Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Impact testing”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 919 records · Page 51

Modified US Army U-8F ground vibration test

The Dryden Flight Research Facility of NASA Ames Research Center conducted a ground vibration test on a modified U.S. Army U-8F airplane. Modifications included new engines, propellers, and engine-mounted truss assemblies. The ground vibration test was conducted using sine dwell, single-point random, and impact excitations. The test was performed to determine modal frequencies, mode shapes, and structural damping coefficients of the airframe and propeller with full and empty fuel tanks. The data presented include frequency response plots, rigid-body and structural modal frequencies, and mode shapes.

Kehoe, M. W.↗

Alternative MMOD Shielding Concepts

The main types of meteoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) shields are single-layer “monolithic” shields, dual-wall “Whipple” shields, and multi-wall shields (“Stuffed Whipple” and “multi-shock” are common types). Aluminum alloys are typically used for the outer bumper layer and for the rear wall of the dual- and multi-wall shields, although carbon-composites are increasingly employed in MMOD shields given their low-mass and high-strength. Ceramic (NextelTM) and KevlarTM fabrics are commonly used for the intermediate layers of Stuffed Whipple shields. The NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) Hypervelocity Impact Technology (HVIT) group is continuously working to improve NASA spacecraft MMOD shielding by evaluating new materials and shielding concepts by test and analysis. HVIT has performed many hypervelocity impact tests over several years to evaluate alternative MMOD shield materials and concepts. This paper will provide results of this work in the following areas: (1) Material substitutions to improve radiation and MMOD protection within Stuffed Whipple shields, (2) Metallic and ceramic foam bumper and intermediate layer materials, (3) Self-sealing materials. In the first two areas listed above, the candidate shield materials were tested under similar test conditions and with fixed shield standoff and mass. Damage to the rear wall was quantified and compared to determine the best performing shield materials. In the self-sealing material evaluations, the test objective was to gauge the ability of different materials and techniques to stop leaks in a rear wall with a 1-atmosphere (air) delta-pressure across the wall. This paper provides results of the investigations and describes forward work to continue the development of the most promising MMOD shield alternatives. KevlarTM is a trademark of DuPont de Nemours, Inc. NextelTM is a trademark of 3M Corporation Note, Trade names and trademarks are used in this report for identification only. Their usage does not constitute an official endorsement, either expressed or implied, by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Hypervelocity↗

The effect of hydrogen on mechanical properties of oxygen-strengthened titanium

The effect of oxygen on the hydrogen embrittlement in titanium was investigated in two Ti-based alloys containing different amounts of oxygen: 0.064 and 0.154, in wt pct. Tensile, impact, and hardness tests were performed with and without prior hydrogenation of the specimens. Results show that, while the presence of hydrogen, even in relatively small amounts, will not affect the hardness or room-temperature tensile properties determined at relatively slow strain rates, hydrogen will reduce significantly the impact resistance, as determined by the Charpy V-notch test. This deleterious effect on the impact resistance was found to be exacerbated by an increase of oxygen in the alloy.

Wasz, M. L.↗

Space station integrated wall design and penetration damage control

A methodology was developed to allow a designer to optimize the pressure wall, insulation, and meteoroid/debris shield system of a manned spacecraft for a given spacecraft configuration and threat environment. The threat environment consists of meteoroids and orbital debris, as specified for an arbitrary orbit and expected lifetime. An overall probability of no penetration is calculated, as well as contours of equal threat that take into account spacecraft geometry and orientation. Techniques, tools, and procedures for repairing an impacted and penetrated pressure wall were developed and tested. These techniques are applied from the spacecraft interior and account for the possibility of performing the repair in a vacuum. Hypervelocity impact testing was conducted to: (1) develop and refine appropriate penetration functions, and (2) determine the internal effects of a penetration on personnel and equipment.

Coronado, A. R.↗

Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster decelerator subsystem - Air drop test vehicle/B-52 design

The air drop development test program for the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Recovery System required the design of a large drop test vehicle that would meet all the stringent requirements placed on it by structural loads, safety considerations, flight recovery system interfaces, and sequence. The drop test vehicle had to have the capability to test the drogue and the three main parachutes both separately and in the total flight deployment sequence and still be low-cost to fit in a low-budget development program. The design to test large ribbon parachutes to loads of 300,000 pounds required the detailed investigation and integration of several parameters such as carrier aircraft mechanical interface, drop test vehicle ground transportability, impact point ground penetration, salvageability, drop test vehicle intelligence, flight design hardware interfaces, and packaging fidelity.

Runkle, R. E.↗

A test of the longevity of impact-induced faults as preferred sites for later tectonic activity

The hypothesis that impact-induced faults have been preferred sites for later deformation in response to lithospheric stresses has been suggested for several planets and satellites. This hypothesis is investigated on earth by examining whether terrestrial impact structures show higher rates of nearby earthquake activity than do surrounding intraplate regions. For 28 of 30 probable impact structures having an original crater 20 km or more in diameter, the rates of nearby seismicity have been no higher than the regional background rates. For two large probable impact structures, Vredefort and Charlevoix, with higher than normal rates of nearby seismicity, factors other than slip on impact-induced faults appear to control the occurrence of earthquakes. It is concluded that impact-induced faults, at least on earth, do not persist as lithospheric 'weak zones' for periods in excess of several million years after the impact event.

Solomon, Sean C.↗

Impact of uncertainty on modeling and testing

A thorough understanding of the uncertainties associated with the modeling and testing of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) Engine will greatly aid decisions concerning hardware performance and future development efforts. This report will describe the determination of the uncertainties in the modeling and testing of the Space Shuttle Main Engine test program at the Technology Test Bed facility at Marshall Space Flight Center. Section 2 will present a summary of the uncertainty analysis methodology used and discuss the specific applications to the TTB SSME test program. Section 3 will discuss the application of the uncertainty analysis to the test program and the results obtained. Section 4 presents the results of the analysis of the SSME modeling effort from an uncertainty analysis point of view. The appendices at the end of the report contain a significant amount of information relative to the analysis, including discussions of venturi flowmeter data reduction and uncertainty propagation, bias uncertainty documentations, technical papers published, the computer code generated to determine the venturi uncertainties, and the venturi data and results used in the analysis.

Coleman, Hugh W.↗

Impact of Scaled Technology on Radiation Testing and Hardening

This presentation gives a brief overview of some of the radiation challenges facing emerging scaled digital technologies with implications on using consumer grade electronics and next generation hardening schemes. Commercial semiconductor manufacturers are recognizing some of these issues as issues for terrestrial performance. Looking at means of dealing with soft errors. The thinned oxide has indicated improved TID tolerance of commercial products hardened by "serendipity" which does not guarantee hardness or say if the trend will continue. This presentation also focuses one reliability implications of thinned oxides.

LaBel, Kenneth A.↗

Design of an Indoor Sonic Boom Simulator at NASA Langley Research Center

Construction of a simulator to recreate the soundscape inside residential buildings exposed to sonic booms is scheduled to start during the summer of 2008 at NASA Langley Research Center. The new facility should be complete by the end of the year. The design of the simulator allows independent control of several factors that create the indoor soundscape. Variables that will be isolated include such factors as boom duration, overpressure, rise time, spectral shape, level of rattle, level of squeak, source of rattle and squeak, level of vibration and source of vibration. Test subjects inside the simulator will be asked to judge the simulated soundscape, which will represent realistic indoor boom exposure. Ultimately, this simulator will be used to develop a functional relationship between human response and the sound characteristics creating the indoor soundscape. A conceptual design has been developed by NASA personnel, and is currently being vetted through small-scale risk reduction tests that are being performed in-house. The purpose of this document is to introduce the conceptual design, identify how the indoor response will be simulated, briefly outline some of the risk reduction tests that have been completed to vet the design, and discuss the impact of these tests on the simulator design.

Klos, Jacob↗

Lessons Learned From The EMU Fire and How It Impacts CxP Suit Element Development and Testing

During testing a Space Shuttle Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) pressure garment and life-support backpack was destroyed in a flash fire in the Johnson Space Center's Crew systems laboratory. This slide presentation reviews the accident, probable causes, the lessons learned and the effect this has on the testing and the environment for testing of the Space Suit for the Constellation Program.

Metts, Jonathan↗

Impact of Total Ionizing Dose Radiation Testing and Long-Term Thermal Cycling on the Operation of CMF20120D Silicon Carbide Power MOSFET

Power systems designed for use in NASA space missions are required to work reliably under harsh conditions including radiation, thermal cycling, and extreme temperature exposures. Silicon carbide devices show great promise for use in future power electronics systems, but information pertaining to performance of the devices in the space environment is very scarce. A silicon carbide N-channel enhancement-mode power MOSFET called the CMF20120 is of interest for use in space environments. Samples of the device were exposed to radiation followed by long-term thermal cycling to address their reliability for use in space applications. The results of the experimental work are presentd and discussed.

thermal cycling tests↗

Thermal Vacuum and Vibration Testing of the Differential Thermal Expansion Thermal Switch

The Extended Stroke, Reverse Operation, Differential Thermal Expansion (DTE) Thermal Switch (TS) for Extreme Variable Environments uses materials with both positive and negative coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) arranged in concentric cylinders so that the TS operates passively, opening a gap between interfaces to create a low thermal contact when cold, and closing the gap between interfaces to create a high thermal contact when hot. This paper details the testing of the TS at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) including the vibration (vibe) test, pre-vibe thermal vacuum (t-vac) cycle test, post-vibe t-vac cycle test, and long duration t-vac cycle test. The data collected from the pre- and post-vibe tests are compared to show the impact of the vibe test on performance. The data collected from the long duration test is used to calculate the total thermal contact conductance through the TS interfaces for both ‘on’ (TS closed, during hot plateau) and ‘off’ (TS open, during cold plateau) configurations, and the turndown ratio is also calculated. Challenges experienced throughout testing are also discussed.

Thermal control technology↗

Thermal Vacuum and Vibration Testing of the Differential Thermal Expansion Thermal Switch

The Extended Stroke, Reverse Operation, Differential Thermal Expansion (DTE) Thermal Switch (TS) for Extreme Variable Environments uses materials with both positive and negative coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) arranged in concentric cylinders so that the TS operates passively, opening a gap between interfaces to create a low thermal contact when cold, and closing the gap between interfaces to create a high thermal contact when hot. This paper details the testing of the TS at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) including the vibration (vibe) test, pre-vibe thermal vacuum (t-vac) cycle test, post-vibe t-vac cycle test, and long duration t-vac cycle test. The data collected from the pre- and post-vibe tests are compared to show the impact of the vibe test on performance. The data collected from the long duration test is used to calculate the total thermal contact conductance through the TS interfaces for both ‘on’ (TS closed, during hot plateau) and ‘off’ (TS open, during cold plateau) configurations, and the turndown ratio is also calculated. Challenges experienced throughout testing are also discussed.

Thermal control technology↗

Testing of A Photon-Counting Optical Ground Receiver With Emulated Space-to-Ground Link Effects

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center (GRC) developed and previously characterized a photon-counting optical ground receiver system. The receiver is compliant with the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) Optical Communications Coding and Synchronization High Photon Efficiency (HPE) Standard. The standard will be used on the Optical Artemis-2 Orion (O2O) communications demonstration and the Deep Space Optical Communication (DSOC) project aboard the Psyche spacecraft. The receiver system consists of a fiber interconnect, up to sixteen superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA) based receive modem. Previously, the receiver system architecture was described and test results without emulated link effects were presented. SNSPD device properties, which impact detection jitter and time delay, can limit the receiver dynamic range, especially when operating with varying flux rates (>10 dB) between detectors. Codeword error-rate curves with and without simulated clock drifts attributed to Doppler shift and space transmitter clock differences are presented. Results with ±66 ppm clock differences show minimal performance impact (<0.2 dB). Test results show that the receiver dynamic range (>28 dB) is limited by changing SNSPD detection delays at high photon flux rates.

optical communications↗

Testing of A Photon-Counting Optical Ground Receiver With Emulated Space-to-Ground Link Effects

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center (GRC) developed and previously characterized a photon-counting optical ground receiver system. The receiver is compliant with the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) Optical Communications Coding and Synchronization High Photon Efficiency (HPE) Standard. The standard will be used on the Optical Artemis-2 Orion (O2O) communications demonstration and the Deep Space Optical Communication (DSOC) project aboard the Psyche spacecraft. The receiver system consists of a fiber interconnect, up to sixteen superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA) based receive modem. Previously, the receiver system architecture was described and test results without emulated link effects were presented. SNSPD device properties, which impact detection jitter and time delay, can limit the receiver dynamic range, especially when operating with varying flux rates (>10 dB) between detectors. Codeword error-rate curves with and without simulated clock drifts attributed to Doppler shift and space transmitter clock differences are presented. Results with ±66 ppm clock differences show minimal performance impact (<0.2 dB). Test results show that the receiver dynamic range (>28 dB) is limited by changing SNSPD detection delays at high photon flux rates.

optical communications↗

The NASA JSC Hypervelocity Impact Technology (HVIT) Office

The Hypervelocity Impact Technology (HVIT) office at the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC) is dedicated to support NASA flight programs in meeting their meteoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) protection requirements both efficiently and effectively, with a minimum of shielding mass, volume, and cost. This paper provides an overview of HVIT capabilities in providing hypervelocity tests, analyses, MMOD risk assessments and shielding expertise. HVIT personnel work closely with NASA program and safety/mission assurance personnel to develop program-specific MMOD protection requirements which are both achievable based on initial risk assessments and will meet overall safety and mission success requirements. HVIT then proceeds with hypervelocity impact testing and hydrocode assessments to update and verify ballistic limit equations used in the MMOD risk assessment. Hypervelocity impact tests are primarily performed at the NASA WSTF Remote Hypervelocity Test Laboratory (RHTL). Other hypervelocity facilities that provide complementary test capabilities are called on when necessary to fill data gaps. The goal of the final pre-flight MMOD risk assessment is to show compliance with MMOD requirements prior to flight. This final assessment will also incorporate changes in the MMOD environment from meteoroid showers and orbital debris breakups. After the mission is flown, post-flight inspections are performed by HVIT to document and trend MMOD damage to returned spacecraft surfaces and hardware. HVIT accomplishments in NASA mission support are described. In addition, current HVIT activities to aid on-going NASA crewed missions and science missions are presented.

Meteoroid↗