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At least 1,045 records · Page 58
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

Steady state modeling of large diameter crystal growth using baffles

Buoyancy driven flow in the crystal melt is one of the leading causes of segregation. Natural convection arises from the presence of thermal and/or solutal gradients in the melt and it is not possible to completely eliminate the convection even in the low gravity environment of space. This paper reports the results of computational modeling research that is being done in preparation for space-based experiments. The commercial finite element code FIDAP was used to simulate the steady convection of a gallium-doped germanium alloy in a Bridgman-Stockbarger furnace. In particular, the study examines the convection-suppressing benefits of inserting cylindrical baffles in the molten region to act as viscous dampers. These thin baffles are assumed to be inert and noncontaminating. The results from this study show the manner in which the streamlines, velocities, and temperature fields at various gravity levels are affected by the presence of baffles. The effects of changing both the number and position of the baffles are examined and the advantages and disadvantages of using baffles are considered.

Sahai, Vivek↗
NASA NTRS1992

A study to explore locomotion patterns in partial gravity environments

An effort is made to ascertain the factors affecting stability during locomotion in lunar and Martian gravity environments, as well as to establish criteria for the enhancement of stability and traction. The effects of changing both the speed and the pattern of locomotion under three different gravity conditions were investigated. As gravity level increased, vertical and horizontal forces significantly declined; similarities were noted across gravity levels, however, with respect to locomotion speed and pattern changes, where increasing speed enhanced both vertical and horizontal forces. With decreasing gravity, the ratio of horizontal to vertical forces increased significantly.

Rajulu, Sudhakar L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Fiber-optic thermometer using Fourier transform spectroscopy

An integrated-optic Mach-Zender interferometer is used as a Fourier transform spectrometer to analyze the input and output spectra of a temperature-sensing thin-film etalon. This configuration provides a high degree of immunity to the effects of changes in the source spectrum, and it readily permits the interrogation of a number of different sensors using a single spectrometer. In addition, this system has a potentially low cost because it uses optical communications hardware that may in the future be manufactured in large quantities.

Beheim, Glenn↗
NASA NTRS1993

The atmospheric CH4 increase since the Last Glacial Maximum. II - Interactions with oxidants

Results of two studies of the effect of changing CH4 fluxes on global tropospheric oxidant levels, O3, OH, and H2O2, performed with a multibox photochemical model, are presented. A sensitivity study is conducted by scaling back CH4, CO, and NO emissions relative to the present-day budget. When the CH4 ice core record is compared to calculated CH4 abundances, corresponding CH4 fluxes for the preindustrial Holocene (PIH) and Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) are fairly well-constrained: 175-225 Tg CH/4/yr for PIH and 100-130 Tg CH4/yr for LGM. Specific scenarios for CH4/CO/NO are selected to represent sources for the PIH and LGM. The CH4 budget is taken from an evaluation of wetlands and other natural sources.

Thompson, Anne M.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Diffusion length variation and proton damage coefficients for InP/In(x)Ga(1-x)As/GaAs solar cells

Indium phosphide solar cells are more radiation resistant than gallium arsenide and silicon solar cells, and their growth by heteroepitaxy offers additional advantages leading to the development of lighter, mechanically strong and cost-effective cells. Changes in heteroepitaxial InP cell efficiency under 0.5 and 3 MeV proton irradiations are explained by the variation in the minority-carrier diffusion length. The base diffusion length versus proton fluence is calculated by simulating the cell performance. The diffusion length damage coefficient K(L) is plotted as a function of proton fluence.

Jain, R. K.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The ROSAT spectrum of 3C 351 - A warm absorber in an X-ray-'quiet' quasar?

3C 351 is one of the most X-ray-quiet radio quasars (alpha(ox) about 1.6). We have observed 3C 351 with the ROSAT position sensitive proportional counter (PSPC) and find a complex X-ray spectrum which is not well reproduced by a power law plus low-energy cut-off model. Soft excess, partial covering, and 'warm absorber' models can all produce acceptable fits, although only the warm absorber model gives typical values for the high-energy continuum slope. The alpha(ox) measured by using quasi-simultaneous ROSAT, MMT, and HST observations is in the range 1.5-1.6, significantly above the average of 1.37 for a complete sample of 33 3CR quasars. If the soft excess or partial covering models are correct, 3C 351 appears X-ray-quiet in the PSPC band because it has an extremely steep or flat intrinsic high-energy spectral slope. However, if the warm absorber model is correct, the quasar is intrinsically X-ray-quiet; the normalization of the intrinsic (unabsorbed) X-ray emission is unusually low relative to the optical luminosity. We investigate the properties of our warm absorber model in some detail. The apparently complicated behavior of the fit parameters may be understood by considering the effects of changing absorbing column and ionization parameter on intrinsic power-law-spectra of different slopes.

Fiore, Fabrizio↗
NASA NTRS1946

Correlation between strength properties in standard test specimens and molded phenolic parts

This report describes an investigation of the tensile, flexural, and impact properties of 10 selected types of phenolic molding materials. The materials were studied to see in what ways and to what extent their properties satisfy some assumptions on which the theory of strength of materials is based: namely, (a) isotropy, (b) linear stress-strain relationship for small strains, and (c) homogeneity. The effect of changing the dimensions of tensile and flexural specimens and the span-depth ratio in flexural tests were studied. The strengths of molded boxes and flexural specimens cut from the boxes were compared with results of tests on standard test specimens molded from the respective materials. The nonuniformity of a material, which is indicated by the coefficient of variation, affects the results of tests made with specimens of different sizes and tests with different methods of loading. The strength values were found to depend on the relationship between size and shape of the molded specimen and size and shape of the fillers. The most significant variations observed within a diversified group of materials were found to depend on the orientation of fibrous fillers. Of secondary importance was the dependence of the variability of test results on the pieces of filler incorporated into the molding powder as well as on the size of the piece. Static breaking strength tests on boxes molded from six representative phenolic materials correlated well with falling-ball impact tests on specimens cut from molded flat sheets. Good correlation was obtained with Izod impact tests on standard test specimens prepared from the molding materials. The static breaking strengths of the boxes do not correlate with the results of tensile or flexural tests on standard specimens.

MATERIALS, MONSANTO RESINOX↗
NASA NTRS1930

Pressure distribution over a Douglas wing tip on a biplane in flight

This note presents the results obtained in pressure distribution tests on the right upper wing panel and tip of a Douglas M-3 airplane in flight. These tests are a part of a more extensive investigation of the effect of changes in tip shape on the load distribution, the tip reported herein being the first of a series of tip shapes being tested. The results are given in tables and curves in such form that the load distribution for any conditions may be determined easily. Tests were made at Langley Field by the NACA in the spring of 1930.

Rhode, Richard V↗
NASA NTRS1937

Discharge characteristics of a double injection-valve single-pump injection system

The discharge characteristics of two similar injection valves operated by a single-cylinder fuel-injection pump were determined with an apparatus that measured the quantity of fuel discharged from each valve during every 0.5 degrees of pump rotation. It was found that similar discharges took place from the two valves at all pump speeds when the valve-opening pressures, the nozzle-orifice diameters, and the injection-tube lengths were the same for both valves. Under these conditions, the effects of changing the pump speed, the pump throttle setting, or the nozzle orifice diameter were very similar to those occurring with a single-injection valve. By a proper selection of discharge-orifice areas and valve-opening pressures it was possible to obtain a great many combinations of discharge quantities, discharge rates, and injection timings for the two valves. A series of tests using injection tubes of unequal lengths for the two valves showed that under these conditions the injection timing and the fuel quantity discharged from each valve varies widely and erratically with changes in the pump speed.

Lee, Dana W↗
NASA NTRS1940

The Effects of Engine Speed and Mixture Temperature on the Knocking Characteristics of Several Fuels

Six 100-octane and two 87-octane aviation engine fuels were tested in a modified C.F.R. variable-compression engine at 1,500, 2,000 and 2,500 rpm. The mixture temperature was raised from 50 to 300 F in approximately 50 degree steps and, at each temperature, the compression ratio was adjusted to give incipient knock as shown by a cathode ray indicator. The results are presented in tabular form. The results are analyzed on the assumption that the conditions which determine whether a given fuel will knock are the maximum values of density and temperature reached by the burning gases. A maximum permissible density factor, proportional to the maximum density of the burning gases just prior to incipient knock, and the temperature of the burning gases at that time were computed for each of the test conditions. Values of the density factors were plotted against the corresponding end-gas temperatures for the three engine speeds and also against engine speed for several and end-gas temperatures. The maximum permissible density factor varied only slightly with engine speed but decreased rapidly with an increase in the end-gas temperature. The effect of changing the mixture temperature was different for fuels of different types. The results emphasize the desirability of determining the anti knock values of fuels over a wide range of engine and intake-air conditions rather that at a single set of conditions.

Lee, Dana W↗
NASA NTRS1958

Effects of Nose Angle and Mach Number on Transition on Cones at Supersonic Speeds

An investigation has been made to determine the transition characteristics of a group of smooth, sharp-nosed cones varying from 10 degrees to sixty degrees in included apex angle over a Mach number range from 1.61 to 2.20 and a range of Reynolds number per foot from about 1.5 x 10 to the 6th power to 8 x 10 to the 6th power. Increasing the cone angle is shown to decrease slightly the transition Reynolds number, whereas the effects of changes of Mach number and unit Reynolds number are negligible. When transition occurred within 15 to 20 percent of the model length from the base there was a dropoff in transition Reynolds number. (author)

Czarnecki, K R↗
NASA NTRS1934

The Aerodynamic Forces and Moments Exerted on a Spinning Model of the NY-1 Airplane as Measured by the Spinning Balance

A preliminary investigation of the effects of changes in the elevator and rudder settings and of small changes in attitude upon the aerodynamic forces and moments exerted upon a spinning airplane was undertaken with the spinning balance in the 5-foot vertical tunnel of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. The tests were made on a 1/12-scale model of the ny-1 airplane. Data by which to fix the attitude, the radius of spin, and the rotational and air velocities were taken from recorded spins of the full-scale airplane. Two spinning conditions were investigated. All six components of the aerodynamic reaction were measured and are presented in coefficient form refereed to airplane axes. The results indicate that the change in yawing moment produced by the rudder with the elevator up was the only component of force or moment produced by the elevator and rudder that could not have been balanced in an actual spin by small changes in attitude and angular velocity.

Bamber, M J↗
NASA NTRS1938

The Aerodynamic Characteristics of Full-Scale Propellers Having 2, 3, and 4 Blades of Clark Y and R.A.F. 6 Airfoil Sections

Aerodynamic tests were made of seven full-scale 10-foot-diameter propellers of recent design comprising three groups. The first group was composed of three propellers having Clark y airfoil sections and the second group was composed of three propellers having R.A.F. 6 airfoil sections, the propellers of each group having 2, 3, and 4 blades. The third group was composed of two propellers, the 2-blade propeller taken from the second group and another propeller having the same airfoil section and number of blades but with the width and thickness 50 percent greater. The tests of these propellers reveal the effect of changes in solidity resulting either from increasing the number of blades or from increasing the blade width propeller design charts and methods of computing propeller thrust are included.

Hartman, Edwin P↗
NASA NTRS1943

Methods Used in the NACA Tank for the Investigation of the Longitudinal-Stability Characteristics of Models of Flying Boats

Report presents the results of tests of longitudinal stability characteristics of models of several flying boats conducted in the NACA Tank No. 1. These investigations were made for the purpose of (1) determining suitable methods for evaluating the stability characteristics of models of flying boats, and (2) determining the design parameters which have an important effect on the porpoising. This report is mainly concerned with the construction of suitable models, the apparatus, and methods used in the tests. The effect of changes in some design parameters is discussed.

Olson, Roland E↗
NASA NTRS1944

Compressive Strength of Flat Panels with Z- and Hat-Section Stiffeners

Compression tests were conducted on 247 panels with Z-section stiffeners and 304 panels with hat-section stiffeners. Specimens were constructed from artificially aged Alclad 24S aluminum alloy with minimum guaranteed yield strengths of 64 and 57 ksi for stiffeners and sheet materials, respectively. Height, thickness, and spacing of stiffeners, sheet thickness, and length of specimens were varied systematically to show effects of changes in these dimensions on panel strength. Results show average stresses at buckling load and maximum load.

STRESSED SKIN - SHEETS - STRENGTH, COMPRESSIVE↗
NASA NTRS1993

The seismic response of an aquifer to the propagation of an impact generated shock wave: A possible trigger of the Martian outflow channels?

Aquifer dilation from shock waves produced by the 8.4 magnitude Alaskan earthquake of 1964 led to water and sediment ejection from the ground up to 400 km away from the earthquake's epicenter. Groundwater disturbances were observed as far away as Perry, Florida (approximately 5500 km), where well water fluctuations with an amplitude of as much as 2.3 m were reported. The martian cratering record provides evidence that the planet has experienced numerous seismic events of a similar, and often much greater, magnitude. Given this fact, and the photogeologic evidence for abundant water in the early crust, the response of a basalt aquifer to the propagation of compressional waves (P-waves) produced by impacts in the 33-1000 km diameter size range were investigated. The resulting one-dimensional changes in effective stress and pore pressure were calculated - as a function of both distance and time - based on the following assumptions: (1) that all of the seismic energy radiated by an impact is transmitted as a single compressional wave; (2) that both the host rock and groundwater are compressible; and (3) that there is no net flow between the water-filled pores.

Leyva, Ivett A.↗
NASA NTRS1994

An analysis of carrier phase jitter in an MPSK receiver utilizing map estimation

The use of 8 and 16 PSK TCM to support satellite communications in an effort to achieve more bandwidth efficiency in a power-limited channel has been proposed. This project addresses the problem of carrier phase jitter in an M-PSK receiver utilizing the high SNR approximation to the maximum aposteriori estimation of carrier phase. In particular, numerical solutions to the 8 and 16 PSK self-noise and phase detector gain in the carrier tracking loop are presented. The effect of changing SNR on the loop noise bandwidth is also discussed. These data are then used to compute variance of phase error as a function of SNR. Simulation and hardware data are used to verify these calculations. The results show that there is a threshold in the variance of phase error versus SNR curves that is a strong function of SNR and a weak function of loop bandwidth. The M-PSK variance thresholds occur at SNR's in the range of practical interest for the use of 8 and 16-PSK TCM. This suggests that phase error variance is an important consideration in the design of these systems.

Osborne, William P.↗