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At least 19 records

Bidirectional overadaptation achieved by executing leftward or rightward head movements during unidirectional rotation

Nine college age males, all prone to motion sickness, were subjects in an experiment designed to test adaptation to motion. Subjects were placed in a slow rotation room (SRR) for varying intervals and asked to perform headward movements. Degree of adaptation to the SRR was measured in the framework of 3 categories: reduction of ataxia, reduction of oculogyral illusion, and reduction of epiphenomena, which includes symptoms of motion sickness. 'Satisfactory' adaptation was acquired and retained in 7 of the 9 subjects. Tables are presented summarizing the results.

Graybiel, A.↗

Control-inspired design and power optimization of an active mechanical motion rectifier based power takeoff for wave energy converters

Ocean waves have high energy density and are persistent and predictable. Yet, converting wave energy to a useable form remains challenging. A significant hurdle is the oscillatory nature of waves resulting in the alternating loads, which necessitate the use of rectification at some stage of the energy conversion. This research effort presents a novel design of active mechanical motion rectifier (AMMR) for the power takeoff (PTO), which provides enhanced controllability and better power performance when compared to passive mechanical motion rectifiers (MMR). Inspired by transistors used in synchronous electrical rectifiers, the proposed design uses controllable electromagnetic clutches in the mechanical transmission to allow active engagement-disengagement control; thus, rectifying the oscillatory motion into a unidirectional rotation for high energy conversion efficiency and allowing the generator in unidirectional rotation to control the bidirectional wave capture structure for maximizing the power output. A semi-analytical computational approach is developed to efficiently evaluate the optimal power achieved using the proposed AMMR-based PTO and active control. It is found that the AMMR-based PTO design yields a higher optimal power than the previous passive MMR design across the wave spectrum. The influences of generator inertia and reactive power are discussed. Furthermore, the effects of control parameters on the power output and the optimal trajectories are analyzed. Wave tank tests with the AMMR prototype demonstrated the effectiveness of AMMR based PTO design and validated the numerical analysis.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Evaluation of several additional dry lubricants for spacecraft applications

Four transfer-film ball-bearing retainer materials were evaluated for their lubricating ability and wear capability under conditions of 120-gram radial load, 450-gram axial load, 3600-rpm unidirectional rotation, 23 C ambient temperature, and less than .1 microtorr pressure, using R-2 sized unshielded ball bearings. The 'stop-test' criterion was a total of one billion revolutions or a torque buildup greater than 18 gm-cm per bearing pair. A PTFE-fiberglass-MoS2 composite, a PTFE-bronze composite, and a tantalum-molybdenum-MoS2 composite operated for one billion revolutions without reaching the 18-gram torque limit. A p-oxybenzoyl polymer-MoS2 composite operated sixteen million revolutions before reaching the 18-gm cm stop-test torque. The first three materials are considered as suitable lubricants under the test conditions employed.

Vest, C. E.↗

A vacuum (10 exp -9 torr) friction apparatus for determining friction and endurance life of MoS(x) films

An ultrahigh-vacuum tribometer for use in a ball-on-disk configuration was specially designed for measuring the friction and endurance life of magnetron-sputtered solid lubricating MoS(x) films deposited on sputter-cleaned 400 C stainless-steel disks, when slid against a 6-mm-diameter 440 C stainless-steel ball. The results of tests showed that the tribometer performs satisfactorily in unidirectional rotation in vacuum at a pressure of 10 exp -7 Pa, 10 exp -9 torr. Similarities are observed in the life cycle friction behavior and the coefficient of friction as a function of the number of disk revolutions, for MoS(x) films at average Hertzian contact from 0.33 to 0.69 GPa.

Miyoshi, Kazuhisa↗

Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Laser Powered Carbon Nanotube Gears

Dynamics of laser powered carbon nanotube gears is investigated by molecular dynamics simulations with Brenner's hydrocarbon potential. We find that when the frequency of the laser electric field is much less than the intrinsic frequency of the carbon nanotube, the tube exhibits an oscillatory pendulam behavior. However, a unidirectional rotation of the gear with oscillating frequency is observed under conditions of resonance between the laser field and intrinsic gear frequencies. The operating conditions for stable rotations of the nanotube gears, powered by laser electric fields are explored, in these simulations.

Srivastava, Deepak↗

Performance Evaluation of an Actuator Dust Seal for Lunar Operation

Exploration of extraterrestrial surfaces (e.g. moon, Mars, asteroid) will require durable space mechanisms that will survive potentially dusty surface conditions in addition to the hard vacuum and extreme temperatures of space. Baseline tests with lunar simulant were recently completed at NASA GRC on a new Low-Temperature Mechanism (LTM) dust seal for space actuator application. Following are top-level findings of the tests completed to date in vacuum using NU-LHT-2M lunar-highlands simulant. A complete set of findings are found in the conclusions section.Tests were run at approximately 10-7 torr with unidirectional rotational speed of 39 RPM.Initial break-in runs were performed at atmospheric conditions with no simulant. During the break-in runs, the maximum torque observed was 16.7 lbf-in. while the maximum seal outer diameter temperature was 103F. Only 0.4 milligrams of NU-LHT-2M simulant passed through the sealshaft interface in the first 511,000 cycles while under vacuum despite a chip on the secondary sealing surface.Approximately 650,000 of a planned 1,000,000 cycles were completed in vacuum with NU-LHT-2M simulant.Upon test disassembly NU-LHT-2M was found on the secondary sealing surface.

lunar↗

The dynamic characteristics of a turbo-rotor simulator supported on gas-lubricated foil bearings. Part 1: Response to rotating imbalance and unidirectional excitation

A sixteen-inch rotor, weighing approximately twenty-one pounds, was supported by air-lubricated foil bearings. In physical size and in mass distribution, the rotor closely matched that of an experimental Brayton cycle turboalternator unit. The rotor was stable in both vertical horizontal attitudes at speeds up to 50,000 rpm. A detailed description of the experimental apparatus and of the foil bearing design are given. The paper contains data on response of the rotor to rotating imbalance, symmetric and asymmetric, and to excitation by means of a vibrator (shake table). It is concluded that the gas-lubricated foil bearing suspension is free from fractional frequency whirl and suffers no loss of load capacity when excited at frequency equal to half the rotational speed. In contrast to rigid gas bearings, the foil bearing imposes no stringent requirements with respect to dimensional tolerances, cleanliness, or limitations of journal motion within the narrow confines of bearing clearance.

Licht, L.↗

CFD Data on a Vertical Axis Wave Turbine

In this study January to July, 2023, different variations of the original geometry of a vertical-axis wave turbine (VAWT) were generated and evaluated for hydrodynamic power efficiency using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The key geometrical parameters considered in this parametric study included the chord length of the rotor blades and the horizontal semi-axis length. The immersion depth of the rotor was also examined as a key deployment parameter for the wave turbine. The CFD simulation results revealed that a medium chord length of the blade (i.e., the same as that of the baseline design) and a shorter horizontal semi-axis for the guide curve of the blade than that of the baseline design resulted in higher hydrodynamic power to extract. With the most efficient turbine rotor geometry identified in this study, a deployment depth that could assure full submergence of the rotor in waves but as close to the free surface as possible led to a higher hydrodynamic power. These findings revealed a pathway for the improvement of the wave turbine energy efficiency.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Directional gear ratio transmissions

Epicyclic gear transmissions which transmit output at a gear ratio dependent only upon the input's direction are considered. A transmission housing envelops two epicyclic gear assemblies, and has shafts extending from it. One shaft is attached to a sun gear within the first epicyclic gear assembly. Planet gears are held symmetrically about the sun gear by a planet gear carrier and are in mesh with both the sun gear and a ring gear. Two unidirectional clutches restrict rotation of the first planet gear carrier and ring gear to one direction. A connecting shaft drives a second sun gear at the same speed and direction as the first planet gear carrier while a connecting portion drives a second planet gear carrier at the same speed and direction as the first ring gear. The transmission's output is then transmitted by the second ring gear to the second shaft. Input is transmitted at a higher gear ratio and lower speed for all inputs in the first direction than in the opposite direction.

Lafever, A. E.↗

Flexure Test For Off-Axis Unidirectional Composites

Improved flexure test yields data on ply strength of off-axis unidirectional composite material. Rotatable end supports allow ends of specimen to twist freely. End supports apply only vertical loads, making simple three-point bending test. Ply-strength data provide basis for predicting onset of damage in composite structures and serve as measure of fiber-matrix adhesion.

Crews, John H., Jr.↗

A vacuum (10(exp -9) Torr) friction apparatus for determining friction and endurance life of MoSx films

The first part of this paper describes an ultrahigh vacuum friction apparatus (tribometer). The tribometer can be used in a ball-on-disk configuration and is specifically designed to measure the friction and endurance life of solid lubricating films such as MoS(x) in vacuum at a pressure of 10 exp -7 Pa. The sliding mode is typically unidirectional at a constant rotating speed. The second part of this paper presents some representative friction and endurance life data for magnetron sputtered MoS(x) films (110 nm thick) deposited on sputter-cleaned 440 C stainless-steel disk substrates, which were slid against a 6-mm-diameter 440 C stainless-steel bearing ball. All experiments were conducted with loads of 0.49 to 3.6 N (average Hertzian contact pressure, 0.33 to 0.69 GPa), at a constant rotating speed of 120 rpm (sliding velocity ranging from 31 to 107 mm/s due to the range of wear track radii involved in the experiments), in a vacuum of 7 x 10 exp -7 Pa and at room temperature. The results indicate that there are similarities in friction behavior of MoS(x) films overs their life cycles regardless of load applied. The coefficient of friction (mu) decreases as load W increases according to mu = kW exp -1/3. The endurance life E of MoS(x) films decreases as the load W increases according to E = KW exp -1.4 for the load range. The load- (or contract-pressure-) dependent endurance life allows us to reduce the time for wear experiments and to accelerate endurance life testing of MoS(x) films. For the magnetron-sputtered MoS(x) films deposited on 440 C stainless-steel disks: the specific wear rate normalized to the load and the number of revolutions was 3 x 10 exp -8 mm exp 3/N-revolution; the specific wear rate normalized to the load and the total sliding distance was 8 x 10 exp -7 mm exp 3/N-m; and the nondimensional wear coefficient of was approximately 5 x 10 exp -6. The values are almost independent of load in the range 0.49 to 3.6 N (average Hertzian contact pressures of 0.33 to 0.69 GPa).

Miyoshi, Kazuhisa↗

Physiological mechanisms of the nystagmus produced by rotations about an earth-horizontal axis

The physiological basis of the nystagmus produced by rotation about an earth-horizontal axis is investigated with particular emphasis on the unidirectional nystagmus attributed to a bias component. Eye movement recordings were made with dc electro-oculography in alert squirrel monkeys and afferent responses were recorded from semicircular canals and otolith receptors of anesthetized animals upon rotations in the pitch and yaw planes. The eye-movement recordings show the rotation responses in the squirrel monkey to resemble those of other species, including persistent horizontal and vertical nystagmuses during yaw and pitch rotations, respectively, a unidirectional nystagmus at low rotation speeds, and postrotatory responses of relatively small amplitude and duration. The vestibular nerve recordings do not show a directionally specific dc response that can account for the bias component, but instead exhibit sinusoidal responses of peak amplitudes 0-15 and 25-75 spikes/sec for the canals and otolith, respectively. Results thus indicate that the dc signal to the oculomotor centers responsible for the nystagmus is of central origin, most likely based on some transformation of the otolith signals.

Goldberg, J. M.↗

Unidirectional flexural pivot

A pair of generally coaxial mutually rotatable cylindrical outer ring members are held in spaced-apart relationship by three parallelogram-shaped, relatively thin, flexible, flat planar spring elements. These spring elements are substantially inextensible in length and are joined to the inside of the outer ring members and held in position by arcuate inner ring segments, three for each outer ring members, which respectively span an arc of substantially 120. The parallelogram shape of the spring elements provides a slanted interconnection between the outer ring members. The direction of slant, moreover, determines in which direction the spring elements can flex or bend unidirectionally to relieve the compression stress imparted thereto by any mutual angular rotation of the outer ring members.

Bahiman, H.↗

Stability of a rigid rotor supported on oil-film journal bearings under dynamic load

Most published work relating to dynamically loaded journal bearings are directed to determining the minimum film thickness from the predicted journal trajectories. These do not give any information about the subsynchronous whirl stability of journal bearing systems since they do not consider the equations of motion. It is, however, necessary to know whether the bearing system operation is stable or not under such an operating condition. The stability characteristics of the system are analyzed. A linearized perturbation theory about the equilibrium point can predict the threshold of stability; however it does not indicate postwhirl orbit detail. The linearized method may indicate that a bearing is unstable for a given operating condition whereas the nonlinear analysis may indicate that it forms a stable limit cycle. For this reason, a nonlinear transient analysis of a rigid rotor supported on oil journal bearings under: (1) a unidirectional constant load, (2) a unidirectional periodic load, and (3) variable rotating load are performed. The hydrodynamic forces are calculated after solving the time-dependent Reynolds equation by a finite difference method with a successive overrelaxation scheme. Using these forces, equations of motion are solved by the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method to predict the transient behavior of the rotor. With the aid of a high-speed digital computer and graphics, the journal trajectories are obtained for several different operating conditions.

Majumdar, B. C.↗

Universal Stripe Symmetry of Short-Range Charge Density Waves in Cuprate Superconductors

The omnipresence of charge density waves (CDWs) across almost all cuprate families underpins a common organizing principle. However, a longstanding debate of whether its spatial symmetry is stripe or checkerboard remains unresolved. While CDWs in lanthanum- and yttrium-based cuprates possess a stripe symmetry, distinguishing these two scenarios is challenging for the short-range CDW in bismuth-based cuprates. Here, high-resolution resonant inelastic x-ray scattering is employed to uncover the spatial symmetry of the CDW in Bi 2 Sr 2-x La x CuO 6 + δ . Across a wide range of doping and temperature, anisotropic CDW peaks with elliptical shapes are found in reciprocal space. Based on Fourier transform analysis of real-space models, the results are interpreted as evidence of unidirectional charge stripes, hosted by mutually 90°-rotated anisotropic domains. This work paves the way for a unified symmetry and microscopic description of CDW order in cuprates.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Incommensurate charge-stripe correlations in the kagome superconductor CsV 3 Sb 5–x Sn x

The class of AV 3 Sb 5 (A=K, Rb, Cs) kagome metals hosts unconventional charge density wave states seemingly intertwined with their low temperature superconducting phases. The nature of the coupling between these two states and the potential presence of nearby, competing charge instabilities however remain open questions. This phenomenology is strikingly highlighted by the formation of two ‘domes’ in the superconducting transition temperature upon hole-doping CsV 3 Sb 5 . Here we track the evolution of charge correlations upon the suppression of long-range charge density wave order in the first dome and into the second of the hole-doped kagome superconductor CsV 3 Sb 5–x Sn x . Initially, hole-doping drives interlayer charge correlations to become short-ranged with their periodicity diminished along the interlayer direction. Beyond the peak of the first superconducting dome, the parent charge density wave state vanishes and incommensurate, quasi-1D charge correlations are stabilized in its place. These competing, unidirectional charge correlations demonstrate an inherent electronic rotational symmetry breaking in CsV 3 Sb 5 , and reveal a complex landscape of charge correlations within its electronic phase diagram. Our data suggest an inherent 2k ƒ charge instability and competing charge orders in the AV 3 Sb 5 class of kagome superconductors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Rotating Balances Used for Fluid Pump Testing

Marshall Space Flight Center has developed and demonstrated two direct read force and moment balances for sensing and resolving the hydrodynamic loads on rotating fluid machinery. These rotating balances consist of a series of stainless steel flexures instrumented with semiconductor type, unidirectional strain gauges arranged into six bridges, then sealed and waterproofed, for use fully submerged in degassed water at rotational speeds up to six thousand revolutions per minute. The balances are used to measure the forces and moments due to the onset and presence of cavitation or other hydrodynamic phenomena on subscale replicas of rocket engine turbomachinery, principally axial pumps (inducers) designed specifically to operate in a cavitating environment. The balances are inserted into the drive assembly with power to and signal from the sensors routed through the drive shaft and out through an air-cooled twenty-channel slip ring. High frequency data - balance forces and moments as well as extensive, flush-mounted pressures around the rotating component periphery - are acquired via a high-speed analog to digital data acquisition system while the test rig conditions are varied continuously. The data acquisition and correction process is described, including the in-situ verifications that are performed to quantify and correct for known system effects such as mechanical imbalance, "added mass," buoyancy, mechanical resonance, and electrical bias. Examples of four types of cavitation oscillations for two typical inducers are described in the laboratory (pressure) and rotating (force) frames: 1) attached, symmetric cavitation, 2) rotating cavitation, 3) attached, asymmetric cavitation, and 4) cavitation surge. Rotating and asymmetric cavitation generate a corresponding unbalanced radial force on the rotating assembly while cavitation surge generates an axial force. Attached, symmetric cavitation induces no measurable force. The frequency of the forces can be determined a priori from the pressure environment while the magnitude of the hydrodynamic force is proportional to the pressure unsteadiness.

Skelley, Stephen↗