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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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Thermostructural comparisons of mullite and silica reusable surface insulation materials for space shuttle application show that mullite is much more subject to thermal stress failure than silica composite materials.
Analytical solutions were obtained for the thermal response of a transpiration- or sublimation-cooled spherical mirror coating exposed to convective and radiative heating. The solutions allow unlimited spectral detail to be accounted for. Results indicate that transpiration-cooled thick coatings (1 cm) may withstand up to 10 kW/sq cm on a steady basis without excessive temperature rise for quartzlike materials with an internal absorption coefficient of 0.01 per cm. On a transient basis, fluxes up to 20 kW/sq cm can be accommodated for a second (cW laser exposure time), 4 kW/sq cm for 5 sec (planetary entry heating time), and of the order of MW/sq cm for millisecond times (short-duration laser bursts) without transpiration cooling for a material with an absorption coefficient of 0.1 per cm. Proportionately higher fluxes can be accommodated with lower absorption coefficients. Thermal stresses produced by the heat pulse are found to be high but within the strength of the materials. The regime in which meaningful solutions may be obtained is mapped in detail.
Computer programs were written to model the liquid oxygen loading system for the space shuttle. The programs allow selection of input data through graphic displays which schematically depict the part of the system being modeled. The computed output is also displayed in the form of graphs and printed messages. Any one of six computation options may be selected. The first four of these pertain to thermal stresses, pressure surges, cooldown times, flow rates and pressures during cooldown. Options five and six deal with possible water hammer effects due to closing of valves, steady flow and transient response to changes in operating conditions after cooldown. Procedures are given for operation of the graphic display unit and minicomputer.
This report summarizes programs at the NASA Lewis Research Center evaluating several classes of commercial ceramics, in a high gas velocity burner rig simulating a gas turbine engine environment. Testing of 23 ceramics in rod geometry identified SiC and Si3N4 as outstanding in resistance to oxidation and thermal stress and identified the failure modes of other ceramics. Further testing of a group of 15 types of SiC and Si3N4 in simulated vane shape geometry has identified a hot pressed SiC, a reaction sintered SiC, and hot pressed Si3N4 as the best of that group. SiC and Si3N4 test specimens were compared on the basis of weight change, dimensional reductions, metallography, fluorescent penetrant inspection, X-ray diffraction analyses, and failure mode.
A modular liquid-cooled helmet liner made of eight form-fitting neoprene patches was constructed. The liner was integrated into the sweatband of an Army SPH-4 helicopter aircrew helmet. This assembly was tested on four subjects seated in a hot (47 C), humid (40%) environment. Results indicate a marked reduction in the rate of increase of physiological body functions. Rectal temperature, weight loss, heart rate, and strain indices are all reduced to approximately 50% of uncooled levels. The cooling liner removed from 10% to 30% of total metabolic heat produced. This study also demonstrated the technical feasilibity of using a cooling liner in conjunction with a standard hard helmet. Potential applications of the cooling liner in thermally stressful environments are numerous, notably for helicopter and other aircrews.
A finite element NASTRAN model of the complete forward rotor transmission housing for the Boeing Vertol CH-47 helicopter was developed and applied to reduce transmission vibration/noise at its source. In addition to a description of the model, a technique for vibration/noise prediction and reduction is outlined. Also included are the dynamic response as predicted by NASTRAN, test data, the use of strain energy methods to optimize the housing for minimum vibration/noise, and determination of design modifications which will be manufactured and tested. The techniques presented are not restricted to helicopters but are applicable to any power transmission system. The transmission housing model developed can be used further to evaluate static and dynamic stresses, thermal distortions, deflections and load paths, fail-safety/vulnerability, and composite materials.
Review of the results of a study of the characteristics of thermal moonquakes and of their role in the erosion of the lunar surface. Thermal moonquake activity starts abruptly about 2 days after lunar sunrise and decreases rapidly after sunset. Two possible source mechanisms for thermal moonquakes are suggested: fracturing or movement of rocks along zones of weakness and slumping of lunar soil on slopes triggered by thermal stresses.
A series of experimental, theoretical, and review papers dealing with various aspects of applied mechanics, including structural analysis, mathematical methods, and fluid dynamics. Some of the topics covered are: the direct formulation of two-dimensional mechanics problems, the mechanical aspects of athletics, Laplace's tidal equations, cochlear mechanics, dynamic constitutive equations, optical techniques for the determination of displacement and strain fields, chemical and biochemical problems involving nonlinear diffusion processes, thermal stresses, the rotating rod viscometer, finite-element methods in plasticity, ships of minimum resistance, and wide-band random vibration of structures. Individual items are announced in this issue.
An analytical study was performed to determine the best structural approach for design of primary wing and fuselage structure of a Mach number 2.7 arrow-wing supersonic cruise aircraft. Concepts were evaluated considering near-term start-of-design. Emphasis was placed on the complex interactions between thermal stress, static aeroelasticity, flutter, fatigue and fail-safe design, static and dynamic loads, and the effects of variations in structural arrangements, concepts and materials on these interactions. Results indicate that a hybrid wing structure incorporating low-profile convex-beaded and honeycomb sandwich surface panels of titanium alloy 6Al-4V were the most efficient. The substructure includes titanium alloy spar caps reinforced with Boron-polyimide composites. The fuselage shell is a closed-hat stiffened skin and frame construction of titanium alloy 6Al-4V. This paper presents an executive summary of the study effort, and includes a discussion of the overall study logic, design philosophy and interaction between the analytical methods for supersonic cruise aircraft design.
An extensive fabrication and test program is described which has demonstrated the integrity of PPO (polyphenylene oxide) foam as an internal insulation. PPO is shown to be capable of withstanding multiple reuses on such cryogenic-fueled launch vehicles as the Space Shuttle. The major advantages of this internal insulation is the absence of a pressure load on the insulation, reduced handling damage, and minimization of cyclic thermal stresses by a 'warm' bond line.
Altitude jettison tests, at a pressure of 20 torr (0.39 psia), were performed on the Centaur Standard Shroud (CSS) in a 100-foot diameter vacuum chamber. These jettison tests were part of a series of flight qualification tests which were performed on the new CSS system in preparation for the Helios and Viking missions. The first two tests subjected the CSS to a thermal cycle which simulated aerodynamic heating during ascent flight and the third test was performed at altitude pressure and in ambient temperature conditions. The purpose of the ambient temperature test was to provide base line data by which the separate machanical and thermal factors that influence jettison performance could be evaluated individually. The CSS was successfully jettisoned in each of the three tests. Also, thermal, stress, and structural deflection data were obtained which verified the analytical predictions of CSS response to flight environmental conditions and performance during jettison. In addition, much important information was obtained on critical CSS-to-payload clearance losses due to shell motions prior to and during jettison. The effectiveness of the separation system was successfully demonstrated at maximum flight temperatures.
A computer program is described which can be used to predict the thermal fatigue life of metals and structural components from conventional metal properties. A unique feature of TFLIFE is that it calculates lives according to several different failure criteria for the same input data. These criteria are surface crack initiation, interior crack initiation, and complete fracture of both unnotched and notched fatigue specimens. Sample output tables are shown, together with results for two typical problems: (1) Thermal-mechanical fatigue of bar specimens of the tantalum alloy T-111, and (2) thermal-stress fatigue of wedge specimens of the nickel alloy B-1900.
Extensions developed at Langley Research Center to the VIPASA computer program are described including a procedure for simple thermal stress analysis and options for graphical display of output. Input requirements for operation of the modified program are given in detail.
Computer simulation studies of liquid hydrogen fill and vent systems for the space shuttle are studied. The computer programs calculate maximum and minimum permissible flow rates during cooldown as limited by thermal stress considerations, fill line cooldown time, pressure drop, flow rates, vapor content, vent line pressure drop and vent line discharge temperature. The input data for these programs are selected through graphic displays which schematically depict the part of the system being analyzed. The computed output is also displayed in the form of printed messages and graphs. Digital readouts of graph coordinates may also be obtained. Procedures are given for operation of the graphic display unit and the associated minicomputer and timesharing computer.
Modifications to a 20-megawatt arc-heated facility for testing a hydrogen-burning, airframe-integratable, subscale, scramjet model are described. Arc-heated flow is mixed with unheated air to furnish a test flow duplicating Mach 7 flight. (Stagnation temperature is 2220 K.) Modifications to the commercially available heater to improve survivability and smoothness are described. Pitot profiles show uniform flow and a slightly thinner nozzle boundary layer than predicted. Comparison of the tunnel boundary layer, which will be ingested by the engine model, with the boundary layer that a flight engine might ingest from its vehicle forebody shows a difference in the density distribution through the boundary layer. Calculations of wall heating and transient wall temperatures of the engine model show that for a 30-sec burn, the heat sink model requires cooling at selected locations to avoid thermal-stress, cycle-life problems. Model performance predictions show that fuel equivalence ratio and nozzle exit area both have large effects on thrust. Average inlet entrance Mach number (as affected by boundary-layer ingestion) has little effect on thrust.
A research aircraft is being studied that has potential for large-scale demonstration of advanced propulsive, structural, and aerodynamic technologies for hypersonic application. Versatility is achieved through a large removable payload bay with removable thermal protection, by removable wings, and by the configuration, which considers engine-airframe integration. Design criteria have been applied to an effective heat-sink structure of Lockalloy (Be-38Al), wherein thermal stress alleviation is a prime consideration in the design. Structural analyses are being performed with the SPAR computer program. Results indicate that no critical problems exist and the resulting structural weight is within initial estimates.
Beryllium mirrors and structural mount reduce thermal stresses and misalinement.
A sample module was assembled to model a portion of a flexible extendable solar array, a type that promises to become the next generation of solar array design. The resulting study of this module is intended to provide technical support to the array designer for lightweight component selection, specifications, and tests. Selected from available lightweight components were 127-micron-thick wrap-around contacted solar cells, 34- micron-thick sputtered glass covers, and as a substrate a 13-micron-thick polyimide film clad with a copper printed circuit. Each component displayed weaknesses. The thin solar cells had excessive breakage losses. Sputtered glass cover adhesion was poor, and the covered cell was weaker than the cell uncovered. Thermal stresses caused some cell delamination from the model solar array substrate.