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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.

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At least 469 records · Page 26

Fiberoptic characteristics for extreme operating environments

Fiberoptics could offer several major benefits for cryogenic liquid-fueled rocket engines, including lightning immunity, weight reduction, and the possibility of implementing a number of new measurements for engine condition monitoring. The technical feasibility of using fiberoptics in the severe environments posed by cryogenic liquid-fueled rocket engines was determined. The issues of importance and subsequent requirements for this use of fiberoptics were compiled. These included temperature ranges, moisture embrittlement succeptability, and the ability to withstand extreme shock and vibration levels. Different types of optical fibers were evaluated and several types of optical fibers' ability to withstand use in cryogenic liquid-fueled rocket engines was demonstrated through environmental testing of samples. This testing included: cold-bend testing, moisture embrittlement testing, temperature cycling, temperature extremes testing, vibration testing, and shock testing. Three of five fiber samples withstood the tests to a level proving feasibility, and two of these remained intact in all six of the tests. A fiberoptic bundle was also tested, and completed testing without breakage. Preliminary cabling and harnessing for fiber protection was also demonstrated. According to cable manufacturers, the successful -300 F cold bend, vibration, and shock tests are the first instance of any major fiberoptic cable testing below roughly -55 F. This program has demonstrated the basic technical feasibility of implementing optical fibers on cryogenic liquid-fueled rocket engines, and a development plan is included highlighting requirements and issues for such an implementation.

Delcher, R. C.↗

Magnetic shielding and vacuum test for passive hydrogen masers

Vibration tests on high permeability magnetic shields used in the SAO-NRL Advanced Development Model (ADM) hydrogen maser were made. Magnetic shielding factors were measured before and after vibration. Preliminary results indicate considerable (25%) degradation. Test results on the NRL designed vacuum pumping station for the ADM hydrogen maser are also discussed. This system employs sintered zirconium carbon getter pumps to pump hydrogen plus small ion pumps to pump the inert gases. In situ activation tests and pumping characteristics indicate that the system can meet design specifications.

Gubser, D. U.↗

Vibration Response Testing of the CEBAF 12GeV Upgrade Cryomodules

The CEBAF 12 GeV upgrade project includes 80 new 7-cell cavities to form 10 cryomodules. These cryomodules were tested during production to characterize their microphonic response in situ. For several early cryomodules, detailed (vibration) modal studies of the cryomodule string were performed during the assembly process to identify the structural contributors to the measured cryomodule microphonic response. Structural modifications were then modelled, implemented, and verified by subsequent modal testing and in-situ microphonic response testing. Interim and latest results from this multi-stage process will be reviewed.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Shuttle being tested at Marshall Center

Ground vibration tests of the space shuttle vehicle performed to evaluate the structural dynamics and their effect on the control system of the shuttle are described. Test results are used to verify the system design and mathematical models that predict how the shuttle's control system will react to the much more severe vibrations expected during launch and flight into orbit. The test configurations, the test facility, and the dynamic test suspension system are among the topics discussed.

Source record↗

Coupled Facility/Payload Vibration Modeling Improvements

A major phase of aerospace hardware verification is vibration testing. The standard approach for such testing is to use a shaker to induce loads into the payload. In preparation for vibration testing at NASA/GSFC there is an analysis to assess the responses of the payload. A new method of modeling the test is presented that takes into account dynamic interactions between the facility and the payload. This dynamic interaction has affected testing in the past, but been ignored or adjusted for during testing. By modeling the combination of the facility and test article (payload) it is possible to improve the prediction of hardware responses. Many aerospace test facilities work in similar way to those at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Lessons learned here should be applicable to other test facilities with similar setups.

Finite Element Analysis↗

Coupled Facility-Payload Vibration Modeling Improvements

A major phase of aerospace hardware verification is vibration testing. The standard approach for such testing is to use a shaker to induce loads into the payload. In preparation for vibration testing at National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Goddard Space Flight Center an analysis is performed to assess the responses of the payload. A new method of modeling the test is presented that takes into account dynamic interactions between the facility and the payload. This dynamic interaction has affected testing in the past, but been ignored or adjusted for during testing. By modeling the combined dynamics of the facility and test article (payload) it is possible to improve the prediction of hardware responses. Many aerospace test facilities work in similar way to those at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. Lessons learned here should be applicable to other test facilities with similar setups.

Finite Element Analysis↗

Peak-acceleration limiter

Statistical limiter, which protects test specimens during random vibration testing, differentiates between peak acceleration levels that are normal components of vibration signal and those that exhibit damaging characteristics. Device aborts test only when statistical properties of vibration signal change significantly or when catastrophic transient occurs.

Woodbury, R. C.↗

Surface scattering characteristics and the measurement of particulate contamination

Surface scattering measurement techniques can be adopted for use in spacecraft contamination control programs. A witness mirror measurement program was developed and implemented for the NASA Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) spacecraft. Scattering measurements were obtained before and after a qualification level vibration test for several COBE prototype instruments. The measurements indicate that a significant amount of particle redistribution occurred during the vibration test. The methodology used and the results obtained from this monitoring program are discussed.

Carosso, Paolo A.↗

Experimental and theoretical investigation of passive damping concepts for member forced and free vibration

Potential passive damping concepts for use in space structures are identified. The effectiveness of copper brush, wool swab, and silly putty in chamber dampers is investigated through natural vibration tests on a tubular aluminum member. The member ends have zero translation and possess partial rotational restraints. The silly putty in chamber dampers provide the maximum passive damping efficiency. Forced vibration tests are then conducted with one, two, and three damper chambers containing silly putty. Owing to the limitation of the vibrator used, the performance of these dampers could not be evaluated experimentally until the forcing function was disengaged. Nevertheless, their performance is evaluated through a forced dynamic finite element analysis conducted as a part of this investigation. The theoretical results based on experimentally obtained damping ratios indicate that the passive dampers are considerably more effective under member natural vibration than during forced vibration. Also, the maximum damping under forced vibration occurs at or near resonance.

Razzaq, Zia↗

Development of fiber-based laser anemometer for SSME application

A recent study by Rocketdyne for NASA identified laser anemometry, using a compact optical head, as a feasible diagnostic instrument for the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) Model Verification experiments. Physical Research, Inc. (PRI) is presently under contract from NASA Lewis to develop and deliver such a laser anemometer system. For this application, it is desired to place the laser at a remote distance from the engine, and use single mode polarization preserving fiber optics for the transmission of the laser light to and from the measurement head. Other requirements are given. Analytical and experimental tools are being used to develop the technologies required for the laser anemometer. These include finite element analysis of the optical head and vibration tests for various optical and mechanical components. Design of the optical head and the fiber optic connectors are driven by the temperature and vibration requirements for the measurement environment. Results of the finite element analysis and the vibration tests of the components are included. Conceptual design of the fiber optic launcher and the optical probe has also been complete. Detailed design of the probe as well as the fabrication and assembly of the components is in progress.

Modarress, Dariush↗

A Crystal-Diffraction System Prototype for Measuring Neutron’s Charge: Thermal Protection Test and Vibration Measurements

A prototype system design for ultra-high-precision neutron spectrometry using diffraction in perfect crystals is described. Results of experimental verification of the temperature stability inside the setup are presented. Results of vibration spectrum measurements in working zone of the PF1b beam of ILL reactor (Grenoble, France), where the prototype setup will be arranged for experimental testing, are considered.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Materials characterization study of conductive flexible second surface mirrors

The status of prequalification and qualification work on conductive flexible second surface mirrors is described. The basic material is FEP Teflon witn either aluminium or silver vacuum deposited reflectors. The top layer has been made conductive by deposition of layer of a indium oxide. The results of a prequalification program comprised of decontamination, humidity, thermal cycling, thermal shock and vibration tests are presented. Thermo-optical and electrical properties. The results of a prequalification program comprised of decontamination, humidity, thermal cycling, thermal shock and vibration tests are presented. Thermo-optical and electrical properties, the electrostatic behavior of the materials under simulated substorm environment and electrical conductivity at low temperatures are characterized. The effects of simulated ultra violet and particles irradiation on electrical and thermo-optical properties of the materials are also presented.

Levadou, F.↗

Dynamic characterization of satellite components through non-invasive methods

The rapid deployment of satellites is hindered by the need to flight-qualify their components and the resulting mechanical assembly. Conventional methods for qualification testing of satellite components are costly and time consuming. Furthermore, full-scale vehicles must be subjected to launch loads during testing. The harsh testing environment increases the risk of component damage during qualification. The focus of this research effort was to assess the performance of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) techniques as replacement for traditional vibration testing. SHM techniques were applied on a small-scale structure representative of a responsive satellite. The test structure consisted of an extruded aluminum space-frame covered with aluminum shear plates, which was assembled using bolted joints. Multiple piezoelectric patches were bonded to the test structure and acted as combined actuators and sensors. Various methods of SHM were explored including impedance-based health monitoring, wave propagation, and conventional frequency response functions. Using these methods in conjunction with finite element modeling, the dynamic properties of the test structure were established and areas of potential damage were identified and localized. The adequacy of the results from each SHM method was validated by comparison to results from conventional vibration testing.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Random Vibration Simulation and Testing of a Compact, Magnetic Bearing Supported Blower for Space Applications

NASA is developing a next-generation CO2 removal system, the Four Bed Carbon Dioxide Scrubber (4BCO2), which will use the International Space Station (ISS) as a testbed. A key component of both the existing and the new system is the blower that provides the airflow through the CO2 sorbent beds. To improve performance and reliability, magnetic bearings will be used in lieu of more conventional bearings (e.g. ball bearings or hydrodynamicbearings) to improve resistance to contaminants and enable extensibility with regards to blower speed, pressure rise and mass flow rate. The new blower features a high-efficiency permanent magnet motor, a five-axis, active magnetic bearing system, and a compact controller containing both a variable speed drive and magnetic bearing controller. The blower uses a centrifugal impeller to pull air from the inlet port and drive it through an annular space around the motor and magnetic bearing components to the exhaust port. Technical challenges of the blower and controller development include survival of the blower system under launch random vibration loads, operation in microgravity, packaging under strict size and weight requirements, and successful operation during 4BCO2 operational changeovers. Each serial build of the blower must pass a severe random vibration test to prove it will survive launch conditions. This paper discusses the vibration test requirements and provides details of a simulation performed to estimate the peak backup bearing displacements and loads. Results from the successful random vibration testing of the prototype build are discussed and compared to the simulation.

bearings↗

Insights on the Influence of the Central-Cut Width of the Box Assembly with Removable Component on Its Dynamical Responses

This investigation focuses on the dynamical effects caused by varying the central-cut width within the Box Assembly with Removable Component (BARC) system. The central-cut widths included in this study are a 0.5″ cut, a 0.25″ cut, a thin 0.1″ cut, and a structure that did not have a cut at all. Finite element analysis was conducted to determine the mode shapes and natural frequencies of each of the BARC structures. Structural dynamics experiments were run to examine the effects of the central-cut width on the dynamical responses and nonlinear characteristics of the BARC system. Free vibration testing with an impact hammer was carried out to excite the system and extract the dominant frequencies and directions of the significant responses. A pseudorandom vibration test that allows for the qualitative determination of any nonlinear behavior within the system was performed. This type of behavior can include nonlinear softening, nonlinear hardening, and the most common, nonlinear damping due to the presence of several bolted-joint connections and the possible activation of geometric and inertia nonlinearities. To quantitatively investigate the impacts of the central-cut width on the dynamics of the system, swept sinusoidal testing was conducted. It is determined that almost all systems with central cuts demonstrate the presence of nonlinear softening, but at times, nonlinear hardening trends are seen, particularly in the 0.1″ cut and no-cut systems when testing harmonically. Each of the central-cut systems displays nonlinear damping, with the amount of damping generally increasing as the central cut decreases in size. The effect of the central cut of the BARC system on the mode-switching ability of the system is negligible; however, mode switching takes place when comparing the central-cut configurations to the no-cut one. These results show the significance of accurately measuring the central-cut width and how geometric uncertainty may change the dynamical responses and nonlinear properties of the system.

Padilla, Christopher (ORCID:000900033446732X)↗