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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 91 records · Page 5

Extraction-Separation Performance and Dynamic Modeling of Orion Test Vehicles with Adams Simulation: 2nd Edition

NASA's Orion Capsule Parachute Assembly System (CPAS) project has advanced into the third generation of its parachute test campaign and requires technically comprehensive modeling capabilities to simulate multi-body dynamics (MBD) of test articles released from a C-17. Safely extracting a 30,000 lbm mated test article from a C-17 and performing stable mid-air separation maneuvers requires an understanding of the interaction between elements in the test configuration and how they are influenced by extraction parachute performance, aircraft dynamics, aerodynamics, separation dynamics, and kinetic energy experienced by the system. During the real-time extraction and deployment sequences, these influences can be highly unsteady and difficult to bound. An avionics logic window based on time, pitch, and pitch rate is used to account for these effects and target a favorable separation state in real time. The Adams simulation has been employed to fine-tune this window, as well as predict and reconstruct the coupled dynamics of the Parachute Test Vehicle (PTV) and Cradle Platform Separation System (CPSS) from aircraft extraction through the mid-air separation event. The test-technique for the extraction of CPAS test articles has evolved with increased complexity and requires new modeling concepts to ensure the test article is delivered to a stable test condition for the programmer phase. Prompted by unexpected dynamics and hardware malfunctions in drop tests, these modeling improvements provide a more accurate loads prediction by incorporating a spring-damper line-model derived from the material properties. The qualification phase of CPAS testing is on the horizon and modeling increasingly complex test-techniques with Adams is vital to successfully qualify the Orion parachute system for human spaceflight.

Fraire, Usbaldo, Jr.↗

Strategy for Risk Quantification of Spaceflight Crew Health and Performance Using Dynamic Probabilistic Risk Assessment

At NASA, the Crew Health and Performance (CHP) system represents the span of countermeasures, capabilities, interventions, and tested processes and procedures that in combination work to mitigate the human component of spaceflight mission risk. Across the varying NASA mental models of the CHP system, the different functionalities needed to meet human flight systems standards can be broken down into specific categories (i.e. medical capability, environmental health, behavioral health). These categories can be further broken down into specific subgroups generally associated with the CHP functionalities meant to mitigate or buy down individual human system risks. Taking a similar development approach we seek to leverage dynamic probabilistic risk assessment as a means to quantify and relatively assess the human risk state within the crew health and performance domain. By utilizing existing tools as integrators, we propose a rapid development strategy for incorporating research and operational data that represent the influence of the CHP system functionalities, in order to provide order of magnitudes estimates of the influence on most human system risks outcomes. The model system utilizes a modest cumulative risk approach and that limits the scope to primary paths of influence between the CHP functionalities and human system risks, thus enabling quick prototypes of the integrative effects of CHP functional combinations to solicit valuable feedback from stakeholders and customers on the data, relationship, and structure of the integration.

Drayton Munster↗

Studying impacts of communication system performance on dynamic stability of networked microgrid

The development of smart grid technologies has resulted in increased interdependence between power and communication systems. Many of the operations in the existing power system rely on a stable and secured communication system. For electrically weak systems and time‐critical applications, this reliance can be even greater, where a small degradation in communication performance can degrade system stability. However, despite inter‐dependencies between power and communication systems, only a few studies have investigated the impacts of communication system performance on power system dynamics. This study investigates the dependencies of power system dynamics operations on a communication system performance. First, a detailed, dynamic networked microgrid model is developed in the GridLAB‐D simulation environment, along with a representative multi‐traffic, multi‐channel, multi‐protocol communication system model, developed in the network simulator (ns‐3). Second, a hierarchical engine for large‐scale infrastructure co‐simulation framework is developed to co‐simulate microgrid dynamics, its communication system, and a microgrid control system. The impact of communication system delays on the dynamic stability of networked microgrids is evaluated for the loss of generation using three use‐cases. While the example use‐cases examine microgrid applications and the impact to resiliency, the framework can be applied to all levels of power system operations.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Experimental studies on the aerodynamic performance and dynamic response of flow direction sensing vanes

Systematic investigations were performed on a variety of aerodynamic surfaces to obtain their potential for possible application to wind vanes. Among the surfaces tested were: (1) single vanes consisting of flat plates of various planforms having aspect ratios between 0.5 and 5; (2) bi-vanes with aspect ratio 2.5; (3) various cone and box vanes; and (4) various cruciform configurations. The models were subjected to windtunnel tests. In addition to lift and drag force measurements, damping and frequency test were performed under a variety of flow conditions.

Barna, P. S.↗

Multi-objective shape and material optimization of composite structures including damping

A multi-objective optimal design methodology is developed for light-weight, low cost composite structures of improved dynamic performance. The design objectives include minimization of resonance amplitudes (or maximization of modal damping), weight, and material cost. The design vector includes micromechanics, laminate, and structural shape parameters. Performance constraints are imposed on static displacements, dynamic amplitudes, and natural frequencies. The effects of damping on the dynamics of composite structures are incorporated. Preliminary applications on a cantilever composite beam illustrated that only the proposed multi-objective optimization, as opposed to single objective functions, simultaneously improved all objectives. The significance of composite damping in the design of advanced composite structures was also demonstrated, indicating the design methods based on undamped dynamics may fail to improve the dynamic performance near resonances.

Saravanos, D. A.↗

Multi-objective shape and material optimization of composite structures including damping

A multi-objective optimal design methodology is developed for light-weight, low-cost composite structures of improved dynamic performance. The design objectives include minimization of resonance amplitudes (or maximization of modal damping), weight, and material cost. The design vector includes micromechanics, laminate, and structural shape parameters. Performance constraints are imposed on static displacements, dynamic amplitudes, and natural frequencies. The effects of damping on the dynamics of composite structures are incorporated. Preliminary applications on a cantilever composite beam illustrated that only the proposed multi-objective optimization, as opposed to single objective functions, simultaneously improved all objectives. The significance of composite damping in the design of advanced composite structures was also demonstrated, indicating that design methods based on undamped dynamics may fail to improve the dynamic performance near resonances.

Saravanos, D. A.↗

Dynamic and Structural Gas Turbine Engine Modeling

Model the interactions between the structural dynamics and the performance dynamics of a gas turbine engine. Generally these two aspects are considered separate, unrelated phenomena and are studied independently. For diagnostic purposes, it is desirable to bring together as much information as possible, and that involves understanding how performance is affected by structural dynamics (if it is) and vice versa. This can involve the relationship between thrust response and the excitation of structural modes, for instance. The job will involve investigating and characterizing these dynamical relationships, generating a model that incorporates them, and suggesting and/or developing diagnostic and prognostic techniques that can be incorporated in a data fusion system. If no coupling is found, at the least a vibration model should be generated that can be used for diagnostics and prognostics related to blade loss, for instance.

Turso, James A.↗

The Instrumented Walking and Turning Test to Evaluate Suited Gait Dynamics and Performance in Extravehicular Activity Training Environments

Background and aims: Walking will be required for many exploration tasks on the Moon during the Artemis program. Walking in a straight line on the confined floorspace of a testing area, and repetitive treadmill walking that requires no change in direction may not adequately reflect the balance and coordination required during ambulation. Also, performance of turning maneuvers may be affected differently in different extravehicular activity (EVA) training facilities that simulate partial gravity. For example, the Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL) simulates lunar gravity by adding weight to underwater subjects to alter buoyancy and achieve the equivalent ground reaction force of 1/6 of Earth’s gravity (1/6G), whereas the Active Response Gravity Offload System (ARGOS) uses a computer controlled overhead suspension system programmed to continuously offload a percentage of a subject’s weight to simulate 1/6G. The degree to which dynamic movements such as turning are comparable across these EVA training facilities has not yet been evaluated. The instrumented gait test helps NASA scientists and engineers evaluate gait dynamics and performance in suited conditions, and this test demonstrates the unique characteristics and limitations of EVA training facilities. We developed an instrumented walking and turning test using inertial measurement units (IMUs) and conducted the test at NASA’s EVA training facilities. Results were used to compare suited walking and turning characteristics in the ARGOS and the NBL. Methods: Subjects donned the Mark III space suit during offloading with the ARGOS spreader bar gimbal and donned the Z2.5 space suit while underwater in the NBL with weights and floatation added to achieve realistic suit center of gravity. The test team securely attached three Opal (APDM, OR, USA) wireless IMUs on the space suit for each test run: one on the middle of the hard upper torso, and one on the left and on the right ankle bearings. During the NBL tests, the IMUs were encased in a waterproof housing (GoPro) with foam added to create a tighter fit. At both testing facilities, 6.3 m x 1.0 m (LxW) walking lines were marked, and a cone for turning or walking around was located at the end of the walking path with another line on the other side of the cone to indicate the stopping point after walking around the cone. Under simulated 1/6G, subjects began by standing at the marked line with their arms folded across the chest, they then walked at a preferred speed along the straight walking path until they reached the end, turned 180 degrees around the cone, and finally stopped at the marked stopping point. All IMU data recorded during testing were automatically saved to the internal memory. Then, raw IMU signals were processed using custom MATLAB (Mathworks, MA, USA) code to compare gait parameters during both the walking and the turning components of the task. These parameters included time (s), speed (m/s for walking and rad/s for turning), step number (n) and walk:turn time ratio (% time spent straight walking versus turning). Results: Less time, faster gait, fewer steps, and higher walk:turn ratio during both walking and turning components were exhibited during tests performed at the ARGOS versus those performed at the NBL. During the NBL tests, the slower walking speed continued at the same rate throughout a U-shape turn. During the ARGOS tests, the subjects performed shorter and tighter turns at 4 times the speed of the NBL turns because they walked 30% faster and the vertical offloading system gave them more support. Conclusion: Our data show that the differences in walking and turning parameters during the NBL tests may be due to the high viscosity in the water environment where the motion of the lower limbs was slow and did not reach full flexion and extension. These tests improve the current knowledge of testing environments in preparation for EVAs on the lunar surface.

Kyoung Jae Kim↗

Dynamic Crush Performance of Thermoplastic and Resin Infused Thermoset Triaxially Braided Composite Structures

Dynamic crush tests were conducted on triaxially braided composite tubes and C-channel structural elements to measure their relative energy absorbing characteristics. The elements were manufactured from triaxially braided [0/+60/-60] T700 fiber preforms with two different resin systems, a PR520 thermoset resin and a LM-PAEK thermoplastic resin. T700/PR520 composite tubes and C-channel elements were manufactured using a resin infusion process. T700GC/LMPAEK composite tubes were manufactured by braiding slit tape prepreg onto cylindrical mandrels. Consolidation pressure was applied through thermally activated shrink tape in an oven. The energy absorbing characteristics of the composite elements were measured using a pneumatically actuated sled with a flat-faced impacting mass, which provided several independent measurements of force, displacement, and energy absorption. The parameter primarily used for comparison between the systems was the specific energy absorption (SEA), a measure of energy absorbed per unit crushed length. The T700/LMPAEK tubes performed slightly better than T700/PR520 tubes, with an approximately 9% higher SEA. T700/PR520 tubes had over 20% higher SEA than C-channels made from the same material. Additional tests were conducted on tubes using a tapered-conical impactor to force the tubes to fail in circumferential tension. This type of impact significantly reduced the energy absorption.

Composite Materials↗

Dynamic Crush Performance of Thermoplastic and Resin Infused Thermoset Triaxially Braided Composite Structures

Dynamic crush tests were conducted on triaxially braided composite tubes and C-channel structural elements to measure their relative energy absorbing characteristics. The elements were manufactured from triaxially braided [0/+60/-60] T700 fiber preforms with two different resin systems, a PR520 thermoset resin and a LM-PAEK thermoplastic resin. T700/PR520 composite tubes and C-channel elements were manufactured using a resin infusion process. T700GC/LMPAEK composite tubes were manufactured by braiding slit tape prepreg onto cylindrical mandrels. Consolidation pressure was applied through thermally activated shrink tape in an oven. The energy absorbing characteristics of the composite elements were measured using a pneumatically actuated sled with a flat-faced impacting mass, which provided several independent measurements of force, displacement, and energy absorption. The parameter primarily used for comparison between the systems was the specific energy absorption (SEA), a measure of energy absorbed per unit crushed length. The T700/LMPAEK tubes performed slightly better than T700/PR520 tubes, with an approximately 9% higher SEA. T700/PR520 tubes had over 20% higher SEA than C-channels made from the same material. Additional tests were conducted on tubes using a tapered-conical impactor to force the tubes to fail in circumferential tension. This type of impact significantly reduced the energy absorption.

Composite Materials↗

Enhancing cold spray coatings: Microstructural dynamics and performance attributes of Inconel 625 with chromium carbide incorporation for hydropower applications

The incorporation of chromium carbide (CrC) particles into the cold spray (CS) process is known to mitigate nozzle clogging, although at the expense of deposition efficiency. This study explores the intricate microstructural changes induced by varying amounts of CrC powder (12.5 % and 6 %) in conjunction with Inconel-625 (Inc-625) powder. The deposition was carried out onto A27 cast steel under different CS parameters. Microstructural characterization, including detailed electron microscopy studies, reveals a complex yet structurally stable coating. Noteworthy features include grain fragmentation and a cellular structure enriched with Nb and Mo, with minimal plastic deformation of CrC in the matrix. The cold-sprayed coatings exhibit a significant (~4 times) increase in microhardness compared to the A27 substrate. Mechanical and cavitation erosion properties were systematically investigated. Coatings subjected to higher particle energy conditions with a gas pressure of 600 psi and gas temperature of 650 °C, demonstrated superior resistance to cavitation erosion. This resistance is attributed to a combination of factors, including microstructural characteristics and porosity. Altogether, the study provides valuable insights into the structural dynamics and performance of CS coatings enriched with CrC particles.

A27 cast steel↗

Limiting performance of dynamic systems subject to random inputs

The problem of determining the limiting performance characteristics of mechanical systems subject to random input is studied. A review is presented of the classical work in the optimal design of stochastic systems. Some recent results of stochastic optimal control theory are employed. The solution to the limiting performance problem is formulated in both the frequency and time domains. Both formulations require substantial, burdensome computations when applied to large scale systems.

Pilkey, W. D.↗

Flexible body dynamic stability for high performance aircraft

Dynamic equations which include the effects of unsteady aerodynamic forces and a flexible body structure were developed for a free flying high performance fighter aircraft. The linear and angular deformations are assumed to be small in the body reference frame, allowing the equations to be linearized in the deformation variables. Equations for total body dynamics and flexible body dynamics are formulated using the hybrid coordinate method and integrated in a state space format. A detailed finite element model of a generic high performance fighter aircraft is used to generate the mass and stiffness matrices. Unsteady aerodynamics are represented by a rational function approximation of the doublet lattice matrices. The equations simplify for the case of constant angular rate of the body reference frame, allowing the effect of roll rate to be studied by computing the eigenvalues of the system. It is found that the rigid body modes of the aircraft are greatly affected by introducing a constant roll rate, while the effect on the flexible modes is minimal for this configuration.

Goforth, E. A.↗

Integrated aerodynamic/dynamic/structural optimization of helicopter rotor blades using multilevel decomposition

This paper describes an integrated aerodynamic/dynamic/structural (IADS) optimization procedure for helicopter rotor blades. The procedure combines performance, dynamics, and structural analyses with a general-purpose optimizer using multilevel decomposition techniques. At the upper level, the structure is defined in terms of global quantities (stiffness, mass, and average strains). At the lower level, the structure is defined in terms of local quantities (detailed dimensions of the blade structure and stresses). The IADS procedure provides an optimization technique that is compatible with industrial design practices in which the aerodynamic and dynamic designs are performed at a global level and the structural design is carried out at a detailed level with considerable dialog and compromise among the aerodynamic, dynamic, and structural groups. The IADS procedure is demonstrated for several examples.

Walsh, Joanne L.↗

Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program: Use of Time Distributions to Predict Operator Procedure Performance in Dynamic Human Reliability Analysis

The Human Unimodel for Nuclear Technology to Enhance Reliability (HUNTER) framework affords software capable of conducting human reliability analysis (HRA) using a dynamic approach built around operating procedures (OPs) from nuclear power plants (NPPs). Previous HUNTER reports document the development of this software tool, the coupling of HUNTER to the simulator code, the collection of operator performance data by using simulators to calibrate HUNTER models, and linking HUNTER to probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) software. The present report largely addresses two topics. The first is a new function in HUNTER called the HUNTER Procedure Performance Predictor (P3). HUNTER P3 uses HUNTER’s built in Monte Carlo tools featuring human performance variability to identify potential error traps in procedures. The second topic is time distribution analysis to generate time inputs for dynamic HRA. The current analysis was performed to investigate time distributions for task primitives, which are the minimum task unit of analysis used in dynamic HRA modeling. Using the time distribution data, the elapsed time for human actions in an extended loss of AC power (ELAP) scenario is then investigated. Time data and prediction are essential for modeling procedure performance.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Status of the NASA YF-12 Propulsion Research Program

The YF-12 research program was initiated to establish a technology base for the design of an efficient propulsion system for supersonic cruise aircraft. The major technology areas under investigation in this program are inlet design analysis, propulsion system steady-state performance, propulsion system dynamic performance, inlet and engine control systems, and airframe/propulsion system interactions. The objectives, technical approach, and status of the YF-12 propulsion program are discussed. Also discussed are the results obtained to date by the NASA Ames, Lewis, and Dryden research centers. The expected technical results and proposed future programs are also given. Propulsion system configurations are shown.

Albers, J. A.↗

Waves of Electric Charge Generated by Pulse Corona of Alternating Polarity

The project contributes to DoE Office of Science program “Opportunities in Frontier Plasma Science” by providing plasma science experiments at the Princeton Collaborative Research Facility (PCRF) – the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. The research consisted of - extensive experimental/simulation studies of a pulse corona discharge pattern and dynamics performed at the University of Notre Dame; - non-intrusive measurements of electric field distribution and dynamics performed at PCRF by the method employing Electric Field-Induced Second Harmonic Generation (EFISH); and - analysis of the data acquired.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗