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At least 469 records · Page 26

Effect of Flame Stabilizer Design on Performance and Exhaust Pollutants of a Two-Row Swirl-Can Combustor Operated to Near-Stoichiometric Conditions

Emissions and performance characteristics were determined for two full annulus modular combustors operated to near stoichiometric fuel air ratios. The tests were conducted to obtain stoichiometric data at inlet air temperatures from 756 to 894 K and to determine the effects of a flat plate circular flame stabilizer with upstream fuel injection and a contraswirl flame stabilizer with downstream fuel injection. Levels of unburned hydrocarbons were below 0.50 gram per kilogram of fuel for both combustors and thus there was no detectable difference in the two methods of fuel injection. The contraswirl flame stabilizer did not produce the level of mixing obtained with a flat plate circular flame stabilizer. It did produce higher levels of oxides of nitrogen, which peaked at a fuel air ratio of 0.037. For the flat plate circular flame stabilizer, oxides of nitrogen emission levels were still increasing with fuel air ratio to the maximum tested value of 0.045.

Biaglow, James A.↗

Boundary layer separation on isolated boattail nozzles

The phenomenon of separated flow on a series of circular-arc afterbodies was investigated using the Langley 16-foot transonic tunnel at free-stream Mach numbers from 0.40 to 0.95 at 0 deg angle of attack. Both high-pressure air and solid circular cylinders with a diameter equal to the nozzle exit diameter were used to simulate jet exhausts. A detailed data base of boundary layer separation locations was obtained using oil-flow techniques. The results indicate that boundary layer separation is most extensive on steep boattails at high Mach numbers.

Abeyounis, W. K.↗

The effect of throat contouring on two-dimensional converging-diverging nozzles at static conditions

An experiment was conducted at static conditions to determine the internal performance effects of nozzle throat contouring, the result of increasing the circular-arc throat radius. Five nonaxisymmetric converging-diverging nozzles were tested at nozzle pressure ratios up to 9.0. Data are presented as internal thrust ratios, discharge coefficients, and static-pressure distributions. Comparisons of internal performance data for the five nozzles show that throat contouring increases the value of discharge coefficient but has no significant effect on internal thrust ratio except in cases of internal flow separation. To illustrate the use of the two dimensional converging-diverging (2-D C-D) nozzle data base, a two dimensional inviscid theory was applied to the five configurations. The generally good agreement of data with theoretical results indicates that two-dimensional inviscid theory can be successfully applied to the prediction of 2-D C-D nozzle internal flow.

Mason, M. L.↗

Transmission in flow ducts with peripherally varying linings

A finite element Galerkin formulation is used for the calculation of acoustical modes in uniform ducts with arbitrary geometry, mean flow and lining configuration. Hermitian 'non-conforming' sub-parametric elements are used and the dimensionality of the resulting eigenmatrix is reduced by the use of a condensation scheme based on the compatible eigenvectors in the case with no mean flow. Results are presented for simple circular and rectangular configurations for which exact comparison results are readily calculable. Computer graphics routines required to interpret modal data are described and sample results shown.

Astley, R. J.↗

A stagnation pressure probe for droplet-laden air flow

It is often of interest in a droplet-laden gas flow to obtain the stagnation pressure of both the gas phase and the mixture. A flow-decelerating probe (TPF), with separate, purged ports for the gas phase and the mixture and with a bleed for accumulating liquid at the closed end, has been developed. Measurements obtained utilizing the TPF in a nearly isothermal air-water droplet mixture flow in a smooth circular pipe under various conditions of flow velocity, pressure, liquid concentration and droplet size are presented and compared with data obtained under identical conditions with a conventional, gas phase stagnation pressure probe (CSP). The data obtained with the CSP and TPF probes are analyzed to determine the applicability of the two probes in relation to the multi-phase characteristics of the flow and the geometry of the probe.

Murthy, S. N. B.↗

Mechanical testing of large thallium doped sodium iodide single crystals

The findings of mechanical tests performed on five thallium-doped sodium iodide NaI(Tl) crystals are presented. These crystals are all in the shape of circular flat plates, 20.0 in. in diameter an d0.5 in. thick. The test setup, testing procedure, and the test data are presented. Large crystals exhibit a high degree of material plasticity, as well as a much higher strength than previously anticipated, on the order of 500 psi. Also revealed from the testing is the fact that crystal with a large number of grain boundaries developed less plasticity, and therefore less permanent deformation, than those with fewer grain boundaries.

Lee, H. M.↗

A low-frequency synthesis array in earth orbit

The scientific objectives and design concept of a space-based VLBI array for high-resolution astronomical observations at 1-30 MHz are discussed. The types of investigations calling for such an array include radio spectroscopy of individual objects, measurement of the effects of scattering and refraction by the interplanetary medium (IPM) and the ISM, mapping the distribution of low-energy cosmic-ray electrons, and determining the extent of the Galactic halo. Consideration is given to the limitations imposed on an LF VLBI array by the ionosphere, the IPM, and the ISM; the calibration advantages offered by circular polar orbits of slightly differing ascending-node longitude for the array satellites; and collection of the IF data streams from the array satellites by one 'master' satellite prior to transmission to the ground. It is shown that determination of the three-dimensional array geometry by means of intersatellite radio links is feasible if there are at least seven spacecraft in the array.

Jones, Dayton L.↗

Investigation of turbulent transport in an axisymmetric sudden expansion

Simultaneous two-component laser velocimeter measurements were made in the incompressible turbulent flowfield following an axisymmetric sudden expansion. Mean velocities, Reynolds stresses, and triple products were measured and are presented at axial positions ranging from x/H = 0.2-14. A balance of the turbulent kinetic energy in the flow was performed. The production, convection, and diffusion of turbulent kinetic energy were computed directly from the experimental data using central differencing. A specially designed correction lens was employed to correct for optical aberrations introduced by the circular tube. This lens system allowed the accurate simultaneous measurement of axial and radial velocities in the test section. The experimental measurements were compared to predictions generated by a code that employed the k-epsilon turbulence model. Agreement was good for mean axial velocities, turbulent kinetic energy, and turbulent shear stresses. However, the modeled turbulent normal stresses where in poor agreement with the measured values. The modeled diffusion of turbulent kinetic energy was underpredicted in the region between the shear layer and the centerline of the flow giving lower values of turbulent kinetic energy downstream of the potential core than measured.

Gould, Richard D.↗

Multigrid solution of unsteady Navier-Stokes equations using a pressure method

A multigrid relaxation method is applied to a pressure-based implicit procedure to solve unseady, incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The present multigrid method is a Correction Scheme according to Brandt. This method is used to solve the scalar matrices resulting from the finite-volume formulation and uses flux averaging as the restriction operator. The accuracy and computational efficiency are demonstrated with a steady state driven cavity flow and an unsteady flow over a circular cylinder case. The results are compared with single grid results using the OrthoMin conjugate gradient method and experimental data.

Jiang, Y.↗

Mars Observer orbit determination analysis

Results are presented of a simulated orbit determination analysis for three phases of the Mars Observer mission (interplanetary cruise, orbit insertion, and mapping), together with a summary of orbital accuracies throughout the Mars Observer mission. The plan for achieving the navigation objectives of the Mars Observer mission is described. These objectives are to navigate the Mars Observer spacecraft to Mars and achieve accurate targeting at Mars; to propulsively maneuver the spacecraft into a 3-day period, capture orbit; to navigate the spacecraft into a 1.96-hr period low-altitude, nearly circular mapping orbit; and to maintain Mars Observer in the mapping orbit throughout the 687 days devoted for scientific data acquisition. Factors that will affect the spacecraft during each of the three phases are discussed.

Esposito, Pasquale↗

Analysis of multifastener composite joints

A new numerical procedure for determining load proportioning in multiple-hole mechanical joints in composite plates is presented. The joints are loaded in double lap fashion in tension with pins through the holes. The commercial finite-element program ABAQUS is used to predict the load proportioning among holes using two independent plane stress finite-element models, one representing the composite inner lap and one representing the two steel outer laps, interacting through rigid circular surfaces. The circular surfaces effectively represent rigid pins. Load proportioning is predicted for a number of geometries. Excellent correlation with experimental data is obtained. Experimental and computed surface strains are also found to compare well. The assumption of a radial cosine distribution of contact stress between pin and hole is shown to be substantially in error for some holes.

Griffin, O. H., Jr.↗

Mobile antenna development at JPL

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), under the sponsorship of NASA, has pioneered the development of land vehicle antennas for commercial mobile satellite communications. Several novel antennas have been developed at L-band frequencies for the Mobile Satellite (MSAT) program initiated about a decade ago. Currently, two types of antennas are being developed at K- and Ka-band frequencies for the ACTS (Advanced Communications Technology Satellite) Mobile Terminal (AMT) project. For the future, several hand-held antenna concepts are proposed for the small terminals of the Ka-band Personal Access Satellite System (PASS). For the L-band MSAT program, a number of omni-directional low-gain antennas, such as the crossed drooping-dipoles, the higher-order-mode circular microstrip patch, the quadrifilar helix, and the wrapped-around microstrip 'mast' array, have been developed for lower data rate communications. Several medium-gain satellite tracking antennas, such as the electronically scanned low-profile phased array, the mechanically steered tilted microstrip array, the mechanically steered low-profile microstrip Yagi array, and the hybrid electronically/mechanically steered low-profile array, have been developed for the MSAT's higher data rate and voice communications. To date, for the L-band vehicle application, JPL has developed the world's lowest-profile phased array (1.8 cm height), as well as the lowest-profile mechanically steered antenna (3.7 cm height). For the 20/30 GHz AMT project, a small mechanically steered elliptical reflector antenna with a gain of 23 dBi has recently been developed to transmit horizontal polarization at 30 GHz and receive vertical polarization at 20 GHz. Its hemispherical radome has a height of 10 cm and a base diameter of 23 cm. In addition to the reflector, a mechanically steered printed MMIC active array is currently being developed to achieve the same electrical requirements with a low profile capability. These AMT antenna developments, along with other Ka-band technologies, will lead to the development of several compact hand-held terminals for the PASS program. A few antenna concepts, such as the lap-top or desk-top terminal's printed array, the hand-held phased array, and the head-mounted low-profile array, have been proposed to achieve a future vision for the personal access communications system.

Huang, J.↗

Spatial region filtering in IRAF/PROS

In order to analyze x ray data, it is nearly always necessary to extract source and background events from a data set. Typically, this is done by defining geometric spatial regions of the data set to describe the source and background. For example, one might wish to extract source events from a circular or elliptical region centered at a particular pixel, and background events from a circular or elliptical annulus whose inner radius matches the source region. At the same time, it might be necessary to exclude one or more nearby sources from the source or background region in question. Thus, it might be necessary to define a pie-shaped region or even an entirely irregularly-shaped region to exclude. A spatial filtering scheme called REGIONS was implemented in IRAF/PROS to support these and other types of spatial region extraction. It allows users to create a spatial mask by specifying one or more ASCII geometric shape descriptors (box, circle, ellipse, pie, point, annulus, and polygon) as regions to be included or excluded in the mask. In addition, two or more shapes can be combined using Boolean algebra to create an infinite variety of sophisticated regions. Each geometric shape has a specific set of parameters that describe that shape. For example, a circle is described by a center and a radius, while a box is described by a center, length, width, and rotation angle. These quantities can be specified in units of pixels or, in cases where the target image contains world coordinate system information, they can be described in units such as RA and Dec. Users can create region mask files by feeding an ASCII region descriptor to the IRAF/PROS plcreate task. Temporary masks can also be created from ASCII region descriptors by individual applications that call the routines in the region creation library. This library implements a yacc-based region parser that compiles the ASCII descriptors into 'software CPU' instructions which are then executed to create the mask. The mask created from these region descriptors is a standard IRAF PLIO mask. It can be combined with other PLIO masks (e.g., exposure masks) to provide complete spatial filtering capabilities. The capabilities of the region filtering scheme are described. It also discusses the design philosophy guiding our work, as well as our plans for the future.

Mandel, Eric↗

Electrically heated tube investigation of cooling channel geometry effects

The results of an experimental investigation on the combined effects of cooling channel aspect ratio and curvature for rocket engines are presented. Symmetrically heated tubes with average heat fluxes up to 1.7 MW/m(exp 2) were used. The coolant was gaseous nitrogen at an inlet temperature of 280 K (500 R) and inlet pressures up to 1.0 x 10(exp 7) N/m(exp 2) (1500 psia). Two different tube geometries were tested: a straight, circular cross-section tube, and an aspect-ratio 10 cross-section tube with a 45 deg bend. The circular tube results are compared to classical models from the literature as validation of the system. The curvature effect data from the curved aspect-ratio 10 tube compare favorably to the empirical equations available in the literature for low aspect ratio tubes. This latter results suggest that thermal stratification of the coolant due to diminished curvature effect mixing may not be an issue for high aspect-ratio cooling channels.

Meyer, Michael L.↗

Generalized Reliability Methodology Applied to Brittle Anisotropic Single Crystals

A generalized reliability model was developed for use in the design of structural components made from brittle, homogeneous anisotropic materials such as single crystals. The model is based on the Weibull distribution and incorporates a variable strength distribution and any equivalent stress failure criteria. In addition to the reliability model, an energy based failure criterion for elastically anisotropic materials was formulated. The model is different from typical Weibull-based models in that it accounts for strength anisotropy arising from fracture toughness anisotropy and thereby allows for strength and reliability predictions of brittle, anisotropic single crystals subjected to multiaxial stresses. The model is also applicable to elastically isotropic materials exhibiting strength anisotropy due to an anisotropic distribution of flaws. In order to develop and experimentally verify the model, the uniaxial and biaxial strengths of a single crystal nickel aluminide were measured. The uniaxial strengths of the <100> and <110> crystal directions were measured in three and four-point flexure. The biaxial strength was measured by subjecting <100> plates to a uniform pressure in a test apparatus that was developed and experimentally verified. The biaxial strengths of the single crystal plates were estimated by extending and verifying the displacement solution for a circular, anisotropic plate to the case of a variable radius and thickness. The best correlation between the experimental strength data and the model predictions occurred when an anisotropic stress analysis was combined with the normal stress criterion and the strength parameters associated with the <110> crystal direction.

Salem, Jonathan A.↗

Net Shape Spin Formed Cryogenic Aluminum Lithium Cryogenic Tank Domes for Lower Cost Higher Performance Launch Vehicles

With the goal of lower cost (simplified manufacturing and lower part count) and higher performance (higher strength to weight alloys) the NASA Technical Maturation Program in 2006 funded a proposal to investigate spin forming of space launch vehicle cryogenic tank domes. The project funding continued under the NASA Exploration Technology Development Program through completion in FY12. The first phase of the project involved spin forming of eight, 1 meter diameter "path finder" domes. Half of these were processed using a concave spin form process (MT Aerospace, Augsburg Germany) and the other half using a convex process (Spincraft, Boston MA). The convex process has been used to produce the Ares Common Bulkhead and the concave process has been used to produce dome caps for the Space Shuttle light weight external tank and domes for the NASDA H2. Aluminum Lithium material was chosen because of its higher strength to weight ratio than the Aluminum 2219 baseline. Aluminum lithium, in order to obtain the desired temper (T8), requires a cold stretch after the solution heat treatment and quench. This requirement favors the concave spin form process which was selected for scale up. This paper describes the results of processing four, 5.5 meter diameter (upper stage scale) net shaped spin formed Aluminum Lithium domes. In order to allow scalability beyond the limits of foundry and rolling mills (about 12 foot width) the circular blank contained one friction stir weld (heavy lifter scales require a flat blank containing two welds). Mechanical properties data (tensile, fracture toughness, stress corrosion, and simulated service testing) for the parent metal and weld will also be discussed.

Curreri, Peter A.↗

NASA Tech Briefs, October 2012

Topics discussed include: Detection of Chemical Precursors of Explosives; Detecting Methane From Leaking Pipelines and as Greenhouse Gas in the Atmosphere; Onboard Sensor Data Qualification in Human-Rated Launch Vehicles; Rugged, Portable, Real-Time Optical Gaseous Analyzer for Hydrogen Fluoride; A Probabilistic Mass Estimation Algorithm for a Novel 7-Channel Capacitive Sample Verification Sensor; Low-Power Architecture for an Optical Life Gas Analyzer; Online Cable Tester and Rerouter; A Three-Frequency Feed for Millimeter-Wave Radiometry; Capacitance Probe Resonator for Multichannel Electrometer; Inverted Three-Junction Tandem Thermophotovoltaic Modules; Fabrication of Single Crystal MgO Capsules; Inflatable Hangar for Assembly of Large Structures in Space; Mars Aqueous Processing System; Hybrid Filter Membrane; Design for the Structure and the Mechanics of Moballs; Pressure Dome for High-Pressure Electrolyzer; Cascading Tesla Oscillating Flow Diode for Stirling Engine Gas Bearings; Compact, Low-Force, Low-Noise Linear Actuator; Ultra-Compact Motor Controller; Extreme Ionizing-Radiation-Resistant Bacterium; Wideband Single-Crystal Transducer for Bone Characterization; Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting of Live Versus Dead Bacterial Cells and Spores; Nonhazardous Urine Pretreatment Method; Laser-Ranging Transponders for Science Investigations of the Moon and Mars; Ka-Band Waveguide Three-Way Serial Combiner for MMIC Amplifiers; Structural Health Monitoring with Fiber Bragg Grating and Piezo Arrays; Low-Gain Circularly Polarized Antenna with Torus-Shaped Pattern; Stereo and IMU- Assisted Visual Odometry for Small Robots; Global Swath and Gridded Data Tiling; GOES-R: Satellite Insight; Aquarius iPhone Application; Monitoring of International Space Station Telemetry Using Shewhart Control Charts; Theory of a Traveling Wave Feed for a Planar Slot Array Antenna; Time Manager Software for a Flight Processor; Simulation of Oxygen Disintegration and Mixing With Hydrogen or Helium at Supercritical Pressure; A Superfluid Pulse Tube Refrigerator Without Moving Parts for Sub-Kelvin Cooling; Sapphire Viewports for a Venus Probe; The Mobile Chamber; Electric Propulsion Induced Secondary Mass Spectroscopy; and Radiation-Tolerant DC-DC Converters.

Source record↗

Tabulated Data From a Pressure-Distribution Investigation at Mach Number 2.01 of a 45 Deg Sweptback-Wing Airplane Model at Combined Angles of Attack and Sideslip

A pressure-distribution investigation of a wing-body combination has been conducted in the Langley 4- by 4-foot supersonic pressure tunnel at a Mach number of 2.01. The model configuration consisted of an ogive-circular-cylinder body (fineness ratio of approximately ii) and a wing with 45 deg of sweepback at the quarter-chord line, an aspect ratio of 4, and a taper ratio of 0.2. Data were obtained on high-, mid-, and low-wing configurations and for the body and wing alone for a range of angles of attack and yaw from 0 deg to 15 deg. The tabulated pressure coefficients are presented in this report.

PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION↗