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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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733 records · Page 5

Thermochemically-Closed Sonic-Flow Inversion for Enthalpy and Temperature in Multispecies Arc-Jet Flows

A thermochemically-closed sonic-flow inversion framework (TSIF) is developed to infer bulk enthalpy and total temperature upstream of a choked nozzle in arc-jet flows. The formulation recasts a pressure-rise total enthalpy quantification technique as an inverse problem in characteristic-velocity c * space using measured mass flow rate, upstream total pressure, gas composition, and nozzle throat geometry as inputs. Unlike calorimetric energy-balance approaches or optical diagnostics, the method relies primarily on routinely measured facility quantities combined with explicit thermochemical closure. Thermochemical states are obtained using NASA’s open-source Chemical Equilibrium with Applications (CEA) code, enabling construction of a chemistry-consistent relation between characteristic velocity, total enthalpy, and total temperature under equilibrium or frozen assumptions. A discharge coefficient is self-calibrated using cold-flow (arc-off) operation data and applied to hot-flow (arc-on) measurements, enabling upstream losses to be accounted for without empirical correlations. The framework is applied to air, N 2 , and CO 2 –N 2 arc-jet flows and demonstrates expected trends for the inferred thermochemical states as function of arc power, specific energy input, mass-flow, heater configuration, and test gas. In the air limit, under equilibrium assumptions, the method recovers the classical high-enthalpy asymptotic correlation of Winovich with a mean residual of 4.4%, demonstrating compatibility with established sonic-flow scaling, while extending applicability to arbitrary multi-species mixtures and non-equilibrium chemistry. The framework provides a mixture-flexible methodology for determining bulk thermochemical states in modern arc-jet environments using routine facility pressure, mass-flow, gas-composition, and nozzle-geometry information together with a cold-flow calibration.

stagnation heat flux

Thermochemically-Closed Sonic-Flow Inversion for Enthalpy and Temperature in Multispecies Arc-Jet Flows

A thermochemically-closed sonic-flow inversion framework (TSIF) is developed to infer bulk enthalpy and total temperature upstream of a choked nozzle in arc-jet flows. The formulation recasts a pressure-rise total enthalpy quantification technique as an inverse problem in characteristic-velocity c * space using measured mass flow rate, upstream total pressure, gas composition, and nozzle throat geometry as inputs. Unlike calorimetric energy-balance approaches or optical diagnostics, the method relies primarily on routinely measured facility quantities combined with explicit thermochemical closure. Thermochemical states are obtained using NASA’s open-source Chemical Equilibrium with Applications (CEA) code, enabling construction of a chemistry-consistent relation between characteristic velocity, total enthalpy, and total temperature under equilibrium or frozen assumptions. A discharge coefficient is self-calibrated using cold-flow (arc-off) operation data and applied to hot-flow (arc-on) measurements, enabling upstream losses to be accounted for without empirical correlations. The framework is applied to air, N 2 , and CO 2 –N 2 arc-jet flows and demonstrates expected trends for the inferred thermochemical states as function of arc power, specific energy input, mass-flow, heater configuration, and test gas. In the air limit, under equilibrium assumptions, the method recovers the classical high-enthalpy asymptotic correlation of Winovich with a mean residual of 4.4%, demonstrating compatibility with established sonic-flow scaling, while extending applicability to arbitrary multi-species mixtures and non-equilibrium chemistry. The framework provides a mixture-flexible methodology for determining bulk thermochemical states in modern arc-jet environments using routine facility pressure, mass-flow, gas-composition, and nozzle-geometry information together with a cold-flow calibration.

inviscid theory

Sequence-Structure–Property Relationships in Short-Chain Polyesters: How Primary Structure Governs Macroscopic Performance

While polymer properties are fundamentally linked to their nanostructure, the influence of monomer sequence remains less understood than stereochemical factors like tacticity. This study examines how sequence distribution affects the thermal behavior and morphology of homo- and copolyesters, specifically comparing polymers derived from constitutionally identical monomers but with varying degrees of sequence regularity depending on monomer structure or polymerization selectivity. Our findings show that increasing sequence defects progressively diminish thermal stability, crystallinity, melting temperatures, and morphological order. As new materials become more compositionally complex, this work underscores the importance of sequence control in the design of advanced polymers for emerging applications.

Bocharova, Vera [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (OR

Influences of Introduced Yttrium Oxide Particles on Superalloy 718

Additive manufacturing has proven useful for introducing oxide particles into superalloys, to provide oxide dispersion strengthening (ODS) at high temperatures. This study screened how such an approach can influence microstructure and failure modes for superalloy 718. The objective of this study was to compare tensile and creep failure modes for additively manufactured superalloy 718 having introduced oxide particles. Fine yttrium-oxide (yttria) particles were introduced into 718 powder using two different powder mixing methods. Additive manufacturing by laser powder bed fusion was then used to prepare specimen blanks for each case, oriented parallel and transverse to the building direction. These were subsequently given consistent stress relief, hot isostatic pressurization, and final heat treatments, then subjected to tensile and creep tests at varied temperatures. Additively manufactured 718 without ODS (“no-ODS”) had nearly equiaxed grains at 50 μm in width. Roll-mixed ODS material had a bimodal grain size distribution, with fine grains at 9 μm and coarse grains at 66 μm in average width. The fine grains were elongated about 5x in the building direction. Acoustic-mixed ODS materials had grains at 10 μm in width that were elongated about 10x in the build direction. Compared to no-ODS, roll-mixed and acoustic mixed ODS materials did not show improved tensile strengths at room temperature, 760 °C, and 1093 °C. The tensile failure strains parallel to the building direction of roll-mixed ODS material were lowest in these tests. Flattened clumps of yttria had formed transverse to the building direction in roll-mixed material, which were easily cracked. Creep rupture response at 760 °C in the building direction was highest for acoustic-mixed material test. Creep tests at 1093 °C showed varied results, with low rupture lives associated with enhanced cavitation at grain boundaries and surface oxidation. Transverse to the building direction, all three materials had low failure strains in tests at 760 °C. The elongated grain boundaries failed readily in all transverse specimens tested at 760 °C and 1093 °C.

oxide dispersion strengthening

Structural Integrity and Durability of Reusable Space Propulsion Systems

A two-day conference on the structural integrity and durability of reusable space propulsion systems was held on June 4 and 5, 1985, at the NASA Lewis Research Center. Presentations were made by industry, university, and government researchers organized into four sessions: aerothermodynamic loads; structural dynamics, fatigue, fracture, and constitutive modeling; and instrumentation. The principal objectives of the conference were to disseminate research results to date and future plans in each of the four areas. This publication contains the extended abstracts and the visual material presented during the conference.

Stanley J Marsik

Advanced Composite Structures and Materials Technologies for Launch Vehicles

The NASA's Advanced Composites Technologies (ACT) Project has the potential to develop composite materials and structures technologies for the largest composite aerospace structures ever made. The objective the ACT Project of is to develop mid-technology readiness level (TRL) composite materials and structures technologies to TRL 6 for specific heavy lift Ares V launch vehicle and Altair lunar lander applications. To accomplish this objective, the ACT Project has four major technical elements: materials and manufacturing; structural concepts development and assessment of lightweight components; testing and evaluation; and highly loaded composite struts. The Project uses capabilities from across NASA to form multi-disciplinary, cross-center teams to meet the milestones of these technical elements. This presentation will describe the activities and plans for the ACT Project. Studies from the first execution year of the project will be summarized including results from materials selection and structural concept evaluation studies. Plans for continuing activities include studies for nondestructive evaluation/structural health monitoring, damage tolerance, joints, and material and structural testing, and these studies will be described. A major emphasis this fiscal year is the start of work for a manufacturing demonstration barrel. This structure will be composed of six, 5-m-diameter, 3-m-long curved panels that when assembled, result in a 10-m-diameter barrel. Activities related to the development of this structure will also be described.

Mark J Shuart