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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 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2005

Isogrid Membranes for Precise, Singly Curved Reflectors

A new type of composite material has been proposed for membranes that would constitute the reflective surfaces of planned lightweight, single-curvature (e.g., parabolic cylindrical) reflectors for some radar and radio-communication systems. The proposed composite materials would consist of polyimide membranes containing embedded grids of highstrength (e.g., carbon) fibers. The purpose of the fiber reinforcements, as explained in more detail below, is to prevent wrinkling or rippling of the membrane.

Fang, Houfei↗
DOE OSTI2025

Nanometer-thick ultraflat cantilever resonators

Nanomechanical devices made from ultrathin materials are transforming diverse fields, including sensing, signal processing, and quantum technologies. However, as these materials become thinner, their low bending rigidity poses significant fabrication challenges, and achieving nanometer-thick flat cantilevers with consistent and predictable mechanical responses has remained elusive despite decades of research. Here we present nanometer-thick, ultraflat cantilever resonators fabricated using atomic layer deposition. By effectively mitigating the effects of uncontrollable built-in strain and geometric disorder, the ultraflat nanocantilevers exhibit resonance frequencies closely aligned with thin-plate theory predictions and display low sample-to-sample variability. These cantilevers maintain mechanical stability in both vacuum and air environments, even at large length-to-thickness ratios of up to 3000. The ultraflat nanocantilevers are approaching the thickness limit, beyond which thermal fluctuations at room temperature can spontaneously induce random ripples in otherwise flat films.

nanofabrication↗
NASA NTRS1998

Potential Mars Surveyor 2001 Landing Sites: Low-Elevation Cratered "Highlands" in Central and Eastern Sinus Meridiani and Near Amenthes Fossae

The main scientific goal for the Mars Surveyor Program 2001 (MSP 01) landed mission is to collect and characterize 91 rock and 13 soil core samples using an integrated instrument suite onboard the Athena Rover. If possible, these samples will be retrieved and returned to Earth via a MSP 05 or MSP 07 mission. Preliminary engineering constraints for the MSP 01 landing site call for a location that lies between 15 S and 30 N, and below about 2 km elevation (based on Viking-era topography). Desirable landing sites for MSP 01 are to be located "in the ancient highlands where the environmental conditions may have been favorable to the preservation of evidence of possible prebiotic or biotic processes including the emergence (and, potentially, the persistence) of life". We interpret this to mean that the desirable sites include those that have evidence of aqueous sediments that might have been deposited during the Noachian and/or Hesperian Epochs of Mars' history. In addition to the search for subaqueous sedimentary deposits, we took into consideration the fact that the rover, Athena, will need to be able to access these materials. Thus, a site where aeolian deflation has occurred might be desirable because it might expose, in situ, layered sedimentary deposits. Deflated areas, of course, might include potential landing hazards in the form of meterscale buttes and mesas (e.g., Christmas Lake Valley, OR), thus careful study of such sites with high resolution images will be required before a decision is made to land. We have been examining three regions that have potential to be considered for MSP 01 landing sites. This work is based on Viking (VIS, IRTM) and Phobos 2 (Termoskan) observations and should be regarded as preliminary because we believe that the final site selection should also be based upon analysis of Mars Global Surveyor observations that help constrain mineralogy (TES) and local geomorphology (MOC, MOLA). (1) Eastern Sinus Meridiani Region (proposed by K. S. Edgett) Sinus Meridiani is a persistent low-albedo (< 0. 16) region on the martian equator that has been recognized for about 400 years. All of Sinus Meridiani is below the 2 km elevation constraint for MSP 01. The region includes cratered highlands, valley networks, aeolian dunes, and possible aqueous sedimentary deposits. The landing site study region is located in the eastern portion of Sinus Meridiani. It is bounded by latitudes 10 S to 2 N, longitudes 355 W to 345 W, and the elevations are mostly 1-2 km. The center of this area contains a medium-albedo (0.19-0.21), relatively smooth-surfaced deposit that was suggested by Rice to be a lacustrine deposit. Several potential landing areas can be suggested within this region. Based on Viking and Phobos 2 data, the favored sites so far are centered at 7.6 S, 346.9 W and 0.8 S, 349 W. Thermal inertias are 3.2-7.0 x 10(exp -3) cal /sq cm s(exp -0.5)/K; and rock abundances are around 2-6%. The site at 7.6 S, 346.9 W is at the southern end of the smooth, medium-albedo unit that might have a lacustrine origin. At this location, numerous channels appear to have drained toward the smooth unit. Viking images from orbit 747A show this area at about 15 m/pixel ground resolution. The images reveal that aeolian deflation has occurred along the deposit's margins. Bright (i.e., albedo >= 0.21) aeolian dunes are present on the channel floors and in some of the depressions on the smooth unit. The bright, apparently active dunes might consist of material (perhaps lakedeposited sands) that has been eroded from the smooth unit. The site at approximately 0.8 S, 349 W is selected because it offers an opportunity to solve a long-standing puzzle about Mars remote sensing. There are three main "color" units on Mars: "dark red, dark gray, and bright red". This landing site would allow the Athena rover an opportunity to investigate all three materials within close proximity (the best place on Mars to do so). There are no high resolution (better than 100 m/pixel) Viking or Mariner images of this site. (2) Central Sinus Meridiani Region (proposed by K. S. Edgett and T. J. Parker) Central Sinus Meridiani is characterized by two types of surfaces [4]. One is like typical martian cratered highlands elsewhere- there are old valley networks and old impact craters. The other is relatively smooth and flat. These two units are in contact around 3.1 S between 5 W and 4 E longitudes. Valley networks- including one at 6'S, 358 W that rivals the Grand Canyon of Arizona- once drained toward the smooth unit. Edgett and Parker [4] proposed that the smooth unit might consist of sediments laid down in a large Noachian-aged sea/ocean that would have covered much of the northern hemisphere. Schultz and Lutz [I I I suggested that it is a paleopolar layered deposit. Regardless, the smooth unit where it contacts the cratered terrain would make an excellent site for Athena rover to investigate. The site is best seen in Viking high resolution images from orbits 408B (about 30 m/pixel) and 746A (about 12 m/pixel). These images suggest that aeolian deflation has occurred along the margin of the smooth unit, and this deflation has exposed horizontal larrs of material. The elevation is about 0.5 km; thermal inertias are 6.5-8.0 x 10(exp -3) cal /sq cm s(exp -0.5) / K; rock abundances are 2-4%; and the surface is probably sandy with dark drifts and ripples but almost no actual dunes. We suggest a landing around 3.2 S, 3.0 W would test the aqueous sediment hypothesis and provide a potentially smooth surface on which to land. (3) Amenthes Fossae Region (proposed by S. N. Huntwork and K. S. Edgett) The Amenthes Fossae are a series of graben/fissures that are circumferential to the southeast side of Isidis Planitia. These fissures cross a variety of ancient, heavily cratered Noachian terrain and younger, Hesperian and Amazonian terrain. We focused our search on a region 0-15 N, 250 - 270 W. Elevations are -0.5 to 2 km. Depending upon whether Isidis Planitia was ever a water-rich environment, this region might have been influenced by aqueous sedimentation. Valley networks are common, and they drained toward the north and northwest. We focused our work on a set of Viking orbiter high-resolution images, 719A 1-48. These have resolutions 16-24 rri/pixel. We examined images 20-23, centered at 2 N, 258 W. This site, on the plains just southwest of a 42 km-diameter crater, includes a valley network channel, a relatively young crater ejecta deposit, a few buttes composed of presumably ancient, Noachian bedrock, and a "plains" unit. The plains might make an ideal landing surface, except for the presence of some fine-scale ridges (oriented approximately N-S). The ridges are probably yardangs, thus this site offers a place where aeolian deflation has probably exposed some of the layered rock units that comprise the "plains". Thermal inertias are 7.9-8.3 x 10(exp -3) cal/sq cm s(exp -0.5) /K and rock abundances are 10-15%. A rover traverse might include the opportunity to go down to the floor (and sample along the walls) of the valley network channel at 2 N 258.1 W.

Edgett, K. S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Antenna pattern control using impedance surfaces

The modification of a moment method code is described. Analyses of horn antennas were conducted extensively. Excellent agreements with measured results were observed for pyramidal horn antennas with perfectly conducting surfaces. The predicted results are so accurate that even the finest ripple structures in the far-field radiation patterns are computed correctly. Preliminary results for the radiation patterns of pyramidal horns with impedance surfaces were also obtained. Discussions of using the code in accurate modeling of practical pyramidal horn antennas are also included. After the code for the analysis of the horn antennas with impedance materials is finalized, the synthesis problem will be examined in the coming research period.

Balanis, Constantine A.↗
NASA NTRS2016

A Cryogenic Waveguide Mount for Microstrip Circuit and Material Characterization

A waveguide split-block fixture used in the characterization of thin-film superconducting planar circuitry at millimeter wavelengths is described in detail. The test fixture is realized from a pair of mode converters, which transition from rectangular-waveguide to on-chip microstrip-line signal propagation via a stepped ridge-guide impedance transformer. The observed performance of the W-band package at 4.2K has a maximum in-band transmission ripple of 2dB between 1.53 and 1.89 times the waveguide cutoff frequency. This metrology approach enables the characterization of superconducting microstrip test structures as a function temperature and frequency. The limitations of the method are discussed and representative data for superconducting Nb and NbTiN thin film microstrip resonators on single-crystal Si dielectric substrates are presented.

U-yen, Kongpop↗
NASA NTRS2016

A Cryogenic Waveguide Mount for Microstrip Circuit and Material Characterization

A waveguide split-block fixture used in the characterization of thin-film superconducting planar circuitry at millimeter wavelengths is described in detail. The test fixture is realized from a pair of mode converters, which transition from rectangular-waveguide to on-chip microstrip-line signal propagation via a stepped ridge-guide impedance transformer. The observed performance of the W-band package at 4.2K has a maximum in-band transmission ripple of 2dB between 1.53 and 1.89 times the waveguide cutoff frequency. This metrology approach enables the characterization of superconducting microstrip test structures as a function temperature and frequency. The limitations of the method are discussed and representative data for superconducting Nb and NbTiN thin film microstrip resonators on single-crystal Si dielectric substrates are presented.

U-yen, Kongpop↗
NASA NTRS1992

Laser welding in a reduced gravity environment

Preliminary results on the effects of reduced gravity on laser welding of stainless steel and other materials are reported. Laser welding experiments using a low power (10-18 watts) Nd-YAG laser have been performed on the NASA KC-135, which flies parabolic maneuvers to simulate reduced gravity conditions. Experiments on 0.005-0.010 inch thick stainless steel samples displayed a pronounced change in weld bead width, depth of penetration and surface ripple with changes in gravity level.

Workman, Gary L.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Venusian saltation

Numerical solutions are given for particle trajectory equations of motion for the surface of Venus. Particles in saltation obtain maximum heights of two or less centimeters, and have path lengths of less than a meter regardless of particle diameter. The saltation process and particle trajectories are found insensitive to surface pressure changes over the range of 70 to 100 bars, and temperature changes over the range of 600 to 900 K. Due to dense atmosphere, the net rate of surface material transport due to saltation is small for particles in diameters from 0.01 to 7 mm, as compared to earth which has 10 times more, and Mars which has 250 times more. Path length scales are also found to be very small, suggesting the presence of dunes on Venus; however, there is still a possibility that small ripples do exist, which cannot be detected by high-resolution radar images.

White, B. R.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Windy Mars: A Dynamic Planet as Seen by the HiRISE Camera

With a dynamic atmosphere and a large supply of particulate material, the surface of Mars is heavily influenced by wind-driven, or aeolian, processes. The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) provides a new view of Martian geology, with the ability to see decimeter-size features. Current sand movement, and evidence for recent bedform development, is observed. Dunes and ripples generally exhibit complex surfaces down to the limits of resolution. Yardangs have diverse textures, with some being massive at HiRISE scale, others having horizontal and cross-cutting layers of variable character, and some exhibiting blocky and polygonal morphologies. 'Reticulate' (fine polygonal texture) bedforms are ubiquitous in the thick mantle at the highest elevations.

Mars↗
NASA NTRS1989

Neutron and high speed photogrammetric arcjet diagnosis

Two methods for real time internal diagnostics of arcjet engines are described. One method uses cold, thermal, or epithermal neutrons. Cold neutrons are used to detect the presence and location of hydrogenous propellants. Thermal neutrons are used to delineate the edge contours of anode and cathode surfaces and to measure stress/strain. Epithermal neutrons are used to measure temperatures on arcjet surfaces, bulk material temperatures, and point temperatures in bulk materials. It is found that this method, with an exposure time of 10 min, produces at temperature accuracy for W or Re of + or - 2.5 C. The other method uses visible-light high-speed photogrammetry to obtain images of the transient behavior of the arc during start-up and to relate this behavior to electrial supply characteristics such as voltage, current, and ripple.

Stewart, P. A. E.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Unusual Microtopography on an Apollo 12 Soil Grain

We have observed the presence of a previously undescribed microtopography in several regions on the surface of a lunar grain from Apollo regolith sample 12070,29. This microtopography consists of flattened triangular prisms, henceforth referred to as denticles, set in an orderly arrangement. We propose three possible processes to describe the presence of these structures: (1) radiation; (2) aqueous activity; or (3) impact. Radiation—the surface of the Earth’s moon is subject to energetic ion and photon irradiation which can produce a multitude of morphological effects on grain surfaces including erosion/sputtering, vesicle formation, and amorphization of crystalline phases. Under certain conditions surface erosion can result in the formation of well-ordered nanostructures including mounds, dots, wave-shaped, rippled or corrugated features typically <10s nm in size and organized into pattered arrays. However larger pyramid-shaped features up to approx. 300 nm at the base, similar in shape to lunar denticles, were produced on Cu substrates ex-posed to ion beam sputtering.. Aqueous alteration—recent reports of purported water on the Moon imply the possibility of brief, limited exposure of surface materials to aqueous fluids. Aqueous corrosion of silicates can result in the formation of crystallographically controlled denticulated features, up to 10s of micron at the base, arranged in a patterned formation. Impact—the surface of the moon is impacted by meteorites, particularly by micron-size particles, resulting in the formation of a variety of crater types. While it is difficult to envision a scenario in which a patterned array could be formed by impact, fracturing along planes of crystallographic structural weakness due to external stress could explain these features.

Thomas-Keprta, K. L.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Focused ion beam milling of polycrystalline diamond

Focused ion beam (FIB) technology has a large potential for precise milling of ultrahard materials such as diamond. However, studies of the sputtering of diamond with ion species and energies relevant to the FIB technology are scarce. Here, we report a systematic study of the sputtering of polycrystalline diamond surfaces with ion beams in a wide range of ion energies (2 - 30 keV), incident beam angles (0 - 80°), and ion masses (N, O, Ar, and Xe). Results show that the sputter yield is relatively insensitive to ion energy but strongly depends on the ion species and incident beam angles. Bombardment with O ions results in sputter yields that are significantly larger than ballistic predictions due to chemical etching effects. Characteristic surface ripples develop for oblique beam incidence angle irradiation. The critical beam tilt angle for the onset of ripple formation and the wavelength of the ripples depend on ion species and energies. Ripples appear to suppress ion reflection at high beam tilt angles and, hence, a peak in the sputter yield angular dependence. In conclusion, these results have direct implications for the development of process parameter maps for high-precision ion-beam milling of diamond.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1992

An energy analysis of crack-initiation and arrest in epoxy

The objective of this work is to study fracture processes such as crack initiation and arrest in epoxy. A compact tension specimen with displacement-controlled loading is employed to observe multiple crack initiations and arrests. The energy release rate at crack initiation is significantly higher than that at crack arrest, as has been observed elsewhere. In this study, the difference between these energy release rates is found to depend on specimen size (scale effect), and is quantitatively related to the fracture surface morphology. The scale effect, similar to that in strength theory, is conventionally attributed to the statistics of defects which control the fracture process. Triangular shaped ripples, deltoids, are formed on the fracture surface of the epoxy during the slow sub-critical crack growth, prior to the smooth mirrorlike surface characteristic of fast cracks. The deltoids are complimentary on the two crack faces which excludes any inelastic deformation from consideration. The deltoids are analogous to the ripples created on a river surface downstream from a small obstacle. However, in spite of the expectation based on this analogy and the observed scale effect, there are no 'defects' at the apex of the deltoids detectable down to the 0.1 micron level. This suggests that the formation of deltoids during the slow process of subcritical crack growth is an intrinsic feature of the fracture process itself, triggered by inhomogeneity of material on a submicron scale. This inhomogeneity may be related to a fluctuation in the cross-link density of the epoxy.

Chudnovsky, A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

An experimental study of aeolian structures on Venus

Experiments to simulate the formation of aeolian bed forms on Venus show that a high-density atmosphere produces small transverse bed forms with dimensionless similarities to terrestrial dunes but with both dimensional and behavioral similarities to subaqueous current ripples. Their development is influenced by wind speed, particle size, and atmospheric density. Although aeolian bed forms should be observed at all elevations on Venus, their optimum expression is compatible with the lowest elevations where atmospheric pressure is greatest. Their development is relatively unhindered by the presence of dense grains, the lack of sorting in source sediment from which they form, or the addition of cohesive dust. Small (about 10 cm) bed forms are efficient in sorting materials either by density or particle size. Bed forms developed in the limited size of the wind tunnel are probably representative of small bed forms on Venus; considerations suggest that bed forms on Venus may grow to larger sizes. Discovery of dune fields on Magellan images of Venus support this prediction.

Marshall, John R.↗
NASA NTRS1996

The NASA Lewis Research Center: An Economic Impact Study

The NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC), established in 1941, is one of ten NASA research centers in the country. It is situated on 350 acres of land in Cuyahoga County and occupies more than 140 buildings and over 500 specialized research and test facilities. Most of LeRC's facilities are located in the City of Cleveland; some are located within the boundaries of the cities of Fairview Park and Brookpark. LeRC is a lead center for NASA's research, technology, and development in the areas of aeropropulsion and selected space applications. It is a center of excellence for turbomachinery, microgravity fluid and combustion research, and commercial communication. The base research and technology disciplines which serve both aeronautics and space areas include materials and structures, instrumentation and controls, fluid physics, electronics, and computational fluid dynamics. This study investigates LeRC's economic impact on Northeast Ohio's economy. It was conducted by The Urban Center's Economic Development Program in Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs. The study measures LeRC's direct impact on the local economy in terms of jobs, output, payroll, and taxes, as well as the indirect impact of these economic activities when they 'ripple' throughout the economy. To fully explain LeRC's overall impact on the region, its contributions in the areas of technology transfer and education are also examined. The study uses a highly credible and widely accepted research methodology. First, regional economic multipliers based on input-output models were used to estimate the effect of LERC spending on the Northeast Ohio economy. Second, the economic models were complemented by interviews with industrial, civic, and university leaders to qualitatively assess LeRC's impact in the areas of technology transfer and education.

Austrian, Ziona↗
NASA NTRS1991

Probability of brittle failure

A methodology was developed for collecting statistically representative data for crack initiation and arrest from small number of test specimens. An epoxy (based on bisphenol A diglycidyl ether and polyglycol extended diglycyl ether and cured with diethylene triamine) is selected as a model material. A compact tension specimen with displacement controlled loading is used to observe multiple crack initiation and arrests. The energy release rate at crack initiation is significantly higher than that at a crack arrest, as has been observed elsewhere. The difference between these energy release rates is found to depend on specimen size (scale effect), and is quantitatively related to the fracture surface morphology. The scale effect, similar to that in statistical strength theory, is usually attributed to the statistics of defects which control the fracture process. Triangular shaped ripples (deltoids) are formed on the fracture surface during the slow subcritical crack growth, prior to the smooth mirror-like surface characteristic of fast cracks. The deltoids are complementary on the two crack faces which excludes any inelastic deformation from consideration. Presence of defects is also suggested by the observed scale effect. However, there are no defects at the deltoid apexes detectable down to the 0.1 micron level.

Kim, A.↗
NASA NTRS1976

M551 metals melting experiment

The Metals Melting Skylab Experiment consisted of selectively melting, in sequence, three rotating discs made of aluminum alloy, stainless steel, and tantalum alloy. For comparison, three other discs of the same three materials were similarly melted or welded on the ground. The power source of the melting was an electron beam unit. Results are presented which support the concept that the major difference between ground base and Skylab samples (i.e., large elongated grains in ground base samples versus nearly equiaxed and equal sized grains in Skylab samples) can be explained on the basis of constitutional supercooling, and not on the basis of surface phenomena. Microstructural observations on the weld samples and present explanations for some of these observations are examined. In particular, ripples and their implications to weld solidification were studied. Evidence of pronounced copper segregation in the Skylab A1 weld samples, and the tantalum samples studied, indicates a weld microhardness (and hence strength) that is uniformly higher than the ground base results, which is in agreement with previous predictions. Photographs are shown of the microstructure of the various alloys.

Li, C. H.↗