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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
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NASA NTRS1992

Flow behavior in liquid molding

The liquid molding (LM) process for manufacturing polymer composites with structural properties has the potential to significantly lower fabrication costs and increase production rates. LM includes both resin transfer molding and structural reaction injection molding. To achieve this potential, however, the underlying science base must be improved to facilitate effective process optimization and implementation of on-line process control. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a major program in LM that includes materials characterization, process simulation models, on-line process monitoring and control, and the fabrication of test specimens. The results of this program are applied to real parts through cooperative projects with industry. The key feature in the effort is a comprehensive and integrated approach to the processing science aspects of LM. This paper briefly outlines the NIST program and uses several examples to illustrate the work.

Hunston, D.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Development and calibration of UV/VUV radiometric sources

A program exists at NIST to calibrate radiometric sources for the spectral range from 118-350 nm. These include deuterium lamps, hollow-cathode lamps, RF-excited dimer lamps, and wall-stabilized argon arcs. Sources have been calibrated for and used by researchers in solar physics, astrophysics, atmospheric physics (ozone measurements), magnetically controlled fusion, and photobiology. The argon arcs were developed in our laboratory, and provide intense sources of both radiance and irradiance. Calibrations are performed relative to two primary sources, a wall-stabilized hydrogen arc and a 12,000 K black-body line arc, both developed in our laboratory. Also we recently have begun periodic calibrations on the NIST storage ring, SURF II, to insure consistency between our respective radiometric bases. Various sources have been calibrated for space' applications, including several which are flyable. Also, some development and testing of radiometers for semiconductor lithography were recently carried out with an intense argon arc source.

Bridges, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Microwave digestion preparation and ICP determination of boron in human plasma

A microwave digestion procedure, followed by Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma Spectroscopy, is described for the determination of boron (B) in human plasma. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) currently does not certify the concentration of B in any substance. The NIST citrus leaves 1572 (CL) Standard Reference Material (SRM) and wheat flour 1567a (WF) were chosen to determine the efficacy of digestion. CL and WF values compare favorably to those obtained from an open-vessel, wet digestion followed by ICP, and by neutron activation and mass spectrometric measurements. Plasma samples were oxidized by doubled-distilled ultrapure HNO3 in 120 mL PFA Teflon vessels. An MDS-81D microwave digestion procedure allows for rapid and relatively precise determination of B in human plasma, while limiting handling hazards and sources of contamination.

Ferrando, A. A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Volume 14: The first SeaWiFS intercalibration round-robin experiment, SIRREX-1, July 1992

The results of the first Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiment (SIRREX-1), which was held at the Center for Hydro-Optics and Remote Sensing (CHORS) at San Diego State University (SDSU) on 27-31 July 1992 are presetend. Oceanographic radiometers to be used in the SeaWiFS Calibration and Validation Program will be calibrated by individuals from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), CHORS, and seven other laboratories. The purpose of the SIRREX experiments is to assure the radiometric standards used in all of these laboratories are referenced to the same scales of spectral irradiance and radiance, which will be maintained by GSFC and periodically recalibrated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The spectral irradiance scale of GSFC's FEL lamp number F269 (recalibrated by NIST in October 1992) was transferred to lamps belonging to the 9 participating laboratories; l set of lamp transfer measurements (involving 4 of the lamps) was precise to within less than 1 percent and meets SeaWiFS goals, but a second set (involving another 14 lamps) did not. The spectral radiance scale of the GSFC 40-inch integrating sphere source was transferred to integrating sphere radiance sources belonging to four of the other laboratories. Reflectance plaques, used for irradiance-to-radiance transfer by five of the laboratories, were compared, but spectral bidirectional reflectance distribution functions (BRDF's) were not determined quantitatively. Also reported are results of similar comparisons (in October 1992) between the GSFC scales of spectral irradiance and radiance and those used by the Hughes/Santa Barbara Research Center (SBRC) to calibrate and characterize the SeaWiFS instrument. This first set of intercalibration round-robin experiments was a valuable learning experience for all participants, and led to several important procedural changes, which will be implemented in the second SIRREX, to be held at CHORS in June 1993.

Mueller, James L.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Detailed study of oxidation/wear mechanism in lox turbopump bearings

Wear of 440C angular contact ball bearings of the phase 2 high pressure oxygen turbopump (HPOTP) of the space shuttle main engine (SSME) has been studied by means of various advanced nondestructive techniques (NDT) and modeled with reference to all known material, design, and operation variables. Three modes dominating the wear scenario were found to be the adhesive/sheer peeling (ASP), oxidation, and abrasion. Bearing wear was modeled in terms of the three modes. Lacking a comprehensive theory of rolling contact wear to date, each mode is modeled after well-established theories of sliding wear, while sliding velocity and distance are related to microsliding in ball-to-ring contacts. Microsliding, stress, temperature, and other contact variables are evaluated with analytical software packages of SHABERTH(TM)/SINDA(TM) and ADORE(TM). Empirical constants for the models are derived from NIST experiments by applying the models to the NIST wear data. The bearing wear model so established precisely predicts quite well the average ball wear rate for the HPOTP bearings. The wear rate has been statistically determined for the entire population of flight and development bearings based on Rocketdyne records to date. Numerous illustrations are given.

Chase, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1994

SeaWiFS technical report series. Volume 16: The second SeaWiFS Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiment, SIRREX-2, June 1993

The results of the second Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiment (SIRREX-2), which was held at the Center for Hydro-Optics and Remote Sensing (CHORS) at San Diego State University on 14-25 Jun. 1993 are presented. SeaWiFS is an ocean color radiometer that is scheduled for launch in 1994. The SIRREXs are part of the SeaWiFS Calibration and Validation Program that includes the GSFC, CHORS, NIST, and several other laboratories. GSFC maintains the radiometric scales (spectral radiance and irradiance) for the SeaWiFS program using spectral irradiance standards lamps, which are calibrated by NIST. The purpose of each SIRREX is to assure that the radiometric scales which are realized by the laboratories who participate in the SeaWiFS Calibration and Validation Program are correct; that is, the uncertainties of the radiometric scales are such that measurements of normalized water-leaving radiance using oceanographic radiometers have uncertainties of 5%. SIRREX-1 demonstrated, from the internal consistency of the results, that the program goals would not be met without improvements to the instrumentation. The results of SIRREX-2 demonstrate that spectral irradiance scales realized using the GSFC standard irradiance lamp (F269) are consistent with the program goals, as the uncertainty of these measurements is assessed to be about 1%. However, this is not true for the spectral radiance scales, where again the internal consistency of the results is used to assess the uncertainty. This is attributed to inadequate performance and characterization of the instrumentation. For example, spatial nonuniformities, spectral features, and sensitivity to illumination configuration were observed in some of the integrating sphere sources. The results of SIRREX-2 clearly indicate the direction for future work, with the main emphasis on instrument characterization and the assessment of the measurement uncertainties so that the results may be stated in a more definitive manner.

Hooker, Stanford B.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Chemical engineering: Measurements for a competitive age

The NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) activities supporting chemical research, environmental research, combustion and fuel research, and related industries are described in this video. Highlights include private sector involvement in the research and associated and guest scientist programs, the calibration of customers' instruments, and the direct funding for the NIST research projects by outside industries.

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NASA NTRS1995

High resolution time interval counter

In recent years, we have developed two types of high resolution, multi-channel time interval counters. In the NIST two-way time transfer MODEM application, the counter is designed for operating primarily in the interrupt-driven mode, with 3 start channels and 3 stop channels. The intended start and stop signals are 1 PPS, although other frequencies can also be applied to start and stop the count. The time interval counters used in the NIST Frequency Measurement and Analysis System are implemented with 7 start channels and 7 stop channels. Four of the 7 start channels are devoted to the frequencies of 1 MHz, 5 MHz or 10 MHz, while triggering signals to all other start and stop channels can range from 1 PPS to 100 kHz. Time interval interpolation plays a key role in achieving the high resolution time interval measurements for both counters. With a 10 MHz time base, both counters demonstrate a single-shot resolution of better than 40 ps, and a stability of better than 5 x 10(exp -12) (sigma(sub chi)(tau)) after self test of 1000 seconds). The maximum rate of time interval measurements (with no dead time) is 1.0 kHz for the counter used in the MODEM application and is 2.0 kHz for the counter used in the Frequency Measurement and Analysis System. The counters are implemented as plug-in units for an AT-compatible personal computer. This configuration provides an efficient way of using a computer not only to control and operate the counters, but also to store and process measured data.

Zhang, Victor S.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Measurements of dimethyl sulfide and SO2 during GTE/CITE 3

As part of NASA's Tropospheric Experiment Chemical Instrumentation Test and Evaluation (GTE/CITE 3) Sulfur Gas Intercomparison, we conducted measurements of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and SO2 using two techniques well suited for sampling from an aircraft due to their simplicity of design. DMS was collected by preconcentration on gold wire preceded by a KOH-impregnated filter oxidant scrubber, and analyzed by gas chromatography with flame photometric detection. SO2 was collected on K2CO3/glycerol-impregnated filters and analyzed by ion chromatography. In blind tests, both techniques produced excellent agreement with National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards. For field measurements, the DMS technique produced excellent correlation with the mean of the six different techniques intercompared. For SO2, the five techniques intercompared were rather poorly correlated, but correlations between the three techniques which passed NIST standards tests were somewhat better. Our SO2 filter measurements exhibited rather large uncertainties due to higher than normal variabiltiy of the filter blanks, which we believe was caused by extended storage in the field. In measurements conducted off the coast of Natal, Brazil, a diurnal afternoon minimum in DMS concentrations accompanied by a corresponding maximum in SO2 concentrations was observed. However, due to rather large uncertainties in the SO2 measurements, any conclusions about the SO2 trend must by considered tentative.

Ferek, Ronald J.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Sea WiFS Technical Report Series: The fourth SeaWIFS Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiment (SIRREX-4), May 1995

This report documents the fourth Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiment (SIRREX-4), which was held at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on 3-10 May 1995. The agenda for SIRREX-4 was established by a consensus reached at the conclusion of SIRREX-3: there should be an emphasis on training and work to foster and encourage uniform use of accepted protocols for calibrating radiometric instruments in the laboratory. The goal was to host the activity in a setting where proper techniques could be discussed and demonstrated. It seemed appealing to split the day between morning lectures and afternoon laboratory exercises or practicals. The former gave the user community a chance to present what was important to them and discuss it with acknowledged experts in radiometry, while the latter presented a unique opportunity for training and evaluation in the presence of these same experts. The five laboratory sessions were concerned with (1) determining the responsivity of a spectroradiometer and the spectral radiance of an unknown integrating sphere source, (2) demonstrating spectral field calibration procedures for an integrating sphere using three different instruments, (3) measuring spectral radiance using the plaque method, (4) setting up and aligning lamp calibration transfer standards using the NIST specifications for irradiance measurements, and (5) characterizing radiometric instruments. In addition to documenting some supplemental studies performed outside the laboratory sessions, this report includes an evaluation of the hardware that has been used during the SIRREX activities plus a critical evaluation of SIRREX objectives.

Johnson, B. Carol↗
NASA NTRS2004

Laboratory Astrophysics using a Microcalorimeter and Bragg Crystal Spectrometer on an Electron Beam Ion Trap

During the past year we have been preparing our new microcalorimeter system for permanent delivery to the NIST EBIT. Unfortunately, there have been delays due to technical difficulties in the fabrication of the two-stage adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator and in the life expectancy of the thin windows used for internal thermal baffling of the infrared radiation. These problems have been solved and we are completing tests of the entire system and it will be set up at NIST during the first week of May. Several photos of the new system are shown in Figures 1A and 1B. This microcalorimeter spectrometer only requires helium refills every three days (as opposed to every 24 hours) and it will hold a temperature! of 65 mK for up to 48 hours (as opposed to 8 hours). Consequently, the efficiency of data acquisition will improve dramatically. In parallel we have published a paper that reviews our previous work (Takacs et al. 2003), especially on Fe XVII, in the context of recent measurements by other groups. This paper is included. We highlight a recent measurement of a broad band spectrum of Fe in Figure 2 that simultaneously includes L and K radiation. It is compared with the simulated spectrum of the Perseus Cluster that one could expect to obtain with a microcalorimeter in the focus of a grazing incidence telescope such as the one being designed for Constellation X. Both the charge state distributions and the relative intensity ratios of the emission lines within the particular charge state are very similar in the two spectra. This further demonstrates the importance and relevance of the laboratory measurements in predicting the components of cosmic spectra.

Brinton, John C.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Measuring Thermal Conductivity at LH2 Temperatures

For many years, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) produced reference materials for materials testing. One such reference material was intended for use with a guarded hot plate apparatus designed to meet the requirements of ASTM C177-97, "Standard Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measurements and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Guarded-Hot-Plate Apparatus." This apparatus can be used to test materials in various gaseous environments from atmospheric pressure to a vacuum. It allows the thermal transmission properties of insulating materials to be measured from just above ambient temperature down to temperatures below liquid hydrogen. However, NIST did not generate data below 77 K temperature for the reference material in question. This paper describes a test method used at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) to optimize thermal conductivity measurements during the development of thermal protection systems. The test method extends the usability range of this reference material by generating data at temperatures lower than 77 K. Information provided by this test is discussed, as are the capabilities of the MSFC Hydrogen Test Facility, where advanced methods for materials testing are routinely developed and optimized in support of aerospace applications.

Selvidge, Shawn↗
NASA NTRS2003

Succinonitrile Purification Facility

The Succinonitrile (SCN) Purification Facility provides succinonitrile and succinonitrile alloys to several NRA selected investigations for flight and ground research at various levels of purity. The purification process employed includes both distillation and zone refining. Once the appropriate purification process is completed, samples are characterized to determine the liquidus and/or solidus temperature, which is then related to sample purity. The lab has various methods for measuring these temperatures with accuracies in the milliKelvin to tenths of milliKelvin range. The ultra-pure SCN produced in our facility is indistinguishable from the standard material provided by NIST to well within the stated +/- 1.5mK of the NIST triple point cells. In addition to delivering material to various investigations, our current activities include process improvement, characterization of impurities and triple point cell design and development. The purification process is being evaluated for each of the four vendors to determine the efficacy of each purification step. We are also collecting samples of the remainder from distillation and zone refining for analysis of the constituent impurities. The large triple point cells developed will contain SCN with a melting point of 58.0642 C +/- 1.5mK for use as a calibration standard for Standard Platinum Resistance Thermometers (SPRTs).

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NASA NTRS1998

Effects of regenerator geometry on pulse tube refrigerator performance

This paper gives results of the cooling performance of a double-inlet pulse tube refrigerator using various regenerators. The same pulse tube was used for all the experiments and measured 4.76 mm in diameter and 46.2 mm in length. A commercial linear compressor with a swept volume of 4 cm3 was used in these experiments. The operating conditions were held constant at a mean pressure of 2.0 MPa and a frequency of 54 Hz. Using finite difference software called REGEN3.1, developed at NIST, and recent experiment results, we optimized a series of regenerators based on dimensions, materials and screen packing. The values used for calculating the thermal conduction through stacked screens by REGEN3.1 were based on recent experimental results from NIST. The regenerator tubes were designed using 316 stainless steel and titanium materials. The regenerator matrices investigated were 400-mesh and 500-mesh stainless steel screen. The valve settings for both orifices were adjusted to minimize the no-load temperature for all regenerators. A cooling capacity curve from 0 to 3 W was also determined. The performance of the pulse tube refrigerator using the different regenerators is discussed. The experimental results from the various regenerators are evaluated and compared with their corresponding numerically calculated coefficient of performance (COP) and regenerator design as determined by REGEN3.1.

NASA Discipline Life Sciences Technologies↗
NASA NTRS2004

A Comparison of Experimental EPMA Data and Monte Carlo Simulations

Monte Carlo (MC) modeling shows excellent prospects for simulating electron scattering and x-ray emission from complex geometries, and can be compared to experimental measurements using electron-probe microanalysis (EPMA) and phi(rho z) correction algorithms. Experimental EPMA measurements made on NIST SRM 481 (AgAu) and 482 (CuAu) alloys, at a range of accelerating potential and instrument take-off angles, represent a formal microanalysis data set that has been used to develop phi(rho z) correction algorithms. The accuracy of MC calculations obtained using the NIST, WinCasino, WinXray, and Penelope MC packages will be evaluated relative to these experimental data. There is additional information contained in the extended abstract.

Carpenter, P. K.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Wavelengths, f-Values, and Cross Sections in the UV Spectra of Astrophysical, Atoms, Ions, and Molecules

Data analysis for Fe III was completed in 2004. The new spectra give wavelengths and some energy levels for Fe III that are at least an order of magnitude more accurate than values in the literature. However, the data set is missing - because they are outside the wavelength range that we can study at Imperial College or with ancillary FT spectroscopy measurements at NIST - important transitions that would allow all energy levels to be determined with improved accuracy. We are assessing collaborations at other labs. We have made test runs with a number of cathodes (pure metals and alloys) in the Penning discharge source and selected four iron group (3d) elements, Cr, Mn, Co, and Ni, for further measurements. Cathodes of pure Cr and Co and an alloy of Ni were found to be best. Mn has not nm stably yet, and other cathode geometries or alloys may need to be assessed. Optimum Penning discharge (PD) lamp conditions (buffer gas, gas pressure, and current/voltage) were established for Co, and investigations are underway for Cr and Ni. Definitive measurements for Co await purchase of new mirrors and photomultiplier tubes that will improve signal to noise ratio. Our plan for the next year is to continue evaluating cathodes and operating conditions through March 05, and then to begin definitive measurements. The UV wavelength measurements made at Imperial College with the unique UV FT spectrometer will be complemented by visible and near IR range measurements at NIST in June and/or July. Approximately one year from now, we intend to visit Lund University to collaborate on lifetime measurements that will allow our branching ration data to be used to determine f-values.

Raymond, John C.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Narrow-band EUV Multilayer Coating for the MOSES Sounding Rocket

The Multi-order Solar EUV Spectrograph (MOSES) is a slitless spectrograph designed to study solar He II emission at 303.8 Angstroms, to be launched on a sounding rocket payload. One difference between MOSES and other slitless spectrographs is that the images are recorded simultaneously at three spectral orders, m = -1,0, +l. Another is the addition of a narrow-band multilayer coating on both the grating and the fold flat, which will reject out-of-band lines that normally contaminate the image of a slitless instrument. The primary metrics f a the mating were high peak reflectivity and suppression of Fe XV and XVI emission lines at 284 Angstroms and 335 Angstroms, respectively. We chose B4C/Mg2Si for our material combination since it provides better values for all three metrics together than the other leading candidates Si/Ir, Si/B4C or Si/SiC. Measurements of witness flats at NIST indicate the peak reflectivity at 303.6 is 38.5% for a 15 bilayer stack, while the suppression at 284 Angstroms, is 4.5x and at 335 Angstroms is 18.3x for each of two reflections in the instrument. We present the results of coating the MOSES flight gratings and fold flat, including the spectral response of the fold flat and grating as measured at NIST's SURF III and Brookhaven's X24C beamline.

Owens, Scott M.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Radiative Ignition and the Transition to Flame Spread Investigated in the Japan Microgravity Center's 10-sec Drop Shaft

The Radiative Ignition and Transition to Spread Investigation (RITSI) is a shuttle middeck Glovebox combustion experiment developed by the NASA Lewis Research Center, the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), and Aerospace Design and Fabrication (ADF). It is scheduled to fly on the third United States Microgravity Payload (USMP-3) mission in February 1996. The objective of RITSI is to experimentally study radiative ignition and the subsequent transition to flame spread in low gravity in the presence of very low speed air flows in two- and three-dimensional configurations. Toward this objective, a unique collaboration between NASA, NIST, and the University of Hokkaido was established to conduct 15 science and engineering tests in Japan's 10-sec drop shaft. For these tests, the RITSI engineering hardware was mounted in a sealed chamber with a variable oxygen atmosphere. Ashless filter paper was ignited during each drop by a tungsten-halogen heat lamp focused on a small spot in the center of the paper. The flame spread outward from that point. Data recorded included fan voltage (a measure of air flow), radiant heater voltage (a measure of radiative ignition energy), and surface temperatures (measured by up to three surface thermocouples) during ignition and flame spread.

Source record↗