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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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Hygrothermomechanical evaluation of transverse filament tape epoxy/polyester fiberglass composites

The static and cyclic load behavior of transverse filament tape (TFT) fiberglass/epoxy and TFY fiberglass/polyester composites, intended for use in the design of low-cost wind turbine blades, are presented. The data behavior is also evaluated with respect to predicted properties based on an integrated hygrothermomechanical response theory. Experimental TFT composite data were developed by the testing of laminates made by using composite layups typical of those used for the fabrication of TFT fiberglass wind turbine blades. Static properties include tension, compression, and interlaminar shear strengths at ambient conditions and at high humidity/elevated temperature conditions after a 500 hour exposure. Cyclic fatigue data were obtained using similar environmental conditions and a range of cyclic stresses. The environmental (temperature and moisture) and cyclic load effects on composite strength degradation are subsequently compared with the predictions obtained by using the composite life/durability theory. The results obtained show that the predicted hygrothermomechanical environmental effects on TFT composites are in good agreement with measured data for various properties including fatigue at different cyclic stresses.

Lark, R. L.↗

Steady-State Pursuit Is Driven by Object Motion Rather Than the Vector Average of Local Motions

We have previously shown that humans can pursue the motion of objects whose trajectories can be recovered only by spatio-temporal integration of local motion signals. We now explore the integration rule used to derive the target-motion signal driving pursuit. We measured the pursuit response of 4 observers (2 naive) to the motion of a line-figure diamond viewed through two vertical bar apertures (0.2 cd/square m). The comers were always occluded so that only four line segments (93 cd/square m) were visible behind the occluding foreground (38 cd/square m). The diamond was flattened (40 & 140 degree vertex angles) such that vector averaging of the local normal motions and vertical integration (e.g. IOC) yield very I or different predictions, analogous to using a Type II plaid. The diamond moved along Lissajous-figure trajectories (Ax = Ay = 2 degrees; TFx = 0.8 Hz; TFy = 0.4 Hz). We presented only 1.25 cycles and used 6 different randomly interleaved initial relative phases to minimize the role of predictive strategies. Observers were instructed to track the diamond and reported that its motion was always coherent (unlike type II plaids). Saccade-free portions of the horizontal and vertical eye-position traces sampled at 240 Hz were fit by separate sinusoids. Pursuit gain with respect to the diamond averaged 0.7 across subjects and directions. The ratio of the mean vertical to horizontal amplitude of the pursuit response was 1.7 +/- 0.7 averaged across subjects (1SD). This is close to the prediction of 1.0 from vertical motion-integration rules, but far from 7.7 predicted by vector averaging and infinity predicted by segment- or terminator-tracking strategies. Because there is no retinal motion which directly corresponds to the diamond's motion, steady-state pursuit of our "virtual" diamond is not closed-loop in the traditional sense. Thus, accurate pursuit is unlikely to result simply from local retinal negative feedback. We conclude that the signal driving steady-state pursuit is not the vector average of local motion signals, but rather a more vertical estimate of object motion, derived in extrastriate cortical areas beyond V1, perhaps NIT or MST.

Stone, Leland S.↗

Development and Acceptance Testing of the Dual Wheel Mechanism for the Tunable Filter Imager Cryogenic Instrument on the JWST

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will carry four scientific instruments, one of which is the Tunable Filter Imager (TFI), which is an instrument within the Fine Guidance Sensor. The Dual Wheel (DW) mechanism is being designed, built and tested by COM DEV Ltd. under contract from the Canadian Space Agency. The DW mechanism includes a pupil wheel (PW) holding seven coronagraphic masks and two calibration elements and a filter wheel (FW) holding nine blocking filters. The DW mechanism must operate at both room temperature and at 35K. Successful operation at 35K comprises positioning each optical element with the required repeatability, for several thousand occasions over the five year mission. The paper discusses the results of testing geared motors and bearings at the cryogenic temperature. In particular bearing retainer design and PGM-HT material, the effects of temperature gradients across bearings and the problems associated with cooling mechanisms down to cryogenic temperatures. The results of additional bearing tests are described that were employed to investigate an abnormally high initial torque experienced at cryogenic temperatures. The findings of these tests, was that the bearing retainer and the ball/race system could be adversely affected by the large temperature change from room temperature to cryogenic temperature and also the temperature gradient across the bearing. The DW mechanism is now performing successfully at both room temperature and at cryogenic temperature. The life testing of the mechanism is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2010.

Leckie, Martin↗

Overview of the James Webb Space Telescope Observatory

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large aperture, space telescope designed to provide imaging and spectroscopy from 1.0 micron to 28 microns. JWST will be launched to an orbit at L2 aboard an Ariane 5 launcher in 2013. The Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is the lead center for the JWST program and manages the project for NASA. The prime contractor for JWST is Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (NGST). JWST is an international partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). ESA will contribute the Ariane 5 launch, and a multi-object infrared spectrograph. CSA will contribute the Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS), which includes the Tunable Filter Imager (TFI). The European consortium, in collaboration with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), builds the mid-infrared imager (MIRI). In this paper we present an overview of the JWST science program, and discuss recent progress in the development of the observatory.

Clampin, Mark↗