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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 361 records · Page 20
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1972

Heat-transfer testing procedures in phase B shuttle studies with emphasis on phase change data improvement

The procedures used in the application of the phase change technique to the phase B shuttle configuration are discussed along with factors which may affect data accuracy. These factors include variation of thermal properties of phase change model material, sensitivity of measured heat transfer coefficients to the assumed value of the adiabatic to total temperature ratio, and wall temperature effects. These sensitivities are illustrated in sample calculations for a shuttle geometry. Factors which may affect the visual clarity and interpretation of phase change data are discussed, and a method of improving photographic data quality through the use of polarized light is presented.

Throckmorton, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The influence of temperature on fatigue-crack growth in a mill annealed Ti-6Al-4V alloy

To understand the influence temperature on the rate of fatigue crack growth in high strength metal alloys, constant load amplitude, fatigue crack growth experiments were carried out using a 1/4-inch-thick (6.35 mm) mill annealed Ti-6Al-4V alloy plate as a model material. The rates of fatigue crack growth were determined as a function of temperature, ranging from room temperature to about 290 C (or, about 550 F/563K) and as a function of the crack tip stress intensity factor in a dehumidified high purity argon environment. Limited correlative experiments indicate that dehumidified oxygen and hydrogen have no effect on the rate of fatigue crack growth in this alloy, while distilled water increased the rate of crack growth slightly in the range tested. Companion fractographic examinations suggest that the mechanisms for fatigue crack growth in the various environments are essentially the same.

Wei, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Junction characteristics of silicon solar cells. Part 1: Nonilluminated case

Precise values of the reverse saturation currents in silicon solar cells and magnitudes of the diffusion and recombination components have been obtained. The recombination current as well as leakage current due to shunting are shown to be nonuniform across the cell. The diffusion lengths calculated from the diffusion current components agree well with diffusion lengths measured independently in similar material. Models are given demonstrating the effect of recombination and shunting currents on the dark current-voltage characteristics of solar cells.

Stirn, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Investigation of extendable nozzle concepts

Preliminary research and technology were performed toward the development of a transpiration cooled inflatable nozzle extension. The J-2 engine of the Saturn-Apollo launch vehicle was selected as a design application test bed to provide realistic operational parameters and a possible hot firing demonstration. The nozzle extension attached at the 27.5 to 1 area ratio of the basic J-2 nozzle exit and extended to an area ratio of 48 to 1. The final nozzle extension design as evolved during this effort utilized conically woven stainless steel airmat as the major construction material. Model and full scale nozzle extensions were fabricated and tested although an actual J-2 hot firing demonstration was not possible due to the lack of a proper altitude test opportunity.

Scott, C. N.↗
NASA NTRS1971

The influence of temperature on fatigue-crack growth in a mill-annealed Ti-6Al-4V alloy

To understand the influence of temperature on the rate of fatigue crack growth in high strength metal alloys, constant load amplitude fatigue crack growth experiments were carried out using a 1/4 inch thick (6.35 mm) mill-annealed Ti-6Al-4V alloy plate as a model material. The rates of fatigue crack growth were determined as a function of temperature, ranging from room temperature to about 290 C and as a function of the crack tip, stress intensity factor K, in dehumidified high purity argon environment. The dependence of the rate of fatigue crack growth on K appears to be separable into two regions. The transition correlates with changes in both the microscopic and macroscopic appearances of the fracture surfaces, and suggests a change in the mechanism and the influence of microstructure on fatigue crack growth.

Wei, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Origin of the cell - Experiments and premises

Theories and component concepts of the origin of life, i.e., primordial life, have emerged from (1) constructionistic studies on model materials and systems, and (2) reductionistic studies of contemporary cells. The resultant views conflict in a number of aspects; many of the differences are analyzed in this article. Constructionistic experiments are appropriate to asking questions about origins since they are in the same direction as evolution itself. These experiments have revealed self-ordering properties and associated emergent functions, which were not predictable.

Fox, S. W.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Dynamic response of membranes with finite elements

A general set of finite-element equations is developed for treating the nonlinear dynamic response of membranes consisting of complex nonlinear materials. The approach proposed by Key (1974) for a most complete treatment of the finite-element method to the nonlinear dynamic analysis of solids is used in developing the nonlinear equations of motion for membranes with cubic quadrilateral finite elements. The computations are kept general with respect to material modeling by computing the deformation gradient and requiring a constitutive subroutine to supply the Cauchy stress. An example calculation of the vibration of a square membrane demonstrates the accuracy of the formulation for small deformation theory and shows the nonlinear effect of large deformations.

Benzley, S. E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Low-cost ultrasonic lamb-wave transducer

Transducer propagates Lamb wave through thin aluminum sheet material. Model includes two elements that measure effects of damping and loading which, in turn, are indirectly equated to bond integrity. Transducer has been used to evaluate bond integrity of aluminum facing adhesively bonded to aluminum facing. Because of versatility, it is now possible to inspect many objects of different configurations that could not be reached with earlier transducers.

Kammerer, C. C.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Computer analysis of heterojunction and graded bandgap solar cells

The development and application of a graded bandgap solar cell computer analysis program is discussed. The basic device equations as used in the computer analysis are discussed and the techniques used to model material parameter variations are described. Finally, the results of the computer analysis of several Al(x)Ga(1-x)As and GaAs(1-x)P(x) solar cell structures are presented along with a discussion of the effects of interface states and various composition profiles on maximum solar cell efficiency.

Sutherland, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Development of stable low-electroosmotic mobility coatings

Long-time rinsings of the Z6040-methlycellulose coating used successfully on the ASTP MA=011 experiment indicate the permanency of this coating is inadequate for continuous flowing systems. Two approaches are described for developing coatings which are stable under continuous fluid movement and which exhibit finite and predictable electroosmotic mobility values while being effective on different types of surfaces, such as glass, plastics, and ceramic alumina, such as is currently used as the electrophoresis channel in the GE-SPAR-CPE apparatus. The surface charge modification of polystyrene latex, especially by protein absorption, to be used as model materials for ground-based electrophoresis experiments, and the preliminary work directed towards the seeded polymerization of large-particle-size monodisperse latexes in a microgravity environment are discussed.

Vanderhoff, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Space environmental interactions with spacecraft surfaces

The employment of large structures in space, which would be necessary in connection with a number of space missions and space activities currently being contemplated, might involve special problems as a result of the interactions of the structures with the charged particle environment. Such interactions would be particularly significant in the case of high operational voltages. A review is presented of possible interactions between spacecraft surfaces and charged-particle environments. The categories of spacecraft-environmental interactions are examined and a description of spacecraft charging interactions is presented. The status of charging investigation is considered, taking into account the environment, aspects of analytical modeling, materials characterization, materials development, space flight experiments, and design guidelines. High voltage surface-plasma interactions are also investigated.

Stevens, N. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Bubble behavior during solidification in low gravity

The trapping and behavior of gas bubbles were studied during low-gravity solidification of carbon tetrabromide, a transparent metal-model material. The experiment was performed during a NASA-sponsored sounding rocket flight and involved gradient freeze solidification of a gas-saturated melt. Gas bubbles were evolved at the solid-liquid interface during the low-gravity interval. No large-scale thermal migration of bubbles, bubble pushing by the solid-liquid interface, or bubble detachment from the interface were observed during the low-gravity experiment. A unique bubble motion-fluid flow event occurred in one specimen: a large bubble moved downward and caused some circulation of the melt. The gas bubbles that were trapped by the solid in commercial-purity material formed voids that had a cylindrical shape, in contrast to the spherical shape that had been observed in a prior low-gravity experiment. These shapes were not influenced by the gravity level (0.0001 g-0 vs g-0), but were dependent upon the initial temperature gradient. In higher purity material, however, the shape of the voids changed from cylindrical in 1g to spherical in low gravity.

Papazian, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Analysis of a unidirectional composite containing broken fibers and matrix damage

An analytical solution is developed for the determination of the stresses and displacements in a unidirectional fiber-reinforced composite containing an arbitrary number of broken fibers as well as longitudinal yielding and splitting of the matrix. The solution is developed using a materials-modeling approach which is based on a shear-lag stress transfer mechanism. The equilibrium equation in the axial direction gives a pair of integral equations which are solved numerically. Excellent agreement is shown to exist between the solution and experimental results for notched unidirectional boron/aluminum laminates without splitting. For brittle matrix composites (i.e. epoxy) equally good results are indicated for both matrix yielding and splitting. For yielding without splitting the fracture strength depends on crack length while for large splitting it is crack length independent.

George, J. G.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Surface temperatures and glassy state investigations in tribology, part 3

Research related to the development of the limiting shear stress rheological model is reported. Techniques were developed for subjecting lubricants to isothermal compression in order to obtain relevant determinations of the limiting shear stress and elastic shear modulus. The isothermal compression limiting shear stress was found to predict very well the maximum traction for a given lubricant. Small amounts of side slip and twist incorporated in the model were shown to have great influence on the rising portion of the traction curve at low slide-roll ratio. The shear rheological model was also applied to a Grubin-like elastohydrodynamic inlet analysis for predicting film thicknesses when employing the limiting shear stress model material behavior.

Bair, S.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Stresses in a three-dimensional unidirectional composite containing broken fibers

An approximate solution is developed for the determination of the interlaminar normal and shear stresses in the vicinity of a crack in a three dimensional composite containing unidirectional linearly elastic fibers in an infinite linearly elastic matrix. In order to reduce the complexity of the formulation, certain assumptions are made as to the physically significant stresses to be retained. These simplifications reduce the partial differential equations of elasticity to differential-difference equations which are tractable using Fourier transform techniques. This 'material modeling' approach is in contrast with solutions developed by considering each lamina as a homogeneous, orthotropic layer. The resulting solution does not contain the classical singular stress field for the fibers and the influence of broken fibers on unbroken fibers is felt by a change in stress concentration factors. The matrix stresses however, are unbounded as the fiber spacing vanishes and an equivalent fiber-matrix geometry is proposed which gives the correct singular behavior. The numerical solution is considered in detail and several specific examples are presented. The potential for damaged or debonded zones to be generated by an embedded crack is discussed, and stress concentration factors for fibers near the crack are given. Detailed comparisons are made between the present solution, the analogous two-dimensional problem, and corresponding shear-lag models.

Goree, J. G.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Analysis of a unidirectional composite containing broken fibers and matrix damage

An analytical solution is developed for the determination of the stresses and displacements in a unidirectional fiber-reinforced composite containing an arbitrary number of broken fibers as well as longitudinal yielding and splitting of the matrix. The solution is developed using a 'materials-modeling' approach which is based on a shear-lag stress transfer mechanism. The equilibrium equation in the axial direction gives a pair of integral equations which are solved numerically. Excellent agreement is shown to exist between the solution and experimental results for notched unidirectional boron/aluminum laminates without splitting. For brittle matrix composites (i.e., epoxy) equally good results are indicated for both matrix yielding and splitting. For yielding without splitting the fracture strength is found to depend on crack length while for large splitting it is crack length independent.

Goree, J. G.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Float zone experiments

The objectives of this work are: to determine if surface tension-driven convection in float zone experiments may be controlled by means of surface films; and if convection can be controlled, determine whether homogeneous solute distributions will be achieved in float zone solidification and whether accurate measurements of liquid diffusion coefficients may be obtained from float zone solidification experiments. Sn was chosen as a model material because it is a group IV element, chemically similar to Si and Ge and its low melting point and low vapor pressure allow Auger spectroscopy to be employed with liquid samples.

Verhoeven, J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Program of Research in Aeronautics

A prospectus of the educational and research opportunities available at the Joint Institute for Advancement of Flight Sciences, operated at NASA Langley Research Center in conjunction with George Washington University's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences is presented. Requirements of admission to various degree programs are given as well as the course offerings in the areas of acoustics, aeronautics, environmental modelling, materials science, and structures and dynamics. Research facilities for each field of study are described. Presentations and publications (including dissertations and theses) generated by each program are listed as well as faculty members visting scientists and engineers.

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