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At least 991 records · Page 55

Studies on the Processing Methods for Extraterrestrial Materials

The literature was surveyed for high temperature mass spectrometric research on single oxides, complex oxides, and minerals in an effort to develop a means of separating elements and compounds from lunar and other extraterrestrial materials. A data acquisition system for determining vaporization rates as a function of time and temperature and software for the IEEE-488 Apple-ORTEC interface are discussed. Experimental design information from a 1000 C furnace were used with heat transfer calculations to develop the basic design for a 1600 C furnace. A controller was built for the higher temperature furnace and drawings are being made for the furnace.

Grimley, R. T.↗

High-speed Digital Baseband Mixer

The feasibility of designing a digital, complex, baseband mixer with a 50 MHz sampling rate is explored. The baseband filter must provide passbands with linear phase response to minimize intersymbol interference. The effects of signal quantization, filter coefficient quantization, dynamic range, filter response characteristics, and the performance of the mixer when used for cross correlation and autocorrelation pulse detection techniques are discussed. This filter was designed for use in the high speed data acquisition system (HSDAS), an advanced experimental system in the Deep Space Network.

Chan, F. P.↗

Stiffness reductions during tensile fatigue testing of graphite/epoxy angle-ply laminates

The monitoring of modulus decay during fatigue testing as an indicator of damage accumulation and incipient failure has frequently been postulated. The present study was designed to generate tensile fatigue data under carefully controlled test conditions. A computerized data acquisition system was used to permit the measurement of dynamic modulus without interrupting the fatigue cycling. Two different 8-ply laminate configurations, viz, (+ or - 45)2s and (+ or - 67.5)2s, of a T300/5208 graphite/epoxy composite were tested. The (+ or 45)2s laminate did exhibit some modulus decay, although there was no well-defined correlation with applied stress level or number of cycles. The (+ or - 67.5)2s laminate did not exhibit any measurable modulus decay. Secondary effects observed included a slight recovery of the modulus decay after a test interruption, and a significant viscoelastic (creep) response of the (+ or - 45)2s laminate during fatigue testing.

Odom, E. M.↗

Measurement of High Temperature Thermophysical Properties

Technique development and the application of electromagnetic levitation to thermophysical property measurement, including determining heats of fusion, heat capacities, and enthalpy increment functions for extremely refractory materials are discussed. Tungsten properties and the development of an apparatus employing electromagnetic levitation and electron beam heating capable of melting levitating tungsten high temperature heat content measurements by drop calorimetry are emphasized. The development of a prototype microcomputer data acquisition system suitable for controlling the ground based system, with consequent improvement in system handling, which can serve as a model for the system needed for flight experiments is described, which include the development of techniques for imaging pyrometry at temperatures above 3500 K, a semiautomatic calorimeter system capable of handling liquid tungsten, and development of a two color imaging pyrometer system.

Bonnell, D. W.↗

Study of high speed combustion flows by laser velocimetry

The feasibility of laser velocimetry in a high temperature jet was assessed in a model of an aircraft engine combustor. Experiments show that the problems encountered in measuring combustion flow can flow can be overcome by a carefully designed optical set-up and an appropriate signal processing and data acquisition system. Laser Doppler velocimetry provides useful information about coherent structures in hot free jets. The measurements agree with measurements in an isothermal jet.

Schaefer, H. J.↗

The measurement of aircraft performance and stability and control after flight through natural icing conditions

The effects of airframe icing on the performance and stability and control of a twin-engine commuter-class aircraft were measured by the NASA Lewis Research Center. This work consisted of clear air tests with artificial ice shapes attached to the horizontal tail, and natural icing flight tests in measured icing clouds. The clear air tests employed static longitudinal flight test methods to determine degradation in stability margins for four simulated ice shapes. The natural icing flight tests employed a data acquisition system, which was provided under contract to NASA by Kohlman Systems Research Incorporated. This system used a performance modeling method and modified maximum likelihood estimation (MMLE) technique to determine aircraft performance degradation and stability and control. Flight test results with artificial ice shapes showed that longitudinal, stick-fixed, static margins are reduced on the order of 5 percent with flaps up. Natural icing tests with the KSR system corroborated these results and showed degradation in the elevator control derivatives on the order of 8 to 16 percent depending on wing flap configuration. Performance analyses showed the individual contributions of major airframe components to the overall degration in lift and drag.

Ranaudo, R. J.↗

Problems associated with operations and measurement in cryogenic wind tunnels

Cryogenic wind tunnel T'3 under continuous blower operation has been the object of improvements and the installation of auxiliary equipment, dealing in particular with the enlargement of the liquid nitrogen injection reservoir and the hook-up to a fast data acquisition system. Following a brief description of the installation and its functioning, we present the main experimental techniques and the instrumentation used in the cryogenic environment.

Blanchard, A.↗

Measurement of angular distribution of sound emission from training projectiles in subsonic flight

Training projectiles with nose ring cavities that produce intense whistles in stationary free-jet tests were shot in a relatively straight-line trajectory. A ground based microphone was used to obtain the angular distribution of sound intensity produced from the subsonically flying projectile. Data reduction required calculation of Doppler and attenuation factors which were determined based on a non-linear trajectory. Also, the directional sensitivity of the microphone was measured and used in the data reduction. Significant angular variation of sound intensity produced from the projectile was found which can be used to plot an intensity contour map on the ground. A full-scale field test confirmed the validity of the aeroacoustic concept of producing a relatively intense whistle from the projectile, and the usefulness of a real-time data acquisition system.

Cho, Y. I.↗

The National Transonic Facility

The National Transonic Facility, NTF, is a high Reynolds Number facility where the increase in Reynolds Number is obtained by operating at high pressures and low temperatures. Liquid nitrogen is allowed to vaporize, making gaseous nitrogen the test medium with temperatures extending down to approximately 100 degrees Kelvin. These factors have created unique, new challenges to those developing sensors and instrumentation. Pressure vessels, thermal enclosures or elaborate temperature compensations schemes, are needed for environmental protection and special materials are needed for sensors and model fabrication. The need for a new measurement, model deformation, was also created. An extensive program to develop the unique sensors and instrumentation was initiated. The data acquisition system and systems to measure aerodynamic forces and pressures, model attitude, and model deformation, are discussed.

Holmes, H. K.↗

The measurement of aircraft performance and stability and control after flight through natural icing conditions

The effects of airframe icing on the performance and stability and control of a twin-engine commuter-class aircraft were measured by the NASA Lewis Research Center. This work consisted of clear air tests with artificial ice shapes attached to the horizontal tail, and natural icing flight tests in measured icing clouds. The clear air tests employed static longitudinal flight test methods to determine degradation in stability margins for four simulated ice shapes. The natural icing flight tests employed a data acquisition system, which was provided under contract to NASA by Kohlman Systems Research Incorporated. This system used a performance modeling method and modified maximum likelihood estimation (MMLE) technique to determine aircraft performance degradation and stability and control. Flight test results with artificial ice shapes showed that longitudinal, stick-fixed, static margins are reduced on the order of 5 percent with flaps up. Natural icing tests with the KSR system corroborated these results and showed degradation in the elevator control derivatives on the order of 8 to 16 percent depending on wing flap configuration. Performance analyses showed the individual contributions of major airframe components to the overall degradation in lift and drag.

Ranaudo, R. J.↗

Imagery with a Si:Bi 16 x 16 array

A description of the design and performance of an imaging spectrometer intended for operation in the 7 to 14 micron wavelength range is presented. It is based upon a 16 by 16 element Si:Bi hybrid array, a circular variable filter wheel, and a microcomputer data acquisition system. The spatial-spectral photometric performances were evaluated in the laboratory as well as field tested at astronomical observatories. The performance characteristics of the system are presented as well as laboratory and astronomical images.

Goebel, J. H.↗

Development of hardwares and computer interface for a two-degree-of-freedom robot

The research results that were obtained are reviewed. Then the robot actuator, the selection of the data acquisition system, and the design of the power amplifier will be discussed. The machine design of the robot manipulator will then be presented. After that, the integration of the developed hardware into the open-loop system will also be discussed. Current and future research work is addressed.

Nguyen, Charles C.↗

Evolution, calibration, and operational characteristics of the two-dimensional test section of the Langley 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel

Presented is a review of the development of the world's first cryogenic pressure tunnel, the Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel (0.3-m TCT). Descriptions of the instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and physical features of the two-dimensional 8- by 24-in, (20.32 by 60.96 cm) and advanced 13- by 13-in (33.02 by 33.02 cm) adaptive-wall test-section inserts of the 0.3-m TCT are included. Basic tunnel-empty Mach number distributions, stagnation temperature distributions, and power requirements are included. The Mach number capability of the facility is from about 0.20 to 0.90. Stagnation pressure can be varied from about 80 to 327 K.

Ladson, Charles L.↗

Photometric imaging near infrared spectrometer

A description of the design and performance of an imaging spectrometer intended for operation in the seven to fourteen micrometer wavelength range is presented. It is based upon a sixteen by sixteen element Si:Bi hybrid array, a circular variable filter wheel, and a microcomputer data acquisition system. The spatial-spectral photometric performances have been evaluated in the laboratory as well as field tested at astronomical observatories. The performance characteristics of the system are presented as well as laboratory and astronomical images.

Goebel, J. H.↗

Measurement and analysis of solar cell current-voltage characteristics

Approaches to measurement and analysis of solar cell current-voltage characteristics under dark and illuminated conditions are discussed. Measurements are taken with a computer based data acquisition system for temperatures in the range of -100 to +100 C. In the fitting procedure, the various I(oi) and C(i) as well as R(S) and R(SH) are determined. Application to current-voltage analyses of high efficiency silicon cells and Boeing CdS/CuInSe2 are discussed. In silicon MINP cells, it is found that at low voltages a tunneling mechanism is dominant, while at larger voltages the I-V characteristics are usually dominated by emitter recombination. In the case of Boeing cells, a current transport model based on a tunneling mechanism and interface recombination acting in series has been developed as a result of I-V analyses.

Olsen, Larry C.↗

CCDs at Lick Observatory

Improved sensitivity to light and uniformity of response has been obtained using various surface treatments of thinned CCDs. Procedures are described and some results are shown. The Lick Observatory data acquisition system is briefly described. A new thermoelectrically-cooled CCD camera for telescope guiding has been designed and built. The camera is described and preliminary results at the telescope are given.

Robinson, Lloyd B.↗

Failure analysis of a 3.5 inch, 50 ampere-hour nickel-hydrogen cell

The 3.5 inch, 50 ampere-hour nickel-hydrogen cell was on a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) test regime and was being cycled at 10 C and 60 percent depth of discharge. At cycle number 511 the Automatic Control and Data Acquisition System (ACDAS) terminated the test when the end of discharge voltage dropped below the 1.00 volt cutoff. Upon removal of the stack assembly from the pressure vessel, portions of the zircar separator were found to be completely missing. Upon further examination portions of both the positive and negative plates were found to be missing from its substrate and several gas screens were damaged due to excessive heat which caused fusing. The postulated cause of failure is free electrolyte in the cell which caused oxygen channelization resulting in localized recombination which degraded the stack components.

Fuhr, Kenneth H.↗

Investigation of low-speed turbulent separated flow around airfoils

Described is a low-speed wind tunnel experiment to measure the flowfield around a two-dimensional airfoil operating close to maximum lift. Boundary layer separation occurs on the upper surface at x/c=0.85. A three-component laser velocimeter, coupled with a computer-controlled data acquisition system, was used to obtain three orthogonal mean velocity components and three components of the Reynolds stress tensor in both the boundary layer and wake of the airfoil. Pressure distributions on the airfoil, skin friction distribution on the upper surface of the airfoil, and integral properties of the airfoil boudary layer are also documented. In addition to these near-field flow properties, static pressure distributions, both upstream and downstream from the airfoil and on the walls of the wind tunnel, are also presented.

Wadcock, Alan J.↗