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At least 577 records · Page 32

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NASA NTRS1981

Isolation and measurement of rotor vibration forces

Mounting for helicopter gearbox measures forces generated by rotor and isolates transmission from airframe. Mountings have frequency-dependent load/displacement relationship that gives statically rigid but dynamically soft support, lowering vibratory transfer. Previous isolation by springs or force-opposing devices required strain gages to measure rotor vibration and were operative at only one vibration frequency. Active system eliminates these limitations.

Kenigsberg, I.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Evidence for a peak in the number of isolated Type III bursts prior to large solar flares

Evidence for a broad maximum in the number of isolated metric-wave Type III bursts prior to the large H alpha solar flares observed between May 1973 and February 1974 is reported. The time distribution of isolated Type III bursts within 12.6 h of each of the 111 solar flares of importance 1 or greater recorded during the period is shown to peak approximately 5 h before the time of flare maximum, most markedly in the case of bursts with projected positions near the solar flare position. The examination of H alpha, X-ray and magnetogram data in the vicinity of the flare implies a purely coronal storage and release mechanism for the flare energy. The peak of Type III burst activity is thus suggested as a good indicator of coronal energy input and storage near the time of a large solar flare, although not a reliable flare predictor.

Jackson, B. V.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Gravity waves and GOES IR data study of an isolated tornadic storm on 29 May 1977

Enhanced convection-initiated gravity waves associated with an isolated tornado in the absence of a squall line are investigated. Ray-tracing computations based on data observed on May 29, 1977 indicated that the wave sources were located in north-central Oklahoma. Comparison with a radar echo map during the time period when the waves were excited showed that the waves were generated by an isolated cloud with enhanced convection. GOES infrared digital data during the time period from wave excitation to tornado touchdown were analyzed. Results showed that the cloud where the gravity waves were excited was characterized by both a very low temperature at the cloud top and a very high expansion rate of the cold cloud-top area. The lead time between the excitation of the gravity waves and the tornado touchdown is discussed in conjunction with the growth rate of the clouds associated with the tornado.

Hung, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Dynamic Isolation for Cryogenic Refrigerators

Prototype pressure-compensated mounting isolates a Tunable Diode Laser (TDL) housing from mechanical vibration. Mounting is being tested as part of Langley Research Center program for development of highly sensitive instruments that remotely measure important chemical constituents of atmosphere. Instruments typically have requirement for cryogenic cooling of sensitive detectors and components that are necessary to detect presence of tenuous constituents of atmosphere. Key elements of mounting are two bellows, reaction plate, flexible straps and vibration isolators.

Averill, R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Tension-tension fatigue behavior of the Space Shuttle strain-isolation-pad material

The room temperature fatigue behavior of 0.41-cm (0.16-in) thick strain-isolation-pad (SIP) material was explored in a series of constant- and random-amplitude loading tests. The SIP material is used on the Space Shuttle to isolate the ceramic insulating tiles from the strains and deflections of the aluminum alloy airframe. In all tests, 12.7 by 12.7 cm (5.0 by 5.0 in) SIP specimens were subjected to tension-tension loading in the through-the-thickness direction at a frequency of 10 Hz. When subjected to cyclic loading, the SIP material exhibited a monotonic increase in thickness and a monotonic increase in tensile tangent moduli. The rate of thickness growth increased with increasing test stress level and decreased with increasing number cycles endured. Power law equations were found to provide a good representation of the thickness growth rate data. Tensile tangent moduli increased by as much as 80 percent during fatigue tests. Simple cumulative damage fatigue models predicted the mean thickness growth under random-amplitude loading with reasonable accuracy (factor of 2 on life).

Phillips, E. P.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Vibration-Isolation Bench for Testing in Vacuum

Precise optical systems tested without contamination. Vibration isolator is one of three such units supporting cast-iron table. Table used to test optical systems in vacuum. Isolator made from commercially available components. Scaled-down version finds wider application in electron optics or electron-beam lithography.

Dankowski, J. C.↗

NASA NTRS1982

J series thruster isolator failure analysis

Three Hg propellant isolators (two cathode and one main) failed during testing in the Mission Profile Life Test. These failures involved contamination of the surface of the alumina insulating body which resulted in heating of the vaporizer by leakage current from the high voltage supply, with subsequent loss of propellant flow rate control. Failure analysis of the isolators showed the surface resistance was temperature dependent and that the alumina could be restored to its original insulating state by grit blasting the surface. The contaminant was identified as carbon and the most likely sources identified as ambient facility hydrocarbons, directed back-sputtered facility materials, and outgassing from organic insulating materials within the thruster envelope. Methods to eliminate contamination from each of these sources are described.

Campbell, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1983

A system for load isolation and precision pointing

A system capable of satisfying the accuracy and stability requirements dictated by Shuttle-borne payloads utilizing large optics has been under joint NASA/Sperry development. This device, denoted the Annular Suspension and Pointing System, employs a unique combination of conventional gimbals and magnetic bearing actuators, thereby providing for the complete isolation of the payload from its external environment, as well as for extremely accurate and stable pointing (equal to about 0.01 arcsec). This effort has been pursued through the fabrication and laboratory evaluation of engineering model hardware. Results from these tests have been instrumental in generating high fidelity computer simulations of this load isolation and precision pointing system, and in permitting confident predictions of the system's on-orbit performance. The applicability of this system to the Solar Optical Telescope mission has been examined using the computer simulation. The worst case pointing error predicted for this payload while subjected to vernier reaction control system thruster firings and crew motions aboard the Shuttle was approximately 0.006 arcsec.

Keckler, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1984

A High-performance Hybrid RF Isolation Amplifier

A high-performance hybrid RF Isolation Amplifier (Iso-Amp) has been developed at JPL. The circuit exhibits a unique combination of RF characteristics at performance levels exceeding those of any commercially available device. Recent improvments in the design have resulted in significantly higher reverse isolation, a four-fold increase in bandwidth and improve reliability. These devices are very useful in RF and IF signal conditioners, instrumentation, and signal generation and distribution equipment. These Iso-Amps should find wide application in future DSN and R&D RF systems.

Stevens, G. L.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Vibration isolation system for testing in a vacuum

The design, manufacture, and testing of an isolation system placed under a bench which simulates a space platform during testing in a hard vacuum are described. A low natural frequency isolation system is used to decouple ground vibrations from the bench. The materials used are vacuum compatible and do not introduce unwanted matter which would contaminate the payload optics and/or the testing environment. The system accommodates payloads of varying weights and envelopes.

Jack Dankowski↗

NASA NTRS1985

High voltage isolation transformer

A high voltage isolation transformer is provided with primary and secondary coils separated by discrete electrostatic shields from the surfaces of insulating spools on which the coils are wound. The electrostatic shields are formed by coatings of a compound with a low electrical conductivity which completely encase the coils and adhere to the surfaces of the insulating spools adjacent to the coils. Coatings of the compound also line axial bores of the spools, thereby forming electrostatic shields separating the spools from legs of a ferromagnetic core extending through the bores. The transformer is able to isolate a high constant potential applied to one of its coils, without the occurrence of sparking or corona, by coupling the coatings, lining the axial bores to the ferromagnetic core and by coupling one terminal of each coil to the respective coating encasing the coil.

Clatterbuck, C. H.↗

NASA NTRS1985

High thermal power density heat transfer apparatus providing electrical isolation at high temperature using heat pipes

This invention is directed to transferring heat from an extremely high temperature source to an electrically isolated lower temperature receiver. The invention is particularly concerned with supplying thermal power to a thermionic converter from a nuclear reactor with electric isolation. Heat from a high temperature heat pipe is transferred through a vacuum or a gap filled with electrically nonconducting gas to a cooler heat pipe. If the receiver requires gratr thermal power density, geometries are used with larger heat pipe areas for transmitting and receiving energy than the area for conducting the heat to the thermionic converter. In this way the heat pipe capability for increasing thermal power densities compensates for the comparative low thermal power densities through the electrically nonconducting gap between the two heat pipes.

Morris, J. F.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Design of vibration isolation systems using multiobjective optimization techniques

The design of vibration isolation systems is considered using multicriteria optimization techniques. The integrated values of the square of the force transmitted to the main mass and the square of the relative displacement between the main mass and the base are taken as the performance indices. The design of a three degrees-of-freedom isolation system with an exponentially decaying type of base disturbance is considered for illustration. Numerical results are obtained using the global criterion, utility function, bounded objective, lexicographic, goal programming, goal attainment and game theory methods. It is found that the game theory approach is superior in finding a better optimum solution with proper balance of the various objective functions.

Rao, S. S.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The evaluation of failure detection and isolation algorithms for restructurable control

Three failure detection and identification techniques were compared to determine their usefulness in detecting and isolating failures in an aircraft flight control system; excluding sensor and flight control computer failures. The algorithms considered were the detection filter, the Generalized Likelihood Ratio test and the Orthogonal Series Generalized Likelihood Ratio test. A modification to the basic detection filter is also considered which uses secondary filtering of the residuals to produce unidirectional failure signals. The algorithms were evaluated by testing their ability to detect and isolate control surface failures in a nonlinear simulation of a C-130 aircraft. It was found that failures of some aircraft controls are difficult to distinguish because they have a similar effect on the dynamics of the vehicle. Quantitative measures for evaluating the distinguishability of failures are considered. A system monitoring strategy for implementing the failure detection and identification techniques was considered. This strategy identified the mix of direct measurement of failures versus the computation of failure necessary for implementation of the technology in an aircraft system.

Motyka, P.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Verification of static rotor-load measurement capabilities of the RSRA helicopter active-isolator system

The Rotor Systems Research Aircraft helicopter technology demonstration test bed incorporates an active isolator system which reduces the rotor vibrations that are transmitted to the airframe and allows the simultaneous measurement of all six forces and moments generated by the rotor. The first full system calibration was performed in 1983 to verify the system's static load measurement capabilities; the analysis of the data encompassed multiple linear regressions to determine calibration matrices for different data sets, and a hysteresis removal algorithm for the estimation of in-flight measurement errors. The results obtained indicate that the active isolator system meets most performance predictions.

Acree, C. W., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Comparison of knobs on Mars to isolated hills in eolian, fluvial and glacial environments

The isolated knobs of Mars, characterized in terms of length, width, geographic location, proximity to streaks, and geologic surroundings through Viking Orbiters' photomosaics, are compared to isolated hills on earth eroded by eolian, fluvia, and glacial processes. Comparison of length-to-width ratios indicates similarity of the knobs to the hills formed in a hyperarid environment. The hills formed on earth by fluvial and glacial processes have length-to-width ratios significantly higher than those of the Martian knobs and have other diagnostic features not associated with the knobs. Moreover, streaks, splotches, dunes, and pitted and fluted rocks, all indicative of an eolian regime, are associated with the Martian knobs.

Manent, L. S.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Full-scale engine demonstration of an advanced sensor failure detection, isolation and accommodation algorithm: Preliminary results

The objective of the advanced detection, isolation, and accommodation (ADIA) program is to improve the overall demonstrated reliability of digital electronic control systems for turbine engines. For this purpose, algorithms were developed which detect, isolate, and accommodate sensor failures using analytical redundancy. Preliminary results of a full scale engine demonstration of the ADIA algorithm are presented. Minimum detectable levels of sensor failures for an F100 turbofan engine control system are determined and compared to those obtained during a previous evaluation of this algorithm using a real-time hybrid computer simulation of the engine.

Merrill, Walter C.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The frequency of enhanced star formation in interacting and isolated galaxies

To probe the sensitivity of the star formation rate and extent in galaxies to gravitational encounters, ground based near and mid-infrared and IRAS far-infrared measurements of complete samples of isolated and interacting pairs of galaxies were obtained. The observed infrared properties of the isolated galaxies are used to gauge the magnitude of star formation in galaxies free from external influences, and to define the relationships between morphological type and infrared luminosity. These properties were contrasted with those of the interacting sample to examine the extent to which interactions can enhance or alter the nature of star formation. The mechanisms by which interactions influence activity such as star formation are investigated through correlations of the infrared characteristics with radio and optical measurements, and with morphological and physical parameters such as galaxy types, separations, encounter velocities and interaction types. Limits to the physical extent of the star formation are obtained by comparing the large aperture measurements of IRAS with the small aperture ground based photometry.

Cutri, Roc M.↗