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At least 253 records · Page 14

Shear buckling response of tailored, rectangular, composite plates

The concept of stiffness tailoring for improved shear buckling resistance of rectangular composite plates is investigated analytically. The tailoring involves only the redistribution of the given material with given orientations to create beneficial stiffening patterns across the planform of the plate. The resulting local nonuniformities in thickness and membrane and bending stiffness combine to change the buckling response of the plate. The weight and average membrane shear stiffness are essentially unaffected by the tailoring. Practical limitations on the degree to which the tailoring may be carried out are shown to govern most designs. Improvements in the shear buckling load on the order of 50 percent are shown possible with monolithic tailoring. Tailored sandwich concepts, in which a light-weight core material is added to keep both plate surfaces flat, can produce improvements well over 100 percent in specific buckling loads compared with uniform composite plates.

Biggers, Sherrill B.↗

Weaving multi-layer fabrics for reinforcement of engineering components

The performance of interlinked, multi-layer fabrics and near net shape preforms for engineering applications, woven on a 48 shaft dobby loom using glass, aramid, and carbon continuous filament yarns is assessed. The interlinking was formed using the warp yarns. Two basic types of structure were used. The first used a single warp beam and hence each of the warp yarns followed a similar path to form four layer interlinked reinforcements and preforms. In the second two warp beams were used, one for the interlinking yarns which pass from the top to the bottom layer through-the-thickness of the fabric and vice versa, and the other to provide 'straight' yarns in the body of the structure to carry the axial loading. Fabrics up to 15mm in thickness were constructed with varying amounts of through-the-thickness reinforcement. Tapered T and I sections were also woven, with the shaping produced by progressive removal of ends during construction. These fabrics and preforms were impregnated with resin and cured to form composite samples for testing. Using these two basic types of construction, the influence of reinforcement construction and the proportion and type of interlinking yarn on the performance of the composite was assessed.

Hill, B. J.↗

Wetting Characteristics of Immiscibles

Early microgravity experiments with immiscible alloys were usually carried out with the intent of forming dispersed microstructures. By processing under microgravity conditions, the main mechanism leading to gross phase separation could be eliminated. However, analysis of flight samples revealed a separated structure where the minor phase was present along the outer surface, while the major phase was present in the center. The Wetting Characteristics of Immiscibles (WCI) project, which flew aboard the USMP-4 (United States Microgravity Payload) mission in November of 1997, was designed to gain insight into the mechanisms causing segregation of these alloys. This investigation utilized an immiscible transparent organic alloy system and a transparent container in order to facilitate direct observation of the separation process. A range of immiscible alloy compositions was utilized in order to obtain variations in the minor and major phases present and observe the influence on the segregation processes. A small composition range was found where the minor liquid phase perfectly wet the cell gasket. Unexplained observations were made at the extremes of the composition range.

Andrews, J. B.↗

Polyimides and Process for Preparing Polyimides Having Thermal-Oxidative Stability

Polyimides and the process for preparing polyimides having improved thermal-oxidative stability derived from the polymerization of effective amounts of one or more of the polyamines such as the aromatic diamines, one or more of the tetracarboxylic dianhydrides and a novel dicarboxylic endcap having formula with an R1 group of either hydrogen or an alkyl radical of one to four carbons, an R2 group of either OH, NH2, F, or Cl radical, an R3 group of either H, OH, NH2, F, Cl or an alkylene radical, an R4 group of either an alkyl, aryl, aryloxy, nitro, F, or Cl radical, and/or an R5 group of either H, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, nitro, F, or Cl radical. The polyimides are useful particularly in the preparation of prepegs and PMR composites.

Meador, Mary Ann B.↗

The Influence of Interfacial Roughness on Fiber Sliding in Oxide Composites with La-Monazite Interphases

Room temperature debonding and sliding of La-Monazite coated fibers is assessed using a composite with a polycrystalline alumina matrix and fibers of several different single crystal (mullite, sapphire) and directionally solidified eutectic (Al2O3/Y3Al5O12 and Al2O3/Y-ZrO2) compositions. These fibers provide a range of residual stresses and interfacial roughnesses. Sliding occurred over a debond crack at the fiber-coating interface when the sliding displacement and surface roughness were relatively small. At large sliding displacements with relatively rough interfaces, the monazite coatings were deformed extensively by fracture, dislocations and occasional twinning, whereas the fibers were undamaged. Dense, fine-grained (10 nm) microstructures suggestive of dynamic recrystallization were also observed in the coatings. Frictional heating during sliding is assessed. The possibility of low temperature recrystallization is discussed in the light of the known resistance of monazite to radiation damage. The ability of La-Monazite to undergo plastic deformation relatively easily at low temperatures may be enabling for its use as a composite interface.

Davis, J. B.↗

Effects of Microsecond Pulse Laser Irradiation on Vis-NIR Reflectance Spectrum of Carbonaceous Chondrite Simulant: Implications for Martian Moons and Primitive Asteroids

Goal of this study is to make a progress in understanding the optical effects of space weathering on small bodies believed to be similar in composition to carbonaceous chondrites: C, G, B, F, T, D, and P asteroids and possibly Martian satellites Phobos and Deimos. The companion work focuses on petrological and mineralogical aspects of this process. One of the main factors of space weathering is meteorite and micrometeorite bombardment leading, in particular, to impact melting of components of the regolith. Studies of lunar regolith and laboratory experiments simulating impact melting show that the melting products differ from the unmelted material in mineralogy and distribution of chemical components among different phases that results in spectral changes. We simulate impact melting of CM chondrite by pulse laser irradiation of an artificial analog of such a meteorite. The analog is a mixture of 46 wt.% non-magnetic fraction of L5 ordinary chondrite Tsarev, 47 wt.% serpentine, 5 wt.% kerite, and 2 wt.% calcite. It simulates rather well bulk chemistry, including volatiles such as H2O and CO2, and only approximately the CM chondrite mineralogy. Thus, we do not expect the mixture to be spectrally similar to CM chondrites, but expect the laser melting products to be similar to those formed by impact melting of natural CM chondrites.

Hiroi, T.↗

Shelf Life of PMR Polyimide Monomer Solutions and Prepregs Extended

PMR (Polymerization of Monomeric Reactants) technology was developed in the mid-1970's at the NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field for fabricating high-temperature stable polyimide composites. This technology allowed a solution of polyimide monomers or prepreg (a fiber, such as glass or graphite, impregnated with PMR polyimide monomers) to be thermally cured without the release of volatiles that cause the formation of voids unlike the non-PMR technology used for polyimide condensation type resins. The initial PMR resin introduced as PMR 15 is still commercially available and is used worldwide by aerospace industries as the state-of-the-art resin for high-temperature polyimide composite applications. PMR 15 offers easy composite processing, excellent composite mechanical property retention, a long lifetime at use temperatures of 500 to 550 F, and relatively low cost. Later, second-generation PMR resin versions, such as PMR II 50 and VCAP 75, offer improvements in the upper-use temperature (to 700 F) and in the useful life at temperature without major compromises in processing and property retention but with significant increases in resin cost. Newer versions of nontoxic (non-methylene dianiline) PMR resins, such as BAX PMR 15, offer similar advantages as originally found for PMR 15 but also with significant increases in resin cost. Thus, the current scope of the entire PMR technology available meets a wide range of aeronautical requirements for polymer composite applications.

Alston, William B.↗

A Comparison Study: The New Extended Shelf Life Isopropyl Ester PMR Technology versus The Traditional Methyl Ester PMR Approach

Polymerization of Monomeric Reactants (PMR) monomer solutions and carbon cloth prepregs of PMR II-50 and VCAP-75 were prepared using both the traditional limited shelf life methanol based PMR approach and a novel extended shelf life isopropanol based PMR approach. The methyl ester and isopropyl ester based PMR monomer solutions and PMR prepregs were aged for up to four years at freezer and room temperatures. The aging products formed were monitored using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The composite processing flow characteristics and volatile contents of the aged prepregs were also correlated versus room temperature storage time. Composite processing cycles were developed and six ply cloth laminates were fabricated with prepregs after various extended room temperature storage times. The composites were then evaluated for glass transition temperature (Tg), thermal decomposition temperature (Td), initial flexural strength (FS) and modulus (FM), long term (1000 hours at 316 C) thermal oxidative stability (TOS), and retention of FS and FM after 1000 hours aging at 316 C. The results for each ester system were comparable. Freezer storage was found to prevent the formation of aging products for both ester systems. Room temperature storage of the novel isopropyl ester system increased PMR monomer solution and PMR prepreg shelf life by at least an order of magnitude while maintaining composite properties.

Alston, William B.↗

Subscale Test Methods for Combustion Devices

Stated goals for long-life LRE s have been between 100 and 500 cycles: 1) Inherent technical difficulty of accurately defining the transient and steady state thermochemical environments and structural response (strain); 2) Limited statistical basis on failure mechanisms and effects of design and operational variability; and 3) Very high test costs and budget-driven need to protect test hardware (aversion to test-to-failure). Ambitious goals will require development of new databases: a) Advanced materials, e.g., tailored composites with virtually unlimited property variations; b) Innovative functional designs to exploit full capabilities of advanced materials; and c) Different cycles/operations. Subscale testing is one way to address technical and budget challenges: 1) Prototype subscale combustors exposed to controlled simulated conditions; 2) Complementary to conventional laboratory specimen database development; 3) Instrumented with sensors to measure thermostructural response; and 4) Coupled with analysis

Anderson, W. E.↗

The Solar Energetic Particle Event of December 14, 2006

We report on observations of a solar energetic particle event by instruments on five different spacecraft: the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE), STEREO A and B, WIND, and GOES II. The event began with a class X1.5 .soft x-ray flare in AR930 on December 14 at 22:15 UT. At this time the two STEREO spacecraft were located outside the Earth's magnetosphere and were heading for their first lunar swing-by on December 15. The x-ray event was located on the sun at W46, a longitude which is nominally well-connected magnetically to the Earth. An interplanetary shock, associated with an earlier X3.4 event on December 13 (also from AR930), passed the Earth on December 14 at approx.13:56 (time at ACE). The corresponding magnetic cloud arrived at approx.22 UT on December 14, close to the time of the onset of the particle event associated with the X1.5 flare, and extended until approx.08 UT on December 15. The intensity of approx.14 MeV protons at STEREO A shows three dips by factors of approx.10 or more during the early stages of this event while the spacecraft was within the magnetic cloud. Similar dips are seen for protons to at least 100 MeV. In principle, these dips could have been caused by changes in the magnetic field direction with respect to the particle telescope's field of view while viewing a beamed particle distribution. However, this possibility can be ruled out because the magnetic field at the spacecraft shows no evidence of such directional variations, and similar particle intensity dips were seen by instruments on other spacecraft in the near-Earth solar wind. We shall present evidence that the dips were actually associated with varying magnetic connection to the Sun within the magnetic cloud. These dips were not observed at GOES II, suggesting they were somehow smoothed out by passage into the magnetosphere.

vonRosenvinge, T. T.↗

Marquette Island: A Distinct Mafic Lithology Discovered by Opportunity

While rolling over the Meridiani Planum sedimentary terrane, the rover Opportunity has occasionally discovered large, > 10 cm erratics. Most of these have proven to be meteorites [1], but one - Bounce Rock - is a martian basaltic rock similar in composition to the meteorite EETA79001 lithology B [2]. Presently, Opportunity is intensively investigating an --30 cm tall rock named Marquette Island that may be a distinct type of martian mafic lithology. We report the results of its continuing investigation using the Microscopic Imager (MI); Mossbauer Spectrometer (MB) and Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS). A companion abstract discusses the results of Panoramic Camera (Pancam) imaging of the rock [3].

Mittlefehldt, David W.↗

Assessing the Association Between Asthma and Air Quality in the Presence of Wildfires

Asthma hospital/emergency room (patient) data are used as the foundation for creating a health outcome indicator of human response to environmental air quality. Daily U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Air Quality System (AQS) fine particulates (PM2.5) ground data and the U.S. National Aeronautical Space Administration (NASA) MODIS aerosol optical depth (AOD) data were acquired and processed for years of 2007 and 2008. Figure 1 shows the PM2.5 annual mean composite of all the 2007 B-spline daily surfaces. Initial models for predicting the number of weekly asthma cases within a Florida county has focused on environmental variables. Weekly maximums of PM2.5, relative humidity, and the proportions of the county with smoke and fire were the environmental variables included in the model. Cosine and sine functions of time were used to account for seasonality in asthma cases. Counties were considered to be random effects, thereby adjusting for differences in socio ]demographics and other factors. The 2007 predictions for Miami ]Dade county when using B ]splines PM2.5 are displayed in Figures 2.

Young, L. J.↗

Micromechanics Fatigue Damage Analysis Modeling for Fabric Reinforced Ceramic Matrix Composites

A micromechanics analysis modeling method was developed to analyze the damage progression and fatigue failure of fabric reinforced composite structures, especially for the brittle ceramic matrix material composites. A repeating unit cell concept of fabric reinforced composites was used to represent the global composite structure. The thermal and mechanical properties of the repeating unit cell were considered as the same as those of the global composite structure. The three-phase micromechanics, the shear-lag, and the continuum fracture mechanics models were integrated with a statistical model in the repeating unit cell to predict the progressive damages and fatigue life of the composite structures. The global structure failure was defined as the loss of loading capability of the repeating unit cell, which depends on the stiffness reduction due to material slice failures and nonlinear material properties in the repeating unit cell. The present methodology is demonstrated with the analysis results evaluated through the experimental test performed with carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide matrix plain weave composite specimens.

Min, J. B.↗

Connecting Returned Apollo Soils and Remote Sensing: Application to the Diviner Lunar Radiometer

The Diviner Lunar Radiometer, onboard NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, has produced the first global, high resolution, thermal infrared observations of an airless body. The Moon, which is the most accessible member of this most abundant class of solar system objects, is also the only body for which we have extraterrestrial samples with known spatial context, returned Apollo samples. Here we present the results of a comprehensive study to reproduce an accurate simulated lunar environment, evaluate the most appropriate sample and measurement conditions, collect thermal infrared spectra of a representative suite of Apollo soils, and correlate them with Diviner observations of the lunar surface. It has been established previously that thermal infrared spectra measured in simulated lunar environment (SLE) are significantly altered from spectra measured under terrestrial or martian conditions. The data presented here were collected at the University of Oxford Simulated Lunar Environment Chamber (SLEC). In SLEC, we simulate the lunar environment by: (1) pumping the chamber to vacuum pressures (less than 10‐4 mbar) sufficient to simulate lunar heat transport processes within the sample, (2) cooling the chamber with liquid nitrogen to simulate radiation to the cold space environment, and (3) heating the samples with heaters and lamp to set‐up thermal gradients similar to those experienced in the upper hundreds of microns of the lunar surface. We then conducted a comprehensive suite of experiments using different sample preparation and heating conditions on Apollo soils 15071 (maria) and 67701 (highland) and compared the results to Diviner noontime data to select the optimal experimental conditions. This study includes thermal infrared SLE measurements of 10084 (A11 - LM), 12001 (A12 - LM), 14259 (A14 - LM), 15071 (A15 - S1), 15601 (A15 - S9a), 61141 (A16 - S1), 66031 (A16 - S6), 67701 (A16 - S11), and 70181 (A17 - LM). The Diviner dataset includes all six Apollo sites at approximately 200 m spatial resolution We find that analyses of Diviner observations of individual sampling stations and SLE measurements returned Apollo soils show good agreement, while comparisons to thermal infrared reflectance under ambient conditions do not agree well, which underscores the need for SLE measurements and validates the Diviner compositional measurement technique.

Greenhagen, B. T.↗

The Diviner Lunar Radiometer Compositional Data Products: Description and Examples

The Diviner lunar radiometer has made the first direct global measurements of silicate mineralogy of the lunar surface using multispectral thermal emission mapping. By mid-March, 2011, the first derived compositional data products (level 3) will be released into the Planetary Data System (PDS) Geosciences Node. These products describe the Diviner Science Team's best efforts to determine the position of the Christiansen feature (CF), which is directly related to silicate mineralogy of lunar soils. The initial release of these products include data from the mission's primary mapping phase between 9/17/09 and 9/16/10. This work describes at a high level the creation of Diviner's compositional data products.

Diviner Lunar Radiometer↗

NWA10758: A New CV3 Chondrite Bearing a Giant CAI with Hibonite-Rich Wark-Lovering Rim

Northwest Africa (NWA) 10758 is a newly identified carbonaceous chondrite that is a Bali-like oxidized CV3. The large Ca-Al rich inclusion (CAI) in this sample is approx. 2.4 x 1.4 cm. The CAI is transitional in composition between type A and type B, with interior mineralogy dominated by melilite, plus less abundant spinel and Al-Ti rich diopside, and only very minor anorthite (Fig. 1A). This CAI is largely free of secondary alteration in the exposed section we examined, with almost no nepheline, sodalite or Ca-Fe silicates. The Wark-Lovering (WL) rim on this CAI is dominated by hibonite, with lower abundances of spinel and perovskite, and with hibonite locally overlain by melilite plus perovskite (as in Fig. 1B). Note that the example shown in 1B is exceptional. Around most of the CAI, hibonite + spinel + perovskite form the WL rim, without overlying melilite. The WL rim can be unusually thick, ranging from approx. 20 microns up to approx. 150 microns. A well-developed, stratified accretionary rim infills embayments of the CAI, and thins over protuberances in the convoluted CAI surface.

Ross, D. K.↗