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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 109 records · Page 6

Measurements of Rudder Moments on an Airplane During Flight

Tests indicated that: 1) C airplanes with two struts are extremely susceptible to aileron maneuvers, slight alterations of the aileron sufficing to compensate great unequalized moments; 2) great unequalized moments can be produced or neutralized by the unequalized alternation of the angle of attack below the outer and inner struts. Adjustment below the outer strut is the more effective of the two. 3) When a load of bombs is suspended beyond the center of the airplane, below the wings, the bombs need not be dropped simultaneously. 4) The propeller wash of a wide open engine has considerable influence on the position and operation of the elevator. The elevator is more susceptible in flight with the engine running than in gliding flight. 5) Adjustable tail planes are not advisable for D airplanes, nor for the C type, but they are, on the other hand, to be recommended for large size and giant airplanes in which the center of gravity changes during flight. 6) The aileron values obtained by wind tunnel measurements are about 10 percent too low, though otherwise applicable. For the elevator, the results of such measurements should be taken as mean values between flight with the engine running and gliding flight.

Heidelberg, Ing V↗

Supersonic combustion engine testbed, heat lightning

The design of a supersonic combustion engine testbed (SCET) aircraft is presented. The hypersonic waverider will utilize both supersonic combustion ramjet (SCRAMjet) and turbofan-ramjet engines. The waverider concept, system integration, electrical power, weight analysis, cockpit, landing skids, and configuration modeling are addressed in the configuration considerations. The subsonic, supersonic and hypersonic aerodynamics are presented along with the aerodynamic stability and landing analysis of the aircraft. The propulsion design considerations include: engine selection, turbofan ramjet inlets, SCRAMjet inlets and the SCRAMjet diffuser. The cooling requirements and system are covered along with the topics of materials and the hydrogen fuel tanks and insulation system. A cost analysis is presented and the appendices include: information about the subsonic wind tunnel test, shock expansion calculations, and an aerodynamic heat flux program.

Hoying, D.↗

The SCSTPE organic Rankine engine

The organic Rankine cycle engine under consideration for a solar thermal system being developed is described. Design parameters, method of control, performance and cost data are provided for engine power levels up to 80 kWe; efficiency is shown as a function of turbine inlet temperature in the range of 149 C to 427 C.

Boda, F. P.↗

Thermal energy storage for a space solar dynamic power system

In the past, NASA has employed solar photovoltaic devices for long-duration missions. Thus, the Skylab system has operated with a silicon photovoltaic array and a nickel-cadmium electrochemical system energy storage system. Difficulties regarding the employment of such a system for the larger power requirements of the Space Station are related to a low orbit system efficiency and the large weight of the battery. For this reason the employment of a solar dynamic power system (SDPS) has been considered. The primary components of an SDPS include a concentrating mirror, a heat receiver, a thermal energy storage (TES) system, a thermodynamic heat engine, an alternator, and a heat rejection system. The heat-engine types under consideration are a Brayton cycle engine, an organic Rankine cycle engine, and a free-piston/linear-alternator Stirling cycle engine. Attention is given to a system description, TES integration concepts, and a TES technology assessment.

Faget, N. M.↗

Historical perspective - Viking Mars Lander propulsion

This paper discusses the Viking 1 and 2 missions to Mars in 1975-1976 and describes the design evolution of the Viking Terminal Descent Rocket Engines responsible for decelerating the Viking Mars Landers during the final portion of their descent from orbit. The Viking Terminal Descent Rocket Engines have twice the thrust of the largest monopropellant hydrazine engine developed previously but weigh considerably less. The engine has 18 nozzles, the capability of 10:1 throttling, is totally sealed until fired, employs no organic unsealed materials, is 100 percent germ free, utilized hydrazine STM-20 as the propellant, and starts at a temperature more than 45 F below the propellant's freezing point.

Morrisey, Donald C.↗

Arm DevSummit Keynote: Environment for Data Engineering in Virtual Reality: Ethical Considerations

Currently, the US Government is going through a large-scale data Transformation effort, where the GSA playbook is guiding all agencies to make their processes data-driven with the help of emerging technologies. To address concerns about algorithm sharing, AI adoption, and vendor lock-in, the NASA Langley Research Center Digital Transformation Group has developed the Environment for Data Engineering in Virtual Reality (EnDEVR), a data science ecosystem that allows users to command and investigate customizable data analyses from a VR environment. The system has been evaluated in the Oculus Rift S and Quest environments, two popular VR systems powered by the ARM architecture. Current and future development will employ several AI capabilities to guide research and automation within the environment and to facilitate algorithm sharing. In this talk, we will discuss the results of an initial ethical investigation and recommended considerations for the use of AI within the system.

Artificial Intelligence↗

System-Level Design of a Shape Memory Alloy Actuator for Active Clearance Control in the High-Pressure Turbine

This paper describes results of a numerical analysis evaluating the feasibility of high-temperature shape memory alloys (HTSMA) for active clearance control actuation in the high-pressure turbine section of a modern turbofan engine. The prototype actuator concept considered here consists of parallel HTSMA wires attached to the shroud that is located on the exterior of the turbine case. A transient model of an HTSMA actuator was used to evaluate active clearance control at various operating points in a test bed aircraft engine simulation. For the engine under consideration, each actuator must be designed to counteract loads from 380 to 2000 lbf and displace at least 0.033 inches. Design results show that an actuator comprised of 10 wires 2 inches in length is adequate for control at critical engine operating points and still exhibits acceptable failsafe operability and cycle life. A proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller with integrator windup protection was implemented to control clearance amidst engine transients during a normal mission. Simulation results show that the control system exhibits minimal variability in clearance control performance across the operating envelope. The final actuator design is sufficiently small to fit within the limited space outside the high-pressure turbine case and is shown to consume only small amounts of bleed air to adequately regulate temperature.

DeCastro, Jonathan A.↗

Progress on Shape Memory Alloy Actuator Development for Active Clearance Control

Results of a numerical analysis evaluating the feasibility of high-temperature shape memory alloys (HTSMA) for active clearance control actuation in the high-pressure turbine section of a modern turbofan engine has been conducted. The prototype actuator concept considered here consists of parallel HTSMA wires attached to the shroud that is located on the exterior of the turbine case. A transient model of an HTSMA actuator was used to evaluate active clearance control at various operating points in a test bed aircraft engine simulation. For the engine under consideration, each actuator must be designed to counteract loads from 380 to 2000 lbf and displace at least 0.033 in. Design results show that an actuator comprised of 10 wires 2 in. in length is adequate for control at critical engine operating points and still exhibit acceptable failsafe operability and cycle life. A proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller with integrator windup protection was implemented to control clearance amidst engine transients during a normal mission. Simulation results show that the control system exhibits minimal variability in clearance control performance across the operating envelope. The final actuator design is sufficiently small to fit within the limited space outside the high-pressure turbine case and is shown to consume only small amounts of bleed air to adequately regulate temperature.

DeCastro, Jonathan↗

Fuels for high-compression engines

From theoretical considerations one would expect an increase in power and thermal efficiency to result from increasing the compression ratio of an internal combustion engine. In reality it is upon the expansion ratio that the power and thermal efficiency depend, but since in conventional engines this is equal to the compression ratio, it is generally understood that a change in one ratio is accompanied by an equal change in the other. Tests over a wide range of compression ratios (extending to ratios as high as 14.1) have shown that ordinarily an increase in power and thermal efficiency is obtained as expected provided serious detonation or preignition does not result from the increase in ratio.

Sparrow, Stanwood W↗

Status of advanced orbital transfer propulsion

A new Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) propulsion system that will be used in conjunction with the Space Shuttle, Space Station and Orbit Maneuvering Vehicle is discussed. The OTV will transfer men, large space structures and conventional payloads between low Earth and higher energy orbits. Space probes carried by the OTV will continue the exploration of the solar system. When lunar bases are established, the OTV will be their transportation link to Earth. Critical engine design considerations based upon the need for low cost payload delivery, space basing, reusability, aeroassist maneuvering, low g transfers of large space structures and man rating are described. The importance of each of these to propulsion design is addressed. Specific propulsion requirements discussed are: (1) high performance H2/O2 engine; (2) multiple engine configurations totalling no more than 15,000 lbf thrust 15 to 20 hr life; (3) space maintainable modular design; (4) health monitoring capability; and (5) safety and mission success with backup auxiliary propulsion.

Cooper, L. P.↗

Status of advanced orbital transfer propulsion

A new Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) propulsion system that will be used in conjunction with the Space Shuttle, Space Station and Orbit Maneuvering Vehicle is discussed. The OTV will transfer men, large space structures and conventional payloads between low earth and higher energy orbits. Space probes carried by the OTV will continue the exploration of the solar system. When lunar bases are established, the OTV will be their transportation link to earth. Critical engine design considerations based upon the need for low cost payload delivery, space basing, reusability, aeroassist maneuvering, low g transfers of large space structures and man rating are described. The importance of each of these to propulsion design is addressed. Specific propulsion requirements discussed are: (1) high performance H2/O2 engine; (2) multiple engine configurations totalling no more than 15,000 lbf thrust 15 to 20 hr life; (3) space maintainable modular design; (4) health monitoring capability; and (5) safety and mission success with backup auxiliary propulsion.

Cooper, L. P.↗

Engine selection for transport and combat aircraft

The procedures for selecting engines for transport and combat aircraft during the design process are presented. The types of aircraft considered are: (1) a long haul conventional takeoff and landing transport, (2) a short haul vertical takeoff and landing transport, (3) a long range supersonic transport, and (4) a fighter aircraft. The influence of aircraft noise considerations on engine selection is examined. The aerodynamic characteristics of supercritical wings and their effect on engine selection are reported.

Dugan, J. F., Jr.↗

Possibilities for improved supersonic inlet performance

The results from detailed large-scale inlet tests were examined to assess the penalties, in terms of vehicle cruise range, for boundary-layer bleed, less than ideal engine-face pressure recovery, inlet weight, and external cowl drag. The assessment suggested specific improvements in the design of the inlet system that may increase the range of a typical supersonic transport approximately 6.9%. While no single design improvement can account for a large increase in range, careful attention to each design detail can yield a substantial total improvement. Because of noise considerations, future engines for advanced supersonic transports may be approximately 50% larger than used for the present study, making the effects of improved inlet performance even more important.

Sorensen, N. E.↗

Coannular nozzle noise characteristics and application to advanced supersonic transport engines

Recent programs in the field of jet noise, sponsored by the NASA Lewis Research Center, have indicated that the variable stream control engines (VSCE) which are being considered for advanced supersonic cruise aircraft have inherent jet noise advantages over earlier engines. This characteristic is associated with the exit velocity profile produced by such an engine. The high velocity fan stream, on the outer periphery, is acoustically dominant while the primary stream is held to a low velocity and therefore contributes little to the overall noise. Scale model tests have indicated low noise levels. Operation under static conditions, as well as in a relative velocity field (simulating take-off speeds) has indicated large reductions are available from the coannular nozzle and the VSCE. The inherently low levels of jet noise prompted changes in the cycle, which allowed an increase in the amount of augmentation incorporated in the fan stream, without exceeding the suggested noise guidelines, thereby allowing the use of a considerably smaller engine, with obvious vehicle advantages.

Kozlowski, H.↗

Modular disposable can (MODCAN) crash cushion: A concept investigation

A conceptual design investigation of an improved highway crash cushion system is presented. The system is referred to as a modular disposable can (MODCAN) crash system. It is composed of a modular arrangement of disposable metal beverage cans configured to serve as an effective highway impact attenuation system. Experimental data, design considerations, and engineering calculations supporting the design development are presented. Design performance is compared to that of a conventional steel drum system. It is shown that the MODCAN concepts offers the potential for smoother and safer occupant deceleration for a larger class of vehicle impact weights than the steel drum device.

Knoell, A.↗

Orbital transfer vehicle advanced expander cycle engine point design study

A detailed computer model of the expander cycle engine system steady-state operation was developed. Payload performance data for the expander cycle engine for 100K pounds and 65K pounds Space Shuttle missions were examined to establish peak payload thrusts. It was found that peak payload for the 100K pound gross weight single engine case occurred at nearly 15,000 pounds thrust for both engine mixture ratios of 6:1 and 7:1. Peak payload at engine mixture ratio of 6:1 was 4 percent greater than at 7:1 mixture ratio. The two engine configuration peak paYloads occurred at engine thrust below 7,500 pounds (extrapolated) and were lower than single engine payloads. For the 65K pound gross weight mission, peak payloads for the single engine configuration occurred at nearly 10,000 pounds for both mixture ratios. Mixture ratio of 7:1 payloads were 5 percent lower than 6:1 payloads. Two engine configuration payloads occurred at engine thrusts considerably below 10K pounds.

Martinez, A.↗

Component research for future propulsion systems

Factors affecting the helicopter market are reviewed. The trade-offs involving acquisition cost, mission reliability, and life cycle cost are reviewed, including civil and military aspects. The potential for advanced vehicle configurations with substantial improvements in energy efficiency, operating economics, and characteristics to satisfy the demands of the future market are identified. Advanced propulsion systems required to support these vehicle configurations are discussed, as well as the component technology for the engine systems. Considerations for selection of components in areas of economics and efficiency are presented.

Walker, C. L.↗

Some considerations on the integration of engine nacelles into low-boom aircraft concepts

A study of wind-tunnel data has shown why unexpected strong shock waves appeared in wind tunnel pressure signatures of two low-boom models, and has indicated that changes to the current methods for analyzing and designing low-boom aircraft are needed. The discussion provided corrections for the interface lift code, and suggested methods of treatment for the equivalent areas of the aircraft, especially the nacelles and the interference lift, which were to be used in the aircraft design and the sonic boom analysis.

Mack, Robert J.↗