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NASA NTRS2002

Studies on Stress-Strain Relationships of Polymeric Materials Used in Space Applications

A two-year research plan was undertaken in association with Polymers Branch, NASA Glenn Research Center, to carry out experimental and modeling work relating stress and strain behavior of polymeric materials, especially elastomers and vulcanized rubber. An experimental system based on MTS (Mechanical Testing and Simulation) A/T-4 test facility environment has been developed for a broader range of polymeric materials in addition to a design of laser compatible temperature control chamber for online measurements of various strains. Necessary material processing has been accomplished including rubber compounding and thermoplastic elastomer processing via injection molding. A broad suite of testing methodologies has been identified to reveal the complex non-linear mechanical behaviors of rubbery materials when subjected to complex modes of deformation. This suite of tests required the conceptualization, design and development of new specimen geometries, test fixtures, and test systems including development of a new laser based technique to measure large multi-axial deformations. Test data has been generated for some of these new fixtures and has revealed some complex coupling effects generated during multi-axial deformations. In addition, fundamental research has been conducted concerning the foundation principles of rubber thermodynamics and resulting theories of rubber elasticity. Studies have been completed on morphological properties of several thermoplastic elastomers. Finally, a series of steps have been identified to further advance the goals of NASA's ongoing effort.

Jana, Sadhan C.↗

NASA NTRS2010

Airborne and Ground-Based Measurements Using a High-Performance Raman Lidar

A high-performance Raman lidar operating in the UV portion of the spectrum has been used to acquire, for the first time using a single lidar, simultaneous airborne profiles of the water vapor mixing ratio, aerosol backscatter, aerosol extinction, aerosol depolarization and research mode measurements of cloud liquid water, cloud droplet radius, and number density. The Raman Airborne Spectroscopic Lidar (RASL) system was installed in a Beechcraft King Air B200 aircraft and was flown over the mid-Atlantic United States during July August 2007 at altitudes ranging between 5 and 8 km. During these flights, despite suboptimal laser performance and subaperture use of the telescope, all RASL measurement expectations were met, except that of aerosol extinction. Following the Water Vapor Validation Experiment Satellite/Sondes (WAVES_2007) field campaign in the summer of 2007, RASL was installed in a mobile trailer for groundbased use during the Measurements of Humidity and Validation Experiment (MOHAVE-II) field campaign held during October 2007 at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory s Table Mountain Facility in southern California. This ground-based configuration of the lidar hardware is called Atmospheric Lidar for Validation, Interagency Collaboration and Education (ALVICE). During theMOHAVE-II field campaign, during which only nighttime measurements were made, ALVICE demonstrated significant sensitivity to lower-stratospheric water vapor. Numerical simulation and comparisons with a cryogenic frost-point hygrometer are used to demonstrate that a system with the performance characteristics of RASL ALVICE should indeed be able to quantify water vapor well into the lower stratosphere with extended averaging from an elevated location like Table Mountain. The same design considerations that optimize Raman lidar for airborne use on a small research aircraft are, therefore, shown to yield significant dividends in the quantification of lower-stratospheric water vapor. The MOHAVE-II measurements, along with numerical simulation, were used to determine that the likely reason for the suboptimal airborne aerosol extinction performance during theWAVES_2007 campaign was amisaligned interference filter. With full laser power and a properly tuned interference filter,RASL is shown to be capable ofmeasuring themain water vapor and aerosol parameters with temporal resolutions of between 2 and 45 s and spatial resolutions ranging from 30 to 330 m from a flight altitude of 8 km with precision of generally less than 10%, providing performance that is competitive with some airborne Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) water vapor and High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) aerosol instruments. The use of diode-pumped laser technology would improve the performance of an airborne Raman lidar and permit additional instrumentation to be carried on board a small research aircraft. The combined airborne and ground-based measurements presented here demonstrate a level of versatility in Raman lidar that may be impossible to duplicate with any other single lidar technique.

Whiteman, David N.↗

NASA NTRS2018

Analysis of the Two-Level NO PLIF Model for Low-Temperature High-Speed Flow Applications

The current work compares experimentally obtained nitric oxide (NO) laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectra with the equivalent spectra obtained analytically. The experimental spectra are computed from captured images of fluorescence in a gas cell and from a laser sheet passing through the fuel-air mixing flowfield produced by a high-speed fuel injector. The fuel injector is a slender strut that is currently being studied as a part of the Enhanced Injection and Mixing Project (EIMP) at the NASA Langley Research Center. This injector is placed downstream of a Mach 6 facility nozzle, which simulates the high Mach number airflow at the entrance of a scramjet combustor, and injects helium, which is used as an inert substitute for hydrogen fuel. Experimental planar (P) LIF is obtained by using a UV laser to excite fluorescence from the NO molecules that are present in either a gas cell or the facility air used for the EIMP experiments. The experimental data are obtained for several segments of the NO fluorescence spectrum. The selected segments encompass LIF lines with rotational quantum numbers appropriate for low-to-moderate temperature flows similar to those corresponding to the nominal experimental flow conditions. The experimental LIF spectra are then evaluated from the data and compared with those obtained from the theoretical models. The theoretical spectra are obtained from LIFBASE and LINUS software, and from a simplified version of the two-level fluorescence model. The equivalent analytic PLIF images are also obtained by applying only the simplified model to the results of the Reynolds-averaged simulations (RAS) of the mixing flowfield. Good agreement between the experimental and theoretical results provides increased confidence in both the simplified LIF modeling and CFD simulations for further investigations of high-speed injector performance using this approach.

Drozda, Tomasz G.↗

NASA NTRS2018

Analysis of the Two-Level NO PLIF Model for Low-Temperature High-Speed Flow Applications

Tomasz G Drozda↗

NASA NTRS2012

NASA Tech Briefs, June 2012

Topics covered include: iGlobe Interactive Visualization and Analysis of Spatial Data; Broad-Bandwidth FPGA-Based Digital Polyphase Spectrometer; Small Aircraft Data Distribution System; Earth Science Datacasting v2.0; Algorithm for Compressing Time-Series Data; Onboard Science and Applications Algorithm for Hyperspectral Data Reduction; Sampling Technique for Robust Odorant Detection Based on MIT RealNose Data; Security Data Warehouse Application; Integrated Laser Characterization, Data Acquisition, and Command and Control Test System; Radiation-Hard SpaceWire/Gigabit Ethernet-Compatible Transponder; Hardware Implementation of Lossless Adaptive Compression of Data From a Hyperspectral Imager; High-Voltage, Low-Power BNC Feedthrough Terminator; SpaceCube Mini; Dichroic Filter for Separating W-Band and Ka-Band; Active Mirror Predictive and Requirement Verification Software (AMP-ReVS); Navigation/Prop Software Suite; Personal Computer Transport Analysis Program; Pressure Ratio to Thermal Environments; Probabilistic Fatigue Damage Program (FATIG); ASCENT Program; JPL Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) Portal; Data::Downloader; Fault Tolerance Middleware for a Multi-Core System; DspaceOgreTerrain 3D Terrain Visualization Tool; Trick Simulation Environment 07; Geometric Reasoning for Automated Planning; Water Detection Based on Color Variation; Single-Layer, All-Metal Patch Antenna Element with Wide Bandwidth; Scanning Laser Infrared Molecular Spectrometer (SLIMS); Next-Generation Microshutter Arrays for Large-Format Imaging and Spectroscopy; Detection of Carbon Monoxide Using Polymer-Composite Films with a Porphyrin-Functionalized Polypyrrole; Enhanced-Adhesion Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on Titanium Substrates for Stray Light Control; Three-Dimensional Porous Particles Composed of Curved, Two-Dimensional, Nano-Sized Layers for Li-Ion Batteries 23 Ultra-Lightweight; and Ultra-Lightweight Nanocomposite Foams and Sandwich Structures for Space Structure Applications.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS2012

Kinetic and Potential Sputtering Enhancements of Lunar Regolith Erosion: The Contribution of the Heavy Multicharged (Minority) Solar Wind Constituents

We report preliminary results for H+, Ar+1, Ar+6 and Ar+9 ion sputtering of JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant at solar wind velocities, obtain ed at the ORNL Multicharged Ion Research Facility using quadrupole ma ss spectrometry. The multi-charged Ar ions were used as proxies for i ntermediate mass solar wind multicharged ions. Prior to the Ar beam e xposures, the sample was exposed to high fluence H+ irradiation to si mulate H-loading due to the dominant solar wind constituent. A x80 en hancement of oxygen sputtering by Ar+ over same velocity H+ was measu red and an additional x2 increase for Ar+9 over same velocity Ar+ was demonstrated, giving clear evidence of the importance of potential s puttering by multicharged ions. This enhancement was observed to pers ist to the maximum fluences investigated (approx 10(exp 16)/sq cm). As discussed in a companion abstract by N. Barghouty, such persistent s puttering enhancement has significant implications on weathering and aging of lunar regolith. In addition, XPS measurements showed strong evidence of Fe reduction for those target areas that had been exposed to high fluence Ar+ and Ar+8 beams. Preferential oxidation of the Fe -reduced beam-exposed regions during transfer to the XPS system led t o enhanced O concentrations in those regions as well. On the basis of these very promising preliminary results, a NASA-LASER project on mo re extensive measurements was recently selected for funding. The prop osal expands the collaboration with NASA-MSFC for the simulation effort, and adds a new collaboration with NASA-GSFC for lunar mission-rele vant measurements.

Meyer, F. W.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Application of Laser Induced Fluorescence for flow diagnostics in arc jets

Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) studies are carried out on copper atoms, nitric oxide and oxygen molecules in the arc jet flows at the NASA Johnson Space Center Reentry Simulation Testing Facility. Measurements are taken in the free stream and from a blunt body shock layer. Tests are performed under different flow conditions to determine the feasibility and sensitivity of the LIF technique for various species. The LIF technique is developed as a part of high enthalpy flow diagnostics and will be useful to elucidate the rotational and vibrational temperatures. Adequate sensitivity for the detection of O2 and NO is demonstrated. Preliminary experiments for temperature and velocity measurements using copper as a tracer material are shown to be a useful new application of the laser resonant Doppler scattering technique.

Arepalli, Sivaram↗

NASA NTRS1972

Performance evaluation of the two-inch return-beam vidicon three-camera subsystem.

A very-high resolution multispectral television camera system is being developed for NASA for use on the Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS) program. There are three cameras in the system, each viewing the same area but operating in the blue-green, red and near-infrared spectral bands. In the laboratory the cameras' limiting resolution is 4500 TV lines over the 25 x 25-mm image format of the Return Beam Vidicon (RBV). Analysis of typical ERTS scenes shows that actual contrast ratios will be much lower than those of laboratory test targets. A model was developed to predict the resolving power performance of the RBV camera under realistic conditions. The methods used are applicable to all types of imaging systems. To verify the model, tests were conducted using the RBV camera, a laser-beam image reproducer and a series of AF tribar test patterns of known values of contrast. As a more graphic demonstration, simulated multispectral images were generated using color-IR photographs from Apollo 9.

Miller, B. P.↗

NASA NTRS1972

High resolution multispectral camera system for ERTS A & B.

A very-high resolution multispectral television camera system is being developed for use on the earth resources technology satellite (ERTS) program. There are three cameras in the system, each viewing the same area but operating in the blue-green, red, and near-infrared spectral bands. In the laboratory the cameras' limiting resolution is 4500 TV lines over the 25 + 25-mm image format of the return beam vidicon (RBV). A model was developed to predict the resolving power performance of the RBV camera under realistic conditions. To verify the model, tests were conducted using the RBV camera, a laser-beam image reproducer and a series of AF tribar test patterns of known values of contrast. As a more graphic demonstration, simulated multispectral images were generated using color-IR photographs from Apollo 9. The measured signal-to-noise, resolution, and spectral characteristics of the ERTS Flight A and Flight B three-camera systems are presented in conclusion.

Miller, B. P.↗

NASA NTRS1973

High resolution multispectral camera system for ERTS A & B

A very high resolution multispectral television camera system has been developed for NASA for use on the Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS) program. There are three cameras in the system, each viewing the same area but operating in the blue-green, red, and near-infrared spectral bands. In the laboratory the cameras' limiting resolution is 4500 TV lines over the 25 x 25-mm image format of the Return Beam Vidicon (RBV). Analysis of typical ERTS scenes shows that actual contrast ratios will be much lower than those of laboratory test targets. A model was developed to predict the resolving power performance of the RBV camera under realistic conditions. To verify the model, tests were conducted using the RBV camera, a laser-beam image reproducer and a series of AF tribar test patterns of known values of contrast. As a more graphic demonstration, simulated multispectral images were generated using color-IR photographs from Apollo 9. The measured signal-to-noise, resolution, and spectral characteristics of the ERTS Flight A and Flight B three-camera systems are presented in conclusion.

Miller, B. P.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Correction of atmospheric distortion with an image-sharpening telescope

A 30 x 5 cm aperture telescope employing six movable mirrors to compensate for atmospherically induced phase distortion is built and tested. A feedback system adjusts the mirrors in real time to maximize the intensity of light passing through a narrow slit in the image plane. Essentially diffraction-limited performance is achieved when imaging both laser and white-light objects through 250 m of turbulent atmosphere. The behavior of the telescope is accurately predicted by computer simulations. The system has yet to achieve its full potential, but has already operated successfully for objects as dim as 5th magnitude.

Buffington, A.↗

NASA NTRS1980

A comprehensive comparison between experiment and prediction for a transonic turbulent separated flow

Attempts to predict surface pressure distributions on lifting surfaces have been relatively unsuccessful in the transonic regime when the shock wave is of sufficient strength to produce an extensive region of turbulent separated flow. For these conditions, the viscous flow behavior must be accurately described even to obtain reasonable predictions of surface pressure. The present paper addresses this problem. Detailed comparisons between prediction and experiment are made for a transonic, turbulent boundary-layer separation (freestream Mach number = 0.875) for which the turbulent flow properties (including the turbulent Reynolds stress) had been measured by the laser velocimeter technique from upstream of the separated region through reattachment. The flow was generated on an axisymmetric 'bump' model designed to simulate the flow on an airfoil at transonic conditions. The numerical methods used in the comparisons include the solution of the time-dependent, mass-averaged Navier-Stokes equations, and the solution of the compressible boundary-layer equations by the inverse method. Solutions were obtained for the well established Cebeci-Smith algebraic turbulence model and the more recently developed Wilcox-Rubesin two-equation turbulence model.

Johnson, D. A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A laser-induced-fluorescence visualization study of transverse, sonic fuel injection in a nonreacting supersonic combustor

The present paper reports work which has been conducted in the first phase of a research program which is to provide a data base of spatially-resolved measurements in nonreacting supersonic combustors. In the measurements, a nonintrusive diagnostic technique based on the utilization of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is employed. The reported work had the objective to conduct LIF visualization studies of the injection of a simulated fuel into a Mach 2.07 airstream for comparison with corresponding numerical calculations. Attention is given to injection from a single orifice into a constant-area duct, injection from a single orifice behind a rearward-facing step, and injection from staged orifices behind a rearward-facing step.

Mcdaniel, J. C.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Development and application of unified algorithms for problems in computational science

A framework is presented for developing computationally unified numerical algorithms for solving nonlinear equations that arise in modeling various problems in mathematical physics. The concept of computational unification is an attempt to encompass efficient solution procedures for computing various nonlinear phenomena that may occur in a given problem. For example, in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), a unified algorithm will be one that allows for solutions to subsonic (elliptic), transonic (mixed elliptic-hyperbolic), and supersonic (hyperbolic) flows for both steady and unsteady problems. The objectives are: development of superior unified algorithms emphasizing accuracy and efficiency aspects; development of codes based on selected algorithms leading to validation; application of mature codes to realistic problems; and extension/application of CFD-based algorithms to problems in other areas of mathematical physics. The ultimate objective is to achieve integration of multidisciplinary technologies to enhance synergism in the design process through computational simulation. Specific unified algorithms for a hierarchy of gas dynamics equations and their applications to two other areas: electromagnetic scattering, and laser-materials interaction accounting for melting.

Shankar, Vijaya↗

NASA NTRS1986

Beam profile measurement of a solar-pumped iodine laser

Beam profile measurements have been made as a function of time within the laser pulse and C2F5I pressure. Measurements indicate that the profile is determined directly by the optical excitation volume, produced by the solar simulator, and that media distortion plays a minor role compared to the build up of quenching species during the lasing pulse.

De Young, Russell J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Beam rider for an Articulated Robot Manipulator (ARM) accurate positioning of long flexible manipulators

Laser beam positioning and beam rider modules were incorporated into the long hollow flexible segment of an articulated robot manipulator (ARM). Using a single laser beam, the system determined the position of the distal ARM endtip, with millimetric precision, in six degrees of freedom, at distances of up to 10 meters. Preliminary designs, using space rated technology for the critical systems, of a two segmented physical ARM, with a single and a dual degree of freedom articulation, were developed, prototyped, and tested. To control the positioning of the physical ARM, an indirect adaptive controller, which used the mismatch between the position of the laser beam under static and dynamic conditions, was devised. To predict the behavior of the system and test the concept, a computer simulation model was constructed. A hierarchical artificially intelligent real time ADA operating system program structure was created. The software was designed for implementation on a dedicated VME bus based Intel 80386 administered parallel processing multi-tasking computer system.

Malachowski, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS2003

LISA Optics Model: Early Results

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) optics model is used to generate a synthetic data stream in the absence of gravitational waves. The simulation has the spacecraft in moving in their respective Keplerian orbits. The pointing of the spacecraft and station keeping about the proof masses is accomplished using a control scheme, which minimizes the disturbance on the proof masses in the sensitive direction. The resulting data stream gives an indication of the magnitude of instrumental noise due to pointing jitter and motions of the spacecraft with respect to the proof masses. Computational details are presented and the results discussed.

Waluschka, Eugene↗

NASA NTRS2003

Significance of Compressor Blade Row Interactions on Loss Production Investigated

The performance of compressors and the sophistication of analysis tools have reached a level such that less well understood flow mechanisms are gaining importance to designers. In current design systems, the effect on performance of many of these mechanisms, such as blade row interactions, is not typically addressed rigorously. A detailed set of Laser Doppler Velocimetry data was used to confirm the fidelity of an unsteady model of a transonic compressor stage (rotor-stator) simulated with the TURBO unsteady multistage turbomachinery solver. The kinematics of the velocity field were accurately simulated, and the unsteady simulation was then used to assess changes in loss production due to unsteady blade-row-interaction mechanisms. This work was done at the NASA Glenn Research Center in support of the Ultra-Efficient Engine Technology Program.

VanZante, Dale e.↗