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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 73 records · Page 4

Selected reliability studies for the NERVA program

An investigation was made into certain methods of reliability analysis that are particularly suitable for complex mechanisms or systems in which there are many interactions. The methods developed were intended to assist in the design of such mechanisms, especially for analysis of failure sensitivity to parameter variations and for estimating reliability where extensive and meaningful life testing is not feasible. The system is modeled by a network of interconnected nodes. Each node is a state or mode of operation, or is an input or output node, and the branches are interactions. The network, with its probabilistic and time-dependent paths is also analyzed for reliability and failure modes by a Monte Carlo, computerized simulation of system performance.

Hoover, S. V.↗

General atmospheric circulation driven by polar and diurnal surface temperature variations.

Described is a global circulation model for the Venus atmosphere that includes the effects of both polar cooling and diurnal temperature variation. It is based on a linearized Boussinesq approximation and boundary conditions derived from theoretical and empirical considerations. The time-dependent, three-dimensional flow field is deduced without any a priori assumptions about its configuration. Results show that the mean atmospheric motions are essentially zonal in a narrow belt near the equator and change to become meridional over most of the globe. The circulation pattern is not symmetrical and rotates about the polar axis of the planet with the period of the solar day.

Bohachevsky, I. O.↗

Thermoelastic constitutive equations for chemically hardening materials

Thermoelastic constitutive equations are derived for a material undergoing solidification or hardening as the result of a chemical reaction. The derivation is based upon a two component model whose composition is determined by the degree of hardening, and makes use of strain-energy considerations. Constitutive equations take the form of stress rate-strain rate relations, in which the coefficients are time-dependent functions of the composition. Specific results are developed for the case of a material of constant bulk modulus which undergoes a transition from an initial liquidlike state into an isotropic elastic solid. Potential applications are discussed.

Shaffer, B. W.↗

Numerical solution of the time-dependent compressible Navier-Stokes equations in inlet regions

The results of a study to determine the effects of compressibility on the viscous flow through channels that have straight, parallel walls are presented. Two channel configurations are considered, the flow between two semi-infinite flat plates with uniform flow prescribed at the inlet plane and a cascade of semi-infinite flat plates with uniform flow introduced upstream. The flow field is modeled by using the time dependent, compressible Navier-Stokes equations. Time dependent solutions are obtained by using an explicit finite difference technique which advances the pressure on near field subsonic boundaries such that accurate steady state solutions are obtained. Steady state results at Reynolds number 20 and 150 are presented for Mach numbers between 0.09 and 0.36 and compared with the incompressible solutions of previous studies.

Olson, L. E.↗

Computation of turbulent flows

Substantial advances made over the past decade in the prediction of turbulent flows are discussed. There was extensive work in the development of turbulence models, particularly for use in boundary layer calculations. Basic aspects of several important methods based on partial differential equations for the mean velocity field and turbulence quantities, including the relationship between the methods and suggestions for future development were reviewed. Work on three-dimensional time-dependent large eddy simulations is discussed. The emphasis is on the hydrodynamics of incompressible flows, but sources for consideration of heat transfer and compressibility are mentioned.

Reynolds, W. C.↗

New two-metric theory of gravity with prior geometry

A Lagrangian-based metric theory of gravity is developed with three adjustable constants and two tensor fields, one of which is a nondynamic 'flat space metric' eta. With a suitable cosmological model and a particular choice of the constants, the 'post-Newtonian limit' of the theory agrees, in the current epoch, with that of general relativity theory (GRT); consequently the theory is consistent with current gravitation experiments. Because of the role of eta, the gravitational 'constant' G is time-dependent and gravitational waves travel null geodesics of eta rather than the physical metric g. Gravitational waves possess six degrees of freedom. The general exact static spherically-symmetric solution is a four-parameter family. Future experimental tests of the theory are discussed.

Lightman, A. P.↗

Numerical simulation of high Reynolds number transonic flows

A code has been developed for simulating high Reynolds number transonic flow fields of arbitrary configuration. An explicit finite-difference method with time splitting is used to solve the time-dependent equations for compressible turbulent flow. A nonorthogonal computational mesh of arbitrary configuration facilitates the description of the flow field. The code is applied to simulate the flow over an 18 percent thick circular-arc biconvex airfoil at zero angle of attack and free-stream Mach number of 0.775. A simple mixing-length model is used to describe the turbulence and chord Reynolds numbers of 1, 2, 4, and 10 million are considered. The solution describes in sufficient detail both the shock-induced and trailing-edge separation regions, and provides the profile and friction drag.

Deiwert, G. S.↗

Periodic escape of relativistic electrons from the Jovian magnetosphere

We adopt a model in which the Jovian magnetospheric tail is forced open by plasma that is accelerated out of the ionosphere by the centrifugal force of corotation. Any longitudinal asymmetry that exists in the ionospheric plasma source and/or the planetary magnetic field will cause a diurnal variation in the radial extent of the trapping region for energetic electrons. This diurnal variation in the extent of the particle trapping region can result in a time-dependent loss of relativistic electrons from the Jovian magnetosphere, modulated at the planetary rotation period. The diurnal trapping process may be relevant to the observation of electron pulses in interplanetary space during the Pioneer 10 approach to Jupiter.

Hill, T. W.↗

Computer program for the transient analysis of radioisotope thermoelectric generators.

A computer program is described which represents a comprehensive analytical tool providing the capability for predicting the output power and temperature profile of an arbitrary radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) design in the presence of time-dependent operating conditions. The approach taken involves the merging of three existing computer programs - namely, an RTG weight optimization design program, a thermoelectric analysis program, and a nodal heat-transfer computer program. A total of seven transient conditions are included in the computer program as the principal transients affecting long- and short-term performance characteristics of RTGs. This computer program is unique in that it designs an optimum RTG, generates a thermal model or analog and performs heat-transfer analysis of the RTG under user-specified transient conditions.

Eggers, P. E.↗

Battery Pack Shape Optimization using Transient Heat Conduction Coupled with Cell-Discharge Analysis

Battery electric systems exhibit significant time-dependence, especially when evaluated in the context of an aircraft mission profile with continually changing power demands. Additionally, when evaluating battery-powered aircraft concepts, it is important to accurately compute the temperature of the batteries and properly characterize the thermal response of the system. The temperature of the batteries has a significant impact on cell performance, in addition to safety considerations of maintaining battery temperatures below their operating limit. Because of these considerations, battery models for preliminary design and optimization of aircraft should include the capability to accurately compute the temperature distribution within the battery pack. Furthermore, battery pack designs should be as light-weight as possible to maximize the pack energy density, while also considering battery temperature limits. Here, we demonstrate a simultaneous trajectory and shape optimization of a battery pack concept, using a transient heat transfer finite element model coupled with a time-varying cell-discharge battery model to provide this capability. Including the transient finite element problem in the loop enables accurate temperatures that can be passed back to the cell discharge model, while the cell discharge model can supply the finite element model with time-varying heat boundary conditions to the finite element problem, further benefiting the fidelity of the thermal response of the batteries. We first demonstrate the coupling capability between the battery cell-discharge model and the transient finite-element heat transfer through an optimization which computes the optimal current profile for the battery pack while ensuring the battery temperatures remain below their operational limit. We then build on this optimization by adding shape optimization to the problem, which allows us to consider a composite objective function which also minimizes the mass of the battery pack, while also producing an optimal current discharge profile.

Optimization↗

Time-dependent plasmapause motion

Time dependent plasmapause motion after increase and decrease in magnetic activity based on analytical model of plasma flow

Grebowsky, J. M.↗

Further analytical study of hybrid rocket combustion

Analytical studies of the transient and steady-state combustion processes in a hybrid rocket system are discussed. The particular system chosen consists of a gaseous oxidizer flowing within a tube of solid fuel, resulting in a heterogeneous combustion. Finite rate chemical kinetics with appropriate reaction mechanisms were incorporated in the model. A temperature dependent Arrhenius type fuel surface regression rate equation was chosen for the current study. The governing mathematical equations employed for the reacting gas phase and for the solid phase are the general, two-dimensional, time-dependent conservation equations in a cylindrical coordinate system. Keeping the simplifying assumptions to a minimum, these basic equations were programmed for numerical computation, using two implicit finite-difference schemes, the Lax-Wendroff scheme for the gas phase, and, the Crank-Nicolson scheme for the solid phase.

Hung, W. S. Y.↗

The turbulent mean-flow, Reynolds-stress, and heat flux equations in mass-averaged dependent variables

The time-dependent, turbulent mean-flow, Reynolds stress, and heat flux equations in mass-averaged dependent variables are presented. These equations are given in conservative form for both generalized orthogonal and axisymmetric coordinates. For the case of small viscosity and thermal conductivity fluctuations, these equations are considerably simpler than the general Reynolds system of dependent variables for a compressible fluid and permit a more direct extension of low speed turbulence modeling to computer codes describing high speed turbulence fields.

Rubesin, M. W.↗

Brownian motion of electrons in time-dependent magnetic fields.

The behavior of a weakly ionized plasma in slowly varying time-dependent magnetic fields is studied through an extension of Williamson's stochastic theory. In particular, attention is focused on the properties of electron diffusion in the plane perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field, when the field strength is large. It is shown that, in the strong field limit, the classical 1/B-squared dependence of the perpendicular diffusion coefficient is obtained for two models in which the field B(t) is monotonic in t and for two models in which B(t) possesses at least one turning point.

Iverson, G. J.↗

Thermoelastic flutter models for elements of flexible satellites

Models of thermally induced flutter of the flexible elements of a satellite, such as beams, circular plates, and cylindrical shells have been obtained. These models form the necessary blocks for analyzing the motion of satellites. The heat input is considered to be caused by solar radiations. The partial differential equations for all the elements of the satellite are linear in the space dependent variables and nonlinear in the time-dependent variables. These equations are coupled through the motion of the center of mass of the satellite. Galerkin's method has been used to remove the space-dependence of these equations. In the succeeding paper, a further reduction of these equations is made into singular perturbation equations, which are amenable to solution for complex problems of extremely large number of degrees of freedom.

Huang, T. C.↗

Thermoelectric properties of 80 a/o Si-20 a/o Ge alloy

This paper discusses the time and temperature dependence of the thermoelectric properties of n- and p-type 80 at. % Si-20 at. % Ge alloy. It is shown that the time-temperature behavior of the properties of both polarity types of this alloy can be described by means of a diffusion-limited dopant precipitation model due to Lifshitz and Slyozov (1961). An experimental program for the determination of the long-term behavior of the properties of the alloy is described in terms of the Lifshitz-Slyozov model, and the thermoelectric properties of the alloy are given for temperatures in the range from room temperature to 1000 C as a function of time up to and including twelve years. The data given for the p-type alloy represent the first time-dependent thermoelectric property data ever published for the p-type silicon-germanium alloys.

Raag, V.↗

Winter bulge and diurnal variations in hydrogen inferred from AE-C composition measurements

In situ mass spectrometric measurements of ion and neutral particle thermospheric compositions have been used to infer the latitudinal and diurnal variations of thermospheric atomic hydrogen for solstice conditions. Local time-dependent and local time-independent components of the observed hydrogen distribution were separated on the basis of a model generated by expanding the log of neutral hydrogen concentration in terms of spherical harmonics. Results are compared with analogous data on N2 concentration; the comparison reveals an anticorrelation between gas temperature and hydrogen concentration. The slope of this anticorrelation line represents the 'zero flux condition' from the exosphere theory of Hodges (1973), thus further bearing out the conclusion that exospheric flow is the dominant process governing the global distribution of hydrogen.

Brinton, H. C.↗

Three-dimensional finite element analysis for high velocity impact

A finite element algorithm for solving unsteady, three-dimensional high velocity impact problems is presented. A computer program was developed based on the Eulerian hydroelasto-viscoplastic formulation and the utilization of the theorem of weak solutions. The equations solved consist of conservation of mass, momentum, and energy, equation of state, and appropriate constitutive equations. The solution technique is a time-dependent finite element analysis utilizing three-dimensional isoparametric elements, in conjunction with a generalized two-step time integration scheme. The developed code was demonstrated by solving one-dimensional as well as three-dimensional impact problems for both the inviscid hydrodynamic model and the hydroelasto-viscoplastic model.

Chan, S. T. K.↗