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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 775 records · Page 43

LIMEX '87 ice surface characteristics - Implications for C-band SAR backscatter signatures

Ice surface characterization data collected in 1987, during the Labrador Sea Ice Margin Experiment, are analyzed to estimate the changes in snow and ice properties at the onset of melt. Surface measurements were made from an ice research vessel on several days (some of which had coincident remote-sensing flights) at a number of locations in the marginal ice zone. These data are used as input parameters in a simple scattering model to simulate the effects of variations in material properties upon C-band scattering signatures. Snow moisture and large-scale surface roughness are demonstrated to have the largest effect upon HH polarization scattering cross-section sigma(HH)(O) and large differences are predicted between undeformed floe surfaces and deformed or undulating rough ice surfaces. Using a parametric approach, an approximate picture of rough and smooth ice signatures and their relative contrast are provided. The models reproduce a trend observed in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of increasing backscatter contrast between deformed and underformed ice over an early period of warning: such observations are consistent with the results of analysis of SAR images to date. The model also reproduces a calibrated SAR-derived signature with a reasonable degree of accuracy.

Drinkwater, Mark R.↗

Chaotic motion of Europa and Ganymede and the Ganymede-Callisto dichotomy

Europa and Ganymede may have undergone an episode of chaotic motion before the establishment of the current Laplace resonance involving the three inner GAlilean satellites. During this episode, the orbital eccentricities of both satellites may have increased dramatically. As a result, the mechanical stresses due to tidal deformation of the satellites' icy lithospheres may have been large enough to result in extensive fracturing, and tidal heating may have melted water ice in the mantles of both satellites, triggering the geological activity that has modified their surfaces since the heavy cratering period. The tidal effects on Ganymede during this episode provide an explanation of the dichotomy between it and Callisto, which have similar bulk properties but very different geological histories.

Tittemore, William C.↗

Limex'87 ice surface characteristics and their effect upon C-band SAR sigantures

Ice surface characterization data were recorded during March 1987 in the Labrador Sea marginal ice zone, at the onset of spring melt. Measured data are used as input parameters in a simple scattering model to simulate the effects of temporal variations in material properties upon C-band scattering signatures. Snow moisture and surface roughness have a significant effect upon sigma(0)HH and large differences are predicted between undeformed floe surfaces and deformed or rubbled ice areas. The model reproduces a calibrated synthetic-aperture-radar (SAR)-derived signature obtained during the experiment with a reasonable degree of certainty. Predictions also simulate a trend observed in SAR images of increasing backscatter contrast between deformed and undeformed ice over period of surface warming.

Drinkwater, Mark R.↗

Structural Analysis of a 50 cm Diameter Open-back Triangular Cell Beryllium Mirror in a Cryogenic Environment

This paper discusses NASTRAN structural analysis of the Sub-Scale Beryllium Mirror Demonstrator (SBMD), which has been developed by Ball Aerospace as an experimental design concept for the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST). The mirror was repeatedly subjected to 35 K environment in the large cryogenic test chamber at Marshall Space Flight Center. Deformations on the mirror surface were measured optically. The surface distortions predicted by NASTRAN are analyzed optically for comparison with the measured values. Model results compare favorably with measured results for ambient temperature validation cases. For the cryogenic environment case the influence of geometry and material property variations is being investigated to obtain closer correlation.

Craig, Larry↗

Lunar and Planetary Science XXXV: Venus

The session "Venus" included the following reports:Is It Possible to Detect Magnetic Materials on Venus with Bistatic Radar Probing?; Airfall Crater Deposits on the Surface of Venus: Do We See Them in the Venera Panoramas?; Rift System Architecture on Venus; Constraints on Deformation Belt Evolution on Venus; An Admittance Survey of Large Volcanoes on Venus: Implications for Volcano Growth; Crustal Thickening Above a Convecting Mantle with Application to Venus and Mars; Geological Mapping of Venus: Interpretation of Geologic History and Assessment of; Directional and Non-Directional Models; Ages of Venusian Ridge Belts Relative to Regional Plains; and Plumes as a Mechanism for Equilibrium Resurfacing of Venus.

Source record↗

Videogrammetric Model Deformation Measurement Technique

The theory, methods, and applications of the videogrammetric model deformation (VMD) measurement technique used at NASA for wind tunnel testing are presented. The VMD technique, based on non-topographic photogrammetry, can determine static and dynamic aeroelastic deformation and attitude of a wind-tunnel model. Hardware of the system includes a video-rate CCD camera, a computer with an image acquisition frame grabber board, illumination lights, and retroreflective or painted targets on a wind tunnel model. Custom software includes routines for image acquisition, target-tracking/identification, target centroid calculation, camera calibration, and deformation calculations. Applications of the VMD technique at five large NASA wind tunnels are discussed.

Burner, A. W.↗

Stability of Lobed Balloons

This paper presents a computational study of the stability of simple lobed balloon structures. Two approaches are presented, one based on a wrinkled material model and one based on a variable Poisson s ratio model that eliminates compressive stresses iteratively. The first approach is used to investigate the stability of both a single isotensoid and a stack of four isotensoids, for perturbations of in.nitesimally small amplitude. It is found that both structures are stable for global deformation modes, but unstable for local modes at su.ciently large pressure. Both structures are stable if an isotropic model is assumed. The second approach is used to investigate the stability of the isotensoid stack for large shape perturbations, taking into account contact between di.erent surfaces. For this structure a distorted, stable configuration is found. It is also found that the volume enclosed by this con.guration is smaller than that enclosed by the undistorted structure.

Ball, Danny↗

Characterization of Damage in Triaxial Braid Composites Under Tensile Loading

Carbon fiber composites utilizing flattened, large tow yarns in woven or braided forms are being used in many aerospace applications. Their complex fiber architecture and large unit cell size present challenges in both understanding deformation processes and measuring reliable material properties. This report examines composites made using flattened 12k and 24k standard modulus carbon fiber yarns in a 0 /+60 /-60 triaxial braid architecture. Standard straight-sided tensile coupons are tested with the 0 axial braid fibers either parallel with or perpendicular to the applied tensile load (axial or transverse tensile test, respectively). Nonuniform surface strain resulting from the triaxial braid architecture is examined using photogrammetry. Local regions of high strain concentration are examined to identify where failure initiates and to determine the local strain at the time of initiation. Splitting within fiber bundles is the first failure mode observed at low to intermediate strains. For axial tensile tests splitting is primarily in the 60 bias fibers, which were oriented 60 to the applied load. At higher strains, out-of-plane deformation associated with localized delamination between fiber bundles or damage within fiber bundles is observed. For transverse tensile tests, the splitting is primarily in the 0 axial fibers, which were oriented transverse to the applied load. The initiation and accumulation of local damage causes the global transverse stress-strain curves to become nonlinear and causes failure to occur at a reduced ultimate strain. Extensive delamination at the specimen edges is also observed.

Littell, Justin D.↗

Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis of a Composite Non-Cylindrical Pressurized Aircraft Fuselage Structure

The Environmentally Responsible Aviation Project aims to develop aircraft technologies enabling significant fuel burn and community noise reductions. Small incremental changes to the conventional metallic alloy-based 'tube and wing' configuration are not sufficient to achieve the desired metrics. One of the airframe concepts that might dramatically improve aircraft performance is a composite-based hybrid wing body configuration. Such a concept, however, presents inherent challenges stemming from, among other factors, the necessity to transfer wing loads through the entire center fuselage section which accommodates a pressurized cabin confined by flat or nearly flat panels. This paper discusses a nonlinear finite element analysis of a large-scale test article being developed to demonstrate that the Pultruded Rod Stitched Efficient Unitized Structure concept can meet these challenging demands of the next generation airframes. There are specific reasons why geometrically nonlinear analysis may be warranted for the hybrid wing body flat panel structure. In general, for sufficiently high internal pressure and/or mechanical loading, energy related to the in-plane strain may become significant relative to the bending strain energy, particularly in thin-walled areas such as the minimum gage skin extensively used in the structure under analysis. To account for this effect, a geometrically nonlinear strain-displacement relationship is needed to properly couple large out-of-plane and in-plane deformations. Depending on the loading, this nonlinear coupling mechanism manifests itself in a distinct manner in compression- and tension-dominated sections of the structure. Under significant compression, nonlinear analysis is needed to accurately predict loss of stability and postbuckled deformation. Under significant tension, the nonlinear effects account for suppression of the out-of-plane deformation due to in-plane stretching. By comparing the present results with the previously published preliminary linear analysis, it is demonstrated in the present paper that neglecting nonlinear effects for the structure and loads of interest can lead to appreciable loss in analysis fidelity.

Przekop, Adam↗

Fundamental studies of heat load and thermal-structure analysis of large space structures

Investigation of the basic requirements for modeling slender member shadowing effects on thermally induced deformation continues. The theoretical formulation is complete and computer programming is underway. The basic requirements for thermal finite elements to model heat transfer in orbiting structures were also studied. The need for planar isothermal elements to model large space structures' antenna meshes was established. Finite Element approaches for modeling space structure cable and membrane components with thermal effects is underway. Three levels of structural modeling and analysis were identified: (1) a linear-elastic small deflection analysis that does not permit cable slackening; (2) a linear-elastic analysis that includes stress stiffening (the ANSYS program), but not large deflections; and (3) full nonlinear large deflection analysis with stress stiffening. Methods of determining cable initial tensions are currently being evaluated.

Thornton, E. A.↗

Interfacial toughness: dependence on surface roughness and test temperature

Interfacial toughness quantifies resistance to crack growth along an interface and in this investigation the toughness of an aluminum/epoxy interface was measured as a function of surface roughness and test temperature. The large strain response of the relatively ductile epoxy adhesive used in this study was also characterized. This epoxy adhesive exhibits intrinsic strain-softening after initial compressive yield and then deforms plastically at a roughly constant flow stress until it rapidly hardens at large compressive strains. Here, we find that interface toughness scales as the product of the temperature dependent epoxy yield strength and a length scale that characterizes surface roughness. The proposed scaling is based upon dimensional considerations of a model problem that assumes that the characteristic length scale of both the roughness and the crack-tip yield zone is small relative to the region dominated by the linear elastic asymptotic crack-tip stress field. Furthermore, the model assumes that interfacial failure occurs only after the epoxy begins to harden at large strains. The proposed relationship is validated by our interfacial toughness measurements.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A simple levelset contact algorithm for large overlap removal and robust preloads

A simple approach to simulate contact between deformable objects is presented which relies on levelset descriptions of the Lagrangian geometry and an optimization-based solver. Modeling contact between objects remains a significant challenge for computational mechanics simulations. Common approaches are either plagued by lack of robustness or are exceedingly complex and require a significant number of heuristics. In contrast, the levelset contact approach presented herein is essentially heuristic free. Furthermore, the presented algorithm enables resolving and enforcing contact between objects with a significant amount of initial overlap. Examples demonstrating the feasibility of this approach are shown, including the standard Hertz contact problem, the robust removal of overlap between two overlapping blocks, and overlap-removal and pre-load for a bolted configuration.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Shock effects from a large impact on the moon

The paper calculates the shock and shear deformation-induced internal energy distribution associated with a major basin-forming hypervelocity meteorite impact on the moon. The Hageman and Walsh formulation of the axisymmetric two-dimensional conservation equations in finite difference form is used, and the flow field induced upon impact of an iron meteorite traveling at 15 km/sec with a gabbroic anorthosite lunar crust is calculated for sequential time steps over a grid of hoop-shaped zones fixed in space. If an energy of 5 times 10 to the 32nd power ergs for the projectile energy is required to excavate a basin of Imbrium size, than a flow field of approximately 210 km in radius approximately 19 seconds after impact is indicated. The meteorite residue, the melt, and the ejecta are discussed, and the results are compared with the Gault and Heitowit (1963) formulation.

Okeefe, J. D.↗

Role of quadrupole deformation and continuum effects in the “island of inversion” nuclei 28,29,31 F

The peculiar properties of nuclei in the so-called “island of inversion” around Z = 10 and N = 20 are the focus of current nuclear physics research. Recent studies showed that 28 F has a negative-parity ground state and thus lies within the southern shore of the island of inversion, and 29 F presents a halo structure in its ground state, but it is unclear which effects, such as deformation, shell evolution due to tensor forces, or couplings to the continuum, lead to this situation. Here, we investigate the role of quadrupole deformation and continuum effects on the single-particle structure of 28,29,31 F from a relativistic mean-field approach and show how both phenomena can lead to a negative-parity ground state in 28 F and halo structures in 29,31 F. We solve the Dirac equation in the complex-momentum (Berggren) representation for a potential with quadrupole deformation at the first order obtained from relativistic mean-field calculations using the NL3 interaction and calculate the continuum level densities using the Green’s function method. We extract single-particle energies and widths from the continuum level densities to construct the Nilsson diagrams of 28,29,31 F in the continuum and analyze the evolution of both the widths and occupation probabilities of relevant Nilsson orbitals in 28 F and find that some amount of prolate deformation must be present. In addition, we calculate the density distributions for bound Nilsson orbitals near the Fermi surface in 29,31 F and reveal that, for a quadrupole deformation 0.3 ≤ β 2 ≤ 0.45 (prolate), characteristic halo tails appear at large distances. Using the relativistic mean-field approach in the complex-momentum representation with the Green’s function method, we demonstrate that in neutron-rich fluorine isotopes, while in the spherical case the pf shells are already inverted and close to the neutron emission threshold, a small amount of quadrupole deformation can dramatically reduce the gap between positive- and negative-parity states and increase the role of continuum states, ultimately leading to the negative parity in the ground state of 28 F and the halo structures in 29,31 F.

20 ≤ A ≤ 38↗

Nonlinear deformation and elasticity of BCC refractory metals and alloys

Application of isotropic pressure or uniaxial strain alters the elastic properties of materials; sufficiently large strains can drive structural transformations. Linear elasticity describes stability against infinitesimal strains, while nonlinear elasticity describes the response to finite deformations. Here, it was previously shown that uniaxial strain along [100] drives refractory metals and alloys towards mechanical instabilities. These include an extensional instability, and a symmetry-breaking orthorhombic distortion caused by a Jahn-Teller-Peierls instability that splays the cubic lattice vectors. Here we analyze these transitions in depth. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the Wallace tensor identify and classify linear instabilities in the presence of strain. We show that both instabilities are discontinuous, leading to discrete jumps in the lattice parameters. We provide physical intuition for the instabilities by analyzing the changes in first-principles energy, stress, bond lengths, and angles upon application of strain. Electronic band structure calculations show differential occupation of bonding and antibonding orbitals, driven by the changing bond lengths and leading to the structural transformations. Strain thresholds for these instabilities depend on the valence electron count.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Collapse of Nuclear Collectivity along the 𝑁 = 𝑍 Line

The lifetime of the 𝐽 𝜋 = 2 + state in the self-conjugate 88 Ru nucleus has been determined in an experiment performed using rare-isotope beams provided by the new Facility for Rare Isotope Beams. This is the heaviest 𝑁 = 𝑍 nucleus for which such a measurement has been achieved. 88 Ru was populated by both one-neutron knockout and charge-exchange reactions, and the lifetime of 14.3$^{+2.5}_{−3.4}$ ps was determined using the triple-foil plunger technique. The extracted electromagnetic transition strength shows that the quadrupole collectivity has dropped significantly compared with the highly deformed 𝑁 = 𝑍 region around 𝐴 ∼ 80. These results are compared with state-of-the-art large-scale shell-model and discrete nonorthogonal shell-model calculations. The theoretical calculations indicate a moderate triaxial deformation and suggest that low-lying states in this nucleus are no longer dominated by strong many-particle many-hole excitations, unlike the lighter, highly deformed 𝑁 = 𝑍 nuclei nearby.

59 ≤ A ≤ 89↗

The role of specimen size and grain boundary characteristics in the yield strength of tungsten in microtensile tests

To effectively use the measured properties from small-scale tensile tests for bulk material performance predictions, it is essential to understand the threshold of specimen size-effect strengthening and the interaction between dislocations and microstructures within miniaturized specimens. This study uses pure tungsten to investigate the size effect in terms of specimen size, grain size, and grain boundary characteristics relative to the yield strength of tungsten at room temperature. We evaluate the transition from miniaturized specimen properties to bulk properties and the deformation behavior through small-scale tensile tests of three specimen sizes (large: 80 × 100 × 233 µm³; medium: 7 × 7 × 18 µm³; and small: 2 × 2 × 5 µm³). The testing results reveal that the small and medium specimens exhibit high yield strength with ductile behavior, while the large specimens exhibit brittle failure, consistent with the room temperature strength of tungsten, indicating bulk behavior. We further explore the specimen size-effect sensitivity to yield stress and the scaling relationship between yield strength and the number of grains involved in the deformation. A power-law relationship with the exponent value of approximately -0.5 was found in the yield strength–grain number scaling, implying the Hall-Petch like behavior. A minimum of 7–17 effective grain boundaries across the tensile gauge dimension is required to accurately measure bulk properties.

36 - MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Venus Interior Structure Mission (VISM): Establishing a Seismic Network on Venus

Magellan radar data show the surface of Venus to contain a wide range of geologic features (large volcanoes, extensive rift valleys, etc.). Although networks of interconnecting zones of deformation are identified, a system of spreading ridges and subduction zones like those that dominate the tectonic style of the Earth do not appear to be present. In addition, the absence of a mantle low-viscosity zone suggests a strong link between mantle dynamics and the surface. As a natural follow-on to the Magellan mission, establishing a network of seismometers on Venus will provide detailed quantitative information on the large scale interior structure of the planet. When analyzed in conjunction with image, gravity, and topography information, these data will aid in constraining mechanisms that drive surface deformation.

Stofan, E. R.↗