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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 595 records · Page 33
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

A Method for Characterizing PMR-15 Resin

Quantitative analysis technique based on reverse-phase, highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and paired-ion chromatography (PIC) developed for PMR-15 resins. In reverse-phase HPLC experiment, polar solvent containing material to be analyzed passed through column packed with nonpolar substrate. Composition of PMR-15 Resin of 50 weight percent changes as resin ages at room temperature. Verification of proper resin formulation and analysis of changes in resin composition during storage important to manufacturers of PMR-15 polymer matrix composite parts. Technique especially suitable for commercial use by manufacturers of high-performance composite components.

Roberts, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Development history of the Space Shuttle Main Engine

The development of the Space Shuttle Main Engine has provided a high performance, reusable component for the Space Transportation System. A discussion of how ground testing identified problems and their resolution paved the way for certification of the engine for flight. A launch summary and a discussion of launch anomalies are included. Continuing improvements and established overhaul criteria are described which will extend the operating life and allow each engine to be used efficiently.

Peterson, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Automotive Stirling engine development program

The major accomplishments were the completion of the Basic Stirling Engine (BSE) and the Stirling Engine System (SES) designs on schedule, the approval and acceptance of those designs by NASA, and the initiation of manufacture of BSE components. The performance predictions indicate the Mod II engine design will meet or exceed the original program goals of 30% improvement in fuel economy over a conventional Internal Combustion (IC) powered vehicle, while providing acceptable emissions. This was accomplished while simultaneously reducing Mod II engine weight to a level comparable with IC engine power density, and packaging the Mod II in a 1985 Celebrity with no external sheet metal changes. The projected mileage of the Mod II Celebrity for the combined urban and highway CVS cycle is 40.9 mpg which is a 32% improvement over the IC Celebrity. If additional potential improvements are verified and incorporated in the Mod II, the mileage could increase to 42.7 mpg.

Ernst, W.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Effect of heavy rain on aviation engines

High bypass ratio gas turbine engines may ingest water and hail during flight in an environment of thunderstorms, and the performance and the operation-handling characteristics of the engine and its control become affected often substantially and critically. It is, therefore, of interest to establish predictive schemes for determining changes in performance of components and the total system. The current status of development of such predictive schemes is discussed along with illustrative examples. The needs for additional research are discussed, that are essential for improving: (1) the predictive schemes and (2) the methods of simulating in-rain flight conditions on ground.

Murthy, S. N. B.↗
NASA NTRS1990

AVION: A detailed report on the preliminary design of a 79-passenger, high-efficiency, commercial transport aircraft

The Avion is the result of an investigation into the preliminary design for a high-efficiency commercial transport aircraft. The Avion is designed to carry 79 passengers and a crew of five through a range of 1,500 nm at 455 kts (M=0.78 at 32,000 ft). It has a gross take-off weight of 77,000 lb and an empty weight of 42,400 lb. Currently there are no American-built aircraft designed to fit the 60 to 90 passenger, short/medium range marketplace. The Avion gathers the premier engineering achievements of flight technology and integrates them into an aircraft which will challenge the current standards of flight efficiency, reliability, and performance. The Avion will increase flight efficiency through reduction of structural weight and the improvement of aerodynamic characteristics and propulsion systems. Its design departs from conventional aircraft design tradition with the incorporation of a three-lifting-surface (or tri-wing) configuration. Further aerodynamic improvements are obtained through modest main wing forward sweeping, variable incidence canards, aerodynamic coupling between the canard and main wing, leading edge extensions, winglets, an aerodynamic tailcone, and a T-tail empennage. The Avion is propelled by propfans, which are one of the most promising developments for raising propulsive efficiencies at high subsonic Mach numbers. Special attention is placed on overall configuration, fuselage layout, performance estimations, component weight estimations, and planform design. Leading U.S. technology promises highly efficient flight for the 21st century; the Avion will fulfill this promise to passenger transport aviation.

Mayfield, William↗
NASA NTRS1989

Least squares restoration of multi-channel images

In this paper, a least squares filter for the restoration of multichannel imagery is presented. The restoration filter is based on a linear, space-invariant imaging model and makes use of an iterative matrix inversion algorithm. The restoration utilizes both within-channel (spatial) and cross-channel information as constraints. Experiments using color images (three-channel imagery with red, green, and blue components) were performed to evaluate the filter's performance and to compare it with other monochrome and multichannel filters.

Chin, Roland T.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Thermal barrier coating evaluation needs

A 0.025 cm (0.010 in) thick thermal barrier coating (TBC) applied to turbine airfoils in a research gas turbine engine provided component temperature reductions of up to 190 C. These impressive temperature reductions can allow increased engine operating temperatures and reduced component cooling to achieve greater engine performance without sacrificing component durability. The significant benefits of TBCs are well established in aircraft gas turbine engine applications and their use is increasing. TBCs are also under intense development for use in the Low Heat Rejection (LHR) diesel engine currently being developed and are under consideration for use in utility and marine gas turbines. However, to fully utilize the benefits of TBCs it is necessary to accurately characterize coating attributes that affect the insulation and coating durability. The purpose there is to discuss areas in which nondestructive evaluation can make significant contributions to the further development and full utilization of TBCs for aircraft gas turbine engines and low heat rejection diesel engines.

Brindley, William J.↗
NASA NTRS1991

NTR vehicle commonality assessment for piloted lunar and Mars missions

A study is presented that assesses the feasibility of (1) using common nuclear thermal rocket (NTR) vehicle components to perform a wide range of lunar and Mars missions, and (2) potential performance gains achieved via 'dual-mode' NTR operation, where the nuclear reactor is utilized not only for propulsion but also for electrical power generation. Four vehicle configurations are considered, modular designs with multiple single engine modules and single engine designs with multiple propellant tanks. The standard tank sizes arrived at in the Mars mission mass performance calculations are then applied to cargo and piloted lunar craft to evaluate lunar NTR mass performance against that for chemical propulsion.

Collins, John T.↗
NASA NTRS1991

The NASA/industry design analysis methods for vibrations (DAMVIBS) program: Accomplishments and contributions

A NASA Langley-sponsored rotorcraft structural dynamics program, known as Design Analysis Methods for VIBrationS (DAMVIBS), has been under development since 1984. The objective of this program was to establish the technology base needed by the industry to develop an advanced finite-element-based dynamics design analysis capability for vibrations. Under the program, teams from the four major helicopter manufacturers have formed finite-element models, conducted ground vibration tests, made test/analysis comparisons of both metal and composite airframes, performed 'difficult components' studies on airframes to identify components which need more complete finite-element representation for improved correlation, and evaluated industry codes for computing coupled rotor-airframe vibrations. Studies aimed at establishing the role that structural optimization can play in airframe vibrations design work have also been initiated. Five government/industry meetings were held in connection with these activities during the course of the program. Because the DAMVIBS Program is coming to an end, the fifth meeting included a brief assessment of the program and its benefits to the industry.

Kvaternik, Raymond G.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Krypton Ion Thruster Performance

Preliminary data were obtained from a 30 cm ion thruster operating on krypton propellant over the input power range of 0.4 to 5.5 kW. The data presented are compared and contrasted to the data obtained with xenon propellant over the same input power envelope. Typical krypton thruster efficiency was 70 percent at a specific impulse of approximately 5000 s, with a maximum demonstrated thrust to power ratio of approximately 42 mN/kW at 2090 s specific impulse and 1580 watts input power. Critical thruster performance and component lifetime issues were evaluated. Order of magnitude power throttling was demonstrated using a simplified power-throttling strategy.

Patterson, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Krypton ion thruster performance

Preliminary data were obtained from a 30 cm ion thruster operating on krypton propellant over the input power range of 0.4-5.5 kW. The data are presented, and compared and contrasted to those obtained with xenon propellant over the same input power envelope. Typical krypton thruster efficiency was 70 percent at a specific impulse of approximately 5000 s, with a maximum demonstrated thrust-to-power ratio of approximately 42 mN/kW at 2090 s specific impulse and 1580 watts input power. Critical thruster performance and component lifetime issues were evaluated. Order-of-magnitude power throttling was demonstrated using a simplified power-throttling strategy.

Patterson, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS1991

The NASA/industry design analysis methods for vibrations (DAMVIBS) program - Accomplishments and contributions

A NASA Langley-sponsored rotorcraft structural dynamics program, known as Design Analysis Methods for VIBrationS (DAMVIBS), has been under development since 1984. The objective of this program was to establish the technology base needed by the industry to develop an advanced finite-element-based dynamics design analysis capability for vibrations. Under the program, teams from the four major helicopter manufacturers have formed finite-element models, conducted ground vibration tests, made test/analysis comparisons of both metal and composite airframes, performed 'difficult components' studies on airframes to identify components which need more complete finite-element representation for improved correlation, and evaluated industry codes for computing coupled rotor-airframe vibrations. Studies aimed at establishing the role that structural optimization can play in airframe vibrations design work have also been initiated. Five government/industry meetings were held in connection with these activities during the course of the program. Because the DAMVIBS Program is coming to an end, the fifth meeting included a brief assessment of the program and its benefits to the industry.

Kvaternik, Raymond G.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Hydrogen-Maser/Ruby-Maser/Quartz-Crystal Oscillator

Highly stable oscillator suitable for use as 100-MHz frequency standard consists of 100-MHz hydrogen maser combined with double-phase-locked-loop receiver. Generates 100-MHz signal with reduced noise. Contains 100-MHz voltage-controlled quartz-crystal oscillator (VCO) locked in phase to superconducting-cavity maser oscillator (SCMO). SCMO, locks in phase to hydrogen maser, phase-locking receiver and its SCMO/ VCO combination to hydrogen maser. Aspects of SCMO described in previous reports, including "Performance of Superconducting-Cavity Maser" (NPO-18175), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 15, No. 6. Performances of component oscillators complement each other.

Wang, Rabi T.↗
NASA NTRS1992

MINOTAUR (Maryland's innovative orbital technologically advanced University rocket)

Over the past decade, there has been an increasing interest in designing small commercial launch vehicles. Some of these designs include OSC's Pegasus, and AMROC's Aquila. Even though these vehicles are very different in their overall design characteristics, they all share a common thread of being expensive to design and manufacture. Each of these vehicles has an estimated production and operations cost of over $15000/kg of payload. In response to this high cost factor, the University of Maryland is developing a cost-effective alternative launch vehicle, Maryland's Innovative Orbital Technologically Advanced University Rocket (MINOTAUR). A preliminary cost analysis projects that MINOTAUR will cost under $10000/kg of payload. MINOTAUR will also serve as an enriching project devoted to an entirely student-designed-and-developed launch vehicle. This preliminary design of MINOTAUR was developed entirely by undergraduates in the University of Maryland's Space Vehicle Design class. At the start of the project, certain requirements and priorities were established as a basis from which to begin the design phase: (1) carry a 100 kg payload into a 200 km circular orbit; (2) provide maximum student involvement in the design, manufacturing, and launch phases of the project; and (3) use hybrid propulsion throughout. The following is the list of the project's design priorities (from highest to lowest): (1) safety, (2) cost, (3) minimum development time, (4) maximum use of the off-the-shelf components, (5) performance, and (6) minimum use of pyrotechnics.

Lewis, Mark J.↗