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At least 1,063 records · Page 59

Ductility and fracture in B2 FeAl alloys

The mechanical behavior of B2FeAl alloys was studied. Stoichiometric Fe-50Al exhibits totally brittle behavior while iron-rich Fe-40Al yields and displays about 3% total strain. This change in behavior results from large decreases in the yield strength with iron-rich deviations from stoichiometry while the fracture stress remains essentially constant. Single crystal studies show that these yield strength decreases are directly related to decreases in the critical resolved shear stress for a group of zone axes /111/ set of (110) planes slip. This behavior is rationalized in terms of the decrease in antiphase boundary energy with decreasing aluminum content. The addition of boron results in improvements in the mechanical behavior of alloys on the iron-rich side of stoichiometry. These improvements are increased brittle fracture stresses of near-stoichiometric alloys, and enhanced ductility of up to 6% in Fe-40Al. These effects were attributed to increased grain boundary adhesion as reflected by changes in fracture mode from intergranular to transgranular failure. The increases in yield strength, which are observed in both polycrystals and single crystals, result from the quenching in of large numbers of thermal vacancies. Hall-Petch plots show that the cooling rate effects are a direct result of changes in the Hall-Petch intercept/lattice resistance flow.

Crimp, Martin A.↗

Shuttle Laser Technology Experiment Facility (LTEF)-to-airplane lasercom experiment: Airplane considerations

NASA is considering the use of various airplanes for a Shuttle Laser Technology Experiment Facility (LTEF)-to-Airplane laser communications experiment. As supporting documentation, pertinent technical details are included about the potential use of airplanes located at Ames Research Center and Wallops Flight Facility. The effects and application of orbital mechanics considerations are also presented, including slant range, azimuth, elevation, and time. The pros and cons of an airplane equipped with a side port with a bubble window versus a top port with a dome are discussed.

Kalil, Ford↗

Reliability assessment of thrust chamber cooling concepts using probabilistic analysis techniques

The reliability of OFHC (Oxygen Free High Conductivity) copper and NARloy-Z thrust chambers is assessed by applying probabilistic structural analysis techniques to incorporate design parameter variability and uncertainty. Thrust chambers specifically evaluated are the cylindrical test fixtures employed in a plug-nozzle configuration at the NASA Lewis Research Center. Direct sampling Monte Carlo simulations based on a simplified life prediction methodology established probability densities of firing cycles to structural failure. Simulated cyclic lives demonstrated modest agreement to experiment. Similarly, regions of high structural failure probability were determined using a limit state approach employing calculated cumulative distribution functions for effective stress response and an assumed material strength distribution. A probability of failure of 0.012 was calculated at the center of the coolant channel hot-gas-side wall for an OFHC milled channel. Structural response was found to be sensitive to the uncertainties in the thrust chamber thermal environment and the material's thermal expansion coefficient.

Rapp, Douglas C.↗

Space Station Freedom UHF antenna performance prediction

The ability of two Space Station Freedom (SSF) UHF antennas to communicate with an EVA astronaut one meter behind SSF major structures is analyzed. These regions are expected to have the most significant shadowing effects due to the large electrical size of the structures. The rigorous geometrical theory of diffraction method was used to compute the electric field. The total field is obtained by summing the direct fields from the antennas and the reflected and diffracted fields from the SSF structures. The computed signal strength in terms of the electric field behind SSF major structures is presented and compared to the signal strength corresponding to the 0 dB link margin. Based on the results obtained in this study, in order to increase the signal strength and to minimize the major structure near field shadowing effects when the EVA is working behind SSF major structures, the two UHF antenna booms should be mounted separately so that one boom is on the port side and the other boom is on the starboard side - one above the truss and one below the truss.

Hwu, Shian U.↗

Reliability assessment of thrust chamber cooling concepts using probabilistic analysis techniques

The reliability of OFHC (Oxygen Free High Conductivity) copper and NARloy-Z thrust chambers is assessed by applying probabilistic structural analysis techniques to incorporate design parameter variability and uncertainty. Thrust chambers specifically evaluated are the cylindrical test fixtures employed in a plug-nozzle configuration at the NASA Lewis Research Center. Direct sampling Monte Carlo simulations based on a simplified life prediction methodology established probability densities of firing cycles to structural failure. Simulated cyclic lives demonstrated modest agreement to experiment. Similarly, regions of high structural failure probability were determined using a limit state approach employing calculated cumulative distribution functions for effective stress response and an assumed material strength distribution. A probability of failure of 0.012 was calculated at the center of the coolant channel hot-gas-side wall for an OFHC milled channel. Structural response was found to be sensitive to the uncertainties in the thrust chamber thermal environment and the material's thermal expansion coefficient.

Rapp, Douglas C.↗

The wave suppressor used in the N.A.C.A. tank

So long a time was required for the disturbed water to become quiet after a model had been towed down the N.A.C.A. tank, that only 12 to 18 runs a day could be made. In order to shorten the time lost in waiting between runs, several different methods of suppressing the waves were tried. The most effective form of wave suppressor developed consists of wooden frames covered with fine copper screening and secured horizontally just beneath the surface of the water at the sides of the tank. With these suppressor placed every 50 feet along the length of the tank, 40 to 60 test runs a day can be made.

Truscott, Starr↗

Bidirectional Reflectance Functions for Application to Earth Radiation Budget Studies

Reflected solar radiative fluxes emerging for the Earth's top of the atmosphere are inferred from satellite broadband radiance measurements by applying bidirectional reflectance functions (BDRFs) to account for the anisotropy of the radiation field. BDRF's are dependent upon the viewing geometry (i.e. solar zenith angle, view zenith angle, and relative azimuth angle), the amount and type of cloud cover, the condition of the intervening atmosphere, and the reflectance characteristics of the underlying surface. A set of operational Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) BDRFs is available which was developed from the Nimbus 7 ERB (Earth Radiation Budget) scanner data for a three-angle grid system, An improved set of bidirectional reflectance is required for mission planning and data analysis of future earth radiation budget instruments, such as the Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES), and for the enhancement of existing radiation budget data products. This study presents an analytic expression for BDRFs formulated by applying a fit to the ERBE operational model tabulations. A set of model coefficients applicable to any viewing condition is computed for an overcast and a clear sky scene over four geographical surface types: ocean, land, snow, and desert, and partly cloudy scenes over ocean and land. The models are smooth in terms of the directional angles and adhere to the principle of reciprocity, i.e., they are invariant with respect to the interchange of the incoming and outgoing directional angles. The analytic BDRFs and the radiance standard deviations are compared with the operational ERBE models and validated with ERBE data. The clear ocean model is validated with Dlhopolsky's clear ocean model. Dlhopolsky developed a BDRF of higher angular resolution for clear sky ocean from ERBE radiances. Additionally, the effectiveness of the models accounting for anisotropy for various viewing directions is tested with the ERBE along tract data. An area viewed from nadir and from the side give two different radiance measurements but should yield the same flux when converted by the BDRF. The analytic BDRFs are in very good qualitative agreement with the ERBE models. The overcast scenes exhibit constant retrieved albedo over viewing zenith angles for solar zenith angles less than 60 degrees. The clear ocean model does not produce constant retrieved albedo over viewing zenith angles but gives an improvement over the ERBE operational clear sky ocean BDRF.

Manalo-Smith, N.↗

Use of a Microphone Phased Array to Determine Noise Sources in a Rocket Plume

A 70-element microphone phased array was used to identify noise sources in the plume of a solid rocket motor. An environment chamber was built and other precautions were taken to protect the sensitive condenser microphones from rain, thunderstorms and other environmental elements during prolonged stay in the outdoor test stand. A camera mounted at the center of the array was used to photograph the plume. In the first phase of the study the array was placed in an anechoic chamber for calibration, and validation of the indigenous Matlab(R) based beamform software. It was found that the "advanced" beamform methods, such as CLEAN-SC was partially successful in identifying speaker sources placed closer than the Rayleigh criteria. To participate in the field test all equipments were shipped to NASA Marshal Space Flight Center, where the elements of the array hardware were rebuilt around the test stand. The sensitive amplifiers and the data acquisition hardware were placed in a safe basement, and 100m long cables were used to connect the microphones, Kulites and the camera. The array chamber and the microphones were found to withstand the environmental elements as well as the shaking from the rocket plume generated noise. The beamform map was superimposed on a photo of the rocket plume to readily identify the source distribution. It was found that the plume made an exceptionally long, >30 diameter, noise source over a large frequency range. The shock pattern created spatial modulation of the noise source. Interestingly, the concrete pad of the horizontal test stand was found to be a good acoustic reflector: the beamform map showed two distinct source distributions- the plume and its reflection on the pad. The array was found to be most effective in the frequency range of 2kHz to 10kHz. As expected, the classical beamform method excessively smeared the noise sources at lower frequencies and produced excessive side-lobes at higher frequencies. The "advanced" beamform routine CLEAN-SC created a series of lumped sources which may be unphysical. We believe that the present effort is the first-ever attempt to directly measure noise source distribution in a rocket plume.

Panda, J.↗

Sweeping Jet Actuators - A New Design Tool for High Lift Generation

Active Flow Control (AFC) experiments performed at the Caltech Lucas Wind Tunnel on a generic airplane vertical tail model proved the effectiveness of sweeping jets in improving the control authority of a rudder. The results indicated that a momentum coefficient (C(sub u)) of approximately 2% increased the side force in excess of 50% at the maximum conventional rudder deflection angle in the absence of yaw. However, sparsely distributed actuators providing a collective C(sub u) approx. = 0.1% were able to increase the side force in excess of 20%. This result is achieved by reducing the spanwise flow along the swept back rudder and its success is attributed to the large sweep back angle of the vertical tail. This current effort was sponsored by the NASA Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) project.

Graff, Emilio↗

Multidisciplinary Conceptual Design for Reduced-Emission Rotorcraft

Python-based wrappers for OpenMDAO are used to integrate disparate software for practical conceptual design of rotorcraft. The suite of tools which are connected thus far include aircraft sizing, comprehensive analysis, and parametric geometry. The tools are exercised to design aircraft with aggressive goals for emission reductions relative to fielded state-of-the-art rotorcraft. Several advanced reduced-emission rotorcraft are designed and analyzed, demonstrating the flexibility of the tools to consider a wide variety of potentially transformative vertical flight vehicles. To explore scale effects, aircraft have been sized for 5, 24, or 76 passengers in their design missions. Aircraft types evaluated include tiltrotor, single-main-rotor, coaxial, and side-by-side helicopters. Energy and drive systems modeled include Lithium-ion battery, hydrogen fuel cell, turboelectric hybrid, and turboshaft drive systems. Observations include the complex nature of the trade space for this simple problem, with many potential aircraft design and operational solutions for achieving significant emission reductions. Also interesting is that achieving greatly reduced emissions may not require exotic component technologies, but may be achieved with a dedicated design objective of reducing emissions.

Rotorcraf↗

Obtaining cryogenic molecular transport data for analysis

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has a primary mirror, made of 18 segments, and a secondary mirror (SM) that are used to direct the light of desired targets. While on orbit, the secondary mirror assembly (SMA) was stowed for approximately 10 days and was subject to molecular contamination outgassing from the cavity of the secondary mirror support structure (SMSS) in-board hinge (IBH) which contains cables, motors, resolvers, and coatings. The main concern during this period before SMA deployment is the accumulation of ice due to the lack of a heater on the SMA. The temperature differentials between the IBH surfaces and SMA could cause redistribution of contaminants. To address this concern, single layer insulation (SLI) was used to create adequate venting and path redirection of outgassing from the IBH. Two separate thermal vacuum tests were performed to quantify this contamination: one Z307 ASTM E 1559 materials test of the radiator paint used on the motor of the IBH and a separate test on a primary mirror backplane assembly (PMBA) qualification engineering test unit (ETU) of the IBH. These tests approximately followed the predicted SMA pre-deployment thermal environment. To quantify source rates in case of a leak, the motor and resolver sides were separated and quartz crystal microbalances (QCM) were used to measure the deposition of water. The SLI redesign and implementation and outgassing measurements to understand leak effects from the IBH were essential to mitigate the deposition of contamination on the SMA.

James Webb Space Telescope, contamination, cleanro↗

Obtaining Cryogenic Molecular Transport Data for Analysis

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has a primary mirror, made of 18 segments, and a secondary mirror (SM) that are used to direct the light of desired targets. While on orbit, the secondary mirror assembly (SMA) was stowed for approximately 10 days and was subject to molecular contamination outgassing from the cavity of the secondary mirror support structure (SMSS) in-board hinge (IBH) which contains cables, motors, resolvers, and coatings. The main concern during this period before SMA deployment is the accumulation of ice due to the lack of a heater on the SMA. The temperature differentials between the IBH surfaces and SMA could cause redistribution of contaminants. To address this concern, single layer insulation (SLI) was used to create adequate venting and path redirection of outgassing from the IBH. Two separate thermal vacuum tests were performed to quantify this contamination: one Z307 ASTM E 1559 materials test of the radiator paint used on the motor of the IBH and a separate test on a primary mirror backplane assembly (PMBA) qualification engineering test unit (ETU) of the IBH. These tests approximately followed the predicted SMA pre-deployment thermal environment. To quantify source rates in case of a leak, the motor and resolver sides were separated and quartz crystal microbalances (QCM) were used to measure the deposition of water. The SLI redesign and implementation and outgassing measurements to understand leak effects from the IBH were essential to mitigate the deposition of contamination on the SMA. "

James Webb Space Telescope↗

Increased Jet Noise Due to a "Nominally Laminar" State of Nozzle Exit Boundary Layer

A set of 2-in. diameter nozzles is used to investigate the effect of varying exit boundary layer state on the radiated noise from high-subsonic jets. It is confirmed that nozzles involving turbulent boundary layers are the quietest while nozzles involving a "nominally laminar" boundary layer are loud especially on the high-frequency side of the sound pressure level spectrum. The latter boundary layer state involves a "Blasius-like" mean velocity profile but higher turbulence intensities compared to those in the turbulent state. The higher turbulence in the initial region of the jet shear layer leads to increased high-frequency noise. The results strongly suggest that an anomaly noted with subsonic jet noise databases in the literature is due to a similar effect of differences in the initial boundary layer state.

Zaman, K. B. M. Q.↗

Dispersion-Enhanced Laser Gyroscope

We analyze the effect of a highly dispersive element placed inside a modulated optical cavity on the frequency and amplitude of the output modulation to determine the conditions for enhanced gyroscopic sensitivities. The element is treated as both a phase and amplitude filter, and the time-dependence of the cavity field is considered. Both atomic gases (two-level and multi-level) and optical resonators (single and coupled) are considered and compared as dispersive elements. We find that it is possible to simultaneously enhance the gyro scale factor sensitivity and suppress the dead band by using an element with anomalous dispersion that has greater loss at the carrier frequency than at the side-band frequencies, i.e., an element that simultaneously pushes and intensifies the perturbed cavity modes, e.g. a two-level absorber or an under-coupled optical resonator. The sensitivity enhancement is inversely proportional to the effective group index, becoming infinite at a group index of zero. However, the number of round trips required to reach a steady-state also becomes infinite when the group index is zero (or two). For even larger dispersions a steady-state cannot be achieved, and nonlinear dynamic effects such as bistability and periodic oscillations are predicted in the gyro response.

Smith, David D.↗

Performance of a Blunt-lip Side Inlet with Ramp Bleed, Bypass, and a Long Constant-area Duct Ahead of the Engine : Mach Numbers 0.66 and 1.5 to 2.1

Unsteady shock-induced separation of the ramp boundary layer was reduced and stabilized more effectively by external perforations than by external or internal slots. At Mach 2.0 peak total-pressure recovery was increased from 0.802 to 0.89 and stable mass-flow range was increased 185 percent over that for the solid ramp. Peak pressure recovery occurred just before instability. The 7 and one-third-diameter duct ahead of the engine reduced large total-pressure distortions but was not as successful for small distortions as obtained with throat bleed. By removing boundary-layer air the bypass nearly recovered the total-pressure loss due to the long duct.

Allen, John L↗

Control of an Axisymmetric Jet Using Vortex Generators

The results of an experimental investigation on the effect of vortex generators, in the form of small tabs at the nozzle exit on the evolution of a jet, are reported in this paper. Primarily tabs of triangular shape are considered, and the effect is studied up to a jet Mach number of 1.8. Each tab is found to produce a dominant pair of counter-rotating streamwise vortices having a sense of rotation opposite to that expected from the wrapping of the boundary layer. This results in an inward indentation of the mixing layer into the core of the jet. A triangular-shaped tab with its apex leaning downstream, referred to as a delta tab, is found to be the most effective in producing such vortices, with a consequential large influence on the overall jet evolution. Two delta tabs, spaced 180 deg apart, completely bifurcate the jet. Four delta tabs stretch the mixing layer into four 'fingers,' resulting in a significant increase in the jet mixing downstream. For six delta tabs the mixing layer distortion settles back to a three finger configuration through an interaction of the streamwise vortices. The tabs are found to be equally effective in jets with turbulent or laminar initial boundary layers. Two sources of streamwise vorticity are postulated for the flow under consideration. One is the upstream 'pressure hill,' generated by the tab, which constitutes the main contributor of vorticity to the dominant pair. Another is due to vortex filaments shed from the sides of the tab and reoriented downstream by the mean shear of the mixing layer. Depending on the orientation of the tab, the latter source can produce a vortex pair having a sense of rotation opposite to that of the dominant pair. In the case of the delta tab, vorticity from the two sources add, explaining the strong effect in that configuration.

Zaman, K. B. M. Q.↗

Increased Jet Noise Due to a "Nominally Laminar" State of Nozzle Exit Boundary Layer

A set of 2-inch diameter nozzles is used to investigate the effect of varying exit boundary layer state on the radiated noise from high-subsonic jets. It is confirmed that nozzles involving turbulent boundary layers are the quietest while nozzles involving a nominally-laminar boundary layer are loud especially on the high-frequency side of the sound pressure level spectrum. The latter boundary layer state involves a Blasius-like mean velocity profile but higher turbulence intensities compared to those in the turbulent state. The higher turbulence in the initial region of the jet shear layer leads to increased high-frequency noise. The results strongly suggest that an anomaly noted with subsonic jet noise databases in the literature is due to a similar effect of differences in the initial boundary layer state.

Zaman, K. B. M. Q.↗

Analysis of Composite Skin-Stiffener Debond Specimens Using a Shell/3D Modeling Technique and Submodeling

The application of a shell/3D modeling technique for the simulation of skin/stringer debond in a specimen subjected to tension and three-point bending was studied. The global structure was modeled with shell elements. A local three-dimensional model, extending to about three specimen thicknesses on either side of the delamination front was used to model the details of the damaged section. Computed total strain energy release rates and mixed-mode ratios obtained from shell/3D simulations were in good agreement with results obtained from full solid models. The good correlation of the results demonstrated the effectiveness of the shell/3D modeling technique for the investigation of skin/stiffener separation due to delamination in the adherents. In addition, the application of the submodeling technique for the simulation of skin/stringer debond was also studied. Global models made of shell elements and solid elements were studied. Solid elements were used for local submodels, which extended between three and six specimen thicknesses on either side of the delamination front to model the details of the damaged section. Computed total strain energy release rates and mixed-mode ratios obtained from the simulations using the submodeling technique were not in agreement with results obtained from full solid models.

OBrien, T. Kevin↗