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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 1,027 records · Page 57
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

Facility Measures Magnetic Fields

Partly automated facility measures and computes steady near magnetic field produced by object. Designed to determine magnetic fields of equipment to be installed on spacecraft including sensitive magnetometers, with view toward application of compensating fields to reduce interfernece with spacecraft-magnetometer readings. Because of its convenient operating features and sensitivity of its measurements, facility serves as prototype for similar facilities devoted to magnetic characterization of medical equipment, magnets for high-energy particle accelerators, and magnetic materials.

Honess, Shawn B.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Micromachined Ion Accelerators

Proposed ion accelerators made by micromachining techniques. Advantages include small size and weight, modularity, and compatibility with integrated circuits. Used as sources of ion beams for industrial processes. Ion accelerator of this type combined with integrated electronic control and power circuitry, plus similarly miniaturized valves and other mechanisms for regulating flow of gas used to generate ions - all micromachined on single chip. Provides flexibility for tailoring characteristics of ion sources for specific applications; for example, construct array of many such devices to obtain large ion source or position multiple devices to obtain desired ion-beam pattern in processing chamber.

Brophy, John↗
NASA NTRS1961

Piloted Simulator Tests of a Guidance System which Can Continously Predict Landing Point of a Low L/D Vehicle During Atmosphere Re-Entry

The guidance system for maneuvering vehicles within a planetary atmosphere which was studied uses the concept of fast continuous prediction of the maximum maneuver capability from existing conditions rather than a stored-trajectory technique. used, desired touchdown points are compared with the maximum range capability and heating or acceleration limits, so that a proper decision and choice of control inputs can be made by the pilot. In the method of display and control a piloted fixed simulator was used t o demonstrate the feasibility od the concept and to study its application to control of lunar mission reentries and recoveries from aborts.

Wingrove, Rodney C.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Impact of the Columbia Supercomputer on NASA Space and Exploration Mission

NASA's 10,240-processor Columbia supercomputer gained worldwide recognition in 2004 for increasing the space agency's computing capability ten-fold, and enabling U.S. scientists and engineers to perform significant, breakthrough simulations. Columbia has amply demonstrated its capability to accelerate NASA's key missions, including space operations, exploration systems, science, and aeronautics. Columbia is part of an integrated high-end computing (HEC) environment comprised of massive storage and archive systems, high-speed networking, high-fidelity modeling and simulation tools, application performance optimization, and advanced data analysis and visualization. In this paper, we illustrate the impact Columbia is having on NASA's numerous space and exploration applications, such as the development of the Crew Exploration and Launch Vehicles (CEV/CLV), effects of long-duration human presence in space, and damage assessment and repair recommendations for remaining shuttle flights. We conclude by discussing HEC challenges that must be overcome to solve space-related science problems in the future.

Biswas, Rupak↗
NASA NTRS2011

Focused and Steady-State Characteristics of Shaped Sonic Boom Signatures: Prediction and Analysis

The objective of this study is to examine the effect of flight, at off-design conditions, on the propagated sonic boom pressure signatures of a small "low-boom" supersonic aircraft. The amplification, or focusing, of the low magnitude "shaped" signatures produced by maneuvers such as the accelerations from transonic to supersonic speeds, climbs, turns, pull-up and pushovers is the concern. To analyze these effects, new and/or improved theoretical tools have been developed, in addition to the use of existing methodology. Several shaped signatures are considered in the application of these tools to the study of selected maneuvers and off-design conditions. The results of these applications are reported in this paper as well as the details of the new analytical tools. Finally, the magnitude of the focused boom problem for "low boom" supersonic aircraft designs has been more accurately quantified and potential "mitigations" suggested. In general, "shaped boom" signatures, designed for cruise flight, such as asymmetric and symmetric flat-top and initial-shock ramp waveforms retain their basic shape during transition flight. Complex and asymmetric and symmetric initial shock ramp waveforms provide lower magnitude focus boom levels than N-waves or asymmetric and symmetric flat-top signatures.

Maglieri, Domenic J.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Operational Techniques in Microgravity for Cryogenic Fluid Management

Management of cryogens in microgravity is a critical challenge for exploration missions to the Moon and Mars. Operational strategies to aid in cryogenic fluid management (CFM) are proposed and demonstrated using computational fluid dynamics simulations. Application of axial settling thrust is an essential – but potentially expensive – tool for CFM. Demonstrations show that its utilization and timing are important during certain unsettling events, such as engine cutoff. At other times, substantial savings can be realized by reducing the average acceleration (through pulsing thrusters, for example). If the metric for reaching a settled condition is a particular number of slosh periods, then fewer settling resources are needed with a lower acceleration. Alternatively, if a target wave amplitude is the settling objective, then a lower average acceleration will also allow for a higher allowable amplitude for the same heat transfer. Savings can also be obtained by rolling the vehicle, which can mitigate lateral slosh. Advantages and disadvantages of anti-slosh baffles are also discussed along with practical examples of their impact on CFM and ullage collapse. Ullage collapse examples are presented along with recommendations for slewing a vehicle with angular and translational acceleration to mitigate mixing between liquid and ullage.

Cryogenic Fluid Management↗
NASA NTRS1984

Zero-g experiments with a He II active phase separator for space application

An active phase separator (APS) for temperature control of He II space cooling systems was tested in a zero-g environment during a series of parabolic flights on a NASA KC 135 aircraft. The APS provides for liquid-gas separation and features an annular gap, a downstream heat exchanger and an upstream ball closure. The apparatus was operated during acceleration and floating and in two different heat load situations. The tests confirmed that adequate mass flow rates could be maintained using a vacuum pump to simulate space vacuum and that residual liquid could be evaporated from the heat exchanger after closing a ball valve to seal off flows.

Denner, H. D.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Development and Applications of a Self-Contained, Non-Invasive EVA Joint Angle and Muscle Fatigue Sensor System

The University of Maryland Space Systems Laboratory, as a participant in NASA's INSTEP program, is developing a non-invasive, self-contained sensor system which can provide quantitative measurements of joint angles and muscle fatigue in the hand and forearm. The goal of this project is to develop a system with which hand/forearm motion and fatigue metrics can be determined in various terrestrial and zero-G work environments. A preliminary study of the prototype sensor systems and data reduction techniques for the fatigue measurement system are presented. The sensor systems evaluated include fiberoptics, used to measure joint angle, surface electrodes, which measure the electrical signals created in muscle as it contracts; microphones, which measure the noise made by contracting muscle; and accelerometers, which measure the lateral muscle acceleration during contraction. The prototype sensor systems were used to monitor joint motion of the metacarpophalangeal joint and muscle fatigue in flexor digitorum superficialis and flexor carpi ulnaris in subjects performing gripping tasks. Subjects were asked to sustain a 60-second constant-contraction (isometric) exercise and subsequently to perform a repetitive handgripping task to failure. Comparison of the electrical and mechanical signals of the muscles during the different tasks will be used to evaluate the applicability of muscle signal measurement techniques developed for isometric contraction tasks to fatigue prediction in quasi-dynamic exercises. Potential data reduction schemes are presented.

Ranniger, C. U.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Modularized ion thruster

A modularized ion thruster system was developed for space-propulsion applications. Separate discharge chamber modules (DCMs) were optimized for operation at the thrust levels of T = 0.5 mlb and T = 2 mlb to accommodate the extended thrust range. These optimizations included modifications in the discharge-chamber components and the incorporation of ion machined accelerators in the beam-extraction systems. Performance of the optimized modules are summarized.

Hyman, J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1985

On bipolar ejection

Observations of bipolar outflows, including jets often with clumpy concentrations of matter, have been made for a wide variety of astronomical systems. In most but not all of the systems, an accretion disk is present. It is proposed that the general process responsible for bipolar ejection involves the conversion of rotational energy into magnetic energy, usually in the form of a polar magnetic torus, deep in the interiors of the systems involved. If the buoyancy of the torus resullts in draining the field lines of most of the matter which they thread, then the acceleration of the remaining matter in the toroidal bubble may produce velocities in excess of the escape velocity from the surface of the system. It is contemplated that this process will be repeated many times in most systems. A discussion is given of the application of these ideas to protostars, to stars evolved beyond the main sequence, to neutron stars, and to black holes on both stellar and galactic scales.

Cameron, A. G. W.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The use of transition region characteristics to improve the numerical simulation of heat transfer in bypass transitional flows

A method is presented for improving the numerical prediction of bypass transition heat transfer on a flat plate in a high-disturbance environment with zero or favorable pressure gradient. The method utilizes low Reynolds number k-epsilon turbulence models in combination with the characteristic parameters of the transition region. The parameters representing the characteristics of the transition region used are the intermittency, transition length and turbulent spot properties. An analysis is made of the transition length in terms of turbulent spot variables. The nondimensional spot formation rate, required for the prediction of the transition length, is shown by the analysis to be a function of the spot spreading angle, the dimensionless spot velocity ratio and the dimensionless spot area ratio. The intermittency form of the k-epsilon equations were derived from conditionally averaged equations which have been shown to be an improvement over global-time-averaged equations for the numerical calculation of the transition region. The numerical predictions are in general good agreement with the experimental data and indicate the potential use of the method in accelerating flows. Turbulence models of the k-epsilon type are known to underpredict the transition length. The present work demonstrates how incorporating transition region characteristics improves the ability of two-equation turbulence models to simulate bypass transition for flat plates with potential application to turbine vanes and blades.

Simon, Frederick F.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Thermal Processing Effects on the Adhesive Strength of PS304 High Temperature Solid Lubricant Coatings

In this paper the effects of post deposition heat treatments on the cohesive and adhesive strength properties of PS304, a plasma sprayed nickel-chrome based, high temperature solid lubricant coating deposited on stainless steel, are studied. Plasma spray deposited coating samples were exposed in air at temperatures from 432 to 650 C for up to 500 hr to promote residual stress relief, enhance particle to particle bonding and increase coating to substrate bond strength. Coating pull-off strength was measured using a commercial adhesion tester that utilizes 13 mm diameter aluminum pull studs attached to the coating surface with epoxy. Pull off force was automatically recorded and converted to coating pull off strength. As deposited coating samples were also tested as a baseline. The as-deposited (untreated) samples either delaminated at the coating-substrate interface or failed internally (cohesive failure) at about 17 MPa. Samples heat treated at temperatures above 540 C for 100 hr or at 600 C or above for more than 24 hr exhibited strengths above 31 MPa, nearly a two fold increase. Coating failure occurred inside the body of the coating (cohesive failure) for nearly all of the heat-treated samples and only occasionally at the coating substrate interface (adhesive failure). Metallographic analyses of heat-treated coatings indicate that the Nickel-Chromium binder in the PS304 appears to have segregated into two phases, a high nickel matrix phase and a high chromium precipitated phase. Analysis of the precipitates indicates the presence of silicon, a constituent of a flow enhancing additive in the commercial NiCr powder. The exact nature and structure of the precipitate phase is not known. This microstructural change is believed to be partially responsible for the coating strength increase. Diffusion bonding between particles may also be playing a role. Increasing the heat treatment temperature, exposure time or both accelerate the heat treatment process. Preliminary measurements indicate that the heat treatment also results in a one time, permanent coating thickness increase of about 3%. Based upon these results, the incorporation of a heat treatment prior to final finishing has been incorporated in the application process of this coating technology.

DellaCorte, Christopher↗
NASA NTRS2016

Nanotechnology: From Science Fiction to Reality

Nanotechnology promises unconventional solutions to challenging problems because of expectations that matter can be manipulated at the atomic scale to yield properties that exceed those predicted for bulk materials. The excitement at this possibility has been fueled by significant investments in this technology area. This talk will focus on three examples of where advances are being made to exploit unique properties made possible by nanoscale features for aerospace applications. The first two topics will involve the development of carbon nanotubes for (a) lightweight structural applications and (b) net shape fabricated multifunctional components. The third topic will highlight lessons learned from the demonstration of the effect of nanoengineered surfaces on insect residue adhesion. In all three cases, the approaches used to mature these emerging technologies are based on the acceleration of technology development through multidisciplinary collaborations.

Siochi, Mia↗
NASA NTRS1974

Adaptive sequential estimation with applications

A sequential estimator is presented and demonstrated which successfully tracks the system state and model errors in the presence of significant and unpredictable system or environmental variations. This adaptive estimation concept is shown to lead to a new and attractive approach to parameter identification problems. Simulation results are presented in an orbit determination problem, where the estimator tracks the orbit and unmodeled accelerations due to errors in the geopotential model. Some results in a re-entry trajectory estimation problem are also summarized.

Jazwinski, A. H.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Performance of the new Efratom optically pumped rubidium frequency standards and their possible application in space relativity experiments

The characteristics of Efratom optically pumped rubidium frequency standards are discussed. The Efratom units were compared with cesium beam and hydrogen maser standards and showed a stability of approximately 5 times 10 to the minus 12th power over two one-week periods. Dependency of frequency upon the environmental parameters of pressure, magnetic field, temperature, supply voltage, and acceleration was measured. A package of three units with automatic phase comparison and recording was designed and constructed to allow a measurement of relativistic effects on time with high accuracy during space missions.

Alley, C. O.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Development and application of computational aerothermodynamics flowfield computer codes

Multiple nozzle plume flow field is computed with a 3-D, Navier-Stokes solver. Numerical simulation is performed with a flux-split, two-factor, time asymptotic viscous flow solver of Ying and Steger. The two factor splitting provides a stable 3-D solution procedure under ideal-gas assumptions. An ad-hoc acceleration procedure that shows promise in improving the convergence rate by a factor of three for steady state problems is utilized. Computed solutions to generic problems at various altitude and flight conditions show flow field complexity and three-dimensional effects due to multiple nozzle jet interactions. Viscous, ideal gas solutions for the symmetric nozzle are compared with other numerical solutions.

Venkatapathy, Ethiraj↗
NASA NTRS1988

Efficient detection and signal parameter estimation with applications to high dynamic GPS receivers

A novel technique for simultaneously detecting data and estimating the parameters of a received carrier signal phase modulated by unknown data and experiencing very high Doppler, Doppler rate, etc. is discussed. Such a situation arises, for example, in the case of Global Positioning Systems (DPS) where the signal parameters are directly related to the position, velocity and acceleration of the GPS receiver. The proposed scheme is based upon first estimating the received signal local (data dependent) parameters over two consecutive bit periods, followed by the detection of a possible jump in these parameters. The presence of a detected jump signifies a data transition which is then removed from the received signal. This effectively demodulated signal is then processed to provide the estimates of global (data independent) parameters of the signal related to the position, velocity, etc. of the receiver. One of the key features of the proposed algorithm is the introduction of two different schemes which can provide an improvement of up to 3 dB over the conventional implementation of Kalman filter as applied to phase and frequency estimation, under low to medium signal-to-noise ratio conditions.

Kumar, R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

A high voltage power converter for space astronomy applications

A dc-dc low-power, high-voltage converter for use in space is described which furnishes a commandable, low-noise dc output in the range of 0 to -7500 V. The converter is suitable for biasing of detectors commonly employed in space astronomy, microchannel plates, photomultipliers, and gas discharge detectors. The converter's reliability has been demonstrated by accelerated life testing under thermal vacuum. The electrical and mechanical design, packaging, layout and fabrication techniques, and tests employed are described.

Ray, David C.↗