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At least 685 records · Page 38

Fundamentals and advances in the development of remote welding fabrication systems

Operational and man-machine issues for welding underwater, in outer space, and at other remote sites are investigated, and recent process developments are described. Probable remote welding missions are classified, and the essential characteristics of fundamental remote welding tasks are analyzed. Various possible operational modes for remote welding fabrication are identified, and appropriate roles for humans and machines are suggested. Human operator performance in remote welding fabrication tasks is discussed, and recent advances in the development of remote welding systems are described, including packaged welding systems, stud welding systems, remotely operated welding systems, and vision-aided remote robotic welding and autonomous welding systems.

Agapakis, J. E.↗

Astrophysical data on 5 eV to 1 keV radiation from the radiative decay of fundamental particles - Current limits and prospects for improvement

Line emission from the decay of fundamental particles, integrated over cosmological distances, can give rise to detectable spectral features in the diffuse astronomical background between 5 eV and 1 keV. Spectroscopic observations may allow these features to be separated from line emission from the numerous local sources of radiation. The current observational status and existing evidence for such features are reviewed. No definitive detections of nongalactic line features have been made. Several local sources of background mask the features at many wavelengths and confuse the interpretation of the data. No systematic spectral observations have been carried out to date. Upcoming experiments which can be expected to provide significantly better constraints on the presence of spectral features in the diffuse background from 5 eV to 1 keV are reviewed.

Bowyer, Stuart↗

Air broadening of the hydrogen halides. I - N2-broadening and shifting in the HCl fundamental

The resolvent operator formalism of Kolb, Griem (1964), and Baranger (1962) is used to determine the widths and shifts of the fundamental band vibration-rotation lines of HCl under N2 pressure. Time-development operator matrix elements are evaluated accounting for all bilinear and second order anisotropic terms, in addition to isotropic effects to all orders. The method employs the use of a parabolic trajectory model and explicit velocity averaging. The major contributions to the linewidths are found to arise from dipole-quadrupole, quadrupole-quadrupole, and vibrationally dependent isotropic dispersion forces. Good overall agreement is found between calculated and measured widths and linewidths over a 163-295 K temperature range.

Looney, J. P.↗

Fundamental study on gas monitoring in CELSS

A mass spectrometer and computer system was developed for conducting a fundamental study on gas monitoring in a Controlled Ecological Life Support System. Respiration and metabolism of the hamster and photosynthesis of the Spirulina were measured in a combination system consisting of a hamster chamber and a Spirulina cultivator. They are connected through a membrane gas exchanger. Some technical problems were examined. In the mass spectrometric gas monitoring, a simultaneous multisample measurement was developed by employing a rotating exchange valve. Long term precise measurement was obtained by employing an automatic calibration system. The membrane gas sampling probe proved to be useful for long term measurement. The cultivation rate of the Spirulina was effectively changed by controlling CO2 and light supply. The experimental results are helpful for improving the hamster-spirulina system.

Nishi, I.↗

Wall jet analysis for circulation control aerodynamics. Part 1: Fundamental CFD and turbulence modeling concepts

An overview of parabolic and PNS (Parabolized Navier-Stokes) methodology developed to treat highly curved sub and supersonic wall jets is presented. The fundamental data base to which these models were applied is discussed in detail. The analysis of strong curvature effects was found to require a semi-elliptic extension of the parabolic modeling to account for turbulent contributions to the normal pressure variations, as well as an extension to the turbulence models utilized, to account for the highly enhanced mixing rates observed in situations with large convex curvature. A noniterative, pressure split procedure is shown to extend parabolic models to account for such normal pressure variations in an efficient manner, requiring minimal additional run time over a standard parabolic approach. A new PNS methodology is presented to solve this problem which extends parabolic methodology via the addition of a characteristic base wave solver. Applications of this approach to analyze the interaction of wave and turbulence processes in wall jets is presented.

Dash, S. M.↗

Fundamental plasma emission involving ion sound waves

The theory for fundamental plasma emission by the three-wave processes L + or - S to T (where L, S and T denote Langmuir, ion sound and transverse waves, respectively) is developed. Kinematic constraints on the characteristics and growth lengths of waves participating in the wave processes are identified. In addition the rates, path-integrated wave temperatures, and limits on the brightness temperature of the radiation are derived.

Cairns, Iver H.↗

Temperature dependence of the hydrogen-broadening coefficient for the nu 9 fundamental of ethane

Experimental results for the temperature dependence of the H2-broadening coefficient for the nu 9 fundamental of ethane are reported. Measurements were made over the temperature range 95-300 K using a novel low-temperature absorption cell. These spectra were recorded with the Doppler-limited diode laser spectrometer at NASA Goddard. The results are compared with recent measurements and model predictions.

Halsey, G. W.↗

Autonomous control systems - Architecture and fundamental issues

A hierarchical functional autonomous controller architecture is introduced. In particular, the architecture for the control of future space vehicles is described in detail; it is designed to ensure the autonomous operation of the control system and it allows interaction with the pilot and crew/ground station, and the systems on board the autonomous vehicle. The fundamental issues in autonomous control system modeling and analysis are discussed. It is proposed to utilize a hybrid approach to modeling and analysis of autonomous systems. This will incorporate conventional control methods based on differential equations and techniques for the analysis of systems described with a symbolic formalism. In this way, the theory of conventional control can be fully utilized. It is stressed that autonomy is the design requirement and intelligent control methods appear at present, to offer some of the necessary tools to achieve autonomy. A conventional approach may evolve and replace some or all of the `intelligent' functions. It is shown that in addition to conventional controllers, the autonomous control system incorporates planning, learning, and FDI (fault detection and identification).

Antsaklis, P. J.↗

Fundamental kinetics and mechanistic pathways for oxidation reactions in supercritical water

Oxidation of the products of human metabolism in supercritical water has been shown to be an efficient way to accomplish the on-board water/waste recycling in future long-term space flights. Studies of the oxidation kinetics of methane to carbon dioxide in supercritical water are presented in this paper in order to enhance the fundamental understanding of the oxidation of human waste compounds in supercritical water. It is concluded that, although the elementary reaction models remain the best hope for simulating oxidation in supercritical water, several modifications to existing mechanisms need to be made to account for the role of water in the reaction mechanism.

Webley, Paul A.↗

Measurements of collision-broadened line widths in the nu4-fundamental band of (C-12)H4 at low temperatures

Collision-broadened half-widths of several lines in the nu4 fundamental band of (C-12)H4 have been measured at low temperatures between 130 and 295 K using a tunable diode laser and the sweep integration technique. The broadening gases are H2, N2, He, and Ar. The temperature dependence of the measured line widths is described in terms of an exponent n, which is shown not only to be different for each broadening gas but also to depend upon the tetrahedral symmetry identification of the lines of CH4.

Varanasi, P.↗

Tunable diode laser measurements of line widths in the nu1-fundamental band of (N-14)2(O-16) at atmospheric temperatures

A tunable diode-laser spectrometer and a low-temperature absorption cell have been employed to measure the N2-broadened and O2-broadened half-widths of rotational lines in the nu1 fundamental band of (N-14)2(O-16) at 185, 235, 263, and 295 K. The temperature dependence of the line widths has been observed to be practically identical, thereby leading to the suggestion that air-broadening would exhibit the same dependence.

Varanasi, P.↗

Fundamental principles of hollow-cathode-discharge operations in space and the design of a rocket-borne demonstration

The issue of hollow-cathode operations in space is treated from the point of view of fundamental principles of plasma interactions and their control over currents involving the device, the spaceborne vehicle, and the ambient space plasma. Particular attention is given to collective plasma processes, the effects of the ambient magnetic field, and the high probability of plasma turbulence triggered by hallow cathode operations. The paper presents a rocket payload and experiment scenario designed for accommodation on a Black Brant booster, launched from a midlatitude site to an apogee in excess of 400 km.

Szuszczewicz, Edward P.↗

Intensity and line width measurements in the nu(u) fundamental band of (C-13)H4

Intensities and collision-broadened line widths have been measured in the nu(u) fundamental band of (C-13)H4 at 295 K, employing the Doppler-limited spectral resolution of a tunable diode laser spectrometer and a (C-13)-enriched sample of CH4, H2, He, Ar, N2, O2, and air were chosen as the broadening gases in order to provide the data needed in atamospheric and planetary atamospheric applications.

Varanasi, Prasad↗

Compact scheme for systems of equations applied to fundamental problems of mechanics of continua

Compact scheme formulation was used in the treatment of boundary conditions for a system of coupled diffusion and Poisson equations. Models and practical solutions of specific engineering problems arising in solid mechanics, chemical engineering, heat transfer and fuid mechanics are described and analyzed for efficiency and accuracy. Only 2-D cases are discussed and a new method of numerical treatment of boundary conditions common in the fundamental problems of mechanics of continua is presented.

Klimkowski, Jerzy Z.↗

Fundamentals of tribology at the atomic level

Tribology, the science and engineering of solid surfaces in moving contact, is a field that encompasses many disciplines: solid state physics, chemistry, materials science, and mechanical engineering. In spite of the practical importance and maturity of the field, the fundamental understanding of basic phenomena has only recently been attacked. An attempt to define some of these problems and indicate some profitable directions for future research is presented. There are three broad classifications: (1) fluid properties (compression, rheology, additives and particulates); (2) material properties of the solids (deformation, defect formation and energy loss mechanisms); and (3) interfacial properties (adhesion, friction chemical reactions, and boundary films). Research in the categories has traditionally been approached by considering macroscopic material properties. Recent activity has shown that some issues can be approached at the atomic level: the atoms in the materials can be manipulated both experimentally and theoretically, and can produce results related to macroscopic phenomena.

Ferrante, John↗

Numerical results on relations between fundamental constants using a new algorithm

An efficient algorithm is described for finding whether or not certain fundamental mathematical constants satisfy simple algebraic polynomials. The algorithm, which finds whether an integer relation exists for a vector of real numbers, or else establishes bounds within which no relation can exist. The algorithm is implemented on high-speed computers, using multiprecision arithmetic. Numerical results are summarized, and other possible applications for the algorithm are discussed.

Bailey, David H.↗

A new computation of the infrared absorption by H2 pairs in the fundamental band at temperatures from 600 to 5000 K

A new computation of the absorption spectrum of H2 pairs in the fundamental band is given for temperatures from 600 to 5000 K. It is based on advanced interaction potentials and recent induced dipole components which were shown to be consistent with the existing laboratory measurements of low-temperature absorption spectra. The absorption is greater by factors of 2-3 than previous estimates and show a different band profile at the higher temperatures.

Borysow, Aleksandra↗

N2-broadening in the HCl vibrational fundamental - Temperature dependence between 160 and 296 K

Measurements were conducted of the N2-broadening coefficients in the vibrational fundamental line of HCl at 160, 182, 216, 255, and 296 K. It is found that the N2 broadening of rovibrational lines in the -6 to +6 range is well described by a simple power-law dependence on temperature. The temperature-interpolation of these results is noted to be in good agreement with previous low-temperature studies.

Chackerian, C., Jr.↗