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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 991 records · Page 55

Validation of Ullage Collapse Due to Violent Lateral Slosh

Understanding the coupling between thermodynamics and propellant sloshing is important for cryogenic upper stages, especially during the lift-off phase and in missions including multiple engine restarts, as the fluid dynamic condition of the propellant is mainly influenced by various flight maneuvers. This paper describes the development and validation of a Volume of Fluid (VOF)-based CFD solver, Loci/STREAM-VOF, to the ullage collapse under violent later slosh conditions. Loci/STREAM-VOF is shown to be able to capture detailed slosh dynamics, including slosh frequency, non-linear slosh damping, and violent surface breakup due to forced acceleration. The comparison of surface shape and small drops formed during large amplitude slosh with experimental imagery shows excellent agreement throughout the sloshing period. Comparison of temperature histories in the ullage, at the gas-liquid interface, and inside liquid with the experiment conducted at JAXA also show very good agreement. The simulation points to a stratified temperature field inside the liquid near the interface, critical to the ullage pressure after the collapse. The predicted pressure collapse matches well with the experimental value due to sloshing. Parametric sensitivity studies suggest that high-fidelity Loci/STREM-VOF simulations can play an essential role in predicting the actual thermodynamics of ullage collapse when following the recommended simulation methodology.

H Q Yang↗

A New, Cots-Inclusive, Approach for Parts Assurance in NASA

This talk will provide insights into new options for parts assurance that are being introduced into NASA policy, which build on the results of the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) COTS Phase 2 study. It will provide some of the highlights and drivers for the use of COTS and brief recommendations for how to successfully select and use COTS parts.

risk↗

Re-thinking the Approach to COTS Electronics for Space Applications

This talk will provide the immediate drivers for broad introduction of COTS into NASA missions and the supporting new options for parts assurance that are being introduced into NASA policy, which build on the results of the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) COTS Phase 2 study. It will also provide a new approach at electronics development that will be necessary to align the agency with the current reality in manufacturing, technology, budgetary, and time limitations. It will also provide some of the highlights and drivers for the use of COTS and brief recommendations for how to successfully select and use COTS parts.

risk↗

New COTS-Inclusive Parts Assurance in NASA

This talk will provide insights into new options for parts assurance that are being introduced into NASA policy, which build on the results of the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) COTS Phase 2 study. It will provide some of the highlights and drivers for the use of COTS and brief recommendations for how to successfully select and use COTS parts. It will also briefly address common concerns about radiation and COTS.

risk↗

How NASA Accounts for Weather Throughout Artemis Mission

Development and operations of NASA spacecraft and launch vehicles are influenced by the natural environment (i.e. weather) across all applicable mission phases. Defining the natural environments provides engineers the applicable factors, along with exposure ranges, that must be accounted for in the hardware design. Effects from exposure to these environments must be addressed through structural design of the hardware, mitigated through operational controls, or accepted as risk by the governing program. Managing and mitigating these environmental factors was crucial to ensure the safe and successful launch of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the transit of the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) around the moon and the recovery of MPCV after landing off the California coast in November 2022. A summary of how the Artemis I mission accounts for both the terrestrial and space environments, as well as the impacts, will be provided.

Ryan K Decker↗

The International Linear Collider. A Global Project

A large, world-wide community of physicists is working to realise an exceptional physics program of energy-frontier, electron-positron collisions with the International Linear Collider (ILC). This program will begin with a central focus on high-precision and model-independent measurements of the Higgs boson couplings. This method of searching for new physics beyond the Standard Model is orthogonal to and complements the LHC physics program. The ILC at 250 GeV will also search for direct new physics in exotic Higgs decays and in pair-production of weakly interacting particles. Polarised electron and positron beams add unique opportunities to the physics reach. The ILC can be upgraded to higher energy, enabling precision studies of the top quark and measurement of the top Yukawa coupling and the Higgs self-coupling. The key accelerator technology, superconducting radio-frequency cavities, has matured. Optimised collider and detector designs, and associated physics analyses, were presented in the ILC Technical Design Report, signed by 2400 scientists. There is a strong interest in Japan to host this international effort. A detailed review of the many aspects of the project is nearing a conclusion in Japan. Now the Japanese government is preparing for a decision on the next phase of international negotiations, that could lead to a project start within a few years. The potential timeline of the ILC project includes an initial phase of about 4 years to obtain international agreements, complete engineering design and prepare construction, and form the requisite international collaboration, followed by a construction phase of 9 years.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Stress-dependent χ phase transformation in a Ni-based superalloy

The ongoing push to elevate operating temperatures in aerospace gas turbine engines – driven by goals of enhanced fuel efficiency and reduced CO 2 emissions – mandates advancements in the creep resistance of Ni- and Co-based superalloys, which are integral for critical engine components. This study elucidates the role of stress assisted localized phase transformations in the creep properties of these alloys. By leveraging chemo-mechanical coupling, self-healing γ′ precipitates are designed to immobilize planar defects, thereby increasing creep resistance. Employing advanced characterization techniques such as high-resolution Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-STEM), in conjunction with atomistic simulations and thermodynamic calculations, novel deformation pathways facilitated by χ local phase transformation (LPT) strengthening have been uncovered; notably, the formation of χ nano-laths through microtwinning and superlattice intrinsic stacking fault (SISF) shearing. This study highlights critical insights into the compositional boundaries necessary for optimizing LPT strengthening while avoiding deleterious bulk formation of η/χ phases. These advancements will guide the design of new alloys maximizing high-temperature creep strength for advanced aerospace applications.

Egan, Ashton J. [Friedrich-Alexander University Er↗

A simulation investigation of the effects of engine-and thrust-response characteristics on helicopter handling qualities

A multi-phase program is being conducted to study, in a generic sense and through ground simulation, the effects of engine response, rotor inertia, rpm control, excess power, and vertical damping on specific maneuvers included in nap-of-the-Earth (NOE) operations. The helicopter configuration with an rpm-governed gas-turbine engine are considered. Handling-qualities-criteria data are considered in light of aspects peculiar to rotary-wing and NOE operations. The results of three moving-based piloted simulation studies are summarized and the frequency, characteristics of the helicopter thrust response which set it apart from other VTOL types are explained. Power-system response is affected by both the engine-governor response and the level of rotor inertia. However, results indicate that with unlimited power, variations in engine response can have a significant effect on pilot rating, whereas changes in rotor inertia, in general, do not. The results also show that any pilot interaction required to maintain proper control can significantly degrade handling qualities. Data for variations in vertical damping and collective sensitivity are compared with existing handling-qualities specifications, MIL-F-83300 and AGARD 577, and show a need for higher minimums for both damping and sensitivity for the bob-up task. Results for cases of limited power are also shown.

Corless, L. D.↗

An airline study of advanced technology requirements for advanced high speed commercial engines. 3: Propulsion system requirements

The advanced technology requirements for an advanced high speed commercial transport engine are presented. The results of the phase 3 effort cover the requirements and objectives for future aircraft propulsion systems. These requirements reflect the results of the Task 1 and 2 efforts and serve as a baseline for future evaluations, specification development efforts, contract/purchase agreements, and operational plans for future subsonic commercial engines. This report is divided into five major sections: (1) management objectives for commercial propulsion systems, (2) performance requirements for commercial transport propulsion systems, (3) design criteria for future transport engines, (4) design requirements for powerplant packages, and (5) testing.

Sallee, G. P.↗

Multi-Flight-Phase GPS Navigation Filter Applications to Terrestrial Vehicle Navigation and Positioning

A candidate onboard space navigation filter demonstrated excellent performance (less than 8 meter level RMS semi-major axis accuracy) in performing orbit determination of a low-Earth orbit Explorer satellite using single-frequency real GPS data. This performance is significantly better than predicted by other simulation studies using dual-frequency GPS data. The study results revealed the significance of two new modeling approaches evaluated in the work. One approach introduces a single-frequency ionospheric correction through pseudo-range and phase range averaging implementation. The other approach demonstrates a precise axis-dependent characterization of dynamic sample space uncertainty to compute a more accurate Kalman filter gain. Additionally, this navigation filter demonstrates a flexibility to accommodate both perturbational dynamic and observational biases required for multi-flight phase and inhomogeneous application environments. This paper reviews the potential application of these methods and the filter structure to terrestrial vehicle and positioning applications. Both the single-frequency ionospheric correction method and the axis-dependent state noise modeling approach offer valuable contributions in cost and accuracy improvements for terrestrial GPS receivers. With a modular design approach to either 'plug-in' or 'unplug' various force models, this multi-flight phase navigation filter design structure also provides a versatile GPS navigation software engine for both atmospheric and exo-atmospheric navigation or positioning use, thereby streamlining the flight phase or application-dependent software requirements. Thus, a standardized GPS navigation software engine that can reduce the development and maintenance cost of commercial GPS receivers is now possible.

Park, Young W.↗

Development and fabrication of structural components for a scramjet engine

A program broadly directed toward design and development of long-life (100 hours and 1,000 cycles with a goal of 1,000 hours and 10,000 cycles) hydrogen-cooled structures for application to scramjets is presented. Previous phases of the program resulted in an overall engine design and analytical and experimental characterization of selected candidate materials and concepts. The latter efforts indicated that the basic life goals for the program can be reached with available means. The main objective of this effort was an integrated, experimental evaluation of the results of the previous program phases. The fuel injection strut was selected for this purpose, including fabrication development and fabrication of a full-scale strut. Testing of the completed strut was to be performed in a NASA-Langley wind tunnel. In addition, conceptual designs were formulated for a heat transfer test unit and a flat panel structural test unit. Tooling and fabrication procedures required to fabricate the strut were developed, and fabrication and delivery to NASA of all strut components, including major subassemblies, were completed.

Buchmann, O. A.↗

INSPIRE Phase I Development

Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) and Makel Engineering, Inc developed a pathway towards an advanced multi-modal sensor system suitable for in-situ analysis of exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for pilots, divers and field patients. Our proposed In-Mask Sensors for Physiological Investigation of Respiratory Exhalation - INSPIRE, will combine micro-gas chromatograph (microGC) and miniature ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) for detection of trace amounts of exhaled breath VOCs with miniature solid state sensors for inorganic compounds found in breath such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, moisture and the inert gases nitrogen, argon and helium. To develop clear developmental pathway towards that goal Sandia demonstrated a new version of its ion-mobility spectrometer detection technology for VOC detection, while Makel demonstrated detection of inorganics and concepts for mask integration. Sandia demonstrated detection of many compounds from the EPA TO-15 Test Mixture, which is representative of many classes of compounds found in air, and can be purchased as a gas standard from a variety of suppliers. The work demonstrated for phase I was sufficient to move the team into phase II of the program, where a full prototype unit will be developed. This CRADA provided clear value to the taxpayer by allowing a US small business to continue to phase II of a competitive STTR proposal for the Air Force. This process will help to transition Sandia’s technology into the marketplace to address a clear DoD requirement.

Moorman, Matthew↗

Software engineering standards and practices

Guidelines are presented for the preparation of a software development plan. The various phases of a software development project are discussed throughout its life cycle including a general description of the software engineering standards and practices to be followed during each phase.

Durachka, R. W.↗

Computational/Experimental Aeroheating Predictions for X-33: Vehicle - Phase 2

Laminar and turbulent heating-rate calculations from an "engineering" code and laminar calculations from a "benchmark" Navier-Stokes code are compared with experimental wind-tunnel data obtained on several candidate configurations for the X-33 Phase 2 flight vehicle. The experimental data were obtained at a Mach number of 6 and a freestream Reynolds number ranging from 1 to 8 x 10(exp 6)/ft. Comparisons are presented along the windward symmetry plane and in a circumferential direction around the body at several axial stations at angles of attack from 20 to 40 deg. The experimental results include both laminar and turbulent flow. For the highest angle of attack some of the measured heating data exhibited a "non-laminar" behavior which caused the heating to increase above the laminar level long before "classical" transition to turbulent flow was observed. This trend was not observed at the lower angles of attack. When the flow was laminar, both codes predicted the heating along the windward symmetry plane reasonably well but under-predicted the heating in the chine region. When the flow was turbulent the LATCH code accurately predicted the measured heating rates. Both codes were used to calculate heating rates over the X-33 vehicle at the peak heating point on the design trajectory and they were found to be in very good agreement over most of the vehicle windward surface.

Hamilton, H. Harris, II↗

Ceramic composites for rocket engine turbines

The use of ceramic materials in the hot section of the fuel turbopump of advanced reusable rocket engines promises increased performance and payload capability, improved component life and economics, and greater design flexibility. Severe thermal transients present during operation of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME), push metallic components to the limit of their capabilities. Future engine requirements might be even more severe. In phase one of this two-phase program, performance benefits were quantified and continuous fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite components demonstrated a potential to survive the hostile environment of an advanced rocket engine turbopump.

Herbell, Thomas P.↗

Ceramic composites for rocket engine turbines

The use of ceramic materials in the hot section of the fuel turbopump of advanced reusable rocket engines promises increased performance and payload capability, improved component life and economics, and greater design flexibility. Severe thermal transients present during operation of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME), push metallic components to the limit of their capabilities. Future engine requirements might be even more severe. In phase one of this two-phase program, performance benefits were quantified and continuous fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite components demonstrated a potential to survive the hostile environment of an advaced rocket engine turbopump.

Herbell, Thomas P.↗

Next-Generation Analysis and Visualization Platform for Manufacturing and Engineering Workflows (Final Report)

Advanced manufacturing and engineering are fundamental to the economic strength and national security of the United States. With the introduction of advanced modeling and simulation practices in manufacturing and engineering over the last several decades, we are producing better products, more quickly, and at decreased cost. Through the adoption of high-performance computing (HPC) enabled workflows, in small- to medium-sized manufacturers and engineering firms, which employ fewer than 500 people, is renewing United States manufacturing and engineering. Despite successes, there are significant barriers to widespread adoption of these tools. Our Phase I SBIR project, Next-Generation Analysis and Visualization Platform for Manufacturing and Engineering Workflows, aims to address several of these barriers. Our project helped us evaluate the feasibility and benefits and mitigate risks of asynchronous processing for analysis and visualization workflows. We evaluated the impact of asynchronous, non-blocking communication can have on the user experience in a complex visualization application. Besides the impact on users, we wanted to understand the impacts on developers (development application programming interfaces (APIs))and generated applications (robustness and stability). Any asynchronous platform implementation is bound to rely on multiple threads which can make the programming model extraordinarily complex and prone to bugs. If not managed carefully, the complexity and resulting instability would be an unacceptable evolution for widely used production tools like ParaView and putting the success of the Phase II project at risk.

42 ENGINEERING↗

On the importance of species immiscibility in mixing-layer dynamics at supercritical pressures

The mixing dynamics of injected propellants is a key factor in determining the ignition performance and combustion-instability response of rocket engines, internal combustion engines, and gas turbines. A key source of uncertainty in the prediction of phase-exchange dynamics is the immiscibility of the injected propellants at supercritical pressure conditions, which induces liquid/vapor phase separation and surface-tension dynamics. While experimental observations indicate the presence of liquid/vapor interfacial structures, this interfacial dynamics is typically neglected in numerical analyses. To address this issue, the objective of the present study is to systematically evaluate the importance of species immiscibility on the phase-exchange dynamics of cryogenic LOX/GH2 mixing layers at typical rocket engine injection conditions. This is accomplished by comparing simulations of (i) a recently developed interface-capturing Regularized-Interface Method (RIM) formulation, and (ii) the commonly employed Diffuse-Interface Method (DIM) formulation. Analysis shows that the interfacial dynamics significantly impact the atomization and mixing of the propellants in the near-injector region, which is not captured by the DIM formulation. The findings of this study extend to other immiscible injection systems, such as LOX/kerosene and hydrocarbon-fuel/air, thereby highlighting the importance of resolving species immiscibility in simulating high-pressure combustion engines.

diffused-interface method↗