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At least 955 records · Page 53

Sources of noise in magneto-optical readout

The various sources of noise which are often encountered in magneto-optical readout systems are analyzed. Although the focus is on magneto-optics, most sources of noise are common among the various optical recording systems and one can easily adapt the results to other media and systems. A description of the magneto-optical readout system under consideration is given, and the standard methods and the relevant terminology of signal and noise measurement are described. The characteristics of thermal noise, which originates in the electronic circuitry of the readout system, are described. The most fundamental of all sources of noise, the shot noise, is considered, and a detailed account of its statistical properties is given. Shot noise, which is due to random fluctuations in photon arrival times, is an ever-present noise in optical detection. Since the performance of magneto-optical recording devices in use today is approaching the limit imposed by the shot noise, it is important that the reader have a good grasp of this particular source of noise. A model for the laser noise is described, and measurement results which yield numerical values for the strength of the laser power fluctuations are presented. Spatial variations of the disk reflectivity and random depolarization phenomena also contribute to the overall level of noise in readout; these and related issues are treated. Numerical simulation results describing some of the more frequently encountered sources of noise which accompany the recorded waveform itself, namely, jitter noise and signal-amplitude fluctuation noise are presented.

Mansuripur, M.↗

A new method for the identification of non-Gaussian line profiles in elliptical galaxies

A new parameterization for the line profiles of elliptical galaxies, the Gauss-Hermite series, is proposed. This approach expands the line profile as a sum of orthogonal functions which minimizes the correlations between the errors in the parameters of the fit. This method also make use of the fact that Gaussians provide good low-order fits to observed line profiles. The method yields measurements of the line strength, mean radial velocity, and the velocity dispersion as well as two extra parameters, h3 and h4, that measure asymmetric and symmetric deviations of the line profiles from a Gaussian, respectively. The new method was used to derive profiles for three elliptical galaxies which all have asymmetric line profiles on the major axis with symmetric deviations from a Gaussian. Results confirm that elliptical galaxies have complex structures due to their complex formation history.

Van Der Marel, Roeland P.↗

Long life 80Ah standard IPV NiH2 battery cell

A standard Nickel-Hydrogen (NiH2) Individual Pressure Vessel (IPV) battery cell is needed to meet future low cost, high performance mission requirements for NASA, military, and civil space programs. A common or standard cell design has evolved from the heritage of HST, Milstar, and other Air Force Mantech cell designs with substantial flight experience, while incorporating some of the historical COMSAT cell design features described in a previous NASA publication. Key features include slurry process nickel electrodes having high strength, long life and high yield (lower cost), and dual layer zircar separators for improved KOH retention, uniformality, and longer life. The cell design will have a zirconium oxide wall wick inside the pressure vessel to redistribute electrolyte and extend life. The slurry electrode will be 35 mils thick to take advantage of qualified cell mechanical configurations and proven assembly and activation techniques developed by Eagle Picher Industries (EPI) for the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) RNH-90-3 and 'Generic HST' RNH-90-5 cell designs with back-to-back nickel electrodes produced by the dry sinter process. The 80Ah common cell design can be scaled to meet capacity requirements from 60Ah to 100Ah. Producibility, commonality, and long life performance will be enhanced with the robust cell design described herein.

Armantrout, Jon D.↗

Robot Design

Martin Marietta Aero and Naval Systems has advanced the CAD art to a very high level at its Robotics Laboratory. One of the company's major projects is construction of a huge Field Material Handling Robot for the Army's Human Engineering Lab. Design of FMR, intended to move heavy and dangerous material such as ammunition, was a triumph in CAD Engineering. Separate computer problems modeled the robot's kinematics and dynamics, yielding such parameters as the strength of materials required for each component, the length of the arms, their degree of freedom and power of hydraulic system needed. The Robotics Lab went a step further and added data enabling computer simulation and animation of the robot's total operational capability under various loading and unloading conditions. NASA computer program (IAC), integrated Analysis Capability Engineering Database was used. Program contains a series of modules that can stand alone or be integrated with data from sensors or software tools.

Source record↗

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Extruded Gamma Met PX

A gamma TiAl alloy with a high Nb content is being assessed as a compressor blade material. The microstructure and mechanical properties of extruded Ti-45Al-X(Nb,B,C) (at %) were evaluated in both an as-extruded condition and after a lamellar heat treatment. Tensile behavior of both as-extruded and lamellar heat treated specimens was studied in the temperature range of RT to 926 C. In general, the yield stress and ultimate tensile strength reached relatively high values at room temperature and decreased with increasing deformation temperature. The fatigue strength of both microstructures was characterized at 650 C and compared to a baseline TiAl alloy and to a Ni-base superalloy. Tensile and fatigue specimens were also exposed to 800 C for 200 h in air to evaluate the alloy's environmental resistance. A decrease in ductility was observed at room temperature due to the 800 C exposure but the 650 C fatigue properties were unaffected. Compressive and tensile creep testing between 727 and 1027 C revealed that the creep deformation was reproducible and predictable. Creep strengths reached superalloy-like levels at fast strain rates and lower temperatures but deformation at slower strain rates and/or higher temperature indicated significant weakening for the as-extruded condition. At high temperatures and low stresses, the lamellar microstructure had improved creep properties when compared to the as-extruded material. Microstructural evolution during heat treatment, identification of various phases, and the effect of microstructure on the tensile, fatigue, and creep behaviors is discussed.

Draper, S. L.↗

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Extruded Gamma Microstructure Met PX

A gamma TiAl alloy with a high Nb content is being assessed as a compressor blade material. The microstructure and mechanical properties of extruded Ti-45Al-X(Nb,B,C) (at.%) were evaluated in both an as-extruded condition and after a lamellar heat treatment. Tensile behavior of both as-extruded and lamellar heat treated specimens was studied in the temperature range of RT to 926 C. In general, the yield stress and ultimate tensile strength reached relatively high values at room temperature and decreased with increasing deformation temperature. The fatigue strength of both microstructures was characterized at 650 C and compared to a baseline TiAl alloy and to a Ni-base superalloy. Tensile and fatigue specimens were also exposed to 800 C for 200 h in air to evaluate the alloy's environmental resistance. A decrease in ductility was observed at room temperature due to the 800 C. exposure but the 650 C fatigue properties were unaffected. Compressive and tensile creep testing between 727 and 1027 C revealed that the creep deformation was reproducible and predictable. Creep strengths reached superalloy-like levels at fast strain rates and lower temperatures but deformation at slower strain rates and/or higher temperature indicated significant weakening for the as-extruded condition. At high temperatures and low stresses, the lamellar microstructure had improved creep properties when compared to the as-extruded material. Microstructural evolution during heat treatment, identification of various phases, and the effect of microstructure on the tensile, fatigue, and creep behaviors is discussed.

Draper, S. L.↗

Sprayable Phase Change Coating Thermal Protection Material

NASA has expressed a need for reusable, environmentally friendly, phase change coating that is capable of withstanding the heat loads that have historically required an ablative thermal insulation. The Space Shuttle Program currently relies on ablative materials for thermal protection. The problem with an ablative insulation is that, by design, the material ablates away, in fulfilling its function of cooling the underlying substrate, thus preventing the insulation from being reused from flight to flight. The present generation of environmentally friendly, sprayable, ablative thermal insulation (MCC-l); currently use on the Space Shuttle SRBs, is very close to being a reusable insulation system. In actual flight conditions, as confirmed by the post-flight inspections of the SRBs, very little of the material ablates. Multi-flight thermal insulation use has not been qualified for the Space Shuttle. The gap that would have to be overcome in order to implement a reusable Phase Change Coating (PCC) is not unmanageable. PCC could be applied robotically with a spray process utilizing phase change material as filler to yield material of even higher strength and reliability as compared to MCC-1. The PCC filled coatings have also demonstrated potential as cryogenic thermal coatings. In experimental thermal tests, a thin application of PCC has provided the same thermal protection as a much thicker and heavier application of a traditional ablative thermal insulation. In addition, tests have shown that the structural integrity of the coating has been maintained and phase change performance after several aero-thermal cycles was not affected. Experimental tests have also shown that, unlike traditional ablative thermal insulations, PCC would not require an environmental seal coat, which has historically been required to prevent moisture absorption by the thermal insulation, prevent environmental degradation, and to improve the optical and aerodynamic properties. In order to reduce the launch and processing costs of a reusable space vehicle to an affordable level, refurbishment costs must be substantially reduced. A key component of such a cost effective approach is the use of a reusable, phase change, thermal protection coating.

Richardson, Rod W.↗

Photosynthesis-dependent Isoprene Emission from Leaf to Planet in a Global Carbon-chemistry-climate Model

We describe the implementation of a biochemical model of isoprene emission that depends on the electron requirement for isoprene synthesis into the FarquharBallBerry leaf model of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance that is embedded within a global chemistry-climate simulation framework. The isoprene production is calculated as a function of electron transport-limited photosynthesis, intercellular and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, and canopy temperature. The vegetation biophysics module computes the photosynthetic uptake of carbon dioxide coupled with the transpiration of water vapor and the isoprene emission rate at the 30 min physical integration time step of the global chemistry-climate model. In the model, the rate of carbon assimilation provides the dominant control on isoprene emission variability over canopy temperature. A control simulation representative of the present-day climatic state that uses 8 plant functional types (PFTs), prescribed phenology and generic PFT-specific isoprene emission potentials (fraction of electrons available for isoprene synthesis) reproduces 50 of the variability across different ecosystems and seasons in a global database of 28 measured campaign-average fluxes. Compared to time-varying isoprene flux measurements at 9 select sites, the model authentically captures the observed variability in the 30 min average diurnal cycle (R2 6496) and simulates the flux magnitude to within a factor of 2. The control run yields a global isoprene source strength of 451 TgC yr1 that increases by 30 in the artificial absence of plant water stress and by 55 for potential natural vegetation.

photosynthesis↗

Launch Vehicle Production and Operations Cost Metrics

Traditionally, launch vehicle cost has been evaluated based on $/Kg to orbit. This metric is calculated based on assumptions not typically met by a specific mission. These assumptions include the specified orbit whether Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), or both. The metric also assumes the payload utilizes the full lift mass of the launch vehicle, which is rarely true even with secondary payloads.1,2,3 Other approaches for cost metrics have been evaluated including unit cost of the launch vehicle and an approach to consider the full program production and operations costs.4 Unit cost considers the variable cost of the vehicle and the definition of variable costs are discussed. The full program production and operation costs include both the variable costs and the manufacturing base. This metric also distinguishes operations costs from production costs, including pre-flight operational testing. Operations costs also consider the costs of flight operations, including control center operation and maintenance. Each of these 3 cost metrics show different sensitivities to various aspects of launch vehicle cost drivers. The comparison of these metrics provides the strengths and weaknesses of each yielding an assessment useful for cost metric selection for launch vehicle programs.

Watson, Michael D.↗

Anisotropic Solar Wind Sputtering of the Lunar Surface Induced by Crustal Magnetic Anomalies

The lunar exosphere is generated by several processes each of which generates neutral distributions with different spatial and temporal variability. Solar wind sputtering of the lunar surface is a major process for many regolith-derived species and typically generates neutral distributions with a cosine dependence on solar zenith angle. Complicating this picture are remanent crustal magnetic anomalies on the lunar surface, which decelerate and partially reflect the solar wind before it strikes the surface. We use Kaguya maps of solar wind reflection efficiencies, Lunar Prospector maps of crustal field strengths, and published neutral sputtering yields to calculate anisotropic solar wind sputtering maps. We feed these maps to a Monte Carlo neutral exospheric model to explore three-dimensional exospheric anisotropies and find that significant anisotropies should be present in the neutral exosphere depending on selenographic location and solar wind conditions. Better understanding of solar wind/crustal anomaly interactions could potentially improve our results.

exosphere↗

The Influence of Heat Treatments on the Microstructure and Tensile Properties of Additively Manufactured Inconel 939

This study investigated the effect of heat treatment variations on the microstructure and tensile properties of laser powder bed fused Inconel 939 manufactured via laser powder bed fusion. Three different heat treatment schedules, all of which comprise stress relief, hot isostatic pressing, solution annealing, and aging, were followed, and resulting changes in microstructure were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. Tensile tests were conducted on specimens subjected to different heat treatments to evaluate the mechanical properties at room temperature. Microstructural results showed that solution treatment at 1190 °C for 4 h led to better removal of dendritic microstructure, while second-step aging at 850 °C resulted in monomodal distribution of precipitates. However, the second-step aging temperatures from 750 to 800 °C resulted in bi-modal distribution. The optimal heat treatment schedule, which yielded a superior combination of strength and ductility, involved solution treatment at 1190 °C for 4 h and two-step aging at 1000 °C for 6 h and 800 °C for 4 h.

Laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF)↗

Impact cratering - The effect of crustal strength and planetary gravity

The effect of varying planetary crustal strength and surface gravity on the depth of impact craters is investigated, by coupling the results of compressible flow, finite difference calculations carried out to stress levels below the compressional dynamic yield point, in keeping with the incompressible fluid flow model of Maxwell (1973). The fundamental assumption in this description is that the amplitude of the particle velocity field decreases with time as kinetic energy is converted into heat and gravitational potential energy. By using a Mohr-Coulomb yield criterion, the effect of varying strength on transient crater depth and on crater formation time in the gravity field of the moon is investigated for the case of 5 km/sec impactors having radii in the 10 to 10 to the 7th cm range.

Okeefe, J. D.↗

Absolute oscillator strengths for the iron group - A correction to the data of Warner for the second spectra and a comment on some of the semiempirical results of Kurucz and Peytremann

It has already been shown that the Fe II absolute oscillator strengths (f-values) measured by Warner (1967) contain a systematic error, the magnitude of which depends on the energy of the transition's upper level. The present paper demonstrates that this error affects all of Warner's oscillator strengths for the second spectra of the iron group and develops a correction formula for Warner's results. A comparison of the corrected f-values with other measured f-values for Ti II, V II, and Fe II indicates that the correction improves the usefulness of Warner's data and that the corrected f-values have no large systematic dependence on wavelength, level energy, or line strength. Solar abundances for iron-group elements computed using the original and corrected f-values are compared with recently suggested abundances, and it is found that the corrected f-values yield more consistent results. Semiempirical oscillator strengths calculated by Kurucz and Peytremann (1975) for Fe I, Ti II, and V II are also compared with measured data to evaluate the accuracy of the calculations. It is found that the absolute scales of these results are roughly correct, but some of them are subject to very large errors.

Smith, P. L.↗

Affordable, Robust Ceramic Joining Technology (ARCJoinT) for High Temperature Applications

Ceramic joining is recognized as one of the enabling technologies for the successful utilization of silicon carbide-based monolithic ceramic and fiber reinforced composite components in a number of demanding and high temperature applications in aerospace and ground-based systems. An affordable, robust ceramic joining technology (ARCJoinT) for joining of silicon carbide-based ceramics and fiber reinforced composites has been developed. This technique is capable of producing joints with tailorable thickness and composition. A wide variety of silicon carbide-based ceramics and composites, in different shapes and sizes, have been joined using this technique. The room and high temperature mechanical properties and fractography of ceramic joints have been reported. In monolithic silicon carbide ceramics, these joints maintain their mechanical strength up to 1350 C in air. There is no change in the mechanical strength of joints in silicon carbide matrix composites up to 1200 C in air. In composites, simple butt joints yield only about 20% of the ultimate strength of the parent materials. This technology is suitable for the joining of large and complex shaped ceramic and composite components, and with certain modifications, can be applied to repair of ceramic components damaged in service.

Singh, M.↗

On the use of limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) in high-strength strain-hardening cement-based composites (HS-SHCC)

Highlights: • Use of LC{sup 3} slightly reduces flowability and shortens the setting time of fresh matrices. • Highly polymerized C-A-S-H gel and abundant ettringite benefit flexural strength of LC{sup 3}-matrices. • Use of LC{sup 3} enhances the bond strength between fiber and high-strength matrix. • LC{sup 3}-based HS-SHCC yields similar flexural performance as the composite with Portland cement. High-strength strain-hardening cement-based composites (HS-SHCC) demonstrate excellent mechanical and durability properties. However, high cement content typical to HS-SHCC results not only in high carbon footprint, but also in excessive hydration heat and severe autogenous shrinkage. In this investigation, Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC{sup 3}) was used to produce sustainable HS-SHCC. The LC{sup 3} substitution resulted in higher energy consumption during mixing and in shorter setting times of the fresh, plain matrices. Although the LC{sup 3} substitution slightly reduced the compressive strength, the formation of highly polymerized C-A-S-H gel and abundant ettringite benefited the flexural strength of the plain matrices. Additionally, single-fiber pullout experiments showed that the use of LC{sup 3} led to increased fiber-matrix bond strength and pullout energy. Finally, the replacement of Portland cement by LC{sup 3} resulted in HS-SHCC with similar mechanical performance to the reference composite, indicating a high potential for using LC{sup 3} in high-performance cement-based composites.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Early thermal profiles and lithospheric strength of Ganymede from extensional tectonic features

The early thermal profiles and the lithospheric stability and strength of Ganymede are quantitatively determined on the basis of brittle lithosphere thickness estimates derived from the width and spacing of extensional tectonic features, together with lithospheric strength envelopes for ice. Plots of the brittle and ductile yield stress vs. depth for the icy lithosphere of Ganymede exhibit a linear increase in brittle strength with depth to a maximum at the brittle-ductile transition that is followed by an exponential decrease in ductile yield stress with depth. The results obtained imply that the thermal gradient and lithospheric strength have varied laterally by factor as great as 5, and that Ganymede underwent cooling in a highly inhomogeneous fashion with lateral thermal anomalies. The present analysis furnishes reasons for the stability of large cratered terrain remnants.

Golombek, Matthew P.↗

Spatial derivatives of flow quantities behind curved shocks of all strengths

Explicit formulas in terms of shock curvature are developed for spatial derivatives of flow quantities behind a curved shock for two-dimensional inviscid steady flow. Factors which yield the equations indeterminate as the shock strength approaches 0 have been cancelled analytically so that formulas are valid for shocks of any strength. An application for the method is shown in the solution of shock coalescence when nonaxisymmetric effects are felt through derivatives in the circumferential direction. The solution of this problem requires flow derivatives behind the shock in both the axial and radial direction.

Darden, C. M.↗

Strengthening poly(lactic acid) composites with poly(methyl methacrylate) functionalized flax nanofibrils

Biobased reinforcements for poly(lactic acid) (PLA) are needed for more additive manufacturing applications requiring higher strength and sustainability. Flax nanofibrils (FNFs) produced through mechanical refining were explored as a lower energy alternative to cellulose nanofibril (CNF) reinforcements. To compatibilize the FNFs for the PLA matrix, a grafting-through surfactant free emulsion polymerization (SFEP) was performed to functionalize the FNF surface with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). FNFs produced using different refining energy were functionalized under varying solid contents in suspension. Polymerizations performed at 0.7 wt% FNFs in water yielded the highest degree of PMMA functionality. These optimal conditions were scaled up and the PMMA modified FNFs melt compounded into PLA yielding a 12% increase in tensile strength and 92% increase in the modulus of elasticity as compared to the original PLA. Interestingly, the FNFs with the lowest refining energy yielded the strongest composites using these methods, surpassing the higher refining energy CNF reinforcements. This increase was attributed to improved dispersion of the FNF reinforcements in the PLA matrix that was enabled by the PMMA coating on the FNF surface preventing interfibrillar adhesion and aggregation within the PLA matrix.

Mulligan, Abigail [University of Maine]↗