Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “effect measure”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 523 records · Page 29

Elevated-temperature flow strength, creep resistance and diffusion welding characteristics of Ti-gAl-2Nb-1Ta-0.8Mo

A study of the flow strength, creep resistance and diffusion welding characteristics of the titanium alloy Ti-6Al-2Nb-1Ta-0.8Mo was conducted. Two mill-processed forms of this alloy were examined. The forged material was essentially processed above the beta transus while the rolled form was subjected to considerable work below the beta transus. Between 1150 and 1250 K, the forged material was stronger and more creep resistant than the rolled alloy. Both forms exhibit superplastic characteristics in this temperature range. Strain measurements during diffusion welding experiments at 1200 K reveal that weld interfaces have no measurable effect on the overall creep deformation. Significant deformation appears to be necessary to produce a quality diffusion weld between superplastic materials. A 'soft' interlayer inserted between faying surfaces would seemingly allow manufacture of quality diffusion welds with little overall deformation.

Whittenberger, J. D.↗

Peel testing metalized films

Flimsy ultrathin sheets are mounted on glass for peel-strength measurements. Technique makes it easier to perform peel tests on metalized plastic films. Technique was developed for determining peel strength of thin (1,000 A) layers of aluminum on Kapton film. Previously, material has been difficult to test because it is flimsy and tends to curl up and blow away at slightest disturbance. Procedure can be used to measure effects on metalization bond strength of handling, humidity, sunlight, and heat.

Bivins, L.↗

Survey of university programs in remote sensing funded under grants from the NASA University-Space Applications program

NASA's Office of Space and Terrestrial Applications (OSTA) is currently assessing approaches to transferring NASA technology to both the public and private sectors. As part of this assessment, NASA is evaluating the effectiveness of an ongoing program in remote sensing technology transfer conducted by 20 university contractors/grantees, each supported totally or partially by NASA funds. The University-Space Applications program has as its objective the demonstration of practical benefits from the use of remote sensing technology to a broad spectrum of new users, principally in state and local governments. To evaluate the University-Space Applications program, NASA has a near-term requirement for data on each university effort including total funding, funding sources, length of program, program description, and effectiveness measures.

Madigan, J. A.↗

The joint US-USSR biological satellite program

The joint US-USSR biological satellite missions carried out in 1975 and 1977 using Cosmos 782 and Cosmos 936 spacecraft, respectively, is reviewed. The experimental equipment and the biological specimens aboard the aircraft are considered, and it is noted that Cosmos 782, unlike Cosmos 936, carried no centrifuges for rats, although it did contain a centrifuge where a variety of biological specimens, including carrot tissue and fruit flies, were subjected to artificial gravity during space flight. The ground control groups, designed for biological experiments under simulated space-conditions, are taken into account. The U.S. experiments aboard the aircraft are described, with attention given to the experiments with rats, fish embryos, plants, and insects. Results of the experiments are noted, including the finding that space flight factors, especially weightlessness, have a measurable effect on the erythropoietic and musculoskeletal systems of rats

Souza, K. A.↗

Eye torsion and visual tilt are mediated by different binocular processes

Viewing a large, patterned field rotating about the line of sight produces two measurable effects; cyclotorsion of the eyes (torsion) and a perceived displacement of vertical and horizontal (tilt). Experiments examining binocular interaction for these effects show: (1) both effects demonstrate summation in normal individuals and thus both involve a binocular process; (2) the process for tilt is different than for torsion, since summation for torsion is spared in stereodeficient individuals while that for tilt is eliminated.

Wolfe, J. M.↗

Elevated temperature flow strength, creep resistance and diffusion welding characteristics of Ti-6Al-2Nb-1Ta-0.8Mo

A study of the flow strength, creep resistance and diffusion welding characteristics of the titanium alloy Ti-6Al-2Nb-1Ta-0.8Mo has been conducted. Two mill-processed forms of this alloy were examined. The forged material had been processed above the beta transus (approximately 1275 K) while the rolled form had been subjected to work below the beta transus. Between 1150 and 1250 K, the forged material was stronger and more creep resistant than the rolled alloy. Both forms exhibit superplastic characteristics in this temperature range. Strain measurements during diffusion welding experiments at 1200 K reveal that weld interfaces have no measurable effect on the overall creep deformation. Significant deformation appears to be necessary to produce a quality diffusion weld between superplastic materials. A 'soft' interlayer inserted between faying surfaces would seemingly allow manufacture of quality diffusion welds with little overall deformation.

Whittenberger, J. D.↗

Interplanetary gas. XXIV - Are cometary plasma tail disconnections caused by sector boundary crossings or by encounters with high-speed streams

The paper discusses and compares the original sector boundary model (Niedner and Brandt) and the alternative high-speed stream model (Ip and Mendis) suggested for explaining cometary plasma tail disconnection events (DE) within a largely observational framework not dependent on detailed plasma physics. Among the findings are: (1) the strong solar cycle phase dependence of the amplitude of the Rosenberg-Coleman effect (Svalgaard and Wilcox) yields inferred maximum latitudes of all of the DEs in the original survey to a one-time Rosenberg-Coleman effect measurement made by Pioneer 11, which indicated a disappearance of sectors above 16 deg latitude, and (2) approximately 70% of the post 1926 DEs in the expanded survey show a close association with corotated shorter-term polarity reversals. This result is difficult to reconcile with the predictions of the stream model, in which DEs should correlate more strongly with streams than with sector boundaries. It is concluded that the sector boundary model better describes the disconnection phenomenon and that the use of DEs as unique sector boundary markers is presently justified.

Niedner, M. B., Jr.↗

Assessment of ground effects on the propagation of aircraft noise: The T-38A flight experiment

A flight experiment was conducted to investigate air to ground propagation of sound at gazing angles of incidence. A turbojet powered airplane was flown at altitudes ranging from 10 to 160 m over a 20-microphone array positioned over grass and concrete. The dependence of ground effects on frequency, incidence angle, and slant range was determined using two analysis methods. In one method, a microphone close to the flight path is compared to down range microphones. In the other method, comparisons are made between two microphones which were equidistant from the flight path but positioned over the two surfaces. In both methods, source directivity angle was the criterion by which portions of the microphone signals were compared. The ground effects were largest in the frequency range of 200 to 400 Hz and were found to be dependent on incidence angle and slant range. Ground effects measured for angles of incidence greater than 10 deg to 15 deg were near zero. Measured attenuation increased with increasing slant range for slant ranges less than 750 m. Theoretical predictions were found to be in good agreement with the major details of the measured results.

Willshire, W. L., Jr.↗

Defect chemistry and characterization Hg(1-x)Cd(x)Te

Iodine doped single crystal samples of mercury cadmium telluride were annealed at temperatures varying from 450 C to 600 C in Hg vapor and quenched to room temperature. Hall effect measurements at 77 K on the crystals cooled to room temperature indicate the samples to be n-type after anneals at high Hg pressures whereas they turn p-type after anneals at low Hg pressures; the electron concentration increases with increase in Hg pressure. The results are explained on the basis that the crystals are saturated with (Hg,Cd)I2, with a fraction of the iodine being present as donor occupying tellurium lattice sites and a fraction being present as acceptors resulting from the iodine on tellurium lattice sites pairing with the doubly ionized native acceptor defects. The solubility of the donor species increases with increase in Hg pressure, whereas that of the acceptor species increases with decrease in Hg pressure. Equilibrium constants for the incorporation of the iodine species as well as the pairing reaction were established.

Vydyanath, H. R.↗

The striated dust tail of Comet West 1976 VI as a particle fragmentation phenomenon

The motions of 16 striae in the dust tail of Comet West are studied. It is found that all 16 striae have originated from particle ejections, and that the particles responsible for the formation of a discrete striae must be emitted simultaneously, be subjected to the same repulsive acceleration in the tail, and break up simultaneously. A strong correlation is found between the ejection times and the times of known explosive events. The repulsive accelerations of particle fragments in the striae vary from 0.6 to 2.7 times the solar attraction, indicating submicron grains of strongly absorbing materials. The repulsive acceleration of parent particles range from 0.55 to 1.10, which is only slightly smaller than those of their fragments and suggests highly nonspherical shapes of parents. The mass of dust in an average striae is estimated to be one-billion grams. Rotational bursting is discussed as a possible fragmentation mechanism. The absence of measurable effects of the Lorentz force indicate an upper limit of a few volts for the electric charge of the fragments.

Sekanina, Z.↗

The controlled growth method - A tool for structural optimization

An adaptive design variable linking scheme in a NLP based optimization algorithm is proposed and evaluated for feasibility of application. The present scheme, based on an intuitive effectiveness measure for each variable, differs from existing methodology in that a single dominant variable controls the growth of all others in a prescribed optimization cycle. The proposed method is implemented for truss assemblies and a wing box structure for stress, displacement and frequency constraints. Substantial reduction in computational time, even more so for structures under multiple load conditions, coupled with a minimal accompanying loss in accuracy, vindicates the algorithm.

Hajela, P.↗

Application of fiber optics in spacecraft

The unique requirements placed on an optical fiber data system in space are briefly reviewed in this paper. These include temperature extremes, particle radiation, and, in some cases, a stringent electrical power budget. An overriding need is for the best possible reliability. Results related to the power consumption of a fiber terminal pair are reported, with the conclusion that a 32-port transmission star bus configuration could be operated error-free at 10 Mbits/s on 1/8 watt per transmitting terminal. The design of a transmitter terminal optimized for low idling power consumption is discussed. Although the electronic elements on a spacecraft are protected, the fiber cable may be subjected to large temperature extremes. Measured effects of temperature on fibers and cables are discussed and related to bus design. Radiation effects are briefly reviewed, with special reference to the long-duration low dose rate environment of a spacecraft.

Johnston, A. R.↗

Lattice defects in semiconducting Hg/1-x/Cd/x/Te alloys. III - Defect structure of undoped Hg0.6Cd0.4Te

Hall effect measurements were carried out on undoped Hg0.6Cd0.4Te crystals quenched to room temperature subsequent to equilibration at temperatures varying from 450 to 720 C under various partial pressures of Hg. The variation of the hole concentration as a function of the partial pressure of Hg indicates that the native acceptor defects are doubly ionized. Native donor defects are found to be negligible in concentration and the p-type to n-type conversion is shown to be due to residual donors and not due to native donor defects. Thermodynamic constant for the incorporation of the doubly ionized native acceptor defect has been established.

Vydyanath, H. R.↗

Compensation mechanism in liquid encapsulated Czochralski GaAs Importance of melt stoichiometry

It is shown that the key to reproducible growth of undoped semi-insulating GaAs by the liquid encapsulated Czochralski (LEC) technique is the control over the melt stoichiometry. Twelve crystals were grown from stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric melts. The material was characterized by secondary ion mass spectrometry, localized vibrational mode far infrared spectroscopy, Hall-effect measurements, optical absorption, and photoluminescence. A quantitative model for the compensation mechanism in the semi-insulating material was developed based on these measurements. The free carrier concentration is controlled by the balance between EL2 deep donors and carbon acceptors; furthermore, the incorporation of EL2 is controlled by the melt stoichiometry, increasing as the As atom fraction in the melt increases. As a result, semi-insulating material can be grown only from melts above a critical As composition. The practical significance of these results is discussed in terms of achieving high yield and reproducibility in the crystal growth process.

Holmes, D. E.↗

Doping behavior of iodine in Hg/0.8/Cd/0.2/Te

The defect state prevailing in iodine doped single-crystal samples of Hg0.8Cd0.2Te, annealed at 450-600 C in Hg vapor, has been deduced from Hall effect measurements on samples cooled to 77 K from the annealing temperature. Results are found to be similar to those previously obtained for iodine doped CdS, i.e. iodine acts as a single donor occupying Te lattice sites with a fraction paired with the native acceptor defects. The concentration of iodine on tellurium lattice sites increases with the partial pressure of Hg, whereas that of the pair species increases as the partial pressure of Hg decreases.

Vydyanath, H. R.↗

Determining Solar-Cell Operating Temperature

Laboratory test measures effect of windspeed and wind directon. Series of tests shows solar-photovoltaic cell temperature extremely sensitive to windspeed, moderately sensitive to wind direction, and rather insensitive to ambient temperature.

Griffith, J. S.↗

Further developments in the controlled growth approach for optimal structural synthesis

It is pointed out that the use of nonlinear programming methods in conjunction with finite element and other discrete analysis techniques have provided a powerful tool in the domain of optimal structural synthesis. The present investigation is concerned with new strategies which comprise an extension to the controlled growth method considered by Hajela and Sobieski-Sobieszczanski (1981). This method proposed an approach wherein the standard nonlinear programming (NLP) methodology of working with a very large number of design variables was replaced by a sequence of smaller optimization cycles, each involving a single 'dominant' variable. The current investigation outlines some new features. Attention is given to a modified cumulative constraint representation which is defined in both the feasible and infeasible domain of the design space. Other new features are related to the evaluation of the 'effectiveness measure' on which the choice of the dominant variable and the linking strategy is based.

Hajela, P.↗

Measuring: The quantifying art

The photograph of a comet or asteroid against background stars contains information in analog form regarding the relative positions of comet and star images. Measuring is the procedure for covnerting this information to digital form for computation of the object's accurate equatorial coordinates at the time of observation. The use of one- and two-coordinate measuring engines to measure the positions of images which may be elongated, comatic, or both, as well as round images is discussed along with the training of novice measurers to cope with such images. The grading of plates for potential accuracy of positions, preparation of plates for measuring, the accuracy of measurement, effects of telescope focal length and reduction technique upon the accuracy of positions, and the procedures and checks which may prevent erroneous positions also are discussed.

Gibson, J.↗