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 55 records · Page 3

Analysis of the measured effects of the principal exhaust effluents from solid rocket motors

The feasibility of conducting environmental chamber tests using a small rocket motor to study the physical processes which occur when the exhaust products from solid motors mix with the ambient atmosphere was investigated. Of particular interest was the interaction between hydrogen chloride, aluminum oxide, and water vapor. Several types of instruments for measuring HCl concentrations were evaluated. Under some conditions it was noted that acid aerosols were formed in the ground cloud. These droplets condensed on Al2O3 nuclei and were associated with the rocket exhaust cooling during the period of plume rise to stabilization. Outdoor firings of the solid rocket motors of a 6.4 percent scaled model of the space shuttle were monitored to study the interaction of the exhaust effluents with vegetation downwind of the test site. Data concerning aluminum oxide particles produced by solid rocket motors were evaluated.

Dawbarn, R.↗

Measured effects of surface cloth impressions on polar backscatter and comparison with a reflection grating model

This paper focuses on the nature of a typical composite surface and its effects on scattering. Utilizing epoxy typical of that in composites and standard composite fabrication methods, a sample with release cloth impressions on its surface is produced. A simple model for the scattering from the surface impressions of this sample is constructed and then polar backscatter measurements are made on the sample and compared with the model predictions.

Madaras, Eric I.↗

Moessbauer effect measurement in single crystal iron subjected to cyclic stress

Backscattered Moessbauer spectra were recorded at different fatigue levels in cyclically fatigued high-purity single-crystal iron specimens in the form of rectangular strips with appropriate concentrators in the midplane. The Moessbauer spectra were submitted to a least-squares analysis to determine the isomer shift, quadrupole shift, hyperfine field, and peak spectral widths in each spectrum. It is shown that the quadrupole shift and the isomer shift changed little with fatigue, whereas the effective internal field and the associate line widths exhibit significant variation as a function of fatigue level. It is concluded that the impurity concentration builds up slowly with increasing fatigue level in the region of stress concentration. Since there is a direct correlation between crack initiation and defect concentration level, it is expected that Moessbauer measurements in the test specimen can provide a means of monitoring the impurity buildup presumed to be the eventual cause of fatigue crack initiation and failure.

Singh, J. J.↗

Measuring Effective Leaf Area Index, Foliage Profile, and Stand Height in New England Forest Stands Using a Full-Waveform Ground-Based Lidar

Effective leaf area index (LAI) retrievals from a scanning, ground-based, near-infrared (1064 nm) lidar that digitizes the full return waveform, the Echidna Validation Instrument (EVI), are in good agreement with those obtained from both hemispherical photography and the Li-Cor LAI-2000 Plant Canopy Analyzer. We conducted trials at 28 plots within six stands of hardwoods and conifers of varying height and stocking densities at Harvard Forest, Massachusetts, Bartlett Experimental Forest, New Hampshire, and Howland Experimental Forest, Maine, in July 2007. Effective LAI values retrieved by four methods, which ranged from 3.42 to 5.25 depending on the site and method, were not significantly different ( b0.1 among four methods). The LAI values also matched published values well. Foliage profiles (leaf area with height) retrieved from the lidar scans, although not independently validated, were consistent with stand structure as observed and as measured by conventional methods. Canopy mean top height, as determined from the foliage profiles, deviated from mean RH100 values obtained from the Lidar Vegetation Imaging Sensor (LVIS) airborne large-footprint lidar system at 27 plots by .0.91 m with RMSE=2.04 m, documenting the ability of the EVI to retrieve stand height. The Echidna Validation Instrument is the first realization of the Echidna lidar concept, devised by Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), for measuring forest structure using full-waveform, ground-based, scanning lidar.

Zhao, Feng↗

Measured effect of wind generation on the fuel consumption of an isolated diesel power system

The Block Island Power Company (BIPCO), on Block Island, Rhode Island, operates an isolated electric power system consisting of diesel generation and an experimental wind turbine. The 150-kW wind turbine, designated MOD-OA by the U.S. Department of Energy is typically operated in parallel with two diesel generators to serve an average winter load of 350 kW. Wind generation serves up to 60 percent of the system demand depending on wind speed and total system load. Results of diesel fuel consumption measurements are given for the diesel units operated in parallel with the wind turbine and again without the wind turbine. The fuel consumption data are used to calculate the amount of fuel displaced by wind energy. Results indicate that the wind turbine displaced 25,700 lbs. of the diesel fuel during the test period, representing a calculated reduction in fuel consumption of 6.7 percent while generating 11 percent of the total electric energy. The amount of displaced fuel depends on operating conditions and system load. It is also shown that diesel engine throttle activity resulting from wind gusts which rapidly change the wind turbine output do not significantly influence fuel consumption.

Stiller, P. H.↗

Wind Tunnel Measured Effects on a Twin-Engine Short-Haul Transport Caused by Simulated Ice Accretions

A series of wind tunnel tests were conducted to assess the effects of leading edge ice contamination upon the performance of a short-haul transport. The wind tunnel test was conducted in the NASA Langley 14 by 22 foot facility. The test article was a 1/8 scale twin-engine short-haul jet transport model. Two separate leading edge ice contamination configurations were tested in addition to the uncontaminated baseline configuration. Several aircraft configurations were examined including various flap and slat deflections, with and without landing gear. Data gathered included force measurements via an internal six-component force balance, pressure measurements through 700 electronically scanned wing pressure ports, and wing surface flow visualization measurements. The artificial ice contamination caused significant performance degradation and caused visible changes demonstrated by the flow visualization. The data presented here is just a portion of the data gathered. A more complete data report is planned for publication as a NASA Technical Memorandum and data supplement.

Reehorst, Andrew↗

Measured effects of coolant injection on the performance of a film cooled turbine

Tests have been conducted on a 20-inch diameter single-stage air-cooled turbine designed to evaluate the effects of film cooling air on turbine aerodynamic performance. The present paper reports the results of five test configurations, including two different cooling designs and three combinations of cooled and solid airfoils. A comparison is made of the experimental results with a previously published analytical method of evaluating coolant injection effects on turbine performance.

Mcdonel, J. D.↗

Extensions of suspension systems to measure effects of hypokinesia/hypodynamia and antiorthostasis in rats

Suspension systems are used to simulate hypokinetic/hypodynamic (H/H) and anitorthostatic (AO) responses seen under conditions of weightlessness. Growing rats in H/H suspension with unloaded hindlimbs for one and two weeks respond with muscle atrophy and increased excretion of nitrogenous end products such as urea, NH3 and 3 methyl histidine. Since muscle is in a dynamic state of synthesis and breakdown of protein, relationships between protein, RNA and DNA contents in the four muscles which reflect weight bearing and non-weight bearing functions were assessed. Protein and RNA progressively decreased over a one and two week period of H/H suspension: soleus gastrocnemius=plantaris EDL. Concommitant analysis of DNA contents showed there were no changes. The interpretation was that protein synthesis was slowed during H/H. As with muscle mass, protein and RNA levels recovered rapidly after removal from H/H. The AO rats (which are also H/H) respond with diuresis, natriuresis and kaliuresis in a manner comparable to responses seen when thoracic blood vessels are volume loaded.

Musacchia, X. J.↗

Radiation effects measurements on spacecraft electrostatic discharge tapes, thermal blankets and thermooptical coatings

Selective results are presented of laboratory radiation tests of metallic foil tapes, thermal blankets, and thermooptical coatings undertaken as part of the development and qualification of materials for the Galileo spacecraft. Of the two metallic foil tapes used for electrical continuity, the adhesive used on the aluminum embossed foil was superior to the copper embossed foil when exposed to simulated Jovian electrons. Proton-irradiation tests performed on a number of thermal blanket samples showed that black polyester on Kapton proved to be a lower weight loss (i.e., outgassing) material than Fluorglas. In addition, preliminary results concerning the response of thermooptical coatings to simulated Jovian electrons show that the ITO-coated polyester over a Kapton surface gave the lowest absorptance.

Bouquet, F. L.↗

Measured effect of step axial location on labyrinth seal leakage

An advanced, finite volume code has been extensively used in a parametric design study of simple stepped seals, in order to ascertain a leakage-minimizing optimal design and test it, in conjunction with the baseline case of the wear-ring seal of a high pressure pump. It is found that a significant leakage effect arises from this shifting of the rotor and stator sealing surfaces; at extremely low rpm, a significant shaft speed effect occurs for the optimized design in some shaft locations.

Morrison, G. L.↗