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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.

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At least 217 records · Page 12

High-throughput quantification of quasistatic, dynamic and spall strength of materials across 10 orders of strain rates

Abstract The response of metals and their microstructures under extreme dynamic conditions can be markedly different from that under quasistatic conditions. Traditionally, high strain rates and shock stresses are achieved using cumbersome and expensive methods such as the Kolsky bar or large spall experiments. These methods are low throughput and do not facilitate high-fidelity microstructure–property linkages. In this work, we combine two powerful small-scale testing methods, custom nanoindentation, and laser-driven microflyer (LDMF) shock, to measure the dynamic and spall strength of metals. The nanoindentation system is configured to test samples from quasistatic to dynamic strain-rate regimes. The LDMF shock system can test samples through impact loading, triggering spall failure. The model material used for testing is magnesium alloys, which are lightweight, possess high-specific strengths, and have historically been challenging to design and strengthen due to their mechanical anisotropy. We adopt two distinct microstructures, solutionized (no precipitates) and peak-aged (with precipitates) to demonstrate interesting upticks in strain-rate sensitivity and evolution of dynamic strength. At high shock-loading rates, we unravel an interesting paradigm where the spall strength vs. strain rate of these materials converges, but the failure mechanisms are markedly different. Peak aging, considered to be a standard method to strengthen metallic alloys, causes catastrophic failure, faring much worse than solutionized alloys. Our high-throughput testing framework not only quantifies strength but also teases out unexplored failure mechanisms at extreme strain rates, providing valuable insights for the rapid design and improvement of materials for extreme environments.

Eswarappa Prameela, Suhas (ORCID:0000000334530184)↗

Vibration and acoustic testing of spacecraft

Spacecraft are subjected to a variety of dynamics environments, which may include: quasi-static, vibration and acoustic loads at launch: pyrotechnic shocks generated by separation mechanisms; on orbit jitter; and sometimes, planetary landing loads. There is a trend in the aerospace industry to rely more on structural analyses and less on testing to simulate these environments, because dynamics testing of spacecraft is time consuming, risky and expensive.

vibration acoustics spacecraft↗

Thermal Data-driven Model Reduction for Enhanced Battery Health Monitoring

Electric aviation faces a major challenge of avoiding potentially catastrophic consequences of the battery’s thermal runaway while keeping the weight of the battery low. Detection of early warning signals of battery failures requires accurate monitoring of the battery’s health throughout its lifespan. However, identifying the parameters of the battery from field data is notoriously difficult. We investigate this problem within the framework of modeling the temperature dynamics of a Li-ion cell during tests simulating loading in electric aircraft flights. It is found that the parameters of a higher-fidelity physics-based thermal model cannot be identified from the simulated flight data. To resolve this issue, we reduce the higher-fidelity thermal model to a model with fewer parameters. The resulting reduced-order model can predict temperature dynamics accurately and is identifiable throughout the cell’s lifespan which allows using the model’s parameters to monitor the state-of-health of the aging cell and detect anomalies in thermal behavior.

Li ion batteries↗

Calculation of Dynamic Loads Due to Random Vibration Environments in Rocket Engine Systems

An important part of rocket engine design is the calculation of random dynamic loads resulting from internal engine "self-induced" sources. These loads are random in nature and can greatly influence the weight of many engine components. Several methodologies for calculating random loads are discussed and then compared to test results using a dynamic testbed consisting of a 60K thrust engine. The engine was tested in a free-free condition with known random force inputs from shakers attached to three locations near the main noise sources on the engine. Accelerations and strains were measured at several critical locations on the engines and then compared to the analytical results using two different random response methodologies.

Christensen, Eric R.↗

Load and dynamic assessment of B-52B-008 carrier aircraft for finned configuration 1 space shuttle solid rocket booster decelerator subsystem drop test vehicle. Volume 1: Summary

The B-52B airplane was identified for use in solid rocket booster (RSB) parachute drop flight testing. The purpose of this study was to determine by theoretical analysis methods the compatability and structural capability of B-52B drop test vehicle configuration (with fins) to accomplish the drop test mission. This document consist of four volumes. This volume presents a summary of airplane flutter and load strength evaluation analysis results and a comparative study of the pylon loading resulting from drop test vehicle inertia and aerodynamic considerations.

Quade, D. A.↗

The investigation of vertebral injury sustained during aircrew ejection

A series of tests were performed on excised human vertebral segments to determine the static and dynamic response of the thoraco-lumbar spine when loaded in flexion. A total of fifteen tests were performed on eleven specimens. Specimens were obtained from male donors ranging in age from 34 to 60 years. Demographic data pertinent to each specimen and the elapsed time between death of the donor and testing of each corresponding specimen are presented. Only spinal segments comprised of lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae were tested because in aircraft ejection injuries clinical complications in this anatomical region predominate. A complex continuum mathematical model describing the dynamic response of the human spine was formulated, solved, and verified experimentally. Detailed results are presented in figures, tables, and equations.

Benedict, J. V.↗

Powerpack Testing of the J2-X Oxidizer Turbopump

The J-2X PPA-2 (Powerpack 2) test series was conducted from February through December 2012 on the A1 test stand at NASA Stennis Space Center in a joint effort between Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR) and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). The series consisted of 13 tests for a total hotfire duration close to 6500 seconds. Among the chief test objectives was characterization of the capabilities of the new J-2X turbopumps. This paper concentrates on the test results pertaining specifically to the Oxidizer Turbopump (OTP) operation in liquid oxygen (LOX). The two bladed inducer configuration that was tested had a 0.81% blade height tip clearance and incorporated the B-groove modification to the inducer tunnel outboard of the inducer leading edge. Data was collected on inducer suction performance, pump radial loading, and the pump dynamic environment in LOX. Comparisons were made to prior data collected on two geometrically similar subscale inducers tested in water at NASA MSFC (70% scale) and Concepts NREC (52% scale). In overview, the results of the powerpack testing were consistent with the radial load assessment from the water tests. The inducer performed differently in the other two categories, however. The inducer suction performance capability in LOX was notably improved. This was expected and is probably attributable to thermal suppression head (TSH) effects. While the dynamic environment was similar in most aspects to water test observations, the higher order cavitation (HOC) during the powerpack testing was much more benign.

Jambusaria, Mitul↗

Operating Deflection Shapes for the Space Shuttle Partial Stack Rollout

In November of 2003 a rollout test was performed to gain a better understanding of the dynamic environment for the Space Shuttle during transportation from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad. This was part of a study evaluating the methodology for including the rollout dynamic loads in the Space Shuttle fatigue life predictions. The rollout test was conducted with a partial stack consisting of the Crawler Transporter, Mobile Launch Platform, and the Solid Rocket Boosters with an interconnecting crossbeam. Instrumentation included over 100 accelerometers. Data was recorded for steady state speeds, start-ups and stops, and ambient wind excitations with the vehicle at idle. This paper will describe the operating deflection shape analysis performed using the measured acceleration response data. The response data for the steady state speed runs were dominated by harmonics of the forcing frequencies, which were proportional to the vehicle speed. Assuming a broadband excitation for the wind, analyses of the data sets with the vehicle at idle were used to estimate the natural frequencies and corresponding mode shapes. Comparisons of the measured modal properties with numerical predictions are presented.

Buehrle, Ralph D.↗

Simulation of Heavy Lift Airship dynamics over large ranges of incidence and speed

A nonlinear, multibody, six-degrees-of-freedom digital simulation has been developed to study generic Heavy Lift Airship (HLA) dynamics and control. The basic aerodynamic functions developed to model the hull, tail, and rotor loads continuously over all incidence ranges are reviewed and applied to a Quadrotor HLA with a low fineness ratio hull and a small vee-tail. Trim calculations for a test vehicle suggest control power deficiencies in crosswind stationkeeping for the unloaded vehicle. Gust responses show the importance of correctly calculating loads due to accelerated relative motion of air and hull. Numerically linearized dynamics for the test vehicle show the existence of a divergent yaw mode, and an oscillatory pitch mode whose stability characteristics are sensitive to flight speed. A considerable improvement in the vehicle's stability and response results from a simple multi-axis closed-loop control system operating on the rotors and propeller blades.

Tischler, M. B.↗

Inrush Current Mitigation for Grid-Forming Inverters in Islanded Microgrids

Virtual-inertia and droop control methods are commonly used for grid-forming inverters. While the virtual inertia is used to emulate the equation of motion/frequency, if the inverter output voltage is emulated as in synchronous generators, then the method is known as the virtual synchronous generator. An inductive pulse-load, e.g., a relatively large induction motor, connection to a microgrid fed only by grid-forming inverters may lead to blackout due to high inrush currents. This article presents virtual reactance techniques to mitigate the inrush current effects and enhance the inverter’s robustness for the safe connection of inductive and dynamic loads. This article also compares the virtual inertia and droop control methods under switching inductive-dynamic loads while the proposed techniques are implemented. Experimental tests are performed considering the linear and nonlinear virtual reactance techniques, and the findings are discussed. The mitigation significantly suppresses the inrush currents while the inverters can perform a normal operation. Furthermore, the frequency and power response of the virtual inertia control with different inertia settings to a sudden change in the load is analyzed. The virtual reactance technique is tested in a laboratory-scale hardware setup of a 208V microgrid fed by 5kVA and 10kVA inverters, and the results are presented in this article.

Gursoy, Mehmetcan↗

Design, fabrication, and test of a Graphite/Epoxy Metering Shell (GEMS)

A program to design, fabricate and test a dimensionally stable metering structure in support of the large space telescope (LST) program is discussed. Graphite/epoxy was the material selected as the only viable candidate material which can meet the stringent thermal expansion criteria of the LST. A metering shell was designed and fabricated, with emphasis on dimensional stability in conjunction with low cost. Thermal expansion test coupons extracted from the layups of the skin panels indicated the attainment of a coefficient of thermal expansion of 0.0666 micrometers/m K. Subsequent thermal vacuum chamber tests on the complete metering shell demonstrated an expansion of the 2.95-meter overall length of 0.27 micrometers/K. Static and dynamics tests, which demonstrated adequacy with respect to limit loads and stiffness, were also accomplished.

Source record↗

Nondestructive Technique To Assess Embrittlement In Steels

Recent research at NASA Langley Research Center led to identification of nondestructive technique for detection of temper embrittlement in HY80 steel. Measures magnetoacoustic emission associated with reversible motion of domain walls at low magnetic fields. Of interest to engineers responsible for reliability and safety of various dynamically loaded and/or thermally cycled steel parts. Applications include testing of landing gears, naval vessels, and parts subjected to heat, such as those found in steam-pipe fittings, boilers, turbine rotors, and nuclear pressure vessels.

Allison, Sidney G.↗

Thermal Fatigue and Fracture Behavior of Ceramic Thermal Barrier Coatings

Thermal fatigue and fracture behavior of plasma-sprayed ceramic thermal barrier coatings has been investigated under high heat flux and thermal cyclic conditions. The coating crack propagation is studied under laser heat flux cyclic thermal loading, and is correlated with dynamic fatigue and strength test results. The coating stress response and inelasticity, fatigue and creep interactions, and interface damage mechanisms during dynamic thermal fatigue processes are emphasized.

Zhu, Dong-Ming↗

Mechanical Design of a Performance Test Rig for the Turbine Air-Flow Task (TAFT)

To support development of the Boeing-Rocketdyne RS84 rocket engine, a fill-flow, reaction turbine geometry was integrated into the NASA-MSFC turbine air-flow test facility. A mechanical design was generated which minimized the amount of new hardware while incorporating all test and instrUmentation requirements. This paper provides details of the mechanical design for this Turbine Air-Flow Task (TAFT) test rig. The mechanical design process utilized for this task included the following basic stages: Conceptual Design. Preliminary Design. Detailed Design. Baseline of Design (including Configuration Control and Drawing Revision). Fabrication. Assembly. During the design process, many lessons were learned that should benefit future test rig design projects. Of primary importance are well-defined requirements early in the design process, a thorough detailed design package, and effective communication with both the customer and the fabrication contractors. The test rig provided steady and unsteady pressure data necessary to validate the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code. The rig also helped characterize the turbine blade loading conditions. Test and CFD analysis results are to be presented in another JANNAF paper.

Xenofos, George↗

iLIDS Simulations and Videos for Docking TIM

The video shows various aspects of the International Low Impact Docking System, including team members, some production, configuration, mated androgynous iLIDS, SCS Lockdown system, thermal analysis, electrical engineering aspects, the iLIDS control box and emulator, radiation testing at BNL, component environmental testing, component vibration testing, 3G processor board delivery system, GTA vibe test, EMA testbed, hook and hook disassembly, flex shaftdrive assembly, GSE cradle MISSE-6 Columbus, MISSE 6 and 7 seal experiments, actuated full scale seal test rig, LIDS on Hubble, dynamics test prep, EDU 54 mass emulation and SCS, load ring characterization, 6DOF proof test, SCS at 6DOF, machining EEMS and inner ring assembly, APAS assembly, inner ring fitting, rotation stand assembly, EEMS mating, and EEMS proof of concept demonstration.

Lewis, James L.↗

Distribution of SLS Integrated Load Uncertainty to Surface Pressures and Sectional Loads

Aerodynamic loads that are important to launch vehicle programs such as NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) include both integrated loads such as the force & moment on the entire vehicle and distributed loads. In this work two examples of distributed loads are considered: the pressure field on the surface of the vehicle and sectional loads, which are one-dimensional distributions along the axis of the launch vehicle. In some modern flight programs, the integrated loads, such as lift and drag, used to design the guidance and control laws for the vehicle come from wind tunnel testing, while distributed loads are produced using Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD). The first task that is addressed in this paper, then, is to provide a formal method to adjust the distributed loads so that integrating them matches the prescribed integrated load. In addition, the integrated loads in a launch vehicle typically include an uncertainty estimate. The second task is to distribute this prescribed integrated uncertainty to each point in a distributed load. Both tasks are addressed using the same technique, which is to create distributed load profiles that isolate adjustments to one integrated load while leaving the others unaffected. These adjustments are informed by Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) of the entire CFD-based distributed load database. Once applied, the adjusted distributed loads can be used to evaluate any scalar quantity of interest that might be needed by downstream users such as structural analysis or trajectory modelers.

SLS↗