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At least 343 records · Page 19

Thermomechanical effects in high-speed seal rubs

The analytical effort was aimed at development of numerical model of thermal and mechanical phenomena which occur during seal rub. Finite element programs were develped for studying the temperatures that result from frictional heating during rubs, and the plastic deformation which is caused by rub forces. The experiment phase was originally intended to aid in verification of the results of the analytical model. Experimental techniques were developed for measuring surface temperatures and deformations during single pass rubs. Modifications were made to the device to permit testing at both high and cryogenic temperatures. The results from the experiments are discussed.

Kennedy, Francis E., Jr.↗

Numerical models of thermally and mechanically coupled two-layer convection of highly viscous fluids

Thermal convection in the earth mantle is investigated by means of numerical simulations. The mantle models comprise two horizontal layers of viscous incompressible fluid (with identical or differing properties) separated by a fixed horizontal interface; an isothermal, fixed-heat-flux, or insulating lower boundary; and heat supplied either from below or internally (in the lower layer only, equally in both layers, or primarily in the upper layer). The mathematical formulation of the models is explained, and results for linear stability and finite-amplitude convection are presented in extensive tables and graphs and discussed in detail. Particular attention is given to the presence of thermal coupling without interface distortion in many cases, the predominance of long-wavelength cells in the finite-amplitude models, and the large (50 percent) temperature difference across the interface in all cases.

Ellsworth, Kirk↗

Electromagnetic axisymmetric finite elements based on a gauged four-potential variational principle

Electromagnetic finite elements are derived based on a variational principle that uses the electromagnetic four-potential as a primary variable. The Lorentz gage normalization is incorporated as a constraint condition through a Lagrange multiplier field to construct elements suitable for downstream coupling with mechanical and thermal finite elements for the analysis of high-temperature superconductor devices with aerospace applications. The main advantages are: jump discontinuities on interfaces are naturally handled; no a priori approximations are invoked; and the number of degrees of freedom per node remains modest as the problem dimensionality increases. The new elements are tested on two magnetostatic axisymmetric problems. The results are in excellent agreement with analytical solutions and previous solutions for the 1D problem of a conducting infinite wire, in which case the multiplier field has no effect. For materials of widely different permeability, jump conditions are naturally accommodated by the present formulation.

Schuler, J.↗

Solution strategies and heat transfer calculations for three-dimensional configurations at hypersonic speeds

A procedure which reduces the memory requirements for computing the viscous flow over a modified Orbiter geometry at a hypersonic flight condition is presented. The Langley Aerothermodynamic Upwind Relaxation Algorithm (LAURA) code which incorporates a thermochemical nonequilibrium chemistry model, a finite rate catalytic wall boundary condition and wall temperature distribution based on radiation equilibrium is used in this study. In addition, the effect of choice of 'min mod' function, eigenvalue limiter and grid density on surface heating is investigated. The surface heating from a flowfield calculation at Mach number 22, altitude of 230,000 ft and 40 deg angle of attack is compared with flight data from three Orbiter flights.

Weilmuenster, K. J.↗

Thermal and dynamical regimes of single- and two-phase magmatic flow in dikes

The coupling between thermal and dynamical regimes of single- and two-phase magmatic flow in dikes, due to temperature-dependent viscosity and dissipation, was investigated using finite element calculations of magma flow in dikelike channels with length-to-width ratios of 1000:1 or more. Solutions of the steady state equations governing magma flow are obtained for a variety of conditions ranging from idealized plane-parallel models to cases involving nonparallel geometry and two-phase flows. The implications of the numerical simulations for the dynamics of flow in a dike-reservoir system and the consequences of dike entrance conditions on magmatic storage are discussed. Consideration is also given to an unmixing/self-lubrication mechanism which may be important for the lubrication of silicic magmas rising to the earth's surface in mixed magma ascent scenarios, which naturally segregates magma mixtures of two components with differing viscosities to minimize the driving pressure gradient.

Carrigan, Charles R.↗

Analysis Supporting MSFC Cryostat Testing Unit

This report summarizes the results obtained from an analysis of the NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center (MSFC) cryostat testing unit. A finite element model was generated to determine both temperature distribution and stress distribution in the cryostat testing unit for load conditions supplied by MSFC. This report contains the results of that analysis.

Foster, Winfred A., Jr.↗

Analysis of Aerothermal Heating Over Reusable Single-Stage to Orbit Vehicles

Using the General Aerodynamic Simulation Program (GASP) with finite-rate surface catalysis and radiative equilibrium surface temperature conditions, a computational study has been conducted to predict three-dimensional aero-convective heating over the proposed reusable single-stage to orbit vehicles. The solutions for three basic classes of usable single-stage-to-orbit vehicles, including wing body, lifting body and vertical lander, are presented and compared to provide information for vehicle design. The free stream conditions used in this study occur at an altitude of 57.5 km, ambient density of 4.129e-4 kg/cubic m, and velocity of 4,849 m/s. The convective heating over the vehicle surface in both laminar and turbulent flow regimes were computed. The Baldwin-Lomax algebraic model with a modified van Driest damping factor was applied in the turbulent flow calculations. A bifurcation model which guarantees the conservation of mass diffusive fluxes was adopted to account for the multi-species mass diffusion. The effects of turbulence and surface catalysis on the surface heating are discussed in detail The solutions indicate the degree of oxygen dissociation over the leeward side is sensitive to the shape of vehicle body. Predicted convective heating over the entire surface of lifting body is strongly affected by the presence of surface catalysis. For wing body and vertical lander, the surface catalysis effect does not appear to be important in the far downstream region, and turbulence is the dominant effect on the heating prediction in this region.

Chen, Y. K.↗

Ozone Measurements and a 3D Chemical Transport Model

We have used our three-dimensional chemical transport model (CTM) to calculate the expected reponse of stratospheric composition over the past 30 years to forcing by chlorine and bromine compounds, solar ultraviolet, and volcanic aerosols. The CTM uses off-line winds and temperatures fiom a 50-year run of the finite volume general circulation model (FVGCM). We compare the total column ozone and the ozone profile fiom the CTM output to a variety of data sources. These include a merged total ozone data set from TOMS and SBUV using the new version 8 algorithm. Total ozone fiom the CTM are compared to ground-station measurements of total ozone at specific locations. Ozone profiles are compared to satellite meausrements fiom SBUV, SAGE, and HALOE. Profiles are also compared to ozonesondes over several locations. The results of the comparisons are quantified by using a time-series statistical analysis to determine trends, solar cycle, and volcanic reponse in both the model and in the data. Initial results indicate that the model responds to forcings in a way that is similar to the observed atmospheric response. The model does seem to be more sensitive to the chlorine and bromine perturbation ihan is the data. Further details and comparisons wiii be discussed.

Stolarski, Richard S.↗

Award-Winning CARES/Life Ceramics Durability Evaluation Software Is Making Advanced Technology Accessible

Products made from advanced ceramics show great promise for revolutionizing aerospace and terrestrial propulsion and power generation. However, ceramic components are difficult to design because brittle materials in general have widely varying strength values. The CARES/Life software developed at the NASA Lewis Research Center eases this by providing a tool that uses probabilistic reliability analysis techniques to optimize the design and manufacture of brittle material components. CARES/Life is an integrated package that predicts the probability of a monolithic ceramic component's failure as a function of its time in service. It couples commercial finite element programs--which resolve a component's temperature and stress distribution - with reliability evaluation and fracture mechanics routines for modeling strength - limiting defects. These routines are based on calculations of the probabilistic nature of the brittle material's strength.

Source record↗

CARES/Life Ceramics Durability Evaluation Software Enhanced for Cyclic Fatigue

The CARES/Life computer program predicts the probability of a monolithic ceramic component's failure as a function of time in service. The program has many features and options for materials evaluation and component design. It couples commercial finite element programs--which resolve a component's temperature and stress distribution--to reliability evaluation and fracture mechanics routines for modeling strength-limiting defects. The capability, flexibility, and uniqueness of CARES/Life have attracted many users representing a broad range of interests and has resulted in numerous awards for technological achievements and technology transfer. Recent work with CARES/Life was directed at enhancing the program s capabilities with regards to cyclic fatigue. Only in the last few years have ceramics been recognized to be susceptible to enhanced degradation from cyclic loading. To account for cyclic loads, researchers at the NASA Lewis Research Center developed a crack growth model that combines the Power Law (time-dependent) and the Walker Law (cycle-dependent) crack growth models. This combined model has the characteristics of Power Law behavior (decreased damage) at high R ratios (minimum load/maximum load) and of Walker law behavior (increased damage) at low R ratios. In addition, a parameter estimation methodology for constant-amplitude, steady-state cyclic fatigue experiments was developed using nonlinear least squares and a modified Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. This methodology is used to give best estimates of parameter values from cyclic fatigue specimen rupture data (usually tensile or flexure bar specimens) for a relatively small number of specimens. Methodology to account for runout data (unfailed specimens over the duration of the experiment) was also included.

Nemeth, Noel N.↗

Prognostics of Power MOSFET

This paper demonstrates how to apply prognostics to power MOSFETs (metal oxide field effect transistor). The methodology uses thermal cycling to age devices and Gaussian process regression to perform prognostics. The approach is validated with experiments on 100V power MOSFETs. The failure mechanism for the stress conditions is determined to be die-attachment degradation. Change in ON-state resistance is used as a precursor of failure due to its dependence on junction temperature. The experimental data is augmented with a finite element analysis simulation that is based on a two-transistor model. The simulation assists in the interpretation of the degradation phenomena and SOA (safe operation area) change.

Celaya, Jose Ramon↗

Numerical Simulation of Illumination and Thermal Conditions at the Lunar Poles Using LOLA DTMs

We are interested in illumination conditions and the temperature distribution within the upper two meters of regolith near the lunar poles. Here, areas exist receiving almost constant illumination near areas in permanent shadow, which were identified as potential exploration sites for future missions. For our study a numerical simulation of the illumination and thermal environment for lunar near-polar regions is needed. Our study is based on high-resolution, twenty meters per pixel and 400 x 400 km large polar Digital Terrain Models (DTMs), which were derived from Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) data. Illumination conditions were simulated by synthetically illuminating the LOLA DTMs using the horizon method considering the Sun as an extended source. We model polar illumination for the central 50 x 50 km subset and use it as an input at each time-step (2 h) to evaluate the heating of the lunar surface and subsequent conduction in the sub-surface. At surface level we balance the incoming insolation with the subsurface conduction and radiation into space, whereas in the sub-surface we consider conduction with an additional constant radiogenic heat source at the bottom of our two-meter layer. Density is modeled as depth-dependent, the specific heat parameter as temperature-dependent and the thermal conductivity as depth- and temperature-dependent. We implemented a fully implicit finite-volume method in space and backward Euler scheme in time to solve the one-dimensional heat equation at each pixel in our 50 x 50 km DTM. Due to the non-linear dependencies of the parameters mentioned above, Newton's method is employed as the non-linear solver together with the Gauss-Seidel method as the iterative linear solver in each Newton iteration. The software is written in OpenCL and runs in parallel on the GPU cores, which allows for fast computation of large areas and long time scales.

Glaser, P.↗

Particle Impact Simulation and Ignition Prediction

An experimentally calibrated tool is needed to predict if a system is susceptible to failure by particle impact ignition (PI) based on use conditions, materials, and flow geometry. This tool will accelerate new components, evaluating existing hardware, and help disposition anomalies. Conduct particle impact testing with in-situ diagnostics and complementary simulations on subset of key engineering materials (IN718, M400, 316L, 6061, Ti64, Zr) to develop a proof-of-concept predictive tool for assessing the risk of PI for idealized geometries (spherical particles) in realistic environments. Assess particle/target interactions (coefficient of restitution, ignition, kindling) using instrumented particle impact rigs while systematically varying key parameters (materials, particle size, environment, target configuration). Determine key field variables (temperature, strain, stress) in particle impacts using Multiphysics finite element and hydrocode simulations validated through comparison with experimental measurements and observations. Synthesize experiments and simulations into constitutive models for PI that can be integrated with existing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and Debris Transport Analysis (DTA) tools in future efforts

particle impact↗

Particle Impact Simulation and Ignition Prediction

An experimentally calibrated tool is needed to predict if a system is susceptible to failure by particle impact ignition (PI) based on use conditions, materials, and flow geometry. This tool will accelerate new components, evaluating existing hardware, and help disposition anomalies. - Conduct particle impact testing with in-situ diagnostics and complementary simulations on subset of key engineering materials (IN718, M400, 316L, 6061, Ti64, Zr) to develop a proof-of-concept predictive tool for assessing the risk of PI for idealized geometries (spherical particles) in realistic environments. - Assess particle/target interactions (coefficient of restitution, ignition, kindling) using instrumented particle impact rigs while systematically varying key parameters (materials, particle size, environment, target configuration). - Determine key field variables (temperature, strain, stress) in particle impacts using Multiphysics finite element and hydrocode simulations validated through comparison with experimental measurements and observations. - Synthesize experiments and simulations into constitutive models for PI that can be integrated with existing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and Debris Transport Analysis (DTA) tools in future efforts.

Jonathan Tylka↗

Simultaneous temperature and multispecies measurement in a lifted hydrogen diffusion flame

UV spontaneous vibrational Raman scattering and laser-induced predissociative fluorescence (LIPF) techniques are combined and applied to a lifted hydrogen jet diffusion flame. Simultaneous, temporally and spatially resolved point measurements of temperature, major species concentrations (H2, O2, N2, H2O), and absolute hydroxyl radical concentration (OH) are obtained with a 'single' excimer laser for the first time. For OH measurements, the use of LIPF makes quenching corrections unnecessary. Results demonstrate that fuel and oxidizer are in a rich, premixed, and unignited condition in the center core of the lifted flame base. In the lifted zone, combustion occurs in an intermittent annular turbulent flame brush and strong finite-rate chemistry effects result in nonequilibrium values of temperature, major species, and OH radicals. Downstream in the slow three-body recombination zone, the major species concentrations are in partial equilibrium, the OH concentrations are in superequilibrium, and the temperatures are in subequilibrium. Far downstream in the flame, equilibrium values of temperature, OH radical, and major species are found.

Cheng, T. S.↗

The vagaries of variable viscosity convection

The wavelength dependence of convection with a temperature-dependent viscosity is studied using two-dimensional finite difference models. A steady-state solution with a horizontal wavelength of eight times the depth is found to transport heat more efficiently than a solution with exactly the same parameters but with a wavelength of twice the depth. Only at the longer wavelengths is it possible for the top high viscosity boundary layer to participate more fully in the flow. Using models with a constant heat flux resulted in a decrease in the interior temperature of approximately 30% for the longer wavelength. It is also demonstrated that a parameterization using only a constant viscosity thermal structure and an interior viscosity is inadequate to parameterize the variable viscosity calculations described. This suggests that parameterized convection schemes may not accurately resolve the thermal evolution of planetary interior unless they can correctly include the effects of vertical viscosity structure.

Daly, S. F.↗

Development of fiber-based laser anemometer for SSME application

A recent study by Rocketdyne for NASA identified laser anemometry, using a compact optical head, as a feasible diagnostic instrument for the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) Model Verification experiments. Physical Research, Inc. (PRI) is presently under contract from NASA Lewis to develop and deliver such a laser anemometer system. For this application, it is desired to place the laser at a remote distance from the engine, and use single mode polarization preserving fiber optics for the transmission of the laser light to and from the measurement head. Other requirements are given. Analytical and experimental tools are being used to develop the technologies required for the laser anemometer. These include finite element analysis of the optical head and vibration tests for various optical and mechanical components. Design of the optical head and the fiber optic connectors are driven by the temperature and vibration requirements for the measurement environment. Results of the finite element analysis and the vibration tests of the components are included. Conceptual design of the fiber optic launcher and the optical probe has also been complete. Detailed design of the probe as well as the fabrication and assembly of the components is in progress.

Modarress, Dariush↗

Bubble Dynamics on a Heated Surface

In this work, we study the combined thermocapillary and natural convective flow generated by a bubble on a heated solid surface. The interaction between gas and vapor bubbles with the surrounding fluid is of interest for both space and ground-based processing. On earth, the volumetric forces are dominant, especially, in apparatuses with large volume to surface ratio. But in the reduced gravity environment of orbiting spacecraft, surface forces become more important and the effects of Marangoni convection are easily unmasked. In order to delineate the roles of the various interacting phenomena, a combined numerical-experimental approach is adopted. The temperature field is visualized using Mach-Zehnder interferometry and the flow field is observed by a laser sheet flow visualization technique. A finite element numerical model is developed which solves the two-dimensional momentum and energy equations and includes the effects of bubble surface deformation. Steady state temperature and velocity fields predicted by the finite element model are in excellent qualitative agreement with the experimental results. A parametric study of the interaction between Marangoni and natural convective flows including conditions pertinent to microgravity space experiments is presented. Numerical simulations clearly indicate that there is a considerable difference between 1-g and low-g temperature and flow fields induced by the bubble.

Kassemi, Mohammad↗