Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Property optimization”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 records

Development of Directed Energy Deposited NASA HR-1 to Optimize Properties for Liquid Rocket Engine Applications

Metal additive manufacturing (AM) processes have been demonstrated to be effective at reducing costs and lead times associated with fabrication of complex propulsion component designs. Laser powder directed energy deposition (LP-DED) and laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) are metal AM technologies that have effectively been used to produce a variety of parts for space applications. These technologies have enabled new designs and materials for these applications. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has identified the need to develop and advance new materials in unique space applications such as high-pressure hydrogen environments. One such metal alloy being developed for these applications is NASA HR-1. A high-strength Fe-Ni based superalloy, NASA HR-1 was designed to resist high pressure hydrogen environment embrittlement, oxidation, and corrosion. AM technologies have enabled the manufacturing of NASA HR-1 to be a feasible material for components in hydrogen environments. Development efforts for NASA HR-1 have completed build and heat treatment optimization, material characterization, thermophysical property testing, and mechanical testing in air and hydrogen environments to mature the understanding of the material. This poster will summarize the development of NASA HR-1 for AM including composition and heat treatment optimization, microstructure characterization, and results of mechanical testing in air and high pressure hydrogen.

NASA HR-1↗

A New Approach to Identify Optimal Properties of Shunting Elements for Maximum Damping of Structural Vibration Using Piezoelectric Patches

The use of shunted piezoelectric patches in reducing vibration and sound radiation of structures has several advantages over passive viscoelastic elements, e.g., lower weight with increased controllability. The performance of the piezoelectric patches depends on the shunting electronics that are designed to dissipate vibration energy through a resistive element. In past efforts most of the proposed tuning methods were based on modal properties of the structure. In these cases, the tuning applies only to one mode of interest and maximum tuning is limited to invariant points when based on den Hartog's invariant points concept. In this study, a design method based on the wave propagation approach is proposed. Optimal tuning is investigated depending on the dynamic and geometric properties that include effects from boundary conditions and position of the shunted piezoelectric patch relative to the structure. Active filters are proposed as shunting electronics to implement the tuning criteria. The developed tuning methods resulted in superior capabilities in minimizing structural vibration and noise radiation compared to other tuning methods. The tuned circuits are relatively insensitive to changes in modal properties and boundary conditions, and can applied to frequency ranges in which multiple modes have effects.

Park, Junhong↗

Soil Moisture Active Passive Mission Mass Properties Optimization and Analysis

The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission creates global soil moisture measurements every 2-3 days by spinning a lightweight, ~6 meter diameter deployable mesh reflector. This represents the largest spinning antenna ever to be used on a NASA satellite. The paper discusses the mass properties challenges that were overcome in implementing the mission, including the definition of a combined imbalance term called the Effective Product of Inertia, the selection of an optimum Spun Instrument focal length and edge offset that fostered a reduced mass properties sensitivity, the inclusion of late game Spun Instrument configuration flexibility, the use of balance mass locations that leveraged the large moment arm provided by the reflector, and a subassembly measurement campaign that reduced mass properties uncertainties on testable components.

Hendry, Morgan L., IV↗

Precursor Selection for Property Optimization in Biomorphic SiC Ceramics

Biomorphic SiC ceramics have been fabricated using different wood precursors. The evolution of volume, density and microstructure of the woods, carbon performs, and final SiC products are systematically studied in order to establish experimental guidelines that allow materials selection. The wood density is a critical characteristic, which results in a particular final SiC density, and the level of anisotropy in mechanical properties in directions parallel (axial) and perpendicular (radial) to the growth of the wood. The purpose of this work is to explore experimental laws that can help choose a type of wood as precursor for a final SiC product, with a given microstructure, density and level of anisotropy. Preliminary studies of physical properties suggest that not only mechanical properties are strongly anisotropic, but also electrical conductivity and gas permeability, which have great technological importance.

Varela-Feria, F. M.↗

Development of Directed Energy Deposited NASA HR-1 to Optimize Properties for Liquid Rocket Engine Applications

Metal additive manufacturing (AM) processes have been demonstrated to be effective at reducing costs and lead times associated with fabrication of complex propulsion component designs. Laser powder directed energy deposition (LP-DED) is a metal AM technology that has effectively been used to produce a variety of parts for liquid rocket engine applications. The LP-DED technology has enabled new designs and materials for these applications. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has identified the need to develop and advance new materials in unique engine applications such as hydrogen environments. One such metal alloy being developed for these applications is NASA HR-1. A high-strength Fe-Ni based superalloy, NASA HR-1 was designed to resist high pressure hydrogen environment embrittlement, oxidation, and corrosion. Enabled by LP-DED, NASA HR-1 has completed build and heat treatment optimization, characterization, mechanical and thermophysical testing, and hot-fire testing to demonstrate its capability as an alloy used in liquid rocket engine applications. The evolution of the alloy through material characterization analysis and mechanical testing results from development and optimization efforts will be presented.

additive manufacturing↗

Optimization of rotor blades for combined structural, dynamic, and aerodynamic properties

Optimal helicopter blade design with computer-based mathematical programming has received more and more attention in recent years. Most of the research has focused on optimum dynamic characteristics of rotor blades to reduce vehicle vibration. There is also work on optimization of aerodynamic performance and on composite structural design. This research has greatly increased our understanding of helicopter optimum design in each of these aspects. Helicopter design is an inherently multidisciplinary process involving strong interactions among various disciplines which can appropriately include aerodynamics; dynamics, both flight dynamics and structural dynamics; aeroelasticity: vibrations and stability; and even acoustics. Therefore, the helicopter design process must satisfy manifold requirements related to the aforementioned diverse disciplines. In our present work, we attempt to combine several of these important effects in a unified manner. First, we design a blade with optimum aerodynamic performance by proper layout of blade planform and spanwise twist. Second, the blade is designed to have natural frequencies that are placed away from integer multiples of the rotor speed for a good dynamic characteristics. Third, the structure is made as light as possible with sufficient rotational inertia to allow for autorotational landing, with safe stress margins and flight fatigue life at each cross-section, and with aeroelastical stability and low vibrations. Finally, a unified optimization refines the solution.

He, Cheng-Jian↗

Structural reliability and robustness properties of optimal linear-quadratic multivariable regulators

Strong sufficient conditions are derived for the robustness of optimal linear-quadratic (LQ) regulators to large parameter perturbations. In particular, it is shown that under certain conditions LQ designs remain stable in the presence of actuator channel failures. The general results can be specialized to provide insight into the gain margin, gain reduction, and phase margin properties of optimal LQ regulators.

Wong, P.-K.↗

The analytical representation of viscoelastic material properties using optimization techniques

This report presents a technique to model viscoelastic material properties with a function of the form of the Prony series. Generally, the method employed to determine the function constants requires assuming values for the exponential constants of the function and then resolving the remaining constants through linear least-squares techniques. The technique presented here allows all the constants to be analytically determined through optimization techniques. This technique is employed in a computer program named PRONY and makes use of commercially available optimization tool developed by VMA Engineering, Inc. The PRONY program was utilized to compare the technique against previously determined models for solid rocket motor TP-H1148 propellant and V747-75 Viton fluoroelastomer. In both cases, the optimization technique generated functions that modeled the test data with at least an order of magnitude better correlation. This technique has demonstrated the capability to use small or large data sets and to use data sets that have uniformly or nonuniformly spaced data pairs. The reduction of experimental data to accurate mathematical models is a vital part of most scientific and engineering research. This technique of regression through optimization can be applied to other mathematical models that are difficult to fit to experimental data through traditional regression techniques.

Hill, S. A.↗

Stochastic ordering properties and optimal routing control for a class of finite capacity queueing systems

The problem of routing jobs to parallel queues with identical exponential servers and unequal finite buffer capacities is considered. Stochastic ordering and weak majorization properties on critical performance measures are established by means of event-driven inductions. In particular, it is shown that the intuitive 'join the shortest non-full queue' (SNQ) policy is optimal with respect to an overall function that accounts for holding and blocking costs. Moreover, the buffer allocation problem is solved by proving the intuitive result that, for a fixed total buffer capacity, the optimal allocation scheme is the one in which the difference between the maximum and minimum queue capacities is minimized, i.e., becomes either 0 or 1.

Towsley, Don↗

Skeletal adaptation to external loads optimizes mechanical properties: fact or fiction

The skeleton adapts to a changing mechanical environment but the widely held concept that bone cells are programmed to respond to local mechanical loads to produce an optimal mechanical structure is not consistent with the high frequency of bone fractures. Instead, the author suggests that other important functions of bone compete with mechanical adaptation to determine structure. As a consequence of competing demands, bone architecture never achieves an optimal mechanical structure. c2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

Review, Tutorial↗

Modeling of Euclidean braided fiber architectures to optimize composite properties

Three-dimensional braided fiber reinforcements are a very effective toughening mechanism for composite materials. The integral yarn path inherent to this fiber architecture allows for effective multidirectional dispersion of strain energy and negates delamination problems. In this paper a geometric model of Euclidean braid fiber architectures is presented. This information is used to determine the degree of geometric isotropy in the braids. This information, when combined with candidate material properties, can be used to quickly generate an estimate of the available load-carrying capacity of Euclidean braids at any arbitrary angle.

Armstrong-Carroll, E.↗

General shape optimization capability

A method is described for calculating shape sensitivities, within MSC/NASTRAN, in a simple manner without resort to external programs. The method uses natural design variables to define the shape changes in a given structure. Once the shape sensitivities are obtained, the shape optimization process is carried out in a manner similar to property optimization processes. The capability of this method is illustrated by two examples: the shape optimization of a cantilever beam with holes, loaded by a point load at the free end (with the shape of the holes and the thickness of the beam selected as the design variables), and the shape optimization of a connecting rod subjected to several different loading and boundary conditions.

Chargin, Mladen K.↗

Crystallization, Optical and Chemical Properties of Fluoride Glasses

Fluoride glasses have great promise as infrared optical components, especially fibers, because they are transparent to 8 micrometers and higher. In order to optimize properties, different glass compositions are needed. Some are hard to form in a container, and may possibly be formable in a containerless furnace. Understanding of crystallization with and without a container could lead to glasses with optimum properties. Chemical durability (attack by water) can limit or extend the applicability of fluoride glasses. Progress to date is given.

Doremus, R. H.↗

Order reduction in linear state estimation under performance constraints

The design and analysis of minimal-order state estimators for possibly time-varying linear systems, under constraints on the maximal allowable mean-square error, are considered. A global lower bound on the optimal error is derived, along with a lower bound on the minimal estimator order, needed for meeting the performance constraint. The ideal reduced-order estimator which satisfies the lower bound is derived, along with conditions for its realizability. When the ideal estimator is not realizable, its structure forms a suboptimal estimator, which maintains, in some sense, a local optimality property and is called the pseudoideal estimator. The mean-square error of the pseudoideal estimator defines upper bounds on the optimal error and on the estimator order needed for meeting the performance constraint. The lower and the upper bounds on the order define a reduced search set for the design problem. When the distance between the ideal and the pseudoideal estimators is sufficiently small in a certain numerical sense, the pseudoideal estimator may be considered optimal for practical purposes.

Baram, Yoram↗

Aging properties of Kodak type 101 emulsions

Aging tests for several batches of Kodak type 101 emulsion show that storage conditions significantly influence how well the film will maintain its sensitometric properties, with sensitivity and density increasing to a maximum during this period. Any further aging may result in higher fog levels and sensitivity loss. It is noted that storage in an environment free of photographically active compounds allows film property optimization, and that film batches with different sensitivities age differently. Emulsions with maximum 1700-A sensitivity are 2.5 times faster than those at the low end of the sensitivity scale. These sensitive emulsions exhibit significantly accelerated changes in aging properties. Their use in space applications requires careful consideration of time and temperature profiles, encouraging the use of less sensitive emulsions when the controllability of these factors is limited.

Dohne, B.↗