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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 811 records · Page 45
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1985

Models of cometary emission in the 18-cm OH transitions - The predicted behavior of Comet Halley

The return of Halley's comet to the inner solar system in 1985-1986 presents an excellent opportunity to study the behavior of a bright comet, since observations may be planned ahead of time to yield the maximum scientific return. Observations of the OH radical in the 18-cm wavelength Alpha-doublet transitions can be expected to yield significant results to cometary science in a number of areas from the measurement of the production rate of OH parent molecules (water) to the elucidation of the kinematics in the coma. Therefore, models of the OH emission from the comae of comets are presented together with predictions of brightness and spectra of Halley's Comet during the current apparition as an aid to prospective observers. The desirability of certain observational programs, including monitoring, mapping, polarimetry, and occultation experiments, are also discussed.

Schloerb, F. P.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Theoretical characterization of the reaction NH2 + O yields products

The potential energy surface for NH2+O has been characterized using complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF)/derivative calculations to determine stationary point geometries and frequencies followed by internally contracted configuration interaction (ICCI) calculations to determine the energetics. The calculations predict a NO bond strength of 85.8 kcal/mol for NH2O. The barrier for isomerization of NH2O to trans-HNOH is predicted to be 48.0 kcal/mol and the barriers for H+HNO forming NH2O and NHOH are predicted to be 2.1 and 8.3 kcal/mol, respectively (all corrected for zero-point energy). The computed heats of formation for NH2O and cis- and trans-HNOH are in good agreement with the present results. The barrier for H + HNO yields H2 + NO is computed to be about 0.3 kcal/mol.

Walch, Stephen P.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Ground-Laboratory to In-Space Atomic Oxygen Correlation for the Polymer Erosion and Contamination Experiment (PEACE) Polymers

The Materials International Space Station Experiment 2 (MISSE 2) Polymer Erosion and Contamination Experiment (PEACE) polymers were exposed to the environment of low Earth orbit (LEO) for 3.95 years from 2001 to 2005. There were 41 different PEACE polymers, which were flown on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS) in order to determine their atomic oxygen erosion yields. In LEO, atomic oxygen is an environmental durability threat, particularly for long duration mission exposures. Although spaceflight experiments, such as the MISSE 2 PEACE experiment, are ideal for determining LEO environmental durability of spacecraft materials, ground-laboratory testing is often relied upon for durability evaluation and prediction. Unfortunately, significant differences exist between LEO atomic oxygen exposure and atomic oxygen exposure in ground-laboratory facilities. These differences include variations in species, energies, thermal exposures and radiation exposures, all of which may result in different reactions and erosion rates. In an effort to improve the accuracy of ground-based durability testing, ground-laboratory to in-space atomic oxygen correlation experiments have been conducted. In these tests, the atomic oxygen erosion yields of the PEACE polymers were determined relative to Kapton H using a radio-frequency (RF) plasma asher (operated on air). The asher erosion yields were compared to the MISSE 2 PEACE erosion yields to determine the correlation between erosion rates in the two environments. This paper provides a summary of the MISSE 2 PEACE experiment; it reviews the specific polymers tested as well as the techniques used to determine erosion yield in the asher, and it provides a correlation between the space and ground laboratory erosion yield values. Using the PEACE polymers asher to in-space erosion yield ratios will allow more accurate in-space materials performance predictions to be made based on plasma asher durability evaluation.

Stambler, Arielle H.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Multiscale Studies of the Three-Dimensional Dayside X-Line

We review recent experience from the Cluster, Double Star, and THEMIS missions for lessons that apply to the upcoming Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS) being developed for launch in 2014. On global scales, simulation and statistical studies lead to mean congurations of dayside reconnection, implying specific relative alignments of the inflow magnetic fields and X-line, with implications for MMS operations designed to maximize the number of close encounters with the diffusion region. At intermediate MHD-to-ion scales, reconstruction of features created by one or two X-lines have developed to the point where data from a cluster of spacecraft can determine their temporal trends and the approximate three-dimensional X-line structure. Recent petascale particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations of reconnection encompass three spatial dimensions with excellent resolution, and make striking predictions of electron scale physics that creates complex interacting flux ropes under component reconnection. High time resolution measurements from MMS will determine the detailed electron scale kinetics embedded within the global and MHDion scale contexts. These developments will lead to the refinement of our three-dimensional multiscale picture of reconnection, yielding improved understanding of the global, MHD, and local physics controlling the onset or quenching, variability, and mean rate of reconnection. This in turn will enable improved predictability of the structural features created by transient reconnection, and their space weather consequences.

Reconnection↗
NASA NTRS1983

Fracture behavior of unidirectional boron/aluminum composite laminates

An experiment was conducted to verify the results of mathematical models which predict the stresses and displacements of fibers and the amount of damage growth in a center-notched lamina as a function of the applied remote stress and the matrix and fiber material properties. A brittle lacquer coating was used to detect the yielding in the matrix while X-ray techniques were used to determine the number of broken fibers in the laminate. The notched strengths and the amounts of damage found in the specimens agree well with those predicted by the mathematical model. It is shown that the amount of damage and the crack opening displacement does not depend strongly on the number of plies in the laminate for a given notch width. By heat-treating certain laminates to increase the yield stress of the alumina matrix, the effect of different matrix properties on the fracture behavior was investigated. The stronger matrix is shown to weaken the notched laminate by decreasing the amount of matrix damage, thereby making the laminate more notch sensitive.

Goree, J. G.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Dynamic Smagorinsky model on anisotropic grids

Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of complex-geometry flows often involves highly anisotropic meshes. To examine the performance of the dynamic Smagorinsky model in a controlled fashion on such grids, simulations of forced isotropic turbulence are performed using highly anisotropic discretizations. The resulting model coefficients are compared with a theoretical prediction (Scotti et al., 1993). Two extreme cases are considered: pancake-like grids, for which two directions are poorly resolved compared to the third, and pencil-like grids, where one direction is poorly resolved when compared to the other two. For pancake-like grids the dynamic model yields the results expected from the theory (increasing coefficient with increasing aspect ratio), whereas for pencil-like grids the dynamic model does not agree with the theoretical prediction (with detrimental effects only on smallest resolved scales). A possible explanation of the departure is attempted, and it is shown that the problem may be circumvented by using an isotropic test-filter at larger scales. Overall, all models considered give good large-scale results, confirming the general robustness of the dynamic and eddy-viscosity models. But in all cases, the predictions were poor for scales smaller than that of the worst resolved direction.

Scotti, A.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Statistical time-dependent model for the interstellar gas

We present models for temperature and ionization structure of low, uniform-density (approximately 0.3 per cu cm) interstellar gas in a galactic disk which is exposed to soft X rays from supernova outbursts occurring randomly in space and time. The structure was calculated by computing the time record of temperature and ionization at a given point by Monte Carlo simulation. The calculation yields probability distribution functions for ionized fraction, temperature, and their various observable moments. These time-dependent models predict a bimodal temperature distribution of the gas that agrees with various observations. Cold regions in the low-density gas may have the appearance of clouds in 21-cm absorption. The time-dependent model, in contrast to the steady-state model, predicts large fluctuations in ionization rate and the existence of cold (approximately 30 K), ionized (ionized fraction equal to about 0.1) regions.

Gerola, H.↗
NASA NTRS1977

A search for thermal extreme ultraviolet radiation from nearby pulsars

Results are presented for extreme ultraviolet (100-1000 A) observations of radio pulsars. Using an EUV telescope carried aboard the Apollo-Soyuz mission, data were acquired on the nearby pulsars PSR 1133 + 16, 1451 - 68, and 1929 + 10. None of the objects was detected, with typical upper limits of 6 by 10 to the -26th power erg/sq cm/sec per Hz in the 170-620-A band set on flux incident at earth. The data are interpreted to set limits on the effective temperatures of the neutron stars, yielding values of less than 160,000 K in the best cases, and the limits compared with theoretical predictions.

Greenstein, G.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Plasma diffusion into the wake of Venus

A model of the diffusion of ionosheath plasma into the wake region of Venus is presented. It is shown that particle diffusion, which is assumed to be a consequence of the fluctuating magnetic field observed in the wake of Venus by Pioneer Venus and Veneras 9 and 10, can explain the plasma observations made in the wake by Veneras 9 and 10. The pressure due to these diffusing particles when balanced against the ionospheric pressure yield ionopause heights less than 1000 km for zenith angles less than about 135 deg. The model also predicts significant fluxes of low energy electrons and ions for zenith angles less than 135 deg, which are capable of producing the observed nightside ionosphere.

Gombosi, T.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Comparison of CRD, APU, and state models for Iowa corn and soybeans and North Dakota barley and spring wheat

A comparison was made among the CEAS crop reporting district (CRD), agrophysical unit (APU), and state level multiple regression yield models for corn and soybeans in Iowa and barley and spring wheat in North Dakota. The best predictions were made by the state model for North Dakota spring wheat, by the APU models for barley, by the CRD models for Iowa soybeans, and by APU covariance models for Iowa corn. Because of this lack of consistency of model performance, CRD models would be recommended due to the availability of the data.

French, V.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A new approach for solving the three-dimensional steady Euler equations. I - General theory

The present iterative procedure combines the Clebsch potentials and the Munk-Prim (1947) substitution principle with an extension of a semidirect Cauchy-Riemann solver to three dimensions, in order to solve steady, inviscid three-dimensional rotational flow problems in either subsonic or incompressible flow regimes. This solution procedure can be used, upon discretization, to obtain inviscid subsonic flow solutions in a 180-deg turning channel. In addition to accurately predicting the behavior of weak secondary flows, the algorithm can generate solutions for strong secondary flows and will yield acceptable flow solutions after only 10-20 outer loop iterations.

Chang, S.-C.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Analysis of Jovian decametric data: Study of radio emission mechanisms

Catalogues of approx. 200 decametric arcs and approx. 200 gaps between arcs were studied, in an effort to reconcile the data with predictions for the model wherein reflections of Io-induced currents each emit in a conical pattern and yield a distinct radio arc. The most recent interpretations of this data suggest that these Io-produced Alfven waves persist for at least one or two passages of Io, and that the emission cone half angles are approx. 40 to 90 deg., varying from arc to arc. Below 1.2 MHz it was discovered that Jupiter emits radiation strongly modulated in frequency with periods of approx. 200 kHz; this quasi-sinusoidal emission (MSA) can shift more than 180 deg. in phase over periods of 6 seconds, although these shifts are usually much smaller. MSA is not strongly correlated with the longitudes of Io or Jupiter, and typically occurs in patches covering approx. 500 kHz or more for periods of a few minutes. Furthermore, this modulation sometimes resembles a train of impulses in frequency with exponential decays toward high frequencies. Comparison of these results with the previous studies of V-shaped S-bursts is suggestive of an emission mechanism.

Staelin, D. H.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Atmospheric drag perturbations on the Mars Observer Orbiter

The nominal launch date of the Mars Observer spacecraft is 09 - 16 - 02, with Mars encounter on 08 - 19 - 93 and the mapping orbit established on 12 - 06 - 93. Because this orbit is nearly circular at low altitude (361 km), both gravity and atmospheric drag will dominate the orbital evolution and are also the major error sources. This paper provides: (1) a summary of atmospheric density and errors for the Mars Observer orbit and time frame, (2) an assessment of spacecraft-position errors using current density estimates, and (3) an estimate of atmospheric density modeling improvement directly from the Doppler data acquired during flight operations. With an improved gravity field model, reconstructed spacecraft-position errors are at the level of 0.5 km (1sigma). However, when predicting the spacecraft's position over 14 days, the density error (at the 90-percent confidence level) dominates, yielding a down-track error of almost 70 km. By modeling the mean atmospheric density, this error can be reduced by at least a factor of two.

Esposito, P. B.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Plasticity analysis of fibrous composite laminates under thermomechanical loads

Elastic-plastic behavior of fibrous composite laminates is analyzed for coupled in-plane mechanical loads and uniform thermal changes. Constitutive equations of the individual fibrous layers are derived from a vanishing fiber diameter model that represents the essential axial constraint between the phases. This permits derivation of closed form equations for the overall yield condition, stress concentration factors, and instantaneous compliance. Thermoelastic properties of the phases and yield stress of the matrix phase are functions of temperature. The effect of the model assumptions on the predicted behavior of composite laminates is examined by comparing the calculated response under cyclic thermal changes to available theoretical results and experimental measurements.

Bahei-El-din, Yehia A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A parameterization for the shortwave transmissivity of stratiform water clouds based on empirical data and radiative transfer theory

Surface measurements of solar flux and total integrated liquid-water content, radiosonde data, and infrared satellite images are analyzed in conjunction with radiative transfer calculations to derive an empirical parameterization for the shortwave transmissivity of continental stratiform water clouds. The data were collected near Denver, Colorado, over a period of six years. A multiple reflection radiative transfer model is employed to estimate stratus cloud transmissivity in terms of the measurable liquid-water path (LWP). A nonlinear fit of estimated transmissivities to the corresponding observations of LWP yields close agreement with a previous, more complicated parameterization. The derived expression for cloud transmissivity is used to predict mean daily surface fluxes for 61 days during which periods of stratiform clouds were observed over the Denver area. A comparison between predicted and measured fluxes shows agreement to within + or - 4 percent, with best agreement for clouds of moderate optical thickness. Potential sources of error are identified with sensitivity studies.

Derr, V. E.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Calculation of Non-Bonded Forces Due to Sliding of Bundled Carbon Nanotubes

An important consideration for load transfer in bundles of single-walled carbon nanotubes is the nonbonded (van der Waals) forces between the nanotubes and their effect on axial sliding of the nanotubes relative to each other. In this research, the non-bonded forces in a bundle of seven hexagonally packed (10,10) single-walled carbon nanotubes are represented as an axial force applied to the central nanotube. A simple model, based on momentum balance, is developed to describe the velocity response of the central nanotube to the applied force. The model is verified by comparing its velocity predictions with molecular dynamics simulations that were performed on the bundle with different force histories applied to the central nanotube. The model was found to quantitatively predict the nanotube velocities obtained from the molecular dynamics simulations. Both the model and the simulations predict a threshold force at which the nanotube releases from the bundle. This force converts to a shear yield strength of 10.5-11.0 MPa for (10,10) nanotubes in a bundle.

Frankland, S. J. V.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Specimens Prepared for Materials International Space Station Experiment

The Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) is a materials flight experiment sponsored by the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the NASA Space Environmental Effects Program at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. MISSE is a cooperative effort among the Air Force, several NASA field centers, and industry. The experiment package will be placed on the exterior of the International Space Station in the summer of 2001. Approximately half of the specimens will be exposed to the space environment for 1 year, and the other half will be exposed for 3 years. The Electro-Physics Branch at the NASA Glenn Research Center has prepared and delivered over 150 specimens to be included in MISSE. Specimens include: 1) Double-coated polyimide Kapton to compare mass loss from in-space atomic oxygen undercutting erosion to ground-laboratory atomic oxygen undercutting erosion for predicting in-space durability; 2) Silicones to study changes in surface hardness and optical properties after combined atomic oxygen--ultraviolet radiation exposure for predicting in-space durability; 3) Forty-one different polymers to accurately measure their atomic oxygen erosion yields; 4) Scattering chambers to study atomic oxygen scattering characteristics that are relevant to the degradation found in spacecraft with exterior openings; 5) Thin polymer film disks and tensile specimens to study the effects of radiation on their optical properties and mechanical properties; 6) Lightweight intercalated graphite epoxy composites to study electromagnetic interference shielding performance; and 7) Polymer-based materials utilizing new atomic oxygen protection concepts to study their durability.

Banks, Bruce A.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Evaluation of a Potential for Enhancing the Decision Support System of the Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center with NASA Earth Science Research Results

NASA's objective for the Applied Sciences Program of the Science Mission Directorate is to expand and accelerate the realization of economic and societal benefits from Earth science, information, and technology. This objective is accomplished by using a systems approach to facilitate the incorporation of Earth observations and predictions into the decision-support tools used by partner organizations to provide essential services to society. The services include management of forest fires, coastal zones, agriculture, weather prediction, hazard mitigation, aviation safety, and homeland security. In this way, NASA's long-term research programs yield near-term, practical benefits to society. The Applied Sciences Program relies heavily on forging partnerships with other Federal agencies to accomplish its objectives. NASA chooses to partner with agencies that have existing connections with end-users, information infrastructure already in place, and decision support systems that can be enhanced by the Earth science information that NASA is uniquely poised to provide (NASA, 2004).

Blonski, Slawomir↗