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At least 847 records · Page 47

Noble gas component organization in 14301

A study is conducted of the organization of noble gases in the Apollo 14 breccia 14301, giving particular attention to xenon from the extinct radionuclides I-129 and Pu-244. An essential ingredient of this work is the intercomparison between noble gases released in single-stage melts of grain size fractions and those released in stepwise extractions. This approach resolves 'functional' noble gas components, which are organized by siting, into the specific genetic contributions on the basis of the 'activation energies' for diffusive loss. The procedure makes it possible to resolve various genetic components on the basis of the chemical and structural differences in their specific locations. Consequently, distinctions can be made among components acquired by different processes and among components which have undergone different regolith histories.

Bernatowicz, T. J.↗

Refined Monte Carlo method for simulating angle-dependent partial frequency redistributions

A refined algorithm for generating emission frequencies from angle-dependent partial frequency redistribution functions R sub II and R sub III is described. The improved algorithm has as its basis a 'rejection' technique that, for absorption frequencies x less than 5, involves no approximations. The resulting procedure is found to be essential for effective studies of radiative transfer in optically thick or temperature varying media involving angle-dependent partial frequency redistributions.

Lee, J.-S.↗

Multispectral scanner, thematic mapper, and beyond

The capabilities and functions of the Landsat D multispectral scanner (MSS) and thematic mapper (TM) are explored as a basis for improvements to satisfy increasing user demands. The MSS is an object-space line scanner for gathering data in four spectral bands ranging from 0.5-1.1 micron. In a 705 km near-polar sunsynchronous orbit, the MSS will generate 185 x 185 km imagery with 80 x 80 m ground resolution, mapping the entire earth every 16 days. Photomultiplier tubes are used for four of the bands and the other employs Si photodiodes. A calibration light source provides in orbit calibration during every reverse scan period of a pivotal on-board mirror. The TM collects data in seven bands from 0.45-12.5 microns, yielding a ground resolution of 30 x 30 m in six bands for reflected sunlight and 120 x 120 m for the 10.4-12.5 thermal bands. The addition of 16 Si detectors for 0.9-1.1 micron viewing for agricultural purposes, as well as higher resolution, is discussed.

Jones, C. R.↗

The effect of physical aging on the time-dependent properties of carbon-fiber-reinforced epoxy composites

Annealing in nitrogen below the glass transition temperature T(g) is found to affect the matrix-dominated physical properties of postcured, (+ and -45)2s specimens of Thornel 300 carbon fiber/Fiberite 934 epoxy composite as well as neat Fiberite 934 epoxy resin. The damping behavior, stress-relaxation rate and enthalpic state of the matrix material are found to decrease as functions of annealing time. The time-dependent change in physical properties is explained on the basis of free-volume collapse related to the physical aging of the nonequilibrium glassy network of epoxy. Such physical aging in network epoxy has been demonstrated to be thermoreversible through the monitoring of its kinetics by differential scanning calorimetry, stress relaxation tests, and dynamic mechanical analysis.

Kong, E. S. W.↗

Fracture toughness/Young's modulus correlation for low-density fibrous silica bodies

Fracture toughness and static Young's modulus were measured for the low-density silic fiber materials used as tiles in the thermal protection system of the Space Shuttle. The fracture behavior was found to be in excellent agreement with a previously formulated micromechanical model and allowed both (density) classes of tile material to be correlated to a single function. A similar correlation was also found between strength and Young's modulus, which is the basis of a nondestructive evaluation test for these materials. It was shown that the value of Young's modulus determined from a dynamic test can be substantially greater than that determined in a static mechanical test. This effect must be taken into account in the correlation. Finally, it was also determined that these materials have significant variations in Kc, both within and between production units, so that the strength variability in these materials is dependent on both fracture toughness and flaw-size variations.

Green, D. J.↗

INTERMARS: User-controlled international management system

Existing international space law as well as the best interest of all nations are consistent with the establishment of a user-based international organization, herein called INTERMARS. INTERMARS would provide access to facilities and services at a Martian base which would be of high functional potential, quality, safety, and reliability. These opportunities would be available on an open and nondiscriminatory basis to all peaceful users and investors. INTERMARS is a model organization concept tailored to provide cooperative international management of a Martian base for the benefit of its members, users, and investors. Most importantly, INTERMARS would provide such management through a sharing of both sovereignty and opportunity rather then unilateral control by any one nation or set of competing nations. Through an Assembly of Parties, a Board of Governors, a Board of Users and Investors, and a Director General, INTERMARS would meet its primary goal as it would be in the self-interest of all members, users, and investors to do so. The internal structure and philosophy of INTERMARS would provide not only for all participants to have representation in decisions affecting its activities, but also would insure effective and responsive management. Surely this is the precedent wished for, to establish for mankind at the now not-so-distant shores of the new ocean of space.

Schmitt, Harrison H.↗

Effects of varying environmental parameters on trace contaminant concentrations in the NASA Space Station Reference Configuration

An evaluation is made of the NASA Space Station Reference Configuration trace contaminant production and depletion level effects of CO2, O2, humidity, temperature, and pressure variations, on the basis of a computer model of the Reference Configuration's chemical reactions and physical processes as functions of time. The effects of changes in the initial concentrations of such contaminants as nonmethane hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides are also examined, and these are found to result in more significant changes in the concentration levels of trace contaminants than pressure and humidity variations. O2 and CO2 changes are found to have negligible effects on trace contaminant concentrations.

Brewer, Dana A.↗

Theoretical study of the N2(+) Meinel system

Atomic natural orbital Gaussian basis sets and large complete-active-space self-consistent field/multireference configuration-interaction wave functions are used to determine the potential curves for the X 2Sigma(+) sub g and A 2Pi sub u states of N2(+). The dependence of the electronic transition moment between the two states on internuclear distance is accurately determined, and is shown to differ significantly from previous determinations. These theoretically determined lifetimes agree with experimental time-of-flight data within stated experimental error bars.

Langhoff, Stephen R.↗

Adaptivity and smart algorithms for fluid-structure interaction

This paper reviews new approaches in CFD which have the potential for significantly increasing current capabilities of modeling complex flow phenomena and of treating difficult problems in fluid-structure interaction. These approaches are based on the notions of adaptive methods and smart algorithms, which use instantaneous measures of the quality and other features of the numerical flowfields as a basis for making changes in the structure of the computational grid and of algorithms designed to function on the grid. The application of these new techniques to several problem classes are addressed, including problems with moving boundaries, fluid-structure interaction in high-speed turbine flows, flow in domains with receding boundaries, and related problems.

Oden, J. Tinsley↗

The Fe XI-excited fluorescent cascade in Ne IV

A theoretical spectroscopic investigation of the fluorescent cascade to be expected in nitrogen-like Ne IV, when it is resonantly photoexcited by Fe XI in the solar atmosphere, symbiotic stars, or novae, is described. Primary and secondary cascade intensities are obtained as functions of photoexcitation rate, and expected absolute intensities in the solar atmosphere are derived on the basis of observed Fe XI and Ne EUV emission. Comparisons between the spatially resolved solar situation and spatially unresolved stellar cases of cataclysmic variables, in which these ions have been found to coexist, are made. An interesting possibility of periodic time-dependent fluorescence exists for the binary cataclysmics.

Bhatia, A. K.↗

Reconstruction of internal density distributions in porous bodies from laser ultrasonic data

It is presently shown that, for density-reconstruction problems in which information about the inhomogeneity is known a priori, the nonlinear least-squares algorithm yields satisfactory results on the basis of limited projection data. The back-projection algorithm, which obviates assumptions about the objective function to be reconstructed, does not recover the boundary of the inhomogeneity when the number of projections is limited and ray-bending is ignored.

Lu, Yichi↗

Stereo Imaging Velocimetry

A system and a method for measuring three-dimensional velocities at a plurality of points in a fluid employing at least two cameras positioned approximately perpendicular to one another. The cameras are calibrated to accurately represent image coordinates in world coordinate system. The two-dimensional views of the cameras are recorded for image processing and centroid coordinate determination. Any overlapping particle clusters are decomposed into constituent centroids. The tracer particles are tracked on a two-dimensional basis and then stereo matched to obtain three-dimensional locations of the particles as a function of time so that velocities can be measured therefrom The stereo imaging velocimetry technique of the present invention provides a full-field. quantitative, three-dimensional map of any optically transparent fluid which is seeded with tracer particles.

McDowell, Mark↗

Fourfold Clusters of Rovibrational Energies in H2Te Studied With an Ab Initio Potential Energy Function

We report an ab initio investigation of the cluster effect (i.e., the formation of nearly degenerate, four member groups of rotation-vibration energy levels at higher J and K(sub a). values) in the H2Te molecule. The potential energy function has been calculated ab initio at a total of 334 molecular geometries by means of the CCSD(T) method where the (1s-4f) core electrons of Te were described by an effective core potential. The values of the potential energy function obtained cover the region up to around 10,000/cm above the equilibrium energy. On the basis of the ab initio potential, the rotation-vibration energy spectra of H2Te-130 and its deuterated isotopomers have been calculated with the MORBID (Morse Oscillator Rigid Bender Internal Dynamics) Hamiltonian and computer program. In particular, we have calculated the rotational energy manifolds for J less than or = 40 in the vibrational ground state, the upsilon(sub 2) state, the "first triad" (the upsilon(sub l)/upsilon(sub 3)/2upsilon(sub 2) interacting vibrational states), and the "second triad" (the upsilon(sub 1) + upsilon(sub 2/upsilon(sub 2) + upsilon(sub 3)/3upsilon(sub 2) states) of H2Te-130. We find that the cluster formation in H2Te is very similar to those of of H2Se and H2S, which we have studied previously. However, contrary to semiclassical predictions, we do not determine any significant displacement of the clusters towards lower J values relative to H2Se. Hence the experimental observation of the cluster states in H2Te will be at least as difficult as in H2Se.

Jensen, Per↗

Accurate In Bond Energies

InXn atomization energies are computed for n = 1-3 and X = H, Cl, and CH3. The geometries and frequencies are determined using density functional theory. The atomization energies are computed at the coupled cluster level of theory. The complete basis set limit is obtained by extrapolation. The scalar relativistic effect is computed using the Douglas-Kroll approach. While the heats of formation for InH, InCl and InCl3 are in good agreement with experiment, the current results show that the experimental value for In(CH3)3 must be wrong.

Bauschlicher, Charles W., Jr.↗

Stereo Imaging Velocimetry System and Method

A system and a method is provided for measuring three dimensional velocities at a plurality of points in a fluid employing at least two cameras positioned approximately perpendicular to one another. Image frames captured by the cameras may be filtered using background subtraction with outlier rejection with spike-removal filtering. The cameras may calibrated to accurately represent image coordinates in a world coordinate system using calibration grids modified using warp transformations. The two-dimensional views of the cameras may be recorded fur image processing and particle track determination. The tracer particles may be tracked on a two-dimensional basis and then stereo matched to obtain three-dimensional locations of the particles as a function of time so that velocities can be measured there from.

Mark McDowell↗

Vehicle Design Data Format and Process for a Complete TARIS and OLTARIS Radiation Analysis for Designers and Engineers

Protecting astronauts from space radiation is a complex task when it comes to modeling and simulation. This document shows what information is needed from a spacecraft designer using CAD (Computer-Assisted Design) at each phase of the design to enable the engineers to evaluate the design phase against space radiation limits to determine the suitability of the design for space flight. The current personal exposure limits are listed in NASA STD-3001. A proxy to determine the REID (Radiation Exposure Induced Death) in NASA STD-3001 is the whole body effective dose equivalent (E or effective dose). For short-term tissue effects, organ-averaged gray equivalent (G (sub T)) is used. The TARIS (Tool for the Assessment of Radiation In Space - for LaRC (Langley Research Center) engineers) and OLTARIS (On-Line TARIS) - for designers) systems are used to generate these response functions. The E can use ICRP60 or NASA Q-values. A possible space radiation design basis environment for short-term tissue effects is described and used in all analyses. A single space vehicle was designed with three astronaut configurations and two of those configurations were used in a storm shelter thickness perturbation analysis. Conversion of the data from the CAD model to input necessary for TARIS and OLTARIS is also discussed in detail with relevant examples.

Singleterry, Robert C.↗

Model-based prognostics for batteries which estimates useful life and uses a probability density function

This invention develops a mathematical model to describe battery behavior during individual discharge cycles as well as over its cycle life. The basis for the form of the model has been linked to the internal processes of the battery and validated using experimental data. Effects of temperature and load current have also been incorporated into the model. Subsequently, the model has been used in a Particle Filtering framework to make predictions of remaining useful life for individual discharge cycles as well as for cycle life. The prediction performance was found to be satisfactory as measured by performance metrics customized for prognostics for a sample case. The work presented here provides initial steps towards a comprehensive health management solution for energy storage devices.

Saha, Bhaskar↗

Multiyear On-orbit Calibration and Performance of Terra MODIS Thermal Emissive Bands

Since launch in December 1999, Terra MODIS has been making continuous Earth observations for more than seven years. It has produced a broad range of land, ocean, and atmospheric science data products for improvements in studies of global climate and environmental change. Among its 36 spectral bands, there are 20 reflective solar bands (RSB) and 16 thermal emissive bands (TEB). MODIS thermal emissive bands cover the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) and long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectral regions with wavelengths from 3.7 to 14.4pm. They are calibrated on-orbit using an on-board blackbody (BB) with its temperature measured by a set of thermistors on a scan-by-scan basis. This paper will provide a brief overview of MODIS TEB calibration and characterization methodologies and illustrate on-board BB functions and TEB performance over more than seven years of on-orbit operation and calibration. Discussions will be focused on TEB detector short-term stability and noise characterization, and changes in long-term response (or system gain). Results show that Terra MODIS BB operation has been extremely stable since launch. When operated at its nominal controlled temperature of 290K, the BB temperature variation is typically less than +0.30mK on a scan-by-scan basis and there has been no time-dependent temperature drift. In addition to excellent short-term stability, most TEB detectors continue to meet or exceed their specified noise characterization requirements, thus enabling calibration accuracy and science data product quality to be maintained. Excluding the noisy detectors identified pre-launch and those that occurred post-launch, the changes in TEB responses have been less than 0.7% on an annual basis. The optical leak corrections applied to bands 32-36 have been effective and stable over the entire mission

Xiong, Xiaoxiong↗