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At least 307 records · Page 17

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NASA NTRS1982

Mechanics of couple-stress fluid coatings

The formal development of a theory of viscoelastic surface fluids with bending resistance - their kinematics, dynamics, and rheology are discussed. It is relevant to the mechanics of fluid drops and jets coated by a thin layer of immiscible fluid with rather general rheology. This approach unifies the hydrodynamics of two-dimensional fluids with the mechanics of an elastic shell in the spirit of a Cosserat continuum. There are three distinct facets to the formulation of surface continuum mechanics. Outlined are the important ideas and results associated with each: the kinematics of evolving surface geometries, the conservation laws governing the mechanics of surface continua, and the rheological equations of state governing the surface stress and moment tensors.

Waxman, A. M.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Deformation and failure mechanisms of graphite/epoxy composites under static loading

The mechanisms of deformation and failure of graphite epoxy composites under static loading were clarified. The influence of moisture and temperature upon these mechanisms were also investigated. Because the longitudinal tensile properties are the most critical to the performance of the composite, these properties were investigated in detail. Both ultimate and elastic mechanical properties were investigated, but the study of mechanisms emphasized those leading to failure of the composite. The graphite epoxy composite selected for study was the system being used in several NASA sponsored flight test programs.

Clements, L. L.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Winds in late-type stars - Mechanisms of mass outflow

The four basic mechanisms that have been proposed for explaining the acceleration of winds in late-type stars are thermal pressure gradients, radiation pressure on circumstellar dust grains, momentum addition by Alfven waves, and momentum addition by periodic shock waves. Recent work in applying these mechanisms to stars is reviewed, with consideration given to whether these mechanisms can work, even in principle, and whether they are consistent with recent ultraviolet and X-ray data from the IUE and Einstein spacecraft. It is noted that thermally driven winds are likely important for late-type dwarfs, where the mass loss rates are small, and perhaps also in G giants and supergiants, but they cannot operate alone in the K and M giants and supergiants. It is thought that radiatively driven winds are probably unimportant for all cool stars, even the M supergiants with dusty circumstellar envelopes. In principle, Alfven waves can accelerate winds to high speeds so long as the field lines are initially open or forced open by some mechanism, but detailed calculations are needed. It is noted that, for the Miras and semiregular variable supergiants, periodic shock waves provide a simple way of producing rapid mass loss.

Linsky, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Phenomenological and mechanics aspects of nondestructive evaluation and characterization by sound and ultrasound of material and fracture properties

Developments in fracture mechanics and elastic wave theory enhance the understanding of many physical phenomena in a mathematical context. Available literature in the material, and fracture characterization by NDT, and the related mathematical methods in mechanics that provide fundamental underlying principles for its interpretation and evaluation are reviewed. Information on the energy release mechanism of defects and the interaction of microstructures within the material is basic in the formulation of the mechanics problems that supply guidance for nondestructive evaluation (NDE).

Fu, L. S. W.↗

NASA NTRS1983

A Chemical Kinetic Mechanism for the Ignition of Silane/Hydrogen Mixtures

A chemical kinetic reaction mechanism for the oxidation of silane/hydrogen mixtures is presented and discussed. Shock-tube ignition delay time data were used to evaluate and refine the mechanism. Good agreement between experimental results and the results predicted by the mechanism was obtained by adjusting the rate coefficient for the reaction SiH3 + O2 yields SiH2O + OH. The reaction mechanism was used to theoretically investigate the ignition characteristics of silane/hydrogen mixtures. The results revealed that over the entire range of temperature examined (800 K to 1200 K), substantial reduction in ignition delay times is obtained when silane is added to hydrogen.

Jachimowski, C. J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Securing mechanism for the deployable column of the Hoop/Column antenna

The Column Longeron Latch (CLL) was designed and developed as the securing mechanism for the deployable, telescoping column of the Hoop/Column antenna. The column is an open lattice structure with three longerons as the principal load-bearing members. It is divided into telescoping sections that are deployed after the antenna is place in Earth orbit. The CLL provides a means to automatically lock the longeron sections into position during deployment as well as a means of unlocking the sections when the antenna is to be restowed. The CLL is a four bar linkage mechanism using the over center principle for locking. It utilizes the relative movement of the longeron sections to activate the mechanism during antenna deployment and restowing. The CLL design is one of the first mechanisms developed to meet the restowing requirements of spacecraft which will utilize the STS retrieval capability.

Ahl, E. L., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1983

A nonlinear fracture mechanics approach to the growth of small cracks

An analytical model of crack closure is used to study the crack growth and closure behavior of small cracks in plates and at notches. The calculated crack opening stresses for small and large cracks, together with elastic and elastic plastic fracture mechanics analyses, are used to correlate crack growth rate data. At equivalent elastic stress intensity factor levels, calculations predict that small cracks in plates and at notches should grow faster than large cracks because the applied stress needed to open a small crack is less than that needed to open a large crack. These predictions agree with observed trends in test data. The calculations from the model also imply that many of the stress intensity factor thresholds that are developed in tests with large cracks and with load reduction schemes do not apply to the growth of small cracks. The current calculations are based upon continuum mechanics principles and, thus, some crack size and grain structure exist where the underlying fracture mechanics assumptions become invalid because of material inhomogeneity (grains, inclusions, etc.). Admittedly, much more effort is needed to develop the mechanics of a noncontinuum. Nevertheless, these results indicate the importance of crack closure in predicting the growth of small cracks from large crack data.

Newman, J. C., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Impact resistance of fiber composites: Energy absorbing mechanisms and environmental effects

Energy absorbing mechanisms were identified by several approaches. The energy absorbing mechanisms considered are those in unidirectional composite beams subjected to impact. The approaches used include: mechanic models, statistical models, transient finite element analysis, and simple beam theory. Predicted results are correlated with experimental data from Charpy impact tests. The environmental effects on impact resistance are evaluated. Working definitions for energy absorbing and energy releasing mechanisms are proposed and a dynamic fracture progression is outlined. Possible generalizations to angle-plied laminates are described.

Chamis, C. C.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Toughening mechanism in elastomer-modified epoxy resins, part 2

The role of matrix ductility on the toughenability and toughening mechanism of elastomer-modified DGEBRA epoxies was investigated. Matrix ductility was varied by using epoxide resins of varying epoxide monomer molecular weights. These epoxide resins were cured using 4,4' diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS) and, in some cases, modified with 10% HYCAR(r)CTBN 1300X8. Fracture roughness values for the neat epoxies were found to be almost independent on the monomer molecular weight of the epoxide resin used. However, it was found that the fracture toughness of the elastomer-modified epoxies was very dependent upon the epoxide monomer molecular weight. Tensile dilatometry indicated that the toughening mechanism, when present, is similar to the mechanisms found for the piperidine cured epoxies in Part 1. SEM and OM corroborate this finding. Dynamic mechanical studies were conducted to shed light on the toughenability of the epoxies. The time-dependent small strain behavior of these epoxies were separated into their bulk and shear components. The bulk component is related to brittle fracture, whereas the shear component is related to yielding. It can be shown that the rates of shear and bulk strain energy buildup for a given stress are uniquely determined by the values of Poisson's ratio, nu. It was found that nu increases as the monomer molecular weight of the epoxide resin used increases. This increase in nu can be associated with the low temperature beta relaxation. The effect of increasing cross-link density is to shift the beta relaxation to higher temperatures and to decrease the magnitude of the beta relaxation. Thus, increasing cross-link density decreases nu and increases the tendency towards brittle fracture.

Yee, A. F.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The mechanisms of flame holding in the wake of a bluff body

The flame holding mechanism for lean methane- and lean propane-air flames is examined under conditions where the recirculation zone is absent. The main objective of this work is to study the holding process in detail in an attempt to determine the mechanism of flame holding and also the conditions where this mechanism is viable and when it fails and blow-off occurs. Inverted flames held in the wake of a flat strip were studied. Experiments with different sizes of flame holders were performed. The velocity flow field was determined using a laser Doppler velocimetry technique. Equation of continuity was used to calculate the flame temperature from the change in area of flow streamlines before and after the flame. Observations of the inverted flame itself were obtained using schlieren and direct photography. Results show that there are different mechanisms operative at the time of blow-off for lean propane and methane flames. Blow-off or extinction occurs for lean propane-air flame in spite of the reaction going to completion and the disparity between the heat loss and the gain in mass diffusion in the reaction zone i.e., Le 1.0 causes the flame to blow-off. For methane-air flame the controlling factor or blow-off is incomplete reaction due to higher blowing rate leading to reduced residence time in the reaction zone.

Strehlow, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1984

An Excitation Mechanism for Solar 5-minute Oscillations of Intermediate and High Degree

The overstability of acoustic modes trapped in the solar convection zone is studied with mechanical and thermal effects of turbulence included, in an approximate manner, through the eddy transport coefficients. Many of these acoustic modes are found to be overstable with the most rapidly growing modes occupying a region centered around 3.2 mHz and spread over a wide range of length-scales. The numerical results are in reasonable accord with the observed power-spectrum of the five-minute oscillations of intermediate and high degree. The oscillations are probably driven by a simultaneous operation of the kappa-mechanism and the turbulent conduction (convective Cowling) mechanism, the dominant contribution to the generation of self-excited acoustic waves arising from the convective Cowling mechanism.

Antia, H. M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Mechanical protection of DLC films on fused silica slides

Measurements were made with a new test for improved quantitative estimation of the mechanical protection of thin films on optical materials. The mechanical damage was induced by a sand blasting system using spherical glass beads. Development of the surface damage was measured by the changes in the specular transmission and reflection, and by inspection using a surface profilometer and a scanning electron microscope. The changes in the transmittance versus the duration of sand blasting was measured for uncoated fused silica slides and coated ones. It was determined that the diamond like carbon films double the useful optical lifetime of the fused silica. Theoretical expressions were developed to describe the stages in surface deterioration. Conclusions were obtained for the SiO2 surface mechanism and for the film removal mechanism.

Nir, D.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Coronal heating by resonant (A.C.) and nonresonant (D.C.) mechanisms

The solar coronal heating studies of Ionson (1984) and Heyvaerts and Priest (1984) invoke categorically different mechanisms involving the generation of ac currents, in the case of resonant mechanisms, and dc currents, in the case of nonresonant ones. Attention is presently given to Heyvaerts and Priest's finding that dc heating mechanisms are represented by the m = 0 harmonic of Ionson's unified theory of coronal heating, which is here extended to include all excitation harmonics, including m = 0. The efficiency of dc mechanisms is severely limited by the constraint that the dissipation time be comparable to the correlation time of the convective driver and smaller than the magnetic flux leakage time, suggesting for the solar case that dc processes dominate heating in young, active region loops, while ac ones dominate heating in both active region and large scale loops.

Ionson, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Impact resistance of fiber composites - Energy-absorbing mechanisms and environmental effects

Chamis, C. C.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Structure-to-property Relationships in Addition Cured Polymers 2: Resin Tg Composite Initial Mechanical Properties of Norbornenyl Cured Polyimide Resins

PRM (polymerization of monomeric reactants) methodology was used to prepare thirty different polyimide oligomeric resins. Monomeric composition as well as chain length between sites of crosslinks were varied to examine their effects on glass transition temperature (Tg) of the cured/postcured resins. An almost linear correlation of Tg versus molecular distance between the crosslinks was observed. An attempt was made to correlate Tg with initial mechanical properties (flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength) of unidirectional graphite fiber composites prepared with these resins. However, the scatter in mechanical strength data prevented obtaining as clear a correlation as was observed for the structural modification/crosslink distance versus Tg. Instead, only a range of composite mechanical properties was obtained at the test temperatures studied (room temperature, 288 and 316 C). Perhaps more importantly, what did become apparent during the attempted correlation study was: (1) that PMR methodology could be used to prepare composites from resins that contain a wide variety of monomer modifications, and (2) that these composites almost invariably provided satisfactory initial mechanical properties as long as the resins selected were melt processable.

Alston, W. B.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Fully redundant mechanical release actuator

A system is described for performing a mechanical release function exhibiting low shock. This system includes two pyrotechnic detents fixed mounted in opposing axial alignment within a cylindrical housing having two mechanical bellows. Two mechanical bellow assemblies, each having one end hermetically bonded to the housing and the other to the respective actuator pin extending from either end of the housing, ensure that all outgassing and contamination from the operation of the pyrotechnic devices will be contained within the housing and bellows. The pin on one end of the assembly is fixed mounted and supported, via a bolt or ball-and-socket joint so that when the charge corresponding to that pin ignites, the entire assembly will exhibit rectilinear movement, including the opposing pin providing the unlatching motion. The release detent pin is supported by a linear bearing and when its corresponding pyrotechnic charge ignites the pin is retracted within the housing producing the same unlatching motion without movement of the entire assembly, thus providing complete mechanical, electrical and pyrotechnic redundancy for the unlatching pin.

Lucy, Melvin H.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Quantitative modeling of the 'convection surge' mechanism of ion acceleration

To explore the properties of the 'convection surge' mechanism postulated by Quinn and Southwood (1982), a quantitative computer model of the mechanism is constructed. The model incorporates the dipolarization of the field line shapes as well as the results of recent transient electric field measurements by the AST-6 satellite. The computer model numerically integrates the equations of motion of ensembles of ions populating a single flux tube that goes through the convection surge or 'dipolarization' transformation. The numerical results confirm that the mechanism easily generates the bounce-phase-bunched ion distributions in question, and show that the convection surge can generate dramatically field-aligned ion distributions. It is hypothesized that the convection surge mechanism is fundamentally associated with the processes responsible for transporting tail ion populations to the geosynchronous regions of the earth's magnetosphere.

Mauk, B. H.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Testing techniques for mechanical characterization of rapidly solidified materials

Mechanical property testing techniques are reviewed for rapidly solidified materials. Mechanical testing of rapidly solidified materials is complicated by the fact that in most cases at least one dimension of the material is very small (less than 100 microns). For some geometries, i.e., powder or thin surface layers, microhardness is the only feasible mechanical test. The ribbon geometry which is obtained by the melt-spinning method, however, has been used for a variety of mechanical property measurements including elastic properties, tensile properties, fracture toughness, creep, and fatigue. These techniques are described with emphasis placed on the precautions required by the restricted geometry of rapidly solidified specimens.

Koch, C. C.↗