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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 631 records · Page 35

Practical calculation of laminar and turbulent bled-off boundary layers

Bleed-off of boundary layer material is shown to be an effective means for reducing drag by conserving the laminar boundary layer and preventing separation of the turbulent boundary layer. The case in which the two effects of bleed-off overlap is examined. Empirical methods are extended to the case of bleed-off. Laminar and turbulent boundary layers are treated simultaneously and the approximation differential equations are solved without an uncertain error. The case without bleed-off is also treated.

Eppler, R.↗

The practical impact of elastohydrodynamic lubrication

The use of elastohydrodynamics in the analysis of rolling element bearings is discussed. Relationships for minimum film thickness and tractive force were incorporated into computer codes and used for bearing performance prediction. The lambda parameter (ratio of film thickness to composite surface roughness) was shown to be important in predicting bearing life and failure mode. Results indicate that at values of lambda below 3 failure modes other than the classic subsurface initiated fatigue can occur.

Anderson, W. J.↗

A practical method for correcting bidirectional reflectance variations

The purpose of the investigation was to analyze angular bidirectional reflectance variations and to test the hypothesis that first order variations could be described from a consideration of shadows created by surface perturbations. The results demonstrate the validity of this approach, and while it is not suitable for calculating absolute spectral reflectance characteristics, the development of such a model was not the objective of the investigation. Instead, a model was needed which can make relative angular corrections to bidirectional reflectance measurements independent of the details of surface geometry.

Egbert, D. D.↗

Practical experience in analysis of aerospace shell structures

A review of the experience in analyzing structural components of several NASA space vehicles is given. Improvements to shell analysis capability which had a direct impact on accurately predicting the structural behavior of complex shell structures are identified. The status of current capability for shell analysis is reviewed and the areas still needing improvement are indicated.

Anderson, M. S.↗

A method for determining internal noise criteria based on practical speech communication applied to helicopters

The relationship between the internal noise environment of helicopters and the ability of personnel to understand commands and instructions was studied. A test program was conducted to relate speech intelligibility to a standard measurement called Articulation Index. An acoustical simulator was used to provide noise environments typical of Army helicopters. Speech material (command sentences and phonetically balanced word lists) were presented at several voice levels in each helicopter environment. Recommended helicopter internal noise criteria, based on speech communication, were derived and the effectiveness of hearing protection devices were evaluated.

Sternfeld, H., Jr.↗

Simulator method and apparatus for practicing the mating of an observer-controlled object with a target

A servo controlled target replica, and a surface bearing a computer generated line drawing of an object are individually viewed by separate television cameras allowing a two-dimensional composite of the target replica and the object to be displayed on a monitor simulating what an observer would see through a window in a spacecraft. The target replica is coded along one self coordinate axis in such a way that the distance of an elemental area on the target along the axis is capable of being remotely readout by a television camera. A third television camera responsive to the code reads out this information by which the Z-coordinate, relative to the observer, can be calculated, on-line with the scan, for the contents of each picture element of the scene televised by the target camera.

Polstorff, W. K.↗

Handbook of Recommended Practices for the Determination of Liquid Monopropellant Rocket Engine Performance

The design, installation, and operation of systems to be used for directly measuring quantities of fundamental importance to the determination of monopropellant thruster performance is described. Areas covered include: (1) force and impulse measurement; (2) propellant mass usage and flow measurement; (3) pressure measurement; (4) temperature measurement; (5) exhaust gas composition measurement; and (6) data reduction and performance determination.

R A Bjorklund↗

Note on the practical significance of the Drazin inverse

The solution of the differential system Bx = Ax + f where A and B are n x n matrices, and A - Lambda B is not a singular pencil, may be expressed in terms of the Drazin inverse. It is shown that there is a simple reduced form for the pencil A - Lambda B which is adequate for the determination of the general solution and that although the Drazin inverse could be determined efficiently from this reduced form it is inadvisable to do so.

Wilkinson, J. H.↗

The practical impact of elastohydrodynamic lubrication

Elastohydrodynamic lubrication has had its most significant impact on, among all the types of concentrated contact mechanisms, rolling element bearings. EHL technology, through its inclusion in computer codes, now provides us with more effective methods for optimizing bearing design and for predicting bearing life, power loss, temperature and dynamic behavior. Bearing life prediction has advanced to a much more sophisticated level as compared to the calculation of fatigue life based on Lundberg-Palmgren theory. Application of elastohydrodynamics to gearing has, more or less, been limited to the calculation of pitch point film thicknesses. Techniques for calculating film thicknesses over the entire range of tooth meshes for arbitrarily shaped gear teeth (noninvolute, spur, helical, etc.) need to be developed. Elastomer seals with both unidirectional and reciprocating motion offer a fruitful application for the elastohydrodynamics of low modulus materials.

Anderson, W. J.↗

Recent developments in analysis of crack propagation and fracture of practical materials

Present U.S. Air Force and proposed U.S. civil airworthiness regulations are based on considerations of 'damage tolerance' in aircraft structures. Airworthiness is assured by demonstrating that damage that escapes one in a sequence of periodic inspections will not grow to critical size before the next inspection. The evaluations conducted employ fracture mechanics analyses. Problems arise because the features of fracture mechanics applications related to aircraft structures are more complex than the cases of fracture mechanics which have been mainly investigated. NASA has, therefore, conducted a variety of research tasks to extend the capabilities of fracture mechanics to deal with some of these complexities. The current stage of development of these capabilities is described. Attention is given to the limitations of linear elastic fracture mechanics, a two-parameter fracture criterion, aspects of fatigue crack propagation, and crack propagation and fracture in built-up structures.

Hardrath, H. F.↗

On some theoretical and practical aspects of multigrid methods

A description and explanation of a simple multigrid algorithm for solving finite element systems is given. Numerical results for an implementation are reported for a number of elliptic equations, including cases with singular coefficients and indefinite equations. The method shows the high efficiency, essentially independent of the grid spacing, predicted by the theory.

Nicolaides, R. A.↗

Some practical observations on the accelerated testing of Nickel-Cadmium Cells

A large scale test of 6.0 Ah Nickel-Cadmium Cells conducted at the Naval Weapons Support Center, Crane, Indiana has demonstrated a methodology for predicting battery life based on failure data from cells cycled in an accelerated mode. After examining eight variables used to accelerate failure, it was determined that temperature and depth of discharge were the most reliable and efficient parameters for use in accelerating failure and for predicting life.

Mcdermott, P. P.↗