Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Secondary wall”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 379 records · Page 21

Convergent behavior of extended stalk regions from staphylococcal surface proteins with widely divergent sequence patterns

Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus are highly problematic bacteria in hospital settings. A major challenge is their ability to form biofilms on abiotic or biotic surfaces. Biofilms are well-organized, multicellular bacterial aggregates that resist antibiotic treatment and often lead to recurrent infections. Bacterial cell wall-anchored (CWA) proteins are important players in biofilm formation and infection. Many have putative stalk-like regions or regions of low complexity near the cell wall-anchoring motif. Recent work demonstrated the strong propensity of the stalk region of S. epidermidis accumulation-associated protein (Aap) to remain highly extended under solution conditions that typically induce compaction. This behavior is consistent with the expected function of a stalk-like region that is covalently attached to the cell wall peptidoglycan and projects the adhesive domains of Aap away from the cell surface. In this study, we evaluate whether the ability to resist compaction is a common theme among stalk regions from various staphylococcal CWA proteins. Circular dichroism spectroscopy was used to examine secondary structure changes as a function of temperature and cosolvents along with sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation, size-exclusion chromatography, and SAXS to characterize structural characteristics in solution. All stalk regions tested are intrinsically disordered, lacking secondary structure beyond random coil and polyproline type II helix, and they all sample highly extended conformations. Remarkably, the Ser-Asp dipeptide repeat region of SdrC exhibited nearly identical behavior in solution when compared to the Aap Pro/Gly-rich region, despite highly divergent sequence patterns, indicating conservation of function by various distinct staphylococcal CWA protein stalk regions.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

The design and operation of a planet emitted and albedo radiation simulator

A simulator is described, which provides a dynamic simulation of planetary albedo and planet-emitted thermal radiation. The simulator was designed for model tests of advanced thermal control concepts, the development of space hardware, and flight qualification of small payloads. The simulator was designed to be used in a vacuum chamber equipped with liquid nitrogen cold walls and a solar simulator. The simulator consists of two major components: a gimbaled model support system and an array of quartz infrared lamps. Tests indicate that the apparatus will satisfactorily simulate the secondary radiation on a 0.92-meter spherical body in near-earth orbits. Calculations indicate that other shapes can be accommodated without structural modifications.

Sweet, G. E.↗

Lightweight carbon-carbon thermal protection system for STARPROBE

This paper describes the preliminary design, development, and initial testing of prototype carbon-carbon components of the thermal protection system of the NASA STARPROBE spacecraft. The thermal protection system is designed to limit the spacecraft scientific instrument package to a maximum temperature of 55 C during the time of closest approach to the earth's sun when the peak radiative heating rate reaches 393 w/sq cm. The thermal protection system is comprised of a carbon-carbon thin shell primary shield and two carbon-carbon sandwich construction secondary shields which block reradiation from the primary shield to the spacecraft. These shields are joined and stiffened by carbon-carbon structural members and attached to the spacecraft with eight thin-walled carbon-carbon struts. Prototype parts of the principal components have been fabricated and will be tested in a solar radiative flux environment simulating peak mission values in late 1984.

Dirling, R. B., Jr.↗

A numerical study of longitudinal vortex interaction with a boundary layer

A numerical study of vortex generator aerodynamics has been carried out with a reduced set of Navier-Stokes equations. These are used to model the physical process of longitudinal vortex interaction with a turbulent boundary layer on a flat plate in incompressible flow. Comparison with experimental data is used to validate the approach, and detailed predictions are made. Results show an increase in skin friction and a decrease in integral layer thicknesses where the flow is toward the wall, and the reverse where the flow is away from the wall. The major controlling parameters of vortex strength, spacing and height are each found to have optimum values for which the efficiency of boundary-layer thinning is maximized. Vortex core spreading and secondary vorticity produced in the layer are observed and studied, as well as circulation decay and other features of the flow.

Russell, D. A.↗

Surface Generation and Cartesian Mesh Support

This document serves as the final report for the grant titled Surface Generation and Cartesian Mesh Support . This completed work was in algorithmic research into automatically generating surface triangulations from CAD geometries. NASA's OVERFLOW and Cart3D simulation packages use surface triangulations as an underlying geometry description and the ability to automatically generate these from CAD files (without translation) substantially reduces both the wall-clock time and expertise required to get geometry out of CAD and into mesh generation. This surface meshing was exercised greatly during the Shuttle investigation during the last year with success. The secondary efforts performed in this grant involve work on a visualization system cut-cell handling for Cartesian Meshes with embedded boundaries.

Haimes, Robert↗

Design-of-experiments to Reduce Life-cycle Costs in Combat Aircraft Inlets

It is the purpose of this study to demonstrate the viability and economy of Design- of-Experiments (DOE), to arrive at micro-secondary flow control installation designs that achieve optimal inlet performance for different mission strategies. These statistical design concepts were used to investigate the properties of "low unit strength" micro-effector installation. "Low unit strength" micro-effectors are micro-vanes, set a very low angle-of incidence, with very long chord lengths. They are designed to influence the neat wall inlet flow over an extended streamwise distance. In this study, however, the long chord lengths were replicated by a series of short chord length effectors arranged in series over multiple bands of effectors. In order to properly evaluate the performance differences between the single band extended chord length installation designs and the segmented multiband short chord length designs, both sets of installations must be optimal. Critical to achieving optimal micro-secondary flow control installation designs is the understanding of the factor interactions that occur between the multiple bands of micro-scale vane effectors. These factor interactions are best understood and brought together in an optimal manner through a structured DOE process, or more specifically Response Surface Methods (RSM).

Anderson, Bernhard H.↗

Internal performance characteristics of vectored axisymmetric ejector nozzles

A series of vectoring axisymmetric ejector nozzles were designed and experimentally tested for internal performance and pumping characteristics at NASA-Langley Research Center. These ejector nozzles used convergent-divergent nozzles as the primary nozzles. The model geometric variables investigated were primary nozzle throat area, primary nozzle expansion ratio, effective ejector expansion ratio (ratio of shroud exit area to primary nozzle throat area), ratio of minimum ejector area to primary nozzle throat area, ratio of ejector upper slot height to lower slot height (measured on the vertical centerline), and thrust vector angle. The primary nozzle pressure ratio was varied from 2.0 to 10.0 depending upon primary nozzle throat area. The corrected ejector-to-primary nozzle weight-flow ratio was varied from 0 (no secondary flow) to approximately 0.21 (21 percent of primary weight-flow rate) depending on ejector nozzle configuration. In addition to the internal performance and pumping characteristics, static pressures were obtained on the shroud walls.

Lamb, Milton↗

Non-Localized Acoustic Receptivity and Subsequent Disturbance Growth in a Blasius Boundary Layer

Acoustic receptivity was experimentally examined for a Blasius bound- ary layer with receptivity sites in the form of 2-D waviness and oblique waviness. Linear receptivity coefficients obtained for all values of forcing combinations (epsilon = (Delta)h) are in good agreement with receptivity theory. The measured receptivity increased markedly with increasing wave obliqueness. Detuning was investigated by varying the streamwise wavenumber, alpha(sub w), of the 2-D and oblique wall waviness. Oblique transition was also investigated by exciting a pair of oblique Orr-Sommerfeld (O-S) modes (f/fo +/- beta/beta(subn w) = (1 +/- 1). For large values of epsilon = (Delta)nh, a secondary instability was observed that ultimately lead to laminar breakdown. This instability appears to be driven by large spanwise velocity gradients, absolute value of dU/d(zeta).

King, Rudolph A.↗

Implementation of ALARA radiation protection on the ISS through polyethylene shielding augmentation of the Service Module Crew Quarters

With 5-7 month long duration missions at 51.6 degrees inclination in Low Earth Orbit, the ionizing radiation levels to which International Space Station (ISS) crewmembers are exposed will be the highest planned occupational exposures in the world. Even with the expectation that regulatory dose limits will not be exceeded during a single tour of duty aboard the ISS, the "as low as reasonably achievable" (ALARA) precept requires that radiological risks be minimized when possible through a dose optimization process. Judicious placement of efficient shielding materials in locations where crewmembers sleep, rest, or work is an important means for implementing ALARA for spaceflight. Polyethylene (CnHn) is a relatively inexpensive, stable, and, with a low atomic number, an effective shielding material that has been certified for use aboard the ISS. Several designs for placement of slabs or walls of polyethylene have been evaluated for radiation exposure reduction in the Crew Quarters (CQ) of the Zvezda (Star) Service Module. Optimization of shield designs relies on accurate characterization of the expected primary and secondary particle environment and modeling of the predicted radiobiological responses of critical organs and tissues. Results of the studies shown herein indicate that 20% or more reduction in equivalent dose to the CQ occupant is achievable. These results suggest that shielding design and risk analysis are necessary measures for reducing long-term radiological risks to ISS inhabitants and for meeting legal ALARA requirements. Verification of shield concepts requires results from specific designs to be compared with onboard dosimetry. c2004 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

NASA Center JSC↗

Study of passively stable, fully detached divertor plasma regimes attained in innovative long-legged divertor configurations

Numerical modeling of divertor configurations with radially or vertically extended, tightly baffled, outer divertor legs has demonstrated the existence of a passively-stable fully detached divertor regime. In the simulations, long-legged divertors provide up to an order-of- magnitude increase in peak power handling capability compared to conventional divertors. The key physics for attaining the passively stable, fully detached regime in these simulations involves the interplay of strong convective plasma transport to the divertor leg outer sidewall, confinement of neutral gas in the divertor volume, geometric effects including a secondary X-point, and atomic radiation. New analysis shows that in this regime the detachment front location is set by the balance between the power entering the divertor leg and the losses to the walls of the divertor channel. Correspondingly, the maximum power that can be accommodated by the divertor, while still staying detached, increases with the poloidal length of the leg. The detached regime access window in terms of input power, density and impurity seeding concentration varies quantitatively depending on divertor geometry and modeling assumptions most specifically, cross-field transport to the side walls.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Boron--epoxy tubular structure members

Composite materials fabricate thin-walled tubular members which have same load-carrying capabilities as aluminum, titanium, or other metals, but are lighter. Interface between stepped end fitting and tube lends itself to attachments by primary as well as secondary bonding. Interlaminar shear and hoop stress buildup in attachment at end fitting is avoided.

Shakespeare, W. B. J.↗

Three-dimensional compressible turbulent computations for a nondiffusing S-duct

The PARC3D code was used to compute the compressible turbulent flow within a three dimensional, nondiffusing S-duct. A frame of reference is provided for future computational fluid dynamics studies of internal flows with strong secondary flows and provides an understanding of the performance characteristics of a typical S-duct with attached flow. The predicted results, obtained with both H- and O-grids, are compared with the experimental wall pressure, static and total pressure fields, and velocity vectors. Additionally, computed boundary layer thickness, velocity profiles in wall coordinates, and skin friction values are presented.

Harloff, G. J.↗

Transverse vibrations of hollow thin-walled cylindrical beams

The variational principle, differential equations, and boundary conditions considered appropriate to the analysis of transverse vibrations of hollow thin-walled cylindrical beams are shown. General solutions for the modes and frequencies of cantilever and free-free cylindrical beams of arbitrary cross section but of uniform thickness are given. The combined influence of the secondary effects of transverse shear deformation, shear lag, and secondary effects of transverse shear deformation, shear lag, and longitudinal inertia is shown in the form of curves for cylinders of rectangular cross section and uniform thickness. The contribution of each of the secondary effects to the total reduction in the actual frequency is also indicated. (author)

Budiansky, Bernard↗

The structure and development of streamwise vortex arrays embedded in a turbulent boundary layer

An investigation of the structure and development of streamwise vortices embedded in a turbulent boundary layer was conducted. The vortices were generated by a single spanwise row of rectangular vortex generator blades. A single embedded vortex was examined, as well as arrays of embedded counter rotating vortices produced by equally spaced vortex generators. Measurements of the secondary velocity field in the crossplane provided the basis for characterization of vortex structure. Vortex structure was characterized by four descriptors. The center of each vortex core was located at the spanwise and normal position of peak streamwise vorticity. Vortex concentration was characterized by the magnitude of the peak streamwise vorticity, and the vortex strength by its circulation. Measurements of the secondary velocity field were conducted at two crossplane locations to examine the streamwise development of the vortex arrays. Large initial spacings of the vortex generators produced pairs of strong vortices which tended to move away from the wall region while smaller spacings produced tight arrays of weak vortices close to the wall. A model of vortex interaction and development is constructed using the experimental results. The model is based on the structure of the Oseen Vortex. Vortex trajectories are modelled by including the convective effects of neighbors.

Wendt, Bruce J.↗

THRSTER: A Three-Stream Ejector Ramjet Analysis and Design Tool

An engineering tool for analyzing ejectors in rocket based combined cycle (RBCC) engines has been developed. A key technology for multi-cycle RBCC propulsion systems is the ejector which functions as the compression stage of the ejector ramjet cycle. The THRee STream Ejector Ramjet analysis tool was developed to analyze the complex aerothermodynamic and combustion processes that occur in this device. The formulated model consists of three quasi-one-dimensional streams, one each for the ejector primary flow, the secondary flow, and the mixed region. The model space marches through the mixer, combustor, and nozzle to evaluate the solution along the engine. In its present form, the model is intended for an analysis mode in which the diffusion rates of the primary and secondary into the mixed stream are stipulated. The model offers the ability to analyze the highly two-dimensional ejector flowfield while still benefits from the simplicity and speed of an engineering tool. To validate the developed code, wall static pressure measurements from the Penn-State and NASA-ART RBCC experiments were used to compare with the results generated by the code. The calculated solutions were generally found to have satisfactory agreement with the pressure measurements along the engines, although further modeling effort may be required when a strong shock train is formed at the rocket exhaust. The range of parameters in which the code would generate valid results are presented and discussed.

Chue, R. S.↗

THRSTER: A THRee-STream Ejector Ramjet Analysis and Design Tool

An engineering tool for analyzing ejectors in rocket based combined cycle (RBCC) engines has been developed. A key technology for multi-cycle RBCC propulsion systems is the ejector which functions as the compression stage of the ejector ramjet cycle. The THRee STream Ejector Ramjet analysis tool was developed to analyze the complex aerothermodynamic and combustion processes that occur in this device. The formulated model consists of three quasi-one-dimensional streams, one each for the ejector primary flow, the secondary flow, and the mixed region. The model space marches through the mixer, combustor, and nozzle to evaluate the solution along the engine. In its present form, the model is intended for an analysis mode in which the diffusion rates of the primary and secondary into the mixed stream are stipulated. The model offers the ability to analyze the highly two-dimensional ejector flowfield while still benefits from the simplicity and speed of an engineering tool. To validate the developed code, wall static pressure measurements from the Penn-State and NASA-ART RBCC experiments were used to compare with the results generated by the code. The calculated solutions were generally found to have satisfactory agreement with the pressure measurements along the engines, although further modeling effort may be required when a strong shock train is formed at the rocket exhaust. The range of parameters in which the code would generate valid results are presented and discussed.

Chue, R. S.↗

Attachment of Single-wall Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs) on Platinum Surfaces by Self-Assembling Techniques

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are very interesting materials because of their morphology, electronic and mechanical properties. Its morphology (high length-to-diameter ratio) and electronic properties suggest potential application of SWNTs as anode material for lithium ion secondary batteries. The introduction of SWNTs on these types of sources systems will improve their performance, efficiency, and capacity to store energy. A purification method has been applied for the removal of iron and amorphous carbon from the nanotubes. Unpurified and purified SWNTs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In order to attach carbon nanotubes on platinum electrode surfaces, a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) was deposited over the electrodes. The amino-terminated SAM obtained was characterized by cyclic voltammetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier-transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Carbon nanotubes were deposited over the amino-terminated SAM by an amide bond formed between SAM amino groups and carboxylic acid groups at the open ends of the carbon nanotubes.This deposition was characterized using Raman spectroscopy and Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM).

Rosario-Castro, Belinda I.↗

Development of Hairpin Vortices in Turbulent Spots and End-Wall Transition

The end-stage phase of boundary layer transition is characterized by the development of hairpin-like vortices which evolve rapidly into patches of turbulent behavior. In general, the characteristics of the evolution form this hairpin stage to the turbulent stage is poorly understood, which has prompted the present experimental examination of hairpin vortex development and growth processes. Two topics of particular relevance to the workshop focus will be covered: 1) the growth of turbulent spots through the generatio and amalgamation of hairpin-like vortices, and 2) the development of hairpin vortices during transition in an end-wall junction flow. Brief summaries of these studies are described below. Using controlled generation of hairpin vortices by surface injection in a critical laminar boundary layer, detailed flow visualization studies have been done of the phases of growth of single hairpin vortices, from the initial hairgin generation, through the systematic generation of secondary hairpin-like flow structures, culminating in the evolution to a turbulent spot. The key to the growth process is strong vortex-surface interactions, which give rise to strong eruptive events adjacent to the surface, which results in the generation of subsequent hairpin vortex structures due to inviscid-viscuous interactions between the eruptive events and the free steam fluid. The general process of vortex-surface fluid interaction, coupled with subsequent interactions and amalgamation of the generated multiple hairpin-type vortices, is demonstrated as a physical mechanism for the growth and development of turbulent spots. When a boundary layer flow along a surface encounters a bluff body obstruction extending from the surface (such as cylinder or wing), the strong adverse pressure gradients generated by these types of flows result in the concentration of the impinging vorticity into a system of discrete vortices near the end-wall juncture of the obstruction, with the extensions of the vortices engirdling the obstruction to form "necklace" or "horseshoe" vortices. Recent hydrogen bubble and particle image visualization have shown that as Reynolds number is increased for a laminar approach flow, the flow will become critical, and a destabilization of the necklace vortices results in the development of an azimuthal waviness, or "kinks", in the vortices. These vortex kinks are accentuated by Biot-Savart effects, causing portions of a distorted necklace vortex to make a rapid approach to the surface, precipitating processes of localized, three-dimensional surface interactions. These interactions result in the rapid generation, focussing, and ejection of thin tongues of surface fluid, which rapidly roll-over and appear as hairpin vortices in the junction region. Subsequent amalgamation of these hairpin vortices with the necklace vortices produces a complex transitional-type flow. A presentation of key results from both these studies will be done, emphasizing both the ubiquity of such hairpin-type flow structures in manifold transitional-type flows, and the importance of vortex-surface interactions n the development of hairpin vortices.

Smith, Charles R.↗