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At least 451 records · Page 25

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NASA NTRS1985

Modification of the Electromagnetic Levitator (EML) Hardware

The goals of this project are: (1) to study the upgrade requirements and approaches needed for incorporation of an Electromagnetic Levitator (EML) into the shuttle orbiter, (2) to work with members of the Electromagnetic Containerless Processing science working group (SWG) to define future experiments for the EML, and (3) to assist these investigators in further development of ground-based experiment techniques to the limits possible in the terrestrial gravitational environment. Present work is directed toward: (1) upgrading the EML flight apparatus to meet requirements of safety and integration interfaces with the MSL orbiter carrier, (2) development of new experiment components required to carry out approved experiments in undercooled solidification and associated fluid flow studies directed by MIT, and (3) construction, test, qualification and integration assistance for the EML MSL flight package.

Frost, R. T.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A New Method for Laminar Boundary Layer Transition Visualization in Flight: Color Changes in Liquid Crystal Coatings

The visualization of laminar to turbulent boundary layer transition plays an important role in flight and wind tunnel aerodynamic testing of aircraft wing and body surfaces. Visualization can help provide a more complete understanding of both transition location as well as transition modes; without visualization, the transition process can be very difficult to understand. In the past, the most valuable transition visualization methods for fight applications included sublimating chemicals and oil flows. Each method has advantages and limitations. In particular, sublimating chemicals are impractical to use in subsonic applications much above 20,000 feet because of the greatly reduced rates of sublimation at lower temperatures (less than -4 degrees Fahrenheit). Both oil flow and sublimating chemicals have the disadvantage of providing only one good data point per flight. Thus, for many important flight conditions, transition visualization has not been readily available. This paper discusses a new method for visualizing transition in fight by the use of liquid crystals. The new method overcomes the limitations of past techniques, and provides transition visualization capability throughout almost the entire altitude and speed ranges of virtually all subsonic aircraft flight envelopes. The method also has wide applicability for supersonic transition visualization in flight and for general use in wind tunnel research over wide subsonic and supersonic speed ranges.

Holmes, Bruce J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A Lambda 1400 spectrophotometric census of the Orion belt region

Low dispersion IUE spectrophotometry were used to generate a pair of photometric indices which measure the strength of the broad continuum absorption feature at 1400 A, likely an autoionizing transition of Si II. Calibration of the indices as identifiers of silicon overabundance is based on measurements of 25 IUE spectral standards and a sample of O8-A0 IV-V stars, 18 of them silicon stars. The correlations of delta alpha 1400 with delta alpha 5200 and delta (VI-G) support the association of the lambda 5200 feature with silicon. Using this technique, a magnitude limited survey of 28 B-stars in sub-groups b1, b2 and b3 of the Orion OB1 association was conducted. Two previously unrecognized candidate (perhaps weakly overabundant) silicon stars, HD 37187 and BD - 0 deg 984 are identified.

Brown, Douglas N.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The importance of atomic and molecular correlation on the bonding in transition metal compounds

The determination of accurate spectroscopic parameters for molecular systems containing transition metal atoms is shown to require extensive data sets and a high level correlation treatment, and techniques and their limitations are considered. Extensive results reported on the transition metal atoms, hydrides, oxides, and dimers makes possible the design of a calculation to correctly describe the mixing of different atomic asymptotes, and to give a correct balance between molecular bonding and exchange interactions. Examples considered include the dipole moment of the 2Delta state of NiH, which can help determine the mixture of 3d(8)4s(2) and 3d(9)4s(1) in the NiH wavefunction, and the bonding in CrO, where an equivalent description of the relative energies associated with the Cr 3d-3d atomic exchange and the Cr-O bond is important.

Bauschlicher, Charles W., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Laser remote sensing of the atmosphere

Laser beams can be used as long-range spectroscopic probes of the chemical composition and physical state of the atmosphere. The spectroscopic, optical, and laser requirements for atmosphheric laser remote sensing are reviewed, and the sensitivity and limitations of the technique are described. A sampling of recent measurements includes the detection of urban air pollution and toxic chemicals in the atmosphere, the measurement of global circulation of volcanic ash in the upper atmosphere, and the observation of wind shear near airports.

Killinger, Dennis K.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Construction of explicit and implicit symmetric TVD schemes and their applications

A one-parameter family of explicit and implicit total variation diminishing (TVD) schemes is developed which permits incorporation of an expanded group of slope and flux limiters. The numerical technique is intended for use in calculations which include a time-differencing scheme and an optional Lax-Wendroff scheme. Methods of extending the TVD models to nonlinear scalar equations and systems of hyperbolic conservation equations are described. Sample results are presented from calculations of shocked flows around NACA 0012 and NACA 0018 airfoils.

Yee, H. C.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Highly automated transmission-edge mapping

Instrumentation and software are described, which are used to determine maps of properties of materials based on optical transmission spectra. In addition to a Fourier transform spectrometer, the hardware includes an xy-stage containing a small stationary aperture and two computer controlled stepper motors for positioning the sample. This idea has been used for years but this implementation is highly automated compared to those previously described. All mapping has been in the 2-15 micron wavelength range but this is not an inherent limitation of the technique. In this spectral range, useful results may be obtained with apertures as small as 25 microns in diameter. The software is described including the algorithm for obtaining the cut-on wavelength from a semiconductor spectrum. Data from both transverse slices and longitudinal slabs of narrow bandgap alloy semiconductors are shown including composition maps for materials solidified with convex and concave growth interfaces.

Szofran, F. R.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Remote sensing of forest canopy and leaf biochemical contents

Recent research on the remote sensing of forest leaf and canopy biochemical contents suggests that the shortwave IR region contains this information; laboratory analyses of dry ground leaves have yielded reliable predictive relationships between both leaf nitrogen and lignin with near-IR spectra. Attention is given to the application of these laboratory techniques to a limited set of spectra from fresh, whole leaves of conifer species. The analysis of Airborne Imaging Spectrometer data reveals that total water content variations in deciduous forest canopies appear as overall shifts in the brightness of raw spectra.

Peterson, David L.↗

NASA NTRS1987

High altitude turbulence for supersonic cruise vehicles

The characteristics of high altitude turbulence and its associated meteorological features are reviewed. Findings based on data from NASA flight research programs with prototype military aircraft, the XB-70 and YF-12A, are emphasized. An example of detailed numerical atmospheric simulations, which may provide greatly increased understanding of these earlier turbulence observations, is presented. Comparisons between observation and numerical simulation should help to delineate the limitations of analysis techniques and improve our understanding of atmospheric processes in the stratosphere.

Ehernberger, L. J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Pulsed ion beam investigation of the kinetics of surface reactions

Pulsed ion beam measurements of the kinetics of surface reactions are discussed for the case where the width of the ion pulse is comparable to the measured reaction time, but short compared to the time between successive pulses. Theoretical expressions are derived for the time dependence of the ion-induced signals for linear surface reactions. Results are presented for CO emission from surface carbon and CF emission from Teflon induced by oxygen ion bombardment. The strengths and limitations of this technique are described.

Horton, C. C.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Enhanced element-specific modal formulations for flexible multibody dynamics

The accuracy of current flexible multibody formalisms based on assumed modes is examined in the context of standard spacecraft motions involving structural components undergoing both slow and fast overall translational and rotational motions as well as small deformations. Limitations of current techniques in treating: (1) element-specific coupling behavior of large motion and small deformation, and (2) motion-induced structural stiffness variations, are noted. The roles of nonlinear and linear elastic structural theories in accurately predicting transient large-displacement dynamic behavior of flexible multibody systems are examined in detail. Coupling effects between deformation and overall motion are carefully scrutinized in the context of assumed-mode discretization techniques. Consistently linearized beam, plate, and shell formulations involving in-plane stretch variables are proposed and shown to yield very accurate simulation results and extremely fast modal convergence for most motions involving small strains. In some particular cases, however, in which membrane stiffness dominates bending stiffness, a nonlinear strain formulation is required in order to capture proper coupling between deformation and overall motion.

Ryan, Robert R.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Nonlinear finite element formulation for the large displacement analysis in multibody system dynamics

A total Lagrangian finite element formulation for the deformable bodies in multibody mechanical systems that undergo finite relative rotations is developed. The deformable bodies are discretized using finite element methods. The shape functions that are used to describe the displacement field are required to include the rigid body modes that describe only large translational displacements. This does not impose any limitations on the technique because most commonly used shape functions satisfy this requirement. The configuration of an element is defined using four sets of coordinate systems: Body, Element, Intermediate element, Global. The body coordinate system serves as a unique standard for the assembly of the elements forming the deformable body. The element coordinate system is rigidly attached to the element and therefore it translates and rotates with the element. The intermediate element coordinate system, whose axes are initially parallel to the element axes, has an origin which is rigidly attached to the origin of the body coordinate system and is used to conveniently describe the configuration of the element in undeformed state with respect to the body coordinate system.

Rismantab-Sany, J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Design of an optically controlled Ka-band GaAs MMIC phased-array antenna

Phased array antennas long were investigated to support the agile, multibeam radiating apertures with rapid reconfigurability needs of radar and communications. With the development of the Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC), phased array antennas having the stated characteristics are becoming realizable. However, at K-band frequencies (20 to 40 GHz) and higher, the problem of controlling the MMICs using conventional techniques either severely limits the array size or becomes insurmountable due to the close spacing of the radiating elements necessary to achieve the desired antenna performance. Investigations were made that indicate using fiber optics as a transmission line for control information for the MMICs provides a potential solution. By adding an optical interface circuit to pre-existing MMIC designs, it is possible to take advantage of the small size, lightweight, mechanical flexibility and RFI/EMI resistant characteristics of fiber optics to distribute MMIC control signals. The architecture, circuit development, testing and integration of optically controlled K-band MMIC phased array antennas are described.

Kunath, Richard R.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Testing of 3-D models in 2-D adaptive wall test sections

Considerable effort was devoted to the development of two-dimensional adaptive wall test sections. The development of fully three-dimensional test sections, however, has not had this same level of effort expended. The limitations on three-dimensional research are the result of the complexity of both the mechanical design and operational aspects. Typical of the mechanical complexities are lack of readily available model and flow visualization access, and problems of sealing between adjacent walls for multi-wall types of test sections. The operational aspects are complicated by the necessity for many measurements of the boundary conditions which can be very time consuming. In three-dimensional testing, it is impossible to remove all of the boundary interference. It will be necessary, therefore, to apply residual corrections to the data. The more complex the test section shape, the more complex the calculation of the residual corrections becomes. From both the viewpoint of test section complexity and of ease of residual corrections, a simplified test section geometry is desirable. To aid in the design of simplified test sections, several researchers investigated the capability of using two-dimensional adaptive wall test sections to perform three-dimensional testing. By use of this type of design, the inherent complications and limitations of the fully three-dimensional design are avoided. Strategies of adaptation used for this application are described, as well as, sample results and a discussion of some limitations of the technique.

Wedemeyer, Erich H.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Materials screening chamber for testing materials resistance to atomic oxygen

A unique test chamber for exposing material to a known flux of oxygen atoms is described. The capabilities and operating parameters of the apparatus include production of an oxygen atom flux in excess of 5 x 10 to the 16th atoms/sq cm-sec, controlled heating of the sample specimen, RF circuitry to contain the plasma within a small volume, and long exposure times. Flux measurement capabilities include a calorimetric probe and a light titration system. Accuracy and limitations of these techniques are discussed. An extension to the main chamber to allow simultaneous ultraviolet and atomic oxygen exposure is discussed. The oxygen atoms produced are at thermal energies. Sample specimens are maintained at any selected temperature between ambient and 200 C, to within + or - 2 C. A representative example of measurements made using the chamber is presented.

Pippin, H. G.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Average reflected power from a one-dimensional slab of discrete scatterers

Reflection from a one-dimensional random medium of discrete scatterers is considered. The discrete scattering medium is modeled by a Poisson impulse process with concentration lambda. By employing the Markov property of the Poisson impulse process, an exact functional integro-differential equation of the Kolmogorov-Feller type is found for the average reflected power. Approximate solutions to this equation are obtained by regular perturbation and two variable expansion techniques in the limit of small lambda. The regular perturbation results is valid for small slab thicknesses, while the two-variable result is uniformly valid for any thickness. The two-variable result shows that as the slab size becomes infinite all of the incident power is reflected on the average.

Saatchi, Sasan S.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Development and verification of global/local analysis techniques for laminated composites

A two-dimensional to three-dimensional global/local finite element approach was developed, verified, and applied to a laminated composite plate of finite width and length containing a central circular hole. The resulting stress fields for axial compression loads were examined for several symmetric stacking sequences and hole sizes. Verification was based on comparison of the displacements and the stress fields with those accepted trends from previous free edge investigations and a complete three-dimensional finite element solution of the plate. The laminates in the compression study included symmetric cross-ply, angle-ply and quasi-isotropic stacking sequences. The entire plate was selected as the global model and analyzed with two-dimensional finite elements. Displacements along a region identified as the global/local interface were applied in a kinematically consistent fashion to independent three-dimensional local models. Local areas of interest in the plate included a portion of the straight free edge near the hole, and the immediate area around the hole. Interlaminar stress results obtained from the global/local analyses compares well with previously reported trends, and some new conclusions about interlaminar stress fields in plates with different laminate orientations and hole sizes are presented for compressive loading. The effectiveness of the global/local procedure in reducing the computational effort required to solve these problems is clearly demonstrated through examination of the computer time required to formulate and solve the linear, static system of equations which result for the global and local analyses to those required for a complete three-dimensional formulation for a cross-ply laminate. Specific processors used during the analyses are described in general terms. The application of this global/local technique is not limited software system, and was developed and described in as general a manner as possible.

Thompson, Danniella Muheim↗

NASA NTRS1990

Numerical experiments in geomagnetic modeling

Numerical tests were made, using least squares fitting of a spherical harmonic model, to a selection of Magsat data to determine the practical limits of this technique with modern computers. The resulting (M102189) model, whose coefficients were adjusted up to n = 50, was compared with M07AV6, a previous model which used least squares (on vector data) for coefficients up to n = 29, and Gauss-Legendre quadrature (on Z residuals) to adjust the coefficients up to n = 63. For the new least squares adjustment to n = 50 a condition number of 115 was obtained for the solution matrix, with a resulting precision of 11 significant figures. The M102189 model shows a lower and more Gaussian residual distribution than did M07AV6, though the Gaussian envelope fits to the residual distributions, even for the scalar field, gives "standard deviations' never lower than 6 nT, a factor of three higher than the estimated Magsat observational errors. Ionospheric currents are noted to have a significant effect on the coefficients of the internal potential functions.

Cain, Joseph C.↗