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Report discusses advances in knowledge of lubrication of nonconformal contacts in bearings and other machine elements. Reviews previous developments in theory of lubrication, presents advances in theory of lubrication to determine minimum film thickness, and describes experiments designed to investigate one of regimes of lubrication for ball bearings.
The free volume and gas permeability in several contact lens specimens were measured as part of a Space Commercialization Program. Free volume was measured using positron lifetime spectroscopy, while permeability for O2, N2, CO2 gases was measured using mass spectrometry and polarography. Permeability for all gases increases with the mean free volume cell size in the test samples. As might be expected, the specimens with the highest free volume fraction also exhibit the lowest Rockwell Hardness Number. An interesting corollary is the finding that the presence of fluorine atoms in the lens chemical structure inhibits filling up of their free volume cells. This is expected to allow the lenses to breathe freely while in actual use.
Low-contact-ratio spur gears were tested in NASA gear-noise-rig to study gear dynamics including dynamic load, tooth bending stress, vibration, and noise. The experimental results were compared with a NASA gear dynamics code to validate the code as a design tool for predicting transmission vibration and noise. Analytical predictions and experimental data for gear-tooth dynamic loads and tooth-root bending stress were compared at 28 operating conditions. Strain gage data were used to compute the normal load between meshing teeth and the bending stress at the tooth root for direct comparison with the analysis. The computed and measured waveforms for dynamic load and stress were compared for several test conditions. These are very similar in shape, which means the analysis successfully simulates the physical behavior of the test gears. The predicted peak value of the dynamic load agrees with the measurement results within an average error of 4.9 percent except at low-torque, high-speed conditions. Predictions of peak dynamic root stress are generally within 10 to 15 percent of the measured values.
The results of a numerical study of the direct contact condensation on a slowly moving horizontal liquid surface are presented. The geometrical configuration and the input conditions used to obtain numerical solutions are representative to those of experiments of Celata et al. The effects of Prandtl number (Pr), inflow Reynolds number, and Richardson number on the condensation rate are investigated. Numerical predictions of condensation rate for laminar flow are in good agreement with experimental data. The effect of buoyancy on the condensation rate is characterized by Richardson number. A correlation based on the numerical solutions is developed to predict the average condensation Nusselt number in terms of Richardson number, Peclet number, and inflow Reynolds number.
Turbulent features in a shock tube's contact surface with the reversible reaction 2NO2 to N2O4 are explored. Turbulent densities and velocities show an overall power-law dependence in the fluctuation spectra. At fixed reactant percentages, turbulence increases with increasing Reynolds number. At fixed Reynolds numbers, increasing the reactant percentages causes a reduction in turbulence and an increase in the relative strength of discrete high-frequency components in the density fluctuation spectra. The reliability of conventional chemical modeling for this system apparently decreases with increasing turbulence in a manner suggestive of reaction rate distortion, consistent with theoretical speculation.
A numerical transient solution of the hydrodynamically lubricated point contact problem is obtained using the ball-on-plane model. Results, which include the variation of the minimum film thickness and phase-lag with time as functions of excitation frequency, are compared with the analytic solution of the transient step bearing problem with the same dynamic loading function.
Fundamental studies of friction, wear and adhesion of ceramics in contact with metals are evaluated. It is shown that friction and adhesion are strongly dependent on the ductility of the metals. The surface energy, friction, adhesion and hardness of a metal are related to its Young's modulus and shear modulus, which have a marked dependence on the electron configuration of the metal. Generally, the greater the sheer modulus, the less metal transfer there is to the ceramic.
An innovative pumped loop concept for 600 K space power system radiators utilizing direct contact heat transfer, which facilitates repeated startup/shutdown of the power system without complex and time-consuming coolant thawing during power startup, is under development. The heat transfer process with melting/freezing of Li in an NaK flow was studied through two-dimensional time-dependent numerical simulations to characterize and predict the Li/NaK radiator performance during startup (thawing) and shutdown (cold-trapping). Effects of system parameters and the criteria for the plugging domain are presented together with temperature distribution patterns in solid Li and subsequent melting surface profile variations in time.
The results of a numerical study of the direct contact condensation on a slowly moving horizontal liquid surface are presented. The geometrical configuration and the input conditions used to obtain numerical solutions are representative to those of experiments of Celata et al. The effects of Prandtl number (Pr), inflow Reynolds number, and Richardson number on the condensation rate are investigated. Numerical predictions of condensation rate for laminar flow are in good agreement with experimental data. The effect of buoyancy on the condensation rate is characterized by Richardson number. A correlation based on the numerical solutions is developed to predict the average condensation Nusselt number in terms of Richardson number, Peclet number, and inflow Reynolds number.
The theoretical analysis of contact melting by the migrating heat source with an arbitrary shaped isothermal heating surface is presented. After the substantiated simplification, the governing equations are transformed to the convenient equations for engineering calculations relationships. Analytical solutions are used for numerical prediction of optimal shape of the heating surface. The problem is investigated for the constant and for temperature dependent physical properties of the melt.
A novel quantitative thermal shock test of ceramics is described. The technique employs contact between a metal-cooling rod and hot disk-shaped specimen. In contrast with traditional techniques, the well-defined thermal boundary condition allows for accurate analyses of heat transfer, stress, and fracture. Uniform equibiaxial tensile stresses are induced in the center of the test specimen. Transient specimen temperature and acoustic emission are monitored continuously during the thermal stress cycle. The technique is demonstrated with soda-lime glass specimens. Experimental results are compared with theoretical predictions based on a finite-element method thermal stress analysis combined with a statistical model of fracture. Material strength parameters are determined using concentric ring flexure tests. Good agreement is found between experimental results and theoretical predictions of failure probability as a function of time and initial specimen temperature.
The results of in-plane four-point bend experiments on unidirectionally reinforced composite beams are presented for graphite/epoxy (T300/934) and graphite/polyimide (G30-500/PMR-15) composites. The maximum load and the location of cracks formed during failure were measured for testpieces with fibers oriented at various angles to the beam axis. Since most of the beams failed near one or more of the load points, the strength of the beams was evaluated in terms of a proposed model for the local stress distribution. In this model, an exact solution to the problem of a localized contact force acting on a unidirectionally reinforced half plane is used to describe the local stress field. The stress singularity at the load points is treated in a manner similar to the stress singularity at a crack tip in fracture mechanisms problems. Using this approach, the effect of fiber angle and elastic material properties on the strength of the beam is described in terms of a load intensity factor. For fiber angles less than 45 deg from the beam axis, a single crack is initiated near one of the load points at a critical value of the load intensity factor. The critical load intensity factor decreases with increasing fiber angle. For larger fiber angles, multiple cracks occur at locations both near and away from the load points, and the load intensity factor at failure increases sharply with increasing fiber angle.
Adhesive contact sweeper removes hair and particles vacuum cleaner leaves behind, without stirring up dust. Also cleans loose rugs. Sweeper holds commercially available spools of inverted adhesive tape. Suitable for use in environments in which air kept free of dust; optics laboratories, computer rooms, and areas inhabited by people allergic to dust. For carpets, best used in tandem with vacuum cleaner; first pass with vacuum cleaner removes coarse particles, and second pass with sweeper extracts fine particles. This practice extends useful life of adhesive spools.
Opaque contact lens facilitates measurements of movements of eye; particularly, torsional movements. Lens, marked with pair of indices at diameter of 0.5 mm, provides stable, high-contrast reference for measurements of angular position and velocity of eye by use of video-image-analysis techniques. Intended for use in experiments on response of eye to vestibular balance mechanism.
The results of in-plane four-point bend experiments on unidirectionally reinforced composite beams are presented for graphite/epoxy (T300/934) and graphite/polyimide (G30-500/PMR-15) composites. The maximum load and the location of cracks formed during failure were measured for testpieces with fibers oriented at various angles to the beam axis. Since most of the beams failed near one or more of the load points, the strength of the beams was evaluated in terms of a proposed model, for the local stress distribution. In this model, an exact solution to the problem of a localized contact force acting on a unidirectionally reinforced half plane is used to describe the local stress field. The stress singularity at the load points is treated in a manner similar to the stress singularity at a crack tip in fracture mechanisms problems. Using this approach, the effect of fiber angle and elastic material properties on the strength of the beam is described in terms of a load intensity factor. For fiber angles less than 45 deg from the beam axis, a single crack is initiated near one of the load points at a critical value of the load intensity factor. The critical load intensity factor decreases with the increasing fiber angle. For larger fiber angles, multiple cracks occur at locations both near and away from the load points, and the load intensity factor at failure increases sharply with increasing fiber angle.
TRW has conducted an extensive Contact Dynamics Test Program (CDTP) of the Three Point Docking Mechanism (TPDM). The CDTP tested the ability of the TPDM latches to capture and automatically dock to target spacecraft. The target selected was the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Mock ups of the TPDM with its three latches and the docking interface of the HST were constructed at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama for use in the tests. The tests were performed at the Flat Floor and Six Degree of Freedom (6-DOF) facilities at MSFC.
A procedure is presented for performing three-dimensional stress analysis of spiral bevel gears in mesh using the finite element method. The procedure involves generating a finite element model by solving equations that identify tooth surface coordinates. Coordinate transformations are used to orientate the gear and pinion for gear meshing. Contact boundary conditions are simulated with gap elements. A solution technique for correct orientation of the gap elements is given. Example models and results are presented.
Materials exhibiting superconductivity above liquid nitrogen temperatures (77 K) will enable new applications of this phenomena. One of the first commercial applications of this technology will be superconducting magnets for medical imaging. However, a large number of aerospace applications of the high temperature superconducting materials have also been identified. These include magnetic suspension and balance of models in wind tunnels and resistanceless leads to anemometers. The development of superconducting wires fabricated from the ceramic materials is critical for these applications. The progress in application of a patented fiber process developed by Clemson University for the fabrication of superconducting wires is reviewed. The effect of particle size and heat treatment on the quality of materials is discussed. Recent advances made at Christopher Newport College in the development of micro-ohm resistance electrical contacts which are capable of carrying the highest reported direct current to this material is presented.