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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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NASA NTRS2009

Ultrasonic Phased Array Inspection Simulations of Welded Components at NASA

Comprehensive and accurate inspections of welded components have become of increasing importance as NASA develops new hardware such as Ares rocket segments for future exploration missions. Simulation and modeling will play an increased role in the future for nondestructive evaluation in order to better understand the physics of the inspection process and help explain the experimental results. It will also help to prove or disprove the feasibility for an inspection method or inspection scenario, help optimize inspections, and allow to a first approximation limits of detectability. This study presents simulation and experimental results for an ultrasonic phased array inspection of a critical welded structure important for NASA future exploration vehicles.

Roth, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1998

Hypersonic Experimental and Computational Capability, Improvement and Validation

The results of the phase II effort conducted under AGARD Working Group 18 on Hypersonic Experimental and Computational Capability, Improvement and Validation are presented in this report. The first volume, published in May 1996, mainly focused on the design methodology, plans and some initial results of experiments that had been conducted to serve as validation benchmarks. The current volume presents the detailed experimental and computational data base developed during this effort.

Jean Muylaert↗

NASA NTRS1992

Stationary plasma thruster evaluation in Russia

A team of electric propulsion specialists from U.S. government laboratories experimentally evaluated the performance of a 1.35-kW Stationary Plasma Thruster (SPT) at the Scientific Research Institute of Thermal Processes in Moscow and at 'Fakel' Enterprise in Kaliningrad, Russia. The evaluation was performed using a combination of U.S. and Russian instrumentation and indicated that the actual performance of the thruster appears to be close to the claimed performance. The claimed performance was a specific impulse of 16,000 m/s, an overall efficiency of 50 percent, and an input power of 1.35 kW, and is superior to the performance of western electric thrusters at this specific impulse. The unique performance capabilities of the stationary plasma thruster, along with claims that more than fifty of the 660-W thrusters have been flown in space on Russian spacecraft, attracted the interest of western spacecraft propulsion specialists. A two-phase program was initiated to evaluate the stationary plasma thruster performance and technology. The first phase of this program, to experimentally evaluate the performance of the thruster with U.S. instrumentation in Russia, is described in this report. The second phase objective is to determine the suitability of the stationary plasma thruster technology for use on western spacecraft. This will be accomplished by bringing stationary plasma thrusters to the U.S. for quantification of thruster erosion rates, measurements of the performance variation as a function of long-duration operation, quantification of the exhaust beam divergence angle, and determination of the non-propellant efflux from the thruster. These issues require quantification in order to maximize the probability for user application of the SPT technology and significantly increase the propulsion capabilities of U.S. spacecraft.

Brophy, John R.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Solidification Processing of Immiscible Liquids in the Presence of Applied Ultrasonic Energy

Uniform microstructural development during solidification of immiscible liquids on Earth is hampered by inherent density differences between the phases. Microgravity processing minimizes settling but segregation still occurs due to gravity independent wetting and coalescence phenomena. Experiments with the transparent organic, metal analogue, succinonitrile-glycerol system were conducted in conjunction with applied ultrasonic energy. The processing parameters associated with this technique have been evaluated in view of optimizing dispersion uniformity. Experimental results to evaluate microstructural phase distributions, based on other liquid-liquid immiscibility systems, will also be presented.

Kim, Shinwood↗

NASA NTRS1994

An experimental study on the static and dynamic characteristics of pump annular seals with two phase flow

A new test apparatus is reconstructed and is applied to investigate static and dynamic characteristics of annular seals leaked by two phase flow (gas and liquid) for turbopumps. The fluid forces acting on the seals are measured for various parameters such as void ratio, the preswirl velocity, the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of the seal, the whirling amplitude, and the ratio of whirling speed to spinning speed of the rotor. Influence of these parameters on the static and dynamic characteristics is investigated from the experimental results. As a result, with regard to the two phase flow, as the void ratio increases, the flow induced force decreases. Another dynamic characteristic of two phase flow is as almost similar as that of the monophase flow.

Iwatsubo, T.↗

NASA NTRS2009

Ultrasonic Phased Array Simulations of Welded Components at NASA

Comprehensive and accurate inspections of welded components have become of increasing importance as NASA develops new hardware such as Ares rocket segments for future exploration missions. Simulation and modeling will play an increasing role in the future for nondestructive evaluation in order to better understand the physics of the inspection process, to prove or disprove the feasibility for an inspection method or inspection scenario, for inspection optimization, for better understanding of experimental results, and for assessment of probability of detection. This study presents simulation and experimental results for an ultrasonic phased array inspection of a critical welded structure important for NASA future exploration vehicles. Keywords: nondestructive evaluation, computational simulation, ultrasonics, weld, modeling, phased array

Roth, D. J.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Tunable and Robust Optical and Structural Properties of a Cooperative Squaraine-Dye Aggregate-DNA DX-DAE Tile System

Molecular excitons, which are excitations delocalized over multiple dyes in a wavelike manner, are of interest for a wide range of applications, including quantum information science. Numerous studies have templated a variety of synthetic dyes via a DNA scaffold to induce dye aggregation to create molecular excitons upon photoexcitation. Dye aggregate optical properties are critically dependent on relative dye geometry and local environment; therefore, an understanding of dye-dye and DNA-dye interactions is critical for advancing toward more complex DNA-dye systems. The extensively studied DNA Holliday junction (HJ) and less-studied double-crossover (DX) tile motif are fundamental test beds for designing complex and ultimately modular DNA-dye architectures. Here, we report the first study of single-linked squaraine dye aggregation and exciton delocalization on a larger and more stable (compared with the HJ) DX tile motif. We first highlight a few DNA-dye constructs that support single dyes and aggregates with distinct optical properties that are both tunable—through sample design, buffer conditions, and heat treatment—and robust to environment changes, including transfer to solid phase. Next, we assess several experimental and design considerations that demonstrate directed dye-driven assembly of a novel double-tile DNA configuration. Our results demonstrate that single-linked squaraine dyes templated to DX tiles provide a viable research path to design and evaluate dye aggregate networks that support exciton delocalization. We include herein the first report of exciton delocalization in the solid phase in a DNA-dye construct. Additionally, our findings indicate that dye aggregation impacts the assembly of the DNA-dye construct, and, in some cases, thereby cooperates with the DNA to determine a final robust system configuration. Finally, we show that a controlled annealing schedule can be employed to promote the homogeneous assembly of DNA-dye constructs. The findings in this study contribute to the understanding of DNA-dye systems and the relevant factors involved in their directed assembly to achieve specific constructs with desirable properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2025

Thermal disorder and phonon softening in the ferroelectric phase transition of lead titanate

We report a molecular dynamics study of ab initio quality of the ferroelectric phase transition in crystalline PbTi⁢O3. We model anharmonicity accurately in terms of potential energy and polarization surfaces trained on density functional theory data with modern machine learning techniques. Our simulations demonstrate that the transition has a strong order-disorder character, in agreement with diffraction experiments, and provide fresh insight into the approach to equilibrium across the phase transition. We find that the emergence and disappearance of the macroscopic polarization is driven by dipolar switching at the nanometer scale. We also computed the infrared optical absorption spectra in both the ferroelectric and the paraelectric phases, finding good agreement with the experimental Raman frequencies. Often, the almost ideal displacive character of the soft mode detected by Raman scattering in the paraelectric phase has been contrasted with the order-disorder character of the transition suggested by diffraction experiments. We settle this issue by showing that the soft mode coexists with a strong Debye relaxation associated with thermal disordering of the dipoles. The Debye relaxation feature is centered at zero frequency and appears near the transition temperature in both the ferroelectric and the paraelectric phases.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

NASA NTRS1983

Determination of Systems Suitable for Study as Monotectic Binary Metallic Alloy Solidification Models

Succinonitrile-water and diethylene glycol-ethyl salicylate are two transparent systems which have been studied as monotectic binary metallic alloy solidification models. Being transparent, these systems allow for the direct observations of phase transformations and solidification reactions. The objective was to develop a screening technique to find systems of interest and then experimentally measure those systems. The succinonitrile-water system was used to check the procedures. To simulate the phase diagram of the system, two computer programs which determine solid-liquid and liquid-liquid equilibria were obtained. These programs use the UNIFAC method to determine activity coefficients and together with several other programs were used to predict the phase diagram. An experimental apparatus was developed and the succinonitrile-water phase diagram measured. The diagram was compared to both the simulation and literature data. Substantial differences were found in the comparisons which serve to demonstrate the need for this procedure.

Smith, J. E., Jr.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Integrated Motor and Drive (IMD) for Traction Applications Project (Final Technical Report)

This paper proposes the concept of the topological equivalence between the commutation cells of a voltage source inverter (VSI) and a current source inverter (CSI) using duality and equivalent circuit transformation techniques. A switching resonance of CSI is analyzed and an effective three-phase RC damper is derived from the dc-link RC damper of VSIs based on the topological equivalence of the VSI and CSI commutation cells. Furthermore, a new three-phase RC damper design framework utilizing the topological equivalence is proposed. Experimental results verify that the proposed three-phase RC damper design for CSI significantly reduces the switching resonance and improves the CSI’s output waveform total harmonics distortions (THDs).

42 ENGINEERING↗

NASA NTRS1982

Glass shell manufacturing in space

Highly-uniform, hollow glass spheres, which are used for inertial-confinement fusion targets, are formed from metal-organic gel powder feedstock in a drop-tower furnace. The modelling of this gel-to-sphere transformation has consisted of three phases: gel thermochemistry, furnance-to-gel heat transfer, and gravity-driven degradation of the concentricity of the molten shell. The heat transfer from the furnace to the free-falling gel particle was modelled with forced convection. The gel mass, dimensions, and specific heat as well as furnace temperature profile and furnace gas conductivity, were controlled variables. This model has been experimentally verified. In the third phase, a mathematical model was developed to describe the gravity-driven degradation of concentricity in molten glass shells.

Nolen, R. L.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Research on the use of space resources

The second year of a multiyear research program on the processing and use of extraterrestrial resources is covered. The research tasks included: (1) silicate processing, (2) magma electrolysis, (3) vapor phase reduction, and (4) metals separation. Concomitant studies included: (1) energy systems, (2) transportation systems, (3) utilization analysis, and (4) resource exploration missions. Emphasis in fiscal year 1982 was placed on the magma electrolysis and vapor phase reduction processes (both analytical and experimental) for separation of oxygen and metals from lunar regolith. The early experimental work on magma electrolysis resulted in gram quantities of iron (mixed metals) and the identification of significant anode, cathode, and container problems. In the vapor phase reduction tasks a detailed analysis of various process concepts led to the selection of two specific processes designated as ""Vapor Separation'' and ""Selective Ionization.'' Experimental work was deferred to fiscal year 1983. In the Silicate Processing task a thermophysical model of the casting process was developed and used to study the effect of variations in material properties on the cooling behavior of lunar basalt.

Carroll, W. F.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Environmental solid particle effects on compressor cascade performance

The effect of suspended solid particles on the performance of the compressor cascade was investigated experimentally in a specially built cascade tunnel, using quartz sand particles. The cascades were made of NACA 65(10)10 airfoils. Three cascades were tested, one accelerating cascade and two diffusing cascades. The theoretical analysis assumes inviscid and incompressible two dimensional flow. The momentum exchange between the fluid and the particle is accounted for by the interphase force terms in the fluid momentum equation. The modified fluid phase momentum equations and the continuity equation are reduced to the conventional stream function vorticity formulation. The method treats the fluid phase in the Eulerian system and the particle phase in Lagrangian system. The experimental results indicate a small increase in the blade surface static pressures, while the theoretical results indicate a small decrease. The theoretical analysis, also predicts the loss in total pressure associated with the particulate flow through the cascade.

Tabakoff, W.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Numerical simulations of unsteady, viscous, transonic flow over isolated and cascaded airfoils using a deforming grid

A compressible, unsteady, full Navier-Stokes, finite difference code was developed for modeling transonic flow through two-dimensional, oscillating cascades. The procedure introduces a deforming grid technique to capture the motion of the airfoils. Results using a deforming grid are presented for both isolated and cascaded airfoils. The load histories and unsteady pressure distributions are predicted for the NASA 64A010 isolated airfoil and compared with existing experimental data. Results show that the deforming grid technique can be used to successfully predict the unsteady flow properties around an oscillating airfoil. The deforming grid technique was extended for modeling unsteady flow in a cascade. The use of a deforming grid simplifies the specification of boundary conditions. Unsteady flow solutions similar to the isolated airfoil predictions are found for a NACA 0012 cascade with zero interblade phase angle and zero stagger. Experimental data for these cases are not available for code validation, but computational results are presented to show sample predictions from the code. Applications of the code to typical turbomachinery flow conditions will be presented in future work.

Huff, Dennis L.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Numerical simulations of unsteady, viscous, transonic flow over isolated and cascaded airfoils using a deforming grid

Huff, Dennis L.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Two phase pumping of cryogenic propellants

Two-phase cryogenic propellant pumping techniques developed during the past 5 years are discussed. During this period the theory of two-phase pumping of hydrogen was developed into an operational technique that can result in significant benefits to space vehicle propulsion systems. Using two-phase pumping techniques, zero LH2 tank net positive suction head (NPSH) was demonstrated on turbopump and rocket engine firings, and limited experimental results show that two-phase pumping of liquid oxygen is feasible. Design techniques were developed for improving the two-phase pumping capability of inducers.

H P Stinson↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Updates on the Debrisat Hypervelocity Experiment and Characterization of Fragments in Support of Environmental Models

To develop, maintain, and update orbital debris environmental and break-up models, such as the NASA Orbital Debris Engineering Model (ORDEM) and the NASA Standard Satellite Breakup Model (SSBM), the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) relies on the most recent validated datasets from various measurement sources, both laboratory and environmental. One key project that will provide insight for break-up events using modern-day spacecraft materials and construction techniques is the DebriSat laboratory hypervelocity-impact test. Based on the mass of the target, the projectile, and the impact velocity, the expected number of fragments greater than 2 mm, generated using the NASA SSBM, was estimated to be close to 85,000. To date, the DebriSat fragment database continues to grow, with over 200,000 fragments collected that will help inform updates to the SSBM. Additionally, the growing fragment ensemble will support key parameters for the next release of NASA’s environmental models, employing fragment shapes, densities, and size distributions. To further support these environmental models, specifically the size parameter used in ground-based optical measurements, optical characterization on a subset of DebriSat fragments is being conducted in ODPO’s Optical Measurement Center (OMC). Broadband bidirectional reflectance distribution (BRDF) measurements will provide insight into the optical-based NASA Size Estimation Model (OSEM). The OSEM equates an object’s brightness to size (e.g., diameter of a disk or sphere) given several assumed parameters, including a defined phase function, albedo, and range. To address the first defined parameter, the ODPO has been using ray-tracing software to simulate light conditions in the OMC and to generate phase functions (i.e., specular, Lambertian, and experimentally-derived) of known shapes, materials, and sizes. This simulated data, in addition to the experimentally derived measurements collected in the OMC, will aid in determining whether a new phase function would be suitable for an updated OSEM. The OSEM also assumes a single-value albedo, thus pre-impact spectral measurements on a subset of DebriSat materials were acquired for baseline material characterization and to provide insight into spacecraft material taxonomies. This DebriSat spectral data, along with spectral measurements from other known spacecraft material samples, will allow for better analyses of albedo variations and the effect on size calculations of defined laboratory targets, thus further supporting OSEM updates. This paper provides an overview of DebriSat, the status of the project, updates on the parameter distributions, an overview of the NASA SSBM, and ongoing fragment characterization efforts within the OMC.

Heather Cowardin↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Updates on the DebriSat Hypervelocity Experiment and Characterization of Fragments in Support of Environmental Models

To develop, maintain, and update orbital debris environmental and break-up models, such as the NASA Orbital Debris Engineering Model (ORDEM) and the NASA Standard Satellite Breakup Model (SSBM), the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) relies on the most recent validated datasets from various measurement sources, both laboratory and environmental. One key project that will provide insight for break-up events using modern-day spacecraft materials and construction techniques is the DebriSat laboratory hypervelocity-impact test. Based on the mass of the target, the projectile, and the impact velocity, the expected number of fragments greater than 2 mm, generated using the NASA SSBM, was estimated to be close to 85,000. To date, the DebriSat fragment database continues to grow, with over 200,000 fragments collected that will help inform updates to the SSBM. Additionally, the growing fragment ensemble will support key parameters for the next release of NASA’s environmental models, employing fragment shapes, densities, and size distributions. To further support these environmental models, specifically the size parameter used in ground-based optical measurements, optical characterization on a subset of DebriSat fragments is being conducted in ODPO’s Optical Measurement Center (OMC). Broadband bidirectional reflectance distribution (BRDF) measurements will provide insight into the optical-based NASA Size Estimation Model (OSEM). The OSEM equates an object’s brightness to size (e.g., diameter of a disk or sphere) given several assumed parameters, including a defined phase function, albedo, and range. To address the first defined parameter, the ODPO has been using ray-tracing software to simulate light conditions in the OMC and to generate phase functions (i.e., specular, Lambertian, and experimentally-derived) of known shapes, materials, and sizes. This simulated data, in addition to the experimentally derived measurements collected in the OMC, will aid in determining whether a new phase function would be suitable for an updated OSEM. The OSEM also assumes a single-value albedo, thus preimpact spectral measurements on a subset of DebriSat materials were acquired for baseline material characterization and to provide insight into spacecraft material taxonomies. This DebriSat spectral data, along with spectral measurements from other known spacecraft material samples, will allow for better analyses of albedo variations and the effect on size calculations of defined laboratory targets, thus further supporting OSEM updates. This paper provides an overview of DebriSat, the status of the project, updates on the parameter distributions, an overview of the NASA SSBM, and ongoing fragment characterization efforts within the OMC.

Heather Cowardin↗