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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1972

Evaluation of a self-aspirating local total enthalpy probe in a low-density arc-heated hypersonic wind tunnel

A shock-swallowing, self-aspirating, local total enthalpy probe has been evaluated in a low density nonequilibrium, hypervelocity airstream. The probe, which incorporated an air gap to separate the internal and external cooling passages, was tested in an electric archeated wind tunnel at an average Mach number of 11.7 and an average Reynolds number per meter of 57,000. The free stream enthalpy probe data are compared with bulk calorimeter measurements of total enthalpy at the beginning of the gas expansion and with local total enthalpy inferred from a theoretical nonequilibrium gas expansion model by using free stream velocity measurements obtained from a mass flow probe. The three techniques are in relative agreement at the lower enthalpies. However, at the higher enthalpies, the enthalpy probe data lie considerably below the other data. This low data may be caused by the chemical and vibrational energy frozen in the flow not being sensed by the probe. Other problems associated with the shock-swallowing total enthalpy probe are discussed, and recommendations for improving the probe performance are presented.

Guy, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Silicon Carbide Sensors and Electronics for Harsh Environment Applications

Silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor has been studied for electronic and sensing applications in extreme environment (high temperature, extreme vibration, harsh chemical media, and high radiation) that is beyond the capability of conventional semiconductors such as silicon. This is due to its near inert chemistry, superior thermomechanical and electronic properties that include high breakdown voltage and wide bandgap. An overview of SiC sensors and electronics work ongoing at NASA Glenn Research Center (NASA GRC) will be presented. The main focus will be two technologies currently being investigated: 1) harsh environment SiC pressure transducers and 2) high temperature SiC electronics. Work highlighted will include the design, fabrication, and application of SiC sensors and electronics, with recent advancements in state-of-the-art discussed as well. These combined technologies are studied for the goal of developing advanced capabilities for measurement and control of aeropropulsion systems, as well as enhancing tools for exploration systems.

Evans, Laura J.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Condition Monitoring of Helicopter Gearboxes by Embedded Sensing

Health of helicopter gearboxes is commonly assessed by monitoring the housing vibration, thus it is challenged by poor signal-to-noise ratio of the signal measured away from the source. It is hypothesized that vibration measurements from sensors placed inside the gearbox will be much clearer indicators of faults and will eliminate many of the difficulties faced by present condition monitoring systems. This paper outlines our approach to devising such a monitoring system. Several tasks have been outlined toward this objective and the strategy to address each has been described. Among the tasks are wireless sensor design, antenna design, and selection of sensor locations.

Suryavanashi, Abhijit↗
NASA NTRS1988

Report of the Asilomar 3 LDR Workshop

The conclusions and recommendations of the workshop held to study technology development issues critical to the Large Deployable Reflector (LDR) are summarized. LDR is to be a dedicated, orbiting, astronomical observatory, operating at wavelengths from 30 to 1000 microns, a spectral region where the Earth's atmosphere is almost completely opaque. Because it will have a large, segmented, passively cooled aperture, LDR addresses a wide range of technology areas. These include lightweight, low cost, structural composite reflector panels, primary support structures, wavefront sensing and adaptive optics, thermal background management, and integrated vibration and pointing control systems. The science objectives for LDR present instrument development challenges for coherent and direct arrayed detectors which can operate effectively at far infrared and submillimeter wavelengths, and for sub-Kelvin cryogenic systems.

Mahoney, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

CSI sensing and control: Analytical and experimental results

Recent work on structural identification and large-angle maneuvers with vibration suppression was presented. The recent work has sought to balance structural and controls analysis activities by involving the analysts directly in the validation and experimental aspects of the research. Some new sensing, actuation, system identification, and control concepts were successfully implemented. An overview of these results is given.

Junkins, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Fiber-Coupled Planar Light-Wave Circuit for Seed Laser Control in High Spectral Resolution Lidar Systems

Precise laser remote sensing of aerosol extinction and backscatter in the atmosphere requires a high-power, pulsed, frequency doubled Nd:YAG laser that is wavelength- stabilized to a narrow absorption line such as found in iodine vapor. One method for precise wavelength control is to injection seed the Nd:YAG laser with a low-power CW laser that is stabilized by frequency converting a fraction of the beam to 532 nm, and to actively frequency-lock it to an iodine vapor absorption line. While the feasibility of this approach has been demonstrated using bulk optics in NASA Langley s Airborne High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) program, an ideal, lower cost solution is to develop an all-waveguide, frequency-locked seed laser in a compact, robust package that will withstand the temperature, shock, and vibration levels associated with airborne and space-based remote sensing platforms. A key technology leading to this miniaturization is the integration of an efficient waveguide frequency doubling element, and a low-voltage phase modulation element into a single, monolithic, planar light-wave circuit (PLC). The PLC concept advances NASA's future lidar systems due to its compact, efficient and reliable design, thus enabling use on small aircraft and satellites. The immediate application for this technology is targeted for NASA Langley's HSRL system for aerosol and cloud characterization. This Phase I effort proposes the development of a potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) waveguide phase modulator for future integration into a PLC. For this innovation, the proposed device is the integration of a waveguide-based frequency doubler and phase modulator in a single, fiber pigtail device that will be capable of efficient second harmonic generation of 1,064-nm light and subsequent phase modulation of the 532 nm light at 250 MHz, providing a properly spectrally formatted beam for HSRL s seed laser locking system. Fabrication of the integrated PLC chip for NASA Langley, planned for the Phase II effort, will require full integration and optimization of the waveguide components (SHG waveguide, splitters, and phase modulator) onto a single, monolithic device. The PLC will greatly reduce the size and weight, improve electrical- to-optical efficiency, and significantly reduce the cost of NASA Langley s current stabilized HSRL seed laser system built around a commercial off-the-shelf seed laser that is free-space coupled to a bulk doubler and bulk phase modulator.

Cook, Anthony↗
NASA NTRS1989

Holographic signal processing for control of a flexible beam

A robust control system is presented for damping vibrations in a cantilevered beam. The distributed deflections of the beam are sensed using real-time holography. A hybrid processor which uses optical and digital processors is proposed to implement a distributed control algorithm. The controller is designed using the linear-quadratic-Gaussian method to add damping to a finite number of vibrational modes.

Barsky, Michael F.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Development of optical diaphragm deflection sensors

The objective of this project was to develop high-temperature pressure sensors using non-metallic components and optical sensing methods. The sensors are to operate over a temperature range from room temperature approx. 20C to 540C, to respond to internal pressure up to 690 kPa, to respond to external pressure up to 690 kPa, and to withstand external overpressure of 2070 kPa. Project tasks include evaluating sensing techniques and sensor systems. These efforts include materials and sensing method selection, sensor design, sensor fabrication, and sensor testing. Sensors are tested as a function of temperature, pressure, overpressure, and vibration. The project results show that high-temperature pressure sensors based on glass components and optical sensing methods are feasible. The microbend optical diaphragm deflection sensor exhibits the required sensitivity and stability for use as a pressure sensor with temperature compensation. for the microbend sensor, the 95% confidence level deviation of input pressure from the pressure calculated from the overall temperature-compensated calibration equation is 3.7% of full scale. The limitations of the sensors evaluated are primarily due to the restricted temperature range of suitable commercially available optical fibers and the problems associated with glass-to-metal pressure sealing over the entire testing temperature range.

Ghering, W. L.↗
NASA NTRS2022

Vibrational and Rovibrational Spectroscopy Applied to Astrochemistry

The detection of molecules in astrophysical environments almost always requires remote sensing. While radioastronomical observation and associated rotational spectroscopy are powerful astronomical tools, infrared spectral analysis provides a unique means of examining the observable universe, especially for molecules where permanent dipole moments are small or even non-existent. The molecular vibrations of small molecules are now able to be modeled via quantum chemistry and electronic structure theory conjoined to vibrational analysis to within spectroscopic accuracy in many cases. This chapter will showcase this success and build upon it to show how such advances are now being leveraged to describe molecular vibrations for molecules containing dozens of atoms, electronically excited states, "hot bands," exoplanetary atmospheric opacity data, and even emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. All of these are required to prune the interstellar spectral garden of its "weeds" in search of "flowers" that will provide the necessary fingerprints for astronomers to be able to probe the heavens for its past, present, and future secrets.

Ryan C. Fortenberry↗
NASA NTRS1966

Angular acceleration measured by deflection in sensing ring

Small, lightweight angular accelerometer performs reliably when subjected to harsh temperature and vibration environments. The device uses strain gages to measure the amount of deflection in a metal ring caused by movement of inertial masses mounted through the ring. Range of the instrument is varied by varying the value of inertial masses.

Richard, R. R.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Combined Amplitude and Frequency Measurements for Non-Contacting Turbomachinery Blade Vibration

A method and apparatus for measuring the vibration of rotating blades, such as turbines, compressors, fans, or pumps, including sensing the return signal from projected energy and/or field changes from a plurality of sensors mounted on the machine housing. One or more of the sensors has a narrow field of measurement and the data is processed to provide the referenced time of arrival of each blade, and therefore the blade tip deflection due to vibration. One or more of the sensors has a wide field of measurement, providing a time history of the approaching and receding blades, and the data is processed to provide frequency content and relative magnitudes of the active mode(s) of blade vibration. By combining the overall tip deflection magnitude with the relative magnitudes of the active modes, the total vibratory stress state of the blade can be determined.

Platt, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Subminiature transducer measures unsteady pressures

Transducer has thin piezoelectric sensing element of 0.051-cm-thick lead zirconate titanate crystal which is cut as a conical frustum. Sensing crystal and titanium wire are protected from mechanical shock and vibration. Transducer is insensitive to mechanical vibrations of instrument plug on which it is mounted.

Raman, K. R.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Robust, angstrom level circularity profilometry

A noncontacting approach is presented which involves measuring the local circumferential curvature of the test piece by simultaneously measuring its circumferential slope at two slightly displaced locations. A pair of sensing beams is scanned along the circumference, and a profile of curvature is built, from which the circularity profile is deduced. The sensing of curvature makes the approach insensitive to all types of vibration and drift and runout errors in the relative rotation. The special qualities of the approach are summarized which make it well suited to measuring cylindrical optics and enable it to accommodate radii as small as twenty millimeters.

Glenn, Paul↗
NASA NTRS2001

Sensitivity Studies for Space-Based Global Measurements of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is well known as the primary forcing agent of global warming. Although the climate forcing due to CO2 is well known, the sources and sinks of CO2 are not well understood. Currently the lack of global atmospheric CO2 observations limits our ability to diagnose the global carbon budget (e.g., finding the so-called "missing sink") and thus limits our ability to understand past climate change and predict future climate response. Space-based techniques are being developed to make high-resolution and high-precision global column CO2 measurements. One of the proposed techniques utilizes the passive remote sensing of Earth's reflected solar radiation at the weaker vibration-rotation band of CO2 in the near infrared (approx. 1.57 micron). We use a line-by-line radiative transfer model to explore the potential of this method. Results of sensitivity studies for CO2 concentration variation and geophysical conditions (i.e., atmospheric temperature, surface reflectivity, solar zenith angle, aerosol, and cirrus cloud) will be presented. We will also present sensitivity results for an O2 A-band (approx. 0.76 micron) sensor that will be needed along with CO2 to make surface pressure and cloud height measurements.

Mao, Jian-Ping↗
NASA NTRS2003

Cloverleaf Vibratory Microgyroscope with Integrated Post

A modified design and fabrication sequence has been devised to improve the performance of a cloverleaf vibratory microgyroscope that includes an axial rod or post rigidly attached to the center of the cloverleaf structure. The basic concepts of cloverleaf vibratory microgyroscopes, without and with rods or posts, were described in two prior articles in NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 21, No. 9 (September 1997): Micromachined Planar Vibratory Microgyroscopes (NPO-19713), page 68 and Planar Vibratory Microgyroscope: Alternative Configuration (NPO-19714), page 70. As described in more detail in the second-mentioned prior article, the cloverleaf-shaped structure and the rod or post are parts of a vibratory element that senses rotation via the effect of the Coriolis force upon its vibrations. Heretofore, the posts for devices of this type have been fabricated separately, then assembled manually onto the cloverleaf structures. The resulting imperfections in the assembled units have given rise to asymmetric stresses in the cloverleaf structures and, consequently, to changes in resonant frequencies of vibration and in shapes of vibration modes. These changes, in turn, have caused variations in performance among nominally identical devices. The modified design provides for the fabrication of the upper half of the post as an integral part of the cloverleaf structure; this is accomplished by reactive-ion etching of a single-piece half-post-and-cloverleaf structure from a wafer of silicon. The lower half of the post and a baseplate are also a single piece made by reactive-ion etching from a wafer of silicon. The two pieces are bonded together (see figure) by a thermal-compression metal-to-metal bonding technique to form a cloverleaf gyroscope with an integrated post structure..

Tang, Tony K.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Acoustic Insights into Flow Condensation Mechanisms

Two-phase thermal management systems, with both boiling and condensation processes, offer great potential and heat transfer coefficients that are orders of magnitude higher than traditional single-phase systems. However, two-phase flows can suffer from a wide range of interfacial instabilities leading to significant thermal performance degradation. In this study, we aim to detect regime transitions and characterize dominating physical mechanisms of flow condensation, such as turbulent diffusion in annular liquid film and interfacial waves, using an integrated system of acoustic, modal, and optical sensing techniques and thermofluidic characterizations. A wideband acoustic emissions sensor and high-sensitivity accelerometer are utilized to capture acoustic and vibrational signatures that signal the onset of liquid film formation and interfacial waves during flow pattern transitions. Compared to optical imaging, wideband acoustic emission sensing allows for higher sampling rates to capture high-frequency interface oscillations critical to the flow regime transitions and works well even for condensation in opaque tubes. Acoustic features (e.g., amplitude, frequency, energy, duration) are correlated with thermofluidic processes (e.g., capillary flows, turbulent flows, boiling, condensation). By relating thermal performance metrics with these dynamic signatures in acoustic and modal regimes, we explore the ability to probe and monitor critical flow regime transitions and transport efficiency in flow condensation.

Acoustic Modal Regimes↗
NASA NTRS1990

FTIR Monitoring Of Curing Of Composites

Infrared-sensing optical fiber system developed to monitor principal infrared absorption bands resulting from vibrations of atoms and molecules as chemical bonds form when resin cured. System monitors resin chemistry more directly. Used to obtain Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum from graphite fiber/polyimide matrix resin prepreg. Embedded fiber optic FTIR sensor used to indicate state of cure of thermosetting composite material. Developed primarily to improve quality of advanced composites, many additional potential applications exist because principal of operation applicable to all organic materials and most inorganic gases. Includes monitoring integrities of composite materials in service, remote sensing of hazardous materials, and examination of processes in industrial reactors and furnaces.

Druy, Mark A.↗