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At least 667 records · Page 37
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1972

Definition of spectrally separable classes for soil survey research

A procedure is outlined for defining spectral classes such that the differences between classes can be quantified. It also facilitates determination of a number of classes such that the classes are spectrally discriminable. This is accomplished by partitioning the data into many classes and then combining similar spectral classes on the basis of appropriate criteria. Multispectral data were collected over a 12-mile flightline in White County, Indiana, in connection with the 1971 Corn Blight Watch Experiment. Data were collected in May by the University of Michigan airborne scanning spectrometer at an altitude of 5000 feet. Spectral maps resulting from the analysis were compared to existing soil surveys of the National Cooperative Soil Survey. The method should help determine the extent to which spectral properties of soil surfaces can be associated with morphologic and topographic differences of interest to soil surveyors engaged in operational soil mapping.

Cipra, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Effect of a reduction in blade thickness on performance of a single stage 20.32 centimeter mean diameter turbine

As part of a program to reduce the manufacturing costs of a small gas-turbine engine, the turbine blading was reduced in thickness to facilitate coining. Tests were made to determine the effect of this modification on turbine performance. The working fluid was air at nominal inlet total conditions of 535 deg F and 20.0 psia. Performance results are presented and compared for four stator-rotor combinations in terms of equivalent torque, mass flow, and efficiency at equivalent design speed and at inlet-total to exit-static pressure ratios of 1.8 to 3.8

Nusbaum, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Applicability of ERTS-1 to Montana geology

The author has identified the following significant results. Geologic maps of four test sites were compiled at 1/250,000. Band 7 prints enlarged to 1/500,000 scale are the best for the purpose, and negative prints provide a valuable supplement. More than 100 mapped lineaments represent most of the major faults of the area and a large number of suspected faults, including many of northeast trend. Under ideal conditions dip slopes may be recognized, laccoliths outlined, and axial traces drawn for narrow, plunging folds. Use of ERTS-1 imagery will greatly facilitate construction of a needed tectonic map of Montana. From ERTS-1 imagery alone, it was possible to identify up-turned undivided Paleozoic and Mesozoic strata and to map the boundaries of mountain glaciation, intermontane basins, a volcanic field, and an area of granitic rocks. It was also possible to outline clay pans associated with bentonite. However, widespread recognition of gross rock types will be difficult.

Weidman, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Development of automatic through-insulation welding for microelectric interconnections

The capability to automatically route, remove insulation from, and weld small-diameter solid conductor wire is presented. This would facilitate the economical small-quantity production of complex miniature electronic assemblies. An engineering model of equipment having this capability was developed and evaluated. Whereas early work in the use of welded magnet wire interconnections was concentrated on opposed electrode systems, and generally used heat to melt the wire insulation, the present method is based on a concentric electrode system and a wire feed system which splits the insulation by application of pressure prior to welding. The work deals with the design, fabrication, and evaluation testing of an improved version of this concentric electrode system. Two different approaches to feeding the wire to the concentric electrodes were investigated. It was concluded that the process is feasible for the interconnection of complex miniature electronic assemblies.

Arnett, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Estimating Weibull parameters for materials

The statistical analysis of strength and fracture of materials in general, with application to fiber composites are discussed. The weakest link model is considered in a fairly general form, and the resulting equations are demonstrated by using a Weibull distribution for flaws. This distribution appears naturally in a variety of problems, and therefore additional attention is devoted to analysis and statistical estimation connected with this distribution. Special working charts are included to facilitate interpretation of observed data and estimation of parameters. Implications of the size effect are considered for various kinds of flaw distributions. Failure and damage in a fiber-reinforced system are described. Some useful graphs are included for predicting the strength of such a system. Recent data on organic-fiber (PRD 49) composite material is analyzed by the Weibull distribution with the methods presented.

Robinson, E. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1970

Automatic editing of manuals

The documentation problem is discussed that arises in getting all the many items included in a computer program prepared in a timely fashion and keeping them all correct and mutually consistent during the life of the program. The proposed approach to the problem is to collect all the necessary information into a single document, which is maintained with computer assistance during the life of the program and from which the required subdocuments can be extracted as desired. Implementation of this approach requires a package of programs for computer editorial assistance and is facilitated by certain programming practices that are discussed.

Rich, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Growth and decline of vegetation on mine dumps

The author has identified the following significant results. The main objective is to determine the extent to which can be used to differentiate between mine dumps having varying degrees of vegetative cover. At this stage it is clear that the various mine dumps can be located and identified. Differences in vegetative cover can be seen and measured. Patterns of vegetative growth, some characteristic to particular dumps, can also be seen. It is therefore tentatively concluded that mine dumps can be differentiated with respect to their vegetative cover on the imagery received to date, and this is reported as a significant result. Subsequent imagery showing seasonal variations should facilitate this program. In addition to work on the mine dumps, a photogeological project has been initiated on geotectonics of South Africa. Studies of ERTS-1 images has indicated that major structures (faults, folds, and linear features) associated with the three geotectonic environments can be identified. In addition, major as well as relatively minor stratigraphic subdivisions can be recognized by their color tones. Results obtained warrant continuation of this study using color composite prints enlarged to a scale of 1:500,000.

Gilbertson, B. P.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Central Atlantic Regional Ecological Test Site (CARETS): A prototype regional environmental information system

The author has identified the following significant results. Accomplishments have included: (1) completion of the research design for the USGS/CARETS demonstration project; (2) preparation of photomossics and land use maps at a scale of 1:100,000 for entire area; (3) demonstration of the feasibility of extracting several categories of land use information from ERTS-1 MSS data for a portion of the CARETS region; (4) demonstration of the feasibility of detecting some significant land use changes on ERTS-1 imagery; (5) demonstration of the feasibility of attaching environmental impact significance to the remote sensor-derived land use data; (6) delivery of land use information derived from high altitude aircraft data to the Maryland state planning agency for use in its statewide land use inventory; (7) demonstration of high interest by other use groups in the test region in products and services provided by investigation; and (8) determination of the viability of setting up a computerized geographic information system as part of the CARETS investigation, to facilitate handling of sensor-derived land use data in a variety of formats to suit user requirements.

Alexander, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Automated thematic mapping and change detection of ERTS-1 images, part A

The author has identified the following significant results. Automatic and accurate image processing techniques are essential to full utilization of ERTS-1 photography. In pursuit of this, terrain types in the ERTS-1 photography will be classified by spatial signatures. Diffraction patterns from selected ERTS-1 images have been developed optically and are being analyzed to identify unique signatures for various terrain types. Spatial signatures have been definitely identified for cultivated land and certain urban areas. A Fourier plane mask has been developed that greatly facilitates the analysis of the diffraction patterns.

Gramenopoulos, N.↗
NASA NTRS1973

The Mesa Arizona Pupil Tracking System

A computer-based Pupil Tracking/Teacher Monitoring System was designed for Mesa Public Schools, Mesa, Arizona. The established objectives of the system were to: (1) facilitate the economical collection and storage of student performance data necessary to objectively evaluate the relative effectiveness of teachers, instructional methods, materials, and applied concepts; and (2) identify, on a daily basis, those students requiring special attention in specific subject areas. The system encompasses computer hardware/software and integrated curricula progression/administration devices. It provides daily evaluation and monitoring of performance as students progress at class or individualized rates. In the process, it notifies the student and collects information necessary to validate or invalidate subject presentation devices, methods, materials, and measurement devices in terms of direct benefit to the students. The system utilizes a small-scale computer (e.g., IBM 1130) to assure low-cost replicability, and may be used for many subjects of instruction.

Wright, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Design, construction and evaluation of a 12.2 GHz, 4.0 kW-CW coupled-cavity traveling wave tube

An analytical and experimental program to study design techniques and to utilize these techniques to optimize the performance of an X-band 4 kW, CW traveling wave tube ultimately intended for satellite-borne television broadcast transmitters is described. The design is based on the coupled-cavity slow-wave circuit with velocity resynchronization to maximize the conversion efficiency. The design incorporates a collector which is demountable from the tube. This was done to facilitate multistage depressed collector experiments employing a NASA designed axisymmetric, electrostatic collector for linear beam microwave tubes after shipment of the tubes to NASA.

Ayers, W. R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Evaluation of compressible-flow Preston tube calibrations

An experimental and analytical study has been made of the accuracy of various Preston tube calibration equations to determine local skin friction in two-dimensional supersonic and low-hypersonic flows. Experimental Preston tube calibration data from the present and previous studies were used to evaluate the calibration equations. The maximum value of the calibration parameters of the present data is more than an order of magnitude larger than that previously obtained; thereby, the evaluation of the various calibration equations is facilitated. The Preston tube technique was found to be very inaccurate in the low range of the calibration parameters. Above this range, there was a steady increase in accuracy with increasing values of the calibration parameters. No critical maximum tube diameter was found even with tubes about twice as large as the theoretical maximum allowable diameter. Of the two forms of the calibration equation previously existing, the logarithmic laws gave more accurate results than the power laws over an extended range of the calibration parameters in supersonic adiabatic flow.

Allen, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1972

CJ concept for advanced aircraft wiring

The techniques and hardware are described which were developed for facilitating the use of flexible flat conductor cable (FFCC) in commercial air transports. The system was designed as an evolutionary transition from the current round wire harnessing to the use of FFCC harnesses. The equipment discussed includes the pressure crimp barrel designed for terminating FFCC, reel-fed applicator, cable connectors and adaptors, and equipment racks.

Redslob, J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

A movable mass control system to detumble a disabled space vehicle

An internal autonomous control system to either completely detumble a spacecraft or lessen the tumbling motions until the rescue craft arrives is discussed. Such a device would become active upon loss of control. The development of a movable mass control system to convert the tumbling motions of a disabled vehicle into simple spin is presented. A simple spin state would greatly facilitate crew evacuation and final despinning by an external means. The system moves a control mass, according to a selected control law, in the acceleration environment created by the tumbling motion. By moving the mass properly, the rotational kinetic energy of the system may be increased or decreased creating simple spin states about the minimum or maximum moment of inertia axis, respectively. The control system is designed for the latter case due to its associated stability in the presence of perturbing forces.

Edwards, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Utilization of ERTS data to detect plant diseases and nutrient deficiencies, soil types and moisture levels

The author has identified the following significant results. Findings demonstrate the feasibility of delineating major terrain features, land uses, and crop species through computerized analyses. Channel 6 appears to give the most information for making separations of this type. By enlarging satellite imagery and visually comparing this with high altitude aerial photographs, locating small terrain features and cropland areas on satellite imagery is greatly facilitated. Forest types are discernable on the 2402 imagery with a #25 filter: pine stands have dark tones, hardwood stands have light tones, and pine-hardwood have intermediate tones. No textural differences are evident on this type of imagery. However, on the 2424 imagery with #89B filter, textural differences are evident but tonal differences are absent. Areas of considerable texture are interpreted as stands of high volume while areas of suppressed texture are of low volume. The 2402 imagery with a #57 filter appears to have little information of importance in timber inventory.

Parks, W. L.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Development of beryllium honeycomb sandwich composite for structural and other related applications

The feasibility of fabricating large beryllium honeycomb panels was demonstrated. Both flat and curved sandwich structures were manufactured using practical, braze bonding techniques. The processes developed prove that metallurgically assembled beryllium honeycomb panels show decided potential where rigid, lightweight structures are required. Three panels, each 10 square feet in surface area, were fabricated, and radiographically inspected to determine integrity. This examination revealed a 97 percent braze in the final panel. It is believed that ceramic dies for forming and brazing would facilitate the fabrication techniques for higher production rates. Ceramic dies would yield a lower thermal gradient in the panel during the braze cycle. This would eliminate the small amount of face sheet wrinkling present in the panels. Hot forming the various panel components demonstrated efficient manufacturing techniques for scaling up and producing large numbers of hot formed beryllium components and panels. The beryllium honeycomb panel demonstrated very good vibrational loading characteristics under test with desirable damping characteristics.

Vogan, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1973

An algorithm for generating all possible 2(p-q) fractional factorial designs and its use in scientific experimentation

An algorithm and computer program are presented for generating all the distinct 2(p-q) fractional factorial designs. Some applications of this algorithm to the construction of tables of designs and of designs for nonstandard situations and its use in Bayesian design are discussed. An appendix includes a discussion of an actual experiment whose design was facilitated by the algorithm.

Sidik, S. M.↗
NASA NTRS1973

The effect of photochemical models on calculated equilibria and cooling rates in the stratosphere

Simplified models were developed for radiative heating and cooling and for ozone photochemistry in the region 22-60 km. The latter permit the inclusion of nitrogen and hydrogen reactions in addition to simple oxygen reactions. The simplicity of the scheme facilitates the use of a wide variety of cooling and reaction rates. It is shown that joint radiative-photochemical equilibrium is appropriate to the mean state of the atmosphere between 35 and 60 km. The relaxation of perturbations from joint radiative-photochemical equilibrium was also investigated. In all cases the coupling between temperature dependent ozone photochemistry and radiation lead to a reduction of the thermal relaxation time from its purely radiative value. The latter, which amounts to about 10 days, is reduced to 2-4 days at heights of 31-35 km. This greatly enhances the dissipation of waves traveling through the stratosphere.

Blake, D.↗