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At least 577 records · Page 32

Atomic and Molecular Data for Interstellar Studies: A Status Report

Most interstellar species have a large fraction of their electronic transitions at far ultraviolet wavelengths. Observations at these wavelengths reveal spectra rich in absorption lines seen against the continuum of a background source, such as a hot star in our Galaxy, a supernova in a nearby galaxy, or even a bright nucleus in an active galaxy. Most of the observations continue to be made with space-borne instruments, but recent work includes measurements of extragalactic material at large redshifts obtained at high resolution with large ground-based telescopes (e.g., the Keck Telescope). The combination of precise experimental oscillator strengths, large-scale computations, and astronomical spectra with high signal-to-noise ratios are yielding a set of self-consistent-values that span a range in strength in excess of 100 for more and more species. The large range is important for studies involving the different environments probed by the various background sources. This review highlights recent work on the atomic species. Si II, S I, and Fe II, and on the molecules, CO and C2.

Federman, Steven R.↗

Effect of production processes on the fracture strength of silicon solar cells

Fracture of Czochralski silicon wafers during processing is an important factor in solar cell yield and cost. A fracture-mechanics test and analysis program was developed to evaluate fracture strength changes in the in-process wafer-to-cell processing at different stages on a manufacturer's production line. The strength data were described by Weibull statistical analysis and can be interpreted with the surface-flaw distribution of each of the process steps.

Chen, C. P.↗

Development, refinement, and testing of a short term solar flare prediction algorithm

During the period included in this report, the expenditure of time and effort, and progress toward performance of the tasks and accomplishing the goals set forth in the two year research grant proposal, consisted primarily of calibration and analysis of selected data sets. The heliographic limits of 30 degrees from central meridian were continued. As previously reported, all analyses are interactive and are performed by the Principal Investigator. It should also be noted that the analysis time involved by the Principal Investigator during this reporting period was limited, partially due to illness and partially resulting from other uncontrollable factors. The calibration technique (as developed by MSFC solar scientists), incorporates sets of constants which vary according to the wave length of the observation data set. One input constant is then varied interactively to correct for observing conditions, etc., to result in a maximum magnetic field strength (in the calibrated data), based on a separate analysis. There is some insecurity in the methodology and the selection of variables to yield the most self-consistent results for variable maximum field strengths and for variable observing/atmospheric conditions. Several data sets were analyzed using differing constant sets, and separate analyses to differing maximum field strength - toward standardizing methodology and technique for the most self-consistent results for the large number of cases. It may be necessary to recalibrate some of the analyses, but the sc analyses are retained on the optical disks and can still be used with recalibration where necessary. Only the extracted parameters will be changed.

Smith, Jesse B., Jr.↗

Strength enhancement process for prealloyed powder superalloys

A technique involving superplastic processing and high-pressure autoclaving was applied to a nickel-base prealloyed powder alloy. Tensile strengths as high as 2865 MN/sq m (415 ksi) at 480 C (900 F) were obtained with as-superplastically deformed material. Appropriate treatments yielding materials with high-temperature tensile and stress-rupture strengths (980 C (1800 F)) were also devised.

Waters, W. J.↗

Room Temperature and Elevated Temperature Composite Sandwich Joint Testing

Testing of composite sandwich joint elements has been completed to verify the strength capacity of joints designed to carry specified running loads representative of a high speed civil transport wing. Static tension testing at both room and an elevated temperature of 350 F and fatigue testing at room temperature were conducted to determine strength capacity, fatigue life, and failure modes. Static tension test results yielded failure loads above the design loads for the room temperature tests, confirming the ability of the joint concepts tested to carry their design loads. However, strength reductions as large as 30% were observed at the elevated test temperature, where all failure loads were below the room temperature design loads for the specific joint designs tested. Fatigue testing resulted in lower than predicted fatigue lives.

Walker, Sandra P.↗

Performance Properties of Graphite Reinforced Composites with Advanced Resin Matrices

This article looks at the effect of different resin matrices on thermal and mechanical properties of graphite composites, and relates the thermal and flammability properties to the anaerobic char yield of the resins. The processing parameters of graphite composites utilizing graphite fabric and epoxy or other advanced resins as matrices are presented. Thermoset resin matrices studied were: aminecured polyfunctional glycidyl aminetype epoxy (baseline), phenolicnovolac resin based on condensation of dihydroxymethyl-xylene and phenol cured with hexamine, two types of polydismaleimide resins, phenolic resin, and benzyl resin. The thermoplastic matrices studied were polyethersulfone and polyphenylenesulfone. Properties evaluated in the study included anaerobic char yield, limiting oxygen index, smoke evolution, moisture absorption, and mechanical properties at elevated temperatures including tensile, compressive, and short-beam shear strengths. Generally, it was determined that graphite composites with the highest char yield exhibited optimum fire-resistant properties.

Kourtides, Demetrius A.↗

Improved consolidation of silicon carbide

Alpha silicon carbide powder was consolidated by both dry and wet methods. Dry pressing in a double acting steel die yielded sintered test bars with an average flexural strength of 235.6 MPa with a critical flaw size of approximately 100 micro m. An aqueous slurry pressing technique produced sintered test bars with an average flexural strength of 440.8 MPa with a critical flaw size of approximately 25 micro m. Image analysis revealed a reduction in both pore area and pore size distribution in the slurry pressed sintered test bars. The improvements in the slurry pressed material properties are discussed in terms of reduced agglomeration and improved particle packing during consolidation.

Freedman, M. R.↗

A new high strength alloy for hydrogen fueled propulsion systems

This paper describes the development of a high-strength alloy (1241 MPa ultimate and 1103 MPa yield, with little or no degradation in hydrogen) for application in advanced hydrogen-fueled rocket engines. Various compositions of the Fe-Ni-Co-Cr system with elemental additions of Cb, Ti and Al are discussed. After processing, notched tensile specimens were tested in 34.5-MPa hydrogen at room temperature, as the main screening test. The H2/air notch tensile ratio was used as the selection/rejection criterion. The most promising alloys are discussed.

Mcpherson, W. B.↗

Improved consolidation of silicon carbide

Alpha silicon carbide powder was consolidated by both dry and wet methods. Dry pressing in a double acting steel die yielded sintered test bars with an average flexural strength of 235.6 MPa with a critical flaw size of approximately 100 micro m. An aqueous slurry pressing technique produced sintered test bars with an average flexural strength of 440.8 MPa with a critical flaw size of approximately 25 micro m. Image analysis revealed a reduction in both pore area and pore size distribution in the slurry pressed sintered test bars. The improvements in the slurry pressed material properties are discussed in terms of reduced agglomeration and improved particle packing during consolidation.

Freedman, M. R.↗

Laboratory studies of photodissociation processes relevant to the formation of cometary radicals

The strength of the C2(d 3 Pi g yields a 3 Pi u) Swan band emission in the spectra of cometary comae identifies this species as a prominent constituent of the coma gas. It was previously suggested that the formation of cometary C2 proceeds via the secondary photolysis of the C2H radical. The detection of C2H in the interstellar medium and the recent analysis of the radial variation in C2(delta V=O) surface brightness of Comet Halley support the postulate that C2 is a third-generation molecule. Measurement of the C2 and C2H translational energy distributions produced from the multiphoton dissociation (MPD) of acetylene at 193 nm are identified . Time-resolved FTIR emission studies of the nascent C2H radical formed in the C2H2 yields C2H + H reaction verify that this species is produced both vibrationally and electronically excited. A survey of the internal energy distributions of the C2 fragments produced from the MPD of acetylene using a high intensity ArF laser is currently in progress in the laboratory. Recent experiments have focused on the measurement of rotational energy distribution for the C2(A 1 Pi u, a 3 Pi u) fragments. The C2(a 3 Pi u) detection capability is currently being improved by performing this experiment in a molecular beam, thus allowing for discrimination between initial emission and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). Although the experiments performed to date provide considerable evidence in support of C2H yields C2 + H reaction, there is an important distinction to be made when comparing the laboratory conditions to those typically found in comets. The C2H radicals generated in the laboratory experiments are formed vibrationally and/or electronically excited. Any rotationally/vibrationally excited C2H present in cometary comae will quickly undergo radiative relaxation in the infrared to their lowest rotational and vibrational state. Experiments are currently under way to confirm the cometary formation of C2 via the VUV dissociation of cold C2H.

Urdahl, R. S.↗

Graphite Sheet Coating for Improved Thermal Oxidative Stability of Carbon Fiber Reinforced/PMR-15 Composites

Expanded graphite was compressed into graphite sheets and used as a coating for carbon fiber reinforced PMR-15 composites. BET analysis of the graphite indicated an increase in graphite pore size on compression, however the material was proven to be an effective barrier to oxygen when prepegged with PMR-15 resin. Oxygen permeability of the PMR-15/graphite was an order of magnitude lower than the compressed graphite sheet. By providing a barrier to oxygen permeation, the rate of oxidative degradation of PMR-15 was decreased. As a result, the composite thermo-oxidative stability increased by up to 25%. The addition of a graphite sheet as a top ply on the composites yielded little change in the material's flexural strength or interlaminar shear strength.

Campbell, Sandi↗

Economical Fabrication of Thick-Section Ceramic Matrix Composites

A method was developed for producing thick-section [>2 in. (approx.5 cm)], continuous fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composites (CMCs). Ultramet-modified fiber interface coating and melt infiltration processing, developed previously for thin-section components, were used for the fabrication of CMCs that were an order of magnitude greater in thickness [up to 2.5 in. (approx.6.4 cm)]. Melt processing first involves infiltration of a fiber preform with the desired interface coating, and then with carbon to partially densify the preform. A molten refractory metal is then infiltrated and reacts with the excess carbon to form the carbide matrix without damaging the fiber reinforcement. Infiltration occurs from the inside out as the molten metal fills virtually all the available void space. Densification to <5 vol% porosity is a one-step process requiring no intermediate machining steps. The melt infiltration method requires no external pressure. This prevents over-infiltration of the outer surface plies, which can lead to excessive residual porosity in the center of the part. However, processing of thick-section components required modification of the conventional process conditions, and the means by which the large amount of molten metal is introduced into the fiber preform. Modification of the low-temperature, ultraviolet-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process used to apply interface coatings to the fiber preform was also required to accommodate the high preform thickness. The thick-section CMC processing developed in this work proved to be invaluable for component development, fabrication, and testing in two complementary efforts. In a project for the Army, involving SiC/SiC blisk development, nominally 0.8 in. thick x 8 in. diameter (approx. 2 cm thick x 20 cm diameter) components were successfully infiltrated. Blisk hubs were machined using diamond-embedded cutting tools and successfully spin-tested. Good ply uniformity and extremely low residual porosity (<2 percent) were achieved, the latter being far lower than that achieved with SiC matrix composites fabricated via CVI or PIP. The pyrolytic carbon/zirconium nitride interface coating optimized in this work for use on carbon fibers was incorporated in the SiC/SiC composites and yielded a >41 ksi (approx. 283 MPa) flexural strength.

Babcock, Jason↗

Research to Significantly Enhance Composites Survivability at 550 F in Oxidative Environments

Methylene dianiline (MDA) and its derivatives have been used in the synthesis of polyimides to yield polymers with characteristic low-density, high tensile strength, improved solubility in organic solvents, low-melt viscosities and high thermal stability (greater than 550 F) in air. Polyimides with such properties are desirable for use in aerospace systems, e.g., jet engines, airframe, missiles, and rockets where weight is critical. Recent research at Prairie View A&M University is focused on developing monomers to generate polyimides with enhanced performance over that of NASA s PMR-15. The objective of this work is to synthesize three ring aromatic diamines which are non-toxic and when reacted with the appropriate dianhydrides will yield polyimides with lower viscosity, improve processability, good retention of mechanical properties, and oxidative stability at high environmental temperatures. Modifications of the three ring aromatic diamines include replacing the methylene linkages with aromatic ethers by nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions and incorporating mono- and di-substituents to the center aromatic ring. An update of current reactions involved in synthesis efforts to generate three ring aromatic monomers for polyimides with methylene, carbonyl, and ether linkages separating the aromatic moieties will be displayed.

Meador, Michael A.↗

Core magnetic field enhancement in single X line, multiple X line and patchy reconnection

Magnetic flux transfer events often show a significant increase of the magnetic field strength at the center of the events. Similar magnetic field observations have been reported for structures in or near the plasma sheet of the magnetotail at about 20 R(sub E). We have carried out two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) and simulations of single X line reconnection (SXR), multiple X line reconnection (MXR), and patchy reconnection to determine and compare the amplification of the magnetic field in the center of the developing flux tubes. The various processes are achieved by appropriate choices of 2D or 3D resistivity models. The simulations show that the increase in magnetic field strength depends on both the property of the initial configuration and the particular reconnection geometry. For the chosen initial conditions the MXR process leads to a larger increase in the core magnetic field than the patchy reconnection and SXR caused by larger magnetic tensions in the MXR process. The 3D processes always lead to a larger amplification than the corresponding 2D processes. In the 3D cases, force imbalance in the y direction will accelerate plasma out of the flux tube. This process reduces the thermal pressure and leads to a further compression of the flux rope, which yields an additional increase in the interior magnetic field strength.

Ma, Z. W.↗

A novel method of testing the shear strength of thick honeycomb composites

Sandwich composites of aluminum and glass/phenolic honeycomb core were tested for shear strength before and after impact damage. The assessment of shear strength was performed in two ways; by four point bend testing of sandwich beams and by a novel double lap shear (DLS) test. This testing technique was developed so smaller specimens could be used, thus making the use of common lab scale fabrication and testing possible. The two techniques yielded similar data. The DLS test gave slightly lower shear strength values of the two methods but were closer to the supplier's values for shear strength.

Hodge, A. J.↗

Adhesion, friction, and deformation of ion-beam-deposited boron nitride films

The tribological properties and mechanical strength of boron nitride films were investigated. The BN films were predominantly amorphous and nonstoichiometric and contained small amounts of oxides and carbides. It was found that the yield pressure at full plasticity, the critical load to fracture, and the shear strength of interfacial adhesive bonds (considered as adhesion) depended on the type of metallic substrate on which the BN was deposited. The harder the substrate, the greater the critical load and the adhesion. The yield pressures of the BN film were 12 GPa for the 440C stainless steel substrate, 4.1 GPa for the 304 stainless steel substrate, and 3.3 GPa for the titanium substrate.

Miyoshi, Kazuhisa↗

Adhesion, friction and deformation of ion-beam-deposited boron nitride films

The tribological properties and mechanical strength of boron nitride films were investigated. The BN films were predominantly amorphous and nonstoichiometric and contained small amounts of oxides and carbides. It was found that the yield pressure at full plasticity, the critical load to fracture, and the shear strength of interfacial adhesive bonds (considered as adhesion) depended on the type of metallic substrate on which the BN was deposited. The harder the substrate, the greater the critical load and the adhesion. The yield pressures of the BN film were 12 GPa for the 440C stainless steel substrate, 4.1 GPa for the 304 stainless steel substrate, and 3.3 GPa for the titanium substrate.

Miyoshi, K.↗

Phosphorus-containing imide resins - Modification by elastomers

The syntheses and general features of addition-type maleimide resins based on bis(m-aminophenyl)phosphine oxide and tris(m-aminophenyl)phosphine oxide have been reported previously. These resins have been used to fabricate graphite cloth laminates having excellent flame resistance. These composites did not burn even in pure oxygen. However, these resins were somewhat brittle. This paper reports the modification of these phosphorus-containing resins by an amine-terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer (ATBN) and a perfluoroalkylene diaromatic amine elastomer (3F). An approximately two-fold increase in short beam shear strength and flexural strength was observed at 7 percent ATBN concentration. The tensile, flexural, and shear strengths were reduced when 18 percent ATBN was used. Anaerobic char yields of the resins at 800 C and the limiting oxygen indexes of the laminates decreased with increasing ATBN concentration. The perfluorodiamine (3F) was used with both imide resins at 6.4 percent concentration. The shear strength was doubled in the case of the bisimide with no loss of flammability characteristics. The modified trisimide laminate also had improved properties over the unmodified one. The dynamic mechanical analysis of a four-ply laminate indicated a glass transition temperature above 300 C. Scanning electron micrographs of the ATBN modified imide resins were also recorded.

Varma, I. K.↗