Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Moore, D. M..
In an interferometer, an Optical Delay Line(ODL) must be able to inject a commanded pathlength change in incoming starlight as it proceeds from a collecting aperture to the beam combiner.
The design and development of a zero stiction active member containing piezoelectric and electrostrictive actuator motors is presented. The active member is intended for use in submicron control of structures. Experimental results are shown which illustrate actuator and device characteristics relevant to precision control applications.
Attaching device combines fast connection and disconnection with high strength. T-shaped stud engages groove in receptacle after one-quarter turn. Further turning tightens nut on receptacle. Like quarter-turn attaching devices, connected and disconnected quickly. Like threaded devices, adjusted to desired preload, withstand high loads, and accommodate wide range of grip lengths.
Package for germanium gamma-ray detector protects semiconductor crystal from contamination, allows it to operate at high voltages, and isolates from shock and vibration. Package seals detector from its surroundings, whether in atmosphere or in vacuum of space. Main parts of package made of aluminum. Cover sealed to base by soft aluminum ring.
The reduction of life expectancy by thermal cycling calculated during design. Connections between solar cells critical parts of solarcell arrays generating electric power. Reliability affects life expectancy of modules, panels, and arrays. Used to predict stress-cycle lifetimes of such structures as arches, walkways, cylindrical ribbing of aircraft fuselages and submarine hulls, and pipeline expansion loops. Testing costs reduced by about 90 percent.
Useful solar cell interconnect reliability design and life prediction algorithms are presented, together with experimental data indicating that the classical strain cycle (fatigue) curve for the interconnect material does not account for the statistical scatter that is required in reliability predictions. This shortcoming is presently addressed by fitting a functional form to experimental cumulative interconnect failure rate data, which thereby yields statistical fatigue curves enabling not only the prediction of cumulative interconnect failures during the design life of an array field, but also the quantitative interpretation of data from accelerated thermal cycling tests. Optimal interconnect cost reliability design algorithms are also derived which may allow the minimization of energy cost over the design life of the array field.
The 1982 milestones and lessons learned; performance in 1983; a typical day's operation; collector field performance and thermal losses; and formal testing are highlighted. An initial test that involves characterizing the high temperature storage (hts) subsystem is emphasized. The primary element is on 11,000 gallon storage tank that provides energy to the steam generator during transient solar conditions or extends operating time. Overnight, thermal losses were analyzed. The length of time the system is operated at various levels of cogeneration using stored energy is reviewed.
Analytical method determines probability of failure of rectangular glass plates subjected to uniformly distributed loads such as those from wind, earthquake, snow, and deadweight. Developed as aid in design of protective glass covers for solar-cell arrays and solar collectors, method is also useful in estimating the reliability of large windows in buildings exposed to high winds and is adapted to nonlinear stress analysis of simply supported plates of any elastic material.
The results of comprehensive investigation of interconnect fatigue that has led to the definition of useful reliability-design and life-prediction algorithms are presented. Experimental data indicate that the classical strain-cycle (fatigue) curve for the interconnect material is a good model of mean interconnect fatigue performance, but it fails to account for the broad statistical scatter, which is critical to reliability prediction. To fill this shortcoming the classical fatigue curve is combined with experimental cumulative interconnect failure rate data to yield statistical fatigue curves (having failure probability as a parameter) which enable (1) the prediction of cumulative interconnect failures during the design life of an array field, and (2) the unambiguous--ie., quantitative--interpretation of data from field-service qualification (accelerated thermal cycling) tests. Optimal interconnect cost-reliability design algorithms are derived based on minimizing the cost of energy over the design life of the array field.
An analytical method was developed for determining the minimum thickness for simply supported, rectangular glass plates subjected to uniform normal pressure environmental loads such as wind, earthquake, snow, and deadweight. The method consists of comparing an analytical prediction of the stress in the glass panel to a glass breakage stress determined from fracture mechanics considerations. Based on extensive analysis using the nonlinear finite element structural analysis program ARGUS, design curves for the structural analysis of simply supported rectangular plates were developed. These curves yield the center deflection, center stress and corner stress as a function of a dimensionless parameter describing the load intensity. A method of estimating the glass breakage stress as a function of a specified failure rate, degree of glass temper, design life, load duration time, and panel size is also presented.
Conical antenna reflectors using knitted mesh materials for aluminized film eliminate problem areas in thermal distortion and long term stability when film is subjected to ultraviolet radiation. Meshes may be selected from wide selection of yarns to form mesh membrane.
An investigation was made to demonstrate that a 5-meter-diameter, furlable, conical reflector antenna utilizing a line source feed can be fabricated utilizing composite materials and to prove that the antenna can function mechanically and electrically as prototype flight hardware. The design, analysis, and testing of the antenna are described. An RF efficiency of 55% at 8.5 GHz and a surface error of 0.64 mm rms were chosen as basic design requirements. Actual test measurements yielded an efficiency of 53% (49.77 dB gain) and a surface error of 0.61 mm rms. Atmospherically induced corrosion of the reflector mesh resulted in the RF performance degradation. An assessment of the antenna as compared to the current state of the art technology was made. This assessment included cost, surface accuracy and RF performance, structural and mechanical characteristics, and possible applications.
A description is given of a 3.66 m diameter nonfurlable conical mesh antenna incorporating the line source feed principle recently developed. The weight of the mesh reflector and its support structure is 162 N. An area weighted RMS surface deviation of 0.28 mm was obtained. The RF performance measurements show a gain of 48.3 db at 8.448 GHz corresponding to an efficiency of 66%. During the design and development of this antenna, the technology for fabricating the large conical membranes of knitted mesh was developed. As part of this technology a FORTRAN computer program, COMESH, was developed which permits the user to predict the surface accuracy of a stretched conical membrane.