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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 1,729 records · Page 96

Aerosol and Gas Transport in Ventilation Ducts in Nonreactor Nuclear Facilities

This document summarizes outcomes and finding in FY 2022 from a project sponsored by the Nuclear Safety Research and Development Program, which is managed by the Office of Nuclear Safety, within the Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security. Literature survey and data collection are discussed in Sections 1 and 2, respectively. Numerical modeling of particulate transports in ventilation systems performed for standard geometries and a full-scale ventilation system is described in Section 3, and Section 4 summarizes the development of proof-of-concept sensors featuring ultrasound technology for particle deposition removal. Conclusions and recommendations are outlined in Section 5.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Carbon Fiber-Based Vitrimer Composites: A Path toward Current Research That Is High-Performing, Useful, and Sustainable

In the polymeric material industry, thermosets and related composites have played a substantial role in the production of rubber and plastics. One important subset of these is thermoset composites with carbon reinforcement. The incorporation of carbon fillers and fibers gives polymeric materials improved electrical and mechanical properties, among other benefits. However, the covalently crosslinked network of thermosets presents significant challenges for recycling and reprocessing because of its intractable nature. The introduction of vitrimer materials opens a new avenue to produce biodegradable and recyclable thermosets. Carbon-reinforced vitrimer composites are pursued for high-performance, long-lasting materials with attractive physical properties, the ability to be recycled and processed, and other features that respond uniquely to stimuli. The development of carbon-reinforced vitrimer composites over the last few years is summarized in this article. First, an overview of vitrimers and the methods used to prepare carbon fiber-reinforced vitrimer composites is provided. Because of the vitrimer nature of such composites, reprocessing, healing, and recycling are viable ways to greatly extend their service life; these approaches are thoroughly explained and summarized. The conclusion is our prediction for developing carbon-based vitrimer composites.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Laser system generates single-frequency light

Program eliminates major sources of noise in the laser output, with minimum sacrifice of total laser output power. Results include the design and development of a CW laser system which features high power single-frequency output in the S-20 photocathode response region.

Targ, R.↗

Nonlinear and adaptive estimation techniques in reentry

The development and testing of nonlinear and adaptive estimators for reentry (e.g. space shuttle) navigation and model parameter estimation or identification are reported. Of particular interest is the identifcation of vehicle lift and drag characteristics in real time. Several nonlinear filters were developed and simulated. Adaptive filters for the real time identification of vehicle lift and drag characteristics, and unmodelable acceleration, were also developed and tested by simulation. The simulations feature an uncertain system environment with rather arbitrary model errors, thus providing a definitive test of estimator performance. It was found that nonlinear effects are indeed significant in reentry trajectory estimation and a nonlinear filter is demonstrated which successfully tracks through nonlinearities without degrading the information content of the data. Under the same conditions the usual extended Kalman filter diverges and is useless. The J-adaptive filter is shown to successfully track errors in the modeled vehicle lift and drag characteristics. The same filter concept is also shown to track successfully through rather arbitrary model errors, including lift and drag errors, vehicle mass errors, atmospheric density errors, and wind gust errors.

Jazwinski, A. H.↗

Automated aircraft scheduling methods in the near terminal area.

A general scheduling algorithm for aircraft from terminal area entry to touchdown is developed. The method has the following novel features: (1) many speed classes of aircraft are considered and speed variations within classes and along portions of the flight path are permitted; (2) multiple paths are considered which may merge or diverge - the analysis is not restricted to a single runway nor to departures only; (3) landings are scheduled along conflict free flight paths in minimum time. The algorithm is currently being incorporated in a fast-time simulation of a STOL air traffic system.

Tobias, L.↗

Advanced wiring technique and hardware application: Airplane and space vehicle

An advanced wiring system is described which achieves the safety/reliability required for present and future airplane and space vehicle applications. Also, present wiring installation techniques and hardware are analyzed to establish existing problem areas. An advanced wiring system employing matrix interconnecting unit, plug to plug trunk bundles (FCC or ribbon cable) is outlined, and an installation study presented. A planned program to develop, lab test and flight test key features of these techniques and hardware as a part of the SST technology follow-on activities is discussed.

Ernst, H. L.↗

Use of ERTS data for mapping Arctic sea ice

This investigation is to evaluate the application of ERTS data for detecting and mapping Arctic sea ice. The specific objectives are to determine the spectral bands most suitable for detecting ice, to measure the scale and types of ice features that can be detected, and to develop interpretive techniques for differentiating ice from clouds and for mapping ice concentrations. The ERTS data are being analyzed primarily for three Arctic areas, the eastern Beaufort Sea, Baffin Bay, and the Greenland Sea.

Barnes, J. C.↗

Biomedical engineering tasks

Electrocardiographic and vectorcardiographic bioinstrumentation work centered on the development of a new electrode system harness for Project Skylab. Evaluation of several silver electrode configurations proved superior impedance voltage performance for silver/silver chloride electrodes mounted flush by using a paste adhesive. A portable ECG processor has been designed and a breadboard unit has been built to sample ECG input data at a rate of 500 samples per second for arrhythmia detection. A small real time display driver program has been developed for statistical analysis on selected QPS features. Engineering work on a sleep monitoring cap assembly continued.

Source record↗

Design of the Skylab MDA window

Description of the optical and structural design requirements, mechanical and thermal response analyses, final design features, and testing procedures employed in the development of a large window mounted on the earth-facing side of the multiple docking adapter (MDA) of the Skylab manned space vehicle. This window was designed for the S190 earth resources multispectral camera and was protected from the space environment during nonuse periods by a hinged cover operated from within the MDA. The camera required a viewing area approximately 43 by 58 cm. A single glass pane 4.1 cm thick was selected to minimize optical distortions. Heaters on the glass and frame were designed to control distortions caused by thermal gradients in the glass.

Trent, D. J.↗

Manned orbital facility: A user's guide

The salient conceptual features and expected evolution of the facility are discussed; the baseline design is offered as a model against which the reader can compare his needs. The overall program is discussed, supporting services and resources are described, and examples of typical payload applications are given. The general design features and configurations representing the baseline MOF developed and derived with due consideration given to applicable designs and subsystems such as those available in the Skylab, orbiter, and space lab vehicles.

Source record↗

Procedure for detection and measurement of interfaces in remotely acquired data using a digital computer

A technique for the detection and measurement of surface feature interfaces in remotely acquired data was developed and evaluated. A computer implementation of this technique was effected to automatically process classified data derived from various sources such as the LANDSAT multispectral scanner and other scanning sensors. The basic elements of the operational theory of the technique are described, followed by the details of the procedure. An example of an application of the technique to the analysis of tidal shoreline length is given with a breakdown of manpower requirements.

Faller, K. H.↗

Convection pattern and stress system under the African plate

Studies on tectonic forces from satellite-derived gravity data have revealed a subcrustal stress system which provides a unifying mechanism for uplift, depression, rifting, plate motion and ore formation in Africa. The subcrustal stresses are due to mantle convection. Seismicity, volcanicity and kimberlite magmatism in Africa and the development of the African tectonic and magnetic features are explained in terms of this single stress system. The tensional stress fields in the crust exerted by the upwelling mantle flows are shown to be regions of structural kinship characterized by major concentration of mineral deposits. It is probable that the space techniques are capable of detecting and determining the tectonic forces in the crust of Africa.

Liu, H.-S.↗

The planar multijunction cell - A new solar cell for earth and space

A new family of high-voltage solar cells, called the planar multijunction (PMJ) cell is being developed. The new cells combine the attractive features of planar cells with conventional or interdigitated back contacts and the vertical multijunction (VMJ) solar cell. The PMJ solar cell is internally divided into many voltage-generating regions, called unit cells, which are internally connected in series. The key to obtaining reasonable performance from this device was the separation of top surface field regions over each active unit cell area. Using existing solar cell fabricating methods, output voltages in excess of 20 volts per linear centimeter are possible. Analysis of the new device is complex, and numerous geometries are being studied which should provide substantial benefits in both normal sunlight usage as well as with concentrators.

Evans, J. C., Jr.↗

Transfer of line radiation in differentially expanding atmospheres. VI The plane parallel atmosphere with expanding and contracting regions

The non-LTE radiative transfer problem for a two level atom with complete redistribution over a Doppler profile is solved for a plane parallel slab (overlying a radiating photosphere) that has a velocity field which rises symmetrically from zero at either face to a central maximum. Since the velocity gradient reverses, distant layers of the slab become coupled by radiation that jumps intervening layers. The Feautrier method is used, but an iterative variant is also employed as a check in cases where poorly conditioned matrices are encountered. Approximations are developed to explain some of the principal features. It is found that the source function S tends to have two plateaus with values near 2/3 I sub 0 and 1/3 I sub 0, where I sub 0 is the photospheric continuum incident from below; the larger value lies nearer the photosphere. The upper layers sometimes exhibit a rise in S owing to interconnection by radiation to the base. It is noted that the radiation force is largest at the two faces and the midplane. Some line profiles are found to have unusually steep absorptions at rest frequency because of the low excitation in the uppermost, stationary layers.

Noerdlinger, P. D.↗

Analysis of crack propagation as an energy absorption mechanism in metal matrix composites

The crack initiation and crack propagation capability was extended to the previously developed generalized plane strain, finite element micromechanics analysis. Also, an axisymmetric analysis was developed, which contains all of the general features of the plane analysis, including elastoplastic material behavior, temperature-dependent material properties, and crack propagation. These analyses were used to generate various example problems demonstrating the inelastic response of, and crack initiation and propagation in, a boron/aluminum composite.

Adams, D. F.↗

Mare basin filling on the moon - Laboratory simulations

Laboratory simulations of lavas filling a stylized lunar multi-ringed basin demonstrate several relationships between the morphology of the emplaced lavas and various eruption conditions. The rate of effusion is the primary control on the gross shape of the accumulated lavas, with relatively low rates (e.g., Hawaiian style) leading to shield volcanoes and high rates (e.g., flood eruptions) producing flat, ponded lavas. Pre-flow topography can have a significant effect on the general form of individual flows and the position of flow features such as lava channels. Rootless vents develop in many parts of the flow, including areas apparently related to the position of basin rings, giving the false appearance of aligned true vent systems.

Greeley, R.↗

AVE/VAS experiment: Synoptic summary and preliminary results

The AVE/VAS ground truth field experiment was conducted during the Spring of 1982 severe storms and weather research program. The experiment consisted of acquiring correlative ground truth measurements of rawinsonde data, corresponding to the time and space resolutions of VAS sounding data. The objectives of the AVE/VAS experiment are: (1) to acquire four dimensional data sets of the actual atmospheric structure down to the mesoscale; (2) to provide measurements for quantitative comparisons between ground based and VAS-derived atmospheric parameters; (3) to evaluate the impact of VAS data on diagnostic analysis of structural features and dynamical processes important to the development of mesoscale phenomena; (4) to evaluate the impact of VAS data on numerical model simulations, nowcasting, and other mesoscale forecasting systems.

Jedlovec, G. J.↗