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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 577 records · Page 32

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NASA NTRS1983

Design of a microprocessor-based Control, Interface and Monitoring (CIM unit for turbine engine controls research

High speed minicomputers were used in the past to implement advanced digital control algorithms for turbine engines. These minicomputers are typically large and expensive. It is desirable for a number of reasons to use microprocessor-based systems for future controls research. They are relatively compact, inexpensive, and are representative of the hardware that would be used for actual engine-mounted controls. The Control, Interface, and Monitoring Unit (CIM) contains a microprocessor-based controls computer, necessary interface hardware and a system to monitor while it is running an engine. It is presently being used to evaluate an advanced turbofan engine control algorithm.

Delaat, J. C.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Direct launch using the electric rail gun

The concept explored involves using a large single stage electric rail gun to achieve orbital velocities. Exit aerodynamics, launch package design and size, interior ballistics, system and component sizing and design concepts are treated. Technology development status and development requirements are identified and described. The expense of placing payloads in Earth orbit using conventional chemical rockets is considerable. Chemical rockets are very inefficient in converting chemical energy into payload kinetic energy. A rocket motor is relatively expensive and is usually expended on each launch. In addition specialized and expensive forms of fuel are required. Gun launching payloads directly to orbit from the Earth's surface is a possible alternative. Guns are much more energy efficient than rockets. The high capital cost of the gun installation can be recovered by reusing it over and over again. Finally, relatively inexpensive fuel and large quantities of energy are readily available to a fixed installation on the Earth's surface.

Barber, J. P.↗

NASA NTRS1983

A compact inflow control device for simulating flight fan noise

Inflow control device (ICD's) of various shapes and sizes have been used to simulate inflight fan tone noise during ground static tests. A small, simple inexpensive ICD design was optimized from previous design and fabrication techniques. This compact two-fan-diameter ICD exhibits satisfactory acoustic performance characteristics without causing noise attenuation or redirection. In addition, it generates no important new noise sources. Design and construction details of the compact ICD are discussed and acoustic performance test results are presented.

Homyak, L.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Heating analysis of bent-nose biconics at high angles of attack using the parabolized Navier-Stokes equations

A method based on the Parabolized Navier-Stokes equations is used to calculate the flow field and heat transfer of lifting entry vehicles. The method is based on the Bean and Warming implicit algorithm and uses a new procedure for preventing departure solutions. Calculations are carried out for blunt on-axis and bent biconics, assuming a perfect gas and laminar flow, and compared with available heat transfer, surface pressure and shock shape measurements for a range of Mach numbers and angles of attack. In all calculations presented here, the starting solution is obtained from available inviscid and boundary layer codes. Good agreement with experiment is indicated. Thus, the method provides an accurate and rather inexpensive procedure for calculating three-dimensional flows at supersonic Mach numbers.

Stephenson, B. L.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Finite element computation with parallel VLSI

This paper describes a parallel processing computer consisting of a 16-bit microcomputer as a master processor which controls and coordinates the activities of 8086/8087 VLSI chip set slave processors working in parallel. The hardware is inexpensive and can be flexibly configured and programmed to perform various functions. This makes it a useful research tool for the development of, and experimentation with parallel mathematical algorithms. Application of the hardware to computational tasks involved in the finite element analysis method is demonstrated by the generation and assembly of beam finite element stiffness matrices. A number of possible schemes for the implementation of N-elements on N- or n-processors (N is greater than n) are described, and the speedup factors of their time consumption are determined as a function of the number of available parallel processors.

Mcgregor, J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Advances in systems for interactive processing and display of meteorological data

Advances in systems for interactive processing and display of meteorological data are reviewed, with particular attention given to developments in hardware and software, meteorological data base, analysis and display, and systems availability. These developments include inexpensive minicomputers which give the user almost instantaneous results for many types of jobs; image terminals with the capability to enhance, quantify, animate, and compare image and graphical data; accessibility of a large meteorological data base and the capability of merging different types of data; and sophisticated analysis and multidimensional display techniques. Critical problems still to be solved include getting quick access to historical and real time data bases from any system and making it easy to transport software from one system to another.

Hasler, A. F.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Gas flow through rotameters

Using data available for small rotameters that use spherical floats in gas flow, a linear relationship is derived. It is noted that the relationship provides a good fit for variable volumetric flow, density, and viscosity at constant flow height. With low Reynolds numbers (Re being less than 1), the product of the variable volumetric flow and the viscosity becomes constant; at high Reynolds numbers (Re being greater than 2000), the product of the variable volumetric flow and the square root of the density becomes constant. It is pointed out that the equation given here can be used to obtain an indirect calibration with any gas of known density and viscosity. The constancy of the product of the variable volumetric flow and viscosity at low variable volumetric flows is seen as suggesting the development of simple, inexpensive gas viscometers using rotameter technology.

Levin, H.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Investigation of metallic and metallic glass hollow spheres for fusion target application

The first successful formation of submillimeter and millimeter spherical shells of tin and of a gold-lead-antimony alloy by means of the hollow-jet instability technique developed by Kendall is reported. Examination of tin specimens by SEM reveals that surface quality varies from poor to excellent. Whereas the metal is employed only as a convenient and inexpensive material, the gold alloy is important in that it is hard, has a high atomic number, and may be solidified into the amorphous state through the provision of a modest cooling rate. AuPbSb spherules up to 1.5 mm in diameter are produced using LN2 or chilled methanol as a coolant. It is found that these amorphous samples possess a superb surface smoothness compatible with fusion target requirements. It is noted that hollow spheres currently made of this alloy have an average outside diameter of 2000 microns.

Lee, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Observations of severe in-flight environments on airplane composite structural components

The development of relatively inexpensive, highly sophisticated avionics systems makes it now possible for general aviation aircraft to fly under more severe weather conditions than formerly. Increased instrument flying increases exposure of aircraft to potentially severe thunderstorm activity such as high rain rates, hail stones, and lightning strikes. In particular, the effects of lightning on aircraft can be catastrophic. Interest in aircraft lightning protection has been stimulated by the introduction of advanced composites as an aircraft structural material. The present investigation has the objective to report experiences with three composite components which have flown in thunderstorms, taking into account three F-106B composite fin caps. The only visible lightning strike damage to a flame sprayed aluminum coated glass/epoxy fin cap was a small area of the aluminum which was burned. Visible lightning strike damage to a Kevlar/epoxy fin cap was limited to the exterior ply of aluminum coated glass fabric. In the case of a graphite/epoxy fin cap, lightning currents could be conducted.

Howell, W. E.↗

NASA NTRS1983

An aeroacoustic model for high-speed, unsteady blade-vortex interaction

A three-dimensional aeroacoustic model is developed to predict the sound pulse radiated by the passage of a helicopter blade over a potential vortex. The linearized analysis assumes that either the blade-vortex separation is small or that the blade-tip Mach number is close to 1, or both, so that an acoustically noncompact situation exists. The three-dimensional blade loading due to blade-vortex interaction is constructed through a spanwise superposition of two-dimensional solutions with strength linearly increasing from hub to tip. Such a loading overestimates somewhat the strength of tip region dipoles in the acoustic calculation that follows. The final expression for the predicted far-field signature is obtained in closed form, and thus permits a relatively inexpensive calculation of the directivity of peak acoustic pressures in three dimensions.

Martinez, R.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Picosecond kinetics of excited state decay processes in internally hydrogen-bonded polymer photostabilizers

A construction of economically practical solar energy conversion devices could be based on the employment of inexpensive, visible-radiation transparent, durable, light-fast materials. Difficulties arise in connection with the availability of such materials. Plastics which are not particularly susceptible to solar ultraviolet degradation are, in general, expensive, while less expensive optically transparent films are susceptible to deterioration when exposed to solar radiation. However, techniques are known for protecting polymers from photochemical degradation. According to these techniques, the composition or structure of polymeric material is modified by incorporation of photostabilizers. Two classes of ultraviolet absorbers are used as commercial photostabilizers. These classes include 2-hydroxybenzophenone (HB) and 2-(2-prime -hydroxyphenyl)benzotriazole (HPB). The present investigation is concerned with the results of spectroscopic and kinetics measurements related to the study of the mechanism of excited-state relaxation of polymer photostabilizers in the class HB and HPB.

Huston, A. L.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Computerized Interactive Harness Engineering

Computerized interactive harness engineering program inexpensive, interactive system for learning and using engineering approach to interconnection systems. Basically data-base system that stores information as files of individual connectors and handles wiring information in circuit groups stored as records.

Billitti, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Beam Window for Pressure Chambers

Window resists products of combustion experiments. Sodium chloride window seals over chamber pressures from 0.1 to 13.8 MPa while absorbing minimal energy from CO2 laser beam that passes through it into chamber. Window inexpensive and easily replacable.

Bransford, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Stable Optocoupler

Circuit stabilizes current-transfer ratio (CTR) of optically coupled isolator used as linear transducer. New circuit employs feedback circuit containing second optocoupler. Circuit is inexpensive, requires little additional hardware.

Griffin, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Magic-T-Coupled Magnetrons

Outputs of two magnetrons added coherently in scheme based on resonant waveguide coupling and injection phase locking. In addition, filaments are turned off after starting. Overall effect is relatively-inexpensive, lowpower, noisy magnetrons generate clean carrier signals of higher power that ordinarily require more expensive klystrons.

Dickinson, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Improved Optical Keyboard

Optical keyboard surfaces used in typewriters, computer terminals, and telephone inexpensively fabricated using stack of printed-circuit cards set in laminate. Internal laminations carry all illuminating and sensing light conductors to keys.

Jamieson, R. S.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Stabilized Aluminum Titanate

Stable, potentially-inexpensive, cubic crystalline alpha aluminum titanate that shows no phase change to 1,700 K used in heat exchangers. Particular stabilizing species must be selected with careful attention to crystal dimensions and bond angles of alpha and beta phases of aluminum titanate.

Schroeder, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Specimen Holder for Analytical Electron Microscopes

Reduces spectral contamination by spurious X-ray. Specimen holder made of compressed carbon, securely retains standard electron microscope grid (disk) 3 mm in diameter and absorbs backscattered electrons that otherwise generate spurious X-rays. Since holder inexpensive, dedicated to single specimen when numerous samples examined.

Clanton, U. S.↗