Probe design
Outer planetary probe designs consider mission characteristics, structural configuration, delivery mode, scientific payload, environmental extremes, mass properties, and the launch vehicle and spacecraft interface.
Cowan, W.↗
SEARCH · Engineering Papers
Results for “structural modes”
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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Overstability and cooling in sunspots
The role played by overstable Alfven modes in magnetic structures such as sunspots is considered in detail for a column of magnetic field. It is demonstrated explicitly that overstable Alfven waves cool the interior of the magnetic column. It is suggested that these waves account for the cooling in sunspot umbrae, and therefore, in concurrence with Parker, we conclude that a sunspot is a region of enhanced heat transport. The calculations indicate that sunspots have small regions at normal photospheric brightness, and we tentatively suggest that these regions are umbral dots. We also suggest that cooling by overstable Alfven waves may explain the existence of the intense small magnetic flux tubes that constitute the general solar magnetic field.
Roberts, B.↗
The use of analytical surface tools in the fundamental study of wear
Various techniques and surface tools available for the study of the atomic nature of the wear of materials are reviewed These include chemical etching, x-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, Auger emission spectroscopy analysis, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, field ion microscopy, and the atom probe. Properties of the surface and wear surface regions which affect wear, such as surface energy, crystal structure, crystallographic orientation, mode of dislocation behavior, and cohesive binding, are discussed. A number of mechanisms involved in the generation of wear particles are identified with the aid of the aforementioned tools.
Buckley, D. H.↗
Development of an automated multi-stage modal synthesis system for NASTRAN
A mode synthesis development to be scheduled in the NASTRAN multi-level substructuring system for general dynamics applications is described. The method combines the better features of several state of the art mode synthesis techniques, yet is general enough to provide for any arbitrary combination of boundary degrees of freedom and normal mode boundary conditions. Normal modes or complex eigenvectors may be used in the definition of a structure component which may be combined with other components of any type. Combination structures fabricated from component modes may be processed as normal substructures, including further multi-stage mode synthesis reductions. Included are discussions of the user control of the system and advantages in actual application.
Herting, D. N.↗
The use of analytical surface tools in the fundamental study of wear
This paper reviews the various techniques and surface tools available for the study of the atomic nature of the wear of materials. These include chemical etching, X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, Auger emission spectroscopy analysis, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, field ion microscopy, and the atom probe. Properties of the surface and wear surface regions which effect wear such as surface energy, crystal structure, crystallographic orientation, mode of dislocation behavior, and cohesive binding are discussed. A number of mechanisms involved in the generation of wear particles are identified with the aid of the aforementioned tools.
Buckley, D. H.↗
Solar flare shocks in interplanetary space and solar flare particle events
Data on particle events resulting from three solar flares are examined to determine the effect of shocks on the population of protons at energies not less than 30 MeV. The arrival of the shock is found to mark the start of the decay phase of the particle event, and changes in particle anisotropy are found to be related to features in the shock structure. Two distinct modes of particle propagation are found to exist: a direct component, and a second component which has a time scale of days and is seen in two of the flares which also produced interplanetary shock. In addition, a model is described in which the protons are accelerated by the shocks, and it is shown to be in agreement with observations.
Evenson, P.↗
Design considerations and experiences in the use of composite material for an aeroelastic research wing
Experiences in using composite skin material on an aeroelastic research wing used in flight flutter testing are described. Significant variations in skin shear modulus due to stress and temperature were encountered with the original fiberglass laminate skin designed to minimize wing torsional stiffness. These variations along with the sensitivity of wing torsional stiffness to the skin-to-frame attachment method complicated the structural model vibration mode predictions. A wing skin redesign with different fiber orientation and a reduction in the amount of skin-to-frame bonding resulted in more predictable modal characteristics without sacrificing design objectives. Design and modeling considerations for future applications are discussed.
Eckstrom, C. V.↗
Characterization of delamination and transverse cracking in graphite/epoxy laminates by acoustic emission
Efforts to characterize and differentiate between two major failure processes in graphite/epoxy composites - transverse cracking and Mode I delamination are described. Representative laminates were tested in uniaxial tension and flexure. The failure processes were monitored and identified by acoustic emission (AE). The effect of moisture on AE was also investigated. Each damage process was found to have a distinctive AE output that is significantly affected by moisture conditions. It is concluded that AE can serve as a useful tool for detecting and identifying failure modes in composite structures in laboratory and in service environments.
Garg, A.↗
Space Station Attitude Control System Concept and Requirements
There is currently no single Space Station configuration which is accepted as a baseline. However, the latest approach is toward symmetry in both geometry and mass distribution. This minimizes aerodynamic and gravity gradient torques. Solar arrays and radiators drive the configuration strongly. One axis of the solar arrays needs to be perpendicular to the orbit plane, and the geometric and principal axis should remain common along this axis to minimize secular torques. The need for both inertial and earth-fixed modes drives the structure of the Station toward a disk-like shape in the orbital plane.
Nicaise, P. D.↗
Application of large eddy interaction model to channel flow
A procedure utilizing an expansion of proper orthogonal functions (or modes) to predict a fully developed flow in channel is derived. To examine numerical and conceptual difficulties, preliminary computations are performed with assigned mean velocity, and turbulence is expressed with only the first mode. The nonlinear interactions of the components of the first mode are treated specifically, with the influence of higher modes neglected; this treatment required adjustment of the skewness and effective Reynolds number to assure energy equilibrium of the first mode. Computational results show that the first mode possesses the structural character similar to that of the entire flow.
Hong, S. K.↗
Geomorphic analyses from space imagery
One of the most obvious applications of space imagery to geomorphological analyses is in the study of drainage patterns and channel networks. LANDSAT, high altitude photography and other types of remote sensing imagery are excellent for depicting stream networks on a regional scale because of their broad coverage in a single image. They offer a valuable tool for comparing and analyzing drainage patterns and channel networks all over the world. Three aspects considered in this geomorphological study are: (1) the origin, evolution and rates of development of drainage systems; (2) the topological studies of network and channel arrangements; and (3) the adjustment of streams to tectonic events and geologic structure (i.e., the mode and rate of adjustment).
Morisawa, M.↗
Characterization of delamination and transverse cracking in graphite/epoxy laminates by acoustic emission
Efforts to characterize and differentiate between two major failure processes in graphite/epoxy composites - transverse cracking and Mode I delamination - are described. Representative laminates were tested in uniaxial tension and flexure. The failure processes were monitored and identified by acoustic emission (AE). The effect of moisture on AE was also investigated. Each damage process was found to have a distinctive AE output that is significantly affected by moisture conditions. It is concluded that AE can serve as a useful tool for detecting and identifying failure modes in composite structures in laboratory and in service environments.
Garg, A.↗
Activities of the Center for the Space Processing of Engineering Materials
Topics addressed include: containerless processing and purification; directional and rapid solidification; high temperature alloys; oxidation resistant niobium alloys; metallic bonding; effects of solidification mode on structure-property relationships; and dispersion strengthened metal alloys. Each of the projects is reported by company association and follow according to alphabetical order of the company names.
Source record↗
Application of a large-eddy interaction model to channel flow
A procedure utilizing an expansion of proper orthogonal functions (or modes) to predict a fully developed flow in channel is derived. To examine numerical and conceptual difficulties, preliminary computations are performed with assigned mean velocity, and turbulence is expressed with only the first mode. The nonlinear interactions of the components of the first mode are treated specifically, with the influence of higher modes neglected; this treatment required adjustment of the skewness and effective Reynolds number to assure energy equilibrium of the first mode. Computational results show that the first mode possesses the structural character similar to that of the entire flow.
Hong, S. K.↗
Fluid mass and thermal loading effects on the modal characteristics of space shuttle main engine liquid oxygen inlet splitter vanes
An analysis and evaluation of experimental modal survey test data on the variations of modal characteristics induced by pressure and thermal loading events are presented. Extensive modal survey tests were carried out on a Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) test article using liquid nitrogen under cryogenic temperatures and high pressures. The results suggest that an increase of pressure under constant cryogenic temperature or a decrease of temperature under high pressure induces an upward shift of frequencies of various modes of the structures.
Panossian, H. V.↗
What is the essential physics of mass loss from late-type stars?
A review is given of the data concerning mass loss from late-type stars. The major classes of mass-loss mechanisms (thermally-driven winds, radiatively-driven winds, and wave-driven winds) are discussed, and the empirical mass-loss rates and other data are compared with theoretical predictions for any of these mechanisms acting alone. It is likely that several mechanisms act together to produce the large mass-loss rates in the Mira and nonpulsating M supergiants. Studies of the solar atmosphere suggest that thermal bifurcation driven by molecular condensation instabilities may play a critical role in cooling the atmospheres of luminous cool stars and forming siicate dust. It is possible that several metastable modes of atmospheric structure may exist for a given set of stellar parameters.
Linsky, Jeffrey L.↗
On the structure of potential vorticity in baroclinic instability
The structure of baroclinic modes is examined in terms of their potential vorticity. Baroclinic instabilities may be viewed as mutually reinforcing interactions between the disturbance potential vorticity at different levels in the atmosphere. A technique is introduced for diagnosing quantitatively which levels of potential vorticity are important in the growth of the instability. Both Charney and Green modes are found to depend on the interaction between the surface thermal anomalies and a thin layer of potential vorticity anomalies centered on the steering level. In the Green modes, the growth is retarded by the influence of the eddy potential vorticity at higher levels. The inclusion of a tropopause in the basic state does not modify the fundamental dynamics of the baroclinic modes in the presence of linear shear.
Robinson, Walter A.↗
Deformation and fracture of thin sheet aluminum-lithium alloys: The effect of cryogenic temperatures
The objective is to characterize the fracture behavior and to define the fracture mechanisms for new Al-Li-Cu alloys, with emphasis on the role of indium additions and cryogenic temperatures. Three alloys were investigated in rolled product form: 2090 baseline and 2090 + indium produced by Reynolds Metals, and commercial AA 2090-T81 produced by Alcoa. The experimental 2090 + In alloy exhibited increases in hardness and ultimate strength, but no change in tensile yield strength, compared to the baseline 2090 composition in the unstretched T6 condition. The reason for this behavior is not understood. Based on hardness and preliminary Kahn Tear fracture experiments, a nominally peak-aged condition was employed for detailed fracture studies. Crack initiation and growth fracture toughness were examined as a function of stress state and microstructure using J(delta a) methods applied to precracked compact tension specimens in the LT orientation. To date, J(delta a) experiments have been limited to 23 C. Alcoa 2090-T81 exhibited the highest toughness regardless of stress state. Fracture was accompanied by extensive delamination associated with high angle grain boundaries normal to the fatigue precrack surface and progressed microscopically by a transgranular shear mechanism. In contrast the two peak-aged Reynolds alloys had lower toughness and fracture was intersubgranular without substantial delamination. The influences of cryogenic temperature, microstructure, boundary precipitate structure, and deformation mode in governing the competing fracture mechanisms will be determined in future experiments. Results contribute to the development of predictive micromechanical models for fracture modes in Al-Li alloys, and to fracture resistant materials.
Wagner, John A.↗