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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 937 records · Page 52
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2022

Rise and Shine: The Use of Polychromatic Short-Wavelength-Enriched Light to Mitigate Sleep Inertia at Night Following Awaking From Slow-Wave Sleep

Sleep inertia is the brief period of performance impairment and reduced alertness experienced after waking, especially from slow-wave sleep. We assessed the efficacy of polychromatic short-wavelength-enriched light to improve vigilant attention, alertness and mood immediately after waking from slow-wave sleep at night. Twelve participants (six female, 23.3 ± 4.2 years) maintained an actigraphy-confirmed sleep schedule of 8.5 hr for 5 nights, and 5 hr for 1 night prior to an overnight laboratory visit. In the laboratory, participants were awakened from slow-wave sleep, and immediately exposed to either dim, red ambient light (control) or polychromatic short-wavelength-enriched light (light) for 1 hr in a randomized crossover design. They completed a 5-min Psychomotor Vigilance Task, the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, and Visual Analogue Scales of mood at 2, 17, 32 and 47 min after waking. Following this testing period, lights were turned off and participants returned to sleep. They were awakened from their subsequent slow-wave sleep period and received the opposite condition. Compared with the control condition, participants exposed to light had fewer Psychomotor Vigilance Task lapses (χ 2 [1] = 5.285, p = 0.022), reported feeling more alert (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale: F 1,77 = 4.955, p = 0.029; Visual Analogue Scale alert : F 1,77 = 8.226, p = 0.005), and reported improved mood (Visual Analogue Scale cheerful : F 1,77 = 8.615, p = 0.004). There was no significant difference in sleep-onset latency between conditions following the testing period (t 10 = 1.024, p = 0.330). Our results suggest that exposure to polychromatic short-wavelength-enriched light immediately after waking from slow-wave sleep at night may help improve vigilant attention, subjective alertness, and mood. Future studies should explore the potential mechanisms of this countermeasure and its efficacy in real-world environments.

alertness↗
NASA NTRS1997

Invariance of Hypersonic Normal Force Coefficients with Reynolds Number and Determination of Inviscid Wave Drag from Laminar Experimental Results

Observations have been made and reported that the experimental normal force coefficients at a constant angle of attack were constant with a variation of more than 2 orders of magnitude of Reynolds number at a free-stream Mach number M(sub infinity) of 8.00 and more than 1 order of magnitude variation at M(sub infinity) = 6.00 on the same body-wing hypersonic cruise configuration. These data were recorded under laminar, transitional, and turbulent boundary layer conditions with both hot-wall and cold-wall models. This report presents experimental data on 25 configurations of 17 models of both simple and complex geometry taken at M(sub infinity) = 6.00, 6.86, and 8.00 in 4 different hypersonic facilities. Aerodynamic calculations were made by computational fluid dynamics (CID) and engineering methods to analyze these data. The conclusions were that the normal force coefficients at a given altitude are constant with Reynolds numbers at hypersonic speeds and that the axial force coefficients recorded under laminar boundary-layer conditions at several Reynolds numbers may be plotted against the laminar parameter (the reciprocal of the Reynolds number to the one-half power) and extrapolated to the ordinate axis to determine the inviscid-wave-drag coefficient at the intercept.

Hawkins, Richard↗
NASA NTRS1974

Detection techniques for tenuous planetary atmospheres

The development of new types of detectors for analysis of planetary atmospheres is discussed. Initially, the interest was in detectors for use under partial vacuum conditions; recently, the program has been extended to include detectors for use at one atmosphere and adsorption systems for control and separation of gases. Results to date have included detector for O2 and H2 under partial vacuum conditions. Experiments on detectors for use at high pressures began in 1966; and systems for CO, H2, and O2 were reported in 1967 and 1968. In 1968 studies began on an electrically controlled adsorbent. It was demonstrated that under proper conditions a thin film of semiconductor material could be electrically cycled to absorb and desorb a specific gas. This work was extended to obtain quantitative data on the use of semiconductors as controllable adsorbents.

Hoenig, S. A.↗
NASA NTRS1978

A numerical method of detecting singularity

A numerical method is reported which determines a value C for the degree of conditioning of a matrix. This value is C = 0 for a singular matrix and has progressively larger values for matrices which are increasingly well-conditioned. This value is C sub = C max sub max (C defined by the precision of the computer) when the matrix is perfectly well conditioned.

Laporte, M.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Numerical computation of transonic flows by finite-element and finite-difference methods

Studies on applications of the finite element approach to transonic flow calculations are reported. Different discretization techniques of the differential equations and boundary conditions are compared. Finite element analogs of Murman's mixed type finite difference operators for small disturbance formulations were constructed and the time dependent approach (using finite differences in time and finite elements in space) was examined.

Hafez, M. M.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Electron beam charging and ARC discharging of spacecraft insulating materials

The properties of the arc discharges which are caused by the laboratory exposure of dielectric materials to electron beams are examined, the intent being to simulate conditions on synchronous-orbit spacecraft. Extensive experimental studies are reported for planar dielectrics (Teflon, Kapton, Mylar) on the subjects of incident-flux scaling of discharge properties and the effects of high-energy broad-spectrum electron irradiation from a radioisotpe source. In addition a preliminary evaluation is made of the discharge susceptibility of fiber optic waveguides.

Balmain, K. G.↗
NASA NTRS1954

Impingement of Water Droplets on NACA 65A004 Airfoil at 8 deg Angle of Attack

The trajectories of droplets in the air flowing past an NACA 65AO04 airfoil at an angle of attack of 8 deg were determined.. The amount of water in droplet form impinging on the airfoil, the area of droplet impingement, and the rate of droplet impingement per unit area on the airfoil surface were calculated from the trajectories and presented to cover a large range of flight and atmospheric conditions. These impingement characteristics are compared briefly with those previously reported for the same airfoil at an angle of attack of 4 deg.

Brun, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1955

Impingement of Water Droplets on NACA 65A004 Airfoil at 0 Deg Angle of Attack

The trajectories of water droplets in the air flowing past an NACA 6511004 airfoil at a n angle of attack of 0 deg were determined. The amount of water in droplet form impinging on the airfoil , the area of droplet impingement, and the rate of droplet impingement per unit area on the airfoil surface were calculated from the trajectories and presented t o cover a large range of flight and atmospheric conditions. These impingement characteristics are compared briefly with those previously reported for the same airfoil at angles of attack of 4 deg and 8 deg.

Brun, Rinaldo J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A laboratory study of the perceived benefit of additional noise attenuation by houses

Two Experiments were conducted to investigate the perceived benefit of additional house attenuation against aircraft flyover noise. First, subjects made annoyance judgments in a simulated living room while an operative window with real and dummy storm windows was manipulated in full view of those subjects. Second, subjects made annoyance judgments in an anechoic audiometric test chamber of frequency shaped noise signals having spectra closely matched to those of the aircraft flyover noises reproduced in the first experiment. These stimuli represented the aircraft flyover noises in levels and spectra but without the situational and visual cues present in the simulated living room. Perceptual constancy theory implies that annoyance tends to remain constant despite reductions in noise level caused by additional attenuation of which the subjects are fully aware. This theory was supported when account was taken for a reported annoyance overestimation for certain spectra and for a simulated condition cue overreaction.

Flindell, I. H.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Laboratory studies of the condensation and properties of amorphous silicate smokes

The results of experiments intended for defining the vapor phase condensation of refractory materials are reported, and the usefulness of applying laboratory data to astrophysical conditions is assessed. The testing apparatus used produced Mg-SiO smokes by boiling powders in an evaporator. Critical temperatures for the onset of nucleation were measured for SiO-H2 and Mg-SiO-H2 systems. Spectroscopic examination of the grains produced were determined to be similar to the spectra obtained from both carbonaceous chondrites and several stratospheric micrometeorites. The experiments demonstrated that direct nucleation of refractory silicates from the vapor phase yielded amorphous, metastable particles, resembling more circumstellar grains than a chondritic matrix. It is suggested that the formation of SiO(x) may control nucleation in oxygen-rich stars.

Nuth, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

LANDSAT instruments characterization

Work performed for the LANDSAT instrument characterization task in the areas of absolute radiometry, coherent noise analysis, and between-date smoothing is reported. Absolute radiometric calibration for LANDSAT-5 TM under ambient conditions was performed. The TM Radiometric Algorithms and Performance Program (TRAPP) was modified to create optional midscan data files and to match the TM Image Processing System (TIPS) algorithm for pulse determination. Several data reduction programs were developed, including a linear regression and its plotted result. A fast Fourier transformation study was conducted on the resequenced TM data. Subscenes of homogeneous water within scenes over Pensacola, Florida were used for testing the FFT on the resequenced data. Finally, a gain and pulse height stability study of LANDSAT 5 TM spectral bands was performed.

Lee, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A study of the relationship among wind speed, sea state, and the drag coefficient for a developing wave field

Controlled laboratory experiments are reported which demonstrate directly and quantitatively the influence of wave conditions in determining the drag law at the air-sea interface under neutral stability conditions. It is concluded that the analytic form first proposed by Kitaigorodskii (1970) models the roughness scale very well when the sea is dominated by the locally generated waves. It is demonstrated that, by using a unified two-parameter wave spectral model by Huang et al. (1981), Kitaigorodskii's result can be shown to contain the formulas of Charnock (1955) and Hsu (1974) as special cases. The results also identify two wind and wave-related parameters as important in determining the drag coefficient for developing wave fields.

Huang, N. E.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Multi-input multi-output system control for experimental aircraft

Results from the synthesis of control laws for an advanced short takeoff aircraft in a low-speed approach flight condition are given. Two of four candidate synthesis techniques are reported: direct eigenspace assignment and explicit model following via a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) formulation. A fundamental objective of this work is to obtain low-order feedback compensators, synthesized via the above techniques, and the judicious use of state estimation, thus allowing the use of a reasonable number of sensors for feedback.

Schmidt, David K.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Solidification processing of monotectic alloy matrix composites

Directionally solidified aluminum-indium alloys of the monotectic composition were found to form an in situ rod composite which obeys a lambda exp 2 R = constant relation. The experimental data shows good agreement with previously reported results. A theoretical boundary between cellular and dendritic growth conditions was derived and compared with experiments. The unique wetting characteristics of the monotectic alloys can be utilized to tailor the interface structure in metal matrix composites. Metal matrix composites with monotectic and hypermonotectic Al-In matrices were made by pressure infiltration, remelted and directionally solidified to observe the wetting characteristics of the alloys as well as the effect on structure of solidification in the constrained field of the fiber interstices. Models for monotectic growth are modified to take into account solidification in these constrained fields.

Frier, Nancy L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Definition of two-phase flow behaviors for spacecraft design

Data for complete models of two-phase flow in microgravity are taken from in-flight experiments and applied to an adiabatic flow-regime analysis to study the feasibility of two-phase systems for spacecraft. The data are taken from five in-flight experiments by Hill et al. (1990) in which a two-phase pump circulates a freon mixture and vapor and liquid flow streams are measured. Adiabatic flow regimes are analyzed based on the experimental superficial velocities of liquid and vapor, and comparisons are made with the results of two-phase flow regimes at 1 g. A motion analyzer records the flow characteristics at a rate of 1000 frames/sec, and stratified flow regimes are reported at 1 g. The flow regimes observed under microgravitational conditions are primarily annular and include slug and bubbly-slug regimes. The present data are of interest to the design and analysis of two-phase thermal-management systems for use in space missions.

Reinarts, Thomas R.↗
NASA NTRS1992

A demonstration of motion base design alternatives for the National Advanced Driving Simulator

A demonstration of the capability of NASA's Vertical Motion Simulator to simulate two alternative motion base designs for the National Advanced Driving simulator (NADS) is reported. The VMS is located at ARC. The motion base conditions used in this demonstration were as follows: (1) a large translational motion base; and (2) a motion base design with limited translational capability. The latter had translational capability representative of a typical synergistic motion platform. These alternatives were selected to test the prediction that large amplitude translational motion would result in a lower incidence or severity of simulator induced sickness (SIS) than would a limited translational motion base. A total of 10 drivers performed two tasks, slaloms and quick-stops, using each of the motion bases. Physiological, objective, and subjective measures were collected. No reliable differences in SIS between the motion base conditions was found in this demonstration. However, in light of the cost considerations and engineering challenges associated with implementing a large translation motion base, performance of a formal study is recommended.

Mccauley, Michael E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

In vivo testing confirms a blunting of the human cell-mediated immune mechanism during space flight

The cell-mediated immune (CMI) mechanism was evaluated in 10 space shuttle astronauts by measuring their delayed-type hypersensitivity response to seven common recall antigens. The Multitest CMI test system was used to administer antigens of tetanus, diphtheria, Streptococcus, Proteus, old tuberculin, Candida, and Trichophyton to the forearm 46 h before nominal mission termination; readings were conducted 2 h after landing. The mean number of reactions was reduced from 4.5 preflight to 3.0 inflight, and the mean reaction score was reduced from 21.4 to 13.7 mm inflight. The data presented suggest that the CMI system is still being degraded by space flight conditions on day 4 and that between day 5 and day 10, the depression maximizes and the system begins to adjust to the new conditions. The relation of these in vivo findings to previously reported in vitro results is discussed.

Taylor, G. R.↗
NASA NTRS1950

Altitude Investigation of Performance of Turbine-propeller Engine and Its Components

An investigation was conducted on a turbine-propeller engine in the NACA Lewis altitude wind tunnel at altitudes from 5000 to 35,000 feet. The applicability of generalized parameters to turbine-propeller engine data, analyses of the compressor, the combustion chambers, and the turbine, and a study of the over-all engine performance are reported. Engine performance data obtained at sea-level static conditions could be used to predict static performance at altitudes up to 35,000 feet by use of the standard generalized parameters.

Wallner, Lewis E↗