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At least 379 records · Page 21

High-temperature, high-pressure optical cells

For measuring the thermal diffusivity of HgCdTe melts by the laser-pulse method, an infrared transparent cell with flat windows of sufficient strength to withstand the high-vapor pressure of mercury had to be developed. Since mercury telluride expands on freezing, certain difficulties arose in returning the cell to room temperature without cracking it. T08 commercial fused silica is used in the construction of the cell, and the cells are transparent for wavelengths from about 3.5 microns in the infrared to 260 nm in the ultraviolet. The construction procedure for the required cells has been laborious. However, the obtained cell has routinely withstood internal pressures in excess of 60 atm at 900 C. Attention is given to the design of the windows, aspects of cell construction, and questions of loading.

Holland, L. R.↗

High-voltage, high-power, solid-state remote power controllers for aerospace applications

Two general types of remote power controller (RPC) that combine the functions of a circuit breaker and a switch were developed for use in direct-current (dc) aerospace systems. Power-switching devices used in these designs are the relatively new gate-turnoff thyristor (GTO) and poweer metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFET). The various RPC's can switch dc voltages to 1200 V and currents to 100 A. Seven different units were constructed and subjected to comprehensive laboratory and thermal vacuum testing. Two of these were dual units that switch both positive and negative voltages simultaneously. The RPC's using MOSFET's have slow turnon and turnoff times to limit voltage spiking from high di/dt. The GTO's have much faster transition times. All RPC's have programmable overload tripout and microsecond tripout for large overloads. The basic circuits developed can be used to build switchgear limited only by the ratings of the switching device used.

Sturman, J. C.↗

Low-speed tests of a high-aspect-ratio, supercritical-wing transport model equipped with a high-lift flap system in the Langley 4- by 7-meter and Ames 12-foot pressure tunnels

The Ames 12-Foot Pressure Tunnel was used to determine the effects of Reynolds number on the static longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of an advanced, high-aspect-ratio, supercritical wing transport model equipped with a full span, leading edge slat and part span, double slotted, trailing edge flaps. The model had a wing span of 7.5 ft and was tested through a free stream Reynolds number range from 1.3 to 6.0 x 10 to 6th power per foot at a Mach number of 0.20. Prior to the Ames tests, an investigation was also conducted in the Langley 4 by 7 Meter Tunnel at a Reynolds number of 1.3 x 10 to 6th power per foot with the model mounted on an Ames strut support system and on the Langley sting support system to determine strut interference corrections. The data obtained from the Langley tests were also used to compare the aerodynamic charactertistics of the rather stiff, 7.5-ft-span steel wing model tested during this investigation and the larger, and rather flexible, 12-ft-span aluminum-wing model tested during a previous investigation. During the tests in both the Langley and Ames tunnels, the model was tested with six basic wing configurations: (1) cruise; (2) climb (slats only extended); (3) 15 deg take-off flaps; (4) 30 deg take-off flaps; (5) 45 deg landing flaps; and (6) 60 deg landing flaps.

Morgan, H. L., Jr.↗

Design of high-voltage, high-power, solid state remote power controllers for aerospace applications

Two general types of remote power controllers (RPC's), which combine the functions of a circuit breaker and a switch, were developed for use in dc aerospace systems. Power-switching devices used in the designs are the gate-turnoff thyristor (GTO) and MOSFET. The RPC's can switch dc voltages to 1200 V and currents to 1000 A. Seven different units were constructed and subjected to laboratory and thermal vacuum testing. Two of these were dual units that switch both positive and negative voltages simultaneously. The RPC's using MOSFET's have slow turnon and turnoff times which limit surge currents and voltage spiking from high di/dt. The GTO's have much faster transition times. All RPC's have programmable overload tripout proportional to I sq T and microsecond tripout for large overloads.

Sturman, J. C.↗

Loss mechanisms in high-efficiency solar cells: Study of material properties and high-efficiency solar-cell performance on material composition: Project tasks

Loss mechanisms in high-efficiency solar cells were discussed. Fundamental limitations and practical solutions were stressed. Present cell efficiency is limited by many recombination sites: emitter, base, contacts, and oxide/silicon interface. Use of polysilicon passivation was suggested. After reduction of these losses, a 25% efficient cell could be built. A floating emitter cell design was shown that had the potential of low recombination losses.

Sah, C. T.↗

High accuracy heat capacity measurements through the lambda transition of helium with very high temperature resolution

A measurement of the heat capacity singularity of helium at the lambda transition was performed with the aim of improving tests of the Renormalization Group (RG) predictions for the static thermodynamic behavior near the singularity. The goal was to approach as closely as possible to the lambda-point while making heat capacity measurements of high accuracy. To do this, a new temperature sensor capable of unprecedented resolution near the lambda-point, and two thermal control systems were used. A short description of the theoretical background and motivation is given. The initial apparatus and results are also described.

Fairbanks, W. M.↗

High-resolution mapping of mass loss from highly evolved carbon stars

The molecular component of the mass outflow at high resolution was mapped with the Owens Valley Millimeter-Wave Interferometer in two well-known objects, CRL 2688 and CIT 6. Interferometric observations of a pair of carbon stars which are evolving toward the planetary nebula stage have revealed evidence of episodic, nonspherically symmetric mass loss, and may lead to a fuller understanding of shielding properties of the dust grains involved in these flows.

Ball, R.↗

A high resolution shock capturing scheme for high Mach number internal flow

An accurate shock capturing scheme is developed for high speed flow. The flux limited dissipation scheme can be converted to a symmetric TVD scheme in the case of a scalar conservation law. Application to an oblique shock wave problem shows the improved resolution and accuracy when compared to the results obtained by the adaptive dissipation method, while exhibiting comparable computational efficiency.

Yoon, Seokkwan↗

A proposed GaAs-based superlattice solar cell structure with high efficiency and high radiation tolerance

A solar cell structure is proposed which uses a GaAs nipi doping superlattice. An important feature of this structure is that photogenerated minority carriers are very quickly collected in a time shorter than bulk lifetime in the fairly heavily doped n and p layers and these carriers are then transported parallel to the superlattice layers to selective ohmic contacts. Assuming that these already-separated carriers have very long recombination lifetimes, due to their being across an indirect bandgap in real space, it is argued that the proposed structure may exhibit superior radiation tolerance along with reasonably high beginning-of-life efficiency.

Goradia, Chandra↗

High power lasers: Sources, laser-material interactions, high excitations, and fast dynamics in laser processing and industrial applications; Proceedings of the Meeting, The Hague, Netherlands, Mar. 31-Apr. 3, 1987

The design and operation of high-power lasers for industrial applications are discussed in reviews and reports. Topics addressed include the status of optical technology in the Netherlands, laser design, the deposition of optical energy, laser diagnostics, nonmetal processing, and energy coupling and plasma formation. Consideration is given to laser-induced damage to materials, fluid and gas flow dynamics, metal processing, and manufacturing. Graphs, diagrams, micrographs, and photographs are provided.

Kreutz, E. W.↗

Petrogenetic modeling of 74220 high-Ti orange volcanic glasses and the Apollo 11 and 17 high-Ti mare basalts

An INAA analysis of 16 individual spherules of orange volcanic glass extracted from the 74220,680 soil was performed in order to determine trace element signatures in a primary high-Ti mare magma. The composition of these glasses is shown to be nearly identical to that of 74220 bulk soil, indicating a general absence of constituents other than volcanic glass in the soil. The results suggest that the evolving lunar mantle included processes of cumulate-mass transport and/or segregation of the primordial lunar magma ocean into separate differentiating zones, allowing commingling of early and late components.

Hughes, S. S.↗

Experimental investigation of the high angle of attack characteristics of a high performance general aviation aircraft

Scale model wind tunnel tests and full scale flight tests have been conducted for the Questair Venture general aviation aircraft configuration in order to investigate its high angle-of-attack aerodynamics. Attention is given to the formulation of a wing leading-edge modification capable of enhancing stall departure characteristics. This modification, which involved both outboard wing leading-edge droop and two chordwise leading-edge slots, is found to produce almost no wing-rock tendency when tested on a wind tunnel free-to-roll apparatus; in the full-scale aircraft, the modification yielded gentle, controllable stall characteristics with little cruise and climb performance penalty.

Meyer, H. F.↗

Precipitation strengthened high strength, high conductivity Cu-Cr-Nb alloys produced by chill block melt spinning

A series of Cu-based alloys containing 2 to 10 a/o Cr and 1 to 5 a/o Nb were produced by chill block melt spinning (CBMS). The melt spun ribbons were consolidated and hot rolled to sheet to produce a supersaturated Cu-Cr-Nb solid solution from which the high melting point intermetallic compound Cr2Nb could be precipitated to strengthen the Cu matrix. The results show that the materials possess electrical conductivities in excess of 90 percent that of pure Cu at 200 C and above. The strengths of the Cu-Cr-Nb alloys were much greater than Cu, Cu-0.6 Cr, NARloy-A, and NARloy-Z in the as-melt spun condition. The strengths of the consolidated materials were less than Cu-Cr and Cu-Cr-Zr below 500 C and 600 C respectively, but were significantly better above these temperatures. The strengths of the consolidated materials were greater than NARloy-Z, at all temperatures. The GLIDCOP possessed similar strength levels up to 750 C when the strength of the Cu-Cr-Nb alloys begins to degrade. The long term stability of the Cu-Cr-Nb alloys was measured by the microhardness of aged samples and the growth of precipitates. The microhardness measurements indicate that the alloys overage rapidly, but do not suffer much loss in strength between 10 and 100 hours which confirms the results of the electrical resistivity measurements taken during the aging of the alloys at 500 C. The loss in strength from peak strength levels is significant, but the strength remains exceptionally good. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the as-melt spun samples revealed that Cr2Nb precipitates formed in the liquid Cu during the chill block melt spinning, indicating a very strong driving force for the formation of the precipitates. The TEM of the aged and consolidated materials indicates that the precipitates coarsen considerably, but remain in the submicron range.

Ellis, David L.↗

High-accuracy, high-resolution gravity profiles from 2 years of the Geosat Exact Repeat Mission

Satellite altimeter data from the first 44 repeat cycles (2 years) of the Geosat Exact Repeat Mission (EWRM) were averaged to improve accuracy, resolution and coverage of the marine gravity field. Individual 17-day repeat cycles were first edited and differentiated, resulting in the along-track vertical deflection (i.e., gravity disturbance). To increase the signal-to-noise ratio, 44 of these cycles were then averaged to form a single highly accurate vertical deflection profile. The largest contribution to the vertical deflection error is short-wavelength altimeter noise and longer-wavelength oceanographic variability; the combined noise level is typically 6 microrad. Both types of noise are reduced by averaging many repeat cycles. Over most ocean areas the uncertainty of the average profile is less than 1 microrad which corresponds to 1 mgal of along-track gravity disturbance. However, in areas of seasonal ice coverage, its uncertainty can exceed 5 microrad. To assess the resolution of individual and average Geosat gravity profiles, the cross-spectral analysis technique was applied to repeat profiles. Individual Geosat repeat cycles are coherent (greater than 0.5) for wavelengths greater than about 30 km and become increasingly incoherent at shorter wavelengths.

Sandwell, David T.↗

A high-speed spatial (linear) scanning pyrometer: A tool for diagnostics, temperature mapping, and property determinations at high temperatures

Development of a fast spatial scanning pyrometer for temperature measurements above 1500 K is described. The salient features of the pyrometer are: (1) it measures spectral radiance temperature (at 0.65 micron) at 1024 points along a straight line (25 mm long) on the target; (2) it has no moving parts and uses a self-scanning linear array of silicon photodiodes as the detector; (3) its output is recorded digitally every 1 microsec with a full-scale resolution of about 1 part in 4000, permitting performance of a complete cycle of measurements (1024 points) in about 1 ms. Operational characteristics of the pyrometer are given. Examples of measurements of the temperature along rapidly heated (resistive self-heating) specimens (rod, tube, strip) are presented. Potential use of the pyrometer in the experiments, both ground-based and in microgravity, requiring temperature mapping and property distribution of the specimen at high temperatures is discussed.

Cezairliyan, A.↗

Design of an ignition-resistant, high-pressure, high-temperature oxygen valve

A novel valve for high-pressure/high-temperature flowing oxygen, whose materials can be susceptible to ignition and combustion when particles traveling in the gas stream impact their surfaces, has been designed at NASA-White Sands with a view to ensuring ignition resistance and economy of fabrication, as well as adequate performance. The design, which is predicated on a variable segmented orifice, and follows such general design criteria as careful configuration of the gas flow path and suitable selection of ignition-resistant materials, met all design requirements under both normal and worst-case conditions.

Christianson, Rollin C.↗

Growth and characterization of high current density, high-speed InAs/AlSb resonant tunneling diodes

InAs/AlSb double-barrier resonant tunneling diodes with peak current densities up to 370,000 A/sq cm and high peak-to-valley current ratios of 3.2 at room temperature have been fabricated. The peak current density is well-explained by a stationary-state transport model with the two-band envelope function approximation. The valley current density predicted by this model is less than the experimental value by a factor that is typical of the discrepancy found in other double-barrier structures. It is concluded that threading dislocations are largely inactive in the resonant tunneling process.

Soderstrom, J. R.↗