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Brown, G. V.

Publications and source records attributed to Brown, G. V..

At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2002

Laboratory Astrophysics at the LLNL Electron Beam Ion Traps: EBIT-I and EBIT-II

In order to provide a complete, accurate set of atomic data for interpreting spectra provided by missions such as XMM-Newton, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, and Astro-E2, we have harnessed the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's electron beam ion traps EBIT-I. EBIT-II, and Super-EBIT for laboratory astrophysics. In support of this work we have developed a number of unique techniques, including the ability to experimentally simulate a Maxwellian distribution of electron energies and measuring low-energy charge exchange cross sections using the magnetic trapping mode. We have also built and operated a full suite of spectrometers spanning the 1-7000 Angstrom wavelength band, the most recent being a spectrometer based on a spare Astro-E (6 x 6) microcalorimeter array. Results of our efforts include a complete list of wavelengths of the Fe L-shell transitions, measurements of absolute and relative cross sections for direct impact, dielectronic, and resonance excitation, and measurements of low energy charge transfer reactions. A brief overview of the LLNL ebit facility, its capabilities, and some results will be discussed.

Brown, G. V.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Laboratory Data for X-Ray Astronomy

Laboratory facilities have made great strides in producing large sets of reliable data for X-ray astronomy, which include ionization and recombination cross sections needed for charge balance calculations as well as the atomic data needed for interpreting X-ray line formation. We discuss data from the new generation sources and pay special attention to the LLNL electron beam ion trap experiment, which is unique in its ability to provide direct laboratory access to spectral data under precisely controlled conditions that simulate those found in many astrophysical plasmas. Examples of spectral data obtained in the 1-160 A wavelength range are given illustrating the type of laboratory X-ray data produced in support of such missions as Chandra, X-Ray Multi-Mirror telescope (XMM), Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics (ASCA) and Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer Satellite (EUVE).

Beiersdorfer, P.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Emission Line Spectra from Low-Density Laboratory Plasmas

Using spectroscopic equipment optimized for laboratory astrophysics, we are performing systematic measurements of the line emission from astrophysically relevant ions in the wavelength band between 1 and 400 Angstroms important to X-ray missions such as Chandra, XMM, Astro-E, and EUVE. Obtained in a controlled laboratory setting at electron densities similar to those found in stellar coronae, the data are used to test spectral modeling codes for accuracy and completeness. Our effort includes the compilation of the iron L-shell emission lines from 6-18 Angstroms and the iron M-shell emission lines from 50-200 Angstroms. Many lines have been identified for the first time, and the fluxes from lines missing in the spectral modeling codes are assessed. Our measurements also assess the accuracy of line excitation calculations, including direct electron-impact excitation, dielectronic recombination, and resonance excitation. These measurements yield a calibration of specific diagnostic line ratios. Examples of our current measurements are given.

Beiersdorfer, P.↗
NASA NTRS1995

An active homopolar magnetic bearing with high temperature superconductor (HTS) coils and ferromagnetic cores

A proof-of-feasibility demonstration showed that high temperature superconductor (HTS) coils can be used in a high-load, active magnetic bearing in liquid nitrogen. A homopolar radial bearing with commercially wound HTS (Bi 2223) bias and control coils produced over 200 lb (890 N) radial load capacity (measured non-rotating) and supported a shaft to 14000 rpm. The goal was to show that HTS coils can operate stably with ferromagnetic cores in a feedback controlled system at a current density similar to that in Cu in liquid nitrogen. Design compromises permitted use of circular coils with rectangular cross section. Conductor improvements will eventually permit coil shape optimization, higher current density and higher bearing load capacity. The bias coil, wound with non-twisted, multifilament HTS conductor, required negligible power to carry its direct current. The control coils were wound with monofilament HTS sheathed in Ag. These dissipated negligible power for direct current (i.e. for steady radial load components). When an alternating current (AC) was added, the AC component dissipated power which increased rapidly with frequency and quadratically with AC amplitude. In fact at frequencies above about 2 hz, the effective resistance of the control coil conductor actually exceeds that of the silver which is in electrical parallel with the oxide superconductor. This is at least qualitatively understandable in the context of a Bean-type model of flux and current penetration into a Type II superconductor. Fortunately the dynamic currents required for bearing stability are of small amplitude. These results show that while twisted multifilament conductor is not needed for stable levitation, twisted multifilaments will be required to reduce control power for sizable dynamic loads, such as those due to unbalance.

Brown, G. V.↗
NASA NTRS1995

An active magnetic bearing with high T(sub c) superconducting coils and ferromagnetic cores

A proof-of-feasibility demonstration showed that high-T(sub c) superconductor (HTS) coils can be used in a high-load, active magnetic bearing in LN2. A homopolar radial bearing with commercially wound HTS (Bi 2223) bias and control coils produced over 890 N (200 lb) radial load capacity (measured non-rotatings) and supported a shaft to 14,000 rpm. The goal was to show that HTS coils can operate stably with ferromagnetic cores in a feedback controlled system at a current density similar to that for Cu in LN2. The bias coil, wound with non-twisted, multifilament HTS conductor, dissipated negligible power for its direct current. The control coils, wound with monofilament HTS sheathed in Ag, dissipated negligible power for direct current. AC losses increased rapidly with frequency and quadratically with AC amplitude. Above about 2 Hz, the effective resistance of the control coils exceeds that of the silver which is in electrical parallel with the oxide superconductor. These results show that twisted multifilament conductor is not needed for stable levitation but may be desired to reduce control power for sizable dynamic loads.

Brown, G. V.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Stiffness of magnetic bearings subjected to combined static and dynamic loads

This paper investigates the stiffness of a magnetic bearing that is subjected to the combined action of static and dynamic loads. Since their sum cannot exceed the saturation load, a large static load will imply that the bearing can carry only a small dynamic load. This smaller dynamic load together with the practical vibration amplitude define a practical upper bound to the dynamic stiffness. This paper also presents approximate design formulas and curves for this stiffness capacity as a function of the ratio of dynamic and static loads. In addition, it indicates that vibrations larger than a certain gap fraction can destabilize the magnetic bearing. This gap fraction, called the critical gap fraction, depends on the dynamic and static load ratio. For example, if the dynamic load is half of the static load, the use of more than 25 percent of gap can destabilize the bearing.

Rao, D. K.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Development of a vibration isolation prototype system for microgravity space experiments

The presence of small levels of low-frequency accelerations on the Space Shuttle orbiters has degraded the microgravity environment for the science community. Growing concern about this microgravity environment has generated interest in systems that can isolate microgravity science experiments from vibrations. This interest has resulted primarily in studies of isolation systems with active methods of compensation. The development of a magnetically suspended, six-degree-of-freedom active vibration isolation prototype system capable of providing the needed compensation to the orbital environment is presented. A design for the magnetic actuators is described, and the control law for the prototype system that gives a nonintrusive inertial isolation respone to the system is also described. Relative and inertial sensors are used to provide an inertial reference for isolating the payload.

Logsdon, K. A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Low frequency vibration isolation technology for microgravity space experiments

The dynamic acceleration environment observed on Space Shuttle flights to date and predicted for the Space Station has complicated the analysis of prior microgravity experiments and prompted concern for the viability of proposed space experiments requiring long-term, low-g environments. Isolation systems capable of providing significant improvements in this environment exist, but have not been demonstrated in flight configurations. This paper presents a summary of the theoretical evaluation for two one degree-of-freedom (DOF) active magnetic isolators and their predicted response to both direct and base excitations, that can be used to isolate acceleration sensitive microgravity space experiments.

Grodsinsky, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Nonlinear vibration and stability of rotating, pretwisted, preconed blades including Coriolis effects

The coupled bending-bending-torsional equations of dynamic motion of rotating, linearly pretwisted blades are derived including large precone, second degree geometric nonlinearities and Coriolis effects. The equations are solved by the Galerkin method and a linear perturbation technique. Accuracy of the present method is verified by conparisons of predicted frequencies and steady state deflections with those from MSC/NASTRAN and from experiments. Parametric results are generated to establish where inclusion of only the second degree geometric nonlinearities is adequate. The nonlinear terms causing torsional divergence in thin blades are identified. The effects of Coriolis terms and several other structurally nonlinear terms are studied, and their relative importance is examined.

Subrahmanyam, K. B.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The impact damped harmonic oscillator in free decay

The impact-damped oscillator in free decay is studied by using time history solutions. A large range of oscillator amplitude is covered. The amount of damping is correlated with the behavior of the impacting mass. There are three behavior regimes: (1) a low amplitude range with less than one impact per cycle and very low damping, (2) a useful middle amplitude range with a finite number of impacts per cycle, and (3) a high amplitude range with an infinite number of impacts per cycle and progressively decreasing damping. For light damping the impact damping in the middle range is: (1) proportional to impactor mass, (2) additive to proportional damping, (3) a unique function of vibration amplitude, (4) proportional to 1-epsilon, where epsilon is the coefficient of restitution, and (5) very roughly inversely proportional to amplitude. The system exhibits jump phenomena and period doublings. An impactor with 2 percent of the oscillator's mass can produce a loss factor near 0.1.

Brown, G. V.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The impact damped harmonic oscillator in free decay

The impact-damped oscillator in free decay is studied by using time history solutions. A large range of oscillator amplitude is covered. The amount of damping is correlated with the behavior of the impacting mass. There are three behavior regimes: (1) a low amplitude range with less than one impact per cycle and very low damping, (2) a useful middle amplitude range with a finite number of impacts per cycle, and (3) a high amplitude range with an infinite number of impacts per cycle and progressively decreasing damping. For light damping the impact damping in the middle range is: (1) proportional to impactor mass, (2) additive to proportional damping, (3) a unique function of vibration amplitude, (4) proportional to 1-epsilon, where epsilon is the coefficient of restitution, and (5) very roughly inversely proportional to amplitude. The system exhibits jump phenomena and period doublings. An impactor with 2 percent of the oscillator's mass can produce a loss factor near 0.1.

Brown, G. V.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A low-cost optical data acquisition system for vibration measurement

A low cost optical data acquisition system was designed to measure deflection of vibrating rotor blade tips. The basic principle of the new design is to record raw data, which is a set of blade arrival times, in memory and to perform all processing by software following a run. This approach yields a simple and inexpensive system with the least possible hardware. Functional elements of the system were breadboarded and operated satisfactorily during rotor simulations on the bench, and during a data collection run with a two-bladed rotor in the Lewis Research Center Spin Rig. Software was written to demonstrate the sorting and processing of data stored in the system control computer, after retrieval from the data acquisition system. The demonstration produced an accurate graphical display of deflection versus time.

Posta, S. J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Nonlinear bending-torsional vibration and stability of rotating, pretwisted, preconed blades including Coriolis effects

The coupled bending-bending-torsional equations of dynamic motion of rotating, linearly pretwisted blades are derived including large precone, second degree geometric nonlinearities and Coriolis effects. The equations are solved by the Galerkin method and a linear perturbation technique. Accuracy of the present method is verified by comparisons of predicted frequencies and steady state deflections with those from MSC/NASTRAN and from experiments. Parametric results are generated to establish where inclusion of only the second degree geometric nonlinearities is adequate. The nonlinear terms causing torsional divergence in thin blades are identified. The effects of Coriolis terms and several other structurally nonlinear terms are studied, and their relative importance is examined.

Subrahmanyam, K. B.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Lewis Research Center spin rig and its use in vibration analysis of rotating systems

The Lewis Research Center spin rig was constructed to provide experimental evaluation of analysis methods developed under the NASA Engine Structural Dynamics Program. Rotors up to 51 cm (20 in.) in diameter can be spun to 16,000 rpm in vacuum by an air motor. Vibration forcing functions are provided by shakers that apply oscillatory axial forces or transverse moments to the shaft, by a natural whirling of the shaft, and by an air jet. Blade vibration is detected by strain gages and optical blade-tip motion sensors. A variety of analogy and digital processing equipment is used to display and analyze the signals. Results obtained from two rotors are discussed. A 56-blade compressor disk was used to check proper operation of the entire spin rig system. A special two-blade rotor was designed and used to hold flat and twisted plates at various setting and sweep angles. Accurate Southwell coefficients have been obtained for several modes of a flat plate oriented parallel to the plane of rotation.

Brown, G. V.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Magnetic heat pumping

The method employs ferromagnetic or ferromagnetic elements, preferably of rare-earth based material, for example gadolinium, and preferably employs a regenerator. The steps comprise controlling the temperature and applied magnetic field of the element to cause the state of the element as represented on a temperature-magnetic entropy diagram repeatedly to traverse a loop. The loop may have a first portion of concurrent substantially isothermal or constant temperature and increasing applied magnetic field, a second portion of lowering temperature and constant applied magnetic field, a third portion of isothermal and decreasing applied magnetic field, and a fourth portion of increasing temperature and constant applied magnetic field. Other loops may be four sided, with, for example, two isotherms and two adiabats (constant entropy portions.

Brown, G. V.↗