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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 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1980

Verifying root fusion in electron-beam welds

Ultrasonic equipment and x-y recorder indicate where back side of joint is properly welded. Wire waveguide placed in groove at root of joint to be welded is fused when joint is adequately penetrated. Ultransonic signal moving down waveguide is reflected where guide is melted. Change in reflected-signal arrival time with change in weld-head position is nearly constant unless joint is incompletely penetrated. Method permits determination of penetration depth in preweld samples without opening vacuum chamber and sectioning weld. Technique is particularly valuable when back side of joint is inaccessible.

Becker, F. L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

SSME Seal Test Program: Test results for sawtooth pattern damper seal

Direct and transverse force coefficients for 11, sawtooth-pattern, and damper-seal configurations were examined. The designation damper seal uses a deliberately roughened stator and smooth rotor to increase the net damping force developed by a seal. The designation sawtooth-pattern refers to a stator roughness pattern. The sawtooth pattern yields axial grooves in the stator which are interrupted by spacer elements which act as flow constrictions or dams. All seals use the same smooth rotor and have the same, constant, minimum clearance. The stators examined the consequences of changes in the following design parameters: (1) axial-groove depth; (2) number of teeth: (3) number of sawtooth sections; (4) number of spacer elements; (5) dam width; (6) axially aligned sawtooth sections versus axially-staggered sawtooth sections; and (7) groove geometry. It is found that none of the sawtooth-pattern seal performs as well as the best round-hole-pattern seal. Maximum damping configurations for the sawtooth and round-hole-pattern stators have comparable stiffness performance. Several of the sawtooth pattern stators outperformed the best round-hole pattern seal.

Childs, D. W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Environment of Mars, 1988

A compilation of scientific knowledge about the planet Mars is provided. Information is divided into three categories: atmospheric data, surface data, and astrodynamic data. The discussion of atmospheric data includes the presentation of nine different models of the Mars atmosphere. Also discussed are Martian atmospheric constituents, winds, clouds, and solar irradiance. The great dust storms of Mars are presented. The section on Mars surface data provides an in-depth examination of the physical and chemical properties observed at the two Viking landing sites. Bulk densities, dielectric constants, and thermal inertias across the planet are then described and related back to those specific features found at the Viking landing sites. The astrodynamic materials provide the astronomical constants, time scales, and reference coordinate frames necessary to perform flightpath analysis, navigation design, and science observation design.

Kaplan, David I.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Constraints on Mars sampling based on models of basaltic flow surfaces and interiors

Recent field observation and numerical modelling of the pattern and origin of vesicle zones and joints in terrestrial basaltic flows has resulted in increased understanding of the processes which affect flow surface morphology. This work has documented the ubiquitous occurrence of three vertical zones in basalt flows: (1) an upper vesicular zone; (2) a middle vesicle-free zone; and (3) a lower vesicular zone. The upper vesicular zone is generally about one-half of the total flow thickness. Computer modeling of the development of these zones confirms that vesicle zonation is a result of the nucleation, growth and rise of bubbles in solidifying lava and can be expected to occur in all basaltic flows. Degradation of basaltic flows, therefore, will produce vesicular blocks until the erosional level reaches the central vesicle-free zone. In addition, observation of terrestrial basaltic flows has shown that most thin (less than 10 m thick) flows have a regular pattern of orthogonal joints in vertical section in which the spacing of joints increases with depth beneath the flow surface. Using these studies we have performed a preliminary analysis of the Viking lander sites.

Aubele, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Radioactivities induced in some LDEF samples

Final activities are reported for gamma ray emitting isotopes measured in 35 samples from LDEF. In 26 steel trunnion samples, activities of Mn-54 and Co-57 were measured and limits set on other isotopes. In five Al end support retainer plates and two Al keel plate samples, Na-22 was measured. In two Ti clip samples, Na-22 was measured, limits for Sc-46 were obtained, and high activities for impurity Uranium and daughter isotopes were observed. Four sets of depth vs activity profiles were measured for the D sections of the trunnion. For all 4 profiles, the activities first decreased with increasing distance from the surface of the trunnion but were fairly flat near the center. These profiles are consistent with production by both the lower energy (approx. 100 MeV) trapped particles and high energy (approx. 10 GeV) galactic-cosmic ray particles. For the near surface samples, the earth quadrant had more Mn-54 than the space quadrant. For the D sections, there was less Mn-54 in the east trunnion than in the west trunnion. Comparisons are made among the samples and with activities measured by others. The limit for Sc-46 in the Ti clips is compared with the activities of Mn-54 produced in the steel pieces by similar reactions. Activities predicted by several models are compared with the measured activities.

Reedy, Robert C.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Fundamental Studies on Two-Phase Gas-Liquid Flows Through Packed Beds in Microgravity

In the typical operation of a packed-bed reactor, gas and liquid flow simultaneously through a fixed bed of solid particles. Depending on the application, the particles can be of various shapes and sizes and provide for intimate contact and high rates of transport between the phases needed to sustain chemical or biological reactions. The packing may also serve as either a catalyst or as a support for growing biological material. NASA has flown two of these packed-bed systems in a microgravity environment with limited or no success. The goal of this research is to develop models (with scale-up capability) needed for the design of the physicochemical equipment to carry out these unit operations in microgravity. New insight will also lead to improvements in normal gravity operations. Our initial experiment was flown using an existing KC-135 two-phase flow rig with a modified test section. The test section is a clear polycarbonate rectangular column with a depth of 2.54 cm, a width of 5.08 cm, and 60 cm long. The column was randomly packed with spherical glass beads by slowly dropping the beads into the bed. Even though care was taken in handling the column after it was filled with packing, the alternating high and low gravity cycles with each parabola created a slightly tighter packed bed than is typically reported for this type. By the usual method of comparing the weight difference of a completely dry column versus a column filled with water, the void fraction was found to be .345 for both sizes of beads used. Five flush mounted differential pressure transducers are spaced at even intervals with the first location 4 cm from the inlet port and the subsequent pressure transducers spaced at 13 cm intervals along the column. Differential pressure data was acquired at 1000 Hz to adequately observe pulse formation and characteristics. Visual images of the flow were recorded using a high-speed SVHS system at 500 frames per second. Over 250 different test conditions were evaluated along with a companion set of tests in normal gravity. The flow rates, fluid properties and packing properties were selected to provide a range of several orders-of-magnitude for the important dimensionless parameters. Additional information is included in the original extended abstract.

Balakotaiah, Vemuri↗
NASA NTRS2012

Automated and Manual Rocket Crater Measurement Software

An update has been performed to software designed to do very rapid automated measurements of craters created in sandy substrates by rocket exhaust on liftoff. The previous software was optimized for pristine lab geometry and lighting conditions. This software has been enhanced to include a section for manual measurements of crater parameters; namely, crater depth, crater full width at half max, and estimated crater volume. The tools provide a very rapid method to measure these manual parameters to ease the burden of analyzing large data sets. This software allows for rapid quantization of the rocket crater parameters where automated methods may not work. The progress of spreadsheet data is continuously saved so that data is never lost, and data can be copied to clipboards and pasted to other software for analysis. The volume estimation of a crater is based on the central max depth axis line, and the polygonal shape of the crater is integrated around that axis.

Metzger, Philip↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Observation of Stratospheric Intrusions and Ozone Transport using CrIS SiFSAP Products

The Single Field of View (SFOV) ozone (O3) profiles derived from the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) onboard Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (SNPP), with a high horizontal resolution of approximately 14 km at nadir and good sensitivity to O3 in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS), provide a prominent opportunity to examine stratosphere to troposphere (STT) transport. A process-oriented analysis was performed to examine the fine-scale features of a stratospheric intrusion (SI) event on June 11-13, 2017 in the southwestern US using the CrIS SFOV products together with wind and potential velocity (PV) from models. It was found that the location and strength of O3 enhancement correlate well with the PV contours, and the intrusion depth can be characterized using the vertical cross-sections of O3 and relative humidity (RH). In addition, the capability to use total column ozone (TCO) to identify SI events was confirmed through analysis of TCO from CrIS SFOV and other satellite and reanalysis products. The ozone/PV ratio was derived using SFOV O3 and model PV, and the values, ranging from 23.2 to 35.8 ppbv PVU-1 (1 PV unit (PVU) = 10-6 km2 kg-1 s-1), are in the lower end of previous estimations. These results demonstrate the advantages of the SFOV products in monitoring the fine-scale ozone transport and thermodynamic structure of SI events, as well as their potential value for weather and climate study.

Xiaozhen Xiong↗
NASA NTRS2023

Damage Tolerance Study of Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Sandwich Structure in Support of the SLS Payload Adapter Fitting (PAF)

This study presents experimental results of impact and subsequent compression after impact (CAI) strength testing of sandwich structure representative of most of the acreage of a Payload Adaptor Fitting (PAF) that has been built at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). An instrumented drop weight tower was used to inflict different levels of impact damage to specimens. Load versus deflection of impact curves, visual damage, dent depth, damage as ascertained by thermography and cross-sectional microscopy were evaluated as part of the damage resistance of the structure. Compression After Impact (CAI) was performed to assess damage tolerance. The results show that at the amount of visual damage was highly dependent on whether the peel ply was present on the surface of the structure. The peel ply had some effect on the CAI strength values since the specimens with peel ply showed a 14% higher average CAI strength value. For all specimens tested in this study, CAI versus damage and CAI versus impact energy curves were plotted and it was found that damage size was a good indicator of CAI strength. It is suggested to use a b-basis damage tolerance curve based on damage size as a conservative measure of the load carrying capability of the sandwich structure with impact damage.

T1100/3960↗
NASA NTRS1993

A synoptic-scale overview of the TOGA COARE intensive observing period November 1992 to February 1993 based on analyses from US operational global data assimilation systems

The operational global analyses from the two major U.S. numerical weather prediction centers, the Navy's Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center and the National Meteorological Center, are used to describe the synoptic-scale features of the 1 Nov. 1992 to 28 Feb. 1993 TOGA COARE intensive observing period (IOP). TOGA COARE is an international field experiment in which a large number of research scientists from the Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres (Code 910) and the Laboratory for Hydrospheres (Code 970) participated. Two high-amplitude intraseasonal (30-60 day) oscillations passed through the TOGA COARE observational network located in the equatorial western Pacific. Associated with the oscillations were two 6-10 day periods of persistent westerly surface winds at the equator or 'westerly wind bursts.' These events are depicted through time series and time-longitude cross sections of divergence/velocity potential, surface winds, precipitation, ocean mixed-layer depth, and sea surface temperature. The high and low frequency components of the flow in which the intraseasonal oscillations were embedded are shown using seasonal, monthly, and 5-day averages of the surface, 850 and 200 mb winds, precipitation, and sea-level pressure, and a time-longitude cross section of tropical cyclone activity. Independent verification of precipitation comes from near real-time satellite estimates, and a reference climatology is given based on 9 years of ECMWF analyses. Daily 00 UTC analyses of surface winds and sea-level pressure for the entire western Pacific and Indian Ocean are provided to trace the evolution of individual synoptic events.

Fiorino, M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Proton-air inelastic cross section at S(1/2) = 30 TeV

The distribution of the maxima of high energy cosmic ray induced extensive air showers in the atmosphere was measured as a function of atmospheric depth. From the exponential tail of this distribution, it was determined that the proton-air inelastic cross section at 30 TeV center-of-mass energy to be 540 + or - 40mb.

Baltrusaitis, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Acoustic Panel Liner for an Engine Nacelle

An acoustic panel liner includes a face sheet, back plate, and liner core positioned there-between, which may be used in an engine nacelle. Elongated chambers contain variable amounts of septa at a calibrated depth or depths. The septa may have varying DC flow resistance. The chambers may have a hexagonal or other polygonal cross sections. The septa, such as mesh caps, may be bonded to an inner wall of a corresponding chamber. The insertion depths may be the same or different. If different, the pattern of distribution of the depths may be randomized.

Jones, Michael G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Study on utilization of advanced composites in fuselage structures of large transports

The potential for utilizing advanced composites in fuselage structures of large transports was assessed. Six fuselage design concepts were selected and evaluated in terms of structural performance, weight, and manufacturing development and costs. Two concepts were selected that merit further consideration for composite fuselage application. These concepts are: (1) a full depth honeycomb design with no stringers, and (2) an I section stringer stiffened laminate skin design. Weight reductions due to applying composites to the fuselages of commercial and military transports were calculated. The benefits of applying composites to a fleet of military transports were determined. Significant technology issues pertinent to composite fuselage structures were identified and evaluated. Program plans for resolving the technology issues were developed.

Johnson, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Conceptual design of a fleet of autonomous regolith throwing devices for radiation shielding of lunar habitats

This report presents refinements in two areas of the initial design presented in the report entitled 'Conceptual Design of a Fleet of Autonomous Regolith Throwing Devices for Radiation Shielding of Lunar Habitats'. The first section presents an evaluation of the critical areas of the design and presents alternative solutions for these areas. The areas for design refinement are the traction required by the device and the stability of the device when throwing regolith. Several alternative methods are presented to solve these problems. First, the issue of required traction is covered. Next, the design is refined to provide a more stable device. The issue of stability is addressed both by presenting solutions for the configuration chosen for the computer simulation and by presenting two more device configurations. The next section presents the selected solutions. To prevent inadequate traction, the depth of dig-per-pass is reduced. A method combining a dynamic counterweight and an outrigger is chosen to provide a stable device.

Armstrong, Karem↗
NASA NTRS1994

Preliminary estimates of nucleon fluxes in a water target exposed to solar-flare protons: BRYNTRN versus Monte Carlo code

A baryon transport code (BRYNTRN) has previously been verified using available Monte Carlo results for a solar-flare spectrum as the reference. Excellent results were obtained, but the comparisons were limited to the available data on dose and dose equivalent for moderate penetration studies that involve minor contributions from secondary neutrons. To further verify the code, the secondary energy spectra of protons and neutrons are calculated using BRYNTRN and LAHET (Los Alamos High-Energy Transport code, which is a Monte Carlo code). These calculations are compared for three locations within a water slab exposed to the February 1956 solar-proton spectrum. Reasonable agreement was obtained when various considerations related to the calculational techniques and their limitations were taken into account. Although the Monte Carlo results are preliminary, it appears that the neutron albedo, which is not currently treated in BRYNTRN, might be a cause for the large discrepancy seen at small penetration depths. It also appears that the nonelastic neutron production cross sections in BRYNTRN may underestimate the number of neutrons produced in proton collisions with energies below 200 MeV. The notion that the poor energy resolution in BRYNTRN may cause a large truncation error in neutron elastic scattering requires further study.

Shinn, Judy L.↗
NASA NTRS1998

The Surface Displacement Field of the November 8, 1997, Mw7.6 Manyi (Tibet) Earthquake Observed with ERS InSAR Data

ERS2 radar data acquired before and after the Mw7.6, Manyi (Tibet) earthquake of November 8, 1997, provide geodetic information about the surface displacement produced by the earthquake in two ways. (1) The sub-pixel geometric adjustment of the before and after images provides a two dimensional offset field with a resolution of approx, 1m in both the range (radar line of sight) and azimuth (satellite track) directions. Comparison of offsets in azimuth and range indicates that the displacement along the fault is essentially strike-slip and in a left-lateral sense. The offset map reveals a relatively smooth and straight, N78E surface rupture that exceeds 150 km in length, consistent with the EW plane of the Harvard CMT solution. The rupture follows the trace of a quaternary fault visible on satellite imagery (Tapponnier and Molnar, 1978; Wan Der Woerd, pers. comm.). (2) Interferometric processing of the SAR data provides a range displacement map with a precision of a few millimeters. The slip distribution along the rupture reconstructed from the range change map is a bell-shaped curve in the 100-km long central section of the fault with smaller, local maxima near both ends. The curve shows that the fault slip exceeds 2.2 m in range, or 6.2 in strike-slip, along a 30-km long section of the fault and remains above 1 m in range, approx. 3 m strike-slip, along most of its length. Preliminary forward modeling of the central section of the rupture, assuming a uniform slip distribution with depth, indicates that the slip occur-red essentially between 0 and the depth of 10 km, consistent with a relatively shallow event (Velasco et al., 1998).

Peltzer, G.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Heat Shielding Characteristics and Thermostructural Performance of a Superalloy Honeycomb Sandwich Thermal Protection System (TPS)

Heat-transfer, thermal bending, and mechanical buckling analyses have been performed on a superalloy "honeycomb" thermal protection system (TPS) for future hypersonic flight vehicles. The studies focus on the effect of honeycomb cell geometry on the TPS heat-shielding performance, honeycomb cell wall buckling characteristics, and the effect of boundary conditions on the TPS thermal bending behavior. The results of the study show that the heat-shielding performance of a TPS panel is very sensitive to change in honeycomb core depth, but insensitive to change in honeycomb cell cross-sectional shape. The thermal deformations and thermal stresses in the TPS panel are found to be very sensitive to the edge support conditions. Slight corrugation of the honeycomb cell walls can greatly increase their buckling strength.

Ko, William L.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Technique for Obtaining Vertical Profiles of Backscattering and Extinction Cross Sections Using Slant Path Lidar Measurements

A method is presented for solving for vertical profiles of atmospheric particulate extinction and backscattering cross-sections utilizing monostatic lidar slant path measurements. The method is an extension of work by Fernald. It is shown that the number of assumptions necessary for an iterative solution of extinction and backscattering cross sections can be reduced if lidar slant path measurements are used to solve directly for optical depths. The technique is useful only if sufficiently accurate lidar measurements are available. With highly accurate measurements it is also possible to solve directly for extinction cross sections without an iterative solution of a transcendental equation if the proper reduction scheme is used. The required accuracy is discussed and results showing the effect of errors are presented.

Spinhirne, J. D.↗