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At least 847 records · Page 47

Low-Density, Aerogel-Filled Thermal-Insulation Tiles

Aerogel fillings have been investigated in a continuing effort to develop low-density thermal-insulation tiles that, relative to prior such tiles, have greater dimensional stability (especially less shrinkage), equal or lower thermal conductivity, and greater strength and durability. In preparation for laboratory tests of dimensional and thermal stability, prototypes of aerogel-filled versions of recently developed low-density tiles have been fabricated by impregnating such tiles to various depths with aerogel formations ranging in density from 1.5 to 5.6 lb/ft3 (about 53 to 200 kg/cu m). Results available at the time of reporting the information for this article showed that the thermal-insulation properties of the partially or fully aerogel- impregnated tiles were equivalent or superior to those of the corresponding non-impregnated tiles and that the partially impregnated tiles exhibited minimal (<1.5 percent) shrinkage after multiple exposures at a temperature of 2,300 F (1,260 C). Latest developments have shown that tiles containing aerogels at the higher end of the density range are stable after multiple exposures at the said temperature.

Santos, Maryann↗

The Influence of Silicon Additions on Friction and Wear of Nickel Alloys at Temperatures to 1000 Degrees Fahrenheit

Small additions of silicon have considerable beneficial effect on performance on slider alloys. This effect has most frequently been attributed to increased hardness. The research reported was conducted to consider a hypothesis that the primary role of silicon in slider alloys is one of supporting the formation of protective surface films. Friction and wear data were obtained at temperatures from 75 to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit with a series of binary silicon-nickel alloys containing up to 10 percent silicon. Pertinent hot hardness, metallurgical and surface-film analysis data are included. Atmospheres used were air, mixtures of oxygen and argon, a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen, and a halogenated methane gas lubricant. The results show the role of silicon as a film former to be of great importance in success of silicon-containing alloys as slider materials for extreme temperatures. The range of variables studied gave friction coefficients from 0.05 to greater than 10.00 depending on film formation tendencies. Alloys with 5 percent or more silicon having a duplex structure showed the best results. Film formation resulted from surface reactions or the smearing of the softer phase from the alloys having duplex structure.

Buckley, Donald H.↗

Al-Mg Isotopic Constraints on the Condensation Age of Fine-Grained Refractory Inclusions in Reduced Cv3 Chondrites

Fine-grained Ca-Al-rich inclusions (FGIs) in carbonaceous chondrites are interpreted as aggregates of direct condensates from the solar nebula that escaped extensive melting. Thus far, a few high-precision SIMS Al-Mg chronology studies of FGIs from CV3 chondrites have been reported. Argued that (26Al/27Al)0 of all FGIs are close to the bulk refractory inclusion value of ~5.2×10−5 which may define a time zero for the FGI condensation. A similar (26Al/27Al)0 value was also inferred from an amoeboid olivine aggregate (AOA), which also represents a direct condensate from the solar nebula. In contrast, reported significant variations in (26Al/27Al)0 of FGIs, ranging from ~5.2×10−5 to ~3.4×10−5, and concluded that their formation continued over at least ~0.4 Ma after the canonical value. These contrasting results suggest that the chronological significance for the formation age spread of FGIs in CV3 chondrites is still poorly constrained.

J. Han↗

Noble Gases in Individual Particles From Bennu: Investigating the Origin of Gas-Rich Asteroidal Material

One of the driving hypotheses of the OSIRIS-REx mission [1] is that B-type asteroid Bennu formed beyond the snow line by accretion of material of the protoplanetary disk. Hence Bennu is expected to be rich in highly volatile elements. Among them, noble gases are chemically inert and their abundances and isotope compositions are shaped by physical processes such as radioactivity, irradiation, and isotope fractionation [2]. Hence studying the noble gas composition of Bennu's grains can contribute to testing Hypotheses 4 (formation beyond the snow line), 5 (geological activity), and 6 (catastrophic disruption) of the OSIRIS-REx mission [1]. Here we report preliminary data obtained on particles from asteroid Bennu using our all-noble-gas (He to Xe) analytical system installed at the Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques (CRPG) Nancy (France) [3]. A companion presentation presents nitrogen-Ne-Ar data [4].

B. Marty↗

Search for Presolar Materials and Isotopically Anomalous Diffuse Insoluble Organic Matter in Samples From Asteroid 101955 Bennu

Carbonaceous asteroids allow us to study the original materials that formed the planets in the protoplanetary disk. They contain organic matter and (sub-)micrometer-size dust grains, called presolar grains, that condensed in the circumstellar envelopes of evolved stars and the ejecta of stellar explosions, such as novae and supernovae, before the formation of our Solar System. The isotopically anomalous organics are thought to have formed in the interstellar medium and the early Solar System. Whereas presolar grains provide insight into the building blocks of our Solar System, studying organics can help us understand the origin of life on Earth. These organics might have contributed to ingredients that helped life emerge. The return of samples from asteroid 101955 Bennu by NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission gives us a new opportunity to elucidate the formation mechanism(s) and evolution of organics, as well as the abundance and distribution presolar grains in carbonaceous asteroids. Here, we report on our ongoing work to characterize the isotopic and chemical compositions, microstructure, distribution, and abundance of insoluble organic matter (IOM) and presolar grains in Bennu samples. This work supports hypotheses 2 and 3 of the OSIRIS-REx Sample Analysis Plan.

P. Haenecour↗

Scaling of impact damage in fiber composites

Impact damage in fiber composite structures remains of much concern, and is often the limiting factor in establishing allowable strain levels. The complexity of impact damage formation usually dictates that experiments are required, but scaling of results from small laboratory scale specimens to large structures introduces additional uncertainty into the analysis. This presentation gives the results of an analytical and experimental investigation intended to develop procedures for prediction of damage formation and subsequent strength loss, with particular emphasis on scaling of results with respect to structure size. The experimental investigation involved both drop-weight and airgun impact on carbon/epoxy plates and cylinders. Five sizes of plates ranging from 50 by 50 by 1.072 mm to 250 by 250 by 5.36 mm, and two sizes of cylinders with diameters of 96.5 and 319 mm, were employed in the experimental program. Impact tests were carried out over a range of impact conditions, and specimens were inspected for damage by C-scan and deplying. Analysis procedures were developed for both quasistatic and dynamic impacts for both the plates and cylinders. As has been reported previously, comparison of predicted structural response and measured surface strains was quite good over the entire range of sizes employed in the program. The damage formation and strength loss after impact showed a number of interesting features that are significant with respect to scaling of size. The extent of delamination was observed to increase with specimen size more than would be expected if stresses controlled the delamination extent. This was explained on the basis that delamination is controlled by energy release rates, and thus incorporates the usual dependence on the absolute size characteristic of fracture mechanics. Additionally, the experiments indicated that delamination initiated at matrix cracks and is dependent on the absolute size of the ply group thicknesses. Both the initiation and propagation of delamination are seen to be controlled by fracture mechanics parameters, and thus show specific dependence on size that must be accounted for in extrapolating results from laboratory scale tests to full size structures.

Swanson, Stephen R.↗

Surface and Internal Structure of Pristine Presolar Silicon Carbide

Silicon carbide is the most well-studied type of presolar grain. Isotope measurements of thousands [1,2] and structural data from over 500 individual grains have been reported [3]. The isotope data indicate that approximately 98% originated in asymptotic giant branch stars and 2% in supernovae. Although tens of different polytypes of SiC are known to form synthetically, only two polytypes have been reported for presolar grains. Daulton et al. [3] found that for SiC grains isolated from Murchison by acid treatments, 79.4% are 3C cubic beta-SiC, 2.7% are 2H hexagonal alpha-SiC, 17.1% are intergrowths of and , and 0.9% are heavily disordered. They report that the occurrence of only the and polytypes is consistent with the observed range of condensation temperatures of circumstellar dust for carbon stars. Further constraint on the formation and subsequent alteration of the grains can be obtained from studies of the surfaces and interior structure of grains in pristine form, i.e., prepared without acid treatments [4,5]. The acid treatments remove surface coatings, produce etch pits around defect sites and could remove some subgrains. Surface oxides have been predicted by theoretical modeling as a survival mechanism for SiC grains exposed to the hot oxidizing solar nebula [6]. Scanning electron microscopy studies of pristine SiC shows some evidence for the existence of oxide and organic coatings [4]. We report herein on transmission electron microscopy studies of the surface and internal structure of two pristine SiC grains, including definitive evidence of an oxide rim on one grain, and the presence of internal TiC and AlN grains.

Stroud, Rhonda, M.↗

New Particle Formation in Anthropogenic Plumes Advecting from Asia Observed During TRACE-P

The characteristics and sources of what are believed to be newly formed 3 to 4 nm particles in anthropogenic plumes advecting from Asian are reported. Airborne measurements were made from March to April 2001 as part of the NASA TRACE-P experiment at latitudes ranging from North of the Philippines to Northern Japan (20 to 45 deg. N). In the more polluted plumes, high concentrations of 3 to 4 nm diameter particles (less than 100/qu cm) were observed both within and along the upper outer edges of plumes that were identified by enhanced carbon monoxide and fine particulate sulfate concentrations. The results from two research flights are investigated in detail. Three to four-nm particle concentrations are generally correlated with gas phase sulfuric acid and found in regions of low surface areas relative to the immediate surroundings or where there are steep transitions to lower surface areas. Sulfuric acid and surface area concentrations in the most polluted plume reached 6 x l0(exp 7) and 750 micro sq m/qu cm, respectively, in regions of particle formation. In contrast to these anthropogenic plumes, few 3 to 4 nm particles were observed in the clean background and few were detected within a volcanic plume where the studies highest H2SO4 concentrations (less than lO(exp 8)/qu cm) were recorded. Enhanced SO2 concentrations in the range of approximately 2 to 7 ppb, in conjunction with other unidentified, possibly coemitted species, appear to be the driving factor for nucleation. (0345, 4801); 0322 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Constituent sources and sinks; 0345 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Pollution-urban and regional (0305); 4801 Oceanography: Biological and Chemical: Aerosols (0305).

Weber, R. J.↗

Metal-Silicate Segregation in Deforming Dunitic Rocks: Applications to Core Formation in Europa and Ganymede

Core formation is an important event in the evolution of a planetary body, affecting both the geochemical and geophysical properties of the body. Metal-silicate segregation could have proceeded either by settling of liquid metal through a magma ocean or by percolation of liquid metal through a solid silicate mantle. Percolation of metallic melt had previously been excluded as a viable segregation mechanism because metallic melts do not form an interconnected network under hydrostatic conditions, except at high melt fraction (>5 vol%), due to the high dihedral angle between metals and silicates (>60 ). Without an interconnected network, porous flow of metallic melt is impossible, leaving the magma ocean scenario as the only mechanism to form the core. Moment-of-inertia measurements of Europa and Ganymede from the Galileo probe indicate that they are differentiated. This evidence suggests that a method for segregating metals and silicates at temperatures low enough to retain volatile compounds must exist. We have investigated the effect of deformation on the distribution of metallic melts in silicates. We have deformed samples of olivine + 5-9 vol% Fe-S to strains of 2.5 in simple shear and find that the metallic melt segregates into melt-rich planes oriented at 20 to the shear plane. These metallic melt-rich bands are similar in structure to the silicate melt-rich bands reported by Holtzman, indicating that deformation can interconnect isolated metallic melt pockets and allow porous flow of non-wetting melts. Such a core formation process could have occurred in the jovian satellites.

Hustoft, J. W.↗

Molecular Shocks Associated with Massive Young Stars: CO Line Images with a New Far-Infrared Spectroscopic Camera on the Kuiper Airborne Observatory

Under the terms of our contract with NASA Ames Research Center, the University of Rochester (UR) offers the following final technical report on grant NAG 2-958, Molecular shocks associated with massive young stars: CO line images with a new far-infrared spectroscopic camera, given for implementation of the UR Far-Infrared Spectroscopic Camera (FISC) on the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO), and use of this camera for observations of star-formation regions 1. Two KAO flights in FY 1995, the final year of KAO operations, were awarded to this program, conditional upon a technical readiness confirmation which was given in January 1995. The funding period covered in this report is 1 October 1994 - 30 September 1996. The project was supported with $30,000, and no funds remained at the conclusion of the project.

Watson, Dan M.↗

FAUST I. The hot corino at the heart of the prototypical Class I protostar L1551 IRS5

The study of hot corinos in solar-like protostars has been so far mostly limited to the Class 0 phase, hampering our understanding of their origin and evolution. In addition, recent evidence suggests that planet formation starts already during Class I phase, which therefore represents a crucial step in the future planetary system chemical composition. Hence, the study of hot corinos in Class I protostars has become of paramount importance. Here, we report the discovery of a hot corino towards the prototypical Class I protostar L1551 IRS5, obtained within the ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) Large Program FAUST (Fifty AU STudy of the chemistry in the disc/envelope system of solar-like protostars). We detected several lines from methanol and its isotopologues (13CH3OH and CH2DOH), methyl formate, and ethanol. Lines are bright towards the north component of the IRS5 binary system, and a possible second hot corino may be associated with the south component. The methanol lines' non-LTE analysis constrains the gas temperature (∼100 K), density (≥1.5 × 10^8 per cu.cm), and emitting size (∼10 au in radius). All CH3OH and 13CH3OH lines are optically thick, preventing a reliable measure of the deuteration. The methyl formate and ethanol relative abundances are compatible with those measured in Class 0 hot corinos. Thus, based on this work, little chemical evolution from Class 0 to I hot corinos occurs.

astrochemistry, stars: formation, ISM: molecules↗

Astronomical activities of the Apollo orbital science photographic team

A partial accounting of Apollo Orbital Science Photographic Team (APST) work is presented as reported by one of its members who provided scientific recommendations for, guidance in, and reviews of photography in astronomy. Background on the formation of the team and its functions and management are discussed. It is concluded that the APST clearly performed the overall objective for which it was established - to improve the scientific value of the Apollo lunar missions. Specific reasons for this success are given.

Mercer, R. D.↗

Functional design to support CDTI/DABS flight experiments

The objectives of this project are to: (1) provide a generalized functional design of CDTI avionics using the FAA developd DABS/ATARS ground system as the 'traffic sensor', (2) specify software modifications and/or additions to the existing DABS/ATARS ground system to support CDTI avionics, (3) assess the existing avionics of a NASA research aircraft in terms of CDTI applications, and (4) apply the generalized functional design to provide research flight experiment capability. DABS Data Link Formats are first specified for CDTI flight experiments. The set of CDTI/DABS Format specifications becomes a vehicle to coordinate the CDTI avionics and ground system designs, and hence, to develop overall system requirements. The report is the first iteration of a system design and development effort to support eventual CDTI flight test experiments.

Goka, T.↗

Bunte Breccia of the Ries - Continuous deposits of large impact craters

The 26-km-diameter Ries impact crater in south Germany and the mechanism of ejection and emplacement associated with its formation about 15 Myr ago are discussed in detail, and the implications of the findings for models of crater formation on earth, moon, and planets are considered. Field observations and laboratory tests on 560-m core materials from nine locations are reported. The continuous deposits (Bunte Breccia) are found to be a chaotic mixture resulting from deposition at ambient temperatures in a highly turbulent environment, probably in the ballistic scenario proposed by Oberbeck et al. (1975), with an emplacement time of only about 5 min. Further impact parameters are estimated using the 'Z model' of Maxwell (1977): initial radius = 6.5 km, excavation depth = 1650 m, excavation volume = 136 cu km, and transient cavity volume = 230 cu km. The interpretation of lunar and planetary remote-sensing and in situ evidence from impact craters is reviewed in the light of the Ries findings. Numerous photographs, maps, diagrams, and tables illustrate the investigation.

Horz, F.↗

HCN and chromophore formation on Jupiter

Reaction paths for the formation of HCN and chromophores on Jupiter are suggested. The reactions involve photolysis of ammonia/acetylene mixtures. Experimental data supporting these pathways are reported.

Ferris, James P.↗

Comments on the observability of coronal variations

The observable variability of spectral lines in the soft X-ray and XUV region is discussed. Rapid variability of coronal emission, both in flaring and non-flaring structures, has been reported and is particularly prominent when high spatial resolution is available. Examination of the ionization and recombination time-scales for the formation and removal of ions with prominent solar emission lines shows that, even though ionization equilibrium generally prevails, the observable variability time-scales are often limited by these atomic processes, independent of the physical process which is causing the change in the solar atmosphere. Future observations of Mg X 609 A should be augmented by simultaneous observation at another wavelength, such as 63 A. In addition, with the ability to produce images in isolated spectral lines it becomes possible to select those for which rapid variability is observable, such as O VII, rather than lines which were selected on the basis of previous hardware constraints, such as O VIII.

Golub, L.↗

Unified aeroacoustics analysis for high speed turboprop aerodynamics and noise. Volume 3: Application of theory for blade loading, wakes, noise, and wing shielding

Results of the program for the generation of a computer prediction code for noise of advanced single rotation, turboprops (prop-fans) such as the SR3 model are presented. The code is based on a linearized theory developed at Hamilton Standard in which aerodynamics and acoustics are treated as a unified process. Both steady and unsteady blade loading are treated. Capabilities include prediction of steady airload distributions and associated aerodynamic performance, unsteady blade pressure response to gust interaction or blade vibration, noise fields associated with thickness and steady and unsteady loading, and wake velocity fields associated with steady loading. The code was developed on the Hamilton Standard IBM computer and has now been installed on the Cray XMP at NASA-Lewis. The work had its genesis in the frequency domain acoustic theory developed at Hamilton Standard in the late 1970s. It was found that the method used for near field noise predictions could be adapted as a lifting surface theory for aerodynamic work via the pressure potential technique that was used for both wings and ducted turbomachinery. In the first realization of the theory for propellers, the blade loading was represented in a quasi-vortex lattice form. This was upgraded to true lifting surface loading. Originally, it was believed that a purely linear approach for both aerodynamics and noise would be adequate. However, two sources of nonlinearity in the steady aerodynamics became apparent and were found to be a significant factor at takeoff conditions. The first is related to the fact that the steady axial induced velocity may be of the same order of magnitude as the flight speed and the second is the formation of leading edge vortices which increases lift and redistribute loading. Discovery and properties of prop-fan leading edge vortices were reported in two papers. The Unified AeroAcoustic Program (UAAP) capabilites are demonstrated and the theory verified by comparison with the predictions with data from tests at NASA-Lewis. Steady aerodyanmic performance, unsteady blade loading, wakes, noise, and wing and boundary layer shielding are examined.

Hanson, D. B.↗