow method is considered along with three different nonconical flow methods. Comparisons are conducted between the described methods and available aerodynamic data. Attention is also given to a vortex flow drag study and a vortex flow wing design using suction analogy.

Lamar, J. E.↗

Silicon ribbon technology assessment 1978-1986 - A computer-assisted analysis using PECAN

The paper presents a 1978-1986 economic outlook for silicon ribbon technology based on the capillary action shaping technique. The outlook is presented within the framework of two sets of scenarios, which develop strategy for approaching the 1986 national energy capacity cost objective of $0.50/WE peak. The PECAN (Photovoltaic Energy Conversion Analysis) simulation technique is used to develop a 1986 sheet material price ($50/sq m) which apparently can be attained without further scientific breakthrough.

Kran, A.↗