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At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2008

Materials, Processes and Manufacturing in Ares 1 Upper Stage: Integration with Systems Design and Development

Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle Upper Stage is designed and developed based on sound systems engineering principles. Systems Engineering starts with Concept of Operations and Mission requirements, which in turn determine the launch system architecture and its performance requirements. The Ares I-Upper Stage is designed and developed to meet these requirements. Designers depend on the support from materials, processes and manufacturing during the design, development and verification of subsystems and components. The requirements relative to reliability, safety, operability and availability are also dependent on materials availability, characterization, process maturation and vendor support. This paper discusses the roles and responsibilities of materials and manufacturing engineering during the various phases of Ares IUS development, including design and analysis, hardware development, test and verification. Emphasis is placed how materials, processes and manufacturing support is integrated over the Upper Stage Project, both horizontally and vertically. In addition, the paper describes the approach used to ensure compliance with materials, processes, and manufacturing requirements during the project cycle, with focus on hardware systems design and development.

Bhat, Biliyar N.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Commercialization of materials processing in space

NASA research to date on materials processing in space (MPS) has revealed that microgravity conditions to a large degree eliminate normal convection, sedimentation, buoyancy, and deformations due to gravity, and permit the exploration of containerless processing. The goals of current NASA MPS work is to augment the fundamental database on MPS and to foster commercial participation in MPS. Techniques being applied by NASA to fulfill the latter goal are described, including technical exchange, industrial guest investigator and joint endeavor agreements, and tangible market incentives. Guidelines for each type of agreement are summarized.

Yost, Charles F.↗
NASA NTRS2004

On Efficient Multigrid Methods for Materials Processing Flows with Small Particles

Multiscale modeling of materials requires simulations of multiple levels of structural hierarchy. The computational efficiency of numerical methods becomes a critical factor for simulating large physical systems with highly desperate length scales. Multigrid methods are known for their superior efficiency in representing/resolving different levels of physical details. The efficiency is achieved by employing interactively different discretizations on different scales (grids). To assist optimization of manufacturing conditions for materials processing with numerous particles (e.g., dispersion of particles, controlling flow viscosity and clusters), a new multigrid algorithm has been developed for a case of multiscale modeling of flows with small particles that have various length scales. The optimal efficiency of the algorithm is crucial for accurate predictions of the effect of processing conditions (e.g., pressure and velocity gradients) on the local flow fields that control the formation of various microstructures or clusters.

Thomas, James↗
NASA NTRS1979

The evolution of apparatus for materials processing on Skylab

The following topics are discussed: (1) the inception of space processing; (2) earth-based experimental activities prior to Skylab (drop tower and research aircraft experiments); (3) preliminary experiments in space (Apollo and sounding rocket experiments); and (4) Skylab experimental facilities. Apparatus for contained materials processing; for brazing in space; and containerless processing are presented and discussed. The Skylab materials processing system and miscellaneous design considerations are also discussed.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1979

Commercial use of materials processing in space

The paper examines the scientific and commercial aspects of Materials Processing in the Space program. The elimination of gravity driven convection in molten materials can preclude undesirable stirring and mixing during crystal growth, and improve the casting of alloys and composites, chemical reactions, and the separation of biological materials. The elimination of hydrostatic pressure will allow alloy heat-treatment without distortion and growth of heavy crystals, such as thorium oxide, and containerless processing of liquids and molten materials. On the other hand, more sophisticated process control and diagnostic methods in sample preparation and temperature control must be developed, concluding that space made products of commercial interest are likely to be low volume, high value items.

Zoller, L. K.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Materials processing - A matter of gravity

The paper examines the pervasive influences of gravitational forces on processes used in the preparation of materials employed in earth-based applications and considers the knowledge and benefits which may be derived from the microgravity environment of space in improving upon these constraints. Particular attention is given to the NASA Materials Processing in Space program, which is focused on crystal growth processes, solidification processes, containerless processing, fluid and chemical processes, and bioseparation processes.

Zoller, L. K.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Influence of the space environment on some materials processing phenomena

The influence of the space environment on materials processing phenomena is studied by applying the principles of physical similarity to a system E on Earth and a system S in the microgravity environment of space. If these systems can be characterized by a set of dimensionless groups, then they are similar if corresponding members of the set are equal for E and S. Similarity is often impractical or impossible if Q is larger than a few samples. For example, there is a simple law of similarity for an isothermal liquid zone floating between inert solids; however, similarity is lost if the zone becomes nonisothermal. A molten zone during crystal growth is so complex that a complete set cannot be identified with certainty. A second example is double-diffusive convection during unidirectional solidification of a binary alloy. Results show that buoyancy driven fluid dynamical instabilities couple with constitutionally related instabilities quite differently in E and S.

Sekerka, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Thermal oscillations in materials processing

The use of thermosolutal and thermocapillary convection in materials processing is experimentally investigated. The flow patterns, unsteady mass transfer, and unsteady temperature variations seen in thermosolutal convection in enclosures are examined. An extensive research program to understand the role of thermocapillary convection in crystal growth for a variety of configurations is reviewed.

Ostrach, Simon↗
NASA NTRS1987

Microgravity materials processing for commercial applications

An evaluation is made of the development status of materials processing techniques in microgravity environments; the classes of materials treated to date encompass glasses, ceramics, crystals, semiconductors, metals and their alloys, polymers, composites, and such biological substances as pharmaceuticals. Attention is given to the commercial development of composite and mixed-phase materials with substantially improved properties as a result of microgravity processing, as well as to current research into catalysts and Type II-VI semiconductor crystals such as CdTe.

Kohli, R.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Construction material processed using lunar simulant in various environments

The manufacture of construction materials from locally available resources in space is an important first step in the establishment of lunar and planetary bases. The objective of the CoMPULSIVE (Construction Material Processed Using Lunar Simulant In Various Environments) experiment is to develop a procedure to produce construction materials by sintering or melting Johnson Space Center Simulant 1 (JSC-1) lunar soil simulant in both earth-based (1-g) and microgravity (approximately 0-g) environments. The characteristics of the resultant materials will be tested to determine its physical and mechanical properties. The physical characteristics include: crystalline, thermal, and electrical properties. The mechanical properties include: compressive tensile, and flexural strengths. The simulant, placed in a sealed graphite crucible, will be heated using a high temperature furnace. The crucible will then be cooled by radiative and forced convective means. The core furnace element consists of space qualified quartz-halogen incandescent lamps with focusing mirrors. Sample temperatures of up to 2200 C are attainable using this heating method.

Chase, Stan↗
NASA NTRS2003

5th Conference on Aerospace Materials, Processes, and Environmental Technology

Records are presented from the 5th Conference on Aerospace Materials, Processes, and Environmental Technology. Topics included pollution prevention, inspection methods, advanced materials, aerospace materials and technical standards,materials testing and evaluation, advanced manufacturing,development in metallic processes, synthesis of nanomaterials, composite cryotank processing, environmentally friendly cleaning, and poster sessions.

Cook, M. B.↗
NASA NTRS1988

A teleoperated robotic manipulator system for materials processing experiment servicing

In 1984 Congress authorized NASA to begin the Space Station Program, and requested that 10 percent of program funds be spent in implementing automation and robotics (A and R) on the Space Station. In response to that request, Boeing established several Independent Research and Development (IR and D) projects to explore possible uses for A and R on the Space Station. One of those projects, and automated materials processing experiment, is discussed. The project uses a teleoperated robot to demonstrate telescience applied to a Chemical Vapor Transport materials processing experiment.

Suchting, Steven↗
NASA NTRS1981

Materials Processing in Space (MPS) program description

Insight is provided into the scientific rotationale for materials processing in space (MPS), and a comprehensive and cohesive approach for implementation and integration of the many, diverse aspects of MPS is described. The programmatic and management functions apply to all projects and activities implemented under MPS. It is intended that specific project plans, providing project unique details, will be appended to this document for endeavors such as the Space Processing Applications Rocket (SPAR) Project, the Materials Experiment Assembly (MEA) Project, the MPS/Spacelab (MPS/SL) Project, and the Materials Experiment Carrier (MEC) Payloads.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1981

Susceptibility of materials processing experiments to low-level accelerations

The types of material processing experiments being considered for shuttle can be grouped into four categories: (1) contained solidification experiment; (2) quasicontainerless experiments; (3) containerless experiments; and (4) fluids experiments. Low level steady acceleration, compensated and uncompensated transient accelerations, and rotation induced flow factors that must be considered in the acceleration environment of a space vehicle whose importance depends on the type of experiment being performed. Some control of these factors may be exercised by the location and orientation of the experiment relative to shuttle and by the orbit vehicle attitude chosen for mission. The effects of the various residual accelerations can have serious consequence to the control of the experiment and must be factored into the design and operation of the apparatus.

Naumann, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Thermal analyses of a materials processing furnace being developed for use with heat pipes

A special materials processing furnace is being developed for the forthcoming Spacelab missions to study the solidification under closely controlled conditions of various sample materials in the absence of gravity. The samples are to be rod shaped and subjected to both heating and cooling simultaneously. The thermal model is based on a developed Thermal Analyzer computer program. The model was developed to be very general to enable the simulation of variations in the furnace design and, hence, serve as an aid in finalizing the design. The thermal model is described and a user's guide given. Some preliminary results obtained in testing the model are also given.

Mcanally, J. V.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The development of two new KC-135 furnaces for studies on microgravity materials processing

Wyle Laboratories is currently designing and fabricating two KC-135 materials processing furnaces for Marshall Space Flight Center. The first of these, called the Rapid Melt/Rapid Quench (RM/RQ) Furnace, will be used to melt and resolidify Cu-, Al-, and Ni-based alloys and composites, all during the 20 to 30 seconds of low gravity (0.1 to 0.001 g) available in a single parabola of the KC-135. In addition, it will be capable of directional solidification of these alloys. The furnace can be configured for either liquid or gas quenching of the samples. The second furnace, called the Polymer Solidification Transparent (PST) Furnace, will use a wide range of sample translation rates to directionally solidify polymers and low-melting-point metals as the KC-135 flies a series of parabolic maneuvers. The use of transparent crucibles and an optics system between the hot and cold zones of the furnace will allow for high-resolution video monitoring of the solid-liquid interface during processing. It is hoped that the development of these two furnaces will lead to significant increases in understanding of interface kinetics, fluid flow, and heat transfer in materials during solidification in a low-gravity environment.

Fiske, Michael↗
NASA NTRS1982

Materials processing in space

Processing-refining of raw materials from extraterrestrial sources is detailed for a space materials handling facility. The discussion is constrained to those steps necessary to separate desired components from raw or altered input ores, semi-purified feedstocks, or process scrap and convert the material into elements, alloys, and consumables. The materials are regarded as originating from dead satellites and boosters, lunar materials, and asteroids. Strong attention will be given to recycling reagent substances to avoid the necessity of transporting replacements. It is assumed that since no aqueous processes exist on the moon, the distribution of minerals will be homogeneous. The processing-refining scenario will include hydrochemical, pyrochemical, electrochemical, and physical techniques selected for the output mass rate/unit plant mass ratio. Flow charts of the various materials processing operations which could be performed with lunar materials are provided, noting the necessity of delivering several alloying elements from the earth due to scarcities on the moon.

Waldron, R. D.↗