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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 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1982

Current carrying properties of double layers and low frequency auroral fluctuations

A summary is given of a systematic parametric study in which the ion-transit time effects on double-layer fluctuations are investigated in a series of numerical simulations involving several lengths of finite extent plasmas. Typical values of ion drift velocities both smaller and larger than the ion-thermal speed on the high potential end of the simulation plasma are given. It is shown that the link between the electron-current fluctuations and ion-transit time is the Langmuir criterion for the existence of double layers. The time period of the recurring phenomena depends on the ion dynamics; for ions entering the simulation plasma in such a way that the ion drift velocity is less than approximately the ion thermal speed, the time period is governed by the ion transit time from the location of ion injection to the location of the double layer.

Singh, N.↗
NASA NTRS1994

End-to-end communication test on variable length packet structures utilizing AOS testbed

This paper describes a communication test, which successfully demonstrated the transfer of losslessly compressed images in an end-to-end system. These compressed images were first formatted into variable length Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) packets in the Advanced Orbiting System Testbed (AOST). The CCSDS data Structures were transferred from the AOST to the Radio Frequency Simulations Operations Center (RFSOC), via a fiber optic link, where data was then transmitted through the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS). The received data acquired at the White Sands Complex (WSC) was transferred back to the AOST where the data was captured and decompressed back to the original images. This paper describes the compression algorithm, the AOST configuration, key flight components, data formats, and the communication link characteristics and test results.

Miller, Warner H.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Pyridoxine deficiency affects biomechanical properties of chick tibial bone

The mechanical integrity of bone is dependent on the bone matrix, which is believed to account for the plastic deformation of the tissue, and the mineral, which is believed to account for the elastic deformation. The validity of this model is shown in this study based on analysis of the bones of vitamin B6-deficient and vitamin B6-replete chick bones. In this model, when B6-deficient and control animals are compared, vitamin B6 deficiency has no effect on the mineral content or composition of cortical bone as measured by ash weight (63 +/- 6 vs. 58 +/- 3); mineral to matrix ratio of the FTIR spectra (4.2 +/- 0.6 vs. 4.5 +/- 0.2), line-broadening analyses of the X-ray diffraction 002 peak (beta 002 = 0.50 +/- 0.1 vs. 0.49 +/- 0.01), or other features of the infrared spectra. In contrast, collagen was significantly more extractable from vitamin B6-deficient chick bones (20 +/- 2% of total hydroxyproline extracted vs. 10 +/- 3% p < or = 0.001). The B6-deficient bones also contained an increased amount of the reducible cross-links DHLNL, dehydro-dihydroxylysinonorleucine, (1.03 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.84 +/- 0.13 p < or = 0.001); and a nonsignificant increase in HLNL, dehydro-hydroxylysinonorleucine, (0.51 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.43 +/- 0.03, p < or = 0.10). There were no significant changes in bone length, bone diameter, or area moment of inertia. In four-point bending, no significant changes in elastic modulus, stiffness, offset yield deflection, or fracture deflection were detected. However, fracture load in the B6-deficient animals was decreased from 203 +/- 35 MPa to 151 +/- 23 MPa, p < or = 0.01, and offset yield load was decreased from 165 +/- 9 MPa to 125 +/- 14 MPa, p < or = 0.05. Since earlier histomorphometric studies had demonstrated that the B6-deficient bones were osteopenic, these data suggest that although proper cortical bone mineralization occurred, the alterations of the collagen resulted in changes to bone mechanical performance.

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRS2006

Acoustic Efficiency of Azimuthal Modes in Jet Noise Using Chevron Nozzles

The link between azimuthal modes in jet turbulence and in the acoustic sound field has been examined in cold, round jets. Chevron nozzles, however, impart an azimuthal structure on the jet with a shape dependent on the number, length and penetration angle of the chevrons. Two particular chevron nozzles, with 3 and 4 primary chevrons respectively, and a round baseline nozzle are compared at both cold and hot jet conditions to determine how chevrons impact the modal structure of the flow and how that change relates to the sound field. The results show that, although the chevrons have a large impact on the azimuthal shape of the mean axial velocity, the impact of chevrons on the azimuthal structure of the fluctuating axial velocity is small at the cold jet condition and smaller still at the hot jet condition. This is supported by results in the azimuthal structure of the sound field, which also shows little difference in between the two chevron nozzles and the baseline nozzle in the distribution of energy across the azimuthal modes measured.

Brown, Clifford A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Payload deployment method and system

A method and apparatus for deploying the payload of space shuttle craft or the like. The payload rotated about an axis outside of the payload but approximately longitudinally of the cargo bay of the shuttle craft. The payload may thus be rotated, through ninety degrees. In this case, that is in its rotated position, the payload may or may not have a small portion located within the cargo bay. Alternatively, the payload may be located completely outside of the bay. According to the apparatus two separable hinge-like devices connect at one longitudinal side or edge of the payload to respective ones of the payload trunnions at different longitudinally spaced locations along the length of the payload. Separation of the payload from the cargo bay is made unlatching a latch and by the use of a repulsion spring at the position of each hinge-like device. Two four-link mechanisms allow movement between payload and bay. Such accoommodative movement is required especially during launch when considerable vibration is encountered.

Barnett, Clifford J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Payload deployment method and system

A method and apparatus for deploying the payload of space shuttle or the like is described. It is referred to as the Stabilized Payload Deployment System (SPDS). The payload is rotated about an axis outside of the payload but approximately longitudinally with the cargo bay of the shuttle craft. The payload may thus be rotated through ninety degrees. In this case, that is, in its rotated position, the payload may or may not have a small portion located within the cargo bay. Alternatively, the payload may be located completely outside of the bay. According to the apparatus two separable hinge-like devices connect at one longitudinal side or edge of the payload to respective ones of the payload trunnions at different longitudinally spaced locations along the length of the payload. Separation of the payload from the cargo bay is made by unlatching a latch and by the use of a repulsion spring at the position of each hinge-like device. Two four-link mechanisms allow movement between payload and bay. Such accommodative movement is required especially during launch when considerable vibration is encountered.

Barnett, Clifford J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Crack diffusion coefficient - A candidate fracture toughness parameter for short fiber composites

In brittle matrix composites, crack propagation occurs along random trajectories reflecting the heterogeneous nature of the strength field. Considering the crack trajectory as a diffusive process, the 'crack diffusion coefficient' is introduced. From fatigue crack propagation experiments on a set of identical SEN polyester composite specimens, the variance of the crack tip position along the loading axis is found to be a linear function of the effective 'time'. The latter is taken as the effective crack length. The coefficient of proportionality between variance of the crack trajectory and the effective crack length defines the crack diffusion coefficient D which is found in the present study to be 0.165 mm. This parameter reflects the ability of the composite to deviate the crack from the energetically most efficient path and thus links fracture toughness to the microstructure.

Mull, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Some Operational Aspects of the International Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer (TWSTFT) Experiment Using INTELSAT Satellites at 307 Degrees East

Eight laboratories are participating in an international two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT) experiment. Regular time and frequency transfers have been performed over a period of almost two years, including both European and transatlantic time transfers. The performance of the regular TWSTFT sessions over an extended period has demonstrated conclusively the usefulness of the TWSTFT method for routine international time and frequency comparisons. Regular measurements are performed three times per week resulting in a regular but unevenly spaced data set. A method is presented that allows an estimate of the values of delta (sub y)(gamma) to be formed from these data. In order to maximize efficient use of paid satellite time an investigation to determine the optimal length of a single TWSTFT session is presented. The optimal experiment length is determined by evaluating how long white phase modulation (PM) instabilities are the dominant noise source during the typical 300-second sampling times currently used. A detailed investigation of the frequency transfers realized via the transatlantic TWSTFT links UTC(USNO)-UTC(NPL), UTC(USNO)-UTC(PTB), and UTC(PTB)-UTC(NPL) is presented. The investigation focuses on the frequency instabilities realized, a three cornered hat resolution of the delta (sub y) (gamma) values, and a comparison of the transatlantic and inter-European determination of UTC(PTB)-UTC(NPL). Future directions of this TWSTFT experiment are outlined.

DeYoung, J. A.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Food Acceptability, Menu Fatigue, and Aversion During the Sirius-21 Analog Mission

Spaceflight food systems are closed systems, meaning they are restricted to the variety and quantity of food launched within resource limitations of the mission. The acceptability of the food system has been linked to caloric intake and associated nutritional benefits. ISS crew members receive substantial personal food preferences (around 25% of their total intake) but have noted in debriefs that they would prefer more food variety and preference for the length of the missions and they tire of certain foods over six months. Limits on variety and personal preference are expected to increase as missions become further from Earth. It is possible that menu fatigue leads to decreases in acceptability and increased aversion to available foods that may contribute to the body mass loss often experienced by spaceflight crews. However, the impact of repeat food consumption on acceptability has not yet been systematically investigated across potential spaceflight food systems. Limited variety and crew preferences within food categories may have more severe physical and behavioral health and performance consequences as mission duration increases. Characterizing the relationship between food acceptability and mission duration will contribute to defining requirements for an acceptable food system that will support crew health and performance on long duration missions. This study evaluated acceptability of the food system used in the SIRIUS-21 8-month mission in Moscow, Russia. To capture in situ scoring of repeat consumption experiences, we administered a weekly food acceptability questionnaire to all 5 crewmembers throughout the mission. Crewmembers scored foods they consumed at 3 meals every 6 days on a 9-point hedonic scale and provided open-ended feedback regarding food context, attributes, and the meal. The sequence was intended to capture all days in the 7-day menu cycle. The repetition was intended to target repeat food ratings that may provide insight into onset of menu fatigue where they might stop eating some foods or limit their choices to their favorites. Every 30 days crewmembers completed two additional surveys to characterize the food system, any changes to the food system, and their experience with the food system. Data collection is complete. Data are currently being assessed by descriptive statistics and visualizations of the ratings over time. The primary goal is to look for trends in the trajectories of ratings of the food items over time – both within and between individuals – to determine if there are substantial decreases in acceptability across all foods, or within specific food categories (e.g., vegetables). The number of times a particular item is scored provides some information on the frequency of consumption (preference), and the overall number of unique items can give a measure of overall variety. We will assess whether individuals were more likely to have more observations on food items that are rated higher, and whether those who rated foods higher had more or less overall variety. Since the data are composed of longitudinal subjective ratings, repeated measures techniques will be used to quantify trends over time and how these may relate to preference and variety. We will assess how these trends relate to their characterization of and experience with the SIRIUS-21 food system. We will also provide content analysis of any additional feedback collected on the open-ended questions and debrief interviews.

Grace L. Douglas↗
NASA NTRS1999

Phased Array Transmit Antenna for a Satellite

Active phased array antennas with electronically scanned beams offer advantages over high gain parabolic dish antennas currently used on spacecraft. Benefits include the elimination of deployable structures, no moving parts, and no torque disturbances that moving antennas impart to the spacecraft. The latter results in the conservation of spacecraft power, and the ability to take precision optical data while transmitting data. Such an antenna has been built under a contract from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for the New Millennium Program EO- 1 satellite where it will act as the primary highspeed scientific data communication link. The antenna operates at X-band, has an integral controller and power conditioner, communicates with the spacecraft over a 1773 optical data bus, and is space qualified for low earth orbit (705 Km altitude). The nominal mission length is one year, and the operational requirement is for one 10 minute transmission a day over Spitsbergen, Norway. Details of the antenna and its performance will be described in the following paper.

Huggins, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS2009

An Overview of the State of the Art in Atomistic and Multiscale Simulation of Fracture

The emerging field of nanomechanics is providing a new focus in the study of the mechanics of materials, particularly in simulating fundamental atomic mechanisms involved in the initiation and evolution of damage. Simulating fundamental material processes using first principles in physics strongly motivates the formulation of computational multiscale methods to link macroscopic failure to the underlying atomic processes from which all material behavior originates. This report gives an overview of the state of the art in applying concurrent and sequential multiscale methods to analyze damage and failure mechanisms across length scales.

Saether, Erik↗
NASA NTRS2011

Underexpanded Supersonic Plume Surface Interactions: Applications for Spacecraft Landings on Planetary Bodies

Numerical and experimental investigations of both far-field and near-field supersonic steady jet interactions with a flat surface at various atmospheric pressures are presented in this paper. These studies were done in assessing the landing hazards of both the NASA Mars Science Laboratory and Phoenix Mars spacecrafts. Temporal and spatial ground pressure measurements in conjunction with numerical solutions at altitudes of approx.35 nozzle exit diameters and jet expansion ratios (e) between 0.02 and 100 are used. Data from steady nitrogen jets are compared to both pulsed jets and rocket exhaust plumes at Mach approx.5. Due to engine cycling, overpressures and the plate shock dynamics are different between pulsed and steady supersonic impinging jets. In contrast to highly over-expanded (e <1) and underexpanded exhaust plumes, results show that there is a relative ground pressure load maximum for moderately underexpanded (e approx.2-5) jets which demonstrate a long collimated plume shock structure. For plumes with e much >5 (lunar atmospheric regime), the ground pressure is minimal due to the development of a highly expansive shock structure. We show this is dependent on the stability of the plate shock, the length of the supersonic core and plume decay due to shear layer instability which are all a function of the jet expansion ratio. Asymmetry and large gradients in the spatial ground pressure profile and large transient overpressures are predominantly linked to the dynamics of the plate shock. More importantly, this study shows that thruster plumes exhausting into martian environments possess the largest surface pressure loads and can occur at high spacecraft altitudes in contrast to the jet interactions at terrestrial and lunar atmospheres. Theoretical and analytical results also show that subscale supersonic cold gas jets adequately simulate the flow field and loads due to rocket plume impingement provided important scaling parameters are in agreement. These studies indicate the critical importance of testing and modeling plume-surface interactions for descent and ascent of spacecraft and launch vehicles.

Mehta, M.↗
NASA NTRS1979

On the determination of diffusion lengths by means of angle-lapped p-n junctions

A standard procedure for determining the minority carrier diffusion length by means of SEM consists of scanning an angle-lapped surface of a p-n junction and measuring the resulting short circuit current as a function of beam position. The present paper points out that the usual expression linking the short circuit current induced by the electron beam to the angle between the semiconductor surface and the junction plane is incorrect. The correct expression is discussed and it is noted that, for angles less than 10 deg, the new and the old expression are practically indistinguishable.

Von Roos, O.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Nonhomologous contraction and equilibria of self-gravitating, magnetic interstellar clouds embedded in an intercloud medium: Star formation. II - Results

The paper studies the equilibrium of self-gravitating isothermal models of interstellar clouds with a frozen-in magnetic field linked smoothly to the field of a hot tenuous intercloud medium. Equilibrium states are determined which can be reached by clouds contracting nonhomologously from a spherical uniform initial state. Three free parameters characterize the problem: a dimensionless initial radius related to the Jeans length of the cloud, the initial ratio of the magnetic and gas pressures in the cloud, and the initial ratio of the intercloud and cloud pressures. The dependence of the solutions on each of these parameters is investigated. It is found that: (1) the frozen-in field causes the cloud to become oblate with its major axis normal to the field lines; (2) the flattening increases as the magnetic-field strength, gravitational forces, or intercloud pressure increases; (3) increasing intercloud pressure eventually leads to gravitational collapse; and (4) the cloud can reach equilibrium only if its radius does not exceed some critical value. The observed inefficiency of the star-formation process within massive clouds is examined and explained in terms of magnetic phenomena in a collapsing cloud.

Mouschovias, T. C.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Stochastic and fractal analysis of fracture trajectories

Analyses of fracture trajectories are used to investigate structures that fall between 'micro' and 'macro' scales. It was shown that fracture trajectories belong to the class of nonstationary processes. It was also found that correlation distance, which may be related to a characteristic size of a fracture process, increases with crack length. An assemblage of crack trajectory processes may be considered as a diffusive process. Chudnovsky (1981-1985) introduced a 'crack diffusion coefficient' d which reflects the ability of the material to deviate the crack trajectory from the most energetically efficient path and thus links the material toughness to its structure. For the set of fracture trajectories in AISI 304 steel, d was found to be equal to 1.04 microns. The fractal dimension D for the same set of trajectories was found to be 1.133.

Bessendorf, Michael H.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Earth's variable rotation

Recent improvements in geodetic data and practical meteorology have advanced research on fluctuations in the earth's rotation. The interpretation of these fluctuations is inextricably linked with studies of the dynamics of the earth-moon system and dynamical processes in the liquid metallic core of the earth (where the geomagnetic field originates), other parts of the earth's interior, and the hydrosphere and atmosphere. Fluctuations in the length of the day occurring on decadal time scales have implications for the topographay of the core-mantle boundary and the electrical, magnetic, ande other properties of the core and lower mantle. Investigations of more rapid fluctuations bear on meteorological studies of interannual, seasonal, and intraseasonal variations in the general circulation of the atmosphere and the response of the oceans to such variations.

Hide, Raymond↗
NASA NTRS1994

Maglev crude oil pipeline

This maglev crude oil pipeline consists of two conduits guiding an endless stream of long containers. One conduit carries loaded containers and the other empty returns. The containers are levitated by permanent magnets in repulsion and propelled by stationary linear induction motors. The containers are linked to each other in a manner that allows them, while in continuous motion, to be folded into side by side position at loading and unloading points. This folding causes a speed reduction in proportion to the ratio of container diameter to container length. While in side by side position, containers are opened at their ends to be filled or emptied. Container size and speed are elected to produce a desired carrying capacity.

Knolle, Ernst G.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Vector performance analysis of three supercomputers - Cray-2, Cray Y-MP, and ETA10-Q

Results are presented of a series of experiments to study the single-processor performance of three supercomputers: Cray-2, Cray Y-MP, and ETA10-Q. The main object of this study is to determine the impact of certain architectural features on the performance of modern supercomputers. Features such as clock period, memory links, memory organization, multiple functional units, and chaining are considered. A simple performance model is used to examine the impact of these features on the performance of a set of basic operations. The results of implementing this set on these machines for three vector lengths and three memory strides are presented and compared. For unit stride operations, the Cray Y-MP outperformed the Cray-2 by as much as three times and the ETA10-Q by as much as four times for these operations. Moreover, unlike the Cray-2 and ETA10-Q, even-numbered strides do not cause a major performance degradation on the Cray Y-MP. Two numerical algorithms are also used for comparison. For three problem sizes of both algorithms, the Cray Y-MP outperformed the Cray-2 by 43 percent to 68 percent and the ETA10-Q by four to eight times.

Fatoohi, Rod A.↗