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At least 883 records · Page 49
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1982

Design and evaluation of low cost blades for large wind driven generating systems

The development and evaluation of a low cost blade concept based on the NASA-Lewis specifications is discussed. A blade structure was designed and construction methods and materials were selected. Complete blade tooling concepts, various technical and economic analysis, and evaluations of the blade design were performed. A comprehensive fatigue test program was conducted to provide data and to verify the design. A test specimen of the spar assembly, including the root end attachment, was fabricated. This is a full-scale specimen of the root end configuration, 20 ft long. A blade design for the Mod '0' system was completed.

Eggert, W. S.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Structural fatigue test results for large wind turbine blade sections

In order to provide quantitative information on the operating life capabilities of wind turbine rotor blade concepts for root-end load transfer, a series of cantilever beam fatigue tests was conducted. Fatigue tests were conducted on a laminated wood blade with bonded steel studs, a low cost steel spar (utility pole) with a welded flange, a utility pole with additional root-end thickness provided by a swaged collar, fiberglass spars with both bonded and nonbonded fittings, and, finally, an aluminum blade with a bolted steel fitting (Lockheed Mod-0 blade). Photographs, data, and conclusions for each of these tests are presented. In addition, the aluminum blade test results are compared to field failure information; these results provide evidence that the cantilever beam type of fatigue test is a satisfactory method for obtaining qualitative data on blade life expectancy and for identifying structurally underdesigned areas (hot spots).

Faddoul, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Sound diffraction at wall impedance discontinuities in a circular cylinder, investigated using Wiener-Hopf technique

Rigorous solutions are presented for sound diffraction in a circular cylinder with axial discontinuities of the wall admittance (or impedance). Analytical expressions are derived for the reflection and the transmission coefficients for duct modes. The results are discussed quantitatively in the limits of small admittance shifts (delta) and of low frequencies (ka). One of the results is the low frequency behavior of the reflection coefficient R(o) sub 00 of the fundamental mode. For the mode of a hardwall duct reflected from the junction with a softwall duct, (R(o) sub oo yields - (1-square root of (ka) square root of (2/i delta)); this result is in contrast to the frequency dependence of the reflection from the open end of a hardwall duct, for which R(o) sub oo yields - 1-(ka) squared/2 .

Cho, Y. C.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Structural qualification testing and operational loading on a fiberglass rotor blade for the Mod-OA wind turbine

Fatigue tests were performed on full- and half-scale root end sections, first to qualify the root retention design, and second to induce failure. Test methodology and results are presented. Two operational blades were proof tested to design limit load to ascertain buckling resistance. Measurements of natural frequency, damping ratio, and deflection under load made on the operational blades are documented. The tests showed that all structural design requirements were met or exceeded. Blade loads measured during 3000 hr of field operation were close to those expected. The measured loads validated the loads used in the fatigue tests and gave high confidence in the ability of the blades to achieve design life.

Sullivan, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Simulating soybean canopy temperature as affected by weather variables and soil water potential

Hourly weather data for several clear sky days during summer at Phoenix and Baltimore which covered a wide range of variables were used with a plant atmosphere model to simulate soybean (Glycine max L.) leaf water potential, stomatal resistance and canopy temperature at various soil water potentials. The air and dew point temperatures were found to be the significant weather variables affecting the canopy temperatures. Under identical weather conditions, the model gives a lower canopy temperature for a soybean crop with a higher rooting density. A knowledge of crop rooting density, in addition to air and dew point temperatures is needed in interpreting infrared radiometric observations for soil water status. The observed dependence of stomatal resistance on the vapor pressure deficit and soil water potential is fairly well represented. Analysis of the simulated leaf water potentials indicates overestimation, possibly due to differences in the cultivars.

Choudhury, B. J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Dilution Jet Experiments in Compact Combustor Configurations

The effects of cooling jets on the velocity and temperature fields in a compact reverse flow combustion are discussed. The work is motivated by the need to limit the temperature of past-combustion gases in jet engines to values within the endurance capabilities of turbine blades. The application requires not only that the temperature be kept sufficiently low but also that a suitably tailored temperature profile be provided at the combustor exit, with higher temperatures generally permissible at the blade tip than at the blade root because of higher centrifugal loads at the root. A single jet. As spacing is reduced, jet penetration is also reduced, and the cooling jets tend to remain close to the wall from which they are injected. Results suggest that cooling and temperature distribution tailoring can be accomplished without injecting cooling jets upstream of the turn, and thus it appears that combustors can be made smaller than current designs.

Greber, I.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Experimental Verification of the Number Relation at Room and Elevated Temperatures

The accuracy of the Neuber equation for predicting notch root stress-strain behavior at room temperature and at 650 C was experimentally investigated. Strains on notched specimens were measured with a non-contacting, interferometric technique and stresses were simulated with smooth specimens. Predictions of notch root stress-strain response were made from the Neuber Equation and smooth specimen behavior. Neuber predictions gave very accurate results at room temperature. However, the predicted interaction of creep and stress relaxation differed from experimentally measured behavior at 650 C.

Lucas, L. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Cloning higher plants from aseptically cultured tissues and cells

A review of aseptic culture methods for higher plants is presented, which focuses on the existing problems that limit or prevent the full realization of cloning plants from free cells. It is shown that substantial progress in clonal multiplication has been made with explanted stem tips or lateral buds which can be stimulated to produce numerous precocious axillary branches. These branches can then be separated or subdivided and induced to root in order to yield populations of genetically and phenotypically uniorm plantlets. Similarly, undifferentiated calluses can sometimes be induced to form shoots and/or roots adventitiously. Although the cell culture techniques required to produce somatic embryos are presently rudimentary, steady advances are being made in learning how to stimulate formation of somatic or adventive embryos from totipotent cells grown in suspension cultures. It is concluded that many problems exist in the producing and growing of totipotent or morphogenetically competent cell suspensions, but the potential benefits are great.

Krikorian, A. D.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A reexamination of the laser supported combustion wave

Kantrowitz (1972) and Minovitch (1972) have proposed the use of laser sustained plasmas as a means to heat a rocket propellant. Recent studies of laser-powered propulsion have been directed toward the application of high-specific-impulse space propulsion systems for orbital transfer missions. Analyses of rocket performance relied heavily on the concept of the laser-supported combustion (LSC) wave. Raizer (1971) first drew the analogy between laser-sustained plasmas and combustion waves in an analysis. The Raizer model was later applied to hydrogen by Kemp and Root (1979). In connection with certain problems arising with the approach considered by Kemp and Root, the present investigation is concerned with a reexamination of the Raizer model. Attention is given to a numerical approach for the entire LSC wave in hydrogen, taking into account the incorporation of the proper boundary conditions far downstream of the wave.

Keefer, D.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Signal averaging limitations in heterodyne- and direct-detection laser remote sensing measurements

The improvement in measurement uncertainty brought about by the averaging of increasing numbers of pulse return signals in both heterodyne- and direct-detection lidar systems is investigated. A theoretical analysis is presented which shows the standard deviation of the mean measurement to decrease as the inverse square root of the number of measurements, except in the presence of temporal correlation. Experimental measurements based on a dual-hybrid-TEA CO2 laser differential absorption lidar system are reported which demonstrate that the actual reduction in the standard deviation of the mean in both heterodyne- and direct-detection systems is much slower than the inverse square-root dependence predicted for uncorrelated signals, but is in agreement with predictions in the event of temporal correlation. Results thus favor the use of direct detection at relatively short range where the lower limit of the standard deviation of the mean is about 2 percent, but advantages of heterodyne detection at longer ranges are noted.

Menyuk, N.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Aquatic Plants Aid Sewage Filter

Method of wastewater treatment combines micro-organisms and aquatic plant roots in filter bed. Treatment occurs as liquid flows up through system. Micro-organisms, attached themselves to rocky base material of filter, act in several steps to decompose organic matter in wastewater. Vascular aquatic plants (typically, reeds, rushes, cattails, or water hyacinths) absorb nitrogen, phosphorus, other nutrients, and heavy metals from water through finely divided roots.

Wolverton, B. C.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The mechanics of delamination in fiber-reinforced composite materials. Part 1: Stress singularities and solution structure

The fundamental mechanics of delamination in fiber composite laminates is studied. Mathematical formulation of the problem is based on laminate anisotropic elasticity theory and interlaminar fracture mechanics concepts. Stress singularities and complete solution structures associated with general composite delaminations are determined. For a fully open delamination with traction-free surfaces, oscillatory stress singularities always appear, leading to physically inadmissible field solutions. A refined model is introduced by considering a partially closed delamination with crack surfaces in finite-length contact. Stress singularities associated with a partially closed delamination having frictional crack-surface contact are determined, and are found to be diferent from the inverse square-root one of the frictionless-contact case. In the case of a delamination with very small area of crack closure, a simplified model having a square-root stress singularity is employed by taking the limit of the partially closed delamination. The possible presence of logarithmic-type stress singularity is examined; no logarithmic singularity of any kind is found in the composite delamination problem. Numerical examples of dominant stress singularities are shown for delaminations having crack-tip closure with different frictional coefficients between general (1) and (2) graphite-epoxy composites.

Wang, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Interactions of light and gravity on growth, orientation, and lignin biosynthesis in mung beans

Mung beans (Vigna radiata L.) seedlings grown on the third Space Transport Mission (STS-3) showed marked orientation problems (some of the stems elongated horizontally and many of the roots were growing upward) and had a lower lignin content than the ground based controls. This research was initiated to determine if the atypical growth characteristics of mung beans grown in microgravity could be simulated using horizontal clinostats. Most of the effort focused on the design, construction and testing of the clinostats. In order to closely approximate the growth conditions of the plants grown in the plant growth unit on STS-3, cylindrical lexan minichambers were constructed. Results showed that plants grown using these clinostats in the horizontal position exhibit similar growth characteristics to the plants grown on STS-3 (disorientation of both stems and roots), while the vertical stationary and vertical rotating controls exhibit normal growth.

Jahns, G. C.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Dilution jet experiments in compact combustor configurations

This project concerns the effects of cooling jets on the velocity and temperature fields in a compact reverse flow combustor. The work is motivated by the need to limit the temperatures of post combustion gases in jet engines to values within the endurance capabilities of turbine blades. The application requires not only that the temperature be kept sufficiently low but also that a suitably tailored temperature profile be provided at the combustor exit, with higher temperatures generally permissible at the blade tip than at the blade root because of higher centrifugal loads at the root. Flows in reverse flow combustor accelerate both longitudinally because of area changes and transversely because of flow turning. The current project started with flow visualization experiments in water, using aqueous solutions of zinc bromide to model the relatively higher density of cooling jets.

Greber, I.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The mechanics of delamination in fiber-reinforced composite materials. I - Stress singularities and solution structure

The fundamental mechanics of delamination in fiber composite laminates is studied. Mathematical formulation of the problem is based on laminate anisotropic elasticity theory and interlaminar fracture mechanics concepts. Stress singularities and complete solution structures associated with general composite delaminations are determined. For a fully open delamination with traction-free surfaces, oscillatory stress singularities always appear, leading to physically inadmissible field solutions. A refined model is introduced by considering a partially closed delamination with crack surfaces in finite-length contact. Stress singularities associated with a partially closed delamination having frictional crack-surface contact are determined, and are found to be different from the inverse square-root one of the frictionless-contact case. In the case of a delamination with very small area of crack closure, a simplified model having a square-root stress singularity is employed by taking the limit of the partially closed delamination. The possible presence of logarithmic-type stress singularity is examined; no logarithmic singularity of any kind is found in the composite delamination problem. Numerical examples of dominant stress singularities are shown for delaminations having crack-tip closure with different frictional coefficients between general (1) and (2) graphite-epoxy composites. Previously announced in STAR as N84-13221

Wang, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Seasat observations of lithospheric flexure seaward of trenches

Lithospheric flexure seaward of deep ocean trenches is evident in Seasat altimeter observations of the marine geoid. In fact, mechanical models of lithospheric flexure can be tested directly on the Seasat altimeter data. A simple elastic model has been used for the oceanic lithosphere and, after least squares adjustments, estimates have been recovered of model parameters including outer rise (OR) amplitude, OR wavelength, and effective lithospheric thickness. Effective lithospheric thicknesses have been recovered for six regions: the Mariana, the Kuril, the Philippine, the Aleutian, the Izu-Bonin, and the Middle America OR's. These results support the proposition that effective thickness Te increases with age of lithosphere in approximate accord with the relation Te approximately C x square root of age where C approximately 4 km/square root of (m.y.). In fact, altimetric results agree more closely with this relation than do published results based on bathymetric data. The close agreement with the thickness-age relation suggests that there is no longer any need to assume that significant horizontal compression acts across the Kuril, Marianas, and Izu-Bonin trenches. This thickness-age relation implies that flexural strength of the oceanic lithosphere is temperature controlled.

Mcadoo, D. C.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A numerical transport scheme which avoids negative mixing ratios

A new scheme for numerically integrating the transport equation has been developed. This square root method avoids the problem of negative mixing ratios by using the square root of the concentration instead of the concentration itself as an advective time step. Conservation of total mass at every time step is achieved by extending the concept of quadratic conservation to the numerical time integration method. A few time schemes that fulfill the requirement of step-by-step quadratic conservation are described, the simplest of which is the modified Lax-Wendroff method.

Schneider, H.-R.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Life prediction and constitutive models for anisotropic materials

The intent of this program is to develop a basic understanding of cyclic creep-fatigue deformation mechanisms and damage accumulation, a capability for reliable life prediction, and the ability to model the constitutive behavior of anisotropic single crystal (SC) and directionally solidified or recrystallized (DSR) comprise the program, and the work breakdown for each option reflects a distinct concern for two classes of anisotropic materials, SC and DSR materials, at temperatures encountered in the primary gas path (airfoil temperatures), and at temperatures typical of the blade root attachment and shank area. Work directed toward the higher temperature area of concern in the primary gas path includes effects of coatings on the behavior and properties of the materials of interest. The blade root attachment work areas will address the effects of stress concentrations associated with attachment features.

Bill, R. C.↗