Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “test approach”

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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1974

Flight test of an automatic approach and landing concept for a simulated space shuttle represented by the NASA Convair 990 aircraft

Unpowered automatic approaches and landings were conducted to study navigation, guidance, and control problems associated with terminal area, approach, and landing operation for the space shuttle. A Convair 990 aircraft was equipped with a digital flight-control computer connected to the aircraft control systems and displays. The flight tests evaluated, from 11,300 m to touchdown, the performance of a navigation and guidance concept that utilized blended radio/inertial navigation with VOR, DME, and ILS as the ground radio navigation aids. The results from 36 automatic approaches and landings are analyzed. Preliminary results indicate that this concept may provide sufficient accuracy that automatic landing of the unpowered shuttle orbiter can be accomplished on a conventional size runway.

Smith, D. W.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A study of relationships between performance in system tests and space

Approaches for measuring the effectiveness of tests and test programs are considered, taking into account system test effectiveness, thermal-vacuum test effectiveness, and vibration test effectiveness. Methods for predicting space performance on the basis of system test effectiveness are discussed along with aspects of defect detection in thermal-vacuum tests. Questions regarding the thermal-vacuum test costs in relation to the probability of early space failures are also explored.

Timmins, A. R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Hardware Fault Simulator Generates Test Vectors For Complex IC's

Report describes technique using fault simulator implemented entirely in hardware to generate and optimize test vectors for microprocessor. Hardware fault simulator approach reduces test time, while maintaining high reliability in detecting faults.

Timoc, C. C.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Bithermal Low-Cycle Fatigue Behavior of a NiCoCrAlY-Coated Single Crystal Superalloy

Specimens of a single crystal superalloy, PWA 1480, both bare and coated with a NiCoCrAlY alloy, PWA 276, were tested in low-cycle fatigue at 650 and 1050 C, and in bithermal thermomechanical fatigue tests. In the two bithermal test types, tensile strain was imposed at one of the two temperatures and reversed in compression at the other. In the high-strain regime, lives for both bithermal test types approached that for the 650 C isothermal test on an inelastic strain basis, all being controlled by the low ductility of the superalloy at 650 C. In the low-strain regime, coating cracking reduced life in the 650 C isothermal test. The bithermal test imposing tension at 650 C, termed out-of-phase, also produced rapid surface cracking, but in both coated and bare specimens. Increased crack growth rates also occurred for the out-of-phase test. Increased lives in vacuum suggested that there is a large environmental contribution to damage in the out-of-phase test due to the 1050 C exposure followed by tensile straining at the low temperature.

Gayda, J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Advanced composite airframe program: Today's technology

The Advanced Composite Airframe Program (ACAP) was undertaken to demonstrate the advantages of the application of advanced composite materials and structural design concepts to the airframe structure on helicopters designed to stringent military requirements. The primary goals of the program were the reduction of airframe production costs and airframe weight by 17 and 22 percent respectively. The ACAP effort consisted of a preliminary design phase, detail design, and design support testing, full-scale fabrication, laboratory testing, and a ground/flight test demonstration. Since the completion of the flight test demonstration programs follow-on efforts were initiated to more fully evaluate a variety of military characteristics of the composite airframe structures developed under the original ACAP advanced development contracts. An overview of the ACAP program is provided and some of the design features, design support testing, manufacturing approaches, and the results of the flight test evaluation, as well as, an overview of Militarization Test and Evaluation efforts are described.

Good, Danny E.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Bithermal low-cycle fatigue behavior of a NiCoCrAlY-coated single crystal superalloy

Specimens of a single crystal superalloy, PWA 1480, both bare and coated with a NiCoCrAlY alloy, PWA 276, were tested in low-cycle fatigue at 650 and 1050 C, and in bithermal thermomechanical fatigue tests. In the two bithermal test types, tensile strain was imposed at one of the two temperatures and reversed in compression at the other. In the high-strain regime, lives for both bithermal test types approached that for the 650 C isothermal test on an inelastic strain basis, all being controlled by the low ductility of the superalloy at 650 C. In the low-strain regime, coating cracking reduced life in the 650 C isothermal test. The bithermal test imposing tension at 650 C, termed out-of-phase, also produced rapid surface cracking, but in both coated and bare specimens. Increased crack growth rates also occurred for the out-of-phase test. Increased lives in vacuum suggested that there is a large environmental contribution to damage in the out-of-phase test due to the 1050 C exposure followed by tensile straining at the low temperature.

Gayda, J.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Overview of Non-Volatile Testing and Screening Methods

Testing methods for memories and non-volatile memories have become increasingly sophisticated as they become denser and more complex. High frequency and faster rewrite times as well as smaller feature sizes have led to many testing challenges. This paper outlines several testing issues posed by novel memories and approaches to testing for radiation and reliability effects. We discuss methods for measurements of Total Ionizing Dose (TID).

Irom, Farokh↗
NASA NTRS2019

Combined Qualification Vibration Testing and Fixed Base Modal Testing Utilizing a Fixed Based Correction Method

Vibration testing spaceflight hardware is a vital, but time consuming and expensive endeavor. Traditionally modal tests are performed at the component, subassembly, or system level, preferably free-free with mass loaded interfaces or fixed base on a seismic mass to identify the fundamental structural dynamic (modal) characteristics. Vibration tests are then traditionally performed on single-axis slip tables at qualification levels that envelope the maximum predicted flight environment plus 3 dB and workmanship in order to verify the spaceflight hardware can survive its flight environment. These two tests currently require two significantly different test setups, facilities, and ultimately reconfiguration of the spaceflight hardware. The vision of this research is to show how traditional fixed-base modal testing can be accomplished using vibration qualification testing facilities, which not only streamlines testing and reduces test costs, but also opens up the possibility of performing modal testing to untraditionally high excitation levels that provide for test-correlated finite element models to be more representative of the spaceflight hardware's response in a flight environment. This paper documents the first steps towards this vision, which is the comparison of modal parameters identified from a traditional fixed-based modal test performed on a modal floor and those obtained by utilizing a fixed based correction method with a large single-axis electrodynamic shaker driving a slip table supplemented with additional small portable shakers driving on the slip table and test article. To show robustness of this approach, the test article chosen is a simple linear weldment, whose mass, size, and modal parameters couple well with the dynamics of the shaker/slip table. This paper will show that all dynamics due to the shaker/slip table were successfully removed resulting in true fixed-base modal parameters, including modal damping, being successfully extracted from a traditional style base-shake vibration test setup.

Winkel, James P.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Combined Qualification Vibration Testing and Fixed Base Modal Testing Utilizing a Fixed Based Correction Method

Vibration testing spaceflight hardware is a vital, but time consuming and expensive endeavor. Traditionally modal tests are performed at the component, subassembly, or system level, preferably free-free with mass loaded interfaces or fixed base on a seismic mass to identify the fundamental structural dynamic (modal) characteristics. Vibration tests are then traditionally performed on single-axis slip tables at qualification levels that envelope the maximum predicted flight environment and workmanship in order to verify the spaceflight hardware can survive its flight environment. These two tests currently require two significantly different test setups, facilities, and ultimately reconfiguration of the spaceflight hardware. The vision of this research is to show how traditional fixed-base modal testing can be accomplished using vibration qualification testing facilities, which not only streamlines testing and reduces test costs, but also opens up the possibility of performing modal testing to untraditionally high excitation levels that provide for test-correlated finite element models to be more representative of the spaceflight hardware's response in a flight environment. This paper documents the first steps towards this vision, which is the comparison of modal parameters identified from a traditional fixed-based modal test performed on a modal floor and those obtained by utilizing a fixed based correction method with a large single-axis electrodynamic shaker driving a slip table supplemented with additional small portable shakers driving on the slip table and test article. To show robustness of this approach, the test article chosen is a simple linear weldment, whose mass, size, and modal parameters couple well with the dynamics of the shaker/slip table. This paper will show that all dynamics due to the shaker/slip table were successfully removed resulting in true fixed-base modal parameters, including modal damping, being successfully extracted from a traditional style base-shake vibration test setup.

Base-Shake↗
NASA NTRS2014

Time-varying Entry Heating Profile Replication with a Rotating Arc Jet Test Article

A new approach for arc jet testing of thermal protection materials at conditions approximating the time-varying conditions of atmospheric entry was developed and demonstrated. The approach relies upon the spatial variation of heat flux and pressure over a cylindrical test model. By slowly rotating a cylindrical arc jet test model during exposure to an arc jet stream, each point on the test model will experience constantly changing applied heat flux. The predicted temporal profile of heat flux at a point on a vehicle can be replicated by rotating the cylinder at a prescribed speed and direction. An electromechanical test model mechanism was designed, built, and operated during an arc jet test to demonstrate the technique.

Thermal protection materials↗
NASA NTRS2016

A Tale of Two Chambers: Iterative Approaches and Lessons Learned from Life Support Systems Testing in Altitude Chambers

With a brand new fire set ablaze by a serendipitous convergence of events ranging from a science fiction novel and movie ("The Martian"), to ground-breaking recent discoveries of flowing water on its surface, the drive for the journey to Mars seems to be in a higher gear than ever before. We are developing new spacecraft and support systems to take humans to the Red Planet, while scientists on Earth continue using the International Space Station as a laboratory to evaluate the effects of long duration space flight on the human body. Written from the perspective of a facility test director rather than a researcher, and using past and current life support systems tests as examples, this paper seeks to provide an overview on how facility teams approach testing, the kind of information they need to ensure efficient collaborations and successful tests, and how, together with researchers and principal investigators, we can collectively apply what we learn to execute future tests.

Callini, Gianluca↗
NASA NTRS1973

Skylab Medical Experiments Altitude Test /SMEAT/ facility design and operation.

This paper presents the design approaches and test facility operation methods used to successfully accomplish a 56-day test for Skylab to permit evaluation of selected Skylab medical experiments in a ground test simulation of the Skylab environment with an astronaut crew. The systems designed for this test include the two-gas environmental control system, the fire suppression and detection system, equipment transfer lock, ground support equipment, safety systems, potable water system, waste management system, lighting and power system, television monitoring, communications and recreation systems, and food freezer.

Hinners, A. H., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The use of large cylindrical enclosures as a cost effective approach to reverberant acoustic testing

The feasibility of using existing cylindrical enclosures as cost effective substitutes for reverberant acoustic test chambers is investigated. In particular the performance of two large cylindrical environmental chambers, 1400 and 14,000 cu m in volume, is evaluated in detail. Reverberant acoustic chamber characteristics are predicted using classical acoustic theory and are compared to results obtained from actual chamber measurements. A method of scaling low level test results to predict the performance of a particular driver/horn/chamber configuration is also discussed. This prediction technique is confirmed by actual test data using a 200 kilowatt acoustic generator.

On, F. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

An approach to operating system testing

To ensure the reliability and performance of a new system, it must be verified or validated in some manner. Currently, testing is the only resonable technique available for doing this. Part of this testing process is the high level system test. System testing is considered with respect to operating systems and in particular UNIX. This consideration results in the development and presentation of a good method for performing the system test. The method includes derivations from the system specifications and ideas for management of the system testing project. Results of applying the method to the IBM System/9000 XENIX operating system test and the development of a UNIX test suite are presented.

Sum, R. N., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Noncoplanar magnetic fields at collisionless shocks - A test of a new approach

The expressions derived by Jones and Ellison (1987) (JE) for the spatial integral of the noncoplanar field component in a fast-mode collisionless shock and for the magnitudes of the magnetic-field rotation and potential drop difference are evaluated on the basis of ISEE 1 and 2 observations in the earth bow shock and numerical simulations using the hybrid code of Leroy et al. (1981 and 1982). The data and simulation results are presented graphically and shown to be consistent with the JE hypothesis, that the rotation and drop difference are due to unequal electron and ion masses. The rotations and potential drop differences predicted by the JE equations, however, are found to be accurate only for subcritical shocks at low Mach numbers; the underestimation of the values for hypercritical shocks is attributed to neglect of the ion current from reflected gyrating ions.

Gosling, J. T.↗