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At least 397 records · Page 22

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NASA NTRS1977

Fatigue of notched fiber composite laminates - Analytical and experimental evaluation

Axial cracking in the load direction and transverse cracking across notched boron/epoxy laminate specimens subjected to tension/tension fatigue loading are studied both theoretically and experimentally. The fatigue analysis, which allows for the computation of residual strength and the determination of the preferred mode of crack propagation, is reviewed; static and fatigue data for boron/epoxy lamina are investigated with the aim of characterizing fatigue growth and residual strength as a function of the number of load cycles. It is suggested that correlation between the theory and the experiment may be limited by lack of a capability to predict the growth of delaminations.

Kulkarni, S. V.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Synthesis of aircraft structures using integrated design and analysis methods

A systematic research is reported to develop and validate methods for structural sizing of an airframe designed with the use of composite materials and active controls. This research program includes procedures for computing aeroelastic loads, static and dynamic aeroelasticity, analysis and synthesis of active controls, and optimization techniques. Development of the methods is concerned with the most effective ways of integrating and sequencing the procedures in order to generate structural sizing and the associated active control system, which is optimal with respect to a given merit function constrained by strength and aeroelasticity requirements.

Sobieszczanski-Sobieski, J.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Glass matrix composites. I - Graphite fiber reinforced glass

An experimental program is described in which graphite fibers of Hercules HMS and HTS, Thornel 300, and Celanese DG-12 were used to reinforce, both uniaxially and biaxially, borosilicate pyrex glass. Composite flexural strength distribution, strength as a function of test temperature, fracture toughness and oxidative stability were determined and shown to be primarily a function of fiber type and the quality of fiber-matrix bond formed during composite fabrication. It is demonstrated that the graphite fiber reinforced glass system offers unique possibilities as a high performance structural material.

Prewo, K. M.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Auroral kilometric radiation - Time-averaged source location

In the present paper, the location of the average generation region of auroral kilometric radiation is determined from an analysis of average electric field strengths as a function of spacecraft position in narrow frequency bands centered at 178, 100, and 56.2 kHz. Intense sources of power radiating at kilometric wavelengths are found near 65 degrees invariant latitude in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, from 22 to 24 hours MLT, and between 2 and 4 earth radii. These dominant sources of power produce the electromagnetic radiation described by Kurth et al. (1975) as auroral kilometric radiation. Each Northern and Southern Hemisphere auroral kilometric radiation source is well confined and emits radiation into solid angles of about 4.1 sr at 178 kHz, 2.2 sr at 100 kHz, and 1.5 sr at 56.2 kHz.

Gallagher, D. L.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Fracture mechanics in fiber reinforced composite materials, taking as examples B/A1 and CRFP

The validity of linear elastic fracture mechanics and other fracture criteria was investigated with laminates of boron fiber reinforced aluminum (R/A1) and of carbon fiber reinforced epoxide (CFRP). Cracks are assessed by fracture strength Kc or Kmax (critical or maximum value of the stress intensity factor). The Whitney and Nuismer point stress criterion and average stress criterion often show that Kmax of fiber composite materials increases with increasing crack length; however, for R/A1 and CFRP the curve showing fracture strength as a function of crack length is only applicable in a small domain. For R/A1, the reason is clearly the extension of the plastic zone (or the damage zone n the case of CFRP) which cannot be described with a stress intensity factor.

Peters, P. W. M.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Oscillating dynamo magnetic field in the presence of an external nondynamo field - The influence of a solar primordial field

Dynamo magnetic fields are self-excited and, once started, can perpetrate themselves with no outside source of magnetic flux, as long as the necessary fluid motions persist. Such dynamo fields behave completely independently of the field's overall polarity. In the presence of an external field of separate origin this polarity symmetry of the dynamo states is broken; the dynamo states become asymmetric with respect to polarity. In this paper a calculation is performed of the characteristics of a spherical shell dynamo in the presence of a fossil magnetic field penetrating into the dynamo from below. The asymmetric periodic states are found as a function of the strength of underlying fossil field. Applying these results to the sun, there appears to be no evidence of any intense large-scale primordial magnetic flux, having either dipole-like or quadrupole-like symmetry about the sun's equator, penetrating into the convection zone from the sun's radiative core. Indeed, the calculations indicate, even on the basis of the presently crude observations, that any such primordial field must have an intensity smaller than a few gauss.

Boyer, D. W.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Properties of autoclaved Gr/PI composites made from improved tack PMR-15 prepreg

Autoclave processing studies were conducted, using improved tack PMR-15 prepreg, to determine the effect of tack enhancing PMR resin modifications on composite processability and mechanical properties. Improved tack graphite fiber reinforced PMR-15 prepregs were prepared and exposed to ambient conditions for various times and then autoclave molded into composites. Composite specimens were prepared and tested for flexural and interlaminar shear strengths at room temperature and 316 C. The retention of flexural and interlaminar shear strength as a function of exposure in air at 316 C was also determined. The results show that the modified PMR resin solutions provide prepreg with improved tack and drape retention characteristics without adversely affecting processability or mechanical properties of autoclave molded graphite fiber reinforced PMR-15 composites.

Vannucci, R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The physics of the cometary contact surface

The contact surface, which separates outflowing cometary plasma from solar wind controlled cometary plasma, is explained in terms of a balance between the magnetic pressure gradient force and ion-neutral drag. Giotto data indicate that the plasma pressure inside the contact surface cannot balance the sum of the external plasma and magnetic pressures, and therefore a Venus-like ionopause is not present at the contact surface. An expression for the magnetic field strength as a function of cometocentric distance is derived from the momentum equation. The theoretical magnetic field profile agrees quite well with the profile measured by the Giotto magnetometer in the vicinity of the contact surface.

Cravens, Thomas E.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Centrifugal field line breaking - An upper limit to Io mass injection

The magnetic field generated by the current needed to balance the centrifugal force on the Io torus plasma is considered to find a self-consistent equation for radial mass transport. Solutions are obtained which give plasma density and field strength as a function of distance for different mass transport rates. The solutions are subjected to a stability analyses to find where the field lines break about 3 x 10 to the 30th atoms/sec (about 100,000 kg/sec) it reaches Io. This sets an upper limit on the magnetosphere's ability to off-load mass from Io. The effect of corotation lag was ignored.

Huang, T. S.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Physiology of prolonged bed rest

Bed rest has been a normal procedure used by physicians for centuries in the treatment of injury and disease. Exposure of patients to prolonged bed rest in the horizontal position induces adaptive deconditioning responses. While deconditioning responses are appropriate for patients or test subjects in the horizontal position, they usually result in adverse physiological responses (fainting, muscular weakness) when the patient assume the upright posture. These deconditioning responses result from reduction in hydrostatic pressure within the cardiovascular system, virtual elimination of longitudinal pressure on the long bones, some decrease in total body metabolism, changes in diet, and perhaps psychological impact from the different environment. Almost every system in the body is affected. An early stimulus is the cephalic shift of fluid from the legs which increases atrial pressure and induces compensatory responses for fluid and electrolyte redistribution. Without countermeasures, deterioration in strength and muscle function occurs within 1 wk while increased calcium loss may continue for months. Research should also focus on drug and carbohydrate metabolism.

Greenleaf, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Static multipole polarisabilities and second-order Stark shift in francium

The multipole polarizability of the ground state of francium is calculated by utilizing both the variational technique of Davison and the quantum defect theory underlying the Bates-Damgaard method. This approach is also shown to yield reasonable results for other alkali atoms. Second-order Stark shift for the ground state of francium is presented as a function of field strength for possible future experimental comparison.

Khan, F.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The electronically steered thinned array radiometer

An L-band radiometer which allows global imaging of soil moisture from LEO is discussed. The system consists of an array of antennas with amplifiers, a device to cross-correlate the signals from the antennas, and a process to translate the resulting data into an image of brightness temperature over the field of view. The process is based on a Fourier transform relation that exists between the incident electric field strength as a function of incidence angle and electric fields across the aperture plane of the antenna. The system's image reconstruction technique and signal-to-noise performance are examined.

Ruf, C. S.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Spectral determinations for discrete sources with EGRET

The ability of the EGRET (Energetic Gamma-Ray Experimental Telescope) to determine the spectral parameters of point sources in 14-day exposures, as planned for the initial survey phase of the GRO (Gamma Ray Observatory) mission, is explored by numerical simulation. Results are given for both galactic and extragalactic objects as a function of source strength and for representative levels of diffuse background emission.

Hughes, E. B.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Ceramic matrix composites in simulated SSME environments

Future Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME)-type rocket engines can benefit from the use of fiber-reinforced ceramix matrix composites (FRCMC). Ceramics reinforced with long continuous fibers exhibit improved tolerance to severe thermomechanical and environmental exposures. An in-house NASA-Lewis program to evaluate the durability of FRCMC in simulated SSME environments is described. Primary tests involve multiple (one second) exposures of FRCMC specimens in a hydrogen/oxygen rocket test rig. This rig generates surface heating rates of 1000 to 2500 C/second. The FRCMC durability evaluation involves measurement of retained strength as a function of thermal shock severity and number of upshock cycles. Preliminary test results for monolithic silicon nitride (Si3N4) and silicon carbide (SiC), and one type of silicon based FRCMC, are presented. The test data are examined in terms of simple thermal shock theory.

Herbell, Thomas P.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Multilayer sea ice in the Arctic - Model- and satellite-derived

The behavior of sea ice is a strong function of ice strength which, in the central Arctic, depends on the relative fractions of multiyear and first-year ice coverage. A dynamic-thermodynamic sea ice model has been configured to include both multiyear and first-year ice. The model has been run for a 7-year period, 1979-1985, for which a satellite microwave record of multiyear sea ice coverage is available. The simulated concentrations of multiyear ice are slightly higher than the satellite-derived concentrations, although the total coverage of simulated multiyear ice agrees well with the satellite-derived coverage. Both the simulated and the satellite-derived coverages in the early 1980s show large interannual variations that represent potentially large perturbations in the mass balance of Arctic pack ice. These fluctuations are generally consistent in the model and satellite data, and they are generally consistent with year-to-year differences in the large-scale wind forcing. In at least some cases the wintertime distribution of multiyear ice is influenced by the pattern of ice drift as far back as the previous summer. The late December coverage of multiyear ice in the Alaskan region appears to foreshadow summer ice conditions in the same region. The short-term response to an intense synoptic system is considerably larger in the satellite data than in the model results.

Walsh, John E.↗

NASA NTRS1991

The location of the source of high-frequency solar acoustic oscillations

Recently Libbrecht and Jefferies et al. have reported regular peaks in the solar oscillation power spectrum extending well above 5.3 mHz, the maximum frequency of trapped acoustic modes. Kumar et al. argued that these peaks are primarily due to the interference of traveling waves which are excited due to acoustic emission from turbulent convection. In contrast with the standing wave P-mode frequencies below 5.3 mHz, the positions of the high-frequency interference peaks (HIPs) are dependent on the location of the source of the acoustic oscillations. In the present work, Kumar et al.'s argument is strengthened, and more importantly, use is made of the above dependence to determine the acoustic source strength as a function of depth. It is found that the acoustic source profile, and thus the convective velocity, is peaked about 200 km deeper than what is expected from standard mixing length theory.

Kumar, Pawan↗

NASA NTRS1992

Experimental measurement of the orbital paths of particles sedimenting within a rotating viscous fluid as influenced by gravity

Measurements were taken of the path of a simulated typical tissue segment or 'particle' within a rotating fluid as a function of gravitational strength, fluid rotation rate, particle sedimentation rate, and particle initial position. Parameters were examined within the useful range for tissue culture in the NASA rotating wall culture vessels. The particle moves along a nearly circular path through the fluid (as observed from the rotating reference frame of the fluid) at the same speed as its linear terminal sedimentation speed for the external gravitational field. This gravitationally induced motion causes an increasing deviation of the particle from its original position within the fluid for a decreased rotational rate, for a more rapidly sedimenting particle, and for an increased gravitational strength. Under low gravity conditions (less than 0.1 G), the particle's motion through the fluid and its deviation from its original position become negligible. Under unit gravity conditions, large distortions (greater than 0.25 inch) occur even for particles of slow sedimentation rate (less than 1.0 cm/sec). The particle's motion is nearly independent of the particle's initial position. Comparison with mathematically predicted particle paths show that a significant error in the mathematically predicted path occurs for large particle deviations. This results from a geometric approximation and numerically accumulating error in the mathematical technique.

Wolf, David A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Flexural analysis of uplifted rift flanks on Venus

Knowledge of the thermal structure of a planet is vital to a thorough understanding of its general scheme of tectonics. Since no direct measurements of heat flow or thermal gradient are available for Venus, most estimates have been derived from theoretical considerations or by analog with the Earth. The flexural response of the lithosphere to applied loads is sensitive to regional thermal structure. Under the assumption that the yield strength as a function of depth can be specified, the temperature gradient can be inferred from the effective elastic plate thickness. Previous estimates of the effective elastic plate thickness of Venus range from 11-18 km for the foredeep north of Uorsar Rupes to 30-60 km for the annular troughs around several coronae. Thermal gradients inferred for these regions are 14-23 K km(exp -1) and 4-9 K km(exp -1) respectively. In this study, we apply the same techniques to investigate the uplifted flanks of an extensional rift. Hypotheses for the origin of uplifted rift flanks on Earth include lateral transport of heat from the center of the rift, vertical transport of heat by small-scale convection, differential thinning of the lithosphere, dynamical uplift, and isostatic response to mechanical uploading of the lithosphere. The 1st hypothesis is considered the dominant contributor to terrestrial rift flanks lacking evidence for volcanic activity, particularly for rift structures that are no longer active. In this study, we model the uplifted flanks of a venusian rift as the flexural response to a vertical end load.

Evans, Susan A.↗