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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 NTRS2008

Flight Test Experiment Design for Characterizing Stability and Control of Hypersonic Vehicles

A maneuver design method that is particularly well-suited for determining the stability and control characteristics of hypersonic vehicles is described in detail. Analytical properties of the maneuver design are explained. The importance of these analytical properties for maximizing information content in flight data is discussed, along with practical implementation issues. Results from flight tests of the X-43A hypersonic research vehicle (also called Hyper-X) are used to demonstrate the excellent modeling results obtained using this maneuver design approach. A detailed design procedure for generating the maneuvers is given to allow application to other flight test programs.

Morelli, Eugene A.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Static stability of a three-dimensional space truss

In order to deploy large flexible space structures it is necessary to develop support systems that are strong and lightweight. The most recent example of this aerospace design need is vividly evident in the space station solar array assembly. In order to accommodate both weight limitations and strength performance criteria, ABLE Engineering has developed the Folding Articulating Square Truss (FASTMast) support structure. The FASTMast is a space truss/mechanism hybrid that can provide system support while adhering to stringent packaging demands. However, due to its slender nature and anticipated loading, stability characterization is a critical part of the design process. Furthermore, the dire consequences surely to result from a catastrophic instability quickly provide the motivation for careful examination of this problem. The fundamental components of the space station solar array system are the (1) solar array blanket system, (2) FASTMast support structure, and (3) mast canister assembly. The FASTMast once fully deployed from the canister will provide support to the solar array blankets. A unique feature of this structure is that the system responds linearly within a certain range of operating loads and nonlinearly when that range is exceeded. The source of nonlinear behavior in this case is due to a changing stiffness state resulting from an inability of diagonal members to resist applied loads. The principal objective of this study was to establish the failure modes involving instability of the FASTMast structure. Also of great interest during this effort was to establish a reliable analytical approach capable of effectively predicting critical values at which the mast becomes unstable. Due to the dual nature of structural response inherent to this problem, both linear and nonlinear analyses are required to characterize the mast in terms of stability. The approach employed herein is one that can be considered systematic in nature. The analysis begins with one and two-dimensional failure models of the system and its important components. From knowledge gained through preliminary analyses a foundation is developed for three-dimensional analyses of the FASTMast structure. The three-dimensional finite element (FE) analysis presented here involves a FASTMast system one-tenth the size of the actual flight unit. Although this study does not yield failure analysis results that apply directly to the flight article, it does establish a method by which the full-scale mast can be evaluated.

Shaker, John F.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Performance, Stability, and Plume Characterization of the HERMeS Thruster with Boron Nitride Silica Composite Discharge Channel

NASA's Hall Effect Rocket with Magnetic Shielding (HERMeS) 12.5kW Technology Demonstration Unit-3 (TDU-3) has been the subject of extensive technology maturation in preparation for flight system development. Detailed performance, stability, and plume characterization tests of the thruster were performed at NASA GRC's Vacuum Facility 5 (VF-5). The TDU-3 thruster implements a magnetic topology that is identical to TDU-1. The TDU-3 boron nitride silica composite discharge channel material is different than the TDU-1 heritage boron nitride discharge channel material. Performance and stability characterization of the TDU-3 thruster was performed at discharge voltages between 300V and 600V and at discharge currents between 5A and 21.8A. The thruster performance and stability were assessed for varying magnetic field strength, cathode flow fractions between 5% and 9%, varying harness inductance, and for reverse magnet polarity. Performance characterization test results indicate that the TDU-3 thruster performance is in family with the TDU-1 levels. TDU-3's thrust efficiency of 65% and specific impulse of 2,800sec at 600V and 12.5kW exceed performance levels of SOA Hall thrusters. Thruster stability regimes were characterized with respect to the thruster discharge current oscillations (discharge current peak-to-peak and root mean square magnitudes), discharge current waveform power spectral density analysis, and maps of the current-voltage-magnetic field. Stability characterization test results indicate a stability profile similar to TDU-1. Finally, comparison of the TDU-1 and TDU-3 plume profiles found that there were negligible differences in the plasma plume characteristics between the TDU with heritage boron nitride versus the boron nitride silica composite discharge channel.

ion engines↗
NASA NTRS1998

Mars Ascent Vehicle Flight Analysis

The scientific objective of the Mars Surveyor Program 2005 mission is to return Mars rock, soil, and atmospheric samples to Earth for detailed analysis. The present investigation focuses on design of Mars Ascent Vehicle for this mission. Aerodynamic, aerothermodynamic, and trajectory design considerations are addressed to assess the ascent configuration, determine aerodynamic stability, characterize thermal protection system requirements, and ascertain the required system mass. Aerodynamic analysis reveals a subsonic static instability with the baseline configuration; however, stability augmentation options are proposed to mitigate this problem. The ascent aerothermodynamic environment is shown to be benign (on the order of the sea-level boiling point of water on Earth). As a result of these low thermal and pressure loads, a lightweight, low rigidity material can be employed as the aftbody aerodynamic shroud. The required nominal MAV lift-off mass is 426 kg for a December 2006 equatorial launch into a 300-km circular orbit with 30-degree inclination. Off-nominal aerodynamic and atmospheric conditions are shown to increase this liftoff mass by approximately 10%. Through performance of these analyses, the Mars Ascent Vehicle is deemed feasible with respect to the current mission mass and size constraints.

Desai, P. N.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Stability analysis and compensation of a boost regulator with two-loop control

A useful stability measure has been demonstrated by Wester (1973) for switching regulators with a single feedback loop by applying the Nyquist criterion to the approximate loop gain determined by a time-averaging technique. This approach is extended and applied to the characterization, stability analysis, and compensation design of a switching regulator with two-loop control. The role and relative significance of each control loop is clarified on the basis of a description of circuit operation, and the major and minor loops are identified. In view of the inapplicability of linear feedback theory, describing functions of the feedback loops and power stage are derived, using small-signal analysis. Several phenomena revealed from an analysis of the major loop gain are discussed.

Wester, G. W.↗
NASA NTRS1991

An improved offset generator developed for Allan deviation measurement of ultra stable frequency standards

Measuring the performance of ultra stable frequency standards such as the Superconducting Cavity Maser Oscillator (SCMO) necessitates improvement of some test instrumentation. The frequency stability test equipment used at JPL includes a 1 Hz Offset Generator to generate a beat frequency between a pair of 100 MHz signals that are being compared. The noise floor of the measurement system using the current Offset Generator is adequate to characterize stability of hydrogen masers, but it is not adequate for the SCMO. A new Offset Generator with improved stability was designed and tested at JPL. With this Offset Generator and a new Zero Crossing Detector, recently developed at JPL, the measurement flow was reduced by a factor of 5.5 at 1 second tau, 3.0 at 1000 seconds, and 9.4 at 10,000 seconds, compared against the previous design. In addition to the new circuit designs of the Offset Generator and Zero Crossing Detector, tighter control of the measurement equipment environment was required to achieve this improvement. The design of this new Offset Generator are described, along with details of the environment control methods used.

R. L. Hamell↗
NASA NTRS2018

Optimization of the Magnetic Field Topology in the Hall Effect Rocket with Magnetic Shielding

NASA's Hall Effect Rocket with Magnetic Shielding (HERMeS) 12.5kW Technology Demonstration Unit-1 (TDU-1) has been the subject of extensive technology maturation in preparation for flight system development. The TDU-1 thruster implements a magnetically shielded field topology and has demonstrated the elimination of the discharge channel erosion. Extensive wear testing the TDU Hall thrusters has identified the thruster front pole covers as the next life limiting component. This effort aims to explore and investigate alternate magnetic field topologies to assess whether reductions in the front pole cover erosion can be attained while still maintaining very low erosion rates on the discharge channel walls. NASA GRC and JPL have begun a magnetic field topology characterization and optimization study by designing four candidate magnetic field topologies that reduce the effectiveness of the shielding along the discharge channel walls with the intent to also reduce the erosion rates along the pole covers. Three of the four candidate magnetic field topologies have been manufactured subjected to an extensive test campaign that includes performance, plume, and stability characterization. In Phase I of the testing campaign, the thruster's oscillation magnitude and Laser Induced fluorescence (LIF) measurements of the plasma plume were performed for the three candidate topologies. In Phase I, the thruster's oscillation magnitude and LIF measurements were performed for the three candidate topologies. Phase I test results found that the B1 configuration attained lower oscillation levels than B0. Additionally, LIF measurements along the discharge chamber centerline found that upstream retraction of the thruster's peak magnetic field does result in an upstream shift of the acceleration zone but the magnitude of the shift does not correspond one-to-one to the shift in the location of the peak radial magnetic field magnitude. Phase II test segment will include performing performance, stability, plume, and erosion measurements for the various candidate magnetic field topologies.

Kamhawi, Hani↗
NASA NTRS2018

Optimization of the Magnetic Field Topology in the Hall Effect Rocket with Magnetic Shielding

NASA's Hall Effect Rocket with Magnetic Shielding (HERMeS) 12.5 kilowatt Technology Demonstration Unit-1 (TDU-1) has been the subject of extensive technology maturation in preparation for flight system development. The TDU-1 thruster implements a magnetically shielded field topology and has demonstrated the elimination of the discharge channel erosion. Extensive wear testing of the TDU Hall thrusters has identified the thruster front pole covers as the next life limiting component. This effort aims to explore and investigate alternate magnetic field topologies to assess whether reductions in the front pole cover erosion can be attained while still maintaining very low erosion rates on the discharge channel walls. NASA GRC (Glenn Research Center) and JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) have begun a magnetic field topology characterization and optimization study by designing four candidate magnetic field topologies that reduce the effectiveness of the shielding along the discharge channel walls with the intent to also reduce the erosion rates along the pole covers. Three of the four candidate magnetic field topologies have been manufactured subjected to an extensive test campaign that includes performance, plume, and stability characterization. In the Phase I test segment, the thruster's oscillation magnitude and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) measurements of the plasma plume were performed for the three candidate topologies. In Phase I, the thruster's oscillation magnitude and LIF measurements were performed for the three candidate topologies. Phase I test results found that the B1 configuration attained lower oscillation levels than the baseline topology (B0). Additionally, laser induced fluorescence measurements along the discharge chamber centerline found that upstream retraction of the thruster’s peak magnetic field does result in an upstream shift of the acceleration zone but the magnitude of the shift does not correspond one-to-one to the shift in the location of the peak radial magnetic field magnitude. Phase II test segment will include performing performance, stability, plume, and erosion measurements for the various candidate magnetic field topologies..

Kamhawi, Hani↗
NASA NTRS2016

Hall Thruster Thermal Modeling and Test Data Correlation

HERMeS - Hall Effect Rocket with Magnetic Shielding. Developed through a joint effort by NASA/GRC and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Design goals: High power (12.5 kW) high Isp (3000 sec), high efficiency (> 60%), high throughput (10,000 kg), reduced plasma erosion and increased life (5 yrs) to support Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission (ARRM). Further details see "Performance, Facility Pressure Effects and Stability Characterization Tests of NASAs HERMeS Thruster" by H. Kamhawi and team. Hall Thrusters (HT) inherently operate at elevated temperatures approx. 600 C (or more). Due to electric magnetic (E x B) fields used to ionize and accelerate propellant gas particles (i.e., plasma). Cooling is largely limited to radiation in vacuum environment.Thus the hardware components must withstand large start-up delta-T's. HT's are constructed of multiple materials; assorted metals, non-metals and ceramics for their required electrical and magnetic properties. To mitigate thermal stresses HT design must accommodate the differential thermal growth from a wide range of material Coef. of Thermal Expansion (CTEs). Prohibiting the use of some bolted/torqued interfaces.Commonly use spring loaded interfaces, particularly at the metal-to-ceramic interfaces to allow for slippage.However most component interfaces must also effectively conduct heat to the external surfaces for dissipation by radiation.Thus contact pressure and area are important.

Model↗
NASA NTRS2016

Monitoring Orbital Precession of EO-1 Hyperion With Three Atmospheric Correction Models in the Libya-4 PICS

Spaceborne spectrometers require spectral-temporal stability characterization to aid in validation of derived data products. Earth Observation 1 (EO-1) began orbital precession in 2011 after exhausting onboard fuel resources. In the Libya-4 pseudo-invariant calibration site (PICS), this resulted in a progressive shift from a mean local equatorial crossing time of approximately10:00 A.M. in 2011 to approximately 8:30 A.M. in late 2015. Here, we studied precession impacts to Hyperion surface reflectance products using three atmospheric correction approaches from 2004 to 2015. Combined difference estimates of surface reflectance were less than 5 percent in the visible near infrared (VNIR) and less than 10 percent for most of the shortwave infrared (SWIR). Combined coefficient of variation estimates in the VNIR ranged from 0.025 to 0.095, and in the SWIR it ranged from 0.025 to 0.06, excluding bands near atmospheric absorption features. Reflectances produced with different atmospheric models were correlated (R squared) in VNIR from 0.25 to 0.94 and in SWIR from 0.12 to 0.88 (p value (calculated probability) less than 0.01). The uncertainties in all the models increased with a terrain slope up to 15 degrees and selecting dune flats could reduce errors. We conclude that these data remain a valuable resource over this period for sensor intercalibration despite orbital decay.

Neigh, Christopher S. R.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Attitude Reconstruction of Free-Flight CFD Generated Trajectories Using Non-Linear Pitch Damping Coefficient Curves

Attitude history reconstruction of Free-flight CFD generated trajectories with non-linear pitch damping coefficient curves is investigated. Free-flight CFD simulations of the capsule shape used for the Genesis sample return mission and the upcoming Dragonfly mission to Titan are conducted for 1-, 2-, and 3-degree-of-freedom cases. Two different data reduction methodologies are employed to derive a pitch damping curve as a function of instantaneous angle of attack. These curves are then used to reconstruct the attitude history of the body which is compared to the raw simulation results. While both data reduction methods produce pitch damping curves that can generally reconstruct the motion seen in the Free-flight simulations, it is found that optimization of the pitch damping curve using an inverse estimation process yields superior and more generalizable results. Further refinement of this technique could allow pitch damping curves derived using CFD to serve as a capability complementary to existing techniques for dynamic stability characterization.

entry↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Attitude Reconstruction of Free-Flight CFD Generated Trajectories Using Non-Linear Pitch Damping Coefficient Curves

Attitude history reconstruction of Free-flight CFD generated trajectories with non-linear pitch damping coefficient curves is investigated. Free-flight CFD simulations of the capsule shape used for the Genesis sample return mission and the upcoming Dragonfly mission to Titan are conducted for 1-, 2-, and 3-degree-of-freedom cases. Two different data reduction methodologies are employed to derive a pitch damping curve as a function of instantaneous angle of attack. These curves are then used to reconstruct the attitude history of the body which is compared to the raw simulation results. While both data reduction methods produce pitch damping curves that can generally reconstruct the motion seen in the Free-flight simulations, it is found that optimization of the pitch damping curve using an inverse estimation process yields superior and more generalizable results. Further refinement of this technique could allow pitch damping curves derived using CFD to serve as a capability complementary to existing techniques for dynamic stability characterization.

entry↗
NASA NTRS2005

Characterizing the Chemical Stability of High Temperature Materials for Application in Extreme Environments

The chemical stability of high temperature materials must be known for use in the extreme environments of combustion applications. The characterization techniques available at NASA Glenn Research Center vary from fundamental thermodynamic property determination to material durability testing in actual engine environments. In this paper some of the unique techniques and facilities available at NASA Glenn will be reviewed. Multiple cell Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry is used to determine thermodynamic data by sampling gas species formed by reaction or equilibration in a Knudsen cell held in a vacuum. The transpiration technique can also be used to determine thermodynamic data of volatile species but at atmospheric pressures. Thermodynamic data in the Si-O-H(g) system were determined with this technique. Free Jet Sampling Mass Spectrometry can be used to study gas-solid interactions at a pressure of one atmosphere. Volatile Si(OH)4(g) was identified by this mass spectrometry technique. A High Pressure Burner Rig is used to expose high temperature materials in hydrocarbon-fueled combustion environments. Silicon carbide (SiC) volatility rates were measured in the burner rig as a function of total pressure, gas velocity and temperature. Finally, the Research Combustion Lab Rocket Test Cell is used to expose high temperature materials in hydrogen/oxygen rocket engine environments to assess material durability. SiC recession due to rocket engine exposures was measured as a function of oxidant/fuel ratio, temperature, and total pressure. The emphasis of the discussion for all techniques will be placed on experimental factors that must be controlled for accurate acquisition of results and reliable prediction of high temperature material chemical stability.

Opila, Elizabeth↗
NASA NTRS2019

Field Calibration Techniques used to Characterize the Radiometric Stability of the GEO-CAPE Airborne Simulator (GCAS)

The GEOstationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) Airborne Simulator (GCAS) was developed at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and has flown in multiple field campaigns to perform mapping of the regional-scale EPA criteria pollutants nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and formaldehyde. GCAS will also participate invalidation campaigns for NASA’s Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring POllution (TEMPO) mission and the Korean Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS) mission, both scheduled to launch in the early 2020s. GCAS houses two commercial Offner-type grating spectrometers that measure backscattered solar spectral radiance from the near-ultraviolet to near-infrared at high spatial resolution (typically 250 meters at 8.5 kilometer altitude). These radiances are used to retrieve spatial and temporal distributions of trace gases relevant to the boundary layer and free tropospheric atmospheric chemistry cycles. In this paper, we describe the field calibration techniques employed to characterize the spectral and temporal radiometric stability of the system during its most recent deployment in the 2018 Long Island Sound Trace Ozone Study (LISTOS) field campaign. Overall measurement uncertainty, retrieval impacts, and lessons learned for future deployments will also be described.

NASA’s Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring POllutio↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Validation of a Mid-Fidelity Approach for Aircraft Stability and Control Characterization

This paper describes an efficient computational approach for aircraft aerodynamic model development intended for use in flight dynamics simulations. A commercial surface-vorticity flow solver called FlightStream is employed to predict performance, stability, and control characteristics for a NASA subscale electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft in its isolated-airframe configuration. A framework is described to rapidly convert OpenVSP geometry into a form compatible with the FlightStream software. FlightStream predictions for the variation of aerodynamic force and moment coefficients with airflow angles and control surface deflection angles are compared to static wind-tunnel data to illustrate the process and assess the accuracy of FlightStream solutions. The results and approach presented in this paper are encouraging for use in rapid aerodynamic modeling and flight dynamics simulation development early in the aircraft design process.

aerodynamic modeling↗
NASA NTRS2010

Characterizing DSN System Frequency Stability with Spacecraft Tracking Data

This paper describes a recent effort in characterizing frequency stability performance of the ground system in the NASA Deep Space Network (DSN). Unlike the traditional approach where performance is obtained from special calibration sessions that are both time consuming and require manual setup, the new method taps into the daily spacecraft tracking data. This method significantly increases the amount of data available for analysis, roughly by two orders of magnitude; making it possible to conduct trend analysis with reasonable confidence. Since the system is monitored daily, any significant variation in performance can be detected timely. This helps the DSN maintain its performance commitment to customers.

performance analysis↗