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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 973 records · Page 54
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1980

The effect of immobilization and 3 (beta-aminoethyl)-1, 2, 4 triazol on the calcium content in gastric tissues of guinea pigs during the formation of experimental ulcers

A sharp fall in the concentration of calcium in gastric tissues upon immobilization and after administration of the histamine analog was recorded. Similar shifts were seen to occur in the blood plasma as well. This implies that under the effect of different action, tissue dystrophy develops by following a common mechanism involving not only the adenyl cyclase system, but that of calcium ion metabolism as well. The calcium ion content in the blood plasma and gastric tissues were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Grechishkin, L. L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

On the structure of the Io Torus

Since the plasma flow near Io is reduced, neutrals originating in charge exchange are not energetic enough to leave the Jovian system and are therefore distributed over an extensive region, as indicated by the sodium cloud. New ions subsequently created in the distributed neutral atomic cloud as a result of charge exchange or electron impact ionization are picked up by the corotating magnetic field, and the radial current driven by the pickup process cannot close in the Io torus, so that it must instead be connected to the planetary ionosphere by field-aligned currents. These field-aligned currents will flow away from the equator at the outer edge of the neutral cloud, and towards it at the inner edge. It is found that the Jovian ionospheric photoelectrons also cannot supply the current flowing away from the equator, so that torus ions accelerated by a parallel electric field could be involved. The parallel potential drop is large enough to push the torus into the Jovian atmosphere, explaining both the sharp, discontinuous change of flux tube content and ion temperature at L equals 5.6, as well as the generation of Auroral-type hiss at that point.

Goertz, C. K.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Ferrographic and spectrometer oil analysis from a failed gas turbine engine

An experimental gas turbine engine was destroyed as a result of the combustion of its titanium components. It was concluded that a severe surge may have caused interference between rotating and stationary compressor parts that either directly or indirectly ignited the titanium components. Several engine oil samples (before and after the failure) were analyzed with a Ferrograph, and with plasma, atomic absorption, and emission spectrometers to see if this information would aid in the engine failure diagnosis. The analyses indicated that a lubrication system failure was not a causative factor in the engine failure. Neither an abnormal wear mechanism nor a high level of wear debris was detected in the engine oil sample taken just prior to the test in which the failure occurred. However, low concentrations (0.2 to 0.5 ppm) of titanium were evident in this sample and samples taken earlier. After the failure, higher titanium concentrations (2 ppm) were detected in oil samples taken from different engine locations. Ferrographic analysis indicated that most of the titanium was contained in spherical metallic debris after the failure. The oil analyses eliminated a lubrication system bearing or shaft seal failure as the cause of the engine failure. Previously announced in STAR as N83-12433

Jones, W. R., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Experimental techniques for cross-section measurements

Attention is given to electron collision phenomena which can be studied under single-collision conditions at low and intermediate electron impact energies, ranging from threshold to a few hundred eV, using gas phase molecular targets. Several of the experimental methods discussed were first developed and applied to atoms, but are equally applicable to molecules with minor modifications in the interpretation of the data, due to the greater complexity of molecular systems.

Trajmar, S.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Mass loss from red giants - Results from ultraviolet spectroscopy

New instrumentation in space, primarily the IUE spacecraft, has enabled the application of ultraviolet spectroscopic techniques to the determination of physical properties and reliable mass loss rates for red giant winds. One important result is the determination of where in the H-R diagram are found stars with hot outer atmospheres and with cool winds. So far it appears that single cool stars, except perhaps the so-called hybrid stars, have either hot outer atmospheres or cool winds but not both. The C II resonance (1335 A) and intersystem (2325 A) multiplets have been used to derive temperatures, densities, and geometrical extents for the chromospheric portions of red giant winds, with the result that the red giants and the earlier giants with hot coronae have qualitatively different chromospheres. Mass loss rates can now be derived accurately from the analysis of asymmetric emission lines, such as the Mg II resonance lines, and from P Cygni profile lines of atoms in the dominant ionization stage when a hot star is available to probe the wind of a red giant. The Zeta Aur systems, consisting of a K-M supergiant and a main sequence B star are important systems for reliable mass loss rates for the red supergiant components are becoming available.

Linsky, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Space Processing Workshop

Gravitational effects on electrodeposition were studied on the KC-135 aircraft parabolic flight paths. An experiment to investigate the effect of the hyperthermal atomic oxygen atmosphere on sensitive surfaces was flown on Space Shuttle Flight STS-18. A participant list and schedule for the Fluids Experiment System (FES) Workshop are given.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1986

Theoretical dipole moments for the first-row transition metal hydrides

Spectroscopic parameters (D sub e, r sub e, mu) are determined for the first-row transition metal hydrides using better than DZP basis sets at the modified coupled pair functional (MCPF) level. Extensive comparisons between MCPF and complete-active space self-consistent field (CASSCF)/MRCI calculations with natural orbital iterations, and studies with more extensive basis sets, show this level of treatment to supply an accurate and cost-effective treatment of these systems. For the transition metal hydrides, the bonding can arise from either the 3d(n)4s(2) or 3d(n + 1)4s(1) atomic asymptotes, or a mixture of both. Since the dipole moment arising from these two bonding mechanisms is very different, the dipole moment is found to be directly related to the 3d population. Thus, the magnitude of the dipole moments provides a sensitive test of the wave function, and gives insight into the nature of the bonding.

Chong, D. P.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Selected materials issues associated with Space Station

Compatibility of Space Station hardware with the space environment is one of the major materials development issues. The projected long life of the Space Station elements (about 30 years for structural components and 20 years for power systems), the large number of day/night thermal cycles that have to be withstood during the life of the Station, and the effects of atomic oxygen and UV irradiation on exposed surfaces demand new considerations in selection of materials. Reaction efficiencies of materials for Space Station applications derived from LEO experiments are presented together with surface recession predictions for various Space Station components. Developments in the areas of protective coatings and of laboratory facilities for evaluating the effects of atomic oxygen are discussed.

Leger, L.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Hybrid rocket instability

The paper provides a brief review of theoretical and experimental studies concerned with hybrid rocket instability. The instabilities discussed include atomization and mixing instabilities, chuffing instabilities, pressure coupled combustion instabilities, and vortex shedding. It is emphasized that the future use of hybrid motor systems as viable design alternatives will depend on a better understanding of hybrid instability.

Greiner, B.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Lyman alpha emissions in the outer heliosphere

Since 1993, the Ultraviolet Spectrometers aboard both Voyager 1 and 2, were used to study the Ly-alpha glow pattern backscattered by neutral hydrogen atoms at great distance from the sun. When compared to a radiative transfer calculation for an unperturbed interstellar hydrogen flow into the solar system, the data present an excess of intensity seen in the direction of the incoming interstellar wind. An absolute estimate of this Lyman alpha intensity yields 10 to 15 Rayleighs for each spacecraft. We discuss the possibility that this excess is caused by a gradient of hydrogen at large distance from the Sun due to the filtration of interstellar hydrogen when crossing the heliopause. Comparisons with results from the Baranov-Malama model of neutral-plasma coupling at the heliopause are presented. The data yield a range of possible values for the hydrogen gradient which may be used to infer the location of the heliopause.

Quemerais, E.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Experiments with Ultracold Quantum-degenerate Fermionic Lithium Atoms

Experimental methods of laser and evaporative cooling, used in the production of atomic Bose-Einstein condensates have recently been extended to realize quantum degeneracy in trapped Fermi gases. Fermi gases are a new rich system to explore the implications of Pauli exclusion on scattering properties of the system, and ultimately fermionic superfluidity. We have produced a new macroscopic quantum system, in which a degenerate Li-6 Fermi gas coexists with a large and stable Na-23 BEC. This was accomplished using inter-species sympathetic cooling of fermionic 6Li in a thermal bath of bosonic Na-23. We have achieved high numbers of both fermions (less than 10(exp 5) and bosons (less than 10(exp 6), and Li-6 quantum degeneracy corresponding to one half of the Fermi temperature. This is the first time that a Fermi sea was produced with a condensate as a "refrigerator".

Ketterle, Wolfgang↗
NASA NTRS2007

Opposed Jet Burner Extinction Limits: Simple Mixed Hydrocarbon Scramjet Fuels vs Air

Opposed Jet Burner tools have been used extensively by the authors to measure Flame Strength (FS) of laminar non-premixed H2 air and simple hydrocarbon (HC) air counterflow diffusion flames at 1-atm. FS represents a strain-induced extinction limit based on air jet velocity. This paper follows AIAA-2006-5223, and provides new HC air FSs for global testing of chemical kinetics, and for characterizing idealized flameholding potentials during early scramjet-like combustion. Previous FS data included six HCs, pure and N2-diluted; and three HC-diluted H2 fuels, where FS decayed very nonlinearly as HC was added to H2, due to H-atom scavenging. This study presents FSs on mixtures of (candidate surrogate) HCs, some with very high FS ethylene. Included are four binary gaseous systems at 300 K, and a hot ternary system at approx. 600 K. The binaries are methane + ethylene, ethane + ethylene, methane + ethane, and methane + propylene. The first three also form two ternary systems. The hot ternary includes both 10.8 and 21.3 mole % vaporized n-heptane and full ranges of methane + ethylene. Normalized FS data provide accurate means of (1) validating, globally, chemical kinetics for extinction of non-premixed flames, and (2) estimating (scaling by HC) the loss of incipient flameholding in scramjet combustors. The n-heptane is part of a proposed baseline simulant (10 mole % with 30% methane + 60% ethylene) that mimics the ignition of endothermically cracked JP-7 like kerosene fuel, as suggested by Colket and Spadaccini in 2001 in their shock tube Scramjet Fuels Autoignition Study. Presently, we use FS to gauge idealized flameholding, and define HC surrogates. First, FS was characterized for hot nheptane + methane + ethylene; then a hot 36 mole % methane + 64% ethylene surrogate was defined that mimics FS of the baseline simulant system. A similar hot ethane + ethylene surrogate can also be defined, but it has lower vapor pressure at 300 K, and thus exhibits reduced gaseous capacity. The new FS results refine our earlier idealized reactivity scale that shows wide ranging (50 x) diameter-normalized FSs for various HCs. These range from JP-10 and methane to H2 air, which produces an exceptionally strong flame that agrees within approx. 1% of recent 2-D numerically simulations. Finally, we continue advocating the FS approach as more direct and fundamental, for assessing idealized scramjet flameholding potentials, than measurements of unstrained laminar burning velocity or blowout in a Perfectly Stirred Reactor.

Pellett, Gerald L.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Spacecraft Materials in the Space Flight Environment: International Space Station - May 2002 to May 2007

The performance of ISS spacecraft materials and systems on prolonged exposure to the low-Earth orbit (LEO) space flight is reported in this paper. In-flight data, flight crew observations, and the results of ground-based test and analysis directly supporting programmatic and operational decision-making are presented. The space flight environments definitions (both natural and induced) used for ISS design, material selection, and verification testing are shown, in most cases, to be more severe than the actual flight environment accounting for the outstanding performance of ISS as a long mission duration spacecraft. No significant ISS material or system failures have been attributed to spacecraft-environments interactions. Nonetheless, ISS materials and systems performance data is contributing to our understanding of spacecraft material interactions in the spaceflight environment so as to reduce cost and risk for future spaceflight projects and programs. Orbital inclination (51.6o) and altitude (nominally near 360 km) determine the set of natural environment factors affecting the functional life of materials and systems on ISS. ISS operates in an electrically conducting environment (the F2 region of Earth s ionosphere) with well-defined fluxes of atomic oxygen, other charged and neutral ionospheric plasma species, solar UV, VUV, and x-ray radiation as well as galactic cosmic rays, trapped radiation, and solar cosmic rays (1-4). The LEO micrometeoroid and orbital debris environment is an especially important determinant of spacecraft design and operations (5, 6). The magnitude of several environmental factors varies dramatically with latitude and longitude as ISS orbits the Earth (1-4). The high latitude orbital environment also exposes ISS to higher fluences of trapped energetic electrons, auroral electrons, solar cosmic rays, and galactic cosmic rays (1-4) than would be the case in lower inclination orbits, largely as a result of the overall shape and magnitude of the geomagnetic field (1-4). As a result, ISS exposure to many environmental factors can vary dramatically along a particular orbital ground track, and from one ground track to the next, during any 24-hour period.

Golden, John↗
NASA NTRS2010

A Self-Perpetuating Catalyst for the Production of Complex Organic Molecules in Protostellar Nebulae

The formation of abundant carbonaceous material in meteorites is a long standing problem and an important factor in the debate on the potential for the origin of life in other stellar systems. Many mechanisms may contribute to the total organic content in protostellar nebulae, ranging from organics formed via ion-molecule and atom-molecule reactions in the cold dark clouds from which such nebulae collapse, to similar ion-molecule and atom-molecule reactions in the dark regions of the nebula far from the proto star, to gas phase reactions in sub-nebulae around growing giant planets and in the nebulae themselves. The Fischer-Tropsch-type (FTT) catalytic reduction of CO by hydrogen was once the preferred model for production of organic materials in the primitive solar nebula. The Haber-Bosch catalytic reduction of N2 by hydrogen was thought to produce the reduced nitrogen found in meteorites. However, the clean iron metal surfaces that catalyze these reactions are easily poisoned via reaction with any number of molecules, including the very same complex organics that they produce and both reactions work more efficiently in the hot regions of the nebula. We have demonstrated that many grain surfaces can catalyze both FTT and HB-type reactions, including amorphous iron and magnesium silicates, pure silica smokes as well as several minerals. Although none work as well as pure iron grains, and all produce a wide range of organic products rather than just pure methane, these materials are not truly catalysts.

Nuth, Joseph A.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Formation, Structure and Properties of Amorphous Carbon Char from Polymer Materials in Extreme Atmospheric Reentry Environments

Amorphous carbonaceous char produced from the pyrolysis of polymer solids has many desirable properties for ablative heat shields for space vehicles. Molecular dynamics simulations are presented to study the transformation of the local atomic structure from virgin polymer to a dense, disordered char [1]. Release of polymer hydrogen is found to be critical to allow the system to collapse into a highly coordinated char structure. Mechanisms of the char formation process and the morphology of the resulting structures are elucidated. Thermal conductivity and mechanical response of the resulting char are evaluated [2]. During reenty, the optical response and oxidative reactivity of char are also important properties. Results of ab initio computations of char optical functions [3] and char reactivity [4] are also presented.

Lawson, John W.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

High Resolution Imaging and Analysis of Terrestrial Impact Glass: Amorphous Materials, Phyllosilicates and Everything in Between

Introduction: Impact cratering is one of the most ubiquitous geologic processes shaping the surface of all solid bodies in our solar system. Impacts are also a major source of clay minerals, poorly crystalline clay-like phases and amorphous (i.e., lacking long-range atomic order) materials on Earth and Mars. Phyllosilicates and amorphous materials have consistently formed a major component (~20-70 wt%) of every single drilled rock and soil sample in Gale Crater on Mars, as determined by the CheMin instrument on Curiosity. The origin of the amorphous component is speculative, but could be primary impact or volcanic-produced glass(es) deposited via aeolian or fluvial processes, secondary aqueous alteration products or chemical precipitates; it is likely to be a combination of all three possibilities. Efforts to determine the composition of these materials across the rover’s traverse through Gale Crater are ongoing. Naturally occurring amorphous phases are found in a variety of environments on Earth, and terrestrial analogue studies may help shed light on how they may have formed on Mars. Primary and altered impact glass are likely widespread on Mars and may have contributed to the amorphous component found throughout Gale Crater. In its pristine, unaltered state, impact glass (i.e., melt glass) is considered amorphous. However, truly unaltered glass is rarely preserved in crater fill impactites as it quickly alters in the post-impact environ-ment, commonly forming a mixture of hydrated aluminosilicate phases whose structures are not always discernable at the microscale (i.e., they may be amorphous or contain short-range order). These phases are part of an incredibly complex group of materials; differences in their composition and crystalline structure (or lack thereof) and genetic relationship to the more well-crystalline clay minerals are often only discernable at the nanoscale, beyond the resolution of traditional X-ray diffractometers (XRD) and scanning electron microscopes/microprobes (SEM/EPMA) alone. In this contribution, we summarize recent results from ongoing characterization of clay minerals, poorly crystalline clay-like phases, and amorphous materials preserved in altered terrestrial impact glass from the Chicxulub (~66 Ma) and Ries (~15 Ma) impact structures. This work has been performed using a combination of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), SEM, microprobe/EPMA, Raman spectroscopy and XRD.

Impact crater↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Dielectric Energy Storage Materials for Space Sensors: Effect of Processing on the Performance

This paper explores the development of innovative materials for the dielectric energy storage for space components. The CaCuN 3 Ti 4 O 12 or CCTO belonging to perovskite family is of interest due to its colossal dielectric constant. It was demonstrated that materials synthesized at low temperature show nonequilibrium state and exhibit differences in the dielectric and resistivity values. The goal is to obtain high dielectric constant along with high resistivity values for achieving enhanced breakdown voltage. By using other members of the perovskite structures, it was demonstrated that similar colossal dielectric constant is observed and is dependent on processing methods. We have used heterovalent and dissimilar sized atom to replace Ca +2 ion. Accordingly, we replaced Ca +2 ion with heavy Ga +3 ion and developed gallium-based material system, Ga 2/3 Cu 3 Ti 4 O 12 . Following successful synthesis, we measured its dielectric constant and resistivity and compared with CCTO material system. Results of five sets of samples showed that lower temperature processing demonstrated mechanism of grain growth, but due to copper flow in high temperature processed samples dielectric constant and resistivity values were different.

Dielectric Energy↗
NASA NTRS1991

Liquid jet breakup and atomization in rocket chambers under dense spray conditions

Two advanced diagnostic techniques were established and employed in this project. The first technique involves the use of a real-time x ray radiography system along with a high-speed CCD Xybion camera and an advanced digital image processor to investigate the breakup processes of the liquid core. The focus of this part of the project is to determine the inner structure of the liquid jet and via thin sheets of laser light, with the scatters light being photographed by a Xybion electronic camera synchronized to the laser pulse. This technique, which is capable of recording the breakup event occurring within 25 nano-seconds, enables us to freeze the motions of the jet and liquid droplets. The focus of this part of the project is to determine the outer structure of the liquid jet and to discover the configuration of the surface waves, the spray pattern, and the droplet size distribution in the non-dilute region. Results obtained by these two advanced diagnostic techniques will provide the much needed database for model development and accurate prediction of engine performance. The present work also represents a breakthrough in the area of advanced diagnostics of dense sprays.

Kuo, Kenneth K.↗