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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 73 records · Page 4

Mixing models and the recognition of end-member groups in Apollo 11 and 12 soils.

Lunar soils returned from the Apollo 11 and 12 sites appear to consist of more than one source material. Investigators have suggested that the soil can be described by as few as two end members and possibly as many as five or six. In the present study Q-mode factor analysis is used to establish the end members more rigorously and suggests that major-element chemistry of Apollo 11 and 12 lunar soils can be adequately explained in terms of a three-component mixing system. The end members isolated by Q-mode factor analysis can be regarded as basaltic, anorthositic, and noritic (or KREEP) components. Three-component mixing models fitted by least squares to the eight major oxides indicate that six of the Apollo 12 soils investigated are dominated by the basaltic component, whereas the other five are dominated by the noritic or KREEP component. Anorthosite is present in all soils except sample 12033, which is a simple two-component mixture of basalt and KREEP. The Apollo 11 soil is also a three-component mixture but is more basaltic than the Apollo 12 soils. Anorthositic and KREEP materials are important components of the lunar lithosphere and may be distributed on the lunar surface areally in an independent manner.

Lindsay, J. F.↗

Method of treating the surface of a glass member

A method is described of treating a surface of a glass member intended to abut a transparent element for disrupting the light interference fringes formed between the surfaces. The method involves the steps of grinding the surface to form irregularities thereon; bathing the surface with an aqueous solution containing between substantially 41.3 percent and 45.7 percent by volume of sulfuric acid and between substantially 54.3 percent and 58.7 percent by volume of hydrofluoric acid for a time sufficient to polish the irregularities until the glass member is about 90 percent light transmissive; and washing the glass member with a liquid having a temperature substantially lower than the temperature of the aqueous solution for preventing further reaction between the aqueous solution and the surface.

Rice, S. H.↗

Structural members, method and apparatus

A method and apparatus for fabricating a structural member such as truss from flexible sheet material in compacted form are disclosed. A number of generally tubular columns are progressively formed from the sheet material and deployed generally parallel to one another. Adjacent pairs of the columns are interconnected by respective side members, each of which is comprised of a strip of the sheet material. The sheet material is fastened together by self-attaching fasteners integrally formed from the sheet material of the columns and side members themselves.

Kinzler, J. A.↗

Vibration/Libration Interaction Dynamics During the Orbiter Based Deployment of Flexible Members

Essential features of a general formulation for studying librational dynamics of a large class of spacecraft during deployment of flexible members are reviewed. The formulation is applicable to a variety of missions ranging from deployment of antennas, booms and solar panels to manufacturing of trusses for space platforms using the space shuttle. The governing nonlinear, non-autonomous and coupled equations of motion are extremely difficult to solve even with the help of a computer, not to mention the cost involved. To get some appreciation as to the complex interactions between flexibility, deployment and attitude dynamics as well as to help pursue stability and control analysis, the equations are linearized about their nominal deflected equilibrium configuration. The procedure is applied to the Space Shuttle based deployment of boom and plate-like members. Results suggest substantial influence of the inertia parameter, flexural rigidity of the appendages, orbit eccentricity, deployment velocity, initial conditions, etc. on the system response. The results should prove useful in planning of the Orbiter based experiments aimed at assessing effectiveness of procedures for studying dynamics and control of flexible orbiting members.

Modi, V. J.↗

Quantification of Saint-Venant's principle for a general prismatic member

A method to quantify Saint-Venant's principle for general prismatic members is described. Finite elements are used to model the member cross-section to allow the analysis of arbitrary geometries, material properties, and nonhomogeneities. The variation in the structural response along the member's length, away from the loaded end, is modelled with an exponential decay which has been established in the literature to be the correct form. Many analytic results exist in the literature for special cases. Because of its ability to handle arbitrary cross sectional geometries, this semi-analytic finite element method can provide a firm footing for the utilization of Saint-Venant's principle for whole new classes of problems. Results for several typical problems are given.

Goetschel, D. B.↗

Inclusion of elastically connected members in exact buckling and frequency calculations

A standard stiffness matrix procedure which permits any combination of rigid, elastic, pinned or sliding connections of the degrees of freedom at the ends of a member to the nodes of its parent structure is described, in order to show how easily it can be extended to allow an existing algorithm to be used to ensure that no eigenvalues of the parent structure can be missed even when 'exact' member theory is used. The eigenvalues are the natural frequencies of undamped free vibration analyses or the critical load factors of buckling problems. The method preserves the exactness of the member theory and an efficient method for computer application is indicated. The theory also permits any combination of rigid, elastic, pinned or sliding connections between the freedoms of a substructure and those of its parent structure.

Williams, F. W.↗

Experimental and theoretical investigation of passive damping concepts for member forced and free vibration

Potential passive damping concepts for use in space structures are identified. The effectiveness of copper brush, wool swab, and silly putty in chamber dampers is investigated through natural vibration tests on a tubular aluminum member. The member ends have zero translation and possess partial rotational restraints. The silly putty in chamber dampers provide the maximum passive damping efficiency. Forced vibration tests are then conducted with one, two, and three damper chambers containing silly putty. Owing to the limitation of the vibrator used, the performance of these dampers could not be evaluated experimentally until the forcing function was disengaged. Nevertheless, their performance is evaluated through a forced dynamic finite element analysis conducted as a part of this investigation. The theoretical results based on experimentally obtained damping ratios indicate that the passive dampers are considerably more effective under member natural vibration than during forced vibration. Also, the maximum damping under forced vibration occurs at or near resonance.

Razzaq, Zia↗

Passive damping concepts for free and forced member and grillage vibration

The performance of potential passive damping concepts is investigted for a long tubular aluminum alloy member, and a two-bar grillage structure. The members are restrained partially at the ends and are of the type being considered by NASA for possible use in the construction of a future space station. Four different passive damping concepts are studied and include nylon brush, wool swab, copper brush, and silly putty in chamber dampers. Both free and forced vibration tests are conducted. It is found that the silly putty in chamber damper concept provides considerably greater passive damping as compared to that of the other three concepts. For the grillage natural vibration, a five wool swab damper configuration provides greater damping than the five silly putty dampers in chamber configuration. Due to the constrained motion imposed by the vibrator used in the tests, the effectiveness of the passive dampers could not be adequately evaluated for the individual member. However, it is found that for the grillage under forced vibration, the five silly putty dampers in chamber damper configuration provides very effective passive damping although only at and around the resonant frequency. At resonance, these dampers provide a 51 percent reduction in the dynamic magnification factor for this case.

Razzaq, Zia↗

Sensitivity analysis of a deployable three longeron truss beam designed for minimum member loads during deployment

The significant design variables of a deployable three longeron truss beam, designed for minimum member loads during deployment, are identified and the sensitivity of the load level in the members of the truss beam due to variations of the design variables is established. The analysis of the deployment models, developed in this paper, is carried out using a commercially available computer code, called DADS. Based on the results of the analysis, guidelines are formulated for the design of a deployable three longeron truss beam to achieve minimum loads in the members during deployment. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of the applicability of the approach, taken in this paper, to other truss configurations.

Warnaar, Dirk B.↗

Active-member control of precision structures

This paper presents the results of closed loop experiments that use piezoelectric active-members to control the flexible motion of a precision truss structure. These experiments are directed toward the development of high performance structural systems as part of the Control/Structure Interaction program at JPL. Order of magnitude reductions in dynamic response are achieved with relatively simple control techniques. The practical implementation of high stiffness, high bandwidth active-members in a precision structure highlights specific issues of importance relating to the modelling and implementation of active-member control.

Fanson, J. L.↗

Transient response of lattice structures based on exact member theory

The computer program BUNVIS-RG, which treats vibration and buckling of lattice structures using exact member stiffness matrices, has been extended to calculate the exact modal mass and stiffness quantities that can be used in a conventional transient response analysis based on modes. The exact nature of the development allows inclusion of local member response without introduction of any interior member nodes. Results are given for several problems in which significant interaction between local and global response occurs.

Anderson, Melvin S.↗

Experiments On Active Members In Large Space Structures

Report discusses continuing research on structures including active members, which incorporate sensors, actuators, and electronic circuits to monitor and control vibrations. Describes experiments on two structures with active members, progress in design, testing, and simulation of behavior of active members. Objective is to develop systems to enhance performances of large, flexible structures in space. Also applicable to some terrestrial structures and testing equipment involving close tolerances in feedback control of forces and/or positions.

Fanson, James L.↗

Is interstellar detection of higher members of the linear radicals CnCH and CnN feasible?

Rotational constants and dipole moments for linear-chain radicals CnCH and CnN are estimated using a combinatiaon of ab initio molecular orbital calculations and observed data on the starting members of the series. CnCH with n = 0-5 have been observed by radioastronomy in carbon-rich interstellar clouds; higher members of the series have 2Pi ground states with large dipole moments and are strong candidates for observation. CN and C3N have also been observed by radioastronomy; higher members of the series, with the possible exception of C5N, have 2Pi ground states with near-zero dipole moments making their interstellar detection hopeless under present observational conditions. C5N can be a strong candidate only if it has a 2Sigma ground state, and best computations so far indicate that this is not the case.

Pauzat, F.↗

Method of recertifying a loaded bearing member

A method is described of recertifying a loaded bearing member using ultrasound testing to compensate for different equipment configurations and temperature conditions. The standard frequency F1 of a reference block is determined via an ultrasonic tone burst generated by a first pulsed phased locked loop (P2L2) equipment configuration. Once a lock point number S is determined for F1, the reference frequency F1a of the reference block is determined at this lock point number via a second P2L2 equipment configuration to permit an equipment offset compensation factor Fo1=((F1-F1a)/F1)(1000000) to be determined. Next, a reference frequency F2 of the unloaded bearing member is determined using a second P2L2 equipment configuration and is then compensated for equipment offset errors via the relationship F2+F2(Fo1)/1000000. A lock point number b is also determined for F2. A resonant frequency F3 is determined for the reference block using a third P2L2 equipment configuration to determine a second offset compensation factor F02=((F1-F3)/F1) 1000000. Next the resonant frequency F4 of the loaded bearing member is measured at lock point number b via the third P2L2 equipment configuration and the bolt load determined by the relationship (-1000000)CI(((F2-F4)/F2)-Fo2), wherein CI is a factor correlating measured frequency shift to the applied load. Temperature compensation is also performed at each point in the process.

Allison, Sidney G.↗

Active member vibration control experiment in a KC-135 reduced gravity environment

An active member vibration control experiment in a KC-135 reduced gravity environment was carried out by the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Two active members, consisting of piezoelectric actuators, displacement sensors, and load cells, were incorporated into a 12-meter, 104 kg box-type test structure. The active member control design involved the use of bridge (compound) feedback concept, in which the collocated force and velocity signals are feedback locally. An impact-type test was designed to accommodate the extremely short duration of the reduced gravity testing window in each parabolic flight. The moving block analysis technique was used to estimate the modal frequencies and dampings from the free-decay responses. A broadband damping performance was demonstrated up to the ninth mode of 40 Hz. The best damping performance achieved in the flight test was about 5 percent in the fourth mode of the test structure.

Lawrence, C. R.↗

Using the Enhanced Daily Load Stimulus Model to Quantify the Mechanical Load and Bone Mineral Density Changes Experienced by Crew Members on the International Space Station

Despite the use of exercise countermeasures during long-duration space missions, bone mineral density (BMD) and predicted bone strength of astronauts continue to show decreases in the lower extremities and spine. This site-specific bone adaptation is most likely caused by the effects of microgravity on the mechanical loading environment of the crew member. There is, therefore, a need to quantify the mechanical loading experienced on Earth and on-orbit to define the effect of a given "dose" of loading on bone homeostasis. Gene et al. recently proposed an enhanced DLS (EDLS) model that, when used with entire days of in-shoe forces, takes into account recently developed theories on the importance of factors such as saturation, recovery, and standing and their effects on the osteogenic response of bone to daily physical activity. This algorithm can also quantify the tinting and type of activity (sit/unload, stand, walk, run or other loaded activity) performed throughout the day. The purpose of the current study was to use in-shoe force measurements from entire typical work days on Earth and on-orbit in order to quantify the type and amount of loading experienced by crew members. The specific aim was to use these measurements as inputs into the EDLS model to determine activity timing/type and the mechanical "dose" imparted on the musculoskeletal system of crew members and relate this dose to changes in bone homeostasis.

Genc, K. O.↗

Systems and Methods for Implementing Flexible Members Including Integrated Tools Made from Metallic Glass-Based Materials

Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement flexible members that include integrated tools made from metallic glass-based materials. In one embodiment, a structure includes: a flexible member characterized by an elongated geometry and an integrated tool disposed at one end of the elongated geometry; where the flexible member includes a metallic glass-based material.

Parness, Aaron↗

Developing Inclusive, Supportive, and Safe Environments in Planetary Science for Members of the LGBTQ+ Community

To continue to develop a innovative and successful workforce for planetary scientists, it is critical to foster an interdisciplinary, diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible environment across the field, especially for members of the LGBTQ+ community. Note: Members of the community utilize various acronyms to describe a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, but for the purposes of this paper, we will use the acronym LGBTQ+ to include any and all members of this marginalized group. LGBTQ+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and the “+” signifies the importance that one acronym cannot possibly capture everyone's experience of their gender identity, expression, and/or sexual orientation.

K. E. Vander Kaaden↗