Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “grade”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 775 records · Page 43
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1976

Fractography of the high temperature hydrogen attack of a medium carbon steel

Results are reported for an experimental study of the microscopic fracture processes associated with hydrogen attack of a commercially produced plain carbon steel in a well-controlled high-temperature hydrogen environment of high purity. In the experiments, sheet samples were exposed to laboratory-grade hydrogen at a pressure of 3.5 MN/sq m and a temperature of 575 C. The fractography of gas-filled fissures and failed tension specimens is analyzed in an effort to identify any predominant microstructural defect associated with fissure formation, the prevalent modes of fracture, and the contribution of gas-filled fissures to the overall failure process. It is found that the tensile properties of the examined steel were significantly degraded after as few as 136 hr of exposure to a high-purity hydrogen atmosphere at 575 C; that the yield strength, ultimate strength, and elongation at fracture were all reduced progressively with increasing exposure time; and that the yield and ultimate strengths were reduced more than 40% after 408 hr while elongation was reduced to less than 2%.

Nelson, H. G.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Heterojunctions in photovoltaic devices

Heterojunctions have interesting optical properties which make them attractive for solar cells. Several types of heterostructure solar cells have been investigated: heteroface, abrupt heterojunction, and graded-gap heterojunction solar cells. The primary advantage of heterostructure cells is the enhanced short-wavelength response although there is potential for low-cost cells with polycrystalline material. The improvement in solar-cell performance for heterojunctions depends upon the selection of semiconductors with useful energy gaps that are closely matched in lattice-spacing and thermal-expansion coefficients. The importance of the heterojunction interface and its dependence on material properties is discussed. Various fabrication methods are discussed and their application to the different types of heterostructures. Recent performance data for material systems representative of each type of heterostructure cell are discussed and considered in terms of maximum expected performance.

Feucht, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

On the reality of the Venus winds

The article presents a rebuttal of Young's (1975) view that the 140 m/sec horizontal wind at 45 km reported by Venera 8 is anomalous or spurious. Some errors are discussed and the largest contribution is attributed to descent probe measurements designed to find the true probe descent rate. Young's suggestion of error in in situ measurement of winds due to selection of a reference speed and to unrecognized oscillator drift is scrutinized. Evidence is seen for a wide band of variable high-grade retrograde horizontal winds girdling Venus at the equator. Mariner 10 evidence (UV photographs) is taken into account. The band of winds at 45 km is seen to extend well beyond the top of the visible cloud, and an upper turbulent region is attributed to vertical convection currents carried along by high-speed horizontal winds.

Ainsworth, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

A lunar density model consistent with topographic, gravitational, librational, and seismic data

A series of models of the lunar interior are derived from topographic, gravitational, librational, and seismic data. The librational parameters and low-degree gravity harmonics result primarily from surface height variations and only secondarily from lateral density variations. The moon departs from isostasy, even for the low-degree harmonics, with a maximum superisostatic stress of 200 bars under the major mascon basins. The mean crustal thicknesses under different physiographic regions are: mascons, 30-35 km; irregular maria, 50-60 km; and highlands, 90-110 km. A possible composition consistent with our model is an anorthositic crust, underlain by a predominantly forsterite upper mantle which grades into a refractory rich lower mantle surrounding a pyrrhotite core.

Bills, B. G.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Ferromagnetic-superparamagnetic granulometry of lunar surface materials

A technique of magnetic granulometry is applied to previously reported data for the temperature dependence of isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) in 13 lunar surface samples, including three soils. Observed increases in IRM with decreasing temperature are attributed to changes from superparamagnetic to single-domain types of behavior for fine metallic-iron particles. Based on this hypothesis, the temperature dependence of IRM in the examined samples is analyzed to obtain particle-size distributions over the range of mean diameters from 30 to 130 A. It is found that the distribution functions for the soils and a low-grade breccia vary as the inverse square of particle volume and that the distributions for recrystallized breccias and igneous rocks apparently peak about mean values.

Schwerer, F. C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Wear formulation for aircraft brake material sliding against steel

Predictions of wear on contemporary copper-based brake material sliding against 17-22 AS grade steel, wear testing equipment, formulation of wear, and test results are discussed. An initial investigation of worn surfaces of the brake material and a mating steel rotor was carried out. A wear model proposed suggests initiation of cracks at a hard particle inclusion site in the surface layer of the brake material; crack propagation allows particles to be removed by intersection of cracks. Mutual relations between sliding variables, load, time, hardness, and surface temperature are studied. Empirical formulas are exhibited.

Ho, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Exhaust gas emissions of a vortex breakdown stabilized combustor

Exhaust gas emission data are described for a swirl stabilized continuous combustor. The combustor consists of confined concentric jets with premixed fuel and air in the inner jet and air in the outer jet. Swirl may be induced in both inner and outer jets with the sense of rotation in the same or opposite directions (co-swirl and counter-swirl). The combustor limits NO emissions by lean operation without sacrificing CO and unburned hydrocarbon emission performance, when commercial-grade methane and air fired at one atmosphere without preheat are used. Relative swirl direction and magnitude are found to have significant effects on exhaust gas concentrations, exit temperatures, and combustor efficiencies. Counter-swirl gives a large recirculation zone, a short luminous combustion zone, and large slip velocities in the interjet shear layer. For maximum counter-swirl conditions, the efficiency is low.

Yetter, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Behavioral analyses of killifish exposed to weightlessness in the Apollo-Soyuz test project

Two groups of killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus, which were flown aboard Apollo-Soyuz, were subjected to postflight behavioral testing. The first group examined consisted of a graded series of embryos representing key developmental stages at orbital insertion (32-h, 66-h, and 128-h stages; pre-liftoff fertilization times). The tests revealed that the young adults from the flight 32-h stage had a significantly decreased positive geotaxis and increased negative phototaxis when compared with ground controls. These findings suggested a greater sensitization of the least-developed flight stage to post-hatching environmental influences. The second group consisted of 21-d old juveniles which were subjected to light orientation tests soon after recovery. No significant differences were detected.

Hoffman, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS1976

An application of the Multi-Purpose System Simulation /MPSS/ model to the Monitor and Control Display System /MACDS/ at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration /NASA/ Goddard Space Flight Center /GSFC/

The Multi-Purpose System Simulator (MPSS) model was used to investigate the current and projected performance of the Monitor and Control Display System (MACDS) at the Goddard Space Flight Center in processing and displaying launch data adequately. MACDS consists of two interconnected mini-computers with associated terminal input and display output equipment and a disk-stored data base. Three configurations of MACDS were evaluated via MPSS and their performances ascertained. First, the current version of MACDS was found inadequate to handle projected launch data loads because of unacceptable data backlogging. Second, the current MACDS hardware with enhanced software was capable of handling two times the anticipated data loads. Third, an up-graded hardware ensemble combined with the enhanced software was capable of handling four times the anticipated data loads.

Mill, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The new applications of sputtering and ion plating

The potential industrial applications of sputtering and ion plating are strictly governed by the unique features these methods possess. The outstanding features of each method, the resultant coating characteristics and the various sputtering modes and configurations are discussed. New, more complex coatings and deposits can be developed such as graded composition structures (metal-ceramic seals), laminated and dispersion strengthened composites which improve the mechanical properties and high temperature stability. Specific industrial areas where future effort of sputtering and ion plating will concentrate to develop intricate alloy or compound coatings and solve difficult problem areas are discussed.

Spalvins, T.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Ultra-high-strength boron fibers

Boron-on-tungsten fibers with tensile strength and strain-to-failure values increased by fifty percent over commercial grades are produced by controlled chemical-etching process. Improved fibers have potential applications as lightweight composites in ground vehicles, spacecraft, and rotors for energy storage.

Behrendt, D. R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Optimization of solar cells for air mass zero operation and a study of solar cells at high temperatures, phase 3

The etch-back epitaxy process is described for producing thin, graded composition GaAlAs layers. The palladium-aluminum contact system is discussed along with its associated problems. Recent solar cell results under simulated air mass zero light and at elevated temperatures are reported and the growth of thin polycrystalline GaAs films on foreign substrates is developed.

Blakeslee, A. E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The influence of composition, annealing treatment, and texture on the fracture toughness of Ti-5Al-2.5Sn plate at cryogenic temperatures

The plane strain fracture toughness K sub Ic and conventional tensile properties of two commercially produced one-inch thick Ti-5Al-2.5Sn plates were determined at cryogenic temperatures. One plate was extra-low interstitial (ELI) grade, the other normal interstitial. Portions of each plate were mill annealed at 1088 K (1500 F) followed by either air cooling or furnace cooling. The tensile properties, flow curves, and K sub Ic of these plates were determined at 295 K (room temperature), 77 K (liquid nitrogen temperature), and 20 K (liquid hydrogen temperature).

Vanstone, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Transmitting and reflecting diffuser

An ultraviolet grade fused silica substrate is coated with vaporized fused silica. The coating thickness is controlled, one thickness causing ultraviolet light to diffuse and another thickness causing ultraviolet light to reflect a near Lambertian pattern.

Keafer, L. S., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Influence of low and high pressure baroreceptors on plasma renin activity in humans

The effects of low and high pressure baroreceptors on plasma renin activity (immunoassay) were evaluated using graded lower body suction (LBS) in six healthy men. LBS at -10 and -20 mmHg for 10 min decreased central venous pressure without changing arterial pressure and thereby presumably reduced low but not high pressure baroreceptor inhibition of renin release. LBS at these levels produced forearm vasoconstriction, but did not increase renin. LBS at -40 mmHG decreased central venous and arterial pulse pressure and thus reduced both low and high pressure baroreceptor inhibition. LBS at this level produced forearm vasoconstriction and tachycardia and increased renin. In summary, reduction in low pressure baroreceptor inhibition in humans did not increase renin in the presence of physiological tonic inhibition from high pressure baroreceptors. Increases in renin did not occur until there was combined reduction of high and low pressure baroreceptor inhibition on plasma renin activity.

Mark, A. L.↗
NASA NTRS1978

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study of radiofrequency-sputtered refractory compound steel interfaces

Radiofrequency sputtering was used to deposit Mo2C, Mo2B5, and MoSi2 coatings on 440C steel substrates. Both sputter etched and preoxidized substrates were used, and the films were deposited with and without a substrate bias of -300 V. The composition of the coatings was measured as a function of depth by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy combined with argon ion etching. In the interfacial region there was evidence that bias produced a graded interface in Mo2B5 but not in Mo2C. Oxides of iron and of all film constituents except carbon were presented in all cases but the iron oxide concentration was higher and the layer thicker on the preoxidized substrates. The film and iron oxides were mixed in the MoSi2 and Mo2C films but layered in the Mo2B5 film. The presence of mixed oxides correlates with enhanced film adhesion.

Wheeler, D. R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Payload transportation system study

A standard size set of shuttle payload transportation equipment was defined that will substantially reduce the cost of payload transportation and accommodate a wide range of payloads with minimum impact on payload design. The system was designed to accommodate payload shipments between the level 4 payload integration sites and the launch site during the calendar years 1979-1982. In addition to defining transportation multi-use mission support equipment (T-MMSE) the mode of travel, prime movers, and ancillary equipment required in the transportation process were also considered. Consistent with the STS goals of low cost and the use of standardized interfaces, the transportation system was designed to commercial grade standards and uses the payload flight mounting interfaces for transportation. The technical, cost, and programmatic data required to permit selection of a baseline system of MMSE for intersite movement of shuttle payloads were developed.

Source record↗