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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 559 records · Page 31
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1993

Method of continuously determining crack length

The determination of crack lengths in an accurate and straight forward manner is very useful in studying and preventing load created flaws and cracks. A crack length sensor according to the present invention is fabricated in a rectangular or other geometrical form from a conductive powder impregnated polymer material. The long edges of the sensor are silver painted on both sides and the sensor is then bonded to a test specimen via an adhesive having sufficient thickness to also serve as an insulator. A lead wire is connected to each of the two outwardly facing silver painted edges. The resistance across the sensor changes as a function of the crack length in the specimen and sensor. The novel aspect of the present invention includes the use of relatively uncomplicated sensors and instrumentation to effectively measure the length of generated cracks.

Prabhakaran, Ramamurthy↗
NASA NTRS1993

Scattering of ultrasonic wave by cracks in a plate

A hybrid numerical method combining finite elements and the boundary integral representation is used to investigate the transient scattering of ultrasonic waves by a crack in a plate. The incident wave models the guided waves generated by a steel ball impact on the plate. Two surface-breaking cracks and one subsurface crack are studied here. The results show that the location and depth of cracks have measurable effects on the surface responses in time and frequency domains. Also, the scattered fields have distinct differences in the three cases.

Liu, S. W.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Efficient vibrational Raman conversion in O2 and N2 cells by use of superfluorescence seeding

We report first-Stokes vibrational conversion efficiency of 21 percent and 35 percent, respectively, in high-pressure O2- and N2-stimulated Raman cells. Broadband superfluorescence is employed to seed these Raman cells, significantly increasing the conversion efficiences with no measured effect on the Raman spectrum. The addition of helium buffer gas reduces competition from stimulated Brillouin scattering and improves the pulse-to-pulse stability and spatial mode quality by increasing the thermal conductivity. Further improvement of the spatial mode quality is achieved by use of gentle heating on the bottom of the cell to induce convection.

Zhang, Barry↗
NASA NTRS1991

In-space technology flight experiments

The topics presented are covered in viewgraph form. The objectives are: (1) to measure effects of microgravity on the dynamic characteristics of jointed-truss structures (such as space station alpha-joint); and (2) to investigate the dynamics of fluid-spacecraft interaction in 0-G.

Venneri, Samuel L.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Simple Creep Test For Ceramic Fibers

Simple bend-stress-relaxation test yields information on creep-related properties of polycrystalline ceramic fibers. Determination of these properties important part of efforts to develop ceramic composite materials that retain mechanical strength and resistance to creep at high temperatures. Present test measures effects of time, temperature, and applied strain on creep-related relaxation of bend stress in ceramic fiber of almost any diameter in almost any environment, without need for contact sensors. Degree of relaxation of bend stress determined from radii of curvature.

Dicarlo, James A.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Research on high Tc superconducting compounds

Mossbauer research using the 21.54 kev resonance radiation of Eu-151 on the high temperature superconductors Bi(2)Ca(0.5)Eu(0.5)Sr(2)CU2O(x), and EuBa(2)CU(3)O(7-x) is performed. For the Bismuth compound the Mossbauer measurements gave a weak signal at room temperature but improved at lower temperatures. Experimental data indicated that europium is located at only one crystallographic site. Isomer shift measurements were .69 + 0.02 mm/s with respect to EuF(3). The linewidth at room temperature was found to be 2.54 mm/s. This value falls within the values observed by other researchers on Eu based 1,2,3 high-Tc compounds. Our results also show the Eu to be trivalent with no trace of divalent europium present. Superconducting europium based 1,2,3 compounds were prepared and measurements completed. Our results show the Eu to be trivalent with no trace of divalent europium present. These compounds had an average isomer shift of .73 mm/s +/- O.02 for all samples made. One of these was irradiated with 3.5 X 10(exp 16) neutrons and a comparison made of the Mossbauer parameters for the irradiated and non-irradiated samples. Experimental results showed no difference between linewidths but a measurable effect was seen for the isomer shift.

Oliver, Frederick W.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Localized Ionospheric Particle Acceleration and Wave Acceleration of Auroral Ions: Amicist Data Set

Research supported by this grant covered two main topics: auroral ion acceleration from ELF-band wave activity, and from VLF-spikelet (lower hybrid solitary structure) wave activity. Recent auroral sounding rocket data illustrate the relative significance of various mechanisms for initiating auroral ion outflow. Two nightside mechanisms are shown in detail. The first mechanism is ion acceleration within lower hybrid solitary wave events. The new data from this two payload mission show clearly that: (1) these individual events are spatially localized to scales approximately 100 m wide perpendicular to B, in agreement with previous investigations of these structures, and (2) that the probability of occurrence of the events is greatest at times of maximum VLF wave intensity. The second mechanism is ion acceleration by broadband, low frequency electrostatic waves, observed in a 30 km wide region at the poleward edge of the arc. The ion fluxes from the two mechanisms are compared and it is shown that while lower hybrid solitary structures do indeed accelerate ions in regions of intense VLF waves, the outflow from the electrostatic ion wave acceleration region is dominant for the aurora investigated by this sounding rocket, AMICIST. The fluxes are shown to be consistent with DE-1 and Freja outflow measurements, indicating that the AMICIST observations show the low altitude, microphysical signatures of nightside auroral outflow. In this paper, we present a review of sounding rocket observations of the ion acceleration seen nightside auroral zone lower hybrid solitary structures. Observations from Topaz3, Amicist, and Phaze2 are presented on various spatial scales, including the two-point measurements of the Amicist mission. From this collection of observations, we will demonstrate the following characteristics of transverse ion acceleration (TAI) in LHSS. The ion acceleration process is narrowly confined to 90 degrees pitch angle, in spatially confined regions of up to a few hundred meters across B. The acceleration process does not affect the thermal core of the ambient distribution, and does not directly create a measurable effect on the ambient ion population outside the LHSS themselves. Within the LHSS region, it creates a high energy tail beginning at a few times the thermal ion speed. The ion acceleration events are closely associated with localized wave events. Accelerated ions bursts are also seen without a concurrent observation of a localized wave event, for two possible reasons. In some cases, the pitch angles of the accelerated tail ions are elevated above perpendicular; that is to say, the acceleration occurred below the observer and the mirror force has begun to act upon the distribution, moving it upward from the source. In other cases, the accelerated ion structure is spatially larger than the wave event structure, and the observation catches only the ion event. The occurrence rate of these ion acceleration events is related to the ambient environment in two ways: (1) its altitude dependence can be modelled with the parameter B(exp2)/n(sub e), (2) and it is highest in regions of intense VLF activity. The end result of this study of auroral ion acceleration processes is a manuscript entitled "Auroral Ion Acceleration from Lower Hybrid Solitary Structures: A Summary of Sounding Rocket Observations", by Lynch, Arnoldy, Kintner, Schuck, Bonnell, and Coffey. This manuscript has been submitted for publication to the Journal of Geophysical Research.

Lynch, Kristina A.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Improved Modeling in a Matlab-Based Navigation System

An innovative approach to autonomous navigation is available for low earth orbit satellites. The system is developed in Matlab and utilizes an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) to estimate the attitude and trajectory based on spacecraft magnetometer and gyro data. Preliminary tests of the system with real spacecraft data from the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer Satellite (RXTE) indicate the existence of unmodeled errors in the magnetometer data. Incorporating into the EKF a statistical model that describes the colored component of the effective measurement of the magnetic field vector could improve the accuracy of the trajectory and attitude estimates and also improve the convergence time. This model is identified as a first order Markov process. With the addition of the model, the EKF attempts to identify the non-white components of the noise allowing for more accurate estimation of the original state vector, i.e. the orbital elements and the attitude. Working in Matlab allows for easy incorporation of new models into the EKF and the resulting navigation system is generic and can easily be applied to future missions resulting in an alternative in onboard or ground-based navigation.

Deutschmann, Julie↗
NASA NTRS1999

Predicting Slag Generation in Sub-Scale Test Motors Using a Neural Network

Generation of slag (aluminum oxide) is an important issue for the Reusable Solid Rocket Motor (RSRM). Thiokol performed testing to quantify the relationship between raw material variations and slag generation in solid propellants by testing sub-scale motors cast with propellant containing various combinations of aluminum fuel and ammonium perchlorate (AP) oxidizer particle sizes. The test data were analyzed using statistical methods and an artificial neural network. This paper primarily addresses the neural network results with some comparisons to the statistical results. The neural network showed that the particle sizes of both the aluminum and unground AP have a measurable effect on slag generation. The neural network analysis showed that aluminum particle size is the dominant driver in slag generation, about 40% more influential than AP. The network predictions of the amount of slag produced during firing of sub-scale motors were 16% better than the predictions of a statistically derived empirical equation. Another neural network successfully characterized the slag generated during full-scale motor tests. The success is attributable to the ability of neural networks to characterize multiple complex factors including interactions that affect slag generation.

Wiesenberg, Brent↗
NASA NTRS1998

Broadband Infrared Antireflection Structured Silicon Surfaces

Silicon and germanium are materials often used for IR windows and optical elements. However they have a very high index of refraction, in the order of three to four, which causes large reflection losses on each surface. These losses are especially high under large angles of incidence which are often desirable if signals are faint and fast optics are to be used. Solid antireflection coatings are either not available because materials with appropriate index of refraction do not exist, or their use is limited to a small wavelength range and small angles of incidence. We will present the status of our work to calculate, create, and test the performance of graded structures in Si to reduce its surface reflection. The structures are expected to work over the very broad wavelength range of 10 microns to 1000 microns and a wide range of angle of incidence. We have identified several high aspect ratio MEMS process techniques to create the structures and have done 3D electromagnetic modeling, which predicts significant effects. Measurements on different samples have validated our modeling.

Stewart, Kenneth↗
NASA NTRS1999

Broadband Infrared Antireflection Structured Silicon Surfaces

Silicon and germanium are materials often used for IR windows and optical elements. However they have a very high index of refraction, in the order of three to four, which causes large reflection losses on each surface. These losses are especially high under large angles of incidence which are often desirable if signals are faint and fast optics are to be used. Solid antireflection coatings are either not available because materials with appropriate index of refraction do not exist, or their use is limited to a small wavelength range and small angles of incidence. We will present the status of our work to calculate, create, and test the performance of graded structures in Si to reduce its surface reflection. The structures are expected to work over the very broad wavelength range of 10 to 1000 micrometers and a wide range of angle of incidence. We have identified several high aspect ratio MEMS process techniques to Create the structures and have done 3D electromagnetic modeling, which predicts significant effects. Measurements on different samples have validated our modeling.

Stewart, Kenneth↗
NASA NTRS1999

Broadband Infrared Antireflection Structured Silicon Surfaces

Silicon and germanium are materials often used for infrared (IR) windows and optical elements. However they have a very high index of refraction, in the order of three to four, which causes large reflection losses on each surface. These losses are especially high under large angles of incidence which are often desirable if signals are faint and fast optics are to be used. Solid antireflection coatings are either not available because materials with appropriate index of refraction do not exist, or their use is limited to a small wavelength range and small angles of incidence. We will present the status of our work to calculate, create, and test the performance of graded structures in Si to reduce its surface reflection. The structures are expected to work over the very broad wavelength range of 10 micron to 1000 micron and a wide range of angle of incidence. We.have identified several high aspect ratio MEMS process techniques to create the structures and have done 3D electromagnetic modeling, which predicts significant effects. Measurements on different samples have validated our modeling.

Stewart, Kenneth↗
NASA NTRS2000

Processing Motion Signals in Complex Environments

Motion information is critical for human locomotion and scene segmentation. Currently we have excellent neurophysiological models that are able to predict human detection and discrimination of local signals. Local motion signals are insufficient by themselves to guide human locomotion and to provide information about depth, object boundaries and surface structure. My research is aimed at understanding the mechanisms underlying the combination of motion signals across space and time. A target moving on an extended trajectory amidst noise dots in Brownian motion is much more detectable than the sum of signals generated by independent motion energy units responding to the trajectory segments. This result suggests that facilitation occurs between motion units tuned to similar directions, lying along the trajectory path. We investigated whether the interaction between local motion units along the motion direction is mediated by contrast. One possibility is that contrast-driven signals from motion units early in the trajectory sequence are added to signals in subsequent units. If this were the case, then units later in the sequence would have a larger signal than those earlier in the sequence. To test this possibility, we compared contrast discrimination thresholds for the first and third patches of a triplet of sequentially presented Gabor patches, aligned along the motion direction. According to this simple additive model, contrast increment thresholds for the third patch should be higher than thresholds for the first patch.The lack of a measurable effect on contrast thresholds for these various manipulations suggests that the pooling of signals along a trajectory is not mediated by contrast-driven signals. Instead, these results are consistent with models that propose that the facilitation of trajectory signals is achieved by a second-level network that chooses the strongest local motion signals and combines them if they occur in a spatio-temporal sequence consistent with a trajectory. These results parallel the lack of increased apparent contrast along a static contour made up of similarly oriented elements.

Verghese, Preeti↗
NASA NTRS1999

Low Loss, Finite Width Ground Plane, Thin Film Microstrip Lines on Si Wafers

Si RFICs on standard, 2 Omega-cm. Si wafers require novel transmission lines to reduce the loss caused by the resistive substrate. One such transmission line is commonly called Thin Film Microstrip (TFMS), which is created by depositing a metallic ground plane, thin insulating layers, and the microstrip lines on the Si wafer. Thus, the electric fields are isolated from the Si wafer. In this paper, it is shown through experimental results that the ground plane of TFMS may be finite width and comparable to the strip width in size while still achieving low loss on 2 Omega-cm Si. Measured effective permittivity shows that the field interaction with the Si wafer is small.

Ponchak, George E.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Galileo Heat Shield Response Experiment Data Reduction and Analyses

The Galileo heat shield response experiment consists of 10 Analog Resistance Ablation Detectors (ARADs) embedded in the carbon phenolic heat shield. As the vehicle descends into the atmosphere of Jupiter, these ARADs will in effect measure the recession as a function of time at various locations on the heat shield. This recession data will be used to reconstruct the time-dependent shape of the vehicle. The shape data is of critical importance to the Atmospheric Reconstruction Experiment which must know mass and drag coefficient of the vehicle in order to determine the structure of the Jovian atmosphere. The data is also intrinsically useful as a database for evaluating the accuracy of our numerical codes and methodology for predicting highly radiating reentry flowfields and coupled heat shield material response. This paper will document the reduction of the data from the ARAD sensors, reconstruction of the heat shield shape history, and comparison of the actual heat shield response with previous calculations and experiments. If possible, we will also include results from new calculations which couple the shock layer flow with the transient material response.

Milos, Frank S.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Fatigue Crack Measurement in Composite Materials by Ultrasonic Methods

The nondestructive detection of intra-ply microcracking in unlined pressure vessels fabricated from composite materials is critical to ensuring mission success. Microcracking in composite structures due to combined fatigue and cryogenic thermal loading can be very troublesome to detect in-service and when it begins to link through the thickness can cause leakage and failure of the structure. These leaks may lead to loss of pressure/propellant, increased risk of explosion and possible cryo-pumping. The work presented herein develops a method and an instrument to locate and measure intraply fatigue cracking through the thickness of laminated composite material by means of correlation with ultrasonic resonance. Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy provides measurements which are, sensitive to both the microscopic and macroscopic properties of an object. Elastic moduli, acoustic attenuation, and geometry can all be probed. The approach is based on the premise of half-wavelength resonance. The method injects a broadband ultrasonic wave into the test structure using a swept frequency technique. This method provides dramatically increased energy input into the test article, as compared to conventional spike pulsed ultrasonics. This relative energy increase improves the ability to measure finer details in the materials character, such as micro-cracking and porosity. As the micro-crack density increases, more interactions occur with the higher frequency (small wavelength) components of the signal train causing the spectrum to shift toward lower frequencies. Preliminary experiments have verified a measurable effect on the resonance spectrum of the ultrasonic data to detect microcracking. Methods involving self organizing neural networks and other clustering algorithms show that the resonance ultrasound signatures from composites vary with the degree of microcracking and can be separated and identified.

Walker, James L.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Fatigue Crack and Porosity Measurement in Composite Materials by Thermographic and Ultrasonic Methods

Many nondestructive methods exist for the detection of localized material anomalies in an otherwise good composite structure. The problem arises when the material system as a whole has degraded during service or was improperly manufactured. Porosity and intra-ply microcracking are two such conditions that in unlined composite pressure vessels can be very troublesome to detect and when linked through the thickness can be critical to mission success. These leak paths may lead to loss of pressure/propellant, increased risk of explosion and possible cryo-pumping. Research sought nondestructive methods for quantifying porosity and microcracking in composite tankage. Both thermographic and resonance ultrasound methods have been utilized with artificial neural network and statistical approaches to analyze the data. Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy provides measurements, which are sensitive to fine details in the materials character, such as micro-cracking and porosity. Here, the higher frequency (shorter wavelength) components of the signal train provide more significant interaction with the defects causing the spectral characteristics to shift toward lower amplitudes at the higher frequencies. As the density of the defects increases more interactions occur and more drastic amplitude changes are observed. From a thermal perspective, the higher the defect density the lower the through thickness thermal diffusivity will be. Utilizing a point heat source, and thermographically recording the heat profile with time, diffusivity calculations can be made which in turn can be related to the relative quality of the material. Preliminary experiments to verify the measurable effect on the resonance spectrum of the ultrasonic data to detect microcracking and for porosity detection thermographically are presented. Methods involving supervised and unsupervised artificial neural networks as well as other clustering algorithms are developed for signal identification.

Walker, James L.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Microcrack Quantification in Composite Materials by a Neural Network Analysis of Ultrasound Spectral Data

Intra-ply microcracking in unlined composite pressure vessels can be very troublesome to detect and when linked through the thickness can provide leak paths that may hinder mission success. The leaks may lead to loss of pressure/propellant, increased risk of explosion and possible cryo-pumping into air pockets within the laminate. Ultrasonic techniques have been shown capable of detecting the presence of microcracking and in this work they are used to quantify the level of microcracking. Resonance ultrasound methods are utilized with artificial neural networks to build a microcrack prediction/measurement tool. Two networks are presented, one unsupervised to provide a qualitative measure of microcracking and one supervised which provides a quantitative assessment of the level of microcracking. The resonant ultrasound spectroscopic method is made sensitive to microcracking by tuning the input spectrum to the higher frequency (shorter wavelength) components allowing more significant interaction with the defects. This interaction causes the spectral characteristics to shift toward lower amplitudes at the higher frequencies. As the density of the defects increases more interactions occur and more drastic amplitude changes are observed. Preliminary experiments to quantify the level of microcracking induced in graphite/epoxy composite samples through a combination of tensile loading and cryogenic temperatures are presented. Both unsupervised (Kohonen) and supervised (radial basis function) artificial neural networks are presented to determine the measurable effect on the resonance spectrum of the ultrasonic data taken from the samples.

Walker, James L.↗