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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 379 records · Page 21
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1980

Interaction of oscillations of channel flow and flow separation at duct discontinuities

A two dimensional experiment was used to study the flow fluctuations in the separated region resulting from a wall slot step (convergent step). This geometry corresponds to the geometry present in a segmented solid rocket motor in the region of the ends of adjoining segments. A modulated tunnel flow of controlled oscillation frequency was used, and the effect on flow fluctuations in the separated region was examined by hot wire velocity measurements. The transfer function between free stream oscillations and separated flow fluctuations at the driven frequency was determined over a range of frequencies and main stream flow velocities. The transfer function exhibited a frequency dependence with maximum in the 10 - 25 Hz range, with the maximum occurring at higher frequency when the mean flow velocity was higher.

Price, E. W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Controller for computer control of brushless dc motors

A motor speed and torque controller for brushless d.c. motors provides an unusually smooth torque control arrangement. The controller provides a means for controlling a current waveform in each winding of a brushless dc motor by synchronization of an excitation pulse train from a programmable oscillator. Sensing of torque for synchronization is provided by a light beam chopper mounted on the motor rotor shaft. Speed and duty cycle are independently controlled by controlling the frequency and pulse width output of the programmable oscillator. A means is also provided so that current transitions from one motor winding to another is effected without abrupt changes in output torque.

Hieda, L. S.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Formation of chromospheric resonance line profiles in supergiants

The formation of chromospheric resonance line profiles is examined for the case of the relatively low-density atmospheres appropriate to late-type supergiants. The effects of partial frequency redistribution control the emergent line profiles, to the extent that even an isothermal atmosphere can give rise to apparent emission features. Schematic model chromospheres are used to demonstrate the effects of different velocity fields and temperature-density structures on the line profiles, as a first step toward a clearer understanding of the chromospheric line profiles and why supergiants have broad emission lines (the Wilson-Bappu effect). Neither the Doppler nor the mass column density explanation alone can explain the Wilson-Bappu effect in supergiants, but both theories may play a role.

Basri, G. S.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Decoupler pylon: wing/store flutter suppressor

A device for suspending a store from a support such as an aircraft wing and more specifically for increasing the flutter speed of an aircraft flying with attached store and reducing the sensitivity of flutter to changes in the pitch inertia and center of gravity location of the store is described. It comprises softspring where the store pitch mode is decoupled from support modes and a low frequency active control mechanism which maintains store alignment. A pneumatic suspension system both isolates the store in pitch and, under conditions of changing mean load, aligns the store with the wing to which it is attached.

Reed, W. H., III↗
NASA NTRS1982

The importance of plasma effects on electron-cyclotron maser-emission from flaring loops

Electron cyclotron maser instability has been suggested as the cause of the observed short (10-20 msec), intense (an approximate brightness temperature of 10 to the 15th K) and up to 100% polarized microwave solar emission. It is shown that plasma effects and thermal cyclotron damping, ignored in previous theories, play an important role in controlling the frequency range of the emission. The radio emission is suppressed for ratios of the plasma frequency to the cyclotron frequency smaller than 0.4. An examination of the cyclotron damping, reveals that the maser action is suppressed unless a large fraction (i.e., over 10%) of the accelerated electrons participates in the emission process.

Sharma, R. R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Off-Resonance Acoustic Levitation Without Rotation

Orthogonal acoustic-levitation modes excited at slightly different frequencies to control rotation. Rotation of object in square cross-section acoustic-levitation chamber stopped by detuning two orthogonal (x and y) excitation drivers in plane of square cross section. Detuning done using fundamental degenerate modes or odd harmonic modes.

Barmatz, M. B.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The Arecibo Observatory as an MST radar

The radars and other systems at the Arecibo Observatory were designed and built, originally, for incoherent-scatter and radio-astronomy research. More recently, important additions have been made for planetary radar and artificial RF heating of the ionosphere. Although designed and built for a different application, these systems have shown to be very powerful tools for tropospheric, stratospheric and mesospheric research. The Observatory at present has two main radars: one at 430 and the other at 2380 MHz. In addition, 50-MHz MST radar work has been done using portable transmitters brought to the Observatory for this purpose. This capability will become permanent with the recent acquisition of a transmitter at this frequency. Furthermore, control and data processing systems have been developed to use the powerful HF transmitter and antennas of the HF-heating facility as an HF bistatic radar. A brief description of the four radars available at the Observatory is presented.

Woodman, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The solar vector magnetograph of the Okayama Astrophysical Observatory

The vector magnetograph of the Okayama Astrophysical Observatory is fed to the 65 cm solar coude telescope with a 10 m Littrow spectrograph. The polarimeter put at the telescope focus analyzes the incident polarization. Photomultipliers (PMT) at the exit of the spectrograph pick up the modulated light signals and send them to the electronic controller. The controller analyzes frequency and phase of the signal. The analyzer of the polarimeter is a combination of a single wave plate rotating at 40 Hz and a Wallaston prism. Incident linear and circular polarizations are modified at four times and twice the rotation frequency, respectively. Two compensators minimize the instrumental polarization, mainly caused by the two tilt mirrors in the optical path of the telescope. The four photomultipliers placed on the wings of the FeI 5250A line give maps of intensity, longitudinal field and transverse field. The main outputs, maps of intensity, and net linear and circular polarizations in the neighboring continuum are obtained by the other two monitor PMTs.

Makita, M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Higher harmonic control for rotary wing aircraft

Higher Harmonic Control reduces helicopter airframe vibration through the exercise of rotor blade pitch control at frequencies that are higher harmonics of rotor rotation. Analysis wind tunnel tests and flight tests of this technology with an OH-6A helicopter have led to vibration reduction levels of the order of more than 80 percent. Blade feathering capability at rotor speed harmonics other than the first also promises the improvement of such rotor characteristics as acoustics, aerodynamic efficiency and ground resonance.

Gupta, B. P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Design of a digital flexible mobile transceiver

A flexible, modular transceiver design for digital voice and data transmissions in the proposed Mobile Satellite Experimental (MSAT-X) System is presented. Major system design issues are addressed, including frequency stability control, modulation method, linear predictive coding vocoder algorithm, and error control technique. Detailed design aspects of the modular and flexible transceiver, including the core, RF/IF, modem, vocoder, forward error correction codec, and I/O modules, as well as the flexible interface, are also discussed.

Fang, R. J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1987

An in-flight data system for chordwise turbulence measurements during acoustic disturbances

An in-flight data system for chordwise turbulence measurements has been developed by NASA to investigate laminar flow stability in the presence of acoustic disturbances. Flight tests were performed with an OV-1B turboprop with a JT-15D engine in order to establish the feasibility of utilizing natural laminar flow (NLF) nacelles to reduce drag and to determine the extent of NLF over a range of controlled acoustic frequencies. The data system consisted of PCM and FM data acquisition subsystems, dual wide-band magnetic flight recorders, and acoustic generating and measuring subsystems.

Calloway, Raymond S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Design of an MSAT-X mobile transceiver and related base and gateway stations

This paper summarizes the results of a design study of the mobile transceiver, base station, and gateway station for NASA's proposed Mobile Satellite Experiment (MSAT-X). Major ground segment system design issues such as frequency stability control, modulation method, linear predictive coding vocoder algorithm, and error control technique are addressed. The modular and flexible transceiver design is described in detail, including the core, RF/IF, modem, vocoder, forward error correction codec, amplitude-companded single sideband, and input/output modules, as well as the flexible interface. Designs for a three-carrier base station and a 10-carrier gateway station are also discussed, including the interface with the controllers and with the public-switched telephone networks at the gateway station. Functional specifications are given for the transceiver, the base station, and the gateway station.

Fang, Russell J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Optically reconfigured active phased array antennas

Future generations of phased array antennas for space-based and airborne platforms are designed based on a large number of active T/R modules. The constructed radiating beam is degraded in the event of modules failure. Simulation results indicate that the control of frequency, interelement spacing, and the individual radiating element pattern alongside the more conventional technique of amplitude and phase can be used to reconfigure the desired radiating beam in the event of the active T/R module failure.

Daryoush, A. S.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Rendezvous with Comet Kopff

Plans for the Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby (CRAF) mission are discussed. The CRAF spacecraft and mission configurations are illustrated and the scientific studies planned for the mission are listed. The scientific benefits of the study of comets and asteroids are reviewed and the characteristics of Comet Kopff are outlined. In addition, the structure, propulsion, attitude and articulation control, radio frequency and antenna, power and pyro, command, and data storage subsystems are described.

Miller, Sylvia↗
NASA NTRS1989

Fabrication experiments on supersmooth optics for extrasolar planet detection

The direct detection of extrasolar planets by imaging will require reductions in scattered and diffracted light by factors in excess of 1000 within one arcsecond of a bright source. While diffraction can be reduced by a number of approaches, small angle scatter can only be reduced by controlling midspatial frequency figure errors. The surface requirements are reviewed and their meaning when compared to the data base of existing mirrors is considered. Experiments are discribed that were successful in reducing midspatial frequency figure so that the scatter level was 500 times less than diffraction for a 25-cm spherical mirror.

Ftaclas, C.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Aerodyne Research mobile infrared methane monitor

An improved real-time methane monitor based on infrared absorption of the 3.39 micron line of a HeNe laser is described. Real time in situ measurement of methane has important applications in stratospheric and tropospheric chemistry, especially when high accuracy measurements can be made rapidly, providing fine spatial-scale information. The methane instrument provides 5 ppb resolution in a 1 sec averaging time. A key feature in this instrument is the use of magnetic (Zeeman) broadening to achieve continuous tunability with constant output power over a range of 0.017/cm. The instruments optical absorption path length is 47 m through sampled air held at 50 torr in a multipass cell of the Herriott (off-axis resonator) type. A microprocessor controls laser frequency and amplitude and collects data with minimal operator attention. The instrument recently has been used to measure methane emissions from a variety of natural and artificial terrestrial sources.

Mcmanus, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Automating an orbiter approach to Space Station Freedom to minimize plume impingement

The Space shuttle orbiter Reaction Control System's (RCS) plume impingement during proximity operations with Space Station Freedom (SSF) is a structural design driver for the SSF solar panels and radiators. A study underway at JSC is investigating whether the use of an automated approach controller could result in the reduction of plume impingement induced loads during orbiter approach to SSF. Ongoing real time person-in-the-loop (PIL) simulations of an orbiter approaching the SSF show that orbiter trajectory control can vary significantly from one pilot to the next. This variation is a cause for concern since current analyses predict that plume impingement loads resulting from PIL orbiter approaches may exceed the solar panel and radiator load limits. The use of an automated approach controller is expected to reduce peak loads by both minimizing orbiter translational jet firings in certain directions and controlling the frequency at which they occur during various phases of the approach.

Spehar, Peter T.↗