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At least 865 records · Page 48

NASA Tech Briefs, September 2005

Topivs include: Diamond-Coated Carbon Nanotubes for Efficient Field Emission; Improved Anode Coatings for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells; Advanced Ablative Insulators and Methods of Making Them; PETIs as High-Temperature Resin-Transfer-Molding Materials; Stable Polyimides for Terrestrial and Space Uses; Low-Density, Aerogel-Filled Thermal-Insulation Tiles; High-Performance Polymers Having Low Melt Viscosities; Nonflammable, Hydrophobic Aerogel Composites for Insulation; Front-Side Microstrip Line Feeding a Raised Antenna Patch; Medium-Frequency Pseudonoise Georadar; Facilitating Navigation Through Large Archives; Program for Weibull Analysis of Fatigue Data; Comprehensive Micromechanics-Analysis Code - Version 4.0; Component-Based Visualization System; Software for Engineering Simulations of a Spacecraft; LabVIEW Interface for PCI-SpaceWire Interface Card; Path Following with Slip Compensation for a Mars Rover; International Space Station Electric Power System Performance Code-SPACE; Software for Automation of Real-Time Agents, Version 2; Software for Optimizing Plans Involving Interdependent Goals; Computing Gravitational Fields of Finite-Sized Bodies; Custom Sky-Image Mosaics from NASA's Information Power Grid; ANTLR Tree Grammar Generator and Extensions; Generic Kalman Filter Software; Alignment Stage for a Cryogenic Dilatometer; Rugged Iris Mechanism; Treatments To Produce Stabilized Aluminum Mirrors for Cryogenic Uses; Making AlNx Tunnel Barriers Using a Low-Energy Nitrogen-Ion Beam; Making Wide-IF SIS Mixers with Suspended Metal-Beam Leads; Sol-Gel Glass Holographic Light-Shaping Diffusers; Automated Counting of Particles To Quantify Cleanliness; Phase Correction for GPS Antenna with Nonunique Phase Center; Compact Infrasonic Windscreen; Broadband External-Cavity Diode Laser; High-Efficiency Solar Cells Using Photonic-Bandgap Materials; Generating Solid Models from Topographical Data; Computationally Lightweight Air-Traffic-Control Simulation; Spool Valve for Switching Air Flows Between Two Beds; Partial Model of Insulator/ Insulator Contact Charging; Asymmetric Electrostatic Radiation Shielding for Spacecraft; and Reusable Hybrid Propellant Modules for Outer-Space Transport.

Source record↗

Second harmonic generation for estimating state of charge of lithium-ion batteries

This study applied the nonlinear ultrasonic method, second harmonic generation, to precisely estimate the state of charge (SoC) in lithium-ion batteries. The second harmonic of the longitudinal wave is generated on a pouch cell battery at 5 MHz with a through-transmission setup. The relative nonlinear parameter β' is determined by analyzing the amplitudes at the fundamental and second harmonic frequencies. To enhance the nonlinear parameter's measurement accuracy, multiple excitation amplitudes are employed. Two separate charge/discharge tests (four-cycle and eight-cycle) are conducted on the battery at a rate of C/10. The nonlinear parameter is measured periodically during the charge/discharge process, and temperature compensation is applied to the measurement. The correlation curves between the nonlinear parameter and the actual SoC align well for the four-cycle and eight-cycle tests, and a robust linear relationship is observed for both correlation curves. A linear model and a second-order polynomial model are applied to fit the correlation using all data points from both tests. The two models are employed to validate the SoC prediction on a second battery by using a four-cycle test. Furthermore, the results indicate that both models can predict the SoC with an accuracy of approximately 3%, whereas the polynomial model demonstrates smaller errors in the regions near 0% and 100% SoC. Therefore, the nonlinear parameter β', measured through the second harmonic generation, can effectively predict lithium-ion battery SoC with an accuracy of less than 3%.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Low-energy enhancement of the magnetic dipole radiation in odd-mass lanthanides

We compute the magnetic dipole (M1) $\gamma$-ray strength functions ($\gamma$SF) for the odd-mass lanthanides $^{\textrm{143-151}}$Nd and $^{\textrm{147-153}}$Sm using the shell-model Monte Carlo method in combination with the static-path approximation and the maximum-entropy method. In particular, we quantify the statistical uncertainties in the calculated M1 $\gamma$SFs and show that they are under control for the excitation energies relevant to the experiments despite a Monte Carlo sign problem that originates in the projection onto an odd number of neutrons. We identify a low-energy enhancement (LEE) in the M1 $\gamma$SFs of these odd-mass lanthanides, which was recently observed experimentally in some of them. We also find a scissors mode resonance (SR) in the strongly deformed isotopes. We observe that the decrease in the LEE strength with neutron number along an isotopic chain is compensated for by an increase in the SR strength in the deformed nuclei. Furthermore, we compare our results with recent experiments.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Raman Spectroscopy Coupled with Chemometric Analysis for Speciation and Quantitative Analysis of Aqueous Phosphoric Acid Systems

Complex chemical systems that exhibit varied and matrix-dependent speciation are notoriously difficult to monitor and characterize on-line and in real-time. Optical spectroscopy is an ideal tool for in situ characterization of chemical species that can enable quantification as well as species identification. Chemometric modeling, a multivariate method, has been successfully paired with optical spectroscopy to enable measurement of analyte concentrations even in complex solutions where univariate methods such as Beer’s law analysis fail. Here, Raman spectroscopy is used to quantify the concentration of phosphoric acid and its three deprotonated forms during a titration. In this system, univariate approaches would be difficult to apply due to multiple species being present simultaneously within the solution as pH is varied. Locally Weighted Regression (LWR) modeling was used to determine phosphate concentration from spectral signature. LWR results, in tandem with Multivariate Curve Resolution modeling, provide direct measurement of the concentration of each phosphate species using only the Raman signal. Furthermore, results are presented within the context of fundamental solution chemistry, including Pitzer equations to compensate for activity coefficients and non-idealities associated with high ionic strength systems.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

South Atlantic interbasin exchange

The exchange of mass and heat between the South Atlantic and the neighboring ocean basins was estimated using hydrographic data and inverse methods, in order to gain information on the links between the deep-water formation processes occurring within the Atlantic and the global thermohaline circulation. Results demonstrate that the global thermohaline cell associated with the formation and export of North Atlantic deep water (NADW) is closed primarily by a 'cold water path' in which deep water leaving the Atlantic ultimately returns as intermediate water entering the basin through Drake Passage. This conclusion conflicts with the suggestion by Gordon (1986) that the global thermohaline circulation associated with the formation of NADW is closed primarily by a 'warm water path', in which the export of NADW is compensated by an inflow of warm Indian Ocean thermocline water south of Africa.

Rintoul, Stephen Rich↗

Experimental Methods Using Force Application of A Single Boom for A 500-M²-Class Solar Sail

Solar sailing missions rely on deployable systems for large area-to-mass ratios once in space, while still being small enough for launcher envelopes in the stowed configuration. Many of these deployable systems feature booms that are flattened and subsequently coiled onto a spool / hub. As part of a collaborative deployable space structures research effort between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and German Aerospace Center (DLR), a boom deployment system for a future 500 m² solar sail has been developed. To achieve the respective solar sail size goal, 16.5-m-long booms produced by NASA were integrated into a DLR-designed deployer mechanism. This considerable size, as well as the lightweight construction of the booms and respective deployable systems makes testing on the ground a significant challenge. Some systems for gravity compensation as well as vertical testing to minimize the influence of gravity have been used in the past. However, an uncertainty factor remains towards the behaviour in the space environment. The focus of this paper is the load application testing of the integrated boom-deployment mechanism system under microgravity condition, as well as a comparison to vertical testing under gravity. Testing in microgravity was performed during a parabolic flight test inside an aircraft and it included stowage and full deployment of a single boom along the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. The load application was split into two categories: static testing, which induced a linear force ramp to the static boom for either compression or compression-bending; and dynamic testing, which applied a constant force to a boom during extension provided by the deployer mechanism. Both types of tests were performed multiple times at two distinct lengths of the boom, fully deployed (12.76 m) and ~28.6 % deployed (3.65 m). More parameters that are vital to the test philosophy are the angles of attack in the force application and the highest force applied. The data acquisition used for the applied load and deflection measurements of the boom is also presented.

Martin Richter↗

Experimental Methods Using Force Application of A Single Boom for A 500-M²-Class Solar Sail

Solar sailing missions rely on deployable systems for large area-to-mass ratios once in space, while still being small enough for launcher envelopes in the stowed configuration. Many of these deployable systems feature booms that are flattened and subsequently coiled onto a spool / hub. As part of a collaborative deployable space structures research effort between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and German Aerospace Center (DLR), a boom deployment system for a future 500 m² solar sail has been developed. To achieve the respective solar sail size goal, 16.5-m-long booms produced by NASA were integrated into a DLR-designed deployer mechanism. This considerable size, as well as the lightweight construction of the booms and respective deployable systems makes testing on the ground a significant challenge. Some systems for gravity compensation as well as vertical testing to minimize the influence of gravity have been used in the past. However, an uncertainty factor remains towards the behaviour in the space environment. The focus of this paper is the load application testing of the integrated boom-deployment mechanism system under microgravity condition, as well as a comparison to vertical testing under gravity. Testing in microgravity was performed during a parabolic flight test inside an aircraft and it included stowage and full deployment of a single boom along the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. The load application was split into two categories: static testing, which induced a linear force ramp to the static boom for either compression or compression-bending; and dynamic testing, which applied a constant force to a boom during extension provided by the deployer mechanism. Both types of tests were performed multiple times at two distinct lengths of the boom, fully deployed (12.76 m) and ~28.6 % deployed (3.65 m). More parameters that are vital to the test philosophy are the angles of attack in the force application and the highest force applied. The data acquisition used for the applied load and deflection measurements of the boom is also presented.

Martin Richter↗

Extravehicular Activity Testing in Analog Environments: Evaluating the Effects of Center of Gravity and Environment on Human Performance

The EVA Physiology, Systems and Performance (EPSP) Project is performing tests in different analog environments to understand human performance during Extravehicular Activity (EVA) with the aim of developing more safe and efficient systems for lunar exploration missions and the Constellation Program. The project is characterizing human EVA performance in studies using several test beds, including the underwater NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) and Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) facilities, JSC fs Partial Gravity Simulator (POGO), and the NASA Reduced Gravity Office (RGO) parabolic flight aircraft. Using these varied testing environments, NASA can gain a more complete understanding of human performance issues related to EVA and the limitations of each testing environment. Tests are focused on identifying and understanding the EVA system factors that affect human performance such as center of gravity (CG), inertial mass, ground reaction forces (GRF), suit weight, and suit pressure. The test results will lead to the development of lunar EVA systems operations concepts and design requirements that optimize human performance and exploration capabilities. METHODS: Tests were conducted in the NBL and during NEEMO missions in the NOAA Aquarius Habitat. A reconfigurable back pack with repositionable mass was used to simulate Perfect, Low, Forward, High, Aft and NASA Baseline CG locations. Subjects performed simulated exploration tasks that included ambulation, kneel and recovery, rock pick-up, and shoveling. Testing using POGO, that simulates partial gravity via pneumatic weight offload system and a similar reconfigurable rig, is underway for a subset of the same tasks. Additionally, test trials are being performed on the RGO parabolic flight aircraft. Subject performance was assessed using a modified Cooper-Harper scale to assess operator compensation required to achieve desired performance. All CG locations are based on the assumption of a standardized 6 ft 180 lb subject. RESULTS: The modified Cooper-Harper Scale assesses desired task performance described as performance in a reduced gravity environment as compared to a 1G environment. Modified Cooper-Harper ratings of . 3 indicate no improvements are needed, ratings of 4-6 indicate improvements are desirable, and ratings . 7 indicate improvements are mandatory. DISCUSSION: Differences were noted in suited CH results based on environment at the same CG and suit pressure. Additionally, results suggest that CG location affects unsuited human performance. Subjects preferred locations near their natural CG over those that are high, aft, or a combination of high and aft. Further testing and analyses are planned to compare these unsuited results to suited performance.

Gernhardt, M.L.↗

Improved Band-to-Band Registration Characterization for VIIRS Reflective Solar Bands Based on Lunar Observations

Spectral bands of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrumentaboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite are spatially co-registered.The accuracy of the band-to-band registration (BBR) is one of the key spatial parameters that must becharacterized. Unlike its predecessor, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), VIIRS has no on-board calibrator specifically designed to perform on-orbit BBR characterization.To circumvent this problem, a BBR characterization method for VIIRS reflective solar bands (RSB) based on regularly-acquired lunar images has been developed. While its results can satisfactorily demonstrate that the long-term stability of the BBR is well within +/- 0.1 moderate resolution bandpixels, undesired seasonal oscillations have been observed in the trending. The oscillations are most obvious between the visiblenear-infrared bands and short-middle wave infrared bands. This paper investigates the oscillations and identifies their cause as the band spectral dependence of the centroid position and the seasonal rotation of the lunar images over calibration events. Accordingly, an improved algorithm is proposed to quantify the rotation and compensate for its impact. After the correction, the seasonal oscillation in the resulting BBR is reduced from up to 0.05 moderate resolution band pixels to around 0.01 moderate resolution band pixels. After removing this spurious seasonal oscillation, the BBR, as well as its long-term drift are well determined.

Wang, Zhipeng↗

A Modular Aerospike Engine Design Using Additive Manufacturing

A modular aerospike engine concept has been developed with the objective of demonstrating the viability of the aerospike design using additive manufacturing techniques. The aerospike system is a self-compensating design that allows for optimal performance over the entire flight regime and allows for the lowest possible mass vehicle designs. At low altitudes, improvements in Isp can be traded against chamber pressure, staging, and payload. In upper stage applications, expansion ratio and engine envelope can be traded against nozzle efficiency. These features provide flexibility to the System Designer optimizing a complete vehicle stage. The aerospike concept is a good example of a component that has demonstrated improved performance capability, but traditionally has manufacturing requirements that are too expensive and complex to use in a production vehicle. In recent years, additive manufacturing has emerged as a potential method for improving the speed and cost of building geometrically complex components in rocket engines. It offers a reduction in tooling overhead and significant improvements in the integration of the designer and manufacturing method. In addition, the modularity of the engine design provides the ability to perform full scale testing on the combustion devices outside of the full engine configuration. The proposed design uses a hydrocarbon based gas-generator cycle, with plans to take advantage of existing powerhead hardware while focusing DDT&E resources on manufacturing and sub-system testing of the combustion devices. The major risks for the modular aerospike concept lie in the performance of the propellant feed system, the structural integrity of the additive manufactured components, and the aerodynamic efficiency of the exhaust flow.

Peugeot, John↗

Ephemeris of a highly eccentric orbit - Explorer 28.

An ephemeris has been obtained for Explorer 28 (IMP 3) which agrees well with 2 years of radio observations and with SAO observations a year later. This ephemeris is generated over the 3 year lifetime by a numerical integration method utilizing a set of initial conditions at launch and without requiring further differential correction. Because highly eccentric orbits are difficult to compute with acceptable accuracy and because a long continuous arc has been obtained which compares with actual data to a known precision, this ephemeris may be used as a standard for computing highly eccentric orbits in the earth-moon system. Orbit improvement was used to obtain the initial conditions which generated the ephemeris. This improvement was based on correcting the energy by adjusting the semimajor axis to match computed times of perigee passage with the observed. This procedure may generate errors in semimajor axis to compensate for model errors in the energy; however, this compensation error is also implicit in orbit determination itself.

Lowrey, B. E.↗

Use of Intermittent Recompression and Nitrox Breathing Mixtures during Lunar Extravehicular Activities

INTRODUCTION: NASA's plans for lunar surface exploration include pressurized suitport rovers that are quickly ingressed and egressed with minimal consumables losses. This capability enables crewmembers to perform multiple short extravehicular activities (EVAs) at different locations in a single day versus a single 8-hr EVA. Modeling work and empirical human and animal data indicate that intermittent recompressions between EVA suit pressure and cabin pressure reduce decompression stress. Savings in crew time and gas losses may also be achieved if the N2 purge is shortened to 2 minutes, achieving 80% O2 (vs. 8 minutes, 95% O2). METHODS: A validated Tissue Bubble Dynamics Model was used to predict decompression stress using 80% and 95% O2 breathing mixtures during 3 x 2-hr EVAs (4.3 PSIA) with 1hr recompressions back to 8.0 PSIA (32% O2) versus a single 8-hr EVA. 15 minutes was spent at 6.0 PSIA before depressurizations to 4.3 PSIA; initial EVA tasks could be performed during this time. Model validation was based on significant prediction (p<0.001) and goodness of fit with 84 cases of DCS in 668 altitude exposures (McFadden s rho-squared=0.214). RESULTS: A 2.2% predicted increase in DCS risk due to the shortened purge is more than compensated for by a predicted 2.5% reduction in DCS risk due to intermittent recompression. 15 minutes at 80% O2, 6.0 PSIA prior to a 4.3 PSIA EVA prevents supersaturation in the brain and spinal cord (5-10 minute half-time compartments) and reduces tissue tensions in 40 min compartments, where most of the body s inert gas is located, to approximately the same levels (4.39 vs 4.00 PSIA) as achieved during a 40 min 95% O2 prebreathe at 10.2 PSIA. CONCLUSIONS: Intermittent recompressions between lunar EVAs may enable reductions in suit purge and prebreathe requirements, decompression stress, and/or suit operating pressures.

Gernhardt, M.L.↗

Sampling synchronization through GPS signals

A method uses a distributed data acquisition system with multiple, physically unconnected, data acquisition units, that can be in wireless communication with a remote host, to timestamp measurement data with sub-microsecond time base accuracy of sampling clock relative to an absolute timeframe. A current absolute time is derived from messages received from a satellite radio beacon positioning system (GPS). Measurement data is sampled by each unit at a specified sampling rate. Using hardware logic, batches of sampled data are associated with corresponding timestamps representing the absolute time at which the data was sampled. Data and timestamps may be transmitted to the host. A time offset bias is compensated by comparing timestamps against a nominal time based on start time and nominal sampling rate. The sampling clock rate may be disciplined using time pulses from the GPS receiver. An initial start of data sampling by all units can also be synchronized.

Zhuge, James Q.↗

Magnetotransport and electronic structure of the antiferromagnetic semimetal YbAs

A number of rare-earth monopnictides have topologically nontrivial band structures together with magnetism and strong electronic correlations. In order to examine whether the antiferromagnetic (AFM) semimetal YbAs (TN=0.5 K) exhibits such a scenario, we have grown high-quality single crystals using a flux method, and characterized the magnetic properties and electronic structure using specific heat, magnetotransport, and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements, together with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Both ARPES and DFT calculations find no evidence for band inversions in YbAs, indicating a topologically trivial electronic structure. From low-temperature magnetotransport measurements, we map the field-temperature phase diagram, where we find the presence of a field stabilized phase distinct from the AFM phase at low temperatures. Additionally, an extremely large magnetoresistance (XMR) for both YbAs and the nonmagnetic counterpart LuAs is also observed, which can consistently be accounted for by the presence of electron-hole compensation. Moreover, an angle-dependent study of the Shubnikov-de Haas effect oscillations reveals very similar Fermi surfaces between YbAs and LuAs, with light effective masses down to at least 0.5 K, indicating that the Yb-4f electrons are well localized, and do not contribute to the Fermi surface. However, the influence of the localized Yb-4f electrons on the magnetotransport of YbAs can be discerned from the distinct temperature dependence of the XMR compared to that of LuAs, which we attribute to the influence of short-ranged spin correlations that appear well above TN.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Electro-mechanical Modeling of Wind Turbine and Energy Storage Systems with Enhanced Inertial Response

In this paper, a coordinated control scheme for wind turbine generator (WTG) and supercapacitor energy storage system (ESS) is proposed for temporary frequency supports. Inertial control is designed by using generator torque limit considering the security of WTG system, while ESS releases its energy to compensate the sudden active power deficit during the recovery process of turbine rotor. WTG is modeled using the fatigue, aerodynamic, structure, turbulence (FAST) code, which identifies the mechanical loadings of the turbine and addresses electro-mechanical interactions in the wind energy system. A damping controller is augmented to the inertial control to suppress severe mechanical oscillations in the shaft and tower of the turbine during frequency supports. Furthermore, the result of small-signal stability analysis shows that the WTG-ESS tends to improve the stability of the whole multi-energy power grid. The major contributions of this paper will be validated by utilizing the proposed control method that combines the grid support capability and maintaining the integrity of structural design of the turbine for normal operations.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Acceleration recorder and playback module

The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus relating to an accelerometer electrical signal recorder and playback module. The recorder module may be manufactured in lightweight configuration and includes analog memory components to store data. Signal conditioning circuitry is incorporated into the module so that signals may be connected directly from the accelerometer to the recorder module. A battery pack may be included for powering both the module and the accelerometer. Timing circuitry is included to control the time duration within which data is recorded or played back so as to avoid overloading the analog memory components. Multiple accelerometer signal recordings may be taken simultaneously without analog to digital circuits, multiplexing circuitry or software to compensate for the effects of multiplexing the signals.

Bozeman, Richard J., Jr.↗

Acceleration Recorder and Playback Module

The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus relating to an accelerometer electrical signal recorder and playback module. The recorder module may be manufactured in lightweight configuration and includes analog memory components to store data. Signal conditioning circuitry is incorporated into the module so that signals may be connected directly from the accelerometer to the recorder module. A battery pack may be included for powering both the module and the accelerometer. Timing circuitry is included to control the time duration within which data is recorded or played back so as to avoid overloading the analog memory components. Multiple accelerometer signal recordings may be taken simultaneously without analog to digital circuits, multiplexing circuitry or software to compensate for the effects of multiplexing the signals.

Bozeman, Richard J., Jr.↗

Thermal stability tests of CFRP sandwich panels for far infrared astronomy

An account is given of fabrication methods and low temperature figure tests for CFRP sandwich panels, in order to ascertain their applicability to ultralightweight 3-m aperture primary mirrors for balloon-borne sub-mm and far-IF telescopes that must maintain a 1-2 micron rms surface figure accuracy at -40 to -50 C. Optical figure measurements on the first two of a series of four 0.5-m test panels, replicated to a spherical surface, show a radius-of-curvature change and astigmatism down to -60 C; this approximately follows the composite's theoretical predictions and implies that material and process control is excellent, so that the large scale changes observed can be compensated for.

Hoffmann, W. F.↗