Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Modifications”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 595 records · Page 33

HVAC modifications and computerized energy analysis for the Operations Support Building at the Mars Deep Space Station at Goldstone

The key heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) modifications implemented at the Mars Deep Space Station's Operation Support Building at Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL) in order to reduce energy consumption and decrease operating costs are described. An energy analysis comparison between the computer simulated model for the building and the actual meter data was presented. The measurement performance data showed that the cumulative energy savings was about 21% for the period 1979 to 1981. The deviation from simulated data to measurement performance data was only about 3%.

Halperin, A.↗

Modification to the NASA Langley 4- by 7-meter tunnel for improved rotorcraft aerodynamics and acoustics

Investigations have been conducted with the aim of improving circuit mean flow characteristics and test section turbulence intensity in the NASA Langley 4 x 7-m wind tunnel. Flow deflectors were instaled to displace the airstream and provide more symmetrical velocity distributions. The periodic flow pulsations of the open test section configuration were addressed by modifications of either the test section entrance, using triangular vanes, or the test section exit, using an alternative flow collector geometry; the latter proved more effective.

Applin, Z. T.↗

Charged particle modification of ices in the Saturnian and Jovian systems

The modification by ion bombardment of the surfaces of icy objects in the Saturnian and Jovian systems is discussed. Chemical changes in ices are induced by breaking of bonds and by implantation of incident ions. Long-term irradiation by fast ions produces physical changes such as increasing the surface reflectivity and ability to scatter light. On large satellites, molecules which are ejected by ion bombardment are redistributed across the surfaces of large satellites. For small satellites and ring particles bombarded by ions, such as those of Saturn, most or all of the sputtered material is lost to space, forming a neutral torus in the locale of the satellite orbits and rings and supplying ions to the magnetosphere. Noting the existence of such a torus, the sputter erosion and possible stabilization of the E-ring of Saturn is discussed.

Johnson, R. E.↗

Application of a system modification technique to dynamic tuning of a spinning rotor blade

An important consideration in the development of modern helicopters is the vibratory response of the main rotor blade. One way to minimize vibration levels is to ensure that natural frequencies of the spinning main rotor blade are well removed from integer multiples of the rotor speed. A technique for dynamically tuning a finite-element model of a rotor blade to accomplish that end is demonstrated. A brief overview is given of the general purpose finite element system known as Engineering Analysis Language (EAL) which was used in this work. A description of the EAL System Modification (SM) processor is then given along with an explanation of special algorithms developed to be used in conjunction with SM. Finally, this technique is demonstrated by dynamically tuning a model of an advanced composite rotor blade.

Spain, C. V.↗

Charged particle modification of surfaces in the outer solar system

Voyager reflectance spectra data have indicated clear leading/trailing differences in the albedo of the icy Galilean and Saturian satellites. For the Galilean satellites, these have been analyzed by Nelson, et al. and, more recently, by McEwen. They have described the longitudinal dependence of this data and attempted to interpret this in terms of plasma and meteorite modification of the surface. Primary attention has been paid to Europa at which the leading/trailing differences are the largest. This data was reanalyzed extracting the single grain albedo (w) and constructing the Espat-function, W = (1-w)/w from this. Because w is near unity, W is approximately 2(alpha)D where alpha is the absorption coefficient and D is the grain size. In doing so, a direct comparison to the longitudinal plasma bombardment flux was found for the first time. This occurs primarily in the UV and is probably due to an absorption associated with implanted S, as the UV band of Voyager overlaps the IUE data of Lane et al. The relative importance of grain size effects and implant impurity effects can now be studied.

Johnson, R. E.↗

Flight investigation of the effects of an outboard wing-leading-edge modification on stall/spin characteristics of a low-wing, single-engine, T-tail light airplane

Flight tests were performed to investigate the change in stall/spin characteristics due to the addition of an outboard wing-leading-edge modification to a four-place, low-wing, single-engine, T-tail, general aviation research airplane. Stalls and attempted spins were performed for various weights, center of gravity positions, power settings, flap deflections, and landing-gear positions. Both stall behavior and wind resistance were improved compared with the baseline airplane. The latter would readily spin for all combinations of power settings, flap deflections, and aileron inputs, but the modified airplane did not spin at idle power or with flaps extended. With maximum power and flaps retracted, the modified airplane did enter spins with abused loadings or for certain combinations of maneuver and control input. The modified airplane tended to spin at a higher angle of attack than the baseline airplane.

Stough, H. Paul, III↗

Support of the eight-foot high temperature tunnel modification project

In order to meet the need for propulsion testing in the high supersonic range from Mach 4 to Mach 7, NASA has undertaken the modification of the Langley Eight Foot High Temperature Tunnel to add alternate Mach number capability and oxygen enrichment to allow the testing of operating engines at these Mach numbers and at true temperature tunnel. The transfer of liquid oxygen (LOX) from a storage vessel to a rocket engine generally requires the use of a pressurizing gas at high pressures. Although nitrogen is preferred, unfortunately, when gaseous nitrogen (GN2) is used as the pressurant to transfer liquid oxygen from a storage tank to the tunnel combustor, it contaminates the liquid oxygen and effects a loss of performance in the engine. The contamination of the LOX by the pressurizing GN2 is described, which may prove to be an important operational constraint. It is desirable to have reliable data concerning the penetration of GN2 into LOX during pressurization and the subsequent of self cleaning after blowdown.

Ngo, Kim Chi↗

Modification to the Langley 8-foot high temperature tunnel for hypersonic propulsion testing

Described are the modifications currently under way to the Langley 8-Foot High Temperature Tunnel to produce a new, unique national resource for testing hypersonic air-breathing propulsion systems. The current tunnel, which has been used for aerothermal loads and structures research since its inception, is being modified with the addition of a LOX system to bring the oxygen content of the test medium up to that of air, the addition of alternate Mach number capability (4 and 5) to augment the current M=7 capability, improvements to the tunnel hardware to reduce maintenance downtime, the addition of a hydrogen system to allow the testing of hydrogen powered engines, and a new data system to increase both the quantity and quality of the data obtained.

Reubush, D. E.↗

Vent modification of large ribbon parachutes to enhance cluster performance

Due to uneven load sharing and lagging inflation rates, the design of the Large Main Parachute (LMP) cluster, used to recover the Space Shuttle steel case Solid Rocket Boosters, had to be modified. The cause of the problem was excessive variation in effective porosity in the crown area of the LMP during first stage inflation. The design modification consisted of adding horizontal ribbons above the existing vent band to reduce the vent porosity and better control the position and attitude of the vent lines. Performance of modified LMP's since introduction indicates that the load sharing between the clustered chutes has been significantly improved.

Kolega, D. J.↗

Evaluation of cloud shading effects on the generation and modification of mesoscale circulations

This study presents scale analysis and numerical model evaluations of the impact of cloud shading on (1) the development of sea breeze and thermally induced upslope flows and (2) the generation of mesoscale circulations between cloudy areas adjacent to clear areas. Based on the assumption of modifications of solar and longwave radiation which are typical for some overcast conditions, it was found that the reduction in the first type of circulation is significant and most noticeable in the vertical velocities. In the second case, thermally induced circulations in favorable conditions appear to approach the typical intensity of the sea breeze.

Segal, M.↗

Atmospheric boundary layer modification in the marginal ice zone

A case study of the Andreas et al. (1984) data on atmospheric boundary layer modification in the marginal ice zone is made. The model is a two-dimensional, multilevel, linear model with turbulence, lateral and vertical advection, and radiation. Good agreement between observed and modeled temperature cross sections is obtained. In contrast to the hypothesis of Andreas et al., the air flow is found to be stable to secondary circulations. Adiabatic lifting and, at long fetches, cloud top longwave cooling, not an air-to-surface heat flux, dominate the cooling of the boundary layer. The accumulation with fetch over the ice of changes in the surface wind field is shown to have a large effect on estimates of the surface wind stress. It is speculated that the Andreas et al. estimates of the drag coefficient over the compact sea ice are too high.

Bennett, Theodore J., Jr.↗

Modification of a successive corrections objective analysis for improved higher order calculations

The use of objectively analyzed fields of meteorological data for the initialization of numerical prediction models and for complex diagnostic studies places the requirements upon the objective method that derivatives of the gridded fields be accurate and free from interpolation error. A modification was proposed for an objective analysis developed by Barnes that provides improvements in analysis of both the field and its derivatives. Theoretical comparisons, comparisons between analyses of analytical monochromatic waves, and comparisons between analyses of actual weather data are used to show the potential of the new method. The new method restores more of the amplitudes of desired wavelengths while simultaneously filtering more of the amplitudes of undesired wavelengths. These results also hold for the first and second derivatives calculated from the gridded fields. Greatest improvements were for the Laplacian of the height field; the new method reduced the variance of undesirable very short wavelengths by 72 percent. Other improvements were found in the divergence of the gridded wind field and near the boundaries of the field of data.

Achtemeier, Gary L.↗

Modification of turbulent boundary layer structure by large-eddy breakup devices

The modification of the turbulent boundary layer large-eddy structure by streamlined devices is analyzed using the rapid distortion approximation and unsteady aerodynamic theory. The fluctuating velocity downstream of thin plate and airfoil-shaped devices is calculated throughout the boundary layer for two-dimensional and three-dimensional upstream harmonic disturbances. It is shown that such devices suppress most effectively the fluctuating vertical velocity for a range of reduced frequencies k(1) based on the device chord length. This effect depends on the device geometry and loading, its distance to the wall, and on the upstream disturbance condition. Effective devices suppressing most of the large-scale turbulent energy are such that k(1) varies over the 0.5 to 3.0 range. For airfoil-shaped devices, the device thickness has minimal effect on its performance. On the other hand, lifting devices are more effective than thin plates particularly for two-dimensional disturbances.

Atassi, H. M.↗

Model-independent constraints on possible modifications of Newtonian gravity

New model-independent constraints on possible modifications of Newtonian gravity over solar-system distance scales are presented, and their implications discussed. The constraints arise from the analysis of various planetary astrometric data sets. The results of the model-independent analysis are then applied to set limits on a variation in the l/r-squared behavior of gravity, on possible Yukawa-type interactions with ranges of the order of planetary distance scales, and on a deviation from Newtonian gravity of the type discussed by Milgrom (1983).

Talmadge, C.↗

An artificial compression method for ENO schemes: The slope modification method

A simple and effective method of artificial compression is introduced. This method is based on a modification of the slopes of the ENO (essentially nonoscillatory) reconstruction and, with the help of suitable chosen parameters, greatly improves the resolution of the contact discontinuities. Numerical examples are provided to test the performance of the method and to give some suggestions as to the choice of the parameters.

Yang, Huanan↗

Disposition of recommended modifications of JSC 30426

On May 11, 1988 changes and additions to the Space Station External Contamination Control Document JSC 30426 were addressed at length as part of the charter of this workshop. The modifications and disposition thereof are given below in a concise form in order that a clear understanding of the recommendations and current status be presented. The format is that each paragraph under question is given along with the proposed modified paragraph followed by the workshop's disposition. In some cases, a brief explanation of the issue is given prior to the paragraph in question.

Spann, James F.↗

Shuttle landing runway modification to improve tire spin-up wear performance

This paper presents the results of a series of tire spin-up wear tests on a simulated Kennedy Space Center (KSC) runway that were carried out to investigate the tire wear problem for Space Shuttle landings on the KSC runway and to test several modifications of the runway surface designed to alleviate the problem. It was found that the runway surface produced by a concrete smoothing machine using cutters spaced one and three-quarters blades per centimeter provided adequate wet cornering while limiting spin-up wear. Based on the test results, the KSC runway was smoothed for about 1066 m at each end, leaving the original high friction surface, for better wet steering and braking, in the 2438-m central section.

Daugherty, Robert H.↗

Modification of a successive corrections objective analysis for improved higher order calculations

The use of objectively analyzed fields of meteorological data for the initialization of numerical prediction models and for complex diagnostic studies places the requirements upon the objective method that derivatives of the gridded fields be accurate and free from interpolation error. A modification was proposed for an objective analysis developed by Barnes that provides improvements in analysis of both the field and its derivatives. Theoretical comparisons, comparisons between analyses of analytical monochromatic waves, and comparisons between analyses of actual weather data are used to show the potential of the new method. The new method restores more of the amplitudes of desired wavelengths while simultaneously filtering more of the amplitudes of undesired wavelengths. These results also hold for the first and second derivatives calculated from the gridded fields. Greatest improvements were for the Laplacian of the height field; the new method reduced the variance of undesirable very short wavelengths by 72 percent. Other improvements were found in the divergence of the gridded wind field and near the boundaries of the field of data.

Achtemeier, Gary L.↗