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At least 37 records · Page 2

Comparison Between Oil-mist and Oil-jet Lubrication of High-speed, Small-bore, Angular-contact Ball Bearings

Parametric tests were conducted with an optimized 35-mm-bore-angular-contact ball bearing on a high-speed, high-temperature bearing tester. Results from both air-oil mist lubrication and oil-jet lubrication systems used to lubricate the bearing were compared to speeds of 2.5 x 10(exp 6) DN. The maximum obtainable speed with air-oil mist lubrication is 2.5 x 10(exp 6) DN. Lower bearing temperatures and higher power losses are obtained with oil-jet lubrication than with air-oil mist lubrication. Bearing power loss is a direct function of oil flow to the bearing and independent of oil delivery system. For a given oil-flow rate, bearing temperature and power loss increase with increases in speed. Bearing life is an inverse function of temperature, the difference in temperature between the individual bearing ring components, and the resultant elastohydrodynamic (EHD) film thicknesses. Bearing life is independent of the oil delivery system except as it affects temperature. Cage slip increased with increases in speed. Cage slip as high as 7 percent was measured and was generally higher with air-oil mist lubrication than with oil-jet lubrication.

Pinel, Stanley I.↗

Comparison Between Oil-Mist and Oil-Jet Lubrication of High-Speed, Small-Bore, Angular-Contact Ball Bearings

Parametric tests were conducted with an optimized 35-mm-bore-angular-contact ball bearing on a high-speed, high-temperature bearing tester. Results from both air-oil mist lubrication and oil-jet lubrication systems used to lubricate the bearing were compared to speeds of 2.5x10(exp 6) DN. The maximum obtainable speed with air-oil mist lubrication is 2.5x10(exp 6) DN. Lower bearing temperatures and higher power losses are obtained with oil-jet lubrication than with air-oil mist lubrication. Bearing power loss is a direct function of oil flow to the bearing and independent of oil delivery system. For a given oil-flow rate, bearing temperature and power loss increase with increases in speed. Bearing life is an inverse function of temperature, the difference in temperature between the individual bearing ring components, and the resultant elastohydrodynamic (EHD) film thicknesses. Bearing life is independent of the oil delivery system except as it affects temperature. Cage slip increased with increases in speed. Cage slip as high as 7% was measured and was generally higher with air-oil mist lubrication than with oil-jet lubrication.

Pinel, Stanley I.↗

Evidence of charge exchange pumping in calcium-xenon system

Charge exchange between xenon ions and calcium atoms may produce an inversion between the 5s or 4d and 4p energy levels of the calcium ions. A low power flowing xenon plasma seeded with calcium was utilized to determine if charge exchange or electron collisions populate the 5s and 4d levels Ca(+). Line intensity ratios proportional to the density ratios n5s/n4p and n4d/n4p were measured. From the dependence of these intensity ratios on power input to the xenon plasma it was concluded that charge exchange pumping of the 5s and 4d levels predominates over electron collisional pumping of these levels. Also, by comparing intensity ratios obtained using argon and krypton in place of xenon with those obtained in xenon the same conclusion was made.

Chubb, D. L.↗

Concentration Measurements in Self-Excited Momentum Dominated Low-Density Gas Jets

Flow structure of self-excited, laminar, axisymmetric, momentum-dominated helium jets discharged vertically into ambient air was investigated using high-speed rainbow schlieren deflectometry technique. Measurements were obtained at temporal resolution of 1 ms and spatial resolution of 0.19 mm for two test cases with Richardson number of 0.034 and 0.018. Power spectra revealed that the oscillation frequency was independent of spatial coordinates, suggesting global oscillations in the flow. Abel inversion algorithm was used to reconstruct the concentration field of helium. Instantaneous concentration contours revealed changes in the flow field and evolution of vortical structures during an oscillation cycle. Temporal evolution plots of helium concentration at different axial locations provided detailed information about the instability in the flow field.

Yildirim, B. S.↗

Analysis of laminar flow between stationary and rotating disks with inflow

The laminar flow between a rotating and a stationary disk with inflow was analyzed. Solutions to the dimensionless governing equations are sought by expanding each of the velocity components in powers of inverse radius. The equations to leading order are those for the configuration with no inflow. The subsequent orders yield sets of linear ordinary differential equations. Solutions are obtained for the first two of these subsequent orders. The solutions indicate that inflow tends to increase the magnitude of the azimuthal velocity in the flow between the two disks and to decrease the torque on the rotating disk. For Prandtl number one, an energy integral is obtained which relates the temperature distribution to the velocity distribution for all Reynolds numbers and therefore eliminates the needs for separate solution of the energy equation.

Rohatgi, U.↗

Quasi-steady plasma acceleration.

A coaxial plasma accelerator driven by protracted pulses of current in the range of 10,000 to 100,000 A and synchronized mass flows from 1.0 to 36 g/sec argon attains, after some tens of microseconds, a stable magnetoplasmadynamic acceleration mode. This 'quasi-steady' discharge form is characterized by constant terminal voltage and current, a diffuse, fixed current distribution within the discharge, and a steady plasma efflux at velocities of approximately 20 km/sec. Measured potential distributions reveal that the bulk of the arc voltage gradient, exclusive of the electrode falls, occurs within two diameters of the cathode, and is normal to it. The anode fall voltage varies inversely with local current density, implying substantially lower anode losses at higher power arc operation. Spectroscopic, potential, and velocity measurements indicate the existence of a characteristic mass flow rate for a given current, below which arc operation becomes erratic.

Jahn, R. G.↗

Laser Powered Launch Vehicle Performance Analyses

The purpose of this study is to establish the technical ground for modeling the physics of laser powered pulse detonation phenomenon. Laser powered propulsion systems involve complex fluid dynamics, thermodynamics and radiative transfer processes. Successful predictions of the performance of laser powered launch vehicle concepts depend on the sophisticate models that reflects the underlying flow physics including the laser ray tracing the focusing, inverse Bremsstrahlung (IB) effects, finite-rate air chemistry, thermal non-equilibrium, plasma radiation and detonation wave propagation, etc. The proposed work will extend the base-line numerical model to an efficient design analysis tool. The proposed model is suitable for 3-D analysis using parallel computing methods.

Chen, Yen-Sen↗

Theoretical regime diagrams for thermally driven flows in a beta-plane channel in the presence of variable gravity

The effect of a power law gravity field on baroclinic instability is examined, with a focus on the case of inverse fifth power gravity, since this is the power law produced when terrestrial gravity is simulated in spherical geometry by a dielectric force. Growth rates are obtained of unstable normal modes as a function of parameters of the problem by solving a second order differential equation numerically. It is concluded that over the range of parameter space explored, there is no significant change in the character of theoretical regime diagrams if the vertically averaged gravity is used as parameter.

Geisler, J. E.↗

Radial variations of large-scale magnetohydrodynamic fluctuations in the solar wind

Two time periods are studied for which comprehensive data coverage is available at both 1 AU using IMP-8 and ISEE-3 and beyond using Voyager 1. One of these periods is characterized by the predominance of corotating stream interactions. Relatively small scale transient flows characterize the second period. The evolution of these flows with heliocentric distance is studied using power spectral techniques. The evolution of the transient dominated period is consistent with the hypothesis of turbulent evolution including an inverse cascade of large scales. The evolution of the corotating period is consistent with the entrainment of slow streams by faster streams in a deterministic model.

Burlaga, L. F.↗

Radial variations of large-scale magnetohydrodynamic fluctuations in the solar wind

Two time periods are studied for which comprehensive data coverage is available at both 1 AU using IMP-8 and ISEE-3 and beyond using Voyager 1. One of these periods is characterized by the predominance of corotating stream interactions. Relatively small scale transient flows characterize the second period. The evolution of these flows with heliocentric distance is studied using power spectral techniques. The evolution of the transient dominated period is consistent with the hypothesis of turbulent evolution including an inverse cascade of large scales. The evolution of the corotating period is consistent with the entrainment of slow streams by faster streams in a deterministic model.

Burlaga, L. F.↗

Reversible to irreversible transitions for cyclically driven particles on periodic obstacle arrays

Here, we examine the collective dynamics of disks moving through a square array of obstacles under cyclic square wave driving. Below a critical density, we find that the system organizes into a reversible state in which the disks return to the same positions at the end of every drive cycle. Above this density, the dynamics are irreversible and the disks do not return to the same positions after each cycle. The critical density depends strongly on the angle θ between the driving direction and a symmetry axis of the obstacle array, with the highest critical densities appearing at commensurate angles such as θ = 0° and θ = 45° and the lowest critical densities falling at θ = arctan (0.618), the inverse of the golden ratio, where the flow is the most degenerate. As the density increases, the number of cycles required to reach a reversible state grows as a power law with an exponent near ν = 1.36, similar to what is found in periodically driven colloidal and superconducting vortex systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

High-Altitude Emission from Pulsar Slot Gaps: The Crab Pulsar

We present results of a 3D model of optical to gamma-ray emission from the slot gap accelerator of a rotation-powered pulsar. Primary electrons accelerating to high-altitudes in the unscreened electric field of the slot gap reach radiation-reaction limited Lorentz factors of approx. 2 x 10(exp 7), while electron-positron pairs from lower-altitude cascades flow along field lines interior to the slot gap. The curvature, synchrotron and inverse Compton radiation of both primary electrons and pairs produce a broad spectrum of emission from infra-red to GeV energies. Both primaries and pairs undergo cyclotron resonant absorption of radio photons, allowing them to maintain significant pitch angles. Synchrotron radiation from pairs with a power-law energy spectrum from gamma = 10(exp 2) - 10(exp 5), dominate the spectrum up to approx. 10 MeV. Synchrotron and curvature radiation of primaries dominates from 10 MeV up to a few GeV. We examine the energy-dependent pulse profiles and phase-resolved spectra for parameters of the Crab pulsar as a function of magnetic inclination alpha and viewing angle zeta, comparing to broad-band data. In most cases, the pulse profiles are dominated by caustics on trailing field lines. We also explore the relation of the high-energy and the radio profiles, as well as the possibility of caustic formation in the radio cone emission. We find that the Crab pulsar profiles and spectrum can be reasonably well reproduced by a model with alpha = 45deg and zeta approx. 100deg or 80deg. This model predicts that the slot gap emission below 200 MeV will exhibit correlations in time and phase with the radio emission.

Harding, Alice K.↗

A Study of Some Factors Affecting Rolling-Contact Fatigue Life

A series of investigations using the fatigue spin rig to study the effect of several factors contributing to rolling contact fatigue life is summarized. Ball specimens of 1/2 and 9/16 inch diameter were tested at maximum theoretical Hertz compressive stresses in the range of 600,000 to 750,000 psi. Life was found to vary inversely with the tenth power of stress. In forging fiber studies, a greater concentration of failures and poorer life were observed where the greatest angle of intersection between the fiber flow lines and the surface occurred. This effect was independent of alloy composition. Higher lubricant viscosity was found to increase fatigue life, Lubricants having the same viscosity but of different base stock produced wide differences in life that correlated with the pressure viscosity coefficient of the lubricant. Higher temperature produced lower fatigue life. Dry powder lubricants produced poor fatigue life at 450 F; failure appearance indicated that the lubricant particles probably acted as minute stress raisers. In metallographic studies, nonmetallic inclusions were found to have a deleterious effect on fatigue life the inclusion size, location, composition, and condition of the matrix being contributing factors; failures were by shear cracking in the subsurface zone of maximum shear stress and eventual propagation into a shallow surface spall. Vacuum melting improved fatigue life, although a general correlation between cleanliness and fatigue life was not found. Life results for ten different bearing materials are presented.

Carter, Thomas L.↗

NASA Tech Briefs, August 2004

Topics covered include: Data Relay Board with Protocol for High-Speed, Free-Space Optical Communications; Software and Algorithms for Biomedical Image Data Processing and Visualization; Rapid Chemometric Filtering of Spectral Data; Prioritizing Scientific Data for Transmission; Determining Sizes of Particles in a Flow from DPIV Data; Faster Processing for Inverting GPS Occultation Data; FPGA-Based, Self-Checking, Fault-Tolerant Computers; Ultralow-Power Digital Correlator for Microwave Polarimetry; Grounding Headphones for Protection Against ESD; Lightweight Stacks of Direct Methanol Fuel Cells; Highly Efficient Vector-Inversion Pulse Generators; Estimating Basic Preliminary Design Performances of Aerospace Vehicles; Framework for Development of Object-Oriented Software; Analyzing Spacecraft Telecommunication Systems; Collaborative Planning of Robotic Exploration; Tools for Administration of a UNIX-Based Network; Preparing and Analyzing Iced Airfoils; Evaluating Performance of Components; Fuels Containing Methane of Natural Gas in Solution; Direct Electrolytic Deposition of Mats of MnxOy Nanowires; Bubble Eliminator Based on Centrifugal Flow; Inflatable Emergency Atmospheric-Entry Vehicles; Lightweight Deployable Mirrors with Tensegrity Supports; Centrifugal Adsorption Cartridge System; Ultrasonic Apparatus for Pulverizing Brittle Material; Transplanting Retinal Cells using Bucky Paper for Support; Using an Ultrasonic Instrument to Size Extravascular Bubbles; Coronagraphic Notch Filter for Raman Spectroscopy; On-the-Fly Mapping for Calibrating Directional Antennas; Working Fluids for Increasing Capacities of Heat Pipes; Computationally-Efficient Minimum-Time Aircraft Routes in the Presence of Winds; Liquid-Metal-Fed Pulsed Plasma Thrusters; Personal Radiation Protection System; and Attitude Control for a Solar-Sail Spacecraft.

Source record↗

Comparison of model high-lititude electron densities with Millstone Hill observations

The predictions of a high-latitude ionospheric model are compared with the diurnal variations of plasma convection velocities and electron densities observed at Millstone Hill on a geomagnetically moderately active day near equinox. The observed convection pattern was consistent with a two-cell, asymmetric pattern with enhanced plasma flow in the dusk sector, with flow speeds reaching 1.5 km/s. In the dusk strong convection cell, the falloff of the magnetospheric potential with latitude was proportional to the inverse of the sine of colatitude to the fourth power. On the dayside, a region of high density occurred at 500 km in the 1000-1900 LT sector. The nocturnal midlatitude trough was deepest and widest and reached its most equatorward position in the morning sector. The model, which is based on average auroral precipitation fluxes, can describe the gross features of the enhanced densities in the auroral zone.

Sojka, J. J.↗

The effects of arcjet operating condition and constrictor geometry on the plasma plume

Measurements of plasma number density and electron temperature were obtained in the plumes of lab arcjet thrusters using electrostatic probes of both spherical and cylindrical geometry. The two arcjet thrusters used had different constrictor and/or nozzle geometries and operated on mixtures of nitrogen, hydrogen, and ammonia to simulate the decomposition products of hydrazine and ammonia. An increase in the measured electron density was observed for both geometries with increasing arc power at a constant mass flow rate and with increasing mass flow rate at a constant arc current. For a given operating condition, the electron number density decreased exponentially off centerline and followed an inverse distance squared relationship along the thrust axis. Typical measured electron temperatures ranged from 0.1 to 0.2 eV.

Carney, Lynnette M.↗

The effects of arcjet thruster operating condition constrictor geometry on the plasma plume

Measurements of plasma number density and electron temperature were obtained in the plumes of lab arcjet thrusters using electrostatic probes of both spherical and cylindrical geometry. The two arcjet thrusters used had different constrictor and/or nozzle geometries and operated on mixtures of nitrogen, hydrogen, and ammonia to simulate the decomposition products of hydrazine and ammonia. An increase in the measured electron density was observed for both geometries with increasing arc power at a constant mass flow rate and with increasing mass flow rate at a constant arc current. For a given operating condition, the electron number density decreased exponentially off centerline and followed an inverse distance squared relationship along the thrust axis. Typical measured electron temperatures ranged from 0.1 to 0.2 eV.

Carney, Lynnette M.↗

Laser absorption phenomena in flowing gas devices

A theoretical and experimental investigation is presented of inverse Bremsstrahlung absorption of CW CO2 laser radiation in flowing gases seeded with alkali metals. In order to motivate this development, some simple models are described of several space missions which could use laser powered rocket vehicles. Design considerations are given for a test call to be used with a welding laser, using a diamond window for admission of laser radiation at power levels in excess of 10 kW. A detailed analysis of absorption conditions in the test cell is included. The experimental apparatus and test setup are described and the results of experiments presented. Injection of alkali seedant and steady state absorption of the laser radiation were successfully demonstrated, but problems with the durability of the diamond windows at higher powers prevented operation of the test cell as an effective laser powered thruster.

Chapman, P. K.↗