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At least 991 records · Page 55

Summary of AXAF calibration requirements

The following summarizes requirements on the High Resolution Mirror Assembly (HRMA) and HRMA/SI calibration. The lists of calibration measurements assume that the HRMA meets the CTT requirement that the XRCF test environment shall have not more than a 10 percent effect on the encircled energy in 1 arcsec and that it can be calibrated to 1 percent. This implies that the offloading scheme has been implemented in the HRMA. It should be remembered that there are additional calibrations needed for: aspect system; tracking; gyros; other parts of the PCAS; spacecraft timing and checks on timing accuracy for all SIs after integration in the spacecraft; ficucial lights and periscope; alignments; optical metrology data: lengths and diameters with errors on mirror elements and optical interferometer data on surface figure; and throughput and imaging stability test: an end-to-end test that can be used after the XRCF to verify that the x-ray throughput and imaging quality have not been degraded. The tables presented give a summary of the integration times for HRMA and HRMA/SI calibration.

Kellogg, E.↗

Fracture mechanics applied to nonisothermal fatigue crack growth

Twelve nonisothermal fatigue crack growth tests were performed on Hastelloy-X tubular specimens in which strain and temperature varied simultaneously. Conditions were selected to include nominally elastic and nominally plastic conditions and temperatures up to 982 C. A number of parameters, including the stress intensity factor, strain intensity factor, and J-integral, were examined for their ability to correlate the data. There was no decisive difference between the success of the three parameters. Each parameter correlated data from different strain ranges to within no worse than a factor of 2.1 on da/dn. The effect of strain temperature cycle shape was investigated and found to be moderate, while a strain hold of 1 min had very little effect. An attempt was made to predict nonisothermal test results from isothermal data. These predictions were better than those made by using peak test temperature isothermal data but still not within scatter.

Jordan, E. H.↗

Age Induced Effects on ESD Characteristics of Solar Array Coupons After Combined Space Environmental Exposures

A set of multi-junction GaAs/Ge solar array test coupons provided by Space Systems/Loral were subjected to a sequence of 5-year increments of combined space environment exposure tests. The test coupons capture an integrated design intended for use in a geosynchronous (GEO) space environment. A key component of this test campaign is performing electrostatic discharge (ESD) tests in the inverted gradient mode. The protocol of the ESD tests is based on the ISO standard for ESD testing on solar array panels [ISO-11221]. The test schematic in the ISO reference has been modified with Space System/Loral designed circuitry to better simulate the on-orbit operational conditions of its solar array design. Part of the modified circuitry is to simulate a solar array panel coverglass flashover discharge. All solar array coupons used in the test campaign consist of four cells constructed to form two strings. The ESD tests were performed at the beginning-of-life (BOL) and at each 5-year environment exposure point until end-of-life (EOL) at 15 years. The space environmental exposure sequence consisted of ultra-violet radiation, electron/proton particle radiation, thermal cycling, and Xenon ion thruster plume erosion. This paper describes the ESD test setup and the importance of the electrical test design in simulating the on-orbit operational conditions. Arc inception voltage results along with ESD test behavior from the BOL condition through the 15th year age condition are discussed. In addition, results from a Xenon plasma plume exposure test with an EOL coupon under the full ESD test condition will be discussed.

Wright, Kenneth H.↗

Utilizing Testing Frameworks for Launch Control Systems Continuous Integration

Command and control software is an integral part of the launch procedure. The most important part of this type of software is its ability to communicate well with the user and relay information in a correctly formatted way such that the user can understand the data. There is a tool that aides the communication between the different parts of the system, and effectively, the user. This instrument is capable of taking several complex values and ensuring that they are correctly sorted into their distinctive message values and distributed properly among the different facets of the system. This tool will easily translate and publish the data inside of messages in the system to something that is readable and understandable. The tool also allows for transmission of the recorded data to the user, effectively ensuring the communication between different components of the system. As well as keeping track of messages and ensuring that the information contained within each of them reaches the correct location, this tool has the ability to keep track of its own statistics and determine how many messages passed in were erroneous and how many were successfully transmitted. It is able to check and see what the total message failure count is when an invalid message is given, as well as the number of different messages and their respective types passed into the tool. This tool is of great value to the new Space Launch System (SLS). As such, the tool must be thoroughly tested with test cases that, although improbable, are possible, where the tool may not function properly. Testing an interface this complex is necessary to ensure mission safety and create unlikely scenarios where the tool would work as intended, and stretch its limits to test that even under the most uncommon conditions it would still continue to function. This software will be an important part of the control system for the newest spacecraft which will fly deeper into space than humans have ever travelled. It will fly beyond the moon, into deep space to Mars and perhaps set the groundwork for a manned mission even further to create more opportunities for interplanetary and even interstellar travel by humans. This mission relies heavily on software and hardware to ensure the safety of the humans that will be on board and therefore must be checked, exhausting each and every different situation, such that there is not a doubt surrounding the well-being of the humans aboard the rocket. That is why testing is such an important part of the mission. It provides evidence that the systems aboard the rocket and on the launch pad are safe.

Unit Testing↗

TPSAS-NF1676L-27686-DND

Accurate flight prediction methods are critical for all aspects of vehicle performance, handling characteristics, and structural integrity. The first NASA/Industry/DoD workshop on wind tunnel/flight correlation was held in 1981, when discrepancies arising from Reynolds number effects, aeroelastic effects, and tunnel wall and sting interference effects posed significant barriers to experimentally-based prediction methods in use at that time. Significant advances in ground-based experimental capabilities and facilities, CFD methods, and flight test technology in the next 20 years significantly improved the tools available for predictions. In addition, numerous new production and experimental military and civil aircraft completed flight testing, offering an unprecedented experience base and data for assessing the accuracy of current prediction methods and practices. Thus, the first Flight Prediction Workshop (FPW) was held in 2002. The objective of the 2002 workshop and the current 3 day workshop for technical specialists is to provide a forum for the exchange of: experiences and lessons learned, critical assessments of the state of the art, and recommendations for further developments in flight prediction methodology. Information and opinions provided by the workshop will be incorporated in R&T planning for future government activities in aerodynamics, aeroelasticity, aeroacoustics, propulsion/air frame integration, etc.

Joseph H Morrison↗

Development of a Prototype Simulation Executive with Zooming in the Numerical Propulsion System Simulation

A major difficulty in designing aeropropulsion systems is that of identifying and understanding the interactions between the separate engine components and disciplines (e.g., fluid mechanics, structural mechanics, heat transfer, material properties, etc.). The traditional analysis approach is to decompose the system into separate components with the interaction between components being evaluated by the application of each of the single disciplines in a sequential manner. Here, one discipline uses information from the calculation of another discipline to determine the effects of component coupling. This approach, however, may not properly identify the consequences of these effects during the design phase, leaving the interactions to be discovered and evaluated during engine testing. This contributes to the time and cost of developing new propulsion systems as, typically, several design-build-test cycles are needed to fully identify multidisciplinary effects and reach the desired system performance. The alternative to sequential isolated component analysis is to use multidisciplinary coupling at a more fundamental level. This approach has been made more plausible due to recent advancements in computation simulation along with application of concurrent engineering concepts. Computer simulation systems designed to provide an environment which is capable of integrating the various disciplines into a single simulation system have been proposed and are currently being developed. One such system is being developed by the Numerical Propulsion System Simulation (NPSS) project. The NPSS project, being developed at the Interdisciplinary Technology Office at the NASA Lewis Research Center is a 'numerical test cell' designed to provide for comprehensive computational design and analysis of aerospace propulsion systems. It will provide multi-disciplinary analyses on a variety of computational platforms, and a user-interface consisting of expert systems, data base management and visualization tools, to allow the designer to investigate the complex interactions inherent in these systems. An interactive programming software system, known as the Application Visualization System (AVS), was utilized for the development of the propulsion system simulation. The modularity of this system provides the ability to couple propulsion system components, as well as disciplines, and provides for the ability to integrate existing, well established analysis codes into the overall system simulation. This feature allows the user to customize the simulation model by inserting desired analysis codes. The prototypical simulation environment for multidisciplinary analysis, called Turbofan Engine System Simulation (TESS), which incorporates many of the characteristics of the simulation environment proposed herein, is detailed.

Reed, John A.↗

Probabilistic Look-ahead Contingency Analysis Integration with Commercial Tool and Practical Data

This paper presents an initial effort of integrating a smart sampling-based probabilistic look-ahead contingency analysis algorithm with General Electric (GE) Grid Solutions’ commercial energy management system (EMS) tool as a proof-of-concept for a seamless research tool integration using real world large-scale grid data. With the increasing impact of random forces such as variable generation and load, their stochastic behaviors cannot be ignored. However, the current practices are still dominated by deterministic tools. They are becoming increasingly inadequate for the future grid. The developed look-ahead contingency analysis algorithm incorporates forecast errors of variable energy and load to address the challenges brought by the increasing uncertainty of power system. The algorithm can reveal the potential violations caused by the variance of variable energy and load that are not normally detected by traditional deterministic approaches. To test its performance under practical environments ( real data with real commercial tool), significant efforts have been made to prepare test cases, modify GE EMS tool, and adapt an extreme value distribution algorithm to analyze the GE EMS’s violation-only outputs. The test results clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed algorithm as new transformer violations that were not previously detected have been identified. This performance provides better situational awareness to engineers for their decision-making process under uncertainty. Moreover, with the discussion of computational performance and future work, this paper has shown a clear path for integrating the probabilistic algorithm with commercial tools to make us better equipped for the changing power system.

Modeling and simulation of power systems, constrai↗

3D mesh regularization within an ALE code using a weighted line sweeping method

The Lagrangian formalism is widely used to simulate hydrodynamic responses in complex engineering applications, particularly those involving strong shock waves. However, as the mesh moves with the fluid, it can become highly distorted, requiring a regularization step. This involves constructing a new grid and remapping conservative quantities onto it to restore mesh quality. This work introduces a regularization method for block-structured meshes within a 3D ALE (Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian) code. The proposed approach prevents mesh tangling while preserving the anisotropic features of the initial Lagrangian mesh. This regularization technique incorporates aspect ratio-based weights to control mesh smoothing. Unlike uniform rezoning techniques, this weighted approach maintains proximity to the Lagrangian mesh while improving mesh quality. Here, the method effectively handles concave geometries by mitigating the grid attraction phenomenon, which typically leads to mesh concentration along concave edges. Numerical experiments demonstrate its efficiency in regularizing severely deformed meshes, and its integration within the ALE framework is validated on challenging hydrodynamic test cases, including the triple point problem.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Three-dimensional hypersonic transitional/turbulent mean flow profiles.

Detailed three-dimensional compressible transitional/turbulent boundary-layer profiles are presented for use as test cases in numerical and integral calculation procedures. The profiles were obtained from tests conducted in the Mach 20 leg of the Langley High Reynolds Number Helium Facility. The presented data represent an arduous test case for analytical prediction methods, since 'low Reynolds number' and precursor transition effects should probably be accounted for to accurately predict the boundary-layer growth and development.

Fischer, M. C.↗

Wing-alone aerodynamic characteristics for high angles of attack of supersonic speeds

An experiment was conducted to determine wing-alone supersonic aerodynamic characteristics at high angles of attack. The wings tested varied in aspect ratio from 0.5 to 4.0 and in taper ratio from 0 to 1.0. The wings were tested at angles of attack ranging rom -5 deg to 60 deg and at Mach number from 1.60 to 4.60. The aerodynamic characteristics were obtained by integrating local pressures measured over the wing surfaces. Presented and discussed are results showing the effects of aspect ratio, taper ratio, Mach number, and angle of attack on force and moment coefficients and center of pressure locations. Also included are tabulations of the pressure measurements.

Stallings, R. L., Jr.↗

An assessment of a modified potential flow code for calculating the effect of small geometric change on the pressure and forces of supercritical airfoils

Wind-tunnel test data for two closely related supercritical airfoils were compared with calculations obtained from a nonconservative, potential flow code over a Mach number range from 0.20 to 0.80. The potential flow code includes an iterated, integral boundary-layer correction. The theoretical pressure distributions correlated more closely with the experimental pressure distributions when the flow was entirely subsonic or subsonic with a small supersonic zone than when the flow contained a large supersonic zone. The predicted drag level was below the experimental values at nearly all test conditions and the difference in drag level for the two airfoils was not accurately predicted.

Hicks, R. M.↗

Design for reliability: NASA reliability preferred practices for design and test

This tutorial summarizes reliability experience from both NASA and industry and reflects engineering practices that support current and future civil space programs. These practices were collected from various NASA field centers and were reviewed by a committee of senior technical representatives from the participating centers (members are listed at the end). The material for this tutorial was taken from the publication issued by the NASA Reliability and Maintainability Steering Committee (NASA Reliability Preferred Practices for Design and Test. NASA TM-4322, 1991). Reliability must be an integral part of the systems engineering process. Although both disciplines must be weighed equally with other technical and programmatic demands, the application of sound reliability principles will be the key to the effectiveness and affordability of America's space program. Our space programs have shown that reliability efforts must focus on the design characteristics that affect the frequency of failure. Herein, we emphasize that these identified design characteristics must be controlled by applying conservative engineering principles.

Lalli, Vincent R.↗

Shuttle Damage/Repair from the Perspective of Hypersonic Boundary Layer Transition - Experimental Results

An overview is provided of the experimental wind tunnel program conducted at the NASA Langley Research Center Aerothermodynamics Laboratory in support of an agency-wide effort to prepare the Shuttle Orbiter for Return-to-Flight. The effect of an isolated protuberance and an isolated rectangular cavity on hypersonic boundary layer transition onset on the windward surface of the Shuttle Orbiter has been experimentally characterized. These experimental studies were initiated to provide a protuberance and cavity effects database for developing hypersonic transition criteria to support on-orbit disposition of thermal protection system damage or repair. In addition, a synergistic experimental investigation was undertaken to assess the impact of an isolated mass-flow entrainment source (simulating pyrolysis/outgassing from a proposed tile repair material) on boundary layer transition. A brief review of the relevant literature regarding hypersonic boundary layer transition induced from cavities and localized mass addition from ablation is presented. Boundary layer transition results were obtained using 0.0075-scale Orbiter models with simulated tile damage (rectangular cavities) of varying length, width, and depth and simulated tile damage or repair (protuberances) of varying height. Cavity and mass addition effects were assessed at a fixed location (x/L = 0.3) along the model centerline in a region of near zero pressure gradient. Cavity length-to-depth ratio was systematically varied from 2.5 to 17.7 and length-to-width ratio of 1 to 8.5. Cavity depth-to-local boundary layer thickness ranged from 0.5 to 4.8. Protuberances were located at several sites along the centerline and port/starboard attachment lines along the chine and wing leading edge. Protuberance height-to-boundary layer thickness was varied from approximately 0.2 to 1.1. Global heat transfer images and heating distributions of the Orbiter windward surface using phosphor thermography were used to infer the state of the boundary layer (laminar, transitional, or turbulent). Test parametrics include angles-of-attack of 30 deg and 40 deg, sideslip angle of 0 deg, freestream Reynolds numbers from 0.02x106 to 7.3x106 per foot, edge-to-wall temperature ratio from 0.4 to 0.8, and normal shock density ratios of approximately 5.3, 6.0, and 12 in Mach 6 air, Mach 10 air, and Mach 6 CF4, respectively. Testing to simulate the effects of ablation from a proposed tile repair concept indicated that transition was not a concern. The experimental protuberance and cavity databases highlighted in this report were used to formulate boundary layer transition correlations that were an integral part of an analytical process to disposition observed Orbiter TPS damage during STS- 114.

Horvath, Thomas J.↗

Testing for Software Safety

This research focuses on testing whether or not the hazardous conditions identified by design-level fault tree analysis will occur in the target implementation. Part 1: Integrate fault tree models into functional specifications so as to identify testable interactions between intended behaviors and hazardous conditions. Part 2: Develop a test generator that produces not only functional tests but also safety tests for a target implementation in a cost-effective way. Part 3: Develop a testing environment for executing generated functional and safety tests and evaluating test results against expected behaviors or hazardous conditions. It includes a test harness as well as an environment simulation of external events and conditions.

Chen, Ken↗

REBCO Insert Coils toward High-Field, Large-Bore Magnet for Quantum Physics Research

High-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets offer a promising solution for generating high magnetic fields efficiently and economically, serving as a vital component in nextgeneration scientific instruments and carbon-neutral power systems, notably in cost-effective compact fusion reactors. These high magnetic fields play a pivotal role in advancing research on quantum materials, particularly in elucidating the intricate electronic states near magnetic phase transitions. Here, this paper delves into the research conducted at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, which is divided into three phases aimed at overcoming technical hurdles in creating large-bore, high-field HTS magnets for cutting-edge quantum physics research. In Phase 1, we designed, constructed, and tested a compact REBCO solenoidal magnet comprising six double-pancake coils featuring a 41.3-mm inner diameter and a 70.0-mm outer diameter. It adopts a no-insulation approach to ensure electrical and thermal stability. Successful testing in a saturated liquid nitrogen bath confirmed its capability to generate a 0.8-T field at 77 K and 2 T at 65 K, with ongoing integration into liquid helium testing. Building on this experience, Phase 2 involves the design of an HTS insert coil, intended to nest within a 12-T low-temperature superconducting (LTS) outsert to achieve a minimum of 20 T at 4.2 K. The focus of Phase 2 centers on addressing challenges posed by screening-current (SC) effects, particularly the associated stress/strain issues. Employing a numerical model that fully couples the SC and mechanical analysis, we discuss strategies for managing stress to mitigate the effects of SCinduced stress concentrations.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Revolutionizing Turbine Cooling with Micro-Architectures Enabled by Direct Metal Laser Sintering

The objective of this research effort was to explore innovative cooling architectures enabled by additive manufacturing techniques for improved turbine cooling performance. The ability to create complex internal geometries was leveraged to better distribute coolant as well as to integrate inherently unstable flow devices to enhance internal and external heat transfer. This was accomplished with a multi-faceted approach including analytical, experimental, and computational components. This final report documents progress during the total 4.25 year effort that was extended (at no additional cost) from the original 3-year cooperative agreement. Prior to starting the project, significant effort was invested in investigating innovative cooling designs from the open literature. When the project started, we quickly down-selected to 4 configurations: impingement jet fluidic oscillators (for internal leading edge cooling), reverse film cooling (for pressure surface), sweeping film cooling jets (for suction surface), and trailing edge slot cooling with microchannels. During the 2nd year, the reverse film cooling design was shown to be sub-optimal and work on that topic was halted. The three remaining technologies were integrated into a large scale nozzle guide vane and installed into a low-speed linear cascade facility for further interrogation. Initial results showed the sweeping film cooling jets (on the suction surface) to be the most promising technology compared to a baseline diffusion shaped film hole (777 design). The benefit was particularly evident at high blowing ratios (>1.5) when the 777 coolant film separated from the downstream surface. Benefits were also evident at elevated freestream turbulence levels. The leading edge cooling with unsteady jets was less effective in terms of peak or average cooling – however it was superior to round hole impingement cooling in terms of spatial uniformity. Finally, the trailing edge cooling design with micro-channels was scrapped in favor of a pinned arrangement with centerbody. During the 3rd year, the same three technologies were integrated into a transonic linear cascade for an assessment of compressibility effects. Again, the sweeping film cooling jets proved superior at high blowing ratios while the unsteady leading edge impingement and trailing edge pin-fins with centerbody designs yielded mixed results. Finally, during the 4th and final year, these 3 technologies were integrated into a direct metal laser sintered (DMLS) nozzle guide vane for testing in a high temperature, transonic annular vane cascade. The facility matches the flow temperature, Mach number, and coolant pressure ratios of an actual gas turbine. Before doing this, an additional series of tests were completed to validate a redesigned trailing edge cooling architecture. This final design included a centerbody with triangular pins between the centerbody and the vane external skin. The majority of these triangular pins are fabricated with a 30% gap to the centerbody – reducing their pressure drop considerably while still providing excellent heat transfer augmentation. This additional test campaign required an additional 3-month extension request to complete testing in the high temperature NGV test facility (Turbine Reacting Flow Rig – TuRFR). Testing of the DMLS vane in TuRFR pitted the 3 innovative cooling technologies against more traditional technologies (shaped 777 film hole, round impingement jet, and full pin arrangement in the trailing edge. The sweeping film cooling jets (on the suction surface) showed approximately 15% improvement in overall effectiveness compared to the 777 film hole while the trailing edge showed up to 20% improvement. The leading edge impingement was disappointing with a substantially lower effectiveness than traditional direct impingement. In summary, the study was successful in demonstrating that DMLS-enabled cooling technologies can yield significant gains in cooling performance.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

Hardware Progress Made in the Early Flight Fission Test Facilities (EFF-TF) To Support Near-Term Space Fission Systems

The EFF-TF provides a facility to experimentally evaluate thermal hydraulic issues through the use of highly effective non-nuclear testing. These techniques provide a rapid, more cost effective method of evaluating designs and support development risk mitigation when concerns are associated with non-nuclear aspects of space nuclear systems. For many systems, electrical resistance thermal simulators can be used to closely mimic the heat deposition of the fission process, providing axial and radial profiles. A number of experimental and design programs were underway in 2004. Initial evaluation of the SAFE-100a (19 module stainless steel/sodium heat pipe reactor with integral gas neat exchanger) was performed with tests up to 17.5 kW of input power at core temperatures of 1000 K. A stainless steel sodium SAFE-100 heat pipe module was placed through repeated freeze/thaw cyclic testing accumulating over 200 restarts to a temperature of 1000 K. Additionally, the design of a 37-fuel pin stainless steel pumped sodium/potassium (NaK) loop was finalized and components procured. Ongoing testing at the EFF-TF is geared towards facilitating both research and development necessary to field a near term space nuclear system. Efforts are coordinated with DOE laboratories, industry, universities, and other NASA centers. This paper describes some of the 2004 efforts.

VanDyke, Melissa↗

Standardization and program effect analysis (Study 2.4). Volume 3: Design-to-cost analysis

The program procedures that were incorporated into an on-going "design-to-cost" spacecraft program are examined. Program procedures are the activities that support the development and operations of the flight unit: contract management, documents, integration meetings, engineering, and testing. This report is limited to the program procedures that were implemented, with emphasis on areas that may depart from normal satellite development practices.

Shiokari, T.↗