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At least 577 records · Page 32

DANTi: A Tool for Assistive Detect and Avoid Research

This paper presents DANTi, a research tool developed at NASA Langley Research Center to support the validation of Assistive Detect and Avoid (ADAA) requirements for General Aviation (GA). ADAA is a future on-board aircraft technology intended to augment a pilot’s see-and-avoid capability by helping them identify and resolve traffic conflicts earlier and more efficiently. DANTi includes a realistic Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) display and a fast-time simulation environment that can be fully customized to meet different research requirements. DANTi is currently used within NASA efforts such as the Air Mobility Pathfinders project on future air transportation systems and a joint NASA/FAA Laboratory Integrated Test Environment (NFLITE) on next-generation airspace operations in urban environments. These efforts investigate ADAA requirements in advanced urban air mobility settings where new aircraft types, new services, and new traffic patterns will be integrated in an overall crowded airspace.

Detect and Avoid↗

Determining Compression Characteristics of Honeycomb Material - 19674

The objective is to determine compression test characteristics of stainless steel honeycomb material to be able to represent honeycomb structures accurately in analytical models used to simulate hypothetical accident scenarios of shipping packages. Honeycomb is a material used primary in the aerospace industry due to its high strength-to-weight ratio. Because it doesn't have a shelf life and can withstand high heats, it is an excellent candidate for a structural material in package designs. Honeycomb has orthotropic material properties. The honeycomb currently being evaluated is made of metal ribbons spot welded together to form hexagon pattern between metal plates. The hexagon ribbons are brazed to the metal plates. The complexity of the honeycomb significantly lengthens the simulation time, which is further complicated when the brazing, welding, and imperfections of the material is considered. This means to affectively represent the honeycomb in simulation programs, such as Abaqus, the material needs to be approximated as a uniform orthotropic material. This requires material properties in each of the three directions, T, W, and L. The T direction is defined as the 'strong' direction, perpendicular to the honeycomb sheet. The L direction is parallel the ribbon and the W direction is perpendicular to the ribbon. Honeycomb has 3 different compression stages. Stage 1 is the initial compression where the honeycomb maintains its structural integrity and does not permanently deform from loads from normal operations. Stage 2 is when the initial buckling causes irreversible damage to the honeycomb. Stage 2 is the one we are most interested in because it absorbs the most energy from a hypothetical accident scenario. During Stage 2, the honeycomb fails layer-by-layer, indicating that the more layers, the longer material crushing is sustained, and thus the more energy that is absorbed. Stage 3 is final compression, similar to compressing solid metal. During stage 3 the stress increases with a diminishing rate of elongation and the honeycomb is completely failed where the plates between the honeycomb core sandwich the crushed honeycomb ribbon. The stress-strain graph bellow shows compression test of 3 different samples in the T direction. The red lines divide the three stages. The far left is Stage 1, the middle stage 2, and the right stage 3. The data collected is displayed in the table below. The expressions in the table represent the regression formula that represents each stage of the compression on a stress-strain graph. Stage 1 is assumed to intersect with the origin; data for stage 3 for the crush in W and L directions where unable to be gathered due to the nature of failure for those directions. Stage 1 and 2 are linear regressions while stage 3 is a degree 2, to best match the curve. Linear regression is used on stage 2 because ultimately that represents the energy absorbed. With more data, a degree n x 2 regression would be a more appropriate regression for stage 2, where n is the number of layers. The table below is the approximation of each scenario and stage. Each stage starts and ends at the intersection of the next stage. There where two main objectives for these tests: firstly to understand how honeycomb performs under extreme compression, and secondly to be able to numerically represent the honeycomb structure. Both of these where completed to varying degrees. It is important understood how the honeycomb fails. If it is crushed in the T direction it retains its integrity even after being crushed, however when crushed in the L and W crush direction, if it fails, it disintegrates, and loses all integrity. Also, the more layers the more time the material spends in stage 2. Failure is started by buckling, thus if there is any imperfection, the stress will not spike but transition straight into stage 2. The data collected and aggregated can be used for initial simulation of honeycomb used in packages. The initial testing has set the ground work for more data to be collected in order to verify results and to allow more confidence in the simulation results. This is only the initial data collected. The next steps is to continue to collect more data to verify results and to test more variants of honeycomb, with different brazing, layers, and shape.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Optimization of Dry Storage Canister Cutting Operations - 20534

A recent project investigated the optimal cutting method for the opening of a welded dry storage/shielded canister (DSC) or dual purpose canister (DPC) containing Used Nuclear Fuel (UNF). Due to the lack of a disposal path for UNF in the U.S., the majority of UNF is currently moved into welded DSCs and DPCs designed by Orano TN, NAC, and Holtec. As the DSCs/DPCs were neither designed nor licensed for disposal and may not be able to be emplaced in a geologic repository due to physical emplacement constraints, near-term thermal limitations, or long-term criticality issues, the UNF in these existing DSCs/DPCs may need to be repackaged into transportation, aging, and disposal canisters (TADs), generic standard TADs (STADs), transportation casks, new cask/canister systems, and/or cask/canister/package systems suitable for disposal. These DSCs/DPCs may also be opened to simply remove the UNF in preparation for recycling, re-storage, or placement into a waste package suitable for disposal. Regardless of need, the DSCs/DPCs would require to be cut open by a potentially large scale operation. This project examined the multiple means for cutting welded metal systems and considered several factors to determine an optimal approach. Issues arose around some of the cutting approaches when applied to systems with 2 or 3 lids and with pre-cutting gas testing required. The resulting preferences in cutting methods with an optimized application for the opening of DSCs/DPCs are presented. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Active Metal Brazing and Characterization of Brazed Joints in Titanium to Carbon-Carbon Composites

The Ti-metal/C-C composite joints were formed by reactive brazing with three commercial brazes, namely, Cu-ABA, TiCuNi, and TiCuSiI. The joint microstructures were examined using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The results of the microstructure analysis indicate solute redistribution across the joint and possible metallurgical bond formation via interdiffusion, which led to good wetting and spreading. A tube-on-plate tensile test was used to evaluate joint strength of Ti-tube/ C-C composite joints. The load-carrying ability was greatest for the Cu-ABA braze joint structures. This system appeared to have the best braze spreading which resulted in a larger braze/C-C composite bonded area compared to the other two braze materials. Also, joint loadcarrying ability was found to be higher for joint structures where the fiber tows in the outer ply of the C-C composite were aligned perpendicular to the tube axis when compared to the case where fiber tows were aligned parallel to the tube axis.

Singh, M.↗

Buckling tests of structural elements applicable to large erectable space trusses

Detailed data on columns and center a joint for completeness is presented. Buckling data for a tripod arrangement of these columns using a cluster joint is also presented. The objectives of these test are: (1) to gain insight into joint requirements for truss structure; (2) to assess the structural qualities of the column and center joint designs; (3) to investigate the restraint provided by octetruss core members (tripod) to the cluster joints; (4) to provide insight into the level of analysis required to predict buckling behavior of Gr/E nestable columns both as simple columns and in a tripod arrangement; and (5) to provide a data base for Gr/E nestable columns.

Heard, W. L., Jr.↗

Multi-Dimensional High Order Essentially Non-Oscillatory Finite Difference Methods in Generalized Coordinates

This project is about the development of high order, non-oscillatory type schemes for computational fluid dynamics. Algorithm analysis, implementation, and applications are performed. Collaborations with NASA scientists have been carried out to ensure that the research is relevant to NASA objectives. The combination of ENO finite difference method with spectral method in two space dimension is considered, jointly with Cai [3]. The resulting scheme behaves nicely for the two dimensional test problems with or without shocks. Jointly with Cai and Gottlieb, we have also considered one-sided filters for spectral approximations to discontinuous functions [2]. We proved theoretically the existence of filters to recover spectral accuracy up to the discontinuity. We also constructed such filters for practical calculations.

Shu, Chi-Wang↗

Reusable High-Pressure Connector

Fluid line connector for high pressure tests has split ferrule, nut, and O-ring seal. Following test, ferrule nut, and O-ring fitting are removed leaving line unaltered except for bushing braze to free end. Connector assures strong joint for high-pressure testing without redundant parts requiring postest debrazing.

Jensen, H. O. C.↗

Structural characterization of a first-generation articulated-truss joint for space crane application

A first-generation space crane articulated-truss joint was statically and dynamically characterized in a configuration that approximated an operational environment. The articulated-truss joint was integrated into a test-bed for structural characterization. Static characterization was performed by applying known loads and measuring the corresponding deflections to obtain load-deflection curves. Dynamic characterization was performed using modal testing to experimentally determine the first six mode shapes, frequencies, and modal damping values. Static and dynamic characteristics were also determined for a reference truss that served as a characterization baseline. Load-deflection curves and experimental frequency response functions are presented for the reference truss and the articulated-truss joint mounted in the test-bed. The static and dynamic experimental results are compared with analytical predictions obtained from finite element analyses. Load-deflection response is also presented for one of the linear actuators used in the articulated-truss joint. Finally, an assessment is presented for the predictability of the truss hardware used in the reference truss and articulated-truss joint based upon hardware stiffness properties that were previously obtained during the Precision Segmented Reflector (PSR) Technology Development Program.

Sutter, Thomas R.↗

Sensitivities of Soap Solutions in Leak Detection

Document describes method for determining minimum leak rate to which soap-solution leak detectors sensitive. Bubbles formed at smaller leak rates than previously assumed. In addition to presenting test results, document discusses effects of joint-flange configurations, properties of soap solutions, and correlation of test results with earlier data.

Stuck, D.↗

Lightweight, Actively Cooled Ceramic Matrix Composite Thrustcells Successfully Tested in Rocket Combustion Lab

In a joint effort between the NASA Glenn Research Center and the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, regeneratively cooled ceramic matrix composite (CMC) thrustcells were developed and successfully tested in Glenn's Rocket Combustion Lab. Cooled CMC's offer the potential for substantial weight savings over more traditional metallic parts. Two CMC concepts were investigated. In the first of these concepts, an innovative processing approach utilized by Hyper-Therm, Inc., allowed woven CMC coolant containment tubes to be incorporated into the complex thruster design. In this unique design, the coolant passages had varying cross-sectional shapes but maintained a constant cross-sectional area along the length of the thruster. These thrusters were silicon carbide matrix composites reinforced with silicon carbide fibers. The second concept, which was supplied by Ceramic Composites, Inc., utilized copper cooling coils surrounding a carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon matrix composite. In this design, a protective gradient coating was applied to the inner thruster wall. Ceramic Composites, Inc.'s, method of incorporating the coating into the fiber and matrix eliminated the spallation problem often observed with thermal barrier coatings during hotfire testing. The focus of the testing effort was on screening the CMC material's capabilities as well as evaluating the performance of the thermal barrier or fiber-matrix interfacial coatings. Both concepts were hot-fire tested in gaseous O2/H2 environments. The test matrix included oxygen-to-fuel ratios ranging from 1.5 to 7 with chamber pressures to 400 psi. Steady-state internal wall temperatures in excess of 4300 F were measured in situ for successful 30-sec test runs. Photograph of actively cooled composite thrustcell fabricated by Hyper-Therm is shown. The thrustcell is a silicon-carbide-fiber-reinforced silicon carbide matrix composite with woven cooling channels. The matrix is formed via chemical vapor infiltration. Photograph of hot-fire test of an actively cooled carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon matrix composite thrustcell is also shown. This composite thrustcell, which was fabricated by CCI, Inc., was wound with copper cooling coils to contain the water coolant. The tests were run with oxygen fuel ratios up to seven with chamber pressures of 200 psia.

Jaskowiak, Martha H.↗

NDE Evidence for the Damage Arrestment Performance of PRSEUS Composite Cube During High-Pressure Load Test

As an approach to light-weight, cost-effective and manufacturable structures required to enable the hybrid wing body aircraft, The Boeing Company, Inc. and NASA have developed the Pultruded Rod Stitched Efficient Unitized Structure (PRSEUS) concept. A PRSEUS pressure cube was developed as a risk reduction test article to examine a new integral cap joint concept as part of a building block approach for technology development of the PRSEUS concept. The overall specimen strength exceeded the 18.4 psi load requirement as testing resulted in the cube reaching a final pressure load of around 48 psi prior to catastrophic failure. The cube pressure test verified that the joints and structure were capable of sustaining the required loads, and represented the first testing of joined PRSEUS structure. This paper will address the damage arrestment performance of the stitched PRSEUS structure. Following catastrophic failure of the cube, ultrasonic pulse-echo inspection found that the localized damage, surrounding a barely-visible impact damage site, did not change noticeably between just after impact and catastrophic failure of the cube, and did not play a role in the catastrophic failure event. Ultrasonic inspection of the remaining intact cube panels presented three basic types of indications: delaminations between laminae parallel to the face sheets, lying between face sheet and tear strap layers, or between tear strap and flange layers; delaminations above the noodles of stringers, frames or integral caps, lying within face sheet or tear strap layers; and delaminations between the laminae in the inner fillets of the integral caps, where pulloff stresses were expected to be highest. Delaminations of all three types were predominantly contained by the first row of stitches encountered. For the small fraction of delaminations extending beyond the first row of stitches, all were contained by the second stitch row.

Johnston, Patrick H.↗

Residual Stress Measurements After Proof and Flight: ETP-0403

The intent of this testing was to evaluate the residual stresses that occur in and around the attachment details of a case stiffener segment that has been subjected to flight/recovery followed by proof loading. Not measured in this test were stresses relieved at joint disassembly due to out-of-round and interference effects, and those released by cutting the specimens out of the case segment. The test article was lightweight case stiffener segment 1U50715, S/N L023 which was flown in the forward stiffener position on flight SRM 14A and in the aft position on flight SRM24A. Both of these flights were flown with the 3 stiffener ring configuration. Stiffener L023 had a stiffener ring installed only on the aft stub in its first flight, and it had both rings installed on its second flight. No significant post flight damage was found on either flight. Finally, the segment was used on the DM-8 static test motor in the forward position. No stiffener rings were installed. It had only one proof pressurization prior to assignment to its first use, and it was cleaned and proof tested after each flight. Thus, the segment had seen 3 proof tests, two flight pressurizations, and two low intensity water impacts prior to manufacturing for use on DM-8. On DM-8 it received one static firing pressurization in the horizontal configuration. Residual stresses at the surface and in depth were evaluated by both the x-ray diffraction and neutron beam diffraction methods. The x-ray diffraction evaluations were conducted by Technology for Energy Corporation (TEC) at their facilities in Knoxville, TN. The neutron beam evaluations were done by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) at the Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories in Ontario. The results showed general agreement with relatively high compressive residual stresses on the surface and moderate to low subsurface tensile residual stresses.

Webster, Ronald L..↗

Volcanic Field Sites for Artemis Testing and Training

The Artemis Program will reestablish human presence on the Moon and lead to a new era of scientific discovery and exploration. Led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Artemis Program is a collaboration of space agencies and companies around the world. An integrated effort between various disciplines of science, engineering, and mission operations is currently developing methods, facilities, and analog field locations to train astronauts and test hardware and concepts of operations. These efforts aim to best prepare for the next steps of human exploration on the lunar surface and beyond. Numerous terrestrial volcanic field sites were evaluated and selected for their unique roles in helping to prepare for the lunar surface mission phases. This effort heavily leveraged the comprehensive academic research conducted at these field sites, as well as the tremendous Apollo heritage. The currently selected volcanic field sites include the San Francisco Volcanic Field in Northern Arizona, the Potrillo Volcanic Field in southern New Mexico, the highlands of Iceland, and the Southwestern Nevada Volcanic Field. Within each of these volcanic field sites numerous specific testing and training locations are being further developed utilizing the analogous terrain and unique features in these regions. Recent Artemis testing and training events have been conducted at a number of these volcanic field sites by both a dedicated Artemis Geology Training Team and a Joint Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) Testing Team. This presentation will highlight the selected sites as well as the objectives and accomplishments of some of the recent field-testing events and training courses. Additionally, we continually strive to pursue additional sites, locations, data sets, collaborations, and partnerships in this endeavor and welcome knowledge transfer and community input.

Trevor Graff↗

Structural Health Monitoring: Using an Autoencoder to Identify Damage in a Bolted Joint [Capstone Project]

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is an important fixture in the United States Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA) complex. LANL is one of the largest national laboratories in the country, and the laboratory’s primary mission is to support the nation’s nuclear stockpile. The lab functions as a design agencies for the NNSA and performs extensive testing on weapons as part of that mission. The shock and vibration test team at LANL utilizes electrodynamic shaker systems for important qualification testing in support of the laboratory’s mission. Modern engineering relies heavily on bolted joints to connect two objects. During these shaker tests, engineers depend on bolted joints to secure the test article to a fixture and the fixture to the table. The test article may be hazardous and contain high explosives which could create a safety issue if a bolted joint failed. A loss of preload in a bolt will affect the way energy is input to the system and may introduce nonlinearities as the joint opens and closes. The loss of preload can create challenges controlling the test and make acquired signals useless. Being able to monitor preload within bolted joints during testing can improve the quality of the data and keep workers safe.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Preliminary Cryogenic Cold Test Results of the First 9-Cell LSF Shape Cavity

Following successful prototyping and testing of single- & 5-cell LSF shape cavities *, **, the first 9-cell LSF shape cavity LSF9-1 was successfully constructed using an innovative process at JLab with the in-house facilities. The cavity was then shipped to KEK for post-fabrication mechanical adjustment and ILC TDR style treatment and surface processing. Cold testing was carried out at the JLab VTA facility, instrumented with a suite of Kyoto instruments. Favorable values for the bath pressure detuning sensitivity and Lorentz force detuning coefficient were experimentally measured, validating the design improvement in cell stiffeners. Pass-band measurements indicate 4 out of 9 cells reaching gradient capability of > 45 MV/m, including 2 cells reaching 51 MV/m. Cornell OST detectors identified the cell and location responsible for the current hard quench limit. Multipacting-like barriers observed in end cells are investigated both analytically and numerically. The cavity was shipped to FNAL and received a light EP at the joint ANL/FNAL facility for further cold testing at Jlab. Two new 9-cell LSF cavities are being constructed including one made of large-grain niobium material.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Experimental Characterization of Hysteresis in a Revolute Joint for Precision Deployable Structures

Recent studies of the micro-dynamic behavior of a deployable telescope metering truss have identified instabilities in the equilibrium shape of the truss in response to low-energy dynamic loading. Analyses indicate that these micro-dynamic instabilities arise from stick-slip friction within the truss joints (e.g., hinges and latches). The present study characterizes the low-magnitude quasi-static load cycle response of the precision revolute joints incorporated in the deployable telescope metering truss, and specifically, the hysteretic response of these joints caused by stick-slip friction within the joint. Detailed descriptions are presented of the test setup and data reduction algorithms, including discussions of data-error sources and data-filtering techniques. Test results are presented from thirteen specimens, and the effects of joint preload and manufacturing tolerances are investigated. Using a simplified model of stick-slip friction, a relationship is made between joint load-cycle behavior and micro-dynamic dimensional instabilities in the deployable telescope metering truss.

Lake, Mark S.↗

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Integrated Science Instruments Module (ISIM) Electronics Compartment (IEC) Conformal Shields Composite Bond Structure Qualification Test Method

The JWST IEC conformal shields are mounted onto a composite frame structure that must undergo qualification testing to satisfy mission assurance requirements. The composite frame segments are bonded together at the joints using epoxy, EA 9394. The development of a test method to verify the integrity of the bonded structure at its operating environment introduces challenges in terms of requirements definition and the attainment of success criteria. Even though protoflight thermal requirements were not achieved, the first attempt in exposing the structure to cryogenic operating conditions in a thermal vacuum environment resulted in approximately 1 bonded joints failure during mechanical pull tests performed at 1.25 times the flight loads. Failure analysis concluded that the failure mode was due to adhesive cracks that formed and propagated along stress concentrated fillets as a result of poor bond squeeze-out control during fabrication. Bond repairs were made and the structures successfully re-tested with an improved LN2 immersion test method to achieve protoflight thermal requirements.

Thermal Vacuum Testing Chamber↗

Response versus scan angle derived from polarization testing for JPSS-2 VIIRS

For the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) onboard the JPSS (Joint Polar Satellite System) missions, extensive ground testing is performed to characterize some aspects of the sensor that cannot be measured once the instruments are on-orbit. Two such parameters are the response versus scan angle (RVS) and polarization sensitivity. The pre-launch tests that characterize these parameters share a number of similarities. This paper will show that the polarization test data can be used to generate RVS results that are comparable to the results produced from the RVS test itself. The polarization test data also provides additional information about how the RVS changes with both scan angle and polarization state.

JPSS↗