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At least 703 records · Page 39
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1995

Minimization of the Vibration Energy of Thin-Plate Structures and the Application to the Reduction of Gearbox Vibration

While the vibration analysis of gear systems has been developed, a systematic approach to the reduction of gearbox vibration has been lacking. The technique of reducing vibration by shifting natural frequencies is proposed here for gearboxes and other thin-plate structures using the theories of finite elements, modal analysis, and optimization. A triangular shell element with 18 degrees of freedom is developed for structural and dynamic analysis. To optimize, the overall vibration energy is adopted as the objective function to be minimized at the excitation frequency by varying the design variable (element thickness) under the constraint of overall constant weight. Modal analysis is used to determine the sensitivity of the vibration energy as a function of the eigenvalues and eigenvectors. The optimum design is found by the gradient projection method and a unidimensional search procedure. By applying the computer code to design problems for beams and plates, it was verified that the proposed method is effective in reducing vibration energy. The computer code is also applied to redesign the NASA Lewis gear noise rig test gearbox housing. As one example, only the shape of the top plate is varied, and the vibration energy levels of all the surfaces are reduced, yielding an overall reduction of 1/5 compared to the initial design. As a second example, the shapes of the top and two side plates are varied to yield an overall reduction in vibration energy of 1/30.

Inoue, Katsumi↗
NASA NTRS1999

Interference of Backscatter from Two Droplets in a Focused Continuous Wave CO2 Doppler Lidar Beam

Interference due to the superposition of backscatter, beta, from two micron-sized droplets using a NASA/MSFC cw (continuous wave) CO2 Doppler lidar at 9.1 micrometer wavelength was detected for the first time. The resultant single beta signal from both droplets contained an interference structure with a well-defined periodicity which was accurately measured and compared with cw lidar theory. The agreement between measurements and theory is excellent, indicating that the interference arises because the droplets are moving at different speeds and, therefore, the relative droplet separation is not constant. This gives the superimposed beta signal from both droplets in the lidar beam moving in and out of constructive and destructive interference with a well-defined periodic structure. A measurement of a time-resolved signal pulse with an oscilloscope of the combined from two approx. 14.12 micrometers in diameter silicone oil droplets responding to the Gaussian lidar beam intensity at the lidar beam focus is shown. Full details of this laboratory experimental setup, particle generation method, measurement technique, and the cw lidar can be found elsewhere. The stream of silicone oil droplets resided at a Doppler-shift center frequency of f (sub D) approx. (3.4 plus or minus 0.2) MHz, giving droplet speed v approx.(21.9 plus or minus 1.3) ms (exp. -1). Also shown on a separate channel is the corresponding signature using an amplitude demodulator circuit designed to detect the amplitude envelope of f(sub D) within the pulse profile. beta from simultaneous droplet events show a complete cyclic interference structure of maximum and minimum. The average period T of the complete cycle of interference is 13.02 plus or minus.39 microseconds. Toward the right edge of the profile, the interference disappears because one of the droplets is leaving the lidar beam while the other one remains in the beam, thus, giving beta for a single droplet.

Jarzembski, Maurice A.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Inflow/Outflow Conditions for Unsteady Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics in Nonuniform Flow

The effect of a nonuniform mean flow on the normal modes; the inflow/outflow nonreflecting boundary conditions; and the sound power are studied. The normal modes in an annular duct are computed using a spectral method in combination with a shooting method. The swirl causes force imbalance which couples the acoustic and vortical modes. The acoustic modes are distinguished from the vortical modes by their large pressure and small vorticity content. The mean swirl also produces a Doppler shift in frequency. This results in more counter-spinning modes cut-on at a given frequency than modes spinning with the swirl. Nonreflecting boundary conditions are formulated using the normal mode solutions. The inflow/outflow boundary conditions are implemented in a linearized Euler scheme and validated by computing the propagation of acoustic and vortical waves in a duct for a variety of swirling mean flows. Numerical results show that the evolution of the vortical disturbances is sensitive to the inflow conditions and the details of the wake excitations. All three components of the wake velocity must be considered to correctly compute the wake evolution and the blade upwash. For high frequencies, the acoustic-vortical mode coupling is weak and a conservation equation for the acoustic energy can be derived. Sound power calculations show significant mean flow swirl effects, but mode interference effects are small.

Atassi, Oliver V.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Dust Accumulation and Solar Panel Array Performance on the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Project

One of the most fundamental design considerations for any space vehicle is its power supply system. Many options exist, including batteries, fuel cells, nuclear reactors, radioisotopic thermal generators (RTGs), and solar panel arrays. Solar arrays have many advantages over other types of power generation. They are lightweight and relatively inexpensive, allowing more mass and funding to be allocated for other important devices, such as scientific instruments. For Mars applications, solar power is an excellent option, especially for long missions. One might think that dust storms would be a problem; however, while dust blocks some solar energy, it also scatters it, making it diffuse rather than beamed. Solar cells are still able to capture this diffuse energy and convert it into substantial electrical power. For these reasons, solar power was chosen to be used on the 1997 Mars Pathfinder mission. The success of this mission set a precedent, as NASA engineers have selected solar power as the energy system of choice for all future Mars missions, including the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Project. Solar sells have their drawbacks, however. They are difficult to manufacture and are relatively fragile. In addition, solar cells are highly sensitive to different parts of the solar spectrum, and finding the correct balance is crucial to the success of space missions. Another drawback is that the power generated is not a constant with respect to time, but rather changes with the relative angle to the sun. On Mars, dust accumulation also becomes a factor. Over time, dust settles out of the atmosphere and onto solar panels. This dust blocks and shifts the frequency of the incoming light, degrading solar cell performance. My goal is to analyze solar panel telemetry data from the two MERs (Spirit and Opportunity) in an effort to accurately model the effect of dust accumulation on solar panels. This is no easy process due to the large number of factors involved. Changing solar flux (the amount of solar energy reaching the planet), solar spectrum, solar angle, rover tilt, and optical depth (the opacity of the atmosphere due to dust) were the most significant. Microsoft Excel and Visual Basic are used for data analysis. The results of this work will be used to improve the dust accumulation and atmosphere effects model that was first created after the Mars Pathfinder mission. This model will be utilized and applied when considering the design of solar panel array systems on future Mars projects. Based on this data, and depending upon the tenure and application of the mission, designers may also elect to employ special tools to abate dust accumulation, or decide that the expected level of accumulation is acceptable.

Turgay, Eren H.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Analysis of Galileo Doppler Measurements During the Solar Occulations in 1994 and 1995

Measurements of S-band downlink frequency (Doppler) shift were collected for intervals of about 30 days during the 1994 and 1995 solar conjunctions of the Galileo spacecraft. The occulation geometries enabled coronal radio sounding of the heliographic equatoral region over a heliocentric range from about 5 to 20 R(sub s) (solar radii) for the 1994 conjuctions and from about 4 to R(sub s) for the 1995 conjunction.

Galileo Doppler Solar Occulations↗
NASA NTRS2011

High-Tc Superconducting Bolometer Noise Measurement Using Low Noise Transformers - Theory and Optimization

Care must always be taken when performing noise measurements on high-Tc superconducting materials to ensure that the results are not from the measurement system itself. One situation likely to occur is with low noise transformers. One of the least understood devices, it provides voltage gain for low impedance inputs (< 100 ), e.g., YBaCuO and GdBaCuO thin films, with comparatively lower noise levels than other devices for instance field effect and bipolar junction transistors. An essential point made in this paper is that because of the complex relationships between the transformer ports, input impedance variance alters the transformer s transfer function in particular, the low frequency cutoff shift. The transfer of external and intrinsic transformer noise to the output along with optimization and precautions are treated; all the while, we will cohesively connect the transfer function shift, the load impedance, and the actual noise at the transformer output.

Aslam, Shahid↗
NASA NTRS2011

High Temperature Capacitive Pressure Sensor Employing a SiC Based Ring Oscillator

In an effort to develop harsh environment electronic and sensor technologies for aircraft engine safety and monitoring, we have used capacitive-based pressure sensors to shift the frequency of a SiC-electronics-based oscillator to produce a pressure-indicating signal that can be readily transmitted, e.g. wirelessly, to a receiver located in a more benign environment. Our efforts target 500 C, a temperature well above normal operating conditions of commercial circuits but within areas of interest in aerospace engines, deep mining applications and for future missions to the Venus atmosphere. This paper reports for the first time a ring oscillator circuit integrated with a capacitive pressure sensor, both operating at 500 C. This demonstration represents a significant step towards a wireless pressure sensor that can operate at 500 C and confirms the viability of 500 C electronic sensor systems.

Meredith, Roger D.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Configuration Effects on Liner Performance

The acoustic performance of a duct liner depends not only on the intrinsic properties of the liner but also on the configuration of the duct in which it is used. A series of experiments is performed in the NASA Langley Research Center Curved Duct Test Rig (at Mach 0.275) to evaluate the effect of duct configuration on the acoustic performance of single degree of freedom perforate-over-honeycomb liners. The liners form the sidewalls of the duct's test section. Variations of duct configuration include: asymmetric (liner on one side and hard wall opposite) and symmetric (liner on both sides) wall treatment; inlet and exhaust orientation, in which the sound propagates either against or with the flow; and straight and curved flow path. The effect that duct configuration has on the overall acoustic performance, particularly the shift in frequency and magnitude of peak attenuation, is quantified. The redistribution of incident mode content is shown. The liners constitute the side walls of the liner test section and the scatter of incident horizontal order 1 mode by the asymmetric treatment and order 2 mode by the symmetric treatment into order 0 mode is shown. Scatter of order 0 incident modes into higher order modes is also shown. This redistribution of mode content is significant because it indicates that the liner design can be manipulated such that energy is scattered into more highly attenuated modes, thus enhancing liner performance.

Gerhold, Carl H.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Multiwavelength Study of Quiescent States of Mrk 421 with Unprecedented Hard X-Ray Coverage Provided by NuSTAR in 2013

We present coordinated multiwavelength observations of the bright, nearby BL Lacertae object Markarian 421 (Mrk 421) taken in 2013 January-March, involving GASP-WEBT, Swift, NuSTAR, Fermi-LAT, MAGIC, VERITAS, and other collaborations and instruments, providing data from radio to very high energy„ (VHE) gamma-ray bands. NuSTAR yielded previously unattainable sensitivity in the 3-79 kiloelectronvolt range, revealing that the spectrum softens when the source is dimmer until the X-ray spectral shape saturates into a steep Gamma approximating 3 power law, with no evidence for an exponential cutoff or additional hard components up to 80 kiloelectronvolts. For the first time, we observed both the synchrotron and the inverse-Compton peaks of the spectral energy distribution (SED) simultaneously shifted to frequencies below the typical quiescent state by an order of magnitude. The fractional variability as a function of photon energy shows a double-bump structure that relates to the two bumps of the broadband SED. In each bump, the variability increases with energy, which, in the framework of the synchrotron self-Compton model, implies that the electrons with higher energies are more variable. The measured multi band variability, the significant X-ray-to-VHE correlation down to some of the lowest fluxes ever observed in both bands, the lack of correlation between optical/UV and X-ray flux, the low degree of polarization and its significant (random) variations, the short estimated electron cooling time, and the significantly longer variability timescale observed in the NuSTAR light curves point toward in situ electron acceleration and suggest that there are multiple compact regions contributing to the broadband emission of Mrk 421 during low-activity states.

BL Lacertae objects: individual (markarian 421) - ↗
NASA NTRS2017

Reconfigurable Wideband Circularly Polarized Stacked Square Patch Antenna for Cognitive Radios

An almost square patch, a square patch and a stacked square patch with corner truncation for circular polarization (CP) are researched and developed at X-band for cognitive radios. Experimental results indicate, first, that the impedance bandwidth of a CP almost square patch fed from the edge by a 50 ohm line is 1.70 percent and second, that of a CP square patch fed from the ground plane side by a surface launch connector is 1.87 percent. Third, the impedance bandwidth of a CP stacked square patch fed by a surface launch connector is 2.22 percent. The measured center frequency for the CP square patch fed by a surface launch connector without and with an identical stacked patch is 8.45 and 8.1017 GHz, respectively. By stacking a patch, separated by a fixed air gap of 0.254 mm, the center frequency is observed to shift by as much as 348.3 MHz. The shift in the center frequency can be exploited to reconfigure the operating frequency by mechanically increasing the air gap. The results indicate that a tuning bandwidth of about 100 MHz can be achieved when the distance of separation between the driven patch and the stacked patch is increased from its initial setting of 0.254 to 1.016 mm.

Cognitive↗
NASA NTRS2017

Atmospheric Instrument Systems and Technology in the Goddard Earth Sciences Division

Studies of the Earth’s atmosphere require a comprehensive set of observations that rely on instruments flown on spacecraft, aircraft, and balloons as well as those deployed on the surface. Within NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Earth Sciences Division-Atmospheres, laboratories and offices maintain an active program of instrument system development and observational studies that provide: 1) information leading to a basic understanding of atmospheric processes and their relationships with the Earth’s climate system, 2) prototypes for future flight instruments, 3) instruments to serve as calibration references for satellite missions, and 4) instruments for future field validation campaigns that support ongoing space missions. Our scientists participate in all aspects of instrument activity, including component and system design, calibration techniques, retrieval algorithm development, and data processing systems. The Atmospheres Program has well-equipped labs and test equipment to support the development and testing of instrument systems, such as a radiometric calibration and development facility to support the calibration of ultraviolet and visible (UV/VIS), space-borne solar backscatter instruments. This document summarizes the features and characteristics of 46 instrument systems that currently exist or are under development. The report is organized according to active, passive, or in situ remote sensing across the electromagnetic spectrum. Most of the systems are considered operational in that they have demonstrated performance in the field and are capable of being deployed on relatively short notice. Other systems are under study or of low technical readiness level (TRL). The systems described herein are designed mainly for surface or airborne platforms. However, two Cubesat systems also have been developed through collaborative efforts. The Solar Disk Sextant (SDS) is the single balloon-borne instrument. The lidar systems described herein are designed to retrieve clouds, aerosols, methane, water vapor pressure, temperature, and winds. Most of the lasers operate at some wavelength combination of 355, 532, and 1064 nm. The various systems provide high sensitivity measurements based on returns from backscatter or Raman scattering including intensity and polarization. Measurements of the frequency (Doppler) shift of light scattered from various atmospheric constitutes can also be made. Microwave sensors consist of both active (radar) and passive (radiometer) systems. These systems are important for studying processes involving water in various forms. The dielectric properties of water affect microwave brightness temperatures, which are used to retrieve atmospheric parameters such as rainfall rate and other key elements of the hydrological cycle. Atmosphere radar systems operate in the range from 9.6 GHz to 94 GHz and have measurement accuracies from -5 to 1 dBZ; radiometers operate in the 50 GHz to 874 GHz range with accuracies from 0.5 to 1 degree K; conical and cross-track scan modes are used. Our passive optical sensors, consisting of radiometers and spectrometers, collectively operate from the UV into the infrared. These systems measure energy fluxes and atmospheric parameters such as trace gases, aerosols, cloud properties, or altitude profiles of various species. Imager spatial resolution varies from 37 m to 400 m depending on altitude; spectral resolution is as small as 0.5 nm. Many of the airborne systems have been developed to fly on multiple aircraft.

Platnick, Steven E.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Bandwidth extension for continuous mode reversal gyroscope

A vibratory gyroscope system having a mechanical resonator (proof mass) and drive circuitry for maintaining oscillation in two axes at a small frequency split. Angular rate input is shifted to the frequency split and modulates both the frequency (FM) and the amplitude (AM) of the oscillations. Unlike other gyroscope modulation techniques which derive rate information from only the FM information and are subject to aliasing for rate signals with bandwidth exceeding the modulation frequency, the innovation uses both the FM and AM information. By exploiting their orthogonality, the image frequencies from the modulation cancel, thus removing the bandwidth limitation.

Boser, Bernard↗
DOE OSTI2021

Backbonding in Thorium(IV) and Uranium(IV) Diarsenido Complexes with t BuNC and CO

The coordination of tBuNC and CO with the diarsenido complexes (C 5 Me 5 ) 2 An(η 2 -As 2 Mes 2 ), An=Th, U, has been investigated. For the first time, a comparison between isostructural complexes of Th IV and U IV has been possible with CO; density functional calculations indicated an appreciable amount of π backbonding that originates from charge transfer from an actinide-arsenic sigma bond. The calculated CO stretching frequencies in the Th IV and U IV diarsenido complexes are consistent with the experimental measurements, both show large shifts to lower frequency. We demonstrate that the π backbonding is crucial to explaining the red shifts of CO frequency upon An IV complex formation. Interestingly, this interaction essentially correlates to the parallel orientation of π*(C-O) orbitals relative to the An-As bond.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1975

Excitation of a Helmholtz resonator by a turbulent boundary layer

A turbulent boundary layer on the fuselage of a glider was used to excite a Helmholtz resonator. The resonator orifice was flush with the surface and smaller than the boundary layer thickness. Resonator frequencies were chosen so they would tune with different portions of the boundary layer wall pressure spectrum. The resonators were excited at both the Helmholtz frequency and a standing wave frequency. The results show a shift in the Helmholtz frequency when the boundary layer is present. This shift indicates the degree to which the turbulence interacts with the acoustic motion in the orifice and modifies the end correction. Four of the nine resonators tested were 'strongly' excited and radiated considerable acoustic sound. This phenomenon occurs when turbulent eddies about the size of the orifice are convected past the orifice with the proper velocity to impose a frequency that matches a resonant frequency of the resonator. Turbulent eddies which are either smaller or larger than the orifice will not produce strong excitation.

Panton, R. L.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Earthquake-induced impact of base-isolated buildings: theory, numerical modeling, and design solutions

Earthquake shaking more intense than that used to size the horizontal clearance between a base–isolated building and near–rigid perimeter moat wall will result in hard impact, producing high–frequency, high–amplitude acceleration response in the structure and supported equipment. Herein this paper provides a design solution for the damaging effects of hard impact by installing a compliant engineered element in the load path between the base–isolated building and the moat wall, resulting in soft impact and a much smaller acceleration response. The engineered element assumed herein is a commercial–off–the–shelf marine fender with mechanical properties determined by physical testing. The attachment of a flexible engineered element, with well–defined stiffness and damping, to a near–rigid moat wall, simplifies the numerical modeling of the building–moat wall system and eliminates the need to bound the lateral stiffness of the wall for impact calculations. The simple model of the engineered element can be implemented in commercial finite element codes. Theory is developed for two–sided impact of a single–degree–of–freedom oscillator. Analytical solutions are derived for the shifted first–mode frequency of the impacted oscillator and for its free–vibration response. The shifted first–mode frequency is a function of the composite lateral stiffness of the isolator–engineered element assembly and its earthquake–induced displacement. Local peaks in the spectral response of the impacted oscillator form at odd integer multiples of the shifted first–mode frequency. The analytical solutions can be used to verify, in part, the numerical model used for impact analysis.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1999

Special Relativity Corrections for Space-Based Lidars

The theory of special relativity is used to analyze some of the physical phenomena associated with space-based coherent Doppler lidars aimed at Earth and the atmosphere. Two important cases of diffuse scattering and retroreflection by lidar targets are treated. For the case of diffuse scattering, we show that for a coaligned transmitter and receiver on the moving satellite, there is no angle between transmitted and returned radiation. However, the ray that enters the receiver does not correspond to a retroreflected ray by the target. For the retroreflection case there is misalignment between the transmitted ray and the received ray. In addition, the Doppler shift in the frequency and the amount of tip for the receiver aperture when needed are calculated, The error in estimating wind because of the Doppler shift in the frequency due to special relativity effects is examined. The results are then applied to a proposed space-based pulsed coherent Doppler lidar at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center for wind and aerosol backscatter measurements. The lidar uses an orbiting spacecraft with a pulsed laser source and measures the Doppler shift between the transmitted and the received frequencies to determine the atmospheric wind velocities. We show that the special relativity effects are small for the proposed system.

RaoGudimetla, Venkata S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Muscle fatigue in frog semitendinosus: alterations in contractile function

The purpose of this study was to characterize the contractile properties of the frog semitendinosus (ST) muscle before and during recovery from fatigue, to relate the observed functional changes to alterations in specific steps in the crossbridge model of muscle contraction, and to determine how fatigue affects the force-frequency relationship. The frog ST (22 degrees C) was fatigued by direct electrical stimulation with 100-ms 150-Hz trains at 1/s for 5 min. The fatigue protocol reduced peak twitch (Pt) and tetanic (Po) force to 32 and 8.5% of initial force, respectively. The decline in Pt was less than Po, in part due to a prolongation in the isometric contraction time (CT), which increased to 300% of the initial value. The isometric twitch duration was greatly prolonged as reflected by the lengthened CT and the 800% increase in the one-half relaxation time (1/2RT). Both Pt and Po showed a biphasic recovery, a rapid initial phase (2 min) followed by a slower (40 min) return to the prefatigue force. CT and 1/2RT also recovered in two phases, returning to 160 and 265% of control in the first 5 min. CT returned to the prefatigue value between 35 and 40 min, whereas even at 60 min 1/2RT was 133% of control. The maximal velocity of shortening, determined by the slack test, was significantly reduced [from 6.7 +/- 0.5 to 2.5 +/- 0.4 optimal muscle length/s] at fatigue. The force-frequency relationship was shifted to the left, so that optimal frequency for generating Po was reduced.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS).

NASA Discipline Musculoskeletal↗