Proceedings of the First Houston Technology Transfer Conference
Commercially successful applications of NASA developed aerospace technology to industrial processes are discussed.
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Commercially successful applications of NASA developed aerospace technology to industrial processes are discussed.
A description is given of the NASA developed all-weather ice information system for the Great Lakes winter navigation program. The system utilizes an X-band side looking airborne radar (SLAR) for determining type, location, and areal distribution of the ice cover in the Great Lakes and an airborne, S band, down looking short pulse radar for obtaining ice thickness. Digitized SLAR data are relayed in real time via the NOAA-GOES satellite in geosynchronous orbit. The SLAR images along with hand drawn interpretative ice charts for various Great Lakes winter shipping areas are broadcast to facsimile recorders aboard vessles is the area via the MARAD marine VHF-FM radio network. These data assist such vessels in navigating both through and around the ice.
A compilation is presented of NASA-developed technology in welding and joining. Topics discussed include welding equipment, techniques in welding, general bonding, joining techniques, and clamps and holding fixtures.
Interactive computer graphics is a fast growing area of computer application, due to such factors as substantial cost reductions in hardware, general availability of software, and expanded data communication networks. In addition to allowing faster and more meaningful input/output, computer graphics permits the use of data in graphic form to carry out parametric studies for configuration selection and for assessing the impact of advanced technologies on general aviation designs. The incorporation of interactive computer graphics into a NASA developed general aviation synthesis program is described, and the potential uses of the synthesis program in preliminary design are demonstrated.
Lower body negative pressure testing in cardiac patients has been completed as well as the design and construction of a new leg negative unit for evaluating heart patients. This technology is based on NASA research, using vacuum chambers to stress the cardiovascular system during space flight. Additional laboratory tests of an intracranial pressure transducer, have been conducted. Three new biomedical problems to which NASA technology is applicable are also identified. These are: a communication device for the speech impaired, the NASA development liquid-cooled garment, and miniature force transducers for heart research.
Costs for airline operational implementation of a NASA-developed approach energy management system (AEMS) concept, as applied to the 727 airplane, were determined. Estimated costs are provided for airplane retrofit and for installation of the required DME ground stations. Operational costs and fuel cost savings are presented in a cost-of-ownership study. The potential return on the equipment investment is evaluated using a net present value method. Scheduled 727 traffic and existing VASI, ILS, and collocated DME ground station facilities are summarized for domestic airports used by 727 operators.
NASA developed stability and frequency response analysis techniques were applied to a dynamic blade row compression component stability model to provide a more economic approach to surge line and frequency response determination than that provided by time-dependent methods. This blade row model was linearized and the Jacobian matrix was formed. The clean-inlet-flow stability characteristics of the compressors of two J85-13 engines were predicted by applying the alternate Routh-Hurwitz stability criterion to the Jacobian matrix. The predicted surge line agreed with the clean-inlet-flow surge line predicted by the time-dependent method to a high degree except for one engine at 94% corrected speed. No satisfactory explanation of this discrepancy was found. The frequency response of the linearized system was determined by evaluating its Laplace transfer function. The results of the linearized-frequency-response analysis agree with the time-dependent results when the time-dependent inlet total-pressure and exit-flow function amplitude boundary conditions are less than 1 percent and 3 percent, respectively. The stability analysis technique was extended to a two-sector parallel compressor model with and without interstage crossflow and predictions were carried out for total-pressure distortion extents of 180 deg, 90 deg, 60 deg, and 30 deg.
A FORTRAN IV program which calculates leading- and trailing-edge circle radii, tangency angles on the leading- and trailing-edge circles, and stagger angles of turbomachinery blade sections using only spline points defining the blade surfaces is described. The program shifts the origin of the blade coordinates to the leading edge of the blade. Required input includes (m, theta) coordinates of a sufficient number of spline points to adequately define the two surfaces of the blade. Other required input are the radii from the axis of rotation of the leading- and trailing-edges. The output from this program is used directly as the geometrical input for a NASA developed program for calculating transonic velocities on a blade-to-blade stream surface of a turbomachine. The program is used for axial, radial, and mixed flow turbomachine blades.
The transfer of remote sensing technology for the digital processing of LANDSAT data to state and local agencies in Georgia and other southeastern states is discussed. The project consists of a series of workshops, seminars, and demonstration efforts, and transfer of NASA-developed hardware concepts and computer software to state agencies. Throughout the multi-year effort, digital processing techniques have been emphasized classification algorithms. Software for LANDSAT data rectification and processing have been developed and/or transferred. A hardware system is available at EES (engineering experiment station) to allow user interactive processing of LANDSAT data. Seminars and workshops emphasize the digital approach to LANDSAT data utilization and the system improvements scheduled for LANDSATs C and D. Results of the project indicate a substantially increased awareness of the utility of digital LANDSAT processing techniques among the agencies contracted throughout the southeast. In Georgia, several agencies have jointly funded a program to map the entire state using digitally processed LANDSAT data.
It is shown that the integration of active controls into advanced commercial transport designs yields increased efficiency (by as much as 12%), reduced fuel consumption, and improved safety. These conclusions are based on a NASA development program considering various design configurations, wind tunnel tests (e.g., tests of static and dynamic control effects, aerodynamic loads, flutter tests, and active flutter suppression system tests), and extensive flight testing.
Capabilities of a NASA-developed structural analysis computer program, NASTRAN, are evaluated with reference to finite-element modelling. Applications include the automotive industry as well as aerospace. It is noted that the range of sub-programs within NASTRAN has expanded, while keeping user cost low.
A description is presented of some measurements which illustrate the variability of the experimentally developed ground noise footprints for a series of landing approach operations of a turbojet aircraft and a turbine powered helicopter. Measurements on the recently developed NASA Remotely Operated Multiple Array Acoustic Range are considered. The information presented is related to a turbojet fighter aircraft and a turbine powered helicopter performing landing approach operations along a 3 deg approach path. Each vehicle was acquired on radar tracking approximately 10 kilometers from the touchdown point and entered the test area at an altitude of about 470 m. The measured variations in meteorological quantities for the two time periods during which these tests were conducted are presented in graphs. Other graphs show the ground noise contour for the turbojet aircraft and the turbine helicopter.
A NASA-developed oculometer, which measures pilot scanning behavior, is described in terms of design and operating parameters. Results are presented of tests conducted in a terminal configured vehicle (TVC) aft cockpit simulator, involving pilots making simulated instrument approaches. Attention is given to the amount of time the pilots spend scanning the SFD and EADI CRT displays, and to differences resulting from both the physical location of the CRTs (within a 30 x 30 x 30 cm space), and from their intrinsic characteristics.
NASA's Application Systems Verification and Transfer Projects (ASVTs) are deliberate efforts to facilitate the transfer of applications of NASA-developed space technology to users such as federal agencies, state and local governments, regional planning groups, public service institutions, and private industry. This study focused on the role of documentation in facilitating technology transfer both to primary users identified during project planning and to others with similar information needs. It was understood that documentation can be used effectively when it is combined with informal (primarily verbal) communication within each user community and with other formal techniques such as organized demonstrations and training programs. Documentation examples from eight ASVT projects and one potential project were examined to give scope to the investigation.
NASA developed technologies were used to tackle problems associated with safety, transportation, industry, manufacturing, construction and state and local governments. Aerospace programs were responsible for more innovations for the benefit of mankind than those brought about by either major wars, or peacetime programs. Briefly outlined are some innovations for manned space flight, satellite surveillance applications, and pollution monitoring techniques.
Silver electrodes containing various additives were fabricated and tested in single electrode cells in order to improve the electrochemical utilization of sintered silver cathodes in Ag-H2 aerospace batteries. A standard stack arrangement was used which featured a NASA-developed organic-inorganic separator. All cells were cycled in a regime designed to remove 75% of the cells nominal capacity based on 3.3 gms/AHr Ag utilization. In cases where performance degradation was observed, the main feature mode appeared to be corrosion of either the expanded silver current collector or the connection between the silver electrode and the electrode tab. Promising silver electrodes from single electrode studies were used in the construction of 35 AHr Ag-H2 cells. Two such cells were constructed and installed in heavy walled pressure vessels for testing. Based on the data obtained from all cells tested during the program, four lightweight 35 AHr cells were fabricated. During acceptance testing these cells yielded an average gravimetric energy density of 30 WHr/1b.
NASA is conducting a series of millimeter wave satellite communication systems and market studies to: (1) determine potential domestic 30/20 GHz satellite concepts and market potential, and (2) establish the requirements for a suitable technology verification payload which, although intended to be modest in capacity, would sufficiently demonstrate key technologies and experimentally address key operational issues. Preliminary results and critical issues of the current contracted effort are described. Also included is a description of a NASA-developed multibeam satellite payload configuration which may be representative of concepts utilized in a technology flight verification program.
The spectral emittance of a NASA developed zirconia ceramic thermal barrier coating system, consisting of a metal substrate, a layer of Ni-Cr-Al-Y bond material and a layer of yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramic material, is analyzed. The emittance, needed for evaluation of radiant heat loads on cooled coated gas turbine components, was measured over a range of temperatures that would be typical of its use on such components. Emittance data were obtained with a spectrometer, a reflectometer and a radiation pyrometer at a single bond coating thickness of 0.010 cm and at a ceramic coating thickness of 0-0.076 cm. The data were transformed into the hemispherical total emittance and were correlated to the ceramic coating thickness and temperature using multiple-regression curve-fitting techniques. The system was found to be highly reflective, and, consequently, capable of significantly reducing radiation heat loads on cooled gas turbine engine components.