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At least 451 records · Page 25

Advanced Control Surface Seal Development for Future Space Vehicles

NASA's Glenn Research Center (GRC) has been developing advanced high temperature structural seals since the late 1980s and is currently developing seals for future space vehicles as part of the Next Generation Launch Technology (NGLT) program. This includes control surface seals that seal the edges and hinge lines of movable flaps and elevons on future reentry vehicles. In these applications, the seals must operate at temperatures above 2000 F in an oxidizing environment, limit hot gas leakage to protect underlying structures, endure high temperature scrubbing against rough surfaces, and remain flexible and resilient enough to stay in contact with sealing surfaces for multiple heating and loading cycles. For this study, three seal designs were compared against the baseline spring tube seal through a series of compression tests at room temperature and 2000 F and flow tests at room temperature. In addition, canted coil springs were tested as preloaders behind the seals at room temperature to assess their potential for improving resiliency. Addition of these preloader elements resulted in significant increases in resiliency compared to seals by themselves and surpassed the performance of the baseline seal at room temperature. Flow tests demonstrated that the seal candidates with engineered cores had lower leakage rates than the baseline spring tube design. However, then the seals were placed on the preloader elements, the flow rates were higher as the seals were not compressed as much and therefore were not able to fill the groove as well. High temperature tests were also conducted to assess the compatability of seal fabrics against cermaic matrix composite (CMC) panels anticipated for use in next generation launch vehicles. These evaluations demonstrated potential bonding issues between the Nextel fabrics and CMC candidates.

DeMange, Jeffrey J.↗

Advanced Control Surface Seal Development for Future Space Vehicles

NASA s Glenn Research Center (GRC) has been developing advanced high temperature structural seals since the late 1980's and is currently developing seals for future space vehicles as part of the Next Generation Launch Technology (NGLT) program. This includes control surface seals that seal the edges and hinge lines of movable flaps and elevons on future reentry vehicles. In these applications, the seals must operate at temperatures above 2000 F in an oxidizing environment, limit hot gas leakage to protect underlying structures, endure high temperature scrubbing against rough surfaces, and remain flexible and resilient enough to stay in contact with sealing surfaces for multiple heating and loading cycles. For this study, three seal designs were compared against the baseline spring tube seal through a series of compression tests at room temperature and 2000 F and flow tests at room temperature. In addition, canted coil springs were tested as preloaders behind the seals at room temperature to assess their potential for improving resiliency. Addition of these preloader elements resulted in significant increases in resiliency compared to the seals by themselves and surpassed the performance of the baseline seal at room temperature. Flow tests demonstrated that the seal candidates with engineered cores had lower leakage rates than the baseline spring tube design. However, when the seals were placed on the preloader elements, the flow rates were higher as the seals were not compressed as much and therefore were not able to fill the groove as well. High temperature tests were also conducted to asses the compatibility of seal fabrics against ceramic matrix composite (CMC) panels anticipated for use in next generation launch vehicles. These evaluations demonstrated potential bonding issues between the Nextel fabrics and CMC candidates.

DeMange, J. J.↗

Effect of Cyclo-Pentane Impurities on the Autoignition Reactivity and Properties of a Gasoline Surrogate Fuel

Surrogate fuels that reproduce the characteristics of full-boiling range fuels are key tools to enable numerical simulations of fuel-related processes and ensure reproducibility of experiments by eliminating batch-to-batch variability. Within the PACE initiative, a surrogate fuel for regular-grade E10 (10%vol ethanol) gasoline representative of a U.S. market gasoline, termed PACE-20, was developed and adopted as baseline fuel for the consortium. Although extensive testing demonstrated that PACE-20 replicates the properties and combustion behavior of the full-boiling range gasoline, several concerns arose regarding the purity level required for the species that compose PACE-20. This is particularly important for cyclo-pentane, since commercial-grade cyclo-pentane typically shows 60%–85% purity. Here, in the present work, the effects of the purity level of cyclo-pentane on the properties and combustion characteristics of PACE-20 were studied. Chemical kinetic simulations were performed to predict the effects of cyclo-pentane impurities on the properties, octane rating, and autoignition reactivity under homogeneous charge compression-ignition conditions of PACE-20. From the numerical results, cyclo-pentane with 85% purity or higher is required to reasonably match both the research octane number and motor octane number of the target gasoline. Finally, homogeneous charge compression-ignition engine simulations show that impurities have only a modest effect on reactivity at naturally aspirated conditions, but cyclo-pentane purity is critical to properly replicate the pressure dependency of the reactivity.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

A non-isothermal breakage-damage model for plastic-bonded granular materials incorporating temperature, pressure, and rate dependencies

Plastic-bonded granular materials (PBM) are widely used in industrial sectors, including building construction, abrasive applications, and defense applications such as plastic-bonded explosives. The mechanical behavior of PBM is highly nonlinear, irreversible, rate dependent, and temperature sensitive governed by various micromechanical attributions such as grain crushing and binder damage. This paper presents a thermodynamically consistent, microstructure-informed constitutive model to capture these characteristic behaviors of PBM. Key features of the model include a breakage internal variable to upscale the grain-scale information to the continuum level and to predict grain size evolution under mechanical loading. In addition, a damage internal state variable is introduced to account for the damage, deterioration, and debonding of the binder matrix upon loading. Temperature is taken as a fundamental external state variable to handle non-isothermal loading paths. The proposed model is able to capture with good accuracy several important aspects of the mechanical properties of PBM, such as pressure-dependent elasticity, pressure-dependent yield strength, brittle-to-ductile transition, temperature dependency, and rate dependency in the post-yielding regime. Furthermore, the model is validated against multiple published datasets obtained from confined and unconfined compression tests, covering various PBM compositions, confining pressures, temperatures, and strain rates.

Breakage↗

Experimental measurements of soot formation in fuel-rich homogeneous mixtures using an optical rapid compression machine

Advanced combustion strategies are necessary for the use of more environmentally sustainable fuels than traditional diesel. Alcohol fuels and alcohol/gasoline blends are of particular interest as they are readily available in the marketplace. Heavy-duty engines typically use compression ignited, conventional diesel mixing controlled combustion. Mixing controlled combustion features a non-premixed diffusion flame with a wide range of local equivalence ratios, leading to potentially high rates of soot formation. This work studies the sooting behavior of iso-octane and ethanol as a function of equivalence ratio. Measurements are carried out in a rapid compression machine (RCM) and are reported for pre-ignition conditions of 10–30 bar and temperatures of 650–800 K. Theoretical equilibrium and bulk gas temperatures are calculated for both fuels. These data are used to identify the critical equivalence ratio, the lowest equivalence ratio where soot is detected with a single-pass laser extinction diagnostic. The critical equivalence ratio for iso-octane varies between 1.82 and 1.77 for compressed pressures of 10 and 20 bar, respectively. Ethanol, sometimes considered sootless, had a critical equivalence ratio between 2.37 and 2.12 for compressed pressures of 20 and 30 bar, respectively. When characterizing soot formation by oxygenated equivalence ratio, the critical equivalence ratios for ethanol approach those of iso-octane. This suggests the oxygenated nature of alcohol fuels reduces sooting tendency, but other factors such as fuel molecular structure and morphology may play a role. It was observed that ethanol will form soot at equivalence ratios only slightly higher than iso-octane, which could have implications in mixing controlled combustion. It was seen for both fuels that soot formation is pressure sensitive, with the critical equivalence ratio being inversely proportional to compressed pressure and the rate of soot formation. Future work will investigate the sooting behavior of gasoline/ethanol blends.

02 PETROLEUM↗

Factors Affecting the Plasticity of Sodium Chloride, Lithium Fluoride, and Magnesium Oxide Single Crystals

A study was made of the relative magnitude of the effects of various factors on the ductility of single crystals of sodium chloride (NaCl), lithium fluoride (LiF), and magnesium oxide (MgO). Specimen treatments included water-polishing, varying cleavage rate, annealing, quenching, X-irradiation, surface coating, aging, and combinations of some of these treatments. The mechanical behavior of the crystals was studied in flexure and in compression, the latter study being performed at both constant strain rate and constant load. Etch-pit studies were carried out to provide some pertinent information on the results of pretreatment on the dislocation concentration and distribution in the vicinity of the surface. The load deformation curves for these ionic single crystals show an initial region of very low slope which proved to be due to anelastic deformation. The extent of initial anelastic deformation is modified by specimen pretreatment in a way that suggests that this deformation is the result of expansion of cleaved-in dislocation loops, which can contract on the removal of the stress. The effects of the various pretreatments on the load and deflection at fracture are in accord with the prediction one might make with regard to their effect on the nucleation of fatal surface cracks. For NaCl, increases in ductility are always accompanied by increases in strength. The creep constants for NaCl are a function of treatments which affect the bulk structure but are not a function of treatments which only affect the surface.

Stearns, Carl A.↗

Data transmission networks

A task order was written by the High Resolution, High Frame Rate Video Technology (HHVT) project engineers to investigate data compression techniques that could be applied to the HHVT system, and both existing and planned downlink/uplink capabilities of the Space Shuttle and Space Station Freedom. The following tasks were included: (1) Investigate signal channel availability and determine both the maximum possible data rate and the average data rate; (2) Identify time blocks for HHVT video transmission assuming time sharing and interruptions in the communication links; (3) Determine the bit error rates to be expected; and (4) Define the transmit and receive interfaces. A summary chart of the data transmission capabilities for Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS), the Space Shuttle, Space Station Freedom, Spacelab, and USLab are also presented.

Alexovich, Robert↗

SAR data compression: Application, requirements, and designs

The feasibility of reducing data volume and data rate is evaluated for the Earth Observing System (EOS) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). All elements of data stream from the sensor downlink data stream to electronic delivery of browse data products are explored. The factors influencing design of a data compression system are analyzed, including the signal data characteristics, the image quality requirements, and the throughput requirements. The conclusion is that little or no reduction can be achieved in the raw signal data using traditional data compression techniques (e.g., vector quantization, adaptive discrete cosine transform) due to the induced phase errors in the output image. However, after image formation, a number of techniques are effective for data compression.

Curlander, John C.↗

Conditional replenishment using motion prediction

Conditional replenishment is an interframe video compression method that uses correlation in time to reduce video transmission rates. This method works by detecting and sending only the changing portions of the image and by having the receiver use the video data from the previous frame for the non-changing portion. The amount of compression that can be achieved through this technique depends to a large extent on the rate of change within the image, and can vary from 10 to 1 to less than 2 to 1. An additional 3 to 1 reduction in rate is obtained by the intraframe coding of data blocks using a 2-dimensional variable rate Hadamard transform coder. A further additional 2 to 1 rate reduction is achieved by using motion prediction. Motion prediction works by measuring the relative displacements of a subpicture from one frame to the next. The subpicture can then be transmitted by sending only the value of the 2-dimensional displacement. Computer simulations have demonstrated that data rates of 2 to 4 Mega-bits/second can be achieved while still retaining good fidelity in the image.

Hein, D. N.↗

Application of a Reynolds stress turbulence model to the compressible shear layer

Theoretically based turbulence models have had success in predicting many features of incompressible, free shear layers. However, attempts to extend these models to the high-speed, compressible shear layer have been less effective. In the present work, the compressible shear layer was studied with a second-order turbulence closure, which initially used only variable density extensions of incompressible models for the Reynolds stress transport equation and the dissipation rate transport equation. The quasi-incompressible closure was unsuccessful; the predicted effect of the convective Mach number on the shear layer growth rate was significantly smaller than that observed in experiments. Having thus confirmed that compressibility effects have to be explicitly considered, a new model for the compressible dissipation was introduced into the closure. This model is based on a low Mach number, asymptotic analysis of the Navier-Stokes equations, and on direct numerical simulation of compressible, isotropic turbulence. The use of the new model for the compressible dissipation led to good agreement of the computed growth rates with the experimental data. Both the computations and the experiments indicate a dramatic reduction in the growth rate when the convective Mach number is increased. Experimental data on the normalized maximum turbulence intensities and shear stress also show a reduction with increasing Mach number.

Sarkar, S.↗

Application of a Reynolds stress turbulence model to the compressible shear layer

Theoretically based turbulence models have had success in predicting many features of incompressible, free shear layers. However, attempts to extend these models to the high-speed, compressible shear layer have been less effective. In the present work, the compressible shear layer was studied with a second-order turbulence closure, which initially used only variable density extensions of incompressible models for the Reynolds stress transport equation and the dissipation rate transport equation. The quasi-incompressible closure was unsuccessful; the predicted effect of the convective Mach number on the shear layer growth rate was significantly smaller than that observed in experiments. Having thus confirmed that compressibility effects have to be explicitly considered, a new model for the compressible dissipation was introduced into the closure. This model is based on a low Mach number, asymptotic analysis of the Navier-Stokes equations, and on direct numerical simulation of compressible, isotropic turbulence. The use of the new model for the compressible dissipation led to good agreement of the computed growth rates with the experimental data. Both the computations and the experiments indicate a dramatic reduction in the growth rate when the convective Mach number is increased. Experimental data on the normalized maximum turbulence intensities and shear stress also show a reduction with increasing Mach number.

Sarkar, S.↗

DCTune Perceptual Optimization of Compressed Dental X-Rays

In current dental practice, x-rays of completed dental work are often sent to the insurer for verification. It is faster and cheaper to transmit instead digital scans of the x-rays. Further economies result if the images are sent in compressed form. DCTune is a technology for optimizing DCT (digital communication technology) quantization matrices to yield maximum perceptual quality for a given bit-rate, or minimum bit-rate for a given perceptual quality. Perceptual optimization of DCT color quantization matrices. In addition, the technology provides a means of setting the perceptual quality of compressed imagery in a systematic way. The purpose of this research was, with respect to dental x-rays, 1) to verify the advantage of DCTune over standard JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), 2) to verify the quality control feature of DCTune, and 3) to discover regularities in the optimized matrices of a set of images. We optimized matrices for a total of 20 images at two resolutions (150 and 300 dpi) and four bit-rates (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 bits/pixel), and examined structural regularities in the resulting matrices. We also conducted psychophysical studies (1) to discover the DCTune quality level at which the images became 'visually lossless,' and (2) to rate the relative quality of DCTune and standard JPEG images at various bitrates. Results include: (1) At both resolutions, DCTune quality is a linear function of bit-rate. (2) DCTune quantization matrices for all images at all bitrates and resolutions are modeled well by an inverse Gaussian, with parameters of amplitude and width. (3) As bit-rate is varied, optimal values of both amplitude and width covary in an approximately linear fashion. (4) Both amplitude and width vary in systematic and orderly fashion with either bit-rate or DCTune quality; simple mathematical functions serve to describe these relationships. (5) In going from 150 to 300 dpi, amplitude parameters are substantially lower and widths larger at corresponding bit-rates or qualities. (6) Visually lossless compression occurs at a DCTune quality value of about 1. (7) At 0.25 bits/pixel, comparative ratings give DCTune a substantial advantage over standard JPEG. As visually lossless bit-rates are approached, this advantage of necessity diminishes. We have concluded that DCTune optimized quantization matrices provide better visual quality than standard JPEG. Meaningful quality levels may be specified by means of the DCTune metric. Optimized matrices are very similar across the class of dental x-rays, suggesting the possibility of a 'class-optimal' matrix. DCTune technology appears to provide some value in the context of compressed dental x-rays.

Watson, Andrew B.↗

Heat Transfer to Fuel Sprays Injected into Heated Gases

This report presents the results of a study made of the influence of several variables on the pressure decrease accompanying injection of a relatively cool liquid into a heated compressed gas. Indirectly, this pressure decrease and the time rate of change of it are indicative of the total heat transferred as well as the rate of heat transfer between the gas and the injected liquid. Air, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide were used as ambient gases; diesel fuel and benzene were the injected liquids. The gas densities and gas-fuel ratios covered approximately the range used in compression-ignition engines. The gas temperatures ranged from 150 degrees c. to 350 degrees c.

Selden, Robert F↗

Pilot Field Test: Use of a Compression Garment During a Stand Test After Long-Duration Space Flight

Orthostatic intolerance (OI) is a concern for astronauts returning from long-duration space flight. One countermeasure that has been used to protect against OI after short-duration bed rest and space flight is the use of lower body and abdominal compression garments. However, since the end of the Space Shuttle era we have not been able to test crewmembers during the first 24 hours after landing on Earth. NASA's Pilot Field Test provided us the opportunity to test cardiovascular responses of crewmembers wearing the Russian Kentavr compression garment during a stand test at multiple time points throughout the first 24 hours after landing. HYPOTHESIS We hypothesized that the Kentavr compression garment would prevent an increase in heart rate (HR) >15 bpm during a 3.5-min stand test. METHODS: The Pilot Field Test was conducted up to 3 times during the first 24 hours after crewmembers returned to Earth: (1) either in a tent adjacent to the Soyuz landing site in Kazakhstan (approx.1 hr) or after transportation to the Karaganda airport (approx. 4 hr); (2) during a refueling stop in Scotland (approx.12 hr); and (3) upon return to NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) (approx.24 hr). We measured HR and arterial pressure (finger photoplethysmography) for 2 min while the crewmember was prone and throughout 3.5 min of quiet standing. Eleven crewmembers consented to participate; however, 2 felt too ill to start the test and 1 stopped 30 sec into the stand portion of the test. Of the remaining 8 crewmembers, 2 did not wear the Russian Kentavr compression garment. Because of inclement weather at the landing site, 5 crewmembers were flown by helicopter to the Karaganda airport before initial testing and received intravenous saline before completing the stand test. One of these crewmembers wore only the portion of the Russian Kentavr compression garment that covered the lower leg and thus lacked thigh and abdominal compression. All crewmembers continued wearing the Russian Kentavr compression garment during the second testing session in Scotland, but none wore it during testing at JSC. RESULTS: The mean Delta HR from the supine to standing position in the 8 crewmembers measured pre-flight or 60 days after return from long-duration space flight was 9.8 bpm. During the first few hours after landing from long-duration space flight, the mean Delta HR of the 6 crewmembers who wore the Russian Kentavr compression garment in Kazakhstan or Karaganda was +14 bpm and the change in mean arterial pressure (Delta MAP) was +0.8 mmHg, while the 2 crewmembers who did not wear the Russian Kentavr compression garment had a Delta HR of +38 bpm and a Delta MAP of +1.1 mmHg. In Scotland, 4 crewmembers wore the Russian Kentavr compression garment and had a Delta HR of +7.4 bpm while the 3 crewmembers who did not wear it had a Delta HR of +25.0 bpm. Seven crewmembers were tested upon return to JSC approx. 24 hr after landing, but none wore the Russian Kentavr compression garment and their Delta HR was 16.0 bpm. CONCLUSIONS: These are the first stand-test data to be collected from long-duration crewmembers during the first 24 hr of re-adaptation to gravity on Earth. The Delta HR measured in crewmembers who completed the stand-test while wearing Kentavr within the first approx.4 hours after returning to Earth was only slightly elevated from pre-flight Delta HR, while the few subjects who did not wear the Russian Kentavr compression garment had a much larger increase in HR in order to maintain arterial pressure throughout 3.5-min of standing. These data demonstrate the effectiveness of a compression garment in preventing large increases in HR during a 3.5 min stand test after long-duration space flight. However, the fact that three crewmembers were too ill to complete the test or was not able to complete 3.5 min of standing despite wearing the Russian Kentavr compression garment indicates that wearing a compression garment does not resolve all problems crewmembers face during the period of re-adaptation immediately after return to Earth's gravity.

Laurie, S. S.↗

Modeling of Ice Flow and Internal Layers Along a Flow Line Through Swiss Camp in West Greenland

An anisotropic ice flow line model is applied to a flow line through Swiss Camp (69.57 N, 49.28 W) in West Greenland to estimate the dates of internal layers detected by Radio-Echo Sounding measurements. The effect of an anisotropic ice fabric on ice flow is incorporated into the steady state flow line model. The stress-strain rate relationship for anisotropic ice is characterized by an enhancement factor based on the laboratory observations of ice deformation under combined compression and shear stresses. By using present-day data of accumulation rate, surface temperature, surface elevation and ice thickness along the flow line as model inputs, a very close agreement is found between the isochrones generated from the model and the observed internal layers with confirmed dates. The results indicate that this part of Greenland ice sheet is primarily in steady state.

Wang, W. L.↗

Integer cosine transform compression for Galileo at Jupiter: A preliminary look

The Galileo low-gain antenna mission has a severely rate-constrained channel over which we wish to send large amounts of information. Because of this link pressure, compression techniques for image and other data are being selected. The compression technique that will be used for images is the integer cosine transform (ICT). This article investigates the compression performance of Galileo's ICT algorithm as applied to Galileo images taken during the early portion of the mission and to images that simulate those expected from the encounter at Jupiter.

Ekroot, L.↗

Vortex-Free Flight Corridors for Aircraft Executing Compressed Landing Operations

A factor that limits airport arrival and departure rates is the need to wait between operations for the wake vortices of preceding aircraft to decay to a safe level. As airport traffic demand increases, creative methods will be needed to overcome the limitations caused by the hazard posed by vortex wakes so that airport capacities can be increased. The problem addressed here is the design of vortex-free trajectories for aircraft as they fly from their cruise altitudes down to their final approach paths and to a landing. The guidelines presented recommend that the flight path of each aircraft in a group executing nearly-simultaneous landings be spaced far enough apart laterally along organized flight paths so that the vortex wakes of preceding aircraft will not intrude into the airspace to be used by following aircraft. An example is presented as to how a combination of straight lines and circular arcs is able to provide each aircraft in a group with a vortex-free trajectory so that all are able to safely form the pattern needed for nearly simultaneous landings on a set of closely-spaced parallel runways. Although the guidelines me described for aircraft on approach, they are also applicable to departure, and to en route operations.

Rossow, Vernon J.↗

Radiometric resolution enhancement by lossy compression as compared to truncation followed by lossless compression

Recent advances in imaging technology make it possible to obtain imagery data of the Earth at high spatial, spectral and radiometric resolutions from Earth orbiting satellites. The rate at which the data is collected from these satellites can far exceed the channel capacity of the data downlink. Reducing the data rate to within the channel capacity can often require painful trade-offs in which certain scientific returns are sacrificed for the sake of others. In this paper we model the radiometric version of this form of lossy compression by dropping a specified number of least significant bits from each data pixel and compressing the remaining bits using an appropriate lossless compression technique. We call this approach 'truncation followed by lossless compression' or TLLC. We compare the TLLC approach with applying a lossy compression technique to the data for reducing the data rate to the channel capacity, and demonstrate that each of three different lossy compression techniques (JPEG/DCT, VQ and Model-Based VQ) give a better effective radiometric resolution than TLLC for a given channel rate.

Tilton, James C.↗