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At least 667 records · Page 37

Analytical and Experimental Determination of the Coupled Natural Frequencies and Mode Shapes of a Dynamic Model of a Single-Rotor Helicopter

A combined analytical and experimental determination is made of the coupled natural frequencies and mode shapes in the longitudinal plane of symmetry for a dynamic model of a single-rotor helicopter. The analytical phase is worked out on the basis of a seven-degree-of-freedom system combining elastic deflections of the rotor blades, rotor shaft, pylon, and fuselage. The calculated coupled frequencies are first compared with calculated uncoupled frequencies to show the general effects of coupling and then with measured coupled frequencies to determine the extent to which the coupled frequencies can be calculated. The coupled mode shapes are also calculated and were observed visually with stroboscopic lights during the tests. A comparison of the coupled and uncoupled natural frequencies shows that significant differences exist between these frequencies for some of the modes. Good agreement is obtained between the measured and calculated values for the coupled natural frequencies and mode shapes. The results show that the coupled natural frequencies and mode shapes can be determined by the analytical procedure presented herein with sufficient accuracy if the mass and stiffness distributions of the various components of the helicopter are known.

Silveira, Milton A.↗

Pedestal fluctuation measurements with charge exchange imaging at the DIII-D tokamak

A new high radial resolution 2D multichannel Charge eXchange Imaging (CXI) diagnostic is under development for deployment at DIII-D. Here, the diagnostic system will measure low-to-intermediate radial wavenumber carbon density fluctuations by observing the n = 8 – 7 (λ = 529.06 nm) C-VI emission line, resulting from charge exchange collisions between heating neutral beam atoms and the intrinsic carbon ion density. The new CXI diagnostic will provide measurements with ΔR ~ 0.4 cm to access higher k r instabilities (k r < 8 cm –1 ) predicted to arise in the steep-gradient region of the H-mode pedestal. The CXI system will feature 60 fiber bundles in a 12 × 5 arrangement, with each bundle consisting of four 1 mm fibers. A custom optical system has been designed to filter and image incoming signals onto an 8 × 8 avalanche photodiode array. Additionally, a novel electronics suite has been designed and commissioned to amplify and digitize the relatively low-intensity carbon signal at a 2 MHz bandwidth. Forward modeling results of the active C-VI emission suggest sufficient signal to noise ratios to resolve turbulent fluctuations. Prototype measurements demonstrate the ability to perform high frequency pedestal measurements.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Utilization of coupled eigenmodes in Akiyama atomic force microscopy probes for bimodal multifrequency sensing

Akiyama atomic force microscopy probes represent a unique means of combining several of the desirable properties of tuning fork and cantilever probe designs. As a hybridized mechanical resonator, the vibrational characteristics of Akiyama probes result from a complex coupling between the intrinsic vibrational eigenmodes of its constituent tuning fork and bridging cantilever components. Here, through a combination of finite element analysis modeling and experimental measurements of the thermal vibrations of Akiyama probes, we identify a complex series of vibrational eigenmodes and measure their frequencies, quality factors, and spring constants. We then demonstrate the viability of Akiyama probes to perform bimodal multi-frequency force sensing by performing a multimodal measurement of a surface's nanoscale photothermal response using photo-induced force microscopy imaging techniques. Further performing a parametric search over alternative Akiyama probe geometries, we propose two modified probe designs to enhance the capability of Akiyama probes to perform sensitive bimodal multifrequency force sensing measurements.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Liquid-filled transient pressure measuring systems: A method for determining frequency response

An equation is given and experimentally verified for computing the resonant frequency of liquid-filled transient pressure measuring systems. Resonant frequencies of 100 to 1000 Hz are typical of those systems tested. The effect of noncondensable gas bubbles on system response is described. A method for determining transducer volumetric compliance is presented. An example system is described and analyzed to demonstrate the use of the theory.

Anderson, R. C.↗

West coast RFI survey, volume 1, volume 2 appendix E, volume 3 appendix F, volume 4 appendix G, and volume 5 appendix H

Activities and data reported cover experimental design, mechanization onboard the aircraft, survey operations, quick look and automated data reduction, and a qualitative comparison of survey data with predicted values for the radio frequency survey. The survey was designed to measure amplitude, frequency and time of occurrence of terrestrial emissions in the VHF band during overflights of heavily populated metropolitan areas located on the Pacific Coast of the Continental United States by sensing and recording equipment installed in jet aircraft.

Deutsch, W. F.↗

Photoelectronic vibrometer with polarized light

A seismic torsiometer is described which is based on the reception by a photosensitive transducer of a light flux modulated by a relative rotation of the optical axes of two polaroids. The torsional vibrations of the polaroid fixed to the shaft are transmitted to the other polaroid (which at the same time is the seismic mass of the apparatus) by means of elastic lamellas. The device can work as accelerometer, vibrometer or frequency meter, depending on the value of the ratio between the proper oscillation frequency of the seismic system and the measured vibration frequency.

Kremmer, I.↗

Investigations of lubricant rheology as applied to elastohydrodynamic lubrication

Traction prediction in sliding elastohydrodynamic (EHD) contacts was examined along with an elastohydrodynamic lubrication simulation of the effects of load and speed on temperatures in the EHD contact. An existing shear stress theory and lubricant rheological model were studied and evaluated by applying them to traction prediction. Results obtained using measured film thickness and surface temperature data, were compared with measured traction values. The infrared technique for measuring temperatures in an EHD contact was further developed and ball surface and fluid temperatures are reported for sliding speeds of 0.35 to 5.08 m/s at 0.52 to 2.03 GN/sq m maximum pressure and surface roughnesses of .011 to .381 micrometers c.1.a. The relationship between asperity interaction, as measured by relocation surface profilimetry and high frequency temperature measurements, and the ratio of film thickness to surface roughness was also studied.

Kunz, R. K.↗

Effects of load, speed, and surface roughness on sliding EHD contact temperatures

An infrared technique has been used to determine the effects of load, speed and surface roughness on temperature in a sliding elastohydrodynamic (EHD) point contact. Ball surface temperatures are reported for sliding speeds of 0.35 to 5.08 m/s at 0.52 to 2.03 GN/per sq m maximum pressure with surface roughness in the range 0.01 to 0.38 micron c.l.a. The relationship between asperity interaction, as measured by relocation surface profilimetry and high frequency temperature measurements, and the ratio of film thickness to surface roughness has also been studied.

Nagaraj, H. S.↗

Interferometric phase velocity measurements

Phase velocities of plasma waves near the lower hybrid frequency were measured with an interferometer composed of two spatially separated electron-density probes. The plasma waves were produced in the F-region ionosphere by an argon ion beam. By calculating the normalized cross spectrum of the plasma waves a coherency of .98 was estimated along with a maximum phase difference of pi/3 radians between the two probes. This implies that the wavelength was 6 meters compared to an O(+) gyroradius of 3.8 meters, and that the phase velocity was 45 km/sec compared to an ion-beam velocity of 12.4 km/sec. These numbers compare favorably with recent predictions of a nonresonant mode produced by a dense ion beam.

Kintner, P. M.↗

Nonlinear viscoelastic characterization of polymer materials using a dynamic-mechanical methodology

Polymer materials retrieved from LDEF exhibit nonlinear constitutive behavior; thus the authors present a method to characterize nonlinear viscoelastic behavior using measurements from dynamic (oscillatory) mechanical tests. Frequency-derived measurements are transformed into time-domain properties providing the capability to predict long term material performance without a lengthy experimentation program. Results are presented for thin-film high-performance polymer materials used in the fabrication of high-altitude scientific balloons. Predictions based upon a linear test and analysis approach are shown to deteriorate for moderate to high stress levels expected for extended applications. Tests verify that nonlinear viscoelastic response is induced by large stresses. Hence, an approach is developed in which the stress-dependent behavior is examined in a manner analogous to modeling temperature-dependent behavior with time-temperature correspondence and superposition principles. The development leads to time-stress correspondence and superposition of measurements obtained through dynamic mechanical tests. Predictions of material behavior using measurements based upon linear and nonlinear approaches are compared with experimental results obtained from traditional creep tests. Excellent agreement is shown for the nonlinear model.

Strganac, Thomas W.↗

Thin-Layer Composite Unimorph Ferroelectric Driver Sensor Properties

Tests were conducted on 13 different configurations of a new class of piezoelectric devices called THUNDER (thin layer composite unimorph ferroelectric driver and sensor). These configurations consisted of a combination of 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 layers of 25.4 micron thick aluminium as a backing material, with and without a top layer of 25.4 micrometer aluminum. All of these configurations used the same piezoelectric ceramic wafer (PZT-5A) with dimensions of 5.08 x 3.81 x 0.018 cm. The above configurations were tested at two stages of the manufacturing process: before and after repoling. The parameters measured included frequency, driving voltage. displacement, capacitance, and radius of curvature. An optic sensor recorded the displacement at a fixed voltage(100 - 400 V peak to peak) over a predetermined frequency range (1 - 1000 Hz). These displacement measurements were performed using a computer that controlled the process of activating and measuring the displacement of the device. A parameter alpha was defined which can be used to predict the which configuration will produce the most displacement for a free standing device.

Mossi, Karla M.↗

Sources of error and methods to improve accuracy in interface state density analysis using quasi-static capacitance–voltage measurements in wide bandgap semiconductors

Characterizing interface trap states in commercial wide bandgap devices using frequency-based measurements requires unconventionally high probing frequencies to account for both fast and slow traps associated with wide bandgap materials. The C - ψs technique has been suggested as a viable quasi-static method for determining the interface trap state densities in wide bandgap systems, but the results are shown to be susceptible to errors in the analysis procedure. Here this work explores the primary sources of errors present in the C - ψs technique using an analytical model that describes the apparent response for wide bandgap MOS capacitor devices. Measurement noise is shown to greatly impact the linear fitting routine of the 1/C$^{*2}_s$ vs Ψ s plot to calibrate the additive constant in the surface potential/gate voltage relationship, and an inexact knowledge of the oxide capacitance is also shown to impede interface trap state analysis near the band edge. In addition, a slight nonlinearity that is typically present throughout the 1/C$^{*2}_s$ vs Ψ s plot hinders the accurate estimation of interface trap densities, which is demonstrated for a fabricated n-SiC MOS capacitor device. Methods are suggested to improve quasi-static analysis, including a novel method to determine an approximate integration constant without relying on a linear fitting routine.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Effects of head-down bed rest on complex heart rate variability: Response to LBNP testing

Head-down bed rest is used to model physiological changes during spaceflight. We postulated that bed rest would decrease the degree of complex physiological heart rate variability. We analyzed continuous heart rate data from digitized Holter recordings in eight healthy female volunteers (age 28-34 yr) who underwent a 13-day 6 deg head-down bed rest study with serial lower body negative pressure (LBNP) trials. Heart rate variability was measured on a 4-min data sets using conventional time and frequency domain measures as well as with a new measure of signal 'complexity' (approximate entropy). Data were obtained pre-bed rest (control), during bed rest (day 4 and day 9 or 11), and 2 days post-bed rest (recovery). Tolerance to LBNP was significantly reduced on both bed rest days vs. pre-bed rest. Heart rate variability was assessed at peak LBNP. Heart rate approximate entropy was significantly decreased at day 4 and day 9 or 11, returning toward normal during recovery. Heart rate standard deviation and the ratio of high- to low-power frequency did not change significantly. We conclude that short-term bed rest is associated with a decrease in the complex variability of heart rate during LBNP testing in healthy young adult women. Measurement of heart rate complexity, using a method derived from nonlinear dynamics ('chaos theory'), may provide a sensitive marker of this loss of physiological variability, complementing conventional time and frequency domain statistical measures.

Goldberger, Ary L.↗

Interplanetary plasma concentration measurements by use of dual frequencies from separated sites

In the interplanetary plasma studies considered, signals at two frequencies are sent simultaneously from a single site on the earth to a spacecraft, or vice versa. Changes in group and phase velocity are proportional to the number density of the plasma and inversely proportional to the square of the signal frequency. Plasma-induced radio timing changes can be measured through comparisons of the changes at widely different frequencies. Such a system has, however, certain weaknesses, which can be overcome by making use of an approach which uses separated sites for sources of the low and high frequencies. The practical advantages gained by site separation are balanced somewhat by several technical problems, but each problem can be solved. The main barrier appears to be a very exacting timekeeping requirement. These requirements can be satisfied with the aid of the cesium clock.

Croft, T. A.↗

Two-frequency lidar technique for mesospheric Na temperature measurements

This paper describes a new two-frequency lidar for measuring Na temperature profiles. The laser oscillator is tuned to the two operating frequencies by observing the Doppler-free structure of the Na D2 fluorescence spectrum in a vapor cell. The lidar technique and initial observations of the temperature profile between 82 and 102 km are described. Absolute temperature accuracies at the Na layer peak of better than + or - 3 K with a vertical resolution of 1 km and an integration period of approximately 5 min were achieved.

She, C. Y.↗

Satellite-based interference analyzer

System identifies terrestrial sources of radiofrequency interference and measures their frequency spectra and amplitudes. Designed to protect satellite communication networks, system measures entire noise spectrum over selected frequency band and can raster-scan geographical region to locate noise sources. Once interference is analyzed, realistic interference protection ratios are determined and mathematical models for predicting ratio-frequency noise spectra are established. This enhances signal-detection and locates optimum geographical positions and frequency bands for communication equipment.

Varice, H.↗

Summary Report of Mission Acceleration Measurements for MSL-1: STS-83, Launched April 14, 1997; STS-94, Launched July 1, 1997

The microgravity environment of the Space Shuttle Columbia was measured during the STS-83 and STS-94 flights of the Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL-1) mission using four different accelerometer systems: the Orbital Acceleration Research Experiment (OARE), the Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS), the Microgravity Measurement Assembly (MMA), and the Quasi-Steady Acceleration Measurement (QSAM) system. All four accelerometer systems provided investigators with acceleration measurements downlinked in near-real-time. Data from each system was recorded for post-mission analysis. The OARE measured the Shuttle's acceleration with high resolution in the quasi-steady frequency regime below about 0.1 Hz. The SAMS provided investigators with higher frequency acceleration measurements up to 25 Hz. The QSAM and MMA systems provided investigators with quasi-steady and higher frequency (up to 100 Hz) acceleration measurements, respectively. The microgravity environment related to various Orbiter maneuvers, crew activities, and experiment operations as measured by the OARE and MMA is presented and interpreted in section 8 of this report.

Moskowitz, Milton E.↗

High Frequency, Long Time Series Measurements from the Bermuda Testbed Mooring in Support of SIMBIOS

It has been recognized that optical moorings are important platforms for the validation of Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS). It was recommended that optical moorings be maintained in order to: (1) provide long-term time series comparisons between in situ and SeaWIFS measurements of normalized water-leaving radiance; (2) develop and test algorithms for pigment biomass and phytoplankton primary productivity; and (3) provide long-term, virtually continuous in situ observations which can be used to determine and optimize the accuracy of derived satellite products. These applications require the use of in situ radiometers for long periods of time to evaluate and correct for inherent satellite undersampling (aliasing and biasing) and degradation of satellite color sensors (e.g., drifts as experienced by the Coastal Zone Color Scanner). The Bermuda Testbed Mooring (BTM) program was initiated in 1994 at a site located about 80km southeast of Bermuda in waters of about 4530 m depth. In August 1997, with NASA's support, we started to provide the Sensor Intercomparison and Merger for Biological and Interdisciplinary Oceanic Studies (SIMBIOS) program with large volumes of high frequency, long-term time-series bio-optical data from the BTM for SeaWiFS satellite ocean color groundtruthing and algorithm development. This NASA supported portion of the BTM activity spanned three years and covered five BTM deployments. During these three years, the quality of radiometric data has improved dramatically. Excellent agreement between BTM moored data and both SeaWiFS and nearby ship profile radiometric data demonstrate that technical advances in the moored optical observations have reduced the major difficulties that moored platforms face: biofouling and less frequent calibration.

Dickey, Tommy↗