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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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NASA NTRS1980

Surface composition changes in massive star evolution with mass loss

A series of evolutionary models of 40-100 solar mass objects undergoing mass loss are constructed with the explicit inclusion of the surface composition of H, He, C, N, O elements. Mass loss rates similar to those observed in Of stars, 4 to 7 x 10 to the -6th solar masses/yr, result in an appearance at the surface of equilibrium CNO products, i.e. enhanced nitrogen and diminished carbon, while that star is still burning hydrogen in the core. This result obtains because the initial convection core is a relatively large fraction of the total mass and rather modest loss exposes levels of anomalous composition. It is suggested that these objects might reasonably be identified as those luminous late type WN stars still containing surface hydrogen.

Noels, A.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Conceptual design of electrostatic antenna

The concept of using electrostatic forces to tension a thin, conducting membrane and maintain it in a precision antenna shape is discussed. This electrostatically controlled membrane mirror is an adpative structure which maintains surface quality despite errors in construction, irregularities of materials, solar heating, and on board disturbances.

Coyner, J. V.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Formation of the Galilean satellites in a gaseous nebula

A model for Galilean satellite formation is developed in which the satellites accrete in the presence of a dense, gaseous disk-shaped nebula and rapidly form optically thick, gravitationally bound primordial atmospheres. Partially differentiated structures are obtained for both Ganymede and Callisto, although the amount of partial differentiation of Callisto is small, possibly approaching zero for a narrow size distribution of infalling planetesimals. A nominal nebula of approximately 0.1 Jupiter masses is constructed by employing the likely surface density profiles and existing Jupiter collapse calculations. It is shown that satellites accrete very rapidly (dynamical time scales of 100-10,000 years) and their optically thick gaseous envelopes are unable to eliminate the heat of accretion by radiation. Water-saturated, convective, adiabatic envelopes form, through which planetesimals fall, break up, and partially disseminate their mass. The resulting satellite surface temperatures during accretion are calculated. It is concluded that the extensive differentiation undergone by Ganymede may provide the right environment for subsequent resurfacing, whereas the relative lack of differentiation for Callisto may explain the inferred absence of endogenic tectonism.

Lunine, J. I.↗

NASA NTRS1983

An all fiber-optic sensor for surface acoustic wave measurements

A surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor constructed from single-mode fiber-optic components is described. An analysis of reciprocal and nonreciprocal modes of operation of the sensor is presented. Results from measurements on a variety of SAW devices illustrate the use of the sensor. The amplitude sensitivity is 0.0003 A for an integration time of 0.1 s.

Bowers, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Unsteady transonic heat transfer in a transient facility

A facility for making heat transfer measurements on solid surfaces using transient techniques is constructed. The facility being constructed is a Ludweig tube with isentropic compression heating (LICH tube). The work completed is detailed as is the work remaining in order to complete the facility and make useful heat transfer measurements. The scope of the project is briefly discussed along with an overall appraisal of the progress.

Lagraff, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Near-wall turbulence alteration through thin streamwise riblets

The possibility of improving the level of drag reduction associated with near-wall riblets is considered. The methodology involves the use of a hot-wire anemometer to study various surface geometries on small, easily constructed models. These models consist of small, adjacent rectangular channels on the wall aligned in the streamwise direction. The VITA technique is modified and applied to thin-element-array and smooth flat-plate data and the results are indicated schematically.

Wilkinson, Stephen P.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Progress in determining the thickness and distribution of volcanic materials on Mars

Volcanic plains and constructs comprise over half the surface of Mars. Volume estimates require sensible estimates of the thickness of volcanic materials. The completion of the 1:2 M Viking photomosaics and a refined geologic map based on Viking photography set the stage for improved thickness studies and volume estimates. Currently, a revised (but incomplete) data base of 740 partially buried craters was compiled using Mars photomosaics at 1:2 M for initial identification and measurement.

Dehon, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Radar observations of asteroid 1986 JK

The asteroid 1986 JK was observed with a 3.5 cm-wavelength radar in May and June, 1986, at less than 0.029 AU; its radar echo power circular polarization ratio indicates single backscattering from smooth surface elements. A working model constructed for the asteroid in light of these radar data postulates a 1-2 km object whose shape has little elongation and some polar flattening. Orbital and physical characteristics are rather cometlike. The radar astrometric data obtained are noted to be extremely powerful for orbit-improvement, so that a search ephemeris whose uncertainty is an order-of-magnitude smaller than that based on relevant optical data alone can be prepared by combining optical and radar data.

Ostro, S. J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The generation of surface targets with specified surface statistics

Results are presented from efforts to generate physical surfaces from known or desired surface statistical properties, proceeding from previous work on the generation of random surfaces for use in computer simulations. The known statistical surface is extended using a bicubic spline technique; these results are interfaced with a numerically controlled machine in order to generate the physical surface. A portion of a complete surface with Gaussian statistics was constructed and tested to measure conformity to the desired statistics.

Rochier, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1990

An Optimal Design For Steerable Dish Antenna With BWG

New design proposed for highly-efficient 34-m-diameter millimeter-wavelength antennas of NASA's Deep Space Network. Incorporates axial beam waveguide, BWG, and improved structure to maintain shape and alignment of reflecting surfaces. General approach to conceptual construction of structure to modularize overall system so critical constraint conditions pertaining to microwave optics and structural performance satisfied. Design retrofitted to existing NASA Deep Space Network 34-m antennas, or used as basis to build large ground-based steerable antennas. Engineering concepts involved in design adapted to design of other large, steerable antennas for telecommunications, radio astronomy, and military uses.

Chuang, K. L.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Consolidation of lunar regolith: Microwave versus direct solar heating

The production of construction materials on the lunar surface will require an appropriate fabrication technique. Two processing methods considered as being suitable for producing dense, consolidated products such as bricks are direct solar heating and microwave heating. An analysis was performed to compare the two processes in terms of the amount of power and time required to fabricate bricks of various size. The regolith was considered to be a mare basalt with an overall density of 60 pct. of theoretical. Densification was assumed to take place by vitrification since this process requires moderate amounts of energy and time while still producing dense products. Microwave heating was shown to be significantly faster compared to solar furnace heating for rapid production of realistic-size bricks.

Kunitzer, J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Further evaluation of the constrained least squares electromagnetic compensation method

Technologies exist for construction of antennas with adaptive surfaces that can compensate for many of the larger distortions caused by thermal and gravitational forces. However, as the frequency and size of reflectors increase, the subtle surface errors become significant and degrade the overall electromagnetic performance. Electromagnetic (EM) compensation through an adaptive feed array offers means for mitigation of surface distortion effects. Implementation of EM compensation is investigated with the measured surface errors of the NASA 15 meter hoop/column reflector antenna. Computer simulations are presented for: (1) a hybrid EM compensation technique, and (2) evaluating the performance of a given EM compensation method when implemented with discretized weights.

Smith, William T.↗

NASA NTRS1992

An interactive multi-block grid generation system

A grid generation procedure combining interactive and batch grid generation programs was put together to generate multi-block grids for complex aircraft configurations. The interactive section provides the tools for 3D geometry manipulation, surface grid extraction, boundary domain construction for 3D volume grid generation, and block-block relationships and boundary conditions for flow solvers. The procedure improves the flexibility and quality of grid generation to meet the design/analysis requirements.

Kao, T. J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

A pattern synthesis technique for array feeds to improve radiation performance of large distorted reflector antennas

Technologies exist for construction of antennas with adaptive surfaces that can compensate for many of the larger distortions caused by thermal and gravitational forces. However, as the frequency and size of the reflectors increase, the subtle surface errors become significant and degrade the overall electromagnetic performance. Electronic compensation through an adaptive feed array offers a means for mitigation of surface distortion effects. A pattern synthesis approach for electromagnetic compensation of surface error is presented. The pattern synthesis approach uses a localized algorithm in which pattern corrections are directed toward specific portions of the pattern requiring improvement. The pattern synthesis technique uses radiation pattern data to perform the compensation.

Smith, William T.↗

NASA NTRS1992

A smart end-effector for assembly of space truss structures

A unique facility, the Automated Structures Research Laboratory, is being used to investigate robotic assembly of truss structures. A special-purpose end-effector is used to assemble structural elements into an eight meter diameter structure. To expand the capabilities of the facility to include construction of structures with curved surfaces from straight structural elements of different lengths, a new end-effector has been designed and fabricated. This end-effector contains an integrated microprocessor to monitor actuator operations through sensor feedback. This paper provides an overview of the automated assembly tasks required by this end-effector and a description of the new end-effector's hardware and control software.

Doggett, William R.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Lunar landing and launch facilities (Complex 39L): Guidance systems and propellant systems

After a general, overall definition of Complex 39L during the previous two years, the 1988-89 projects were chosen to focus on more specific aspects, specifically, guidance systems and propellant systems. Six teams or subtasks were formulated: cascade refrigeration for boil-off recovery of cryogenic storage vessels; lunar ground-based radar system to track space vehicles; microwave altimeter for spacecraft; development of a computational model for the determination of lunar surface and sub-surface temperatures; lunar cryogenic facility for the storage of fuels; and lunar lander fuel inventory tent for the storage of cryogenic vessels. At the present time, a cascade refrigeration system for a cryogenic boil-off recovery system has been designed. This is to serve as a baseline system. The ground-based tracking system uses existing technology to implement a reliable tracking radar for use on the lunar surface. A prototype has been constructed. The microwave altimeter is for use on lunar landers. It makes use of the Doppler effect to measure both altitude and the vertical velocity component of the spacecraft. A prototype has been constructed. A computational model that predicts the spatial and temporal temperature profiles of the lunar subsurface was formulated. Propellant storage vessels have been designed. A support for these vessels which minimizes heat leaks was also designed. Further work on the details of the Fuel Inventory Tent (FIT) was performed. While much design work on the overall Complex 39L remains to be done, significant new work has been performed in the subject areas.

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NASA NTRS1997

Fatigue Reliability of Gas Turbine Engine Structures

The results of an investigation are described for fatigue reliability in engine structures. The description consists of two parts. Part 1 is for method development. Part 2 is a specific case study. In Part 1, the essential concepts and practical approaches to damage tolerance design in the gas turbine industry are summarized. These have evolved over the years in response to flight safety certification requirements. The effect of Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) methods on these methods is also reviewed. Assessment methods based on probabilistic fracture mechanics, with regard to both crack initiation and crack growth, are outlined. Limit state modeling techniques from structural reliability theory are shown to be appropriate for application to this problem, for both individual failure mode and system-level assessment. In Part 2, the results of a case study for the high pressure turbine of a turboprop engine are described. The response surface approach is used to construct a fatigue performance function. This performance function is used with the First Order Reliability Method (FORM) to determine the probability of failure and the sensitivity of the fatigue life to the engine parameters for the first stage disk rim of the two stage turbine. A hybrid combination of regression and Monte Carlo simulation is to use incorporate time dependent random variables. System reliability is used to determine the system probability of failure, and the sensitivity of the system fatigue life to the engine parameters of the high pressure turbine. 'ne variation in the primary hot gas and secondary cooling air, the uncertainty of the complex mission loading, and the scatter in the material data are considered.

Cruse, Thomas A.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Validation of GLAS Range Measurement over Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

NASA's Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) on the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) is Earth's first polar-orbiting satellite laser altimeter. Its primary purpose is to measure ice sheet elevation change, with a scientific requirement of detecting changes as low as 1.5 centimeters per year. This goal requires precise calibration and validation of the instrument. One approach for validating the GLAS range measurement involves comparison with a land reference target. Dry salt lakes are ideal for this purpose since they are large, stable, easily surveyed using kinematic GPS, and have albedos similar to that of ice. We selected the largest dry salt lake in the world, the salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, as a reference target for GLAS. In September 2002 we surveyed a 54 x 45 kilometer area of the salar with car-mounted kinematic GPS, using the data to construct a DEM of the surface. To date there have been six ICESat passes across our survey area, along two intersecting tracks. The first two passes occurred during "Laser 2A" operation (September to November 2003), the second two during "Laser 2B" operation (February to March 2004), and the final two during "Laser 2C" (June to July 2004). We compare GLAS elevations from all six passes with the salar de Uyuni DEM, showing how differing conditions between passes affected the performance of the GLAS instrument and providing an estimate of the relative and absolute accuracy of the range measurement. To check our results, we also compare the GLAS elevations along the same tracks with the mean sea-surface derived from TOPEX over the ocean on either side of South America.

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