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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

Solar-array-materials passive LDEF experiment (A0171)

The objective of this experiment is to evaluate the synergistic effects of the space environment on various solar-array materials, including solar cells, cover slips with various antireflectance coatings, adhesive, encapsulants, reflector materials, substrate strength materials, mast and harness materials, structural composites, and thermal control treatments. The experiment is passive and consists of an arrangement of material specimens mounted in a 3-in.-deep peripheral tray. The effects of the space environment on the specimens will be determined by comparison of preflight and postflight measurements of mechanical, electrical, and optical properties.

Whitaker, A. F.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Mechanical Tests For Monitoring Aging Of Composites

Experimental study addresses related topics of thermo-oxidative aging of PMR-15 (polyimide matrix/graphite-fiber composite materials) strengths of interfacial bonds, effects of various surface treatments, and relative merits of mechanical tests yielding measures of strengths of materials.

Bowles, Kenneth J.↗
NASA NTRS1965

Some Factors Affecting Fatigue of Aircraft Structures

Several points of interest to the operator of aircraft are reviewed. Rates of crack propagation are shown to be high, and residual static strength is shown to decrease more significantly in high strength materials than in lower strength materials. Ground-air-ground and other negative loadings produce much more dn.mage than previously recognized or predicted. In first approximation, fatigue life is used in units corresponding to the number of flights, rather than to miles or hours as is commonly thought. Regular inspection for cracks is the only real way to assure safe operation of flight structures.

Hardrath, Herbert F.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Technology Development and Demonstration Concepts for the Space Elevator

During the 1990s several discoveries and advances in the development of carbon nano-tube (CNT) materials indicated that material strengths many times greater than common high-strength composite materials might be possible. Progress in the development of this material led to renewed interest in the space elevator concept for construction of a tether structure from the surface of the Earth through a geostationary orbit (GEO) and thus creating a new approach to Earth-to-orbit transportation infrastructures. To investigate this possibility the author, in 1999, managed for NASA a space elevator work:hop at the Marshall Space Flight Center to explore the potential feasibility of space elevators in the 21 century, and to identify the critical technologies and demonstration missions needed to make development of space elevators feasible. Since that time, a NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) funded study of the Space Elevator proposed a concept for a simpler first space elevator system using more near-term technologies. This paper will review some of the latest ideas for space elevator development, the critical technologies required, and some of the ideas proposed for demonstrating the feasibility for full-scale development of an Earth to GEO space elevator. Critical technologies include CNT composite materials, wireless power transmission, orbital object avoidance, and large-scale tether deployment and control systems. Numerous paths for technology demonstrations have been proposed utilizing ground experiments, air structures. LEO missions, the space shuttle, the international Space Station, GEO demonstration missions, demonstrations at the lunar L1 or L2 points, and other locations. In conclusion, this paper finds that the most critical technologies for an Earth to GEO space elevator include CNT composite materials development and object avoidance technologies; that lack of successful development of these technologies need not preclude continued development of space elevator systems in general; and that the critical technologies required for the Earth to GEO space elevator are not required for similar systems at the Moon, Mars, Europa, or for orbital tether systems at GEO, Luna, and other locations.

Smitherman, David V., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1941

Factors Influencing the Fatigue Strength of Materials

A number of factors are considered which influence the static and fatigue strength of materials under practical operating conditions as contrasted with the relations obtaining under conditions of the usual testing procedure. Such factors are interruptions in operation, periodically fluctuating stress limits and mean stresses with periodic succession of several groups and stress states, statistical changes and succession of stress limits and mean stresses, frictional corrosion at junctures, and notch effects.

Bollenrath, F↗
NASA NTRS1992

Computational simulation of coupled material degradation processes for probabilistic lifetime strength of aerospace materials

The research included ongoing development of methodology that provides probabilistic lifetime strength of aerospace materials via computational simulation. A probabilistic material strength degradation model, in the form of a randomized multifactor interaction equation, is postulated for strength degradation of structural components of aerospace propulsion systems subjected to a number of effects or primative variables. These primative variable may include high temperature, fatigue or creep. In most cases, strength is reduced as a result of the action of a variable. This multifactor interaction strength degradation equation has been randomized and is included in the computer program, PROMISS. Also included in the research is the development of methodology to calibrate the above described constitutive equation using actual experimental materials data together with linear regression of that data, thereby predicting values for the empirical material constraints for each effect or primative variable. This regression methodology is included in the computer program, PROMISC. Actual experimental materials data were obtained from the open literature for materials typically of interest to those studying aerospace propulsion system components. Material data for Inconel 718 was analyzed using the developed methodology.

Boyce, Lola↗
NASA NTRS1992

Probabilistic material degradation model for aerospace materials subjected to high temperature, mechanical and thermal fatigue, and creep

A probabilistic general material strength degradation model has been developed for structural components of aerospace propulsion systems subjected to diverse random effects. The model has been implemented in two FORTRAN programs, PROMISS (Probabilistic Material Strength Simulator) and PROMISC (Probabilistic Material Strength Calibrator). PROMISS calculates the random lifetime strength of an aerospace propulsion component due to as many as eighteen diverse random effects. Results are presented in the form of probability density functions and cumulative distribution functions of lifetime strength. PROMISC calibrates the model by calculating the values of empirical material constants.

Boyce, L.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Behaviour of rippled shocks from ablatively-driven Richtmyer-Meshkov in metals accounting for strength

While numerous continuum material strength and phase transformation models have been proposed to capture their complex dependences on intensive properties and deformation history, few experimental methods are available to validate these models particularly in the large pressure and strain rate regime typical of strong shock and ramp dynamic loading. In the experiments and simulations we present, a rippled shock is created by laser-ablation of a periodic surface perturbation on a metal target. The strength of the shock can be tuned to access phase transitions in metals such as iron or simply to study high-pressure strength in isomorphic materials such as copper. Simulations, with models calibrated and validated to the experiments, show that the evolution of the amplitude of imprinted perturbations on the back surface by the rippled shock is strongly affected by strength and phase transformation kinetics. Increased strength has a smoothing effect on the perturbed shock front profile resulting in smaller perturbations on the free surface. Lastly, in iron, faster phase transformations kinetics had a similar effect as increased strength, leading to smoother pressure contours inside the samples and smaller amplitudes of free surface perturbations in our simulations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2020

Development of a Compact, Low Cost Test Fixture to Evaluate Creep in High Strength Softgoods Materials under Constant Environmental Control

Space exploration is typically driven by two key factors: cost and payload mass. Therefore creating relatively low cost, low mass space hardware is critical. With the advancement of new high-strength flexible materials, a new chapter is opening in the evolution of pressurized space structures. Space-rated inflatable structures are attractive due to their low mass, compact stowage, and capability of performing as well, or better than, their rigid counterparts for applications such as habitats and airlocks. The lifetime properties of materials used for inflatable structures are not as well characterized as heritage composite and metallic materials; therefore, they require extensive testing to increase the level of confidence in their use. Creep testing is one method of evaluating the expected lifetime of materials that may be under constant load for many years in operational use. Conventional creep testing of high-strength softgoods webbings or cordage requires a large, temperature-controlled facility, with structural frames capable of supporting large dead weights, weighing thousands of pounds on each specimen. This is expensive and takes up a significant amount of volume in a facility for a long time. This paper describes the design and analysis of a low-cost, low-volume creep test stand that can be locally environmentally controlled, so that smaller, cheaper facilities can be used for characterizing the creep life of the softgoods materials used in inflatable space structures.

Softgoods↗
DOE OSTI2021

Analytical models of the strength and ductility of CNT reinforced metal matrix nano composites under elevated temperatures

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can greatly enhance the strength of metal matrix composites while resulting in ductility loss. This strength-ductility tradeoff dilemma always confines the development of material design and real-life applications. Here in this work, a temperature dependent strengthening analytical model is proposed for CNT reinforced metal matrix composites which considers three common strengthening mechanisms: Orowan looping effect, thermal expansion mismatch effect, and load bearing effect. The proposed model can predict composite material strength with different volume fractions of CNTs and under different temperatures. Combining the strengthening model with the stress based modified Mohr-Coulomb (sMMC) ductile fracture model, a ductility analytical model is then derived. This ductility analytical model includes the influences of temperature, multi-axial stress loading conditions, as well as the aforementioned three strengthening mechanisms. A good agreement has been achieved between literature published experimental data and analytical predictions for both composite material strength and ductility loss. The proposed two analytical models can provide a straightforward way to study the strength-ductility relationship for CNT reinforced metal matrix composites over a wide range of temperatures and different stress states, and then provide guidance on new material design and processing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Experimental and theoretical investigation of a mesoporous K x WO 3 material having superior mechanical strength

Mesoporous materials with tailored properties hold great promise for energy harvesting and industrial applications. Here we have synthesized a novel tungsten bronze mesoporous material (K x WO 3 ; x ~ 0.07) having inverse FDU-12 type pore symmetry and a crystalline framework. In situ small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements of the mesoporous K 0.07 WO 3 show persistence of a highly ordered meso-scale pore structure to high pressure conditions (~18.5 GPa) and a material with remarkable mechanical strength despite having ~35% porosity. Pressure dependent in situ SAXS measurements reveal a bulk modulus κ = 44 ± 4 GPa for the mesoporous K x WO 3 which is comparable to the corresponding value for the bulk monoclinic WO 3 (γ-WO 3 ). Evidence from middle angle (MAXS) and wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and Raman spectroscopy shows that the presence of potassium leads to the formation of a K-bearing orthorhombic tungsten bronze (OTB) phase within a monoclinic WO 3 host structure. Our ab initio molecular dynamics calculations show that the formation of the OTB phase provides superior strength to the mesoporous K 0.07 WO 3 .

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Acetabular Cup with a Trabecular Coating: A Novel Approach to a Monolithic Cup Made of One High-Strength Ceramic Material

An advanced monolithic cup comprising a thin liner and a trabecular coating is a promising alternative to the current modular ceramic cups for hip replacements because it can be anchored directly to the human bone and features larger femoral heads allowing a greater range of motion. In this study, the authors propose a fabrication route for an advanced monolithic cup of only one high-strength ceramic material by joining a partially sintered liner and a coating with a ceramic paste as an intermediate layer and subsequent sintering. Therefore, the challenge here is to avoid the formation of defects at the coating/intermediate layer interfaces during classical sintering which is due to compressive tension constrained coating sintering in the initial sintering stages. In this study, the defect formation is minimized by sintering at constant low shrinkage rates, as this results in favorable compressive stresses in the coating in the initial sintering stages and a decrease in the differences in the densification rates. For the first time, by using the proposed route, the authors prepare an advanced monolithic cup of only alumina-toughened zirconia (ATZ) that contains a coating with a porosity of 50 vol% and interconnected pores between 150 and 450 μm, as required for bone-ingrowth.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

A better understanding of the mechanics of borehole breakout utilizing a finite strain gradient-enhanced micropolar continuum model

Borehole breakout denotes the failure in rock mass subjected to drilling, caused by stress concentrations exceeding the material strength. Depending on the material properties, the preexisting in situ stress state, and the borehole dimensions, different types of borehole breakout, such as spiral-shaped breakout or v-shaped breakout, are distinguished in the literature. In the present work, we address the influence of the material properties on the predicted borehole breakout mode in a comprehensive finite element study. To this end, herein we employ a gradient-enhanced micropolar damage-plasticity model based on the Mohr–Coulomb strength criterion, formulated in the finite strain regime, which is calibrated based on experimental results from plane strain compression tests on Red Wildmoor sandstone. In the numerical study, the influence of the in situ stress state, the material friction angle, plastic dilation, post peak residual strength, and the inherent material length scale parameters are investigated. Thereby, we demonstrate that depending on the material parameters, substantially different failure modes, characterized by strongly localized shear bands or diffuse failure zones, are predicted. It is shown that in particular the brittleness of the material in the post peak regime has a major influence on the predicted breakout type. Moreover, a statistical validation of the results is obtained by considering different random field distributions of the initial material strength.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Competing Grain Boundary and Interior Deformation Mechanisms with Varying Sizes

In typical coarse-grained alloys, the dominant plastic deformations are dislocation gliding or climbing, and material strengths can be tuned by dislocation interactions with grain boundaries, precipitates, solid solutions, and other defects. With the reduction of grain size, the increase of material strengths follows the classic Hall-Petch relationship up to nano-grained materials. Even at room temperatures, nano-grained materials exhibit strength softening, or called the inverse Hall-Petch effect, as grain boundary processes take over as the dominant deformation mechanisms. On the other hand, at elevated temperatures, grain boundary processes compete with grain interior deformation mechanisms over a wide range of the applied stress and grain sizes. This book chapter reviews and compares the rate equation model and the microstructure-based finite element simulations. The latter explicitly accounts for the grain boundary sliding, grain boundary diffusion and migration, as well as the grain interior dislocation creep. Therefore the explicit finite element method has clear advantages in problems where microstructural heterogeneities play a critical role, such as in the gradient microstructure in shot peening or weldment. Furthermore, combined with the Hall-Petch effect and its breakdown, the above competing processes help construct deformation mechanism maps by extending from the classic Frost-Ashby type to the ones with the dependence of grain size.

Zhang, Wei↗
DOE OSTI2023

CTH v.13.0

SAND2023-06647O The latest version of the CTH suite of computer codes is a flexible software system designed to treat a wide range of shock wave propagation and material motion phenomena in 1-D, 2-D, or 3-D. CTH has models suitable for most conditions encountered in shock physics including material strength, fracture, distended materials, high explosives, and a variety of boundary conditions. Finite-volume analogs of the Lagrangian equations of momentum and energy conservation are employed with continuous rezoning to construct Eulerian differencing. Adaptive mesh refinement is available for maximizing resolution in regions of interest. Full Lagrangian numerical methods are available for mechanical or structural response.

Schumacher, Shane↗