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At least 613 records · Page 34

Analysis of the gas-lubricated flat-sector-pad thrust bearing

A flat sector-shaped pad geometry for a gas-lubricated thrust bearing is analyzed considering both the pitch and roll of the pad. It is shown that maximum load capacity is achieved when the pad is tilted so as to create uniform minimum film thickness along the pad trailing edge. Performance characteristics for various geometries and operating conditions of gas thrust bearings are presented in the form of design curves, and a comparison is made with the rectangular slider approximation. It is found that this approximation is unsafe for practical design, since it always overestimates load capacity.

Etsion, I.↗

Proposed powered explicit guidance thrust integrals derivation/implementation. Mission planning, mission analysis and software formulation

A new exoatmospheric, powered explicit guidance (PEG) thrust integral formulation and a simple method of implementation are presented. The new thrust integral formulation is significantly simpler than that currently used in PEG. Preliminary estimates indicate a computer storage savings of 220 words, which is approximately 10 percent of the current PEG ascent program. Alternate methods of implementation that could produce even more savings are noted.

Jaggers, R. F.↗

Charged particle measurements on a 30-CM diameter mercury ion engine thrust beam

Measurements of both thrust ions and charge exchange ions were made in the beam of a 30 centimeter diameter electron bombardment mercury ion thruster. A qualitative model is presented which describes magnitudes of charge exchange ion formation and motions of these ions in the weak electric field structure of the neutralized thrust beam plasma. Areas of agreement and discrepancy between observed and modeled charge exchange properties are discussed.

Sellen, J. M., Jr.↗

Limited variance control in statistical low thrust guidance analysis

Difficulties arise in guiding a solar electric propulsion spacecraft due to nongravitational accelerations caused by random fluctuations in the magnitude and direction of the thrust vector. These difficulties may be handled by using a low thrust guidance law based on the linear-quadratic-Gaussian problem of stochastic control theory with a minimum terminal miss performance criterion. Explicit constraints are imposed on the variances of the control parameters, and an algorithm based on the Hilbert space extension of a parameter optimization method is presented for calculation of gains in the guidance law. The terminal navigation of a 1980 flyby mission to the comet Encke is used as an example.

Jacobson, R. A.↗

Minimum-fuel rocket trajectories involving intermediate-thrust arcs

The optimal trajectories in the neighborhood of an optimal intermediate-thrust arc are investigated for the minimum-fuel orbit rendezvous problem with fixed specific impulse. Since such an arc is singular, the thrust acceleration magnitude being the singular control component, a second-variation analysis leads to the identification of a field of neighboring, singular arcs in a state space of dimension four rather than six, provided that a suitable Jacobi condition is met. A given neighboring initial six-dimensional state vector does not generally lie on a neighboring singular arc, and junction onto the appropriate singular arc must be accomplished by a short period of strong variations in the acceleration. The neighboring singular arc meets the final condition in 4 dimensions, rather than 6 dimensions, and rendezvous must be completed by another, terminal short period of strong variations in the acceleration. Implications for midcourse guidance near a singular arc are discussed.

Breakwell, J. V.↗

Modular thrust subsystem approaches to solar electric propulsion module design

Three approaches are presented for packaging the elements of a 30 cm ion thruster subsystem into a modular thrust subsystem. The individual modules, when integrated into a conceptual solar electric propulsion module are applicable to a multimission set of interplanetary flights with the space shuttle interim upper stage as the launch vehicle. The emphasis is on the structural and thermal integration of the components into the modular thrust subsystems. Thermal control for the power processing units is either by direct radiation through louvers in combination with heat pipes or an all heat pipe system. The propellant storage and feed system and thruster gimbal system concepts are presented. The three approaches are compared on the basis of mass, cost, testing, interfaces, simplicity, reliability, and maintainability.

Cake, J. E.↗

Development of sputtered high temperature coatings for thrust chambers

Adherent insulating coatings were developed for thrust chamber service. The coatings consisted of nickel and a ceramic, and were graded in composition from pure nickel at the thrust chamber wall to pure ceramic at the coating surface. The coatings were deposited by rf sputtering from a target with a reversed composition gradient, which was produced by plasma spraying powder mixtures. The effect of deposition parameters on coating characteristics and adherence is discussed.

Busch, R.↗

Dynamics of high-bypass-engine thrust reversal using a variable-pitch fan

The test program demonstrated that successful and rapid forward-to reverse-thrust transients can be performed without any significant engine operational limitations for fan blade pitch changes through either feather pitch or flat pitch. For through-feather-pitch operation with a flight inlet, fan stall problems were encountered, and a fan blade overshoot technique was used to establish reverse thrust.

Schaefer, J. W.↗

Thrust augmentor application for STOL and V/STOL

A general parametric description is suggested for thrust augmentor application to STOL and V/STOL aircraft. The parameters and their relationships are discussed using several aircraft augmentor integration problems. For a STOL transport design, the ram drag is a key consideration, limiting the maximum gross augmentation that can be utilized. Maximizing gross augmentation and balancing the aircraft are key considerations for a V/STOL fighter design. Results from wind tunnel investigations on several different thrust augmentor concepts and system studies on STOL transport designs are also included.

Aiken, T. N.↗

Low speed aerodynamic characteristics of a vectored thrust V/STOL transport with two lift/cruise fans

A wind tunnel test was conducted to obtain power on low speed characteristics of a twin fan vectored thrust V/STOL transport aircraft. Longitudinal, as well as some lateral directional data, were analyzed. Hover, STOL, and conventional flight modes were investigated. Determination of STOL characteristics, hover characteristics, roll control effectiveness and aircraft attitude were evaluated. The study also included various means to improve the lifting capability of the aircraft such as by application of fuselage strakes, exhaust vanes capable of shifting the thrust vector aft, and external flap blowing for STOL performance.

Renselaer, D. J.↗

Experimental evaluation of foil-supported resilient-pad gas-lubricated thrust bearing

A new type of resilient-pad gas thrust bearing was tested to determine the feasibility of the design. The bearing consists of carbon graphite pads mounted asymmetrically on foil beams. Two bearing configurations were tested at thrust loads from 27 to 80 newtons at speeds to 9000 rpm. The outside diameter of the bearing was 8.9 centimeters.

Nemeth, Z. N.↗

Modular thrust subsystem approaches to solar electric propulsion module design

Three approaches are presented for packaging the elements of a 30 cm ion thrustor subsystem into a modular thrust subsystem. The individual modules, when integrated into a conceptual solar electric propulsion module are applicable to a multimission set of interplanetary flights with the Space Shuttle/Interim Upper Stage as the launch vehicle. The emphasis is on the structural and thermal integration of the components into the modular thrust subsystems. Thermal control for the power processing units is either by direct radiation through louvers in combination with heat pipes of an all heat pipe system. The propellant storage and feed system and thrustor gimbal system concepts are presented. The three approaches are compared on the basis of mass, cost, testing, interfaces, simplicity, reliability, and maintainability.

Cake, J. E.↗

An accurate solution of the gas lubricated, flat sector thrust bearing

A flat sector shaped pad geometry for gas lubricated thrust bearings is analyzed considering both pitch and roll angles of the pad and the true film thickness distribution. Maximum load capacity is achieved when the pad is tilted so as to create a uniform minimum film thickness along the pad trailing edge. Performance characteristics for various geometries and operating conditions of gas thrust bearings are presented in the form of design curves. A comparison is made with the rectangular slider approximation. It is found that this approximation is unsafe for practical design, since it always overestimates load capacity.

Etsion, I.↗

Effects of deflected thrust on the stability and performance characteristics of a close-coupled canard fighter configuration

The effect of deflected thrust on the stability and performance of a close-coupled canard fighter configuration are presented. These results were obtained at low speeds in the Langley V/STOL tunnel. Transonic as well as low-speed results are also presented for an unpowered close-coupled canard and a supercruiser configuration. The V/STOL tunnel data indicate an increase in maximum lift and reductions in drag due to lift with the addition of two-dimensional vectored thrust at the wing inboard trailing edge. The longitudinal pitchup associated with the unpowered configuration at higher angles of attack was significantly reduced with power.

Thomas, J. L.↗

Dynamics of gas-thrust bearings

Computer program calculates load coefficients, up to third harmonic, for hydrostatic gas thrust bearings. Program is useful in identification of industrial situations where gas-thrust bearings have potential applications.

Stiffler, A. K.↗

Effects of deflected thrust on the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of a close-coupled wing-canard configuration

The effects of power on the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of a close-coupled wing-canard fighter configuration with partial-span rectangular nozzles at the trailing edge of the wing were investigated. Data were obtained on a basic wing-strake configuration for nozzle and flap deflections from 0 deg to 30 deg and for nominal thrust coefficients from 0 to 0.30. The model was tested over an angle-of-attack range from -2 deg to 40 deg at Mach numbers of 0.15 and 0.18. Results show substantial improvements in lift-curve slope, in maximum lift, and in drag-due-to-lift efficiency when the canard and strakes have been added to the basic wing-fuselage (wing-alone) configuration. Addition of power increased both lift-curve slope and maximum lift, improved longitudinal stability, and reduced drag due to lift on both the wing-canard and wing-canard-strake configurations. These beneficial effects are primarily derived from boundary-layer control due to moderate thrust coefficients which delay flow separation on the nozzle and inboard portion of the wing flaps.

Yip, L. P.↗

Variable thrust nozzle for quiet turbofan engine and method of operating same

An improved method of operating a gas turbine engine is presented wherein engine-generated noise is maintained at a reduced level during reduced thrust operation. Fan speed was maintained at a constant level while fan nozzle area was increased. This maintained high inlet Mach numbers for reduced forward noise propagation and also permited reduced nozzle exhaust velocity for reduced shear noise. In another embodiment, airflow was increased by means of a fan blade pitch change or speed increase while the fan nozzle area was increased, yielding both a net reduction in engine thrust and noise.

Adamson, A. P.↗

Solid rocket booster thrust vector control subsystem test report (D-1)

The results of the sequence of tests performed on the space shuttle solid rocket booster thrust vector control subsystem are presented. The operational characteristics of the thrust vector control subsystem components, as determined from the tests, are discussed. Special analyses of fuel consumption, basic steady state characteristics, GN2 spin, and actuator displacement were reviewed which will aid in understanding the performance of the auxiliary power unit. The possibility of components malfunction is also discussed.

Pagan, B.↗