SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Mass balance”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

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

At least 541 records · Page 30

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1947

Observations on an Aileron-Flutter Instability Encountered on a 45 Degree Swept-Back Wing in Transonic and Supersonic Flight

In the course of a flight test of a supersonic research pilotless aircraft (the NACA RM-1), large-amplitude aileron oscillations, probably aileron compressibility flutter, were encountered in the transonic and supersonic speed ranges. The wing was oscillating at the same frequency as the aileron. The aircraft was equipped with 45 degree swept-back wings of symmetrical NASA 65-010 airfoil section. Completely mass-balanced ailerons with 20 degree beveled trailing edges were installed on the wings. The ailerons were free floating with no mechanical restraining force other than the friction of the aileron hinges and servomechanism bearings throughout the high-speed interval of flight.

Pitkin, Marvin↗

NASA NTRS1947

Experimental Investigation of a Preloaded Spring-tab Flutter Model

An experimental investigation was made of a preloaded spring-tab flutter model to determine the effects on flutter speed of aspect ratio, tab frequency, and preloaded spring constant. The rudder was mass-balanced, and the flutter mode studied was essentially one of three degrees of freedom (fin bending coupled with rudder and tab oscillations). Inasmuch as the spring was preloaded, the tab-spring system was a nonlinear one. Frequency of the tab was the most significant parameter in this study, and an increase in flutter speed with increasing frequency is indicated. At a given frequency, the tab of high aspect ratio is shown to have a slightly lower flutter speed than the one of low aspect ratio. Because the frequency of the preloaded spring tab was found to vary radically with amplitude, the flutter speed decreased with increase in initial displacement of the tab.

VIBRATION AND FLUTTER - TABS↗

NASA NTRS1993

Carbon Isotope Biogeochemistry of Methane from Anoxic Sediments

The isotopic composition of naturally occurring methane was used to constrain the tropospheric budget of that radiatively active gas. Numerous studies have shown that the isotopic composition is not constant, even for a specific source, and may vary temporally and spatially. The objective was to develop a process-level model that reproduced the seasonal variations in the C-13/C-12 composition of methane observed at the coastal site, Cape Lookout Bight, NC. Details of the mass balance are provided. Experiments and models designed to determine what factors incluence C-13/C-12 ratio of dissolved CO2 are reported. All the factors described were combined in a model that faithfully reproduces the seasonal C-13/C-12 variations observed at Cape Lookout. The model is described.

Blair, Neal E.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Trace contaminant control simulation computer program, version 8.1

The Trace Contaminant Control Simulation computer program is a tool for assessing the performance of various process technologies for removing trace chemical contamination from a spacecraft cabin atmosphere. Included in the simulation are chemical and physical adsorption by activated charcoal, chemical adsorption by lithium hydroxide, absorption by humidity condensate, and low- and high-temperature catalytic oxidation. Means are provided for simulating regenerable as well as nonregenerable systems. The program provides an overall mass balance of chemical contaminants in a spacecraft cabin given specified generation rates. Removal rates are based on device flow rates specified by the user and calculated removal efficiencies based on cabin concentration and removal technology experimental data. Versions 1.0 through 8.0 are documented in NASA TM-108409. TM-108409 also contains a source file listing for version 8.0. Changes to version 8.0 are documented in this technical memorandum and a source file listing for the modified version, version 8.1, is provided. Detailed descriptions for the computer program subprograms are extracted from TM-108409 and modified as necessary to reflect version 8.1. Version 8.1 supersedes version 8.0. Information on a separate user's guide is available from the author.

Perry, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Partial melting of the St. Severin (LL) and Lost City (H) ordinary chondrites: One step backwards and two steps forward

This study looks at partial melting in H and LL chondrites at nearly one atmosphere of total pressure as part of a continuing study of the origins of basaltic achondrites. Previously, melting experiments on anhydrous CM and CV chondrites showed that, near its solidus, the CM chondrite produced melts having major element chemistries similar to the Sioux County eucrite; but, the pyroxenes in the residuum were too iron-rich to form diogenites. Our preliminary results from melting experiments on ordinary (H, LL) chondrites suggested that, although the melts did not look like any known eucrites, pyroxenes from these charges bracketed the compositional range of pyroxenes found in diogenites. We had used the Fe/Mg exchange coefficients calculated for olivine, pyroxene, and melt in these charges to evaluate the approach to equilibrium, which appeared to be excellent. Unfortunately, mass balance calculations later indicated to us that, unlike our CM and CV charges, the LL and H experimental charges had lost significant amounts of iron to their (Pt or PtRh) supports. Apparently, pyroxene stability in chondritic systems is quite sensitive to the amount of FeO, and it was this unrecognized change in the bulk iron content which had stabilized the high temperature, highly magnesian pyroxenes. Accordingly, this work reinvestigates the phase equilibria of ordinary chondrites, eliminating iron and nickel loss, and reports significant differences. It also looks closely at how the iron and sodium in the bulk charge affect the stability of pyroxene, and it comments on how these new results apply to the problems of diogenite and eucrite petrogenesis.

Jurewicz, A. J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Report on concentrations, lifetimes, and trends of CFCs, halons, and related species

The atmospheric lifetimes of molecules containing chlorine and bromine are the dominant parameters influencing their ability to promote enhanced ozone destruction in the stratosphere. The purpose of this report is to assess the present state of knowledge of the lifetimes of halocarbons using two complementary approaches. First, a time series of measurements of gas concentrations is used together with information on their emissions histories and a computational model of atmospheric circulation and chemistry to infer lifetimes through a mass balance approach. Second, an atmospheric chemical-dynamical model is used with detailed information on the chemistry and spectroscopy of the molecules of interest to calculate lifetimes. The lifetimes determined by these two methods are then compared. Attention is focused most closely on fully halogenated chlorine- and bromine-containing molecules, primarily the chlorofluorocarbons, and the halons, because of their ability to deliver chlorine and bromine to the stratosphere. Some attention will be given to those molecules containing hydrogen, which are subject to removal in the troposphere primarily by reaction with OH and by other processes.

Kaye, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1995

The Atmospheric Lifetime Experiment and the Global Atmospheric Gas Experiment (ALE/GAGE)

The ALE/GAGE project was designed to determine the global atmospheric lifetimes of the chlorofluorocarbons CCl3F and CCl2F2 (F-11 and F-12), which had been identified as the main gases that cause stratospheric ozone depletion. The experimental procedures also provided the concentrations of CH3CCl3, CCl4 and N2O. The extended role of the project was to evaluate the mass balances of these gases as well. Methylchloroform (CH3CCl3) serves as a tracer of average atmospheric OH concentrations and hence the oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas and can also deplete the ozone layer. Measurements of these gases were taken with optimized instruments in the field at a frequency of about 1 sample/hr. Toward the end of the present project methane measurements were added to the program. The final report deals with the research of the Oregon Graduate Institute (OGI) as part of the ALE/GAGE program between 4/1/1988 and 1/31/1991. The report defines the scope of the OGI project, the approach, and the results.

Rasmussen, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Aeroelastic stability of wind turbine blade/aileron systems

Aeroelastic stability analyses have been performed for the MOD-5A blade/aileron system. Various configurations having different aileron torsional stiffness, mass unbalance, and control system damping have been investigated. The analysis was conducted using a code recently developed by the General Electric Company - AILSTAB. The code extracts eigenvalues for a three degree of freedom system, consisting of: (1) a blade flapwise mode; (2) a blade torsional mode; and (3) an aileron torsional mode. Mode shapes are supplied as input and the aileron can be specified over an arbitrary length of the blade span. Quasi-steady aerodynamic strip theory is used to compute aerodynamic derivatives of the wing-aileron combination as a function of spanwise position. Equations of motion are summarized herein. The program provides rotating blade stability boundaries for torsional divergence, classical flutter (bending/torsion) and wing/aileron flutter. It has been checked out against fixed-wing results published by Theodorsen and Garrick. The MOD-5A system is stable with respect to divergence and classical flutter for all practical rotor speeds. Aileron torsional stiffness must exceed a minimum critical value to prevent aileron flutter. The nominal control system stiffness greatly exceeds this minimum during normal operation. The basic system, however, is unstable for the case of a free (or floating) aileron. The instability can be removed either by the addition of torsional damping or mass-balancing the ailerons. The MOD-5A design was performed by the General Electric Company, Advanced Energy Program Department under Contract DEN3-153 with NASA Lewis Research Center and sponsored by the Department of Energy.

Strain, J. C.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Sea ice type maps from Alaska synthetic aperture radar facility imagery: An assessment

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery received at the Alaskan SAR Facility is routinely and automatically classified on the Geophysical Processor System (GPS) to create ice type maps. We evaluated the wintertime performance of the GPS classification algorithm by comparing ice type percentages from supervised classification with percentages from the algorithm. The root mean square (RMS) difference for multiyear ice is about 6%, while the inconsistency in supervised classification is about 3%. The algorithm separates first-year from multiyear ice well, although it sometimes fails to correctly classify new ice and open water owing to the wide distribution of backscatter for these classes. Our results imply a high degree of accuracy and consistency in the growing archive of multiyear and first-year ice distribution maps. These results have implications for heat and mass balance studies which are furthered by the ability to accurately characterize ice type distributions over a large part of the Arctic.

Fetterer, Florence M.↗

NASA NTRS1994

A coronal mass ejection model for the 1992 July 15 flare on AU Microscopii observed by the extreme ultraviolet explorer

The dM1e flare star AU Microscopii (AU Mic) was observed by the EUVE Deep Survey Instrument on 1992 July 14-18. A large flare was detected in the Deep Survey Lexan/Boron (DS Lex/B)(65-190 A) band and the SW (70-190 A) and MW (140-380 A) spectrometers. The flare consisted of a sharp impulsive peak lasting approximately 2 hours followed by a decaying tail lasting about a day. We present a simple, single temperature, dynamic model for the flare decay which is consistent with the DS Lex/B light curve and reproduces the strongest, high-temperature spectral lines in the released EUVE spectra. In this model, we assume the long decay time is due to an ejected, magnetically confined, low beta plasmoid expanding self similarly in the ambient medium in a manner reminiscent of solar coronal mass ejections. We demonstrate that the long tail of the DS Lex/B light curve can be explained by rapid expansion, causing the plasma to become tenuous sufficiently quickly that it avoids catastrophic radiative cooling. From this model, we estimate the mass of the plasmoid to be approximately = 10(exp 20) g and the total energy of the event to be approximately = 10(exp 36) ergs. These values are approximately 10(exp 4) times as large as those seen during the largest solar coronal mass ejection (CME) events. We argue that the results of our model are consistent with other measurements of stellar flare parameters. We also estimate a mass-loss rate of a few times 10(exp -13) Solar mass/yr and discuss the role of mass loss from dMe stars in the mass balance of the interstellar medium. We estimate the rotational braking timescale from these events to be less than 500 million years and suggest that CME's may be an important source of angular momentum loss from late-type stars.

Cully, Scott L.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Review of numerical procedures for computational surface thermochemistry

Models and equations for surface thermochemistry and near-surface thermophysics of aerodynamically heated thermal protection materials are reviewed, with particular emphasis on computational boundary conditions for surface mass and energy transfer. The surface energy and mass balances, coupled with an appropriate ablation or surface catalysis model, provide complete thermochemical boundary conditions for a true multidisciplinary solution of the fully coupled fluid-dynamics/solid mechanics problem. Practical approximate solutions can be obtained by using a detailed model with full thermophysics for either the solid or fluid phase and a semianalytic method for the other half of the problem. A significant increase in the state-of-the-art in aerothermal computational fluid dynamics is possible by uniting computational fluid dynamic (CFD) methodology with surface thermochemistry boundary conditions and the heat-balance-integral method.

SOLID MECHANICS↗

NASA NTRS1995

Predictions of vertical uplift caused by changing polar ice volumes on a viscoelastic earth

Measurements of crustal uplift from bedrock around the edges of Antarctica or Greenland could help constrain the mass balance of those ice caps. Present-day changes in ice could cause vertical displacement rates of several mm/yr around Antarctica and up to 10-15 mm/yr around Greenland. Horizontal displacement rates are likely to be about 1/3 the vertical rates. The viscoelastic response of the earth to past changes in ice could cause uplift rates that are several times larger. By measuring both gravity and vertical displacements, it is possible to remove the viscoelastic effects, so that the observations can be used to constrain present-day thickness changes.

Wahr, John↗

NASA NTRS1995

SAR investigations of glaciers in northwestern North America

The objective of this project was to investigate the utility of satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery for measurement of geophysical parameters on Alaskan glaciers relevant to their mass balance and dynamics, including: (1) the positions of firn lines (late-summer snow lines); (2) surface velocities on fast-flowing (surging) glaciers, and also on slower steady-flow glaciers; and (3) the positions and changes in the positions of glacier termini. Preliminary studies of topography and glacier surface velocity with SAR interferometry have also been carried out. This project was motivated by the relationships of multi-year to decadal changes in glacier geometry to changing climate, and the probable significant contribution of Alaskan glaciers to rising sea level.

Lingle, Craig S.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Latitudinal distribution of black carbon soot in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere

Black carbon soot from the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere has been systematically collected at latitudes from 90 deg N to 45 deg S. The measured latitudinal distribution of this soot at 10 to 11 km altitude is found to covary with commercial air traffic fuel use, suggesting that aircraft fuel combustion at altitude is the principal source. In addition, at latitudes where the commercial air traffic is high, measured black carbon soot values are high even at 20 km altitude, suggesting that aircraft-generated soot injected just above the tropopause may be transported to higher altitudes. During the volcanically influenced period in which these samples were collected, the number abundances, total mass, and calculated total surface area of black carbon soot are 2-3 orders of magnitude lower than similar measures of sulfuric acid aerosol. During volcanically quiescent periods, the calculated total surface area of black carbon soot aerosol is of the same order of magnitude as that of the background sulfuric acid aerosol. It appears from this comparison that black carbon soot is only capable of influencing lower stratosphere or upper troposphere chemistry during periods when the aerosol budget is not dominated by volcanic activity. It remains to determine the extent to which black carbon soot particles act as nuclei for sulfuric acid aerosol formation. However, mass balance calculations suggest that aircraft soot injected at altitude does not represent a significant source of condensation nuclei for sulfuric acid aerosols.

Blake, David F.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Advanced Modeling Techniques to Study Anthropogenic Influences on Atmospheric Chemical Budgets

This research work is a collaborative effort between research groups at MCNC and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The overall objective of this research is to improve the level of understanding of the processes that determine the budgets of chemically and radiatively active compounds in the atmosphere through development and application of advanced methods for calculating the chemical change in atmospheric models. The research performed during the second year of this project focused on four major aspects: (1) The continued development and refinement of multiscale modeling techniques to address the issue of the disparate scales of the physico-chemical processes that govern the fate of atmospheric pollutants; (2) Development and application of analysis methods utilizing process and mass balance techniques to increase the interpretive powers of atmospheric models and to aid in complementary analysis of model predictions and observations; (3) Development of meteorological and emission inputs for initial application of the chemistry/transport model over the north Atlantic region; and, (4) The continued development and implementation of a totally new adaptive chemistry representation that changes the details of what is represented as the underlying conditions change.

Mathur, Rohit↗

NASA NTRS1994

Evidence for a Meteoritic Component in Impact Melt Rock from the Chicxulub Structure

The Chicxulub structure in Yucatan, Mexico, has recently been recognized as a greater then 200-km-diameter multi-ring impact crater of K-T boundary age. Crystalline impact melt rocks and breccias from within the crater, which have compositions similar to those of normal continental crustal rocks and which show shock metamorphic effects, have been studied for trace element and Re-Os isotope compositions. Re-Os isotope systematics allow the sensitive and selective determination of an extraterrestrial component in impact-derived rocks. A melt rock sample shows elevated iridium concentrations, an osmium concentration of 25 ppb, and a low Os-187/Os-188 ratio of 0.113, which are incompatible with derivation from the continental crust. Even though the Os-187/Os-188 ratio is slightly lower than the range so far measured in meteorites, a mantle origin seems unlikely for mass balance reasons and because the cratering event is unlikely to have excavated mantle material. The data support the hypothesis of a heterogeneously distributed meteoritic component in the Chicxulub melt rock. A sample of impact glass from the Haitian K-T boundary at Beloc yielded about 0.1 ppb osmium and an Os-187/0s-188 ratio of 0.251, indicating the presence of a small meteoritic component in the impact ejecta as well.

Koeberl, Christian↗

NASA NTRS1996

Experimental Constraints on the Origin of Lunar High-Ti Ultramafic Glasses

Phase equilibria and dissolution rate experiments are used to develop a petrogenetic model for the high-Ti lunar ultramafic glasses. Near-liquidus phase relations of the Apollo 14 black glass, the most Ti-rich lunar ultramafic glass, are determined to 2.2-GPa. The liquidus is saturated with Cr-spinel at 1-atm, olivine between approximately 0.5- and 1.5-GPa, and low-Ca pyroxene + Cr-spinel above 1.5-GPa. Ilmenite does not crystallize near the liquidus and implies that high-Ti ultramafic glasses are not produced by melting of an ilmenite-saturated source. We infer that high-Ti ultramafic magmas are derived from low-Ti ultramafic parent magmas by assimilation of ilmenite +/- clinopyroxene +/- urKREEP +/- pigeonite in the shallow lunar interior. Heat is provided by adiabatic ascent of the low-Ti ultramafic primary magmas from the deeper lunar interior and crystallization of olivine during assimilation. The assimilation reaction is modeled by mass balance and requires that ilmenite and high-Ca pyroxene are assimilated in a approximately 3:1 ratio, a much higher ratio than the proportion in which these minerals are thought to exist in the lunar interior. In an effort to understand the kinetic controls on this reaction, the dissolution of ilmenite is examined experimentally in both low- and high-Ti lunar magmas. We find that ilmenite dissolves incongruently to Cr-spinel and a high-Ti melt. The dissolution reaction proceeds by a diffusion-controlled mechanism. An assimilation model for the origin of high-Ti melts is developed that leaves the magma ocean cumulates in their initial stratigraphic positions and obviates source hybridization models that require lunar overturn.

Wagner, T. P.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Cogenetic Rock Fragments from a Lunar Soil: Evidence of a Ferroan Noritic-Anorthosite Pluton on the Moon

The impact that produced North Ray Crater, Apollo 16 landing site, exhumed rocks that include relatively mafic members of the lunar ferroan anorthositic suite. Bulk and mineral compositions indicate that a majority of 2-4 mm lithic fragments from sample 67513, including impact breccias and monomict igneous rocks, are related to a common noritic-anorthosite precursor. Compositions and geochemical trends of these lithic fragments and of related samples collected along the rim of North Ray Crater suggest that these rocks derived from a single igneous body. This body developed as an orthocumulate from a mixture of cumulus plagioclase and mafic intercumulus melt, after the plagioclase had separated from any cogenetic mafic minerals and had become concentrated into a crystal mush (approximately 70 wt% plagioclase, 30 wt% intercumulus melt). We present a model for the crystallization of the igneous system wherein "system" is defined as cumulus plagioclase and intercumulus melt. The initial accumulation of plagioclase is analogous to the formation of thick anorthosites of the terrestrial Stillwater Complex; however, a second stage of formation is indicated, involving migration of the cumulus-plagioclase-intercumulus-melt system to a higher crustal level, analogous to the emplacement of terrestrial massif anorthosites. Compositional variations of the lithic fragments from sample 67513 are consistent with dominantly equilibrium crystallization of intercumulus melt. The highly calcic nature of orthocumulus pyroxene and plagioclase suggests some reaction between the intercumulus melt and cumulus plagioclase, perhaps facilitated by some recrystallization of cumulus plagioclase. Bulk compositions and mineral assemblages of individual rock fragments also require that most of the mafic minerals fortned in close contact with cumulus plagioclase, not as separate layers. The distribution of compositions (and by inference, modes) has a narrow peak at anorthosite and a broader, larger peak at noritic anoilhosite. Characteristics of the samples and their geochemical trends imply an origin in a system that was large relative to the (unknown) size of the impact that produced the breccias of ferroan noritic-anorthosite composition that were excavated later by the formation of North Ray Crater, and they appear to be consistent with an origin of the suite within a perched plagioclase cumulate. If the Moon's crust formed by accumulation of plagioclase in a magma ocean, ferroan noritic anothosite, formed as an orthocumulate, is an alternative to extensive adcumulus formation of ferroan anorthosite (greater than 90 vol% plagiclase). This provides a relatively mafic ferroan anorthositic component (approximately 15 vol% mafics), which is required by mass-balance models of compositions of polymict lunar-crustal materials. The inferred bulk composition of the system of cumulus plagioclase and intercumulus melt is similar to that of ferroan regolith breccia MacAlpine Hills 88104/5, a lunar-highland meteorite, and may represent a common and widespread component of the Moon's early highland crust.

Jolliff, B. L.↗