Engineering topics

Meyer, M. B.

Publications and source records attributed to Meyer, M. B..

5 records

NASA NTRS1988

Ground based materials science experiments

The facilities at the Microgravity Materials Science Laboratory (MMSL) at the Lewis Research Center, created to offer immediate and low-cost access to ground-based testing facilities for industrial, academic, and government researchers, are described. The equipment in the MMSL falls into three categories: (1) devices which emulate some aspect of low gravitational forces, (2) specialized capabilities for 1-g development and refinement of microgravity experiments, and (3) functional duplicates of flight hardware. Equipment diagrams are included.

Meyer, M. B.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Development testing of large volume water sprays for warm fog dispersal

A new brute-force method of warm fog dispersal is described. The method uses large volume recycled water sprays to create curtains of falling drops through which the fog is processed by the ambient wind and spray induced air flow. Fog droplets are removed by coalescence/rainout. The efficiency of the technique depends upon the drop size spectra in the spray, the height to which the spray can be projected, the efficiency with which fog laden air is processed through the curtain of spray, and the rate at which new fog may be formed due to temperature differences between the air and spray water. Results of a field test program, implemented to develop the data base necessary to assess the proposed method, are presented. Analytical calculations based upon the field test results indicate that this proposed method of warm fog dispersal is feasible. Even more convincingly, the technique was successfully demonstrated in the one natural fog event which occurred during the test program. Energy requirements for this technique are an order of magnitude less than those to operate a thermokinetic system. An important side benefit is the considerable emergency fire extinguishing capability it provides along the runway.

Keller, V. W.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Large volume water sprays for dispersing warm fogs

A new method for dispersing of warm fogs which impede visibility and alter schedules is described. The method uses large volume recycled water sprays to create curtains of falling drops through which the fog is processed by the ambient wind and spray-induced air flow; the fog droplets are removed by coalescence/rainout. The efficiency of this fog droplet removal process depends on the size spectra of the spray drops and optimum spray drop size is calculated as between 0.3-1.0 mm in diameter. Water spray tests were conducted in order to determine the drop size spectra and temperature response of sprays produced by commercially available fire-fighting nozzles, and nozzle array tests were utilized to study air flow patterns and the thermal properties of the overall system. The initial test data reveal that the fog-dispersal procedure is effective.

Keller, V. W.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Demonstration of a new method for dispersing warm fogs

Low visibility due to warm fog has caused costly disruptions in the case of aircraft schedules, and fog-related difficulties can arise in connection with Space Shuttle flights. As current methods of fog elimination are not entirely satisfactory, Kelley (1983) has proposed a new brute force procedure for warm fog dispersal. This procedure makes use of recycled water sprays. Fog droplets are removed by coalescence/rainout. Details regarding the involved approaches are described, and a demonstration of the method is discussed. Attention is given to tests conducted in October 1984, visual range improvement in response of water spray fog dispersal, a systematic investigation concerning a selection of firefighting nozzles, and histograms of fog droplet number concentration measured in the spray curtain outflow with a forward scattering spectrometer probe.

Keller, V. W.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Techniques for modifying airfoils and fairings on aircraft using foam and fiberglass

The concept of using foam and fiberglass reinforced plastic to modify airfoils and fairings was applied successfully to high-speed aircraft at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. An on-aircraft installation method was used to modify an F-15 wing glove and wing leading edge and an F-104 flap trailing edge in support of the Shuttle tile airload tests. A combination of methods, both an on-aircraft installation and an off-aircraft fabrication for installation on the aircraft, was used to modify a section of an F-111 supercritical wing with a natural laminar flow airfoil. Techniques, methods, problem areas, and recommendations are presented which indicate that using foam and fiberglass to modify airfoils and fairings on high-speed aircraft is a viable means of quickly developing airfoils and fairings with desired aerodynamic characteristics with little risk to the parent or carrier aircraft.

Meyer, M. B.↗