Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Interface”

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 685 records · Page 38
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

A simulator application of a 'hands-on throttle and stick' concept to a transport pilot/autopilot interface

This paper presents the initial experiences garnered in applying a multifunction control strategy, based on the U.S. Air Force's 'Hands-On Throttle-and-Stick' concept for fighter aircraft to a transport aircraft simulator. The multifunction control strategy involves the activation of various flight system/subsystem operations (such as guidance and control, communication, and navigation functions) by use of menu displays and throttle and stick switches. The initial application of this multifunction control (MFC) concept was developed around a pilot/autopilot interface, contrasting a conventional, dedicated autopilot interface to an MFC implementation. The simulator characteristics and autopilot functions, as well as the conventional interface and MFC hardware/software, which were utilized in the application, are described herein. Initial pilot reaction and suggested improvements to this particular implementation are discussed. The paper terminates with a glance at plans for improvements and future applications based on the outcome of this initial study.

Busquets, A. M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

XPS study of the Al/SiO2 interface viewed from the SiO2 side

The first nondestructive measurement of the chemical and physical characteristics of the interface between bulk SiO2 and thick aluminum films is presented. Both X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrical measurements of unannealed resistively evaporated Al films on thermal SiO2 indicate an atomically abrupt interface. Postmetallization annealing (PMA) at 450 C induces reduction of the SiO2 by the aluminum, resulting in the layer ordering SiO2/Al2O3/Si/Al. The XPS measurement is performed from the SiO2 side after removal of the Si substrate after etching with XeF2 gas and thinning of the SiO2 layer with HF:ETOH. This represents a powerful new approach to the study of metal-insulator and other interfaces.

Hecht, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Convective influence on the stability of a cylindrical solid-liquid interface

Experiments in which a long vertical, heated wire is surrounded by concentric annuli of a melt and its crystalline solid show that the convection state changes from a stable unicell surrounded by a stationary cylindrical solid-liquid interface, to a complex time-dependent flow surrounded by a rotating, helical solid-liquid interface. This transition occurs at a Grashof number of approximately 150, which is an order of magnitude less than the critical Grashof number calculated for a liquid annulus surrounded by rigid walls. A linear stability analysis has been carried out for an infinitely tall vertical annulus. When the deformable nature of the crystal-melt interface is taken into account in the boundary conditions, two new modes of instability arise. The most dangerous mode is asymmetrical and corresponds to helical waves travelling vertically upwards. The critical Grashof number and the scaling properties of the eigenstate agree with experiments. The results clearly demonstrate the coupling of convection with crystal-melt interfacial instabilities.

Fang, Q. T.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Flight evaluation of Spacelab 1 payload thermal/ECS interfaces

The Spacelab (SL-1) thermal/Environmental Control Systems (ECS) are discussed. Preflight analyses and flight data are compared in order to validate payload to Spacelab interfaces as well as corroborate modeling/analysis techniques. In doing so, a brief description of the Spacelab 1 payload configuration and the interactive Spacelab thermal/ECS systems are given. In particular, these interfaces address equipment cooling air, thermal and fluid conditions, humidity levels, both freon and water loop temperatures and load states, as well as passive radiant environment interfaces.

Ray, C. D.↗
NASA NTRS1985

A novel X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study of the Al/SiO2 interface

The nondestructive measurement of the chemical and physical characteristics of the interface between bulk SiO2 and thick aluminum films is reported. Both X-ray phototelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrical measurements of unannealed, resistively evaporated Al films on thermal SiO2 indicate an atomically abrupt interface. Post metallization annealing at 450 C induces reduction of the SiO2 by the aluminum, at a rate consistent with the bulk reaction rate. The XPS measurement is performed from the SiO2 side after the removal of the Si substrate with XeF2 gas and thinning of the SiO2 layer with HF:ETOH. This represents a powerful new approach to the study of metal-insulator and related interfaces.

Hecht, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Influence of Melt Convection on Solid-Liquid Interface Under Terrestrial and Reduced Gravity Environments

Solidification and crystal growth processes involve thermal and solutal gradients within a molten phase. In the presence of gravity, such gradients result in convective flows which interact with diffusion fields at the solid-liquid interface. Dendritic growth kinetics was studied in transparent model systems which freeze similarily to most metals. Succinonitrile shows a strong influence of convection at supercoolings below about 1K. Fluid flows adjacent to solid-liquid interfaces and the behavior of shear flows in vertical annular geometries are studied. Novel low-frequency eigenstates were discovered and classified as coupled modes, for their involvement with interfacial deformation coupled to the fluid flow, and are unknown in systems without deformable interfaces. The dependence of coupled convection modes on interfacial geometry, gravity, fluid properties, and transformation characteristics studied for several annual flow arrangements with nominally pure solid-liquid systems.

Glicksman, M. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

A general monitor and control interface to the VAX UNIBUS by way of the DR11-C I/O port

The High Speed Data Acquisition System for the Goldstone Solar System Radar requires a number of interfaces for monitor and control functions for the special purpose data acquisition hardware. One common interface design is used. A large number of external control and monitor registers may be addressed and observed with this interface design, by using only three address locations on the UNIBUS and a standard DEC supplied input/output port. A broadcast control and status register is introduced which addresses any number of different units and registers.

Brokl, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Liquid-vapor interface locations in a spheroidal container under low gravity

As a part of the general study of liquid behavior in low gravity environments, an experimental investigation was conducted to determine if there are equilibrium liquid-vapor interface configurations that can exist at more than one location in oblate spheroidal containers under reduced gravity conditions. Static contact angles of the test liquids on the spheroid surface were restricted to near 0 deg. The experiments were conducted in a low gravity environment. An oblate spheroidal tank was tested with an eccentricity of 0.68 and a semimajor axis of 2.0 cm. Both quantitative and qualitative data were obtained on the liquid-vapor interface configuration and position inside the container. The results of these data, and their impat on previous work in this area, are discussed. Of particular interest are those equilibrium interface configurations that can exist at multiple locations in the container.

Carney, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Database interfaces on NASA's heterogeneous distributed database system

The purpose of the ORACLE interface is to enable the DAVID program to submit queries and transactions to databases running under the ORACLE DBMS. The interface package is made up of several modules. The progress of these modules is described below. The two approaches used in implementing the interface are also discussed. Detailed discussion of the design of the templates is shown and concluding remarks are presented.

Huang, S. H. S.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Interface stability in a slowly rotating, low gravity tank Experiments

Analytical models of liquid in partially-filled rotating tanks predict both the shape of the interface between the liquid and its vapor, and the stability of that interface. The models are of necessity incomplete and experimental data are needed to assess the approximations made. Presented are preliminary experimental studies both in the laboratory and in the low-gravity environment of a free-falling aircraft. Emphasis is placed on bubbles which intersect the container boundaries. Measurements of rotating equilibrium bubble shapes are in agreement with theoretical profiles derived from Laplace's formula. The interface shape depends on the contact angle, the radius of intersection with container, and the ratio of centrifugal force to surface tension.

Leslie, F.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A procedure to visualize the melt-solid interface in Bridgman grown germanium and lead tin telluride

An X-ray and gamma-ray analysis technique has been developed which makes it possible to observe the melt solid interface during semiconductor crystal growth in a Bridgman furnace. Experiments have been carried out to observe the interface movement and shape in germanium as well as in lead tin telluride by means of the new method, and the results are discussed in detail. X-ray and gamma-ray radiographs of the melt-solid interfaces in the two semiconductor crystal specimens, are provided.

Barber, P. G.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Influence of interface ply orientation on fatigue damage of adhesively bonded composite joints

An experimental study of cracked-lap-shear specimens was conducted to determine the influence of adherend stacking sequence on debond initiation and damage growth in a composite-to-composite bonded joint. Specimens consisted of quasi-isotropic graphite/epoxy adherends bonded together with either FM-300 or EC 3445 adhesives. The stacking sequence of the adherends was varied such that 0 deg, 45 deg, or 90 deg plies were present at the adherend-adhesive interfaces. Fatigue damage initiated in the adhesive layer in those specimens with 0 deg and 45 deg interface plies. Damaage initiated in the form of ply cracking in the strap adherend for the specimens with 90 deg interface plies. The fatigue-damage growth was in the form of delamination within the composite adherends for specimens with the 90 deg and 45 deg plies next to the adhesive, while debonding in the adhesive resulted for the specimens with 0 deg plies next to the adhesive. Those joints with the 0 deg and 45 deg plies next to either adhesive has essentially the same fatigue-damage-initiation stress levels. These stress levels were 13 and 71 percent higher, respectively, than those for specimens with 90 deg plies next to the EC 3445 and FM-300 adhesives.

Johnson, W. S.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Dc and microwave characteristics of a high current double interface GaAs/InGaAs/AlGaAs pseudomorphic modulation-doped field-effect transistor

Extremely large current double interface GaAs/In(0.15)Ga(0.85)As/Al(0.15)Ga(0.85)As pseudomorphic modulation-doped field-effect transistors (MODFET's) grown by molecular beam epitaxy were achieved. The 1-micron gate devices studied have peak current levels (430 mA/mm at 300 K and 483mA/mm at 77 K) roughly one and a half to two times that found in single interface pseudomorphic MODFET's. These devices also retain high transconductances over a broad range of gate voltage, peaking at 312 mS/mm at 300 K and 362 mS/mm at 77 K. Excellent microwave performance is also obtained with a maximum frequency of oscillation (f-max) of 37 GHz and a current gain cut-off frequency of as high as 23 GHz at 300 K. An output power level of 14 dBm (1 dB gain compression) was obtained at 6 GHz for a 290-micron gate width. This double interface single quantum well MODFET may be of great importance in millimeter wave power amplifiers.

Henderson, T.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Interface For Color-Video Monitor

Commercially produced color-video monitor modified by addition of interface circuit to accommodate wider-than-usual range of scanning rates and resolutions. Interface circuit measures frequencies of horizontal- and vertical-synchronizing pulses. When frequencies fall within combination of preset ranges, interface generates associated preset combination of eight picture-adjusting signals. Video monitor "trained" by computer that helps to control calibration procedure and inserts values in calibration tables.

Rodriguez, Eric↗
NASA NTRS1987

Database interfaces on NASA's heterogeneous distributed database system

The purpose of Distributed Access View Integrated Database (DAVID) interface module (Module 9: Resident Primitive Processing Package) is to provide data transfer between local DAVID systems and resident Data Base Management Systems (DBMSs). The result of current research is summarized. A detailed description of the interface module is provided. Several Pascal templates were constructed. The Resident Processor program was also developed. Even though it is designed for the Pascal templates, it can be modified for templates in other languages, such as C, without much difficulty. The Resident Processor itself can be written in any programming language. Since Module 5 routines are not ready yet, there is no way to test the interface module. However, simulation shows that the data base access programs produced by the Resident Processor do work according to the specifications.

Huang, Shou-Hsuan Stephen↗
NASA NTRS1986

Small computer interface to a stepper motor

A Commodore VIC-20 computer has been interfaced with a stepper motor to provide an inexpensive stepper motor controller. Only eight transistors and two integrated circuits compose the interface. The software controls the parallel interface of the computer and provides the four phase drive signals for the motor. Optical sensors control the zeroing of the 12-inch turntable positioned by the controller. The computer calculates the position information and movement of the table and may be programmed in BASIC to execute automatic sequences.

Berry, Fred A., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Development of a ROT22 - DATAMAP interface

This report (Contract NAS2-10331- Mod 10), outlines the development and validation of an interface between the three-dimensional transonic analysis program ROT22 and the Data from Aeromechanics Test and Analytics-Management and Analysis Package (DATAMAP). After development of the interface, the validation is carried out as follows. First, the DATAMAP program is used to analyze a portion of the Tip Aerodynamics and Acoustics Test (TAAT) data. Specifically, records 2872 and 2873 are analyzed at an azimuth of 90 deg, and record 2806 is analyzed at 60 deg. Trim conditions for these flight conditions are then calculated using the Bell performance prediction program ARAM45. Equivalent shaft, pitch, and twist angles are calculated from ARAM45 results and used as input to the ROT22 program. The interface uses the ROT22 results and creates DATAMAP information files from which the surface pressure contours and sectional pressure coefficients are plotted. Twist angles input to ROT22 program are then iteratively modified in the tip region until the computed pressure coefficients closely match the measurements. In all cases studied, the location of the shock is well predicted. However, the negative pressure coefficients were underpredicted. This could be accounted for by blade vortex interaction effects.

Shenoy, K. R.↗
NASA NTRS1987

A simulation evaluation of a pilot interface with an automatic terminal approach system

The pilot-machine interface with cockpit automation is a critical factor in achieving the benefits of automation and reducing pilot blunders. To improve this interface, an automatic terminal approach system (ATAS) was conceived that can automatically fly a published instrument approach by using stored instrument approach data to automatically tune airplane radios and control an airplane autopilot and autothrottle. The emphasis in the ATAS concept is a reduction in pilot blunders and work load by improving the pilot-automation interface. A research prototype of an ATAS was developed and installed in the Langley General Aviation Simulator. A piloted simulation study of the ATAS concept showed fewer pilot blunders, but no significant change in work load, when compared with a baseline heading-select autopilot mode. With the baseline autopilot, pilot blunders tended to involve loss of navigational situational awareness or instrument misinterpretation. With the ATAS, pilot blunders tended to involve a lack of awareness of the current ATAS mode state or deficiencies in the pilots' mental model of how the system operated. The ATAS display provided adequate approach status data to maintain situational awareness.

Hinton, David A.↗