Experimental Investigation of Misaligning Couples and Eccentricity at Ends of Misaligned Plain Bearings
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
SEARCH · Search NASA
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.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The effects of test model element misalignments on test results were investigated. Transonic wind tunnel-573 was designed to study these misalignment effects in detail by purposely misaligning model elements a known amount. Misalignments in TWT-573 were achieved by use of special off-set spacers and mounting hardware to change, yaw, pitch and roll on various elements of a 0.004-Scale PRR Baseline space shuttle configuration model. By comparing the misalignment runs to the nominal configuration with no misalignment, relative effects of the misalignment could be seen. This data was obtained over a Mach range of .9 to 1.46 using an angle of attack sweep of minus 10 deg to plus 10 deg in 2 deg increments.
The effect of gyro misalignment on the attitude knowledge error (AKE) in a strapdown environment is analyzed. The subject attitude knowledge is defined, and the equation of motion is derived considering only the initial AKE and the misalignment. These two error sources are shown to be different. The closed-form solution to the equation of motion is presented, and an important theorem concerning the error induced by the initial AKE and misalignment is proven. The observability of misalignment in an ideal update environment where three cases of AKE can be measured simultaneously is examined. The misalignment observability in an infinitesimal field of view line of sight sensor update design is discussed. It is concluded that attitude error in a strapdown gyro application due to gyro misalignment is a conservative function of the attitude only.
This paper describes the study of lateral misalignment tolerance of a symmetric high-rate free-space optical link (FSOL) for use between International Space Station (ISS) payload sites and the main cabin. The link will enable gigabit per second (Gbps) transmission of data, which is up to three orders of magnitude greater than the current capabilities. This application includes 10-20 meter links and requires minimum size, weight, and power (SWaP). The optical power must not present an eye hazard and must be easily integrated into the existing ISS infrastructure. On the ISS, rapid thermal changes and astronaut movement will cause flexure of the structure which will potentially misalign the free space transmit and receive optics 9 cm laterally and 0.2 degrees angularly. If this misalignment is not accounted for, a loss of the link or degradation of link performance will occur. Power measurements were collected to better understand the effect of various system design parameters on lateral misalignment. Parameters that were varied include: the type of small form pluggable (SFP) transceivers, type of fiber, and transmitted power level. A potential solution was identified that can reach the lateral misalignment tolerance (decenter span) required to create an FSOL on the ISS by using 105 m core fibers, a duplex SFP, two channels of light, and two fiber amplifiers.
This paper describes the study of lateral misalignment tolerance of a symmetric high-rate free-space optical link (FSOL) for use between International Space Station (ISS) payload sites and the main cabin. The link will enable gigabit per second (Gbps) transmission of data, which is up to three orders of magnitude greater than the current capabilities. This application includes 10-20 meter links and requires minimum size, weight, and power (SWaP). The optical power must not present an eye hazard and must be easily integrated into the existing ISS infrastructure. On the ISS, rapid thermal changes and astronaut movement will cause flexure of the structure which will potentially misalign the free space transmit and receive optics 9 cm laterally and 0.2 degrees angularly. If this misalignment is not accounted for, a loss of the link or degradation of link performance will occur. Power measurements were collected to better understand the effect of various system design parameters on lateral misalignment. Parameters that were varied include: the type of small form pluggable (SFP) transceivers, type of fiber, and transmitted power level. A potential solution was identified that can reach the lateral misalignment tolerance (decenter span) required to create an FSOL on the ISS by using 105 m core fibers, a duplex SFP, two channels of light, and two fiber amplifiers.
Many experimenters fail to appreciate the significance of test system alignment during a tensile test. Poor alignment can increase data scatter and significantly influence some of the test results. In this paper a comprehensive analytical study of the misalignment problem in the plastic strain range is presented and errors caused by misalignment estimated. The results show that the stress-strain curve is not significantly affected by misalignment. However, the strains at the outermost fibers of the specimen cross-section are strongly affected by misalignment. Therefore, the effect of misalignment is most important when properties sensitive to local strain concentrations are being investigated.
The influence of bearing misalignment upon the dynamic characteristics of statistically indeterminant rotor bearing systems is investigated. Both bearing loads and stability speed limits of a rotor may be changed significantly by magnitude and direction of bearing misalignment. The useful theory of short journal bearings is introduced and simple analytical expressions, governing the misalignment problem, are carried out. Polar plots for the bearing load capacities and stability maps, describing the speed limit in terms of misalignment, are presented. These plots can be used by the designer to estimate deviations between calculation and experimental data due to misalignment effects.
Techniques are described for the in-flight calibration of gyro/star scanner misalignments for the Magellan spacecraft. The poor observability of one of the six components of misalignment is discussed in the context of a simple least-squares estimation model. The assumptions that lead to singularity in the information matrix are explicitly stated and it is shown that the singularity persists for all scanner slit configurations using only two slits, regardless of slit geometry or separation. A set of misalignment error state variables, a configuration of three stars, and a maneuver/scan sequence is described which yields a well-conditioned information matrix for least-squares estimation of five of the six misalignments. Finally, it is shown by convariance simulation that ground-based optimal estimation can satisfactorily resolve all six components of the misalignment error when more than two star scanner slits are used.
The type of a model which would explain the large population of orthogonally misaligned sources is considered. Two of the best examples of misaligned sources are investigated, namely, the quasar 3C 309.1 (Wilkinson et al., 1986; Kus et al., 1990, 1991) and the BL Lac object 1823 + 568 (Foley, 1982; O'Dea et al., 1988). It is shown that simple bend geometries cannot explain the misaligned sources, and the geometries required to give orthogonal misalignments are explained. A generally applicable model which might explain misaligned sources is proposed.
A micromechanical method is employed for the prediction of unidirectional composites in which the fiber orientation can possess various statistical misalignment distributions. The method relies on the probability-weighted averaging of the appropriate concentration tensor, which is established by the micromechanical procedure. This approach provides access to the local field quantities throughout the constituents, from which initiation of damage in the composite can be predicted. In contrast, a typical macromechanical procedure can determine the effective composite elastic properties in the presence of statistical fiber misalignment, but cannot provide the local fields. Fully random fiber distribution is presented as a special case using the proposed micromechanical method. Results are given that illustrate the effects of various amounts of fiber misalignment in terms of the standard deviations of in-plane and out-of-plane misalignment angles, where normal distributions have been employed. Damage initiation envelopes, local fields, effective moduli, and strengths are predicted for polymer and ceramic matrix composites with given normal distributions of misalignment angles, as well as fully random fiber orientation.
A theoretical analysis was made of a hypothetical seal operating mode. The hypothetical seal model provides for three degrees of primary ring motion and includes the force and moments induced by primary ring response to seat angular misalignment. This ring response causes a relative angular misalignment between the faces of the primary seal. Hydrodynamic pressure generation is produced by this misalignment. The analysis is based on the Reynolds equation in short bearing form and on a balance of forces and moments that arise from hydrodynamic and secondary seal friction effects. A closed form solution was obtained that can be solved for film thickness and relative angular misalignment.
Hydrodynamic effects in a flat seal having an angular misalignment are analyzed, taking into account the radial variation in seal clearance. An analytical solution for axial force, restoring moment, and transverse moment is presented that covers the whole range from zero to full angular misalignment. Both low pressure seals with cavitating flow and high pressure seals with full fluid film are considered. Strong coupling is demonstrated between angular misalignment and transverse moment which leads the misalignment vector by 90 degrees. This transverse moment, which is entirely due to hydrodynamic effects, is a significant factor in the seal operating mechanism.
Hydrodynamic effects in a flat seal having an angular misalignment are analyzed, taking into account the radial variation in seal clearance. An analytical solution for axial force, restoring moment, and transverse moment is presented that covers the whole range from zero to full angular misalignment. Both low pressure seals with cavitating flow and high pressure seals with full fluid film are considered. Strong coupling is demonstrated between angular misalignment and transverse moment which leads the misalignment vector by 90 degrees. This transverse moment, which is entirely due to hydrodynamic effects, may be a significant factor in seal operating mechanism.
The effect of flow misalignment on the flow coefficient behavior of a 20 deg. boundary-layer bleed hole and the effect of the interaction between two 90 deg. bleed holes separated by two hole diameters on flow coefficient behavior has been studied experimentally. Both tests were run at freestream Mach numbers of 0.61, 1.62 and 2.49. The flow misalignment study was conducted over a range of 0 to 30 deg. The results show that neither flow misalignment nor hole interaction has much effect on the flow coefficient for the subsonic case. For the supersonic cases, flow misalignment causes significant degradation in the performance of the slant hole. For the supersonic normal hole interaction cases, depending on the hole orientation, either an increase or decrease in overall flow coefficient was observed. The largest change in flow coefficient, 6% increase at near choke conditions, occurred when the holes were oriented in line with the flow direction.
A nonlinear control scheme for attitude control of a spacecraft is combined with a nonlinear gyro misalignment and bias observer for the case of constant gyro misalignment and bias. A persistency of excitation analysis shows the observer gyro bias estimates converge to the true bias values exponentially fast. The convergence of the misalignment estimates is also presented. Then; the resulting coupled, closed loop dynamics are proven by a Lyapunov analysis to be globally stable, with asymptotically perfect tracking. The analysis is extended to consider the effects of noise in addition to the gyro misalignment and bias. A simulation of the proposed observer-controller design is given for a rigid spacecraft tracking a specified, time-varying attitude sequence to illustrate the theoretical claims.
Aircraft engines of the future will require capability bearing compartment seals than found in current engines. Geared systems driving the fan will be subjected to inertia and gyroscopic forces resulting in extremely high angular and radial misalignments. Because of the high misalignment levels, compartment seals capable of accommodating angularities and eccentricities are required. Pratt & Whitney and Stein Seal Company selected the segmented circumferential carbon seal as the best candidate to operate at highly misaligned conditions. Initial seal tests established the misalignment limits of the current technology circumferential seal. From these results a more compliant seal configuration was conceived, designed, fabricated, and tested. Further improvements to the design are underway and plans are to conduct a durability test of the next phase configuration. A technical approach is presented, including design modification to a "baseline"seal, carbon grade selection, test rig configuration, test plan and results of analysis of seal testing.
As gas foil journal bearings become more prevalent in production machines, such as small gas turbine propulsion systems and microturbines, system-level performance issues must be identified and quantified in order to provide for successful design practices. Several examples of system-level design parameters that are not fully understood in foil bearing systems are thermal management schemes, alignment requirements, balance requirements, thrust load balancing, and others. In order to address some of these deficiencies and begin to develop guidelines, this paper presents a preliminary experimental investigation of the misalignment tolerance of gas foil journal bearing systems. Using a notional gas foil bearing supported rotor and a laser-based shaft alignment system, increasing levels of misalignment are imparted to the bearing supports while monitoring temperature at the bearing edges. The amount of misalignment that induces bearing failure is identified and compared to other conventional bearing types such as cylindrical roller bearings and angular contact ball bearings. Additionally, the dynamic response of the rotor indicates that the gas foil bearing force coefficients may be affected by misalignment.
A system of computer software, spacecraft, and ground system activity is described that enables spacecraft startrackers and inertial assemblies to be aligned and calibrated from the ground after the spacecraft has achieved orbit. The system generates in the uplink flow an exercise designed to render misalignments visible, and sends the exercise to the spacecraft where the spacecraft inserts the misalignment into the information in the form of attitude sensor error. The information is downlinked for processing into misalignment estimates to be used for correcting spacecraft model at data base.